The Patent Dragon's Zone of Soul Retraction

"...a brand new gaming PC!" - or at least that's what I'm now researching. Yeah, I got the laptop back yesterday (with a new fan in it), and following some advice from Ultima Online associate Aurelius (thanks, my friend), I searched online for any indication that this laptop's issues might be something others have encountered, and perhaps solved without any additional expense - only to learn that a whole bunch of folks have experienced the same overheating. There is an official "solution", in the form of a fan override program that forces the fan to work at maximum speed on request...

I installed it, and it worked just ONCE (so far). I got good FPS and a fairly cool system for a short stint at Minecraft, and Star Trek Online ran pretty well after that... BUT the heat then was definitely on the increase, to what felt like dangerous levels.

This is getting beyond a freaking limit. There may be other things I can do, but I'm now certain those will only be short-term work-arounds. A new desktop gaming machine is becoming imperative.

Time to climb the Mount Doom of computer specs. unfortunately, I don't seem to have a Samwise to share the journey with me...

So much for me being more regular with blogging.

Anyway, on to something else: new video series...!



Elsewhat... Toilet Bat was safely returned to the roost, I'm told - but not before another two bats had a similar problem, and one did not survive. A shame, but hopefully that issue is now fully dealt with, and the colony is now secure.

Other Elsewhat... All isn't entirely going to plan on the Star Trek Online front, as the special gear I was working towards (see video above) has turned out to be a bunch more expensive than anticipated. Bugger.

And finally, on a brighter note, I have received the main part of my recent "special present" order. I had thought to do an unboxing video, but I don't really have the proper setting for it. I will, instead, take a photo, and share it here...

Okay, so that's my extended Spiritwalk down-time done, and it's back to whatever counts as "normal" these days. However, I've not been in a Minecraft frame of mind, lately, and I've actually been doing a whole bunch more Star Trek Online (such as all this evening, bar the usual Ultima Online). I'm not sure I'll be going back to the level of activity I was at before I discovered "Minecrack", but it's been fun.

The Big Question... ...what next? I'm not entirely sure, but I feel inclined to spend some money, after two rather disappointing excursions where I came home with not a great deal of stuff. I may not have the room for much, but dammit...

Things seem to be going a whole bunch better right now. The work on the windows should be continuing soon, the weather is nice (mainly), with Friday at the errr, apoapsis of our recent hot spell yeah, someone's been playing Kerbal Space Program, Star Trek Online seems to be working again, Minecraft is starting to look like its old self again (and boy did I have some splendid luck!)...

Pity that some concert-going plans aren't moving so smoothly. I may just have missed a golden opportunity... but then there MAY just be a chance to remedy things when I'm in Edinburgh on Friday for PACIFIC RIM.

Can. Not. Wait.

Video News... More Minecraft...!



Think I better start working on my Star Trek Online - Legacy Of Romulus, before I run out of space AGAIN - just over ONE TERABYTE of material already! Yes, I was surprised too - and I'm 1) only at level 30 so far, and 2) a couple of missions didn't make it to recording status because stuff started to laaaaaaaag horribly...

Sooooo...

...Star Trek Online?
CHECK - running fine now, with no damn queues. Bit HD-space hungry on the recording front, though.

...Minecraft?
CHECK - advancing plans for "Season 2"... when I'm not getting my ass kicked by Zombie Pigmen, or flooding rooms with lava... *sighs*

...Travel plans?
CHECK-ish - I need access to a printer, which is my first "must do" when I get back to work. Now, which luggage should I take...?

...And the rest?
I'll deal with that when it crosses my path, Dear Reader.

Today has been mostly this. I did manage to get in-game long enough to purchase the Original Series Uniform Pack, and equip my new character with said outfit...

So much for recording a bunch of "Let's Plays". I sacrificed much of my day's playing time to the great god External-Drive to make space for the raw videos, so I am far from Happy-Bunny Land.

Okay - guess I'll be doing some shopping tonight, then. I now have the time, after all.

Oooohkay. Seems like I have a tendancy for finding things to do on Thursdays, and I don't mean Ultima Online. In three week's time, I'm heading out of town again, 'cause I just got me a Rush ticket! It's kind of a Spiritwalk thing, but not an "all-in" arrangement - although I could go to dinner after...

Meanwhile... I'm waiting for Star Trek Online to patch in readiness for a chance to test the new Romulan content before the launch in a week and a half. Whilst that's going... and going... and going... I'm gradually making progress with my latest acquisition, the quirky and brilliant Don't Starve. Ah, the joys of "indie" games...!

Damn. I missed "Venting Day" for the first time - but then I was some distance away from any major body of water that day.

Think I'll go play some Star Trek Online - haven't done that for a while...

Seems like quite a few people have also posted videos of the Star Trek Online 3rd Anniversary mission. It might be interesting, and possibly educational, to see what others have done with the same material. I could certainly do with honing my commentary skills.

Meanwhile... Could we be close to seeing another milestone in The Move? Could the last stumbling block be about to be removed...?

Also... I just happened to notice that Stargate Universe is being shown on week-day evenings, and so I didn't miss the second part of the series opener. It MAY be a bit like Voyager, but the "crew along for the ride, like it or not" idea should be promising.

And THAT was Day 8. Not a lot else happened...