As The Lounge is becoming full (464+ comments) and summer is pretty much here, I think we should move conversation outside into the sunshine. Hence, The Summer House. Feel free to talk about anything, as before...
The Summer House
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Wow its hot in here, open the window a bit would ya, get some air in.
adamskii
Bit-tech reviewed GTA 4, made some fair opinions but I disagree with the reviewer tbh. I'd give it a 10 on sheer ambition, content and fun factor. I decided if you are going to use a scale upto 10 then use 10 for games you should deffo buy and this is one of these games. As far as the graphics the man is blind. Ok its jaggy a bit and has distance blur but its such a technically impressive display of graphic use im continually stunned. Just walk through Liberty City Time Square alternative and look at all the billboards and scenery its looks top. There is so much happening at once. This guy has obviously played multiplayer with the auto lock on which imo is daft as u just hit the lock on and press shoot, thats about all the skill involved. Turn that shit off and aim properly - way more fun. And turn the radar off so you cant see the mo fo sniper you from above. Anyway the games does piss me off with the idiots phone and are pestering me too dam much and when I hangup lose respect Also the controls are a bit clunky when doing anything at close range like some fool runs up behind you. Thats the worsed thing. Anyway, back to work!
adamskii
The summer house is great in this weather, though we need to dust down a few of the cob webs...
I agree Adamskii, the graphics aren't Crysis jaw-dropping-ly too realistic, they're extremely detailed and gritty. The game is full of attention to detail, such as walking into pedestrians and their shopping/starbucks cup drops to the floor as they throw abuse at you. I find close-combat to be very tricky, often losing a huge chunk of health as I try and select my fists for some brawling.
Just saw this on Channel 4:
Drench Springwater with Brains!
Adverts these days are getting much better...
I just set fire to our sofa, five cupboards and chests, 12 bags of junk removed from the garage, two horse blankets, seven cushions and a cardboard box.
We have no furniture in Windsor now.
Mum and Dad said O_O
I lol'd.
Percy
HAPPY BURPDAY DUAD!
adamskii
With GTA hand to hand, Ive found that if you can time the block so that he ducks the punch (to do this you have to anticipate the punch coming press as early as u can) then counter and he will knock them out almost every time with a cool combo. Its very satisfying to pull off but the timing is very odd I might put in 10 mins of practice to get it spot on. I was being attacked by two dudes and I had a bat, i fluked the counter move and he cracked one guy on side of head then the guy next to him immediately and knocked them both out. It was like something out of Bourne Identity. Really cool. I've found that some NPC's suck at fighting while others are bad ass mofo's.
adamskii
This may interest you chaps as ex-games designers. A 2D physics sandbox called Phun, check out this vid.
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/phun
May be old, but meh, thought you'd like.
Percy
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/download/phun
Linkage to download.
Percy
Yeahs I played this it was really clever,
Adamskii
Force Unleashed preview - looks flippin' fantastic. Hopefully I'll have completed GTA IV by the time it has been released.
Didn't realise you could one-hit them! Might have to play around with close combat too, sometime soon. I find the women are the best at fighting.
Well, one hit combo them, its fun. Ok they don't always go down after it but more than often they will.
As far as star wars, anything with euphoria in it is in my fun book. It continues to surprise me now and then. On gta last night I jacked someone and he wasnt happy. As i Was driving off he grabbed onto the door handle on the car to open it and was hanging there as I drove off. It was really funny, so I lined him up to an oncoming car and boof! Mucho amusement.
adamskii
I've had angry drivers hang on a few times - they're stupid and crazy!
Just updated the settings for PHP on the webserver, so you should start receiving email updates if you're subscribed to this post - as I recently moved all mail handling from the webserver to a dedicated mailserver.
Woop! Im back online.
Adamskii
That took a while! Who are you with now? What speeds are you getting? And did you get a TV in the end - if so, what model?
So many questions...
Well at the mo its "upto 8 mb" which means its pretty lame & can be anything. There is very crap range of options around here for connection. I was almost forced to get BT but found the Post Office worked out about £10 cheaper, still its doing the job at the mo and the router is pretty cooel as u cant see it on the local wireless networks list that comes up.
I got a TV as well, perhaps I could have got more for my money (in fact I know I could have), but i went for a faster option and I suppose safer option and got a Samsung Series 5 tv. It's pretty feking sweet to be honest. Although strangely doesnt seem massive in the room, i guess because i have hardly any furniture and so room seems big. Very glad i didnt get the 32inch. (its a 37inch). ill pop a pic up tommorow.
Fun game on PGR3 hehe ;)
Adamskii
Most wireless routers/access points have the option to turn off SSID broadcast, but I've not come across one that has it switched off by default - so that's good. Sounds like they've thought about security.
We're looking to get a new TV for Christmas and I'm thinking 37" is the way to go (hopefully 1080p). Interested to see a pic - as the Samsungs look pimp!
well id reccomend it so far, ill get a pic up soon. Sounds like the sort of thing u after. Btw im a minor tv expert at the mo, i l spent many many many hours learning about tv's.
Adamskii
Well, although my XBOX will only do 1080i, I'd like the option of 1080p for future proofing. Also, 32" is the current size of the CRT (although not visible size), so a step-up makes sense. Samsung appear to be cheaper than many others, for the same spec. Will await your pic and update you if I come across any for my shortlist.
Yeah i got the 1080p one in the end for same reason. Incase i get a ps3 etc. Samsung good value for money, you get alot of inputs which was important for me. AS this was a newer model i was a little weary about how it would be. I spent a loooong time in comet & curry's etc but the problem is they set the tv's up soo bad. If you do buy a tv and it looks bad don't worry its likely you just gotta set it up good. Im happy with mine at the mo. Here some pics. Because my front room is so bare it doesn't look like a 37inch but believe me its pretty jumbo. I like. http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/madnam/Tv%20pics/tv-smallpic.jpg Here me racing ya's last night, i whipped out the wheel on my lap would be good to get it on the table as a base. http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/madnam/Tv%20pics/fistpumpage.jpg http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/madnam/Tv%20pics/broombroom.jpg
adamskii
As a note the 5 Series of tv's are the same they are just cosmetically different. So thats the 556(one i got) 557, 558, and 559. Strangely they differ in price. I wasnt to sure about the design of mine at 1st as its so square in the shop looked good but i wasnt sure. when i got it home though i really do like it, the shape is really goes well.
adamskii
Just went to watch Indiana Bones aaaaand.... don't bother. Jeeesuz it was poor.
Adamskii
Thats because Mr Ford is about 80 and we seen it all before in the last 3. Should of got Michael Douglas to do another Romancing the Stone in his wheel chair, prob be better.
LordByron
Trust me it would have been
Adamskii
oh and also trust me when I say you have NOT seen it all before I won't give it away but... that's what made the film so bloody awful
Adamskii
After all this stuff about gta4 looking better on ps3, Gamespot go and pick the 360 version on a graphics comparison feature. Overall seems that PS3 games are blurrier but sometimes in a way looking better anti aliased. 360 having sharper textures and better shadowing. Still it's very close on most games.
adamskii
whoops ^ http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6191251/p-3.html
adamskii
http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6191251/p-3.html
adamskii
http://www.gamestation.co.uk/product.asp?id=xb360a026
£20 hddvd, buy one for fun? hd movies are about a fiver. planet earth series for £17.99
adamskii
£20 is a bargain! I would get one, but that £20 could be better spent on memory for my PC, or nappies...
In fact, it's the bargain of the century, until you factor in the format being obsolete.
Why don't you get a PS3 and do your own feature - comparing the two versions?
mmmm nah! Ill save the cash; im broke.
Adamskii
Hahaha dam things. Im awaiting mine to die once more its got a sticky dvd drive and i want a better one! Prob because of that this will be the one that never breaks on me. I not got many warrenty months left :( Check einstein http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/223540.html?playlist=featured
Adamskii
I didn't realise he was that short!
It's true! The XBOX has died. However, there is good news for those of you who experience the red lights of death. Head over to Microsoft's Help and Support which has all the details. It's a simple process, register your XBOX (if you haven't already) with its serial number, then fill in a form and they'll send you a UPS shipping label, ready for pickup.
UPS are coming here on Monday to collect the nicely packaged (albeit damaged) XBOX and I should receive a replacement soon.
The downside to all this is that it takes 2 to 3 weeks! Which means I cannot play on GTA IV for a long time - something which I had planned to do over the next few days...
Trust me tho thats alot faster then it was taking them! It was a joke. Still, should be about 2 weeks and looks like a brand new one when returned/replaced.
Adamskii
This guy is a clever bastid i like VR tv bestest http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/projects/wii/ and all you need is a remote, a couple of infa red sensors and his software that you can download for free. Wish i was at uni still would have time to piss about with this stuff.
LordByron
I was meant to make a note of the serial number, to check if they had actually repaired mine - or replaced it. UPS came to pick it up today, or at least I hope they did - as I came home to find the back gate wide open and the XBOX gone, along with the note I'd left for them. Either they took it, or some theavin' scum is trying to work out how to make the red lights disappear...
both times mine got replaced 2nd time the dvd tray was a bit sticky. its worse now i should of done something at the time but id waitied so long to get it back i didnt. still, if it never breaks ill be happy!
Adamskii
How come my post has not been posted?
LordByron
It was chucked into the spam queue - not sure why as it looks legit. Perhaps the word p-i-s-s was picked up.
You gotta rescue it as its an amazing post!
LordByron
I have - see above!
worst post EEEVEEEERRRRR!!!11!
I
Adamskii
Lian Li have confirmed their XBOX 360 case is near to release.
Read more at bit-tech's recent article, their preview article and over at HEXUS.net
I may well purchase one upon release to give my [repaired] XBOX a new lease of life...
Haha nice. Might be tempted if its fair price in case mine wants to try and burn out in the summertime. Still I kind of want that to happen so I can get one with a dvd drive that isnt half broke. I get quite a few disc read errors, its a joke.
adamskii
Blu-Ray may be available by then, so you could look at getting a replacement. I noticed on the support site that anything but red light errors costs £50 to repair.
right oh
Adamskii
Ok Alex will win go for the safe bet.
Adamskii
Forget I ever posted that i fooking knew that lee would get it. Dam it why don't I gamble for real?
Adamskii
Okay, I'ma gonna be late for work tomorrow morning.
This is fun!
What is?
How is everyone? I might be travelling north to see you scummy lincolners soon, check it, y'all!
Lord Percy
I need to come to scummy Lincoln soon too. Hows u Lord Percy?
Adamskii
Hello Ben,
I to was late for work this morning, just blame it on the tractors.
Yeah get up here to lincoln you got to see bambino Lilly so that a reason. I bought me a train ticket to Tiverton the other day for the europe trip cost a whopping £8.25 cheap as chips, but if i wanted to travel about 15 miles on bus it would cost me the same.
LordByron
Eh the baby is born? Bah! thanks for mentioning Si.... Hope it all went well.
Why you going to Tiverton? Im going to leave u to walk from there.
Adamskii
Simon knows more than we do!
Don't worry Adamskii, we'd tell you once Lily has arrived. I'm just waiting till I can put her new pink Converse shoes on her feet..
madman i saw your cheese in tesco today it was called edamski
queenofthecarebears
I churn the cheese inside my ballsacks
Adamskii
nice
queenofthecarebears
Are u in Lincoln this weekend, as I'll be visiting.
Adamskii
I am, have just setup our new TV too, however I need some extra long cables as I underestimated the size of the thing.
Pop in to see Baby Lily!
Make sure u set that thing up good, the default settings looked pretty bad i thought, im happy with how it is now tho. if u want ill post the settings i use.
Adamskii
Post the settings - interested to see the difference. I've not changed any settings yet and Standard Definition looks great through it. Going to put the XBOX to use tomorrow - am I right in thinking it upscales DVDs? Seem to remember you mentioning it a while back.
Just spent the evening routing all of the new cables around the room, I remember doing it when we first moved in here with your Dad watching whilst drinking whisky.
Something like this: movie mode Backlight 4 contrast 85 brightness 52 sharpness 20 colour 51 tint (G/R) G55/R45
detailed settings black adjust - low dynamic contrast - medium or off, take your choice gamma -0 colour space -auto flesh tone -0 edge enhancement - off white balance - all at 25
picture options colour tone - warm 1 digital nr - off hdmi black level - low energy savings - low or off
if you use the television sound these setting are farfar better mode: custom srs trusurround xt : on auto volume on tv speakers: on
(# of clicks) balance: 0 100hz: 8 clicks rights 300hz: 8 clicks left 1khz: 4 left 3khz: 3 left 10khz: 5 right
adamskii
dont forget to set your xbox display settings on 1080 depending on what cable you run it through. I think the VGA like me? Yeah it does seem to upscale somewhat, at least i assume it does because the quality is mostly fantastic depending on what dvd you watch. LOTRinger was stunning, try that one 1st. Looked almost high def disc to me, get the distance right and it does look hddvd.
adamskii
Tried your settings and colour looks more natural, will see how it goes - definitely better than standard settings. The TV speakers are off - got the component audio out from the TV piped into the Logitech Z5500's, with optical out from the XBOX 360 connected to them too. The 360 uses VGA, 1920x1080 resolution and looks fantastic. Played HL2 Orange Box demo last night and it looks better than my PC (max settings, 16x AA etc.)!
Good point - WeeWorld don't appear to do Baby WeeMees...
Should i buy this bike? I love this bike. I love this price.
http://www.realcycles.com/products.php?plid=m1b0s1p1389&z=1014
Adamskii
Would you have it alongside your current bike, or to replace it? For the money it's a pimp bike and would be very useful.
Alongside! I want a hardtail and a full sus
Adamskii
Buy it money bags.
LordCock
Its ok, i settled on ps3 thing
Adamskii
How is the PS3, compared to your 360? Should have opted for the bike!
No its not out till next week, they are upgrading the package to a 80gb hard drive and a included dual shock 3 pad - finally.
I want it less for games then anything else really. I want it for the internet in front room, prob for PVR addon that coming out, obviously blu ray in future, and i want to stream music off it.
Only a couple of games im arsed about really, imo 360 is the console for games.
Adamskii
Nice, didn't realise they were bringing out a new version - or that the Dual Shock 3 isn't standard.
We've ordered Virgin Media's V+, which will handle PVR duties - recording 2 channels whilst watching the 3rd. Then I'm looking at re-purposing my PC as a HTPC with a Silverstone LC17. The only issue is that Blu-Ray drives are still around the £100 mark, but should come down within the next year or so.
My mates got that V+ box, I had a look this past weekend, its really nice.
Adamskii
I've not seen one in the flesh (well plastic), but have watched the demonstration video on Virgin on demand and it looked ideal. Plus the fact that it's 1/2 price installation and we're lacking any Virgin TV downstairs.
Star Wars Force Unleashed demo is up on XBOX live, its pretty good fun. Bit weird to control at 1st tho, but always good to throw stormtroopers about.
Adamskii
Teesting....1...2....3... I am on this website from my ps3, which im actually suprised has come a loooong long way from when it 1st came out. Its actually rather good. The bad thing being the lack of games for sho. As a media centre its tippidy top so far, I even installed linx on it, problem being that i have no idea what the hell im doing on it. Any questions? Bobobo
ADAMSKIIPS3
Testing 1...2....3...
Adamskii
Im pretty impressed with the PS3 so far, its come a hell of a long way since I last tried it. However I can see this website fine from its browser but i cant make any posts, any clue why?
Any questions aboot it post em innuh!
Adamskii
Get off that thing and start planning the trip. I always knew PS3 would reign supreme as its got more going for it for a complete media centre and online play is free, they just got to sort out their games now. What game did you get with it? Are you getting fifa or proevo on xbox?
LordByron
I ran comparison of the star wars demo form both console. 360 loaded faster, ps3 maybe had slightly better blur effect, 360 had much better anisotropic filtering. 360 = better for games PS3 = better media box
Adamskii
Am I missing something? Apart from Blu-Ray, what does the PS3 offer (media wise) that the 360 doesn't? The Media Extender features of the 360 make up for the lack of Blu-Ray I reckon.
Aha! Found your stray comment in the spam queue. Not quite sure what differs from it and a standard post.
One question though - what distro of Linux have you managed to fit onto the PS3? Is it limited, or can pretty much any version of Linux run on it?
Its an older version but not too old, its based on Power PC architecture so needed this version Ive installed Ubuntu 7.10, the official recommendation is like yellow dog or something but this one seems to be bit more popular. I've no idea what im doing on it tho and only spent about 30 mins with it. When i say its a better media box i mean it just feels like a better one, everything was alot more fluid, the integrated wireless meant i was finding other computers media in no time (kinda weird tho as i didnt even allow access on the computers!) You can browse the internet which the 360 is painfully still lacking after all this time, albeit a little but limited on some sites. This was good for me as i can quickly go on in the morning after like 10 seconds boot its there. You can use keyboard (like360) but also any usb mouse, that includes wireless or bluetooth devices. My mouse worked straight away. Its getting a PVR adapter soon. I can upgrade the hard drive at anytime to whatever size. The music player visuals look soo gorgeous. The media remote (i bought separate) is pretty fly. errr oh and its shhh quiet.
Adamskii
OK, that pretty much says it all. Actually, I can't be that pleased with the 360's media capabilities - what with the V+ PVR arriving tomorrow and the HTPC upgrade in the coming months. The 360 works well extending Vista/MCE's features, but not a lot else.
I can't wait till they update the xbox dashboard though, it should look a lot better and hopefully introduce some new features.
Adamskii
I've picked up Star Wars Force Unleashed for the 360 - £30 from ASDA (both in-store and online)!
Cool, Im sorta undecided about the game. Good price tho, & I liked the demo
Adamskii
The full game is great - the levels are huge and vary. The game is much like KOTOR, but with the emphasis on combat. There's the RPG elements, such as customising your lightsaber and choosing skills to level up in. For £30 you can't go wrong.
Yo I bought a netbook thing, an Advent Aspire 4211 I went for the acer one a150 but they all ou tof stock everywhere so I got htis instead. I happy with it so far, nippier then I was expecting.
Adamskii
With an Intel Atom, XP and 1GB memory? Coo-el! Would be ideal for surfing the 'net in front of the TV. My VAIO is fine, but gets hot and is often too big for lounging around with.
Aiight the very same, yeah pretty much for browsing web in front of tv. Actually runs some games better then I expected as well. Only problem......its developed a frikin white dot on the screen near the middle... fekfekfek about 6 pixels big & brightest on a white background. Gonna take it back today :( and try and get it switched... annoying as I just installed a ton of update junk on the thing and updated the bios.
aDAMSKII
Got it replaced, I showed the guy on the tech desk and he took it over to the technician who was most bemused and came over like wtf, i never seen that before ok fair enough we'll fetch you a new one. So thats good, but bad in that ill have to get all the updates again. ach well
Adamskii
6 dead pixels is allowed, but 6 dead pixels next to each other? Mental! Good job they replaced it.
They wern't dead.... they wern't stuck either...it was weird. Like the area was bleeding too much light. When u pushed the back of the lcd there was always pressure marks in that area of the screen. Musta been a hardware fault.
Adamskii
OK, what should the new 'general chat' area be named? I'm thinking something winter-y? As Autumn goes pretty quick in this country...
The Grotto
Adumskii
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