UPnP
Posted by Mike | Filed under Random
With the latest version of consoles, came with it the ability to stream media to them and play them on your TV. I have investigated different solutions available and these are a few of the available.
PS3 Media Server
This is a free solution that is coded in Java. For those of you who don’t know what that means, don’t worry about it. All it basically means is that it should be cross-platform without problem (Windows/Mac OS X/Linux). I loaded this particular piece of software up on Windows and started it with little problem. All I needed to do is to ensure that the server started up bound to the correct network connection. I tried loading the software up onto a Linux machine and tried to do the same, and had no success. I was able to load the program and everything, but it seems that there was a problem with the connection between the client device and the server.
Besides the obvious connection issues on Linux, there was very little problems for a free piece of software. The only real complaint that I have is the fact that the loading of the actual folders on the client device is a little slow.
The best part about this piece of software is the fact that you are able to transcode media files so that the PS3 can play them. This basically means that it can play files that the PS3 doesn’t natively support because it changes it into a format it recognizes. This is especially helpful playing HD video on the PS3 in formats like mkv (which is quite popular).
TwonkyMedia Server
While this solution is not free, it still is a pretty good one. The cost is ~$30 (last time I checked) and they offer a free 30 day trial. This is also cross platform, but is a native port so that it doesn’t use an interpreter language (like Java). I had much more success with this application on Linux than I did with the PS3 Media Server.
The folder loading is quick, and efficient. It has the ability to keep track of different directories and re-index them. You can configure different viewing structures, and you can even specify to share video, music, or photos only.
The only problem that I have had so far is that when you disconnect an external media device that you are serving files off of, it crashes the server and it cannot be restarted easily (they apparently have fixed this in version 5.1, haven’t tried it yet). Also, the software doesn’t transcode anything, so it doesn’t allow mkv support on the PS3. All you need to do is convert your files from mkv to mpg, and they will work (there is actually a great piece of software for that).
Conclusion
While these are only a few of the many options available, I hope that they help those in search of playing media content on their video game console.
Tags: media, media server, ps3, upnp
MKV on PS3
Posted by Mike | Filed under Random
Upon trying to get MKV files playing on my PS3, one of the solutions was to transcode everything with the UPnP server software. However, should your software not support this (like TwonkyMedia server) the files cannot be played. However, there is a very simple solution. Using a simple video converter (which is also freeware) called mkv2vob (website). I found it very easy to use, and it only takes about 2 or 3 minutes to convert a 1.2 GB file into mpg format, which plays without problem on the PS3.
Tags: mkv, ps3, software, video converting
Uncharted 2
Posted by Mike | Filed under Games
Although I haven’t quite finished it yet, Uncharted 2 is an amazing game as far as I am concerned. The game has earned a 97/100 on Metacritic, I am convinced that it deserved every point. This game creates the pace of a great action movie, and has a great story to back it up. If you like the first one, you’ll love this sequel.
The visuals in the game are simply amazing. The different environments are all done amazingly well. I have a few problems with some of the animations, but nothing major. There can be no doubt that this game is beautiful, and has a wide variety of different environments to see.
The gameplay is just like the first one, and still remains solid. WARNING May Contain Spoilers. The game has rocket launchers, grenades, chase scenes, helicopter fights, train jumping. If you were to take all of this and put it into it’s equivalent movie format James Bond, John McClane, an Indiana Jones together wouldn’t be able to handle it all. It amazes me how the game keeps such an amazing pace through out.
Dialogue in the game has it really funny parts, even when not in a cutscene. They poke fun at themselves a little and it is great. Nathan Drake has some really great lines, and are delivered flawlessly.
So, out of all the games this season, I would definitely recommend Uncharted 2 for all you PS3 owners out there.
Video games threathen high school jock culture
Posted by Mike | Filed under Commentary, Games, Random
It always makes me laugh when people start trying to make video games the enemy. An article available online at ChristWire.org has made video games a threat to high school jock culture. The article praises the culture of intolerance, peer pressure, and conformity as being something worth living up to. The same jock culture that never seems to put an emphasis on learning and knowledge.
While video games may simulate violence, the high school jock culture explicitly requires in some areas. Football, rugby, wrestling, and hockey all require that participants enact true physical violence against their opponents. It always amazes me the fact that everyone seems to forget this point, or simply wish to ignore it altogether.
While it is true that there are some that play video games too much, this is the exception rather than the rule. There are stories of people dying in South Korea from playing games too much, should we expect that all South Koreans are like this? Absolutely not, because this is the exception rather than the rule.
It is clear that the author of this particular article is extremely biased against video games, just like I am extremely biased towards video games. The author has written this article to simply push their beliefs on other people by using fear, and without presenting any real evidence to back up his beliefs. To me, the author of this article is probably close to the same level of zeal against video games as Jack Thompson (although I find Jack Thompson to be a much more logical person than this author).
You know, video games have increasingly become the source of new innovations that contribute to society in grand ways. Guitar Hero has revolutionized the way that people interact with music, and has given new relevance to music in today’s society. Wii Fit has helped some people be more aware of their health. Video games have even given rise to a new method of detecting heart abnormalities and prevent heart attacks. And every single PS3 today has the ability to contribute to medial research. So should we take a look at these examples, it should be clear that nothing good has ever come from video games (please note the sarcasm in that statement).
It is understandable that not everyone likes video games, but that shouldn’t mean the rest of us can’t enjoy them without being constantly bombarded by people who don’t. I don’t believe the jock culture is something to praise, but I am not on a crusade against it.
Tags: Commentary, video games
File Replication Daemon v1.0.1
Posted by Mike | Filed under Projects
Well I decided to make some changes to the frd project that I have been using for a while. I needed to add some proper error handling and some logging functionality to the project. So here it is, v1.0.1Â of the file replication daemon.
If anyone has any feedback, please let me know.
Tags: daemon, file replication, software
Coupon codes
Posted by Mike | Filed under Random
If you’ve ever done any online shopping, you know that there is almost always a spot in the checkout for a coupon/promotional code. Well there is a website that allows you to find one for the website you are shopping from. While the codes don’t always work, if you have a few minutes and want to save some money I suggest giving it a try. Click here or type in this web address www.retailmenot.com
Tags: coupons, discount, shopping
Mushroom Wars
Posted by Mike | Filed under Games
So, my latest adventure with PSN gaming has taken me to Mushroom Wars. This games is a very simple RTS where you have a number of units and you send them to take over another building. It very much reminds me of risk, just not so much luck.
The concept is very simple, but Mushroom Wars is extremely well executed. The art style is great, along with pretty simple controls, and music that I’ll hum for a while (even after I stop playing). I have heard some people complain that this game is expensive, but I think that it is worth every penny.
The campaign is not that long (unless you are not very good, then the retries will take up some of your time) but there is great replay value. Not only can you replay the campaign, but there is a whole bunch of skirmish maps with all the different game types for you choose from.
If you like RTS games, and want sometime simple to play on your PS3, definitely get Mushroom Wars.
Qt Signal/Slot
Posted by Mike | Filed under Programming
Callbacks are something that are quite useful, if not necessary, in C/C++ programming. Should you ever need to notify another instance or object that something has happened, you need to use some sort of callback. In Qt the method is a signal and slot mechanism. It is quite easy to understand, objects wishing to notify others emit a signal which is connected to a slot of the receiving class.
The only problem is that everything is implemented with macros. A sample is below
QObject::connect(variantManager, SIGNAL(valueChanged(QtProperty*, const QVariant&;)), this, SLOT(valueChanged(QtProperty*, const QVariant&;)));
Should there be a problem with the parameters, you wouldn’t know it… because it is all down with macros. Macros can be great for replacing string literals and const variables (thereby reducing the memory footprint of your application), but macros have their problems.
Ignoring the fact that everything is done with macros, should you ever need to implement a callback system I would suggest you take a look at how Qt does everything, it is pretty well done.
Tags: callbacks, qt, signal slot
Fat Princess
Posted by Mike | Filed under Games
Recently I played Fat Princess, and I have to say that I am quite disappointed. It feels like I was let in on the public beta for the game, instead of the finished product. The game has a bunch of great game mechanics, but the problem is that the game just isn’t polished.
For instance, I was playing the gladiate mode and I sat down to recharge my health. When I got up again, the character moved but the animation for the character never made him stand up, so I was battling with a character sitting down.
All of the character classes seem to be balanced. I don’t think that there are too many problems with the classes being uneven. The warrior seems to have the most health and do the most damage, but even if you choose this class you won’t have the highest kill count or anything.
There is a single player campaign, but it is really short. The main focus of the game is definetly the multiplayer aspect of the game, as the single player “campaign” is just you playing with what can be frustrating AI.
The game looks and sounds great. The visual appeal is great, and it has some gread voice acting in the game as well. The music isn’t anything to rave about, it fits the game and its pleasing to listen to.
One thing about the maps is that you can fall off cliffs, tumble into lava, and drown in water. While some might find this a good little mechanic, I found it annoying. There seems to be too much precision needed for some of the maps, and one wrong move can slow you down and keep you out of the action for a little while.
With all the ups and downs, its a good game, but not at the price they are currently selling it on PSN. They need to do a few bug fixes, and then the game will be awsome, but until then play it at your buddy’s house if he’s bought it.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Posted by Mike | Filed under Games
I have heard many great things about the Wolverine game, but I am have to say that I was very dissapointed. The game was visually appealing and everything, however the game simply isn’t polished.
When you start up any video game, the first thing that most people notice is whether or not a game is visually appealing, and this game is. There are pre-rendered cutscenes that are beautifully done, and I almost was fooled by one scene because it looked like it was from the movie. However there are the low points with the Wolverine’s clothing not being consistent – one minute its there and the next its not (or vice versa).
There were many bugs in the game that ruined the atmosphere of the game for me. I very rarely find bugs when I a playing a game for fun, and I found quite a few. First off, there are tons of invisible walls where Wolverine just cannot go. If there needs to be a lot of invisible walls, try to mask them better with improved level design. There also seemed to be a problem with the AI in the game. Simple obstacles seemed to stop the AI from doing what it was supposed to.
However, I had a lot of fun with playing the game because of the different gameplay mechanics. It was extremely satisfying to be able to play as Wolverine in a non-kiddie game. The puzzle mechanics were trival at best, but at least they were there. Sometimes it felt like there was a bunch of button mashing. The bosses were not really difficult, but reptitive.
Overall I think the game deserves a 6/10, only because it was very satisfying to play as Wolverine and not be overly restricted on the destruction I could bring.
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