No risk, no gain
(04/17/02 4:00am)
"Study abroad second semester senior year? You've gotta be nuts!"
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"Study abroad second semester senior year? You've gotta be nuts!"
This is Xbox's flagship title, and for good reason. Halo is not only the system's best launch title, but is likely also one of the best shooters of all time, rivaling classics like Goldeneye for Nintendo 64. Anyone who remotely likes action games should do himself a favor and play this game, because the gameplay is innovative and addictive, the overall presentation is top notch, and the graphics and sound are unbelievable.
This holiday season will likely be the most competitive in video game history. Not only are an unprecedented number of games coming out, but two new systems are making their debut, one from our friends at Nintendo, and another from a newcomer to console video games, software giant Microsoft.
Currently, the handheld market is divided between units that run the Palm operating system and those that run Microsoft's Windows-Based Pocket PC. PocketPC 2002 is the newest version of PocketPC. Boasting a similar interface as XP, the new operating system is more evolutionary than revolutionary. What makes PocketPC so appealing is that in addition to standard organizer functions (calendar, contacts, to-do list) it features pocket versions of popular software such as Word, Excel, Money and Internet Explorer, and even media player. Your handheld device all of a sudden doesn't seem that much different than a laptop, except for the fact that it fits into your pocket.
With a multimillion dollar marketing campaign rivaling Hollywood's newest movies, Microsoft's new operating system, Windows XP, has finally arrived. The successor to Microsoft's ubiquitous 98/ME/2000 family of Windows software, the much-hyped XP has been at the center of many positive reviews as well as controversy.
When the PlayStation 2 debuted last year, it was largely all hype and not enough substance. Incredible specs couldn't cover up the fact that the system lacked good games that could show off its capabilities. Nevertheless, a short supply and the incredible demand for the system were enough to allow PS2s to fly off the shelves, making it one of the fastest selling consumer electronic products in history.
One of the most user friendly file-swapping programs on the net, Audiogalaxy claims to be "the web's best music search." Its interface is entirely web-based; all you have to download is their satellite program. Navigation basically consists of your homepage, where you'll see the status of your satellite's downloads, and a search box. Unlike Napster, however, there is no separate search box for artist and song; instead, you enter information like you would in a web-based search engine.
Like Bearshare, Limewire is another Gnutella-based decentralized peer-to-peer software program. Although problematic at times, Limewire has some really cool features and a tight interface to back it up. The search engine is straightforward and familiar: Type in keywords, specify the type of file you want and hit "search." Your results can be organized by file quality and connection speed, and Limewire will rank the results by star ratings to indicate which ones will most likely be successful. The coolest feature of Limewire is something called the "Smart Download," which downloads the file with the fastest connection automatically for you, or gives you the option to search for similar file names. A community option allows you to connect to specific areas or global regions, allowing you to easily parse through material of particular interests. A big nuisance, however, is the absence of an estimate for how long a download will take to complete.
Although based in Europe, KaZaA is a popular peer-to-peer sharing software that is attracting new users around the world. Owned by an Amsterdam-based firm called FastTrack, KaZaA--we have no idea what it means either--has an interface similar to that of Microsoft Outlook. Like Napster, FastTrack eventually plans to move to a subscription-based service. Until then, downloads are free, although quality is limited to 128 Kbps, just slightly under CD quality. All types of media files can be downloaded (.jpeg, .mpeg, .wav, etc.), and the auto-connect to the fastest downloads is a big plus.
An incredibly popular service that continues to grow every day, Nashville-based Music City's Morpheus actually is powered by the proprietary technology behind KaZaA. With over four million files shared, it's definitely a leader in the pack of Napster clones. Users praise Morpheus for its intuitive interface and fast results. You can sort by title, artist, media type, category, download time and size. Morpheus also utilizes a "pinging" algorithm to return file sources most proximate to your computer. Additionally, Morpheus offers compartmentalized downloads, allowing you to maximize connection speeds from a variety of sources. Unlike Napster, however, there are no community functions like chat. Furthermore, some users have reportedly complained of bugginess and drain on system resources. Despite its flaws, the service maintains an incredibly large library of goodies for download. Hopefully, Morpheus won't follow in KaZaA's footsteps when the latter becomes a subscription-based service.
Among the best alternatives to Napster, Bearshare is built on the powerful peer-to-peer technology of Gnutella, which doesn't depend on centralized servers. However, unlike Gnutella, which is notorious for being very difficult to use, Bearshare has a relatively user-friendly interface. Furthermore, the program has a large fanbase, making it easier to find more obscure files. All the search options are very nicely laid out, and you can search for all different types of files, although no bitrate is displayed, so it's hard to judge the quality of the audio. Since there's no centralized server, your initial connection may be slow, and be careful when selecting files you want to share, or you may find yourself unwittingly exposing your entire hard drive. On the plus side, you can issue multiple searches at once, and like Napster, you can compile a list of files from a specific user. However, be sure to read the licensing agreement completely, because by keeping the software free, you also download a bunch of removable but hidden apps.
As the name suggests, WinMX is a peer-to-peer file sharing service for Windows users. One of its strengths is the ability to concomitantly conduct multiple searches on many servers. Like many other services, WinMX also hosts movies and other types of files. The interface is virtually identical to Napster's, making it very easy for novices. Connection to the servers can take some time, but once you're in, it's a virtual goldmine. The number of results is impressive, and downloads are fairly quick. An excellent feature is the ability to track and resume incomplete files. Nevertheless, WinMX periodically has some annoying glitches. Clicking on a file may elicit a "busy" response, and faster computers often have long queues and seem to contribute to booting users from the network.
As we look at the music industry's decision to target Napster in the hopes of curtailing MP3 copyright infringment, it seems like the plan has backfired. If anything, Napster's slow demise has created a backlash, unleashing dozens of imitators that mimic its file-sharing capabilities, several even improving upon it.
At well over $200 million in ticket grosses and counting, Shrek is the undisputed champion of this summer's box office. Brought to life using state-of-the-art computer graphics, or CG, the film and its lovable green ogre have captured moviegoers' hearts, while surprising many in the industry with their phenomenal success.
Ever want to be a bouncer without having to worry about actually getting beaten up? Well, now you can. After your girlfriend gets captured by badass-looking ninjas in cybersuits, you and two fellow bouncers must rescue her from an evil corporation. Along the way, you'll fight thugs, robots and other baddies in subways, forests, train cars and even outer space. Replete with Matrix-style visuals, motion blur and breathtaking CGI, The Bouncer is arguably the most graphically impressive game on the PlayStation2 right now, and perhaps any system, for that matter.
The year 2001 is shaping up to be a big year for video games, with some of the hottest games and highly anticipated sequels in memory on the horizon. Later this year, three new systems will debut: Microsoft's XBox, Nintendo's Gamecube and the successor to the Gameboy, the Gameboy Advance. Whether you're a hardcore gamer or a casual fan, there's something out there for everyone. Here's a sneak peek of what's coming soon to a system near you, and also what's hot now.
Nintendo's successor to the popular (and still bestselling) Gameboy handheld system is just a few months away. Powered by a 32-bit processor and full color screen, the Advance already has been selling out in Japan since its debut. Don't be surprised if you see a few of these popping up on campus next semester. With a price tag of $99, it's an affordable and portable alternative to high-end gaming, yet it's powerful enough not to be considered wimpy and simple. Games like Tony Hawk Skateboarding and classic favorites like Street Fighter 2, Tetris and Mario Kart will likely be top sellers.
Set in medieval Japan, Onimusha is a Resident Evil style action-adventure game which pits a samurai warrior against hell itself. Violent and action-packed, you battle demons and other monsters on the way to rescuing a fair princess. As you progress in the game, you'll have to solve puzzles and finish other challenges, and you can power up your weapon to such things as a lightning sword or flaming bow and arrow. Those are quite handy for torching those demons.
P3 players are pretty hard to get too excited about these days. With the exception of a few models, most players look and sound just average.
Traditionally targeted to a smaller audience, college basketball games are usually the poor siblings of their NBA hoops counterparts.