Amazon Prime Rates going up to $99/yr

I have been a prime member for less than a year now, and I was a little shocked about the price going up so dramatically.  So lets break it down and see what you get for all that loot.

• Stream the latest Movies for additional rental cost
• Buy movies to add to your digital collection
• Stream TV shows and Movies for free *selection will vary
• Watch the latest episode of shows for cost per episode
• "Free" two day shipping (more to come on this)
• Share Prime benefits with up to four additional people that live in home
• Borrow books from other Kindle Prime members

For the most part this is a pretty good damn deal, but unfortunately for myself and family my first efforts are to try and find the bad side to a good situation.

Here is one thing I don't like about the Free 2-day shipping.  You can find a really good deal sometimes, I personally abused the free shipping for graphic tees, I was trying to get some new shirts because friends told me that White under shirts were not a one shirt for every event kind of thing, here is an example of an awesome deal.

I am wearing this shirt right now as I blog!

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Basically $8 dollar shirt sent to my house on Amazon.  Other times you will find that the Prime product is $5-15 dollars more than any other sellers item one the site, so its like the shipping is built into the price of the product.  But I have had more positive scenarios with prime than negative, but I really looked for a deal as well.

(There is actually a Lawsuit about to come through about the pricing practices involving the free 2-day shipping, you can read about it here. Reports have also surfaced that Amazon is using SurePost for delivery service where FedEx or UPS would hand the shipment over to the USPS, where 2-Day deliveries are not guaranteed.)

Free TV shows, this might sound a little conspiracy theorist but, I have had TV series that I started watching that were free, suddenly start charging in the middle of the season I am watching.  This Phenomenon has happened to my Wife as well.  The explanation from Amazon Prime is that shows are frequently rotated this way...Well I am sorry, I will not be paying $1.99 for each episode of "Murder She Wrote".

Buy "Home Alone" in HD? $12.99?!! Really someone should be fired.

We have not used the Lending Library on our 2nd Gen E-ink Kindle yet, so not much to say about that.

Sharing benefits is kind of cool but pointless, you can do it for up to four family members or if you purchase it for a small business you can share with co workers.  If you live with the people you could extend the benefits to them with or without the service, I could see how this would be handy if you had adult children, or whatever with multiple Amazon Accounts.

Prime Products are full filled by Amazon, so this makes it easier for the return process etc.  Well for $10 Bucks a month it is still a pretty good deal, I do not believe anyone that says Amazon is losing money on this deal though as it stands.  In the end Amazon Prime, bundled with our Netflix is still way cheaper than a cable contract, my family will probably be staying Prime members for the $99/yr change.

Next Gen MOBA: Strife

So I have played a few matches with this next gen MOBA and I am not hating it as much as I thought I would.  The beginning of the game you are giving pirate character in order for you to complete the tutorial.  At this point I was thinking that the game was a little kiddie for me.  The game was full of what I like to call "Round Graphics" simply meaning that there are details but they aren't sharp and as detailed as you would normally see with a PC game.  But I also understand that this is pretty typical for MOBA type games.

After Completing the tutorial with your abnormally busty friend, you will make a game run with the PC assisting that basically gives you the run down of how to play a match.  Things I like coming from this BETA

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• The graphics are actually pleasant and easy on the eyes

• After the tutorial the kiddiness goes away

• Shop items can be bought in the field and delivered by mutant chipmunks

• You are given pets that can evolve and give you more abilities (No Pet Battles, lol)

• Gold is split between allies for kill assist

Strife Next Gen MOBA

Of course I believe that you can only be so original so if you look hard enough you are going to see similarities from past MOBA, I have already found myself saying, this char plays like Darius, or Jax.  I think this is too be expected with a genre that has to constantly try to reinvent itself.

There appears to be a lot of customization that they are planning on doing, you can craft Armour, weapons, and enchanting with the loot that you earn during the game. It also appears hat there will be in game purchases, so you can get that certain edge, if your willing to spend the money.  Accounts will be wiped periodically, but there will be some compensation promise developers.  Follow my link under the picture to secure your BETA.

Get out of my Dreams, and into my Turtle Van!

This might be a bit of an understatement...but when I was a young child I was a Fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  When I heard that the TMNT movie was coming out, I peed a little.  I'm talking I remember my sister taking me to the $1 theater to watch "TNMT Turtles in Time", HIDE/SHOW

I had the Motion Soundtrack with "Ninja Rap", I had "The Ooze" splattered on ceilings in every room of the house, I had the Live TMNT roadshow on VHS.  My sisters physically assaulted a kid in the neighborhood because he had taken my Turtle Van home.

Micheal Bay is a wish granting Unicorn, whom I will love forever love, Meagan Fox is in this movie playing April O'Neal which is very surprising I thought they had a tiff, and she wasn't going to do any of his movies, don't care.  Can't wait for this movie, I heard Lindsay Lohan is going to play either Bebop or Rock-steady.  After viewing the trailer looks like they are going to stay pretty close to the "Ooze" origin to a degree, and the turtles are not ALIENS!  Here is a cool video from Screen Junkies about the new movie.

Wal-Mart (Won't Stop) Vs Game Stop

Recently Walmart has announced that they will be purchasing slightly used video games from its patrons, and then offering them back to consumers at a discounted price.  This is a direct jab at the already floundering Gamestop which just announced that it will not be offering its cloud gaming service (Spawn Labs) and instead they will be focusing on selling stupid subscription cards for the PS4.

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Not that I am a big fan of the prices that Gamestop gives for most trade ins (Pennies on the dollar for used games), but I hate Walmart more!  I feel more comfortable going into a GS to talk shop, than talking about anything to anyone working at a WM.  I have found that people that work in whatever department in WM have no clue about what surrounds them.  At least at GS you can pretty much rest assured that the guy behind the counter has clocked more WOW time than a small village.

After recently seeing some deals that GS is offering with memberships, etc, it appears that they are really trying to make it a better deal for consumers, I really, really hope, and I think they will hold out against the monstrosity that is Wal Mart.

Nvidea Shield...why do I need this?

First I would like to say that I am a big proponent of remote gaming, I love the idea of sitting on my couch and playing games from my desktop in the back room comfortably, and I do not actually own a Nvidia Shield, nor will I ever.

Basically the Shield is a hand held controller that has a 5 in LCD touchscreen on it,
that you can play android games on and stream PC games on as well, and it has High Fidelity speakers designed to immerse you, you can do Netflix, Facebook, music etc it is a pretty cool device.

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The initial price on this contraption was $299, If you show me someone that paid this, I would slap them, price cut down to $249, you bought this, I would cuss you in the street, now it is down to $199 you bought this I would awkwardly avoid your phone calls.  This is just not worth it! (Original price before release was $349)

Play android games with it, I do that already with my Samsung G3, stream PC games to it!! I do this with my laptop already, shoot I do it with my Nook! Netflix WOW!!!! I do this on my phone, nook, laptop, Desktop, heck you give me a potato, some yarn and a paperclip, and i'll have Netflix on it, in an hour.

If you are outside your home, when would someone decide "man....I would love to play some COD right now."  Did you just leave your house so you could sit at the bus stop and impress everyone with your streaming capabilities.  Maybe I am not the caliber of gamer that finds this awesome, but when I leave my home, I got junk to do! I am either at work or I am socializing with friends and family, whipping this brick out would never occur to me.

I mean maybe if you are not savvy enough to figure out how to do your PC games remotely, then yeah go right ahead and buy this, or if you have no other device to your name.  But this device makes me sad.

Winds of change are coming!

Found new sharpees at work that have broad and fine tip in one marker! No where but up from here!!

Hex: Shards of Fate will shatter expectations!

Hex: Shards of Fate had its humble beginnings as a Kickstarter from Cryptozoic Entertainment promising to change how people play MMO's  as well as TCG forever, by combining the two.  After a very successful Kickstarter fund raiser to the tune of $2.2 million, Alpha was released for play testing by its creators.
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I personally missed the original Kickstarter buy in, but was able to get in on the Alpha access to the game by contributing as a Slacker Backer which includes the following:

• Alpha and Beta invite
• 1 starter deck in addition to your starter deck at account creation
• 25 set 1 booster pack
• 2 months of VIP which includes 1 pack a week and access to Tournaments and deck tools
• Princess Cory promo card
• Chest o Hex Promo Card
• Digital art book in PDF Form

(Also kiddies the Slacker Backer offer ends April 1, so get in while you can!)

So what can be said about the game, if you decks that are highly involved, and you enjoy games that make you employ strategies, this game is for you.  The deck creation is similar to other TCG of the past, Direct Damage, Bounce Decks, Spawner, etc; But everything has a fresh new look that is appealing to the eye.

Game play for me at least seems a little choppy, there are options that allow you to automatically pass on "Phases" of your turn that could ease the choppiness, but i fear using these because I would not want to pass on an opportunity.  You basically build a deck and you can battle AI or other players.

Now for the MMO aspect, there is nothing to say about this, it is not available and I think only Cory Jones (President and CCO) knows when this will become playable, but to me its expected, it's still Alpha.  Cryptozoic is promising Dungeons and raids just like some of your favorite MMO's of the past.  I will offer some advice though do not fall down the path of "Duke Nukem", get this product out there!

Is this game worth the investment, I would say that knowing what I know now I am still 50/50 on the matter.  I enjoy being a part of something new, but you have that worrying feeling of is this game going to come to fruition 

Looks promising the game is updated constantly, the forums are alive, I am optimistic to where this game can go.

Occulus Fans have collectively Crapped their pants

Just announced Facebook has bought the virtual headset maker Oculus Rift for 2 Billion Dollars!  Many had high hopes for this new hardware, but are suddenly seeing all their dreams crushed.  Here are some reactions.

Wow, it's like I can actually taste the candy. pic.twitter.com/fK5InliSA6
— Oliver Age 24 (@OliverAge24) March 25, 2014

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BTW, for those of you that crowd funded the Oculus Rift. SORRY. pic.twitter.com/UG8qEGadvJ
— Boogie2988 (@Boogie2988) March 25, 2014

No one knows what this will mean for the Oculus hardware, for now disappointment rules the Twitter feed with this announcement.

Salted Nut Roll

Sooooo I know what your thinking......it's delicious.

Plex Media Server-Why haven't you done this yet?

Okay, so if you do not know what Plex Media Server is, unplug your internet, throw your computer out in the yard, become Amish and leave my presence. Well you can do that, but not in that order finish reading my post then give me a +1 and then do that stuff, lol.  Alright seriousness now!

Plex basically allows you to put all your media onto your computer and access it whenever and wherever you are like in apps web access etc.

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Above shows one of the menus from where you access your TV shows, movies, music, pictures etc!  This has been one of the most flawless media servers I have had the pleasure of dealing with.  I have synced my iTunes with this app, home pictures and movies.  

If you pair this software up with lets say a ROKU HD...mind blown.  Also the control that I get through my phone is amazing, below is a screenshot of my menu from my Samsung G3.  the on the fly transcoding Plex is capable of is nothing less than blissful.  

Guys and gals if you are looking for a media server that will make all your streaming media dreams come true, this is it...I have not even mentioned the best part... ITS FREE!!  For months I used this service without paying a single red cent, I have spent a grand total of $4.99 for the App from the Play store after I decided I just loved it.  You can decide to subscribe for a monthly or yearly fee ($74.99 for lifetime).  This will get you access to new features and other completely awesome parts of Plex.  You can also share your library with other Plex users, by the way shoot me an email if you wanna become a Plex Buddy with me!  This is just hands down a must have!!

Amazon Mechanical Turk Review

So in my never ending search to find a way to make extra money online I stumbled across an Amazon service that I had found a few years ago, but rediscovered recently Amazon Mechanical Turk.  This is a website where you can create an account, verify Tax information and Bank info, and start making pennies on the dollar in hours, lol. 

Here is how it works, after you have created your account and done all the verification's, you will be able to accept HITS or Human Intelligence Tasks from Mechanical Turk Requesters.  These HITS can pay as much as $50 to as little as $0.  HITS also range from audio transcribing which seems to be where the money is, down to surveys that pay upwards to $2.00.

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There are also qualifications that requesters may require of a MTurker (Someone who uses Amazon Mechanical Turk) ranging from regional qualifications to audio transcribing qualifications.  If you do not meet these requirements you will simply not be able to accept the hit, or your hit will be REJECTED!!

(FYI being rejected is apparently the number one insult to an MTurker, it affects which HITS you are able to work on and for whom, ii is exactly like  receiving bad review a work )

There are a bunch of Add-on scripts available through Firefox, and Chrome that allow Mturkers to rate requesters, block nuisance HITS, etc.  These can be found here at Mturk Scripts, once there you will have to download Tampermonkey which will allow you to install the scripts and run them. Turkopticon is the script that allows workers to review requesters on Amazon Mechanical Turk, this tool is invaluable.

Well it comes down to can you make money with Mturk?  Here is my total for less than a weeks worth of work, I am hoping to pay for my Amazon Prime account next year with my Earnings!