Today's Specials Archives - Page 19 of 89

Coffee Talk #389: Are We Living in a Post-PC World?

I’m not buying the whole “Post-PC world” rhetoric. I hate that phrase. It’s a clever bit of marketing that reminds me a bit of the term “Retina Display”. Apple, Steve Jobs in particular, has ingrained the terms Post-PC…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, why animals freak out before natural disasters, Hustler’s rumored Rihanna sex tape, or paid Android apps that still have advertising (WTF?!?), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Like many of you, I spent a lot of time reading a bunch of reactions to Steve Jobs resigning as Apple CEO. One of my favorites was by Peter Pachal of PC Magazine. While I enjoyed the piece, there was a section that bugged me. Check it out:

The reason Jobs picked this time to leave active duty at Apple is apparent. He’s done. He’s finished executing a brilliant strategy of transitioning Apple from a PC-focused company to a company that’s leading the charge into what Jobs calls the “Post-PC world.” Over the past decade, Apple’s legendary success began with the iPod, evolved into the iPhone, and reached new heights with the iPad.

I definitely agree that Jobs changed Apple’s focus and transformed it into a drastically different company than it was in 1997. That said, I’m not buying the whole “Post-PC world” rhetoric. I hate that phrase. It’s a clever bit of marketing that reminds me a bit of the term “Retina Display”. Apple, Jobs in particular, has ingrained the terms Post-PC era and Retina Display to the point where a lot of tech writers think that the Post-PC is an actual era (after the Palaeozoic Era?) and Retina Display is an actual technology. It infuriates me. (For the record, I’m not accusing Pachal of either. His article just reminded me of the matter.)

See, I don’t think of products like the iPhone or iPad as post-PC. They’re just different kinds of personal computers. They’re personal devices, right? They compute things, don’t you agree? They just use different input methods, come in different form factors, and offer a different experience. I realize those sound like major differences, but I believe that my laptop, my smartphone, and my iPad are all personal computers. They’re just different kinds of PCs. Put it this way — my laptop is quite different from the Altair 8800, but they’re both considered personal computers.

Do you agree with me? Are smartphones and tablets just new kinds of personal computers? Or are they distinct device types that should not be considered PCs? Are you living in a Post-PC world? Are you a Post-PC girl? (Think Madonna.)

Today’s Poll: Will the iPhone 5 Be on All Major U.S. Carriers?

Following the recent rumor that the iPhone 5 will be available on Sprint in October, MacTrast has posted a story that claims Apple’s next iPhone will be available on T-Mobile as well. If both rumors pan out then the iPhone will be available on all four major American carriers. That’s a potentially huge happening that could shake up the U.S. market.

What do you think? Will it happen? Kindly take today’s poll and discuss!

[poll id=”130″]

Coffee Talk #388: Make Your Own Videogame Convention

With Halo Fest taking place this weekend and Call of Duty XP in a few weeks followed by Blizzcon a bit later, I was wondering what the videogame convention of your dreams would be like. Would you want a convention…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, your favorite shot of alcohol, Klatch’s Panama Carmen Estate 1750 Reserve, or Derek Jeter rocking it the second half of the season, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Today’s Coffee Talk is a quickie as I’ll be flying back to California by the time you’re reading this. With Halo Fest taking place this weekend and Call of Duty XP in a few weeks followed by Blizzcon a bit later, I was wondering what the videogame convention of your dreams would be like. Would you want a convention centered around a certain developer or publisher? Or would you want a convention all about your favorite gaming franchise?

This is never going to happen, but I’m going to dream about Matsuno Mania 3000. It’s a three-day convention that celebrates the games created by Yasumi Matsuno and his team. It’s full of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics panels. Matsuno is a known Queen mark, so the surviving members of the band would be the musical guests (Brian May rules!). This sounds like the best event ever (in my head)!!!

What’s the videogame convention of your dreams like? Name it, describe it, and share it (please)!

Coffee Talk #387: Games That All Look the Same to You

Are there any game genres that look all the same to you? For example, I have several casual-gamer friends that can’t tell the difference between Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Medal of Honor. They see all World War II…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the rebellion in Libya, Klatch’s El Salvador Yellow Bourbon, or the brawl between Georgetown and the Bayi Military Rockets baseketball teams leading to World War III, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Are there any game genres that look all the same to you? For example, I have several casual-gamer friends that can’t tell the difference between Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Medal of Honor. They see all World War II first-personshooters as the same. The issue isn’t restricted to casual gamers either. I have friends in the videogame business that think all Japanese RPGs are the same. They see some effeminate male protagonist with impossible hair saving the world against some generic evil guy.

As for me, all the tower defense games in the world have blended together into one unidentifiable mess. I’m sure that there are plenty of differences between tower defense games, but aside from South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! I can’t tell these games apart. Part of it is due to a lack of interest and part of it stems from the overwhelming tower defense choices on Android and iOS. There are just too many of them!

Now it’s your turn! Are there any game genres that all look the same to you?

PSP Vita Will Have Facebook, Foursquare, Skype, and Twitter

Sony has confirmed that its upcoming PlayStation Vita will have native Facebook, Foursquare, Skype, and Twitter apps. Do you guys and dolls care that the Vita will have extensive social networking capabilities or…

Sony has confirmed that its upcoming PlayStation Vita will have native Facebook, Foursquare, Skype, and Twitter apps. Each app adds a layer of social networking, communications, and location-based entertainment. Of course what I really want to know is ~~are you going to go my way~~, do you care?!?

I think it’s fantastic that the Vita will have these apps. As many of you know, I’m a frequent user of all four. I love that Sony is making the Vita social. More importantly, the Vita will be social in a way that fits in with most of the online world, as opposed to an insular method like Street Pass on the Nintendo 3DS. Similar to how how consoles are no longer just about games, these apps will ensure that the Vita is far more than a portable gaming device.

Having said that, I don’t see myself using them (much) on the Vita. I use all four services on my mobile phones (yes, plural). For the most part, I don’t see how using one of these services on the Vita will be better than using them on my phone. Perhaps viewing Facebook pictures or making Skype video calls will be better because of the larger screen, but I can’t think of any other reasons.

How do you feel about Facebook, Foursquare, Skype, and Twitter on the PlayStation Vita? Does it make the device more interesting for you? Can you think of a case where it would be better to use one of these services on a Vita than on a phone?

Coffee Talk #386: Do Gamers Want Art?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, naughty thoughts about Courtney Stodden, Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero making it in WWE, or dreaming of VPS, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

First off, this isn’t one of those “Are videogames art?” columns. You’ve read too many of those already, I’m sure. What today’s column is about is whether there’s a high demand for videogames that are “artistic”. I’m talking about games like Ico, Okami, Elite Beat Agents, Child of Eden, etc. Secondly, I want to discuss gamer apathy and journalist snobbery regarding these games. Let’s get to it!

You see, it all started innocently enough. I was hanging out with my friend EGM Paul, getting ready to devour some outstanding pastrami. We started talking about games like the ones I mentioned above. We discussed if games like these are similar to their theatrical counterparts. While there are certainly some gamers that are thrilled by games like Ico, there are simply more that are dazzled by Call of Duty or Madden. It’s kind of like how The Wedding Banquet is one of my favorite movies of all time, but I understand why Transformers is more popular. A lot of people are passionate about “art house” games and want them to take over the world, but the reality is that they’ll never be blockbusters.

One of the problems with these games is how journalists write about them. A lot of writers get way too uppity about these titles and the pretentiousness is amazing. Too many people write things like, “You’re not a real gamer if you don’t support this game!” or, “You don’t care about the gaming business if you don’t buy this title!” There’s a fine line between wanting to support games that are different and coming off like a prick. A lot of writers cross this line. What’s more alarming is that many of them feel that their stance is justified. (For any new readers, I am not a journalist, FYI.)

I understand why journos get worked up. A lot of gamers are apathetic. A lot of people say that they’re tired of sequels and want more original games. A lot of the same people don’t put their money where their mouths are. There’s nothing wrong with buying and enjoying games in the same series year after year. Games are entertainment and gamers should spend their money on whatever entertains them the most. However, people that bitch about Activision and EA pumping out sequel after sequel while doing nothing to support new IPs and original games should just ~~shut the hell up~~ keep it to themselves.

For my part, I try to support my favorite developers and original games that I enjoy. Even though I get games for free, I’ll go out and buy a BioWare title or an Okami game because I want to see more. My extra copy will go to a friend that I think will enjoy the game, but wouldn’t necessarily by it. In some cases, I’ve made news fans for my favorite developers and unique games. Bonus.

How about you? Do you enjoy so-called “artistic” games? Do you care about supporting original titles or small developers? Or do you just buy whatever makes you happy? How do you feel about journalist snobbery and gamer apathy concerning these games? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!

Analysis: Google Buys Motorola Mobility

Google has announced that it has purchased Motorola Mobility for $12.5-billion or $40 a share. While that sounds like a hefty chunk of change, there are a few things to consider. First of all, Google can afford the purchase. Secondly, with all the ridiculous patent wars happening in tech, Motorola Mobility gives Google the opportunity to counter-sue and pursue cross-licensing deals with companies that claim Android infringes on their patents. Lastly, it’s just good business to have control of software, services, and hardware.

Google CEO Larry Page wrote the following on the Official Google Blog:

This acquisition will not change our commitment to run Android as an open platform. Motorola will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. We will run Motorola as a separate business. Many hardware partners have contributed to Android’s success and we look forward to continuing to work with all of them to deliver outstanding user experiences.

We recently explained how companies including Microsoft and Apple are banding together in anti-competitive patent attacks on Android. The U.S. Department of Justice had to intervene in the results of one recent patent auction to “protect competition and innovation in the open source software community” and it is currently looking into the results of the Nortel auction. Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.

This deal is first and foremost about patents. Depending on which source you believe, either Motorola or Nokia holds the largest mobile-tech patent library. Technology patents are getting out of hand. Apple and Microsoft are pretty much suing everybody that makes a mobile device. It’s sad that Microsoft made more money off of Android than Windows Phones in Q2 2011. It’s also sad that Apple is able to block Samsung devices from being sold in certain countries over patent litigation. (I’ve never mistaken a Galaxy device for an iPhone or iPad, have you?) Acquiring Motorola Mobility gives Google a ton of ammo to defend and attack in the crazy patent wars.

Although Motorola has been getting beat up in the press in 2011 due to the underwhelming Xoom tablet and the comically delayed Bionic phone, it’s still one of the best Android handset makers in the world. Remember, Android didn’t really take off until the Motorola Droid/Milestone. The company has made excellent Android phones like the Droid X and Droid 2. It will be interesting to see if the number of Motorola handsets decreases after the acquisition is complete (I’m guessing it will). The acquisition also fuels the rumor that Motorola will be making the Android Ice Cream Sandwich hero phone, rumored to be called the Nexus prime.

Regardless of whether Motorola Mobility continues producing the same amount of phones, it’s important for Google to lead the way by showing how to integrate Android software, services, and hardware. Prior to the acquisition, Google only controlled the first two. Now it has a hardware manufacturer to play with. This can only be good for the future of Android.

Of course it will be interesting to see how Google’s Android partners react to the deal in the long term. Right now its partners are applauding it because of all the lovely patents. Google will have to juggle the advantages of having its own hardware arm and appeasing its hardware partners. Naturally, Motorola Mobility will have some advantages over HTC, Samsung, LG, etc., but will they be substantial enough to stifle the competition or will the competition be forced to be more aggressive with differentiation? For example, will HTC — one of the most successful Android partners — be even more aggressive with its Sense UI and HTC Watch video service in order to help its phones stand out from Motorola’s Google phones?

What do you think of Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility? How do you think it will affect the Android universe? Is Motorola now a shoe-in for the next Android champion phone and all future Android champion products? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!

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Coffee Talk #385: Pick the Best Final Fantasy Pet!

Inspired by the latest batch of Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens, I started thinking about what it would be like to have an FF animal as a pet. Yes, I actually thought about this as if it were an actual possibility. There are so many great ones to choose from! Whether you’re looking…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Jorge Posada’s fluke six RBI game, whether CM Punk can keep his heat, or incompetent web hosts (AnHosting!), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Inspired by the latest batch of Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens, I started thinking about what it would be like to have an FF animal as a pet. (Yes, I actually thought about this as if it were an actual possibility.) There are so many great ones to choose from! Whether you’re looking for a cuddly companion, a stalwart defender, or a pragmatic pet, the creatures of Final Fantasy have all the bases covered. Let’s take a look at a few before making our selections.

Chocobo — The highest-profile creature in the FF universe, Chocobo’s blend characteristics of birds, horses, and dogs. They’re loyal companions that are strong protectors and great for transportation. If you’re lucky enough to have a black chocobo, you can be transported over sea, air, and land. This is particularly useful for people with visa issues. Having a black chocobo means you can ignore borders and visit any country you want.

On the down side, the feathers are messy. They get everywhere. Chocobos are usually cute, but molting chocobos can be a nightmare. Then there’s the mating thing. Forget rabbits. They have nothing on chocobos. You can count on your chocobo being insatiably horny at least three times a year. When that happens, watch out!

Moogle — One of the cutest creatures in the world of Final Fantasy, moogles are more than just adorable faces. In various FF games, moogles have shown useful healing abilities and a penchant for delivering mail. These animals are a great choice for people that like to exercise; the aches and pains of a strenuous workout instantly disappear after a dose of moogle magic. (The rumor is that they can also remove any traces of steroids and HGH.) Moogle owners never have to use USPS, FedEx, UPS, or DHL everagain. Moogle Net is faster and more reliable than any of those service.

Unfortunately, moogles are a bit vain and prone to tantrums. Like the best looking girl in high school, moogles know that they’re awesome. They know that they’re cute and useful. If you don’t show a moogle enough attention then it will stop healing you and delivering your parcels until it feels like it’s being appreciated. They have incredibly useful abilities, but like they say in Thailand, “No money, no honey!”

Cactuar — These desert creatures are great for people looking for protection, as well as those that don’t have the time for a high-maintenance animal. Cactuars are incredibly sweet to their owners, but if they detect the slightest threat to the ones they love then thousands of needles will be launched unto assailants, both real and imagined. Young women that live in big cities will always feel safe with a cactuar by their side. As an added bonus, cactuars don’t eat and only require a bit of water every few weeks. Leaving on a business trip for a few weeks? Don’t worry, your cactuar will be fine on its own (though your sofa will probably be torn to shreds when you get back).

While cactuars are fierce defenders, they’re also poor choices for physically affectionate people. Trust me, you do not want to hug a cactuar. Hell, people have been sent to the hospital from simply trying to pet a cactuar. This is one of the rare cases when saying you love something is much better than showing it.

Tonberry — Another fine choice for people looking for protection, tonberry’s are great for older people that want to feel more secure. Equipped with deceptively powerful knives and lanterns, tonberries will slice your enemies to shreds and make the darkest alleyways bright as day. Unlike cactuars, tonberries are slow creatures and don’t require a lot of energy to tend.

Out of all the animals mentioned in today’s column, tonberries have the highest chance of killing their owners, by far. It’s not even close. Despite generations of breeding, there’s just something ingrained in tonberry DNA that makes it want to kill. It doesn’t even need a reason. Also, it’s weird that they all have knives and lanterns. After centuries of research, nobody knows why tonberries come equipped and where they get their gear. Some researchers believe that tonberry accessories have demonic origins. The world may never know the truth.

I Choose…. — Now it’s time for you too decide! Pick the Final Fantasy pet that you like best. And for the record, bahamuts were not included because…well, they just make crappy pets.

[poll id=”129″]

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Screens are Moogletastic!

I’m loving the latest batch of Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens. They’re full of moogle goodness! Several of the shots show the game’s moogle in cutscenes and in action. In addition to being awesomely cute, the moogle fits into the combat and puzzle aspects of FFXIII-2. There’s also this cool shot of Serah wielding a comically large bow. It’s amazing that her skinny arms can even lift it!

Anyway, please check out the screens and share your thoughts on ’em. Kupo!!!

[nggallery id=67]

Coffee Talk #384: Nintendo Dropping Hardware for Android/iOS?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, how many idiots it takes to perform a successful server migration, Austin Aries on Impact Wrestling, or not missing Alex Rodriguez in the slightest, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

With Nintendo’s recent financial report and the company’s bungling of the 3DS, a lot of people are saying that Nintendo is doomed. As someone that has covered the company for several console generations, I find this amusing. We’ve come full circle! People were saying that Nintendo was doomed during the N64 and GameCube days, ignoring the heaps of money it was making with its Game Boy products. When the Nintendo DS and Wii were breaking sales records, people were asking, “Can anyone stop Nintendo???” A rough launch, currency exchange issues, and the tail-end of a console’s lifespan have Nintendo doomed (again). Funny how it goes….

One of the byproducts of this gloom-and-doom reporting is that “experts” believe that Nintendo should ditch the hardware business and focus strictly on software. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of how people used to clamor for Apple to get out of the hardware business and just be an outstanding software developer. Yesterday I read an extremely stupid article written by a writer I usually enjoy. TheAppleBlog’s Darrell Etherington wrote:

Nintendo wouldn’t be the first gaming company to stop making hardware and turn its attention entirely to software if it did change its focus to developing for Apple. Sega made the same move back in 2001, based in part on the same kind of mistake that’s causing Nintendo’s headaches today.

That’s one of the dumbest comparisons I’ve read all year. First of all, the financial situations are completely different. Nintendo has always enjoyed great margins on its hardware. Even when it was being outsold by Sega, Sony, and Microsoft, it made strong profits on hardware sales. The company has always had a lot of cash in the bank. Sure, Nintendo is having a down year with a mishandled 3DS launch and the Wii being on its last legs, but how does that compare to Sega, a company that was losing money at the height of the Dreamcast’s popularity?

Secondly, why would you even mention Sega as a reason for Nintendo to drop hardware and focus on software?!? Sega went from being part of the “big three” companies in console gaming to a middle-of-the-road game publisher. That’s hardly a success story.

I just don’t understand why people are calling for Nintendo to exit the hardware business at this time. Sure, the 3DS will not be as popular as the DS. I sincerely doubt the Wii U will put up the numbers that the Wii did. Having said that, I expect the company to make a lot of money with both products. This talk of Nintendo dropping hardware seems way too premature.

What do you ladies and gents think? Should Nintendo leave the hardware business? Or is that just crazy talk? Do you think Nintendo would develop games for Android and iOS while it still sold consoles? Do you think the admiration Satoru Iwata and Steve Jobs have for each other means anything in business terms? Should Ninten-Do or Ninten-Don’t?!?