Bwana.TV

A Massive MAG (PS3) Walkthrough and Review

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:01:06 -0500

In this video, I provide a walkthrough and review of the multiplayer online game, MAG for Playstation 3.

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MAG immediately stirred up controversy in the first person shooter realm when they claimed to support 256 online player matches. Sony and Zipper really pushed the marketing message over the past months and has set expectations that 256 players will be everywhere, all the time. It's easy to look at MAG and expect Sony and Zipper's promise to be apparent. When I stream MAG on http://live.bwana.tv, people often ask "Where are all the 256 players?". I try my best to explain the situation, but I really can't. That is primary motivation behind this video. I want to show you MAG. I want to show you why we love MAG and want to show you how 256 players is not the main thing that makes the game. I ask that you please watch the video in its entirety and have an open mind. It includes an introduction, walkthrough of the SVER interface, a domination match (256 players), and my final thoughts. It is truly massive (41 minutes) so you may have to consume it in chunks.

A Bit About Network Latency: MW2 vs MAG

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:35:55 -0500

In this video, I share my thoughts on network latency also known as lag.

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Specifically I’m going to focus on latency in first person shooter video games: MAG and Modern Warfare 2. The whole idea behind latency and lag is that you want to minimize it as much as possible. The more latency present, the more out of sync players will be with the action. First person shooters require precise timing and aiming so it can be very frustrating when you shoot at someone and they’re not actually there. Check out the video on more on this topic

An Overview of Console 2010 Exclusives

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:17:50 -0500

In this video, I discuss the most relevant console exclusives for 2010.

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This is focused on the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii. Titles that I talk about include Alan Wake, Heavy Rain, and Zelda for Wii. I give my opinions on each and which ones I’m looking forward to and will likely buy. It’s a pretty big lineup of exclusives on the console and we will be spending a great deal of money this year. What are you going to buy? What is your favorite exclusive? Let me know in the comments

Announcing Techpodcasts.TV!

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:08:50 -0500

In this video, I talk about a new site from the folks behind Techpodcasts.com, Techpodcasts.TV!

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Techpodcasts.com has traditionally hosted mostly audio podcasts but as time has progressed, we have moved more towards video production. Techpodcasts.TV is a new site to highlight techpodcast members and their corresponding videos. My podcasts will be featured there as soon as I get it approved and I hope you all check out the other shows there as well.

My Buzzes On Google Buzz

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:25:22 -0500

In this video, I share some more thoughts on Google Buzz and what I think about the launch.

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Google Buzz has made a big ripple in the social networking world and many people have chimed in on the web. There’s a lot of activity surrounding the privacy concerns as well and I share my thoughts on that as well. Google Buzz is by no means perfect and hopefully will improve over time. Check me out on Buzz at http://pleasebuzz.me/bmccall Submit feed back to Google here: http://j.mp/cwTJ2n

My Impressions of Bioshock 2 (PC)

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:47:16 -0500

In this video, I give my thoughts and impressions of Bioshock 2.

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I was late on the whole Bioshock scene, but I was happy I finally jumped in. I really loved Bioshock’s story and gameplay. Sadly, I didn’t feel the same way about Bioshock 2. Check out the video for details.

SquareEnix’s Response To Western Final Fantasy XIII Reviews

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:46:12 -0500

In this video, I give my thoughts on a touchy topic in the gaming world: game reviews.

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The story about Final Fantasy XIII is not really my concern as much as the sad state of game reviews today. I agree with SquareEnix in that western point of views may differ from eastern ones, but you’re selling your game here so… it’s valid. However, the reviews that are published today are atrocious. I highly recommend you base your game purchases on much more than game reviews alone. You may be surprised how often you like games that have received poor reviews. Take care.

Bwana.TV Status Update

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:17:00 -0500

Just a quick status update on where Bwana.TV is and where we’re going.

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Nothing special, just letting you guys know I’m still here.

How To Customize Team Fortress 2 (TF2) “Hit” Sounds

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:09:42 -0500

In this video, I go through the process of showing you how to customize the newly introduced TF2 “hit” sound.

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By default, if you enable this feature, you hear a bell “ding” when you hit someone with your gun. As of the 01/13/2010 update, Valve has enabled us to configure our own custom sound for this. The steps are simple: Get a custom file you want, Copy it to the appropriate TF2 folder, Edit the config file to tell TF2 where it is. That’s it! I have uploaded my “Yeah Toast” wav file here: http://j.mp/6uhpft

SoTD – 01/12/2010 – Google Takes On China

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:08:01 -0500

In this story of the day, I discuss Google’s latest post regarding their relationship with China.

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Apparently due to some carefully targeted cyber attacks, Google is re-evaluating their relationship with China and has decided to stop censoring search results on Google.cn. Google has suggested the possibility of pulling business out of China if their government is not on board with this change. Big words from Google. Huge story here: http://j.mp/7ZCXJp (Song is “System Reboot” by Pure Energy. Track can be found here: http://j.mp/4hNLhT)

SoTD – 01/07/2010 – Palm Opens Developer Program To Public

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:56:27 -0500

In this story of the day, I discuss Palm’s CES Keynote announcement.

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They have opened the doors to the general public to develop on the webOS platform. Palm is offering a great selection of options for developers to choose from. They can choose a $99 annual “full” account (fee waived for a limited time) or choose free options. Palm’s distribution differs from Apple in that they are allowing developers to use their own URL. All in all, it’s good news for Palm and its developers. For more information, visit this link: http://j.mp/8CHi8p

SoTD – 01/05/2010 – Introducing the Google Phone: Nexus One

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:56:13 -0500

In this story of the day, I discuss Google’s new baby: The Nexus One.

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This new phone touts a 3.7″ OLED screen, 1Ghz Snapdragon Processor, Android 2.1 and is available via T-Mobile for $179. You can also get this phone without a contract right now for $529. The story is here: http://j.mp/4Sr6ND

New Years Eve Special: 2009 Best of Gaming

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:44:29 -0500

On New Years Eve, we held a live event on live.bwana.tv in which we took some Skype calls and discussed the best games of 2009.

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We attempted to keep it short but as you’ll see the video can be a bit lengthy. Some of the games that were discussed, I didn’t get a chance to play and I asked the chat room to vote on those titles. Here’s a quick summary of what we chose: Game of the Year (Wii) – New Super Mario Brothers Wii / Game of the Year (X360) – Modern Warfare 2 / Game of the Year (PS3) – Uncharted 2 / Game of the Year (PC) – TF2/Torchlight / Best Shooter: MW2 / Best RPG: Borderlands / Best MMORPG: Aion / Best Platformer: Mario / Best Sport: Fifa 10 / Best Rythm Game:DJ Hero / Best Fighter: Street Fighter 4 / Best Indie: Fat Princess / Best DLC: Mirror’s Edge DLC / Game Of The Year (Overall) :Uncharted 2. (Songs used are “Full Power” by Dual Logic http://bit.ly/69N7qp and “System Reboot” by Pure Energy http://j.mp/4hNLhT)

Get In The Game with QuickHit Football!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:42:43 -0500

In this video, I conduct an extensive overview of QuickHit Football alongside Brandon Justice, Director of Design at QuickHit.

Brandon and I play a couple of games while he answers various questions from me and the chatroom. Brandon also gives us an overview of the QuickHit design, philosophy, a glimpse of what’s coming and more! QuickHit Football is absolutely FREE to play and you can sign up at http://www.quickhit.com

Modern Warfare 2 PC Multiplayer Review

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:35:35 -0500

In this video, I review the multiplayer component of Modern Warfare 2 for PC.

I try to keep it as short as possible as I show the features of multiplayer and explain how they differ from the previous world of dedicated servers. I end the video with a gameplay montage with music by Pure Energy called “System Reboot” http://j.mp/4hNLhT Hopefully this montage will give you an additional indication of the latency with IWNet alongside the gameplay I provide in the main segment. I’ll follow this video up with a overall review and recommendation shortly.

Google Acquires Gizmo5!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:05:44 -0500

In this video, I talk about the recent acquisition by Google: Gizmo5.

Gizmo5 used to be known as “the Gizmo Project” and it was widely known as the #1 competitor to the juggernaut, Skype. Gizmo offered a lot of flexibility in terms of SIP compatibility and free land-line conference call options. Combining this exciting technology with Google’s Voice product, and you have a formula for something incredible. Check out the video for more.

You Big Dummy Episode 1

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:04:16 -0500

In this video, I start a brand new segment on Bwana.TV called “You Big Dummy!”.

This is episode 1 and it’s about a police officer who decided to see what it’s like to be a shoplifter. YOU BIG DUMMY! Story is here: http://bit.ly/1Iywm3

Borderlands DLC announced!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:02:42 -0500

In this video, I talk about a recent announcement of downloadable content (DLC) for the FPS-RPG game, Borderlands.

As you may or may not know, this game is available on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC platforms. I’ve been playing a great deal of this game on the PC and I’ve found myself enjoying it more than what I thought I would. A lot of people warned me that it didn’t have that much replayability after you finish it a couple of times. I’ve only finished it once so I can’t speak for that right now. This announcement says that more DLC will be available on November 24th for the PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms but no specifics on the PC yet. The story is here: http://j.mp/47Pgql

Q&A: Which version of Modern Warfare 2 to get?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:33:00 -0500

In this video, I answer a question from… myself. I ask myself, Bwana… which version of Modern Warfare 2 to get on November 10th?

Well Bwana, it’s a tough decision given that Infinity Ward has crippled the PC version which you were so set on. Now the versions are pretty much the same across the board feature wise, but they differ in community and control scheme. Watch the video to hear more on this subject. It’s a tough decision

Modern Warfare 2 Deals

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:31:22 -0500

In this video, I share some attractive Modern Warfare 2 deals from Wal-Mart and Amazon.

The details of this deal are at techbargains: http://j.mp/21k1Gp A quick summary: Pre-order Modern Warfare 2 from Wal-mart and get a $20 gift card. Pre-order Modern Warfare 2 from Amazon and get a $20 credit towards a future game purchase. Enjoy!

Google Wave Goes Federated

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:26:57 -0500

In this video, I discuss Google’s recent announcement that they are now allowing developers to create federated instances of Google Wave.

This was one of the reasons I was excited about Google Wave in that this will help the protocol thrive and grow. The story is here: http://j.mp/2QKFkr For more information on the topic, visit http://www.waveprotocol.org/

Awaken for iPhone/iPod Touch Review

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:42:38 -0400

In this video, I review Awaken for iPhone/iPod Touch.

Thanks Embraceware for passing along a promo code to review this! Awaken takes advantage of a trend that’s going on: People are using their cell phones for alarm clocks! Over time, I’ve become reliant on my iPhone to wake me up in the morning. This app has several skins, custom alarms, and it even doubles as a flashlight! Check out Awaken on the iTunes App Store for $1.99

Arcade Hockey Review

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:41:14 -0400

In this video, I review Arcade Hockey from Brain Juice LLC.

Growing up, I loved Air Hockey and I always found the virtual versions to lack in some form or fashion. This one has tight controls, great sound and great graphics. It’s the closest experience you’re going to get to a real Air Hockey game on the iPhone / iPod Touch. Arcade Hockey is available on the iTunes App store for $1.99. Thanks Chris Pirillo for passing along a promo code!

Google Sidewiki Overview

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:44:08 -0400

In this video, I give a brief of description of Google’s new project, Sidewiki.

Sidewiki allows you to leave a comment or annotate any web page on the internet. Currently, it requires Google Toolbar to use Sidewiki although people have found workarounds to read Sidewiki comments by other methods. This video gives a demo of how to use it, how it works, and some pros and cons. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Google Wave: First Impressions and Walkthrough

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:24:34 -0400

In this video, I share my thoughts on Google Wave and provide a basic walkthrough of the service.

There is a lot to talk about with Google Wave, but I narrowed it down to the following areas: Interface, Email/Wiki Features, Extensions, A Use Case, and Issues. Even when cutting it short, the video still is a bit lengthy. I believe Google Wave has a lot of potential, so check out the video for more and enjoy!

RichardSolo 1800 Battery Backup Review

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:12:30 -0400

In this video, I review the RichardSolo 1800 Battery Backup System for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

First off, this package comes with a LOT of goodies: a iPhone/iPod Cable, an AC Adapter, and a two port USB Car Charger! It’s called the 1800 since it houses 1800 mAh (milliamp-hours). The iPhone has 1200 mAh, so this battery backup system is more than enough to charge your unit. The RichardSolo 1800 connects to the iPhone (or iPod Touch) via the cable and gives you a “dongle-like” apparatus. RichardSolo also offers a sturdy brace for which can connect the battery unit without the cable. Another bonus of the RichardSolo 1800 is that it includes a built in light for finding your keys and a LASER. Yes, a laser. This a great system for recharding your iPhone and I’ve found a great use for it since I’ve re-enabled Gmail push (which drains my iPhone battery quickly) Check out the video for a walkthrough of the features and my additional thoughts. The RichardSolo 1800 is available for $69.95 at http://www.richardsolo.com . Remember, you can save 15% off any item (including this one) in the iPod/iPhone/Blackberry category by using the code “bwana”. This code is good until October 31, 2009. Thanks RichardSolo for sending me a review unit! Enjoy and take care!

RichardSolo Custom Case for iPhone 3G Review

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:36:17 -0400

In this video, I conduct a review of the RichardSolo Custom Case for iPhone 3G.

I contacted RichardSolo after a tip from Twitter on their products and they were kind enough to send me a review unit. This case is a two part case meaning that it splits apart into two components. It is designed to work with RichardSolo products in particular. Some of their battery backup products have a special attachment that this case accommodates. It is a comfortable case, seems sturdy and is easy to remove. This case goes for $25 on RichardSolo.com, but if you use the code “bwana”, you can save 15% until October 31st. http://www.richardsolo.com

What Are Your Top Console Exclusives For 2009?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:40:50 -0400

In this video, I discuss an article I found which claims the Playstation 3 “took 2009 in terms of exclusives”.

I share my thoughts on what I believe were some great exclusives for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 and which platform did better .. IN MY OPINION. This is not fact and I’m sure your opinion will differ. This is why I’m posing the question to you: What were your favorite exclusives for 2009 and why? Lots of speculation involved since some titles aren’t out yet so this is not a scientific method. Keep the console war to a minimum please. Take care!

Turbine Believes MMO Development is Easier on Xbox 360

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:39:35 -0400

In this video, I share my thoughts on Turbine’s latest statement regarding MMO development on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

According to this link http://j.mp/5lAeJ Turbine stated several reasons why you should develop on the PS3 first due to difficulty of porting from 360. I don’t necessarily agree with all points made and share my reasons in the video. Check it out

Ustream Mobile Application For Android

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:38:07 -0400

In this video, I share the news that Ustream has released a new mobile application for the Android platform.

TechCrunch reported the story here: http://j.mp/46io8s Much like their competitor, Qik, the application gives a interactive experience in that you can preview the stream and participate in the chat. If you have an Android phone, like the T-Mobile G1, you should definitely consider Ustream for your streaming needs. The app looks good.