Dystopia

Steam Summer Camp Sale June 30 - July 10

2011-07-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone:

Me, Syl, and Tappet arrived okay at Steam Summer Camp today. A lot of our friends are here too. The folks we left back at Valve--who all got pink-eye and couldn't go--said they'd put up the pictures from camp that we send them (after they're done posting the loads of Summer Camp daily sales and publisher packs on Steam each day). The first one (with our new pals Marty and Max) is there now. This morning, Syl drove Marty's car. Tappet had to work the pedals, but we got it up to 87 miles an hour on the dirt! We think we can get it to go faster tonight.

The counselors have planned a bunch of camp activities each day. Like playing games gets you special Steam Summer Camp Achievements. Then they say you get tickets for each Achievement you earn. Big whoop, right?!? But, guess what? There's a Prize Booth where you can trade your tickets for cool stuff. I made the banner on the booth!

At the end of camp, they're giving away some really big prizes: one-hundred campers get the top ten games on their Wishlist! They were going to have field day races for prizes, but not all of us have legs.

Gotta go.
Sir Roderick Bodkin & Syl & Tappet.

Portal 2

2011-05-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

Features:

Extensive single player game featuring next generation gameplay and a wildly-engrossing story

Complete two-person co-operative multiplayer game featuring its own dedicated story, characters, and gameplay

Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game

A massive sequel to the title named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide

Description:
Portal over 70 industry accolades and created a cult following. The single-player portion of Portal 2 introduces a cast of dynamic new characters, a host of fresh puzzle elements, and a much larger set of devious test chambers. Players will explore never-before-seen areas of the Aperture Science Labs and be reunited with GLaDOS, the occasionally murderous computer companion who guided them through the original game. The game's two-player cooperative mode features its own entirely separate campaign with a unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters. This new mode forces players to reconsider everything they thought they knew about portals. Success will require them to not just act cooperatively, but to think cooperatively.

Buy Portal 2 (DVD-ROM) (PC CD-ROM) at Play-Asia.com
Buy Portal 2 (PS3) at Play-Asia.com
Buy Portal 2 (Xbox360) at Play-Asia.com

Gran Turismo 5 Limited Edition (Asia)

2010-11-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

Features:
•Comes with a Ultimate Car Guide

Description:
The next installment of the award-winning racing franchise, Gran Turismo® 5, is coming exclusively to the PLAYSTATION®3 system. Known for its signature beauty and precision, the highly anticipated racer will showcase new jaw-dropping cars, real-life tracks, and diverse racing styles. Gran Turismo promises to deliver exciting advancements to the series in the most comprehensive racing experience ever.

Buy Gran Turismo 5 (PS3™) at Play-Asia.com

GamersGate Weekly Sale!

2010-08-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

EA Singapore Store Promotion: 45% off 2 or more games! 7-9 August only!

2010-08-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Good Deal for Starcraft II!

2010-08-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

There is a good deal for Starcraft II (Southeast Asia Edition) at Play-asia for only US$64.85 with free shipping! Use the coupon code "Facebook" at checkout for an additional 8.88% off and pay US$59.14 only! Coupon valid for 24 hours only!

This Southeast Asian Edition of the game will allow you to access both US BNET and SEA BNET servers! Owners of the US copy of the game enjoy no such luxury.

Description

StarCraft II continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival.

Featuring a unique single-player campaign that picks up where StarCraft: Brood War left off, StarCraft II will present a cast of new heroes and familiar faces in an edgy sci-fi story filled with adventure and intrigue. In addition, Blizzard will again offer unparalleled online play through Battle.net, the company's world-renowned gaming service, with several enhancements and new features to make StarCraft II the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game.

Features

•Fast-paced, hard-hitting, tightly balanced competitive real-time strategy gameplay that recaptures and improves on the magic of the original game

•Three completely distinct races: Protoss, Terran, and Zerg

•New units and gameplay mechanics further distinguish each race

•Groundbreaking single-player campaign

•Vibrant new 3D-graphics engine with support for dazzling visual effects and massive unit and army sizes

•Full multiplayer support, with new competitive features and matchmaking utilities available through Battle.net

•Full map-making and scripting tools to give players incredible freedom in customizing and personalizing their gameplay experience

Steam Perils of Summer Sale: June 24 - July 4

2010-06-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

People have been cooking their meals since the Gods of Fire invented the barbeque. It is only in the last one hundred years or so that people don't regularly die making dinner.

We urge you to take advantage of the latest state-of-the-art indoor cooking technology. Beside probably saving your life, this affords you more time to enjoy the hot deals we've cooked up for you at http://www.steamgames.com/.

In Chinese and English - Final Fantasy XIII - Lightning Edition and Lightning Deluxe Pack are available now! Get the Limited Dual Shock Controller now!

2010-05-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Good news to all Chinese gamers, one of the greatests games in 2009/2010 - Final Fantasy XIII is translated into Chinese. Listen to the fabulous performance of the famous seiyuus such as Maaya Sakamoto and Daisuke Ono's, and see what they are saying through the Chinese/English in-game subtitles.

Not only are the packs for Chinese speaking gamers, the two different Lightning Editions come with quite a bit of goodies, the most special of these is the white Dual Shock controller printed with Lightning's logo.

The game is available in three versions. The regular edition, the limited Lightning Edition and the Lightning Edition Deluxe Pack.

To go with the pristine image color of of the game, the Lightning packages come with a pearly white controller and a beautifully illustrated card with a download code for the XMB premium avatar.

The Deluxe Pack has everything in the Lightning Edition plus an exclusive Final Fantasy XIII Selected Soundtrack. All the items are contained in a clean, classy looking box.

For those of you in love with the game and Lightning and want to grab everything in one go, here is the pack for you. The box is also shipped with an HDMI cable, so be sure to enjoy the game in HD graphics and be blown away.

Now have a look at the packages before you make up your mind:

Buy Final Fantasy XIII (English + Chinese language Version) - Lightning Edition (PS3™) at Play-Asia.com

Buy Final Fantasy XIII (English + Chinese language Version) - Lightning Edition (Deluxe Pack) (PS3™) at Play-Asia.com

Recommended PS3 Releases This Month: Yakuza 3, God of War III and Heavy Rain

2010-03-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Description

Introducing the next cinematic chapter in the prestigious video game saga offering an authentic, gritty and often violent story set in modern day Japan. Following the events of the previous game, Kazuma and Haruka have left Kamurocho to seek a new life in Okinawa where they manage an orphanage for children. However, their peaceful life is soon interrupted when a series of events unfold pulling Kazuma back into the shadowy past he thought he had left behind.

Making its first appearance exclusively on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the rich story and vibrant world of Yakuza 3 lets players engage in intense brutal clashes within the streets of Okinawa, and the vibrant and often dangerous city of Tokyo where only the strongest will survive.

Features

•Rich Stories to Tell: Japanese author Masayoshi Yokoyama returns to deliver the next chapter of Yakuza bringing the game to life through a rich cast of characters and dozens of stories. All told across over 100 missions and engaging mini-games featuring original Japanese voice cast to ensure the authenticity fans have come to expect

•Ultimate Street Brawls: Seamlessly transition into intense fights more brutal than ever before thanks to the improved fighting engine and the power of the PlayStation 3 system. By stringing together a combination of fighting moves, players can unleash devastating moves to take out multiple enemies simultaneously or use objects in the environment as weapons

•Real-world Immersion: Discover the authentic, sandy beaches of Okinawa or travel to the neon-lit adult playgrounds of Tokyo. Become a regular at nightclubs, restaurants and real-world stores to uncover hidden truths and gain access to side missions

•New ways to Explore: With new locations to venture through, the all-new free camera mode and high energy chase battles, Yakuza 3 offers an unprecedented level of exploration and interaction not seen in the franchise before

Buy Yakuza 3 (PS3) at Play-Asia.com

Description

Set in the realm of brutal Greek mythology, God of War III is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he scales through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, and an array of new weapons and magic for this iteration of the trilogy, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.

Features

•The award-winning development team leverages the processing power and technology of PLAYSTATION 3 system to make God of War III one of the most-graphically advanced next gen titles available, with even the dramatic cut screens running off the in-game engine

•Kratos will explore areas up to 4 times larger than those found in God of War II, as well as carve through entire armies while navigating on the back of Titans - living, moving, breathing levels as tall as the Empire State Building

•Players will battle in detailed and unique 3D worlds lit by thousands of dynamic lights and textures with quadruple the resolution, which allows for realistic muscle striations, detailed facial expressions, and new heightened levels of brutality and gore

•Brutal combat, intricate puzzles, exploration of awe-inspiring worlds, and a compelling and satisfying ending to Kratos’ epic story

•The God of War III storyline is the epic conclusion to the triology; the storyline will be told in a way that is true to traditionalist roots in Greek mythology, from moral consequences to brutal battles against the Gods

•Several of the menacing creatures of Greek mythology in God of War III can now be manipulated against their will, as Kratos uses them to cross chasms, inflict blind rage against enemies, reveal puzzles and secrets, and as tools of complete annihilation

Buy God of War III (PS3) at Play-Asia.com

Description

Experience a gripping psychological crime thriller filled with innumerable twists and turns, where even the smallest actions and choices can cause dramatic consequences. The hunt is on for the Origami Killer, named after his calling card of leaving folded paper shapes on victims. Four characters, each with their own motives, take part in a desperate attempt to stop the killer from claiming a new victim.

Features

•A unique emotional experience that makes you “feel” as if you’re IN a psychological crime thriller

•Stunning graphics, animation and technology combine with a strong narrative that delivers a movie-like experience

•Mature content, reflecting a realistic world setting that explores powerful themes

•Accessible gameplay via intuitive, contextual controls and interface

Buy Heavy Rain (PS3) at Play-Asia.com

Free Play-Asia.com Coupon for Grabs!

2009-12-29T05:52:00.000-08:00

Code UU-SPR-NEQ

Get US$12 off a purchase of US$100 or more

Coupon code is only valid until the end of 2009 and can be redeemed just once.

Kindly use my affiliate link below when purchasing. :)

Buy Video Games for Consoles and PC - From Japan, Korea and other Regions at Play-Asia.com

Final Fantasy XIII Out In Japan!

2009-12-24T18:02:00.000-08:00

A tale of souls from a futuristic civilization illuminated by the Light of the Crystal, this eagerly anticipated title takes full advantage of the PlayStation 3 system's advanced hardware, providing tangible, intuitive controls while delivering seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and stunning in-game cinematics. The latest in cutting-edge technology has been utilized in development of FINAL FANTASY XIII, thus making this newest addition to the FINAL FANTASY series worthy of the title "next generation."

Buy Final Fantasy XIII (PS3) at Play-Asia.com (R3 Japanese, out now)
Buy Final Fantasy XIII (English language Version) (PS3) at Play-Asia.com (R3, out March 2010, preorder available)
Buy Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox360) at Play-Asia.com (NTSC U/C, out March 2010, preorder available)

It's Finally Here! Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

2009-11-10T05:39:00.000-08:00

Prepare for the ultimate invasion! The most anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time*, Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 will strike worldwide on November 10, 2009. Activision Publishing, Inc. will release the newest installment in the groundbreaking and record-setting follow-up to the 2007 blockbuster, Call of Duty® 4: Modern WarfareTM, that has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, to date.

Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (DVD-ROM) (PC CD-ROM) at Play-Asia.com
Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox360) at Play-Asia.com
Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) at Play-Asia.com

It's Time for Tekken 6!

2009-10-11T02:24:00.000-07:00

Release date: 29 October 2009

Armed with jaw-dropping HD graphics running flawlessly at 60 fps; the largest character roster ever in Tekken gaming history; ground-breaking online game modes and robust character customization system; the greatest fighting game franchise soars onto the PlayStation®3 Computer Entertainment System and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system!

The Collectors' Edition comes with a Hori Tekken 6 Wireless Arcade Stick and a Tekken 6 Artbook.

Features:

The advanced high definition graphics and 3D animation technologies create the most impressive HD visuals in Tekken history

Master 40 unique fighters representing the world’s top martial arts styles! The character line-up includes 34 beloved characters, such as Jin, Heihachi and Kazuya, as well as 6 brand new characters with unique fighting styles and combo systems!

Prove your supremacy against players from around the world with online VS mode!

Venture beyond the traditional boundaries of a fighting game in the brand new Scenario Campaign Mode. Jump into single player or two player online co-op campaigns to experience the intense drama and large-scale battles that unfold

Create new characters and customize them with every imaginable detail. Customize their hairstyles, apparel, fashion accessories, tattoos, etc. Then take your own ultimate fighters online!

Punch your enemies through concrete walls or kick them through floors to open a whole new battleground. The stages go through dynamic changes ranging from a sudden attack helicopter crash to vehicle explosions!

Preorder your copy now!

Buy Tekken 6 (PS3) (R1) at Play-Asia.com

Buy Tekken 6 (PS3) (R3) at Play-Asia.com

Buy Tekken 6 [Collector's Edition] (PS3) (R2) at Play-Asia.com

Buy HORI Real Arcade Pro Stick 3 (Tekken 6 Design) (PS3) at Play-Asia.com

Buy HORI Real Arcade PRO 3 SA (PS3) at Play-Asia.com

Buy HORI Real Arcade Pro Stick 3 (PS3) at Play-Asia.com

Buy Tekken 6 (Xbox360) (NTSC-U/C) at Play-Asia.com

Buy Tekken 6 (Xbox360) (NTSC-J) at Play-Asia.com

Buy Tekken 6 [Collector's Edition] (Xbox360) (NTSC-J) at Play-Asia.com

Buy HORI Real Arcade Pro.EX (Tekken 6 Design) (Xbox360) at Play-Asia.com

Audiosurf - Weekend Deal 50% Off!

2009-10-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

~~$9.99~~ $4.99 USD on Steam

Weekend Deal! 50% Off! Includes new updates!

About the Game

Ride your music.

Audiosurf is a music-adapting puzzle racer where you use your own music to create your own experience. The shape, the speed, and the mood of each ride is determined by the song you choose. You earn points for clustering together blocks of the same color on the highway, and compete with others on the internet for the high score on your favorite songs.

Audiosurf on Steam includes The Orange Box soundtrack, integrated with the game to enable "Still Alive" surfing and more. In addition, Audiosurf is one of the first titles to leverage the recently announced Steamworks, offering full support for the Steam Achievements that appear on Steam Community profile pages.

Play with any music from your own collection--the game supports MP3s, iTunes M4As, WMAs, CDs and OGGs
Valve's The Orange Box Original Soundtrack is included.
Online scoreboards for each song you play.
Choose your strategy from 14 available characters.
Track your progress as Steam Achievements.

System Requirements
Minimum:

OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP/Vista
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4
Memory: 512 MB RAM
Graphics: 32 MB NVIDIA GeForce® 2 (support for Pixel Shader 3.0 recommended)
DirectX Version: DirectX® 9.0 or higher
Sound: DirectX® 9.0c-compatible sound card

New Playstation 3 Slim available 1 September for US$299

2009-09-19T21:54:00.001-07:00

The new PS3 Slim comes with all the features of its predecessor except for the option to install the another OS. It is 32% smaller and consumes 34% less power than its predecessor. In addition, the slim version comes with a 120 GB HDD and a new Bravia Sync feature for use with Sony's Bravia TVs. It is available in less than two weekes from 1 September for US$299.

Prices for the existing 80GB PS3 have been slashed to US$299 with immediate effect. However, unless you really want a PS3 now or install another OS on it, I strongly recommend you to wait for the newer slim version.

Full PS3 slim pictures available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/playstationblog/sets/72157621951580007/show/

Best Controller/Gamepad for PC - Xbox 360 Controller

2009-09-19T21:53:00.001-07:00

With the release of Street Fighter IV for the PC, many people have been asking about recommended controllers/gamepads for the PC. In my opinion, the Xbox 360 Controller is the best controller/gamepad for the PC for two main reasons:

1. Built
It has a very tough built, like most console controllers. It is the same wired controller used for the Xbox 360, so you can play your games the way it is meant to be played on a console, with vibration feedback support included. If you are trying to recreate the feeling of a console on your PC, nothing beats using an actual console controller.

2. Compatibility
An advantage of being a Microsoft product is excellent compatibility with Windows, especially for 64-bit OS users. Many newer games recognise the device and automatically configure the buttons and vibration feedback. This is much better than using third party converters/drivers for PS2/Ps3 controllers that don't always work for the game you want to play or take a long time to configure with limited functionality.

The Xbox 360 Controller is available at Play-Asia here.

Restaurant Empire 2 Mini-Guide

2009-09-19T21:52:00.001-07:00

Having trouble with the game? I just finished this game a few days ago and have a few pointers to share on clearing the story campaign. Unfortunately, I did not take notes during my playthrough, so I am unable to provide specific help on the scenarios. Nevertheless, these pointers should be enough for you to clear the campaign.

The Goals
The game generally has 3 different types of goals: Profit, rating or contest goals. You are required to achieve all the main goals in a scenario in order to proceed with the story. Side goals are optional, so you can ignore them if you are having problems with the main goals. The 3 different types of goals and how to deal with them are explained further below.

Profit Goals
These can either be revenue or profit targets. Revenue targets are easier as you only need to focus on generating sales. You can do this by advertising or completing the 100% satisfaction targets. Profit targets are harder as you also need to manage your expenses as well. Expenses can generally be reduced by cutting on staff costs or maintenance costs. A good way to save on staff costs is to lower their salaries by a few points when the morale is high. The morale points regenerate every month and you can continue doing it until eventually the wage is at the minimum. Maintenance costs can be reduced by removing unused equipment and excess tables. This is quite important for larger restaurants; sometimes it is not practical to fully furnish two floors of a restaurant if only one floor is used most of the time.

Rating Goals
Food and satisfaction rating goals are most common in the game. Food ratings can be improved by sending your best chefs to the targeted restaurant and also by removing lowly rated dishes from the menu. If there is sufficient time, you can let your chefs improve on their own by letting them cook more. Adventure mode items that increase the skills of your chef can be useful too. For satisfaction ratings, you also need to look into the skills of your service staff and if necessary, train or hire better staff.
Other rating goals include enviroment and restaurant star ratings, which are self explanatory in the game. Focus on the aspects that you are lacking and you should be able to meet them. One thing I found out about the decoration rating is that every item counts only once, so you can't boost your decoration rating by spamming the same item.

Contest Goals
These goals require you to win various cooking competitions. Besides having skilled chefs, you'll also need to have highly rated recipes. You can obtain good recipes by research or purchasing them from customers. Preferably, you should have a few highly rated recipes of each cuisine. Focus on having one chef in each restaurant master those recipes first by assigning them to cook it. This way, you should be well prepared for any competition that comes along. Again, adventure mode items that increase the skills of your chef are useful here.

Other Tips
If you have been playing well, you shouldn't have problems meeting the goals quickly. However, sometimes you may want to drag the scenario longer to accumulate more cash which can make subsequent scenarios easier. Moreover, adventure mode events seem to only trigger on the first month of each scenario, so having more cash at the beginning of the scenario definitely helps. Adventure mode events, in particular the supplier contracts, are quite useful, so you may even want borrow from the bank ahead just to have enough cash to spend on adventure mode events.

I hope you have found this mini-guide useful. Bon appetit!

Hooking up your PS3 to your PC Monitor

2009-09-19T21:51:00.001-07:00

The PC monitor can be a good alternative HD display for those who already own a large LCD monitor but not a HDTV or have no room for a HDTV. This article explains some of the technical issues connecting your PS3 to a LCD monitor.

1. Monitor Size
The size of your monitor usually determines the resolution it can output. The maximum resolution of the monitor is important as it determines the HD output it can support. The monitor must be able to display a resolution of at least 1280x720 for 720p output and at least a resolution of 1920x1080 for 1080p output. This usually means that 19"-22" widescreen monitors can support up to 720p output while those 24" and above can support up to 1080p.

One thing to note is that most PC monitors are 16:10 aspect ratio while HD output resolutions are 16:9 aspect ratio. This slight difference results in the picture being stretched slightly vertically to fill the entire screen. Some monitors have settings to correct this such as 1:1 pixel mapping or aspect mode, allowing the picture to be displayed in 16:9 aspect ratio with two small black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.

2. HDCP
HDCP must be supported by your monitor in order for it to output video from the PS3. This is more of an issue with older monitors as most new monitors out there support HDCP.

3. Monitor Inputs
Most monitors have both a VGA and DVI input, with more and more models supporting HDMI input. VGA cable output is not officially supported on the PS3, so the use of third party VGA cables is not recommended and can be costly. For connecting to the PS3, HDMI is the preferred mode of connection as all you need is a simple HDMI cable. Monitors without HDMI input will need a HDMI to DVI cable. DVI input is basically similar to HDMI, but without the sound signal.

Some higher end models support component input, but since those models also have HDMI and DVI inputs, they should be preferred over component as the image quality is better. If you are looking for cables, Play-Asia has a decent HDMI cable here and HDMI to DVI cable here.

4. Sound
Because most monitors do not have speakers, you'll need a way to connect your speakers for sound. This is one of the main issues when hooking up your PS3 to your PC monitor. If you have a receiver, you can hook it up with a HDMI or optical cable for sound. Some higher end speakers support optical input as well. You can get a cheap optical cable here. For most people however, the easiest way is to use the RCA cables that came with the PS3 to connect your speakers. You may need a 3.5mm to RCA F adapter cable to connect those cables to 3.5mm audio jack input speakers.

Configuration
Finally, when everything is connected. You'll need to configure your PS3 to output video and sound on the correct cables. The configuration settings can be found under System Settings, one for Video and another for Audio. The process should be self explanatory.

Is Buying a HDTV Better?
Hooking up your PS3 to your PC monitor is slightly more difficult than hooking it up to a TV because of the separate video and sound signals, so it is not recommended for everyone. Monitors are also smaller than TVs and may not be suitable for playing at a distance. It is more suited for people who already own a large monitor and want it to double up as a PS3 display instead of buying a HDTV. In those cases, the investment of a few cheap cables make it worthwhile.

Outrun Online Arcade: Getting the Cardiogram Trophy

2009-09-19T21:50:00.001-07:00

Cardiogram

Score an overall AAA in Heart Attack Mode.

Finally got the Cardiogram trophy taking the GOAL A path (LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, LEFT). Wasted hours trying to get it through the GOAL D path (LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT) but just couldn't get AAA for the Ice Scape stage. Switched to GOAL A and got it in 2 attempts. What a relief!

Here are some tips on how to get the trophy for those who are having problems:

I find the LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, LEFT or LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT paths to be easier for this achievement. Do it on VERY EASY difficulty for lots of time on the clock.

The LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, LEFT Path (GOAL A)

1st Stage: Sunny Beach
The two challenges are easy and there shouldn't be any problems with them.

2nd Stage: Bay Area
The first part requires you not to hit anything, including the walls. Hitting anything will result you in getting AA even when you filled your heart meter. You should be able to find path through the centre with some minor adjustments. Slow down if you have to, you won't be penalised for that. The second part requires you to collect as many coins as possible. Position your car straight up the gold coins and then make a minor adjustment to the right to hit the whole bunch of coins in the middle. You should be able to get enough coins for AAA. The final part should be easy.

3rd Stage: Waterfall
The first part requires you to run through blue, which should be easy. Slow down by letting off the gas button if you need to adjust your car. The second part requires you to hit all of the blue cones, which can be tricky if you are running at high speed. Instead, I shfit down/brake to below 100 km/h just before the cones and slowly steer to hit all of them. There should be more than enough time for that. The final part should be easy.

4th Stage: Lost City
This stage is one special request to beat all the cars (8 total) in a race. Just race as normal and you shouldn't have any problems getting 1st place.

Final Stage: Giant Statues
The first part requires you to hit all the blue cones, so slow down to a crawl like in Stage 3 and you should be able to slowly hit them all. The second part is requires you to go through all the gates, which is similar to the cones if not easier. Slow down and go through the gates at your leisure. Finally, the final part requires you to hit all the cones while drifting, which is the hardest part of the entire route. Fortunately, the angle of the drift is a small 'S' and not too difficult to hit. Try practicing a few times or watch some videos on Youtube for the turn angle if you are having trouble. Clear that part and the trophy is yours.

The LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT path (GOAL D)

Quite a number of people have gotten their trophy with this path. This path is an alternative for people who hate to hit cones. The first two stages are the same as the previous path.

3rd Stage: Big Forest
The first part requires you to hit enough ghosts to fill your heart meter. The eaiest way to do this is to drop a gear down to get better control of your car, letting go of the gas button when necessary. Your speed should be sufficiently fast for you to hit more than enough ghosts. It may be harder to do this on AT. The second part requires you to drift through red, which should be easy.

4th Stage: Ice Scape
The entire stage is one special request to overtake as many convoy trucks as possible. This is the hardest part of the whole route, as the trucks are big and difficult to navigate around, especially in the tunnel. My suggestion is to plan your driving line around the corners and trucks and hopefully get past enough trucks for AAA. I had a lot of frustration with this one.

Final Stage: Milky Way
The entire stage is one special request to collect as many stars as possible. Fortunately, this one is much easier than the previous one. Simply reduce your speed to mid-100 km/h and slowly collect all the stars. Switch from the left to the right path midway as it seems to net more stars. You should be able to get enough stars to fill your heart meter for AAA provided that you don't crash.

Update: A detailed video guide on taking this path is available on Youtube here. It's very well done and covers all the points mentioned above.

I hope you find this guide useful in obtaining your trophy. Feel free to suggest more tips in the comments.

Choosing the Right Cable for your PS3

2009-09-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

The PS3 comes with a standard composite AV cable that does not support high definition (HD) video output. HDTVs are getting more common these days, and if you want to make the most out of it with your PS3, you'll need to purchase a better cable. The common connectivity options for your PS3 are explained below.

1. Composite

This is the default cable that comes with your PS3. Outputs at standard defnition (SD). If you play on a SDTV that only has composite input, you'll have to make do with this.

2. S-Video

S-Video produces better quality video signals than the composite cable, but is still limited to SD output. If you have a S-Video compatible SDTV that does not support component input (see below), this is the best you can get. You find a cheap one at Play-Asia here.

3. Component

Component supports both SD and HD outputs, up to 1080p (Full HD). At SD output, component produces better quality video signals than S-Video. At HD outputs though, HDMI (see below) is preferred. Still, some older HDTVs may not support HDMI, and you may have to make do with component for your HD output in that case. A cheap one is available from Play-Asia here.

4. HDMI

HDMI is the standard for HD output now, and almost all current HDTVs support it. This is the preferred video output choice for HD gaming. HDMI also transmits digital audio signals that can be passed through a receiver for 7.1 sound (Dobby Digital/DTS). There is no need to buy premium HDMI cables and a normal one will do just as good a job. Play-Asia has a cheap and good HDMI cable here.

5. Optical Cable

This is not a video cable but a sound cable. It transmits digital audio signals that can be passed through a receiver for 5.1 sound (Dobby Digital/DTS), similar to HDMI. Note that the lower bandwidth of optical compared to HDMI limits the output to 5.1 (Dobby Digital/DTS) or 2.0 PCM. This should not be a problem for users though. Using either a HDMI or optical cable hooked up to a receiver will give you a much better sound quality compared to RCA (red and white) audio cables. You can get a cheap optical cable here.

In summary (in decending order of quality):
For video: HDMI > Component > S-Video > Composite
For sound: HDMI or Optical > RCA

I hope you find this short article useful. Do show your support by clicking on my affiliate links above if you need to purchase a cable.

First Post

2009-09-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our gaming blog, where we will be bringing you articles from our casual gaming lifestyle in the coming weeks. We are just getting started, so do check back often for new content.

Thanks for visiting!