Last drops of August

Hello people!

August is dripping away, and for a lot of you school is at the doors.

As for me, and my university bunch, we'll be lucky if everything starts in October (due to a lot of manifestations for cuts to Universities budget and Researchers hiring). In a certain sense this is nice for those like me that started summer just a month ago, around this period in July. In fact this leaves me the time to work on a software I have in workshop to gain some cash, and finalize some stuffs without the pressure of classes.

As for the "stuffs", I have 'finally' 'almost' 'totally' decided my new pc specs.

I know, I know, I am at this since more than a month ago, but too much came up, included the summer holidays for resellers.

Defined:

-CPU- (Intel i7 930)

-MOBO- (Asus P6X58D-E)

-RAM- (6Gb (2Gb x 3) OCZ DDRIII Triple Channel 1600 Mhz)

-HDD- (Generic 7200 rpm 1Tb)

-SSD- (Seagate 64Gb)

-RW-DVD- (2x Generic)

Undefined:

-GPU-

Gainward GeForce® GTX 460 1024MB "GS-GLH" (Barcode: 4260183361213)

Gainward GeForce® GTX 460 2GB "GS" (Barcode: 4260183361220)

ZOTAC GeForce GTX 460 Amp! Edition 1 GB

Asus ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/1GD5 1024MB

Gainward GeForce® GTX 460 1024MB "GS" (Barcode: 4260183361190)

-MONITOR-

Viewsonic vx2268wm

Samsung 2233rz

As you guys can guess, I am going for a nVidia 3D Vision setup.

For those of you who don't know what a nVidia 3D Vision is, or just randomly read that name a few times: http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/3d-vision-home-users-uk.html

I am having in these days a price check up for the GPUs and Monitors (yea it needs to be a 120 hz monitor to be compatible). Particularly for the GPUs, they are all based on the Fermi GF104 GTX 460 architecture that actually seems to have the best price/performance ratio in the enthusiast market segment, if I find a nice bargain I may get 2 of those and go for a powerhouse SLI.

Both those monitors have the same TN panel, so it's mainly a matter of which one will have the lower price.

I'll keep you updated in the next entry about how this will develop.

As for health, I removed my suturation knots, and I am now dealing with the leftovers of my contusions.

As for MMORPG, FFXIV Open Beta should be due the starting of September, I hope I can go finally go to GameStop to pre-order my Collector Edition copy.

Oh and yea, if any DODF (Dragons Of Dark Flame) former member is reading this, and has FaceBook, please get into:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=104522560622&ref=ts

it's our FaceBook group, and we're trying to revitalize it since our "break" is almost over.

See ya!

Someone took away the Sun...

...and without its light that brings warmth forth, I feel chills of emptiness on my skin.

Last night I had a dream.

I were still having my works at home, while in the middle of chaos, I felt someone holding my hand. Surprised, I turned in that direction, and it was a person, a really dear person to me. One of those persons you keep close to your heart and you can wait years to meet. She came from far away, it was her first time in this country, yet it looked like it was a natural frame for her. Just that touch, just discovering her face, filled my chest of joy. I felt suavely overwhelmed by a feeling of sweet incredulity mixed to rampaging happiness. That kind of fulfillment that makes you forget about all your troubles and all your bitterness.

I'll skip on some of the details of said dream, but I can say it made me realize once more, how much I'd wish to share a smile face to face with that person.

Anyway the second week of training ended.

During the first day I still had some minor pain at the quadriceps, but that eventually went away the day after.

The other days have been quiet, during which I improved my efforts to train.

The last day, friday, was different. I felt reaaaaaaaaaaally lazy and not in the mood for it, but went to the park anyway. Jointly with my lack of enthusiasm the park was strangely filled with people, at least 10x the usual amount. So even attempting to run through, it ended as a dodge / slalom circuit. Quite different, but not the best for the purpose I had.

So all considered, it seems I survived to the first weekend break, which I was afraid would be my biggest threat. The all-day-training is proving useful for my lazy mind.

Beside this, I took part to FFXIV Beta Phase 2 (which ended a few days ago, I am now waiting for Phase 3 which will start mid-August).

I have to say the game is nice. At first we had terribly low speed to download the client, since it's a sort of p2p torrent downloader, ETA was... a few months. Some days after, evidently having more seeds, I managed to complete the download in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The pc I tried the beta with barely met the min reqs. Even so, adjustic the graphic settings the game was playable. After a few days I realized the game was running in a more fluid way. It seems SE is working effectively on optimizing the game for the launch.

I'll skip over the details and mechanics everyone probably know already like Active / Passive mode, Armory system etc.

Overall the game mechanics worked fine, it felt different from the usual button smashing mmorpg, it had a more strategical feeling. Even with effects to min, the graphics were really astounishing, and the outskirts of Limsa Lominsa, the first city I've visited, looked really bucolic. Limsa Lominsa was really really big, its architecture develooped on several islands, connected by bridges and passages, with structures that had different plans. At first I got lost (for those who played Aion, L.L. is about 3-4 times bigger than Sanctum, and way less linear), but then got the hang of it. Mobs had an AI that you rarely find in a MMORPG, other than fighting on the spot, they tend to run away when low on health, to circle around you to attack you from the back, to call reinforcements, or to get advantage of terrain, especially if they have ranged attacks. If mobs are together they'll usually act as a party, buffing each other, healing among them, timing their attacks, even do the Tank & Spank like players would.

Other than the cookies I found anyway some minor issues that, standing to their notes (SE is seriousely listening to the testers, and fixing the game accordingly), should be corrected by the release time. Among those I thought to point to:

• Somehow clunky camera, it rotates too fast at times and there is no option to reassign keys or set the mouse sensibility.
• Lack of Jump / Sit actions (not really a biggie, but some people may be used to jump like rabbits and have fun from it).
• I felt the need of an hot-button for the interactions, without having to go through the main menu (accessible through the HOME key)
• Aswell as it was annoying to have to repositionate all your skills on your bar when you switch between classes.

Now I am eager to see the result of our testing into Phase 3.

If, like me, you guys want to try it too, and haven't been chosen so far, boost your chances applying to the contests for Beta Keys at:

• FFXIVCORE
• FFXIVCORE (2)
• EORZEAPEDIA

Good Luck! :)

Stressing weeks >:|

Oh Phew!

It's been a long long time since the last update eh!

As it's easy to assume it's been a very very busy period, not only because it is exam period (I am half done, well maybe a little more than half done) but also because we're having restructuring works at home, so it's such a mess...

Just think that in the past weeks I've had to live (study and sleep) in like 4 different rooms (including kitchen and living room). Hopefully my room will be operative again in a week (my room's new painted walls look nice, I think I'll share some pictures in the future).

I'm happy this stress will end also because once we're set I'll go get my new pc. Most likely it'll be an Intel i7 930, 3x2 DDRIII Triple channel, not sure yet on the GPU, probably an ATI Radeon HD 5850 (the 5870 costs too effin' much).

Oh and guys did you hear? Final Fantasy XIV is scheduled to be released the 22th of September!

I am so hyped about it :) I am excited thinking I'll finally play again with my DODF guys.

Too bad just the PS3 version is scheduled for 30th March >=| Oh well...

FF XIV: "Life in Eorzea #1"

As I said earlier, I am a MMORPGs fan. I've played quite a lot of titles, and the last one in line was Aion.

Me, and my friends are waiting for several titles FF XIV, T.E.R.A. , B&S , GW2...

The one that is expected to come out earliest is Final Fantasy XIV, and I can't deny I've been quite into for a while. I search for news on a daily basis, well even more than just daily.

Today I stumbled into this video that is from the closed beta ( alpha ) that actually SE is helding (Darn you SE for now choosing me T_T ). SE (okay okay it's Square Enix) has been really strict about the videos and snapshots from the game, so it's hard to find any either on youtube or fansites.

This one doesn't show parts of the actual combat action but introduces to the city daily life. As we can see while some parts can still look a bit "crude","unrefined", there are some others that can catch our eye for the minitious detail. If I'd have to guess I'd say it's gonna be in DX11.

Anyway, take a good look, and I hope to see you guys in Eorzea :)