Halloween Special Review: Resident Evil 4

If you have read only two reviews of this game, I will have nothing new to say, because there isn't anything new to say. Reviews for this game have been very long and attempt to capture just how good this game is.
This sequel brings Resident Evil to the near present (specifically, 2004). Umbrella is gone, mostly because turning cities into zombies is bad publicity. Leon is now in the Secret Service, charged with protecting the President's daughter, Ashley. Unfortunatly, she somehow gets kidnapped before Leon was in duty, so now he's charged with finding her. And now he's somewhere in Europe, facing enemies he has never faced before.

First, graphics. This game is the best looking period. Half Life 2 has only surpassed it when they launched the Lost Coast recently, showing their new lighting system. The game only has one prerendered video: the intro (recapping what happened with Raccoon City). The rest of the videos were done with the actual game engine, and they look just as good as prerendered videos. It would just be pointless to have prerendered videos with this game engine.
What makes Resident Evil 4 unique is its environment. You get dropped off in the daytime, something that usuall means you're safe. Not this game. You might be able to see everything, but it still gives a sense of fear.

What really makes this game a modern classic is that this is a game of moments. Just the first portion of the game is memorable. After you complete it, you will find your heart pumping, calming down with the coast clear.
The intro in the game has you fending off tons of villagers, who just don't seem to care about themselves. You may be more heavily armed, but they have numbers, and no fear of your arms. When the sound of the chainsaw roars, the situation gets worse.
The game features a variety of situations for you to go through. Yes, you will have to escort Ashley, but it actually isn't as much of a chore as it is another thing adding to the situation. The need to protect you and Ashley just adds to each situation.
Bosses are the best in the series. There was one part of the X-Play review that I specificly remember, its that each boss in this game could be the last boss in any game. Yes, they are that well designed.

Control is finally not an issue. Some have complained that there is no sidestep, but it just adds to your need to run rather then fight. With the camera now mostly over-the-shoulder, controls are top-notch.

Even after completing the game, there is more for you to play. You can replay the game with your earned inventory, plus a few new items (infinate rocket!!!), or play on a harder difficulty.
There is also a side mission featuring a returning character, Ada Wong. While not very story intensive, it's still fun.
The one extra that I love is the Mercenaries. This sets you down with one of five characters (only Leon is initially available), each with a different list of weapons. Your goal is to kill as many enemies as you can within the time limit. If you thought the chainsaw man was scary in the main game, wait until you see him in the waterworld level. The only thing that could improve this mode is a multiplayer option.

On the PS2, this game seemed to have as few compromises as the hardware would let it. Graphics and load times, although not quite as good as on the Gamecube, it still very close to the original version, close enough that most wouldn't even notice a difference. The PS2 version also gives an extra weapon (a "laser" gun) and an extra Ada mission (Seperate Ways).
While the game I have played is on the Gamecube, I have heard the PS2 and GC versions are about equal. If you have both systems, I suggest the Gamecube version, if only because you can probably find a good deal for it. If you can't, then go for the PS2 version, since it does has the extra mission, which adds alot to the story. If you only own a X-Box, buy a Gamecube or PS2 now, just for this game.

Resident Evil 4 was a project in which the designers were not compromising anything. This game went though multiple versions before Capcom went with this version of the game. There is a meticulous attention to detail, in graphics and experience. Even when porting the game to a lower-speced hardware the developers didn't compromise much. Just simply, this game is the most perfect game since Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Graphics: 10/10 (yes, both versions)
Sound: 9/10
Control: 9/10
Personal Game Rating: 9.8/10
Buyability Rating: 5/5: BUY! IT! NOW!

Graphical Next Gen?

If you check out IGN Cube, there's a link to a IGN Live video. This video has one person (the Epic Games head, don't know the name) say that it isn't the controller that changes games, it is the graphics.
His claims is that graphics allow developers the ability to do things on-screen. It allows Half Life 2 the ability to have better physics, it gives Dynasty Warriors more enemies to do battle with, and gives a better sense of speed for racing games.
You know, he is right-to a point. Control is just as important as graphics. The best example is Mario 64. It is a game that just can't be done without a control stick or something that can sense 360 degrees of movement.
Goldeneye wasn't a case where it was graphics that wowed people, but the control. The ability to zoom in and more precisely aim made it much better then other first person shooters on any console.

The problem that me and many others worry about the PS3 and X-Box 360 is that there is no change. Thus far, all the gameplay we have seen can be done on current consoles, albiet lower graphics. Even things which might not be able to do on current consoles (ie 99 Nights), is it that much of an enhancement? Is going up against 100 enemies different then 30?
There is definatly an additional problem: companies don't have then incentive to do things differently. Just look at the amount of non-sequel/non-license games out there. The only incentive developers have is to just do things better, not differently. Doing things differently means taking a chance, and publishers don't want to take a chance. Look at the PSP, mostly ports of some sort.
The Revolution won't improve that situation pernamently, but it does change it at least temporarily. Changing the controller is taking a chance, but it certainly does more to change gaming into something new rather then making a better clock.

Innocent White House?

A while ago, Brendan Nyhan wrote on how both Democrats and Republicans are reacting to future events as though they already happened (here: http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2005/10/jumping_the_gun.html).
Watching a few short bits of Meet the Press and This Week, a few commentators are doing the same thing after one indictment has been handed out.
Their claim is that the Bush Administration isn't tainted since only one person has been indicted. The problem I have is that Patrick Fitzgerald, the person who has been investigating the now 'gated Plamegate case, said that future indictments are possible. One thing he did say was that "Scooter" Liby's lies prevented him from concluding the case.
In terms of the law, people are innocent until proven guilty. Logicly though, we just don't know. We can't say if there's others in the White House who did unlawful activities relating to this case.
As the criminal case goes forward, the public will get to know what Fitzgerald knows. We will see who was involved and possible who are the suspects of the leak. But as it is right now, it is still up in the air on if anyone else in the Bush Administration is guilty of a crime or not, or even if it was more alike of a conspiracy, as many have theorized.

PostScript: G4 Videogame Violence Special

I watched G4's special on videogame violence, mostly focusing on the history of the controversy.
First, "facts" that I have to dispute. There is one stat that is actually put out on the pro-gaming side. The claim: there was a significantly lower violent-crimes rate after Doom was released. While Doom and other first-person shooters may contribute to the crime rate (because people would rather play it late at night rather then commit crimes), it is impossible with these figures alone on just how much that is a factor, if much at all. For all we know, the Internet (which was emerging around the same time) could have been a bigger factor.
However, the entire controversy is based around the same, loose Thing A was around-Thing B happened-thus Thing A caused Thing B type of logic. Because some of the shooters in school shootings, most notably Colombine, had Doom doesn't mean that the game cause the shooting. Even presuming that there was some link between violence and videogames, we don't even know if it was a chicken or the egg type thing.

When it comes to actual facts in this debate, there are few. First, (to my knowledge) there are no studies that actually like violent videogames with crime. All the studies, usually put up by different groups with a predetermined side in the debate, try to determine a link between videogames and violence/agression. I have yet seen something that looks at link or non-link between videogames and actual commited crimes.
Neither side has the facts we need to prove a link or non-link. But if there's one thing both sides are guilty of (especially the anti-gaming side), it's using stories to misrepresent.
We see it all the time in political ads. An average family talks about the troubles that a law would cause. Bush used to talk about a waitress who would gain thousands from his tax breaks. Vice-president Gore showcased a family who's son who was braindamaged from a medical mistake. All showed as an example of a problem or benefit, all atypical.
In talking about the Colombine killers, it is just one example. The anti-gaming side seems to rely almost exclusivly on such examples.
Outside the special, pro-gaming is at least attempting to use Jack Thompson (who will literally never stop being in the news in some way) to showcase how rediculous anti-gaming groups are. It isn't how we should do this debate.

One thing that was important that was told in the special was that movies and comicbooks had to go through the same process. Videogames may be the same. Right now, there are too many games that are made purly for shock value. When we find the finite line that shouldn't be crossed is likely when we'll see the controversy die down. That, and when Jack Thompson retires.

This Just Breaking: I'm Not Suprised

Yes, I am not. With enough going wrong in the White House, having Bush's own base complaining about the Miers nomination was just too much. Although he and the entire administration denied it, Mier's withdrawl was inevitable.
So what's next for this nomination? The only word from the White House is that it will come more quickly then not. As for the next nominee, don't expect Alberto Gonzales (which, based on what I heard so far, I wouldn't mind on the bench). Conservatives want a fight, Bush may or may not give it to them. I will say it is doubtful he will try to put one of his own on the bench again, or at least someone who is currently his own. If he can find someone who can at least "claim" to not be connected with Bush, he or she will probably get the nomination.

Don't Go to the Bathroom in a Backwards World

(Note: the title of this post refers to an episode of Red Dwarf, where our heroes visit a planet in which time literally flows backwards.)

Two articles on backwards compatability, both are huge for respective owners.
First, found on Digg, the PS3 may not be compatable with all the previous PS1/2 games (article: http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/archives/2005/10/compatibility_i.html). I suspect that PS1 games will be in more danger, although the biggest games will be playable (ie: you won't be in fear of not being able to play Final Fantasy 7). A Joystiq article also points out that a new PS2 model in Japan is having problems playing some PS1 game, even some PS2 games.
I do hope this doesn't happen. One of the reasons I have been thinking about getting a Playstation is so then I could get all the past games, including PS1 and PS2. While it isn't a complete deal-killer, it certainly does rid of alot of my incentive to get a PS3, even though I dont' own a PS1 or PS2.

X-Box'ers are in quite a better mood with the latest on it's backwards compatability. There are now rumors that Halo 1&2 might get some enhancements when put into a X-Box 360 (story: http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000107064995/). The one enhancement that I can garentee is the new X-Box Live interface for Halo 2. Graphicly, we'll probably see better framerates. I doubt the quality of the visuals will be enhanced, since that would require new models to be put in. The only other thing, which I believe is likely, is HD support.
Such a move would be great for X-Box owners, who already are weary about the 360 not being fully backwards compatable. Although it is a rumor, I do think it is a likely one.

When Pork becomes Poop

With rebuilding New Orleans after the Katrina disaster going to cost in the billions, budget-conscious senators attempted to recind the Alaskan "Bridge to Nowhere". Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, screamed that if the Senate took the money for that project, he would leave. His claim was that the Senate was being biased and unfair to the state of Alaska. Unfortunatly, in the end, the money wasn't recinded, the Stevens still sits in the Senate.
This is an unfortunate thing. Alaska, despite having one of the lowest populations of the US, gets one of the best dollar-per-person ratios of all the states. This is because Stevens holds a position of not only chairing the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, but also is in the Appropriations Committee. In other words, he can get alot of pork very easily.
But is a bridge that would serve only a very small population even need to be fought for? Let's see, we have MILLIONS that are displaced from Katrina, National Defense that could easily have a bigger budget, and a WAR that we are still fighting. Appearently a bridge is too much of a sacrifice.
Oh, wait. IT ISN'T. I think Stevens actually gave himself worse press by doing this, even to those who are recieving the bridge.

Mier's Ever Growing Woes

As per Daily Show, Meir's first test was a failure. Being a stealth candidate means she's trying to hide her actual views, but also give good excuses about hiding her views.
The test was basicly a forward to the Senate, so then they could better prepare for questioning. She not only didn't answer anything, the non-answers weren't that good. So now she has to take the test again. Shouldn't it be telling that she basicly failed the test the first time?

And to make things worse for her, ABCNews has a story that the Dallas Diocese is fact-checking her (here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/SupremeCourt/wireStory?id=1238750). Yes, the title of the piece is that she isn't a Catholic. From what I got from the article, she did attend a church, but broke off after a undisclosed disagreement. Appearently the wink-wink that this hint was is not a good one.

I just have a feeling that Meirs will be hammered. Without the immediatcy of having a seat open in the Supreme Court, coupled with Bush's increasing lame-duckness, conservatives want a Scalia on the bench. Bush is taking a huge risk by keeping Meirs as a nominee. If she is turned down, Bush will lose all of his "political capital", and actually go into "political debt".

Delay Happily Booked?

Well, Tom Delay had not only a warrant out for his arrest, he got booked into jail.
What caught my eye wasn't anything that was written, but the photo on the right (see story: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1234756).
Most people would be in the worst of moods when they get their mugshot. Not Tom Delay.
There's only two reason I can think of on why he his mugshot looks like that. First, he has a short-term memory condition (like the main character in Momento). He just blanked out and thought it was an actual portrait.
The second and more likely is that he doesn't drop his public persona. Let's face it, it would be normal for anyone, guilty or innocent, to just think "ahh s***" when this happens. This just makes Delay look more artificial, as though he was someone else's construct. Or worse, his own.

Jack Thompson is Dangerous

I am hoping that this is the last post on Jack Thompson for a long while.

Updating those who have been sitting under a rock, Jack Thompson sent out a letter to the Seattle Police chief to have the guys behind Penny Arcade arrested. Well, as of today's Penny Arcade post and Gamespot news post (here: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135979.html), the letter apearently hasn't been recieved by the Seattle Police, if it was sent out at all. There was no fax sent directly to the Seattle Police, just Penny Arcade and a few news outlets.

Now today, Gabe put up a post on "Yack Thompson", which contained this paragraph:

"Jack is not special. He is not a unique snow flake as they say. He is just the latest vocal opponent of whatever is "corrupting" our youth at the moment. When my dad was growing up it was rock and roll devil music. Then it was comic books then movies and rap music. Today it’s videogames. If we were to succeed in getting Jack blacklisted from the major news outlets someone else would simply take his place. Imagine him as an actor playing a part in a play. The point is that Jack Thompson is not important. If he were to be fired a new actor would simply take up the role. The same lines would still be delivered in the same way and the same audience would pay to see it. We are actually fortunate that the current actor is so impotent in his role. Imagine what might happen if some charming, efficacious attorney took his place. The more I consider it the more I think we may be lucky to have Jack playing the part of the alarmist. The alternative might be someone who is actually capable."

This is one of the few posts that I have to disagree with Penny Arcade about. The problem isn't just his cause, but what he does himself.
Thompson is a person who wants to dominate the debate. He doesn't actually want a real debate, he wants a yelling match.
Previously, I have compared Thompson to the likes of Micheal Moore and Ann Coulter. One common tactic is to show up shock value (which considering, isn't difficult since developers/publishers often use the same tactic to sell their games). By doing so, he's at least attempting to dominate the debate not through logic, but through emotional shock.
This isn't the way to have a debate. He also isn't one to just quit, so we very likely won't by de-fault.

The worse problem is by not taking him out of the debate (because of his insane antics), he may actually have some influence. The mainstream audience doesn't know about any of this.
One thing that is still prevalent is the thought that videogames are exclusivly for kids. Anyone who doesn't play videogames do not get that most gamers are adults. But for all they know, Thompson's views just reenforce their views, that violent games are directly targeting children.

We don't need that. We need actual debate. We need to actually show that games don't cause violence, that gamers exist and are going more mainstream every generation. We don't need to sit while a Moore look-a-like is spreading lies and false assumptions. We need to actually stand up and defend our hobby.

Nintendo Screwing Up Online Again

One thing that the Gamecube was infamous for was it's lack of online. While both the PS2 and X-Box got a pelethora of titles that at had some online modes, even ports of such titles lacked online compatabilities. One reason this happened was that Nintendo excluded the Broadband Adapter from the main Gamecube package, and virtually only sold it online from THEIR store. It was very hard to find otherwise and always expensive ($40 MSRP).
Although the price hasn't been anounced for the Wi-Fi USB Connector (I'll call it WUC for short), which will enable the DS to play online at home, there has been one snag that is a repeat of the Broadband Adapter. Hidden in an announcement of a completely different sort, it was revealed that the WUC will only be sold online at Nintendo's store EXCUSIVLY (story: http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=item&id=6590). Now, an earlier story (here: http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=item&id=6564) said that the European price will be around 30 pounds, or around $52.5 US.

If it is at such a price and availability, it will be much easier just to get a generic wireless router. Why go through the hassle of buying it online at ONE place, at a much greater price, when I could find a cheap but more versitle and effective router at anywhere I want?
Nintendo not only need to make this work to get the DS online, but the Revolution as well. They have said their goal is to get 90% of DS owners online, but then come out with this crap.
If there's one thing everyone thought they would fix, it was Internet connections. But now I'm very doubtful of this. The WUC not only needed to be cheap ($20 would do), but available to everyone. This fails both criteria.

One "Worlds Worst" Apoligizes

This is an update of the first edition of Worlds Worst in Videogames (October 10th post).
A story has popped up on Gamespot (here: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135944.html) that the DS trojan writer has officially said, "Sorry."
His explaination for the trojan: it was to punish those who download illegal ROMs. But after all the hoopla and actual damage done, he decided to come clean about his deeds.
With this, I will take this guy off of the Worlds Worst in Videogames list (I'm still keeping those who wrote the PSP viruses on), but I'm still puting him on a watch list.
What he did was to be a vigilante, and not of the good kind. Don't punish people yourself. If someone's downloading illegal content, then inform the actual owner of the copyright. They are the ones who should decide whether to punish people or not.
I hope that he doesn't do anything like this again. His apologies may have taken him of my Worlds Worst list, but I still don't think highly of him.

Worst Person in Videogames: "Satire" edition

This is also a follow-up to a previous post about Jack Thompson. Yes, his game got made (story: http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000743063662/).
Apearently, modders decided to step up to the plate to see if Thompson was sincere. The mod is based on the GTA: San Adreas game, and is appropriatly titled: Defamation of Character: A Jack Thompson Murder Simulator.
After the game was launched, not only did Thompson said the game wasn't enough for the donation, but that the entire statement was satire.
Satire my ***. I'm not alone in saying that this was just a dodge. I know Thompson wasn't even expecting a game to be made (see my previous post on this), but it's still something one has to own-up on. The way Thompson put it was legitimate. It wasn't him paying Paul Eibeler, it was to go toward charity. If that was a joke, it certainly was a cruel one.
So now, the guys behind the webcomic Penny Arcade are owning-up for Thompson. They stated on today's post that they will be putting up the $10,000 in Thompson's name.

As such, until Thompson actually does send $10,000 to the charity of Eibeler's choice, he earns the title of Worst Person In the World.

Jack Thompson's Life Gets Harder

Well, Jack Thompson, (in)famous violent videogame critic, has just been dealt many hard blows against him.
First, a few weeks ago, Game Politics showed that his forum persona was far from the best.
First, Wikipedia, the user-based encyclopedia, has a pretty bad entry for him (here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_%28attorney%29). It shows that his history has been one that could easily put along side that of Micheal Moore or Ann Coulter.

Next, Penny Arcade today has put up their impression of him, which has few good comments (comic: http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php?date=2005-10-14).

Last, but far from least, the National Institute on Media & Family has officially disavowed Thompson (story: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=12259). Appearently, they really don't like him using their name. Well, considering the Wikipedia entry, I can't blame them.

In a previous entry, I wrote:
"My proposal to Thompson: Stop, just stop. You already have made yourself look like an *** (most notablly, here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/96454.html). Do this any longer, you may get onto Bernard Goldberg's list of 100."
It may be too late.

Bush's Problems Have Gotten Worse

With today's problems (here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1211528), I can just imagine the short conversation with Bush.

Random lackey: "Umm...Mr. President"
Bush: "Yes?"
RL: "You know how we said things would get worse?"
Bush: "Yeah..."
RL: "They got worse. The...rehersal tape...umm...got...umm...leaked.

For those who don't know (or read the link above), Bush had a teleconferance with some troops that are in Iraq. However, no sooner then that teleconferance was shown, the news media got wind that there was a rehersal with those troops. Of course, what's very funny, the wind was in the form of a videotape.
So what was supposed to be a way to get people rallied behind Bush has now put him in a worse position.
Scott McClellen's response: deny the obvious (in this case, it was the actual term of obvious). He looked like he was surrounded by crododiles, only armed with a pointy stick.

During Bush's first term, similar events did come out. But because of the political rift caused partly due to the election, people either affirmed it or denied it, or it's part of the whole, by party line. Now that Bush is alone, no opponent to blame, and poll numbers sinking, things like this actually don't help AND they hinder.
After far too many feascos (Cindy Sheehan, Iraq getting ever worse, Katrina), Bush has certainly dug a hole for himself. If things just stay at the status quo, Bush will have a career to save; a far cry from greatness that he was aiming at in the beginning of this term.

Jack Thompson's "Modest" Proposal

Jack Thompson, the most (in)famous violent-videogame critic appearently likes the spotlight.
With that, he has made a proposal: he'll give $10,000 to charity if a videogame developer makes a game of his design. The game: a father takes revenge on the videogame industry for his son's death.
First, I like to direct you reader (if you exist) to a few links. First, Ctrl-Alt-Del made a letter to Thompson (here: http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/index.php). Also, Penny Arcade (here: http://www.penny-arcade.com/) had a short post on it. Their direct response is definatly good:

"10 grand is pretty weak man. Through our charity www.childsplaycharity.org gamers have given over half a million dollars in toys and cash to children’s hospitals all over the country."

Thompson's proposal was made for two reasons. One is that, as he knows, no one would actually make the game. Let's face it, videogame companies are apolitical in their content as it is. I seriously doubt they would even make a game against Thompson, much less for him. As such, he knows it will be another bulletin point on his list of grievences. We know how this ploy works.
Second, it gets him into the news again. He does seem to love the spotlight. Whether because he likes the look of his name everywhere or it's his way of furthering his cause, I can not tell. But with the anti-violent videogame bill passed in California, there was going to be a dead period as the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) goes to court to have the new law thrown out. Apearently, Thompson doesn't want another dead period.

My proposal to Thompson: Stop, just stop. You already have made yourself look like an *** (most notablly, here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/96454.html). Do this any longer, you may get onto Bernard Goldberg's list of 100.

First Female President: Clinton?

ABC has been hyping their show "Commander in Chief" by throwing out specuation of having a female president. Of course, the specualtion turns to 2008 Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
I'm all for having a woman as president, but I'm very weary of having that woman as president. I have two main reasons for this:

1) Creating two presidential monarchies. I know name-recognition is important, but I don't want it to be that important. H. Clinton won her seat in the Senate because of that name-recognition. It wasn't a race against two contenders, but a vote for or against her alone.
There is some specualtion that Florida Govenor Jeb Bush would also like to run, and I find that a bad idea.
We need to see new ideas put into the presidency. But to create two monarchies-in-democracy is just a bad idea.

2) I don't really like her position on the 1D political scale. Bill Clinton often compromised, especially when it was needed. Hillary, on the other hand, often sided with the left-wing of the Democratic party. One could say it was due to the political environment, but I don't find that a good excuse. She is trying to position herself as a moderate now, but I am afraid that being a moderate isn't her real position.

My vote in the primaries probably won't go for her. But when it comes to my final vote, I will have to see who is her contender. Unfortunatly, with having to choose between two candidates, it does sometimes goes down to the least-worst of the two. It also alike of reviewing a videogame: previews don't show what the final copy actually is.

Worlds Worst Persons in Videogames: Late Edition

I've heard this a couple weeks ago on the podcast, Geeks On. The story has recently been posted on Gamepolitics.com (story's comment page: http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/103677.html).
Sony in Italy put out an ad that shows a guy with a crown of thorns, with the thorns shaped in the familiar PS1/2 controller symbols. The caption on the bottom translate to "Ten years of Passion". For those who don't already know, this is a parady of The Passion of the Christ.
This was only put out in Italy, the home of Calothicism. It's pretty bad to parody any religion, but to do so in their home territory, I have no words.
Not much more to say then that. Well, other then to say that Sony's Italian advertising department gets the title of Worst Persons in the World.

Worlds Worst Person, Videogame edition

Everyone has a similar series of articles/rants. It's either ____ worst or hall of shame. Being a fan of Countdown, I'll just call it Worlds Worst, videogame edition.

Todays worst: Handheld virus makers. As everyone should know by now, there is a virus for the PSP floating around on the internet. That virus isn't self-propegating. Instead, someone posts a ploy hack (the story I heard its a fake down-grader), but it turns out to be a virus which ruins the PSP's firmware, making the system unusable.
Now this has spread to the DS (story: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135375.html). This one deletes the firmware in the DS, creating the same effect as the PSP virus.
This type of thing is just evil. Homebrew for the most part is a great thing, and these evil people are not only taking advantage of this, their goal is to destroy something that isn't theirs. Heck, it's just plain malicious when you destory something that you can't even see in front of you. Its destruction for destruction's sake.
So if you have a DS or PSP, the rules that govern Internet surfing now applies to both systems.
And for making everyone's life worse, handheld virus writers/propegators get the Worst Persons in the World award. Does that make you feel happy?

Pets v People: Evacuate women and animals first?

A ABCNews article (here: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1197480) shows that a new bill is being introduced that would force local governments to plan to evacuate pets.
I do understand the need for such plans. There were too many sad stories comming out of post-Katrina coverage of abandoned pets because their owners had to choose to stay or leave without their beloved pets.
If there's one thing I don't like about the bill, it's the penalty. While I do agree with the concept, the need to evacuate pets as well as humans, I think cutting off disaster grants is too harsh. We shouldn't abondon people when they abandon pets, as heartless as it is.
It would be great if the plan was to evacuate these pet WITH humans. I do find it sad when any plans are made that don't take it into account that pets should come along with their owners. But I find it worse when we have no choice but to abandon pets.
One of my political science professors says, we are the only country who can afford dolphin trainers. So why can't we afford to evacuate all living beings from our homes when disaster strikes?

Aussies Get to Play Their Foreign Games

I got this through John C. Dvorak's blog (dovorak.org/blog). The Australian High Court has ruled against Sony in the use of mod chips. What this means is that import gaming is possible, since the mod chip makes import games from Japan and the US possible.
This is very important for that region since games there come out not many months, sometimes well more then a year after the US gets it's copy. They also get royally screwed when it comes to cost, being forced to buy games upwards to $90 US. Importing means a much better deal and getting their games much faster.
I hope that this ruling means that they will no longer get the shaft when it comes to videogames.

DRM: Right or Wrong?

First, here is good article on Digital Rights Managment: http://mccullagh.org/misc/articles/michigan.state.drm.0605.pdf (Warning, it is in PDF form, so wait until Adobe launches before you do anything, literally).

It's been something that has fallen into pretty much all of the entertainment industry. Music seems to be the most pervasive, since Napster has made music-file trading infamous. The RIAA has also been the most agressive when it comes to file trading, going as far as to sue those on the recieving end (historicly, companies went after the pirate distributers the most).
But this isn't something that is limited to the music industry, but to the entire entertainment industry.
Looking back, the entertainment industry would always go toe-to-toe with the tech industry, to a point of a love-hate relationship with them. VCR's allowed the movie industry a second market (the home video market), but feared that people could easily copy movies. When DVD's were put into place, there was an layer of protection that is in all DVD's, but that was easily cracked.
Nintendo has the most infamous case of piracy-fears. One of the reasons they didn't go with CD's on the Nintendo64 was because carts were much harder to massivly reproduce, where as CD's were. Then with the Gamecube, they decided to go with a 8cm DVD-type disk rather then the full 12cm that is normal for CD/DVD's.

This is a tough thing to decide upon. For one thing, I do understand the need of the entertainment industry to protect it's source of income. But on the other hand, I don't want the functionality of my devices compromised in the name of protection.
Nintendo's means, while problematic for developers, at least didn't compromise the user's functionality. But they have one advantage that the rest of the entertainment industry doesn't: they have a proprietary device. The console/handheld videogame industry isn't unified like the music, movie or television industries. It's something closer to Apple's vs. Microsoft's Operating Systems; if you want one product, you have to have that OS it works on. But because it's on the hardware that isn't very modifiable, such means of protection is more valid.
The music, movie and television industries not only don't have that convience, they have other functions they have to look out for.
Television has to make sure they don't break VCR's or Tivo's. But yet, in case you haven't already heard, they are avocating putting in a time-switch, which would delete recorded programs on your Tivo after a short time period, as well as prevent use of DVD's that have those programs. That's a form of piracy-prevention that breaks functionality.
Music has tried to make copy-protection, but it's very hard for them. The iPod and other portable MP3 players force the music industry to accept copying music onto a computer. As of yet, music doesn't incude much copy-protection because of these new functionalities. And the movie industry may be in the same boat when the long-rumored video iPod is introduced.

I tend to agree with the article above: I don't mind copy protection as long as it's doesn't interfere with my use of the product. But the entertainment industry doesn't see it that way. Every developer or producer in the entertainment industry doesn't want the field changed, so they prevent it from changing.
What they don't realize is that change happens anyway, and they need to find a way to accept it. If anything, it may be time for them to change, to make their product easier to get.
Making their products less accessable and less functional will force users to look at their alternatives. If that alternative is another competator, then they'll go there. I want my music to able to go to my MP3 player, and I certainly won't buy an album that can't do that. And I certainly won't buy a Tivo until I know it won't delete programs on me.
But at the same time, I want these products to flurish. I want the artists, developers, (and yes) the producers to make money off of their successes. While file-traders may argue otherwise, there are people who will download music or games illegally and won't bother to buy the actual product because of the free-aspect.
But yet, there is too much fear in the industry because of piracy. Podcasters would love to use their music in the background, but the music industry won't let them. Their fear is making people weary of their products and making a bad image for themselves. I understand their goal, but not their means.

Senate Does the Right Thing and Has to Defend It

For those who don't know already, the amendment which would prohibit any form of torture of prisoners in US custody has been approved by a astronomical margin (source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1189701). It's starting to look like the partisan rift is shrinking.
But yet, the military spending bill containing this amendment has two obsticles to go. First, it has to get through the House. But considering that Delay had to step down due to the now multiple indictments, and the Senate vote, it probably isn't much of an obsticle.
The major one is that of Bush himself. He has stated that he would veto the bill if such an amendment was passed. Then again, he stated the same thing with the Highway bill and pork; that threat didn't come to fruitition. It would be a tough thing for Bush to decide, since he likes to keep his options open, no matter the option.

This is a rare instance where the Senate used it's abilities to manuever around the president't veto while using it for good. Usually such amendments are used for pork (see Highway bill). Seeing such an action done in a time where voting by party-lines is common is a very good sign that things can get better.

On a slightly different note, ABCNews has published a decent article on what the Democrats should do (here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1189267).

Bush's Second Pick: Take 2

After actually seeing much more comments about Harriet Miers, I'm now going to have to take a wait and see position.
Factcheck posted an article on the Republican National Committee's preemtory shot at Democrats, which was not only false, but incorrect guesses at what kind of responses we would actually hear (article: http://www.factcheck.org/article351.html).
The current story about Miers is that reactions are getting the opposite of what we expected: Democrats giving positive impressions, conservatives (mostly those in the media in some form) given much more negative.
I'll admit I still don't like the fact that Miers hasn't even been a judge. But considering the responses, I will have to actually see what her positions actually are. Then again, I doubt we'll find that out from her during the confirmation process.

Bush's Second Pick: Far worse the Roberts can ever be

Bush didn't take too much time before making his second pick for Supreme Court Justice, although it seemed to be a stealth (I only found out about it through another blog) anouncement. Harriet Miers was chosen to replace Sandra Day O’Connor's position on the court.
The early impressions that I have been getting (although few in number) isn't that good though. Going to MSNBC, today's poll (here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080261/#survey) actually says that Miers hasn't even been on any bench, just a lawyer in the state of Texas.
I suspect that this type of choice is due to the new Bork rule: don't tell congress anything when questioned. If they don't have a background in judicial rulings, they can deny everything.
What conserns me is that she is a Bush loyalist, I fear more so then Roberts (see post: http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2005/10/harriet_miers_b.html).
I don't mind seeing a woman being put into the post, but I do mind her qualifications. As it is, she may belong on a lower court, but not the Supreme Court. Just considering the information that was given on MSNBC's poll, I'm sure that at least a few Republicans will have no choice but to vote against this nomination.

UPDATE: I just read most of the ABCNews profile on Miers (here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/SupremeCourt/story?id=1170572&page=1). It has told much of what I have suspected.

"Miers, who has never been married and does not have children, is known for putting in long hours. Miers has less of a paper trail than Chief Justice John Roberts, who was easily confirmed by the Senate last week. She has never been a judge and has not given many speeches that reveal her own emotions or ideology."

However, ABCNews got enough info for the next paragraph, which is telling of what her direction will be.

"However, she has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Bush administration on a broad number of initiatives, including tax cuts, Social Security reforms, restrictions on federal spending on embryonic stem-cell research, national security, education reforms and fighting terrorism. While active in the American Bar Association in late 1990s, she was a leader of an unsuccessful movement to get the organization to rescind its pro-choice positions and support for taxpayer-funded abortion for poor women."

Movie Review: Serenity

For those who don't already know, Serenity is based on the short-lived FOX series Firefly. The series only lasted 11 episodes, with 3 additional episodes included on the DVD. While the DVD sales weren't enough to get FOX to revive the series, Universal took Joss Whedon's (also the creator of Buffy and Angel) series to the theaters. And two years after the first episode of Firefly aired, we now get to see the crew of the starship Serenity on the big screen.
While the movie does follow what the 14 episode series put into place, the movie does a good job explaining where the crew is at. Whedon actually does a good job in explaining what Firefly fans already know, since much of it is done at a different angle, giving us more clarity on events in this universe. There are also events that took place between the last episode of Firefly and this movie, so everyone is on an equal footing at the start of the movie.
As what IGN said in their review, this movie works on many levels. For one thing, while this movie is based around River's plotline, she isn't the only character that we see evolve.
The villain is actually one of the best villains I have seen. He not only is a type of villain you don't want ever to actually experience, he shows us exactly why the Alliance is evil. We always got a sense that the Alliance is bad (see River), but never before got the whole jist of just how evil they really are.
The ending works the best of any movie I have seen in a long time. I'm a little hesitant to tell exactly why (since it does involve the actual storyline), but I'll point to the Firefly pilot (also called Serenity).
This movie has got plenty of praise for it, and it certainly earns it. Both fans of Firefly and fans of good movies alike will love this movie. The action doesn't stop, but it doesn't hinder or slow down the story. Although much is going on, the movie is still very focused on the characters. This movie should have been released in the summer. It would have been a good cure for the slump in ticket sales.