First Impressions of the Wii

This past week I had the chance to demo both the PS3 and Wii. I must admit that I was very impressed with the PS3's graphics. They were quite stunning and had great transparency effects. Any questions I had on how graphics could get that much sharper since PS2 were instantly answered. I was, however, playing the system on a high def TV setwhich I'm sure added to the experience (only 4% of Americans have HDTV sets at home). Hard-core gamers are sure to be drawn to this type of game realism, but the game play itself screamed monotony.

Next came the Wii. While the graphics were noticeably poorer, they were still better than PS2's. But I wasn't expecting or even wanting to demo the Wii for its graphics; I was concerned more with the game play of the new controller-- the wii-mote. I played a course in Excite Truck and was surprised at the responsiveness of the controller. It actually took a bit of skill to make modest adjustments instead of exaggerated turns with the steering, much like in any arcade racing game. I thought I could somehow lose line of site with the sensor or that it could become sluggish and lag, but this did not happen. The response consistently lagged at a barely noticeable rate, and not enough to cause any noticeable effect in game play. And, despite my efforts, I could not confuse the sensor bar. It somehow seemed to know the exact orientation of the wii-mote in 3D space at all times. Several online videos demonstrate that the sensor bar is simply an IR board, so the wii-mote is expected to work in all conditions that a simple TV remote can. The coolest aspect of the controller is its ability to recognize a rotation in the controller. The shopkeep let me in on this secret, showing how the cursor responded to wrist rotation by rotating itself on the screen. Pretty cool. This very action is used in Call of Duty 3 to peer around corners.

It was really an experience to watch the wii-mote respond to the actions of your hand. Unfortunately, its quite hard to even get your hands on one, and will be for a month or two. If you get a chance though, I definitely recommend just trying it out.

First Impressions of the Wii

This past week I had the chance to demo both the PS3 and Wii. I must admit that I was very impressed with the PS3's graphics. They were quite stunning and had great transparency effects. Any questions I had on how graphics could get that much sharper since PS2 were instantly answered. I was, however, playing the system on a high def TV setwhich I'm sure added to the experience (only 4% of Americans have HDTV sets at home). Hard-core gamers are sure to be drawn to this type of game realism, but the game play itself screamed monotony.

Next came the Wii. While the graphics were noticeably poorer, they were still better than PS2's. But I wasn't expecting or even wanting to demo the Wii for its graphics; I was concerned more with the game play of the new controller-- the wii-mote. I played a course in Excite Truck and was surprised at the responsiveness of the controller. It actually took a bit of skill to make modest adjustments instead of exaggerated turns with the steering, much like in any arcade racing game. I thought I could somehow lose line of site with the sensor or that it could become sluggish and lag, but this did not happen. The response consistently lagged at a barely noticeable rate, and not enough to cause any noticeable effect in game play. And, despite my efforts, I could not confuse the sensor bar. It somehow seemed to know the exact orientation of the wii-mote in 3D space at all times. Several online videos demonstrate that the sensor bar is simply an IR board, so the wii-mote is expected to work in all conditions that a simple TV remote can. The coolest aspect of the controller is its ability to recognize a rotation in the controller. The shopkeep let me in on this secret, showing how the cursor responded to wrist rotation by rotating itself on the screen. Pretty cool. This very action is used in Call of Duty 3 to peer around corners.

It was really an experience to watch the wii-mote respond to the actions of my hand. Unfortunately, its quite hard to even get your hands on one, and will be for a month or two.

Interesting article relating to my Wii post.
My money still rides with the Wii, unless Microsoft finds some way to double their title base.

On another note, I tried to look up some Third Eye Blind tab to learn on my guitar.
Turns out the MPA has threatened to sue guitarzone concerning copy right infringement.
HAA! You have got to be kidding me. This is simply absurd.

Here's why (if it isn't already painfully obvious):

1. Tabs are created by people listening to songs and interpreting what they hear. This process is highly artistic and personal. For one, I don't think I've ever run across a 100% correct tab. In fact, most have several versions trying to improve on mistakes in others. The idea that these tabs are infringing on copy-right laws implies that something was copied, verbatim. Painters don't go pissing and moaning to when people inspired by the Mona Lisa try to imitate her "knowing" smile on canvas. Why should the music industry care what some 8th grader attempts to imitate on a guitar? What a bunch of control freaks!
   
   
2. Isn't imitation the highest form of flattery anyway? People don't play songs on the radio to claim as their own. Most are simply trying to honor their favorite artists by playing the songs they love, so that other people can enjoy the music for themselves. Most fail miserably on top of this! Even if they played with perfect pitch and rhythm, I wouldn't call this infringement. I'd call it advertisement. If anything, the MPA should be paying these people for the free publicity they provide!
   
   
3. REAL music experts will say that tempo and rhythm are just as important to a song as the melody and guitar structure. Has the MPA ever actually seen a tab? They are horrible at conveying rhythm or tempo! Most I've seen recommend to "listen to the song to get the strumming pattern." How can you sue somebody for copying something when more than half the original information is not even conveyed. And its not like tabs use the music without citing the original song. Think about it.... how else would you even search for one without the original artist and song name?
   
   
   The truth about the music industry is that they screwed up bad. They had the chance to embrace new internet based music technology, and they dropped the ball. Instead of trying to connect artists with their audiences-- which IS their job-- they spent all their time bitching and moaning about how unfair sharing music was. iTunes showed it was possible to turn a profit with .mp3 downloads; the rest of the music industry missed the boat. My advise to the music industry: quit trying to blame your customers for your stupidity. Embrace the current trends in the industry, or relegate yourself to the ranks of obsolete organizations.

Classes have begun for the last time. What a damn good feeling! In the practice of too-little-too-late, I have somehow decided that this should be the semester to reduce drinking and increase studying. What a dumb decision: for one this semester's GPA probably won't even be available by the time I submit grad school apps; and this is also my last time to live it up as a college undergrad.

But decisions are decisions and I figure a change of pace can't hurt things. I wouldn't exactly call myself rolemodel of the year before the decision, so what can it hurt? However, the only thing I've found so far is that books can make you feel like the loneliest damn person on the planet, increasing your desire to get smashed, even be it alone. Ironic, huh?

Come round 1, the test scores better pay off or I forever switch back to alcohol, my long and loyal friend.

On the bright side, I am actually somewhat ahead in all my classes.

With this in mind I return to the fascinating subject of UML, while my brain drifts of to better times of frolicking in flowered fields with natty in hand.

So far this blog has been rather boring, so no more rants or raves right now.
Instead I will interest you with some good things occuring in my life:

• Death Cab for Cutie is coming to State College! How awesome is that?! They are my newest favorite band.
  

• I decided to invest in a companion to combat lonliness. I wanted a dog, but you know... "apartment rules." So I started off small (and flushable) with a betta fish. I named him Brutus Brosef. This is approximately what he looks like:

Brutus is quite smart and knows when feeding time is already. He sleeps during the day by his plant. Betta fish can breath air as well as water, which makes him extra special.

• Speech class started. Not exactly a great thing, but it's new!
  

• ummm... thats all. Now I drink at the bars.
  

Book 4 U

I started reading Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond last night. So far it is quite an amazing book. It really ought to be a staple for any world history class. If you have any interest in human development, and how the environment, agriculture, animal domestication, technology, population and political organization have effected it, check this book out. I am a huge avocate of anything that helps you understand the past. How else can you project the future?

Stop whispering, start shouting?

I heard a radio show on the way home where a liberal humanitarian and conservative radio host where going head to head on troop action in Ishaqi, Iraq. Here is yet another allegation of a US military massacre to break headline news. The conservative was arguing that the soldiers have a right to the presumption of innocence and was calling the liberal a twisted and sick man for comparing the events to the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War. While the liberal defended the earlier statement, it suddenly occurred to me that the two men weren't even arguing on the same topic. The liberal was stressing that strict punishment should be incurred if the soldiers were found guilty. The conservative was arguing for their rights as US citizens to be innocent until proven guilty.

My question is, how can you argue with either? Obviously the intentional killing of innocent and unarmed civilians should have dire consequences for the perpetrators. And obviously we, as Americans, should stand by the ideal of innocence before guilt until an unbiased and thorough investigation demonstrates otherwise.

I then became really angered at how the radio station was pulling on the heart strings of the listener. It was very easy to relate early to one commentator based on personal political viewpoints and then to become very angry at the other commentator for disagreeing. An argument implies opposite viewpoints. But they weren't even arguing about the same thing! The whole purpose of the radio show did nothing more than to fuel hatred and divide unity between two large and common thought groups in America. The match eventually resorted to name calling.

"Pooh head!"
"Fat ugly stinky face!"

When did radio shows resort to such Kindergarten name calling? I believe it is fine to have opinionated radio shows, but they shouldn't be called 'news.' News, by nature, should be unbiased and thorough. News is founded by the ideal of truth and education. Anything else should be considered on par with gossip.

One a side note, I looked up the definition for liberal and conservative a few nights ago.
According to some entries from dictionary.com:

Liberal- Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

Conservative- Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.

At first they seem very different (they are). In the political setting, they don't have to be. I think it could be more appropriate to say that they are two approaches to creating a better America. Isn't what these arguments are always about? Liberal comes from liberty, which stresses the individuals freedom. Conservative comes from conserve, which stresses the retention of rights and freedom. It all boils down to whether you believe the system, as it stands today, is broken or not. Then you have to ask the question, in what sense?

Before we reduce ourselves to petty name calling, let’s remember this: All anybody wants is a better place for everybody in the world to live. Across the globe, a pretty standard set of morals exists. One of them is to treat your neighbor’s ideas with respect. Let’s stop shouting at each other, listen, and remember that we can work together for our shared goals.

Wii for me

Bet you all are Playstation fans, eagerly awaiting that sleek new PS3 consol. Well, here is news for you: Sony is not your fan. The consol is priced at $500 per system, without a game! And while PS has always had some killer titles, they all seem to fall in either the 'shoot 'em up' or the 'super realistic sports game' categories.

You think the XBox 360 is any better? They have one game worth playing: Halo 3. And once again, its a shoot 'em up. Don't get me wrong, shoot 'em ups can be very fun and addicting. And they certainly have had their place in the gaming world. It's just a shame when the entire industry gets reduced to a single game rehashed a thousand ways.

The industry doesn't care about you. It cares about profit.

The electronic industry is involved in a huge war right now over the next-gen DVD format. Microsoft and Sony have put themselves on opposite sides, Microsoft supporting the HD-DVD format, and Sony supporting its Blu-Ray baby. Ever hear of Betamax? The same type of war happened in the 80's between Betamax and VHS. Instead of agreeing on a standard and moving on, the electronic industry split itself and decided to let the consumer decide. Each side stood silently still, poised to jump on profits when one format fell and left half the industry years behind in competition. Its happening all over again. VHS obviously won out, leaving many consumers with useless Betamax players. The same thing is happening with Blu-Ray/HD-DVD.

So how are Blu-Ray and HD-DVD different? Technically, there are some differences. As far as media is concerned, both formats are nearly identical. The bottom line is that Blu-Ray holds more and is more expensive. Both formats have a long list of supporters, for hardware and media. So who will win out? It is too soon to tell. My hunch is that HD-DVD may emerge on top for 3 reasons:

1. Cost. Movies are already expensive. Who wants to pay more for both a player and movie titles when the picture quality is the same?
2. Cost. I think most experts are underestimating the importance of the gaming industry in this battle. I won't get into why I believe this at the moment, but PS3's outrageous pricing will definitely garnish support for XBox and the HD-DVD format.
3. Power. As much as it pains me to say, Microsoft owns the computing industry's vocal chords. The newest MS OS, Vista, supports HD-DVD. Therefore, the computing industry will make it the standard. This computing industry is unifying right now (ie. Intel/Apple), and doesn't have time for petty format battles.

But back to the consol topic. Sony decided to incorporate a Blue-Ray drive in the PS3, adding a cost of several hundred dollars per system. As a plus, it will also be able to play Blue-Ray movie titles. Microsoft will sell their HD-DVD player add-on separately in the future. The format war is set to be waged in the gaming world now too.

It is for this reason, the pricing, and the lack of unique games for Xbox and PS3 that I will be buying a Nintendo Wii. I have always been a Nintendo fan. I have owned all their systems at one point or another exclusively, with the exception of a game gear. Nintendo (arguably) invented the industry based on creative entertainment. While Sony and Microsoft have been busy fighting each other and bumping up hardware specs and prices, Nintendo has been focusing on revolutionizing the industry. You all have heard of their new controller. You may also be familiar with some extremely fun games such as Mario Party, which are unique and social. I honestly believe Nintendo is poised to retake the gaming industry this next year. The pricing ($200-$250) is about a $100-$300 cheaper than its competitors. Its concentration is entertaining a broader market of gamers. And Nintendo knows that if they don't make a mark with this generation, they are finished with the consol wars. They have nothing to lose.

It is too soon to determine what next-gen format or gaming consol will pull above the rest. All I know is that I support cost-effective and consumer focused products that hold the ideal of entertainment above top dollar. This means a Wii for me.

I finally decided to create a blog and publish my useless ramblings for the world to see. Well, its mostly for me to see, as I don't expect anybody to read it. In a world where ideas, thoughts, and information are becoming vastly more interconnected, it's only right that I add my two cents. So here they are: