[SITE NEWS] Happenin's

It's been a while since I've given a site update, and with that spree of reviews I threw out, I want to let people know what's going on behind the scenes, and that this is more than just a hub of reviews...

For the "tl;dr" kids, skip to the bottom.

First and foremost:

Reviews
For starters, you may have noticed a huge influx of review posts, strangely appearing after a large absence of those posts. My review process has been streamlined, and I would like to state that the style of reviews will be staying the same for the time being, however, when I write the review, I will be adding exactly what portions of the game I played, how far (if I did not finish, which is a rare circumstance), length, etc.. Going forward (with the exception of a few drafted reviews I have here that may have been posted while I was creating this), reviews will be posted in a sense of "lasting impressions", hopefully within 24 hours - upwards of a week - of completing the game's campaign (keyword: hopefully). I forbid myself from multiplayer games except in very rare, extreme circumstances (read: Halo).

With that in mind, I will only be reviewing the campaign mode of the game. Most multiplayer I have been exposed to has been horrendous, and the communities built around the services - be it Xbox LIVE or PlayStation Network - are no where near forgiving. I have met a few fortunate souls that have not been tainted by the aspect of anonymity, and I remain in contact with a few of them. Outside of those contacts, online gaming communities are fucking abysmal, and I refuse to take part in any of them.

Additionally, I will be adding a new "Plays Like" section at the beginning, giving you an idea of what other games this closely resembles; if you read Alternative Press, this will seem very familiar. If there is an available review for that game, I will link to the review for the game (or for the most recent entry in the series).

All of these changes are taking effect as of my Lollipop Chainsaw review.



Facebook Activity
For those who follow Destroyed Controller on Facebook, you'll notice that there is much more activity there than there is here on the blog. As with my new job, I do have free access to my RSS feeds and Facebook. If a story comes across my feeds and I find compelled to share, I'll Share it to the page with a quick blurb. I'm moving away from writing huge posts, and, depending on which outlet does a better job of writing on it, I'll share their link. Some may scoff, saying things such as "how will you stretch your journalistic muscles?" Well, good sire, that's where my reviews and editorials come into play.

Kind of, but not really...

Most of my Shares will come from Kotaku, Joystiq, and The Verge/Polygon for gaming, with Engadget being the main proprietor of tech news. If another outlet comes around with something to share, so be it. I do feel the need to level out any qualms any would have with me simply "Sharing" stories on Facebook. My job doesn't allow me to have the time either during work or after work to do so, and weekends are hellish enough as they stand. For the site, my time is quickly being directed towards reviews and editorials, for what little time I do have.

Extra Bits
Reviews and editorials will be taking up the majority of the posts here on the blog. I truly want to start sharing info on my game's progress, but until I can get things coordinated, they'll stay in their folder.

While I'm on it, progress on my game has almost hit a stand-still. As mentioned, my job at an IT company has me constantly on my toes; I feel absolutely drained by the time I get home (commuting in Northern Virginia feels like a highly unpleasant, undoubtedly long drive through the countryside). I recently opened up my project binder to start cranking out some maps, but I felt so inundated by what I was doing last, I felt lost. So, here I am, having to re-read up on what I was doing in order to "get back in the groove". I'm still dedicated to get this game in to, at the very least, pre-alpha stages; if I'm feeling zesty, alpha stage. As the game stands, it is still in "pre-development", as in "every damn thing I have is on paper".

----------------

tl;dr == My time on the blog is cut short, exponentially short, due to the new job. I'll try to keep stuff fresh and original, because y'all can go elsewhere for reviews and news. Editorials are to be my bread and butter, with reviews serving the purpose of keeping my writing fine tuned.

READ MORE - [SITE NEWS] Happenin's

Blackhole Exploit Sucks in Twitter Users

According to the security firm Sophos, who seems to be on top of every single major spam attack that happens on the internet these days, a widespread spam attack that links to malware has weaseled its way onto Twitter. The tweets that are trying to lure unsuspecting users in include things like: "It's you on photo?" or "It's about you?" In addition to that, the tweets and URLs typically include a user's Twitter handle. Many of the links that Sophos has discovered include a .RU domain name.

According to Head of Sophos' U.S. Labs Richard Wang, "The attack itself is very simple, relying on people's natural curiosity about anything they think mentions them. Including the target's Twitter username in the link is an added hook to reel people in." Twitter added through a spokesman's email saying, "We're aware of the issue and we're working to resolve it."

The links in the tweets themselves lead to a Trojan that ultimately redirects users to Russian websites that contain the Blackhole exploit kit, according to Sophos. The Blackhole exploit kit first emerged back in 2010 and is widely used in spam attacks. The version of the kit that is floating around Twitter targets vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader and Shockwave Flash, Sophos discovered.

If you feel that you have been affected by the spamming attacks, or you just want to take precautions against it in general, then you can protect yourself by updating your anti-malware software, patching your operating system and making sure your browser and browser plugins are up-to-date. In addition to that, you could just be smart and not click on anything on Twitter that you don't recognize.

Source: Computer World - Twitter suffers malware spam outbreak

Find out what is going on in the Tech Army World.

What are the Top 10 Money Making Missions?
What other companies have joined and what do they do?
How do I join the Tech Army Organization ?

READ MORE - Blackhole Exploit Sucks in Twitter Users

[REVIEW] Lollipop Chainsaw

Lollipop Chainsaw
Release Date: June 12, 2012
System Reviewed: Xbox 360
Plays Like: Bayonetta, MadWorld, Devil May Cry

What's Great: Suda 51 doesn't censor himself, and his crude humor shines through. With lines like "I'd never thought I'd be rescued by someone with such great tits", or "I'm going to go home and masturbate to you", Suda's mind is at all times present. The combat, while sometimes unresponsive, is addicting. I'm not sure what makes it so, but I first walked into this very skeptically, and each time I put it down, I hesitated to pick it back up. Each successive time I did, I found myself playing longer and longer. Health, while non-regenerative (thankfully), is in the form of lollipops, and they are in an abundant supply.

What's (Not So) Great: Where to start? Combat is unresponsive (as stated above), with combos not registering fully. You'll get the hang of the timing, but it's not like you'd expect: rather than press X 4 times then Y twice, you press X until you memorize each pom-pom attack, and once you see her do her jump/dive and roll, you know to cram on the Y button until the super combo hits. The upgrade system/store is incredibly annoying, especially hearing that goddamned lollipop song; I learned to hit Mute on my remote once I came to a shop. There are no previews for combos, nor do they give you more information than a one-liner in the shop (there really should have been a training hub that would allow you to practice combos). One gripe I do have is that, while you can exchange 500 Gold zombie medals for 1 Platinum, there's no way of reversing that exchange; why can't I trade in my one Platinum coin for even 100 Gold medals? Successive upgrades, such as for health or strength, shoot up drastically in price, making you grind your way through Sparkle Mode and plan your attacks accordingly, lining up zombies for multiple take-downs in one swipe. Grinding is not fun, especially for money.

Bottom Line: I'm a huge Suda 51 fan, so when I first heard he was doing a zombie hack-n-slash, I was pretty ecstatic. When it was succeeded by "starring a voluptuous cheerleader with a chainsaw", my heart sank, then rose. The game itself is one of those games that, if you live with your significant other, be prepared to be judged, as I was. Despite the story being utter horseshit (compared to Shadows or No More Heroes), the game can be surprisingly addicting. There are many flaws in the combat, and with a genre that has many forefathers that have nailed the execution, the sequel - if there is one - should take some major cues from games such as Bayonetta and Devil May Cry. I feel that, if Suda 51 does create a sequel (a rarity in his studio) for this game, I feel there is so much more room for improvement, and I do welcome a sequel that fixes those issues. Despite my rampant negativity towards the game, it is a game that can be fun, but only to a very small niche.

Grade: C


(Lollipop Chainsaw was obtained through GameFly, played on Normal, completing the campaign, missing one classmate. Played stage select to rescue the last student and replayed last boss fight to unlock "Happy Ending". Didn't bother with different modes.)

READ MORE - [REVIEW] Lollipop Chainsaw

[REVIEW] The Walking Dead: Episode 2 - Starved for Help

The Walking Dead: Episode 2 - Starved for Help
Release Date: June 27, 2012
System Reviewed: Xbox 360

Ed. Note: There are spoilers in this review, but they have been whited-out. Just highlight to read.

What's Great: A fantastic continuation of the story. I enjoyed how the story began, but now, you're making decisions for the group. The level of "disgusting" is ramped up, as, what I thought was a dream sequence ended up being the real deal (SPOILER!: I seriously thought that Lee was dreaming the situation with Mark being cut in half after being wounded by the bandits, and his legs being the main course dish everyone ate up). The game is starting to turn into that promised "tailored" experience, and I love seeing my changes being recognized by later chapters of this game.

What's (Not So) Great: Some decisions aren't handled the best way. For instance, divvying up rations was partially fucked, in that, why can't the kids share the cheese and crackers? Why can't I split up the beef jerkey between two adults? Haven't you people heard of the leap-frog schedule, where people alternate days of eating; it sucks, but the situation at hand it brutal. Other choices don't appear to have that much of a lasting, such as everything that happens between those on the dairy farm.

Bottom Line: If you've played episode 1, you should continue the story, no doubt. If you have yet to pick up the game because people said episode 1 was dull, you have every reason now to pick it up. The releasing of the episode wasn't exactly what I wanted - it took two months to get episode 2 - but I do appreciate that Tell Tale has acknowledged that, and states that episode 3 will be out in about a months time. This is going to be the longest month of my life.

Grade: A-

READ MORE - [REVIEW] The Walking Dead: Episode 2 - Starved for Help

How to calibrate offset Displacer level transmitter

How to calibrate offset Displacer  level transmitter

Procedure:

*Hook up HART Communicator and verify some parameters by refer to data sheet. Typical parameters are, tag number, PV, LRV and URV.
*Isolate the instrument from the process.
WARNING – If the process is hazardous, please unsure proper flushing is done to remove the entire hazard.
Remove isolation drain valve and open the vent flange
*Connect water pump to drain line and line up the reference tube
*Calculate the new measurement to get equivalent up trust force with S.G and length
*Mark on the chamber for reference calibration
*Hook up a multimeter in series with the signal to the DCS to measure current signal.
*Apply water level until 0% marking on chamber
*Multimeter should show 4mA
*If not, do zero adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
Apply water level until 100% marking on chamber
Multimeter should show 20mA
*If not, do span adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
Verify the linearity by increasing and decreasing the pressure (0%,25%,50%,75%,100%,75%,50%,25% and 0%of range)

Example calculation:
Low S.G=0.802
High S.G= 0.992
A= 810mm (measurement length)
B= 410mm (off set)
C=A+B=1220mm (Displacer length)
0%    = (High S.G x off set length) + (low S.G x A)
    = (0.992 x 410) + (0.802 x 810)
    = 406.72 + 649.62
    = 1056.34mm
100%     = (High S.G x C)
    = (0.992 x 1220)
    = 1210.24mm
Related post:
Calibration displacer type level transmitter
Calibration flow transmitter - DP type
Calibration Differential pressure transmitter

READ MORE - How to calibrate offset Displacer level transmitter

[ODDITIES] Things You See Around Town

Driving around town, you see some weird shit. Particularly, it's interesting to know that Virginia has the most personalized vanity plates around. If you have your own personalized plate, you may witness people taking out their cell phone and snapping a picture of your plate. Hell, I've had it happen to me, and in the 3-ish years I've had my plates, I've seen around 10 people take pictures of my plates while driving, or had people remark about my Autobot logo in place of the Honda symbol while in a parking lot.

I know the feeling.

So imagine it when this guy has a license plate that reads "4DEHORD", or, "For the Horde", with the WoW Horde logo on his spare tire cover. The license plate is one thing, but to sell it with the logo is another.

After the break, catch a nice little Adventure nod in Penny Arcade's OtRSPoD: E3, referencing the oh-so-infamous duck/dragon. Sure, it's not while driving, but it's something I've been meaning to share with everyone.

READ MORE - [ODDITIES] Things You See Around Town

Yahoo Gets Hacked, Quickly Follows Up with a Patch

Yahoo recently announced that it has fixed the vulnerability in its system that led to the unauthorized release of more than 450,000 email passwords from users of Yahoo Voices. According to a blog post by Yahoo, "We have taken swift action and have now fixed this vulnerability, deployed additional security measures for affected Yahoo! users, enhanced our underlying security controls and are in the process of notifying affected users. In addition, we will continue to take significant measures to protect our users and their data."

The released data only affected those users who joined Associated Content before May 2010, the same time Yahoo acquired the company. According to Yahoo, "This compromised file was a standalone file that was not used to grant access to Yahoo systems and services." The next time the affected users sign into their Yahoo account, they will be asked to answer a series of authentication questions to change and validate account details, according to Yahoo.

The company added, "At Yahoo we take security very seriously and invest heavily in protective measures to ensure the security of our users and their data across all our products. We sincerely apologize to all affected users." Those affected users encompass 453,491 people whose emails and passwords were posted online by hacker group D33DS Company according to security firm Sophos. In a recent response to Sophos, D33DS Company stated, "We hope that the parties responsible for managing the security of this subdomain will take this as a wake-up call, and not as a threat."

Sophos recently released a new blog post that highlighted some of the insecure passwords many of the Yahoo hack victims were using. This included 1,666 people who used "123456" as their password and an additional 780 users who used "password" as their password. Among the other top choices were passwords like "welcome", "ninja", "sunshine", "princess" and "qwerty". I suddenly don't feel as bad for these people as I used to.

Yahoo isn't the only one who got hacked this week. Nvidia recently announced that it shut down its Developer Zone after it got hacked. That hack may have allowed the hacker to gain access to password information as well. In addition to Nvidia and Yahoo, Phandroid also got hacked, this one occurring on its Android forums.

Source: PC Mag - Yahoo Patches Email Vulnerability

READ MORE - Yahoo Gets Hacked, Quickly Follows Up with a Patch

[REVIEW] LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

Alrighty, my first review after my spree of mini reviews. I'm still toying with the idea of a new review format, but in the meantime, I'm going with what works for now, but I will be adding

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Release Date: June 19, 2012
System Reviewed: Xbox 360

What's Great: A necessary change to the stagnant LEGO formula, LEGO Batman 2 shows that there is still life left in the idea of mashing LEGOes with [insert favorite intellectual property here]. I was highly skeptical of the first Batman game, but it proved to be fun, as you didn't have to keep up with established plot points from other franchises; you just grabbed a character and let it happen. The open world, similar to Hogwarts in the LEGO Harry Potter games, is a big improvement, as rather a cross section of places like Hogwarts, you have full control of the camera and can view just about everything.

What's (Not So) Great: I'm not completely sold on voice acting in the LEGO games. While the actors did a great job with their respective characters, I feel the miming from all previous games worked very well, and it was a great way to see how they attempted to convey their own speech to others, using props and whatnot throughout it. Despite being subtitled "DC Super Heroes", you don't get to play as Superman until about the 4th mission, and the rest of the Justice League doesn't kick until the second to last mission.

Bottom Line: The game does hold promise for the future of the franchise, especially with LEGO Lord of the Rings when that comes out, but I do fear that, if they don't attempt to bring in new elements to help make each successive game feel fresh, these games will just be re-skins of their predecessors. It's still a fun game, being able to play as the rest of the Justice League - even if it is at the end of the game - is rewarding, and the open world gives you plenty to do in-between missions, as well as after the game, something LEGO games put into each release.

Grade: B-

READ MORE - [REVIEW] LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

How to calibrate Displacer level transmitter

Calibration procedure - Displacer type level transmitter

Procedure:

*Ask panel man to put the controller in manual mode for control loop and to put it on MOS for ESD loop.
*Hook up HART Communicator and verify some parameters by refer to data sheet. Typical parameters are, tag number, PV, LRV and URV.
*Isolate the instrument from the process.
WARNING – If the process is hazardous, please unsure proper flushing is done to remove the entire hazard.
Remove isolation drain valve and open the vent flange
*Connect water pump to drain line and line up the reference tube
*Calculate the new measurement to get equivalent up trust force with S.G and length
*Mark on the chamber for reference calibration
*Hook up a multimeter in series with the signal to the DCS to measure current signal.
*Apply water level until 0% marking on chamber
*Multimeter should show 4mA
If not, do zero adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
Apply water level until 100% marking on chamber
*Multimeter should show 20mA
*If not, do span adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
*Verify the linearity by increasing and decreasing the pressure (0%,25%,50%,75%,100%,75%,50%,25% and 0%of range)
*After completion of the job ask panel operator to put loops back in normal mode or normalize the MOS



Example Calculation:
Low S.G=0.802
High S.G= 0.992
A= 810mm (measurement length)
0%    = (A x Low S.G)
    = (810 x 0.802)
    = 649.42 mm
100%     = (A x High S.G)
    = (810 x 0.992)
    = 803.52 mm

Related posts:
DP type level transmiiter
DP type level - Capillary
Bubbler type level transmitter

READ MORE - How to calibrate Displacer level transmitter

How to calibrate differential pressure level transmitter bubbler type?

How to calibrate Dp level bubbler type

Calibration procedure:

*Ask panel man to put the controller in manual mode for control loop and to put it on MOS for ESD loop.
*Hook up HART Communicator and verify some parameters by refer to data sheet. Typical parameters are, tag number, PV, LRV and URV.
*Isolate the instrument from the process and the purge system.
WARNING – If the process is hazardous, please unsure proper flushing is done to remove the entire hazard.
Remove the tubing connection at manifold to the process after released the process pressure
*Connect pressure calibrator to high side of the manifold
*Expose the low side to atmosphere
*Hook up a multimeter in series with the signal to the DCS to measure current signal.
*Apply pressure as per data sheet LRV
Multimeter should show 4mA
If not, do zero adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
*Apply pressure as per data sheet URV
Multimeter should show 20mA
If not, do span adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
*Verify the linearity by increasing and decreasing the pressure (0%,25%,50%,75%,100%,75%,50%,25% and 0%of range)
*After completion of the job ask panel operator to put loops back in normal mode or normalize the MOS



Example calculation

 S.G=0.89
A= 2000mm (measurement length)
B = 100mm (off set)
Dp = pressure at high side – pressure at low side
LRV    = ( B x S. G) – pressure at low side
    = (100mm x 0.89) – 0
    = 89 mmH2O
URV     = ((A+B) x S.G) – pressure at low side
    = (2100mm x 0.89) – 0
    = 1869 mmH2O



Related posts:
Differential pressure level transmiiter
Differential pressure flow transmitter
Flow transmitter pitot tube
Control valve calibration

READ MORE - How to calibrate differential pressure level transmitter bubbler type?

How to calibrate Differential pressure level transmitter for capillary type [with offset]?

 

Procedure  Differential pressure level transmitter for capillary type [with offset]:

*Ask panel man to put the controller in manual mode for control loop and to put it on MOS for ESD loop.

*Hook up HART Communicator and verify some parameters by refer to data sheet. Typical parameters are, tag number, PV, LRV and URV.
*Isolate the instrument from the process.
WARNING – If the process is hazardous, please unsure proper flushing is done to remove the entire hazard.
Open vent valve at drip ring and open plug at the top of the drip ring (if available) to release the process pressure
*Clean the liquid inside the drip ring and put back the plug for high side only (if available).
*Expose the low side to atmosphere
*Hook up a multimeter in series with the signal to the DCS to measure current signal.
*In this condition both capillary flange will be atm pressure at difference high
*Multimeter should show 4mA and PV at HART communicator should shows same with LRV
*If not, do zero adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
Connect pressure calibrator to high side flange (drip ring)
Apply pressure depend on calculation for span= (A x Product S.G)
Multimeter should show 20mA and PV at HART communicator should shows same with URV
*If not, do span adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator
Verify the linearity by increasing and decreasing the pressure (0%,25%,50%,75%,100%,75%,50%,25% and 0%of range)
*After completion of the job ask panel operator to put loops back in normal mode or normalize the MOS

Example calculation:

Product S.G=0.635
Capillary S.G=1.07
A= 235mm (measurement length)
B= 400mm
Dp = pressure at high side – pressure at low side
LRV    = 0 – (B x capillary S.G)
    = 0 – (400 x 1.07)
    = - 428mmH2O
URV     = (A x Product S.G) – (B x capillary S.G)
    = (235 x 0.635) – (400 x 1.07)
    = 149.225 – 428
    = - 278.775 mmH2O
The span is (A x Product S.G) = 149.225 mmH20
Note: This example is for onsite calibration without bringing down the flange.

Related post:
DP type level transmitter-Capillary
Flow transmitter- Pitot tube
Differential pressure flow transmiiter
Differential pressure transmitter

READ MORE - How to calibrate Differential pressure level transmitter for capillary type [with offset]?

How to calibrate Differential pressure level transmitter for capillary type

Calibration procedure:

*Ask panel man to put the controller in manual mode for control loop and to put it on MOS for ESD loop.

*Hook up HART Communicator and verify some parameters by refer to data sheet. Typical parameters are, tag number, PV, LRV and URV.

*Isolate the instrument from the process.

WARNING – If the process is hazardous, please unsure proper flushing is done to remove the entire hazard.

Open vent valve at drip ring and open plug at the top of the drip ring (if available) to release the process pressure

*Clean the liquid inside the drip ring and put back the plug for high side only (if available).

*Expose the low side to atmosphere

*Hook up a multimeter in series with the signal to the DCS to measure current signal.

*In this condition both capillary flange will be atm pressure at difference high

*Multimeter should show 4mA and PV at HART communicator should shows same with LRV

*If not, do zero adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator

*Connect pressure calibrator to high side flange (drip ring)

*Apply pressure depend on calculation for span= (A x Product S.G)

*Multimeter should show 20mA and PV at HART communicator should shows same with URV

*If not, do span adjustment at transmitter using HART Communicator

*Verify the linearity by increasing and decreasing the pressure (0%,25%,50%,75%,100%,75%,50%,25% and 0%of range)

*After completion of the job ask panel operator to put loops back in normal mode or normalize the MOS

Example calculation:

Product S.G=0.667

Capillary S.G=1.113

A= 888mm (measurement length)

Dp = pressure at high side – pressure at low side

LRV = 0 – (A x capillary S.G)

= 0 – (888 x 1.113)

= - 988.34mmH2O

URV = (A x Product S.G) – (A x capillary S.G)

= (888 x 0.667) – (888 x 1.113)

= 592.3 – 988.34

= -396.04 mmH2O

The span is (A x Product S.G) = 592.3 mmH20

Note: This example is for onsite calibration without bringing down the flange. 

Related posts:

Differential pressure level transmitter calibration

Differential pressure transmitter Calibration

DP type flow transmitter

READ MORE - How to calibrate Differential pressure level transmitter for capillary type