There sure have been a lot of great video game sequels coming out lately! I mean, I really can’t decide whether to spend my free time playing the Bioshock sequel (Bioshock 2) or the new Mass Effect sequel, which is aptly named Mass Effect 2. Both are fantastic games, but in this post I’ll take a look at the wonderfully fun game that is Mass Effect 2.
Mass Effect 2 is actually designed to be the middle game in a three part series, so fans who enjoy both will certainly have at least one more game to look forward to. Mass Effect 2 starts a couple of years after the original story ended, as the Commander is called in to action once again to save civilization. Players with the original game completed on their hard drive can actually import their organically character to continue on with. Pretty neat. Companion characters from the original game can also be brought in, provided they survived your attempt at the first game.
The story is Mass Effect 2 is just as rich as the first, and the gaming control system is improved. The combat is sleeker, smoother and just overall better from its prequel. There are a few changes to the inventory system and skill system organization, but in terms of game play it truly picks up where the original Mass Effect left off.
After a few days of playing BioShock on my PC, I must say that it’s certainly proven to be worth the wait. Of course, the long awaited title is also available on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, so everybody with a console that isn’t a Wii will be able to enjoy the game.
The game takes players back to Rapture, the underwater city from the previous Bioshock installment. Of course, there are foes to fight, and alliances to make all as the mystery surrounding the city is told. Without releasing any spoilers, I will say it’s a very compelling story and makes players genuinely interesting in what went wrong with the once bustling and growing city of Rapture.
I know a lot of people were worried that Bioshock 2 couldn’t possibly live up to the accolades of its predecessor, however I truly think it has and will. Personally, I find that producers did a much better job of keeping the original games feel compared to games like Fallout 3. Of course, given that Fallout 3 came out ten years after its prequel it may not be a fair comparison. Regardless, if you loved the original Bioshock, you’ll likely find yourself thrilled with Bioshock 2.
The internet brings us some truly unique experiences, that we would have never had access too before. Evidence of this is shown, as there is a webcam set up that live broadcasts the hibernation of an extremely rare Kermode bear in BC Canada.
The camera has been installed by a local couple in the town of Rosswood BC, and after a year of dealing with technical issues they have it live streaming over the web. The bear is a rare “Kermode” bear which has a genetic condition that causes its hair to grow in white or cream, even though it is of the black bear family. These bears are very rare, and so the web broadcast of one has become extremely popular. It’s pretty amazing stuff, and is only possible due to the far reaching influence of the internet!
There are few things as annoying to a computer user than when their machine starts running unexpected slow. These slow downs can either be abrupt or something that becomes more and more noticeable after time. Unfortunately, this is an issue that effects literally millions of computers all the time, and many users are clueless as to how to get their computer back up to speed.
The truth is the vast majority cases of slow running computers is windows registry issues, and it’s actually something that is quite easy to fix. Usually a computer will run slow because a registry file has become corrupted making it harder to read — thus is computer slows as it uses more resources to do so. There are various registry cleaners on the market that can help, or using a windows update may be able to help. Generally having your registry checked by a free or inexpensive piece of software is very quick, and within minutes you’ll be able to repair the damaged file and get your computer running quickly again.
Rumors are flying around the blogosphere about Microsoft possibly looking to develop (or maybe eve already developing) their own mobile phone. I mean, Google has done it, so why not Microsoft? The rumors from various news outlets are saying that tech giant Microsoft has teamed up with computer/laptop hardware manufacturer Asus to build a mobile that will compete with Google’s nexus one.
If a Microsoft phone is indeed in the works, it will no doubt run Windows 7, as was reported shown in a prototype already. Of course, not all prototypes ultimately make it to the assembly line. The phone is apparently going to be hitting store shelves by 2011, so keep your eyes peeled for it!
Wow, I just read some interesting statistics and had to share them here. It’s really a heads up for those of you who play the Nintento Wii. Apparently, due to the many movements involved when playing Wii games (such as swinging, running, and punching), many folks are actually getting injured while playing. As many as ten people weekly visit various British hospitals with Wii-related injuries.
Many of said injuries are of torn or stretched tendons, due to sudden movements by perhaps not the most limber of folks. Also, there have been quite a few knee injuries caused by bending motions in the very popular Wii Fit game. Folks are encouraged to remember that stretching before any exercise (even video game exercise) is important in order to limber up!
Living in the pacific northwest, it’s only natural that I enjoy a lot of outdoorsy activities such as camping and hiking. The only problem is that I don’t have the best sense of direction, and so in order to avoid dangerous situations like getting lost, I’ve been looking into getting a handheld GPS unit for my outdoor excursions. GPS units are obviously a lot more advanced (and easier to use) than a simple map and compass, so having one should help to ensure that I don’t become easily lost in the woods.
After doing a fair bit of research, I thought it would be a good idea to share what I’ve learned about handheld GPS devices here. You see, if you’re shopping for such a device there are a few features that you will surely want to ensure are included. These features include:
Easy of use – You should choose a device that you are comfortable operating, that allows you to retrace your route in order to prevent getting lost. You’ll also want to be able to mark certain areas of the map.
Digital capabilities – The device should have a digital compass for times when satellite access is unavailable.
A rugged exterior – A GPS used for hiking needs to be able to withstand a few falls, bumps and scrapes. Ensure that yours meets this criteria.
Battery Life – What good is a GPS unit if it quickly runs out of battery life during your hiking trip? For this reason, it’s essential to choose a device with exceptionally long battery life.
There are few things sadder in this world than child abduction cases, particularly cases where the child is never returned home. I think it’s one of the chief fears of any parent, and something that we are all eager to prevent. While nothing can compare to keeping a close eye on our children, there is a interesting trend of parents using GPS tracking devices in order to help keep their children safe.
One item that parents can consider is called the Amber Alert GPS, which is a tiny two inch device that can be sewn into the child’s clothes, backpack or other item. The child can press the device’s button should they find themselves in an emergency situation, and the parents and up to five other contacts will be notified (via both phone and email). The location of the child will be identified, and monitored from that point. The parents can even set the device to automatically notify them if the child goes out of a predetermined radius. This is a device that if used in a widespread fashion, could help to seriously reduce child abduction incidents.
Is it really too much to ask for to be able to enjoy a little Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter while travelling via plane? Just imagine how much more engaging (and productive) a long overseas flight could be with WiFi web access. No more in flight movie on those tiny screens, but instead time spent on social network, and I don’t know, even blogs!
Apparently a lot of the European airlines already feature in flight WiFi, and it looks like our domestic airlines are about to head in that direction, as well. Alaska Airlines is leading the pack, and is set to test out its new WiFi system on flights between San Jose and Seattle. If it takes off well (and I can’t imagine it wouldn’t), we could start to see WiFi on more and more Alaska Airlines flights. No doubt five to ten years in the future it will be on all large commercial aircraft carriers. It just seems to be a matter of time…
