Oddball Update – Page 9 – Chief Oddball writes about tech, games, cars and family life

Furious

February 12, 2012February 12, 2012 Chief Oddball 3 Comments

I never really posted about it here, but when our son was born this past November, the delivery didn’t go quite according to plan. Actually, that’s a bit of an understatement: we had planned from the beginning to have a natural childbirth at a birth center with the help of a midwife.

The Xbox Acquisition Deliberation

February 11, 2012March 2, 2012 Chief Oddball

In the old days, I would replace my computer every couple of years. Since I don’t game on the PC much anymore, I’m still finding myself perfectly happy (well, mostly) with the computer I built in October of 2006. The object of my upgrade fever, meanwhile, has turned to mobile phones and game consoles, and it is these items that I now find myself replacing on a two-year cycle.

Sounds of Silent Hill

February 10, 2012February 9, 2012 Chief Oddball

As part of my ever-revolving playlist of background music during working hours, I’ve recently begun listening to the haunting soundtracks of the Silent Hill video game series. A survival horror franchise of the most disturbing variety, Silent Hill has always had sound design to match, thanks to the unique audio styling of Akira Yamaoka.

A Few Hours in Skyrim

February 6, 2012February 6, 2012 Chief Oddball

I have never cared much for dragon-slaying, wizards and warlocks and all that stuff, preferring instead to visit the future and fly to the stars. But I might just change my mind about fantasy settings thanks to Skyrim, the fifth and latest of Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls role playing games for the PC and consoles.

Abandon Ship

January 13, 2012January 13, 2012 Chief Oddball 1 Comment

The topic I was discussing in my last entry — which marked the unheralded return of the Oddball Oddcast in a pared-down form — was not really done being hashed out in my head at the time I posted it. Shortly after I recorded those oh-so-scintillating 12 minutes of gabbling about the MMORPG Star Trek Online, I finally decided that I was gonna blow some walking-around money and get the “Original Series Bundle” through the game’s online store.

Oddcast 1/11/2012: Star Trek Online

January 11, 2012October 7, 2012 Chief Oddball

This episode of the Oddball Oddcast discusses Star Trek Online, soon to relaunch under a free-to-play model, and the nigh-uncontrollable compulsion I feel to play it despite having very little time or appetite for MMOs. Which half of my personality will win out: the dyed-in-the-wool Trekkie, or the busy dad with no patience for online buffoonery?

A No-Drill Front Plate Solution for SAP GTOs

January 9, 2012September 25, 2012 Chief Oddball 1 Comment

This quick how-to demonstrates how I used a mid-'90s Ford Explorer license plate bracket (of all things) to quickly and painlessly mount a front plate on my GTO's Sport Appearance Package front fascia extension.

Oddball Review: Sony Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1)

December 20, 2011December 21, 2011 Chief Oddball 6 Comments

For at least a couple of years now I’ve wanted an E Ink e-reader, despite having little to no trouble reading e-books on my iPhone. Personally I’m all for the e-book revolution, but when you want to focus on reading, you’re best served by trying to recreate the aesthetic of an actual book.

Retro Game Review: The Legacy: Realm of Terror

December 19, 2011July 3, 2013 Chief Oddball 12 Comments

[subtitle]Part 1 of the Oddball Review Survival Horror Series[/subtitle] One Sunday evening in September of 1993, I was browsing the shelves of the local mall’s Babbage’s store in hopes of finding a new computer game to play on the Dell 486 that I had only recently set up in my bedroom.