Tuesday, December 31, 2013

So Long To 2013

The year 2013 has been a pretty good year. I started the year writing about winter driving and linked to a video of winter driving accidents. It was one of my most popular posts for some reason. Then in February, the PlayStation 4 announcement was made. It would be a topic for many blog entries throughout the year.

March saw me venting about poorly manufactured Chinese goods. That is something that continues to plague us all. Unfortunately I don't think it is something that will be going away any time soon. It is too bad that we can't come up with an easier way to manufacture goods in the United States for less money.

Summer was busy and I was able to experience a nice vacation from technology. It happened not only once, but twice, thanks to a lengthy backpacking trip in the New Mexico mountains. It was nice at the time, but after spending my Christmas break working on cars, I'm glad I have chosen computers as my primary vocation. Automotive repair is fun for a limited amount of time, but it is now really starting to get on my nerves.

August saw me revising my computer recommendation for kids heading out to college.  While I used to be a fan of Apple laptops, I now prefer a Sony laptop running Windows that either dual boots to Linux or runs a Linux virtual machine (VM). Hopefully Apple can stop their downhill slide with respect to quality.

This past fall I found myself having to recover a PostgreSQL database which was a first for me. It took all night but I learned a lot. PostgreSQL is a great database that needs a minimum amount of administration and it took a severe hardware failure to cause the problem.

November found me pointing out the epic fail that is Obamacare. Interestingly enough, I found myself riding the chairlift yesterday with a hospital administrator from Texas. I asked him what he thinks of Obamacare and he doesn't really know. One thing he has seen though is a number of private physicians choosing to work for larger hospital chains so they don't have to worry about billing and collections. His thought is that we will see more consolidation in the medical care industry. Oh great! Soon going to the doctor's office is going to be like shopping at Walmart. The exclamation point is my way of expressing sarcasm.

I have spent most of my December playing video games and going skiing. I also had time to write a lot of blog entries as I try to keep the same number as I have for past years. Why 71? That's how it worked out the first year and I figure it is a nice number for a goal.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Time for Another PS4 Game

My boys have really enjoyed playing Knack on the PlayStation 4 over the Christmas break. My youngest son completed the game towards the beginning of December and my oldest son finished the game on Saturday. They both loved the game even though it didn't get very good reviews. Now it is time to find another game on the PS4 for them to play.

I came home from skiing today and my oldest son was playing an old version of Need For Speed: Most Wanted on the PS3. He wasn't playing the PS3 version of the game though, he was playing the PS2 version. He says that the PS2 version has a much better story line . . . and the PS3 version is at his apartment at school. Driveclub should be available in early 2014 and I will be interested to see if he is interested in it as much as Need for Speed. I should also pick up Need For Speed: Rivals and see how he likes it.

My youngest son is a fan of the inFAMOUS series of games on the PS3 and is looking forward to inFAMOUS: Second Son. Unfortunately it won't be available until March 21st, 2014. That is a long time to wait for a game. Until then, he will have to satisfy himself with Battlefield 4 or Killzone: Shadow Fall.

As for me, I continue to enjoy playing Super Motherload. I have it for both the PS4 and the PS3 and have been playing it on my PS3 in the bedroom. Unfortunately my wife thinks it is an incredibly boring game to watch and so I have to wait until she is busy doing something else before I can play it.

The Holiday season is one of the few times we all get to hang out playing games. Once the new year begins, we only have time for one recreational pursuit and that becomes skiing until the snow melts. Luckily we have until January 6th before school and work start up again. Until then, I'll see how much more time I can spend on video games.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Right Tool

This morning I took my son to Snowbird and we arrived at 6:45 am. He is on the ski team and has early morning training all of this week and the next. That means he gets to race down the mountain 2 hours before the general public is even allowed to load the lifts. In the past I have just gone to sleep in the car. One of my Christmas gifts was a set of climbing skins to go with my super fat powder skis that also have backcountry bindings. So instead of sleeping in the car, I got out of the car and hiked up the mountain. It has been difficult hiking in the past because I have had to carry my skis and hike in my hard-plastic ski boots. Having the right equipment makes things so much easier.

As I have had a lot of time off because of the Christmas break, I have also been working with my oldest son to fix his car. He is driving a 1996 Jeep Cherokee that keeps misfiring. This problem was occurring when we purchased the vehicle and the dealership that sold it to us was trying to narrow down the problem before we took over. They replaced the spark plugs and distributor cap. They also gave us a fuel filter that we had to install. We also replaced the fuel injectors thanks to a local salvage yard. While things keep getting better, we are still not solving the problem completely. I have narrowed it down to 2 possible problems: The fuel pump or a broken valve spring. Unfortunately I don't have the tools to figure out either one. So this afternoon, I will head to my local auto parts store and borrow a fuel pressure gauge and a compression test gauge. Both are necessary to further diagnose the problem. Having the right tool is very important for me to finish this job.

Computers, tablet computers, and smart phones are another area where it is important to have the right tool. While you can edit an electronic photo with a paint program, it is significantly easier with a photo editing program like Adobe's Photoshop or the open source program GIMP. So if you find yourself taking a lot of time to do something on your computer, tablet, or phone, you might not be using the right tool. Chances are, there's an app for that.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas

This has been a pretty good Christmas for me. When I was a kid, that meant I got lots of gifts that I wanted. Now that I am older it has a completely different meaning. So many adults dread the Christmas season and actually become depressed. Not me. I love this season. Some of it has to do with being able to really start skiing again. Most of it has to do with spending time with family and close friends.

Last night I had a good friend drop by and let us share our Christmas Eve feast with him. Unfortunately he is divorced and Mom had the kids last night while he has them today. His plan was to go hang out at a cabin in the mountains alone. I am glad he stopped by and spent a little time with us. He greatly added to our evening.

This morning my wife and I were awoken by our youngest daughter giving us a call. She is in North Carolina and was unable to come home for the Holidays. It was great to be able to talk with her for a bit. We then talked with her for about an hour just before noon. The conversation wasn't expensive but was one of our most cherished gifts this year.

I managed to get a few things that I really wanted and one of those gifts was a remote control helicopter. It wasn't anything expensive nor was it very fancy. My older son also got one. Both gifts were from my youngest son and the three of us had a great morning flying them around the house. Sure there were a lot of crashes and we kept having to dig behind the couches to recover them and get them flying again. It was a lot of fun and time well spent with my boys.

Yes it has been a great Christmas day. Very little of it has to do with the material things of the world though. All of it has to do with time spent with family and close friends. I hope you had a Merry Christmas as well.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Android Keeps Me More In Touch

I always thought that having to carry 2 mobile phones was going to be awful but I am enjoying being able to compare and contrast Android with iOS. Over the past couple of days I have felt more in touch with work because of my Android phone.

Last night I spent the day working while my wife took my son to a ski race in Park City. She knew it was going to kill her entire day and so I thought I would make it up to her by taking care of dinner. My intention was to get a pizza but time got away from me. Instead of leaving my wife to whip something up, I took everyone out to a restaurant.

We had to be quick about dinner because I only had an hour before an evening conference call with co-workers in Japan. We got to the restaurant and I was able to see a string of e-mails related to the meeting which eventually got cancelled due to problems in Tokyo. While I have the ability to read work e-mail on my iPhone, the larger Android display makes reading e-mail much easier. That means I read my work e-mail more often and am always in touch. This can be a blessing and a curse.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Blazing Angels 2

My two favorite types of video games are first person shooters and driving games. I have never really gotten the chance to play any flight simulators until I was given Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII a couple of weeks ago. Battlefield 3 has a great air combat group of missions and I enjoyed them a lot. In fact, they are my favorite part of the game so I was looking forward to Blazing Angels 2.

The problem I have had with flight simulator games is that they can be difficult to learn. Blazing Angels 2 is not. It has a very simple set of controls and is easy to pick up. You start the game by doing a number of tricks. They vary from flying through hoops suspended by balloons to skimming over the roofs of buildings. The trick that I liked best and saved for last was skimming over the water and under a bridge.

Once you get the hang of flying a World War II era plane, you go back in time and fight battles from that conflict. I have only been through a couple of the missions but they are a lot of fun. I have the game set on the easiest level of difficulty and it is still non-trivial to shoot down other planes. That adds to the appeal of the game. I look forward to getting better as it might help me with some of the other video games I am playing.

One of the nice things about the new generation of consoles is that there are a large number of games available for the old ones. This means there are some great deals to be had on older games and now is the time to stock up on games that used to run $60. If you are lucky, you can find them for $10. Blazing Angels 2 is one such game if you can find someone that has it. It is well worth it and highly recommended.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Singularity

One thing about being home during the Christmas season is that I get the chance to play more video games. This week I had some extra time while my wife was busy working on Christmas gifts and my son was doing homework. I looked at a stack of games I had been given and pulled out Singularity for the PlayStation 3 (it is also available for the PC and XBox 360).

My original intention was to play for just a bit to see if I liked the game and then move onto another game. I figured I would then give away the games I didn't like and go back to play the ones I did. Singularity was actually pretty good and I kept playing for quite a while.

Singularity is a first-person shooter (FPS) combined with some puzzle elements. It is the puzzle that kept me playing the game. A lot of FPS games are just running around killing things and it gets old quickly. With Singularity your helicopter is brought down by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and you are alone on an island that was once part of the Soviet Union. You do some exploring and find weapons along the way. Then you discover the former inhabitants of the island never really left, they turned into superhuman zombies (think "I am Legend" instead of slow-moving brain-dead ones).

I would have continued playing the game all night but my wife came and got me to go Christmas shopping. I am reluctant to get back into the game because it is rather addicting and I want a large chunk of time.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Android Phone vs iPhone

I have been carrying both an Android phone and my iPhone 5 for a week now and I have to say it is kind of a pain having 2 phones. I am constantly afraid I am going to leave my Android phone somewhere because I don't have a dedicated carrying case for it yet. To be honest, I am afraid to get a case because then I will have 2 phone cases on my belt and will look like an uber-nerd. Well we may be past that point right now.

My first week has taught me a lot. My Android phone is significantly larger (5.70 x 2.79 inches) than my iPhone (4.90 x 2.33 inches). That has its advantages and disadvantages. Some long-time iPhone users think the Android phone is too big while others are tired of the iPhone's size and want a bigger screen. I actually prefer to read my e-mail on the Anroid phone, something I rarely do on my iPhone. It sure is tough to put in my pocket though.

I have always said that the user interface for Android is not quite done. I still believe that to be true. There are also a lot more "hidden" or non-intuitive elements with Android. The funny thing is that in learning about Android, I am also learning more about iOS as there are things it does now that I have never thought about.

It has only been a week with my Android phone and so I am still more comfortable with my iPhone. However I am liking some of the Android features more and more each day. I'll try to remember to provide more feedback after the new year. Perhaps I might be a bit less biased and be able to give an objective comparison of both phones.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

My First Android Phone

I have never been a fan of carrying around 2 mobile phones. I often comment to people I see on planes that their life must suck if they have to carry around 2 phones. Most people laugh and agree that it is a pain. Today I joined them, so my life must suck too.

The reason for my second phone has to do with a new project that I am working on. It also gives me a phone that is paid for by my company and so I don't have to worry about expensing anything when I use it on one of my frequent trips to Japan. That will be nice. The only downside is that I have never used an Android phone. My only smartphone has been an iPhone. While I do have a lot of experience with Android on tablets, this is the first time with a phone and it is a bit different.

The nice thing about the iPhone is that it is very intuitive to use. My Android phone is doing all sorts of things and making noise all the time. Every time I get an e-mail, it beeps. Several minutes before a meeting, it beeps. When I get a text, it beeps. I had to turn off the sound during one meeting because the phone kept beeping and interrupting things. I'm sure I will figure out all of these little nuances with the new device. Until then, it is going to be interesting learning about this new phone.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Thoughts on Working in the Video Game Industry

Before working in the video game industry, I always thought it would be a lot of fun. Now that I have been working here since around 2006, I can confirm it is a lot of fun, but it also has some unique challenges. Anyone wishing to have a career in the video game industry should be well aware of these challenges.

It has always been difficult to break into the video game industry and I didn't think that was very fair. Now I know why though. There is a lot of turnover here and so the high barrier to entry serves as a form of job security to those already in the industry. Without it, job security wouldn't exist. We have had a lot of people leave our division only to return after a year or so. This is because games fail or are not successful enough for a sequel. At that point, the game studio tries to absorb some of the team into another group, but more often than not, lets the whole team go. Everyone scrambles around to the various companies in the industry looking for a new project. Often that means going back to a previous employer.

Over the past month, we have had a fair number of former coworkers return. It is good to see friends come back even if they are now in different departments. This is a stark contrast to working at companies like Oracle where people stick around for decades. So if you want to join the video game industry because you think it means job security, I would rethink your decision. If you want to join because you tire of projects easily and don't mind jumping from one to another, then this is the industry for you.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

It's Cold Outside

The weather forecast is for incredibly cold temperatures in the West. My boat that I am staying on during the week is in San Mateo, California and the low this morning was right around 34 degrees Fahrenheit. The high at Snowbird where my wife and son skied this afternoon was 3. Those are insanely cold temperatures.

I ran the heater all night and snuggled up underneath my electric blanket. I stayed warm but didn't want to get out of bed this morning. My boat was a frigid 53 degrees Fahrenheit when I woke up. I hung out for an hour under my covers until I had to get out of bed and start getting ready for work. I was glad the shower was extra warm.

It looks like it is going to be very cold for the next couple of weeks. Given that information, I would like to amend my Christmas list from earlier in the week. This year, I want a second heater for my boat. Not just a simple inexpensive one. One that has a digital temperature control. I wonder if Santa would deliver it before Christmas?

Monday, December 2, 2013

2013 Christmas List

It is the beginning of December and so I thought I would be a bit earlier than last year and put together my annual Christmas list. The idea is to give you an idea of what I would want for myself in the hopes that it gives you an idea for others on your shopping list this year.

Unfortunately computer and electronic gadgets have a tendency to be rather expensive. I try to include one or two low-cost items for that child that wants to get their parent something special. I will start low and then get more expensive. Hopefully there is something that fits everyone's budget.

Older Video Games - With the release of the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, we are about to see a decline in the previous generation consoles. Fortunately those older systems still have a lot of life in them and you can find a number of older games for a really good price. This one requires a bit of searching on your part though. You will need to find what games are wanted but haven't been played yet. When I was at Best Buy over the weekend, there were a number of really great games for $19.95 or less. A good starting point is to figure out the genre: racing games, first person shooters, sports games, puzzles, etc. Then do an Internet search for popular games and read the reviews and you should be able to find something that will be enjoyed.

A Remote Control Helicopter - This was on my list last year and I still want one. My oldest son had one and had a great time with it until his roommate crashed and destroyed it. You can pick up a number of inexpensive models including the more powerful quadcopters.

Rocksmith - A few years ago, my wife picked me up a left-handed acoustic guitar. I played that thing every night for several months but became discouraged at my lack of progress. Taking a cue from the success of Guitar Hero, Ubisoft created a similar video game that actually teaches you how to play a real guitar.  I mentioned this to my wife, but she got angry because she thinks I also want a new electric guitar. If you already have an acoustic guitar, all you need is an electronic pickup, which is really inexpensive and allows you to use your existing instrument with the game.

Bluetooth Speakers - I have some really nice over-the-ear headphones (which are also a really good Christmas-list idea) but sometimes I want to share my music. A nice bluetooth speaker would make a nice addition to my music hardware.

A New Monitor - This is not a gift I need at home as I have a couple of really nice monitors already. This is something I need at work. In the office, I have 4 monitors on my desk and they are all rather old. It would be nice to replace them all with a set of 24-inch matching monitors running at 1920x1080 resolution.

A New Tablet Computer - Not all tablets are created equal and my favorite one on the market now is the Xperia Z from Sony. Why do I like it so much? It is waterproof (they claim water resistant up to 3 feet for 30 minutes). This is one that you can take with you while you read in your hot tub. Should it accidentally fall in, no worries.

Non-Computer Gifts
This year I thought I would introduce some new gift ideas. I spend most days in front of a computer and this year I find myself looking at other ideas. At the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is spend more time with computer equipment. I have some other hobbies I would like to pursue. Perhaps you have someone in your life like me and so here are some other ideas.

Ratcheting Box Wrenches  - I have been working on cars a lot lately. These in both Metric and SAE sizes would be greatly appreciated. Sears also has a nice set of Craftsman that are a bit more expensive, but have a better warranty.

Wire Arc Welder - I really want a MIG or TIG welder, but they are much more expensive. However I have not done any welding for the past 30 years as my only real experience was a shop class back in junior high. An inexpensive wire welder would give me the chance to learn how to weld using cheap scrap metal before I discover I have no talent at it. With all the work I am doing on cars lately, this may be a skill I need in the near future.

Previous Years
In compiling this list, I made sure to go through my previous Christmas lists and there are a number of gifts that are still valid.

2010     2011     2012

Now all I need to do is send an e-mail to my wife so she knows what I want this year. I found out over the weekend that she doesn't really know. This is a good start.