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Command & Conquer coded in HTML5

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:57:20 +0000

Remember the classic RTS known as Command & Conquer? Well, an enterprising coder, Aditya Ravi Shankar, actually recreated the strategy game using nothing but HTML5, where it runs on 69k of Javascript. Why did he set out on such an adventure? For starters, Shankar’s attempt was a self-mandated undertaking in order to improve his coding skills, where he gave himself a one month window to rebuild the game in the browser, and had to comb through the original game’s files in order to obtain all the right sprites, sounds and specs. According to Shankar, “In hindsight, I might have wanted to take smaller steps and make a tower defense game instead of jumping directly into an RTS. Trying to do the whole thing in under a month all by myself wasn’t the smartest idea.”

As part of Shankar’s recreation of Command & Conquer, it included buildings, terrain, combat, tiberium harvesting and regrowth, in addition to the ability to sell and repair buildings. You want fog of war? It has that, too, in addition to a pannable map, different cursors, tooltips, and drag selection for multiple units. Currently, the full game is far from finished, as it is limited to a handful of buildings and units, an extremely tiny map, and the occasional glitch.

Shankar’s effort is far from finished, but finish it he will. You can play it here, although Chrome or Firefox works best with it, and for those who want to lend Shankar a helping hand, the source code is available here.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances can be played from your browser, Aliyun OS is Alibaba’s new mobile platform,

Review: The Nintendo 3DS, The Next Step In Portable Gaming Evolution

admin — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:24:39 +0000

Nintendo has long defined the rules of childhood. In Nintendo’s world, logic and whimsy are intermixed and there is always a bigger boss and another castle. We learned from Nintendo that you can always turn your enemy’s weapons against them and that evolution is a fact. We learned that the best stories are played out in your head and even when you don’t have a lot of friends you at least always have Mario. Nintendo also defined video gameplay. Their NES console, while seemingly underpowered, sat under millions of Christmas trees and at millions of birthday party tables for almost a decade. Their audience grew up, new members joined, and the SNES, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Wii pushed the envelope ever so slightly with each generation. The Game Boy grew up too, morphing into the GBA, the DS, and now something else entirely. The Nintendo 3DS isn’t hard to love. It’…

Immersion’s Haptic SDK For Android Now Available

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:04:22 +0000

Just a bit shy of a month ago, we told you all about Immersion’s MOTIV platform . For those who skipped class that day, MOTIV is intended to add all sorts of new feedback sensations to applications and operating systems by really making use of a handset’s vibration motor. Touch the button on screen? Vibrate! Listening to super heavy techno? Vibrate to the beat! Firing a machine gun? Vibrate—Vibrate—Vibrate—Vibrate! Done properly, vibration can make a handset seem a bit more exciting than a slab of glass and aluminum otherwise might. This morning, Immersion has launched MOTIV 1.0 for Android developers to tinker with, allowing them to live out their wildest micro-vibrational dreams. In hindsight that last sentence seems sort of dirty, but I’m going to go ahead and leave it. Ready to start vibrating? You can find the new SDK right over here.

PlayStation to save to the cloud

admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:47:56 +0000

Sony has just informed their developers that the PlayStation 3 will have a new feature – the ability to save games on the cloud. If you’re unfamiliar with the cloud, think of online services like Gmail or Hotmail – they store your emails on their servers so you can pretty much access them from anywhere, any computer with an internet connection as opposed to an Outlook email account you set up on your PC at home that can’t be accessed anywhere else. With Sony introducing cloud saving (they’ve named it Online Saving) to the PlayStation 3, you’ll be able to save your games and access them from anywhere. Want to share the latest level you’re on at your friend’s house? Sure – just log on using your account and load up your save game from there. No more lugging around your PS3 just to prove to your friends you made it to Level X without losing any life. But as usual, with all added services, there are bound to be additional costs – this cloud service will only be available to PlayStation Plus subscribers – hopefully Sony will decide to let everyone make use of it. So, if you are a Plus subscriber, expect to get Online Saving with the upcoming 3.60 firmware update.

PlayStation to save to the cloud, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Nexus S Review, GeForce 560 Ti Review,

Nintendo 3DS may have region-locked software, continue an unfortunate trend

admin — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 02:23:38 +0000

Once upon a time, when handheld game systems were thicker and Nintendo was entirely without peer, the company deigned to allow us to import games without fear. On Game Boy of all shapes and sizes, as well as the Nintendo DS, a Japanese cartridge would let you experience portable wonders years before they hit Europe and the US. Starting in 2008, however, Nintendo made DSi-specific titles region-locked — and that’s the same fate that will likely befall games on Nintendo’s new 3D handheld as well. “There is the possibility that Nintendo 3DS software sold in one region will not function properly when running on Nintendo 3DS hardware sold in another,” a company statement reads, though it’s important to note that region locks are typically a two-party affair — if game publishers choose to make their stereoscopic software region-free, it might work on your handheld anyhow. So yes, you might still have a chance to get your date sim on.

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Engadget’s Holiday Gift Guide: Docks and Alarm Clocks

admin — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:50:35 +0000

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today’s bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they’re added throughout the holiday season.

Portable media players: from grandma to the nieces and nephews, it seems like everybody’s got one. But if they’re only using it on the road, they’re not getting their money’s worth. That’s why we’ve assembled this selection of alarm clocks and docks for every locale and every budget, with the features your loved one will need to get the most out of their device.

Stocking stuffers

iLuv App Station iMM190

Perfect for either the cubicle or bedside table, the heart of the App Station is its alarm clock app, which features wake-to-playlist, temperature notifications, and more. The App Station also features two bases, so it can sit in either landscape or portrait mode, which is great for running any of your other software, regardless of their orientation (hence the name App Station).

Key specs: Functions in landscape and portrait mode, iLuv alarm clock app

Price: $90

For the light sleeper…

Sony Nature Sounds Clock Radio - $60

It’s an alarm clock, it features a 3.5mm audio input for your MP3 player du jour, it can project the time on the ceiling, and it boasts not one but five “soothing nature sounds!” Perfect for both the forest ranger and the new age meditation aficionado in your life.

For the bold…

Altec Lansing Octiv Mini – $40

Featuring that “slanted black cube” motif the kids seem to love these days, the Octiv Mini is easy on the eyes — and the pocketbook. To get the most bang for your buck you’ll want to download the iPhone / iPod touch alarm clock app, although this one is compatible with whichever iPod your loved one is currently using.

Oh, you shouldn’t have

iHome iA100 iPad stereo speaker system

Just the thing for your favorite iPad owner, the iHome iA100 iPad stereo speaker system is a Bluetooth-enabled FM radio / alarm clock compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. If that weren’t enough, the iHome+Sleep app download features custom alarm and nap settings, sleep stats, social media integration, weather, news, and Bongiovi digital signal processing. That’s right — this thing is a beast.

Key specs: Supports iPad and Bluetooth audio, iHome+Sleep app

Price: $200

For the office…

Sony ICF-CL75iP – $130

Offering more than your average dock, this multi-function LCD clock / radio / iPod dock features a 7-inch display for photos and videos, 1GB of internal memory, support for external storage via MemoryStick, SD card, and USB drive, audio player and more. Maybe it’s overkill, but you’ll probably make someone very happy with this bad boy.

For the beach…

Logitech S715i – $150

Not only does this look pretty badass, the Logitech S715i is highly regarded for those of us who want great sound quality at a decent price point. There’s no fancy app, clock radio, or radio tuner with this guy, just an iPhone / iPod connector and a built-in rechargeable battery that boasts eight hours of use — which will probably be a decent trade-off for most.

We can’t afford the rent now, can we?

Pioneer AV Series XW-NAV1K-K Docking Station for iPod

Speaking of full featured, Pioneer’s XW-NAV1K-K Docking Station sports 2.1 speakers, HDMI, component video, and composite video out, Bluetooth audio streaming, a DVD/CD player, FM tuner, USB connectivity for external storage, CD-to-MP3 ripping, and “scaling of DVD video to 1080p near HD resolution.” Sure beats that hair brush you were going to buy Della (besides, she already sold her hair to buy a chain for your pocket watch).

Key specs: rips CDs, plays DVDs, HDMI out

Price: $200

For extras in Larry Clark films…

Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 - $300

This is definitely the one for the misbehaving teen in your life. It looks like your old ghetto blaster, but instead of a cassette deck this thing features an iPod / iPhone connector, a 5.25-inch side-firing subwoofer, and two aux inputs. Runs on mains power or eight D-cell batteries.

For Wall Street fat cats…

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 – $1,000

If money is no object (and the gadget lover in your life lives in a Logan’s Run-esque palace of straight, fluid lines and simple geometric shapes) the BeoSound 8 is definitely the way to go. Features include a dock connector for iPad / iPhone / iPod, audio cable input, and optional wall mount.

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Review: T-Mobile G2

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 06:06:27 +0000

Short version : Like the Nexus One, the G2 is a unified Google experience, and it excels because of that. The vaunted HSPA+ is fast as hell and there is very little to criticize from start to finish. That said, it’s also a brick and the form factor isn’t for everyone. Features : 3.7″ S-TFT LCD display (800

First Look: Tom Bihn Ristretto bag for iPad

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:06:14 +0000

I blame Steve Sande for my newest iPad-related purchase. Well, there’s a lot of things to blame Steve for, but it was his reviews of the Tom Bihn Western Flyer and Checkpoint Flyer that had me checking out the company he bought the bags from last year.

Tom Bihn is based in Seattle and has the distinction of being among those rare companies that still makes its products in the U.S. using mostly U.S.-produced materials. Only a few components are sourced from overseas, but those parts are fully disclosed.

Tom Bihn was also had gear designed specifically iPad right off the bat, announcing its offerings — The Ristretto and the Cache for iPad — just hours after the original iPad announcement. The US$110 Ristretto, which also comes in a larger size designed to hold a MacBook, is a vertical messenger bag with a padded area that is large enough to hold a netbook or an iPad.

After having my iPad and accessories bounce around a larger bag for a few weeks, I caved and placed a Ristretto order to see if it suited my needs. I could have gone cheaper, I could have used a regular netbook case, but I’m glad I held out for the Ristretto.

The pros

Pull the bag out of the box and the first thing you’ll think is, “How is it supposed to fit everything I carry on a day to day basis?” While I’m not one of those women who tend to carry everything but the kitchen sink in my handbag, I do want to have specific things at hand.

The Ristretto is constructed with a curved organizer compartment that gives you easy access to four sewn-in pockets — two for pens and pencils, one that perfectly holds an iPhone and one more that is slightly larger than that, but will not hold the smallest-sized Moleskine flip notebook. It will hold most point and shoot cameras.

Behind this is a zippered pocket, designed to hold your wallet or other things you don’t want in public view. Then there is a larger compartment and finally the sewn-in padded case that’s just large enough for an iPad in a case — depending on the case. A magazine pocket is sewn to the back of the bag. There are three O-rings attached to the two main compartments and a fourth inside the zippered pocket. These hold Tom Bihn’s organizer pouches, which come in various sizes and can be clipped to the O-rings. If you plan to spend the money for the Ristretto, go ahead and toss a few pouches in your order. You won’t regret it.

You can actually get a lot in here. I popped my currently caseless iPad into the padded pouch. In the main compartment, I have the Apple wireless keyboard, my Nintendo DSi, a small organizer pouch containing both iPad and DSi chargers and the small stand I use for the iPad. There is enough room here for a small paperback book, though the compartment itself is large enough to hold a regular-sized hardback. My wallet and personal items went into the zippered pocket. The organizer pockets hold a pen, pencil and my iPhone with a pocket to spare. Finally, in the smaller open compartment, I have a mini organizer pouch with my iPod nano and a pair of earphones and a small Moleskine notebook, and I still had room should I need it.

I was carrying all of the above, plus a camera, on a series of recent outings that included a tour of Disney in Burbank and a week in Sedona, Arizona. During my Disney tour, I carried the Ristretto for a couple of hours and it never felt heavy. The bag comes with a very comfortable padded strap, but with can upgrade to the company’s Absolute Shoulder Strap for an additional $20 with the purchase or $30 if you decide to buy one later.

Another huge pro for Tom Bihn is the customer service, which is top-notch. The Ristretto for iPad is on back order due to the huge demand for it, and I ordered mine in May for an expected end of June delivery. But the Tom Bihn crew worked to make sure I got mine just in time for planned trips to California and within Arizona to tie off loose ends before my move to Pennsylvania in July. Tom Bihn also has an active community forum that features a number of customer-produced videos showing off how much a Tom Bihn bag can hold and how well they are constructed. (Full Disclosure: I am a member and have posted there, but not on the Ristretto itself.)

The cons

There’s not a lot, but no product is perfect. You can’t remove the padded case, but if you wanted to do so, then the Ristretto isn’t for you to begin with. If you want to tote around a camera, make sure it’s not a bulky SLR-like model, or else the bag won’t be able to hold it (which happened to be the case with my Canon S5 IS). Some won’t care for the limited color palettes for the Ristretto, but one of the great things about Tom Bihn is if you wait a few months, the color pallettes usually change.

The Ristretto can hold an iPad that’s in the Apple-branded case, however it won’t hold all iPad cases. The bulkier the case, the less likely it will fit the Ristretto. If you really want the Ristretto, but also want a thicker iPad case, you may want to consider the Ristretto’s MacBook-sized sibling or the Co-Pilot.

The other con for some is the expense. Ristretto is $110 plus shipping, which varies worldwide. If you want the Ristretto for MacBook, it’s $120. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes, it was for me. I wound up having to use a Tom Bihn ID as an emergency secondary bag for my return trip from Liverpool in October. My primary bag emerged from the trip so dilapidated that I’m going to have to replace it. The ID emerged good as new and nothing inside was damaged. Steve likewise had an equally good experience with his Western Flyer after hauling it around Africa for several weeks.

If the Ristretto isn’t for you, but you do want an iPad-specific bag, there are alternatives. Booq has its own vertical-style messenger case for $79.95 and a briefcase-style bag for $69.95. Skooba Design has a horizontal messenger bag for $49.95. The blog iPadBags.com also has a dedicated area of its site that will let you know what bags are available out there.

Blue Nintendo DSi XL headed to the US of A

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:01:40 +0000

Nintendo rather quietly announced earlier that as of July 11th, it will see the DSi XL in Midnight Blue. The new color model will cost $189.99 — just like every other DSi XL — and will also come with all the same installed software and apps. Yes, other than the color (we’ll give them this, it’s a pretty sweet shade of blue) this one’s identical to every other DSi XL.

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‘Battlestar’ composer Bear McCreary scoring SOCOM 4

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:11:14 +0000

The grizzly-named composer Bear McCreary, most famous for putting together the score on the recent Battlestar Galactica TV series, has announced on his blog that he’ll be composing the music for Zipper Interactive’s upcoming SOCOM 4. McCreary previously did the scoring work on Capcom’s Dark Void (and 8-bit spin-off Dark Void Zero), and for SOCOM 4, he says he’s written, “muscially, a franchise re-boot,” with over eight hours of original music featuring “ethnic percussion, virtuosic Asian stringed and woodwind instruments, and the spectacular, other-worldly tones of the gamelan.” Insert joke here about how that Indonesian ensemble’s name actually looks like “game LAN.”

McCreary also says that the soundtrack will fulfill his dream “of a video game score that would feel as if it were being composed specifically for each player, adapting and shifting perfectly to capture the mood of the individual gamer.” Which sounds fun, but if we start hearing an orchestral version of “All Along the Watchtower” as our individual score, what exactly does that mean?