Don
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Posts by Don
STEAMing with excitement
Mar 4th
After battling with Steam for over a day with games freezing on the splash screen I finally go it to work. I did two things actually. I uninstalled steam completely and reinstalled it but I also uninstalled all the Microsoft C++ programs I had installed (had both 2005 and 2008 versions). After that it worked great. Went through demos of Bioshock and Batman Arkham Asylum last night just to make sure things were fine. After that I was going through games and tried putting together a list of games that I wanted so I wouldn’t buy on impulse.
I feel comfortable with going with one of three games. Assassin’s Creed II, comes out on the 9th. The graphics look great and I’ve heard good things about the series. Also if I were to pre-order it I would get three extra maps. Very tempting though the $60 price tag is a little scary. I understand that that is the new standard price for new games but still, ouch. The second is Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Sith Edition. I had a chance to test it out at a friends place around when it came out for consoles but haven’t seen much since. I like the style of the game and I’m tempted by that but the reviews for it have been rather low. It’s hard to weed through it though as I can’t tell whether people are upset with the port having nothing new or if it sucks on the PC. The last is Prototype, a pretty cool looking game from what I’ve seen. High paced action with a story to boot.
I am really interested by Steam and how the PC gaming work is getting better. While there have been good PC games for a while now, it was often a different image than what was then popular on console system. With the boost in PC gaming I feel less of a desire for wanting a next-gen system as I can buy the game without having to buy a system to play it on. It makes having paid for high-end parts worth the upfront cost.
Now I’m sure people around me will be first to point out that why am I thinking about playing a game when I have my thesis to be more concerned about!!!! Well to be frank, I need time to cool down and relax. Video games do that well. Especially action games in relieving stress. Also Video games count in my area of research so no complaining! HAHA
Now I must sit down and consider my options….
Fresh and inquisitive
Mar 2nd
So yesterday my computer finally told me that I needed to upgrade. Before I had been running Windows 7 RC with much joy. Yet as of March first though Win7 RC would regularly reboot as its way of saying “Upgrade Me!!!!
I was slightly tentative to do so though. As a student money is usually tight so I couldn’t see myself spending $300+ for the OS. I know there were student deals with other versions of the OS but I prefer the Ultimate version as it gives me the most flexibility in my opinion. Luckily as I was wondering my schools bookstore I found it. Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit for $90. I jumped for joy, yet was worried as it was the Upgrade version. Having read that you couldn’t go upgrade from RC to Full I scoured the web for answers. I new Lifehacker linked to how editing a file in the disk would make it possible but that wasn’t appealing. Then I found a nice work around.
So I was able to upgrade successfully. *FFVII Victory tune*
I was then presented with something I had not truly expected, that being, I had a fresh install meaning I was free of much of the bloat I had before. In the process of which I installed steam.
I had installed Steam before but it was buggy (I think it was Win7 Beta’s fault not Steam’s) but I thought I’d give it a go. I was impressed by the lineup. I expected just a bunch of indie games but it seems that most mainstream games are there too. I was really pumped as in between writing, school, work, and sleep I was feeling the itch to game a little. The problem was that I lacked one of the present generation systems and a TV.
With Steam though I’ve found a lot of the games available.
But now I feel myself pausing again. Mainly being I don’t know how the PC versions fair against their console cousins. I’ve read reviews on such ports like Force Unleashed but I can’t tell that if there really is a problem with the PC version of if it’s just a bunch of console fanboys bitching.
I hope I’ll be able to weed out the crap and get solid answers cause I feel this is a great alternative.
Oh and my system feels so much faster it’s great.
Song of the Week for 2/28/10
Feb 28th
Tatakae! Otaking
Something fun I thought I’d start. So this may the be first it may be the last I dunno, we’ll see. Tatakae! Otaking is the theme song to the classic OVA Otaku no Video. A mocumentary about otaku in Japan in the early to mid 80s, we are presented with the protagonist Kubo on his rise in (or fall to) otakudom.
One of my favorite anime, I remember purchasing the DVD back in 2003 at Ohayocon from the AnimEigo booth. Sadly I have no idea where it is now. Ok, I know where it is as in what building (parent’s house) but where in said place? It is a mystery. One I will solve with the determination of a parent ripping apart a car to save their child!!! Or something like that.
Lyrics after the jump
Head for the high ground!!! ZOMBIES!!!!!!!
Feb 27th
Ok it’s not really zombies. It’s just my natural reaction to sirens. An 8.8 earthquake hit Chile this morning resulting in tsunamis across the Pacific.
People should check out Hawaii News Now
I didn’t have to evacuate but went to friends place in Kaneohe. It’s like a party but much calmer and relaxing.
Will give updates as they come.
Update: 56 Aftershocks over 5.0 magnitude have been recorded in Chile. The first tsunami wave to hit may not be the last or strongest.
Dear surfers still out there and are waiting for the tsunami, good luck and thanks for helping nature with that whole survival of the fittest. Your genes won’t be missed.
Update: Little rise in water but nothing cool. I feel let down.
Thesis progress
Feb 26th
I got the comments back from my adviser on the first chapter of my thesis yesterday and much to my surprise she liked it! I’m very happy as it’s not often I get that good of a response from her so I’m really motivated. I need to get chapter 2 to her by Monday and I think I can do it. This weekend will be all about writing.
Also I went to a talk by Jason Weidemann, an acquisitions editor, from the University of Minnesota Press. While his talk focused more on getting books published, the advice overall was really great that could be applied to writing in general. I took a lot of notes during it and also recorded it on my digital voice recorder. I think having the recording will be very useful to listen to later on. In fact, knowing him already will help when the time to publish comes up (many years from now) and I active at the talk. I asked a question specifically about Minn. Press, Mechademia, and also I had the adapter that they needed for him to use his Powerpoint.
All in all yesterday was a good day. And I think today will be too.
Camera Hunting
Feb 22nd
Well I’ve sat down and begun looking around at cameras. I haven’t touched my old point and shoot in ages but have been using my girlfriends camera mainly. And to be honest she’s tired of me hogging her camera haha. So I started looking around today. I’ve known for a while that I want DSLR so I’ve looked that way. I think I’ve found the unit I want, the Canon Digital Rebel XSi. Talking it out with a friend who knows a lot about cameras I plan to buy just the body and get the lens’ separately. The touch choice now if figuring out which one or ones to get. I think a general lens would be good but I do enjoy macro shooting so a macro lens would be great to have.
The stickler is the price.
The camera body itself nears 500 and then the standard lens is about 100 and the macro lens is almost 250. The price is worth it I feel as it would be something that I might be able to make a little money from stock photos (maybe $1 hah), and it would last me for many years.
Now it boils down to where I should get it from and is there anything I’m failing to consider.
Grass Runner
Feb 21st
It’s been over a week since I started wearing my Vibram Five Fingers so I thought I should post a little review.
I have to say that they are by far some of the best shoes I’ve worn. It’s kind of fun walking around in them. I feel a bit like a Hobbit, Halfling, or Grass Runner depending on which terminology you go by. They do what they say. I feel more when I’m walking now also my stride and step both feel different. The KSOs do a good job of keeping stuff out though it doesn’t help for when I put my foot in with particles on my foot like kitty litter. I still get weird looks from people as toed shoes aren’t common but I don’t mind. They’re comfortable.
I think I will get a pair of the classics as they’re an easier casual shoe but I’ll hold off until I head back to the mainland for that.
I give the Vibram Five Finger KSO’s
(4.5/5)
Japanese Cheat Sheet | nihonshock
Feb 17th
