Does anyone care about high definition?

High-definition DVD players have finally arrived. They are offering unprecedented picture quality. But movies and video clips are increasingly being watched on low-definition portable devices like video iPods, handheld media players or even mobile phones. So has high-definition DVD come to late? Many companies have found that, generally, people are willing to trade quality for portability. Quality isn't everything, and many people feel that these high definition companies are making alot of fuss about nothing. If the actual clip/film being watched is rubbish itself, then high quality would'nt make any difference. There was a time when cinemas were hugley interested in making there screens high definition, but these days people arn't that bothered by cinema quality, the screen is so big and the sound so loud it dosnt really matter. I personally feel to much fuss is being made, but the sales figures will tell.

University opens video games course

London's Goldsmiths college has appointed a professor to head a new masters course in computer games. Students will be able to learn cutting-edge games programming skills and have a chance to create their own game. The course is aimed at City programers as well as computer graduates. The games industry is worth more than Hollywood and television put together and many people feel the UK is missing out on this revenue. Some of the features of the course include multi-core programming (the technology used in the latest games consoles.) Mr Latham is the founder of a large UK computer development company which developed hit games such as 'The Thing'. The course begins in autumn 2007.

NTL is now Virgin Media

Cable firm NTL has renamed itself 'Virgin Media' as it trys to increase competition against Sky.
The rebranding came after NTL bought mobile phone network Virgin Mobile last year, and cable firm Telewest at the end of 2005. Virgin Media is offering customers a number of TV, broadband, and both fixed-line and mobile phone services. The new name is a fresh start for NTL, which has admitted that it suffered from weak customer service in the past. Many people feel that the service has actually come off worse, with the network losing the Sky channels, causing many people to change to the Sky service. People are finding Virgin Media to be overcomplicated and are abandoning it. They need to get themselves sorted!!!

The race is on!!!!

The games consoles race is now in full swing now the PS3 has been released. The 3 consoles are now in direct competition, with World sales showing the figures. The Xbox 360, the first to be released has sold about 10.4 million consoles world wide. This is no surprise as it was the first to be released by about a year and it is a fantastic console. The Nintendo Wii, the second to be released has sold 5.1 million units. (This figure is from the end of 2006 and has risen drastically since then). The PS3 has sold 1.71 million units worldwide. It was released in America quite a while before it was released over here, which will have an effect. Some think the PS3 isnt as popular, partly due to its huge price (£425). Both the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii sold out on their release date, but the PS3 is still in stores nearly a week after its release date. I think Playstation and Sony need to have a think about how much money alot of their customers have. For other games console sales figures visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console_sales

Backwards Compatability

The PS3 is set for its European Launch this friday (23rd March). As with all new generation consoles, Playstation has released a list of the older games that will work on the new console, but will there actually be that many? With the launch of the Xbox 360 it was said that many Xbox games would work on it and a medium sized list of games was released. But when people got hold of the console and tried to play their older games, many on the list did'nt work. Only now are many of the games beginning to work, through downloads from Xbox Live. This annoyed many people, including myself. The Nintendo Wii on the other hand, appears to work for all Nintendo Gamecube games. In my opinion, the Wii basically has a Gamecube in it!!! It seems, from what has been said by SONY, that 1,700 games from the PS2 will work on the PS3. But will what happened to the 360 happen to the PS3? We will have to wait and see.

Computer Games 'stimulate learning'

Popular computer games could become part of the school curriculum after researchers have found they have educational value. The study showed that some simulation and adventure games like Sim City and RollerCoaster Tycoon help develop children's strategic thinking and planning skills. In these games, for example Roller Coaster Tycoon, the aim of the game is to create the most successful and efficient theme park possible. The investigation was done on 700 children aged 7 to 16 also found that children preferred to play games in pairs or small groups, increasing the childrens social skills. Titles used in the experiment include:-
-Age of Empires II
-Championship Manager
-City Traders
-F1 Championship Racing
-Freddi Fish
-Lego Alpha Team
-Legoland
-Micro Racers
-Putt-Putt Enters the Race
-RollerCoaster Tycoon
-Sim City 3000
-The Sims
-Worms United

BBCHDTV?

At the moment, there is alot of fuss about HDTV. Companys like Sky are pushing sales of their HDTV. But now the BBC has done a survey that shows overwhelming support for the companys HDTV channels to be available for all digital television platforms, including freeview. People want the same quality television as other people have and the BBC supports them. The BBC is airing new series Planet Earth in HD and they want this and other shows to be more widely available. Visit this link for more information...
http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=1655

Alot of fuss about nothing?

In recent years, big companys in film (Disney) and big companys in music (Universal) have been in uproar about film and music copying over the internet. These companies believe that sharing music and films over the internet is causing the industries major damage and they are attempting to stop it. Unfortunatly for them, there is not much about what they are doing that is actually illegal. Basically they are breaking copyright laws, but there isnt much these companies can do as copying and sharing over the internet has grown out of control. itunes, Limewire and Kazaa and among the top compaines involved. Companies like Universal are claiming that the music industry itself is in jepardy. But alot of people are saying these companies are making alot of fuss about nothing. Basically the same thing happened when VHS came out. Companies where in uproar saying that VHS would ruin the industry then, which it didnt. Sure people where taping off the television, but the companies where getting in on the profit too, by selling official videos. The same thing will happen now, people still buy official CD's and DVD's, so that they have a physical product, these companies are just worried there profit might dip like half a percent, I feel its a lot of fuss about nothing.

Unlocking PSP's

Recently, computer hackers have found a new way to enable PSP's to play unofficial disks/ movies and to write their own programs. The main culprits are internet hackers Noobz, Team C+D, and a group led by PSP hacker Dark Alex. Sony are coming down hard on these hackers, but why? All they want to do is personalise their consoles more than usual, I believe that the main reason that companies like Sony are hugley against this is that they don't earn out of it. Should they really care that much? These people have paid for their PSP's, so its their property and they should be able to do what they wish with it. To read up on this, visit this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6397797.stm

Console Wars

A new generation of consoles is at war, and once again its Nintendo, with the Wii, Playstation with the PS3 and Xbox with the Xbox 360. Currently the 360 is leading, with 10.4 million units shifted, but the 360 has been released considerably longer which obviously will make a difference. Followed by the Nintendo Wii with 4.4 millions units sold. More would have been sold, but the console hasnt been released long and there is a shortage, with thousands of people still waiting to get theirs. And 3rd, the PS3, but as it hasnt been released everywhere yet its not a fair number. The PS3 has sold 1.26 million, but at the price of £425 for the 60 gigabyte model its hardly surprising. Visit this link for sales figures of these and other consoles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console_sales

Real Human faces in games 'next year'?

Super-realistic games which could feature REAL human faces are said to be at the most 2 years away by top game developers. At the current stage, games are said to be nearly real, but not. They are nearly there, and advancing all the time. One of the next stages in putting real faces into games is putting acurate human emotions into the action. Adding proper human emotions into the games will bring the player into the game even more, making them feel what the games charcter feels. For more info visit : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6376479.stm

Death to Joy pads?

The Nintendo Wii, as we all know, no longer uses joy pads as controllers. Nintendo have 'entered the next generation of gaming' and now the main controllers for their consoles are 'The Wii Remote' and 'The Nunchuck', although classic themed joy pads are still available. The Wii remote is shaped like a T.V remote, and for good reason, as many of the games for the Wii involve pointers, which you move by moving the remote. They can be used as aimers for guns or any other weapon. This also enables the remote to be held like many other things .e.g. golf club, tennis racket, boxing glove etc. The remote also has a wrist strap as players can get carried away and if they where to loose their grip on the remote someone could get hurt. The Nunchuck plugs into the Wii remote and has the analogue stick for movement and 2 other buttons on it. They are conected via a long wire, enabling lots of movement between them for such games as boxing, where each control represents a boxing glove. These features involve the game player more than ever before, bringing them into the gaming experience in new and exciting ways, and off course, as most games require alot of movement, playing the Wii could be considered a form of exercise. So the change from Joy Pad controls, in my eyes is a good one, but there are times when joy pads are needed, so I feel both should be available. Any thoughts?

OINK

OINK

Hello theeeeeeere

Just thought I would tell ya a bit about me. Im really into classic rock music (The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Grateful Dead, The Who etc). Really into classic cars too, perticularly aircooled VW's (beetles and campers). Love films (Original Italian Job, Cheech and Chong films, Yellow Submarine etc). Like games too, like the Mario games and the Halo trilogies, although gone off Halo abit at the moment.

OINK

Hitler

Just a quick post, as much as I hate Hitler, I thank him for helping to start the company Volkswagen. For that, he must have had an element of coolness in him. I love classic aircooled VW's and if it wasnt for him we wudnt have them.