...when your man smells like Old Spice and not a lady.
-iRob
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Master the Grid
If you've seen Tron, you may agree that the best part of the entire movie was the light cycle sequence.
The entire sequence is just over 2 minutes long, but it's the part that stuck with me for a long time afterwards. I also think that it was the first time I had seen CGI. Although it is possible to do this using old-school (really old-school) tech.
For years I wanted my own light cycle, possibly the coolest vehicle ever conceived.
My father once found me a shareware game for my Tandy 1000SX that was exceptionally cool, but it didn't have any AI built in and was strictly a two player game. It took a simplified top down view of two lengthening lines and threw in some random obstacles which for the time was pretty slick. I don't recall what it was called and can't find it now but it was very similar to Flash Tron which you can play within your web browser. A similar (but not as good) game is BMTron,
Another game of a similar feel is Tron 2.0 for the Gameboy Advance. The light cycle part is simply a minigame included with the main game but for my money it's the best part. (Click through the gallery here for a look.)
I hadn't thought about these much for a long time until recently when browsing the iTunes app store. I came across the free version of LightBike, which is pretty much what I had been hoping for when I was nine. It's fun but doesn't have a lot of staying power. I upgraded to the paid version in the vain hope that someday another of my friends will happen to have it as well so I can try multiplayer, but until then it's a nice diversion.
It did get me curious however to see if there was any other newer 3D cycle games out there. I had heard Tron 2.0 included a light cycle part but due to lag concerns it was 1-player only, which is never as fun. It turns out that there is a huge variety of games out there, most of which are free for the taking and community supported.
I tinkered with a few but the best by far was Armagedtron Advanced. It is incredibly fun, fast paced, addictive, and free. It comes in Linux, Windows, and Mac versions and runs extremely well on my home network. I tried it on my 7 year old Compaq (Win XP, 1.9 Ghz, 768Mb Ram) with a 6 year old video card (Radeon 9600 Pro, 128 Mb), and it works amazingly well with all of the graphics options cranked. On my ancient Dell laptop (1ghz, 256Mb, embedded crappy video, Ubuntu Linux) it runs smooth as silk (so long as all of the graphics are set to the absolute minimum).
You can play several people on one computer split-screen, or multiple people over a network / the internet, or any combination of these. You can customize anything you like, including creating maps, custom cycles, game physics tweaks, etc. So far the only changes I've made include decreasing the default cycle speed and making the computer controlled opponents really, really stupid. Even so, it's still blindingly fast and very hard. The trailer below captures a lot of the feel, but trust me when I say that it's a lot faster and significantly more intense when it is you making the turns.
Some more videos showing gameplay details are here (try to ignore the narration), and here.
I think that this would be an excellent choice for a LAN party. No weapons, no advantages, just reflexes, strategy, and picking a bike color (harder than it looks). So seriously, go download it and give it a try. And if you like it let me know, and meet me on the grid.
-iRob
"You've enjoyed all the power you've been given, haven't you? I wonder how you'd take to working in a pocket calculator." -Master Control Program, Tron
The entire sequence is just over 2 minutes long, but it's the part that stuck with me for a long time afterwards. I also think that it was the first time I had seen CGI. Although it is possible to do this using old-school (really old-school) tech.
For years I wanted my own light cycle, possibly the coolest vehicle ever conceived.
My father once found me a shareware game for my Tandy 1000SX that was exceptionally cool, but it didn't have any AI built in and was strictly a two player game. It took a simplified top down view of two lengthening lines and threw in some random obstacles which for the time was pretty slick. I don't recall what it was called and can't find it now but it was very similar to Flash Tron which you can play within your web browser. A similar (but not as good) game is BMTron,
Another game of a similar feel is Tron 2.0 for the Gameboy Advance. The light cycle part is simply a minigame included with the main game but for my money it's the best part. (Click through the gallery here for a look.)
I hadn't thought about these much for a long time until recently when browsing the iTunes app store. I came across the free version of LightBike, which is pretty much what I had been hoping for when I was nine. It's fun but doesn't have a lot of staying power. I upgraded to the paid version in the vain hope that someday another of my friends will happen to have it as well so I can try multiplayer, but until then it's a nice diversion.
It did get me curious however to see if there was any other newer 3D cycle games out there. I had heard Tron 2.0 included a light cycle part but due to lag concerns it was 1-player only, which is never as fun. It turns out that there is a huge variety of games out there, most of which are free for the taking and community supported.
I tinkered with a few but the best by far was Armagedtron Advanced. It is incredibly fun, fast paced, addictive, and free. It comes in Linux, Windows, and Mac versions and runs extremely well on my home network. I tried it on my 7 year old Compaq (Win XP, 1.9 Ghz, 768Mb Ram) with a 6 year old video card (Radeon 9600 Pro, 128 Mb), and it works amazingly well with all of the graphics options cranked. On my ancient Dell laptop (1ghz, 256Mb, embedded crappy video, Ubuntu Linux) it runs smooth as silk (so long as all of the graphics are set to the absolute minimum).
You can play several people on one computer split-screen, or multiple people over a network / the internet, or any combination of these. You can customize anything you like, including creating maps, custom cycles, game physics tweaks, etc. So far the only changes I've made include decreasing the default cycle speed and making the computer controlled opponents really, really stupid. Even so, it's still blindingly fast and very hard. The trailer below captures a lot of the feel, but trust me when I say that it's a lot faster and significantly more intense when it is you making the turns.
Some more videos showing gameplay details are here (try to ignore the narration), and here.
I think that this would be an excellent choice for a LAN party. No weapons, no advantages, just reflexes, strategy, and picking a bike color (harder than it looks). So seriously, go download it and give it a try. And if you like it let me know, and meet me on the grid.
-iRob
"You've enjoyed all the power you've been given, haven't you? I wonder how you'd take to working in a pocket calculator." -Master Control Program, Tron
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Recorded Live - Now Found
Craziness! - The short film that haunted my dreams for years in my childhood has been found! Special thanks to Dr. Haggis for succeeding where I failed. Check out the video on YouTube here.
Oddities and incongruities: I was 100% certain that this was a Canada Film Board project, but that appears to be incorrect as it was rather an HBO short. Also, while it is clearly the film I watched, my memories do not match. I remember the story and most of the imagery, but the point of view, the layout of the set, the order of events and timing all do not match what's in my noggin. Clearly I'm remembering the 3 years of dreams that were based on the movie, and the director there must have used some creative license.
The up-tempo piano jazz was certainly a surprise as well.
-iRob
"We are born charming, fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society." - Judith Martin
Oddities and incongruities: I was 100% certain that this was a Canada Film Board project, but that appears to be incorrect as it was rather an HBO short. Also, while it is clearly the film I watched, my memories do not match. I remember the story and most of the imagery, but the point of view, the layout of the set, the order of events and timing all do not match what's in my noggin. Clearly I'm remembering the 3 years of dreams that were based on the movie, and the director there must have used some creative license.
The up-tempo piano jazz was certainly a surprise as well.
-iRob
"We are born charming, fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society." - Judith Martin
Friday, January 30, 2009
National Film Board of Canada - Now Online
When I was young my mother would take me to the library on the weekend where we could watch films that played for free. The National Film Board of Canada (Wikipedia) is a publicly funded film producer and distributor, and a part of our cultural heritage.
They have just recently made their archives available online - This is more than 700 films, many are excellent. Of course many are bad, and many more just bizarre.
There's one in particular that I have vivid memories of, but so far haven't found on the archive: A person receives a videotape in the mail with a note from a friend recommending that he watch it. But the video tape eats him, and writes a note to another friend, and mails itself, etc. I think it gave me nightmares for three years. If I find it I will post a link, once I'm done hiding under my bed.
-iRob
They have just recently made their archives available online - This is more than 700 films, many are excellent. Of course many are bad, and many more just bizarre.
There's one in particular that I have vivid memories of, but so far haven't found on the archive: A person receives a videotape in the mail with a note from a friend recommending that he watch it. But the video tape eats him, and writes a note to another friend, and mails itself, etc. I think it gave me nightmares for three years. If I find it I will post a link, once I'm done hiding under my bed.
-iRob
Friday, August 22, 2008
Customer Service
(ring ring)
Me: "Thank you for calling (my company name). (my name) speaking."
Customer Support Representative: (long pause) "....hello?"
Me: "Hello, (my name) speaking?"
CSR: "Yes, hello. This is John calling from (cell phone company) customer service. I'm calling to do a customer satisfaction survey. Is (former co-worker's name) there?"
Me: "I'm sorry, he hasn't worked here in over a year."
CSR: "Oh, O.K. ...Is there a better time to call back?"
Me: "He hasn't worked here in over a year."
CSR: "Oh, O.K. Thank you for your time."
Me: "Goodbye."
(click)
-iRob
EDIT - I wish, I WISH I had said:
Me: "I'm sorry, he hasn't worked here in over a year."
CSR: "Oh, O.K. ...Is there a better time to call back?"
Me: "Try one year ago."
Damn. That's going to haunt me.
Me: "Thank you for calling (my company name). (my name) speaking."
Customer Support Representative: (long pause) "....hello?"
Me: "Hello, (my name) speaking?"
CSR: "Yes, hello. This is John calling from (cell phone company) customer service. I'm calling to do a customer satisfaction survey. Is (former co-worker's name) there?"
Me: "I'm sorry, he hasn't worked here in over a year."
CSR: "Oh, O.K. ...Is there a better time to call back?"
Me: "He hasn't worked here in over a year."
CSR: "Oh, O.K. Thank you for your time."
Me: "Goodbye."
(click)
-iRob
EDIT - I wish, I WISH I had said:
Me: "I'm sorry, he hasn't worked here in over a year."
CSR: "Oh, O.K. ...Is there a better time to call back?"
Me: "Try one year ago."
Damn. That's going to haunt me.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Bristlebots!
I'm gonna make me some Robots!
It turns out that you can't buy these motors locally so I ordered some online. The most expensive part was the shipping, so I figured I'd buy a lot. I have a dozen coming which is overkill, so if anyone wants one or two let me know.
Hey, if I make some and you make some... if only there were some sort of competition that you could have between different objects to see which are fastest. Some sort of distance-over-time measurement, with a marked 'start' and 'end' points.
(I'm looking at you Dr. H.)
-iRob
It turns out that you can't buy these motors locally so I ordered some online. The most expensive part was the shipping, so I figured I'd buy a lot. I have a dozen coming which is overkill, so if anyone wants one or two let me know.
Hey, if I make some and you make some... if only there were some sort of competition that you could have between different objects to see which are fastest. Some sort of distance-over-time measurement, with a marked 'start' and 'end' points.
(I'm looking at you Dr. H.)
-iRob
Garfield Minus Garfield.
Riddle me this.
Either:
A) A somewhat socially-awkward man in his late twenties happens to share an apartment with an anthropomorphic cat who speaks. His life is a series of comic/tragic misadventures.
B) Jonathan Q. Arbuckle is a delusional bi-polar schizophrenic patient. His cat 'Garfield' is nothing more than a manifestation of John's subconscious, given form as a hallucination. In reality, there is no cat.
I know what my vote is.
-iRob
"- and after I tied my shoe, I tied the other one... Then I thought about standing up... Then I stood up."
Jon Arbuckle
Either:
A) A somewhat socially-awkward man in his late twenties happens to share an apartment with an anthropomorphic cat who speaks. His life is a series of comic/tragic misadventures.
B) Jonathan Q. Arbuckle is a delusional bi-polar schizophrenic patient. His cat 'Garfield' is nothing more than a manifestation of John's subconscious, given form as a hallucination. In reality, there is no cat.
I know what my vote is.
-iRob
"- and after I tied my shoe, I tied the other one... Then I thought about standing up... Then I stood up."
Jon Arbuckle
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Friggin' telemarketers
Hello sir or ma'am my name is state your name and I am calling today to see if you are happy with your long distance plan because right now we are offering a two for one deal on all extended warranties with purchase of a new timeshare in beautiful Laughlin Nevada which comes free with a twenty year subscription on many of your least favorite magazines so I will put you down for an order of thirty ok?
-iRob
-iRob
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
April Fools
Happy April Fools Day!
Traditionally on this day there are spoof news articles or web pages on many mainstream and alternative sites. My favorite this year:
Starwars.com was pretending it was April 1 1979. Time to catch up on all your Empire Strikes Back spoilers and news!
A close second this year is Google's permanent settlement on Mars. (Take the Survey)
Previous fun attempts by Google to befuddle you include Google TiSP and Gmail Paper.
-iRob
update: You know, I would totally buy a shrinter.
Traditionally on this day there are spoof news articles or web pages on many mainstream and alternative sites. My favorite this year:
Starwars.com was pretending it was April 1 1979. Time to catch up on all your Empire Strikes Back spoilers and news!
A close second this year is Google's permanent settlement on Mars. (Take the Survey)
Previous fun attempts by Google to befuddle you include Google TiSP and Gmail Paper.
-iRob
update: You know, I would totally buy a shrinter.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Best Rock Band Names
I need to get Rock Band for my PS2. More to the point, I need to play this with friends. (I'm looking at you Dr. H.)
Top band names currently in consideration:
-iRob
"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't."
-Mark Twain
Top band names currently in consideration:
- Pocket full of mustaches
- Caffeine addiction situation
- Hopeless Situation Warriors
-iRob
"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't."
-Mark Twain
Monday, September 24, 2007
Things that sound like things.
In the house where I used to roommate, sometimes when you turned off the water in the kitchen sink the pipes would make a noise that sounded exactly like J making a dissapointed "Oh." noise.
Here is a youtube video of a cabinet that sounds exactly like Chewbacca.
So what have you heard?
-iRob
"In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra."
-Fran Lebowitz
Here is a youtube video of a cabinet that sounds exactly like Chewbacca.
So what have you heard?
-iRob
"In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra."
-Fran Lebowitz
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Eloquence
Today J and I were at a shopping plaza doing some errands and we were deciding how to arrange the rest of our day. We had decided that we were getting a bit hungry but wanted to go to the pet store first to play with some new kittens that they had in. We figured out what order to do it in and then it was settled.
So how do I phrase it?: "Alright then, let's go to the pet store and get something to eat."
Smooth.
-iRob
So how do I phrase it?: "Alright then, let's go to the pet store and get something to eat."
Smooth.
-iRob
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
What is it, General?
I can't even get my head down for some much needed rest without Veers pestering me about the comscan report. It's bad enough he woke me, now I have to hear that Admiral Ozzel came out of light-speed too close to the system?Typical.
-iRob
"What is thy bidding, my master?"
-Darth Vader
Monday, August 13, 2007
Rules
Said to me today, in seriousness:
"Don't put that cheese in your pants."
Sigh.
-iRob
"I have the heart of a child. I keep it in a jar on my shelf."
-Robert Bloch
"Don't put that cheese in your pants."
Sigh.
-iRob
"I have the heart of a child. I keep it in a jar on my shelf."
-Robert Bloch
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Robo-Boogie
"Can't we talk to the humans? A little understanding could make things better. Can't we talk to the humans and work together now?"
"No. Because they are dead."
-iRob
"Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat."
-John Lehman
"No. Because they are dead."
-iRob
"Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat."
-John Lehman
Friday, April 20, 2007
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