Phrasz's Place

Opening Up The Skylander's Portal of Power

2012-01-27T23:28:00.005-06:00

I was curious, so I opened mine up...

I DO NOT SUPPORT OR CONDONE REVERSE ENGINEERING, SO DON'T ASK.

OF COURSE I loaded the game up and used the portal:

Code::Blocks Disable Console Window

2011-05-14T22:29:00.002-05:00

In other options( for build options) include:
-Wl,--subsystem,windows

Apache System Hardening

2011-05-14T12:52:00.001-05:00

FYI:

See section 6 for configuration details.

http://xianshield.org/guides/apache2.0guide.html

Darkspore Errors

2011-03-11T20:28:00.003-06:00

Make Your Own Video Game

2010-11-20T22:50:00.004-06:00

DISCLAIMER: This post is how to LITERALLY make your own game with the use of a compiler and a library. The actual process of coding a game is left to the end user.

Acquiring a Compiler:
1)Go to http://www.codeblocks.org/downloads/26
2)Download your appropriate version.

Acquiring a Library:
1)If on Windows Grab the Binaries: http://allegro5.org/index.php/downloads/category/20-5.0.0rc1-binaries
2)If on linux grab the source: http://sourceforge.net/projects/alleg/files/allegro-prerelease/5.0.0-rc1/
3)Unzip the binaries to a known location.
4)If on linux: make, and set paths (details are not present, but if the need arises let me know)

Configuring Code::Blocks:
1)Start the compiler
2)Go to Settings ->Compiler and Debugger
3)Click on the linker settings tab
4)Add the monolithlib-mt.a to the path
5)Click search directories
6)Add the include folder's path from the known location(library step3)

Congratulations!

At this point you should be able to find, or make, code and compile the allegro libraries.
Have fun and post any information of your success!

Russian Zerg -- Get it?

2010-09-11T18:44:00.001-05:00

Yes I made it ...

Kotor Mod Site

2010-08-09T20:28:00.002-05:00

So I'm saddened that geocitied shut down. However, the Wayback Machine triumphs yet again. For those of you looking for the site via broken links do not fret I have it here:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.geocities.com/phrasz/

How to recover an off-screen window

2010-06-03T20:40:00.001-05:00

Right-click on the window caption on the taskbar, or select it and use Alt+Space.
If the Restore option is available, select it to pop the window out of minimized or maximized state.
Choose the Move option.
Hit an arrow key.
Move the mouse.

PIPS - PvPGN Configuration tool

2010-05-08T23:29:00.004-05:00

I decided to be a bit more lazy (after some hard work) by creating a custom program to configure a custom game server: PVPGN.

I present to you PIPS.

This program is free to download, use, or modify. It currently does not support changing D2GS's registry file, but I do plan it as an update.

Xbox Live Friends

2009-12-17T00:08:00.003-06:00

If you are like me and want to see what the heck people are gaming, but don't necessarily wanna fire up the xbox, or go on Xbox.com

Check out : Xbox Live Friends

It's a pretty slick interface that allows you to see who's doin what:

How to Backup Your PS2 Bios with Code Breaker

2009-07-18T23:18:00.000-05:00

Mario Kart on Spore

2009-07-16T10:12:00.000-05:00

I came across this galactic adventure and had a blast.

The Conduit

2009-06-30T20:57:00.004-05:00

So I won't lie I was excited to get a Wii back when they first came out. I have been pretty disapointed in Nintendo for only doing rehashes of games I have already played (Mario Kart, SSB, Mario Galaxy - see Mario 64, etc, etc). I have tried numberous times to go third party to support the wii, because I feel that the wii mote has the best imersive experience when playing any shooter. (see Half life 2 being played with a wiimote)

I have picked up The Conduit and it's not the best shooter ever. YET it's probably one of the best offerings on the wii.

My Friend Code
2450-2535-0619

My Wii Code
6024-7805-5468-6376

Wait Telnet?

2009-04-25T01:12:00.003-05:00

In case you are a vista user and you want telnet here's how you do it:

1. Click Start then select Control Panel.

2. Select Programs and Features.

3. Select Turn Windows features on or off.

4. Select the Telnet Client option.

5. Click OK.

6. A dialog box will appear to confirm installation. The telnet command should now be available.

I Will Survive...

2009-04-23T00:12:00.003-05:00

Playing some left 4 dead survival mode:

BTW I am rigatoni...

Update: I have been in the 5-6 min range this weekend...

E for EveryFAIL

2009-04-09T00:05:00.002-05:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

HVR-1600 Composite recording

2009-03-30T20:14:00.002-05:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

This was an example recording off a composite input using my hvr-1600.

Windows Media Center - Window Mode off Screen

2009-03-26T15:30:00.002-05:00

NEW AND NOT COOL!!!

So I switch resolutions a lot using dual screen, but today I encountered a huge issue: I could not find the window in window mode and the move command wasn't working with the mouse.

Solution:
Click move and USE THE ARROW KEYS.

Xpadder...A unique program to map I/O devices...

2009-02-12T14:33:00.003-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

So I've been a big fan of using controllers due largely to my experiences on consoles. I won't lie.... a controller allows you to kick back and relax and not have to worry about the fuss, and size, that come with a keyboard and mouse.

Now don't get me wrong. Having a keyboard and mouse allow for INCREDIBLY MORE accuracy, detail, over all controls in a game, BUT the main factory is usually a mouse/board combo is rather large. I like to occasionally throw the comp on the 32" screen and sit back on the couch with a controller.

One of the common issues I was having was how to interface older controllers to a "joystick" environment, or simply adding a joystick to a game that doesn't support one in the first place. Enter Xpadder. This program is great. It allows you to configure and setup controllers in a near unnoticeable fashion provided you don't mind a few bugs here and there. I have used Xpadder for ALL of Half Life 2 (and the episodes 1/2), most of Mass Effect, a bit of Team Fortress 2, and even Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

I higly reccomend this program to anyone that wishes to make that old controller useful once more, and kick back once in a while and enjoy a controller.

I personally use the program in conjunction with my Xbox 360 controller/receiver.

Get it from here

Unfortunately True...

2009-01-28T21:47:00.002-06:00

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

So wait...parents can have an effect on a child's aggression?

2009-01-22T22:22:00.002-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!
I was looking at Psych before this whole Engineering thing, so any time I hear the topic mixed with video games I always listen. HOWEVER, it's usually negatives about video games, and they are the root of all things evil..... like rock and roll.....and the plague.

Recently, there's been more literature published where researchers are questioning those pointing their fingers (or at least their skewed statistics) at my favorite pass time.

The purpose of the current article is to examine, through two separate studies, whether violent video games directly cause subsequent player aggression or whether any relationship between video games and aggression is better explained as a byproduct of ‘third’ variables, such as exposure to family violence and innate violence motivation,” states Ferguson in the article.

See the orignal source here.

The best part of the article....VIDEO GAMES CAN BE A GOOD THING see the article here.

Desert Bus

2009-01-06T16:22:00.006-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

So I recently came across this really cool game called Desert Bus. Alright I lied .... it's a horrible game, but the premise is what makes it awesome.

The objective of the game is to drive a bus from Tucson, Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada in real time at a maximum speed of 45mph, a feat that would take the player 8 hours of continuous play to complete, as the game cannot be paused.
The bus contains no passengers, and there is no scenery or other cars on the road. The bus veers to the right slightly; as a result, it is impossible to tape down a button to go do something else and have the game end properly. If the bus veers off the road it will stall and be towed back to Tucson, also in real time. If the player makes it to Las Vegas, they will score exactly one point. The player then gets the option to make the return trip to Tucson—for another point (a decision they must make in a few seconds or the game ends). Players may continue to make trips and score points as long as their endurance holds out. Some players who have completed the trip have also noted that, although the scenery never changes, a bug splats on the windscreen about five hours through the first trip, and on the return trip the light does fade, with differences at dusk, and later a pitch black road where the player is guided only with headlights.

Penn Jillette commented in his radio show that the overly realistic nature of the game was in response to Janet Reno and the controversy surrounding violent video games at the time.

For more info on obtaining the game see here

For those of you that have the fortitude to play the game I created a strategy guide for you:

Finally, there's a Comedy group in Canada that has a fundraiser by playing the game. Check out their site here ... and watch for their next run at the game in Fall 2009!

Coffee Amp = Ghetto 5.1

2009-01-05T18:48:00.008-06:00

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

This was a pretty successful project I had undertook a couple months ago. I decided that if I was going to try to get a Media Center I might want to look at 5.1 surround sound, since my computer has the functionality built into the M/B.

Enter a ghetto solution:
I decided I would like to try for a couple of older amplifying sets of speakers to act as I/O to get the 5.1 to work.

One of each of the black and orange will go to one of the amps in the coffee tin.

The idea worked pretty well. The Tin has shared power, but each amp in the tin can be run seperately. I used the Yamaha YST-M5 and the Creative SBS20:

They each have pretty cool functionailty, which are a bonus to my little project.

One Problem:
The Sub channel CANNOT be amp'd with this setup due to the Hardware. There's no real solution, but my standard L/R speakers has a woofer, so I figure same difference.

HOWEVER, this only cost about 7 bucks to have a good quality 5.1 system .... so no complaints from me.

Custom WMC Navigation

2009-01-05T16:26:00.004-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

Have WMC and hate the layout? GREAT I have a solution: Change it with a very simple Tool: MC Menu Mender:

Simple drag and drop options allow you to have a way easier interface with Media Center:

Download the program here

First Fail post....

2009-01-05T16:17:00.002-06:00

Change the Aspect Ratio of WMC in a Window

2009-01-04T11:35:00.005-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

I use WMC in a window so I can multitask with it being on my 32" Dual Screen. However, I ran into an issue when the Screen decided to automatically resize to a 4:3 aspect versus my original window in 16:9.

Solution: Ctrl + Left Click

This will apparently allow you to have Aspect Scaling on the Fly.

FFdshow + WMC = Working .divx play back

2009-01-02T21:41:00.006-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

FFdshow Video Decoder

Background:
So I used my xbox for years for DVD's I would backup and play via the XBMC. However, most of my encoding was done with Vidomi and I chose to use the .divx file extension due to it's wonderful support on XBMC.

Info:
Having my new beast machine I decided to make it the all inclusive media center, and as such I wanted to pull my videos from my Xbox and play them on WMC. Yet, to my non-surpize WMC did not have the codec support for it.

Solution:
FFdshow has support for TONS of different 3rd party codecs and after a quick install my videos worked perfectly.

You can find the 64 bit version here (What I was required to use)
I believe this 32 bit version should work for those that need it.

Akme FFmpeg (GUI 0.7.9) - A GREAT Encoder

2008-12-29T14:49:00.009-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

Background:

So as I've been sitting around during a term break I decided to really get into audio and video encoding. I was originally looking for a program that would allow me to convert video files into mp3's. Additionally, I am a HUGE open source/freeware fan so I wanted the program to have those traits aswell.

After web crawling for a while I happened across this nifty program:

Akme FFmpeg

Info:

I played around and was able to find the correct settings that would allow me to take a .flv formated movie and convert it to a mp3. I also have found out that .avi's would work with the settings I had as well. Here's a picture showing the settings I had used for my conversions:

(MOVIE TO Mp3 ENCODING)

Disclaimer:
The program is VERY spartan (which I like), but you might have to mess around with the settings if you want this to work.

Also, the best sound format I could get was ONLY 160 Kbps.

Edit:

I found out how to get Akme to encode videos to play on mobile phones here's the settings I had used:

(MOVIE TO 3GP (Mobile Phone) ENCODING)

Hauppuage DVR

2008-12-21T02:53:00.006-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

After reviewing my last post I decided to give a semi update to the posting as to enlighten those who may have questions to my system and it working with WMC. Check out my YouTube vid:

DVD Backup Crisis - Solved with CDRoller 7

2008-12-21T01:42:00.011-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!
So I am a huge proponent of periodically backing up and restoring data from my PC in order to save all of my data occasionally and to ensure the proper operation of my PC. I have used DVD's for years (no external for me), and most likely will continue to do this since I have snapshots or time capsules of my ongoings and interests.

PREFACE:
A couple of months ago I purchased a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 1600 (dual ATSC/NTSC) with remote:

I had done this in an attempt to curb the ridiculous expense of Cable TV, yet while also retaining the DVR functionality I loved. The idea was to save 70 bucks (after ditching the cable I picked up Netflix) and to still have all the recording/watching capabilities I had with the old setup.

I had forever tried to to make a MythBox, but only after purchasing did I realize that my card was yet to be supported by the linux community. (Avid Linux follower, but non-user. Why? ....Video Games +Wine = not good enough YET) So the only alternative was some Windows software.

After dredging through the tons of crap (sage TV and Gb-PVR were MEH. Boxee wouldn't let me back in even though I registered for the site this past summer, and Beyond TV had the most hope .... but I wanted Netflix and it to be free.)

The solution:
Vista Home Premium + Windows Media Center. Ewww I know, BUT I figured I'd rebuild my old emachine (replaced with my super computer this summer) and have an extra comp/DVR box. I was gonna drop $100 but then I realized my wife has Home premium. So the logical decision was to swap my business Vista for Home premium and call it good.

THE BACKUP
Logically I needed to transfer all of my wife and I's data to DVD to have the backups ready to restore when the swap was finished. I had all my data across 2 DVDs and right as I was about to start the process I remembered I didn't want to restart Fallout 3 again.... So I threw my saves on the end of the second DVD, burnt, and solved my problem ....

What I didn't check/realize was the fact my DVD hadn't closed the second session of the burn. When I attempted to copy the data back on to my computer it wouldn't take. The odd thing was all the data was showing it was on the disk via the statement of the "spaced used". I thought and looked into it and figured out I needed a program to restore the "lost data" on the DVD.

I spent TWO FULL DAYS working on the solution going through TONS of different programs and only found one that works with DVD's.

ENTER:

This program worked nearly out the of box and allowed me to take all the data off my disks and place them on my computer. This only has a demo, and then a license for $30, but can you put a price on essential data?

FOR ANYONE HAVING THE SAME SOUNDING ISSUES, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SOFTWARE.

The hardest part of the data recovery was the installation (not hard) and the moving of files to the correct place.

P.S. The program TestDisk/PhotoRec (here) looks great for EVERYTHING THAT HAS DIGITAL STORAGE EXCEPT CD/DVD's.

Xbox Adapter Pictures

2008-12-21T00:32:00.003-06:00

I thought if you were here to browse at the 360 Adapter you wouldn't mind looking at more pictures.

The Web Camera Blues( VF-0040)

2008-12-20T22:23:00.004-06:00

FROM THE ARCHIVES:
So there's a constant trend with software and hardware: They always tend to get newer, but don't like to mesh when comprised from a bit of the old and new.

Case in point:

The Creative Webcam Instant
Model: VF-0040

The problem:
Old Webcam + 64BIT Vista

Diagnosis:
I attempted to plug and play on my system. FAT CHANCE!!! NEVER has microsoft been up to date on "windows update" except for the most generic hardware drivers (sound cards and lesser PCI cards). So I decided I needed to find drivers, and more specifically ones that work with a 64 bit OS.

Solution:
Enter Win XP 64. Apparently Creative had created a set of drivers for their Instant series when 64 bit came out. I downloaded and attempted to load the new drivers (of course after removing the old ones), and to my surprize it worked !!! Granted this old cam has HORRIBLE resolution. Yet, it does stave off from spending money on something I really dont need.

You can find more information on my posts on Creative's forums here.

PC Gaming Head Set to Xbox 360 Headset Adapter

2008-12-15T03:13:00.004-06:00

NEW AND COOL!!!

So to make a long story short: I have a PC, bought a 360 controller (no I don't own a 360), and had a wife that didn't want to listen to my friends. I find my normal headset for a 3/32" jack horribly irriatating, so I wanted to use my PC headset instead of the crappy, old cell phone headset I was using.

Solution:
1/8" Headset to 3/32" Headset Adapter
----------------------------------------------

Tools needed:
1)Wire Strippers (or a side edge cutter)

2)Speaker Wire

3)Soldering Kit (Iron, solder, de-soldering item ... I normally roll with a braid)

Items to Purchase:
1)Male Inline 3/32" Plug
I bought this one

2)Set of female Inline 1/8" Jacks
I bought this set

It's relatively straight forward, but the adapters dont have scehmatics, so check these:

<--Female Adapters

<------Male Adapter Also, here's how I wired it:

For anything else check my YouTube Video.

First Post

2008-12-15T02:47:00.002-06:00

Caution I will be posting at random times about random things. Most of the time it will be just to have this all online for a personal track record. Also, if it's online I don't have to mess with saving my own personal notes.

As for some (ancient) stuff I've done:
Websites:
http://www.geocities.com/clan_sdwc/
http://ronthert4x.googlepages.com/ronart4x

Diablo II Mod:
http://phraszmod.googlepages.com/

You Tube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/phrasz013