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2011-12-09T18:55:00.001-08:00

Stationery card

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Web site reconstruction.

2011-02-23T09:13:00.001-08:00

So here's the deal: I want to make this website a place where people would want to visit on a daily basis. My original plan was not going to accomplish this. For one, to try to take on already established websites for gaming news and reviews was just silly. I tried to include a local flair, but having it not based on games destroyed the focus of the site. I will be starting this site over to rethink the purpose and direction it needs to move. I will have more details later, but for now, this is the last post for a while.

New Site Theme!

2010-07-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed by now, the site looks quite a bit different. I'm trying out some new looks for the site, not only to have better layouts of everything, but to actually make the site a bit more functional on the back end. The previous theme looked awesome, but it had its quirks. There wasn't a lot of space for the articles, it couldn't show Author names and we've been putting them up ourselves, it couldn't show labels, and it was a pain to look at on the HTML side. I'll be making more improvements here and there both functionally and graphically, so just hang tight for the final version.

Hands On: OnLive

2010-07-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

By Silva

If you don't know by now, there is a new service that is trying to empty your wallets out there in the gaming world. OnLive believes that you don't need a powerful console or a $4000 800W-powered gaming rig to have fun with the latest games, and still bring a well rounded experience outside of playing the games themselves. Using the latest tech in cloud computing, their server farms do all the hard work your computer more than likely can't do. This is new, radical stuff, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Jump in to read more.

I decided to take the plunge into OnLive first because I was so intrigued by all of their claims of lag-free, high-def gaming using a regular desktop/laptop setup. The other major reason is the deal they have going on right now where the first batch of people to sign up for their service gets free access for a year. Now this does not include games, just think of it as the XBox Live service we're all pretty used to. I had to be put on a waiting list of sorts before I could join up, but the "wait" was about a half day, thankfully.

So here's my setup for these couple of runs: a stock unibody MacBook from about a year ago, Mighty Mouse, wired 360 controller, 2.1 desktop speakers and my 52" LCD TV. First and foremost, I had to have a wired connection, along with other requirements, listed on the site. So I plugged my Macbook up, and started up the app.

All of those videos surrounding the menu are playing at once.

Immediately I was impressed by the style of the main menu. The OnLive team really wanted to show what this system was all about, and in my opinion, I was blown away. In the picture on the left, you can see that it's a very simple menu with a lot of visual flair surrounding it. It's also complete with a dashboard system, similar to hitting the XMB or Guide Button. Browsing through the menus was very exciting, because all of the videos playing everywhere were either trailers or actual people playing at that time.

Speaking of other people, the Arena is a game voyeur's dream. Here you are presented with an endless grid of people playing games from the service. At any point you can select a player from the grid, and you're taken right to their game at full screen. From here, you can send a cheer or jeer, depending on how well you think they are playing, and this could attract more spectators. It's not much, but it's a very interesting and socially-oriented aspect of the service.

Also centered on showing off your skills is something called Brag Clips. It's basically you being able to capture the last 10 seconds of play at any time to show everyone that cool moment or that horrible fall. Browsing thorough them was satisfactory and you can sort by different factors. Viewing them also allows a rating system, so you can always find the cream of the crop.

My first test was just to see how well my laptop (and OnLive) could keep up with Just Cause 2. To my surprise, OnLive offers timed demos for every game, so no money given just yet. I started up the game, and once again, I was very impressed and surprised by the smoothness of everything. I really felt as if I was playing the game from the hard drive, yet I was basically only downloading a streaming video. Graphics were a spot on 720p running at least 30fps. Sound quality was great as well. The true test, however, was the gameplay. It exceeded my expectations. There was no noticeable lag at all when I was playing.

Crude, yes, but effective.

After that 30 minute demo was done, I decided to really ramp up the test. First off, I traded in my mouse and keyboard for a wired XBox 360 controller. Unfortunately on Mac, if you have ANY third party drivers installed for controller, you need to be rid of them. I also decided to use my 52" LCD for it's 1080p capabilities. Now, I'm not sure if the game ever ran at 1080p after hooking it up, but it definitely held its own. Just for good measure, I plugged some 2.1 Logitech desktop speakers to see how it sounded with a little more push behind it. I tried out DiRT2 and was impressed once again at now much potential this technology really has going for it. The graphics were just as stunning, the sound was spot on, and there was very little video noise from the connection throughout my session. The controls did have a tiny bit of lag, though, and that threw me off my game a little bit.

All in all, my first hour with the service was really mind-blowing. I can't wait to try out more games, and maybe add a friend or two to see how the product as a whole holds up. For you achievement junkies, sorry, but no dice. I will say if you can get your hands on a free year of OnLive, really give this a go. It's a glimpse of a company's vision for the future of gaming, and they mostly deliver on their promises.

P.S. There will also be a micro-console and OnLive controller coming soon, so that may be even more incentive to try it out.

How not to get screwed by losing screws

2010-06-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

By Silva

If you're like me, you probably would like to take either old, busted pieces of equipment or shiny, new pinnacles of tech and tear them apart - you monster. I thought I'd share a small post about how you can keep up with all the little screws that get left in the wake or your reign of destruction. Some are simple, some are more elaborate, but money's no object when it comes to complete obliteration of unsuspecting gadgets, right?

Not just for pills anymore.

1. The Pillbox
Using a multi-chambered weekly pillbox can help out with a quick project that has small screws. You can either separate the fasteners by shape or by disassembly step. The limiting factor here is that you can only hold 7 types or steps unless you try to buy more of them. Also, you either need to go buy one, or take from a poor, frail elder.

2. The Paper
Now, there are two ways to use the paper technique. My friend has always created a basic plan of the object being torn down, and labeled the steps and pieces as he disassembled, putting the screws in the proper place. The disadvantage here is that bumps and accidental swipes can create chaos very quickly.

I've also come up with the idea where you actually stick each screw into the paper by order of how you took them out, labeling if needed. It helps to keep them in place, but labeling while sticking screws in can get a bit tricky.

No, not this Will Smith.

3. The Tape
I got this little ingenious idea from Tested.com's Will Smith while watching a tear down of the new XBox 360. It's a tweaked version of using paper, but the tape actually holds on to the screws. Either of these methods is a cheap, easy, and almost-always-on-hand solution. My only issue here is that you can't label any of the screws, so it's up to you to use a separate piece of paper or just remember where everything went.

4. The Tackle Box
This solution is for the bigger projects involving a lot more screws. It's basically the bigger version of the pillbox method. I'd suggest using this only if you really need to keep track of a LOT of screws, or are planning to store spare screws by not reassembling your gadget victim.

Like this, but with less clutter.

5. The Organizer
Speaking of saving screws and other parts, if you're just going to break everything apart and not reassemble, why not just get a simple organizer for future projects? You can get a variety of sizes, and a variety of drawers. They can be easily labeled for reference as well. This is for the one who needs to disassemble gadgets on a regular basis, such as an at-home repair shop.

Now that I've shared my methods, anyone else know of other ways to keep track of everything?

New Xbox?... OH WORD!!!

2010-06-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

by Skoomie

From the front the new 360 does look like a bow-tie. But will it perform like the "original"? Coffin and all? For only $299? Lets find out...

     With the reveal of the new 360 hitting news from it's debut at this years E3, I feel that we can all feel comfortable with the new design. With new features ranging from a touch sensitive interface to built in 802.11n WiFi, it has; in my personal opinion; what gamers wanted with the original 360. Features that are sure to please include not only 4 USB ports.... but 5, oh yeah, HDMI ready and fully functional with this years upcoming release, Xbox Kinect, a 250 gig HDD and last but not least built in WiFi... as stated previously.

     Microsoft is also boasting of it's super ability to remain whisper quiet and NO RED RINGS. That's right all you fine folks out here in Iron Muffin Land. The new console will no longer show you the AMAZING RROD, or Red Rings of Death... for you laymen gamers. Instead the console will use a series of Green, that's right, Green lights to show errors, hopefully a different shade of Green than the Green that displays normally when the console is turned on. Also, no longer a need for those pesky GIANT memory card sticks, just plug a USB stick into the back of the unit and save away... for those gamers that can't leave home without their GamerTag.

   Let just look for a moment at a comparison of the two different styles of memory sticks. First the GIANT Xbox memory stick compared to say... a small child. You obviously see the dilemma here.

Now let us take this same child and compare her to a USB drive, that will be compatible with the newly designed 360. WOW, I mean just wow.... now I can see carrying that around, a whole lot easier, can't you?... uh, the USB... not the small child.

Well, folks it's time for me to skidaddle outta here. In my opinion the new 360 blows away the old by a mile, ok, well maybe not a mile, but 10 feet at least. I, for one, am intrigued at what the capabilities in store for this new console release will be. I will be picking mine up as soon as possible.

Zelda II - the same, but very, very different.

2010-06-07T20:16:00.000-07:00

By Silva

I'll keep this article short and sweet, since by the time you realize what I'm talking about, you'll be playing this game. There are a lot of us gamers out there 25 and older that remember and have played the old Zelda series on NES and SNES. Well, a fellow Blogger user has remade the game playable on the web. However, his remake was really a re-envisioning.

He's done away with cleaner looking sprites, and replaced them all with polygonal characters and environments. By doing this, he's taken away the overhead and side-scrolling gameplay, and replaced it with a first-person view and control scheme, giving a Doom or Wolfenstein feel. I think it's at least worth checking out, and it shows that you can -bear with me here- teach an old game new tricks. Link can be found below.

http://3dnes.blogspot.com/

50 Posts! Time for a checkup.

2010-06-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

By Silva

We've reached 50 posts! It took us long enough, but I can't really believe it. To those of you who are just now seeing this site for the first time, welcome! For those of you who are still here after a visit or two, thanks for sticking with us! I love that this has become a successful project so far. However, I know this site can be much better. But how do you feel? We love feedback on anything about the site, good or bad. It's the only way we can truly improve as we continue to get a foothold on this internet business. In the meantime, we'll try to get more info out there to you, and we may even try to expand our staff soon! Stay tuned.

GameLink!

2010-05-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

by Skoomie

Ok, so the other day I had an opportunity to take a tour of the local GameLink. With 12 gaming stations, each consisting of high-end, comfortable leather seating, 47-inch LCD HDTVs and advanced surround-sound audio dome technology. This is one place you will have to check out for yourself to really gain the full exposure of this gaming experience. Based solely around the XBOX 360®, GameLink can provide you with online multiplayer games, squad based games with your buddies, or just an all around good time. Lets find out more, shall we...

I was led on a tour by co-founder, Brad Watt. A very knowledgeable fellow, who you can tell, cares a great deal about the services that GameLink can provide. GameLink offers a variety of package deals that allow the customer to custom make their experience there. I was highly impressed with what I saw, from the cleanliness of the floor and walls (ie.- wires, plugs), to the amazing sound coming from above; it, in my opinion, is one of the great gaming sensations to hit Columbus thus far.

It is good to see that the people running GameLink not just "know" about games, but are in fact themselves gamers. With that being said, they have a pretty good idea of what gamers want. Big screens! Surround sound! Comfy chairs! And a great environment to spend the afternoon with their friends. Multiple times a year they have tournaments, and on one special occasion GameLink was even visited by UFC Champ, Forrest Griffin.

In conclusion, with this being my first time to ever visit a gaming establishment like this, I loved it! The environment lens itself to be fantastic and with this being the ONLY GameLink in existence (hopefully the first of many), you won't find a better place to play. I myself am planning on spending some gaming time there and will continue to bring you updates in the future of the great things I believe this place will bring to the gaming community. I loved it and I think the gaming public will love it too. If you get a chance check this place out, you won't regret it! Run on over to www.GetLinkedNow.com and check it out, TODAY!

p.s.- Soldiers get ready, rumors of GameLink coming to Ft. Benning!

Dropbox - Cloud storage done right

2010-05-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

By Silva

Having two or more computers on a home network is a pain when the operating systems don't match, especially if you need to shift some files around. Having this little cloud storage-based service makes the situation easier. Jump in to know more.

We have a lot of computers at the house. A PowerBook with OSX 10.5, a MacBook using OSX 10.5 (with Ubuntu 10.04 set up as well), a Dell netbook with Windows 7 Starter, and a defunct desktop running the Windows 7 Release Candidate are all taking residence here. Being an intermediate level user of all the major operating systems - and a tech scatterbrain - I seem to leave files that I want everywhere. Also to mention, my wife is telling me to get pictures and music off of the old PowerBook onto the Dell now. Ask anyone with multiple operating systems about moving files from one platform to another, and they'll tell you it's no easy task without help.

This is where Dropbox comes in. They've managed to take the idea of cloud computing - or cloud storage more accurately - and make it simple to use and understand. Just simply download and install the app from www.dropbox.com. After it's done it will create a folder on your drive that will automatically sync to your own personal 2GB of storage online. You will need to create an account to use the service, but it's free. You'll also want to do this with the other computers you use. It works with Windows, OSX, and Linux systems.

To move files from one computer or another is as simple as moving a file from one folder to another on your computer. When you move a file to the Dropbox folder, not only does it sync with the web, but every other computer that is tied to that account. It's a perfect way to move data back and forth across your network, or even from a remote location.

Dropbox for Android

Want even better news? There's an app for both the App Store and the Android Marketplace, so your smartphone can get in on the action too. For Android users like me, just use the QR code included here to download. Also, if you happen to need or want more storage in your Dropbox, you can pay either $4.99/month for 50GB of storage (a significant jump), or $9.99/month for 100GB if you're really needing the space. Whatever plan you choose, you'll be thanking this team for designing such seamless method of file sharing within minutes of using the product.

HOW MUCH!!! C'mon iPad!!!

2010-05-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

by Skoomie

Are you tired of your easy lifting, no weight feeling iPad?... I know I am, that is why I am recommending everyone in the world buy this. What can go wrong when you are stylin' and profilin' down the busy streets of The Bronx late at night with your NEW toy? You will be the talk of the town, downtown Chicago that is.... but seriously, who would buy something like this, just ridiculous.

Gold-and-diamond iPad could be yours for $190,000 – SciTechBlog - CNN.com Blogs

New iPhone... not mucha secret APPLE!!!!

2010-05-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

by Skoomie

OK, not sure what is going on with APPLE lately, but things around there are getting kinda screwy. Another sighting of the infamously new iPhone 4G is appearing on Vietnamese site taoviet.vn. Is there something to all of these mysterious iPhones going missing so APPLE can receive attention??.... or are APPLE's employees just morons. Let's find out together shall we.

Ok, so this is the second siting of the new iPhone that has been all over the internet. If one was left in a bar, either the APPLE engineer that left it there did it on purpose, or he was so drunk he just forgot it. Why APPLE allows it's employees to leave the company with prototype iPhones, I will never know. What is ridiculous about this whole ordeal is that now the person who found the iPhone might be held under criminal charges. The police did raid the home of, Jason Chen, an employee of Gizmodo. Which now Gawker Media, which owns Gizmodo, claims was illegal breaking section 1070 of the Evidence Code which states that a jounalist has a right to privacy protection.

oh.... yea.....

Now this Vietnamese site has been able to snag an iPhone also. Was all of this just publicity? Is APPLE really that desperate. Me thinks not.... More than likely their employees are morons leaving company property out and about. Although I am excited about this new upcoming iPhone, I don't think that I will be purchasing one. I have an iPod Classic, an iPod Touch and a cell phone from Verizon. How many more gadgets can I afford?! But oh well, this does look like an awesome gadget to buy, so if you have the cash when the time comes, I say go for it. As for me... I am stickin' with my Zack Morris phone.

The Best Of Fountain City: The Mongo Grille

2010-05-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

By Silva

This is the third edition to my "Best of Fountain City" series, and so far it's been cuisine from Asia. Well, I'm not breaking away yet. My wife and I got a chance to try out Mongo not once, but twice this past weekend. Were the two trips worth it? Jump in to find out.

The fascination with this place started out on a Food Network or Travel Channel special showcasing some of the more different and entertaining places to eat. This establishment was not featured on the show, as it was not even around yet, but the experience was exactly like it. It all revolves around a "Mongolian Fire Pit", or in this case, a large round grill where a number of chefs cook food at the same time.

The restaurant is located on the outskirts of Columbus, GA, on Veterans Parkway, heading toward Calaway Gardens. You'll pass the interstate, Texas Roadhouse, The Harley Davidson shop, and even B. Merrell's. Walking in, you're treated to a very contemporary decor, with lime green and black walls, lots of signage for the restaurant, and a couple of Asian-themed art pieces about. While I was very impressed with what I saw on the walls, the seating could use a bit of sprucing up. Now don't get me wrong, I really don't care about it as I am there for the food, and especially since this just opened in October of '09, but I just hope they can eventually upgrade everything to really pull together the whole picture.

I will say this now: traditionalists, beware. This isn't your typical sit-and-order place. You are truly a part of the dining process. I'll explain.

When you're seated, you're given a small placard on which your server writes your table number, name, and your choice of rice (white, brown, or fried). After this and ordering drinks, you take your card up to a buffet style line, where you grab a tray and three specific bowls made for veggies, meats, and sauce. The trick is, you only get one trip, but whatever you can fit in those bowls, they will cook for you. It's up to you if you want to eat light or hearty. A note to the health-minded: since you're choosing the raw ingredients yourself, it makes the place ideal for healthy Asian food. When you're done, you leave the tray at the end of the counter, and wait for the chefs to do their magic.

When the finished meal was delivered to us by a member of the very friendly and eager to serve staff, we were impressed. They took our bowls full of uncooked heaps of ingredients, and turned them into very delicious-looking stir-fry dishes. And to me, the tastes matched the sights. It was exactly what we wanted and how much we wanted. And the best part? Price. We were able to stay under $20 for the both of us, sodas included (tip brought us just a hair over).

I can't really tell when or when not to go to avoids crowds yet, but based off of a Saturday afternoon and Sunday lunch, it's really not that bad. We had a small wait getting seated on Sunday with a party of 5, but nothing major. I have heard of slowdown though when they are really busy cooking everyone's orders.

Do not let that last statement discourage you from trying this place out. In my opinion, this is one of the more exciting places to eat in Columbus, and if you're tired of the same routine in restaurants, and want to get involved just a little, this is right up your alley.

From SXSW: The Kin - New Day

2010-04-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

By Silva

You may or may not remember from a while back I found a schmorgesborg of music from the annual SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. Well, I've listened to some of it -a couple hundred songs, yet I still have probably 1500+ to go, and that's just 2 shows worth out of 5!- and I've found a few gems in all the rough. One of them is by a duo who I believe has the potential to be widely popular, given the chance.

"New Day" by The Kin is a 2007 song from their album Rise and Fall, and you can find it on iTunes here. Like a lot of the other pleasurable songs in the SXSW mix, this happened to just pop up on me during a shuffle play. Let it be known, however, I want this and the rest of the album on my main playlist so I can listen to it whenever I wish.

The draw of "New Day" is just the simple uplifting message of not worrying about the future and letting go of things that are behind. To me, it's a call to end any personal suffering, wipe the slate clean, and start over anew. This simplistic, calming message is wrapped in a soft barrage of powerful vocal harmonies, mixed with a rhythmic stream of snare-heavy drums, and an underlying string section to bring it all together. The precision and passion behind the vocals give off a sincere need to share a song of self redemption, and it just makes you feel good to hear it.

I think if you're in a need to be uplifted for any reason, this should be on your media player. It's one of the reasons I chose to start listening to the SXSW collection and expand my knowledge of talented artists.

The Best Of Fountain City: Osaka

2010-04-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

By Silva

I fell in love with sushi a few years ago when I tried some at a Chinese buffet of all places. I am neither the ultimate connoisseur in the cuisine, nor even the one who can eat any piece from the menu. I'm still getting my feet wet, but I'm slowly trying out different types. I figured if I'm going to embark on this adventure, I may as well find a place that can serve the food right.

Coming to Osaka (the restaurant off of Airport Thruway behind The Landings, next to Outback) was an event in itself to me. I've never been to a sushi bar, and the only knowledge I had of that style of eatery was from TV. Needless to say, I was out of my element.

The decor of the place is very nice, made easier to do because the dining area is incredibly small. It's filled with your traditional Japanese art and bric-a-brac, and the actual bar is lined with pagoda tiles at the ceiling.

The staff there - just two it would seem - is very courteous, although the sushi ~~cook~~ artist is light on words. Having just one person doing all of the serving could be a bit frustrating at the peak times, but going in when it's not crowded rewards you with very prompt and personal service.

I am going to go ahead and spill my real opinion of the place, I love, love, LOVE the food at Osaka. When your entree arrives, it is indeed a work of art. You can tell the chef is experienced and talented with the blade, and in my opinion, the sushi pieces are almost flawless. So far, every new flavor of sushi I try, such as the eel, tamago (egg), jaguar (eel and crab), and -believe it or not- chicken tempura roll, has been delectable. If I need to experiment on something, I go here, simply because I have confidence that it will prepared in the best way possible. Add the inclusion of a nice after dinner orange hemisphere, also prepared with a bit of flair, and the meal becomes one of the best I've had in the area.

Price wise, I think it comes in as average for sushi. Because of the many options they provide, you can really go all out, or stick to a budget, and still feel like you've had your money's worth. I'll mention again, that since this is a small dining space, you'll need to look outside of normal eating hours to get a good experience.

If you like sushi, or if you are wanting to try it out, you owe it to yourself to come here first. You will get the best that Columbus has to offer, and with all of the choices for easing yourself in, or tackling the most advanced pieces, you will find something you like. If you happen to be finding yourself here and you dislike sushi or sashimi, there are plenty of other Japanese options on the menu for your tastes as well (tip: chicken tempura and rice is the safest bet).

If you believe you've got a better place for sushi and you think that I'm out of my mind, let me know in the comments below!

The Best Of Fountain City: Mandarin Cafe

2010-04-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

By Silva

My wife spent 9 months in China teaching English to preschool-aged children. I mention this because I tend to use her for our personal "best of Chinese" places to go. We've tried a few buffets around town, and we've gone to a couple of the more traditional dinner establishments as well. So far from everything we've tried, she mentioned to me that Mandarin Cafe tastes the most like actual food from China. Now we started going here a while back, so I'm going to try to remember the first experience as best as I can, incorporating anything recurring from other visits that either boosts or counts against my view.

We tried this place on a whim one day just looking for somewhere to eat. It's located on Veteran's Parkway inside of the small shopping center where you can also find Mellow Mushroom. When we walked inside, we found the decor to be like any typical local establishment around here: white walls with paintings, plaques, and other knick-knacks from the restaurant's genre. I did find the veils hanging from the ceiling at the booths along the walls as a nice touch, giving you the sense that this is not some quick fast food Chinese delivery joint.

We were lead by a very friendly greeter to our table, and were served by her as well. She gave us our drinks and we ordered a couple of dishes (I'm going to try to avoid the particulars of what we ate in this and future articles, unless it's vital to my opinion of the place). For a second, the selection had me anxious, because it was exactly the same stuff that I've seen in all Chinese food places, however it was inside of a better menu. If there's one thing I've learned about the quality of Chinese restaurants, it's to look at the menu. Typically, if you see the classic green/red color scheme on it, you're in for not-so-great fast and loose Chinese. I saw no color, so no worries.

The food came, we had generous -very generous- portions of food, served in a traditional manner, where you receive an entree meant for two on a plate by itself, and the rice comes in a large bowl. Each person gets an empty plate, and you grab your food just as if you were at a family dinner. The food was better than your average restaurant, and as I've stated earlier, the entire experience reminded my wife of Beijing.

The price for the meal could be a little on the high side for those wanting a budget meal, but for the amount of food that you get, and for the extras that come with the meal, like after dinner fried banana wontons and fortune cookies (because in America you need to have them), I feel it's worth it. As far as crowd goes, you will find a larger than normal difference between peak and off hours for the place, going from max capacity during lunch and Friday/Saturday night, to almost empty any other time.

Overall, I feel that Mandarin Cafe is one of the most accurate and delicious establishments around for traditional Chinese cuisine. Yes, even beating out the famous Chef Lee brand. While they may need to work on the looks of the place, everything else seems just right.

Update: If you think your favorite local Chinese dining spot is better than this, feel free to let me know by saying so in the comments!

The Best Of Fountain City: Intro

2010-04-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

By Silva

Ok, I want to try something out. I feel I'm slowly growing tired of the same places and sheer amount of franchised establishments to eat in the Columbus, GA area. I understand that the city wants to make this a more tourist friendly place, but I think there is a price to be paid for it. I want to be able to experience - and review - the best that this area has to offer, locally. I want to try out as many of the local places as I can (or as many as my wife can stand :-D ) and be able to weed out what's great, what's not, and what's just hype.

This is where I need some help. I've been to a few places already, but I need more. More ideas, more genres of food, more places of true consumer value. If you have ideas on great spots to eat (no national chains allowed), just let me know. Meanwhile, when I can get to it, I'll report on where I've been, and how everything was.

By the way, yes, I know there are other websites that do this sort of thing, and have a nice little star system to go on, but there's nothing personal about them. Even the "expanded reviews" on those sites are just mostly "THIS IZ THA BEST FUD EVAR!!1" or "I HATE THAT PLACE NEVER GOIN BACK!!!". I'm going to try to be as completely objective as possible. I'm no professional food critic, but I know what I like to eat, mostly, and I'm usually up for trying new things.

I really want this to be an encouraging series of articles to get people out there and help support our local entrepreneurs. Will this mean I'm not going to the franchises anymore? No, it just means I'm expanding my horizons a bit.

The Tryout: Blur Multiplayer Beta

2010-04-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

By Silva

Wow, It's been quite a long time since a post has been up here. Well, wait no more. I just got my hands on the now public Blur multiplayer beta from Bizarre Creations. This team has worked on fine games like the Project Gotham Racing and Geometry Wars series, so they know what they're doing when it comes to a racing title. But how do they fair when weapons and absolute crazy arcade-styled action gets thrown into the mix? Hop in to find out my take.

Given the pedigree of the aforementioned series, you'd think that this could be a smash hit. Well, in my opinion, that's exactly what this could be. They've managed to take what they know about PGR, and throw an even more arcade like experience, replacing kudos with fans, the simulation-style physics with a more loose and out of control feel, and completely realistic -and boring- look with a neon-infused, contrast-boosted, dark Geo Wars polish that makes this game stand out among the rest of the titles coming out, like Split-Second, and others. Add that in with a challenge/perk/level up system stripped from Modern Warfare, and you have a real unique and fresh look on the genre.

More to come in a future edit...

A way to make Android and iTunes love each other

2010-03-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

By Silva

Ok, so here's my setup. I've got a Mac, I've got iTunes, and I've got an Android phone. I had an iPod, but some "things" were done to it, and it may "be of no use anymore". I still want to sync my media to my handheld easily. How do I accomplish this? Two easy -and free- steps.

1. Get Double Twist. This is a great little program that can sync media to just about any type of device you throw at it. It can handle iPods, PSPs, Blackberries, Android devices, DSi's, Nokia and Samsung phones, you name it.

Scan here!

2. Download Auto Mount onto your Android. This will ease the pain of manually mounting the SD card onto the Mac. You can use a QR code scanner, like Barcode Scanner, to download the program from here.

If you want the full instructions, just click the link here.

The iPhone Inspired DIY Kitchen Touch Screen Project

2010-03-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

The iPhone Inspired DIY Kitchen Touch Screen Project

By Silva

I'm going to make this one short, but the article makes up for it. The creator is a genius for being able to design a touch interface to a kitchen and still have it look elegant, even when not in use.

iPad humor... gotta love it!!

2010-03-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Sony's NEW paddle???

2010-03-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

by Skoomie

So, Sony has final come out with it's newly designed ping-pong paddle. For the longest time it was just a competition between Wilson and Dunlop. But now with Sony entering the game, will the "fake sport" finally take off? We all know the Japanese dominate at the sport of competitive ping-pong, and they have finally created a paddle to help them, IN 3D!!!

Designed originally for the 2007 movie, Ping Pong Playa, this paddle was seen as "too futuristic" for some time, and not three years later Sony unveils it's new paddle. There are now talks for a sequel. In an interview with it's leading star he is quoted in saying, "I am disappointed in how Sony has treated us who are devoted to this serious game". Riveting.....

WOW..... So, I carried that joke longer than expected. But whatcha gonna do. So on a more serious note, Sony has unveiled it's new motion controller it has dubbed "Playstation Move". This, obviously, is now in competition with the Wii's motion controller. Boasting of this device being "The most immersive gaming experience possible", Sony obviously has a lot of great experience behind them when it comes to unveiling this product but boasting of the MOST immersive experience is some big words that hopefully will be backed up.

With some amazing titles that this device can work with such as.... EyePet.... and Disney-Pixars Toy Story 3.... people will be waiting patiently in line for hours to pick this hot device up.... I am sure of it.... insert sarcasm where applicable...

The New Commodore is Coming, Get Ready to LOAD"*",8,1 Again

2010-03-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

By Silva

Yep, I said Commodore. And if you look at the picture above, you'll see why this is news.
The Commodore team has already had its day in the sun back in the 70s and 80s, but never managed to gain a foothold later on in the 20th century. They tried a comeback a few years ago, putting out a few gaming rigs hoping the nostalgia would lure older gamers to them again. As you could probably tell, the idea never really caught on.

Enter 2010. Their signature styling of placing the mobo inside of the keyboard has been redesigned and re-imagined into what you see now. Engadget reports this as a keyboard computer, and it shows that Commodore is not done yet. They've taken nostalgia to a whole new level.

As you can see, there is an impressive array of ports in the back, ranging from the old serial and Commodore/Atari/Sega Genesis inputs, to more modern ones like the 4 USB 2.0 ports. Unfortunately, I don't see an HDMI port for easy TV access. If you want more info on it, and a pic of the guts of the machine, just click on the Commodore name.

New High Score for Donkey Kong Reached, Earns Free Shake At Pizza Hut

2010-03-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

By Silva

There are leader boards on XBox Live and PSN and high score tables on arcade machines. None of these lists will show the following accomplishment: the highest of high scores in Donkey Kong.

On March 8th, 35-year old plastic surgeon Hank S Chien broke the world record high score with 1,061,700 points, defeating long time champ Billy Mitchell by 11,500 points. Now, to average gamers this is pretty much meaningless. But for those of us who still love the retro stuff, seeing a high score on a 20-30 year old classic machine being toppled by someone better is reason for celebrating. For the longest time, Mitchell and Steve Weibe fought back and forth for the title, even having a documentary about it called King of Kong. This new record shows that even the masters can be uprooted by someone from seemingly out of the blue.

You can find more info about the accomplishment on the official video game record keeping site, Twin Galaxies, here.

Play N Trade: Grand Reopening, Take 2!!!

2010-03-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

By Silva

I took a drive today with the wife down toward Columbus Park Crossing, and I found that the Columbus Play N Trade has finally reopened! Check inside if you care to know more info.
First off, the new store design looks great. There's a familiarity to it, but it's more organized. The cashier's booth has been placed to the side, and been given a bit of color. While the almost all-black look was different, it really darkened the place to the point where it was like a cave. Sadly, however, the leather couch in the back is no more. Wives and weary gamers alike will have to settle for standing while watching the TVs, which have been moved to kiosks in the center of the back of the store.

It seems all the inventory isn't quite there yet, as I overheard someone say that they just reopened yesterday, and have about a week left to get everything in. I personally hope that the retro consoles come back, as I'm still trying to build my personal collection.