Squidpunch.com

Yeah, the title of this post means absolutely nothing.  I just was having a hard time coming up with a title for a post about pretty much nothing [:)]  I haven’t blogged in a while, on any of my sites actually so I figured I should take a bit of time and change that.  Be warned, when I start thinking “I haven’t blogged in a while”, the posts usually end up just me rambling away, mostly about things you couldn’t care less about.  You have been warned!

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So I noticed some problems with my 360voice plugin when playing around with my 3FS blog (yeah thats right anyone can now have your very own blog at 360friendspot, go get one!).  I decided I better put together a quick fix (essentially the hyperlinks in your blog were not properly processed, and showing the actual html that creates them), while I was at it I put together a little 100% club type thing as part of the plugin.  If you didn’t know the 100% club images I built over at 360voice were done using the public APIs - and I once again used them here.

One word of warning - I used cURL this time (since my PHP knowledge has expanded a bit since the last time I worked on this plugin  (almost 1 year ago since the last update actually!)., and because my hosting actually does have cURL - I just didn’t know it.  I did not however modify the old functionality to be based on cURL or use my new way of processing the XML - maybe next update! 

So if you use my 360voiceAPI plugin for wordpress - please head on over and download the update : http://www.squidpunch.com/supported-services/360voice-plugin/

This is the time of year when it comes to food for me.  Just a few weeks ago was St. Patrick’s Day, which if nothing more means you can get Shamrock Shakes at McDonalds, oh how I love Shamrock shakes.

If that wasn’t enough, this past weekend was Easter, which means tons of candy random plastic eggs, and usually a big family feast.  My other secret obessesion is peanut butter eggs.  I probably gained 10 pounds in just peanut butter eggs this weekend, and I have a pretty good supply left - because everyone knows I like them, and feeds my obsession.

Speaking of obsessions, I picked up a copy of Lost Odyssey which i always seem to spell wrong (I looked it up to write this sentence) and I have been playing a bit of that lately.  I seem to be pretty bad at it though because every boss battle I make it to ends up taking me 10 or so tries, oddly I go back for more.  I have also been playing Super Mario Galaxies (up to 45 stars), since I felt the Wii wasn’t getting its full value of usage.  I never played the Smash Brothers series, so I don’t completely see the draw to that game, but I will at least give it a rent sometime soon - maybe it will be the game to make the Wii take over my main gaming focus…but I doubt it.

I have some interesting things in the works at 360voice, just doing some further testing and tweaking, my goal is to have it online this code night (tomorrow for those of you that don’t stalk the dev blog).  I also opened up 360friendspot to allow for each and every one of you gamers the ability to have your very own blog - for those of you that want that kind of thing.  You dont have to set up anything or manage it, thats mostly done by me - and I plan to provide themes and plugins that you guys request, so head on over and sign up for one, just another way to make the friend spot, a spot for friends!  User blogs was a pretty common request a while back, hopefully it isn’t too late and people actually use the feature.

So I had no clue what to title this post, hence the title above.  Normally it’s pretty easy “INSERT AWESOME GAME NAME HERE” COMING! or something to that effect, but with all the changes with 360friendspot, I am going to try and seperate my blogging duties.  What exactly does that mean?  Well I will probably keep this more of a personal blogging approach, about myself, gaming, coding, etc - kind of like the status report whenever the mood strikes.  Those of  you looking for news and such - check out 360friendspot.com, I (and my blogging buddies) will keep that kind of thing updated over there to the best of our abilities, over here you will see just ’Squid Stuff’, at least for now - lets see how it goes

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So I have to admit, normally movies based on games and games based on movies aren’t great. Some of the recent “kid” games based on movies look pretty good actually though, so maybe the industry is finally taking a turn for the better. I really hope so because these recently released screenshots of The Bourne Conspiracy are looking pretty sweet, and I have enjoyed most of the ‘Bourne’ movie series. The screenshots come to you from Sierra Entertainment from the upcoming High Moon Studios game ‘The Bourne Conspiracy’ - enjoy!

Click here to see all 9 shots in larger high res detail

What: Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
When: 3/5/08 4AM EST
How Much: 800 MP ($10)

This weeks arcade wednesday brings us Rocketmen: Axis of Evil.  An action game developed by A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games and published by Capcom.  The game is classified as an Action RPG style shooter which you can play either solo, local co-op, or co-op over live with up to 3 other friends.  You can customize and level up your characters which you create and select a race and class for (out of 3 races, and 3 classes).  Official press release to follow

Help save the solar system this week when “Rocketmen: Axis of Evil” touches down on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, March 5 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (1:00 a.m. PST).
Join Rocketmen Nick Sion, Alec Mink and the Alliance of Free Planets in their white-knuckled struggle to free the solar system from the tyrannical grip of the Legion of Terra in this RPG styled shooter. Players have the choice to save the galaxy alone or cooperatively with up to three other players over Xbox LIVE or locally on the same console. With its distinctive cel-shaded art style, engaging storyline, customizable characters and RPG elements, this shooter will keep players coming back for more. Capcom’s “Rocketmen: Axis of Evil” will be available worldwide (with the exception of Japan and Korea) for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E10+ by the ESRB.
For more details on “Rocketmen: Axis of Evil” please visit:

• http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/r/rocketmenxboxlivearcade/default.htm
• http://www.capcom.com/digital

Things are same old same on here in squidland.  I recently picked up a copy of Commanders: Attack of the Genos and have been working on a review for it - I used to think I was good at turn based strategy games.  Either I really wrong, or I am realy rusty - its kicking my arse.  I would have the review out all ready probably - but I wanted to progress a bit more of the content covered in the review.

I was selected as an Xbox Ambassador recently, joining the ranks of my friends Pat2k9 and ZaaM IT, from what I hear Tallboy2005 also got selected (congrats buddy)

Still cranking away at Support and Code at 360voice - my wife things that I am crazy for the amount of code that I work on during the day and also at night - maybe I am.

TheLiveEye.com is officially no longer tracking gaming - I want to compile some stats about the tool and put it on 360friendspot, I just haven’t decided what stats to build yet.

360friendspot.com is officially moved over to my hosting, and all my baby now - minus the domain name transfer, its all mine to make or break.  It has been covered before, but maybe not here on my blog, or maybe you missed it.  ZaaM decided to step down developing at 360friendspot, and I wish him well in all that he does in the future. Everyone make sure to vist ZaaM IT and tell him hi once in a while OK?

I have a few things in the works to try and revive 360friendspot, especially after theliveeye and friend finder parting ways with 360friendspot.  I picked a few people to try and do some blogging for the front page, some people to help out with game reviews, and we are always kicking around the idea of a podcast. 

One request that we never got to before was member blogs - so I started testing out some stuff to make them happen, its kind of like a “3FS Profile” if you will but allows you to blog, or connect to an RSS of another blog.  It still has a long road to travel, but give it a look - what do you think?

http://www.360friendspot.com/blog/squidpunch

Would you like a free blog, all centralized with other gamers like you, and showing off some of your gamer info?  Well if I ever finish it, 3FS blogs will be open to all of you that wish to do just that.

Just realized I haven’t posted anything on the blog lately, which got me wondering why that was. Especially with all of the new GDC news - the blog should be exploding with info!  Long story short, I have just been busy I guess.  Doing some major code changes at work during the day - and filling my nights with some coding as well :-)  You might have seen me respond to one of your support requests at 360voice (boy you guys submit alot of support requests!), or you might have noticed the recent rollover changes on your challenge page on the 360voice front, and in relation to 360friendspot - it went through some pretty major (background) changes which I am working on it here and there - we are still battling a DNS issue - so if you cant see the site (like me at the time of this posting) its because somehow the DNS got out of wack again  - so I had to ask ZaaM to update it again, I really am begining to hate DNS issues.

I also just re-built a LAMP server in my house to play around with - mostly to try out Ruby on Rails.  It’s a bit different but interesting.  If I ever really get a handle on it, maybe some new tools will show up using Ruby on Rails

Finally my wife accepted a new job, starting tomorrow - so we have been reorganizing the office - mostly taking out her work stuff that she no longer needs - and rearranging my desk area with the new found space. 

Was just checking Unscripted 360 as i try to do as often as possible, and noticed Deacon posted a new video trailer for Army Of Two.  So I did what every other ‘web journalist’ does, stole his video and put it on my page - but at least I am sourcing him

This video is a direct cut scene from a video sequence in the game, about halfway through the game if I recall from when I got to play it back in October, ironically Deacon was the one who sent me to Montreal to check it out as a represenative of Unscripted 360 - ever since that day I have been waiting for the game to come out.

thanks deacon

Hey Squid you skipped a week again!  Yeah I am aware, but this week of all weeks I have a pretty valid excuse, perhaps a few.  I joined a new site officially, a site is moving, and unfortunately a site is dying.  This should be an interesting update. 

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