Dust Art

Interventions - The Third Review

Today it is the turn of the Playstation 3 to face the scrutiny of the review. Although it is not yet released, much has been released about the machine itself. I guess i will have to speculate a little on it however...

As before, I shall take the PS3 and assess it on the following characteristics:

Console Ergonomics/Aesthetics (CEA)
Console Specs (CS)
Controllers (CTs)
Games (GM)
Advancement From Previous Console (APC)

Playstation 3 =

CEA = The PS3 certainly gains maximum points on its look. All the curves and angles make it look very modern and gives you that feeling that this is not to be messed with. Maybe a little awkward to locate due to the shape, but none the less not difficult as the machine is QUITE small.
Rating = 8/10

CS = By far the most impressive of all the three. Runs on 7 (Yes, SEVEN) 3.2gHz CPU's (The famous CELL IBM Processor that many had spoke of for a long time), so no doubt the machine will have no problems at all in regards to loading etc. Were it not for heating issues, it would have ran the full 8-core compliment. The graphics chip is a RSX running at 550MHz,producing 1.8TeraFLOPS of performance. Simply astounding.
Rating = 10/10

CTs = From what i have seen the controllers are very good, and basically the DualShock 2 controllers, but lighter, faster... all the usual stuff, as well as little ergonomic changes here and there. The only gripe i have is that they have removed the vibration function from the controllers, but they do have a valid reason, citing that it interferes with the sensors (As with the others, it is wireless). There have been a few minor changes but on the whole it should be very good. Also the only controller that can interchange from wireless - wired by the use of a USB cable .
Rating = 9/10

GM = This is quite speculative at the moment, bt some of the releases look very juicy indeed. The likes include Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom and - Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII certainly look very nice. Also, supposedly Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will also get a release, which would look very very VERY nice on the PS3. Along also come the familiars of Ridge Racer 7 etc...
Rating = 9/10

APC = The step is MASSIVE, and certainly the bigest of all the three. The PS2 was the most inferior of the three consoles technically last time out (Running but a 294mHz CPU.) Bu they seem to have made up for the mistakes this time round. Having said that i cant quite prove this as yet because i haven't played one. I suppose only the release will tell how good (or not) it really is.
Rating = 10/10

Total = 46/50 = 92% - Excellent score, but the release itself could move this score up or down a tad so really it's somewhere in the region of 92+/-5%

Recommended Games: As above in the Games part of the review...

Sights you may not see in a lifetime

Gender Dictionary

WOMEN'S ENGLISH:

Yes = No

No = Yes

Maybe = No

I'm sorry = You'll be sorry

We need = I want

It's your decision = The correct decision should be obvious by now

Do what you want = You'll pay for this later

We need to talk = I need to complain

Sure...go ahead = I don't want you to

I'm not upset = Of course I'm upset, you moron!

You're ... so manly = You need a shave and you sweat a lot

You're certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about??

Be romantic, turn out the lights = I have flabby thighs

Do you love me? = I'm going to ask for something expensive

How much do you love me? = I did something today that you're really not going to like

I'll be ready in a minute = Kick off your shoes and find a good game on TV

Is my butt fat? = Tell me I'm beautiful

You have to learn to communicate = Just agree with me

Are you listening to me?? = Too late, you're dead


MEN'S ENGLISH:

I'm hungry = I'm hungry

I'm sleepy = I'm sleepy

I'm tired = I'm tired

Do you want to go to a movie? = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

Can I take you out to dinner? = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

Can I call you sometime? = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

May I have this dance? = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

Nice dress = Nice cleavage!

You look tense, let me give you a massage = I want to fondle you

What's wrong? = I guess sex tonight is out of the question

I'm bored = Do you want to have sex?

I love you = Let's have sex now

I love you, too = Okay, I said it...we'd better have sex now!

Let's talk = I am trying to impress you by showing that I am a deep person and maybe then you'd like to have sex with me

Will you marry me? = I want to make it illegal for you to have sex with other guys

I don't think that blouse and that skirt go well together = I am gay

More Interventions

More from the console wars - today it is the turn of the Nintendo Wii to face the scrutiny of the blog. As before, the console is rated on the following characteristics:

Console Ergonomics/Aesthetics (CEA)
Console Specs (CS)
Controllers (CTs)
Games (GM)
Advancement From Previous Console (APC)

Nintendo Wii:

CEA = The best in terms of both looks and ergonomics. It is very small, so can fit almost anywhere where it is is feasible. The differing lights from both the buttons and (Yes, AND)
the disk tray itself look very futuristic and cool.
Rating = 10/10

CS = Not quite as impressive as its competitors, but still good. Nintendo has never been known for making consoles at the top end of the technical market, and it has never really been important (though the Gamecube was the middle marker in this generation). The Wii's Broadway IBM CPU runs at a *mere* 729mHz (ironically the X-Box was 733!). The GPU runs at 243mHz. This is the same at that of the Gamecube but due to the rest of the system, it can run 1.5x faster than before.
Rating = 7/10

CTs = This one surprised me. When i first heard about the Wiimotes, i thought "Hmm, not entirely convinced." However, Nintendo have in fact found what i believe to be the best controller of any console available at the minute. The imitation of actions by the user is first rate (Except when playing tennis :( .) Brilliant. Very lightweight and perfectly sized as well.
Rating = 10/10

GM = The games are very good, as has always been the case with Nintendo (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess in particular is a work of art!) Wii Sports is one of the most addictive games i have played in recent years. Nintendo seems to have a little less support than the others though. Then again, it's Nintendo. They don't need as much support. The jury are still out to lunch on this one i guess.
Rating = 9/10

APC = Well...it's not as large a step up as some would have hoped, but nonetheless the difference is noticeable. CPU going from 485->729mHz isn't too bad i guess. The graphics have improved a lot. They have decided to move away from the GC disk format,which is slightly annoying, but not disasterous. It's a case of "Could have been better but they haven't made a bad job of it at all" for the Wii.
Rating = 7/10

Total = 43/50 = 86% = Definately the choice of those who just want games to be a whole lot of FUN

Recommended Games: Wii Sports; Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess; Need for Speed: Carbon.

Next Time, it's the turn of the PS3 - Have to guess a little on this one...

Little Consoling Intervention

I thought i might as well enter the debate on the new next-gen consoles. As we all know, these are:

X-Box 360 - Microsoft
Nintendo Wii - Nintendo
PlayStation 3 - Sony


I shall take each of these in turn, one per post, and assess them on the following characteristics:

Console Ergonomics/Aesthetics (CEA)
Console Specs (CS)
Controllers (CTs)
Games (GM)
Advancement From Previous Console (APC)

Today = The X-Box 360

X-Box 360 =

CEA = The 360 is quite bulky, but not as so as the original X-Box. It is a little on the hefty side, and the size of the transformer is silly (imagine Gamecube, but twice as big). It does look visably pleasing though and fits the modern style very well
Rating = 7/10

CS = Impressive. Runs a three-core of 3.2gHz Intel CPU's, giving very fast load-up times and impressive speeds. The graphics chip is a specially designed aTi GPU which had not even been seen on PC's until recently.
Rating = 9/10

CTs = Better than the last, the 360 controllers are a lot lighter and easier to use than before. The wireless controllers in particular respond excellently to user actions, i havent yet seen a blip. Still a little bulky though.
Rating = 8.5/10

GM = A good selection, especially with the likes of Project Gotham Racing 3 and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. More supported than the X-Box was, especially in it's fledgling days.
Rating = 9/10

APC = Overall it is a big step, as the X-Box began with very little gaming support, despite being the best technically. Although that is not the case here, the X-Box 360 still stands a very good chance of doing very well in the market.
Rating = 8/10

Total = 41.5/50 = 83% - Good score indeed, the 360 is probably the best serious gamers choice.

Purple & Brown

Here's something new that Glitch pointed me towards the other day - thought i'd put it up - since i aint put any vid's up yet - Enjoy. Its called Purple and Brown.

Thank you Glitch!

Bruce Davies Coca-Cola Advert at Euro 96

Problem Solved

The Value of a Drink

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel shame Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams . If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
~ Jack Handy

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your bra and panties.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."
~Frank Sinatra

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."
~ Henny Youngman

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.

"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not"
~ Stephen Wright

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.

"When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!"
~ Brian O'Rourke

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
~ Benjamin Franklin

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
~ Dave Barry

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.

"To some ! it's a six-pack, to me it's a Support Group. Salvation in a can!"
~ Dave Howell

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

And now for a little News

Einstein's Riddle

ARE YOU IN THE TOP 2% OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD? SOLVE THE RIDDLE AND FIND OUT.

There are no tricks, just pure logic, so good luck and don't give up.

1. In a street there are five houses, painted five different colours.
2. In each house lives a person of different nationality
3. These five homeowners each drink a different kind of beverage, smoke different brand of cigar and keep a different pet.

THE QUESTION: WHO OWNS THE FISH?

HINTS

1. The Brit lives in a red house.
2. The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
3. The Dane drinks tea.
4. The Green house is next to, and on the left of the White house.
5. The owner of the Green house drinks coffee.
6. The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
7. The owner of the Yellow house smokes Dunhill.
8. The man living in the centre house drinks milk.
9. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
10. The man who smokes Blends lives next to the one who keeps cats.
11. The man who keeps horses lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.
12. The man who smokes Blue Master drinks beer.
13. The German smokes Prince.
14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
15. The man who smokes Blends has a neighbour who drinks water.

ALBERT EINSTEIN WROTE THIS RIDDLE EARLY DURING THE 19th CENTURY. HE SAID THAT 98% OF THE WORLD POPULATION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT.

Einstein's Riddle - ANSWER

Kingdom Hearts 2

Kingdom hearts 2 is a very good game, below is a review.

Pre-story: the game continues from KH1 and KH:Chain of Memories. You begin the game as Roxas, a 15yo Boy who lives in Twilight Town. Over six days, you find out about Roxas and his friends. Many begin the game nott having played the first, so i'll say no more...

Story: 10/10 - When i first played the 3 hour long intro (yes, you heard me right!) i hated it.. it was too long. But i grew to love the story so i forgot how long it was. Sign of a good RPG.

Graphics: 9.5/10: - The PS2 has been more than stretched, but that didn't stop Square Enix from going that bit bit further than before. Not as visually breathtaking as Final Fantasy XII will be, but nonetheless still excellent.

Music: 8/10 - Very good, but some of the tracks were simply taken from the first game.

Originality: 9/10 - The reaction addition to the battle system is brilliant. React fast enough at critical moments, and monsters/bosses become so much easier.

Longevity: 10/10 - 3 different levels of difficulty mean you'll be at it for days on end. Easy mode the best as you can take in the story without having too much hassle with the game.

Total : 46.5/50 - This game is excellent. Simple as. Kingdom Hearts truly is light. Or is it? Better than the first? Hard to say, as this is a game in its own right.

More reviews coming soon from the big S...

For now, goodbye and... SUPERNOVA!!! <9998>

Anger Management

When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don't take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don't know.I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I'd forgotten to make. I found the number and dialed it.

A man answered, saying "Hello."I politely said, "This is Chris. Could I please speak with Robyn Carter?"Suddenly a manic voice yelled out in my ear "Get the right f***ing number!" and the phone was slammed down on me. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so rude .

When I tracked down Robyn's correct number to call her, I found that I had accidentally transposed the last two digits.After hanging up with her, I decided to call the 'wrong' number again.When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled "You're an asshole!" and hung up.

I wrote his number down with the word 'asshole' next to it, and put it in my desk drawer. Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I'd call him up and yell, "You're an asshole!" It always cheered me up.

When Caller ID was introduced, I thought my therapeutic 'asshole' calling would have to stop. So, I called his number and said, "Hi,this is John Smith from the telephone company. I'm calling to see if you're familiar with our Caller ID Program?"He yelled "NO!" and slammed down the phone. I quickly called him back and said, "That's because you're an asshole!" and hung up.

One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking Spot. Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I'd been waiting for that spot, but the idiot ignored me. I noticed a "For Sale" sign in his back window, so I wrote down his number. A couple of days later, right after calling the first asshole (I had is number on speed dial,) I thought that I'd better call the BMW asshole, too.

I said, "Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?"He said, "Yes, it is." I asked, "Can you tell me where I can see it?" He said, "Yes, I live at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax. It's a yellow ranch, and the car's parked right out in front."

I asked, "What's your name?" He said, "My name is Don Hansen," I asked, "When's a good time to catch you, Don?" He said, "I'm home every evening after five."

I said, "Listen, Don, can I tell you something?"

He said, "Yes?"

I said, "Don, you're an asshole!"

Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too.

Now, when I had a problem, I had two assholes to call.

Then I came up with an idea. I called asshole #1. He said, "Hello." I said, "You're an asshole!" (But I didn't hang up.) He asked, "Are you still there?" I said, "Yeah," He screamed, "Stop calling me," I said, "Make me," He asked, "Who are you?" I said, "My name is Don Hansen." He said, "Yeah? Where do you live?" I said, "Asshole, I live at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax, a yellow ranch, I have a black Beamer parked in front." He said, "I'm coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers." I said, "Yeah, like I'm really scared, asshole," and hung up.

Then I called Asshole #2. He said, "Hello?" I said, "Hello, asshole," He yelled, "If I ever find out who you are..." I said, "You'll what?" He exclaimed, "I'll kick your ass," I answered, "Well, asshole, here's your chance. I'm coming over right now."

Then I hung up and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax, and that I was on my way over there to kill my gay lover.

Then I called Channel 9 News about the gang war going down in Oaktree Blvd. in Fairfax.

I quickly got into my car and headed over to Fairfax. I got there just in time to watch two assholes beating the crap out of each other in front of six cop cars, an overhead news helicopter and surrounded by a news crew.

NOW I feel much better. Anger management really does work.

Tinned Food Sculptures

Rubix Art

Aren't Friends Great?

And this is why you should never drink with your friends.:)

More Sephiroth...

Hey pepl, and hey Glitch. My broadband has just went online so i will be doing more blogging from now on. Mwahaha. Next is a lil review of the widely acclaimed Kingdom Hearts II, which i have been playing these past few weeks.

Until then, enjoy

20sephiroth06

A bunch of pictures you've got to see