*$%#ING LAG!!!

Dem Candidate Get's Smeared Over WoW "Obsession". Is it right?

I usually try to keep politics of the Republican/Democrat nature out of the blog simply because I feel that 1) both parties are both so similar in their nature I don't want to dive into that pile of sh** and 2) it brings that pile of sh** into the blog because politics is a crap fest. Its bad enough there is a devision between techies over Apple vs Android or Mac vs PC. Add politics to the mix and things start circling the drain. But this particular tid-bit of news got me thinking. So here goes.


The GOP (Republican Party) of Maine has recently launched a smear champaign against Democrat candidate Colleen Lachowicz for her "bizarre double life" as a level 68 female orc rogue (assassin) in the game World of Warcraft (WoW). They even went so far to launch a website called ColleensWorld.com to mock/expose her enjoyment of the game in question. Now this just brings me back to the crapfest we call politics. I would like to say this is ridiculous, but would the media reaction be different if it were the Democrat party exposing a GOP candidate for enjoying WoW? I think so. One of the things that fuels the vile bile spewing about Lachowicz's enjoyment (obsession?) of the game WoW are quotes such as "I stab things a lot. Who would have thought a peace-lovin' social worker and democrat would enjoy that?". In any party politic sh** slinging contest that quotes like this are just the Golden Christmas Poo of ammunition.

So let's agree here that when it comes to party politics it just degrades into the crapfest, but this brings up a few questions I want to consider. Please keep in mind that I am personally sick of the crap BOTH parties are throwing out. 

So here are those questions:

1) In an age of online openness & limited privacy, can a public figure "get away with" crass behavior without scrutiny?

2) Is a child's game (sorry WoW fans, but it is) something a holder of public office (or a potential one) should be dedicating a significant amount of time to no matter the party? Average play time in WoW is about 20+ hours a week.

3) And how is crass behavior on a public forum such as WoW any different from similar behavior on a Facebook account or in spectator sport game?

The last question I think is particularly cogent since on Facebook and while watching a football game you are, in fact, living in a sort of fantasy world. The reality of the matter is that while both provide enjoyment and release, they are also not reality. So can a person in a public area behave in a way contrary to expected behavior and then expect to be exempt from  any criticism resulting from such behavior? I get that WoW is a fantasy based game. I get there is fighting. Heck, I get the enjoyment from such games. Personally I don't play MMO's. I can't stand them. But that doesn't mean I don't occasionally go over to a friend's place and play a game or 3 of some first person shooter with him and some other buddies and not enjoy it. Still, if it is public is it fair game? Please, share your thoughts. I want this to be a discussion. I want to hear what you think. Please keep the commentary clean and civil. This commentary is not about political parties so much as it is about what should or should not count in the political arena. What is considered public and private. Stuff like that.

OUYA Game Console: What the Nexus Q & Google TV Should Be

You may have heard of the Kickstarter project for the open source gaming console OUYA (Pronounced Oo-yu). Its been talked about in the positive and the negative. The console will run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) at its core with a Tegra 3 quad core processor, 1 GB RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, 8GB built in memory, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, HDMI with 1080p support and USB 2.0, not to mention a console controller. Now, some people are shouting that the open source game console has been tried before and failed. Those same people claim that this console will fail just as hard. Yet others shout that this console will be a success because it is designed around Android and that operating system isn't going away anytime soon. With over 50% of the smart phone market share, not to mention a rising share in the tablet market, basing the gaming console around the Android OS is a better move than making an OS from the ground up. Add to this the fact that emulators for other game consoles such as the N64 & PS systems among others and its a huge win for gamers everywhere. But I'm not arguing for the Ouya Game Console based off of the gaming ability. I am arguing for the Ouya Console because of it's entertainment functionality.

Gaming is of course a part of the devices draw. It is awesome that you can do that on your TV. You can do the same with any Android tablet or phone. But as a dedicated entertainment system and living room computing device it is even more awesome! Stream video through Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Youtube and more. Stream music as well. Heck, you can play ANY music or video file via the USB 2.0 port or even by streaming from on device to another such as a PC or another mobile device. You can connect any Bluetooth peripheral to it as well. Stream music to Bluetooth headphones, connect other controllers like a Wii remote, PS3 controller or remote control. Since hacking of the Ouya Console is encouraged, really the limit is in imagination of the hacking and programing community. A community that is alive and well in the Android ecosystem! Currently with 24 days left on the Kickstarter project, you can grab a console and controller for $99.00. If you think of getting this device as an investment in a potential gaming console, that's a big risk because as a console it may not pan out. But, if you purchase the device as a multi-media solution then this is the device for you. Google has released Google TV and the Nexus Q. Both  of them are good but lacking.

Now we haven't seen Ouya as a finished product yet, so there is a chance it won't be as awesome as a multi-media device for your living room as I am hoping it will. Still, I'm betting on it as a win. Check out the project. If it looks to be a fit for you, consider investing in it. At $4.6 million and counting, 35,999 other investors think its a good gamble. Oh, and did I mention the project has 26 days to go? Well, now I did.

UPDATE: Whoohoo! I love it when I'm right. At 8.5+ million, this game console is looking very, very good. The Kickstarter project is over, but the games have just begun. Before finishing some major names officially jointed the club in supporting the OUYA. Check out the Kickstarter page above for details.

On App Development & Stupid Reviewers: A Rant

The Back Story:

I recently reviewed an app called To-Fu: The Trial of Chi over at TriForce Radio. As games go, this one was really fun, cute and enjoyable to play. I will likely play it again as well as have my nieces play it next time I see them. It was the free app of the day for 5/18/12 on Amazon's Appstore so I got a paid app for free. That was nice. When I enjoy a good game I like to post a review to help the developers in selling the app. Since I couldn't sleep I jump on the Appstore to post a review to do the developers proud. I think the game is on par with Where's My Water, Angry Birds and Cut the Rope. Well, when I got there I read some of the other reviews. There was a very large number of low ratings including a massive amount of 1 star ratings. It turns out the reason for these poor ratings for the most part where due to two different reason. The first is simple enough. The game did not work on certain phones. I can sympathizes with those people, but poor ratings usually does nothing for correcting that problem. Emailing the developer does more. But despite that stupidity there was a greater level of stupidity shining forth in words that shall be forever immortally live on thanks to my screen shots (for some of them at least).

An Explanation:

You see, in the To-Fu game there are two OPTIONAL in app purchases. Both are $0.99. One unlocks all levels at once so you don't have to play through them to get to the next level. The other is called Golden To-Fu. It is much like the Mighty Eagle in Angry Birds. If the play gets stuck on a level and wants some help, by invoking the Golden To-Fu the level is completed perfectly. Again, to be perfectly clear, BOTH ARE OPTIONAL. The game itself is normally $0.99. So if you where to buy all in app purchase in addition to the game your total cost would be $2.97. I've spent more for a burger and gained less satisfaction from that then I did from this game.

The Stupidity: 

So the primary complaint about the app can basically be summed up like this. HOW DARE THE GREEDY DEVELOPERS CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING I DON'T REALLY NEED TO PLAY THE GAME ESPECIALLY SINCE THE GAME WAS FREE TO BEGIN WITH!!! As you can see form the screen shots, that was a summary, but a somewhat fair one.

The Problem:

The problem is that these idiots have no clue. They think all developers are greedy so and so's who are out to rob them blind. Ranting about dishonest business models and how awful these people are. The fact of the matter is those people are worse then the supposed demonic developers they are cursing. I have seen people waste money on things of less value then this game and do it happily. The majority of these bad reviews are from people who got the damn app for free anyways. These people are so greedy, self centered and ignorant that they whine that the developer is offering an OPTIONAL in app purchase if someone just so happens to be lazy or just wants to play more casually. While they are doing this they think nothing of the TIME and the MONEY the developers themselves have sacrificed to make this game. The best part is that the developers didn't make these sacrifices for these whiners. They made them because they were investing. They were taking skills they had learned and translating them into a good that others would pay MONEY for. This is called economy. By working they hope to make money. Much like I write because I hope to gain money from my efforts. So to me, the problem is not the developers. They simply are trying to achieve the dream of financial independence. It is fun to note that the makers of this particular game are a small company, not the huge corporation that some would have you believe. 

Your Thoughts:

Now you have heard my opinion and rant. What are your thoughts on the subject? Do you agree with me? Disagree? Think I'm nuts? Do you think there is a solution to this problem? Is there a problem at all? 

I'll be honest, all comments are welcome so long as they are not abusive or foul. I will not delete an comments because you disagree with me so long as you follow the above guide lines. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Other Screen Shots:

Please note, all of these comments were posted on a public forum. I have not edited these comments in any way.