make[2]: *** [check_http.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [all-recursive] Error 1

After a bit of digging around I saw that the errors were SSL-related, and upon doing a bit of research, I found that my server was missing libssl-dev. After running apt-get install libssl-dev, the install continued on without further issue.

The surprising part was that “CLEAR123“, the password I had just used an hour earlier, no longer worked!

Fast forward to nearly 2 hours later, when I hung up on Clear technicians and told them they had lost a customer.  No one there had any idea that my modem does not have a hard reset button (really Motorola??), let alone what the default password could be.

One thing I noticed this morning was that the modem’s login page looked a bit different than before.  I had poked around on it a bit last week and was pretty sure that the “Nokia Siemens Networks” logo was a new addition.  On one hand, I figured that I just didn’t notice their logo the first time around.  With no other options however, I dug around online to see if I could find a default password for Nokia Siemens Networks branded equipment.  A cursory search turned up the default password of “nsn”, which instantly whisked me to the modem’s administration panel.  What luck!

So, for reference, if your WiMAX modem password was once “motorola”, it may now be “CLEAR123″ or even “nsn” if an update has been pushed to your equipment.

Hopefully this info saves you some time and frustration!

Epic main menu.

I would argue that above zombies, dinosaurs are probably the world’s most beloved sub-culture. From The Land Before Time extending to Jurassic Park, I argue that dinosaurs have maintained a special place in most everyone’s heart. The problem is that there has not been much love (or hate) for dinorsaurs in video games since the Turok series. The problem’s solution came with advent of Kickstarter. Spiral Game Studios has had the design for Orion started since 1998, but it wasn’t until their Kickstarter campaign for $10,000 that net almost $20k in over a year that they made some serious headway. They’ve released the game early on May 4th and will be continuing to update the game and produce more content for it. In fact, when I received my copy, I couldn’t even play it. It is running on the Unreal Development Kit and for some reason, mine kept crashing. So I sat by and was patient until the release when the forums would be up on Steam and more people would probably experience and fix the same problem I was having. I was correct in that assumption and ever since I did a small bcdedit on Windows to expand my virtual video memory, the game has worked. I am not going to say flawlessly, because inside the game there are certainly issues and I will point out the ones I’ve notice as I tell you more about the world of Orion: Dino Beatdown and all the dinosaurs I’ve killed.

Generator or a Tesla wireless power receiving station?

The game itself plays on the popular games that feature hoard mode. On the worlds of Orion, you step into what is perhaps a failed terra-forming project. The reason for failure? Self aware dinosaurs. Perhaps they fled our world when the catastrophic event neared and perhaps this is the same reason we are exploring space trying to do the same. Like any good military would do, you’re sent down to get things working again. Generally on the maps there are four bases, each containing: a generator system, a personnel upgrade station, a weapons depot and a vehicle depot. Once you flick the switch on the generator, things start to spiral downwards. Something about it drives the dinosaurs crazy and a wave of them approach the base hell-bent on eradicating everything. Each dino you kill or help kill earns you credits to spend at each previous mentioned station (minus the generator). You’ll be able to buy new weapons or bonuses, upgrade abilities or even bring out some heavy weaponized vehicles to more efficiently dispatch the giant lizards trying to eat you. Of course, you can only do this as long as the generator is working. Eventually the dinosaurs will bore of the hide and seek game you’re playing and attack the humming beacon of power. The upgrade stations are then down until you repair the generator. Healing the generator is not an easy task when you have a wave of Raptors, T-Rexs and more .

Visor system highlights Dinosaurs.

Classes are split into three groups. Assault, Medic, and Recon; each with their own special abilities and armors. Assault is my favorite as you have a jetpack allowing you to soar across the map and out of harm’s way. Medic of course can heal team members, but is also a bit more armored to make up for the lack of anything else. Recon has a cloaking ability and is probably the most useful team member when needing to heal a generator. As it stands, out of your squad of five you will need to find the right mix of each class. Once you reach activate the generator, be ready for the swarm to engulf the base and keep your eyes on the skies for the flying Rhams that snatch you off the ground, smack you up a bit and eventually drop you perhaps to your death. Some servers setup by people will give you some starting credit, but for the most part you will have to earn your own way through the game. Stopping at a weapons depot will get you a new secondary weapon at a reasonable price until you can afford a more powerful main weapon. However, you’ll always have your dependable trusty pea shooter that you start with. Die, and you have to hope your remaining teammates can finish off the wave without you for you to spawn, unless you have a stash of credits that can buy your way in.

You'll want a nice team member to drive you around!

As the game is now, dying is inevitably for most. Occasionally a T-Rex will clip through a wall and eat an unwary player. However, most deaths will come down to poor planning. Since this is a team based game,  you will definitely have to rely on communication and unless you are in a group that has a Vent or Mumble server ready, you are stuck with texting within the game leaving you motionless and vulnerable. However, the game is constantly being updated. The launch game was a different download than my early access and since then there has been two patches to fix major issues. I swear that Spiral has faster response to issues than most AAA game studios. I for one do not mind the current glitches present in the game, as it is overall a wholly rewarding experience. Spiral wanted to push the idea to everyone that right now they are not buying a finished game, but a seed that will grow with the users and eventually blossom into the game it was meant to be. As it stands, I cannot find any flaw within the idea of UTTERLY DESTROYING DINOSAURS! If I could go back in time and be the one to hurl a meteor at the Earth causing a dust cloud of life extinguishing proportions, I would! Ala,s I am gladly stuck with Orion: Dino Beatdown; It is a close second!

I think the game is a great idea. The only thing I wish is some ability to communicate with fellow players. Or perhaps seeing players that are only close to me. Either way, I’m trying to get it spread across the workplace to create, well, a war. Give it a try for yourself, after all it is free.  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ctenophore.gsoclient

Deadlight is a cinematic action-platformer with action-based puzzles. The player takes the role of Randall Wayne, survivor of an apocalyptic world set in an alternate 1980s. Taking advantage of Randall’s agility, the player will overcome obstacles, dodge enemies, and set diversions.

The staggering amount of choices I have almost leave me confused and the only option is to test them out in the heat of battle to determine effectiveness. Luckily, after shooting down enemies and collecting the pearls they leave behind, I am able to upgrade my choices, perhaps providing better options. I love the art of the game, it slightly resembles other shumps (shoot ‘em ups) like Geometry Wars, if only for the neon glow. Other than that, Robofish is its own unique creation. After all, it is a fish with robotics attached to it shooting everything in it’s path; which is awesome! Unlike Geometry Wars, I find that Robofish has the enemies falling from the top, or from the front if you think of it as looking down on a fish. In that case, these streams of enemies are easier to handle until they do envelop you. None the less, I prefer this method of being attacked.

As far as configurations go, I prefer to set mine up in a directional control method so that I can completely control where my shots go. I chose to put a slight curve on them and to have to keep the accuracy down so that a general area is being covered. This way I can keep from having to have absolute precise control. Of course, you can choose to have it completely wavy, crisscrossed, or in multiple directions.

If you keep up the good work of dodging incoming attacks and keep on shooting everything down, you’ll be able to earn multipliers for different levels of enemies killed in a row. There are even some bonus moves such as a repairing yourself or firing a homing missile. The missile is best saved for bigger enemies as it does seem to take to long to recharge. In fact, I often forget to use it. My main concern is shooting things and collecting pearls for upgrades.

All in all, you have three things here. A beautifully designed game, an excellent shoot ‘em up, and an addictive indie game found for a reasonable price on XBLIG. If you’re interested, you can find it for yourself at Xbox.com.

They’ll send you either into a the Necropolis, the Castle, or the Mines. As you explore the areas, you’ll be able to exit them via a portal when you are safe. All the areas’s switches will remain unlocked if you exit via this method, but if you die you get nothing. Once the sword has been upgraded 15 times, you will be sent to the arena to see how many levels you can clear and the sword will be put into the king’s armory for you to go back and try to clear more levels later on. I spent about 5 hours just to get to this stage. Honestly, unless you are focusing in one particular skill, I think most people will try to upgrade the sword evenly across the board. Then, if you continue to upgrade and finish them off, you’ll have the same sword as everyone else. This is something that the game is partially hypocritical about. The fact is that there are not enough upgrades to truly make a unique sword. However, the skill of the player still remains in question. Whether or not the player is able to use the slashes, dashes and heavy attacks to their fullest is in question here. The added bonus of this game allows you to use your avatar for the killing of all the evil creatures. I personally like looking like a bad-ass; killing creatures, and eventually naming my sword after a demon. This was a great game and hopefully earns itself a place at the top for Xbox Live Indie Games.

P.S. Stay away from manticores and check out the trailer below.