Sometimes you just cant think of anything interesting to write about. Sometimes “stuff' just flows from your mind to your fingers to the screen and somehow it all makes sense. Lately, for Ol' Vettie, its been one of those times where I just cant seem to find or think of anything interesting to write about. I mean I have a lot of topics floating about in my head, but I cant seem to get anything on the screen to come across as I am thinking it. When I actually get it typed out, its not really what or the “way” I wanted it to sound so that someone reading this understands where my head is on whatever the subject is.
I usually write about mechs or something connected with MechWarrior Mercs, or I write about something that is bugging me, you know, one of my “rants”. We all know that MP3.1 (Free Mercs) from MekTek is “ready” to be released and we all know that Free Mercs is on hold because someone at Microsoft hasn't taken the time to sign off on the piece of paper giving Smith and Tinker the “ok”. We all also know that MP4 is still being worked, albeit at a much slower pace because of the surprise announcement from Smith and Tinker that MekTek would handle the Free Mercs Distribution. We all know that MekTek had to scramble to get “MP3.1” ready for the public and they also needed a vehicle and infrastructure to deliver the downloads no matter what the expected internet traffic might be. It is my understanding that MekTek has everything in place and when given the “ok”, people like you and me can get our new copy of the slightly improved Mercs.
For some folks, this will be good because they never bought, or couldnt find copies of the Microsoft Clan and IS Mech Packs (even tho over the past year or so MANY copies were available on EBAY IF you wanted to pay the outrageous prices folks were asking). I dont know how many players out there do not have the Packs, but for them, it will be an added bonus, giving them access to eight Mechs they have never been able to use before. For the IS, you get the Zeus, Highlander, Dragon and the Hunchback. The Clanners get access to the Kodiak, Masakari, Cauldron Born and the Arctic Wolf. Looks like fun in the mechlab for you folks.
For those of us that already have the MS Packs, MekTek has made some 'adjustments' to the game and for those new to the game, it will include all the previous MekTek Mek Paks full of mechs and weapons. The exceptions will be the “unseen” mechs. Maybe someday, that too will be resolved and MekTek can release its own Mek Pak containing those mechs. Unseen mechs are, and I am guessing here, the Marauder (it might also include the Marauder II?? Dont know for sure) the Archer, the Warhammer and possibly the Rifleman to name a few. At least, those are my favourites of the ones possibly in jeopardy. MekTek has a few threads about this on their forums, so I suggest you check that out for yourself and see if one (or more) of your favourites is on the official “unseen” listing.
As I mentioned above, all that is on hold for now until they get the “ok”. So, I dont really want to write about that anymore, because most folks know all that already and if you are new to MechWarrior 4 and you somehow discovered my little blog, then I just told you a quick version of the story above, a refresher for us old hats.
I dont want to spend any time on MP4, because some of the stuff originally slated for MP4 will be included in the Free Mercs release, but I dont know everything that will be included. Many of the things I speculated about to come in MP4 were actually included in some of the beta rounds. Remember tho, it was just a beta and the end product may be totally different and MekTek isnt saying for sure what is and is not included. As is with their past history, MekTek always has some cool surprise and there are always little tweaks.
The little tweaks is part (or most) of the reason I quit reviewing mechs for the time being. There COULD be some changes and I dont really want to go back and re-do an article about a mech because of some slot changes or additions or deletions. Sorry, call me lazy.
I dont really have anything to “Rant” about right now because I havent ventured out too much to see anything to cause me to rant and rave. The cold weather and all the rain we have had has me a bit “stiff”. My back and knees have days where they really dont want to cooperate with my brain and they make it really difficult to navigate terrain or drive or pretty much anything else for that matter. So no “Rants” currently.
I went to see my optometrist earlier this week. That visit went very well. He told me I didnt look my age (I hear that a lot) and that my eyes were not acting their age. I have never really had to wear glasses or contacts in my life, other than for reading back in the 6th grade and 12th grade, As you get older, you start to lose some of that focus and things just arent as sharp as they once were. With all my medical issues, I try to keep my eyes in good health as well as my teeth. About 6 years ago, I was told by my eye doc that I needed glasses for reading. Every year since then, I have gone for my check up and everything is status quo. This year, the doc says my distance seeing ability actually improved to better than 20/20 and there was no worsening of my “close-up” vision. He said my eyes were very healthy and looked great considering the other things I have going medically. I ordered some new specs. My six year old pair are still functional, but are starting to show their age and I dont really have a back-up should these break, or whatever. So nothing to rant about there.
Like I said when I started writing this article, sometimes you just cant think of anything to write about or you cant put anything together to make it where others can understand what you are saying. I am in that frame of mind lately. I need to write, I have things to say, but I just cant seem to get them together for a decent article.
An old lit professor I had in college once said (and I dont remember exactly so I will sort of paraphrase his quote) “if you get writer's block or you find yourself unable to put together more than two thoughts about any one subject, which is the case for most of you in here after reading the papers you turned in, well, I say to you, just start writing. Once you do, the thoughts will flow...” I thought I could try that here. It didnt work for me professor. Any chance I could get my money back on the class I had to take where you were supposed to 'help' us or 'teach' us something worthy? Doubtful.
I guess I just wanted to write something to let you people know I am still here and I still have my ears open to what is going on with our game, but there is nothing new to report. MekTek assures us that as soon as they get the green light they will open the dam. I hope it is soon. I have a pc that I need to reinstall Windows and (of course) MechWarrior after I do some updating to the hardware, but I have held off because of the weather (lots of static right now, even if you ground yourself properly which I do even if there is no static) and because we are so close to having Mercs for Free. Even if I re-install to my current settings, the Free Mercs will show as a different version and I will need to install it too. So I am like the rest of you, sort of waiting for this thing to happen and to see just how many folks come to the game.
We already know there are new players (and previous players) joining the mechwarrior ranks. Just look at the MekTek forums, many new names and lots of n00bs asking questions. When the switch is turned, I wonder just how many we will see? Maybe some of the league activity will increase. Maybe NBT will adopt MP3.1 over Hardcore or maybe NBT and MekTek will form a new league. League play is a lot of fun, especially a planetary league where you actually battle for 'stuff' instead of just a win loss record and bragging rights. Of course, the “open” servers should pick up with activity too.
Lately, I have been playing Vengeance. Thanks to Frost and SoE for their server and the many maps I was able to download and install. Why? Just to see what it was like. Vengeance was the 1st of the MW4 series and the game has changed a lot since those days, but that game is still fun. I remember being on dial up and playing in the opens night after night. The in-game browser window would be full of games that were full of players. Sometimes (often times) you would have to wait to get into your favourite server until someone else disconnected. Those games were always respawn and you would play a map for 30 mins or an hour and the basic object was to see who could rack up the most kills or sometimes to see who could rack up the most points.
Like many of you, I spent countless hours playing that game. I even joined a league. It was a blast. We didnt even use teamspeak, lol!!! Just MSN or screen chats. What a blast. Then this new game appeared. MW4 Mercenaries. I had to build a better machine just to play it. Man how times have changed.
Well, I guess I a going to close this one out for now. Like I said before, I cant really think of anything to write and I dont see any news to report. Keep checking back. There will be more stuff to write about SOON (so I am told). Oh, yeah w00t! Folks!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Friends
Greetings once again Mech Fans and friends. A new year has crept up on us and with that brings hope for a better year for all. 2009 was not that good to Ol' Vettie overall, but things has calmed a bit and seem to have settled. Oh yeah, forgot, every January brings another birthday to the old guy but I heard he is happy to see one come this time.
When you find out that you just have a few left (according to the Doctors) each one becomes something special. Since I found out that I am supposed to kick the bucket, I have lived almost as long as they said I would before shutting down for good and yet, I dont feel any worse. I am thankful to GOD for helping me and my family get through so far and also to my Doctors for finding the problem, hopefully soon enough to prolong fate that awaits me. Things take on a different perspective when you are given a short lease on life. So many things you once thought very important become so immaterial. The real important things that I have found are my faith, my family and finally my petty happiness. I made my peace with GOD a long time back and I renewed it recently, you know, just in case HE forgot or in case I acted like the idiot that I can be sometimes. When my time does arrive, I'll be ready, but until then, I have learned to live and enjoy and not be so caught up in the little things.
Well, sorry to eat your time on myself, but I needed to put that out there somewhere and maybe, just maybe, someone will read that little bit and think a moment about their own life and the things that are really important to them. Maybe...
This blog is usually devoted to MechWarrior and reviews on Mechs or maps or weapons or electronics and occassionlly I throw in one of rants about something that I think is just wrong, or something some of you can relate to. Today I plan to write about friends. Thats right friends. No not that sitcom, about people.
Old Man Webster defines a friend as 1. one attached to another by affection or esteem, 2. one that is not hostile, 3. one that favors or promotes something, 4. a favored companion. For todays discussion I like number 4., a favored companion. Yeah I like that.
How many friends do you have? I mean really, think about it, how many friends to you have? In my non-internet life I have known many, many people from all over the world. I have many of them that I would consider to be “friends” as in we are 'friendly' as in non hostile. There are also several that I would actually consider as 'friends' in a way that I like to spend time with them and they like to spend time with me. And then there are those few that I consider 'close friends' that would actually do something for me (or my family) if I really needed them. These are what I call “true friends”. Most people dont have many of those types of friends, but if you do have those types, hold on to them and keep them close to you, be there for them if they need you even if they dont or wont ask cause you never know when you might need them.
Of course I have many “online” friends too. Many of the folks that read Vettie's Views are my 'on line friends' and many of the Sunder Junkies are too. Some of those folks overlap from 'on line friends' to 'non-internet' friends. I wont call them out, but they know who they are. Of course, ALL The Blood Pearls are my friends and some them are non-internet friends as well.
My father was an Air Force man for 24 of years here with us, so I moved around a bit when I was a kid. I had friends way back then and I wonder what happened to the ones I can recall the most. When he retired from active duty, we settled in Alabama even though neither of my folks were from there. We settled here because of friends of my folks that Dad had served with lived here.
I have thought about some of my friends from my earlier years and wondered how many of them were and what they were doing now. Facebook is a fairly decent way to get in touch with some of your friends you have seen in long time and even the friends you have now. I signed up for a facebook account and I did a few searches for some of my old high school friends. To my surprise, I located a few and I have sent them a 'friend request'. Hopefully they will respond and I will let them know who I am and maybe we can revisit some of those days.
See, when you are a kid you have friends or buddies. I am sure that many of you lived as I did and were forced to move away for one reason or another. Kids make friends pretty easy so you meet up with a new bunch then the cycle reboots itself and again you start over.
In high school, I am sure many of you had friends that you hung out with, or played sports with or whatever. That is until graduation. Many of you went on to college or to work or both and you lose touch with your high school friends. Again the cycle starts turning and you meet new ones in school or at work and the cycle repeats.
Over my professional career I have met many that I would call friends. I was fortunate enough in my career to travel often, either in the States or in Europe or Mexico. I met folks in countries far away that became friends. I still “talk” to some them via email or Skype every once in a while. I cant forget about the many friends that worked with me or for me over the years plus all the friends I made during my work career in various states. Cant forget about church friends or socail friends either. Just so many
When it comes down to it, friends make up a big part of our lives. They help you each day whether you know it or not. Think about it like this, what if you accepted a job for another company in another location far away from where you are now. For the first few days you would meet people, but not really “know” them and you would have no friends there. Just you and your work and hopefully you go home to you best friend ever, your spouse (if you are married). That would be a tough thing if you never made friends. A lonely existance for sure. We as humans rely on others in so many ways...
Get out and make a friend today. If you have a close knit friend, call them up or drop them a text message or send them an email and let them know they are your friend(s) and you appreciate that. You'd be surprised at how that might make them feel. If you have friends like mine, they might ask you what the hell is wrong with you, but just let them know you appreciate their friendship.
Just so we keep this blog in line with MechWarrior, I hope our friends at MekTek and Microsoft soon get their issues resolved so MP3.1 can be reased for free. Whatever the problem is, I hope it can be resolved in a friendly manner with a friendly out come for all of us (and them too).
Aanother note, yeah yeah, old men ramble on, get over it, This edition is again brought to you with the use of Linux Mint (version 8). I have been tinkering with it off and on and I really like it. For those of you out there that have been wanting to try Linux but didnt know how or where to start, I suggest Ubuntu or Mint. Mint is (more or less) built off of Ubuntu but contains some things that Ubuntu does not have without digging a bit. Mint is smooth and stable and if you are a Windows user (most of us are, right?) you will not really have any trouble using Mint (or Ubunto for that matter). It is Icon and Menu driven but you can use the “terminal”. Mint or Ubuntu, either one, is perfect for web surfing (Mint has some of the adobe stuff like flashplayer already built into Firefox) and doing emails. Open Office is installed by default (I am using Open Office Writer [very similar to Word] to write this addition of Vettie's Views) and for Microsoft Office users you will have no trouble using it. Evolution is the email program (looks and acts a lot like Outlook) but Mozilla Thunderbird is also available. For those who use an IM program, Pidgeon is there and connects with all the other like Yahoo messenger, MSN Messenger and, well you get the idea. So a big thanks to our Linux friends and dont be afraid to give it a shot, it can be fun and you might learn something.
Well, I guess that will do it for this edition. To my friends, I appreciate and care for you all. Find an old friend today and try to make a new one, but let your old ones know you care.
When you find out that you just have a few left (according to the Doctors) each one becomes something special. Since I found out that I am supposed to kick the bucket, I have lived almost as long as they said I would before shutting down for good and yet, I dont feel any worse. I am thankful to GOD for helping me and my family get through so far and also to my Doctors for finding the problem, hopefully soon enough to prolong fate that awaits me. Things take on a different perspective when you are given a short lease on life. So many things you once thought very important become so immaterial. The real important things that I have found are my faith, my family and finally my petty happiness. I made my peace with GOD a long time back and I renewed it recently, you know, just in case HE forgot or in case I acted like the idiot that I can be sometimes. When my time does arrive, I'll be ready, but until then, I have learned to live and enjoy and not be so caught up in the little things.
Well, sorry to eat your time on myself, but I needed to put that out there somewhere and maybe, just maybe, someone will read that little bit and think a moment about their own life and the things that are really important to them. Maybe...
This blog is usually devoted to MechWarrior and reviews on Mechs or maps or weapons or electronics and occassionlly I throw in one of rants about something that I think is just wrong, or something some of you can relate to. Today I plan to write about friends. Thats right friends. No not that sitcom, about people.
Old Man Webster defines a friend as 1. one attached to another by affection or esteem, 2. one that is not hostile, 3. one that favors or promotes something, 4. a favored companion. For todays discussion I like number 4., a favored companion. Yeah I like that.
How many friends do you have? I mean really, think about it, how many friends to you have? In my non-internet life I have known many, many people from all over the world. I have many of them that I would consider to be “friends” as in we are 'friendly' as in non hostile. There are also several that I would actually consider as 'friends' in a way that I like to spend time with them and they like to spend time with me. And then there are those few that I consider 'close friends' that would actually do something for me (or my family) if I really needed them. These are what I call “true friends”. Most people dont have many of those types of friends, but if you do have those types, hold on to them and keep them close to you, be there for them if they need you even if they dont or wont ask cause you never know when you might need them.
Of course I have many “online” friends too. Many of the folks that read Vettie's Views are my 'on line friends' and many of the Sunder Junkies are too. Some of those folks overlap from 'on line friends' to 'non-internet' friends. I wont call them out, but they know who they are. Of course, ALL The Blood Pearls are my friends and some them are non-internet friends as well.
My father was an Air Force man for 24 of years here with us, so I moved around a bit when I was a kid. I had friends way back then and I wonder what happened to the ones I can recall the most. When he retired from active duty, we settled in Alabama even though neither of my folks were from there. We settled here because of friends of my folks that Dad had served with lived here.
I have thought about some of my friends from my earlier years and wondered how many of them were and what they were doing now. Facebook is a fairly decent way to get in touch with some of your friends you have seen in long time and even the friends you have now. I signed up for a facebook account and I did a few searches for some of my old high school friends. To my surprise, I located a few and I have sent them a 'friend request'. Hopefully they will respond and I will let them know who I am and maybe we can revisit some of those days.
See, when you are a kid you have friends or buddies. I am sure that many of you lived as I did and were forced to move away for one reason or another. Kids make friends pretty easy so you meet up with a new bunch then the cycle reboots itself and again you start over.
In high school, I am sure many of you had friends that you hung out with, or played sports with or whatever. That is until graduation. Many of you went on to college or to work or both and you lose touch with your high school friends. Again the cycle starts turning and you meet new ones in school or at work and the cycle repeats.
Over my professional career I have met many that I would call friends. I was fortunate enough in my career to travel often, either in the States or in Europe or Mexico. I met folks in countries far away that became friends. I still “talk” to some them via email or Skype every once in a while. I cant forget about the many friends that worked with me or for me over the years plus all the friends I made during my work career in various states. Cant forget about church friends or socail friends either. Just so many
When it comes down to it, friends make up a big part of our lives. They help you each day whether you know it or not. Think about it like this, what if you accepted a job for another company in another location far away from where you are now. For the first few days you would meet people, but not really “know” them and you would have no friends there. Just you and your work and hopefully you go home to you best friend ever, your spouse (if you are married). That would be a tough thing if you never made friends. A lonely existance for sure. We as humans rely on others in so many ways...
Get out and make a friend today. If you have a close knit friend, call them up or drop them a text message or send them an email and let them know they are your friend(s) and you appreciate that. You'd be surprised at how that might make them feel. If you have friends like mine, they might ask you what the hell is wrong with you, but just let them know you appreciate their friendship.
Just so we keep this blog in line with MechWarrior, I hope our friends at MekTek and Microsoft soon get their issues resolved so MP3.1 can be reased for free. Whatever the problem is, I hope it can be resolved in a friendly manner with a friendly out come for all of us (and them too).
Aanother note, yeah yeah, old men ramble on, get over it, This edition is again brought to you with the use of Linux Mint (version 8). I have been tinkering with it off and on and I really like it. For those of you out there that have been wanting to try Linux but didnt know how or where to start, I suggest Ubuntu or Mint. Mint is (more or less) built off of Ubuntu but contains some things that Ubuntu does not have without digging a bit. Mint is smooth and stable and if you are a Windows user (most of us are, right?) you will not really have any trouble using Mint (or Ubunto for that matter). It is Icon and Menu driven but you can use the “terminal”. Mint or Ubuntu, either one, is perfect for web surfing (Mint has some of the adobe stuff like flashplayer already built into Firefox) and doing emails. Open Office is installed by default (I am using Open Office Writer [very similar to Word] to write this addition of Vettie's Views) and for Microsoft Office users you will have no trouble using it. Evolution is the email program (looks and acts a lot like Outlook) but Mozilla Thunderbird is also available. For those who use an IM program, Pidgeon is there and connects with all the other like Yahoo messenger, MSN Messenger and, well you get the idea. So a big thanks to our Linux friends and dont be afraid to give it a shot, it can be fun and you might learn something.
Well, I guess that will do it for this edition. To my friends, I appreciate and care for you all. Find an old friend today and try to make a new one, but let your old ones know you care.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Advice to the n00bs
Hello Mech Fans. Vettie here with another edition of Vettie's Views. As you know, from time to time I post my view of things, whether it be about MechWarrior or lousy service at fast food restaurants.
We are all waiting on the release of MekTek's MP3.1, a “free” version of MechWarrior4 Mercenaries with all the previous MekTek Mek Paks included plus a few enhancements. Along with this release, many of us speculate there will be an influx of old MechWarriors and hopefully new ones as well. The trick here is to attract new blood to a very old game AND to keep those players interested in the game. That's a nifty trick and I certainly hope we (we as in the current MW4 community including anyone reading this blog today) can pull this off. It's not gonna be easy to do.
Mechwarrior4 is a very old game. The graphics show that. The High Definition Patch (from Mercstorm) helps and the texturing on some of the MP302b mechs is incredible, but the graphics are still very old. The thing is, this isn't about graphics. Its about game play. I have covered this before stating that in my opinion Mercs is one of the best multiplayer games ever released. MekTek is making some changes even to the single player version. This will allow players to see and use Mek Pak Mechs in the single player campaign. This is a big step, allowing players to get familiar with battlemechs they may actually use on-line
This brings us to on-line play. Many of the existing players of the game, the community if you will, have been playing this game a very long time. Any night of the week a player can join Sunder II (pure tech server) and experience some of the best open play of Mercs anywhere. Many of those pilots, mechwarriors, players or whatever you want to call them, are not only very good at the game, but they are also helpful to each other and other players of the game. Sure, not all are, but most are, trading configs or tactics or backing one another up on a flank maneuver or straight on rush and so on. And let's not forget the guys on various “comms”. D-Day runs an open “comms” teamspeak for the players in Sunder II and I am pretty sure that Oneshot (operator/owner of Sunder II server) either runs a comms service or has access to one that is more or less “open”. Katt and Rhino have one as well. In most cases all you need is to download Teamspeak or Ventrlllo and a microphone. If you don't wanna talk but do wanna listen, you don't even need the mic.
Genghis Prawn (with his trusty admin Mini-Me) run a web site I have mentioned many times before called www.SunderJunkies.com . GP and Mini started this site some time back as a place for players in Sunder to have a place to go to post all kinds of things. If you haven't been there, I suggest you follow the link and go visit the site. They run a great site over there with lots of cool info. I used to write my Vettie's views there before I got my own space.
There has been a thread running over there, started by Vampire back in October of 2008, about giving advice to new players. It simply starts like this “...if you were going to give a new player, or a returning one, advice on MW4 what would it be?” This thread is some 4 pages long and still growing. That gave me the idea for todays post. I am going to try to paraphrase the gist of thread and list the pieces of advice (with my slanted comments of course) but I suggest that you go visit it for yourself so you can read it completely and get a feel for the players who made a post. So here goes, Vettie's View on giving a new player or returning player advice on MW4, taken from the Sunder Junkies with a Vettie twist added for flavour. I am not going to list all the people the contributed to this thread, but I thank them each and every one and I hope I don't offend anyone with my take on the advice and I hope I don't leave anyone out even though I am not using names or quotes, just paraphrasing. Well, you will see...
One of the first things posted is that n00bs (new players) tend to take BIG mechs loaded with high alpha values (as many weapons as they can fit on it) and run into the fray. I agree that this is a mistake. Many will use the “instant action” or solitaire campaign as guide for what works and what doesn't, again, big mistake. If you notice, whatever “faction” you choose in the campaign, you either start with a light or medium class battlemech and you eventually move up to a heavy or even an assault mech. This lets the player get used to driving each class of mech. However, the campaign is played against “scripted” bots with “mostly' stock load outs (except for some of the “named” players). These bots, even though deadly in their own right in no way represent what a “live” opponent will do with a “personalized” weapons load out. I suggest trying different classes of mechs with weapons you are comfortable with. Learn the recycle rates and how much heat the weapons generate on the mechs you choose and of course, learn the ranges of the weapons. The next thing is to learn the heat rating of the maps being played on-line Some maps are very hot (Solar Desert) and some are very cold (Lunacy) so the way your choice of mech operates with a specific load out changes from map to map. Try many different chassis and weapons and find ones you like and feel comfortable with. Try them without ANY electronics so you get a feel for how others pick you up at range or through the fog. Then blend in the electronics and learn how they work. Most of all keep moving. If you can shoot, you can be shot. These guys been playing for 5 to 10 years and they know how to shoot.
Teamwork is listed. This is important. Refer to what I said above, many of the players have been playing for 10 years. They understand the game and how it works. They can “hud” you from 1200 meters. Don't get mad, learn from what you did wrong and get back in there and do it again but better the second time and so on. Don't stray from your team (unless you agreed to be the bait). Stick close and read the chat screen for tips and tactics from your team mates or better yet, get on comms with them and listen to what they tell you, MOST are very helpful.
Back to electronics. After running for awhile sans electronics, Vettie suggests that you ALWAYS take LAMS if offered on your choice of mechs, always. You can learn to avoid missiles and you can figure out certain ways of dipping your chassis forward and turning hard right or left to avoid the inbound salvos, but that doesn't always work and they will eventually hit you. Also, ECM makes it a little harder for the enemy to pick you up on radar. You can get closer WITH ECM and running active than without it. ECM makes it harder for missile mechs to pick you up as a target and lastly it reduces the PPC “fuzz” (disruption) when you are hit by a PPC blast. ECM is worth the 1 ton expense. Vettie says take it.
Learn to run passive. So many pilots are radar dependent. Be aware of your surroundings. To get your bearings or find your team mates or enemies, flash your radar on for a few seconds (VERY few) and then off again. Leave learning missile boats until later.
Use cover. If you run around in the open, it will be a short round for you. When you do get destroyed, follow around a few of the pilots using the spectator view to see what THEY do.
Another thing that n00bs tend to do is set up too many weapons on too many triggers or buttons. If you use a joystick, get a good one that allows you to have multiple buttons mapped because there are MANY controls (not always weapons) that you will find handy. If you use a keyboard, learn the controls you use most. I use a Nostromo N52 and a high quality mouse (Logitech MX518). Configure your set up so that YOU are comfortable and can access the controls (be it keyboard, Nostromo, or joystick) without having to LOOK at the controller.
If you are playing on-line and NO one has died yet, don't, repeat, DO NOT peek that hill first. Even if you think there is only one mech on the other side that you feel sure you can take, there are others you cant see but absolutely know you are there. I like to run a 80 Ton Victor and nearly every config I have consists of FULL armour. I cant even count the times I have died in what SEEMED like one shot from the enemy. Its not just one guy shooting, its several and they all are just drooling for some idiot like me to give them a little bit of a target, that's all they need. Alphas from 3 or 4 assault mechs will kill most any mech in the game, especially if they hit you within milliseconds of one another, so close it seems to be one shot... One of the things you used to hear a lot on our comms (The Blood Pearls comms) was “...Smaga!! Don't go over that hil....crap, come on guys Smag's in trouble...” and the game chat reads “~BP~Smagaman destroyed “BY EVERY MECH ON THE OTHER TEAM””
Learn how to spread your damage. Don't expose your CT more than you have too. Learn to twist and turn. You can take 5 alphas in 5 different parts of your mech much better than 5 alphas to one part of your mech. Practice makes perfect, well, in this game, practice makes you better.
Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to ask questions, in game, on here or in the Sunder Junkies forums. Don't be afraid to boat weapons. Learn how they work. ALL weapons except LASERS have a lead time. Learn to shoot moving targets while you are moving. Lasers are the only weapons that hit where you point and pull the trigger. Some weapons have faster travel times than others (except LASERS). Some lock up on you (RACs) if you hold the trigger (or button) down for too long. Some will over heat you if you keep using them (even some ballistics). Don't be afraid to try different weapons until you get comfortable with them.
When you get destroyed, think about what you did wrong. Sometimes you did nothing wrong, you were just out gunned. Sometimes you did do something wrong. Think about it and figure it out. I have been playing since MW2 Dos version 1st came out and I still make some of the stupid mistakes I did way back then.
Remember that if you are new to the game, most of the guys and girls you are facing have been playing along time. You think you could beat Tiger Woods on his own course? There is a lot to learn in this game of ours. Most catch on very quickly. Even if you do, it doesn't mean you will be on top of the kill board all the time or even part of the time. As I said, I have been playing 10+ years and many times I just break even, kills to deaths. If you don't remember anything else, please remember this, MechWarrior4 Mercenaries is a game. Play it to have fun. Be respectful of the people you play with and against and be sure to thank your host every now and then. Enjoy the game.
I hope this helps and I hope to see new folks on line. I also hope that MekTek gets the “green light” soon for the free release. The folks over there have done a lot for this game. The players in the various leagues and open servers have done a lot too. For all you regulars out there, and some of you irregulars (that would be me in that group) give yourself a big pat on the back. If it weren't for the MekTeks AND the players, there would be no game to enjoy.
Side note(?), foot note (?), I don't know, some kinda note anyway, this post comes to you via Open Office version 3.1.1 in a freshly installed version of Linux Mint (8). In these days where jobs and $ are hard to come by, a free OS on an older machine makes it run like new, not to mention all the goodies included with Mint. My thanx to the Linux folks out there. Give it a look see at www.linuxmint.com .
w00t! Folks and hope to see you soon.
We are all waiting on the release of MekTek's MP3.1, a “free” version of MechWarrior4 Mercenaries with all the previous MekTek Mek Paks included plus a few enhancements. Along with this release, many of us speculate there will be an influx of old MechWarriors and hopefully new ones as well. The trick here is to attract new blood to a very old game AND to keep those players interested in the game. That's a nifty trick and I certainly hope we (we as in the current MW4 community including anyone reading this blog today) can pull this off. It's not gonna be easy to do.
Mechwarrior4 is a very old game. The graphics show that. The High Definition Patch (from Mercstorm) helps and the texturing on some of the MP302b mechs is incredible, but the graphics are still very old. The thing is, this isn't about graphics. Its about game play. I have covered this before stating that in my opinion Mercs is one of the best multiplayer games ever released. MekTek is making some changes even to the single player version. This will allow players to see and use Mek Pak Mechs in the single player campaign. This is a big step, allowing players to get familiar with battlemechs they may actually use on-line
This brings us to on-line play. Many of the existing players of the game, the community if you will, have been playing this game a very long time. Any night of the week a player can join Sunder II (pure tech server) and experience some of the best open play of Mercs anywhere. Many of those pilots, mechwarriors, players or whatever you want to call them, are not only very good at the game, but they are also helpful to each other and other players of the game. Sure, not all are, but most are, trading configs or tactics or backing one another up on a flank maneuver or straight on rush and so on. And let's not forget the guys on various “comms”. D-Day runs an open “comms” teamspeak for the players in Sunder II and I am pretty sure that Oneshot (operator/owner of Sunder II server) either runs a comms service or has access to one that is more or less “open”. Katt and Rhino have one as well. In most cases all you need is to download Teamspeak or Ventrlllo and a microphone. If you don't wanna talk but do wanna listen, you don't even need the mic.
Genghis Prawn (with his trusty admin Mini-Me) run a web site I have mentioned many times before called www.SunderJunkies.com . GP and Mini started this site some time back as a place for players in Sunder to have a place to go to post all kinds of things. If you haven't been there, I suggest you follow the link and go visit the site. They run a great site over there with lots of cool info. I used to write my Vettie's views there before I got my own space.
There has been a thread running over there, started by Vampire back in October of 2008, about giving advice to new players. It simply starts like this “...if you were going to give a new player, or a returning one, advice on MW4 what would it be?” This thread is some 4 pages long and still growing. That gave me the idea for todays post. I am going to try to paraphrase the gist of thread and list the pieces of advice (with my slanted comments of course) but I suggest that you go visit it for yourself so you can read it completely and get a feel for the players who made a post. So here goes, Vettie's View on giving a new player or returning player advice on MW4, taken from the Sunder Junkies with a Vettie twist added for flavour. I am not going to list all the people the contributed to this thread, but I thank them each and every one and I hope I don't offend anyone with my take on the advice and I hope I don't leave anyone out even though I am not using names or quotes, just paraphrasing. Well, you will see...
One of the first things posted is that n00bs (new players) tend to take BIG mechs loaded with high alpha values (as many weapons as they can fit on it) and run into the fray. I agree that this is a mistake. Many will use the “instant action” or solitaire campaign as guide for what works and what doesn't, again, big mistake. If you notice, whatever “faction” you choose in the campaign, you either start with a light or medium class battlemech and you eventually move up to a heavy or even an assault mech. This lets the player get used to driving each class of mech. However, the campaign is played against “scripted” bots with “mostly' stock load outs (except for some of the “named” players). These bots, even though deadly in their own right in no way represent what a “live” opponent will do with a “personalized” weapons load out. I suggest trying different classes of mechs with weapons you are comfortable with. Learn the recycle rates and how much heat the weapons generate on the mechs you choose and of course, learn the ranges of the weapons. The next thing is to learn the heat rating of the maps being played on-line Some maps are very hot (Solar Desert) and some are very cold (Lunacy) so the way your choice of mech operates with a specific load out changes from map to map. Try many different chassis and weapons and find ones you like and feel comfortable with. Try them without ANY electronics so you get a feel for how others pick you up at range or through the fog. Then blend in the electronics and learn how they work. Most of all keep moving. If you can shoot, you can be shot. These guys been playing for 5 to 10 years and they know how to shoot.
Teamwork is listed. This is important. Refer to what I said above, many of the players have been playing for 10 years. They understand the game and how it works. They can “hud” you from 1200 meters. Don't get mad, learn from what you did wrong and get back in there and do it again but better the second time and so on. Don't stray from your team (unless you agreed to be the bait). Stick close and read the chat screen for tips and tactics from your team mates or better yet, get on comms with them and listen to what they tell you, MOST are very helpful.
Back to electronics. After running for awhile sans electronics, Vettie suggests that you ALWAYS take LAMS if offered on your choice of mechs, always. You can learn to avoid missiles and you can figure out certain ways of dipping your chassis forward and turning hard right or left to avoid the inbound salvos, but that doesn't always work and they will eventually hit you. Also, ECM makes it a little harder for the enemy to pick you up on radar. You can get closer WITH ECM and running active than without it. ECM makes it harder for missile mechs to pick you up as a target and lastly it reduces the PPC “fuzz” (disruption) when you are hit by a PPC blast. ECM is worth the 1 ton expense. Vettie says take it.
Learn to run passive. So many pilots are radar dependent. Be aware of your surroundings. To get your bearings or find your team mates or enemies, flash your radar on for a few seconds (VERY few) and then off again. Leave learning missile boats until later.
Use cover. If you run around in the open, it will be a short round for you. When you do get destroyed, follow around a few of the pilots using the spectator view to see what THEY do.
Another thing that n00bs tend to do is set up too many weapons on too many triggers or buttons. If you use a joystick, get a good one that allows you to have multiple buttons mapped because there are MANY controls (not always weapons) that you will find handy. If you use a keyboard, learn the controls you use most. I use a Nostromo N52 and a high quality mouse (Logitech MX518). Configure your set up so that YOU are comfortable and can access the controls (be it keyboard, Nostromo, or joystick) without having to LOOK at the controller.
If you are playing on-line and NO one has died yet, don't, repeat, DO NOT peek that hill first. Even if you think there is only one mech on the other side that you feel sure you can take, there are others you cant see but absolutely know you are there. I like to run a 80 Ton Victor and nearly every config I have consists of FULL armour. I cant even count the times I have died in what SEEMED like one shot from the enemy. Its not just one guy shooting, its several and they all are just drooling for some idiot like me to give them a little bit of a target, that's all they need. Alphas from 3 or 4 assault mechs will kill most any mech in the game, especially if they hit you within milliseconds of one another, so close it seems to be one shot... One of the things you used to hear a lot on our comms (The Blood Pearls comms) was “...Smaga!! Don't go over that hil....crap, come on guys Smag's in trouble...” and the game chat reads “~BP~Smagaman destroyed “BY EVERY MECH ON THE OTHER TEAM””
Learn how to spread your damage. Don't expose your CT more than you have too. Learn to twist and turn. You can take 5 alphas in 5 different parts of your mech much better than 5 alphas to one part of your mech. Practice makes perfect, well, in this game, practice makes you better.
Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to ask questions, in game, on here or in the Sunder Junkies forums. Don't be afraid to boat weapons. Learn how they work. ALL weapons except LASERS have a lead time. Learn to shoot moving targets while you are moving. Lasers are the only weapons that hit where you point and pull the trigger. Some weapons have faster travel times than others (except LASERS). Some lock up on you (RACs) if you hold the trigger (or button) down for too long. Some will over heat you if you keep using them (even some ballistics). Don't be afraid to try different weapons until you get comfortable with them.
When you get destroyed, think about what you did wrong. Sometimes you did nothing wrong, you were just out gunned. Sometimes you did do something wrong. Think about it and figure it out. I have been playing since MW2 Dos version 1st came out and I still make some of the stupid mistakes I did way back then.
Remember that if you are new to the game, most of the guys and girls you are facing have been playing along time. You think you could beat Tiger Woods on his own course? There is a lot to learn in this game of ours. Most catch on very quickly. Even if you do, it doesn't mean you will be on top of the kill board all the time or even part of the time. As I said, I have been playing 10+ years and many times I just break even, kills to deaths. If you don't remember anything else, please remember this, MechWarrior4 Mercenaries is a game. Play it to have fun. Be respectful of the people you play with and against and be sure to thank your host every now and then. Enjoy the game.
I hope this helps and I hope to see new folks on line. I also hope that MekTek gets the “green light” soon for the free release. The folks over there have done a lot for this game. The players in the various leagues and open servers have done a lot too. For all you regulars out there, and some of you irregulars (that would be me in that group) give yourself a big pat on the back. If it weren't for the MekTeks AND the players, there would be no game to enjoy.
Side note(?), foot note (?), I don't know, some kinda note anyway, this post comes to you via Open Office version 3.1.1 in a freshly installed version of Linux Mint (8). In these days where jobs and $ are hard to come by, a free OS on an older machine makes it run like new, not to mention all the goodies included with Mint. My thanx to the Linux folks out there. Give it a look see at www.linuxmint.com .
w00t! Folks and hope to see you soon.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
MP3.1 (Free Mercs)
Well I have to say this right up front, It's good to be writing and it's good to have something to write about. What's is store for this posting of Vettie's Views? That should be obvious. The Free Release of MechWarrior 4 Mercenaries.
I know the folks over at MekTek are as busy as one-legged waitresses at the IHOP on Sunday morning. AT1 just had a new release. MTX was released. MW4 Mercs was scheduled to be released but then there were issues with the unseen mechs, so MekTek had to go back and remove those mechs. I am guessing they have a “quick” way to put them right back in, in the event the “legal” issues are cleared up and it becomes “okay” to release those mechs(crosses fingers).
Of course, work continues on MP4. But more importantly, the folks at MekTek have been “upgrading” their web access so when the “green light” is given for the free release, the servers over there will be able to handle the expected traffic of folks downloading the software. MTX will be needed for this, so I hope you have your copy installed and ready. MTX can be downloaded from this site http://www.mektekdev.com/site/index.php . I suggest that you go ahead and get MTX downloaded to insure that you have it and it is working for you with no problems. I had zero problems downloading and installing it to my Vista machine. Each day I peek at it just t see if MP3.1 (Free MW4 Mercs) is out there even tho I know its not there yet, its just a hopeful thing.
Last time I did that, something occurred to me that I am sure someone else has thought of, hopefully. Glancing quickly at MekMatch moments ago showed some 23 active servers. Of course this is non-prime time in the U.S., so as the evening goes on the list will grow. That's ok, its more the 23 that brings out this post. Almost all of these servers are dedicated servers running MP302b. Sure there are some running NBT's HC and even one running Mercs PR1, but most are MP302b.
I have tried, on more than one occasion to get an interview with MekTek, but as I mentioned above, they are some busy folks, they dont do interviews, they dont like me, too much going on to talk to an old guy like me, still investigating the Kennedy shooting or whatever. (Truth is, in my opinion, Vam, Jeho, Whitefeather and the rest of the gang are simply too busy right now and they have too much going on to take the time, not to mention they have real lives to lead.) One of the questions I was planning on asking is whether or not the operators of these servers, especially the dedicated, rented machines would be allowed access to MP3.1 prior to the release to the public. This would allow those operators time to update their machines and get them running again as the general public readies their personal machines. If not, there may be some down time with “on-line” play of Mercs while the servers are converted over to the newer version. Having run a server myself, there is prep required (to do it correctly) before your machine is ready.
Another question I had about Free Mercs would be will there be any new maps included or will they just be the “standard” ones that come with the “disc” versions. This relates back to the previous question for both the server operators and the players themselves. IF the maps included are only the maps included with the “boxed” version of the game, the map sets will need to be transferred into the “new” folder in the Free version to be able to use them server side and player side. Some folks have saved these map sets to discs or have the downloaded versions on a hard drive somewhere. These will need to be “installed” in the free version to be able to use them (I think). Again this would have been a question for MekTek.
Server ops will need to do this and reset their MW4Monitor program and then verify that it works to get their servers running as they currently are. Some dont use MW4Monitor, so their set up wont be as “complicated”, but there is tweaking to be done for dedicated servers.
I am fairly sure players will create their own server(s) in the short term just so they can get online and play the game. For many of them, this will be the first time that they are free to use the Microsoft Mech Pack mechs such as the Dragon, Zeus, Highlander, Cauldron Born, Kodiak, Hunchback, Masakari and the Arctic Wolf.
Some of the “expected” changes that MIGHT be included in MP3.1 are as follows
-MTX downloader and updater (no more multiple patches to mess with and the game will be kept up-to-date)
-Additional MekMatch servers to handle a much greater population with dedicated game types, including new/returning players
-No CD's needed
-Clan and IS Mech Packs included
-MekTek mechs and weapons available for purchase in the campaign
-Game launches much quicker getting you to the Main Menu much more quickly
-Many exploits fixed
-Lag Correction
-Microsoft and MekTek mechs incorporated in one alpha list in Mechlab
-Improved graphical representation for the S1/S2 Weapon slots
-Screenshots placed in Screenshots sub-folder
-Custom Decals folder created upon installation
-Long name server crash fixed
-LTRI (Long Tom Range Indicator)
-Transparent HUD Clock (indicates time left in game)
-Date/Time stamp easily seen during gameplay
-Removed unnecessary UI components like Zonestats, Details, Refresh
-Removed "Checking for Updates"
-Easier to read Torso Twist Guage
I have it from a pretty good source that this is “real” close.
REAL close...
Back to the servers. I have read that “as many maps that we can” will be included with the download. That's great, but again, for server operators, if they do it correctly, time is required to make the changes such as camos, updating the NFM files for weights, restrictions, and on and on. If a server op makes any changes to the NFMs, then the MW4Monitor program has to be changed to match. If you use the in game server options, you still have to add the maps to the list and set the parameters and blah blah blah. Personally, I think it would be a good idea for MekTek to allow these dedicated servers “1st” access to insure that folks have a place to play once the game is available to download, but that's me.
I wonder how many MP302b servers AND MP3.1 servers there will be for the first week or two? That would allow folks to play either or version until most have MP3.1 downloaded and running. Interesting. All I know for sure is that I am hoping that there will be an influx of new and old players to the game. We have already started seeing some new folks show up in the Sunder Junkies forum, so I am pretty sure there will be some new blood brought to the battlefields.
Well folks, just one more thing, w00t!! w00t to all.
I know the folks over at MekTek are as busy as one-legged waitresses at the IHOP on Sunday morning. AT1 just had a new release. MTX was released. MW4 Mercs was scheduled to be released but then there were issues with the unseen mechs, so MekTek had to go back and remove those mechs. I am guessing they have a “quick” way to put them right back in, in the event the “legal” issues are cleared up and it becomes “okay” to release those mechs(crosses fingers).
Of course, work continues on MP4. But more importantly, the folks at MekTek have been “upgrading” their web access so when the “green light” is given for the free release, the servers over there will be able to handle the expected traffic of folks downloading the software. MTX will be needed for this, so I hope you have your copy installed and ready. MTX can be downloaded from this site http://www.mektekdev.com/site/index.php . I suggest that you go ahead and get MTX downloaded to insure that you have it and it is working for you with no problems. I had zero problems downloading and installing it to my Vista machine. Each day I peek at it just t see if MP3.1 (Free MW4 Mercs) is out there even tho I know its not there yet, its just a hopeful thing.
Last time I did that, something occurred to me that I am sure someone else has thought of, hopefully. Glancing quickly at MekMatch moments ago showed some 23 active servers. Of course this is non-prime time in the U.S., so as the evening goes on the list will grow. That's ok, its more the 23 that brings out this post. Almost all of these servers are dedicated servers running MP302b. Sure there are some running NBT's HC and even one running Mercs PR1, but most are MP302b.
I have tried, on more than one occasion to get an interview with MekTek, but as I mentioned above, they are some busy folks, they dont do interviews, they dont like me, too much going on to talk to an old guy like me, still investigating the Kennedy shooting or whatever. (Truth is, in my opinion, Vam, Jeho, Whitefeather and the rest of the gang are simply too busy right now and they have too much going on to take the time, not to mention they have real lives to lead.) One of the questions I was planning on asking is whether or not the operators of these servers, especially the dedicated, rented machines would be allowed access to MP3.1 prior to the release to the public. This would allow those operators time to update their machines and get them running again as the general public readies their personal machines. If not, there may be some down time with “on-line” play of Mercs while the servers are converted over to the newer version. Having run a server myself, there is prep required (to do it correctly) before your machine is ready.
Another question I had about Free Mercs would be will there be any new maps included or will they just be the “standard” ones that come with the “disc” versions. This relates back to the previous question for both the server operators and the players themselves. IF the maps included are only the maps included with the “boxed” version of the game, the map sets will need to be transferred into the “new” folder in the Free version to be able to use them server side and player side. Some folks have saved these map sets to discs or have the downloaded versions on a hard drive somewhere. These will need to be “installed” in the free version to be able to use them (I think). Again this would have been a question for MekTek.
Server ops will need to do this and reset their MW4Monitor program and then verify that it works to get their servers running as they currently are. Some dont use MW4Monitor, so their set up wont be as “complicated”, but there is tweaking to be done for dedicated servers.
I am fairly sure players will create their own server(s) in the short term just so they can get online and play the game. For many of them, this will be the first time that they are free to use the Microsoft Mech Pack mechs such as the Dragon, Zeus, Highlander, Cauldron Born, Kodiak, Hunchback, Masakari and the Arctic Wolf.
Some of the “expected” changes that MIGHT be included in MP3.1 are as follows
-MTX downloader and updater (no more multiple patches to mess with and the game will be kept up-to-date)
-Additional MekMatch servers to handle a much greater population with dedicated game types, including new/returning players
-No CD's needed
-Clan and IS Mech Packs included
-MekTek mechs and weapons available for purchase in the campaign
-Game launches much quicker getting you to the Main Menu much more quickly
-Many exploits fixed
-Lag Correction
-Microsoft and MekTek mechs incorporated in one alpha list in Mechlab
-Improved graphical representation for the S1/S2 Weapon slots
-Screenshots placed in Screenshots sub-folder
-Custom Decals folder created upon installation
-Long name server crash fixed
-LTRI (Long Tom Range Indicator)
-Transparent HUD Clock (indicates time left in game)
-Date/Time stamp easily seen during gameplay
-Removed unnecessary UI components like Zonestats, Details, Refresh
-Removed "Checking for Updates"
-Easier to read Torso Twist Guage
I have it from a pretty good source that this is “real” close.
REAL close...
Back to the servers. I have read that “as many maps that we can” will be included with the download. That's great, but again, for server operators, if they do it correctly, time is required to make the changes such as camos, updating the NFM files for weights, restrictions, and on and on. If a server op makes any changes to the NFMs, then the MW4Monitor program has to be changed to match. If you use the in game server options, you still have to add the maps to the list and set the parameters and blah blah blah. Personally, I think it would be a good idea for MekTek to allow these dedicated servers “1st” access to insure that folks have a place to play once the game is available to download, but that's me.
I wonder how many MP302b servers AND MP3.1 servers there will be for the first week or two? That would allow folks to play either or version until most have MP3.1 downloaded and running. Interesting. All I know for sure is that I am hoping that there will be an influx of new and old players to the game. We have already started seeing some new folks show up in the Sunder Junkies forum, so I am pretty sure there will be some new blood brought to the battlefields.
Well folks, just one more thing, w00t!! w00t to all.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Special Edition
Vettie’s Views SPECIAL EDITION
Hello Mech Fans. Summer has fallen. Its been awhile since I have been able to post and I will get into that in just a bit. For now I just want to say hello everyone and Vettie is back.
I have a lot of research to do to get caught up. I still want to work on a MekTek interview, but I have not had “real” internet access in over a month (again, more on that later). One of my sources tells me that the “Free Release” for Mercs is almost ready and that they are working out the legal details.
Bringing Mercs back from the “dead game zone” will certainly breathe some life into this game. Hopefully, this freebie will bring in some new players. MekTek has done a lot of work and tho I haven’t sent it myself, I am told that the Free Edition will be a smooth go from the time you click the button to install until you click the “join” button in multiplayer. I really hope that is the case because I think a lot of the folks that may “give it a try” will be easily shunned away if they encounter problems with the install or getting online. Most of “today’s” gamers want to click and go and if it doesn’t work, well, there are other games…
I am one that thinks that Mercs is one of the best multiplayer games ever done. I even wrote a Vettie’s Views about that. Mercs offers everything, multitudes of maps (thanx to the community), plenty of mechs (thanx to MekTek), customizable weapons loads (crap, I don’t know who to thank, but thanx), tons (pardon the pun) of weapons (again thanx to MekTek) and hours of fun thanx to all the folks that still play the game.
Veterans of the game may be an issue for incoming new players (n00bs). Many of us have been playing this game since MechWarrior 2. The game really hasn’t changed that much, you still drive mechs and shoot each other into oblivion before someone else does it to you. New players might have a hard time with learning the features of the game while only lasting a few seconds against guys that have been playing for 10 years (maybe more). It can be a real turn off to get into a game and die quickly and then have to wait for one side to win the round before you can get back into it.
Hopefully, many of the veteran players like most of the Sunder Junkies will take the time to help the n00bs learn the game so maybe, just maybe, we retain a few of the “Ill try this game to see if its any fun” players. My hats off to you guys for taking the time to help these guys.
Look at it like this, a true n00b coming into Mercs would be like, oh, say any one of you going to bat against Randy Johnson. Yeah, you might get a hit, but remember this, a professional baseball player makes millions of $$$ and becomes and all-star if he manages to bat .300. That’s just 3 hits in 10 times at bat. 70% of the time Randy is gonna send you back to the dug out. So the chances are that a n00b will be sitting on the side waiting fro respawn are very high. Folks want to play and many don’t have the patience to watch and learn. We can hope there are a few that do.
On a personal side, I will try to give you a brief update on Vettie and the Vettie household. Many of you know we had to sell or home and move to an apartment. Well, it was costing us plenty and we were forking out money faster than we were taking it in. We came to the decision that we needed to do something before we were flat broke.
My son is in his final year of college and working, my oldest step-daughter has started college and is working and living with us. The youngest step-daughter is gone away to college.
UAH (University of Alabama at Huntsville) is a fine but (VERY) expensive engineering school. Calhoun College is a great 2 year Junior College and not too expensive. Jacksonville State University is a fine (medium expense) school for future teachers. All together, it puts a hurt on the old savings account and any other accounts.
The youngest is a Flagger in the Band at JSU. On the second day of band camp, she broke her foot! DOH! We (Ms. Vettie and I) took a short trip down to get her medicine scripts filled and take her some crutches and on the way home the oldest called all in a panic. She had slipped in the bathtub at the apartment and busted the tub cutting her knee up pretty badly. Ms. Vettie and I were 3 hours away so we contacted a friend and had them take her to the emergency room for XRays and stitches while we tried to get home as quickly as possible. They are both fine and all is well with them, but it was a rough little stretch.
We went shopping for a place to live before we burned through what was left of our money. We found an old (little) house with some land that needed some loving. The house belonged to a lady that died 2 years ago. She left it to her sons (4 of them). The house had been sold about a year ago, but the buyer could get the financing, so it set empty. We made a ridiculously low offer (hoping to pay cash and not borrow any money) and they turned us down. About 2 weeks later, they came back and said if we were interested they would sell for our offer. We did and closed within a week.
This old house (not Bob Vila’s, but we could have used him) needed lots of work. The exterior was in good shape with a roof that had been installed within the last 4 years. The interior is another story. It was just terrible. We have installed a dishwasher, new counter tops, new cabinets will come later, a central heat and a/c system, new flooring, some replacement windows, a new bathroom (all new stuff in there), re-wiring the electrical works and some plumbing work. DOH!!!!
We have moved in but the place is nowhere near done, so now the garage is full of our stuff and there are boxes everywhere. My computer is just up in an ad-hoc fashion as my office area is not complete yet.
We have had a pretty rough stretch and I hope it is over. Things got tight, too tight and we burned money like crazy just to keep afloat. Maybe we bought us a break. And things will turn around. We keep our heads up, keep our faith strong and hang on to each other. My thanx goes out to all of you that kept us in your thoughts and prayers. Vettie will be coming back soon.
Oh yeah, w00t!!
Hello Mech Fans. Summer has fallen. Its been awhile since I have been able to post and I will get into that in just a bit. For now I just want to say hello everyone and Vettie is back.
I have a lot of research to do to get caught up. I still want to work on a MekTek interview, but I have not had “real” internet access in over a month (again, more on that later). One of my sources tells me that the “Free Release” for Mercs is almost ready and that they are working out the legal details.
Bringing Mercs back from the “dead game zone” will certainly breathe some life into this game. Hopefully, this freebie will bring in some new players. MekTek has done a lot of work and tho I haven’t sent it myself, I am told that the Free Edition will be a smooth go from the time you click the button to install until you click the “join” button in multiplayer. I really hope that is the case because I think a lot of the folks that may “give it a try” will be easily shunned away if they encounter problems with the install or getting online. Most of “today’s” gamers want to click and go and if it doesn’t work, well, there are other games…
I am one that thinks that Mercs is one of the best multiplayer games ever done. I even wrote a Vettie’s Views about that. Mercs offers everything, multitudes of maps (thanx to the community), plenty of mechs (thanx to MekTek), customizable weapons loads (crap, I don’t know who to thank, but thanx), tons (pardon the pun) of weapons (again thanx to MekTek) and hours of fun thanx to all the folks that still play the game.
Veterans of the game may be an issue for incoming new players (n00bs). Many of us have been playing this game since MechWarrior 2. The game really hasn’t changed that much, you still drive mechs and shoot each other into oblivion before someone else does it to you. New players might have a hard time with learning the features of the game while only lasting a few seconds against guys that have been playing for 10 years (maybe more). It can be a real turn off to get into a game and die quickly and then have to wait for one side to win the round before you can get back into it.
Hopefully, many of the veteran players like most of the Sunder Junkies will take the time to help the n00bs learn the game so maybe, just maybe, we retain a few of the “Ill try this game to see if its any fun” players. My hats off to you guys for taking the time to help these guys.
Look at it like this, a true n00b coming into Mercs would be like, oh, say any one of you going to bat against Randy Johnson. Yeah, you might get a hit, but remember this, a professional baseball player makes millions of $$$ and becomes and all-star if he manages to bat .300. That’s just 3 hits in 10 times at bat. 70% of the time Randy is gonna send you back to the dug out. So the chances are that a n00b will be sitting on the side waiting fro respawn are very high. Folks want to play and many don’t have the patience to watch and learn. We can hope there are a few that do.
On a personal side, I will try to give you a brief update on Vettie and the Vettie household. Many of you know we had to sell or home and move to an apartment. Well, it was costing us plenty and we were forking out money faster than we were taking it in. We came to the decision that we needed to do something before we were flat broke.
My son is in his final year of college and working, my oldest step-daughter has started college and is working and living with us. The youngest step-daughter is gone away to college.
UAH (University of Alabama at Huntsville) is a fine but (VERY) expensive engineering school. Calhoun College is a great 2 year Junior College and not too expensive. Jacksonville State University is a fine (medium expense) school for future teachers. All together, it puts a hurt on the old savings account and any other accounts.
The youngest is a Flagger in the Band at JSU. On the second day of band camp, she broke her foot! DOH! We (Ms. Vettie and I) took a short trip down to get her medicine scripts filled and take her some crutches and on the way home the oldest called all in a panic. She had slipped in the bathtub at the apartment and busted the tub cutting her knee up pretty badly. Ms. Vettie and I were 3 hours away so we contacted a friend and had them take her to the emergency room for XRays and stitches while we tried to get home as quickly as possible. They are both fine and all is well with them, but it was a rough little stretch.
We went shopping for a place to live before we burned through what was left of our money. We found an old (little) house with some land that needed some loving. The house belonged to a lady that died 2 years ago. She left it to her sons (4 of them). The house had been sold about a year ago, but the buyer could get the financing, so it set empty. We made a ridiculously low offer (hoping to pay cash and not borrow any money) and they turned us down. About 2 weeks later, they came back and said if we were interested they would sell for our offer. We did and closed within a week.
This old house (not Bob Vila’s, but we could have used him) needed lots of work. The exterior was in good shape with a roof that had been installed within the last 4 years. The interior is another story. It was just terrible. We have installed a dishwasher, new counter tops, new cabinets will come later, a central heat and a/c system, new flooring, some replacement windows, a new bathroom (all new stuff in there), re-wiring the electrical works and some plumbing work. DOH!!!!
We have moved in but the place is nowhere near done, so now the garage is full of our stuff and there are boxes everywhere. My computer is just up in an ad-hoc fashion as my office area is not complete yet.
We have had a pretty rough stretch and I hope it is over. Things got tight, too tight and we burned money like crazy just to keep afloat. Maybe we bought us a break. And things will turn around. We keep our heads up, keep our faith strong and hang on to each other. My thanx goes out to all of you that kept us in your thoughts and prayers. Vettie will be coming back soon.
Oh yeah, w00t!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
NEW MECHWARRIOR!!!!!!
By now you have all seen and heard the news. A new MechWarrior is afoot!
For those of you living in the dark, I have added a link here for the video.
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/18954/mech-warrior-project/videos/mechwarrior_trl_phoenix_70709.html
Also, MekTek has been granted the rights from Smith and Tinker to distribute MW4 for FREE!!!!! I am working on talking to the MekTek folks and I hope that soon I can arrange the meeting and bring all the readers here the results of that.
Just a short post for now. I have to see what develops with MekTek.
Vettie out for now
For those of you living in the dark, I have added a link here for the video.
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/18954/mech-warrior-project/videos/mechwarrior_trl_phoenix_70709.html
Also, MekTek has been granted the rights from Smith and Tinker to distribute MW4 for FREE!!!!! I am working on talking to the MekTek folks and I hope that soon I can arrange the meeting and bring all the readers here the results of that.
Just a short post for now. I have to see what develops with MekTek.
Vettie out for now
Monday, July 6, 2009
Ubuntu
Some time back, many of the users of the Sunder Junkies web site including GP, D-Day and I had some discussions concerning Linux. It is a fact that several of the players have a Linux install somewhere, if it's on a second drive, and older machine, a back-up machine or whatever, there are those of you that have a Linux Box. I would like to spend a little time today to discuss Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a self sustained Linux organization that is brought to us by one man. His idea is that an OS should be free and user friendly. Ubuntu is sponsored by a UK Company called Canonical Ltd and is owned by Mark Shuttleworth. Here is the Wiki description “Ubuntu (pronounced /uːˈbuːntuː/[3] oo-BOON-too),[4] is a computer operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux. It is distributed as free software. Ubuntu's goals include providing an up-to-date, stable operating system for the average user, with a strong focus on usability and ease-of-installation. Ubuntu has been selected by readers of desktoplinux.com as the most popular Linux distribution for the desktop, claiming approximately 30% of their desktop installations in both 2006 and 2007.”
I have a Ubuntu installation on my Gaming machine that I use for emails and web surfing and just generally trying to learn some about Linux. I use Ubuntu 8.10 (Intreped), but I think the latest version is 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope). I am not real sure where they get the code names, but I admit some are interesting. I had tried the 9.04 version, but I have a high end sound card installed and it requires proprietary drivers to operate within Linux. I have the drivers for Linus, installed them with little or no trouble, but they simply would not work. They worked fine in 8.10. I had the option of using the onboard sound from my motherboard (which is very nice) and using the sound card in Windows, but that would require me to move plugs around every time I booted into one or the other OS and it sort of defeated the purpose of having the expensive sound card in the first place so I decided to go back to version 8.10 and I am happy with that edition (s0 far).
The Ubuntu installation looks and feels a lot like a Windows install for those of you that have wanted to try Ubuntu (or another Linux distribution). There may be some of you that think that they do not know how to operate Linux and wouldnt know what to do with it if they installed it. To that I say, what do you do with Windows? Can you use a mouse and click on Icons? Can you navigate a drop down menu and select the program you want to use? If you can do these things, then you can use Ubuntu.
Ubuntu comes packed with many (if not all) of the things you might want (for the average user and many for the advanced users). Firefox is the default browser and it comes already installed. I do not think that you can use Internet Explorer (I could be wrong), but there are other browsers already installed (or available for install) that look and operate similar to IE. Microsoft Office? Well, no, but Ubuntu comes with Open Office pre-installed and ready for use. It includes a database program, a spreadsheet program, a presentation program and a word processor (I used it to write this article). Outlook? Again, I dont think you can use it, but Ubuntu comes with a program called Evolution that has all (or most of) the goodies that Outlook does. You can set up rules, it has a junk mail/spam filter, a calendar, a contacts list, a memo list (stick pads like post its) and a things to do list that can be prioritized. Outlook Express or Windows Mail user? How about Mozilla's Thunderbird? Very powerful, yet simple to install and use. Just ad a couple of plug-ins for it and it also rivals Outlook, but easier to use.
Let's review, most users use their PC to get on the internet and Ubuntu lets you do that. Many if not all users like to get their personal email and Ubuntu can do that. Some folks use spreadsheets and Word Processing or databases for personal use or homework or bringing work home to do, Ubuntu gives you all those tools (and for the most part with few exceptions, Open Office can and will open MS Office documents or spreadsheets and allow you to save them in that format). So what else? Oh yeah, some folks like to listen to music or download music or “rip” music. Hmm, yeah, Ubuntu can do that too and they have some very nice tools pre-installed that let you do that (even in MP3 (shudder) format). For those of you that like to chat or “instant message”, Ubuntu comes with a program installed that allows you to log into most of the on-line clients like Yahoo Messenger or Windows Messenger or AOL Instant messenger.
What I am missing? Oh yeah, gaming. Ok, maybe you got me here. I cant play Mercs on Ubuntu. I can play many games that are available on the internet and Ubuntu comes with some interesting games with MANY, MANY MORE available to download and play for free including many multi-player games. There is a program called Wine that can be downloaded and installed (for free) that allows you to play SOME Windows games in a Linux installation. I have tried it for some things and it is very easy to do, but sadly Mercs is not one of those things.
Let me put something out there for everyone to understand. I am not a programmer. I do not write code, read code or even understand code. I am a PC user that digs a little deeper into how things work so I understand what is wrong “if” there is a problem and I can (most of the time) work my way out of it, but I am not a programmer. For the most part, I am Joe User like many other people out there.
That being said, I wanted to try Linux and I read about the many different versions available and I decided on Ubuntu. I downloaded the program and copied it to a CD so I could install it. Ubuntu allows you to run it without installation so you can get a feel for how it works. It also installs a dual boot option if you have a Windows Machine running that you want to install Linux on and it works great, very simple. The hardest part about the entire install is deciding how much hard drive space to give to Ubuntu IF you only have one hard drive (HINT: 40 gigs is PLENTY). This is a real simple process and Ubuntu has a utility that comes up during the installation to help guide you through the process.
Ubuntu also has a notification if there are updates to ANY program you installed (assuming you added the repository for “special” programs, but more on that in a bit). You can manually check, but you get a notification that there are updates available to you. A simple click or two and you are downloading and installing updates to keep you safe and secure and running smoothly.
Ubuntu (most Linux installs) use what they call repositories to store all the programs and updates. This is all online. You can add or delete a program simply by selecting it from a list of “stuff” available to you. Click the program on the list and click the install button and moment later (depending on your connection speed) that program is downloaded, installed and ready for you to use. There are MANY programs out there that you can use. If you are looking for a specific program and it is not in the Ubuntu repositories, then you can go to their web site and download a Linux version of it (in most cases) and you can add the repository to your list so that you will get a notification of any updates.
Many of you have heard of this “command line” and “you have to use scripts to do certain things” statement. Well, there is a command line and little windows called terminals that allow you to sue commands and scripts, but you dont have to for most of the everyday things that you use your PC for. Ubuntu is simple to use, safe, stable and actually pretty cool and fun.
This brings me to the next segment of my post today. To get Ubuntu (or most any other Linux installation) you have to either download it, get it from a computer geek magazine or even buy it at a local store like Best Buy (Red Hat for example). The downloads are free and so is the OS (with some exceptions) such as Ubuntu but here is the issue. To download, create a CD for installation and finally install it, you must already have a PC. IF you ALREADY have a PC, you probably already have an OS such as some form of Windows. IF you already have Windows (and you like it and it lets you do what you want to do) then why would you be interested in a free Operating System? Other than to be a geek like me and try it out and learn about it, you dont need it, or that is how I see it.
Think about it. You (most likely) have a version of Windows that you use most of the time and you know how to use it and you are comfortable with it even if you just read the news online or read your joke emails. So why do you care if you COULD have a FREE Operating System? You ALREADY have one. Why do you NEED another one?
Ok, well heres the deal. Assuming companies (like Dell and yes they do offer this) would build computers and install Ubuntu on them, the cost of the machine drops considerably. Horse stuff you say? Well lets look at it.
Most computers for home users consist of the following items
A motherboard. This device CAN have a audio chip (and now days they actually sound VERY good with 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound capabilities) and a video chip in lieu of a video card. For our example, this User Friendly Computer will have a motherboard with both sound and video on-board.
A hard drive.
An Optical drive. Now days most are DVD Burners that can play DVDs and CDs as well as burn both.
A power supply.
A processor with heat sink.
Some Memory (we will go with 2gigs for this model)
A fan or two.
A chassis. To put everything in.
A keyboard.
A mouse.
A monitor. Most do not come with a monitor, but you do NEED one.
Windows (XP or Vista) pre-installed. The OS.
Now because Dell builds literally millions, but we will say thousands, of these they get special pricing on all the components. They even get a deal from Microsoft on the cost of the OS that comes installed on your PC. If you and I were to build one, our price would be a little more expensive.
Lets look at that using US pricing from a well respected Computer store such as NewEgg.com or TigerDirect.com.
Motherboard – I went with an AMD motherboard of average ability (not top of the line, but certainly will use the latest chips and memory) ASUS M3A78 = 80$ (round up)
Hard drive – I selected a SATA drive (WD or Seagate, both were reasonable) 320gig with a 16gig cache OEM model (usually cheaper than retail, but they dont come in the pretty boxes) – 50$ (CHEAP!!)
Power Supply – for this machine, you dont need a big, honkin, electricity draining, power supply, 350 to 400 watts is plenty and gives you power to expand upon later in life. I selected a nice, name brand model with a BIG fan, Coolmax 400watt with a 120mm fan – 28$
Processor – We used an AMF motherboard so you have to use an AMD processor. I selected an AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core (3.00ghz, 2mb cache, 2000Mhz) in a retail box that includes the proper heatsink – 95$
Memory – I try to always use good, quality, name brand memory. This avoids nagging trouble in the future. Its usually a bit more expensive, but worth it in the long run. I selected Crucial Ballistix PC8500 DDR2 – 36$ (this is 2 1gig strips, or 2gig total)
Fans – cooling is very important – 2 80mm noiseless fans Ultras – 15$ ea or 30$
Chassis – something simple, yet allows plenty of air flow and room for expansion. I selected a Thermaltake M9 with a 120mm fan on the rear and front access for USB ports, sound and firewire. 70$
Keyboard and Mouse – I LIKE nice keyboards that are soft touch and dont make lots of noise when you push the keys, but for our example here, just a simple keyboard and scroll mouse combo. Logitech 350 USB keyboard with an 800dpi optical USB mouse. Combo price – 25$
Monitor – Monitors are very import and they need to be easy on the eyes as well as fast (for gaming). I selected a Sceptre 19” Widescreen LCD with 5ms response and a 10000 to 1 contrast ratio. Not the best but very nice – 110$.
Optical Drive – DVD burner (22x, RW 8x) sata with Lightscribe from LG – 30$
The OS – Vista Home Prem 64 bit – 110$
Total – 634$. This is a decent machine but it DOES NOT have a separate Video Card or audio card. It will do some games, but not many. If we remove the OS, the price drops to about 524$ or 525$. If you go to Dell.com and look at their similar machine, the price is about 480$ with the OS pre-installed (Windows Vista Home Prem. Version, 64 bit.) and it has an Intel Dual Core instead of an AMD. Another 40$ gets you the 19” monitor instead of a 17”. raising our Dell price to 525$. If you order a machine from Dell with no OS, the price drops another 100$ or roughly 425$.
If you had Ubuntu on a disc and you bought the stuff to build a PC, or had someone like Dell build you one with no OS, you save roughly the cost of the OS or somewhere around 100$. IF you didnt have a PC and you wanted to build you own, you would need to go to the library or a friends house to order the parts, but you still may NOT have the OS (unless your friend lets you use his or her burner and copy the OS to Disc.)
Wait!!! How about this? Remember when AOL used to send you those damned old CDs to try to get you to sign up for their service? (I used mine as christmas ornaments) What if Canonical did that with Ubuntu? They could send out millions of discs for people to install their OS. This could work. You wouldnt need to download it or burn it to disc, and you wouldnt need to bug your friends or neighbors. Just use that junk mail they sent you and install it on your PC. The numbers of users would certainly go way up. I also think that the number of people who kept it installed, or used it as a primary OS would also increase. Hmmm, I see a major suggestion coming here....
In the meantime folks, if you havent tried Linux because you were afraid or you thought it was too hard to use, maybe you should think again. If I can do it, you can. If you can use Windows, you can use Ubuntu. Its as hard as you make it. Its as easy as you make it. Why not give it a try, especially if you have and older PC sitting around collecting dust and not being used.
Ubuntu is a self sustained Linux organization that is brought to us by one man. His idea is that an OS should be free and user friendly. Ubuntu is sponsored by a UK Company called Canonical Ltd and is owned by Mark Shuttleworth. Here is the Wiki description “Ubuntu (pronounced /uːˈbuːntuː/[3] oo-BOON-too),[4] is a computer operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux. It is distributed as free software. Ubuntu's goals include providing an up-to-date, stable operating system for the average user, with a strong focus on usability and ease-of-installation. Ubuntu has been selected by readers of desktoplinux.com as the most popular Linux distribution for the desktop, claiming approximately 30% of their desktop installations in both 2006 and 2007.”
I have a Ubuntu installation on my Gaming machine that I use for emails and web surfing and just generally trying to learn some about Linux. I use Ubuntu 8.10 (Intreped), but I think the latest version is 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope). I am not real sure where they get the code names, but I admit some are interesting. I had tried the 9.04 version, but I have a high end sound card installed and it requires proprietary drivers to operate within Linux. I have the drivers for Linus, installed them with little or no trouble, but they simply would not work. They worked fine in 8.10. I had the option of using the onboard sound from my motherboard (which is very nice) and using the sound card in Windows, but that would require me to move plugs around every time I booted into one or the other OS and it sort of defeated the purpose of having the expensive sound card in the first place so I decided to go back to version 8.10 and I am happy with that edition (s0 far).
The Ubuntu installation looks and feels a lot like a Windows install for those of you that have wanted to try Ubuntu (or another Linux distribution). There may be some of you that think that they do not know how to operate Linux and wouldnt know what to do with it if they installed it. To that I say, what do you do with Windows? Can you use a mouse and click on Icons? Can you navigate a drop down menu and select the program you want to use? If you can do these things, then you can use Ubuntu.
Ubuntu comes packed with many (if not all) of the things you might want (for the average user and many for the advanced users). Firefox is the default browser and it comes already installed. I do not think that you can use Internet Explorer (I could be wrong), but there are other browsers already installed (or available for install) that look and operate similar to IE. Microsoft Office? Well, no, but Ubuntu comes with Open Office pre-installed and ready for use. It includes a database program, a spreadsheet program, a presentation program and a word processor (I used it to write this article). Outlook? Again, I dont think you can use it, but Ubuntu comes with a program called Evolution that has all (or most of) the goodies that Outlook does. You can set up rules, it has a junk mail/spam filter, a calendar, a contacts list, a memo list (stick pads like post its) and a things to do list that can be prioritized. Outlook Express or Windows Mail user? How about Mozilla's Thunderbird? Very powerful, yet simple to install and use. Just ad a couple of plug-ins for it and it also rivals Outlook, but easier to use.
Let's review, most users use their PC to get on the internet and Ubuntu lets you do that. Many if not all users like to get their personal email and Ubuntu can do that. Some folks use spreadsheets and Word Processing or databases for personal use or homework or bringing work home to do, Ubuntu gives you all those tools (and for the most part with few exceptions, Open Office can and will open MS Office documents or spreadsheets and allow you to save them in that format). So what else? Oh yeah, some folks like to listen to music or download music or “rip” music. Hmm, yeah, Ubuntu can do that too and they have some very nice tools pre-installed that let you do that (even in MP3 (shudder) format). For those of you that like to chat or “instant message”, Ubuntu comes with a program installed that allows you to log into most of the on-line clients like Yahoo Messenger or Windows Messenger or AOL Instant messenger.
What I am missing? Oh yeah, gaming. Ok, maybe you got me here. I cant play Mercs on Ubuntu. I can play many games that are available on the internet and Ubuntu comes with some interesting games with MANY, MANY MORE available to download and play for free including many multi-player games. There is a program called Wine that can be downloaded and installed (for free) that allows you to play SOME Windows games in a Linux installation. I have tried it for some things and it is very easy to do, but sadly Mercs is not one of those things.
Let me put something out there for everyone to understand. I am not a programmer. I do not write code, read code or even understand code. I am a PC user that digs a little deeper into how things work so I understand what is wrong “if” there is a problem and I can (most of the time) work my way out of it, but I am not a programmer. For the most part, I am Joe User like many other people out there.
That being said, I wanted to try Linux and I read about the many different versions available and I decided on Ubuntu. I downloaded the program and copied it to a CD so I could install it. Ubuntu allows you to run it without installation so you can get a feel for how it works. It also installs a dual boot option if you have a Windows Machine running that you want to install Linux on and it works great, very simple. The hardest part about the entire install is deciding how much hard drive space to give to Ubuntu IF you only have one hard drive (HINT: 40 gigs is PLENTY). This is a real simple process and Ubuntu has a utility that comes up during the installation to help guide you through the process.
Ubuntu also has a notification if there are updates to ANY program you installed (assuming you added the repository for “special” programs, but more on that in a bit). You can manually check, but you get a notification that there are updates available to you. A simple click or two and you are downloading and installing updates to keep you safe and secure and running smoothly.
Ubuntu (most Linux installs) use what they call repositories to store all the programs and updates. This is all online. You can add or delete a program simply by selecting it from a list of “stuff” available to you. Click the program on the list and click the install button and moment later (depending on your connection speed) that program is downloaded, installed and ready for you to use. There are MANY programs out there that you can use. If you are looking for a specific program and it is not in the Ubuntu repositories, then you can go to their web site and download a Linux version of it (in most cases) and you can add the repository to your list so that you will get a notification of any updates.
Many of you have heard of this “command line” and “you have to use scripts to do certain things” statement. Well, there is a command line and little windows called terminals that allow you to sue commands and scripts, but you dont have to for most of the everyday things that you use your PC for. Ubuntu is simple to use, safe, stable and actually pretty cool and fun.
This brings me to the next segment of my post today. To get Ubuntu (or most any other Linux installation) you have to either download it, get it from a computer geek magazine or even buy it at a local store like Best Buy (Red Hat for example). The downloads are free and so is the OS (with some exceptions) such as Ubuntu but here is the issue. To download, create a CD for installation and finally install it, you must already have a PC. IF you ALREADY have a PC, you probably already have an OS such as some form of Windows. IF you already have Windows (and you like it and it lets you do what you want to do) then why would you be interested in a free Operating System? Other than to be a geek like me and try it out and learn about it, you dont need it, or that is how I see it.
Think about it. You (most likely) have a version of Windows that you use most of the time and you know how to use it and you are comfortable with it even if you just read the news online or read your joke emails. So why do you care if you COULD have a FREE Operating System? You ALREADY have one. Why do you NEED another one?
Ok, well heres the deal. Assuming companies (like Dell and yes they do offer this) would build computers and install Ubuntu on them, the cost of the machine drops considerably. Horse stuff you say? Well lets look at it.
Most computers for home users consist of the following items
A motherboard. This device CAN have a audio chip (and now days they actually sound VERY good with 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound capabilities) and a video chip in lieu of a video card. For our example, this User Friendly Computer will have a motherboard with both sound and video on-board.
A hard drive.
An Optical drive. Now days most are DVD Burners that can play DVDs and CDs as well as burn both.
A power supply.
A processor with heat sink.
Some Memory (we will go with 2gigs for this model)
A fan or two.
A chassis. To put everything in.
A keyboard.
A mouse.
A monitor. Most do not come with a monitor, but you do NEED one.
Windows (XP or Vista) pre-installed. The OS.
Now because Dell builds literally millions, but we will say thousands, of these they get special pricing on all the components. They even get a deal from Microsoft on the cost of the OS that comes installed on your PC. If you and I were to build one, our price would be a little more expensive.
Lets look at that using US pricing from a well respected Computer store such as NewEgg.com or TigerDirect.com.
Motherboard – I went with an AMD motherboard of average ability (not top of the line, but certainly will use the latest chips and memory) ASUS M3A78 = 80$ (round up)
Hard drive – I selected a SATA drive (WD or Seagate, both were reasonable) 320gig with a 16gig cache OEM model (usually cheaper than retail, but they dont come in the pretty boxes) – 50$ (CHEAP!!)
Power Supply – for this machine, you dont need a big, honkin, electricity draining, power supply, 350 to 400 watts is plenty and gives you power to expand upon later in life. I selected a nice, name brand model with a BIG fan, Coolmax 400watt with a 120mm fan – 28$
Processor – We used an AMF motherboard so you have to use an AMD processor. I selected an AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core (3.00ghz, 2mb cache, 2000Mhz) in a retail box that includes the proper heatsink – 95$
Memory – I try to always use good, quality, name brand memory. This avoids nagging trouble in the future. Its usually a bit more expensive, but worth it in the long run. I selected Crucial Ballistix PC8500 DDR2 – 36$ (this is 2 1gig strips, or 2gig total)
Fans – cooling is very important – 2 80mm noiseless fans Ultras – 15$ ea or 30$
Chassis – something simple, yet allows plenty of air flow and room for expansion. I selected a Thermaltake M9 with a 120mm fan on the rear and front access for USB ports, sound and firewire. 70$
Keyboard and Mouse – I LIKE nice keyboards that are soft touch and dont make lots of noise when you push the keys, but for our example here, just a simple keyboard and scroll mouse combo. Logitech 350 USB keyboard with an 800dpi optical USB mouse. Combo price – 25$
Monitor – Monitors are very import and they need to be easy on the eyes as well as fast (for gaming). I selected a Sceptre 19” Widescreen LCD with 5ms response and a 10000 to 1 contrast ratio. Not the best but very nice – 110$.
Optical Drive – DVD burner (22x, RW 8x) sata with Lightscribe from LG – 30$
The OS – Vista Home Prem 64 bit – 110$
Total – 634$. This is a decent machine but it DOES NOT have a separate Video Card or audio card. It will do some games, but not many. If we remove the OS, the price drops to about 524$ or 525$. If you go to Dell.com and look at their similar machine, the price is about 480$ with the OS pre-installed (Windows Vista Home Prem. Version, 64 bit.) and it has an Intel Dual Core instead of an AMD. Another 40$ gets you the 19” monitor instead of a 17”. raising our Dell price to 525$. If you order a machine from Dell with no OS, the price drops another 100$ or roughly 425$.
If you had Ubuntu on a disc and you bought the stuff to build a PC, or had someone like Dell build you one with no OS, you save roughly the cost of the OS or somewhere around 100$. IF you didnt have a PC and you wanted to build you own, you would need to go to the library or a friends house to order the parts, but you still may NOT have the OS (unless your friend lets you use his or her burner and copy the OS to Disc.)
Wait!!! How about this? Remember when AOL used to send you those damned old CDs to try to get you to sign up for their service? (I used mine as christmas ornaments) What if Canonical did that with Ubuntu? They could send out millions of discs for people to install their OS. This could work. You wouldnt need to download it or burn it to disc, and you wouldnt need to bug your friends or neighbors. Just use that junk mail they sent you and install it on your PC. The numbers of users would certainly go way up. I also think that the number of people who kept it installed, or used it as a primary OS would also increase. Hmmm, I see a major suggestion coming here....
In the meantime folks, if you havent tried Linux because you were afraid or you thought it was too hard to use, maybe you should think again. If I can do it, you can. If you can use Windows, you can use Ubuntu. Its as hard as you make it. Its as easy as you make it. Why not give it a try, especially if you have and older PC sitting around collecting dust and not being used.
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