I remember back when I was in Grade School, when you have a gameboy -- you are cool! Your classmates will try and borrow your gameboy. After a few years, Nintendo released the gameboy slim, then the gameboy color™, gameboy advanced and finally the nintendo ds. Other companies also released their game consoles such as the psp, playstations, gamecube, xbox etc.
It's like the companies release the same game consoles over and over again, plus, most of the game play is still the same. You kill the boss, and finish the game. These companies earn money by selling their game consoles. After a few years, there were these interactive pc games such as Counterstrike, Starcraft etc. A few months came by, I remember, I was in high school then, Level Up games™ introduced the concept of "Level up".
Level Up! is the first online game publisher for the Philippines. Their mission is to bring online computer gaming and its communities to greater heights, through the introduction of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs).
These games will allow individuals from all over the country, and different walks of life, to interact in dynamic, virtual communities.
Level Up! is proud to be the distributor of the country's first ever localized MMOGs: Oz World from Oz Intermedia, Ragnarok Online by Gravity Corp, Freestyle from JCEntertainment, RF Online from CCR of Korea, Pangya from HanbitSoft, Flyff from Aeonsoft, Khan from Mirinae and Perfect World, created by Beijing Perfect World Technology, China. The Philippine versions of these games hope to give users a uniquely Filipino experience.
These are some of the offers of Level up games. The first few months of "Ragnarok" (the first mmorpg of Level-up) was free. It was for promotional reasons and to attract gamers. The concept of Level up is a great strategy, it simply means to kill monsters, level up, collect awesome items, dominate other players etc. Ragnarok seems to represent human nature which is endless desire for power, fame and domination. So after people became familiar with ragnarok, Level Up™ release game cards in which gamers can purchase if they want to play ragnarok.
Mmorpg then became so famous that other games and online communities started to emerge. Many people became hooked up and are still attracting new gamers. These gamers spend money and take time just to improve their characters. Online gaming is a big I.T. Issue taking the world by storm. The success of MMORPG is not just because of a good game play, awesome graphics but I think it is because the interaction of gamers with other gamers, tt revolutionized the way people play.
References: http://levelupgames.ph/games.php
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Mantech Blog 15 - BASIC NEEDS: Food, Water, Clothing, Shelter and Prepaid Credits?!
Technology evolved and advancements are continuing to pursue itself in the name of competition amongst businesses, compete for the top spot in the market, make a name for itself and gain the trust of the people. I will narrow down my example to the communication business. Communication is important among people wether its personal or for business purposes. Advancements in communication started when the invention of cellphones revolutionized "wireless" communication.
Another few years and SMS or the Short Message Service came to be. It enables you to communicate by using short messages and is affordable by anyone. Invention of multimedia phones came and soon MMS arrived. It enables you to send Multimedia Content to another multimedia enabled phone. It made people happy and soon more cellphone subscribers are growing exponentially. Cellphone companies saw this coming and invented new ways to gobble up a subscriber's load.
Example: They trick people in leaking out their cellphone credits thru "free" subscription. They send a message telling people that they are giving away "free" ringing tone, ringback tone, mms, celebrity textmate etc but at the end of the message, you get to subscription with them for either a P30/week deduction of your prepaid credits. Then, they made the "share-a-load/pasa load" and "Unlimited Texting". It seemed nice but the service is terrible.
There were several times when I tried to share my load but Globe send me that there was something wrong in the system and so I have to try again next time but guess what? They deducted credits even though my transaction wasn't succesful. Another incident in Unlimited texting, Globe failed to text me that my Unlimited texting was over. I have no much problem in Globe's delayed msgs but I can't use Unlimited texting unless they send me a service message telling me that my Unlimited texting was over.
Globe, Smart, Sun, Talk and Text, and Touch Mobile saw the importance of communication, especially in our country. I learned that we're the texting capital of the world and these companies will stop at nothing until we are dry. They invent useless technology but it's up to us to be responsible and choose the right enhancement suited for our everyday lives.
Another few years and SMS or the Short Message Service came to be. It enables you to communicate by using short messages and is affordable by anyone. Invention of multimedia phones came and soon MMS arrived. It enables you to send Multimedia Content to another multimedia enabled phone. It made people happy and soon more cellphone subscribers are growing exponentially. Cellphone companies saw this coming and invented new ways to gobble up a subscriber's load.
Example: They trick people in leaking out their cellphone credits thru "free" subscription. They send a message telling people that they are giving away "free" ringing tone, ringback tone, mms, celebrity textmate etc but at the end of the message, you get to subscription with them for either a P30/week deduction of your prepaid credits. Then, they made the "share-a-load/pasa load" and "Unlimited Texting". It seemed nice but the service is terrible.
There were several times when I tried to share my load but Globe send me that there was something wrong in the system and so I have to try again next time but guess what? They deducted credits even though my transaction wasn't succesful. Another incident in Unlimited texting, Globe failed to text me that my Unlimited texting was over. I have no much problem in Globe's delayed msgs but I can't use Unlimited texting unless they send me a service message telling me that my Unlimited texting was over.
Globe, Smart, Sun, Talk and Text, and Touch Mobile saw the importance of communication, especially in our country. I learned that we're the texting capital of the world and these companies will stop at nothing until we are dry. They invent useless technology but it's up to us to be responsible and choose the right enhancement suited for our everyday lives.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
MANTECH BLOG 14 - BUSINESSES PROCESSES AND THE LEGACY SYSTEMS
I learned in my Database subject about this topic. Legacy systems are considered to be potentially problematic by many software engineers for several reasons. Legacy systems often run on obsolete (and usually slow) hardware, and sometimes spare parts for such computers become increasingly difficult to obtain.
These systems are often hard to maintain, improve, and expand because there is a general lack of understanding of the system. The designers of the system may have left the organization, leaving no one left to explain how it works. Such a lack of understanding can be seen by documentation or manuals getting lost over the years. Integration with newer systems may also be difficult because new software may use completely different technologies and may not be compatible.
Despite these problems, business organizations can have good reasons for keeping a legacy system, such as:
>The costs of redesigning the system are prohibitive because it is large, and/or complex.
>The system requires close to 100% availability, so it cannot be taken out of service, and the cost of designing a new system with a similar availability level is high.
>The way the system works is not well understood. A situation like this can occur when the designers of the system have left the organization, and the system has either not been fully documented or such documentation has been lost.
Last reason is: the current system works satisfactorily, and the owner sees no reason for changing it; or in other words, re-learning a new system would have a high cost in lost time and money.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
MANTECH BOG 13: Cellphones: The EVOLUTION
Not so long time ago, cellphones are use to make calls and keep time. I remember they added an extra feature, the SMS or Short Message Service which killed the pocketbell industry. I remember when I had my first cellphone. It was a Nokia 5110, it has many extra added features like customize ringing tone, games and the changing of cellphone covers.
After a few months, Nokia released the Nokia 3210 which lets you compose a ringing tone then it didn't take long before the colored cellphones were invented, then camera phones, mp3 phones and finally the 3G phones. I noticed that most people prefer cellphones instead of buying mp3 players. But what makes evolution of cellphones so succesful that it attracts many people to change their cellphone unit almost every month?
For me, I think that cellphones are now rapidly evolving to become a PDA to becoming a Computer because of so many extra added features like wi-fi acces, memory card, camera, etc. Cellphones are also handy and compact that people can bring it anywhere and use its function. Lastly, cellphones are beautifully design to match different people and their lifestyle. Nokia and the other companies are rapidly evolving their products to outwit one another. This is clearly an example of a technology that succesfuly evolved but it killed other inferior technology.
After a few months, Nokia released the Nokia 3210 which lets you compose a ringing tone then it didn't take long before the colored cellphones were invented, then camera phones, mp3 phones and finally the 3G phones. I noticed that most people prefer cellphones instead of buying mp3 players. But what makes evolution of cellphones so succesful that it attracts many people to change their cellphone unit almost every month?
For me, I think that cellphones are now rapidly evolving to become a PDA to becoming a Computer because of so many extra added features like wi-fi acces, memory card, camera, etc. Cellphones are also handy and compact that people can bring it anywhere and use its function. Lastly, cellphones are beautifully design to match different people and their lifestyle. Nokia and the other companies are rapidly evolving their products to outwit one another. This is clearly an example of a technology that succesfuly evolved but it killed other inferior technology.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Mantech Proj 05 - My I.T. Issue: Evolution of PLaying - Online Gaming
I remember back when I was in Grade School, when you have a gameboy -- you are cool! Your classmates will try and borrow your gameboy. After a few years, Nintendo released the gameboy slim, then the gameboy color™, gameboy advanced and finally the nintendo ds. Other companies also released their game consoles such as the psp, playstations, gamecube, xbox etc.
It's like the companies release the same game consoles over and over again, plus, most of the game play is still the same. You kill the boss, and finish the game. These companies earn money by selling their game consoles. After a few years, there were these interactive pc games such as Counterstrike, Starcraft etc. A few months came by, I remember, I was in high school then, Level Up games™ introduced the concept of "Level up".
Level Up! is the first online game publisher for the Philippines. Their mission is to bring online computer gaming and its communities to greater heights, through the introduction of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs).
These games will allow individuals from all over the country, and different walks of life, to interact in dynamic, virtual communities.
Level Up! is proud to be the distributor of the country's first ever localized MMOGs: Oz World from Oz Intermedia, Ragnarok Online by Gravity Corp, Freestyle from JCEntertainment, RF Online from CCR of Korea, Pangya from HanbitSoft, Flyff from Aeonsoft, Khan from Mirinae and Perfect World, created by Beijing Perfect World Technology, China. The Philippine versions of these games hope to give users a uniquely Filipino experience.
These are some of the offers of Level up games. The first few months of "Ragnarok" (the first mmorpg of Level-up) was free. It was for promotional reasons and to attract gamers. The concept of Level up is a great strategy, it simply means to kill monsters, level up, collect awesome items, dominate other players etc. Ragnarok seems to represent human nature which is endless desire for power, fame and domination. So after people became familiar with ragnarok, Level Up™ release game cards in which gamers can purchase if they want to play ragnarok.
Mmorpg then became so famous that other games and online communities started to emerge. Many people became hooked up and are still attracting new gamers. These gamers spend money and take time just to improve their characters. Online gaming is a big I.T. Issue taking the world by storm. The success of MMORPG is not just because of a good game play, awesome graphics but I think it is because the interaction of gamers with other gamers, tt revolutionized the way people play.
References: http://levelupgames.ph/games.php
It's like the companies release the same game consoles over and over again, plus, most of the game play is still the same. You kill the boss, and finish the game. These companies earn money by selling their game consoles. After a few years, there were these interactive pc games such as Counterstrike, Starcraft etc. A few months came by, I remember, I was in high school then, Level Up games™ introduced the concept of "Level up".
Level Up! is the first online game publisher for the Philippines. Their mission is to bring online computer gaming and its communities to greater heights, through the introduction of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs).
These games will allow individuals from all over the country, and different walks of life, to interact in dynamic, virtual communities.
Level Up! is proud to be the distributor of the country's first ever localized MMOGs: Oz World from Oz Intermedia, Ragnarok Online by Gravity Corp, Freestyle from JCEntertainment, RF Online from CCR of Korea, Pangya from HanbitSoft, Flyff from Aeonsoft, Khan from Mirinae and Perfect World, created by Beijing Perfect World Technology, China. The Philippine versions of these games hope to give users a uniquely Filipino experience.
These are some of the offers of Level up games. The first few months of "Ragnarok" (the first mmorpg of Level-up) was free. It was for promotional reasons and to attract gamers. The concept of Level up is a great strategy, it simply means to kill monsters, level up, collect awesome items, dominate other players etc. Ragnarok seems to represent human nature which is endless desire for power, fame and domination. So after people became familiar with ragnarok, Level Up™ release game cards in which gamers can purchase if they want to play ragnarok.
Mmorpg then became so famous that other games and online communities started to emerge. Many people became hooked up and are still attracting new gamers. These gamers spend money and take time just to improve their characters. Online gaming is a big I.T. Issue taking the world by storm. The success of MMORPG is not just because of a good game play, awesome graphics but I think it is because the interaction of gamers with other gamers, tt revolutionized the way people play.
References: http://levelupgames.ph/games.php
Mantech Proj 4 - PSP and NDS
For my 2 Technological Products, I choose PSP and NDS. These 2 products are often compared because it’s a favorite among the gamers and consumers alike.The balance of power in the handheld game market experienced a significant upset two years ago when Sony used their press conference at E3 2003 to announce the development of the Playstation Portable.
At the time, Nintendo held utter dominance of the portable game market with over 90% market share thanks to the Gameboy, and now, the Nintendo DS. Just by the very announcement, though, Sony kicked the gaming media into overdrive. In the hallway outside of Sony’s studios, where the press conference was held, you could hear comments like, “It’s going to be great,” and, “Way better than the DS,” from the gathered journalists. This was before anyone had seen pictures of the unit, product designs, or even a suggested retail price; the game industry was ready to buy it on Sony’s say-so alone.
Now that the Nintendo DS has released in the U.S., the PSP in Japan, and a with a late March 2005 PSP launch date for those of us over here in the States, a lot more is known about both systems than was known then. While it’s still difficult to do a full-blown comparison prior to having an English version of the PSP in hand, there is enough info to make some pretty solid early comparisons between the two. Gone are the days when you could mention Nintendo and assume you’d covered the significant players in the handheld market; now it’s Sony and Nintendo, and you can’t consider buying either system without knowing both.
The PSP (short for PlayStation Portable) is a handheld game console released and currently manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment. Its development was first announced during E3 2003, and it was officially unveiled on May 11, 2004 at a Sony press conference before E3 2004. The system was released in Japan on December 12, 2004, the United States and Canada on March 24, 2005 and in Europe and Australia on September 1, 2005. It is considered the first handheld video game system to use an optical disc format (Universal Media Disc).
A new slimmer and lighter version of the PSP, appropriately titled Slim and Lite, was announced on July 11, 2007, during Sony's press conference at E3 2007. It was made available in the US, Europe and Japan in September 2007 with various colours and a very different box packaging to the original PSP. Among these versions three were physically shown at E3 2007: a white version with a Star Wars imprint, a piano black version and an ice silver version.
The Nintendo DS (sometimes abbreviated NDS or DS) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in 2004 in Canada, U.S., and Japan. The console features a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP, with two LCD screens inside - one of which is a touchscreen. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards, allowing players to interact with each other within short range (10–30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. This was the first Nintendo game console to be released in North America prior to Japan.
The system's code name was Nitro.The console's name officially refers to "Dual Screen", the system's most obvious feature, and "Developers' System", in reference to the new game design the system was meant to inspire.
On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesign of the Nintendo DS, in Japan. It was later released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2006. The DS Lite is a slimmer and lighter version of the Nintendo DS and has brighter screens. Nintendo of America refers to the older model as the "original style" Nintendo DS
A Brief Overview of the Two Systems:
Nintendo DS: Known as the Nintendo Dual-Screen, the DS is a handheld game device with two screens, a stylus pen, and the ability to play both Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance games. Equipped with wireless technology, a touch sensitive screen, and a microphone, the DS has many characteristics similar to a specialized PDA, but with awesome gaming ability. It was released in the U.S. in November of 2004.
Sony Playstation Portable (PSP): The Playstation Portable is Sony’s answer to Nintendo’s handheld market dominance. With a large wide-screen display, more powerful innards than the DS, and a media type capable of storing 1.8 gigabytes of data, the PSP is well positioned to change how we think of portable gaming.
Prices:
Nintendo DS: $150.00
Check current Prices
Sony Playstation Portable: $200 – 250
Check current Prices
Detailed breakdown:
Technically, the PSP dominates the DS in terms of horsepower. With far superior hardware under the hood, the PSP is capable of pushing out graphics that fall somewhere between the PS and the PS2. This means that the PSP has about the same graphical advantages over the DS that the Playstation 2 has over the Nintendo 64 (sorta). However, other hardware differences make this a different story than that of the doomed N64. Whereas the PSP is basically a portable version of the current PS2 home console, the Nintendo DS includes a number of features that have never been seen in a handheld gaming unit. The PSP’s strength lies in its graphic ability, and the DS’s strength lies in its additional features and creativity. Let’s compare the two units point by point.
Screens:
PSP: The PSP has a 4.3-inch screen, which is gigantic in terms of handheld systems. The screen uses a letterbox resolution of 480 x 272, and has 24-bit color, meaning that it’s capable of displaying millions of colors with a quality that is unparalleled in terms of portable game units.
DS: The DS has two separate screens that run simultaneously depending on the game you’re playing. While both screens are smaller than the PSP’s single display, they can be used in tandem to provide varying information, such as a map on one and your playable character on the other. Additionally, the bottom screen on the DS is touch-sensitive, so in addition to being a display device, it can be an interface. The included stylus pen allows for a great deal of variety in approach to game design and control.
The screens on the DS and the PSP are equally cool, in my opinion. The PSP is certainly going to have more wow power with its wide-screen gaming, but the DS is going to be capable of more in the long run. This is a good example of the difference between Nintendo and Sony’s approach to the market; Sony offers the current home console experience on the go, while Nintendo offers a different approach all together.
Connectivity:
DS: The Nintendo DS comes wirelessly enabled, meaning that DS games with a multiplayer feature are capable of linking together without cables for some co-operative or competitive fun. Many DS titles allow multiple DS systems to play together with only one physical copy of the game. The disadvantage of the DS wireless is that while it is technically able to connect to an 802.11b network, there isn’t any software available that allows you to do it. While the DS will be able to connect to wireless hotspots somewhere down the road, it doesn’t do it out of the box, making any future over-the-internet style gaming an accessory or game dependent option.
PSP: The PSP uses Wi-Fi 802.11b communication protocol to enable wireless gaming for it as well.
This serves the same function as the wireless in the DS. The PSP is also capable of connecting to existing Wi-Fi hotspots, and may be able to download firmware upgrades over the Internet when they're released sometime in the future. While the Japanese units are not capable of surfing the Internet at the moment, there is a possibility such features will be included with updates or additional software that comes down the road.
Online gaming for the DS and PSP are both equally possible, and just a matter of time. How they are implemented is pure speculation until it happens. What is concrete is that the DS is built to allow at least some wireless gaming with a single cartridge; you don’t need four friends with the same game in order to enjoy the experience, just four friends with one DS each. The DS’s touch pad and stylus also allow users to send text and graphic messages back and forth wirelessly, which the PSP can’t do for lack of an easy way to input messages. Based on what the systems are capable of doing at this moment, the DS is better designed to let the user do more with the system’s capabilities.
Controls:
The only significant difference between the controls, besides the DS’s ability to use the touch screen, which opens all sorts of possibilities, is that the PSP has an analog stick as well as a traditional directional pad. Since most games on the home consoles use analog sticks for control now days, it’s a good bet the PSP’s will see a great deal of use. However, it’s a specially designed analog control that doesn’t extend far from the front of the unit, and it may or may not be really useful. We’ll see when the PSP launches how this feature works.
Game Media:
The PSP and DS utilize different types of media for storing games. Games for the PSP come on what’s called Universal Media Discs, basically miniature DVDs created with a certain type of laser, and can store up to 1.8 gigabytes worth of data. This is substantially more than the Nintendo DS, which clocks in at a maximum of about 128 megabytes per card. In short, the media capacity for the PSP is an order of magnitude greater than the DS. To give you a comparative idea of how much memory 1.8 gigs is, keep in mind that the Xbox version of Morrowind IV: Elder Scrolls, one of the most complex games ever made, is roughly only 900 megabytes (less than one gigabyte), less than the 1.8 gigabytes of the UMD. In fact, so is Beyond Good and Evil, GTAIII, GTA: VC, Soul Calibur 2, Time Splitters 2, The Sims: Bustin’ Out, and The Urbz. At that size, the PSP discs are fully capable of holding pretty much anything the PSP is capable of playing.
Battery Life:
The disadvantages of having a DVD-style media device is that accessing it is more power consuming than the card-based media of the DS. As a consequence, the battery life of the DS is substantially greater than that of the PSP. According to reports on the actual Japanese version of the PSP, the system runs for roughly 3.5 hours per charge, depending on what you’re doing with the system. The DS, on the other hand, lays claim to between 6 to 8 hours worth of gaming life on a single charge.
Games:
The PSP and the Nintendo DS will both have great games, each with their fair share of exclusive titles. The DS will have Zelda, already has Mario, and the PSP will tout Sony exclusives. Though I’m cheering for the touch screen capacity of the DS (see below), only time will tell which system wins out in the software war. There is, however, a huge advantage that goes to the Nintendo DS: backwards compatibility. With the PS2 and the GameCube, the home consoles, Sony’s system has hundreds of more titles than the GameCube when you include both PS and PS2 games. In the handheld market, though, Nintendo has the situation reversed. The Nintendo DS is capable of playing Gameboy Advance games, which are about as good in terms of graphics as the old Super Nintendo game system
At this moment, two months after launch, this gives the DS around 800 announced titles, 63 of them designed from the ground up for the DS, compared to the PSP’s 75. These titles include classic games that are amazingly addictive, with games like Zelda: A Link to the Past, Four Swords, and Minish Cap. Not only is Mario 64 available for the DS, but you can also play versions of Super Mario World, Mario Brothers 2, and Mario Brothers 3. There are tons of good games that can be picked up for cheap, and they’re all available right now, off the shelves, for the Nintendo DS. It’s an advantage that simply can’t be ignored.
For me, PSP is still better than NDS because its much flexible in terms that it can do more than just regular gaming.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS
At the time, Nintendo held utter dominance of the portable game market with over 90% market share thanks to the Gameboy, and now, the Nintendo DS. Just by the very announcement, though, Sony kicked the gaming media into overdrive. In the hallway outside of Sony’s studios, where the press conference was held, you could hear comments like, “It’s going to be great,” and, “Way better than the DS,” from the gathered journalists. This was before anyone had seen pictures of the unit, product designs, or even a suggested retail price; the game industry was ready to buy it on Sony’s say-so alone.
Now that the Nintendo DS has released in the U.S., the PSP in Japan, and a with a late March 2005 PSP launch date for those of us over here in the States, a lot more is known about both systems than was known then. While it’s still difficult to do a full-blown comparison prior to having an English version of the PSP in hand, there is enough info to make some pretty solid early comparisons between the two. Gone are the days when you could mention Nintendo and assume you’d covered the significant players in the handheld market; now it’s Sony and Nintendo, and you can’t consider buying either system without knowing both.
The PSP (short for PlayStation Portable) is a handheld game console released and currently manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment. Its development was first announced during E3 2003, and it was officially unveiled on May 11, 2004 at a Sony press conference before E3 2004. The system was released in Japan on December 12, 2004, the United States and Canada on March 24, 2005 and in Europe and Australia on September 1, 2005. It is considered the first handheld video game system to use an optical disc format (Universal Media Disc).
A new slimmer and lighter version of the PSP, appropriately titled Slim and Lite, was announced on July 11, 2007, during Sony's press conference at E3 2007. It was made available in the US, Europe and Japan in September 2007 with various colours and a very different box packaging to the original PSP. Among these versions three were physically shown at E3 2007: a white version with a Star Wars imprint, a piano black version and an ice silver version.
The Nintendo DS (sometimes abbreviated NDS or DS) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in 2004 in Canada, U.S., and Japan. The console features a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP, with two LCD screens inside - one of which is a touchscreen. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards, allowing players to interact with each other within short range (10–30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. This was the first Nintendo game console to be released in North America prior to Japan.
The system's code name was Nitro.The console's name officially refers to "Dual Screen", the system's most obvious feature, and "Developers' System", in reference to the new game design the system was meant to inspire.
On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesign of the Nintendo DS, in Japan. It was later released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2006. The DS Lite is a slimmer and lighter version of the Nintendo DS and has brighter screens. Nintendo of America refers to the older model as the "original style" Nintendo DS
A Brief Overview of the Two Systems:
Nintendo DS: Known as the Nintendo Dual-Screen, the DS is a handheld game device with two screens, a stylus pen, and the ability to play both Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance games. Equipped with wireless technology, a touch sensitive screen, and a microphone, the DS has many characteristics similar to a specialized PDA, but with awesome gaming ability. It was released in the U.S. in November of 2004.
Sony Playstation Portable (PSP): The Playstation Portable is Sony’s answer to Nintendo’s handheld market dominance. With a large wide-screen display, more powerful innards than the DS, and a media type capable of storing 1.8 gigabytes of data, the PSP is well positioned to change how we think of portable gaming.
Prices:
Nintendo DS: $150.00
Check current Prices
Sony Playstation Portable: $200 – 250
Check current Prices
Detailed breakdown:
Technically, the PSP dominates the DS in terms of horsepower. With far superior hardware under the hood, the PSP is capable of pushing out graphics that fall somewhere between the PS and the PS2. This means that the PSP has about the same graphical advantages over the DS that the Playstation 2 has over the Nintendo 64 (sorta). However, other hardware differences make this a different story than that of the doomed N64. Whereas the PSP is basically a portable version of the current PS2 home console, the Nintendo DS includes a number of features that have never been seen in a handheld gaming unit. The PSP’s strength lies in its graphic ability, and the DS’s strength lies in its additional features and creativity. Let’s compare the two units point by point.
Screens:
PSP: The PSP has a 4.3-inch screen, which is gigantic in terms of handheld systems. The screen uses a letterbox resolution of 480 x 272, and has 24-bit color, meaning that it’s capable of displaying millions of colors with a quality that is unparalleled in terms of portable game units.
DS: The DS has two separate screens that run simultaneously depending on the game you’re playing. While both screens are smaller than the PSP’s single display, they can be used in tandem to provide varying information, such as a map on one and your playable character on the other. Additionally, the bottom screen on the DS is touch-sensitive, so in addition to being a display device, it can be an interface. The included stylus pen allows for a great deal of variety in approach to game design and control.
The screens on the DS and the PSP are equally cool, in my opinion. The PSP is certainly going to have more wow power with its wide-screen gaming, but the DS is going to be capable of more in the long run. This is a good example of the difference between Nintendo and Sony’s approach to the market; Sony offers the current home console experience on the go, while Nintendo offers a different approach all together.
Connectivity:
DS: The Nintendo DS comes wirelessly enabled, meaning that DS games with a multiplayer feature are capable of linking together without cables for some co-operative or competitive fun. Many DS titles allow multiple DS systems to play together with only one physical copy of the game. The disadvantage of the DS wireless is that while it is technically able to connect to an 802.11b network, there isn’t any software available that allows you to do it. While the DS will be able to connect to wireless hotspots somewhere down the road, it doesn’t do it out of the box, making any future over-the-internet style gaming an accessory or game dependent option.
PSP: The PSP uses Wi-Fi 802.11b communication protocol to enable wireless gaming for it as well.
This serves the same function as the wireless in the DS. The PSP is also capable of connecting to existing Wi-Fi hotspots, and may be able to download firmware upgrades over the Internet when they're released sometime in the future. While the Japanese units are not capable of surfing the Internet at the moment, there is a possibility such features will be included with updates or additional software that comes down the road.
Online gaming for the DS and PSP are both equally possible, and just a matter of time. How they are implemented is pure speculation until it happens. What is concrete is that the DS is built to allow at least some wireless gaming with a single cartridge; you don’t need four friends with the same game in order to enjoy the experience, just four friends with one DS each. The DS’s touch pad and stylus also allow users to send text and graphic messages back and forth wirelessly, which the PSP can’t do for lack of an easy way to input messages. Based on what the systems are capable of doing at this moment, the DS is better designed to let the user do more with the system’s capabilities.
Controls:
The only significant difference between the controls, besides the DS’s ability to use the touch screen, which opens all sorts of possibilities, is that the PSP has an analog stick as well as a traditional directional pad. Since most games on the home consoles use analog sticks for control now days, it’s a good bet the PSP’s will see a great deal of use. However, it’s a specially designed analog control that doesn’t extend far from the front of the unit, and it may or may not be really useful. We’ll see when the PSP launches how this feature works.
Game Media:
The PSP and DS utilize different types of media for storing games. Games for the PSP come on what’s called Universal Media Discs, basically miniature DVDs created with a certain type of laser, and can store up to 1.8 gigabytes worth of data. This is substantially more than the Nintendo DS, which clocks in at a maximum of about 128 megabytes per card. In short, the media capacity for the PSP is an order of magnitude greater than the DS. To give you a comparative idea of how much memory 1.8 gigs is, keep in mind that the Xbox version of Morrowind IV: Elder Scrolls, one of the most complex games ever made, is roughly only 900 megabytes (less than one gigabyte), less than the 1.8 gigabytes of the UMD. In fact, so is Beyond Good and Evil, GTAIII, GTA: VC, Soul Calibur 2, Time Splitters 2, The Sims: Bustin’ Out, and The Urbz. At that size, the PSP discs are fully capable of holding pretty much anything the PSP is capable of playing.
Battery Life:
The disadvantages of having a DVD-style media device is that accessing it is more power consuming than the card-based media of the DS. As a consequence, the battery life of the DS is substantially greater than that of the PSP. According to reports on the actual Japanese version of the PSP, the system runs for roughly 3.5 hours per charge, depending on what you’re doing with the system. The DS, on the other hand, lays claim to between 6 to 8 hours worth of gaming life on a single charge.
Games:
The PSP and the Nintendo DS will both have great games, each with their fair share of exclusive titles. The DS will have Zelda, already has Mario, and the PSP will tout Sony exclusives. Though I’m cheering for the touch screen capacity of the DS (see below), only time will tell which system wins out in the software war. There is, however, a huge advantage that goes to the Nintendo DS: backwards compatibility. With the PS2 and the GameCube, the home consoles, Sony’s system has hundreds of more titles than the GameCube when you include both PS and PS2 games. In the handheld market, though, Nintendo has the situation reversed. The Nintendo DS is capable of playing Gameboy Advance games, which are about as good in terms of graphics as the old Super Nintendo game system
At this moment, two months after launch, this gives the DS around 800 announced titles, 63 of them designed from the ground up for the DS, compared to the PSP’s 75. These titles include classic games that are amazingly addictive, with games like Zelda: A Link to the Past, Four Swords, and Minish Cap. Not only is Mario 64 available for the DS, but you can also play versions of Super Mario World, Mario Brothers 2, and Mario Brothers 3. There are tons of good games that can be picked up for cheap, and they’re all available right now, off the shelves, for the Nintendo DS. It’s an advantage that simply can’t be ignored.
For me, PSP is still better than NDS because its much flexible in terms that it can do more than just regular gaming.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS
Mantech Proj 02 - SOFTWARE PIRACY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Nowadays, Software Piracy is a common problem in the Philippines.
The original software costs a bundle than the pirated one, that's why the "masa" prefers pirated software even though it's illegal. For me: "Why would I buy an original software that will cost me Php15,000 when I can buy a pirated version of that for P100?! in 'tiangges' ". There's not much difference in terms of quality.
There are times that the pirated software contains malicious programs that may cause damage on your computer i.e. Virus, spyware, malware, adware, trojans, worms etc,or, the cd itself is corrupted.
I did a mini interview of random people, asking them what would they prefer to buy:
A.) An original software or B.) Pirated Version. 90% chose A. Our government has a law on software piracy. Here's the law:
Republic of the Philippines
MALACAÑANG
MANILA
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 60
CREATING THE INTER - AGENCY COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
I think, there are some conspiracies on catching people who sell pirated software. I
also notice that these authorities get into action when they are being televised on such
shows like XxX in ABS-CBN or Imbestigador in GMA-7. I dont know what they are doing when the camera isn't on them because software piracy is still a widespread problem. I think, the government needs to do something like ask the companies to lower their software prices or give suitable bonuses when purchasing original softwares.
References: http://www.pctc.gov.ph/laws/s93EO060.htm
The original software costs a bundle than the pirated one, that's why the "masa" prefers pirated software even though it's illegal. For me: "Why would I buy an original software that will cost me Php15,000 when I can buy a pirated version of that for P100?! in 'tiangges' ". There's not much difference in terms of quality.
There are times that the pirated software contains malicious programs that may cause damage on your computer i.e. Virus, spyware, malware, adware, trojans, worms etc,or, the cd itself is corrupted.
I did a mini interview of random people, asking them what would they prefer to buy:
A.) An original software or B.) Pirated Version. 90% chose A. Our government has a law on software piracy. Here's the law:
Republic of the Philippines
MALACAÑANG
MANILA
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 60
CREATING THE INTER - AGENCY COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
I think, there are some conspiracies on catching people who sell pirated software. I
also notice that these authorities get into action when they are being televised on such
shows like XxX in ABS-CBN or Imbestigador in GMA-7. I dont know what they are doing when the camera isn't on them because software piracy is still a widespread problem. I think, the government needs to do something like ask the companies to lower their software prices or give suitable bonuses when purchasing original softwares.
References: http://www.pctc.gov.ph/laws/s93EO060.htm
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