A Return to Thedas

The Dragon Age II site has gone live! Trailer on the 17th of August.

http://dragonage.bioware.com/da2/

Kids, Don't Try This At Home

Seriously, don't. Unless you're trying for a Darwin Award.

The Cat and Ran for Down Under!

Ha ha beware little penguin...

We are coming!

Fill up your stock of bundy and beer!


What a week for me.

Some Games of E3

E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Exposition), the largest showcase of video game technology is in full swing and so far there has been good news and bad news.

The bad news? Project Natal/Kinect looks to be positively underwhelming since one of its launch titles is Kinect Sports. Now where have I heard that one before? If I wanted a Wii, I would have bought one and making the X360 a more expensive Wii would not have influenced my purchasing decisions. Considering its rumored 149USD price point, you might as well get the Nintendo Wii for another $50 and enjoy some Mario brothers on top of wacky motion controls.

Speaking of X360, the new model of the X360 was also unveiled. You'd think by now Microsoft would have fixed the hardware issues and not leave themselves open to class action suits. However the new X360 will mutilate discs inside if the machine is moved during gameplay and they avoid lawsuits with a small sticker on their disc tray. BRILLIANT!

The good news?

The Nintendo 3DS has some serious specs and outstrips the PSP in every way. Marvel vs Capcom 3 will feature Deadpool and Dante. New Assassin's Creed game. The Force Unleashed 2 and the Witcher 2 will satisfy fans of cutting people up with swords.

Some trailers:

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine is still alive and going strong. Hopefully it will be God of War in the 40K universe, with guns. And hopefully if it is, the awesomeness does not create a singularity out of which steps the Doom marine and Duke Nukem exchanging wisecracks.

http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/29958

Star Wars the Old Republic is also on show and how is it that the trailers for an MMO can surpass the movies in sheer entertainment value? Apparently in the Star Wars universe, things like "tactics" and "survival instincts" are not the purview of soldiers since when things really go to pot, a Jedi (or dozen) will show up to save your ass.

http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/29850

Finally Fallout New Vegas has been dated in this trailer. 19th October 2010 is when we'll get our hands on it. Obsidian's track record is rather spotty at this moment with Alpha Protocol being their latest release but they're at their best when they are not the ones building the engine. Here's hoping that it lives up to the very name these people once established.

http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/29840

The First Hundred Days

I thought I'd take a break in the midst of my exams to write a few words about my first hundred days in Australia.

Actually, it's been 115 days since my arrival on the 8th of February but I've never been happier.  Of all the major events in my life, coming to Australia to study has been one of the easiest transitions I've experienced.  And in the process, I've become less cynical and more optimistic.

Sometimes, it pays to leave your comfort zone.  Humanity progressed this far as a species by doing just that.  Also, be nice to immigrants, migration is to humans as water is to plants.  I am not that far removed from my migrant forefathers.

Three square meals a day is a privilege.  I realize that more than ever now that I have to buy and cook my own meals.  I take back every complaint I've ever had about SAF cook-house food and combat rations.  I should be grateful that even in the middle of a tropical rain forest, I have something to eat.

Being homesick is a waste of time.  Just thought I'll mention that.  I've never once felt homesick, just sick of listening to people moan and groan about being homesick.  Not eating rice regularly is NOT the end of the world.  When in Rome, do as the Romans do.  And eat as they eat.

Absolutely Speechless

How does this fit into your idea of "Dream Job"?

After a request from CatnRice, here's a link to a newspaper article that made a certain Penguin rather happy.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_532544.html

Dress Codes 101

I wore a long sleeved shirt with jeans and sneakers today. How on earth is that formal?  Some people really have no clue how dress codes work.  

Here's a quick guide in ascending order.   

Casual: we all know what casual is.

Smart Casual: collared shirt, at the very least jeans without any fading or rips and shoes.

Business casual: long sleeved shirt, dress pants and dress shoes. With or without a tie.  With a sports coat or blazer in colder climates.

Business formal: suit, tie and dress shoes.

Black tie formal: tuxedo with a black bow tie, cummerbund or waistcoat, patent leather shoes.

White tie formal: tailcoat, white bow tie, waistcoat, patent leather shoes.

Dragon Age... What if

What if you died at the Joining?

Instead you are raised to join the ranks of the Darkspawn?

To be one of the numerous ranks of chaos and evil.

What if all this is true?

http://www.sswarez.com/games/122525-dragon-age-origins-darkspawn-chronicles-dlc-arm.html

A look at an alternate history: what if your character had died in the Joining ceremony, and the Grey Wardens marched under Alistair's command instead?
Command genlocks, hurlocks, shrieks, and even the mighty ogres.

A dark future awaits. Are you ready to claim your prize?

Demo New Recruit

Muahahaha. Finally surpassed my longest life and highest dmg record last held by an Engineer.

Giant Robots and Rice Bras

Here's the link to download the free version of Mechwarrior IV from Mek-tek, the current holders of the rights. Seems that the server keeps crashing due to demand but has stablized in the last few days.
http://mektek.net/projects/mw4/

Also, one of the most pants-shittingly insane inventions I have run across this week, Luckily its only a "proof of concept" model.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/grow-your-own-rice-bra

Not that such a thing has not been done before, its essentially a repurposing of an existing product.



Yes, saving the environment is a good and noble cause. However there are a lot of better ways to do it though than to create multi-purpose underwear. Still its a much better idea than hot coffee thermos briefs.

Avengers Assemble!

After watching the entertaining Iron Man 2 movie, the curiosity drove me to find out more about up coming Avengers related movies:

Spoilers #1
Who is Thor?
Mr Thor

When its out?
Check it out!

He also happens to be Aussie!

Spoiler #2
Who is Captain America?
Steve Rogers

When its out?
Check it out here!

Wait a minute? Isn't he the one who play Johnny Storm? Does that mean the Fantastic 4 will not be featured in the avengers?
Think someone is concerned about bursting the production budget...

Avenegers Assembling in 2012. Preventing 2012 (the movie) from happening.

Helmetcam footage of NL MARSOF boarding a hijacked vessel

This is actual footage of a boarding operation on a hijacked ship. Interesting stuff.

Law Abiding Engineer

I know I promised to post more photos, but I found this on Youtube and couldn't resist.

Never piss off an Engineer. ;)

Reimagining Your Mascot

How do you sell burgers in a country where your mascot looks FFVI's Kefka or the Joker from the Batman mythos? How do you reimagine your mascot to be relevant to today's consumer without any connection to murderous psychopaths? Especially in a country with very little popular consciousness about clowns?

This is MacDonald's Japan's answer.


Funny - Funny Videos

Campus Shots

It's been a while since I posted anything as I've been busy with assignments.  Here's some photos of my campus.

Operating Systems: An Analogy

MacOS: The Electric Razor

MacOS is an electric razor.  You just plug it in, turn it on and shave.

Windows: The Safety Razor/Disposable Razor

Windows is a safety or disposable razor.  To get a good shave, shaving foam and aftershave is a must.  You can get by without shaving foam and aftershave but you run the risk of nicking yourself.  You also need to change blades when they wear out.

Linux: The Straight Razor

Linux is a straight razor.  You better know what you are doing or you're just going to cut your throat wide open.

Discuss.

30 Cans of Tooth Decay

Shhhh!!! Don't tell Mechamorph! Oh wait...

A Day In Life for Chipmunk @ TECH ... Bright and Sunny

A bright sunny day to drive away all your worries. Just make sure your have the proper eye protection.

A Day in Life for Chipmunk @ TECH

Ah feel so thirsty... Let me have a refreshing Coke from JAPAN.

*Ahhhhhh....*

PS: Ha ha dun really know how you guys would react to this but I will post them frequently... When my colleague is willing to 'lend' me her Chip'n'Dale for a photo shoot.