Internet & Technology Archives | Page 22 Of 31

Debugging Lenovo + Disney’s Star Wars: Jedi Challenges

by Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Lenovo + Disney’s Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is an imperfect augmented reality game. This product can be ordered direct from the manufacturer or online. Best Buy had this product as an exclusive before the movie The Last Jedi. Fans lucky enough to get this product as a gift were no doubt excited, and hopefully, they did not have to return it as not all smartphones work. This product supplies the hardware to play and the software needs to be downloaded. This game is definitely for the lightsaber enthusiast. Trials of Combat, provides one heck of a workout for the arms and the other two (Insight and Leadership), knowing some board game battle strategy helps.

However, one huge problem exists: The tracking beacon (aka the Holocron) is supposed to indicate where the “floor” is. When I held it in my hand, the software did not recognize how close it was to my face and the hologram being projected did not scale down like it is supposed to (as seen in the series). I was often staring at the lower part of the map or my opponent’s feet.

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Kingston’s HyperX Part II: Keyboarders R Us and What’s Coming for 2018

Kingston’s HyperX Alloy Elite Keyboard needed two creative minds to look at this product. This design is much better than others in the market because different models exist to suit each user’s need and budget.

HyperX Logo

This manufacturer made the perfect choice for the basic unit based on the fact red light is what astronomers use to preserve their night vision. To include additional functions where other colours can shine or be programmable to offer smiley faces in the dark is neat (and is offered in the next model up), but in what this input device must do: to take a pounding by writers (Ed) and gamers (Shawn) alike. The essential part of this device’s engineering needs to be examined more. But for those who love this multicoloured light-up feature, the HyperX HX-KB2BR2-US/R1 Alloy Elite RGB LED edition is spotlighted at the Consumer Electronics Show 2018 and is available for purchase on Amazon.

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Re-imagining the Retro for VR gaming

VR gaming is here to stay, and it’s not likely to go away. Now if only developers can reimiagine some of the old games for this style of play!

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Videogamers can belong to one camp or many. I love the idea of what virtual reality can bring to the electronic world of gaming. I have played enough demos and product to know what I like. This medium is absolutely perfect for simulators and first person shooters. VR gaming is here to stay, and it’s not likely to go away.

At the same time, I miss the simplicity of the older games found at arcades from the late 70’s to 90’s. I played many translations of these games on the PC or gamer consoles. While the low resolution and technology from a decade ago were not able of making VR come alive, the devices we have now are more than capable! Not every game needs photo-realism. To play these products will offer some exercise to those rarely flexed biceps and triceps. Before chiropractors can cry foul, I suggest all games have a fixed time limit so physical injury can not result.

My imagination is running wild at the idea of fine-tuning fond retro classics for VR gamers to marvel at. A few titles have been redesigned and instead of paddles or trackballs, players can use either motion controllers (like Sony Playstation’s Move) or a traditional gamepad. I still wonder if the original mold can be used though.

Some of the titles I like to see get re-imagined are grouped together than given its own entry. I offer my thoughts on how each of them can work with either Mobile VR or standalone (Oculus, PlayStation VR or HTV Vive). While the former can fully render the classics in their original form, the latter is more about redesigning the game for a modern gamer to enjoy.

Star Wars Jedi Challenges

Tempest (Atari 1981)

Instead of a PS4 style of controller, to have this game played with motion sensors tracking hand motions will definitely tire many players out. To play it on a traditional controller will be easier, and the main reason why I feel this game deserves this VR treatment is in the fact it was designed with 3D in mind. A modernized version is in the works. Sadly, no word is said if this update will be designed for VR.

In what makes the experience special is when the geometric play field zooms in carrying the player’s ship (named The Claw) to the next level! To watch this pull you in like the wormhole sequence in Stargate SG-1 (or film) will have me at least squealing in delight like Starbuck launching out of the Battlestar Galactica!

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Post Christmas Finding: Is That a Hyper X Mouse Under the Tree I See?

Kingston Technology is best known for their computer memory products, and their foray into satisfying the needs of computer gamers began in 2012 with their HyperX branded product line.

HyperX Logo

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Kingston Technology is best known for their computer memory products, and their foray into satisfying the needs of computer gamers began in 2012 with their HyperX branded product line. From blazing fast SSDs to longer lasting Flashdrives (I have a 4gb stick from 2008 which still works and recently picked up a pair of their MicroSDXC cards since I needed an upgrade), their reputation has certainly grown.

According to Prosettings.net, this line is neck in neck with other manufacturers, Steelseries and Razor. This benchmark is made with CS:GO (Counterstrike: Global Offensive). With intense games, players want a product that does not break down in the middle of competitive play. Even in regular everyday use, no one wants that key to get stuck or a mouse to stop working.

During the week-long holiday between Christmas and New Year’s, some people will be tearing into that latest game, and to have a new mouse and keyboard to test it with can only be exciting! Thanks to Kingston for providing their flagship products to evaluate. To put both through their paces in and outside of their intended demographic meant weeks of use than a few days (yes, I tore into the box when it first arrived than wait). Santa hates me; I’m sorry.

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[Electric Bungalow] Skullcandy’s Jibber Jabber Headphones

Star Wars Jedi Challenges

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

The sound quality from Skullcandy‘s line of headphones is a mixed bag. While great for certain musical playlists, it’s terrible for others. I recently tried the Jib Wireless, which arrived in stores a few months ago and I was overdue for a replacement. It’s affordable price is perfect but it’s ability to do everything I want is problematical.

The headphone I tried was defective; trying to use it with my phone to communicate with co-writer James Shaw (he does manage to contribute, right?) was met with a terrible buzz upon my attempted phone call. No online information was available about fixing this problem and I returned it to try another, with the same resounding success. When compared to another product from this company, the Smokin’ Buds 2 I sadly lost on a trip, I felt both products have a terrible fit (even with the replacement/alternative caps). I did not mourn the loss and feel I wearing these particular brand of fashion accessories is not worth any amount of money.

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[Electronic Bungalow] Sleep Tech Japanese Style!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Anyone looking for a new way to fall asleep does not have to buy into those late-night scams they see on television. MyPillow is very dubious at best. I’m fairly sure I put my head on one during one hotel stay in the States and I believe getting into that zone to achieving REM sleep requires more than comfort for the head, but also in how much physical activity an individual had during the day (regular exercise is recommended), setting in the bedroom and mood.

Enter Sleepion 2, a piece of technology created in Japan combining sound and light therapy with aromatherapy to crafting an environment to help people reach a state where one alternative approach can not. It’s a sleep aid that’s supposed to be able to help folks reprogram their natural biorhythms. I have used the smell of lavender, changed the light bulbs to use red light and binaural sounds before to help me on those difficult nights. Though they do not always work on its own, perhaps combining each of these alternative methods can do a better job, since sleeping pills never work for me.

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