Installing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 soon? Before you do, check out Microsoft’s list of software that loses functionality after SP1 is installed. Luckily, in most cases an upgrade is available that fixes the problem. The full details are here, but here’s a list of software listed:
- BitDefender AV or Internet Security 10
- Fujitsu Shock Sensor 2.1.0.0
- Jiangmin KV Antivirus 10
- Jiangmin KV Antivirus 2008
- Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
- Zone Alarm Security Suite 7.1
- Iron Speed Designer 5.0.1
- Xheo Licensing 3.1
- Free Allegiance 2.1
- NYT Reader 1
- Rising Personal Firewall 2007
- Novell ZCM Agent 10.01
February 21st, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Vista, Windows |
one comment
JellyCar is the first of the free new XNA games I played. One thing to note: While the games are free, they are limited to 16 days of play, but there is a way around it that I’ll talk about in a second.
JellyCar is hilariously fun. It uses a cartoon on drawing paper art style, featuring a car and some objects, all of which squish and move in funny ways. Your job is to drive the car to the target, and each level is a puzzle to figure out which mixture of speed, car flipping, car transforming (it can grow, but only temporarily) and use of the environmental objects will get you there.
The art style and the challenging gameplay make for a fun game. Replay value is limited to trying to beat your best time, but getting through the levels first is a unique and enjoyable experience. I’m surprised at how good this game is, and very happy I downloaded it.
JellyCar was known as JelloCar before Microsoft added it to Xbox Live (presumably changed to avoid copyright issues). You can download the XNA version of the game from the developer, Walaber. He’s made available the compiled game in both Windows and Xbox 360 versions, so if you have a Creators Club subscription, you can keep playing past the expiration date. If you don’t have an Xbox 360, download the game for Windows and enjoy this gem.
Verdict: B+
Art: B+
Difficulty: B
Controls: A-
Music: B-
Fun: A-
Length: C+
Replayability: C+
February 21st, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
XNA, Developers, Xbox Live, Xbox 360, Xbox |
one comment
Windows Live is giving away a Zune a day, every day from now to March 31. All you have to do is send an email from your mobile device, every day, in order to be eligible for that day’s drawing. Just go to Windows Live on your phone, select Hotmail, and send an email to WINAZUNE@live.com with the subject “Go Zune” to enter. It’s so easy, there’s no reason not to.
(via JK)
February 21st, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Zune, Live, Windows Media, Hotmail, Windows |
one comment
Microsoft dropped a bomb at the Game Developers Conference, announcing that it is extending support for its XNA video game programming language to its Zune media device. That means that XNA games (which are easy and mostly free to design and can run on Windows and the Xbox) will be also able to run on the portable music/video player, with developers only needing to code it once to run on all three platforms.
Microsoft’s Chris Satchell made the announcement at GDC, showing a demo of a new side scroller (or, technically, up scroller) space shooter called Zauri. The game is controlled using the touch-sensitive “squircle” pad on the Zune, an excellent gaming control for a small device. Take a look:
Video: XNA Game Running on a Zune
According to Engadget, while the second generation Zune (and its unique and well-suited for gaming control pad) is used in the demo, developers will be able to ship games for the first generation Zune, so long as they create a control scheme for that device.
Wireless multiplayer games, thanks to the Zune’s wifi, will absolutely be an option. You can play with any Zunes in your vicinity, with up to eight players per game. In-game music can be customized, selected from any music already on the Zune, except for DRM licensed music.
Games will be created using the next version of the framework, in XNA Games Studio 3.0, the first beta/preview of which will be out this April. Final release is currently targeted for the Fall. Games cannot be played cross-platform (i.e., Xbox users can’t play against Zune users), but game files will run on all three platforms. Games will not be shared wirelessly, though that may change.
Also coming: Xbox Live Community Games. The best XNA games will be made available on Xbox Live, with game sharing, rating, downloading and playing on your console, without the need to connect to a PC or have a Creators Club subscription. The first seven games are available right now as a special preview (and, presumably, to test the system). For now games are free, but Microsoft is considering revenue models so creators can make money, which will be announced before the holiday season.
To download the games, first go Marketplace, then Game Store, then All Games, then XNA Creators Club, then XNA Creators Club Game Launcher (not “XNA Game Launcher”). Download it, then go to the XNA Creators Club tab in Games Library to download games.
The seven games are:
- “JellyCar.” Created by Walaber from the United States, this game is about driving a squishy car through squishy worlds, trying to reach the exit.
- “Little Gamers.” This is a 2-D high definition action side-scroller based on the famous Web comic “Little Gamers” created by Loïc Dansart, a 24-year-old software developer from Belgium.
- “The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai.” An intense 2-D action platform game created by James Silva from the United States, “The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai” has a unique, highly stylized look and fast and fluid action.
- “TriLinea.” This puzzle game created by Edison S. Prata Jr., Renato Pelizzari da Silva and Davi da Silva Prata from Brazil mixes fast-paced action with strategy.
- “RocketBall.” Created by Tyler Wanlass, Patrick Murty and Todd Barrons of the United States, this neighborhood game of dodgeball explodes onto the street with fast-paced multiplayer action.
- “ProximityHD.” This game, created by Brian Cable from the United States, takes the essence of strategy games — battles for control of territory and armies — and distills it down to a simple, easy-to-understand set of rules for casual players.
- “Culture.” Created by independent game development company Hidden Path Entertainment from the United States, “Culture” contains challenging games and puzzles based on beautiful flowers.
Check out the games now. I will be, and will try to share my thoughts later.
So, Microsoft has turned the Zune into a serious gaming platform, throwing the full weight of its XNA efforts behind it. The current Zune, in many ways, is better than the iPod, and its games implementation is already more open, versatile, cheaper, and seemingly more fun than Apple’s. If the Zune can at least stand up to Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS, this move will be a valuable step forward in the fight against both Apple and the console companies.
No matter what, Microsoft has released the first convergent device, the first games player with a link to a serious music ecosystem and significant internal storage, as well as the first dedicated media player with a link to a games console. It covers missing pieces in everyone else’s lineup, and overall has a lot to offer users. Expect games to be a major selling point in the future.
February 21st, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Zune, Windows Media, Xbox 360, Xbox |
one comment
Just when we though Service Pack 1 was on the way, they pull it back. Microsoft has suspended distributing the prerequisite system update, the one that installs before Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and prepares your system, due to some problems users were experiencing. Hopefully it gets resolved soon enough.
On the other hand, Windows XP Service Pack 3 is practically done. Windows Update has the RC2 version of the SP for you, if you first install an update script that makes it available for you. You can help see if this version is ready for prime time, or wait a few weeks for the final release.
February 21st, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
XP, Vista, Windows |
no comments
