I received a gift in the mail yesterday. A beautiful calendar from the Computer History Museum. I've actually been planning on creating a vintage computer calendar with the computers from the Personal Computer Museum. The gift is nice, the calendar is great, but I'm more excited about the card that came with it. It's a Google card. If you've ever received one of these cards then you know how I excited I am. Why? Well first of all, it's from Google - do I need to say more? It's also completely Google in terms of simplicity. No copyright notice, no ISBN or UPC code. Just "Google", in colour, with a little "TM" symbol. I have it at my desk. I'm showing it to co-workers like I did when I got my first 100% perfect test in grade school. I'm such a geek.
I've also been playing around with Balsamiq. Like the stuff inspired by its name, Balsamiq Mockups are intended to help improve the flavour of your designs. If you've ever designed a web page or software user interface on a napkin, then you know exactly what this tool does -- only better. I never thought anything could be better than paper but this actually trumps it. Not only that, but you don't need to go through the process of scanning your napkin or paper into the computer you simply tell it to produce a PNG file.
Yesterday I felt better after getting the Google card but not before I realized I dented my car. I was putting away my original tires after getting the snows installed and I dropped the one tire. It fell, "grazing" the back quarter panel of my car leaving a dent around the size of my fist which should soon follow anyways. Hate that.
My week of hell with the JCI Brantford Santa Claus Parade is soon coming to end - and it couldn't be soon enough.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
3D Gaming, Swap Meets and Toes
I like free stuff - heck who doesn't? So that's why I was excited to find out my buddy Neil had managed to arrange some great free prizes from the likes of AMD, iZ3D and Blitz Games (among others). Of course, nothing is really free right? But all he's asking is that you fill out a survey. Call The U-Decide Initiative, the survey is catered to either regular old 2D gamers (like I used to be) or those folks that own true 3D hardware (like me now). Check it out!
So I had a few bucks to burn this past weekend and headed into Brampton for the annual (sort of) CGCC Swap Meet. This group of Canadian Gamers is quite the bunch and I blew my wad in under 15 minutes I think. Wow. It went fast. Got some great Genesis stuff - my collection is taking up more room than I have now. So sad.
And finally a note of caution. Because I'm a computer programmer and casual gamer by trade, you'd think that I'd be out of harms way for any kind of physical mishap on the job, right? Well ... running the Personal Computer Museum means lugging around old things and yep, you guessed it - I dropped a 19" CRT on my foot. The worst part? I left it to its own devices and now it's infected. Doctors, pills, bone scans and a bit of radiation later and I'll be fine ... but don't be a dolt like me and leave it. It got so bad a few weeks ago I took a drill to my toe. But you don't want to read about that here.
So I had a few bucks to burn this past weekend and headed into Brampton for the annual (sort of) CGCC Swap Meet. This group of Canadian Gamers is quite the bunch and I blew my wad in under 15 minutes I think. Wow. It went fast. Got some great Genesis stuff - my collection is taking up more room than I have now. So sad.
And finally a note of caution. Because I'm a computer programmer and casual gamer by trade, you'd think that I'd be out of harms way for any kind of physical mishap on the job, right? Well ... running the Personal Computer Museum means lugging around old things and yep, you guessed it - I dropped a 19" CRT on my foot. The worst part? I left it to its own devices and now it's infected. Doctors, pills, bone scans and a bit of radiation later and I'll be fine ... but don't be a dolt like me and leave it. It got so bad a few weeks ago I took a drill to my toe. But you don't want to read about that here.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tetris, Prince's, Booty, and Pee
It's been too long since I've written -- sorry about that. Just hasn't been a lot to talk about but now there is almost too much!
First off, we're planning a Guinness World Record attempt for the Most Participants in a Tetris Tournament on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the Personal Computer Museum. Interested people can find out more and pre-register at TetrisTournament.ca. Where else can you be part of a World Record?
I finally got around to playing Prince of Persia. Yeah- the first one. Oh no -- that's not right. The second incarnation - on the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube. I actually played most of it on my PS3 but anyways, it was interesting. Frustrating at times-- enough to almost make me want to quit but glad I continued and finished the bugger.
I moved right onto something brand new - Ratchet and Clank Future: Quest for Booty and that was a great 4 hours.... but that was it. Now I have to wait over a year for more. :( Oh well, love that series.
Nothing to do with games but man did this morning suck. First, I go to take some letters to the post office--but the one I go to that is closer to me is not open until 9am (and it's 8:23 at this point). I take care of that, and go to drop off a 24 hour urine sample to a clinic....yeah....the thing was fine until I put it on the counter and then LEAKED all over....yeah. Talk about embarrassment. I would say I'm peed off, but that's just wrong.
First off, we're planning a Guinness World Record attempt for the Most Participants in a Tetris Tournament on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the Personal Computer Museum. Interested people can find out more and pre-register at TetrisTournament.ca. Where else can you be part of a World Record?
I finally got around to playing Prince of Persia. Yeah- the first one. Oh no -- that's not right. The second incarnation - on the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube. I actually played most of it on my PS3 but anyways, it was interesting. Frustrating at times-- enough to almost make me want to quit but glad I continued and finished the bugger.
I moved right onto something brand new - Ratchet and Clank Future: Quest for Booty and that was a great 4 hours.... but that was it. Now I have to wait over a year for more. :( Oh well, love that series.
Nothing to do with games but man did this morning suck. First, I go to take some letters to the post office--but the one I go to that is closer to me is not open until 9am (and it's 8:23 at this point). I take care of that, and go to drop off a 24 hour urine sample to a clinic....yeah....the thing was fine until I put it on the counter and then LEAKED all over....yeah. Talk about embarrassment. I would say I'm peed off, but that's just wrong.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Games for Windows
Microsoft loves to win in every business they are in. When they moved into the video game console space with the original Xbox they knew they weren't going to win right away, but they did manage to sell something like 24 million Xbox's. Not bad for a first outing. Then, they leapfrogged the competition to get the Xbox 360 into the hands of consumers and it has worked--despite hardware problems. The games are there, and people are loving it.
What they don't seem to be loving these days is PC gaming. We've all read articles spelling out the "Doom" (pardon the pun) of gaming on your computer, and yet many people still play games on their computers. Why not? Computers and gaming go together like marshmallows and Rice Krispies. I'm personally a console gamer, but as curator of the Personal Computer Museum I know the importance of gaming on a computer over the years and that it's still quite strong today.
When Microsoft came calling us looking for help in creating a retrospective view of gaming and computers over the years I was both surprised and honoured. So we're going to be part of the Games for Windows event occurring on June 27, 28 at Toronto's Interaccess gallery at Queen & Ossington.
Computers change quickly. Gaming is changing quickly. It's important to preserve the history as it unfolds---because before you know it, it's gone. These are your memories and your good times. We just help you remember them.
What they don't seem to be loving these days is PC gaming. We've all read articles spelling out the "Doom" (pardon the pun) of gaming on your computer, and yet many people still play games on their computers. Why not? Computers and gaming go together like marshmallows and Rice Krispies. I'm personally a console gamer, but as curator of the Personal Computer Museum I know the importance of gaming on a computer over the years and that it's still quite strong today.
When Microsoft came calling us looking for help in creating a retrospective view of gaming and computers over the years I was both surprised and honoured. So we're going to be part of the Games for Windows event occurring on June 27, 28 at Toronto's Interaccess gallery at Queen & Ossington.
Computers change quickly. Gaming is changing quickly. It's important to preserve the history as it unfolds---because before you know it, it's gone. These are your memories and your good times. We just help you remember them.
Monday, May 12, 2008
I'm through trying to help out! Incompetence wins!
If you know me, you know I'm a pretty mild mannered man. I was brought up to be polite, hold doors open for anyone and say please and thank you. Further to that, my incredible "green" personality means that I'm curious about how things work. I tend to give too much information to people at times but I have found it has helped me more than hinder. Until the last little while. By the way -- this post is NOT about games! :)
The first example is at the movie theaters. In my area, we have something called "The Scene" card. It's a loyalty program that gives you 10% off concessions and eventually, after buying 12,500 regular tickets you get a free admission. Being a person who likes to save time and is also "technology oriented" I usually use those machines to buy my tickets. I swipe my Scene card and get my tickets and I recently bought two combos and received my discount. When you present the "pre-paid" voucher at the Point of Sale (POS) the cashier has always asked me for my Scene card. Why? I think. Then I realize they need to swipe it AGAIN in order to get the transaction total down by 10% to match the value of the concession voucher. If the till says you sold $30 of crap and there is a voucher for $27.... it makes extra work for the bean counters. The first 5 times this happened to me, I had put my Scene card back into my wallet and had to bring it out to present when it was asked for. I finally wised up ... I would bring the card out AHEAD of time to save everyone the grief of me fumbling around in my George Costanza sized wedge that protrudes out of my ass.
SOOOOOOOOO the last time I'm at the theater, I present my card to the little Avril Lavigne look-a-like behind the counter and she looks back at me and says "Are you buying something else because it's too late for me to take this...". HUH? I explain to her that every other time (and I'm talking at least 20-30 times) I've used an ATM voucher I needed my card. "Nope....nope you don't". I explain about the funds not matching. "They fix that in the back". Of course they do. Just don't try and upsize your drink or add a hot dog ... because then the Scene card comes out and a look of horror, shock and confusion will come over the cashier's face as they try and figure out how to take an ATM voucher and cash. It's called SPLIT tender .... 10 years in the POS business will do this too you.
So that wasn't SO bad, only arguing with Avril was not that fun.....so now we go to my constant coffee fix: Tim Horton's. Lately I've had a thing for the Toasted Coconut donut. Don't know why -- I don't ask. As quickly as this fad came on for me, it will go away but for now I like to have one here and there. As far as I know there is only ONE Tim Horton's in the area that carries them. "I'll have a coffee and a toasted coconut donut please" I ask.....I get my coffee and some weird yeast donut with maple topping and then toasted coconut on THAT. NOT what I wanted. So the next time I specify: "and a cake toasted coconut donut". Now ... call me STUPID but I worked as a baker for Mr. Donut when I was a teenager and we made primarily two types of donuts: yeast and cake. I know the difference, why don't they? "What was that?" I heard back on the speaker. A toasted coconut cake donut. So then, I end up with a chocolate cake -- white coconut donut. GEESH!!! So the next time I go back, I get to asking for just "and a toasted coconut donut". Now I am getting "White or chocolate sir?"....ah ha...progress. However, I'm the type that wants to specify to a waitress my "sides" and choices ahead of time to save time and energy for all concerned. So now I say "coffee and a white cake toasted coconut donut". Now I'm getting "Sorry, was that a coconut donut? Filling?".
GRRRRR. I give up. This is why getting an apple fritter is easier, it's hard to screw up what you are asking for. Or skip the donuts, it's what I should be doing in the first place.
The first example is at the movie theaters. In my area, we have something called "The Scene" card. It's a loyalty program that gives you 10% off concessions and eventually, after buying 12,500 regular tickets you get a free admission. Being a person who likes to save time and is also "technology oriented" I usually use those machines to buy my tickets. I swipe my Scene card and get my tickets and I recently bought two combos and received my discount. When you present the "pre-paid" voucher at the Point of Sale (POS) the cashier has always asked me for my Scene card. Why? I think. Then I realize they need to swipe it AGAIN in order to get the transaction total down by 10% to match the value of the concession voucher. If the till says you sold $30 of crap and there is a voucher for $27.... it makes extra work for the bean counters. The first 5 times this happened to me, I had put my Scene card back into my wallet and had to bring it out to present when it was asked for. I finally wised up ... I would bring the card out AHEAD of time to save everyone the grief of me fumbling around in my George Costanza sized wedge that protrudes out of my ass.
SOOOOOOOOO the last time I'm at the theater, I present my card to the little Avril Lavigne look-a-like behind the counter and she looks back at me and says "Are you buying something else because it's too late for me to take this...". HUH? I explain to her that every other time (and I'm talking at least 20-30 times) I've used an ATM voucher I needed my card. "Nope....nope you don't". I explain about the funds not matching. "They fix that in the back". Of course they do. Just don't try and upsize your drink or add a hot dog ... because then the Scene card comes out and a look of horror, shock and confusion will come over the cashier's face as they try and figure out how to take an ATM voucher and cash. It's called SPLIT tender .... 10 years in the POS business will do this too you.
So that wasn't SO bad, only arguing with Avril was not that fun.....so now we go to my constant coffee fix: Tim Horton's. Lately I've had a thing for the Toasted Coconut donut. Don't know why -- I don't ask. As quickly as this fad came on for me, it will go away but for now I like to have one here and there. As far as I know there is only ONE Tim Horton's in the area that carries them. "I'll have a coffee and a toasted coconut donut please" I ask.....I get my coffee and some weird yeast donut with maple topping and then toasted coconut on THAT. NOT what I wanted. So the next time I specify: "and a cake toasted coconut donut". Now ... call me STUPID but I worked as a baker for Mr. Donut when I was a teenager and we made primarily two types of donuts: yeast and cake. I know the difference, why don't they? "What was that?" I heard back on the speaker. A toasted coconut cake donut. So then, I end up with a chocolate cake -- white coconut donut. GEESH!!! So the next time I go back, I get to asking for just "and a toasted coconut donut". Now I am getting "White or chocolate sir?"....ah ha...progress. However, I'm the type that wants to specify to a waitress my "sides" and choices ahead of time to save time and energy for all concerned. So now I say "coffee and a white cake toasted coconut donut". Now I'm getting "Sorry, was that a coconut donut? Filling?".
GRRRRR. I give up. This is why getting an apple fritter is easier, it's hard to screw up what you are asking for. Or skip the donuts, it's what I should be doing in the first place.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Moving on up
My blogging is changing a bit and I'm now writing for Ospreyblogs.com and also Torontothumbs.com so make sure you check me out on those sites! I am also continuing to write for Armchair Empire and Brantnow.com and each site has different content because apparently I have too much to say.
I'm currently playing the original Half-Life on the Playstation 2 and other than that, just playing some games I need to review -- nothing too exciting at the moment but there are some upcoming titles that I can't wait for so stay tuned!
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