Well not much happening for video game or media stuff this week.
My new job is interesting.
Alot of people are talking about bringing video games to the library. That will be interesting.
Besides that I won a Game Gear with a Master Gear converter on it on the Shopgoodwill website. It included 12 games. One of them is the original Shinobi which I always wanted to play.
I still have not done that video I wanted to to do about playing Playstation 1 games on a GameGear using the TV Tuner in my car.
The TV tuner is actually pretty bad ass. I can watch picture perfect broadcast TV on it. I will feel bad in 2009 when there are no more analog transmitters...I can't believe I got it for .50 cents at a thrift store. That's just so sweet. I wish I had that thing when I was in high school. I would have been cool as hell.
Speaking of TV I have no cable at my new apartment and with all the taxes (FU IRS), car upkeep and a bunch of other one time expenses I incurred while moving.
I find that I do not miss cable all that much. I can still watch broadcast TV for free. Lost is the only show I am following and I can still watch that.
I have to screw around with the bunny ears to make the thing work.
I just can't justify spending money on TV I suppose. I have been watching some TV shows on DVD lately. I got some full Buffy the Vampire seasons that I have been watching. It's amazing that got them so cheap since they seem to be a collectors item now. That show was pretty funny in some spots. I am almost loath to allow other people know that I happen to like it though, because the fans are a bit rabid.
I have been cooking alot lately and in fact I have not eaten out in about a month and a half. I did eat a sub at quiznos... But besides that I have been making all my own food. I seem to be eating healthier. When I make my own lunch I always pack like 2 pieces of fruit and I try to have a salad before my dinner.
The most healthy thing I have been doing is walking to work. It's about .75 miles to work from my apartment. It takes me about 15-20 mintues. (Lots of ice and snow so i have been going at a snails pace).
So that means I am getting a total of 1.5 miles of walking in 5 days a week. As soon as I get a YMCA membership I can add swimming, lifting weights and running to that. I might just get back into respectable shape again soon.
I am so glad I can walk. I was sick and tired of all the damned driving from my other jobs. That was like a minimum of 2 hours of driving and a maximum of four hours 6 friggen days a week!!! Damn that sucked.
I do have to drive to my prior occupancy this weekend to get the rest of my stuff. Hopefully I can make one trip of it and call it a day. I miss all my retro videogames and random crap...
Caleb
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Are board games "cool" again.
I really only got into chess a bit when I was younger.
I never got into checkers.
However, my boss at the library I work at just told me that he had a lot of interest from kids and young adults in board games like checkers and chess.
Hmm...
Did I miss something?
Younger kids today seem to be all about racism and board games. Are we just raising up another group of Depression age era youngsters from the 1930s?
In any case we might be considering buying a "Wii" for the library.
I dunno how that is going to work out. Besides people stealing crap I dunno how much interest people are going to have. Playing Wii games in nursing homes and libraries seems like kinda a fad to me...
I never got into checkers.
However, my boss at the library I work at just told me that he had a lot of interest from kids and young adults in board games like checkers and chess.
Hmm...
Did I miss something?
Younger kids today seem to be all about racism and board games. Are we just raising up another group of Depression age era youngsters from the 1930s?
In any case we might be considering buying a "Wii" for the library.
I dunno how that is going to work out. Besides people stealing crap I dunno how much interest people are going to have. Playing Wii games in nursing homes and libraries seems like kinda a fad to me...
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Finding obituaries...
A huge part of my new job is finding old obituaries.
It's sometimes a bit of a pain.
For example one person told me the first name was Isabella.
For some reason the tri-county directory had her listed under her maiden name.
It was listed in the tri-county obituary directory as "Isabell".
It was listed in the actual obituary as "Isabelle", with her husband's last name.
It was not listed at all in the online newspaper archive.
This is all a normal part of genealogy research.
It's sometimes a bit of a pain.
For example one person told me the first name was Isabella.
For some reason the tri-county directory had her listed under her maiden name.
It was listed in the tri-county obituary directory as "Isabell".
It was listed in the actual obituary as "Isabelle", with her husband's last name.
It was not listed at all in the online newspaper archive.
This is all a normal part of genealogy research.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Shopgoodwill.com already infested...
It seems like whenever I find something good on the Internet it is soon gone.
Such is the case with shopgoodwill .com.
You don't need to use credit card info to shop online there. They *used* to have good deals.
I never knew about it before and now that the countless hordes from Kotaku know about that site all the prices for video games have gone SKY HIGH.
I suppose it's good for Goodwill and all but it sucks that the prices there are rivaling Ebay's.
I am going to try to low bid on some of the cooler items but I am not filled with hope...
It's like ebay and craigslist. People willing to spend way too much money are ruining it for all of us.
Such is the case with shopgoodwill .com.
You don't need to use credit card info to shop online there. They *used* to have good deals.
I never knew about it before and now that the countless hordes from Kotaku know about that site all the prices for video games have gone SKY HIGH.
I suppose it's good for Goodwill and all but it sucks that the prices there are rivaling Ebay's.
I am going to try to low bid on some of the cooler items but I am not filled with hope...
It's like ebay and craigslist. People willing to spend way too much money are ruining it for all of us.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
A Tooth for an eye?
Wow. Now that's interesting.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/irelandbritainhealthoffbeat
After all this scientific debunking of old myths we are now letting people see by putting teeth in their eye sockets.
Sounds like High Tech Sorcery to me!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/irelandbritainhealthoffbeat
After all this scientific debunking of old myths we are now letting people see by putting teeth in their eye sockets.
Sounds like High Tech Sorcery to me!
Got your Xbox signed? Don't send it in for repairs.
So yeah. Red ringed and then this.
http://hawtymcbloggy.com/2008/02/28/another-gamer-screwed-by-microsoft/
It's freaking nuts. I mean the dude told the repair service SPECIFICALLY that he didn't want his console screwed with. They told him, OK fine it won't. Then they erase all of the signatures he got on his X-Box.
And a lot of people say stuff like "You can't expect that kind of service". "The workers who work on these things don't have pay attention to stuff like that".
For the amount of cash you pay for these newer consoles, YES, yes you deserve that level of service.
You deserve to have the console you send it with signatures NOT to have the Permanent signatures wiped off.
The jerks who think that this kinda stuff happening is OK makes me sick.
Back in the day people who spent money were treated right.
We had companies who respected consumers and bent over backward trying to help them out.
NOW?
Now we as consumers do a lot of the footwork companies used to do.
Now we as consumers not only accept sloppy products and customer service, WE EXPECT IT.
PEOPLE ARE DEFENDING MIRCOSOFT'S RIGHT TO DO THIS.
They say it's some badly paid hard working person who made this mistake and that some dude who bought an expensive toy can't expect any sort of customer service. You know tough shit. I have worked jobs where I never got a break during a ten hour shift. I have almost killed myself hauling out freshly cut cedar through the back woods tripping over snow and mud. But I DID MY JOB BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS PAYING ME.
That's how it works. Someone pays you and you do the job that's expected of you.
I think everyone knows that's how it's supposed to work with individuals.
But somehow businesses are no longer beholden to that ideal.
When a corp like Microsoft screws up the question asked is NO LONGER "Why?" or "How the hell do they expect to get away with that kind of crap?"
No people just say "What do you expect?"
Because apparently we have had all of our expectations taken away from us.
People should EXPECT SOMETHING.
A quick overview...
1. An individual asked a company to service his product without messing it up.
2. They said they could.
3.They messed up his product.
4. Some people on the Internet blame the individual.
God, what the hell is wrong with everybody?
People call me pessimistic sometimes because I point out the flaws in how most people live their lives through lies and self delusion. I am a drag to have around.
This situation is about a toy. An expensive, meaningless toy.
But I think my main point remains. You should be able to expect SOMETHING from the infrastructure of corporations and big business that we all are in some small way killing ourselves supporting.
We have given up our planet's health. our children's future and out very souls for the toys we all use to distract ourselves from the meaninglessness of our lives.
WE DESERVE TO HAVE THOSE TOYS FIXED TO OUR SPECIFIFCATIONS WITH A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FUSS!
http://hawtymcbloggy.com/2008/02/28/another-gamer-screwed-by-microsoft/
It's freaking nuts. I mean the dude told the repair service SPECIFICALLY that he didn't want his console screwed with. They told him, OK fine it won't. Then they erase all of the signatures he got on his X-Box.
And a lot of people say stuff like "You can't expect that kind of service". "The workers who work on these things don't have pay attention to stuff like that".
For the amount of cash you pay for these newer consoles, YES, yes you deserve that level of service.
You deserve to have the console you send it with signatures NOT to have the Permanent signatures wiped off.
The jerks who think that this kinda stuff happening is OK makes me sick.
Back in the day people who spent money were treated right.
We had companies who respected consumers and bent over backward trying to help them out.
NOW?
Now we as consumers do a lot of the footwork companies used to do.
Now we as consumers not only accept sloppy products and customer service, WE EXPECT IT.
PEOPLE ARE DEFENDING MIRCOSOFT'S RIGHT TO DO THIS.
They say it's some badly paid hard working person who made this mistake and that some dude who bought an expensive toy can't expect any sort of customer service. You know tough shit. I have worked jobs where I never got a break during a ten hour shift. I have almost killed myself hauling out freshly cut cedar through the back woods tripping over snow and mud. But I DID MY JOB BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS PAYING ME.
That's how it works. Someone pays you and you do the job that's expected of you.
I think everyone knows that's how it's supposed to work with individuals.
But somehow businesses are no longer beholden to that ideal.
When a corp like Microsoft screws up the question asked is NO LONGER "Why?" or "How the hell do they expect to get away with that kind of crap?"
No people just say "What do you expect?"
Because apparently we have had all of our expectations taken away from us.
People should EXPECT SOMETHING.
A quick overview...
1. An individual asked a company to service his product without messing it up.
2. They said they could.
3.They messed up his product.
4. Some people on the Internet blame the individual.
God, what the hell is wrong with everybody?
People call me pessimistic sometimes because I point out the flaws in how most people live their lives through lies and self delusion. I am a drag to have around.
This situation is about a toy. An expensive, meaningless toy.
But I think my main point remains. You should be able to expect SOMETHING from the infrastructure of corporations and big business that we all are in some small way killing ourselves supporting.
We have given up our planet's health. our children's future and out very souls for the toys we all use to distract ourselves from the meaninglessness of our lives.
WE DESERVE TO HAVE THOSE TOYS FIXED TO OUR SPECIFIFCATIONS WITH A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FUSS!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Is it just me or does Mario look awesome on the Mega Drive...?
Insane Chinese remakes on older consoles.
Titanic for the NES???? Holy Crap.
http://kotaku.com/361152/more-crazy+ass-chinese-ports-titanic-mario-lotr
Titanic for the NES???? Holy Crap.
http://kotaku.com/361152/more-crazy+ass-chinese-ports-titanic-mario-lotr
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
My new job is going well.
Walking to work is good.
I am ordering new books. Leasing and ordering to be exact.
Checking the invoices and packing slips. And then I yell at the lease company for only sending me two copies of Grisham's new book instead of 3.
I am setting up new adult programs.
Like promoting the new Cancer documentary on PBS.
I think I am going to do a car care program during April since that is car care month. I am also setting up the display case for different themes for the months.
In fact groups actually call here looking use it promote things. Reference here is hard since I am used to SYR.
I have to watch over computer use in addition to being on the reference desk.
Blargh.
Besides that everything is ok.
-C
Walking to work is good.
I am ordering new books. Leasing and ordering to be exact.
Checking the invoices and packing slips. And then I yell at the lease company for only sending me two copies of Grisham's new book instead of 3.
I am setting up new adult programs.
Like promoting the new Cancer documentary on PBS.
I think I am going to do a car care program during April since that is car care month. I am also setting up the display case for different themes for the months.
In fact groups actually call here looking use it promote things. Reference here is hard since I am used to SYR.
I have to watch over computer use in addition to being on the reference desk.
Blargh.
Besides that everything is ok.
-C
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Post apocalyptic Grocery Store
With moving to a new area comes new adventures.
I found a huge couch near my apartment that I dragged home. It was way bigger than I first thought though. I *Barely got it inside. When I leave that apartment I am gonna Axe that monstronsity.
A large P&C grocery store near new new apartment was going out of business and I went there to shop for their last week (I didn't know it was the last days of the store until I went in). Everything in the store was 25% off.
Apparently it was a pretty quick closure because NOBODY was there.
It was like shopping at a grocery store right after something killed off all the population. Parts of the store were completely closed off and other parts were full of stuff. So places were still neat and orderly. Others had big cardboard boxes and wodden pallets around and empty shelves.
The store was dead silent and there was nothing playing on the store speakers. There were hardly any employees around either. I could hear the wheels of the cart squeak as I walked through the store and hear the echo of my own footsteps.
It was like the grocery scene in 28 days later when they shop in the empty store.
It was really fun for me because I always wanted to shop like that.
Everything was dirt cheap too.
They had bagged up all the produce and slapped a .99 cent sticker on most of it.
I got like 12 cloves of garlic for a buck.
All the high end organic stuff was cheap as well.
I got bags of onions and potatoes.
Everything that was already on weekly sale was still on sale price plus the 25% off.
So I got a big jug of 8th con. and Silk soy milk for super cheap.
I got enough food to last for at least a couple of months.
I feel sad that the store is closing though. I really like P&C grocery because their sale items match with weekly coupons and they double the value of coupons under $1.
All in All it was a fun time.
I found a huge couch near my apartment that I dragged home. It was way bigger than I first thought though. I *Barely got it inside. When I leave that apartment I am gonna Axe that monstronsity.
A large P&C grocery store near new new apartment was going out of business and I went there to shop for their last week (I didn't know it was the last days of the store until I went in). Everything in the store was 25% off.
Apparently it was a pretty quick closure because NOBODY was there.
It was like shopping at a grocery store right after something killed off all the population. Parts of the store were completely closed off and other parts were full of stuff. So places were still neat and orderly. Others had big cardboard boxes and wodden pallets around and empty shelves.
The store was dead silent and there was nothing playing on the store speakers. There were hardly any employees around either. I could hear the wheels of the cart squeak as I walked through the store and hear the echo of my own footsteps.
It was like the grocery scene in 28 days later when they shop in the empty store.
It was really fun for me because I always wanted to shop like that.
Everything was dirt cheap too.
They had bagged up all the produce and slapped a .99 cent sticker on most of it.
I got like 12 cloves of garlic for a buck.
All the high end organic stuff was cheap as well.
I got bags of onions and potatoes.
Everything that was already on weekly sale was still on sale price plus the 25% off.
So I got a big jug of 8th con. and Silk soy milk for super cheap.
I got enough food to last for at least a couple of months.
I feel sad that the store is closing though. I really like P&C grocery because their sale items match with weekly coupons and they double the value of coupons under $1.
All in All it was a fun time.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
New flag looks alot like the Dreamcast EU logo
From UKR found originally in The Times.
http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2008/02/glorious-nation-of-kosovo-considering.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3352529.ece
Uncanny....
http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2008/02/glorious-nation-of-kosovo-considering.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3352529.ece
Uncanny....
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Busy Busy
I am now at my new job and I am still getting used to it.
I am living in a new apartment. Small but nice and close enough to work to walk. A nice 3/4 mile walk is actually pretty relaxing even in the winter. No lake effect snow!
I have to learn how to order new fiction books as well as lease fiction from two companies.
It's kinda insane that I am in charge of a budget for a whole library's worth of fiction.
I also have to put on some new adult programs. So yeah. I dunno. Maybe basic auto upkeep and repair?
Reference is about the same.
Patrons at libraries are pretty much the same anywhere I guess.
I am living in a new apartment. Small but nice and close enough to work to walk. A nice 3/4 mile walk is actually pretty relaxing even in the winter. No lake effect snow!
I have to learn how to order new fiction books as well as lease fiction from two companies.
It's kinda insane that I am in charge of a budget for a whole library's worth of fiction.
I also have to put on some new adult programs. So yeah. I dunno. Maybe basic auto upkeep and repair?
Reference is about the same.
Patrons at libraries are pretty much the same anywhere I guess.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Pretty bored.
Not alot happening with video games lately.
I got a crapload of PC games including Fable the lost chapters and KoTOR, salvation army dirt cheap and in mint.
I have NOT done the videos I wanted to do on my Saturn collection.
I am very tired today and the only thing I really have to do is get a $5 haircut. Wensday is $5 haircut day for men. My hair always looks horrible when it's long and I never can seem to make it look good. So short haircut. My hair grows really fast too. When I was skinnier back in college everyone thought I was in the military. No. Just lazy.
SO yeah just that and I am gonna rest up and do some cleaning later on today. Get all the trash picked up and then vaccuum and clean up the kitchen and bathroom. Do some laundry...Hmm. I will miss having laundry machines in the house when I move into my small apartment...
I have to get my car looked at tommorow.
Sat is my last day as a librarian at Syracuse library. It's kinda sad since I have just learned how to process serials properly (Something my boss librarian has trouble with). I have learned alot during that job and I learned to LOVE the Dewey Decimal system. You should love the Dewey Decimal System as well. Someone should organize all the decent websites out there by Dewey....oh God I am a library science dork now...
I have been thinking of making a point and click adventure with the AGI program.
Then people could download it and play it on a PC or Dreamcast using ScummVM.
That would be cool.
It will be nice to have some free time.
I got a crapload of PC games including Fable the lost chapters and KoTOR, salvation army dirt cheap and in mint.
I have NOT done the videos I wanted to do on my Saturn collection.
I am very tired today and the only thing I really have to do is get a $5 haircut. Wensday is $5 haircut day for men. My hair always looks horrible when it's long and I never can seem to make it look good. So short haircut. My hair grows really fast too. When I was skinnier back in college everyone thought I was in the military. No. Just lazy.
SO yeah just that and I am gonna rest up and do some cleaning later on today. Get all the trash picked up and then vaccuum and clean up the kitchen and bathroom. Do some laundry...Hmm. I will miss having laundry machines in the house when I move into my small apartment...
I have to get my car looked at tommorow.
Sat is my last day as a librarian at Syracuse library. It's kinda sad since I have just learned how to process serials properly (Something my boss librarian has trouble with). I have learned alot during that job and I learned to LOVE the Dewey Decimal system. You should love the Dewey Decimal System as well. Someone should organize all the decent websites out there by Dewey....oh God I am a library science dork now...
I have been thinking of making a point and click adventure with the AGI program.
Then people could download it and play it on a PC or Dreamcast using ScummVM.
That would be cool.
It will be nice to have some free time.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Angry Nerd makes a good joke...and everyone is too stupid to get it.
So the Nerd actually made a good joke in his last video.
After he reviews Rambo for the NES he reviews the lightgun game for the SMS.
For a joke he tries to play it on a flat LED screen. It doesn't work and it's plain he is making a joke because he shows a wide angle shot of the TV to show that it is a new flat panel TV.
Lightguns don't work on the new screens. At least none of the NES, SNES, SMS, Genesis, Saturn and Dreamcast guns don't.
He has an old TV that he usually plays 8-bit games on so it's obvious that it's a joke. Why else have the extended shot the the TV to show it's a newer TV? He is making fun of people that don't know that old lightgun games won't work on newer TVs.
Evidently people on the Internet are so stupid that they didn't get the joke at all.
I read serveral comments on a Kotaku article about SMS games on the Wii that said the SMS sucked and the lightgun doesn't work. One directly referenced the Nerd's video.
So...I dunno. There are obviously ALOT of "gamers" out there that don't know that much about videogames or AV tech.
If these people don't know about lightguns and older video games, why the hell would they watch an entertainment video and then start spouting off and talking trash about Sega.
I don't know if I want to be pissed off at these people or just feel sad for them.
Why do they watch videos on Retro gaming when they can't get the jokes? Why do they diss a system if have never played it?
You are not going to learn anything much about Retro gaming from the Nerd videos. They are for entertainment. Not education.
If you just jump on the bandwagon and make snarky little comments based on shit that you see on the Internet, well, it's just plain lame.
Lamers.
After he reviews Rambo for the NES he reviews the lightgun game for the SMS.
For a joke he tries to play it on a flat LED screen. It doesn't work and it's plain he is making a joke because he shows a wide angle shot of the TV to show that it is a new flat panel TV.
Lightguns don't work on the new screens. At least none of the NES, SNES, SMS, Genesis, Saturn and Dreamcast guns don't.
He has an old TV that he usually plays 8-bit games on so it's obvious that it's a joke. Why else have the extended shot the the TV to show it's a newer TV? He is making fun of people that don't know that old lightgun games won't work on newer TVs.
Evidently people on the Internet are so stupid that they didn't get the joke at all.
I read serveral comments on a Kotaku article about SMS games on the Wii that said the SMS sucked and the lightgun doesn't work. One directly referenced the Nerd's video.
So...I dunno. There are obviously ALOT of "gamers" out there that don't know that much about videogames or AV tech.
If these people don't know about lightguns and older video games, why the hell would they watch an entertainment video and then start spouting off and talking trash about Sega.
I don't know if I want to be pissed off at these people or just feel sad for them.
Why do they watch videos on Retro gaming when they can't get the jokes? Why do they diss a system if have never played it?
You are not going to learn anything much about Retro gaming from the Nerd videos. They are for entertainment. Not education.
If you just jump on the bandwagon and make snarky little comments based on shit that you see on the Internet, well, it's just plain lame.
Lamers.
Friday, January 25, 2008
I am not the only one to defend Uwe Boll.
I am not the only one to write a blog in defense of Uwe Boll.
My older blog.
This guy is out there getting the money and making movies.
It's become like a lame internet meme to say he sucks.
If you really have that much passion and think his work is totally without merit than go out and try to make your own media. In this age of affoardable digital stuff there is no reason not to.
But of course the internet people all just make fun of him to get hits on their sites.
They hardly ever come up with examples of big budget mainstream Hollywood stuff that is somehow "better" than Uwe's movies.
The plain facts is that there is alot worse stuff that cost alot more money to make that is in theaters right now. There is alot worse stuff that NEVER gets past production. That we NEVER see.
If you are out there actually producing media than I respect you.
If you are just sitting at a computer writing bad reviews for Indy movies instead of writing about how horrible MAINSTREAM media has become and how much money Hollywood wastes then no, I do not respect your opinions. You are writing those reviews for the wrong reasons.
If you want more SHIT like "Epic Movie" and "Meet the Spartans" than keep it up.
It's not going to be some dipshit sitting at a computer that is going to turn things around in the film industry. It's going to be Independent movie makers who somehow find a way to get their movies made. And Mr. Boll, if nothing else, shows IT CAN BE DONE.
Uwe Boll rocks.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
LPs are back in style!
Times Article I found interesting.
I missed records and I was too young to appreciate the first vinyl comeback.
Now they are back AGAIN.
I think that LPs are cool. I have seen kids like ages 14-30 going through the old records at thrift stores and buying record players.
I am going to take my parents old record player since it seems like they are jsut going to throw it out.
There is actually a reason for this since actual resonent noise from the records has a much "warmer" sound that sometimes tinny digital formats like .mp3s.
Rock on!
Article from Times:
"Vinyl Gets Its Groove Back
Contents
COMPARING PRICES
Section: Life
TECHNOLOGY
Flashy new discs and that old cozy sound have got the iPod generation giving LPs a spin
From college dorm rooms to high school sleepovers, an all-but-extinct music medium has been showing up lately. And we don't mean CDs. Vinyl records, especially the full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock in the 1960s and '70s, are suddenly cool again. Some of the new fans are baby boomers nostalgic for their youth. But to the surprise and delight of music executives, increasing numbers of the iPod generation are also purchasing turntables (or dusting off Dad's), buying long-playing vinyl records and giving them a spin.
Like the comeback of Puma sneakers or vintage T shirts, vinyl's resurgence has benefited from its retro-rock aura. Many young listeners discovered LPs after they rifled through their parents' collections looking for oldies and found that they liked the warmer sound quality of records, the more elaborate album covers and liner notes that come with them, and the experience of putting one on and sharing it with friends, as opposed to plugging in some earbuds and listening alone. "Bad sound on an iPod has had an impact on a lot of people going back to vinyl," says David MacRunnel, a 15-year-old high school sophomore from Creve Coeur, Mo., who owns more than 1,000 records.
The music industry, hoping to find another revenue source that doesn't easily lend itself to illegal downloads, has happily jumped on the bandwagon. Contemporary artists like the Killers and Ryan Adams have begun issuing their new releases on vinyl in addition to the CD and MP3 formats. As an extra lure, many labels are including coupons for free audio downloads with their vinyl albums so that Generation Y music fans can get the best of both worlds: high-quality sound at home and iPod portability for the road. Also, vinyl's different shapes (hearts, triangles) and eye-catching designs (bright colors, sparkles) are created to appeal to a younger audience. While new records sell for about $14, used LPs go for as little as a penny--perfect for a teenager's budget--or as much as $2,400 for a collectible, autographed copy of Beck's Steve Threw Up.
Vinyl records are just a small scratch on the surface when it comes to total album sales--only about 0.2%, compared to 10% for digital downloads and 89.7% for CDs, according to Nielsen SoundScan--but these numbers may underrepresent the vinyl trend since they don't always include sales at smaller indie shops where vinyl does best. Still, 990,000 vinyl albums were sold in 2007, up 15.4% from the 858,000 units bought in 2006. Mike Dreese, CEO of Newbury Comics, a New England chain of independent music retailers that sells LPs and CDs, says his vinyl sales were up 37% last year, and Patrick Amory, general manager of indie label Matador Records, whose artists include Cat Power and the New Pornographers, claims, "We can't keep up with the demand."
Big players are starting to take notice too. "It's not a significant part of our business, but there is enough there for me to take someone and have half their time devoted to making vinyl a real business," says John Esposito, president and CEO of WEA Corp., the U.S. distribution company of Warner Music Group, which posted a 30% increase in LP sales last year. In October, Amazon.com introduced a vinyl-only store and increased its selection to 150,000 titles across 20 genres. Its biggest sellers? Alternative rock, followed by classic rock albums. "I'm not saying vinyl will become a mainstream format, just like gourmet eating is not going to take over from McDonald's," says Michael Fremer, senior contributing editor at Stereophile. "But there is a growing group of people who are going back to a high-resolution format." Here are some of the reasons they're doing it and why you might want to consider it:
Sound quality LPs generally exhibit a warmer, more nuanced sound than CDs and digital downloads. MP3 files tend to produce tinnier notes, especially if compressed into a lower-resolution format that pares down the sonic information. "Most things sound better on vinyl, even with the crackles and pops and hisses," says MacRunnel, the young Missouri record collector.
Album extras Large album covers with imaginative graphics, pullout photos (some even have full-size posters tucked in the sleeve) and liner notes are a big draw for young fans. "Alternative rock used to have 16-page booklets and album sleeves, but with iTunes there isn't anything collectible to show I own a piece of this artist," says Dreese of Newbury Comics. In a nod to modern technology, albums known as picture discs come with an image of the band or artist printed on the vinyl. "People who are used to CDs see the artwork and the colored vinyl, and they think it's really cool," says Jordan Yates, 15, a Nashville-based vinyl enthusiast. Some LP releases even come with bonus tracks not on the CD version, giving customers added value.
Social experience Crowding around a record player to listen to a new album with friends, discussing the foldout photos, even getting up to flip over a record makes vinyl a more socially interactive way to enjoy music. "As far as a communal experience, like with family and friends, it feels better to listen to vinyl," says Jason Bini, 24, a recent graduate of Fordham University. "It's definitely more social."
COMPARING PRICES
CDs and digital albums cost a bit less than new vinyl, but used LPs can go for as little as a penny
Average best-selling-album prices on Amazon.com
Digital $8.99
CDs $10.50
LPs $14.00""
I missed records and I was too young to appreciate the first vinyl comeback.
Now they are back AGAIN.
I think that LPs are cool. I have seen kids like ages 14-30 going through the old records at thrift stores and buying record players.
I am going to take my parents old record player since it seems like they are jsut going to throw it out.
There is actually a reason for this since actual resonent noise from the records has a much "warmer" sound that sometimes tinny digital formats like .mp3s.
Rock on!
Article from Times:
"Vinyl Gets Its Groove Back
Contents
COMPARING PRICES
Section: Life
TECHNOLOGY
Flashy new discs and that old cozy sound have got the iPod generation giving LPs a spin
From college dorm rooms to high school sleepovers, an all-but-extinct music medium has been showing up lately. And we don't mean CDs. Vinyl records, especially the full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock in the 1960s and '70s, are suddenly cool again. Some of the new fans are baby boomers nostalgic for their youth. But to the surprise and delight of music executives, increasing numbers of the iPod generation are also purchasing turntables (or dusting off Dad's), buying long-playing vinyl records and giving them a spin.
Like the comeback of Puma sneakers or vintage T shirts, vinyl's resurgence has benefited from its retro-rock aura. Many young listeners discovered LPs after they rifled through their parents' collections looking for oldies and found that they liked the warmer sound quality of records, the more elaborate album covers and liner notes that come with them, and the experience of putting one on and sharing it with friends, as opposed to plugging in some earbuds and listening alone. "Bad sound on an iPod has had an impact on a lot of people going back to vinyl," says David MacRunnel, a 15-year-old high school sophomore from Creve Coeur, Mo., who owns more than 1,000 records.
The music industry, hoping to find another revenue source that doesn't easily lend itself to illegal downloads, has happily jumped on the bandwagon. Contemporary artists like the Killers and Ryan Adams have begun issuing their new releases on vinyl in addition to the CD and MP3 formats. As an extra lure, many labels are including coupons for free audio downloads with their vinyl albums so that Generation Y music fans can get the best of both worlds: high-quality sound at home and iPod portability for the road. Also, vinyl's different shapes (hearts, triangles) and eye-catching designs (bright colors, sparkles) are created to appeal to a younger audience. While new records sell for about $14, used LPs go for as little as a penny--perfect for a teenager's budget--or as much as $2,400 for a collectible, autographed copy of Beck's Steve Threw Up.
Vinyl records are just a small scratch on the surface when it comes to total album sales--only about 0.2%, compared to 10% for digital downloads and 89.7% for CDs, according to Nielsen SoundScan--but these numbers may underrepresent the vinyl trend since they don't always include sales at smaller indie shops where vinyl does best. Still, 990,000 vinyl albums were sold in 2007, up 15.4% from the 858,000 units bought in 2006. Mike Dreese, CEO of Newbury Comics, a New England chain of independent music retailers that sells LPs and CDs, says his vinyl sales were up 37% last year, and Patrick Amory, general manager of indie label Matador Records, whose artists include Cat Power and the New Pornographers, claims, "We can't keep up with the demand."
Big players are starting to take notice too. "It's not a significant part of our business, but there is enough there for me to take someone and have half their time devoted to making vinyl a real business," says John Esposito, president and CEO of WEA Corp., the U.S. distribution company of Warner Music Group, which posted a 30% increase in LP sales last year. In October, Amazon.com introduced a vinyl-only store and increased its selection to 150,000 titles across 20 genres. Its biggest sellers? Alternative rock, followed by classic rock albums. "I'm not saying vinyl will become a mainstream format, just like gourmet eating is not going to take over from McDonald's," says Michael Fremer, senior contributing editor at Stereophile. "But there is a growing group of people who are going back to a high-resolution format." Here are some of the reasons they're doing it and why you might want to consider it:
Sound quality LPs generally exhibit a warmer, more nuanced sound than CDs and digital downloads. MP3 files tend to produce tinnier notes, especially if compressed into a lower-resolution format that pares down the sonic information. "Most things sound better on vinyl, even with the crackles and pops and hisses," says MacRunnel, the young Missouri record collector.
Album extras Large album covers with imaginative graphics, pullout photos (some even have full-size posters tucked in the sleeve) and liner notes are a big draw for young fans. "Alternative rock used to have 16-page booklets and album sleeves, but with iTunes there isn't anything collectible to show I own a piece of this artist," says Dreese of Newbury Comics. In a nod to modern technology, albums known as picture discs come with an image of the band or artist printed on the vinyl. "People who are used to CDs see the artwork and the colored vinyl, and they think it's really cool," says Jordan Yates, 15, a Nashville-based vinyl enthusiast. Some LP releases even come with bonus tracks not on the CD version, giving customers added value.
Social experience Crowding around a record player to listen to a new album with friends, discussing the foldout photos, even getting up to flip over a record makes vinyl a more socially interactive way to enjoy music. "As far as a communal experience, like with family and friends, it feels better to listen to vinyl," says Jason Bini, 24, a recent graduate of Fordham University. "It's definitely more social."
COMPARING PRICES
CDs and digital albums cost a bit less than new vinyl, but used LPs can go for as little as a penny
Average best-selling-album prices on Amazon.com
Digital $8.99
CDs $10.50
LPs $14.00""
Muahahahhaahha! ...NighTrap... Hahahhaahhah!
I posted something new at the SegaCD Junkyard.
It looks like people attempting to censor games have been doing the same thing for awhile.
NIGHTRAP!
It looks like people attempting to censor games have been doing the same thing for awhile.
NIGHTRAP!
Some gamer having WAY too much fun making his PSO character
He likes the game!
(I got a secret code that allowed me to use special costumes in my game)
Apparently the average age of gamers is 13.
I have always heard that it was 33 but I guess I was wrong.
I am glad FOX news is here to tell us the truth...
So yeah. The game is rated M for Mature.
A parent buying this game for an underage kid is the equivalent of buying a R-rated movie for an underage kid. It's their choice. And if they give the money to to the kid and DON'T regulate HOW they spend it then it's the SAME THING.
I NEVER had any money before I turned 16. I just didn't. I don't understand WHY American parents nowadays have to give their kids so much money. It's ruining the economy, not to mention music and media in general. Do you think a loser like Britney Spears would have EVER funded her current drug fueled existance if 35 million teens hadn't spent the money THEIR PARENTS GAVE THEM on her shitty music? Pretty much everything media-wise is aimed at young kids because it's an easy buck for companies. That's pretty much why everything sucks nowadays.
Back to the original point...
The Game "Mass Effect" does NOT have full nudity. You can see worse on basic cable.
If you live in Canada you can see EVERYTHING. I was watching a Canadian cable station the other day and I saw the movie "Gangs of New York". In the whore house scene...Yep. You could see full frontal for at least 5 minutes of the movie. In that five mintues you could see more breasts than in EVERY AMERICAN VIDEO GAME featured in 2007. (Well maybe if you count GoW it would even out I think there were alot of breasts in that game) Plus all the violence in the movie was uncut.
...hmm. Doesn't Canada have less violence and sexual based offenses per person than us?
Maybe that's because Americans think that someone else should be raising their kids for them instead of DOING THE JOB THEMSELVES.
I am glad FOX news is here to tell us the truth...
So yeah. The game is rated M for Mature.
A parent buying this game for an underage kid is the equivalent of buying a R-rated movie for an underage kid. It's their choice. And if they give the money to to the kid and DON'T regulate HOW they spend it then it's the SAME THING.
I NEVER had any money before I turned 16. I just didn't. I don't understand WHY American parents nowadays have to give their kids so much money. It's ruining the economy, not to mention music and media in general. Do you think a loser like Britney Spears would have EVER funded her current drug fueled existance if 35 million teens hadn't spent the money THEIR PARENTS GAVE THEM on her shitty music? Pretty much everything media-wise is aimed at young kids because it's an easy buck for companies. That's pretty much why everything sucks nowadays.
Back to the original point...
The Game "Mass Effect" does NOT have full nudity. You can see worse on basic cable.
If you live in Canada you can see EVERYTHING. I was watching a Canadian cable station the other day and I saw the movie "Gangs of New York". In the whore house scene...Yep. You could see full frontal for at least 5 minutes of the movie. In that five mintues you could see more breasts than in EVERY AMERICAN VIDEO GAME featured in 2007. (Well maybe if you count GoW it would even out I think there were alot of breasts in that game) Plus all the violence in the movie was uncut.
...hmm. Doesn't Canada have less violence and sexual based offenses per person than us?
Maybe that's because Americans think that someone else should be raising their kids for them instead of DOING THE JOB THEMSELVES.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Free Reading Material: My Tiny Life
http://www.lulu.com/content/1070691
The PDF is free. I don't know if it's worth having the real thing.
A somewhat interesting read.
Gordon Freeman calls "Coast to Coast" radio show.
Fictional Half Life character Gordon Freeman calls into "Coast to Coast", a radio show that features crazy stuff. I like it when the show discusses stuff like vampires, but normally they just cover alien sighting and consipiracy theories.
Friday, January 18, 2008
New interview with the inventor who came up with the Wii Controller.
A Man with a 'stach this cool cannot be in the wrong.
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/joystiq-interview-patrick-goschy-talks-about-midway-tells-us-h/
Joystiq interview and overview.
I DO NOT understand why all these fanboys are siding with the corporation on this one.
The controller Patrick Goschy was patented and that patent appears in the Wii Patent.
Midway sold this dudes idea to Nintendo.
He knows that he is probably NOT going to get any money. He was under contract when he made it. He was FORCED to give up his ideas because of the dot com fallout. He just wants recognition for coming up with the idea.
The controller HE INVENTED was a light gun with accelerometers in it. In the video you can see it was used IN THE EXACT SAME WAY A WII IS. HE INVENTED IT. Put a patent on it and even created video proof that it he created it WAY BEFORE NINTENDO HAD ANY KIND OF WORKABLE CONTROLLER THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.
I understand why Nintendo wants to keep everyone thinking that they came up the idea all by themselves. They have their money and company image to consider. The only move they can make is just say that their controller idea was different somehow. Which it is not.
What I DO NOT understand is all the people on the Internet that are rooting for the big corporation without giving the actual individual involved the benefit of the doubt.
Some people just plain ignored the facts and called this a money grab
They ignore:
1. - Nintendo lists his patent in the Wii Patent.
2.- He said that he mainly wants recognition, NOT money
....
I just don't understand why anyone would side with the corporation on this one.
Nintendo is NOT some friendly little corner toy store. They are a corporation that exists to make PROFIT. Sometimes, if they have to, they do horrible, unfair things to individuals.
And I am NOT knocking Nintendo at all. ALL Corporations HAVE to do this because if they don't they will cease to be. Until globalization magically fixes all the evil multinational corporations (which will never happen in my lifetime) this is the world we live in.
Corporations have to do what they can to survive and prosper. CORPORATIONS ARE EVIL. It can be loosely argued that sometimes they are a necessary evil created by out own consumer culture. But with the system we have in place now you CANNOT expect corporations to act honestly.
Even if they KNOW that this guy's ideas DID help create the Wii controller they will NEVER admit that unless it somehow profits them.
So this guy steps up with PROOF that he helped create this sort of tech....
...and people just automatically shoot him down.
I just CANNOT understand that.
Humans can lie and cheat and swindle.
Sometimes we all seem like scum of varying degrees.
But to AUTOMATICALLY take the side of corporation over fellow human? Without reading the story. With NO EVIDENCE THAT NINTENDO DID NOT USE THIS GUY'S IDEA????
I mean forget the whole story about some stupid video game shit.
Forget all that shit.
People automatically and without thought took the side of a corporation instead of a human being.
That is really fucked up.
Even if the dude had been lying and Nintendo had proof that they didn't use his ideas I really expected that people would consider the question before siding with a corp. Fine. If you read the article and decided for whatever reason Nintendo was right then fine... You can say what you want. Most people who have internet access can and they will. Fine..
BUT.
Even if the guy IS just some asshat trying to earn some quick cash in a deceitful way, why would you just automatically just post a negative response without even reading the article. Some people DID. They just AUTOMATICALLY started to write bad things about a fellow human being just because he was perceived as doing something negative against a video game company.
READ THE COMMENTS AND BLOGS ABOUT THIS.
A shitload of people did just automatically sided with the corp and started to insult the human EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CLEAR THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SITUATION WAS. They just did it.
Nintendo just provides you with video games. Toys. In the long run they are largely unimportant. Meaningless lights dashing across a screen telling a story that you could have enjoyed in roughly the same manner through a number of different media. (Books, remember books people????)
Yet some people decided to defend this "thing" and insult a fellow human being.
Everyday, in little ways, I get more and more disappointed in the human race.
We no longer take the side of our families, our communities, our people or even in some cases our country.
Now we all just bow down to faceless machines who at the end of the day DO NOT CARE IF YOU LIVE OR DIE.
If you want to side with a corp, fine. That's your choice for now anyway.
If you want to say that Patrick Goschy is a liar and trying to pull something, well if you actually read the article and formed an opinion of your own, FINE. It's totally OK to have that opinion if you are basing it off something other than your love for a corp.
But LOTS of people didn't read the article, didn't really know what the hell was going on and STILL formed that negative opinion. That's NOT OK.
But if there is ever an dispute between a Corp and a Human please remember which one YOU are...please.
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/joystiq-interview-patrick-goschy-talks-about-midway-tells-us-h/Joystiq interview and overview.
I DO NOT understand why all these fanboys are siding with the corporation on this one.
The controller Patrick Goschy was patented and that patent appears in the Wii Patent.
Midway sold this dudes idea to Nintendo.
He knows that he is probably NOT going to get any money. He was under contract when he made it. He was FORCED to give up his ideas because of the dot com fallout. He just wants recognition for coming up with the idea.
The controller HE INVENTED was a light gun with accelerometers in it. In the video you can see it was used IN THE EXACT SAME WAY A WII IS. HE INVENTED IT. Put a patent on it and even created video proof that it he created it WAY BEFORE NINTENDO HAD ANY KIND OF WORKABLE CONTROLLER THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.
I understand why Nintendo wants to keep everyone thinking that they came up the idea all by themselves. They have their money and company image to consider. The only move they can make is just say that their controller idea was different somehow. Which it is not.
What I DO NOT understand is all the people on the Internet that are rooting for the big corporation without giving the actual individual involved the benefit of the doubt.
Some people just plain ignored the facts and called this a money grab
They ignore:
1. - Nintendo lists his patent in the Wii Patent.
2.- He said that he mainly wants recognition, NOT money
....
I just don't understand why anyone would side with the corporation on this one.
Nintendo is NOT some friendly little corner toy store. They are a corporation that exists to make PROFIT. Sometimes, if they have to, they do horrible, unfair things to individuals.
And I am NOT knocking Nintendo at all. ALL Corporations HAVE to do this because if they don't they will cease to be. Until globalization magically fixes all the evil multinational corporations (which will never happen in my lifetime) this is the world we live in.
Corporations have to do what they can to survive and prosper. CORPORATIONS ARE EVIL. It can be loosely argued that sometimes they are a necessary evil created by out own consumer culture. But with the system we have in place now you CANNOT expect corporations to act honestly.
Even if they KNOW that this guy's ideas DID help create the Wii controller they will NEVER admit that unless it somehow profits them.
So this guy steps up with PROOF that he helped create this sort of tech....
...and people just automatically shoot him down.
I just CANNOT understand that.
Humans can lie and cheat and swindle.
Sometimes we all seem like scum of varying degrees.
But to AUTOMATICALLY take the side of corporation over fellow human? Without reading the story. With NO EVIDENCE THAT NINTENDO DID NOT USE THIS GUY'S IDEA????
I mean forget the whole story about some stupid video game shit.
Forget all that shit.
People automatically and without thought took the side of a corporation instead of a human being.
That is really fucked up.
Even if the dude had been lying and Nintendo had proof that they didn't use his ideas I really expected that people would consider the question before siding with a corp. Fine. If you read the article and decided for whatever reason Nintendo was right then fine... You can say what you want. Most people who have internet access can and they will. Fine..
BUT.
Even if the guy IS just some asshat trying to earn some quick cash in a deceitful way, why would you just automatically just post a negative response without even reading the article. Some people DID. They just AUTOMATICALLY started to write bad things about a fellow human being just because he was perceived as doing something negative against a video game company.
READ THE COMMENTS AND BLOGS ABOUT THIS.
A shitload of people did just automatically sided with the corp and started to insult the human EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CLEAR THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SITUATION WAS. They just did it.
Nintendo just provides you with video games. Toys. In the long run they are largely unimportant. Meaningless lights dashing across a screen telling a story that you could have enjoyed in roughly the same manner through a number of different media. (Books, remember books people????)
Yet some people decided to defend this "thing" and insult a fellow human being.
Everyday, in little ways, I get more and more disappointed in the human race.
We no longer take the side of our families, our communities, our people or even in some cases our country.
Now we all just bow down to faceless machines who at the end of the day DO NOT CARE IF YOU LIVE OR DIE.
If you want to side with a corp, fine. That's your choice for now anyway.
If you want to say that Patrick Goschy is a liar and trying to pull something, well if you actually read the article and formed an opinion of your own, FINE. It's totally OK to have that opinion if you are basing it off something other than your love for a corp.
But LOTS of people didn't read the article, didn't really know what the hell was going on and STILL formed that negative opinion. That's NOT OK.
But if there is ever an dispute between a Corp and a Human please remember which one YOU are...please.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Holy Crap! The Dreamcast is NEXT GEN!
I NEED to use my VGA box more.
Take a look at these pics!
http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2076
Honestly? Those IN GAME shots look like stills companies are using the promote current gen games...
I have played Soul Calibur and noticed how nice it looked on a computer screen but LOOK what a decent TV can do!
Take a look at these pics!
http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2076
Honestly? Those IN GAME shots look like stills companies are using the promote current gen games...
I have played Soul Calibur and noticed how nice it looked on a computer screen but LOOK what a decent TV can do!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Cops and Robbers
Jorma from the Lonely Island boys makes an appearance in this skit.
I give it about 7.
I give it about 7.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Nintendo ripped off Wii controller from the Dreamcast...FACT
Yeah the Dreamcast had a fishing controller that used this tech. So yeah I believe this video.
Comment from Youtube:
"This is not how the Wii controller came to be. If there is 1 gaming company out there that does NOT just steal ideas it is Nintendo.I mean for crying out loud the douchebag isn't wearing pants. That alone proves he isn't all there... literally and dressingly."
Hmm....Yeah...Nintendo NEVER Steals ideas...
In ANY CASE, the whole "boxers" thing. For a very short time in America during the Mid 90's there was a brief fashion trend of shorts like these that looked alot like boxers.
I used to wear shorts like these. They are not underwear. They are just like board shorts with a design that makes them look alot like boxers. Lots of people wore them when it got too warm for tattered jeans and flannel.
I stopped wearing them in 1999 though when I went to college.
You can't even BUY these shorts anymore. This adds validity.
As for the whole "Why now and why not when the Wii first came out?"
It takes YEARS to get the legal system working in the US. It takes LONGER when you are dealing with a huge corporation. If you try to rush something like this the attack dog lawyers every major corp keeps will TEAR YOU APART. It WOULD take YEARS to get a decent lawsuit that wouldn't be shot down before the press got to it.
How can you look at that video and not make the connection? It's the EXACT same Tech used in the EXACT same way.
No way this is a coincidence.
And SCREW YOU Nintendo Fanboys that say Nintendo never steals any ideas. It's a Freaking Corp. They ALL steal ideas.
Except for Sega. Sega is above all reproach.
That goes without saying.
All hail the undead console!
All Hail the Dreamcast!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Wow. Stupid people.
As more and more people use the net I am slowly reaching my limit of putting up with stupid people.
When someone asked a question on how to "hotwire" a Dreamcast controller for PC I gave excellent advice pointing out where you can buy adaptors online and pointed out some forums where he could ask his question and actually get it answered (he wasn't asking in the right manner or place).
The response was so insulting to me.
So he posted another question, asking the SAME thing.
He seems to think that he can just splice some wires from a USB cord to a Dreamcast cord and make it work.
Any working adaptor will require CUSTOM dedicated circuits.
This guy is obviously too dense to put something like that together.
Some jerk might eventually give him wrong instructions on purpose that will burn out his USB port.
I have seen people give advice on how to clean games by telling others to put their CDs in the Microwave on high for 5 minutes. [Yes that would ruin the CD and maybe the Microwave] Before this I never understood why people were being trolls like that. Now I somewhat understand. There is only much IGNORANCE you can take. Try to give some advice to someone and they will not respond like a normal human being because the internet 2.0 promises EXACT ANSWERS RIGHT NOW. Well the only problem is that more and more people are becoming ignorant slobs who can't take it when someone tells them "no you can't really do that".
People have to know their LIMITATIONS. They have to know that they can't just assume they can handle ANYTHING. There is no voice of reason on the 'net yet. It's just a bunch of assholes and the loudest asshole gets heard.
There is SO MUCH PRIDE IN THEIR OWN IGNORANCE. Instead of trying to learn they lash out against those that give constructive advice and criticism. They turn a blind eye to their own faults and look elsewhere for justification of their stupidity. AND THERE IS ALWAYS A FORUM OF LIKE MINDED ASSES WHO WILL SUPPORT THEM!
Is this the real face of humanity?
Has Technology shown us what complete morons the world is composed of?
Instead of delivering humanity into the next stage have we set the world up to be consumed by half-aware Luddites?????????
I have to stop looking around the Internet. I only depress myself.
When someone asked a question on how to "hotwire" a Dreamcast controller for PC I gave excellent advice pointing out where you can buy adaptors online and pointed out some forums where he could ask his question and actually get it answered (he wasn't asking in the right manner or place).
The response was so insulting to me.
So he posted another question, asking the SAME thing.
He seems to think that he can just splice some wires from a USB cord to a Dreamcast cord and make it work.
Any working adaptor will require CUSTOM dedicated circuits.
This guy is obviously too dense to put something like that together.
Some jerk might eventually give him wrong instructions on purpose that will burn out his USB port.
I have seen people give advice on how to clean games by telling others to put their CDs in the Microwave on high for 5 minutes. [Yes that would ruin the CD and maybe the Microwave] Before this I never understood why people were being trolls like that. Now I somewhat understand. There is only much IGNORANCE you can take. Try to give some advice to someone and they will not respond like a normal human being because the internet 2.0 promises EXACT ANSWERS RIGHT NOW. Well the only problem is that more and more people are becoming ignorant slobs who can't take it when someone tells them "no you can't really do that".
People have to know their LIMITATIONS. They have to know that they can't just assume they can handle ANYTHING. There is no voice of reason on the 'net yet. It's just a bunch of assholes and the loudest asshole gets heard.
There is SO MUCH PRIDE IN THEIR OWN IGNORANCE. Instead of trying to learn they lash out against those that give constructive advice and criticism. They turn a blind eye to their own faults and look elsewhere for justification of their stupidity. AND THERE IS ALWAYS A FORUM OF LIKE MINDED ASSES WHO WILL SUPPORT THEM!
Is this the real face of humanity?
Has Technology shown us what complete morons the world is composed of?
Instead of delivering humanity into the next stage have we set the world up to be consumed by half-aware Luddites?????????
I have to stop looking around the Internet. I only depress myself.
Wing Commander Blueprints
http://kotaku.com/343621/please-check-out-these-awesome-wing-commander-blueprints
I HAVE these blueprints at home. Tres cool.
I remember beating this game without loosing any of my wingmen. (which was a PAIN in Maniac's case since the moron would run after any target without any thought).
All in all it was pretty awesome. I kick ass at the Win Commander games. I have not yet beaten "Black Ops" yet. I still have all the downloadable episodes in my older 'puter.
I am glad I have these. Game inserts have really gone downhill since the 90's.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Cat and Girl is slowing inching it's way to my Personal top ten of webcomics.
http://catandgirl.com/view.php?loc=270
http://catandgirl.com/view.php?loc=273
(I went to grad school and I have yet to make it to middle class status...I think I am still technically high-lower class with just enough cash to pay my bills, start up a new IRA every year, eat and waste a little money on retro video games. If I had a wife, kids or any kind of social life at all it would really screw up my personal economics.)
http://catandgirl.com/view.php?loc=273
(I went to grad school and I have yet to make it to middle class status...I think I am still technically high-lower class with just enough cash to pay my bills, start up a new IRA every year, eat and waste a little money on retro video games. If I had a wife, kids or any kind of social life at all it would really screw up my personal economics.)
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Atari Lynx get Emmy
No really.
"The Awards for Handheld Game Device Display Screen Innovation:
Atari Lynx
Atari"
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/emmy-awards-given-to-nintendo-ds-wii-and-atari-lynx/
Amazing.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
An answer to why it all fell apart after the 90's.
Damn you time traveling Cat and Girl!
http://catandgirl.com/view.php?loc=37
http://catandgirl.com/view.php?loc=37
Monday, January 07, 2008
Digital Devil Saga 2 for $19.99
I have know about different prices for games at EB and Gamestop for a long time now.
Of course to some people this is news...
http://consumerist.com/340872/eb-games-charges-two-different-prices-for-same-game
I got a copy of Devil Summoner (Same Series) new for 19.99 when it was used for 29.99 AT THE SAME STORE.
I guess when it comes to RPG pricing Gamestop and EB can't get their shit together.
I am sure that since there are like A MILLION new Atlus games out it isn't helping matters.
Of course to some people this is news...
http://consumerist.com/340872/eb-games-charges-two-different-prices-for-same-game
I got a copy of Devil Summoner (Same Series) new for 19.99 when it was used for 29.99 AT THE SAME STORE.
I guess when it comes to RPG pricing Gamestop and EB can't get their shit together.
I am sure that since there are like A MILLION new Atlus games out it isn't helping matters.
Pipmed out Dreamcast found in wild.
Kotaku has found what seems to be a Dreamcast "pimped out" in a thrift store.
http://kotaku.com/341288/thrift-store-treasures-the-ugliest-dreamcast-you-will-ever-see
This is why I love thrift stores. You never know what you will find.
http://kotaku.com/341288/thrift-store-treasures-the-ugliest-dreamcast-you-will-ever-see
This is why I love thrift stores. You never know what you will find.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Muahahahaha!
I thought this was funny. I guess this has been around awhile but it's the first time I have seen it. I love it when people do photoshops like this.
It's kind of sad that I never played WoW yet I still get all these jokes.
I just can't justify wasting monthly fees and all that cash.
*Click for larger, readable version*
Muds were cooler, larger, had more players and you didn't have to pay monthly fees. I still only played those for a bit before I got sick of them.
It's kind of sad that I never played WoW yet I still get all these jokes.
I just can't justify wasting monthly fees and all that cash.
*Click for larger, readable version*
Muds were cooler, larger, had more players and you didn't have to pay monthly fees. I still only played those for a bit before I got sick of them.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Sitting at work during a Holiday...AGAIN!
Yes, Here I sit again. Not really doing anything.
Bored.
Lets see. I suppose I will just list off what's going on in my life.
-I have decided to do 50 situps everytime I play a video game. I have 100 that I have to catch up on. I figure I have done about 300 so far in the past 2 weeks. I have to set the heavy punching bag set up in the cellar so I can beat the crap outta it. Gotta do something for exercise in the winter.
-I have a very vivid dream last night. Lets just say I am not complaining. It's weird because mostly my dreams have been lame as hell. I hope this trend continues.
-My car has been making some weird shudders. It happens so infrequently. I thought originally I had some water or ice in the fuel line. I have used gas line HEET twice now. I will have to get it checked out when I get my car's spark plugs replaced.
-I put in my resume to a job offer I got in the mail. This is pretty much the first time an employeer has contacted me about a job and not the other way around.
-My parent's car Bandit is now in my care for awhile. He is a nice easy-going cat for the most part. We have gotten into the habit of using a window for him to get in and out of the house. The only drawback is that he seems to enjoy sleeping on the same places I use. So evertime I want to sit on the couch or sleep in my bed he is already sprawled out in the middle of it.
-I failed in my personal quest to avoid junkfood since I bought a ton of chocolate this morning. Boxes of Lindt and other quality sweets are on clearance of 75% off at Walgreens. I will have to freeze it and limit my intake.
-I updated the NYS divorce and annulment law folder at work. It took a LONG time. Note to self. Never get married or divorced.
-I got a copy of the Red Star. I also got another Sega Saturn with a ton of mint games (I plan on doing a video about that purchase). The lady who works at the goodwill store saved it for me. It pays to be nice to those people. Yesterday I got a NES complete with 12 games. Kick ass.
Ugh. Another 6 hours until I get to go home. Gotta get groceries today.
Bored.
Lets see. I suppose I will just list off what's going on in my life.
-I have decided to do 50 situps everytime I play a video game. I have 100 that I have to catch up on. I figure I have done about 300 so far in the past 2 weeks. I have to set the heavy punching bag set up in the cellar so I can beat the crap outta it. Gotta do something for exercise in the winter.
-I have a very vivid dream last night. Lets just say I am not complaining. It's weird because mostly my dreams have been lame as hell. I hope this trend continues.
-My car has been making some weird shudders. It happens so infrequently. I thought originally I had some water or ice in the fuel line. I have used gas line HEET twice now. I will have to get it checked out when I get my car's spark plugs replaced.
-I put in my resume to a job offer I got in the mail. This is pretty much the first time an employeer has contacted me about a job and not the other way around.
-My parent's car Bandit is now in my care for awhile. He is a nice easy-going cat for the most part. We have gotten into the habit of using a window for him to get in and out of the house. The only drawback is that he seems to enjoy sleeping on the same places I use. So evertime I want to sit on the couch or sleep in my bed he is already sprawled out in the middle of it.
-I failed in my personal quest to avoid junkfood since I bought a ton of chocolate this morning. Boxes of Lindt and other quality sweets are on clearance of 75% off at Walgreens. I will have to freeze it and limit my intake.
-I updated the NYS divorce and annulment law folder at work. It took a LONG time. Note to self. Never get married or divorced.
-I got a copy of the Red Star. I also got another Sega Saturn with a ton of mint games (I plan on doing a video about that purchase). The lady who works at the goodwill store saved it for me. It pays to be nice to those people. Yesterday I got a NES complete with 12 games. Kick ass.
Ugh. Another 6 hours until I get to go home. Gotta get groceries today.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Not much happening during the holidays.
After the non-work - work I had during Christmas I am feeling a bit down during the holidays here.
Oh, and I am playing Oblivion now. It's Morrowind but without that annoying monetary system and the whole thing has been toned down. Now there are only 4 guilds and no temples.
I really like the scaled up enemy system. Morrowind got way too easy but this game seems to keep up with me. Alot of people complain that you level too fast, but that's bunk because you don't HAVE to level. You can just practice stuff that isn't in your field for awhile too level the playing field. Then you can raise your level by sleeping just a bit at a time. This goes against "gamer logic" that higher levels means an easier time killing enemies though so lamers bitch and complain about this feature. I like the increased enemy power though. I play a sneaky character who has to use pretty much anything from magic to Alchemy to level the playing field.
Alchemy is easier than Morrowind but still fun as hell. I think half my game time has been spent running around the woods looking for poisons to kill my enemies with. Did you know that strawberries can be made into a deadly poison??? Apparently they can. Anyways you can never go wrong with alchemy because there is NO FAILURE rate involved,. Kinda lame.
It's a pain that game developers seem to be simplifying games for consoles.
PC gamers can handle alittle complexity people!
In any case this game runs just fine on my computer.
Oh, and I am playing Oblivion now. It's Morrowind but without that annoying monetary system and the whole thing has been toned down. Now there are only 4 guilds and no temples.
I really like the scaled up enemy system. Morrowind got way too easy but this game seems to keep up with me. Alot of people complain that you level too fast, but that's bunk because you don't HAVE to level. You can just practice stuff that isn't in your field for awhile too level the playing field. Then you can raise your level by sleeping just a bit at a time. This goes against "gamer logic" that higher levels means an easier time killing enemies though so lamers bitch and complain about this feature. I like the increased enemy power though. I play a sneaky character who has to use pretty much anything from magic to Alchemy to level the playing field.
Alchemy is easier than Morrowind but still fun as hell. I think half my game time has been spent running around the woods looking for poisons to kill my enemies with. Did you know that strawberries can be made into a deadly poison??? Apparently they can. Anyways you can never go wrong with alchemy because there is NO FAILURE rate involved,. Kinda lame.
It's a pain that game developers seem to be simplifying games for consoles.
PC gamers can handle alittle complexity people!
In any case this game runs just fine on my computer.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Worst Dreamcast Hater Video Ever....Really.
First off this was his original text:
"wat inspired me to make this video was a dume kid who thought dreamcast could own ps3 well he can go to hell"
He will probably change it since I called him on it in a comment.
A few comments:
It's nice that this guys parents decided to buy him all this crap. It's too bad they don't spend as much effort on educating him. He is WAY to young to have remembered anything else but the newer generation of consoles which is a shame.
The great majority of his points make no sense at all. But that's mostly because he is young.
It's like this video is a compilation on every stupid Sony Fanboy, Internet loser, moronic Punk I have ever encountered on the net.
1. Young high pitched pre-puberty voice
2. Hyping up "online play" If dealing with losers like this is online then keep it.
3. Sony fanboyism for seemingly no reason.
4. Highlighting Multi-Platform Games as a reason to buy a PS3?
5. Calling people misspelled names.
6. Calling someone else "kid" when in fact this guy sounds 12 years old.
7. Making over-generalized points on technology he knows nothing about.
8. Making comparisons that make no sense in context.
9. Calling other people "lonely" and "sad" because they don't have the latest tech to play with people online with an earpiece. Picture this young kid surrounded by all the PS3 junk which probably cost enough for a whole semester's books in college. He thinks that online gaming on the PS3 is really social? Wow.
10. Under-age kid playing 18+ only rated games online where a lot of people use offense language.
The whole "online gaming" thing that crops ups with these kids is frankly pissing me off. These are the little jerks who use offensive language and racist terms because they don't know any better. They shouldn't even be playing mature rated games at all.
Instead of giving these jerks something to do until they eventually stop being completely annoying, parents give them high end video games and what seems like unfrettered computer access. And they don't learn about ways to lock the consoles so underage players can't play games that are not suitable for them. If this kid's parents did he wouldn't be able to play half those games.
Go outside and play in the snow or something kid. Go do anything until you grow up and hopefully learn to stop being such a annoying little pest.
Or at least learn alittle more about video productions and video games in general so you can make a decent video and stop bagging on awesome games people are still paying a premium for.
The Dreamcast rules.
Merry Christmas from future nuclear wasteland distopia!
From Kotaku
He is only called Vault Boy in the adverts. He was never mentioned by name in the game. Then in Fallout 2 "pipboy" was mentioned in such a way when you updated your PiP that I thought that he was called PiPboy. So that confused me for a bit. But PiPboy and Vault Boy are two different mascots. And Falloutboy is a band.
Merry Christmas. Don't let the mutants get you.
Small child kills prostitute with machete.
...in a video game.
From Kotaku.
http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/missing/i_safety/videogame-flashpage.html
"prostitutes are super hard to kill"
WTF?
Kids should not be playing games like this. At all. It's the equivalent of giving a kid an R rated movie. But most people still equate ALL video games with kids. KIDS SHOULD NOT PLAY THESE GAMES. In fact I don't know who the hell WOULD play a game like this.
I know of very few games were you can do what this little kid is describing.
And in those few games it's generally NOT a good idea to go around killing everything.
It must have been one of the newer GTA games which I have not played.
From Kotaku.
http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/missing/i_safety/videogame-flashpage.html
"prostitutes are super hard to kill"
WTF?
Kids should not be playing games like this. At all. It's the equivalent of giving a kid an R rated movie. But most people still equate ALL video games with kids. KIDS SHOULD NOT PLAY THESE GAMES. In fact I don't know who the hell WOULD play a game like this.
I know of very few games were you can do what this little kid is describing.
And in those few games it's generally NOT a good idea to go around killing everything.
It must have been one of the newer GTA games which I have not played.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Hurrah For me! Mentioned on PBC-Productions!
Pbc-Production's member "Z." Briggs read my letter during the latest "Little-Miss-Gamer" web show!
I am so happy. This totally made my day.
http://www.pbc-productions.com/
(The end of the excellent pinball episode)
I am glad that other people liked the old PC game inserts. My trusty map of Ultima 6was the only thing that got me through that game.
Ah. Some games are getting better inserts though.
This cures my "Tuesday Blues"
I am so happy. This totally made my day.
http://www.pbc-productions.com/
(The end of the excellent pinball episode)
I am glad that other people liked the old PC game inserts. My trusty map of Ultima 6was the only thing that got me through that game.
Ah. Some games are getting better inserts though.
This cures my "Tuesday Blues"
More on Persona 3
So I was considering some of the imagery from the Persona 3 game I just got. Here is the Japanese intro
High schoolers shooting themselves in the head with what looks like real guns is pretty damn disturbing imagery for a game. In fact one could say that the highly stylized art of this game glamorizes it. I don't think it does. In fact I think any form of art, including games, should be able to use any kind of imagery without censorship. People's reaction to this video though confirms many of my personal beliefs.
I have always thought that society in general keeps suicide on too high of a pedestal. Imagery in a game like this is disturbing but what is even more disturbing is that some people don't see the real life act of suicide as the completely stupid act it is.
For example in college I did this skit:
The whole idea behind the skit was to put the idea of "a cry for help" suicide attempt in the open in a amusing way.
When I was talking about the skit with a another person, not actually watching it, they were somewhat offended I would make a comedy skit about a subject like that.
However, I think that because people HAVE put this idea forward it takes away from the "ideal" that society has given the act and less people do it. You have to make fun of taboo subjects or they will ALWAYS be taboo and nobody will ever get around them.
I think that most suicides nowadays occur because of genuine mental problems created by a lack of proper medication. It's too bad that since some young people were over-medicated and improperly medicated now parents are afraid to put their kids on ANY medication. And that has led to more suicides because parents are not willing to provide any alternate treatment. They simply refuse to medicate their kids.
I think that if more people would be involved with the kid's life most of these teens would find some reason to keep going.
New Games!
I recently bought the second full priced game I ever purchased.
Persona 3. Which is going for like $75 new on amazon and Ebay. So I don't feel all that bad that I bought it. Plus I can't find it on any of the major retailers sites anymore. They don't even list it on their sites.
I have alot of RPGs for the PS2 but the artwork in this one seems pretty cool. Plus you play high schoolers who unlock their powers by shooting themselves in the head... ...I am not kidding. I suppose this might be why all the major retailers don't carry this anymore. It was an oversized DVD package with an art book included. I have no clue how the gameplay is but considering I could sell an opened copy on ebay for about as much as I paid for it new in store I figure it was a good deal.
I also got Oblivion, Game of the Year Edition which was on sale. Plus I had coupons for Best Buy. I like the Best Buy promotions because you don't have to spend money. You are pretty much guarenteed coupons and store credit just for signing up. They do hassle you a bit sometimes with unwanted credit card offers and stuff but that is easy to ignore.
Persona 3. Which is going for like $75 new on amazon and Ebay. So I don't feel all that bad that I bought it. Plus I can't find it on any of the major retailers sites anymore. They don't even list it on their sites.
I have alot of RPGs for the PS2 but the artwork in this one seems pretty cool. Plus you play high schoolers who unlock their powers by shooting themselves in the head... ...I am not kidding. I suppose this might be why all the major retailers don't carry this anymore. It was an oversized DVD package with an art book included. I have no clue how the gameplay is but considering I could sell an opened copy on ebay for about as much as I paid for it new in store I figure it was a good deal.
I also got Oblivion, Game of the Year Edition which was on sale. Plus I had coupons for Best Buy. I like the Best Buy promotions because you don't have to spend money. You are pretty much guarenteed coupons and store credit just for signing up. They do hassle you a bit sometimes with unwanted credit card offers and stuff but that is easy to ignore.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Cool people with goatees and glasses love the dreamcast.
Muahahaha!
I laughed when I saw this because so many of the people who like the Dreamcast wear glasses and have a goatee. I had to shave mine off for my newer job.
Compare the above video with an older video of mine.
I think the only difference is that I love the Dreamcast controller and I have never cramped up while using it.
I laughed when I saw this because so many of the people who like the Dreamcast wear glasses and have a goatee. I had to shave mine off for my newer job.
Compare the above video with an older video of mine.
I think the only difference is that I love the Dreamcast controller and I have never cramped up while using it.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Saturn Junkyard Celebration!
The Saturn Junkyard just celebrated it's first birthday!
Go and take a look at some of the cool new graphics and an extra special drawing by the Gagaman(n)!
Beat RE REmake, AGAIN!
Beat the game on hard with Chris, a first for me.
I was already playing Kingdom Hearts, STALKER and FarCry (almost to the end). But I just had one of those moods to play some survival horror and I hadn'y played RE in a long time.
I took my time so I didn't unlock anything which is fine. The game is pretty kick ass even after beating one on hard with Jill. Playing as Jill is easier simply because she has more item slots. She has less health but I am so kick ass with the Gamecube controller I hardly ever take hits in that game. I had like 5 spray cans and like 4 herb combos at the end of the game on hard.
In any case this game is TIMELESS. Killing zombies and learning about Wesker's betrayal is constant.
SPOILERS
*Rebecca Chambers LIVES! That was so cool because for a long time I thought she died! Having to bail her out during the game was actually pretty fun rather than having Barry Burton constantly save Jill.
I am alittle pissed she never showed up in any other game besides RE 0. And why did she suddenly become a wimp in RE after killing all those monsters at the other mansion in 0? Maybe she will be back in RE5.
I was already playing Kingdom Hearts, STALKER and FarCry (almost to the end). But I just had one of those moods to play some survival horror and I hadn'y played RE in a long time.
I took my time so I didn't unlock anything which is fine. The game is pretty kick ass even after beating one on hard with Jill. Playing as Jill is easier simply because she has more item slots. She has less health but I am so kick ass with the Gamecube controller I hardly ever take hits in that game. I had like 5 spray cans and like 4 herb combos at the end of the game on hard.
In any case this game is TIMELESS. Killing zombies and learning about Wesker's betrayal is constant.
SPOILERS
*Rebecca Chambers LIVES! That was so cool because for a long time I thought she died! Having to bail her out during the game was actually pretty fun rather than having Barry Burton constantly save Jill.
I am alittle pissed she never showed up in any other game besides RE 0. And why did she suddenly become a wimp in RE after killing all those monsters at the other mansion in 0? Maybe she will be back in RE5.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Why I hate Hollywood - "I am Legend"
"I am Legend" was a book and later a graphic novel ABOUT VAMPIRES!
Bloodthristy vampires straight out of Dracula. Pointy teeth and everything. The whole story revolved around the myth of vampires and science.
Richard Matheson wrote the original science fiction classic.
Vincent Price starred in the first remake.
It was based in a small town in the graphic novel and in the Price movie which really created an awesome atmostsphere. Here was a sleepily overgrown town with picket fences and cute little square houses which at nightfall turned into a vampire invested hell. The main character fought against what were once his friendly neighbors. Still recognizable, but transformed into vampires (which really is one of the bases of the vampire myth, people you know coming back as vampires, but not total monsters).
When they made a remake with Charleton Heston, "The Omega Man", they kept the same mood but for some reason made the vampires "mutants". This really confused me when I watched the movie for the first time. The town was a bit bigger and the lack of vampires seemed to suck all the personality out of the monsters. It seemed like a real last second change. And the "mutants" seemed more concerned about avoiding technology and making Heston's character on an even playing field with them. It was a pretty blatant attack on Communism. While Heston's character, a hard working capitalist, wanted to work hard and create an innovative cure for the problem the mutants, dirty commies, wanted to take the easy route and just infect everyone and keep everyone living in the stone age as mutant equals. This movie was FAR inferior to the Price movie which has much stronger themes of myth, religion, morality and science throughout. The Heston remake was basically good ideas versus bad ideas.
SPOILERS
In the Price movie as well as the original work the main character goes out during the day and kills vampires who are hiding from the sun. This is a problem because later on he finds out he has been killing "innocent" vampires who had not tried to attack him. He just assumed that all vampires were like the evil/insane ones that attacked his house every night. This created a huge morality problem for the main character and results in the tragic ending. In the Heston remake there are no different groups of "mutants". They all pretty much want to kill/infect Heston. A couple of the mutants disagree with the methods but in the end they all try to kill him and his attempts to protect himself are totally justified. How lame is that??? Why would they take away that great theme of morality? Heston's character is basically Jesus-like in this movie and his death helps save all mankind. Lame and not as thought provoking as the original work.
And now in 2007 there is another remake starring Will Smith. He is not a bad actor. But is not a great actor.
So wow. NO VAMPIRES. But instead of making the title "The last man on Earth" which would be appropriate, they named this film "I am Legend"...
What???
THERE ARE NO VAMPIRES. WHAT IS THE FRIGGEN' LEGEND?
Is there some legend about "mutants caused by science" that has been around for hundreds of years and has been shared by every major civilization? Because the myth of vampires IS THAT LEGEND. THAT IS THE LEGEND THAT THE FREAKING ORIGINAL WORK IS BASED ALL AROUND. Not this "science gone wrong" thing. That was a theme in the original work, BUT NOT THE ONLY THEME.
So they took that away.
Also, they set the movie in New York City...???
NYC is a big scary place during the day and night. So goodbye to the lovely difference between the sleeply empty town during the day and the vampire infused dark streets of the night. Plus there is the whole thing that there should be MILLIONS of mutants in an area like that that would completely over-run ANY fortified apartment.
Also Will Smith's character is shown working out during the day.
The original works character, Vincent Price and to a lesser extent Heston's character all pretty much went a little insane due to their situation. They drank a lot and looked haggard. The character in the graphic novel stopped shaving and wore revolvers all the time. At the end he pretty much looked like a modern caveman. And that totally made sense.
I suppose they added in all that "working out" footage to somehow justify Will Smith looking as healthy and bulked up as he does. Ever since he gained all that muscle mass from playing Muhammad Ali he has just looked way to weird in some of his roles.
In "I-Robot" I thought it was strange that he never lost his muscles from the training he did. Nobody else looked as big as he did and it seemed really strange. It would have been better if he had an "everyman" type look to him.
Then in the trailers for this movie I see that he still is carrying all that muscle...
What the hell? His trainer and manger should be slapping him upside the head. He is not a boxer, he is not trying to be an Action star. He is supposed to be a mainstream actor.
In this movie he plays a damned SCIENTIST. A scientist whose situation should have made him and insane drunk just like in the original material. Have you EVER seen a scientist on TV that looked bulked up AT ALL? Have you ever seen a drunk person train and keep that fit???
Yet somehow this scientist looks like someone who is a trained boxer. So they shoot these "working out" scenes to explain it.
If Will Smith looked like he did in the "Men in Black" movies it would be believable. Yet for some reason this mainstream actor has let all that muscle mass weight stay on him.
Why?:
A. Is too vain to stop training/protein loading so he looks normal again.
B. Used Human Growth Hormone/Steroids to gain all that muscle and it is not coming off easily.
C. Both A and B (Most likely)
Like I said his manager/trainer should hit him upside the head. If he wants to be a mainstream actor he need to look normal again.
All in all this sort of movie shows that people have lost what's really important in movies. The STORY AND UNDERLYING THEMES.
This movie seemed to just indulge the whims of the director Francis Lawrence who also ruined the "Constantine" movie with his shitty misinterpretations.
They spent MILLIONS of dollars on CGI and paying to use public areas for filming to make NYC look like it was empty. The reason being is that anyone who has been in NYC knows just how filled with people it is The VAST majority of people who will watch this movie have not been to NYC. They will never go to NYC. Just because a bunch of art-snobs and Hollywood people go to NYC and know how crowded it can be is no reason to SPEND MILLIONS TO MAKE IT LOOK EMPTY. It will be sure to impress anyone who has been there, but most people have NOT...CAN'T YOU SEE THE FUCKING STUPIDITY IN THAT? Can't you just feel the raw waves of smarmy bullshit fumes wafting from decisions like that? And just compare that to the original setting of the suburbs THAT ACTUALLY LENT SOMETHING TO THE THEMES IN THE MOVIE. An empty NYC is just a form of visual masturbation. It's just an empty theme within itself. As empty as the fiction city.
And of course this means that Will Smith is left to try and act by himself. An actor whose ENTIRE MOVIE CAREER has been made by playing off of other actors. Can you try to visualize a scene in a movie, ANY MOVIE, where will Smith is alone onscreeen for more that 10 seconds? I can't.
The choice to pick Will Smith was ENTIRELY a monetary one. The wanted a hot actor who would bring in MONEY. They used NYC as a location to bring in MONEY.
The makers consulted with experts on infectious diseases and solitary confinement. But they apparently never read the original book. Maybe then they could have come up with some ideas that were not self indulgent or based on a monetary bottom line.
Here is the Vincent Price movie "The Last Man on Earth". Is in the public domain so you can also download it off the Prelinger Archive. IT HAS VAMPIRES IN IT. YOU KNOW, THE LEGENDARY VAMPIRE.
http://www.archive.org/details/the-last-man-on-earth
Bloodthristy vampires straight out of Dracula. Pointy teeth and everything. The whole story revolved around the myth of vampires and science.
Richard Matheson wrote the original science fiction classic.
Vincent Price starred in the first remake.
It was based in a small town in the graphic novel and in the Price movie which really created an awesome atmostsphere. Here was a sleepily overgrown town with picket fences and cute little square houses which at nightfall turned into a vampire invested hell. The main character fought against what were once his friendly neighbors. Still recognizable, but transformed into vampires (which really is one of the bases of the vampire myth, people you know coming back as vampires, but not total monsters).
When they made a remake with Charleton Heston, "The Omega Man", they kept the same mood but for some reason made the vampires "mutants". This really confused me when I watched the movie for the first time. The town was a bit bigger and the lack of vampires seemed to suck all the personality out of the monsters. It seemed like a real last second change. And the "mutants" seemed more concerned about avoiding technology and making Heston's character on an even playing field with them. It was a pretty blatant attack on Communism. While Heston's character, a hard working capitalist, wanted to work hard and create an innovative cure for the problem the mutants, dirty commies, wanted to take the easy route and just infect everyone and keep everyone living in the stone age as mutant equals. This movie was FAR inferior to the Price movie which has much stronger themes of myth, religion, morality and science throughout. The Heston remake was basically good ideas versus bad ideas.
SPOILERS
In the Price movie as well as the original work the main character goes out during the day and kills vampires who are hiding from the sun. This is a problem because later on he finds out he has been killing "innocent" vampires who had not tried to attack him. He just assumed that all vampires were like the evil/insane ones that attacked his house every night. This created a huge morality problem for the main character and results in the tragic ending. In the Heston remake there are no different groups of "mutants". They all pretty much want to kill/infect Heston. A couple of the mutants disagree with the methods but in the end they all try to kill him and his attempts to protect himself are totally justified. How lame is that??? Why would they take away that great theme of morality? Heston's character is basically Jesus-like in this movie and his death helps save all mankind. Lame and not as thought provoking as the original work.
And now in 2007 there is another remake starring Will Smith. He is not a bad actor. But is not a great actor.
So wow. NO VAMPIRES. But instead of making the title "The last man on Earth" which would be appropriate, they named this film "I am Legend"...
What???
THERE ARE NO VAMPIRES. WHAT IS THE FRIGGEN' LEGEND?
Is there some legend about "mutants caused by science" that has been around for hundreds of years and has been shared by every major civilization? Because the myth of vampires IS THAT LEGEND. THAT IS THE LEGEND THAT THE FREAKING ORIGINAL WORK IS BASED ALL AROUND. Not this "science gone wrong" thing. That was a theme in the original work, BUT NOT THE ONLY THEME.
So they took that away.
Also, they set the movie in New York City...???
NYC is a big scary place during the day and night. So goodbye to the lovely difference between the sleeply empty town during the day and the vampire infused dark streets of the night. Plus there is the whole thing that there should be MILLIONS of mutants in an area like that that would completely over-run ANY fortified apartment.
Also Will Smith's character is shown working out during the day.
The original works character, Vincent Price and to a lesser extent Heston's character all pretty much went a little insane due to their situation. They drank a lot and looked haggard. The character in the graphic novel stopped shaving and wore revolvers all the time. At the end he pretty much looked like a modern caveman. And that totally made sense.
I suppose they added in all that "working out" footage to somehow justify Will Smith looking as healthy and bulked up as he does. Ever since he gained all that muscle mass from playing Muhammad Ali he has just looked way to weird in some of his roles.
In "I-Robot" I thought it was strange that he never lost his muscles from the training he did. Nobody else looked as big as he did and it seemed really strange. It would have been better if he had an "everyman" type look to him.
Then in the trailers for this movie I see that he still is carrying all that muscle...
What the hell? His trainer and manger should be slapping him upside the head. He is not a boxer, he is not trying to be an Action star. He is supposed to be a mainstream actor.
In this movie he plays a damned SCIENTIST. A scientist whose situation should have made him and insane drunk just like in the original material. Have you EVER seen a scientist on TV that looked bulked up AT ALL? Have you ever seen a drunk person train and keep that fit???
Yet somehow this scientist looks like someone who is a trained boxer. So they shoot these "working out" scenes to explain it.
If Will Smith looked like he did in the "Men in Black" movies it would be believable. Yet for some reason this mainstream actor has let all that muscle mass weight stay on him.
Why?:
A. Is too vain to stop training/protein loading so he looks normal again.
B. Used Human Growth Hormone/Steroids to gain all that muscle and it is not coming off easily.
C. Both A and B (Most likely)
Like I said his manager/trainer should hit him upside the head. If he wants to be a mainstream actor he need to look normal again.
All in all this sort of movie shows that people have lost what's really important in movies. The STORY AND UNDERLYING THEMES.
This movie seemed to just indulge the whims of the director Francis Lawrence who also ruined the "Constantine" movie with his shitty misinterpretations.
They spent MILLIONS of dollars on CGI and paying to use public areas for filming to make NYC look like it was empty. The reason being is that anyone who has been in NYC knows just how filled with people it is The VAST majority of people who will watch this movie have not been to NYC. They will never go to NYC. Just because a bunch of art-snobs and Hollywood people go to NYC and know how crowded it can be is no reason to SPEND MILLIONS TO MAKE IT LOOK EMPTY. It will be sure to impress anyone who has been there, but most people have NOT...CAN'T YOU SEE THE FUCKING STUPIDITY IN THAT? Can't you just feel the raw waves of smarmy bullshit fumes wafting from decisions like that? And just compare that to the original setting of the suburbs THAT ACTUALLY LENT SOMETHING TO THE THEMES IN THE MOVIE. An empty NYC is just a form of visual masturbation. It's just an empty theme within itself. As empty as the fiction city.
And of course this means that Will Smith is left to try and act by himself. An actor whose ENTIRE MOVIE CAREER has been made by playing off of other actors. Can you try to visualize a scene in a movie, ANY MOVIE, where will Smith is alone onscreeen for more that 10 seconds? I can't.
The choice to pick Will Smith was ENTIRELY a monetary one. The wanted a hot actor who would bring in MONEY. They used NYC as a location to bring in MONEY.
The makers consulted with experts on infectious diseases and solitary confinement. But they apparently never read the original book. Maybe then they could have come up with some ideas that were not self indulgent or based on a monetary bottom line.
Here is the Vincent Price movie "The Last Man on Earth". Is in the public domain so you can also download it off the Prelinger Archive. IT HAS VAMPIRES IN IT. YOU KNOW, THE LEGENDARY VAMPIRE.
http://www.archive.org/details/the-last-man-on-earth
Monday, December 10, 2007
Some random Dreamcast videos.
Dreamcast Indy development team making a Dreamcast game out of Grandma's house.
A couple of reviewers talk about the system that came out in 66-6-6??
A couple of reviewers talk about the system that came out in 66-6-6??
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Amusing video of the Wii rip-off, the "Vii", opened up.
Wow. What a piece of crap.
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/16492
I wouldn't want to leave that thing plugged in. With the "bare bones" wiring and shitty parts it would be likely to burn your house down.
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/16492
I wouldn't want to leave that thing plugged in. With the "bare bones" wiring and shitty parts it would be likely to burn your house down.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Chinese "Vii" commerical
Wow. How Horrible.
It's amazing that they can produce a commercial based on a product whose only draw is that people might confuse it for the "Wii". It doesn't have any other draw. It sucks. Badly.
If it was aimed at Western people I would feel better at this, but this seems to be another in a long line of products aimed at fooling the Chinese people into thinking they are buying Western products. Some of these Chinese consumers don't even realize that these products are just cheap knock-offs.
I suppose as more and more Western people stop buying unsafe and shoddy products from corrupt Chinese corporations there will be more products like this trying to take advantage of Chinese consumers.
If anyone in America thinks that this is a product from Nintendo and get duped into buying it, they deserve to get ripped off. There was a Youtube video where people were asking if it was a Nintendo product...IDIOTS.
Btw. Who was that guy? Vice President of the Singaporean Olympic Atheletes? For shame! How can you say this is good exercise for kids? That's horrible.
Chinese manufacturing should focus on making third party electronics or something decent. Not this crap that is simply designed to make a quick buck.
It's amazing that they can produce a commercial based on a product whose only draw is that people might confuse it for the "Wii". It doesn't have any other draw. It sucks. Badly.
If it was aimed at Western people I would feel better at this, but this seems to be another in a long line of products aimed at fooling the Chinese people into thinking they are buying Western products. Some of these Chinese consumers don't even realize that these products are just cheap knock-offs.
I suppose as more and more Western people stop buying unsafe and shoddy products from corrupt Chinese corporations there will be more products like this trying to take advantage of Chinese consumers.
If anyone in America thinks that this is a product from Nintendo and get duped into buying it, they deserve to get ripped off. There was a Youtube video where people were asking if it was a Nintendo product...IDIOTS.
Btw. Who was that guy? Vice President of the Singaporean Olympic Atheletes? For shame! How can you say this is good exercise for kids? That's horrible.
Chinese manufacturing should focus on making third party electronics or something decent. Not this crap that is simply designed to make a quick buck.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
ABC GMA news story made me sad this morning.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3882520&page=1
A 44 year old woman made a fake myspace account so she could harass a 13 year old. She made up a fake boy's identity to get close to the girl and eventually started saying stuff like the world would be better off without the girl. The girl killed herself.
The 13 year old had "low self-esteem and was on medication at the time of her death".
There is no law on the book to charge the 44 year old woman with anything. It would be tough to do so I suppose but it sucks that some grown person can drive a medicated 13 year old to her death and have no consequences at all.
As the internet gets wider and wider use I wish we would start getting tougher laws on the books.
The reason why we don't have "griefers" in real life constantly insulting EVERYONE and giving everyone shit is because we have laws and police and the right to protect ourselves.
But people harp how the internet is "just on a computer screen" and how it doesn't really matter because everything is anonymous.
My points:
A. In this story we know that's not true.
An asshole who swears and uses racist stuff and posts obscene pictures on the internet can generally be waved off since most of this stuff can be ignored or erased. However, with the web becoming more entwined with out daily lives I think this sort of shit will become harder to ignore and closer to our daily offline lives. For example most people don't know that if somone knows your last name and general area you live in they can use many free reference tools online to tract your physical home address and phone number. It's easy to ignore someone sending you a picture of feces. It's harder when people start to actually mail pieces of it to your home (or a letter bomb, because some people are over achievers when it comes to being a dick).
Of course you can take all that information off the books...but this has never been an issue in the past. I am reminded of the scene in "The Jerk" were Steve Martin's character is excited that he got into the phone book. "Things are gonna start to happen for me now!" The next scene is of a insane person choosing the person his is going to kill by randomly picking that name out of a phone book. Guess who's name is picked?
So because of something that "just happens on a screen" we are all going to have to have our address made unlisted in the next ten years.
(Mark my word, this is one of these things that I think, and I wish I wrote down later when it becomes true. In a leser example when I first saw the original Britney Spears video with her dressed up as a Catholic schoolgirl, I said to myself In two years they are going to have a music video where two girls dressed up in Catholic schoolgirl uniforms are kissing. A few years later we have to Tatu video where *gasp* two girls dressed up in Catholic schoolgirl uniforms kissing. With the world as unoriginal as it is I see this kind of shit before it happens all the time. I gotta start writing it all down.)
B. This sort of behavior bleeds into the real world.
I know most people feel that society in general has alot of assholes and we just see them more clearly online. But I think that if a younger person reads obscene stuff all day and watches videos were everyone swears for hours at a time, how can that NOT be reflected when they stop using the computer and wander into the real world? It's not that people are assholes. It's that people will become as ammoral as society lets them be. We have this myth that people are "nice". The reality is that most people simply do what society tells them they can or can't do. If the internet lets them do anything then they will do anything.
If a totally free internet would really provide anything useful (except for those who are on society's fringe of course, I mean look what the internet has done for the furry and japanese snuff porn industry, they are thriving!) I would be for it. But it seems like it just breeds antisocial behavior with no penalities.
A 44 year old woman made a fake myspace account so she could harass a 13 year old. She made up a fake boy's identity to get close to the girl and eventually started saying stuff like the world would be better off without the girl. The girl killed herself.
The 13 year old had "low self-esteem and was on medication at the time of her death".
There is no law on the book to charge the 44 year old woman with anything. It would be tough to do so I suppose but it sucks that some grown person can drive a medicated 13 year old to her death and have no consequences at all.
As the internet gets wider and wider use I wish we would start getting tougher laws on the books.
The reason why we don't have "griefers" in real life constantly insulting EVERYONE and giving everyone shit is because we have laws and police and the right to protect ourselves.
But people harp how the internet is "just on a computer screen" and how it doesn't really matter because everything is anonymous.
My points:
A. In this story we know that's not true.
An asshole who swears and uses racist stuff and posts obscene pictures on the internet can generally be waved off since most of this stuff can be ignored or erased. However, with the web becoming more entwined with out daily lives I think this sort of shit will become harder to ignore and closer to our daily offline lives. For example most people don't know that if somone knows your last name and general area you live in they can use many free reference tools online to tract your physical home address and phone number. It's easy to ignore someone sending you a picture of feces. It's harder when people start to actually mail pieces of it to your home (or a letter bomb, because some people are over achievers when it comes to being a dick).
Of course you can take all that information off the books...but this has never been an issue in the past. I am reminded of the scene in "The Jerk" were Steve Martin's character is excited that he got into the phone book. "Things are gonna start to happen for me now!" The next scene is of a insane person choosing the person his is going to kill by randomly picking that name out of a phone book. Guess who's name is picked?
So because of something that "just happens on a screen" we are all going to have to have our address made unlisted in the next ten years.
(Mark my word, this is one of these things that I think, and I wish I wrote down later when it becomes true. In a leser example when I first saw the original Britney Spears video with her dressed up as a Catholic schoolgirl, I said to myself In two years they are going to have a music video where two girls dressed up in Catholic schoolgirl uniforms are kissing. A few years later we have to Tatu video where *gasp* two girls dressed up in Catholic schoolgirl uniforms kissing. With the world as unoriginal as it is I see this kind of shit before it happens all the time. I gotta start writing it all down.)
B. This sort of behavior bleeds into the real world.
I know most people feel that society in general has alot of assholes and we just see them more clearly online. But I think that if a younger person reads obscene stuff all day and watches videos were everyone swears for hours at a time, how can that NOT be reflected when they stop using the computer and wander into the real world? It's not that people are assholes. It's that people will become as ammoral as society lets them be. We have this myth that people are "nice". The reality is that most people simply do what society tells them they can or can't do. If the internet lets them do anything then they will do anything.
If a totally free internet would really provide anything useful (except for those who are on society's fringe of course, I mean look what the internet has done for the furry and japanese snuff porn industry, they are thriving!) I would be for it. But it seems like it just breeds antisocial behavior with no penalities.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Some cool stuff.
Check out the Saturn Junkyard to hear about how I scored some sweet Saturn games at a thrift shop.
Check out the Dreamcast Junkyard to hear about a new Dreamcast contest thats going on.
Ah..
So tired.
Other Stuff:
I still gotta get my medical insurance stuff done by the middle of Dec.
Still trying to get a better full time job.
I want to make some new review videos.
Check out the Dreamcast Junkyard to hear about a new Dreamcast contest thats going on.
Ah..
So tired.
Other Stuff:
I still gotta get my medical insurance stuff done by the middle of Dec.
Still trying to get a better full time job.
I want to make some new review videos.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Bioshock and Orange Box on sale at Best Buy...$25 each!
I can't play either of these games because the require internet access to install...
BIOSHOCK IS A SINGLE PLAYER GAME!!!!!
Jerks are gonna find a way to copy the game regardless.
I guess nobody cares about gamers like me who cannot get internet access.
In any case if you are luck enough to have the Internets you might want to brave the crowds and pick these up.
-Caleb
BIOSHOCK IS A SINGLE PLAYER GAME!!!!!
Jerks are gonna find a way to copy the game regardless.
I guess nobody cares about gamers like me who cannot get internet access.
In any case if you are luck enough to have the Internets you might want to brave the crowds and pick these up.
-Caleb
Thursday, November 22, 2007
SMS video
Wow. Talk about showing the cool games that were on the Master System.
I can't believe most of the younger gamers I have met think that the NES was better.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
November Video game Haul
Nice haul of cheap stuff this november.
First off Thrift Store:
I got a NICE cord switcher setup that allows you to hook up two computers to the same speakers and monitor. I am going to set my Dreamcast up to this so I can switch between my computer and my Dreamcast with the press of a Button. Just an ease of use thing I guess. It's nice not to have to keep unplugging the damn monitor.
Plus I got
Far Cry
Unreal T. 2004
Splinter Cell 2
Soldier of Fortune
Devestation
ALL for $5. When you consider FAR CRY in that lot it might be one of the best deals ever. I have always wanted a copy. All these games are MINT too. Splinter cell still had the 39.99 pricer sticker on it.
Syracuse Flea market was mostly a big bust.
I got really beat up copies of 3 Dreamcast racing games. I have no idea if they work. MSR, Susuki and Speed Devils. Found thrown in with a bunch of music CDs $1.
-Lemmings 3d and a mint ninja/cowboy western game for the PS1 $5
-an original release of Kingdom Hearts 2 for $8.
-Karnof and Ninja Kid for the NES $5
- a Super Game boy player and Spawn for the SNES $5
-Shinobi 3 for the Genesis $2
-Strategy guides for Paper Mario and Perfect Dark. $1
-A manual for Octaria of time. $.50
At the shady games store I got:
Astral, Tomb Raider and Clockwork Knight for the Saturn
A the decent Game Craze local chain I got:
KISS for the Dreamcast $.99
Charge and Blast for the Dreamcast $.99
Tomb Raider for the Saturn (no Case) $.99
Tekken Tag Team for the PS2 $2
Overall not a bad haul. I was glad I was able to get some Dreamcast and Saturn stuff.
I am dissapointed in Syracuse though. I *might* go back to the flea market but it seems like the sellers don't have much stuff and are trying to get too much money for most of it.
First off Thrift Store:
I got a NICE cord switcher setup that allows you to hook up two computers to the same speakers and monitor. I am going to set my Dreamcast up to this so I can switch between my computer and my Dreamcast with the press of a Button. Just an ease of use thing I guess. It's nice not to have to keep unplugging the damn monitor.
Plus I got
Far Cry
Unreal T. 2004
Splinter Cell 2
Soldier of Fortune
Devestation
ALL for $5. When you consider FAR CRY in that lot it might be one of the best deals ever. I have always wanted a copy. All these games are MINT too. Splinter cell still had the 39.99 pricer sticker on it.
Syracuse Flea market was mostly a big bust.
I got really beat up copies of 3 Dreamcast racing games. I have no idea if they work. MSR, Susuki and Speed Devils. Found thrown in with a bunch of music CDs $1.
-Lemmings 3d and a mint ninja/cowboy western game for the PS1 $5
-an original release of Kingdom Hearts 2 for $8.
-Karnof and Ninja Kid for the NES $5
- a Super Game boy player and Spawn for the SNES $5
-Shinobi 3 for the Genesis $2
-Strategy guides for Paper Mario and Perfect Dark. $1
-A manual for Octaria of time. $.50
At the shady games store I got:
Astral, Tomb Raider and Clockwork Knight for the Saturn
A the decent Game Craze local chain I got:
KISS for the Dreamcast $.99
Charge and Blast for the Dreamcast $.99
Tomb Raider for the Saturn (no Case) $.99
Tekken Tag Team for the PS2 $2
Overall not a bad haul. I was glad I was able to get some Dreamcast and Saturn stuff.
I am dissapointed in Syracuse though. I *might* go back to the flea market but it seems like the sellers don't have much stuff and are trying to get too much money for most of it.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
xkcd - A GREAT webcomic
Taking a break from the manic webcomics I normally enjoy I read some xkcd. It has alot of art and is very easy going.
Read the first 31 comics. There is a simple, yet heartwarming gag that will make your day.
It made me smile and I work 55 hours a week (including drive time 72).
-Note to self. Find a better job where you can work only 40 hours a week.
Syracuse, or as we like to call it "Stab City".
Some guy got beat up for his PSP right outside where I work part time.
http://kotaku.com/gaming/crime/psp-owner-to-assailants-dudes-get-your-own-ow-322875.php
http://blog.syracuse.com/news/2007/11/teens_charged_in_downtown_beat.html
This was INSIDE a huge building with security guards and cameras and stuff.
The petty criminals in Central NY must be trying to compete for the "most violent" and "most ignorant" awards this year.
Though to be fair you don't flash around a $150 gaming device in the middle of downtown.
...at least with my full time job I ain't gotta deal with people at all.
This is the sort of area the Gameboy color is for friends...
http://kotaku.com/gaming/crime/psp-owner-to-assailants-dudes-get-your-own-ow-322875.php
http://blog.syracuse.com/news/2007/11/teens_charged_in_downtown_beat.html
This was INSIDE a huge building with security guards and cameras and stuff.
The petty criminals in Central NY must be trying to compete for the "most violent" and "most ignorant" awards this year.
Though to be fair you don't flash around a $150 gaming device in the middle of downtown.
...at least with my full time job I ain't gotta deal with people at all.
This is the sort of area the Gameboy color is for friends...
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
UC Berkeley Marching Band does video games.
This is some SICK Marching Band goodness.
I can't believe they did this. I guess there still are band geeks.
I can't believe they did this. I guess there still are band geeks.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
I got some serious Sega Retro time in this weekend.
I played a crap copy of "Sol Feace" for the Sega CD that I was sure was not going to work. And it did! It was really beat up.
That was pretty cool.
Then I played some Final Fight CD and some Sonic CD. I think the only good Sega CD game I don't have is Snatcher.
I got my Saturn out and played some "Nights". I got my copy from a thrift charity store. It was still inside a Sega Saturn Version 2. (It pays to check used consoles for games. Chances are someone was playing a good game before they got rid of the system.)
With no manual I had no idea how to play. I do have the right controller since I got like 3 in the bundle of stuff I got in Buffalo 3 years ago. I still had fun playing it even though I had no idea what the hell I was doing. Getting told "Good Job" by the game and having tons of colors is pretty cool.
I gotta check to see if my copy of Virtual On is Netlink compatible.
Whoot!
I played a crap copy of "Sol Feace" for the Sega CD that I was sure was not going to work. And it did! It was really beat up.
That was pretty cool.
Then I played some Final Fight CD and some Sonic CD. I think the only good Sega CD game I don't have is Snatcher.
I got my Saturn out and played some "Nights". I got my copy from a thrift charity store. It was still inside a Sega Saturn Version 2. (It pays to check used consoles for games. Chances are someone was playing a good game before they got rid of the system.)
With no manual I had no idea how to play. I do have the right controller since I got like 3 in the bundle of stuff I got in Buffalo 3 years ago. I still had fun playing it even though I had no idea what the hell I was doing. Getting told "Good Job" by the game and having tons of colors is pretty cool.
I gotta check to see if my copy of Virtual On is Netlink compatible.
Whoot!
Friday, November 09, 2007
What makes comedy good?
NPR did a great radio show yesterday were they talked about joke stealing in comedy.
They also hit on alot of the points that I feel are getting important in the entertainment industry.
The gist of one of the conversations was this:
Most "hack" comedians make good money and audiences laugh at them. Other comedians don't really like them and feel their jokes are lame.
It's getting to be the same thing with web videos. The crap one which nobody seems to like and are unprofessional and steal ideas from SNL or other popular comedians seem to do well. They get a ton of hits.
In fact in television and films as well there is very little "new" and innovative stuff out there.
And even when new stuff does come out the producers seems to want to change it so much it isn't funny.
When "Stella" did their comedy show briefly on Comedy Central they have to conform to a weird "sitcom" style style that just didn't work well with their short form skills. I think this was done because Comedy Central wanted something that would appeal to a wider audience.
Has America and the world in general become so full of idiots that "Wider Audience Appeal" means dumbing down everything until there is nothing good on anymore?
I have experienced this first hand. During my college TV days there was a public showcase held so students who were interested in being a part of Student Television could find out how. One of the earlier meetings was how I found most of my cast and crew for my show.
During one of my later shows someone had produced another skit comedy show. They did a "Judge Judy" skit that was alot like the one SNL did before. In fact IT WAS THE SNL Skit. The same parody, the same lines, the same camera shots, everything was the same. However, since it was made for College TV it didn't look as good. It looked and sounded like crap. It was a watered down concept.
Yet most of the college students watching it laughed.
When my show aired it's promo NOBODY LAUGHED until about two minutes in. Then everyone started laughing. It was all original stuff that was "out there" in terms of comedy. People seemed to need to feel that it was "alright" to laugh before they could.
So does the current society feel like that they can only laugh at stuff if it's familiar? Have we all gotten so lazy that we can't challenge ourselves to figure out new comedy? My show wasn't all that great. But it was ALOT better than a watered-down Saturday Night Live skit that was already getting old at that time.
The comics on NPR seems to reach for the idea that this situation is getting better. The comedians who steal jokes and take the easy way out are starting to show it. The audience is VERY slowly becoming fed up with this re-hashed crap and want new stuff.
Maybe audiences are getting better. I hope so.
The sucess of the "Dave Chappelle Show" showed that Americans really enjoyed the simply pleasure of skit comedy with NO SET FORMAT.
Yet Comedy Central goes on to help create a show for Sarah Silverman that's based on the same failed Stella "Sitcom" format. She is playing one character. The concept is already getting boring despite the great efforts of costars like Brian Posehn and the Executive Producer, Rob Schrab. It's getting somewhat good reviews and numbers...But I can't help but think that this could be something better than another "sitcom" based situation comedy clusterfuck.
During the "Mr. Show" days Sarah Silverman and Brian Posehn able to play several types of characters and it was funny. Alot better than this current show.
But do the numbers lie?
Is this new comedy that seems to be doing well really all that better?
Will the general audience ever see it my way? Or are my tastes in skit comedy so wrong?
Maybe one day some TV producer will take another chance and we can see another great skit comedy show come around and push all these sitcoms and reality shows into the garbage heap where they belong.
Maybe one day the general viewing audience will freaking grow a pair and start to appreciate innovative ideas.
They also hit on alot of the points that I feel are getting important in the entertainment industry.
The gist of one of the conversations was this:
Most "hack" comedians make good money and audiences laugh at them. Other comedians don't really like them and feel their jokes are lame.
It's getting to be the same thing with web videos. The crap one which nobody seems to like and are unprofessional and steal ideas from SNL or other popular comedians seem to do well. They get a ton of hits.
In fact in television and films as well there is very little "new" and innovative stuff out there.
And even when new stuff does come out the producers seems to want to change it so much it isn't funny.
When "Stella" did their comedy show briefly on Comedy Central they have to conform to a weird "sitcom" style style that just didn't work well with their short form skills. I think this was done because Comedy Central wanted something that would appeal to a wider audience.
Has America and the world in general become so full of idiots that "Wider Audience Appeal" means dumbing down everything until there is nothing good on anymore?
I have experienced this first hand. During my college TV days there was a public showcase held so students who were interested in being a part of Student Television could find out how. One of the earlier meetings was how I found most of my cast and crew for my show.
During one of my later shows someone had produced another skit comedy show. They did a "Judge Judy" skit that was alot like the one SNL did before. In fact IT WAS THE SNL Skit. The same parody, the same lines, the same camera shots, everything was the same. However, since it was made for College TV it didn't look as good. It looked and sounded like crap. It was a watered down concept.
Yet most of the college students watching it laughed.
When my show aired it's promo NOBODY LAUGHED until about two minutes in. Then everyone started laughing. It was all original stuff that was "out there" in terms of comedy. People seemed to need to feel that it was "alright" to laugh before they could.
So does the current society feel like that they can only laugh at stuff if it's familiar? Have we all gotten so lazy that we can't challenge ourselves to figure out new comedy? My show wasn't all that great. But it was ALOT better than a watered-down Saturday Night Live skit that was already getting old at that time.
The comics on NPR seems to reach for the idea that this situation is getting better. The comedians who steal jokes and take the easy way out are starting to show it. The audience is VERY slowly becoming fed up with this re-hashed crap and want new stuff.
Maybe audiences are getting better. I hope so.
The sucess of the "Dave Chappelle Show" showed that Americans really enjoyed the simply pleasure of skit comedy with NO SET FORMAT.
Yet Comedy Central goes on to help create a show for Sarah Silverman that's based on the same failed Stella "Sitcom" format. She is playing one character. The concept is already getting boring despite the great efforts of costars like Brian Posehn and the Executive Producer, Rob Schrab. It's getting somewhat good reviews and numbers...But I can't help but think that this could be something better than another "sitcom" based situation comedy clusterfuck.
During the "Mr. Show" days Sarah Silverman and Brian Posehn able to play several types of characters and it was funny. Alot better than this current show.
But do the numbers lie?
Is this new comedy that seems to be doing well really all that better?
Will the general audience ever see it my way? Or are my tastes in skit comedy so wrong?
Maybe one day some TV producer will take another chance and we can see another great skit comedy show come around and push all these sitcoms and reality shows into the garbage heap where they belong.
Maybe one day the general viewing audience will freaking grow a pair and start to appreciate innovative ideas.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Yet another thift store score.
This is from awhile back. I have not bought any games recently since I am trying to save money.
For $17 I got a bag filled with video games.
INCLUDED:
Kung Fu for the NES in box
A Bugs Bunny game for the NES in box
Double Dragon 2 for NES
Operation Wolf for the NES
Zelda for the SNES
Super Punch out for the SNES
Contra 3 for the SNES
DK Country 3 for the SNES
Ren and Stimpy in Box for the Genesis
Sword of the Vermillion for the Genesis in box.
Spiro the Dragon - year of the dragon PS
Rayman for the PS
There was also another Genesis game and two other NES games but I can't remember the names right now.
For $17 I got a bag filled with video games.
INCLUDED:
Kung Fu for the NES in box
A Bugs Bunny game for the NES in box
Double Dragon 2 for NES
Operation Wolf for the NES
Zelda for the SNES
Super Punch out for the SNES
Contra 3 for the SNES
DK Country 3 for the SNES
Ren and Stimpy in Box for the Genesis
Sword of the Vermillion for the Genesis in box.
Spiro the Dragon - year of the dragon PS
Rayman for the PS
There was also another Genesis game and two other NES games but I can't remember the names right now.
Monday, November 05, 2007
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Buy it and Patch it.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a game that has gotten some really bad flack from some gamers.
However, when I saw it in Target for $15.00 clearance I knew I had to try it out.
Number one, this is a PC game. So download the patch FIRST before paying it.
http://www.stalker-game.com/en/?page=patches
Alot of people complained about the bugs in this game. I suppose that console gamers can't spend TWO MINUTES to download the latest patch of a game before bitching and complaining that the game is broke. I suppose that simply putting a DVD in a tray and playing a game has really made some gamers lazy. And stupid.
It's a PC game.
You have to patch the game to get the best gameplay.
Live with it you mouth breathers!
And it's a kick ass game.
The free roaming gameplay is actually alot like the "Daggerfall" Elder Scrolls game. That means you can completely ignore the main "quest" for awhile and go do whatever the hell you want. Nice.
You can play in several different ways.
In the first scenario there is a vicious group of bandits that are holed up in a small group of buildings. They have heavily guarded the two main entrance points but left a themselves open on the sides.
My style to solve this little problem was this.
I snuck past the two sets of guards to inside one of the building were two bandits sat around a fire. I pulled out my knife and made with the stabby. One of the guards was holding a shotgun which I took.
Then I snuck away making little noise.
The Guards from the entrance all heard the commotion and ran up screaming Russian swear words. Seeing only two bodies they stood around scratching their heads wondering what the hell could have happened.
While they were all standing close together I ran up behind them and blasted away.
Now that situation in the game could have been solved a number of different ways.
I personally found mine to be the best but I like the idea that I could have played it in many different ways.
It's a great game and well worth the $15.
If there is a Target near you see if they have it in stock.
Retail places that put stuff on clearance are great.
That's why I hate Walmart. Compared to Target and Kmart they hardly ever put anything worth buying on clearance.
However, when I saw it in Target for $15.00 clearance I knew I had to try it out.
Number one, this is a PC game. So download the patch FIRST before paying it.
http://www.stalker-game.com/en/?page=patches
Alot of people complained about the bugs in this game. I suppose that console gamers can't spend TWO MINUTES to download the latest patch of a game before bitching and complaining that the game is broke. I suppose that simply putting a DVD in a tray and playing a game has really made some gamers lazy. And stupid.
It's a PC game.
You have to patch the game to get the best gameplay.
Live with it you mouth breathers!
And it's a kick ass game.
The free roaming gameplay is actually alot like the "Daggerfall" Elder Scrolls game. That means you can completely ignore the main "quest" for awhile and go do whatever the hell you want. Nice.
You can play in several different ways.
In the first scenario there is a vicious group of bandits that are holed up in a small group of buildings. They have heavily guarded the two main entrance points but left a themselves open on the sides.
My style to solve this little problem was this.
I snuck past the two sets of guards to inside one of the building were two bandits sat around a fire. I pulled out my knife and made with the stabby. One of the guards was holding a shotgun which I took.
Then I snuck away making little noise.
The Guards from the entrance all heard the commotion and ran up screaming Russian swear words. Seeing only two bodies they stood around scratching their heads wondering what the hell could have happened.
While they were all standing close together I ran up behind them and blasted away.
Now that situation in the game could have been solved a number of different ways.
I personally found mine to be the best but I like the idea that I could have played it in many different ways.
It's a great game and well worth the $15.
If there is a Target near you see if they have it in stock.
Retail places that put stuff on clearance are great.
That's why I hate Walmart. Compared to Target and Kmart they hardly ever put anything worth buying on clearance.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Burke drops his cellphone and gets the hell out of the ghost house.
ECW Wrestler Elijah Burke was on the Sci-Fi show "Ghost Hunters".
He was just acting to make the show alittle more entertaining.
I hope he gets some good press for this. It was pretty damn funny.
It's lame that "Ghost Hunters" never find any real evidence of ghosts.
He was just acting to make the show alittle more entertaining.
I hope he gets some good press for this. It was pretty damn funny.
It's lame that "Ghost Hunters" never find any real evidence of ghosts.
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