Fancy a real Fallout sequel?

Subject: General Tech | January 16, 2013 - 04:24 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: mod, gaming, fallout: new vegas, fallout 3, brazil

Project Brazil is a total conversion mod for Fallout: New Vegas which claims to carry on the original spirit of the Fallout series, a harsh post apocalyptic wasteland filled with competing groups all of whom want to see themselves in control of all they survey and you to either be with them or decomposing somewhere.  While there were moments in Fallout 3 which reached the level of absurdity or terror veterans of previous Fallout games reached, there was never really a point when you realized you were a drug addicted murder seriously considering slaving as a good way to bring in more income.  While we are a ways away from seeing Project Brazil finished, you should follow Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN's advice and keep your eyes on the progress of this mod.

“The vision of Fallout 2 will be honoured by Project Brazil. Project Brazil is a quieter, more harsh and severe world than Fallout 3 or New Vegas. It feels like a real place spotted with rare moments of absurdity and fear, split between multiple rising civilizations all trying to fight for what they want or need in a world recovering from the Great War.”

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Gaming

• Turn Right At Shun Avenue: The Path Of Exile Beta Trailer @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• Green(light) Means Go: Leisure Suit Larry, More Steamified @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• ZombiU Wii U @ Tweaktown
• There’s something strange about this Game Boy @ Hack a Day

Flashing tablets for fun and frustration at the same time

Subject: Mobile | December 3, 2012 - 03:28 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: jelly bean, flash, galaxy nexus, CyanogenMod, mod, Android

If you were an early adopter and now have an aging Android tablet which is not being supported by the manufacturer, or at least they are very slow at releasing updates, you can always try flashing it with a custom ROM.  The Tech Report tried this out on a Galaxy Nexus using a ROM from CyanogenMod, a fairly well known provider of such things.  While it certainly improved the performance of the OS, there were several issues including the failure of GPS which prompted them to try out other ROMs.  Head on over to read up on the most current images you can flash to, their providers and the difference between the two types of ROMs currently available.

"In his latest blog post, TR's Geoff Gasior recounts his experience trying to revitalize an aging Android tablet with custom Jelly Bean ROMs."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

• SUS Zenbook UX51Vz-DH71 Review @ TechReviewSource
• Acer Aspire S3-391-6046 Review @ TechReviewSource
• HP EliteBook 2170p Ultraportable @ AnandTech
• ASUS S56C Ultrabook @ Tweaktown
• Acer Aspire S7-391-6810 Review @ TechReviewSource
• Kobo Glo @ The Register
• BlackBerry 10: AWESOME. If the hardware matches it, RIM jobs are safe @ The Register
• ARM Cortex-A15 vs. NVIDIA Tegra 3 vs. Intel x86 @ Phoronix
• Google Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Mobile OS @ Tweaktown
• Mophie Juice Pack Battery Case For Galaxy S III Review @ Legit Reviews
• Apple iPad Keyboard Folio Round-up @ TechSpot
• Huawei Ascend G330 @ The Inquirer
• Google/LG Nexus 4 @ Tweaktown
• Nokia Lumia 920 with Windows Phone 8 Review @ HardwareHeaven
• LG Optimus L5 Smartphone @ Tweaktown
• Google Nexus 4 @ The Inquirer
• Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8 Smartphone Review @ Legit Reviews

The darkness of Doom 3 makes more sense when you are playing a Thief full conversion

Subject: General Tech | October 24, 2012 - 03:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: the dark mod, gaming, Doom 3, thief, mod

The Dark Mod is a total conversion of Doom 3, but not the Doom 3 BFG Edition apparently, not that you should be to worried with the upcoming open sourcing of the Doom 3 source code.  It is not intended to be a remake of the Thief series, the world is similar but the main characters and plot do not follow the original games which will help it feel new even to those who've recently replayed the originals.  The actual mod story is fairly short but now there are community made missions available for download to extend your play.  Drop by Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN for a link to download the mod and to read the extensive change log of the new patch if you already know about this mod.

"With Dishonored reactivating long-dormant stealth glands the world over, now seems a fine time to revisit perhaps its primary ancestor, the Thief games. Doom 3 total conversion The Dark Mod is a mightily ambitious attempt to recreate Thief – its mechanics if not its actual missions – in a more modern, and very much darkness-orientated, engine. It’s just had a major update and a promising new mission added too."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Gaming

• Dishonored: A nice change of pace @ The Tech Report
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown Review - Tinfoil Hats Recommended @ Techgage
• Dishonored PC Review @ eTeknix
• SWTOR Free To Play Is Now Free To Play @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• Star Citizen Whomps Its Kickstarter Goal In Five Days @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• XCOM: Diary Of Wimpy Squad @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• Forza Horizon Xbox 360 @ Tweaktown

... and Black Mesa makes it out before Half Life 3

Subject: General Tech | September 5, 2012 - 04:08 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: valve, source engine, black mesa, half life 3, mod, gaming

We've been waiting close to a decade for the remake of the original Half Life using the Source Engine and entitled Black Mesa.  The mod project is a total rebuild of the original game, with larger areas a tweaked storyline and all of the eye candy that the Source Engine can provide.  If all goes to plan we are a mere 9 days from the scheduled release on Sept. 14th and you will be able to play through until the big battle of the Lambda Core, Xen isn't quite ready yet and is still in development.  We will also see new multiplayer maps at some time in the future but not quite yet.  If this doesn't get your blood pumping then check out all the links at the article on Hexus and watch the trailer below.  Still no news on Half Life Episode 3.

"The first release of Black Mesa will take place on 14th September 2012. This is a total conversion of Half Life 2 based upon ye olde 1998 classic Half Life brought up to date with an improved version of Valve’s Source Engine. The Black Mesa mod project started in 2004 following fan disappointment with the official Half Life: Source (2004) - it didn’t improve the eye candy to the full potential of the Source engine. Black Mesa will have improved graphics, more realistic physics and environmental effects, also some storylines will be tweaked and maps enlarged."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Gaming

• Damage Inc: Pacific Squadron WWII @ Benchmark Reviews
• Skyrim - Dawnguard PC Review @ eTeknix
• F1 2012 Preview (PC) @ HardwareHeaven
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Review @ Techgage
• PC Gaming - Then and Now @ eTeknix
• Green For Greenlight: Valve Now Charging $100 Fee @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• Sleeping Dogs Review (Xbox 360) @ Kitguru
• Dust: An Elysian Tail Review (XBLA) @ Kitguru

De-bezel your monitor, void your warranty and run the risk of killing your LCD ... but no bezels!

Subject: Displays | May 11, 2012 - 01:18 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: DIY, Alienware OptX AW2310, mod

When EyeFinity and NVIDIA Surround first hit the market we were promised LCDs specifically designed to have tiny bezels so that your multiple monitor gaming experience would be enhanced.  These monitors are still few and far between and even if you track one down their scarcity guarantees a high price.  That is probably what prompted Tweaktown to pick up scraper and hacksaw and carve up their Alienware displays' bezels.  This is of course something to be done with the full knowledge that you may well destroy your monitor but if you want gaming like in the picture below you might have to risk it.

"A step-by-step guide on how to de-bezel an Alienware AW2310 monitor and how they look in a three screen portrait setup."

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

Displays

• Samsung TA950 HDTV 3D Monitor Review @ HardwareLOOK
• NEC PA271W - When Accuracy and Consistency Matter @ AnandTech
• Dell UltrasSharp U2412M Review @ TechReviewSource
• Samsung UN55ES8000 LED HDTV Hands On Preview @ Hardware Canucks

Wing Commander Saga; a rebuild by fans for fans

Subject: General Tech | March 21, 2012 - 04:04 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: gaming, wing commander, mod

There is some incredible news for those of you who have purchased old Wing Commander games from GOG, as well as those of you who've though about it but prefer the memories of the game they've already formed.  A group of modders has taken the engine behind FreeSpace 2 and created Wing Commander Saga, which spans a time period from just before the beginning of Wing Commander 3 and takes you through to the end of the Terran-Kilrathi War.  On top of the vastly improved graphics and features like autopilot are dozens of cinematics throughout the game, thousands of lines of original dialog and large scale fleet battles.  Do not despair if this is the first you are hearing about it for the release date is tomorrow!   Check out Wing Commander Saga: The Darkest Dawn here.

"Any old-school PC gamer worth his salt has spent some time dogfighting in space in Wing Commander, or at least is familiar with the series that first took flight in 1990. Heck, even Mark Hamill (better known as Luke Skywalker) lent his voice acting talents to the third installment, Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger. If you have fond memories of flying through space in the 1990s, you'll be happy to know that fans of the franchise are nearly finished with a massive followup."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Gaming

• APB Reloaded (Free-to-Play) PC Review @ eTeknix
• Dare we believe it? Blizzard locks in May 15 launch date for Diablo 3 @ Ars Technica
• Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition to give first two games a modern update @ Ars Technica
• Why, That Must Be Another Far Cry 3 Trailer @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (XBOX 360) Game Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Twisted Metal (PS3) Game Review @ HardwareHeaven
• Rayman Origins (PS Vita) Game Review @ HardwareHeaven
• umines: Electronic Symphony PlayStation Vita @ Tweaktwon
• Mass Effect 3 Xbox 360 @ Kitguru
• XBOX720 and PS4 Consoles Revive PC Gaming @ Benchmark Reviews

Thank you Bethesda; how about some attributions Steam?

Subject: General Tech | February 8, 2012 - 02:50 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: gaming, skyrim, elder scrolls, mod

Attention (PC) Skyrim fans, Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN has some great news!

High Definition Textures have arrived for Skyrim via Steam.  The download is just over 3GB and contains .BSP files which is the file type Bethesda in general and Skyrim in particular store their textures.  This is rather handy as two mods which already add high definition textures do so via a new folder called Textures under your Skyrim folder.  This means that the mods do not interfere with the official HD download as far as crashing the game, however more investigation is needed to discover how the mods interact as far as texture rendering priorities as well as determining which gives you the best looking textures.

Just download it via Steam and ensure that you enable it via the Data Files option on your Skyrim launcher.  While you are clicking on that download you might notice a link to something called Steam Workshop.  This leads you to a section of Steam where you can download mods for Skyrim via Steam which can be applied to your game though it does not necessarily replace Nexus Mod Manager.  When you have clicked on the mod then the next time you launch Skyrim it will run a check and synchronize your game and the mod.  The mods can be enabled and disabled just like the HD textures via the Data Files portion of your Skyrim launcher.

The addition of official HD textures and supported mods is a brilliant move by Bethesda and Steam and the PC gaming community wholeheartedly thanks them for this wonderful addition to the game.  Many PC users initial experience with Skyrim was not positive, especially those using AMD graphics cards.  The patches to Skyrim and AMD's drivers have finally fixed most performance issues users experienced and with the addition of PC specific improvements and mods Bethesda may have gone a long way to wooing back those users who were initially unimpressed with the game.

Along with these additions does come a plea to Steam.  You may notice negative comments underneath the mods which you choose, such as "It should say "Stolen by: Manic Zombie" The uploader gave no credit to the author of this.".  This is very unfortunate for the brilliant mind that decided to model mudcrabs with a monocle and top hat as the number of users of this mod will soar but the modder themselves are doomed to obscurity.  It could be that Manic Zombie was indeed the original modder as the Japanese site links to a download on Skyrim Nexus that he posted.  If Steam is going to offer mods the modding community would greatly appreciate it if Steam researched the mod to ensure that the submitter is indeed the actual source of the mod or at least has the modders permissions.  The "Report" button is a great start but in order to help attract game modders to Steam, reassurance that they will get recognition for their mods would go a long way to bringing even more modders into the fold.

"The long-awaited Skyrim Creation Kit is out, and it’s come with the rumoured High-Resolution Texture Pack all the kids wanted! The game’s also 33% off on Steam in the US and UK at the moment, if this is what you were waiting for."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Gaming

• Unstoppable Gorg Review - The Aliens Are Coming! @ Techgage
• Need For Speed: The Run PC Review @ eTeknix
• Paradox Hint At Three New Games, Revealed Next Month @ Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN
• Microsoft Flight release date pinned down @ Hexus
• PC Gaming - What to expect in 2012 @ eTeknix
• Soul Calibur V @ HEXUS
• NFL Blitz 2012 Edition PlayStation 3 @ Tweaktown
• SOULCALIBUR V Review @ HardwareHeaven.
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 (XBOX 360) Review @ HardwareHeaven

I heard you like Starcraft? Yeah, it Hyrules!

Subject: General Tech | October 29, 2011 - 02:33 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: zelda, starcraft 2, starcraft, mod

So you may be aware by now that PC gamers often like to mess with their game and customize it as they desire. Sometimes you even see the magical situation where one game gets grafted into another like a turducken you can play with. You do not play with your food, do you? Regardless of your eating habits it is perfectly reasonable to play with a videogame in your videogame and could be reasonable in the near future to play some Zelda in your Starcraft.

Technically a turducken would be a Portal Gun inside Link to the Past inside Starcraft…

The mod appears to have made quite a bit of progress judging by three of their released videos. According to what I can tell: multiplayer is being worked upon, soldiers are related to zerglings by death, and chickens are no longer the most deadly beings of the land. Unfortunately, being that Link and the soldiers are the only units with attacks right now (so it would seem) it suffers from classic Starcraft 2 issues: Terran imba.

What do you think?