Robot Claw – Page 609 – “Life In The So-Called Space Age”

No 3DS For Me?

January 20, 2011

Yesterday Nintendo announced the launch date (March 27) and price (US$250) for the new 3DS handheld.

If you hadn’t heard, this is a more powerful, higher resolution handheld that allows for 3D gaming without using glasses.

Now as you all know I’m quite the early adopter, but I must admit I’m cool on this device so far for the following reasons:

1. The launch games are poor. Not one of them interest me, and without a compelling game what is the point?

2. I don’t care (much) about the 3D. Sure it would be a fun gimmick, but I see myself turning it off most of the time.

3. $250 is a lot to spend for a dedicated device. This may be a strange comment coming from someone who has played one game on his PSP for over 400 hours alone, but given 1 and 2, there is very little else about the 3DS that has me excited right now. Other features will come in time (via OS updates), but why are they not present at launch.

4. The 3DS is region locked. This is a big, big one for me. I hate it. I hate that I wouldn’t be able to buy games in Japan (or Australia) and play it on my American device. Or send games to my Dad (were he to get one) from America. Boo-hoo Nintendo :<

On the other hand – and this is unfortunately significant – the L button on my current DSi is showing signs of deterioration. If it goes I’ll need a new DS immediately. It would be sad if that ended up being the principle reason I buy a 3DS.

Show me some good games Nintendo, and ASAP, if you want me to early adopt.

Yes Please

January 19, 2011

Just learned that the three Kim Newman Dracula novels (Anno Dracula, The Bloody Red Baron and Dracula Cha Cha Cha) are being reprinted. Here’s the cover of the first one:

Even better yet, each book will contain a series of ‘extras’ in the form of additional novellas. Anno Dracula contains two such novellas, each of which ‘fill in the blanks’ in the series. Even even better yet, one of the novella in this first reprint stars no less than Richard Jeperson! (Not to be confused with my own alter ego)

I’m so intrigued, since Richard J already appears (albeit very briefly) as an alternate dimension form of himself in the Anno Dracula novels. Will the new novella contain this version, or another?

But even, even, EVEN better – a fourth novel in the series has been announced! To be released in 2012, the fourth will be set in America and is called ‘Johnny Alucard’. Apparently it will feature a whole slew of alternate-USA celebrities and fictional characters including such people (?) as Buffy, Vampirella and even Elvira.

And lastly – directed to AW – you must immediately go and read the wiki entry on Life’s Lottery, specifically the ‘non interactive’ section. To say my jaw hit the floor is an understatement…

The Impossible Dream

January 19, 2011

It started in Sydney, when my departing plane was delayed by two and a half hours due to a ‘malfunction’ (never fully explained to us). Boo to United for poorly informing us, since at one point (on the board) the flight was described as ‘cancelled’.

That’s how I feel right now, +1 day after finally getting back here, jet-lagged and very tired. I just finished the most essential class-related work, and am going to go rest soon.

Upon our late arrival in Los Angeles the plane departing for Chicago was delayed as well (due to ice in Chicago). This meant I was able to make the connection, although even then it was known the Albany one had no chance.

I think that goat will remember me for ever. “Never”, did he think, “did I think a human would ever pick me up!”. And for that simple act he came to love me 🙂

United put me in a hotel in Chicago. A spiffy one, better than anything I’d probably pay for myself. And yet it was lost on me for I had no clean clothes and simply washed what I had in the shower and went straight to bed. Only I didn’t sleep, just playing DS all through the night and drying my clothes with the hair dryer.

Even now, +3 days from leaving Oz, do I recall the delicious taste of grilled – always fresh, not frozen – chicken sandwiches. Many things change in life, but that memory will remain always.

The flight from Chicago the next day was similarly delayed. As it turns out our first plane broke, and we had to wait over 3 hours for a replacement. Then we were detained further still. I spent almost 5 hours seated on planes just yesterday, and only 80 minutes of that was actually in the air. When I finally got home to Albany, I almost thanked God.

I must make a correction – I inaccurately described these guys as Rosella numerous times on this blog. They are in fact a different type of Parrot – a Rainbow Lorikeet. I originally described them as both in the video, thinking the two names were synonymous but they are in fact different birds (google Rosella to see how equally beautiful they are). At any rate check out this guys plumage.

If any bird described to be called Rainbow surely this is the one 🙂