69 posts from 2007

We finally got the seasonal short finished. Mind you this is our first edit. We will be trying this at several Film Clubs to get critiques and ideas to make it stronger. Check it out.

The Great Hacker: Kevin Mitnick

SO I just finished reading Jonathan Littman's version of the years Mitnick spent running from the feds and the phone companies. The Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick Jonathan Littman Takedown: The Pursuit and Capture of Kevin Mitnick, America's Most Wanted Computer Outlaw-By the Man Tsutomu Shimomura In Littman's book he writes about the many phone conversations that he and the fugitive Mitnick had. He also portrays Tsutomu Shimomura(they guy that finally caught him), as a fame seeker. According to the book both John Markoff and Tsutomu went after Mitnick with the fervor and drive of people looking for a rapist or mass murder. The charges against Mitnick were only a simple probation violation. The trumped up allegations that were made by the companies Mitnick had gotten source code he had stolen. The companies and the government claims the code was worth millions of dollars. Was it really, can you put a dollar amount on something that hasn't been sold or bought? I could create a widget and say that if someone stole it was worth 10 billion because of future sales. I also read the book by Tsutomu and Markoff. I felt it drew some conclusions that are not formed by the facts. Whether Littman or Markoff we're right by the facts will never be able to be proved outside of witness reports. I did like how Littman, who also was hacked by Mitnick. Yet even so never really made a judgment call about Mitnick and the reason why. I also just watched the movie based on the Markoff story. I was worried that it would have the s colored view as the book. I was some what pleased and a little disappointed by. Pleased because they didn't make Mitnick out to be a terrorist that Markoff and the media did. Disappointed because the story did take on a new twist adding that Tsutomu had some secret program that would crash major systems. Funny that never came out in the real trial. Mitnick did have the OKI open source code and that alone was a dangerous piece of information. Yet he never used it to sell anything, get anything or in any transaction that committed a  crime (accept for the illegal wiretapping abilities the phone could do.). Well the story is gripping and a good read for anyone that might want to learn more about Mitnick, Poulsen, Tsutomu, or any of the hackers that made that age a legend.

Christmas cheer to all.

Here is some insight to our latest project.

Well part one came out a month ago but I thought I would go ahead and put both on now.

Angelo doing his stuff.

Norwood in all his awesmeness.

Another Fishbone.

With out giving away and spoilers. I must say this is one of the best games of this year.

First, for a game not to have the twist released before the games is awesome. Yes there were rumblings, but nothing about the true nature of the game. One of the most surprising story lines in a long time. I don't usually get games for the story line. Rarely do you buy a game for the story line. To a gamer stories are just the pauses for peeing and getting drinks. This game is so much more.

I started the game and was only 20 minutes into it without getting bored. Which is awesome considering it was primarily story mixed with tutorial. Great way to begin the game.

Of course the graphics are great. So far the only issue I have had is the simplicity of the combat. I am sure it will improve in game play. The interface is one of the interesting parts of the game. I do not want to give out spoilers but it's as much of the game as the fighting is. I only hope collecting flags and other "eggs" will allow me to further the story as well as just playing the game. I have high hopes for so many games only to not have the story complete the final picture. Of course UBI Soft is the creator of the Splinter Cell series. They have a history of making a game around a story. They have come close to providing me with the best attempt at a story line.

If you get a chance to play the game DO IT!