All Posts by ‘George Chen’

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Fall TGS Video – Sony PSP

September 28, 2004

I am really impressed by this Sony PSP propaganda video. The techo background music is cheerful… And without the use of annoying voice-over (I don’t care if it is Japanese or English they both can be annoying), pretty much every feature of the PSP was explained:

mobile
anywhere
widescreen
3D graphics
fun / enjoyment
stereo sound
wireless network gameplay
UMD optical media
easy access to UMD media (just like MiniDisc)
sexy hardware
slick software UI
wide selection of game titles
etc…

I can watch this crap over and over again and not getting bored….

Good product aside, that is what good marketing effort should be like… I WANT IT NOW! The other Sony PSP Propaganda can be found here. Oh… and this is funny too….

Some of my own observations:

– Sony is putting the 3D graphic computing power of PS2 (or close to) into consumer’s palm
– Their knowledge of MiniDisc technology is being applied fully into UMD/PSP so there shouldn’t be worry on battery life
– Widescreen 16:9 will give game designers new freedom to create new kinds of games.

All in all, I am VERY excited about the PSP.

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Is this for real?

September 23, 2004

So today I received this e-mail newsletter (aka spam) in my Inbox. I was socked. I couldn’t figure out if the person in the picture is a woman or a man. What’s wrong with the hair? What’s up with the scruffy face but with the makeup? em… I am confused.

I think this is a legit Microsoft newsletter as I examing the e-mail header and the links.

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New Boba Fett figure

September 7, 2004

Some of you probably don’t know I am a pretty hardcore 12″ GI-Joe style action figures collector with the focus of the high-end crap like Medicom, and Marmit 12″ (Japanese Super Hero/Real Action Hero series). I am also a collector and “kitbasher” of 12″ modern military figures.

So a new 12″ Boba Fett by Hasbro eh? So far, form what I’ve heard, it’s a damn good buy – as long as you can avoid the blue jump suit.

While I doubt it will be as nice as the Marmit Fett, but at least with this Hesbro release you’ll feel just fine ripping it out of the box. Most of us collectors still keep the Marmit Fett in a box for its future value.

As you know, Herbro’s base body sucks, I’ll probably use a BBI G3 body with the new Fett I am getting soon. (Note: BBI – Blue Box Toys G3 – their Version 3 base body. Yeah, lingo, I know…)

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Cold War nostalgia

September 7, 2004

So other than FFXI Chains of Promathia I am looking forward to play in 2 weeks, the other games I want to try out this fall are Metal Gear Solid 3 Sneak Eater and Ace Combat 5.

MSG3 took place back in the late 60s’. You’ll be fighting Russian combat troops in the jungle…. Lot ‘O CQB and camouflage actions.

In AC5, while the storyline is base upon a fictional world, in the preview you can clearly see a big Red Flag on the opposing force’s battleship… Expect everything from Mig-21 to F-22 in the game…

So I guess fight against the “Evil Empire” is in among the Japanese game developers.

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Bitmap Font

August 31, 2004

Design geeks, if you use Sevenet in your projects, you might also want to take a look at another family of FREE bit map fonts 04B. Both PC and Mac. Have fun!

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Buddhahouse

August 17, 2004

Is this the new Eames case study home for the year 2004? You be the judge. I am not in the market of buying just yet (if you know me, then you know I am still waiting for the “big one” to hit :P)… I find this house interesting in terms of the “openness” of it… Of note, this house is in Emeryville – my old neighborhood.