 Blast Works: Build, Fuse and Destroy Review
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy is the Roller Coaster Tycoon of arcade gaming. This game allows you to create your own ship, playing levels, and even download the creations of others. For those who love to customize and create as well as play classic arcade games, Blast Works is a unique addition to your Wii collection.
The game itself is easy enough to manage. This 2D arcade shooter has been around since ancient gaming times and the basic idea hasn’t changed.
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 Will Smith a Super Hero? Hancock Reviewed
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Throughout the annals of cinema, the big screen has been home to some of the most larger-than-life heroes ever to spring from the pages of comic books. Recent adaptations of Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman, all went on to box office gold and with several more character adaptations in the works, there seems to be no end to the public’s desire to see tales based on costumed heroes with amazing powers.
In one of the more original twists on the hero genre, Will Smith stars as Hancock, a surly lush, who is more concerned about his next drink than he is about saving the day. Despite being blessed with amazing strength, invulnerability, and the ability to fly, Hancock is looked upon with disdain by most of the people of Los Angeles because his attitude is second only to the amazing amount of damage he causes in bringing local hoodlums to justice.
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 Interview with 'Alone in the Dark' Composer Olivier Deriviere
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
OCModShop had a chance to sit down with Olivier Deriviere. For those who aren't avid game fanboys, Olivier is the composer behind the creepily beautiful music and atmospheric sounds on the new 'Alone in the Dark' video game. Other critics call the Soundtrack to AITD "The best game soundtrack of the year to date hits a choir full of right notes". Oliver has also composed the soundtracks to other popular video games, including Obscure, Obscure 2: The Aftermath (reviewed here), Destination Treasure Island, Rally Championsheep, and others.
OCMS: How did you get into composing for video games?
Deriviere: Since my childhood I’ve always been fascinated by video games. At the age of 14 I started writing music on computer with software called sound trackers. It led me to “coding parties” where people would hang out for 3 days without sleeping and they would create PC, Amiga and Atari ST demos. The connections I made there helped me get into the video games industry...
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 I'm Over Media Center
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
I’ve been using Windows Media Center for about 4 years, and I have a love-hate relationship with it. A general-purpose computer will NEVER be as reliable as an appliance, and that’s my major problem with it. Sure, it has features that other appliances can’t touch (download DVD titles over the Internet, stream NetFlix in real time), but it just isn’t reliable.
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World of Warcraft: Quick Guide to Professions
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Below are the best combination’s for maximum results with professions available in World of Warcraft. I will do a follow-up on Jewelcrafting in the near future. So follow these guidelines and keep an eye on the auction house on your server to find out what is selling and what is not. There is always something selling…
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Gateway P-6860FX Laptop Review
Digital Trends ::
"Usually the words "gaming" and "budget-oriented" combine in the PC world about as well as oil and water, but that's not the case with Gateway's remarkable P-6860FX notebook, which is a truly great gaming notebook with an amazingly low price tag. This GeForce 8800-powered behemoth costs just $1,349 but is far from a stripped-down, bare-bones notebook. It's loaded with features and expansion ports and has lots of storage as well as 4GB of RAM. The only real compromise is its 1.83GHz processor, but that's not too egregious of a violation given its otherwise compelling specs."
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AMD Phenom X3 8750
IXBT ::
"Frankly speaking, considering test results of Phenom X4 9850, we were not keen to test a lower-clocked Phenom X3 8750 with fewer cores. However, our initial negative thinking served the good turn, because we were not disappointed. On the contrary, we decided that some people may seriously like this curiosity."
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Crucial Ballistix DDR3-2000 2GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review
Think Computers ::
“Yes, you read the title correctly, DDR3-2000. Isn't that incredible, that memory operating speed has climbed that high in such a short time? Think about it, one year ago, we were beginning to see the first DDR2-1066 modules being released. Today, all memory manufacturers offer a DDR3-1600 module, many offer a DDR3-1800, and over the past month the more prominent of them have released a DDR3-2000 module. Considering PC3 system memory has only been out for about a year, I don't think that we've come close to seeing the limits of DDR3.”
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Areca ARC-1231ML SATA RAID 6 Controller
Tweak Town ::
"So, where do you turn to when you run out of ports on the motherboard? - To a discrete solution of course! There are many companies out there providing a huge array of cards.
Areca is a new company to TweakTown; we haven’t been graced with any products from them until now, and as always we are more than happy to oblige them with some testing of their products. Today they have sent one of their biggest cards for SATA-II expansion. In our labs we have been sent the ARC-1231ML 12 channel SATA-II Controller. Let’s get stuck right into it."
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CPU Coolers Roundup June 2008
CDR Info ::
We continue to test new cpu coolers
and this month we gathered 8 new cooler for all users, from entry level
to overclockers. So whats the big deal about this roundup? Probably
Scythe Orochi model that won our Editors Choice Award...
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QNAP NVR-1012 Network Surveillance System
Bios Magazine ::
“Don’t let ‘network surveillance’ put you off. The NVR-1012 is an easy-to-use surveillance system that provides live video recording and real-time remote monitoring/playback, making it an affordable solution for providing day and night protection to your home and office. In order to bring more convenience and extra benefits in setting up a network surveillance system, QNAP has considerately selected two value-plus IP cameras for the NVR-1012. This way the kit can be set up quickly in a few simple steps without having to worry about additional networking equipment or peripherals. In addition, system configuration and recording/monitoring functions of the supplied network video recorder (NVR) are carried out via a Web browser, so no complicated software installation or configuration is required.”
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CradlePoint Technology PHS300 WWAN Router
OCIA ::
"WWAN is becoming more and more popular for business travelers and remote locations for internet connectivity. With a simple USB or PCMCIA card stuck in your laptop, you can pretty much connect from anywhere you can get cell service, and the bandwidth available on these wireless plans is about what you'd expect from an entry level DSL connection. Which means sooner or later you might think to yourself, "boy it sure would be nice to be able to share this big pipe with more users than just my laptop"
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GlacialTech Igloo 5710 CPU Coolers
Modders Inc ::
The 5710 Series cooler is the largest cooler that Glacialtech currently offers and the only difference in the two samples we have today are the fans. One utilizes a silent fan rated at 1600 RPM while the other utilizes a PWM fan rated at 800 - 2600 RPM.
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Everything You Need to Know About Serial ATA
Hardware Secrets ::
"Serial ATA - or simply SATA - is the hard disk standard created to replace the parallel ATA interface, a.k.a. IDE. SATA provides a transfer rate of 150 MB/s or 300 MB/s against of a 133 MB/s maximum using the previous technology. In this tutorial we will explain everything you need to know about Serial ATA."
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Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" Alpha 1
Phoronix ::
"The first development snapshot for the forthcoming release of
Ubuntu 8.10 (codenamed Intrepid Ibex) is coming out two weeks late --
likely due to Canonical's focus on getting the Ubuntu 8.04.1 LTS update
out next week -- but what matters is that it's finally here. Ubuntu 8.10
Alpha 1 is far from meeting the quality standards for end-users (there
isn't even a desktop LiveCD spin of this release), but that didn't stop
us from playing with this latest build from the Canonical camp. In this
article we are looking at the few changes in the Intrepid Alpha 1
release for Ubuntu and Kubuntu as well as looking at some of the changes
they have planned before this release goes gold in October."
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Vote for the Best Casual Games and Help Kids, Too!
The theme of this year’s Zeebys is “Casual Games Giving Back,” with 100% of all ticket sales benefiting the Zeebys’ official charity partner, Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation. Starlight is a nonprofit dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Tickets for this year’s Zeebys Award Show can be purchased for $20 at www.starlight.org/zeebys2008.
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Zalman FPSGun FG1000 Mouse Review
Hardware Secrets ::
"FPS, or first person shooter, is the most popular genre of PC games. No console controller has surpassed the mouse as the weapon of choice among FPS enthusiasts. Zalman, a company known as a maker of coolers, is trying to woo FPS players with a gun shaped mouse, the FG1000. Since we are card carrying fans of the genre, we tested the new toy. Let the (digital) bullets fly."
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NVIDIA's PhysX: Performance and Status Report
Techgage ::
PhysX is getting a lot of attention right now, but the reasons vary wildly. Since we haven't taken a look at the technology in a while, this article's goal is to see where things stand. We'll also be taking an in-depth look at GPU PhysX performance, using both 3DMark Vantage and UT III.
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Nyko Frontman Wireless Guitars for Wii and PS3 Reviewed
Futurelooks ::
We first saw the Nyko Frontman for both the Nintendo Wii and the
PlayStation 3 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year.
I was hopeful that the wireless guitar would hit retail outlets shortly
after that. Unfortunately for all the shredding fans in the audience,
it took about another six months before the Nyko FrontMan arrived. Has
it been worth the wait? Are there any differences between the Wii and
PS3 versions? Let's find out!
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Nyko Frontman Wireless Guitars for Wii and PS3 Reviewed
Futurelooks ::
We first saw the Nyko Frontman for both the Nintendo Wii and the
PlayStation 3 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year.
I was hopeful that the wireless guitar would hit retail outlets shortly
after that. Unfortunately for all the shredding fans in the audience,
it took about another six months before the Nyko FrontMan arrived. Has
it been worth the wait? Are there any differences between the Wii and
PS3 versions? Let's find out!
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The Incredible Hulk for the PC
XS Reviews ::
"The Incredible Hulk movie released just over a week ago, was head and shoulders above the rather odd 2003 film of the same name. However, while the game on the Xbox and PS3 didn't receive the greatest scores, they did at least have something the PC version didn't, next gen graphics. The PC version's visuals, are simply shocking, so much so, that I complained on the Sega forums. Turns out I complained in such a lengthy manner I wrote over 1200 words on the topic; and I thought they would make an interesting basis for a short write up on the game."
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Nintendo Wii Fit
Inside HW ::
..."Nintendo Wii wasn't equipped with powerful hardware, Blu-ray
disc reader, great visual effects or performances never seen before, but
never the less it succeeded to impose itself as best buy console despite
Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation3. Instead of all these expected
characteristics Nintendo came out with revolutionary system of playing and
lower price than competition had. "...
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Alone in the Dark's Tortured Souls
dSonic gives insight into the creature sound design featured in Atari's newly released apocalyptic action survival game, Alone In The Dark.
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FPS Impact: NVIDIA Forceware 175.16 vs 175.19
Benchmark Reviews ::
Most people would think that when NVIDIA, who is the world-class leader in graphics technology, releases a new driver to the public that performance would either remain the same with some stability improvements, or that both performance and stability would increase. As a hardware enthusiast for over a decade, I know that this isn't true. Very recently NVIDIA updated their Forceware driver from version 175.16 to 175.19. Anyone familiar with their updates would agree that the version number difference is so small that it would suggest nothing has really changed. But did NVIDIA take two steps backward instead? Benchmark Reviews offers this small article to demonstrate what we discovered while testing the GeForce 9800 GTX and 9800 GX2 video cards.
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Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots PS3
Gamepyre ::
More than 20 years after the story started, Solid Snake's story comes to an end. I wish I could say more about this game without spoiling it, but it is very hard. I will say that there is finally a reason to own a PS3 aside from just running Folding@Home all the time, or playing Resistance. Even if you only liked the original Metal Gear Solid, pick this title up. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. This game, much like Grand Theft Auto 4, packs so much onto one disc that it is truly worth the $60 price tag. If you missed the games between one and four, take a moment to find what you've missed in the story so you can truly appreciate Solid Snake's final mission.
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Logitech G15 Revision 2 Gaming Keyboard
Big Bruin ::
This review is going to focus on a keyboard loaded with features specifically designed for 3D gamers; the G15 Revision 2. The overall style is sporty, a "GamePanel" LCD provides convenient access to system information, a handful of G-keys allow you to program your own macros, and backlit keys let you take command with any lighting condition.
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Zalman FPSGun FG1000 Mouse Review
Hardware Secrets ::
"FPS, or first person shooter, is the most popular genre of PC games. No console controller has surpassed the mouse as the weapon of choice among FPS enthusiasts. Zalman, a company known as a maker of coolers, is trying to woo FPS players with a gun shaped mouse, the FG1000. Since we are card carrying fans of the genre, we tested the new toy. Let the (digital) bullets fly."
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Qstarz BT-Q1000P BT GPS
CDR Info ::
Qstarz offers a BT gps and at the same
time data logger for users. Good solution that got our Safe Buy award!
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Cyber Snipa Stinger mouse
"Cyber Snipa offers a variety of gaming peripherals, and we
previous looked at their Sonar 5.1 USB Headset. They also sent us their
Stinger mouse, which features a 3200 dpi laser engine, nine buttons, and
internal memory. Will the mouse make a difference in gaming, or just be
a flop?"
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n-Tegrity - Fingerprint protected Personal Data Manager Review
RB Mods ::
Today we are taking a look at a USB memory stick from N-trance. They have sent is their latest fingerprint protected USB memory stick which also has software that allows you to backup the information you have on the drive. You can also run Skype and Miranda straight from the drive which gives it alot of functions in just one single drive.
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Samsung SC-HMX10A High Definition HD Solid State Memory Camcorder Review
Twaeknews ::
"Samsung's first foray into solid state HD recording can be easily summed up to be a success. Everything works perfectly, controls are easy to use and video/photo quality are excellent for an all-in-one product. With the rise in HDTV sales, HD camcorders are going to get more and more popular. Consider an HD camcorder as future-proofing your purchase so it will be compatible with the new TV standard for several years."
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NVIDIA's PhysX: Performance and Status Report
Techgage ::
PhysX is getting a lot of attention right now, but the reasons vary wildly. Since we haven't taken a look at the technology in a while, this article's goal is to see where things stand. We'll also be taking an in-depth look at GPU PhysX performance, using both 3DMark Vantage and UT III.
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Yuin PK1 Ear Buds
techPowerUp ::
Yuin's PK1 earbuds were all the rage when they first hit the market quite a while ago. Since then Yuin has further upped the stakes by introducing the new and improved OK-series earphones. Today we take a look at the PK1s to see if the former earbud champion can still compete in today's market.
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Refreshed Look at the 3-Series Crossfire
"With the 3870s and the 4850s so closely matching in price, suddenly buying a second 3870 doesn’t seem like such a good idea. You can buy a 3870 for under $140.00 and have two 3870s in Crossfire (or a 3870 and a 3850 in CrossfireX depending on what you did back in the day). Alternatively, you can sell your 3870 and probably pull in a solid $90, and then buy a 4850, netting $100 and saving yourself the electricity bill of having two cards at the same time. Naturally, we have a problem with using just one card when we could so easily have two, but it really is the performance that counts."
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PCTV HD Pro Stick (801e
Techware Labs ::
Artiom takes a look at he Pinnacle Systems HD Pro 801e USB stick. For you video editors out there this may be just what you need. Take a look at our review to find out if the HD stick 801e is what you need for your video editing.
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