G4TV Anti-Internet Censorship? I Don't Think So

You have a forbidden word in your message post. Please remove this word from your post. The words that are forbidden are highlighted for you...
As for hack and slash, it really has to put itself apart from others, as do FPS

That's right, these are the automated words of G4TV.com's forum admins

As for hack and slash... it really has to put itself apart from others, as do FPS

ERROR OMGZ!

How stupid do you have to be, G4? Are you that overprotective of naughty swear words that you forbid multiple combinations of commas and legitimate dictionary words?

Even if this was the case, is sh.....t even a problem, even if I meant to say the word "shit?" There's less censorship on ABC Family. Furthermore, half the time I have to verify my birthdate! Porn sites don't even make you do that.

Here's the funny thing...G4TV's stand is ANTI-INTERNET CENSORSHIP!
Aside from being completely biased towards the Xbox 360 over the PS3 - and I have plenty of evidence to prove anybody otherwise - G4 is really starting to piss me off in many little annoying ways.

Sure, a fly is a tad annoying, but you can get over it. G4 is that, plus an entire hive of gnats...ANNOYING

Go fuck your mothers G4.

Logitech Customer Service FTW!

So today I got a brand new TV, a 40" 1080p Samsung. Nice, right? Well when I go to set it up and hook all my appliances to it, namely PS3 via HDMI, no sound was coming out. Sure, it was coming out of the stock speakers, but not my Logitech z-5500 surround sound speakers! I was so upset. 

The Setup: HDMI to TV,  and Optical directly connected from PS3 to Logitech center console (receiver). PS3 settings were set for Video out -> HDMI and Audio out -> Optical.

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After testing the many possibilities of this audio problem, I almost gave up. Suddenly, when I went to turn off my Logitech center console, I noticed that instead of it reading "Optical - No Data Found," I got some random assortment of words - something like "Otcl - Dtaa Ntt Fond."

I knew something wasn't right. As it turns out, the receiver was malfunctioning and therefore was unable to output any sounds whatsoever, aside from a few speaker crackles here and there.

I went on eBay to find a used working receiver and found a few going for $50+. Before I bid, I thought I might call Logitech Customer Service first.

The Call...

After waiting about ten minutes to get a CS rep from Logitech technical service, I told him my situation. He responded by asking me for any proof of purchase. Since I had bought this from eBay brand new from a regular vendor, and had later deleted my eBay account, I had absolutely no way of proving my purchase. I thought I was screwed.

I told him all that, and after a while of some back and forth bickering, he put me on hold to speak with his manager. Upon returning, he asked me to give him the product ID number on the back of the center console. After I gave it to him, he put me on hold again to look up the PID. He came back and said that my prodect was still under the 2-year warranty! Yay!

Thinking that they were going to send me back a new receiver, he tells me that Logitech will send me the Z-5500 unit in its entirety - speakers, subs, remote, and center console...everything! All I had to do was ship out the broken receiver.

Now I have a brand new extra set of speakers/subwoofer! Thanks, Logitech!

GameCube Backup Launcher for Wii Made Easy!

A little dated news here, but WiiGator, the brilliance behind the Wii Backup Launcher (now in version 0.3 Gamma), has made an excellent backup launcher that can launch GameCube games.

The news here, however, is that the launcher has been constructed so it can launch a multiboot disc. This means that .gcn and .iso files alike can be combined into one single .iso file.

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A user of Bitsoup has made this process very easy. His latest contribution has been the uploading of an array of Gamecube games, 4 at a time, packaged with the Multigame ISO Creator. Here are a couple images:

Image taken from Bitsoup.org

This is the MultiGame ISO creator. As you can see, you can add ISO and/or Gamecube files and it displays the logo, size, name, and gives you the option to shrink. Shrinking is not advised, as it may mess up the game and give the Wii a disc read error.

This newer version now allows you to choose a DVD5 (4.7 GB) or DVD9 (8.5 GB).

After you have all your ISO's desired, simply cick "Create MultiGame ISO. It will ask you beforehand to specifiy its save destiniation, so I recommend making a separate folder on your desktop labeled "Multi ISO" or something so you don't confuse the new ISO with the individual old ISO's.

Burn using ImgBurn or other and put it in your Wii!

I am hoping that in the near future WiiGator makes the GCN backup launcher CHANNEL, just like the BackupLauncher 0.3 Gamma Channel. But for now, you have to access the GCN launcher via Homebrew Channel. From there, you can press left and right on your GCN conttoller to pick your game. Pressing A, B, Z, X, and Y depends on how you want to launch the game...but pressing A auto detects the version and boots from there, which is recommended. Here is a demo of me using the launcher from start to end. Enjoy!

Apple Corrupt?

Bottom line - Apple sucks. More and more, Apple computers have just so coincidentally started to fail all around the US. No no, not the computers under warranty, but instead those that are out of warranty. Isn't it also coincidental that after you purchase a Macbook, for example, you aren't allowed to later add on a warranty...not even 5 minutes after you take it home? In order to purchase an extended warranty, you have to do it online before the computer is shipped to you.

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The most common - and still to this day unsolved - case is the infamous Superdrive firmware update 2.1. Since mid 2007, when the firmware launched, loyal customers have been noticing that their CD drives were failing. The most common symptoms included putting a CD in the drive, hearing the CD spin for a few seconds, and then spitting it back out. This isn't just a coincidence, because thousands of people across various forums have been talking about it. Take this following Apple Support forum for example:

Apple Support Forum - Superdrive Support

Although may people have contacted Apple directly about this common problem, there is still no official word on the matter. On the above forum, one user even exaplained how he ended up getting an Apple service rep to admit the "faulty firmware update" to be the cause of the problem...but still nothing was done about it.

Can't open iPhoto anymore? Let it be known that this series of faulty updates are the leading cause of that problem. Know that you are a customer that - after already being ripped off in the beginning - is continuously being taken advantage of.

Whatever you use, don't use Apple. Boycott them.

Left 4 Dead Steam Dedicated Servers...WTF?

For those of you as addicted to Left 4 Dead on the PC as I am, you are probably having the same problem with Steam.

There are two choices a lobbly leader has in choosing servers. They can either choose Local or Dedicated. Local will host via lobby leader's connection. So unless the lobby leader can upload at least 3 mbs, this isn't a good idea.

The other option, Dedicated, is what most people are complaining about in the L4D community. Lag, Bugs, and all other sorts of connection problems persist.

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This is coming from Steam, who hosts all the dedicated servers for Counter-Strike, Half-Life, and Team Fortress multiplayer. In case you haven't noticed, Valve loves producing games that are multiplayer and co-operative based, so laggy servers should not be an issue...but it is. And no one knows why it's not fixed yet.

When I am trying to get my achievement for all expert levels beaten, the last thing I want to happen is being disconnected from the server on the last rescue mission. It's happened to me plenty of times; enough to the point of me being sick of even trying.

FIX YOUR SHIT STEAM.

Killzone 2 Demo Impressions

If you are anyhow related to the Playstation 3, you know that Killzone 2 is on its way. On February 5th, at about 5:00 PM Eastern Time, Guerilla Games released the exclusive demo on the PSN. By exclusive, it means you have to have acquired a special redeemable code by pre-ordering the game at Gamestop. If not, you'll have to wait until the 27th.

Below is the review (that's right, I'm reviewing the demo!) based on a few categories:

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Graphics: 5/5

Stunningly beautiful. The textures are amazingly detailed, and the animations are spot on. Noting that this is purely a demo, there were a few hiccups here and there, but then again these will all be fixed by launch date. I can just tell this is going to be a a piece of eye candy.

Content: 4/5

With an understanding of Guerilla trying to make this as small of a file as possible, they only gave us about 10 minutes of game play. They were still generous in giving us two different environments, but I would have liked to see multiplayer and/or some more enemies. They give away 4 different weapons though, which is great.

Game Play: 4/5

This seems like a game that I WANT to get into and practice, because it requires a much changed control set. From the trailer and preview impressions, before the Demo launched, I though it was going to play out a lot like Call of Duty 4 & 5, to which I was greatly mistaken. The controls are best described as "mushy" because they are a bit delayed. It malkes the game look nice, but your reaction time will be slowed down greatly. There are a bit of control customization, though.

Sound: 5/5

Please do yourself a favor and get at least a true 5.1 surround sound. I have a Logitech Z5500 5.1 set and the game sounds phenomenal. You can hear every little detailed sound effect exactly where it is on your screen. This game scares me to think about 3D gaming and sound! Spine tingling! From the sound effects on the battlefield to the echos inside, your ears will bleed.

Now I understant that it seems a little redundant to review a game demo of a game that's already been reviewed in its entirety, but this is something tangeable and from a true gamer's perspective. You all have the chance to demo this as well, as I have, so this is something different than mainstream media. I recommend that you preorder this game from Gamestop, because the 5 dollars down alone is worth a sneak peak at the demo.

DRM Law. What It Is, and What It Should Be.

Is it Piracy? Or is it Fairness?

Ever since file sharing became popular, which is about the same time after the dialup 56K era bit the dust, copywrite laws have been deemed a joke. Case by case, judges have been changing up their strategies on how to rule each particular case. First you can't have backups. Then you can have backups with having proof of purchase. Then there was no way to prove a proof of purchase in order to charge anybody without beyond reasonable doubt.

Essentially, attorneys and judges have tinkered around with the copywrite laws so much, the average citizens are confused as to what is right and what is wrong. Something needs to be done.

Here are a few senarios as to how people take advantage of this situation, including both athorities and offenders:

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Nintendo Wii Backup Launcher

With the release of WiiGator's Backup Launcher v0.3 Gamma, nothing could be easier than installing, downloading, burning and playing almost any Wii title on the market. Nintendo even had tips from annonymous users on how the launcher is programmed and how it could be stopped. Nintendo refused to comply and ignored all pirating threats. Bad move on Nintendo's part, because next to PC, the DS and Wii are the most pirated and hacked consoles in the history of gaming.

There may be a reason why Nintendo doesn't bother filing suits against individuals who pirate their software. Let's take Tony, for example. Tony recently installed v0.3 via Twighlight hack in order to launch his downloaded games. According to modern law, you may have as many backups as you want, as long as you have purchased the original. When the authorities knocked on Tony's door, they told him he was being held in custody on charges of copywrite infringement.
In the coutroom now, Tony defends himself by saying that he had bought all 50 titles that he had later downloaded for backup purchases. The day before, he exclaims, his car was robbed and all his Nintendo games had been taken along with it. All receipts had been discarded as well.

As the judge, of course you can't believe that is what happened. However, it's not up to the judge - it's up to the law. Since Tony made that statement, and no one can prove beyond a resonable doubt otherwise, Tony is free from all charges. The only side that loses is the prosecution.

Playstation 3 and Xbox360 owners think twice about hacking their systems why? First of all, Microsoft and Sony know hardware much better than Nintendo does, so programmers are trained to make it very difficult to hack, via firmware updates. Both PS3 and Xbox 360 owners are forced to update if they want to continue using their online networks. Nintendo provides firmware updates, but they are programmed so poorly that the next day after the firmware release, it is already hacked by someone else.

Nintendo also does not have a great network unlike PSN and XBL, so there's no loss for Wii hackers anyway.

DRM Widespread of Software

The biggest offenders of software developers is indeed gaming companies, especailly Microsoft. Noth only does Microsoft produce software games, but more obvious and important, software programs. This includes the very pricey Office and Operating Systems.

What is fair - and our government needs to fix this - is that once you purchase, ie, Office 2007, you should be able to install it on as many computers as you'd like; but of course this isn't how it is. Same goes for Vista. You should only have to buy software once.

On the gaming side, there are the multiplatform games. For example, if Tony purchases Dead Space on his PS3 and his PS3 breaks, shouldn't he be allowed to download Dead Space on his PC free of charge? Why get charged for the same .iso file twice?

Hackers aren't all that bad. Good ones anyway... They use their knowledge to practice rightful behaviours in this mess we call American Law.

Nintendo, Where's the Old-School?

Vgboxart.com shows his agreement by posting this mock-up box art for DKC4

What made Nintendo classics like Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario Brothers, and Star Fox so great? It was no secret to see that these successful series continued to pull fans aboard because they stuck to their roots. Mario Bros and Donkey Kong Country, for example, knew what they were good for - platforming. Mario Bros wasn't anything elaborate, in fact the idea if you really think about it is completely bogus. Plumber brothers? Turtles? Mushrooms? Again, nothing elaborate to story design, instead 100% attention and detail to side-scrolling and platforming beauty.

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The same goes for the Donkey Kong Country. In each of its three installments, the great mechanics did not change, instead features were added. These included updates on artwork, level design, and styles such as adding the parrot in Donkey Kong Country 2.

The last installment of these franchises was with Donkey Kong Country 3 in 1996. Nintendo, where are your classics?

There is still New Super Mario Brothers for Nintendo DS, which proved how badly we needed classic Mario back on our side. Using 3D sprites and colorful worlds, Nintendo stuck to their roots with purely gorgeous sides-crolling platform gameplay. Where are the others?

We see the entire rest of the gaming industry following suit, with additions to classic genres like Mega Man 9, Bionic Commando Re-armed, Street Fighter HD Remix, Prince of Persia Classic, and Contra 4. If you ever had the pleasure of playing any of these games in addition to their originals, you would see what I mean.

The only problem is Nintendo, who doesn't seem to get it. They were the founders of classic side-scrolling. Mega Man, Bionic Commando, and Contra were all originally released on the NES, so it is obvious they have created masterpieces that are now being remade on PS3 and Xbox 360 more than their own Wii and DS!

Here, Nintendo, is a reference of games you NEED to make to get your oldschool, hardcore, and loyal fans back on your side. No change in design, just MORE, MORE, MORE of what you already know how to do best:

1. Donkey Kong Country 4
2. New Super Mario Brothers 2 (or Super Mario Brothers 4)
3. Kirby's Nightmare Land (following Dreamland on the NES)
4. Star Fox (Seriously, the Wii and NDS have been out for over 3 years now...)

...and that's just the beginning.

PC vs. Mac

This photo tries to prove a Mac is better. In reality, it illustrates the exact opposite.

For the record, PC means "Personal Computer." Technically, even a Mac is in itself a PC. The real battle is (or should be) called "Microsoft vs. Apple" or "Windows vs. Mac OS X."

Now that this is cleared, we're going to move on to the argument at hand.

Mac Says: I can edit movies, music, and photos with ease. I am well protected because my system files are very hard to access, even for a sophisticated virus or Mal-ware attack. In this sense, there is really no need for additional anti-virus, although it doesn't hurt to have it. I am so easy to use because all the tools you need are right on your dock, and setting options and other customizable features are simple and understandable. Use my systems in your work place and you will not need to retrain, or train at all, your average computer using employees.

Windows Says: I am for the geeks (some may make this argument for Linux's Ubuntu.) My system files are easily accessed via C:/Windows/System and /System32 directories. Although they can be easily infected by mal-ware and spy-ware, there are multiple precautions to take. Advantages to the openness of my operating systems allow extremely customizable options for the in-tact user. If a program fails on a Mac, you have to either buy the software again, or try to salvage the problem by reinstalling. On a Windows machine, you simply Google or forum the problem and get a quick fix tip. Most of these tips include simply deleting or adding a system or program file, taking less than a minute. I can also edit movies, music, and photos using a wide variety of free programs. All games are compatible as well. Can't be a Mac and a gamer at the same time.

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The Verdict

Apple and Microsoft both have their techniques, but one statement remains true. "When you are on a Mac, you aren't really operating a Mac, you are sharing the 'Mac experience.'" In other words, Macs are for frequent computer users who actually have no idea how a computer operates. In this sense, even though Macs are more accessible, Windows clearly is the superior OS.

Macs are easy to use, sure, but so is the popular children's toy Jack-In-The-Box. They're easy to understand because there isn't much to know in order to use it. Mac's won't make anybody smarter.

In Vista's Defense...

Vista was created hastily because of reoccurring viruses in its predecessor, Windows XP. XP was TOO customizable and therefore left it very vulnerable to virus attacks. In response to this, Vista was born, with top notch security features. So why did people hate it? The problem was that the protection was not modified or updated, leaving several old program files - hence programs in their entirety - incompatible with Vista. Quite honestly, how often do you hear people complaining about Viruses on a Vista machine? Not any more often than Mac. For Mac, they saw this as Vista's weak spot and capitalized on it.

The truth is, Vista was virtually errorless, but perhaps TOO errorless. The Geeks got annoyed because they felt alienated by the "dumbed down" version of XP. Geeks didn't need the new Windows to take their hand and walk them through basic procedures and precautions. The average user needed the help, but ended up complaining in the end. Most people today hate Vista only because everyone else does, in addition to mass marketing by Apple...

Future of Windows 7

In pure speculation, I belive Windows 7 will get a lot of praise after its release. I believe that it will combine the security of Vista with the accessability and compatabilty of XP Pro, with the feature to use it as easily as a Mac OS X.

Only one question remains...what's under Linux's sleeve?

Era of Casual Gaming. Good or Bad?

Please refer to this IGN article for more insight.


Doug Lambardi is a brilliant man in his words
This is what the process has become:

1. Make eye catching, low end games, such as Carnival Games for Wii, to get new gamers involved.
2. They will notice how bad the game is after a while, and start to distinguish good games from bad games. Then they think, "What else can I get?"
3. As they become better at picking out good games, they will also develop skill. They may also start reffering to sites and shows such as X-Play, IGN, and GameSpot to learn more about the industry.
4. These new gamers will change from a Carnival Games gamer into a Bioshock gamer.
5. Evolve from there.

Right now we are on steps 1 and 2. Eventually we will see the next steps in action, and thus the industry will be harcore once again.

No worries guys, let the casual gamers have their crappy games...they will learn.

There have ALWAYS been terrible games and great games. These days are no different. It's just more noticeable.

AT&T Blocks Wifi Without Plan! I Have the Solution!

Synopsis:AT&T has been known for their crook ways. From overcharging on old bills and making customers renew to get the updated prices to blocking services that customers should be getting for free, AT&T royally screws the pooch every waking minute. I just got my AT&T Blackberry Curve 8320. Wonderful device. The only difference between 8320 and the 8310 model is Wifi. The 8320 supports Wifi and EDGE networks. This article also applies to the new Curve 8820 with Wifi as well.

Issue: Who wants to pay 30 bucks a month for slow EDGE internet access when you can get a Wifi connection for free? Especially since Wifi spots are so common now, networks such as EDGE and 3G are in danger of dying out. So how does AT&T remedy the situation? By making you pay for a data plan just to use your own WIFI! They do not care if you don't want to use the EDGE...they will still charge you. Also, using a pay-per-use plan will just charge you even more whenever you use your Wifi.

Should they be charging us money for a Wifi feature we payed more for in the first place? I already pay an AT&T internet bill, so why am I being charged AGAIN? My Nintendo DS and Windows Moble PDA both use my router at no additional charge, so why can't a state of the art smartphone?

Luckily, I have found the right and only solution. This took me over 2 hours transferring back and forth between CS reps.

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1.Call AT&T CS at 1-800-331-0500

2. Ask them to BLOCK all data charges. Be sure to VERIFY that no charges are to be added for data usage. I told them that my son sneaks internet browsing and I get a hefty bill, so I want to block that service from him. This way, they will be happy to block data for you.

3. Now that data is blocked, you can conintue to fix your settings. From here, I assume you already know how to find your router and enter in all the applicable information. You must enter in the given PIN into your router conifig via PC web browser.

Now here is where you trick your Blackberry's Wifi...

4. Depending on your Theme (this is using default AT&T theme)

Scroll to Settings folder > Mobile Network > Turn "ON" Save Settings.

5. Navigate to Options > Advanced Options > Browser >

>Set Defualt Browser Config to "HotSpot Browser" or "Wifi Browser" (this depends on your BB software version)

>Set Default WAP Browser Config to "Community" (IDK if this is necessary, but I am always skeptical when a setting is set to "Media Net"

SAVE settings

6. Restart phone.

BROWSE!

Game Review - Crash Commando (PSN)

For $9.99, I picked up the highly anticipated PSN exclusive, "Crash Commando." This low price was more than worth it.

What It Is: A 2D/3D, hectic, multiplayer, side-scrolling shooter that places you on a military battlefield in order to blow the sh*t out of your opponents. Game modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Bomb Plant, and Intelligence.

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Features: Online Play, Single Player Boot Camp, and Single Player Custom game with BOTS are the three types of play. Trophies are supported as well as a large variety of options. You get a big bang for your buck.

Gameplay: Controls are simple yet tight. To move, use the left stick. To aim, use the right stick. You can also jump, roll, and even use a few different vehicles. You get three weapon classes: Primary, Secondary, and hand held. Like in Counter-Strike, you get to customize which weapons you want after each death. You get one weapon per class. The weapons are as follows:

Primary Weapons: Automatic Rifle, Grenade Launcher, Shotgun, Sniper Rifle, and Bazooka
Secondary Weapons: Knife, Pistol
Handheld: Grenades, Mines, C4

There are two "layers" to each map, in which you use pathways buy simply pressing X in front of them to go to the other side. You can see in real time players on the other side of the map fighting, which adds strategy.

Graphics/Sound: Simple, yet colorful animations hecticly scurry along your screen in beautiful 1080p resolution. Colors are vibrant. Explosions and gun sound effects are well done considering the uniqueness of the game.

Conclusion: What players should expect most from a cheap 10 dollar game is not graphics and depth, but how addictive it is. Judge a cheap game like this for what it's worth. How long will you play it for? Let me tell you, if you like hectic and competitive arcade-like multiplayer action, you will want to play this every day your PS3 is powered on.

A-

Boycott Nintendo: Those Backstabbing ***

Being a 21 year old dedicated gamer with a long history Nintendo fanboyism is not easy nowadays. Why did I buy a Wii? I remember the first days of E3 '05 when they demoed Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I was in awe. The motion and IR controls, fantastic art design, and just simply being another Zelda game was enough for me to get excited about. After that quickly followed Super Mario Galaxy, WarioWare, Excite Truck, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and finally Smash Bros. Brawl.

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Those games, having been beaten time and time again, are now collecting dust.

Nintendo games are becoming a dime a dozen today, as more players such as my mom and five year old sister are buying games more than I am for the Wii. Why did I pay for a system when my grandma plays it more than I do? Nintendo claims that they are reaching out to non gamers, but instead they are approving shovelware crap for a garunteed quick buck.

Wii Music, Wii Play, and Wii Fit have topped the charts since their release dates, and will continue to. To date, the Wii has about 860 titles, while both the PS3 and Xbox 360 combine to less than in software titles.

With the upcoming releases of Madworld and The Conduit, Nintendo has been given a last chance to redeem themselves. Creating simple ported "All New Play Control!" games such as Pikmin and Mario Tennis from the Gamecube does not count. They're just slapping us in the face.