The New Whole Red Alert 3

I wonder how many of you are C&C fans in UGAME? I pre-order the Red Alert 3 Premium Edition last month and already arrived in my post. I have to say I am very disappointed because EA has made an empty promise about a free RA3 game instead I gotten a RA3 T-shirt and a 2GB ugly pen drive. But I am better than the others because there are lots of buyers out there don’t even have a single free game and extra items like mine above. The previous best C&C collections I got are Razer Death Adder (EA version) mouse and Razer mouse pad including t-shirts from Command & Conquer 3 and Kane Wrath with very good bargains. Not sure what happen to EA these days the bundle and limited version becoming non attractive anymore.

 

 

Anyway, what does the Red Alert 3 Premium version contains inside the tin? Check out the picture below for reference.

• 1x Installation DVD Game
• 1x Bonus Documentary DVD Video
• 1x Red Alert 3 Sound Track
• 1x Future Beta Key
• 1x Red Alert 3 Bonus Map
• 1x Warhammer Online Exclusive in-game item
• 1x Poster
• 1x Manual book
My In-Game Single Player Experience

Red Alert 3 has change quite a lot compared to Red Alert 2 and this time the game developers offer a new feature by introducing a co-op option to play with computer or your friends and family on network on any missions. The game play is short in all three fractions and it took me at least five days to finish the entire mission. It’s quite disappointing as you don’t find any extra or optional mission to enjoy with. Every mission I encounter is mostly rushes and fight against with the time limit. I wonder what’s wrong with the EA game developers nowadays. More like they run out of ideas making good game instead of focusing on selling.

 

My In Game Multiplayer Experience

I have to say it’s quite disappointing at first. Problem connecting to server and patching progress causes so much frustration among the gamers when the game first launch. After they releases four multiplayer fix patches online. The multiplayer now works great. However, I still experiencing disconnection from matching from time to time and I don’t like the player’s chat room. Nevertheless, EA is now working a big patch to fix and change the multiplayer soon.

 

Conclusion

Sometimes I do not really understand why Command & Conquer and Red Alert do not include the extra button mode for patrolling? If you remember playing General game, they actually include it and it makes the units much more useful for defending and using against incoming enemies. Why didn’t they want to include in Red Alert 3 this time? I having a hard time defending my base because of the unit idle a lot and even on air. I sometimes feel hard to maintain my defending and offense at the same time playing with AI. Of course, in multiplayer, that was a different story. But I do believe having a patrol mode won’t affect the game balancing.

 

Other complains is just the ending story is very bad. It’s doesn’t explained much details about the future. For example for Allied story, the American President was a spy from Empire Rising Sun. There are no clear explanations of what happen to him after the Empire fall. This make the whole game looks bad to me as it doesn’t really matter if there are any popular celebrities inside or not. Hopefully the next expansion might explain it. I do not know what other C&C fans think. But to me, good stories and balance multiplayer game is a must. However, Red Alert 3 single players are simply lack of that.

Does Credit Card Make You Own More Debts?

Today Brudirect has posted an interesting topic related to our daily life using credit card. According to the news, she was a highly educated and earns $3,000 per month while she ended up over with $9,000 debt because of the credit card. I wonder who the blame is. The money spender or the credit card made of plastic without life and soul? Probably, the boyfriend doesn’t work? Nothing to shame about that and it’s normal these days for woman taking good care of men. I see that a lot and I am not one of them.

 

Owing a basic credit card is easy nowadays and not to mention you can pay later by next month. The first credit card I owned was Master supplementary card under my sister. I remember my salary was around $500 per month which I didn’t expect the bank would allow it. I did applied for Visa for the second time, but was rejected. Then later, I applied again myself for Visa card because of inconvenience using the security device and check the correct amount I had to pay using my sister one. However, I ended having Visa and Master card together from HSBC. I don’t know if the staff who applied for me is deaf or just for the sake to earned interest from the job. Anyway, not bad at least. I do really happy using it as I can monitor and plan my purchasing carefully. I am going to throw my MasterCard away next year before my interest free end, just keeping Visa because it got the best exchange than Master.

 

To be honest, I do laugh when I read interview that some of the bank employee’s “felt guilty” by issuing credit card to their customers with bad financial statues. It just bunch of bullshit words coming from them. If they really feel guilty about it, they should reject the application in the first place to ensure and minimize the problem. Of course, every banks need a good reputations and customers to used their products. But I will never used the word “guilty” very lightly, it carry a huge responsible when you say that. It’s not just a simple pity is enough to comfort people. If you can’t even help them, best to avoid using this word and act like a nice person because they don't need it.

 

Anyway, how badly am I when using both two of my credit card? Sometimes bad I have to admit but I do not owned any of the debt and allow any extra any late charges to happen every month. This is how I prevent myself into the mess. You see, if I delay the payment, I will get charge by $20 at least every month which I can’t even easily earn from one day on work unless I go pick up soft drinks tin to sell it or work part time. I know using credit card is so easy like one two three. But planning your budgets and corrects merchant which offer the lowest price as possible is my first priority. And I plan carefully ahead on my next purchase Gundam and PC Games from online every month to ensure I am able to settle it next month. Normally, I just tried not to eat at lunch or buy cookies to save up. But this is what I do now looking at my current salary. My own rule is always keep yourself debt free.

My Seagate FreeAgent 160GB Send Back to S’pore

It just did happen before my Palit Prize card fall under the same fate. I can’t believe my luck have to be so bad. Well, the only option I can do is to send it back directly to Seagate International in Singapore for warranty, since it carry for FIVE years warranty compared to SIX month or possibly ONE year only in Brunei.

 

I already send out my portable hard disk yesterday and the postage just cost me B$4.10 including registering. If I had the money, I would definitely send it by Speed Post. However, the question is, I don’t really know if Seagate might charge me for the shipping back my portable HDD. This is quite interesting I hope I will find out after mine arrived at Singapore.

Damn! Video Card is Faulty!

I can’t believe it my luck is so bad in early morning when I start setting up my new PC and found out my Palit GeForce 8500GT Super+ 1GB has problem displaying words in DOS. I already contacted Palit and they willing to arrange to sent another replacement for me since the prize card doesn’t carry any warranty. =3

I hope might get it next month.

The Youngest Sex Change in Da World?

 

Picture from: The Sun UK

 

I just spotted this one from a game forum which is quite a hot topic. Her name is Kim Petras, from Germany, and she will be releasing her first English album. You can check out the music at Youtube (more here). Damn 'she' does look pretty, well she started sex change when 'he' was twelve! Man, I am starting to very worried about this world.

 

A GIRL believed to be the youngest person in the world to have a sex change is set to become a pop star.

German Kim Petras – originally called Tim – changed sex after she started hormone treatment at the age of just TWELVE.

Now 16 years old Kim is ready to storm the charts with her first album after landing a record deal.

The teenager has overcome years of taunts and bullying to release her first CD after becoming a cult hit on MySpace and You Tube.

Kim, who is now officially registered as a female and has long blonde hair and blue eyes, said: “My music is most important to me at the moment. It’s the way I can best express myself.

“I know that because of my past people will always bring up the subject, I can’t get away from it.

“But I hope that one day I might be better known for my music than for my past.”

Kim was diagnosed as a transsexual three years ago.

Doctors and psychiatrists concluded that her claims to be "in the wrong body" were so deeply felt that she required treatment.

Her therapy included artificially halting male puberty – with a series of potent hormone injections.

She was then administered female hormones to initiate the development of her breasts.

 

PC Start Building This Week

Finally! At last I got my processor from the capital. I should be getting it tomorrow and do some cleaning on my table. For now, I am concentrating looking for latest drivers and update the Autopatcher for Vista to the latest for fast setup on Sunday.

 

The first problem I am facing is the Asus P5Q Pro motherboard I brought from my friend shop. The Realtek audio is somehow quite different model and is using ALC1200 which is not even listed on the website. I am wondering if the new drivers R2.09 might even worked with it since it was not listed. Anyway, I will download the original drivers from Asus in case it fails. If any of you reading this and using Asus board similar to mine. Let me know if the new drivers work. I’m going too tried out the Readltek 3D Soundback too.

 

Secondly, I look for the new chipset drivers from official Intel website. It comes to my surprise that Intel has removed it from their support download. I wonder why? Well, it seems like I have to depend on Asus support download again.

 

Lastly, not quite exactly, but just the remaining Asus utilities require to be used in Vista. I couldn’t wait to try it out. The only thing I am new to Asus stuffs is the ExpressGate. I found the latest update from the website dated 26th September and it weight around 170MB. Man, I think I need to read the manual for full instructions.

Creative Online Store Now Shipping to Brunei

It was a boring day in the office and tried to look for some new online store in Brunei. Didn’t expect the Creative online store would shows up in my Google search. I can’t say when it exactly started offering for Bruneian buyers. But the prices are pretty attractive and some promotions you might find interested worth purchasing on at Creative official store.

 

 

This is truly a good move for Creative, but and of course not good for the local shops who tried selling Creative products. Anyway, the good news is we all pay in Brunei dollar and many of their products come with one year warranty. The shipping fee is depending on the weight on the items you order and there will provide tracking number of your orders which is pretty good for me. Be warning, however, if you order speakers to Brunei. There will be possible taxes in the custom post office. I do not have the figures on that; it is recommend asking the local custom first before you make a purchase. Only sound cards will not get tax since it is under computer category.

 

Check out the official online store!

MLM is Bad Business

Found this video from Lampe Berger Help blog, worth watching if you don't understand what is MLM. I have a friend doing it and he is now a full time LB promoter. he didn't manage to fool me but convince me I am wrong about their business. XD I am glad Brunei are protecting its people from getting fool by MLM.

 

The Pact – Free Movie Episode

 

Check out the nice short Chinese episodes from Johnnie Walker. I’m sure many Chinese friends out there could recognize one or two guys in there. Don’t worried about the missing translation, you can find a English subtitle on every six (currently four) episode. The movie episodes also offer a free download. However, I do encounter problem downloading the episode two to four due to the missing file from their server and I’m not sure how to report this JW. Don't worry, you can watch it in flash.

 

Official Link: http://www.keepwalking.asia

My Red Alert 3 Got Tax!

It was confusing when I get my first 5% tax in the post office. I have been buying PC games for five years and never got a single tax. So the question is, why now? I actually end up in the Internal Security Department to confirm the problem I am facing and get more information before I start another purchasing.

 

The custom officers at the department are friendly with me except one of the custom ladies pissed me off in the post office when she said I am wasting her time asking nonsense about why I am getting tax. I wonder who really actually wasting the time here? Her sit is just a few second away from her or I am the one driving to the post office and to Internal Security Department to clarify the problem wasted for half an hour? She takes her job for granted and abuse her power. I did not want start a war with her because I eventually might encounter her next time, so I decided not to put up a fight with her. You won’t know she might fuck you around.

 

Anyway, for your tax information from Internal Security Department I got. Any movies, music and games will get tax around 5% to 20%. 20% is considering too high for such import entertainment goods to me and I have to say it’s BULLSHIT! Why? Brunei local shop is selling FULL of PIRATED movies, games and music’s. We got high tax of buying original stuffs which I find it non common sense at all and much like encourage us to buy pirated instead or pay more for express delivery. I was lucky for 5%.

 

As for the computer hardware, only power supply unit, wireless and modem will be tax. Printer unit will not be tax. However, there was tax previously applied but even the customs can’t confirm with me. I’m sure no one will buy printer from online, probably only Dell I can guess right now.

Woman Gave Away Fortune for 'Eternal Life'

What a dumb thing to do asking for an eternal life from feng shui master. I do not believe this sort of things. If feng shui can make these wish of eternal life exist, I don’t think this world would really want to spend their funding on science and researching anti-aging. I believe new war world might even begin for the sake of it and not to mention they will become the world richest person you will never imagine.

The image of the feng shui was already damage. I have to say this idiot do have the biggest ball in Hong Kong for making such a promise. All and simple reason are people are just thrust of making quick money. I do, of course, but not this kind bloody way. Read the news over here.

Busy! Busy! Life Suck! :3

Ha! I think this year it’s another fuck up year. All my stuffs and PC broken one by one, giving me a lot headache. Hai~ I have to rush my friend for the CPU real quick, all else it just matter of time when it going to stop working.

 

Anyway, not much activity lately for me these past few weeks and expect more less blogging. It just something came up unexpectedly and earns some personal income to fix my repair cost. Probably I think because end of the year is coming so close and I have no idea what the hell am I supposed to do. That’s why I always living in a boring life thinking about fixing my income. =3

 

Well, next month it’s my cousin wedding and she born at the same year as me. She will be the first one getting married. Really happy for her finding a great partner who can take care of her and also a good family who like her very much. As for me, a long way and I might end up being single forever. I have no idea and yet have plan for looking new partners. Some girls out there are telling me for date. I don’t really know why, I just too afraid of something and confused for reason I don’t even understand myself.

 

I'm going to played Left 4 Dead demo now. My mind is stress and need some zombies killing right now. Man, I think I'm going to throw. brrr.....

 

 

ARGGGGGGG!!!!!

Anyone Can Work At Dell Help Desks

I simply can't believe that Dell can't hire a proper employee from China that can understand English in the technical support live chat. I don't really mind if the person behind the desk can't type English or understand either as long they transfer me to the right department. Surprisingly one of them come to served me and wasting my time instead.

 

It seems like anyone can applied work with Dell as long you can type and give the questions listed on the papers. Here's the chat log they send to me. HA!

 

11/05/2008 11:44:18AM - Session Started with Agent (CN_Haibo_Dong)

11/05/2008 11:44:18AM - Tony Chong: "DVD-RW not accepting the CD or DVD"

11/05/2008 11:45:27AM - Agent (CN_Haibo_Dong): "您好，根据您的机器服务编号显示：您机器是我们另一个部门同事处理的，我会马上帮您转接到相应的工程师，请您不要挂线，稍等一下，我们的工程师会马上帮您处理，谢谢 :)"

11/05/2008 11:45:34AM - Tony Chong: "hello, im having a problem using the DVD-RW and the drive wont accept any CD or DVD"

11/05/2008 11:45:36AM - Session Transferred to Queue (CN.ZH.TS.INB.XIA)

11/05/2008 11:45:43AM - Session Started with Agent (Con_Phoebe_Zhuang)

11/05/2008 11:45:43AM - Tony Chong: "DVD-RW not accepting the CD or DVD"

11/05/2008 11:46:09AM - Tony Chong: "hello?"

11/05/2008 11:46:26AM - Session Transferred to Agent (Con_Jonson_C)

11/05/2008 11:46:39AM - Session Started with Agent (Con_Jonson_C)

11/05/2008 11:46:39AM - Tony Chong: "DVD-RW not accepting the CD or DVD"

11/05/2008 11:47:14AM - Tony Chong: "hello"

11/05/2008 11:47:22AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "HI,"

11/05/2008 11:48:06AM - Tony Chong: "hi, i have a problem with the DVD-RW"

11/05/2008 11:48:16AM - Tony Chong: "the drive is not accepting any CD or DVD when insert"

11/05/2008 11:48:35AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "Are your try DELL disk test it?"

11/05/2008 11:48:46AM - Tony Chong: "although the drive is empty without any CD or DVD"

11/05/2008 11:49:06AM - Tony Chong: "no its not disk test"

11/05/2008 11:49:36AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "system canbe detect the DVD ROM?"

11/05/2008 11:50:25AM - Tony Chong: "yes it can detect but cannot instead the CD or dvd into the drive. the hardware do not automatically taking the Cd or DVD"

11/05/2008 11:50:34AM - Tony Chong: "sorry i mean "insert""

11/05/2008 11:50:47AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "It's ok."

11/05/2008 11:51:13AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "check your system info,purchase from other country Right?"

11/05/2008 11:51:52AM - Tony Chong: "yes, it actually buy from Brunei DST"

11/05/2008 11:52:05AM - Tony Chong: "promotions on 3G"

11/05/2008 11:53:26AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "I want know right now loaction detail."

11/05/2008 11:53:58AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "are your install other DVD software for burn drivers?"

11/05/2008 11:54:12AM - Tony Chong: "I used the service tag on Singapore Dell."

11/05/2008 11:55:11AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "and now you location address. I'm here due to china support center."

11/05/2008 11:56:06AM - Tony Chong: "Brunei"

11/05/2008 11:56:22AM - Tony Chong: "here is the location of the address"

11/05/2008 11:57:00AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "I'm here due to china support center."

11/05/2008 11:57:07AM - Tony Chong: "xxxxxxxxxx (my customers location)"

11/05/2008 11:58:53AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "Maybe your need to connect DELL US enter. I'm here cannot hand other country computer.sorry to that."

11/05/2008 11:59:14AM - Tony Chong: "okay thank you"

11/05/2008 11:59:31AM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "Your wlecome.See your!^_^"

11/05/2008 12:00:23PM - Agent (Con_Jonson_C): "If no other question We need to accept other request line.ok."

Obama Win!

YEAH!!!

 

Barack Obama elected 44th president

New Dell E228WFP Monitor

 

Finally I decided to purchase the value version wide screen LCD from Dell. This Dell E228WFP monitor is quite enough most users who like Photoshop, 3D Designs and watching movies. If you are lucky enough, you will be able to get the price of B$368.00 offer price from Dell Singapore (Sintex is coming, keep your eyes open). You might even get a good deal for other higher and larger screen version. Well, actually I suppose to get the Dell S2409W Full HD Monitor which cost B$489.00 (offer price). I change my mind because I still own my friend money so I have to be very careful on my spending.

 

 

I have to say I am satisfy with the overall viewing and more spacious on my desk. You just need some adjustment over the brightness and contrast when you first powering up. Movies, TV Shows and Anime I have watch are fine. This is depending on what quality format you actually watching. I tested some HD format and they are good and I’m sure running Blu-Ray movies will definitely gives you great viewing. But I will recommend you get the HD type monitor from Dell 24 inch model and its cost B$489.00 at offer price.

 

 

Gaming works perfectly with FPS game I tried with Area 51 running 1680x1050. I have to say kickass and getting sick much faster. Oh man, I feel a bit sick now. As for the old game, I think I need to find some hack for it to run correctly on wide screen monitor. You can't expect older game could run it, right? Anyway I haven’t tried Red Alert 3 yet because it hasn’t arrived in my post and there are so many negative posts at the forum about the game problem. I got to wait until every cool down and latest patches for RA3. Damn, I hope my old PC can catch up with the performance since I am still waiting for CPU to arrive.

 

Overall the Dell E228WFP monitor fit my taste and great comfortable for my eyes viewing. The extra thumbs up goes for three years one to one exchange and you can’t go wrong with that. The only negative is just the brightness you really need to adjust.

 

Dell also recently just announced two new HD display line up. I would suggest you wait and check out the price. i can't wait because my monitor is dead. ^^; i will get another one next year.

Cosplay in Brunei - Update

I just met a new online friend, name Jeslyn, who add me today and chat about anime and cosplay stuffs ^^;. Surprisingly after few minutes chat. I didn’t really know that there is cosplay show in Brunei as well and already been run back on June. She also mentions that it was also organize last year too. I really have no idea about this and have to say this is going to be interesting in the future. You see, Brunei is a boring place and we need something fun, of course kids friendly events that can attract crowds including a good opportunity attracts tourism nearby visiting. It just of matter how people look at it.

 

Seriously! If you are one of the locals or foreigners cosplayer and interested to joined, you are welcome! Don’t be shy! However, according to Jeslyn, the cosplay will be just a small meeting, the locations and approval is still unknown yet. You can check out the blog website and contact them if you are interested joining or sponsors them.

 

If you are local bloggers, please help to spread some words. Cheers!