Issue 4: March 2012 | Shamrock Special

DayOldStubble the Magazine

NEWS & REVIEWS FOR THE REFINED GEEK

ISSUE 4 / $8.80 | www.dayoldstubble.com

GEEK'S GUIDE TO ST. PATRICK'S DAY Even Geeks Can Go a Little Green

KICKSTARTER INDEPTH LOOK Crowd Funding for Everyone

INNOVATIONS FROM SMUT We Look Hard At Porn.

MASS EFFECT 3 OVERVIEW The Last Installment Is Out

SINISTER DESIGN INTERVIEW We Chat With Craig Stern About His Latest Game

HIGHLIGHTS:

D12 Academy, 5 Storylines You Must Read, Telepath RPG: Servants of God Preview, The Booby Hatch, and more...

Ever watch a movie and ask yourself “WTH did I just watch?” Maybe you have played a game that you couldn’t stop playing for hours on end. Or maybe you love to speculate on what is going to happen in the next issue of your favorite comic. If you do any of this or have strong opinions about anything geek related write us a review, rant on about your new addiction, geek out about the latest thing. Whatever you write we want it. We’re not all Hulks and we would love to have help shouldering this heavy load. Even if you write to us only one time, for that issue you just freed up more time for us to bring you a better magazine experience. So send us your musings or we will even take your questions. We do have an inbox to fill and every month we give away a cool prize to a random person who sends us in a question. We look forward to hearing from you and keep in touch. We like being touched.....

DayOldStubble DayOldStubble 1122 21st Street, Manistee, MI, 49660 T: (978) 432-9653 www.DayOldStubble.com

from the Editor...

Once again another month and we gain another new writer.

This time we welcome Shea Kimbrough to DayOldStubble.

Shea brings us his knowledge and love of Indie films. This month starts off with a bang with his review of The Dead on p37. We also have created what we believe will be our design going forward. I am proud that we are able to bring to you our readers a 44 page magazine that is free from distracting ads and contains articles that should cater to all.

MAGAZINE TEAM Editor / Jason Carrick Deputy Editor / James Detzler Game Editor / Aaron DeKuiper Comic Editor / Dave Norton Indie Editor / Shea Kimbrough Managing & Web Editor / Jason Carrick Copy Editor / Studio6: Diana Six & Wayne Bialik Copy Editor / Laura Moore Staff Photographer / James Detzler Production Assistants / Gretchen Carrick

With March in full swing we wanted to rush in like a Lion and added to our coverage of all things Geek with a guide for celebrating St. Patrick's Day Geek Style on p16. Be sure to stick around and check out The Booby Hatch from Dave Norton, a comic created just for DayOldStubble about everyday life in retail on p43.

CONTRIBUTORS Aaron Dekuiper/ Dave Norton / Shea Kimbrough ST. PATRICK'S DAY GUIDE IMAGES drunkenmoogle.com, exbaronline.com, drinkrelaxplay.co.uk, sites.google.com/site/theinsatiablegeek All rights reserved

I got to sit down with Craig Stern from Sinister Design and interview him about his newly released indie game Telepath RPG: Servants of God and the development process he went through, as well as an overview of the game starting on p28.

ADVERTISING Advertising Director / James Detzler T: (978) 432-9653 E: ads@dayoldstubble.com

Aaron is back with his great D12 Academy on p20. James takes a look at the latest craze of crowd funding on p22, which we here at DayOldStubble have gotten behind. We also heat things up by taking a look at some of the technology porn has helped get to where we know them now on p24.

PRESS & MARKETING Marketing Director / James Detzler T: (978) 432-9653 E: press@dayoldstubble.com LETTERS & QUESTIONS PR Director / Jason Carrick T: (978) 432-9653 E: info@dayoldstubble.com

Jason Carrick Editor in Chief

INTERNATIONAL DayOldStubble is available for licensing.

Contact the international department to discuss partnership opportunities.

Head of International Licensing / Jason Carrick T: (978) 432-9653 E: info@dayoldstubble.com SUBSCRIPTIONS For subscription enquiries email: info@dayoldstubble.com Head of Subscriptions / Jason Carrick T (978) 432-9653 12 Issue Subscription US / $60.00 12 Issue Digital Subscription / $12.00 CIRCULATION Head of Circulation / Jason Carrick T: (978) 432-9653 PRODUCTION Production Director / James Detzler T: (978) 432-9653 PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION Printed by / HP MagCloud, W: MagCloud.com Distributed by / DayOldStubble, W: www.dayoldstubble.com DISCLAIMER The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of DayOldStubble. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used specifically for the purpose of critic and review. Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.

This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

Copyright Š 2012 DayOldStubble ISSN 1234-5678

meet the TEAM...

James Detzler

Aaron DeKuiper Dave Norton

Shea Kimbrough

Co-Editor/Founder James, aka The Great Detzby, is a man shrouded in mystery.The one thing people do know is..... in the event of a zombie apocalypse, find him.

Game Reviews Aaron knows what cell block Princess Leia's is in, why Chapel is the single most powerful Dominion card, and where to find the hatch from Lost in World of Warcraft.

Ah, geekiness...

Indie Insider "As the selfproclaimed "sexiest geek alive," Shea studied Archaeology and Film at The University of North Alabama. Now a proud father, Lion King is currently his favorite film."

Comic Fanatic It only takes 3 words to describe this man. Mullet.

Bi-polar. Girth.

Mmwwaauugghh!!

>>Have your say about anything geek @ www.dayoldstubble.com and you could be featured in the magazine << March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 3

Contents >> 6

INBOX

32 GAME REVIEWS

IT’S TIME FOR OUR READERS TO HAVE THEIR SAY...

12 TECHNOLOGY 12

Time To Beef Up The Battery

13

Windows 8 & Microsoft's Metro UI

14

How To

15

How To

41

ABC's of Tech 7 Things to do on Your Android Phone

Apple's First iPhone

An Early Prototype Is Revealed

32

Top 5 Arcade Cabinets

40

Uncharted Waters: New Horizons

Coin-Op Machines

SNES Flashback Review

37 MOVIE REVIEWS 37

The Dead

38

Safe House

39

This Means War

22

38 43

10 NEWS

Telepath RPG: Servants of God

34

41

Crowd Funding at its core

16 FEATURES

Adobe AIR

22 INDEPTH LOOK KICKSTARTER

DayOldStubble | Issue 4 | March 2012

16 GEEKS GO BRAUGH Our guide on how to celebrate St. Patrick's Day Geek style.

Indie Horror Film Action/Adventure, Suspense Action/Adventure, Comedy

Richie Rich

Flashback Review

Mac N Cheese Break

18 BUGGER OFF

Dave picks his top five storylines you need to read before you die.

The Detz''s Opinion

The Booby Hatch Exclusive Comic

INDUSTRY GOSSIP, OPINION AND RUMORS

20 D12 ACADEMY

The D12 Academy is back with the game 7 Wonders. Learn how to play and dominate your friends.

10

RASPBERRY PI

The $35 Raspberry Pi went on sale and has been an overwhelming success.

36 GOTTA HAVE

THE GUIDE TO ALL THE GEEK STUFF YOU’LL EVER NEED

10

WINDOWS 8 PREVIEW

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview has been unleashed for everyone to try out.

4 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

10

ANONYMOUS GETS HIT

Anonymous members are arrested but the group strikes back with vengence.

34 MASS EFFECT 3 OVERVIEW SCI-FI AND ROLE-PLAYING GAMERS REJOICE!

32 SINISTER DESIGN INTERVIEW

24 INNOVATIONS FROM SMUT

WE CHAT WITH CRAIG STERN

WE LOOK AT ALL PORN HAS GIVEN March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 5

>>HAVE YOUR SAY@ Www.dayoldstubble.com AND GET YOURSELF ONTO THESE PAGES <<

INBOX>>

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TIME FOR OUR READERS TO HAVE THEIR SAY...

What is jucheck.exe?

Sue Kuckhahn

Get In Touch We really want to hear from you. Email your questions, comments, tips, or complaints to us at the address below. info@ dayoldstubble.com Also contact us on

@DayOldStubble

www.facebook.com/ TheDayOldStubble

Will you please explain jucheck.exe? It keeps asking me if I wish to make changes to the hard drive on my computer. What is it for? How do you know if you need it? How do you know if it is a trusted site with a trusted publisher? I have windows 7. I have not had a virus. Is there a site where you can get trusted information on this stuff? I did see several, but which one do you trust?

If you have Java installed then you will see that message on occasion. jucheck. exe is the application that Java uses to check automatically for updates. With the new security features in Windows 7 by default application are not allowed to run unless they are trusted or you have given them permission to run.

Since Java is an application that normally gets installed as a browser plugin it requires the user to authorize it so it can preform the maintenance. You are safe to agree to the changes as it is only connecting to the Internet to see if an update is available Java. Once you run it you should not see the message again.

Low voltage question Jerry A Wilson The reason I am writing is I have an alert coming up on my computer when I start it up. I have a Dell 8400 computer with Windows XP. About two weeks ago when I turn on the computer I got an alert saying system battery voltage is low. Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility. I hit F1 and everything works the same as it always did. Can you tell me why I am getting this alert and how to

6 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

FEATURED LETTER OF THE MONTH

Irish enough?

Diana Six I wish to enter the contest for the Irish mugs. SInce I am of full Irish ancestry, I think I have a good chance.

My mother was Emaline Theresa Gilroy Six from Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

And she is now a saint in my eyes. Thank you.

My father's mother's name was Etta McLargin.

How Irish is that??

Yes Diana, we definitely think that classifies you as a dedicated Irish reader and we hope you enjoy your set of #include <beer.h> 16oz glasses from ThinkGeek. Now you can celebrate your Irish pastime in true Geek form.

Win an exclusive copy!

Our letter of the month wins a copy of Telepath RPG: Servants of God from Sinister Design, worth $25. The latest game from Sinister Design is available for purchase from www.sinisterdesign.net. get rid of it ? Thanks for any help you can give me and keep up the good work.

As far as your dilemma the message you are seeing is about the battery that is on the motherboard of your computer. The battery is used to keep a small amount power going to the computer's BIOS so that your settings are not lost every time you turn off your computer. Luckily it is a simple fix. All you need to do is replace the battery on the motherboard. A 3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell is needed, this can be purchased from any place that sells watch batteries. Instructions on how to replace the battery can be found on Dell's support site, support.dell.com.

Men vs women: who's better at securing themselves on their mobile devices?

This one goes to the guys. According to Webroot research 44% of men - compared to 37% of women have security services installed on their devices. Also, more then half of men (51%) lock their devices versus 43% of women.

720p vs 1080p Darrell Hunt You don't want this to happen

How to clean a HDTV? Kylie Fenster I've read that there are certain ways one should follow when cleaning their HDTV but I am unsure what those are.

Is there a certain solution I should use or am I better off with a damp cloth?

HDTVs and monitors are the worst kind of dirt magnets, begging to be touched and sitting in total vulnerability. The normal response to a oily, dusty, grimy panel of glass or glass-like material is to grab the bottle of Windex and some paper towels and spray that stuff down.

Do not do this. CRT televisions and some glass-paneled screens are some of the displays for which Windex will do the job.

Spraying any kind of cleaner onto a screen isn't a great idea. A lot of your screens' outer layers aren't glass, and have some kind of delicate coating. Ammonia-based cleaners, for example, can microscopically abrade some plastic surfaces, causing your screen to become slightly foggy over time. And for your cleaning tool, paper towels aren't the worst, but they're also somewhat risky—screen coatings can be extremely delicate, and paper towels can sometimes be a little rough and they're prone to leaving streaks.

So, what's the magic solution? Water and a soft, lint-free (ideally microfiber) towel. To clean your panel, dampen your cloth and strain it out as best you can—you don't want any drippage here— then run it, folded, gently across your screen, repeating until the screen has been thoroughly covered and any sticky residue has been removed. (For larger displays, perform cleaning in sections, so as not to let the water dry or collect and run.) Now do the same with a dry cloth, applying slightly more pressure, to lift away the dirt and moisture. Repeat if there are still grease deposits. That's it!

The specialty cleaning kits do work, for the most part, but they're not necessary.

My family and I are looking at getting a new HDTV as our older CRT is finally starting to show its age.

My question is at what size can one actually tell the difference between 720p and 1080p? We have a smaller living room and wondered if the price was justified for the 1080p model.

Screen size isn’t the only thing that determines whether you can distinguish a 720p from a 1080p image. The distance you sit from the screen comes into play.

For example, with a 50-inch display, you’d need to sit less than 10 feet from the screen to hope to notice a difference.

So, in general, it’s not likely to be an important issue in your home theater unless you’re using a front projector.

Differences can also arise when the original source is in one format and converted for display in another.

The current programming sources that are available in true 1080p include only Blu-ray Disc. Today's high-def broadcasts are done in either 1080i or 720p, and there's little chance they'll jump to 1080p any time soon, due to of bandwidth issues. Cable and satellite providers are starting to offer 1080p content on demand, but there's some video-compression magic at work due to the bandwith issue. As for gaming, Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 games are usually 720p native, though some titles are being offered in 1080p resolution.

Crowd Funding Fad Jerry Blanch Can you explain what crowd funding is and the reason behind me seeing references to it all over the Internet?

Great question Jerry. We actually take a look at the crowd funding phenomenon on page 22. In short, crowd funding is using the power of the Internet to find others like you, who think your idea would be worth seeing come to fruition.

Those seeking the funding gain easy capital to start production and those who help fund are rewarded with different levels of perks most commonly involving receiving of the item they helped to fund.

KICKSTARTERFINDS>> We at DayOldStubble believe in giving back. Below are some of the projects that we have funded.

Pary of Sin

Play as the 7 Deadly Sins in this coop video game adventure.

Fight your way from Hell to Heaven, solve puzzles and battle legions of angels.

FUNDED

Farmageddon

Plant and harvest crops for fun and profit! Failing that, steal or blow up your neighbor's crops instead. A strategic card game for the whole family.

FUNDED

Order of the Stick Reprint Drive

Help Rich Burlew reprint these outof-print books so new readers can discover the wonderful web-comic.

FUNDED

For The Win

Win this quick tile game with the SUPER COMBO! Get your zombie, pirate, ninja, alien, and monkey together FOR THE WIN! FUNDED

Jesh

Jesh is a 4 player action/ platformer that mixes a fun, familiar formula, and innovative twists for a comical experience.

GOAL REACHED - STILL HAS TIME

Return of the Deck of the Living Dead

Sets of two 60 card zombie themed decks of playing cards.

Each deck has the standard 52 plus 2 jokers and 4 grim reapers.

GOAL REACHED - STILL HAS TIME SEE MORE @ WWW.KICKSTARTER.COM March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 7

GOTTAHAVE>> THE GUIDE TO ALL THE GEEK STUFF YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL EVER NEED

BenQ GP2 Projector The all new Joybee GP2 is an ultra portable mini projector designed for on-the-go audiovisual entertainment. You can plug your iPhone or iPod into the iPhone/iPod-compatible dock to share videos, photos, graphics and games with family and friends wherever you go. The GP2 also supports other smartphones, tablets and media players.

The perfect projector to share videos with your iPhone/iPod/ and even your iPad. Featuring HD resolution, the GP2 will light up almost any wall with video's, presentations, or most other digital content from nearly any device - or its own internal memory. Add a battery for even more portability.

Travel light and enjoy great sounds with the GP2! This mini projector is packed with two quality built-in 2W speakers, so you can leave your speakers at home. www.benq.us

PRICE: $549

Speakal MiSoccer The Speakal MiSoccer Docking Station is designed in the color, shape, and pattern of a soccer ball. Besides the novelty factor, its spherical form factor is supposed to help give it a 360-degree projection for its two way speakers and subwoofer. http://www.speakal.com

RATING:

Air Flo Controller Say goodbye to sweaty palms. No matter how hot the action, the Air Flo Controller for PS3 is designed to keep you cool. Comfortable Design. The Air Flo boasts an ergonomic design and soft touch grips that are a pleasure to hold, even during long gaming sessions. Reverse analog sticks put the controls where your thumbs are. www.powera.com

PRICE: $89.99

RATING:

8 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

PRICE: $35

RATING:

GOTTAHAVE>>

Bose AE2i Headphones Bose new over the ear headphones, the AE2i combines immersive sound and a comfortable fit for audiophiles everywhere.

It comes with an inline remote and microphone designed to work exclusively with the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and MacBook Pro. You can easily control volume, track selection

and voice applications, plus switch between your calls and music.

The fold-flat design and carry bag make the AE2i headphones easy to store and transport. www.bose.com PRICE: $179.95 RATING:

Popa iPhone Camera Grip The improved camera on the iPhone 4S deserves an SLR-esque grip and large shutter button.

POPA adds a big red button to your iPhone camera so you never miss the moment and that perfect shot.

Download the free App from the App Store and twist the barrel to swing the connector into view and make the button spring to life! www.thisispopa.com PRICE: $80

RATING:

Razer DeathAdder S.E. With 3500dpi resolution and 1,000Hz ultrapolling, this Transformers: Dark of the Moon special edition DeathAdder comes with four color schemes to choose from: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Shockwave.

the Razer DeathAdder is crafted with a right-handed ergonomic form factor for extended gaming sessions in absolute comfort. www.razerzone.com PRICE: $49

RATING:

Playstation Vita Sony's PlayStation Vita, is the long-rumored successor to the PlayStation Portable hardware series. PS Vita retains the familiar general form of the PlayStation Portable hardware series while dramatically improving on virtually every aspect of its use with powerful and exciting new features including: dual touch pads at the front and rear, dual cameras at the front and rear, dual analog sticks, a

5-inch OLED screen, six-axis motion sensors and a threeaxis electronic compass and exceptional built-in connectivity via Wi-Fi. Taken together this makes for a handheld gaming device that truly signals the entry of handhelds into the world of Next-Gen gaming. www.playstation.com/psvita PRICE: $249

RATING:

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 9

NEWS

>> INDUSTRY GOSSIP >> OPINION & RUMORS

overlay caption for image

Microsoft gave us the first glimpse of their upcoming Windows 8 operating system back in September with the Developer Preview. As can be guessed from the name, that particular version of the OS was intended for the developers to test their software on the OS as well as test the OS itself and report any bugs they might find back to Microsoft.

But now Microsoft has released the first Consumer Preview version of the OS, which marks the second major stage in its development cycle (it will eventually be followed by the Release Candidate, Release to Manufacturing and then the retail version). This is the first version that Microsoft feels is fit for use by regular users. Having said that, it is still a beta version, so there could still be some issues which would hopefully be ironed out in the retail version.

Along with some bug fixes and performance updates, Microsoft has also added some new features to this version of Windows 8. The new operating system represents a fairly radical

WINDOWS 8

CONSUMER PREVIEW >> Miscrosoft released the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 to the masses at Mobile World Conference 2012. change if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been using Windows all along, though many of the most striking changes are only skin deep.

DirectX 9 graphics card or higher. If you want to use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.

For those wanting to try Windows 8, Microsoft says the operating system can be installed on any Windows PCs. More specifically a computer with a 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor, 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit) of RAM, at least 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64bit) of hard drive space, and a Microsoft

You can head over to http:// windows.microsoft.com/en-US/ windows-8/consumer-preview to download your copy today.

Watch for our full review coming in April.

APPLE TV

LYTRO CAMERA

Apple had updated their Apple TV to include the ability to playback 1080p videos as well as an enhanced user interface.

The Lytro Camera gained much press as people started realizing the possibilities this little camera has. Set to go on sale in April the Lytro camera captures the entire depth of field so you can refine it later.

10 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

>>for Geek news as it happens visit www.dayoldstubble.com // 24 hours a day

RASBERRY PI RELEASED ANONYMOUS GETS HIT THE LINUX BASED CREDIT CARD COMPUTER

ARRESTS DO LITTLE TO SLOW THEM DOWN

The Raspberry Pi PC, a credit card sized computer, sold out the morning it went on sale. The model comes with two USB 2.0 ports, 256MB RAM, an Ethernet port, and an HDMI socket.

And all for just $35. The processor is 700MHz, so don't expect it to run the latest games, but it'll handle word processing with no problem, and even output Full HD video to your TV. It runs Linux, and is aimed at educating kids about computer science.

The recents arrests of some of the hacker group known as Anonymous has seen to do little to slow them down.

In fact it may have done more to spur them on.

A hiccup in production over a network jack has caused some batches to be delayed. So if you want to buy the micro PC, you may be in for a bit of a wait.

INSIDEINDUSTRY

Since the leading Anonymous hacker "Sabu" had been arrested and turned over the names of at least 6 fellow members of LulzSec in a plea deal groups claiming to be Anonymous have taken to the Internet in force. With the hacking of the Vatican's web site, the intrusion Panda Security and release of Symantic source code, and the most recent intrusion into Britain's largest abortion provider they seem to be more agitated then in hiding.

what the experts say...

According to a new report, the top password used on business systems is the easily hacked "Password1."

In a study of more than 2 million systems, Trustwave found that, not surprisingly, the most common password was â&#x20AC;&#x153;password,â&#x20AC;? or some variation thereof. And among systems

TIMELINE FOR BRANDS Facebook recently announced the availability of Timeline for brand Pages. The update also includes a new activity log and administration hub, making it easier to track engagement and respond to private messages.

that required an upper-case letter and a number, Password1 was the top choice.

scans and 300 recent security breach investigations," says CNN.

Security firm Trustwave cited the password in its new "2012 Global Security Report," a report which concludes on the firm's "findings from nearly 2 million network vulnerability

Overall, 5 percent of all passwords use a variation of the word "password" and over 1 percent use the word "welcome," making them the most used.

BOOT2GECKO At MWC Mozilla announced that leading service providers, including Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom, are now supporting the Boot to Gecko (B2G) effort.

March 2012| DayOldStubble | 11

>> Technology

TIME FOR THE BATTERY TO BEEF UP Battery Life: The Bane of all Mobile Phones and Tablets

By: Jason Carrick

Mobile devices are getting smaller yet are packing more processing power inside. Smartphones and tablets with dual-core processors are currently available, with quad-core technologies just over the horizon. Despite advancements in processing power, our current-generation mobile devices have a woefully short battery life, with smartphones barely lasting more than a day on a single charge.What good is a powerful device if you have to constantly charge it?

Processors aren't the only power hog, as the brightness of the screen backlight plays a large factor in determining the battery life of your

mobile phone or tablet.

Obviously, dimming the backlight will result in significantly lower power consumption.

Of course, it also goes without saying that larger displays typically consume more power than their smaller brethren.

And while focusing on efficient power management techniques can result in improvement, the main stumbling block lies in the lithium-ion battery itself, the most common type of rechargeable battery found in mobile devices. Lighter and smaller devices usually mean smaller batteries, while vendors took advantage of the extra internal space offered by the tablet form factor to use larger batteries.

While we are often bombarded by news of the latest tablet or smartphone sporting the next-gen powerful processor, rarely do we hear of any breakthrough in extending

12 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

battery life. In a race where the value of your device is determined by the number of cores it has in its processor or the size of its app store, many have glossed over the fact that these powerful devices can barely make it through 24 hours before flatlining.

Somehow we have just accepted that daily recharging of our smartphone is the price to pay for having a phone that can surf the Net, receive emails and even act like a robot butler of sorts.

Fortunately, engineers led by Professor Harold Kung at the Northwestern University in the United States have made a breakthrough regarding battery life. It seems that by poking millions of tiny holes in the battery, each 20 to 40 nanometers wide, the recharging speed of the battery is accelerated due to the lithium ions being able to find a place to be stored much faster. By replacing sheets of silicon with tiny clusters of a certain material so that the amount of lithium ions a battery can hold on to is increased, the engineers have also been able to increase the maximum charge.

The result? A battery that charges to full from flat in 15 minutes, and lasts a week before needing to recharge, something current smartphone and tablet owners can only dream of. However these super batteries won't be just a pipe dream as the good Professor Kung estimates these batteries will enter the consumer market within five years. Until then, it's daily charging of our smartphones for all of us.

TRUE OR FALSE?

DEBUNKING BATTERY MYTHS 1. You need to charge the battery for a certain number of hours before you can use it.

FALSE. For lithium-ion batteries you can use them out of the box without charging them for a certain period. The battery will give you the same amount of juice whether it's been charged the first time, or the hundredth.

2. You should discharge the battery completely before recharging.

FALSE. Lithium-ion batteries do not need to be completely discharged before recharging them. In fact, if you completely discharge them too frequently, it will be unable to recharge faster than if you had recharged them from a partially-drained state.

3. Leaving the charger connected once the battery is fully charged will reduce its lifespan.

FALSE. Lithium-ion batteries have built-in circuits to cut the power once it's fully charged.

However, you should not leave the charger connected because the heat from charging will cause the battery to heat up and discharge faster, and reduce its lifespan.

WINDOWS 8 AND MICROSOFT'S METRO UI

Technology <<

Microsoft's Pursuit of a Natural Interface and Seamless Interface

When Microsoft finally made Windows 95 available, it was one of the most anticipated software releases in tech, with its improved user interface and having Internet Explorer built-in.

the big screen - are where Microsoft will test market receptiveness and bring familiarity before they impart this major change to their most important product, the Windows operating system.

Since then, no other Windows release has quite captured people's attention, but that's because the same user experience paradigms have remained mostly intact since Windows 95.

The success of Windows 8 is essential to the company as the 0S will be used in not just traditional desktops and notebooks, but also on tablets. Furthermore, it was designed to work with both and ARM processing architectures, to ensure the Windows ecosystem can expand rapidly across a variety of devices. Ultimately, the aim is to have the best of both tablet and desktop environments all in one OS. Software isn't the only space where Microsoft is evolving. Their Hardware team offers a wide variety of peripherals which also hold high design values such as empowering consumers with the control, comfort and usability in an ideal design.

Enter Metro, a user interface that's been designed with touch interactivity in mind.

First unveiled in Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 operating system, the large and dynamic tile-based interface has the potential to be a game changer, especially in how customers perceive Windows and Microsoft in general. Just a few years back, it would have been hard to believe that this slick interface was the brainchild of Microsoft.

Microsoft is now thoroughly focused on ensuring the Metro UI progressively spans across their various services and products, in order to maintain a seamless experience across multiple screens and devices. In December 2011, they've since rolled out an Xbox update that brings Metro to the big screen in your living room.

The combination of the Metro experience in two mass market areas - in mobile phones and home entertainment on

In all, Microsoft is investing heavily in a no-compromise user experience across any type of device with the Metro Ul being a key component across desktops, notebooks, tablets, phones and not to forget your HDTV via the Xbox experience.

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is out now. Head over to Microsoft. com to download your copy today.

Watch out for full review in April.

Windows 8 Store Changes Beyond the UI

The coming of Windows 8 signifies more than just a Ul change, but also how we manage the software and applications we use. The Windows 8 Store supports both trial and paid apps without the developers having to maintain both editions.

The store officially went live this February, coinciding with Windows 8 Consumer Preview release. This gives end-users and developers a head start to populate the windows 8 Store and conduct trials before the entire ecosystem goes gold in the second half of this year.

By: Jason Carrick

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 13

>> HOW TO

ABC's OF TECH

SOME COMMON TERMS TO KNOW

TECH TERMS WORTH KNOWING PLACED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER FOR YOU By: Jason Carrick

TECH BYTE The most common passwords in the world are: 1. password 2. 123456 3. qwerty 4. abc123 5. letmein 6. monkey 7. myspace1 8. password1 9. link182 10. (your first name) If your using one of these it might be a good idea to pick something new.

Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Apple is the computer company behind your beloved iPhone, iPods, and Macs. Their OS X operating system currently has 10% of the market while Windows has 88%.

Bytes are a measure of digital data. There are 1024 bytes in a kilobyte (KB), 1,024,000 in a megabyte (MB), and 1,073,741,824 in a gigabyte (GB).

A piece of history that is quickly going away is the CD. CD's hold 700 MB of data or 80 minutes of uncompressed audio and were the standard for storage and music until 2002.

The Digg Effect is what happens when a website becomes slow and unresponsive or can not be reached after it was linked to from the social news site digg.com.

Looking to sell the "antiques" that are in your attic or find a steal on you next laptop then Ebay is your answer. Started in 1994 the on-line auction site has grown to encompass the whole world and has become a place to sell or find your next treasure.

Wishing you knew what your friends and family are up-to? Check out Facebook.

Originally started in 2003 by Mark Zuckerberg this social networking site was intended for college students as a way to keep students updated on what was going on around campus. It has now expanded as a way to find and catch up with everyone from friends and family to organizations and media.

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Google which started out as just a search engine in 1998 has now branched out to include online email (Gmail), scheduling (Google Calendar), an Internet browser (Google Chrome), an operating system (Android), plus many more. They have became the De-facto standard for organizing and searching your personal information.

Are you going on a business trip soon? Then you will probably want to make sure you know where to find all the local hotspots. No I'm not talking about the nightlife but local businesses that offer a place for you to connect your laptop and to get on-line. Most commonly referred to as a wifi-hotspot, these areas can either be free or require you to pay a small fee to connect to the internet.

Also known as an "IP number" or simply an "IP," an IP Address is a code made up of numbers separated by three dots that identifies a particular computer on the Internet. Every computer, whether it be a Web server or your computer, requires an IP address to connect to the Internet. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP), assigns you either a static IP address (which is always the same) or a dynamic IP address, (which changes every time you log on).

JPEG stands for the Joint Photographic Experts Group, who created the method of compression for photo images.

Like all image processing algorithms, JPEG was tested on the standard test image of "Lenna", a cropped photo of a 1972 Playboy magazine centerfold Lena Soderberg.

A keylogger is a program that records the keystrokes on a computer. It does this by monitoring a user's input and keeping a log of all keys that are pressed. The log may saved to a file or even sent to another machine over a network or the Internet. The best way to protect yourself is to make sure you have antivirus software installed and it is up to date.

Linux, started by Linus Torvalds in 1991 as a free alternative to Unix, has grown to become a competitor for your desktop operating system as well as the basis for your new Android smart phone.

If your computer is running a little slow or sluggish then the cheapest way to improve your experience is to upgrade your memory. Memory is what the operating system uses to store information the programs need while they are running. The more memory you have then the less the operating system needs to work accessing the hard drive to store temporary data.

The term newbie or noob, originally thought to be from British public-school and military slang "new boy," was first spotted in the Usenet newsgroup talk.bizarre as an insult to a clueless newcomer.

The Operating System is the interface between your computer and you which is responsible for managing the activities and resources of the computer that allows you to run programs on your machine.

HOW TO << The keyboard you're using now is most likely set in a QWERTY layout (named for the first 6 characters of the top row of letters). This layout was invented by Christopher Sholes in 1874 because people were typing too fast on typewriters back then, thus causing the machine to jam.

Social networking is the hottest craze on the Internet at the moment. People are constantly looking to stay connected not only to the Internet but to what is going on around them and with their friends and family. Social network sites allow the users to be part of and create online content while connecting users to people with the same likes and/or dislikes.

Trying to figure out what's going on when people are talking about tweeting? They are simply posting a status update to the social networking site Twitter.These 140 character updates are called "tweets" for short.

Universal Serial Bus or USB is the technology created to replace aging serial

7 Things You Should Do Right Away On Your New Android Phone a little list of things to do right after unwrapping your new phone By: Jason Carrick

and parallel ports in 1996. Pretty much everything in use today has some form of a USB connector from your computer to your cell phone. Not only is USB used to transfer data between two devices it is also being used to recharge batteries.

Voice over Internet protocol or VOIP is a general term for for delivery of voice communications over IP networks such as the Internet. Other terms frequently encountered are IP telephony or Internet telephony. Vonage, Charter (cable) Telephone, or Skype all use VOIP to broadcast your voice over the Internet to another computer or telephone.

Web 2.0 is the "buzz" word for usergenerated content on-line and the basis behind sites like facebook.com, twitter.com, flickr.com and digg.com.

XML stands for "Extensible Markup Language." XML is used to define documents with a standard format that can be read by any XML-compatible application.

you have new mail. Doing this is an added benefit as email servers don't normally offer a mobile friendly web version.

3. Make sure you turn off data roaming: This one can really rack up your phone bill.

To make sure “Data Roaming” is off hit your phone's Menu button while on your home screen. Then choose “Settings”, tap the “Wireless & networks” category, and scroll down to find “Mobile networks.” Make sure that the “Data roaming” option is disabled (unchecked). When you're close to the Canadian border, or on an international trip this can really save you some money.

1. Set up your voicemail: Go to google.com/ voice and sign up for their free service. Be sure to only select the voicemail portion as this lets Google handle your voicemail allowing you to have computer generated transcripts of your voicemail delivered to your phone, downloadable MP3s of messages, along with call screening and personalized messages each caller can hear.

4. Add some contacts to your home screen: To add a contact for easy access simply press your finger and hold it on an empty spot on one of your home screens. From the pop-up menu choose “Shortcuts”, then “Contact,” then scroll and find the person your looking for. From that one icon you can now call, text, email, view their Facebook profile, or even get directions to their place from anywhere.

2. Set up your email: Open the Email app from inside your App Tray (the middle center button on the home screen), then give it your email details. You can enable or disable new message checking and notifications in the settings depending on how often you want to be informed that

5. Create an unlock PIN, pattern, or password: As a wise man once said “It is best to keep an honest man honest”, in today’s world everything should be a little secure and setting up an unlock code does just that. To do that simply hit your Menu button from the home screen and choose

Basically, XML allows you to create a database of information without having an actual database. While it is commonly used in Web applications, many other programs use XML documents as well.

Wanting to share that funny moment from last night or catch a review of the camera you're considering getting, then check out Youtube. Started in 2005 to allow users a way to share their videos on-line, Youtube has evolved into a hub for product reviews, music videos, live concerts, and even full length movies and TV shows.

If you owned a PC in the late 80s/ early 90s, then you're savvy about the ZIP file format. Back then, disk space was at a premium so compression was a big thing. Nowadays this is an antiquated format as all storage methods have at least a Gigabyte of storage available.

“Settings”. Then select “Location & security,” then pick “Change screen lock.” Now when you or anyone wants to access your home screen and apps, it will require one of the following: a multi-point finger-drawn pattern, a four-digit PIN, or a password.

6. Change your news and weather options: On most Android phones simply swipe to get to the screen just to the left of your home center screen. On other phones you may need to press the center App Tray button and load the “News and Weather” app. When the app is launched hit the Menu button and choose “Settings”. From there pick “News settings,” then “Select news topics.” Now you can select which options you like from “World,” “Business,” and the so-on. At the top is a “Custom topic”, which gives you the ability to set a custom tab of whatever you'd like.

7. Update any pre-installed apps or add new ones: Launch the Android Market by pressing the icon on your home screen or by pressing the center App Tray button and selecting the “Market” app. Here you can see a list of what apps have updates available, most likely the Google Maps and Gmail apps will have an update. From the Android Market you can also browse and install thousands of apps for your phone.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 15

>> GEEK LIFE

GEEKS GUIDE TO: ST. PATRICKS DAY GEEKS GO BRAUGH

TOP 5 Geek Mixed Drinks Shirley Templar(Assassin’s Creed) Ingredients: Ginger Ale Sprite 1.5 oz. gin 1.5 oz. grenadine 1 maraschino cherry

It’s March. A month largely anticipated for the coming of March 17th. It is St. Patrick’s feast day held on the anniversary of his death and also a day to celebrate the coming of Christianity to Ireland. It obviously holds more cultural significance to the Irish but most others like to enjoy this holiday the best way they know how. By drinking!! Now we geeks are not above indulging ourselves in some spirits and ale, we just like to add our own little flair to it. We have compiled some lists that you may like to save to use at your next party. Now we aren’t saying these Geek Drinks, Beers and Games are the best but they are certainly our favorites.

Dratini(Pokemon) Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz gin (Bombay Sapphire Gin used) 1 1/2 oz Hpnotiq splash of blue curacao

Directions: In a highball glass with ice, fill half of the glass with Sprite, half with ginger ale, leaving a bit of room at the top. Mix in a shot of grenadine and a shot of gin. Place a maraschino cherry on the top and serve.

(Drunken Moogle)

Directions: For this variation of martini, mix and stir in the ingredients over ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Place a dollop of whipped cream on the side of the glass as a garnish.

(Drunken Moogle)

Blood of the Ancients(Final Fantasy VII) Ingredients: 3 oz. of Sour Apple Pucker .75 oz. of citrus vodka splash of sweet & sour Sprite Dash of grenadine

Cave Johnson’s Flaming Lemonade(Portal 2) Ingredients: 10 oz. lemonade 2 oz. limoncello 1 splash of Everclear( or other grain alcohol) 1 grain alcohol-soaked lemon wheel

Directions: Pour liquor into old fashion glass over ice. Fill with Sprite.

Gently Stir. Splash in Sweet n’ Sour mix. Slowly dash in grenadine. Drink.

(EXBarOnline) Truth, Lie, Stout(L.A. Noire) Ingredients: 25mL Kahlua 25mL Vodka Guinness Directions:Choice of glass. Pour in both the vodka and the Kahlua.

Then you fill with Guinness. Highly recommended to stir before drinking.

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Directions:Cut a lemon wheel and soak it in grain alcohol while you make the drink. Mix the lemonade and limoncello into a tall glass, then float a splash of grain alcohol on top of the drink. Place the lemon wheel on the rim of the glass and ignite the top. Extinguish and drink.

(InsatiableGeek)

GEEK LIFE <<

GEEK DRINKING GAMES TO GET YOUR IRISH ON

5 Best Geek Beers Romulan Ale (Star Trek)

Halo Multiplayer •

Take a drink anytime you die.

•

Take 2 drinks if you kill yourself(falling/grenade)

•

Take 3 drinks if killed by an energy sword

•

Take 5 drinks if you die while camping(you deserve it)

•

Whoever has the lowest number of kills must drink the difference between their kills and the highest number (DayOldStubble).

New Super Mario Bros. Drinking Game •

Play with beer or a substance of similar potency.

Settlers of Catan Drinking Game •

Everyone drinks anytime a 7 is rolled.

•

Player loses a life = 1 sip

•

•

Player uses a continue = 2 sips

If you are robbed when the 7 is rolled you must take a drink for every card you discard

•

Player is responsible for the death of a teammate = 2 sips

•

Player is left in a bubble when everyone else dies or the level is finished = 3 sips

•

Player is the one who loses the mushroom house matching game for everyone = 3 sips (Drunken Moogle)

•

When you build a settlement, everyone else must take a drink.

Two if you build a city.

•

Take a drink when the Knight Card is used against you.

•

When someone plays the Resource Monoply card, everyone must drink equivalent to amount of cards they relinquish

Lord of the Rings Movie Marathon Game

•

Take 2 drinks if you lose the lead in the Largest Army or Longest Road

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There’s a closeup of the ring

•

•

Panoramic scenery shot

At the end of the game, all the losers must take a drink for every VP away from 10

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Frodo wanders away from the group

•

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Gandalf goes into serious wizard mode

Winner shall take a drink for every VP card they used to win (DayOldStubble)

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Intimate moment between Sam and Frodo

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Entire Fellowship on the screen

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Legolas looks off into the distance

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The ring gets referred to as “Precious” (Geek Tyrant)

Drink when:

SobeRing Thought (Lord of the Rings)

Imperial Stout Trooper (Star Wars)

Hoptimus Prime (Transformers)

Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale

Battleship, Chess, and Checkers Drinking Game

Rules: Basically the same for all three games. Take a shot for every piece you lose in either chess or checkers. In Battleship take one every time your ships get hit. Simple rules, but because you are playing with hard liquor you will likely get drunk very quick. One idea is to use half shots, or just take a drink of beer.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 17

>> COMICS

BUGGER OFF! I'M READIN' COMICS 5 STORYLINES YOU MUST READ BEFORE YOU DIE By: Dave Norton

Over the course of 30 years of reading comics I have managed to find several well written, well drawn comics that are head-andshoulders above the rest. Storylines that are so well thought out that you know that the writer spent countless hours researching every little detail along with an artist who seems to be able to read the writer’s mind to illustrate the perfect page is about as rare as dental floss at a Willie Nelson concert. (Sorry Willie!) So I’ve taken the liberty of finding 5 stories that you MUST READ before you die!

IDENTITY CRISIS (WRITTEN BY BRAD METZLER/ART BY RAGS MORALES) 2004 DC Comics

Released in 2004 by DC Comics Identity Crisis is the type of tale that writer and bestselling novelist Brad Meltzer is best known for --- a thriller. After the murder of Elongated Man’s wife Sue, all of the DC heroes scrounge the Earth looking for her murderer. After her funeral Elongated Man, distraught and angry, claims that Doctor Light is her killer. Doctor Light? Are you insane? He’s a second rate villain. Well, he wasn’t always that way. Apparently a few years back Doctor Light broke into the Justice League’s satellite headquarters and committed a most heinous crime. However, when the members of the Justice League arrive they commit an even worse crime.

What could our world’s greatest heroes have done? Did Doctor Light kill Sue Dibny?

Who is this new villain that is targeting our heroes’ loved ones?

What makes this story FANTASTIC is the way Mr. Meltzer has taken events from past Justice League Of America stories and made them relevant for today’s JLA. He has also taken the secondary characters of the Justice League and brought them to the forefront. However, nothing can beat this. Brad Meltzer even divulges to the reader why Batman is this dark, moody, and non-trusting character that he has been for the last 25 years. He also has given the reader the reason why Hawkman and Green Arrow despise one another. Rags Morales’ artwork ties all of this together and makes this a storyline you must read.

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PLANET HULK (WRITTEN BY GREG PAK/ART BY CARLO PAGULAYAN) 2006 Marvel Comics

In April 2006 Marvel Comics EditorIn-Chief Joe Quesada came up with an awesome idea…with the help of Greg Pak. The Marvel Universe hierarchy, fed up with the destruction caused by the Incredible Hulk, have decided that they will trick the Hulk into boarding a space ship and jettison him to a far off peaceful planet. Part one wasn’t too much of a problem. Part two became a BIG problem. In route to this peaceful planet, the Hulk is treated to a video of the Marvel Universe’s Illuminati explaining how sorry that they are for sending him away and they are doing it for his own good. Unfortunately the Hulk’s ship doesn’t make it to it’s intended target.

Instead the ship passes through a wormhole and crashes on the planet Sakaar. The Hulk’s is then taken into slavery and forced to fight in the arena for the entertainment of the planet’s ruler The Red King. What happens to a world that tries to keep the Hulk against his will? Does the Hulk even get off the planet? And if the Hulk does get off the planet what will he do to the Marvel Universe that cast him away?

Greg Pak has written a story that is tailor made for the Hulk. Anytime that the Hulk can just cut loose and SMASH the reader is in for a great ride. Carlo Pagulayan’s artwork makes reading this story that mush easier. If the Hulk was actually walking God’s green Earth Pagulayan’s rendition would be a dead ringer for him.

If you aren’t a fan of The Incredible Hulk this story might just make you one.

COMICS <<

THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE (WRITTEN BY SCOTT LOBDELL, MARK WAID, AND FABIAN NICIEZA/ART BY JOE MADUREIRA, ANDY AND ADAM KUBERT) 1995 Marvel Comics

BATMAN:HUSH (WRITTEN BY JEPH LOEB/ART BY JIM LEE) 2002 DC Comics

MARVEL:CIVIL WAR (WRITTEN BY MARK MILLER/ART BY STEVE MCNIVEN) 2006 Marvel Comics

Waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy back in 1995 Marvel Comics created futuristic storyline featuring their most popular characters --- The X-Men. Professor Xavier’s son Legion, who sees the difficulty that his father faces in trying to have mutants and humans live together peacefully, believes that travelling back in time and murdering Magneto will solidify Professor X’s vision. Unfortunately Legion’s mission backfires. While trying to kill Magneto, Charles Xavier sacrifices himself to save his friend. In doing so, the Marvel Universe that we all know and love is gone forever. In it’s place a much darker and twisted world. An evil world. An Age of Apocalypse! In this future Apocalypse has made himself ruler. Humans are hunted down and killed. Who can stop this evil and save the humans? Magneto, in this future, is now the leader and founder of the X-Men. But these aren’t the X-Men that you are accustomed to. Who are they? Where’s Cyclops? What happened to Wolverine? Who is X-Man? What does Bishop, the time travelling X-Man, have to do with all of this? Where is the M’Kraan Crystal? Ladies and gentlemen this is by far the best story ever written about the X-Men…..EVER! There have been a few stories since this one that come close but they end up paling in comparison.

It is always dangerous when a writer takes characters that are so beloved and change them in the manner that they have been here. Not only have they scored a hat trick they have won the Stanley Cup with this story. If you loved the X-Men before you will WORSHIP them after this. With all of the different books that went with the story, I say that the artwork was exquisite. (Except for Generation Next --- Yuk!)

In 2002 DC Comics released a 1 year story arc involving their most popular character Batman. Writer Jeph Loeb was given the task of coming up with a story that would put Batman through the ringer --- mentally and physically --- and Loeb didn’t disappoint. The story begins as Batman is trying to save a young boy kidnapped by Killer Croc.

During the rescue Catwoman steals the ransom money intended for the boy’s safety. After apprehending Croc Batman goes in pursuit of Catwoman to get the money back. However, while tracking her down his bat rope is cut and he falls into a dark alley fracturing his skull. His life is saved by his childhood friend and world renowned brain surgeon Tommy Elliott. What follows is a series of mysterious events involving Superman, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Commissioner Gordon, The Riddler, Ra’s Al Ghul, Scarecrow, Jason Todd, Clayface, and the puppet master behind all of this, Hush. Who is Hush and why has he targeted the dark knight for destruction?

This storyline is PHENOMENAL! The way that Loeb has orchestrated the turmoil that Batman goes through in this story is second-to-none. Each villain is used in a manner that lets them stand alone without overlapping one another. The art work in this story is top notch. Jim Lee has always been one of my favorite artists. Whether it’s the X-Men or Wildcats Lee’s artwork has always been spot on and breath taking. This Batman story, in my opinion, rates right up there with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.

Marvel Comics in 2006 released a company wide storyline that was so fresh, so revolutionary the scope of it still holds true in today’s Marvel Universe. We have all read a comic where good guy A fights good guy B, make up, and catch the bad guy at the end. What would happen if those good guys didn’t stop fighting? Our story starts out with a television crew following the teenage super hero group, The New Warriors. It seems that they have a reality show where they attempt to capture criminals. Unfortunately this particular episode goes horribly wrong. While trying to apprehend the villain Nitro he uses his lethal powers to destroy part of the city, including a school where children were playing. In total over 600 people, several of whom were children, lost their lives. The public fallout from this produced The Superhuman Registration Act which made it mandatory for all super powered beings to register with the United States. Backing this 100% is none other than Tony Stark AKA Iron Man. Opposed to this, due to heroes needing to be able to protect themselves and their families, was Captain America. In a story where good guys become bad guys and vice versa who follows Iron Man? Who follows Cap? How do the Marvel Universe villains capitalize on this?

Writer Mark Millar, along with a few others, has made a true masterpiece here. When you are able to write a story involving more than 200 characters and over 40 titles and still make a fascinating story, it is pure GENIUS! Another plus is that this main storyline helped branch off and make several other stories. Steve McNiven’s artwork is just like icing on the cake. The realism of his characters runs parallel to the works of Alex Ross. Definitely a winning combination.

So there you have it. The 5 storylines that you must read before you die. (Just my opinion.) I’m sure that you all have your personal favorites. I wanted to do an article about the 10 storylines you must read but man is it hard to try and remember everything about the story and to try not to give you guys the entire plot. If you haven’t read these stories I think that you will be pleasantly surprised. Next month I will add to Bugger Off --- I’m Reading Comics a section called the Trash Bin. It will be a warning to you guys to NOT waste the money on that particular book. And just a teaser for you readers out there, next month we will also take a look at the close of one of the best ideas in comics within the last 20 years…..Mark Waid’s Irredeemable and Incorruptible.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 19

D12 Academy

7 Wonders

Board Games

D12 Academy

An in-depth study on a different board game each month…increase your strategic knowledge and/or decide if it’s worth a purchase.

Game Info: Name: 7 Wonders

What It Is

Inspired by the Seven Wonders of the Ancient Designer: Antoine Bauza World as compiled by the Antipater of Sidon around Artist: Miguel Coimbra 140 BC, 7 Wonders sets you in that world and gives you Publisher: Repos the chance to construct one of those iconic structures.

Production Each player controls a different city board, and Published: 2010 Players: 2 − 7 throughout the game you’ll play cards to either establish Playing Time: 30 minutes buildings in your city or work on your wonder itself. Both Ages: 10 and up buildings and the different stages of your wonder confer Category: Ancient, Card bonuses to your side- money, military strength, victory Game, Civilization points, and so forth. The historical theme is high, both in Lead, or be led! the depictions of the wonders and their different bonuses, Repos and also in the names and functionality of the buildings Production you can choose from. Don’t know an aqueduct from an recently apothecary? You will after a few sessions with this one. released the first expansion for this game: 7 Wonders: Leaders. The expansion adds a new city board (Rome) but more importantly introduces 36 Leader cards to the game.

The central element of 7 Wonders is selecting which cards to build- and which ones you will pass to your neighbors to use. Over the course of three rounds you will take turns selecting one card from a hand and passing the remainder to your left or right, meaning you have to think on your feet to build up a successful strategy since you won’t know for sure what cards will be in your next hand. In effect though this also limits how much brain-burning you have to do…while long-term planning is still beneficial, there

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are only so many known choices to consider at any given time. It can be freeing not having to envision 4 hours worth of moves from the beginning of Turn 1.

How It Plays

7 Wonders plays fast, and overall is a light strategy game. Most sessions can be completed in under 45 minutes, which is a bonus for those new to board gaming, or anything without enough time (or attention span) to really get into long games. There is certainly enough strategy involved to keep it interesting for serious gamers, but at the same time it is on the lighter end of the spectrum, which can sometimes be a nice change of pace from something like Agricola or Axis & Allies.

Since you’re passing cards to (and receiving them from) your opponents, there are extensive opportunities to let spite guide your choices. However, for the most part it is usually better to play something that really helps you rather than something that hurts your neighbor, unless your group is particularly vindictive. There is some luck involved in the arrangement of the cards into various hands but this is a game with no dice, so it’s not usual to feel like anyone won or lost primarily based on luck.

In Era I, never overlook the power of the brown cards that provide a choice between two resources. Yes, they cost a gold to build, but the flexibility they provide is priceless.

If you can get two of these during the opening Era with at least one resource each that pertains to your wonder stages, you can often set yourself up to build almost anything without ever having to purchase materials from your neighbors.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:

Ever wonder (ha, ha) what the original seven structures were? Here’s your chance to impress your friends with obscure trivia knowledge!

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza 2. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus 3. The Mausoleum of Helicarnassus 4. The Colossus of Rhodes 5. The Temple of Zeus at Olympia 6. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria

As far as your wonder itself, it’s up to you how much it is worth pursuing. Don’t go too far out of your way to get resources for it, but do look for opportunities to bury cards that are worthless to you or would help others, and get a wonder stage at the same time. It certainly is possible to win without building any part of your wonder at all, as odd as that may sound at first.

Don't know an aqueduct from an apothecary? you will after a few sessions with this one.

7 Wonders can be played with up to seven people, and while 4-5 usually flows best it is impressively enjoyable with just 3 or a full table of 7.

It May Be For You If…

This game fills a short/light game itch in a similar way to Ticket to Ride or Citadels. The greatest strength of 7 Wonders though is with a large group. Each player chooses his card simultaneously, so the amount of downtime you’ll experience is likely a few minutes total over the course of a whole game- even with 7 players.

Anyone with a large playgroup should look into this one, especially if your friends are used to falling asleep or running side games while waiting for their turns. Military competition between players is mostly abstract

so you never feel like you’re being gunned for too much, and in the end many different strategies are always viable- there is never one “best” path to victory.

How To Dominate Your Friends

Concentrate on diversity. The less obvious your plans are, the less likely your friends will intentionally bury cards to hurt you. It’s also important to realize there are a *lot* of high-powered cards in Era III, and they each require large numbers of different resources. Build up a diverse city and capitalize on all those opportunities others leave behind.

Above: The common appearance of the gaming space while trying to dominate and picking your best path for victory.

if you like this Puerto Rico Rio Grande Games

Lastly, the path to victory through science can be a powerful one that you should always consider, especially if you open with a city that provides a grey resource. If you can get three of each symbol you’ll net 48 points, often enough for victory with a dozen or so thrown in from your other pursuits. Even two of each symbol generates 26.

To go science though, you usually need to go all-in from the very start. Build green structures at every single opportunity, even over other quality choices or if you have to pay your neighbors to afford them. If you can’t build a green, build a grey resource card whenever possible for future green builds.

Science is the easiest strategy to notice, and thus to sabotage.

Opponents burying green cards more than once or twice can really spoil your chances of stockpiling them, which makes taking every one you can get even more critical.

This route works better with fewer players, as a result. With 7 people, between multiple people running science paths and other people burying greens, you’re usually better off going a more diverse route.

By: Aaron Dekuiper

a game of resource gathering and limited opportunities.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 21

>> FEATURE

KICKSTARTER INDEPTH LOOK CROWD FUNDING FOR EVERYONE

By: james detzler

I have an addiction. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the normal type of addiction to gambling, drugs, or alcohol. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one from the new era. Much like how other people are addicted to Facebook, YouTube, or even Pintrest I have become addicted to a website. I am addicted to Kickstarter.

For some my following description will be unnecessary. For those not in the know, Kickstarter is the most well known crowd funding website on the interwebs. Crowd funding is a buzzword given to the practice of gathering a large group of people and pooling smaller micro-payments from everyone to reach a much higher target. With the power of the Internet and the growth of social media in the last few years, several websites have sprouted up to provide easy to use platforms, set some regulations, and make sure no one gets cheated.

The most well publicized and critically acclaimed site would be Kickstarter. It has been featured on NPR, New York Times, CNN, Wired, and even on Attack of the Show. It started as a site for people looking to fund small arts projects from generous donors. As a way to entice people to support their projects a rewards system was developed for different levels of funding. By making people feel that they are receiving something special for their generosity it makes them more willing to donate. People started realizing that this would be a perfect way to raise the funds to create that

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invention they dreamed up or finally start up their own business.

It has now grown into a community that thrives on supporting one another and spreading the word about the coolest new thing.

Projects getting funded now range from independent movies, video games, theater productions, art shows, and technology.

I personally am a big fan of the games and music sections. I found a project that one of my favorite bands created looking for the funds to come out of retirement and fund another album. I funded them making sure to reach the reward level that would get me early access to the album and the t-shirt created only for Kickstarter backers. I know I check back almost daily looking for a hot new band trying to record their first album and get discovered.

I also keep coming back to the games section. This time not merely for selfish reasons. I have found that many people who are creating new and unique board games are setting up their rewards levels so that you can receive two copies of the game for discounted prices. This allows us here at DayOldStubble to help fund an indie

FEATURE << THE OTHER SITES Kickstarter may be like the Facebook of crowd funding networks but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other crowd funding sites out there that may appeal to you more specifically. Here are 5 other crowd funding sites that I highly recommend you give a look-see.

1.IndieGoGo: Set up a lot like Kickstarter, IndieGoGo seems to have a more global reach. Besides the all-or-nothing funding option, they also offer the ability to take whatever funding you can get in exchange for a higher fee of course. www.indiegogo.com 2. Quirky: A smaller crowd funding site that seems to focus more on product innovation and invention.

Cool feature: they allow the ability to purchase products even after they have been funded. www.quirky.com 3. FundaGeek: A website that uses the crowd funding platform for technical innovations and basic research projects. www.fundageek.com 4.IgnitionDeck: While not a website per se, IgnitionDeck deserves a mention. Basically porting the look and feel of Kickstarter into a widget allows for the ease of integrating into your WordPress based website. Helps you retain all that traffic flow to your site. www.ignitiondeck.com 5. Cofundos: This website focuses on software projects specifically. The idea behind the site is that many people come together describing a feature, tool, or extension to some software they would like to see. Set the amount of money they would be willing to pay, and enough people have the same need and enough money raised, a software contractor is contacted and voila!

Above: Another indie game that we had to help support. Who else wants to play as one of the seven deadly sins?

Above: The Kickstarter.com main page. From here you can start your own addiction.

"You should keep a close eye on how many different pots you have put your honey in" developer, get a game for us to test, and also give one away to you! It’s a win situation for everyone.

It is easy to get caught up in the fun of finding some of the latest and greatest projects and becoming a backer to all of them that you find. Especially when the money doesn’t come out of bank account until the project is fully funded which can be upwards of a months time. This is done to protect you, the backer. No money transactions whatsoever occur until the project reaches the end of its allotted time. If not enough people back it, and the project fails to reach their monetary goal, the project is scrapped and your money stays safe in your bank account.

Due to this lag in withdrawal, you should keep a close eye on how many different pots you have put your honey in.

For those you who have a great product idea, cool arts project, or just looking for the money to help your band get a leg up, crowd funding could be for you. We personally here at DayOldStubble are also considering the idea of creating a Kickstarter project to do two things. One: it would give help give us a larger subscription base, and Two: with the larger subscription base and the money raised we would be able to print a larger run of our magazine allowing for us to get a huge discount because of quantity.

We would then be able to pass the savings on to our fans as well as get new fans.

Basically creating a snowball effect. Comes

back to the old adage that it takes money to make money. Which is a perfect time to bring awareness to all potential project creators that you need to make sure you set your monetary goal higher than what you’re actually needing. This is because Kickstarter has to make money also. So in exchange for using their website and tapping into the community, they will take a 5% fee from all funds raised. They are not the only ones going to be cashing in on your good fortune. Since all the credit card processing goes through Amazon, you will also incur a 3-5% processing fee from them. Just a heads up before you jump in too far. I urge you to spend multiple weeks coming back to the site, checking out new projects, seeing what works and what doesn’t. The best tip I can give you is to tell you to take some time and educate yourself on what makes a successful project and what will ultimately cause one to fail.

With enough time, you might even become as addicted as I am. Detz All Folks!!

Above: Farmageddon's Kickstarter page. With our help they went $20,000 over their goal. Not bad.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 23

>> FEATURE

INNOVATIONS FROM SMUT: ADVANCEMENTS TECHNOLOGY OWES TO PORN Many people look down on the porn industry, but they’ve added a lot to the internet By: Jason Carrick

Looking back at all the progress humanity has made through the last century, it’s perfectly natural to feel a little bit moved by the power of human ingenuity and our strive for constant improvement. It’s natural, but also totally wrong. Because if you really look into the history of our technological development, you’ll notice that the force driving us forward all this time wasn’t our need to better ourselves or seek out truth in all its forms, but rather our desire to see naked people.

While Guttenberg may have invented the Printing Press, some would say Porn forced people to read. In 1524, there was a book published called “I Modi” (The Ways) by Pietro Aretino and Giulio Romano. If you ask an art/literature expert about it, you might hear that “I Modi” was a series of beautiful illustrations depicting contemporary Italian life, accompanied by Aretino’s masterfully composed sonnets.

The truth is the book contained words and pictures, and while the pictures were of graphic sex acts, Pope Celment VII

you couldn’t truly appreciate them unless you could read the words.

In the middle ages almost no one could read. There weren’t any books and even less of a need. The rich saw no reason for the common man to be educated and the common man had no idea what any of those words meant. But when word got around what was contained in “I Modi” everyone wanted to get their hands on it an learn what was being said under the pictures.

Sure Pope Clement VII jailed anyone involved with it and ordered every copy destroyed but that was about as effective as demanding that people stop breathing. It was translated from its original Latin into every European language. Because it was translated and now regular people could read, they began to understand and, eventually, question what they were being taught.

"..That was about as effective as demanding that people stop breathing."

24 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

Above: The girls of Duke Nukem Forever as a sign showing how todays technology is was influenced by the demand for smut.

Below: An image from Pietro Aretino and Giulio Romano's "I Modi" (The Ways).

A collection of sonnets and detailed explicit drawings.

Nearly the entire technological world as you know it today owes its thanks to pornography: Take VHS for example. Before CDs or DVDs came along, the videotape cassette was the hottest thing the world had seen.

The idea that you could record and watch movies whenever you wanted was completely unheard of before VHS, and the concept single handedly revolutionized home entertainment.

But it wasn’t an instant success.

With early VCR models costing as much as $800 in today’s money,

FEATURE <<

Gutenberg's Printing Press

The printing press was invented in the Holy Roman Empire by the German Johannes Gutenberg around 1440, based on existing screw presses. Gutenberg, a goldsmith by profession, developed a complete printing system, which perfected the printing process through all of its stages by adapting existing technologies to the printing purposes, as well as making groundbreaking inventions of his own. Early works printed on the press included Bibles and Catholic Literature that were only readable by those who were of wealth and stature.

Left: An early example of the printing press created by Johanned Gutenberg that led to the Renaissance .

Above & Below: Early VCR's were both bulky and expensive and would not have taken off if there wasn't a demand for Adult content.

and blank tapes priced up to $50 a pop, it was slow for consumers to adopt this new technology. On top of the high prices, every ones favorite MPAA was so concerned about the ability to copy movies that they not only refused to support the system, but actually called it the Boston Strangler of the movie industry and tried to get it banned in a court of law.

But if the format had no corporate backing, was heavily criticized, and cost an arm and a leg to by who would buy it? Amazingly those wanting to watch porn, of course.

Up until the end of the 1970s, smut films accounted for well over half of all videotape sales in the United States. This is largely because, prior to VHS, the only way to see an adult film was to pay to sit in an X-rated movie theater with a room full of lonely men.

As advancements in video technology came along so did new ways to watch your favorite Adult

star. When the first laser discs were introduced, they offered essentially the same exact thing as VHS tapes. But with prices reaching almost $150 per disc, no amount of improved picture quality could convince the normal consumer to shell out that kind of cash. Then along came DVDs. By making heavy use of their additional content capabilities, like multiple camera angles and deleted scenes, the porn industry helped keep the DVD alive until the prices dropped and the general public could afford to adopt the format.

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just home entertainment that relied on the unstoppable selling power of pornography.

Polaroid was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon with their early digital cameras. Sure the digital camera had a lot of advantages, like the improved picture quality, editorial control, easily adjustable settings and reduced film costs, but it was still quite pricey at first. But those advantages and costs paled in comparison to the

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 25

>> FEATURE real selling feature of the digital camera, you were now free to take any picture you wanted and not have to worry about the folks at the film store laughing over your latest sexploits. Amazingly the camera companies were quick to adjust their marketing accordingly.

One of the greatest advancements fueled by the need of others to gain access to as much smut as they can handle would have to be the Internet. It could be argued that if it wasn't for pornography, the Internet we all know today might not have been born at all. While were not saying porn invented the Internet, we all know that was Al Gore, it has been stated that all most every piece of modern Internet technology can be traced back to the adult trade.

During the birth of the Internet, porn sites were the only places that asked you to pay for stuff online. Viewing content via fee-based subscriptions, credit card verification and Internet billing systems all originated with and were perfected by porn.

It was Richard Gordon who founded a venture called Electronic Card Systems. ECS was a trailblazer in online credit card processing. ECS’ services were widely used by sites

of less than wholesome content.

Gordon found a way to capitalize on the budding adult industry by getting a percentage of each transaction made using his service. Gordon’s creation allowed the adult industry to generate about $1.3 billion in sales online in 1999. It allowed porn to claim the title of being the biggest internet industry of the time. If you’ve ever bought something from Amazon, Overstock or anybody else online, you can probably thank Richard Gordon and the adult industry for that technology.

From online payment systems to streaming media porn has lent its hands to creating or improving the technology. The ability to transmit large amounts of complex data and simultaneously discuss them with someone anywhere in the world comes directly from the need of millions to watching live, and sometimes interactive, porn.

If you think online videos started with Youtube, then you’d be wrong.

Again, the adult industry did it first.

To quote Danni Ashe, founder of softcore porn site Danni’s Hard Drive, “the adult entertainment industry was the first to use streaming JPEG push video, which

Left: An actual ad from Pentax for their "all the right accessories” ad campaign that was seen in a publication in Sweden.

Above: An actual ad from Canon for the Canon Digital IXUS400 that was ran in an Italian publication.

Right: An and for the Ricoh DM2 campaign "Total Manipulation” as seen in the UK.

Just how popular is porn?

Taking a sample of web search trends from the 2008 US Presidential election one can see that Barack Obama was not only the front-runner for much of the presidential race, but he garnered some attention as a “celebrity” along the way, particularly among the young people and internet users. But that wasn't enough to make him number one, considering that in any given second, approximately 372 Internet users were typing “adult” search terms into search engines. The only time Obama took the top spot was on election day, and then he only lead the search over sex for roughly 23 minutes.

26 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

FEATURE << Right: Streaming video as we know might not have been possible without the demand for Adult Videos.

Far Right: Video Chat also benefitted from the demand for a faster Internet.

was a video that worked (…) in the browser and didn’t require a plugin. I think as an industry we tend to jump in a little bit faster and tweak the technology and try to get it to work faster.” Now while the Porn industry didn’t necessarily create all of these technologies, they did grow them to the point that other people took notice.

was stagnant. Then people started downloading porn and sexting and so on and, suddenly, there was a need for faster and more reliable phones. Maybe we should be thanking Hugh Hefner and not Apple or Steve Jobs for the latest smart phone we hold in our hands?

trapping”. Mousetrapping is when a developer writes code that makes it almost impossible to leave a page. The page will redirect your mouse away from an exit button and back to the main content area.

The Bad Stuff

All of your popular computer based media files – SWF (from Flash), MOV (from Apple’s Quicktime) and WMV (from Microsoft Windows) – were developed to allow visual images and sound to be transmitted most efficiently.

Now we’re not praising the porn industry as the intellectual visionary that has helped shape today’s modern world. They have also played their part it making the Internet the dreaded part that it is today.

All sorts of online businesses are taking their cues from porn, especially when it comes to fighting online piracy. See, the X-rated industry is actually one of the leading developers of anti-piracy software.

“Without programming pioneers trying to perfect video streaming software that would deliver images of copulation and procreation to paying customers hooked up with a 28.8kbps dial-up modem, it is unlikely that CNN would be effectively delivering news clips of global breaking news,” wrote Lewis Perdue in Eroticabiz.

The fact that porn is the engine that drives progress is not news.

Back in 2002 cell phone technology

Below: Besides SPAM and malware porn also burdened us with the famous pop-up and popunder ads that hijacked many a users computer.

Have you ever gotten an email for “Natural Male Enhancement” or something about barely legal Asian girls? Those are very obviously the product of the porn industry. But how about email scams or offers for cheap prescription drugs? All of this spam can be attributed, in part, to the adult entertainment industry.

Arguably the most dire consequence of internet porn is malware. In the early days of porn, it was quite common for people to get malware from merely visiting these sites. They were embedded in thumbnail pictures, video links and pretty much in any link on the pages. So if you’ve ever been to a page and gotten a Trojan horse or something from it, you can probably thank the porn industry for that one.

Another Internet bane the porn industry has brought to us is the pop-up and pop-under ads. Everyone is familiar with them; they’re the ads that take away focus from your browser when you’re trying to enjoy a site. Or they come popping out when you mouse over a certain area of the site. As if those aren’t bad enough, porn also gave us “mouse

The Future

The reason the Adult Industry is on the cutting edge of technology is that they are both willing and eager to experiment. Unlike normal businesses who have a carefully calculated budget strategy laid out for their next decade of business and simply cannot afford to deviate from that plan, porn is always looking for the next area it can get it teeth into.

It also probably helps that most Adult Entertainment Executives are younger people and more willing to try new things. As history has shown, with every new technology that becomes commercially available within the next couple of years we can expect to see porn's influence bringing it to the masses.

"Without programming pioneers trying to perfect video streaming [...] it is unlikely that CNN would be effectively delivering news clips" March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 27

>> INTERVIEW

SINISTER DESIGN INTERVIEW We sit down with Craig Stern to see how his latest project is going >> By: Jason Carrick

While at Wizard World Chicago we were introduced to Sinister Designâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead man, Craig Stern. He was just putting the finishing touches on his latest game Telepath RPG: Servants of God. With its release on February 14, 2012 we had a chance to sit down with Craig via Skype and talk about his middle eastern steampunk RPG, Telepath RPG: Servants of God. Craig spoke about how he got started in PC development, the successes and failures in developing Telepath and some insight into the PC gaming industry.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the history of sinister design?

My Name is Craig Stern. I started Sinister Design back in 2006, At the time I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it would be a game studio and I had a few months before I started law school and I wanted to do something creative, so I made an RPG in Flash. I liked it so much I kinda kept doing it and

28 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

here we are today. I just released Telepath RPG: Servants of God and I am going to stick with this.

We know from meeting you that you are pretty much a one man team. Did you actually handle every aspect of the game or did you have others who helped you on in the design process?

I had help mostly on the graphical front from a few artists. Lauren Linden did most of the character concept art. She also did that really nice watercolor intro at the very beginning when your family is getting arrested. Heriberto Valle Martinez did the GUI. All the character portraits were painted by a very talented fellow Jesse MacCabe. Those were the main three artists who helped out. I also didn't do all the voices, I would of been pretty incredible to do that.

I had a few voice actors help out as well, Ray Proctor, Jennifer Cox, Danielle Forrester, Megan Reardon, Marshall Stern, and Robert Rollins.

INTERVIEW << Did you contract out these people or was this a group effort with everyone wanting to take part?

Some people I did contract out, mainly the artists and such. Others I said I was self funding a game and was not particularly wealthy.

You originally started working on your first game when you were getting ready for school is that correct?

Gosh.. I guess it depends on what you mean by first game.

I mean the first in the Telepath RPG Series.

Yeah that was when I had 3 months. I has just quit this job. I was working at an educational text book contracting company. It was the most hideous job I ever worked and it inspired me to apply to law school.

I ended up getting in somewhere, so I was like "Oh good, I quit!" So I had this whole summer where I had nothing to do and I was like, well, this is a good chance for me to undertake some really crazy, ambitious project, cause once I get into law school I'll never have time for that. So I made Telepath RPG Chapter 1 and went through my first semester at school and thought this was great, I got it out of my system, I made this game, now I'm doing good in law school.

But by the end of the first semester I was like, "You know what, I want to make more games." So I kept doing it even while I was in law school, My grades suffered a little because of that but on balance I think it was the best thing I could of done.

Doing game design while studying for law school probably was a good way to forgot about all the legal stuff and try this technical stuff instead.

Yeah there is a weird parallel almost between reading statutes and analyzing code. Your looking for triggers trying to see what effects what. There is a lot of overlap that people don't immediately realize most of the time.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool. Where did your initial idea for the Telepath series and this latest Servants of God come from? Did other games influence you or was this just something you had laying around in your head?

Well if were gonna talk about games that influenced me than we

actually have to go back to Telepath RPG Chapter 2 because that one I was really making an effort to...

I really wanted to make an RPG. I grew up loving Shining Force. I don't know if you ever played that game but it was for the Genesis and was brilliant game. Your started of with this team of six characters and as you went through the game you would meet other people and recruit them into your team and gradually you would assemble this huge army, and who ever you used in battle would become stronger. It was just a fabulous tactical RPG. I loved the hell out of it and I wanted to make a game like that. So that was.. I developed that kind Just a sample of of combat system the beautiful for Telepath RPG art work you Chapter 2. At the will experience. same time there is a problem with games like Shining Force, which is that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really, really linear.

There is not a whole lot you can do besides fighting the tactical battles, as awesome as those battle are. So I wanted incorporate elements of "yeah other RPGs that I really love. RPGs like Fallout, Fallout 2, or to a some there is what lesser extent Planescape a weird Torment. Games where you can explore this world in pretty much any parallel way that is accessible to you. You can almost wander around to different places, talk to people, you have dialogue between trees, choices that make a difference reading in terms of the story, characters who have ongoing relationships with you statutes where it matters what you say to and them and what you do for them. I analyzing loved that stuff too. I thought, God wouldn't it be cool if there could be code" a game where I could have these tactical battles that I just loved from games like Shining Force, Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, etc...

Danielle Forrester, voicing Malis.

One of these types of excellent battle systems married to a proper open ended RPG where you can explore, you have dialog options, quests with multiple endings, and ongoing character relationships. I wanted to marry those things. I tried it with Telepath RPG Chapter 2. It didn't quite work because the game was simply too linear. It was only with Telepath RPG: Servants of God that I feel like I really had some success.

The Personality mechanic- where a more non-combat hero builds effectiveness via fielding more alliesis a great concept. What led to its development in the finished form?

Gosh, you know the personality mechanical really isn't all that different from charisma as you see it in older western RPGs. The only difference is it takes on an added dimension simply because your a telepath and personality isn't just March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 29

>> INTERVIEW like-ability and persuasiveness it also impacts your telepathic powers, your ability to influence people on an emotional level through telepathy.

So it does sort of seem natural to have that be a sort of limiting factor in terms of how many people you could telepathicly control.

Do you feel the game is noticeably easier with either a combat-focused or personality-focused path?

You know, I feel that in some ways the game is easier with the personality focus and in some ways it is easier with the combat focus.

Certainly early on it is easier with a combat focus. Simply because up until the moment where you can start pumping up your combat stats your hero is pretty vulnerable particularly if you don't put a lot of points into psychic defence or psychic power. However, later on, personality is arguably much more important simply because you gain huge advantages from being able to field a whole team of 8 characters.

Any tips you might give to new players of Telepath RPG: Servants of God who haven't played the other Telepath RPG games? Is it easier to play straight through or try to look for all the open ended options available.

It depends.. If your having a hard time with the game, it can pay to take some time out to explore. There are treasure chests hidden all over the world and because you advance in large part through paying for training, finding those little cashes of gold is an easy way to boost your stats. Other than that if your having a hard time try pumping down the difficulty settings.

Now when you designed this with the open ended aspect, compared to most games who come out with so many hours to complete the game, did you you figure that into it or did you just say here is a beginning and here is an end, and these are the things that can happen along the way. Did you give an estimated time frame to play through it or does it vary based on the expertise of the player?

Oh, it varies considerably by the expertise of the player. I mean it is not one of those games where if you know how to do it you can beat it in 10 minutes. It is not one of those. Not like Super Mario 64, your 30 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

never going to see someone posting a speed run. But there are a number of different ways to go about beating the game. I don't want to spoil the end game but basically there is a number of different paths to take.

Pretty much half the quests in the game that can lead to the end you don't really have to do. It is simply a matter of player preference and what you discover during your time playing.

this, it is a browser game." It is a good game that just happens to be made in flash. I don't really know if there is much I can do about it other than just keep releasing good games and earn peoples respect the hard way.

One of the benefits we see from dealing with different operating systems ourselves, it definitely makes it easy to be cross platform. Your not really stuck on anything there. You can run it on Mac, Windows, or Linux making it pretty much open ended for you. That is one thing it has going for it. I can see on the development end where it saves some time.

Yes it is really really nice, just the shear flexibility on how you deploy a game. I wasn't too terribly smart when I started to design Telepath RPG: Servants of God. If I had thought it through better I could have easily come up with a browser version that would of ran just fine. But as it is I'm not at all disappointed about releasing the game in AIR. AIR allows me to simultaneously release for PC, Mac, and Linux using a single installer, that is so valuable.

Now what was your decision behind developing in Flash?

That is a great question. Now if I remember correctly I think I chose Flash because my step-dad at the time was teaching a course in Flash

and I figured I could rely on him for help. It didn't end up really happening, I sort of relied on online tutorials and struggled through for a couple of months and came out with a game, that honestly, I am not that proud of as a game. I am proud however that I was able to make it after only a couple of months with free tutorials.

With the decision behind Flash have you found any issues with getting around most peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preconceived notion that Flash stands for "Free Web Games" and you having a premium version? I mean it is Abobe AIR which lets it run on all systems, but have you seen that as a kind of a stumbling block for you or has it been a decent reception so far?

It's been a pretty good reception so far but you do still encounter people who have this idea that "Flash=Free Browser Game." People often times don't stop to think, well gosh, VVVVVV, that was made in flash and that is a classic game. Machinarium was made in flash. No one sits around saying "I'm not going to play

Above Left: Just an example of the dialogue trees you experience while playing Telepath RPG Servants of God.

"no one sits around saying i'm not going to play this, it is a browser game"

Based on where were going here, have you ever thought of being part of any of the Humble Indie Bundles or Pay What You Want Programs? Have you tried or considered putting you game in any of those or has anyone contacted you about taking part?

I've definitively considered it.

As of right now I released the game on February 14th, so it is still relatively new and a bit early to put it on sale I think. But I am absolutely interested in selling it in the Humble Indie Bundle. If Jeff Rosen wants to contact me and ask me to be in the bundle, I will respond in all caps, YES!! Because I think that would be a fabulous opportunity, not just to make some money, but more importantly to reach a lot of people who probably wouldn't have heard of the game.

What would you say might of been the toughest aspect of being a developer part time while leading an every day life?

I work full time for money to pay my bills, to not live with my mom. Which means that all my development time is a four or five hour block of time in the evening, if I want to sleep at night. Which,

INTERVIEW << I like sleep. It makes it difficult to have a social life because your very limited in the time you have available to develop. You've got to take that time to develop if you want to develop something. It's also difficult on how long it takes to make a game simply because your not putting an eight hour day developing. It unnaturally elongates the development cycle, which is part of why it took so long to create Telepath RPG: Servants of God. Just how long did it take to develop Telepath RPG: Servants of God? I started by taking the Telepath RPG Chapter 2 engine and revamping it back in December 2007. So we're talking about 4 years and two or three months on top.

"that is a great way of putting it, a labor of love"

We can definitively see where only being able to put in a few hours a night would make it take that long.

If you could of developed at a normal rate it probably would of only take half as much or even a quarter of the time.

It definitively makes it a labor of love.

That is a great way of putting it, a labor of love.

Telepath RPG: Servants of God just got released on February 14th and now that you have this one under your belt and it is getting a good reception. Do you have any other upcoming games or projects your thinking of trying to undertake?

Yeah, actually I've been working on a multi-player turn based tactics game called, Telepath Tactics. Set in the same universe with a vastly improved combat engine. Sort of the philosophy I am taking with this one is I want to create the Super Smash Bros. of multi-player turn based tactics. This is a game you can sit around a living room playing with your friends laughing as you throw each others characters off of ledges, and just generally beat each other to a pulp. It's a lot of fun. It is already playable actually, I've had a few parties where I had some friends over and proceeded to kill each others armies. But yeah it is still in development, hopefully I can get it out, if not by the end of the year, then certainly next year.

Based on having another project on the pathway would you consider yourself starting to

move more into a indie developer, or is this still a part time "I really want to do" this kind of thing?

Well at the moment it is still part time. I am certain taking a long view approach to this. I want to make games in a certain niche that I like.

The more games that I make in that niche, sort of turn based strategy, I figure the more I will have available I can sell simultaneously. Hopefully one day, I will accumulate enough fans where I can make a living selling from my catalog of games. When that day comes I will go full time.

It hasn't arrived just yet but I am looking forward to it happening.

I think everyone is looking forward to that day too. From you sticking with the genre and theme that you like, it will definitely make the games fit together and excel since your not having to recreate a whole different story, setting and background. You have a general idea going and they all kinda fall along the same path.

I very much respect developers who want to start from scratch every time they create a new game.

I absolutely respect that. I think that is certainly a sign of ambition. But you don't have to revolutionize the world every time you make a game.

Sometimes it is enough to take a form that is established and put your own twist on it. Try something that hasn't been done exactly in that way, but in the vain of something established. There is nothing wrong with that and it certainly cuts down on development times when you can reuse stuff you have already done from previous projects.

One last question to leave you with.

From your development of Telepath RPG: Servants of God, do you have any amusing stories, frustrating bugs, or things that surprised you from working with the people who helped create the graphics or voice overs?

Gosh... There have been all kinds of frustrating bugs. Probably the biggest was blindly marching along, creating all this content for the game and running head long into the upper limits of what Flash can handle. That was kind of nightmarish.

That was at least a solid month of me having to break the game apart into different modules that Flash could run and load dynamically as part of the game. If I had had more experience and the perspective that I have now, I would have started with that approach from the beginning.

At the time I didn't really know what I was doing. I had only made at that point, one other game, that was a stand alone executable and was a much smaller game. So I didn't have the same problems and everything else was an even smaller browser game. So Telepath RPG: Servants of God forced me to learn the value of modular design. The hard way!

I've learned a heck of a lot making this game and hope to put all that to good use for future projects.

Well we hope so too. Craig thank you for the interview. We look forward to continually playing Telepath RPG: Servants of God and can't wait to try out your new game when it comes out for public demo.

Great! Thanks alot.

Right: Telepath RPG Servants of God game selection screen greets you on the first load.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 31

OVERVIEW Telepath RPG: SOG PLATFORM

Telepath RPG: Servants of God Sinister Design's Latest RPG By: Aaron Dekuiper

Among the new releases for PC gamers last month, Telepath RPG: Servants of God is the third game in the series of tactical RPG's developed by Sinister Design. Don't worry if you have no familiarity to the previous entries thoughServants of God starts from a new place in the story and revolves around a main character not seen previously. The plot and events will feel immediately comfortable to anyone who has spent time with series' like Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy. Your character is a young, unproven hero whose parents are wrongly imprisoned to start the game, and your quest is to build up a team of freedom fighters in the resistance.

This familiarity proves to be more asset than cliché- it’s very easy to dive right into the thick of the game just as if you were re-playing one of those old favorites.

Gameplay is divided into exploration and battle sequences. During exploration you walk around town, converse with other characters, and learn details of potential quests you can undertake. Like many recent bigger budget releases, Telepath RPG: SoG presents you with a branching conversation model where you can choose who you want to help out, how friendly you want to be about it, and so forth.

There are many sidequests outside the main storyline that you can pursue or ignore as you see fit. Also, for those who dislike time-consuming world maps with random encounters, Telepath RPG: SoG has only “points of interest” on the map that you jump between instantly, quickly getting you back into dungeon crawling or leveling up your characters in town.

Combat itself is reminiscent of Final Fantasy Tactics or the Shining Force series.

Each battle plays out on a grid map of the same size, and characters take turns moving among the squares to position themselves for attacks and other actions. This style of tactical combat is very satisfying as you always feel like you can succeed if you plan out your movements wisely and little is left to luck. Attacks deal more damage from behind or when flanking, defensive 32 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

Game Info: Format: Adobe AIR Other Formats: PC, Mac, Linux Developer: Craig Stern Publisher: Sinister Design Country Origin: United States Price: $24.95 Release Date: Out Now No. Players: 1 Website: SinisterDesign.net

This style of tactical combat is very satisfying as you always feel like you can succeed if you plan out your movements

characters get cut down easily and must be protected while they do their work, and there is no simply opening a menu and guzzling a dozen potions if things don’t go your way. Characters that die in combat are permanently dead and removed from the story- but early on you acquire a ghost with the ability to revive them, for a cost.

With a storyline that feels like Final Fantasy IV, a conversation system similar to Fallout 3, and combat akin to Shining Force, Telepath RPG: SoG may be worth checking out if you’re a fan of any of those games. If you’re still not sure, join us here next month for a more thorough review of the whole game!

Look For Our Full Review Coming In April

If your a fan of Final Fantasy IV, Fallout 3, or Shining Force, get this one today.

Right: Your first adventure once you escape the prison.

Below: Moving your character into place for the perfect attack takes some planning as each member has limited moves.

50 SIGNS

PC Games

50 reasons Why PC Games

YOU'RE A PC GAMER

We're sure you have said a few of these comments over the years.

There are two kinds of Gamers in the world. Everyone else, and PC Gamers. We’re a rare breed, a dedicated breed. And like any group, we have our crises of identity, of existential doubt. but you know your a PC Gamer, because you’ve experienced moments like these.

1. This 286 is extremely expensive, why would we ever need a 40 megabyte hard drive?

2. Forget about Freeman?

3. Before playing System Shock 2 I always lock the front door.

4. I bet the next game these Commander Keen guys do will be a 2.5D shooter set in a Nazi castle.

5. Another F-22 simulator? Awesome!

6. The screen is frozen but the hard drive light is flickering, so something must be happening.

7. Just played DOOM. Graphics can’t get any better then this.

8. My 486SX doesn’t have a math coprocessor so I have to run Rise of the Triad in low detail.

9. Having to exit out of Windows 3.1 just to play games is too tedious. Let’s edit autoexec.bat 10. Who new games come in brightly colored boxes, and not on these recycled 3.5” disks with “Accounts” crossed out and “Hero Quest” written over the top.

11. I’m trying to play Leisure Suit Larry, do you know what the third word of the seventh paragraph on page 3 is?

12. Windows 95 is cool, I guess, but thank God for DOS mode.

13. No dad, that thing under the desk isn’t just the hard drive, it’s the whole computer.

14. Why does this floppy disk case have a lock on it? No one else in the house even knows what these are!

15. I just debated for 2 hours over which is the superior 2.5D rending engine.

16. Damn You Bungie! Halo was supposed to be a PC game and a RTS to boot.

17. Online FPS is fun but there are too many low ping bastards...’

18. Is a whole extra video card just to make colored lights REALLY worth $200?

19. I downloaded all these WADs, so now I am off to play DOOM again with new guns and levels.

20. Oh look, Sony made a console with a CD Rom. Cute!

21. I want to update my RAM but the form factor has changed, so now I need a whole new motherboard.

22. My PC was running slow, so I deleted everything and reinstalled Windows.

23. To me a .com will always be a tiny program to make the keyboard or mouse work.

24. I wished my girlfriend played more games. Now I wish The Sims had never been invented.

25. Those Korean guys are... quite good at StarCraft.

26. If only there was a Napster for games.....

27. This new 3D video card needs an extra power plug! That’s insane.

28. A 19” LCD monitor would be sweet... but $9999 is too much.

29. More than 20 years of loyal fandom and how does Microsoft replay us? Xbox?!?!

30. Just ran a game in Super VGA. Man 640x480 is really crisp.

31. Remember when a MOD was a sample based music file?

32. Just got an 8GB hard drive.

I’ll never fill this baby up.

33. So apparently there is this thing called “Over Clocking” to make your CPU faster. I remember when we just flipped the Turbo switch.

34. As soon as DVD burners get below $500. I’m getting one.

35. Complete, Custom, Express install? So many choices.

36. I feel smart. I just gave myself a billion credits using a HEX editor.

37. Oh great, a new version of Windows. Time to pay $300 for my games to stop working again.

38. This secondary Hotmail address is just for signing up to Betas 39. Ah, the hours of fun using the dev console and abusing “noclip.”

40. You can get paid to play StarCraft?!

I’m moving to South Korea.

41. Death Match is the pinnacle of human social interaction.

42. Rocket Jumping is the future of air travel.

43. Storming Omaha Beach. Who’d of thought it’d lead to something so big.

44. Forget Commodore vs Falcon, I’m all about Nvidia vs ATI. 45. I started when games were like homework. I took notes and drew maps.

46. Strapping C4 to a jeep is still a valid anti-tank tactic.

47. Every time I go out at night I’m afraid of being eaten by a Grue.

48. There are games on the school library computers and only I know how to get to them.

49. Yes, tanks can be killed with an army of spear men.

50. The most fun I’ve ever had in a God game is spanking the monkey.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 33

>> OVERVIEW

MASS EFFECT 3 OVERVIEW

Sci-fi and role-playing gamers rejoice! This week gave us the most anticipated space saga finale since Luke donned all black and marched into Jabba’s Palace. (Warning- spoilers ahead!)

DATA BURST Format: PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC Developer: BioWare Publisher: Electronic Arts Release Date: March 6, 2012

It’s been a long journey, but one of the greatest storylines in video gaming over the last ten years has come to the end with Bioware’s release of Mass Effect 3 on March 6th. If you haven’t already jumped into the fray, now’s a great chance to get fully up to speed on what to expect. The Reapers have besieged Earth…and humanity’s only hope is John Shepard, a man who watched his family perish to slavers on Mindoir and had to leave his good friend Kaiden Alenko behind to perish on Virmire.

A million realities…

THE KNOWLEDGE Mass Effect 3 follows Commander Shepard's mission to save the galaxy from the Reapers by rallying civilizations of the galaxy together.

But wait- maybe your Shepard isn’t any of those things. His name might not be John and “he” may actually be a woman, with an entirely different story.

And that’s just the tip of the storytelling iceberg. Throughout the entire experience with Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, each player has been building a version of that universe that is uniquely their own. Did you free the Rachni on Noveria? Tell off misguided fan Conrad Verner? Who did you side with when Samara and her daughter Morinth squared off?

Mass Effect 3 brings this concept to a epic conclusion, with reportedly over 1,000 variables from your choices in the first two games factoring in to how your

34 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

particular story unfolds. Many are cited at the start when you import your ME2 character. Some are obvious…your choices in romance, which squadmates survived your previous exploits, and so forth. But with that many factors playing a part in the conclusion chapter even the most zealous Mass Effect fan will have a hard time pointing out each little piece that plays in.

A Fresh Day So what’s new in the third installment?

First off, multiplayer has cometo the Mass Effect franchise for the first time. Hardcore fans are more than a little apprehensive by this addition, but Bioware promises it will add depth without compromising quality. You and up to four friends team up to face waves of opponents using all the familiar classes and powers from the main game and build up XP as you successfully complete missions. Multiplayer isn’t just a diversion for after you’re tired of the base game, either- success there gives your single player Commander Shepard extra war assets that can help influence the course of that campaign.

Have an Xbox 360 and Kinect hardware?

ME3 incorporates this new technology… but don’t worry, you won’t be flailing your

Above: Commander Shepard, the protagonist, whose mission it is to save the galaxy from the Reapers.

OVERVIEW <<

Mass Effect primer

If you missed out on the first two games or are just rusty on remembering all the details, now’s a great time to get caught up before ME3 launches!

Mass Effect

Above: The Reapers, who have invaded Earth, are destroying London is this cut scene.

Above: Battle your way and progress towards your goal of uniting the galaxy and saving Earth.

"multiplayer is coming to the Mass Effect franchise for the first time"

Above: It is up to you and your squad to save Earth from the Reapers.

hands around like a maniac as you try to activate functions. Instead, you’ll be able to utilize voice commands to help control your squad in combat. Just say their name and an action or power and they’ll follow your orders straightaway.

It promises to be a lot more fluid than pulling up the options menu every two seconds when you’re fighting.

Lastly, for those who like the game but may not love exactly how it plays, ME3 will give you the choice of three different play styles. “Action” allows you to enjoy the combat aspects of the game without the burden of “choosing correctly” during all the myriad conversations. “Story” takes the opposite route, letting you get all the depth of the excellent cut scenes while lowering the difficulty of the combat sequences. And then “Roleplaying” is the style most players will choose, emulating the “standard” Mass Effect feel with equal emphasis both on plot and fighting.

Join us next month for a detailed review of the game after we put it through its paces!

By: Aaron Dekuiper

PLAYABILITY RATING

The initial game introduces Commander Shepard, a military man who is tapped by the Citadel Council to become the first human Spectre- basically a paramilitary agent with almost complete discretion for accomplishing their missions. Your goal for most of the game is shadowing the actions of Saren, a Turian Spectre who has gone rogue. No one believes Shepard about the true threat of the Reapers, powerful sentient machine life forms, until one of them arrives at the Citadel and is single-handedly a match for all the resistance humanity and the other species can muster. Throughout the game Shepard recruits a team of allies including several human marines, an Asari scientist, a Krogan battlemaster, and an exiled Quarrian. Tough choices must be made, and at least one of your friends won’t make it through the fire alive. Ultimately Saren is defeated and eliminated and the Reapers are left stranded in Dark Space…but it is only a matter of time before they return again.

Mass Effect 2

Before the opening sequence of the second game is complete, the Normandy has been destroyed and Commander Shepard is dead. In Media Res, indeed!

Through a grueling two-year process, Shepard is brought back to life by the shadowy pro-human organization Cerberus and given a ship and crew again. This time it’s all about recruiting powerful squadmates for a suicide mission into the heart of territory held by the Protheans- the most recent galactic civilization destroyed by the Reapers, now repurposed to be mindless agents.

Some allies from ME1 return while new characters come into the fold, including a Salarian doctor and a genetically modified “perfect human.” If you had a romance in ME1 you can remain true to your love or stray with someone else. More so even than the first time around you can face painful losses by the end of the story as your squadmates live or die based on your success at preparing for the critical mission. In the end, even as you succeed it becomes quite clear that the Reapers are poised to return to the galaxy in full force- leading directly to the reality of Earth being attacked as ME3 opens…

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 35

>> TOP FIVE

TOP FIVE!

ARCADE CABINETS OF ALL TIME Each month, the best of something…in convenient, list format!

By: aaron dekuiper

While it can be hard to find a good arcade these days, they are still a wonderful mecca of geek life. This list only covers “standard” cabinets- no pinball, skee-ball, or anything like that. Maybe next month.

5. Space Invaders

One of the biggest games in all of video game history, Space Invaders launched a rush on arcades and gaming as a whole that helped launched a whole generation of youth into gaming. Sure, the concepts are simple and the graphics are quite basic- but the difficulty level makes this game a challenge to take on, even today. Sure, it starts out easy enough… but when your blockades are gone and those aliens get down to a couple rows above you, be arrogant then!

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Were there any cooler characters in the late 80’s than the ninja turtles? This game is one of the great co-op bashers, allowing your friends to have a great time with you simultaneously, instead of standing there watching and waiting for their chance to play. Great fun. It takes a lot of quarters to get through all the levels and face Shredder himself- and his clone- but hard to find a better way to burn time with your friends. Great fan service with all the familiar TV show characters, and somehow killing your thousandth foot soldier never really gets that old.

3 Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off-Road

The only racing game on this list, Off-Road is a great time on four wheels. Winning races nets you money to upgrade your truck which helps you win more races- if you’re skilled and persistent enough you can play for hours on a much smaller handful of quarters than anything else in an arcade, outside pinball.

The steepest thrill though comes from races involving “Ironman” Stewart himself…driving a truck with enough advantages that it’s almost cheating, it takes all your resourcefulness and luck to best him consistently- and is all the more satisfying for it.

36 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

2. Street Fighter II: Championship Edition

The king of all fighting games.

SF: The World Warrior came first, but Championship Edition refined the skillsets of each character and allowed you to control the four Grand Masters as well. You know you still remember the controls for a fireball, dragon punch, and Vega’s claw roll.

Street Fighter dominated arcades like few games had for over a decade, leading to huge crowds and an endless string of other players ready to jump in to challenge whoever’s been on top. Win, and you get to keep playing. Simple as that.

1. Ms Pac-Man/Galaga

Ok, this is a bit of a padded selection as two games in one… but the prevalence of this combo cabinet in arcades to this day makes it not unlikely that you’ll find one in a local arcade. Both games are alltime classics, and getting to choose either/both of them to play is just a gift. Ms. Pac-man creates a more rounded experience than the original with better ghost AI and more diverse maps.

And then Galaga is one of the greatest space-shooters of all time, with a thrill and challenge level that keeps you coming back for more.

REVIEW

The DEAD

The Dead

Indie

A Ford Brothers Film By: Shea Kimbrough

Over the past six years, Pop Culture has witnessed a renaissance of the horror genre. Leading the way has been the relentless, ravenous, flesh craving living dead. From video games to novels; movies to songs; and even hoodies to slippers (which are not only awesome, but comfortable); zombies have seemed to do what they do best… take over.

A recent entry to the escalating library of zombie flicks is the Ford Brothers’ The Dead. The film stars Rob Freeman as Brian and Ghana’s celebrity actor Prince David Osei as Daniel. Freeman was part of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Saving Private Ryan, a few episodes of The X Files, and who could forget him in the poignantly short-lived television series: Viper. I must admit that I know little on Prince David Osei, though there isn’t much that I can find on the Internet.

The Dead follows Brian and Daniel’s journey of survival across the beautiful backdrop of West Africa. Brian, an Air Force engineer, is left stranded after his plane (that just so happens to be the last evacuation plane out of West Africa) crashes right off the coast. Daniel is a soldier from an unnamed African country who is searching for his son. Together, they battle both the undead and the terrain in hopes of being reunited with their families.

Normally, this would allow for two people to bond; or at least develop some sort of chemistry, be it good or bad. However, in this almost completely lifeless movie, the lack of any type of chemistry results in a long, drawn out experience. The characters barely converse and when they do, it all seems to come out clumsy and inept.

Movie Info: Production year: 2010 Rated: R Runtime: 90 mins Directors: Howard J. Ford, Jonathan Ford Cast: Dan Morgan,Glenn Salvage, Katy Richardson,

The severing of extremities is clean, bloody and fun to watch

Prince David Oseia, Rob Freeman

be stealthy, he pulls out a machete and goes to work. The severing of extremities is clean, bloody and even fun to watch.

Below: Extensive use of locals gives this zombie flick a unique authenticity. Rotting flesh is scary but those white eyes are scarier.

If you’re feeling a little ghoulish, but don’t want to want to watch something engaging, a la 28 Days Later, then definitely pick this up for a watch. The gorgeous scenery and a few good zombie re-deaths make this worth the 2 hours you have to kill. However, if you watch films to be thoroughly entertained and/or stimulated or you don’t have much time on your hands, you’re better off skipping this one.

RATING

The filming locations are intense but the film still lacks.

The two things that do propel the film along is the great job done by the Ford Brothers on choosing the locations to film and the special effects and make up crews. They didn’t go too far, nor did they completely skimp on the gore.

When an undead is shot, usually in the head, the spew is nicely done, as well as the collapse of the extras. When Daniel feels the need that they should March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 37

REVIEW

Safe House

Movie

Safe House

Play It Safe, Stay In The House By: James Detzler

I sat down to watch Safehouse at my local theater not knowing which film I was going to see. According to some trailers it looked like a movie that was going to show off Denzel Washington’s acting chops with some brilliant mind games over fellow actor Ryan Reynolds.

Other trailers made it appear to be a film highlighting Reynold’s ability to get physical, something I was excited to see. It ended up attempting to do both and failed to bring either scenario into the limelight.

Safehouse decided to take a cue from it’s name and play it safe. The film never really strived to be anything bigger than a mediocre spy flick. This could have been a completely dull experience but luckily it did have some powerhouse actors to flesh out the two main roles. Reynolds flexed and Washington pontificated but ultimately it felt like watching caged animals scratch and snarl. The possibility for a spectacle was there but never fully realized. I blame the script. Sure the plot was nothing new, but at this point when nearly every story has been mined, the challenge is how you present it. Denzel’s Tobin Frost was presented as this highly intelligent individual who played with people’s minds like a cat with yarn.

Instead we got a de-clawed kitten who smugly spouted off pretentious preachings at Reynolds’ Matt Weston and got nowhere.

Completely nullify-ing what Frost was known for. Sure he turned the police against Weston but that’s not hard to do when your captor has you handcuffed in a public setting. Weston as a character was better thought out, truly acting like the amateur spy he was. He made mistakes, and read people wrong, making him a believably fallible person. There were times you wondered how did this rookie come about this high level of fighting skill but that was easy to look past in light of the action.

One thing this movie did very well and part of what made this movie enjoyable was all the gun duels and hand-to-hand combat. We got to see both Washington and Reynolds throw their share of punches and it was fascinating. Reynolds ability to scrap is something we certainly don’t see enough of and he did a masterful job doing what ever he needed to win a fight. Denzel showed off as the more experienced fighter 38 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

Movie Info: Production year: 2012 Rating: R Runtime: 115 mins Directors: Daniel Espinosa Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Denzel Washington, Fares Fares,

Above: Tobin Frost (Washington) about to turn the tables on Matt Weston (Reynolds) as he is set to apprehend Frost after his escape.

Liam Cunningham, Nora Arnezeder, Robert Patrick, Ruben Blades, Ryan Reynolds, Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga

Below: Ryan Reynolds character, Matt Weston, on the search for Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington).

using his skills to win vs brute strength.

Sadly the actions scenes were occasionally marred by horrible camera work. This is most clearly seen during the shanty town shootout. The camera was too unsteady and was constantly whipping around making it hard to make out what was happening. This is completely unacceptable.

Why make an action scene, and then make it entirely unappealing to watch?

This movie is one that I find hard to recommend to people who have to pay exorbitant ticket prices unless they are huge fan of Ryan or Denzel. For those of us who are lucky enough to live where prices are more acceptable I certainly wouldn’t balk giving it a go. Definitely a film worth looking for when it comes available for renting. Detz All Folks!!

RATING

Rating Break Down Acting: 1 Star

Reynolds’ and Washingtons’ acting chops are certainly noticeable but never let off their collar of a character.

Plot: 1/2 Star Humdrum plot that every twist is realized far before you arrive.

Cinematography: 1/2 Star Blurred and shaky actions scenes blemish an otherwise acceptable viewing experience.

Script/Dialogue: 1/2 Star A master game-player is reduced to the little leagues when not given enough the room and material to strut his stuff.

Scrappiness: 1 Star Just like the main protagonist this movie is constantly fighting to be a better film despite its limitations.

REVIEW this means war

This Means War

movie

All's Fair In Love And War By: James Detzler

Ahhh popcorn. Isn’t it great how even though it holds no real nutritional benefit we still love the way it tastes? While at its core popcorn is nothing special, with a little extra; butter, salt, seasonings; it becomes something that tastes amazing. This Means War is a lot like popcorn. It’s basic structure is tired and the delivery is even a little stale but with some special effects, fancy action and light-hearted humor it ends up being a very fun film to watch.

I know personally when I go to the theaters and get popcorn I always seem to have an issue with getting the salt to spread evenly throughout the entire bag of popcorn. I never fail to only get the top layer seasoned and once I get past that, the rest of the bag returns to plain ole boring popcorn. Now occasionally, I will find little patches in the lower layers with flavor and it’s a very pleasant surprise renewing my interest in my popcorn. This again is a more specific analogy of my feelings towards This Means War. In the beginning of the movie the central characters’ perfect smiles, clothes, and toys is an enjoyable escape.

About a third into the movie though, this starts to wear off and you start questioning why and how everything seems so perfect.

Then along comes another funny scene or action sequence, causing you to forget your qualms and get swept up in the fast-pace at which this movie clips along.

In the end, it comes down to flavor over substance. The plot is predictable, the dialogue a little cheesy at times, the acting is passable, and the camerawork mediocre.

But it sure is FUN!!! The entire time I was watching this movie the adult section of my brain kept tapping its foot wondering when something worthwhile was going flash up on the screen while my inner child sat staring at the pretty lights enthralled. Don’t see This Means War expecting gourmet popcorn. See it when you want to shut down the brain and relax. Detz All Folks!

Movie Info: Production year: 2012 Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 97 mins Directors: McG Cast: Abigail Spencer, Angela Bassett, Chelsea Handler, Chris Pine , Laura Vandervoort, Reese Witherspoon, Til Schweiger, Tom Hardy

"see it if you want to shut down the brain and relax"

Rating Break Down Acting: 1/2 Star

These are roles Reese, Tom, and Chris have no problem filling with ease, but no one elevates

Below: Chris Pine and Tom Hardy star as intrepid CIA field agents who simultaneously court lonely heart Reese Witherspoon.

their characters past cookie cutter status.

Plot: 1/2 Star Simple and effective plot but a little too contrived at moments and boring at others.

Cinematography: 1/2 Star This type of film doesn’t lend itself well to do anything inventive camera-wise so it’s just text book work.

Dialogue: 1/2 Star Feels dumbed down and unrealistic.

Fun: 1 Star Was a perfect way to shut out the rest of the world and just let your mind wander.

RATING

The plot, dialogue, and acting are ok. But it sure is FUN!

Below: Disguised as a travel agent and a cruise ship captain, these CIA agents make quite a pair.

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 39

>> FLASHBACK

GAME INFO Format: SNES/Genesis Developer: KOEI Release Date: 1994

Uncharted Waters: New Horizons THIS LESSER KNOWN COLONIAL NAVAL ADVENTURE IS STILL PLAYABLE TODAY If you’re a fan of Sid Meier’s: Pirates, this is a lesser known but similar ride that you should check out. Though the graphics and some of the game structure are pretty dated after 17 years, overall it is still a fun experience and a deep game with good historical elements. You choose from six main characters and the for the most part are left to roam the world as you see fit, though each character does have a small storyline that you can advance if you wish.

In between though, you can be a merchant, explore undiscovered parts of the world, fight pirates, and built up a powerful fleet.

If you’re at all versed in the history of the colonial period you’ll come across many references to places and creatures central to this period, and each discovery has a small write-up as well so you can learn as you play. Know what a Carrack is? How about Diaz’s Monument? You will after your time with this game! All of Earth is available to discovery, though knowing where places like Australia or Easter Island are does make it less exciting to go sailing into the wild blue than in games where the maps are randomized.

While exploration is a fun (and profitablego find the saber toothed tiger in Greenland or the giant ground sloth in Argentina to make a mint quick) distraction, the 40 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

mercantile and piracy elements are the most enjoyable parts of New Horizons.

You can buy and sell hundreds of different period-relevant goods, and transport them about the world wherever you please all in the name of making money. Be a smalltimer dabbling in a variety of goods and see the world, or nail down a profitable cycle between a few nearby ports and raise a nice fortune quickly. More money means better ships which allow for larger amounts of goods or supplies- and longer voyages that can be undertaken before weighing anchor.

Piracy- whether as a dirty sea dog or honorable with a letter of marquee- opens up the combat path, which can yield quite a different gameplay than being a trader. Load your ships down with cannons and armed crewmen, and build your cash up by capturing it from those less warlike! Pirate fleets in particular can be tough, and give you a nice challenge to work up to. You can fight as a fleet or acquire fancy personal weapons and armor, and then engage in a rock, paper, scissors duels man-to-man style.

New Horizons is now available via the Wii Virtual Console, making it much easier to track down and experience nowadays. As this series has never had a huge following outside Japan, the cart

By: aaron dekuiper

versions have always been valuable on the secondhand market. For less than ten dollars now though you can sail your own way through the 16th century. Bon voyage!

Above: Preparing for your voyages you are required to explore to find the items you need.

Above: No seafaring game would be complete with out some sort of swashbuckling going on.

FLASHBACK <<

Ri¢hie Ri¢h REVIEW

HAS THIS MOVIE EARNED INTEREST WITH AGE? MOVIE INFO Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Edward Hermann, John Larroquette Director: Donald Petrie Release Date: Dec. 21, 1994 THE KNOWLEDGE Macaulay Caulkin's last hurrah before leaving his child acting days behind.

Everyone remembers the golden age of Macaulay Culkin. Home Alone, The Good Son, My Girl, and The Pagemaster, are among some of the favorite movies from my childhood. At the end of 1994, no one knew that Culkin was about to retire from acting. At least he left us with one last film from his child star era, Richie Rich.

Richie Rich may have one of the least inventive plots of all his films but I really think his acting in that film was one of his best efforts as a child. His character Richie really seemed to be a conglomeration of all his previous roles.

He was equal parts smarmy(Home Alone), serious(The Good Son), lovable(My Girl), and insecure(The Pagemaster). To me, he was really able to showcase his acting range one last time before disappearing.

Above: The cast of Richie Rich in all of their wholesome 1994 goodness.

Thinking back on Richie Rich, it seems easy to knock it because many of the moments in the film are incredibly absurd and immature, but that’s exactly what it is supposed to be.

Richie Rich was a perfect movie for a child growing up. While it didn’t hurt the fact there was so many cool toys and gadgets it also pandered to every kids desire to be loved by both their parents and their peers. Showing that no matter how much money you have, without someone there to share it with you will never have enough. So go rent or buy Richie Rich, and take an evening to spend with your family, this is a timeless movie that even 18 years later it is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

By: James Detzler

Surprised? So were we!

We are talking about a landline telephone with touchscreen interface designed by Apple in 1983. Yes, a Iandline telephone... since the mainstream adoption of mobiles was more than a decade away back then. That being said. it still sported the hallmark features that set Apple devices apart from the rest of the pack.

APPLE iPHONE?

APPLE'S iPHONE PROTOTYPE MADE IN 1983 RETRO TECH Company: Apple Model: Prototype Phone Release Date: 1983

The phone we are talking about was designed by Hartmut Esslinger, who would go on to design the Apple llc. the company‘s first portable computer and later founded Frogdesign as well. The 1983 iPhone certainly fits in with Esslinger’s other designs for Apple. It also foreshadows the touchscreens of both the iPhone and iPad. Just like the iDevices, this communication device was set in an all-white body with a stylus-controlled touchscreen, The device still appears futuristic. so we can only surmise how wondrous it would have appeared in 1983. had it been launched.

lmages of the 1983 iPhone have been circling the web for With Apple's latest Special Event in our rear a while but there has been renewed interest in Apple's early view mirror we came across a historic piece designs and history thanks to a peek inside Stanford University's of retro tech. If you thought the iPhone was massive trove of Apple achievements. The archives are a closeannounced back in 2007, then think again. guarded secret but Stanford is starting to grant access to select journalists and organizations. The archives were donated in 1997 While the iPhone may be an icon since its after Steve Jobs rejoined the company and document much of initial 2007 launch and has been a huge craze the design and personnel changes that took place in the 1980s. these past five years. It is NOT the first master piece from the globally popular company.

The 1983 iPhone is just one of many prototypes buried in Apple's past. There's even a device that looks eerily similar to an Apple actually made its first ’iPhone' iPad. Despite the phone's age. it actually looks like a cool concept in 1983 - heck, it even looks like a cross that could easily be updated into a modern consumer product between the iPad and iPhone! by replacing simple stylus screen with an iPad-like interface.

By: jason carrick

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 41

>> MAC N CHEESE

MAC N CHEESE BREAK DETZ RACES INTO MARCH JUST AS MAD AS EVERYONE ELSE

IT’S HERE!!

March Madness has arrived! Before some of you start wondering why it seems I am about to talk about college basketball in a geek mag, fear not.

What most people tend to call Spring Fever, I prefer to call March Madness.

That’s because March is when it all begins. The weather starts to clear up for a couple days at a time during the work week to tease you, only to dash your hopes on the weekends with more snowstorms or rain downpours. I am not your average geek. I like the outside, I like to get out and stretch and enjoy the fresh air. I am not scared of the sun, and I am happiest when hiking through woods enjoying nature. Stir crazy just doesn’t begin to describe how I feel around this time of year. It can only be explained as a kind of madness.

Luckily for me, March 16-18, I am going to attend Revoluticon. Granted this isn’t an outside activity but this is at least a break from the normal hum drum of normal life. For those of you not in the know, Revoluticon is a new convention held in Columbus, OH being put on by the good folks at Anime Punch. It is an convention that will focus on all the fringe interests of anime lovers. Video games, comic books, geek tv shows, Internet culture, and collectibles are the focus at this nonanime convention while still maintaining the the atmosphere that anime conventions capture.

Your next question may be what is Anime Punch? AP is a group of dedicated anime fans who have come together to celebrate the anime brotherhood and bring about a change to the normal cookie cutter convention tropes. They strive to bring a college-aged, anime-specific convention where fans can feel a sense of unity and have educated discussions. Their flagship convention, Armageddicon, occurs at the end of the year but they also put on two other conventions throughout the year, Shootcon and Fieldcon. With their base in Columbus they are located in the heart of Ohio, but they draw fans from multiple states to their rocking soirees. I am excited to see how they handle things differently from the three conventions that I have attended in past year and what interesting new things I can learn.

Revoluticon also marks the beginning of an extremely busy time for me. My day job tends to start its busy season in the upcoming months. On top of that our magazine continues to grow. With now a total of three contributors our size has increased as well as our thirst to do more. As we get more new writers to help take some of the strain off our core features we imagine even more things that we can add. I am extremely proud that this issue has reached the 40 page mark, none of which are ads. I really like the fact that we are ad free, unfortunately I don’t see that being something that will remain set in stone. We would love to reach the point where we can offer people print subscriptions as well as digital subscriptions, but as our content grows so will the cost for print copies.

What I really want to know is what you want. I want to know what you like about our magazine, what you don’t like, what you want to see added and what we can fine tune. Are you interested in holding a print copy in hand(they really are quite beautiful thanks to Jason Carrick), or would you prefer just to receive it digitally? Both? Is there any conventions you would like to see us at? Maybe ones that you can’t attend but you would like to know what happened there. This magazine is bigger than Jason, Aaron, Dave, Shea and I. We really try to bring the geek culture to you because we know that you can’t always experience all that it has to offer. We really want to hear from you, shoot us an email to info@dayoldstubble.com or if you want to reach me specifically, detzby@dayoldstubble.com is where you can get to me.

Detz All Folks!!

-James Detzler

Deputy Editor

42 | DayOldStubble | March 2012

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The

BOOby Hatch True Tales of Life in the Retail World

Created by Dave Norton and Steve Dudley

March 2012 | DayOldStubble | 43

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also. Come visit us at www.dayoldstubble.com. We update daily with fun and interesting posts. Also you can contact us on there to ask us questions and get featured in the next issue of our magazine. Tell us what you think of the articles by our writers. If you are more into Facebook, come “Like” us at www.facebook.com/TheDayOldStubble. Let us know what sections of the magazine you liked and which ones you could do without If you like to tweet but aren’t a twit you can follow us on Twitter @dayoldstubble. Maybe you just want to let us know of something you want us to cover. Finally, if you are more of a visual person then you can come watch our videos on YouTube, www.youtube.com/DayOldStubble. We have movie and tech reviews and lots of great footage from comic cons this past year.

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