Google blogged yesterday regarding a new initiative they are leading with the support of the major blogging software developers to implement techniques to block comment spam. This will be achieved through the use of a ‘rel=”nofollow”‘ tag in links. This will ultimately reduce the value of spamming our beloved blogs and hopefully stem the tide of these efforts. Until this is implemented, I’ll still rely on the wonderful MT-Blacklist plugin. It rocks.
Category Archives: asides
ESPN Joins the Dark Side
In the ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’ category, the New York Times reports today (free registration required) that ESPN has signed a 15-year deal with Electronic Arts giving EA exclusive rights to the ESPN brand in video games. Guess EA is looking at that NFL deal as an even smarter move now. So the big question is – will the new NFL flagship EA game have some Frankenstein-like title? I’m sorry, but ‘ESPN-Madden NFL2k6’ just doesn’t roll off the tongue.
TiVo Blows Off Comcast?
The gray lady reports today that Tivo was close to a deal with Comcast (free registration required) to put TiVo technology into Comcast’s set-top-boxes, but TiVo’s board backed out based on the recommendation of Michael Ramsey, then CEO and Chairman. Now, Ramsey has resigned the CEO position, but remains as chairman. An interesting read, for sure. If TiVo continues to make boneheaded moves like this, the company won’t be worth much more than the spiffy plush TiVo mascot I have on my office shelf. Sad, really.
Brothers in Arms Preview
Among the games I want to get my hands on this year, Brothers in Arms tops this list. Combining the best of the scripted action in Call of Duty with the type of ‘squad commander’ tactics seen in Full Spectrum Warrior, this game should be amazing. Your mission begins as you parachute behind enemy lines on D-Day and lead your team throughout the campaign.
Gamespot has a great preview of the multiplayer version of the game up today. The multiplayer scenarios sound great – not your usual ‘capture the flag’ abstract b.s., but more sensible missions. Nice.
I saw a preview of the game when it was being shown by Katscratch of the Frag Dolls at the Microsoft Digital Entertainment Everywhere event iin Los Angeles in October, and the early build she was playing looked every bit as good as this screenshot. Judicious use of soft light bloom lends a very nostalgic feel to this one, and surprising visual effects like dirt which splashes onto your character’s ‘glasses’ when you happen to be too close to explosions lend to the mood here. And from what I hear, anyone who might have seen these settings in real life under fire might have a flashback or two seeing this game – the dev team did extensive work on-site for accuracy.
Release is set for February 22nd.