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Archive for November, 2008

Blizzard’s Eye for Success

Posted by Kai on November 30th, 2008

Warcraft. Starcraft. Diablo.

These terms are not game names. They are worlds. Three distinctively different and captivating worlds of the gaming universe. These three worlds created by Blizzard have been so popular, it has made Blizzard possibly the best gaming company in history.
The three games essentially started off in the 90's, and started a huge gamer popularity. Warcraft and Starcraft kicked off as one of a kind real-time strategy games. Whereas Diablo took the path of a role-playing game. All three became huge successes, destined to bring more.
Warcraft 2 improvised the gameplay of the original Warcraft, as Diablo II did the same. It was with Warcraft 3 in which Blizzard truly shines. The first 3D game for Blizzard struck the gaming world with a bang. Filled with fascinating gameplay and graphics, it was Blizzard token for success.
Not only did Blizzard shine in Warcraft 3, but also in the entire Warcraft series. When Icefrog introduced a role-playing multiplayer mod for Warcraft 3, the series took another huge leap forward in success. The popular mod, named Defense of the Ancients, more commonly known as DotA, sparked Blizzard to innovate their game. Unlike their RTS rivals Command and Conquer, who only focuses on RTS games, Blizzard innovates.
Henceforth, not long after the introduction of DotA, a new MMORPG was released. World of Warcraft. WOW became the most played game in the world, with over 10 million subscribers worldwide. The recent launch of Wrath of the Lich King, the third expansion to WOW, cracked the game sales record previously set by its predecessor, the Burning Crusade.
Blizzard knows people would pay for an MMORPG. Thus, their innovation leads to a great success in business. Compared with other gaming companies, Blizzard always wins.
And now, Blizzard looks to inflict more pain into other gaming companies. Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 is ready to be released pretty soon. These games might just add to Blizzard's smile just as the success of the Warcraft series did.
Blizzard is now, I must say, a religion. People worship them.

Fancy Mice: Worth It?

Posted by Kai on November 26th, 2008

The gaming age.

In this techonology-booming world, games emerge as sporting events. Video games, I mean. Gamers now hold their heads high, paticipating in tournaments all across the globe. They love it.

Enterprising folks, like Razer, came out with special mice desgined for PC gamers. Gaming mice. Of course, other than perfectly accurate and terrific looks, they're bloody expensive.
Why, Razer? You're earning too much profit.
One question for you all: is it worth paying hundreds of Ringgit purchasing fancy gaming mice? Seriously, no. You could pay so much less cash, get a mediocre mouse, and still able to get your opponent pwned in the game.
You really don't need thousands of dpi just to get a headshot on your opponent. You don't need the sparkling LED lights on your keyboard to show off to your friends. All the profit that Razer earns, comes from peer pressure.
I bet, plenty of people realise what I am saying here is true. Yet, they still get the Razer mice, just for the brand. For example, why do people get a Nike shoe instead of a cheap brand shoe, knowing that you pay so much for a shoe that functions the same?
Doesn't matter if it's an FPS game, RPG, RTS, sports or whatever. Your skill is the key to victory, not your keyboard or your mouse.
What's important is not the gaming gear. It's your skill.
Play hard.

The Impossible Cube

Posted by Kai on November 24th, 2008

Look at this colourful cube. So simple it is built, yet so difficult to comprehend.

Extremely difficult, it is.
Without a mathematician to propose a series of solutions and/or formulae, it is practically impossible for one to completely solve the puzzle. Of course, currently plenty of people have the ability to solve the seemingly-impossible puzzle, thanks to the various solutions facilitated by advanced mathematicians.
It has troubled people ever since. It is the very symbol of IQ itself. People who could solve the cube are often regarded as smart. But what intelligence is there when you could just refer to the solutions given? The mathematicians who worked out the solution is the symbol of IQ.
However, it is said to be the world's best-selling toy, with sales approximately up to 300,000,000 worldwide in 2005 itself.
Seriously, no one but advanced mathematicians know how hard it is to solve a Rubik's Cube.
Looks can be deceiving. Simple structure, and countless possibilities.

Mahathir: Whose side is he on?

Posted by Kai on November 18th, 2008

Tun Dr Mahathir... our former premier, a great doctor and an aspirational prime minister. Yet, after his retirement, he confuses us with his staggering remarks on politics.

Zooming back in time, he sentenced his deputy Anwar Ibrahim to jail, condemning him for corruption and sodomy. Till now, he holds a strong grudge toward Anwar, more or less... afraid of Anwar's rise to power.
Couple of years ago, he blamed current prime minister Abdullah Badawi for not being a good PM. Abdullah calls them "venomous darts hurled at him". And yet, till now, Mahathir stills holds a similar grudge toward him. Moreover, he blasted Samyvellu, our former works minister, for being racist. Look who's the racist here?
Mahathir dislikes the opposition leader, and holds a prejudice on the government leader.
Recently Mahathir left UMNO. That staggering move shocked us all. Mahathir leaves the party he has sworn to support. After this, which party will he join... PAS? In this case, if he does not side the BN, nor does he side the opposition, whose side is he on?
For his persepctives on Malaysian politics, visit www.chedet.com

Change It Is!

Posted by Kai on November 11th, 2008

Indeed, with the victory of Barack Obama, change has come not only to America, but to the world. Across the globe, millions of people celebrate the change of government and race of the most influential and powerful man in the world.

Actually, why do people crave for change so much?
It's simply beacuse of the negative effects of the current government which causes the uproar of the people. In the US, the worst financial crisis in decades hit them hard. People get fed up of the Republican rule and opted for a change in economic policies provided by Democrat Barack Obama.
In Malaysia, change too, is needed. The March 8 general elections showed the people's true feelings of the current BN government. However, the BN still won by a slim margin.
It is, still, the day Malaysians finally woke up. They did not fear the consequences of racial tensions as what happened in May 13, 1969.
Racial tensions never happened at all. Races were united under PKR, which emphasizes on multi-racial success, in contrast to the BN's component parties. Anwar Ibrahim's bid to takeover the government is alive once again as PKR gains momentum alongside opposition parties DAP and PAS, assisted by the BN's decreasing popularity.
Is there a similarity between them?
Let there be change!

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