Items by Nate Ralph
Wired: Top Stories
-
'Army of Two' Sequel Promises More Cooperative Killing
Posted: March 20th, 2009, 4:10pm EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
Game|Life previews the upcoming Army of Two: The 40th Day, which emphasizes playing cooperatively. It won't hit store shelves soon, but when it does we think it'll be fun. -
'Army of Two' Sequel Promises More Cooperative Killing
Posted: March 20th, 2009, 4:10pm EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
Game|Life previews the upcoming Army of Two: The 40th Day, which emphasizes playing cooperatively. It won't hit store shelves soon, but when it does we think it'll be fun. -
Hands-On: 'Dante's Inferno' Turns Epic Poem Into Hellish Action Game
Posted: February 25th, 2009, 4:46pm EST by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
Hell ain't a bad place to be in the upcoming God of War clone that's based on The Divine Comedy. New screenshots offer a taste of the infernal title. -
Review: Halo Wars Swaps Shooting for Strategy
Posted: February 20th, 2009, 10:15am EST by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
For many shooter fans, Halo was the game that convinced them that you didn't need a keyboard and mouse to line up the perfect headshot -- you could do it with a control pad on a home console. Halo Wars does the same thing for the real-time strategy game. -
Review: 'F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin' Scares Up Atmospheric Thrills
Posted: February 10th, 2009, 8:00pm EST by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
The new first-person shooter delivers a truly frightening experience without relying on cheap shock value. -
New Spore Games Targets Kids, Wii Players
Posted: January 22nd, 2009, 1:55pm EST by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
Electronic Arts unveils four new games in its Spore franchise, expanding the world-building evolutionary gameplay to include younger players, Wii owners and would-be game designers.
-
Soak It to Me: Inside Liquid-Suspended Gaming PC
Posted: December 13th, 2008, 12:00am EST by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comLooking for a beefy gaming rig, and don't mind getting your hands a little wet? Hardcore Computer's Reactor might just be the 100-pound computational monolith for you.
Crafted from 2.5mm-thick aircraft aluminum and packed with powerful hardware, the Reactor is already a fairly striking and competitive machine. But there's a secret weapon sloshing around in that unassuming tank: four and a half gallons of cooling oil.
PC enthusiasts looking to get the most power out of their machines have often turned to overclocking — pushing key components to perform faster than the manufacturer intended. This generates quite a bit of heat, which is traditionally fought using an array of fans or a maze of tubes pumping cooling fluid to select components.
The Reactor takes the liquid-cooled principle a bit further by submerging everything into a tank of coolant. Of course, this isn't your average fish tank filled with mineral oil — take a look at the innards of this (relatively) mini-supercomputer.
Left: Behold, Hardcore Computer's Reactor. Like most gaming PCs, it's crammed with overclocked, high-performance hardware. But there's an important difference here: Every single component is submerged in a custom-designed cooling oil, called Core Coolant. Less trouble with heat means a faster, highly stable system. Dunking everything in fluid works surprisingly well, and is more efficient compared with traditional air- or water-cooling methods.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comIt's packed to the gills with high-performance, server-grade hardware, including room for a pair of hot-swappable drives so you can switch HDs without ever shutting off your machine. Other goodies include integrated WiFi, up to three solid-state drives, and dual power supplies — just in case one fails in the middle of a World of Warcraft raid.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comThe Reactor is a fortress: You'll want to set aside some time to work your way through more than 20 fasteners and screws. Every system ships with removal tools in case you don't have some on hand. With all of that cooling fluid sloshing around in there, you'll almost be glad that getting inside it is a chore — we shudder to think of the mess that would result if a 4-year-old could easily pry the lid off.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comHardcore Computer's Core Coolant is a biodegradable, nontoxic cooling oil, and there's 4.5 gallons of the stuff coursing its way through the tank. An odorless, clear liquid, it's fairly easy to spill if you're not careful. Fortunately, it doesn't conduct electricity — just keep a roll of paper towels handy.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comOnce you've removed all of those screws, it's time to start lifting out the Reactor's core. Slow and steady is key here; you can keep relatively dry by resting the core on a pair of hooks running near the lid, and letting all of that cooling fluid drain off.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comThis behemoth weighs in at just over 100 pounds, so you'll be glad to know that it's been designed to be opened up and tinkered with from a comfortable seated position, presumably right beside your desk.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comThe core, in all its glory. Every single component — including the 650-watt power supply — is completely submerged in Core Coolant while tubing pumps the oil about the tank and then back to the radiator.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comThere were four gigs of RAM in the configuration we tested with room to spare, if you're feeling power-hungry. In fact, most of the components in the Reactor can be upgraded from off-the-shelf parts, to take advantage of all the overclocking potential. And can you believe that no one had ever trademarked that radioactive symbol? The folks at Hardcore Computer couldn't either.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comWhile the Core Coolant sports some impressive chilling capabilities, it still needs to dissipate some of the heat picked up from all that overclocked hardware. This radiator works just like the one in your car: Four independently controlled fans blow cool air over the Coolant as it's pumped through a network of tubes, and then back into the tank.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comAll this could be yours, starting at the fairly reasonable price of about $3,700. A fully loaded setup would cost just south of $10,000, but with so many overclocking safeguards in place, a savvy enthusiast could buy slightly cheaper components and still push them well beyond their intended performance levels.
-
Review: 'Left 4 Dead' Delivers Definitive Team Zombie War
Posted: November 21st, 2008, 4:58pm EST by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
It's you and your buddies against a massive onslaught of the undead. Which of your comrades in arms will you turn your back on, coward?
-
4 Things to Keep in Mind While Killing Zombies in 'Left 4 Dead'
Posted: November 18th, 2008, 7:13pm EST by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
This isn't your typical survivor horror videogame. These tips will keep you the blood bath going just a little bit longer.
-
Teen-Friendly 'Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe' Feels Wrong Somehow
Posted: October 9th, 2008, 5:23pm EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
Say goodbye to the gore goodness of the good ol' days -- the upcoming iteration of the classic fighting game will be toned down considerably. Sure, the potential audience will be wider, but is nothing sacred?
Wired.com -
Free Game Lets You Run Your Own Obama, McCain Campaigns
Posted: September 22nd, 2008, 3:30pm EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
Political Machine Express puts you in the political pit bull's seat as you manage your chosen candidate's bid for the White House.
Wired.com -
Review: Novint Falcon Gaming Controller Takes Aim On Your Mouse
Posted: September 12th, 2008, 1:41pm EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
The Novint Falcon is the biggest jump in gaming interaction since, well, the mouse. This rounded device lets touch, feel and experience 3-D environments within a 2-D videogame. Now with the addition of the pistol-grip attachment, the way we play FPS titles is about to change again.
-
Review: Phantom Lapboard Wasn't Worth the Wait
Posted: August 26th, 2008, 3:41pm EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
Vaporware becomes corporeal at last, but this supposedly liberating keyboard-and-mouse combo for gamers fails on a variety of levels.
-
Hands-On: 'Fracture,' a Literally Groundbreaking Shooter
Posted: August 22nd, 2008, 6:45pm EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
LucasArts' upcoming Xbox and PS3 game lets players deform the soil beneath them to create mountains and craters with the push of a button.
-
New Star Wars Videogame Unleashes the Force in You
Posted: August 22nd, 2008, 12:00am EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsOn September 16, LucasArts will release Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the latest addition to George Lucas' science fiction universe. Set between the events of episodes III and IV, the videogame promises to fill the gaps between the two film trilogies, a time period that saw the Empire cement its hold over the galaxy.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsIn The Force Unleashed, players take on the role of Darth Vader's secret apprentice, Starkiller. Found as a child by Vader on the Wookiee home world Kashyyyk, Starkiller is trained to aid Vader in his quest to destroy the Jedi Order, and together with Vader supplant Emperor Palpatine. The game is set in the nether region between the trilogies and features many entirely new characters, so the game designers had some freedom to establish new events in the Star Wars timeline. But the major events had to be cleared with Star Wars creator George Lucas, and every detail had to be vetted by the Lucas Licensing department of Lucasfilm to ensure that it fits into the continuity.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsThe Secret Apprentice's appearance is crucial to the character's ethos. He wields the signature red lightsaber of the dark side, and his gaunt, sinister look—complete with tattered clothing, scars—shows that Darth Vader wasn't a particularly nurturing father figure. The character is voiced by the actor Sam Witwer, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his in-game alter ego.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsAs a Jedi, you'll be equipped with a lightsaber and a growing knowledge of Jedi powers. To put it bluntly, Unleashed is all about the ancient, primal art of kicking ass with the Force. Restrained feelings and a code of honor are fine and dandy for Jedi following the light side of the Force, but Dark Jedi get to have a bit more fun. As the title suggests, Starkiller's strength comes from reveling in bad vibes and unleashing energy with very little restraint. The end result? The glorious obliteration of your enemies.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsRather than relying on prescripted sequences and events, The Force Unleashed utilizes technologies that create on-the-fly reactions from characters and materials. Something called Euphoria grants characters biomechanical AI, allowing them to react to changes in their surroundings: Force Push a pack of Stormtroopers, and they'll stumble, or attempt to grab a railing or each other for support. Another technology, Digital Molecular Matter, applies that idea to inanimate objects: Force Throw a Wookiee against an object and it will deform or break in a lifelike manner, whether it's a tree, a hunk of metal, or a pane of glass.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsYou are Darth Vader's secret apprentice: And that means leaving no witnesses. Whether that's a sign of Vader's paranoia or a handy way to introduce a previously unknown character, this means that you'll be eliminating Imperial troops in addition to Jedi. Not a bad way to maintain continuity—and amp up the body count to God of War levels, giving players a chance to try out a range of increasingly powerful Force attacks. Killing everyone guarantees that the secret apprentice Starkiller maintains a low profile. It also explains why he wasn't invited to the Life Day celebration in the Star Wars Holiday Special.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsNew characters abound: Serving as a sidekick and a bit of comic relief is the droid Proxy, designed to accompany and train the Secret Apprentice. Proxy is equipped with advanced hologram technology and a body that can change shape—taking on the form of enemies, other Jedi, and even Vader himself.
photo: Jeff MintonThe kid's room at the Lucas Licensing department is jam-packed with merchandise offered by Lucasfilm. “It's every parent's worst nightmare,” jokes Leland Chee, continuity database administrator in the licensing department, who is also known as the Keeper of the Holocron. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there existed a Jedi device called the Holocron: a Force-powered hard drive capable of storing vast quantities of information. In our own time, that Holocron exists as a FileMaker database with more than 30,000 entries, and Leland Chee of Lucas Licensing is its Keeper. His job is to ensure that additions to the Star Wars canon adhere strictly to the continuity established by works that have come before it. Unleashed will be joining a book, a graphic novel, and several lines of toys when it arrives, and the licensing department is tasked with adding all of the new lore to the growing compendium of Star Wars knowledge and ensuring that it all fits.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsIn keeping with the Star Wars saga, The Force Unleashed is ultimately a tale of redemption. Under Order 66 at the end of Episode III, Emperor Palpatine orders the extermination of all Jedi officers in the Grand Army of the Republic. The Secret Apprentice must carry out assassinations, and he eventually encounters General Rahm Kota, a cold, honorable Jedi Master dedicated to the Force. Having survived the Jedi Purge (several Jedi have slipped through the cracks), Kota stirs up trouble by relentlessly attacking Imperial facilities. Their meeting will play an important role in the ultimate formation of the Rebellion.
image: Courtesy of LucasArtsIn Episode IV, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine are alive and on amicable terms. There's also no mention of Starkiller or a Secret Apprentice among the Rebels or the Imperials, so how does a Jedi this powerful go unnoticed? The Force Unleashed will be released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, DS, and PSP, so no matter your console of choice, you'll be able to figure that one out for yourself.
-
Lamest Fetish Items Ever: Gear Lust Gone Bad, 1993 - '95
Posted: May 24th, 2008, 6:00am EDT by Nate Ralph
Tags: [edit]
: 15 years of Wired Fetish. That's 442 pages of obsessive gear lust. We were bound to make a few bad selections...
Proceed CD Library Premiere Issue 1993 $12,000
Holds 100 CDs. Costs 12 grand.
: May/June 1993 Under $100
Back stock snapped up by Jaron Lanier.
: Nov 1993 $699
Most misunderstood gadget ever? Or biggest flop? Both.
: Feb 1994 $400
Keyboard neck and "strummer veins" did not rock.
: Feb 1994 $5,000
We called this patent collection "The most significant body of information ever published in electronic format. "Oops!"
: Mar 1994 $1,999
Frankly, it was no Newton.
: Jul 1994 $100
Translated bass to vibrations on your chest. Feel the music.
: Aug 1994 $6,000
Personal workspace shielded you from coworkers' scorn.
: Sep 1994 $85,000
Personal underwater craft featured a three-day air supply.
: Oct 1994 $3,615
Tattoo removal seems like a job best left to professionals.
: Feb 1995 $9,000 a pair
Instead of a big ugly box, a big ugly tube.
: Aug 1995 Shirt: $34.50, Pants: $24
Mosquitoes less repelled than incapacitated by own laughter.
: Oct 1995 $5,198
All the fun of a coin-op car wash, at home!
: Oct 1995 $15
Too bad the Legos were sold separately.
: Dec 1995 $4,869
This is what the future looked like in the mid-'90s.