Game Consoles...Are you serious ?

In the good old 80s (aka my childhood) video game arcades were quite 'in' for the young lot. Pop in a coin or two and you could enjoy a game of 'Green Barret' or Street Fighter (now classic). Owning a gaming console at home was a previlage and the choices were limited to Atari, or the new kid SEGA Megadrive and NEO GEO

(See http://www.gamesradar.com/f/consoles-of-the-80s/a-200806189420522063 or http://videogame2play.com/platform/console/video-game-consoles-of-the-1990s/ for a peek into the past)

Starting from a second generation Atari my uncle bought from abroad, I was and am still hooked up to electronic gaming in one way or the other. While I currently own an XBOX 360 (and contrary to the 'opensource' movement am a hardcore microsoft fan) questions put forward by some colleagues and relatives on what console to buy nowadays warrants an quick rundown on the available stuff.

In Pakistan, currently you have three choices (am not discussing PC based gaming and handhelds like the PSP or DS)

Nintindo Wii

Best party entertainer of the three consoles I would list here. Easy to set up, fun to use, this was the console which actually prompted the other market players (Microsoft and Sony) to introduce controller less gaming. The Wii handheld controller (called wii-mote also) converts your hand movements into character movement in a game. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bJtBt0ynsU&feature=relmfu for an example). The system itself is based on quite old technology and is not for serious gamers. Graphics are good and fun to watch but nothing if compared to the other two options available. The console is available at around 24K in local markets. Buy it if you are not very serious in gaming but want a good party entertainer and exerciser.

Sony Playstation 3 (PS3)

Successor of a highly successful PS2, this machine is full of features and latest in gaming power. It is supported by a huge library of games, some of them famous from the good old PS2 days. It is the most advanced machine of the three I have reviewed here. After introduction of XBOX 360 Kinect controller less gaming add-on, Sony has introduced their own MOVE controller which is less advanced than microsofts gig but nevertheless allows you to use your PS3 for motion sensing games. Games on PS3 come on Blue ray format so you get a Blue ray player for free when you buy this console. PS3 will cost you somewhat around 35~40K and mod versions (which allow you to buy cheap locally reproduced games instead of the expensive ones) are also available. Buy this if you are into gaming seriously and a hardcore Sony fan

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wuvia1-Mw8&feature=relmfu

Microsoft XBOX 360 with Kinect

While XBOX 360 has been around even before sony introduced PS3, Kinect add-on is a recent one enabling existing and newer 'Kinect ready' XBOX consoles to go 100% controller less. This means nothing to hold onto like with WII or PS3. (Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf44bWQr3jc). This is a revolutionary advance in gaming and has a much wider appeal to non gamers and gamers alike. Although technically speaking PS3s graphic hardware is more powerful, these are yet to be explored fully and only evident to the most prolific of gamers amongst us. So if you are a serious gamer and would like others in your family (who are not) to enjoy it equally, go for this console. It is currently available (with mod chip) at around 45~50K. The games are also cheaply available at around 150~300 Rs a piece.

Wish You Were Here....

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. - Clarence Kelland"

May 1935 ~ Feb 2008

Three years have passed
I’ll never forget the day
Someone rang to tell me
That you’d gone away

The hurt is the same
Like an open wound
There are days
I don’t utter a sound

Some days the pain is stronger 
It makes me sick and weak
I can’t stand this much longer
I just sit here and weep

I’ve shut my private door
And let no one in
Locking myself in a box
They try, but I won’t give in

You were like a rock
Strong, faithful and true
What worth has my life 
Now I don’t have you

I was your first born
Papa's little boy
I took my own path
But was still part of your world

I was not the best
Guilty of neglect
But you know Papa dearest
I had so much respect

I always loved you
My papa, my star
Now my pain is
To worship you from afar

I love you now
As I did back then
I just hope... one day
I will see you again

I am so proud of you 
Brave and strong to the end
Now when asked “how are you?”
There is no need to pretend

We all love and miss you so much, sleep well 
and take care of all who went before you

Adopted from © Diana Doyle

It was a handshake I would never forget. Khuda Hafiz and a fatherly look of farewell. 'Take care beta, we'll meet soon'. Soon we met again, but only when the warmth of my father's hand was taken over by the coldness of death. 12 feb 2008, I left my father, on his bed for a afternoon nap, to return to my work city, only to be called back from airport just past few hours.  His journey of life came to an end for a new beginning of afterlife. My hero, my mentor, my best friend...my father left the rein of life in my hands. His work was finished.

Born to a middle class but highly educated family in east Punjab, he migrated to newly created Pakistan with my grand father in 1947. Graduated as an Electrical Engineer after winning accolades in academics in his college and university.  Joined Siemens Pakistan and then Siemens Germany finally before coming back to Pakistan and settling up his own Instrumentation and Controls design and erection firm in 1969. A company he spent all his energy and youth to turn into the biggest and best established company of its kind in that period. He was involved in commissioning of a large number of basic industries of Pakistan including the first paper and board mill, sugar mills, fertilizer plants (including the one I currently work for), and refineries. He was known for his business acumen and technical knowledge in Pakistani circles of that era. As a person yet he was humble, very open minded, one with a very positive and optimistic outlook of everything, and a well wisher for everyone. He had lots of admirers and friends but rarely a foe. 

As a father, he was a role model. He inculcated the same values and principles in us that he followed all his life. He believed in quality education and that he ensured for us. He believed in living for the present and never tried to or got worried over materialistic issues. I never saw him keeping a wallet. Whatever savings he had were either promptly deposited with my mother or handed over to the first needy person he could find. He liked to dressed well but his wardrobe was never full of cloths as he didn't believe in extravagance.  After his business hours, he ensured that he spend quality time with his family. We always found him whenever we required him. He was our mentor, our guide, and our best friend. 

He was a fighter who fought for 12 years with Parkinson's disease, never ever letting it take control of himself.  Mid nineties was a economically tough time for our family but I never saw him giving up his ground. He sheltered us from the tough conditions and ensured that we complete our eduction without getting affected. I cannot forget the pride and satisfaction on his face the day I came back after completing my degree and joined his office. He was there to guide me everyday even under severe handicap condition due to his disease.    It was because of him that I am, whatever I am today.

I miss you papa. I remember your protective hands when I carry my own son today. When I take him to eid prayers i cant help remembering the days when you used to take me to the mosque. I miss the shoulder that you provided me whenever i needed it the most. I miss the dearest friend that I had in you when I need to share my problems with someone. I know you are in a better world than ours but I wish you were here !

Post project blues

Three years, an average of 12 hours a day, no sundays and no holidays. These were the times when work life balance meant work and only work. Now as the project is over, it seems odd to return home when the sun is still out and kids are still awake. Sunday's are spent at home and the life means more than only work. But for how long ?. Soon it gets to your nerves. Having gone through the hectic work schedule and that too for so long, we have trained our bodies and minds to stay with our work. Out minds cannot make out what to do when out of office. Even our families have gotten accustomed to our absence from home. The kids have their own schedules and activities in which we are not included. They have grown up in the last three years without us and now our presence perhaps is interfering in their life patterns. Have we lost this time ?

On the work front every thing else looks like peanuts. Un challanging and not worth doing effort for. It is like asking someone to paddle a tricycle and get praised when he has already ridden a mountain bike in x-games. Not at all interesting!

With all of these 'Blues' would we turn into an unproductive lot for our organisation which is dull, not interested in anything and, may be, is unable to muster up energy for another assignment ? The situation is even worst for the individual in us. The more we remain 'lost', the more we are sucked into the 'Blue' zone. What should we do ?

1. Take a break
   Go on vacation, take rest, change your environment, take your mind off your past routine and re-energize for a fresh start.
   
   
2. Spend time with your family
   Spend time with your immediate family. Take kids to the park, feed them, if they go to school be there to pick and drop them. Absorb your self into their daily routine. Call up distant relatives, friends, and those you were unable to stay in touch with. Go out with them, discuss anything and everything.
   
   
3. Re-start that hobby
   The good old X-box is eating rust, get it out and blast your time gaming. Get the fresh batteries for your RC model plane and rejuvenate that good old hobby. Not only will it take your mind off your past routine but will help create a reason to stay busy when not working.
   
   
4. Get a different new assignment
   And if you have an option, take a new assignment that is different from your past one in some aspect. No matter what the magnitude of this new assignment is compared to what you have done in the last project, you will find it more easy to get your self going if given a different set of puzzles to solve.

Bottom line - We should not get the 'Blues' to take over us. Get in control and confront the situation. Only then we can find a solution.