Just posted a new video detailing the steps involved in adding drum mute to your "Rock Band" drums. It is a very simple and inexpensive process, plus, it really adds some bling to your pads. Head on over to YouTube to check it out, and be sure to add a comment if you tried this for yourself! You can view the video below, or click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBv-o8D03ac
As I am sure everyone has noticed, there has been a extreme lack of activity here at the blog. There are several reasons for this. I will briefly touch on the to get everyone up to date.
First, I recently changed internet providers. For the past 10 years, I have been stuck with archaic dial up. About a month ago, I decided to take a chance and try out Verizon's NationalAccess wireless internet service. While I am not running speeds comparable to cable or even DSL, my connection is still about 4 to 5 times faster than dial up. As small of an increase as that may seem, it has made a HUGE difference in my cyber life. It is much easier to do things online when you are not constrained by dial up speeds. I would highly recommend this service to anyone who, like me, has no other options for internet service.
Second, My computer recently went haywire. I Couldn't get it to boot up. It was a corrupt OS file that was the culprit, quite possibly due to an improper shutdown. So to remedy that, I went to Wal-Mart and picked up a 298 dollar Emachines computer. I took the hard drive out of my old computer and set it as a slave in my new one. I now have all my old files, as well as adding improved functionality, such as a DVD burner, 1 gig of memory, a 2.1 ghz processor, and a 160 gig hard drive. So in the end, it was a win/win for me (at least until the credit card bill comes in).
Third, Kel and I have been getting our YouTube venture off the ground. With this comes the task of learning new video editing software (in our case Adobe Premiere Elements). This is beginning to take up some time, along with carrying our camcorders everywhere just in case we happen to catch a "YouTube moment". Additionally, we are also in the process of getting a Flickr page off the ground. This may be the easiest thing we are working on, as Flickr is pretty much a piece of cake to maintain.
Fourth, possibly the biggest culprit for my hiatus, playing XBOX.....and more specifically, Rock Band. This game by itself takes up most of my free time. If you haven't tried it, you should. Then you can have no life like me :-)
So there you have it, my excuses for not blogging more. I finally have everything in place everywhere else, so hopefully, there will be much more frequent updates.....now, if I only had something to write about!
About FPS Creator
Over three years in development FPS Creator sets a new benchmark in the game creation market by providing an easy-to-use yet highly flexible editing environment. As its name implies this is a tool for creating action-packed FPS games with no programming or 3D modelling knowledge required.
Using an intuitive and visual Windows interface you literally paint your game world into the scene. A vast range of 3D elements are included allowing you to paint hallways, corridors, gantries, walls, doors, access tunnels, ceilings, lifts, transporters, stairs and more. Segments intelligently attach themselves to each other - paint two corridor pieces side-by-side and they'll snap together seamlessly. Switch to 3D mode and you drop in on your scene for pixel perfect placement of 3D entities. Place a light-switch on the wall and it'll intelligently control the dynamic lighting in the room.
Key Features
Create First Person Shooter games quickly and easily
Use intelligent building blocks to create game levels
No programming necessary
Open design allows for endless possibilities
Import your own media (sounds, 3D models, textures, shaders)
One click and FPS Creator builds you a final stand alone exe file
3D Engine supporting Direct X9.0c
Virtually every single aspect of the game is controlled via script files you can edit
90+ page manual, fully searchable and printer ready in PDF format
Hundreds of 3D Objects included
We appreciate that not everyone has the skill to create their own 3D content before starting to build a game - which is why FPS Creator comes with two theme packs: Sci-fi and World War 2.
There are over 300 segment building blocks included, over 500 entity objects (such as desk lamps, health packs, crates), 62 different fully animated enemies, 36 weapons and 66 different AI scripts to control them all.
The manual also includes guides on importing your own media to create prefabs, weapons, segments and entities. You don't have to use the 3D objects we have given you, adding your own is quick and easy. Changing the textures the models use is just as painless, so you could take one of the supplied barrel models and re-texture it to create any number of them all in your own style.
More Features
Fully Windows based editing environment
Complete Physics System under your control
Internet and LAN Death Match style games supported
Classic FPS game experience
Create multi-level games (up to 50 levels)
Visual Waypoint editing, enemies can follow multiple waypoints
Built-in game optimisation profiler analyses frame rates, poly counts and more
Easy editing of game element's settings
Game elements include, weapons, ammo, enemies, picks ups, lifts, teleports, ladders, trigger points
Game menu editing facilities
Pick up weapons from dead enemies
Optional Pixel shader support
AI scripting language for total freedom to customise
Set texture quality and effect levels
Cube mapping effects
Automatic 3D Universe construction
PVS - Portal visibility system (for fast rendering of scenes)
Automatic Light Mapping (quick and full)
Small game files are easily swapped
Map segments "click together" - you can literally draw your levels
Dynamic and Static lights illuminate your game
Animated decals for fire, smoke, water, blood splats, etc
Keyboard short-cuts to most popular commands for fast development
Players can hold up to 9 different weapons at once
Guns include optional sniper zoom mode
Crouch, Run, Lean left / right, Jump and full mouse-look available
Available now
You can order FPS Creator online.
Do you think castlevania would make an good movie? Some people do.
Anderson Discusses Castlevania
Will Simon Belmont "whip it good?" How much involvement will Konami have? Answers within.
by Chris Carle
June 29, 2006 - Paul W.S. Anderson has made a career of transmuting the world of videogames to the silver screen. His resume includes Mortal Kombat and the Resident Evil films, and he's currently working on adaptations of Castlevania and the Atari hit Driver. In short, he is the perfect keynote speaker for a conference entitled the "Hollywood and Video Games Summit." We caught up with him at this event recently and asked him about the upcoming Castlevania film. "It's going to explain how the Belmont clan and Dracula first come into contact, so in a way, it's going to be a genesis story of the clash between the Belmonts and Dracula," Anderson explained. "It's going to span the ages as well, which is one of the fun things about the games. There are Castlevania games in the 1500s, there are Castlevania games in the Second World War, there are Castlevania in the future, and we're going to take the same kind of approach. It's going to be a very mythic story spanning hundreds of years, but the key characters are going to be Dracula and Simon Belmont. And the whip is going to be intact, although there'll be lots of other weaponry as well."When asked what aspects of the game he would retain, Anderson answered, "I was a big fan of Castlevania originally as a 2D game. I think it's had a very patchy transition into 3D, although the last two 3D games have been pretty damn good. What I particularly liked about the last two games has been the artwork that's accompanied them. I think it's got a very lush, Romantic, gothic look to it, and that's very much going to be the look of the movie. And also, the music is excellent. I think that's a very strong aspect of the videogames, and that's something we're very keen [on]."Fans of the game may wonder how much input Konami, the game maker, will have in the production. Addressing this question, Anderson responded, "Whenever I get involved in a videogame adaptation, I sit down with the people that created it, and we sat down and had a very big meeting with Konami, and I got complimented on my use of chopsticks, so I got respect. We talked about the things we wanted to keep intact. Very much, it was the artwork and it was the music, so if we can use the same composer, I think we will try to."Anderson is currently in the middle of production on Resident Evil: Extinction, and then will turn his attentions to Castlevania. For more information on the film as it develops, keep your browser pointed to IGN FilmForce.
The new Rock Band downloads are out today, and they just keep getting better and better. They are pwning GH3 and will apparently continue to do so.
The new tracks are:
- "The Number of the Beast"- Iron Maiden*
-"Die! All Right" - The Hives
-"Interstate Love Song" - Stone Temple Pilots
*Denotes cover version of song
As usual, they are available for the usual price of 160 MS points, and are well worth every penny (or point, as the case may be).
The Number of the Beast, which is also featured on Guitar Hero 3, is much easier to play on Rock Band. While some people may like the finger numbing challenge of millions of 3 chord notes
in the GH3 version, I definitely prefer Rock Band's take on the Iron Maiden classic. A song is usually more fun to play when you don't have to worry about your fingers drawing up and falling off your hand!
But don't take my word for it, make sure to download these tracks today. Final Verdict 4.5/5
