GeekSugar

Mirror's Edge Time Trials: All the Fun, Without All the Fuzz

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:09:56 PST

Although I complained about the controls and learning curve when I first cracked open Mirror's Edge, I quickly became a bona fide addict. I still play it when I need to escape my day, and with the addition of the new downloadable content on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, I'm sure I'll get hooked all over again.

Mirror's Edge Time Trials has you racing the clock on nine different maps, without the distraction of gunfire, the guilt of beating the crap out of city cops, and being pinched by the fuzz. The only thing you'll have to worry about is falling (naturally), but this time it's not in the city. It's platforms in the sky. Bring your total concentration, race against other players in ghost mode, and move your way up the leaderboards to victory. Mirror's Edge Time Trials will be available for $10 or 800 Microsoft points. Bonus for all you PS3 players: you get an extra map, just for being you. Check out some sample play in the video above.

Mirror's Edge Review: Fun. . . Once You Get the Hang of It

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:01:22 PST

I had been looking forward to playing Mirror's Edge since the early months of 2008, all the while hoping it was going to live up to the hype I had heard swirling around it. The good news is, this first-person action title is beautiful to look at, it's a great way to break out of a RPG rut (note to self: must stop playing Fable II), and I was able to do things I had never done before in a game. The bad news? It takes quite a while to get the hang of the controls and movements, not to mention the camera angles.

Mirror's Edge places you in a suppressed city, run by a totalitarian regime. You're a messenger, running correspondence between the underground resistance, and your sole mission is to deliver your "packages" without getting caught by government surveillance teams. But the coolest part? You use rooftops high above the city floor to make your way from point A to point B. This is where things get interesting.

View 5 Photos ›

To see what I mean, just read more. As Faith - the game's main character - finding your way around the ceiling of the city is made much easier by looking for objects, platforms, pipes, anything that you can jump from, grab onto, or open, that is shaded in red. Sometimes this has you leaping from one building to another while avoiding barbed-wire, sliding under pipes, and busting open roof doors to evade the police; or to get where you need to go. But nothing is set in stone - there is never only one way to get to your destination. The colors and graphics in Mirror's Edge are like nothing I've ever seen before. It's vibrant, crisp, has great detail, and has impressive lighting effects that emulate real sun reflecting off the glass windows of your city. Plus, the sounds are pretty awesome too. You can hear the traffic bustling below, but the one thing you hear the most is your heavy breathing and footsteps - it's a true immersion into the world. This great detail is what makes the issue with the controls such a bummer! Even with a full tutorial in the beginning, I spent more than a few hours doing some trial and error before I finally got to the point where I could really play the first level - but in the end it was totally worth it. Mirror's Edge is that game that you can keep coming back to, even if it's only to perfect your skills. The story is engaging, and your heart really does pound when you leap off the edge of a skyscraper, or when you're being pursued by cops and can't find your way out of a building. There's a lot to love about this game - it's fresh and I've never played anything like it - but it's definitely not going to be for everyone. Especially those who have a hard time picking up control functions. . . and maybe even those who are afraid of heights. Mirror's Edge is available now for $60 bucks for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Source

Yoga Class: Studio vs. Gym

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:03:11 PST

With all the New Year's resolutions floating around, if "trying yoga" is on your list, you're probably wondering where the best place to practice is. With yoga's increased popularity, just about every gym offers yoga classes on their schedule in between Body Pump and Spinning, but there are also studios on every corner that teach yoga exclusively. Keep reading to find out which place you'd prefer getting your Down Dog on.

Price

Studio: Purchase single classes at a drop-in rate that's about $12 to $25 per class (depending on the length of the class), or you can buy a group of classes at a slightly cheaper rate. Some studios also offer monthly or yearly memberships, so classes are even cheaper, but this only pays off if you go a lot.
Gym: Many gym memberships include classes in the monthly or yearly fee, so yoga classes at gyms might be significantly less expensive than at a studio.

Continue reading to learn how studio's and gym's compare when it comes to atmosphere, convenience, and teacher qualifications.

Your Go-To Guide For Applying False Eyelashes

Jaime Richards — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:00:27 PST

False eyelashes give a touch of elegance to any look, whether you go for full and thick or studded with rhinestones. Ana Cruzalegui, CEO of We Are Faux, has already given us a few tips on how to choose the right ones for you, and now she's sharing her step-by-step guide on making the application process all the more goof-proof. Find out more when you keep reading.

Glee-ful Highlights From Episode "Hold On to Sixteen"

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:59:28 PST

Trouty Mouth is back in town, and just in time for Sectionals on Glee this week. The showdowns are abundant, as the Troubletones and New Directions square off for top honors, and Quinn and Shelby have yet another faceoff about Beth's future.

Not only is it good to see Sam again (though I didn't think I'd be seeing so much of him), the episode also nicely ties up some loose ends that should make fans happy before the imminent Winter hiatus. Let's break down the high notes and low notes when you

A '70s Modern Beach House Gets a Serious Facelift

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:00:22 PST

Blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living, Malibu-based architect, Douglas W. Burdge, designed a haven that reflects the serenity of the surrounding oceanfront. While remodeling the 1970s seaside estate, Burdge honored the home’s original modern frame while adding contemporary features. Warm, organic materials are represented throughout the home’s interior. The result is a living space that feels comfortable, communal, and timeless.

Located on just over an acre of land adjacent to Malibu’s Point Dume State Beach, this property is currently on the market with a listing price of $27 million. The expansive compound takes up 10,000 square feet with seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, including a guesthouse. Burdge also incorporated elements that would take advantage of the scenic location, including a new swimming pool and spa, trellised terraces, and an outdoor kitchen.

Matthew McConaughey and Brooke Burke are just a couple of Burdge’s celebrity clients. His award-winning firm, Burdge & Associates Architects, Inc., is known for an array of architectural styles including rustic-modern and cutting-edge contemporary among others. Keeping in step with creating beautiful homes that mirror their natural environment, the firm uses sustainable materials and methods whenever possible to create responsible, LEED-certified green designs for all of its projects.

Take a look at the slideshow to tour the entire Birdview House in all of its renovated glory.

Photos courtesy of Manolo Langis

Abstract Art With Painter's Tape

Casa Community — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:52:26 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member TenJune from the Su Casa group:

I've been trying for the last couple of months to find some inexpensive art for my dining room walls. My first thought in terms of keeping the cost down on the project was to DIY the art myself. But I'm certainly not a true artist, so it was time to get creative.

Keep reading to see what TenJune created with painter's tape.

How to Hang a Frameless Mirror - Tips For Lauren Conrad!

Julia Walsh — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:20:00 PDT

Lauren Conrad recently shared this devastating photo on Twitter, writing, "Mid-meeting three mirrors fall off my wall and explode all over my office . . . for no reason at all." What a bummer!

I noticed that two of her mirrors are frameless, which can be trickier to hang than framed ones. Before y'all wind up in the same situation - poor thing! - I thought I'd give you the lowdown on how to hang a frameless mirror. This style is very common for the full-length mirrors many of us keep in our bedrooms and dressing rooms, so I hope these tips will come in handy.

Supplies:

A frameless mirror
A frameless mirror hanging kit (with mounting brackets, drywall anchor bolts, and screws)
A pencil
A Phillips-head screwdriver
A hammer
A measuring tape
A long, thin flathead nail

Continue reading to learn how.

Alexander Wang Spring 2012

FabSugar — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:15:01 PDT

Alexander Wang took sport to its sleekest edge with his Spring 2012 collection, which was shown in a raw industrial space - Pier 94 in Manhattan - with stadium-style seating that surrounded four large mirrors. Models walked amongst the mirrors with slick, wet hair wearing performance-inspired pieces: "technical" polos, cargo pants, utility vests, track suits, hoodie jackets, cycling tanks, mesh jerseys, motorcross sweatshirts. Of course, this isn't Nike, it's Alexander Wang, so pieces were done in graphic botanical prints that softened Wang's signature edginess, or layered over sexy swimsuits with seriously sexy accessories, like the white Joan ankle strap mule. It's said that ladylike dressing - thanks to women like Kate Middleton - will dominate fashion's collective consciousness in the years to come. Tell that to Alexander Wang, who brought the season's sporty trend downtown to his turf and injected it with a sleek coolness that not even the most polished of women will be able to resist.

Trends: Sporty, pixelated florals, utility separates, mesh, sheer layers.
Colors: Tangerine, acai, robin's egg, intarsia knits, and botanical ombré.
Key Piece: A cropped hoodie jacket, leather minidress, any of the botanical ombré pieces.
Accessories: Large leather weekenders that looked like golf bags, leather bandannas, the white ankle strap shoes.
Who Would Wear It: His downtown muse Erin Wasson, and girls with a similar edge, like Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.

Cynthia Rowley Spring 2012

Hannah Weil — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:57:18 PDT

With gold embellishments and garden-party-inspired prints, Cynthia Rowley's set the tone for a beautifully femme and still entirely modern Spring 2012. Models hit the mirrored, metallic runway in a contrast of botanical prints on slim-fit pants and waist-cinching jackets and blazers, while LBDs and knits got a dose of the same gold accents that Rowley echoed again and again on shoes, soccer-inspired patchwork bags, and even gilded shorts. Rowley delivered a collection that manages to be equal parts sophisticate and cool girl - statement pieces in all-over florals that get a chicer edge thanks to sharp tailoring and a perfect palette.

Trends: Contrast stitching, head-to-toe print, botanicals and florals, laser-cut detailing.
Colors: White, black, red, gold, florals.
Key Piece: White botanical print blazer and slim-fit black floral print pants.
Accessories: Gold and white heels, mirrored shades, quilted soccer handbags.
Who Would Wear It: Polished, feminine girls who still like to take risks; Olivia Palermo and Leighton Meester.