CastleRain - That guy's being awfully forward with that donkey. ~ Jay (Clerks II)

I wish I had a time machine…

Published Friday, December 21, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

Those are words you might hear me say just about every day. I’m a horribly nostalgic person. It even annoys me that I say it so much. Though I just can’t help but to want to relive some of the best times in my life over again. That and I had to find a reason to show off my love of Doctor Who. Although a TARDIS wouldn’t allow me become younger again….

I could easily relive the decade of the 1980‘s all over again. However, today I find myself only wanting to go back to just a few years ago. I’m feeling the need to enjoy the company, friendship and good times of when myself and all my new found gamer friends came together. (Nick, Paul, Adele, Tyler, Aura, Tuvi, Charles, Jeff and Peter to name a few.)

We started in a game was called Last Chaos. Even though it wasn’t really much of an MMO by anyone’s standards as far as game play goes. When we started playing it, it had no dungeons, no instances, crap character selection and horrible glitches. Plus it was the most god awful micropayment ripoff setup in the world. Yet we had some of the best times of our lives.

We didn’t care much about the flaws. We had our friends. Spanning from the Mid West, to Texas east and west coasts of the country and several friends from the U.K. It was a time when we were eager to get home from work and log on to spend time with them. Didn’t matter what we did. Even if we decided to do nothing at all and just hang around the PVP arena all evening. When we managed to get to what seems like end content at the time. Demon parties, Ghost parties (references only a Last Chaos player from the original days [before they fucked up the game play completely] would recognize) to the endless drama filled Castle Sieges and parties down in Theos’ Tomb. The Guild events we’d come up with, the laughs, the times of seeing just how much trouble we could cause just because we had nothing better to do. We even hosted protests against the “Game Masters” just to piss them off. We could’ve received the good old perma-ban for it too. We didn’t care at all, because no matter what, we had each other.

It only lasted a couple of years. From there we started to part ways. Some friends went on to games I didn’t much care for, but at least I tried them out. Others friends, I stuck with tightly through Runes of Magic (until they too became greedy bastards) and World of Warcraft with right up until everything fell apart in my world. I still talk to all of them. Not as much as I’d like too. Either through Skype, IM, Email, Text and sometimes I still get on Vent.

Even though the end was a painful experience, I wish I could go back and do it again. I miss you guys…

Short URL: http://gden.net/6s

Posted in News | Tagged Family, Friends, Games, Life, Time

Christmas Cards 2012

Published Thursday, December 20, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

While I’m sure we’ll all be around on the 22nd. I’ll post this now. This years Christmas Card that I sent out. I was feeling a mix of South Park and Early MMO’s. So here’s my South Park me, with Santa in South Park wearing some old clothing found in the first MMO I played, Last Chaos. Good times… Good times…

Click for Larger Image

Yeah…. Last Year‘s was better

Short URL: http://gden.net/6r

Posted in News | Tagged Christmas, Holidays

Sandbox Gaming is Freakin’ Sweet!

Published Friday, December 14, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

Freakin Sweet Achievement So I’ve been playing Minecraft now for a couple of weeks, and I have to say I’m hooked So far, I haven’t done anything very serious. Mostly have it in crafting mode all the time and just poking around at all the features. I’ve even setup a server so that I can monkey with my Castle anytime I like, from any place I have an internet connection. I’ve even checked out the Ender Dragon and that was pretty freakin’ cool. Of course I was in crafting mode so it couldn’t kill me, but it’s absolutely amazing how in depth this simple looking game can get.

Even more amazing, is that when a world is generated, it automatically builds towns, sets up NPC’s, randomly builds dungeons, temples and all sorts of hidden places to explore. The world it builds is absolutely enormous!! I have yet to find the edges of the map. As much as I’m an Achievement Whore, I get satisfaction in that department as well

Here’s some of the progress I’ve been making on my in game version of CastleRain (Click for Larger Images):

: Minecraft CastleRain 01

: Minecraft CastleRain 02

: Minecraft CastleRain 03

: Minecraft CastleRain 04

: Minecraft CastleRain 05

: Minecraft CastleRain 06

I know it’s a bit boxy and is lacking loads of detail. It’s my first creation, so we’ll all just let it be what it is and perhaps the next go around, once I get more inspiration, will hopefully be 100 times better.

I need to setup a spare machine to run this dedicated at some point. No rush on that though, got a lot of work left to do on it. I think once it’s done, I’ll open up the server to my friends and we can put it in adventure mode and have a good time together.

The best part of this as it is though is that I don’t have to feel like I have to do anything. If I want to get up and go do something else, I can without worry of leaving something unfinished. It will always be unfinished, but I don’t feel like I’m letting myself or anyone else down if I get up from the PC.

I’m still new to Minecraft, so I’ll see how it goes, but so far it’s freakin’ sweet! (Peter Griffin reference) See for yourself by watching the video below

I’ve even heard rumors that there might be quests coming soon. Hope that’s true.

Short URL: http://gden.net/67

Posted in News | Tagged CastleRain, Games, Minecraft, MMORPG

30 Days with Windows 8

Published Thursday, December 6, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

My enthusiasm isn’t nearly that of when I did this for Windows 7. I still love Windows 7. Can’t fathom that I’ll ever, ever, in my wildest nightmares, accept Metro as a suitable Start Menu/Desktop replacement. I think they only thing I actually like (even though I had finally gotten used to it), was that they removed Aero, and now your desktop taskbar (and Classic Shell Menu) adapt to the color of whatever background picture you have up. As exampled below

Classic Shell is the ONLY reason I can find Windows 8 tolerable. There are still a load of aggravating quirks that make me wish I could fire Microsoft employees for getting high and making this operating system in the first place.

As I said in a previous post, as well as countless others have said the same, it seems that Microsoft only makes a good operating system every other release. Although, I have my doubts that this trend of Good / Bad will continue. I fear from here it’s all down hill. It’s like Microsoft needs a boob job because their shit is sagging badly.

I will give Windows 8 kudos for better virtualization. However, only power users bother with it. So, for the vast majority of PC users, big whoop-ti-do. Compatibility mode seems to be lacking as older programs that once ran fine using it, are now broken. So that puts a few oldy but goldy games I love dearly in the hurt locker. Well, that is until I managed to finagle with the video drivers enough to make them work, but even then, the average person will not know how, or want to do this.

I’m just not on board with my desktop becoming a tablet. I think they should be separate. Of course, I’m sure I’m overruled in this. As people make love to their portable devices and all the years of my yelling at folks to keep their fingerprints off my damned screen, now it’s going to be a touch screen world. Soon, you’ll have touchscreen TV’s which seems to defeat the whole thing of having a remote so you don’t have to jump up to deal with the TV. Or there will be touchscreen remotes. Seems distracting to have that in a darkened room watching a moving and suddenly the remote lights up to turn up the volume. I’m all for progress and newer technology, but making every computer a tablet isn’t what I had in mind. Although, I am all for an Android Desktop PC. Just with a keyboard and mouse. Although, I do like using my big screen TV as a monitor. Makes gaming fun. It’s my all in one, entertainment center. I just don’t wish to reach over my desk to touch something when my mouse is right there. Nor do I want to try to watch a 3D Blu-ray and see fingerprints…

Maybe I’ll get lucky and the feedback on Windows 8 will steer Microsoft back to a true desktop PC. I just have a bad feeling it won’t. As cliché as it sounds, only time will tell.

Short URL: http://gden.net/65

Posted in News | Tagged Microsoft, Windows 7, Windows 8

Welcome Back Vent!

Published Tuesday, December 4, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

As with many things in life, sometimes the best things are not free after all. Turns out RaidCall has had some monster issues. Just after the time they said they made the decision to stay with RaidCall, I got a call from the other Vent admin, and thankfully I didn’t close the account yet.

I’m glad my happy home is still home.

We’ve added on to the house with a couple new rooms for new friends to gather in. I guess I need to stop by more often and meet them and chat with all my old friends whom I miss a lot sometimes.

Short URL: http://gden.net/63

Posted in News | Tagged Friends, Ventrilo

Why didn’t I think of this before!?!?

Published Monday, December 3, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

It’s one of those days that I could just smack myself in the head and say “I could’ve had a V8!” er.. I mean “Why didn’t I think of this before!?!?”. It’s like, have you ever found yourself trying madly to handle a situation in your life, that you spend so much time thinking on it, you miss the obvious answer that has been thrown in your face over and over and over again? Yeah… This is one of those times for me. In so much, I feel a bit sheepish.

In my self banishment from MMO’s in order to get away from the computer and get back into shape.. I’ve tried numerous game demos, and even bought some older cheap games hoping they’d satisfy the void of not being able to play my beloved World of Warcraft. WoW had all the elements I craved in a game. It’s had a lighthearted look about it, with it’s cartoonish graphics and the banter of the NPC’s that always keep it upbeat. It’s vast landscape that in many ways is beautiful and artistic. I could make useful items as well as supercilious things just to keep myself happy. I could play in a group or by myself.

But every game I’ve tried up until now, has left me feeling like something was missing.

So I kept looking because I didn’t want games that were based on:

Free to play games actually costing more than subscription games.
Subscription games costing me my lifespan by sitting for hours trying to finish something.
Wanting to save money by not paying anything after buying the game itself.

Yet the answer was staring me in the face. Minecraft!

Buy once, play forever. No subscriptions nothing to buy to keep up with other players from some in-game store.
I can play by myself or with others.
I can save and quit anytime I like.
I can craft anything! I can make a whole world of my own.
It’s cartoonish yet has the feel of an MMO.
It’s a mere $27 to buy the full game.

While I will miss riding an epic dragon mount or smoke spewing rocket, I can fly in Minecraft. Everything I could ever want to do. If I want to build, craft, explore, fight, survive, loot and so much more! And… I’ve always wanted to build CastleRain just the way I wanted it. Now I can

Short URL: http://gden.net/62

Posted in News | Tagged CastleRain, Games, Minecraft, MMORPG

Goodbye Ventrilo, Hello RaidCall

Published Saturday, December 1, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

If you’ve looked at the Ventrilo status that used to be on the side bar in the past few weeks, you’ve noticed it’s empty. It’s not because all my friends stopped hanging out, they have just moved to a new medium to hang out on. It’s similar to Vent, but it’s free. It’s called RaidCall.

With Vent, it was only free for others to install the software, set it up and then enjoy talking with everyone. This actually proved more tricky that one might imagine. In-so-much that I had created a detailed tutorial that proved popular among other people. Even then, it wasn’t without daunting issues. Such as feedback noises, god awful static and the ability to accidentally mute yourself and it would take forever to get people straight.

I’m not fully sure of how the move took place, as I hadn’t been on Vent in weeks myself. Getting away from the computer, has sadly left my friends wondering where I am, or how I’m doing. (of course they are all free to text me or call me on the phone ) Though I imagine a lot of it was a cost issue. As Vent, costs to have a server. Unless you violate the license, and run a private server. We’ve had an account with UGT-Servers since 2007. So each year I’d solicit donations from everyone. We’d renew vent and life moved forward.

In truth though, I’m a bit sad over this. Even though I’m not on much, I liked having a central place for my friends. I might not be logged on, but I would load up my website on my laptop, or my Android just to glance at the status to see who was online. It almost became a tradition as we in our own way became family. It’s like that old house you grew up in. Even though I moved away, I always want to come back and visit that familiar place. Now it’s like that empty old house on the street where I used to live. No one is there anymore. The family has moved out and into a new home across town (metaphorically speaking).

I know I can simply log on to the new RaidCall channel they’ve setup. Somehow, it’s just not the same. We’ve had that Vent account for a number of years now. It’s actually going to be hard for me to hit the cancel account button. Even though it was a digital hangout. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. And another piece of my history will become nothing more than fond memories.

I did setup a RaidCall group for CastleRain, even though most have joined other groups. This one will be around just if anyone wants to group and chill. 5315200

Short URL: http://gden.net/61

Posted in News | Tagged Blog, Friends, Games, RaidCall, Ventrilo

Windows 8 vs Mountain Lion vs Ubuntu 12.10

Published Friday, November 30, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

Mostly I’ve debated the world of computing between Microsoft Windows, which is what I use normally. Against Apple’s Mac and their OS X operating system. I’ve made references to Linux from time to time, but never made it part of my ideas in whole or in any large part. Now that Mountain Lion is out, and Windows 8 has graced us with it’s presence like that annoying uncle who thinks he’s overly cool, but no one likes him…. Sorry got off track there…

The question is, “Is it time to reevaluate my beef with Mac? Or should I consider moving toward an open source horizon?”.

Last year, I actually purchased a MacBook Pro with OS X Snow Leopard, and got a free upgrade to Lion. While at first I was rather impressed, the more I used it, the more I got frustrated at having to buy replacement software for stuff I use for free on a Windows based computer. Plus, the fact I paid over 3 times as much for it, when a simple $400 Windows laptop would’ve done just fine. I sold the MacBook Pro, bought a big screen TV, a laptop and still had $200 I put into the bank and a big comfy smile on my face.

As a tech though, I must keep up with the latest versions of Windows, Mac and I dabble in Linux. The more I saw of Windows 8, the less I liked it. I even got really angry with it and it’s forcing Metro down my throat. It was like removing me from my home and forcing me to live with others who don’t get along with.

So now I actually have Windows 8 installed on my laptop. It’s OK. It’s not nearly as sweet as Windows 7 is. My opinion still is Windows 7 is by far the best OS ever made. However, unlike Windows XP, it won’t last (or should I say be supported) forever.

If it weren’t for Classic Shell, my life with Windows 8 would be morbid. Of the various utilities that have been created to alleviate the misery that is Metro and it’s damnation to the desktop, workstation and PC gamer communities, it’s free, open source and works like it should. A huge thanks the developers who make it. Is it perfect? Pretty damned close. Although, you do get a brief disheartening as you quickly see Metro flash up during boot. Not a deal breaker by any means.

Then there’s Linux. Still struggling for a decent share computing world via desktop, laptop, smart phones and all the other wonderful devices it is on. Closest to world domination is that it is the core of Android phones, but not so much the desktop market. Mostly because as I’ve mentioned before, they have no standardization. As nice as Linux is, if you download software, you have to choose which Linux distro you are installing it on. Or you have to compile it yourself if your distro of choice isn’t on the list. Or possibly it won’t work at all on your beloved subdivision of Linux. That makes Linux even more frustrating than Mac in many ways. However, there are things that it can do that Mac cannot. By far, the most popular and satisfying variant of Linux is Ubuntu. It’s layout is unique, easy to use for the most part and has a decently large library of software for just about any need. You hardly need to go outside of their store to get anything you desire. Still, it’s not every Joe Computeruser’s cup of coffee. But it’s getting closer than ever before.

I could drag this article out more by making long comparison lists of what is good and bad about each OS. Not really feeling up to it. So I’ll give the short and sweet of it.

Windows 8 vs Ubuntu

Here’s where I could simply take my PC that I built for roughly $1000; that plays all the top games available, it does 3D Blu-ray to my 32 inch TV that I use as a monitor and change it to Ubuntu for the grand total of $0. Ubuntu is free! However, there’s no 3D Blu-ray software yet. I can play regular Blu-ray’s via VLC. It’s clunky, but it works. All my games… well those I can get to work via Wine would be alright, a bit buggy perhaps. Others I would lose out on playing or I’d have to play the handful of visually stunning games that are made for Linux. Most of them however, are shooters. Only shooters I play are the old Unreal Tournament games. Not an Army/Marine kind of guy. Plus, again, I’d have to find replacements to all the software I use, although most work on Linux too, so that’s actually a half-assed plus.

Ubuntu vs Mac OS X Mountain Lion

As for moving to either of these, I’d have virtually the same exact issues as far as software goes. Mac, I’ve already purchased some software replacements, and I made sure they all had lifetime upgrades free. Software is covered really, I’d have to deal with the old frustrations I had before. Plus, Mac finally got Blu-ray software, but I don’t think it does 3D yet. You have to buy a USB Blu-ray player, because you can’t buy it when you buy the Mac as an internal drive. Which is dumb as hell. Plus, then I’d be paying well over twice as much for the Mac hardware. Starting at $2499 for something I already have basically is financial suicide. Sure I could go iMac, but that’s all integrated, and not very user upgradable. Actually they frown on user upgrades. If I wanted to have an integrated computer, I’d just keep my laptop.

Mac vs Windows

I’ve already compared Mac’s to PC’s. Repeatedly. The horse isn’t moving anymore.

My Conclusion

Though, as disheartened as I am over Windows 8. I think I’ll wait to jump ship on the Windows based PC for now. I’ll just hang on to my beloved Windows 7 as long as I can on my desktop and leave the Windows 8 and whatever future holds for Microsoft Windows in general to my poor laptop (or whatever I replace it with in the future). Who knows, maybe Microsoft will redeem themselves. However, this time I kind of doubt it. Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s time I let go of computers. I just don’t want too. They still hold a world of wonder, excitement and creativity to me. I’m not ready to do that just yet.

Short URL: http://gden.net/60

Posted in News | Tagged Computers, Linux, Mountain Lion, Windows 8

Second Example Why I Hate Unions!

Published Sunday, November 18, 2012 | By Denver Fowler

Unions used to be useful when companies used to screw over their employees. Now all they do is screw over companies and interrupt customers. And in this case, cause a great American company to go tits up!!! As per usual, Foamy says it best. While you bitch about the government and unemployment, it seems unions are doing a pretty good job of contributing to the nation’s unemployment rate themselves. Now all we’ll get is rip off Twinkies and more government spending as 18,500 people desperately look for work. Again, fuck you unions!!