OSNN Forum - Blogs http://www.osnn.net/blogs/ OSNN is a site dedicated to bringing you the latest information on all that is great in the technology world. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:11:32 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.osnn.net/images/styles/TimeTraveler/misc/rss.jpg OSNN Forum - Blogs http://www.osnn.net/blogs/ Games Coming Out 2009/2010 http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/248-games-coming-out-2009-2010.html Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:57:30 GMT Q3 2009 Aion Battlefield 1943 Blood Bowl Champions Online CrimeCraft Dark Void (now Q1 2010) DiRT 2 Just Cause 2 Q3 2009

Aion
Battlefield 1943
Blood Bowl
Champions Online
CrimeCraft
Dark Void (now Q1 2010)
DiRT 2
Just Cause 2
Mini Ninjas
Operation Flashpoint DR
Order Of War
Red Faction (PC)
Saboteur
Section 8
Singularity

Q4 2009

Assassin's Creed 2
Bad Company 2
Borderlands
Drangon Age Origins
Global Agenda
Left 4 Dead 2
Max Payne 3
Modern Warfare 2
Splinter Cell Conviction
Starcraft 2 (supposidly)
Tourchlight

2010

Aliens Vs Predator
Bioshock 2
Brink
Homefront
Mafia 2
Red Orchestra Heroes of Stalingrad
RUSE
Star Trek Online
Ride To Hell
Supreme Commander 2

Those are all basically confirmed. ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/248-games-coming-out-2009-2010.html Champions Online http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/247-champions-online.html Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:17:46 GMT Thanks to FilePlanet I have been playing the Open Beta for Champions Online this past week. Now right off the bat I have to state that my review of this game comes from never playing City Of Heroes or Villains or any other Hero game ever. So any downside, items missing you think of that were in... Thanks to FilePlanet I have been playing the Open Beta for Champions Online this past week. Now right off the bat I have to state that my review of this game comes from never playing City Of Heroes or Villains or any other Hero game ever. So any downside, items missing you think of that were in those games, well sorry. And this will be a quick review since it's only a beta.

First off, I have played many beta's for games and this turned out the be the most pain in the butt to get going. I know most of you probably heard of the issues. Basically FilePlanet (and other places) gave out a bad install file, which was 2GB, it was suppose to pre-load. Well once you installed it, you needed to do a 3.2GB Update, but it wouldn't finish, and kept freezing. Then people finally found ways around it, so then the update was only 900MB, but it would freeze still, but you would just have to close and restart. Very slow process. Worst I have ever seen. But of course this has nothing really to do with the game and shouldn't be an issue on release day.

The game itself is quite awesome, the character creation is the first thing you do and this game has the most creation options I have ever seen (besides spore maybe). You can give your character anything, any color, any shape, size ect. You then can give it a mix of powers and even write your origin story which is more awesome then you'd think. Loved spending an hour creating my character, of course you don't need to take that long. Any superhero power or look you have seen in your lifetime you can give to your character.

Now when I finally got into the game I maxed out all the graphic settings and I seemed to be a bit choppy, so I removed AA and it was a bit better. But I left it as that, I am hoping it was the servers, but my system is getting a bit old.

The first half of the beta is basically training, doing easy quests and options to get you used to the game, learning how things work. And for the most part it works like a normal MMO, click, do this, come back, etc. I wish I could comment more on the combat system and other systems, but I don't know MMO systems that great. I'd probably have to say it's more like Age Of Conan then anything else.

Finally when you complete the starting area you get to choose between to places, Canada or the Dessert lol Once you do that you can finally get your travel power, which mine was flying of course. And I have heard these mechanics are awesome, i myself with flying is just brilliant, there is no flying time like in Aion, where you need to land, but you can go faster only some of the time, you can hover all you'd like and even battle in the air. Just amazing if you ask me.

Now I haven't played that much of the beta, which I will be playing more tonight, but it is one awesome game which endless possibility's for a character. And they even offer a Lifetime Membership if you want it. Which I am glad for because I don't pay for LOTRO, I won't be paying for Champions Online, and now I can play Aion as well :)

Champions Online is a must play.

]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/247-champions-online.html When It Comes, It Comes http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/246-when-comes-comes.html Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:51:19 GMT I have always found it funny how the world works. When you see something on TV on one show, you tend to notice similar things on other shows. The same thing happens with things you do. My example is the last few months it has been dead for me in terms of graphic design. Earlier this week I got my... I have always found it funny how the world works. When you see something on TV on one show, you tend to notice similar things on other shows. The same thing happens with things you do. My example is the last few months it has been dead for me in terms of graphic design. Earlier this week I got my first project in awhile, and the rest of the week I have been working on all kinds of things, more and more projects have been popping up and I am almost overwhelmed. Feels quite good though. Along with more and more projects next week I will be starting my workout routine at Good Life Center, they randomly called me for a free consolation. Some good luck there.

Here is an example of some work that I have been doing. This one is my favorite because its more my style. Was made for a new band in the UK.



I have also been playing a lot of MMO Beta's the past couple weeks. I am really into Aion which I have pre-ordered and going to be playing Champion's Online & Fallen Earth this week. Fallen Earth looks quite different, fallout 3 type of MMO if I understand it correctly. Anyone trying out new games in beta?
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]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/246-when-comes-comes.html OSNN Adverts http://www.osnn.net/blogs/electronic-punk/245-osnn-adverts.html Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:52:13 GMT So one of the things I have noticed while making many of the changes to OSNN over the last few weeks if the quality of the adverts.

Giving the users the option to subscribe and hide all adverts is far too tempting to not include myself so I honestly won't see them all that often. However, as I have been working on the site I have not only had them enabled for my various test accounts but been fairly disgusted at how bad they are.

Every other advert seems to be about how some house wife has discovered the ultimate way to make her teeth whiter and while I briefly found this fairly interesting, my attention was not held.

Now that the various ad blocks have near enough been finalized I am going to try and work towards making cooler and more relevant adverts.

The current OSNN adverts:
As it stands at the moment I have a Google advert at the top, which of course are pretty good and generally will display relevant text ads.

Unregistered users will see a rectangle advert at the top as well as green text links on display over all forum posts, registered users will not see these. (registration is free!)

On the front page there is a advertisement block to the right.

And another Google advert in the footer.
The archive shows an advert rectangle on the left and another in the header, I don't really expect the archive to be used.

The old virtuanews site, which I expect to visited less and less and ultimately removed has various Google and other adverts scattered, it will not really be maintained but they share the same codebase as the rest of the site.
So anyway, while I don't intend to change what the Google or Vibrant adverts display and very likely couldn't but I am going work on the others where I can. Burst have been our main provider for quite some time and I am hoping they will take a look at what I have done with their own news system, give me some advice on how I can improve it and perhaps extend the categories we are in on their system.

As part of our work with HP, I may well take part in their affiliates program which should produce some good relevant adverts but we shall see how that plays out.

I maintain my stance on intrusive adverts and will never willingly add pop-ups or pop-unders to the site. I will also do my best to not add advert types that play any kind of sound without the user initiating it.

Lastly, advert blockers are becoming increasingly popular and while I could well make life a little more irritating for those that do block adverts, I don't have time to do anything like that,, I just hope those doing it do appreciate that I both want to increase the quality of our adverts and that they also are the only thing that keeps the sight running other than those who decide to subscribe.

I just wanted to get some of that down! ]]> Electronic Punk http://www.osnn.net/blogs/electronic-punk/245-osnn-adverts.html Number 100 http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/244-number-100.html Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:33:31 GMT 100 Blog posts. Ain't that something.

Nothing really new to talk about though. Next week is my appointment at the doctors. I have been quite busy this week with graphic design and repairing computers, finally! And I have been playing more games as well, as well as testing out Aion & Champions Online. So I might post another entry to talk about those.

YAY to 100! ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/244-number-100.html Tropical fish update http://www.osnn.net/blogs/electronic-punk/241-another-tropical-fish-blog.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:59:39 GMT If you have been waiting for more information on my fish tank, then tonight your dreams will become true. To everyone else, I have fish. Obviously the meer existence of such a blog means I am avoiding doing something else, but I promise I will do that next! You are not the boss of me!




So firstly I am sad to report some deaths in the community! One of the algae eaters and both Firemouths died sadly, I think the firemouths were rather prone to infections and although I tried my best, they seemed to get weak and die. It was at different times and the second clearly had an infection which seemed to be going away after treatment but it suddenly became very clear I would be removing it from the tank the following morning.

I didn't buy any new fish for quite some time, last week actually. The remaining fish are getting quite big so I was very hesistant to put more in - there is plenty of room but you alwas want to give them their space especially when they are larger.

Although I rearrange the tank a little when I clean it I try to keep various things in play such as plenty of places to hide, I have added a funky bubble column as I got angry and broke the last one on some gravel. The current plants finally seem to be lasting longer as well and not eaten so much which is nice as replacing them every two weeks was becoming a pain!

Some of the existing fish that I didn't get to capture last night are on the right.

The first photo is one I can only remember as Tricactus something and he has really started getting more interesting over the last few weeks. Previously it would only make an appearance as night and at feeding time - I was starting to think it couldn't swim and could only bounce along the bottom but recently it has been all over the place really showing off how damn ugly and yet beautiful it is with its golden fins.

The second photo is showing one of the two Synodontis, I love these fish and one of the two was from my previous small tank. The two of them together only care about each other and none of the other fish and can often be found chasing each other around or playing in the same area of the tank. The second one I purchased was the same size as the first and they have both grown noticeably since I furst got them.

I got a new oscar to go with the other smaller oscar as they seem to pair up nicely when they are not fighting ,it worked out being the same size so that was good, I didn't measure the other one or anything but it is very hard to tell when you are down at the store.

In another effort to reduce fighting I also got another large fish, this time a red parrot fish (yet another cichlid) and it worked great because rather than fighting the oscars were far more intereste in staying away from it.

I would still say the parrot fish is in charge of the tank, but I suspect it won't be long before the oscars realise that it isn't actually capable of biting and they are, but at the moment the headbutt it dishes out is enough to chase them away and it doesn't damage either of the parties involved.

You can see the parrot fish in the third photo to the right and in the fourth photo one of the smaller oscars running away from the parrot fish for no reason.

There is another fish in there as well, eats algae and has a ball just doing its own thing, I forgot about it when taking photos so it wasn't out and about so perhaps we shall see it in the next exciting fish blog. ]]> Electronic Punk http://www.osnn.net/blogs/electronic-punk/241-another-tropical-fish-blog.html Electronic life update http://www.osnn.net/blogs/electronic-punk/240-electronic-life-update.html Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:02:39 GMT So the longer term members will have noticed that over the last year or so and a gradual decline before that I hadn’t been playing a large part in the OSNN community and I just wanted to go over what I have been up to. I guess part of it stemmed from the pressure to redesign the site which... So the longer term members will have noticed that over the last year or so and a gradual decline before that I hadn’t been playing a large part in the OSNN community and I just wanted to go over what I have been up to.

I guess part of it stemmed from the pressure to redesign the site which would have meant skinning and tweaking two separate systems. When I came home from work at night I really just wanted to chill out and enjoy myself. The Virtuanews system was an interest project, but hard work to skin with almost all page elements being spaced out in different yet similar templates. With the collapse of its own site and no real design community it got harder and harder to maintain it as vBulletin continued to change.

Regardless, I was looking for a new style but never really found anything. I met a girl and she became my everything, nothing else mattered. I wanted to be with her all the time and that was perhaps too much because a year and a half later our deteriorating relationship got to the point where she just wanted to be friends, which in reality actually meant complete ignore me.

Around this same time, I left my network engineer job at an MOD contractor as part of a mutual agreement in which they paid me to leave quietly. Basically I didn’t like a new manager in our department, I felt my work load decreasing dramatically and got unhappier as time went on. Then an issue that could have been handled within the department got blown out of proportion and I made the choice to leave. Not such a bad thing really, I had been there over four years and had learnt so much about working with Windows in a company, but they were falling so far behind the times, (I had almost got Windows Vista deployed but a legacy application prevented it).

These two events really knocked me down and I couldn’t focus, eat or sleep. I just didn’t want to do anything or get out of bed, visiting OSNN would mean work and I just couldn’t face it. I didn’t even want to see friends or family. I started playing World of Warcraft again in a very serious fashion planning shot rotations, gear upgrades, macro writing, researching game mechanics and doing everything I could to play the game to the maximum. I kept up to date with various aspect of technology but didn’t really want to be a part of it preferring my fake little world of pixelated orcs.

What changed? No idea, perhaps self-healing, boredom due to the extent I played the game, pressure from friends/family and the urge to get on and face up to my responsibilities.

Regardless, I am back and working hard to get my life back into order. I am actively seeking a new job with several possibilities (although only one I really really want) and feel like socialising a little more.

I am still playing Warcraft because frankly I do enjoy it, but not as much as I was, mostly for large group play in encounters called raids with my guild www.maligned-guild.com (website I also designed based off another template) and my former guild www.conviction-guild.org (also a site I designed from scratch, although their forums were again based off a template)

I have loved finally integrating my planned redesign of OSNN having finally found a theme to base it from, the developments in vBulletin have made my vision come to life and I beam with pride at what has been accomplished this week and once again love coming to visit the site.

Thanks to the team and everyone that has stuck around during these dark times and I hope you can see that I am working hard to throw my new found energy into every aspect of the site.

What of the future? It is all looking much better and I still have many things I want to integrate into the new OSNN system now that the major work is out of the way, having everything under the same vBulletin roof makes the work a lot easier and I will be covering some of the lesser known aspects of the new site in another blog soon. ]]> Electronic Punk http://www.osnn.net/blogs/electronic-punk/240-electronic-life-update.html July 13th 2009 http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/234-july-13th-2009.html Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:29:09 GMT 2 months and 1 week today, I got my last procedure done at the hospital. The new one I was talking about in my last posting. Looks good, I am getting to the point where I am worried, and my next appointment is August 10th, so about 1 month left. I hope I can make it. For those who have read all... 2 months and 1 week today, I got my last procedure done at the hospital. The new one I was talking about in my last posting. Looks good, I am getting to the point where I am worried, and my next appointment is August 10th, so about 1 month left. I hope I can make it.

For those who have read all my postings, you know awhile back I started to have a problem with feeling like I have to pee all the time. I haven't talked about it since because it varies, sometimes its light feeling, sometimes its heavy. It's quite annoying. Nothing has worked to fix it.

A new issue has come around, basically I pause and take about 10 to 15 seconds to get started when peeing. Of course I thought, must be the stricture getting back, which the stream after 2.1months isn't great but not bad enough to cause a pause, and I know that kind of pause, this feels different. And I am pretty sure at my age I don't have a enlarged prostate.

So I thought back to what my doctor said about the feeling like I have to pee. I have been through alot of change, up and down, the bladder is getting annoyed, cause the feeling. So I thought maybe its the same issue, the bladder is annoyed and confused, so its causing the pee feeling as well as a pause when starting to go. So I set up an appointment with my regular doctor tomorrow.

I am hoping he will give me some kind of pills to fix both or at least one issue. Cause these problems are quite annoying, I can't enjoy some things. Wish me luck (I am assuming they won't have anything to fix it :() ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/234-july-13th-2009.html July http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/233-july.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:28:12 GMT What I have been doing:

  • Starting watching The Sopranos
  • Started using 2 new Windows Mobile applications for my HTC Touch Diamond, for Twitter & Facebook, very impressed.
  • Started doing monthly appointments at the doctors for my urethra problem.
  • Started cutting down on junk food and doing more healthy things.
That list is a few of the things I have been starting or doing the past little while. Seems like things are going up and up. The most important is the appointments at the doctors, he started using a new way and it seems to last longer and I have more control over my issue, so I am very happy with that. There are some related issues (feeling like I have to go when I don't) but that should go away once we have done 4 or 5 months of this new way.

The rest of the things are basically things I want to do, things I have been meaning to do, things I enjoy. Finally feel like I can do what I want, even though I always have been able too lol I just don't know what will be next :) ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/233-july.html I can haz iMac :) http://www.osnn.net/blogs/dark-atheist/232-i-can-haz-imac.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:11:12 GMT w00t :devious: w00t :devious: ]]> Dark Atheist http://www.osnn.net/blogs/dark-atheist/232-i-can-haz-imac.html My HP dv2 arrived http://www.osnn.net/blogs/jewelzz/231-my-hp-dv2-arrived.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:51:46 GMT Here are a few pictures until I actually have time to play. http://jewelzz.osnn.net/hpdv2/ Enjoy, I am Here are a few pictures until I actually have time to play.

http://jewelzz.osnn.net/hpdv2/

Enjoy, I am ]]> Jewelzz http://www.osnn.net/blogs/jewelzz/231-my-hp-dv2-arrived.html Vegas Baby! http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/230-vegas-baby.html Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:45:43 GMT So some of you might know that I am heading to Las Vegas in March 2010, if you read my thread about the HD Camera.

My budget is $10,000 for the entire trip. Some people think this is extreme, some think not enough, I think it's just right. Just, wanted to state that to point out I should be able to do anything there.

My question is this, how many of you have been there, and what do you suggest me to do. Any ideas, musts, awesome things to see. I have of course already read 1000 reviews and suggestions from sites and people I know, but I would like to see what I get from here.

This is going to be my trip of a life time. I will be doing everything there, even skydiving, swiming with dolphins, and anything. Just want to see what people here suggest. ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/230-vegas-baby.html My Finished Games http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/229-my-finished-games.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:17:42 GMT I buy and play many games. I enjoy most of them, but for some reason I seem to never finish a game (some I do, most I don't). Is it me, or is it the amount of new games that come out, either way it happens all the time.

So I finally been getting some gaming down, and been catching up on some games. Some are quite hard to finish up, with today's games they are quite long.

I just finished Killzone 2, Uncharted, and finished the last level finally on Resident Evil 5. And those 3 games are the best games I have played in the last 4 months, they are so well done, in terms of every detail, just plain fun. Yet, I am not going to do those reviews cause they are old, or getting old and there are enough reviews out there already.

Up next are
Resistance and Resistance 2
Clear Sky
Farcry 2
Bioshock

Remember, these are games I have not finished, I have of course played them lol

How are you guys in terms of finishing games, and the amount of games you play? ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/229-my-finished-games.html Killzone 2 Review http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/228-killzone-2-review.html Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:56:31 GMT Image: http://gamesareevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/killzone2-1.jpg I recently picked up a PS3 console. The PS3 was released in 2006, and it is now 2009. So the time it took me to get the console has left me with many games that I need to play. And instead of some older games, I started...


I recently picked up a PS3 console. The PS3 was released in 2006, and it is now 2009. So the time it took me to get the console has left me with many games that I need to play. And instead of some older games, I started with a brand new game, Killzone 2. Now as I stated I haven't played many original PS3 games, or any console games at that. Yet I figured that I could get away with not playing Killzone. So this review is of Killzone 2, the first PS3 game I have played, and first FPS game I have played with the PS controller.

Now I remember this game at E3 many years, I believe it was at really early E3 when PS3 was just coming out or just came out. All I remember is that the trailer was the best looking thing out there, amazing and unbelieveable. No one thought it would actually be done. Now many years from that first trailer we get that. So my first comment about the game is the graphics. Now compared to that epic E3 trailer, this is not that, but as far as technology can take us, it's pretty dang nice. I don't think I have seen too many games looking like this. I even enjoyed the menu system, just the way it shakes and makes you feel like it's some real life UI system.

My second comment about the game is also partly about the PS3 console. I have been a big fan of achievements, been getting them on the PC for awhile and now with the 360 (same account). I love the way it feels when it pops up on the screen. Now the PS3 does this with trophies, but I have to say it does not feel the same. To me I think it's because I don't have that many friends on PS3, nor does it really stand out on the screen. I guess my real complaint about that is I wish all achievments (pc, 360, PS3, Steam,etc) was all one product, and not mixed. So not really the PS3's fault alone. In terms of the game, I found this one to give many trophies quite often, which I enjoy because I tend to have problems getting achievements most of the time :)

Now playing the game for me was a whole new experience. This was because of the PS3 controller, or should I say the Playstation controller. I believe the last game I played on the PS1 with this controller was either one the GTA titles or Conkers Bad Fur Day. Neither a true FPS title. And I do remember never enjoying the controller even on those types of games. To my surprise it only took me 1 level to get used to the controller, and as much as I have more faith and support for the 360 in terms of controllers, the PS3 controller seems to have smoother controls, at least in Killzone 2. Now I am referring smooth controls to PC FPS gaming, which I have been a PC gamer since ever. The PS3 controller is almost on par with the smoothness of aiming as with the PC, which is huge statement if you are a PC gamer.

Now let's get into the actual gameplay. Right off the bat of this game you get into some action, and you are basically in action most of the game. I have seen better gameplay to cinematic transitions before but I thought Killzone 2 did it very well, I felt like I was playing none stop. I think this also accounts for the amazing graphics the game has. Now I am sure there are some reviews out there saying the story is stupid or pointless, like they say about most games. I am simple when it comes to stories, and this one is on par with all my classic game stories. I didn't ever really care too much about the characters but it was good. I don't know if this was because I was on Medium (on easy later in the game) but it was hard but not too hard, just the way I like it. I am not a good gamer anymore, I suck and usually enjoy cheating which I can't with the consoles. So the game gave me quite a good feeling about accomplishing the levels. I was in it the whole way to the end.

Now I haven't played the multiplayer yet, cause as I said I am not that great of a gamer anymore, and I hate getting my butt kicked. Yet I might give it a go, since I have not played online on the PS3 yet. And I really enjoy the Playstation Network, been using it for quite some time on the PSP, they have done a good job.

Overall, this is one of the better games I have played this year, which includes ALOT of games if you follow the industry. I can't really say much bad about it, which is amazing since this was my first PS3 game. The only technical problem I saw was a bit of freezing at times of loading, which might just be how they loaded it. Which I don't care anyways. I give this game a 9/10. No complaints. ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/228-killzone-2-review.html Monteal till Friday 5th June 2009 http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/227-monteal-till-friday-5th-june-2009.html Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:12:10 GMT I will be in Montreal doing some work. With limited Internet use. Will be twittering. If you want to know whats up, make sure to follow me at.. http://twitter.com/bmancreations I will be in Montreal doing some work. With limited Internet use. Will be twittering.

If you want to know whats up, make sure to follow me at..

http://twitter.com/bmancreations ]]> Bman http://www.osnn.net/blogs/bman/227-monteal-till-friday-5th-june-2009.html