March 2012
1 post
Mass Deffect 3
First of all:
SPOILERS AHEAD
Do not read this post if you have not beaten Mass Effect 3.
Seriously. Don’t read this.
Okay. Still here? Well here we go.
There has been an uproar lately about Mass Effect 3. If you don’t know what Mass Effect 3 is, it’s a video game. It’s the 3rd installment in what is arguably the greatest single player experience in video...
September 2011
3 posts
Anonymous asked: Hey, I was wondering how you made the Omni Tool on your Mass Effect build. Thanks
It is Done. DragonCon Here I Come.
Down to the Wire
The road to Dragon*Con is a long one. I’ve been off and on it for a year with this costume. I better get it done.
Progress report:
Knee pad things made
Gloves made
Thigh pieces and code piece strapped together with belt
Flair added to thigh pieces
Cerberus Logo and flair added to torso piece
August 2011
4 posts
Get Em While They're Hot
Yesterday, Aug. 20th, 2011 was a fire sale day. HP announced he will no longer be an Auror…wait. No, that’s not it.
HP announced it will be kick flipping its way out the hardware biz (of which they’re probably the largest when it comes to makin’ PCs) and focusing on what will most likely be boring stuff you can’t physically play with.
Out of this announcement...
And Then There Was Light
Electroluminescence Wire installed. Looks good.
Painting done.
Now I’m Modge Podging the whole thing. Time consuming.
Another Night, Another piece(s) Made
Bracers made
Pauldrons attached to bicep pieces
Lights on
Last straps added to thigh pieces
Lots of Velcro strapping used
Oh, and check out that cod piece
Cerberus Assault Armor (Countdown)
Bioware recently announced they are having a costume contest. Entries (via Youtube submissions) are due by August 20th. Pressure is on. I want to enter the contest.
I worked a good bit today on a few things.
Thigh pieces are looking good. Just need one more strap at the bottom of each, final coat of paint, then add the craft foam parts in the middle.
Lights are installed in pauldrons and back...
July 2011
4 posts
Mass Effect Armor Update
Got some pictures and video of the CNC router at work cutting out a thigh piece. Pretty cool stuff!
Mass Effect Armor for Dragon*Con update
I’ve been secretly working on the armor. My buddy Brian at work helped me use the CNC router to cut some pieces out. These were the test pieces to see how it’d fit/look:
They looked good, so we went ahead and cut the foam.
Then I painted a first coat and added some craft foam pieces to the bicep parts.
Social (Bet)work
Social networking is here to stay. There’s money in it. Everybody wants a piece of that pie, uh drippin’ that uh chocolate sow-suh.
But which ones will be hits with lasting appeal? It’s a gamble for all the startups.
There are several new social sites that seem to be picking up steam or showing loads of potential. A site my wife has a considerable obsession with currently is...
June 2011
2 posts
Costume for Dragon*Con Update
Bicep pieces shaped, strapped, painted.
Shoulder straps painted.
Pauldrons painted, LED’s installed, accents attached.
Codpiece cut, belt created/installed.
Nerd Rage: First Class
X-Men First Class was released in Theaters last night (June 3rd). While many casual movie-goers enjoyed a fun period piece with interesting characters and a fairly well-crafted story, there were many Marvel Comics fans who were about as happy as Wolverine in a bar that just ran out of beer.
To figure out why comic book fans are so upset, we must go back to the time before the...
May 2011
3 posts
Armors
Bicep and shoulder pieces cut. Helmet’s inside padding installed.
Cerberus Assault Armor Update
Continuing construction of the Cerberus Assault Armor. Contemplating starting over on the front torso piece. Haven’t decided yet.
Ordered the EL wire for the omni tool. That thing is gonna look dope.
Back on the Old Space Highway
It’s time. Time again to prepare for Dragon*Con. Work has begun on completing the Mass Effect Cerberus Assault Armor. I feel the fire again.
Update:
-Omni tool construction complete, minus EL Wire installation
-Front Torso etched and painted with first coat of white
...
February 2011
5 posts
I Heart Robots
You think the dog is man’s best friend? No. You think diamonds are a girls best friend? Negative.
Man’s best friend is the robot. Robots are helpful (as long as they are not self-aware and sick of vacuuming your house autonomously) as well as entertaining. They build things for us, clean things for us, ferry things around warehouses, fall down stairs:
Exhibit A:
But...
Darwin Day! Also known as: I am Right, You are...
The Stealth Geek Collective blog is light-hearted. We talk about tech, video games, science, sci-fi, etc. The blog isn’t meant for matters of faith or belief. However, today is Charles Darwin’s Birthday and with his name, the topic is certain to arise. Some people celebrate Darwin’s B’day, some curse it. His name alone stirs controversy and finger pointing. I recently had...
Case of the Wannabees
Test Drive Unlimited 2 was released yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. 8th, 2011) for Xbox360, PS3 and PC. I picked it up for 360. This game is a “value” title priced at only $49.99 instead of the usual $59.99. Unfortunately, if you buy it, you’ll wish they put that extra $10 worth in the game.
TDU2 has a bad case of the wannabees.
It’s races wanna be Need for Speed
It’s...
Telescopes: Cause Chicks Dig 'Em
Actually, that’s not why anyone buys a telescope. Well, maybe self deluded dudes that have somehow resolved in their minds that a telescope will make them cool and attractive to ladies. Actually, I doubt there are any dudes who think that. Anyway, the number of females who do in fact dig telescopes is probably small compared to the population of the US.
So if you’re thinking getting...
Anonymous asked: Was curious how your Mass Effect armor was coming out. I am getting ready to make my first project out of EVA foam myself, thinking about using the Mass Effect N7 armor design for the chest plate of a character I am going to be portraying in a music video I will be working on. I need something that looks like a semi heavy chestplate armor for the character and I think just a plain black painted...
December 2010
1 post
Microsuck
I hate Microsoft.
No really. I hate them. Malice is in my heart. If Microsoft was a window, I’d break it. If it was a cat, I’d drown it. If it was a burrito, I’d eat it and chew really violently.
My anger burns like a thousand cans of Tinactin.
Let me explain.
April, 2010 - Microsoft officially begins supporting the ability to save, copy and move files to a USB device on...
October 2010
2 posts
Okay, it's not Telescopes, but Someone Had a...
I know I said the next post would be about telescopes, but someone has asked a question and I need to answer it. Duty calls.
Indeed, your leader does know his way around the internets. Quite well. So well that he knows the answer to your question without having to research. Much.
First up: http://www.steepandcheap.com/
It’s like Woot! but with outdoors stuff. One deal a day. And usually...
Astronomy. Not Astrology.
Photo credit: NASA / Hubble Space Telescope
Astronomy is a science.
Astrology is (according to Merriam Webster) the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects.
Let’s not confuse the two. My fellow geeks know that astrology is not a science and really a bunch of hogwash, so time will not be wasted...
September 2010
13 posts
Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo announced its Money Printer (a.k.a. Nintendo 3DS) will be released in February in Japan and in March in the West.
$298 is what this beautiful piece of human engineering will cost you (in Japan).
No word on how much it will cost in the U.S.
Money Printer games worth noting:
Pilot Wings Resort
Metal Gear Solid 3
Splinter Cell 3D (Chaos Theory?)
Professor Layton and the Mask of...
More Mass Effect Armor
I’m using a steak knife to cut the foam. It’s pitiful. But I did manage to get a lot of the back done. Also did some engraving in the neck piece. It was messy.
For the engraving I used a hot knife and my new rotary tool I bought for $20 at Wal-Mart. It’s a Black and Decker RTX. I actually like it better than my dad’s Dremel. It has a handy lock and switch together near the...
Mass Effect Armor Update
The Cerberus Assault Armor is coming along. I moved all the materials to my house so I could gradually work on it at home. Made the collar, full front torso piece and shoulder straps tonight.
Slangin Update
Konami cancelled their new Xbox360 Dance Dance Revolution game that was being developed. I received a call today from Gamestop informing me my pre-ordered copy would not be arriving this month, seeing as it’s been cancelled.
The decision was most likely made because Microsoft’s Kinect will be released soon and Konami most likely wants a piece of the mo-cap dance pie.
...
Dress Appropriately
At any given moment, the unexpected can occur. An earthquake shakes the ground you walk on, a mugger confronts you face to face, a power line snaps in your path, a zombie confronts you face to…decomposed face, an angry dog bears down upon you, a dirty bomb detonates in your area, an unattractive member of the opposite sex takes a little too much interest in you….the unexpected. Are you...
Slangin You Up to Date (b/c bringin you takes too...
Geek stuff you should probably know!
Earth is the best planet. You can’t live on any of the other ones in this solar system, so by default, Earth is the best. Jupiter is about be really happy because on Sept. 20th-21st it will be the closest to the wonderful planet Earth it’s been in over a decade. Break out those telescopes and...
Who Makes Them Games?
Playing video games is a hobby, a recreational activity, a way to pass the time during a flight and a way to take a short break at work. Video games are sometimes art, sometimes controversial, sometimes addicting. Millions of people currently play video games and the industry takes in more money each year than the movie industry. But who makes these video games?
Enter development studios.
...
A Little Bit at a Time
Day two of armor making.
It Begins
My brother and I have begun our first adventure into EVA foam armor making. I gathered materials today, we took measurements of each other tonight and did a few glue/paint tests on the foam. Everything worked according to plan. This should turn out well I believe.
However, NOWHERE in town sells a hot knife which we need to cut and etch the foam. Had to buy one off Amazon. I mean, I went to...
6 tags
Cosplay. Totally Geek, Totally Awesome. Well,...
Cosplay = Costuming + playing a fictional character.
Each year, thousands of people create or commission costumes to wear to conventions. Many of these costumes are simply amazing. Many are simply grimace inducing.
Creativity and resourcefulness are a must in cosplaying. A fantastic example: a guy known as EvilFX. His blog Bioweapons.Wordpress.com showcases his work, which happens to be N7 armor...
7 tags
Steampunk. Oh, and Dragon*Con.
Dragon*Con 2010 has come to a close. Your leader attended. Your leader experienced copious amounts of fun with 30,000 other geeks and stealth geeks. It was pure funtasy. Sci-fun and funtasy.
There were so many people in costume it was impossible to photograph them all. Here are some photographs taken (on Saturday):...
Conventions: A Stealth Geek Overview
Dragon*Con officially kicks off tomorrow in Atlanta, GA. Your leader will be attending this convention Saturday.
Perhaps you’ve not had the opportunity to visit a (geeky) convention or really even know what they’re all about.
Conventions, as you may already know my dear comrades, are organized gatherings of people centered around a certain common interest(s)....
Mail: Celebrity Stealth Geeks
Oh, my dear compadre. Does your leader know of stealth geek celebrities? But of course. You see, stealth geeks are like vermin. Though we be hidden, there are many of us and we are everywhere. Let’s start with some direct quotes by celebrity stealth geeks.
Direct quotes:
“I have a roomful of comic books and toys in my house. It’s pretty impressive, I will say.” - Seth...
August 2010
19 posts
Price Drops and Hikes
Nintendo just put out a press release saying they will drop the prices of their DSi and DSi XL to $149.99 and $169.99 respectively.
Here’s the link to the press release in case you need to read it for whatever reason: http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=25165
This makes you wonder where the Nintendo 3DS will fall in their pricing skew.
Your leader predicts the 3DS will take the...
Music, Now in 8-Bit! →
There are many cheap and even free tools available today that enabe people to create electronic music. A genre known as 8-bit (a.k.a. Chiptunes) has become fairly popular amongst geeks and is definitely worth checking out. The link your leader has provided you with above (simply click on the title of this post) will take you to Chiptune media sharing site known as 8bitcollective. It’s good...
7 tags
Spread Your Wings and McFly
The day we’ve been waiting for is possibly at hand. We’ve waited nearly 30 years. The wait could possibly be over very soon. Nike has filed a patent for self-lacing shoes. The design in the patent looks like this:
OH! EMM! GEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your leader is FUH-REAKING GEEKING OUT!!!!!!!!!
I have waited forever for these, and now Nike may actually, really,...
Mail: Out of the Cocoon and into a Mothra
My dear friend. Do not be afraid or ashamed of who you really are. Your leader was once ashamed of his interests in his younger years. Yes, your now self-confident leader was once a junior high school student and didn’t want anyone to know he LOVED the the Uncanny X-Men. A seriously beautiful picture of the Uncanny X-Men hung on your leader’s wall next to his bed, but would be taken...
WatchOctober 31st, 2010. 9pm central standard time. The dead, will walk.
7 tags
WatchThe game featured in the video, Fighters Uncaged is a “hardcore” title being developed by AMA Studios for the Kinect on the Xbox 360.
Kinect:
If you haven’t heard of the Kinect (and you call yourself a stealth geek…), it’s basically like a motion capture device that connects to your 360 and allows you to control video games using just your body. No controller.
...
9 tags
Mail: Coping w/ Geekery
My dear wife, I understand that you do not understand. You represent many women around this nation and world who are married to stealth geeks, yet are not geeks yourself. Because males in the Collective are generally well rounded individuals and often charming around the ladies, many of said ladies find themselves in relationships with stealth geeks.
Because you do not share the same interests...
9 tags
Computer Generated Garbage
Back in the day, movies looked awesome. Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Neverending Story, Aliens, Return of the Jedi, Return to Oz, Ghostbusters…they all looked great. They used CGI only when absolutely necessary and when they did use it, it was a painstaking process to get it just right.
You never questioned if that T-Rex was real. You simply sat in your seat...
7 tags
Tone of Your Rings
Knowing you my dear collective, your current smartphone ringtone/notification sound is probably Solid Snake’s CODEC call, the prelude to Final Fantasy, an ocarina tune or some other video game song/sound that only geeks or fellow stealth geeks would recognize (obviously we wouldn’t utilize a tone such as the Emperor’s March from Star Wars and practically announce to the world...
12 tags
America's Tastes
It’s no secret America has bad tastes my dear friends. The Collective is an exception obviously, yet living in this country we clearly see America’s attachment to the mediocre and the below average. Prime examples:
Above Photo Credit: Christopher Simon
Wolf T-Shirts (not worn in a tongue-in-cheek manner)
The Jersey Shore
and
Anything directed by this man:
Because...