The MMORPG world is too big a target to resist, I guess. Worm-wranglers in China created a worm falled Frethog, which this new one Taterf is based on. It copies itself around, executes whenever you look at it, and by means of keylogging, packet sniffing, or other methods, determines your online game login info. It’s targeting the big ones, like WoW, Lineage, and even Steam. Once they’ve got your info, they’re free to do what they want: auction off your items, change your password and sell your account, or just play it I suppose, though I doubt that’s happening much. Anyhow, Microsoft’s threat center blog notes that it’s made up a huge proportion of the worms their Removal Tool has cleaned up, so if you’ve noticed anything fishy lately on your PC, it might be a good idea to run the MSRT or your malware removal tool of choice, just in case. → Read More
There were still a few surprises up Microsoft’s sleeve today at this little conference I’m at. They’re talking about the SDK, testing the surface with robotic arms, and they demoed some totally freaking awesome apps they’ve got running in launch or alpha state. Believe me, you do wish you were here. Lots more pictures inside. → Read More
We tested some eye-tracking software like this at CeBIT this year but this takes the concept to a whole other level. It’s basically a system for tracking your gaze that has been retrofitted to work with WoW. Why? I guess it could let the handicapped or, sadly, the catastrophically lazy, play the game without having to touch a keyboard. My money is on the former. Eye-gaze systems bounce infrared light from LEDs at the bottom of a computer monitor and track a person’s eye movements using stereo infrared cameras. This setup can calculate where on a screen the user is looking with an accuracy of about 5 mm. → Read More
Flying SPACE MARINES! FLYING SPACE MARINES! FLYING… SPACE MARINES! THAT SHOOT EACH OTHER! FLYING ONES! The manifold wonders of nature are truly bounteous and only $49.99 for two! → Read More
I take issue with the classification of World of Warcraft as a “violent game” in this study, but I suppose it’s more violent than Animal Crossing. The study, done at Middlesex University in the UK, had just under 300 people of all ages playing WoW for a couple hours, and found that players were more tired and calm after their gaming session. It’s not a really in-depth study, but it’s a nice to have something to point to when ignorant people suggest that these games are just murder simulators that rile up kids and give them some unholy blood lust. With WoW, of course, the risk is more for loot lust. → Read More
Hard, impacted stool? Try Grape Nuts. Isn’t there a war on? Shouldn’t Sony be doing something better with its R&D budget? → Read More
[photopress:wow24.jpg,full,center] A day late and several thousand experience points short, I forgot to mention that World of Warcraft Patch 2.4.0 went live yesterday. Compared to the previous release, 2.3.0, this latest upgrade doesn’t seem as significant, though it still adds a decent amount of new content. There’s a whole new island to explore, for one. The Isle of Quel’Danas, aka Sunwell Isle, which has on it two dungeons for players to explore. → Read More
[photopress:azeroth.jpg,full,center] Having found Osama bin Laden, making Iraq a safe place to live, and winning the war on conventional terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security is going after terrorists in the last place they can hide: World of Warcraft. Your tax money is going to the Reynard project, where US intelligence agents are scouting out Azeroth for “suspicious behavior”, most likely Orks in turbans. U.S. Spies Want to Find Terrorists in World of Warcraft [Wired blogs] → Read More
[photopress:wowcos.jpg,full,center] Flickr’d And who said World of Warcraft was a waste of time? Turns out you can win a couple of ducats if you’re good enough. Starting in April, Blizzard will start a contest where players will compete for a grad prize of $75,000. It’ll be a 3v3 Arena contest where players will try to out-PVP each other. To make things intersting, the contest will be held on servers where you can automatically create level 70 characters with the best gear available—the contest is about skill and guile rather than who has the most time to raid and raid and obtain gear the hard way. An even playing filed. Much appreciated, Blizzard. (Not that I’ll enter; my PVP skills can be best described as “atrocious.” The contest ain’t free, though, with Blizzard charging $20 for North American entrants, and around the same amount in your local currency. Contest Info [Blizzard via WOW Insider] → Read More
[photopress:wowfacebook.jpg,full,center] If we believe the numbers that came out yesterday showing that Facebook makes $150 million in total revenue, then we’ll have to question that $15B rating the site has earned. Analysts are now starting to realize what we’ve been saying for quite some time, that people on social networks aren’t there to buy stuff, but to screw around with their friends. Makes you wonder, then, why Facebook is worth some much then. Having information on people’s likes and dislikes is all well and good, but if no one’s willing to buy anything, then what’s the point? A thoroughly nerdy WoW Web site spun the numbers in an interesting direction. If Blizzard makes $15 per subscriber, then it’s pulling in $150 million per month. Blizzard makes as much money in a month as Facebook does in a year. The more you know. World of Warcraft Makes as Much Money in a Month as Facebook Does in a Year [Negatainment] → Read More
[photopress:manaenergypotion.jpg,full,center] Like the Final Fantasy potion before it, this World of Warcraft-inspired Mana drink is silly and only for uberfans. $7 (plus s/h) will get you two, 40mL bottles of Mana Energy Potion, which promises to give you 5-8 hours of “jitter-free” energy. It’s essentially citrus-flavored caffeine: there’s approximately two Red Bulls worth of caffeine per serving. Your wings will be epic. U.S. only for now. Mana Energy Potion via Wow Insider → Read More
We can close YouTube now. This is the best video that will ever be uploaded to it. (It’s a parody of the recent WoW ad campaign, in case you’re lucky enough to have a life.) WoW Moviewatch: Belated pimp parody of WoW commercials [WoW Insider] → Read More
Not a lot of info on this one, but you have to see it to believe it. The thing is about as thick as a laptop screen, and the picture is stunning. It’s sharp as hell and the contrast was excellent. Considering the little ones (as opposed to this ~24-in. guy) are going to cost $2,500, though, I don’t even want to think about the dent this one is going to make in your bank account. Click below for the profile view. → Read More
http://embed.break.com/NDA5MDYyhttp://view.break.com/409062 – Watch more free videos At least, I imagine this is what Nicholas will do when he reaches level 60. via Krunker → Read More
Today’s a big day for World of Warcraft fans. Once the servers come back online at around 1:00 pm EST, users will experience the ecstasy that is Patch 2.3. This is one of the bigger patches of late, with several changes and additions, including Guild Banks, easier leveling from levels 1-60 (increased XP, less XP required to level up, etc.), changes to pre-level 60 dungeons and the introduction of The Gods of Zulman, a level 70+ instance. Being only level 35, it’ll be a while before I’m able to mess around in there, but I’m sure my friends will tell me what’s up. An incredible amount of information, as always, can be found at Wowwiki. It’s going to be long and lonely weekend, that’s for sure. Official Patch News [Blizzard] More Patch 2.3 Info [WoWWiki] → Read More
Are you a leatherworker? Doesn’t matter, because even if you can’t stitch a baseball cap together, you can always play a video game. One Queens resident in NYC is looking for someone to help him level his leatherworking in World of Warcraft from 356 to 375. The job pays $20 and if you get him the materials for the hawt epic lewtz, you get $40 of cold, hard cash out of the deal. Dorky? Yes, but it is profitable and a quick way for a teenager to make a buck. Check it out if you fancy yourself a decent WoW player and are strapped for cash. Level my Leatherworking in World of Wacraft 19 points [Craigslist] → Read More
To jailbreak your 1.1.1 firmware iPhone or Touch, begin by gathering the following tools: A screwdriver A putty knife That blue stuff barbers put their combs in Pop Rocks A couple in 18th-century ball garb 2 cans of Lestoil A sense of wonder The tail of a gilded Tibetan Wombeast Step 1 – Point your Safari browser on the Touch or iPhone to http://www.jailbreakme.com. Step 2 – Wait. Step 3 – Run third-party apps on your newly jailbroken iPhone or Touch. If this works, skip Step 4 and 5. Step 4 – Remove clothing. Cover self in Lestoil (warning: may sting). Place Wombeast tail between buttocks. Marvel at couple with sense of wonder. Eat Pop Rocks. Drink blue stuff. Throw putty knife into the mouth of the Hudson River. Eat screwdriver. Step 5 – Repeat. Instant Jailbreak for iPhone and iPod touch [TUAW] → Read More
Looks like the impossible — should I say Kim-possible — is possible. With the help of a patched DVD, you can now install Leopard on any PC, young or old, fancy or non-fancy. This means two things for Apple — they will sell more iPhones and copies of Leopard than they ever thought possible — and the world will soon see the might of a complete and fully operational Mac-Intel world. Hack Attack : Install Leopard on your PC in 3 easy steps! [DailyApps] → Read More
I just came across these beauties on ThinkGeek and boy am I ticked off. Looks like ThinkGeek is completely sold out of the World of Warcraft action figure set. For $49.99, you get an Orc Shaman, a Blood Elf, a Dwarf Warrior and an Undead Warlock. Each figurine is around 7-inches tall (minus the Dwarf) and is incredibly detailed, much like a Games Workshop piece. The first shipment of these figures will be shipped in a few days, so look for a re-stock very soon hopefully. If you really want the geeky details on each figurine, hit the jump below. Product Page [ThinkGeek] → Read More
Someone over at BoingBoing is on a rant again (go figure). This time, it’s about America’s lack of farmers. Did you know that there are 4 million active World of Warcraft players though? That’s more than the 3 million farmers we have in this country. BoingBoing recreates Anderson Cooper from CNN interviewing someone about Warcraft: ANDERSON: We stopped by the gates of Ogrimmar in Durotar, on the east coast of Kalimdor, where one local told us Hollywood just can’t relate to the level-grinding life. UNIDENTIFIED ORC: They’ve never been back here, questing Razormane or Drygulch Ravine, y’know … or farming for Peacebloom and Silverleaf. They’re out of touch. Don’t get it? Have some coffee then read again. More US Warcraft players than farmers [BoingBoing] → Read More
