the dreamer has awoken...

Jan 29, 2010 10:05

Posted by marielwong at www.cnetasia.com

This is a story of a young boy. Well, he used to be a young boy, who at a tender age of 17, because a household name for all those who love pirates. George Hotz, better known as the teen whizz who unlocked the first iPhone has apparently done it again. This time with his pranks directed at Sony.

I mean, everyone wants to own a Playstation 3. Even back in the days when the first PS was out, and I longed to have one, not withstanding its over-the-top price... I just waited a couple of years and I was just one of the regular kids, playing games on my PS.

Anyway, back to young Mr Hotz. The so-called un-hackable reputation that the PS3 has garnered itself, mostly due to its Blu-ray 2.0 compliant player (one of the first) that is perhaps best described as a 'steel jail' for all who wish to crack it.

According to Hotz, and his rather outstanding treasure trove of 'cracka-goodies', he had spent slightly over a month to hack the system, with what he has described as 95% software and 5% hardware. He also admits it was not really a thorough system hack but rather a matter of pulling the wool over the eyes of the PS3. More like duping the system to think that his crack was part of its very own, and thus gaining its trust. Mm.

Not that I advocate piracy but is it really necessary or as Hotz claims, a point of curiosity. What is so bad about earning your own keep and getting originals? As an Xbox 360 gamer (original as the day it was born), I could be emphatic with why Microsoft had to drastically shut out online gamers who had hacked their consoles, or why the PSP GO had to be made with the complication of an in-built memory and with a dramatic price tag. I mean. It is a just a matter of protectionism. But does this win any favorable votes? N.O.

If you walked around Melbourne today, you would see that the most prolific area of sales reside with its game market. EB games which has perhaps the most attractive game offers (my personal opinion) and JB Hi-Fi that sells cheaper than beans CDs... and of course not forgetting the mobile shops strewed around town. The point here would be whether, a hack as this would make us Melburnians rush out to the streets in jubilation. All original. Heck. Even the new iPad (which really has a bad name of choice... what happened to iSlate?), with its joint ebook ventures and audio support from iTunes would push down ghastly prices and perhaps, reduce the number of pirates around.

Of course, this awaits Sony's very own verdict but hey, perhaps it is time for PS3 to really take off, what with the exclusive games it has under its belt?But whether or not this new hack would drive more traffic to purchase the PS3, the point of the matter remains: Are you a pirate at heart, or a pirate to be? Apparently Pirates can be converted overnight. Just be careful. The temptation is great. May the force be with you. 

Now, if you were to have to get married tomorrow, how would you propose? On the same thought, what might you want written in your wedding invitation card? Well, we came across this proposal card that really hit the limits for our pixelated-imagination.

We can almost imagine the Mario Brothers’ wedding march theme and the cute wedding cake couplets that probably has mushrooms and goblins decked out ontop of the cake’s surface.

Who’s getting married? We have a few suggestions for you this season. Take your pick from our latest game catalogue. Please?

Are you ready to rock? Well at least this guy thought so, with his careful calibration of stringing this lego-made guitar that apparently seemed sturdy enough to with-hold all tensions created when served on a rowdy stage.

If you stared hard enough at this image, you might be able to make out the laminated sheets of clear perspex between the lego bricks and varied parts of the guitar, perhaps this guitar might not crumble like how the cookie might. Fast and brittle. Bring this on stage and it would be guaranteed a one-hit wonder, at least with the men who reminisce of their younger days building lego castles in the skies…

Have you ever impulsively bought a certain item, only to regret later after frantically finding the receipt and realizing it had a ‘no return’ policy? Same thing goes with buying virtual items, which in real life, virtually does not exist.

Gamasutra’s Brandon Sheffield goes on to elaborate why this digital form of ‘snake oil’ which is in short, selling of something that is masquerading as something that has worth in itself (alright, think all-in-one miracle pills that do not exactly work), is nothing more than an empty vassal of hot air? <!--More To See-->

Although, one thing he hit home was that we gamers relish in achieving a sense of satisfaction which in itself is intangible. For instance, paying money to go for a thrill ride at the carnival, or donating to charity are very much intangible as well isn’t it? The end point lies in what we value.

Imagine the hours we use to gain a sort of digitalized satisfaction of killing monsters and rescuing helpless princesses and the occasional prince… this is satisfaction that only a true-blooded gamer would understand.

For the wider public, all we can say is that perhaps sticking to purchases that can be hoarded/ kept/ reviewed from time to time might be a better bet. Until then, I will just stay in my designated corner and play Pet Society whilst purchasing credits to buy that coveted cat suit for my precious pet.

Reflecting on one’s past achievements is perhaps the hardest accomplishment a successful person might be able to do. Or rather, often times, do we want to be reminded of the glorious or infamously lengthy days we spent on a certain project/hobby/lifestyle?

Gamesutra’s little WOW Reminiscing Interview reminds us of the 15 years that Blizzard has had whilst infusing itself into the pulsating veins of our hot-blooded gaming world’s blood streams.

Ever since its creation until its ever-expanding expansion packs and long history, the Warcraft series has become more real than it was meant to be – a real-time strategy franchise. This little chat with Samwise Didier and J.Allen Brack is perhaps as epic as epic chats could possibly get.

The word on the streets is that all the behind-the-scenes secrets and potential free-giveaways of Murloch pets could be revealed during this interview to its loyal WOW devotees. Alright. So there are no free Murlochs, but there will be lots of conversing about the company’s history and how Warcraft evolved to its staggeringly mammoth MMORPG status today.