game log

Zim & Zou's 'Paper Game'

2010-03-21T22:36:00.000+02:00

Artists Thibault Zimmerman and Lucie Thomas, also known as Zim & Zou have created this awesome paper craft recreation of a DMG Gameboy and called it Paper Game.

[Via http://whenthepixelsbreakthrough.wordpress.com]

House Health Care Vote Results: Latest News From Capitol Hill ...

Are you an Energy Hog?

2010-03-21T06:14:00.000+02:00

At school, we have been thinking a lot about energy, what it is, how we use it and ways we can save it.

I was surfing the net and came across this cool website called Energy Hog.

It is a game for kids to see if they can find the things that use lots of energy, and then find ways to use less.

You can find it at: http://www.energyhog.org/ or click the link here

Have fun!

[Via http://mrsparringtonlovesscience.wordpress.com]

Meebo update adds photo support | iLounge News

Fun House Mirror

2010-03-20T22:30:00.000+02:00

It grows, grows, grows,

The time stops, then flows,

The truth that nobody knows,

Is how it grows, grows, grows.

It hurts, hurts, hurts,

Danger no longer flirts,

They’re filled out now – her shirts,

And that hurts, hurts, hurts.

It numbs, numbs, numbs,

Endless pages she thumbs,

Only they make the heart drum,

‘Cause it’s numb, numb, numb.

It gets better, worse, the same,

While the wild impulses are tamed,

Moods shift as if in a game,

So it gets better, worse, the same.

[Via http://slightlyignorant.wordpress.com]

Exciting news! « Richard Wiseman's Blog

What the luck strike!

2010-03-20T14:49:00.000+02:00

This morning the unthinkable happened….

Yes, it’s true! It’s real! I was given a Starcraft 2 beta key! (Yes, I actually took a screenshot after entering the key.)

What an eventful weekend so far! Some amazing Final Fantasy last night (Check my previous post!) and tonight, hopefully, some just as amazing Starcraft 2! I am terribly rusty at RTS games. I’ve come to accept that I will lose, alot, at the start. The last real RTS I played was Warcraft 3 ( HoN doesn’t really count as a RTS, it’s something else entirely. ) Nevertheless, I am quite excited about getting the key and getting the chance to participate in the beta. Thanks again for the key, you, person that gave it to me!

Hopefully I can get a few games in over this long weekend. (Monday is a public holiday in South Africa!) The local SC2 scene seems to be bustling with activity and it’s going to be great fun playing with some familiar players. (2v2 let’s go!)

I will do follow-up posts about my experiences in the SC2 beta when I’ve actually managed to get a few games under the belt. Watch this space!

[Via http://mitarn.wordpress.com]

iPhone app sites charging for reviews | iLounge News

Knuckle Popping Game - Bizarre Flash Games

2010-03-20T06:15:00.000+02:00

URL : http://www.flashgame-girl.com/Bizarre-Horror/Knuckle-Popping-Game.html

Game description :

Its a sad fact of life that knuckle popping is not a skill enjoyed by everyone, so our knuckle popping game will keep you up with everyone else. But if you want to go knuckle popping for real, here’s how to do it. Firstly, clench your hands so they interlock then suddenly straighten your fingers and push slightly into each knuckle. That push should generate an immediate crack. Wait. Once you have popped your knuckles, it will take some time for the gas bubbles to redissolve into the synovial fluid. This prevents you from cracking them again right away. After you play this knuckle popping game, why not check out and play our other free weird online games?

Game controls :

Play games with the mouse

[Via http://liwenfeng3.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: Google, Google China, Ford, Toyota, Lloyds ...

CRP Acres To Benefit Bobwhite Quail and Other Upland Birds

2010-03-18T22:38:00.000+02:00

This is a joint news release from the DNR and the USDA.

IOWA RECEIVES AN ADDITIONAL 10,500 CRP ACRES TO BENEFIT BOBWHITE QUAIL AND OTHER UPLAND BIRDS

MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, contact Vickie Friedow, FSA, at (515) 254-1540 ext 440; Todd Bogenschutz, DNR, at (515) 432-2823; or Mark Lindflott , NRCS, at (515) 284-4370.

DES MOINES – Iowa producers can enroll up to 10,500 additional acres of cropland into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to benefit upland game birds and other small birds.

“The program is designed to provide much needed habitat and brood rearing areas for quail, pheasant and songbirds in the state,” said Todd Bogenschutz, a wildlife biologist with the DNR. “At the same time, set aside programs protect the most vulnerable land from soil erosion and improve water quality for everyone.”

The additional acres were announced by the U.S.D.A. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at the national Pheasant Fest in March. Producers can sign up at any time at their local U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency. However, the sign up is “first-come, first-served,” according to Vickie Friedow, of the Farm Service Agency’s conservation and compliance department. “With a limited number of acres available, I would encourage anyone who is interested to contact their local U.S.D.A. office as soon as possible” she added.

Eligible areas include cropland and cropland around the edges of existing grain fields. The average width of the enrolled area must be between 30 and 120 feet wide. At least half of the field must be in crops. To be eligible, the land must have been cropped or considered cropped for four of the six years from 1996 to 2001.

Producers will not be able to enroll land that is used for turn rows, roads, or for storage of crops or equipment. In addition, cropland adjacent to a stream filter or buffer strip is not eligible.

Annual payments will be based on the average rental rates for the county. A combination of cost-share and incentive programs will pay up to 90 percent of the cost of establishing the field border. A sign-up bonus of $100 per acre is available. Contracts run for 10 years. Enrolled areas must be seeded to a combination of native plants including at least four grass species and a combination of at least five wildflowers and legumes.

For technical assistance, landowners can contact their local U.S.D.A. Service Center (http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ia/) or their local DNR or Pheasants Forever private lands biologists (http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/privatelands/index.html).

Producers can contact their local U.S.D.A. Office for more information

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

[Via http://ionxchange.wordpress.com]

Bad News: Android 2.1 update for the Motorola Droid has been delayed

Blank or Blank: a Concordancer Game

2010-03-18T14:02:00.000+02:00

This is a 10-minute demo of a web-based game I’ve been thinking about. At its heart, it is a concordancer, but the game is also a repeatable, user-directed tool that could be used to study many interesting linguistic structures. It could be used in any language and in other, non-linguistic disciplines. I’ve also incorporated crowdsourcing and social networking to make it more useful and more fun. And it’s so simple, it just might work.

Don’t believe me? Too good to be true? Perhaps. Watch the demo and decide for yourself. Then, share your reaction in the comments.

[Via http://esltech.wordpress.com]

Ian Masters: Doing Bad Things with Good News - Robert Young Pelton ...

Resolusi XP dan Vista (Missing msvbvm50.dll)

2010-03-16T22:22:00.000+02:00

Game yang kita install pada windows XP terkadang tidak bisa kita install di windows Vista, ini sering terjadi pada Game Flash (game kategori ringan) , karena biasanya game ini tidak membawa ekstensi file lain yang bisa mendukung game tersebut untuk di run, sehingga saat run program sering memunculkan ” error missing msvbvm50.dll “. ini disebabkan karena resolusi pada windows XP dan windows Vista yang berbeda, dan dalam game tersebut tidak ada yang mengontrol untuk masalah ini.

Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut anda bisa mendownload msvbvm50.dll di sini

Anda extract file tersebut, hasil extract copy ke C:\Windows\System32. setelah itu restart komputer anda, lalu bermain game dengan tanpa kendala lagi.

note : Jangan extract langsung ke C:\Windows\System32. karena settingan default vista tidak mengizinkan extract file pada drive C . Khususnya pada folder Windows.

[Via http://rasamautau.wordpress.com]

Bungie trademarks Marathon name News | Xbox 360 | Eurogamer

Red Love

2010-03-16T14:38:00.000+02:00

I get no love for my Danger Close Pro

Noob tubes all day, it’s an all day show

I use that Lightweight, got my running shoes on

Put that knife in your back, and again when you respawn

My blood is so cold, oh you think you can find me?

Man I’m so Cold-Blooded, you’re walking around blindly

Stopping Power so strong, I drop you in no time

2 kills, UAV, rockin’ that Hardline.

[Via http://harrishudson.wordpress.com]

Chicken Cells Have Strong Sense Of Sexual Identity - Science News

Club Penguin Game: Puffle Rescue Sneak Peek

2010-03-14T22:40:00.000+02:00

Hey Penguins! Flamster3000 here! The Puffle Rescue game will be released tomorrow on Monday March 15th! Billybob has given us several sneak peeks of what the new game will be like.

Here is the image:

What do you think?

In other news, the Penguin Play Awards will be coming very soon. They will be coming on Thursday!

Flamster3000, snowdobby.com

[Via http://snowdobby.com]

Wii's Hanabi Festival starts today News | Wii | Eurogamer

SN Game House A-Z & 0-9

2010-03-14T14:42:00.000+02:00

A

0-9

10 Talismans

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: T8G8VFSMGPMAJAD

7 Wonders

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : DQX9WE69MLMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : 7Wonders

Licence Code : CDJEQRHMVMMVDDS

7 wonders II

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: QRJNBCXS97MAJAD

A

Abundante!

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: QXVVV9CYFEMAJAD

Acropolis

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: MKMABNHFPGMAJAD

Academy of Magic

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : DEWWCNRDDSMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : AcademyofMagic

Licence Code : BYXCLMLF9SFBCNA

Adventure Ball

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : QFVTAMFWLYMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : AdventureBall

Licence Code : BNJP6DEDXJFDNMN

Adventure Inlay

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : PHWLGNBQMAMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : AdventureInlay

Licence Code : DD76BGJWQRMDVAB

Adventure Inlay – Safari Edition

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : YMCCXKEPEEMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : AdventurInlaySafari

Licence Code : RVDCWHTSWYJAMNJ

Air strike 3D

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: DYKEGHX8YBMAJAD

Alice Greenfingers

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: BNDY7NSVQEMAJAD

Alien Sky

Licence Name : SerialKeyz

Licence Code : PJBAY7ATDQMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : AlienSky

Licence Code : WLH66PW9N9FSJJJ

Aloha solitaire

icence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: JJDWWFKYQ6MAJAD

Aloha TriPeaks

Licence Name : SerialKeyz

Licence Code : E86ECNEWGWMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : AlohaTriPeaks

Licence Code : X8RYRBG8CVFACNF

Amazing Adventures the Lost Tomb

License name: Pikachu

License code: 8YQESPYPYVMAJAD

Ancient Tri Jong

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code; J7LVSECGVTMAJAD

Ancient Tripeaks

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: EAM7C6YNC7MAJAD

Or

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : 9MSFJX8Q8MMNFNA

Ancient Tripeaks 2

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: ASYPPJ9ANTMAJAD

Air strike 3D

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: DYKEGHX8YBMAJAD

Astrobatics

Licence Name : SerialKeyz

Licence Code : LFRR6NBGJ8MNFNA

Or

Licence Name : Astrobatics

Licence Code : DLJPJPNPKSFMAMJ

Atlantis Quest

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: VWLDEY9KCEMAJAD

Atomaders

Licence Name : SerialKeyz

Licence Code : J87GTW6WNPMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : Atomaders

Licence Code : KMQDXQSHRPFMDMV

Atlantis Quest

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: VWLDEY9KCEMAJAD

Aqua Park

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: SFAR67M8NJMAJAD

Aztec Ball

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: LFPYDWPQGMMAJAD

B

B

Babel Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 789WWXKPADMAJAD

Bejeweled 2

Licence Name : SerialKeyz

Licence Code : Q69N8SYAVSMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : Bejeweled2

Licence Code : P8W7GKHRWSFDFVN

Belle ’s Beauty Boutique

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: LL7XTH7MDAMAJAD

Bewitched

Licence Name : SerialKeyz

Licence Code : EVG9DHQXNVMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : Bewitched

Licence Code : XKGQCATH6WFSVJM

Big City Adventure San Francisco

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: MP6BBV9VFPMAJAD

Big Island Blends

Licence Name: John Kosinsky

Licence Code: KL8QC-FNAER-MDAMV

Big Kahuna Reef

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : VH7CJSLNENMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : BigKahunaReef

Licence Code : JS9EAT7P78FSVAC

Big Kahuna Words

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: HKG7ST9NLTMAJAD

Bonnie’s Bookstore Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: A8JQXGSWWGMAJAD

Bookworm Adventures Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: S9R7QLNBPVMAJAD

Bookworm Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: CPBJ7MAT9DMAJAD

Bounce Out Blitz!

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : 6EXPWQHFJTMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : BounceOutBlitz

Licence Code : HPDMGTTMDDMFMMB

Bricks of Atlantis

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: RBNXXEMJWYMAJAD

Build-a-lot

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: ESFHQDVBQMMAJAD

Bunny Bounce Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: FGW99H6HGYMAJAD

Burger Island

Licence Name: Alan Barker

Licence Code: NYBSY-KTMMG-FSSAN

Burger Rush

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : SXKHTH7YSPMNFNA

Or

Licence Name : BurgerRush

Licence Code : HRNCEK9DMVFJMJV

C

Cafe Mahjongg

License name: Jed Stephen

License code: FLN69-SFEYH-MCCCS

Cake Mania

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: BNRWPRGYGVMAJAD

Cake Mania 2

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: JYCTHTQ9QJMAJAD

Cannon Blast

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: BE8PTJKNVTMAJAD

Captain Bubble Beard ’s Treasure

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: DJCM9CMPELMAJAD

Caramba Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: VQSANFJWQ8MAJAD

Caribbean MahJong

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: TSGLN7RCHJMAJAD

Casino Island To Go

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : GFFQJX68Q7MNFNA

Chainz

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : MTJHEEAEWWMNFNA

Chainz 2 Relinked

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : QP6LBPTV6QMNFNA

Chameleon Gems

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: HJCNBKAGB7MAJAD

Charm Solitaire

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : QQG89H7CXSMNFNA

Charm Tale

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : SQYBLXPFF9MNFNA

Charma

Licence Name : Pikachu

Licence Code : PJA8HM69BRMAJAD

Chicktionary

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: BW6K7D88KGMAJAD

Chocolatier

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: GWF7R8NLXCMAJAD

Chuzzle Deluxe

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : XKMT8ABWHDMNFNA

Collapse! Crunch

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : AAKTMDFTTBMNFNA

Combo Chaos!

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: XM6QWYA97AMAJAD

Cosmic Bugs

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : AWRBHSRKLCMNFNA

Cosmic Stacker

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licenec Code: Y9QQBH9NQEMAJAD

Cradle of Rome

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: E6XR6DXHEKMAJAD

Cradle of Persia (New Game Release)

License name: Pikachu

License code: J6TFT6AHQ6MAJAD

Crystal Path

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : XKGVCRM7GBMNFNA

Cubis Gold 2

Licence Name : SerialFree

Licence Code : RLVDQ8P6LPMNFNA

D

Da Vinci ’s Secret

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: WA8BHWMSYLMAJAD

Delicious Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: TV9CKRTKNBMAJAD

Delicious 2 deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: P7SQYDLGDBMAJAD

Diamond Detective

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: AL7ES9FSAYMAJAD

Digby’s Donuts

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: EVLQHY9NXVMNFNA

Diner Dash

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: KV8AJ6DLXYMNFNA

Diner Dash 2

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: CLHTVHTECJMAJAD

Diner dash Flo on The Go

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: NJJH9TP9JEMAJAD

Diner Dash Hometown Hero

License name: Pikachu

License code: XMFKT7PKTYMAJAD

Dream chronicles

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: XDAH6TT8NPMAJAD

E

Emerald tale

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: CFB6MTYDLWMAJAD

F

Fab Fashion

License name: Pikachu

License code: 6H76XCRJ87MAJAD

Fairy Godmother Tycoon

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: N6JQ9VBNQLMAJAD

Fairy Treasure

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: KQFRW8MCK9MAJAD

Family Feud

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: HYHHTGQ898MAJAD

Feeding Frenzy

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: 786V7PNR8VMNFNA

Feeding Frenzy 2

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: FG9JQWCWA8MAJAD

Fiber twig

Licence Name: Jeff Heath

Licence COde: GHGAR-MJGYE-FFVBN

Five Card Deluxe

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: 9AKJV7PBYQMNFNA

Flip or flop Home Edition

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: YA9JVBFJNMMAJAD

Flip Words

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: RSJLVAXYM7MNFNA

Flower Shop: Big City Break

Licence name: Pikachu

Licence code: JVKV7LDQ8JMAJAD

Flying Leo

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: VSSNQ6PEQPMNFNA

Fortune Tiles Gold

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: XHGRYWHW6JMNFNA

Fresco Wizard

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: Q9YQ7NATMDMNFNA

Funkiball Adventure

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: RKBVE8KQPAMNFNA

G

G.H.O.S.T Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 6SRD89GKKKMAJAD

Froggy Castle 2 Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 9Y8CBTAM6LMAJAD

Gamehouse Sudoku

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: FM7JADDQ7LMAJAD

Garden Dreams

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: CKFFPDCJEJMAJAD

Gearz

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: L7QRWHPTDHMNFNA

Gem shop

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: Q7AAASAND6MNFNA

Gemsweeper

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: E6L6QCW8PKMAJAD

Glyph

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: FHSC6WGFAXMAJAD

Granny In Paradise

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: LLK6LHFPQAMNFNA

Gutterball

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 7KHTMAH9RTMAJAD

Gutterball 2

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: SF8B7VYNWYMNFNA

H

Hammer Heads Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: J6TLBLA9CMMAJAD

Hamsterball

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: 8D9DG6EW6XMNFNA

Heroes of Hellas

License name: Pikachu

License code: 9VAC8GGPNVMAJAD

Hide & Secret

Licence Name: Philip Kessel

Licence Code: QAT9A-CTDXL-MAMNM

Hotel solitaire deluxe

licence name: Pikachu

licence code: VVE98SNTD7MAJAD

Holiday Express

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: WT9AP97WMSMNFNA

Hotel mahjong deluxe

License name: Pikachu

License code: LTPLPJKNV9MAJAD

I

Iggle Pop

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: RDARHKDVHTMNFNA

Incredible Ink

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: MN9WDD66MXMNFNA

In spheration

licence name: Pikachu

licence code: W8G8LS9VMXMAJAD

Infinite Crossword

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: QVQ7QVEQHAMNFNA

Insaniquarium Deluxe

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: AVRP6898KDMNFNA

Interpol The trail of Dr. Chaos

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 6DGSCRMXKPMAJAD

Invadazoid

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: 76PHLNX9JTMNFNA

J

Jane ’s hotel

License name: Pikachu

License code: WF8MEBAHP6MAJAD

Jeopardy! 2

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: CQH8MTJHEMMAJAD

Jewel Match

Licence Name : Pikachu

Licence Code: JYFLHJNDSEMAJAD

Jewel of Atlantis

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 8X8DYAYAMJMAJAD

Jewel Quest

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: CKBWP7XYCGMNFNA

Jewel Quest 2

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence COde: ETEVYTBBJ9MAJAD

Jewel quest solitaire II

License name: Pikachu

License code: F6BJVVGQBEMAJAD

Jewels of Cleopatra

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 86PWAAXPPQMAJAD

Jungo

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: MFTBXX6FKSMAJAD

Jurassic Realm

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: SNCJCPPCSRMAJAD

K

Karu

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: JYCFXQHQHAMNFNA

Koi solitaire

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: N7ASLMP7MYMAJAD

L

Legend of Aladdin

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: LLB6HRRYEKMAJAD

Lego Chic Boutique

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code:SQ9SPMEJQ7MAJAD

Lifetime RSVP

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: KF7YMQNA6EMAJAD

Liong The dragon dance

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: AMYWAXKJVTMAJAD

Little shop of treasures

License name: Katharyn Styre

License code: PTGL8-ECJGJ-MCAFJ

Little shop of treasures 2

License name: John Kosinsky

License code: MXXDT-JEJPQ-MDAMV

LucyQ Deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: MSQRLRBLYFMAJAD

Luxor

Licenec Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: GH7KJCDFBGMAJAD

Luxor 2

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: 8LJ7H6L6BFMAJAD

Luxor 3

License name: Pikachu

License code: WYHDXJLHCYMAJAD

Luxor MahJong

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: AGB9GDGY7DMAJAD

Luxor Amun Rising

Licence Name: SerialFree

Licence Code: HGY7MCCAAHMNFNA

M

Maui wowee

licence name: Pikachu

licence code: YJ7PSEARJKMAJAD

Mariposa

licence name: Pikachu

licenec code: FEC7VMBNYTMAJAD

Magic academy

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence code: C89JDFFMWJMAJAD

Magic ball 3

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence code: VMMFRGCQGBMAJAD

Mahjongg artifacts

licenec name: Pikachu

licence code: EJDXGTGFJ8MAJAD

Mahjongg artifacts 2

License name: Pikachu

License code: 7C6C6LLGSVMAJAD

Mahjongg investigations: Under Suspecion

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence Code: GNNHLJBQNVMAJAD

Mahjong tales Ancient wisdom

Licence name: Pikachu

Licence code: 6CRLAB9CKGMAJAD

Mah jong adventures

licence name: Pikachu

licence code: RAGLHCSN7FMAJAD

Mahjong fortuna 2 deluxe

licence name: Pikachu

licence code: GAJHFCFTALMAJAD

Mind medley

License name: Paul Zucker

License code: S8ABE-HMQRY-MACJF

Mirror magic deluxe

Licence Name: Pikachu

Licence code: CVR76MAVRDMAJAD

Monopoly classic

License name: Christoph Lee

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Richmond LIVE On Twitter: Local News, Sports, People

The Next Shiny Thing (part 2)

2010-03-14T06:54:00.000+02:00

I got Final Fantasy XIII for Xbox 360 earlier this week, and I’m afraid it’s been commanding all my game-playing time. I’m also afraid that, so far, the entire game has been one giant string of cutscenes, with the occasional player-controlled fight or locomotive section thrown in to keep your attention. You don’t really feel like it’s you accomplishing anything, though. All you do is move your character along a line from one place to another, or dispatch some enemies in a decidedly more clumsy way than they could probably do on their own, and then you get another cutscene. And when I say linear path, I mean linear path. They’re so narrow you could spit and hit the wall. They’re also deceptively rendered. At several points while I was “exploring” I thought I found a side passage, only to run into an invisible wall. The ground clearly continued along the same plane I was on, but the game just wouldn’t let me go there.

Those are about the biggest “problems” I have with the game so far. I’ve only been playing it for about 6 hours, though. (Over half that time was probably spent in cut-scenes.) As for the good impressions, it is very shiny. I haven’t seen one clipping problem yet–no cloaks through characters or hair through walls–and when you stand on uneven ground, your characters actually stand unevenly on the ground. I’ve also noticed that the music is reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop. Not necessarily a bad thing, since Cowboy Bebop was so epically awesome, but not really the kind of music I’m used to in a Final Fantasy.

Over all, I’m still on the fence about whether or not I like this one. It’s no 7–although it does smack of its predicessor–but it does have its attractions. I’ll make sure to blog about XIII more in the future, after I’ve played it a little more and actually unlocked the ability to select my own party setup.

[Via http://anobi.wordpress.com]

Small Business News March 11, 2010 | Small Business Trends

Mysterious GAME signs in Home explained

2010-03-13T22:40:00.000+02:00

The UK’s biggest games retailer GAME is launching a space within Playstation Home, the free social networking experiance on PS3. No further details have been revealed.

It is possible that you could link directly to GAME’s website and order from within Home. This could spell the start of a whole new shopping experiance. You could go into the Diesel store and buy an actual shirt for yourself to wear and get one for your avatar.

It’s inevitable that GAME will want to make money from the venture so maybe there will be the chance to purchase the snazzy black and purple uniform and wear it next you go bowling or play Ice Breaker!

Expect all the answers on 18/03/2010!

[Via http://dpaddependency.wordpress.com]

Durian » Blog Archive » News about Chaos & Evolutions

Tales Of Graces, Missing Soundtrack

2010-03-13T14:33:00.000+02:00

========

Not to my surprise, the game site where I normally get plenty of my most recent gaming soundtracks as a contributing member of the website have skipped a beat – in terms of not being able to provide me one of my most favorite RPG games I have most recently played [and finished, I might add], this one being quite exclusive to Wii. It is also referred to the international public release as Tales Of Graces. But why is there hardly even a website that at least provides some link to the entire soundtrack to the game I really adored over? Yes, like seriously.

Well, I’m glad to say that I was finally able to get my hands on the limited edition album cover here in Sendai [yes, I bought it - with some artwork in a rare published magazine as a side bonus, it seems] and thankfully extracted the music onto my MP3 player for carryover [I love you Samsung, yes I do!].

For those who kept the tracks all to themselves – Tales of Graces, shame on you!

I’m only just kidding.

[Via http://valesti.wordpress.com]

ABC News Acknowledges Mini-Mistake In Toyota Report

Very Cool Multi-Player, Mulit-Platform Game

2010-03-11T22:19:00.000+02:00

We stumbled upon this great game for Android and iPhone. Bet thing about it, you can play multi-player against friends on both Android phones and iPhones!

There’s a free version (Homerun Battle 3D Free), a paid version Homerun Battle 3D and now a second free version named Homerun Battle 3D Free +100GB. I’ve played 2 ou of three of them and both great. Not only are they cross platform but you can play free against paid and so on.

Download it on iTunes here.

Download it on Android here.

[Via http://bustedappz.wordpress.com]

Betty White to host 'SNL' in May | EW.com

Keaslian PS3 Berhasil Dijebol Demi Mainkan Game Bajakan

2010-03-11T14:42:00.000+02:00

Tak perlu diragukan lagi dengan kehandalan pihak Sony dalam menciptakan PlayStation 3 yang cukup berhasil sejauh ini mengurangi upaya pembajakan game. Dengan kombinasi yang cukup kuat antara hardware dan software yang ditanamkannya, apalagi dengan Blu-ray, membuat PS3 cukup terjamin dan hanya bisa memainkan game-game legal saja alias yang berbayar. Tapi ternyata kegagahan dan rasa percaya diri tersebut kini harus tandas karena kabarnya PS3 telah berhasil dibobol untuk bisa mainkan game bajakan baru-baru ini.

Tersebutlah nama George Hotz, yang belum lama ini mempostingkan artikel dalam blog-nya yang mana menyebutkan bahwa dirinya telah berhasil mengutak-atik hardware PS3 dan telah memodifikasinya. Namanya memang tak terlalu dikenal dan masih cukup diragukan kebenarannya. Tapi tampaknya apa yang ia sebutkan bukanlah hanya bualan saja, karena dia sendiri sudah berhasil membobol iPhone.

“Saya telah membaca/menulis akses ke memori sistem menyeluruhnya, dan HV level untuk mengakses processor. Dengan kata lain, saya telah meng-hack PS3. Sisanya hanya software saja dan saya balikkan.” katanya. “Saya sudah melakukan pembalikkan beberapa kali, termasuk LV0 dan LV1. Saya juga telah membuang NAND tanpa menghapus atau melakukan modifikasi pada chip-nya.”

Namun tampaknya dia belum siap untuk mempublikasikan pengetahuannya tersebut. Sementara itu, solusi untuk pertahanan PS3 pun belum ditambal sama sekali, Sony masih bisa menghambat keberhasilannya. “Sejauh melakukan eksploit, saya belum akan mengungkapkannya. Teori ini benar-benar belum ditambal, tetapi mereka dapat membuat implementasinya menjadi lebih sulit. Selain itu, untuk alasan yang cukup jelas saya belum akan mempostingnya. Saya berharap akan menemukan kunci dekripsinya, sepertinya itu tertanam pada hardware-nya. Semoga saja tak jauh berbeda seperti iPhone KBAG.”

Hots sendiri mengaku sistem yang dibuat oleh pihak Sony memang cukup aman dan membutuhkan waktu 3 tahun, 2 bulan dan 11 hari untuk memecahkannya, mungkin. Kalaupun ada yang benar-benar akan menghancurkan sistem aman ini, tentu orang itu benar-benar hebat sekali.(sumber : http://www.beritateknologi.com/keaslian-ps3-berhasil-dijebol-demi-mainkan-game-bajakan/)

[Via http://mybrain0541.wordpress.com]

CNN: Facebook and not Fox News is our biggest competitor | Media ...

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2010

2010-03-11T06:07:00.000+02:00

Outline of TOKYO GAME SHOW 2010

The TOKYO GAME SHOW, celebrating its 20th edition, aims to turn over a new leaf and move forward with a new midterm vision of becoming “The No.1 Information Network in the Asian Region” and “The World’s Largest Event”!

Name TOKYO GAME SHOW 2010 Period Business Days 10:00 to 17:00 on September 16 (Thursday) and September 17 (Friday), 2010 Business days are only for members of the press and invited members in the game industry. Open to the Public 10:00 to 17:00 on September 18 (Saturday) and September 19 (Sunday), 2010 Venue Makuhari Messe [official site] Organizer Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA) Co-organizer Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. Supporter Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (planned) Expected number of visitors 180,000 Number of booths on offer 1,500 New for 2010

Asian Game Business Summit

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2010 will implement measures to increase business and general visitors especially from Asia. “Asian Game Business Summit” is where top Asian game companies get together. It will be the place to develop Asian market including Japan and TOKYO GAME SHOW shall be useful to your business strategy.

International Business Consultation Corner

This corner offers exhibitors opportunities of business meeting. Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will act as bridge between producers and suppliers from Asia, Europe and America.

SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT

The SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT (SOWN) is an event to discover new game ideas that will catch people by surprise and give them a “Sense of Wonder”, a sense that something will change in their world. It spotlights motivated game developers by providing them with an opportunity to present their ideas and prototypes.

SOWN 2010 develops new stage for it’s value improvement.

SOWN pavilion to be set in the exhibition floor

SOWN Mobile to be added as a category

Sponsorship Opportunities

TGS Forum Sponsorship Sessions

Call for Speakers at TGS Forum Now Open

TGS 2009 report: http://expo.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2010/en/pdf/2009report_E.pdf

[Via http://bluoceanadmedia.wordpress.com]

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green News Report -- March 9, 2010 ...

Star Trek Online: Video Games - $27.99 was $49.99

2010-03-09T22:19:00.000+02:00

In Star Trek Online, the Star Trek universe appears for the first time on a truly massive scale. In this massively multiplayer online game from Cryptic Studios, players can pioneer their own destiny as Captain of a Federation starship. Or, they can become a Klingon Warlord and expand the Empire to the far reaches of the galaxy. Players will have the opportunity to visit iconic locations from the popular Star Trek fiction, reach out to unexplored star systems, and make contact with new alien species. List Price: $49.99 Price: $27.99 You Save: $22.00 (44%) SB Link Address

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Breaking News: Pakistan Claims Adam Gadahn Arrested

Mystery P.I. The London Caper - Find the clues, solve the mystery!

2010-03-09T14:54:00.000+02:00

The priceless Crown Jewels have been stolen and the thieves have given the Royal Family only 17 hours to pay a sizeable ransom, or the jewels will be destroyed. You are the world famous Mystery P.I. and have been hired by the Royal Family to find these irreplaceable artifacts before the ransom is paid!

Seek & Find over 2000 hidden objects in 25 intruiging London, England locations. Hurry, you only have 17 hours to recover the Crown Jewels! If you succeed you will be awarded £10 Million Pounds. Find the clues, solve the mystery!

Mystery P.I. The London Caper – more hidden object adventures with Mystery P.I.!

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[Via http://besthiddenobjectgames.wordpress.com]

Breaking News – Canadians Love Hockey [PIC] | The Puck Doctors

The Oscars, LUNAFEST, European Independent Film Festival, …Music Make Money, ShowBiz Expo, Highlight March Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

2010-03-07T22:58:00.000+02:00

This year at the Durango Independent Film Festival, a special filmmaker panel will be titled, “Avatar and the Use of 3-D in Narrative Film”, and will be held at Jean-Pierre Bakery and Wine Bar in Durango. There are also many parties at the festival, which runs through March 7, including Welcome the Filmmakers Party & Sutcliffe Wine Tasting. In Toronto, the World of Comedy Film Festival presents comedy films from around the world showcasing films of the genre from both Canadian and International filmmakers, and classic comedy favorites, through March 7. The Athens International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival, organized by the Science Fiction Club of Athens, Greece, had its roots as a retrospective of Greek genre short films but has now become international in scope. The festival runs March 4-10 in Athens. The Miami Film Society in association with Miami Dade College’s School of Entertainment & Design Technology, and the University of Miami’s School of Communication, opens the Miami International Film Festival, March 5-14, hosting a festival format that presents the REEL Seminar Series, with dialogue from speakers discussing various aspects of the creative process of film production and financing to distribution and new technologies, and continues the Encuentros Program, started in 2003 to import commercially viable projects from both Spain and Latin America to Miami. PitchMarket 2010 in Vancouver, on March 6-7, promises the opportunity to meet decision makers from every level — big budget studio execs to low-budget indie producers — creating opportunities for networking as in the Sunday Networking Breakfast in the Sunday PitchMarket, and the Oscar Wrap Party with a full dinner menu held on closing night. PitchMarket is making a list of confirmed executives available on its Facebook page.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards, also known as The Oscars, will be broadcast live from Los Angeles over the ABC Television network beginning at 8 pm Eastern, 5 pm Pacific time. Across the U.S., sanctioned viewing parties will be given, produced by local nonprofit organizations with the active participation of the local ABC-TV affiliate station. The Oscar Night® America events, are held under the auspices of the Academy, capturing the festive atmosphere of the official program taking place at The Kodak Theater. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as co-hosts of the 82nd Awards. LUNAFEST, the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, opens exactly on the day of International Women’s Day, March 8, offering just one of many events taking place in the month honoring women and women’s achievements. The Tenth Annual International Film & TV Summit looks at the role of banks and specialized finance companies in providing financing for film production, and how to obtain financing to get independent feature films made, distributed and marketed in challenging economic times. It meets in Los Angeles from March 8-9. This year at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, in addition to usual conference lectures, panels, tutorials and round-tables, the twelfth annual Independent Games Festival, where new, unpublished games compete for the attention of the publishing community, is also taking place, along with the tenth annual Game Developers Choice Awards. Many parties and networking functions will be held, including the iPhone Games Summit Reception. The Center for Asian America Media hosts the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) every March as a showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, this year running from March 11-21. The opening night gala and reception at the Asian Art Museum, treats its guests with free-flowing desserts and drinks.

The Opening Night Filmmakers Reception and Cocktail Party for the Honolulu Film Festival, given along the shores of Waikiki Beach, from March 12-14, is held from Tiki’s Grill and Bar. After three days of film screenings, special Hawaiian premieres, celebrity tributes, interactive panel discussions, a screenplay competition, a filmmaker reception luau, there will be a Closing Night Awards Ceremony to close the festival at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort. While the ÉCU goal for the European Independent Film Festival is to bring worldwide attention to European independent filmmakers, there are also four foreign categories open to independent filmmakers from the Americas, Africa and Asia. And to make the ÉCU Film Festival a rewarding film festival experience for all during its run in Paris, March 12-14, festival goers can attend editing workshops given by AVID, screenwriting labs hosted by Scriptshark, join in on discussion panels just as attending directors have the opportunity to speak about their films at the “Speak to the Directors” panel sessions, and get hands-on experience with the latest filmmaking technology. South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival will be conducted in three parts: Interactive, on March 12-16; Film, on March 12-20; Music, on March 17-21. Regarded as a place of discovery and interactivity, the event in Austin offers multiple networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of the areas it addresses. The 24th annual South By Southwest Barbecue and Softball Tournament, happens Sunday, March 21, at Monroe “Lefty” Krieg softball complex. A March 13 New York workshop, titled, “Hit Factory: Making Your Music Make Money”, will use the morning hours to present “Understanding Your Market”; helping to develop individual business strategies, followed by the afternoon session that will continue with “Making The Hits”, then finish with “Selling the Hits”. Songs by workshop attendees will be reviewed and all attending are encouraged to either bring their song recordings on an iPod or a CD.

BMI is a co-sponsor of The Latin Rock Conference, a platform of selection and promotion of up and coming Latin Rock bands. The conference will begin a rock tour that moves through various music halls of Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn to select the ten best Latin bands in New York that will go on to play in the Grand Concert at Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, in July. The 2010 winning band will travel to Colombia to participate in “Rock al Parque” (Rock to the Park) in Bogota, one of the largest concerts of this music in this country. The Bermuda International Film Festival takes place in Hamilton, March 19-25, and is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the Short Film Academy Award, screening some 30 shorts plus seven documentary features and seven narrative features in competition. The Delray Beach Film Festival gets started this year March 22-28, and has a short screenplay competition, sidebar programs dedicated to 3D films, music videos, environmental films, and surf and extreme sports films. But this year at Delray will also feature Ellen Jacoby of Ellen Jacoby Casting International presenting a casting workshop, and Michelle Hillery from the Palm Beach Film and Television Commission hosting a filmmaker brunch. Women’s International Film & Arts Festival, held annually during Women’s History month, WIFF 2010 will include nine days of film viewings, from March 26 through April 3, in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, along with workshops, panel discussions and parties to celebrate women’s history month and WIFF. ShowBiz Expo New York offers a wide range of networking opportunities including the Exhibit Hall, Workshops/Seminars, Designers’ Showcase, Focus Groups, Round Table Discussions, Film Festival, Headshot Displays for casting, live auditions for performers, Movie Reel Showcase, Original Music Showcase, and much more. The Association for Performing Arts & Entertainment Professionals opens its annual United States Institute for Theatre Technology in Kansas City, March 31 through April 3. The conference is geared specifically to the design, production, and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry, and this year will celebrate 50 years with a special anniversary party.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist podcast blog at actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. After a brief layoff for restructuring purposes, the video news summary looks to make an early reappearance this month featuring new video and upcoming album release from UK’s soulful, break beat songstress Bukola, electronic, ambient music producers and feature filmmakers, Padded Cell Productions of Toronto, and the “spiritual fusion acoustic sitar experimental chanting spoken word improvisation” of Scot Aaron and Govinda Schlegel who form Shaman Strings. These videos are now available on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

[Via http://actorschecklist.wordpress.com]

Fox News Responds To CNN Criticism: "We Don't Respond To ...

Pop'n Music Portable

2010-03-07T14:29:00.000+02:00

While Pop’n Music 15: Adventure remained still as an arcade exclusive game, Konami released Pop’n Music Portable for Playstation Portable in early Feb 2010. To fans of the franchise, the first question on bringing the game to the PSP was how in the world would the control work? And what hits would be included and what new pieces would be added in this edition?

After having hands-on experience with this game for a fortnight or so, I would say easily proclaim that this is the best portable music game on the market so far. The controls though a far-cry from the 9-button controller that I’m used to on the arcade cabinet or on the home console, are not exactly broken and could easily be mastered in a matter of hours. For me, who completely dislike shoulder buttons, I applauded the inclusion of the 7-button mode, where the controls could easily be laid on one plane.

The difficulty of the game can be frustrating, which is kinda plus for this game, since Pop’n Music was never known to be easy in the first place. What it do means however is that I would easily spend the entire train journey on one song, repeatedly trying to beat it almost a dozen time to no avail. Still, the lacking of success was still as entertaining and doesn’t causes much despair. I’m hopeful to clear some of my favourite songs on Hyper mode soon.

The success of a music game is not restricted to just controls. It is the selection of music that make or break the game. And luckily, Pop’n Music did not despair. On the anime section, there are a number of familiar and strongest anime tune out there, including theme song from Evangelion, One Piece and Aquarion.

On the arcade section, there are superb hits, including 凛として咲く花の如く by Red Litmus (from Pop’n Music 15) and Cloudy Skies by Egoistic Lemontea – (from Pop’n Music 18), amongst many many great hits.

The most interesting addition have to be the multiplayer mode. As demonstrated by Konami’s in-house musician themselves, the 4-player Taisen Mode seems very very intriguing:

DJ Yoshitaka’s High School Love and DES-ROW’s Cobalt – two of my favourite musician and pieces in Pop’n Music – are also included in the game to give Pop’n Music boost in the already great music lineup.

And I’d just found out that Lamento is also included as a secret song as well. Sighz~! I’ll be stuck on this one game for a long time.

[Via http://mazohyst.wordpress.com]

Intute - Blog - Virtual Training Suite – funding news

World Cleanest Graffiti— iPhone App Concept

2010-03-07T05:45:00.000+02:00

There are a number of drawing iPhone apps available, but I think it would be fun if you could paste the picture you draw on a real wall, but virtually.

Draw a picture with your iPhone.

Choose the wall you want to paste the picture on.

Point and paste the picture. Resizing possible.

Share it with people on an online map.

Or share with only the person you choose. And if you want someone to go to a place (physically) to see the picture, just choose “local share” only.

This is just like an old bulletin board outside and might work well if you want to convey your feeling to someone.

The images can be seen through your iPhone just like usual graffiti from any angle.

Thank you again for the great photos, *momoc.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wtkn/

This work is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

[Via http://petitinvention.wordpress.com]

Sony announces SOCOM 4 News | PS3 | Eurogamer

guessing game

2010-03-06T22:05:00.000+02:00

I sometimes switch between watching Mandarin TV with or without English translated subtitles. If the program uses a lot of Taiwanese–then I’ll watch it subtitled (if I can find the subtitles). If the vocabulary seems way above my head, then I’ll go for the subtitles as well. Otherwise, I take my luck with the Mandarin-only. And it’s usually awesome.

Regardless, I try to pick up whatever I can from just listening to the drama or movie. Lately, I’ve been playing a new “guessing” game.

Here’s the game:

Pick a drama, movie, or music video.
Find a YouTube video with English language subs (if your reading level is high, try to find one without the Mandarin captions).
Watch part of the video on silent.
Read the English subs.
Guess what it would be in Mandarin.
Listen to see if your guess was correct.

If I’m up for more of a reading challenge, I look for the non-translated version. But instead of reading the English subs (step 4), I just read the Mandarin captions without the sound. Then after a few minutes, I go back to see if I was right about pronouncing some of the harder words.

It’s a fun game (and quite educational)!

[Via http://twpopcultureblog.wordpress.com]

Lehtonen to start in goal Saturday | Dallas Stars Blog | Sports ...

New game

2010-03-04T22:33:00.000+02:00

Got my package from Megastoretoday! Look what I found when I opened it.

Been playing almost the whole day with my friend Oscar and two of his friends, really nice and good people. To be honest we won almost every game, we only lost one Squad DM. I will write a long post tomorrow after I had the chance to try the single player campaign.

[Via http://gamerofswe.wordpress.com]

Good News Out of Washington - Real Clear Politics – TIME.com

Playdate with Lupe & the 'Slow Dane' Challenge

2010-03-04T06:26:00.000+02:00

As I said before, I seem to keep bumping into so many more Danes here in Australia! After I posted about not being able to find nice dog parks in Brisbane, I got a lovely message from Lupe, a big blue Great Dane boy – telling me about some dog-friendly places and inviting me to meet up for a playdate!

So a couple of weeks ago, my humans took me to the Kedron Brook Dog Off-leash Area to meet Lupe & his humans for a playdate….and we had a fantastic time!

It was so nice to finally meet another doggie big enough that I didn’t have to worry about squashing him by mistake when I was running & wrestling – and who wasn’t afraid to play with a rough tomboy like me!

It was also great to have a big buddy along for my walk…

We did lots of exploring together…

And also exchanged sniffs with a couple of other doggies…

I always see lots of Ridgebacks - like my blog friend, Nala – whenever I go to the parks…they must be a really popular doggie here in Australia!

Then I introduced Lupe to one of my favourite toys: my ‘Udder Tug’ that I brought with me from NZ!

(For anyone who missed my 1st post about these, they are the rubber things that attach to cows’ teats for milking.

When the farmers are done with them, in NZ, they sell them in pet stores as dog toys and every doggie I know goes mad for them!

They are lovely and soft to chew on but strong at the same time – and smell deliciously of cow! )

Lupe’s humans said he hadn’t really learnt how to play Tug properly yet – he was such a gentleman, he wouldn’t really pull!

So I decided to step in and show him how it’s done!

Yeah! Grrrrrrr!

(Hsin-Yi says I’m a terrible rough tomboy and why can’t I be dainty, gentle & ladylike, like all the other girl Danes? Bah! Who wants to be ladylike? How boring! )

Lupe REALLY liked my ’Udder Tug’ - but was too polite to come and take it away from me! Such a gentleman! So I kept teasing him to come and get it:

Cooooome on, Lupe! You know you want it…

Aw, come on, Lupe! The whole metro-dog thing is very nice but sometimes a girl wants a bit of ‘alpha-male’!!

Ooh, he got it!

Awwwww…give it back…

Hah! Just to remind you that girl dogs are ALWAYS the boss!

Of course, am older too – I’m 6 & 1/2 and Lupe is only 2, so maybe he was respecting his elders – hee! hee!

Actually, my humans thought I did very well for a ‘middle-aged gal’ – galloping and jumping around like a maniac puppy, chasing Lupe, chasing my tug toy, leaping over the water pipes, running through the long grass, jumping down the river bank, clambering up again…they said it was embarrassing that Lupe was calmer than me!

On the way back, I decided to go for a cooling dip in the water. Lupe wasn’t very sure about going in the brook so I had to show him…

Come on in, Lupe! The water’s lovely!

Yeah – you see?

OK – come on! How about one last play?

It was starting to get dark by then so the humans said it was time to go home…such a shame! I could have gone on forever!

(Hsin-Yi says: Actually, Honey was walking a bit funny the next day and we were horrified that she might be starting to develop hip problems but she didn’t seem to be in any pain and didn’t mind her legs being manipulated in any direction, was eating fine, could get up from lying down very quickly & with no problems, etc…so we decided to just rest her & see. No mad running for a few days – just gentle, pavement walks. Well, she was fine & normal again within a day. Guess she must have just overdone it on the playdate and was a bit stiff - at her age, she can’t hoon around endlessly anymore without paying for it the next day! When she was young, we would often have several playdates like this in succession but now I think she is going to be rationed to one every couple of weeks and TRY to get her to slow down and take it a bit easier! There ARE gentle ways to play too, you know!

*sigh* I know it’s only a matter of time before my crazy, rough, tomboy girl will succumb to arthritis – she is practically asking for it, the way she plays and chases balls and does everything so “violently” and of course, all giant breeds are prone to it – but I do hope it holds off for as long as possible so she can continue her exhuberant enjoyment of life – you just can’t help but smile when you watch her )

Well, I had a great time with Lupe and I can’t wait for our next playdate!

OK – before I go, I must tell you about this fun thing I am doing called the “Slow Dane Challenge“. It is to help support doggies like me who are – ahem - a bit slow in training sometimes, not like those super clever and fast breeds like Border Collies - and to encourage our humans to do more training with us, without feeling embarrassed that we’re taking a while to learn things. (You might think I know a lot of tricks but it usually takes me MONTHS to learn them! )

The Slow Dane Challenge was started by a Great Dane here in Australia called Dante and his human, to encourage more Danes to do more training – ‘coz most Danes just grow up into couch potatoes and their humans think potatoes aren’t trainable. Now, it has been expanded to include non-Dane doggies too. You can join Dante & his human – and lots of other Danes (& non-Danes) at the Dogz Online Forum – Dane Thread (http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=188608 )

We all get a set time to learn a new trick (eg. 2 weeks) and we all have to do lots of training in that time and post our videos to the forum to show each other – and then at the end of the time, everybody votes for the winner of the challenge!

They have had 2 challenges so far: the 1st was learning to Pivot and the 2nd was the Bomb-proof Down Stay. You can see the videos of these past challenges here: http://www.dmantugs.com.au/challenges.htm

I am joining the 3rd challenge now – which is learning to jump over my human’s arms and here is a video of my training so far! (I actually started learning this many months ago back in Auckland but only had 1 session, then had my 2nd session last week.)

So how do you think I’m doing so far? Hsin-Yi says she is not sure her arms will survive the challenge!

[Via http://bighoneydog.com]

News Ticker: Taylor Swift, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Pussycat Dolls ...

Juice – American Me (Mixtape)

2010-03-02T22:56:00.000+02:00

The newest mixtape from the Black Wall Street member. Featuring Bun B, XO, Kendrick Lamar, PUSH! Montana and more.

And YO.[click]

ive had PUSH! Montana on replay all day for that song Kill You he did with Hi-Tek on HT3. I used to seem him as the dude that was just a groupie for Maino’s Black Flag Click but it seems like hes well know…. where have I been… time to go searching for some of his ish..

[Via http://vektorrrr.wordpress.com]

Internet Now More Popular Than Newspapers For News » Podcasting News

Favela Headqaurters

2010-03-02T14:20:00.000+02:00

HQ in the barbershop, chillin’ on the sofa

Get in their random, do what I told ya

Don’t be scared, go in with the riot shield

Control that crowd, until everyone is killed

Headquarters captured, C4 on the door

Drop shots on these fools, I be hittin’ the floor

Noob tubes and thumpers, they’re droppin’ like flies

Don’t be so shy, it’s my danger close surprise.

[Via http://harrishudson.wordpress.com]

Search News from Bing, Twitter, and Google « ResourceShelf

Milestone in TDD History

2010-03-02T06:56:00.000+02:00

What up people,

Here is a post by my friend and mentor, Troy “Papa Falcon” Dizon. I think it’s important to know where we’ve come from and how far we have come since then.

“Hey, Troy Dizon here.

What did I say about core values and X = X? Heck, this should be a fine example of mega proportions on how far you can really take it if you make yourself a results based company based on simple, effective human nature concepts. We never were based on hokey pokey hypnosis tactics or elaborate pick up lines that make you look good temporarily and gain you shallow results like the phone number you’ll never get a call back from.

Back in 2007 I made the conscious decision to really attract the right people to me and my company. During the years of 2005-2007, I navigated through the inside confines of the pick up community and met a huge spectrum of guys who were my market at the time. Generally, some of them were:

Guys who had their ego crushed in the past and were in desperate need of pimp knowledge to get back on track,
Newbies who have never interacted with anyone past their family or social circle,
Dedicated guys who were willing to do anything to getting the dating and social aspect of their lives down, and
Some kindhearted guys who just wanted a meaningful relationship with a nice girl and settle down.

But on the other token, there were a lot of guys in the community I did NOT like at all. I will not enumerate it in detail, as most of you probably already know what they are, but put it this way, it was a lot of people who used the community as a launch pad for LIES. Not just lying to another person on how so and so WILL WORK, but lying to themselves thinking that they can choose to IGNORE the facts of human nature and expect to be widely successful in their dating lives with a totally UNNATURAL WAY.

After seeing all this over the years, I had chosen not to suck up to the community and really blast my stuff in there like a rocket propelled grenade and shock them with something different. I was intent on picking up the right people by branding what I believed in properly and more importantly living a life that reflected that.

Like any PUA routine that has a beginning and an end, I watched these guys do their thing over the years and eventually grow out of it. There’s some truth in the high turnover of most guys in the pick up community, and my number one reason for that is it never jived with their lifestyle and did not address the CORE ISSUES they needed to face. At the end of all those months of practice they realized “heh, that was a good run… time to move on.” and move on they did. Most of these guys I never heard speak of pick up ever again. Now the real bummer there is that most of them pick up a couple dozen bad habits from doing the pick up stuff. Again, those habits were never answered.

I am THANKFUL that I never put myself through that. Right now, 2010, I can say I’ve outlived all those people who didn’t believe in me when I started. Their marketing with no substance could only take them so far. Moreover, the lack of real, verified results killed most pick up businesses substantially. Oh, and thanks to the recession, the event that made people clutch their wallets and not just spend their hard earned money on hyped up sales pages or or “hearsay,” it opened up a can of problems for my pick up guru counterparts. They might have been financially successful at one time selling these hyped up products, but the market started to catch on and they were forced to produce even more BS to stay afloat. It came to the point where you’d look at their stuff and be like, “you’ve gotta be kidding me, it can’t be THAT complicated!”

By making the decision to stand bold on what I believed in and what I’ve experienced with, the move paid me and the company back double, triple, even quadruple in kind. Yes, in the beginning I must admit I wondered how the heck those guys made gazillions, but after being through all of this, I am glad I never joined the bandwagon. Now more than a handful of years later in the personal improvement industry, I can just imagine the life of MISERY these gurus have to go through.

They have to be constantly building and selling hype to guys, having to deal with their 1,001 ridiculous questions, lying through their teeth in seminars saying their stuff is going to work, and more importantly taking the costume off after the weekend is over and living a life of absolute seclusion (most of these guys don’t even have friends, just bottom feeder disciples who don’t really give a flying fuck about them).

I was DAMN HAPPY.

I had the clients and friends I wanted around me. I created partnerships with the right groups who felt that this was a social responsibility more than just a business. I had my own brothers for instructors who proudly flew our banner straight and took any immediate criticism from the community blokes. These were really great guys who deserved the best for their efforts in improving themselves. Why surround myself with any other people, right?

As you know, TDD is successful today as any huge enterprise.The secret is within its structure and the people that get attracted to it. Hey, we may not be the most internet savvy guys out there (since we live in the real world), but thanks to the internet (or word of mouth), you found us!

Let’s bring the experience back to your first run down with TDD. If you’ve perused the articles or downloaded a couple of podcasts, the first thing you will notice about TDD is “what the heck? Why is he not talking about this or that, or how attraction can be achieved through steps?” and “how are these guys getting that result without giving any reference to so and so method?”

A few hours later after getting intrigued, you listen to TDD podcast #4 you’re starting to realize a recurring theme: “wait a minute, this guy Troy actually HATES the pick up community it seems! Ouch! Off with his head!”

Well, if you survived through those podcasts and are still reading this note, then there IS A DELIBERATE REASON you’re still onto us.

Let me emphasize the true fiber of attraction that brings people to you – its the commonality with who you are with who they are, and the commonality of where you’ve been and where you want to be with where they have been and want to be.

This one simple concept by the way, is SEAMLESS (I guess that’s why Xavier calls it the seamless approach, well I’ll call it the seamless everything). It applies to anything in life. Women, friends, loved ones, business, money – they all wrap around certain people like a damn magnet. And those certain people have their “skyscrapers” down. (our term for a solid sense of character, social awareness, lifestyle and vibe).

This is what will make you amazing in the LONG RUN. Not some hyped up concepts that will die out once you realize they’re not compatible with your life. Now, there’s enough material here on our site and on our forums to prove to you that these are REAL PEOPLE succeeding with our stuff. (Thank you FTC for making a rule on fake testimonials). TDD clients are not customers, they’re family members. Its very, very, very comforting to know that there are a hundred brothers out there going through the same processes you’re going through now. Its also a good thing to know that most of them are excellent, well-regarded members of society and the lessons they learned from TDD have bridged out to all other aspects of their life.

Okay, why am I pouring my heart out on paper for? You probably know these things already. Well, I’d like to announce that for the first time ever, we are going to do an official TDD Seminar partnered with the Singapore Ministry of Defense.

Yeap, you heard that right. The Ministry of Defense.

Let me tell you a quick story of a two year process that lead TDD to this project that came to us.

When we came to Singapore, there were a few image consultants and the underground pick up guys who were the only go to guys if you wanted to learn how to become attractive. As always, I was met with resistance. A TON of resistance. Haters left and right, heck one even wrote a fake rip off report that was never readdressed. I never budged, and continued to bring true client transformations the more I visited. By 2008, Xavier became the head guy in Singapore. By 2009, he was awarded the level of Falcon (top level instructor) during the Lifestyle Retreat and consequently started a wave of propaganda projects to let people know we were the real deal.

One of our talks at Vivocity

There’s a very huge parallel with his story and mine, in the sense that those guys who were opposing him in the earlier months of TDD in Singapore were again, outlived. These guys disappeared into the shadows over time while Xavier, being a TDD figurehead, kept growing and growing and growing. First there was Razor TV, then Her World, then Channel News Asia. He passed through all those with flying colors.

But you know what guys, it wasn’t just the brilliance of the TDD Brand or the marketing or his excellence in the field that got us the project, but he was a living example of a true before and after picture of what happens if you just dedicate yourself into the TDD success system. I still have blackmail photos of this guy back in 2008 that are available upon request. This guy came from being your average clueless person to a true 24/7 Attractive Man. (check http://alife2love.com for his Bio).

It was this life of being an example, that got the Ministry of Defense to ask us to do seminars for them on dating and social interactions. They looked at every other company out there, saw through the razzle dazzle fancy websites of many, and found Xavier and TDD the most knowledgeable, reputable, and results oriented one.

One they would actually spend money on.

March 12, will be the event, FOUNDATIONS OF ATTRACTION by Xavier See.

Immediately upon announcement we currently have 20 slots booked and not too many remain. If you are in the Singapore Army and would like to participate, all you have to do is get an application form via the Intranet (OA) to Ng Xiao Mui (MAC), PSC under send to.

If you would like to inquire through Xavier, you can email him at xav@troydizondating.com

Congratulations to Xavier and the rest of the team for living with excellence.

Troy Dizon”

I have to say, it has been an honor and privilege to have worked with Troy for the past 2 years. Being personally trained, mentored and groomed by Troy, I have seen not just my social and love life blossom, I have also seen my professional life soar. I remember the ol’ days, where I had nothing going on for me in life and my idea of a perfect weekend was to spend them at a LANshop playing computer games. I made a huge, huge load of mistakes (Troy will testify haha) but Troy never gave up on me. My TDD brothers monster, Val, Jiron were always there to support me through the challenging times I faced and helped me stand on my feet. These days… well, you get a small glimpse or 2 once in a while on this site. This is indeed a cause for celebration for the entire TDD family and I would like to dedicate this success to Troy and everyone in the TDD family.

There are only 3 FREE seats left for the Foundations of Attraction Workshop, act fast and I will see you there!

Live and Love,

Xavier

xav@troydizondating.com

http://alife2love.com

Skype : xavierrrr

[Via http://alife2love.com]

The Morning News: Health Care, Earthquakes, Pizza | Slog | The ...

The Arcade: Where Skee Ball and Air Hockey ARE Sports

2010-02-28T06:31:00.000+02:00

Historically, an arcade has been defined as “any part of a building (a building, in this case, meaning a shopping mall) with an equal number of video games and pathetic losers pumping their parents’ hard-earned quarters into them.” Upon reading this concept, I found it rather interesting, for two reasons: a) I came up with it; b) I needed something to write about. Thus, I took the time to extensively study the many different aspects of an arcade, primarily because my friend Dante was spending the better part of his adolescence playing “Tekken Tag Tournament” and he was my ride home. Essentially, I had no choice (and, worse, no change).

At any given arcade, there is one single attraction which bleeds the most money out of its audience, yet remains the most popular machine in the room: namely, the bill changer. This device changes dollar bills into coins based on your skill level ($1-beginner, $5-intermediate, $10-advanced, $20-get a life). Usually, one will receive, in lieu of quarters, copper tokens with the cash value of beer can pull-tabs. Armed with your value-lacking coins, it is now time to decide which of the arcade’s machines in which you want to lose them.

A popular token-drainer is the skill crane, a machine wherein you operate a hook (which has the lifting power of wet spaghetti) in order to snag stuffed animals, fake jewelry, and other tightly-packed items which have been in the machine since the premiere of “Taxi.” Egotistical guys are the core audience of this game, for they believe girls are impressed with a man who can smoothly and effortlessly win her a small, stuffed parrot for no less than 4,612,498 tokens (actual amount in dollars: College Tuition). Another skill-measuring game is the “Whack-a-Mole” type of game, in which players attempt to smack mobile plastic rodents with foam hammers attached to a string. Needless to say, the “Whack-a-Mole” games are not for the easily irritated, for these people are responsible for over 100% of all robotic mole concussions and broken hammers (not to mention terribly high scores).

A few more active games include pinball, skee ball, and, in keeping with this sentence’s established precedent of the word “ball,” air hockey. Pinball is a game in which a silver ball is sent throughout a forest of bumpers, springs, and lights on a surface as level as any given deck on the Titanic. The player’s lone job is to occasionally control a pair of flippers, which pound the ball back into the brightly colored Forest of Obstacles which it took 10 minutes to escape the last time. Scoring is tough to follow, for everything the ball hits (even certain screws in the machine’s construction) garners about 5 million points and twice that amount of flashing lights. Skee ball, on the other hand, requires a bit more physical exertion than thumb movement. Skee ball is a game “where you roll the ball up the ramp at varying speeds in an effort to pop it into the score circles; the higher the score, the more prize tickets you get” (source: Ben Affleck’s Holden MacNeil character from “Chasing Amy”). This line proves three very important points: a) it describes the concept of skee ball; b) it proves that Ben Affleck is capable of saying intelligent things; c) it proves I spend way too much time watching Kevin Smith movies. Air hockey, meanwhile, is different from pinball and skee ball, in that it is played on a level surface. Two players stand at either end of a rectangular table and use small plastic paddles that represent white chocolate sombreros to violently knock a seemingly invincible disc into the opposing player’s goal slot. While it is fun, don’t be fooled by the name; unlike regular hockey, air hockey lacks such aspects as fights, ice, or Canadians with less than half of their permanent teeth still intact.

However, the core of people in the arcade do not come here to play the games I just described for most of this article. Arcade-goers do not like games which require a lot of bodily movement; instead, they like to have their movement transferred to animated characters on a screen. Thus, they elect to play video games, which are machines that simulate virtually any sport, TV show, or combat fight between two ugly-as-sin contenders with magical powers and “special attacks”. The latter statement describes most arcade games, wherein players constantly battle hideous aliens and comic book characters against a background, which, in most cases (especially in one-sided matches), holds more interest. Other popular video games include The Simpsons, Jurassic Park, a wide range of simulated driving games by Sega, Atari, and other obsolete names in virtual entertainment…and countless others which I can’t describe now because Dante just annihilated Mutant Alien Boss #4036 and he’s ready to go.

In closing, allow me to leave you with the immortal words which every video game (obligatorily) states: “Remember: Winners Don’t Use…hey, Dante, wait for me, dammit!”

[Via http://fumorandom.wordpress.com]

Bush and Cheney Reunite, First Since Leaving Office - The Note

Installing CIOS Softmod on WII

2010-02-27T06:52:00.000+02:00

DO NOT SKIP ANY STEP.

This Tutorial will make a soft modification to the console without the need of internal modchips. Just with a PC and SD card. Even make money from this.

Requirements to Softmod your Wii from scratch:

*SD card 1GB or more.

*SD card reader to copy contents from pc.

*Virgin Wii.

*Download the following package compatible to your System Menu.

Enter Wii options to see what system menu is your console.

Note: This method works on LU64 serial Wii’s.

Note: This method doesn’t work on KOREAN WII’s.

All in one Package:

System Menu 4.2 ONLY!!

Download link http://e11632c0.linkbucks.com

System Menu 4.1 and lower

Download link http://11c94963.linkbucks.com

Note: Backup your SD card and erase everything. (Do not format as NTFS)

Installing Homebrew Channel

Let’s Start Installing HBC for all System Menu: 1. Download your system menu compatible softmod package. 2. Copy all of these files over to your SD card. 3. Insert SD card in the Wii. 4. Click the SD card tab on the main menu screen. (or enter Wii settings > Channels > SD card) 5. A message will then pop up, click yes. 6. The "Hackmii Installer 0.5" will launch, and from there, install HBC, DVDX and BOOTMII. (if can't install BOOTMII as Boot2, install as IOS) - Once this done make a backup of your NAND NOW before proceeding and when finished too so all your changes, channels and your Wii will be brick-safe. Launch Bootmii as boot2: Turn on your Wii with the same SD card used to install bootmii as boot2 inserted and bootmii should launch. Launch Bootmii as IOS: Go to Homebrew Channel, then press home and select launch bootmii. Bootmii can be controlled by a GameCube controller or using your power/reset buttons of the console. Use the power button to select through options and reset to execute. Look for the icon of an arrow pointing from the chip to the SD card to make the NAND backup.

System Menu 4.2 ONLY!!

System Menu 4.2 Installing the CIOS: At this point you should have SD card ready with 4.2 package and running your Wii on system menu 4.2. When you are on the wii, go to the homebrew channel then: 1. Run Trucha Bug Restorer 2. Press B to choose No IOS Reload. Wait till it says Press 1 then press it. Go to Downgrade IOS15. Press A to downgrade. Everytime it says “Download from NUS” change it to “load IOS from SD” 3. Run Trucha Bug Restorer again but this time... Choose IOS15 & press A. (Important) Wait till it says Press 1 then press it. Choose IOS36 menu. In there use these settings: Install IOS to slot (36) Hash check (trucha) YES ES_Identity YES NAND Permissions YES Then press A on install patched IOS36. 4. Run Trucha Bug Restorer once more, Choose IOS36 & press A. Wait till it says Press 1 then press it. Then Choose restore IOS15. Press A to restore. Exit the application by pressing the home button. 5. Next, you must delete the unneeded stub IOS's (important step): Run Any Title Deleter DB from the homebrew channel. Choose IOS36 & press A. Go to System Titles & press A. Select IOS222 & press A to delete. Select IOS223 & press A to delete. Select IOS249 & press A to delete. Select IOS250 & press A to delete. 6. Return the the Homebrew channel, and then run the CIOS38Rev14b Installer. * Choose IOS36 as the IOS to use, and then follow on screen instructions to install it. 7. Make Backup Launcher Channel: Go to Homebrew channel and launch the WAD MANAGER. Select IOS 249 and load from SD card. Install NeoGamma. Install Wiiflow. Exit app pressing B then press home. Done! Now you can run backups from DVD-R and USB.

System Menu 4.1 and lower

System Menu 4.1 and below… Installing the CIOS (CIOS38 rev14): 1: Go to Homebrew channel and run Trucha Bug Restorer, load IOS36, press 1, read the warnings then select 'downgrade IOS15', select to load IOS from SD card then let it do its job. 2: Run Trucha Bug Restorer again but this time... Choose IOS15 & press A. (Important) Wait till it says Press 1 then press it. Choose IOS36 menu. In there use these settings: Install IOS to slot (36) Hash check (trucha) YES ES_Identity YES NAND Permissions YES Then press A on install patched IOS36. 3: Run Trucha Bug Restorer again, load IOS36 and this time select restore IOS15. CHOOSE "LOAD FROM SD CARD" INSTEAD OF "DOWNLOAD IOS FROM NUS". 4: Run cIOS38r14 installer select IOS36 as the one it should use and then select wad install. 5: Make Backup Launcher Channel: Go to Homebrew channel and launch the WAD MANAGER. Select IOS 249 and load from SD card. Install NeoGamma. Install Wiiflow. Exit app pressing B then press home. Done! Now you can run backups from DVD-R and USB.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT UPDATE YOUR WII THROUGH NINTENDO.

[Via http://123da12ch1v3s.wordpress.com]

In other news - Beyond The Commons - Macleans.ca

Arduino Helicopter Game

2010-02-25T06:41:00.000+02:00

Wow. Really interesting helicopter game with several nice feautures.

Specifications:

just under 8kb (so it should fit a cheap Atmega-8)
Speed and block size grow
Still a little glitchy, weird artifacts, is anyone able to fix them?
Day and Night mode, hold the button when game over for night mode, gentle press for day
Score build in, post your highscore in the comments

To play:

Connect a KS0108 LCD as described in the library’s page
Connect a button with a pull-down resistor to pin 12
Make sure the KS0108 library is available
Upload the sketch
Enjoy!

Download it here…

nice job Dave.

Via [Ardx] and [MAKE]

[Via http://arduiniantales.wordpress.com]

Apple posts third update to iPhone OS 3.2 SDK for iPad | iLounge News

Escapa - Focus your mind, hand and eye!

2010-02-23T22:34:00.000+02:00

I thought that some of you might like to play this at home!

Escapa!

WARNING!! Seriously Addictive!

Click on the RED block

Now move the RED block to avoid crashing with the BLUE blocks.

Simple!

Oh, and don’t touch the BLACK edges either.

If you can manage 18 seconds, you are a genius!

US Air Force pilots are expected to last 2 MINUTES!!

Current Records:

A Y3 lasted 10.871 seconds

A Y6 lasted 16.372 seconds

I have managed 61 seconds (but it was a long time ago and I haven’t practised recently!)

WARNING!! This game is seriously addictive!!

Play Escapa now!

Mr W.

[Via http://watsoneastwoldblog.wordpress.com]

FFVII remake "unrealistic to happen" News | PS3 | Eurogamer

OceaniX v1.0

2010-02-23T14:42:00.000+02:00

You on board the enormous submarine, which is left for the floating on the ocean. Investigate ocean depths in this gripping puzzle. Gather treasures, exploding the groups of 3x or more than elements. Brave captain will help you during the game. But you remember, the inhabitants of ocean can steal your treasures.

Special features of the game:

three different parts of the underwater peace

additional bonusy including bomb, goldfish, and lightning

gather coins in order to reveal the new possibilities

the pleasant musical tracking

System requirements:

Windows of 2000/.KhP/Vista

DirectX 8

667 mHz

256 mb RAM

Cracked by THETA

Download Link

[Rapidshare]

http://rapidshare.com/files/354664625/Corel.rar

[Via http://rapid4game.wordpress.com]

Nintendo patents rumble for handheld News | DS | Eurogamer

Why do I keep writing about sex?

2010-02-21T22:27:00.000+02:00

Fucking virginal horny-ness.

Damn it’s like I woke up one day and was ready to just be with anybody! Well that’s a lie, just all the guys I think are fine/hott yeah I spelled hot with two t’s that’s how I always do it when I’m talking about attraction baby!! Hahah

Now I sound like a woman 10-15 years my senior! Bah humbug.

* sidenote: as thirsty/desperate as I get at times as soon as I stop caring or don’t dwell on it then the boys seem to come my way. Ignoring people really is an effective way to get attention.

[Via http://iamhonestlyspeaking.wordpress.com]

PC version of Clover dated News | PC | Eurogamer

MMIF 2010 was aMaMazing!

2010-02-21T06:31:00.000+02:00

The MMIF 2010 hosts

The MMIF2010 live event is over now, but reports, snapshots and video are appearing online.

MMIF2010 @ PLANETART, Amsterdam

Add your snapshots and video to the MMIF Flickr group, please!

Or post your links here on MMIF.org as a comment!

[Via http://mmif.wordpress.com]

Sony patents universal games controller | News

Name Bands for Every Letter of the Alphabet

2010-02-20T22:18:00.000+02:00

I saw somebody post this game in a thread on Meez, and thought it was a pretty cool idea. Here’s mine. No search engines/ websites used. (The word “The” and any number is okay to use.)

A- All Time Low

B- Blessthefall

C- Capital Lights

D- Disturbed

E- Eyes Set To Kill

F- Finch

G- Green Day

H- Hollywood Undead

I- IAMX

J- Jimmy Eat World

K- Kerli

L- Lady Gaga

M- My Chemical Romance

N- Novafall

O- (Can’t think of one….)

P- Pillar

Q- Queen

R- Rammstein

S- Sick Puppies

T- Three Days Grace

U- (The) Used

V- Van Halen

W- We The Kings

X- (Can’t think of one…)

Y- (10) Years

Z- (Can’t think of one…)

[Via http://alyssaisblogging.wordpress.com]

5 Things The Media Loves Pretending Are News | Cracked.com

“Bioshock 2 – Single Player” Review

2010-02-20T14:42:00.000+02:00

Bioshock 2

10 Years May Have Made Rapture A Little Rustier, But It’s Evolved Too.

Feb 20, 2010 – Bioshock is one of my all time favorite games. There was a time I said it was my second favorite, right behind Ocarina of time. While I’m not sure where I would place it today, it remains a classic and a tent-pole in gaming’s history. It was one of the few games up to that point to take a serious, even literary approach to its story, and it had one of the most unique and atmospheric settings in all of gaming. It was a critical and financial success, and I loved it.

Now comes the inevitable sequel. Inevitable, not because the story demanded it, but because of the money involved. There are many things stacked against the sequel right out of the gate. The first game’s story was one of the best ever told in a videogame, and it had a very solid and complete ending; there wasn’t a need for another game. So how can the unasked for sequel hope to live up to this when it isn’t even welcome to most people? What’s worse, Ken Levine, the mind behind the world of the first game, is out, and the studio 2K Marin is in. Despite the fact that old Bioshock team members still worked on the sequel, it brings into question their capability to uphold someone else’s vision. Then there is the fact that by returning to Rapture, you’re inherently loosing some of the mystique that accompanied the underwater city in the first game.

Well, despite all of these issues and worries, 2K Marin has done a very good job; a great job, even. Bioshock 2, while not as seminal as the first, does a fantastic job of making a case for its existence.

Get Ready For A Fight

Just as a warning, I’m not going to summarize the first game for you. I’m going to treat this review like you already know what I’m talking about. Furthermore, I will eventually talk about the story in a bit more detail because of how important story is to this game, and how good or bad it is. Don’t worry though, I’ll give some obvious Spoiler Tags.

So, let’s start with the enhanced mechanics. There are some immediately evident improvements over the first game. Dual wielding is the greatest change, in which the player can use a Plasmid on the left trigger at the same time as a gun on the right trigger. This makes combat smoother and faster, allowing the player to manage combos on the fly without having to go to a radial menu to change every time they want to pull off a move.

On top of that, there are a few new weapons and Plasmids to shake things up. Jack’s pistol has been replaced by a Rivet Gun, and while the sound and kickback is not as satisfying as the old pistol, it has wonderful uses. Once it is fully upgrades it shoots super-heated rivets which have a chance of catching the enemy splicers on fire, and it has a couple of alternate ammo types which really add variety, such as Trap Rivets, which I’ll get to later. The spear gun is also a lot of fun, as it acts much like a sniper rifle, but with the added ability to pin opponents to walls. Best of all you can retrieve your spears, which leads to some gruesome moments are you go pluck a spear out of a guy’s head and watch him slide down the wall you pinned him to.

Of all the new weapons, The drill is the most obvious addition, replacing Jack’s wrench from the fist game. The drill may seem weak at first, but with the right gene tonics and upgrades, a Drill and Plasmid based load out may very well be the most powerful in the game. Furthermore, the ability to Drill Dash is incredibly fun and satisfying, sending your character flying across stages and slamming opponents to the ground.

Toast 'Em

The Plasmids have some noticeable changes as well, though I would argue that in most cases it is not as impressive. There are some neat additions like Scout, which lets the player wander about as a Plasmid wielding astral form for a while. The most obvious change to the Plasmid system is the way they upgrade. With each additional level, the Plasmids gain a little more power as well as some new abilities. The Incinerate! plasmid, for example, turns into a full on flame thrower at level 3, and Security Command plasmid lets the player summon flying bots to his side to help him out as long as they last.

The only problem is, outside of a few noticeable exceptions like the Winter Blast and Security Command, the Plasmids seem fairly weak. Incinerate! and Electro Bolt are good for stunning an opponent, but they also seem to do very little damage. While this makes them good for tactics, a part of me wishes that setting an opponent on fire was good for more than a brief distraction.

The real celebrities of the combat party are the Gene Tonics. These passive abilities are available for purchase at the Gatherer’s Garden alongside of the plasmids, and you can have up to 24 of them in affect at once. As I mentioned before there are a number of sweet Drill based tonics, but there are many others. They range from affecting movement speed, the amount of Eve or Health Kits that can be carried, and even active ones that give the player the ability to repair and name bots and turrets. These tonics will, just as much as any of the Plasmids, affect the way a player approaches the game and the combat.

Looks Like It'd Be A Problem For Colorblind People, Though

There is also one other small tweak to mention as well. The hacking mini-game has been streamlined, dropping the old pipe game and opting for a reflex and timing-based needle matching game, and the action remains in real time while the hacking takes place. While I enjoyed the old pipe game, it did get old near the end of the game, and it did take the player out of the action, so ultimately this was a good move. All together, the additions and changes make Bioshock 2’s combat much more interesting and satisfying than the original’s though I might add that it remains very similar in many ways, and could use some further upgrades to the Plasmids (such as more satisfying damage.)

The way in which combat progresses has seen some additions and new ideas. While the tried and true First Person Shooter format of entering a new area and slaughtering the waves of opponents that you meet is still present, they also integrate a new scenario in which a little sister that you’ve adopted (another change from the first game) can be placed on specific corpses to gather Adam. While this happens, various splicers will be drawn to the player who has to defend the Little Sister until she is done gathering Adam. These sections are very tense and thrilling, not to mention a serious challenge to your abilities. Trap Rivets, which can be placed around the environment and on walls and the ceiling, are a player’s best friend, as are mini-turrets that can be set up to shoot nearby enemies. While entirely optional, the significant boost of Adam that each gathering provides means that it is a very worthwhile activity.

You'll Sometimes Find Her Watching You

The enemies have received some upgrades as well. While it is disappointing that the majority of your opponents are going to be familiar disfigured faces, the addition of the Brute Splicer is nice and changes up game play a bit. The Big Daddy Rumbler packs a pretty mean punch, using a rocket canon and mini turrets that can be a real pain to fight around, as well as a very cool distinctive design. No addition is more distinctive and unique, however, than the Big Sister. Lithe, strong and bristling with plasmid powers, Big Sisters are a major challenge. She comes every time the player finishes taking care of the last Little Sister in an area, and while this makes her predictable, there is still no way her ear-piercing scream won’t send a shiver down players’ spines. I only wish there had been more unique additions to the cast of enemies.

Also of note is that even after a player has cleared out an area, a return trip might mean running into new foes that have moved into the area. While at times this came as a nice touch, keeping me on my toes, other times it felt like there should still not have been anyone there because I had just cleared the place out. I didn’t feel like enough time had been given for newcomers to find there way there, and that sense of a hidden spawn-point briefly kicked me back out of the immersion.

This Isn't Going To End Well...

Far more damaging to the sense of immersion, however, is the way the plot progresses through the first half to two-thirds of the game. The game starts off interesting enough, with an opening cinematic and scenario that leaves the player wondering exactly what is going on. You start out as a Big Daddy, more specifically an old prototype model, which has been out of commission for ten years. You don’t know who woke you up or why you’re still alive, and in many ways you’re set adrift in the beginning area in Rapture. You are re-introduced to Dr. Tenenbaum from Bioshock 1, and you slowly get new abilities like the Plasmids, as well as various weapons.

While it is a nice beginning in many ways, it is also almost identical in pacing and style to the first game, and this really hurts the first couple hours of the game. In many ways you feel like you’re taking the same steps. You get the Electro Bolt Plasmid first, and your pistol equivalent in the Rivet Gun. You’re introduced to an Atlas like character named Sinclair, who becomes your constant guide and audio companion through Rapture. It all feels very familiar. Too familiar.

Brute Splicer's Are Mean

From there, the narrative begins to pick up, and you’re introduced to interesting new characters like Grace, and well-made levels like Ryan Amusements. While these areas are well done, there are a few thins that keep them from being so great. First of all, while everything is well designed, I feel like there should have been more done to make every area feel unique. While Ryan Amusements is very memorable, and certain areas of Pauper’s Drop really evoke the sense of a slum, most of the areas feel very similar. This may be a side-effect of barreling through the game on my first play-through, however, and could be rectified on a second go.

Another thing I felt was a mistake was placing the Ryan Amusements level so close to the beginning of the game. Being an amusement park, it is supposed to make the player feel like they’re walking through a constructed, linear set. It’s supposed to be like a twisted Disney World, where everything is obviously fake and staged. However, as well as they pulled that feeling off, it made all of the subsequent levels feel similarly constructed and staged. The great thing about Bioshock 1 is that all of the areas felt like real places that would have existed in a thriving underwater city. They felt like places that naturally spawned from the way people lived there. I think that feeling these new areas are staged is a false one, and wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for how early on and successful the Ryan Amusements level is.

A Set At Ryan Amusements

But the biggest problem with the narrative structure of the first half or so, is the stop and go, obvious linearity of the story. The player has to make way through the city by using an old train line called, The Atlantic Express. But as the train rolls along, there will come some opposing force that will keep the player from progressing down the line until it is dealt with, whether it be a wall of ice, or a lockdown. This leads to what feels like a very fake series of stage progression. When the train hits that wall and you’re forced to get out, you can feel the developer’s hands pushing you along. The story is at its weakest, and most transparent, when getting on and off the train. What’s worse, the player cannot backtrack to old areas. Not only does this mean there if you missed an audio diary or a little sister there’s no going back, but it also means that the city doesn’t feel like a living cohesive whole. In the first Bioshock, it always felt like you could go back, whether you actually wanted to or not, to any area you ever visited. This sense of a full explore-able world is part of what gave Rapture its sensation of a real living place. That is part of what made accepting super powers and Little Sisters and Big Daddies so easy to accept. Without that sense, the rest looses some of their foundation of believability. The narrative pacing takes a much needed turn for the better the moment the player leaves the train behind. From there on, the world feels fuller, more realistic and alive. It never again feels like a set, or a ride.

That doesn’t mean that the first half of the game suffers from art direction. Rapture was an amazing visual feast the first time I visited it in 2007, and while the engine is starting to look dated, the design remains as unique and striking as ever. The sets in Ryan Amusements are some of the coolest visual treats in the game, and really mirror Disney World style attractions to the tee (with a very Objectivist bent, of course.) I kept coming back to one scene in particular, where animatronics hands would lift a roof off a house and reach inside.

On top of that, there are nice subtle touches that harkens back to the first game, such as a golf club in animatronic-Ryan’s office, and the remnants of Jack Ryan’s airplane crash visible in one of the underwater segments.

There Are Some Nice Environments and Sights Outside the Walls

Oh, and those segments! While it’s true, and unfortunate, that the underwater segments are basically just hallways that lead from place to place, they are also a nice break from the tense action sequences, and provide some of the most beautiful scenery in the game. If, or more like ‘when’, there is a Bioshock 3, I would like to see some more interesting implementation of these segments. Keep it free of fighting, but give me more exploration or even puzzle solving to keep it fresh and exciting.

As usual, the audio design in the game is brilliant. From the first moment I walked under a dripping ceiling to hear the drops splatter off my metal helmet, I knew that I was in for a treat. The only thing that I feel is lacking is the lack of vending machine sounds. While some players may have gotten tired of the “Circus of Values,” I felt that it added character and charm and I was sad to see it go.

The soundtrack is equally fantastic, with the ending scene’s use of violins being particularly moving and effective. Really there are very few games in the industry today that can match Bioshock and its sequel for music. I only wish I had stumbled upon more jukeboxes or record players playing period piece music. There are few games that immediately merit the purchase of its soundtrack, and Bioshock stands alongside Halo and Uncharted and Uncharted 2 in this regard.

The characters of Bioshock 2 are very well done, and work well in the context of the world and the story. However, none of them quite live up to the bar of Bioshock 1’s characters. Cohen in particular was a standout of that game that has no equal in the second. That isn’t to say that Bioshock 2’s character’s aren’t memorable. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting Sinclair, Mark Meltzer, Grace or Gil Alexander anytime soon (not to mention Sofia Lamb and Eleanor.) It is unfortunate, however, how underused Tenenbaum is. She’s introduced at the beginning of the game and is then dropped off and you never see or hear from her again for the rest of the game.

Morality in Bioshock 2 is far muddier than the original. While the Little Sisters are as hard to kill as ever, the game does a much better job of showing you just what your deeds, be they evil or good, have wrought. Furthermore, the addition of characters, some who deserve death, whose lives are placed in your hands are a very nice inclusion, and add an overall more satisfying sense of morality than the first game.

The plot itself manages to really pick up in the last half, and it continues to grow in steam till the very end, where there is a very satisfying conclusion, not to mention one very special sequence near the end involving a Little Sister. The themes of family are terrific, and while there may not be a shocking twist like in the original Bioshock, that doesn’t mean that the sequel doesn’t have a surprise or two waiting for the player.

At this point, you probably know everything you need to before skipping down to see what my final score is, so I’m going to take the opportunity to talk in more detail about what I liked and dislike about specifics in the plot, as well as the characters, sequences and themes. Just skip on down past the second Spoiler Tag, and you should be good to go.

SPOILER ALERT

Okay, if you’re still reading and you haven’t played the game yet, you’re either an idiot or you don’t care about spoilers, which I guess is fine, but… man, I don’t know how you do it… anyway, here we go.

Something I really appreciated about Bioshock 2 was how willing it was to completely screw with its characters. Sinclair’s demise was very effecting to me, and I just stared in disbelief when he turned the corner as a new Big Daddy and placed his hand against the window. I’d never had the guiding voice of a videogame wrenched away and screwed up like that before. The fact that I had been with him and even friendly with him, despite his own flaws, for most of the game, and then I had to gun him down… it was a powerful moment.

Meltzer's Investigation Was Interesting

Perhaps as powerful was the peripheral tragedy of Mark Meltzer, who followed his abducted daughter down to Rapture, only to be captured and forced to choose between death and becoming a Big Daddy. I had been following his story ever since the teaser website “There’s Something in the Sea” was first posted, and to find out how he ended up, a dead big daddy, killed by my hands… wow. I can only hope that I managed to save his little girl in my time in Rapture.

Sofia Lamb

Gil Alexander was also one screwed up guy. He may have been morally askew, but he helped out Eleanor, and that was reason enough for me to feel sorry for the guy w hen I found out how completely messed up he’d become. Seeing his… blobby mass through that tube was very disturbing indeed.

The morality system was very well implemented, and I appreciated the fact that the good choice wasn’t a button press. The Little Sisters retain a strict dichotomy of good choice vs. bad choice, and you have to press a button for either. The fact that the good choice for dealing with Grace and Gil and Stanley Poole and so forth wasn’t a button press, it was simply walking away, gave it a more striking emotional punch. It should sound obvious, but whenever the gamer feels like they aren’t pushing a button, they’re committing an action, a game shows how good its storytelling is. I didn’t press the “good” button. I spared those people’s lives.

The very best aspect of the morality system, however, tied directly into the overarching theme of the game. Whereas the first game was more directly a critique of Objectivism, the second game is less a critique of Altruism (Or more accurately, Collectivism) as it is a celebration of family and relationships between parents and their offspring. The fact that the way you treat the people and the Little Sister throughout the game transforms the personality of your daughter, Eleanor, and the way she acts, is perhaps one of the most perfect approaches to the topic of parenting. Just as real parents, and their behavior, creates off-spring that often match (such as abusive fathers creating abusive sons or loving fathers encourage loving sons) so too does your action effect the way Eleanor sees the world. In effect, every Little Sister was your daughter, and the way you treated them translated into the person your daughter turned out to be.

Eleanor Lamb

I really can’t say it better than Charles Onyet from IGN did in his article, Building A Better Story In Bioshock 2. I highly recommend reading his work, and I agree with his viewpoint 100%. If it weren’t for a lackluster beginning and first half of the game, I would go so far as to say that the game is better than the original.

There were a lot of set pieces that I really enjoyed that weren’t set pieces in the typical action sense. Two that stick out in my mind in particular are the mysterious unstable teleporting plasmid (which I want to actually be a power in the next game,) and the section in which you briefly control a Little Sister as I hinted at in the main review. The teleporting plasmid was creative and hilarious (the plasmid bottle chasing the splicer was classic) and even a little creepy (the tonic room.)

The Little Sister Segment may be one of the best in the entire game, with a very interesting look through the eyes of the Little Sisters at the world as they see it. This segment also manages to introduce a completely new environment in a game that needed to set itself apart from the first. The only qualm I had was how hard it could be to pick up stuff you found lying around in that mode.

SPOILER ALERT ENDING

This Game's A Blast

Closing Comments:

Ultimately the first Bioshock’s story is better. Not because it tackles a more worthy topic (it doesn’t – the second’s topic is much more interesting,) but because of how perfectly wound and structured it was. If the second game’s narrative structure had been tighter and more effectively planned out, and if the characters had been as strong and as memorable as the original’s I would likely be telling you how 2K Marin did the impossible and surpassed the first game, right now.

While I am disappointed that, in the end, I can’t say that Bioshock 2 surpassed the original, I can state with supreme confidence that 2K Marin did a fantastic job. They not only captured much of the atmosphere of the original, they significantly improved the combat, and though structurally flawed, the story stands nearly as tall as the first with more compelling and emotional themes.

There are some people who won’t be able to look past the wonder that was the first game to enjoy the second one. To them, this game may very well be a letdown. But for any gamer that gives this game a chance, and for anyone who peers past the layers of similarity, you will find that Rapture is still very much a world worth diving back into.

STAR RATING:

Four and one-half Stars

[Via http://edwardcheeverreviews.wordpress.com]

Erick Erickson: "We've got Fox News" | Video Cafe

Farmville Secrets Revealed

2010-02-18T14:46:00.000+02:00

Farmville cheat codes

These Secrets Must be Revealed…

Farmville cheat codes are offered for coins, cash and expertise. Discover cheats for Farmville throughout the page below. Links to other Farmville cheats are incorporated within this page. Listed inside this web page are the speed cheats, along using the fastest growing plants.

Farmville is really a social game developed by Zynga, and offered on interpersonal networks and iPhones. Launched in June 2009, it grew to become one with the most well-liked applications on FB, garnering 10 million customers in much less than a month. This can be 1 from the most well-liked games about the largest social networking program within the world.

Within this MMORPG online game, you possibly can purchase the farm in a very good way. You find out tips on how to plough, grow, reap your harvest, and aid your friendly neighbors on this game. This game is for folks of all ages, and is easy to understand. Yes, players will come across some cheat codes, together with approach ideas and hints for everybody to make use of.

Zynga Farmville Cheat Codes for Pace

Clear a area inside your area of plots, you need to produce a wonderful area of land. Obvious nine spots inside a formation. Now ‘walk’ your person inside the middle of this section.

Go for the market, purchase the cheapest fences, and collection the fences about the man or women. Right after you have collection four fences down you may ought to change two of them. You can click within the fence when it is placed and turn it sideways. This efficiently blocks inside the human being and now you possibly can plow and grow much quicker.

This fence trick is super useful if you have a large amount of region to plow or grow. If you ever use other things to block in your particular person, she or he will stroll about the perimeter and proceed to plant or plow.

Facebook Farmville Cheat Codes for Crop Growing

Plants raise and ripen at numerous times. There is no solution to stop the crops from growing whilst you're out from your computer. Grow the crops that take for a longer time to get bigger when you go aside out of your laptop for a while.

If you might be planning on being out from the computer for 8 hours have a go with planting tomatoes, pumpkins, or sugar cane. All of these items are accessible at various levels and they can truly make the difference in rotting fruit. This saves cash and time from clearing rotted plants.

Crops get bigger and ripen at a variety of periods. There's no strategy to quit the plants from developing while you will be aside from your laptop. For that reason, plant plants, which take more time to develop when you head to bed or apart form your pc for extended intervals. This small time saves funds and time from clearing rotted crops. Much more Farmville Techniques coming soon!

Farmville is really a actual time farm simulation game offered as an application around the social networking website Myspace. The game enables members of Facebook to handle a virtual farm by planting, growing and harvesting virtual crops, trees, and livestock. Since its launch in June 2009, Farmville has grow to be probably the most famous online game application on Facebook with 56.1 million active users in October 2009.

You as well can now have much more income to:

Get Your Villa- I've currently bought a Villa as my residence… have you? Get it now!

Get Your Windmill and Greenhouse – Never once again be ashamed about your farm!

Own All Vehicles – Get the Tractor, Harvester and Seeder AND be able to pay for that fuel refills very easily!

Buy All Animals – Fill your farm with hundreds of creatures and watch them roam!

Raise Your Level- And expand your farm to a Plantation!

And so significantly more…

[Via http://georgesgregoire.wordpress.com]

Nintendo renews Eternal Darkness mark News | Wii | Eurogamer

It's Just a Game - Day 9/139

2010-02-18T06:28:00.000+02:00

I will dedicate today and tomorrow to fun and games, so it’s appropriate to share how I feel about games and playing.

People spend enormous amount of time and effort building their success in virtual worlds. Internet games have become the obsession for many. The peer pressure of the teammates and the feel of achievement makes people put endless amount of time and considerable amount of money to build something only exists in the virtual world.

So what’s wrong with the real world?

The real world is just a game like the others. The rules are more complex and the opportunities are endless but the very same principles work in the real world. Putting time to build your real life self is the only key to success.

Real world is too slow for my taste

This is what I’ve heard people say when they try to justify their character building in World of Warcraft, for example. But really, It all depends on what you decide to do. In the real world there is no limit on how fast you can build your experience or skills and there is neither a limit to different skills one person can master.

If you think your life sucks, you could try and play with it for a while. If really put your mind to it you will realize that the real world is actually the best game that will ever be made!

[Via http://millionbefore30.com]

Tim Wapshott leaves head of comms role at ELSPA | News

Herbert's Revenge!!

2010-02-14T14:49:00.000+02:00

Hey Agents!

It’s been over a year since the original Elite Penguin Force for Nintendo DS came out. We’ve heard that lots of you like it and you’ve even been asking if we’re making another one. We’re really excited to be the first to tell you about the brand NEW EPF game for the Nintendo DS that’ll be released mid 2010!! Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force: Herbert’s Revenge will have cool stuff you said you liked from the first game – and TONS of new surprises.

Since the team’s building it right now, we want to be able to show you some behind-the-scenes work we’re doing. Just for a start, here’s a sketch of something you’ll be seeing in the game…

What do you think – would you and your Agent friends hang out here?

In other news: A few months ago we posted an image of a mysterious penguin and we told you she’d be helping Agents sometime in the future. Some of you said she looked a lot like Dot the Disguise Gal from the original Elite Penguin Force Game for the Nintendo DS. You were right!! You’ve been asking more and more about a new mission and we’re going to have some news for you really soon. And yes – Dot’s involved…

Until then…Waddle on!

-Club Penguin Team

[Via http://clubpenguinm97.wordpress.com]

Shakesville: Great News

A Remote (iPhone) Controlled "Quadricopter" with AR gaming coming in 2010?

2010-02-14T03:02:00.000+02:00

It seems like every other day I learn about a new application for this phone or that. Today is no exception, well, except that it’s not just an application that has my attention. According to TUAW and Engadget Parrot is preparing to release a remote control 4-rotor helicopter, dubbed a “quadricopter,” baring the name “Parrot AR.Drone.”

The quadricopter is contolled from an iPhone (or iTouch) using its acceleromoter, and is connected through an ad-hoc network giving it approximately a 50 meter range. There are also touch screen controls to take off, ascend/descend, and rotate.

The AR.Drone has 2 cameras, one forward looking (which sends video to the iPhone), and one downward providing the drone its equilibrium and keeping it stable (running at 60fps). The drone boasts two ultrasonic transmitters for vertical stability, a three-axis accelerometer, and a two-axis gyroscope paired with a single-axis yaw precision gyroscope for good measure.

The actual price and release date remain a mystery. Although TUAW was told, pre-Macworld, that it would be in 2010. The guy’s from Parrot have only developed and tested it with an iPhone/iTouch, but have said that support for other phone platform such as Windows Mobile, Palm, and “others” would be likely. I seriously hope that by “others” they mean Android!

The foam body is apparently fairly resilient, and the drone only weighs 3/4 of a pound. If you fly out of range, the drone will take over and softly land itself, which is comforting as I don’t imagine this is going to be too cheap of a toy. The battery life, at least at the moment, is limited to a teasing 15 minutes.

“Control is really pretty simple: hit the take off button and the AR.Drone lifts off and then hovers at about 3 feet. The controls in the app include buttons to rotate left and right, a slider to climb, and a button that — once pressed and held — allows the iPhone to be tipped to tilt and fly the AR.Drone in any direction. If your WiFi connection drops while playing, the drove will stabilize and then land itself without damage or drama. Parrot’s demo games are fun, too — you can choose to fight against a computer opponent that you’ll see on your iPhone’s display (when you’re shot, your drone actually rocks back and forth) or dogfight with a friend.” says Sean Cooper, of Engadget.

[Via http://fonefrenzy.com]

Foreclosure "good" news may not be so good after all

Veronica Rivers: Portals to the Unknown Game

2010-02-13T06:25:00.000+02:00

Explore the mysterious Portals with rescue pilot Veronica Rivers in this adventurous Hidden Object game! Look for equipment and clues as you explore the world for a missing team of geologists. Exciting mini-games challenge you to unlock the secret power of the portals. Exotic and dangerous locations will test your eye and your courage as you come closer to solving the puzzle of the Portals!

Highly polished. Different twist for each level. Great story, graphics and audio. Items are relevant to scene. Good replay value.

Veronica Rivers: Portals to the Unknown

[Via http://topcasualgames.wordpress.com]

App Store Now Has 150000 Apps. Great News For The iPad: Paid Books ...

Five Things A Woman Should Have At Her Place

2010-02-11T14:49:00.000+02:00

“I got Alize at my house. I don’t drink Alize, but b*tches do.”– Katt Williams

All men have something at their place to help set the mood with the female company they entertain. Maybe it’s a bottle of Alize, like Katt Williams, or maybe it’s a copy of Clueless. Incense and candles are also common. The whole point of these things is to get a woman to feel comfortable enough to sleep with us.

Duh.

Women, on the other hand, never seem to have the comforts for men to enjoy.This is not to say I need certain things to get me in the mood. Trust me, the mere sight of the woman is going to be enough. But what a woman does need to provide for me is comfortable distractions.

Every time I want to leave a woman’s house, she wants to know why. Well, it’s not because I don’t like her. It’s because her place is boring as hell or it’s missing certain things I need.

Comfortable distractions can serve one of two purposes. For the women who invite me over for some platonic company, who don’t want to sleep with me, comfortable distractions are a great way to keep me focused on something other than her body. For the women who do invite me over to sleep with them, but would like me to stay for a while afterward, comfortable distractions will help me stay put. They won’t distract me from her, but they will distract me from what’s going on outside of her four walls.

Women, I’m sorry to say, are not enough sometimes. They, like me and my brethren, need to have the comforts too.

So ladies, consider this my Valentine’s Day gift to all of you. Five things you should have in your place to get a man to come over and stay a little while longer. Happy

Valentine’s Day.

HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS

This could just be my thing, but there is nothing like a woman who has high speed Internet, mostly because there is nothing more annoying than a woman who wants to show me a video on YouTube and it takes 15 minutes to buffer.

Everyone knows what I’m talking about. She’s all like, “Oh, watch this video.” Pulls it up, presses play, it runs for four seconds, then it starts buffering again. And then she’s all like, “Wait.” Then, she gets frustrated when she has to wait four seconds later for it to buffer some more. Meanwhile, I’m trying to cop a feel or kissing her neck, and she’s all like, “Wait, after this video. I just want to show you this.” And I’m thinking, Girl, I don’t want to see the video anymore! I barely wanted to see it when you started! Ladies, step your Internet game up. If not for you, for me.

PREMIUM CABLE

ESPN, HBO, SpikeTV, and Comedy Central. Every man I know likes at least one or two shows on one of these stations. Spike, for instance, always has on some classic man movie I like, like Rocky or Karate Kid. If a woman has HBO On Demand, I just might marry her. Nothing like catching up on my Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel or Entourage. And if a woman has Sportscenter cued up as I’m walking in her apartment, I’m definitely getting her a ring as soon as I finish watching the highlights. Never ever underestimate the power of good, quality television, ladies.

NINTENDO Wii/UNO/SCRABBLE

Because men are competitive creatures, we never ever back down from a challenge, especially if it’s put forth by a woman. I may not be coming over to play Wii Tennis or Scrabble or Uno, but if I decline the challenge and a woman says to me, “Oh, why don’t you want to play? You afraid of getting that butt whooped? Are you a b*tch?”, here’s what I’m going to do:

I’m taking off my shoes. I’m drawing a line on a piece of paper to separate our scores. The heading on my column is going to read “Chris Brown”. The heading on hers is going to say “Rihanna”. Then, I am going to whoop her butt at every game she owns. When we’re done with those, I might buy more games just to whoop her some more. I will come over every other day for a year just to let her know I run this place.

CHARGERS

This is how particular I am about keeping my phone battery charged.

When I meet a woman and we’re exchanging numbers, I always take a look to see if the charge port on her phone is the same as mine. If it isn’t, I make a mental note to try and have a full charge on my phone before I go over to her place because if I do run out of juice, I’m leaving.

“My phone is dying,” has become one of the best I-have-to-go excuses in recent years. But if she has the right equipment for me to charge my battery, that is at least another 30-45 minutes of chill time with each other. Extra points to the woman who also has an iPod charger.

SNACK FOOD

I have a boy who loves Gushers. He buys them in bulk at Costco, that’s how much he loves them. And he once told me, “Man, if a woman had a box of Gushers at her crib, I’d move in with her.”

Ladies, take note.

I understand times have changed. Most women don’t cook like they used to. They work all day and come home tired. So yeah, I know, a woman cooking for a man, we’re sort of off that in 2010. But that doesn’t mean I’m any less hungry. Got some chips? An apple? Remember ladies, the idea is to keep a man there. If a woman gives me any reason to make a quick store run, she’s basically giving me reason to leave and so she shouldn’t be surprised when I hit her from the corner store talking about, “Hey, look, I’m kind of tired, so I’m just going to head home.” Unless she’s smart enough to say, “Hey, while you’re out there getting that pack of Famous Amos, get some condoms too. The 12-pack if they have them. We’re going to need them.”

[Via http://untiligetmarried.com]

What News Stories Are 'Awesome'? - The Learning Network Blog ...

The Codification of Game

2010-02-09T14:40:00.000+02:00

From Obsidian’s round-table discussion of predictions for the decade ahead; I wrote, pertaining to Game:

Game can take two tacks. It can go the Mystery Method route (I’m talking about the more flamboyant type of Game that Mystery himself practices). This is unsustainable [as anything but a fad] as even a couple of peacocking PUAs in any setting will raise red flags and draw too much attention. MM is successful in the same way that guerilla warfare is successful. It’s about the element of surprise. Once the surprise is gone, the lifting power of MM is gone.

Game as represented in a dynamic psychical shift is much more powerful. We speak a lot of pedestalization. At one point, men and women occupied pedestals of equal height and directly beside each other. It strikes me that men were the first to be de-pedestalized by women. They don’t need us in the same ways that they once did. They kicked us off the pedestal and either stood there alone or put some monolithical alpha male up there in our place (i.e. government). From then on, men have displayed lower value than women.

What’s the solution? Either men regain that perch or they take a big-ass mallot and destroy the perch that women occupy. The latter is the more feasible option since a side-by-side setup implies that each person needs the other, yet we know this is not true in today’s age. Game is most potent for men in that, through a social ripple effect, they alter the way they treat and view women. Subtle change on the part of each and every man is more powerful than 180 degree shifts. 180 degree shifts by men are met with 180 degree shifts by women: yin and yang and all that shit.

So Game won’t be dominant; it will be subtle and unnoticed. It will fly under the radar, but the conscious awareness of a different way to behave will have strong social effects. The power of Game comes from the marginal shift in men’s presuppositional beliefs about women: eradication of one-itis, full belief that there are many more options, no White Knighting and clouding of judgement, no fear of being labeled a jerk or an asshole if that is true to your nature.

PUA-type game is some extension of straight-forward “I want to fuck” Game. This type of Game works well on young girls who have never heard such confidence and straight-forwardness before or women who haven’t heard it in quite a while. It succeeds because of its novelty, but this novelty loses its lustre quickly. Women aren’t stupid; if they experience this more than once they’ll take note and the method will lose its charm. Game’s more hidden effects are more potent in the long-term.

But…the most important facet of Game – and the reason Mystery, Style, Roissy, and Roosh are highly esteemed by many guys like me – is that it has now been codified. People tried to act in accordance with the Bible before Constantine got his Book published, but not many people knew that much about how they should act. When “The Law” was written in stone and became a system it provided a historical record. People could point to it and say “See, here it is, this is what you should do.” This may seem like a ridiculous analogy, but the same thing applies to Game. We now have a system by which we can say “See, this is what you should do.” Whether the exact tactics are correct or not aren’t as important as the fact that there is now an awareness about Game and the fact that there is a proper way to handle women if you want them to respect you and be attracted to you. Awareness is the first step toward empowerment – whether in the spiritual or the relationship realm.

In the future I’d like to revisit this theme – the Codification of Game. Game has always existed among men and women. There have always been things that worked and haven’t worked so well. It wasn’t until the word “Game” was spoken and written about that we could unshackle our minds to think about it in its complete form. In the past, there had been no central directory for us to compare notes to come to a final set of principles. We had only operated on myths, fairy tales, and word of mouth – hardly anything that most people with short lives to live could hang their hat on.

[Via http://glpiggy.wordpress.com]

zoomIt brings SD card access to iPhone, iPod touch | iLounge News

Bayonetta

2010-02-07T14:49:00.000+02:00

After hearing generally very positive things about ‘Bayonetta’ I decided, if I could get it for sub-£30 I would check it out and see what all the fuss about. The truth is, I bought this game having not read a single review. I based my decision to buy purely on the perfect scores given buy two very respected videogame magazines (Edge – 10/10 and Famitsu – 40/40)

First impressions of the game were very positive. The graphics are stunning. One of the best looking games I have ever seen. Everything is very sharp and moves at an incredibly smooth rate. The gameplay is very smooth and intuative – very easy to pick up and play (even if the very fist battle does leave you button mashing until you begin to understand.

Essentially, the game is a 3rd person hack/slash/action game which sees the player (as a sexy evil witch) move from one huge boss battle to the next with cutscenes, smaller fights against multiple opponents and occasional ‘puzzels’ and platform aspects inbetween’. The narrative, cutscenes and action in this game is absolutely bonkers, and will seem very odd to a western audience not knowing what to expect.

There are a large number of moves and combos, many of which are easy to pull off even for an average player. put simply the gameplay and combat action in this game is of the same high standard of the graphics.

Next up, the music – this could potentially be a point of contention – but personally I LOVE IT. Fits perfectly with such a down right bonkers game. Its kinda electronic jazz music that starts up at very battle. Sega also salutes ‘Out Run’ by borrowing the arcade racers soundtrack at one point. genius! oh and lets not forget a J-Pop cover of ‘fly me to the moon’ that keeps rearing its head throughout the game!

about 4 – 5hrs into this game, I did start to wonder something… Having initially been very impressed, i began to ask, is this all there is? cutscenes followed by boss battles? and my enthusiasm did start to drop. I wanted more substance from the game – away from the combat aspect. And while the game does dish that up in small doses, it would be deluded to call this game a ‘platformer’ or to have any such expectations.

In conclusion, this game is great fun, and i would definitely recommend to all. I could not justify giving it top marks, simply because it didnt affect me in ths same way that my ‘top marks’ games do: TLoZOoT, shenmue 2 – which you could say are ‘richer’ games with more depth and substance. But that doesnt take away anything from bayonetta, i can simply not put it on the same level as those titles. I am however very glad that Edge and Famitsu DID give perfect marks to this game , or else it would never have come onto my radar!

9/10

[Via http://xboxlivewire.wordpress.com]

First thoughts: Good/bad jobs news - First Read - msnbc.com

When the Saints Go Marchin' In...

2010-02-07T06:03:00.000+02:00

The New Orleans Saints are going to the Superbowl! I still can’t believe it’s finally happened, but I’m so excited! Tomorrow’s game will be a special time for thousands and thousands of fans. This is the day fans have been waiting on for years! I’m so glad I get to watch the game (on television,) but I sure wish I could be back home with friends and family to share this special day. However, I will be watching the game with my very best friend and some new friends out here on the West Coast. We’ll be representin’ with our black & gold and fleur de lis gear!

Whether the Saints win or lose this game, I consider their 2009 season a total victory!

Enjoy the game, everybody! Who Dat!

[Via http://melissaberhel.wordpress.com]

Viral Video Chart: Charlie Brooker on TV news and Super Bowl ad ...

Spelling Practice Game with your word list

2010-02-06T06:07:00.000+02:00

Website Review by Delana S

Growing up I loved getting the scholastic leaflet from my school and reading about the new books and games coming out. When my boys were small, I used scholastic phonics readers to help them learn to read. Scholastic.com is a great site with much to offer, but my main reason for posting it today is a great spelling opportunity. Kids or parents can input 10 spelling words and play two cool games with their words to help them learn the words in a fun way. Check it out!

http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/spelling.htm

[Via http://theeducationcafe.wordpress.com]

Dallas Stars Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas ...

Jack en Poy

2010-02-04T22:22:00.000+02:00

I remember as a child we used ‘jack en poy’ to resolve many of our conflicts. To determine “kung sinong taya”. To decide who’s going first in the swing. To settle who’s going to get the last piece of the bukopie left. The winner gets all, and that’s the end of the story.

I employed ‘jack en poy’ long after my childhood. I remember when we were 4th year Medical students and when we were on call as medical clerks, if my partner and I were both very tired after long hours of duty, but there were still tasks to do, we would take our chances on settling it by ‘jack en poy’ . I end up doing the task most of time as I recall, I just don’t do well in jack en poy. Funny, that up to this day I sometimes use this to resolve conflicts in my home. I let my son and daughter do the ‘jack en poy’ (they call it “rock, paper, scissor” here) to decide who will go first in playing Wii, if they cannot settle it among themselves.

If only life conflicts can all be fixed by ‘jack en poy’. If only we can settle our differences with a flick of the hand, it will be much simpler, not to mention much less expensive. We will do away with the counseling, mediators, lawyers and courts. Perhaps I can try to challenge my neighbor to do ‘jack en poy’.

(Tanong)

Fill in the blank: “Jack en poy, hale hale hoy; sinong matalo siyang _____”.

A. Kenkoy

B. Baboy

C. Unggoy

D. Bad boy

(Pirmahan ang inyong sagot, lakipan ng dalawang tansan, isama ang inyong suking tindahan, at ihulog sa………..basurahan.)

[Via http://iowapinoy.com]

Facebook Has All The News That's Fit to Share – GigaOM

Pre-Game, Was it ND or Alabama, Copper, CDS Spreads

2010-02-04T14:47:00.000+02:00

It looks like the market is still in waiting mode or better yet pre-game mode. When I was on the floor of the NYSE, at times like this, it almost felt as if everyone was at the starting blocks of a big race. You could almost feel the anxious glances as the racers(traders) would check out the other participants to see if they would bolt from the blocks early and head for the exits.

Copper was again front and center as the red metal fell 3% again yesterday. The move lower belies the economic uncertainty being felt in the U.S. and Chinese markets as China continues to try to dampen lending. Here is a chart fromwww.metalprices.com this morning on Shanghai copper inventories. The inventory levels are 2.5 times the level of last February and March. Not the sign of an expanding economy.

We had surmised that the market would find resistance at the 10,300 level on the Dow and the high was 10,307. If the market breaks down through 10,000 the next support level will be 9,700. The dollar continues its move higher as the Euro is still struggling with the fiscal problems in Greece. Sovereign debt (the public debt of nations) may be the sub prime of 2010. Greece is looking to the EU for a bailout and may get it. But, as we said in earlier posts, the market is starting to see this contagion of sovereign debt expanding into Portugal, Spain and Ireland.

CDS spreads are traded instruments which represent insurance policies on the rate of default of a security. Basically, you can buy an insurance policy on a debt instrument to insure if it goes into default. The higher the price goes the more people are willing to pay for that insurance indicating a higher chance of default. CDS spreads on Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland have risen to uncomfortable levels indicating a rising chance of default. The dominoes are lining up and any mass social unrest or strikes in Greece could be the match that lights the fuse.

Arthur Cashin has drawn my attention to some interesting research notes on worldwide water consumption and its effect on worldwide economic growth. I hope to delve into that further and its implications.

Answer: The only college football program with 3 Alumni who are Super Bowl winning Quarterbacks is The University of Alabama. The quarterbacks were Joe Namath, Bart Starr and Kenny Stabler. Notre Dame, BYU, Purdue and Stanford all had 2.

Today’s Question:Ken Norton Jr. played on 3 straight Super Bowl winning teams. Can you name the player who played on 5 straight Super Bowl losers?

[Via http://terencereilly.wordpress.com]

News Corp. Murdoch: Content Is Not Just King, It's The Emperor ...

Game - Shake (Produced By Cool N Dre)

2010-02-04T06:33:00.000+02:00

“But this bitch in my bed got this double D’s that SHAKE. And a ass like Trina when I smack it, it SHAKE“

Words cant describe this song. It is very ridiculous to say the very least. I would say it is pretty hit or miss; mostly miss. Not suprising with the beat coming from Cool N Dre. The track is from R.E.D. Everything mixtape with DJ Drama.

Download: Game – Shake (Produced By Cool N Dre)

[Via http://onthenextstep.com]

Why We're Losing the News | The Intersection | Discover Magazine

Golden Trails: The New Western Rush – the game with Western theme!!!

2010-02-02T14:27:00.000+02:00

Feel the amazing atmosphere of Wild West in the latest hidden object shootout. An impertinent bank robbery agitated a peaceful life of a provincial borough. Who dared to break the law? It’s up to you, a local sheriff, to investigate the crime. In hot pursuit of the gunslinger you’ll scour gold mines, hazardous chasms, wigwams, wild prairies and even pay a visit to a governor of the state.

Experience the spirit of adventure, meet iconic western characters, find faithful friends and true love on the Golden Trails: The New Western Rush. Pursuit, shootout, gold hunt, intriguing story and the romantic of Wild West will win the hearts of hidden objects fans.

Golden Trails: The New Western Rush – the hidden object game

[Via http://gamestodownload.wordpress.com]

Iwata to "show" Wii Zelda at E3 News | Wii | Eurogamer

Explore your library

2010-01-31T22:36:00.000+02:00

I just read David Lee King’s post about Foursquare and Libraries and I’m intrigued. Foursquare is a location based social networking game that encourages you to explore your city by “checking in” when you visit various places. You can see who else has been there, add tips, tags, and to-do lists, and earn points and badges depending on what you do. For example, the first time you use FourSquare you get the Newbie badge. After 10 check-ins you get the Adventurer badge. Visit a place more than anyone else and you become mayor – at least until someone unseats you.

Like many social networking sites, FourSquare had definite potential for libraries. After all, shouldn’t visiting your local library be a key part of exploring your town? Your library can add to-do lists for patrons – like get a library card, check out 5 books, or attend a workshop. You can also add tips like free wi-fi, closes at 6 on Friday, new video game collection, and so on.

Many businesses have already realized the potential for FourSquare by offering rewards to loyal customers. These generally are along the lines of a free drink for the mayor, or free fries to anyone who’s checked-in more than 10 times. What if libraries offered similar rewards? Perhaps a waived fine, free book from the book sale, the ability to check out an extra DVD, or even just recognition on the electronic message board.

[Via http://asleepinthestacks.wordpress.com]

News Corp Pays $500M to Valassis in Price-Fixing Lawsuit | The Wrap

Sexy n Birthday in more than one Way

2010-01-31T14:46:00.000+02:00

“ I walked with a sense of unfamiliar pride, uncertian yet strangely well deserved. It felt good to go out, with a newly found rush of confidence. Feeling good, looking good, talking smooth and letting loose my true power from within, after years of depraved sociality, I knew I had finally deserved it.“

Last night WAS a good night.

Yesterday was my friend Charlene’s birthday so I was invited over to her place, along with a bunch of friends to have some fun

We sang singstar, drank drinks, talked and jibba jabba.

Later in the evening we went out to Viper to dance and drink some mo, it was very fun, especially because we were so many people there together.

I am trying to learn the 3 different dance styles my friends Fletch, Jimmeh and Joey have invented. The Robo-flow( Fletch), The Looney dance( Jimmeh) and The Date-rape dance ( Joey). Combining those 3 dances and youre a star on the dancefloor… hehe.

Gonna try to show some moves for my next Vlog, just gotta find enough material to use…. EXCITING RIGHT!!??

PICTURES COMING LATER FROM PARTAY ^^

Today I was out shopping with my mother, and I got 2 new awesome T-shirts, one regular v-neck black and a SUPER AWESOME STAR WARS Tshirt!!!!!!1111!!!111

[Via http://greatlittlefortune.wordpress.com]

News: Iran, John Barrowman, Mexico City, Scott Roeder, Brazil ...

announcer-in-chief

2010-01-30T22:30:00.000+02:00

President of the United States Barack Obama talks to CBS annoucers Clark Kellogg and Verne Lundquist during a college basketball game between Georgetown Hoyas and the Duke Blue Devils on January 30, 2010 at the Verizon Center in Washington DC.

[Via http://chipsticks.wordpress.com]

PS3 finally gets Grand Theft Auto episodes | News

2D Game Developers Free Mario Vector Remakes

2010-01-30T14:37:00.000+02:00

Starting right now, my team of artists and I will be developing sprite sheets of old video game characters. Starting out with a comprehensive Super Mario Bros sprite sheet. You will be able to find the art for preview and download on my Art page. But you will have to wait, because this is supposed to be a few week long project. So if you are interested in using very high detail graphics in your 2d platformer, just subscribe to this blogs RSS feed or even as a member if you like. Then I promise I will personally let you know when you can download these gems. Here is the sprite sheet we are remaking. I hope you like it!

[Via http://kadajett.com]

Facebook Wants To Be Your News Source | WebProNews

Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrent

2010-01-30T06:54:00.000+02:00

Mass Effect 2 (2010) To download this torrent, you need a P2P BitTorrent client like Vuze. Download torrent: Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrent Alternative download: This download might also be available on DirectDownload (highspeed access 16 mbit), on Rapidshare Bookmark: // Info hash: 0b802c35e1d30cfbfe17239a90976dd36426ab2a Category: Categories > Games torrents > Windows torrents Trackers: 1 View all torrent trackers > Seeds: 17,988 Leechers: 215,990

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Torrent language: Russian Total Size: 12.70 GB Number of files: 2 View torrent files > More torrents: Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrents Torrent status: Checked by Add Review

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Uploader: ceo54

Torrent added: 2010-01-29 15:29:57

Torrent Description Жанр: Action (Shooter) / RPG / 3D / 3rd Person

Год выхода: 2010

Разработчик: BioWare Corporation

Издатель: Electronic Arts

Издатель в России: Electronic Arts

Язык (локализатор): Русский (ЕА – текст), Чешский, Английский, Испанский, Венгерский Описание:

Спустя два года после того, как командор Шепард отразил вторжение Пожинателей, у человечества появился новый враг, методично истребляющий колонии людей на окраинах исследованного космоса. Чтобы противостоять надвигающейся угрозе, легендарному Спектру придется сотрудничать с могущественной и безжалостной организацией *Цербер*, цель которой – любой ценой спасти человечество от уничтожения.

Для выполнения чрезвычайно ответственной и опасной миссии Шепарду предстоит собрать отряд опытных и сильных бойцов и принять командование самым мощным космическим кораблем в Галактике. Однако многие считают, что даже с такими ресурсами операция обречена на провал. Шепард должен доказать скептикам, что они ошибаются.

Особенности игры:

На карту поставлена судьба человечества

Создайте непобедимую команду, каждый боец которой обладает уникальными способностями.

Игроки, прошедшие первую часть Mass Effect, смогут загрузить сохраненные данные и продолжить историю командора Шепарда.

Приключения тех, кто только знакомится с вселенной Mass Effect, будут не менее увлекательными, – вторая часть игры еще более захватывающая, эффектная и динамичная, чем первая.

Победа любой ценой

Изучите основы тактики, освойте девятнадцать уникальных классов оружия и обрушьте всю мощь и ярость на врагов, используя улучшенную систему боя.

Новая усовершенствованная система управления, рассчитанная на динамичные сражения, позволит полностью контролировать обстановку и добиваться победы в самых сложных условиях.

Объять необъятное

Командуя космическим кораблем *Нормандия*, побывайте в самых отдаленных и опасных уголках Вселенной. Исследуйте таинственные планеты, населенные фантастическими существами.

Знакомьтесь с колоритными персонажами, выполняйте дополнительные задания, чтобы узнать больше о вселенной Mass Effect.

Особенности Digital Deluxe Edition

Terminus Assault Armor

# На 10% увеличивает штурмовую скорость

# Все оружие получает дополнительную запасную обойму

# На 15% увеличивает защиту

M-490 Blackstorm

# Мощное гравитационное оружие

Inferno Armour

# На 10% увеличивает навык общения

# На 10% увеличивает силу повреждений

# На 10% увеличивает штурмовую скорость

Нарезная снайперская винтовка

# Эксклюзивный игровой предмет Mass Effect 2 Digital Deluxe издания.

Броня Коллекционеров

# На 10% увеличивает скорость восстановления

# На 10% увеличивает штурмовую скорость

# На 20% увеличивает здоровье

Штурмовая винтовка Коллекционеров

# Уничтожает щиты противника

А так же!

# Официальный саундтрэк — 2 бонусных трэка в качестве эксклюзива издания.

# Постер известного артиста Craig Mullins.

# Видео файлы с закадровыми сценами и роликами о создании игры.

# Цифровая версия Сборника комиксов Mass Effect Redemption 1.

# Цифровая версия альбома эскизов.

# Уникальная карточка сети Цербер, открывающая доступ к дополнительным материалам.

Системные требования:

Минимальные:

-OS: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7

-CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 ГГц или аналогичный по производительности AMD Athlon

-VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 или ATI Radeon X1600

-RAM: 1гб (XP), 2гб (Vista/7)

-HDD: 15 Гб

Рекомендуемые:

-OS: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7

-CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6 ГГц или аналогичный по производительности AMD Athlon

-VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT или ATI Radeon HD 2900

-RAM: 2гб

-HDD: 15 Гб

Версия игры: 1.0.1593.2

Установка:

1. Смонтировать в DT

2. Зайти в папку Game и начать установку

3. Установить

4. Скопировать кряк в папку с игрой

5. Играть

[Via http://satyajitsen.wordpress.com]

Video: Comedian Charlie Brooker on TV News | Peter Kafka ...

Modnation Racers Closed Beta - Impressions

2010-01-28T14:22:00.000+02:00

As I write this I’ve just finished a race in my custom made car that contained my custom made driver. It’s unlikely anyone else in the world has either the exact same driver or car.

This is the big appeal of Modnation Racers for me – the complete customisation of the experience. Whether it’s car, driver or even tracks you are in control.

LittleBigPlanet meets Mario Kart: it’s the laziest and yet most accurate way to describe Modnation Racers.

You will create yourself a driver and car from a blank canvas. It sounds daunting but you could do that in 10 minutes because of the easy to use interface. You probably won’t though because once you start you feel an investment in them and before you know it an hour has passed.

For the beta you don’t have access to all the items in the ‘creation station’ (the place where the genius happens) but for now you won’t need them. For example, 8 sets of eyes are enough to choose from, let alone the 260 that will be in the main game.

The track editor is superb – effectively letting you drive around an open space creating the track layout behind you. It’s so easy to use when you get used to the menu layout that it’s possible to put together a great track in about 15/20 minutes.

Once you are set up you’ll be able to challenge people to a race if you see them driving round the lobby areas or head into the time trial or main races.

The main races feature weapons, all of which seem to be fairly well balanced, and it really adds a depth to the racing action.

Let’s not beat about the bush – Modnation Racers is the best kart racing game since Mario Kart… having said that there isn’t much of a challenge in that area.

It’ll be interesting to see how the feedback from the beta shapes the final product but for me this is so much fun and so expressive that it will be a definite purchase.

[Via http://greghorrorshow.wordpress.com]

Lane 9 News Archive: Industry News: FINIS Discounts Technical ...

All around

2010-01-26T22:32:00.000+02:00

Death seems to be all around right now. I went to the rink today to watch a game and found out that one of the men that stands behind me and my friends at the games died in a terrible accident yesterday. He made it out of the accident but died in the hospital shortly after arriving there. Me and my friends were deeply sadden by the news and the victory in the game was, and still is, over shadowed by his death. It was all to clear that someone was missing in the stands when the game started and I felt out of sorts the whole time I was at the rink.

Rest In Peace!

[Via http://jessicamari.wordpress.com]

Asia Pacific News – Japan's KDDI to buy Jupiter Telecom stake for ...

Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba game – Uncover a story!

2010-01-26T14:24:00.000+02:00

Three things stand between you and your children – a jungle teeming with danger, the ruins of an ancient Mayan tribe and a band of thugs – and you’re not going to let any of them stop you! Take the role of Joan Jade, archeologist of the year and mother extraordinaire, as she searches for hidden objects, solves mind-melting puzzles and beats one ingenious mini-game after another. Along the way, you’ll visit dozens of beautifully crafted locations, uncover a story of nail biting suspense and learn fun facts about one of the most fascinating lost civilizations on Earth.

Leave all your things, start playing! Ingenious puzzles await you, miracles, surprises, lots of colorful locations to search for items and precious trophies. Joanne Jade needs your help!

Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba Game Features

• 82 puzzles

• 30 locations

• 240 objects to find

• 19 trophies to collect

• 12 cutscenes

Take the role of archeologist in the hidden object game – Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba

Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba game screenshots

[Via http://besthiddenobjectgames.wordpress.com]

Latest confirmed Apple Tablet news: There will be no solar panels

Tales of Symphonia Dawn of the New World Review

2010-01-24T22:43:00.000+02:00

The story begins 2 years after the events of Tales of Symphonia with the main character Emil Castagnier and Marta Lualdi. The world of Tethe’alla and Sylvarant that was separated in the previous game has now been combined into one single unified world due to the actions of the Chosen’s group during the World Regeneration. However, even though the worlds are now combined into one there are strange weather occurrences happening all over the world. As if that was not enough, the Tethe’allans are discriminating against the Sylvaranti due to their lack of technological development. This type of action causes a battle to break out between the religious group called the Church of Martel from the Tethe’alla and the Vanguard, also known as the Sylvaranti Liberation Front.

One day a massacre happens in a city called Palmacosta due to the city’s association with the Vanguard. The Church of Martel uses this opportunity to wipe out the city’s population without mercy; this was called the Blood Purge. In the midst of the slaughter, a young girl named Marta runs through the city hoping to escape with a strange jewel. Unfortunately the girl is cornered by the Church but fortunate enough to be saved by a mysterious yellow haired boy. The boy walks away from the girl and the story continues when they are reunited 6 months later.

Tales of Symphonia had a complex story line for the genre at the time but not enough to dazzle any fans of the genre. Regardless of how gamers criticize Symphonia, the story is something that people remember very well as one of their fan favorites. As a result of this, a direct sequel called Dawn of the New World (or Knight of Ratatosk in Japanese) is created to further develop and tell what happened after Lloyd, the main character of the first game, and his friends finished their journey. Although the story doesn’t match up to the magnificence of Symphonia because of the lack of “epicness” and length, Dawn of the New World does a sufficient job enough to please the fans and satiate some of the RPG hungry gamers on the Wii.

The story’s main strength lies in the interaction between Emil and Marta, the two main characters of the game, and their relationship with each other. The conversations that they hold together and the actions that occur because of their bond is something that holds this game together regardless of how bad certain aspects of the game gets. Emil, the male protagonist, is a fascinating character in that he experiences dynamic change throughout the game and is very evident. Marta, the female protagonist, is Emil’s buffer and support and helps to complicate the story and the situation for the better. With all said and done, or with all things watched and heard, the game does a good job with the story on many portions, and even better than a few RPGs, but it has its shortcomings.

The main shortcoming to this game is that confusion will often occur if the player didn’t play the first game. Because this game is a direct sequel to it, players will need to have prior knowledge of the game in order to grasp certain aspects of the story and the drama that occurs later on, although optional. Even though the players can understand what is going on by browsing through online sources to find out what happened, or by listening in on some of the extra conversations offered throughout the game, this isn’t something that can be easily remedied unless you play the first game. However, this doesn’t mean that the story of the game is bad, the story is quite good and stands on its own feet, but this is a game meant to be played by the fans and understood bythe fans also.

The gameplay in DotNW is very solid, in fact there are few minor errors in the main formula at all, but there are technicalities here and there that ultimately bring DotNW to a second-rate RPG. The game is a very typical RPG with the player controlling a main character in an area and then goes into a battle when he runs into a monster in dungeons. The game utilizes typical RPG mechanics but adds in certain things into the mix to create an identity of its own.

One of the main things that the Tales of franchise has been widely known for is its fun and addicting battle system. They have vastly improved the battle engine from the previous Symphonia game but nothing compared to the new engine that Tales of Vesperia runs. The engine that runs DotNW is called Flex-Range Element Enhanced Linear Motion Battle System or FREE-LMBS in short. When a player runs into a monster in a dungeon, a battle will occur where the player is placed in a battle area with 4 characters. The player controls one character and the other three are run by an AI. The battle area is a very large circle with invisible boundaries. When battling with the character that the player controls there are two types of attack buttons which are normal attacks and Artes. Normal attacks are done by clicking the A-button near an enemy and Artes are accessed by the B-button with a direction on the Nunchuck joystick. The battle is very quick and very fast paced.

Along with the regular attack buttons players are granted a few more features that they can use in combat. When fighting an enemy the player fights a single monster on a linear plane, however, by holding the Z-button the player has the ability to Free-run wherever he chooses. The battle is very accessible with this feature and is a necessity. Along with the Free-run ability, Unison Attacks make a return in the game. Although, the depth of this feature has gone down it is still a very helpful feature. When attacking or attacked, a bar below the character’s status bars fills up. After the bar has been filled up a certain amount the player can Unison Attack. The last notable feature about DotNW is that monsters can be used on your side when battling. When Emil defeats a

monster in battle, he may have the option to make a pact with it and make it fight on your side. Although this feature feels a little gimmicky, it is a necessity when players are playing on the harder difficulties. The player has the option to evolve the monsters and teach it a variety of skills. The depth that the game offers in monster customization is very well implemented. Eventually, your monsters might even best the human characters that you might recruit later on in the game. When the player isn’t battling, he will control Emil and navigate him around the various areas that you will explore. These locations can range from a snowy city or a hot desert temple. Players can buy new items and restock on healing items in towns, while they may encounter grunt enemies in

dungeons to proceed through the plot. There isn’t much slowdown in the story at all due to its length and the gameplay flow is very consistent throughout. Each town has its own unique identity and the dungeons have a different puzzle that the player must figure out before proceeding to another area. Although veterans of Symphonia might find the rehash of certain areas tedious, the game stays consistent with many places staying the way it used to be. Unfortunately, the game has now World Map travel. To be more precise, traveling from one area to another no longer requires the player’s exploration of the world and instead uses a single button to go from one place to another. This “point and click” system on the world map cuts down major traveling time in the game but removes the fun and exploration of the world that many RPGs have to offer.

The mechanics that DotNW implements are well done and make the game very enjoyable. The battles are very satisfying and the amounts of sidequests or extras are enough to satisfy a game of this magnitude. The overall gameplay portion isn’t something that many previous games of the genre can beat but can be overlooked when compared to Tales of Vesperia or Final Fantasy.

Though there are many things to be praised about in DotNW’s gameplay mechanics there are minor problems that deter the game’s overall playability. There isn’t anything major that brings the quality of the game down but when the minor mistakes are added up, there seems to be a lack of refinement. The first major thing that can be noticed around 2 hours into the game is frame-rate. The game flows very very nicely through the game but there are portions of the game where the frame rate drops and the movements of characters become jagged.

Another problem with the game is the uncontrollable difficulty. The grunt fights are unbelievably easy for the player to complete the boss fights are considerably different. The first problem that the boss fights have is that the players will most likely die to them once or numerous times before actually beating the boss. This is due to immense amount of damage that the boss inflicts upon you. Not only that, but the recovery time given for you to escape chained attacks will not always be sufficient, causing your death. Skill is something that players will need but also patience, and maybe a couple of your friends to help with the boss fights. To only add the difficulty of the fights are the Mystic Artes. Mystic Artes are the ultimate moves granted to each player character in the game, and majority of the bosses. The move is virtually inescapable and will ultimately cause your

characters to fall to 1 HP. This is nearly unacceptable as the players will be harshly punished for the gap of difficulty between fights and definitely noticeable on the harder difficulty modes.

The last major minor problem that the game has is the length and feel for the game. The battles are smooth and addictive but the game feels very arcade-like at times and therefore diminishing the feeling of a console game. This isn’t a bad thing but if a game feels like this then there is something that gives less value to overall experience of the game. Other than that, the battle portion is very well-implemented and executed. The length is acceptable but is very short for an RPG. The flow of the game, as mentioned, is fairly consistent but at times it feels rushed to the point where the player is bombarded with a series of revelations and plot twists. This isn’t anything major and probably adds to the drama that the game offers but one can’t but feel a little lost and overwhelmed at times.

The graphics of the game isn’t something that will dazzle many players of the genre but is something that can be tolerated. The whole entire game is graphically consistent as the cutscenes and animations are all done seamlessly. There isn’t any change of graphical style other than the anime opening in the beginning of the game. The character models look great, more realistically than Symphonia, and the artistic direction of the game looks better than before also. The only problem that the game has visually is its lack of detail. This graphics engine could probably be used on the Gamecube but somehow Namco-Bandai decided that it was okay to use an “okay”

graphical engine. The graphics aren’t something that players will be puking over, but it’s certainly not the best that it can do on the system. The colors are vibrant but at the same time seem bland. The flashy lights still glow when using certain Artes but other than that, extreme colors are non-existent. Overall, people can’t complain about the direction that the game went graphically but one can always advise Namco-Bandai to use a better engine next time.

The sound in the game is exceptional and has come a long way especially when someone compares it to the original Symphonia. Music ranges from rehashes of Symphonia to new mixes from DotNW. The music that plays when

you explore a dungeon from the previous Symphonia can definitely be a remix of the original tune or the original tune itself. Regardless of the reusing of the same tune, the quality of the tunes is still great. Music doesn’t play a major emphasis on the players but is still something nice for them to hear time to time.

Character voices are done exceptionally well for this game and stands out as one of the strong points. Unfortunately people will compare the previous voice actors to the current voice actors and how the new actors are not good but when this difference is set aside the voices are good. Emil has two different personalities and both of them are portrayed very well. The other human casts have voices that fit their personality and their emotions are presented effectively. The major difference between this game and the previous game is the voiced skits. Skits are fun side-conversations that can be accessed throughout the game. The characters are very emotional in these conversations and the sounds of their hearts are excellently presented. Nothing bad can be said about the sound quality or the overall sound of the game other than the lack of emphasis

and supreme excellence.

The game is currently priced at $40 out of the $50 dollars for a full-priced Wii game. DotNW is very short in length only lasting about 20-30 hours on your first playthrough if you rush it. However, the game’s playability truly shines when the player plays through it a second time using the GRADE shop. GRADE is something that is earned throughout the game and with it players can use it to buy perks for the next playthrough such as inherit skills, inherits titles, and such. The game is worth playing multiple times and is very amusing for a quick run through such as reading a novel. For not being a full-priced game, DotNW is quite a grab.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is an excellent RPG with its own merits. The game is very amusing to go through and is very funny at times. DotNW offers something that not many RPGs can do right due to its own separate identity that it holds even though it is an RPG. The game’s battle system is very fun and action packed that can easily have a player addicted to it. The story is heartwarming, dramatic, and somewhat suspenseful. The graphics and animations are amazing to look at, especially during cutscene fights. The sound is outstanding due to the great work put by the voice actors. Last but not least, the value that the game has with only $40 is quite a deal. With nearly everything said, Tales of Symphonia does more rights than it does wrongs and the wrongs that it has can be easily overlooked when you enjoy the game. Tales of

Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is an adventure that fans of the series will not forget

Triforce-News Final Score 82.0%

[Via http://triforcenews.wordpress.com]

AdMob: iPhone OS dominating Oceania, Western Europe markets ...

If I Knew Then...

2010-01-24T06:45:00.000+02:00

Today was an incredibly boring day. After getting to sleep in a little late, The Boyfriend realized he still had the keys from work. So he ended up having to take a cab up to the south end. Before leaving he was all like “If they have them, do you want me to pick up a Wii?”. Hells yes I did. Well then they didn’t have them.

The Boyfriend bought the kids a new movie and Super Troopers (which I’ve never had an interest to see, but he insisted that I’d think it was hilarious. I didn’t…), but didn’t come back with any other treats than beef jerky for me. So of course, I had to give him a hard time. I go “You didn’t get me anything?” and he felt all bad and was like “I looked and couldn’t find anything you’d want.” He’s partially right. All the things that I want, that aren’t a Wii or a car, are things that I don’t want enough to get right now.

But of course, I had to be right, and The Boyfriend was all like “I didn’t know what you’d want”, I had to be like “I’ve told you a ton of things that I wanted”, he says “Like what?”, so naturally I started thinking of things. Materials for my home management notebook for one. Though I automatically hated this idea, because it’s just a big fat reminder that I haven’t done anything more with the whole idea.

So I spent the better majority of the morning-afternoon, being bored and thinking about how much I wish I could’ve been playing a Wii. Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers. Patience is a virtue. Blah blah blah…

Kaeidyn, Kenzie and Keirnan went to American’s and English’s tonight with Alfie, and The Boyfriend was sleeping, so Carter and I hung out on the couch for a few hours tonight. He barely slept at all the entire time, and was mostly in a good mood. He was very talkative. And I would talk back, and use my real laugh instead of my fake laugh when he would smile really big.

The Boyfriend woke up around nine, and Carter was awake and talkative, and started experimenting with his laugh. He’s coo, and then he’d get kind of loud. Then he’d hold his breath and let out with this puff of coo. He kept doing it over and over, like he was practicing laughing. It’s amazing how fast he’s growing up.

An acquaintance of mine, a great friend of Alfie’s, came over today. He hadn’t seen Carter since he was born. Right away, he commented on how huge Carter’s gotten. All the other kids took awhile to “grow up”. They were all premature and had no desire to be older than their age.

Kaeidyn, born 4 weeks premature, started rolling over and crawling around 5 months. She started walking at 9 1/2 months. Kenzie, who was technically born full term, 2 weeks before my due date, was about the same as Kaeidyn. He started walking later, closer to a year for him. Keirnan, born 7 weeks premature, started rolling over and crawling around 6 months and walking around 10 or 11 months. Carter is rolling over and crawling at 3 months (started at 2…)! He’s also teething alot sooner than the other three. They all started about the same time they started crawling.

Does anyone else seriously miss their babies being babies? I never experienced this with any of the other kids. But every time I look at Carter, I just keep thinking about my babies when they were babies, or more babies than what they are now.

If I could go back and re-do it all, I would in a heartbeat. I’d love to experience the whole trauma with Kaeidyn’s birth and the months that followed again, except for I’d like to deal with alot of the things that happened during that time differently. I’d kill to have my pre-Kenzie body back and the energy that I felt after having him. I’d go back to when Keirnan was in the hospital, and I’d spend more time with him, nurturing and caring for him.

I wasn’t present for the other kids like I am with Carter. Life was so hectic and crazy during those times. I almost feel bad when I give Carter all this love and attention that he gets, when the other kids didn’t get that when they were that age. With Kaeidyn, I went through a horrible bout of postpartum depression, plus I had had the infected c-section incision that lasted close to the first month she was home. I didn’t hold her as often as I could’ve, I didn’t play with her as much as I should’ve, I didn’t say “I love you” to her every single day. I regret that…

With Kenzie, I was caught up in boys and my version of partying (which trust me, is probably nothing in comparison to most people’s version of partying). He got alot more than Kaeidyn did, as I had spent two very serious weeks in a mental institution at the beginning of the pregnancy, and had much more control over alot of my emotions. Him and I bonded right from the second he was born, though as he got older, we’ve just kind of drifted apart. He’s too into his games right now (seriously thinking about putting a stop to the whole gaming thing for him for awhile), and I’m just not that into games.

Keirnan was in the hospital for the first month of his life, and I was living in a hotel with the two other kids. Mama T worked full-time, Alfie was out of town and I had no one else to rely on to watch the older kids daily so I could go visit Keirnan. I would go up about every three days, sometimes more. In the first week, it wasn’t that bad. I was only allowed to hold him for 15 minutes a day, I was pumping at home and bringing in bottles of breast milk.

When people started visiting him in the hospital, I would always say “He looks like he’s dead”. He’d be laying there, covered in cords, under his cloth sunglasses (he was under lamps because of his jaundice, which he went in and out of having the whole time he was in the hospital), just barely breathing. I’d reach in and touch him through the holes and he never flinched, never moved. Just laid there.

About 3 weeks in, I cried and cried, for the first time. I hate that I didn’t see him more, and that I didn’t cherish that first month more. I hate that I couldn’t hold him more. Now as he gets older, I wish I had more patience. He’s in that stage of learning to talk, yet having no idea how. He squeals and grunts and points. With Kaeidyn, she picked up on the talking really quickly. As long as she was told to slow down, she could get what she wanted across. Kenzie, I hardly remember what it was like when he started talking. It seemed like one day he couldn’t and the next day he could. Keirnan is just not picking it up at all, and he doesn’t slow down. I’m finding that I don’t do so well during this stage.

I’m glad that I have at least another 10+ years to make up for all the mistakes I made with my kids. At least I have the rest of my life to tell all the kids “I love you” everyday. And thankfully, even with all the mistakes I made, all my kids are healthy, happy and to me, their amazing. And even though I miss when they were babies, I can’t wait to see what their going to be like when they’re older.

Kaeidyn will most likely have a rotten attitude, just like her mother. I have a feeling that I’m going to go through alot of the same things my Mom went through with me with that girl. Kenzie, if he sticks with this gamer thing, will most likely be tied up in his bedroom, playing games and designing graphics. I could totally see him being a whiny emo kid (oh wait, he already is ). With Keirnan, it’s really too soon to tell. He’ll most likely be like Alfie was growing up, except Keirnan will do it better. For every bit of devilish destruction that Alfie participated in, Keirnan will destroy twice as much. Alfie was/is a wannabe ladies man, Keirnan will be a ladies man. I’m hoping one of them will be super musical, maybe it’ll be Carter.

Well I had planned for this to only be a short post, but looks like that plan didn’t turn out as planned More again tomorrow, only a week and a day left before I’ve officially completed NaBloPoMo!! YAY!!

[Via http://rantingsofatorturedmind.wordpress.com]

The Morning News: Dr. Tiller, Port of Seattle, Bernanke, and Dead ...

Borderlands Review

2010-01-23T22:32:00.000+02:00

Developer: Gearbox

Publisher: 2K Games

Genre: Role-playing shooter

Released: Fall 2009

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Windows

First off, As someone who has played this game for over 50 hour there are still moments of genuine joy while playing this game. For any veteran of the FPS (First-Person Shooter) the controls are intuitive and easy to pick up. The total first person newbie, might have some difficulty navigating the 3rd person environment at first, but trust me the initial disorientation will be worth the experience you are about to have.

The player is one of the four vault seekers here to kick all the ass on Pandora and claim the mythical vault as your own. Legends abound of the wealth that the vault contains, but the path is littered with pitfalls and perils. The four seekers of the vault are; Lilith, the siren who specializes in her phase walk attack, Roland, the Soldier, whose turret actually makes it feel “like there is a another solider on the field”, Mordeci, the hunter, whose pet Bloodwig tears his foes to shreds, and Brick who loves to use his fists to get the job done. Playing as one these four and the action starts as the player is familiar with the HUD.

This game is fast-paced and action packed FPS RPG (Role Playing Game) with enemies constantly testing your mettle. The player will find it hard to ever have a moment of boredom while playing and then there is the loot! The player is always on the prowl for the next awesome gun or piece of equipment and the player will find it. The player will sometimes find themselves exclaiming in unison with their character when they find their next piece of ‘Phat Loot’. The game even allows the player to play multiple playthroughs with the same character if they didn’t get enough as they gunned their way through the wilds of Pandora the first time. The player even has the option of having up to 3 other people help on their adventure.

The game does have a few glitches. Sometimes you can get stuck and the in-game menu is somewhat clunky especially in split screen. However, you don’t spend much time in menu and a quick reload with get you unstuck anyway. You probably won’t lose anything anyway because the game auto-saves seamlessly and often.

Gearbox has created a strong game with this release with only a few minor glitches. Their implementation of the FPS with just a dash of RPG is a truly addictive combination.

4 out of 5 stars

[Via http://paradoxesandpies.wordpress.com]

Helen Duffett: News reviews - and a digestion question

Remix Update

2010-01-23T06:42:00.000+02:00

Hey everyone. Just thought i’d tell you all what’s up with the remixes so far.

Shinra has been put on hold- I’ve run out of inspiration for it, so hopefully it will come back soon.

Fighting remix has been through it’s first panel review, and mostly positive but I’m stuck on whether too add it to another remix or to have a second part to it, So it’s..on hold too.

The Chocobo remix so far is kind of failing, but It’s not being forgotten and it is on my list of priorities to finish.

The Kairi remix on the other hand is on a more positive note. The first part of it is done, and today I thought of mixing it with Xion’s theme and Namine’s. Namine’s theme acts as the interlude beetween Kairi and Xion’s pieces, and it runs of Kairi’s theme very well, so it makes it easier for me. I need to make sure Namine’s theme sounds like Kairis in terms of instruments, so I’m working on a Saxastrumpet (my homemade synth instrument that is a Saxaphone with Trumpet traits..) tune for Namine. Xion’s theme I’m hoping will be relatively easy…if all goes well I might even make Xion’s theme run into her boss theme, but that’ll be a pain to remix. So in terms, This remix is possibly my best.

I might collabarate with a few other artists on OC Remix to help me get my Fighting remix done, and possibly the chocobo one.

Oh and, I did a little mock-up One Winged Angel Piano remix before..It’s not half bad actually. but I dont think I will release it, it might end me.

[Via http://echoraid.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: eBay, Starbucks, Goldman Sachs, Xerox ...

Aplus Production

2010-01-21T22:28:00.000+02:00

For all you G-shock fanatics, make sure you check out the ad for the z-shock dropping soon.

Make sure you check out more of Aplus’ work too as they do much from music videos to commercials and interviews. Fredo Tovar and the whole team keep it raw and real getting you stuck to the screen wanting to keep looking for more.

[Via http://alwaysugly.wordpress.com]

WSJ/NBC News Poll: 46% Say Health Overhaul Is a Bad Idea ...

Final Fantasy XIII

2010-01-21T14:00:00.000+02:00

First post brings four Final Fantasy XIII 4-koma manga. “koma” means panel, so 4-koma manga means 4-panel manga. Too easy.

Enjoy!

WordPress does not seem to have a thumbnail option which allows me to avoid giving spoilers. Kind of stupid, but I’m just linking the manga to their respective attachment pages.

Number 1-3 contains spoilers up to chapter 2, number 4 has up to chapter 5 (I think, can’t remember very clearly until I replay the game).

4-koma 1, 4-koma 2, 4-koma 3, 4-koma 4

The same manga also available in Japanese below:

日本語版の４コマ

１（第２章までの話が含む）

２（第２章までの話が含む）

３（第２章までの話が含む）

４（第５章までの話が含む）

Please leave a comment if you liked any of them ^_^

Please don’t repost these anywhere without permission!

[Via http://macchaore.wordpress.com]

Tiger Woods in Mississippi latest: Daily News says it's true ...

Fill in the Blank

2010-01-18T21:58:00.000+02:00

Below are the lyrics to “We Shall Overcome.” There is a different word missing from the paragraphs. Each paragraph has one word used throughout it.

We shall _____, we shall _____,

We shall overcome someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We shall _____ someday.

The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through,

The Lord will see us through someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We shall overcome someday.

We’re on to _____, We’re on to _____,

We’re on to _____ someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We’re on to _____ someday.

We’ll walk hand in hand, we’ll walk hand in hand,

We’ll walk hand in hand someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We’ll walk hand in hand someday.

We are not _____, we are not _____,

We are not _____ today;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We are not _____ today.

The truth shall make us free, the truth shall make us free,

The truth shall make us free someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

The truth shall make us free someday.

We shall live in _____, we shall live in _____,

We shall live in _____ someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We shall live in _____ someday.

[Via http://pjtampabay.wordpress.com]

Former Clemson Star Gaines Adams Dies - Sports News Story - WYFF ...

Hurricanes goalie scores for Hurricanes in 4-1 Victory over Waterloo

2010-01-17T22:40:00.000+02:00

from http://www.guelphhurricanes.com

PEGRUM LEADS CANES to 4-1 WIN

When GM Matt Mullin insisted that goalie Drew Pegrum be included in the huge deal that sent quality players Dan Mohle and Ken Rolfe to Listowel. He knew he was getting a quality goalie for the future. He didn’t know he was also getting a potential goal scorer.

Pegrum is 10th goalie in Junior hockey history to score a goal

Sunday afternoon in Waterloo with the Siskins goalie on the bench for an extra attacker Pegrum gathered in the puck and shot it the length of the ice into the open net securing a 4-1 victory over the leagues 2nd place team.

The game started out on a sour note when a routine shoot in by a Siskin defender deflected off a Hurricane’s skate and found the corner of the net behind Pegrum. If it rattled him you’d never know because he responded by stopping the next 42 shots the Siskins fired at him.

Waterloo known for their tough disciplined play had 16 shots on Pegrum in the first 8 minutes of the game. He was up to the task. Using a lightning fast glove and cat like moves he made save after save some of the incredible variety keeping the Canes in the game.

Guelph had their oportunities as well and finally beat goalie Will Sibley on a Cayle Creen pointshot that Jake Weidner(5th) deflected into the net.

Weidner(6th)scored again in the second period with assists from Martin Kudla and Conner Ste Marie.

Guelph was awarded a penalty shot in the 3rd. Taylor Lukasik(4th) beat Sibley with a nice move to give Guelph a 3-1 lead.

The Canes used a new found energy and shut down the high flying Siskins with a stingy defense and great forechecking. Then came Pegrum’s heroics to put the final score at 4-1.

This was a total team effort and the Canes were full marks for this victory. This was also a strong moral victory as the Siskins could be the Canes first round opponent. With every player involved in the play for the entire game the Canes have put 3 solid games together as they get ready for the upcoming play-offs. What a great time to be playing your best hockey.

The Canes get a schedule break for the next 3 weeks as they play 3 games all at home.

All Saturdays at the Victoria Road Arena. Next Saturday the hot Stratford Cullitons visit Victoria Road. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

[Via http://guelphhurricanes.wordpress.com]

Thibault Saunier: Good news about the Google Documents Gvfs Backend

Game

2010-01-17T14:51:00.000+02:00

I’m a big fan of game. I don’t eat it a lot, because I don’t have a regular source of it, but I very much value the idea of eating animals that have lived wild. I buy all my regular meat from the local butcher, and most of it is outdoor-reared or free-range, but the ultimate has to be eating meat from animals that have lived most or all of their lives in the wild, right up to the moment of death.

A couple of weeks ago a friend gave us a pheasant. We hung it in the shed (from what I’ve heard and read, I wouldn’t recommend hanging a pheasant for two weeks unless you want it really gamey, but for most of that time the temperature has been around or below zero!). And yesterday, after we did a bit of research on the Internet and using the River Cottage Meat Book (a fascinating read I’d recommend to all meat-eaters), I prepared the bird. Here are some photos (I picked the less gruesome ones!):

First, I removed the wings, legs and head, and pulled out the tail feathers. The crop was full, which was really interesting – we could easily tell that her final meal had been barley and beechmast! Then I made a slit in the skin on the breast and skinned it – it was really very easy (and I’ve never skinned anything before!). The skin just came off, feathers and all, as if I was stripping off clothing – it was weird (but fascinating) to pull the legs through and see them all naked and pink! Then I gutted it, which was also easy – just a matter of scooping out all the innards. I saved the heart, because I’m actually taking a sheep’s heart into school to show to my second years this week, so I thought they might like to see a pheasant heart too!

When it was all prepared, I cooked it using a friend’s delicious method: shallots, cider, a bay leaf and some thyme, and simmered it for about 40 minutes. I added some chunks of apple about 5 minutes before the end (I was surprised by how quickly the apple cooked). Just before serving it I threw in some cooked bacon and stirred in some sour cream. It was lovely with some veg and mashed potato and there was enough left, with plenty of sauce, to have with bread as a sort of pheasant soup for lunch today.

I’m all fired up now to try cooking more game. I’m pretty sure the butcher in Bridge of Allan has wild venison. Apart from that, I’m not sure how you go about sourcing game – any ideas?

[Via http://birdwoman.wordpress.com]

Heidi Collins Leaving CNN | All About News And News

Forza Motorsport 2

2010-01-17T06:34:00.000+02:00

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: Microsoft Game Studios – Turn 10 Studios

Genre: Racing Simulation

ESRB: Everyone Age

Talking about racing games, especially racing simulation genre, enggak get away from big name Gran Turismo. This game seemed to open her eyes when racing game that required attention to detail. Starting from graphics, to the ability to play his game.

And the formula is tried repeated by several gaming titles and circulation. Primarily on next-gen consoles, like Xbox 360. A review on IGN.com website mentions that speed matters Burnout talking about the answer. Then if things look cool Project Gotham Racing are looking for. And if it’s a car, then buy the game Forza Motorsport. At least no driving simulation game that combines all three. (look cool, cars, and speed).

But now comes the answer. At least with the presence of Forza Motorsport 2. This game provides the line-up of super-car lot. More than 300 brands of cars. And of course graphic factors need ditanyin enggak again. Understandably this game running at speed 60 frames per second. Although in the end we played a finesse game that became a reference, it still only see the graphic, we are ecstatic made!

Unfortunately so pursue perfection, many details had to be sacrificed. A few little things like details enggak dashboard so visible. Compensation running at speed 60 frames per second, this game trying to produce images that are always maximal. So do not be surprised when the race, always during the day and the weather that we face is always bright. This is intentional, I’ll back ground sky and clouds can look very detailed.

After all, the lack was soon covered with other details enggak lost exclaimed. Damage is usually “dilewatin” just another developer, Turn 10 wanted to waste time for business details.

At least when looking racing game with a factor of “joy” that is more, this game could be the answer.

[Via http://reviewpreviewgames.wordpress.com]

Crowdsourcing News Inside Haiti | Global Health | Change.org

Video games and Controversy

2010-01-16T22:35:00.000+02:00

Let me start this one of by saying sorry, i haven’t blogged for about a month now and therefor I wanted to come back with a bang! Or actually I’m not, I’m just going to link to a video that I found entertaining and interesting.

But before that: As some of you may (or may not) know, my favorite pass time is Video Games. It’s my hobby and has always been, I played videogames while growing up, and I play video games now… it’s just what I do.

And I love it, I feel great when I sit down in my room with the newest addition of a game series I like, it calming and it’s relaxing, but even though that I’s my hobby and favorite activity, I can see its flaws!

Video games are a relatively young medium compared to movies or books, who for over 100 years have delivered anything, form dramas, thrillers and even comedies. I love and respect both of these mediums as entertainment as well as art. But what I don’t respect is that these two mediums get the attention they deserve, but Video games don’t.

If you would hear about the Wii on some show like Oprah or alike it’s all about the “Good Games”, Wii Fit and all that stuff, games that the local house mom would find attractive, and that is completely okay. Nintendo is marketing their console primarily to anyone, so it would be expected that the little white Wii would land at a talk show and all that crap.

Oprah had a Wii on stage… She played Wii Sports… And she enjoyed it… Fair enough, I wouldn’t expect that they would be able to review games like No More Heroes or Metroid Prime 3 so it’s cool.

But as soon as the media found out that there was a 30 second sex scene in the Bioware game Mass effect they were completely outraged!

It’s a porn simulator, it offensive, it’s harsh, it’s wrong… everything that could be wrong was wrong… why is this, 30 seconds of bare ass… is you look at a movie like … -.-” (god I hate so say this) American Beauty, you have a completely but naked chick lying in a bathtub filled with roses, you got weapons, blood, drugs and every other thing that your mom don’t want you to know about… but that movie is considered as a masterful piece of art…

But a video game, that features a certain (and damn hard to find) way to get a tini tiny sexual content. I can’t stand that a media that I honor and call a part of me, is just toys for people who are planning on somehow destroying the world.

On that negative note, I’ll leave you with a few videos about this subject, please comment if you got questions, corrections or alike. Thank you, and have a good day.

If you want to see more of these shows you can find them here:

Video Games and…: http://screwattack.com/shows/Video-Games-and

The Game Overthinker: http://gameoverthinker.blogspot.com/

[Via http://xakor.wordpress.com]

RFID News Roundup - RFID Journal

Pat Robertson Blames Haiti?

2010-01-16T13:58:00.000+02:00

People like him that uses Christianity to make his voice be heard as the truth with none factual statements makes my blood boil. “Seriously?” Earthquake happens in every country, so what he is saying is the whole world has made a pact with the devil. Therefore, that’s why we have earthquake with that magnitude.Or what if earthquake happens, because we have made people like Pat Robertson rich with the word of the lord and the lord is pissed.

Why Is Pat Robertson Blaming Haiti? – The Haiti Earthquake – TIME.

[Via http://victorgregoryblog.com]

The Longtail of News: When Should Editors “Unpublish” Online News ...

ahh ha!

2010-01-16T06:28:00.000+02:00

ahh!…. family time don’t you love it?! just a few hours ago my aunt and uncle were picked from the airport (by my grandparents!) and we met them at the a resturant called ROSSO’S it’s a local place and they inforce that by only buying food from the local farmers!! it’s a great resturant!! after that we went back to my grand parent’s house and played the “new moon” board game it is darn complicated! and we all were cracking up at the ridicously preteen questions!!!!

[Via http://velobelle.wordpress.com]

Dallas Cowboys Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas ...

Asteroids

2010-01-14T22:41:00.000+02:00

The video game “Asteroids” caused me to flunk algebra!

I don’t remember when exactly this game came out, but I do remember that I was obsessed with playing it at the local mall during my High School years.

Our one and only mall in Salem, Oregon had a video arcade called “The Electric Palace”. This arcade was a favorite hangout for a ton of the kids from my High School. One of the games that drew the kids in was “Asteroids”, a tame little game with minimal graphics by today’s standards in which you piloted your tiny little triangular “Spaceship” around blasting the daylights out of over increasing numbers of asteroids.

Simple premise and pretty easy to pick up…….and HIGHLY addictive.

A single game cost 25 cents. I estimate I spent about $13,823.25 over the course of my High School career playing the damn game!

The arcade was AlWAYS packed with kids after school and on weekends. This meant alot of waiting in line for your turn to play the games.

The arcade was NOT crowded during the school day. (Duh!) Our school had no truant officer. The arcade workers didn’t give a rip who was in there during the day. I hated Algebra.

You do the math.

Yup. I ditched Algebra every day in order to head down the block to the mall so that I could play “Asteroids” for one period a day. Because of “Asteroids“, I am pushing 45yrs old and have nothing above “bonehead math” on my educational resume.

But it was worth it!

I graduated from High School and soon found myself working for the National Park Service at the Oregon Caves National Monument as a Cave Guide. The guides all lived in a small building called “The Guide Shack”. In this shack was a small break room. In that room was a pool table…..and AN ASTEROIDS MACHINE!! Not only that, but an Asteroids machine that required NO MONEY to operate!

I had died and gone to heaven!!

A Whole summer of “Asteroids” for free, with no waiting, no skipping school, and with no failing Algebra grades to explain to the parents. Life was good!

My son has practically every gaming system ever invented and currently owns about 3,000 games. The visuals and graphics on these modern games are mind-blowing. They are all cool…..but give me a stand-up “Asteroids” game anytime and I will be happy.

What a great game!

[Via http://idiotflashback.wordpress.com]

News Corp. Wants To Bring Fox News To The UK | Disinformation

Tory's Shop 'N Rush: Bring in the big bucks in this high-speed time-management game!

2010-01-14T13:51:00.000+02:00

Tory’s Shop ‘N Rush (21 MB download)

When Tory’s uncle retires and leaves her his store, she wonders if she has what it takes to succeed in the retail game. Give Tory a hand by stocking shelves, cashing out customers, cleaning up after messy teenagers and helping old ladies remember what they want to buy. You’ll also need to keep an eye on the thief or he’ll steal your goods! Between shifts, you can spend the money you earned on additional staff and upgrades for your store. Keep your customers happy in Tory’s Shop ‘N Rush and you’ll live to play another day!

[Via http://pragmatown.wordpress.com]

News Quiz | January 14, 2010 - The Learning Network Blog - NYTimes.com

Just in Case - Modding the Wii (all-in-one) Part 1

2010-01-14T05:56:00.000+02:00

Welcome back viewers! Been a while since you’ve seen new stuff here eh? I’ve been busy with non-technophile things (GASP!! :O) but I’ve been working on a friend’s Wii trying to get it softmodded.

Normally I would’ve just done the same things I did to mine. But unfortunately his was an LU64+ console, whereas mine was one of the originals. Thus, a few things had to be done different.

So, as I was googling my way around the net, I couldn’t help but be irritated at how all the information was just randomly scattered in various forum posts, blogs, and other random pages, and it hadn’t all been collected together as of yet.

My goal is to remedy this situation by writing out a guide, step by step, on how to mod the Nintendo Wii….

Or, rather, it will be, once I get his Wii back from Nintendo. X.x

See, since things weren’t as tightly secured when I did mine, I managed to FUBAR my buddy’s console. It all went great, until I stubbed IOS60 x.x

Luckily, I can explain how to do the MAJORITY of the modding process, as I still have my notes. This will be a very abridged version, and I won’t offer any downloads yet, but for the impatient ones I’ll list the steps. If all you care about is playing your (legal) game backups, and not worrying about playing Wiiware or Virtual Console titles off your SD card, then this will get you there.

First of all, the console I was modding was using System Menu 4.0u, which is why stubbing IOS60 messed the system up. For 4.2, IOS70 is the one you need to be careful with.

Also, I will be explaining how to use an external drive with the Wii, as this is much easier and less expensive than burning backup discs.

Equipment you’ll need:

The Wii

2GB SD Card

External USB Hard Drive (At least 250 GB)

Gamecube Controller (or the equivalent that was made for the wii)

Step 1 – Setup your network connection. Most of the programs you’ll be using have a network install option, which is MUCH more safe than a WAD installation. If you don’t have a wireless connection…why are you trying to do this, anyways?

Step 2 – Use the Bannerbomb exploit to install BootMii and The Homebrew Channel.

Step 3 – Create a NAND backup using BootMii

Step 4 – Use the Trucha Bug Restorer to downgrade IOS15, Patch IOS36, then restore IOS15

Step 5 – Install Preloader v0.29. The reason for this is that it correctly patches your System Menu’s IOS so that it can properly load into it.

Step 6 – Install Preloader v0.30. This one fixes many of the issues that v.29 had, and also gives us a white background

Step 7 – Install cios36-rev16 (using IOS36, network install)

Step 8 – Install USB Loader GX (the channel/forwarder may or may not work for you)

Step 9 – Plug your HDD in, and open USB Loader GX. It will probably ask you to format. Do this.

Step 10 – Manage your disc backups either in USB Loader GX, or with WBFS Manager.

At this point, the only thing you CAN’T do is run DLC (or custom injected WADs) from the SD card that wasn’t downloaded from the Shop Channel. That was the irritating point to me, that I couldn’t run custom injected wads from the SD card, and couldn’t copy them back if you moved them to the SD card.

My attempt to fix this is what messed up the system. Apparantly you have to apply some sort of fix to the system menu’s IOSes. However, when I ran a patcher program to fix this, the HBC got flipped upside down and mirrored. Following their instructions to fix this problem is how I managed to download the stub IOS60 and render the system bricked.

Therefore, I guess I’ll ship it off and get a new one. Once I get the system fully modded, I’ll post a detailed guide. I think I’ll upgrade to 4.2 first though. I’ll probably zip up everything I used as well and Seed a torrent, so be on the lookout for that as well.

Cheers!

[Via http://chadanthony07.wordpress.com]

Palin Fox News Contributor: NYT Reports Multi-Year Deal

ShipoW! Scrabble

2010-01-12T22:47:00.000+02:00

A few months ago, I had my sister over to play some Scrabble on the roof deck. As I faced my Ph.D hunting opponent, her eyes still bleary from incandescent library lighting, a word occurred to me that would forever tip the scales of the game. Being a scrabble enthusiast, with a “metaphor” dropping Bingo in my highlight reel, I do not say this lightly. But before revealing said (or tiled) word, a bit of explaining and scene setting is in order.

One of my roommates is quite given to bouts of enthusiasm. He also has tremendous, at times almost stubborn, focus. When these two personality traits collide, beware the project that has caught his concentration. Let’s just say that if he had a background in medicine, a stubbed toe would be about the greatest of our concerns; there would be no disease left to cure.

While he toils away, it’s hard to get a word out of him, and it’s understood to let him be. But it’s easy to know when he’s overcome his latest endeavor, as a resounding “ShipoW” will resonate throughout our home, followed by a detailed explanation of what was wrong, what he tried that did not work, and how he finally slayed the beast. Needless to say, ShipoW has become a token call of the house, no matter how minor the victory.

Which brings me back to the roof deck, and one of the oldest stories in the world: territorial sibling battle for game board domination. From veritable minefields of Pee-Wee Herman inspired contraptions to catch you with nets and marble triggered buckets, to beautiful houses where, no matter how refined or Dickensian the names on the guest list may read, someone always gets a lead pipe to the dome, and even amongst backdrops of cotton candy and pudding monsters, this battle has waged regardless of landscape, time, and worlds. This particular evening, it was over a grid of blues, pinks, and coveted reds.

As Churchill reflected, “History is written by the victors.” As I recall, I sat upon the roof with the stars shining brightly directly over my head, while, oddly enough, there seemed to be a rather overcast backdrop looming over the other side of the table where my sister resided. Odd, I know, but weather by the Pacific can be fickle. Anyway, I digress. As I sat there with an imposing and stalwart posture reminiscent of a mighty redwood, tumbling the letters over in my head, a word and opportunity occurred to me. It was an easy tempered game for once, perhaps maturity has in fact reached this final frontier, so I felt comfortable in the suggestion being well received and not seen as an opportunity to change the game to my advantage. Thus, ShipoW! Scrabble was born.

All the traditional rules of play apply. However, there is one very important addition. The Unabridged Oxford English Dictionary is of little to no consequence. If your letters can form a string that appears to you like it should be a word, it is. As long as you can craft a suitable definition that passes the critique of those with whom you are playing. You can be as elated as you’d like over your recent etymological unearthing, but if your opponents cannot see the benefit of a new word to be hacked and dismantled by textual harassment, it doesn’t fly. And oh yeah, if the word passes the committee, upon putting down the final tile, there’s a certain something that must be triumphantly trumpeted.

I presented the suggestion to my sister, and as we are not currently playing any game and so can admit that she is, in fact, awesome, she loved the new addition. Her excitement then floundered, if only for a moment, as immediately after she agreed to the latest terms of engagement my tiles hit the board:

“D-U-E-R-I-U-M. -noun: A state of delirium brought on by an overexposure to the Duey Decimal System. Common amongst library enthusiasts and graduate students.” It is also a Bingo.

ShipoW!

[Via http://platypussophysticus.wordpress.com]

Twitter: CNN Breaking News …

Do I see through pink glasses?

2010-01-12T06:12:00.000+02:00

I did some math, to check out how much we could get out of selling that arkanoid. Well… Results are rather pleasing for person who lives in such a poor country. :V People like to threat me like someone of worse kind because of my origin. Believe me, it’s not my fault that our government is simply speaking f*cked up.

We’ll have problems with taxes for sure, but you guys don’t worry about it. Polish tax rates are rather high – 22%. So, now to the main subject of this post: math.

Our arkanoid will be sold in low price of $2.99 (That’s my FINAL say). We assume that we’ll sell at least 1000 copies in the first month, that gives us $2990. Then, sales will drop down slowly from 1000 to 100 and less. That’s at least what I expect to happen.

We’ll have to pay nearly 30% of that to some companies, we’ll have 70% left. Then, we’ll have to pay 22% taxes. No more than 48% from this $2999 left. Not-so-nice result, ey? About $1439 to split between us and deposit on Lime Entertainment’s account with “company” funds.

Okay, I’m hungry so I’ll better go! Later!

[Via http://bagnohax.wordpress.com]

Vanguard News Online

The game that is dating...

2010-01-10T14:26:00.000+02:00

So I’m dating again….and it’s very frustrating to be at a loss at something you used to be so very good at. But these guys have the upperhand because I haven’t dated in almost two years and the things I was focusing on at that time were so on the other part of the spectrum. I mean these guys have been dating while I was on hiatus or at least in relationships so they have a clue.

And I find that I no longer have the give-a-damn to play the games that dating involves. I’m the type that if I don’t think it’s appropriate to say exactly what I think or feel, then I keep my mouth shut. I don’t like all this guessing stuff. Why can’t people just be like, “I like you. I’m glad we did this. Let’s do it again.” or “I’m really not feeling this at all but thanks for coming out.” Why is it, “I’ll call you.” Because I automatically go, “That dude just put me in his reserve tank.” Last time I checked, I’m not a ration….

I don’t know. Maybe I changed TOO much in the time that I was seeing to my family. And I’m not saying, “Oh, woe is me, please feel sorry for me.” I’m stating plainly that I have changed. Because I say what I mean and I mean what I say. And sometimes I tend to forget that others don’t share that mantra.

And then I get the, “What are you afraid of?”. I really hate that question. So let’s clear it up here….I’m not afraid of emotion. I’m not afraid to feel. I’m not afraid to put myself out there. But I reserve emotion for when it’s called for. I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve. I never have and I never will. I’m not going to go around and just throw it all out there. I’m reserved until I see that it’s time to drop my reservations or that my reservations no longer apply to a certain person.

See? It’s really annoying. This whole dating game thing. Because I don’t think I fit into it anymore. But at the same time, if you don’t put yourself out there, you’ll never get anything back. So what’s a girl to do?

[Via http://msdane13.wordpress.com]

Adebayor unhurt in gun attack - Manchester City FC

Movie Review - Gamer

2010-01-10T06:32:00.000+02:00

Hollywood in general seems no longer capable of making a decent action movie. For some reason, filmmakers now adopt nervous camerawork that makes every scene look like it’s being shot during an earthquake and frenetic editing that seems carefully calculated to cause an epilepsy fit. Not only this adds nothing at all to the scenes, it actually makes it difficult (in some cases, impossible) to see what’s going on.

You’d think Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the writers and directors of “Crank”, would avoid this style when handling a film that actually takes itself seriously. After all, “Crank” used its shitty, over-the-top visuals in a satirical manner which, along with a script full of inventive situations, resulted in an excellent comedy.

But instead, “Gamer” is, visually, even worse than “Crank” — and this time there is no comedy involved. It actually tries to use its remarkably rotten visual structure to enhance the action, not to extract humor from it. Not only that, the script is, like most of the cast, absolutely mediocre.

In the near future, society has basically bent over to a man named Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall), a developer who has created two globally popular games, both of which feature the control of real human beings. “Society” is like a “Second Life” with real people: people like you or me who decide to volunteer to be controlled by an unknown player for most of the day. Actually, not like you or me, since I would never do this to myself and I hope you wouldn’t either. The second game is “Slayers”, where players control death row prisoners in deadly real-life multiplayer matches watched and enjoyed all over the world — something illustrated by a hilarious sequence which shows people cheering in several countries, from the United States to Iraq. No, seriously, Iraq. Apparently in the near future the death penalty is universally accepted, and as entertainment, no less.

Kable (Gerard Butler) is the greatest avatar in “Slayers”. Only a few more matches to go (out of thirty) until he regains his freedom, a goal not a single other avatar has achieved. In fact, it’s funny how everyone in the film refers to Kable as amazing and incredible, but rarely to the guy who plays him, Simon (Logan Lerman) — you’d think he’d deserve most of the credit. Or not really, since Kable says, in a certain moment, that there is a delay between the player’s commands and the avatar’s response to them, and that the avatar has to make up for that with his own ability — that delay is something known in the real-life gaming world as ping. Apparently, the internet in the future has devolved and people still need to worry about ping even when playing in the same country as other players. Shame to know that in the next years a multiplayer match from here in Brazil will be impossible.

Of course, all this creates a huge question mark as to how is it even conceivable to play “Slayers”. The answer never comes. We briefly see the player, Simon, moving his body and Kable doing the exact same movement simultaneously (yes, without any delay at all), but we never see what gestures the player has to do to get his avatar to walk, or shoot, or dodge grenades.

Okay, so we don’t actually see much of anything in “Gamer”, especially during the action scenes, which are so badly-edited that several angles are entirely superfluous (and every one seem to last 0.122243 second before cutting to another). You can barely understand what’s going on, also thanks to the horrendous cinematography that not only changes its color scheme and shadowing every two scenes, it cannot even frame two actors properly, cropping someone’s face off in what the three (three!!) editors likely considered an stylistic choice, rather than a moronic one.

Kable is not actually a bad man, having been unjustly sentenced. You’re shocked, I know. And he has a family, which is what keeps him going and makes him such an efficient avatar (what, the player? Fuck the player). And he and Ken Castle seem to have a Past History that makes Castle afraid of Kable (so it’s a mystery, why Castle doesn’t simply kill Kable on the several occasions he has a chance to during the film’s third act — oh, wait, Bond Villain Syndrome).

Rarely able to make its version of the future even slightly believable (one of the exceptions being the computers that are actually holographic rooms, an interesting and scary concept), the script by Neveldine and Taylor is also full of holes (how do the Humanz, a resistance movement, find Kable after his escape before Castle does, considering Castle has his omnipotent resources?) and ridiculous scenes (Kable’s use of alcohol to escape is just painful to watch). Completely unfriendly to people not familiar with the gaming world, the film is confusing even to those who are. Who are the bystanders during the multiplayer matches? Non-playable characters? What is their purpose there? Why do they behave with an A.I. code comparable to a game from 1995? Why is John Leguizamo destroying his career by showing up in this film in such a ridiculous role? And Sam Witwer? And Keith David? And Milo Ventimiglia — oh, further damage to his career is no longer possible, he was in “Heroes”.

The comic relief in “Gamer” is equally unsuccessful, only managing to be mildly funny on the sequences involving the hugely fat nerd who plays “Society”. Some times it is unintentionally funny, like the ad “Kable’s Last Stand”, which displays these three words in three different and very separated buildings, so it’s likely a bit difficult to read unless you’re on a helicopter.

As for the movie’s attempts at drama — when an “important” character is killed, the scene goes into slow motion and Butler, in a moment worthy of Marlon Brando, lowers his head in a touching display of sadness — so yeah, the film is even less successful in that area.

Gerard Butler, by the way, doesn’t strike me as a very good actor. Either that, or in the version of the script they gave him, his character was a hyperactive, grumpy piece of wood. Alison Lohman’s role is utterly forgettable, Logan Lerman is inexpressive, and so is Ludacris with the addition of being annoying. Keith Jardine was apparently cast to be utterly owned by Gerard Butler without managing to hurt him once, because that’s such a believable scenario, Jardine being a famous and renowned MMA fighter and all that. As Hackman, Terry Crews delivers the worst performance I’ve ever seen by him, although the blame is mostly Neveldine’s and Taylor’s for creating such a weak character, who in a certain moment of the film sings a song from Disney’s “Pinnochio”. I am not actually joking.

Michael C. Hall is the only major actor in the film whose career will probably suffer no scratches, since he manages to overcome the utter stupidity of his villain and be actually entertaining to watch. Hall has already proved his phenomenal talent in the TV series “Dexter” and I’m therefore not surprised that he manages to be interesting even while doing a completely out-of-place dance number.

I just hope he’ll choose better films from now on, since he’s way too brilliant to be in pieces of shit like this.

[Via http://andrenavarro.wordpress.com]

Afghanistan Dominated TV Foreign News in 2009 by Jim Lobe ...

durdur Overpopulation

2010-01-09T14:20:00.000+02:00

REC OW ZI YANG JEREMY aka owman, I wish you all the best for your BMT though I don’t think you should have any troubles with your disabled people BMT at all.

I disliked the days where me and Char had to struggle to find people to pubstomp DotA games with us. It was hard enough to start a mass convo without half the people ignoring us.

Now with most of my DotA crew back in action after completing and crushing their IB exams with flying colours, the situation is totally reversed. In fact, with SO MANY people online nowadays, the following 4 unfavorable situations tend to occur.

1) Not enough people online because they are still sleeping etc.

2) 4 to 5 people online, just the right number to pull off a pubrape…but too bad it consists of too many anti-carries, leading to an incoming loss that I would rather dodge from

3) 6 or 7 people online – and it’s a highly awkward situation where you have to ditch people to have the fun 5 man pubstomps or fight against them on Scourge

4) 8 to 9 people online and instead of dividing into 2 pubstomp teams, they IH

And may I point out IHs destroy the fun in DotA for obvious reasons already pointed out in my old blog.

Situation 1 means no game because I hate scrubs who don’t listen on my team. 2 is alright if I’m seriously dying to play a game but somehow IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN A LADDER ROOM which is suicidal and not worth playing. Situation 3 is a very dodgy issue I AFK to avoid. And 4 is an absolute no-no. Overpopulation in the DotA convo group is obviously NOT GOOD.

It’s been more than 3 days since a pubstomp and I’m aching for one but with fuckers like kong in that convo, I guess it shall remain a fantasy. I look forward to the day when I have other games to play so that I can leave those cunts in there aside.

[Via http://nerdnerdnerd.wordpress.com]

Steele Lashes Out: Critics Should 'Get a Life,' 'Shut Up,' 'Fire ...

Microsoft Gets Nostalgic - Welcome to the 'Game Room', Virtual Arcade Heaven

2010-01-07T22:37:00.000+02:00

I freely admit, I was too young to appreciate the golden era of arcade gaming. By the time I had popped out of my mother’s nether-regions, it was gradually spluttering to a halt. The 1980s was king and unfortunately, I could never pay homage. However, there is hope for this dual-analog, touch-screen, high-definition generation; at the CES today, Microsoft announced the ‘Games Room’, a virtual arcade free to download for Xbox Live and Games for Windows users.

Despite the platform being free to download, the virtual arcade machines are not. If you’re willing to spend 240-500 MS Points ($3-$5), you can buy a single cabinet for your arcade, complete with original art and sounds. “Can I play these games for free afterwards?”, I hear you ask excitedly. Great news! NO. Microsoft will charge fifty cent each time you play! Because that’s awesome right? Just like the real arcades! Sigh… I sort of equate that to buying a 360 and then being charged a tenner every time I boot up Halo 3.

Payment aside, I think it’s a pretty neat idea. The arcades are fully customisable and you can visit your friends’, trying their machines for free. Multiplayer will be available, allowing you to compete for top spots on a global leader-board or alternatively, you can play offline with a friend in your front-room with a couple of beers.

This is something I’d like to try. Although the annoying micropayment feature is there, there are some arcade games I’ve always wanted to play. Kids of the late ’90s and ’00s will be able to experience some classics that I doubt they’ll have ever heard of, whilst the geeks of the ’80s will be reliving their childhood with a modern twist. What will we be playing? Some of the most familiar launch titles include Asteroids Deluxe, Centipede, Outlaw and Space Hawk, plus 24 confirmed others with many more to be released.

Expect to see the Game Room this spring.

Decman

[Via http://thegameologist.wordpress.com]

2010 CES: What's important, with updates | iLounge News

Virtual City: Unleash your inner mayor!

2010-01-07T13:48:00.000+02:00

Virtual City (65 MB download)

Unleash your inner mayor in this strategy game! Produce goods and deliver them to shopping malls, launch public events to keep your citizens happy, and trade with neighboring cities to build the city of your dreams! With 7 productions chains to master, 25 types of goods, and 16 achievements to earn, Virtual City will keep you playing for hours!

[Via http://neweducationalgames.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Obama sides with Senate on tax on higher cost ...

How To Choose A Reliable Aion Kina (Aion Gold) Site To Buy Safely On Christmas Day

2010-01-07T06:51:00.000+02:00

It is Thanksiving Day today! Celebrated as the national holiday in the United States to commemorate the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony in 1621 after a winter of great starvation and privation, this day was proclaimed as a Christmas Day in that year itself by the then Governor William Bradford and the feast was shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans. Since then, the tradition of observing the Christmas Day has continued. George Washington proclaimed the first national Christmas Day on December26th, 1789. With the coming of such a great festival, so many producers are holding big Christmas promotion now. At the moment, many rip-off websites appeared now, so you should be careful to choose a reliable aion kina (aion gold) site to buy the safest aion kina on Christmas Day today.

Do you know how to choose a reliable site to buy the safest aion kina online on Christmas Day?

Here is some useful experience we summed up:

Firstly, remember the most important to buy aion kina is the security of your account. Of course, who would like to get their account get banned for buying aion kinah? You need to make sure if the site has a good reputation and they will of course offer the safest delivery way.

Secondly, make sure if they offer the cheapest aion kina, as there are so many aion kina selling sites now, the price is much cheaper now. You can begin price comparing. Price comparing is the most effective way to find the cheapest aion kina. While finding the cheapest kinah, the price is important to a large number of gamers, but it is important to keep quality in mind as well.

Thirdly, Some reliable sites will promise to refund the buyers if their accounts get banned. If the site also update their News at the site. Some rip-off websites look very simple and they don’t often update their News.

Fourthly, how long will you need to wait for your aion kina? some sites may deliver for you just in 10 mins, however, some sites may need several hours or sevral days, sometimes even several weeks. So you should make sure whether they have ample stocks in your server before you place an order.

As we enter the holiday seasons, you should be careful to buy online. If you want to buy cheap aion kina with safe, you can come to wow-gold-team.com.They have reduced the price to the cheapest now. During December26 to December30, you will get the cheapest price. We can make sure WoW gold team can meet all the points mentioned above. During the festival, you can buy aion kina at ease, and don’t need to worry about the safety of your accounts or your money, wow gold team promises to refund every buyer if they get banned. Have a happy Christmas!!!

Referred:

buy aion kinah – US: http://www.wow-gold-team.com/Aion-Gold/Buy-Aion-Gold-US.htm

buy aion kinah – EU: http://www.wow-gold-team.com/Aion-Gold/Buy-Aion-Gold-EU.htm

[Via http://sophiahere.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: Lady Gaga, The Knife, Willie Mitchell, TWLOHA ...

Llama Llama

2010-01-05T22:27:00.000+02:00

In addition to the new pets scheduled to arrive at the Petz Store tomorrow, the Ridez Shop is expecting a delivery of some of its strangest vehicles yet! Please meet:

The Loping Llamas

Expected Arrival Date: 6 January 2010

Cost: 75 JS Coins (each)

Most Likely to Be Spotted Near: Tasty Shrubs by the DownTown Slides

It may be a bit of a bumpy ride atop these long-legged creatures, but the llamas at JumpStart are sure to get Jumpeez to their destinations with speed and style. In fact, one of the llamas, Louis, took a brief tour of the world earlier this week with his Jumpee trainer to make sure his herd would like their new home. While they were in town, Louis and his trainer agreed to let us take a short video of his funny gait!

Keep an eye out for Louis and the rest of the llama herd to arrive at JumpStart.com soon.

Get Your Friends in on the Llama Shipment!

[Via http://blog.jumpstart.com]

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Great news: CIA watching the ice melt

Cat Wash: Where all the cool cats come to get clean.

2010-01-05T14:04:00.000+02:00

Cat Wash (43 MB download)

Shake your groove thing at the Cat Wash and go where all the cool cats come to get clean! Boogie down in this time management game through over 40 levels of disco and dance. When customers drop off their muddy pets, you clean ‘em up! Keep the kitties mellow as you wash, dry, clip and style them in your custom machines. Live it up, ’cause the party never stops at the Cat Wash!

[Via http://neweducationalgames.wordpress.com]

Why Are People So Hyped About The Apple Tablet? - Podcasting News

Check it out.

2010-01-05T06:35:00.000+02:00

I gave you guys some picks for Sunday.

The New England Patriots and Chicago Bears came through. However there was nasty snow in Buffalo which shut down the passing game and the Indianapolis Colts lost it.

I lost the colts parlay but did win the other one and doubled what I bet on the two parlays.

01/03/10 3 Team Parlay: BET m$0.50 WIN +m$1.96

Parlay Bet 1: Chicago Bears -175 WIN

Parlay Bet 2: New England Patriots +8 (-110) WIN

Parlay Bet 3: Iowa State Cyclones +100 WIN

I did good today.

01-04-10 2 Team Parlay: BET m$4.98 WIN +m$20.00

Parlay Bet 1: Boise State Broncos +240 WIN

Parlay Bet 2: New York Rangers -110 WIN

As you can see I won $20. I would have bet more but there is a cap to limit the total you can win on a 2 team parlay to $20. Normally I don’t bet more than 50 cents but this was a 2 team parlay that paid a lot.

I also bet $4.98 and lost as seen below.

01-04-10 2 Team Parlay: BET m$4.98 LOSS +m$20.00

Parlay Bet 1: Boise State Broncos +240 WIN

Parlay Bet 2: Boston Bruins -110 LOSS

I picked a team that I thought would win such as Boise State Broncos. It also paid well +240. Then I found a game that was paying the same odds -110 and bet on each team to win on 2 parlays which are shown above. I knew one of the hockey teams would win. Therefore allowing me to make $10.04 for free.

I’m telling you this is easy money folks and it doesn’t cost you a dime. NOTHING. There isn’t a catch. The only catch is, if you lose all of the money they give you then you will have to view a banner or watch a commercial to get another dollar. That is how they make their money and YOU WILL GET PAID if you win and reach the payout level. You don’t have to do anything except pick the winners of sporting events like NFL football, MLBA Baseball, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, World Cup Soccer, College Football and College Basketball.

It isn’t going to kill you to try to win some free money. You can look at it this way, if it sucked I wouldn’t do it. I think it is fun.

How about this. I’ll tell you what to do. Join. Choose place bet and pick parlay. Then pick NFL New England Patriots -195 to win and Espanyol +110 in soccer. Bet 50 cents. You will get 81 cents if you win.

Then click place another bet. This time pick the New England Patriots to win and Real Zaragoza +300. You will get $1.83 if they win.

If the first bet wins you will have $1.31 up 31 cents. If the second bet wins you will have a total of $2.33. Either way you will come out ahead if the Patriots win.

Click the banner below. Join. Place the bets above. Then come back and let me know you want me to post more picks on the blog. You don’t have to say thanks. Just let me know you want more.

Click here to start making money.

[Via http://box1313666.wordpress.com]

Two new staff appointments for Eurogamer Network // News

Why upfire is not a browser game

2010-01-03T22:44:00.000+02:00

To stop all people that are going nuts right now (“what kind of game will be that if it’s not browser based ?!?!!!!??!?!?!?!”), I want you to relax as there will be browser based client but upfire is by no means wrote as a web game. Let me illustrate what i mean with a pictureDifferent clients for a one game is awesome but nothing really new, so what would you say if you were able to write your own client for the game ?

[Via http://upfire.wordpress.com]

RSS Feed Reader RSSOwl

Wii Balance Board

2010-01-02T17:12:00.000+02:00

Explanation:

Nintendo has almost always been the pioneer for new gaming hardware, while most companies, such as Microsoft or Sony, focus on graphics. The Wii was promising when it came out. The new controllers that could track movement were the biggest feature that put Wii up on the top. But coming in 2nd for the Wii’s best hardware is probably the Wii Balance Board. It is a slab of plastic and circuit boards that you stand on. It can measure your weight, sense where you are leaning, and tell you if you jumped (which is encouraged not to do because it may damage the board). The board has already been used in games like Wii Fit, where you do various ‘activities’ using balance and movement, to games like Sean White, where you snowboard down a virtual hill. The game developers are constantly finding new ways to use the board.

Review:

7/10 Stars

While the Wii balance board hosts many unique and unusual features, it is still beaten by one of Sony’s creations, which is a camera attached to the TV that sensors movement. Of course that may be worse than the balance board, simply because it can’t sense weight movement. Anyways, the board is unique, earning 4 stars. It also has a variety of games which are used with it, gaining an extra 2 stars, and it also is a reasonable price, which earns its last star. In the future, it could be improved upon by allowing you to jump (2 stars) and have better sensors (1 star, since it is almost perfect, but not quite).

White, future looking

[Via http://thetechreviewers.wordpress.com]

In News Corp./Time Warner Cable Battle, the Winner Is ... Spite ...

The Best WoW Gold Tips and Tricks -- How to Make World of Warcraft Gold Easily?

2010-01-02T06:37:00.000+02:00

World of Warcraft is one of the largest MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) on the Gaming Market now which is popular with players all over the world. To date, over 12 million individuals worldwide participate in game play on the World of Warcraft servers. Among all the unique items that can be gathered in WoW, and all of the quests that can be performed, there is one thing that is always in great demand in game, which is WoW gold. We will share with you a few simple tips and tricks on how to make World of Warcraft gold easily in the game.

Firstly, if you want to makeWorld of Warcraft gold easily when you are low level, you should choose a suitable profession. If you want your low level character to acquire cheap wow gold easily in World of Warcraft, you should select two primary professions. The real money makers include that of mining and herbalism. You should take the character that has the professions of mining and herbalism and go out in the field and gather as much as possible. Get all those plants, and mine everything you come across. And then, go back to the auction house in the game and put everything on auction.

Secondly, many creatures that you kill in the field will produce items that can be used in first aid and cooking. These items include small eggs, line cloth, wool cloth and more. You can use these to create the things that you have learned to cook or produce in first aid. Then, simply place them up for auction. It is important to remember that there are individuals out there who are taking the time to build up the skills and levels in their professions – even the secondary ones. If you are not really worried about leveling in the secondary professions, and just want to make some hard WoW gold, then you should take all of these items and put them up for sale in the auction house in World of Warcraft. You will make much more doing this than selling to a local vendor.

These tips and tricks are particularly effective if you are playing a low-level character in World of Warcraft. Now Christmas Day is coming soon this month, and you can also buy wow gold with the cheapest price now. We recommend all of you come to wow-gold-team.com to get the free WoW gold now. From December 1, wow-gold-team has reduced the price of WoW gold and they will also send 5% free WoW gold to every buyer. You can also farm WoW gold by yourself just following the tips and tricks if you have enough time to farm gold.

Referred:

buy wow gold- US: http://www.wow-gold-team.com/wowGoldBuys/buyWowGold-US.htm buy wow gold - EU: http://www.wow-gold-team.com/wowGoldBuys/buyWowGold-EU.htm

[Via http://sophiahere.wordpress.com]

News Corp president: Fox likely going off the air--The Live Feed | THR

He's Just Not That Into You

2009-12-31T22:38:00.000+02:00

So I’m watching that movie, and it’s a great showcase of fucked up human romantic relationships. I’ve been inspired to share my opinions on the decisions the women make and the actions that they take. Obviously there are big time spoilers here if you haven’t seen it.

1. Beth & Neil

They have been together for seven years. They live together, love each other, and don’t want to be with anyone else. But Neil doesn’t want to get married. He doesn’t believe in the institution of marriage as an entity and thinks that people who get married do so out of obligation and end up unhappy. They do it because that is what they’re supposed to do.

Clearly, since I want to get married more than almost anything else in my life, I disagree. But I know that people have that opinion, and that’s fine. But they should really only be with people who share that opinion. If a person like Neil is with a person like Beth, who wants to get married, it doesn’t work out – Beth will always be unhappy and Neil will never understand why she is unhappy.

At this point in the film, Beth has broken up with Neil because of the marriage issue, stating that it’s bullshit that he won’t marry her. I agree. If he loves her so much that he doesn’t want to be with anyone else ever (something he states in the film), then he should just marry her. Nothing about his life would fundamentally change. They already live together so they share at least some financial responsibilities and a life together. Sure, if they got married, there would be more shared financial responsibility, she might would take his last name, and it would be harder to break up if he ever changed his mind about his commitment to her. But the big life changes that typically come with marriage have already happened, and he still wants to be with her. I completely believe that he doesn’t believe in marriage (in other words, I don’t think he’s just saying that as an avoidance tactic), but if he really loves this girl and marriage won’t really change anything in the first place, he should just do it if that’s what it takes to keep her and make her happy. Maybe even marrying Beth, the person he loves most in the world, will change his opinions about marriage itself.

Later in the movie Beth returns to Neil by saying that him and his love are enough for her, and she can take marriage completely off the table. As soon as she does, Neil realizes that he can only be happy if Beth is happy, so he asks her to marry him. So he did exactly what I would have told him he should do. Ha!

2. Ben & Janine & Anna

Ben & Janine are married and renovating their home. In their first scene together, Janine mentions having a baby to which Ben responds that he doesn’t think they’re at that place yet but will be soon. I didn’t buy their relationship in the first place, but that also kind of sealed the deal. Again, this is an important, fundamental disagreement. A family is something she is really striving for while Ben isn’t even really considering it yet, even if he may one day. She also asks him if he’s been smoking because he’s kind of jumpy because…

He’s been talking to Anna on the phone. He met Anna at the grocery store and was very attracted to her (she’s played by Scarlett Johannsen after all…). For a little while Ben tries to avoid being around her at all, knowing that trouble could only come from it, and she is disappointed because she feels an instant connection and attraction to him. But then he shows up to her yoga class. And then he watches her swim naked. They state that they can just be friends, both knowing that they probably can’t. And then they have sex. And then Ben tells Janine and they break up.

And at this moment she’s explaining to one of her friends why this was her fault. She forced him into marriage (by basically saying that if he didn’t marry her, she would break up with him). She’s not fun anymore. They never have sex. Etc. I also brought up the smoking thing because, later, Janine finds a pack of cigarettes and a makeshift ashtray full of stubs and ashes and is convinced that Ben is smoking again, even though he’s not.

I think she’s partially right. She should not have forced him into marrying her the way that she did. It just made him resentful. If he didn’t want to be with her forever then he shouldn’t have married her. If she doesn’t trust him – and then he gives her a legitimate reason not to trust him – they shouldn’t be married. These are fundamental reasons why they should not be together. The other things she mentioned are fixable – having fun, not having sex, etc. These things can be fixed. The other things can’t be.

As far as Anna’s part in this situation – I am not justifying Ben having an affair. It’s still wrong that he slept with another woman while he was married. But I blame him for that, not her. It may have been naive of her to believe him (he has sex with his wife in his office while she’s in the closet after they’ve reconsidered and decided to work on their marriage) but she thought she could fall in love with him. To her the risk was worth it. He, on the other hand, should have waited to be with her until he was sure he was going to break things off with his wife. Especially since he didn’t end up doing that and hurt both women in the process. (He also was smoking behind her back and consistently lying about it.)

In the end, Ben is fucked over with his wife saying goodbye to him with packed luggage, a carton of cigarettes, and a note requesting a divorce and Anna telling him to never call her again. That’s what he gets for trying to have his cake and eat it too, I say.

3. Anna and Conor

Conor thinks Anna is the one for him even though their relationship has been platonic for the most part. They’ve had sex before and a romantic relationship may have been implied at one point, but they’re pretty much just friends. He is convinced otherwise (playing the more traditional feminine role) while she is off making time with Ben. Once Ben has completely fucked over Anna, however, Conor shows up and says that they call each other sweetie, they talk until they fall asleep at night, etc. – they act the way a normal couple does, but they’re not a couple. So Anna agrees to a commitment with him though later that night it is implied that perhaps she still isn’t happy.

I think this is a classic situation where the girl wants to be with the one person who isn’t committed to her and isn’t satisfied with the one person who is fully committed to her. Neither of these situations is her fault. What is her fault are the actions she takes. She should have realized that real commitment from Ben would mean waiting to sleep with her until he was separated from his wife and that if she doesn’t love Conor then she shouldn’t commit to him.

Luckily when Conor proposes moving in, she admits these feelings to him, and they revert back to friendship.

4. Alex & Gigi

Gigi knows less about the opposite sex than pretty much all of the women. She goes on a date with Conor and then obsesses about him not calling her (the reason being that he’s so obsessed with Anna). She runs into Alex, his friend, at the bar and they begin a dialogue in which he explains the actions between men and women to her. If the guy wanted to see her again, he would make it happen. From that point forward every time she goes out with a guy, she calls Alex to ask his assessment of the situation and what action she should take next. They build a friendship and he even attempts to set her up, though the friend of his doesn’t show up. To Gigi – and the audience – it seems that Alex is interested in Gigi. He looks forward to their conversations, he answers the phone when he’s hooking up with another girl, perhaps the friend that didn’t show was imaginary, etc. In any normal romantic comedy, this would be indeed what happened. But when she comes on to him based on nothing more than these signs, he rejects her.

Gigi moves on and finds out that the friend Alex was going to set her up with is real. They go on a date and have a nice time. The roles are reversed – Alex is waiting for Gigi to call and is an emotional wreck because of it, but she’s moving on to others. Once he realizes he really cares for her, he shows up at her door, saying that she is finally an exception to all of these dating rules. At least she is for him.

I personally think this relationship between Alex and Gigi is the most bogus one in the film, even though it’s the focus of it – Gigi appears to essentially be the main character and narrates the beginning and the end. But it’s what every girl thinks is supposed to happen…and then it does…even though the movie is trying to show that all of these ideas about relationships are retarded. I think they shouldn’t have ended up together after all, even though it made for a nice ending and a corny line.

5. Conor ends up with Mary, who we don’t see too much of throughout the film because all of her other romantic interests are through texting or the Internet.

The movie is right about one important thing – we are taught really stupid things about the way we’re supposed to interact with those we’re attracted to from a very early age. In the movie, Gigi kept pointing out how insensitive Alex was when he was telling her that the guy wasn’t interested in her, but that wasn’t him being insensitive – it was him being honest with her and trying to help her by telling her the way it really was rather than doing what all of her other friends were doing and giving her false hope. My point is that women are so used to being around women and knowing how women think and feel that when they’re with a guy, they try to use what they’ve learned when it just doesn’t work. They operate differently so if you continue to try to form a relationship with him through the tactics women think work, you’re going to fail. Listen to what men tell you because they obviously are going to know men better than you do. And, besides, in the movie, Alex was right. If a guy wants to see you, he’ll make it happen. You have to accept that if he’s not calling you, he doesn’t want to see you and don’t make excuses for him.

Anyway, these are things I like to think about, so this movie gave me some fuel. It’s a pretty good movie, though I think it’s definitely one for the girls. I can think of a few guys who would find it interesting, however…

The last line of the film sums up how I feel about love and this quest in finding it:

“Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope.”

[Via http://aperfectending.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Most Americans optimistic about 2010

Samantha Swift and the Mystery from Atlantis: Save the world!

2009-12-29T13:57:00.000+02:00

Samantha Swift and the Mystery from Atlantis (163 MB download)

Join Samantha Swift as she returns to race across the globe in a daring search for the missing pieces to an Atlantean treasure. Find clues and solve clever puzzles in this hidden object adventure! Dire consequences for humanity are at stake from a calculating new villain who crosses her path at every turn.

[Via http://pragmatown.wordpress.com]

Monday Morning News and Views « The Confluence

Gotcha - Celebrity Secrets: Can you handle the scandal?

2009-12-28T23:47:00.000+02:00

Gotcha – Celebrity Secrets (124 MB download)

Help Gaby ditch her dead-end job for the exciting world of celebrity gossip. Uncover Hollywood’s dirty secrets by tracking celebrities’ whereabouts, following leads and solving puzzles that reveal scandalous details to post on your blog. From rock star weddings to steamy love triangles, the juicier the story, the more readers you attract, and the closer you come to becoming the most famous celebrity blogger in Hollywood!

[Via http://favoritearcade.wordpress.com]

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/27 - Arrowhead Pride

2009, a gaming review

2009-12-27T22:06:00.000+02:00

Christmas has come and gone, so as seems to be the custom here is the start of my look back at 2009, and I’ll start with gaming.

On the face of it 2009 wasn‘t a great year for gaming, after all a lot of the big name games that a lot of us were no doubt looking forward to were delayed so as to avoid competition with Modern Warfare 2. But when you think about it we really did have a good gaming year. Not only game wise either, for 2009 was the year that the PS3 became a major competitor in the console wars with its price drop and redesign. Even I bought into this and now am a somewhat proud owner of a PS3.

But enough about the technicalities and onto the games. Taking my cue from a good friend of mine, SegaZoom (who can be found at http://allandavison.co.uk/blog) I’ll do this in a list format. Easier to write and easier to read. And so in alphabetical order let us begin.

Batman: Arkham Asylum: If you’ve read any of my gaming blogs before you’ll know that I’m all about a solid single player experience, an experience that sadly seems to be dying. But Arkham Asylum tries to remedy this by focusing entirely on single player. An incredible amount of fun from start to finish, and even beyond in the case of collectables and riddles, Arkham Asylum never fails to entertain for fans of the action/adventure genre. The stealth sections are handled expertly, never as unforgiving as say Splinter Cell but never feeling shoved in either. Combat wise it can get repetitive, but the only time you should really notice this is after you’ve completed the bulk of the (superb) story.

Borderlands: A surprise hit for me this year, Borderlands is an MMORPGFPS. It plays like a mix of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. The gunplay is tight and accurate (unlike Fallout 3 which I believe to be a great overhype, but more on that at a later date) and the open world environment is never boring to traverse. The missions (or quests) are always of a standard MMO fare, basically go here, kill this, collect so many of these, but when tackled as a group of up to 4 people this is immensely fun. Just be ready to argue over who gets what loot.

Killzone 2: Hyped as the PS3 exclusive that would bring the end to Halo’s reign as the benchmark for console shooters, Killzone 2 was never going to be able to live up to the hype, but in its credit it does a very good job. The single player is ample and different from most console shooter fares, everything that you do has a weight to it, that is to say you feel like everything you do has an effect on the world, every bullet seems powerful, every reload is a tense moment, and even the superbly implemented first person cover system makes the whole experience a finely crafted exercise in the standard go here shoot this genre. But it still doesn’t have that fun factor that other shooters have. Until you get into the frankly excellent multiplayer. While not on the same page as MW2 the way every objective transitions into the next on the fly is in a word brilliant, each game lasting roughly 30 minutes you’ll wish they went on longer. MW2 may be perfectly balanced but Killzone 2 shows what multiplayer should evolve into.

Modern Warfare 2: I believe I don’t really need to say much about MW2, seeing as it was touted as the biggest release in media entertainment history, but there are a few things I’d like to say. First of all single player wise it’s short, shorter and easier than even the original Modern Warfare. But while it last it is immense amounts of fun. Basically a playable version of a Michael Bay blockbuster, expect set pieces, plot twists and explosion at every turn. But the main reason anybody would really p[lay this game is for the multiplayer, which as always is superb and refined, rewarding you for spending time with it but never making the new-old experience gap too unbearable. Competitive multiplayer at its finest.

Prototype: Sandbox New York, super powered protagonist. Sounds a lot like the Spiderman games. And it was a lot like the Spiderman games, yet it was a lot more enjoyable (apart from Spiderman 2). You played an anti-hero that rampaged his way through the city destroying the military and the infection that had consumed the city itself. Both a hero and a villain. The story kept you hooked through an intriguing consume and discover mechanism, where you would absorb someone who knew about what was going on and you would gain their memories. All in all an excellent sandbox hero game.

Resident Evil 5: Personally I absolutely loved RE5, It was RE4 but with a friend. But it wasn’t without its faults. When you weren’t in fact playing with a friend you would have to babysit the AI, which on the higher difficulty settings made the game almost impossible, especially when their death would cause a game over. But when playing with a friend the game was a masterpiece of third person survival shooting. Many people belittled the controls (indeed the year previous Dead Space had shown us that a game exactly like this could have standard controls and still be exactly as intended) but the controls that were implemented were very much part of the experience, being unable to strafe and shoot while you moved allowed the slow paced enemies to pose an actual threat. My recommendation would be to pick this up if you had someone you could sit down with and play with, because that’s an awesome experience, but with the AI it’s pretty much an avoid.

Scribblenauts: A potentially fun little DS game, Scribblenauts would take my award for most disappointing game of the year if I was to give one. Yes it is fun to make things fight each other for five minutes but the novelty soon wears off and the actual missions can be easily solved by only a couple of items. Not much I can right about this game because in all honesty I couldn’t bring myself to play it much.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine: It took me a while to finally play this game, in the end I had to lend it off SegaZoom, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t interested, it was because I was always involved with something else this year. When I finally got around to playing it I found an immensely satisfying hack and slash game that followed the story of the film somewhat faithfully but even expanded upon it in a logical and believable way. How many tie-ins can you think of that did the source material good and even expanded upon it to make an awesome experience? Never as deep as ninja gaiden or as ‘epic’ as God of War, Wolverine was consistently enjoyable, never too hard, never too easy. One of the best film tie-ins ever produced.

Uncharted 2: Out of alphabetical order but I had to save the best till last. Being perfectly honest I will be unable to give Uncharted 2 the praise it deserves here. Its gaming excellence, hall of fame worthy, and indeed one of my top 5 games of all generations. The single player is beyond comparison for cinematic excellence, perfect pacing, brilliant voice acting and general direction. You can always control the camera in UC2 but at times I found myself never touching the stick for the camera always found the perfect shot if what was going on, and the set pieces have to be experienced. The first 30 seconds of UC2 gave me more good feelings than the whole of Arkham Asylum, and I loved Arkham Asylum. All I can say is that Uncharted 2 really is worth buying a PS3 for, even more so than Metal Gear Solid 4, and if you know me then you know just how much that means. Uncharted 2 is without hesitation, without a doubt my game of the year 2009. Play it, if you don’t have a PS3 find someone who does and play it with them. This is the argument that games are art. This is the argument that games are the films. This is the argument that single player is better than multiplayer. This is gaming perfection. Oh and did I mention that this also has an awesome multiplayer component to rival Killzone and Modern Warfare?

In conclusion I would like to say that some games are in fact missing form this list because either I haven’t played them (I’m even now still trying to catch up with 2008) so if your game of the year 2009 isn’t here worry not, it just means I was unable to experience it this year. But even so I stand by my statement that uncharted 2 is better than it. Seriously, it’s just that good.

-DiehardSpook, feeling dirty for calling a PS3 game the best of the year

[Via http://diehardspook.wordpress.com]

Photos: Suspect, and 'Hero' Jasper Schuringa in Flight 253 Attack ...

Jojos Fashion Show 3: Strut your outfits on the runway!

2009-12-27T14:08:00.000+02:00

Jojos Fashion Show 3 (216 MB download)

Come strut your outfits on the runway and play the ultimate cat-walking fashion game! Join Jojo in her worldwide quest to keep the Las Cruces label hot and fend off devastating scandals. Improve your real-life fashion IQ and design your own clothing as you walk down the runway of success in the latest chapter of the series, Jojo’s Fashion Show World Tour.

[Via http://pragmatown.wordpress.com]

News From Across The Pond: Kate Middleton turns down Royal invite ...

Dante's Inferno Demo- preview

2009-12-24T13:56:00.000+02:00

Those of you who have experienced God of War are going to feel at home in the latest gore fest that is Dante’s Inferno.

This demo (released into Xbox Live Marketplace on the 24th od December) provides a good-sized chunk of hack n slash gameplay,a genre which is currently championed on the Xbox 360 by Devil May Cry 4.

However that could soon change as Dante’s Inferno seem’s to have the skills to take on the red cloaked Dante from Devil May Cry.

Kicking off with some of the most beautiful cut scene graphics that I have ever witness,Dante’s Inferno kept me interested from beginning to end of this fantastic demo.

it then shifts to an unusual hand drawn look that is very hard to describe but gives the game a unique look as it tells it’s story.

Be warned this is no game from kids as you find full nudity almost from the outset and,of course,there is large amount of gore and decapitations thrown in to make sure this game truly deserves it’s 18+ rating.

But of course in a hack n slash game it’s the gameplay that counts the most and it’s certainly not lacking in Dante’s Inferno.

Once again you get the God of War vibe when you enter combat,but you wont care much as you leap,slice and decapitate everything that moves.

Combat is done through the use of many factors:

you have your standard light and heavy attacks along with your long ranged attacks as well,but you can also grab your opponents to activate the Absolve or Punish system,where you have to choose between to actions.

If you choose to absolve them you will hold a cross to there head and they disappear in an explosion of light,this scores you “holy” points to choose from the game’s vast selection of upgrades and skills.

Hit “punish” and you finish them in a brutal manner and score “unholy” points,which once again go towards levelling up.

Mix in spectacular magic attacks and some QTE (quick time events) finishes (which look exceptionally brutal) and you have an incredibly smooth and fun combat system that provides a good amount of depth.

As you enter the upgrade menu you will notice that the game has a vast amount of options to choose from.

You can choose from a huge array of moves and skills in the 2 skill branches, “holy” and “unholy”.

The Holy branch appears to focus more on your cross weapon whilst the unholy branch seems to focus more on your melee weapons,such as the giant scythe that you claim early in the demo (in a spectacular fashion)

In-game graphics are very nice,though I did notice a lack of texture occasionally and some of the background details could sometimes look blocky and undefined (the ships in the background on the very first part of the demo are a good example) but overall they game moves at a great 60FPS and there’s always something happening to keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Dante’s Inferno’s musical score is a fantastic example of drawing a player into a game with a rousing score that felt perfect for the game and always suited the feel and look of the locations.

Thought it may feel like God of War in places there’s no denying that Dante’s Inferno is set to be something truly special and could well claim the crown of Xbox 360’s Best Hack n Slash game from long time holder Devil May Cry 4.

Dante’s Inferno batter’s into store shelves on 05/02/2010,but until then grab the demo and delve into a truly fantastic game.

[Via http://wolfsgamingblog.wordpress.com]

FDL News Desk » Final Vote On Senate Health Care Bill – Passes 60-39

Hells Kitchen: Do you have the talent to be a five-star chef in the hottest kitchen around?

2009-12-22T22:01:00.000+02:00

Hells Kitchen (76 MB download)

Hell’s Kitchen is a U.S. television phenomenon as world renowned chef Gordon Ramsay puts aspiring chefs through a rigorous culinary bootcamp. Experience the show’s pressure-cooker atmosphere as you go through a series of kitchen and dining room challenges. Success depends on how well you can cook and serve meals, so master each time management test to progress. Each meal is scored by Gordon Ramsay! Do you have the talent to be a five-star chef in the hottest kitchen around?

[Via http://oldgamer60.wordpress.com]

Dallas Cowboys Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas ...

Mahjong Memoirs: Find true love beneath the Mahjong tiles!

2009-12-22T14:20:00.000+02:00

Mahjong Memoirs (91 MB download)

Discover a timeless tale of forbidden love in this reinvention of Mahjong. Master your skills to win trophies and special badges. Play over 230 mahjong-solitaire levels with 5 beautiful tile sets and 13 exquisite Japanese-style backgrounds. Find true love beneath the Mahjong tiles!

[Via http://neweducationalgames.wordpress.com]

Talking Biz News » Reuters kills hedge fund story after pressure

In Anticipation

2009-12-22T06:49:00.000+02:00

Anticipation of what you may ask? Well, my fair reader, let me enlighten you.

For those of you that are unaware, Nintendo has remade the second generation Pokemon games. Originally titled Gold/Silver (and rapidly after, Crystal), these two new titles will be called HeartGold and SoulSilver. While I’m not entirely fond of the title choice, I am absolutely stoked for these titles to be released in America.

What day will that be?

MARCH 14th, 2010!

Now, these games have already seen release in Japan. Launched in September, the games sold over two million units in their first six weeks of sales. Reception has been initially positive in Japan. A Japanese gaming magazine known as Famitsu gave the games a combined score of 37/40 based on four individual ten-point reviews. The individual reviews rated the games at 9, 9, 10, and 9. Each reviewer praised the games for retaining the quality that drew them to the original Gold/Silver. This is high praise, considering Gold/Silver were perhaps the most innovative and well-received of the series. The only drawback the reviewers found was that the game offered “no major surprises.” We can only hope America feels the same way. ^.^

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver have captured my interest and excitement for over a year now, since the first speculations and rumors hit the web. After the official announcement that Nintendo would indeed be remaking the original Gold/Silver games, the anticipated waiting began. I have held on with bated breath for updates and new information on these tightly wrapped projects. From everything I’ve seen so far, the wait has been well worth it.

Because there are still three months until the release date of this game (and I’ve already put down the money to preorder my copy of HeartGold), I decided I would whip up a delectable post containing all the relevant information about the upcoming games. It’s partly an excuse for me to drool over all the exciting new features and partly because I don’t think many people are aware of the changes that are going to be taking place for these titles.

At first, we had nothing to see but the logo for the upcoming games. These logos were rough, edgy, and somehow managed to drive me into a frenzy of fandom. For your viewing pleasure, here are the Japanese logos.

Now that we’ve come closer to the release date and GameStops across the country have the “mock boxes” sitting out begging for you to preorder (and constantly reminding me that I have no time machine to get to March 14th faster…), we have images of what the boxes will look like for the American release. Well, these would look like the American release boxes if they were covered in English text.

These two games will retell the story of Jhoto. The player will start in New Bark Town, as he did in the original Gold/Silver games. However, while the story remains very similar, there are a lot of things that will be changing between the games. I have outlined as many of those changes as I am aware of below.

First of all, the characters themselves will be changing. While the original “Gold” remains the male playable character, he has received an updated design. And while Gold’s original female counterpart would have been Kotone, she has been replaced by an all-new female character named Kris.

All of the game’s music has been rearranged to better utilize the DS’s more sophisticated sound systems. (After all, the DS is a far cry away from the Game Boy Color we all grew up with and loved very dearly.) There will be a key obtainable item, however, that will allow the player to switch between the new, updated arrangements of the music and the original chiptune soundtrack. Ambient sound effects will also be much more prominent in these remastered games. Where in the original versions, there was really no sounds but the chiptune soundtrack and Pokemon battle noises, in HeartGold/SoulSilver, players will be treated to the sounds of running water and rustling grasses among other sounds. This should add an entirely new layer of texture and realism to the games.

As is to be expected, the Pokedex has also been updated to accommodate some of the fourth generation evolutions of originally Jhoto Pokemon.

As in the original game, the bad guys will be Team Rocket (perhaps the most sinister of the Pokemon antagonist teams), but we will be seeing four new Rocket Executives. Each Executive has taken the name of a real-world Rocket.

Apricorns will be making a reappearance, much to my utter delight. Each of the original Apricorn’s corresponding Pokeball will also thus be obtainable. All the “Berry Trees” from the original Gold/Silver games have been switched into Apricorn trees, making the process of turning Apricorns into Pokeballs a much more feasible project.

Many of the Jhoto region Gyms have been redesigned. This provides new puzzles and challenges for those individuals who played the original Gold/Silver games. While the Leaders themselves remain unchanged, their teams have also been updated in some cases as well as their surroundings. (This was honestly a very good sales and marketing strategy for Nintendo and I am quite pleased to know that I won’t essentially be playing the exact same game with slightly better graphics and music.)

Defog will be losing it’s status as an HM, stepping down to let Whirlpool take it’s rightful place as the 8th HM.

Perhaps not entirely life-altering, the player will now also be able to see how many Jhoto and Kanto badges he or she has earned. In the original versions, there was no way to see the Kanto badges you had earned after completing the Jhoto region.

Some location changes will also be occurring. For the first time in any Pokemon game, the Professor’s lab will have an upstairs level where his family lives as opposed to a separate, smaller building in New Bark Town. The Battle Tower from Pokemon Crystal makes a reappearance, bringing with it the Battle Frontier technology from Pokemon Platinum. Two new routes will be introduced, one leading to a brand new Safari Zone, and the other leading to a location known as the Hidden Tower. Mount Silver is much more vast and the Viridian Forest has not been cut down (as it was in the originals). The Fighting Dojo in Saffron City will now be taking a role similar to that of Sinnoh’s Battleground. Cerulean Cave and the Seafoam Islands will still be reachable in these games, allowing players to have access to the Legendary Birds, though Moltres will now be found in Mount Silver.

There will also be quite a few changes in the overall gameplay from the original Gold/Silver to the new releases of HeartGold/SoulSilver. These gameplay changes are not to be booed or hissed at. I think that each and every one of these changes will only add to the overall experience. While they may take some getting used to for those of us who have been playing since the dawn of the series with Red/Blue/Yellow, they should make the game more intuitive to play as well as more immersing. I’ve outlined a lot of these changes here as well.

Perhaps the biggest change in gameplay is a new peripheral called the Pokewalker. This external pedometer-styled device comes packaged with every game. The Pokewalker is shaped like a Pokeball and can communicate with the DS game cartridge through infrared signals (the same technology used in some other current DS titles, such as Personal Trainer: Walking). A single Pokemon can be carried in the Pokewalker at a time. Walking with the Pokewalker will not only increase the Pokemon’s experience and improve its overall attitude toward its trainer, but also provides the player with Watts, a currency for the Pokewalker that can be used to purchase items and catch wild Pokemon. (Even though this new feature is being bundled with every copy of Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver, Nintendo has announced that it will not carry a heftier pricetag.) The Pokewalker is pictured below.

Similar to what Pikachu did in Pokemon Yellow, all 493 Pokemon have the ability to walk behind the character sprite in-game. While size isn’t necessarily accurate in comparison with the player’s sprite, the player does have the ability to interact with the Pokemon following them by pressing A. The player can then find out how the Pokemon is feeling right there in the moment. When entering battle, the Pokemon following the player will appear from the side of the screen as opposed to from a Pokeball. (Which makes sense, as the Pokemon was obviously not in a Pokeball prior to the start of battle.) To choose what Pokemon a player wants to follow them is as easy as putting said Pokemon in the lead party slot.

The Start menu, Pokemon Storage System, bag, and party interface will all be viewed on the touch screen in HeartGold/SoulSilver, making them faster and easier to use. As well as being able to set a single item for permanent use (such as the Running Shoes or the Bike), a player can now choose two items to set in such a manner, as opposed to just one. Because the Running Shoes are such a popular choice, players now have an option to add in another item they frequently use, such as a Fishing Rod for easy use.

Legendary Pokemon from other regions are available in both games. (For a list, please keep reading below. I’ve included a bulleted list of Pokemon exclusive to each new game.)

Pokemon can now headbutt trees to shake out wild Pokemon again. This ability continues after the Nationaldex is obtained, and the Pokemon that are shaken out can be from the Sinnoh region.

A new sidequest called the Pokethlon makes it’s appearance in these games. It appears to be HeartGold/SoulSilver’s equivalent of the Contest system in previous games. The Pokethlon pits Pokemon in 10 minigame styled competitions against each other.

Berries are very limited in HeartGold/SoulSilver. They are obtainable in exchange for shards from Jugglers in Violet City. However, the variety is very constrained. The other berries can be traded over, however, from previous games. Berries can also be grown remotely using the Pokewalker.

Swarm Pokemon are also making a reappearance. Like in the original Gold/Silver games, you can listen to Professor Oak’s radio station daily and he will you when there is a swarm of Pokemon at a particular location. These Pokemon will appear in vast quantities in a particular location for a very short time after Professor Oak’s announcement.

Due to the absence of a VS Seeker, the Pokegear has updated it’s former “Cell Phone” feature. The new Cell Phone has a limitless call list. Going back to rebattle trainers now depends on the day and time now, though. This should cause players to plan wisely as well as letting the player interact with these NPCs as though they were more like real individuals by “scheduling” times to battle.

The starter Pokemon from Kanto and Hoeen are obtainable in each game after certain requirements have been met.

Many Pokemon have received updated, improved, and more well-rounded movesets through breeding. Togepi, for instance, now has the ability to learn Extrasensory through breeding. Breeding has also taken a step up in that specific Individual Values (which is basically a measure of how Pokemon grow in their stats as they evolve) can be passed down through Breeding with the use of certain items.

Commemorative photos can be taken at certain points in the game and viewed later from the Pokegear. While these photos have no real effect on the overall game, they do add a sense of immersion. They’re also sort of a kitschy addition that, while not necessary, I’m still sort of excited for.

Like in Pokemon Platinum, HeartGold/SoulSilver will allow players to rebattle Gym Leaders. The Gym Leaders will have widely superior teams than in their first battles. However, getting to these battles will take some persistence and organization. The Gym Leaders will be found in the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City after you have scheduled a rematch with them. (Thankfully, they stay there until you’ve beaten them so you don’t have to reschedule if you lose the first rematch.)

The host of Legendary Pokemon within HeartGold/SoulSilver is absolutely astounding. While it does not encompass all of the Pokemon I would like to have at my disposal, there are more than I have ever seen obtainable in a single game previously. Note that all of these can be obtained through the individual game (some will need the aid of a cooperating friend with the opposing title) without any special items or events that are not already programmed into the game. (Basically, these Pokemon do not need to be obtained through a Nintendo Wireless Event.) Please see below for a list of the Legendary Pokemon awaiting your capture.

Lugia
Ho-oh
Latias
Latios
Articuno
Zapdos
Moltres
Mewtwo
Suicune
Raikou
Entei
Kyogre
Groudon
Rayquaza

HeartGold/SoulSilver is far from a perfect Pokemon game, however. Just like in all the previous games, there are Pokemon that are unobtainable in these games. Period. While the list appears rather long, don’t fret. A number of these Pokemon can be traded over from Diamond/Pearl/Platinum if you’re lucky enough to have a copy of that and a cooperating friend around. The following is the most up-to-date and complete list of unobtainable Pokemon I’ve been able to compile.

Mew
Celebi
Regirock
Regice
Registeel
Jirachi
Deoxys
Turtwig
Grotle
Torterra
Chimchar
Monferno
Infernape
Piplup
Prinplup
Empoleon
Cranidos
Rampardos
Shieldon
Bastiodon
Drifloon
Drifblim
Glameow
Purugly
Stunky
Stuntank
Magnezone
Leafeon
Glaceon
Probopass
Rotom
Uxie
Mesprit
Azelf
Heatran
Regigigas
Cresselia
Phione
Manaphy
Darkrai
Shaymin
Arceus

Like the past few generations of games, Nintendo will be holding Wi-Fi Events to distribute particular Pokemon that would otherwise be unavailable in the games. A number of these events have already been confirmed in Japan, though the dates have yet to be set for their American counterparts. I can only pray that all of these events will reach America so that I may have a chance of obtaining these Pokemon as well. (You hear that, Nintendo? I want these Pokemon REALLY badly!) Please remember that the dates for these Wi-Fi events are the confirmed Japanese Wi-Fi Event Dates. There have been no confirmed Wi-Fi Event dates for America or Europe as far as I’m aware.

Yellow Forest: This event took place between September 18th and November 10th. The gift provided a new course in the Pokewalker completely filled with Pikachu. However, these Pikachu had a special move!

10th Anniversary Mew: This is the event I’m looking forward to the most. All of my Pokemon-playing life, I have dreamed of obtaining a legitimate Mew from a sanctioned Nintendo event. If I don’t make it to any of the other events, I will make this one. The Mew you obtain will be at lvl 5 and know no special moves, perfect for training up exactly the way you want her.

There are currently other speculated events that have very little information. I have not included information on these events for lack of credible source information.

As if I haven’t overloaded you with information yet, there’s still the matter of choosing between the two versions. They are not the same in their entirety. As with most versions of the Pokemon series, the two different titles differ slightly in the Pokemon that are available in each. Included here are the lists of Pokemon that are exclusive to each title.

First, we’ll cover Pokemon exclusive to SoulSilver.

Vulpix
Ninetails
Meowth
Persian
Ledyba
Ledian
Teddiursa
Ursaring
Delibird
Skamory
Mawile
Gulpin
Swalot
Groudon

And these are exclusive to HeartGold

Mankey
Primeape
Growlithe
Arcanine
Spinarak
Ariados
Gilgar
Mantine
Phanpy
Donphan
Sableye
Baltoy
Claydol
Kyogre
Mantyke
Gliscor

And that is that. Until March 14th, that is about all the information I can pull on these two spine-tingling new games. Be advised, however, that this is far from the last you will hear on Pokemon. After I’ve had a few days to plow through my games, you’ll get some more personal opinions on how all of these changes work. Thanks for sticking with me through this rambling post. I hope it provided you with some good information!

[Via http://hotpinkjoysticks.wordpress.com]

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GourMania: Slice and dice your way to the top!

2009-12-20T22:10:00.000+02:00

GourMania (68 MB download)

Do you have the skills to win a cook off among the top chefs at a glamorous resort? Begin your journey at a fast food joint, finding the ingredients for the sandwiches your customers want and the processing their orders before time runs out. Before the big showdown, you’ll save a Sushi Bar, a Pizza Parlor and more from shutting down, making you the most sought after chef in town! Just make sure to purchase the upgrades that will give you an edge. Full of slice-and-dice fun, GourMania is your ticket to the big leagues!

[Via http://oldgamer60.wordpress.com]

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Build It Miami Beach Resort: Build a wonderful art-deco beach resort on a big scrollable map and develop the same city over 60 years!

2009-12-20T13:41:00.000+02:00

Build It Miami Beach Resort (82 MB download)

Design and construct your own beach resort in the next edition of the popular simulation strategy game, Build It! Miami Beach Resort. The game begins in the 1920’s and time passes with each level as you develop the same city over a 60 year period! Witness the creation of art-deco hotels, the invention of the cinema, the first fast-food diner and the development of giant beachfront hotels. Design everything as you like it using huge scrollable map while completing challenging tasks on each level.

[Via http://neweducationalgames.wordpress.com]

Five Reasons Why Fox News Dominated Ratings In 2009 | TV | Mediaite