Categories
Hardware

How To Improve The PC As A Gaming Platform

Bruno Ferreira wrote a good article on how to improve the PC as a gaming platform. As someone who is a PC gamer, I couldn’t agree more with what he says. It’s extremely difficult to build a system for PC gaming, and very difficult to buy games since the metrics used are so difficult to work with.

In my opinion once every 12-18 months the platform should create a new standard based on the latest and greatest. It’s assigned a number, likely the year. A software profiler would then establish what standard your computer meets. Don’t buy any game that exceeds that number. A game can support “minimum” and “optimal” but would just put the number below vs. spelling out all the specs. Profiler could then advise on how to upgrade. For example if you upgrade you’re weak GPU and add more RAM you’d meet the requirements for 2013. Or just leave it at 2012 standards if that’s good enough for your needs.

Categories
Software

Always Bet On Standards

An old but interesting interview with X-Plane creator Austin Meyer on Direct3D vs. OpenGL:

…I bet on OpenGL, and used that. As a result, here we are, 15 years later, and the people that use Direct3D can support Windows only. But, with OpenGL, I support Windows, Mac, Linux, Palm OS, Google Android OS, and oh yes: iPhone and iPodOS which are also OpenGL. So having X-Plane in OpenGL let me move over to iPod and iPhone very quickly. The port was done in 2 weeks, to be very exact. And you saw that i have moved 500,000 units on the iPhone and iPod since. I get $7 from each of those sales, and have moved 500,000 units in the last year and a half, so get out your calculator, do some math, and see if i made the right choice to bet against Microsoft 15 years ago.

Always bet on standards. Nobody remains on top forever. When you bet on proprietary tech because it’s in the lead, you’re betting that your demise will happen prior to the leader falling. Never bet against yourself.

Categories
Around The Web Funny

Fat, Ugly Or Slutty?

There is a blog dedicated to guys who act like jerks towards female gamers. Never quite understood what that was about. For what it’s worth women play way more games than the stereotypes suggest. They are also a growing demographic by many accounts. It’s amusing to read, but sad at the same time.

Categories
Audio/Video Photo A Day 2011

Project 365 Week 9

Another week, another gallery. 6 this week as the 7th is actually a video which I define as a rapid series of photos.

Categories
Around The Web Funny

Pull Over Before You Pull It Out

Jabra, the company known for their mobile headset did an interesting survey of driving distractions. We’ve all seen a ton of these in the media over the years, generally we know that pretty much everyone eats at least occasionally while driving (72%). We also know people talk on the phone. We know some even text while driving (28%). Some even play video games (5%). The winner however is this little gem:

29% of respondents admitted to kissing others while driving, whereas a smaller, but surprising number (15%) said they’ve performed sex or other sexual acts while driving.

How about a public safety campaign to help bring this closer to the number playing video games (5%). I propose the following slogan: “Pull over before you pull it out.” Poster designs welcome.

Categories
Software

Fountain Of Youth

Duke Nukem 3D Fountain Of Youth

Ah the classics.

Categories
Personal

Less and less productive

As I play more Operation Iraqi freedom, I get less and less work done in the evenings… not good for me.

On the plus side, I’m starting to learn my way around Iraq by air.

Categories
Software

F/A-18 Hornet Operation Iraqi Freedom

RULES!!!!

Damn this game is fun. I don’t think I’ll be seeing the light of day anytime soon. I can’t wait until I get up to speed on all the changes since the last version, and I can start on some missions.

Nice graphics, nice game play, good price. How can I complain?

Not much else to blog about. This is all that’s good.