Latest news with #MagicCarpet
The Guardian
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Plaything – how Black Mirror took on its scariest ever subject: a 1990s PC games magazine
Out of all the episodes in the excellent seventh season of Black Mirror, it's Plaything that sticks out to me and I suspect to anyone else who played video games in the 1990s. It's the story of socially awkward freelance games journalist, Cameron Walker, who steals the code to a new virtual pet sim named Thronglets from the developer he's meant to be interviewing. When he gets the game home, he realises the cute, intelligent little critters he's caring for on the screen have a darker ambition than simply to perform for his amusement – cue nightmarish exploration of AI and our complicity in its rise. The episode is interesting to me because … well, I was a socially awkward games journalist in the mid-1990s. But more importantly, so was Charlie Brooker. He began his writing career penning satirical features and blistering reviews for PC Zone magazine, one of the two permanently warring PC mags of the era (I shared an office with the other, PC Gamer). In Plaything, it's PC Zone that Cameron Walker writes for, and there are several scenes taking place in its office, which in the programme is depicted as a reasonably grownup office space with tidy computer workstations and huge windows. I do not think the production design team got this vision from Brooker. 'Zone had far less of the corporate workplace feel than the episode showed, and much more of a kids in the basement, youth club-cum-nightclub vibe to it,' says Paul Presley, who worked on PC Zone at the time. 'It was a handful of messy, cluttered desks stuck in a windowless basement office round the back of Oxford Street (later Tottenham Court Road). We'd have killed for floor-to-ceiling windows! Editorial, art and production were all on top of each other, music blasting from the office stereo, usually furnished by the neighbouring Metal Hammer magazine. Desks were personal spaces, overflowing with paper, mags, trinkets, swag and tons and tons of CDs.' In the sake of journalistic thoroughness, I also contacted another PC Zone alumnus Richie Shoemaker for his recollections. 'Although there were windows along one side, they were below street level and smeared with London grime,' he says. 'The sills were piled high with dusty magazines, broken joysticks and likely-empty game boxes. It was perpetual night for the best part of eight years down there.' The episode was more accurate on the games themselves – the first scene in the office shows Cam playing Doom, when the editor comes over, shows him the front cover of the latest issue of the mag with System Shock on the cover, then asks Cameron if he's finished his review of Bullfrog's classic adventure game Magic Carpet. '[Plaything] is good on the timelines,' says Shoemaker. 'Playing Doom in the office was of course standard – although when I joined the team Quake was the lunchtime and afterwork deathmatch of choice. The Magic Carpet review did appear in the issue after System Shock (which was actually Charlie's first cover review), but it got 96%, not 93% and was written by launch editor Paul Lakin – who went on to work at the Foreign Office.' He also reckons the episode's grizzled old editor might have been inspired by then deputy editor, Chris Anderson, who according to Shoemaker was 'quite a vampiric character who seemed to exist on a diet of cigarettes and Ultima Online.' Most fascinating to me though is the inspirational origin of the Thronglets virtual pet game. Most reviewers have been referencing Tamagotchi, the keychain pet toy that took the world by storm int the late 90s. Brooker himself has referenced it in an interview. However, a much more likely candidate was the 1996 title Creatures, in which players cared for generations of cuddly-looking critters. Although it looked like a cutesy pet game it was in fact a highly sophisticated artificial life experiment, created by the distinctly sci-fi-sounding CyberLife Technology. Players needed to try to establish breeding populations of the creatures – called norns – but your control over them was limited as they were coded with advanced neural networks and had functioning internal bodily systems regulating their behaviours and physical abilities. CyberLife made a big deal of the complexity and experimental nature of the game: the box came with a warning sticker stating 'Digital DNA Enclosed' and the blurb on the back cautioned players that they would be unleashing the world's first artificial life-science experiment – which is exactly what Plaything is about. Creatures creator Steve Grand bears similarities to the Plaything (and Bandersnatch) coder Colin Ritman. He was a programmer who got tired of conventional games and wanted to try something extremely new. He went on to write a book about Creatures and its development, Creation: Life and How to Make It, and later became an internationally renowned roboticist, famously developing a robot orangutan. Surely the most Black Mirror career trajectory ever. In 2011, he started work on a spiritual follow-up to Creatures named Grandroids, which like Thronglets was about developing a race of intelligent AI aliens – Grand launched a Kickstarter for it in 2016. The project has yet to surface although Grand has a new website for it under the name Phantasia. All very intriguing. This is one of the things I love about Black Mirror, and indeed the use of technology and video games in conventional drama: this is an arcane world full of eccentric people no one outside the industry has heard of, yet the toys they make have massive ramifications. Personally, I wanted to see a lot more of the PC Zone as imagined by the programme, but I understand that the sinister Thronglets were the real focus. Maybe one day there will be a full Silicon Valley-style drama series about the games industry in the 1990s – it was a hell of a time. For now, it's interesting to see the world both Brooker and I inhabited being used as the venue for dystopian fiction – even if they really did get it completely wrong about those windows.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
8 of the best Norwegian fjords cruise holidays
If picturesque views and clear waters float your boat, then a cruise along the Norwegian fjords could be worth considering for your next holiday. There are more than 1,700 named fjords in Norway, made up of mesmerising green cliffs, clear waters and dramatic waterfalls. The best views can be obtained from the water, making a Norwegian fjords cruise an ideal holiday option. You could watch the sunset on deck in the winter or stay up for the midnight sun in the summer. There will also be ample opportunities to see the northern lights, with clearer skies from a ship compared to the shore. Passengers will get to visit colourful and historic villages and take rigs to get up-close to the waterfalls. You can even hop on a cable car to the top of some of the mountains to experience dramatic aerial views. Many cruise ships visit the fjords, giving sailors choices of luxury and adult-only iteniraries or kid-friendly voyages to share the views and memories with all members of the family. Here are some of the best Norwegian fjords cruises for 2025. Read more: Best cruise deals for 2025 Set off from Southampton for the Norwegian fjords via Bruges for a 12-night round trip. A day feasting on chocolate and waffles will help prepare for a feast for the eyes once you hit the fjords. The Nordic adventure starts in Flam on the world's longest and deepest fjord and the voyage also includes a day sailing through the Arctic Circle. This will give passengers social media-worthy pictures of both green and snow-packed mountains. The 2,900-capacity Celebrity Apex is a great ship to experience the Norwegian fjords from, especially if you grab a table in the Magic Carpet restaurant and bar. Its glass platform goes up and down on the side of the ship, providing unique scenic views. Departs 5 June. From £1,801pp. Start from Portsmouth for a 16-night adventure to enjoy the Norwegian fjords by day and search for the northern lights at night. Sailing aboard Saga Cruises' Spirit of Discovery, you will get two sea days to settle in before reaching northern lights hotspot Alesund. The over-50s brand includes four excursions in its fares such as a visit to the Arctic Cathedral – an aluminium structure in the shape of an iceberg in Tromso – and entry to the Northern Lights Cathedral and borealis museum in Alta. Representatives from conservation charity Orca will also be onboard, helping guests spot and learn about local wildlife. Departs 24 February. From £4,699pp. Depart from the convenient UK port of Southampton with P&O Cruises. Many of the ships in the P&O Cruises fleet visit the Nordic region. But this seven-day sailing aboard Iona gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to the fjords. Port stops include former European Capital of Culture Stavanger and Olden, where passengers can visit the biggest glacier in mainland Europe, Jostedalsbreen. The sites and scenery of the fjords can also be enjoyed on land or from Iona's 41 metre-long luminous glass-roofed SkyDome. The ship also has four pools, a multiplex cinema and eight dining venues covering international flavours such as Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. There is even a British gastropub, The Keel & Cow. As a British brand, passengers also have the convenience of English plug sockets and being able to pay in sterling onboard. Departs 3 May. From £779pp. Start with scenery and end in the sun on this 14-day sailing with Scenic. This voyage starts from Bergen in Norway before visiting Stavanger, where passengers can take a three-hour boat ride through the majestic Lysefjord. The cruise finishes in the warmer climate of Lisbon via Vilagarcía de Arousa in Spain. With capacity for 228 passengers, Scenic provides a small luxury ship experience with suites and a personalised butler service for every cruiser. The ship's size means it can get closer to the fjords and you can even enjoy views from the ship's bridge. Departs 11 September. From £11,004 per person. Fancy a whiste-stop tour of Norway? Hurtigruten has four-day sailings that visit 16 ports along Norway's west coast including the Arctic Circle. The packed schedule will take you to the picturesque fishing villages of Lofoten Islands and along the famous seascapes of the Helgeland coast. Regular departures 2025. From £517pp. Fred Olsen has Norwegian heritage, making it a great brand to visit the fjords with. This nine-night sailing from Southampton aboard Balmoral is also a good way to see the fjords. It is the smallest ship in the fleet, meaning you can get close to the clearwaters and must-see locations such as the 612 metre-high Langfoss Waterfall in Akrafjorden, You will also find the Olsen Art Studio onboard, where passengers are welcome to paint pictures of the scenery as they sail. Departs 1 April. From £1,088pp. Ambassador Cruise Line is adult-only for much of the year but does offer a few multi-generational sailings so that grandparents, parents, kids and grandkids can spend quality time together. There is no kids' club on board, with a focus on family activities. Enjoying the scenery of the Norwegian fjords is a great shared experience for all members of the family and this seven-night sailing from Dundee could be the perfect summer holiday treat. Sailing aboard Ambassador's newest ship Ambition, the cruise visits the towering mountains and cascading waterfalls of Eidfjord, as well as the colourful houses of Bergen and Flam, where a trip through the mountains on the Flam Railway is sure to generate multi-generational memories. Departs 31 July. From £1,369pp. Viking Cruises is another Norwegian brand bringing a genuine Nordic experience to the fjords. Its ships even have a resident historian onboard and the subjects on this eight-day sailing include lectures on the mediieval defence network known as the Hanseatic League, as well as the Vikings. That should get your imagination going as you enjoy the historical waters that these people once sailed and the scenery they saw in places such Kristiansand, Stavanger and Flam. Departs 24 August. From £7,490pp. Read more: How to experience Africa's wildest coastline from the comfort of your balcony
The Independent
31-01-2025
- The Independent
8 of the best Norwegian fjords cruise holidays
If picturesque views and clear waters float your boat, then a cruise along the Norwegian fjords could be worth considering for your next holiday. There are more than 1,700 named fjords in Norway, made up of mesmerising green cliffs, clear waters and dramatic waterfalls. The best views can be obtained from the water, making a Norwegian fjords cruise an ideal holiday option. You could watch the sunset on deck in the winter or stay up for the midnight sun in the summer. There will also be ample opportunities to see the northern lights, with clearer skies from a ship compared to the shore. Passengers will get to visit colourful and historic villages and take rigs to get up-close to the waterfalls. You can even hop on a cable car to the top of some of the mountains to experience dramatic aerial views. Many cruise ships visit the fjords, giving sailors choices of luxury and adult-only iteniraries or kid-friendly voyages to share the views and memories with all members of the family. Here are some of the best Norwegian fjords cruises for 2025. Southampton - Haugesund - Flam - Olden - Arctic Circle (Cruising) - Tromso - Honningsvag - Arctic Circle (Cruising) - Molde - Stavanger - Southampton Set off from Southampton for the Norwegian fjords via Bruges for a 12-night round trip. A day feasting on chocolate and waffles will help prepare for a feast for the eyes once you hit the fjords. The Nordic adventure starts in Flam on the world's longest and deepest fjord and the voyage also includes a day sailing through the Arctic Circle. This will give passengers social media-worthy pictures of both green and snow-packed mountains. The 2,900-capacity Celebrity Apex is a great ship to experience the Norwegian fjords from, especially if you grab a table in the Magic Carpet restaurant and bar. Its glass platform goes up and down on the side of the ship, providing unique scenic views. Departs 5 June. From £1,801pp. Best for: Day trips Norway and the Northern Lights, Saga Cruises Portsmouth - Ålesund - Trondheim - Tromso - Honningsvåg - Alta - Bergen - Flam - Portsmouth Start from Portsmouth for a 16-night adventure to enjoy the Norwegian fjords by day and search for the northern lights at night. Sailing aboard Saga Cruises ' Spirit of Discovery, you will get two sea days to settle in before reaching northern lights hotspot Alesund. The over-50s brand includes four excursions in its fares such as a visit to the Arctic Cathedral – an aluminium structure in the shape of an iceberg in Tromso – and entry to the Northern Lights Cathedral and borealis museum in Alta. Representatives from conservation charity Orca will also be onboard, helping guests spot and learn about local wildlife. Departs 24 February. From £4,699pp. Best for: Convenient cruising Norwegian Fjords, P&O Cruises Southampton - Stavanger - Ålesund - Olden - Innvikfjorden - Nordfjord - Haugesund - Southampton Depart from the convenient UK port of Southampton with P&O Cruises. Many of the ships in the P&O Cruises fleet visit the Nordic region. But this seven-day sailing aboard Iona gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to the fjords. Port stops include former European Capital of Culture Stavanger and Olden, where passengers can visit the biggest glacier in mainland Europe, Jostedalsbreen. The sites and scenery of the fjords can also be enjoyed on land or from Iona's 41 metre-long luminous glass-roofed SkyDome. The ship also has four pools, a multiplex cinema and eight dining venues covering international flavours such as Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. There is even a British gastropub, The Keel & Cow. As a British brand, passengers also have the convenience of English plug sockets and being able to pay in sterling onboard. Departs 3 May. From £779pp. Best for: Immersive experiences Norway to Portugal, Scenic Bergen - Stavanger - Skagen - Copenhagen - Kiel Canal - Scheveningen - Honfleur - St Peter Port - Vilagarcía de Arousa - Leixões - Lisbon Start with scenery and end in the sun on this 14-day sailing with Scenic. This voyage starts from Bergen in Norway before visiting Stavanger, where passengers can take a three-hour boat ride through the majestic Lysefjord. The cruise finishes in the warmer climate of Lisbon via Vilagarcía de Arousa in Spain. With capacity for 228 passengers, Scenic provides a small luxury ship experience with suites and a personalised butler service for every cruiser. The ship's size means it can get closer to the fjords and you can even enjoy views from the ship's bridge. Departs 11 September. From £11,004 per person. Best for: Nordic experience Lofoten to the West Fjords, Hurtigruten Svolvær - Brønnøysund - Trondheim - Bergen Fancy a whiste-stop tour of Norway? Hurtigruten has four-day sailings that visit 16 ports along Norway's west coast including the Arctic Circle. The packed schedule will take you to the picturesque fishing villages of Lofoten Islands and along the famous seascapes of the Helgeland coast. Regular departures 2025. From £517pp. Best for: Artistic inspiration Springtime Norwegian Fjords, Fred Olsen Southampton - Vikoyri - Sognefjord - Haugesund - Åkrafjord - Eidfjord- Hardangerfjord - Maurangerfjord - Stavanger - Lysefjord - Southampton Fred Olsen has Norwegian heritage, making it a great brand to visit the fjords with. This nine-night sailing from Southampton aboard Balmoral is also a good way to see the fjords. It is the smallest ship in the fleet, meaning you can get close to the clearwaters and must-see locations such as the 612 metre-high Langfoss Waterfall in Akrafjorden, You will also find the Olsen Art Studio onboard, where passengers are welcome to paint pictures of the scenery as they sail. Departs 1 April. From £1,088pp. Best for: Family fun Norway's Fjords Multi-Generational Adventure, Ambassador Cruise Line Dundee - Eidfjord- Bergen - Flam - Sognerfjord - Aurlandsfjord - Newcastle - Dundee Ambassador Cruise Line is adult-only for much of the year but does offer a few multi-generational sailings so that grandparents, parents, kids and grandkids can spend quality time together. There is no kids' club on board, with a focus on family activities. Enjoying the scenery of the Norwegian fjords is a great shared experience for all members of the family and this seven-night sailing from Dundee could be the perfect summer holiday treat. Sailing aboard Ambassador's newest ship Ambition, the cruise visits the towering mountains and cascading waterfalls of Eidfjord, as well as the colourful houses of Bergen and Flam, where a trip through the mountains on the Flam Railway is sure to generate multi-generational memories. Departs 31 July. From £1,369pp. Best for: A genuine taste of Scandinavia Viking Shores & Fjords, Viking Cruises Amsterdam - Skagen - Oslo - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Flam - Bergen Viking Cruises is another Norwegian brand bringing a genuine Nordic experience to the fjords. Its ships even have a resident historian onboard and the subjects on this eight-day sailing include lectures on the mediieval defence network known as the Hanseatic League, as well as the Vikings. That should get your imagination going as you enjoy the historical waters that these people once sailed and the scenery they saw in places such Kristiansand, Stavanger and Flam.
