Platform Magazine - February 2010 by Nottingham Trent Students Union

w w w.p l a t f o r m- o n l i n e .n e t

Febr uar y 2010

Dusk ‘til Dawn

Experts talk about sleeping disorders

Crash Pads

How to rent accommodation just for weekdays

End of an Error

Finally, the death of Big Brother

In Your Face

What’s so good about 3D?

Sex and the Settee

Valentine’s Day film special

Counting the Beans

Making a Prophet

Reduce your food costs

The film racking up every award in sight

www.platform-online.net Editor-in-Chief Glen Davies

glen.davies@su.ntu.ac.uk

Designer Stephanie Combs

stephanie.combs@su.ntu.ac.uk

Deputy Editor Andrew Trendell

deputy-editor@platform-online.net

Online Editor Aaron Lee

online-editor@platform-online.net

News Editor Jennifer Rosewarne

news@platform-online.net

Community Editor Nik Charity

community@platform-online.net

Music Editor Tom Warmsley

music@platform-online.net

Film Editor Becky Wojturska

film@platform-online.net

veryone loves a bit of scandal, and I’m fairly sure that, as you peer at your computer screen, you’re wondering why this month’s issue of the very successful new version of your student magazine is only online – not on the stands where you expected it to be ready and waiting for you, in glossy splendidness.

Editor’s Letter

To be honest, I’m wondering the exact same thing. But NTSU is having some piggy bank issues and Platform, for the first time in its 20-year history, has been taken out of print. Yes, I was just as surprised as you are. I’m an optimist, though. And that means that, since we’re now stuck in this position, we move forward in a new direction. We launched our ruddy marvellous website in November, after our designer, Steph, spent many nights putting it together. So we’re going to milk it for everything it’s worth. Some of the Platform section editors can be heard ranting on various Fly FM shows, so we can give you snippets of audio and even video content to accompany our articles. Given that it’s difficult to get some of them to shut up, it’s a good way to channel their infinite wisdom. There will also still be our high level of professional photography and a capacity for limitless content. Plus, all students will now receive issue updates directly to their inbox, meaning that writers’, photographers’ and designers’ work can be seen and enjoyed by 27,000 people. If you didn’t pick up Platform before, this is my new way of forcing it down your throat. I am essentially Hitler with a laptop.

Pictures Editor Stefan Ebelewicz

But the thing is, you’re not getting an amateurish, ‘have a go’ token gesture of a web page here. You’re getting a full-scale professional online multimedia service, because we know that’s what you want in 2010. Even if you can’t settle down with it in Costa quite as easily. Frankly, it’s your own fault for not buying a smartphone.

Arts Editor Alexander Britton

The jewel in the crown will still be this 64-page magazine. We’re still investing the same time and effort into it, so don’t worry about it becoming like a newsletter for the village in Hot Fuzz. I would actually jump out of the window if that were to happen.

photos@platform-online.net

arts@platform-online.net

Fashion Editor Laura Morrison

fashion@platform-online.net

Food & Drink Editor Molly Woodruff

So do please enjoy Platform’s new era, and keep your eyes peeled on platform-online.net. You never know – our photographers might have caught you on a night out, splayed out on the pavement, four chins and half-blinking in the flash. Who on Earth would want to miss that?

food@platform-online.net

Travel Editor Lucia Miyashita

travel@platform-online.net

Glen Davies Editor-in-Chief

Gaming Editor Aaron Lee

Platform Magazine

Health Editor Danielle Almond

gaming@platform-online.net

health@platform-online.net

Sports Editor James Haigh

sports@platform-online.net

Editorial enquiries | Email the relevant address on the left Press/PR enquiries | Email platform@su.ntu.ac.uk Advertising enquiries | Contact BAM Student Marketing on (0845) 1300 667 or www.trentstudents.org/student_marketing

Platform is an independent publication and any views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Nottingham Trent Students Union and its Elected Directors and Officers. Companies advertised in Platform are not necessarily endorsed by Nottingham Trent Students Union. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor.

Contents News

Arts

Health

05 | Title

26 | Big Brother: The End of an Error

48 | ‘I Woke Up Completely Paralysed’

Community

29 | I Killed John Updike

08 | Review

Eddie Izzard: Stripped, NTU Drama Society’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’’

Mondaytofriday.com

10 | Property Panic

30 | Reviews

11 | City Farming Makes a House Call

p26

12 | Union News & Events

Music 15 | Platform Interview: Tinchy Stryder 17 | Gig Reviews

Lily Allen @ Trent FM Arena, Set Your Goals @ Rescue Rooms

Film Cover Story

18 | Film Review: A Prophet

20 | Valentine’s DVDs Special

The Time Traveller’s Wife, The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Couples Retreat

24 | DVD Reviews Zombieland, Triangle

Sleep Disorders

52 | The Dos and Don’ts of Keeping Yourself Motivated 53 | Half-Baked Judgment of Tanning Bed Users

p38

p48

Photos

Gaming

31 | ‘Portfolio’

54 | Through the Eyes of a 3D Filter

Fashion 36 | Fashion Editor’s Intro 37 | A Guy-ding Hand to Men’s Fashion 38 | London Calling

Food & Drink 40 | Counting the Beans 42 | Recipes

Travel 44 | Valencia

56 | Game Reviews Darksiders, Bayonetta

58 | Tuning for Success ModNation Racers

Sports 61 | The Cry of the Tiger 62 | Gym Workout Special

News EDL

Edited by Jennifer Rosewarne | news@platform-online.net

Last Decemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protests resulted in the Market Square being plastered all over the national media. Now that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a little further from it, Erin Macgreaor reflects on the organisation which rocked Nottingham. > www.platform-online.net |

News

of UAF and Love Music Hate Racism recalls: “It was not long before the mostly drunken EDL were chanting on the streets outside of the pubs lining the Square, countered by verses from the anti-fascist/racist collective; tense looking police sandwiched between the two.’’

ously marched, and with the thousands of signatures of Nottingham residents who opposed it, why did the police agree to give permission for it to go ahead with their full support?

Originated in June 2009 due to ‘Frustration at the lack of any significant action by the British Government against extremist preachers and organisers’’ the English Defence Since their emergence last year, the beLeague has had quite a controversial, liefs and motives of the English Defence yet unfortunately successful six months. League have been under question by Formed in response to actions by MusEveryone has the right to assemble, and many as their actions certainly do not lim protesters at a military homecoming the Castle was the place the Nottingmatch their words. They may claim to be in Luton and with a strong link to foothamshire police had designated for the peacefully protesting against militant ball hooliganism, the group have begun EDL. In an intimidating uniform of Islam, yet at their previous marches an alliance of those against Islam. They shaved heads and black EDL hooded there have been reports and footage have been brazenly taking their anger tops with their own ‘division’ on the of violence towards innocent Muslims, and discriminaanti-EDL protesttion to the streets ers and the police. of the U.K, with In Nottingham their organised one EDL member marches visiting even took his agLuton, Birminggression towards ham, Manchester, militant Islam out Leeds, various on a police dog. areas of London, and of course Not- The English Defence League, so eloquently describing themselves As we enter 2010 tingham. The EDL continue to march, their Rescheduled from November, they back, the majority were penned in by next destinations being Stoke on Trent, decided on a date when the city would officers after bounding there intoxiTrafalgar Square and Dudley. An organibe at its busiest. Nottingham Forest cated from the pubs. However, some sation who claim not to be racist yet were playing Leicester City football attempted to fight for freedom towards make Nazi ‘’seig heil’’ salutes, are proud club, the Mercian Regiment who had their opponents, spitting and hurling of their cause yet refuse to give their returned from the war in Afghanistan bottles and throwing punches at police, real names in interviews, and distribute were marching at the ice rink in Market many heard to be shouting, “We want threatening letters, emails and phone Square and it was the third Saturday our country back”. calls to those who oppose them, are not before Christmas. In my opinion their one that should be growing so rapidly. marching the same day as the troops Numbers of the UAF in conjunction Their wave of hate throughout England was intentional to accuse the Anti with trade union representatives, comhas alarmingly now inspired the beginFascist protesters of not respecting munity leaders, students, activists, annings of the Scottish and Welsh Defence them. One supporter claimed that they archists and socialists reached around Leagues, paving the way for egocentric shouldn’t organise a protest on the 700 and the march commenced with attitudes. same day complaining: “Their protest megaphones and placards to confront isn’t against the EDL, they’re protesting the EDL at the castle. With chants of Their ignorance is frightening and as against the troops and it’s anti-British.’’ “Nazi scum off our streets!’’ and spirit Nottingham Trent University has a diSo hypocrisy is apparently another lifting words from UAF joint secretary verse, international, and multicultural thing the EDL believe in. Weyman Bennett, the crowd was also community, we cannot afford to sit back joined by the Love Music Hate Racism and hope that this will pass; we need to Their march through Nottingham on sound system, providing powerful and show that these people do not represent December the 5th began of course, in inspiring music showing what a peacewhat England is. the pub. As seems to be the routine ful protest really is. place for these football hooligans to congregate, Wetherspoons provided After the chaos had died, it was reIf you’d like to take a stand and get inthe perfect venue for drinks, pre march ported by thisisnottingham.co.uk that volved in the campaign against racism, visit tactics and for some reason climbing on eleven EDL members had been arrested ‘Stopping the Nazis in 2010’, the annual the roof waving an England flag with and the 700+ police that had been on United Against Fascism and Love Music the motto ‘’NO SURRENDER’’. duty that day (some even brought in Hate Racism national conference on Februfrom surrounding areas) and their ary 13th. It costs £5 for students and is to Meanwhile, United against Fascism safety measures had resulted in a bill of be held at TUC Congress Centre, London demonstrators were assembling in £212,032. WC1B 3LS. the Market Square from 10am and unexpected problems had occurred; yet Posing the question, when the evidence More details can be found at this did not faze the determined and was there of how much trouble, disgust www.uaf.org.uk and passionate people standing firm for and outrage was caused by the English www.lovemusichateracism.com. their beliefs. Thomas Grace, a supporter Defence League where they had previ-

“It ain’t a crime to be stupid and only a c**t would use that against someone”

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

“The world is a dangerous place to live in: not because of the people that are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.’’ - Albert Einstein

www.platform-online.net |

Community Review: Mondaytofriday.com | Property Panic | City Farming Makes a Housecall

Edited by Nick Charity | community@platform-online.net

Review:

Mondaytofriday.com With financial issues littering the headlines and everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bank balances in the red, Nik Charity asks: why not save money on where you live?

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

here to live and how much it’s going to cost is a principle worry of almost every student in the country. Well, such a statement goes without saying really, as this is a principle worry of pretty much everyone but students and graduates are approaching this problem, usually for the first time in their lives. Universities have become very good at easing the process of getting to grips with independency – providing halls for most first years and helping all others to look for shared housing and lodging rooms. But once you graduate, you enter a world with no handouts and the process of living alone suddenly becomes painfully real. The term ‘all-inclusive’ is a thing of the past, council tax becomes an issue and the responsibility of taking care of your own finances turns from a laughing matter (we have all giggled at how skint we are) to a crying matter. Have no fear, mondaytofriday.com is here… it is a company that brings flexible landlords and desperate tenants together, the idea being that you lodge during the working week then ship off home at the weekend to leave your landlord or lady in peace. Mondaytofriday. com is aimed at urban professionals but they have tried to expand their usership, and with no great success - now advertising to students who are soon to graduate. They claim that an astonishing 100,000(ish) graduates are going jobless, and many that find work are settling for low paying positions – meaning that part-time digs are an ideal way of saving money, and there is no limit to where you look for work, because their service operates nationwide. This is what the website claims, at least. I’m a little unimpressed that they have gone for a scare tactic in the press release, and it is also abundantly clear that this service is not intended for graduates. Living in a ‘home-from-home’ is suitable for a wealthy sort of chap/ lass who can afford to spend an extra £400-£800 a month on top of the rent/ mortgage he/she already pays so that his/her commute is a little shorter and there is no need to see the missus/ hubby/or visa versa… for the majority of the week (and, breath). As for graduates, I would imagine that when you leave university, leaving home entirely is a prime idea, so if you need somewhere to stay while you get your leg up you are probably better off sofa-surfing on good-ol gumtree.com.

“H

aving a lodger is ‘back in fashion’, implying that we young-educatedunfortunatemoneyless-classless folk are a kind of money making accessory”

The national media has approached the subject over the past few years, with names such as Thisismoney.com, the Daily Telegraph and BBC running with headlines such as ‘There’s room for profit with a lodger,’ ‘Beat the credit crunch: fifty ways to get a lodger’ and ‘How to survive the property crisis,’ respectively - claiming that letting a room out can

be an ideal method of saving money during the ‘Great Naughties Depression’, but in each case the benefits are in favour of the homeowner and would-be landlord. Some even jokingly remark in a middle-class sort of way that having a lodger is ‘back in fashion’, implying that we young-educated-unfortunate-moneyless-classless folk are a kind of money making accessory. Bloody charming. I fail to see how living in two different places can be beneficial, but hey – the means of doing it is out there. So take a look at mondaytofriday.com if you are thinking of moving to London on a weekday only basis. In terms of price, landlords are trying to keep lodger lettings low thanks to a government incentive, but you’ll find it only slightly less expensive, if at all, to living in a shared house. The one bonus of this website in comparison to say, gumtree.com, is that it is designed for its own purpose and so there are streets more detail on the vacancies that are available. But as for flexibility - you can find landlords looking for immediate and short term tenants on gumtree.com.

www.platform-online.net |

Community

Property Panic, 2010/2011 When everyone is rushing to get next year’s housing sorted, it can be all too easy to get ripped off, as Nik Charity explains.

he time has long since come to start thinking about accommodation for next year. Whether you’re a fresher moving out of halls or you just plain can’t get shot of your derelict house-share quick enough - that time is now.

I would love to be able to tell you all to relax and play it cool, because if we all made an effort to delay the process there would be less stress for everyone. However, as students we are caught in the supersonic hype of a niche property market that is designed to make us sign whatever deal we find – as long as we don’t have to sleep in the cold next year. It means that some of us are looking for a place to live with people we have only known for a single term - people we may despise by the time we actually move in. The University has tried its best to delay the whole process but the majority of flats and houses are found outside of the Student Living shortlist, and so the problem of first-come-first-served signing unfortunately reigns true, and there is no other option than to stick with what, where and who you find. Nevertheless, there are things you must be aware of when entering the tenancy process. First are the basics – you

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

shouldn’t have to pay more than a security deposit upfront (usually amounting to six weeks rent per person, or less), and you need to be prepared to pay the first month’s rent in advance. Secondly, which should go without saying, is to read your tenancy agreement carefully, or get a parent to do so. For freshers, especially, caught up in the rush for the first time- it is very easy to try and sort everything out yourself but there is no harm in asking advice from someone who has been through the whole process before. Be very aware that agents may have hidden charges. As an example, one company offered my housemates and I a ‘Summer Retainer’ which was posed as a solution to moving our things out the house at the end of the first year, provided we would renew our agreement and stay for the following year. In actuality it was of no use to us whatsoever, and was called a ‘Summer’ retainer because we paid them a month’s rent last Summer, and a ‘Retainer’ because they ‘kept’ our money. A lot of student houses are managed by the letting agents, and their terms may come in a separate agreement. Despite whatever terms you read, and even though you may feel like

City Farming

Makes A House Call

ome of you may know of the game FarmTown – one of Facebook’s many ways of provoking social activity by giving you incentives to get in touch with the mates you haven’t spoken to for ages. If you haven’t heard of FarmTown, then you will no doubt have seen or played something like it. If you have played it and didn’t realise this was what Facebook intended, don’t feel conned. That is, unless you traded real money for FarmTown credits – then you should certainly feel conned… you numpty.

a victim to the system, you have your own rights and both the landlord and property managers have obligations to your safety. For instance, if your central heating packs up they have no choice but to sort it out immediately, the same goes for gas leaks and etcetera. The thing to remember about landlords is that they are not (necessarily) pure evil, but they can be lazy and forgetful, so it’s just a case of calling and calling until things get done. And on to my next point - you have a right to complain about your property managers to your landlord, if they are not sticking to their end of the deal. That is, apparently, unless you are with mine, in which case they insist in making all contact with the landlord themselves. (Hmmmm…) I’m not saying that you should assume your estate agent is trying to con you, but they do phrase things very carefully, and they do know only too well that you are desperate. Neither do I mean to tell you that you shouldn’t go with any certain company. The likelihood is that if you come across them, you might not have a choice in the matter. Just be careful.

I am remarking on FarmTown specifically because in reality, a farm is a very effective environment to be social indeed. Take the Stonebridge City Farm in St. Ann’s for instance; a learning environment that took shape many moons ago and offers services such as school work experience, work placements, and school visits. ‘The thinking behind he project,’ claims the Stonebridge website, ‘is to offer real work experience to people who are excluded from paid work due to a learning of physical disability or difficulty. We also offer work to individuals who may have been unable to work due to mental health problems or addictions. […] Volunteers and clients learn how to get on with others in a group situation, take on tasks for themselves […], build up confidence in their abilities and increase their self esteem.’ The farm also states that although its initial aim is to give a social and working environment to those with difficulties, this does not limit who may join in. Stonebridge City Farm has been providing services for a zero charge but has recently had to rethink its approach to funding, but they still find the resources to provide some free services. Audrey Leach, part-time lecturer at NTU and part-time Outreach worker at the farm is involved with a new, complimentary service of advice called ‘Green Street’, mentoring and support, helping people to grow their own fruit and veg.; ‘Even if you only have a window sill you can grow a few herbs and pots of salad.’ Students are able to make use of this service, and crikeyO’Reilly, do we need to save the cash. Or if you haven’t the room at home, why not volunteer at the farm and learn about producing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs. There will be something for you to take away and the farm shop also sells cheap, fresh produce. To learn more about the Stonebridge City farm go to stonebridgecityfarm.com or stonebridgegreenstreet.blogspot.com.

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Union News & Events

Student Volunteering Week 2010 W

hen I first started my Business degree at University I was focussed on forging a career based on how much money I could draw in – everything changed when I began volunteering. I got involved with Junction (now Initi8 One Day Challenges) in my second year because my CV needed that extra boost and I wanted to see what else Nottingham had to offer besides the lecture theatres, shops and student bars. My volunteering journey began with a Christmas Party at the Radford Care Group, I was chatting to the elderly residents, eating festive food and running around dressed as Santa – I loved it. I expected the whole feelgood factor that came with volunteering, but I didn’t realise how many friends I’d make and how much fun I’d have along the way! Since then I’ve been drumming with disabled children, maintaining gardens with those with brain injuries and walking rescue dogs, to name a few!

Now I’m the Initi8 Officer, so I’m directing the Initi8 One Day Committees across all three campuses and we’ve got our busiest and best period of the year coming up: Student Volunteering Week on the 22nd-28th February. It’s a whole week packed full of volunteering opportunities to take your fancy, so whether you’re interested in conservation, working with children, the disabled or the elderly, there’s going to be so much variety so there’s never been a better time to give it a go. And if you have an idea for a project then let us know and we’ll try to make it happen! Last year we had 32 projects over the week, from decorating the children’s room in a local church to hosting pool tournaments, making bird feeders with school children to teaching them French, and from painting pots for the elderly to bowling with terminally ill children. This year our events are going to be even bigger and better so keep checking the website: www. trentstudents.org/volunteering and make sure you get involved! Hemal Tailor Initi8 Officer 2009-10 Got a project suggestion? Email me: Hemal.Tailor@su.ntu.ac.uk To get involved and to receive the initi8 newsletter, contact: Laura Buckland (City Campus) – laura.buckland@su.ntu.ac.uk / 0115 848 6211 Jennie Mann (Clifton and Brackenhurst) – jennie.mann@su.ntu. ac.uk / 0115 848 6202

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

22nd - 28th February 2010

The HERE Project Friends: the secret to staying at university

TU students engage in important research shaping the HE sector’s approach to student retention

Each year over 250,000 students start a new degree at UK universities. Almost 10% won’t complete their studies and drop out early. Whilst for many students withdrawing early is the right decision to take, it’s also expensive for each student, university and the UK economy. Since the 1990s student retention has been an increasingly researched area in the UK. Most studies have looked at why students withdraw and whilst the reasons are many and varied, most studies identify similar themes. Students tend withdraw due a mismatch between their expectations and the reality of their studies, problems adapting to learning at university and not enjoying the experience. Other factors such as finance or problems at home do arise, but less often than people usually assume. NTU is leading a new type of research project. We are not looking at why students withdraw, but how we help students to remain at university and thrive. The HERE Project (Higher Education: Retention & Engagement) operates at three universities: NTU, Bournemouth and Bradford and is exploring a range of issues. Our largest piece of work has

FREE Stride Training & Development Sessions on offer in February: Sessions @ City: Boosting Your Potential Programme: Essay Writing & Referencing - Wed 3rd Feb, 3-5pm Perfect Presentations - Wed 10th Feb, 3-5pm Handling Stress - Wed 17th Feb, 3-5pm Revision Skills - Wed 24th February, 3-5pm

Business Management and Leadership Programme: Motivating Your Team - Tues 2nd Feb, 4-6pm Delegating to Your Team - Tues 9th Feb, 4-6pm Dealing with Difficult Situations - Tues 16th Feb, 4-6pm Managing Meetings - Tues 23rd Feb, 4-6pm been to survey first year students to explore whether or not they had doubts about being at university. Between March and May 2009, 656 students took part and 374 gve us permission to keep an eye on how they were doing subsequently.

For more info and to book a place go to: www.trentstudents.org/stride

37% of respondents had, at some point, considered withdrawing from their studies, a similar result to other studies. In December, we reviewed those students who’d given us permission to look at their data to see how many were still on their courses. As you might imagine, more doubters had withdrawn than non-doubters and almost 4 times as many doubters withdrew. Doubters were also more concerned about whether or not they could cope with their studies and were actually enjoying the experience less. The most common reasons for doubting related to the course and student lifestyle. But the really important finding we uncovered was that the most common reason those students with doubts actually stayed was down to friends they had made since starting university. So investing time in developing friendships will, in the long term, improve your chances of graduating. This is why the university puts so much effort into Welcome Week and other induction activities. Over the next two years, we will be investing more in developing opportunities for students to make good friendships through their courses, both in NTU and across the UK. Other reasons that doubters stayed included future goals and employment, and personal factors such as personal determination. Ultimately, this piece was written to thank those 656 students for responding to the survey. In years to come, your responses will help improve the learning experiences for new students. The next time you see a survey request; remember it could be research that’s helping to improve everyone’s futures.

NTSU Entertainments this month: Climax @ City - Every Saturday during term time (9:30pm) Double Vision @ Clifton - Every Friday during term time (9:30pm) Assault @ The Pulse – Fortnightly Fridays during term time (9:30pm) Tone Club @ The Pulse – Fortnightly Fridays during term time (8pm) See www.trentstudents.org for more info

If you’d like to discuss any of the issues raised in this article, please feel free to drop Ed Foster a line Ed.foster@ntu.ac.uk

www.platform-online.net |

Trent Elections are GO! Want to make a diﬀerence at Trent? Want management experience? Want a year you will never forget? With 10 positions from President to Sports, there is something for everyone. Nominations are open 1st - 22nd February. Pick up your form from the Students Union reception on any campus. for more information go to www.trentstudents.org/elections

support & advice • representation • development • services

Music

Interview: Tinchy Stryder | Lily Allen @ Trent FM Arena | Set Your Goals @ Rescue Rooms

Edited by Tom Warmsley | music@platform-online.net

Interview:

Tinchy Stryder

He may just scrape in at a diminutive five feet tall, but Tinchy Stryder couldn’t be any more monumental in the UK’s music scene right now. Thomas Warmsley speaks with the ‘Star In The Hood’ about University life, motivational speaking and album number three. >

www.platform-online.net |

Music

Thomas Warmsley: Hello Tinchy. You’ve got your 20-date headline tour coming up in February & March - is there anything special you are planning for it? Tinchy Stryder: Yeah, on the last tour which sold out, the visuals and everything were good man. So this time round we are going to try and step it up a bit with everything. It’s all bigger venues this time round, especially the later dates added. I was planning on having a live band with me but I’m still deep in thought about it.

TW: Who are you taking on tour with you? Is it going to be Example & JME? TS: Yeah Example and JME from Boy Better Know are coming with me on tour, hopefully they should bring something different to it. Me and JME come from the same scene and have done a lot together before - so to have him on my tour is only right for me. And Example is someone else who I like and is different - yeah man, it should be cool. TW: Is Example someone you would be interested in collaborating with in future? TS: Yeah, although I’m more of a person if someone approaches me with a track, I like their music and what they are doing on it - if everything sounds right then I’m cool with it. Me and Example are cool so it shouldn’t be a problem. TW: You were at University of East London whilst you had a number 1 single - is there any advice you would give to students who are studying and want to pursue a career in music? TS: Yeah I didn’t end up graduating in my degree, I was in my final year while I had a number one single so I ended up touring all the time; I never got to complete it. But I would advise people to stick with it, it’s hard work but just focus and get through it if that’s what you want. It might sound like something you hear every day, but hard work really does pay off. Always try and put your negatives into positives. TW: Your degree was a BA in moving image and animation, would you think about taking a director’s role in future for your music videos? TS: Yeah hopefully one day. That’s why I was so interested in video on my course and learning all about it. I want to understand why things are set out in certain ways and how effects and lighting are used. Yeah so hopefully man, one day when I’ve gained more knowledge it will be something I’ll be interested in doing. TW: What do you have planned for 2010? Is album number three on the way? TS: Yeah definitely the next album with be out in the very near future, but really I’m just focusing on the huge tour through February and March. It’s still in the thought process, because last year everything happened so fast and I just had to record quickly and then doing tracks with other people. So this time round it will be more controlled and thought out. Tinchy Stryder comes to Nottingham 2nd March @ Rock City

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

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Lily Allen @ Trent FM Arena - 16/12/09

By Thomas Warmsley

ily Allen has come a long way from her plastic chav-prom charm that she used to exude around her debut release ‘Alright, Still’. Like the nation’s daughter, we have seen her grow up from a boisterous impish adolescent and blossom into a boisterous, albeit beautiful woman. 2009 saw the release of her willingly more mature second album ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’, which she has since toured ruthlessly, swapping the scruffy hi-tops and gold tat for a succession of arena sized tours.

Gig Reviews

Tonight she is supported by cockney dance yob Example, who has managed to quietly establish himself in the thicket of 2009’s mainstream. He does a reasonable job of warming the arena crowd up into an awkward bopping frenzy, and receives a riotous response for his performance of recent floor-filler ‘watch the sun come up’. Do not let his north London market stall appearance fool you; Example delivers a hearty set and with budding dance anthems like ‘won’t go quietly’, it is genuinely hard to feel ripped off.

Moments after a makeshift, but nevertheless impressive ballroom stage set is revealed, Lily appears via an extravagant levitating platform to a rapturous ovation of ‘Everyone’s at it’. Complete with bowler hat and a painfully dazzling jacket, she prances around her gigantic set like an overexcited princess. Between songs, she introduces the on-stage Guinness tap, generously pouring the front row a free pint, before introducing ‘22’ as “one for the girls to drink to” – quickly easing concerns that Lily may have turned seemingly frigid on us all. After costume changes, Lily introduces her latest single ‘Who’d have known’, whilst puffing on a glowing pretend cigarette she giggles “don’t tell the health inspectors”. Still managing to pay respects to her older material, the undeniably infectious ‘LDN’ and ‘Friday Night’ get a makeover, now complete with a respective dub-step breakdown section. She joined on stage mid song by Professor Green; the two resonate and rant over ‘Smile’ in the figure of a live edit. Extravagant reprises, special guests and remixes; the set list has the suspicious stench of a greatest hits tour. We can only hope that things are alright, still, and the 23-year-old is not calling it a day.

Set Your Goals @ Rescue Rooms - 10/12/2009 By Michael Corrighan

here is a foreboding sense largely due to the nature of today’s pop-punk scene that listeners of this genre cannot be over the age of eighteen, which by attending a gig of tonight’s variety instantly makes you feel ten years older then you actually are. However by the end you depart feeling a whole lot younger and with headliners Set Your Goals being the highlight tonight this should be no different.

With doors opening from an early half six a crowd has already gathered for tonight openers Fireworks, making their first appearance in the UK. The American quintet produce an explosive thirty minute set filled with highlights like ‘Detroit’ to opener ‘Geography’. Their following cannot be knocked as they begin tonight’s entertainment with a panache and energy which gets the crowd moving from the get-go. Broadway Calls are to follow, with a clear feel good factor take to the stage with their catchy punk rock sound and an unbounded confidence which definitely leaves everyone wanting more. When SYG finally take to the stage, the venue erupts as they immediately kick into ‘Summer Jam’ off their new album which tonight’s set is largely dominated by. The excitable elements of a SYG performance were characteristically there in abundance which not unexpectedly, transmitted itself over to the crowd instantly. If there’s one aspect that can be asserted from this rampant six-piece is their ability to suck the crowd in, with the majority singing tonight’s set word-for-word and the affection from the band visible throughout. When asked by vocalist Matt Wilson “who’s been to a SYG show before?”, the crowd break into rapturous applause as old classics ‘Goonies Never Say Die’, ‘Work in Progress’ and a flawless set concluded by ‘Mutiny!’. Every sweaty follower inside is left knowing they’ve witnessed something undeniably special.

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Film

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A Prophet (18)

Starring: Tahar Rahim, Neils Arestrup, Adel Bencherif Director: Jacques Audiard Language: French with English subtitles UK Release: 22nd January 2010

Film Review

Jacques Audiard’s latest film may be arriving in cinemas in Blighty a year late, but it’s certainly getting noticed along the way. Last year’s penguin suit jobs speak for themselves. It was the Grand Prix winner in Cannes; it was the Best Film winner in London; it won the Prix Louis Delluc last December and it was nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the Oscars. This is not just a film. This is a magpie. At least, that’s what the national press make of it. The fivestar quotes take up most of the utterly inexplicable trailer. But if you have ADHD and are both fascinated and perplexed by bubble wrap, you’ll struggle to make it through more than two-and-a-half hours of subtitles and coccyx torture. It follows the illiterate 19-year-old prisoner Malik el Djebena (Rahim) through his six-year sentence in a French prison, where he is forced to work for a Corsican gang by gruesomely killing a fellow inmate. From there on in, Malik slowly rises through the criminal ranks, both outside and within the prison walls, put in ever more impossible and daring situations. It’s not Hugh Grant looking mildly surprised and annunciating as you half-watch whilst curling your fingernails and dyeing your eyes. It’s heavy, gritty and, in places, slightly unwatchable. It’s wonderful. From gushing arteries, beatings, gunshots and glory holes, Un Prophète never shies away from battering you with testosterone-filled social realism. The thing just exudes menace. Audiard largely used unknown actors and the extras were real former convicts. The attention to detail is good, but what makes this film is its superb directing, which is simple yet incredibly effective. There’s no Hollywood ‘something is going to happen’ cheesiness, the soundtrack is unobtrusive and the CGI is blissfully minimal. And it doesn’t have a big ego, either. There’s no sense that you’re being forced to like it just because it knows it’s good. Obviously, it has its negative points. Unless you’ve got your face rubbing against the screen all the way through, you’ll struggle to keep track of a narrative which seems designed to induce Alzheimer’s. There’s also not one word of English. But then again, I always reckon that, if a film is good, you begin to not notice that you’re reading the dialogue rather than listening to it. So unless you’re particularly avert to anything that attempts to accurately reflect reality, this is an absolute must-see – which is a phrase that usually makes me want to firebomb whoever uses it. It’s one of the best pieces of international cinema coming this year, and one of the best realism films since La Haine. Maybe it’s just the French. Glen Davies

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Film

Valentine’s DVDs Special

The Time Traveler’s Wife (12A)

Director: Robert Schwentke Starring: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Jane McLean, Ron Livingston DVD release date: 8th February 2009

This story of a time transcending romance was first published in 2003 and finally made it to the big screen in 2009. It was Audrey Niffenegger’s first novel and The Time Traveler’s Wife received tremendous acclaim. But the film was not so successful. The interesting combination of Rachel McAdams in a leading lady role for the first time since The Notebook as Clare and Aussie Eric Bana as her husband Henry, the time traveler, sadly for devout lovers of the book didn’t really work. This story is completely unconventional as Henry has a genetic anomaly that causes him to time travel unpredictably and it happens more and more frequently as he ages, causing more and more fracture in their relationship. The novel plays with the idea of linear story-telling but the film disappoints as it doesn’t and it also cuts crucial parts of the book, leaving it to become just another bland romantic drama. It’s a unique story and an alright film, the film follows the couple from their first meeting when he is a fully grown man and she, a child. We see the couple fall in love, despair with his disappearances and deal with their unconventional lifestyle as they cope through regular couple’s issues, children, marriage, family deaths and arguments. However, this emotional film is a love story like no other. Although a proper girly romantic weepy, its unconventional themes make it unique and will tug at the heart strings. Perfect for Valentine’s Day. Amy V Gathercole

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The Notebook (12)

Starring: James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams Directed by: Nick Cassavetes Released: 25th June 2004

The plot of The Notebook is very straightforward: two young lovers, Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) drift apart, live their own lives and then, many years later come into contact with each other once again. It’s all very traditional, familiar stuff. However, this description doesn’t really do the film justice, which manages to be more than the sum of its parts. What makes The Notebook more interesting is the way in which the main love story is actually just that; a story, read from the titular notebook by James Garner to Gena Rowlands many years later in an old people’s home. Of course, these two tales intercut and tie together in an entirely predictable fashion, but the way they do so still manages to be touching. The young leads are likable enough but the real stars of the show are undoubtedly the aged, story-telling pensioners whose chemistry is entirely palpable and moving. Credit must also be given to James Marsden who plays Lon, Allie’s ‘nice guy but not the right guy’ fiancé in an entirely likable and sympathetic way. You can’t help but feel sorry for the guy when Allie finally reconnects with Noah, her first and true love. The Notebook doesn’t do much new but it does succeed in being a sweeping, romantic tear-jerker, the likes of which haven’t been seen in a long time. Tissues at the ready! Kane Basterrechea

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Film A Walk To Remember (PG)

Starring: Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah Directed by: Adam Shankman Released: 13th September 2002

This ultimate romantic drama follows the very different lives of Landon Carter (West), a popular ‘jock’-type and Jamie Sullivan (Moore), a sweet religious girl. When a prank goes wrong the rebellious Landon is forced to do after-school activities including performing in the school musical, where he starts getting close to Jamie; the girl he would laugh at and rarely speak to because of their very different social statuses. The two very slowly form a bond and fall in love with Jamie changing Landon for the better. And so we are presented with the typical teen love problem; Landon must overcome the disapproval of his peers and Jamie must overcome the disapproval of her reverend father. As if that wasn’t enough, Jamie has a secret that she gradually reveals, threatening the remaining stability of their unfaltering love. With a plot as mundane as its title, it’s easy to initially dismiss this film. It’s ridiculous, cheesy, predictable… and I love it. Watch it once and it will soon become your guilty pleasure. Like chocolate cake you can’t quite help it even if you do regret it after. This is the ultimate romance film since Romeo and Juliet as the blossoming love is adorable and the characters lovable. Landon’s romantic gestures however will have you either crying or reaching for the bucket. Either way, one word of advice… tissues, and lots of them. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

Valentine’s DVDs Special 22

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Couples Retreat (15)

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kristen Davis, Kali Hawk Directed by: Peter Billingsley DVD release date: 9th February 2010

Vince Vaughn co-writes this comedy where the dwindling marriage of seemingly perfect Jason (Bateman) and Cynthia (Bell) leads them to visit a couple’s therapy retreat called Eden. Price however forces them to rope in couples Dave (Vaughn) and Ronnie (Akerman), Joey (Favreau) and Lucy (Davis), and newly divorced Shane (Love) who brings along his twenty-something girlfriend Trudy (Hawk). Upon arrival the four couples learn they must partake in therapy or be sent home and so faced with these penetrating sessions and the temptation of the nearby singles Island, cracks start to show and arguments arise, often with humorous consequences. Couples Retreat is to say in the least disappointing. To expect innovative humour from Vaughn is far-fetched but to have more than one ‘funny’ moment that actually makes you cringe rather than laugh, coupled with the over-used similarities to films such as Anchorman (which Vaughn incidentally featured in) and Hot Rod, only serves to create a mediocre film. However the excellent cast do manage to produce a few, only a few, genuine laughs and its relationship themes may hit home with a few making this a general easy-watching film that may warm a few hearts. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

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Film

DVD Reviews

Zombieland (15)

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone) DVD release date: 2nd February 2010 If there’s one view we can assert from the past decade its Hollywood’s meteoric rise in spoofing its own movies. Starting with the 2000 smash Scary Movie we have been inundated with mock-productions varying from the credible to the downright catastrophic, however if Zombieland is anything to go by the quality is certainly on the up. As Zombie films go this one hardly differentiates on the basic conventions. Set in a world where 99% of the population have turned into ravenous flesheaters we’re introduced to four survivors each with their own motives on how proceed to stay alive, and where to head for safety. The wry, nerdy humour of narrator Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) combines to a hilarious odd-couple effect with gun-toting, death defying cowboy Tallahassee (Harrelson), who in turn are scammed by hustling sisters Wichita (Superbad’s Emma Stone) and Little

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Rock (Breslin). The quartet combine to embark on a perilous road trip to an L.A. amusement park in search of a Zombie free zone. Its greatness largely stems from its ingenuity, displayed relentlessly with Columbus revealing the ultimate ‘rules of survival’, featuring the 32 fundamental laws such as “cardio” - simply outrunning the overweight undead, or “blend in” - I mean when’s the last time you saw zombie try to eat another Zombie?

Without unleashing too much the highlight undoubtedly falls with the cameo appearance of a comic legend, playing himself, who has sealed himself away in his Hollywood mansion. This moment as well as the razor sharp one-liners, ultra inventive Zombie slaughtering and wholly likable chief characters whose life you become altogether involved in works to complete gut-busting effect. Its fast-paced, tight and excessively gory nature all assimilate for a thrilling ride, making it one of the most downright entertaining comedy’s of 2009 with the laughs coming thick and fast, this is one of the genre’s finest outings. Michael Corrighan

Triangle (15)

Starring: Melissa George, Liam Hemsworth Directed by: Christopher Smith DVD release date: 2nd February 2010

Based on the concept of the Bermuda Triangle where ships disappear and planes crash, Triangle brings the story of Jess (George) who leaves her son to join friends on a boat trip, but a strange storm leaves them stranded. Panicked, they board a giant eerie ship that has appeared out of nowhere which is never a good idea. Jess starts experiencing de-ja-vu as they wander around this seemingly empty ship and soon it becomes clear that they are being hunted down one by one and only Jess can find out the truthâ&#x20AC;Ś If you thought Donnie Darko was mind-boggling just wait till you see this. Such a comparison is unfair however as unlike the explainable genius behind Donnie Darko, Triangle frustratingly offers no hint of explanation for the strange events and although it is an enjoyable watch the film builds up a climax that it never quite reaches. Maybe rent this one instead of buying. Becky Elizabeth Wojturska

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Arts

Big Brother: The End of An Error | I Killed John Updike | Eddie Izzard: Stripped | NTU Drama Society’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Edited by Alexander Britton | arts@platform-online.net

[Big Brother ‘Eye’ logos by Daniel Eatock © Channel 4]

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Big Brother: The End of an Error Starting out as a genuine social experiment but then gradually becoming utterly ridiculous, this television franchise has given rise to some of the most despicable people on the planet, generating massive profits for Channel 4 and Endemol. Alexander Britton takes a look at the show we love to hate. >

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Arts

As Big Ben chimed twelve times to ring in 2010, I felt an acute sadness. It dawned upon me that this year would see the end of Big Brother, and therefore the end of an error. (Era, surely?) To be frank, this trip to the televisual knackers’ yard is overdue – the format is increasingly tiresome, the contestants increasingly desperate and Davina’s enthusiasm increasingly fake. It seems that I am not the only person holding this opinion; Big Brother’s audiences have steadily been falling over the course of years, with many predicting that even re-re-runs of Midsomer Murders will prove more entertaining than the last hurrah of ‘odd people in a house doing odd things’, coming to your screens this summer.

The format promised so much back at its inception – the programme was marketed as a psychological insight into the lives of people living at the behest of an omnipresent and omniscient deity of sorts, Big Brother. Yet, it soon descended into a farce of sorts – we sat on a sofa drinking tea watching others sitting on a sofa drinking tea – each person in the house grabbing the 15 minutes in the sun that Warhol had promised them. Some went on to ‘remain in the public eye’ (read: pose for softcore lads magazines), and others faded back into obscurity, the closest thing to an intellectual analysis being confessions of former partners about each contestant’s prowess in the bedroom.

What will fill this void, however? Channel 4 and its sister channels devoted hours and hours of its airtime to this programme, covering the footage from all angles and allowing the public the slightly creepy possibility of watching people sleeping in night vision, hearing them snoring. It was real, all too real.

Concerns about mundanity were answered by feeble attempts to ‘spice things up’ that came across as embarrassingly predictable. “What’ll happen if we put a gay man and a homophobe in the same room, or an attractive man and three generic, self-confessed slags? Won’t that make great TV, eh?” It didn’t. Whether they laughed, cried, crossdressed or did anything that could neatly be filed under the heading of ‘wacky antics’, the format couldn’t draw in the viewers it used to. Channel 4 were left with little choice, the plug had to be pulled.

But fret not, Channel 4, an idea came to me in a dream, and I think it could work. Get some people from your seemingly endless supply of fame-hungry misfits and put them on a farm. A real one. Let’s call it Manor Farm. In fact, that can be the name of the show too. Each contestant has to pull their weight on the farm; they are entirely self-sufficient, and so one person’s laziness is to the ultimate detriment of the group as a whole. Before long, there will be those who have established themselves as ‘leaders’ of the group, and they convince everyone to follow

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some arbitrary commandments. Say, “No animal shall drink alcohol”, “No animal shall sleep in a bed” and “All animals are equal”. However, this gets a little boring after a while, because the leaders like beds, booze and inequality. The rules are surreptitiously modified to suit the pigs, sorry, the leaders, and chaos ensues. This is where the dream, and therefore the idea, took a turn for the bizarre, finishing with the realisation that this has all been heard before, that there was no TV show and that this was actually real life. The contestants, if indeed there were any in the first place, all snuck out quietly through the back door, straight past Davina McCall standing bemused in a field, gesticulating frantically to no-one in particular. Anyway, I trust that the cheque will be in the post should any of these ideas actually get used, right?

I Killed John Updike By Alexander Britton

here are moments in our lives when we feel above and beyond our ascribed status as mere humans and these mental flirtations with the Ubermensch are often borne out of drawing causal relationships between our actions and those of the world at large. These moments are just another thread of life’s rich tapestry, but devious ones at that. Nearly a year ago, I slammed an already jaded copy of ‘Trust Me’, a collection of short stories by John Updike, onto a table, wild with frustration. “A pretentious Desperate Housewives,” I muttered to no-one in particular. The proof that words can certainly do more damage was apparent the following morning. John Updike had passed away. And I had killed him with my ire.

My emotions flitted between guilt and sorrow – I began to attempt to atone for this heinous sin of killing

one of the greatest American novelists of the 20th Century by rekindling my passion for him via the Rabbit series of books. This series, detailing the trials and tribulations of Rabbit Angstrom, is incredibly well crafted; it is the evolution of the American everyman, with Angstrom’s problems with life, death, and everything in between told in an intricate yet accessible fashion, with these qualms replicated throughout the American middle classes. This leitmotif of suburbia is present throughout the majority of Updike’s works, and it is owing to the plainness of his chosen canvas that the beauty of his prose can stand out all the more. Updike stated that he wished “to give the mundane its beautiful due” and in this he was highly successful. One gets the impression that they are viewing a world through a magnifying

glass, such is the painstaking detail provided to all aspects of the work. Although it has been proven that the man himself was a mere mortal, his works will age gracefully, but not succumb to the ravages of time. The narratives are unmistakably periods of their time, or “tickets to the America around me” and Updike put it, all told in a style that he had honed throughout his prolific writing career. A year has elapsed since his passing, and the literary world seems a poorer place without the latest offerings from his pen. Following the lazy scorn that I had poured over his work, I had extinguished my passion for Updike’s prose. It is only through his death that I was able to rekindle this ardour, although I sincerely wish that such a drastic event hadn’t been necessary for me to see the error of my ways.

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Arts

DVD Review Eddie Izzard: Stripped

By Nick Charity

ddie Izzard is considered a god in my family, having infiltrated some of his idiosyncrasies into everyday speech and the odd quote into casual conversation. Born out of a love for Monty Python, the Goon Show and other abstract stylists, Izzard is controversial yet approachable, indiscrete yet subtle, childish yet mature and distinctive.

As pointed out by my younger brother, his comedy is supremely perfected to reach out to every fan. There are some who just love the quotables, or the faces, or the noises, or the random, or the religious observations, or the impressions, or the elaborate mimes that make you forget there is only one man on stage. Eddie Izzard performs flawlessly, and although heralded as an improvisational comic with some disagreement, he at least performs naturalistically and his script is more cunning and varied than any other man on the bill, and often adequately self-aware to joke at his own expense. As part of Stripped, you will see a return of old material, but unlike much earlier tours we are rather reminded of old favourites in an embarrassed sort of way, celebrating the old

‘You Have But Slumbered Here, While These Visions Did Appear’

ollowing an introduction made on www.platform-online.net in February, I made it my responsibility to discover the secrets of this years NTU Drama Society performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

As the society began their rehearsals, the security around the performance space tightened and I, a reporter for Platform, was forced to go undercover. Fear not, readers – I luckily escaped the inevitability of having to act for them and posed as one of the technical team. Before I knew it, I was masquerading as a director... To my astonishment, I was the only one, and

easily-cited pieces we love and remember and in what I am told will be his last DVD tour. I even felt as though I missed some moments, noticing no mention of the Deathstar canteen or dog who is unhappy with his wash. Then again, had he relentlessly included every little thing the subtlety would have been lost. This does not mean you can expect nothing new; quite the opposite, in fact as he introduces us to a wide selection of new characters. The action/executive transvestite look and feel which built the comedian’s identity in the early nineties is still intact, but left only to a mention, and once again a memory to those that know him. Stripped allows us to get closer to Eddie, to respect his flamboyance but not work one’s head around his pointy heels and breast ‘im’s. There is also more relational comedy, as he admits to his new sense of atheisms and appreciation for the likes of Wikipedia, iPhone’s, iTunes and appeals to a national attitude towards the Royal Family. Should this turn out to be his swan song, Eddie does not disappoint. I’d say Stripped is second only to Dressed To Kill, with familiar topics but new observations and a repertoire of ingenious and original motifs

so a great deal of responsibility came my way. So much for a low profile, if I wanted to keep my identity a secret I would have to do as they said and direct the play… or else those bloodthirsty thespian thunderbunkles would have rumbled me. From the outset the performance seemed to need no director whatsoever, as a selection of highly talented actors took up position and delivered their first performances to the group in December, stunning us all with a display of professionalism and ingenuity, natural comic timing and a familiar grasp of their individual characters. Every one is well suited to his or her respective roles, with a fantastic display of personality to fill the stage and the air is filled with the perfect group attitude to excel. Society VP, Pippa Richardson was able to tell me about the society’s life so far. “NTU Drama only started two years ago with a small cast and open admission to a stage in the Byron lecture theatre. We put on a stripped

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down version of Midsummer Night’s Dream in the hope of gaining some interest. It was quite funny really, we had a budget of £20 and were frantically cutting out paper stars the night before the show. But it worked and we were able to do Importance of Being Ernest last year with a budget in the hundreds and a slightly larger team. We now have much more in the way of money to play with thanks to saving and raising and a lot more people are interested – we have a team working on set and costume and a lighting technician for the first time. This year will be a special performance for us, and a chance to show how far we’ve come as a society in such short time. Nick Charity Midsummer Night’s Dream will be at the Nottingham Arts Theatre for a matinée and evening performance on Friday 19th March. Tickets £8, £5 students and concession. Go to www.nottinghamtheatre.co.uk or visit the SU to find out more.

Photos ‘Portfolio’ Photo: Jenny James

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Photos ‘Portfolio’ Photo: Asa Desouza-Jones

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Photos â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Portfolioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Photo: Vikki Wignall

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Fashion

Editor’s Intro | A Guy-ding Hand to Men’s Fashion| London Calling

Edited by Laura Morrison | fashion@platform-online.net

Fashion Editor Laura Morrison

s newly appointed fashion editor, I’d like to say welcome to the fashion section. I am in great need of – well everything! Writers, stylists, models, you name it, I need it. I want to make the fashion section, ironically, fashionable and I need your help to do it. Next month we’re doing a big shoot so I especially need stylists on hand to help with the concept and the overall execution, so please feel free to email me. What a perfect time to take the reigns, with all the new collections for S/S 2010 sauntering down the catwalk. It’s very hard not to get excited about the change from studs and sparkle, to pastels and all things pretty. Black be gone – it’s all colour this season, think candy floss, sugared almonds and the endless blue skies of Summer that mark an official end (hopefully) to the grey snow, and long dark nights.

The short has also made a big splash this season, but dismiss any notions you have of ripped denim hotpants immediately, please. The new short is just as tiny, but preferably loose, highwaisted and with a turn up, thanks. They make the perfect accompaniment for those floral bralets you’ve been eyeing in Topshop, but not bought because you’ve still not quite figured out how to wear them without showing that pesky Christmas tummy you’ve still yet to shed. Indeed lingerie of all shapes and sizes seems to be very in. I’m sure we have Miss Gaga to thank for the bra-over-tank top trend, which I am nearly 100% positive no mortal could actually pull off. For those of you in my same financial-

10 Valentino, S/S 20

Proenza

ly challenged boat this month – fear not, there is some last season recycling that can be done. “Spring bling” is still very much well trodden catwalk territory, but team it with softer hair and some nude accessories to bring it up to date. It’s also time to make a quick trip back home to pick up that white shirt dress you thought were never going to wear again, because Stella McCartney, Preen and Proenza

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Schouler , S/S 201 0

Schouler have officially put you in your place, all showing this timeless classic in their latest collections. Alas with the weather and money set against us for all this Spring-time fashion frolicking, one trend we can at least insert into our in-much-needof-a-revamp wardrobes is the ankle sock and shoe look. I don’t know when it happened, but everywhere I

A Guy-ding hand to men’s fashion

By Guy Rathbone

Preen, S/ S 2010

en’s fashion is the gentle rolling hills of England, to the women’s fashion landscape of Himalayan extremes.

Put simply, us boys need not be glued to the rafts of photos that stream out of fashion week’s never ending shows. The A/W collections of the big men’s fashion houses are not all that different from last year, with subtle tweaks here and there. Each month I will seek entwine bits gleaned from the shows with those set-in-stone fashion rules that we men are lucky to have as guardian angels. This month I am going to address jackets. Not the type purchased from Millets in various garish shades and made of materials to which naked flames are a real danger, but the classic English two-button jacket which can be worn with anything from a shirt and tie, to a T-shirt.

Stella McC

S 2010 artney, S/

look now there’s some kind of hosiery being teamed with heels, platforms, or wedges (incidentally the new it-shoe). I have a sneaking suspicion this won’t be a boy friendly trend, but with ice on the ground and grey in the skies, and no hope of a pastel silk dress in sight, I’ve got to get my fashion fix from somewhere.

This brings me to my first set in stone rule: jackets with how ever many buttons, and this includes three-quarter length coats, should never have the bottom button done-up. This year, as always, it is the cut of a jacket that matters we are lucky to live in a country that understands jackets and suits like no other, a quick field trip to Paul Smith in our very own cherished Nottingham will reveal all. Jackets and suits, like jeans no longer need to be as skinny, although a tailored look is key. “Tailored look” means, and I suppose this is another rule, however much you like an item of clothing, if it doesn’t fit your body shape then do not buy it. Essentially no-one wants to evoke those childhood memories of wearing clothes that you look like you need to grow into, or even more disastrously you look like you’ve grown out of. Dress code tip: There is nothing worse than looking like your understanding of smart-casual stretches no further than a pair of jeans and the pinstripe jacket from your Next suit. Smart casual is an essential, as we become a smarter nation, an inexorable rise from the dark days of the shell suited 80’s. Material-wise men’s fashion is very much in a renaissance period, so stick to the classics, herringbone, hounds-tooth, dare I say it velvet are best, something that is distinct from a suit. If all else fails - I’ll leave you with my rule of thumb as quoted from Muhammad Ali, “I don’t follow fashion so much as I try to find clothes that make me look good”.

‘Til next month.

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Fashion

It’s that time of year again! Whilst most of us have packed away the delights of winter, are starting to browse the holiday brochures and dreaming of the day we can leave our coats at home, the fashionistas of the world are ready and waiting to see what we indeed shall be wearing when the leaves turn orange again. In the countdown to London Fashion Week, Gina Mollett brings you the lowdown on the top five designers you should look out for:

1. Mark Fast

2. Holly Fulton

His decision to use size 14 models to showcase his bodycon creations last season caused an uproar in the headlines as it challenged the on-going obsession with size zero. But catwalk aside, Fast’s technique is the attraction in his work, with his holey knitting crossing the boundaries to that of hosiery, perfect for the cheeky exposure of our womanly curves that we should embrace. To say that I am excited is an understatement for what he has up his sleeve this time round, as he describes his Autumn/Winter 2010 collection to take essence of Dimitri Chiparus’ bronze sculptures infused with the colours of coral and exotic sea creatures yet combined with a sense of warmth.

Sharp silhouettes, graphic prints and embellishment are all key parts to the concoction of Holly Fulton’s eye-popping designs that she best describes as ‘art deco on crack’. Her creations make the modern woman look robotically and industrially masculine with their geometric nature. Jewellery takes a central theme throughout her work, creating a closer relationship between the garment and the accessory. Monochrome is key to her colour palette, whilst flashes of acid yellow, turquoise and orange set a swinging 60s feel. I am eager to see how Fulton’s work evolves from her signature architectural prints to a showcase of work influenced by ‘pythons, telephones and Louis Barillet’.

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3. Hannah Marshall Usually conceived as a garment that flatters femininity, the Little Black Dress has a darker, and slightly sinister side in the world of Hannah Marshall. Fascinated with body modification and the ways in which people mark, track and alter their identities, she juxtaposes architectonic structures with body-con forms to create androgynous garments. This will be her second season on schedule at Fashion Week and we hope to see more of her innovative tailoring to launch a nonconformist female phenomenon further around the globe.

4. Todd Lynn Yet another designer inspired by the fearless woman, Todd Lynn’s androgynous tailoring promises to involve hints of the African warrior for his latest collection at Fashion Week. You may not be familiar with this designer, but you would more than likely have seen his creations on stage without knowing as he has been hiding behind the scenes creating clothes for some of the music industry’s elite. Now he’s the one taking the spotlight.

5. Sophie Hulme Since graduating in 2007, Sophie Hulme has already been named as one of London’s brightest talents. She gives womenswear a new toughness by injecting masculine and military influences into luxurious feminine pieces. In fact, many garments from her previous collections have too been sold as menswear. With each item coming with a specific trinket for that season, they are designed to be special and kept.

s the first of the decade, London Fashion Week is evolving womenswear into something exciting and new. With staple, comfortable items in our wardrobe, our investments in trends will go a long way. This decade is about the powerful woman, the fearless woman, the woman who likes to take risks. No longer are women to be subjected to the rules of thumb within the fashion industry. We have choice, we have freedom, and we certainly don’t need to aspire to be size zero anymore! www.platform-online.net |

Food&Drink Counting the Beans | Recipes

Edited by Molly Woodruff | food@platform-online.net

Food is one of, if not the, highest living expense apart from your rent. So if you find that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re spending more than your budget will allow, Food & Drink Editor Molly Woodruff has some tips for you.

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

f like me, you over indulged a little over the festive period, not only will your stomachs and livers have taken a battering but your wallets will have too.

The sheer cost of buying all those musthave gifts for mum, dad, sister, brother, boyfriend, girlfriend, grandparents, dog, is enough to have pushed many of us into that trusty student overdraft and beyond. Not to mention the mad sale buying in January and all those boozy nights out topped off by one extreme blow-out on New Years Eve where most of us will have spent a fair whack partying it up. So, if you’re looking for a way to tighten those purse strings as well as beat that sluggish feeling that only comes from drinking your body weight in alcohol and stuffing yourself to the brim with food then look no further... Here is a handy guide on how to not only lose some of the pounds but save some too. Christmas dinner is bound to have played havoc on your waistline with the average person gorging on a massive 7,585 calories in just one day. It’s no wonder by the time January comes round all the gyms are full and everyone is munching on celery sticks whilst dancing along to the latest Davina McCall workout video. So, with those January health kicks well under way why not carry them on into the year whilst saving yourself a few bob.

ut that Bocca bacon sarnie down costing at least £15 a week (equivalent of a new top or CD) and why not opt for a tasty homemade salad. (see next page for a mouthwatering recipe)

If you’re having palpitations at just the thought of something that healthy passing your lips why not make your own sandwiches and bring them into university.

s students we are known for drinking copious amounts of alcohol and with all the tempt-

ing drinks deals who can really blame us? But it may not be the nights out that are just to blame for our saw heads and waning bank balances. Most of us drag our sorry states out of bed in a morning throw on some clothes and make our way to university all the while regretting having such a heavy one the night before. The one student saviour is a take-out coffee as you rush into a lecture that you’re already 20 minutes late for. But, that caffeine kick is not only unhealthy but could also be costing you as much as £450 a year!!

when everyone in your house is cooking at different times.

Why not save yourself the expense and bring your own or better yet drink water - it’s free and hydrating which will make you feel better in the long run especially knowing you can afford to go out and do it all again the next night.

With energy costs remaining at an all time high there is an incentive for you all to get together and prepare your meals. (see next page for an easy-to-make casserole dish)

Other handy tips include chopping your vegetables into small pieces so they cook quicker and always putting lids on pans speeding up the boiling process by up to six per cent.

nd if you are really in need of skimping and saving why not cut the cost of cooking. You may not realise but more than 15 per cent of electricity used at home goes on making hot meals which is multiplied

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Food & Drink Alice Gale-Feeny’s recipe:

Fresh and Healthy Beetroot and Apple Salad

Tom Pearson’s recipe:

Chicken and Sausage Casserole

You’ll need: 2 uncooked beetroot peeled / 3 pre-cooked beetroot 2 carrots (washed and de-stalked) 2 apples (washed with core’s removed) 2 handfuls of walnuts/ sunflower seeds/ pumpkin seeds Juice of 1/2 lemon Half teaspoon salt Half teaspoon ground pepper Tablespoon of olive oil

Cooking/preparation time: 1 hour 30 mins Serves: 3/4

To make the salad:

You’ll need:

Finely Grate the Beetroots, Carrots and Apples into a bowl. Squeeze the lemon juice into a cup to avoid pips in salad, then add lemon juice to salad immediately. Put walnuts/ sunflower seeds/ pumpkin seeds into a small pan without any oil and heat on Gas mark 4/5 (electric gas cooker) tossing often to prevent burning. Keep on heat until walnuts/ sunflower seeds/ pumpkin seeds are lightly brown. Take off heat and add to grated vegetables. Add salt, pepper and olive oil. Stir together and serve.

4 Chicken Breasts (other cuts can be used too, but they might need longer to cook) 6 Sausages 1 Onion Half a bottle of red wine 1 Tablespoon of plain flour (heaped) 3-4 cloves of garlic (chopped or crushed) About a tablespoon of olive oil Chopped mushrooms (optional) (All ingredients depend on what you like) To make the casserole: Pre-heat the oven to 170˚c/150˚c fan/gas mark 4. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Chop the onion and add the garlic cloves. Fry until golden. Fry chicken and sausages in the same pan until browned – don’t cook all the way through. Remove the meat and add the flour. Stir in the red wine, adding salt, pepper and a little thyme (if available). Transfer the meat and the casserole mixture to an oven proof dish and cook in the oven for about 1 hour (if the mixture is too thick, add some water until it’s at the right consistency). This recipe is great with homemade mashed potato and seasonal vegetables.

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fend oďŹ&#x20AC; the chill of winter with a hot cup of

coďŹ&#x20AC;ee

now available on campus The Pulse conservatory (city) The Point (Clifton) The Orangery (Brackenhurst)

Travel Valencia

Edited by Lucia Miyashita | travel@platform-online.net

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Erasmus programmes are becoming increasingly popular, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be spoilt for choice for where to go. Vanessa Haladzhova chose Valencia. Here, she explains how she got on. > www.platform-online.net |

Travel

Do you study Spanish? Are you in for something new and exciting? Do you fancy experiencing a whole different culture while making friends and studying in one of Spain’s most vibrant cities? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then you should definitely consider going on an Erasmus scheme to Valencia. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Erasmus is an internship programme funded by the European Union for students who study in any of its member states. You can go on Erasmus for either six months up to an entire year, depending on your location, university and course requirements. And when it comes to funding, don’t panic. You get an “Erasmus grant” which may vary from year to year depending on how many students are enrolled in each programme. Valencia is a popular destination for students who decide to enrol on the scheme, and the reasons for this are plenty and more than justifiable. The climate is typically Mediterranean as Valencia is situated on Spain’s glittering southern coast. Yes, you read it right… beach, sun, and summer parties. In this fast-paced city you can take a well-deserved break from the gloominess of our sweet island. Unfortunately, the city also witnesses a few “rainy periods” around the middle of November and during the early spring period. However, rest assured that after a couple of dark days the sunshine will be making its way through the clouds again. One of the features that make Valencia such a hotspot on the Erasmus destination list is that it is also a great student city like Nottingham, only much, much bigger. There are two main universities which are both home to some enormous campuses. If you worry about finding accommodation, don’t. The city offers a range of student halls as well as private housing to choose from, although the majority of students live in shared flats. I have to admit this is the best option as the halls of residence are not quite as glamorous as those in the UK.

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The University of Valencia, which has connections with NTU, has recently been refurbished and aesthetically, the results are quite stunning. Yet not as much value is given to the organisation of the Universities for the students, but if you accept this beforehand, a little bit of good will on your part will result in everything being sorted out with minimised efforts and great results. Personally, I would say that the education system in the UK is a lot better, yet this should not trip you from giving this valuable experience a chance. Finally, for those of you who are only really interested in this part, Valencia’s night life is an adventure beyond words. It surely deserves the capital letters! Clubs, pubs, cheap drinks and plenty of student offers will last long enough to keep you from feeling homesick for a good while. Erasmus parties are organised for students on a weekly basis to get together and discover the city’s wildest party spots. Its safe and entertaining environment keeps you busy throughout the year while making Valencia a truly productive city to study in. During the summer it may be flooded with tourists squirming in from all parts of the world, but as the year progresses the chaos of the summer days tends to diminish. Don’t miss out on a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences, located in the heart of Valencia. This unique complex offers a range of cultural and artistic experiences for visitors to engage in, including the Hemisferic (Imax Cinema and Digital Productions), the Principe Felipe Science Museum (dedicated to the discoveries of interactive science), and the Oceanografico (Europe’s largest Aquarium, with over 500 different marine species). This is a perfect place for whoever wishes to experience the wonders of art and science in a rare and innovative way. If you can, grab the chance to indulge in one of Spain’s most popular cities while making the best of your studies at the same time. It will make your University experience that little bit extra special.

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Health

Sleep Disorders | The Dos and Don’ts of Keeping Yourself Motivated | Half-baked Judgment of Tanning Bed Users

Edited by Danielle Almond | health@platform-online.net

“I woke up completely paralysed”

The suffering which could potentially be affecting millions during their sleep

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As the severity of sleep disorders is making more and more news headlines, Danielle Almond investigates our relationship with these perplexing complaints > Photo by Saira MacLeod

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Health

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

Have you ever woke up and not realised what you’ve done? Have you later had a wave of guilt sweep over you as you comprehend your actions from the night before? For some of us this happens quite regularly as the result of a big night out and usually the worst you’ve done is kiss someone you perhaps shouldn’t have. But for one unfortunate man the consequences from the night before were far more serious, life changing, yet he hadn’t even left the house nor had a drop to drink.

On the morning of July 26th 2008 Brian Thomas, a normal man from Swansea, woke up to find his wife dead beside him. After having a nightmare that he was fighting with a burglar, it came to light that Mr. Thomas had, in fact, murdered his own wife in their bed.

find the whole thing scary and annoying at the same time. The only thing I can do is force myself to stay awake for a while and pick myself up out of bed and occupy my mind for a while.” After researching her problem Ashley found it was best to look for patterns in when it happened. “I noticed first that, almost always it happens when I am sleeping in the house alone. In fact I can’t remember it ever happening when someone else was in the house. Also, it happens a lot if there has been some sort of negativity in my life. But the biggest thing I have noticed is that it always happens after I wake up for a while and try to fall back to sleep. Like my body is trying to stop me from over sleeping.”

Ebrahim says, “There are effective treatments for insomnia. If it is not caused by another sleep disorder, and is purely non organic, then the most effective treatment is a short course of medication combined with cognitive behaviour therapy, to change their thinking and restore their normal sleep-wake cycle.” Despite the prevalence of sleep disorders, reports have recently started circulating claiming that the disorders which can plague the lives of those that suffer are being dramatically under diagnosed and in many cases simply dismissed. Misdiagnosis is common with those having trouble sleeping often simply being labelled as lazy or clumsy when they fail to perform during the day.

“When it happens I’m always sleeping, I know I’m sleeping, and I wake up during my dream. The same thing happens every time: I can’t move at all, I am completely paralysed. This scares me into frantically trying to wake myself up.”

The truth is rather than a rage fuelled domestic fight Mr. Thomas suffered from chronic sleep disorder called automatism and was known to make In the end, meals in his sleep and once even went Ashley found a swimming without knowing it. However, simple solution it was on this one occasion that Mr. to her problem. Thomas’s night time escapades took a “After reading far more sinister turn, resulting in the something that untimely death of his beloved wife. said it helps to blink, and Of course incidences like this are occasionally extreme and incredibly rare, yet sleep when you do and disorders are possibly more common open your eyes than you think with 10 million people again you may be in the UK suffering from one type of completely awake. sleep disorder to another. It works for me almost all the Dr Irshaad Ebrahim from the London time. It just takes Sleep Centre says “A sleep disorder is a couple of tries anything that causes clinically signifito get myself cant symptoms, in sleep or from sleep awake” during the day. There are 84 classified sleep disorders with the most common There are many different sleep disorders being insomnia.” and finding a way of treating them is almost unique to every individual Despite the high prevalence of sleep however in treating the most common disorders, in the majority of cases sleep disorder, insomnia, Dr Ebrahim people only suffer mildly. However, for says “ Insomnia refers to a condition, those who are affected a bit more, action short term or long term, where there needs to be taken. Take the case of Ashis an inability to initiate or maintain ley, a student from Southampton who sleep. Insomnia may be acute, which has been experiencing disordered sleep is commonly associated with stress, or for years now. chronic, where someone can’t establish a pattern of sleep over a long period of Speaking of her experiences Ashley says, time. This may make them vulnerable to “When it happens I’m always sleeping, I day time tiredness and fatigue, they are know I’m sleeping and I wake up during also vulnerable to depression, anxiety my dream. The same thing happens and infections as their immune system every time, I can’t move at all, I am comcan be affected.” pletely paralysed. This scares me into frantically trying to wake myself up. I But there is hope for those suffering, Dr.

The British Journal of Hospital Medicine has even reported the UK as slow to develop its understanding of sleeping disorders compared to other countries that are treating a higher proportion of patients than the UK. Sleep expert Andrew Cummin puts this down to training explaining, “One problem is that there has been relatively little training in sleep medicine in this country – certainly there is no structured training for sleep physicians.”

Although it’s true that sleep disorders are common and can be harrowing for those unfortunate to suffer severely, it should be remembered that cases like that of Brian Thomas are extremely rare. But, as the medical profession struggles to catch up with countries that are more advanced in their research and treatment of sleep disorders, and the law continues to see claims of sleep disorders as the actions blatantly guilty parties clutching at straws to find potential loophole in the system, when will they be treated with the legitimacy they deserve?

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Health

The Dos and Don’ts of Keeping Yourself Motivated Despite now being at Uni studying a course you’re supposed to be interested in, for most the whole process has now sadly become a means to an end, making it hard to keep yourself motivated in your subject area. Rachel Campbell talks us through the best ways to combat demotivation.

taring at a blank computer screen? Making endless notes and not really taking in any of the content? Is your mind constantly drifting to other things unrelated to the work at hand? These are just a few classic signs of de-motivation that students everywhere suffer when struggling to stick to their university deadlines.

The time when the work needs to be completed seems so far away until you realise that it has to be in by 2pm the next day. Panic stricken you run to the nearest computer and cram in as many words as possible in the next 24 hours until your eyes hurt. De-motivation is something that we sometimes cannot control, but if we set our minds to it, motivating ourselves to a task can be easier than it seems. Here are a few tips for you suffering students out there on how to motivate yourself: Do make sure you are relaxed and in a calm environment, free from distractions. Don’t tell yourself that you can do it one day. Maybe you can but it will not bring the results that you really want. Do set yourself targets for each day, even if it’s just an hour or two a day, you will feel less stressed and managing your time will allow you to complete the work to the best of your ability. Don’t sit in a room surrounded by other people watching TV or doing other things. You will easily become preoccupied and lose track on your work pace. Do give yourself a break. Spending too long looking at a computer screen can make you lose focus so by giving yourself a break during periods of work will keep your attention and means you will spend less time procrastinating on Facebook or YouTube.

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Don’t feel bad on yourself if your course friends have completed more revision than you or finished an essay. Work to your own goals in order for your work to be successful. Do stick to your aims and reward yourself when you have completed them. Even if it’s just a trip to the cinema or a night out, you will feel good knowing that you have achieved your goals and are one step closer to the finish. So when you’re sat at home looking at the blank word document, remember these key points in order to help you finish.

Other Resources to help with your study worries: http://www.ntu.ac.uk/sss/self_help/14249gp.html - A helpful Guide on how to concentrate and motivate yourself http://www.bmb.psu.edu/courses/psu16/troyan/studyskills/general.htm - More study tips to help you along the way.

Half-Baked Judgment of Tanning Bed Users Okay, so it’s the holidays and you’re about to jet off to lie on the beach in the sun. Towel? Check. Bikini/Trunks? Check. Tan? Check. Skin Cancer? Amy Howbrook tells us the dangers a quick sun tan top up have for our health.

tan always gives a healthy and attractive look, but are you prepared to die for one?

Despite almost continuous warnings about the increased risk of skin cancer from tanning beds, a large percentage of people, particularly girls in their late teens and early twenties, will book an appointment at a tanning salon to get that gorgeous sun-kissed glow. The question is why? Is it simply ignorance of the possibly fatal consequences? Or are people simply too vain to care about tomorrow as long as they look good today? While it’s true that almost anyone can suffer from skin cancer; a study in July of 2009, revealed that the risk of skin cancer rose by a shocking 75% in those people that used tanning salons before the age of 30; and according to ‘Cancer. gov’ almost 90% of all cases of skin cancer can be traced back to UV radiation exposure. Even a short session on a tanning bed will damage the skin, and

increase the risk of cancer. Imagine a piece of bread. Lightly toasted, it looks appetising, but look closer; the surface of the bread has been irreparably damaged. It has become rough and dry. Imagine that piece of bread is your skin, the toaster is the tanning bed; the effect is still the same. Your skin will become dry and flaky but, unlike toast, skin regenerates. The skin is completely replaced approximately every 27 days. Skin cells are divided and copied. If some cells are damaged, then this damage is also copied and as more skin is replaced, the damage multiplies. It follows that the younger you are, the more times this regeneration will occur in your life - increasing the risk of any damage spreading. Although the UV rays in the tanning booths are much stronger than the

ones emitted from the sun, care should also be taken when out and about. Make sure you cover up and apply a high factor sun-cream regularly to reduce the possibility of skin cancer. There are plenty of alternatives to tanning booths. Fake tan is a great way to look good, and most salons will do a spray tan, giving you the glow, without the skin cancer. Don’t kill yourself for a tan. For more information about skin cancer, or its relation to tanning booths, check out The National Cancer Institute, or other websites, such as; http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/ azhealthtopics/a/tanboothworthit.htm http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Skin/Skincancer.aspx http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/skincancer/index.htm

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Gaming Through the Eyes of a 3D Filter | Darksiders | Bayonetta | ModNation Racers

Through the Eyes of a 3D Filter

Aaron Lee questions whether 3D gaming is really worth all the hubbub >

| Nottingham Trent Students Union Magazine

[Photos: CES 2010 by David Berkowitz, nanpalmero & LGEPR, all ÂŠ 2010 Creative Commons]

Edited by Aaron Lee | gaming@platform-online.net

ver the past 18 months there has been a resurgence of 3D technology. There was much talk of 3D at last year’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES), with big players Nvidia, Sony and Panasonic all stepping up to make 3D the next technology trend. And with a wave of 3D films last year, including Toy Story, Coraline, Monsters vs. Aliens, and, of course, James Cameron’s Avatar, Hollywood’s resolve would appear to have been solidified. Last month, at CES, 3D was again the buzzword of the show and nowhere was this more apparent than with Sony, who announced an upcoming firmware update would enable PS3 to output in 3D. Films are one thing, but has anyone stopped to ask whether consumers really want to play games in 3D? Or, for that matter, whether they’re willing to make the effort? Traditionally video game hardware has always followed a pattern of appealing to early adopters before cracking the mainstream market. Nintendo’s Wii bucked this pattern and, since the Wii has no HD capabilities, has created an interesting divide among today’s gamers. Namely, those that have entered the HD era and those that have not.

“ Can 3D

really be applied to gaming without causing intense eye strain? ”

The last time I was well and truly stunned (to the point of standing still wide-eyed in incredulity for several long seconds) by advancements in video game visuals was when I caught a glimpse of PGR3 running in HD for the first time in early 2006. The difference between high definition and standard definition is startling and something you can’t appreciate until you’ve witnessed it yourself firsthand. For those in the know, HD has certainly been a paradigm shift for the artistic and storytelling potential of interactive entertainment - Uncharted 2 and BioShock are two prime examples. However, the comparatively slow uptake of Blu-ray over DVD, and the fact that some HDTV owners still have no idea that you require an HDMI or component cable to receive standard HD (720p) visuals, shows that many consumers are yet to reap the benefits. So, the thrifty, AV illiterate Wii audience is a good indication of the (lukewarm) reception 3D gaming is likely to receive among mainstream consumers.

In order to enjoy the comeback of 3D you will need more than just firmware updates to your home console. A TV able to broadcast stereoscopic visuals and, naturally, 3D glasses will both be necessities. Demos of Gran Turismo 5, Super Stardust HD and Avatar: The Game were sampled by CES attendees at Sony’s booth. Responses from industry insiders tended to lean toward scepticism. Although these were prototypes there are still many unanswered questions before mass 3D gaming can become a reality in consumer homes - for starters, can 3D really be applied to all the genres and viewpoints of gaming without causing intense eye strain?

If they can work out the kinks, it’s the games that will decide if 3D gaming is to survive. But what will 3D bring to gameplay? If publishers intend to recycle the same franchises we’ve been seeing for the past 15 years, with ‘Now in 3D’ replacing motion control as the newest gimmick, then the faster this technology goes the way of HD DVD and Betamax the better. Innovative new games that use it to enhance the interactive experience are vital. It may currently be hailed as one of the greatest cinematic works of the 21st century, but one Avatar 3D viewer I spoke to described the film as “pretty much Pocahontas with tall Smurfs,” which seems more than a little ironic. If 3D is to be part of the future of games, then I hope more can be said for them beyond just being the latest trend.

For more opinions and observations head over to

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Gaming

Game Reviews Darksiders (PS3, Xbox 360)

Publisher: THQ Released: Out Now

arksiders is THQ’s new action adventure game where you play as War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The game thrusts you straight into the action from the very beginning with the first level being Armageddon itself, and War is sent to Earth to battle both angels and demons alike.

Darksiders’ story see’s War trying to clear his name after being accused of causing the end of the world prematurely. The game is steeped in Christian mythology with a stylised comic book twist. Some plot devices and characters are taken from the Bible itself, but remain very accessible and cool. It ticks most of the boxes you would expect for a revenge story and it’s relatively easy to follow. Although it doesn’t push many storytelling boundaries, it’s still satisfying. Comic book artist, Joe Madureira, served as the creative director and as result the visual style of the characters and environments will be instantly recognisable to any comic book fans. Enemies are incredibly detailed and stylised. Perhaps one of the biggest draws is the unique art style of Darksiders which, in many ways, sets it apart from other action adventure games. As far as gameplay goes, Darksiders consists of a mixture of combat, exploring and puzzle solving. For any fans of the Zelda series the dungeons and boss fights will be very familiar. You come to a new area, solve some puzzles, collect a new item or weapon and then fight a boss. It worked for Zelda, and it works for Darksiders. Puzzle elements are reminiscent of hack-n’-slash king, God of War, with their own twist. The mix of puzzles and combat works very well to pace the game through its 10-15 hour adventure.

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Helping you unlock abilities is your friendly neighbourhood demon merchant, Vulgrim. Like in God of War, you will gain souls for each enemy you kill. These souls can then be exchanged for new upgrades, such as draining health from your enemies with your sword or turning War’s skin to stone for obvious defensive enhancements. All these play into the game’s sense of progression throughout, as all adventure games should, by the end of the game you feel truly powerful. You will also be reunited with your horse, Ruin, a flaming steed of the apocalypse who can be summoned whenever you are outside to traverse the open world at speed. Whilst riding Ruin your melee attacks will be greatly improved and you can also blow enemies away with your four-barrelled pistol, like a mythological gunslinger. That pretty much sums up everything that’s great about Darksiders: a deep, interesting lore crossed with the over-thetop madness of the visual comic book style. Vigil Games very much achieves the tone it set out to capture. If you are a fan of fantasy, action adventure games, then Darksiders is very much the game for you. Stuart Kent

Bayonetta (PS3, Xbox 360)

Publisher: Sega Released: Out Now

hy? People confine their own freedoms with such a droning, one-word question. How about why not? Why not pitch the player as an over-sexualised witch, wearing a suit formed by her hair, who can turn into a panther, use her hair to spawn monstrous behemoths, perform majestic acrobatics, and bring it all together to fight angels? This is Bayonetta: why the hell not?

You’ll love everything about the game… except for the plot. The storyline is ridiculous, but it’s a hell of an excuse for some kickass action. And when you start seeing in-game references to Resident Evil 4, Viewtiful Joe and even Sonic, you can’t help but crack a small nostalgic grin. Director of Devil May Cry, Hideki Kamiya, isn’t known just for his stories though; it is the gameplay that truly shines through. If you don’t care for context sensitive cutscenes or fast hack-n’-slash combat, prepare for more of the same. That does make it sound somewhat negative, but play it and you’ll love it for one simple reason: you actually feel in control. Controlling Bayonetta, the graceful, hyper-confident witch, is extremely tight and perfectly balanced. Attacks and the combo system are both simplistic and complex, they start off easy and you feel compelled to learn many more (if only through the loading screen ‘training area’). Player customisation extends to attaching a weapon to each individual limb (six-inch death heels included), creating masses of opportunities for hundreds of different combos and fighting styles to match each gamer. You also feel genuine progress and true knowledge of the game’s workings as you progress. A testament to this can be found as you progress later into the game, an enemy that was a level-end boss earlier is merely a stopgap now. The difficulty curve is pitched just right to not be too gradual or too steep. A new gameplay mechanic that rightfully deserves to be highlighted is Witch Time. When you evade an attack successfully, you will enter a slow-motion phase for a few seconds to pummel

your enemies into pieces. This definitely works: first for the character because it promotes you to share the “toying with the enemy” mentality she holds, and it shifts the playing field in your favour temporarily. This, along with the insanely over-thetop, but oh-so-sweet torture attacks, adds some brilliant depth to this already impressive title. Nothing feels insurmountable or impossible in Bayonetta. It’s a benchmark for beat-’em-up gameplay. One gripe would be the over-sexualising of it all. Everything from attacking

enemies by spinning around a pole in a provocative manner, to having a pose/ taunt button in-game. Some would call it parody, but some of it does come across creepier than funny. What we are presented with here is not a question of why, but of why not? Through this, Platinum Games have shattered the boundaries of what we expect from an action game. Bayonetta is a juggernaut, tantalising aesthetics, some not-so-subtle nods to retro classics, and some of the best gameplay of this generation. Near flawless in quality. A definitive title, that blows Kratos and Ryu out of the water. Jason England

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Gaming

It’s all toys, circuits and kart racing with ‘ModNation Racers’ for PS3. Aaron Lee reports.

mpowering users has rapidly become a key selling point for games. ModNation Racers is the latest title in what Sony have dubbed the ‘play, create, share’ genre. Vancouver-based United Front Games are behind this upcoming PS3 kart racer. In the same way that LittleBigPlanet allows users to create their own platform levels, this game gives users the power to design and build their own racetracks.

In development since October 2007, ModNation Racers is putting a fresh spin on the typically cutesy, but sometimes shallow, kart racing genre. The game’s art style has been heavily inspired by urban vinyl toys, from manufacturers such as Kidrobot and Toy2R, and has found its way into everything from the character and kart creation system to the graffiti art dotted about the backgrounds.

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Where some complained you needed monk-like patience and a head for physics in order to craft skilled levels with LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers aims to have players of all ages creating racetracks in minutes. Track creation is very easy thanks to the game’s real-time track generator. You drive a machine that lays track as you go, automatically adjusting the terrain to the gradient of your pitch and direction. Once you’re

happy with the general structure of the course, you can edit parts in detail and begin to add finishing touches, for instance power-ups, trees, buildings and other trackside elements. United Front are confident that they are delivering a title with immense creative potential. Speaking in an interview with UK games publication, Edge, producer Dan Sochan said: “We really want to make it so that our tools have that depth to it. Our road editing tools are basic and really simple if you just point and stretch the track, but then there’s a more advanced version that allows you to tweak corners and everything else.” Does this stylish kart racer and its Munny-like characters have the potential to become PlayStation’s customisable answer to Mario Kart? Last month we got behind the wheel of ModNation Racers in the game’s European beta trial (read our extended ModNation Racers feature at www.platform-online.net for more in-depth impressions and judgement). From late December to mid-January, a public beta was also arranged for US residents. Ramone Russell, community manager at Sony’s San Diego Studio, reported that “there were over 95,000 total races played during the beta” and that “more than 90% of the [customisable] parts” were locked out. Considering the range of the creations - I came across a Sweet Tooth mod on David Jaffe’s blog, not to mention several other famous faces dotted around the web - that users have already been making with the restricted, though highly flexible, toolset, this is manifesting into another awfully deep customizer’s dream, one that may well spawn something akin to Forza’s paint community. It’s not quite track-ready yet, but ModNation Racers is bringing plenty of sparkle to the kart racing genre. After years of Mario Kart-clones, surely, that can only be a good thing? Look out for the full review of ModNation Racers later this year on www.platform-online.net.

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Sports The Cry of the Tiger | Gym Workout Special Edited by James Haigh | sports@platform-online.net

The Cry of the Tiger The game of golf is to suffer the most from Tiger Woods’ fall from grace, according to Seb Walke. Tiger Woods is one of the most successful sportsmen of all time. But recent revelations about his private life have tarnished his god-like reputation and have put his golfing career in doubt. This promises to have a devastating effect on the future of golf. When Woods won his first Major at Augusta at the age of 20, the image of golf began to change. Woods did not simply win; he destroyed the rest of the field by a record margin of 12 strokes. Since that win in 1996, Woods has gone on to win a total 93 tournaments worldwide, including 14 majors. He is the most naturally gifted golfer ever to play the game, earning over $92 million on the PGA Tour. If Woods plays well, he wins. Yet he is not only the most naturally gifted, he is also the model professional. Only Roger Federer in the sporting world can be compared to him. But stories of numerous affairs with a variety of women have seen the richest sportsman in the world suffer a dramatic fall from grace. His marriage to model Elin Woods is now in serious doubt and as a result Woods has announced that he is taking an ‘indefinite’ break from golf. No one can be sure when, or if, Woods will return to the sport he has dominated for over a decade, which is terrible news for the game of golf. So much golf coverage on TV focuses on Woods and what he is doing. Televised tournaments show every shot he takes, with the other players being used to fill the time when Woods is not playing. With Woods not around, who will they focus on? Who will interest the audiences? Who will people pay money to go and see? Golf is full of talented players, like Phil Mickelson and Rory

McIlroy, but there is only one superstar. If Woods’ absence is prolonged or even dare I say it permanent, the effects on the game of golf will be dramatic. Sponsorship, television deals, and tickets sold for events depend so much on Woods that without him the game of golf will seriously struggle. He is a genius, a sporting god and the main attraction in golf. This was highlighted in November 2009 when Woods was paid $3.3 million to play in the JBWere Masters, held at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, Australia. As a result, the event was sold out for the first time. Some people simply go to watch golf to see Tiger Woods. The same can be said for television viewers. It will come as no surprise if television audience figures and attendances’ at golf events noticeably fall in the coming months, as the US PGA Tour starts up again this month. If football lost Ronaldo, or tennis lost Federer the impact would not be this dramatic. The recent events surrounding golf’s world number one are tragic. Woods was seen as the perfect role model for aspiring young golfers. He was the icon of golf. If he does return, his career will never be the same. His status in world sport is such that people will not allow him to forget what he has done. He will always now be associated with scandal. With the Ryder Cup coming up in the autumn, the game of golf is set for an interesting year. Woods’ absence will certainly be a boost for the European team, but not for the fans. Despite the scandal, the American team will no doubt be desperate to have Woods on their side come September.

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Sports

Sports Editor James Haigh

ello and welcome to February’s special gym workout edition of Platform Sports – entirely dedicated to fitness freaks, rapid runners, muscle men and those just trying to lose that Christmas weight. We’ve provided you all with an ultimate and unique workout plan that will see you transform your bulging belly into menacing muscles – you lucky dogs.

The Ultimate Workout:

Must-know fact:

Dumbbell Bench Press

Blueberry lifesaver:

Kick off your session with this easy move that will quickly build muscle around your biceps (arms) and pecs (chest).

Drinking a daily glass of blueberry juice can cut out your risk of diabetes, according to scientists at Prince Edward University in Canada.

(fig. 1)

The chemicals in the small round fruits regulate insulin production and stabalise blood-sugar.

First pick a set of dumbbells that feel comfortable. Beginners should start with 6-8 kg, while more advanced users should use 10-12 kg. by your side.

Now is the opportunity to get healthy for 2010 – let us begin:

Lie down flat on the bench while holding the weights at shoulder height by your side. They should be pointing out at a 90-degree angle, level with your ears (see fig 1). Carefully raise them above your head, and then slowly bring them back down

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Aim to start with 12 reps, then choose a slightly heavier set of weights and complete 10 reps. Afterwards pick another heavily dumbbell set and do 8 reps. This is called “Pyramiding” and will give your muscles a quicker and more noticeable result.

Must-know fact:

(fig. 4)

Must-know fact:

Can you hear that Broccoli?

Shove McDonalds, we’re going for a walk:

Eating your broccoli has never been so beneficial – as it can cut hearing loss by as much as 20 per cent.

Walking 15-minutes a day can cut your desire for junk food, according to scientists at Exeter University.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology discovered that folic acid in green vegetables helps with ear cell generation – but this isn’t an excuse to turn that garage music up!

Dumbbell Pectorals Flys

(fig. 2)

A very similar move to the bench press – but you will end up with a Schwarzenegger chest.

As quoted above, we will be trying the “Pyramiding” move, to stretch your pec muscles to their limits.

Beginners should first use 6-8 kilogram dumbbells, advanced users may try 10-12 kilos. Lie down flat on the bench, with the weights straight above your head pointing at a 180-degree angle towards your feet (see fig 2). Slowly lower the dumbbells down beside your side, still maintaining that 180degree angle (see fig 2). Finally, move the weights back up to the starting position. Repeat this twice more, following the Pyramid effect move (12 reps, 10 reps heavier weight, 8 reps heavier weight).

Apparently a brisk walk regulates the chemicals in your brain that crave food.

Bicep Curls – otherwise known as Crazy 21s While there is nothing crazy about this next move, it will give you some pretty wild looking guns. In the words of Ron Burgundy, “these swans are sick!” This is a simple and extremely effective exercise – a definite essential in any gym workout session. Move the larger part of the bench up to a 90-degree angle, (see fig 4), and choose a dumbbell that suits you - beginners can use five kg, advanced users use around eight kg. Hold the weight in your right hand and place your arm over the upright bench – make sure that your bicep is lying on the bench surface (see fig 4). To begin the workout, gradually lift the dumbbell up, to the bottom of your chin, and down again, to the bench surface. Once you have done these 21-times, change to your left-hand and repeat. Remember, the longer you do it, the harder it gets, but the results are quick!

The Press-Up The classics are always the best – a sentiment that rings true in this easy-to-do upper-body workout.

(fig. 3)

Widen your shoulders and get that coveted six-pack all in one swift move. Here’s how: Get into the press-up position, (see fig 3), with your hands pointing straight ahead of you and slightly wider than your shoulders. Gently lower your body down and hold for two-to-three seconds. It’s vital that you keep your back straight and flat. Push yourself back up to the starting position and hold for three seconds. Complete 10 push-ups in total, have a one-minute interval, and then repeat this whole process two-more-times.

The Sit-Up Ever wanted to know how Peter Andre got that washboard stom(fig. 5) ach in the Mysterious Girl video? Look no further, here’s the secret tip – and it’s easier than you may think. For this exercise you will need an exercise ball and medicine ball – almost all gyms have them but you might need to ask someone if unsure. Start by sitting on the exercise ball, pitching directly on the small of your back, (between your waist and your arse). This will give you the correct balance and ensure you work the right part of your stomach muscles. Holding the medicine ball above your head, (see fig 5), gently move your arms and torso back simultaneously, (again see fig 5). You will feel your abs (medical term: rector abdominals) straining. A tense burning sensation means that you’re doing it correctly. Then gradually move your torso back to the starting position. As you get more practiced, try holding the medicine ball further behind your head. Try to achieve 12 reps – anymore and you may damage your back. After you finish, have a one-minute interval and repeat process another two more times.

Must-know fact: Sheer-bench safety: Don’t put your feet up on the bench when lifting weights. It may feel better for your back, but if you fall, you’re well and truly fecked. Instead, dig your legs and feet into the ground and press down on the small of your back. It will have the same effect, and you won’t be risking your face.