Cheers!

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long time no read. I know, I know, but I’m still very swamped with work and I hope to start posting again very, very soon.

That being said, recently a very dear friend o’ mine started recording and editing gameplay footages from pc games and uploading them on YouTube, check it out: MrAkomx’s Channel ! And no he ain’t no hollywood wunderkind if y’all are wondering, so cut MrAkomx some slack, will ya?

I must say though for starting just recently MrAkomx sure knows his stuff compared to the vast numbers of failures (like say…a 1080p HD video in 4:3 format…duh) I daily came, and still come, across on YouTube.

So long fellas,

The Don

PS: Give criticism folks, either here or on his channel page!

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I’ve played mostly Red Faction: Guerrilla. This game is simply awesome. The fact that you can destroy pretty much anything in the environments invites some serious tactics. For example planting remote-exploded bombs under a bridge and killing passing enemies by blowing said bridge at the right moment.

Or blowing up huge smokestacks at the right moment only to watch said smokestack fall on a patrolling enemy car, following by exploding said car, throwing exploding car into the next enemy crowd. Resident Evil 5, however awesome this game is and Batman’s super-awesome free flow combat system simply can’t beat this for me!

That being said, Resident Evil 5 and Batman: Arkham Asylum are both awesome games! Batman even more so if you have a Nvidia GPU allowing you to play with PhysX enabled. Gives an even more eerie feeling when traveling in damp, dark corridors!

As for Resident Evil 5:

I recorded all 53 in-game cut-scene cinematics from Resident Evil 5. During the recording I switched the costumes (Chris: Warrior, Safari. Sheva: Clubbin’, Business) and filters (default, retro, classic horror).

Sadly only 3 gameplay videos! Maybe I’ll record a few more, when and if I play Resident Evil 5. The game is great, don’t get me wrong. But it has very little replay-value for me. Since I played the game through I can replay all chapters. If you want me to replay a specific chapter, throw me a mail, tweet, dent, or leave a comment!

Batman: Arkham Asylum – Gameplay
Batman: Arkham Asylum – Screenshots

Red Faction: Guerrilla – Gameplay
Red Faction: Guerrilla – Cinematics
Red Faction: Guerrilla – Screenshots

Resident Evil 5 – Gameplay
Resident Evil 5 – All 53 cut-scenes
Resident Evil 5 – Screenshots

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The biggest problem most of us face while recording gameplay clips with Fraps is its disk space usage. Fraps records everything uncompressed, continuously (free version is limited to 30 sec.) and sequential. Meaning from start till stop the “whole” clip is split into single 4GB files (I believe due FAT32 filesize restrictions).

The length of a single 4 GB clip depends on the resolution and the in-game scene you record it in. For example, for me a 4 GB clip has about 90 sec. worth of gameplay in 1920×1200 resolution.

Because of this uncompressed real-time recording your frame-rates drops significantly while playing. There is NO way to keep up 40+fps with Fraps running unless you have one hell of a monster system.

Imagine what happens when you want to capture a 30+ min gameplay clip. Either you buy yourself a Terabyte HDD or you use a very simple trick: recording in half-size, upscaling and sharpening. Read the whole How-To guide!

Recording in Half-screen/size

Before we start with VirtualDub transcoding, upscaling and sharpening, we first have to record our gameplay. We do not record our gameplay in full-screen/size mode, as usual, but in half-screen/size:

This means if you have a game running at 1920×1200 resolution, Fraps will record it at 960×600, or if you run it at 1280×1024, Fraps will record 640×512, etc. Which in turn translates into much more gameplay time in each 4 GB file.

Another example: While recording in 1920×1200, I only got about 90 sec. (1:30 min) per 4 GB file, recording in half the resolution (i.e. 960×600) resulted in about 360 sec. (6 min) per 4 GB file. Whole 270 sec. more!

Upscaling and Sharpening

We want HD Quality, so we’re going to upscale and sharpen our recorded clip. Start up VirtualDub, open the uncompressed file, change in “Video” -> “Full Processing Mode” and “Audio” -> “Full Processing Mode”, then set your VirtualDub according to this screenshot:

Save your settings via “File” -> “Save processing settings” or Ctrl+S, so you can simply load them in the future. Saves a lot of time!

Addendum: Regarding “Threads”; QuadCores = 6, DualCores = 3.

You’ll need VirtualDub and a codec-pack which has the H.264 codec, like the “K-Lite Mega Codec Pack“. The settings in the screenshot are the same ones like in “VirtualDub 720p HD settings for YouTube! [Good quality, small file size]“, what differs, however, is that we are also going to use the “sharpen” filter.

We call the method to resize a lower resolution (960×600) to a higher resolution (1280×720, in this case), UPSCALING (sometimes also refereed to as up-converting). For your information, 1280×720 is the Standard HD (720p) resolution. The other is Ultra-HD or Full-HD (1080p, 1920×1080).

However due the upscaling method we lose quality, which is where the filter “sharpen” comes in. Upscaling from lower to higher resolutions causes the image to “blur”. Sharpen removes the blur and, well, sharpens the image.

You’ll have to experiment with the slider in preview mode around a bit, until you find the result best to your liking. I found myself settling down between 23-30, depending on each clip.

When everything is set, start transcoding via “File” -> “Save as AVI”.

Two important VirtualDub settings you should not forget:

“Options” -> “Preferences” -> “Threading”: Set the “Video Compression Threads” to 1. This is important if you have a multi-core CPU to make use of the multiple cores and in turn speed up the transcoding process.

Since VirtualDub Version 1.9.4 there’s an option to use your GPU as part of the transcoding process. Make use of it to additionally speed up your transcoding process. “Options” -> “Preferences” -> “3D accel”, hack in the box.

Addendum 16.05.2010:
I’ve been getting mixed messages. Apparently using “3d accel” causes it to render slower than usual on some systems. I can confirm that. With 3d accel turned on, a 10min video takes about 1 hour 10-20 minutes, while turned off it takes about 1 hour max. You’ll have to experiment on your system!

Addendum 23.10.2009:
There’s currently a problem causing VirtualDub 1.9.4/5/6/7, crashing under Windows 7. The culprit is 3D accel! Turn it off under “Preferences” -> “3D accel” and enjoy VirtualDub once again!

Update 22.03.2010:
Updated Setting Screenshots

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As you can probably imagine I’m currently playing the 3rd new DLC, “Point Lookout”. It’s Bethesda’s 4th one and many more may come (I guess I was wrong, 5 is enough!).

Point Lookout takes you to an isolated island, it is Fallout 3′s equivalent of Point Lookout State Park. An amusement park, with a huge carousel surrounded by a damp swamp and an old lighthouse overlooking it. It gives off an eerie feeling.

And the bonus: remember the Pint-Sized Slasher? Perhaps Point Lookout, Maryland is where the Slasher originated.

The whole DLC is somewhat horror / thriller themed. The nuclear bombs did not fall on Point Lookout, but the island was simply forgotten and left to its own resources.

New monsters are present, the Swampfolk, inbreed hillbillies with hostile attitude toward the player, such as Trackers, Creepers/Scrappers and Brawlers/Bruisers. Even a swamp variant of ghouls and mirelurks. Oh, and a new set of humans too, the Tribals.

Of course new quest-able perks are added, although nothing huge, still funny to have and weapons such as double barrel shotguns, axes and shovels.

Because so many Confederates died during the American Civil War on Point Lookout, you’ll find Confederate Hats by the thousands.

All in all, I can only recommend this DLC! The 5th DLC “Mothership Zeta” is coming in July August, and will supposedly involve the crashed alien ship and not so friendly extraterrestrials.

Screenshots and Gameplay clips after the break.

Screenshots:
http://www.the-screenshots.com/Fallout3/Fallout3_PointLookout

Gameplay clips:
The Local Flavor (Calvert’s Mansion): Part 1/2, Part 2/2
Exploding Calvert Mansion

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I say this, because I play this game, and boy, is the violence excessive. Only game that beats X-Men Origins: Wolverine ‘uncaged edition’ in terms of violence, blood, guts and gore is Ninja Gaiden.

Game’s an action-adventure. You get to play Wolverine and relieve his past, especially his Origins in Weapon X. According to Wikipedia roughly 90% of the same-titled movie storyline is in the game as well.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine ‘uncaged edition’ is about fast paced action with a sheer amount of chainable combos where guts drop, heads roll and limbs fly with jaw dropping fatalities as an icing on the cake!

Oh, and you get to watch Wolverine losing flesh ‘n bones and regenerate them slowly back.

At some point, if you are careless enough you can see Wolverine almost striped naked to his adamantium skeleton. An awesome sight.

But it ain’t everything gold everything that shines. The whole game is too easy. No matter what difficulty level you choose you’ll blaze through the game in your sleep. And those minibosses, man I tells ya, they be teh suck! Repetetive…almost always the same ones and the first tactic that worked before still works on the 12385th one.

Music…bah, where be da coolz music? Very boring music, I had hoped for a more noticable music during the game play, but nada, zip! And most importantly, there’s no friggin’ multiplayer mode.

I mean are you friggin’ kidding me? I can no has smash me friends? I’s sad panda! Co-op would indeed be very nice to have, but that would make no sense in a game about Wolverine.

Perhaps some deathmatches in some sort of Arena? Now that would be cool. The sheer amount of combos and fatalities would indeed give a great replay value, if only there was a multiplayer mode…

Clearly the ‘uncaged edition’ was meant for the mature Wolverine fans while the “light” versions for Wii and PSP are acessible to our young’uns. All in all a must have for the Marvel fans; a should-have for the fast-paced melee-combat loving fans!

Links to various YouTube gameplay clips, cinematics, cut-scenes and In-Game screenshots after the break!

Screenshots:
http://www.the-screenshots.com/v/xmenoriginswolverine

Cinematics:
Game Intro
Adamantium Process
Wolverine Quits

Cut-scenes:
Wolverine vs. Creed in Tavern

Gameplay:
First Level, African Jungle: Part 1/3, Part 2/3, Part 3/3
Costume Challenges: Legendary brown-tan, Classic blue-yellow, X-Force black
Easter Eggs: World of Warcraft’s Frostmourne , Surprise Cake
Wolverine vs. Sabretooth
Wolverine vs. Sentinel: Part 1/2, Part 2/2
Wolverine vs. The Blob

Walkthroughs:
Chapter 2, Mission “Team X”, 3 Platform Puzzle

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Just thought I’d share great indie game with you. Braid is the name, a lovely jump ‘n’ run puzzle adventure. This game was released in August 2006 on XBox Live Arcade, but just recently, on April 10th 2009, came to the PC platform.

It’s played by solving physical puzzles in a platform game environment much similar to that of Super Mario Bros. . Tim the Protagonist runs, jumps and climbs across the game’s level while avoid being touched by plants, enemies and whatnot. Just like in Super Mario Bros. .

One of the unique game feature is the unlimited ability to control and manipulate time. Tim can reverse time and in essence go back where he just was moments ago. A great feature if you just got killed by an enemy; simply reverse the time and continue from there on again.

The game world is divided into 7 smaller worlds with an extra, what you may call, overworld in form of Tim’s house. The various worlds are entered through doors from Tim’s house.

What’s much more fascinating are the graphics. Although it’s only 2D, the graphics are simply amazing. And the music, don’t get me started on it. Perfect composition between graphics, music and levels. Which is why Braid got such high review scores!

The PC version of Braid comes with another great extra: an Editor! Players can create whole custom worlds for others to play in.

It truly is a great game for the occasional play session. Give it a try!

I made a short gameplay clip from World 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFKMCEBXYzY

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Demigod has been out since April 14th 2009 and some of my friends are playing it like crazy. Although I loathe strategy games this one fascinates me.

Perhaps it’s those RPG elements or perhaps it’s the whole mix of RPG, strategy and tactic.

The game itself is not a pure strategy game. It has RPG elements where you can buy stuff and arm your chosen demigod and of course it has the usual strategy elements you’d expect, but not all of them.

Demigod plays different from your standard Real Time Strategy game like StarCraft, WarCraft, Company of Heroes, etc.

It plays different because you don’t control units. You control 1 single unit, your chosen demigod. Perhaps Demigod can be compared to Warcraft 3 with Defense of the Ancients (DotA).

There are 2 types of demigods you can chose from: Assassins and Generals.

Assassin demigods are made to me more of an RPG character who fight on its own. While the General demigods are made to be for RTS play since they can summon units who help fight alongside the General.

The Assassin demigods are Rook, Unclean Beast, Torchbearer and Regulus and the Generals are Vampire Lord, Sedna, Oak and Queen of the Thorns. It’s been said on the official forums that 2 more playable demigods are coming out later in a content patch.

There is no campaign mode as most of you may be used to. This game focuses heavily on multiplayer. Although you can play a solo tournament, it’s pretty boring, even in its hardest mode. Multiplayer is where the fun is!

There are 4 different match modes you can play:

• Conquest, where one has to destroy the opponents citadel in order to win.
• Dominate, where one has to capture and hold flags in order to win.
• Slaughter, where one has to defeat a specific number of the opponents demigods.
• Fortress, where one has to destroy the opponents fortresses.

That being said, I played the Solo Tournament mode, 8 rounds. Recorded it, transcoded it to 720p HD and uploaded it on YouTube.

Links to the HD gameplay clips on YouTube after the break.

The Intro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRGyTkiuppY

Overview of all playable demigods including description and background (play in HD and fullscreen to read the text!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfJOTa1IOKc

Round 1 of 8, Destroy the enemy Citadel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3VXavlzyWs

Round 2 of 8, Destroy the enemy Fortresses:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aQJcNrtWxI Part 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BufrHI0JvuI Part 2/2

Round 3 of 8, Destroy the enemy Demigods:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpxov4Gdjds

Round 4 of 8, Capture and Hold the Flag:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj41RZXUyEQ Part 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsZHnW3qwFU Part 2/2

Round 5 of 8, Destroy the enemy Fortresses:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1gpZac71bA Part 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKTI2i-82mY Part 2/2

Round 6 of 8, Destroy the enemy Demigods:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbuLQO_lQeI

Round 7 of 8, Capture and Hold the flag:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BOWCMWdkN8 Part 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxj_zFajbCw Part 2/2

Round 8 of 8, Destroy the enemy Citadel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2GKiTQ4jZw Part 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSl4kV-YK9o Part 2/2

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What was a simple and quick “run and grab 10 ingots” turned out to be a “grab whatever ingot you see and explore the zone” Quest!

I’m doing “Unsafe Working Conditions” in the clips. You have to go inside ‘The Steelyard’ and collect 10 metal ingots. If you get all 100 of them, you can then turn the remaining 90 for extra items. If you play on XBox 360, you get an achievement too.

Love it, it’s as good and as interesting as Operation Anchorage. Although Operation Anchorage has got negative reviews, because people feel it didn’t “fit” into Fallout 3, they forget that Operation Anchorage was a simulation and a crucial moment in Fallout’s history.

Anyway playing ‘The Pitt’ is entirely different as ‘The Pitt’ integrates in the actual Fallout 3 time line. After a short while you will get a broadcast signal followed by a message pop-up, same procedure as with Operation Anchorage.

The DLC “The Pitt” isn’t long. If you are a slow player, perhaps you get 5-6 hours out of it at most. If you play it fast it’ll be even shorter, I’d estimate about 2-3 hours tops. Before you get angry bear in mind that DLC’s are NOT intended to be full expansions with tens of hours of game play. DLC’s are small content patches which add a few hours at most to the game.

I want to apologize for a few things though in the clips:

1) There are some “breaks” in the videos. Meaning I stopped recording to read a terminal, or to open a lock, or to browse through my pip-boy. I didn’t record this because it was unessential to the game play and it would be a waste of space (All 5 clips were worth uncompressed and not trans-coded about 78 Gbyte of Disk Space!).

Don’t worry though I usually started to record from this point where I stopped.

2) I did NOT explore The Steelyard to its fullest extend. I did however at the point when I was recording not know this. I got back later and saw I missed a few spots (and Ingots, got my 100 ingots!)

You see, I don’t want to re-record this again. Because when I re-record it, I know the spots already, I know where to look and I know what to do. Recording while being in there the 1st time is something entirely different!

Prologue 0/4 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy3Wk-X48Qo
Part 1/4 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBl0leW7Cbo
Part 2/4 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nur7DltuA8
Part 3/4 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKtPTenScTs
Part 4/4 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u50pDYNgw-Y

Screenshots: http://www.the-screenshots.com/Fallout3/Fallout3_ThePitt/

Long story short: Enjoy and don’t forget to watch in HD!

Addendum: I’ve got emails asking me how many ingots there are and where they all are, what the reason is to collect more than 10 ingots and if you get your items back you had to surrender at the beginning of The Pitt.

There are 100 ingots total. Collecting them all is recommended insofar because you get really awesome items. As for the items you had to surrender at the beginning of The Pitt, yes, you will get them back once you beat the Arena and are summoned to the Pitt Boss Ashur.

I’m not gonna write another lengthy guide to each spot of all the metal ingots, since there are tons of them already on the internet. Take this for example, all the spots for all the ingots!

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Folks who are die hard fans of simulators a la IL2-Sturmovik or similar ones WILL be disappointed by HAWX if they hope to get a modern substitute for their good ol’ simulator.

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. is by no means a flight simulator game. It is an arcade flight simulator. Emphasis on ARCADE. The whole game is made so easy with its arcade elements it’s ridiculous.

Still the game offers a great deal of fun if you like the occasional dogfights against your friends or if you want a quick co-op session.

Get it if you can’t be bothered with it being an arcade flight simulator; ditch it if you are a die hard realism flight simulator fan!

I play it too and got you a few game-play clips:

All flyable planes Overview Part 1 of 2
All flyable planes Overview Part 2 of 2

Operation Adder Part 1 of 2
Operation Adder Part 2 of 2

Operation Backfire Part 1 of 2
Operation Backfire Part 2 of 2

PS: Screenshots are up on the gallery!

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