Q&A: The game has changed!
Passive participation = perfect!
I'll get straight to the point. Q&A never took off. At all. So whilst browsing the visitor statistics I came up with a better idea. Passive Q&A! What is passive Q&A, you ask? Passive Q&A is where I check out the keywords used by visitors to access this blog. Sometimes these keywords are in the form of a question, which is perfect! Otherwise I shall do my best to form the keywords into appropriate questions. Then, as the 'A' in Q&A suggests, I shall answer them!
Of course, the old method of asking questions will still be available. So if you want something answered, chuck them my way at qna@vitocassisi.com
Thanks for your time guys. :)
Tips for writing a good guide
There's tutorials to be written! Get into it!
Writing a good tutorial/guide takes more than a list of instructions on a page. There are many factors which must be considered before and during the process of writing to ensure that the end product is suitable. I've decided to write a series of tips to assist contributors in a group project on the Atomic forum. This project involves writing a collaborative overclocking guide. You could say that this is a guide for writing guides!
Awesome ways to backup your data
Yes, I just used 'awesome' and 'backup' in the same sentence. And lived.
Data backup is one of the most critical aspects to computing. There's always a risk of losing data when using our PCs, whether this is due to a hardware, software or user fault. It's for this reason that backup routines must be performed regularly to ensure irreplaceable data can be restored in the case of unfortunate events. But what's the best way to do this? I've collected five of my favourite methods to help spread the word about the importance of data redundancy.
S.H.M.U.P Game Review
A new side-scroller has arrived on the scene. But does it deliver?
Website: http://charcoalstyles.com/SHMUP/
Price: $9.99
S.H.M.U.P is a new age side-scroller aimed at the casual gamer demographic. The developer Charcoal Styles describes his creation as "...a side scrolling shooter that doesn't need pixel perfect positioning, lightening reflexes or for you to remember bullet patterns. All you need to do is make stuff explode", which is quite an enticing prospect for those who refuse to dedicate countless hours to mastering tactics. It integrates the classic 'ship' vs 'intruders' style of gameplay where the player controls a series of circular ships via the humble mouse. The continually oncoming intruders are made up of basic shapes with a range of offensive and defensive mechanisms to keep the protagonist challenged. It's the duty of the player to protect the wall on the left hand side of the screen.
Australian CRB makeshift R18+ classification for AvP
Sega refuses to tone down the game, the CRB pull some strings, and voilà!
The struggle between an R18+ game classification and Attorney General Michael Atkinson's conservative views has taken an unexpected twist today. Sega's long awaited game Aliens vs Predator (AvP) was refused classification on the 3rd of December due to its high level of realistic violence, but has has been overturned after an appeal by the developer. The games new MA15+ classification comes with a warning of "Strong science fiction violence" which apparently excuses the R18+ level of mature gameplay.
Comic relief for those concerned with R18+ classification and Internet censorship.
This is what happens when you're bored on a Tuesday night.
TPG Upgrade ADSL2+ Plans
One of Australia's largest ISPs has given its customers an early Christmas gift.
TPG has recently announced its new ADSL2+ plans to remain one of the best value ISPs on the market. Existing customers can upgrade their service to an equivalently priced upgraded plan free of charge, with no risk of a contract restart. Their most popular plan, the $50 a month 'Super Fast Standard' offering, now boasts 512k shaping and 120GB of downloads. But, it would appear that everyone is in for a treat.
Xbox 360 Wired PC Controller Review
A gaming PC is not complete without a good gamepad.
Website: http://www.microsoft.com/
Price: $38.74AUD + $16 postage - http://www.gizmomart.com.au/ (at time of review)
Atomic KitLog – How to Overclock Core i7 CPUs
Yes sir, very Atomic!
Not too long ago I wrote a tutorial for Australian tech magazine Atomic which delves into the process of overclocking Intel's latest high end CPU architecture - the Core i7. They've now released this article for free in their quarterly issue of Kitlog, which is an e-mag aimed at providing information regarding computer builds across different budgets/purposes. It's a great opportunity to see what Atomic is all about, and to check out some of my published works.
KitLog is a new publication which is currently at issue two. Their first issue also has one of my articles which is all about designing the perfect PC. So, if you're looking for something new to check out, head over to Atomic, indulge in their offerings, and mingle with the best tech minds on their online forum!
Thermalright Ultra eXtreme Keyring Mod
Increased cooling and retention in the form of a small modification.
The Thermalright Ultra eXtreme is probably the most recommended aftermarket cooler within enthusiast circles. Its high performance air cooling capabilities surpass its competition, and even puts some water cooling kits to shame. However, the cooler isn't without its faults. The surface which contacts the CPU is machined quite roughly, causing many ridges which need to be filled with thermal compound to ensure adequate contact. In addition to this, the pressure of which the cooler exerts on the CPU tends to be lacklustre due to the limited thread on the retention screws. The former requires sandpaper, large amounts of time, and some elbow grease to fix. The latter, on the other hand, can be solved with a neat trick which involves a keyring and some double sided tape.