First things first: my eMac is alive and breathing! Yes, I have brought it back from the dead! My leet Mac skills have been once again reaffirmed and validated.
So, how’d I do it? I decided this past weekend to give it one final stab, before going ahead with an autopsy to strip away all the still good parts for sale. As stated previously, the hard drive was actually still functional, it just had no idea what it was and where it was, hence why it wouldn’t accept any attempts at formatting the machine. On a whim, I decided to loan it another eMac’s system folders, the ones belonging to Katie’s; despite not being the same machines spec wise (her system is one generation behind, with a slightly faster processor, slightly different ram, and faster USB bus), I figured it was close enough to give it a shot. I tried copying over the system, library, and application folders to a portable hard drive, but encountered permissions problems, so I then used Carbon Disk Copy, as suggested by Slonie, and that worked! I next moved all that over to my MacBook, then attached the eMac via a FireWire cable, and then booted that system as a FireWire drive (you hold the “t” key while powering up, for those who might be curious). Next I copied over Katie’s eMac’s system folders, which were accepted, then re-booted the machine off a Tiger install disc; I tried using the software install disc that came with my computer, but that didn’t work, and panicked a bit, and hoped for the best with Tiger… my eMac shipped with Panther btw… oh, and I would find out that it didn’t work the first time because I was accidentally using an Airport Extreme installation, which looked exactly alike! Anyway, things were looking fine when I ran Disk Utility and initiated another wipe with a seven zero passed with my fingers crossed. And it took! I next went ahead with the Tiger installation, and BAM! My computer, it still functions!
Now I can slap some software on it and sell that sucker on Craigslist for a much needed cash injection. As nice it is to have such a dear old friend back, I also need to have Smash Bros Brawl handy when my Wii comes back from the shop. Speaking of which, I finally got the email from Nintendo stating that it arrived. For a while, I was starting to get really nervous (mostly from Dave Mauro’s constant “So, do you have it back yet?” inquires). If disaster had befallen, I would have been more than prepared to tear apart Newark, NJ (I dropped it off at the Kinko’s near my work), which I’ve long wished for. Though I mostly just want a bomb to level the fucking place.
Speaking of Dave, and also back from the dead, is my PSP! Well, it wasn’t dead per say, but when the latest open firmware was applied, I lost the ability to play PSone games and emulators. I made a few attempts to fix the problem myself, but my lack of techno savvy in that area, plus having a Mac (lol) made it impossible. But in Dave’s expert hands, it is now back to it former glory. Granted, I lost all my emulators and roms when my Lacie died most recently as well, but Dave is hooking me up in that department as well. Though I’m still having problems with the CPS2 emulator, so no Pro Gear for me. I also passed along copies of Cool Cool Toon and Lack of Love to add to his library, but Dreamcast games, even when they’re already dupes, are apparently tricky business, And because the DC was not hooked up at the time, we couldn’t play them either, which sucked since I really wanted him to check out Cool Cool Toon.
For those who don’t know, I believe it was SNK’s very first game for Sega’s 128-bitter; a music game with a play mechanic that’s still unique to this day, though Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents is a tiny bit close. Here’s a vid of it in action. The game has a really fun, and totally different (especially for its time) gameplay, plus stellar art direction. Unfortunately the music ain’t that hot, which for a music game is… well, you know the rest.
Speaking of Dreamcast, and woes when it comes to getting games to work, yes, I am well aware of the Rez beta, aka Vibes, that’s floating around (at least, after reading this). And no, I haven’t played it yet, cuz I can?t figure out how to burn a DC disc on a Mac. Yes, go ahead and point and laugh. At least I have this video to tide me over (despite the fact that the person playing it doesn’t seem to be very good at it) till I get Windows onto my MacBook.
As noted in the thread, when I first saw the title and glanced over the info, I seriously almost pissed myself. Till I saw the video and carefully re-read the details, and realized that it’s not the super early concept version seen here and here. It appears to be more or less the final game, though with a bunch of differences in regards to music, graphical detail, transitions, even boss behavior (its noted that the third boss in Boss Rush is different… I wonder if its any better since the one in the final game is the only part of the game that I feel to be weak). Plus, it’s fucking Rez, so naturally, color me interested.
Third in the “IT RISES!” category was the surprise reappearance of channel 35, which some Manhattanites might recall being the dirty or porno access channel (those who went to SVA and lived in the dorms during the late 90s like myself should remember it being on channel 99). Its the former home of Midnight Blue (NEVAR FORGET) and I believe still the home of The Robin Byrd Show, as well as cheesy phone sex ads straight from the 80s till six in the morning. I stumbled across it by accident and was blown away to see those old and very familiar 976 ads. Believe it or not, but hearing the voice of the chicks with dicks chick actually gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling (sorry, not that kind) and I was overjoyed with the idea of introducing such a beloved college tradition to Katie, enough to almost wake her up (this was like three in the morning on Saturday). But alas, it was scrambled once again the very night. God damnit.
As for the rest of the weekend, got boozed up with Mooney at Kenka on Friday night, which has become the norm. The usual topics were covered: comics, pro wrestling, Howard Stern, and how stupid NYU students are. Had their little mini hot dogs for the first time, and they are quite scrumptious. And on Sunday, Katie & I hung out with Joe and June, and Jay and Melinder; highlights included Katie finding an Easter egg in the park, filled with Swedish fish, and an angry black woman clamming afterwards that it was hers and demanding it back (thankfully, Katie had already enjoyed her spoils. Katie also discovered that at one point, I almost married a Russian girl for money so she could stay in the country. I myself learned of some accountant that’s local and apparently good and dirt-cheap. Yes, I have yet to do my taxes because I have been dreading it; I just know it?s gonna cost a fortune, since I worked three full-time jobs last year, in two different states, plus had about seven different freelance clients, and considering that H&R Block charges by the form, you get the idea. Then again, if I get audited, H&R will stand by their client since their big and strong enough to deal with the IRS, plus this new person is apparently in the back of a nail salon? Joe also explained to be that the Jerry Springer Show is apparently VERY different; they have puppets, a stripper pole, and dude that has no lower body that hops around with just his arms as security guard? Cuz the old one got his own show, in case you didn’t already know.EDI: Oh God, Joe was NOT joking.
As for yesterday, that’s when I started becoming full blown sick, so its now Tuesday morning and I’m working from home. Though no rest for the weary: aside from doing blog posts for Zedge, I also have to work on my ICON presentation, put together books (just got a MAJOR order), continue sprucing up the eMac, wait for the internet guy, do laundry, figure out when and where Jerry Springer is on, plus continue cleaning up the place for THE PARTY!!! But since I’m feeling a bit lazy at this exact moment, how about some recent highlights from the forum? Which has been pretty busy as of late…
- Via the random video game videos thread comes a clip of a cat and dog going at via Wii Sports, which is both cute, and rather cruel looking.
- Be sure to also check out the recent vids in the Smash Bros Brawl thread as well, though I’m afraid the rest of the world already knows the insane, and very awesome, degrees of fan-service the game is bursting with. 
- Does anyone else care about Guitar Hero DS besides me?!
- You guys have heard that there’s ANOTHER live action Street Fighter movie in the works, right?
- Then there’s Chile’s Pokemon crisis.
- And, you all do know that Digimon are for reals, right?
- Once again, the Japanese people, they so crazy!
- Via you know what…
Epic lulz.
- Plus “did you see that fucking split?” and some arrogant fucker’s “ultimate, sexy” World of Warcraft secret.
- More folks sexual advice on a message board.
- As awesome as the Gene Simmons sex tape is and all, I still need to see the Tom Sizemore one.
- The animated gif thread keeps getting hotter.
- As does the LOL, Craigslist one, too.
- My love for Japan will apparently lead to certain doom.
- Finally, Forty90 is getting ready for Fucking Hermione Week as well!
… And because my bosses always like when I remind the rest of the world that I have a cell phone blog, here’s some recent posts that I know most of you have missed, including…
- Did you know that you can turn you DS into a phone? BTW, Dave tried it out and it totally works!
- Like cute Korean girls in 60s retro fashion, posing with matching phones? Well here ya go.
- For those who miss that old, landline feel.
- A heart shaped… phone?
- I forget… when I went over the GDC, did I mention the awesome looking VIrtual On clone for the iPhone, or Earth Defense Force Mobile?
- Another oldie, but goodie: some crazy woman and Apple zombies going at it.
- And Takashi Miike + transformable cell phones = ME WANT!!!
… Lastly, remember me passing along the trailer to Kings of Power 4 Billion %? Well, it’s finally finished!
