nearscape
You should really check out Braid, Kruger, if you haven't already. It's the most innovative game I've seen in a while, and possibly the best of the ever-dwindling reasons to fire up the 360 noisemaker right now.
http://braid-game.com/
intrigue
I was looking for a new sort of game, and ... I found Air Rivals, I don't know if its any good but it looks like its worth a shot.
it's free right now and it's a MMO vehicular shooter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEeUhtmvwew&feature=related
http://www.airrivals.net/account/authen.php?u=150221
I recommend using bit torrent to download it, to help the developers save on bandwidth since you are getting it for free right now. Let me know if any of you want to spend some time playing together.
intrigue
http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Beat_the_Odds_at_Fable_2_Pub_Games
this is awesome, casual games, plus RPG++++
intrigue
Crow, GET THE COMPONENT CABLE! It makes it so much better on an LCD screen, on CRT it seems to not make much of a difference, but I wouldn't play without it.
As an update, Irenicus and I have been playing a lot of TA Spring. In general its a great game, but after you play it more than a few times, the AI becomes a little bit predictable, even more so than Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance. Spring has several advantages, 1. its free, 2. it plays on linux mac, and windows; 3. it's open source and there are a ton of Maps. It seems like it would play well over the web.
If anyone is up, I would like to set up a server at ec2 for the weekend on a virtual linux box, and we should be able to all connect to it. If people are also interested in setting up a few other servers on the box let me know. I would like to play some games.
Is anyone going to nVision2008? nvidias big games and graphics galla?
intrigue
OK, so here is proof that star wars is realllll and in a galaxy, well HERE.
http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/08/the_galactic_empire_invades_san_francisco.php
NearScape
I upgraded to the component cable. It looks good, but as I understand it it only increases the horizontal resolution. Composite 480i = 720x480 anamorphic pixels, Component 480p = 852x480 square pixels. So you're getting more resolution, but not a whole lot, since the Wii isn't capable of the more "meaningful" HD resolutions of 720p or 1080p. But the text is perfectly readable on my screen, which is a 16x9 CRT (which is more soft and forgiving than LCD I would think). I think it is the same setup David is using.
Also, I did it. I bought Crysis, it was only $30 bucks, and I'm very happpy so far.
CJOS
Hey, question for all you Wii guys out there. I'm thinking of buying a component cable to replace the standard composite cable that came with the system. Has anyone else done this? I've read conflicting reports as to how it "improves" the quality of the Wii graphics or text on the Weather/News channels. I'd love to hear if anyone out there has done this.
CJOS
adam
NS will be especially interested in this...
http://www.acvt.com.au/research/videotrace/
A friend sent the link to me and I have to say, that's probably one of the coolest things I've seen!
-Adam
NearScape
So for shits and giggles I put the single player demo for Crysis on Aphex 3.0, figuring I'd give it a good workout and test the limits. Surprisingly my little $800 upgrade (minus case and monitor) held up just fine, at least at the "high" settings ("very high" is not available in the demo). It's a robust little engine, and makes me more excited about the prospect of a Tribes mod for it. The soft-body physics are great fun, as is taking apart whole buildings, panel by panel. Overall the game is better than I expected (I expected little more than a tech demo). It plays a lot like Delta Force: Land Warrior, but with good AI. I'm going to pick up the retail.
I'm running an 8800GT video card, and so far the only way I have to "beat it down" is to turn on 8x or 16x anti-aliasing in UT3, for some reason that engine really takes a hit (maybe all the translucent textures?). Strangely, adding AA in Crysis, WoW and the Valve games has almost no effect on performance, although it looks much better. Not bad, for a card that is 2 generations out of date. Makes me wonder what the new $600 cards are for exactly?
adam
Tonight on Fox, When Chico attacks....
BULLETIN
HURRICANE HERNAN ADVISORY NUMBER 12
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP092008
800 AM PDT SAT AUG 09 2008
...HERNAN BECOMES THE FIRST MAJOR HURRICANE OF THE 2008 EASTERN
NORTH PACIFIC SEASON...
AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE HERNAN WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 123.3 WEST OR ABOUT
1005 MILES...1615 KM...WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA
CALIFORNIA.
HERNAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR...
AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED HAVE INCREASED AND ARE NOW NEAR 120 MPH...195
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. HERNAN IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS
EXPECTED TODAY...BUT A GRADUAL WEAKENING TREND IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN
TONIGHT OR SUNDAY.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES...35 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105
MILES...165 KM.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 956 MB...28.23 INCHES.
REPEATING THE 800 AM PDT POSITION...15.7 N...123.3 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...956 MB.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
200 PM PDT.
$$
FORECASTER KNABB
-Adam
CrowScape
Star Wars Lost Intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCyPTM2FJgA
adam
*sigh* I'm probably working that entire weekend.
So who's going to Jamie's thing?
-Adam
Nearscape
Labor day is coming up, anyone up for some gaming? Aphex 3.0 is operational, I'm patching stuff now.
intrigue
just so you all know i asked mathew 'berek' to post here to ask about gen con. i met him at itt tech and he is into game programing.
intrigue
anyone going to nvision?
http://www.amireg.com/nvision08/intro.html
there are some cheaper options if you just want to LAN or get general access. nearscape, backlot should get you in to the emerging tech tracks.
Berek Halfhand
Anyone going to Gencon Indie 2008 this year and is in the Green Bay to Oshkosh area, willing to pick me up? I am with Allakhazam.com and will be reporting on the show, but I can't get there without carpooling (and a place in a hotel too if possible, but not required). I'd pay my share of course.
If anyone is interested in carpooling, please let me know: Berek-halfhand@new.rr.com
Thanks,
Mathew "Berek" Anderson
