Minecraft Character Widget for Android

I found a sweet little widget available on Android enabled devices. If you are a Minecraft fan and have some extra space on your homescreen, don't pass up this free widget. It's really simple, it cycles through pictures of characters and mobs from Minecraft. When set up, you can set how long you want each picture to last. My screenshot to the left shows four of the characters featured, but there are plenty more Also, when you tap on the picture a little menu pops up that will let you stop the cycle or skip forward (bottom right widget).It doesn't really do a whole lot, but it will definitely show your Minecraft patronage.

Minecraft Canary Review

I've stumbled across an amazing application, available on both the Android Marketplace and the iPod App Store. It is called Minecraft Canary and and it has several pretty useful functions. Now, I will also use this as an opportunity mark the starting point for my application reviews. See the separate page (at the top of the blog) I have created for a more detailed explanation about the grading system.

Minecraft Canary, developed by Ninja Coders, is an application designed to help you out with Minecraft. Complete lists of recipes, relevant information for use the game, and the day and night cycle timer are just a few of the useful things this app has to offer.


Overall: 42/50

Functionality: 9/10
From the very beginning, this app is simple enough. After the Ninja Coders screen, a main menu appears and contains 4 options: Canary, Workshop, Links, and Game Info. Firstly, the Canary acts a timer for your day/night cycle in the game. You start the timer when dawn or dusk starts and it displays how much time until the next change. It is somewhat confusing at first, but it quickly begins making sense after screwing with it for a while. Next, the Workshop section contains a list of all of the recipes. You can view them all at once, or only view certain categories. Occasionally, I found myself not knowing which category to look under, but I don't see that as a fault of the app. Every recipe is complete with a picture showing exactly how to craft everything. The Links section is the most useless. Here you will find links to sites like Notch's Blog/Twitter, the Official Minecraft Forums, and the Ninja Coders website. Easy enough, but generally useless. The Game Info section is more interesting than one would expect. It contains information on several catergories, as well as tips for in the game. All in all, if you are a Minecraft player, this app is definitely worth the price of FREE (with ads) or 99 cents without adds.

User-Friendliness: 10/10
It truly looks like an official Minecraft app. Everything is done with the Minecraft font and the background is the same as the game's. Everything is simple and almost always right where you would expect it to be. From the simple main menu (see picture to the right) to the easy sub-menus, this app makes it easy for anyone to use as long as they know how to tap the screen.

Entertainment: 7/10
This app certainly makes Minecraft more interesting after you learn of the formulas and the mobs and how everything works. The Canary will also keep you on track so you won't be left out alone at night time. A nice improvement however might be to add videos that explain the more complex ideas like track circuitry and such. The works very well, but after the first time, you will only go to when you need help.

Usefulness: 10/10
This app was designed to help you out in Minecraft. No doubt, this is exactly what it does, and it does it well. Very well. There is nothing that gets in the way of it so long as you know what you are looking for.

Span of Use: 6/10
Probably the biggest problem with this app... Once you know all of the recipes and have read all of the info, the only thing it really leaves is the Canary. Even then, once you craft a watch in game the Canary becomes generally useless. Of course, it is useful to keep around in case you forget a recipe or just want to re-read some neat information about the game.

Overall: 42/50
This app is great if you are a beginner. It could also be useful for a veteran that wants to learn more about the game on a deeper level or just wants to see how many minutes until sundown. The biggest problem is that this app loses its value over time. Besides that, I do believe this is the best Minecraft application out there, so the free version is definitely worth it. As Minecraft develops however, I expect this application will as well, so buying it would be smart as well (not that it makes a huge difference).

Do Not Buy Acer Laptops

Yes, it is that simple. It will prove a huge mistake if you do. A while back, they were awarded for their customer support. Ever since then, its been pretty generally terrible. Now, customer support wouldn't really matter that much if you had yourself a solid computer. Thats the next problem. Laptops Notebooks crafted by acer, specifically the Aspire series, are not put together very well.

I have been cursed with owning an acer Aspire 5100. Now, I got if for free and I'm still complaining. THAT is how incredibly terrible it is. I'll give a few reasons for this. So back in 2007 I believe, acer released an update that automatically updated through Windows. This update didn't actually do much of anything except break 70% of the Aspire 5100 series. Ya, thats pretty bad, but it isn't the worst.

So here I will explain exactly how this update broke the notebooks. What it did was incredible. It disabled all of the USB ports, disabled the touchpad, and disabled the keyboard. That leaves practically nothing working.

Now the worst thing about it in my opinion is that acer didn't reverse the problem. Ever. It is still there. If the laptop was still under warranty, they fixed it after a month or two. If not, all you had to do was collaborate with the internet and look for a fix.

The fixes were different for anybody. Some lucky people could get it to work if they simply used it without their battery, but that defeats the purpose of it being a laptop. Some were virtually unfixable without a brand new motherboard, but in terms of laptops, a new motherboard is a new computer. In order to fix mine, I had to order a PCI Express to USB adapter. This at least gave me two more USB ports, which let me use a mouse and keyboard! After that, Windows reinstall and a BIOS flash fixed the keyboard and touchpad. For a while at least. As of now, I can only use an external mouse.

So, in the end, it all comes down to one thing: acer laptops are put together terribly, acer is bad, and their customer support is bad. Almost all of the computer repair guys I have talked to say that most of their customers bring in acer products. Their netbooks and monitors seem somewhat solid, but there is still customer support to deal with. Please, save yourself the trouble and do not buy acer products. I will post later what I see as the best products for their price in each category.

New Uncharted 3 Gameplay Revealed!

A much anticipated title in 2011, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception looks to wow us again with great gameplay, immersive plot, and stunning graphics. Take a look at the latest gameplay video below.

Already, I can't wait for this game. The movements in this one seem even more fluid than in the last two, and the fire effects and spread are amazing. Realistic physics, AI behavior, and amazing voiceovers are just a few of the things that will return in the third installment except this time they will be more refined than ever. If you aren't looking forward to this game after watching this short video, then... well, you are wrong. Thanks for reading/watching and don't forget to subscribe!

8-Bit Ho - The fall of Mario and Link

Mario and Link finally realize that their demise is their attraction the an 8-Bit Ho. The video is pretty hilarious actually, has a catchy beat, and some horribly true rhymes. Watch it!

Games to Look Forward to in January 2011

So, it's just after Christmas and maybe hopefully you got yourself a bunch of cash for spending on whatever you want. Lets also just say that you hypothetically have all the good games of 2010, and in that case go you! Or maybe you just want to wait for 2011s games, so here is my list of January's games that would be worth the cash.

Playstation Move Review

So I got Playstation Move for Christmas. My verdict is just as good as any, I suppose. So here is where I tell you all about the experience so far. If you want a hint as to how the rest of this may go, here it is: very, very nice.

I guess the first thing that I noticed (and expected) was the accuracy. This surpassed what I expected actually. Playing the game Tumble was the most incredible example of this. In Tumble you pick up blocks with a floating Move controller in the game and move them around. I may as well have been holding them myself as the responded instantly, as if the blocks were actually attached to the controller in my hands. Of course they weren't but the speed and accuracy of it was just astounding.

The controller itself feels quite nice. It is the perfect weight, not too heavy or too light, and feels rightfully distributed weight-wise. One problem I found at first was my thumb naturally going into the PS Button hole instead of going up to the move button. After the first half hour of play, it was finding its way to the correct spot like a champ. The face button placement takes a little getting used to as well, but quickly grows natural. The glow orb at the top feels definitely durable, made of a rubbery substance, but does seem to attract hair and dirt like crazy. Thats nothing a few puffs of breath can't solve though. One thing that does bug me is that there is a line all the way around the orb where they put it together. Its hardly noticeable, but it really does bug me. The rumble is a nice feature and it is certainly not overdone either, as most games give you the option to choose a level of vibration.

Like I said before, in games the responsiveness is incredible. In the XMB, it is a little wonky to use but it does definitely work. After some practice, it starts working quite well actually. Just don't try to use the on-screen keyboard with it. That doesn't work one bit. 

One ability that I believe puts PlayStation Move above the competition is that it combines the competition into one thing. You have the depth perception Kinect camera and the Wii controller. This allows some games to use the camera and put you in the game which is a cool feature when combined with the accuracy. The only thing that I find somewhat disappointing is the PlayStation Eye's poor quality and refresh rate, but I don't care as much about the camera capabilities. 

Something I found relatively annoying was the Wii-esque safety pictures before you play any games with Move. I understand its all legal stuff, but its just too similar to what the Wii has. Also, the orb on top glows a certain color depending on your surroundings. Too bad for most people the color that it finds least of is a pinkish purple, so you get an orb that glows that color. Either way, the color changing is a feature that I absolutely love. Like in High Velocity Bowling when you get a strike, it flashes every color and vibrates. Its just a nice effect.

So the final word on PlayStation Move is that it surpassed my somewhat good expectations. And I guess thats somewhat good in itself. If you have extra money left over from Christmas and you are looking for something to get, seriously consider this. The games already out are pretty astounding, and more will come soon. I have yet to use (or get) the navigation controller, but I will put out an update when I do.

Is PlayStation Plus worth it?

So you've been wondering about Playstation Plus, right? Is it worth it? Now, luckily you don't have to buy it to have a good gaming experience, but you may want to for several reasons. So I've compiled a list of why you may want to and a few reasons you may not want to.

1. Free Stuff!
Thats a good enough reason for me... The amount of games, add-ons, and exclusives that you get truly does pay off. So what it really depends on is if you will use it all. However, I never once considered getting any Minis but after the free ones through PlayStation Plus I have enjoyed every one of them. So if you are open to new things this will be definitely worth it. Also, being a fan of Qore myself, found it nice that I get free episodes. That frees up getting that subscription.

2. Automatic Downloads
This is probably one of my favorite features. I have always hated when I want to play a game but have to download an update first. No more of that! You can just tell it what time to turn on and check for updates and it will do it while you sleep (or whenever you set it to).

3. Full Game Trials
I would find this extremely useful if I didn't already own all of the games already offered. Basically, its like a demo, except you get the full game for an hour. If you don't like it, then think of it as a short rent. If you do like it, then pay the extra twenty to thirty bucks and you get to continue from where you were, but you can now play forever.


4. Exclusives and Early Demos
Most of the exclusives aren't much of anything special, but you do have bragging rights. Usually, their exclusivity only lasts about a week or so because they want money from the rest of the people, so this is probably the least shiny of the offering of PlayStation Plus, but it is nonetheless still worth something.

In the end it comes down to one question: Will you use what you are getting? If you only use about half of the things offered through PlayStation Plus you will be saving money, so this is more than definitely a good deal. The overall value of what Plus offers is astounding. So the end verdict is that if you will use what you get, even if you don't currently use them, then PlayStation Plus is for you!

And A Merry Christmas To All!

I'd like to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holiday season while you can, and hope for the best of gifts. Also, thanks to everyone that takes the time to read my blog and stay tuned as into the next year  I plan to have my new computer which will allow some new additions to the blog and mark the beginning of the Minecraft Vodcast. Thanks again and enjoy yourselves this holiday season!

(Thats not my picture)

Fallout: New Vegas Wallpapers

I'd like to share some of my favorite wallpapers with you. If you are a fan of Fallout, you will absolutely love these. Click on them to open full size and save them for yourself! Enjoy!

Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam Review

The Vietnam expansion to Bad Company 2 is a huge addition to the amazing multiplayer. It isn't really an addition though, but more like a whole new game. It has its own section on the main menu, with a new background and new music, more oriented to Vietnam of course. In the actual game, pretty much everything has changed but kept the same feel as regular Bad Company 2 multiplayer. New guns (FLAMETHROWER!), new gadgets, and of course new maps. The loading screen is an rehaul of the original, but with an older map and radio briefing. Its the little things like this that add to the experience.

Overall: 38/40 or 47.5/50


Gameplay: 9/10
The gameplay is much the same as regular multiplayer, which is definitely a good thing. The maps feel different as they have fewer sections, but each section is much different from the last. You can be clearing caves with a flamethrower one minute and be sniping a burning wasteland the next. A few things take away from the experience, like getting stuck in the landscape and having small ledges stop you from sprinting away from an enemy with a flamethrower. Everything is just as balanced as it was before, maybe even more so. The only questionable element I noticed was the flamethrower. I absolutely love it, it is great in close quarters and sucked in the open. Using it is being like a suicide bomber though. Run into a cave and light everyone on fire then get killed as they burn, then gather your kills. As long as only a few people use it, it is great. But with more than a few, the battlefield just turns into a blinding mass of flames.

Playability: 9/10
Very easy to get used to the changes made, like no attachments for the weapons and such. Adapting to the maps is very easy as well. But still lacking is the ability to go prone, which could be useful in many situations. Also, Vietnam feels faster than the original multiplayer experience. This is both good and bad depending on the situation. Otherwise, no real complaints.

Story: N/A
Its multiplayer, though a story counterpart would have been really nice.

Graphics: 10/10
Pretty much the same, which is amazing. Some new elements are introduced, such as fire, and are done beautifully. The burning wasteland mentioned earlier is dreadfully gorgeous. The muddy water, in some sections is a little lacking in... cloudiness. It just looks like brown water. Maybe its just me though. All in all, amazing graphics.

Sound: 10/10
One of my favorite things about Battlefield is the sound. From deep explosions to crisp sniper fire, it never ceases to amaze me. The new voices fit the new maps, style, and era much better and I are less frequent as well. Also of course, the ability to listen to the radio in vehicles is back, with music suitable for the battle.

Overall: 38/40 or 47.5/50
I guess the only thing that need really needs changing is just some refinement in the gameplay. Less little glitches with the movement around the beautiful landscape and I will be even more satisfied than I am right now. For $15, this a must buy for anyone who enjoyed Bad Company 2.

Minecraft Update

So, I've spent literally all day playing Minecraft after last night's purchase. It is definitely as amazing as I expected. I am having a hard time getting it to run WELL on my current computer, but tomorrow I will try to get a vodcast preview video up and running.

Minecraft Beta is extremely unstable. Single player isn't in too bad of shape, as thats what I spent the majority of my time doing. Multiplayer, on the other hand, is exploding with glitches and lag and server crappage. So, according to the creator's (Notch) Blog, he will try to have most of the issues sorted out tomorrow, which would be great. Also, according to Joystiq, Minecraft has already sold over 800,000 units. Approaching 850,000. That is insane for a game that just entered Beta TODAY. Here's the article for you to read: http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/minecraft-enters-beta-nears-850k-units-sold/.

So, expect a test/preview video tomorrow. And don't forget to follow and subscribe!

Creative Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset Review

A product that I have been using for well over a month now, the Creative Fatal1ty USB Headset is great for the low $30 price (Newegg). They have good sound quality and are generally quite comfortable. Not only this, but this headset looks pretty cool too.

So first of all, lets talk about the most important thing in a headset: the sound quality. I have always liked Creative for their sound quality to price ratio. I have always been satisfied with the quality in this headset, even when making some music. The bass and treble levels are exceptional, not DJ quality, but for $30 they are very good. The quality of the microphone is also very good, I guess you all will experience it once the vodcast is up an running.

These are generally comfortable to wear. In fact they are barely noticeable. However, after having them on for hours and then removing them, there is a noticeably strange difference for a minute or two. It doesn't hurt, but it does make your ears feel... weird. It isn't really a bad thing, and certainly shouldn't be enough to make you decide not to get this headset.

The last thing is that these are by no means noise cancelling headphones. They actually let sound out, even when they are on. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, it just does this much more and louder than expected.

The headset comes with a very nice carrying case that has a separate pocket for the detachable mic. So all in all, for $30 from Newegg, this is probably the best you can do for that low price.

When to buy Minecraft

So, lets say you are thinking of buying Minecraft, or you asked for it for Christmas. Now, if you weren't already aware, Minecraft is making the move from Alpha mode to Beta mode on December 20th. Well that is not the only thing that is changing. The price will increase from 9.95 Euros to 20 Euros. Thats from about 13 American dollars to 26 dollars. Thats a double. PLUS, if you wait till after the 20th you also will have to pay for updates, otherwise everything from here on out is free. So, if you are even considering buying this amazing game, do it now!

Logitech M505 Laser Mouse Review

A new item to me, this Logitech M505 Laser Mouse is precision at its best. Mine is red in color which definitely makes it some nice eye candy. The laser capabilities make this mouse super precise and the Bluetooth wireless receiver makes it very responsive.

The M505 is a very nice option for a mouse, providing you like them small. The size really took me by surprise. Myself, I am a fan of smaller mouses (mice?), but this seems almost like a laptop mouse. The payoff for the size is the accuracy, responsiveness, and of course the wireless capabilities. It runs off of two AA batteries (comes with it) and has an on/off switch on the bottom to save the battery while not in use. The specs say that the battery will last 15 months, which is pretty good in my opinion.

Besides its size, the M505 feels pretty good. The sides have a nice, smooth rubber finish and the shell is made of smooth glossy plastic. The overall clickiness is good. I don't find myself ever accidentally clicking. It features a four-way scroller that is whisper quiet, which is something that I love. My old mouse incessantly clicked whenever I scrolled up.

Overall, this mouse is a huge improvement to my old Dell wired ball mouse. For a notebook user, I would definitely recommend this mouse. The receiver is ultra small so you wouldn't have to worry about taking it out and the mouse is solid and portable. For a desktop mouse, I think there are a few better choices out there, but the M505 will more than suffice for anyone not looking for intense gaming or a "comfort" mouse.

Logitech Ultra-Thin Illuminated Keyboard Review

So I just got my hands on the Logitech Ultra-Thin Illuminated Keyboard, and by that I mean literally. I'm typing on it right now. I must say, I have only had it for about 15 minutes but I find it really easy and fluid to type on. The keys are all very responsive and quiet, but they genuinely click on keypress.

My favorite feature of this keyboard is by far its illumination. It is vibrant and clean and clear. Each key is outlined and has the letter blaring out at me. Even more convenient is the brightness button on the top right that can change the brightness of the keys on 3 different levels (not including off).

The feel of the keyboard is very nice. Without the legs up it seems to almost lean back due to its extreme thinness, but with them up it sits at a nice level, though I could go for just a tad more tilt. The pad on the front is made of a nice rubbery texture that is comfortable, however it isn't all that useful. I already know that I am going to invest in a pad to go just in front of it for more comfort, but it is by no means uncomfortable.

Besides the cutting edge design and beauty, this keyboard still has more features to feed you. One of which is the function keys. These keys are set off by glowing orange instead of white which in itself looks pretty sweet. Now, I have yet to find the use for all of these keys, but it includes the basics like opening your browser, searching, opening music, playing music, and opening the calculator (nifty huh?). Also include are sound volume and mute buttons which will come in handy frequently.

My only complaints about this keyboard are the backspace button which unusually small, and the fact that F1-F12 aren't illuminated. Not that it really matters because they are still visible even in the dark, but it is just odd. So all in all, this keyboard utterly rocks. I definitely recommend it for anybody.

Droid Fever

Firstly, I am a die-hard Android fan. Also, a die-hard Verizon fan. Lucky for me, that puts me in a position to obtain the best of the best smartphones available. I am one of the few people that could probably have an iPhone 4 and a Droid (First Gen) set next to each other and then convince the average person that the Droid is better. Granted, I don't think that iPhone is a piece of junk. It isn't. It is very high quality and simple. But that is the problem, honestly. Its simplicity is both its rise and fall.

Music Players

Okay, the iPhone's music player is millions better. I think that may have something to do with the fact that Apple made the iPod first. On the Android Market there are a few good music player. My favorite is the MixZing Media Player. It has some features that surpass that of the Iphone's, but its general functionality is slightly less than that of the iPhone's.

UI (User Interface)/ OS (Operating System)

This is a hard comparison, simply because there are several official UIs for Android phones. That is one of the things that makes me believe that Android is better, I mean you have a choice and you can change the whole way your phone operates and looks whenever you want. Even with a jailbroken iPhone, there isn't a ton that you can do. So the Android UI automatically wins in terms of customizing

Now, the other thing is the functionality of the UI. Depending on what phone you have (I'm stuck with the sluggish Droid Eris), the speed of operation will vary. On the Droid 2 or Nexus S, you will not have any problems unless you can manage to have a few hundred apps running at the same time and it will still work fine. My Droid Eris freaks out over about 20 apps, and that is overclocked. Now the iPhone is a win-lose. You will always be operating at high speeds seamlessly. Wahoo, right? Well ya, I guess if you only want to have one app open at a time. Or a few with the iPhone 4. So, you get speed but lose some functionality.

And the last thing, app dependability. iPhones don't really have this. With Android, which runs off of Java, all of the apps have the opportunity to affect each other. For example, you enter information in one app, and you get results in another. Programming these apps is difficult, though the result is definitely better.

Resolution

The Retina display is crazy. Mindblowingly crazy. iPhone again automatically wins for this. Now the Nexus S, with the Super Amoled screen, is pretty high up there. This display isn't quite as mindblowing as the retina, but the colors are more vibrant and the screen itself is ergonomically curved, which is pretty cool. So really, its just a preference thing.

Verizon vs. AT&T

Okay, Verizon wins. End of story. Its faster and in more places.

Well this concludes my rant on Android and iPhones. Android is more functional and customizable whereas iPhones are simpler and less capable. So here is my final verdict: get an Android phone (a good one like Droid X, Droid 2, or Nexus S) and also get a iPod touch. There you would get the best of both worlds.

One last thing: follow my blog and subscribe to the RSS!

Pens.

Yes. Pens. I wasn't sure what to write about today, so I am going to write about pens. Maybe it is a little bit weird, but quite frankly I don't care. I figured out that the first result from a quick Google search on pens will bring up the Pittsburgh Penguins, an NHL team. Well, that was simply not what I was thinking of. The second site: www.pens.com is depressing as well. You would think that it would be about pens exclusively. NOPE. I mean, it has pens but that isn't their main business. All they want is to customize stuff for you (including pens) and make you give them money. Again, www.pensrus.com, the third website listed, refuses to satisfy. Granted, it is exclusively about pens, which is a plus, but they just want to sell me some generic crappy pens, for somewhat cheap.

This is the point at which I gave up searching for pens; the only problem is that I was going to talk about pens. So far, I've only talked about my search for pens. So here is my opinion of pens: they obliterate pencils. Seriously, back a few years ago I decided to use exclusively. As of now, it has proved useful as I make so incredibly few mistakes than I used to. I tempt you to use only pens, see the difference. As for types... well, I only use high quality, but I am not opposed to the generic junk (like they have at banks). The most commonplace, high-quality pens seem to be Pilot G2s. They are smooth and lay the ink down thick. Plus they come in all tons of colors (I prefer black). My favorite pens however, are definitely Uni-ball pens. Any type will do, but I specifically recommend the Uni-ball Elite.

So there you have my rundown on pens. I hope it was more interesting than it seems. Thanks for reading and be sure to come back!

Minecraft!!

Ever heard of Minecraft? Well, all in all, it is an epic game. I have yet to play it, but I am already addicted. The game itself is still in alpha mode (beta starts Dec. 20) and it has already been voted best indie game. That in itself is impressive. How is this relevant, you ask? Well, as soon as I get a computer that will play it, I am going to record me and my friends playing it for all of you to enjoy. Soon after Christmas, expect this and also look forward to it, as I can assure you it will be interesting and hilarious. Stay tuned!

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is Revealed

So, I just so happened to be flipping throught the channels the other night and came across Spike's VGA. I don't take the VGAs too seriously, but they are still fun to watch. Anyway, about the moment I turned to Spike's channel, Uncharted 3 was about to be revealed. Great! I'm a huge fan of both of the original Uncharted games and was excited to hear this. It has already been confirmed that it will support 3D, which is cool, but I don't really care as I don't have a 3D tv. Also, it was stated that the co-op aspect from Uncharted 2 will be "expanded". I hope this means that there will be a co-op option for the story, but if there isn't, I won't complain.

Already known, this game will take place in a desert region (see picture above) as opposed to the jungle or mountain regions from the first game. Its hard to say what characters will be back, except Drake (obviously) and Sully (confirmed in trailer). The title leads to believe that Drake may take on a bad guy role in this game, which will certainly be interesting, but I expect it to make the plot even better than the first two games.

Predictions. I have several prediction about this game, most of them good. First off, I think that because of Naughty Dog's close relationship to Sony, it will support Playstation Move as well as 3D. This may or may not work well, it's too early to tell. (Expect a review of Playstaion Move's functionality after Christmas). Also, I think that this game will be as good as the second installment. Naughty Dog and Insomniac games are very good companies when it comes to preserving the awe in their IPs. Take for example Ratchet and Clank, one of the longest lasting IPs to date that remains generally the same except for a few concepts put in and take out occasionally. The Uncharted series will most like follow suit and be one of the better games to come out next year. Its too hard to say whether or not the new concepts will be easily accepted by the gamers though. For example, backwards climbing mechanics and ability to engage multiple enemies at once. These could go either way in making the game better or worse. No matter what, expect to see a review soon after it comes out.

Parallex

Hey all, so I'd like to inform you about some new music. Its mainly techno/dubstep, so if you don't like that, don't listen. If you do however, its called Parallex. I'm technically part of it, or I at least will be. As of now, I can't really make any music because my computer isn't good enough, but if you read my last post, I will have a new computer soon. Anyway, its my friend thats been making all the music so far, and he is pretty good. Nah, he's really good. Listen to it if you've got a chance. Heres some linkage for ya: http://www.youtube.com/user/Coldcorp

One last thing, give us some feedback and if you like the music, please tell some friends! Thanks

My computer build

So right now, I'm saving money to build a computer. A nice computer. A VERY nice computer. Of course that takes a VERY large amount of money. Anyway, here's what I've come up with to make my beautiful, beautiful beast:

Case:

Antec Twelve Hundred

Thats right. Its a full case. I'll need it to house all the junk I'm throwing in the thing. Well, at least have it all stay at a reasonable temperature at the same. Its a monstrous tank of a case made of black steel and full of fans with blue LEDs. It will be gorgeous.

Motherboard:

ASUS M4A79T Deluxe

A pretty sweet motherboard, this here Deluxe will satisfy my needs. It holds my CPU and will sustain two GPUs at highest capacity. Its pretty cheap, running at $120. The only thing it lacks is built in USB 3.0 instead of 2.0 and SATA 6Gb/s. At least I can add some 3.0 USB ports in the future ports in the future.

CPU:

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition

This six core processor is insane. It's relatively cheap for how much power it produces as well the Black Edition (3.2GHz) standing at $230 and the cheapest edition standing at a low $180. If I had an extra thousand to throw down, I would've gotten the Extreme Edition Intel i7. I don't have that money though.

GPU:

(2) SAPPHIRE 100281-3SR Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT)

Radeon HD 5870 is pretty good. Well, its one of the best according to the Graphics Card Heirarchy Chart from Tom's Hardware (3rd tier down). Anyway, you may be thinking: "3rd teir down?! Thats lame!". Well if you did, please notice that fact that I am getting two of them, which would surpass the first tier. Thats all thanks to my motherboard supporting two of them at full speed. They will add up to 2GB of built in RAM. That'll be future proof for a good... well about two years probably. Plus, I will achieve a pretty beastly look with two of them things in my case.

RAM:

(4) G.SKILL 4GB DDR3 1333

G.SKILL makes quality RAM, and this is the best type: DDR3. With a total of 16GB of this RAM, I'll be ripping through anything at amazingly fast speeds with this much RAM and my CPU. Plus, the Ripjaws Series will compliment the look of my case

PSU:

Rosewill BRONZE Series RBR1000-M 1000W

1000 watts are more than necessary to power all of this stuff, at least without disaster. Plus, this PSU will glow blue like the rest of my case, which is definitely necessary, right?

HDD:

Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB

Considering that my motherboard will hold about six drives, this will not be the only thing I get. I'll probably get some SSDs in the future, but I figure that this will be a good starting point. 7200 RPM will be fast enough to meet my needs for now.

5.25" Slots:

NZXT Sentry-2 Touch Screen Fan Controller

This fan controller will not only look cool on my case, but I will be able to keep the insides of my case at the perfect temperature at the right places. It will allow for the best operating speeds possible.

LG Black 10X Blu-Ray Burner with LightScribe

Truly all I am gonna need for my discular needs. I can burn CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray at extremely high speeds and put my own cover on them. It covers everything I will need and want for a while.

Rosewill 40-in-1 Internal Card Reader

For my last slot, this card reader will cover everything that isn't already directly compatible with my computer.

That pretty much sums it up for my build, I will HOPEFULLY have it completed within the next few months, and will post some info on it then. My next post will probably be all the accessories that I will get with it.

Top 5 Games this Holiday Season Under $30

So, as the holiday season is fast approaching, I'm sure many of you are wondering what great deals there are for either you or your family. I have compiled this list to aid your wondering thoughts. So, lets begin here:

5. Blur (PS3, 360, PC)

Blur is an action packed, arcade racing game. With several tracks and a very engaging online experience, this game will keep you interested for hours on end. Filled with power-ups, online leveling system with upgrades, unlockable cars, and action packed multiplayer, Blur is most definitely worth the near $25 deal.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

4. Singularity (PS3, 360, PC)

A time twisted, brutal shooter, Singularity will amaze you through many playthroughs. Once the TMD (Time Manipulation Device) is put into your hands, you will feel the endlessly awesome power of aging enemies until they die or the opposite. Upgradeable weapons and time powers are obtained by searching for E-99 tech, scattered around the game's setting. With several endings and a very thought provoking plot, this game will keep you interested for a long time.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

3. Split Second (PS3, 360, PC)

Another racing game, Split Second is more realistic than Blur, however it does lose the arcade combat. Instead, this fine tuned racer includes many game or race changing moments where the track is altered in some way and the drivers must react in a split second, hence the name. This creates very intense moments and will either make you scream in despair or rejoice. Either way, this addictive, graphically enhanced game will have you coming back for more every time.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

2. The Saboteur (PS3, 360, PC)

The Saboteur is an third-person, action stealth game that takes place in WWII. You play as an Irish man in Paris and the surrounding areas who is part of the resistance against the Nazis. There are literally thousands of free-play events scattered throughout the massive map. These events require you to do one of a few things like: blowing up a guard tower or assassinating a Nazi general. In addition to all this, the engaging story and many weapons, enemies, and vehicles make this game very worth it this holiday season; especially for a mere $15.

Available online from several stores: Click Here

1. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

Though already almost a year old already, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is still sharing the throne with the Call of Duty series. It offers an immersive singleplayer story with jaw-dropping cinematic moments as well as the ability to make you chuckle at your ungrateful squad bickering. Beyond this, BC2 offers a very refined multiplayer experience. Crafted gorgeously with realistic physics and combat situations all taking place in huge maps that offer a variety of tactics. Customizable classes and squad systems will let you play how you want, but still be important to the team. This game is a steal for its price (varies for systems). Also in consideration is the soon-to-be released Vietnam expansion pack. (December 21st)

Available online from several stores: Click Here