Name Change

Just a quick note to explain the name change. When I signed up I didn't realize "rambling" in all its forms was so popular for a Blog title. Because of this I went for a Transliteration of three Koine Greek words. I would explain the meaning but since only one person really reads this Blog right now and they studied Koine it seems useless.

A Good Reason for Few Updates

At least I will soon have a good reason for having few updates. Starting in a couple of weeks I will be living on my Church's property to help build a camp for this summer. Unfortunately this means I have to work under my Pastor, joking, but at least I will have something interesting to do this summer. I probably will only have computer access on the weekends meaning very few updates to my already barren blog.

On a lighter note, I got an Xbox 360 about a week ago and have really enjoyed it. Right now we have Call of Duty 2 and Quake 4 (not my choice); we hope to have Fifa soon. I can't really say I have any complaints with the 360 except the first wireless controller we bought didn't work, but we returned it and now all is well.

In other, somewhat late, gaming news LOTRO is now excepting beta sign ups. Even though I will be gone most of the summer I signed up. I have been following this game through two developers, and two name changes and there is no way I wasn't going to at least try and get in. If I make it, it will put me at 10 closed betas including: WoW, City of Heroes, City of Villains, and Matrix Online.

Also if you haven't heard, Indiana Jones the game is going to be great. There are two main improvements that are driving this game to be a true next-gen experience, the first is Euphoria.

Euphoria is a procedural animation program that uses a bone structure, muscle strength, and AI to figure out how a character should react to punches, throws, a fight on top of a shaking street car, and more. The demo I saw showed Indy on top of a street car with enemies jumping from a car driving along side. Most of the enemies made it onto the street car without too much trouble, but one was not strong enough to pull himself up so he broke the window below him to help himself up.

The second innovation is Digital Molecular Matter. Digital Molecular Matter means that the physics engine decides how wood splinters, metal bends, rubber stretches, and concrete crumbles. Instead of the same pre designed way wood breaks into four pieces like most games do, it will, in theory, depend on how the player applies pressure to the object.

If this all comes together in 2007 when the game comes out it could make for the best licensed video game ever.

Microsoft Wants it All

When E3 comes so do many rumors. Not to say this is a new rumor, it just seems there is more force behind it recently. Microsoft is not happy with just the home console market and may want to release a handheld. The reason is simple, there is a lot of money in handhelds.  Some people may be skeptical, but I have been a strong believer in this rumor since it's inception for a two reasons.

We all know Microsoft  loves money and likes to dominate a market, so why wouldn't they want handhelds? It might have been difficult with Nintendo's strangle hold on the market, but now that Sony has gotten a decent amount of the market share I think Microsoft can come in with more features than both of then and steal a decent amount of market share.

There is also a little background to give this rumor significant weight. Microsoft merged it's Windows Mobile team into the Xbox group last year as stated in the above link. Why would Microsoft do this if they weren't going to at least implement some Xbox technology into the next realese, or vise versa.

If Microsoft does make a handheld you can be sure of a few things.

1. It will be superior in power to the other handhelds on the market at release.
2. It will play WAV, WMV, probably MP3, and maybe some other third party file types.
3. It will connect with Windows Media to get music, videos, and pictures.
4. There will be Halo, Fable, and PGR games for it.
5. It will run a version of Windows Mobile.
5. Different configurations will be available.

All Star Wars Fans Rejoice

I am sure you have heard by now, we can finally see Han Solo shoot first. I don't know what it is about them, but the re-mastered versions always bugged me. I don't hate them, they are still enjoyable movies. But it was like someone altered my childhood memory for no other reason except that they could. I want it known though, that I am not a Lucas hater for many reasons.

1. Star Wars is his universe. Without Lucas one of the greatest Sci Fi stories ever told would not exist. Because it is his universe he can do with it like he wants, sure I wish Hayden Christensen hadn't been cast, but it was Lucas' choice for his story.

2. He still made one of the greatest trilogies of all time. Sure, some people think he later ruined it with the re-mastered version, but it was still his doing. I know he only wrote and directed one of the originals, but it was his story, and he was the driving force behind him.

3. THX and ILM. I don't really have to say much more. He helped pioneer visual and audio technological advancements in the movie industry.

I know we all have problems with Episodes 1-3. Most of them are unfounded, but there are legitimate grievances. I don't understand why the fans think they should have so much control over the IP though. I know they love it but it isn't their's, they should just be happy Lucas gave them 3 more good Star Wars stories, even if they aren't perfect.