Happy Day Before Star Wars Day '05!!

...and Halloween to!

I'll be sure to post my first thoughts on the DVD and BF2 as soon as I get them and get home, which should be around 4 PM PST (damn school). Expect it to be a very cool day.

Have a fun night, be safe, and p-lay some special Halo-ween games (trick-or-treat is my fav)

Legal Issues My Ass

That's the biggest, lammmest, BS-ist thing I've ever heard. There are no "legal" issues stopping bpeople under 18 from setting up a gamercard!! I know, there aren't! If we could use the forums then, why not now? And why can we everywhere else?

MS you made a horrible, stupid decision. This seriously affectes my wanting of an Xbox 360...you just really DON'T care about who plays your games, do you?

Have fun with the new features and forums...I won't see them untill March (Which, oddly enough, is close to the PS3 launch...)

This Sucks

So, the new forums and MY Xbox are up...and so is another "bug" or idiotic MS idea. Apparently, I'm too young to registar. I have to go now, but I'll be back for sure latter to rant on the stupdidty of this.

Help Bungie "Fight the Flood"

The Bungie Charity auction to benift the victims of hurricane Katrina has started...go cheek it out. Help thousands of people get their lives back while scoring some very cool Halo orginals. Sounds pretty good to me.

LINK
http://nikon.bungie.org/bma/

Weekly Whats What Update #1

I'm going to start a weekly update feature to let you know how progress is going on my Halo RPG Project...here's update the first...

Work on H:TLM (a tentative title, likely to latter be changed) has begun, and I'm alreadly well into Version 1.0.03. The first two versions just didn't work out. They are still playable, and will in fact be included in the final package I release on June 15, 2005, but they are not what I want the game to be.

1.0.02 included a change to the code style basically, and had no outer effect to the user. I switched from using if-else and for loops to switch cases.

1.0.03 included several changes to the end user, including a new weapon system. In all other versions, weapons were added and dropped in the actual code, as in I would have one part for Room 1 with gun, and another for Room 1 without a gun. This just got too complicated when I intoduced other weapons, so I have switched to a code-based entry system that I like alot better.

That's where the cool part is. Each week in every update, I will be giving out a new code for a better use of a weapon. Weapons are not hard to get, but are harded to learn how to use well. I will be handing out a code a week, that will either boast a weapon or give you a special new one. The code will only be included for the week in which the update was included (In other words, next week, I will delete this one).

This week's code is 8841. it will give you better aim with all Human Weapons (Skill Level 2). This will be more clear when the game is released, but for now, write it down and save it for when the game is released. (Also note that these codes may only work with the finhsed version released in early January)

...And We're On

Just to report, Xbox.com and XBL are now up and running. Things have smoothed out since 4 AM when the service first went on. Originally, there were a few hiccups, but all is calm now.

Additionaly, MN just rported that the first Xbox 360 has been seen on Xbox Live. Swing over to his site and cheek out the historic photo.

I like the new layout of Xbox.com...colorful, short and simple, just the way an official site should be. What will be interesting-and what I think we all really waiting for-is how the new forums and My Live sections look.

First Chance to Play the 360

Looks like several retialers have got 360 kiosks up and running. Head on over to Wal-Mart or EB Games and cheek it out. I just wanna know how the controller feels.

LINK

Halo and Halo 2 Will Be Updated for Xbox 360

Yes, you heard it here first...and I must say I'm surprised no body else picked this up as it's pretty big news. Here's a quote from the Bungie WWWU:

"There is a very slight possibility I might play PGR3 or Perfect Dark Zero first. But then, straight onto Halo one. We’re going to have more to tell you about how Halo one and two look on 360, and it’s all good news."

It was currently thought that all games would be stright ports, due to the method MS choose to copy games to the 360. However, this little hint deffinatly says something about the furutre of Halo and Halo 2. Even if it's only better HD support, it's still more than most people were hoping for.

Xbox 360 Online Features Revieled

Today, XZbox.com unveiled the secerts to the upcoming "new" Xbox.com wbesite and Xbox Live.

Xbox Live is being redone to include the famous Gamer Card, the thing that will track your status and stuff across games.

Xbox.com will be changed to include support for this new Gamer Card. In the works is online viewing and editing, and even easy-access HTML so you can drag it as a Sig or to your Blog. (Yes...there will definatly be one here very soon).

The forums are alos being redone. Your forum name will now simply be your gamertag, and it will have easy access to your GamerCard. Sweet.

All in all, it definatly seems worth the 24 hour downtime on 10/24. The only thing that sucks is I think BF 2 comes out around then...hopefully not on the same day. Talk about bad timing.

LINK (Also cheek out MN's Blog for some pics and stuff)

Working on The Lost Man

I've started work on The Lost Man, the current codename/devlopment title of my text-based RPG. It's loosly based on the Halo storyline, but you don't play as the Master. Instead, the game has you as a common Marine solider in battle for Earth.

You start out in the cliche' RPG-way of having no clue who you are (you even have to open your eyes) and than discover what's going on. The Cehif does show up towards the middle of the game, and helps play out some the early battles...but other than that, your on your own.

The real plot of the game involves you searching for the reason behind the Covenant attack on Earth, after the battle of New Mombasa in Halo 2. In your search, you find clues to a hidden relic on Earth...and dsicover your true identity and how it is intrictly linked to the Halo uinverse.

Just so were clear, this is a school-based, non-profit fan-fiction game that is in no endorsed, sponswered or in any way affilated with Bungie, Microsoft, Xbox, or any of the things related to those companies. I belive this dosn't violate any legal issues, as I don't plan on making a penny on this, it's just an AP Computer Science (Java) project.

If I can, I will give the world access to the game by November 22, 2005. I expect to have the final, version 1.03.06, released by January 12, 2006. Don't count on the early version to be completly great or completly finsihed for that matter. But be sure to cheek it out, as so far, after only a week of actual hardcore coding, its coming along pretty nicely.

Also, the program will be open-source based, but I will NOT be able to release the code untill June 11, 2006, after the course is over for school reasons.

Xbox Live Bows Down to the 360

MS just annouced that Xbox.com and the Xbox Live service will be down from 10/24 to 10/25, 2005, in order to prepare for the launch of Xbox 360. Should we expect a new site when it goes Live again? Perhaps not intentially, but very soon. MN hinted doing his Blogcast that a new site is coming very soon, but said he would discuss it next week. So, maybe this will materialize on the 25th...but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Let's all hope for a new forum system....like we've been promised for over a year.

Lets Get the Coutdowns in Order, Please

So many hot things coming out so soon...it's time to get a little organized. Here's my Countdows to the hottests items for the rest of 2005. (For the record, my coutdowns are true style, they don't include today but do include the day of release)

Series of Unfortunate Events Book 12--3 Days

The last book before the last book is finally coming. Can't wait to be more confused about the VFD and life itself. October 18, 2005.

SW: ROTS on DVD and BattleFront II -- 17 Day

Two hot sequals to the best things in the Star Wars Universe? Thats what I call Star wars Day. Novemer 1, 2005.

Xbox 360-38 Days

MS promises the 360 will be awsome...and I belive them. The onyl real question is how long after this do I have to wait?

DVD Day 2005- Seinfeld, War of the Worlds-38 Days

The list of DVDs coming out on November 22 gets longer almost everyday. The Biggies include the Seinfeld Seasons 5 & 6 Collector's Set, with Puffy Shirt, War of the Worlds, The Polar Express, and a few others. Makes the November 22 trip about $80 more expensive.

Thanksgiving 2005--40 Days

This Thanksgiving, theres going to be alot of Xbox playing going on.

UC Applications--46 Days

College applications make me want to scream. Including them in this list of cool things makes them a little less stressful. But I still must scream. AHHHHHH!!!

Christmas 2005--71 Days

This is probably when I'll actually get a 360. Untill than, I will cry myself to sleep every night.

2006--77 Days

Thus begins my last year as a child. Such sweet memeories...

iTunes 6.0-Tunes with Video

I upgraded to the 6.0 version of iTunes yesterday. It supports the new video features for all new iPods, which is cool. No awsome cool or "OMG" cool, but just cool. The service allows you to purchuse and download TV shows (Lost, Desperate Houswives, and some other ABC shows) and a few Pixar short flicks. There are also a very limited amount of video podcasts that are free, and about 2000 music videos that cost $1.99.

I bought the Pixar short "For the Birds" to test it out, and I must say I was impressed. It download in about the samne time as a song does, and it plays pretty well. The resolution holds up well for all modes except full-screen, bu even there it isn't too bad. And, BTW, "For the Birds" is halarois. Unfortunatly, my new nano dosn't support video (of course) so I have no idea about how the iPod video works. But I wouldn't worry to much about the size of the screen. It's probably just big enough to wok with most of the stuff the have out right now. The big news is: wheres the NFL?

Still Alive...For Now

I know its been about a month since my last post...which is wayyy to long. But I've been busy, and now I'm back. Back with a vengence. So, whats been happening in my absence? The world's gone crazy, thats what.

• Sun and Google join together in a third attempt to beat out Microsoft. You just gotta feel sorry for the guys...they've got so much heart.
• Google gives free WiFi to San Franisco...at dial-up speeds.
• Xbox 360 annouces lunch lineup...much to the dissappointment of fans. Can MS do anything right?
• And some other stuff.

Here's whats been happening in my world.

• Took the SAT I yesterday again...and of course it sucked. 4 hours is just too long for any kind test. Even the A.P.'s don't seem that bad.
• My iPod nano came in (by the way, I ordered one). It's pretty cool, and very small. Expect a review to come some time in your life.

Mark Your Calendars

Late-breaking news: The Launch Date of the 360 is here.

(Pulling up sleeve to show tatoo...lol)

November 22, 2005.

This is perhaps the biggest Xbox 360 annoucment yet. Get your HTML hats on...its time to make some counters! Is nano small enough?

Big News Teusday

Two more things...two more BIG things...for today (there was a lot, huh)

First...ESRB MANDATES RATING REVIEW
As part of the continual fallout of the GTA:SA ESRB change, today, the rating board sent out e-mails stating that all games made within the last 12 months (from 9/1/04 on) will have to sumbit to the ESRB a review and/or discloser of any and all hidden content, ment to be played or not, by January 2006 or face punitive penalites. This means that all developers, including Bungie, have some work to do...

Second...NINTENDO REVIELS GAMEBOY MICRO PACKAGING
And it looks like this:
It looks weird, but cool. However, I still can't see me buying this. I don't need another device to play Game Boy Advance titles. Make a better format alreay!

9/11 Remberance Ceramony

Yesterday, my High school held a ceramony, as seen above, to comemorate the tradgedy of September 11, 2001. You can see me if you squint really hard...I'm in the band (front, center) in the Percussion area, first head left of the blue bass drum.That's my dot!

Also, Sunday was a moment of silence in honor of those who died.

ekype?

Today, Ebay annouced that it has purchused the VoIP provider, Skype, for $2.6 billion. Will we now have to bid to talk over the Internet? Of course, we'll have to pay in PayPal...lol

LINK

PS2 Recalled

Thousands of new slim-design PS2s have been recalled, due to an overheating power supply. This, of course, marks the second mass recall for the PS2, and also the second mass recall of a console due to overheating.

LINK

Easy Way to See The Tree's Secerts

Over at OrigenXbox360.com...the tree is holding omse pretty well-hidden secerts. You can easily find out something about them though by viewing the page as "Source" or in HTML.It will tell you what week its in, and the secert or change for the week so at least your know what to look for. What it dosn't say, however, is when Halo 3 is coming out...