Technofranki's blog

Mii Contest Channel for the Wii got an update today. In a mail from Nintendo I received on the Wii today it says:

Nintendo would like to inform you that an updated version of the Mii Contest Channel is available.

Included in this update are new features such as the ability to call all your previously-posted Miis in the Posting Plaza, and support for Parental Controls. Please check your Parental Control settings if you find that you are unable to access the Mii Contest Channel.

• Support for PLAYSTATION Network titles has been expanded.
• [Skype] has been added as a feature under [Network]. Compatible models: PSP-2001, PSP-2002, PSP-2003, PSP-2004, PSP-2005, PSP-2006, PSP-2007, PSP-2008, PSP-2010

Also added is GO! Messenger under [Network]. This application is not available for download yet, but will come soon. GO! Messenger will work with original (PSP 1000) and Slim & Lite (PSP 2000) models.

Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) are testing new ways to reach their audience with their content. Almost all selfproduced programs like the news, entertainment shows and series are available for streaming online.

But this week they started to test out torrent download. The first show is Nordkalotten 365 with Lars Monsen which have traveled alone through the north of Scandinavia for one year. The first episode is now available and the rest will come when the are encoded.

The files are MPEG4 (MP4) H.264, 1024×576 25fps, 3 Mbit/s. No DRM.

I have only watch the start of the show, and the quality is great. I look forward to the rest of the series and hope the will make more series available in high quality torrent downloads.

You can subscribe for the series on this RSS-feed.

Here is the torrent files for all 8 episodes:

Episode 1: Nordkalotten365.E01.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Episode 2: Nordkalotten365.E02.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Episode 3: Nordkalotten365.E03.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Episode 4: Nordkalotten365.E04.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Episode 5: Nordkalotten365.E05.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Episode 6: Nordkalotten365.E06.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Episode 7: Nordkalotten365.E07.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Episode 8: Nordkalotten365.E08.1024×576.H264.NRK.mp4.torrent

Here is a quote from NRKbeta.no:

As one of many ways to reach people with our content we have decided to do an experiment and make one of our most popular television series available through BitTorrent.This technology makes it possible for us to make our content available in a very high quality without having to invest in large server farms and expensive bandwidth.

The very popular series called “Nordkalotten 365″ has been aired on traditional TV in Norway. Over 900 000 of Norway’s 4,6 million watched the show in average, and the marketshare was close to 50%! “Nordkalotten 365″ is now made available for download. In this series the experienced hiker Lars Monsen has traveled alone through the north of Scandinavia for one year. The first episode is already published and the next episodes will be made available as they are encoded.

Source: NRKbeta.no (english) and the original Norwegian post

This week, Wednesday January 30, 2008, we get Rez HD and Chessmaster LIVE on Xbox Live Arcade. Both games will set you back 800 point each.

Rez HD

Set in a cyberworld, the legendary fast-paced action-shooter Rez HD, created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, will provide the ultimate audiovisual experience as the player targets the enemies and hacks the system while creating their own beats. Rez will open your senses … let’s go to synaesthesia was the watchword when Rez released in 2001 to become a fan favorite. The dynamic, total integration of visual presentation, sound and player input provides the ultimate audiovisual experience.

• Legendary gaming experience: Old-school vector style graphics, sensory response, and beat synchronization sets the title apart and is perfectly recreated in this port for Xbox LIVE® Arcade in high-definition and 5.1 surround sound.
• The world of Rez: Rez consists of five different levels, each with its own unique visual theme and style, musical track and a boss battle at the end. The game also features several different modes and lots of unlockable elements, giving it plenty of replay value.
• Game modes: Play through the five areas in regular or Score Attack mode. Go to the Beyond mode and try Direct Assault, Lost Mode, the free play Trance Mission, or take on all the bosses consecutively in Boss Rush.
• Feel the rhythm: To further enhance the Rez experience, artists including Coldcut, Adam Freeland, Joujouka, Ken Ishii and Keiichi Sugiyama (SEGA’s Wave Master) contributed tracks to the game.

Chessmaster® LIVE

Enjoy playing as a real strategist with the Xbox LIVE® version of the most-acclaimed chess franchise. Chessmaster LIVE allows you to challenge friends and players all over the world in thrilling contests and determine who’s the real champ. Choose among several 3-D (or 2-D) sets and play against virtual characters or real opponents over Xbox LIVE. Solve puzzles and discover exciting variations of this classic board game. Beginners can learn the basics of chess, and veteran players can improve their mastery of the game with the advanced scenario. The game is yours … it’s your move!

• The challenge of chess: Compete against advanced A.I. characters or challenge other Xbox LIVE members to a match.
• New message chess system: Start a game without any time limit, and play the game at your leisure over the course of days or even weeks.
• Chess puzzles and chess variations: Puzzle over a series of classic challenges such as “find the fork” or “mate in one,” and experience new ways of playing chess including Dark Chess, Losing Chess, Extinction Chess, and Progressive Chess.
• Customizable environments: Choose from six 3-D chess sets and three traditional sets, each with their own distinct sound effects, piece and board design.
• Interact with opponents: Video options allow you to see your challenger during the course of the game.

Here’s the topseller list on Amazon.com for HD DVD and Blu-ray movies as of Sunday January 27, 2008.

Top 10 HD DVD

1. Planet Earth – The Complete BBC Series – $66.95
2. American Gangster (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) – $27.95
3. Blade Runner (5-Disc Complete Collector’s Edition) – $27.95
4. Beowulf (Director’s Cut) – $27.95
5. Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition) – $24.95
6. Michael Clayton (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) – $24.95
7. The Bourne Ultimatum (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) – $26.95
8. The Bourne Trilogy (The Bourne Identity / The Bourne Supremacy / The Bourne Ultimatum) [HD DVD] – Amazon.com Exclusive – $60.95
9. Batman Begins – $18.95
10. Superman Returns – $16.49

Top 10 Blu-ray

1. Planet Earth – The Complete BBC Series – $66.95
2. Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector’s Edition) – $27.95
3. The Fifth Element (Remastered) – $15.95
4. 3:10 To Yuma – $26.95
5. Ratatouille – $19.99
6. Cars – $19.99
7. 300 – $19.95
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $19.99
9. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $24.95
10. Michael Clayton – $24.95

Sega has announced that Master System games are coming to Virtual Console in Japan in February. Europe and US will probably get it later this year. This means that also Game Gear games may surface on VC since the hardware is very similar to the Master System.

Master System is known as Mark III in Japan it it was a big success in Europe, but not in US. The NES was the system over there.

The first two Master System games to hit VC in Japan next month is Fist of the North Star and Fantasy Zone. (Source: Gamespot.com)

I hope we see Master System/Game Gear games in other regions soon to. Since there are some great games I want to play again.

Here’s a game trailer of the upcoming game Lost: Via Domus based on the LOST TV-series. The video is taken from Gametrailers.com.