GeekSugar

PlanetEye Officially Launches!

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:30:26 -0700

PlanetEye, the one-stop destination site for all your travel planning needs, has officially launched with so many fabulous features! Whether you're organizing a trip from start to finish, or feel like getting to know a destination better, PlanetEye will help you do just that. With more than 70,000 geotagged photographs in its database so far, PlanetEye not only offers useful info about cities, landmarks, and hotels, but it also offers a visual experience like no other.

Once you type in a destination of your choice, you can check out city guides and mouse over media bubbles on the map, which will display landmarks on interactive maps. And if you check out the top preview panel on the map, you'll notice many more photos from that area as well, so you can see exactly what that location has to offer.

To learn more about this brilliant site and to view some more screen caps, just read more.

PlanetEye offers a handy tool called "Travel Packs" which allow you to collect interesting photographs, attractions, hotels and restaurants in one convenient spot for you to share with friends and family or to use later. You can check out all your Travel Pack info on personalized maps and you can even book flight and hotel and car rentals right from your Travel Pack through Travelocity, make dinner reservations through OpenTable, purchase tickets via StubHub and even book a spa appointment with WaySpa!

PlanetEye also includes local experts in various places to give you the best advice about what to see and do when visiting a certain location. So once you sign up (don't worry, it's totally free) and upload your own pics, leave feedback and reviews, make hotel and restaurant reservations, and best of all, create a customized travel pack!

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Planet Eye

GeekSugar — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:23:37 -0700

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Wondercon 2009: Pixar's Up!

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:33:54 -0800

I look forward to Wondercon all year, mostly because it's in my hometown so I don't have to worry about flying, hotels, and cabs, but also because I get to check out tons of upcoming movies. Day two of Wondercon was packed (and I mean packed) with geeky and celebrity goodness. There's a lot to cover, but first up, is Up! We got a sneak peek at Pixar's newest film at the Up panel, plus I got to chat with director Pete Doctor and producer Jonas Rivera about the movie, and check out an exclusive screening of the first 45 minutes of the film.

Up (which is coming out in 3D this May) is about a 78 year-old man who attaches a ton of helium-filled balloons to his house in order to float his way to South America. Up also stars an eight-year-old "Wilderness Explorer," a few hilarious dogs, and a really big bird. But by far the star of the film is the animation! To hear what the guys had to say about working in 3D versus 2D, and hear about some hidden tidbits you'll find in the film, just read more.

Jonas Rivera on developing a 3D movie: There's really no difference in how we animate a 3D movie than when we animate a 2D movie. From day one, our software allows us to animate in 3D, it's just that we're now projecting in 3D.

Pete Doctor on finding "Easter Eggs" in each of the Pixar films: There are objects that you'll find in each of our films, like the Pizza Planet truck has been in just about all of the movies, other things like the yellow ball with the star - you just gotta keep your eyes open and you'll start to recognize them.

On how they come up with movie ideas:
PD: To be honest, every one of them was totally different. Like for Monsters Inc. I literally thought of the concept in the shower, although it totally changed from there. And Up was almost like an intellectual exercise at some point, kind of constructing what made the old man who he is, making it an intriguing idea. They are all different, and I think that's the key to the success of the films is that there are no rules.
JR: The only commonality is that Pixar supports - there's a development department that, you know, when the director's done, you have an environment that supports and nurtures the development of an idea.

Check out the trailer here, and then tell me: are you excited to see Pixar's latest creation?

Do You Use a Console Camera When You Play Games?

GeekSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:45:28 -0800

The first time I used a console camera was when my BF brought one home in a Trials of Topoq game bundle, which has you using body movements to direct a ball through a maze. Admittedly, it was the single nerdiest moment in my life, mostly because I'd never used a camera while playing a game before, but more so because the game was totally unlike anything I'd ever seen. Seriously, it's pretty darn nerdy - just check out this review for proof.

But now that more and more games are incorporating the Playstation Eye or Xbox Vision Camera into gameplay, I'm glad we picked one up when we did. SingStar just wouldn't be the same without reviewing the snapshots and "Golden Moments" of me and my girls singing at the top of our lungs to Britney, and Little Big Planet wouldn't feel like home without posting up "Polaroid Stickers" of us all over the game!

Spore Mania: My Interview with Ocean Quigley

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:18 -0700

We have just a few more days until Spore hits the streets, and I couldn't be more excited! In preparation for the release, I got a chance to speak with Ocean Quigley, Spore's Art Director, about the making of the game, and all the challenges they faced while producing this trailblazing title. We also talked in depth about Spore's Creature Creator; the thing that allows you to mold and sculpt your creatures to life.

I'm assuming that you've already been toying around with it, because there are more than three million creatures created and submitted to the Sporepedia - Spore's answer to the encyclopedia!

Not surprisingly, with all the fun creatures, buildings, and planets you can make (and take over) in Spore, this game has been in development for quite some time. But you won't believe just how long it took to get made! Read on for my full interview!

So exactly how long have you been working on Spore?
A great long time! I started on it back in '99 after finishing up Sim City 3000, doing a few months of conceptual design with Will Wright (the creator of The Sims and Spore), then took a break to work on Sim City 4. So I've been noodling with it, well, geez, since back in the 20th century!

You must be totally relieved now that it's finished!
It's kind of hard to believe that we've come to the end of such a long development cycle. I've accumulated about six months of vacation, so I'm going to disappear for a while!

To check out the rest of my interview with Ocean, and why Spore will change the face of 3D modeling forever, just read more.

Where did your career start? Did you always know that you wanted to get into video games?
I started out as an oil painter, but it's not too often that you get to be on the ground floor of a new medium like that has been done on computers. Oil painting has been around for centuries, and people have been painting on cave walls before that, so if you think about the opportunity to be in the thick of a formation of a new art form, those opportunities are really rare. With the explosion of computer power we've seen over the last few years or so, it's become possible to make no-holds-barred, straight up artwork. It's was obvious to me in the early '90s that I needed to be a part of this.

Coming from a fine arts background, was it hard for you to relinquish that control of what will be produced in the game by the players?
That was kind of interesting! Because you have to hold back a little bit. Usually, when you're an artist you say, "This is what I want this object to look like," and you sort of bang on it until it looks like what I want it to look like. But in Spore, I had to step back because how it works out will be up to the player. In Spore, you're really experiencing a new kind of artwork where it's made by the interactions of the player. It's not this static, inert object. It's a dynamic art form. It took years to figure out and get used to.

Spore's creation editor is similar to some professional 3D modeling programs out on the market. How do you think Spore's creation editor is better or different than those programs?
The main difference is that the professional programs like Maya don't make any assumptions about what you're doing, so you're working up from bits and pieces. If you wanted to make a creature, you may start with a cube, and then pull those shapes where you want them to be. Whereas in our Creature Editor, we've given a lot of thought about making creatures and how they are put together. So instead of starting with a triangle or cube, we give you the structure of creatures (spine, muscles) and they are just waiting to be sculpted. So really, you could make creatures, like, a thousand times faster in our editor than in other programs.

I get the feeling that Spore will spawn a whole new generation of 3D modelers and animators. Did you have that in mind when creating the game?
No question. It's such a wonderful experience to create things and bring them to life. But the barrier to enter the 3D modeling world is incredibly high - not only are the production tools really expensive, but they are really hard to use. So one of the things that I wanted to do was give that experience of creation - of what it's like to shape something and see it come to life and basically give tangible form to your imagination - to millions of people, not just the handful of artists that use these expensive programs.

I'd expect that Spore will be a gateway to thousands of visual artists, but also that professional modeling programs are going to have to learn from Spore's user interface. You're going to have these artists coming from Spore, and then into these higher level programs like Maya, and they will realize how awful they are to use.

You worked on The Sims, which has been hugely popular with the female gaming community. Did this fact have any impact on how you made Spore?
Yeah, no question. We have a lot of women in senior positions, and we wanted to make sure that we didn't just make something that would appeal to the guys on the team, so at every stage the art direction was critiqued by the women that were on the project. The final art direction that you see reflects the years of ideas we thought would appeal both to men and women.

Will you play Spore, or are you completely Spore-d out?
Yes, I will play, but I'm actually waiting for a release copy, just like everyone else! I've got a pretty good sense about what the play will be like, but I'm needing a little bit of a break so that I can play with fresh eyes. My kids are very excited to play it as well.

Do you play any other video games?
I like all kinds of games, but the only type that I really don't play are the World of Warcraft, or online games in general. I've got the kind of personality that I know it would just take over my life! It's good to know your limitations.

Eco-fy Your Wedding!

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:30:12 -0700

In honor of Earth Day (and wedding planning week here on the Sugar Network) I thought it would be a grand idea to serve you up some easy and simple ways to make your wedding just a bit more earth friendly from a geek's perspective. These days, getting down with protecting Mother Earth can be simple.

From your wedding shower, to the big event and to all the details in between - from flower and utensil selection to reducing your meal's carbon footprint by choosing local food and beverages - little changes like this can certainly help our planet and our pocketbooks! Making your wedding eco friendly has never been more simple (and surprisingly) cost effective. Besides, wouldn't you rather spend all that extra cash on the honeymoon, or better yet? That flat screen HDTV you've been eyeing? Go, Earth!

Invites - We've already talked about some great wedding websites like ewedding that you can set up at little or no cost. The best part, since all of your ceremony and reception information is in one place, no one will be losing the details on your big day. And since your guests can RSVP directly on the site at any time, there really isn't any need for paper invites anymore. Another option is to create a DVD wedding invite - high tech, yet super simple to make! However, if you are a traditionalist and want to send out your dream monogrammed paper invitations, make sure your paper is 100 percent recycled or even paper free like what's offered at Atlanta based Earthly Affair, who offer recycled invites as well as eco friendly printing and shipping.

For a few more tips, read more

Favors - No more mint candies in little bags from the earth friendly couple! There are lots of online options for some pretty unique and planet saving wedding favors. For example, The Arbor Day Foundation offers gift trees for your guests to plant, and nurture, just like your marriage! Or, you can send your guests away knowing that you have donated funds in their name to a charity of your choice, with the help of great charities like I Do Foundation.
Go Green With Transportation - Why take separate vehicles and burn all those fossil fuels when you can double, even or triple-up in something like a stretch limo? Or better yet, rent lots of hybrid cars instead of getting that earth un-friendly hummer your hubby has been longing for.
Rings - Sorry to be a "Debbie Downer," but If you haven't seen the film Blood Diamond, I suggest you take a gander before purchasing that rock you've dreamed of since you were a little girl. Times have changed and it's imperative that you make sure you aren't getting a diamond at the cost of someone's life! Research where your diamonds come from before you buy, whether it's online or from a store, or even consider going for a man made gem. Also, since mining for gold does a number on the earth's ecosystems, consider recycling your old rings that you aren't wearing, and turning them into a new piece that you can enjoy forever through a company called GreenKarat that does just that. By reusing gold or silver you already have, you can make your new rings as geeky, or as traditional as you'd like, and help reduce mining damage!
Go Digital! - Why do it the old school way and waste tons of rolls of (toxic) film when you can go digital?! With digital cameras, you can easily email your captured memories to friends and family, or upload them to lovely digital photo frames! Simple, easy on the environment and super cheap!

For more wedding coverage, check out I Do Sugar.

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Geeks We Love: Devin Coldewey of CrunchGear

GeekSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:01:32 -0800

What better way to countdown to Valentine's Day than by showcasing fun interviews with some very special Geeks We Love. Without further adieu (cause I know you want to know who the hottie is in the pic below), I bring to you today's geeky guy - The geekalicious Devin Coldewey, a Seattle-based freelance tech writer who works as an associate editor for CrunchGear-one of my fave tech blogs. You can't help but love a guy with a great sense of humor, who watches nature documentaries, knows a ton about gadgets, and was once . . . a preschool teacher. . . (all together now, awww!) Keep reading to learn more about Devin, and find out why he thinks the MacBook Air is a "sexy lemon!"
GS: Tell my few readers that haven’t heard of you a little about yourself:
DC: Well, I used to be a preschool teacher, but now I do this ridiculous gig. Writing about cool stuff all day, kind of awesome. My life isn't too exciting. . . I spend my days and nights hanging out at bars and cafes writing, reading, and seeing friends. I really love obscure music, nature documentaries, and old-school video games.

GS: When we chit-chatted at CES, you mentioned that you don't read a ton of blogs each day. Is this true? And if so, how do you get all your info for stories?
DC: Well, what I write on isn't always what I keep tabs on. I love looking up stuff like new camera gear, Indie gaming news, and PC hardware. . . But for random cool gadgets like that bad breath detector you guys had, I feel there is so much out there, that I have to leave it the guys who are naturally inclined that way. We edit each other and say "dude, is this cool or not?" all the time, and trade posts when we know the other guy would have loved to have found it.

To check out the rest of the interview, and to see what Devin describes as the ultimate geeky Valentine's Day date (trust me it's realllly good), read more

GS: What three gadgets can't you seem to live without and why?
DC: It may sound strange, but I'm not really a gadget guy. However, I've recently gotten a Helio Ocean, which is chunky but awesome - full HTML internet, GPS, 3G, MySpace and YouTube apps, it's really great to have around. I usually have my MacBook Pro with me, which is indispensable since it's, well, my computer unless I'm at my gaming box. Lastly I have my Canon Rebel XT, which is just a fantastic camera. The Mac and the Canon have been all the way around the world with me and survived a lot of abuse, so I'm not afraid to take them pretty much anywhere.

GS: Your MacBook AirHead story seemed to stir up alot of discussion across the blogosphere. I totally agree with your perspective (and the awesome ditzy model-actress' entourage analogy), but for those who were a tad confused, can you briefly explain why the MacBook Air is a "sexy lemon"?
DC: Oh man, I really shook up the hive with that one! From the time the thing came out of the envelope to when they showed its specs, I was in love. The Air is a beautiful piece of engineering and industrial design. But it fails at everything it wants to be. It's too wide to be a subnotebook like the Eee. It's too limited to be your only computer, and it's too expensive to be a supplementary one. It's just not useful was my point. People pointed out, rightly, that practicality was the farthest thing from Apple's mind when they designed this thing, but one of Apple's best points has always been that it's not JUST eye candy-it also works. People tolerate the premium price because it's a good product and it looks great to boot. The Air is flagrantly placing form before function, I mean my MacBook Pro is two years old and still faster than it, and really it's not that heavy or thick. The Air is, in terms of usability, a lemon - but undoubtedly a sexy one.

GS: Being based in geek-chic Seattle, what would you describe as the ultimate geeky Valentine's date in the city?
DC: Uh oh - my inexperience is going to show here. I don't go out on a lot of dates, I prefer to spend time in a less formal way with a girl, doing fun stuff and not worrying about who pays, which date it is, what exactly the other intends, and that whole game. It's depressing! But if I had the chance to spend a couple hours with a like-minded lady friend, I think this is what I'd do:

If it's nice and still light out, go to the park for a bit and play on the equipment. Fun as hell, and grown-ups often forget this. If there's time, try to get in a few rounds of Super Mario Kart on the SNES or some cooperative Katamari Damacy. Then off to a nice but cozy restaurant I know well - I don't need to impress this girl, just make sure we can have some good food and laugh and talk and maybe see some people we know. Not very geeky. . . but we could have our DS's under the table, pictochatting about how awkward some of the dates around us look. After dinner, get a coffee somewhere and share headphones for watching an episode of Planet Earth or Yacht Rock or something. Then meet friends for a drink - hey, I know it's Valentine's Day but everyone gets date fatigue and it's good to shake things up. This is a good time for sidelong glances and secret text messages to each other. Go somewhere else for a more private drink or share a bottle of wine at a nice overlook somewhere - Seattle has lots of great little spots with great views. If we pick a park, we can climb on the equipment again. Depending on how things go, maybe one last round of Mario Kart?

2008 Video Game Preview: Part III

GeekSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:25 -0800

We are in the home stretch for our three part series giving you a taste of the coolest games scheduled to drop in the next 12 months. In this final installment, it's all about size. One game making a move from a tiny touch screen to a roomier home, a huge silver screen box office buster downsizing to something more modest, a series with an extra large following that will surely grab even more attention, and a little known charmer that just might make it big. Check out parts I and II if you haven't already, and keep your eyes peeled each month for new releases so you can get your game on all year long! Mario Kart Wii
What's better than racing classic Mario Kart style? With a Wii wheel, of course! The new Wii edition offers the usual online multi-player action but now you can race motorcycles! Will Princess Peach ride side saddle? Find out in early 2008 on the Wii.

Need more? Of course you do so read more

Indiana Jones
Seriously realistic graphics from LucasArts is sure to make this game visually stunning. The only setback is that it's been in production for so long, I doubt that newly coined super star Shia will make a cameo. But there's always hope, right? Look for Indy this year on the silver screen and in your home on the PS3 or Xbox 360.

Little Big Planet
Customization is the name of this game where you make your own characters, levels, and surroundings. Swap customized games online for seriously endless options for gameplay. Plus it's so cute, you really won't be able to resist. Stealing your heart this winter on the PS3.

Grand Theft Auto IV
The joys of Grand Theft Auto return for hot wiring, car jacking, crash inducing action with Niko Bellic. GTA developer Rockstar, promises a brilliant online experience and almost zero load times. We'll hold them to that! Check it out this Spring on your PS3 or Xbox 360.

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Google Earth Adds Sky Feature

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:00:17 -0700

Following the success of Google Earth, which allows you to get a bird's eye view of most corners of the world and even watch the sun come up, Google has launched a new Sky feature, that will allow you to play astronaut from the ground.

The feature allows you to zoom in to distant galaxies and nebulae, view constellations and the movements of the planets and learn about the lifecycle of a star and different kinds of galaxies. You can also create and share your own imagery, placemarks and more. With a hundred million stars and two hundred million galaxies your searching seems infinite.

Aly & AJ Share How Chemicals React - In Simlish

GeekSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:09:50 -0800

Teen pop queens Aly and AJ, must have a geeky side. The sister duo, which is known for their "Chemicals React" song, recently teamed up with EA Games and released their hit in Simlish. While I'm a die-hard Sims fan, I don't know the girls very well, so I was a little shocked at first. Now I'm amazed, entertained and imagining how funny Madonna would sound in Simlish.

The song was recorded for The Sims 2: Pets, which launched in late 2006. It was also included on the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system version. If you're wondering what the girls are saying in English, just read more

Chemicals React

"You make me feel out of my element, like I'm walkin' on broken glass. Like my worlds spinnin' in slow motion and you're movin' too fast.

Were you right, was I wrong? Were you weak, was I strong? Yeah both of us broken, caught in the moment we lived and we loved and we hurt and we joked, yeah. But the planets all aligned when you looked into my eyes and just like that the chemicals react. The chemicals react."