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November 2002

Tuesday, November 26, 2002

PC Needs Steel Battalion! Nine11 @ 10:16 Comments

While cruising around, I found a few tidbits about an Xbox game called Steel Battalion. I'm sure we'll all be hearing plenty about this game which retails for $199 and includes a full interactive HOTAS controller setup with flashing indicators and three foot pedals. IGN has a hands-on preview and a mess of in-game screenies and movies.

Okay, I'll be the first to admit two joysticks with twist-control, a throttle, three foot pedals, and a mess of flashing lights is a bit much, but I still wanna play this game! $199 is a bit steep, but that includes the mother-of-all-controls, which would leave $50 for the game and $150 for the controller if purchased separately. Sounds reasonable.

Here's the deal. I wanna play Steel Battalion but I don't have a Xbox. I'd also guess there's no chance of it being ported over to the PC. Heck, it'll run on a 700MHz Xbox with 64MB of memory and GF2 graphics, so it should run just fine on my PC... but it just ain't gonna happen.

So, where are all the great "Mech" games for the PC? Honestly, I haven't been impressed since MechWarrior 2. We're talking about the original, not Mercenaries. There have been a few, but the controls are wonky and the graphics don't look half as good as Steel Battalion. I feel there's a void in PC gaming which can only be filled with a PPC...

...or a port of Steel Battalion...

...or an Xbox...

Saturday, November 23, 2002

Eeek, It's A Mouse! Nine11 @ 8:28 Comments

I figured it's about time to stop my bizatchin' and throw some hardware at ya. Dan's Data took a comprehensive look at the Logitech MX series of mice, and all of 'em seem quite good. In fact, the MX 500 and MX 700 look like they could actually replace my Wingman Gaming Mouse because I could use the two side buttons for fire and alt-fire then use the two main buttons for strafing since I like to slide on da fur (mouse strafe... in case you didn't get it).

Thursday, November 21, 2002

Powered By Intel Nine11 @ 7:58 Comments

I just took a look at Anandtech's trip to Comdex 2002, which profiled a mess of case/cooling hardware, and I just gotta get something off my chest because most of this stuff is looking pretty damn silly.

First of all, I'm not exactly a geek's geek, but I do have a Lian-Li case with a few blowholes, handles, and stealthed CD-RW drive bay. I did all that for a little cooling and a lighter puter to tote over to Cage's LAN parties. No windows. No neon. No fanbus.

Mostly, I do like that stuff and some people can really turn their beige boxes into works of art. Others are Xtreem Geeks with water cooling and peltiers. These are the same guys who used to build their puters in refrigerators or pipe in some water from a fishtank. Those guys had damn ugly setups, and I can't blame 'em for trying to dress things up.

The rest of our little puter domain is slapping flashy parts on their boxes, cutting holes for windows, adding lights, clear plastic fans, and a row of little knobs so they can adjust their fan speeds... why, I'm not exactly sure. These guys don't even have any serious hardware or overclock to insane speeds.

It just seems like a waste to me, just like that stock Honda in the parking lot with the cut springs, megaphone exhaust tip, and painted windshield and headlights. Don't forget the "Powered by... " sticker. C'mon dudes, it's just a Honda and I seriously doubt if yer into rally racing.

So, if you don't have any H2O or peltiers tucked inside your box, do you really need all that extra stuff? Seriously. Your computer isn't gonna go any faster after installing the window and the neon. If you're trying to make a work of art, that's one thing. If you're trying to look like an Xtreme Dude, that's another. Everyone knows it, and there's a whole cottage industry built around selling flashy little tidbits... and "Powered by... " stickers.

Tuesday, November 19, 2002

GeForceFX Is Another Voodoo 5 6000?! Nine11 @ 17:06 Comments

The more I read about the Nvidia GeForceFX, the more I get to thinking... and it hurts. Back in 1999, 3dfx was the top dawg of graphics cards and everyone was waiting for the Voodoo 5 6000. It had a mess of never-used-before hardware packed onto a huge PCB, an external power brick, and stupid-fast performance. Everyone at 3dfx was high-fivin', ass slappin', and doing lines in the back room. Ever see a sweaty PR rep rock star at E3? I have, and it's scary.

When 3dfx couldn't deliver on the Voodoo 5 6000 and blundered on the 5500, they went under and were absorbed by Nvidia. Now we've got the GeForceFX which has a mess of never-used-before hardware packed onto a huge PCB, an external power brick, and stupid-fast performance. It even has an en vogue heat pipe and spreads it's fat ass across both the AGP and first PCI slots. It's priced for the "Enthusiast" crowd too, as was the 6000.

Nvidia's already lost a product cycle developing this Frankenstein piece of hardware. In the process they've also lost some customers to ATI, and I doubt if anyone who has plopped down the cash for a Radeon 9700 Pro is too hip on swapping it out when their ATI part will run DOOM III just fine. 3dfx lost their edge to Nvidia's fast product cycle and TNT2, Nvidia is losing their edge to ATI and their Radeon 9700 Pro, and the GeForceFX is starting to look like a GeForce and a Voodoo did the nasty.

Do I want a GeForceFX? Sure, I'd be stupid not to. I just think these are weird times and Nvidia (possibly) made some of the fatal mistakes 3dfx had made in the past. Remember, the heart of 3dfx still beats over at Nvidia. In the end, I really do hope we all get our $399 stupid-fast video cards... then pick 'em up four months later for $178!

Quote Of The Day Nine11 @ 8:43 Comments

It's been a long time, so here's a tidbit from Gone Gold.

"I'm alone on the frontier, forging ahead. I'm reading by candlelight. I'm waiting out the winter snows and making blankets out of animal hides. I make the Amish people look cutting edge.

I've lost my Internet connection."

And there's a tasty followup.

"By ten a.m., I'm having I.T.--Internet Tremors."

CFS3 Tweaking Cage @ 6:51 Comments

For those of you enjoying Microsoft's Combat Flight Simulator 3, Sim Outhouse has a CFS:3 tweak page for improving performance.

I'm getting about 50 fps after turning down a few details at 800x600 on my P3 2.6 GHz/GeForce 4200 system. More importantly, I'm not seeing any stuttering.

Monday, November 18, 2002

GeForce FX is Here Cage @ 13:07 Comments

Nvidia formally took the wraps off their new NV30 graphics chip, named the GeForce FX.

You can find links to most of the reviews and the latest news over at nVNews.

AnandTech's Preview states they received some numbers from NVidia that shows the GeForce FX with a 40% performance lead over the ATI Radeon 9700 in Doom 3. Considering that Doom 3 isn't even out yet I'd take that claim with a grain of salt. Nvidia does claim that the GeForce FX has a "...30 - 50% performance advantage over the Radeon 9700 Pro across the board." - AnandTech.

Friday, November 15, 2002

Bac-si Numba One! Nine11 @ 14:26 Comments

While not having anything to do with gaming, there's a great series of Nam books by James C. Donahue titled Mobile Guerilla Force, Blackjack-33, and Blackjack-34. Very intense, very real, first-hand accounts of LRRP style combat. Seat-of-your-pants reading. Unfortunately, I loaned the books out and can't track 'em down. For some strange reason, I decided to look at Barnes & Noble's web site and found the three books along with No Greater Love: A Day with the Mobile Guerilla Force in Vietnam which was written back in 1988. Ordered 'em all for thirty odd smackers out-the-door.

As I was looking around, I saw a few references to SOG operations in Nam. I'd already placed my order at B&N, so I swung over to Amazon and found SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam by John L. Plaster. It's plastered with 4/4 five star reader reviews, so I nabbed it and eye'd the free shipping icon. Spend $25 and get free shipping? Sure! Ordered Gone Native: An NCO's Story by Alan G. Cornett and Project Omega: Eye of the Beast by James E. Acre which were user recommended too.

I don't know what my deal is with Nam books but I've also read Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills by Charles W. Henderson, Dead Center: A Marine Sniper's Two-Year Odyssey in the Vietnam War by Ed Kugler, and Firebirds: The Best First Person Account of Helicopter Combat in Vietnam Ever Written by Chuck Carlock. Firebirds was my least favorite of the lot because it came off more like a journal than a novel, but it was still a good read.

I don't know where I'm going with all this and Heaven knows when I'll have time to read all those books (gonna read Donahue's stuff again), so I'll just log off and get a few rounds of AoM before the little lady gets home from work.

Tuesday, November 12, 2002

Age Of Mythology Impressions Cage @ 9:29 Comments

After having a chance to put some "quality" play time in with Microsoft/Ensemble Studios Age of Mythology, I have to say I have mixed feelings. AoM feels much like the first Age of Empires game. Graphically the game is gorgeous. There are some real slick improvements in the interface, as well as some horrible omissions and short comings in the game. Either way, AoM is sure to engender strong feelings from AoE fans.

In a nutshell, here's a few things that I've discovered. This list is far from complete, and reflects fairly early impressions after just 15+ hours of play time. It reflects only my experience playing in multi-player mode versus the AI, since that is what we do when the gang comes over for some LAN action.

Game play feels a bit rushed or intense, since AoM does not have a game speed slider like most RTS games. There is a pause button, and you can scroll around the map and issue commands while the game is paused.
I kept wishing I had more civilizations to choose from. The game ships with only 3 - the Greeks, Egyptians, and Norse. The addition of the God powers does make each track you select a little different.
The AI can really give you a push all the way through the game on "Moderate" and above settings if you let the AI team up against you and another AI player.. Casual players might find themselves frustrated, even with judicious use of the pause button. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get enough interest in the game to try it out with 2 humans versus 2 computer AI players.
The AI path finding is a bit lacking, to say the least. Units will get hung up or stutter step at times around obstacles. The bigger the group, the worse it is.
Unlike AoE, you can not just set down a new Town Center anywhere on the map. You start with one settlement, and you have to build on set spots if you want to create new ones. Each settlement supports a fixed population, though you still have to build houses.
A much appreciated change has been made when it comes to queing up farm production. In AoM you only pay resources for a field when you first build one.
The in-game help screen is pretty slick, once you figure out how to use it. To get context sensitive help you just click on an object/building/unit and press the F1 key. Up pops a window with detailed information, including what units it works best against, and what units can be used to counter it. Help activates from within the game, and felt very fast.
If you don't favor a rush strategy, the Norse can be a bit of a challenge to play. They only get favor (think mana spell points) by killing other animals or units. Some units and upgrades really require you to have a sizeable number of "favor" points, so your play style has to fit almost constant action, while juggling the rest of your civ so that you have enough resources to continue the battle. It's not impossible, but it does require a different way of thinking for those who prefer to be more methodical. As a result, I've found myself playing the Greeks, despite my interest in playing the Norse.
Unlike AoE, AoM's multi-player options screen does not remember the last settings you selected.
The option to restore a game in AoM multi-player is burried in the "Game Type" drop down box in the options screen. Strange, and easy to miss. It also saves the games using esoteric file names - you don't get to pick, and the file does not even have creation date/time stamp that you can see when you go back to load the saved game. Ugh. Very rough lookng.

Over all, I'd say that I got my money's worth from AoM so far. Like some others, I do find myself appreciating what AoE did so very right in it's last incarnation.

Sunday, November 10, 2002

SUMthing That Rocks Nine11 @ 8:57 Comments

I just thought I'd let you know these guys rock. I'd compare 'em to Green Day's Dookie album.

Sexy Heatsinks! Nine11 @ 8:18 Comments

Here's a review of the sexiest HSF I've seen in a long time. If I had a windowed case, this would be at the top of my list. It's a top-notch performer, and there's an AMD version too!

Final Notice Nine11 @ 8:07 Comments

I've been getting some weird subscription notices from Computer Gaming World. They started about 4 months after I renewed my subscription this past April. It was a bit early, but I got an offer to renew my subscription for another two years at a discount. This offer continued for the next couple of issues, then I got a regular one for a one or two year renewal. This month, I got a "final notice" and a warning they'll stop sending the magazine if I don't send 'em some cash despite the fact my subscription should still be good through April of next year.

I didn't jump on the two year deal because I had just renewed my subscription and had heard some bad stuff about ZD Net earlier this year. Like may publishing companies, they were gonna tighten their belt and let a few publications go or consolidate others. For some reason, I just didn't wanna lock into the mag for three years.

I don't know what happened to ZD Net's overall plan or financial status, but I'm pretty miffed about the threats of geek abortion. Jeff Green is also leaving the back page, which is my favorite part of the magazine and could be an omen. I'm sad about letting CGW go, but I'm gonna speak with my wallet and feel humble with my other two subscriptions to gaming magazines.

Saturday, November 9, 2002

PC 4 TV Nine11 @ 8:56 Comments

Tom's Hardware has a user guide on building a PC for the livingroom TV. I don't agree with some of the hardware selection, but it's got a geek factor nearing warp 10. It uses one of those itty-bitty Shuttle boxes too!

Thursday, November 7, 2002

Size Doesn't Matter! Nine11 @ 12:24 Comments

LostCircuits has one of the better reviews I've seen on the XPC line of Shuttle's itty-bitty PCs. Specifically, this one's on the SB51G. These things really get my geek goin', and I'm convinced someone will make an over-the-counter XPC which will combine the best qualities of an Apple (ooh, it's cute!), a PC (ooh, it runs games too!), and make a killing. I'm still waiting for an XPC with an AMD processor and Nforce2, but that shouldn't be much more of a wait.

GG Does DD Nine11 @ 11:59 Comments

Gone Gold popped off a review of Larian Studios' Divine Divinity. Most people are aware this is a low-budget RPG with Diablo flair, which is mostly true. It's more like Diablo and a bag of chips. RPG elements are a little more involved with overlapping quests and mix-and-match skills. The graphics are a little ragged, but the game's been in the dreaded Publisher's Limbo for two years which explains plenty. Game play is more like that cheerleader who isn't as pretty as the rest but moves with a little more "experience"... if ya know what I mean. If you've bashed your way through DS and NWN, DD might tide you over till XYZ.

Wednesday, November 6, 2002

DOOM III Or Bust... Bust! Nine11 @ 16:20 Comments

In case you've been under a rock the past few days, an alpha version of DOOM III was leaked onto the Internet. The powers-that-be are rather miffed, and I'd be too judging from the state of the alpha. I know, alphas aren't supposed to be solid and all that... and this one certainly isn't. Crashes like a drunken freshman frat brother on spring break. Can't even get into a game. The new id logo/animation looks cool though.

Homeworld 2 Nudies Nine11 @ 7:41 Comments

Relicnews.com got some nudies of Homeworld 2. These are the source images which PC Gamer published a month or two ago. They're 1280 by whatever but size to the window they pop-up in, so remember to maximize 'em.

Tuesday, November 5, 2002

Anandtech's 411 Nine11 @ 17:43 Comments

Anandtech got the scoop on the itty-bitty Shuttle XPC line of computers which is gearing up for the AthlonXP and Nforce2, NV30 delays and some weirdo GF4 boards you should swing a cold shoulder at, and how SiS found itself in VIA's panties... er... pantry. Yea, that's it.

Sunday, November 3, 2002

IL-2 Forgotten Battles Nine11 @ 11:42 Comments

Here's a clip I got from my pal Brian "Double Dare" Cardoza. He's one of my propeller head buddies and seems quite smitten with IL-2 Forgotten Battles.

Holy mother of Tod! Check out what Oleg Maddox is working on for the IL-2 "Forgotten Battles" add-on. The planes and environmental details are simply amazing. Looks like I need to save up my cash for a GF4. I really hope can convince you and your friend Ron to try this puppy out. This game is going to be a blast. If you don't already own IL-2, the Forgotten Battles add-on is going to be a stand alone game. You don't need to own the original game. Pretty cool eh?

Friday, November 1, 2002

Age of Mythology in Stores Cage @ 7:08 Comments

Microsoft's Age of Mythology RTS will be out in some stores starting today. Be sure to call ahead before making the trip.

A demo for AoM can be found at Microsoft's official AoM web site. It weighs in at a hefty 345MB.

I played with the demo a bit, and they really did a nice job with this one. Microsoft is on a roll.