Maëlys McArdle

Author: Maëlys McArdle

  • My new heroes.

    Maybe its because it was a spur of the moment, but some developers (including Warren Spector) gave a very good speech on the state of gaming at the GDC. What I enjoyed most was their view on piracy, as follows:

    Q: I am one of the bad guys: I’m working on a big budget next generation console game. I want to ask about totally legalised piracy? Not Russia and grey market – I’m talking Blockbuster. 20 dollars a year you can borrow whatever you like then give it back. People are going to rent my game for 4 dollars. I won’t see any of that. They’re robbing me!

    Chris: I’m pro-piracy. I want people to play the games I make. I do it because it’s art. I think DRM is a total fucking stupid mess. If the game industry collapses and can be reborn, I’m all for it. Pirate on!

    Greg: they’re not pirating the game! Someone bought a legal copy! The world is not designed in such a way that money inherently funnels its way into your wallet!?

    Warren: I never minded piracy. Anyone who minds about piracy is full of shit. Anyone who pirates your game wasn’t going to buy it anyway!

    As you know I’m fundamentally divided when it comes to piracy. However, I despise the corporate view on the issue, which is to say that pirates cost the game industry $4 Billion a year (which would represent half of the total revenues in the gaming industry btw). It’s a black-and-white view that is completely innacurate. So its refreshing to see when those inside the network adopt a different perspective.

  • For those here for the IE6 Vulnerability…

    I realise that some of you may be here concerning information about the IE6 Vulnerability that was exposed a few months ago. Unfortunately, with my transition of blogging platforms, I’ve lost the original article + example. My apologies if this inconveniences you in any way. Anywho, you will be able to see a demo of the code in action in the EYNTO Show (as an example of why one should drop IE and switch to FireFox or Opera.)

  • EYNTO Show Editing Progress…

    Here’s what I’ve done editing-wise, and what is left:

    Chapters:
    Chapter 0 – Opening Credits
    Chapter 1 – In-Show Introduction
    Chapter 2 – Firefox vs. Internet Explorer
    Chapter 3 – Firewalls
    Chapter 4 – On-line Transactions
    Chapter 5 – E-Mail
    Chapter 6 – Local Area Network
    Chapter 7 – Anonimity on the Internet
    Chapter 8 – Viruses/Spyware/Adware
    Chapter 9 – 2600 Meeting & Tips
    Chapter 10 – Downloading (HTTP, FTP, IRC, Newsgroups, Bittorrent, ed2k, KazAa)
    Chapter 11 – Downloaded Material Types
    Chapter 12 – Using Downloaded Materials: Movies
    Chapter 13 – Using Downloaded Materials: Software
    Chapter 14 – Ripping DVDs
    Chapter 15 – Upgrading your Computer
    Chapter 16 – Windows Tips

    I’ve finished up to Chapter 5. This is an extremely time consuming process, as the editing process is about 3 hours to every minute of final footage. Why so long? Mostly because I jam-pack the whole show with home-made animations (frame-by-frame… very lengthy process) as well as tons of visual spice to keep the interest flowing.

    I’m trying to keep the entire production legal, though there has been one hassle with a piece of music whereby the people liscencing it have stated that I would not be able to liscence the music for any fee. So I am going a less-than-legal route, but that said: there is not a fully legal route! The soundtrack I’m going to use is music under the Creative Commons from Falik. Excellent musician by the way that you should check out!

    I don’t wish to divulge more as I want to keep the show a surprise. However, those waiting will have to wait a little more. Its taken me 2 weeks to get but these 6 chapters done, and I have much to go. That said, I’ll keep working on it and we’ll see what happens.

  • Welcome (Again!)

    Well I decided with the upcomming release of the EYNTO Show that it was time to update this site as well. I do plan on getting the show Slashdotted, as others have done, as an ultra-cheap technique to get some extra audience, so I figured I better make this place look better too. :p That and of course rid myself of the many bugs that plagued the previous blogging PHP tool that I was using.

    Anywho, hope you enjoy the new look!

  • Life Updates…

    A few updates today:

    RESUME: Updated my CV.

    EYNTO: Went out today to film the rest of the away-from-home footage for the show. However, as it was extremely cold at at least -20C, opted to film the rest another day. Tomorrow is the first Friday of the month, which means a 2600 Hacker Meeting (or script-kiddie… we’ll see how the crowd is). I’ll go and see if I can get a few people to tip our viewers on general safety practices.