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Jukebox Heroes: Dragon's Prophet's soundtrack
Considering the lack of chatter I've heard about Dragon's Prophet post-launch, I'm willing to say that this title's been having a difficult time gaining traction in the main MMO community. Gameplay aside, I was looking forward to this MMO's release because I hold Runewaker's Runes of Magic in high regard when it comes to its soundtrack. I was hoping for the same level of quality in Dragon's Prophet, and I really wasn't disappointed. The OST was composed by Alex Pfeffer, Alexander Röder, Mindy Lo, and Rmoney Chen. It's a series of grand, stirring orchestral tunes that would be at home transplanted to just about any fantasy MMO that you're playing. Listening through it all, I found that it had a high ratio of quality tracks, so much so that narrowing it down to six picks proved problematic. I think I found a good balance, however.
Galaxy Gear smartwatch hack lets you browse the web from your wrist
Acknowledged, a full web browser may not be the most useful thing to run on a 1.6-inch touchscreen, but that's almost not the point here. What matters is that Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch now has its own custom ROM, courtesy of an XDA member called fOmey. The modded software side-steps a number of the manufacturer's locks and limitations, letting the device run third-party apps, widgets, wallpapers and interfaces like Nova Launcher. Bluetooth tethering is enabled too, apparently allowing the watch to grab a web connection from any smartphone that supports the protocol. It's hard to say for sure how smoothly it all runs, due to a lack of feedback from Gear owners so far (or perhaps a lack of Gear owners, period), but you'll find full instructions at the source link if you want to give it a go.
CyanogenMod makes installing its Android OS a breeze with new desktop and mobile apps
Making CyanogenMod the third major mobile ecosystem is a lofty goal, but the minds behind the custom Android ROM have just made it easier for smartphone users to join their ranks. Rather than installing the operating system by hand, folks can now rely on the freshly-released CyanogenMod Installer app -- which just arrived on the Play Store -- to do the heavy lifting. A smartphone wielding the application can score the latest version of CyanogenMod by being hooked up to a windows PC (with Windows Vista or newer) running the companion desktop software. The majority of current flagship devices are supported by the setup, and the devs say they're working on adding more models to the list. Head to the source links below if you're ready to embrace this outsider operating system, just be sure to back up your handset's data beforehand.
CyanogenMod creator Steve Kondik on the challenges of refining the ROM
On the morning after the Oppo N1 launch, Steve "Cyanogen" Kondik was surrounded by several Oppo ambassadors and tech writers at a hotel lounge in Beijing. It's a far cry from where he began: toying with Android ROMs out of "boredom" about five years ago. "When I started this thing, I had, like, no idea that people would actually care," said Kondik, the creator of CyanogenMod. "I was kind of watching out to see who was going to bring Linux to the first mobile device, in a way that it didn't absolutely suck." In the end, it was Android that stood out with its open-source development, and Kondik saw the potential of adding his own enhancements to devices running on this OS. By day, the Seattle-based developer was a lead engineer at a bioinformatics startup in Pittsburgh; but during his free time, he worked on what later became CyanogenMod for the legendary T-Mobile G1, the world's first commercial Android device. And of course, he bought it on the day it came out.
The Perfect Ten: Literal kill 10 rats quests
Webster's Dictionary describes "kill 10 rats" as "something nerds do, now shut up and read a few intelligent words." I think the editors are getting a little lazy there at Webster's, but that's nothing compared to the OED crowd that routinely slips in paragraphs of cut-and-pasted Hunger Games fan fiction just to pad the volumes. Anyway, we all know that "kill 10 rats" is a derogatory term for those quests that make you slaughter a certain number of things to make life happier for the quest giver. Why that quest giver has a very specific number in mind has always fascinated me, but never mind. It stems from a long-standing RPG tradition by which lowbie characters typically start their career by doing a little rodent culling in the basement of a tavern. That's how all great people got their start, Abraham Lincoln included. With "kill 10 rats" already being a trope, developers have this habit of trying to be coy and meta by actually putting quests in their MMOs where you, yup, kill 10 rats. I get the feeling that they think they're doing something clever and cheeky, even though practically all of their competitors have done the same. So here we go: ten literal "kill 10 rats" quests that you can find in your games today.
CyanogenMod 10.2 nightlies arrive, offer an unofficial taste of Android 4.3
Official Android 4.3 upgrades are currently few and far between, but you won't have to wait for one if you're willing to experiment -- the first CyanogenMod 10.2 nightly builds have arrived. As of this writing, those with Samsung's Captivate, Galaxy S Relay 4G or AT&T Galaxy S III can install the unofficial firmware to take advantage of 4.3's new features. Just be aware that you're taking more risks than usually exist with such firmware; this is an early release of unsanctioned code, after all. If that's no deterrent, the first releases of CyanogenMod 10.2 await at the source link.
Nintendo continues piracy fight with lawsuit against hacked goods retailer
Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against HackYourConsole.com, a site that offers DS and 3DS flashcarts, devices that allow owners to play pirated games on their systems. Nintendo's press release to the media stated that the site "has developed a global business focused on selling unauthorized copies of Nintendo games and game-copying devices (such as the R4 device) used to circumvent the technological protection measures contained in the Nintendo DS family of hand-held systems." One of the products offered on the site is a portable hard drive that's pre-loaded with 200 Wii games. Which, you know, is probably super-illegal. "The website operator, for a fee, also provides services to hack and modify the Wii console and allow the play of illegal software," Nintendo added.
Unofficial Amber ROMs emerge for Nokia Lumia 820 and 920
If you're a Nokia Lumia 820 or 920 owner, you now have a chance to try the Amber update a little early. WindowsMania.pl has posted unofficial ROMs (820, 920) that upgrade international versions of the Windows Phones to the Amber release ahead of Microsoft's rollout. Both ROMs are relatively easy to install from a PC using NokiaViews.com's instructions, although they're risky: they require wiping the phone's data, and there's no guarantees of future official upgrades. Even so, the new code may be worthwhile for Lumia fans who'd rather not wait a few weeks for a minor OS refresh.
MoDaCo.Switch to let HTC One jump between Sense and stock Android (video)
Not sure if you want the regular HTC One or its Google Play Edition? MoDaCo's newly detailed MoDaCo.Switch ROM should let you have both. The custom firmware lets the indecisive run either the Sense interface or stock Android (AOSP) using only one set of data. It's not an ideal experience, even considering the usual risks of unofficial code: users have to reboot to change interfaces, and two ROMs in one will chew up additional storage. However, Switch could still give One fans the best of both worlds when it launches. MoDaCo tells us that a public beta could arrive early next week.
Buy us this Earthbound Zero NES reproduction cart
Rose Colored Gaming recently unveiled a beautiful Earthbound Zero reproduction NES cart, complete with a slick plastic case and custom cover art. The cart includes an English-translated ROM of Japanese Nintendo RPG and cult classic Mother. Mother never came to the United States, though Mother 2 was released as Earthbound on SNES in North America, and will see a Wii U Virtual Console port this year. The game that followed in the series, Mother 3 for Game Boy Advance, also never saw official North American localization, though fan translators of the game offered Nintendo to use their work free of charge for further Virtual Console localization purposes. As for Rose Colored Gaming's gorgeous Earthbound Zero reproduction cart, there's no price listed yet on its store as it's working to produce "as many of these as possible for as long as possible." We're just saying, this collectible item would be a great gift for a sorrowful Joystiq editor that has lost hope that any future iterations of the series will come to life in a language they understand. [Thanks, Wes!] %Gallery-192781%
Smartisan OS goes pre-alpha, available for international Galaxy S III only (video)
You may recall that a Chinese startup dubbed Smartisan promised to offer its first custom Android ROM on June 15th. Well, the time has come and the company stuck to its word, but there's a catch: the software is currently still in pre-alpha status, so it's neither stable nor speedy -- definitely not recommended for daily use just yet. That said, the release apparently includes most of the features demonstrated at the three-hour-long launch event. The other catch is that you'll need an international Samsung Galaxy S III (i9300, WCDMA) plus Windows (presumably non-RT) to flash this early version of Smartisan OS. If you're game then head to the source link for the download and the instructions (but in Chinese). If not, you can wait for the upcoming release for the HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S II, Xiaomi Phone 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note II. Or you can just wait for Smartisan's very own phone due next year, if you don't mind testing your patience. Update: Someone's already made a quick hands-on video in Chinese. We've got it right after the break.
Runes of Magic celebrates its 4th Anniversary
Our favorite birthdays are the ones when the guests get gifts instead of giving them. Apparently Runes of Magic feels the same, as Gameforge is pulling out the stops to make the 4th anniversary of the game one for the history books. Runes of Magic's 4th anniversary page has the scoop on all of the gifts, contests, events, and bonuses to be enjoyed over the next week. Players will get a lot of goodies just for logging in and leveling up, although there are additional quests if you want to reap all of the rewards. Players will also enjoy buffs to XP, talent points, and drop rates through the 25th. Finally, Gameforge released a special video that shows the progress of Runes of Magic from beta to today, ending with several impressive statistics. If you don't watch it, you'll go mad always wondering what it might have been. We'd hate to see that.
Donkey Kong hack gives Pauline the central role, 32 years later (video)
Mario's quest to rescue Pauline in Donkey Kong is one of the most famous in video gaming -- and also a prominent reminder that women in games are often reduced to level objectives. Mike Mika's 3-year-old daughter wasn't happy with this lopsided state of affairs, which led Mike to redress the balance through a customized NES edition of the game. His version swaps the roles completely, giving Pauline full freedom of movement while Mario waits for her to come to his rescue. The tweak is a simple one, but it mends what many would say is a decades-old imbalance while giving Mike more than a few brownie points as a dad. Can we see an official port, please?
One Shots: Dancing with my homies
First of all, thank you guys so much for responding to our One Shots rallying cry and absolutely flooding us with screenshots! My cup overfloweth, and that's a delightful change of pace for this column. Even though we're quite literally set for months now, please keep sending in your favorite old or new screencaps! To kick us off this week is Jerry, who's showing off how Anarchy Online can party down with the best of them: "This is Yardsale, a level 220 Trader, dancing with his trader pets in Borealis." At first glance, I almost thought we were in the Matrix. But even with polygons so sharp that you can cut yourself on them, this title definitely has a style all its own. Hit the jump to see this and other wonders of the screenshotted world.
The Perfect Ten: Creative MMO minigames
Few people are without opinions on minigames in MMOs. Some love 'em, some hate 'em, and some just ignore 'em. Some even despise that I won't type "th." Takes all types, really. Personally, I'm all for including new types of enjoyable systems that can be repeated, particularly if it benefits my character in some way. There's also this perception that minigames are just for kids. It's true that more kid-centric titles like Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures thrive on minigames like you thrive on deep-fried butter balls, but these little diversions exist all over the place in "grownup" titles too. Holidays are a favorite time to trot them out, although there are plenty that exist year-round. Today we're going to look at 10 creative minigames that have tickled my fancy over the year. Yes, I used the word "fancy." Whatcha gonna do about it?
Choose My Adventure: Quartet edition
It's that time again, ladies and gentlemen. After three rounds of letting my fate be chosen by the whims of my readers, I have chosen to do the exact same thing all over again. I'm getting back in the big seat and running through Choose My Adventure with a new list of games, a new set of bonus polls, and a new set of whatever else people expect when I do these columns. Plus, while the third installment usually has a lot of pressure, the fourth installment is rarely assumed to be anything special. So I feel as if I'm off the hook. This time around, I'm putting in some old favorites, some candidates that are often voted for but never make the prime time, and some games that might just raise some eyebrows. So let's meet our contestants past the break, and get your votes in here by Friday, March 1st!
Sony begins exploring Firefox OS, dares Xperia E owners to experiment with new ROM
Well, that didn't take long. A mere couple of days after announcing it, too, would be jumping on the Firefox OS bandwagon, Sony's now let it be known that it's making an "experimental" ROM available to devs (or any common, daring owner) with an Xperia E device. According the company's Developer World blog post, this developmental version of Mozilla's fresh mobile software is being released in order to show the current progress of the OS project, as well as in hopes of receiving feedback that'll be beneficial toward the finished product. Folks interested in tinkering with the Firefox OS ROM can hit the source link below to see what it all entails, while those only looking for a quick peek will find just that in the video situated right after the break.
By popular demand, Sony releases Jelly Bean alpha build for Xperia T
Because the first time proved to be such a charm for Android developers, Sony's once again offering Xperia owners an official alpha ROM. And this time, it's of the Jelly Bean variety. But before you rush to the source and flash your cares away, there are a few caveats we need to cover. For starters, the price of entry to this Android 4.1 test run is an unlocked Xperia T. Not the TX, not the V, not the S, so don't even try it. You'll also have to sign away your legal right (via the company's unlock utility) to whine and demand compensation should your handset brick in the process. Once those hurdles have been cleared, you're almost home free to flash -- so long as you don't mind an unfinished UI, non-functioning radios for voice, WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC, in addition to a complete lack of Gapps. Oh, and did we mention your unlocked T won't be privy to the official Jelly Bean update once it hits? Yeah, there's that too. Basically, you shouldn't look to this for a daily driver. In fact, it's probably best to leave this one to the big boys.
Rough hack converts an Optimus G to a Nexus 4, minus the constant sellouts
It's almost a truism to say that the Nexus 4 is near impossible to buy, at least for those who don't want to pay a carrier premium. G33k3r, Rohan32 and others at XDA-Developers may just save us from camping at the Google Play storefront through a new software hack. Their work converts an LG Optimus G's firmware to that of an 8GB Nexus 4 by swapping every LG-customized software element with a Nexus 4 parallel. The nearly identical hardware makes for a very close rendition, at least if you discount the unavoidable design differences. If anything, the work is almost too faithful: the current hack turns off LTE, caps the internal storage at 8GB and even requires using Nexus 4 firmware for future upgrades. It's possible to revert to LG's code if there's jitters, but it goes without saying that the overall procedure carries more than the usual share of risk when even familiar ROM flashers are warned to be careful. Anyone who throws caution (and the price of an Optimus G) to the wind can find their stock Android experience at the source. [Thanks, Greg]
Lost Virtual Boy game NikoChan Battle found and being re-released
Planet Virtual Boy forum users stumbled on a copy of the unreleased Faceball game for Virtual Boy. Known as NikoChan Battle in Japan, iterations of the game were published on a number of platforms by Bullet-Proof Software, including Game Boy and SNES.Those looking to add the rare game to their collection are in luck; reproduction cartridges for Virtual Boy will be released in February for $100, while the ROM of the game will be free to download.
