If you’re in San Francisco for Macworld or otherwise hanging out in the area, EFF is throwing a party at DNA Lounge [map] from 8pm to late on Wednesday, January 6, 2009. We’re asking for a $25 donation at the door; it gets you a kick-ass party and more freedom. Also, you’ll be hearing world-class DJs all night — the venerable DJ Spooky is headlining, the Bootie DJs are spinning that night, Kid Kameleon will be hot behind the decks… You might also catch me and my fellow EFF staffer Tones playing some tunes.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is one of the best organizations focused on defending people’s digital rights — and we know how to throw a great party! Join us!
I finally caved and got an Xbox 360 over the winter holiday, allowing me to delve into some of the great gaming I’ve been missing out on lately. Hearing about Left 4 Dead from a friend at work was one factor in the decision to get the console — it’s excellent, non-stop, zombie killing fun, though it essentially requires a pay-for-play XBox Live account to be worthwhile.
Anyway, Left 4 Dead feels dark, scary and authentic, yet it remains eminently playable. Though the polish seems effortless, these features were calculatingly considered and brought to the surface with some very artful techniques. Check out the following blog posts, in which Valve designer Randy Ludeen discusses the “filmic effects” and lighting design that contribute to Left 4 Dead’s quality and success as a game.
Please enjoy the “12 Days of EFF” animation below — ’tis a merry, animated jaunt through some of this years’ milestones in the fight for your digital rights.
This dialog box popped up when I tried to watch an IT Crowd DVD from the UK. (By the by, IT Crowd is hilarious and awesome; if you’re even the least bit geek-inclined, you will probably be rewarded should you make the bit of effort required to watch it if you’re not in the UK.)
I didn’t quite expect that I would be allowed to watch the DVD, but I also wasn’t counting on being given the option to change my computer’s region code. Not that this makes me happy — region codes are just another bullshit way that Hollywood tries to control culture in the name of profit.
The World of Warcraft Miniatures Deluxe Edition was released today! (San Francisco’s Gamescape was, once again, very accommodating and might be starting up a WoW Miniatures game day on Sundays.) The Deluxe Edition set comes with 6 random World of Warcraft miniatures, 6 character cards, 12 action bar cards, 12 ten-sided dice, 6 UBases (which many players have simply stopped using in lieu of dice), a poster/complete character list, a scenario book, and one of three game boards (either Ashenvale, Tanaris, or Winterspring). Here are photos of the unboxing:
I knew what the real gem was going into the purchase: the scenario book and game board. In combination, the scenario book, blank game board, and custom hexes allow the players to imbue the map with different features, adding variety and extending playability. The cheaper starter set comes with a passable game mat on glossy poster paper. But there’s nothing quite like unfolding heavy, high-quality chipboard onto the table. The map surface has a durable matte finish, and is a subtle pleasure to play upon.
However, I’m violently shaking my fist at Upper Deck Entertainment (UDE) for putting random game boards in the Deluxe Edition boxes instead of marking explicitly which game board is in the box. I accept the idea that the booster packs (miniatures only) have a random assortment of characters, but random game boards? With each Deluxe Edition set costing $50, I should absolutely be able to pay $150 and be guaranteed ownership of all three game boards. But as it stands, dumping $150 into 3 Deluxe Edition sets only gives me a 22% chance of having all three boards.
tech activist, nerd, gamer