Blogs - SCΛRECROW

14 comments by SCΛRECROW on Mar 23rd, 2009

Update 3: FileFront is not shutting down!!! Read.

Update 2: It seems that some one has saved FileFront from its untimely demise.

Update 1: NO!!! Not FileFront. Damn it!!! Why did this have to happen? Over 1.5 million files totaling over 48TB will be lost. Must download everything!!!

Quote of the blog.

"It usually takes a long time to find a shortcut."

Gaming, Modding and Computing Stuff.
The gaming scene has been pretty quiet on my end. Work from University has started to pile up. Although I did get a chance to play a short match of Supreme Commander with a couple of my friends, admittedly this "short" match was about 3 and a half hours long. Can't complain though: UEF for the win!!!

Saw the new videos and screenies of the Stargate: Empire at War mod and they look good.

General Stuff.
As per the forum "What's the Story", I am now going to attempt to explain the origin of my screen name: [SCARECROW]. This is going to take a while.

Part 1 - Background Information:
SCARECROW is the call sign of the character Shane M. Schofield in Matthew Reilly's novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow and Hell Island. (These books are a good read, by the way. Read them in order!). He is a Captain in the USMC and he tends to do unorthodox (crazy) things in combat situations.

Part 2 - What happened:
So a few years back, I was playing Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield with a group of friends.
In a certain round, I was in a tower (more or less, check the MP Prison map if you have the game) providing sniper cover for my team. This tower had a hole in the floor where you could climb up into it via a long ladder.

2 members of the opposition team were at the bottom of this tower and detected me using a heartbeat sensor, then they threw a grenade up into the tower. I heard the grenade land on the floor, and like SCARECROW I choose to jump out of the window.

Usually a fall from that height would kill, but I got lucky. They thought that they had killed me, so they went up into the tower to check. I on the other hand pulled out my heartbeat sensor, saw that they were in the tower and threw a grenade back in through the window.

This killed them. When they heard what happened they commented that SCARECROW would do something like that, so I started using the nickname [SCARECROW]. And that's where my screen name came from.

Wow. That took a while, not that anyone really cares..

Signing Out.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

2 comments by SCΛRECROW on Mar 14th, 2009

Update: Another EARTHQUAKE!!! Well, more like a tremor. Magnitude 4.6, obviously I was no where near it.

Quote of the blog.

"If you cannot convince them, confuse them."

Gaming, Modding and Computing Stuff.
I downloaded Star Wars Battlefront Conversion Pack 2.2 and it's a good fix to an already good mod. Although I think they should have shrunk a couple of maps down a little bit, but otherwise it's certainly worth the download. EndWar has been somewhat abandoned, for now at least...so much university.

I've heard quite a lot of negative opinion about H.A.W.X., too arcade like they say, too similar to Ace Combat 6 they say. Well, I don't know about that....yet.

General Stuff.
Went to The Australian International Airshow today. It was 5 AM wake up to get to Avalon Airport by 8 AM, and there were stacks of people there already! It was good, well until it started pouring rain. I got myself drenched. I took 958 photos! Argh! You can't really take good photos of airplanes against a grey sky (see latest screens). Hopefully next time it won't be cloudy or wet.

Notably, I saw the Airbus A380, F/A-18C Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet, F-16C Fighting Falcon (A.K.A Viper), F-111C Ardvark, C-130H Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, C-5A Calaxy, UH-60L Black Hawk and the B-1B Lancer. I also saw the M1A1 Abrams tank, a tank at an airshow you say. By far the Lancer was the loudest, I mean it's a long-range, nuclear capable, 4 engined bomber, but still it was damn loud and probably the loudest sound I have heard in my life. Fortunately I was wearing earplugs. Also, I was about 350m away from it, when it started it's engines and I could feel the heat from it!

By now you can probably see that I'm a bit of an aviation enthusiast (airplane nut).

2nd week of University is over. So much damn reading. One funny thing happened, the lecturer's computer blue-screened and died, and what does this lecturer do? Call I.T. support! It was at an I.T. lecture and there was a lecture theater full of computer nerds that could of fixed the problem. LOL!

Signing Out.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

3 comments by SCΛRECROW on Mar 5th, 2009

Update: Earthquake!!!!! Magnitude 4.7. Not bad. A 1 kiloton nuke is about magnitude 4 and the epicentre was about 90km away...and the house was shaking. Happened at 9:55pm. For more info Earthquake.usgs.gov Sorry, typing really fast, I'm not high, it's the adrenaline I think.

Quote of the blog.

"Hardware is the only part of the computer that can be kicked.

                                                If you can only swear at it, it's software."

Gaming, Modding and Computing Stuff.
Just bought Tom Clancy's EndWar. I have installed and played it, runs pretty well on highest graphical settings and looks very nice too. The gameplay is going to take a bit of getting used to though. The camera view system is a bit weird too. Voice Command is a hit and miss feature, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't; for now I'm just going to point and click, instead of yelling orders at my computer. I'll see what kind of modding I can do to it later.

Now I'm waiting for Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X., supposed to be released on 19 March. I'll see how it is before I buy it, that is after I finish with EndWar.

General Stuff.
That's one week University (college) finished. As predicted, Public Transport was sub-standard, late, cramped. Anyway, for those who want to know, I'm studying Information Technology Systems - Security and Net-Centric Computing. Yep, typical computer nerd stuff. The textbooks are damn expensive, there goes my money. The lectures are interesting so far, for me at least, should be good.

And on the topic of high performance aircraft, The Australian International Airshow is on next week. So if any of you are going there, I might see you or you might see me (not that you know what I look like!, I'll be one of the people with a DSLR.). *No one got that joke. Sigh.*

It actually rained here in Victoria, first time in a long while. I got soaked when I was walking home but I don't care! It's gotten cold here too, after the 45 degree days and the bushfires...Melbourne has crazy weather. Four seasons in one day! I used to say.

End Blog.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

0 comments by SCΛRECROW on Feb 27th, 2009

Quote of the blog.

"You'll always find something in the last place you look."

Gaming, Modding and Computing Stuff.
I feel like getting a new computer for some reason...don't know why. My current computer is fine.

Spino's patch/mod thing for Stargate: EaW is great! Now I can see what I'm buying or destroying in English. But I think the BC-304 Apollo is broken...it's simply too powerful. I like it, but for example: I wiped out an entire Replicator fleet with just the Apollo.

Might make a little music video of a game that is fairly old, but I still like: Comanche 4. It's basically a helicopter combat sim. I'm actually a little annoyed that the U.S. Army cancelled the actual Comanche helicopter program. The graphics aren't that great now, but it's still good fun. If I get around to making it, it will be here, so stay tuned.

I'm slowly working on a couple of other ships for my Hybrid Sci-Fi Star Fleet. The next one should be a BC-304 (More like my Lancer) based carrier depending on which one gets finished first. Find the completed ships at my "homepage" link is on the right panel.

Still waiting around for sequels to some games. See previous blogs.

General Stuff.
So...University (college) starts next week. I'm excited, well, except about the joke that the government likes to call Public Transport. Ugh...late trains...obnoxious passengers...drunk people. The train carriages should really be called "Mobile Human Sardine Cans". But, I can only really complain about the lack and the tardiness of trains. I'll just buy some noise-cancelling headphones to counter the other issues.

It would be nice if it rained here in Victoria...can't remember the last time we had a good soaking. Plus I just got a 3000L water tank installed and it's full of air, not ideal. The Government should hurry up and get that desalination plant up and running.

That's all folks.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

0 comments by SCΛRECROW on Feb 21st, 2009

I'm still not doing much. Just sitting around. Building stuff on SketchUp. Been gaming, nuking opponents in Supreme Commander never gets old. Still waiting the announcement of Stargate Atlantis Season 5 on DVD. I also want to know when they will release Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis on Blu-Ray. Give me an excuse to get a better T.V. already!

Windows 7 Beta.
So, its been about a month and a half since I started using Windows 7 Beta. So far it's great. I haven't encountered any problems yet. No crashes and no BSOD. It looks nice and runs quite smoothly and I can play my games on it, which is always a plus. I would like to see what DirectX 11 can really do in games. Lets hope the 64-bit editions work better.

I wonder why are there 5 different editions of it: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate? and why does it take up 15 bloody GB? Besides these small issues, I am looking forward to the release of RC1 sometime in April and then the retail release later this year.

I reckon that Microsoft is better at refurbishing operating systems than building a completely new one. For example:

• Windows 2000 is version 5.0 and it was good. Then Windows XP is version 5.1 and it's the best.
• Windows Vista is version 6.0 and it sucked. Now Windows 7 is version 6.1 and it's looking good.

Wish any luck, Microsoft won't make a mess of this. If it is still this good or even better at release, I'm skipping Vista and going straight to Windows 7.

General Stuff.
What's with the spelling and grammar on the Internet? A little more effort could help. I guess people just got lazy. Does anyone else care about the space shuttle or space station? NASA delayed the launch, again! This time they won't launch until mid-March or early-April. Yes I know, safety first. Why won't work call me? I need some money!

That is all...I think.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

0 comments by SCΛRECROW on Feb 15th, 2009

Firstly: I ask that you donate to the Red Cross Bush Fire Appeal. If you do, thank you on behalf of the affected families.

Right now I'm still waiting for University to start. Work hasn't called me. Therefore I am somewhat bored. Not gaming that much. Not doing stuff on SketchUp. Not going out. Pretty much just sitting around, chilling, listening to music.

I guess I am too lazy to do much right now. But, I will blog to offset the bordem.

I was invited to join the Stargate: Vengeance Development Team as an audio editor. (Of course I accepted). Things should start rolling now, as we have gotten a few more members. Head over to the group page to take a look at the trailer if you haven't already done so. If you don't know: "More voice actors needed", preferably more females. So sign up!

Got the official announcement that the next Stargate mod for EAW will shift to FoC. That makes me wonder who the third faction will be. But this should mean a better mod. I am watching the Stargate Modding Group and Stargate: Empire At War pages like a hawk (well almost).

Still waiting for Spinobreaker's patch/"mini-mod" for SG:EAW though. Poor Spino, no proper net for "A week or 3".

Still waiting for Stargate Atlantis Season 5 on DVD. (Before you say anything: No, I will not download it.) Hopefully they will release the whole Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis series on Blu-Ray soon. Maybe when they finish the Children of the Gods: Final Cut. I would like to see more deleted scenes and bloopers included. I'm also wondering when they will release all of the Star Wars movies on Blu-Ray.

You know, I was excited about Stargate SG-1: The Alliance. (Yes, I know that's old news) But as far as I know, Perception Studios won't officially announce whether it's still in (slow) development or whether it's been cancelled. Now all hope is on Stargate Worlds, with any luck it won't be DOA or cancelled. But last I heard, it was in partial limbo. I'm not an MMORPG gamer, you know I'm not into the pay to play stuff. I just want to pay once to own the game. Besides this issue, I was really looking forward to a good and accurate FPS single-player campaign based on SG-1.

Here's my gaming wishlist (In no particular order):

• Supreme Commander 2 (Hopefully my computer can handle it...)
• Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. (Finally air combat returns to the PC!)
• Tom Clancy's EndWar (This should be interesting)
• Stargate Worlds (I wish it had a single player campaign though)
• Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising (Finally...Should be good)
• The next Rainbow Six (Enough of Vegas already!)
• The next Ghost Recon (Maybe somewhere besides Mexico)
• Star Wars Battlefront 3 (More of everything! Except bugs of course!)
• The next Star Wars RTS (Better tactical battles and more units please)
• The next Star Wars Jedi Knight (maybe not, after Jedi Academy....)

Anyway. That's about it for this blog. I just realised how much I've actually written...

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

0 comments by SCΛRECROW on Feb 11th, 2009

First of all the Shocked, Saddened part:
As many of you may know, bushfires have hit Victoria, currently there are 181 people dead and 80 missing. Also 1,831 homes have been destroyed. If you can, I ask you to donate money or help these people out. Even more shocking, is that some of these fires have been lit by arsonists, let justice be done for they have committed mass murder.

But on to the frustrated part of the blog:

Damn Google Sketchup's 10MB file size limit!!! I have been working on this massive model of a modified Imperial - Class Star Destroyer, it has over 1.4 million edges, so it is very detailed (I've done the bridge and hangar too), and I can't upload it!

The .skp file is about 7.7MB, but Sketchup converts it to a .kmz file when you try to upload. This turns the file into a 19MB monster. Why can Google just let us upload our models in .skp format!?

This pretty much means that I'll have to rip weapons off of it, remove detail so it will upload...Great. Or I could cut the model in half then get people to paste the two parts together....
I may upload it here if it is OK to do so.

Now to the gaming/modding/modelling part:

I'm excited about the FoC version of the SG:EAW mod. Looking forward to a bug-free, fully playable English version. Effects should be better and the third faction should be interesting. Keep up the good work SGMG.

Anyway, I've been biking, gaming, modding, you know the usual.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

0 comments by SCΛRECROW on Feb 7th, 2009

You probably had enough of me griping about the hot weather in Australia but I promise I'll keep it to one line.

Well, we got up to 46.4 °C. Other places in the state got to 47.9 °C. Bushfires still raging. Enough said.

UPDATE: the next day, the temperature dropped to 24 °C and it's raining! Yeah.

Have recovered from Stargate SG-1 marathon, I think or I might be high on something called caffeine.
Had a little mountain biking accident. Thank God for helmets. But can't use mouse properly. Stupid brakes.

Started playing DOS games again. Fun, for about 5 minutes. Then went back to the full power of 32-bit computing power and gaming. If 32-bit games look this good...bring on 64-bit already!

Still waiting for EndWar and H.A.W.X. Can't wait for Supreme Commander 2 and the next instalments of Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon.

Just trying to chill. So to speak. That is all.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

0 comments by SCΛRECROW on Feb 5th, 2009

So tired...need sleep, caused by Stargate SG-1 marathon.

Attempting to type for blog.
Spent good part of yesterday and today fixing computers.
Been modding in-game stats for fun.
Want Stargate SG-1 on Blu-Ray.
Looking forward to Spinobreaker's SG:EAW patch.
Also looking forward to SG:EAW 2.0 or whatever it is.
Wish I could compose music.
Want to get more games for PC.
Editing Wikipedia. Long markup makes my eyes sore.
Still Working on Sketchup.
Should go mountain biking soon.
Bored Out of Mind.
Anyway, that's about it.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]

0 comments by SCΛRECROW on Feb 1st, 2009

I have evidence of one person reading this blog...damn can't say that no one reads this anymore.
But on to the blogging!!!

Yes!!! Today was "only" 32 °C much better than that + 43 °C heat. Still want it to rain... Anyway, enough weather.

Tried out some new video capture software, on Star Wars Empire At War with the Stargate: Empire At War Mod. It works pretty well, high quality output, no noticeable lag, all good.( Well, I am running a pretty powerful rig.). Might cut the footage and make a little music video.

Might resurrect a little abandoned modding project of mine...won't tell you what it is right now (maybe later if I decide to restart it).

Besides that, I'm working on more 3D models and I plan to get some better sleep.

Good Gaming and Good Modding.
[SCARECROW]