I Am Alive

I remember first coming across this game around 2 years ago, a trailer showing the aftermath of an earthquake I believe it was. It stood out, and I made a conscious note to keep an eye out. Originally by Darkworks (GRAW), news on this game was sparse until last year when development moved to Ubisoft Shanghai, who seem to have pretty much started from scratch on most of the game but the concept.
Set in the not too far future after a major calamity, the game sees you play as one of the remaining survivors. So a set up we see more frequently in movies. The backdrops I have seen in screenshots and videos/trailers looks amazing. A devastated new york'ish looking city (Original plan was for the game to be set in Chicago, now a fictional city  the lighting has been done well making outdoor settings seem vast and welcomley mysterious, as your explore for essentials such as water, fuel, cigarettes etc. Whereas the darker and indoor settings have a tense serious feel. I can easily see me playing through these parts cautiously and slowly as if constantly on your final life.
I have seen game play that makes you think assassins creed; climbing around the tall remains of the crumbled city, every now and then another part would break keeping you on your toes. Here is where we see the stamina feature. You wont be able to just launch yourself at a structure with a climbable surface and figure your way up as you go, as you would with creed (probably). Even as you hang there looking around, your stamina will still slowly deplete, and then at a faster rate when climbing, you can sacrifice a larger amount of stamina to throw the player for increased reach, or to get across a gap. This I imagine would have player planning out the routes, so we know this is not supposed to be a constantly fast paced game. The rest of the game play seen makes me think of Elder Scrolls or Fallout. I am not the biggest fan of either franchise, as I feel the game play is simply too slow paced and rigid. There is something added to this that I have not seen done in such depth before. Approaching other survivors in the game you have the option of using different tactics to pass them, if needed. you can use stealth to kill from the shadows with a bow, or sneak up for a one hit machete kill, you can bluff and surrender, and wait until the perfect time to strike your enemies if more than one corners you, you can even brandish you gun to intimidate them, but if your ammo is less than theirs they might not hesitate to take you out! Keeping you on your toes. This could be the twist RPGs have been needing to break up the game play, yes RPGs have done this, but none to this extent.
developers explain they don't want this title to feel RPGish, having your scroll through endless menus and memorising endless quick keys/shortcuts, but still have the depth.
The biggest concern is its reported to be an XBL and PSN title, NO HARD COPYS!?
What I remember most about the screen shots and videos I have seen is the emotion. You almost feel the desperation of the player. If this is also felt whilst playing the game we could be in for a winner. Might be the moody colours used, or the lighting styles. or the feasible setting for the game, but from the looks of things this is one of those titles that will have you immersed in its world.
Will definitely be looking out for this.

Religion

  It can cause war, break up relationships and even families, it segregates, and can restrict how fully you live your life. At the same time it can build relationships, for those who do follow its the biggest source of hope, it can make people actively turn their lives around. It is one of those topics that could be discussed to no end as everyone's view can be completely different and yet still relevant.
What is interesting is most people that are not religious will state so and then automatically go into why they choose not to follow any religion, as if the reason was part of the question. Maybe this is due to society making us feel we need to have a specific religious belief, that we are not a proper piece of what makes up 'society' until we have made a religious selection. But as with, couples getting married, completing some form of further education before working, even the clothes we wear, if it does not benefit whatever 'society' really is, it is deemed less worthy. But is this fair? Especially when we are all forced to be part of this society.
Some people would not be able to cope without knowing there is a greater being, and/or an afterlife of some sort. If you wish to believe this, fair enough, and there's no point in telling you to not force it upon other people as if its the norm, as it is very few who do this these days. Imagine a world where those of us who are very religious were, miserable and depressed, because they could not get over the thought of leading your life for nothing. This would be ALLOT of people, there would no doubt be a massive suicide rates, high rates of drug abuse, theft, murder... The types of crimes that shock us are usually the ones our religions' charge us not to commit. It is not very often (not saying it doesn't happen) we see someone that does follow religion committing horrendous crimes. Coincidence? What we need to understand that most religious peoples faith is who they are and what makes them able to face each day. They are able to get through harder times because they believe it is something they deserve, or that it is all part of some greater plan. Trying to take this away from them can be fatal.
At the same time it could be seen as brainwashing, and a way of controlling the masses, or making money. The amount of money made in the country alone from the sales of religious books, jewellery, clothes, donations etc is shocking, and it seems that religious communities, sects, business' are as bad as charities with their money, as they never have enough, no matter how many millions of pounds they make. Many or most religions are tied to governments around the world, this also makes the whole idea of becoming a follower unappealing. We sat through many history lessons and learnt of so called 'religious wars' or 'wars in the name of [insert name of chosen entity here]'. But how can killing, which is normally the big no no in most religions, be done in the name of something that opposes it? The government do nothing but lie and cheat, then make the people pay for the fuck ups anyway, who would want to be part of anything associated with that!? In allot of religions there are allot of things that contradict themselves, whether this be the writings in books, or the practises that must be followed. But no one is able to answer why.
I grew up in mostly church of England schools, and my first 2 senior years where spent at a private Christian school, where drawing a ying-yang on your textbooks could land you a detention and anything other than Christian music was frowned upon. My R.E lessons where an hour of learning what little more there was for me to know about the Christian faith, and we were often told to not believe we were being taught in Science lessons, we were not to touch anyone of the opposite sex whilst on school grounds, yet homosexuality would get you a one way to Hell. How is a child supposed to make sense of such contradictions?
I myself have shown interest and researched may different cultures and religion tends to be a big piece of some cultures. What I found was that most of them (pretty much all, apart from those freaky deaky ones i.e Scientology) all have you leading similar lives and end up at similar places after. Live a good life, don't hurt others, be honest, don't be greedy, and you'll be rewarded. Harm others, cheat, lie and rob, and you'll be punished.
Even after my upbringing, I do not consider myself a true Christian, I do believe there is something, a god or an energy, that ensures I lead a good life with good opportunities, as long as I am honest and good. I am not saying this isn't the God I was told about at church, for all I know it may even be one of the many Hindu gods. But pondering on this minute detail is what causes the rifts which lead to hate and bloodshed if left to escalate.

If you are headstrong enough to be able to cope without relying a religion of some sort, my advice would be to keep on with what your doing, you made it this far okay, right? It can be a minefield of dos and don'ts, and looking over your shoulder for the divine punishment your due for smoking that spliff the other night, or that bacon sandwich yesterday morning, if your unable to stick to the strict rules.
If you choose to follow, part of me envies you, waking up happy each morning because your God has allowed you another day, you'll be around similar people who share your faith, and although you are not certain what happens at the end your faith makes you know its a paradise.

Mankind understands nothing it considers 'normal'

... Just think about it.