Infinium Labs is ostensibly creating a home console, it is difficult to tell sometimes, plus their product is called the Phantom - a word that means illusory.  Everything to do with the Goddamn Phantom is drilled down through so many strata of irony that it is literally hazardous to work down here.  Apparently the sort of people who invest in this shit don't read HardOCP, because Infinium Labs has (through some roiling alchemical process) managed to secure additional funding for their night-black financial abyss.

We are not business people, if things have gone well for us in this regard it is because our wild thrashings attracted devious minds, the scent of our naivete drawing them in like predators.  This said, having met the creators of this machine at E3 two years ago, we made it very clear that while we could not imagine the sort of person for whom the Phantom console would fill a void, the industrial design of their lapboard was something that desperately needed to materialize in the market.  This hasn't become less true since - indeed, the supposed "HD Revolution" makes it more valid, if anything.  A remote keyboard and mouse combination that is visually attractive and feels comfortable?  Yes, yes - now and forever yes.  Supposedly this new funding will help make that a reality, a turn of events I won't impede with ironic commentary. 

Two other things: 

I hope that you have played the game Trackmania Sunrise.  I could go on at length, but it's simply an excellent racing genre entry, combining straight-ahead driving thrills with something you might call "race platforming," as well as highly amusing car customization and a robust suite of tools for track construction.  Developer Nadeo has kicked out something they're calling Trackmania Nations, a free version of their game explicitly designed to be a competitive international sport.

I haven't  played it yet, because the install uses Starforce and requires a reboot.  Since the game is free and they are actively trying to get is distributed as widely as possible, I assume it's there to stymie hackers.  Starforce is starting to become prevalent on the software I purchase - I'm aware that it is not universally adored, but I downloaded my first pirated game when I was eleven, and those channels have only gotten more sophisitcated since.  I'd love to hear a case for it that isn't based on paranoid unprovable quantities, dark visions, and boardroom prophecies of unauthorized usage.

There is supposedly some kind of Ultimate Xbox 360 Patch of Ultimate Destiny today, but the list of things that it resolves are - and this is a quote - "Every problem people are having on their 360z0rz."   I've seen it reported on about six sites now, some of which I have actually heard of, so...  great.  The original Xbox went through two fairly pronounced iterations, both of which provided substantial additions to base functionality.   Part of me is agitated to think that the platform is so malleable, but I also know that the 360 is capable of a lot more than they've exposed to users.   Increased competition might spur them to dispense some measure of it.

(CW)TB out.

tiny suns infused with sour

I just read that it's up now, no new features, and some fairly obscure resolutions for problems I have never encountered and likely wouldn't ever witness for the remainder of my natural life. 

One important improvement:  when recovering your profile from Xbox Live, it now gives you the option to not delete your saved games!  And they say our masters in Redmond are not benevolent.

(CW)TB

The unstoppable Überjumper - for whom no obstacle is an impediment - lets us know that there will be a second Dawn of War expansion, something to follow-up Winter Assault that will bring two more armies to the mix.  For those of you playing our home game, that's fully seven sides to choose from.  Once you get to seven, can you even call them "sides" anymore?  One tries to visualize this won'drous geometry, and is defeated.  They suggest that one of the new sides will be Tau, which seems like a good match, and I'd imagine that those who completed Winter Assault have some idea who the last army will be.  

Something else I saw over at Relicnews was the final script for Homeworld 2.  I've always found the mechanics of game writing interesting, and you may enjoy it as well.  It's here, if you want it.

(CW)TB

My friend Joel Johnson wants to know more, a lot more, about our Mr. Smith and his adventures in the deep darkness of online marketing.  Of course, he would - he runs The Consumerist, a blog which is essentially about companies who trick people.  But Mr. Smith didn't end up taking the job - though I'll bet someone who reads the site might have.  Unburden yourself, sir or madam.  Reveal your sins and secrets, and let contrition make you whole.

(CW)TB  

I’m sure most of you saw this yesterday but in case you missed it, 1up has a nice article about WOW 1.10. It looks like priests are getting a re-spec with this patch. Also you’ll be able to “upgrade” blue armor sets by completing a series of quests. Also Blizzard will be adding some very cool looking weather effects to the game finally. 1up has a couple trailers showing off the new rain and snow. They are pretty small but damn they look good.

Speaking of WOW…

 

 

Fuck the Horde.

-Gabe out