Anapmopic widesceen

So it's the late 90s, the new 16:9 TVs are coming out and you want to make movies and TV shows in the new format but DVDs have a limited space, so what do you do? The answer Anamorphic wide-screen, a technology formally used in cinmails to fit wide-screen movies onto standard sized film.

Anamorphic wide-screen is literately like putting a rectangular peg into a square whole. It dose not fit but you can force it and doing so will result in an image of the wrong proportions.(so that a normal man is thin and tall). If there where a way to correct the proportions, the image would display nicely.


Lucklerly there is, you know that 'streach' or 'full' setting on your TV that make 4:3 people look short and fat, well if you use that setting on an anamorphic image(which recall is thin and tall), the image will fit the TV like a glove. Why such an exact fit? Well the people that made 16:9 TVs where smart and did that math to make this change work.

If you have a 4:3 TV, your DVD player should be smart enough to persevere the 16:9 original aspect ratio by padding it with black bars on the top and bottom.(it won't fit otherwise).

DVDs aren't the only thing that use anamorphic wide-screen. TV specifications like NTSC only allow for 4:3 images at lower resolutions(like 480i and 480P), meaning streaching the image is the only way to get 16:9. Game systems that run at these lower resolutions like the PS2, Xbox one (2003) and Wii are foced to use anamorphic wide-screen for 16:9 content. Some of these systems are not smart enough to tell the TV the singal is 16:9 or 4:3 and the user must change the setting on their TV every time the content changes.


HD signals have a true aspect ratio(normally 16:9) and no longer use anamorphic wide-screen.

Thanks, I hope you learned something. 

10 things to watch out for in JavaScirpt!

I've been doing a lot of work with JavaScript lately. There are lots of silly ways to break things some of which you won't think of if you used to languages like Java or C++.

1. The spelling matters - In C-style languages you must declare a variable before you use it. In JavaScirpt you can declare script level(globel) variables with the syntax "variable = "value";"(notice no 'var' keyword) In this case its easy to accidentally declare a new global variable if you where type "variabel = " new value";".Beacuse 'variable' is spelt wrong the secound time I've now decleared a new script level variable instead of making a new assignment.
   
   The worst part is this kind of error can go unnoticed. There is a similar way to mess up objects by misspelling their sub parts but I can't remember exactly how this works.
2. None-exist variables are undefined -  All JavaScript variables that don't exist are undefined. You'd think that would go without saying but it's a bit weird. 'undefined' is a value like 'true', 'false', 0. If you try and read a undefined variable, 'undefined' will be returned. If you write to it, you will succeeded(as I said in #1). Of the top of my head the only thing that doesn't work is calling a method on it, which will result in error.
   
   If you start seeing 'undefined' in your divs it's probably because your trying to use a variable that doesn't exist in that scope.(or you have a spelling mistake.)
   
   Also note that undefined is not the same thing is null(empty).
   
3. All function parameters are optional - Yes, you read that correct! You can pass 0 parameters to a function whose only defention uses two and get no errors. What value do the parameters have if none are passed? If you guessed 'undefined' you are correct. So if you function does not work, make sure you passed it the correct pramiters. 
4. JavaScirpt variables have no types - You probably know this but it's useful to keep this in mind as their are issues you can run into that you can't with strongly typed languages like 'Java'.
   
   For instance the script engine is supposed to deduce weather a '+' is a concatenate or 'addition'. '*' is always multiplication adding a '* 1' to your expression can 'force the issue'. 
5.   Your script will try and run - While C-style languages won't compile or run if there is an error, JavaScirpt will try it's best to do so no matter what! If you program isn't working as intended check your browsers error console as you might just have syntax errors.
6. 'int' and 'double' are reserved words that don't do anything - If you think about it's hard to change the core specification for a language after it's release. So the js devs have received a few keywords which only make syntax errors when you try and use them. Always remember js is typless and the only keyword used to declare a variable is 'var'.
7. JavaScript can be extended - some libraries like jQuery[?] can override or extend the built-in language functionality, though you don't need to know this most of the time you do have to be aware of it in-case you have 'extension conflicts'. 
8. Beware of the order of external script includes - Because of issue #7, sometimes order you include external scripts(particularly libraries) is important.
9. Don't use '$' as a variable - surprisingly this a valid indenfire but the jQuery library(framwork) likes to use it and jQuery is very powerful so I suggest you use it or make room to do so in the future. 
10. Make sure you Scirpt tag is complete - older browsers seem to need the 'language' parameter in the 'script' tag. Also most browsers need an ending 'script' tag.(it can't be self-closing like '</br>').

CDs Vs Downloads

So I finally downloaded Sonic Generations which I bought on Steam for 70% of. It took me several days since I'm not in Windows often, so I was downloading off and on and capping the rate at which Steam can download, so that the internet is not unusable for the rest of my family. I would change the cap throughout the day and raise it during the evening(around 9) when less people where using it. The annoying thing is, it's a 7.5 GB D/L and now I've found out while playing it that some of the data was erupted and must be re-downloaded(at about 2 GB). In eurup this is a DVD version of the game you can buy but it's exclusive too euprup. My announce at the sitwatastion made my write this VS!

It's Downloads VS CDs(DVDs)!:

CDs:

• Are very unlickly to corrupt(+ 7 points)
• Don't have a 'download cost'(+ 5 points) 
• Look nice on your shelf(+ 5 points, 10 for boxed games, 20- 30 for BIG boxed games)
• You can see what games you got.(I keep forgetting I have a copy of Mirrow's Edge on my computer, waiting to be beet.) (+ 5 points)

 Downloads:

• If you get your games from a good source(i.e. Steam, Origan), the service makes sure you get the latest release(+ 5 points)
• Lower cost to publishers.(+ 0.5, I'm happy to know the publisher is saving money) 

CDs win!

Have a download story to tell? feel diffrently on the issue? Comment bellow!

Loading in video games: an example

Last month I talked about loading screens and how the 'Jak' games don't have any and 'stream' the leveals. My copy of Jak 3 is a bit scratched(it's secound hand) and although I had no issues during the games main story, I did have this weird glitch yesterday:

This happened when the game failed to load the next area so I could sneak around where they would normally be a wall.

Updates

Normally I would write this kind of thing on Facebook but not all my readers have Facebook, so I thought I would write this here. If you do have Facebook none of the things here have been annouced on Facebook.

Here is what's up:

• My parents have decided to charge me 10% of my income for 'room and board'. Not an awful amount but enough to give them something and get me used to the cost of living.
• I baught a Palm Piot at the Salvation Army. Why? The battiers last a lot longer then my tablet and it takes a lot less space. It's useful for managing my data-to-day task. Also I don't have a cell phone at the moment(since I'm not doing anything that far from home), so my  none-existent cell phone can not be used instead of it. I don't have the 'synk' cable and I've already found it extremely useful without it. For those of you who don't know the synk cable allows me to backup things from the palm to my desktop and load new apps on the palm.
• I accidentally bought the wrong synk cable for the palm pilot of eBay :(. I have lost $9.99 beacuase of this and I can return it but I must pay the return shipping. It has not arrived yet and when it does I will have to find out if the cost of shipping is less than $9.99(otherwise I will not get any money back) 
• Lastly last night I beat Jak 3(a video game), I beat Jak II* a week ago, it was much harder but this was a bad thing since it was hard in annoying way. Now I've completed the Jak tiolgoy, I have to say that the first was really the best platfommer but II and 3 had some great platforming sections as well as some other interesting parts. The cutseens are allways very entertaining and make a lot of tougher sections worthwhile. I would recommend the first and third games but not Jak II as its, challenging in a very cheep way. So far I've got the whole series at the Hobby Shark(where you can buy/sell used video games), here in town, I think they have the racing spin of Jak X and I will probably buy that if they do. There is also one more game in the series dual released on the PSP and PS2, I don't think they have that at the hobby shark, so I will have to buy it online. I will 'hold off' on this for now so I can correct 'budget' my money(and save some of it) and sort out this Palm stuff.(I need the correct cable)

Thats all for now.  Oh please let me know in the comments if you want to know more about my Palm pilot or the 'Jak' series.

* Yes the secound game in the 'Jak' serries is 'Jak II' and the third is 'Jak 3'.

Why games load?(and not cartidges)

First off all ALL software from Notepad.exe to the latest AAA video game hast to load. Loading is simply the processes of taking assets off of the hard disk and putting them into ram*. This is done since memory is faster then the hard disk(any hard disk even solid state). This always takes some time, even if it's not noticeable in human terms.

One might incorrectly think that as computers get faster loading times should decrees but this is not the case in reality. The real 'case' is, as computers get faster, software becomes more demanding too take advantage of the faster hardware and loading times are about the same.

* It should be noted that for some software(and games) other things take place too, all to get the game 'ready' to be played.

But what about cartridge games? Systems that use cartridges have to load just as CD based systems due. The cartridges games systems use contain ROM which is incredible fast, so fast that you can't see the load times. You can see proof that things are loaded into RAM in some N64 games, in which the game will continue to try and keep playing if the cartridge is accidentally removed. It's not recommend that you try this on purpose as the removal of the cirdge while the system is on could damage the certidge.(most lickly the save game;)

APPEMEDMENT:  Some games like Sonic Unleashed for Xbox 360/PS3 or more impressively  for it's age(2001)Jak and Daxter for PS2, hardly load at all. This is done by 'streaming' the game, unloading assets no longer used behind the character after they no longer visible and loading assets in front of the character before they visible. If you die in these games far from where you hit the last checkpoint you will see a bit of a loading time.

You don't see this in too many games since it's probably a large programming headache. It also does not lend itself well to all forums of game play. (for example games that have a defenite level start and end).

The new game consoles FAQ

Q: What consoles and computers do you own? 

A: PS2(slim), Xbox(2003), SNES, N64, Wii and Sega Genesis, I also play games on the computer I'm writing this on. I also have 2 laptops, a Proforma 6400("vintage" Mac), a Pentium 4 with Windows 98 and a Mac Mini from 2005. The Wii and genesis live in the basement, the rest of the consoles live in my bedroom. This list of tech is important in the ducstion that follows.

Q: Will you be buying one of the new consoles? 

A: Since I am running low on room for my tech and am still "between" jobs, I am not. Not having enough space for everything is one issue. I also have to buy accessories for the consoles and make sure they are all working and with new consoles updated. I also half too buy games for them or else they just "sit on the shelf". These costs together make owning one of the new consoles too "expensive" for me at this time. Besides they are plenty of games for the conosles I own and at great pricses too.

Q: Why are two of the conosles in the basement? 

A: I don't really have room for the genesis in my bedroom. One also needs more space for something like a Wii, especially if you "get in too" your games like I do. 

Q: Do you use all those? 

A: Yes.

Q: Often? 

A: Some of them, like the old Mac(which is being overshadowed by the mini) not so much, but I still use it enough that I would miss it if I got rid of it.

Q: If you did get one of the new consoles, which would you get? 

A: I would get a Wii U since I love my Nindento games. Yes it's not as "new" as the PS4 or Xbox One but I still consider it to be part of the same "generation" of consoles, just as the original Wii was part of the Xbox 360 and PS3 "generation".

Q:  Will you upgrade your PC to the "next generation"?

A: PCs don't have "generations" since new hardware comes out a lot more frequently then ever 7 years. To answer this question yes, someday but at the moment I don't play enough current games to care to do so and I'm saving most of the money while a wait for a job.


That it for me for now. I thought up all those questions myself is "segways" into different things I wanted to discuss. If you do want to ask me a 'real' question post it in the comments and I will address it in a future blog article.