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Did You Know Gaming enters its Cubist period
Having already covered the GameBoy, the trivia maestros at Did You Know Gaming have set their sights on another Nintendo device, the GameCube, a console that apparently came this close to kickstarting Nintendo's fascination with motion controls years before the Wii hit retail shelves. [Image: Nintendo]
The Videogame History Museum has found a home in Frisco, Texas
Making a pilgrimage to the Videogame History Museum has been tough so far; most of its collection is in storage, and what little you do see has been going on cross-country tours. Pretty soon, though, it will have a permanent public display. A Frisco, Texas community board has approved a deal to give the Museum a 10,400 square foot location inside the city's Discovery Center by this April. That's not gigantic -- a little larger than a baseball diamond -- but it means that you can easily revisit some of the consoles that defined your youth. This venue is just the start, for that matter. After launch, the founders hope to raise enough cash from corporate sponsors to get a far larger base of operations. While Frisco isn't the easiest place to reach unless you live in the Dallas area, it sure beats hoping that the existing nomadic exhibit will eventually reach your 'burg.
TravelbyArt lets you discover the Paris of famous artists
TravelbyArt (free with one in-app purchase) is a unique iPhone app designed for seeing Paris through the eyes of some of the artists who worked there. The app contains detailed looks at the lives of Ernest Hemingway, Edith Piaf and Pablo Picasso during their years in Paris. You'll be led to places like Hemingway's favorite eateries (many are still open) and where he lived. There are also photos and built-in maps, with a button to transfer to Apple Maps for directions. All in all, the app contains 20 tours you can follow to absorb the life of these artists -- that's more than most other guides provide. Phone numbers are even provided so you can make reservations at restaurants and other tourist stops. I have an interesting history with this app. The developers let me look at it in August of 2014, but I rejected the review because a purchase was required to see anything in depth. There wasn't enough content in the free version for anyone to make an informed purchase decision. That issue is fixed now, and the Hemingway section is complete and available in the free app. If you want the other tours, it's a US$6.99 in-app purchase, which I think is reasonable given the uniqueness of the content. It's nice to see app developers be responsive and make the app better for customers. If you're interested in art, literature and music, and planning a trip to Paris, I recommend TravelbyArt. I found it easy to use, loaded with information you will want to discover, and it's a fresh approach to travel. The in-app purchase also includes a restaurant guide linking to the lives of the artists. I think the app should be universal to help in planning a trip to Paris, but you can run it on an iPad in 2x mode. TravelbyArt requires iOS 7 or later, and it worked smoothly on the latest iOS 8 beta.
Sir, I don't think we service that device any longer
In the age of Retina displays and App Stores, Apple's MessagePad -- lovingly referred to as the "Newton," after its OS -- isn't a terribly capable device. It was axed from the company's lineup shortly after Steve Jobs returned to the company, but Apple would return to the personal-gadget-with-a-touchscreen market less than a decade later with the iPhone. Taking one of these now ancient gadgets into an Apple Store would likely elicit a few giggles and blank stares, especially if you were looking for some repairs or troubleshooting. Still, I'm sure there are a few remaining Newton devotees out there, which begs the question: What is the oldest Apple device you've spent the time and money to repair rather than outright replace? Let us know down below! [Photo credit: mac_ivan]
Rocking All Over The World crowdsources rock history
Rocking All Over the World is a free app for iPhone and iPad that asks you to help crowdsource rock history. Everybody has their own experiences, memories, and pictures from events they've attended. This app asks everyone to share those things to create a map showing where so many great things happened. Rocking All Over the World requires iOS 5.1 and up. The app presents you an interactive map upon which are pins where events have occurred in the past. For example, when I checked Boston I discovered that there had been a Led Zeppelin riot there. I then tapped on it to read what happened (I leave this as an exercise for the reader). The map behaves exactly as you'd expect so you can move around the world and see what is out there. You can also search, but only by items already in the database. You can't use the search to find a specific place (for example, Hurd and West Shore Rd in Bethel, NY) so if you want to place a pin at a specific location, it may take a bit of work to get there. Once you have your location, you can drop a pin there, tap on the text that appears above it, and begin entering your information. The process is quite simple though it does require a connection to your Facebook account in order to upload images or submit entries. When I tried to submit an entry for Woodstock, I told it that it could not post to Facebook for me and then my submission went into an endless spinner. Whether my denying posting privileges is the cause I do not know. Alas, Woodstock is still not in the database. And probably rightly so. The intent of this app is for people to share their own experiences. I was an one year old when Woodstock happened, so I'm not the best person to create that entry. I like the concept of the app and may pull it out from time to time as I travel just to see what I might be near. I wonder how many people have enough events to share to make this an app they use a lot versus one they look at once in a blue moon when they remember it exists or stumble upon it in whatever folder it is in. But I hope it does get used. I think it would be a lot of fun to open up Rocking All Over the World and see the shared experiences of lots of people.
Thanks to Google you can now take a virtual stroll through Chinese history
So far we've seen Google's Cultural Institute feature everything from the father of manga to more traditionally historical fare like Bletchley Park. Its latest exhibit hews closer to the latter, with a keen eye toward Chinese history, featuring some 1,400 pieces spread across 48 different exhibitions. The additions range from The Opium War to selections from the Nanyue King Masoleum Museum and a whole lot in between. If you want to really attempt to recreate the walking-around-a-museum experience, there's an option to sort the collections by "museum view," as well. All that history without any of the sore feet? Sign us up.
EVE Evolved: Capital ships ruined nullsec
All throughout EVE Online's lifetime, compelling stories of incredible events, daring heists, and colossal battles with thousands of players have periodically surfaced and spread across the gaming media like wildfire. Most of the recent stories have been about record-breaking battles between huge alliances of players in the lawless depths of null-security space, and each one has been met with an influx of new players who want to participate. The surprising truth behind nullsec warfare, however, is that many of those on the front lines are simply fed up with the political state of the game. In EVE's early years, the map was split between hundreds of small alliances, each of which slowly expanded its influence by conquering the star systems bordering its space. Skirmishes and pirate incursions were brief and commonplace, while border wars over territory were long and protracted affairs. Today's nullsec is a different animal entirely, with nearly the entire map carved up between two colossal mega-coalitions of alliances (N3/PL and CFC), each one internally held in a state of perpetually monotonous peace. No alliance in a coalition can break away and stand on its own for fear of being demolished by the others, and so all of nullsec is at peace with its neighbours and bored to tears by it. In this edition of EVE Evolved, I examine how nullsec got to the state it's in now and why it's badly in need of an overhaul.
The whole World of Warcraft in 41 minutes
It's no secret that I like the lore of World of Warcraft, so it should be no surprise that I decided that you needed to see this video. Nobble's done lore videos before, but this is quite frankly his masterpiece - a fairly concise (for what it is covering) run-through of all of the background of World of Warcraft and the Warcraft franchise as a whole. It's definitely worth your time. Soak in it, my friends, the gloriously messy, chaotic, crazy lore of World of Warcraft.
How Apple laptops interfaced with phones in 1999
1999 doesn't seem all that long ago, but it was -- it really was. Here we see a PowerBook 550c (1995/1996) getting frisky with an NTT Personal PALDiO (1999) Japanese flip phone in its PCMCIA slot. Not exactly as slick as an iPhone wirelessly chatting with a MacBook, but it was probably pretty damn cool at the time. [Photo credit: raneko]
EVE Evolved: Stepping through the EVE Gate
Though EVE Online is often lauded for its rich decade-long player history full of wars and complex political dealings, the NPC storyline and New Eden's ancient backstory have always held my fascination. I started playing in early 2004 after reading dozens of fiction chronicles and mock scientific articles on the EVE website that painted the picture of a real living universe where incredible things could happen. Sure enough, my first years of play were punctuated with compelling live events and storyline arcs like the Crielere research project that led to the development of cloaking devices, the theft of a Federation Navy titan by Serpentis pirates, and the Blood Raiders taking over Delve. CCP has frequently stated that its goal with EVE is to create the ultimate sci-fi simulator, and the core of a compelling sci-fi setting is a living universe that grows and changes. The best sci-fi TV shows are those with a constant cycle of revealing compelling mysteries and then solving them and of encountering escalating challenges to be overcome. EVE has done this extremely well a few times in its life, such as with the release of wormholes or when the Sansha incursions events were kicking off, and each time the concurrent player numbers have spiked. Guild Wars 2 has shown the power of an evolving living storyline to get people into the game and keep them actively playing in the long term, something that should be the norm for MMOs and that EVE Online could take much greater advantage of. In this edition of EVE Evolved, I look at some of the big NPC mysteries revealed in EVE Online's decade-long history and ask why they were abandoned and where they could go now.
Are we there yet? A century of the smartwatch in pictures
With two Google-powered smartwatches currently on sale, and the circular Moto 360 already causing a stir among design geeks, wearables are one step closer to securing a place on our wrists. And while many of us aren't ready to strap on a Gear Live, G Watch or Pebble just yet, that doesn't mean the smartwatch is a new concept. In fact, depending on your definition of "smart," these gadgets have been fusing time-telling with extra functionality since the early 20th century. From wrist-borne spy cams to radio-controlled timepieces, here's a look at this wearable's evolution.
The world's first video game arcade machine is a glittery fiberglass wonder
Computer Space sounds like a third-party PC parts wholesaler, but back in 1971 it was the world's first video game arcade machine. Before Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney went off to start some games company called Atari, Computer Space was their first commercial collaboration -- a full year before Pong. The coin-operated computer game was the first of its kind in arcades, even if it wasn't an explosive commercial success, it managed to sell on par with other arcade machine. A recently christened game museum in Japan had not one, but four of the original arcade machines -- and an extra (unfortunately beige, non-shimmering) machine to play the game itself -- so we touched a bit of gaming history.
You can now tour baseball's hallowed halls through Google Street View
So far, you've had to swing by Cooperstown to pay homage at the National Baseball Hall of Fame -- not very practical if you're a West coast fan. Thankfully, you can honor those sports legends from home now that the Hall of Fame and its museum have landed in Google's Cultural Institute. The addition lets you browse through the museum's classic jerseys and other memorabilia in Street View. If you'd rather not do the virtual legwork, there are two photo galleries that show how baseball has evolved over the decades. It's doubtful that a virtual trip will evoke as much nostalgia as the real thing, but it's certainly easier than booking a flight.
Tracing the history of the MOBA
You hear the kids talking about League of Legends and Infinite Crisis and Heroes of Newerth and you don't understand. You aren't clear on what stuff like jungling and lanes are all about. Are you getting old? Well, yes, if you're referring to a group of people as "the kids" you almost certainly are. But you also might just not understand the history of MOBAs as a genre, a history helpfully outlined in an article on the genre from inception to the present. The article traces the genre's genesis back to the earliest form of gameplay found in StarCraft's Aeon of Strife map, which paved the way for a Warcraft III map that expanded the same basic concept. The genre's core conceits -- two bases on either side of the map, players working to push to the other side -- have remained fairly fixed through the various permutations, but there's still room for expansion. So if you want to find out more about what this new-fangled genre is all about, sit down for some reading.
Which iPod is your all-time favorite?
iPods come and iPods go, and there's no portable media player with more history than Apple's icon little music machine. We all have a favorite, and while some were discontinued before their time, they'll always hold a special place in our hearts. Personally, I'm partial to the 3rd gen iPod nano. Also known as the "iPod phat," the chubby little thing was super slim and the screen, for its time, was gorgeous. You could even play Peggle on it! I mean, come on... So what's your favorite? Vote and let us know why in the comments. %Poll-88407% [Photo credit: Matthew Pearce]
Fans translate part of Black Desert's substantial lore
With the help of enterprising fans and a lot of workarounds, dedicated fans of Black Desert can do their best to muddle through the game's Korean beta if they don't read or understand Korean. Understanding the game's setting, however, is another matter entirely. But the fandom is still trying to translate and make the best of it, and now the game's first major lore article has been translated, covering some 50 years of history for the city Calpheon. In short, a plague rampaged through the city, and what started was a long campaign of war against the desert nation blamed for the contagion. This was followed by more wars, trades, magical artifacts, and... well, you get the idea. You can read the whole article to get a better sense of the world's history, whether you're trying to figure out how to interact with the game when you don't read the native language or just watching from afar. [Thanks to Irene-24 for the tip!]
A very Apple office
"I looked around my office and realized I have a few 'books from Apple," reads Christian M. M. Brady's photo caption for the snapshot above. "A few" is an understatement, and bonus points for the trio of retro Apple desktop bookends on the shelves. [Photo credit: Christian M. M. Brady]
The Daily Grind: Which MMO histories are worth preserving in book form?
One of the things that sets EVE Online apart from most other MMOs is its sense of time and place. New Eden is in fact a virtual world with its own constantly changing history. This makes for a potential experience that is totally unlike the disposable, repeatable experiences to be had in MMO themeparks. EVE's not completely alone in that regard, though. And after reading yesterday's news about the forthcoming EVE-based history book, I started thinking about other sandbox games that would make for an entertaining read. What do you think, morning crew? Are there other MMO sandbox communities worth preserving in book form? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Museum teams up with Samsung to render mummies in 3D (video)
Thanks to more advanced medical CT scanners, we can now look at what's inside the British Museum's mummies... even if they remain wrapped. The museum has partnered with Samsung to provide 3D visuals for eight mummies of people who lived in the Nile Valley as far back as 4,000 years ago created using high-res CT scans. These visuals (some of them even interactive) show you what lies underneath all those mummified layers, from accessories and hairstyles that indicate their status in life, to the state of their health when they passed away. For instance, you'll see that a man of high status was buried with gold leaves and facial features painted on his wrappings, while a lowly temple doorkeeper had his severed head roughly reattached with wooden poles. The exhibit's already live for anyone interested in (digitally) peeling layers off the ancient remains, and it'll be around until November 30th this year.
A forgotten Belgian genius dreamed up the internet over 100 years ago
Though we're pretty sure that time travelers don't exist, people were working on hypertext -- used by web browsers to retrieve connected information -- long before computers. It even predates the ideas of a certain Vannevar Bush, the man generally acknowledged as having laid the groundwork for hypertext by microfiche in a seminal 1945 article. Nope, according to the Atlantic, some people were pondering ways of storing and retrieving information prior even to the 20th century. A Belgian genius called Paul Otlet posited an idea in 1895 about "universal libraries" to give anyone access to a vast number of books. By 1934 he had refined it to "electronic telescopes" that would connect people instantly to books, films, audio recordings and photos.
