Read a story today on Wired about some of the trials Apple went through to make the iPhone happen. It isn’t a bad piece of writing, just not very deep. This might make an interesting book actually.
Link (Via Wired Magazine.)
Archive for the ‘Blogroll’ Category
The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry
January 10, 2008T-minus one (week)
January 9, 2008Having just finished Episode Two of the Half Life series (yes, welcome to last year) I feel confident enough to say “Um, what was so impressive about fighting the covenant combine towards the end?” Spoiler Alert: Driving around the last zone playing intergalactic dodge-ball against the striders felt less like Half Life and more like Halo. That isn’t necessarily a good thing however!
I will say that the ending was GOOD. The last minute of the game was better for the story, your emotions towards the characters, and desire to play Episode Three (coming in 2 years, they swear!) than any other game I’ve played. Only Portals beats it for the most satisfying ending in history.
There are now 168 hours left until Uni starts again. That’s alot of gaming I could be doing.
Shame I can’t think of anything I could actually beat in that time. Sure, I could probably get the 60 stars in Mario Galaxies, if I had the game. Andrew, in the unlikely chance you read this, F*&K you for letting me play it, now it haunts me.
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Currently playing in iTunes: Passenger 24 by Melissa McClelland
Witcher: First thoughts
January 7, 2008Given that the pile of shame is starting to dwindle, a search has been in full swing (read; between drinking Dr. Pepper and listening to GFW Radio Podcasts) to find a fun game to play. I had heard about The Witcher for awhile now, and the idea of a fantasy setting not using Dungeons & Dragons or Warcraft lore is a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately for you freebie-hounds the demo doesn’t work straight away. Blame Microsoft, however, as it’s a DirectX 9 issue. A simple reinstall of DirectX later and the demo was up and running.
How to start a demo must be very tricky for developers; you have 30 seconds to convince me my hour spent downloading wasn’t wasted. Atari did a good job by starting you out battling an onslaught of thieves, without having to watch painfully written movies. The combat system is interesting, but might drive you insane after a few gaming session. At least it’s different. My experience in the leveling system was cut short, but it looks very forbidding for even moderately skilled PC gamers. Since it’s an RPG, my worries may be well founded.
The story is distinctively non-american. In fact, Atari has had to lessen the sexual content of the game in order to avoid the dreaded AO rating by the ESRB. It was rather jarring to hear the leader of the “witchers” call the women mage “babe” repeatedly, I suppose I’m more sheltered than initially suspected. Also in the game, although I haven’t found it in the demo, is the option to share more intimate moments with various women in the game. Personally I don’t think it’s necessary to give me that option; figuring out the dialog trees allowing my digital representation to bed women isn’t my idea of fun.
The (former) form of discomfort
January 6, 2008My years spent in the philosophy office have given to a few highly esoteric jokes, the extremely (and downright) painful chair dubbed “The form of discomfort”, Bif our intrepid volleyball, and the painting of the territorial judge — watching over us as we sleep… (actually, that sounds kinda creepy). The chair, nay it was no simple chair. A illegal form of persuasion is more appropriate. It had a cousin residing in my home. My office chair was naval surplus. That or my father nicked it while still in the service.
That was over 20 years ago. It’s shown its age, the padding is missing from the arms, the seat is no longer attached to the frame, and to be absolutely frank it was the worst chair in my home. Yet I was doomed to use it, no other chair was tall enough for my desk (pesky keyboard!).
Until today! For I have defeated the power-generating dragons in the east to reach Salina, and escaped with a new chair, also an art-deco alarm clock, but that’s not for now. I shall be united with the rest of geek-dom with a proper chair.
Viva la Desk chair, viva la France, VIVA LA COQ A VIN!
Planet of the Parents
January 5, 2008Previous postings on chrisleiker.net lament a distinct lack of time to actually play the video games I love. For a geek who has so much idle time on his hands, it’s never long enough to actually enjoy epic gaming sessions!
Indeed, it seems I’m destined to play Bejeweled for the remainder of my days.
There does exist an alternative. Ready for it? It’s quite insane of a choice. The day should involve more writing, less gaming (and hopefully fewer guests). Since the idea has now been planted, yes Virginia that’s why I’m writing this post right now. While being in demographic of soccer mom and 40 something overworked dad (free hypodermic needle with every first born) I’m already doomed to their form of entertainment.
At least I won’t have to drink coffee.
Video Game suggestions for 08
January 4, 2008Since I’m going to finish Episode Two before school begins, I’m going to need something to de-stress once my classes reach their full swing.
The Necessary Requirements:
1. Short, or allows for quick play.
It’s important that I can play for as few as 30 minutes or up to 4 hours should I be so lucky. Despite being a short game, Portals required a weekend of on-and-off again playing, and the level design was perfect for people like me.
2. Not necessarily system intensive.
You wouldn’t think that a MacBook Pro that sold for $2,499 would have a hard time running contemporary games. Video cards are really important for the modern game, and the mac doesn’t have a recent enough card to make games scream. Games like Oblivion, year old games, run smoothly. Processor and Ram issues are practically non-existant.
3. NO MORE MMOs.
The idea of spending money per month for intermittent activities doesn’t appeal to me. It shouldn’t appeal to yourself either. For 15 dollars a month you can buy used games and nary a cent more.
“Day of Judgement”
January 3, 2008Apparently someone has a job that is more boring than my own. Not that checking in multitudes of potentially tired patrons is boring. That someone is Mr. Yahtzee of Zero Punctuation!™.
It seems even Australia has rednecks. Lots of them.
(Via Fully Ramblomatic.)
Post-Christmas detox
January 3, 2008It’s over.
The festivities have left most of America yearning for more Britney and Government related news. Personally the easiest way to shed the emotional baggage is to dive into my pile of shame and beat a few games before the realities of the world feel fit to intervene once again.
As the name may suggest, there are quite a few titles available for me, free of charge, to beat and feel good about playing. I’ve decided that the most recent purchase the Orange Box should be beaten, and work my way back.
(more…)
Impressive computer drawing by Bob Staake
January 3, 2008
Thanks to Boing Boing for posting about a Mr. Bob Staake, a children’s book illustrator who proves you don’t need Photoshop CS 3 and a super machine to create interesting artwork.
Link to Staake’s Website (Via Boing Boing (Via Drawn!.))
It would make drew Proud
January 3, 2008http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/16833
For some unknown reason, I cannot actually load it on my glorious website, but this video of Team Fortress 2 griefing is rather amusing. Makes me wanna go play it right now, actually. Pesky Work, mouse-less and hard drive-less… I spit on work!
now back to your regularly scheduled program.
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