Tag Archives: hardware

Don’t Hate Me Because My Keyboard’s Beautiful

Posted on by
20

I don’t write about gear alot because it’s not really my deal. The hardware section is not my first choice when doing a thorough browse of my local Best Buy.

Not that you asked, but I’ll usually start off in the console games section, moving off into cellphones and iPod accessories, then a slow stroll past the camera equipment to reach the Wall of DVDs, followed by a careful scrutiny of CDs … must. resist. the. siren’s. song. of the boxed sets … into computer hardware and PC games, with the big finish in Plasma Televisions. The brief layover in hardware is mostly for my mental list of stuff to search for on Newegg.com.

Like this recent acquisition … the Logitech G15 keyboard. Put plainly, this is the BEST KEYBOARD I HAVE EVER OWNED. And I’m like you, I use up keyboards almost as fast as mice (mouses?), so when a keyboard dies, I’ll race to Best Buy and tell Skippy to get me cheap, wired, in stock STAT!! Guild Raid!! No time to chat!

But this one … it’s the kind of keyboard you show off to the neighbors, even the homeless ones. “So anyways, if you ever do get a home, you should get one of these bad boys. Very nice.”

The other gear issue is, some of the Warcraft buds have been recruiting for their little Gears of War club. I feel obligated to give you a link for that, although I know everyone has heard about Gears of War by now. Even me, an MMO guy. (Here’s the link, BUT, it does a weird browser-size hijack so watch it: Link)

Problem #1: I do not own an Xbox 360.

Problem #2: I do not own Gears of War.

Problem #3: I am not made of money. I’ll drop half a mortgage on a plasma television that I’ll watch on Sundays, but $400 for one game? I’m balking. How good could this game be?

As I’m researching how much this non-MMORPG adventure would set me back, I browsed past all the Xbox 360 faceplate mods I could buy — I don’t want my Xbox to look like a Chrysler Town & Country, thankyouverymuch — until I spotted this: Pelican’s Design Your Own Faceplate.

I did not even know such a thing was possible. This really appeals to my basest of consumer instincts — now I want the Xbox just so I can have the $30 unique-to-me faceplate.

Or, how bout I turn the tables on that. I’m willing to sell space on my new Xbox faceplate for say … $200. When my neighbors and close friends come over to my home to watch me play Gears of War, your company has a captive audience for your marketing message. That’s value! I’m serving the drinks, I’ll open the Doritos bags, I’m going halfsey on the Xbox + Gears of War, you’re getting prime marketing real estate in my HOME.

For an extra $50, I’ll even comment on the faceplate every hour. “Those guys? Umm, Pennzoil is only the best motor oil on the market today, noob. How do you think those Gears of War keep turning? It’s with fine lubricants like Pennzoil.”

Non-motor oil advertisements are welcome as well.

Second Life Ninjas Publicity from World of Warcraft

Posted on by
1

Since I know next to nothing about computer hardware and even less about network doohickeys, CNET News’ article about the scalability of Second Life versus that of, say, EQII and World of Warcraft reads like this in my head: bzzzz servers bzzzz users bzzzz bees bzzzz I need some more coffee. I see that they talked to Castronova about all this … bzzzz, because that’s some sort of rule in g-journalism. Either that or Castronova spam emails all the paid rags that he’s available WHENEVER to comment on gaming issues, although he’s never emailed me saying, “hey Foton, if you ever need some perspective on The Endgame or The Lack of Ideas in MMO Orc on Elf Gaming, I’m your guy.” Which is good, because I’d just think, wtf, like I’m not living it?

Authenticating Warcraft

Posted on by
Reply

In re: Authentication Upgrade for the World of Warcraft login servers, posted 5/15/06 at 11:45 am PDT (that will become important later), by Tseric, everyone’s favorite albino Blizzard poster:

UPDATE 3:20 PM PST- We will be holding off on the complete migration to the new authentication system, so that we may do testing in a more “live” environment. We will engage in further testing of this new system during the time that PTRs are available and active. It will not be necessary to follow the step I outlined below. Again, the 1-5 PM window is no longer occurring, as previously described. See you on the PTRs!

UPDATE 2:00 PM PST- Authentication should be returned to normal operation for the time being. With more changes coming during maintenance, we recommend one piece of advice.

If you log in now, there is a good chance you will not encounter log in issues prior to the realms being taken down for maintenance.

At 1:00 AM PST on 5/15/06, we will be migrating data over to the new authentication system. If you have logged in prior to that time, cached data can help you log in to the game during the period of 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM, when we shut everything down for maintenance. If you play during the hours of 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM, it is recommended you log in before that time, so that you can prevent log in issues during this changeover.

——–

We are preparing to add and upgrade equipment on our Authentication service to improve the login process and other areas of performance which need attention. In preparation for this work, we will be making adjustments to the authentication process, taking place today up until approximately 1 PM PST. During this time, players may experience difficulty logging in. We will provide more information regarding improvements of authentication in the near future. Thanks for bearing with us.

2:00 pm PT?? — why the FUCK didn’t you call me on my cell and warn me? I could have had my neighbor run over to my house, use the super secret garage door code, toss a doggy snack to the enraged Labrador, look up my Warcraft password in my super secret book of passwords and ATM codes (aka The Keys to the Kingdom), log into my main Warcraft account and I’d be on easy street right now.

Seriously. He has nothing better to do during the day, he wouldn’t have minded.

(UPDATE: oh ffs. forums are down. don’t click on that link. UPDATE2: ffs, forums are up. How bout I archive the thread?)