Final Fantasy Tactics Advance has - among many, many other things - a system of laws and judges that govern the methods used to achieve victory in each battle. And when I say the methods, I mean your methods, because the huge lizards you must sometimes conquer don't give a flying fuck about the rules. I had seen a screenshot once that I thought showed a representation of one of the judges, and it looked like a young vulture. I understand now that judges are (in fact) huge armored bad-asses who ride vicious chocobos, which makes more sense. I couldn't figure out why you would do something just because a bird told you to.

Back when an invincible new technique had been developed to install Linux on the Xbox, I suggested in the post that Microsoft would have an easy time of counteracting it - I submitted that the difficulty index of this feat would be somewhere between closing a drawer and opening a cupboard. Do not doubt that within five minutes of speaking the truth, psychotic Linux advocates burst into my Inbox decrying my latest sins against their noble order. They claimed for a variety of reasons that Microsoft would be unable to do this, supplying little more than enthusiasm to support their declarations. I never really investigated prophecy as a career choice, but when you think about it Microsoft pissing off the Linux community isn't really a tough call. So when I read that the latest Xbox Live update had also disabled Linux for some people, just as I had suggested might be possible, it was difficult not to feel smug.

This isn't Gabe you're talking to here, opposed to ROMs, surly in general toward those who feel that using technology on their own terms is a form of civil disobedience. I don't have a problem philosophically with people who want to fuck around inside their Xbox, a highly subsidized, general-purpose computer. The irony involved in subverting M$ hardware no doubt has varying levels of succulence for some users. What I do not understand is why people feel as though Microsoft is obligated in some way to make it easy for them. They are most certainly not obligated to assist you, via signed bootloaders or any other method.

I had mentioned an article claiming that Canada had some kind of footloose approach to filesharing, and was (in effect) an untouched digital Eden. I would be told shortly after mentioning this article that it was, in fact, complete horseshit. So, everyone who moved to Canada, you can come back now.

(CW)TB out.

westchester: the best chester

The "Christmas in September", aka my birthday is fast approaching and I hope you are all feeling the excitement. This is what Tycho had to say about my special day last year:

Except for (perhaps) Jesus Christ, no birthday in history is accompanied by as much fanfare as Gabe's. He's incorrigible. It's fucking August, and already I can't wait for his special day to come and go, mostly go.

The fact of the matter is I get very excited about my birthday. It's not even all the fabulous presents I expect to receive from my closest friends, although that will be nice. I get excited for the inevitable birthday party. So many of my friends tend to downplay their birthdays and I can't understand why. They might get a few friends together and go out to dinner someplace nice or whatever but that's about it. It seems like after 21 no one is interested in really celebrating on their B-day. I like birthday parties. I like it when all my friends come over and play videogames. Sure that's what we do every Thursday anyway but on my Birthday there will be cake and cake just makes thing better. Everyone gets one special day a year, a day when everyone gets together to party and celebrate simply because you're still around. I say take your special day and milk it for everything it's worth. This September 25th I'll be turning the big two six and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let that slip by with nothing but a dinner at Azteca to commemorate it.

From the "why in the fuck would you show that screenshot" file comes this little work of art. This is a part of Microsoft's huge screen shot extravaganza designed to get people pumped about some of next years big games. I was actually a fan of previous Harry Potter games but this looks like a joke. This is the Xbox? It looks more like MSPaint.

If this is all you have to show just don't show anything guys. All you have succeeded in doing is giving me a poor opinion of your game. You're just going to have to work twice as hard now to get me to like it. Tycho and I are still willing to offer our services as screen shot examiners if you need us. For no cost to you we will happily look at any shots you are considering releasing and tell you if they look like ass or not.

-Gabe out

I am working today on a new comic book project and I am having some issues with my Wacom tablet. I was hoping I could tell you guys what was going on and maybe get some advice. The mouse pointer shakes whenever I am using the pen on my tablet. No matter how still I hold my hand the pointer shakes like mad. It started doing this a few days ago but today it’s super bad. The tablet itself is about four years old. I have the latest drivers and all that jazz. Anyone have any ideas?

***UPDATE*** Thanks guys. At my new place my tablet is right next to my monitor. That is not a good combination I guess.

-Gabe out

Now that's something to celebrate. Also, can I just say how impressed I am with 3D Gamers' adoption of Bit Torrent? It is the perfect solution to distributing larger, high-demand files - and game demos are virtually a textbook case. If you haven't already tried it out, grab the client and try to download some file you've been meaning to get. If community sites started working together to offer and promote Bit Torrent for downloads, no-one would ever want for files - even on the first day. In fact, especially on the first day.

(CW)TB

Some interesting news regarding everyone's favorite imaginary videogame console.

-Gabe out