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Coffee Talk #564: What Will Win the Next Console War?

The next generation of console wars is nearly here! Nintendo’s Wii U is already available. Sony is expected to announce the next PlayStation later this month. And Microsoft is expected to announce the next Xbox by E3 2013. In the past, hardware and exclusive games shaped the outcome of console wars. More recently, online serves like PlayStation Network and Xbox Live helped determined the outcome. With many people believing that the upcoming batch of hardware will be the end of traditional consoles as we know them, what do you think will…more

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, last night’s return of Linsanity, PETA going after Beyonce for her Super Bowl outfit, or missing Las Vegas during DICE time, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The next generation of console wars is nearly here! Nintendo’s Wii U is already available. Sony is expected to announce the next PlayStation later this month. And Microsoft is expected to announce the next Xbox by E3 2013. In the past, hardware and exclusive games shaped the outcome of console wars. More recently, online services like PlayStation Network and Xbox Live helped determined the outcome. With many people believing that the upcoming batch of hardware will be the end of traditional consoles as we know them, what do you think will determine the next skirmish. More importantly, what features are most important to you?

Some people believe that games will be an afterthought, or at least exclusive games. They believe that all three platforms will have great games, so it’ll be a wash. I somewhat disagree with this stance. While exclusives aren’t as powerful as they used to be, I believe they still shape a console’s identity.

Most pundits agree that pure horsepower isn’t as relevant as it used to be. This is a trend that extends beyond consoles. Generally speaking, consumer electronics have become more about software and services than powerful hardware. One of the reasons that Xbox 360 was more successful than PlayStation 3 was that Xbox Live was much better than PlayStation Network for years. While Sony’s service has improved greatly, some feel that the improvements didn’t come fast enough.

Continuing on the services tip, the social, non-gaming, and premium features of consoles have become hugely important. Many gamers prefer Xbox 360 because that’s the system most of their friends use online. Playing games with friends is almost always more fun than playing with strangers. Some people spend more time using the non-gaming features of consoles more than playing games. Features like streaming video services and video chat are quite popular. Then there are the premium services. Some people feel that PlayStation Plus trounces Xbox Live Gold.

Some journalists are shouting about developer ease-of-use being paramount. That’s certainly an important issue, but some of the writers that are taking this stance have little idea what goes into making a game. Honestly, I’m not sure where this is coming from. It’s one thing for developers to say or write things like this, but journalists that don’t understand game production? Then again, there are a lot of journalists that write long diatribes about what Company X needs to do to turn things around while having no clue about running a business. Personally, I’m going to leave this issue on the table and let smarter people discuss it. Besides, I’m not sure that most gamers care.

So games, hardware power, and online services…. What else is there? What concerns you the most? What features and factors do you think will be most important in the next generation of console wars? Please shout it out in the comments section!

Fast & Furious 6 Extended Trailer

As many of you know, I’m a total mark for the Fast & Furious series. It’s probably my favorite franchise when it comes to big, dumb fun. Plus, I believe in supporting Hollywood’s only action star that regularly plays Dungeons & Dragons (Vin Diesel) and I’m completely mesmerized by Paul Walker’s crappy acting. Fast Five was the pinnacle of the series for me. It had the best elements of all the previous, plus Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It’s also one of the only American action movies that has a cool Asian guy that gets the girl.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, this landed:

Wow. Car chases! Sexy girls! A cat fight! Paul Walker’s crappy acting! This is going to be awesome.

Yoda Getting His Own Star Wars Movie?

[Update 4:24PM PT] The initial rumor about the upcoming Disney Stars Wars movies was that they’re being based on an old plot by George Lucas. The latest rumor, courtesy of Ain’t It Cool News, is that Yoda will be getting his own film. Can you imagine a two-hour movie full of a diminutive, back-flipping Jedi spouting English with funky syntax? While you’re thinking about it, here’s a quote from the article:

Well, to start with they’re going to focus on established characters and do solo films. The first Stand Alone film is going to center upon YODA.

Yoda is pretty awesome, but I don’t know about him carrying a whole movie. My initial reactions are that he’s better in a supporting role and that this rumor is bunk. Still…stranger things have happened, especially in a galaxy far, far away.

Do you think Yoda can carry an entire movie? Would you watch it?

Update: Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that there are plans for standalone movies that are separate from the next trilogy. He didn’t confirm that Yoda would be the first subject.

Source

Vaping Diaries #37: Innokin iClear 30 Clearomizer Preview

Along with the iTaste SVD, Innokin sent me a few iClear 30 clearomizers. These are dual-coil clearos with two unique features. First, the top and bottom of the unit are made from stainless steel; the majority of clearomizers available are mostly plastic and/or use inexpensive metal. Second, the tip swivels, like the popular knucklehead drip tip. This allows vaping devices to be held in a more comfortable position.

The video preview above goes over the iClear 30’s features and includes a breakdown of its parts. While I need to spend more time with the iClear 30 — especially seeing how it handles problematic juices like naturally-extracted tobbacco e-liquids — my first tank of juice with this clearo has been great. I’ll probably produce a comparison video of the iClear 30 and the Kanger T3, my current clearomizer of choice. Stay tuned!

Coffee Talk #563: Apple as Console King?

Last week, Polygon posted a fantastic article full of juicy quotes from Valve co-founder Gabe Newell. Here are a few choice lines:

I think Apple rolls the console guys really easily.

The biggest challenge is that Apple moves on the living room before the PC industry sort of gets its act together.

The quotes got a ton of play on the Internetz, but I didn’t spend too much time thinking or talking about them…because Newell’s stance didn’t seem debatable to me. I think he’s right and his (greatly respected) opinions are obvious. However, RPadholic N8R suggested…more

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 Los Angeles Clippers floundering without Chris Paul, Verve’s Ethiopia Birhanu, or overdosing on Kevin Smith commentaries (and loving it), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Last week, Polygon posted a fantastic article full of juicy quotes from Valve co-founder Gabe Newell. Here are a few choice lines:

I think Apple rolls the console guys really easily.

The biggest challenge is that Apple moves on the living room before the PC industry sort of gets its act together.

Apple has done a phenomenal job selling iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs. Those products have become more than phones, tablets, and streaming-video players. They’re multifaceted devices that are “lifestyle” products. So Newell is absolutely right about Apple being in millions of living rooms. He’s also right about Apple having a huge opportunity to displace traditional console gaming. The question is whether Apple will try to shake up and dominate that business the way it did with smartphones and tablets.

When Steve Jobs ran Apple, I would have bet against it. Under Jobs, Apple had a strange relationship with gaming. At times it seemed like the company didn’t understand it. At other times, it almost seemed like the company was afraid of it. It will be interesting to see how Apple approaches gaming under Tim Cook. He seems more flexible than his predecessor and more willing to venture into territory that has been historically foreign to the company.

I have no doubt that gaming will become a bigger part of Apple’s future, but I have no idea how the company will approach the field. It could continue to make iOS gaming bigger and bigger, enhancing the experience through AirPlay. Handheld consoles are already hurting because of the rapidly improving iOS gaming market. It’s conceivable that Apple will continue to foster iOS gaming growth so that it cuts into home consoles.

Or the company could be more aggressive on the hardware front with Apple TV or the mythical Apple television set. Imagine a more powerful Apple TV with visually-impressive games that are controlled with iPhones and iPads. In the immortal words of John Lennon, “It’s easy if you try.”

Ultimately, I don’t think Apple will take on Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony head-on. That’s not what the company does. It successfully played its own game with smartphones and tablets, and I see it doing the same with gaming. Will that be enough to make it console king?

What do you think of Newell’s statements about Apple possibly rolling the big console companies? Can you imagine a world where Apple rules living-room gaming?

Vaping Diaries #36: Innokin iTaste SVD Preview

The iTaste SVD arrived at RPad.TV headquarters today and I was psyched to check out Innokin’s latest mod. The SVD is a variable-voltage and variable-wattage tube mod made from stainless steel. Here’s a first impressions preview of the mod.

Like the iTaste MVP, the SVD kit is fairly complete; it comes with the mod, an extra tube for larger batteries, two iClear 30 clearomizers, three clearomizer replacement coils, and the instruction manuals (one for the mod and one for the clearos).

What the SVD doesn’t come with, is batteries. It can accept batteries ranging from 18350 to 18650. For my initial testing, I used an 18490 battery. To get the full range of voltage and wattage, Innokin recommends stacking two 18350 batteries. Speaking of which, the SVD can be adjusted from 3.3 to 6.0 volts in increments of 0.1 volts. For variable wattage, it has a range of 3.0 to 15.0 watts that can be adjusted in increments of 0.5 watts.

Since it’s made from stainless steel, the SVD has a nice heft to it. Even though I was using a relatively small 18490 battery (most of my mods are 18650), the SVD had a substantial feel. Of course personal preference plays into this. Generally speaking, I like tube mods that have a nice weight to them. If you like lighter mods, then perhaps something like the Ovale eVic is a better choice.

Using the SVD is fairly easy. There are three button: the firing button, a plus button, and a minus button. Using different button combinations activates the device’s features. Here’s a rundown:

Firing Button x 3: Power on or power off the device
Plus Button: Increase voltage or wattage
Minus Button: Decrease voltage or wattage
Firing Button + Minus Button: Hold for three seconds to activate variable-voltage mode
Firing Button + Plus Button: Hold for three seconds to activate variable-wattage mode
Plus Button + Minus Button: Hold for two seconds to check resistance (ohms)
Plus Button or Minus Button: Hold for three seconds to check battery capacity

I’ve only spent a few hours using the iTaste and SVD, but my first impression is pretty positive. It has a nice feel, it produces a satisfying vape, it’s easy to use, and the kit is relatively complete. I’ll be putting it through its paces, so stay tuned for a full review.

Today’s Poll: PEDs in Sports

Performance-enhancing drugs have been part of sports for decades, though the problem has become more scientifically advanced in the last 20 years. The big uproar started in baseball, with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds launching home runs to the moon (and breaking cherished records) with the help of performance enhancers. More recently, Alex Rodriguez has been accused of cheating, after he supposedly stopped using steroids. While MLB has a better drug testing program than most sports, the pharmacists seem to be several steps ahead of the commissioner.

The PED issue is a concern in multiple sports. Boxer Juan Manuel Marquez became incredibly ripped at age 39, with the help of a known steroid coach; he showed new knockout power on his way to demolishing Manny Pacquiao. Cyclist Lance Armstrong finally admitted medicinally-enhanced cheating that enabled him to win multiple Tour de France titles. At age 37, Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis recovered from a torn triceps in 10 weeks — an injury that normally takes six months to deal with.

In some cases, the cheaters have been caught. In others, the athletes are merely suspected cheaters. For some fans, drugs have tarnished modern sports, while others feel that they’re just part of today’s game. How do you feel about the matter?

[poll id=”175″]

Bill Simmons wrote an outstanding column on PEDs in sports and how the issue isn’t really being dealt with. He wrote, “I don’t even know what I am watching anymore.” And while the issue is quite complicated, it can really be summed up in that one sentence for many sports fans.

While performance-enhancing drugs are rapidly becoming more advanced, the governing bodies of most major sports are moving at a much slower pace. Let’s use boxing as an example. Most drug testing is handled by state commissions and a simple urine test is used. Organizations like VADA have exponentially more advanced techniques that cover a wide array of performance enhancers, yet most fights use tests that are easily beat. Off the top of my head, I only know of one boxer (Nonito Donaire) that subjects himself to random VADA testing 365 days a year. VADA is great for the sport and is relatively inexpensive, but due to politics and greed it isn’t being used for more fights.

Then there are the sports journalists. The issue of PEDs is covered every now and then, but it’s often handled with a gentle touch. On one hand, writers and broadcast journalists don’t want to offend the people and sports that they’re covering. Losing access would make their jobs incredibly difficult. On the other hand, the issue is arguably so big that more journalists should be doing more to help clean up sports.

Some fans dismiss modern PEDs as simple evolution. They point to the fact that many hall-of-fame athletes used amphetamines, commonly called “greenies,” from the ’60s on. They believe that steroids and HGH are modern-day tools that athletes use to get an edge, no different from the use of greenies back in the day.

Others feel that advanced medicine has tainted sports. Like Simmons wrote, many fans feel, “I don’t even know what I am watching anymore.” Cynical fans believe that most athletes cheat and that modern sports are tarnished.

I’d love to hear your take on the issue. Kindly vote in today’s poll and leave a comment with your view on PEDs in today’s sports.

This Week’s Videogame Releases

There are a bunch of videogame goodies available for your consumption this week. Sly Cooper makes his long-awaited return in Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. As a mark for the series and the character, I’m really looking forward to that one. Dead Space 3 has some fans excited, though others are concerned about the latest installment being more about action than survival-horror. 3DS fans looking for a good RPG should be pleased as punch with Fire Emblem Awakening. Last, but not least, is a game that’s perfect for fans of fighting and manga: Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Coffee Talk #562: Your Favorite Super Bowl 2013 Commercials

It began as a blowout, but Super Bowl XLVII ended up being a pretty exciting game. Sports and sports-related matters aside, I want to hear about the Super Bowl 2013 commercials that impressed you. To be completely honest, I was trying to edit video and watch the game at the same time. I’m positive that I missed a bunch of cool spots. If something nerdy came up, I paid attention. If a sexy woman was in a commercial, I paid extra attention. Here are the fun spots that I remember seeing, but…more

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, wrapping your head around Redfoo and Vika’s relationship, Metta World Peace throwing left hooks at The Palace, or noticing David Otunga at the Super Bowl, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Soda Stream: This spot was initially rejected by CBS. The network didn’t want to piss off Coke and Pepsi. Soda Stream aired a softer ad, but I wanted to make sure you saw the original. The ad itself is okay, but Soda Stream’s problems with “The Man” makes me want to buy one…and I don’t really drink soda at home.

Iron Man 3: The first two-thirds of the ad were underwhelming and I still have doubts about Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin, but the commercial ends with a thrilling flight sequence.

Star Trek: Into the Darkness: I’m so, so amped for this movie, but I was slightly disappointed in the commercial. I want more Alice Eve! She’s totally dreamy.

Best Buy/Amy Poehler: This is a cute spot featuring a wonderful comedian. Part of the reason it’s funny is because she asks silly questions that some people actually ask at Best Buy.

Motorola/Megan Fox: Remember that 2010 Motorola spot that had Megan Fox in a bathtub? The company went back to the well…and I’m totally cool with that. I could spend hours (possibly days) watching Megan Fox taking a bath.

Samsung/Seth Rogen/Paul Rudd: If watching Megan Fox taking a bath isn’t a possibility, I’d love to hang out and chat with these masters of bromantic comedy. Of course they’re a distant second (like another galaxy distant) to Ms. Fox.

Oreo Whisper Fight: I love how this silly argument starts with a whisper and ends in utter chaos. For various reasons, it reminded me of ECW shows that I attended in Queens. Good times.

Now it’s your turn! Please share your favorite Super Bowl 2013 commercials in the comments section.

Vaping Diaries #35: Sancia Smoke / Nashville Vapor Review

The e-liquid reviews continue with three Sancia Smoke juices. Available from Nashville Vapor, these e-liquids are “made in the USA from premium USA ingredients.” This review covers Watermelon Man, Varilla, and Old Time Root Beer. One of the juices was very good, one had a good taste that was somewhat ruined by an overpowering smell, and one was kind of flat. Here’s the breakdown.

Watermelon Man: First off, it was impossible for me to vape this juice without thinking of the Herbie Hancock song. That aside, this one surprised me. I usually prefer really natural-tasting fruit e-liquids. Watermelon Man isn’t quite natural, but isn’t obnoxiously sweet like most “candy” watermelon juices. It tastes similar to Arizona Watermelon and beverages like that. It’s a nice, smooth blend with the right amount of sweetness for an all-day vape. This was easily my favorite of the three.

Varilla: This is a nice mix of banana, vanilla, and cream, with a flaw that almost ruins the overall experience. The taste reminded me of Now & Later and Laffy Taffy candies. I’m usually not big on candy-flavored juices, but I enjoyed the taste of this e-liquid. Unfortunately, the good taste was accompanied by a strong, perfumey smell. There were times I wanted to vape more Varilla, but the smell was bothering me. I haven’t encountered a juice like that — very strange.

Old Time Root Beer: This tasted more like a root beer candy rather than a gourmet root beer. I definitely prefer the latter. I enjoy root beer e-liquids that combine sweetness with spiciness and complexity. Backwoods Brew’s Root Beer does this superbly. This juice tasted flat to me. People that dig those root beer barrel candies will probably like this juice. Those that like root beer with a bite probably won’t.