Friday, May 30, 2003
Now you too can dress up your cat. I like the Anne of Green Gables look, though I think that the cat wearing the schoolgirl blouse is a little put out...
I wonder how many cat tranquilizers you have to give your cat to make it sit still though.
I wonder how many cat tranquilizers you have to give your cat to make it sit still though.
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Well, if you're waiting to get a PS2, may as well wait a wee bit longer.
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Sony announces that it will release its new PSX console, complete with hard drive and DVD burner, in Japan this year and in other territories in 2004. First pictures inside.
At a media briefing in Tokyo earlier today, Sony announced that it will release a new game console named PSX in Japan before the end of the year. Scheduled for release in North America and Europe sometime in 2004, the sleek-looking PSX console is essentially a redesigned PlayStation 2--albeit with plenty of additional features.
With the exception of the console's 120GB hard drive and built-in Ethernet support, the PSX console's new features won't offer any benefits as far as gaming is concerned, but--thanks to the inclusion of a TV and broadcast satellite tuner and a DVD recorder--it will instead transform the PlayStation 2 into a set-top box capable of delivering online play, music, and movies straight out of the box.
When playing games, you'll plug your controllers into the rear of the PSX console, where the hard drive and Sony Memory Stick compatibility have clearly rendered the standard PS2 memory cards obsolete. No pricing information for the PSX has been announced at this time, but the box will be marketed as a high-end electronics product rather than as a game console and, as such, will be handled by Sony's Home Electronics Division as opposed to Sony Computer Entertainment.
---
Sony announces that it will release its new PSX console, complete with hard drive and DVD burner, in Japan this year and in other territories in 2004. First pictures inside.
At a media briefing in Tokyo earlier today, Sony announced that it will release a new game console named PSX in Japan before the end of the year. Scheduled for release in North America and Europe sometime in 2004, the sleek-looking PSX console is essentially a redesigned PlayStation 2--albeit with plenty of additional features.
With the exception of the console's 120GB hard drive and built-in Ethernet support, the PSX console's new features won't offer any benefits as far as gaming is concerned, but--thanks to the inclusion of a TV and broadcast satellite tuner and a DVD recorder--it will instead transform the PlayStation 2 into a set-top box capable of delivering online play, music, and movies straight out of the box.
When playing games, you'll plug your controllers into the rear of the PSX console, where the hard drive and Sony Memory Stick compatibility have clearly rendered the standard PS2 memory cards obsolete. No pricing information for the PSX has been announced at this time, but the box will be marketed as a high-end electronics product rather than as a game console and, as such, will be handled by Sony's Home Electronics Division as opposed to Sony Computer Entertainment.
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Monday, May 26, 2003
Oh man, Gamespy just slapped Matrix with 58%... bleh...
I didn't find it that horrible. Granted, I will be the first to say that as a game, it's not that good. If it didn't have the Matrix to lean on, nobody would look at it twice...
That said, I did have fun playing it. There were a couple levels that made me want to tear out my arms in frustration and it did look and almost play like a game that should have come out at the PS2 launch... but I still had fun. And the extra Matrix stuff was just icing on the cake then.
Sigh.
It's kind of hard to figure out whether it deserves the 58%... From a technical standpoint, sure. But I did have fun, which is what really matters.
I didn't find it that horrible. Granted, I will be the first to say that as a game, it's not that good. If it didn't have the Matrix to lean on, nobody would look at it twice...
That said, I did have fun playing it. There were a couple levels that made me want to tear out my arms in frustration and it did look and almost play like a game that should have come out at the PS2 launch... but I still had fun. And the extra Matrix stuff was just icing on the cake then.
Sigh.
It's kind of hard to figure out whether it deserves the 58%... From a technical standpoint, sure. But I did have fun, which is what really matters.
Rise of Nations is pretty good. I like the whole border play mechanic. Throws a little something extra in.
I definately wouldn't have paid top dollar for it though.
Oh, and I got my VCD's of Matrix: Reloaded made. Granted, the quality sucks, but until I get to the theatre again, it'll be my only fix.
I definately wouldn't have paid top dollar for it though.
Oh, and I got my VCD's of Matrix: Reloaded made. Granted, the quality sucks, but until I get to the theatre again, it'll be my only fix.
Saturday, May 24, 2003
Friday, May 23, 2003
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Just beat Enter The Matrix as Ghost. Woot!
Worst end level ever though.. well, no... it could have been worse. There's a driving level earlier in the game that almost had me tossing my Xbox out into the composter.
Other than that though, pretty spiffy game. Not the prettiest or best game ever, but it does elaborate on Reloaded and it is pretty fun.
Worst end level ever though.. well, no... it could have been worse. There's a driving level earlier in the game that almost had me tossing my Xbox out into the composter.
Other than that though, pretty spiffy game. Not the prettiest or best game ever, but it does elaborate on Reloaded and it is pretty fun.
Hmm... seems I didn't read that news blurb close enough. Turns out that "the law makes it a crime, punishable by a $500 fine, to sell or rent videogames that depict violence against police officers to anyone under the age of 17".
So it's not just any kind of violence, just violence against authority figures. I wonder if that means that, say, I have a game where the boss is a corrupt cop who has taken over a bridge, say. Say I have to throw bananas at him. The game is only rented T (teen) due to depictions of banana-related violence. But since I have to take out a cop (a corrupt one at that, but a cop nonetheless) my game can't be sold to kids under 17 under threat of a fine and possible charges.
That's where it gets dumb. If they do that with games, then they should also do it with every movie that depicts cops being attacked and every show that does the same. Can you imagine if they applied that broad brushstroke to every form of entertainment? Now I have no problem with ratings being enforced (see below) but to just target one aspect of the game and make that the focal point of a law is annoying. That, and it shows that games are the scapegoat of the week, as usual, and these old codgers are doing the ol' kneejerk reaction to them.
I don't think it should be a criminal offense. The fine is just hunky-dory, but you shouldn't be able to be locked away for selling games to minors. Again, see my rant below for more reasons why.
So it's not just any kind of violence, just violence against authority figures. I wonder if that means that, say, I have a game where the boss is a corrupt cop who has taken over a bridge, say. Say I have to throw bananas at him. The game is only rented T (teen) due to depictions of banana-related violence. But since I have to take out a cop (a corrupt one at that, but a cop nonetheless) my game can't be sold to kids under 17 under threat of a fine and possible charges.
That's where it gets dumb. If they do that with games, then they should also do it with every movie that depicts cops being attacked and every show that does the same. Can you imagine if they applied that broad brushstroke to every form of entertainment? Now I have no problem with ratings being enforced (see below) but to just target one aspect of the game and make that the focal point of a law is annoying. That, and it shows that games are the scapegoat of the week, as usual, and these old codgers are doing the ol' kneejerk reaction to them.
I don't think it should be a criminal offense. The fine is just hunky-dory, but you shouldn't be able to be locked away for selling games to minors. Again, see my rant below for more reasons why.
Well, I may be in the minority of gamers who actually think this is a good idea, but Washington State has passed a bill that will fine people who sell or rent M-rated games to minors.
Frankly, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. I look at it like the situation with R-rated movies. If you were to sell an R-rated movie to a kid, of course you'd get slapped with a fine. At least, that used to be the case. I think that the same standards should apply to games. It puts the onus back on the parents.
If a parent buys their 9-year-old Grand Theft Auto 3, then it's their decision, not the decision of the kid. If that kid then goes out and kills 90 people in a killing spree unheard of since the last killing spree, well, then the parents can't just say, "Musta bin dose durned videogames." and be let off the hook.
At least the EB I go to will be upfront and tell a parent or grandparent who is buying Grand Theft Auto or a similar M-rated game about why it is rated M and let the parent decide if they want to still buy it for their kid. I understand that a lot of parents don't know and don't care what game they're buying, they just want their kid to shut up. At least this way they're informed.
They are also rather strict with carding kids who are trying to buy M-rated games. I like my EB. I just wish they'd give me games for free instead of forcing me to buy them :P
Frankly, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. I look at it like the situation with R-rated movies. If you were to sell an R-rated movie to a kid, of course you'd get slapped with a fine. At least, that used to be the case. I think that the same standards should apply to games. It puts the onus back on the parents.
If a parent buys their 9-year-old Grand Theft Auto 3, then it's their decision, not the decision of the kid. If that kid then goes out and kills 90 people in a killing spree unheard of since the last killing spree, well, then the parents can't just say, "Musta bin dose durned videogames." and be let off the hook.
At least the EB I go to will be upfront and tell a parent or grandparent who is buying Grand Theft Auto or a similar M-rated game about why it is rated M and let the parent decide if they want to still buy it for their kid. I understand that a lot of parents don't know and don't care what game they're buying, they just want their kid to shut up. At least this way they're informed.
They are also rather strict with carding kids who are trying to buy M-rated games. I like my EB. I just wish they'd give me games for free instead of forcing me to buy them :P
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Monday, May 19, 2003
Here is a very good possible scenario for how the Matrix will wrap up. It's just speculation, but I like it.
Penny Arcade has an insanely long newspost today mostly concerning stuff they saw at E3.
I like this description.
"People would stop me on the floor and ask me to sign a book or something and then ask why I wasn�t with Tycho and where he was. I told them look for the most boring game on the floor, he will be the guy standing next to it asking the developer questions like if their physics engine takes into account the surface of the table when calculating the rolling of a D20 or something."
Can't you feel the love?
I like this description.
"People would stop me on the floor and ask me to sign a book or something and then ask why I wasn�t with Tycho and where he was. I told them look for the most boring game on the floor, he will be the guy standing next to it asking the developer questions like if their physics engine takes into account the surface of the table when calculating the rolling of a D20 or something."
Can't you feel the love?
Woo.. I'm pooped. Long day today at work. Fun day, but long. Took the guys out to the nearby park and played soccer and frisbee for a couple hours. I think I'm ready for my nap now :)
This is indeed a scary long weekend. Not only did I work from Saturday till today, I also think I played all of about 30 minutes of videogames all weekend! ARG!
Garden looks nice though...
This is indeed a scary long weekend. Not only did I work from Saturday till today, I also think I played all of about 30 minutes of videogames all weekend! ARG!
Garden looks nice though...
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Hee hee. A timeline of the Internet.
I personally like what happened in 2000.
"The internet is finally given purpose when Scientists Mathew Chapman and Michael Chapman complete their research and bring Homestarrunner technology to the internet."
I personally like what happened in 2000.
"The internet is finally given purpose when Scientists Mathew Chapman and Michael Chapman complete their research and bring Homestarrunner technology to the internet."
Oh man. This guy's on crack. Check out his Matrix: Rejected site.
Not only are half the facts wrong (no, Cypher does NOT return at the end of Reloaded) he also is dense enough to wonder why he was kicked out of not one, but two theatres for getting up in the middle of The Matrix and trying to explain why it's bad.
And his whole Columbine thing is screwed up. I almost hope this is a joke... If not, and this guy is really a doctor, we need to look a lot closer at the universities over in England.
Not only are half the facts wrong (no, Cypher does NOT return at the end of Reloaded) he also is dense enough to wonder why he was kicked out of not one, but two theatres for getting up in the middle of The Matrix and trying to explain why it's bad.
And his whole Columbine thing is screwed up. I almost hope this is a joke... If not, and this guy is really a doctor, we need to look a lot closer at the universities over in England.
Friday, May 16, 2003
Heh. This describes me to a T. Got it from Truenuff.com.
"There's a secret organization out there that's after all my money, they keep releasing kickass shit expecting that I buy it, and I DO. I actually envy the drug addicts out there, since they usually have enough scratch to buy a burrito after thier drug binges. Since my "fix" weighs in at $80 a disc, or $15 per ticket, there will be no burritos for me. "
Sigh. So true.
"There's a secret organization out there that's after all my money, they keep releasing kickass shit expecting that I buy it, and I DO. I actually envy the drug addicts out there, since they usually have enough scratch to buy a burrito after thier drug binges. Since my "fix" weighs in at $80 a disc, or $15 per ticket, there will be no burritos for me. "
Sigh. So true.
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Cool. I was sitting next to this guy who was the stunt double for Jason Patric in Narc.
He was telling me stunt stories before the movie. Sometimes it's fun to go to the movies by yourself... you never know who you'll meet.
He was telling me stunt stories before the movie. Sometimes it's fun to go to the movies by yourself... you never know who you'll meet.
Once you HAVE seen The Matrix: Reloaded, check out this site. And all of the other Matrix coverage over on Time.
I'm so glad I didn't see any of this last week when the magazine came out. Yeesh.
I'm so glad I didn't see any of this last week when the magazine came out. Yeesh.
GO SEE THE MATRIX! NOW! (well, The Matrix: Reloaded)
A-frickin'-mazing.
That's all I'll say about it until after a couple days when everyone's seen it :)
A-frickin'-mazing.
That's all I'll say about it until after a couple days when everyone's seen it :)
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Monday, May 12, 2003
Sunday, May 11, 2003
Friday, May 09, 2003
And this article on the Plight of the Aging Gamer is too close for comfort!
Though I think that just the way my schedule works out with a lot of free time during the day helps me at least spend more time on gaming than this guy does... be that good or bad...
Though I think that just the way my schedule works out with a lot of free time during the day helps me at least spend more time on gaming than this guy does... be that good or bad...
This is an excellent little article on why people play (console) RPG's. I agree with the guy wholeheartedly.
Though I like to read more books...
Though I like to read more books...
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
Oh my dear sweet lord. This is just too disturbing for words.
Japanese people can be very scary sometimes.
Japanese people can be very scary sometimes.
*Spig hyperventilates*
Shenmue 3... at E3... mayBE...
If it's true, and they're not dropping Shenmue, then I will be SO happy. I swear, half the games I play make me just think back to playing Shenmue 2 and how much I wish I were playing the next one.
Even .hack made me think of that.
It's the quasi-Japanese life they try to portray through the games that make me long for the ultimate Japanese life simulator :)
Shenmue 3... at E3... mayBE...
If it's true, and they're not dropping Shenmue, then I will be SO happy. I swear, half the games I play make me just think back to playing Shenmue 2 and how much I wish I were playing the next one.
Even .hack made me think of that.
It's the quasi-Japanese life they try to portray through the games that make me long for the ultimate Japanese life simulator :)
Tuesday, May 06, 2003
This is a neat little article about incorporating net feedback to news stories into the news itself. Nice to see that CBC is at least pondering using the Net as a resource. I loved TodRadio when it was on. I actually had one or two of my comments read on the air. That must have used up about 30 seconds of my alloted 15 minutes of fame.
Monday, May 05, 2003
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Saturday, May 03, 2003
Friday, May 02, 2003
Oh man. This is cool, but only if you're an insane geek who likes comics like me.
It's a video showing how Gabe from Penny Arcade draws a strip on the computer. Very cool.
It's a video showing how Gabe from Penny Arcade draws a strip on the computer. Very cool.
I have to say that I'm disappointed by the somewhat mediocre reviews that Primal has been receiving. Had I based my purchase on the reviews, rather than impulse buying, I would have missed out on an excellent game.
I do agree that it's not for everyone. The combat system could use some work but in the end it's decent. But the story, voice acting, characters and environments are A+ in my book. And it's a drop-dead gorgeous game to boot... esp. since it's on the PS2!
But if you're in the mood for a good adventure game with just a hint of combat, you'd do much worse than Primal.
I found that one of the neatest things was how each of the worlds you explored had a problem that was specific to that world and didn't just seem like a gameplay contrivance. Ie. in the first world you're helping to sort out a whole rite of succession that has been tampered with by the bad guy. In the second world, you don't really have any enemy, per se, but you have to activate a series of pumps in order to cleanse the water, which again has been tampered with by the bad guy.
The story is able to weave the various worlds, each with their own problems and dangers, into a greater whole. By the end of the game... man. You just feel like you've done something worthwhile.
For a game, that is :)
I do agree that it's not for everyone. The combat system could use some work but in the end it's decent. But the story, voice acting, characters and environments are A+ in my book. And it's a drop-dead gorgeous game to boot... esp. since it's on the PS2!
But if you're in the mood for a good adventure game with just a hint of combat, you'd do much worse than Primal.
I found that one of the neatest things was how each of the worlds you explored had a problem that was specific to that world and didn't just seem like a gameplay contrivance. Ie. in the first world you're helping to sort out a whole rite of succession that has been tampered with by the bad guy. In the second world, you don't really have any enemy, per se, but you have to activate a series of pumps in order to cleanse the water, which again has been tampered with by the bad guy.
The story is able to weave the various worlds, each with their own problems and dangers, into a greater whole. By the end of the game... man. You just feel like you've done something worthwhile.
For a game, that is :)
Thursday, May 01, 2003
This is some pretty sweet news.
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Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Konami announced that it plans to introduce a new Metal Gear Solid game at the Electronic Entertainment Expo next month called Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, a souped up remake of Metal Gear Solid for the GameCube! The game is being developed by the master craftsmen at Silicon Knights and will feature new graphics and possibly some new content (though that bit has yet to be confirmed by parties involved). The Twin Snakes will be released later this year.
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Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Konami announced that it plans to introduce a new Metal Gear Solid game at the Electronic Entertainment Expo next month called Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, a souped up remake of Metal Gear Solid for the GameCube! The game is being developed by the master craftsmen at Silicon Knights and will feature new graphics and possibly some new content (though that bit has yet to be confirmed by parties involved). The Twin Snakes will be released later this year.
Well, I just got back from the interview.
It was pretty good. A couple trick questions: "Should you look in the internet cache if you're doing a service call?" which was followed by, "The program manager thinks one of their staff is looking at inappropriate sites. When you look through the cache, you see 2 files called "BIG THROBBING DICKS". What do you tell the manager?"
And there was another one re: setting up a new puter and the manager wants all their old files back on the new computer. How do you do it? I said to just yank the old harddrive out and slave it, which was the case. They said that most of the MCSE's don't know what to do. "Uh... use floppy discs?"
So all in all, it went well. I'll find out in a few days or so whether I got it or not.
It was pretty good. A couple trick questions: "Should you look in the internet cache if you're doing a service call?" which was followed by, "The program manager thinks one of their staff is looking at inappropriate sites. When you look through the cache, you see 2 files called "BIG THROBBING DICKS". What do you tell the manager?"
And there was another one re: setting up a new puter and the manager wants all their old files back on the new computer. How do you do it? I said to just yank the old harddrive out and slave it, which was the case. They said that most of the MCSE's don't know what to do. "Uh... use floppy discs?"
So all in all, it went well. I'll find out in a few days or so whether I got it or not.
Oh why did I go out for Tempura last night?
I woke up this morning with some pretty bad indigestion. I had to go get rid of it from both ends before I felt better...
This never happens to me when I don't have anything planned for the day. It only happens when I'm in a rush in the morning and have something relatively important to do! Bleh.
Well, I'm off for the interview. When your day starts out with vomit, it can only get better, right?
I woke up this morning with some pretty bad indigestion. I had to go get rid of it from both ends before I felt better...
This never happens to me when I don't have anything planned for the day. It only happens when I'm in a rush in the morning and have something relatively important to do! Bleh.
Well, I'm off for the interview. When your day starts out with vomit, it can only get better, right?
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