Xbox One Takes Focus

Due to a huge Xbox One update, two free games and a number of apps became available so I decided to spend the day exploring the update and the new features which included time on a number of games.

Firstly I went on Need For Speed Rivals and scored two unlocks beginning with S Buster (35G) for busting a racer at Heat 5 or greater while Lcnce n Rgstrtn (30G) for busting ten racers using a Mustang.


Next up was a session on Kinect Sports Rivals which included a minor hand injury which came while playing the Tennis as I swung with power and clipped the adjacent bookcase with my middle finger which at this point is still swollen. Two unlocks came from the session beginning with Friend or Foe (10G) for winning a rival challenge while Look ma! (20G) popped up after completing ten no-handed tricks in a single Wake Racing event.

A brief stint on the YouTube app saw four unlocks but as its an app it meant no gamerscore but still counts in my set-up, Do you come here often came as I signed into the app with Push the button coming after liking a video.


Please sir, may I have some more? popped up after subscribing to a channel with Look Mum, I'm on TV! came after uploading a video through the Xbox One.



The first of the free games, Max:The Curse of Brotherhood had installed so I went on to check it out and after about 90 minutes play came away with a staggering 13 unlocks which started with just getting started (15G) for using the Magic Marker 25 times with What Are You Looking At? (5G) popping up after destroying the first five Mustacho Eyes.

Ludicrous Speed (50G) unlocked for reaching the Old Lady in five minutes which took some effort while Clever Boy (25G) popped up for using three drawings to cross the two pillars on Sea of Sand.


Guts and Glory (25G) unlocked after surviving five critter explosions with Hold on Tight (25G) popping up for taming the Spikester.



Lost and Found (5G) unlocked after finding the first piece of the Amulet while Dominos (10G) popped up for safely crossing the Stone Pillars of Black Rock Canyon.


He is The One (10G) unlocked after completing a number of slow-motion events with For Whom the Bell Tolls (10G) ringing in after ringing the Big Bell.


Flipping boxes (10G) unlocked for utilising a box to reacha high ledge which was swiftly followed by Master of Earth (15G) for creating 200 earth pillars.




The session and the day ended with Cant Touch This (25G) for completing a level without dying.

Forza Horizon/Watch Dogs Combine

A split session across the day saw time on both Forza Horizon and Watch Dogs with a single unlock on each with time on the former resulting in Vendetta (20G) for beating 10 rival times in events with Family Man (10G) unlocking on Watch Dogs for completing Act I.

Forza Horizon Goes Online

After a suggestion from a friend, I made a return to Forza Horizon which is a superb spin-off of the classic Forza franchise and spanned the day in a number of sessions that resulted in five unlocks and began with Cruise Club (20G) for completing ten online free roam challenges with Still a Noob... (10G) popping up for completing ten online races.

Just Me and the XP (10G) unlocked after reaching level 25 online and was soon followed by Noob No More (10G) for completing 25 online races.



The night ended with Wheelin' 'n Dealin' (10G) after selling an item using the Design Storefront.

4 Elements II Picks Up

A quick session on 4 Elements II resulted in a single unlock in the shape of Pick It Up (5G) for breaking 300 stones.

May 2014 Summary

May continued the fine run of centuries in 2014 and did so despite a busy month overall and puts me in good stead to beat last year's records.


May 2014 (2013 in brackets )



103 Achievements unlocked (13)
11 Games played  (3)

2001 TA points (163) 
1320 Gamerscore (135)

A spectacular start to the year continues and means the goals for the year can all be met inside the 12 month target.

Watch Dogs Shoots And Tags

An evening session on Watch Dogs saw further progress on a game that I am enjoying more and more as I play with two unlocks coming from the session beginning with Hardware Fail (15G) for shooting tires on 15 different vehicles and was soon joined by Bookmarked (30G) for tagging 100 enemies.

4 Elements II Ignites

A busy day of sorting meant only a short time for gaming so I decided to return to 4 Elements II which resulted in a single unlock in the shape of Ball of Fire (5G) for using Magic Fire 40 times.

Microsoft Taptiles Collects Stars

A quick go on Windows 8 saw a return to Microsoft Taptiles which resulted in two unlocks beginning with Forced Perspective (10G) for completing an Origins pack without rotating which was instantly followed by Astro Logical (10G) for earning 24 stars in Origins mode.

4 Elements II Solves

A busy day meant only a little time to continue the achievement streak resulting in a go on 4 Elements II and the solitary unlock of Puzzle out (10G) for solving 20 puzzles.

Watch Dogs Takes Down

After numerous delays in the last 12 months, finally Watch Dogs launched yesterday and after about an hour's play, it is is a very clever and impressive game which for me saw the opening unlock of Hello World (15G) for taking down Maurice.