Mass Effect harmful for kids

A good day for posts today, the next one is about Mass Effect and that is harmful for kids. This statement comes from two people who are doing something in the US. Why is Mass Effect not good for kids (the game was rated M for Mature in the US and also here in Europe it got a high age rating)? Well because of the 15 seconds "sex" scene or let's say "a cutscene in which the characters copulate in full digital nudity". Wow seeing a naked ass from the side is now full digital nudity? There are just a few parts of the text where I want to make a comment.

"We never shy away from sexuality in the media.": As far as I know the US is not very open to that topic compared to other country's like Germany (where you could have naked girls in the game as long as you can not shoot anybody and there is no blood) or Austria (we are nice to games and there are almost no restrictions people could be naked and there can be blood and shooting stuff is always welcome).

"Allow homosexuality to be on par with heterosexuality and heterosexuality outside of its proper context of marriage": Welcome to the year 2008 we are not any longer in the year 1808. That's strange I don't know, but as far as I can remember Brokeback Mountain was received very well so that topic can be used in movies but by no way in games? In Mass Effect it's even only Man-Alien Woman or Woman-Alien Woman (technically the race don't have any gender). I don`t need to see Man-Man action, but people can do or be like they want so why characters can`t be homosexual in games? The second thing in that line is the lovely “outside of its proper context of marriage” and here again 1808 is long over. That's why I don't care much about religion because of things that where made up a few hundred years ago.

"when you expose children, whose brains and personalities are still developing, to degrading and harmful material, you've got to believe that's going to have an effect on the way that they view themselves, others, and the world.": First of all the game is rated M for Mature, second of all the “sex” scene is almost at the end I want to see a kid go that far in the game while having to make a lot of decisions and can choose between good and bad and can see the result of bad and good decisions.

"This is about [BioWare] making as much money as it can. It's putting elements in its games which they think will help them sell more games. They don't care about what they're doing to kids.": M Rated. Wow making money thats evil how can someone make money and even worse putting things in the game that gamers could like. Flower power, no power to the money and we need only air and love to life? It's a normal business sure they want to make money otherwise they lose there jobs and there so stupid things like food or rent that people have to pay, besides of that they are not doing that only for the money also because they care about games.

"People try to raise a straw-man argument and say that people from my perspective are saying that everyone who views something is going to go out and become a serial sex killer. Nobody's saying that,": Nobody is saying that? I at least once per week a Interview with some politician (mainly from Germany) where they say such stuff. What I know is that people from the perspective of this lady don't have any clue. Otherwise they would know that there is much more to Mass Effect than this 15 seconds "sex" scene. And really that's not a sex scene there is nothing to see and Bioware did it tastefully and there is a long prologue to that in the meaning of a romance. It's not like they characters are meeting and 5 minutes later the player has to watch a 40 minutes cutscene where you can see everything. There is a lot mor to the game and it's a shame that it is mainly in the media because of this "sex" scene. It shows good the impact that decisions can have, there are conversations where the player can try to convince a NPC to stop taking drugs even if the stuff is not illegal but it's not healthy for the NPC.

I really don`t like such useless comments from people who think they know about stuff. Not only because I work in the business, also because I play games since I was 5 or 6 years old and even games like Resident Evil when I was 14 or something like that and still I`m "normal". Games are not harmful for people (and parents need to know what there kids are doing), people are harmful for people.

Link to the complete article --> Here

So long and don't lissen to politicians who talk bad about games because they don't have any clue. I finish the post with a quote that fits to such people from a good movie, one of the best movies ever Groundhog Day: "Morons, your bus is leaving"

And another lawsuit this time against Sony and Nintendo

America is not only the country where you can buy guns easy, it should be also the country where the most lawsuits are filed. This time against Sony and Nintendo and there controllers or to be exact the way the controllers are connect to the Console. The lawsuit was filed by Copper Innovations Group because they have made a patent 1996 and they think the devices for the Wii and PS3 are infringed upon the patent.

According to them there patent does: “covers a method for connecting devices to a system and sorting their inputs by means of hardware identification numbers tied to each transmission."

Just to get that straight I could made a Patent for a method that allows devices to connect to another device by sending a hardware ID and as soon as someone comes up with an idea that is like that I can sue them? By they way Copper Innovations Group wants not only money for from Sony and Nintendo. No they want also that they are not allowed to sell the stuff and use there method any longer. Microsoft with the Xbox 360 is not mentioned in the lawsuit, that might be because they are not using Bluetooth. I'm just wondering because I don't thank Sony and Nintendo are the first to use that method like every other Bluetooth device should use that like Bluetooth Headsets for Mobil phones, Bluetooth devices for the PC like keyboard and so on. For me as user they work all the same way, the first time you need somehow to sync it with the system and then it works always.

Besides of that I'm not sure of most of the Patents are really precise in the way the thing is to work. For example a light bulb has a specific structure, but if the people would make a Patent for the normal light bulb I guess now the would only write: “We developed a method where you can send electricity through a metal wire and light is produced”. Without stating what kind of metal or how thin the wire has to be and so on and just wait until someone comes up with a concept that really works and uses a metal wire and electricity only to sue them. If they are all so intelligent and smart why do they make then only money by suing other company's and not by selling there stuff? I would guess because they did not really invent something that works and just make a patent for a theory otherwise you sell your stuff and don't wait that you might be able to sue another company in 12 years.

The story at Gamesindustry.biz --> Here

Sorry no link to Copper Innovations Group they are so innovative that they don't have a website.

So long and one more stupid lawsuit and I sue McDonalds because the food is not healthy and contains to much fat and they don't say that somewhere.

Metal Gear Solid 4 almost done

At least according to Ryan Payton who works for Kojima Productions.In his latest podcast he states that the game needs only a few tweaks and maybe some late features, but besides from that the game is ready for testing. So I will try to predict a date when the game could come out on the facts of usual testing duration and time between submission and release. I would predict a date that should be around 16.06.08 to 06.07.08. At all my prediction is only based on guessing. Like I guess that they would start beginning of February and have 3 Month of testing (at all the game should be quite linear so 3 Month could work unless it's not linear). I also expect that the most technical testing was already done during the development so there should be now only smaller technical issues and the localization. If they are really that sure that it will not delay the have to know that the game is technically more or less done. On top of the 3 Month I would put 1 1/2 – 2 Months between submission to Sony and Release. Unless the game will cause every PS3 to explode it's hard to fail the submission with such a game. :D

We should more until the end of February, because at the CES a Konami employee mentioned that a specific release date will be announced until end of February.

Link to the almost done MGS4 Story --> Here

So long, the patriots shall die and Snake shall live on forever in our hearths

Well Microsoft announced that British Telecom will be the first company for IPTV on the Xbox 360. The BBC got now some news about the Xbox 360 set up box and the IPTV from British Telecom at all. There are two interesting things according to the BBC. It will not be possible to record movies, shows or even commercial breaks. On the other side it will not feature live shows or events so as example they will feature “near-live FA premier League football matches “. The important thing here is the near, no exactly amount of time delay but still only near so there are like 362 other options that are really live? I don't like football, but I would never want to see a F1 race or American football game only “nearly-live”. It is not clear for the moment if it is a issue with the console or only with British Telecom, but MS is performing only well in the UK so that might not be very positiv for them.

Sony announced already last year at the GC in Germany some sort of IPTV so that the PS3 can be used as tv tuner and announced as partner Sky. Since then there where no news, but as far as I remember Sony mentioned that it would be possible to record while using the PS3 as tv tuner. The service should launch this year. I only hope that a software update or some extra hardware device would do the job because it looks like for the Xbox 360 BT IPTV service there is an extra console that is used as set up box and so far there are no details if that works also fine with normal Xbox 360 console versions.

In other other, and better news, there are new characters for the next Soulcalibur revealed. It's hard to believe but Soulcalibur IV will feature Star Wars characters. At least Darth Vader and Yoda will be in the game. It's not new that characters from other games like Heihachi are in the game, but now Star Wars characters that could be funny especially if you can use some Force things with Vader like he does in the movies. Looks like that's the first Soulcalibur that I will buy, because so far the screens didn't showed something special besides of big and half naked boobs. I can see them in real life so that was never a reason to buy the game, but Darth “the destroyer of all human mankind” Vader and Yoda “I speak funny” Yoda that's a reason. Maybe we get finally then with Soulcalibur V Cloud, Squall and Raiden (as shown in the MGS4 trailers not the gay MGS2 version of Raiden).

Link IPTV --> Here

So long

No kangaroos in Austria

I guess I only expect people from Austria to visit the site here, but for the rest of the world let me tell you a story (I'm not sure if anybody is looking on the site :D ). We have mountains, snow, lakes, wide and open fields and we have a crap soccer team and no kangaroos except maybe on the Menu in a restaurante. :)

On the other side there a lot of good things in Austria like the food, maybe even kangaroo is good who knows. Or from the music point of view Falco and Mozart and a lot of Beer and the almighty Red Bull. The best thing is that we are funny and I don't mean like Arnie the Governator funny when he tries to speak Englisch... or German. It's more like dark humor and being sarcastic. So at all more like British people (just more relaxed and easy going as can be seen at the soccer team the move in a very relaxed way from one end of the field to the other one). I guess that's why I loved London, besides of the minor detail of working on two nice games. As example if someone like me (from Vienna) speaks with someone from Germany it is easy that the German person would not get my sarcastic comments or being easy offended by some jokes. That happened actually several times, but at least 25% are getting the comments and jokes. A lot of the posts here are with a lot of sarcastic side notes and jokes, otherwise it would be to boring to read it because I write to much. To the dark humor, well I just say that after a funeral there are “Partys”. They are not really called Partys, but there is a lot of food, alcohol, live music and the people are somehow smiling and enjoying the time. Actually I don't know if they really having fun or not, but still could be a bit weird. At least that should be something that's more common on the countryside where I spend the first 16 years with my good friend Wilson... ehm NES.

So if you see someone from Austria don't be afraid it's normal that they seem a bit crazy and they don't bite, at least only sometimes if they are hungry and living to long on an Island where they have no real food. Feel free to visit me there will be very good food. *muhahaha*

So long

CES and other stuff

Let's start with some news from the CES. The PSP should be able soon to download movies that are stored on Blu-Ray movies. That means there should be a low resolution version of the movie that is in HD on the Disc. The plan is put the Blu-Ray in the PS3 und download it then somehow to a memory stick and watch it on the PSP. I'm not sure if this is really secure. Of course it is only a low resolution version of the movie, but saving it on a memory stick would make it easy to put it than on the internet unless a very high copy protection is in use and that would still cause some security problems. Well at all that could mean the end for UMD movies for people who have a PS3 and a PSP. I have both and never used the PSP to watch movies so I guess I would only play around once or twice with the feature and then forget about that it is there, but as long as the movie prize does not rise because of that it's ok for me.

In other PSP news, the device will get soon Skype. That feature sounds a lot better then movie download thing. Could come in very handy while siting at the airport and waiting for a flight. I don`t think that they could make windows messenger for the PSP, but some other text message tools would also be nice because a keyboard for the PSP is in development. Skype will only work with the Slim & Lite version of the PSP.

Now to Little Big Planet or call it Little Delay Planet? Well I really look forward to that game and to the user contend made by, of course, the users. At the moment it looks like the game will not be released before September 2008. I just hope GTA4 and MGS4 are released on time and Home before summer. At least there should be a lot of good games between now and Little Big Planet that will shorten the waiting time.

There are a lot rumours these days and not much real news. One of the rumours is that Paramount would maybe abandon HD-DVD because there would be some parts in the contract that would allow that. At least it sounds realistic because I'm sure they don't sign a contract for X years and X money without anything in the contract that they could get out of it without the risk of a lawsuit.

According to some people are unlocked Achievements again locked and points deducted from the Gamerscore due to the problems with Xbox LIVE. No comment from Microsoft so far, but that issue sounds a bit strange. More likely that this will only happen to people who visit friends and use there Gamertag on another Xbox 360 and the data is not uploaded to LIVE or not proper downloaded at there Xbox 360 at home then. At least I'm happy that I don't care about some points that I can not use for anything and play online only on the Playstation 3 or PC, both are free, run well and are part of the dark side.

That should be the last post for this week. Holiday finally over and back to work and hunting some Bugs. Besides of that I just got my Japanese GT5 Prologue version so I play that the most time during free time and it's more important then posting my precious cars. :)

By the way Bill Gates movie from his last working day at Microsoft was very entertaining.

So long

Bill Gates Keynote CES announcement

Well here we go with the rumour that there will be an announcement made by Bill Gates at the CES. But let's start first with the one or other fact from the Keynote.

Vista has sold over 100 million licenses. Wow that's a big number for a, well let's say not so good OS the only good think about Vista is DirectX10, but on new PCs and Laptops there is only Vista so there are the 100 million licenses. I make a rough guess that only 20% are really wanted to get Vista and the other 80% had to take it because it was on the PC.

Back to the rumoured announcement, well there was no announcement. At least no big announcement, only that Disney and MGM will have some stuff in the future in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, but no information what exactly. Also that the British Telecom will be the first company to support IPTV. That was somehow disappointing, not only because there where a lot of rumours also because it was Bill Gates last keynote and there should have been some big news. Who knows maybe they planed the in-built HD-DVD drive version, but canceled it just a few hours before the show like the HD-DVD company's did with there press conference. We will never know and with that news so far it looks like Xbox 360 could have some troubles in 2008 to keep the pace with the PS3 sales. A few more movies as download will not help to fight against the very good 2008 software lineup for the PS3.

So long

Can we stop the war soon?

Well after Warner Bros. (including New Line Cinema) switched from HD-DVD and Blu-Ray support, they will stop HD-DVD production in a few month. From May onwards they support only Blu-Ray as HD format and of course DVD. Because of that the company's behind HD-DVD will not have the press conference on Sunday afternoon (US time) at the CES.

In fact I hope this format war is soon over so Blu-Ray can be the official winner. Yes I know technically HD-DVD is cheaper, but that's not reflected in the shops HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movies have mainly the same prize and only the HD-DVD players are cheaper besides that the format does not have any advantage. The sound and picture quality on both formats are the same and Blu-Ray discs have a lot more size and that's the point otherwise in 3 years there will be a new format. More important for the moment I don't want to see movie download win. Besides that I like my movies or games on a nice Disc I like to own them (downloadable movies and games are mostly not really owned by the customer at least not at the moment) and I like to have them on day one. MS likes really the idea of download movies and games (that's why they support HD-DVD only a bit to keep the war going), but I don't see the providers are up to that task at least not for the next 7-10 years. Most of the providers have a monthly limit on GB and I don't think that the bandwidth for that is at the moment available to the mainstream.

I have seen a lot of people refer to the clone wars, ehm VHS vs. Betamax war that Sony lost and therefore thinking that HD-DVD will win. Yes Sony lost that war and it was a long war, actually VHS and Betamax launched 1976 and Sony throw the towel in 1988. Somehow many of that people also say that Betamax was superior compared to VHS. As far as I know Betamax was more expensive and had shorter runtime then VHS, so it had only better picture quality. To compare that with HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray, the consumer has to pay around the same prize for a disc (players are out of the question HD-DVD players are much cheaper, but on the other side not many support 1080p) and gets more storage space (or runtime) on the Blu-Ray. Also something about this Sony format or MS format. Sony is one of the company's behind Blu-Ray, but like it was already with the CD and DVD they are not the only company behind it. For the HD-DVD MS, even if I don't like to say that but Micheal Bay is wright about the thing with keeping the format war going. Also the Blu-Ray was rejected by the DVD Forum and number one in the DVD Forum is Toshiba after that Toshiba started to make another disc that's now known as HD-DVD.

There are now only 2 major company's supporting HD-DVD and that are Paramount and Universal all other big company's are supporting Blu-Ray. I really wish that this useless war is soon over especially because so far the only winner is the MS download service. Having finally one format would help the consumer a lot and the numbers are clear with 2:1 in the US and EU 3:1 for Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD. Toshiba should throw the towel and take it like a men to prevent that more and more people are buying the wrong device because at least one will lose. I guess HD-DVD could only win if the Xbox 360 would have a in-built HD-DVD drive since launch day, but MS is not supporting HD-DVD.

So long and finish the fight