Armed Warriors And Tripwire
I’ve enjoyed playing the Dynasty Warriors games for the past few years since the setting is in ancient China. Its rich history has always fascinated me, yet I have never gone there. Dynasty Warriors takes me there virtually and helps me visualize what adventures took place back then. Dynasty Warriors games are based on Luo Guanzhong’s historic novel, Romance of The Three Kingdoms
, and all games in the series take you back in time to an ancient land torn apart by chaos.
The latest in this sequence from KOEI is Dynasty Warriors 5. In this game you are equipped with powerful weapons and your character’s strategic wits. You fight your way through huge battlefields filled with hordes of angry enemy warriors. Walk in the boots of 48 different characters, and experience their individual stories, styles and in-game events. Also added are six new characters, 38 new maps (each 30 percent larger) and a revamped weapon system. With this system, you earn weapons by defeating enemy officers or finding treasure chests. Sometimes I get carried away with this by looking in every nook and cranny for treasure chests. I have lots of fun riding the horses and elephants around - yes if you find one, you can ride it! It sure makes eliminating the enemy forces easier and much more efficient.
I’ve been looking forward to the Xbox version since it features Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, which makes a huge difference. There’s also a new voice option: Choose between the never-before-released Japanese language with English subtitles or just plain English. I think playing it with the Japanese subtitles makes it more interesting because it gives it an anime flavor.
The gameplay is typically in Musou mode (story mode), but you can also pick the Free mode. The PSP version has 42 characters to choose from and you can uncover seven stories from China’s turbulent past. On all versions, you are given a little history lesson with facts and information regarding the time period, battles or characters.
KOEI’s Dynasty Warriors series has generated nearly 7 million units in sales worldwide since its initial release in 1997. It is rated T for Teen and was released in March 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, and it just came out last week for the Xbox. Dynasty Warriors 5 is $49.99 for the Playstation 2 and Xbox versions, and $39.99 for the PSP at CompUSA or Toys n’ Joys.
Tripwire Your Space. Those who know me well are quite aware that I am a very particular person. At home, my closet is organized by color and type of clothing, and for the dresser, I fold all the T-shirts and underwear into neat little squares. At work, my desk is always in perfect order, as files are neatly arranged (each labeled with a label maker, never handwritten) and I daily leave the office with a spotless desk. If someone borrows my stapler, a pen or just sits in my chair, I know it right away. I will especially notice if there’s even one Hershey’s Kiss missing from my candy bowl.
For those of you not as meticulous as I am, there’s a product called Lazer Tripwire that will help protect your cubicle, the kitchen or anything else you are trying to guard. Despite its name, it does not actually use lasers, but invisible beams of infrared (IR) light. You can clamp the Lazer units anywhere, as long as you align each sender (IR light) to a receptor (light sensor). If you want to get fancy, you can combine multiple sets to create an entire perimeter. When all the units are properly connected, you will hear a voice announce, “System Armed.” If your perimeter is breached, an alarm will sound and the whole world will know who is in the process of stealing your last cookie. I suppose you could also use this as a way to guard your doorway (at home or at the office) to warn you of approaching intruders.
You don’t have to worry about any eye damage from this product since it uses a low beam of light. It will not burn your retina even if you look directly into it. I think the Lazer Tripwire is an interesting combination of technology that is actually used to protect serious things, such as museums and banks. Now it’s available as an affordable way to make your own Mission Impossible fantasy a reality.
The whole Lazer Tripwire system consists of three units, each with angle-able transmit and receive heads, which creates the invisible barrier. It also includes a mist bottle so you can see the “laser beams,” and requires six AAA batteries to operate (not included). It is made by Wild Planet, and is $29.99 at Think Geek (www.thinkgeek.com). Please keep in mind that this is only a toy, so it doesn’t come with armed guards.
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