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Input Devices

Razer, Valve, and Sixense Working On Motion Control For PC Games 126

An anonymous reader sends along this excerpt from Shacknews: "Gaming hardware developer Razer has announced a new multi-year partnership with Sixense Entertainment and Valve Software to deliver a '...revolutionary true-to-life, next-generation motion sensing and gesture recognition controller for PC gaming.' Razer, Valve, and Sixense, along with a selection of PC OEM partners, are aiming to produce '...ultra-precise one-to-one motion sensing controllers that use electromagnetic fields to track precise movements along all six axes.' Each controller will reportedly track its orientation within a single degree, and detect positioning within one millimeter. Thankfully, the device will be compatible with both current and future generation PC games."

Submission + - Documentary Maker Shows the Secret History of MDMA (hplusmagazine.com)

An anonymous reader writes: In this article, a documentary maker reveals the startling history of Ecstasy. In the 1960s some psychotherapists were treating alcoholism and neurosis with LSD — and in 1957 a Catholic church monsignor in Vancouver even wrote a prayer for LSD trips. But after LSD was made illegal, psychiatrists spent the next two decades struggling to keep MDMA (Ecstasy) from the same fate. In 1985 it was still declared a Schedule One drug — illegal with no medical use — though it's been shown to dramatically enhance psychotherapy, especially for post-traumatic stress disorder. And according to the United Nations, the world already consumes 125 tons of Ecstasy each year...

Comment Frame rates are not only what the eye sees (Score 2, Insightful) 521

As briefly mentioned in the article linked, it's not only about if the picture is percieved as being smooth or not. When playing FPS games the mouse's responsiveness is directly linked to the FPS. A good example of this is the V-SYNC option available in many games, even though the game runs very smooth with V-SYNC on, the controls are all but smooth, and you end up with a very unresponsive and "rigid" camera. At least that's how it is for me. I have discussed this issue with quite a lot of people and some say they don't notice anything while others say they do. I have always noticed, and it does not matter what kind of hardware I use (it happens with all hardware and all games). I think some people have the ABILITY to notice these kind of things, while others don't (I might be wrong...) The nightmare scenario is 1) 30 FPS and the responsiveness of the mouse that comes with it, secondly the visual experience which is also greatly reduced. With 60 FPS (at least) it feels good, and I have noticed that with even higher framerates the responsiveness is increased, which makes sense since the DPI of the mouse has increased greatly over the years as well. I dont know the ratio of mouse dpi / framerate for a good experience but its obvious that there must be one. /G
PC Games (Games)

EA Shutting Down Video Game Servers Prematurely 341

Spacezilla writes "EA is dropping the bomb on a number of their video game servers, shutting down the online fun for many of their Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3 games. Not only is the inclusion of PS3 and Xbox 360 titles odd, the date the games were released is even more surprising. Yes, Madden 07 and 08 are included in the shutdown... but Madden 09 on all consoles as well?"
Security

Submission + - TSA Subpoenas Bloggers over New Security Directive

Hugh Pickens writes: "The NY Times reports that TSA special agents have served subpoenas to travel bloggers Steve Frischling and Chris Elliott demanding that they reveal who leaked a TSA directive outlining new screening measures that went into effect the same day as the Detroit airliner incident. Frischling said he met with two TSA special agents for about three hours and was forced to hand over his laptop computer after the agents threatened to interfere with his contract to write a blog for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines if he didn't cooperate and provide the name of the person who leaked the memo outlining new security measures that would be apparent to the traveling public. ''It literally showed up in my box,'' Frischling told The Associated Press. ''I do not know who it came from.'' Frischling says he provided the agents a signed statement to that effect. The leaked directive included measures such as screening at boarding gates, patting down the upper legs and torso, physically inspecting all travelers' belongings, looking carefully at syringes with powders and liquids, requiring that passengers remain in their seats one hour before landing, and disabling all onboard communications systems, including what is provided by the airline. In a December 29 posting on his blog, Elliott said he had told the TSA agents at his house that he would call his lawyer and get back to them."

Comment Re:"Where do you live?" (Score 1) 920

I've been eating pizza in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Egypt, Spain, Slovenia (shame on them) and Portugal and I have no doubt in my mind that there is something different about the pizza in Sweden. It is often made by "turkar" (grey-zone-politically correct term that covers people that speak Syrian, Persian, and Turkish) and tastes better than anywhere I have tried yet. Specially from Södertälje which is my home town. A pizza usually goes for around 5-7 Euros (no, we haven't converted to euro yet, so we still pay Normal prices) and you can get a Coke included in that, with salad and bread. Just about the _only_ thing I miss about Sweden is a good god damned pizza, that spills over the massive plate when they bring it hot as hell with all the makin' you want :) I live in the Netherlands nowadays and there are Good pizza's here, but a pizza will cost you 12 euros and a coke 2.5 euros and perhaps you get some salad with that.

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