We British have a strange relationship with the weather.  While we're typically free of the extremes of say, Tornado Alley, our climate is variable enough to permeate most aspects of our existence.  The news bulletins spit out a report every hour, with increasingly impressive graphics showing the sun over Southampton, showers over Somerset and the proverbial cats and dogs pissing all over Manchester.  
 
As a gamer, I love bad weather.  It justifies the hermit-like existence I have grown to love.  Clement August days?  I can do without them.  All it means is that the sun is streaming through the windows of my domicile while an inner voice guilt trips me about not spending more time outside.  Winter I can handle.  There's little more satisfying than exploring every nook of a fantastically realised virtual world while the real one is being battered by the elements.  The season happens to coincide with a massive influx of new and exciting titles, so all should be cool.  Except it's not.  Fallout New Vegas was released last week, and it has been gorgeous outside. 
 
I haven't had a great deal of time to spend in Obsidian's return to the Fallout universe.  Fallout 3 happened to coincide with an extended period of working away from home - which provided the perfect excuse to run riot in the Capital Wasteland.  This time out, I'm back as leader of the family clan, have massive time commitments inside and out of work.  I've barely reached Primm on a saved game I'm satisfied with.  I'm sure I can concoct some excuses to vacate the family so I can travel further afield, but it'll be difficult to explain the pristine state of the house when they return home and discover that it wasn't really on fire. 
 
On the portable front, I've been playing Game Dev Story for the iPhone OS.  At the time of writing, there's no real Retina display support, meaning everything looks a bit blurry.  It's definitely compelling while it lasts, but having finished the game, I feel like I've seen and done everything it has to offer.  Still, for £2.39, it's pretty good value.  I'll offer the following advice for anyone embarking on their own Game Dev Story. 
 

• Don't be afraid to restart.  Trial and error is your friend.
• Hire and fire until you get the right people.  There are some game-breaking stat-monsters out there.  Seek them out and use them.
• Always bang out a couple of contracts after every game release.  Not only does it make you money, but you'll also score research points - essential for levelling up your staff.