This will be my long overdue video game update.
Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360:
Holy crap, this is amazing. We all already know my love affair with Guitar Hero on the PS2 so naturally when Guitar Hero was released for Xbox I was there on the day of the release at 10am waiting at my local Circuit City. They had a special promotion where you got 1600 free Microsoft Live points with purchase. Definitely a great deal, Flcn also ran to his Circuit City on his lunch break as well.
Differences between the two versions:
Gamewise, the games are pretty much the same. The Xbox version has 5.1 sound for those of you with a home theater setup, not me. There is an additional song per concert venue and Harmonix has definitely tried to balance its line up with songs that aren't as metally. Achievement points! I am an achievement point whore as long as the aren't ridiculously hard to get. For this very reason I have practically abandoned my PS2 version in order to get achievements and to see how I stack up on the Leaderboard. Lastly, the Xbox version allows you to download future songs that are released on Xbox Live definitely extending the time you will spend with this game.
Little complaints:
(1) Some guitars have had unresponsive whammy bars or suffer from delays. If you have a defective guitar, go exchange it at the place of purchase or you can google the fix online by taking it apart.
(2) The Xbox guitar just is not as comfortable. After logging serious time with both guitars, the PS2 guitar is hands down more comfortable. The whammy bar isn't as short and the Xbox guitar is a little more cramped. The buttons are slightly smaller and closer together, but the buttons are more stiff and will last through more wear and tear. The X shape of the guitar means that it jabs into my hand and gets uncomfortable during extended play, if they ever release a differently shaped or wireless guitar i would be tempted to buy it just to get away from the X shape of the current guitar.
(3) No online battles. You still can not battle a friend thru Xbox-live, major let down.
I anxiously wonder what kinds of new downloads will be on Xbox Live and when that will happen. Comon Harmonix.
HALO 3 BETA NEWS:
It has officially been announced that HALO3 Beta will go online May 16th. *Does a little Dance* After sludging through the Rule of 3 Beta sign up I am super excited. Also, anyone who wants in can still go buy a copy of Crackdown to play. It is great to know that Bungie and Microsoft are being super generous and letting the beta play run from May 16th to June 6th I believe. As colleges will be out of session the ISP's better be ready for a surge of traffic.
X Button: We finally know what the X Button will do in Halo3. It will activate devices/gadgetry! This is definitely a new step in Halo and will definitely change game play. Players will be able to throw down a bubble shield, a suicide mine for when you're about to get run over by a vehicle or throw down a launch pad allowing you to get to certain hard to reach spots.
Black Xbox:
Overrated. For that much money you only get a 120 gb hdd and a hdmi port which i could care less about and no HD-DVD playback. Why spend your money on it. I do wish Microsoft would sell a 120GB HDD for much less than it goes for. Another reason I don't download movies/shows on Xbox Live. Hasn't Sony's PS3 proven that people don't want a "media center" if its outrageously priced? Finally, in my opinion the black finish on the Xbox doesn't look as good as the shinier finish on the PS3. I think I'll pass unless someone wants to send me a free Xbox 360 Elite.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Linux Adventures: Fedora!
Having a spare desktop in the house, I have decided to take the plunge into an attempt to learn Linux, or at least be able to get by in the use of it. Recently I have gone through installs of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Fedora Core 6 Zod. I really didn't know too much about the various distributions and had a significant amount of free time, so I decided to try them all out. In the end I have settled on Fedora and have managed to get everything up and running. The machine now functions well with email, instant messaging, web browsing and all the basic necessities.Lessons learned so far:
(1) If you only have one computer and you're a complete newbie to linux as I was you're gonna be in for some headaches. Having an internet connection to look up documentation is extremely helpful.
(2) Things go well until there's a problem. I have no idea how to use a Linux terminal. Troubleshooting goes not so well.
(3) Don't bother with x64 installations if you have an AMD processor if you want to be able to use Flash and various plug-ins easily. This is better left to those who know what they're doing. I had lots of problems and headaches trying to get Flash 9 to run until I installed the 386 versions. They run perfectly well on 64 bit processor machines, now I know.
(4) You are going to have to weed through a lot of pages and forums to find out how to do things.
(5) Gnome vs KDE, both are pretty similar look at screenshots and play around to see which you like better. I've gone with Gnome just cause its Fedora's default.
(6) Media is a bitch. If you think getting codecs to work in Windows is difficult wait until you try to play all the various formats on Linux. Much poking, research and prodding is required. (I may also just be an idiot)
(7) IC Plus IP1000 ethernet card on my Abit motherboard just refuses to work with Fedora 6. I ended up throwing in another 10/100 ethernet card just so I didn't have to deal with drivers and my lack of knowing how to make it work. In that regard windows is more friendly. Idiots like me like having things just work.
(8) Fedora has an automated installer called YUM. It's really quite cool and very handy although it means I have little luck in installing anything that's not yumable. It automatically updates when new releases or versions are available and Fedora even has the equivalent of an automatic update much like Windows XP and Vista.
(9) Freeness! For a cheapskate like me, paying around 300 plus dollars for Vista vs. downloading Fedora or Ubuntu for free, I am beginning to see how monetary motivation is a significant factor. With add ons like Beryl, who cares about the Windows Aero experience when Beryl is comparable or better.
(10) Stability. Crashes are always a result of me not knowing what the hell I'm doing and me randomly editing stuff in ways that you're not supposed to. I like knowing that if I leave this machine on for a week straight it won't be so slow that I can't do anything.
All in all it has been a fun albeit sometimes frustrating experience, but I am glad to see that the installers are now much improved and windows and mac users alike will have a far easier time getting the hang of free Linux distros but its still hardly a cakewalk. For the slightly technically inclined and those with patience I say give it a try on a spare machine. Linux for the mainstream is still more difficult to deal with but all in all the installation has come a long way from when I tried Linux a few years ago and gave up before I could even get my internet to work.
More updates to come.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Cell Phone Rant
So recently I started looking into my options for a family wireless plan as my old contract with At&T wireless (taken over by Cingular) had finally run out. Imagine my surprise to learn that 2 years later, plans have less options and are actually more expensive. Around January of this year Verizon and Sprint both upped text messaging charges to 15 cents to send and receive and the "new" AT&T/Cingular has followed suit raising rates to 15 cents to send and receive a text message. What really annoys me here is that it costs 15 cents to RECEIVE a text message.
Text messaging is not like a phone call. You can't reject a text message. If some idiot gets a hold of your number they can spam you mercilessly. As many services now provide free text messaging from Aol Instant Messenger and websites the amount of junk texting you receive from friends and acquaintances will increase. Companies are also looking into spam and targeted text messaging ads. Recently Verizon wireless customers received messages telling them to buy a certain stock. At 15 cents a pop, your bill will add up. Unfortunately there is no text messaging spam filter that can be implemented. Phone carriers provide you with an all or nothing option.
I barely use text messaging. I don't understand why you would choose to text someone when you could just call them. If its not important enough to call me and tell me, please wait till i see you again or I'm online at my computer. Send me an e-mail even. Text messaging is especially handy in an urgent situation and for that reason I am hesitant to turn it off completely. When you ask your wireless carrier to block all text messages for you, the sender doesn't not receive a notice stating that you are unable to receive text messages. This can lead to miscommunication and people wondering why they are being ignored.
It is especially frustrating that as a mobile phone user who is currently using an old At&t Wireless contract, it is free for me to receive text messages. I believe with the increasing rate of spam texting and no ability to screen text messages, it is very irresponsible of wireless providers to charge for something the consumer has no control over. Lastly 15cents for a text message is extremely expensive, that's a 50 % increase. Text messaging in other countries is vastly cheaper. With the mergers of AT&T and Cingular, Sprint and Nextel, and other acquisitions choices are becoming very limited for customers as this cartel screws the consumer over. It is evident that At&T has learned from Verizon and Sprint's uppage of rates. A slew of customers got out of their contracts with Verizon and Sprint noting that this constituted a change of terms in their contract. AT&T/Cingular now notes that this change does not affect voice calling and is considered an add on and makes it especially difficult to leave without paying the early termination fee.
In the end I am now given the option of getting half the minutes and no free text receiving if i wish to start a new contract. I think I'll ride out my current agreement indefinitely, or until i get phone envy.
Text messaging is not like a phone call. You can't reject a text message. If some idiot gets a hold of your number they can spam you mercilessly. As many services now provide free text messaging from Aol Instant Messenger and websites the amount of junk texting you receive from friends and acquaintances will increase. Companies are also looking into spam and targeted text messaging ads. Recently Verizon wireless customers received messages telling them to buy a certain stock. At 15 cents a pop, your bill will add up. Unfortunately there is no text messaging spam filter that can be implemented. Phone carriers provide you with an all or nothing option.
I barely use text messaging. I don't understand why you would choose to text someone when you could just call them. If its not important enough to call me and tell me, please wait till i see you again or I'm online at my computer. Send me an e-mail even. Text messaging is especially handy in an urgent situation and for that reason I am hesitant to turn it off completely. When you ask your wireless carrier to block all text messages for you, the sender doesn't not receive a notice stating that you are unable to receive text messages. This can lead to miscommunication and people wondering why they are being ignored.
It is especially frustrating that as a mobile phone user who is currently using an old At&t Wireless contract, it is free for me to receive text messages. I believe with the increasing rate of spam texting and no ability to screen text messages, it is very irresponsible of wireless providers to charge for something the consumer has no control over. Lastly 15cents for a text message is extremely expensive, that's a 50 % increase. Text messaging in other countries is vastly cheaper. With the mergers of AT&T and Cingular, Sprint and Nextel, and other acquisitions choices are becoming very limited for customers as this cartel screws the consumer over. It is evident that At&T has learned from Verizon and Sprint's uppage of rates. A slew of customers got out of their contracts with Verizon and Sprint noting that this constituted a change of terms in their contract. AT&T/Cingular now notes that this change does not affect voice calling and is considered an add on and makes it especially difficult to leave without paying the early termination fee.
In the end I am now given the option of getting half the minutes and no free text receiving if i wish to start a new contract. I think I'll ride out my current agreement indefinitely, or until i get phone envy.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Violence, Videogames, Parenting
So recently there has been a lot of legislation and political posturing claiming that violent video games are the cause of teen shootings and violence. It is interesting to note that there is not a solid scientific base to argue the case. According to recent data students face a seven in 10 million chance of being a victim of a school shooting and while extremely disconcerting when they do occur, random school shootings statistically are incredibly rare, the media merely focuses on these occurrences and harps on them for significant amounts of time. Juvenile homicide rates have actually fallen in the past decade, even though first person shooters such have become extremely popular.
Historically politicians have complained about every new tech toy and blamed its influences on youth, be it radio, TV, movies, music, comic books, cars, computers, the internet. Instead of focusing on these devices shouldn't we be focusing on parenting? Yes the Nintendo Wii can connect to the internet and there are things on the internet that are inappropriate for children. Turn on the child lock! It is absurd to expect corporate business to make products that are protective of children, instead it is up to parents to be parents.
At the risk of this turning into a rant, it also angers me greatly when I read of school districts that no longer allow teachers to mark up student's papers and tests in red ink because it scars them psychologically. Give me a break! What about athletic competitions where the score isn't kept. I think it is important for youth to recognize that family is unique in that for the most part, family will stand behind you no matter what. This is not necessarily true in the real world. If we continue coddling America's youth, they are in for a very big surprise in the real world. Your boss will care who is "winning" and earning him more money. If you hand in crap, it will be marked up with "red" ink and you will be in danger of being fired. Learn from your "red" and fix it.
Lastly, is it not also interesting that there has not been much research into the profile of a "typical" school shooter? So far they have been predominantly white and middle class yet why haven't there been more studies about this demographic. Perhaps it is because most of the media is *gasp* white and middle class and it feels better to show off minority violence and think that they are above such problems.
As long as the current media and politicians continue to focus on arbitrary reasons the main underlying causes will never be explored. Parents need to recognize the fact that they need to step up and be parents.
Historically politicians have complained about every new tech toy and blamed its influences on youth, be it radio, TV, movies, music, comic books, cars, computers, the internet. Instead of focusing on these devices shouldn't we be focusing on parenting? Yes the Nintendo Wii can connect to the internet and there are things on the internet that are inappropriate for children. Turn on the child lock! It is absurd to expect corporate business to make products that are protective of children, instead it is up to parents to be parents.
At the risk of this turning into a rant, it also angers me greatly when I read of school districts that no longer allow teachers to mark up student's papers and tests in red ink because it scars them psychologically. Give me a break! What about athletic competitions where the score isn't kept. I think it is important for youth to recognize that family is unique in that for the most part, family will stand behind you no matter what. This is not necessarily true in the real world. If we continue coddling America's youth, they are in for a very big surprise in the real world. Your boss will care who is "winning" and earning him more money. If you hand in crap, it will be marked up with "red" ink and you will be in danger of being fired. Learn from your "red" and fix it.
Lastly, is it not also interesting that there has not been much research into the profile of a "typical" school shooter? So far they have been predominantly white and middle class yet why haven't there been more studies about this demographic. Perhaps it is because most of the media is *gasp* white and middle class and it feels better to show off minority violence and think that they are above such problems.
As long as the current media and politicians continue to focus on arbitrary reasons the main underlying causes will never be explored. Parents need to recognize the fact that they need to step up and be parents.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Market Situation
So this is just a brief update on my thoughts: The stock market fell sharply in China and the U.S. amid concerns of both economies slowing which was reiterated by Alan Greenspan and the fear of a weak housing sector. There were fears of a possible correction after an extended span of steadily increasing markets. Some claimed that the possibility of tax reform in China was the catalyst that triggered these events and there were those saying that a long recession was coming etc.
This was a great time to enter into stocks and ETF's that were just a bit too high for my liking. China's market is still a great opporunity with tremednous growth potential. The U.S. market is steadily becoming less attractive to investors as money leaves our marekts to go into Asia and Europe. Following these trends is probably the quickest way to find those faster moving purchases. That was my gamble.
It looks like it might have paid off as stocks rebounded slightly and ETF's especially took off today. It was helped by the Fed's Bernanke saying that the economy was set to grow moderately. My current plan of attack is to look at health care, ETF's, and companies such as Proctor & Gamble. The U.S. markets will be further hampered by new economic data saying that sales of single-family homes has dropped in Jan and that the Midwest Manufacturing was at its lowest level since Oct. of 2002. Combine that with the data that the U.s economy grew at a weaker-than-expected rate in the last three months of 2006 and you can see that the U.S. market will not be as lucrative as it once was.
Another lesson learned here is how much China's market power has grown. Their economy has the ability to greatly affect all markets. It would do the U.S. well to remember that in its relationship with China and how suggestions are worded regarding their financial policies.
Lastly I am glad that Bernanke has come into his own and has weathered the storm and reassured the public that he is the Fed Chairman, not Greenspan.
What i have gotten into and/or am looking at: ICE, FXI, CHL, GS, PG, EEM, ATI, TEVA, XING, MHS
This was a great time to enter into stocks and ETF's that were just a bit too high for my liking. China's market is still a great opporunity with tremednous growth potential. The U.S. market is steadily becoming less attractive to investors as money leaves our marekts to go into Asia and Europe. Following these trends is probably the quickest way to find those faster moving purchases. That was my gamble.
It looks like it might have paid off as stocks rebounded slightly and ETF's especially took off today. It was helped by the Fed's Bernanke saying that the economy was set to grow moderately. My current plan of attack is to look at health care, ETF's, and companies such as Proctor & Gamble. The U.S. markets will be further hampered by new economic data saying that sales of single-family homes has dropped in Jan and that the Midwest Manufacturing was at its lowest level since Oct. of 2002. Combine that with the data that the U.s economy grew at a weaker-than-expected rate in the last three months of 2006 and you can see that the U.S. market will not be as lucrative as it once was.
Another lesson learned here is how much China's market power has grown. Their economy has the ability to greatly affect all markets. It would do the U.S. well to remember that in its relationship with China and how suggestions are worded regarding their financial policies.
Lastly I am glad that Bernanke has come into his own and has weathered the storm and reassured the public that he is the Fed Chairman, not Greenspan.
What i have gotten into and/or am looking at: ICE, FXI, CHL, GS, PG, EEM, ATI, TEVA, XING, MHS
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Crackdown Update
So I have been logging in some hours playing Crackdown and I must say it has been quite addictive. Full review to come after I beat the single player. Co-op play is functional but not seamless. The story in the game (if you can call it that) doesn't seem very long but I am sure I will be keeping myself busy unlocking achievements. Finally a game that doesn't have a list of impossible achievements. While by no means easy, given enough time and effort most of them seem doable.
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