There are just some days one feels like posting....today could be the day! Anywho, on with ye!
I really hope that on Monday morning, next Monday that is, I can honestly say that this weekend (the 19th-21st) was the best weekend of my life. I know I will have a regret after the weekend and its that I regret I won't get to do everything I wanted to do.
I have a extremely special and amazing individual coming to visit me and I CANNOT WAIT. I have been waiting for a while now (at least it seems like a while) and the time has finally arrived. Everyday I talk to her the anticipation grows much stronger and I get a way of all kinds of emotions and feelings. It will be the most amazing meeting of all time!
She and I talk and joke about the "Great Doorway meeting/competition of 2008". This is a little challenge conjured up between the two of us and it is a challenge that I will win. This challenge is one of many that will be carried out over the course of the weekend, and most likely the next few weeks. To state here for the record, I will be winning these challenges, and may indeed start a running tally of W's to L's just to see who the true champion is. Of course, Val thinks she will win, but I know better. :P I have been plotting and diagramming strategies, checking weather conditions, and performing trial runs of the doorway competition and is she ever in for a surprise.
But all that mumbo-jumbo aside, this is something that I have been looking forward to since it was first conceived (like babies, only with less semen). Val, you are wonderful no matter what you say. Now, let's crack open the fucking wine and get stupid already!!!
Currently Listening to:
Deftones - Passenger
Monday, December 15, 2008
Melted Processing Chips are pretty
So, yesterday I was forced to go buy another XBox. I must say that I'm not too excited about it, but secretly I'm okay with it.
I've always wanted the XBox 360 Elite model and yesterday I was finally "able" to buy one. It all started with Grand Theft Auto IV and a simple phone call from BH. I was playing GTA IV when my iPhone rang. I saw that it was BH and figured I'd answer, but first, I paused my game. The phone conversation was not long, long enough to decide that we would kill bitches in Halo 3 later that day. Upon returning to GTA IV, I notice a few fuzzy, faint vertical lines statically located on the left side of my screen. They weren't terrible enough to effect gameplay or anything, but figuring it wasn't a good thing, I saved and powered down the box.
After a few minutes of rest, I flipped the switched back on only to be greeted with XBox Hardware System Error code "E 74". For those who don't know about the MANY error codes an XBox can throw at you, "E 74" is the error code for an A/V Cable failure. Not too terrible as cables aren't that expensive. Well, I dug a little deeper into the internetz and was able to find the "E 74" is also the error code for a video processing chip malfunction. HOT DAMN!!! I can has fucked up gaming system plx?!?
Thoroughly pissed and concerned, as well as noticing that my XBox is no longer under warranty, I took apart the fucker myself to take a gander. Looking inside, I see this shiny display of magical colors. Checking against schematics and plans from XBox modding sites, I soon realize that the pile of melted whatever (silicon maybe?) is the video chip.
Now, I work at a job that uses LOTS of surface mount chip components and we do testing on those boards and chips at 170*C. 170 FUCKING DEGREES CELSIUS!! Nothing melts and we have a 96% success rate of solder not melting, meaning that after the test, nothing is fucked up. Also on a side note, I keep a 14" box fan constantly blowing on my system at all times while it's powered up. "Fresh" air is constantly being blown right onto and over the system to keep it nice, cool, and happy. So, for a chip of the much importance to the system to melt, with a fan blowing right on the system, is no less than down right impressive.
So, in the end, I of course had to buy another system and eagerly sought out the Elite bundle. The 120GB HDD is a massive upgrade to the standard 20GB HDD and is easy to transfer data between the two with Microsoft's free Data Transfer kit. I'm also pleased that none of my Arcade games fucked up with the serial number switch.
In the end it worked out okay. I got two "free" games in the Elite bundle, Kung Fu Panda and Lego Indiana Jones. Both of which are actually pretty fun. Plus, I got everything hooked up in time to talk to people.... SP, you are teh awesomeness!!
Currently Listening to:
Tool - The Pot
Deftones - Change (In The House of Flies)
I've always wanted the XBox 360 Elite model and yesterday I was finally "able" to buy one. It all started with Grand Theft Auto IV and a simple phone call from BH. I was playing GTA IV when my iPhone rang. I saw that it was BH and figured I'd answer, but first, I paused my game. The phone conversation was not long, long enough to decide that we would kill bitches in Halo 3 later that day. Upon returning to GTA IV, I notice a few fuzzy, faint vertical lines statically located on the left side of my screen. They weren't terrible enough to effect gameplay or anything, but figuring it wasn't a good thing, I saved and powered down the box.
After a few minutes of rest, I flipped the switched back on only to be greeted with XBox Hardware System Error code "E 74". For those who don't know about the MANY error codes an XBox can throw at you, "E 74" is the error code for an A/V Cable failure. Not too terrible as cables aren't that expensive. Well, I dug a little deeper into the internetz and was able to find the "E 74" is also the error code for a video processing chip malfunction. HOT DAMN!!! I can has fucked up gaming system plx?!?
Thoroughly pissed and concerned, as well as noticing that my XBox is no longer under warranty, I took apart the fucker myself to take a gander. Looking inside, I see this shiny display of magical colors. Checking against schematics and plans from XBox modding sites, I soon realize that the pile of melted whatever (silicon maybe?) is the video chip.
Now, I work at a job that uses LOTS of surface mount chip components and we do testing on those boards and chips at 170*C. 170 FUCKING DEGREES CELSIUS!! Nothing melts and we have a 96% success rate of solder not melting, meaning that after the test, nothing is fucked up. Also on a side note, I keep a 14" box fan constantly blowing on my system at all times while it's powered up. "Fresh" air is constantly being blown right onto and over the system to keep it nice, cool, and happy. So, for a chip of the much importance to the system to melt, with a fan blowing right on the system, is no less than down right impressive.
So, in the end, I of course had to buy another system and eagerly sought out the Elite bundle. The 120GB HDD is a massive upgrade to the standard 20GB HDD and is easy to transfer data between the two with Microsoft's free Data Transfer kit. I'm also pleased that none of my Arcade games fucked up with the serial number switch.
In the end it worked out okay. I got two "free" games in the Elite bundle, Kung Fu Panda and Lego Indiana Jones. Both of which are actually pretty fun. Plus, I got everything hooked up in time to talk to people.... SP, you are teh awesomeness!!
Currently Listening to:
Tool - The Pot
Deftones - Change (In The House of Flies)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
What are the chances of that happening? 100%
Life can be pretty fucked up with many things being thrown at you constantly, some of which you don't always see until it's too late. Of those unforeseen events, some are spectacularly amazing and turn out to be exceptionally awesome and "just what the doctor ordered", if you will.
If you can't tell, I play Microsoft's XBox Live probably more than I should. On a chilly, extremely drunken Saturday night in mid-November, I get the urge to play Texas Hold'em. Playing with a friend, BH, we join a table and make idle chat-chit with the other Hold'em goers. Following a big pot, in a very inebriated state, a distasteful joke or seven is thrown about to which the table comes alive with laughter and good times. Now BH and I are no strangers to finding random friends online through games and a few of the people at the current table wish to form another table so we can converse more in a friendlier atmosphere with better table rules.
In this table, there is this voice I hear that is clearly not male, female if you will again. Come to find out, this is the single greatest chick of all fuckin' time. She can take anything said, breaks most all the stereotypes of female gamers, and is funny as balls. And I must have more.
Texas Hold'em quickly turned into a private UNO game, in which, XBox Live Vision Cameras are enabled. Seeing this amazing chick after "hanging out" with her for the previous few hours is amazing, she is the cutest thing ever. Not that that should matter, but let's be honest, when you're cute, you're cute.
The next day, BH and I nurse our amazing hangovers with more beer and Taco Bell, and set out to rape face in Gears of War 2. Content with our amount of bloodshed, we notice that said girl from the night before is online again. A few game changes later and an invite, and we are back playing poker. I was thankful to know that the night before was not a dream and that she really is as kick ass as before.
This goes on for a few more days of she and I playing more and more games together and this friendship grows into something bigger than XBL. Turns out, she is the best and easiest person ever to talk to about anything and everything. But more than that, she is just plain full of awesomeness and win. We've both been through some shit, enjoy the same everything, and enjoy talking to one another.
Turns out you can find someone so awesome anywhere, anytime. We agreed to meet for New Years and are going to have the greatest night evar. I can't wait to meet her, it will be epic win. So, as I said, what are the changes of meeting of one the greatest people evar through a game? 100% And they say video games are the devil....
If you can't tell, I play Microsoft's XBox Live probably more than I should. On a chilly, extremely drunken Saturday night in mid-November, I get the urge to play Texas Hold'em. Playing with a friend, BH, we join a table and make idle chat-chit with the other Hold'em goers. Following a big pot, in a very inebriated state, a distasteful joke or seven is thrown about to which the table comes alive with laughter and good times. Now BH and I are no strangers to finding random friends online through games and a few of the people at the current table wish to form another table so we can converse more in a friendlier atmosphere with better table rules.
In this table, there is this voice I hear that is clearly not male, female if you will again. Come to find out, this is the single greatest chick of all fuckin' time. She can take anything said, breaks most all the stereotypes of female gamers, and is funny as balls. And I must have more.
Texas Hold'em quickly turned into a private UNO game, in which, XBox Live Vision Cameras are enabled. Seeing this amazing chick after "hanging out" with her for the previous few hours is amazing, she is the cutest thing ever. Not that that should matter, but let's be honest, when you're cute, you're cute.
The next day, BH and I nurse our amazing hangovers with more beer and Taco Bell, and set out to rape face in Gears of War 2. Content with our amount of bloodshed, we notice that said girl from the night before is online again. A few game changes later and an invite, and we are back playing poker. I was thankful to know that the night before was not a dream and that she really is as kick ass as before.
This goes on for a few more days of she and I playing more and more games together and this friendship grows into something bigger than XBL. Turns out, she is the best and easiest person ever to talk to about anything and everything. But more than that, she is just plain full of awesomeness and win. We've both been through some shit, enjoy the same everything, and enjoy talking to one another.
Turns out you can find someone so awesome anywhere, anytime. We agreed to meet for New Years and are going to have the greatest night evar. I can't wait to meet her, it will be epic win. So, as I said, what are the changes of meeting of one the greatest people evar through a game? 100% And they say video games are the devil....
Monday, December 8, 2008
REVIEW: Need for Speed: Undercover, Multiplayer
I hoped on to play some NFS:UC Multiplayer the other day to see what it was all about and here is my opinion of it:
Anyone ever play NFS:Carbon multiplayer? Anyone? EXACTLY THE SAME FUCKING THING! You can race or play Cops and Robbers...not very fuckin' original EA. Granted, the racing isn't bad except for the occasional dickus that is only there to make others crash or hit walls. Having beat the game and gotta one of the best cars fully customized, it makes winning and racing a lot easier. I would recommend beating the Career mode first (its not hard at all) so you don't get discouraged by finishing last every race.
This is short because really, there's not a lot to a racing multiplayer. Game says go, you press the Right Trigger, turn some, crash, scream obscenities, then finish.
Anyone ever play NFS:Carbon multiplayer? Anyone? EXACTLY THE SAME FUCKING THING! You can race or play Cops and Robbers...not very fuckin' original EA. Granted, the racing isn't bad except for the occasional dickus that is only there to make others crash or hit walls. Having beat the game and gotta one of the best cars fully customized, it makes winning and racing a lot easier. I would recommend beating the Career mode first (its not hard at all) so you don't get discouraged by finishing last every race.
This is short because really, there's not a lot to a racing multiplayer. Game says go, you press the Right Trigger, turn some, crash, scream obscenities, then finish.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
REVIEW: Need for Speed: Undercover
So, if you can't tell by the title, I picked up the new Need for Speed game, NFS: Undercover.
I had heard some pretty mixed reviews about the game prior to purchasing it, but figured I'd give it a shot anyways just for the hell of it. I must say that I am "impressed" that they listened to people from the shitty NFS: Carbon driving experience. EA took the driving and gameplay aspect of NFS: Most Wanted, the car customization from NFS: Carbon, and a little dash of driving from NFS: ProStreet (also a fairly terrible game).
The story isn't terrible, it's just been done before many times in the Need for Speed series. Undercover cop/agent who needs to infiltrate a street racing syndicate, gather evidence and shit, turn to the dark side, escape. The graphics got a slight upgrade (nothing like EA to skimp out....bastards), car tuning got a nice boost, and the AI got a little better.
I can say that the game feels easy though. I played for 3 hours yesterday evening, picked up about 5 achievements and made it racer level 6 (whatever that does that for you). I did not lose a single race, in fact I shattered all competition. Now, I'm not bad by any means at racing games, I'm one of the better people I know, but it was ridiculous as to the length I could get between 1st and 2nd place. I was winning races by near 30-40 seconds. I feel the game has been dumbed down slightly to accommodate to someone who needed it. That's fine, but a difficulty setting would be sweet...
Money is very easy to get once you break the number 3 rank. $75,000+ isn't hard to grab in just a few short races which can be used immediately for performance upgrades via instant teleport to Part Shops now. But, for all the cheaters out there, there are a few codes for money and certain cars that can be input mid-game. As for as I have read, these codes will not disable the gaining of achievements, but I choose not to test this personally, so good luck to you if you so choose to cheat. CHEATER!
I have not tested out the Multiplayer yet because I want to progress further into the Career to unlock better vehicles and performance parts first. I can't be going online and getting slaughtered... That's just embarrassing. Once I do decide to roll up to the EA servers, I'll give a quick review of the Multiplayer too.
Overall, I'd recommend at least giving it a rent just to fuck around with. It's got some better graphics, gameplay is nice and easy, and evading the cops can actually almost get challenging in some situations. It's a fairly easy game with WAY easier achievements than Carbon or ProStreet, if that's your cookie.
I had heard some pretty mixed reviews about the game prior to purchasing it, but figured I'd give it a shot anyways just for the hell of it. I must say that I am "impressed" that they listened to people from the shitty NFS: Carbon driving experience. EA took the driving and gameplay aspect of NFS: Most Wanted, the car customization from NFS: Carbon, and a little dash of driving from NFS: ProStreet (also a fairly terrible game).
The story isn't terrible, it's just been done before many times in the Need for Speed series. Undercover cop/agent who needs to infiltrate a street racing syndicate, gather evidence and shit, turn to the dark side, escape. The graphics got a slight upgrade (nothing like EA to skimp out....bastards), car tuning got a nice boost, and the AI got a little better.
I can say that the game feels easy though. I played for 3 hours yesterday evening, picked up about 5 achievements and made it racer level 6 (whatever that does that for you). I did not lose a single race, in fact I shattered all competition. Now, I'm not bad by any means at racing games, I'm one of the better people I know, but it was ridiculous as to the length I could get between 1st and 2nd place. I was winning races by near 30-40 seconds. I feel the game has been dumbed down slightly to accommodate to someone who needed it. That's fine, but a difficulty setting would be sweet...
Money is very easy to get once you break the number 3 rank. $75,000+ isn't hard to grab in just a few short races which can be used immediately for performance upgrades via instant teleport to Part Shops now. But, for all the cheaters out there, there are a few codes for money and certain cars that can be input mid-game. As for as I have read, these codes will not disable the gaining of achievements, but I choose not to test this personally, so good luck to you if you so choose to cheat. CHEATER!
I have not tested out the Multiplayer yet because I want to progress further into the Career to unlock better vehicles and performance parts first. I can't be going online and getting slaughtered... That's just embarrassing. Once I do decide to roll up to the EA servers, I'll give a quick review of the Multiplayer too.
Overall, I'd recommend at least giving it a rent just to fuck around with. It's got some better graphics, gameplay is nice and easy, and evading the cops can actually almost get challenging in some situations. It's a fairly easy game with WAY easier achievements than Carbon or ProStreet, if that's your cookie.
Monday, December 1, 2008
It's magical like brownies, but better
I had a moment of clarity today at lunch with some coworkers. As I was sitting there, eating my meatball sub (dubbed "The Spaceball"), I thought of a way to end America's crisis - all of them. Remember last post when I said I needed to invent something...oh yeah, it's coming.
So, with an energy crisis on our hands, car manufacturers are trying to come up with new ways to lower fuel consumption, better mpg, cut user costs, and save the world one car at a time. While I fully agree with saving me money, I think I might have a better way to do this than just using rechargeable batteries and fuel cells. Make cars run on POT.
Yeah, I know - fucking brilliant right?! Hear me out now, it's classic. You convert a car to run on either the fumes that are given off from the pot being burnt (not as good) or allow the heat from the burn to power the engine (good idea). With the good way, the bi-product of the burning is the awesome greatness of THC infused smoke. Sure, it won't be as much THC as from an original hit (your car will be flying!) but get every car running on pot and it's like getting 5 billion shotgun hits...all the time!
This, I believe, could solve many problems for our American economy. With a decrease in gasoline consumption, presumably down to zero at this point, America would become extremely less dependent on oil (for gas at least) and therefore would not spend billions on it. The government can now legalize this beautiful plant, tax it like they want (and they will) and make a profit from it. I also believe that people would be better off as well, as some could grow there own fuel supply! On top of the oil crisis, we have the war on hunger. With everyone sky high, food industries could be able to lower their prices which, in turn, will allow most everyone to afford food to eat. Gives me the munchies just thinking about it...
This also could help in the War Against Terrorism too. As statistics show, terrorism is mostly funded through drugs trades. With America supply most of the "fuel", importing drug industries may dry up, which could also lead to cutting off funding for terroristic activities.
Sure, America may in turn become an isolationist society, but that was our original plan back in the day when some old farts in wigs created the nation. Everyone was so bent on isolationism, which mostly worked, to America becoming this huge fucking ATM machine for the needy. I'm pretty sure America itself is needy and could use a little TLC from ol' Papa Dubbs. He's already fucked up enough, might as well say "Fuck it, let's all light up a doob! And while we're at it, let our cars run off of marijuana so that we can save money and be high all the time!"
Yeah...Pot cars could work. Pot cars and Cheetos cheese that doesn't stick to your fingers. I'm gonna be a fuckin' millionaire...
So, with an energy crisis on our hands, car manufacturers are trying to come up with new ways to lower fuel consumption, better mpg, cut user costs, and save the world one car at a time. While I fully agree with saving me money, I think I might have a better way to do this than just using rechargeable batteries and fuel cells. Make cars run on POT.
Yeah, I know - fucking brilliant right?! Hear me out now, it's classic. You convert a car to run on either the fumes that are given off from the pot being burnt (not as good) or allow the heat from the burn to power the engine (good idea). With the good way, the bi-product of the burning is the awesome greatness of THC infused smoke. Sure, it won't be as much THC as from an original hit (your car will be flying!) but get every car running on pot and it's like getting 5 billion shotgun hits...all the time!
This, I believe, could solve many problems for our American economy. With a decrease in gasoline consumption, presumably down to zero at this point, America would become extremely less dependent on oil (for gas at least) and therefore would not spend billions on it. The government can now legalize this beautiful plant, tax it like they want (and they will) and make a profit from it. I also believe that people would be better off as well, as some could grow there own fuel supply! On top of the oil crisis, we have the war on hunger. With everyone sky high, food industries could be able to lower their prices which, in turn, will allow most everyone to afford food to eat. Gives me the munchies just thinking about it...
This also could help in the War Against Terrorism too. As statistics show, terrorism is mostly funded through drugs trades. With America supply most of the "fuel", importing drug industries may dry up, which could also lead to cutting off funding for terroristic activities.
Sure, America may in turn become an isolationist society, but that was our original plan back in the day when some old farts in wigs created the nation. Everyone was so bent on isolationism, which mostly worked, to America becoming this huge fucking ATM machine for the needy. I'm pretty sure America itself is needy and could use a little TLC from ol' Papa Dubbs. He's already fucked up enough, might as well say "Fuck it, let's all light up a doob! And while we're at it, let our cars run off of marijuana so that we can save money and be high all the time!"
Yeah...Pot cars could work. Pot cars and Cheetos cheese that doesn't stick to your fingers. I'm gonna be a fuckin' millionaire...
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