By Tim Hage on Jan 15th, 2009 at 4:46PM
With today’s release of Qore Episode 8, packaged along side the new episode, for all Qore subscribers, is the first chance to get your hands on the new demo for FEAR 2. No news on the PC release, or when this demo will become available for all PS3 users, but I think it’s safe to assume that the day it is available to non-subscribers of Qore, is the day it will also release for PC.
By Lucas Carter on Jan 14th, 2009 at 7:40PM
Welcome to the wonderful world of of photography. As a welcoming gift, I’d like to inform you that you’re going to be putting in a lot of money into this hobby, and I mean A LOT. Technology in modern-age DSLR outfits has came down in price significantly, and today you can get much more for $700 than you could 4 years ago.
Right off the bat, I’d like to re-instate my unending and ever-present love for everything that Canon says, does, makes, produces, etc. If you’re looking into photography, and you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing, I’d have to actually recommend the Sony Alpha300.
This camera packs some serious punch for less than 700 bones. First of all, it sports an incredibly tight pop out screen that makes extreme-angle shots significantly easier. Also, the camera will auto focus in live view. Live view is a feature that newer cameras have that basically makes the high-end DSLR technology easier for those that are dependent on looking through the LCD rather than the viewfinder. For the record, the viewfinder is infinitely more reliable, but live view can assist in setting up landscape shots on a tripod for example. With the Sony Alpha300, you’re far less likely to get frustrated and give up on photography with the Sony, than if you were to go with other cameras in the price range (such as the Canon Rebel Xs or the Nikon D60).
One of the nicest features about this camera is its capability to shoot at ISO 3200. ISO basically refers to how sensitive the sensor (the digital film) is to light. It’s basically like shooting with 3200 speed film. This lets you get quicker shutter speeds at maximum apertures, or allows you to push the aperture if shooting in shutter priority to modify your depth of field.
What’s great is that you can pick up this camera AND a 55-200mm lens for right around 650 bucks from B&H photo. Also, Sony has dual compatibility for memory cards in their cameras (I know, it surprised me too). They’ll support the far superior Compact Flash as well as Memory Stick ProDuo, but here’s a tip. If you get this camera, don’t buy a ProDuo. You’d be throwing your money away.
Here’s a sample image from the Sony Alpha300 to show that I’m not just making stuff up.
1/400, f13, ISO 200, 55mm with kit 18-70mm lens:
photo courtesy of cameralabs.com
By Craig Lloyd on Jan 13th, 2009 at 4:39PM
Seagate announced today that two new hard drives will be added to the Cheetah family: the Cheetah 15K.7 and the Cheetah NS.2. Both drives are 3.5″ and boast 600GB of performance, capacity, reliability, and lower power consumption. Specifically, the 15K.7 drive delivers the highest performance of any 3.5″ drive, while the NS.2 takes power-savings to the furthest extreme by featuring the lowest power requirement of any 3.5″ Tier 1 drive.
Cheetah ® 15K.7 Drive Specifications
Cheetah ® NS.2 Drive Specifications
The NS.2 drive is available and shipping today. The 15K.7 is currently available for OEM qualifications and will start shipping next quarter to the channel.
By Tim Hage on Jan 13th, 2009 at 4:36PM
Mirror’s Edge has released for PC today, in the USA. I am excited, unfortunately I will not be receiving my game in the mail for another day or two. So, to tide you over until my review is posted, I’ll offer you a few morsels of Mirror’s Edge content.
EA DICE has confirmed that downloadable content will be released on January 29 for all platforms. Said to contain seven new and/or redesigned time-trial maps. It should cost $10 (USD) or 800 Microsoft points. At time of writing, I could not find any details about the PS3 DLC. Possibly EA will make good on the promise of PlayStation 3 owners getting a free map.
Also, there has been a photoshoot in Cosplay of Faith, the main protagonist of Mirror’s Edge. It’s actually a very well done recreation of the character and the pictures are nice. Enjoy the photos here. *Be warned, some images on the site can be NSFW*
Look forward to my review of Mirror’s Edge (PC) this weekend!
By Lucas Carter on Jan 12th, 2009 at 9:27AM
Long exposures have been around ever since the beginning of photography. Basically a low-speed film is exposed for anywhere from 1 to 30 seconds (some cameras exist that will capture over 30 minutes) and all light that hits the camera ends up on the shot. For example, whenever you see a picutre of a town and these strange red and white lines appear on/near the street, those are actually the taillights and headlights of moving cars. Here’s how this works in a newer DSLR camera: After all the settings were made (I was shooting at ISO 100 and 25-30 second exposure time), the tripod-mounted camera is fired. At this time the mirror flips up and begins exposing the sensor (the “film” of a digital camera). For the next 30 seconds or so, all the light is collected into the sensor. These shots were taken at around midnight.
Even some point-and-shoot cameras like the Canon PowerShot SD1100 has the ability to do a long exposure (up to 15 seconds). Keep in mind that every movement made is recorded by the camera, so a tripod is absolutely crucial. Long exposures are a really great and easy way to produce shots that you might not have even thought you were capable of.
By Tim Hage on Jan 12th, 2009 at 12:33AM
No matter what anyone says, Saints Row 2 (SR2) is a typical “GTA clone”. There is no way around that fact and the sooner you accept it, the better. Having said that, it does manage to diversify itself from the rest of the clones, and actually does a good job of setting itself apart from even the GTA series. Sure, it’s made in the same style, and has some of the same key features as GTA, but it does manage to do some things that GTA doesn’t.
By Tim Hage on Jan 11th, 2009 at 10:18PM
Reports are floating around that the PC and PS3 demo of FEAR 2: Project Orgin will be available for download mid to late this month. That seems to be cutting it pretty close to the actual release date, which is set for February 10, but better then releasing it after the retail release of the game itself (I’m looking at you, EA).
I can’t give specifics on the release of the demo because of “marketing/pr strategy” but both consoles and PC will be getting a demo all around the same time. I’ll release more specifics when I’m able. I’ve played the demo and it’s a ton of fun. I can’t wait for the community to get their hands on it. – Monolith’s Community Manager
Let’s all hope the sequel can measure up to the original FEAR, but with less office buildings.
By Tim Hage on Jan 11th, 2009 at 2:24PM
As with many indie games, I make the mistake of expecting very little from them, but more and more I am being blown away by the detail and depth that these games deliver. Ten Ton Ninja is no exception. At first glance, it seems like a normal side-scrolling game but with a small twist, rather than moving your character in simple directions, you use your grappling-hook and your momentum to soar through the air, collecting the jewels that are found on each level.
By Jakob Griffith on Jan 11th, 2009 at 10:54AM
Out of perhaps my hundreds of electrical creations, my favorite would be my 4 row by 20 line LCD driven by a parallel port (seen above). It’s simple yet has functionality; unlike a few other un-mentioned projects. Moving on, in this DIY I’ll attempt to teach the masses on how one can connect his or her own LCD to a computer in order to display information on the cheap and easy. This guide assumes you know how to solder already (it’s nothing SMD or micro so don’t be afraid if you’re not perfect), and other general electronic knowledge. But enough with the explanation, lets head on to parts!
By Tim Hage on Jan 8th, 2009 at 12:30PM
More details keep surfacing about the whole 1UP sale. It seems now that the final issue of EGM that was promised may never come to print. It will however be posted online for all to read. It’s better then nothing, but I wanted one more print issue, to read cover-to-cover, and to be able to say goodbye to one of the greatest gaming magazines of all time. Below I have attached a quote from EGM Editor-in-Chief James Mielke from his 1UP blog.
“I know it, [EGM] will live on in everyone’s memories as the best gaming magazine of the last twenty years, nearly as old as this favorite hobby of ours, but as of now it is no longer in publication or circulation. That said –and to clarify on what I stated in my previous blog– the final, secret, unpublished issue of EGM will show up here on 1UP shortly in the near future. You will be able to read every hi-res page, ads and all (last time I checked at least) on 1UP, to see the beautiful job that crew did, even with the guillotine hanging over our heads every minute of the day. I’m only posting the cover to it for now, but as you can tell, it’s quite an eye-catching, dynamic cover. I hope you enjoy the full, final issue. ” — James Mielke
Goodbye, EGM.
