Play Playstation Games on Your PC

Rai    Games     cloud, emulator, ff7, final fantasy, Games, playstation, rpg

While doing some Internet searching, I have come across an anime website that streams videos of your favorite anime shows. One anime caught my attention as it is one of my most favorite games of all time. It is an OVA of Final Fantasy VII or FF7 entitled Final Fantasy: Last Order. To those who don’t play RPG games, FFVII tells a story of Cloud, an ex-Soldier who crosses an evil empire of Shinra Inc., as he attempts to stop the company from draining Earth’s energy. Battling against bizarre creatures and teaming up with allies is the heart of the gameplay, making the player not only as an observer, but also part of the story itself.

Now moving forward, watching the movie made me want to play the game again. That made me an official FF series junkie. But how am I going to play the game without plugging in our antique PlayStation (not PS2) console? With all my PC stuff plugged in, there is no way in the world that I can plug another device here in my room (I prefer peace and quiet while I wander the grounds of Midgar, thank you very much). Here comes a special how-to of how to emulate your PS console into your PC.

Disclaimer: The author is not liable for any actions that the reader might perform that might violate anti-piracy laws. This article is purely for informative purposes only.

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Mario’s Complaint Letter To Nintendo

Rai    Random     console, Games, mario, nintendo, super mario

Dear Nintendo,

We’ve been in a business relationship for quite a while now, and to be honest, I never used to have any complaints about my job. I mean sure, my line of work has never really been considered “easy” by any means, but in the early days it just felt so much more… rewarding.

Do you get what I’m saying guys? I wasn’t too fond of chasing a huge ape up a series of ladders, but with that fine-ass Pauline waiting for me, I didn’t mind. Same thing with running around Mushroom Kingdom, I don’t mind taking out a few Koopas since I know Peach is going to be waiting for me. (”At another castle”…God that joke gets so old) read more

Running Windows Games on Linux

Rai    Linux     apps, cedega, Games, Linux, mmorpg, windows, wine

A lot of people have been dying to see the games playable under MS Windows OS run on our favorite flavor of Linux. Once it was impossible but not anymore since Linux developers have introduced a way to run MS-based programs under Linux. There are a couple of implementations that can do this including Wine.

From Wine’s official website, Wine is described as

Wine is an Open Source implementation of the Windows API on top of X, OpenGL, and Unix.

In layman’s term, Wine is a third-party Linux program that is free and open source, that offers a compatibility layer for Microsoft programs and Linux. Think of it as a bridge between your favorite MS app and your favorite Linux distro.

There are a couple of programs that are definitely sure to run under Wine/Linux like MS Office but I would like to focus more on the list of compatible games and how much they are playable in Linux.

Wine’s official website groups three different compatibility categories: Platinum (applications which install and run flawlessly on an out-of-the-box Wine installation), Gold (applications that work flawlessly with some special configuration) and Silver (applications with minor issues that do not affect typical usage).

Platinum:

• Half-Life
• Diablo II
• Unreal Tournament
• Max Payne
• Descent 3
• Warcraft III
• You Don’t know Jack
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
• Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
• Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

Gold:

• Roller Coaster Tycoon
• Delta Force 2
• Counter-Strike: Source
• Theme Hospital
• Command & Conquer: Generals
• Call of Duty
• Far Cry
• Halo: Combat Evolved
• Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
• Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death

Silver:

• Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
• Baldur’s Gate II
• Worms 2
• Command & Conquer: Renegade
• Ragnarok Online
• Dungeon Siege
• Warlords: Battlecry II
• Emperor: Battle for Dune
• Final Fantasy XI Online
• Guild Wars

The list was compiled based on WineHQ’s AppDb. If you have tried an MS-based game to run under Wine/Linux, share it here with the rest of Linux geeks .

Top Ten Terrible Tech Products

Rai    Hardware     computer, gadget, Games, News, software, tech products, Technology

There are few gadgets emerging every now and then, some has changed the history of technology, some well, got stuck in the bottom of the barrel. I found a nice article in http://crave.cnet.co.uk that describes the top ten terrible tech products according to their reviews and I find the article interesting. Here is a breakdown of their list:

• Windows Vista. CNET describes Windows Vista as the worst tech product for its incompatibility with hardware and downgrade-to-previous-version option. I think hardware manufacturers will definitely release hardware drivers for Vista sometime in the future but I am not really into “sacrifice your precious RAM for squiggly app windows” person.

• Sony Rootkit CDs. Sony has apparently released a software with a purpose of protection against piracy programmed into their audio cds. The bad thing, according to CNET, is after you load their software, it will leave your computer vulnerable to hackers over the internet. I am personally not aware of this. This is bad for Sony who has been around providing us with breakthroughs in technology. If you have a personal experience with this root-kit CD, share it here.

• Amstrad E-m@iler Telephone. This is an equipment that allows you to send emails using your phone and I have seen a product similar to this but I have not used or tried it. This product might have been an ass-kicker had not it arrived so late. During its release, computers and internet are common so spending a huge sum of money for something that does what your computer can do plus more is a total waste.

• Atari Jaguar. In 1993, Atari released Jaguar meant to rival Sega and Nintendo consoles. But software has been diffcult to write for the Jaguar console, according to CNET, and because of this, less titles came around and meant death to Jaguar. This is the last console that Atari released.

• Apple Puck Mouse. CNET writes that this mouse was difficult to use because of its round interface, however, it is the first mouse to use the USB to connect to the PC. I think it looks cute though.

• Tamagotchi. I doubt nobody remembers what Tamagotchi is. This is the coolest toy ever! No matter what CNET says about this toy, I lo-o-o-o-ve it!

• Gizmondo. CNET describes Gizmondo as a hand-gaming console with rubbish games. Looks like Gizmondo never left UK to spread its wings is US and Asia.

• The Squircle. The Squircle is an MP3 player that uses an SD card for storage because it does not have internal memory to begin with, writes CNET. But I think its cute and the name is unique.

• Barcode Battler. CNET describes Barcode Battler as a hand-held game device that uses barcodes for your games. Don’t ask me, I don’t get it either.

• Sinclair C5. An battery-operated tricycle running at 15mph “just twice the speed of one of those electric mobility scooters for old people”, CNET says. Aside from being expensive, the seat-to-pedal distance was unchangeable, there were no gears and it overheated going up hills.

If you think there is something out there that is considered a terrible tech product, share it here.