Geek Babble – Computers and Collecting

I haven’t written a Geek Babble column since my Otakon picture post. My geek life has been fairly eventful for the worst with everything ranging from computer headaches to constant internet downtime. Additionally, my attempts to enjoy media by way of video games, movies,
anime, and reading have been stalled thanks to a moderately busy working life. Still I’ve managed to find the time to deal with various headaches between fueling my swag collecting addiction.

In March my desktop computer, a CyberPower PC of seven years finally gave out on me. I was left
with the decision to repair the computer or buy a new PC. I ultimately repaired my old desktop with a new power supply in order to backup my some of my data. Amusingly the new power supply lacked extra plugs leaving me with the choice of disconnecting my second hard drive or not having working fans. (Thankfully, I have a laptop as backup computer.) In late May I finally decided on a new computer from CyberPower PC again. About two months
after getting my mid-range desktop it began to blue screen.

At
first I blamed the problem on Windows 7 since it was a fairly new
operating system. After some initial help from Microsoft’s help forums I
was told the problem was faulty hardware, possibly a bad
CPU. After contacting CyberPower and not receiving any kind of response I
tried updating a few of my drivers along with flashing the motherboard.
The problem persisted. So I tried updating every driver I could think
of related to crash dumps and the problem remained. I eventually found
help at the Windows Seven Forums and was able to pin point a few obscure outdated
drivers. The problem seemed to be solved with updates until a blue screen
returned a month later.

Finally with the help of the computer
technicians at the forums I was able to narrow the problem down to
the motherboard. I contacted CyberPower again and this time I got a response. I immediately requested a replacement motherboard. After getting a return authorization I
disassembled my computer and shipped the board back.
As of this writing my motherboard has been returned to them and the
replacement is on the way. Even with the persistent problems my new
desktop is a fantastic machine– when it doesn’t blue screen. Windows 7 itself is a
fairly solid OS (when all of the drivers are updated) and a
decent improvement over XP. As for CyberPower PC I’m thankful I haven’t suffered through some of the return horror stories
but I’m doubtful I’ll buy from them again. I certainly wouldn’t
recommend them to anyone without decent level of computer knowledge.

I’ve also been in a mood to collect as of lately and the picture above shows off my tastes pretty nicely. First up, I received my Square Enix Chrono Trigger Formation Arts Trading Figures in the mail a few months ago. The figures are a nice size and very well detailed. If I had more desk or shelf space I would definitely keep these figures out of the box. Square Enix definitely knows how to make a good quality trading figure at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, North America didn’t receive the fifth Marle and Crono figure and importing the full set from Japan is pretty expensive.

Next up is a limited sketchbook run from one of my favorite artists, Rhandi Fisher. She is best known for her work on the webcomic The Pride of Life. It can be best described as an action-packed furry comic with influence from comics, manga, and even fighting games. Fisher’s sketchbook, “Tigermode the Sketchbook” is a collection of some of her best artwork including unreleased sketches, commissions, projects, and even additional art from The Pride of Life. The 80-page sketchbook was only available for pre-order during a one month period from August to September. It was well worth the purchase as a fan of Fisher’s work and the book itself is as satisfying as any mass produced art book.

I haven’t been playing much in way of video games save my on-again off-again affair with Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey on the DS. My 360 has almost been exclusively used for streaming Netflix video (when my internet connection works) and playing an occasional game demo. Despite my light use of the 360 in recent months I had to take the opportunity to buy the new silver wireless controller with a transforming d-pad. As much as I’ve come to like the 360’s controller I absolutely hate the d-pad. While new the raised d-pad isn’t perfect I’m pretty happy with the design. I even took the time to test a few d-pad intensive games out.

I tested the controller with The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match via Xbox Live Arcade. While this SNK game gave me a solid beating I was able to pull various combos, specials, and some supers with relative ease. Unlike the original controller the directional buttons are much more
responsive than the standard disc shape. Inputs are clear and fighting
games are actually playable. While I didn’t use the analog sticks too much the deeper curve felt good and the controller’s matte finish ensured a more secure grip. Some gamers complained that the lack of color coding among the buttons (ie the changing of the blue, green, yellow, and red buttons) would be a serious problem. Personally I haven’t noticed the difference at all while playing and I’m actually fond of the light and dark gray buttons. The controller’s price tag is steep at $65 dollars, easily the price of a new game. The price might be worth it if you’ve ever complained about the 360’s d-pad and you have an aversion to wired controllers.

I certainly hope I find time during the holiday rush to fully enjoy the swag and the digital games I’ve managed to collect over the past few months.