The all new ultra-fast camera called the OCam, together developed by ESO and three other French laboratories is sure to take astronomy to a higher level. The three French laboratories include the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Grenoble and the Observatoire de Haute Provence. This camera captures 1500 finely exposed images every second including even the faint objects.
This high precision faint light camera captures images at a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. It is a must have for all the adaptive optics instruments, that are largely used in ground-based telescopes. The ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT), ground-based astronomy flagship facility of Europe is said to have incorporated this camera.
“The performance of this breakthrough camera is without an equivalent anywhere in the world. The camera will enable great leaps forward in many areas of the study of the Universe,” says Norbert Hubin, head of the Adaptive Optics department at ESO. OCam will be part of the second-generation VLT instrument SPHERE. To be installed in 2011, SPHERE will take images of giant exoplanets orbiting nearby stars.
Atmospheric chaos leads to blur images taken through various ground-based telescopes. OCam combats this problem with its CCD220 detector. This detector offers fast as well as sensitive performance. A CCD camera often suffers from readout noise due to flawed operation of physical electronic devices. OCam offers ten times lesser readout noise than other conventional cameras used in the detectors. This seems to justify its sensitivity and ability to capture faint objects.
“Thanks to this technology, all the new generation instruments of ESO’s Very Large Telescope will be able to produce the best possible images, with an unequalled sharpness,” declares Jean-Luc Gach, from the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, France, who led the team that built the camera.
OCam comprises of a control system developed in France with German and Spanish support, sensitive detectors developed in the UK and has been able to see the light of the day due to the European collaboration.
Technology has always been a part of major discoveries. We wish that the OCam camera too leads to new breakthroughs in astronomy.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sony's 'Ghostbusters' Slimes the App Store
They’re here to save the world again! It’s up to you to take on the role of the entire Ghostbusters team. Equipped with outrageous gadgets, help our heroes capture a wide range of supernatural baddies in this new casual game, thanks to unique & easy one-touch gameplay.
Features listed by Sony:
The authentic Ghostbusters universe: official characters and their outrageous gadgets, funny and frightening ghosts, famous locations from the 2 movies.
All 5 NY boroughs and 10 hidden ghost cards.
Challenging levels with 3 game modes: Adventure, Time Attack, and Ghost Fever!
Interactive objects & environments: teleporters, monsters to avoid, and slime, air-vents, and pedestrians. Ghostbusters is being discussed by our readers Stay tuned for our closer look, shortly.
Features listed by Sony:
The authentic Ghostbusters universe: official characters and their outrageous gadgets, funny and frightening ghosts, famous locations from the 2 movies.
All 5 NY boroughs and 10 hidden ghost cards.
Challenging levels with 3 game modes: Adventure, Time Attack, and Ghost Fever!
Interactive objects & environments: teleporters, monsters to avoid, and slime, air-vents, and pedestrians. Ghostbusters is being discussed by our readers Stay tuned for our closer look, shortly.
Muscle Car's Test Drive Turns Heads
years, all three of Detroit's auto makers are offering serious muscle cars: big, high-powered, rear-wheel-drive coupes priced to sell in volume.
Ford Motor Co. has never stopped building cars under the Mustang name since the first one debuted in 1965. But the latest generation of Mustangs has revitalized the brand, with styling and performance that are an overt homage to the cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The new Mustangs' success inspired Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet unit to give chase, repeating the pattern from four decades ago. Chrysler's new Dodge Challenger, a reincarnation of a raffish 1970 model, hit dealerships last fall, just in time for the credit-market collapse and Chrysler's subsequent bankruptcy and sale to the United Auto Workers, Fiat SpA and the federal government.
Now GM's 2010 Chevy Camaro is arriving in showrooms, designed inside and out to remind you of classic late-1960s Camaros—and the days when GM was the Master of the Automotive Universe, not the bankrupt butt of late-night TV scorn.
The main mission for the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger is to part nostalgic baby boomers from their money. That looked like a good bet before the recent market turmoil and energy-price worries. An economic recovery and continued moderate gas prices could still vindicate the decisions to launch these cars.
The new Camaro comes with either a 304-horsepower V-6, starting at about $23,000, or a 426-horsepower V-8, starting at about $31,000. I got a weekend test drive in a "rally yellow" Camaro equipped with a 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 and a new six-speed automatic transmissionThe new Camaro's ultra-narrow windows and exaggerated hood scoops and fenders give it an all-American bad-boy look. Inside, the dials and gauges look like they were pulled out of the warehouse where they'd been stored since Richard Nixon and Elvis were hanging out at the White House. There's hardly any room in the backseat or the trunk—but so what? The car's styling turned heads everywhere I went.
The V-6 delivered more than enough power for cruising at legal speeds, though the Camaro is better running in a straight line than maneuvering around curves. Among the car's other quirks: The narrow side windows and low-down seating gave me the feeling that I was seated inside an armored vehicle, viewing the world through slits.
In May, the Camaro outsold Co.'s new hybrid, the Insight, by roughly two to one, and Chevy dealers had just 28 days' worth on the lots at the end of the month, according to Autodata Corp. By Chevy standards, that's a sellout. Meanwhile, GM last week said it would kill the slow-selling hybrid version of its Chevy Malibu sedan. These are cautionary signals for the Obama administration's efforts to shift GM's product mix toward smaller, more-efficient vehicles.
The Camaro I drove is rated at 18 miles per gallon city, 29 highway, or about 22 mpg combined. That's great compared to the Camaros of my youth, but it's not in step with President Barack Obama's demand that U.S. car makers boost the average fuel efficiency of their passenger cars to 39 mpg by 2016, compared to 27.5 mpg today.Indeed, tougher federal fuel-economy rules and jumpy gas prices could still ruin the muscle-car party, just as they did in the 1970s.
Based on the complicated new scheme for measuring fuel-economy compliance -- which bases targets on a car's size, or "footprint" -- a car the size of a Ford Mustang would have to hit a fuel-economy target of 30.4 miles per gallon in 2011 and 39.4 miles per gallon in 2016, says Sandy Stojkovski, director of vehicle systems for Ricardo Inc., an engineering consulting firm. The Camaro and Challenger are larger cars, and thus could have less ambitious targets in their class. But the direction is the same; the current V-6 Camaro's 22 mpg probably won't cut it.
Can muscle cars survive such regulatory pressure? Maybe.
In the future, says Jim Hall, an industry consultant, a top-end Camaro or Mustang might have a direct-injection, turbo-charged six-cylinder engine instead of a big V-8. The entry-level models might have turbo-charged, direct-injection four-cylinder motors.
The marketing departments will need to re-educate consumers steeped in the idea that "there's no replacement for displacement," but they could discover that their customers are already ahead of them on that. Ford is using a new sound tube to amplify engine sounds in the cockpit of some Mustangs—a gadget that could be used to create the illusion of a big motor if regulation forces the use of a small one.
Muscle cars must get lighter, too, using high-strength steel, plastic or aluminum to cut pounds, says Mr. Hall. The Camaro and the Challenger, in particular, are heavy cars, he says, because they were built on chassis originally designed for large sedans. To survive long-term, these cars will need to evolve into lighter beasts. That's technically doable -- at a price.
The Detroit car makers' bigger challenge is to convince younger buyers to fall for the allure of the muscle car formula. Fashion in the car business is fickle. But what better way for today's young rebels to declare their scorn for convention than to buy a garish, fossil-fuel-slurping slab of Detroit iron?
Ford Motor Co. has never stopped building cars under the Mustang name since the first one debuted in 1965. But the latest generation of Mustangs has revitalized the brand, with styling and performance that are an overt homage to the cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The new Mustangs' success inspired Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet unit to give chase, repeating the pattern from four decades ago. Chrysler's new Dodge Challenger, a reincarnation of a raffish 1970 model, hit dealerships last fall, just in time for the credit-market collapse and Chrysler's subsequent bankruptcy and sale to the United Auto Workers, Fiat SpA and the federal government.
Now GM's 2010 Chevy Camaro is arriving in showrooms, designed inside and out to remind you of classic late-1960s Camaros—and the days when GM was the Master of the Automotive Universe, not the bankrupt butt of late-night TV scorn.
The main mission for the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger is to part nostalgic baby boomers from their money. That looked like a good bet before the recent market turmoil and energy-price worries. An economic recovery and continued moderate gas prices could still vindicate the decisions to launch these cars.
The new Camaro comes with either a 304-horsepower V-6, starting at about $23,000, or a 426-horsepower V-8, starting at about $31,000. I got a weekend test drive in a "rally yellow" Camaro equipped with a 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 and a new six-speed automatic transmissionThe new Camaro's ultra-narrow windows and exaggerated hood scoops and fenders give it an all-American bad-boy look. Inside, the dials and gauges look like they were pulled out of the warehouse where they'd been stored since Richard Nixon and Elvis were hanging out at the White House. There's hardly any room in the backseat or the trunk—but so what? The car's styling turned heads everywhere I went.
The V-6 delivered more than enough power for cruising at legal speeds, though the Camaro is better running in a straight line than maneuvering around curves. Among the car's other quirks: The narrow side windows and low-down seating gave me the feeling that I was seated inside an armored vehicle, viewing the world through slits.
In May, the Camaro outsold Co.'s new hybrid, the Insight, by roughly two to one, and Chevy dealers had just 28 days' worth on the lots at the end of the month, according to Autodata Corp. By Chevy standards, that's a sellout. Meanwhile, GM last week said it would kill the slow-selling hybrid version of its Chevy Malibu sedan. These are cautionary signals for the Obama administration's efforts to shift GM's product mix toward smaller, more-efficient vehicles.
The Camaro I drove is rated at 18 miles per gallon city, 29 highway, or about 22 mpg combined. That's great compared to the Camaros of my youth, but it's not in step with President Barack Obama's demand that U.S. car makers boost the average fuel efficiency of their passenger cars to 39 mpg by 2016, compared to 27.5 mpg today.Indeed, tougher federal fuel-economy rules and jumpy gas prices could still ruin the muscle-car party, just as they did in the 1970s.
Based on the complicated new scheme for measuring fuel-economy compliance -- which bases targets on a car's size, or "footprint" -- a car the size of a Ford Mustang would have to hit a fuel-economy target of 30.4 miles per gallon in 2011 and 39.4 miles per gallon in 2016, says Sandy Stojkovski, director of vehicle systems for Ricardo Inc., an engineering consulting firm. The Camaro and Challenger are larger cars, and thus could have less ambitious targets in their class. But the direction is the same; the current V-6 Camaro's 22 mpg probably won't cut it.
Can muscle cars survive such regulatory pressure? Maybe.
In the future, says Jim Hall, an industry consultant, a top-end Camaro or Mustang might have a direct-injection, turbo-charged six-cylinder engine instead of a big V-8. The entry-level models might have turbo-charged, direct-injection four-cylinder motors.
The marketing departments will need to re-educate consumers steeped in the idea that "there's no replacement for displacement," but they could discover that their customers are already ahead of them on that. Ford is using a new sound tube to amplify engine sounds in the cockpit of some Mustangs—a gadget that could be used to create the illusion of a big motor if regulation forces the use of a small one.
Muscle cars must get lighter, too, using high-strength steel, plastic or aluminum to cut pounds, says Mr. Hall. The Camaro and the Challenger, in particular, are heavy cars, he says, because they were built on chassis originally designed for large sedans. To survive long-term, these cars will need to evolve into lighter beasts. That's technically doable -- at a price.
The Detroit car makers' bigger challenge is to convince younger buyers to fall for the allure of the muscle car formula. Fashion in the car business is fickle. But what better way for today's young rebels to declare their scorn for convention than to buy a garish, fossil-fuel-slurping slab of Detroit iron?
Summer of a smart phone war?
first iPhone hit the streets two years ago, the gadget revolutionized the smart phone industry — it was the first to offer an advanced touch-screen, a robust Web experience and the ability to watch movies and to download thousands of programs.
The groundbreaking gizmo also upped the ante for competitors who watched the iPhone not only transform the market but also become the dominant player.
“Apple and AT&T stood on the top of the hill, put their flags in the ground and called themselves the kings,” telecom analyst Jeff Kagan said. “They dared all the other carriers and handset makers to take them on. And now they're taking them on.”
The fastest and most powerful iPhone to date — the 3G S — will launch nationwide today. But the same market that reinvented is maturing and transforming into an arena of increasing competition.
This summer, analysts are expecting the industry's first “smart phone war” as major handset makers ramp up their efforts to compete against the iPhone. Before anxious customers clamp their paws around the iPhone 3G S, already will have had to contend with a new BlackBerry Curve that hit the market in May and Palm's highly touted launch of the Pre.
That's not to mention the upcoming launch of the BlackBerry Tour and a slew of other smart phones being introduced by companies such as Nokia, Motorola and Samsung.
“These phones are hot, and people want to get their hands on them,” Kagan said. “And this year is going to be interesting to watch how the marketplace segments itself.”
Analysts say the boom has been sparked by consumer demand for the sexiest gadgets available and increased competition that has drastically lowered prices. Worldwide, smart phones have grown from about 10 percent of the total cell phone market to about 50 percent in the past couple of years. The smart phone sector could account for up to 75 percent of the cell phone market by the end of the year, and the industry could see the total number of smart phone users swell “well beyond 1 billion by the next four or five years,” said analyst J. Gerry Purdy of Frost & Sullivan.
For consumers, growing competition equates to more product choices and cheaper prices — two elements that analysts say open the door for a “universe” of new customers.
As for the 3G S, it isn't an altogether new model. It's been described as a “supercharged” iPhone that comes equipped with a faster processor, more memory, longer battery life, a video recorder and an updated camera. But it still lacks a physical keyboard and the ability to run multiple applications and, for now, is available only on AT&T's network.
“I think it will do well,” Purdy said, adding that he expects stores to sell out. “It will keep sales momentum going and growing, but they need to do some other things if they want to go from 20 million units to 200 million units.”
Still, the question lingers: Which smart phone is the best?
Put the question to Jennifer Ramirez-Jasiczek, a 38-year-old owner of a San Antonio-based wedding and event planning company, and she'll say her iPhone not only helps coordinate different aspects of her business but is crucial to organizing her bustling life as a mother of five children.
“I won't ever switch from the iPhone unless something miraculous is developed,” said Ramirez-Jasiczek, who ditched her BlackBerry for an iPhone about six months ago.
But if you ask Nan Palmero, who works for a local marketing and consulting firm, the BlackBerry's keyboard, removable battery and superior security features make it the perfect choice for business and pleasure.
“For me, my BlackBerry is my everything phone,” he said.
The groundbreaking gizmo also upped the ante for competitors who watched the iPhone not only transform the market but also become the dominant player.
“Apple and AT&T stood on the top of the hill, put their flags in the ground and called themselves the kings,” telecom analyst Jeff Kagan said. “They dared all the other carriers and handset makers to take them on. And now they're taking them on.”
The fastest and most powerful iPhone to date — the 3G S — will launch nationwide today. But the same market that reinvented is maturing and transforming into an arena of increasing competition.
This summer, analysts are expecting the industry's first “smart phone war” as major handset makers ramp up their efforts to compete against the iPhone. Before anxious customers clamp their paws around the iPhone 3G S, already will have had to contend with a new BlackBerry Curve that hit the market in May and Palm's highly touted launch of the Pre.
That's not to mention the upcoming launch of the BlackBerry Tour and a slew of other smart phones being introduced by companies such as Nokia, Motorola and Samsung.
“These phones are hot, and people want to get their hands on them,” Kagan said. “And this year is going to be interesting to watch how the marketplace segments itself.”
Analysts say the boom has been sparked by consumer demand for the sexiest gadgets available and increased competition that has drastically lowered prices. Worldwide, smart phones have grown from about 10 percent of the total cell phone market to about 50 percent in the past couple of years. The smart phone sector could account for up to 75 percent of the cell phone market by the end of the year, and the industry could see the total number of smart phone users swell “well beyond 1 billion by the next four or five years,” said analyst J. Gerry Purdy of Frost & Sullivan.
For consumers, growing competition equates to more product choices and cheaper prices — two elements that analysts say open the door for a “universe” of new customers.
As for the 3G S, it isn't an altogether new model. It's been described as a “supercharged” iPhone that comes equipped with a faster processor, more memory, longer battery life, a video recorder and an updated camera. But it still lacks a physical keyboard and the ability to run multiple applications and, for now, is available only on AT&T's network.
“I think it will do well,” Purdy said, adding that he expects stores to sell out. “It will keep sales momentum going and growing, but they need to do some other things if they want to go from 20 million units to 200 million units.”
Still, the question lingers: Which smart phone is the best?
Put the question to Jennifer Ramirez-Jasiczek, a 38-year-old owner of a San Antonio-based wedding and event planning company, and she'll say her iPhone not only helps coordinate different aspects of her business but is crucial to organizing her bustling life as a mother of five children.
“I won't ever switch from the iPhone unless something miraculous is developed,” said Ramirez-Jasiczek, who ditched her BlackBerry for an iPhone about six months ago.
But if you ask Nan Palmero, who works for a local marketing and consulting firm, the BlackBerry's keyboard, removable battery and superior security features make it the perfect choice for business and pleasure.
“For me, my BlackBerry is my everything phone,” he said.
GamerVania: Your Week In Video Games
So this is it, the final edition of GamerVania for WW as my internship ends. Assuming you can still read through your tears, thank you all for reading my video game blog. For me, it has been like high-fiving awesome and French-kissing bad ass.
But it has been a fine ride, so please, no tears, no regrets. Well maybe a few tears. And maybe a cake or something. Nothing too crazy. I’d even takea goodbye pie. Or a rally. In fact, how about a riot? It works for LA when they win championships! Maybe just a flipped car? I mean it isn’t like I expect a Buddhist monk to light himself on fire in protest, or a guy to stop a row of tanks by standing in their way or anything. Although…
Oh yeah, my final edition.
I’m trying something a bit different. Instead of my normal takes, I thought I would do a recap style edition. There is even one mistake I made. Yeah, I know! Crazy that I could possibly make a mistake! So in a fair and balanced response to that mistake, I decided to do everything I my power to destroy the game that fooled me into thinking it was a good game. With luck the developers will be shamed . Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me-….cant get fooled again! And now to the interwebs!Normally I love to get my digs in on the PS3. It is an overhyped piece of hardware that is overpriced by at least $100 simply because Sony wanted to push its Blu-Ray technology. But this time they may have dodged a bullet. I almost have to give Ninja Blade, a 360 exclusive, credit for its disguise as it is one of the worst games I have played that disguised itself as a good game.
This game came out one week before I began my column, otherwise I would have reviewed it and given it a positive review. I played the demo, and I loved the mechanics. The movements were solid. And the scope was cool. But one thing I have learned is that demos lie like a baseball player in front of Congress.
I ended up running the range of emotional gamuts on this game. First I enjoyed it. That soon faded to a more annoyed tone, followed by dislike, and finally ending on if I saw this game walking down the street, I would punch it in the face. Then I would make sure it stayed down with a kick to the genitals.
There is one frequent part of the game that sums things up nicely. Often you will find yourself hit with electricity. Your character will writhe in pain, and will continue to lose energy until you obey the on-screen command and wiggle the left joystick left and right as quickly as possible. Go ahead and take a second to look at your left thumb. Now move it right and left as quickly as possible. Feels awkward doesn’t it? THAT’S BECAUSE THE HUMAN THUMB WAS NOT MEANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. And this happens very, very often. To the point that I actually let my character die, while cackling with maniacal glee. Games should not inspire this level of anger.
And then there are the QTEs (quick time events). (For those unfamiliar with the term, a QTE is essentially a cut scene where a prompt will appear on the screen. You do what the prompt says, and ta-da, you win!) QTEs are a neat idea used in small doses. But Ninja Blade does not subscribe to that theory, as you will spend the first half of the game having spent half your time in QTEs. By the third level of the game, I had spent more time in QTEs than actual game play. Here’s what I mean: Imagine flying through the air while fighting a boss the size of a semi truck. With careful timing you jump to avoid its attacks, then counter while swinging by it. You then run up it and, with a few final blows you jump on a freaking helicopter and slam it into the beast, barely jumping off in time to avoid the bad ass explosion that destroys half the building you must escape from!! Sounds awesome, right? Well unfortunately you don’t actually get to do any of that, except for the odd press of the “X” button. If any game publishers ever read this, please note: QTEs are a privilege, not a right.
And then there is the story design. There is a passingly interesting plot thread dealing with your character’s father, but it is diluted by monster bugs that are destroying Tokyo, just ‘cuz. All in all there are only about four types of ground enemies, not counting the swarms of pointless and illogically placed bats that don’t actually fit in the game motif. After you wade through generic enemy 1-5, you then fight a giant bug, then repeat through nine levels. And this is the entire game. Why giant bugs? Because giant bugs are apparently very scary in Japan. The level design is also dull and is frequently repeated, and the camera seems to actively want you to die. Oh, and the depth perception is off, so you will frequently be standing next to a boss, but swinging at air. So there’s that.
The reason this game really got my ire is that it was potentially a solid game. The fighting mechanics are fun, the character moves well, and the combo attacks are cool. And that is my fair and balanced review of Ninja Blade.
So this is it, the final edition of GamerVania for WW as my internship ends. Assuming you can still read through your tears, thank you all for reading my video game blog. For me, it has been like high-fiving awesome and French-kissing bad ass.
But it has been a fine ride, so please, no tears, no regrets. Well maybe a few tears. And maybe a cake or something. Nothing too crazy. I’d even takea goodbye pie. Or a rally. In fact, how about a riot? It works for LA when they win championships! Maybe just a flipped car? I mean it isn’t like I expect a Buddhist monk to light himself on fire in protest, or a guy to stop a row of tanks by standing in their way or anything. Although…
Oh yeah, my final edition.
I’m trying something a bit different. Instead of my normal takes, I thought I would do a recap style edition. There is even one mistake I made. Yeah, I know! Crazy that I could possibly make a mistake! So in a fair and balanced response to that mistake, I decided to do everything I my power to destroy the game that fooled me into thinking it was a good game. With luck the developers will be shamed . Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me-….cant get fooled again! And now to the interwebs!
Worst Game Disguised as a Good GameNinja Blade (360)
Normally I love to get my digs in on the PS3. It is an overhyped piece of hardware that is overpriced by at least $100 simply because Sony wanted to push its Blu-Ray technology. But this time they may have dodged a bullet. I almost have to give Ninja Blade, a 360 exclusive, credit for its disguise as it is one of the worst games I have played that disguised itself as a good game.
This game came out one week before I began my column, otherwise I would have reviewed it and given it a positive review. I played the demo, and I loved the mechanics. The movements were solid. And the scope was cool. But one thing I have learned is that demos lie like a baseball player in front of Congress.
I ended up running the range of emotional gamuts on this game. First I enjoyed it. That soon faded to a more annoyed tone, followed by dislike, and finally ending on if I saw this game walking down the street, I would punch it in the face. Then I would make sure it stayed down with a kick to the genitals.
There is one frequent part of the game that sums things up nicely. Often you will find yourself hit with electricity. Your character will writhe in pain, and will continue to lose energy until you obey the on-screen command and wiggle the left joystick left and right as quickly as possible. Go ahead and take a second to look at your left thumb. Now move it right and left as quickly as possible. Feels awkward doesn’t it? THAT’S BECAUSE THE HUMAN THUMB WAS NOT MEANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. And this happens very, very often. To the point that I actually let my character die, while cackling with maniacal glee. Games should not inspire this level of anger.
And then there are the QTEs (quick time events). (For those unfamiliar with the term, a QTE is essentially a cut scene where a prompt will appear on the screen. You do what the prompt says, and ta-da, you win!) QTEs are a neat idea used in small doses. But Ninja Blade does not subscribe to that theory, as you will spend the first half of the game having spent half your time in QTEs. By the third level of the game, I had spent more time in QTEs than actual game play. Here’s what I mean: Imagine flying through the air while fighting a boss the size of a semi truck. With careful timing you jump to avoid its attacks, then counter while swinging by it. You then run up it and, with a few final blows you jump on a freaking helicopter and slam it into the beast, barely jumping off in time to avoid the bad ass explosion that destroys half the building you must escape from!! Sounds awesome, right? Well unfortunately you don’t actually get to do any of that, except for the odd press of the “X” button. If any game publishers ever read this, please note: QTEs are a privilege, not a right.
And then there is the story design. There is a passingly interesting plot thread dealing with your character’s father, but it is diluted by monster bugs that are destroying Tokyo, just ‘cuz. All in all there are only about four types of ground enemies, not counting the swarms of pointless and illogically placed bats that don’t actually fit in the game motif. After you wade through generic enemy 1-5, you then fight a giant bug, then repeat through nine levels. And this is the entire game. Why giant bugs? Because giant bugs are apparently very scary in Japan. The level design is also dull and is frequently repeated, and the camera seems to actively want you to die. Oh, and the depth perception is off, so you will frequently be standing next to a boss, but swinging at air. So there’s that.
The reason this game really got my ire is that it was potentially a solid game. The fighting mechanics are fun, the character moves well, and the combo attacks are cool. And that is my fair and balanced review of Ninja Blade.
Best Game of the Year You Need to OwnDead Space (360, PS3, coming soon to Wii)
To rinse the horrible taste out from Ninja Suck (Ha! Get it? I took the name Ninja Blade and turned it into Ninja Suck! I am a comic genius!) This is a bit of a cheat, since it came out last October. But it’s my column and I do wha’ I want! It was a tough call between this game and Fallout 3, since Fallout 3 might have the better value. If you buy a $40 used copy, and include all 5 DLCs, for roughly $80 you can have a game that will never end. Ever. In fact it is entirely possible that if I decide to replay this game from the start, my friends might one day come looking for me and discover me with a ratty beard and bloody fingers, crying and muttering that I must find 10 more Nukla Cola Quantum bottles before the game will let me go. But not everyone is into the style of play Fallout offers, so my game of the year (well, game of the last 365 days), goes to Dead Space.
Dead Space is a survival horror game at its best. It really wants to scare you, and doesn’t care about anything else. You will not get lost thanks to a fairly interesting navigation system, and you never really need to wander too far to find upgrades and items. You will never find yourself wondering around walking in spooky circles, while you are terrifyingly lost, amid the dread of boredom! I am looking at you, Silent Hill. Instead, the game wants you to walk down that dark, creepy pathway while the lights flicker on and off and you keep hearing the sounds of clicking from inside the walls…
The story is solid too, and backed up by impressive visuals. You will spend much of your time in the ship, but there are a few stand-out scenes putting you outside the ship staring at a planet with a hole in it, on the hull of the ship dodging meteors, or on the bridge while tiny pieces of rock crack the windows. All of this is so you accomplish your goals of surviving while you piece together the horror of what happened. Pretty standard sci-fi horror fare, but it all works. I probably shouldn’t bother pimping a game that has sold nearly 2 million, but, come on readers, you gotta give me this one.
So this is it, the final edition of GamerVania for WW as my internship ends. Assuming you can still read through your tears, thank you all for reading my video game blog. For me, it has been like high-fiving awesome and French-kissing bad ass.
But it has been a fine ride, so please, no tears, no regrets. Well maybe a few tears. And maybe a cake or something. Nothing too crazy. I’d even takea goodbye pie. Or a rally. In fact, how about a riot? It works for LA when they win championships! Maybe just a flipped car? I mean it isn’t like I expect a Buddhist monk to light himself on fire in protest, or a guy to stop a row of tanks by standing in their way or anything. Although…
Oh yeah, my final edition.
I’m trying something a bit different. Instead of my normal takes, I thought I would do a recap style edition. There is even one mistake I made. Yeah, I know! Crazy that I could possibly make a mistake! So in a fair and balanced response to that mistake, I decided to do everything I my power to destroy the game that fooled me into thinking it was a good game. With luck the developers will be shamed . Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me-….cant get fooled again! And now to the interwebs!
Worst Game Disguised as a Good GameNinja Blade (360)
Normally I love to get my digs in on the PS3. It is an overhyped piece of hardware that is overpriced by at least $100 simply because Sony wanted to push its Blu-Ray technology. But this time they may have dodged a bullet. I almost have to give Ninja Blade, a 360 exclusive, credit for its disguise as it is one of the worst games I have played that disguised itself as a good game.
This game came out one week before I began my column, otherwise I would have reviewed it and given it a positive review. I played the demo, and I loved the mechanics. The movements were solid. And the scope was cool. But one thing I have learned is that demos lie like a baseball player in front of Congress.
I ended up running the range of emotional gamuts on this game. First I enjoyed it. That soon faded to a more annoyed tone, followed by dislike, and finally ending on if I saw this game walking down the street, I would punch it in the face. Then I would make sure it stayed down with a kick to the genitals.
There is one frequent part of the game that sums things up nicely. Often you will find yourself hit with electricity. Your character will writhe in pain, and will continue to lose energy until you obey the on-screen command and wiggle the left joystick left and right as quickly as possible. Go ahead and take a second to look at your left thumb. Now move it right and left as quickly as possible. Feels awkward doesn’t it? THAT’S BECAUSE THE HUMAN THUMB WAS NOT MEANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. And this happens very, very often. To the point that I actually let my character die, while cackling with maniacal glee. Games should not inspire this level of anger.
And then there are the QTEs (quick time events). (For those unfamiliar with the term, a QTE is essentially a cut scene where a prompt will appear on the screen. You do what the prompt says, and ta-da, you win!) QTEs are a neat idea used in small doses. But Ninja Blade does not subscribe to that theory, as you will spend the first half of the game having spent half your time in QTEs. By the third level of the game, I had spent more time in QTEs than actual game play. Here’s what I mean: Imagine flying through the air while fighting a boss the size of a semi truck. With careful timing you jump to avoid its attacks, then counter while swinging by it. You then run up it and, with a few final blows you jump on a freaking helicopter and slam it into the beast, barely jumping off in time to avoid the bad ass explosion that destroys half the building you must escape from!! Sounds awesome, right? Well unfortunately you don’t actually get to do any of that, except for the odd press of the “X” button. If any game publishers ever read this, please note: QTEs are a privilege, not a right.
And then there is the story design. There is a passingly interesting plot thread dealing with your character’s father, but it is diluted by monster bugs that are destroying Tokyo, just ‘cuz. All in all there are only about four types of ground enemies, not counting the swarms of pointless and illogically placed bats that don’t actually fit in the game motif. After you wade through generic enemy 1-5, you then fight a giant bug, then repeat through nine levels. And this is the entire game. Why giant bugs? Because giant bugs are apparently very scary in Japan. The level design is also dull and is frequently repeated, and the camera seems to actively want you to die. Oh, and the depth perception is off, so you will frequently be standing next to a boss, but swinging at air. So there’s that.
The reason this game really got my ire is that it was potentially a solid game. The fighting mechanics are fun, the character moves well, and the combo attacks are cool. And that is my fair and balanced review of Ninja Blade.
Best Game of the Year You Need to OwnDead Space (360, PS3, coming soon to Wii)
To rinse the horrible taste out from Ninja Suck (Ha! Get it? I took the name Ninja Blade and turned it into Ninja Suck! I am a comic genius!) This is a bit of a cheat, since it came out last October. But it’s my column and I do wha’ I want! It was a tough call between this game and Fallout 3, since Fallout 3 might have the better value. If you buy a $40 used copy, and include all 5 DLCs, for roughly $80 you can have a game that will never end. Ever. In fact it is entirely possible that if I decide to replay this game from the start, my friends might one day come looking for me and discover me with a ratty beard and bloody fingers, crying and muttering that I must find 10 more Nukla Cola Quantum bottles before the game will let me go. But not everyone is into the style of play Fallout offers, so my game of the year (well, game of the last 365 days), goes to Dead Space.
Dead Space is a survival horror game at its best. It really wants to scare you, and doesn’t care about anything else. You will not get lost thanks to a fairly interesting navigation system, and you never really need to wander too far to find upgrades and items. You will never find yourself wondering around walking in spooky circles, while you are terrifyingly lost, amid the dread of boredom! I am looking at you, Silent Hill. Instead, the game wants you to walk down that dark, creepy pathway while the lights flicker on and off and you keep hearing the sounds of clicking from inside the walls…
The story is solid too, and backed up by impressive visuals. You will spend much of your time in the ship, but there are a few stand-out scenes putting you outside the ship staring at a planet with a hole in it, on the hull of the ship dodging meteors, or on the bridge while tiny pieces of rock crack the windows. All of this is so you accomplish your goals of surviving while you piece together the horror of what happened. Pretty standard sci-fi horror fare, but it all works. I probably shouldn’t bother pimping a game that has sold nearly 2 million, but, come on readers, you gotta give me this one. I played a damn . You owe me! I am at all times, one more “so did you like the Hannah Montana game, Princess?” joke away from making headline news as I reign terror upon unsuspecting video game outlets.
Download of the WeekSam & Max Save The World (Xbox Live Arcade)
I loves me some Sam and Max. If you aren’t familiar with the foul mouthed duo, they have been hiding in the shadow of cult gaming for years, with a small, but dedicated following. Beginning as a comic from Steve Purcell, in 1993 LucasArts released the first Sam & Max games. From there they continued to gain popularity. Sam & Max are the video gamers equivalent of the hipsters who tell you they have been listening to the new band you just discovered when they were still a garage band.
This download is interesting for two reasons- first, Sam & Max are awesome. Just accept that and this review will go a lot smoother. But second, this set is a collection of episodes that were released one at a time on PC in what could be the future of gaming, or at least a new style of episode-based gaming where you must buy each episode one at a time. Half Life is trying it, and you can be sure more games like it are on the way. It has the benefit of keeping developers’ costs low. But it will also end up costing the gamer as much as a normal game, if not more, and it carries the frightening possibility of cancellation. Imagine paying $10 a pop for four episodes, and the game is cancelled before they can release the final two episodes. Ain’t technology grand?
In the meantime, enjoy this full collection of Sam & Max, also called Sam and Max season 1. The 1600 points ($20) is a deal considering the PC version cost $35. PS3 users also have the chance to play this game as either a download, or a physical copy that they can order, and all 6 episodes are available on Wii. As for the game itself, you take control of Sam and Max, a pair of detectives in the loosest sense of the word, and you try to save the world. Only funny. Using a point-and-click interface, you solve puzzles, interact with characters, and play mini games. The game itself is involving, but the humor is what you really play for. Watch the video above as Max insults the Pope and several others and you will get an idea for the humor. All in all, for $20 you get a solid game at a good value.
HOT COFFEE AND NEWS
Kneel before Nokia, puny humans! is reporting that Nokia has developed a new way to power cell phones. Through radio waves. Or as they are considering calling it: the “what up now, bitches” power source. It is still in the experimental phase, and is three to five years away from practical applications. The technology will never be enough to power anything major like a car or your house, but it basically means that you would never have to charge your cell phone again. Ever. The future is nigh!
In what sounds like one of the suckiest games in the history of crap games (and I have played a lot of crap games recently), Liberty Mutual, the insurance company, is releasing a program that will simulate what it is like to be an elderly driver.that the program that is loosely being called a game, will simulate physical and cognitive limitations. Awesome! They say it is to help families cope with getting older, or something. Hopefully next up for Liberty Mutual is a simulation of arthritis! Wicked awesome!
that Call of Duty: World at War has hit the 11 million mark. That means that on average 4,950,000,000 digitized Germans and Japanese have been killed, not counting online play where they at least have a sporting chance.
the British paper well known for its in-depth coverage on celebrity breasts, is reporting that Moazzam Begg, a British national who spent two years as a “guest” of the United States in Guantanamo Bay, is developing a video game based on his experiences. Begg will be in the game as the head of a group trying to help the player/suspect escape. This is either wrong on so many levels, or right on a few key ones. The game will be on sale for the 360 in October.
According to in-game ad sales will reach $17.2 billion this year. The growing trend to add real life advertisements to games through online updates has been a new source of revenue for struggling developers. Maybe one day while playing call of duty, you will creep around the corner waiting to ambush someone when suddenly the Burger King King will be there. But instead of holding a delicious whopper, he will be holding a hand grenade! Welcome to the future of gaming.
The online zombie game Left 4 Dead has quickly become a best seller for the 360, and gained a strong and dedicated following. So dedicated that they refuse to accept that there will be a sequel for the game, and have started an online petition to boycott the sequel, according to The petition has already gained 21,000 names. Gamers are protesting that the sequel is coming out too quickly, and when it is released this Fall gamers fear that it will split the online community. The petition to boycott the new game also list that developer Valve promised new downloadable content that it has failed to provide, prompting fears that the sequel is simply a cash grab. Valve responded by sending out a digital finger to all payers, followed by a “just kidding, we still love y’all.”
Somehow this seems like a perfectly fitting conclusion to my video game blog, GamerVania. Yahoo is reporting that US parents are rearing a generation of gadget savvy children. A recent survey states that 37 percent of US children use personal digital music players, up from 6 percent in 2005. What that means is that sooner or later, our silly flesh bags will be obsolete as we all become one with the digital universe! I am reading between the lines there. Turns out all those formative childhood years I spent watching sci-fi were not wasted. They were training
But it has been a fine ride, so please, no tears, no regrets. Well maybe a few tears. And maybe a cake or something. Nothing too crazy. I’d even takea goodbye pie. Or a rally. In fact, how about a riot? It works for LA when they win championships! Maybe just a flipped car? I mean it isn’t like I expect a Buddhist monk to light himself on fire in protest, or a guy to stop a row of tanks by standing in their way or anything. Although…
Oh yeah, my final edition.
I’m trying something a bit different. Instead of my normal takes, I thought I would do a recap style edition. There is even one mistake I made. Yeah, I know! Crazy that I could possibly make a mistake! So in a fair and balanced response to that mistake, I decided to do everything I my power to destroy the game that fooled me into thinking it was a good game. With luck the developers will be shamed . Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me-….cant get fooled again! And now to the interwebs!Normally I love to get my digs in on the PS3. It is an overhyped piece of hardware that is overpriced by at least $100 simply because Sony wanted to push its Blu-Ray technology. But this time they may have dodged a bullet. I almost have to give Ninja Blade, a 360 exclusive, credit for its disguise as it is one of the worst games I have played that disguised itself as a good game.
This game came out one week before I began my column, otherwise I would have reviewed it and given it a positive review. I played the demo, and I loved the mechanics. The movements were solid. And the scope was cool. But one thing I have learned is that demos lie like a baseball player in front of Congress.
I ended up running the range of emotional gamuts on this game. First I enjoyed it. That soon faded to a more annoyed tone, followed by dislike, and finally ending on if I saw this game walking down the street, I would punch it in the face. Then I would make sure it stayed down with a kick to the genitals.
There is one frequent part of the game that sums things up nicely. Often you will find yourself hit with electricity. Your character will writhe in pain, and will continue to lose energy until you obey the on-screen command and wiggle the left joystick left and right as quickly as possible. Go ahead and take a second to look at your left thumb. Now move it right and left as quickly as possible. Feels awkward doesn’t it? THAT’S BECAUSE THE HUMAN THUMB WAS NOT MEANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. And this happens very, very often. To the point that I actually let my character die, while cackling with maniacal glee. Games should not inspire this level of anger.
And then there are the QTEs (quick time events). (For those unfamiliar with the term, a QTE is essentially a cut scene where a prompt will appear on the screen. You do what the prompt says, and ta-da, you win!) QTEs are a neat idea used in small doses. But Ninja Blade does not subscribe to that theory, as you will spend the first half of the game having spent half your time in QTEs. By the third level of the game, I had spent more time in QTEs than actual game play. Here’s what I mean: Imagine flying through the air while fighting a boss the size of a semi truck. With careful timing you jump to avoid its attacks, then counter while swinging by it. You then run up it and, with a few final blows you jump on a freaking helicopter and slam it into the beast, barely jumping off in time to avoid the bad ass explosion that destroys half the building you must escape from!! Sounds awesome, right? Well unfortunately you don’t actually get to do any of that, except for the odd press of the “X” button. If any game publishers ever read this, please note: QTEs are a privilege, not a right.
And then there is the story design. There is a passingly interesting plot thread dealing with your character’s father, but it is diluted by monster bugs that are destroying Tokyo, just ‘cuz. All in all there are only about four types of ground enemies, not counting the swarms of pointless and illogically placed bats that don’t actually fit in the game motif. After you wade through generic enemy 1-5, you then fight a giant bug, then repeat through nine levels. And this is the entire game. Why giant bugs? Because giant bugs are apparently very scary in Japan. The level design is also dull and is frequently repeated, and the camera seems to actively want you to die. Oh, and the depth perception is off, so you will frequently be standing next to a boss, but swinging at air. So there’s that.
The reason this game really got my ire is that it was potentially a solid game. The fighting mechanics are fun, the character moves well, and the combo attacks are cool. And that is my fair and balanced review of Ninja Blade.
So this is it, the final edition of GamerVania for WW as my internship ends. Assuming you can still read through your tears, thank you all for reading my video game blog. For me, it has been like high-fiving awesome and French-kissing bad ass.
But it has been a fine ride, so please, no tears, no regrets. Well maybe a few tears. And maybe a cake or something. Nothing too crazy. I’d even takea goodbye pie. Or a rally. In fact, how about a riot? It works for LA when they win championships! Maybe just a flipped car? I mean it isn’t like I expect a Buddhist monk to light himself on fire in protest, or a guy to stop a row of tanks by standing in their way or anything. Although…
Oh yeah, my final edition.
I’m trying something a bit different. Instead of my normal takes, I thought I would do a recap style edition. There is even one mistake I made. Yeah, I know! Crazy that I could possibly make a mistake! So in a fair and balanced response to that mistake, I decided to do everything I my power to destroy the game that fooled me into thinking it was a good game. With luck the developers will be shamed . Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me-….cant get fooled again! And now to the interwebs!
Worst Game Disguised as a Good GameNinja Blade (360)
Normally I love to get my digs in on the PS3. It is an overhyped piece of hardware that is overpriced by at least $100 simply because Sony wanted to push its Blu-Ray technology. But this time they may have dodged a bullet. I almost have to give Ninja Blade, a 360 exclusive, credit for its disguise as it is one of the worst games I have played that disguised itself as a good game.
This game came out one week before I began my column, otherwise I would have reviewed it and given it a positive review. I played the demo, and I loved the mechanics. The movements were solid. And the scope was cool. But one thing I have learned is that demos lie like a baseball player in front of Congress.
I ended up running the range of emotional gamuts on this game. First I enjoyed it. That soon faded to a more annoyed tone, followed by dislike, and finally ending on if I saw this game walking down the street, I would punch it in the face. Then I would make sure it stayed down with a kick to the genitals.
There is one frequent part of the game that sums things up nicely. Often you will find yourself hit with electricity. Your character will writhe in pain, and will continue to lose energy until you obey the on-screen command and wiggle the left joystick left and right as quickly as possible. Go ahead and take a second to look at your left thumb. Now move it right and left as quickly as possible. Feels awkward doesn’t it? THAT’S BECAUSE THE HUMAN THUMB WAS NOT MEANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. And this happens very, very often. To the point that I actually let my character die, while cackling with maniacal glee. Games should not inspire this level of anger.
And then there are the QTEs (quick time events). (For those unfamiliar with the term, a QTE is essentially a cut scene where a prompt will appear on the screen. You do what the prompt says, and ta-da, you win!) QTEs are a neat idea used in small doses. But Ninja Blade does not subscribe to that theory, as you will spend the first half of the game having spent half your time in QTEs. By the third level of the game, I had spent more time in QTEs than actual game play. Here’s what I mean: Imagine flying through the air while fighting a boss the size of a semi truck. With careful timing you jump to avoid its attacks, then counter while swinging by it. You then run up it and, with a few final blows you jump on a freaking helicopter and slam it into the beast, barely jumping off in time to avoid the bad ass explosion that destroys half the building you must escape from!! Sounds awesome, right? Well unfortunately you don’t actually get to do any of that, except for the odd press of the “X” button. If any game publishers ever read this, please note: QTEs are a privilege, not a right.
And then there is the story design. There is a passingly interesting plot thread dealing with your character’s father, but it is diluted by monster bugs that are destroying Tokyo, just ‘cuz. All in all there are only about four types of ground enemies, not counting the swarms of pointless and illogically placed bats that don’t actually fit in the game motif. After you wade through generic enemy 1-5, you then fight a giant bug, then repeat through nine levels. And this is the entire game. Why giant bugs? Because giant bugs are apparently very scary in Japan. The level design is also dull and is frequently repeated, and the camera seems to actively want you to die. Oh, and the depth perception is off, so you will frequently be standing next to a boss, but swinging at air. So there’s that.
The reason this game really got my ire is that it was potentially a solid game. The fighting mechanics are fun, the character moves well, and the combo attacks are cool. And that is my fair and balanced review of Ninja Blade.
Best Game of the Year You Need to OwnDead Space (360, PS3, coming soon to Wii)
To rinse the horrible taste out from Ninja Suck (Ha! Get it? I took the name Ninja Blade and turned it into Ninja Suck! I am a comic genius!) This is a bit of a cheat, since it came out last October. But it’s my column and I do wha’ I want! It was a tough call between this game and Fallout 3, since Fallout 3 might have the better value. If you buy a $40 used copy, and include all 5 DLCs, for roughly $80 you can have a game that will never end. Ever. In fact it is entirely possible that if I decide to replay this game from the start, my friends might one day come looking for me and discover me with a ratty beard and bloody fingers, crying and muttering that I must find 10 more Nukla Cola Quantum bottles before the game will let me go. But not everyone is into the style of play Fallout offers, so my game of the year (well, game of the last 365 days), goes to Dead Space.
Dead Space is a survival horror game at its best. It really wants to scare you, and doesn’t care about anything else. You will not get lost thanks to a fairly interesting navigation system, and you never really need to wander too far to find upgrades and items. You will never find yourself wondering around walking in spooky circles, while you are terrifyingly lost, amid the dread of boredom! I am looking at you, Silent Hill. Instead, the game wants you to walk down that dark, creepy pathway while the lights flicker on and off and you keep hearing the sounds of clicking from inside the walls…
The story is solid too, and backed up by impressive visuals. You will spend much of your time in the ship, but there are a few stand-out scenes putting you outside the ship staring at a planet with a hole in it, on the hull of the ship dodging meteors, or on the bridge while tiny pieces of rock crack the windows. All of this is so you accomplish your goals of surviving while you piece together the horror of what happened. Pretty standard sci-fi horror fare, but it all works. I probably shouldn’t bother pimping a game that has sold nearly 2 million, but, come on readers, you gotta give me this one.
So this is it, the final edition of GamerVania for WW as my internship ends. Assuming you can still read through your tears, thank you all for reading my video game blog. For me, it has been like high-fiving awesome and French-kissing bad ass.
But it has been a fine ride, so please, no tears, no regrets. Well maybe a few tears. And maybe a cake or something. Nothing too crazy. I’d even takea goodbye pie. Or a rally. In fact, how about a riot? It works for LA when they win championships! Maybe just a flipped car? I mean it isn’t like I expect a Buddhist monk to light himself on fire in protest, or a guy to stop a row of tanks by standing in their way or anything. Although…
Oh yeah, my final edition.
I’m trying something a bit different. Instead of my normal takes, I thought I would do a recap style edition. There is even one mistake I made. Yeah, I know! Crazy that I could possibly make a mistake! So in a fair and balanced response to that mistake, I decided to do everything I my power to destroy the game that fooled me into thinking it was a good game. With luck the developers will be shamed . Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me-….cant get fooled again! And now to the interwebs!
Worst Game Disguised as a Good GameNinja Blade (360)
Normally I love to get my digs in on the PS3. It is an overhyped piece of hardware that is overpriced by at least $100 simply because Sony wanted to push its Blu-Ray technology. But this time they may have dodged a bullet. I almost have to give Ninja Blade, a 360 exclusive, credit for its disguise as it is one of the worst games I have played that disguised itself as a good game.
This game came out one week before I began my column, otherwise I would have reviewed it and given it a positive review. I played the demo, and I loved the mechanics. The movements were solid. And the scope was cool. But one thing I have learned is that demos lie like a baseball player in front of Congress.
I ended up running the range of emotional gamuts on this game. First I enjoyed it. That soon faded to a more annoyed tone, followed by dislike, and finally ending on if I saw this game walking down the street, I would punch it in the face. Then I would make sure it stayed down with a kick to the genitals.
There is one frequent part of the game that sums things up nicely. Often you will find yourself hit with electricity. Your character will writhe in pain, and will continue to lose energy until you obey the on-screen command and wiggle the left joystick left and right as quickly as possible. Go ahead and take a second to look at your left thumb. Now move it right and left as quickly as possible. Feels awkward doesn’t it? THAT’S BECAUSE THE HUMAN THUMB WAS NOT MEANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. And this happens very, very often. To the point that I actually let my character die, while cackling with maniacal glee. Games should not inspire this level of anger.
And then there are the QTEs (quick time events). (For those unfamiliar with the term, a QTE is essentially a cut scene where a prompt will appear on the screen. You do what the prompt says, and ta-da, you win!) QTEs are a neat idea used in small doses. But Ninja Blade does not subscribe to that theory, as you will spend the first half of the game having spent half your time in QTEs. By the third level of the game, I had spent more time in QTEs than actual game play. Here’s what I mean: Imagine flying through the air while fighting a boss the size of a semi truck. With careful timing you jump to avoid its attacks, then counter while swinging by it. You then run up it and, with a few final blows you jump on a freaking helicopter and slam it into the beast, barely jumping off in time to avoid the bad ass explosion that destroys half the building you must escape from!! Sounds awesome, right? Well unfortunately you don’t actually get to do any of that, except for the odd press of the “X” button. If any game publishers ever read this, please note: QTEs are a privilege, not a right.
And then there is the story design. There is a passingly interesting plot thread dealing with your character’s father, but it is diluted by monster bugs that are destroying Tokyo, just ‘cuz. All in all there are only about four types of ground enemies, not counting the swarms of pointless and illogically placed bats that don’t actually fit in the game motif. After you wade through generic enemy 1-5, you then fight a giant bug, then repeat through nine levels. And this is the entire game. Why giant bugs? Because giant bugs are apparently very scary in Japan. The level design is also dull and is frequently repeated, and the camera seems to actively want you to die. Oh, and the depth perception is off, so you will frequently be standing next to a boss, but swinging at air. So there’s that.
The reason this game really got my ire is that it was potentially a solid game. The fighting mechanics are fun, the character moves well, and the combo attacks are cool. And that is my fair and balanced review of Ninja Blade.
Best Game of the Year You Need to OwnDead Space (360, PS3, coming soon to Wii)
To rinse the horrible taste out from Ninja Suck (Ha! Get it? I took the name Ninja Blade and turned it into Ninja Suck! I am a comic genius!) This is a bit of a cheat, since it came out last October. But it’s my column and I do wha’ I want! It was a tough call between this game and Fallout 3, since Fallout 3 might have the better value. If you buy a $40 used copy, and include all 5 DLCs, for roughly $80 you can have a game that will never end. Ever. In fact it is entirely possible that if I decide to replay this game from the start, my friends might one day come looking for me and discover me with a ratty beard and bloody fingers, crying and muttering that I must find 10 more Nukla Cola Quantum bottles before the game will let me go. But not everyone is into the style of play Fallout offers, so my game of the year (well, game of the last 365 days), goes to Dead Space.
Dead Space is a survival horror game at its best. It really wants to scare you, and doesn’t care about anything else. You will not get lost thanks to a fairly interesting navigation system, and you never really need to wander too far to find upgrades and items. You will never find yourself wondering around walking in spooky circles, while you are terrifyingly lost, amid the dread of boredom! I am looking at you, Silent Hill. Instead, the game wants you to walk down that dark, creepy pathway while the lights flicker on and off and you keep hearing the sounds of clicking from inside the walls…
The story is solid too, and backed up by impressive visuals. You will spend much of your time in the ship, but there are a few stand-out scenes putting you outside the ship staring at a planet with a hole in it, on the hull of the ship dodging meteors, or on the bridge while tiny pieces of rock crack the windows. All of this is so you accomplish your goals of surviving while you piece together the horror of what happened. Pretty standard sci-fi horror fare, but it all works. I probably shouldn’t bother pimping a game that has sold nearly 2 million, but, come on readers, you gotta give me this one. I played a damn . You owe me! I am at all times, one more “so did you like the Hannah Montana game, Princess?” joke away from making headline news as I reign terror upon unsuspecting video game outlets.
Download of the WeekSam & Max Save The World (Xbox Live Arcade)
I loves me some Sam and Max. If you aren’t familiar with the foul mouthed duo, they have been hiding in the shadow of cult gaming for years, with a small, but dedicated following. Beginning as a comic from Steve Purcell, in 1993 LucasArts released the first Sam & Max games. From there they continued to gain popularity. Sam & Max are the video gamers equivalent of the hipsters who tell you they have been listening to the new band you just discovered when they were still a garage band.
This download is interesting for two reasons- first, Sam & Max are awesome. Just accept that and this review will go a lot smoother. But second, this set is a collection of episodes that were released one at a time on PC in what could be the future of gaming, or at least a new style of episode-based gaming where you must buy each episode one at a time. Half Life is trying it, and you can be sure more games like it are on the way. It has the benefit of keeping developers’ costs low. But it will also end up costing the gamer as much as a normal game, if not more, and it carries the frightening possibility of cancellation. Imagine paying $10 a pop for four episodes, and the game is cancelled before they can release the final two episodes. Ain’t technology grand?
In the meantime, enjoy this full collection of Sam & Max, also called Sam and Max season 1. The 1600 points ($20) is a deal considering the PC version cost $35. PS3 users also have the chance to play this game as either a download, or a physical copy that they can order, and all 6 episodes are available on Wii. As for the game itself, you take control of Sam and Max, a pair of detectives in the loosest sense of the word, and you try to save the world. Only funny. Using a point-and-click interface, you solve puzzles, interact with characters, and play mini games. The game itself is involving, but the humor is what you really play for. Watch the video above as Max insults the Pope and several others and you will get an idea for the humor. All in all, for $20 you get a solid game at a good value.
HOT COFFEE AND NEWS
Kneel before Nokia, puny humans! is reporting that Nokia has developed a new way to power cell phones. Through radio waves. Or as they are considering calling it: the “what up now, bitches” power source. It is still in the experimental phase, and is three to five years away from practical applications. The technology will never be enough to power anything major like a car or your house, but it basically means that you would never have to charge your cell phone again. Ever. The future is nigh!
In what sounds like one of the suckiest games in the history of crap games (and I have played a lot of crap games recently), Liberty Mutual, the insurance company, is releasing a program that will simulate what it is like to be an elderly driver.that the program that is loosely being called a game, will simulate physical and cognitive limitations. Awesome! They say it is to help families cope with getting older, or something. Hopefully next up for Liberty Mutual is a simulation of arthritis! Wicked awesome!
that Call of Duty: World at War has hit the 11 million mark. That means that on average 4,950,000,000 digitized Germans and Japanese have been killed, not counting online play where they at least have a sporting chance.
the British paper well known for its in-depth coverage on celebrity breasts, is reporting that Moazzam Begg, a British national who spent two years as a “guest” of the United States in Guantanamo Bay, is developing a video game based on his experiences. Begg will be in the game as the head of a group trying to help the player/suspect escape. This is either wrong on so many levels, or right on a few key ones. The game will be on sale for the 360 in October.
According to in-game ad sales will reach $17.2 billion this year. The growing trend to add real life advertisements to games through online updates has been a new source of revenue for struggling developers. Maybe one day while playing call of duty, you will creep around the corner waiting to ambush someone when suddenly the Burger King King will be there. But instead of holding a delicious whopper, he will be holding a hand grenade! Welcome to the future of gaming.
The online zombie game Left 4 Dead has quickly become a best seller for the 360, and gained a strong and dedicated following. So dedicated that they refuse to accept that there will be a sequel for the game, and have started an online petition to boycott the sequel, according to The petition has already gained 21,000 names. Gamers are protesting that the sequel is coming out too quickly, and when it is released this Fall gamers fear that it will split the online community. The petition to boycott the new game also list that developer Valve promised new downloadable content that it has failed to provide, prompting fears that the sequel is simply a cash grab. Valve responded by sending out a digital finger to all payers, followed by a “just kidding, we still love y’all.”
Somehow this seems like a perfectly fitting conclusion to my video game blog, GamerVania. Yahoo is reporting that US parents are rearing a generation of gadget savvy children. A recent survey states that 37 percent of US children use personal digital music players, up from 6 percent in 2005. What that means is that sooner or later, our silly flesh bags will be obsolete as we all become one with the digital universe! I am reading between the lines there. Turns out all those formative childhood years I spent watching sci-fi were not wasted. They were training
Meet Rochester's Twitterers
Though some see in this communication counterculture the end of Western civilization, the social networking trend continues to surge in popularity.
Even here in stable Rochester, doctors, entrepreneurs, gadget geeks, newspaper reporters, students and fans of "Battlestar Galactica" all have embraced the new medium, according Twittergrader.com, a Web site that ranks the Twitter elite in Rochester.
Among them is Erik Giberti, a Rochester information technology freelancer. A self-described "family man, gadget geek, environmentalist, gear head and a fan of good beer living," Giberti is ranked No. 3 among Rochester Twitterers, according to Twittergrader.
Staying connected
Twitterers send and receive short messages, called "tweets," on Twitter's Web site, with instant messaging software or with a mobile phone.
Giberti tends to view the social networking site as a big party with multiple rooms. Maybe you decide to walk into one room and take in some of the conversation. You listen, maybe add your two cents, and then eventually leave.
"That party is going to continue to happen and you're going to miss things. If that bothers you, then obviously you wouldn't want to Twitter," Giberti said.
Giberti figures he tweets anywhere from a dozen to two dozen times a day. Sometimes he Twitters to express a personal thought or to keep his Facebook up to date and current. Other times, he'll use Twitter to attend conferences virtually, eavesdropping on meetings as far away as San Francisco with the social network's help.
"I can get the list of what's going on at the conference and get all the highlights, because inevitably somebody is going to Twitter pretty much everything that gets said," Giberti said.
Twitter is also slowly becoming a "knowledge base where you can ask a question to Twitter and get responses," he said. A couple of weeks ago, Giberti was in New York with a co-worker, looking for some teleoffice space to work from. Within half an hour of sending out a query via Twitter, they found a place to work that was free.
For some, Twitter is a chance to express their alter egos more freely. Ranked No. 12 among Rochester Twitterers is Tim Walsh. A Rochester family man, Walsh doesn't use his real name or display a photograph of himself on his Twitter site. Instead, he calls himself "OhCaptain" and posts a cartoon of a Simpsonesque character wearing a scruffy beard.
For Walsh, who loathes all things "politically incorrect" even when he doesn't necessarily oppose the view, Twittering is an opportunity to say whatever is on his mind. Walsh calls it "instant messaging in the wind." Maybe people are listening, maybe not.
"Just being able to say what you want when you want to. When you're at work all day and stuff like that, you don't always gets to speak your mind," Walsh said.
That's not to say that Walsh spends all his time railing against the politically incorrect. Walsh maintains a clutch of poker blogs and Twitter is another avenue to write about his love of poker and stay connected with a "whole other interesting subculture all in itself."
Growing with Twitter
For many, Twitter is an opportunity to build a social network with an eye toward one day using those connections to build or enhance one's business.
Amy Charland, the Rochester owner of a career empowerment coaching company, said she started her company with the idea of helping "women blossom into their best selves."
But she soon discovered that everyone who was successful in her field was advising her to get on Facebook and Twitter.
Soon she was following experts in her field via Twitter and they were following her and the thing quickly snowballed. Charland now has more than 1,000 followers and is ranked second among the Rochester elite, but she calls herself a "little fish in a big pond."
"I'm comparing myself to the gurus out there who have like 32,000 followers," Charland said.
For now, Charland isn't using Twitter to promote her coaching business. She's more interested in using it just to get to know people. Unlike with Facebook, you don't have to go through the ritual of asking a person to be your friend. You can be part of the Twitter universe simply by starting a conversation, as Charland recently did with a woman in London.
"We were just going back and forth having this great conversation," Charland said.
Charland is convinced of one thing. Twitter is here to stay.
"It's a great way to connect, and that's really what we all want. We want to connect with other like-minded people, to feel like we're not alone in the universe."
Even here in stable Rochester, doctors, entrepreneurs, gadget geeks, newspaper reporters, students and fans of "Battlestar Galactica" all have embraced the new medium, according Twittergrader.com, a Web site that ranks the Twitter elite in Rochester.
Among them is Erik Giberti, a Rochester information technology freelancer. A self-described "family man, gadget geek, environmentalist, gear head and a fan of good beer living," Giberti is ranked No. 3 among Rochester Twitterers, according to Twittergrader.
Staying connected
Twitterers send and receive short messages, called "tweets," on Twitter's Web site, with instant messaging software or with a mobile phone.
Giberti tends to view the social networking site as a big party with multiple rooms. Maybe you decide to walk into one room and take in some of the conversation. You listen, maybe add your two cents, and then eventually leave.
"That party is going to continue to happen and you're going to miss things. If that bothers you, then obviously you wouldn't want to Twitter," Giberti said.
Giberti figures he tweets anywhere from a dozen to two dozen times a day. Sometimes he Twitters to express a personal thought or to keep his Facebook up to date and current. Other times, he'll use Twitter to attend conferences virtually, eavesdropping on meetings as far away as San Francisco with the social network's help.
"I can get the list of what's going on at the conference and get all the highlights, because inevitably somebody is going to Twitter pretty much everything that gets said," Giberti said.
Twitter is also slowly becoming a "knowledge base where you can ask a question to Twitter and get responses," he said. A couple of weeks ago, Giberti was in New York with a co-worker, looking for some teleoffice space to work from. Within half an hour of sending out a query via Twitter, they found a place to work that was free.
For some, Twitter is a chance to express their alter egos more freely. Ranked No. 12 among Rochester Twitterers is Tim Walsh. A Rochester family man, Walsh doesn't use his real name or display a photograph of himself on his Twitter site. Instead, he calls himself "OhCaptain" and posts a cartoon of a Simpsonesque character wearing a scruffy beard.
For Walsh, who loathes all things "politically incorrect" even when he doesn't necessarily oppose the view, Twittering is an opportunity to say whatever is on his mind. Walsh calls it "instant messaging in the wind." Maybe people are listening, maybe not.
"Just being able to say what you want when you want to. When you're at work all day and stuff like that, you don't always gets to speak your mind," Walsh said.
That's not to say that Walsh spends all his time railing against the politically incorrect. Walsh maintains a clutch of poker blogs and Twitter is another avenue to write about his love of poker and stay connected with a "whole other interesting subculture all in itself."
Growing with Twitter
For many, Twitter is an opportunity to build a social network with an eye toward one day using those connections to build or enhance one's business.
Amy Charland, the Rochester owner of a career empowerment coaching company, said she started her company with the idea of helping "women blossom into their best selves."
But she soon discovered that everyone who was successful in her field was advising her to get on Facebook and Twitter.
Soon she was following experts in her field via Twitter and they were following her and the thing quickly snowballed. Charland now has more than 1,000 followers and is ranked second among the Rochester elite, but she calls herself a "little fish in a big pond."
"I'm comparing myself to the gurus out there who have like 32,000 followers," Charland said.
For now, Charland isn't using Twitter to promote her coaching business. She's more interested in using it just to get to know people. Unlike with Facebook, you don't have to go through the ritual of asking a person to be your friend. You can be part of the Twitter universe simply by starting a conversation, as Charland recently did with a woman in London.
"We were just going back and forth having this great conversation," Charland said.
Charland is convinced of one thing. Twitter is here to stay.
"It's a great way to connect, and that's really what we all want. We want to connect with other like-minded people, to feel like we're not alone in the universe."
comic book resources
one of the rare professionals in any industry where his public persona is equally as entertaining and passionate as the characters he creates. Affectionately known to his fans as PAD, the writer’s worked with nearly every major comics publisher, written novels, films and television, and has left an undeniable mark on every property he has handled.
Perhaps most memorably, David made Marvel’s “Hulk’ a must-read mega-hit, and later gave DC’s Aquaman his harpoon hand that helped firmly establish the character as a man not a man to be laughed at simply because he talked to fish
Perhaps most memorably, David made Marvel’s “Hulk’ a must-read mega-hit, and later gave DC’s Aquaman his harpoon hand that helped firmly establish the character as a man not a man to be laughed at simply because he talked to fish
Nielsen ratings gadget shaping future of television
Television analysts say people meters -- gadgets used by ratings giant Nielsen to measure viewership -- will provide the catalyst for the industry's most drastic changes in decades.
They look pretty much like ordinary remote controls, but the Nielsen people meters that came to South Florida eight months ago are going to change a lot more on your television than the channels.
Less local news. More reality and talk shows. Fewer cop dramas -- maybe even the death of a CSI or a Law & Order -- and more specialty cable channels. Not as many commercials, but the characters on your favorite sitcom may develop a sudden thirst for Coca-Cola, and an odd knack for holding the can right toward the camera. More TV programs on the Internet; more reruns and Jerry Springer clones on broadcast channels.
The people meter itself won't fire reporters, sign product placement deals, or recruit promiscuous Nazi dwarves to tell their stories on Springer's show. But by offering more details than ever before on what's being watched and by whom, television executives and analysts say the device will be the catalyst for the industry's most drastic changes since the days when Milton Berle and Howdy Doody ruled the airwaves.
''We're getting much closer to learning what's actually happening out there among viewers,'' says Tom Bierbaum, NBC's vice president in charge of ratings research. ``And it's motivating television people to investigate and build toward other business models.''
Measuring TV viewership is nothing new. Nielsen Media Research has been compiling TV data since the 1940s. For decades, the company relied on viewers in sample households to fill out paper diaries listing what shows they watched throughout the day. But as TV evolved from a world of three broadcast networks to a cable universe of 300 channels, the diaries were less and less practical.
''It's never been more complicated to track TV viewing,, a Nielsen vice president, noting that viewers can watch DVRs, computer screens, even their cellphones. ``Never before have you had so many options -- not only do you have so many shows and channels to pick from, but you can pick the time to do it.''
They look pretty much like ordinary remote controls, but the Nielsen people meters that came to South Florida eight months ago are going to change a lot more on your television than the channels.
Less local news. More reality and talk shows. Fewer cop dramas -- maybe even the death of a CSI or a Law & Order -- and more specialty cable channels. Not as many commercials, but the characters on your favorite sitcom may develop a sudden thirst for Coca-Cola, and an odd knack for holding the can right toward the camera. More TV programs on the Internet; more reruns and Jerry Springer clones on broadcast channels.
The people meter itself won't fire reporters, sign product placement deals, or recruit promiscuous Nazi dwarves to tell their stories on Springer's show. But by offering more details than ever before on what's being watched and by whom, television executives and analysts say the device will be the catalyst for the industry's most drastic changes since the days when Milton Berle and Howdy Doody ruled the airwaves.
''We're getting much closer to learning what's actually happening out there among viewers,'' says Tom Bierbaum, NBC's vice president in charge of ratings research. ``And it's motivating television people to investigate and build toward other business models.''
Measuring TV viewership is nothing new. Nielsen Media Research has been compiling TV data since the 1940s. For decades, the company relied on viewers in sample households to fill out paper diaries listing what shows they watched throughout the day. But as TV evolved from a world of three broadcast networks to a cable universe of 300 channels, the diaries were less and less practical.
''It's never been more complicated to track TV viewing,, a Nielsen vice president, noting that viewers can watch DVRs, computer screens, even their cellphones. ``Never before have you had so many options -- not only do you have so many shows and channels to pick from, but you can pick the time to do it.''
Fallout 3 DLC for PS3, Two New DLCs, and more
We are pleased to announce that Fallout® 3 downloadable content (DLC) is coming to PLAYSTATION 3
Description
Enter a military simulation and fight in one of the greatest battles of the Fallout universe – the liberation of Anchorage, Alaska from its Chinese Communist invaders. Gain access to unique armor, weapons, and exotic gadgets while you build and command interactive Strike Teams to win the battle and defeat the Chinese base.
Features
Enter a top-secret battle simulator which allows you to test and use both new and old weaponry, with nearly unlimited amounts of ammo at your disposal!
Adds hours of extended gameplay to explore the Alaskan tundra with a new or existing character.
Gain access to new weapons, exotic armor, and items…even a Chinese Stealth Suit!
Chose your strike team to help you through your quest.
Exclusive new perks and achievements!
Description
Enter a military simulation and fight in one of the greatest battles of the Fallout universe – the liberation of Anchorage, Alaska from its Chinese Communist invaders. Gain access to unique armor, weapons, and exotic gadgets while you build and command interactive Strike Teams to win the battle and defeat the Chinese base.
Features
Enter a top-secret battle simulator which allows you to test and use both new and old weaponry, with nearly unlimited amounts of ammo at your disposal!
Adds hours of extended gameplay to explore the Alaskan tundra with a new or existing character.
Gain access to new weapons, exotic armor, and items…even a Chinese Stealth Suit!
Chose your strike team to help you through your quest.
Exclusive new perks and achievements!
Titan Books rolling out Mission Dossier to accompany Paramount film.
An official companion book is due to hit stores next month to accompany the launch of Paramount Pictures' GI Joe.
GI Joe: Rise of Cobra: Mission Dossier will be released on July 21st in the US and July 24th in the UK from Titan Books, just ahead of the movie's debut in August.
The paperback companion chronicles the making of the movie, combining cast and crew commentary with in-universe intel on GI Joe team members and their enemies in the Cobra organisation.
Information on weapons, gadgets, vehicles and missions is also included, along with numerous colour photos, film stills, schematics and production art.
GI Joe: Rise of Cobra: Mission Dossier will be released on July 21st in the US and July 24th in the UK from Titan Books, just ahead of the movie's debut in August.
The paperback companion chronicles the making of the movie, combining cast and crew commentary with in-universe intel on GI Joe team members and their enemies in the Cobra organisation.
Information on weapons, gadgets, vehicles and missions is also included, along with numerous colour photos, film stills, schematics and production art.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
How to fill vacations with the comforts of your home
A couple of times a year I leave my comfortable home and big screen TV for an average to below average hotel room. My fancy 2-seater sports car stays behind, and I rent an economy car that huffs and puffs on hills. Between home and the hotel room, I squirm for hours in an airline seat designed for midgets.
No technology in the world can save you from all that. But there are ways to mitigate the torture using some well-selected gadgets.
Start with the fact that much of your high-tech work can be done before you ever leave. If you’ll be traveling without a GPS, print out driving instructions from the airport to your hotel and to various places you’d like to visit. You can also search the Web for restaurant reviews and tourist attractions. It’s often possible to save a few bucks by printing out coupons you sometimes find on Web sites for restaurants and tourist stops.
Once that’s done, start assembling the gadgets you plan on taking along. Travel as light as you can —- lugging a big backpack filled with electronics can turn a jaunt into a death march.
I’m assuming you’ll want to take pictures so you can bore your friends and remind yourself how red a person can turn after a few hours on the beach.
Your digital camera and memory cards for it will do just fine going through airport security scanners. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
The air in an airliner in flight is very dry. Dry air increases the chance of static electricity. Static electricity can scramble electronics and memory cards. So, just to be careful, avoid removing the memory card while in flight. And plan on taking along an extra memory card, even if there’s plenty of room for photos on a single card. I wish I had taken that advice while on a trip to Nova Scotia. My compact flash card stopped working and it was impossible to buy one at any price in my remote location on Cape Breton.
Now let’s talk about a gadget that is becoming more than a luxury —- the iPhone. I’d give up vacations if I didn’t have one. Taking the iPhone along means I don’t need to lug 6 pounds or so of computer, network cables and the like. It serves as a GPS when I’m hopelessly lost. And a nifty iPhone application puts the Urban Spoon restaurant review site at my fingertips. You can find that application here: www.urbanspoon.com/blog/27/Urbanspoon-on-the-iPhone.html.
I realize you are unlikely to buy an iPhone just to take along on a vacation. You may feel the need for a notebook computer so that you’ll be able to ruin your vacation by reading worrisome e-mails from work.
My advice? If you can stand the separation pain, leave the computer at home. Almost every hotel will have a business center that allows the free use of computers and the Internet. That’s where I print out my boarding passes for the return trip. And even if your hotel or motel doesn’t offer a computer room, you’re likely to find free computers at a public library. Worst case, you can pay to use computers at various businesses like this
One final essential item to take along: zip-lock baggies. Since many vacation activities take place near water and sand, a baggie provides excellent, cheap protection for your digital camera, MP3 player and cellphone. Even a heavy rain can sometimes damage a digital camera. That baggie can also do double duty by holding memory cards, connecting cables and spare batteries during your travel. That will keep things organized and make things go faster if the TSA folks decide to inspect your luggage.
OK. You’re ready to go now. But you may want to consider my favorite vacation spot. It’s a place with a complete kitchen, your favorite gadgets and all the comforts of home.
No technology in the world can save you from all that. But there are ways to mitigate the torture using some well-selected gadgets.
Start with the fact that much of your high-tech work can be done before you ever leave. If you’ll be traveling without a GPS, print out driving instructions from the airport to your hotel and to various places you’d like to visit. You can also search the Web for restaurant reviews and tourist attractions. It’s often possible to save a few bucks by printing out coupons you sometimes find on Web sites for restaurants and tourist stops.
Once that’s done, start assembling the gadgets you plan on taking along. Travel as light as you can —- lugging a big backpack filled with electronics can turn a jaunt into a death march.
I’m assuming you’ll want to take pictures so you can bore your friends and remind yourself how red a person can turn after a few hours on the beach.
Your digital camera and memory cards for it will do just fine going through airport security scanners. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
The air in an airliner in flight is very dry. Dry air increases the chance of static electricity. Static electricity can scramble electronics and memory cards. So, just to be careful, avoid removing the memory card while in flight. And plan on taking along an extra memory card, even if there’s plenty of room for photos on a single card. I wish I had taken that advice while on a trip to Nova Scotia. My compact flash card stopped working and it was impossible to buy one at any price in my remote location on Cape Breton.
Now let’s talk about a gadget that is becoming more than a luxury —- the iPhone. I’d give up vacations if I didn’t have one. Taking the iPhone along means I don’t need to lug 6 pounds or so of computer, network cables and the like. It serves as a GPS when I’m hopelessly lost. And a nifty iPhone application puts the Urban Spoon restaurant review site at my fingertips. You can find that application here: www.urbanspoon.com/blog/27/Urbanspoon-on-the-iPhone.html.
I realize you are unlikely to buy an iPhone just to take along on a vacation. You may feel the need for a notebook computer so that you’ll be able to ruin your vacation by reading worrisome e-mails from work.
My advice? If you can stand the separation pain, leave the computer at home. Almost every hotel will have a business center that allows the free use of computers and the Internet. That’s where I print out my boarding passes for the return trip. And even if your hotel or motel doesn’t offer a computer room, you’re likely to find free computers at a public library. Worst case, you can pay to use computers at various businesses like this
One final essential item to take along: zip-lock baggies. Since many vacation activities take place near water and sand, a baggie provides excellent, cheap protection for your digital camera, MP3 player and cellphone. Even a heavy rain can sometimes damage a digital camera. That baggie can also do double duty by holding memory cards, connecting cables and spare batteries during your travel. That will keep things organized and make things go faster if the TSA folks decide to inspect your luggage.
OK. You’re ready to go now. But you may want to consider my favorite vacation spot. It’s a place with a complete kitchen, your favorite gadgets and all the comforts of home.
For the go-go gadget Dad
If your Dad is in tune with the tech world, then he'll love the newest gadgets out on the market. Get him something unique to impress his coworkers and make his friends jealous.
GPS - Help your Dad get around town in style with a GPS for his car or boat. Handheld systems are also available for fitness. There are tons of companies that make this device, but we recommend Garmin which is available at Best Buy for $200 to $600.
Multi-tool Swiss Army Knife - If your Dad likes gadgets, he'll love this five-in-one toy. In fact, the new SwissMemory versions include 1 or 2 GB memory USB flash drives. The new gadget starts at $41.95 at Gifts.com.
Wireless Charge Pad - If Dad has a bunch of gadgets then he needs a place to charge them all. Your Dad can plug the wireless charging station into a power source and place his devices on the magnetic pad for charging. Get the Wildcharge pad from Red Envelope for $90 or find it at Best Buy.
CD/DVD Cleaner - Don't you just hate when your CD skips or your favorite movie jumps over a scene? Help Dad avoid this dilemma with a motorized CD/DVD repair system. Just stick the disc into the slot and the handy machine spits out a fresh, scratchless disc. Find one at Brookestone for $39.95.
All-Terain Tripod - Join two cool hobbies with this adjustable camera tripod. It's best use? It can wrap around Dad's golf clubs when he's out on the course. It also grips on trees, chairs and railings to help Dad get flawless photos. Get it starting at $25 from Red Envelope.
Wireless Talking BBQ Thermometer - Combine Dad's favorite pastime of barbecuing and love for gadgets with this nifty toy. Not only does it help you cook the perfect streak, it alleviates the need to hover around the grill. And if you want to bring the party inside, the thermometer also works in the ovenf.
GPS - Help your Dad get around town in style with a GPS for his car or boat. Handheld systems are also available for fitness. There are tons of companies that make this device, but we recommend Garmin which is available at Best Buy for $200 to $600.
Multi-tool Swiss Army Knife - If your Dad likes gadgets, he'll love this five-in-one toy. In fact, the new SwissMemory versions include 1 or 2 GB memory USB flash drives. The new gadget starts at $41.95 at Gifts.com.
Wireless Charge Pad - If Dad has a bunch of gadgets then he needs a place to charge them all. Your Dad can plug the wireless charging station into a power source and place his devices on the magnetic pad for charging. Get the Wildcharge pad from Red Envelope for $90 or find it at Best Buy.
CD/DVD Cleaner - Don't you just hate when your CD skips or your favorite movie jumps over a scene? Help Dad avoid this dilemma with a motorized CD/DVD repair system. Just stick the disc into the slot and the handy machine spits out a fresh, scratchless disc. Find one at Brookestone for $39.95.
All-Terain Tripod - Join two cool hobbies with this adjustable camera tripod. It's best use? It can wrap around Dad's golf clubs when he's out on the course. It also grips on trees, chairs and railings to help Dad get flawless photos. Get it starting at $25 from Red Envelope.
Wireless Talking BBQ Thermometer - Combine Dad's favorite pastime of barbecuing and love for gadgets with this nifty toy. Not only does it help you cook the perfect streak, it alleviates the need to hover around the grill. And if you want to bring the party inside, the thermometer also works in the ovenf.
International Energy Agency report on energy consumption by gadgets
Apparently, owning a lot of gadgets is as bad for your bank account as it is for the environment. According to an article in the Telegraph, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts our penchant for cell phones, iPods, large screen televisions and other gadgets is putting the world on track for 200 new nuclear power plants by 2030.
The article states that in 2030 our gizmos will require about 1,700 terawatt hours of power to run, or three times today’s amount and equal to the current combined domestic energy consumption of the United States and Japan!
There are better, more eco-conscious ways to power your gadgets using solar power, hydro power, Pull-Cord Generator and even dog power!
The article states that in 2030 our gizmos will require about 1,700 terawatt hours of power to run, or three times today’s amount and equal to the current combined domestic energy consumption of the United States and Japan!
There are better, more eco-conscious ways to power your gadgets using solar power, hydro power, Pull-Cord Generator and even dog power!
The Gadget Blog: China to Limit Texting as Anti-Spam Measure
The proposed limit isn’t for censorship purposes mind you; To deal with rampant text spam, the government will put a cap on the number of messages a mobile number can send in a day, reported the state media. The scheme calls for limits of 200 messages per hour and 1,000 messages per weekdaySeems SMS spam is really bad in China, with reporting that “dozens” of unsolicited messages received in a day “is not unusual”. China’s three major service providers, China Telecom, China Mobile Limited and China Unicom have agreed to implement the government SMS limits.
It makes sense to limit the number of text messages sent from a particular number, but given how people have passionately adopted texting as a cheap and easy way to communicate, the proposed caps actually sound too limiting. A better system would involve giving users the ability to quickly filter out messages coming from a certain number.
The government scheme has the additional benefit of lessening the unnecessary network load created by spam texts, but wouldn’t deactivating numbers related to spam complaints work just as well? Why not deactivate a number once at least 100
It makes sense to limit the number of text messages sent from a particular number, but given how people have passionately adopted texting as a cheap and easy way to communicate, the proposed caps actually sound too limiting. A better system would involve giving users the ability to quickly filter out messages coming from a certain number.
The government scheme has the additional benefit of lessening the unnecessary network load created by spam texts, but wouldn’t deactivating numbers related to spam complaints work just as well? Why not deactivate a number once at least 100
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
a developer's eye view
Last week, Google announced Wave, a new communication tool presumptuously described as "e-mail, if it were invented today." Now, it's a coming of age for technology companies to write a collaboration tool, put a good spit-shine demo on it, and call it a revolution. The idea is nothing new. In the 80s, we called it Lotus Notes. As of recent, we called it Microsoft Sharepoint. Today, I guess, it's Google Wave.
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