K2BW1S

First of all I’d like to point out that I did not write this. I merely found it on blogspot. I should probably find out if it’s on tumblr as well but I won’t get sued for reblogging and not Harvard referencing (although it does state at the top of their page that they’re a University student so we’ll see). Anyway here’s the link to the page, so make sure you check it out and enjoy reading:

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This may seem a little unorthadox but bare with me and i’ll explain. This is the first of a 3 part blog on the past, present and future of gaming technology as we know it. So sit back, relax and let all the scary prospects of the future entice you! 
So what is it exactly that people think of when they look to the future? When it comes to general life certain things become prominent - flying cars, moving pavement / sidewalks, robots doing everything for us. The same is true for videogames, one thing above all plays upon the imagination of technological hopefuls the world over - virtual reality. The very idea of virtual reality has been used for years, over and over again, both in imagination and popular entertainment media. Whether it be the world of anime with Dot Hack (with the VR technology actually being used for gaming purposes) or whether it be the slightly different concept of ARI for the use of finding clues and crime fighting (an idea introduced in Heavy Rain) to countless uses in film such as The Sixth Day, Minority Report and let’s not forget - the classic that is TRON.

For the select few of you who by some chance have not encountered the prospect of virtual reality before, let me try and explain. Virtual reality refers to the idea that an individual, through the use of technology, can enter a completely digital or imaginary world, away from the restraints of the traditional physical one in which we live now. Think of it as, sitting in your chair at home with a VR headset on, but seeing yourself running through miles of beautiful green fields, or battling ferocious dragons - you get the idea. The best known indication of virtual reality is the film TRON, which literally sparked the idea and interest in VR as a possibility. So, going back to my little introduction - why is it that I chose the future of gaming before the obvious choices of the past then present? Well, prepare to have your minds blown..


This, ladies and gents, is the next step in technology. Sony Worldwide Studios senior director Mick Hocking has confirmed that the device above is a prototype in an ongoing exploration into potential VR technology. He stated that the prototype device also displays high-end 3D. This news got me very excited as ever since I was young I have always wanted some kind of virtual reality gaming experience to exist and that now looks more likely than ever. Imagine a fully immersed world - actually turning and having to look around - put that into a gaming environment. Scoping out enemy positions and relaying feed to ground troops, actually having to watch the road as you speed through crowded city streets - the possibilities are endless and exciting.
With the latest increase into the exploration of 3-D technology, the potential for VR gaming and god knows what other technological advances that are being worked on as we speak - the future looks good. Especially when you consider the fact that with VR comes VR girls - I dunno about you but I wouldn’t mind spending some time with Tron girl in my own reality..

So, I was browsing around in Liverpool and found a shop called Level Up! which, although small, has a great selection of old and new consoles and games. They’re not a flashy new games shop like Game, nor a big second hand dealer like CEX, they’re just a cool little bread and butter indie game shop. I got God of War and WWF Attitude off them for barely any money. Plus the staff seem really nice, so if you’re in Liverpool City Centre sometime soon then drop in Quiggins and have a nose. You might find something good.

tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INANIMATE OBJECT?

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With the wirings from both guitar and console removed, the next step was to remove the guitar neck. This was rather interesting as, when a guitar is manufactured, companies tend to put the year of production on the part of the wood that is screwed into the body. The year written was (if the picture isn’t that clear) is 1996 which is the year after the SCPH-1002 (the mode

l I took apart) ceased production in favour of a cheaper option. The interesting thing about that is this guitar, which

as Fender’s cheaper alternative, was produced the same year as Sony’s more cost effective consoles, i.e. one’s they weren’t spending more money than making on. 

Anyway, in order to make the guitar stay together, the PS was hollowed out, and the guitar was carved into as small a size I can get it to at this time. This, however, still isn’t small enough to fit into the console so it will require more precise shaving down, so that will be the obvious next step. 

But for now, I’d say a good first two steps have been made.

Let’s keep the ball rolling.

Ok, if there’s one thing I learnt today about University is that things don’t take as long as they give you to do them. Putting things off is one thing, but if this was an assignment then I’d be ridiculously close to the deadline mainly be

cause I started so much later than I intended to. But that’s all been explained. 

Today I FINALLY!!! started, and as it turns out, it wasn’t going to take nearly as long to do as I thought. So I’ll get on with explaining what’s gone down.

1. Gutting

so first off, I gutted out the innards of the Playstation, which because this was purchased broken, I was expecting the issue to visibly obvious. Either way the thing is now hollowed out where I used it as a stencil to get an idea of where to cut through the wood.

Next to guitar was gutted. I’ve done this a million times with this guitar

so it was only a matter of clipping the wire on the input so I can ge

t all the pick-ups out in one piece so I can put them back in later, like a lazy so and so.

Right, I’ve basically done nothing within the past few months that would be regarded as progress concerning the desired outcome but here’s what I have been doing (which is relevant).

I acquired yet another Playstation console for which to work on and now have sufficient tools to genuinely make this dream a reality. I would like to obtain one of those bodiless guitars and put the console around it, but i can’t seem to find one of them on ebay for cheap enough and I have (no exaggeration) no money to my name at all (living with parents). I didn’t to cut into the stratocaster I’ve had for about 6 years as I wanted to use as my kind of Sonic Youth-esque prepared guitar but a guess this would be a more glamourous use for it rather than destroy it or have it robbed.

So I will begin this week, I promise.

But while I’m here I’ll tell you something relevant.

1. I will be recording versions of PS1 game songs as most of the music from these games is really fuckin’ cool! (musically of course)

2. with these recordings I’ll probably do Youtube videos of the guitar, if and when it’s done (assuming it works) playing some of these songs. I’ve been challenged to do a justifiable version of the european logging on sound, challenge accepted! 

3, Did you know that a large majority of PS1 discs when inserted into a computer, you can download the music from these games onto your music player! I say large majority because I’ve come across the odd one or two that don’t seem to want to share their orchestrations past the context of the game. So yeah! I’ve been reacquainting myself with music from all the classics. One of my friends has a large collection of PS1 games so I’m going to his to collect some of that weird and wonderful music.

Next post will be progress, pwomise.