News on games, technology, mods, and more.

• 12Aug 09

  Second Skin: The MMO Documentary

  "I've not had the chance to watch all of this yet, because the idea of observing moving images whilst listening to dialogue seems like a frightening impossibility to me. What will they think of next? If you, however, are convinced you can embrace this 'video' medium, perhaps you should watch Second Skin - a 90 minute documentary about how and why people spend so much time in online worlds, and some potential repurcussions of it. Online relationships, for instance - one guy reveals that, upon finally meeting his Everquestian beau in real life, she threatened him with a knife. To counter that kind of thing, there's the raw, racuous of joy of one couple's wedding conducted both in the real world ("henceforth you will no longer be two, but one") and in-game ("from this time forward, you will share the name "Soulslayerrrrrrrr").

  From what I have seen so far, they're concentrating on World of Warcraft and Everquest II, rather than making the all-too-regular mistake of innacurately pushing cocking Second Life front and centre just because it's got unconvincing genitalia in it.

  Some canny editing (the staring, heavy breathing avatars during the discussion of online relationships, for instance), stereotypes both endorsed and busted, and a general aura of sympathy-meets-tragedy make it an interesting watch so far, even if it doesn't seem to explore that deeply. Haven't got to the addiction element of it yet, which I'm sure will contain the most contentious elements. Anyone watched the whole thing yet and care to comment?

  The thinger below will take you to the full movie, but it's only watchable for free until the end of tomorrow."

  http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/08/12/second-skin-the-mmo-documentary/

  • Posted Aug 12, 2009 6:02 am GMT
  • 0 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Tweet
• 13Nov 08

  2009 Coming Up... So Is Windows 7

  Numerous signs point to the possibility of an early arrival for Microsoft's next operating system.
  
  For the record, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) has said that it expects to roll out the Windows 7 computer operating system in 2010--but numerous signs indicate that the successor to the widely maligned Windows Vista could be available sooner than that.
  
  Microsoft spent the past week heavily promoting and publicizing Windows 7 at its Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles. The company performed numerous, live demonstrations of the operating system in action and has published a slew of screenshots.
  
  "We're pretty excited about the work that we've done on performance," said Microsoft senior VP Steven Sinofsky, as he demonstrated the system onstage.
  
  It all points to the fact that Windows 7 development is well advanced.
  
  Also this week, Microsoft stated that it will introduce a beta version of Windows 7 "early next year." That could give Microsoft and its developers enough time to kick the tires on the OS to roll out a final version prior to year's end.
  
  Microsoft needs to get Windows 7 out the door as soon as possible. Sales of Vista have flat lined-evidenced by the fact that the company's client unit posted a revenue gain of just 2% in the most recent quarter. This week's hype around Windows 7 means Vista sales will continue to decline. Vista, on the market for less than two years, is already pass.
  
  The majority of businesses have decided to bypass Vista for enterprise use and most will upgrade their systems directly from XP to Windows 7.
  
  Some system builders appear to believe that Windows 7 will be available in 2009. ASUS CEO Jerry Shen let slip that his company plans to offer laptops running Windows 7 as early as the second half of 2009.
  
  "I think in the future, in the second half of next year we will put Windows 7 on Eee PCs," said Shen, in an interview published last week by Laptop magazine. In the interview, Shen said Asus, of Taiwan, will forego Vista entirely and continue offering systems with Windows XP or Linux pre-installed until Windows 7 is available.
  
  Shen also told the magazine that some of ASUS' Windows 7 laptops will feature a touch-screen interface powered by the new OS. ASUS offers a range of low-cost, lightweight laptops under the Eee PC brand.
  
  Whether it's late 2009 or early 2010, Windows 7's debut won't come soon enough for the legion of computer users that has thumbed its collective nose at Vista.
  
  Source.

  • Posted Nov 13, 2008 1:48 am GMT
  • 0 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Tweet
• 11Nov 08

  Modding Project

  A few of my mates and myself are thinking of making a mod using the Hammer Editor or the Unreal Editor (v3) during the Christmas holidays. We are thinking something innovative but can't keep our eyes away from an invasion/survival type mod. Skrat_01 is one member on the team.
  
  Watch this space!
  • Posted Nov 11, 2008 11:21 pm GMT
  • 1 Comment
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Tweet

See Previous Blog Posts »