Jan's wife just gave birth to twin girls. Birth wen't well, and I take it they're all resting now. Big congrats to the entire family - heh, it's funny having to say that now. Family. "Say hi to the family...". "How's the family doing?"
I wonder what it feels like, being a dad. I'll have to ask him, but apparently it involves burning doona's in the dryer :P
6.20.2007
6.18.2007
6.17.2007
[GAME] S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
I've been playing STALKER again. Actually - I've gone through the game once more. This is the third time in the 3 months I've owned the game - which says quite a bit about the game itself (and I guess a little bit about me as well).
STALKER has been on the way for what - 8 years? And for half that period, it has had the the label "Vaporware" stuck to it. But in spring 2007, the Ukranian developer GSC Game World, came through. And they came through with what I personally think is the most amazing renewal of the FPS genre since HalfLife (1).
STALKER combines the traditional FPS elements, with a great storyline, non-linear gameplay (although there are major stories that has to be played), and a vast and varied environment to explore. In between the traditional FPS mayhem, it manages to squeeze in some nice RPG elements. You get to talk to all the NPC's, and you soon find out, that not only the major NPC's have quests. You can side with one faction, and battle another. You can earn goodies, money or befriend someone, by taking on side-missions of various magnitude.
This setup reminds me a lot of the GTA series, although still very different. But it DOES work amazingly well. And it adds to the feel of a non-linear game. It was not untill this, my third run, that I felt I had "been down that road before" so to speak.
STALKER takes place in the area around Chernobyl, Russia. Chernobyl where the nuclear power plant had a meltdown in 1986 (and in the game story again in 1989). You're playing the role of the "marked one", struggling to uncover your own identity after a heavy amnesia. From interaction with NPC's, you slowly start to uncover what seems to be a large government plot.
The environment is absolutely stunning, yet incredibly grim and depressing. Ranging from rural to urban, from sewers to industrial complexes - and then the vast open ranges, where you run into the occasional mutant dog/humanoid/something else, or just another group of STALKERS, singing coombaya at the campfire.
It is said, that GSC took several research trips to the the contaminated zone around Chernobyl and Pripyat, during the development. And you certainly get the feeling that those trips were a good idea. Everything feels like it was put there for a reason - if not else then for the reason of creating the right atmosphere. It matches my idea of a post-apocalyptic scenery perfect.
Unfortunately my computer does not quite run STALKER at the best settings, which means I had to cut back a bit on the eye candy. Even so, the mood of the game is just brilliant. And it spooks me a LOT more than DOOM 3 (which turned predictable after level 1) did. I'll be millimeters from a small seizure, when my girlfriend suddenly sneezes in the other room, while I'm crawling around in the sewers, looking for Strelok.
The industrial areas are my absolute favourites. They're not advanced sci-fi, and even if there are some creative liberties, for the sake of the story, it is believeable for it's time - bit low-tech and very human. Just running around the Chernobyl NPP, and inside the sarcophagus is enough to give me goose bumps. And when I think of my friend in Vilnius, Lithuania, who's living about 50 kilometers from a nuclear power plant of the same type as Chernobyl, I'm glad I'm just playing a game.
The AI of STALKER is quite impressive, and among the best I've yet encountered. Enemies will charge, evaluate, regroup (if in greater numbers), hide if outgunned, and wait for you to forget about them or till you get close enough for them to strike. Furthermore, the game world is never "dead" and just awaiting your interaction. NPC's will interact among themselves, battle eachother and the mutated wild-life of the zone, or team up for a song around the campfire.
You seldom get a one-hit-one-kill, and the weapons seem fairly to hard balanced. But you can protect yourself. Various protective suits (armour, radiation, chemical) will ensure safer passage through the Zone. In addition you can mount various "artifacts", created by the Zone's many anomalies, to your belt. These artifacts look like differently shaped (glowing, or bouncing) stones, and all have various protective capabilities. Most of them however also has sideeffects though. For instance the Droplet artifact will take -10 points of the hazardous radiation, but it will also lower your endurance with -18. So you'll be protected from higher radiation levels, but you'll only be able to run for a shorter period.
The weapons are many. Mostly based on various rifles and guns. But grenades, grenade launchers, and RPG's are also available. Some of the weapons have been modified for better effect, and it's just small details like this, that really add to the mood. You get the feeling, that someone with great technical or mechanical knowledge, has tinkered with a weapon, to increase it's firing range. You'll also be able to fit a selection of scopes to selected weapons.
STALKER uses a detailed inventory system, similar to those of traditional RPG's. You'll have to take into consideration what you need for a certain mission, because you can only carry so much. Carry more, and it will affect your ability to run and jump, and ultimately you'll be too exhausted or too heavily loaded to walk at all.
In your (permanent) stash, is also a PDA which functions as a map, diary and "notepad". It stores info from found PDA's, info about missions, the Zone and it's inhabitants (and oddities), etc.
I've read a bit about bugs and issues with the game, but I've had no issues at all. Not one single crash, freeze, or odd behaviour. Maybe this happens more frequently with higher spec. machines running the "full monty". It seems though, that the recommended RAM specs of 1Gb is a bit too low. Some people report highly improves stability with 2Gb ram.
I think STALKER will definetely appeal to those who liked HalfLife. And it really goes to show, that you can create something worth the money, if your main priority is not technology, but story and gameplay. There's said to be 7 different endings to the game - 3 of these are "right". I've seen 2 wrongs and 1 right. The interresting part is, that depending on who you talk to, and whose lead you choose to follow, you may actually end up making a crucial decission - only halfway through the game. So pay attention, and listen to the word on the street.
With STALKER you don't feel like you've been ripped off, after just 5 hours of playing. It has a high replay value, and is worth every penny.
Additional screenshots at gamershell.
Read the blog of a young man, who was a kid in Pripyat, when the Chernobyl NPP blew up.
- just for reference : A google earth picture of Chernobyl NPP, with reactor number 4 encased in the sarcophagus.
And just to put things in perspective - another google earth image, showing Pripyat and CNPP in relation to eachother.
An area of 20-40 km's surrounding CNPP, will most likely never be inhabitable again, and the after effects of the radiation is still affecting animals, plants and humans.
Indeed a sad and catastrophic event. And although it is 20 years ago, it should never be forgotten. Hopefully the efforts of GSC will help people remember.
- and it is still a great game.
Rating :
(and then some...)
STALKER has been on the way for what - 8 years? And for half that period, it has had the the label "Vaporware" stuck to it. But in spring 2007, the Ukranian developer GSC Game World, came through. And they came through with what I personally think is the most amazing renewal of the FPS genre since HalfLife (1).
STALKER combines the traditional FPS elements, with a great storyline, non-linear gameplay (although there are major stories that has to be played), and a vast and varied environment to explore. In between the traditional FPS mayhem, it manages to squeeze in some nice RPG elements. You get to talk to all the NPC's, and you soon find out, that not only the major NPC's have quests. You can side with one faction, and battle another. You can earn goodies, money or befriend someone, by taking on side-missions of various magnitude.
This setup reminds me a lot of the GTA series, although still very different. But it DOES work amazingly well. And it adds to the feel of a non-linear game. It was not untill this, my third run, that I felt I had "been down that road before" so to speak.
STALKER takes place in the area around Chernobyl, Russia. Chernobyl where the nuclear power plant had a meltdown in 1986 (and in the game story again in 1989). You're playing the role of the "marked one", struggling to uncover your own identity after a heavy amnesia. From interaction with NPC's, you slowly start to uncover what seems to be a large government plot.
The environment is absolutely stunning, yet incredibly grim and depressing. Ranging from rural to urban, from sewers to industrial complexes - and then the vast open ranges, where you run into the occasional mutant dog/humanoid/something else, or just another group of STALKERS, singing coombaya at the campfire.
It is said, that GSC took several research trips to the the contaminated zone around Chernobyl and Pripyat, during the development. And you certainly get the feeling that those trips were a good idea. Everything feels like it was put there for a reason - if not else then for the reason of creating the right atmosphere. It matches my idea of a post-apocalyptic scenery perfect.
Unfortunately my computer does not quite run STALKER at the best settings, which means I had to cut back a bit on the eye candy. Even so, the mood of the game is just brilliant. And it spooks me a LOT more than DOOM 3 (which turned predictable after level 1) did. I'll be millimeters from a small seizure, when my girlfriend suddenly sneezes in the other room, while I'm crawling around in the sewers, looking for Strelok.
The industrial areas are my absolute favourites. They're not advanced sci-fi, and even if there are some creative liberties, for the sake of the story, it is believeable for it's time - bit low-tech and very human. Just running around the Chernobyl NPP, and inside the sarcophagus is enough to give me goose bumps. And when I think of my friend in Vilnius, Lithuania, who's living about 50 kilometers from a nuclear power plant of the same type as Chernobyl, I'm glad I'm just playing a game.
The AI of STALKER is quite impressive, and among the best I've yet encountered. Enemies will charge, evaluate, regroup (if in greater numbers), hide if outgunned, and wait for you to forget about them or till you get close enough for them to strike. Furthermore, the game world is never "dead" and just awaiting your interaction. NPC's will interact among themselves, battle eachother and the mutated wild-life of the zone, or team up for a song around the campfire.
You seldom get a one-hit-one-kill, and the weapons seem fairly to hard balanced. But you can protect yourself. Various protective suits (armour, radiation, chemical) will ensure safer passage through the Zone. In addition you can mount various "artifacts", created by the Zone's many anomalies, to your belt. These artifacts look like differently shaped (glowing, or bouncing) stones, and all have various protective capabilities. Most of them however also has sideeffects though. For instance the Droplet artifact will take -10 points of the hazardous radiation, but it will also lower your endurance with -18. So you'll be protected from higher radiation levels, but you'll only be able to run for a shorter period.
The weapons are many. Mostly based on various rifles and guns. But grenades, grenade launchers, and RPG's are also available. Some of the weapons have been modified for better effect, and it's just small details like this, that really add to the mood. You get the feeling, that someone with great technical or mechanical knowledge, has tinkered with a weapon, to increase it's firing range. You'll also be able to fit a selection of scopes to selected weapons.
STALKER uses a detailed inventory system, similar to those of traditional RPG's. You'll have to take into consideration what you need for a certain mission, because you can only carry so much. Carry more, and it will affect your ability to run and jump, and ultimately you'll be too exhausted or too heavily loaded to walk at all.
In your (permanent) stash, is also a PDA which functions as a map, diary and "notepad". It stores info from found PDA's, info about missions, the Zone and it's inhabitants (and oddities), etc.
I've read a bit about bugs and issues with the game, but I've had no issues at all. Not one single crash, freeze, or odd behaviour. Maybe this happens more frequently with higher spec. machines running the "full monty". It seems though, that the recommended RAM specs of 1Gb is a bit too low. Some people report highly improves stability with 2Gb ram.
I think STALKER will definetely appeal to those who liked HalfLife. And it really goes to show, that you can create something worth the money, if your main priority is not technology, but story and gameplay. There's said to be 7 different endings to the game - 3 of these are "right". I've seen 2 wrongs and 1 right. The interresting part is, that depending on who you talk to, and whose lead you choose to follow, you may actually end up making a crucial decission - only halfway through the game. So pay attention, and listen to the word on the street.
With STALKER you don't feel like you've been ripped off, after just 5 hours of playing. It has a high replay value, and is worth every penny.
Additional screenshots at gamershell.
Read the blog of a young man, who was a kid in Pripyat, when the Chernobyl NPP blew up.
- just for reference : A google earth picture of Chernobyl NPP, with reactor number 4 encased in the sarcophagus.
And just to put things in perspective - another google earth image, showing Pripyat and CNPP in relation to eachother.An area of 20-40 km's surrounding CNPP, will most likely never be inhabitable again, and the after effects of the radiation is still affecting animals, plants and humans.
Indeed a sad and catastrophic event. And although it is 20 years ago, it should never be forgotten. Hopefully the efforts of GSC will help people remember.
- and it is still a great game.
Rating :
(and then some...)
6.16.2007
Run (toooo theeee hilllllsss)
But since there ARE no hills, and I don't need to run from someone, I just run... or that'd be past tense - I ran.
Last year I almost reached the end of a 12 week running program. I felt it was necessary to do SOMETHING, because I could hardly run 50 meters, to catch a bus. So I got started on this running program, and had about 2 weeks left, but then winter came - yes I know, poor excuse - the true athlete cares not for the raging elements. So I can't pin the label of true athlete on my chest. Big deal - I won't loose sleep over it.
But I was just out earlier today to see how bad it had gotten in half a year. And I was expecting to have to start from week one, day one. But Liv talked me into trying to skip a few weeks, and so we started on week 3, day 2. And I did it. Without coughing up pieces of my lungs. I'd really like to make it through to the end this time, so I'll try to pull myself together, and keep running over the summer.
Last year I almost reached the end of a 12 week running program. I felt it was necessary to do SOMETHING, because I could hardly run 50 meters, to catch a bus. So I got started on this running program, and had about 2 weeks left, but then winter came - yes I know, poor excuse - the true athlete cares not for the raging elements. So I can't pin the label of true athlete on my chest. Big deal - I won't loose sleep over it.
But I was just out earlier today to see how bad it had gotten in half a year. And I was expecting to have to start from week one, day one. But Liv talked me into trying to skip a few weeks, and so we started on week 3, day 2. And I did it. Without coughing up pieces of my lungs. I'd really like to make it through to the end this time, so I'll try to pull myself together, and keep running over the summer.
Brave new world
My parents FINALLY caved, and agreed to get broadband instead of their old K56 dial-up.The danish communication mogul, TDC, had an offer where you could get a 384/128 kbit line, for just about the same price as with the old dial-up. Although the price will rise a bit in 6 months, it will still be cheap then. And SO worth it. No more 10-hours-online-a-month-limit, no traffic limit and it is more than 20 times faster than the dial-up.
Do you have ANY idea how nice it is, when you, as the loyal son you are, usually take care of all the maintenance and now no longer has to be slave to an archaic internet connection?
Hopefully they'll start using it a bit more.
Oh - and kudos to TDC for making the installation progress so painless. It was actually a LOT easier to get the broadband up and running, than it was with the dial-up.
*edit* weeeeell hold your horses there.... Unfortunately TDC screwed up with the registration key for the security package that we ordered. It wen't inactive after 2 days installed, and they could not just send us another key, nooo - we had to either contact another department by email only, or re-order and re-install the security package again (the faster option). And the supporter who tried to explain this to my mother, apparently had very little patience with her. Thats not good customer service guys. Some people only know the very basics. Don't give them a hard time - you'll only spook them, and take away their desire to ever give foreign technology a chance again. So thats a few points removed from an otherwise impressive score board...
Constipated?
Extreme constipation? Or simply me and Anders fooling around with some chocolate chip chocolate cookies at work?
- sure looks like a real potty-mouth to me.
6.15.2007
RIAA = Royal Incompetence And Arrogance?
I just read that in Utah and Florida, you can no longer just walk in to a second hand music pusher, and buy/sell music like you used to. If you sell, you have to show a valid drivers license, and submit to a thumbprint. Furthermore the store has to apply for a permit, and is obliged to NOT sell second hand albums within 30 days after taking them in. The store can also only pay store credit, and no cash to the seller. WTF?!?
Apparently a lot of music shops don't want to deal with the extra administration (understandably), and has simply just stopped selling second hand music. Admitted, the industry only gets their percentage of each NEW purchase, but aren't they the least bit interrested in people obtaining the music legally? Aren't they the least bit interrested in spreading the knowledge of their "products"? If you can't afford the full new price, and you're not able to or allowed to buy it second hand, then what are your options? RIAA are cornering people with their methods, and forcing people to take drastic measures, just like if you corner a wild animal, it will strike with ferocity as the last resort.
You start thinking that their REAL business plan is creating a demand, restricting the availability, and basing their income on insane law suits, rather than music.
Nice going, RIAA - it's just another nail in your coffin, and you're too blind to realize it. And you're punishing those of us who have loyally supported your industry for the last 20+ years. You build your empire on our backs, and when the walls start to come down due to your own gross incompetence, you stab us in the back. What do you honestly think that will do for your business, you mindnumbingly, stupid twats?
I'm all for the artists getting their piece of the cake. After all I was once a starving, heavy metal playing guitarrist myself. But this is just ridiculous. Ludicrous. Insane. Madness.Sparta.
Apparently a lot of music shops don't want to deal with the extra administration (understandably), and has simply just stopped selling second hand music. Admitted, the industry only gets their percentage of each NEW purchase, but aren't they the least bit interrested in people obtaining the music legally? Aren't they the least bit interrested in spreading the knowledge of their "products"? If you can't afford the full new price, and you're not able to or allowed to buy it second hand, then what are your options? RIAA are cornering people with their methods, and forcing people to take drastic measures, just like if you corner a wild animal, it will strike with ferocity as the last resort.
You start thinking that their REAL business plan is creating a demand, restricting the availability, and basing their income on insane law suits, rather than music.
Nice going, RIAA - it's just another nail in your coffin, and you're too blind to realize it. And you're punishing those of us who have loyally supported your industry for the last 20+ years. You build your empire on our backs, and when the walls start to come down due to your own gross incompetence, you stab us in the back. What do you honestly think that will do for your business, you mindnumbingly, stupid twats?
I'm all for the artists getting their piece of the cake. After all I was once a starving, heavy metal playing guitarrist myself. But this is just ridiculous. Ludicrous. Insane. Madness.
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