Games to Look Forward to in February 2011

The second month in 2011 is only bringing a few new games to the table, most of which are games that could be either good or bad. But for the games that I will predict will be good, you've come to the right place. All of the games I'm listing are games that will most likely be worth your time. So check them out!

The Infection that is Minecraft

Minecraft is officially an infection in my book, and I am an infecter. That is one of the most amazing things about the game, or should I say lack of game. The before it even made beta, Minecraft had almost a million downloads. Thats HUGE for an indy game. The other thing is that there was absolutely zero advertising on the part of Notch. Everyone who has downloaded it, has done so simply because of word of mouth advertising. I'm not certain, but I think thats a record. Like I was saying, Minecraft is infecting everybody. Now, most people think it looks like a crappy game when they see it. Then they play it. Then it becomes a lifestyle. This would be bad if it were anything but Minecraft... but it is Minecraft. So help out; spread the word! I know that I have gotten over ten people playing it so far, with very little effort. And they too have gotten numerous others. So, help out Notch and be sure to tell people to BUY the game!

The Mechanic Review

The Mechanic, starring Jason Statham as a hitman named Arthur Bishop, follows the elite killer while he attempts to train his apprentice. His apprentice is the son of a lifelong friend, which happens to be a previous victim as well.

Cartograph

So Cartograph is a small tool that someone independently developed for Minecraft. I've gotta give them props, because working with Java can be tough, especially if it involves a whole different program. Anyway, this tool will allow you to map out your world and view it in several different ways. It can be both useful and intriguing. If you play Minecraft, I suggest you check it out. You can download it here: http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=13134. Don't forget to download the C++ package from the page as well, as it is necessary to make it work. I've been using it for a while, and absolutely love it. So check it out! I will probably be doing a video tutorial of how to get it going in a few days. Now here's some screenshots of mine:

PSP 2! (NGP)

Recently uncovered, the second PSP is long overdue. Back a few years ago, when the PSP 2 was expected, they brought out the PSP Go! It was a huge disappointment to the company and some fans. Finally however, the PSP 2, or NGP (next generation portable), has been revealed!

Computer Stores

Today, I'm just gonna do a short rant on computer stores. Firstly, you cannot mistake me; I'm not saying you should never go to a computer store for anything, because there are times where you should. After all, I will hopefully be working at one soon.

On to my main point! I've never seen a place that makes more profit than a computer store/ repair shop. Computers that you buy will almost always be over-priced even if they are completely custom. Plus, when they repair computers, they do it in the most difficult way possible. They practically rebuild your computer instead of fix the problem, because that of course gets them the most profit.

Next time you have computer troubles, ask a friend that knows stuff about computers. I've fixed many computers that stores told people would cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Better yet, I do it for free. So, hopefully those who don't know, now know!

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls series already has a massive fan base from Oblivion and Morrowind, and now they are adding the fifth installment to the series: Skyrim. Skyrim will take place in, of course, Skyrim (a province just north of Cyrodil). Bethesda has already stated and shown that Skyrim will use a brand new graphics engine; a graphics engine that looks promising even still in development. Not only a huge graphical revamp, but Skyrim will feature some new game mechanics that will hopefully make the experience much better.

Contact Lens Mouse

  The I Contact is a prototype contact lens that will act as a mouse for your computer. The design is really quite simple; tiny microchips in the lens will track your eye movement and display the mouse on the screen correspondingly. It is in development for disabled people in particular, but still, who wouldn't want to try it out. I can't really imagine what one would have to do in order to click, but forced blinking would make the most sense. All in all, the concept is really quite amazing. I haven't been able to find an estimated release for this, but I will be on the lookout.

Antec Twelve Hundred Review

So I've had my Antec Twelve Hundred case for a while now, as I've been accumulating more and more parts (last of them are on their way!). Before I had it, I had high expectations. When I got it, my expectations were surpassed. As you can see, this is already going well. Anyway, I have no need to wait until its completely put together to review it. So here it goes!

A New Challenger Appears!

This is the dawn of a new error!

I am Spencer K. Galloup, also known as Skyg, and I am here to revitalize your interwebz with a fresh coat of meaningless drivel. I would like to thank Addman for letting me join him temporarily until I can get my own blog, YouTube Channel, website, etc.  For now, I will wast all of your precious time with the usual reviews, rants, and humorous self-injury. Do not expect to hear from me at predictable intervals, but I will do my best to supply you with amusement at every possible instance. 

P.S. - i will pwn u all with mai uber noledges!!11!!1!

Until next time, Skyg out.

May the farce be with ye!

Side note from The Ace: An interesting fellow he is, but he certainly has a knack for reviews and criticism which I expect will be both humorous and useful for the site. He's mostly gonna be reviewing his classic games that he loves and hates, as well as some newer stuff. So enjoy his presence while it lasts!

Newegg Mobile Review

Newegg, the home for all the cheapest computer parts, has now infected us with an app for our Android or iPhone. With Newegg as a resource that every computer builder should use, we've now got every resource the website has at our fingertips. When their dwindling supply of processors goes on sale, you can order directly from your phone. What more could a nerd want?

History of Gaming in 4 Minutes

Now here's something that you don't find every day. Here's a video that (somewhat) sums up the history of video games, and even explores the future. If this doesn't bring back memories, then you must not have very many good memories. Enjoy!


History of Gaming from Florian Smolka on Vimeo.

IBM Model M

So today I was given a new old keyboard. The IBM Model M keyboard to be exact. I'm guessing that you are curious as to why I would want an old keyboard. Well, the Model M keyboard is renowned as one of the greatest keyboards ever. Ever. First of all, the things don't break. Notch, the genius behind the creation of Minecraft, has had a Model M since he got his first computer back in the 80's. He has been using it ever since. Also, some have built in canals, for dust and any liquid that may get inside, so it will drain out. The Model M weighs in around 5 pounds, which may lead to some of it's durability. So, it's durable, but what makes it so special? Well, the keys use a buckling spring mechanism. This mechanism gives definite feedback whenever a key is pressed, both tactile and audible feedback. Remember the old clicky keyboards? The Model M is the original clicky keyboard. Besides having an amazing feel, which I swear makes me type faster, the Model M has removable keycaps. That is, you can move all the keys around without taking them out. This way, you can switch to the Dvorak keyboard layout in a breeze. Now, this may be impractical, but it is still very useful for cleaning and such. All in all, the Model M is probably the best keyboard ever made, and if you can get your hands on one or you have one, be sure to keep it around.

Which Graphics Card to Get

So you are looking to build a computer, right? Well, if you aren't, you should be. Or at least have someone do it for you. You'll save a ton of money and get something far better. Anyway, the graphics card is one of the biggest aspects in the computer, especially if you are gaming or doing anything that involves video. So it seems like it should be pretty simple right? The higher numbers the better the card? No and no.

Minecraft Songs

Recently, I have been listening to these amazing songs about Minecraft while playing Minecraft. Made by Bobby Yarsulik, every song focuses on a different aspect of Minecraft, from redstone to slimes. They all totally fit Minecraft and their subject matter (except for the diamond song in my opinion). Here is the link to all of his songs on his channel: Click Here. And below is a video that features his biggest song, about plainly Minecraft, with an awesome picture that the video scrolls over. I really recommend listening to these songs while you're playing, or just in general. Enjoy!

CraigsNotifica Review

Craigslist is a huge thing nowadays. It's like a virtual garage; the second most popular on the web (first is eBay). With Craigslist, you can sell and buy stuff with people near you. Proving somewhat useful, it has gained popularity over the years and is now a pretty busy place in most regions. The Android application CraigsNotifica, or whatever its real name is*, makes everything available to you on the go, so you can sell your junk and also be the first to call on the free HDTV.

*When opened, the name is displayed as CraigsNotifica. In the market, the name is Craigslist and is published by Notification. The adopted name seems to be CraigsNotifica, which is what I will use.

New Addition to the Team

So, its about time that somebody else started using The Ace's Place for ranting, sharing their opinion, and doing whatever it is that I do. So this brings my next point: there is an addition to the Ace's Place team. While this is exciting, the change will come on slowly. His name is Spencer K. Galloup and he is good at one thing in particular: talking. He has been begging me to set up a podcast for him when I had the idea to simply include him as part of The Ace's Place. Once the computer is finished, which is very close, he will be doing video reviews of several games, both classic and newer generation games which should add a whole new dimension to the site. Also, beginning soon will be a short, weekly podcast by him and occasionally myself. Soon enough, we will both be up and running and I still hope to achieve my post-every-day goal. So, I hope you look forward to even more involvement in The Ace's Place! Thank you all!

Creepers

Yes, creepers are a pain. A huge pain. Anyone who has ever played Minecraft for any length of time would know that. The picture above pretty much sums them up... Really, I just wanted to share this picture with those of you who haven't found it already.

Minecraft Update is Live!

That's right! Minecraft was updated at some point today and it proves to be quite the update. There may not be a whole lot more to actually do, but one thing is for sure: Minecraft is colorful now!

"Arica" BFBC2 Musical Tribute

So here we've got an awesome game and a bunch of people that like said game. The game we are talking about is Battlefield: Bad Company 2. DCRU Colin created this musical tribute for the game's multiplayer, and I have to admit, its very catchy! So listen to the video (watch if you like, but it doesn't add much) and download from: http://www.dontrevivemebro.com/blog/2011/01/12/download-the-smash-hit-single-arica-by-dcru-colin/. Enjoy!

Borderlands DLC: General Knoxx Quotes

So, I don't know why these popped back into my head after so long, but they did. One of my favorite parts of the Borderlands DLC: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx was the humor. I mean, it made for some great gameplay and additions to the game, but the humor was just plain epic. Anyway, I wanted to share some of it with you. Even if you don't know the game, you should find this at least somewhat humorous. These are some transmissions from General Knoxx to his Commander: Admiral Mikey.

Modern Combat: Domination - A PS3 Exclusive Shooter with PlayStation Move

So here's what I believe is the first real shooter with PlayStation Move support. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) Of course, you don't have to use Move if you don't want to or don't have it, but it will certainly show what the experience will be like in the future. I expect it will go over quite well actually. Anyway, this PS3 exclusive is set for release on January 18th, which is really soon! The gameplay, from what I can see, reminds me mostly of a mix between Counter Strike and Modern Warfare 2. For a PSN game (and certainly for 8 bucks), Modern Combat has some great graphics and what should be some intense, interesting gameplay. Expect a review on the day of release to let you know how it all pans out in the end. And watch the trailer below!

Minecraft Forward Base System

When playing Minecraft, there are several different methods that are possible to make the mining experience more efficient and more... well, better. Of course, you could create your own, which is exactly what I did, and now I am going to share it with you.

Minecraft for Android

So I found this little tid-bit of info flying around the web... there is a Minecraft for Android in development. Notch is working on something for Android for sure (I'm actually testing it). But apart from Notch's work, someone else has created something rather intriguing. With this application, the user can upload a Minecraft world and explore it on their phone. Nothing more, nothing less, but still a great proof of concept. There is more to come for sure, for now though, watch the video and take a look at what Notch is working on.

Skullcandy Skullcrushers Review

Skullcandy, a headphone manufacturer, is renowned for making some of the coolest headphones on the market. From in-ear to around-ear headphones, you can find Skullcandies all over, and they have some cheap earbuds. Anyway, the Skullcrushers are different from most headphones you can find. They are circumaural , or around-ear, headphones and feature a 30mm subwoofer built in. Yep. A subwoofer.

Minecraft Save Glitch

Well, a few days ago, my computer crashed while playing Minecraft. No biggie, right? Not until I realized that the world that I have been working on for nearly two weeks was gone. Very gone. That was depressing. So of course, I went to the great help of the internet. After some file renaming and various other things, I got my world back. Now, some things to be aware of when a glitch like this happens:

Uncyclopedia

So here we have a website that is a complete parody of one of the most used and respected websites on the internet. Yes, Wikipedia. There are tons of wikis out there, about specific things, but the mother of them all is Wikipedia. So, not only does it take some guts to create a parody of Wikipedia, but it takes skill and a great sense of humor. A great sense of humor it has! Uncyclopedia is the polar opposite of Wikipedia. Its a place where everything is connected but nothing makes any sense. So, if you have time, use it to visit: http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page. Enjoy yourself in the ever growing web of everything that isn't! Particularly, read the page about Pluto. Thats my favorite!

The Best Monitor Brands

Everyone could use an upgrade every once in a while. If you are thinking about getting a nice new display for yourself, then you're gonna have to figure out how much you want to spend, what size you want, and how good of quality you want. Well read on for more information on monitor brands.

Voxatron Preview

Here is a sweet game that Notch (the creator of Minecraft) tweeted. It isn't out yet, but it is something to look forward to for sure. Developed by Lexaloffle, an indy game developer, it already has quite a bit of popularity. Watch the video!

Computer Build Coming Together

On the more personal side of things, my computer build is coming together quite well. Remember it from this post? Well so far, I have the case and the motherboard. This weekend I will be buying a CPU and GPU, not as good ones off of craigslist, but I will upgrade in the future. Then, all that I will have left is my RAM and my PSU, which I will be ordereing from Newegg shortly. All in all, I give it two weeks tops until I get the beast up and running. Why does this matter? Well, it will allow me many more things to do with the site and of course start the long awaited (at least by me) Minecraft Vodcast. Also a sidenote, I think a new member will be added to the site soon who will be reviewing primarily older games and some new ones as well. Another great note: today I reached my maximum pageviews to date: 200. I am quite proud of that, so keep it coming and keep spreading the word!

The Yogscast Minecraft Videos

I feel as though I should share this as it is the primary means for my Minecraft vodcast inspiration. From what I've seen, these videos are the most humorous and interesting than any of the others on the web. If you can find the time to watch them, you will be in for a treat. Here is the link to their playlist on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UdEFmxRmNE&feature=BF&list=PLF60520313D07F366&index=1. All of the current videos will take some time to watch, but it is more than worth it even if you aren't a Minecraft fan.

The Best Android Web Browser

Here we have all out war. Several different developers have released web browsers that are far different from the stock one. Which one is the best you ask? Well, that is exactly what I am going to tell you.

What is Minecraft?

For those of you that don't know what Minecraft is, you need to read this. If you do already know, read it anyway. Essentially, Minecraft is pointless. That certainly doesn't mean it isn't fun, however. There are several basic materials spread around in a massive, randomly generated world that you spawn in. You spawn in the daytime, but come nighttime, you've got trouble. Once the sun goes down, monsters of all types spawn, threating your materials and your very existence. So usually you want to build a dwelling. Anyway, you gather materials and build things that will allow you to spread out and gather different materials and build better things and eventually make a massive empire. In my game, I have a main base with interconnected bases everywhere, a journey I will take you all on soon. This pretty much sums up the first three nights you will spend in Minecraft as a newbie (Click to enlarge):

One of the most amazing things about Minecraft is the worlds that it generates. They are unutterably amazing. The farther out you go, the more it generates. This pretty much goes on forever like in this video:

This can keep on going until you get to like 8 times the size of the earth's surface, which at that point the coding for the game begins imploding upon itself. Here are some screenshots from one of my worlds that I find extremely awesome: 

If you aren't interested in Minecraft by now, there is something wrong. Soon, I will post some pictures from the world that I have been building in to show some of that aspect. Also, I will eventually put up a video tour and some tutorials and of course start the vodcast.

Happy New Year!

I just wanted to take the time to wish all of my readers a Happy New Year. Get out there and make some great goals for this year. If you are into to trophy or achievement collecting, check out Pesico's Gamerlutions (http://kittygotwet.net/blog/2011/01/01/new-years-gamerlutions-2011/) for 2011 which should act as a great model for you. Once again, thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe!

Hyperactive Ninja Review

Hyperactive Ninja, developed by Ninja Coders (the same dev for Minecraft Canary), is an action packed, 2D scrolling game for Android phones. In this generally simple game, you play as a coffee-addicted ninja named Kohimaru. Your mission is simple: to retrieve the world's coffee stolen by the Evil Shogun, who plans to use the power of the caffeine to take over the world. This is certainly an interesting plot, and I must admit makes for some gameplay that is nearly as addicting as coffee.

Overall: 44/50

Gameplay: 8/10
Hyperactive Ninja plays very smoothly and simply, which makes for a very easy to play game. Kohimaru, all jacked up on coffee, is constantly running. Your job is to make him jump by tapping the screen. It doesn't sound all that interesting, but with levels intricately set up with enemies, spikes, and fire, there is some strategy involved. Not only the dangers, you have a limited supply of caffeine which acts as energy. If that bar at the bottom runs out, you're finished. There is, however, a remedy for your energy going to waste. Remember all that stolen coffee you are supposed to be retrieving? Well those cups of coffee are scattered around and they also act as a small refill for your caffeine meter as well as some extra points. Your objective is to reach the door at the end of the level by wall jumping and attacking enemies from behind (and only behind!) before you run out of energy or get killed. All in all, it makes for interesting, fun gameplay.

Playability: 9/10
Really, all you have to do is tap the screen. It doesn't get much easier than that. The only real problem that I have with it is that the most comfortable place to tap the screen is usually right where you need to see. Other than that, there are absolutely no problems.

Entertainment: 8/10
No doubt, Hyperactive Ninja is a very fun game, but there are some times where it just gets too frustrating. Granted these times are more or less rare. Even though most good games are frustrating at some point, this one is different in that you feel like quitting instead of inflicting revenge on the level by beating it. This mostly happens with boss fights and the occasional hard level. Once you beat it, it feels too easy and unaccomplished. The only other frustrating thing is how long it takes for the beginning of each level, which replays every time you die. Mostly though, the game is very entertaining and will keep you interested for quite a while. There are a total of nine chapters to play through, featuring several enemy types and bosses. Plus, with your previous times and scores to constantly beat, achievements, and the connectedness to Scoreloop, the fun virtually never ends.

Graphics: 9/10
For an application on the Android Market, the graphics are one of the best features of this game. The characters are cute enough and the effects are very Mario-esque. Some of the colors are kind of bland and some wooden path blocking things are hard to see, but these aren't very notable problems, and perhaps it is just my eyes. One of my favorite things in the game is the implementation of the directions and tips that are placed in the actual level. For example, on one of the early levels pasted into wall is: "You'll hate spikes soon :)". Little effects like these are something that makes the game more enjoyable and charming.

Sound: 10/10
By far, the sound is my favorite thing about this game. Nice, 8-Bit sound effects mixed with the extensive, 30 song, 8-Bit soundtrack that perfectly fits the frantic action of the game. There isn't a whole lot more to it other than that the sound is perfect for the game.

Overall: 44/50
Hyperactive Ninja is an overall a very good game with very few flaws, but flaws nonetheless. Even though there are some hiccups in the game itself, almost everything about it is flawless. For nearly one dollar, Hyperactive Ninja is worth the money no matter what kind of a gamer you are. If you are short the money, you do at least have the free trial which gives you the first four chapters (out of nine). The Ninja Coders team is proving to be very good developers and I am looking forward to some of their upcoming releases. Thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe.