So I just completed downloading the demo of Just Cause 2. I excitedly installed then started it. Directions said to press the Start button. I did and I got to another screen. Directions said to press O button. I did and… it didn’t work! I tried restarting the demo. Still didn’t work. I tried rebooting the PS3. Still didn’t work. I accidentally found the solution: Press O and X buttons at the same time. It worked! The same goes while inside the game, you need to press both together. What the heck?!? Definitely not a good sign for this title.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum is the the said to be the best superhero computer game so far. And I can see why. In the game, Batman must fight Joker and his henchmen who have taken over the Arkham Asylum. This is not an easy task since Batman is one of the few superheroes who don’t have superpowers. Instead, he relies on wits, stealth, his excellent martial art skills. And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without the utility belt and its plethora of gadgets. There’s the ever-present Batarang, grappling-hook gun, explosive gel gun, Bat-Claw, Ultra Bat-Claw (3 Bat-Claws), and Zip-line Thrower. Using all these in combination is required for your to succeed in the game.
Batman: Arkham Asylum Times Two
Michelle surprised me with a copy of Batman: Arkham Asylum aka Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth graphic novel for my birthday. That was awesome because aside from being an avid Batman fan (e.g. see this and this), I was also planning to buy and play the PS3 game of the same title. So reading the graphic novel would be a good start. I was about to open and read it when she sprung her second birthday surprise, Batman: Arkham Asylum the PS3 game! What more can you ask for? Thanks, babe! You sure know how to choose a birthday gift. I love you!
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Finally, finished playing Metal Gear Solid 4. This is the 4th and, supposedly, final installment of the Metal Gear series and it sure climaxes with a big bang. The games ties up the story lines of the previous games together, including any loose ends. I was only able to play Metal Gear Solid from the series.
PS3 Optical Digital Audio Cable
Finally got an optical digital audio cable aka TOSLINK cable to connect the PS3 to my budget audio receiver, a Samsung HT-Z320 home theater. Supposedly this should give me 5.1 audio. I plugged in the cable and configured the PS3 sound settings->audio output settings. I selected optical digital as the connector and selected Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, AAC, PCM 2.0 44.1KHz, and PCM 2.0 48KHz (selected by default, can’t be deselected) output formats.
But for some reason, some movies had no sound. On thing I noticed is that these movies all have AAC audio. I checked the specifications of the HT-Z320 and indeed it doesn’t mention AAC. Just DTS and Dolby Digital. Well, like I said, it’s a budget audio receiver. So I unselected AAC on the PS3 and tried playing the movies again. Voila! I now have audio!
What happened is that since AAC is not checked, the PS3 automatically converted the AAC data to PCM 2.0. And from PCM 2.0, the HT-Z320 can convert it to 5.1 audio via Pro Logic II. Not as good as true AAC 5.1 I’m sure. But certainly less expensive which is fine enough with me.