tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83055381272404165622024-03-13T14:16:18.792-04:00Speaking Of . . .This blog is a fusion of personal, work, and professional subjects taking the form of conversations that we might have had -- hence the name -- on so wide a variety of topics that it defies description.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-5564177455816702482017-10-01T14:04:00.000-04:002017-10-01T14:04:02.286-04:00Xbox Live - Benefits of Gold Membership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When the whole question of subscribing to Xbox Live (paying in other words) came up years ago, the issue that decided it for me was that some games basically required you to be a Gold Level Member just to access the online features for those games - and since I wanted to do that and assumed that other games would follow suit, I subscribed.</div>
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<i>Just to be clear here, I am not being paid for this glowing endorsement... And I also subscribe to the PlayStation Network's Social Community too. </i></div>
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But then what I assumed to be true turned out not to be. Basically it was mostly the free or reduced price games that had that requirement - the vast majority of AA and AAA titles didn't do that. But by the time I figured that out, I was already hooked on the features of Xbox Live - and this was before they did the whole Gaming with Gold program mind you. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Arya Stark is TOTALLY a Young Lara Croft</b></i></td></tr>
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Among the Gold features that I discovered I liked a lot was equally split between the social aspects that help you find other gamers to play online with, and the Achievements Scheme with its Gamerscores and bragging rights.</div>
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That kept me hooked until the whole membership thing exploded with the release of the Xbox One and a massive expansion to Live which included a selection of free games every month. Speaking of that - this month the selections you can download and play for free are:</div>
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<li><b>Gone Home: Console Edition</b> for X1</li>
<li><b>Oxenfree </b>for X1</li>
<li><b>Rayman 3D</b> for X260</li>
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And later in the month will be added:<br />
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<li><b>The Turing Test </b>(for X1 <span class="availDate x-hidden-focus" data-loc-copy="keyCopydateslatergame1">from 10/16 thru 11/15)</span></li>
<li><b>Medal of Honor: Airborne</b> (for X1 <span class="availDate x-hidden-focus" data-loc-copy="keyCopydateslatergame1">from 10/16 thru 10/31)</span></li>
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All of the 360 titles can be played on X1 so really if you think about it they are all X1 games, you can just play some on your old X360. You don't even have to download the games immediately either. As long as you click on the get game button and thus have the game license added to your console and Gamertag before the offers expire, you can download the games whenever you like. Just saying.</div>
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Add to that the other Gold-related features of membership that include discounts for purchasing the digital versions of games via the "Deals with Gold" in the online Xbox Store, which range from 50% to 70% off selected titles. </div>
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Regular "Free Play Days" offers (currently that includes the game Paladins) and an Xbox Live Quests Contest that's giving away a 55" Samsung 4K TV...</div>
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I'm telling you all this because if you own an X360 or an X1 and you're
not a member you should join. When you factor in just the free monthly
games that more than offsets the cost of membership, and the 50% to 75%
off on game buys from the Xbox Store is like gravy on top of that
considering it only costs $4.99 a month!? </div>
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The primary benefits of Gold Membership:</div>
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<li><b>12-Player Racing (in games like Forza: Horizon);</b></li>
<li><b>Contests with great prizes; </b></li>
<li><b>Discounts of </b><b>50% to 75% off games and game add-ons / Expansions / DLC;</b></li>
<li><b><b>Free Games every Month (worth more than $700 a year);</b></b></li>
<li><b>Game DVR;</b></li>
<li><b>Online Multi-Player Play;</b></li>
<li><b>Upload Studio;</b></li>
<li><b>Xbox 360 Multi-Player Gaming on Xbox 1. </b></li>
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<b>Original Xbox Games Coming to Xbox 1</b></h2>
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If you have not heard it yet, prepare yourself for some exciting news indeed! You see games from the original Xbox? Yeah, they're getting backwards compatibility added so you'll be able to play THREE generations of games on ONE Xbox - your Xbox One (of course). Heh.</div>
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The wizards at Live have not yet released the list of the first batch of backwards compatible Original Xbox titles - but we expect them to do so any day now. We'll keep you informed.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-89057695074502964872017-06-13T12:42:00.000-04:002017-06-13T12:42:21.667-04:00Microsoft LIVE Xbox Game Pass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Earlier this year, Microsoft announced a new subscription-based service called Xbox Game Pass -- describing it as a new digital gaming subscription service for the Xbox One community offering incredible value for the relatively low monthly fee of $9.99 per month. </div>
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Basically the subscription would grant access to a library of game titles - with new titles being added each month, which potentially could serve as a go-to for retro and classic gaming as well as provide the means for gamers to download and play titles from the past few years that, for whatever reason, they've missed.</div>
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Similar to the services already offered by Electronic Arts on the Xbox One -- <i>EA Access</i> and on Sony's PlayStation 4 streaming service <i>PlayStation Now</i>, both of which are video game subscription services that, in exchange for a monthly subscription fee, gamers can download and play games from the library offered by each service. <br />
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For Xbox Game Pass gamers who subscribe choose the games they want to play and digital copies are then downloaded directly to their Xbox One, with a license and, as long as they remain a Game Pass Subscriber, they can play the games from the library as much as they like.</div>
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Xbox Game Pass offers unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and Backward Compatible Xbox 360 games for $9.99 USD per month. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">In the category of AA and AAA games the library boasts all three titles in the BioShock series, both games in the Viva Piñata series, and most of the Gears of War series as well. </span></b></span></div>
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The service was tested extensively by the volunteer members of the Xbox Insider Program, then was fine-tuned via their feedback before being launched system-wide on 1 June across 31 markets (see below). </div>
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The LIVE service is offering gamers a 14-day free trial -- anyone with an Xbox Live account and not just Xbox LIVE Gold level members -- can start their 14-day free trial and play as many of the more than 100 games currently in the game library as much as they like. Subscriptions are be available for purchase online at xbox.com/game-pass, with a retail offering expected later this year.</div>
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Online gaming subscription services are only as good as their catalog of titles, which may be why Microsoft opted to cherry-pick from its Xbox One and Backward Compatible Xbox 360 games to offer some of the most popular games of the past few years to gamers.</div>
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The current Xbox Game Pass Library consists of :</div>
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<li>#IDARB</li>
<li>A Kingdom for Keflings</li>
<li>A World of Keflings</li>
<li>Age of Booty</li>
<li>Banjo-Kazooie</li>
<li>Banjo-Kazooie N n B</li>
<li>Banjo Tooie</li>
<li>BC Rearmed 2</li>
<li>BioShock 1</li>
<li>BioShock 2</li>
<li>BioShock Infinite</li>
<li>Blood Bowl 2</li>
<li>The Book of Unwritten Tales 2</li>
<li>Borderlands</li>
<li>Bound by Flame</li>
<li>Braid</li>
<li>Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons</li>
<li>CAPCOM Arcade Cabinet</li>
<li>CastleStorm</li>
<li>Comic Jumper</li>
<li>Comix Zone</li>
<li>D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die</li>
<li>Dark Void</li>
<li>de Blob 2</li>
<li>Defense Grid</li>
<li>Defense Grid 2</li>
<li>Dig Dug</li>
<li>DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Double Dragon Neon</li>
<li>Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara</li>
<li>Electronic Super Joy</li>
<li>Fable III</li>
<li>Farming Simulator 15</li>
<li>Final Fight: DblImpact</li>
<li>Flock!</li>
<li>Galaga Legions DX</li>
<li>Gears of War</li>
<li>Gears of War 2</li>
<li>Gears of War 3</li>
<li>Gears of War: Judgement</li>
<li>Gears Ultimate Edition</li>
<li>The Golf Club</li>
<li>GRID 2</li>
<li>Halo 5: Guardians</li>
<li>Halo: Spartan Assault</li>
<li>Hexic 2</li>
<li>Iron Brigade</li>
<li>Jetpac Refueled</li>
<li>Joe Danger 2: The Movie</li>
<li>Joe Danger: Special Edition</li>
<li>Joy Ride Turbo</li>
<li>JumpJet Rex</li>
<li>Kameo</li>
<li>Knight Squad</li>
<li>KOF98UM</li>
<li>KYUB</li>
<li>Layers of Fear</li>
<li>LEGO Batman</li>
<li>Lumo</li>
<li>Mad Max</li>
<li>Massive Chalice</li>
<li>The Maw</li>
<li>Max: Curse of the Brotherhood</li>
<li>Mega Coin Squad</li>
<li>Mega Man Legacy Collection</li>
<li>Metal Slug 3</li>
<li>Monday Night Combat</li>
<li>Ms. Splosion Man</li>
<li>MX vs ATV Reflex</li>
<li>N+</li>
<li>NBA 2K16</li>
<li>NEOGEO Battle Coliseum</li>
<li>OlliOlli</li>
<li>OF: Dragon Rising</li>
<li>Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+</li>
<li>Pac-Man Museum</li>
<li>Payday 2: Cromewave</li>
<li>Perfect Dark Zero</li>
<li>Pumped BMX +</li>
<li>Resident Evil 0</li>
<li>Roundabout</li>
<li>Sacred 3</li>
<li>Saints Row IV: Re-Elected</li>
<li>Sam&Max Beyond Time</li>
<li>Sam&Max Save the World</li>
<li>Samurai Showdown II</li>
<li>ScreamRide</li>
<li>Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.</li>
<li>Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe</li>
<li>Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World</li>
<li>Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage</li>
<li>Shantae and the Pirate's Curse</li>
<li>SOULCALIBUR</li>
<li>SOULCALIBER II HD</li>
<li>Splunky</li>
<li>Splosion Man</li>
<li>Stacking</li>
<li>Sterndenn</li>
<li>Streets of Rage</li>
<li>Strider</li>
<li>Sunset Overdrive</li>
<li>Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings</li>
<li>Super Time Force</li>
<li>The Swapper</li>
<li>TEKKEN Tag Tournement 2</li>
<li>Terraria</li>
<li>Toy Soldiers</li>
<li>Toy Soldiers: Cold War</li>
<li>Virtual Fighter 5: Final Showdown</li>
<li>Viva Pinata</li>
<li>Viva Pinata: TIP</li>
<li>WWE 2K16</li>
<li>XCOM: Enemy Within</li>
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Each month the Xbox Game Pass service will add a new set of games to the library catalog - and as an added benefit, Xbox Game Pass members can purchase all Xbox One games in the catalog - and related add-ons - at an exclusive discount if they like. It's our understanding that the LIVE Marketplace will detect your Access Membership and adjust the title prices on the Marketplace to reflect that status and discount. </div>
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In terms of its offerings, Access at the present time includes some of the most popular Xbox LIVE Arcade category games in the history of the LIVE Service - with examples including the two games in the hugely popular Keflings Series (A Kingdom for Keflings and A World for Keflings) the two most popular titles in the Toy Soldiers Series (Toy Soldiers, and Toy Soldiers: Cold War), and the cult classic Perfect Dark Zero. </div>
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In the category of AA and AAA games the library boasts all three titles in the BioShock series, both games in the Viva Piñata series, and most of the Gears of War series as well. </div>
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Gamers interested in classic arcade and retro games will be very pleased to discover that among the offerings in the library can be found CAPCOM Arcade Cabinet, and the full suite available in the Sega Vintage Collections - including Alex Kidd & Co., Golden Axe, Monster World, and Streets of Rage.</div>
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Assuming that the wizards behind the service are active in selecting prime titles for the coming monthly updates, Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass appears to be a genuine bargain in entertainment.<br />
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What's our conclusion? After evaluating the service via the free 14-day trial our judgement is very positive - this is certainly a value for the cost, and is loaded with entertainment. The only drawbacks that we can see are down to the actual games, which have to be downloaded to your local storage - which means you will need to have adequate space available which is typically between 3GB and 6GB per game (more for the larger titles like BioShock Infinite.<br />
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If storage is an issue for you - check out our feature piece on console storage -- <a href="http://boots-faubert.blogspot.com/2017/04/storage-problems-solved.html" target="_blank"><i><b>Storage Problems Solved!</b></i></a> -- (Speaking of 24 April '17) as that may be your fix straight away!</div>
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Xbox Game Pass is available in 31 Xbox markets at launch: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, and the United States.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-81014919014479936222017-04-26T12:34:00.000-04:002017-04-26T18:58:43.034-04:00Storage Problems Solved!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh9xAUHVTkI/WQDLswR_2II/AAAAAAAABZ0/bwEFy_H6rAwD_KeU_2-TJhWD1U5Rm_y-wCLcB/s1600/seagate6tb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh9xAUHVTkI/WQDLswR_2II/AAAAAAAABZ0/bwEFy_H6rAwD_KeU_2-TJhWD1U5Rm_y-wCLcB/s400/seagate6tb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recently I discovered I was in a little trouble - my Xbox One started acting really funny and at times would slow down to a crawl. That got my attention - and I took a look via System and discovered to my horror that the internal drive was down to 7% capacity - while my 2TB external (a Western Digital My Book) was down to 11% available capacity!?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't know how I let it get this bad - honestly. I am usually pretty good about keeping an eye on that sort of thing - and yet it happened.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I moved what I could from the Internal drive to the External - it was not much - and then made the hard choice of deleting some of the games.</div><p><h2 style="text-align: justify;">Deleting Games...</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">This is almost always the choice of last resort - because even if you pick smaller games you are usually going to take a hit in terms of re-installing and then patching them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who could predict how nasty this situation could get? The Xbox One came with 1TB of Internal storage (when my original X1 died I ended up replacing it with the 1TB Forza Edition X1) and as I had the 2TB external storage I was thinking - great! I have 3TB of available storage - I will be just fine for-ever! Cha!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So yeah, here I was with no more room and the lack of swap space on the Internal is slowing everything down. There was really no choice to it - okay that isn't true - there were choices to make. Should I just buy another My Book and plug it in? That'll give me however much the second device has as more storage. Right. OR should I outright replace the My Book with something bigger?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the plus side, Peter needs a drive and, if I replaced the current one I could then pass it on to him. But if I replaced the current one, how big should I go??</div><p><h2 style="text-align: justify;">How Big to Go?</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">If someone else asked me for advice on what to do here, I would always say "get the most you can afford - bigger is better!" but, do I follow my own advice? Huh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Instead of just making a decision based on desires I ended up doing the educated thing, and looking up the stats and cost of a wide array of units - the idea being to find the fastest ones and then compare their prices and the cost per TB of these units.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast in terms of external storage is 7200RPM. Cost per TB though - that varies and especially if you are getting the unit on sale. But overall and narrowing it all down I decided that there were basically two choices: Seagate or Western Digital. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Doing my due-diligence, and discovering that my local big-box had sent me a 20% off computer purchases - I ended up going with the 6TB Seagate unit. It's fast, it's small, and with the coupon the per-TB price was not even close to being painful! Just so you know, $28 per TB is the average cost.</div><p><h2 style="text-align: justify;">The Verdict?</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">The Segate is installed - and it took a LOT less time than I thought it would to transfer the contents of the old drive to the new. I am wicked pleased with the performance and the ease of installation for this device.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are looking for an external drive / storage for your Xbox One, I am happy to recommend Seagate's 6TB Backup Blus Hub. Good times were had. Good times.<br />
<p><h2>Updated Notes </h2>In the process of moving the contents from the Western Digital My Book to the new Seagate drive I have noticed an odd event - for games with less than say 20GB the transfer is wicked fast. For games that were more than 21GB they were noticeably slower.<br />
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When I started looking around I discovered that the Internal Storage was actually down to just 6% available space. I didn't think that could be it - after all it should be copying external drive to external drive, right?<br />
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Except when I freed up some space on the Internal Drive (I took it to 20% free by moving some of the games to the new Seagate Drive) that slowing down problem? It went away. So if you are in the same boat I am in I suggest you make a chunk of room available on your Internal Drive just in case. <br />
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</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-78242432153594961512017-04-03T13:16:00.000-04:002017-04-03T13:16:04.414-04:00Retro Games, Rotation, and the Gamer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>- or -</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A Question of Retro Games, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Game Play
Rotation Lists, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>& Modem Gamers</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eI-JnDoEVME/WOKDC_P0sbI/AAAAAAAABZc/QOFYbe9zxJ4wv9rjdJmtn59yaew7ADtDACLcB/s1600/Mostdangerous1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eI-JnDoEVME/WOKDC_P0sbI/AAAAAAAABZc/QOFYbe9zxJ4wv9rjdJmtn59yaew7ADtDACLcB/s1600/Mostdangerous1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Well unless Angry Birds happens to be
in his Game Play Rotation List that is!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>The Most Dangerous Gamer (Comic)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>
</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>by Nicole Wakelin on December 10, 2012</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PREFACE</span></span></h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There has never been a better time to recover from lazy gamer syndrome or its counterpart - no-time-to-play-itus - than today. Now. Bear with me, all will become clear. But first we begin the lesson... </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Importance of Context</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Contexts is wicked important. So are ideas like “<i>logic</i>” or
“<i>expression</i>” or even “<i>thought</i>” and “<i>emotion</i>” just to name
a few. One position on these matters can be found in the school of
Epistemology -- which is the philosophical science and discipline
under which we study and define how we know what we know - and the best
was to both communicate and illustrate those points.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
At its most basic of definitions “<i>Epistemology</i>” is defined as the study of the nature and
scope of knowledge, as well as its justified belief and related
systems that extend from there. Epistemology <br />analyzes the nature
of knowledge -- and how it relates to similar notions such as truth,
belief and justification -- and then defines those words and terms
and their meaning in useful ways, so that we can thus carry on
dialogue together.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The discipline also addresses our means
of production of knowledge, and skepticism about different claims
therein. I find this immensely appropriate and even poetic when I
consider the alternate worlds that I have most recently existed in,
and in particular that of the Japan and its northern-most island,
Hokkaido, in the world of Hitman (2016), and the world that exists
within the construct of the game “Thief” which was for all
practical intentions, created in the late 1990s and refined in 2014
but depicts an industrial-age society on some alien world.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Sure, those are fictional worlds - or
are they? I can tell you that at times they felt very real to me -
and in particular the moral codes that appear to have usurped that of
the courts and Common Law in them.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
And the Darwinian approach to moral
justification - something akin to Python Law rather than Common Law -
when it comes to the significance of and importance for “getting
even” or revenge - two themes that play significant roles in both
of those manufactured worlds.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Despite the fact that humanity - let
alone an individual citizen from one of the many different tribes
that human call “nation-states” under which the species has been
divided -- often and under conditions of grave danger seek that sort
of satisfaction. I'm just saying.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
To have meaningful exchanges about
these - and other - topics we all need to agree on the basic
foundation points like the actual meaning of phrases like “Retro
Games,” or “Game Play Rotation List(s)” and even “Modern
Gamer(s),” and what about “Preface?” That being so, for the
record as I write this I am working from the following foundation
points:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Retro Games =</b> <i>Any game that is
older than the current season - but can be a very old game too.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Game Play Rotation List(s) =</b> <i>Any
game title you play regularly but especially one you have yet to
complete to your satisfaction.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Modern Gamer(s) =</b> <i>Me. You. Any
gamer currently gaming even if they began their gaming career in the
1970s. As long as they are still gaming and doing it on modern
hardware, they are a Modern Gamer.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Preface =</b> <i>The bits that come
before the meat of the story.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
See? That wasn't so difficult, now was
it?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Meat Part</span></b></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Moore's law is an observation made by
Gordon Moore back in the day that the number of transistors in a
dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years. His
observation turned out to be spot-on accurate, which is why they
named it after him. It probably didn't hurt that Gordon Moore was
also a co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and a little tech
company called Intel.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The paper that Moore wrote and
published in 1965 described the doubling - every year - in the number
of components per integrated circuit, and projected that the rate of
growth would continue for at least another decade - which turned out
to be a very conservative time estimate, hindsight being 20/20 and
all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Borrowing from his experience I would
like to introduce to you:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Boots-Faubert's Law</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So yeah, this is the paper I am writing
and publishing (well, article not so much as paper but still) that
history will draw upon to phrase what will become known as
Boots-Faubert's Law of Game Play Rotation - a simple law in gaming
that dictates that the typical Game Play Rotation List for a gamer
will double in size every 12 months as more games are added to the
list thanks to two basic principles:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
(1) The wizards at game studios
continue to pump out games at a staggering rate, many of which are
classified as “must-play” titles; and</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
(2) The average gamer will not have
sufficient time in any given year to spend on completing these games,
which will cause a backlog of incomplete games (and games they never
got a chance to start playing in the first place) due to the lack of
sufficient time to play them all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reasoning for this has to do with
how big the video game industry has grown, and the fact that it
continues to grow, with new studios appearing practically every day.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2014</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A good example of this trend and its
effect can be found in the year 2014. Bear in mind that a decade ago
the typical gaming season - which runs from September through May -
generally produced around six AAA titles in the “must-play”
category, and so was certainly within reach of the typical gamer.
Which was why we didn't really have Game Play Rotation Lists of the
sort we have now back then.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Fast forward to 2014 however, and the
situation has changed. Peruse this sampling of just the primary
“must-play” titles for that year:</div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li>2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil</li>
<li>Alien: Isolation</li>
<li>Assassin's Creed Rogue</li>
<li>Assassin's Creed Unity</li>
<li>Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate</li>
<li>Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!</li>
<li>Bound by Flame</li>
<li>Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare</li>
<li>CastleStorm: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2</li>
<li>Chariot</li>
<li>Child of Light</li>
<li>Dark Souls II</li>
<li>Defense Grid 2</li>
<li>Destiny</li>
<li>Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition</li>
<li>Dragon Age: Inquisition</li>
<li>Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z</li>
<li>EA Sports UFC</li>
<li>The Elder Scrolls Online</li>
<li>Elite: Dangerous</li>
<li>Escape Dead Island</li>
<li>The Evil Within</li>
<li>Fable Anniversary</li>
<li>Far Cry </li>
<li>Fez</li>
<li>FIFA 15</li>
<li>Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn</li>
<li>Forza Horizon 2</li>
<li>Goat Simulator</li>
<li>Grand Theft Auto Online</li>
<li>Grand Theft Auto V</li>
<li>Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship
Edition</li>
<li>Halo: The Master Chief Collection</li>
<li>Halo: Spartan Assault</li>
<li>Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft</li>
<li>How to Survive</li>
<li>Infamous: First Light</li>
<li>Infamous: Second Son</li>
<li>The Last of Us: Left Behind</li>
<li>LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham</li>
<li>LEGO: The Hobbit</li>
<li>The LEGO Movie Videogame</li>
<li>Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII</li>
<li>LittleBigPlanet 3</li>
<li>Madden NFL 15</li>
<li>Mario Kart 8</li>
<li>Mario Golf: World Tour</li>
<li>Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes</li>
<li>Metro Redux</li>
<li>Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor</li>
<li>Minecraft for X1 / PS4</li>
<li>MLB 14: The Show</li>
<li>NASCAR '14</li>
<li>NBA 2K15</li>
<li>Need for Speed Rivals: Complete Edition</li>
<li>Persona 4 Arena Ultimax</li>
<li>Pinball FX 2</li>
<li>Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare</li>
<li>Pokémon Battle Trozei</li>
<li>Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire</li>
<li>Risen 3: Titan Lords</li>
<li>The Sims 4</li>
<li>Skylanders: Trap Team</li>
<li>Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Sniper Elite III</li>
<li>South Park: The Stick of Truth</li>
<li>Sunset Overdrive</li>
<li>Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS</li>
<li>Terraria</li>
<li>Thief</li>
<li>Titanfall</li>
<li>Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition</li>
<li>Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark</li>
<li>Tropico 5</li>
<li>Valiant Hearts: The Great War</li>
<li>The Walking Dead</li>
<li>Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate</li>
<li>Watch_Dogs</li>
<li>The Wolf Among Us</li>
<li>Wolfenstein: The New Order</li>
<li>World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition</li>
<li>World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor</li>
<li>Worms Battlegrounds</li>
<li>WWE 2K15</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While not every gamer is going to like
every genre - so there will be some selective removals depending on
personal choice, the list above contains 85 games! And it does not
help matters that some of those titles don't really include official
endings - particularly the MMOs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Sure I could have summarized that list
- but then it would not have contained the gut-punching impact that
the full list contains. And if you think that is a lot of games to
be released in one year, consider the fact that that list only
presents the AAA games - there are three times that number of lesser
and niche titles released in 2014 as well.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
This is why the average gamer's Game
Play Rotation List is going to continue to grow with each passing
season.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Another Problem</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you think that the paractical limits
that usually apply - like only being able to afford X number of games
in any given year - is helpful, consider this new problem: Microsoft
has started GIVING games away for FREE to members of Xbox LIVE Gold.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Consider it - today when I checked the
list of free Gold games - under the Game With Gold Program - I found
the following titles:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Ryse: Son of Rome</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Evolve Ultimate Edition</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Darksiders</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So there you have three more titles I
want to play. I WANT to play mind you. But I guarantee you that I
won't have the time to fully play them to my satisfaction, so as sure
as Bob's Your Uncle those three titles will end up being added to my
Game Play Rotation List.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What's the Solution, Kenneth?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I don't know about you lot, but the
idea of my GPRL simply ballooning forever bothers me. There are
loads of entertainment withering there just waiting for me to play!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Fortunately I have a solution. I say
we set aside Sunday afternoon through early evening for ME time.
Game Time. We dedicate ourselves to removing titles from our GPRLs
by really digging into a game every Sunday. Set Sunday aside for
gaming! Free the Games! YEAH!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-66830432621042918022017-03-25T06:38:00.000-04:002017-03-25T06:39:12.352-04:00 . . . Status Update and Buzzard Luck.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have good news and I have bad news.
The good news is that I am not dead. The bad news is that at various
points over the past 8 weeks or so I found myself almost wishing I
was.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
You lot have sent me piles of email
asking after me and why I suddenly went silent and why my progress on
current active projects was so sporadic and almost random. I did
have some health issues - but that is largely at this point in the
past. Which is to say that I am on the mend and feeling a LOT
better.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I sincerely apologise to those of you
who have been waiting very patiently for the final expansion section
for Hitman (2016) - which is long over-due as a result of my illness
- but is (I swear) very very imminent in arriving - as I am in the
last few hours of wrapping up the video edits and insertion of the
video illustrations for the main active project (Watch_Dogs 2) as I
write this.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqgaOUCUE1I/WNZIdT-bV6I/AAAAAAAABY8/_87slgKXgC0eYBlHqWUVUYRLu8RliOqAQCLcB/s1600/sickdoggy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqgaOUCUE1I/WNZIdT-bV6I/AAAAAAAABY8/_87slgKXgC0eYBlHqWUVUYRLu8RliOqAQCLcB/s320/sickdoggy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Once the WD2 WTG project is completed I
will immediately segue into completing Hitman - which only has the
Japan-expansion left to it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am not going to go too in-depth on
the health issues other than to reveal that I experienced a
combination of a cold that turned into an URI and a bad reaction to
some new meds -- simple as that.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So thank you all kindly for the emails
and your concern - it is very much appreciated. Please be relieved
to know that I am better and I have resumed work.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cheers!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chris</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-54167716235011744232016-11-13T10:28:00.000-05:002016-11-13T10:28:52.172-05:00Planning and Building a Home Network for the Video Gamer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Creating a
Gamer-Oriented Home Network</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A Network
Tech Series Feature (Chapter 1)</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>by CM Boots-Faubert</b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The realm of computers and network tech
today is so far advanced and so well integrated into the modern home
that the vocabulary of the average person includes words like
firewall, gateway, router, and phrases like cloud computing, content
curation, MAC Address, and virtual private network.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Shorthand like DNS, HTTP, ICMP, IP,
IPv4, IPv6, ISP, LAN, NAT, TCP, UDP, URL, WAN and WiFi won't present
the tech-savvy engineer a challenge, but today they are well-embedded
into the vocabulary of waitresses, auto mechanics, and even the local
parish priest but especially youngsters and college-aged students.
Which is why when Uncle Ralph and Aunt Molly have a problem with
their home network they tend to turn to a nephew or grandchild first
before seeking professional help.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
These words, phrases, and shorthand
have basically crept into the everyday vocabulary of non-technical
people, this is true, but unlike said engineer, their interests in
the underlying meanings pretty much terminates at the point where
they cease to be useful in their life.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So while they know what the words,
phrases, and shorthand mean, often the relationships that exist
between them are simply beyond their need to know, so they don't know
them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There are logical reasons behind that
expansion in vocabulary, and the broader technical understanding of
the average person - reasons that can easily be traced to the
evolution of technology, and specifically computer and network
technology - in the modern home.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Consider this: the presence of a
wireless computer network in the average home today is so expected
and unremarkable that the lack of such a service is more remarkable
than its presence.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When your daughter has her friends over
on the weekend for a slumber party -- which by-the-way they don't
actually call a slumber party anymore - they call it a LAN Party --
and the first question that the gaggle of tween guests in your home
are likely to ask is “what's the WiFi password?” as they pull out
their iPads, laptops, and smartphones.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That circumstances that create this
scenario - a scenario that unfolds in the world a lot these days -
did not happen overnight. Or in a vacuum. In fact we can easily
track the various circumstances and events that lead up to it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>The Evolution of the Home Network</b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In 1990 two events occurred that helped
to set in motion a movement that would eventually lead to the
Internet in its modern form. The first was the death of ARPANET,
which died not because it needed to, but because in 1985 the
directors of the National Science Foundation arrived at the
conclusion that, if they were going to obtain the level of network
and data services that they required, they would have to create it
themselves.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
After years of argument, the board of
directors of the National Science Foundati on proceeded to do just
that, authorizing the establishment of a new network in 1986 first by
linking creating a very large telecommunications network (called “The
Backbone”) through which they connected six strategic member
networks - five of which happened to host Supercomputer Centers.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
These were - starting from East and
heading West - (1) The John von Neumann Supercomputer Center at
Princeton University, (2) The Cornell Theory Center at Cornell
University, (3) The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) of
Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, and
Westinghouse Corporation, (4) The National Center for Supercomputing
Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,
(5) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and (2) The San
Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the University of California,
San Diego (UCSD).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The establishment of this new network -
which they named NSFNet - resulted in the first high-speed national
network to be created without direct input from DARPA - using a
series of six backbone sites that were interconnected via leased
56kb/s dedicated always-connected lines.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That may not sound all that fast now,
but back in 1986 the best that the average user could hope for in
terms of connectivity was a 9600 baud modem connecting via a POT -
Plain Old Telephone - single pair of copper wires - or what is
otherwise known as a phone line.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Using the V.32 standard for full-duplex
connections that were capable of 9600 bit/s at 2400 baud, V.32 modems
theoretically allowed for connection and transfer speeds at up to 9.6
Kbps - a figure that probably means nothing to you. Yet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Here are some numbers that will mean
something to you: that 9.6Kbps actually translates to 4.32 MB/hr - or
103 MB/day. Now compare that to the typical modern high-speed
Internet connection of around 9MBs -- which translates to around 72
Mbps, or 540 MB / min which totals 32.4 GB/hr or 777 GB per day.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So roughly translated, our ideal net
user in 1986 would require roughly five-and-a-half days to transfer 1
minute of modern data rates. If they were connected to that
seemingly snail's pace backbone of the original NSFNet, they'd only
need around three-hours-twenty-minutes or so which is way better -
WAY better - than five days! So yeah, it's not super fast but, at
the time, it was.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The new NSFNet rapidly attracted
partner networks, with the Canadian National Network connecting
almost immediately after its creation, and hundreds of other networks
of all sizes joining it over the course of the following two years,
at which point the original Backbone failed to maintain the required
speeds to service what had become a Global Network - or Internet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
After NSFNET began to accept foreign
networks for permanent connection membership, by 1990 the new Global
Internet was official the decision was made to upgrade the Backbone -
which they did to the tune of a T-1 Connection between each of the
Primary Nodes (A T-1 Connection is 1.5 Mbps). To help reduce stress
on the Backbone NSFNet was divided into Regional Networks so that,
for example, a user in London who requested a page or program that
was stored on a UK system, their request would not travel across the
main Backbone but used only the Regional Net.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Eventually the Backbone was again
upgraded - this time to a T-3 Connection (45 Mb/s) shortly after
issuing the license for paid (ISP-based) access to the network - but
now we are getting ahead of the story here.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1JVK5GJjCXc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1JVK5GJjCXc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>The World is On Fire</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The
</span>second major event in <i>The Year That Changed Everything</i>
(1990) was a small company in Massachusetts called Software Tool &
Die (AKA The World) connecting THEIR network to NSFNET.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The World was the first Commercial
Internet Service Provider (ISP) and provided anyone willing to pay
for an account access to the Internet. The shitstorm that followed
from government agencies and universities eventually forced the NSF
to grant provisional permission and license to The World to offer ISP
services, and within a year that license was extended to ISPs all
over the country and, eventually, the world itself. The modern
<i>Commercial</i> Internet was born.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
As regular people began to use the
Internet, larger Value-Added networks like CompuServe and AOL also
turned their attention to it, and Internet Access very quickly became
a thing that forward-looking real estate companies added to their
buildings in places like New York, Boston, and Los Angeles to attract
what they thought of as upwardly mobile and thus desirable tenants.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The typical apartment lease form
featured a comprehensive Utilities Section, which in 1990 and before,
included specifications on who was responsible for electricity,
water, and gas services, and reasonable limitations when the landlord
or building owner provided some or all of those services.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In 1995 those forms began to include
something called an Internet Access Lease Addendum -- a clause that
spelled out both access terms for tenants and any use restrictions
placed upon the building's 'Net Connection -- like upload and
download limits, or using the residential connection for commercial
purposes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
These additions to the average lease
agreement spelled out the various technical details - whether the
building network included a proxy web server, what sort of firewall
was used, and what steps the residents needed to take to register
their device(s) with the Internet Service Coordinator for the
building.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
By 2010 the Internet Access Lease
Addendum was fully integrated into the Utilities Section in most
markets, but thanks to the always-evolving computer threats the
average tenant often refused to rely upon whatever firewall
protections the building implemented, choosing instead to purchase
their own WiFi Firewall Router that they registered with the building
coordinator as the “computer” for their apartment.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In response to this new demand,
hardware manufacturers all over the world began to design and
manufacture a plethora of new devices that in addition to offering an
ever-evolving level of firewall protections, NAT services, and DHCP,
also included slots to install hard drives for their
Network-Accessible automatic backup software. They even started to
make Internet-Connected refrigerators - so yeah, you can easily lay
responsibility for The Internet of Things on the <i>The Year That
Changed Everything.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
To put this in
perspective for you, there is a high-rise building in New York City
that has fully integrated the Internet into their infrastructure. In
each of the flats is a dedicated screen by their entry doors that, in
addition to displaying an image of who is standing outside the door
in the hall, offers menus that display information on a variety of
building conditions.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
At the tap of the
screen tenants can learn the current temperature at street-level, the
air and water temperature for the building pool and hot tubs, whether
the sauna is turned on and, if so, its current temp, and they can
call up a view of their assigned parking spot in case they want to
check on their car.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The interface
allows them to summon the concierge, send a text to the doorman or
the deskman, and even order groceries from a limited menu of
necessaries - milk, bread, bottled water, that sort of thing -
provided by a nearby store that offers delivered services to the
building.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Using the
building's wireless Ethernet service they also have access to a Wiki
Server that offers the current calendar of co-op events, as well as a
number of maintenance services.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Despite
all of that convenience at their fingertips, to maintain fair and
impartial network access and speeds, these internal networks often
limit residents to one or two Internet-connected devices, and also
had limits to data use and access to certain ports or services.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">To
address those restrictions, the more tech-savvy residents either
created their own private networks or hire someone to do it for them.
</span>These non-routed 10.10 or 192.168 private networks hid behind
the officially registered IP address of their NAT-capable
firewall-router, so that from the building network side - or LAN - it
appeared that there was only one device, while LAN and WAN access was
available to all of the devices on their private network.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Enter the Gamer</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That sort of solution works great for
the average user whose needs were restricted to email, web surfing,
and streaming music or video via services like Netflix and Hulu, or
providing their kids with a connection for their iPads and
smartphones, it did not work very well for gamers who often found
that the network services provided by their building or co-op tended
to feature restrictions on large data transfers and the existence of
Open Network Address Translation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The typical video game - whether a
console or PC game - often has an aggressive patching and updating
model, and most of the games that included online multi-player
required open-NAT in order to channel their services via specific
ports from their servers to specific ports on the client end.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In most commercial settings those
services were intentionally blocked for the protection of their
clients, and bandwidth limitations were often applied to any user who
exceeded the monthly allotment, which averages between 10 and 20 GB
per month.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Basically gamers found that access to
desirable services and games -- including a plethora of online
multi-player games as well as MMORPGs -- was severely restricted or
simply blocked. They also found that the typical game updates and
patches could easily eat up their bandwidth allotment with updates to
just four or five titles. For example the most recent patch to Tom
Clancy's The Division totaled 5.39 GB - so you do the math.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The nature of network services is such
that there really is no work-around in this case, which is why most
gamers who live in net-connected buildings still tend to contract
their own personal net connection from the local ISP - which in
recent years pretty much means either a Cable TV modem or high-speed
Internet services from the Telephone Company.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In some areas, if the network owner was
fortunate enough to obtain cellular Internet services when the
wireless phone companies were offering unlimited all-you-can-eat
contracts for a set price, you'll see gamers whose firewall router
terminates in a cellphone, but that's uncommon today.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reason that this class of netzien
chooses to go their own way in terms of net access is down to their
need for open-NAT, the ability to assign specific ports to specific
IP Addresses inside their network, either directly or passing through
a virtual DMZ, and the need to download huge amounts of data in the
form of games, game patches, and updates.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Whether or not the gamer lives in a
Net-connected apartment or a house in the middle of the boondocks,
the basic needs for creating a network are the same - which is where
we begin in this article in our Network Tech Series.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Part
I - Planning Your Gamer-Oriented Computer Network</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The sexy part of building a computer
network is when you sit down to pick your hardware. That's when the
typical gamer gets to shine a light on their tech-savvy chops, and
maybe brag a little on their choices for hardware infrastructure.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You may be interested to know that
despite the fact that it is sexy, the process of creating a new
computer network - whether it is a standard data or a gamer's network
- does not begin with picking hardware.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It properly starts with the actual
network design, which is a process that usually takes place on paper,
and covers a number of crucial elements including the three most
important decisions that must be made. Of course that presumes that
the gamer is following standards of network design.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We've seen more than a few networks
that we can only describe as Frankenstein Networks - examples where
the gamer started with a net connection in their living room that
consisted of a Cable Modem and Router with or without a firewall, to
which many things were added piecemeal over time until it turns into
a disaster.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gYuVpxcfhwU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gYuVpxcfhwU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>A Sample Frankenstein Network</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The results of that are what we
jokingly refer to as a Distributed Network. An example of this is
the network that belonged to a friend who asked us to help them fix
their Frankenstein Network. The problem with that is that fixing is
not really the best approach. The best approach is to throw it all
out and start by designing a proper network, making use of anything
that is already present that you can make use of.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
To help you understand this let's take
a look at the network in question.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
What we found when we came to survey it
was this: the WAN connection was (A) a cable modem in the master
bedroom, which was connected to (B) an older firewall router with
four ports and no WiFi. To get WiFi they ran a 60' Cat-5 cable to
the other side of the house, where they plugged that into (C) a
LinkSys WiFi Router.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There were four client systems in the
house - (D) a PC in the living room that was connected to the WiFi
router by Cat-5 cable, (E & F ) laptops in the two bedrooms
belonging to their kids which connect to the network via WiFi, and
(G) a PC in the master bedroom connecting to the firewall router by
Cat-5 cable.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There were also some game consoles -
three in the living room - but there were only three ports left open
on the WiFi Router, so they had purchased an (H) 8-port Ethernet Hub
and plugged that into the WiFi Router, plugging their (I) Xbox 360,
(J) PlayStation 3, and (K) Wii into the hub. Later they added an (L)
Xbox One and (M) PS4 to it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When they got into playing a specific
game a few years ago they ended up building their own (N) game server
which, because there was no room elsewhere, they placed in their
garage, and connected it to the network by running another 60' Cat-5
cable through the attic to the master bedroom, which was plugged into
the firewall router.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
At some point they had an almost
break-in at their house, so they bought an (O) IP Security Camera
System, which they ended up sticking in the garage, buying a surplus
(P) 10bT Ethernet Switch which they placed in the garage and plugged
the game server and IP Camera server into. They then placed the
(Q/R/S/T) four cameras that it came with at various locations outside
and inside their home, with one connected to the hub in the living
room, one connected to the last available port in the firewall and
the other two connected to (U) an Ethernet hub that they placed in
the attic, and connected to the living room hub.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It was a mess, but it got the job done
(sort of). It did have a number of problems, not the least being
lots of collisions and, due to one of the cables getting crushed,
some cross-talk on that link. They had no way to know that though,
because none of the hardware that they were using was managed
hardware so it was incapable of telling them a problem existed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So let's begin with an inventory of the
network...</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A Black Box Cable Modem provided by the
Cable Company (10bT)</li>
<li>Netgear RP 114 “Web Safe” Router
(10bT / 100bT)</li>
<li>Linksys WRT54G WiFi Router (10bT /
100bT)</li>
<li>3Com Unmanaged Switch (10bT)</li>
<li>Generic 16-Port Ethernet Hub (10bT /
100bT)</li>
<li>Game Server PC (10bT / 100bT / 1000bT)</li>
<li>Security Camera Appliance (10bT /
100bT)</li>
<li>Security Cameras (x4) (10bT / 100bT)</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Network Clients</b></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>PC A (10bT / 100bT)</li>
<li>PC B (10bT)</li>
<li>Laptop A (10bT / 100bT / 1000bT)</li>
<li>Laptop B (10bT / 100bT / 1000bT)</li>
<li>Nintendo Wii (802.11 b/g WiFi)</li>
<li>PlayStation 3 (10bT / 100bT / 1000bT)</li>
<li>PlayStation 4 (10bT / 100bT / 1000bT)</li>
<li>Xbox 360 (10bT / 100bT)</li>
<li>Xbox One (10bT / 100bT / 1000bT)</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The three major issues that we
identified beyond the mess that the physical network represented are:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
(1) Divergent Ethernet Speeds</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
(2) Ancient Hardware</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
(3) Lack of reporting capability</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Our Hardware Recommendations</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
This is a useful teaching experience
for you - because it demonstrates the decision making process as it
applies to network design.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The very first step in this process
after the inventory was creating a network plan. That meant drawing
a layout of the physical structure, and then determining the best
place to start the network from. In this case, and because of other
issues that the network owner had - and their desire to go in a
commercial direction in terms of its format (they had already
purchased a rack at the Flea), the direction the plan took was
dictated by some of those issues.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Considering that almost all of the
network hardware on their network was ancient, it shouldn't be a
surprise that we recommended replacing it all - including the
cabling. Fortunately for them, I have the tools and the know-how to
custom create Ethernet Cable and a box of Cat-6 cable in my basement,
so that eliminates what can be a significant expense.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We also live near Boston,
Massachusetts, which means that we have access to the MIT Flea Market
- an electronics, radio, computer, and networking flea market that
runs from April to October one Sunday each month. The deals that you
can get at the MIT Flea include relatively modern hardware for dirt
cheap dollars, so when you know what you are looking for, you can
find some awesome kit at rock-bottom prices!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Using the layout of their house we
created a network map for them, which first centralized the network
services in one manageable location (the garage) and offered the
capability of not only monitoring the network for problems, but also
made regular maintenance easier because instead of using the cable
modem provided by the cable service provider - which they did not
have access to - replacing it with their own model gave them
interface access, which is necessary if you need to troubleshoot a
problem.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The server rack that they had purchased
at the flea prior to consulting me turned out to be a heck of a deal.
They somehow bought an APC 42U Netshelter Rack for $100 - this is a
rack that sells new for ten times that amount. Unfortunately it was
just the primary rack, and lacked the back and front door/enclosures.
But we were able to track down some used at the very next flea.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reason that we needed the
enclosures was because they wanted to go with a rack-mounted server
capable of supporting VPN and RAID, so that they could just have a
single-server solution to the needs on their network, which basically
was down to the game server, and the desire to have a media server
and a Wiki-style web server that they could use to organize their
business.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
What we ended up recommending to them
was to replace their kit with the following:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>x1 SB6183 SURFboard Cable Modem ($81.99
via eBay) 1000bT</li>
<li>x2 Netgear GS724T Smartswitch ($100 via
eBay) 1000bT</li>
<li>x1 Netgear Centria N900 Dual Band
Gigabit Wireless Router ($55 via eBay) 1000bT</li>
<li>x1 Dell PowerEdge 2950 II RM Server
with rails ($250 via techmikeny.com) 1000bT</li>
<li>x4 WD 2TB Drive w/2950 Caddies ($60 via
techmikeny.com)</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Owning their own cable modem meant that
they could return the one that was costing them $10 a month in rental
fees, so basically that new cable modem paid for itself in less than
9 months. In addition to that though, the new cable modem offered
them full Gigabit Ethernet on the LAN side of their connection - the
ancient cable modem that they had been using since they first
obtained their Internet connection was a 10bT connection. Which
considering the speed of their Internet package was ludicrous.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The matched pair of GS724T switches
were set up at the two ends of the network, one in the Garage Rack,
and one in the Livingroom Entertainment Center that contained the
games consoles, and the Cablemodem. The two GS724Ts were configured
so that ports 22,23, and 24 created a 3GB Trunk Backbone to allow for
multiple streaming clients.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The WiFi Router was placed in the
Livingroom, as that offered the best overall coverage for its users.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
All of the Ethernet Cable was custom
made Cat-6, with cable run management via the basement to reduce the
mess and clutter it originally presented.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The 2950 II was installed in the Garage
Rack, and configured as a VM Server. To the network it appeared to
be four different servers - the Game Server, Media Server, Wiki
Server, and a Loghost with direct email capability. The logs for all
of the network devices were sent to the Loghost, and any alarm
conditions generated an email to the owner's account.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We used mostly free utilities to make
the networked VMs easier to manage, including FreeNAS/Plex for the
Media Server, and Webmin to manage the other three servers. We also
used a free for the bulk of the VMs - Ubuntu Linux, though the Game
Server required Windows Server.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The network that we started with was
quirky, slow, and difficult to manage. The network we ended up with
was streamlined, incredibly fast in comparison, and very easy to
manage. In the end the total cost for upgrading and replacing the
network? $1,247.50 (though I did not charge anything for my help or
the Ethernet cables).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
They were able to recover almost $200
of that from selling off the hardware we replaced via Craigslist.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Proper Network Design Elements</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When you approach the design of a new
network, there are specific elements that need to be planned out.
Those are:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Cable Pathing and Management</b></li>
<li><b>Network Device Placement</b></li>
<li><b>Network Service Location</b></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Before we progress any further we need
to define what those three important decisions mean.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/slmxD0e8Nzs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/slmxD0e8Nzs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Cable Pathing and Management:</b>
Don't be confused by the term Cable Pathing and Management - it means
exactly what it sounds like it means, which is determining how you
will manage and place the physical network cables that will connect
your systems to the central device space.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you were thinking that installing
and managing physical cable was only going to be necessary for the
actual physical cable that connects your firewall and router to the
WAN side of the connection, prepare to be disappointed. Because if
you are serious about building your own home network that meets
gamer-class efficiency and speeds, you are not going to be using WiFi
as your primary network connection. The latency will kill you.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When this article was written the
standard for Ethernet Cable used in home networks is called Category
6 - though there is a second generation of cable for that Category
called Category 6a (or Cat-6a) that is also available. This is the
standard for Gigabit Ethernet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Previously when 100bT speeds were the
standard, Category 5 (Cat-5) was the prevailing standard, but with
the wider introduction of Gigabit Ethernet, Cat-6 has taken over as
the default standard. The reasons for that are simple enough.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Ethernet Cable Technical Differences</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Since the original creation of and use
of cables for computer networking, a standards committee has
routinely specified the minimal technical requirements for these
cables because the performance characteristics for said cables
operates in a very narrow range.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While the differences in cable
specifications are not as easy to see as physical changes in a cable,
the specs for each are crucial to their proper function. Each
category of cable has the capability to perform at set ranges and it
is the very minimum -- not the maximum -- speeds that network
engineers are concerned with. Because the ability to at least reach
and maintain the minimal traffic load is critical to the success of a
network in terms of simple function.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In terms of cable standards, Ethernet
Cable is measured by specific requirements which include a standard
length for measurement, operating MHz, the aforementioned minimum
operational speeds, and finally the capability of offering
Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) without that service negatively impacting
the data-side.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Here are the specs for the modern
cables that you will find in commercial and home networks right now:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; width: 100%px;">
<colgroup><col width="32*"></col>
<col width="47*"></col>
<col width="24*"></col>
<col width="31*"></col>
<col width="30*"></col>
<col width="33*"></col>
<col width="27*"></col>
<col width="32*"></col>
</colgroup><thead>
<tr valign="TOP">
<th width="12%">
<br />
<br />
</th>
<th width="18%">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Length</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(in meters)</div>
</th>
<th width="9%">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
10Mb/s</div>
</th>
<th width="12%">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
100 Mb/s</div>
</th>
<th width="12%">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 Gb/s</div>
</th>
<th width="13%">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
10 Gb/s</div>
</th>
<th width="11%">
<div style="text-align: center;">
PoE</div>
</th>
<th width="13%">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mhz</div>
</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cat-5</b></span></div>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<div align="CENTER">
100</div>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
<br />
</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
<br />
</div>
</td>
<td width="11%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
100</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cat-5e</b></span></div>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<div align="CENTER">
100</div>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
<br />
</div>
</td>
<td width="11%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
100</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cat-6</b></span></div>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<div align="CENTER">
100</div>
<div align="CENTER">
55 for 10Gb/s</div>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="11%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
250</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cat-6a</b></span></div>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<div align="CENTER">
100</div>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="11%">
<div align="CENTER">
X</div>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<div align="CENTER">
500</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It's no coincidence that category
number and Mhz of the wire gets higher as each category brings more
stringent testing requirements for eliminating crosstalk as well as
adding isolation between the wires.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That said, with Ethernet YMMV. We've
seen various cables used in ways that are not inline with the
specifications. Networks with runs longer than 100m, and networks
that used Cat-5 instead of Cat-5e for Gigabit Ethernet connections
and totally got away with it.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reason for that is because the
Cat-5 wire that was being used just happened to be of a higher
quality than usually found. Cat-5e is not a different design mind
you - it's Cat-5 cable, it has just been given more stringent testing
standards for crosstalk than are generally applied to Cat-5.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You can often get away with longer runs
and using standard Cat-5 as long as it is high quality cable, but use
of that sort may not obtain expected results. It may work, but at a
lower efficiency.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Conversely just because you're using
Cat-6 cable doesn’t mean you are actually obtaining 1000bT network
speeds, because every connection on your network must support Gigabit
Ethernet to achieve that. Just like Cat-5 and Cat-5e, Cat-6 cable
was retested to achieve 500 Mhz communication (compared to Cat-6’s
250 Mhz). The point to certifying higher communication frequency was
to eliminated alien crosstalk - which allows for a longer range at 10
Gb/s sustained speeds.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you are using older hardware and
especially if you are using dumb hubs the entire network will slow
down to the fastest speed of its slowest member. If a server on your
network only offers 100bT any of the 1000bT clients connecting have
to step down their speed to talk to it. That is something you need
to consider when planning out your network.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You also need to test all new cable
runs to verify that they are hitting the certified speeds. If you
have a bad run the network devices are not going to simply slow down
to say 900bT to talk on it, they will step down to the next standard
level - which is 100bT.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Network Device Placement:</b> When
you plan out the placement of your network devices, at least part of
the decision process needs to include environmental requirements and
how they will be deployed. Whether or not the users will require
access, and whether the connection environment will change
frequently.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Network Service Location:</b> When
you can't tailor your device placement to the service location,
special care must be taken to ensure that the cable runs from the
service location to the network placement is 100% correct and
functional as otherwise this will have a major negative impact on the
network.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>WiFi is a Convenience: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Another
issue that you need to come to terms with is that WiFi networking is
simply a convenience. The rapidity at which a WiFi router can be
over-saturated is laughable. If you have systems on your network
that need to move large amounts of data, or that depend on
maintaining the highest speeds possible, you want to be using cable,
not WiFi.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Adding
WiFi capability to a network is largely viewed as a courtesy to
unsophisticated users - like your kids who just want to jump online
with their iPad or Smartphones to check their email. It's really not
appropriator for gaming or streaming.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>To Rack or Not to Rack?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We personally know more than a few
gamers who started this process by purchasing 19” Computer Racks of
varying heights as the foundation for their home network; the example
we gave in the Frankenstein Network is a case in point.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For the most part they don't do this
because they need to - they do it because they WANT to. It looks
cool. They like it. It makes them feel like they have a boss
network. So here is the thing - despite all that if you can afford
it, go ahead and do it!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I use racks for my own home network but
that is something of a special case. In addition to a pair of server
racks I have a relay rack for my network devices, which are ALL
basically rack-mounted kit. If you do decide to go that route,
understand that you do NOT have to replace the systems you want to
rack with rack-mounted systems. That would be wicked expensive.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You can either purchase standard
rack-mounted shelves to place the generic PC cases on, or for about
the same price, you can buy a rack-mounted PC case and swap the guts
of your PC into it. If you are curious go to eBay and do a search
for Rack-mounted PC Case. Prices range from $50 to $500 though the
lower-end cases will not come with a power supply. So yeah, it is
doable. And yeah, it does look cool.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In addition to looking cool, a
fully-enclosed rack will also provide noise management - which means
you can use them to reduce the noise of servers and network
appliances to levels that make placement acceptable in your house,
rather than needing to stick them in a garage or basement.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That said though, racks exist to be
home to rack-mounted components, like Ethernet Switches, Routers,
Load Balancers, and Servers, not your Xbox 360. Just saying.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Figuring out your needs means knowing
how many rack units you will require. A rack unit is a unit of
measure used to describe the height of a server, network switch or
other similar device mounted in a 19-inch or 23-inch rack (though
19-inch is the most common width).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
One rack unit is 44.45 mm (1.75 in)
high. One rack unit is commonly designated as "1U";
similarly, 2 rack units are "2U" and so on. The size of a
piece of rack mounted equipment is usually described as a number in
"U" - so counting up the U for the kit you have will tell
you how tall of a rack you might want or need.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you are going to go with a rack for
in-house use, and you plan to use it for noise management, I
recommend you choose a half-rack as that is a LOT easier to find
space for or camoflage.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Completing Your Network Plan</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Now that you know the basics of
planning, it's time to complete your network plan. Start by
sketching a schematic of your house or apartment, then noting where
each piece of hardware will go.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Make a list of all the hardware and
network-connected devices you will need to accommodate, and then work
out where they will best fit into the new network plan.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
One of the most important decisions you
will need to make is whether or not you require a backbone. If your
home is large and a significant amount of client hardware is located
somewhere distant from the Internet Connection where it enters the
home, then you will need a backbone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Planning, Designing, and implementing a
Network Backbone is the subject of the next chapter in this series.
Hopefully the contents of this chapter have offered you sufficient
information to begin the planning of your new network. While you are
doing that, as a gamer, remember - this is supposed to be fun.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-31807717031610057572016-11-08T19:34:00.000-05:002016-11-08T19:34:02.839-05:00Friending and Unfriending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbnrPoOktoc/WCI4Nrl9_qI/AAAAAAAABX4/ShkMMcFZ4wYFMcgsppc9Af1_5gG2BbSAgCLcB/s1600/hugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbnrPoOktoc/WCI4Nrl9_qI/AAAAAAAABX4/ShkMMcFZ4wYFMcgsppc9Af1_5gG2BbSAgCLcB/s1600/hugs.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
One of my favorite techniques as a
writer - and a human - is dropping into the middle of conversations
that are ongoing; the simple act of doing so leaves the new arrival
(me) -- or the reader (you in the case where I have been writing and
that's the mechanism by which we begin our narrative) almost
entirely at the mercy of the conversation -- because that's real
life.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Relations among humans are often messy,
but are usually worth the effort -- especially transactions that take
place under the umbrella of words that - whether in our real or in
our digital lives - include willing sacrifices and commitment of
emotions.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Of course these gestures are never as
cut-and-dried or as seemingly bloodless as the reasonable facsimile
thereof that we use to represent the often emotional set of
attachments we seek to transplant (or at the least mimic) in the
online worlds of social media. Yeah.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
To be clear here, and in spite of what
is implied above, I am <i>not</i> speaking of any type of the use of
the word “Love” as it is bandied about all willy-nilly whenever
the R-Word (Relationship) is raised - even as I use the words
Friendship or Mateship - which as any human can quickly explain is
the seed of the root of the plant that must eventually become Love,
if it is properly nurtured and allowed to expre4ss itself as the
guiding emotional principles around which all relationships form.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
One does not spring fully formed as a
lover without first starting out as a mare or friend, as from the
collective friend or mate the dynamics of partner is formed. That
potential is there - always - whether one is prepared to accept it or
not. But I do not speak of those words or relations with the same
breath as the other.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HjrhO0e_lQ/WCI4gB7VDBI/AAAAAAAABX8/pa9gXdqva4gHuk_umpmkYJ25P-H_KP5xQCLcB/s1600/mateship01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HjrhO0e_lQ/WCI4gB7VDBI/AAAAAAAABX8/pa9gXdqva4gHuk_umpmkYJ25P-H_KP5xQCLcB/s1600/mateship01.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Neither am I referring to any of the
four basic words in Ancient Greek that can be translated into the
English word “Love” and through which most writers rely (even
when they are not aware that they in fact are relying upon them) --
those being the <i>érōs</i> (directly translated for and from
"<i>love</i>" or "<i>desire</i>") or, for that
matter, <i>storge</i>, <i>philia</i>, and especially <i>agape</i>,
all of which lend their own special (and often times obscene in the
end) shades to the words.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I do understand and acknowledge that
among the formative influences that combined and conspire to form my
own understanding and projection of those twin concepts
subconsciously include Heinlein, Lawrence, Bacon, Chaucer, and even
O'Brian.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I am therefore specifically NOT
speaking of the sort of positioning or the use of that word or any of
its many and varied associated cousins that, upon examination, either
lend to the projection the twin concepts of emotional and physical
connections. Love. Not!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
What I am referencing here is the much
more pure and universal relationship that in Canada and the United
States goes by the word “Friendship” and in places like Australia
and New Zealand over-utilize the phrase <i>mateship</i>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Where Love of the Eros sort generally
refers to "passionate love" or “romantic love” that we
all of us are quick to understand -- as after all how could the
entire genre of Love Story and its plethora of sub-genres that I like
to refer to as the bodice-ripping rape-me-to-show-you-love-me sort of
stories of Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts and the likes of Judith
McNaught that I strongly suspect are responsible in no small way for
the confusion that many men (and women for that matter) feel towards
the non-committal use of the word “No” -- but that's an entirely
different story and verbal proposition! For the record I believe
that “No!” means “No!”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mp1mgtxn-NI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mp1mgtxn-NI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So all of that qualified, let it be
known that I strongly believe that the beginning of THIS story - this
article - and this question - is best summarized as the proposition
of the Friend. Friends? Friended? Friend Me? Like? Unlike?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It is a long and complicated path we
have embarked upon when that measure of complication is our topic.
In fact we are better served by declaring what we DO NOT mean when we
use the words <i>Friend</i> or <i>Mate</i> than we are in trying to
complete the impossible task of finding a way to define what we DO
mean by those words and especially when the objective is their
definition in a single neat paragraph.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>MATE /
FRIEND ships</b></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Eros love is the physical, sensual
intimacy hoped to exist between the husband and the wife - the set of
noteworthy and powerful forces conjured into being through the
largely speculative spiritual transformation of two physically
opposite human forms that, despite the usual physical compatibility
are nevertheless largely a combination of desires and necessity.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That's one end of the palpable spectrum
that is part of Friendship IRL. The other end can be found in a
space that begins with casual friendships and progresses from there.
So let's close that first chapter with an understanding, and open a
new chapter in which we contrast and compare two very basic realities
whose nature comes full-circle and back to the original thoughts,
which are marked by two very different highs and lows: that being the
loss of friendship / mateship that occurs in both real-world and
real-life compared to that which occurs online.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The fascinating part though is that
while it may seem like it naturally would amount to mostly the same
thing, as it turns out how deep or damaging unfriending someone
online can be has almost everything to do with the site and its
ranking in the hierarchy of social networks, with a spectrum that
starts at the far left with trivial and meaningless, and concludes,
at the far right, with the unfriended feeling a measure of hurt and
betrayal many are shocked and surprised to feel when it happens to
them!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmt6R4QP8v4/WCI410WmdQI/AAAAAAAABYA/0Eii8i22WMMmCyXJTA9Ul7vd6QvoNvB0ACLcB/s1600/mateship04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmt6R4QP8v4/WCI410WmdQI/AAAAAAAABYA/0Eii8i22WMMmCyXJTA9Ul7vd6QvoNvB0ACLcB/s1600/mateship04.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>MATEship
/ FRIENDship</b></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Recently - and with something of an
“in-your-face” and unapologetic attitude - I sat with one of my
real-world friends in the dining room at the Wareham Red Robin (which
is as close as you are going to get to a gourmet burger on Cape Cod -
though technically Wareham is NOT on the Cape) and we talked about
the feelings that were provoked when you logged into your regular
social networks only to discover that you had been unfriended by
someone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I should point out that a trip to RR is
a rather special event. You see, heaven in a Red Robin begins with a
“bottomless” Very Berry Raspberry Limeade (if you're from New
England then you can think of this as a Raspberry/Lime Ricky but
yeah), and some shared Baja Dip 'N' Chips -- crispy sea salt tortilla
chips served with Red's zesty Baja Ranch dressing for to dip them in.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Spreading out from there is a Red Robin
Gourmet Cheeseburger -- built with Red's pickle relish, tomatoes,
onions, lettuce, pickles, mayo and extra cheese, accompanied by a
heaping dish of `golden brown O-Rings dipped into more of Red's
zesty Baja Ranch dressing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
See the thing is, if you have lived on
Cape Cod for very long you already know that with the exception of
Surf N' Turf, the options for good restaurant food in the armpit of
the Cape is down to either ethnic or fast.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We consider RR to be what you'd call
medium-fast with an emphasis upon gourmet burgers and, well, they
aren't kidding about the fact that their offerings fall neatly into
the category of gourmet burgers! The point being that in this case
it actually is worth going slightly off-Cape to get 'em because Red
Robin falls well above Johnny Rockets or Wahlburgers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The real point to this though is that
it is not the usual meal, but one enjoyed among friends. And as
that's the theme for this, Red Robin is a great place to start -
because we had gathered there to chat about the whole online and
social networking friendships and the subject as it contrasts with
IRL friendships.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That’s a fair point. Especially when
you consider that, no matter what happens, once the topic of this
piece turns towards the online and digital realm, somebody's going to
get hurt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GRB8w-oCGU/WCI5VKwfH-I/AAAAAAAABYI/_Zob-DzkB9cUbS7w9zORt0BlSTDJzipTwCLcB/s1600/mateship05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GRB8w-oCGU/WCI5VKwfH-I/AAAAAAAABYI/_Zob-DzkB9cUbS7w9zORt0BlSTDJzipTwCLcB/s1600/mateship05.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Offline vs. Online</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Generally speaking the initial (almost
instant) conclusion to the question of valuation was that the biggest
difference between befriending someone and unfriending someone both
IRL and OL is the lingering point that the event, when it happens
Online, is simply not the same thing at all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When it happens IRL it is often
accompanied by those awkward silences and ugly confrontations that
hurt - and the fact that usually there are good reasons for the event
happening, on the face of it you might think that the two do not
compare at all.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
IRL the usual causes range from
betrayals (both real and imagined), cheating, and often issues that
are created either by other mates or relatives that lead to the
decision by one party to undertake an action that ultimately causes
emotional (and often times physical) pain to the other.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For most blokes this sort of event is
relatively rare. Friends work through their issues, they don't burn
bridges without really good reasons to do it.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
But that makes sense when you consider
that IRL Friends are rare animals indeed in the relationships
spectrum. That they often require and are made yup of the same sorts
of effort that relationships of a more personal and intimate nature
occupy - because created a friendship is generally viewed as worthy
of that level of effort.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That outlook may be related to the fact
that, according to recent research conducted at both Harvard and Yale
has revealed that the typical human actually has fewer mates/friends
than they think they do! Which is to say that many of the people
that they believe are their friends don't recipricate that level of
either familiarity or bond.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Online “Friends”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“In the world OL becoming Friends is
just a button click,” one of my mates pointed out. “That being
the case, it really doesn't have any meaning. You Friend someone
maybe to add them to your feed so you can see what they are doing or
what they are interested in because they belong to a group YOU belong
to, or are interested in some narrow hobby or subject YOU are
interested in, but that is as far as it goes. For you.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Oddly though, it seems that for a lot
of people -- and this is especially true on venues like Facebook --
your action of “Friending” a person can and often does have more
meaning for the person you friended than it does for you!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So experiencing a person who befriended
you suddenly and without comment or explanation unfriending you can
be a jarring and, some even claim, hurtful event.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
One aspect that is very clear and that
lends focus to the phenomenon is where the action takes place. both
different and similar depending on WHERE the breakup is going to
happen. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jv3dmAlC__0/WCI5kS6UidI/AAAAAAAABYQ/VoGXTNU5zf8HonypSeRmZX-Bu4LZhx_uQCLcB/s1600/mateship02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jv3dmAlC__0/WCI5kS6UidI/AAAAAAAABYQ/VoGXTNU5zf8HonypSeRmZX-Bu4LZhx_uQCLcB/s1600/mateship02.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A case can be made that a Facebook
breakup and a LinkedIn Breakup are pretty much at opposite ends of
the spectrum. Or so it might appear to you. It may be fair to
consider the middle zone to be pretty much everything from SnapChat
to Xbox LIVE and PSN or Steam Mates, but are you aware that the
social network side of platforms like YouTube have now reached the
point where creators on that platform feel like you befriending them
there and viewing their content is a declaration of friendship beyond
simply being a consumer of the product that they are creating?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Social Network Sites that have somehow
generated feelings by their users that they are in fact communities
and, by befriending a creator/user thereon you are in effect being
perceived as offering a sincere overture of real friendship to the
extent that withdrawing that button click - to them - would be
construed as anything starting with rejection and ranging up to a
hostile even attacking act?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
According to recent surveys that were
conducted online the users and/or creators on the following social
network constructs have begun to view the “following” actions of
subscribing to their feed or channel in similar terms. In short,
withdrawing your “friendship” and/or subscribed status on the
following sites may be seen as a hostile act by most of the people
who use them - and the higher on the list below that the social
network site is, the stronger that feeling of rejection may actually
be!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
According to the most recent (April
2016) surveys the Top 10 “clingy” SM sites include:</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Facebook</li>
<li>LinkedIn</li>
<li>YouTube</li>
<li>Instagram</li>
<li>Pinterest</li>
<li>Twitter</li>
<li>Google+</li>
<li>Tumblr</li>
<li>Reddit</li>
<li>AboutMe</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If Vine wasn't shutting down it would
have made the list - but lower down than the Top 10. The point being
that even losing a sub on a dying site could trigger the same
feelings of rejection and pain that is found on other sites - which
is rather odd when you pause to consider that technically for most of
the SN and SM sites whatever the actual relationship is that exists
between the subs and the creators really is simply one of content
consumer, not friend.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Despite this trending phenom most
netziens consuming content created by others don't consider or
imagine that any other relationship exists - when they consider the
idea of a relationship at all... So at least in this case, saying
It's YOU, not ME would be painfully accurate, but that's unlikely to
change the way that these creators actually feel.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c45KS-jaegA/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c45KS-jaegA?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It may be cliche, but the originally
amusing and meme-worthy contents of the video embedded above as well
as its own tongue-in-cheek humor takes on a much more sinister shadow
when the emotional over-attachment is suddenly found on the opposite
side of the camera so to speak.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>When You Are Breaking Up With Them</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Whether it is -- as many people prefer
to frame it - euphemistically little more than a combination of
Spring Cleaning / Removing Noise from the Signal /or just simply
Pruning Dead Wood - the point is that the people that are being
chucked into the bin are not usually people the chucker actually
knows IRL because hey, the words “Friend” and “Mate” have
entirely different meanings in the Online Realm. Right? Well yes,
except when they don't.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It really does not matter how you
phrase it -- Spring Cleaning; Weeding the Friend Space; Unfriending,
De-Friending -- I know some netziens who call it De-Cluttering -- at
this point the chances that removing a Subscribe or Friend Status on
any of the above sites will offend at least some users is a near
certainty.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>What's the Deal?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I recently experienced this phenomenon
first hand and I found it to be very very disturbing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I was playing the Freemium Game The
Simpsons: Tapped Out - and when I realized thanks to the need to
interact with the towns of “neighbors” (that is what passes for
“Friends” in that game) that a large chunk of the people who were
on my Neighborhoods list were not actively playing the game - many of
them had not logged in to play in over a year - so I started pruning
the ones that were not playing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reason that I did that was simple -
the players who WERE playing the game were as useful to me as I was
to them, but that was not true for the people no longer playing, so I
systematically de-friended any player who had not logged into the
game for more than 2 months.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Having found myself “servicing” the
social side in that game prompted me to look at other sites that I
was active on, and doing the same basic tasks there - weeding out the
people who eitther were not active or were not participants to the
process.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In the past I have had people do the
same with me - and I never took it personally. After all these sites
- and games - are not popularity contests. In many cases - and this
is especially true with free-to-play games - having a more active
friend base benefits the players - I completely understood how and
why other players opted to defriend ME on certain games. Totally
understood it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Which is why I was flabbergasted when I
received email from several people asking me what it was that they
had done wrong to cause me to sever our friendships?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So how do you respond to the hurt
feelings of a “friend” you have never actually met or even talked
with outside of in-game interactions for games they are no longer
actively playing?! Facebook’s ripe with that sort of event it
seems. But it did not stop there.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I quit several groups I was no longer
active in on LinkedIn and received similar mail from their hosts
either asking what they did wrong or demanding to know what my
problem was with them?!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The biggest mind-blowing event though -
and what caused me to start looking into this - was the dogged and
persistent manner in which a particular YouTuber pursued me after I
unsubscribed from their channel...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Shortly after I unsubscribed they
messaged me to ask why I left? I replied that I was thinning out my
subs for the channels that I no longer regularly viewed. That was
the truth, though I thought it odd that they asked in the first
place.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
But then the messaged me to point out
that I was still subscribed to a similar channel which belonged to a
different creator who covered the same subjects and they demanded to
know what it was that the other creator was doing that caused me to
stay subscribed to them?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Things got stranger and stranger after
that, and it soon became evident that they were hurt or maybe miffed
at my action, and the only thing I could do that they considered
proper and right was to re-sub to their channel. That, they
explained, was just fair.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Then they told me that I really didn't have the right to have an opinion on what channel on the subject was better than another because I was not a YouTube Creator, and told me that the only legitimate reply I could make had to be via a YouTube video... Really? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
My reaction was to start looking into
this phenomenon because, well, I don't know abotu fair or right but
this? This is just freaking bizarre!</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-34951525667722695432016-08-21T10:25:00.003-04:002016-08-21T10:26:03.504-04:00When Patches Attack<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3uAXD5tDzA/V7m3YnkUf0I/AAAAAAAABWg/0C9oUEPGeVoqMagy3DrmPrjZvh5vYO_5ACLcB/s1600/falloutcrash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3uAXD5tDzA/V7m3YnkUf0I/AAAAAAAABWg/0C9oUEPGeVoqMagy3DrmPrjZvh5vYO_5ACLcB/s1600/falloutcrash.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Fallout games are not exactly known for not having issues - but this time around it is Fallout 4 having the issues and, oddly, only since the most recent patch to add in support for the upcoming Nuka World Expansion DLC...</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I don't believe that I have ever been more frustrated with a game than I am presently with Fallout 4.<br />
<br />
Ever since the pre-expansion patch arrived two days ago to install setups for the upcoming Nuka World Expansion for Fallout 4 the game has been crashing a LOT. And there does not appear to be any predictable relationship to what is causing it to crash.<br />
<br />
When I say crash I do not mean bug, or hiccough, I mean violently freeze, make horrible noises, and then crash to the console desktop!<br />
<br />
Based upon what I am reading on the chat boards I am not alone here. Xbox One players all over the world are reporting the sudden breakdown in reliability and excessive crashes of the game. So that begs the question what in God's name did they DO?!<br />
<br />
Ordinarily this would not be that big a deal. I would simply stop playing the game until the next patch arrived - or in this case the Nuka World Update and Expansion - since that should at least in theory be when the problem gets fixed.<br />
<br />
But I cannot do that.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately through a combination of circumstances I am in what I can only call "Catch-Up Mode" due in no small part to the massive guide project that was DOOM 2016.<br />
<br />
Well no, it is not entirely DOOM's fault. See what happened was this: I accepted some guide projects without actually thinking about the fact that two of them were excessively scheduled for updates. Those games are Fallout 4 and Hitman 2016.<br />
<br />
Fallout 4 was set for a regular grouping of expansions that would arrive between a month and three months apart. Now normally that would not be that big a deal, but you see the release scheme for Hitman changed to an Episodic Release that was set for monthly updates and expansions.<br />
<br />
I knew that but I did not actually think through just what it would MEAN in practical terms.<br />
<br />
Then several things happened that really complicated things. First of all there was DOOM 2016 which I was committed to doing a guide for and it turned out to not just be about two times larger than expected, but it ALSO turned out to be about five times more complicated than expected and that was a problem.<br />
<br />
In addition to all of the above I was also doing a guide project for Tom Clancy's The Division - but that was not a real problem because there is an understanding in place that I would be doing that guide project in-between the others.<br />
<br />
But then the wizards behind Hitman announced that they would commence the Elusive Targets updates. Elusive Targets are actually very special Time-Restricted contracts and so they represent rather important content releases that were ALSO happening on a semi-regular basis.<br />
<br />
The problem with THAT problem was this: The Elusive Targets Contracts are progressively more difficult and each one pretty much eats up an ENTIRE DAY between game play, finding the best strategies, writing it up, and editing its videos.<br />
<br />
The actual video upload process is pretty passive with the exception that once the videos actually get uploaded and processed at YouTube each one has to have its information data-entered, and then they have to be inserted into the guide pages. Not a big deal but still, these little snippets of time add up.<br />
<br />
Things get more complicated though when you stop to consider that I have a day job. Not only that but it is the time of year when people at my day job are taking their annual paid Summer Holidays. What THAT means is that the rest of us who are NOT on paid Summer Holiday have to pick up the slack for those that are since they are not available to do their work.<br />
<br />
Now tack onto that the following personal disasters that have cropped up over the past four months:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5-8b3FhHdwM/V7m5yV5oJQI/AAAAAAAABW0/xfnghsrizPAkAIeXLn7TBNqtctbKVQkvQCLcB/s1600/splints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5-8b3FhHdwM/V7m5yV5oJQI/AAAAAAAABW0/xfnghsrizPAkAIeXLn7TBNqtctbKVQkvQCLcB/s1600/splints.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>1. Physical Health Issues.</b><br />
I had a health issue that could not be ignored. Think broken hones. Think "interfered with my ability to type." Now I make my living typing. In fact when my hands are in optimal condition I type at a rate that is over 110 words per minute error-free. Once I get over 110 wpm errors tend to creep in but they are mostly subconscious ones - like typing "every" when I mean "ever" or "to" when I mean "too."<br />
<br />
Unfortunately those sort of errors suck because if I don't catch them - and when I type I am looking at the screen not the keyboard so there is a better than decent chance that I will catch them - but when I don't it means that the only way to detect them is to read through the entire document. Because a spell-checker is not going to find those.<br />
<br />
But with cracked finger bones and crushed knuckles (please don't ask) my wpm has dropped to something like 20 if I am feeling good - and 20 with errors if I am not.<br />
<br />
<b>2. My Car.</b><br />
Almost a month ago a young girl teenager monster drove her car into the back of my car. Let me be clear about this - it was not an accident in the normal sense of the word, as there was no horror-filled seconds filled with fear and screeching brakes as the driver realizes they are about to rear-end a car stopped in front of them at a traffic light.<br />
<br />
No, this was more like she did not know that she was going to hit me until AFTER she hit me. Yes, she literally drove her car directly into the rear-end of my car. She never touched her brakes. She never looked up to see my car. People could have been killed!<br />
<br />
What made this worse was my horror-filled fears because my daughter Autumn and her boyfriend Charley were in the back seat of the car. Here is the thing - I genuinely like Charley. I very much love my daughter. So the thought that either of them might be hurt sends my blood pressure and fear through the roof. Now add to this that my wife was also in the car.<br />
<br />
While nobody was killed - and nobody appeared to be seriously injured - with this sort and type of impact and injury there really is no reliable way to KNOW.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IrpVR8VIPE/V7m3zz8BygI/AAAAAAAABWk/8cjeVu3BD7cSdPJLNdk8Q7Sm0n2VhPH0wCLcB/s1600/97Civic-550p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IrpVR8VIPE/V7m3zz8BygI/AAAAAAAABWk/8cjeVu3BD7cSdPJLNdk8Q7Sm0n2VhPH0wCLcB/s1600/97Civic-550p.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This is what happens when people play games like Pokemon GO while driving and then drive right into the rear-end of my car. Sigh. This used to be a 97 Honda HX with an EX power plant. Now it's scrap metal.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now add into this that Charley initially did not want to be seen at the A&E because Charley is a special kid who is very shy and really REALLY prefers not to be subjected to the attention of strange people who he does not know at all - even when they are doctors in the A&E who are there to help.<br />
<br />
So I spent a very restless 24h worried about him until the urging of my wife and daughter and his mum finally got Charles to go to the A&E.<br />
<br />
The butcher's bill at the other end of this appears to be nothing more serious than torn muscles. I am praying daily that this does not change.<br />
<br />
In the interim I now had no car (my van was in the shop getting a new starter and brake job) so for a week we had to go into disaster mode - because the only vehicle that Yvonne could borrow from work was a ute from the fleet, and I cannot easily get in or out of that.<br />
<br />
Public transportation is more iffy on the Cape than not; instead of trying to use the bus (only 1 in 4 of the regular buses on the route that I would have to use to get from Hyannis to Falmouth) I ended up crashing on the couch of a workmate for a week while we waited for the van to come out of the shop.<br />
<br />
That sucked (no I don't mean my mates couch sucked - I really appreciate him offering me that crash space). I am very grateful that he extended that privilege to me.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for that week I could not do ANY guide work because I didn't have access to my console, the gamed, or my capture system. And that meant that I was getting behind on the schedule I had worked out and that was bad because it basically forced me into a sort of perpetual catch-up mode because new content was released for all of the games I had under project in that week.<br />
<br />
Things are better now - the van is fixed and we found another economical hooptie with comfortable seats, lots of leg room and a trunk is sufficiently large enough to hold my mechanical chair. The new car is not new-new - it is a used car that is new to me - and is a 2001 Toyota Avalon.<br />
<br />
I keep telling myself - It could be worse...<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-29532511863642682702016-07-20T01:14:00.000-04:002016-07-20T01:37:12.411-04:00Pokemon GO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If this were not the Speaking Of... Blog I would have used a flashy headline for this story - like "Pokemon GO Home" or something similar - but it's not. The traditional structure of the headlines here are to address the subject being discussed, hence the headline for this piece, which is "Speaking of. . . Pokemon GO" which I have to admit is pretty basic.</div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>News that is Not about
Pokemon GO</b></h2>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
As
shocking as this may be to you, and in spite of the plethora of
headlines that appears to indicate otherwise, over the course of the
past two weeks there have been newsworthy events related to video
games and gaming that did NOT involve Nintendo's Pokemon GO.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We
totally understand how you might have formed the idea that all games
news was Pokemon GO related news considering the wide range of
headlines that suggest that over the past two weeks. To illustrate
that point, check out this randomly selected list of headlines (and
their sources) appearing in newspapers, on TV, in news magazines, and
of course, on news websites:</div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Headline examples of
the former include</b></h2>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-14/hillary-clinton-gets-in-on-pokemon-go" target="_blank"><b>Hillary Clinton Gets in On 'Pokémon Go' </b></a>(US News)</li>
<li><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/indiana-animal-shelter-enlists-pokemon-players-walk-dogs/story?id=40545044" target="_blank"><b>Indiana Animal Shelter Enlists Help of Pokemon Go Players to Walk Dogs</b></a> (ABC
TV News)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36820874" target="_blank"><b>Jeremy Corbyn learns to play Pokemon Go</b></a> (BBC News)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36786671" target="_blank"><b>Pokemon Go: Pikachu pops up on Downing Street</b></a> (BBC News)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pokemon-go-canada-toronto-1.3673972" target="_blank"><b>Pokémon Go players scavenge across Toronto ahead of game's official release in Canada</b></a> (CBC News)</li>
<li><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/mobile-exempting-pokemon-data-network-sparking-concerns-access/story?id=40677677" target="_blank"><b>T-Mobile Exempting 'Pokemon Go' Data on Network, Sparking Concerns About Access</b></a> (ABC TV News)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-westboro-baptist-church-is-getting-owned-in-pokemon-go" target="_blank"><b>The Westboro Baptist Church Is Getting Owned In Pokémon Go</b></a> (The Atlas)
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In
addition to those examples of what can only be thought of as “good”
news, there were also a hell of a lot of headlines covering very
obviously negative - or “bad” - stories offering a
less-than-positive take on the Pokemon GO phenomenon, including:</div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>While headline
examples of the latter include</b></h2>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pokemon-go-players-stabbed-fall-off-cliff-20160714-snap-story.html" target="_blank"><b>2 California men fall off edge of ocean bluff while playing 'Pokemon Go'</b></a> (LA Times)</li>
<li><a href="http://nypost.com/2016/07/12/woman-uses-pokemon-go-to-catch-cheating-boyfriend/" target="_blank"><b>I got caught cheating through Pokémon Go</b></a> (New York Post)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3681995/The-strangest-places-fans-Pokemon-tried-catch-all.html" target="_blank"><b>In a toilet, at a funeral and at the birth of their child: The strangest places fans of Pokemon Go have tried to catch them all</b></a> (Daily Mail)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.people.com/article/pokemon-go-crime-stories-safety-tips" target="_blank"><b>Law Enforcement Reminds Pokémon Go Players 'It's Only a Game,' as Stories Spread of Related Crimes</b></a> (People Magazine)</li>
<li><a href="http://breaking911.com/man-hits-tree-and-crashes-car-while-playing-pokemon-go/" target="_blank"><b>Man hits tree and crashes car while playing Pokemon Go</b></a> (Washington Post)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/10/pokemon-go-armed-robbers-dead-body" target="_blank"><b>Pokémon Go: armed robbers use mobile game to lure players into trap</b></a> (The
Guardian)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.kcwy13.com/content/news/Woman-Finds-Body-While-Searching-for-Pokemon-386085821.html" target="_blank"><b>Teenager Finds Dead Body While Playing Pokemon Go</b></a> (KCWY TV News)
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You
may have noticed that we intentionally restricted our examples to
seven - which is equal to the number of good examples above -- though
you may be interested to learn that there were actually a LOT more
examples of bad news than there were good respecting the game.</div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Real News that was NOT
about Pokemon GO includes</b></h2>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While
all of this was going on - and various news agencies and their
reporters all over the country and world were covering what Pokemon
GO brought to the world, a lot of OTHER newsworthy events were ALSO
taking place.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Just
for fits-and-shiggles I've put together a selection of headlines for
other newsworthy events that do not relate to Pokemon GO that also
took place during the same period in time - figuring that you might
like to know what you missed while your preferred news reporting
agency put its efforts into covering the Pokemon GO related events
and stories.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
So
below, for your pleasure and in some cases entertainment, we offer
you real news events and headlines that were NOT about Pokemon GO:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2016/7/12/headlines/after_dallas_rnc_organizers_eye_ohio_s_open_carry_laws_warily" target="_blank"><b>After Dallas, RNC Organizers Eye Ohio's Open-Carry Laws Warily</b></a> (<b>DN News</b>)</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/07/13/massachusetts-courts-limit-online-access-criminal-case-information-for-lawyers-journalists/wnlY18EmPS9KbHvZ8nqjNO/story.html" target="_blank">Courts cut online access to criminal cases</a> </b>(Boston Globe)</li>
<li>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chick-fil-a-cow-appreciation-day_n_893094" target="_blank"><b>Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day: But What About Chickens?</b></a> (Huffington Post)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/690405/Fallout-4-PS4-mods-Bethesda-update-Nuka-World-release-date-Xbox-One-Vault-Tec-Workshop" target="_blank"><b>PS4 mods update, LAST Bethesda DLC release date, Nuka-World news</b></a> (Express)</div>
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/us/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-poll.html" target="_blank"><b>Poll Finds Voters in Both Parties Unhappy With Their Candidates</b></a> (New York Times)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/morning-headlines-friday-july-12" target="_blank"><b>Snowden accuses US of ‘threatening behavior’</b></a> (MSNBC)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article90521557.html" target="_blank">Sorry, retirees, don’t expect a hike in your 2017 Social Security check </a> </b>(Miami
Herald)
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Now granted, most
of the stories listed above could not possibly be of interest to more
than a handful of readers/viewers, not like the massive importance
of Pokemon GO...<br />
<br />
Okay Jim, turn off the Sarcasm Generator, I think
we've made our point.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The real question
here is not "why did so many otherwise reputable news agencies devote
so much time, energy, and money to reporting on the many Pokemon GO
stories?" but what about serving the public interest?<br />
<br />
Even when stories had to be creatively adjusted to provide proper
circumstances for an amusing headline or ten, what's the deal here?</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Pokemon GO may be a
very important game - at least to investors and crew at
Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, Game Freak, and Niantic Studios, that's beyond doubt.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I think that if we
try hard enough, we can even make a case that the fresh shot - no the massive injection - of cash into Nintendo's bank accounts could
even result in a trickle-down effect on the local economy in Redmond,
Washington - home base for Nintendo of America...</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Heck if we are
really looking to stretch credulity, that same case might be made for
the local economy in communities around Seattle's Northgate Mall, the Tacoma
Mall in Tacoma, Washington, and even downtown New York City, since
all of those locations happen to be Pokémon Centers!</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">If
you aren't aware of it, </span>Pokémon Centers are not just
locations in games -- they are also
real-world shops that double as tourism destinations for PokeFans that serve as combination Store and
PokeShrine |where all things Pokémon are magnified 10,000%.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Wait... Technically I should remove New
York City off of that list, as its Pokémon Center officially
closed a few years ago, having been replaced by a Super PokéStore, but still, let me
have that one, okay?<br />
<br />
The point here is not how much money the game is generating, but rather that while Pokémon
is a great game - heck I play it myself and I am very close to having
a complete Pokédex including the Legendary 'Mons in Pokémon X. But
it is <i>STILL</i> just a game.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The real question in my mind is, why does it
take something like Donald Trump being declared Republican Candidate for President to distract our attention from the antics of Pokémon GO?<br />
<br />
It shouldn't.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Pokémon GO should have been like any
other craze or phenomenon - it should have received its officially
allotted 15 minutes of fame and then it should have nicely faded
into the background.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The only reason I can see for that not
having happened is because editors all over the world have been <i>using</i> it in the same way that private companies are jumping on the GO band wagon to capitalize on its name recognition - well that and using the idiotic behavior of its
player base - as filler and even headline content because why?
Because it is easy, that's why.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So here is my plea to editors all over
the world: <i><b>Don't be easy.</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>-- 30 -- </b></i></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-92028233758792063742016-04-21T04:30:00.000-04:002016-04-21T04:30:07.909-04:00Game Industry Problems<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-erz8fKjsj0w/VxiKJQR0bEI/AAAAAAAABUs/OzE8uBjywFcOHJPfYacm3e3-HSBbn7RAQCLcB/s1600/acmason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-erz8fKjsj0w/VxiKJQR0bEI/AAAAAAAABUs/OzE8uBjywFcOHJPfYacm3e3-HSBbn7RAQCLcB/s1600/acmason.jpg" /><i></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just so we are clear, yes, this is a Masonic Conspiracy...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You don't have to be ancient to be
aware that at one time the studio system in Hollywood was this vast
evil empire of powerful people who took advantage of the dreams - and
careers - of aspiring actors and even well-established actors.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Colorful and morally questionable
stories of the Casting Couch and studio union-busting are all the
more fascinating because they are true. In the burgeoning period of
the 1930s, when the film studios rose to power over the now dying
vaudeville and even traditional stage-based live entertainment
industries some horrific whispers came out of that sunny town on the
west coast.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Stories of pedophilia, non-consensual
sex, blackmail, the use of chemicals for crimes that we now classify
as rape, and the use of money and contracts heavily weighted in favor
of the studios to control the talent were not exceptions to the rule
- they were the rule. That was how “The Biz” was run. The
actors for the most part knew that and, even more sad, chose to live
with it because they had no power over it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When an actor finally made it - became
famous and had their own following - a lot of those abuses
disappeared from their life - but they did not disappear from the
industry. In fact they wouldn't start to go away until the early
1990s if you can believe that?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
One major catalyst for change in
Hollywood is down to social media and how easy it is for scandal to
be tracked and revealed today. Another is the very real threat that
the traditional film industry now faces from the Video Games Industry
- an industry that even when they use their clout and money to buy
into it, still cannot be controlled.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FgLPb-nFgS0/VxiKini3L_I/AAAAAAAABU0/oQZcv_i8mBgfVFNj0TPZey7FFtKDEdRzgCLcB/s1600/2ads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FgLPb-nFgS0/VxiKini3L_I/AAAAAAAABU0/oQZcv_i8mBgfVFNj0TPZey7FFtKDEdRzgCLcB/s400/2ads.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>New Media - New Bosses</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Some experts on the entertainment
industry point to the non-traditional power structure in the games
industry for reasons why it will never face the sort of corruption
and vice that the film industry faced as it began to mature. That
may be true, but that does not mean there are not different and
equally egregious issues in New Media.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The truly massive studios (and their
publishing partners) are corporations - artificial people who exist
as a business entity and who are largely run via committee in the
form of a managing board of directors and, naturally, whose interests
lay more towards profits than creative expression.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That's okay though because the writers,
producers, and directors who actually make the video games are there
to protect the creative process and preserve its voice. Someone has
to count and collect he beans - someone has to write the checks that
pay for the infrastructure under which modern games are created.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Despite a business model that at least
on the surface appears to value the people who work in it at a higher
level than its sister industry film, there are still horror stories
to be heard in whispers in the cafes and bars of Hollywood and,
naturally, in distance San Francisco, but also in Charlotte, North
Carolina, Boston, Massachusetts, New York City, and Austin, Texas -
those being all of the places where game development studios seem to
cluster these days.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The horror stories are probably not
what you think when the words “horror story” are trotted out. In
place of physical and sexual assault, egregious and abusive
contracts, and a system that blackballs any talent who fails to toe
the line, we instead find tales of mandatory and uncompensated
90-hour work weeks, verbally abusive management, and entry-level
coders who are forced to sleep under their desks at work not because
they cannot find a place to live that they can afford, but because
they cannot get the time off from work to even LOOK for a place to
live!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There are a number of major game
development studios on the west coast that are spoken of in whispers,
with stories that more often than not conclude with the sentiment:
<i>They Eat Their Young</i>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
What the tale-teller is saying when
they say that is simple and epidemic in the games industry - major
game studios hire massive amounts of newly-graduated coders and
artists, then give them impossible to maintain schedules on a
specific game project until either the game project is completed, or
the new hire is so badly-burnt out that they quit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The logic behind that production-line
strategy is simple: new talent is cheap and plentiful. Don't use up
or damage your brilliant veteran coders and artists, save their
skills for the polishing process of the finished game. Instead throw
large numbers of cheaper talent at the problems until the problems
are solved.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If that sounds familiar it is probably
because you have read stories about it - and the practice that is
called “Crunch” that was heavily covered back in the year 2000.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The surprising thing is just how much
modern video games have in common with modern movies at least with
respect to the creative process and the talent system - and a
willingness to treat their employees like any other resource.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It is even more of a shock that,
despite the fact that we live in what are arguably enlightened times
-- with government agencies whose sole occupation is to seek out and
prosecute just this sort of abuse -- it still happens.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UF4DKkcmS1w/VxiL8kjijjI/AAAAAAAABVE/22lSJS-ctHAS34CKq-gP_N5D6ZD9-t-aACLcB/s1600/segaad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UF4DKkcmS1w/VxiL8kjijjI/AAAAAAAABVE/22lSJS-ctHAS34CKq-gP_N5D6ZD9-t-aACLcB/s400/segaad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Video Game Development:
How it Works</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Behind the scenes a lot has to happen
before a video game production company can even be formed, let alone
seek out and hire the voice talent, the animators, coders, and a
literal army of staff and skilled artists who ultimately create the
game story and the game itself.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A modern video game development team
generally sets out to do the same thing a modern film production
company does: tell a story.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The difference is that in addition to
genuine acting talent being hired to help tell that story, what
actually moves the story forward are the gamers who play the games
and, oddly, who serve as a sort of surrogate director and star for
all of the action!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Making video games requires the
developer to draw from a talent pool that while very deep, largely is
made up of the same sort of people: creative types. The reservoir
from which that talent is drawn arrives there via many different
disciplines, offering the sort of talent that is key to the creation
process.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The typical AA Title today combines all
of the traditional film elements into a computer-generated set, from
writers who create the story and dialogue to sets and locations that
offer danger, adventure, and challenges for the characters to
overcome and experience. But all of those elements are brought to
the fore via computers, which means Han Solo is not going to have his
ankle crushed by the door of the Millennium Falcon because that ship
is being projected by ones and zeroes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Despite the fact that the game world is
created, and the situations are all scripted and manufactured, just
like film production teams, the video game production teams endeavor
to put players inside the story, seeking the very same measure of
immersion that a film does, but with the added benefit of being
portable.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Building into the story telling process
a measure of intensity that helps with the immersion process, in the
end there really is very little difference between film and video
games - at least from the point-of-view of the two being an
entertaining experience.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So how do all of these different
creative forces come together to make a great game?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The process all starts with a pitch - a
writing team and core artists have put together an idea for a video
game and meet with the head of development for either a major games
development studio or, if the team intends to form their own small
studio for this project (that happens a lot more often these days)
the pitch is made to a major games publisher.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
During the pitch the development team
presents the story in the form of a standard story pitch - which is
to say they have story boards created by the artists and dialogue
created by the writers, and the producers then help the project
director with the pitch by filling in for the characters who are part
of that small slice of the overall story to be told.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The development team offers up a
synopsis of the story, outlines its plot development and sub-plots,
and shares whatever the plans are for collectible activities,
side-quests, and character development. That all concludes with a
“reading” in which one of the key dramatic moments in this new
game is played out by the assembled team - who despite the fact that
if production actually gets green-lit will have absolutely no
connection to that process whatsoever.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Once they get the go-ahead, that is
when the real work begins. And by real work what we mean is that is
when the team must go out and find a game engine to use for their
game, and then convince the engine owner to license it to them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If they are pitching the project to a
major games outfit like EA or Ubisoft, that process is a lot easier.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
They can simply ask for a license to
use the preferred engine of that shop - at EA/Dice that would be
their Frostbite Engine; at Crytek that might be CryEngine; and at Ubi
the selection would likely be the UnReal Engine. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P5K9oOegN0U/VxiMDo0eWiI/AAAAAAAABVI/_Hlc6Z040s4m8YcKKpeTzaZTXhuv0XDBgCLcB/s1600/gbpocketad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P5K9oOegN0U/VxiMDo0eWiI/AAAAAAAABVI/_Hlc6Z040s4m8YcKKpeTzaZTXhuv0XDBgCLcB/s400/gbpocketad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
But there are literally dozens out
there to choose from, many being independent of a given studio, so
you never know just what may end up being used to create and power
the world of that new video game. Still, once the game engine is
chosen, both the back-end and front-end tool suites also have to
either be selected and licensed, or created if the team opts to go
that route.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Following that, months may be burned
through in creating the full script and then creating a full set of
storyboards to outline that script and present the animation team
with the guidance that it requires to actually begin the process of
creating the world in which the game takes place, as well as all of
the interiors that it will use for its action and play.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While all that is going on, the
Continuity Team is busy documenting every aspect of the game, game
world, and the people and characters who will occupy it. They work
closely with the Character Team, and with the Location Scouts who are
used when a game world means to recreate elements of the real world -
a good example of that is the recently released next chapter in the
Fallout saga - Fallout 4 - which had Location Teams in Boston and
elsewhere.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Other teams who work closely with those
above include the Environments Team, who is responsible for
documenting matters like weather, seasons, specific conditions, and
the various mundane facts that shape and form a given place.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For example the team for Fallout 4
probably never actually visited the environments it was modeling -
because while they got the basic appearances for houses and
neighborhoods right - New England slate and shingle architecture -
they totally blew it on the actual house designs!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The houses in Fallout 4 appear to have
been based on the architecture that is common to Los Angeles not New
England. A good example for that is roofs. Specifically the
commonality of flat roofs on houses in the game - whereas in New
England all of the roofs are pitched steeply on residential housing,
with the only buildings likely to have a flat roof being commercial
structures whose designers utilized heat bleed to control snow
buildup.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If the houses in Fallout 4 were
actually built that way in New England, by the time the protagonist
stepped out of the vault there would not have been a single house
left standing - because the crushing weight of season after season of
snow would have done for them long before the radiation began to
subside.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So the work that these teams do before
even the first frame of a game is created is of critical importance
to he story telling process - and even more so to immersion!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Yu_KvCjyQ8/VxiPROEK4kI/AAAAAAAABVo/-gD2HqKlyxIXLdvXdGtrpMV-IIgtmndGgCLcB/s1600/invader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Yu_KvCjyQ8/VxiPROEK4kI/AAAAAAAABVo/-gD2HqKlyxIXLdvXdGtrpMV-IIgtmndGgCLcB/s1600/invader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Once all of the teams have filed their
reports - having completed their research - the information that they
bring to the party works its way into the corrected story boards.
The casting teams can now know what characters will need to be cast,
and what will no longer be in the story - and they all get to work
using the now completed storyboard system to fulfill the remaining
pre-production elements so that full game production can begin.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The world builders get busy building
the world, the animators get busy building the character motion
models, and the voice people get busy finding the right actors for
each role. The game is taking shape.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Eventually the story will grow closer
to fulfilling its overall immersive potential. Once it gets close
the Alpha Stage begins, a stage in which all of the awkward moments
and dialogue, as well as superfluous elements are either corrected or
removed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Focus groups of players experience the
story and provide feedback so that the immersion and story telling
process can be tweaked and, once the team feels that the Alpha stage
has taken the game as far as it is going to be able to do so, the
Beta Phase begins.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
During the Beta real-world players are
brought in to play the game and help the team not only refine its
story and story telling, but identify and document bugs so that the
Bug Hunters can go in and kill them. The idea being that by the time
the game reaches its launch window, the more dangerous and
potentially game-braking ones have been fixed. Well, that is the
goal anyway.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
With all of that out of the way - and
believe me when I say that there are actually a LOT more teams
involved and a lot of additional steps too - the game will get
released and find its way into the hands of millions of players all
over the world.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Then the bugs that the Bug Hunters and
Beta Testers never found will begin to emerge, and the first month or
so of release - if the team behind the game is reputable and actually
cares - will be spent fixing all of that.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Increasingly today that is what
actually happens, largely due to the fact that one of the core
revenue streams for modern games is the DLC and expansion content
programs that were planned for each. The teams have to fix those
bugs because if they don't a lot fewer gamers will shell out $20 for
the next expansion. Just saying.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Something to note - this is the point
in the path where the film entertainment experience and game
entertainment experiences part ways - because for a film, that is the
whole enchilada, whereas for a good game, this is the point where
serious money gets made.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You see the game publisher already
knows how large the current audience is for that game - and they also
know that if the expansion process is handled properly and the game
development team is viewed as being responsive to player needs and
bug killing, they can easily increase that player base through
word-of-mouth and targeted advertising as each piece of expansion
content is released.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you need examples of games that
truly managed that process in smooth and successful ways, look no
further than the last three titles in the Fallout Series - as each
successive chapter further refined the process to tremendous success.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Rockstar Games has recently started
down that path with its GTA franchise, and Elder Scrolls has really
demonstrated that with both its offline story based tiles and online
MMO titles, they grok the way forward.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_6vzfRl6n8/VxiKaSenQ6I/AAAAAAAABUw/L0vAFBwbGCYEQ2b0IFPBGpkBlnKXOmOmwCLcB/s1600/nogirlsallowed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_6vzfRl6n8/VxiKaSenQ6I/AAAAAAAABUw/L0vAFBwbGCYEQ2b0IFPBGpkBlnKXOmOmwCLcB/s1600/nogirlsallowed.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The End Results</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In the end the creative process - what
some detractors call the games assembly line - is responsible for
games that are rich in entertainment value and that offer many times
the entertainment per dollar than film and other traditional media
can even hope to reach.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
But the price of that process has been
and continues to be a range of social ills that seem to endure no matter how much light is shined upon them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The “Crunch” system is still used by major
studios to squeeze out as much performance as they can in the typical
72-hour work week of the games industry.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That Crunch process was first exposed
to the world via an anonymous blog written by a spouse of an employee
at EA Games. The blog was anonymous due to the very real concern for
her husband keeping his job. But don't think to single out EA Games
for this - it is an industry-wide issue.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It's been more than a decade since Erin
Hoffman published her online journal detailing the grueling
experience that her husband found working at EA -- and in that 11
years everything - and nothing - has changed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
What we mean by that is that the
industry has come to understand that it cannot legally force hourly
employees to work overtime without paying them overtime wages. So
now, when an hourly employee is in a section of the company where
their skill is required, they are promoted to a salary-based position
that is immune to overtime laws.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately the decision as to
whether or not to accept that promotion is no decision at all - any
hourly employee who declines the promotion is shown the door
(sacked). The ones that accept it find that they are now working a
72-hour week for which they are only paid for the first 40 hours at
slightly more than their previous hourly wages.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A typical employee in that situation
who was previously earning more than $70K a year (including overtime)
now finds themselves earning just $48K a year (their salary) while
still working the same hours! Well, they do that if they want to
keep their job.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Stories of discrimination are
everywhere, but mostly they are ignored in favor of the more
news-worthy ones like sex discrimination against women both as gamers
and in the industry. Yes we are talking about #Gamergate - but we are not going to get into that subject because it doesn't deserve even more coverage when it has already received too much.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The one thing about #Gamergate we will comment on is the fact that it somehow managed to gather a massive following but, when we asked some very outspoken members of that movement what it was that it was about - they couldn't really tell us. When we asked why they were so passionate about it, the reasons we heard were all different, and completely unrelated. And that is all that needs to be said about that.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Understand something - we're not saying that sex discrimination is not
the very real problem that it clearly is - what we are saying it that the grrl gamer community is working hard to address this and they don't need our help. And that
there are other issues of discrimination that encompass a far
larger percentage of games workers. Specifically the manner in which
lower-level employees in the industry are treated by the regular
cadre.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In the world of modern game design,
game studios employ a wide range of classes in terms of employees -
and the largest segment also happens to be the most abused - quality
assurance and bug testing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Employed mostly as minimum wage temps,
in some studios the young and eager college grads taking those jobs
in the hopes that doing so will lead to something better - as in
starting at the bottom and working their way up - more often than not
find that the industry itself has very little interest in helping
them to achieve those goals.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While it is not uncommon for the
recruiters who populate those departments to mention that it is a
good entry-level position for working your way up the chain, in
reality that rarely ever happens. One game tester - who describes
herself as a “game drone” posted in her personal blog that the
reality was simple: they are hired as minimum wage temps to do a
specific job, and once that job is completed they get shown the door.
There is never any talk of moving up or even sideways to a new
department or job.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Instead they are told that their name
and number will be kept on file and, should they have another project
that needs them, they should expect to be called.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It is fair to characterize that sort of
environment as a hostile one - and by now you might be thinking that
the comparison we began with - the egregious practices of the early
film industry - is not so very far from the point in comparison as
you might have been thinking.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Is it any wonder then why so many
upper-tier developers end up leaving the employ of established game
development studios to form their own companies? To make their own
games?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Fortunately as those developers leave
to create their own companies, Crunch is often the first thing that
gets eliminated from their business model. Another element that gets
changed is the one-way process that entry-level employees find.
Opportunities to begin building a career in the industry can be found
in the new studios - a phenomenon easily traced to the motivations
that caused the new studio bosses to create their new studios in the
first place.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Better working conditions tend to
naturally follow the devs who take off on their own, and that might
be what saves the industry.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-49366403112670800822016-04-17T20:37:00.002-04:002016-04-17T20:37:16.273-04:00. . . the Reason for My Website Redesign<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_ZxErRgIRg/VxQrw_MpkeI/AAAAAAAABUU/eQRuTj_Kw9IxQwR7nWykrTBrc7GbgKGvgCLcB/s1600/distracted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_ZxErRgIRg/VxQrw_MpkeI/AAAAAAAABUU/eQRuTj_Kw9IxQwR7nWykrTBrc7GbgKGvgCLcB/s1600/distracted.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Pictures of Doggies! In Sweaters! Too CUTE - Eye's and Heart melting! Now you are distracted!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last month I began the slow and painful
process of deployment of the first redesign for my professional
writing website - what was previously chris.boots-faubert.com and is
now www.boots-faubert.com - in something like eight years, which has
been a rather slow and involved process due mostly to my commitment
to ongoing writing projects that prevent me from dedicating the time
required to pull it off in one-smooth-act.</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I thought that nobody would even notice
the redesign until it reached the point where I closed down the
previous version. Boy was I wrong.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I was shocked and even slightly
dismayed when, after just an hour online, the first email message arrived in my in-box asking me what the reason was behind the redesign?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I honestly was unaware that there were
that many regular visitors to my site or that they might find its
design to be a quirky and interesting one.</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Original Plan</span></b> <br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When I originally set out to create the site it was intended to be a landing page for our family pages, with sub-sites below it that represented me as a writer, and then personal sites for each of the family members. <br />
<br />
The first few design ideas going back more than 10 years ago were quirky but for the most part rather silly - starting with a basic site that transformed into something of an homage to Star Trek the Next Generation (think the stylistic and instantly recognizable font from the show along with design elements that quickly brought to mind the data pad displays from the show.<br />
<br />
That lasted all of a year or so, and then I tried something different, and did not like it but kept it for another year or so and then, finally, I settled on the puzzle design and, with a little help from Peter made that happen.<br />
<br />
The Puzzle Design is what I just retired, opting for several reasons to go with a new, cleaner and more businesslike design that, this time around, was pretty much created by Peter with general goals and desires provided by me.<br />
<br />
In addition to being easier to maintain, there was another pressing reason behind the redesign - as unfortunately I have recently learned that the theme and
the rather informal contents and structure have actually cost me
writing gigs I might have otherwise been considered for -- had I
presented a more professional presence online.<br />
<br />
Yeah... Sheesh! Unfortunately that sort of news is not
something I can afford to ignore.<br />
<br />
If I am, indeed, being judged by
the presentation of my online presence - and I am - then that
presentation should be a businesslike and mature one. Hence what we
now have - which is a more professional site that is suited to a
writer who is organized and committed to the craft.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So I apologize to you if, as a regular
visitor, you are unhappy with the change. But it really needed to be
done and I hope you will understand.<br />
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-27232700326290080162016-03-23T14:36:00.000-04:002016-04-17T19:52:08.489-04:00. . . So You Want to be a Games Journalist?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jYUzREWOqOc/VxPyzg5sNRI/AAAAAAAABSk/TQm4cLyOgvoGoDl-dNUwtUxgSflE0_SQACLcB/s1600/dgate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jYUzREWOqOc/VxPyzg5sNRI/AAAAAAAABSk/TQm4cLyOgvoGoDl-dNUwtUxgSflE0_SQACLcB/s1600/dgate2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>When a PR scandal reaches the stage at which it is seen as a fit topic for late night new journatainment you know you have a hot-button issue for sure...</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
No, you want to get paid to play and
review video games?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
No no! You want to get paid to report
on the goings on in the games industry?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
No no no! Nooooo! What you really want
is to get paid to play video games and write Walkthrough Guides for
them!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Or perhaps it is some of the above?
All of the above?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Wages of Sin . . .</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If so, it probably will not
surprise you to learn that a lot of games journalists spend years
working their way up the ranks from the bottom, beat-by-beat, with
those very goals in mind.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The ones who attain those goals get
there through hard work.<br />
<br />
Their journey usually begins by writing in
the trenches, where they pay their dues earning considerably less
than a living wage and take any paid gigs that they can get.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
As their goal is to begin the process
of honing their craft, finding their voice, and eventually building a
legitimate portfolio to represent them to editors who might be
interested in offering them a gig or, more likely, a freelance
commission for a specific project.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The new freelancer must accomplish the
above, all the while avoiding the plethora of traps and evil editors
out there both online and in print who want nothing more than to
obtain your services gratis - and they will tell you any lie that
works to get you to write for them. Lies that include possible
future pay based on the traffic your piece generates, or a share in
the site revenue “once it is established” of course.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Among the more often told promises are
help refining your craft, and editorial guidance in obtaining the
sort of skills and focus that is required for these beats. Of course
that guidance rarely appears in any other form than another
assignment for which you are paid in experience only.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The inexperienced are unaware that this
song and dance of writing for the experience or to build a portfolio
is just that - a song and dance. The editors at the sites and
publications that do pay for the projects and pieces that they
commission know which publications and sites induce their writers to
churn out copy for no fee and they don't consider a portfolio built
around those pieces of any value at all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
At least part of the reason for that
has to do with the quality - actually the lack of quality - that
those pieces will possess. Because the “editors” for those sites
and publications are not interested in helping you to create a
high-quality piece that presents your skills in the best light --
they are only interested in generating volume to fill the pages of
their site/pub in order to generate ad revenue and hits, gain a
better spot with the search engines, and make money.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uX_qoSggaG8/VxP1nIUOUOI/AAAAAAAABS4/oPlZz3DnwWcizrh-jMj7Ukt-SwbbKx6zACLcB/s1600/sackedfornocause.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uX_qoSggaG8/VxP1nIUOUOI/AAAAAAAABS4/oPlZz3DnwWcizrh-jMj7Ukt-SwbbKx6zACLcB/s1600/sackedfornocause.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>Veteran games journo and Giant Bomb
co-founder Jeff Gerstmann ended up losing his job at GameSpot for a
negative review of 2007's Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - an event that
we are pretty sure he never actually saw coming. Getting the sack
for an honest review is not how the system of ethics in games
journalism is supposed to work...</b></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>. . . are Swag, Free Meals, and
Risking your Reputation</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That duly noted, it will probably not
surprise you that many writers just starting out seek and take
advantage of any perceived shortcuts that they can find along their
own personal journey towards getting established.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In fact that attitude and ignorance of
the process and industry are what the unscrupulous editors use and
count on to get writers to work for free! Have you head the
expression you cannot con an honest man? Well the same thing goes
for honest writers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Taking shortcuts or working for free to
build a portfolio rarely ever leads to legitimate gigs, because the
editors you actually want to work for are not impressed by what
amounts to barely edited first--and-second-draft pieces that are
accepted by the fly-by-night editors who are all promises but never
deliver on them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Look at it from the legitimate editor's
point-of-view for a moment: the work you are listing in your
portfolio is not very good largely because the publication you
created it for does not care about quality - only quantity. And then
there is the point that if you are willing to work for free for those
editors, why should a legitimate editor pay you? After all even you
don't believe your art is worth anything - otherwise you would not be
giving it away, right?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Never Work for Free </b></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Legitimate editors understand the
concept of “just starting out” - that is why they make allowances
for newbies and offer them extra guidance in the creation of early
projects.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A legit and professional editor will
not accept what amounts to a rough draft from you as finished copy.
They will instead kick it back to you with the problems noted, and a
list of suggestions. Re-writing is a staple for the aspiring writer
- get used to it. Well, get used to it if you are working for a
legitimate outlet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The good news is that there is method
in play here. Once you actually come to recognize the common
mistakes that get a piece kicked back for re-write, you will stop
making those mistakes. Your quality in writing will go up, and you
will find the process gets easier. It is a self-correcting process
you know? If you don't learn from your mistakes that will not be a
problem, since those editors will stop offering you gigs.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a6Jc_b7wLPw/VxP28KWpl-I/AAAAAAAABTM/2Vo7_tru11cxJMM8Nviu-PoqsFQknVFBgCLcB/s1600/ggate1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a6Jc_b7wLPw/VxP28KWpl-I/AAAAAAAABTM/2Vo7_tru11cxJMM8Nviu-PoqsFQknVFBgCLcB/s1600/ggate1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>When you are a games journalist it shouldn't matter whether you keep your bits inside or they dangle. Right? Right? After all games journalism is all about knowledge, expert opinion, and how well you know your games and have found your voice as a journalist - not what sort of reproductive organs you possess. Right? Right?</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Advice-Seeking Emails</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It's fair to say that a vast majority
of the brothers and sisters of the gaming pen will consider any
advantage they can to attain a boost - up to and including shortcuts,
nepotism, or help from a sympathetic member of the Fourth Estate's
Gaming Cabinet who has already secured elevation to the flag ranks of
games journalism and so could - should they choose to - put in a good
word for them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Sadly that sort of advancement -
jumping the queue if you will - rarely ever works out to be either in
the benefit of the writer getting the unnatural bump, or for that
matter to the editors who have been induced into providing it by
someone whose judgment they trust.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reason that I am writing this - and
why this subject has cropped up yet again - is down to the fact that
when I opened my mail client yesterday morning I discovered fifteen
new email messages from aspiring writers seeking advice from me on
how to break into one or more of the games beats.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That's fifteen emails in ONE day. It
happened to be a Friday, but still. That's a lot.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Fifteen emails is the total I would
normally receive in an average week, so getting them all in one day?
Unusual is the best word to describe this.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I've noticed that email of this sort
tends to arrive on Mondays or Fridays - the same days most CV's are
revised come to think upon it - and I doubt that is a coincidence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If I dig hard and deep enough what I am
likely to find is that online somewhere on a chat board for writers
and writing my name was mentioned along with a bunch of other
journos, in a completely unrelated thread, and this was the result.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I write this on a Saturday morning in
the middle of preparing for a bad storm that is rumored to be coming
our way.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I live on what amounts to a very large
island off the coast of Massachusetts and bad storms like this are
not to be taken lightly. There is concern that the storm may become
what we call a “Nor'Easter” -- and in New England that is not a
good word to hear.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That type of storm forms on average
around three times a year, building up along the East coast as warm
air from over the Atlantic smashes into cold arctic air masses to the
north and west, with the result being northeasterly winds that blow
in ahead of the storm.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While this type of storm can occur any
time of the year they are most common between the months of September
through April, and when they choose to arrive during the winter
months the northwest side of a nor'easter will often contain very
heavy snow combined with hurricane-force winds.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So it is not only very cold to start
with, the windchill combined with the heavy snow makes for a
miserable - and often very dangerous - time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The roads freeze, the snow gets deep
and can form an ice cover, and that makes it difficult for the
removal crews to get rid of it. Forget salting the roads, that only
works for regular bad weather. Think in terms of hunkering down for
the duration of the storm plus two to four days, and if you live in
New England, you can expect to lose power during some or most of that
period.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So naturally my mind is occupied by
thoughts of deep wet packed snow and the likelihood that we would
lose power and I would not be able to work on the four projects that
I am presently working. I am also concerned that we may not have
sufficient firewood to keep the fireplace burning for more than three
or four days, and I have mentally reviewed how much food is in the
larder as well as the levels of other essential supplies and the
conclusions are not good.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Before this storm arrives we will need
to get at least a cord of wood, and hit the grocery, hardware, and
pharmacy. It would be a good idea to visit the library and check out
some good books so that if the power does go out - and the Internet
with it - there is at least something to entertain all of us.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I'm sure you can imagine that, under
the circumstances, happy replies to unsolicited email of this sort is
not likely. But that's actually not a concern thanks to the twin
lessons of experience and history.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0I1CGn3pZig/VxP4HJHZ6gI/AAAAAAAABTY/E_WZLHxic-cE0fT0PMMTp7nvKPOexZHhQCLcB/s1600/dgate2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0I1CGn3pZig/VxP4HJHZ6gI/AAAAAAAABTY/E_WZLHxic-cE0fT0PMMTp7nvKPOexZHhQCLcB/s1600/dgate2a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>When games journo and sometimes PR
person Lauren Wainwright, tweeted: "Urm... Trion were giving
away PS3s to journalists at the GMAs. Not sure why that's a bad
thing?" that should have been more than sufficient data to cause
her to pause and recognize WHY that was a problem. Under the
standard code of ethics in journalism a journo is absolutely free to
accept that sort of bribe - with the understanding that they would
thereafter NEVER cover any products from the company that offered the
bribe, you know, ever again?</i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here There Be History!</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Having been on the receiving end of
this particular type of appeal via email for nearly a decade -- or
about the time that my status as a games journo was officially
recognized (and bear in mind you don't actually have to be a
successful OR a popular games journo to be on the receiving end of
this sort of thing) -- I now have a policy for handling these.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I admit that, at first I was drawn to
them. The idea that someone at a stage I used to be at was seeking
out my guidance was pretty flattering. I definitely gave them more
time and attention - and effort - than was good. And I gave what I
thought was good advice too - in fact it was a lot more verbose but
if you distill it down it's the same advice I give today but in the
form of a tinned reply I can paste into the email I answer with.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now I know better </b></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In the past I assumed that anything I
had to say both had value to the recipient and would be advice
well-received and followed.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It turns out that is rarely ever the
case; they were not looking to hear me say “work hard, never work
for free, write the best you can, and find your voice.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That wasn't what they were looking for
when they wrote me. What they were seeking were any tips, tricks, or
shortcuts I could offer because there is this belief on the part of
new writers that there ARE such things.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
What I was offering instead - in my
ignorance - was a road map for how the rest of us AWs actually began,
undertook, and completed the journey under discussion.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
No, what they want is for me to explain
to them how they might become a professional games journo without
actually needing to put in the effort of becoming a professional
games journo.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I've corresponded with more than a few
- at length - and eventually what I learn is that they just want a
fast track to success so that they can score gigs that will pay well,
offer them prestige, ensure a steady supply of free AAA games, and
pay expenses for and offer creds to the big three game expos - E3,
TGS, and Gamescom.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I was gobsmacked to learn that today a
lot of gamers who are looking to become games journos have this
twisted idea that the life of the typical professional games journo
while on assignment is something like a cross between Hunter S.
Thompson's <i>Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
-- and the the more excessive of the stories told about the bad-old
corruption days when PRs and studios would almost literally hand
games journos bags of cash, or whisk them away to all-expenses-paid
game briefings in Tahiti and the Bahamas during the dark of winter
back home!</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Today reputable
gaming publications and sites have ethics policy that is very similar
to those used by newspapers - in fact the reform process for games
journalism in many ways mirrored what the newspapers experienced
during the height of their reforms.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reason that
such policy is successful is that the journos themselves understand
it is in their best interest to comply with them.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
First there is the
whole issue with the Federal Trade Commission and other government
agencies having finally recognized that both the traditional and new
media were rife with corruption and needed to be brought in line so
that they were operating under full influence and disclosure just
like the traditional media is.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Some time if you
are bored and have an hour free to read check out the <b><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking" target="_blank">Endorsement Guides for the Federal Trade Commission</a></b> (FTC) as they apply to games
journalists. The contents of that site section have been helpfully
<b><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/plain-language/pdf-0205-endorsement-guides-faqs_0.pdf" target="_blank">packaged as a PDF document</a></b> that you can download and read at your
leisure too.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
After you get
familiar with that, go check out the updated valuation rules for
things like game review copies and swag over at the IRS website.
When you get audited how the IRS auditor treats the review and
preview copies will depend on how they personally interpret the law.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Some auditors apply
the tax law of Publication 531 (undeclared tips), while others choose
to apply the same set of tax laws that are applied to gambling
winnings by professional gamblers.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So for instance
just like a professional gambler a professional freelancer is held to
the requirements to file as a self-employed business using Schedule C
-- and review copies as well as swag is treated just like the value
of "comps" that are received from casinos by gamblers - and
thus are considered to be gaming winnings that are taxed at the
highest level allowed by law.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Some have
interpreted the games as being worth their declared retail cost as
their real value - so the typical AAA game will be counted as $59.99
in real value for the purposes of assessing the income amount you are
being penalized with.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Say you average two
games a month - though really that is a low-ball figure since during
the run-up to the Christmas Holiday you can easily have a dozen or
more games dropped on you.... But let's day throughout a typical
year you only accepted 24 video games. That works out to just over
$1,400 in what the IRS considers undeclared income!</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
And that does not
even begin to estimate the income value for swag you received from
PRs - including free meals, beverages, and even the thumb drives they
gave you the press releases and media content on! Yeah, the IRS
considers that income if it gets to the stage where you are being
audited.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Tax lawyers suggest
that just like professional gamblers the professional games journo
should keep a personal journal in which they keep track of what they
receive from PRs, studios, and publishers, as well as what they spend
out-of-pocket. Keeping receipts for the games you bought as well as
logging that in your journal is recommended - because the IRS auditor
might decide to Google all of your reviews for the previous tax year
and assume you received review copies for every game you reviewed.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Bearing in mind
that none of the game studios or PRs - or publishers - issue Form
W2-G to freelance games journos, that personal journal may be your
first and last line of defense against this!</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That will quickly
add up - because even if the total amount doesn't push you into a
higher tax bracket, once they tabulate the total value for all of the
games - $1,439.76 - plus the swag and other income - they then start
applying the fines, and then total all of that together and begin
factoring the percentage of late charges and so on. It can quickly
get bloody - and your employers will not be happy with you either -
there is that to consider.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBn9qkuhq1I/VxP5ZLY430I/AAAAAAAABTs/cS2S5iG9JtYZPWEtPxAKdcwnl0HFA1mbQCLcB/s1600/problemchild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBn9qkuhq1I/VxP5ZLY430I/AAAAAAAABTs/cS2S5iG9JtYZPWEtPxAKdcwnl0HFA1mbQCLcB/s1600/problemchild.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A little common sense goes a very long way - if you are being asked to passively endorse a product in order to "win" another product, just how objective do you suppose the "winners" will be? Should you even need to ask that question? A voluntary Ethics Policy does more than protect a publication - it also protects the journos who write for it. We're just saying...</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you are an
aspiring journo I very strongly urge you to carefully study the
documents referenced above because government agencies like the FTC
and IRS do NOT have a sense of humor. Claiming ignorance of the law
pretty much amounts to an outright guilty plea!</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you read the
game and hardware previews and reviews I write you will notice a few
things consistently throughout: at the end of each preview or review
I disclose how I obtained the copy that was used for that piece even
when I actually paid for it myself, and I never retain preview or
review copies for my personal game library.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Unless the game
needs to be held onto for coverage of future DLC and expansion
content, we give away all of the review copies as part of our regular
trivia contests - with the details appearing at the end of the
preview or review right beneath the disclosure.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Another helpful tip
- when we know for certain that a game will have future content we
will need to cover we will actually try to insist on being given a
code rather than the retail boxed edition - since game codes have no
intrinsic value and thus are not declared income.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Sorry we got off
track here a little...</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If a PR manages to
compromise you ethically they can (and many will) hold that over your
head. Believe me the risks associated with being outed for accepting
a bribe far far outweigh any blip of a few seconds of bad publicity
on their part for offering it. So you see there is a very real risk
of being “owned” by the PR or studio that bribed you -- and what
you have is a recipe for disaster that most assuredly has a “sell-by
date” attached.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Science Fiction
author Robert Heinlein is well-known for promoting the expression and
idea of <b>TANSTAAFL</b> - <i>There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch</i> - which
features heavily in the personal ethics and philosophy of the
protagonist <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_Long" target="_blank">Lazarus Long</a></b>, and to a smaller degree with characters
like <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land" target="_blank">Valentine Michael Smith</a></b> from Stranger in a Strange Land and so
on.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Once you get owned
the day will come when they demand payment for that bribe -- a demand
that most often comes in the form of a positive review for one of
their games.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When you -- and the
handful of other journos who they entrapped -- give a game that the
rest of the world recognizes as a real stinker a positive review, do
you truly imagine nobody will notice?</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Forget the fact
that by giving that stinker a positive review you have essentially
betrayed your audience - those audiences are NOT stupid. They will
figure out that you had a reason for writing what you wrote mates.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So following the
publication ethics policy is not just a good idea - after all those
policies are there for your protection as well as to protect the
reputation of the publications itself.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Unlike most other
media beats, in games journalism a writer who has demonstrated that
they have a price and can be bought loses all trust and credibility
from their audience - and since their audience IS the gold-standard
by which their value to an outlet on their chosen beat is measured -
well you can easily figure it out for yourself.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The PRs and games
publishers know all of this - that's why you don't see them trying to
slide by with overt bribes anymore -- and why you never see them
offering the sort of overt perk like flying journos to warm tropical
destinations in the middle of the winter to be briefed on a new game
or have their preview play in a luxury resort in California (that
stuff really did happen).</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I should also
emphasize that unlike in a court of law, there is no presumption of
innocence in the court of public opinion. Even just the appearance
of culpability is sufficient in most cases to cost a journo their
career.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aPQCA3nlvk/VxPzdERlkCI/AAAAAAAABSs/klCJBKkVWP0UAHi8UE0yx-V3W6wg2bKmACLcB/s1600/dgate1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aPQCA3nlvk/VxPzdERlkCI/AAAAAAAABSs/klCJBKkVWP0UAHi8UE0yx-V3W6wg2bKmACLcB/s1600/dgate1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Don't you just bet that this is one image he really regrets sitting for?</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
And we don't need
examples like 2012s <b><a href="http://crappy-games.wikia.com/wiki/Doritogate" target="_blank">Dorito-gate</a></b> or the travesty surrounding 2007s
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Gerstmann" target="_blank">Gerstmann-gate</a></b> to make that all too painfully clear do we?</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In a nutshell
Dorito-gate was a debacle that was pretty much created by the PR firm
representing American sugar-water and cheese-flavored corn-crisps
manufacturer Mountain Dew and Doritos (which means parent company
Pepsi-Co and subsidiary Frito-Lays).</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Toss in GTTV host
Geoff Keighley, an unfortunate promotion involving Twitter,
Microsoft's (then) new hit game Halo 4 and its primary advertising
scheme, and games journalist Lauren Wainwright, who may or may not be
litigious in the grandest traditions of American culture (despite you
know, she being British and all of this taking place at a European
awards show)...</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So um, yeah, that's
Dorito-gate - an unfortunate event that would have been prevented by
a handful of games publications and sites having adopted and clearly indoctrinated their writers with the same basic ethics policy that
most American publications and sites use. Because 'Merica! Hell
yeah!</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Then we have
Gerstmann-gate - which I don't mind saying still leaves a bad
aftertaste.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Considering that
despite his innocence - and he was innocent - nobody is arguing that
games journo Jeffrey Michael Gerstmann was dismissal from GameSpot --
where he had worked for over a decade -- for any reason OTHER than
having written a fair and accurate review of the Eidos Interactive
title <i>Kane & Lynch: Dead Men</i>.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Bearing in mind
that Gerstmann was assigned to review that title, and bearing in mind
that the only basis for his dismissal was the fact that he wrote a
negative review of the game and then later refused to re-interpret
his review or re-cast the numbers for the rating he gave the game -
in the end his career as a games journo was permanently damaged.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So that was two
very simple examples of a clear ethics question (Dorito-gate) and a
completely innocent journo trapped in a pissing contest
(Gerstmann-gate) between the games press and one company who has an
alleged unfortunate policy of pimping its ratings to its advertisers.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In both cases while
there were no clear winners there certainly were some clear villains,
but games journos - and to some extent the gaming community in
general - really did get hurt.<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Every Time You
Turn Around, There You Are!</b></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So I need to hit
the door and get to the grocery - Pete's going to deliver a cord of
wood - I have a short list for the hardware store, and I'm getting my
scripts filled two-days early. That being so, and the weather
waiting for no man (or woman, or dachshund despite the fact that
Calvin is a very persuasive dachshund) I want to sum all of this up
by providing you, erstwhile aspiring writers and games journos alike
- with the following advice.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Follow it. Don't
follow it. Reject me. Endorse me. I don't actually care. But here
we go:</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
My formal and
official advice to new aspiring writers wishing to break into the
games beats (any and all of them) are really very simple.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
1. Register a
custom Internet Domain Name (ie, www.yourname.com) for your working
name (for example my domain is boots-faubert.com) and obtain hosting
for that domain.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Create a personal
websites to showcase your work and help potential sources and editors
to contact you, and for editors to get to know you and your work. </div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You can find excellent examples - and ideas for what to include on
your site by checking out the long list of sites created by other
journos at the <b><a href="http://www.sree.net/tips/journosites.html" target="_blank">Journalists Personal Websites</a></b> page at Street Tips.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
2. Register and
properly set up an account/profile with <b><a href="http://about.me/" target="_blank">about.me</a></b>.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
3. Sign up to and
add your articles to <b><a href="http://journalisted.com/" target="_blank">Journa<i>listed</i></a></b>.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
4. Create a
<b><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></b> account and be sure to keep your LinkedIn profile
up-to-date.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
5. Create a
Portfolio of the best examples of your paid work for each of the
beats you write on.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
6. Do <i>NOT</i> write for
free. You can find paid gigs - you just have to put in the effort.
That is not to say that you will be making loads of coin for that
effort - but that is not the point. The point is that you are
creating portfolio content that shows off your talents (and hopefully
your voice assuming you have found it) that fit within the desired
constraints of the industry.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You may find that
following the advice listed below will work:</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>(a) Use the
website <a href="http://gamejournalismjobs.com/" target="_blank">Games Journalism Jobs</a></b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The job postings on
this site tend to be low on pay - but when it is a paid position they
usually make that very clear. It should be understood that this
is not the sort of gig clearing house you go to when you are looking
for a permanent job to earn a living wage. That is very unlikely.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
On the other hand
you CAN find gigs here that are paid gigs and thus allow you to
honestly add the output to your portfolio of commercially successful
work. And that IS the point.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When you do get a
gig, give it 100% of your effort and ability - treat it as if this
was a job paying three times industry standard rates. Your goal here
- in addition to getting paid for your writing - is to create work
that showcases your writing abilities and (hopefully) your voice.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When you finish a
gig here that you feel qualifies as representative of your best work,
be sure you add it to the publications or projects section of your
LinkedIn Profile (whichever is appropriate), and then add it to your
Journalisted profile.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>(b) Work for
yourself</b></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While you can be
harshly judged for accepting unpaid gigs from sites and their
editorial staff well known (infamous) for conning aspiring writers
into producing production-level content for them, no self-respecting
editor will look down on you for creating your own games blog and
then populating it with quality features, game and game industry news
pieces, game reviews, and even walkthroughs or game strategy guides.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While the contents
of a self-made, self-run publication such as this won't really
qualify as portfolio samples of paid work, the entire site/pub itself
and everything on it DOES qualify as sample work. More important
than that - assuming you can successfully pull it off - is its value
to show consistency as well as quality.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The easiest path
towards accomplishing this goal can be found at free blog hosting
sites like <b><a href="https://wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" target="_blank">Blogger</a></b> - but if you can afford it you might
want to go with a paid hosting site with a custom domain name like
the services offered by <a href="https://www.godaddy.com/" target="_blank"><b>GoDaddy</b></a> (we use them and like them but are
not being paid to recommend them).</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
GoDaddy is
representative of the services we are talking about - so do the math:
registering a new domain in the .com space with them is around 12
bucks and site hosting for it - with the blog software - runs around
7 bucks a month.
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Or you can go with
one of their on sale annual hosting plans that will get you:
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 Website</li>
<li>100 GB Storage</li>
<li>Unlimited Bandwidth</li>
<li>100 Email Addresses</li>
<li>Free domain with
annual plan</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For just over $160
you get the above for a prepaid 36 months. </div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You then just go into the
hosting admin section, pick the blog front-end you want, then either choose a
free or a paid design, customize it as needed and begin writing.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Once you are at the
ready to write stage, set a schedule for yourself. Send emails to
the various PR firms requesting to be added to the PR mailing lists
for the various studios that they rep and that gets you the news and
press releases. Google is your friend here for discovering who reps who.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Here is a sample
schedule - you set aside Wednesday and Saturday for game news
coverage, since that will get you the Monday/Tuesday and
Thursday/Friday releases to work from. Now you perfect your ability
to summarize news coverage and perhaps add a little character,
entertainment, or humor to the process.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you want to
eventually cover game reviews, decide on doing one or two reviews a
month then do them. Pick your games and try to get your reviews out
in a timely fashion. Create a review format that not only makes
sense, but is easy to understand and helpful to the reader.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Every other Friday
you publish an original feature piece - I am not talking about
regurgitating standard feature topics mind you - but developing your
own takes and approaches. Write about what interests you as that
will make it easier. Maybe you are wild about zombie games - so
write a feature article that compares the current crop of zombie
games with an eye towards the average number of zombies you kill per
game, per hour. Or reviewing the different types of zombies in a
game and the best strategy for making them chopped meat.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You get the idea.
If you stick with your schedule, six months down the road you have not
only created an impressive site/blog/personal publication, with any
luck you now have an audience that is large enough so that you can
start requesting review copies of upcoming games. You will know that
is a success when you actually receive more than half of the games
you request.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
There is nothing
mysterious about this process - this is what is known as paying your
dues.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Oh, and in case you
are curious - this posting is now my default tinned reply to those
emails from aspiring writers - so when they email me asking how to
break into the games beat, I will be sending them the URL for this
post as my reply :)</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Since we covered briefly the whole ethics in games journalism subject it is a good idea for you to think about voluntarily adopting an industry standard ethics policy and then following it strictly. Doing that will never hurt you - and building a solid and ethical reputation will help you on these beats.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Simple
Set of Ethical Guidelines for Games Journalists?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Games Journalism is both a very large and widely followed set of beats, that naturally enough (when you consider the topic) includes a small nexus of professional writers followed by a very large crowd of gamers who also write about gaming.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our interest in promoting ethical games journalism -- along the same lines as the voluntary ethics system adopted by newspapers during their struggle throughout the 1980s to achieve an ethical baseline for their industry -- is a keen one.</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
In that spirit we have voluntarily adopted this
simple set of ethical guidelines for games journalism governing
the ethical behavior and standards of games journalism based upon
ten simple but important foundation points and their underlying
specific rules and policy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
These Ethical Guidelines are adopted by the members of the International Brotherhood of Games Journalists, and are originally based upon ethics guidelines set
down by the Canadian Association of Journalists.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We encourage you to adopt them yourself whether you are a well-established voice on a game beat or are just starting out. When you are ready to learn more about ethics and policy in games journalism, follow this link:</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.boots-faubert.com/ethics.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Games Journalist Ethics Policy</b></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-23571941965604304852016-03-18T20:26:00.002-04:002016-04-24T04:50:43.995-04:00Australia the first Warning Sign of Black Swan Trump<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X9myGe1vnBs/Vuyb5diXhXI/AAAAAAAABRA/sSmMjsESzMkD0wdUcjr0dWHFZsKCwstig/s1600/trump1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X9myGe1vnBs/Vuyb5diXhXI/AAAAAAAABRA/sSmMjsESzMkD0wdUcjr0dWHFZsKCwstig/s1600/trump1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
Black Swan Event Defined</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When governments create their official
languages there is a tendency to rely strongly upon code words to
help to make complex situations as clear as is briefly possible, so
when the phrase “A Black Swan Event" pops up, the uninitiated -
unaware of the actual meaning of the phrase - understandably presumes
that it is meant to represent a rare or even surprising event.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately while that phrase can -
sometimes does - mean just that in a less powerful corridor of some
nondescript government office building - when it is spoken by a
person who knows what it truly means, the phrase has an impact with
the same emotional density as words like ”shipwreck” or
“disaster” and that, well, that is significant.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
One of the more popular definitions of
the phrase comes in the form of presenting the matter as theory --
the black swan theory or theory of black swan events -- a metaphor
that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect,
and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the
benefit of hindsight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The original theory is said to have
been developed by a Lebanese-American essayist, scholar,
statistician, and risk analyst named Nassim Nicholas Taleb to explain
three specific concerns:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The first was the psychological biases
that blind people -- both individually and collectively -- to
uncertainty and to a rare event's massive role in historical affairs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The next is the non-computability of
the probability of the consequential rare events using scientific
methods (owing to the very nature of small probabilities).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Finally -- and this is what applies to
the disastrous situation of Donald Trump's run at the GOP nomination
-- is the disproportionate role of high-profile, hard-to-predict, and
rare events that are beyond the realm of normal expectations in
history, science, finance, technology -- and specifically as is this
case, politics.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Unlike the earlier and broader "black
swan problem" in philosophy, Taleb's "black swan theory"
refers only to unexpected events of large magnitude and consequence
and their dominant role in history.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The fact that this perfectly fits the
Trump fiasco, the greater concern is the aforementioned code words
and their translations and specifically what that phrase means when
it is used by government in a nation like Australia - which serves
as the ideal example since she both leads in the declaration of the
Trump situation as a Black Swan Event, and serves as a prime example
for how other governments with a similar outlook are likely to react.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpSvJ7d10wI/Vuybmwo6TiI/AAAAAAAABQ8/CVdHqO4ajqMhjMiIUSAcO0fT-PK2BGbQA/s1600/blackswan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpSvJ7d10wI/Vuybmwo6TiI/AAAAAAAABQ8/CVdHqO4ajqMhjMiIUSAcO0fT-PK2BGbQA/s1600/blackswan1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>No not THAT Black Swan!</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Building
the Scorecard</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
First let's build that scorecard; once
we have accomplished that, we can then address the whole Cause and
Effect phenomenon of the Trump Presidency and what that will likely
mean first for Australia, and then for the rest of the Commonwealth
of Nations.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For our purposes here it is important
to understand just where decisive power is vested in that isolated
yet powerful nation that uniquely exists as both an island nation and
the only nation in the world that occupies its own continent.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Not to go too deeply into left-field,
but have you ever played the board game called Risk? Yeah, there is a
reason why most players accept that he or she who holds Australasia
more often than not wins the game.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The actions (and reactions) of
Australia with respect to a Trump Presidency is likely to be the most
perfect laboratory for the experiment. But in order to appreciate
what it all means, you first need to fully grok Oz, and how each of
its influential voices matter.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Considering that its political
structure and to some degree the governmental foundations really were
influenced heavily by simply borrowing the best parts of the leading
forms of government of the era,
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
when Australia stopped being a Crown
Colony and took up the mantle of self-rule it did so with some pretty
significant benefits, not the least of which was the ability and
willingness to learn from the mistakes made by those forms of
government who loaned out their finest features to that new nation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Something else that we must remember is
that, due to the disproportionately massive influential role (both in
regional economics and -- through the projection of military might --
its peacekeeping role) in the Australasian region is a major and
valuable concern...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
At its foundation level Australia is a
constitutional monarchy. Let's be very clear about that from the
beginning.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While the Queen is officially
recognized as head of state, in actual practice the role of head of
state for Australia is divided between two people: the Queen of
Australia and the Governor-General of Australia, the latter being
appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of
Australia.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
From that observation it should sound
like Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia has a lot of power - or rather
has all the power, right? Well yes - and no - but before we get to
that we sort of need to forget all of her other part-time jobs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When Elizabeth began her new career she
did so officially as HRH Elizabeth II by the Grace of God, of Great
Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Queen,
Defender of the Faith, but by the time she managed to fit Australia
into her busy schedule, she had officially been transmogrified into
Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm
and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth,
Defender of the Faith.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That sounds simple enough, right? Ah,
but we are forgetting that even nation-states have egos, and a lot of
the members of the Commonwealth of Nations did not really like
back-seating to their larger or more economically stable cousins with
whom they shared their leader.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGa3SoiI0-k/Vuyccc4f_4I/AAAAAAAABRI/SP-LkQ7_ogAjytQHQgvApiunLuPIbb_iw/s1600/navyoz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGa3SoiI0-k/Vuyccc4f_4I/AAAAAAAABRI/SP-LkQ7_ogAjytQHQgvApiunLuPIbb_iw/s1600/navyoz2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>President Trump could cost the US Navy invaluable ports in the Southern Pacific Ocean</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So an agreement was reached by her
prime ministers at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference of
1952 (I swear to God this is true - even fiction cannot account for
this sort of twist in the plot!), whereby the Queen would accord
herself different styles and titles in each of her realms, reflecting
that, in each state, she acted as monarch of that particular country
-- regardless of her other roles.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So, for example, in Canada they
preferred the style: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen
of Canada and of Her other realms and territories, Head of the
Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For Australia however, the ministers
ended up in a compromise that forced the inclusion of her UK title in
all styles, so that Elizabeth ended up with a distinct but similarly
constituted title in each state, which meant that when she was
finally crowned in 1952, she initially held seven separate titles,
and then with her crowning in each Commonwealth nation, her stock of
calling cards reached an epic 16 different titles - one for each of
the current Commonwealth realms!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So from 1953 to 1973 she was styled
“Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the
United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories Queen,
Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That certainly makes it sound like she
fills the role of monarch and leader politically AND
commander-in-chief of the ADF, right? Ah but her title style was
changed in 1973 so as to clarify that at least with respect to
certain leadership roles (and in particular military roles) it was
not all-inclusive.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Thus she became -and is to this day
styled: “Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God,
Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the
Commonwealth>”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oit-GgW-joc/Vuyd1QD8cKI/AAAAAAAABRg/OnzdbKvcFSMlGcVhWih3iaUjnXtydqlNQ/s1600/QE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oit-GgW-joc/Vuyd1QD8cKI/AAAAAAAABRg/OnzdbKvcFSMlGcVhWih3iaUjnXtydqlNQ/s1600/QE2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Queen waving goodbye to the UKs special relationship with America should Trump be elected as president. The UK moving to add Trump to the list of persona non grata</b></i>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you are not yet confused enough,
consider this: the commander-in-chief of the naval and military
forces of the Commonwealth of Australia is vested in the Governor
General as the Queen's representative. But the Governor-General does
not actually play an active part in the Australian Defence Force's
command structure.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Instead the democratically accountable
Australian Cabinet (chaired by the Prime Minister) theoretically
commands the ADF - but in actual practice the day-to-day control
belongs to the Minister for Defence (with the assistance of several
subordinate ministers), who exercise control via the Australian
Defence Organisation under Section 8 of the Defence Act 1903.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
While she does not in fact exercise
direct control over the ADF - or for that matter ANY military units
in her Realms with the exception of her own House Guard who comprise
two legitimate Regiments - and despite the fact that she is not nor
has she ever been an officer of any of those military organizations
or units in any capacity other than some two-dozen honorary ranks -
and yet she does possess a massive ribbon deck rivaled only by the
selection of awards that take only the medal form!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Still not confused enough? Remember we
began this by stating that we were about to create a Scorecard?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We did not choose that defining title
by accident. You see when the dust finally settled what we discover
is that a literal committee of people and positions actually comprise
the full command and control elements of the government, so at a bare
minimum the opinions - and the decisions - of the following are ALL
important to the process:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Her Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull,
is the person who is the most senior Minister of the Crown; an
appointee who is the leader of the Cabinet and the chairperson of the
National Security Committee.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The Governor-General of Australia,
Peter Cosgrove, appointed by the Queen of Australia and exercising
her powers domestically.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
These voices -and power - are joined by
the Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop; The President of the
Senate The Hon Stephen Parry; and the Minister for Defence Marise
Payne being the core of the truly influential with respect to the
issue at hand.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
And that leaves two more significant
forces who contribute to the equation, that pair being the National
Security Committee:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Chair: </b>The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
(Leader of the Liberal Party)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Deputy Chair:</b> The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP
(Leader of the National Party)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> The Hon Julie Bishop MP
(Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Senator the Hon George Brandis
QC ( Liberal Party of Australia)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> The Hon Scott Morrison MP
(Liberal Party of Australia)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Senator the Hon Marise Payne
(Liberal Party of Australia)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Senator The Hon Arthur
Sinodinos AO (Liberal Party of Australia)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
And finally the Intelligence and
Security Committee:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Chair:</b> Mr Andrew Nikolic AM, CSC, MP
(Liberal Party of Australia , Bass TAS)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Deputy Chair:</b> Hon Anthony Byrne MP
(Australian Labor Party , Holt VIC)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Senator David Bushby (Liberal
Party of Australia , TAS)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member: </b>Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
(Australian Labor Party , VIC)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Hon Mark Dreyfus QC, MP
(Australian Labor Party , Isaacs VIC)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Senator David Fawcett (Liberal
Party of Australia , SA)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Senator Katy Gallagher
(Australian Labor Party , ACT)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Hon Philip Ruddock MP (Liberal
Party of Australia , Berowra NSW)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Hon Bruce Scott MP (The
Nationals , Maranoa QLD)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Senator the Hon Penny Wong
(Australian Labor Party , SA)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>Member:</b> Mr Jason Wood MP (Liberal Party
of Australia , La Trobe VIC)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So about now you might be asking
yourself why all of these people are important enough for us to list
them...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmGGonben7g/VuycF9UoUbI/AAAAAAAABRE/OY9K3ZMrADgrRt-eQI-Qfm9VbbItFr7Kw/s1600/navyoz1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmGGonben7g/VuycF9UoUbI/AAAAAAAABRE/OY9K3ZMrADgrRt-eQI-Qfm9VbbItFr7Kw/s1600/navyoz1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>This could become a rare sight if Trump is elected and Australia severs its foreign relations ties with America</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For the purposes of explaining how and
why the perceptions of a Trump Presidency in the USA as a declared
Black Swan Event by the government of Australia - and all of the
politicos listed above - we will now go directly to the matter of
interest as we have now created our unofficial scorecard!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
So here is the crux of the issue: our
Scorecard depicts the primary players in the matter, some of whom are
actually on opposing sides of the aisle, and many of whom rarely
agree on what to have for dinner when their committee is in session,
let alone agree upon a general assessment or even committee position
on a matter of concern.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In short, and very much akin to the
similar difficulties one finds in committees of ANY sort that are
populated by members from different parties and persuasions, our
reason for listing them is to provide you with emphasis that they DO
agree on the matter of Trump - and that is bad news for America.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mh1nDp7cZZo/VuyaX12qcTI/AAAAAAAABQw/e_UgrXn-VGgN_VeTT5utqFYBFdmRhaFqg/s1600/blackswan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mh1nDp7cZZo/VuyaX12qcTI/AAAAAAAABQw/e_UgrXn-VGgN_VeTT5utqFYBFdmRhaFqg/s1600/blackswan2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A Black Swan Event - and two grey chicks called Fear and Anger</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Black Swan and Her Consequences</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Under the Australian definition for the
phrase, a Black Swan Event is a wholly unexpected event or situation
that is classified as a clear and present danger to Australia and its
people.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reasons that this is bad news for
America number in the dozens, so we will start with the more
dangerous and highly placed reasons at the top of our list:</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>The members agree a Trump presidency is
a genuine Black Swan Event;</li>
<li>The members agree a Trump presidency
would require an immediate response;</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The concerns that would both warrant
and justify action span a wide range of impact points, but the core
reasons that a Trump presidency is considered a threat to Australia
includes:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>His declared protectionism stance;</b></li>
<li><b>His demonstrated jingoism;
</b></li>
<li><b>His Putin-esque ego;</b></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Collectively all of the above are a
clear threat to the wellbeing and perhaps more important still, the
economy of Australia.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_aUCkAHzkZ0/VuyZl52hnZI/AAAAAAAABQo/fAOzNSGe8tonfmUCF576VWFBpg6tH28ew/s1600/navyozmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_aUCkAHzkZ0/VuyZl52hnZI/AAAAAAAABQo/fAOzNSGe8tonfmUCF576VWFBpg6tH28ew/s1600/navyozmap.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>US Bases in Australia would come under threat of closure and re-evaluation in a Trump Presidency</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A threat that is being taken so
seriously that PM Turnbull as well as the ISC have already taken
stated and public positions that a Trump victory in the US election
would require, at the bare minimum the following immediate steps:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A dissociation of Australia's foreign
policy from the USA;</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of remaining RAAF
E-7A ELINT unit from Operation Slipper (Residual);</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of all ADF/RAAF
forces participating in Operation Accordion;</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of all ADF/RAAF
forces participating in Operation Highroad;</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of all ADF/RAAF
forces participating in Operation Okra;</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of all ADF forces
participating in Operation Paladin;</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of all ADF forces
participating in Operation Palate II;</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of all ADF/RAAF
forces participating in Operation Resolute Support;</li>
<li>Immediate termination of hosting for
joint ops in Operation Southern Indian Ocean;</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of all ADF forces
from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF);</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of Australia’s
Joint Task Force 636 in Afghanistan;</li>
<li>Suspension for review of US armed
forces / CIA presence at Pine Gap JDSRF Alice Springs;</li>
<li>Suspension of US Navy privileges at RAN
Fleet Base East & Jervis Bay ;</li>
<li>Suspension of US Navy privileges at RAN
Fleet Base West;</li>
<li>Suspension of US Navy privileges at RAN
Stirling;</li>
<li>Suspension of US Navy privileges at
former USNB North West Cape;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at Seismic
Stations Charters Towers / Daly Waters / Hobart / Mundaring /
Sydney NSW / Tennant Creek;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Delamere Bomb Range;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Darwin;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Kimberley;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Learmouth;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Pearce;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Richmond;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Salisbury;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Townsville;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at RAAF
Williamtown;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at Joint
RAAF/USAFB Tidbinbulla;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at
“Weather” Stations Mildura & Wagga Wagga;</li>
<li>Review of increased US staffing for
Eschelon Sites at Watsonia / Melbourne / Geraldton / Shoal Bay / DSD
HQ Canberra;</li>
<li>Suspension of US privileges at
Shoalwater Bay Jungle Warfare Training Base;</li>
<li>Suspension of US SIGINT privileges at
Cabarlah;</li>
<li>Suspension of US SIGINT privileges at
Hariman;</li>
<li>Suspension of US SIGINT privileges at
Wagga;</li>
<li>Review of lease holdings at Omega
Station at Dariman.</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Why is the above action/reaction
necessary? In simple terms - and based on comments that members of
both committees and Australia's political leaders have made privately
and hinted at publicly, a President Donald Trump would be classified
by both committees with the same category of threat as Kim Jong-un,
Supreme Leader of North Korea.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Really there is nothing more that needs
to be said about that at least in terms of Australia - but
considering that a Trump victory would also spur the same sort of
reaction in the UK, Canada, and France, with a somewhat lighter
response in Europe from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and
Norway, while in Asia a similar response is likely from India, Japan,
and the Philippians.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
America would quickly find itself being
a lease holder with its military bases sitting on land in overtly
hostile countries.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-18745019340950655312016-02-22T05:42:00.000-05:002016-02-22T05:42:08.269-05:00the Incident at Dunkin' Donuts.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIhA7cdB2Mo/VsrQuuS_H5I/AAAAAAAABOI/OHKX6u80JIw/s1600/ilb-experts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIhA7cdB2Mo/VsrQuuS_H5I/AAAAAAAABOI/OHKX6u80JIw/s1600/ilb-experts.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>Two trusted sources - Sir Charles (left fg) and Sgt. Calvin (right bg) agree that games of any type are almost always fun - and as they are expert gamers who spend most of their free time either gaming, or thinking about gaming, I feel very confident that they qualify as Expert Sources. Just saying...</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Depending on how you look at it, this
story begins in one of two places: either on a coffee farm in
Columbia in 2015, or in the offices of Bill Moggridge, co-founder of
the technology design company IDEO, and a British author and engineer
who is responsible for creating the classic clamshell design of the
modern notebook and laptop computers, situated somewhere in Palo
Alto, California in 1980.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Actually the events I am about to
describe occurred at approximately 09:35 in the morning of 21
February 2016; geographically the best description for a postman
would be 614 Main Street, in the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you were giving directions to a
computer, it would probably prefer them in either its latitude and
longitude (41.552980, -70.60555) if it's an old school device, or by
its GPS coordinates (41° 33' 10.7280'' North by 70° 36' 19.9800''
West) if it is a more modern one.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Originally known as the village of
Succonessett, after it was settled in 1660 and incorporated as a town
in 1686 by Bartholomew Gosnold (in honor of the town of Falmouth in
Cornwall, England), Falmouth, Massachusetts is conveniently situated
in what I like to think of as the armpit of the universe (look at it
on a map some time and you will see what I mean), and can be reached
by accessing the Cape via Route 28 and the Bourne Bridge.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The second-largest municipality on Cape
Cod, and the first town of considerable size a visitor will encounter
after passing over the Cape Cod Canal, Falmouth is situated in
beautiful Barnstable County, and consists of previously independent
villages of East Falmouth, Falmouth Village, North Falmouth,
Teaticket, West Falmouth, and Woods Hole. It is widely recognized as
the town that introduced Merino sheep and its wool to North America.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BtuYHfDXdKg/VsrVBdM_QgI/AAAAAAAABOk/Lg1F7dIgjcA/s1600/cc-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BtuYHfDXdKg/VsrVBdM_QgI/AAAAAAAABOk/Lg1F7dIgjcA/s1600/cc-map.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><i><b>Falmouth, Massachusetts - the Armpit of the Universe</b></i></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In addition to helping America discover
the joys of wearing fashion created from its fine wool, Falmouth also
serves as the home of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the
Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), the Woods Hole Research Center,
National Marine Fisheries Aquarium, and is also the terminal for the
Massachusetts Steamship Authority, which provides ferries to Martha's
Vineyard.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Actually - and to be fair - while all
of those facts related to Falmouth should be interesting to tourists,
the fact is that most tourists are more interested in the wonderful
beaches that Falmouth maintains, which they use to frolic half-naked
in the surf, obtain the suntans that the Cape is best known for, and
serve as the primary reasons for which Falmouth is a holiday
destination.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you are curious those beaches
(listed in what I consider to be the best to least best, with the
best listed first) are: Old Silver Beach, Bristol Beach, Surf Drive
Beach, Falmouth Heights Beach, Wood Neck Beach, Stoney Beach,
Megansett Beach, Menauhant Beach, Chapoquoit Beach, and Grews Pond
Beach.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you are looking for a classic beach
that also has available food and beverage service nearby, the only
choice would have to be Falmouth Heights Beach as it is across the
street from the Falmouth branch of the BBC (British Beer Company) -
all of the other beaches you pretty much need to bring your own food
and beverages, though Surf Drive Beach has a snacks bar open during
the prime season - just saying.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
From a bird's eye view, Falmouth
borders Buzzards Bay to the west and south, Waquoit Bay to the east,
and the largely rural but nevertheless cozy region of the Cape that
claims to be the summer home for much of the upwardly mobile
population of Boston to the north.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
On a more personal note, Falmouth has
legitimate claim to a large number of famous and creative people,
among whom are actors (Casey Affleck, and Jim Connors), artists
(Frederick E. Olmsted), authors (Katharine Lee Bates, Melissa Febos,
and Peter Abrahams), politicians (Jacob Sloat Fassett), and athletes
(Colleen Coyne, Jamaal Branch, Paul Harney, and Steve Cishek).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HM4ptB6H1EU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HM4ptB6H1EU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Falmouth also happens to be home to a
large number of coffee houses, including (but not limited to because
I am only listing these from personal memory) the Coffee Obsession on
Palmer Ave. in Falmouth and Water Street in Woods Hole, Starbucks on
Davis Straits, Pies Ala Mode Cafe on Main Street, Cape Cod Bagel Cafe
on Palmer Ave., Betsy's Diner on Main Street (which totally has the
best coffee and pie in town but because it has really weird hours is
usually not the go-to place for java most of the time plus they don't
take plastic so bring cash or go home), Peet's Coffee & Tea on
Teaticket Highway, the Cheesecake Cafe on Teaticket Highway, Moonakis
Cafe on Waquoit Highway, and of course Dunkin' Donuts, which can be
found on Sandwich Road, Main Street, Falmouth Highway, North and
Falmouth Highway, Double-D being the one with the most locations in
town really, which sort of explains why this all happened there.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Actually that is just a very brief list
- there are LOTS of others I could add but when I realized that list
was rapidly becoming a wall of text AND I realized that if you can't
pick a coffee spot from the ones I have already listed you have
bigger problems than just needing a cup of joe, well, you get the
idea.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Now that I have filled you in on the
backstory pretty much, before I explain the events about which this
posting is, well, about... It would be an idea to bring you to this
morning from the two possible origination points first, right?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
Two Possible Origination Points</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I will try not to drag this out, but
since there are only two prime paths to the events that took place
this morning that should not be too difficult...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jocajVLoXmc/VsrBxERDUpI/AAAAAAAABNM/Jv_8z3ps1J8/s1600/bill1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jocajVLoXmc/VsrBxERDUpI/AAAAAAAABNM/Jv_8z3ps1J8/s1600/bill1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u><i>Bill Moggridge - Creator of the Clamshell Design</i></u></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
offices of Bill Moggridge in 1980</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Back in the day Bill designed the first
successful laptop - the GRiD Compass. His design used a clamshell
case (where the screen folds flat to the rest of the computer when
closed) made from a magnesium alloy - which combined makes it a very
sexy piece of kit. But what made it even MORE sexy was who it was
created for: the US Government.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Actually to be fair it wasn't really
made for the US Government <i>per se</i>, but as its unit price tag
was around $10k they were mostly the only entity that could afford
it. But, you may wonder, why did they buy it? That is the even more
sexy part - the Compass was the laptop selected by NASA to go into
space on the shuttle, and by the DoD to be supplied to Special Forces
operators when they needed to take a computer into the field.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The important bit about the Compass was
not that it was a computer - or portable - but rather its
user-friendly design that basically protected the important bits by
separating the display from the body of the computer and then using
the display (and its case) to protect both the display AND the
keyboard. Without that innovative approach the notebook and laptop
never could have enjoyed the success that they did.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
It probably won't surprise you to learn
that, while the GRiD Compass did not have a massive commercial run,
found its profits via returns on its patent rights as that innovative
design became the most commonplace feature on portable computers.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Before you gleefully email me to tell
me I am totally wrong - that Xerox invented that - well, yes and no.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Xerox invented a LOT of things - they
invented the computer mouse you know? And Ethernet, and... But the
point is that while Xerox was really great at inventing things, they
were terrible at filing patent applications, which is why most of the
stuff that they invented was also “invented” by the first person
to file a patent on it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Genealogy of the
Laptop</b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Back
in the good-old days when the tech that eventually lead to the laptop
computer was in the process of being created I was busily computing
on my heavily modified hardware. I will explain that in a moment...</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Laptop
tech began not as a small package but as an idea towards creating the
portable computer. At the time nobody was thinking about making a
clamshell device - they just wanted to somehow make the PC portable.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOFFVbr1b1Q/VsrAehOM9BI/AAAAAAAABNA/nZ3liS40bXk/s1600/illx-osborne1-ppc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOFFVbr1b1Q/VsrAehOM9BI/AAAAAAAABNA/nZ3liS40bXk/s1600/illx-osborne1-ppc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><i><b>The Osborne 1</b></i></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1981 -- The Osborne 1</b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
first successful commercially offered PC that was portable - sort of
- was the Osborne 1. It was legitimately a PC, being a
microprocessor-based portable computer of a sort that was usually
referred to as a “Luggable” rather than portable computer.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This
was 1981 - before Microsoft had managed to put a lock on the
Operating System market and well before Windows appeared and
dominated the market and tech in terms of PCs. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
used the CP/M OS which, actually, was better and easier to use than
DOS, but when Microsoft tried to purchase CP/M from its creator they
were told flatly “Not Interested” which is why they ended up
buying a competing OS that was called QDOS (which stood for
Quick-and-Dirty Operating System) which was created and sold to
hobbyists by a little company called Seattle Computer.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
Osborne 1 looked like the typical portable sewing machine until you
actually opened the bottom, and then you saw it was actually a
computer with a 5” screen, floppy drive, and keyboard concealed
within.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
was large, it was heavy, and compared to today's laptops, impossible
to own and use like we use laptops today. Despite those obvious
limitations it had a near-revolutionary impact on businesses that
benefited from the use of a PC in the field.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VuOoCL-ePoA/Vsq_dVmjmYI/AAAAAAAABMw/YpDTZ0GEqvE/s1600/ill4-compaq-portable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VuOoCL-ePoA/Vsq_dVmjmYI/AAAAAAAABMw/YpDTZ0GEqvE/s1600/ill4-compaq-portable.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Compaq Portable PC</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1982 -- The Compaq
Portable</b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While
the Osborn might have been able to carve out a dominant niche for
itself once it found a way to get smaller and lighter, the decision
to use CP/M as its OS is thought to have been the main reason why it
never quite caught on. Well that and it was wicked large and wicked
heavy!</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Which
is why in 1982 the introduction at CES of Compaq Computer's portable
PC that they called - I kid you not - the Compaq Portable shook
things up.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sure
their naming imagination may have been pushed to its limits with the
launch of this portable PC, it is clear that it was heavily
influenced by both the IBM PC and the fact that Compaq had entered
the market as a clone maker, and certainly too its decision to choose
Microsoft DOS as its designated OS.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once
it found its niche -- and once it began the process of revision to
get smaller and more capable -- even though the Compaq Portable was
only slightly smaller and lighter than the Osborne, its close
association with Compaq's desktop line of PCs and the fact that it
was a true IBM Clone gave it advantages that caused most business
class users to be willing to overlook its obvious flaws and to favor
it.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Consider
this - when IBM finally got around to designing and then contracting
out the manufacture of its own portable - the IBM Portable Personal
Computer 5155 model 68 - it was barely compatible with MS DOS and the
desktop PCs the company made!</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
noted above, the Compaq Portable had the good fortune to be embraced
by its user base - mostly businesses that already relied heavily upon
PC Clones made by Compaq - the engineers assigned to the project
worked hard to get it smaller and make it more portable, with a
committed eye towards removing what they viewed as its Achilles heel,
which was the fact that despite being technically portable the device
still required an AC power source to function at all.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Its
third major design revision - which Compaq called the Compaq Portable
II - offered users a smaller and more portable frame that featured a
high resolution display capable of somewhat limited graphics that
included a very progressive CAD/CAM suite.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHDseZDGqok/VsrCxM4AddI/AAAAAAAABNc/C87zYgmQtTE/s1600/epson-hx20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHDseZDGqok/VsrCxM4AddI/AAAAAAAABNc/C87zYgmQtTE/s1600/epson-hx20.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><i><b>The Epson HX-20 / HC-20 - World's First Laptop PC</b></i></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1982 / 1983 -- The
Epson HX-20</b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While
its original project team was assembled in 1980 it took almost all of
two years for them to complete the R&D for the HX-20, which was
the Seiko Epson Corporation's contribution to portable computing in
the 1980s.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Like
previous efforts in portable computing, the HX-20 did not live up to
expectations - it also took a completely different path towards the
same end in that it was never contemplated to be a portable PC, but
rather a handheld computing device (there really is a significant
difference between the two).</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Created
as a handheld computer that supported the 68-key keyboard which was,
at the time, an industry standard, it also used a rechargeable
nickel-cadmium battery, one of its failings was found in its display
- a pretty small 120×32-pixel dot-matrix LCD display that only
supported 4 20-character lines of text, as its primary “display”
was meant to be the standard 24-column dot matrix printer!</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
such its use in the field was very limited and that design model
never caught on with consumers or the business computing community.
That said though, some of the innovative design elements in its
motherboard and circuitry DID catch on, and so it made some
significant contributions to portable computer design on the hardware
side of the coin.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_JaN9r8ykOw/VsrX9Fks_7I/AAAAAAAABO0/5lCKiQBGOE8/s1600/compass1101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_JaN9r8ykOw/VsrX9Fks_7I/AAAAAAAABO0/5lCKiQBGOE8/s1600/compass1101.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><i><b>The GRiD Compass 1101 - Touch enough for the Special Forces, Hi-Tech enough for NASA!</b></i></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1983 / 1984 -- GRiD
Compass 1101</b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
GRiD Compass 1101 was THE portable computer that finally delivered
ALL of the elements that computer makers - and users - had been
seeking in a portable computer for almost ten years.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
relative terms it really did offer it all: a full-sized display
capable of rudimentary graphical display, a full-sized keyboard,
internal power, and the ability to “fold-up” making it smaller
for transport purposes while at the same time retaining all of the
components that were necessary for field use in a single package.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nobody
disputes its claim as the first true laptop -- and its design by Bill
Moggridge in 1979–80, thanks to the many patents covering it that
GRiD was very careful to make sure were properly filed first with the
US Patent Office and then with strategic foreign patent authorities,
pretty much called the tune for true-portable-computing for the next
forever or until someone somewhere figures out how to plug the things
into our brains.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
wasn't simply ahead of its time, it was ahead of computer technology
in whole! The 1101 clamshell case was a brilliant piece of design,
but it was the icing on the cake so to speak. The hardware? Now
that is where this thing really jumped generations. Consider this -
the GRiD utilized non-volatile Bubble-Chip Memory years before
anybody knew what it was!</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
ran either using its internal, rechargeable battery, or via standard
AC power, and its switching power supply could be plugged directly
into the classified power network on board the US Space Shuttle Fleet
without a conversion unit.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
fact its only drawback was that the 1101 was not IBM compatible; it
used its own proprietary OS that was based off of CP/M and was called
GRiDOS. </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
may also interest you to know that the 1101 was fully compatible with
the Space Shuttle main computer, and that astronauts on the Shuttle
carried a special set of cables and a data cartridge that allowed an
1101 to be attached to the instrument panel in the Shuttle cockpit,
essentially serving as the Shuttle's emergency backup co-pilot! </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once
attached to the Shuttle computer network and, as long as the Shuttle
was in any one of ten standard and programmed orbital positions, the
1101 and its emergency pilot program would function as a full
substitute for the Shuttle's flight and navigation computer, allowing
the laptop to land the Shuttle by itself in the event that an
emergency occurred or the pilots were incapacitated.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Other
laptops and, eventually, notebook computers, followed the GRiD 1101,
and as the technology of portable computing matured and grew smaller
improved upon its form, but it is safe to say that the GRiD 1101 set
in motion almost all of the form factors that eventually lead to the
design and manufacture of the HP notebook that is my constant
companion and upon which I do most of my writing.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
that is how, thanks to Bill Moggridge we arrived at a table in our
local Dunkin' Donuts at 09:35 on the morning of 21 February 2016
where the events I will soon describe occurred.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But
before we get to that we have to briefly visit a coffee farm in
Colombia - and before we do THAT we also have to go back in time to
1981 where we will revisit my computer at the time, which was pretty
special - a special that actually involved no fewer than TWO blood
sacrifices to make!</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y3Y7mkZghg/VsrZoUTa6rI/AAAAAAAABPM/HsUKRcAEPn0/s1600/c64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y3Y7mkZghg/VsrZoUTa6rI/AAAAAAAABPM/HsUKRcAEPn0/s1600/c64.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><i><b>The C=64 with 1541 Drive and 1084 Colour Display</b></i></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>My 1983 Computers</b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
1983 my personal computer kit consisted of my first personal computer
- a VIC-20 my father bought me for my birthday in 1981, a
Timex-Sinclair 1000 that I had a love-hate relationship with, and my
main system, a heavily modified Commodore C=64, that my father
originally gave me for my birthday in 1982.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Over
the summer school break just after Christmas 1982 my sister's
boyfriend Mike - who was in uni to become an electronics engineer -
helped me to modify my C=64 with expanded storage and a hard drive.
That mod was a breadboard kit you had to assemble yourself, that
allowed the C=64 to interface with either a 10MB or 20MB MFM Hard
Drive - which would have been incredibly expensive but my dad's
office had upgraded their storage at the time and he “found” a
10MB drive for me.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When
I got it it was a stock C=64 -- it had the standard 8-bit MOS
Technology 6510 microprocessor, 64K of RAM, and a 1541 external
floppy drive. I added my Commodore 1530 C2N-B Datasette that we
bought for my VIC-20 to replace the bog-standard portable audio tape
unit it originally came with. I also added my VIC-1600 which was a
100 baud modem that plugged into the user interface port on the
VIC-20, and the C=64 (using an adapter).</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My
VIC-1600 was just 100 baud, so when Telecom/Telstra launched the
Viatel Service in Australia and sent us an offer to try it out that
included a free Commodore CBM 1660 300 baud modem for a brief period
- hey, free is free right? - I jumped on that. It was actually sort
of useful - one way we got a lot of use out of it was making Qantas
reservations for my dad. He traveled a lot and one of the more
useful services on Viatel was being able to obtain flight
reservations for Qantas.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That
lasted a few months then I upgraded to a 2400 baud modem which was
pretty much the fastest you could ever get for the C=64. Later when
it was available I added an additional 256K of RAM to my C=64 but, by
that time all I was using the C=64 got was to run my single-line BBS
system as by that time I had my first PC clone and preferred to use
that for my general computing needs. So yeah, that is the story of
my early computer kit.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So
with that covered I feel like I have fulfilled all I said I would do
and then some, so it is time for us to visit the alternate possible
origins as we visit a coffee farm in Colombia.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-neLbM7JZZuY/VsrcfAZNM5I/AAAAAAAABPc/KBFFRf93L4Y/s1600/juan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-neLbM7JZZuY/VsrcfAZNM5I/AAAAAAAABPc/KBFFRf93L4Y/s1600/juan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Juan Valdez is a fictional character
who has appeared in advertisements for the National Federation of
Coffee Growers of Colombia since 1958, representing a Colombian
coffee farmer.</b></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
coffee farm in Columbia in 2015</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
From an article posted by John
Costello, Chief Global Marketing and Innovation Officer at Dunkin’
Brands on the “Behind the Bean” website of Dunkin' Donuts
Corporate, Costello declares:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
“Dunkin’ Donuts sources its coffee
from a number of countries in Central and South America. Though I
can’t reveal exactly which countries, Dunkin’ Donuts works
closely with the coffee farmers and professionals in those countries
to select the highest quality, 100% Arabica beans available. We have
a coffee excellence team that has implemented strict Dunkin' Donuts
Quality (DDQ) specifications, which is used throughout the entire
tree to cup process.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We happen to know that in addition to
Brazil, Dunkin' Donuts sources its coffee from growers in Guatemala,
Honduras, and Colombia among others, and our story begins on a coffee
farm in Columbia. Colombia's average annual coffee production of
11.5 million bags is the third total highest in the world,
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
with most of it being Arabica beans
grown in the Colombian coffee growing axis region in the north.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In North America consumers are used to
obtaining their foodstuff from big corporate growers who operate
farms that are as large as the typical mid-sized American city, and
thanks in no small part to the very successful "Juan Valdez"
advertising campaign by the public relations arm of the National
Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (<i>Federación Nacional de
Cafeteros de Colombia</i>) think that coffee comes from similar
commercial farms. You may be surprised to learn that it actually
doesn't.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The art of growing Arabica in Columbia
is a product of nearly half-a-million small farms - the vast majority
of which consist of growing fields smaller than a single hectare. In
case you never heard of that term, a hectare is a metric unit of
square measure equal to 100 ares, which translates to 2.471 acres.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You read that right, the typical coffee
farmer in Columbia growing the Arabica bean has a field that is just
under two-and-a-half acres in size.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Fortunately for those growers, who are
all members of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia,
a non-profit business association that was founded in 1927 as a
business cooperative to promote the production and exportation of
Colombian coffee. The secret to its success - and how it ensures the
best possible price for its members - can be found in its strict
adherence to the three pillars around which it was founded: its vows
to protect the coffee industry, study the problems facing that
industry, and to promote its interests through education and public
relations.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjqPbWan85M/VsrdLD3ut0I/AAAAAAAABPo/boYgOm94l4k/s1600/juan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjqPbWan85M/VsrdLD3ut0I/AAAAAAAABPo/boYgOm94l4k/s1600/juan2.jpg" /></a>In addition to assisting in price
negotiations and ensuring that the member farmers are paid a fair
price for their products, the NFCGC also monitors the annual
production on a farm-by-farm basis to ensure that the crops being
grown meet the minimum standards for the Colombian brand.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
They also provide training and material
support to the farmers to help them achieve mastery of their art,
which is pretty cool if you think about it and probably a big reason
why their coffee is so well-received on the world market - so it's a
good thing that there is no National Federation of Coca Growers of
Colombia!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Actually, if you think about it, coffee
drinkers in America are probably the most effective army in the war
on cocaine! The demand for coffee - and specifically the fine coffee
that is brewed from Colombian Arabica beans - is all that has
prevented a large percentage of small family owned farms from
switching over to that illicit crop - so the next time you have a cup
of coffee, pat yourself on the back for preventing even more illegal
drugs from reaching the streets of America!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In his book <i>The Orinoco Illustrated</i>
(1730), Jesuit priest José Gumilla described the beans as being
among the richest and most desirable coffee, emphasizing that the
locally-grown and roasted beans were a constant presence on the
tables of the mission of Saint Teresa of Tabajé, who doubtlessly
obtained those beans from a small family farm in much the same manner
as they are obtained today - though probably at a price far lower
than that paid by the typical consumer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The reason it was cheaper is not
because coffee cost less in 1730, but rather because they bought it
at the source. You will probably be shocked to learn that a pound of
green coffee beans at the source today is valued at around $2 - but
it has to pass through a large number of hands before it ends up as a
steaming cup clutched in your hands, which you paid $5 for.
Following that path can be illuminating.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
For our purposes let us imagine
ourselves on a small family farm somewhere in the north of Colombia
in 2015. The crop for the year was good - better than anticipated
actually - so it ended up selling for around $1.75 per pound instead
of $2 - but the consumer still ended up paying $12 a pound, so how is
it that the overabundance of coffee beans failed to reflect a lower
consumer price?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I spent an afternoon researching this
and crunching the numbers that were offiially released by the various
industries who handle coffee beans as it makes its way from the farm
to your hand, and what I found was, well, rather disturbing.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The farmers grow the coffee and then
sell it - as green beans - to a coffee exporter for $1.75 a pound,
which was the established fair trade price at the time.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The exporter who contracts with the
farmers to purchase their crops collects the crops with their trucks
and hauls it to their warehouse, where it is then combined with the
crops from other farmers - though it is the same type so no worries
there - and is packaged in 1000 lb palette bags.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VQlYo-yRGU/Vsrdsk_6ywI/AAAAAAAABPs/G-OxJ4scJ-o/s1600/ilb-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VQlYo-yRGU/Vsrdsk_6ywI/AAAAAAAABPs/G-OxJ4scJ-o/s1600/ilb-04.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><i><b>In a gesture of solidarity with Juan, I get up at 05:30 and prepare the fields for planting...</b></i></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A coffee importer purchases these bags
of green beans from the exporter for a per-unit price of $2000 (which
works out to $2 per pound). The Importer then ships the pallet bags
to its warehouses in the country (or countries) it does business in,
then repackages the coffee in 50 lb bags, and sells it to the
roasters for a per unit price of $112.50 (or $2.25 per pound).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The Roasters then take these bags of
green beans and roast them - which you may be interested to know
actually reduces the volume of a typical pound of green beans from 1
lb to .82 pounds - which is roughly a shrinkage of 18%. If we apply
that to the value of the coffee what we get is $2.75 per pound.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The Roaster has to factor in all sorts
of expenses - not just the tax and import fees and shipping and
transportation costs, but also labor on several sides, packaging
costs, and storage for example. A liberal assessment of the costs on
the Roaster's part might make the overall cost of that 1 lb of
roasted coffee to something like $6. Of course the Roaster needs to
make a profit from that product, so they might set the per-pound
price at $7.50 which is what the coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants
end up paying - but not the consumer!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If we can digress for a moment, the
coffee you buy, whether it is a can or bag off of the shelf at your
grocers, or a bag from your favorite coffee house, you are buying
commercially-packaged coffee that was assembled in a factory whose
business it is to create 1 lb packages of roasted coffee intended to
be sold to consumers, who will brew it at home. This is NOT the same
coffee that you buy in the cafe or coffee house, even IF it has their
label on its packaging.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The coffee that you buy by the cup from
your favorite cafe or coffee shop was brewed from roasted beans that
were purchased from the Roaster, usually packaged in 5 or 10 pound
lots. It is not packaged for or intended for sale to consumers - it
is meant to be brewed by the cafe / coffee house and sold, by the
cup, to consumers. So yeah, not the same thing at all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Now the typical pound of coffee will,
when brewed, create an average of 50 4 oz cups - which is great if
you are drinking coffee from 4 oz cups at your church or Boy Scout
meeting, but coffee is not purchased in 4 oz. cups at coffee shops or
cafes, it is typically bought in 16 oz cups, which changes the yield
to 16 cups per pound. So the ultimate per-pound cost is going to
depend on who you bought your cup of coffee from. Examples! We need
examples!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The following applies to regular cups
of coffee - not Cappuccino, or Latte, or some other drink that
contains coffee - but a standard 16 oz cup of joe. You can add your
own creamer or sugar if you want, but that does not really factor in
here.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A 16 oz cup of coffee at our local
Starbucks costs us $3.25 - so the per-pound price works out to $52.
That pound of coffee cost Starbucks $7.50 and so, before labor, the
cost of the cup, the energy used to brew it, water, and other costs,
Starbucks made $44.50 from it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
A cup of coffee at our local Dunkin'
Donuts costs us $2.29 - so the per-pound price works out to $36.64.
That pound of coffee cost Double-D $7.50 and so, before labor, the
cost of the cup, the energy used to brew it, water, and other costs,
they made $29.14 from it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Sure this is not thousands of
dollars... Or is it? I asked the local Dunkin' coffee jockey how
much coffee they sell on a typical day - but as they only worked the
morning shift they could not tell me that. But they could tell me
what they did on a good weekday morning - which they said averaged
around 575 cups of regular coffee.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
According to my math, that average of
575 cups works out to just over 36 pounds of coffee, which is $270 at
cost and a profit of $1,049.04 so hey, yeah, it IS thousands!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Before I tell you that this brings us
to the Dunkin' Donuts where the incident took place I wanted to point
out that the figures I offer here are mostly estimated and are based
on publicly available numbers. If you disagree with them, okay.
They are presented as a general estimate here. That is all. And
now, this is where we arrive at the Dunkin' Donuts where the incident
took place.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hFfSKz0kaU/VsreX8nERvI/AAAAAAAABP8/wtz6Cp8_sSE/s1600/ilb01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hFfSKz0kaU/VsreX8nERvI/AAAAAAAABP8/wtz6Cp8_sSE/s1600/ilb01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>Les statistiques suggèrent que la famille typique de 2016 tous jeux - et
ici, à quatre pins ferme, c'est certainement vrai.
Maman (photographié ci-dessus) préfère sa Nintendo 3DS ; Sœur
est un PC Gamer, tandis que Papy et Junior préfèrent le One
Xbox.</b></i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>09:35
@ Dunkin' Donuts</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The menu item at Double-D listed as
“Hash Browns” are described as: “Our hash browns are lightly
seasoned, crispy bites of gooDDness. Pair them with your breakfast
sandwich and your morning pit stop gets even more tasty.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In fact (and in my considered opinion)
what the Double-D Hash Browns are is a custom-take on the 'Tater Tot”
(a uniquely American invention) distinctly flavored with dried garlic
and onion, a pinch of celery salt, and golden-fried goodness that is
best enjoyed on-site. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
They just do not travel well, and they do not
re-warm well. In fact to get the best quality taste experience, just like
with the fries at McDonalds, one needs to consume them as soon as
conveniently possible. Which is what I proceeded to do - taking my coffee, my sandwich, and my two bags of "Hash Browns" to the back corner table in the tiny dining area of the Double-D.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
That is when the incident happened. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
I will try to recreate what happened - and what was said - from memory as best I can. Some of it I might get slightly wrong, but you will still get the gist of what transpired, to the best of my abilities.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p_qcz3A_z4E/VsrFs6ikOGI/AAAAAAAABNw/_ZBJltvQe_k/s1600/tape2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p_qcz3A_z4E/VsrFs6ikOGI/AAAAAAAABNw/_ZBJltvQe_k/s1600/tape2.jpg" /></a></div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The
Incident</b></span></span></h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Why do you waste your time playing
video games?” the voice asked.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I looked up from the screen of my
laptop on which I was in the midst of a game of Pyramid, and looked around, unsure where the question originated. I reminded myself that the person was talking at me, so I looked for who was looking at me. Two people were looking at me - a middle-aged woman, and a tween boy sitting at the table next to me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Pyramid is a card game that is part of Microsoft's Solitaire Collection - a free
video game that pretty much comes free with Windows 10. Actually it's one of a bunch of games created specifically for Windows 10 that you can download for free via the Microsoft Online Store. When you go the Free Route you get the game - with some ads injected into it. Upgrade to Premium and you lose the ads.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I promise this is not a commercial for
Microsoft but, in addition to the game I was playing - Pyramid
Solitaire - the suite also contains versions of Klondike, Spider,
Freecell, and TriPeaks. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">There are other free games - all of them fun - that you can download free versions of - including <i>Mahjong</i>, <i>Jigsaw</i>,
<i>Sudoku</i>, <i>Bingo</i>, <i>Minesweeper</i>, <i>Treasure Hunt</i>, <i>Jackpot</i> (a video slot
machine), and <i>Age of Empires: Castle Siege</i>.The price is right for these games and they really are a lot of fun, but they are also pretty addictive. Fair warning mates.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The voice clearly belonged to the middle-aged woman and, by the expression on the tween's face, he found this very embarrassing. It was also pretty clear that Mom had done this before - because he did not look surprised so much as he did resigned. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Asking a question like that - a personal question that was clearly prompted by intrusive observation - well I don't know about you but I consider that pretty ballsy for a stranger to do. A perfect stranger I might add, because as I carefully examined the
face, and then accessed my personal memory database of faces, I was reasonably certain that I did not know this woman.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I might have responded with any number
of answers depending on a whim... </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I could have said “Did you know that all of these
games are fully compliant with the Xbox Live game license
requirements? They each include Achievements and they each offer
varying levels of social play?” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Or I might have said “I am
addicted to the daily challenges scheme as it allows me to spend the
gold I earn completing each daily challenge on expansions or game
customization content!”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I might have replied “Mind your own
business, Sheesh!” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Or I could have asked why she cared? What was
it to her? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Instead I calmly replied: “You feel that game play is a
waste of time?”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Yes I do!” she instantly answered.</span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPHQBzfTQ2c/VsrR3LG4ikI/AAAAAAAABOU/fp1daZ7hfd8/s1600/ilb-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPHQBzfTQ2c/VsrR3LG4ikI/AAAAAAAABOU/fp1daZ7hfd8/s1600/ilb-03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><i><b>LADY U R NO FUN AN WE FINKZ UR KIDZ
HATE U!</b></i></u></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“My kids would spend all of their free time playing video games if
I let them," she told me. "Instead I encourage them to spend their time doing
things that make their lives better or teach them useful skills. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"If
they must find entertainment, why not find that entertainment in a
good book?” she asked.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“So you are saying that games - video
games - have no redeeming qualities whatsoever?” I asked. I was trying very hard not to show just how surprised and
taken aback I felt at her words.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Of course they don't," she quickly replied - her tone and facial expression indicating to me that she really believed what she was saying.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"You had to
spend good money on them; they don't give you anything tangible in
return,” she pointed out.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Actually that's not true,” I shook
my head. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“A recent study at Oxford University indicates that an
hour of game play daily is linked with better-adjusted children and
teenagers - kids who game regularly were found to be more sociable,
happier overall, and less hyperactive," I pointed out.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Another study in New Zealand revealed
that regular video game play is beneficial for positive aging in
senior citizens. In addition to being happier overall, seniors who
game also have better decision-making skills and are more aware of
their surroundings."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I could tell by the expression on her face that she suspected I was making all of this up. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“A bunch of studies completed over
the past five years have concluded that regular game play helps to
improve preschoolers' motor skills, improves vision, and is
therapeutic for children with chronic illnesses," I quickly add. “Video games have also been found to
reduce stress and depression, and have been proven to provide pain
relief in patients suffering from chronic pain and also for patients
in post-surgical recovery."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Her mouth opened, her eyes darted down and to her left - she was about to speak and she was thinking about what she was going to say first. Before she could decide on her reply I plowed on. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Another study suggests that games set in historical environments - like the Assassin's Creed
series - increases interest in learning about history and
other cultures; it also teaches and reinforces problem-solving skills, and helps to
build social skills, which are all good things if you ask me. I am guessing that basically everything you think you
know about video games is probably wrong” I added. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oe4LbMXPMw/VsrkK0TtGkI/AAAAAAAABQU/8UT0UwG0h-I/s1600/ilb-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oe4LbMXPMw/VsrkK0TtGkI/AAAAAAAABQU/8UT0UwG0h-I/s1600/ilb-02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>Every year around April 15 the folks from Penny Arcade throw a protest event called PAX East where thousands of parents get together and force their kids to watch them play video games in order to teach them how evil and totally no fun this modern era electronic curse really is. The kids all realize how much they are not having fun playing video games and vow never to play video games again, then the government refunds all of the tax dollars their parents have ever payed and everyone goes down to Boston Harbor and throws their tea bags into the water screaming "This is NOT my Prius!" Because 'Merica!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She stared at me like I was a bug on a
wall for an even dozen heartbeats, took a few long and considered breaths, and then shook her head, the motion extending all the way to her shoulders like a wet dog.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“<i>Is any of that true</i>?” she
demanded.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“All of it," I replied, nodding my head in what I hopeed would be interpreted as vigorous motion and not the uncontrolled spasms of the emotionally disturbed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"You know when I was a
kid my parents told me that video games were a waste of time - you
can't make a living playing video games my Mum used to say.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“And your mother was right!” she agreed, glancing at the tween sitting across from her with a knowing and smug expression on her face. He did not like that one little bit I could see, but this one had pretty good manners, as he refrained from sharing just how much he didn't like it with us.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Actually no, she was wrong,” I
replied. Score one for our team - the tween had to stifle a grin.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Oh? What do you do for a living?”
she asked.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I'm a games journalist,” I
answered. "And I write online walkthrough guides to help
gamers get through the more complicated parts of different games.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“<i>You're kidding</i>?” she said, illustrating with an exaggerated frown that her response, roughly translated, really meant "<i>You lying sack of bovine excrement!</i>"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Is
that why you know so much about those studies?” She quickly added - as if to indicate that maybe - just maybe - she believed me. A little.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Why yes it is,” I confirmed. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“It's part of the beat I write on so I have to stay current.
Besides,” I quickly add, “I like playing video games.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To be fair I probably shouldn't have
smirked, but to be honest here I was pretty offended by both her tone of voice and the words she chose to use. There was a LOT going on between the lines in this conversation, of that I was certain.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But before I made it worse, I caught the expression on the face of the tween boy. He had been calmly sitting there, taking it all in, but now he spoke.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Bet you wish you hadn't asked him
that question now, huh Mom?”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She growled at him.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-80431676073892235552016-01-23T02:09:00.000-05:002016-01-23T02:09:09.635-05:00Ongoing Hardware Expenses for the Typical Console Gamer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Ihs1_vvkY0/VqMjWGyZmiI/AAAAAAAABL4/EefH6pYjnY4/s1600/fallmouthharbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Ihs1_vvkY0/VqMjWGyZmiI/AAAAAAAABL4/EefH6pYjnY4/s1600/fallmouthharbor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b><i>Falmouth Harbor just after dawn - but NOT the Falmouth Harbor where I live and where, along the edges of its man made pleasantry bread was broken; during that regular and frequently repeated lunch a new conversation took place in which the merits of collecting Gamepads was discussed and at which we learned that Chris can almost always dish it out, but as far as taking it goes? Struggles such as this are generally thought to be good when they are absorbed as a learning experience. Right?</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It never surprises me when money and costs are whinged about when the subject is video games, though more often than not the sub-narrative that prompts that sort of conversation tends to relate to the perceived high costs of purchase for the games or, less frequently, the games systems - not the costs that are associated with maintaining the game play process once you have purchased your console(s) and games.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But it was the costs of continued play that ended up dominating our lunch conversation -- wait a second... I really should properly set this all up so that you are in on the circumstances and thus can be a bit more involved in the conversation...</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d_320hw8teQ/VqMeqGioV8I/AAAAAAAABLU/b60eK7w1wG8/s1600/originalxboxgp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d_320hw8teQ/VqMeqGioV8I/AAAAAAAABLU/b60eK7w1wG8/s400/originalxboxgp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>The original Xbox Gamepad was originally nicknamed "The Duke" and, as Microsoft's freshman entry into the Games Console Wars approached launch, it was not all that surprising that the layout and design of The Duke appeared to parallel what was at that point one of the more solid and useful game controller layouts. In fact it was a well-proven and well-established design despite being entirely brand new.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Alright, grab a cold beverage and a good snack, lean back in your chair and imagine you are sitting in the bench seats on the back of the booth at one of the best locals-only bar/pub/lunch places on the Cape. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
No, I am not going to share the name with you because (1) if I did, this being the Internet, there is a better than even chance that tourists will end up ruining what may very well be one of the last truly special hole-in-the-wall pubs for locals in the armpit of the universe; and (2) it's hard enough getting a lunch table on any given Friday already, why would we want to make that process worse?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This lunch is a sort of semi-regular a couple-times-a-month thing with some friends from Boston who both grew up and still have family on Cape. They are Mark and Lynda (who are in fact a couple) who both work at a newspaper in Boston, and Kate, who is in broadcast journalism. When they come home to chill at their parents houses for the weekend, we do lunch.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-peRBAHOS5r0/VqMfbnrMDgI/AAAAAAAABLc/ZplpM_mLpCY/s1600/x360-covvenant-gamepad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-peRBAHOS5r0/VqMfbnrMDgI/AAAAAAAABLc/ZplpM_mLpCY/s400/x360-covvenant-gamepad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b><i>It may seem now like the whole gamepad and game controller scene with the previous gen Xbox 360 was a mostly vanilla scene but, actually, there were some interesting examples offered up to the gamer public even then - as is demonstrated by this graphically-intense Xbox 360 gamepad that was part of Microsoft's Halo 3: Covenant launch and branding.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I gnawed on a Club Sandy, dipping it in a bowl of freshly made Thousand Islands alternating with munching what I am assured are home-made pickles fresh from their kitchen - the conversation turned to the high costs of video games today with a bit of retrospective on how it used to be so much cheaper back in the day when being a gamer meant playing games on your PC. Yeah, the assembled gamers are THAT old.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Jane's rabbit got loose on our bed again - she was supposed to be keeping an eye on it - and it bit through the charging cable for my Xbox One - so I have to replace it. Actually I needed to replace it anyway because the battery seems to have hit its charge limit as fully charged it lasts like twenty minutes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I did the math though and it is a lot like the whole printer thing, where it is cheaper to buy a new printer than it is to buy a new ink cartridge set?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Sheesh Mark, how many printers do you own now?" I asked.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Six? No, I lie - seven. But seriously I can get a new printer for $49 that comes with a set of ink cartridges OR I can spend $69 on a new set of ink cartridges. I don't know who did the math on that but clearly I am getting a better deal buying a new printer. I am just saying..."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"So what is the same with the gamepad?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Ah," Mark grunted, sounding very sage and wisdomy. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Check this out - the cost of a new Xbox One Gamepad is $49.99 right?" to which I agreed, nodding and chewing.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PlKnN0grpeI/VqMgpIqQ0DI/AAAAAAAABLo/bYy6HNB_t14/s1600/club-sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PlKnN0grpeI/VqMgpIqQ0DI/AAAAAAAABLo/bYy6HNB_t14/s1600/club-sandwich.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i>I should explain - in the interest of full disclosure - that 9 times in 10 when I eat out I will - as I did for the lunch during which these conversations took place - order a Club Sandwich with a side of Freedom Fries and a bowl of Thousand Islands Dressing for to dip my sandwich in. Man gotta have his Club Sandy to make-up for too many MRE lunches. I am just saying that while I would prefer in-flights to an MRE, a nice Club Sandy beats them all, toast-down!</i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"For that $49.99 what you get is an Xbox One Gamepad, and two AA batteries. That's it. But if you only have one Gamepad, you are going to want to buy another anyway for multiplayer local play. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Then there is the whole rechargeable battery thing where you want to have a minimum of two gamepads anyway, so that you can have one recharging while you play on the other one, you see?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I do indeed see," I admitted.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"So then there is the whole charging kit - that costs $20 and gets you the a micro-USB charge cable and a rechargeable battery pack."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Okay," I agree.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I can actually purchase a replacement cable - for $16 - but why do that when for a few more dollars you get a cable and rechargeable battery, you with me so far?" he prompts. I admitted that I was, yes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"So here is the thing - I could simply buy the Charge and Play kit for $20, sure. But check this out - Microsoft has created a new package deal called the <i>Xbox One Wireless Controller and Play &
Charge Kit </i>that costs $74.99 retail but that you can get for less if you shop around. For example you can get a new one via Amazon for like $60 or so.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"That package deal includes a brand spankin' new Xbox One branded wireless gamepad, a Micro-USB Charging Cable, the rechargeable battery, and a mic-plus-headset for voice chat. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"If I bought them separately, I would be paying like $50 for the gamepad, $20 for the Charge and Play Kit, and $20 for the Chat Headset - that works out to ninety-bucks man!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I see your point," I admitted, having seen his point.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"So this way I get what I need AND I have another gamepad so I can play and charge rotate. So yeah, cool that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"But," I pause.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_0vZ1Q3a5s/VqMlKOcq1JI/AAAAAAAABMI/C7uJBmQomM0/s1600/elite%2Bcharging%2Bstand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_0vZ1Q3a5s/VqMlKOcq1JI/AAAAAAAABMI/C7uJBmQomM0/s1600/elite%2Bcharging%2Bstand.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b><i>When you get so serious about your Gamepads that you opt to invest in a $159.99 Elite Controller, <br />it is seriously time for you to start thinking about investing in Gamepad Charging Stands. I am just saying...</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"But what?" he asks, fear appearing on the edge of his voice.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"But can you get matching gamepads in that deal or are they just the black one?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Just the black one," he admits, now broadcasting major fear and uncertainty. "Why would that make a difference? All of the gamepads are black for the Xbox One," he points out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Uh, no, where have you been? Mine aren't," I point out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Well yeah, yours are blue because you got the Forza 6 Collectible Xbox One thingy," he says, voice dismissive and yet clearly relieved. I can tell he was afraid I was going to make a legitimate point about the gamepads beyond the obvious.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Um, no. I am not talking about the wicked cool blue controller that came with my very awesome Forza 6 Xbox One that makes tyre burnout sounds when I turn it on and air-wrench sounds when I insert a disc dood. I am talking about my OTHER gamepads," I explain.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What other ones? Aren't they black?" he asks, fear and uncertainty returning in force.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Well no, of course not."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What do you mean '<i>no, of course not</i>'?!" he demands, clearly sensing trouble.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Well that was why I asked where you have been living?" I allowed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Chris, don't mess with me. What are you talking about?" he asks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vpFXuSMoz0/VqMlzO90l-I/AAAAAAAABMQ/Qfz8Nu_JpOo/s1600/fm6leconsole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vpFXuSMoz0/VqMlzO90l-I/AAAAAAAABMQ/Qfz8Nu_JpOo/s1600/fm6leconsole.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b><i>When you reach the stage where you seriously consider a limited edition games console as an "investment" you have stopped being a gamer are started being a hipster. Walk away man. Just walk away.... But if you bought a Limited Edition games console as your daily driver, well hey that is totally different! You do that and we have to say "Welcome to the club mate - grab a seat!"</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I take pity on him - the anxiety level is climbing because Mark now suspects that the pride he feels about his cutting edge gaming rigs and his best-of-the-best attitude when it comes to rechargeable batteries and all of that might just be... Not so much...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Okay I can see how you not being in the industry," I begin.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Um, Chris you are <i>not</i> in the games industry. You <i>write</i> about the games industry, but that does <i>not</i> make you <i>part</i> of it," he points out. Maybe with just a touch of frustration in his tone.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Wow, did I deserve that?" I ask. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Well yeah, sort of. Maybe a little?" Lynda volunteers. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"You can be pretty insufferable when you get a game two weeks before its street date and then refuse to tell us anything about the game because of that stupid non-disclosure thing you keep using as an excuse not to let us borrow the games," Kate points out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Kate, that 'stupid non-disclosure' agreement and the fact that I <i>follow</i> it to the letter and <i>don't</i> loan out games I get before their street date is why I <i>continue</i> to get games before their street date; and I <i>need</i> those games early or I cannot do my job," I point out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"You know when you talk like that, I know you are saying things, but all I actually hear is 'blah-blah-blah-I-get-games-early-and-you-don't-blah' in place of what I think you think you are saying" Kate tells me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Yeah," Mark admits. "The same thing happens to me."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"You know you guys could get games early if you started writing on the video game beat," I point out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Is he telling us we could get games early if we prostitute ourselves to the games industry yet?" Lynda asks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Yup - doesn't he sound just like the parents in a Peanuts cartoon?" Kate asks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I know, right?!" Lynda says, and then breaks out in giggles. I do a slow ten-count.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Wait, you are going to make him go off in a different direction. We were talking about gamepads?" Mark interrupts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Yes. What I wanted to know is, can I get gamepads in that deal that will match the ones I have in my gamepad collection?" I ask. Mentally counting to five heartbeats before he says it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Whoa. Wait. Your what?!" Mark says.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"And the chum has taken the bait, the angler has set the hook, look at that thing fly into the air!" Kate cries, doing her best Martha's Vineyard Fishing Derby announcer's voice.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Well yeah, I have a collection. Now, I don't have ALL of the gamepad models mind you - and I don't have any of the new Xbox Elite gamepad - I am waiting to see if they version that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"So yeah I think if I got that package I would want it to have a the Special Edition Lunar White gamepad - you know, the one with the golden D-Pad? Or maybe the Special Edition Armed Forces one? Camouflage is cool," I add.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Okay you are lying," Mark decides. Saying out loud what he is clearly thinking.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Actually no, I am not. Shall I run down the contents of my gamepad collection for you?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Oh please do!" Lynda sings. "I've never seen him actually blow a blood vessel in his head, this could be fascinating!" she says, reaching out and caressing the side of her husband's head.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Wow, that is cold blooded," Mark sighs. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The Gamepad Collection</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I was not kidding about my having a gamepad collection - it started innoncent enough I suppose, but gamepads are a bit like crack cocaine. You try just one and suddenly blammo! You are hooked!</div>
<br />
At the present time my gamepad collection consists of the following:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHeLF0Jcn1U/VqMPCyERR1I/AAAAAAAABKA/NPqAb43yF8I/s1600/bonb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHeLF0Jcn1U/VqMPCyERR1I/AAAAAAAABKA/NPqAb43yF8I/s320/bonb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x2 Standard Xbox One Livery Black on Black Gamepads ($59.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D8e5ZSRyM84/VqMPuBcyVlI/AAAAAAAABKI/XDRem5Im0Aw/s1600/armedforcesed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D8e5ZSRyM84/VqMPuBcyVlI/AAAAAAAABKI/XDRem5Im0Aw/s400/armedforcesed.jpg" width="400" /><b></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x1 Special Edition Armed Forces Gamepad ($64.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6q2fcKPg0AY/VqMT0wNOTWI/AAAAAAAABKs/hVj6VbJlE3U/s1600/lunarwhitegamepad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6q2fcKPg0AY/VqMT0wNOTWI/AAAAAAAABKs/hVj6VbJlE3U/s400/lunarwhitegamepad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x1 Special Edition Lunar White Xbox One Gamepad ($64.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y26nIXIhsyU/VqMQACTA3zI/AAAAAAAABKc/dv0Df54lZ8o/s1600/halo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y26nIXIhsyU/VqMQACTA3zI/AAAAAAAABKc/dv0Df54lZ8o/s400/halo5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x1 Xbox One Limited Edition Halo 5: Guardians Gamepad ($69.99)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D8e5ZSRyM84/VqMPuBcyVlI/AAAAAAAABKM/S_92Jf83pNE/s1600/armedforcesed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D8e5ZSRyM84/VqMPuBcyVlI/AAAAAAAABKM/S_92Jf83pNE/s400/armedforcesed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x1 Xbox One Limited Edition Halo 5: Guardians The Master Chief Gamepad ($69.99)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JooWTfzC_Mw/VqMUqAIw6FI/AAAAAAAABKw/FIX3mlFDU6k/s1600/codawgamepad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JooWTfzC_Mw/VqMUqAIw6FI/AAAAAAAABKw/FIX3mlFDU6k/s400/codawgamepad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x1 Xbox One LE Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Gamepad ($69.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wap0WLDjto/VqMU-tRpgmI/AAAAAAAABK4/mdlC7GjlRDU/s1600/forza6gamepad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wap0WLDjto/VqMU-tRpgmI/AAAAAAAABK4/mdlC7GjlRDU/s400/forza6gamepad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x1 Special Edition Xbox One Forza 6 Gamepad ($64.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAraYYMfXXE/VqMVJ4fXW1I/AAAAAAAABLA/-L5mb_P6vuU/s1600/covertforcesgamepad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAraYYMfXXE/VqMVJ4fXW1I/AAAAAAAABLA/-L5mb_P6vuU/s400/covertforcesgamepad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>x1 Special Edition Covert Forces Gamepad ($64.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In addition to the above which makes up my gamepad collection, there are the following that I really want to add to it:</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov-5ofrj11Y/VqMNsWKUAMI/AAAAAAAABJo/zm6qfYAKznw/s1600/titanfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov-5ofrj11Y/VqMNsWKUAMI/AAAAAAAABJo/zm6qfYAKznw/s320/titanfall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Xbox One LE Titanfall Gamepad ($64.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BP9vFScT6AE/VqMOCx974OI/AAAAAAAABJw/S6VMbn8Gsj8/s1600/midnightforces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BP9vFScT6AE/VqMOCx974OI/AAAAAAAABJw/S6VMbn8Gsj8/s400/midnightforces.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Xbox One Special Edition Midnight Forces Gamepad ($64.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B1qyiasDbFw/VqMP800XcmI/AAAAAAAABKU/L9-0MbOVVK0/s1600/x1elite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B1qyiasDbFw/VqMP800XcmI/AAAAAAAABKU/L9-0MbOVVK0/s400/x1elite.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Xbox One Elite Gamepad ($149.99 msrp)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mark's initial reaction to my collection was shock and a repeat of doubt - he felt initially that if I was not outright fabricating the contents of my collection, then I was at least exaggerating it. So I pulled out the trusty iPad Air and showed him. Thank you Xbox. Thank you Microsoft Store.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For my part I don't really blame Mark the way that Mark blames Mark. After all I am on the mailing lists so I get the official press release for each and every piece of games hardware - and game - that gets released. So I should know all about it. Mark gets press releases but he doesn't write on the game's beat at his paper - Garret does - so I told him he should talk to and at the very least make friends with Garret. Right? Right!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
His next reaction was what I consider priceless... He turned to his wife and said:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Lynnie sweetheart, I need to amend my monthly games budget..."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Whoa hold on there sport!" I quickly interrupted. You are not thinking you can just go buy this stuff at GameStop are you?" I ask.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Why not?" Mark replied. Ah, so innocent. So naive. I love the perpetual newbs of the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Because you can't. And even if you could, I seriously doubt "Lynnie" here would agree to it," I began to explain.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Okay first of all, HE only gets to call me that because I am married to him. Second, why can't he go to GameStop and buy them?" Lynda asked me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Well, since you asked so nice Lynifer, I will explain... When the Titanfall Gamepad first went on sale a couple years ago it had an msrp of like $65. But did you notice that part of the description and name included the words 'Limited Edition' when I listed it?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It was a Limited Edition Gamepad Lynellen. That means they only made so many, and it was only sold for so long. If Markus-in-Errorus here wants one NOW, he will have to pay something like $125 and that is IF he can find someone willing to sell it straight out. Most of the collectors sell their extras in auctions because they make more that way.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"I have seen the Titanfall Gamepad go for more than $200 at auction," I add, twisting the knife.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Jumping Jesus on a Pogo-Stick!" Lyn blurted. "But it is just a gamepad!?" She added.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"No, it is just a <i>Limited Edition</i> Titanfall Xbox One Gamepad," I corrected her. "And it will cost <i>serious</i> coin to buy it at this point."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ah the joy of depression. But the question seriosly got me to thinking about it so I did a little Google work to see what the current Gamepad Collector Market Report was, and was pretty shocked by what I discovered.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here is a list of the more popular SE and LE Gamepads, their original msrp, and the current general market value. Note that "msrp" stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, while "aap" stands for Average Auction Price.</div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><b>Armed Forces SE</b> - Available @ Retail <b></b>($64.99 msrp / $N/A aap)</li>
<li><b>Call of Duty Advanced Warfare LE </b><b>-</b> Available @ Retail ($69.99 msrp / $79.99 aap)<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Covert Forces SE</b> - Available @ Retail ($64.99 msrp / $N/A aap)<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Elite Gamepad</b> - Available @ Retail ($149.99 msrp / $N/A aap)</li>
<li><b>Fallout 4 SE</b> ($69.99 msrp / $250 aap)</li>
<li><b>Forza 6 SE</b> - Available @ Retail ($64.99 msrp / $N/A aap)<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Halo 5: Guardians LE -</b> Available @ Retail ($69.99 msrp / $N/A aap)</li>
<li><b>Halo 5: Guardians Master Chief LE -</b> Available @ Retail ($69.99 msrp / $N/A aap)<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Lunar White SE</b> - Available @ Retail ($64.99 msrp / $N/A aap)</li>
<li><b>Midnight Forces SE</b> - Available @ Retail ($64.99 msrp / $N/A aap)</li>
<li><b>Titanfall LE</b> ($69.99 msrp / $125 to $200 aap)</li>
<li><b>Xbox One Wireless Gamepad</b> - Available @ Retail ($59.99 msrp / $N/A aap)</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are other examples but they are third-party issues that do not have the right to sport the official Microsoft Xbox One badge... So a lot of gamers (myself included) do not consider them to be either official or really legitimate in terms of collectibles.</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b> The Limited / Special Edition Gamepad Scene</b></h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can't really blame Mark wither for his reaction or his feelings on the matter - sorry about that mare - because really even for the folks who are close enough to the inside to be given notice about this sort of thing, it caught a lot of us by surprise as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One reason it was so surprising is down to the manner in which the custom controller issue was addressed in the past. Specifically with the previous gen hardware. For the Xbox 360 that sort of thing largely applied specifically to the consoles not the gamepads, and it was next to impossible to obtain in quantity any specially branded or livery based gamepads exclusive of the consoles themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we think about it, today the modern games console is largely out-of-sight in the standard entertainment center, so objects like the Gamepad really do represent the livery for the console more today than ever before.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That being the case, making and marketing SE and LE gamepads makes total sense, and we can see how Microsoft - or for that matter Sony too - will do whatever it takes to help in marketing those.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our experience has been mixed - because while the different edition controllers are not supposed to FEEL different to the player, some of them do. Specifically every SE or LE gamepad we have used has turned out to be better feeling, and perhaps a bit more tactile in its response - than the bog standard black-on-black stock gamepad that comes with the X1.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now having admitted that, I should also add that the Elite Gamepad actually had the opposite impact on us! It felt LESS solid and LESS secure to us than the bog-standard gamepad. How about that?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you plan on getting in on the whole gamepad collecting bug that is growing popular NOW is a really great time to do that. Considering that only a few of the gamepads are presently NOT for sale via retail, waiting will only make it more difficult.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So hey - collect - play - enjoy!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-77661906605031966712016-01-20T17:50:00.003-05:002016-01-20T17:54:22.293-05:00Email Information Management<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79vSA3NRE-w/VqANjDhf4qI/AAAAAAAABI0/yKpt69uM2BQ/s1600/thyougotmail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79vSA3NRE-w/VqANjDhf4qI/AAAAAAAABI0/yKpt69uM2BQ/s1600/thyougotmail1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in the day hearing that voice saying "You've Got Mail!" was really something of a big deal for a lot of users and not just the ones on AOL. I know hackers who added that voice to their email notice programs just because it is both cool and rather retro! Here we see Tom Hanks (in the film You've Got Mail) getting mail... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before we get started in addressing this perennially thorny issue, I thought it might be a good idea to first discuss the matter of just how do we spell let alone capitalize the word around which this post is centered?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
This really is one of those issues that
appears to have officially come down to personal opinion over empirical declaration, because when
we finally sit down to cut bait the fact is that nobody knows
officially how to spell email.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Actually would it be more correct to
say “nobody knows officially how to spell email,” or would it be
less correct? Huh...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The issue surrounding the question of
whether it is spelled “email” vs. “e-mail” vs. “Email”
vs. “eMail” vs. “E-Mail” vs. E-okay wait this is rapidly
growing ludicrous...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The point to this is that the matter
raises blood pressures across the world and has actually been the
source of bitter arguments, some of which resulted in violence in the
workplace!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you think this is not a serious
issue, consider this: as recently as 2011 in one of the semi-annual
meetings of the American Copy Editors Society it was announced by the
editors of the Associated Press Stylebook (the AP Stylebook is a reference source
that pretty much ALL professional journalists and most of the
non-professionals use daily) that they had changed their recommended
spelling: "e-mail" is now "email."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The results of that announcement? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Bitter argument by both journalists AND editors over that change.
Now we in the Fourth Estate consider our editors to be the final word
on questions like this, so when even THEY cannot agree? Well, let's
just say that is a disturbing development. We really don't like it when Mum and Dad fight.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I identified this issue as perennial because it is a constant and ongoing one - in fact it tends to pop up in conversation and concern almost daily when someone asks for the address to which they should address a message intended for me either as a journalist or as a member of the human race!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When a question like this grows violent
the best means of settling it is to consult OTHER reference sources -
but when we checked with the Chicago Manual of Style and then
Merriam-Webster we found that they pretty much demand “e-mail” be
used. Across the pond in Old England the Compact OED - which is
generally the preferred consult of journos on-the-go gives the word
as “email” so no help there...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you are thinking that this should
clarify the matter - after all we ARE talking about the OED and even
Dr. Who agrees that the OED is the final word on spelling -
considering the bloody-minded and often violent tendencies of the
editors of the Compact OED there's still plenty of reason to be
concerned.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
After all, in 2010 those
red-pen-wielding fiends were responsible for one of the bloodiest
attacks on the English Language in recent memory when they abruptly
severed 16,000 hyphens - but then we are told that on the wall of the
offices of the lead editors at the OED there are Voldemort for Prime
Minister campaign posters. I'm just saying...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What brought all of this up was a relatively meaningless comment that cropped up in a conversation yesterday between an editor and I with respect to their providing a small packet of information that I would require to work up a time and budget estimate for a small think piece on the effects of mobile games and mobile gaming on productivity hour estimates at companies that lack a firm policy on the use of personal phones in general, and smart phones specifically, in the work place.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I used "email" and they commented that the correct spelling is "e-mail" and there you go. Game On!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aaUPjYswZM/VqAOAYtGe1I/AAAAAAAABI8/6sS7Y8GNRjE/s1600/emailgrandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aaUPjYswZM/VqAOAYtGe1I/AAAAAAAABI8/6sS7Y8GNRjE/s1600/emailgrandma.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just because you CAN forward an email does not mean you SHOULD. And sure, Grandma may think it is cute, but really? Really?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
This is NOT About THAT</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So yeah, that happened... But since this post is actually about consolidation of email and was prompted by our preparations for our annual <i>Pre-Spring Cleaning Efforts</i> in the office, we will leave the matter as stated above with the qualification that we are going personally with "email" and will refuse to argue that point because hey, that train has sailed!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday a sub-editor for a gaming publication I occasionally write for asked me why half-a-day had passed before I replied to their email.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My simple answer was that the email address they used for me is one of the webmail accounts I have and I only check that a couple times a day. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If they need to get my immediate attention they would be best served using my main email address, which is POP-3 based, so I get those mail notifications pretty much instantly throughout the day thanks to the wonders of the smartphone.</div>
<br />
They did not find that amusing.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The thing is email in this modern day comes in several flavors, with the two most popular being POP3 and WebMail.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>POP3</b> - or <b><i>Post Office Protocol 3</i></b> - works in many ways just like the
physical post office but is a bit more flexible too. What I mean by
that is that it has several layers of physical security that protects
your email.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Layer 1: Email Service</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When anyone anywhere in the world sends
you email and your email service provider supports POP3 the email
that they send you goes into your POP3 queue. It is then stored
there until you access and download it. So the people who send you
messages will be able to verify that the message was delivered - but
not read.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
When you retrieve (read) the email,
your local computing device basically downloads that email from the
POP3 Server of your service provider, allowing you to read it
immediately or later, if you don't have the time then.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The beauty of that is that you can
connect to the server and download your mail in one big package and
then later, when you have time, you can view and reply to any
messages on your local computing device regardless of whether or not
you have a 'net connection.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The next time you use your email app to check your mail the app will automatically upload (send) any messages you have replied to that are in its send queue at that time. Isn't tech cool?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uX3OKoCaQTw/VqAOxF4qbRI/AAAAAAAABJM/L3kVLSuDBj4/s1600/cliffycheers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uX3OKoCaQTw/VqAOxF4qbRI/AAAAAAAABJM/L3kVLSuDBj4/s1600/cliffycheers1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">POP3 is like this guy delivering your email! Okay not really. But then Cliffy was on Cheers back when mail did not usually HAVE an "e" in front of it. Just saying...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Layer 2: Email Storage</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
If you have set your POP3 email app to
both download the email messages AND leave a copy on the server,
unlike the real post office it will actually retain a copy of that message for you. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Should your local computing device be destroyed or stolen, you can still
retrieve copies of any of your email messages from the server via
another device. Which makes it a sort of email message archive if you like.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
You can ALSO set your email app to
download your new messages and then delete the original so that it is
NOT stored on the POP3 Server. It is entirely your call.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Basically the POP3 protocol makes it
easy for anyone to check their email from any computer in the world,
provided they have configured their email program / app properly to work
with the protocol.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In addition to that and depending on
the complexity of their POP3-capable email app, they may even be able
to use a single app to download, read, and reply to ALL of their
email accounts. And that is pretty much where this is headed.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>WebMail</b> on the other hand is just what it sounds like - a web-based
email services. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Examples of webmail include sites like Yahoo, GMail,
and the web-based email services that are provided by a lot of ISPs and
Website Hosting outfits these days.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Like POP3 the webmail server will accept email messages on your behalf, and then when you log into the webmail interface, present any messages you have received to you, in your inbox.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unlike POP3 though, just reading a message does not make it go away from the server. You have to personally delete the message when you are done reading or replying. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Both have different
pro and con aspects to them. For example with POP3 - assuming you have
a properly configured email client like Thunderbird or Outlook - you
can basically have ALL of your email in one place. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
These email clients
are even smart enough to insert the correct reply to address in any
email you write, and you can even configure them to use specific
security or confidentiality settings based on that address you are
replying from!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
POP3 allows you to grab your mail from the server and read or reply to it later, whereas with webmail you have to do all of that online - so you cannot write an email message while you are offline - say traveling on a train or in a car - you have to wait until you have 'net access to do that.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the serious cons for POP3 - and this is usually the one that webmail fans immediately bring up when the two types of email service are compared - is the fact that POP3 often can serve as an infection point for computing devices that are not properly secured with anti-virus and security software.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Basically with POP3 you are physically downloading a copy of the mail - and any attachments - to your local device. So if that email contains an evil payload and your security is not up to snuff, you could end up either infected, or running a hostile app.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With webmail all of the interaction takes place on some remote webmail server out there in the cloud, so if you get a nasty delivery chances are a lot smaller that it will actually succeed in delivering its nefarious payload to your local computing devices.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Another point in its favor is that webmail users never have to worry about whether they are running out of hard drive space on their local device - they only have to worry about exceeding the storage limit on the webmail server itself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1BgvjZD1nl8/VqAPE7d5RzI/AAAAAAAABJU/-SpsxwL2S78/s1600/email5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1BgvjZD1nl8/VqAPE7d5RzI/AAAAAAAABJU/-SpsxwL2S78/s1600/email5.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Conveniences of POP3</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now having taken all of this into consideration, the conveniences of POP3 email are sufficient - and this is especially true if you are forced via your career to maintain a number of different email addresses - to make the efforts of properly securing your local computing device worth doing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Actually - and I am not being mean here - you should be properly securing it anyway. So really you could view switching to POP3 to be a bonus since it will encourage you to practice safe surfing and safe computing - which like I said, you should already be doing!</div>
<br />
<b>Filtering Email</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the best aspects of using your local computing device in conjunction with POP3 apps is that, depending on the app, they can really be smart AND useful. Specifically they tend to support some pretty useful utilities - like email filtering.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With email filtering you can set up all sorts of rules that the email that you receive has to follow. When you get on a mailing list from an aggressive company, you can add their domain to your DO NOT ACCEPT list, and any offending email is deleted behind the scenes so you never see it. Your app simply drops it into the round filing cabinet for you.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By using the Spam filters on your email app it will eventually build a list of the various companies, email domain names, and the like who you prefer not to receive email from, and present you everything except the email from those people or businesses.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can also set up keyword rules - for example you can add Viagra and Penis Enlargement as either a single rule -- your app will delete any email messages that contain the words "Viagra" and "Penis Enlargement" before you ever see them. Or you can set that up as two rules, and so never see another Viagra advertisement OR a Penis Enlargement advertisement again. Yeah, that's a good thing.</div>
<br />
<b>How Popular is POP3?</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Obviously using a POP3 App/Client to pull all of your mail into one convenient place will only work if you CAN pull all of your mail into one convenient place, right?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With that in mind, there are some simple steps you can take - and before you ask, I recommend using the Thunderbird Email App from OpenOffice/Mozilla because it works well, it is free, and it is easy. You can also use Microsoft's Email program - they call it Outlook - and obtain the same results as long as you are willing to pay for it depending on the version.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Regardless of the app/client you use, you should be aware that they all treat the email process the same way - that is to say that they all consider receiving email to be ONE side of the process, and sending email to be another side.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You receive mail via a POP3 Server, but you SEND all of your replies via an SMTP Server. So you are going to need to set up for both when you are consolidating - and I strongly recommend you test every account you have set up in the app/client to verify that it is in fact working as intended. </div>
<br />
<b>The Steps You Need to Take</b><br />
Once you have picked the POP3 App/Client you want to use, and installed it, you will need to do the following - and this is true whether you are just getting started or you have decided to consolidate all of your mail accounts like us:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Contact your ISP to get the instructions from them on how to configure your email app to access their POP3 services. You will also need - in addition to the address of their POP3 email server and the login settings as well as any special settings they may require, such as alternate port numbers - the SMTP Server settings and login information as well.</li>
<li>The POP3/SMTP settings for any alternate email service providers - specifically and including Webmail providers - so you can add them to your Client/App.</li>
</ol>
About number 2... To help you out I went looking to see what commercial and personal email services actually include POP3 as part of their services, and this is the list of companies that I found DO support it:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>AOL/AIM Mail - </b><a href="https://help.aol.com/articles/how-do-i-use-other-email-applications-to-send-and-receive-my-aol-mail" target="_blank">Official Instructions from AOL</a><b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Gmail (Google Mail)</b> - <a href="https://support.google.com/mail/troubleshooter/1668960?hl=en" target="_blank">Official Instructions from Google</a></li>
<li><b>Lycos Free Mail (POP3 Requires Fee) - </b><a href="https://cshelp.lycos.com/entries/22999101-How-do-I-access-my-Lycos-Mail-from-a-mobile-device-or-client-using-POP-or-IMAP-" target="_blank">Official Instructions from Lycos</a></li>
<li><b>Mail.com Free Email - </b><a href="https://help.mail.com/en/applications/pop3.html" target="_blank">Official Instructions from Mail.com</a><b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>Microsoft Outlook Mail (Formerly Hotmail)</b> - <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/pop-email" target="_blank">Official Instructions from Microsoft</a></li>
<li><b>Yahoo Free Mail</b> - <a href="https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN4724.html" target="_blank">Official Instructions from Yahoo</a> </li>
</ul>
There you go - those are the big ones that pretty much everybody uses. If your provider is not on the list check their site for POP3 Settings.<br />
<br />
Bear in mind that some of the free webmail services that offer point-to-point automatic encryption do NOT offer POP3 services - they can't and protect your email with encryption.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDaSGcztI8w/VqAOR3nTghI/AAAAAAAABJE/mdMDnKztCYU/s1600/email3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDaSGcztI8w/VqAOR3nTghI/AAAAAAAABJE/mdMDnKztCYU/s1600/email3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really was not kidding about you needing to maintain proper security on your computing device. If you make the switch to POP3 you will need to do that. Anti-Virus, Anti-Phishing and email scanning are a given in this world today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Email Encryption?</b><br />
That noted though you CAN do email encryption AND digital signing of email using Firefox with the free Enigmail Add-On. Just saying.... You will want to get one of the free PGP Encryption programs for your OS though, as well.<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-15421569239949538472015-12-22T15:18:00.002-05:002015-12-22T15:51:25.984-05:00. . . Xbox 360 gaming on the Xbox One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the crowded chamber on Day-0 of the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the games journalists assembled there were present both to listen to the various personalities associated with the entertainment and gaming side of Microsoft's business entities, and report on it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The annual Xbox Media Briefing is something of a rite-of-passage for the new games journo - because getting an invite to this invitation-only event held each year just before the showroom floor officially opens at each E3 - can be reasonably interpreted as a mark that the games journo was now being accepted by the industry that their beat covers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is important to understand that ALL of the games journos present at the Briefing each had a pretty good idea of what information was about to be passed on. None of them was anticipating the sort of industry-changing major innovation events like, for example, what they were about to be hit with.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In another era this sort of surprise might be interpreted as a hostile act by the subject being reported on. The idea being that by keeping this innovation secret, and preventing the games journalists from preparing advanced coverage of that event, they essentially showed contempt for the media.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I honestly do not believe that the surprise announcement was intended as either a covert or overt hostile act on the part of Microsoft. More likely it simply illustrates the environment of paranoia and distrust that now serves as the operative standard by which information is handled in this brave new world. On other words it truly was information security and not information hostility that was the operative factor in play.</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
An Xbox Bombing Run</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So when Xbox's Phil Spencer dropped what amounted to be a major bomb -- complete with what we can only interpret as high-explosive potential -- by announcing the word that, despite literally years of denial and the position that the Xbox One was not practically or physically capable of functioning as an emulator for the complicated collection of hardware and CPU of the Xbox 360, it was more a case of the creator being almost as surprised as the people who are paid to report on them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Make no mistake, the reason that the previous position on the matter was so readily embraced by the games journalism community was largely due to the fact that among the games journalists there were plenty of writers who also happened to have tech knowledge sufficient to permit them to grok WHY that was so.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the barest of terms, the design and the construction of the Xbox 360 was a major departure from that of the console that it replaced - the original Xbox, which was an X86 motherboard design that used a Pentium III CPU and used an Nvidia Graphics Card. Consider the following very basic tech specs to understand its reality:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>CPU</b> = Triple-Core 64-bit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerPC" title="PowerPC">PowerPC</a>-based Xenon design.</li>
<li><b>GPU</b> = ATI R500 Xenos.</li>
<li><b>RAM</b> = 512 MB of GDDR3 RAM @ 700 MHz.</li>
<li><b>Optical</b> = 12x DVD drive.</li>
<li><b>Magnetic</b> = 20GB External.</li>
<li><b>NIC</b> = USB Wi-Fi 802.11n and 802.11g
and 100bT.
</li>
</ul>
Now compare that to the basic hardware specs of the Xbox One:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>CPU</b> = 8 Core AMD custom CPU @ 1.75 GHz.</li>
<li><b>GPU</b> = ATI @ 853 MHz.</li>
<li><b>RAM</b> = 8GB DDR3 @ 2133 MHz + 8GB Flash Memory.</li>
<li><b>Optical</b> = Blu-Ray/DVD.</li>
<li><b>Magnetic</b> = 500 GB @ 5400 rpm internal hdd + Cloud Storage.</li>
<li><b>NIC</b> = Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi (A/B/G/N dual-band at 2.4ghz and 5ghz). </li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
My Xbox 360 Game Library</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since the announcement at E3 (in June 2015) the LIVE side at Microsoft's Gaming Section has been very busy porting and releasing as many games from the X360 platform over to the Xbox One platform as it could, as rapidly as it could, in order to have a gratifyingly sufficient library of games available when the official "enabled-by" date - which was the Holidays 2015 -- was reached.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The simple reasoning behind this was, well, simple reasoning: they told their fans that the Xbox One would, contrary to everything that they had announced previously, actually and truly be able to both emulate and support the Xbox 360 games, but they had stopped short of explaining that this capability had more to do with the unique OS scheme used by the Xbox line of games consoles than any other reason. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the one hand you have this situation where the new version of the console can literally do things and have capabilites that the crew respobsible for marketing it never even suspected it could manage, while on the other hand you have this army of fans who were switching over to the new platform a lot more slowly than that same team of promoters had hoped - and predicted - they would.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The obvious reason for this had nothing to so with the fact that the Xbox One still had only a handful of system-exclusive titles available for it - rather it was the plain fact that so many new titles were being released with support for BOTH platforms that in the short-term, spending $500 to upgrade to the new platform did not make much sense to gamers when they realized that they could play the same games on their existing hardware.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The thing about that is that Microsoft NEEDED to hit specific percentage marks in terms of existing customers upgrading to the new platform - not because it was the new platform mind you, but rather because the massive collection of video game development studios - and their publishers - were simply NOT going to build exclusive to the new platform until Microsoft could demonstrate that a sufficient percentage of their customer base (read that as Xbox 360 owners) had ALREADY made the jump to the new platform!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The logic behind that is simple enough to follow really... Publisher X wants to sell 100,000 units of their new game on its release day and, since the current platform numbers suggest that is not likely to happen just now, restricting the title to the new consoles does not make much sense to them in terms of sales.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ironically having the publishers restrict their new titles TO the new platform is just the sort of conditions that are likely to cause the current gamers on the X360 platform to upgrade to the new X1 platform, so what you have here is the classic Catch-22 Situation.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
By the way, if you have never read the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451626657/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451626657&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=YULOB77NRSC5XNUQ" rel="nofollow">Catch-22: 50th Anniversary Edition</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451626657" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> (<i>Author: Joseph Heller / 1961 Simon & Schuster / ISBN:
0-684-83339-5 / Amazon Paperback</i>)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If we only consider the Xbox 360 video games that I actually own and have in my game library, that is still a pretty impressive number of games that have been ported to the Xbox One. For example at the time that I write this, the following Xbox 360 games are present and playable on my primary Xbox One games console (with links if you want to get them for your library):</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UQ6RZK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001UQ6RZK&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=R6VMS4XX2UKBFX7B" rel="nofollow">A Kingdom for Keflings [Online Game Code]</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001UQ6RZK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011CKZU1U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B011CKZU1U&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=TCJ6DLDRYLBGOA7G" rel="nofollow">A World of Keflings - Xbox 360 [Digital Code]</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B011CKZU1U" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00269DXCK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00269DXCK&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=GOO3CXDIDSCLCIOW" rel="nofollow">Assassin's Creed II: Platinum Hits Edition</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00269DXCK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MKA60W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000MKA60W&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=JKZRYPJI34OPPYYA" rel="nofollow">Bioshock - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000MKA60W" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVYA2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0016BVYA2&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=7DJS4LO5JBHYAAZD" rel="nofollow">Bioshock 2 - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0016BVYA2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KBZRRO6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00KBZRRO6&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=C7SODLLW4YNIH2SK" rel="nofollow">BloodRayne Betrayal [Download]</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00KBZRRO6" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WMEEB2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000WMEEB2&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=VE6AL7VL4LX4TEPY" rel="nofollow">Borderlands - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000WMEEB2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Z9GNPW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005Z9GNPW&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=ALQOKTEB3UDRMBGB" rel="nofollow">Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005Z9GNPW" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I0JA7E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002I0JA7E&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=6BGKIQHXB2PCP4NW" rel="nofollow">Deus Ex: Human Revolution</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002I0JA7E" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q8N7IE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004Q8N7IE&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=S4I4MABKYCJFN7FG" rel="nofollow">Dirt 3 - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004Q8N7IE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q21X7Y/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002Q21X7Y&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=SC2TUYDWPUSGHM2D" rel="nofollow">Fable 2 Platinum Hits -Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002Q21X7Y" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I0JGDM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002I0JGDM&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=I2TFUEGBX3PBS6PI" rel="nofollow">Fable III - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002I0JGDM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001REZLY8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001REZLY8&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=OU57TFAUKKY6FR75" rel="nofollow">Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001REZLY8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FRS9II/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FRS9II&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=TTQ3CQRCJJOVTXGD" rel="nofollow">Gears Of War - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000FRS9II" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZK9QD2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000ZK9QD2&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=SMNDLR4UQPBMFJGA" rel="nofollow">Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000ZK9QD2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I0H79C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002I0H79C&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=CXO2IPSAKFF33L6F" rel="nofollow">Gears of War 3</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002I0H79C" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JLQI5M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009JLQI5M&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=I67ZU3MSKT4X7H4C" rel="nofollow">Halo Reach - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B009JLQI5M" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013RATNM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0013RATNM&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=HNHYL7NLSMVL7MJL" rel="nofollow">Just Cause 2 - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0013RATNM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BL3A5U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000BL3A5U&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=3UK3JXQLEDJMZJMI" rel="nofollow">Kameo: Elements of Power (Xbox 360)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000BL3A5U" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R0SRNU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000R0SRNU&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=A2GCFAOOGH72RO75" rel="nofollow">Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000R0SRNU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OAKV3G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001OAKV3G&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=TJD7VS4ZIGOZ6DPB" rel="nofollow">Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001OAKV3G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B6ML1Y/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000B6ML1Y&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=RDC3WOUGMLAVO3XB" rel="nofollow">Perfect Dark Zero: Limited Collector's Edition</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000B6ML1Y" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LRQ96A/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001LRQ96A&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=5HKDI7PCHI6IMLNC" rel="nofollow">Pinball FX [Online Game Code]</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001LRQ96A" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EM5UFEK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00EM5UFEK&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=7VIVYB7WGBEHPC5X" rel="nofollow">Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare - Xbox 360</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00EM5UFEK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZMX7V2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000ZMX7V2&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=ROTEZX5DSIMKRWSP" rel="nofollow">Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000ZMX7V2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HCL5QO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000HCL5QO&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=7CD2VWNE7KWPA7EP" rel="nofollow">Viva Piñata (Platinum Family Hits)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000HCL5QO" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019MRKNI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0019MRKNI&linkCode=as2&tag=cmboofau-20&linkId=WCOZQB74ZQB5JZRA" rel="nofollow">Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cmboofau-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0019MRKNI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Note that these are not just games I could play if I wanted to - they are games I actually <i>play</i>... Would their availability and the promised availability of added titles for the Xbox 360 games library in any way shape my decision to purchase an Xbox One if I did not already have one? Heck yeah it would!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you are still sitting on the bench waiting - and from what I have heard there are plenty of you out there - now would be a good time to make the upgrade...</div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-51384687033196810912015-12-01T01:55:00.000-05:002015-12-01T01:55:23.039-05:00Playing a New Xbox Game<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back in the day - and that day was about ten years ago - when the brand-spanking-new Xbox 360 was finally released, a lot of gamers rejoiced at the prospect. Here was the realization of years of suggestions and speculation and desires.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I will be the first to admit that the Xbox 360 shocked and surprised me - and it was not just its rush to create what amounts to an online gaming social network - which it did. It somehow managed to take the lowly old video game disc and turn it into a breathing entity thanks in no small part to its stock hard drive and the ability to install the game disc to it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now you could not actually PLAY the game you installed without ALSO inserting its disc in the optical drive because why? Because DRM that's why. But still - installing the disc to your hard drive had two very desirable effects - it made load times a lot faster, and in the case of multiple disc games, it made changing discs a thing of the past.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So cool that, all the way around!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now the Xbox One has arrived - and its internal drive storage is even more important - and not just because you HAVE to install the contents on the discs for every new game you get mind you - but because a LOT of games are now being sold online as digital rather than disc copies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What that means is that the game resides entirely on the hard drive in your Xbox One and you DO play it without needing to insert a disc as its DRM is managed via registration keys attacked to your Gamertag Account.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are definitely Okay with that. What we are slightly NOT okay with tho is the fact that you no longer have a choice about installing a game to your system.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Let Me Put That Another Way</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When Microsoft originally announced the Xbox One one of the aspects that it did mention was that games would be played from the hard drive, by default.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we initially read that I distinctly recall turning to the other games journos in the bullpen at work and commenting - "they better be selling those babies with monster hard drives in them then."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sadly that was not to be the case. The standard hard drive was just a 500GB model. When you do the math for a typical AAA game title like GTA5 or Fallout 4 you are looking at a game that will, eventually, when all of the extra content is factored in, weigh in at a massive 30GB plus of required drive strorage.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That works out to - conservatively - only 16 or so major titles before you are SOL and out of hard drive space mates.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So what was the fix? Microsoft announced that it would support external drives/storage via USB3.0 and there you have it, problem solved. Well, not so much really.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You see later it was discovered that some titles do not play nice with external storage, and what is worse, the different models of external drive casing do not necessarily perform in a similar fashion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we got our original Xbox One we lucked out and the external drive we chose - a Western Digital MyBook device - and it holds 2TB and it works flawlessly with the Xbox One. So yeah, all was well for a while. But then we started hitting peak on the internal drive with AAA titles that had to be installed on it and we ran out of room.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Just before that happened, we were hit with the BSoD and had to send the original X1 in for replacement or repair - and because we could not NOT have an Xbox One (work you know) we had to go out and buy a new one.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If we were going to be doing that anyway, logic argued that we should go with a 1TB model. And if we were going to do THAT, logic argued we should get the best deal available - which at the time was the Forza 6 version of the Xbox One - so that is what we bought.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now perspective aside, we have delayed the crisis point for new games by half simply going with the 1TB drive model. But it is also clear that we are going to have to add a second external My Book drive unit soon because THAT is filling up as well. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The moral of this story? Well, it seems that digital content was not the magic answer that Microsoft thought it would be. In fact it creates problems because it deducts the flexibility of removable media completely!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't know what the future of console gaming will be or is - but what I do know is that it will not be a disc-free future. Not yet anyway.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So how was your Monday?</div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-40372988431248134392015-10-25T18:53:00.000-04:002015-10-25T18:53:54.321-04:00Xbox One's "Black Screen of Death"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AuqeI37MjGg/Vi1EMZ73utI/AAAAAAAABHM/C1YTDTlDLzk/s1600/xb1green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AuqeI37MjGg/Vi1EMZ73utI/AAAAAAAABHM/C1YTDTlDLzk/s1600/xb1green.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In recent months a problem has appeared with Microsoft's Xbox One games console that takes the form of a new potentially killing bug that has widely been nicknamed the "Black Screen of Death" (or BSoD) among the Xbox One community.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The issue is starkly similar to a serious flaw that effected the previous generation of games console from Microsoft -- its Xbox 360 -- when at the height of its popularity, what would eventually be ID'd as a quality in manufacturing issue cropped up that spelled the kiss of death for the owner of any Xbox 360 that experienced it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The error was eventually revealed as a manufacturing issue at the factory in Asia where the main boards for the consoles were built; an error that effectively turned each Xbox 360 into a ticking time bomb.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That manufacturing flaw created a catastrophic hardware failure condition that came to be nicknamed the "<b>Red Ring of Death</b>" (or "<b>RRoD</b>") among the Xbox community, but not before a tremendous amount of energy, money, and effort was put into denying the problem existed. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kksLwo5CI7Y/Vi1DclOKedI/AAAAAAAABHE/aVPe1OmYoYM/s1600/360rroderror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kksLwo5CI7Y/Vi1DclOKedI/AAAAAAAABHE/aVPe1OmYoYM/s1600/360rroderror.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The dreaded "Red Ring of Death" declared your Xbox 360 games console as kaput!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The design and manufacturing flaw was estimated to effect from 25% to 52% of every Xbox 360 in consumer hands. Bearing in mind that the industry accepted failure rates for hardware of this type fell in the 3% to 5% line, this was a very serious issue indeed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After literally years of either covering up the matter, dodging it with aggressive RMA policy, or flat-out denying that the problem existed, the ultimate cause for the majority of the cases of RRoD failures was finally traced to a decision to change the type of solder that was used to manufacture the main boards.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Despite a series of denials, and what is suspected to have been a major cover-up, an internal audit at Microsoft eventually traced the issue to the decision on the part of the Xbox Engineering Team to substitute lead-free solder used in manufacturing the part of the main board where the Graphical Processing Unit (GPU chips) and cooling fans were installed. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What happened was simple: each time that the Xbox 360 was turned on the board heated up, causing the solder to soften. Eventually the softened solder began to migrate away from the attachment points until one or more of those points would silently separate.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the user tried to reboot the system, they were confronted with a predictable result -- as each time the system is turned on it runs what is called a "POST" (Power-On Self Test) during which all of the subsystems are checked for functionality. The GPU failure thus generated a "code" in the form of the dreaded <i><b>Red Ring of Death</b></i> to visually indicate that failure.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Early warning signs that an RRoD event was in the offing included system freeze-ups, graphical problems in the middle
of game play (usually a checkerboard or pinstripe patterns on the screen), and sound errors. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once the issue was properly attributed to the error in the manufacturing process, Microsoft extended warranty coverage to include replacement for RRoD consoles beyond the initial warranty period. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They tried to make it right, in other words, but only after more than a year of denials, during which many of the afflicted were made to pay for the repair on their console.</div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Xbox One Black Screen of Death</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The reason that I covered the history of the whole RRoD debacle is largely because <i>some</i> of the circumstances are repeating with the BSoD issue and those of us who have experienced the original RRoD issue and have now been impacted by the BSoD are feeling a bit uneasy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That is NOT to say that there is a cover-up or that Microsoft is not owning this issue - there is not and they are totally owning it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In my case, my day-one console was hit with the BSoD yesterday -- 10/24/15 -- and when I went on to the Xbox website to see what there was to be done, I was initially dismayed to discover that my Xbox One was no longer covered by warranty for repairs. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, of course it was no longer covered! I bought it on 22 November 2013, and I knew it came with one-year standard warranty coverage, but even so, dismayed I was. So you can probably imagine how pleased and surprised I was when, after the issue was officially defined as the Black Screen of Death, the Warranty Repair mechanism designated it as a covered repair after all!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't know if the issue with the RRoD was truly enmeshed in conspiracy as many members of the community have claimed - and neither do you - but I do know that at least with respect to the Xbox One and the Black Screen of Death issue, Microsoft has its act together and is totally owning the issue and covering the repairs for $0 in repair fees.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And you bet I am happy about that, even if it means that my Xbox One will be in repair limbo for anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is, as I write this, in the capable hands of FedEx, and on its way to the Xbox Repair Center in McAllen, Texas, where I am absolutely certain (because I have been assured of this point) that a well-trained crew of Xbox Fairies, backed by highly-skilled Gnome and Dwarven Engineers, will examine it, identify the problem, and either repair it or replace it with a refurbished replacement console (that will itself be covered under a new warranty!).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So speaking for myself, I am pretty darn happy with the way this has worked out. Well, no, I would be pretty darn happy if my Xhox had not experienced the BSoD at all - as after all we are talking about a console that is just shy of celebrating its second birthday. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That said though - the fact that it is on its way to the legendary Castle of Repair where Elves, Fairies, Gnomes, and other mythical forces will Make It Right - well, on that score I feel that it is safe to say that I am as happy as I can be under those circumstances.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You know, I hear that their Shipping and Receiving Department is staffed almost entirely by Unicorns...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbG7MuP2woE/Vi1XriiTcAI/AAAAAAAABHg/9q6h5MKe8OI/s1600/keepcalm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbG7MuP2woE/Vi1XriiTcAI/AAAAAAAABHg/9q6h5MKe8OI/s320/keepcalm.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
How to Tell if You May About to be BSoD'd</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Based upon my personal experience - and that of other gamers who have written about the issue - I can offer you the following tips towards identifying if you may be facing an impending BSoD...</div>
<br />
Early issues that you will quickly notice include the following symptoms:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Very slow dashboard performance </li>
<li>Dashboard freezes requiring hard or soft reboot to correct</li>
<li>Suddenly get "Insert Game Disc" for digital games that do not require a disc</li>
<li>Games that do not usually freeze start to freeze a lot when you are playing them</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
BSoD - What Support Says to Do</h2>
If you experience the BSoD Xbox Support will recommend the following corrective procedures:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Power cycle your Xbox One console.</li>
<li>Try a different HDMI cable</li>
<li>Try a different HDMI port in your TV</li>
<li>Try steps within the blank TV screen
troubleshooter</li>
<li>Refresh your display settings.</li>
<li>If there’s a disc in the Xbox One
console, eject it.</li>
<li>On the console, press and hold the Xbox
button for five seconds to turn off the console.</li>
<li>Press and hold the Xbox button and the
Eject button until you hear a beep to turn on the console.</li>
<li>Press and hold the Xbox button on the Xbox One until it turns off. Unplug the power brick. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Plug the brick back in and turn on. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When you get the BSoD - and you will have no trouble recognizing this -
what happens is simple: you power on your Xbox One and you get the
standard green starting screen with logo, then it simply switches to a
Black Screen and stays there. Forever. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If that happens, then you have
the BSoD and none of the fixes that Support will suggest above will work. It
is time to go to the Service Center webpage where you registered your
console and request a repair.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Bottom Line:</b> There is a small chance that the cause of the BSoD is a corrupted update. There is a much greater chance that the cause is a bad hard drive, or hard drive controller in your Xbox. Either way, your best solution is to send it in for repair. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxNurmeVy5E/T7ifXR4CISI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/LmJDdedoixE/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxNurmeVy5E/T7ifXR4CISI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/LmJDdedoixE/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Here is a picture of a cute dog - this should help reduce your stress at experiencing a BSoD. Keep Calm, Cute Dog!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Register Your Xbox One</h2>
<br />
With that in mind, and even if you are not experiencing any warning signs, you should at the very least be sure to take the following steps:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Log into your Xbox One and hit the Start Button to open the nav menu and select SETTINGS</li>
<li>Select the SYSTEM box and hit 'A'</li>
<li>Serlect the CONSOLE INFO tab and hit 'A'</li>
<li>Write down the SERIAL NUMBER for your Xbox One displayed on that page.</li>
<li>Load the <a href="https://myservice.xbox.com/en-US/pages/managedevice.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Xbox Online Service Center Web Page</a> from this link</li>
<li>Log into your Live Account then when the page opens click on the DEVICES tab</li>
<li>Check to see if your console is already registered. If it is NOT, click the HOME tab</li>
<li>Click the REGISTER A DEVICE box</li>
<li>Complete that form and register your console</li>
</ul>
Now if you have any issues you can quickly and easily obtain warranty service - or depending on the issue paid service - with very little hoo-hoo and no tears.<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-91648634162215508852015-10-25T02:45:00.003-04:002015-10-25T02:45:38.265-04:00It Might Have Been Worse (Xbox One Implodes)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G959q0KG_Ag/TxgbXDwsH2I/AAAAAAAAALY/390VtsMaRkQ/s1600/alt2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G959q0KG_Ag/TxgbXDwsH2I/AAAAAAAAALY/390VtsMaRkQ/s400/alt2a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Cute Dog Picture - Sir Calvin Wagglytail</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With certain pieces of kit - and in particular tools that you use for work - when they have proven to have long-term reliability, having one give up the ghost can be doubly as disturbing as it might be under other circumstances.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My Xbox One is just such a beast - having delivered long-term stability and reliability since literally day one of its release, when it started acting oddly last week the coincidence of it just getting an update had the effect of causing me to assume that the odd behavior was related to that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It turned out though that the odd behavior I was noticing was actually the only brief warning I was to receive that the Xbox One was about to suffer a catastrophic hardware failure that lead to what a legion of Xbox users now call "The Black Screen of Death."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fortunately for me while the console was out of warranty for almost all other issues, the BSoD was one that it was still covered for - but considering that a rapid turn-around would mean 6 weeks or more of downtime while the slab was dispatched to the repair depot, it was still a catastrophe.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But dispatch the slab to the repair depot I did - and ten immediately paid a visit to our local GameStop where a replacement was purchased. </div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Expectations of the Worse</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we returned home and replaced the old kit with the new - new power brick, new console, new cables - I fully expected to be faced with a week or more of reinstalling digital downloads. Because when you are replacing a console, that is what happens. Or so I thought.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I like to think of this as serendipity... When I first bought my original Xbox One the 500GB hard drive in it seemed awful small to me - especially when I considered the large number of games I would be getting to review in the immediate future in the form of digital download codes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In consequence of that, one of the first things I did was to pick up a 2TB external drive. And as it turns out that was a wicked good move!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I booted up my new X1 for the first time, after its 268MB patch, it promptly added the external drive and all of the games installed to it without even blinking! In fact with the exception of just the three titles that were installed to the internal hard drive for the old X1 I did not have to do ANY downloading at all!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Can you imagine that?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So mates - my advice to you if you own an Xbox One is this: buy and USE an external drive for all of your game installs! It is cheap insurance that will save you a lot of time. This might have been oh so much worse.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-71814321227590535772015-09-06T08:17:00.000-04:002015-10-01T18:49:08.668-04:00Rebuilding the Network<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back in May of this year I revealed that I was in the process of
planning out a network rebuild as a consequence of our home network
aging out (the newest network infrastructure components were at least
10 years old).
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can read that post by hitting this link for the a <a href="https://www.blogger.com/(http://boots-faubert.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-home-network-revival-story.html)" target="_blank">Home Network Revival Storypost</a>.</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQrdFhVhFbk/VewloC_uTrI/AAAAAAAABE8/s88PUMk5TjM/s1600/chrisinthemonring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQrdFhVhFbk/VewloC_uTrI/AAAAAAAABE8/s88PUMk5TjM/s1600/chrisinthemonring.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b><i>While we are not each of us likely to choose to admit to matters like hero-worship easily, I have to admit that it is the Zen-like awareness of the character Chris Stevens - and specifically the sub-character he is when being "Chris in the Morning" - a DJ for radio staiton KBHR - which he announces as Kay-Bear... Proof that figuring out what you want and then making it happen by recycling as much as possible is just plain cool man...</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Surveying the Reality of the Network Situation</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When you begin a new journey it usually helps when you start at
the beginning - and in our case, for the re-imagining of our network
- the beginning starts where the wires attach to the house.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since we previously ran our consulting business from offices in
our basement that we had finished off with walls, doors, paneling,
and a finished ceiling with proper lighting, the place where the
wires come into the house was the most logical place to deploy our
network racks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So in that spot there was (past tense) a Relay Rack (a two-post
19” rack used exclusively for network hardware), besides which was
two matching 7-foot-tall standard box-style 19” equipment racks of
the sort that are commonly known as “Server Racks.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pair of Server Racks we chose back in the day were the
then-current model of Tripp-Lite 42U rack enclosures. We bought two
of them, with side-panels, but no doors (front or back), no wheels,
and no handles. Just the standard leveler bolting scheme that
allowed us to drive in concrete receivers so that we could bolt the
racks to the floor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the Relay Rack we chose a Tripp-Lite SR-2Post-45U Open Frame
Rack, with a solid steel 4-way-mount base plate that allowed it to be
properly secured to the concrete floor so that it could safely
contain up to 800lb of hardware (for which it is rated).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RcD7h3uMGqk/VewnSVm71-I/AAAAAAAABFQ/FWTEhCqCyH4/s1600/oldnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RcD7h3uMGqk/VewnSVm71-I/AAAAAAAABFQ/FWTEhCqCyH4/s1600/oldnet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>Even when it looks like it is still good, old network hardware is just that - old.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Age and Treachery Require Flexibility!</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As we contemplated an entire re-design of our network in order to
bring it, kicking and screaming, into the 21<sup>st</sup> Century, we
had to make some tough decisions. The main reason for many of them
had more to do with the fact that between 1995 (when the original
network was planned out) and 2015, I have lost the use of my legs and
require a wheelchair to get around.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As a result of this in 2002 we pretty much moved my office to the
ground floor (because the basement office was no longer accessible to
me), with the room on the ground floor that was designated as my
office being specially adapted.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because I converted my old and no longer manageable career of
NetSec Engineering into Writing, and in particular as more than half
of my writing was on the video games beat, that room was given the
well known and patented Ikea treatment in order to make it as
friendly to my needs as possible.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What that translates to is simple enough. Against the front wall
of the room we installed a custom-designed and modular solution based
on the "Besta" line of shelving and storage units from Ikea. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Basically
that included a primary Besta Unit with a large open TV shelf
off-center to the right, with a bank of shelves along its left side.
We then added a pair of large shelf banks, one of which was laid
down on its side to function as a base for the main unit (to which it
was bolted) that basically provides five identical box-shaped storage
openings that match the five similar openings that serve as the base
of the main unit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By doing that the main unit is raised in height of the unit so
that when we put the second bank or column of storage shelves on the
left-side of the assembled main unit, their heights matched. What that resulted in was a main unit combination that could
easily accept our 52” flat screen TV and plenty of storage. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The
base of the TV space has a row of two very wide but low shelves that
are meant to accept entertainment kit like DVD players, game
consoles, and other modular kit, while the eight box-shaped openings
plus the added five additional shelves from the second column laid on
its side provide full customization space.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The total number of storage openings is 18 and they are sized so
that you can use modular storage objects from Ikea - such as their
conversion kits with backs and doors to turn them into independent
storage space, as well as drawer inserts and filing container inserts
just to name a few.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We went with a selection of different inserts for the office so
that I had plenty of file space, as well as proper shelves for books
and game cases.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Right so you now know what the central focus of the office
consists of. Positioned directly in front of the E-Center is a large
flat bed-like construction upon which I can sit, lay, or recline,
while I work, with my notebook PC and game controllers easily
accessible.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To the left of that work space is a small desk on which the A/V
rendering server is placed, with its keyboard and mouse accessible to
use from the work space. Finally along the left-hand wall is a proper
desk for my wife's use.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was into this fully functional and well-designed work space that
we inserted - to the right of the E-Center and thus occupying the
right-front-corner of the room - one of the 45U Server Racks, into
which would be installed all of the hardware that for various reasons
I may need direct access to.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FmJNJhI8ncI/Vewn7ml_6pI/AAAAAAAABFc/42x8vq4BqyA/s1600/19rack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FmJNJhI8ncI/Vewn7ml_6pI/AAAAAAAABFc/42x8vq4BqyA/s320/19rack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>The New MBR Rack Space and LAG</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We decided to call this the MBR Rack, so the E-Center became the
MBR Center. Into the MBR Rack was initially installed a pair of
shelves, and some spacer vent plates. The latter being perforated
plates that provide front-coverage to serve as spacers for the
various hardware while allowing ventilation so that air-flow was
ensured.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A 4U spacer plate was installed into the top of the MBR Rack, and
directly under that we installed the first of a matched pair of
Netgear GS724TV2 Managed Smart Gigabit Ethernet Switches that would
serve as the backbone of our new network (bearing in mind that the
original network was left in place and fully functional as we created
the new one!).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So the pair of GS724TV2 Switches were installed - on in the MBR
Rack, one in the NOC Relay Rack - and these were fully and properly
configured. That meant adding the proper configuration settings, and
then making two custom CAT6 Ethernet cables that connected Ports 23
and 24 on the MBR Switch to Ports 23 and 24 on the NOC Switch.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
These two switches were then configured to use the pair of Cat 6
cables as a single 2GB backbone that connects the upstairs and
downstairs switches - as otherwise a single Gigabit cable would be
all that connected them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All fully-managed and most partially-managed Gigabit Ethernet
Switches today offer up a backbone protocol of this sort, either
using dedicated Network LAG configurations (LAG = Link Aggregation)
or, as was the case for our Switches, a dedicated aggregated Trunk connection of two cables and two ports for a total of 2GB backbone
speed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The reason that we chose the Netgear GS724TV2 switches was a
combination of price (they can be had on eBay dirt cheap) and the
decision on Netgear's part to opt for using Trunking in place of
proper modern LAG.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Trunking is preferable largely because in theory - and if needed -
we could use up to 8 Ports (for a total of 8GB) for our backbone
aggregation if we chose to, whereas most of the modern implementations
of LAG protocol limit it to just two Ports - or 2GB.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because we work with A/V files on a regular basis, and because
file storage is planned to be centralized on our network, we need a
minimum of a 2GB backbone and possibly a minimum of 4GB - so the
ability to expand that as needed? Yeah, that was key.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the two switches and the backbone connection in place, we
tested the data transfer speeds and have come to the conclusion that,
as long as no more than three users are accessing A/V media or
working with A/V files across the network simultaneously at any given
time, the 2GB backbone should be sufficient.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But just in case we made a third Cat 6 cable and attached Port 22
to Port 22 after disabling Port 22 on both routers (to ensure that
there is no accidental looping) so a third 1GB connection exists that
can instantly be added to the existing 2GB backbone to increase it to
3GB if we ever need to. You know, having the raw cable there really
was no good reason not to do that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiGdcAOqjg0/VewoXrbXtBI/AAAAAAAABFk/-rv3xZnm1tM/s1600/rj45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiGdcAOqjg0/VewoXrbXtBI/AAAAAAAABFk/-rv3xZnm1tM/s320/rj45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Proper Termination</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The network downstairs was originally a free-flow cable
configuration but, once that got too messy, we ended up adding a
CAT5E Patch Panel to it ten years ago, and then custom cabling to
Keystone boxes installed at the baseboards for a neater cable
management scheme.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So all of the systems that connect to the NOC end of the backbone
do so via properly terminated permanent CAT 5E cable runs that
utilize a patch panel and patch cables for their end-point
connections.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since we were re-imagining our network anyway, and moving the
Server Rack and a Switch upstairs into the office anyway, it seemed
like a good idea to duplicate that standard upstairs. So we
purchased an industry standard CAT 6 Patch Panel and properly
terminated all of the cable runs that connect to it using the
standard box-and-keystone configuration, so that, at strategic points
in the walls, there are nice clean Ethernet jacks in place of
spaghetti cable runs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the MBR Rack installed just below the Ethernet Switch is a
48-Port CAT6 Patch Panel that is almost identical to the 48-Port
CAT5E Patch Panel in the NOC Relay Rack. So how is that for
symmetry?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_FWWVa2S5wI/Vewqk8_VUVI/AAAAAAAABF0/Vx6RuRUy62I/s1600/ap7900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_FWWVa2S5wI/Vewqk8_VUVI/AAAAAAAABF0/Vx6RuRUy62I/s1600/ap7900.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Power Management</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The NOC Relay Rack was originally planned and deployed with a
standard, grounded, 8-Port PDU that connected to a 2400KVA UPS
installed in the base of the Server Rack next to it, which allowed
for the various bits of kit in the Relay Rack to have their power
independently controlled, using the toggle switches on the PDU.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Of course at the time I was AB and thus able to walk over to the
rack and flick a switch - but once I was crippled, and with the
hardware now completely inaccessible to me, if I needed a device
attached to the rack down there reset, that meant someone else had to
go downstairs and flick the switch off, then on again.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Clearly that was not an ideal circumstance - and with so much of
the hardware failing as it aged out, I was having to send
switch-flickers downstairs several times a day, EVERY day!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So when the Server Rack was moved upstairs, we detached the
mechanical PDU from the Relay Rack and brought it upstairs with the
Server Rack, installing it at what would ordinarily be waist-high
level in the rack. All of the network kit was then powered via that
mechanical PDU.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Downstairs in the Relay Rack things were different. Changed.
Better!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Via eBay we purchased an APC model AP7900 Network-Attached 8-Port
PDU complete with the same style of web-based admin access that the
switches use, so that I could basically recycle the power to any
connected device remotely.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yep, that meant that even if I needed something attached to the
NOC Relay Rack reset, I would not have to dispatch a human to do it -
I could do it myself! And how cool is that?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The AP7900 is a pretty well-known high-quality piece of equipment.
Purchased brand new from APC you are looking at $500 a crack - but
used on eBay? Less than $90! So that is totally win-win and within
the budget.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In fact I am seriously considering buying a second AP7900 for the
MBR Rack and I would if that was not so decadent and lazy a decision
:)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8W0Tl0fw5Dk/Vewry_SjHXI/AAAAAAAABGA/67iu-RCBK-s/s1600/rackmt1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8W0Tl0fw5Dk/Vewry_SjHXI/AAAAAAAABGA/67iu-RCBK-s/s320/rackmt1c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Servers and Such</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Server Rack downstairs is part of the solution for our
re-imagined network, because it is the home to a new server we
purchased and over the course of 4 months (as we could afford it)
upgraded until it was ready to be deployed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am speaking of the Dell PowerEdge 2950 II server we call
“Monster” that functions as the VM Host for our network.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Virtual Servers are a new concept for us here - and while it just
might maybe be overkill when you stop to consider that the network we
are building is being built to provide Internet Access to the
residents of our farmhouse, and work resources for a journalist, it
probably IS overkill.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But when we did the math, when you combine the average cost of
ownership and the electric bill for running four generic PC-based
servers which each have PSUs ranging from 450W to 900W (the file
server uses a 900W PSU due to the number of drives in it) it actually
makes total sense!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The 2950 II has a pair of redundant 720W PSUs in it, and
collectively they end up using less than half of the juice that the
four original servers that they replace use.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So our new (it is actually a used and refurbished) PowerEdge 2950
II which we purchased from a server rehab outfit in New York City
called <a href="https://techmikeny.com/" target="_blank">TechMikeNY</a> who we originally found
on eBay (but who has their own store-site online as well) we
basically got very very lucky.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The process of finding reliable, reputable, honest, and
knowledgeable suppliers for specialized computer hardware in this day
and age is often something of a crap-shoot. And considering that we
not only needed a reliable and savvy refurbisher but also a supplier
who would be willing to answer all of our questions and provide solid
and sound advice pretty much whenever we needed it... Well, that is
almost an impossible task these days!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To make this absolutely clear, we have no reservations whatsoever
in recommending TechMikeNY as a supplier whether via eBay OR via
their website sales center. The blokes working there know their
hardware inside and out, can (and more importantly WILL) answer any
and every question that you ask - even the really stupid ones - and
provide a high-quality refurbishing services for servers that they
back up 100%.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3uf-fgcA-4/VewsRjCVuaI/AAAAAAAABGI/1dHFrtSJZGA/s1600/mitflea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3uf-fgcA-4/VewsRjCVuaI/AAAAAAAABGI/1dHFrtSJZGA/s1600/mitflea.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The MIT Flea - held third Sunday of the month, April thru October, and the place where we obtain the used and refurbished hardware as well as new batteries for the UPS's</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Adventures in Server Acquisition</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We felt so comfortable - and happy - with the services that they
provided when we originally bought the server as an eBay transaction
(which is a good idea for you to use to since using eBay adds a layer
of insurance to a purchase like that thanks to the eBay and PayPal
policy of going to bat for the buyer whenever issues crop up for such
transactions) that we had no problems or concerns with hopping from
eBay to their web-storefront to do the rest of the purchasing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At their well-made website we bought the rest of the kit we needed
-- which in this case consisted of the following (with source noted):</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8pKmb0dtgk8/Vewmr8BbmjI/AAAAAAAABFI/g80xF9h21OA/s1600/29502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8pKmb0dtgk8/Vewmr8BbmjI/AAAAAAAABFI/g80xF9h21OA/s1600/29502.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><u>MONSTER (Our VM Host Server Build)</u></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>PowerEdge 2950 II Initial Server Purchase @ eBay -- Total Cost:
$250.74</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(Buy-It-Now Price = $215.99 plus Standard Shipping = $34.75)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
eBay Order and Purchase Number 221295119685 check it out for
yourself!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This was basically a starter-package for a Commercial-Grade
Enterprise-Level Virtual Server Host System that included the
following bits and bobs:</div>
<b>
</b>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Model:</b> PowerEdge 2950 III</li>
<li><b>Processors:</b> 2 x Intel 2.33GHz E5345 Quad Core</li>
<li><b>Memory:</b> 8 x 2GB PC2-5300, FB</li>
<li><b>Hard Drives: </b>2 x 1TB 7.2K SATA 3.5"</li>
<li><b>Drive Bays:</b> 6 x hot-swap 3.5"</li>
<li><b>Power Supplies:</b> 2 x Dell 750 Watt (redundant PSUs)</li>
<li><b>Number of Power Cords:</b> x2</li>
<li><b>RAID Controller:</b> PERC 5i w/battery backup installed</li>
<li><b>Network Interface:</b> 2 x Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet</li>
<li><b>Video Card:</b> ATI Technologies Inc ES1000</li>
<li><b>Optical Drive:</b> DVDRW-CDROM+</li>
<li><b>Remote Access Controller:</b> DRAC5</li>
<li><b>OS:</b> Windows Server 2008 R2 Evaluation Edition</li>
<li><b>Warranty:</b> Standard 30 Day Included</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, all of that and only $250?! Not only is that a heck of a
deal, it is an awesome server! The ting is it is just what we went
looking for - a starter kit. We knew going in that we would need to
buy additional bits and bobs before we could actually deploy this as
our server solution.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So happy were we with the initial purchase that when we found out
that TechMikeNY was in the process of building its own web-based
storefront, we waited for them to complete it and roll it out rather
than doing the rest of the purchases via eBay (because why? Because
we could save a few bucks on eBay fees that is why!).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When their storefront finally deployed we bought pretty much most
of the rest of the kit we needed, which in case you are contemplating
doing the same thing we did, was:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>x3 1TB 7.2K SATA 3.5" @ $49 each;</li>
<li>x3 HP Drive Caddies @ $15 each;</li>
<li>x1 Dell PowerEdge Rapid Rails Kit @ $35;</li>
<li>x1 Intel Pro Dell X3959 Dual Port Gigabit Ethernet NIC Card PCI-E
D33682 Card @ $36.99
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Basically we needed the additional drives in order to create a
pair of RAID Volumes - the first one being a 1TB Volume for the OS
that consisted of a pair of mirrored drives (plus a dedicated Hot
Spare Drive) for the OS and VM Host Server configuration and the
first virtual server, which is a network utilities server.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The second Volume was an identical pair of 1TB mirrored volume for
the second pair of servers - our Wiki and Database Server and a
Testbed Server for online game servers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To make that work we needed to add another dual-port Gigabit
Ethernet Card since each server would need its own dedicated Ethernet
and so we needed four Ethernet Ports.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finally there as the Rails - which you cannot install this beast
into a rack without!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The only thing we still need (but there was not enough in the
budget for at the time) was one more of the 1TB 7.2K SATA 3.5"
drives and an HP Drive Caddies to install it as the designated Hot
Spare for the second volume.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
See the way that this works - because it is necessary for us to
install the server in the NOC Rack far away from humans due to the
incredible noise that Enterprise-Level servers tend to make thanks to
their massive cooling requirements - trust me this Monster sounds
like a 737 taking off when its fans kick in!
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So yeah, since it has to be racked away from anywhere that humans
are likely to be found, having pre-configured and deployed hot spares
makes total sense! What a hot spare does is just what it sounds
like: if something goes wrong with one of the two drives that make up
the mirrored volume, the RAID controller immediately signals an
audible alarm (that nobody will hear) and emails a warning alarm
notice to the admin email address (which of course I am likely to see
soon enough) while at the same time activating the Hot Spare and
rebuilding the Array using it!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That way we never lose the mirror and insurance that it offers,
and the server can take the necessary steps to ensure the continued
operation of the volume. I get the email and dispatch one of the
kids to pull the bad drive - the HP caddies actually have indicator
lights on each that will show which drive has gone bad or crashed,
but there is also a display panel on the front of the server that
will tell them which slot the bad drive is in as well...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is a drawer in my wife's office desk that among other things
contains our supply of eplacement drives for the different RAID
equipped systems we have on our network - which basically is Monster
plus the A/V rendering server, which we built using fast 1.5TB SATA 2
Drives. So I remove the bad drive from the caddy, and swap in a new
replacement, then the kid takes that shoe/caddy back downstairs and
locks it back into the server, whereupon the RAID Controller marks IT
as the Hot Spare for the Volume, and all is right in the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the interim I go online and RMA the bad drive, then Yvonne
boxes it up and ships it off to Western Digital, who then sends me a
new or refurbished 1TB 7200RPM replacement which gets placed in the
RAID Drawer in the desk to start the whole process all over again as
needed, if it every IS needed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq5GRXcLB0I/Vewtg7KLv4I/AAAAAAAABGY/gXxis1eDFxE/s1600/at-test-control-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq5GRXcLB0I/Vewtg7KLv4I/AAAAAAAABGY/gXxis1eDFxE/s1600/at-test-control-sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Servers at the MBR</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So Monster is fully deployed and our virtual host is providing the
virtual servers to our very real network, and in the meantime we have
to complete the deployment of the MBR Rack. That involves a few
minor and some major tasks!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First there is the KVM Switch that we moved from the NOC Server
Rack (Monster has its DRAC so it does not need a head or a foot since
we can access it via the DRAC Card), so the KVM Switch is no longer
needed downstairs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back in the day that KVM Switch - a Belken OmniView 8-Port Switch
- was the console interface for all of the servers in the racks -
which basically meant all of the network resources plus our crack
cluster. Today things are a bit different.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For one thing the ancient SVGA 15” Monitor that sits on a shelf
in the NOC Rack is still sitting on that shelf - at least until we
can recycle or sell it anyway - because we will not be using either
that old monitor OR the mini-keyboard and mouse that sits on a
retractable shelf in the NOC Rack.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In its place we have bought a used and refurbished KVM Unit
(basically that is a folding display with built-in keyboard and
touchpad) that is build as a 2U drawer by APC, which we installed in
the MBR Rack. Below the KVM is the OmniView KVM Switch, which is
connected to the APC KVM and to each server to be installed in the
rack.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now previously the Wiki Server that was plopped on top of the
E-Center was the only Server upstairs other than the A/V Server which
is not installed in either the E-Center or Rack. But that will
change over the course of the next 2 months or so.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uwy3gnJoad4/Vewt6J2QpDI/AAAAAAAABGk/oCpVCJ7X6JU/s1600/kvm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uwy3gnJoad4/Vewt6J2QpDI/AAAAAAAABGk/oCpVCJ7X6JU/s320/kvm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>New Servers and the KVM</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The guts of what was the Wiki Server are to be swapped into a new
19” rackmount server that includes high-density mounts for
hot-swapable hard drives for what will become our NAS Server - NAS
translating to Network-Attached Storage.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In this case that server will be built using the FreeNAS suite -
which is basically a small turnkey appliance-style OS and utility
that fits on an 8GB Thumb Drive. That way all of the hard drive
space that is actually installed in the server will be hard drive
space.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The FreeNAS Thumb Drive is plugged into a USB Port on the
motherboard INSIDE the new case, which means it is nowhere that it
can be tampered with or lost. Inside the case we have currently
installed all of the spare SATA drives that we had laying around in
units of 2 identical drives each, so that we can utilize the FreeNAS
RAID File System.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eventually ALL of the drives in that box will be
intentionally-purchased large format drives - probably 2TB minimum
but eventually 3TB since that is the current hard limit for
formatting using the ZFS File System - though really if you think
about it since ZFS and the FreeNAS software sets aside a large chunk
of the drive for swap space anyway, we could probably get away with
using 4TB drives since it only needs to format the portion of the
drives it can actually use as data space (the swap does not count)...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Huh, that is certainly something to think about!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Actually how much hard drive space for NAS is hard-limited by the
amount of RAM that is in the system anyway - as FreeNAS requires you
to have a minimum of 1GB of RAM per TB of disk space, so for example,
if you have a server with 16GB of RAM in it, you would be
hard-limited to just 16TB of PHYSICAL disc space. Note the emphasis
on “physical” there because the RAM to HDD ration is NOT for the
actual storage space but the disks with swap included in the figure.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So for now that means we will have 16TB of physical Hard Drives in
the server, and 16GB of RAM. That will translate to around 8TB of
Swap and 8TB of NAS. Which is just fine - heck, 8TB of NAS is a LOT
of storage space!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eventually though we will increase the RAM in the server to 64GB,
and install 64GB of physical drive space for a total of 32GB of NAS.
And that will be so sweet! Because not only will that give the
family plenty of space for saving photos and movies they take with
their phones/cameras, but it will provide more than adequate space
for the automatic backup scripts to backup each of their PCs every
other night. So yeah, that happened.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFoZmLQJFEk/VewuabbvB3I/AAAAAAAABGs/MI-37lD9RKI/s1600/msrv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFoZmLQJFEk/VewuabbvB3I/AAAAAAAABGs/MI-37lD9RKI/s1600/msrv.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hollywood...</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Almost the final step in the network upgrade will be building a
new server called “Hollywood” that will be built into a standard
19” rackmount case, and installed in the MBR Rack, and attached to
the KVM. Its name should clue you in on its function...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hollywood is the home-built Media Server I am creating using
Ubuntu Linux Server and a pair of TV capture/tuner cards and as much
RAM and Hard Drive space as I can cram in!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Using a subscription-based schedule database available online via
the web, the family will be able to access Hollywood either via its
webserver or by sending the server an email message telling it what
shows that they want it to record.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hollywood will record the shows that they ask it to - minus
commercials - which means that the kids will never miss their
favorite shows thanks to time-shifting. See they have reached the
point in their young-adult-life where having a job as well as going
to uni is part of life. This way they still get their TV fix.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In addition, and thanks to some clever scripting and several apps,
we can pop any DVD from our collection into the optical drive on
Hollywood and it will automagically rip the contents to the hard
drive and add it to the program database and its related web display
on the server.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once a title has been added, the source media can be safely stored
and thus never risk being scratched! Not only that, but the
show/movie/etc can now be watched from any network-attached device in
the house that is capable of playing standard video formats!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So the family can watch Game of Thrones using their iPad or iPhone
ON the throne (um, yeah, that is kinda gross but still...), or on the
TV in the living room, or on their notebook or desktop PCs while
laying in bed, or even on a portable device while sitting in the sun
on the deck out back, or... Well, you get the idea...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So there you go - we went from an aging largely failing network
and moved to a fast, reliable, modern, and useful network that offers
all of the modern conveniences! Yeah, technology is good. But what
is even better is that almost all of these improvements and the new
network is a product of re-use of existing kit, buying refurbished
kit, and making most of it myself from cables to servers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The consequences of that is a new network that was done on the
cheap. And what could be wrong with that?!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-3365277012872008902015-09-02T14:34:00.000-04:002015-09-02T14:35:35.223-04:00. . . Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2015 Analysis Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xCrF6GX2Jw/VZWlSsLwDVI/AAAAAAAAA_c/TxlCRM7hHzc/s1600/e32015splash.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xCrF6GX2Jw/VZWlSsLwDVI/AAAAAAAAA_c/TxlCRM7hHzc/s1600/e32015splash.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
(or How I Learned to Love Ta Bomb)<br />Part 2 of 7 </h2>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><b>"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst."</b></i></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>William Penn</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The sentiment expressed in that quote reminds me of
the attitude that certain editors from certain game sites (both of
which shall remain nameless since I like having work) often feel about how the writers choose to spend their time, as opposed to how the editors believe that they should be spending it, and it
certainly does sound familiar.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It is odd how this one particular
sub-editor, who I happen to know has NEVER been to LA let alone
covered E3, somehow knows precisely to the minute how long it should
take us to travel from LAX to Union Station.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
How long the walk is
from Union Station to our hotel; generally how long it should take to
check in, and, allowing half-an-hour for us to settle in and freshen
up, feels fully justified in setting up meetings for us on the very
same day we arrive! And yet it happened.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<i><b>Note: </b>As this is really
an analysis AND a traditional travel feature article, we include the
costs of things where it is appropriate to do so and especially in
the case of kit since you may want to incorporate some of the wicked
clever and massively convenient tech we use to do our job - just
saying...</i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1CPKH4eAN8/VecRwOtrd9I/AAAAAAAABCw/PUjyTSTIglw/s1600/ptaapostercut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1CPKH4eAN8/VecRwOtrd9I/AAAAAAAABCw/PUjyTSTIglw/s1600/ptaapostercut.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>They say that the journey is half the fun, but from our point of view the journey is half of the frustration...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Planes, Trains, and Automobiles</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Traveling to Los Angeles is
accomplished in basically one of three ways: Airports, Train Stations, and Highways - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It has been our experience, when the nature of the journey is a cross-country run, that the least attractive method is via
the Interstate Highway Network, particularly if you have to do all or some of the driving.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
An interesting fact: the first Interstate Highway to be built in the Los Angeles area and that served as a
centralized access point for LA was Interstate 110 (aka State Route
110), which also happens to be the highway made famous in the semi-animated
motion picture <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit?</i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That film was a fantasy
interpretation of the real-life conspiracy undertaken by a commercial
passenger transportation company called National City Lines (NCL),
who along with major corporations like General Motors, Standard Oil,
and Firestone set out to purchase and dismantle the tram-based public
transport networks in major metropolitan cities.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Between 1938 and 1950 NCL took
over commercial public transportation lines in 25 major cities in the
USA, and began to dismantle the environmentally friendly electric tram
lines in favor of bus lines.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Those use buses. You know, large
petrol-powered public transport devices that used gasoline and rubber
tyres in great quantity annually? Built and sold by companies like
General Motors? Those things?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Even if you are traveling in a
modern, air-conditioned, WiFi-equipped bus, getting to LA from
anywhere east of the Mississippi River generally means between five
and seven days of brutal travel through some pretty inhospitable
landscape. We don't recommend it but it is the cheaper way to go.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eIYhZ_RLaLA/VeceuIF4M6I/AAAAAAAABDw/2tjzijR65I4/s1600/acela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eIYhZ_RLaLA/VeceuIF4M6I/AAAAAAAABDw/2tjzijR65I4/s1600/acela.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The only way to fly between Boston and New York City. Seriously!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>21<sup>st</sup>
Century Passenger Rail</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The other relatively slow
alternative is to travel by train. If you are coming from outside
of California in America today, that means you have a single choice:
the government-owned Interstate Passenger Train Service commonly
known as Amtrak.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Amtrak's real name is the National
Railroad Passenger Corporation, and it is a
partially-government-funded for-profit corporation that provides
medium to long-distance intercity passenger rail service throughout
the contiguous United States. Well, sort of. I mean the routes
that they serve are pretty restricted and do not include every major
US city or even most of them.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
For example you cannot take Amtrak
from Chicago to Las Vegas, because why? Because they don't service
Las Vegas as a destination, that's why. But if you are traveling
between cities that they do service, then you could do far worse.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The trains that Amtrak runs are
all modern, well maintained, well-staffed, and offer most of the
amenities one might expect from their European counterparts. Club
and Dining cars, Observation Cars for scenery watching, and of course
Bar Cars where you can get a few pleasant libations and seek out the
company of like-minded train passengers.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
A choo-choo ride on Amtrak can be
a very pleasant way to get from Point-A to Point-B - especially if
you can afford a private compartment, which during the day contains
your seats and at night is converted to pretty comfortable beds.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
They have TVs, radios,
in-compartment WiFi Internet access, standard 110v grounded power
outlets, and food service delivery to your compartment (if you are
disabled) - that's pretty spiffy for the 21<sup>st</sup> Century!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUD006pfb5o/VecVWg-BDrI/AAAAAAAABDA/xHa4KFuTE0o/s1600/pullman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUD006pfb5o/VecVWg-BDrI/AAAAAAAABDA/xHa4KFuTE0o/s1600/pullman.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b>The Club Car for the famous Illinois Central train City of New Orleans, offering regular passenger service from Chicago to New Orleans. In addition to the Club Car pictured here, it sported first-class and second class dining cars, meal service for third and coach via a snack bar car, and a long ling of Pullman Compartment Cars, each with its own formal attendant to turn down the beds and deliver hot coffee, fresh squeezed and chilled orange juice, and the morning paper with your breakfast.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It was not always so I am afraid.
In fact it almost wasn't period. You see the decline of passenger
rail began in the mid-1950s and, by the late 1960s it looked like
passenger rail service in America was due to meet the same fate as
the inner-city tram networks.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
But in 1970 President Richard M.
Nixon stepped in to save the day, and helped to pass the Rail
Passenger Service Act, a new law that basically created Amtrak and,
what is more, preserved passenger rail services in America for
generations to come.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It may not sound important now,
but according to the experts, when gasoline prices rise above $7 a
gallon, Americans are going to quickly re-discover passenger train
travel in a big way.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
You should read up on that,
because trust me when I say this, you will be very happy that
President Nixon took the steps that he did to preserve passenger rail
in this country when you have to refinance your home just to fly from
Boston to LA.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Because $7 a gallon is a magic
number at which the cost of train travel compared to ANY other form
of long-distance public transportation begins to slide towards cheap.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The cost of a train ticket from
Boston to New York City at the time that I write this is $52 Coach or
$113 Business Class. The difference between Coach and Business is
spacious, comfortable seats and an extra-large tray table, 110/120v
plugs in your at-seat power outlet, and complimentary non-alcoholic
beverages.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQ-PSZre0qg/VecisUWbqQI/AAAAAAAABEE/lp3idOnObU0/s1600/sleeper1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQ-PSZre0qg/VecisUWbqQI/AAAAAAAABEE/lp3idOnObU0/s1600/sleeper1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b>What a private compartment between New York City and Los Angeles actually looks like when you travel by train... The seat folds out into a bed and there is a second bed above. The room has a small bathroom with shower, TV, fold-out table for meals, and WiFi as well. It is not all the comforts of home but it is pretty close to it!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Coach, on the other hand, offers a
seat with individual reading light, and depending on the car type may
include a 110/120v electric outlets right at your seat. Or not.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
One key and important detail you
may not be aware of though, is that when you opt for Business Class
during the reservation process online, that key choice adds any Acela
High-Speed Trains on that route to the possible seats you can book.
Because Business Class is the starting class for that wicked ride.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Taking the train to New York from
Boston Business Class on the Acela will take 3 hours 25 minutes.
Taking the same route on a regular train in Coach? That takes 4
hours and 11 minutes.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
When high-speed rail is finally
added coast-to-coast though, do the math for that difference and you
will discover that Business Class from Boston to LA will save you 32
hours (on average) in travel time!
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Either way though, taking the
train when gas hits $7 a gallon will cost a fraction of the price of
a plane ticket, and is estimated (obviously we don't know what sort
of car you drive or what gas mileage you get) to be about half the
cost in petrol (but probably less than that).</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The very slow move to create and
adopt high-speed rail to America's aging rail infrastructure started
in the New England region, where the dense rail lines are being
retrofitted to support bullet trains and so, allow for rail travel at
speeds that cut travel time by as much as half.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The reason that the upgrade
process began along the New England rail corridor has less to do with
logistics and more to do with the fact that, unlike the rest of the
USA, travelers in New England never really gave up on using trains to
travel.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That is important because it
allows the government to study the use pattern and effectiveness of
the new train service in an environment that will accurately reflect
use in other areas, once those other areas start using rail again.
While some real progress has been made, true high-speed train service
still does not exists along the whole route. Yet.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
When high-speed rail is a reality
in the New England corridor, you will actually be able to travel from
Boston to New York City or Washington, DC faster by train than you
can by plane! Well, faster when you include the usual two-hour
delays to get through security, but still.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
So yeah, you can take the train to
LA - but doing so from the east coast means a minimum four-day travel
time, so if you are pressed for time or your boss actually expects
you to be at your desk on the Monday after E3? Probably not an
option for you just yet.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
And that leaves passenger air
travel!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhoZu3z5Tg0/VecZfkELLPI/AAAAAAAABDU/vgt4MwtFD4o/s1600/virginbusiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhoZu3z5Tg0/VecZfkELLPI/AAAAAAAABDU/vgt4MwtFD4o/s1600/virginbusiness.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear
and perfect sense of it." - <i>Hunter S. Thompson</i></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Virgin America Business Class - when someone else is paying for it...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Jet-Powered
Butterfly Effect</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
“The Guide says there is an art
to flying", said Ford, "or rather a knack. The knack lies
in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
― Douglas Adams, Life, the
Universe and Everything
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The International Air Transport
Association (IATA) airport code for Los Angeles International Airport
is “LAX” - while the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) airport code is “KLAX”.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
These codes are used by the air
travel industries - and were established to serve as official
designators for each airport served by the system - in order to make
the experience for passengers more convenient. How?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Well for one thing they are the
reason your bags end up arriving with you at Los Angeles
International Airport (LAX/KLAX) instead of, say, some other airport
in LA like John Wayne Airport (SNA/KSNA) or LA/Ontario International
Airport (ONT/KONT).
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Back before the industry adopted
the IATA and ICAO system that sort of thing actually happened; when
two planes were departing from the same airport, both going to
different airports in Los Angeles and the bags said Los Angeles it
was a crap-shoot.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That said, your only contact with
this code system will be on your tickets, and on the baggage tags
attached to your stuff at airport check-in desks.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Considering that LAX handles more
than 70-million passengers each year, that should be a number large
enough to clue you in on the method most people choose to use to
visit the City of Angels.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
After getting off of the plane and
claiming our baggage, unlike the vast majority of the rest of the
games journalists in LA to cover E3, we do not make our way to the
car rental desks. We do not head for the many taxi stands either.
The limo pick-up area for the hotel limos? Nope. And the Towncar
kiosks are also not our destination. Oh, we were them once, but
after a few E3s you soon learn that there is a better way to handle
getting around LA.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fEbCoZOJzs0/VecmebuqipI/AAAAAAAABEU/x1u-Al-083E/s1600/unionst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fEbCoZOJzs0/VecmebuqipI/AAAAAAAABEU/x1u-Al-083E/s1600/unionst.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><b>If you take the time to learn the light rail lines and snag a 7-day Pass Union Station (pictured above) is THE transport hub for the LA area. From here you can go anywhere - and it is just three stops to the LACC and E3!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That better way is called “Light
Rail” and Los Angeles is literally setting the standard for Light
Rail Public Transport in America. To make use of it though, at least
until they manage to get a station to the airport itself, means you
have to make a little effort.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That starts with exiting the
airport and going to the bus stop, located just outside the arrivals
access area, and grabbing the bus to Aviation Station - the LAX Metro
Connection Station.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
From there, you take the Metro
Green Line 7-stops to Rosa Parks Station at Imperial / Wilmington,
then change to the Blue Line and 11-stops later get off at 7<sup>th</sup>
Street, which is the Metro Center Station.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Change to the Red Line and,
4-stops later you arrive at Union Station. Total elapsed time?
Exactly 53-minutes - and mates? You can NOT get from LAX to Union
Station faster by Taxi or Limo. We've tried, it just is not going to
happen.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Now granted, you can still take
the taxi - and pay the average meter rate of $74.39 (plus tip) for
the privilege, or an average $160 for the limo unless the big-name
hotel you are staying at offers limo service pickup at the airport,
in which case your end of that will average $59 (no, it is NOT
free!).
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Or take the train and it will cost
you $8. You do the math but considering the fact that we only get
reimbursed for travel expenses AFTER the trip, we choose the train.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Not only can you get back to the
airport via that route, but thanks to the light rail access at Union
Station and nearby if you want to walk a little in China Town, you
can also use it to get to and from E3 at the LA Convention Center.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
So when you arrive at Union
Station - even before you head to your hotel - hit the TAP machine
there and buy a 7-Day Pass -- which is valid for 7 consecutive days
from the first tap (use) and expires at 3am on the day following
expiration, which means that unless you are staying more than a day
after E3 ends, it will also get you back to the airport.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The 7-Day Pass includes all Metro
services but you should be aware that additional charges apply to
ride the Metro Silver Line and certain Metro Express Buses.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
This is good info and will save
you massive amounts of money once you download the free LA Metro
Transit Guru App for your iOS devices. Transit Guru not only helps
you figure out what route you need to take, it will tell you when the
next train or bus will arrive at your stop and when you can expect to
arrive at your destination. How cool is that?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Technology is awesome!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qU_U-fnIy7s/VecdRDc_QMI/AAAAAAAABDk/cL7Vz9pC_9w/s1600/e3speedlimit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qU_U-fnIy7s/VecdRDc_QMI/AAAAAAAABDk/cL7Vz9pC_9w/s1600/e3speedlimit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In Los Angeles the speed limits actually apply to the sidewalk as well as the road. These nice young men in their matching outfits decided a verbal warning was the ticket, not a ticket, which I was just fine with - and who knew?!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Pre-Show Press
Briefings</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
When we arrived in LA we already
had a basic schedule set down in stone months ago... That was the
official (though it did change) Media Briefings from the major game
Studios and Publishers, and Publishers who also happen to make the
devices we game on, like Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Note: All times are local times,
which are GMT-8. Also this list looks neater than it was because we
are writing it AFTER the fact. Several of the players changed the
time of their briefings on very short notice, so it was not as
cut-and-dried as it may look...</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Sunday, June 14</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1830 Bethesda Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Monday, June 15</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
0930 Microsoft Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1300 Electronic Arts Official
Press Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1500 Ubisoft Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1800 Sony Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Tuesday, June 16</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
0900 Nintendo Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1000 Square Enix Official
Press Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1700 PC Gaming Show Official
Press Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
So there you go! A very light
schedule. Why, this was almost a holiday! We arrived with
practically nothing to do, right? Actually no, not so much really.
This is not a paid holiday you see, it is work.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
So far we have arrived in LA and,
at LAX, made the transition to ground mode, and used the rather
extensive light rail network to get from Point-A (LAX) to Point-B
(Union Station).</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Now that we have arrived at Union
Station and picked up our 7-Day Metro Pass, we need to hit the
convenience store that is on-site right there and purchase some
essentials.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Mostly these consist of snacks and
beverages - since it is cheaper to do that than to consume the
beverages in our hotel mini-fridge. On that note, we strongly
recommend you buy a fairly large quantity since you WILL be missing
some meals over the course of the next week thanks to heartless
scheduling.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
By arranging in advance for
reasonably nourishing foodstuff to be on hand back in your room, you
allow for quick transition from events to your notebook, where you
can write and then file your copy while you graze on your Emergency
Food Supply, and quaff beverages that you are NOT paying $5 each for!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WmJbS5W79e4/Vecm40kKPNI/AAAAAAAABEc/e2nWk5l9qU4/s1600/spirit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WmJbS5W79e4/Vecm40kKPNI/AAAAAAAABEc/e2nWk5l9qU4/s1600/spirit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>These booth babes are following neither the spirit OR the letter of the law when it comes to the costume restrictions at E3. Just so you know, bikinis? Right out. No question about it.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
There seriously will not always be
an extra hour to duck out and hit a restaurant down the street from
the convention center and the last thing you want to do at one in the
morning is look for an open restaurant on your way back to the hotel.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
If you CAN carve out an hour for a
meal though, on-site at E3 this is the list of our chosen, tested,
and approved restaurants nearby the convention center that you may
find useful:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>ChocoChicken</b> 403 W.
12th Street (0.4 miles away) <i>American Fusion. You should try it.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Fernando's Taco Inn</b> at
815 W Olympic Blvd (0.4 miles away) <i>Cali-Mex Cuisine.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Fleming's Prime Steakhouse
& Wine Bar </b> 800 West Olympic Blvd (0.4 miles away) <i>5-Star.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>IHOP</b> 800 S. Flower St.
(0.7 miles) <i>American Comfort Food. Brekkie Anytime.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Sprinkles Cupcakes </b>735
S Figueroa St (0.8 miles away) <i>Comfort Food.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Sugarfish</b> 600 West 7th
Street (0.8 miles away) Japanese Cuisine. <i>Best. Sushi. Ever.</i></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
If you cannot take a full hour to
grab food then go outside the main entrance and across the street to
the parking lot - where you will find some of the best Food Trucks in
LA! Turn right and cross the tracks and there are some more trucks
along the side street here (look for the red Coke Sign).</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
We can firmly recommend:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Dogtown Dogs</b> -- Menu
Spotlight: Gourmet Hot Dogs.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>The Grilled Cheese Truck</b>
-- Menu Spotlight: Stuffed Mac & Cheese Grilla.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>India Jones </b>-- Indian
Lamb Burrito</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Kogi</b> -- Menu
Spotlight: Korean Fusion-Tacos.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Ta Bom*</b> -- Menu
Spotlight: Linguica Frita</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<i>* This Food Truck has no
relationship whatsoever to the sub-title of this article series, “or
How I Learned to Love Ta Bomb” which is a reference to a
completely different event that will only really make sense if you
happen to be a member of the large group of game journos who
regularly meet up at events like E3 and CES and who are in on the
joke.</i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Checking In</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
With emergency snacks and
beverages managed, we head to the hotel and check in, claim our
messages, and then take all their stuff out of the mini-fridge and
pile it on top, and replace it with our stuff (the next day
housekeeping basically removed all the stuff piled up on top and left
a note telling us that if we needed anything ring the front desk
anytime but otherwise the fridge was ours to use!).</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Waiting at the desk for us were
several notes from a few sub-editors and an editor for the different
pubs we were covering E3 for. Peter actually had his own gig for
this year's E3 and how cool was that? His editor had set up a
hardware briefing for him I ended up piggy-backing on.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/suIQ4RlZ5YU?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The messages basically said “Check
your email NOW!” Sadly I must confess we did not in fact instantly
check our email. Instead we finished the check-in process, then made
our way to our room where we performed a seriously important set of
preparation rituals not at all unlike the spells that Hermione
Granger cast in the Forest of Dean when they were setting up their
campsite:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
“<i>If we're staying, we should
put some protective enchantments around the place," she replied,
and raising her wand, she began to walk in a wide circle around Harry
and Ron, murmuring incantations as she went.</i>”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
After safely entering our room and
after we transferred our supplies to the mini-fridge, unpacked our
bags, we then hang up and drawer our clothes, verifying that certain
invaluable objects were present and accounted for.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
After Peter moved one chair into
the bathroom to serve as my towel and robe holder, I rolled over to
the table in the corner and methodically unloaded my Brad Thor Alpha
Jacket from SCOTTeVEST (around $200 or so IF you can buy one - they
are having trouble keeping them in stock it seems).</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The jacket is what is known in
journalism and military circles as a pack-it - a piece of clothing
with lots of hidden and/or deep pockets designed so that you can
store objects in them and they do not imprint (you cannot tell what
the object is from outside). The Brad Thor is worth its weight in
gold as it doubles as my go-bag AND as my secret carry-on bag.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
A lot of airlines today charge you
$25 to $50 for any second bag you carry onto the plane with you, and
some consider a computer bag as a second bag if you also have a
regular carry-on. The pockets of my Brad Thor allow me to carry
pretty much all of my electronics - including my notebook PC and my
iPad - so that I can use my computer pack for other things.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Setting Up Camp</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Peter and I begin the rather
complex process of setting up camp - with the table in the corner
being sufficiently large enough to serve as the common workstation
for both of us. Peter pulls out the surge strip and plugs it into
the wall and the notebooks get setup and plugged in to that for a
little extra insurance.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That way they can charge-up the
battery juice consumed during the trip (the plane was an older 737
that did not have power at the seats) while we cast all of the usual
protective charms ala Harry Potter that we use when traveling on
assignment.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
We start with a “<i>Cave
Inimicum</i>” charm, followed by “<i>Fianto Duri</i>” and
“<i>Muffliato”</i> -- meaning we set up our D-Link DIR-510L
Portable Router ($75 from D-Link) on the desk in the corner attaching
its CAT5e wire into the wall jack at the desk and plugging it into
its APC P1T 120V Portable Surge Protector ($12).</div>
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ppih6AB1Xvc?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
A quick hop on my notebook and
call to the front desk to get the WiFi information - SSID and Key -
and the 510L was on their network.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
When the Network Services page
loaded we opted for the Week-Plan to save a few bucks.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The standard day-plan works out to
$15 per day, per device - and as we had six devices to connect in
theory that would have cost us $90 a day but “<i>Cave Inimicum</i>”
plus “<i>Muffliato”</i> and “<i>Fianto Duri</i>” brought the
day-price to $15 if we wanted to go that route.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The Week-Plan was only $75 (a
savings of $30 looking at it one way, or a savings of $660 looked at
the other way!). Basically what the 510L does is serve the following
functions:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Single Connection Point:</b>
It is the default (and as far as the hotel is concerned ONLY)
networked device that will access the Internet from our room.<br />
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>WPA2:</b> It creates a
private network for our room (so all of our traffic inside the room
stays INSIDE the room) and using WPA2 secures the network - as much
as we can claim that WPA2 secures any network really...<br />
<br /></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>DHCP Server:</b> It
provides DHCP service to any device that knows its SSID and key (it
is pre-configured to not broadcast the SSID and the key is pretty
freaking long but all of our devices were previously set up and
tested to be sure that they could use it).</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
On top of the 510L we placed our
Toshiba Canvio Slim II 500GB portable storage device ($36), plugging
its USB3 cable into the 510L. In addition to providing shared
portable storage on which to backup our notes and copy.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wGTmEhCQrUA?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Each evening
we copy the contents of all of the press kits we receive to the drive
so that we don't lose them when we lose the tiny thumb drives that
are used to distro the packages - and we WILL lose them. Happens
every E3.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
We then cast “<i>Repello
Muggletum</i>” (a Muggle Repelling Charm) by placing on top of the
stacked 510L and Slim II a cardboard sign we printed back at the
bullpen, before embarking on our trip, that reads “Please do not
touch this hardware - it is doing hardware things while we go do
human things and does not like to be disturbed!!!”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That must be a powerful charm
because is all of the assignments we have used it for, none of the
housekeeping have ever touched our kit.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
NOW we checked our email, and
learned that during our travels the sub-editors had been busy and we
had appointments - including for that day - to a number of briefing
events. Mostly it seemed that these were briefings for games that
were not being showcased at E3 this year - long-range stuff for games
that the publishers and studios wanted to talk about but had not
integrated into their E3 booth routines.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>An Updated
Schedule</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
If you were thinking that the
schedule we ended up with only covered the big Pressers that the
major studios and the industry players put on in the days just before
the show kicks off, well, you'd be wrong...
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
To help you with figuring out how
this works, we'll start by reminding you of the official coverage
schedules we started with above - go read it again so it is fresh in
your mind - and then keep reading this so you can see what the real
schedule looks like AFTER it was fiddled with by El Editors...</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The schedule we had before the
ramps dropped on the LCA's showed only the official briefings, but
now thanks to the sub-editors, we have a much fuller and more complex
one:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Saturday, June 13</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1100 Brunch with PR from
Publisher A - briefing for 2 fantasy titles.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1300 PR from Studio A -
briefing for Wargame.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1500 PR from Studio B -
briefing for Wargame.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1630 PR from Studio C -
briefing for Asian-Based F2P Fantasy Games.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1900 Studio-Hosted (Studio D)
Dinner at LA Restaurant with private briefing.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2230 PRs from Publisher B -
Private Party at LA Nightclub with hosted mini-briefings.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Sunday, June 14</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1100 Brunch with PR from
Well-Known Publisher C - briefing for 4 sim titles.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1400 PR from Well-Known
Company A - briefing for gaming peripherals.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1530 PRs from Publisher B
proper briefings.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1830 Bethesda Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2200 PRs from Publisher D -
Private Party at LA Nightclub with hosted mini-briefings.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Monday, June 15</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
0930 Microsoft Official Press
Briefing / Event.
</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1300 Electronic Arts Official
Press Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1500 Ubisoft Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1800 Sony Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2100 Publisher B's Online
Division Dinner at LA Restaurant w/ private briefing.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2300 PRs from Publisher E -
Private Party at LA Nightclub with hosted mini-briefings.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<b>Tuesday, June 16</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
0900 Nintendo Official Press
Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1000 Square Enix Official
Press Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1400 Lunch Briefing;
Publisher-Hosted at LA Business Venue.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1700 PC Gaming Show Official
Press Briefing / Event.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
When you look at this list, we
totally understand if you get the wrong impression. That covering E3
must be just one wild trip in which game studios and publishers host
booze-fueled parties and dinners, where games journos get smashed
every night, eat for free, and ride around town in limos paid for by
games publishers and the larger studios.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
In other words they spend time
living in the lap of luxury... The terrible thing is that, in part,
you would be correct! But let me tell you a little secret. The kids
who allow themselves to be sucked into that trap? That will be the
last E3 they cover for a very long time and maybe even the one and
only E3 that they ever get to cover period.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zXYA2kc52Gc?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Because I can tell you from
personal experience that editors expect you to (a) turn in copy that
they can read and more important USE, and (b) you cannot do that if
you are drunk or stoned.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Contrary to popular belief,
editors are not human.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
They don't have any sort of sense
of humor at all. They do NOT accept apologies or excuses. And I
totally get that - because they are under deadlines just like the
rest of us.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
So in the interests of
transparency and with regrets for bursting your bubble - our
experiences with the various appointments that were arranged for us
by the sub-editors largely turned out to be nothing more exciting
than sipping carbonated water or diet soda while we sat through
mini-briefings - many of which we could hardly hear.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The dinners were okay... Actually
they were not the sort of food we would have chosen if it were up to
us, and mostly we spent our time taking notes rather than eating -
because the briefings took place AT dinner. Yeah. Lap of luxury.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The private party briefings were
even worse, because it was hard to hear over the music and you got
the definite sense from the PRs doing the briefing genuinely resented
us.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Resented us because we were not
going with the program and scheme that they had set out to make
happen -- because it is clear by the way that they treated us that
the point to the events was not to brief us on their games, but to do
as little as possible and party.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
From their point of view what they
expected was for us to accept the game PR kit, then hit the open bar,
dance with the cute girls I am pretty sure were paid to be there, and
dance with us, and basically get sloshed under the guise of work.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
While the younger kids did just
that, they still had to deal with the old farts and our questions
about the games that they did not want to answer. Basically we
persisted in asking them until they either gave us the answers we
were looking for, or they made it clear said answers would not be
provided, at which point we left the events because why stay there
when we can write or sleep?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The truly disturbing fact here is
not that all this happened, but that it actually took place in the
days BEFORE E3 actually opened!
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
E3 hadn't even officially started
- heck, the major press briefings hadn't yet happened! We were
already thrust into scheduled meetings and briefings that pretty much
guaranteed we would have to operate on short sleep rations the entire
week!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
If it sounds like I am complaining
or whinging, well I am not.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
This is the territory we agreed to
when we accepted the assignment to cover E3, and we knew that going
in. We also understood that the faster we obtained what we were sent
there to get, the sooner we could leave. That's the difference
between seasoned journos and kids.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The latter want to party all night
and meet celebrities, and the former? They want the freaking quotes
they were sent to get, and the press package and briefing so that
they can hit Mr. Churros on the way home, then file their copy and go
to bed!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l815oOdR0oc?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>How to refer to E3
like the cool kids do</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Put together and put on each year
since 1995 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), its
proper name is the Electronic Entertainment Expo - or E3 for short -
and it is without question the world's premier trade show for
computer and video games (and related products).
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
If that was all that there was to
the story, we'd be finished now, but hey, it is not. Specifically E3
has a rich and varied history and, like most long-running cultural
events, it has experienced a vast array of issues and even scandals.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Heck it would be strange if it had
not, but we are not here to air out the dirty laundry of E3, we're
here to help you know and understand it in a way that permits you to
be cool about it. You see the Cool Kids are not cool because they
are cool, they are cool because they know what they are talking
about. Put another way, knowledge is power, but among geeks and
gamers, knowledge is cool.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
So gaining that level of status
inside gaming first requires you to understand - and to appreciate -
many of the events and issues that served to shape what we think of
as |the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Seriously!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
When it was founded in 1995 it was
christened “The Electronic Entertainment Expo” and just that
because it was not clear that there would be another. When that
first Expo turned out to be a major success, the ones that followed
were named with their year attached.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vHJMMMka8UE?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It wasn't until after “Electronic
Entertainment Expo 1996” wrapped up that the ESA began to widely
refer to it as “The Annual” in terms of its ID. As in “The
Annual Electronic Entertainment Expo” in its promotional materials.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The thing is each successive Expo
grew bigger - and wilder - than the last, until the debacle that was
“E3 2006” happened. If you plan to be one of the Cool Kids you
need to not only know about this, but be able to discuss it.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
A series of unrelated events
eventually lead to the near-total-demise of the event known as E3,
and certainly lead to its temporarily being turned into the shadow of
a ghost of its former self!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Knowing that history - and the
events that lead up to it - is an important element in knowing E3 -
so let's go to school, shall we?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<i><b>The Disaster that Was E3
2006</b></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Before we rush to judgment it is
really important to remember that the disaster that was E3 2006 was
not down to any single event. No single powerful disaster or
disasters stand out. No smoking gun.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It was, in fact, the culmination
of lots of mostly unrelated issues that finally blew up in the face
of the event host, the ESA, and the mainstream publishers and
studios.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
While nothing can be held out as
THE THING that marred the image of E3 for all time - what actually
happened at E3 that drew the event into an unfortunate position and
that provided nearly endless fodder for late-night talk show host
monologues and seemingly built into one nasty storm made up of equal
parts embarrassment, bad PR, and that late-night humor finally pushed
the ESA to the breaking point.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
In the months that followed June
2006 the gamer community did a lot of snickering, while certain
studio and publisher bigwigs found themselves throwing-up a little in
their mouths each time the subject of E3 came up. None of them would
have been so public about it though, if they had only understood the
consequences that their actions and attitude would end up causing the
ESA to do. There was plenty of warning too - this is not a case of
hindsight being 20/20 so much as it is the games industry indulging
in a combination of irresponsible actions.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fkg5UVTsKCE?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
What hindsight tells us is that
the situation was more a matter of wish-fulfillment and what
psychologists and sociologists call “Magical Thinking” that
contributed to the disaster that was E3 2006 than anything else! The
idea that once the event was over the event was OVER never occurred
to anyone outside of the ESA.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The events that finally triggered
the avalanche - and half of the blame - is easily placed on the
results of the months leading up to E3.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
During that period there was a
palpable imbalance in The Force (and to be fair that was partly
triggered by the combination of economic hardships and certain market
segment failures in the games industry over-all) that left the
respective gamer communities wielding way too much influence on the
industry as a whole.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
An obvious consequence of this was
that the primary focus for the industry at E3 was:</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
7th-Gen Consoles - Sony's PS3
and the Nintendo Wii join Microsoft's Xbox 360 as the 7<sup>th</sup>
Gen;</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
7th-Gen Portables - The
Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable Portables Victory;</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The New Mobile - Apple's iPod
/ iPod Touch / iPhone / iPad and Android Invade;</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
7th-Gen Games - upcoming
titles for the 7th-Gen platforms overall.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The industry focus was
bass-ackwards! And nobody noticed until it was far too late to do
anything about.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It was that skewed focus that lead
to some rather unfortunate consequences, the most visible of which
was Sony's complete overconfidence that the hardware (PS3) would
carry the day. That left Sony largely ill-prepared for the silent
reception their press briefing ultimately received, and the
humiliation that it transferred to eh ESA.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Sony sailed its PS3 into a massive
storm (thanks to its focus on the platforms rather than the games)
and when the games were presented, the results were pretty
humiliating. It was also prime evidence that they badly and poorly
read the market and community.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 129;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IH2w2l1JTs4?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Now, to be fair, it certainly did
not help that the focus of mainstream media was on the pretty obvious
and sweeping “win” by Nintendo thanks in no small part to the
very impressive game lineup that the Japanese game company put behind
both the Wii and DS. Because Nintendo had managed to set the bar so
high, Sony's failures appeared to be all the more disasterous.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
There was also the safety factor
in covering the event that the media felt. If it had been an
American company on stage blowing it so badly they might not have
chosen to go at them full-throttle, but the issue was being cast as
two major Japanese games companies placed at opposite ends of a long
rope in a game of tug-o-war that also happened to be easily forced
into the roles of David and Goliath.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The media cast Nintendo as David,
and Sony as Goliath, and seemed to take unbridled joy in how soundly
and roundly David beat the living-heck out of Goliath!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
What is worse, the traditional
news media was so tightly focused upon the disaster that was
unfolding before their cameras and eyes that they totally missed a
bigger - and more important - story!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That is how the bloggers and what
was then considered to be “new media” (online web-based gamer
publications) ended up totally scooping the traditional media in its
outing and coverage of the startling inroads Apple and Android were
making into the mobile gaming sphere.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
New media revealed two very
disturbing elements of this new threat to gaming: the measure of
control mobile apps were bringing to bear on the market which
suggested the threat they posed to the established game pie was far
more serious than at first it appeared.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It seemed that, while nobody was
looking, a massive paradigm shift was happening - both inside the
games industry and, more significantly, in the gamer community.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o2CCmkm0s9o?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Amateur game developers and
garage-based studios were making increasingly higher quality games
for the mobile market, and gamers were noticing, and those same
gamers were changing the way that they viewed both their smartphones
and touch-devices. What had previously been relegated to a means for
making phone calls, tracking schedules, and listening to music was
morphing into a pretty powerful games platform.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Then there was the statistical
evidence that suggested the market share that these two relatively
new game platforms had carved out of the pie was growing at a
sustainable rate far greater than the initial projections predicted.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
What made this all the worse was
that this was happening on a physical platform the control of which
was outside the sphere of influence of either the game publishers or
the primary games platform makers.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The biggest problem that the
established games industry had with this was not that it couldn't
create games for the Android and iOS platforms - it could - rather it
was the ubiquitous nature of those platforms and the estimates that
new media was making suggesting that, due specifically TO the
ubiquitous nature of smartphones and tablets they had suddenly become
a major threat to the profit margins of publicly traded game
companies.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
There was every reason to
anticipate that they would not only create their own niche in the
games market, but that they would erode the position of ALL of the
other segments. The reason for that? They were simply too easy to
access and use.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<i><b>The More Things Change</b></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
While all of this was going on,
meanwhile over at E3 2006 Microsoft was announcing its plans for a
new service and capability called “Live Anywhere” that melded the
Xbox 360 games console and PC's running Windows Vista into a pretty
impressive gaming platform.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7L87lVetaTw?list=PLPz96V2R2CSfOqvMYlwYDM-uprF_Lb4pn&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
This new service was planned to
allow multi-player games and game communication between Xbox 360 and
the (then unreleased) Windows Vista OS, and despite the major
implications that the announcement contained, hardly anyone noticed!
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Of course the fact that this
announcement at Microsoft's E3 2006 presser would not actually result
in anything meaningful until Windows 10 and the Xbox One in 2015
aside, it was still worthy of notice, but the media was busy
lambasting Sony and holding Nintendo out to be a hero.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
If that was all that there was to
the issue, it would not BE an issue, right? Yeah, too right. The
problem was not the amateur approach Sony took in its press briefing,
or the dominance of Nintendo over all of the other makers at that E3.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The problem was down to the sea of
OTHER negative elements that had previously - and were currently
being -- uncovered by the media combined with the willingness of
political types and special interest groups to twist issues related
to the games industry in general, and E3 specifically, in order to
blow their own horns.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<i><b>That is some Hot Coffee!</b></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
On the heels of the closing
ceremony for the previous year's E3 the news media discovered
something that gamers were already well aware of, that being a rather
juicy scandal that was perfect for the 90-second sound bites of
broadcast journalism, but that had the potential to fill literally
pages of a newspaper too.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
What are we talking about? Hot
Coffee.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Hot Coffee was a piece of
abandoned orphan code in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
in which the player could take a woman back to her apartment and have
sex with her. Specifically oral sex among other sex acts - that the
player basically controlled and was scored over.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
This was a piece of code that was
NEVER included in the game, so it was not submitted to the ESRB for
consideration when San Andreas went for its rating.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The problem is that while that
piece of orphan code was never made part of the game, it was left in
the source code FOR the game.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZkd251j7Ss?list=PLPz96V2R2CSfOqvMYlwYDM-uprF_Lb4pn&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Players of the PC version of San
Andreas found it when they were searching through the code - a
practice that both the game publisher -- Take-Two Interactive -- and
its studio -- Rockstar Games -- had to know was common enough so that
the players were very likely to discover that orphan code.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
What Rockstar could not predict,
however, was that a California state assemblyman would latch onto
that issue and use it as a springboard to media attention and a bid
for higher office.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Assemblyman Leland Yee (D-San
Francisco), did not stop short at simply condemning the presence of
the orphan code in the game - he blew it all out of proportion,
outright accusing Rockstar of intentionally leaving it in the game,
knowing that gamers would find and play it.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
He then accused the ESRB of
"failing to appropriately rate" the game, implying that
they knew of the code when San Andreas received its M-Rating, and
suggesting that the board failed to give the game the X-Rating
(actually it would have been an AO-Rating, not X, but Yee did not
know that) it richly deserved in order to prevent it from being
banned from major retailer shelves.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It seemed that Yee believed it was
possible that the board would look the other way if the Hot Coffee
code had actually been included in the ratings application. Based on
his certainty of that sort of action or reaction, he declared that
the ESRB had a clear "conflict of interest in rating games"
because it was run by the game publishers whose interest would be to
sell as many games as possible.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g9t1X0IZVkI?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Yee then implied that the federal
government should be the one to rate games but, failing that, each
state should create its own game-rating board and take over the
responsibility. Can you imagine what a nightmare THAT would have
created for the gaming community? Yee couldn't.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Basically Yee called into question
the very integrity of the voluntary ratings system for video games
and worse, seemed to be suggesting that the sex game was left in San
Andreas in the hopes that it would be discovered, and thus lead to
greater sales than might otherwise have been the case for the game
based on the scandal.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
ESRB president Patricia Vance
responded strongly to Yee and his allegations by announcing that the
board would undertake an investigation into the circumstances
surrounding the 'Hot Coffee' mod with the goal of determining whether
the mod unlocked preexisting code, or was actually a third-party
creation.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It turned out that it was in fact
orphaned code in the game, and the folks behind the game had taken
every link and mention of it out of the game but, unable to remove it
completely, the damage was already done by the time the investigation
was completed.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
In their defense they explained
that the code could only be accessed via the PC version of the game,
and only then after seriously messed up effort was taken to make that
happen. That did not prevent Vance from attacking Yee though, as she
rightly pointed out his own ulterior motives for the brew-ha-ha he
had practically personally generated over the issue:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
"Assemblyman Yee has been on
a crusade for years to undermine the integrity of the ESRB, and in so
doing, generate support for his legislative agenda," Vance said.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
"His latest attempt to win
political points is to claim, without any legitimate basis, that a
game rated for ages 17 and older, with explicit content descriptors
prominently displayed on every box, has been inappropriately rated,"
she added.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
As to the question that the board
somehow failed the duty and obligation it owed to gamer parents,
Vance allowed that the agenda of the board was above reproach; that
she believed that contrary to Yee's claims, the ESRB rating system
did its job with the information it had, and further research showed
parents overwhelmingly found the ESRB ratings system to not only be a
very effective system, but continued to value - and use - it.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
"We will do whatever it takes
to maintain their confidence in the integrity of the system,"
Vance declared. That was all well and good - and right - but Hot
Coffee appeared to have become one of the nails in E3's coffin.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<i><b>Booth Baby, Booth Baby,
Throw me a Kiss!</b></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The next nail in the proverbial
coffin was the issue of Booth Babes at E3.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Surprisingly it was not E3 2006 so
much that set this off, but E3 2005 - though the measured response to
the new Booth Babe Policy at the 2006 event (or rather the lack of
measured response) after the ESA changed the policy certainly was the
issue.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 129;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VGUsQGT-GEY?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
To help understand the problems -
which were a combination of image and PR - watch the video embedded
above and pay close attention at the following times: 0:28 -- 0:35
thru 1:02 -- 1:36 -- 2:35 thru 2:55.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Check out the video below for
shots of the dance numbers that drew particularly vitriolic criticism
from woman’s rights groups...</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 129;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O8bQ8AwV4EQ?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
After the heat from E3 2005 all of
the registered exhibitors for E3 2006 were sent a copy of the rules
-- rules that require that all display material -- including live
models (meaning booth babes) -- can not include conduct deemed to be
sexually explicit and/or sexually provocative, including but not
limited to partial nudity and nudity. The rules specifically outlaw
bikini bathing suit bottoms and G-strings from the show floor.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Ironically those rules are the
same ones that have been in effect since they were amended for E3
2001. They just were not being enforced. For E3 2006 the exhibitors
were put on notice that the rules would be enforced.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That would seem to be very clear,
yes? Well, despite that clarity, several studios who shall remain
nameless chose to outfit their babes in costumes that left rather
little to the imagination in terms of the anatomical gifts that God -
who clearly was an artist of the highest caliber - had awarded them.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It seems that the letter of the
law - but not its spirit - were observed in 2006 - just check out the
video from E3 2006 below and see how many rules violations you can
spot:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 129;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S_nxCkuIbps?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It was the liberal interpretations
by the studios and publishers of just what constituted sexually
provocative that it seems was the final nail in the coffin for E3.
The flaunting of the rules for booth babes was what the board for E3
unofficially cited as the final factor that pushed them into the
decision to re-imagine E3 into the what became the E3 Media and
Business Summit.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Dark Ages
Descend Upon E3 </b></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
What had always - up until 2007 -
been known by the Cool Kids as “The Show” got a new name after
Day 1 of the 2007 E3 Media and Business Summit: Snafu.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
It wasn't just the booth babes
that were gone from the show either. Most of the attendees were gone
as well as the ESA tightened the rules about who could attend so
tight that the door count for the entire event barely passed 10,000.
And that included the exhibitors!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Let's get some perspective here
shall we? Here are the numbers for all of the shows up to and
including 2007:</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1995: 50,000 / ?** Exhibitors
(Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1996: 50,000* / 400
Exhibitors (Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1997: 40,000 / 500 Exhibitors
(Location: Atlanta at the Georgia Dome)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1998: 73,000 / ?** Exhibitors
(Location: Atlanta at the Georgia Dome)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
1999: 40,000* / ???
Exhibitors (Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2000: 45,000 / 450 Exhibitors
(Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2001: 62,000 / 400 Exhibitors
(Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2002: 60,000* / 400
Exhibitors (Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2003: 60,000 / 400 Exhibitors
(Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2004: 65,000 / 400 Exhibitors
(Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2005: 70,000 / 400 Exhibitors
(Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2006: 60,000 / 400 Exhibitors
(Location: LA Convention Center)</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
2007: 10,000 / 33 Exhibitors
(Location: Santa Monica at many locations)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: right; widows: 8;">
<i>* Estimated Attendee Count.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>
</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right; widows: 8;">
<i>** No Official Numbers Offered by
the ESA.</i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
While most of the industry
insiders - and many of the editors who assign journos to cover it -
prefer to call it “E3” when the cool kids refer to E3 - and when
we say “the cool kids” we are not talking about the American
alternative hip hop duo -- they call it by another name.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
From 1995 to 2006 they called it
“The Show” -- as in, “Jim and I got assigned to The Show this
year, are you going to make it?”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
In 2007 the name changed to
“Snafu” -- as in, “Jim and I tried to get assigned to The Snafu
but they denied us!”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Re-named the E3 Media and Business
Summit, the 2007 event was moved to a smaller venue in Santa Monica,
California, and you could say that it underwhelmed a lot of the
attendees, of which there were only 10,000 because the ESA had set a
cap and severely restricted who could attend.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
That move ended up having
consequences nobody could have anticipated including a very negative
reaction from the ESA's own members.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<i><b>2008 E3 Media and Business
Summit</b></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Naturally enough, even the Cool
Kids were impressed by the measure of success that the ESA attained
in making things worse. So much so that they again changed its name
yet again - this time to “Tarfun” - which you may want to look up
via Google as this being a family-friendly blog we can't actually
tell you what it means. Sorry.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
But to help you in grasping the
impact, here is an example of the proper use of the new name E3 was
gifted with for the 2008 show:
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
“Jim's editor tried to get him
credentials to this year's Tarfun, but mine decided not to bother
when she found out most of the game studios were not going.”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Yup, you read that correctly. The
anger that was generated by this new and not-improved approach that
the ESA had taken was not kindly received -- either by its members OR
the video game studios and publishers that made the show possible.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
In fact they stayed away in such
record numbers that, even extending attendance eligibility to family
members, the best that they could do for E3MBS 2008 was slightly more
than 5K total.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IZ4dyLVVXBI?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Fortunately the ESA finally
understood that the road that they were traveling on was not the road
that the rest of the industry wanted to travel on, a response that so
angered the ESA board, they threatened to move the event to a storage
locker in Compton for the 2009 E3 Media and Business Summit! Okay
just kidding!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Thankfully cooler heads prevailed
and the Expo was changed back to its pre-2007 format, and the
industry decided to let bygones be bygones, and returned to the LA
Convention Center with the original format restored, and vowing to
relax their enforcement of the rules as long as no serious protests
happened.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
The fact that a restored E3 2009
somehow managed to pull in over 41,000 attendees despite the show
having its smallest number of exhibitors (216) ever for an Electronic
Entertainment Expo.
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Still 216 was a major improvement
over the 33 exhibitors at the 2007 E3 Media and Business Summit, and
just 39 at the 2007 E3 Media and Business Summit.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Coming Up...</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
Coming up as we make our way
through the days leading up to the opening bell for E3 2015 including
how the Digital Divide applies to gaming, the spectacular disaster
that was the Nintendo Digital Event for E3 2015 (aka an hour of our
life we want refunded), what is it like to rub elbows (and other body
parts) with the famous and infamous at E3, and we may discover why
Mickey Mouse wears a Julian Assange watch, but probably not.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-73271944834018611092015-08-09T04:57:00.001-04:002015-08-09T04:57:49.425-04:00Old Friends and Lovers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What did people do before the Internet?" she asked. "They must have been bored silly!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My daughter Autumn is one of the most intelligent female humans below the age of 18 that I know. Not that I know a significant variety of female humans below the age of 18 - or that I question them on the subject of entertainment. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That said, this observation and opinion regarding her relative intelligence is not a manifestation of the axiom that, when the subject is children, parental delusions <i>are</i> functional...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aP7nZIbNOd8/VccTaxGmzbI/AAAAAAAABB0/1L_zRShfMCk/s1600/bryson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aP7nZIbNOd8/VccTaxGmzbI/AAAAAAAABB0/1L_zRShfMCk/s1600/bryson.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>An old friend I have never met - author Bill Bryson, one of the wittiest and most intelligent travel writers I have ever read... And he's branched out into history as well, which can only be a good thing right?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"What did people do before the Internet?" she asked. "They must have been bored silly!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That observation presumes that the Internet would, naturally, have enjoyed as prominent a role in the life of the average person in, say, the 1980s as it does today - an assertion that I am not prepared to accept at face value.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Actually I have significant doubts that it would have enjoyed that level if saturation or necessity in the life of the typical person largely because in the 1980s technology simply did not enjoy either the popularity in general that it does today, or the social cachet it does. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Contrary to that limited scope of belief that is often applied when it comes to entertainment and social trends among teens today, I suspect that they view the 1980s through the same coke-bottle glasses with which <i>we</i> viewed the 1950s <i>in</i> the 1980s. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Which is to say with a slanted view that accepts the idea that it was a far simpler time, filled with simpler problems and simpler wants.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am very certain that those times - both the 1950s and the 1980s - were far more complicated and stressful than the young can possibly appreciate, at least until they reach a point in which they look back at the 2010s with the same point-of-view. Say around 2040 or so.</div>
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I am willing to grant that, not having had access to the always on and packed with variety Internet that we enjoy today, the lack served as something of an impediment to nurturing a wider range of entertainment interests. </div>
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But on the other hand, the lack necessarily limited selection of entertainment vehicles that we did have available to us to better quality entertainment.</div>
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I truly believe that. </div>
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I know that we enjoyed far more intensely and with more appreciation the various forms of entertainment that we did have. Entertainment in the form of books and TV, good movies, and weekend evening entertainment in the form of clubs, music, and dancing. </div>
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Throw in the odd concert and -- for my family -- theatrical plays and the symphony, and you get a pretty accurate picture indeed.</div>
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I was truly fortunate to have belonged to a family that both encouraged and enabled the interests of its children towards those pursuits.</div>
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Having almost unrestricted access to such a variety of entertainment -- options that many of my neighbors and friends lacked -- my only regret was not drinking deeper of that seemingly endless pool. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sPJJ1Nhze6I/VccTw20yCdI/AAAAAAAABB8/Yln7syPwfiM/s1600/fletch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sPJJ1Nhze6I/VccTw20yCdI/AAAAAAAABB8/Yln7syPwfiM/s1600/fletch.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't allow this terrible movie treatment of the book ruin the experience for you - the book is way better than the movie. In fact other than some odd similarities between the book and the story told in the movie, there is really no comparison at all!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Childhood </b><b>Pied–à–Terre</b></span></div>
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My parents encouraged our desire to read by providing an unlimited set of accounts at bookstores we used in Brisbane and Sydney - the only rules being books we chose could only be hard cover, and could not be of the pulp-fiction variety.</div>
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Those rules made more sense when you understand that the family home has a room we call "The Library" that is, in fact, equipped with floor-to-ceiling shelves on every wall populated with the books of over five generations. </div>
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Every purchase we made, once read, found a home on those shelves for the benefit of future generations and, believe it or not, we often were able to find books on a subject we required on the shelves.</div>
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My siblings and I called the Library our pied–à–terre after we were forced to take French lessons by our mother in preparation for a seven-month stint in France that our father was forced to undertake. </div>
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"Better you than me!" his boss was reported to have said about the assignment, which saw our father negotiating a complicated agreement pertaining to duty applied to Australian goods being shipped to Port of La Rochelle and Marseille-Fos Port.</div>
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Our parents agreed that the assignment was the perfect opportunity for the children to expand their horizons and experience Europe so we accompanied them. My older sisters were made responsible for us, and functioned as guides as well as minders, so naturally we ended up seeing the museums and sites they wanted to see. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yw4c6cXVW2o/VccVmMdrMvI/AAAAAAAABCQ/Y0JKr4RTAYs/s1600/3invest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yw4c6cXVW2o/VccVmMdrMvI/AAAAAAAABCQ/Y0JKr4RTAYs/s1600/3invest.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Les Trois Jeunes Détectives - Hannibal (Jupe), Peter (Pete) and Bob Andy?!</i> </td></tr>
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The Library absorbed quite the collection of books from that trip, including my own contribution of the complete set of nine books of<i> Les Trois Jeunes Détectives</i> (despite the fact that we already owned the American versions). What can I say? They were my favorite book series at the time and still have a special place in my heart.</div>
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That said though, I was horrified when I read them the first time and discovered that my old friends had somehow been given new names! Jupiter Jones had become "Hannibal Jones," Pete Crenshaw somehow morphed into a bloke named "Peter Crentch" while Bob Andrews became "Bob Andy." </div>
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Oddly the names of many of the other characters remained unchanged. Their chauffeur and frequent assistant Worthington became Warrington, though he still drove a Rolls Royce. But Uncle Titus and Aunt Mathilda were the same, as was Skinny Norris, Police Chief Samuel Reynolds, and yard helpers Hans and Konrad.</div>
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That room was special not just to us kids mind, but we suspected it was special to every generation of kids in the family. Though save for the books that populated the shelves, none of them managed to alter the appearance or imprint the room with signs of their occupation.</div>
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At the center of that room is a long oak table around which the children of every generation did their homework, wrote papers, and tended to their scholarly obligations.</div>
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At the far end of the room, facing out upon the rather large and lush backyard, there is a massive set of French doors before which is placed a pair of the most comfortable leather chairs you have ever had the pleasure to curl up in.</div>
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Crafted from mahogany and leather, they are large enough so that even my current adult frame would be easily able to curl up in them. Placed directly between the pair is a low flat convenience table behind which sits a monstrosity in brass that is known as the "Six-Way-Floor-Lamp" -- a towering structure
that provides a literal pool of bright light around the chairs of a quality and
quantity perfect for reading and that simply cannot be found in modern
day lamps.</div>
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According to the family lore, the chairs and table (and possibly the lamp as well) was purchased as bespoke from a London craftsman by our great grandfather some time in the 1890's and shipped to Sydney, which was closer to the original station and its house back in the day before it was all transplanted north to make way for the suburbs.</div>
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The chairs are deep and wide; their back tattooed with buttons that create a field of small pillow-like supporting surfaces that offer comfort very difficult to describe. They smell great - but I only realized quite recently that the smell was likely the product of old leather and whatever was used to treat and care for them - some cream or spray. </div>
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As children we suspected that they were in fact magic chairs, somehow enchanted so as to make the process of immersion - that break with reality - so absolutely critical for sinking into a really good book all the easier -- they made for amazingly womb-like havens within which one could curl with a book and become lost in its story. </div>
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My favorite circumstances for reading - the ideal circumstances - was a nice cool June Winter day in which it was rainy and grey outside. Curled into one of the chairs, the room toasty from the ancient radiator, and a cup of Billy Tea sitting on the table between the chairs. Yeah, that is perfect reading conditions, no question about it.</div>
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We don't have anything like it in our home today.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psT6fIhaV1I/VccUH4j1UYI/AAAAAAAABCE/6LvdMAriAIg/s1600/audible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psT6fIhaV1I/VccUH4j1UYI/AAAAAAAABCE/6LvdMAriAIg/s1600/audible.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Audible is my preferred source for audio books that I listen to on my iOS devices and they did not pay me to say that either! But it seems that the Overdrive Service you can use at your public library has recently made peace with iOS - so it must may be that we can use our iOS devices with it? Have to check that out!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Old Friends and Lovers</b></span></div>
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The reason for all of this reminiscence is down to my getting some books from the library today and revisiting a story series I have not read for almost thirty years - the IM Fletcher series by mystery writer Gregory McDonald.</div>
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The reason that I chose to revisit them has to do with the fact that I learned by accident that I had not in fact read the entire series!</div>
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I was reading a random blog post for a blogger I read regularly and they mentioned a title from the series I had never heard of while talking about a spin-off series from the author, and that was when I discovered that due to the complex changes that adult life often forces upon us, my awareness of the books had blanked during a period where the author was actually quite active.</div>
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Now as I appreciate good stories it seemed to me that the only right and just path to take was to start over, with the first book in the series, and then work my way forward.</div>
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The first book in the series is titled <i>Fletch</i>, (ISBN-13: 978-0375713545) and if you have not read the series I strongly recommend it. Fletch is followed by ten additional titles. When I last had the pleasure of his company there were just seven books in the series, so I feel I am in for a treat.</div>
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The Fletch books by McDonald are very good - I think they are actually better than the Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald (no relation obviously) - and that is saying something as I am a major fan of JDM.</div>
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The only problem I will have is finding time to read them. Normally my intake of books these days is almost exclusively audio books from Audible dot com that I listen to while working. Presently I am listening to the Game of Thrones series with some of the newer Bill Bryson books in between them -- Bill Bryson is brilliant by the way.</div>
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Here's to Old Friends and Lovers.... The book sort.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-6099985859015489192015-07-03T06:30:00.001-04:002015-07-03T09:34:41.487-04:00. . . Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2015 Analysis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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(or How I Learned to Love Ta Bomb)<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Part 1 of 7 </span></h2>
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<i><b>Preface (please read): </b> Welcome to what is destined to be a rather long and somewhat rambling series of posts that are all about our annual pilgrimage to the Electronic Entertainment Expo - an event that we are privileged to cover and that is pretty much exactly like what you think it would be like. </i></div>
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<i>The purpose of this series of posts is to provide you with analysis of E3 2015 - which as it turns out is a very important E3 above and beyond the usual reasons for which it is an important event. We will delve deeper into the reasons why that is so in a bit.</i></div>
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<i>The purpose of this preface is to convey to you why reading the entire series - and each section of each post - is not just a good idea - it is - but may very well also be an amusing and even entertaining romp through the experiences of an E3 that sits at the very cusp of a significant sea-change.</i></div>
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<i>We are not the only source for observations pertaining to the significance of this year's E3 - pretty much anyone who was actually paying attention at the show will have noticed the significant details. If we presume that the observer also happens to work the video games beat, they will also be aware of the "why" behind all of this...</i></div>
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<i>We used the phrase "sea change" above. We might just as easily have said paradigm shift and it would be spot-on-target. </i></div>
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<i>The reasoning behind this observation and the distinction has everything to do with what amounts to a confluence of both circumstances and events. Put concisely what we are seeing - and what we saw - at E3 2015 is the culmination of events that were put into motion long before the eighth generation of consoles were offered up in detail to a ravenous gamer public. </i></div>
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<i>We mention that because it represents one of the foundation points to this analysis. While you are meant to enjoy this - you are also meant to learn some important facts about the event and why this E3 is both different and special compared to other E3's. </i></div>
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<i>The latter bit being the real reason for this series, once this has all been sorted, it is our fondest desire that you experience this as an informative and educationally entertaining piece of informative entertainment... Infotainment? Edutainment? </i></div>
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<i>We will doubtlessly sin on the side of entertainment - in fact that is intentional so it really is not so much a sin as it is an indulgence. </i></div>
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<i>That said, ultimately, in addition to offering you the chance to experience an anecdotal madman tour of E3 2015, this series should also allow you the catbird seat to view what we have long suspected - and have now found proof of - the paradigm shift in the entire games industry. </i></div>
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<i>Did we see or sense it early? Yes. But then we might have been wrong. We weren't wrong, the benefits of hindsight proves that out. So bear with us as we attempt to both entertain and inform?</i></div>
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<i>So coming full-circle logically, please read this?</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx1Ql1-h5bA/VZWlq85MHRI/AAAAAAAAA_o/hUk_T4_WOMs/s1600/e3splash2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx1Ql1-h5bA/VZWlq85MHRI/AAAAAAAAA_o/hUk_T4_WOMs/s1600/e3splash2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption">If you happen to read Dutch then you know that the image above is the poster for a world-class cycle race that happens to share the shorthand of "E3" for its event name. This image was chosen as the place mat image for the 19th annual Hack Dinner (AKA Gathering of Hacks) for E3 2015, The first GoH dinner was held at E3 1997 in Atlanta when a small group of games journos who had been bumping into each other at industry events all over the world decided to make an annual dinner gathering part of the event. Each dinner has a theme - this time the theme was the irreverent and completely inappropriate image shown above, which nicely represents an example by which substance and truth are usually the first casualty when the goal is to sell a product -- whether that product is a bicycle race or a video game. </td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Before The Show </b></span></div>
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Before we jump right in to the meat and bone for this analysis series there is an 800lb gorilla in the room that needs to be addressed in the form of E3 itself in general and specific terms.</div>
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Among the many questions we feel a need to answer are: What is E3? Why is E3 important? What happens at E3? Why was this E3 different from previous ones? What have we learned that you need to know about?</div>
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From our vantage point it seems completely reasonable that many of you reading this may not actually have a firm idea about the Expo beyond its basic goals. And even then, knowing what E3 is supposed to accomplish does not necessarily equate to a comprehensive grasp of what it really does... </div>
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So let's start with just what E3 is? Answers to that simple question will map the spectrum, but for the vast majority of gamers, E3 is a sort of fusion of Mecca and a gathering of all that is good and that <i>will be good</i> in the world of gaming and video games to come.</div>
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The games community is a funny one in that it is not uncommon for a typical gamer to know who it was that made the games they love, and to recognize them as more than a face in a crowded room.</div>
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So when those heroes - and really that is precisely what they are -- who are responsible for not simply creating the stories that have attracted us, but who also created entire worlds within which those stories take place... </div>
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Well, with that bridge now crossed, there is a very real temptation to employ superlatives that the typical games journo is very capable of using! With that in mind, the Mecca analogy takes on entirely new connotations. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_l0x4wfPrc/VZZyc7H1BTI/AAAAAAAABAo/lK2y0aULofM/s1600/mecca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_l0x4wfPrc/VZZyc7H1BTI/AAAAAAAABAo/lK2y0aULofM/s1600/mecca.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mecca in Saudi Arabia - Photo by Ayman Zogby</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>E3 and Mecca</b></span></div>
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Mecca and E3 works very well thanks in no small part to the intense focus upon Islam in the past decade. The well-known adage that a picture is worth a thousand words specifically refers to the idea that an image can convey nuance and meaning to a complex idea.</div>
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The analogy we used is much like that in that the very word "Mecca" is itself a picture whose value and meaning already convey volumes of information. And nuance. Both of which are important points because the values we are addressing here are a very relative set of subjects.</div>
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We open that door because it is crucial that we include the extremes in this analysis precisely because the audience -- and therefore the relative importance in value that is endowed within this industry by that audience -- elevates the subject well beyond what it was even just a decade ago.</div>
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Thanks to the intensity and focus on Islam in recent years, Mecca as a concept is more than simply the birthplace of Muhammad. It has more meaning than simply the site of the first revelation of the Quran. It is a spiritual as well as ideal image in other words.</div>
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For gamers the events that take place just before, during, and just after the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, have that sort of impact and importance.</div>
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We do not mean for this comparison to lessen the importance or the religious significance of Mecca to the Islamic community. Far from it in fact! </div>
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No, this comparison is used for the simple reason that it accurately communicates the importance of the events that are E3 in terms that are easily understood to even the most casual of observers.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8OI7ADaX8k/VZaAwUMAibI/AAAAAAAABA8/HF_jdrQyXjo/s1600/falloutboy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8OI7ADaX8k/VZaAwUMAibI/AAAAAAAABA8/HF_jdrQyXjo/s1600/falloutboy1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption">His proper name is "Vault Boy" and he is the official mascot of the Fallout series. Striking the thumbs-up pose probably does not mean what you think it does... The gesture is not the OK symbol but rather is the accepted means by which a soldier can measure the distance to a nuke cloud to determine whether they are a safe distance away. If your thunk blots out the mushroom it's all good. If not, well, start running!</td></tr>
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In mundane terms E3 is a trade-show event that takes place each summer at which the immediate future of the games industry is effectively presented and put on display.</div>
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As an event it unofficially begins with the series of pre-event press briefings offered by major game studios and publishers, spanning the two days leading up to the official opening ceremonies at the Los Angeles Convention Center. </div>
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During the three days that follow those opening ceremonies, E3 is born, loves, and then closes until the whole process begins anew, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.. </div>
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Over the course of that brief 72-hours an entire army of support staff, PRs and briefing agents set out to educate the games journos whose job it is to learn as much as they can in so short a period of time that it is critical that they define - in advance - which titles are important enough to require some hands-on time, and which are not.</div>
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You can easily tell the difference between working press and industry types. </div>
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The latter make up an army of managers and assistant managers from GameStop, Walmart and the like -- easy to spot thanks to their semi-official Expo uniforms that mostly consist of company T's.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, that and the fact that they are the ones who travel in noisy if enthusiastic groups who make up a better portion of the lines waiting to get a little hand's on time with the games.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That and they are almost all weighed down with plastic bags from the Nvidia and the official Expo bags that the program came in. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bags that are packed to overflowing with the loot that they have "scored" at each booth and stand - branded swag that they will drag around all day and then take home with them to pass out to friends while they tell their E3 War Stories...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAU_F-pU_1E/VZZmf1-HE6I/AAAAAAAABAE/B3SYD_f_j30/s1600/alicecat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAU_F-pU_1E/VZZmf1-HE6I/AAAAAAAABAE/B3SYD_f_j30/s1600/alicecat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Obligatory Cat Image.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.” </b></span></div>
<br />
"<i>First-impressions are formed, never to be taken back</i>," anonymous PR at E3 2015... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
During the official three-days of the industry expo called E3, most of the major (and many of the minor) video game titles are presented to members of the games press who, by invitation, have come to learn about the video games that will populate store shelves for the upcoming game season.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Particular care is taken to focus upon the games that are scheduled to be a part of the Christmas shopping and shipping season. Little is left to chance here, as the primary goal is to induce the games journos to write about their experiences with the games.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That presents the full -- if mundane -- picture. From the outside, looking in.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What you need to know however is that it is an entirely and strangely different beast when it is viewed in person, or when the viewer - that is you - knows about the man behind the curtain. So yes, there is a qualifying "but" present throughout the E3 experience... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You see, even in the trenches, what E3 is still depends almost entirely upon how well the viewer grasps what is actually happening to - and around - them. That is of course as opposed to what they <i>think</i> is happening.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is an emphasis upon the word "think" because the events that unfold there are not a byproduct of the Expo, and they are certainly anything but a casual happenstance!</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlTNq6YIqGQ/VZaJWwIZWwI/AAAAAAAABBQ/apglCTmy7nQ/s1600/h0d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlTNq6YIqGQ/VZaJWwIZWwI/AAAAAAAABBQ/apglCTmy7nQ/s1600/h0d1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption">Certain games like the major series sequels were expected. A new Halo, Hitman, Uncharted, and the shooters to be sure, but there are some surprises in the pile... Like Horizon Zero Dawn, Sea of Thieves, and the Doom remake to name a few. Some will say that E3 can still surprise you, but we say these are not really surprises, but proof that the games dev cycle has finally caught up with the platforms.... We call that good news - very good news.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the forest AND the trees are visible, having an Eagle Scout handy who is a skilled veteran of Expos past to help you identify the flora and fauna is an invaluable aid! That is especially true when you happen to be a plebe covering the Expo your first two or three times.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
E3 is by its nature a confusing and hectic place, and there are very good reasons why the vast majority of mainstream games publications and sites choose to dispatch senior editors with a lot of experience in this sort of environment to cover it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When they do opt to send in new people they do it with a team-approach, sending a mixture of veteran journos along with the abecedarian-come-sacrificial-lambs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That way the plebes get a chance to fly in close to the sun but, even if they end up sharing the experiences of Icarus, the mistakes that they make are survivable and will not hurt the coverage of the event for their publication. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If this is actually starting to sound very complicated and frightening to you, congratulations, you are very nearly ready to learn what this is all <i>really</i> about. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Morpheus could have been talking about E3 instead of The Matrix when he made it clear that Neo was making a choice: "You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe," he explains. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"You take the red pill," Morpheus warns, "you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Roughly translated what Morpheus is actually saying is that sometimes delusions really are functional. Often when the person is not prepared to be confronted by the reality of a situation, it may really be better if they continue to embrace and accept the simple version of the facts as they know them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because in some cases the truth has the force of a kick-in-the-sack. The problem being that just as was the case with Pandora's Box or the proverbial bell, once you decide you want to open that box or ring that bell, there is no going back. You know what you know -- the question now becomes a simple one: do you really want to know?</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zE7PKRjrid4?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Red Pill</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For this to make quick and clear sense it is important for you to understand that <i>NOTHING</i> that takes place during those brief contact-periods created by the PRs when they join the journo and the game under very controlled circumstances is random or voluntary. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To be clear that process -- your briefing? The hand's-on time you get with the game? That has all been very carefully crafted to deliver a specific set of impressions desired by the studio/publisher. It is a process painstakingly prepared, charted out, studied, and crafted to leave the journo with a specific impression that, when it is done correctly, can only result in one narrow conclusion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
None of that is accidental or incidental. The PRs spent a lot of time, money, and effort to see to that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let's see if we can make this a bit more obvious and simplified, shall we?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are two positions present: (1) The Games Journo; and (2) The PR. These two points of view are easily defined. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Think of the Games Journo as the human equivalent of a table water cracker. Now think of the PR - and the game that they are presenting and briefing you on - as the foodstuff being served up on the cracker.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While it was originally conceived as a spoil-proof food, the table water cracker evolved into what is widely thought of today as a truly neutral food delivery system that allows for the serving of food that can stand on its own merits in terms of taste. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is basically a completely neutral platform that is shaped by whatever food is served on it. THAT is the condition and function for the Games Journo that the PR is seeking to create through a game briefing and play session.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The table water cracker is the Games Journo. Foie gras or artisan cheese is the briefing, and the hand-selected fine wine whose taste compliments the food is the hand's on game play session.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once the entire snack has been consumed, the PRs have delivered to their clients - the studio and publisher of the game - an agreed upon process. At the same time they have delivered to the Games Journalist a carefully planned and executed experience that, just like the pleasant aftertaste of rare or gourmet foodstuff topped-off by the taste of a 2005 Château Barreyres, Haut-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois, should leave everybody happy...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The veteran journos are aware of all this, so the process does not always work as planned on them. But the plebes - and in particular the freelancers on assignment the first few times they have covered events of the size of E3 and the very junior staff writers who are in the same boat? They are the little bear or duck that stumbles along the shooting-gallery track, turning and reversing each time that the cork or the pellet fired by the PR hits them!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This entire contact process is a choreographed event from which there are specific results being sought. When it is done right - professionally - the target never sees the hunter, let alone hears the shot that gets them! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In case you are confused, let us simplify it for you: If you are <i>not</i> the PR, the developer, the publisher, or the presentation staff, then <i>YOU</i> are the target.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIyqU_Sjms8/VZZqMmOFH5I/AAAAAAAABAU/SW1IwT8cqkI/s1600/si1swa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIyqU_Sjms8/VZZqMmOFH5I/AAAAAAAABAU/SW1IwT8cqkI/s1600/si1swa.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Southwest Airlines </i><span class="s1"><i>N922WN Boeing 737-7H4 (737-700) bearing its rare Sports Illustrated Livery (codename SI1) in March 2009 - the livery was changed back to the standard Canyon Blue livery in April 2009. </i></span><i>Photo by Paul Thompson</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Departure Looming</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Los Angles. It's one-oh-five PM and 70-degrees outside. For those passengers visiting the City of Angels to attend the Electronic Entertainment Expo I hate you! Take me with you?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Please remain seated with your seat belt fastened, seat backs and tray tables upright and locked, leaving your carry-on items right where they are; please refrain from jogging and power-walking in the aisles until after the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“You can use your swords and cell phones now if you can reach them easily, but please remain seated and leave your carry-on stowed. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you; anything left behind can be purchased after three-to-five business days from your cabin crew's store on eBay. Remember to tip generously.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as shift happens. If you are connecting here to another Southwest flight please check the TV monitor in the terminal for your flight and gate number. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It certainly has been a chore - I mean joy - serving all of you today. We know you have a lot of choices and we're so glad the others are all so expensive!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“On behalf of Southwest Airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Are conspiracies rampant at E3? Yes. And No. Now you know....</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next on the Electronic Entertainment Expp 2015 Analysis show...Pre-Show Press Briefings; how to refer to The Show like the cool kids do it; how the Digital Divide applies to gaming.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The spectacular disaster that was the Nintendo Digital Event for E3 2015 (aka an hour of our life we want refunded). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finally, what is it like to rub elbows (and other body parts) with the famous and infamous at E3 and we may discover why Mickey Mouse wears a Julian Assange watch, but probably not.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QPDPSezEkcY?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="550"></iframe><br /></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8305538127240416562.post-41331948066955767622015-06-05T02:23:00.000-04:002015-06-05T02:28:18.469-04:00the Bare Page - or How 2015 Caught me by Surprise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is not that I am lazy - or that I have not been writing. I am
not lazy and I have been writing.<br />
<br />
I suspect that it is more a case
of out of sight equals out of mind... But the end result of this is
that my website - and specifically the page ON my website in which I
provide links to the things I write - was basically empty.<br />
<br />
<br />
The thing is it was not really empty. No, well, it <i>was</i> empty, but it
did not get that way by accident or circumstances - it got that way
because I was in the process of updating the website (back in
January) and I was doing the annual update in which I move the
current portfolio page from its location to a new page for the past
year.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you look at my site you will see that when you click on
Portfolios from the main page of my site what you are supposed to get
is the current year's writing output and at the top a menu of the
portfolios for previous years.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGx8X_pnuNc/VXE61kniICI/AAAAAAAAA-o/dxrgcUTugzM/s1600/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGx8X_pnuNc/VXE61kniICI/AAAAAAAAA-o/dxrgcUTugzM/s1600/032.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>Here is a picture of a cat. People like pictures of cats - it is why they surf the Interwebs. This cat is holding our dachshund's tail and asking you to please forgive me for failing to update my website or she will BITE the tail she is holding on to! Please don't make her bite Calvin's tail - he really doesn't deserve that! Seriously!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So each January I move the past year to its own page, and begin
documenting the current year.<br />
<br />
The only items that are ever added to
these pages are the items that I got paid to write. With the
exception of the Mused and Blog Sections of the page (those include
content I was not necessarily paid to write) but the other sections
you can count on it that someone somewhere paid me to write them.<br />
<br />
<br />
So yeah, back in January I was in the process of completing the
annual update and I got as far as creating the page for 2014 and
getting the contents moved but then something happened - I don't know
what exactly that was - in life -- and I had to pause.<br />
<br />
<br />
Well I don't need to tell you that when you are working on a
website and you have to pause for any reason - any reason at all - it
almost always works out to be a bad thing. And so it was.<br />
<br />
<br />
Because whatever the distraction was, I ended up closing the web
page editing suite I use and then I never went back to finish the
job. Of course that totally does not excuse the fact that since then I have not been doing updates - that truly is down to my being lazy.<br />
<br />
But because out of sight really IS out of mind it mostly stayed that way... Well that and
because I don't as a general rule visit my own website as a consumer. So months go by - literally half a year goes by - and I have not
been updating the site because why? Because I forgot.<br />
<br />
It is actually worse than that mates... Whatever it was that caused me to pause the work and then close it also left me confused about how far into the updating I had actually gotten. I thought, for example, that I had actually completed updating the information on the 2014 page. But I had not. NONE of the content for December was added. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1Wg1fslUbM/VXE7e8K8eqI/AAAAAAAAA-w/LGfbwr5Ut44/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1Wg1fslUbM/VXE7e8K8eqI/AAAAAAAAA-w/LGfbwr5Ut44/s1600/019.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>This is Charley. Charley firmly believes that any food that is put out is intended to be eaten by pretty much him... So if you don't want him eating the food, don't put it in bowls or on plates or other places. He is very clear on this...</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Surprise, Surprise, Surprise</b><br />
<br />
<br />
I started getting email from regular readers asking me if
something was wrong?<br />
<br />
My reaction to that was “Whhaa?”<br />
<br />
<br />
I inquired as to what specifically they were talking about and
THAT was when I learned that I had not been updating my website and,
specifically I learned for the first time that people actually visit
AND read the pages on it!<br />
<br />
Here is the thing mates... In the back of my mind one of the common excuses that I used with myself was that it really did not matter. Because nobody actually READ those pages. Right? Except no, not right. It turned out that there are people - you - who actually read the stuff I write. <br />
<br />
<br />
You could have knocked me over with a feather.<br />
<br />
It just never
really occurred to me that anyone actually did more than hit the main
page of the site and used it for anything OTHER than the Navigation
Section, which provides links to my current writing at this blog, at
my gaming blog, and the publications that I write for.<br />
<br />
<br />
People were actually READING the Portfolios Section!<br />
<br />
Not only
that, but it turned out that they were actually reading my old stuff!<br />
<br />
With a feather I am telling you...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i61NoQGq4dQ/VXE76TgDT-I/AAAAAAAAA-4/c6wp4LoQ01E/s1600/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i61NoQGq4dQ/VXE76TgDT-I/AAAAAAAAA-4/c6wp4LoQ01E/s1600/040.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>This is Sir Calvin. He is a knight in the Order of the Teckel. Calvin is a dachshund - that translates to "Badger Hound." Being as Calvin has never actually SEEN a Badger, he is not sure what they look - or smell - like.... The expression you see on his face is Calvin thinking - THIS could be a Badger! The humans claim it is a cat, but what do THEY know?! That large blue thing with the round black feet outside? It could be a Badger!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was at this point - in mid-May of 2015 - that I vowed I would
get right on this, the first chance I had - the first free time I
had. Yes sir I would remedy that situation....<br />
<br />
Then I looked at the calendar and whoa! It was the 4th of June already! How did THAT happen?! <br />
<br />
<br />
Well, it happened because I kept getting new assignments, and new guides to write,
and games to play, and nobody pays me to update that website. I am
just saying...<br />
<br />
And so May turned into June. We have established that.<br />
<br />
How come when there are things you want to do there is never enough time but when there are things you need to do time goes warp on you?<br />
<br />
So now it is June and I
have run out of excuses. Bottom line? I could not live with the shame. So I said June 4th is The Day. Color it red. Mark it on the calendar. By yimminy June 4 was the day when I would Get Stuff Done!<br />
<br />
So I am happy and proud to be able to say "Hey! I have updated the Portfolio Page!"<br />
<br />
This I knew I needed to do, but partly I was goaded into it, I freely admit. <br />
<br />
The other day I received an email from a reader -- a very nasty email -- from a woman who
rightfully pointed out that I owed her an updated page. Owed her. Because she was a reader. And a fan.<br />
<br />
Owed...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EZaUbhE9zPM/VXE9F5ktYII/AAAAAAAAA_A/KV1_pjZng0E/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EZaUbhE9zPM/VXE9F5ktYII/AAAAAAAAA_A/KV1_pjZng0E/s1600/010.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>This is another picture of a badger - err - Cat. Just in case you wanted to see more cat pictures. I am told that you DO want to see more cat pictures.... This cat picture contains a dachshund. He is NOT a cat. But he envies cats. Especially their ability to fly through the air and reach high places. Calvin would like to be able to do that. But he can't. He is a dachshund not a kelpie - actually he would be a really funny-looking kelpie if he WERE a kelpie. Which he is not.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Her point was this: she is a regular reader, a fan, and respects
my talents as a writer.<br />
<br />
So how dare I fail to update the Portfolio
Page on my website?!<br />
<br />
What if she wanted to hire me to write an
article at the magazine she was an editor for but could not see my
recent work because I had failed to update that page?<br />
<br />
<br />
Well of course I immediately emailed her back asking what
magazine, and what the subject was she wanted me to write about?<br />
<br />
<br />
And she replied that she did not edit a magazine, she worked in a
pet store, but WHAT IF SHE DID?!
<br />
<br />
<br />
The caps in that are hers. Well, actually what she wrote was:
“WHAT IF I DID? HUH SUGAR? YOU WOULDA MISSED AN ASSIGNMENT!”<br />
<br />
<br />
Yup, she had me. No way out of that situation. Nailed.<br />
<br />
<br />
So just to let you all know I have updated the main Portfolio Page
and I really will try hard to keep it updated from here on, okay
then?<br />
<br />
So yeah, please stop with the angry email now, right?<br />
<br />
I love
you all too.<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488011069340379826noreply@blogger.com0