* Posts by Myopic Aardvark

65 publicly visible posts • joined 12 Jun 2009

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Just WHY is the FBI so sure North Korea hacked Sony? NSA: *BLUSH*

Myopic Aardvark

Re: Why the US intel community would disclose source and methods just to bolster credibility.

Still going to be quite funny when some script kiddie in Sweden or Argentina says "Yeah, it was me. I did it."

There's cling-ons on the starboard bow! Trekkies' wallets under attack

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Still surprised...

That no one has actually made a phone styled like a TOS communicator - sure there's a USB one, but no actual mobile phone which looks like something Kirk would use.

I'd have bought one in a heartbeat, especially if it had the authentic sounds when someone rang you and you answered!

Bioshock Infinite, Devil May Cry, SimCity

Myopic Aardvark
Thumb Up

Re: I miss space flight sims

GOG (Good Old Games) has Independence War 1&2 available to buy and they work grand with Windows 7.

(Resolution on I-War is small though, but there are ways around that).

Slideshow: A History of Horror in 20 Scary Games

Myopic Aardvark
WTF?

Clive Barker's Undying

A game that so creeped me out that when the loading screen suddenly popped up as I was moving through an (empty) corridor, I cried out in terror. My wife winds me up about that to this day.

Doom 3? Seriously? Oh look, there's a shadow/pickup - I bet a monster is going to appear... yep, it did. Yawn.

Doom was far scarier than Doom 3.

Space Station ready to SWERVE sat junk hurtling towards it

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Navigational Deflectors?

It's a sad fact that this piece of sci-fi tech is more likely to be required just to be in orbit of our own planet, rather than interstellar spaceflight.

It's 2012 - as I was growing up in the 70s & 80s, they promised me moonbases and antigravity belts :(

Last remaining reason to order an iPhone 5 disappears

Myopic Aardvark
WTF?

Yeah, but as The Reg is already persona non grata at these events, what the hell was the point of trying to suck up now?

Ding dong, the Ping is dead! Apple brings in Facebook for iTunes

Myopic Aardvark

More to the point...

Is there going to be an option not to get ANY Facebook prompts, links or even mentons on iTunes, because I've done quite well without them in the past and have no interest in anything to do with Facebook?

I've been quite happy with my iPhone/iTunes stuff over the last few years, but I don't givea damn about Facebook and having to put up with nag prompts every single time I buy or view something is likely to lead to me going elsewhere - I've purchased 270Gb worth of music/games/films/books and TV progs from iTunes, but wil go elsewhere if Facebook becomes the only way to do things on iTunes.

Ubisoft: 'Vast majority of PC gamers are PIRATES'

Myopic Aardvark
Go

Not sure if Ubisoft gets it...

My PC gaming these days tends to be MMOs, most of which I've either got a lifetime sub for or have went F2P. Sure, I'll still put money into them, but only when I see something I like the look of. I have a 1TB hard drive nearly full of Steam games too, all of which have been paid for (mostly when things are on sale at a decent price).

The only Ubisoft games I've got are on my PS3 - the Assassin's Creed games, the remake of Beyond Good & Evil. I just prefer playing them with the PS3 joypad.

I pay for what I enjoy and since I haven't pirated a game since about 1989 (Sinclair tape copying, ah those were the days), that leads me to believe that it's not 90% of PC gamers who are pirating games, but 90% of PC gamers who just aren't buying something because it isn't enjoyable or (like me) who are buying it on console because its a better experience.

I'll step down from my centre of the universe podium now.

All Ubisoft have done with this is ensure I will never buy their games on my PC, instead going to the console for it.

Mass Effect 3

Myopic Aardvark

Not according to Bioware

There are posts from the developers on the Bioware forums that state (paraphrasing) - "It is possible to get the best ending in single player without playing multiplayer, but it's twice as hard"

So, no - multiplayer ain't necessary if you don't want to do it (Although the Mass Effect 3 Databook app does seem to offer a nice way of helping to build it up too).

Myopic Aardvark

No need to do multiplayer at all.

Just ensure every single side mission and system scan is complete before doing the last mission.

Ending was a bit disappointing though after all that. For my money, as epic as ME3 was, it's no ME2.

Right, back to The Old Republic. Maybe this time I can get a character above level 35 before wanting to reroll.

Fans lose grace with Star Wars MMO

Myopic Aardvark

Glad I went Origin

Although that thing is now off my machine and all traces of it burnt, as it has done it's job - I should get the code via email around 12pm tomorrow and then my last worry will be gone.

Early start worked okay for me, got in on the first wave and have been enjoying playing it - very smooth - much better than beta (although that's probably me realising I hadn't had SLI enabled for 4 or 5 months - it still ran okay on one card, but boy did my graphics cards fans get a workout. Now, not so much.

Looking forward to a good couple of years playing this - we'll see if it lasts the 6 years I managed to play City Of Heroes for.

Hands on with Star Wars: The Old Republic

Myopic Aardvark
Happy

Played all weekend

I had fun.

Regardless of what other MMOs the game is like, the fact that I had fun overrides every small complaint I came up with.

People seem to forget that - too much nitpicking when all you need to ask is "did you enjoy yourself?"

I'll be there on the 15th and a good while thereafter!

Google does a mean spring clean

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

They killed the Aardvark

*whimpers*

Dell Alienware M18x 18.4in gaming notebook

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

I've got one of the M17x R1

and wha tthey don't tell you is that in order to get the dust out of the damn thing, you have to actually remove the keyboard - there's no proper way (air cans can only do so much) to get the dust out from the underside...

A couple of clips would make the damn thing so much easier to clean and thus last longer, rather than having to perform computer surgery every 6 months!

Never again. It was nice at the time, but I've given up on all Dell's drivers (I don't care about the shiny keyboard, so I've now just using generic nVidia drivers).

Back to desktops for me next time.

Half of Virgin Media broadband ads are wrong, says ASA

Myopic Aardvark
FAIL

Still remember the sham

That was BT - "You can only get 4.5Mb download. Nothing we can do about that."

*Switch to Sky*

Immediately moved up to 12Mb and am now regularly getting 14-15Mb from 1600-2300, which is when I'm using it.

Same line, same neighbours, no Virgin in our area, so someone was telling porkies about line speed.

Apple releases iTunes 10.3 with beta iCloud

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Ah right

Thanks for that - yes, I did misread it. Even longer to wait then.

Myopic Aardvark
FAIL

Stupid small print

I was a bit disappointed last night, as the "US Only" part of it was kept in the small print.

Hoping that by the time Mobile Me is discontinued at the end of June, we will have a global iCloud.

Otherwise, it's another case of "Global" being west coast of the USA to the east coast of the USA (plus some tiny islands elsewhere).

Really disappointed that the news agencies and certain sites who report technology news (ahem), didn't point out this rather important part of the announcement (it was the first question asked after the discussion, from what I've now read!)

PS3s overheat after firmware update

Myopic Aardvark
FAIL

Find out tomorrow

LA Noire ready to go when I get back from business trip tomorrow - Older 40Gb PS3 and the only game which ever gets the fans whirring all the way up was last year's Red Dead Redemption.

We'll see how it handles LA Noire, but given RDR's fan beating performance, I don't think it's the firmware that's to blame...

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

Myopic Aardvark
Happy

Wife & I...

Have been playing the Lego games since they first emerged.

Got a bit confused this time around when the RTS elements popped up.

Turns out that we should have went down Dooku's path first, rather than Grievous', as that was where TT had placed all the tutorials.

Once we'd figured that out though, the game turned out to be fun. I could happily do without the RTS elements though.

Lego Pirates to look forward to next month, followed by Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 later in the year (around the time of the DVD release of the last movie, I'd reckon.)

Still waiting for my Lego Justice League or Lego James Bond though... :(

BBC iPlayer iPad app out this week

Myopic Aardvark
WTF?

re: Time for change

When BBC execs start using Android devices, rather than the Apple stuff. (Or when one of them with enough power does).

I own an iPad and even I think this is waste of that forced subscription fee I've got to pay. I've already got an iPlayer shortcut, so what benefit will an App bring?

Apple iPad 2 said to sport über speaker

Myopic Aardvark

So the usual then?

Skip every 2nd or 3rd iteration for the big stuff?

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Myopic Aardvark
Thumb Up

The constant loading...

when you're on horseback is annoying.

The fact that I've got to rotate on the spot (something I normally only expect from PC games) when I enter an area to make sure everything's loaded is also annoying.

That being said, I'm having an absolute blast with the game. It's good fun. It continues ACII's plot (and that, more than anything, is why I'm playing the game), even if it did do the whole "remove all the weapons" thing way too early.

Until City Of Heroes releases Issue 19, this is what I'll be playing.

Hundreds of Americans, bystanders injured playing video games

Myopic Aardvark
Grenade

When I were a lad

I would react to that sodding Sagat or M Bison defeating me soundly for the nth time in a row by throwing the Joypad at the floor in disgust.

Never once was I or the joypad injured, nor the occassional friend, little brother or parent who also happened to be in the room.

I do recall a time where my much older cousin reacting to being defeated by his 16 year old relative by twirling the joypad on its cable sling style and firing it against the wall, where it shattered into a million pieces.

One of the pieces bounced off me, but I obviously forgot to inform anyone about this injury or I, too, could have been a statistic.

Luckily, I'm a bit more precious about my PS3 joypads than I was about my Megadrive ones and they have never once been in danger of being thrown at the wall. Perhaps I'm just a but calmer in my old age or perhaps it's just the fact that despite having to repeat that bloody mission in Assassin's Creed 2 for the gazillionth time, I appreciate the expense to replace it these days.

There was probably some sort of moral in that spiel, but I can't be arsed looking for it now.

Sony piques PS3 fans with PlayTV patch fee

Myopic Aardvark
FAIL

Very odd move

I have a Sky+ box sitting above my PS3, as I suspect a lot of PS3 users in the UK do. (okay, granted, it could be below, or to the side or some other direction).

This isn't going to get them anything other than the idiot buy, is it?

Probably quite profitable, if other indications are anything to go by. (says the iPhone 4 owner).

Google Instant – more searches, less thought

Myopic Aardvark

"Will click on more ads"

I've been googling for years and I've never once clicked on an ad accompanying a Goggle search (that right hand column might well not exist for me).

Unless the interface is suddenly getting more confusing, why would I be clicking on more ads?

Mafia II

Myopic Aardvark
WTF?

This obsession with....

...sandbox games is getting jarring.

Give me a game that either tells a good story or allows you to construct a good story in your head around the bare bones of the game.

Having to shoot 150 birds to get an achievement isn't always the best way to lengthen a game.

it's one of the reasons I loved Max Payne II so much - short, sweet and to the point, but it's like reading a graphic novel. I'll come back and play it every 6 months or so and enjoy it every time.

I'm enjoying Mafia II so far - don't let the obsession with having 1001 pointless tasks take away from the fact that the game tells an engrossing story.

It's not perfect, but it's much better than these "It's not GTA!" reviews make it out to be.

Apple iOS4 upgrade adds multitasking, folders... and pain

Myopic Aardvark
Jobs Halo

Also updated a 3G phone

I find the folders very useful (even if they do only allow 12 items in them)

I've now got everything on 1 page, which is handy.

The iBook reader is the best thing about this. Got a couple of books yesterday and can now read them on the subway on the way into work, without carrying a weighty tome around with me.

My battery used to last two days - I'm hoping the fact that it only lasted a day yesterday is to do with all the downloading and app using I was doing yesterday and not any issue with the new OS.

I'll get the new phone next month, after the furor has died down.

(If you'd asked me 14 months ago, I'd have told you I'd never have used this icon, but actually trying the product, rather than ridiculing it from a distance changed my mind)

AT&T to ax unlimited data plans on iPhone Monday

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Glad to be in the UK?

Nope - because we usually follow whatever the US does, like feckless sheep.

O2 limits unlimited broadband packages

Myopic Aardvark
Happy

Still happy with Sky

I've had a steady 1.2MB download speed since switching to Sky, despite plenty of other people in my area using the line and despite BT saying that my line couldn't handle any more than 500KB.

I can stream HD from iPlayer without an issue and I can get Steam games downloaded within a couple of hours. And (after just checking my T&Cs), it is Unlimited. No caps, no nothing.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Apple opens international iPad store ahead of rollout

Myopic Aardvark
Happy

Did you mean iDork?

I laughed

Activision Tony Hawk Ride skateboard controller

Myopic Aardvark

Quite a high score

For such a negative review?

Apple rumored to put beefy iPad on diet

Myopic Aardvark
Alert

carrying an iPhone, a fat iPhone...

..., and a slightly less fat iPhone.

I know someone who does that. He also claims that his first generation iPhone has a good camera on it and ensures that he uses it to put Flickr under strain.

Microsoft clutches open source to its corporate heart

Myopic Aardvark
Joke

It's an April Fool's joke!

Why have so many commentators not got that?

Game developer's lost electric buggy FOUND ON MOON

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Garriot

Shame he seems to want to buy stuff in space and go into space, rather than keeping his games afloat.

I miss Tabula Rasa :(

Home Secretary swats away calls for Mosquito ban

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

iPhone App

There's an app for this. (KidsBeGone)

I tried it out in the office. I (at the age of 33) could hear the 20 year and under tone and the guide dog for one of my colleagues could hear EVERY tone.

Let's just say that app was quickly deleted.

Old PS3s locked out of PlayStation Network

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Download still works

Managed to download the update to Heavy Rain (just bought today), but couldn't play the game as I can't connect to the PSN.

Gah and I was so looking forward to that game!

Extreme pr0n suspect has his internet access suspended

Myopic Aardvark
Terminator

I hope not

"Or is the law now able to enter your home and check all your computers, back-ups, C64 & Spectrum tapes...?"

I hope not - I'm fairly sure I've still got a copy of Barbarian (okay, that's just a box image) and Sam Foxes Strip poker lying around, and given the quality of the Spectrum graphics, it may be stated that something has "caused harm" to the breasts involved - erm....

Can we just get Judgement Day over and done with? At least with the machines, you know where you stand.

Can Republicans steal Obama's Web 2.0 mojo?

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Front page news

Excellent - The Register ended up as front page news on Conservapedia...

The mind boggles.

Rickets rise linked to excessive gaming

Myopic Aardvark
Joke

Wrong target

Blame Newcastle.

That is all.

Wrists playing up? You're shagging too much

Myopic Aardvark
Alert

Down the gym....

Should I also stop doing all those pushups when I go to the gym?

(I can feel the filth emanating from sarcastic minds right now)

Faster BT broadband on starting blocks for Olympics - maybe

Myopic Aardvark
Unhappy

Yes, of course they will

In select areas of London. The rest of the country can probably go swivel.

UK e-Borders scheme thrown into confusion by EU rules

Myopic Aardvark
FAIL

Good success rate.

0.0034% of people who have went through the system have been arrested.

Yeah, that was worth the money.

Axeman Chancellor toes the line on ID cards

Myopic Aardvark
Megaphone

Tories

Yes of course they will scrap the scheme once they're in. They're completely trustworthy that way.

Expect it to be "scrapped" and then reappear a few months later under a different name.

It should be mandatory that for any election promise which is not met within the first year of power, an immediate re-election should be called and the ones who broke their promises are not allowed to take part.

That'd soon get us down to the weird sort of parties.... or they'd actually tell us the real, depressing truth - ie. Vote for us and we'll screw you over. Promise kept, job done.

Dell tech flashes woman with (her own) jubblies

Myopic Aardvark
WTF?

I'm curious

As to how someone who was "hot 20 years ago" had somehow managed to take a cellphone picture during that time?

Unless the 20 years ago part had nothing to do with it and it was her current state of being that had actually been snapped?

PayPal mistakes own email for phishing attack

Myopic Aardvark
Pirate

Always Suspicious of Paypal

I haven't used Paypal in years, since they screwed up a transaction, leaving me very red faced.

My wife will occassionally dabble in eBay purchases and every single time she uses Paypal, she gets a flurry of emails through claiming to be from random banks within a few seconds of completing the transaction.

The irony is she works for the first bank in the spam list.

(The first time this happened, I made sure her PC was clear of viruses and the usual culprits which it was - we've test this on multiple PCs now and it's always the same - kind of proves that Paypal transactions lead to unwanted Spam).

UK.gov hoovers up data on five-year-olds

Myopic Aardvark
Flame

@Evil_Trev

I know you were joking.

You know you were joking.

Most people know you were joking.

But one person will see your comment and assume you're being perfectly serious and that will either lead to a small flame war or increased government regulation because they have no context on what is humour and what isn't.

Home Office accused of sexing-up mobile phone rescue

Myopic Aardvark

@ AC 16 November 2009 19:18GMT

"And then ... by a strange process yet to be fully exposed ... the elected politicians mysteriously come to adopt the policies that the Home Office espouses."

Of course it's been fully exposed - there were fantastic documentaries about the process decades ago... what were they called again...?

Ah, of course.

It was Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.

Excellent fact finding documentaries they were.

Orange gets UK iPhone deal

Myopic Aardvark
Happy

Excellent timing

Just spoken to a colleague of mine who said "There won't be any new iPhone providers this year".

And then less than 5 minutes later you post this.

(He's just taken out a new contract with his 3GS with O2, despite not liking their service).

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Apple sends iPhones into 'Coma Mode'

Myopic Aardvark
Jobs Halo

See I don't get it

I used to be the biggest anti-Mac zealot in my workplace.

But as time went on and I saw some of the features of the iPhone, I decided I was going to get one.

And it's been the best damn phone I ever had.

It doesn't drop calls like pretty much every other phone I've had in the last 11 years randomly did. It has web access which actually works. It allows me to download apps to play games (which are the main ones) and it means that I don't have to carry a separate music player as I've got nearly my full collection on it.

If you'd spoken to me 6 months ago, I'd have been in the "yeah, it's rubbish" camp. Then I actually used it and realised it wasn't.

It's not perfect by any means. But it's functional gripes around the interface I've got, rather than "It doesn't allow me to do X" gripes.

I say again, the best damn phone I've ever had. I'm not a Mac zealot (this is being typed up on my Vista laptop, which is the best damn laptop I've ever had, even if I can't wait to receive my copy of Windows 7).

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