Embrace the Flux

Star Wars: The Old Republic

// January 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Technology

If you only knew the power of the Dark Side…

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past thirty years, this is the plea Darth Vader makes to Jedi-son Luke Skywalker before he reveals the famous truth: Luke, I am your father.

Since its debut in 1977, the space opera franchise has arguably produced the largest fandom (Star Trek fans may disagree here) known to man. Books, comic books, television series, video games, geek-ridden conventions abound with Jedi Knights of disconcerting shapes and sizes – it’s definitely possible, though not particularly healthy, to live vicariously through this nonexistent intergalactic universe.

Some of the most critically acclaimed Star Wars games to date are those of the famous Jedi Knight series. Gamers were given the opportunity to step into the virtual shoes of their favorite Jedi Knight/Sith Warrior and duel it out, one-on-one style, with an arch enemy halfway across the galaxy. Pretty cool if you ask me. Unfortunately, subsequent LucasArts games haven’t received much support in the Star Wars fandom. Force Unleashed, in particular, was regrettably dull and unmistakably narrow. But LucasArts no doubt made a considerable chunk of change with the game, and it looks like they’ve finally realized their time and money might be better invested in other online arenas. Enter The Old Republic.

LucasArts – in collaboration with BioWare – is finally bringing us a Star Wars massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG for short). For the first time ever thousands of Star Wars diehards can unite to share their galactic fantasies in one communal server. It’s World of Warcraft for the pomos! This cinematic trailer should give you a nice taste – albeit glorified – of what’s to come.

According to the promo website, you may: “Choose to be a Jedi, a sith, or from a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, and make decisions which define your personal story and determine your path down the light or dark side of the Force.” Sounds like a wet dream for the ‘real life’ Jedi Knights. Or maybe only for the Sith Warriors? Apparently the game takes place during a time when the Sith Empire was preparing a gargantuan attack against the Republic and its infamous Jedi guardians, thousands of years before the age of Darth Vader. Simply put – in this game, at least – it might just pay to be evil. (Don’t get any big ideas, you Sith Warriors.) The question on everyone’s mind is whether or not The Old Republic will rival World of Warcraft in terms of gameplay. Check out these screenshots; they certainly look promising.

Earlier this past week LucasArts revealed the game’s long-awaited release date: Spring of 2011. In the mean time we’ll have to settle for ogling at the various promos available on The Old Republic website. Perhaps, in Spring of 2011, we will finally come to know the power of the dark side. Until that day, may the force be with you all.

Fluxy Five: Pioneering 2010 Software

// January 19th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Technology

Sleek, efficient, easy, original and online. These seem to be the necessary components for most pioneering software schemas nowadays. It has to look good, it has to get the job done, it has to have a specific function, and, of course, it should connect to Facebook or Twitter or something else on the interweb. After a reasonable amount of searching, trying and evaluating, we’ve discovered five up’n’coming applications that seem to pass these criteria with flying colors. Look out for their names in the months to come; we think they’re here to stay.

Instant Messaging: Trillian Astra

Once a little known application driven by a small community of friends (during a time when when multi-client messaging was thought to be excessive), Trillian Astra has grown to be a unique and capable instant messenger. AIM, Windows Live, Google Talk, ICQ, Yahoo, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, E-mail and more – Astra certainly gets the job done. It’s pretty, too. While other messaging clients may win with regard to ease of use (Digsby) or customizability (Miranda), they certainly don’t have Astra’s bring-it-on looks. After four years of development marked by creeping skepticism and all around impatience, the wait is finally over. Head over to trillian.im to get your hands on the beta, it might just make your life a bit easier!

Multimedia Playback: Songbird

Songbird is an appealing iTunes alternative for the technically-adept PC/Mac/Linux user which, with the exception of iPod or iPhone syncing, can do just about anything iTunes can. The application jumps on the black-is-beautiful bandwagon (that way it looks different from iTunes) to bring us, above all, a user interface that is easily accessible (but not very original). To boot, Songbird provides the user with artist connections to YouTube, Flickr, and Last.fm; it notifies the user when his or her favorite bands are playing nearby; and, let’s not forget, it is fully customizable. If you’re one of those consumers who desires a more complete audio experience, Songbird might be the program for you.

Multimedia Conversion: Tunebite

Tunebite’s website says it all: “Need your entertainment in the right format? Tunebite can do that.” That is, if you need to convert those DRM-protected iTunes files into formats that can be copied to a DVD, or if you want to play around with that YouTube video but you don’t have the original file, Tunebite’s down for the cause. Having defined itself by means of a free-rider niche from the very get go, Tunebite’s hallmark has and will remain its amazing ability to (legally) remove copyright protection from multimedia files. Definitely a sleek interface, quick and easy converting, capable of dealing with lots and lots of file formats – Tunebite’s “Platinum” version (the one with all the good stuff) is probably worth the forty dollar cover price. Head over to audials.com to see what we’re talking about.

Social Networking: Fishbowl

Think Facebook already invades your privacy? Fishbowl is an application that transforms Facebook-the-website into a fully functional desktop program. Notwithstanding a potential haven for creepers, Fishbowl is a pretty cool program. It offers a similar user experience to Facebook-the-website (minus games and advertisements) with an avant garde, everything-at-your-fingertips feel. Sadly, Fishbowl by uxlabs@Microsoft is only offered as a trial program (the higher ups over at Microsoft don’t support it, that is), but we imagine that will change soon enough. If you happen to be a Facebook Power User, Fishbowl might just be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Operating Systems: Good OS

Linux based operating systems are beginning to generate curiosity in a growing faction of modern “computer enthusiasts.” Why should netbooks hog all the Linux fun, they say. Good OS (teehee) 3.1 is a prime example. gOS, simply put, proffers Mac based interface with Linux based functionality and Windows based efficiency. For the interface lovers: a Mac-like dock, Google Gadgets, a 3D window switcher and a clean and simple taskbar. For the functionalists we have an Ubuntu based operating system. And for the efficiency lovers: WINE 1.0 (compatibility with Windows software), web-based applications (Mail, Calendar, Picasa and more) and, of course, Open Office. Good OS does in fact seem to be the happy medium of operating systems. But is a happy medium something the average computing consumer wants? Head over to thinkgos.com and give their product a whirl – if you’re feeling adventurous, that is.

Artist of the Week: Rimantas Lukavicius

// December 4th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Movies, Technology

Rimantas Lukavicius has an incredible ability to connect the worlds of audio and video. He is the founder of KORB, a freelance motion design studio that works in visual effects and motion graphics. Lukavicius and his studio have made a variety of digital films –  from music videos and promotional work to exhibition pieces – and have performed in over sixty festivals since 2004. To see more of his fantastic work, check out his website: KORB.lt. For now, we’ll let his 2008 “Showreel” do the talking.

SuperCar Challenge

// November 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // Movies, Technology

SuperCar Challenge is a 3D-rendered short by Phil Shoebottom and his team of five artists. It is simply stunning how the cars – indistinguishable from real cars – seem to actually move and react to their surroundings. Completed in only eight weeks, SuperCar Challenge was produced using 3ds Max and Vray. The racetrack, completely digital, is based upon a real-life (location unknown) track, while all of the cars are original creations. You can download the short here, or view it below.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

// August 25th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Technology

Call of Duty and first person shooter have become nearly synonymous terms in today’s video game world. Hailed an epic shooter by consumers worldwide, Modern Warfare 1 propelled the series to new heights. But subsequent complications over the direction of the series (historical warfare vs. modern warfare) triggered the fifth, less renowned installment: World at War. Now, two years after Call of Duty’s first epic staple, Modern Warfare is back. Are you as pumped as we are?

With night-vision goggles in the prestige edition, custom characters and classes, and a newly-incorporated RPG aspect, Modern Warfare 2 seems to have received a serious makeover. Want more endurance? Do a little sprinting. Need some iron lungs? Hold your breath while you’re sniping—you’ll get an adrenaline rush. Featuring updated armor, new clothing and a wider array of weapons, Modern Warfare 2 sounds like it’s going to set the bar once again. Pre-order it now at GameStop.

Keep patient a bit longer and you’ll wake up with a Christmas morning feeling on November the 10^th—official release date for installment number six.

Check out the trailer below for a preview of things to come.

Artist of the Week: Jared K. Nickerson

// August 22nd, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Technology

Jared K. Nickerson, known online as “J3Concepts,” is a freelance illustrator with a one-of-a-kind style. His work is a form of “vector art,” where geometric principles – points, lines, curves – are used to give a cartoon-like impression of shadows, textures, and a particular frame of reference. But unique to the traditional vector style is Jared’s ingenious use of color. Through color, his art seems almost otherworldly—it’s hard to imagine a J3 color palette appearing freely in nature. Still, his uncanny ability to convey emotion and metaphor through geometry and color has such a natural feel.  Although vector art deviates slightly from our topical modus operandi, we feel the technical means employed through Jared’s imaginative work is worth a mention at the very least.

Nickerson recently released a pack of twenty extraordinary wallpapers, collectively titled “Jthree Wallpack 2009.” Available exclusively at BloodSweatVector.com, we urge you to give the collection a download.

To see more of his work – a wide array of graphic tees, print outs, toys, and more – check out Jared’s deviantART page at j3concepts.deviantart.com.