buttonmashing

Mashing buttons since 1984

Tony

Pic Lens

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This has pretty much nothing to do with gaming, but it is way too cool not to pass along. My bud and fellow buttonmasher, the Monkey, sent me a link to Pic Lens, a browser plug-in (it will auto-detect your browser) that is pretty much the Bee Knees. If you use Flickr, Google Image Search, Picasa, anything like that, it’s a must-see.

So why is it a must-see (and for that matter, a must-install)? Because it takes image browsing to the next level. Kicking it up a notch, as it were, if your Flickr stream were some shrimps and Pic Lens was Emeril. What it does, in a nutshell, is take an image stream and “Apple-ify it”. Think a little Cover Flow in iTunes (originally from this guy) but better. Pic Lens tiles the images in a manageable arrangement. You can then view the images in “3D”, scrolling through them much quicker than you would be able to if you were simply viewing the Flickr page, for example. You can click an individual image to enlarge in and then use your mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out. It is very slick.

It’s also a very smart program. If you’re looking at a Flickr group (Explore, for example) that spans mulitple pages, Pic Lens is smart enough to retrieve everything in that stream. It is very slick.

After installing the plugin, when you mouse over an image, you’ll see a little “Play” button. Clicking on the play button brings up Pic Lens and grabs all the images it can associate with the image you clicked on (a Flickr stream, a Google Image Search). Then it’s surf’s up!

The only thing I don’t like is the inability to get any image information (source, tags, comments) but that is an enhancement that could always be added. It hardly detracts from the coolness that is Pic Lens.

So yeah, nothing here about gaming (although the Halo 3 Flickr Feed was fun to surf) but something I find extremely cool and thought you would, too.

Pic Lens

Actually, come to think of it, didn’t the Flickr guys try their hands at an MMO (The Game Neverending or something) and then they envisioned Flickr as a game? See, it’s all related!

I am Legend’s real ending

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When I commented on my viewing of I am Legend, I mentioned that while I enjoyed the movie as a whole, I really didn’t care for the ending.

I Am Legend

Now, it looks like the DVD has the “real” ending that was replaced in the final theatrical cut. Over at firstshowing.net, they have a video of the new ending and it greatly improves the movie. If you saw the movie in the theater, it’s worth your time to watch the original ending. There’s also a little discussion about why this ending is better, discussing the fact that the whole point of why the book is titled “I Am Legend” was lost a little bit in the theatrical version. I really like the new ending. Tharr be spoilers tharr, so be warned, ye who click.

What if a game had an ending noone liked (I’m looking at you, Halo 2)? Would people accept an alternate ending (something available via downloadable content, for example)? Watching a movie with a new ending changes things dramatically. Would it have the same effect on a game?

New Kids on my Block, Part 6

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It’s that time again, kids. Time for a stroll around the gaming blogosphere, checking out some new sites I’ve come across in the past few months. I don’t have time to expound on the greatness of everyone on the list, but I tried. Check them out, in no particular order:

Coyote Sharptongue is one of the many bloggers at MMO-supersite Ten Ton Hammer. He’s quite a funny guy with a knack of knowing what male blog readers want (if you know what I mean, and you do). His piece on Bards was particularly high-larious.

I’ve mentioned Zack Hiwiller’s blog around these parts before, but he also gets mentioned as a new kid. A great read.

Difference in Opinion is just that – a blog with differing views on entertainment. Lots of reviews there.

UGO Gamesblog – The UGO Gamesblog has been around for a while, but I didn’t start reading it until Wombat from the CAGCast starting blogging there.

Keen and Graev’s Gaming Blog – MMO bloggers that bring constant, solid content on a regular basis.

Loading Reality – A group blog, with an accompanying podcast.

The AT Wire – A little bit of it all.

The Nut and the Feisty Weasel – Bill and Todd are former Sportsgamer Blog bloggers, but they couldn’t shake the blogging sickness.

MEGATonik – surprise, surprise, another group blog. Lots of videos and reviews.

Music. Mayhem. Blog. – Yup, that just about covers it!

Lag-O-Rama – Great name for an MMO blog.

JaySlacks – A blog “dedicated to any and everything awesome.” Naturally, that would entail a heavy dose of video gaming.

Save The Robot – Smart gaming commentary. At least smarter than most places.

Daniel Primed’s Gamer Blog – Little bit of everything

The Somewhat Manly Nerd – He may be somewhat manly, but the Buttonmasher is 100% manly nerd. His love for Buttonmashing.com favorite LeBron James gives him like 20 manly nerd points. Making him somewhat-more manly.

Co-Optimus is gaming site dedicated to the finer points of co-op gaming. It’s the brainchild of Evil Avatar’s BAPenguin. While it’s more than a blog, I like it. This is my list, so it gets added.

The Long Shot – Commentary on PC gaming done by a fellow Gaming Dad.

Double You Tee Eff – This guy’s been blogging for a long time. Not sure why I just recently stumbled across his stuff.

Insult Swordfighting – Another entry into the “great blog names.”

Rock, Paper, Shotgun – All the in-the-know-gamers are already reading RPS. Which I’m totally sure that includes you, dear reader.

So go forth and read the bloggy goodness. I can’t believe it’s been six months since I did the last one. The next one won’t take six months, believe that.

Previous New Kids:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Weekend Gaming

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In lieu of a real post (of which I’m working on a few, promise!), what are you going to be playing this weekend?

Due to my self-imposed ban on buying new games until I finish something I already own, I’ll be working my way through Pokemon on the DS (I am very close to “finishing” it) and Bioshock on the 360. I was probably 3/4’s of the way through before Halo 3 came out and never got back to finishing it.

When I finally do finish a couple games, Burnout Paradise and Call of Duty 4 are at the top of my list of games to get.

What will you be playing?

More trebuchet fun

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A while ago, I linked to a fun and educational flash game involving trebuchets, physics and math. My brother-in-law has pointed me to another one, a little light on the learning side of things but high on the “wing furniture at an old Asian woman” side of things:

flash-game.jpg