Closer

I came home the other day to find this in the basement.


This, and a very cross Legoman with an ultimatum, to get some stuff done on the next phase of the Mame cabinet, or else. I began to inquire or else what, and was subsequently threatened with a knife.

Beginning to feel the gravity of the situation, I enlisted the aid of the Software Engineer, who regrettably has the least fun pseudonym of any of my usual cohorts. After deeming the first prospective box too archaic (read: coal-burning) to be used reliably even with a new HDD, we cannibalized the recently unemployed box which it turns out uses IDE anyways. My consultant then began to unleash a brand of Technologic far and beyond my own software comprehension, flying through screen after screen of terminal text while I merely sat idly by and chatted up Mojo about the bailouts.

(Btw, Mojo thinks the automakers should go suck a dick.)

Casual recollection aside, Josh (aka the Software Engineer) installed Ubuntu Linux on the new drive, grabbed a bunch of Mame and frontend apps (eventually AdvanceMame and AdvanceMenu), as well as a few items to help us map the controls. We snagged my rom collection from the old drive and dragged it over as well. We then relocated the machine to the basement. Ooh, and then we had Angelico's!

By the end of Sunday, we were here:


The Debugging stage. Yes, we have most of the pieces working together properly. The arcade controls are running through the I-Pac, into the computer, which is outputting through the transcoder to a CRT we happened to have already, and then throughputting to the LCD you see next to the control panel. And, yes, you can play games on it, which we did solely for debugging purposes. Player 3's and Player 4's fourth button isn't functioning, so I'm going to borrow a multimeter to check out those terminals. We had to make sure we switched the joysticks from four way to eight way for proper fighter operation as well.

We've still got some control issues to resolve, a CRT to procure, and a cabinet to build, but we are definitely past the proof of concept stage.

How you like me now, bitches?

Far Out

(Always with the Engrish puns...)

So, yeah. Bandwagon or not, I'm calling it: Fallout is Game of the Year.

I haven't played LBP, or Fable 2, granted. And yes, in my heart of hearts (read: aorta) I really liked Guns of the Patriots more. But sometimes you just know. I don't know my playtime off the top of my head, but I've barely begun to scratch the surface.

I didn't play Oblivion, though I did watch Big Sis Prinny play it a bit, so comparisons are not completely lost on me. Yes, it is very similar to that game, but, to me, it feels exactly like something else. It feels exactly like the original Fallout. All the little gameplay nuances, character interaction, inventory management, quest structure, the perks... I think they could remake the first game with this modern tech and do it proud.

Every time I sit down to play I just want to keep playing longer. Go check out that next location, go finish that next quest. I just keep wanting to go do stuff. My current karma ranking is the positive Urban Avenger, not due to some intrinsic want to do good in the Capital Wasteland, but just from the way I see quests through to their logical conclusions. Sure, I'll blow up Megaton, but only after I complete every single last motherfucking mission and steal everything that isn't bolted down in that shithole crater.

I get the feeling I'll be playing this one for a long time... Might still be playing it when it sweeps the various GotY contests.

HL2Ep3 Concept Wallpaper for Mobiles

Slow day...

Put together a nifty wallpaper for the Instinct with one of the scant pieces of Half-Life 2: Episode 3 concept art featuring ApSci's frozen research vessel Borealis. What say you, critical masses?


Oh, and since I'm the only motherfucker with an Instinct, here's a 480x320 version for you iPhone and G1 users. You're welcome.

Strong and Natural

Anybody else seen this Red Bull Cola?

Picked it up last night for the commute in this morning. Not bad at all. I, of course, didn't notice any stimulant effect, but it had a pretty distinct taste for a cola. All natural ingredients. Why, take a look at the list yourself:

Coca Leaf, Kola Nut, Lemon, Lime, Clove, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pine, Corn mint, Galangal, Vanilla, Ginger, Mace, Cocoa, Licorice, Orange, Mustard Seeds, and Caffeine from Coffee beans.

Damn, yo. I highly recommend it. I bet it would be good with some Jack...

Saturday Night

From: Big Sis Prinny
Sent: Sun 11/16/08 7:42 AM
To: Killa

Went out to Piratz Tavern in Silver Spring with Josh and some of his friends (and Grace, I believe she texted you). Drank a cup of grog and six Jaegerbombs. Went back to Josh's house and drank three glasses of champagne. Then proceeded to score 1 million points in Rock Band 2 singing "Give It Away" on expert.

We went on to play Don't Fear the Reaper.

"OMG GUYS SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP COWBELL SOLO"

donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk
donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk
donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk
donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk donk

"WOOOOOOOO"

Just wanted to share.

(The group of us ran up like a $300 bar tab, though to be fair that included some meals. I'd be hanging my head this morning, if it weren't for the awesome RBII score.)

-BSP

Dis Killa. Teh K.I.L. Initial.

Left 4 Demo

Played the Left 4 Dead Demo last night, the single player portion anyways. Very fun. My keyboard and mouse skills are still clearly not up to snuff, but I managed. The demo encompasses two areas that the survivors must traverse, and this area appeared to contain approximately a kabillion fucking zombies.

And, man, when that spitting zombie spits on you and the sputum, or whatever, attracts the horde, as they call it, wow. Fucking zombies everywhere, yo. The large zombie boss known as the Tank made for a really exciting moment as well. I go to head up an escalator in the subway station with my team, and immediately start backpedaling as he rushed down on us. Intensity.

And the opening video is really fucking cool, too.

(How's that for articulate?)

Only 9 hours left to vote in the Ice Climbers poll!!! Let the world know how you feel!

Wiring and Retiring

Yes, we even began wiring tonight. Here we begin the common ground.


Here we have finished wiring. That's Technologic at work.


(Hey Szmajda.) You better get ready. This project has an avalanche of momentum now. Nothing can stop us!

Sleep now. zzz

Cabinet Lee

After a slow start to the day, I arrived back at J Casa to commence work on the Cabinet. Pity and I began work almost immediately.


We wrapped up the cutting and sanding just as we ran out of daylight (Damn you, DST!!) and moved on to installing the controls. We've opted to give 3P and 4P four buttons, as, gosh darnit, we have no idea what game needs four players with six each. Note the Infinity Gauntlet t-shirt Lego is rocking.


Next step is to review the info at Build a MAME Cabinet in 24 Hours and then Get Equipped with Wire Strippers.


I'll keep you posted on how far we get tonight.

Over the Line

I will forewarn you, this is about to be over the line of accepted commentary. Perhaps cryptic haiku will be somehow less offensive.

A Celebration:
Those of all abilities
Nay, a mockery

Celebrating not
The wide range of human skills
Semantic bullshit

Negativity
I am experiencing
Is it, My own fears?

How frail this, my husk
Detesting their weaknesses
Is it hating mine?

W00t! George Sears/James Johnson FTW!

Anyone else standing in a line right now?

Christmas Morning on a November Night

Guess what I'm blogging from, bitches!

Err, Guess from what I'm blogging, scoundrels!

Crysis is on its way via Steam as I type this on my wireless keyboard.

Sorry, sorry. I'll stop.