Site feedback time: there’s several new features, and I want to know how they work:

• See the countdown calendar on the right? Any additions to what’s there?
• See the map on the bottom of the sidebar? Nifty, huh? Are you using IE? It doesn’t look as good there as it does in Firefox. On IE, the map has these darn scrollbars that I can’t seem to get rid of. It also might make the site very slow to scroll up and down: please let me know if you encounter this behavior.
• There’s a comment preview system in place so you can see (more or less) how what you’re typing is going to come out. The next thing I’m going to upgrade on the site is to try to make the comment posting have as many controls (links, bold, italic, etc.) as the article posting does…
• Emails go out with new articles and with comments (if you’re signed up on that article). Is this working out ok?
• What about graphics? Is the moon too distracting? Color scheme too annoying? This will also be upgraded - I’m just not sure what to try next…
• Any other ideas for upgrades or changes? Let me know!

EDIT: I’m currently updating the look of the site. Thus, it may look ugly right now. Keep checking back - let me know what you think of the finished product!

EDIT: Done! What do you think? I still need to improve compatibility with IE - it looks great in Firefox, though.

EDIT: IE Compatibility pass complete. Let me know if you see any strange behavior (e.g. slow scrolling) in IE.

This just boils my blood. I, for one, do not own GTA or any of it’s sequals. I’ve never even played one. Why? Because I know what the games are about! I don’t want to play that kind of game…not my taste. My first friggin’ clue was the fact that the name of the game is Grand Theft Auto!

So here comes innocent little Florence, buying the game for her grandson and then appalled because of the content. It’s not like the game came in a black box with no labelling!

This is exactly the kind of ignorant behavior from parents that I was talking about in the post about Senator Clinton’s actions. Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.

In the words of Einstein: “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”

Wow.

Steven Johnson, writing an editorial for the L.A. Times, really hit the nail on the head when he wrote this article. The way the government is pursuing this video game controversy is parodied quite nicely by this quick witted fellow. Gotta love that last line!

Here’s the things I’m going to pre-order for the launch of the Xbox 360:

• Xbox 360
• Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
• Wireless Adapter
• Play and Charge Unit
• Whatever cables are appropriate - I’m not clear on the distinction between the VGA and Component cables - the VGA says that you need it for HD, but then you can also do HD via Component. Sounds like someone doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Might have to wait for the official product annoucment on these…
• Second Controller
• Maybe Ghost Recon 3

How about YOU?

The package contents for the Xbox 360 have been revealed. The one feature that I have been most eagerly awaiting - the one that’s kept me sitting on the edge of my seat chewing my fingernails - seems to be less cool then I was hoping. Still gonna buy it all? Sure - but it won’t be as useful - that’s for sure.

Wireless connectivity - that’s where it’s at. People are willing to look over its speed deficiency because it’s so darn effortless. Your original Xbox connects to the network via a 100 Mb/s cable - 100 million bits per second. 802.11b, the standard wireless connection protocol, runs at 11 Mb/s. Yeah - 90% slower, but we still don’t care - we don’t have to muck with cables. The newer 802.11g standard, which the Xbox 360 supports, as well as most all new cards and peripherals, runs at 54 Mb/s - now that’s cool. The best of both worlds, practically!

I was so looking forward to being able to take my Xbox 360 and projector to a friends house, plugging them into each other, and into power, and being able to join in on the Halo parties. No network cables, no controller cables - just power and data. Sigh.

Why am I so down? Because the wireless adapter is OPTIONAL. That’s why. OPTIONAL. It doesn’t work out-of-the-box. That’s as good as nonexistant in big groups. You’ll invite people to a LAN party, and they’ll say:

“Uh. Where do I plug in? Wh…. why are you looking at me that way? Hey, that’s my 360! Hey SToP NOwooooo pleaSe!!

[CRUNCH]

…and we’ll be JUSTIFIED because it’s THEIR fault that we have to dig out a network switch and string SIXTEEN OR MORE cables all over the house just to get everybody to play in the game that was working fine BEFORE THEY GOT HERE!!

Now, I have a network card in my PC, and can’t wait to pump music wirelessly to the Xbox 360 and have it come out through the nice speakers around the TV, as opposed to through the underpowered, old-n-busted speakers next to my computer. Obviously, I’m going to get the adapter. But why should my friends get it? Because of the every-other-month LAN party we throw down? It’s gonna cost like $40 - is everybody really going to buy it?

Yes. At least, it’ll be required for our LAN parties, anyway. I just don’t want to deal with cables any more. I oppose them for ethical, moral, economic, and personal reasons. They’re evil - EEEEEEEEVVVIILLLLLL. This little gadget is a major part of the XBox 360 for me, since the group I run with prefers System Link to Xbox Live (26 year-olds to 14-year olds any day, but that’s a subject for another entry). I consider NOT buying the adapter to be like kissing with one lip: you’ve bought half of the Xbox 360. You’ve got pants with only one leg. You’ve loaded only one barrel in a double-barrelled shotgun. Did the Doom marine ever do that? No. And neither should you.

$40 in exchange for simple set up, peace of mind, freedom from tripping over cables, and a happier wife (nobody hates cables running over and through living room furniture more than her)? Sign me up. And I’m hoping you all are going to sign up, too. Otherwise, there’s going to be trouble.

P.S. As an aside, It’s never actually been confirmed that the Xbox 360 will do System Link via the wireless connection, right? Please, someone tell me that it can. Anyone.