Archive June 2011

The value of a well built website.  This is a pageviews graph of a client's website from January 1st, 2010 to June 23rd, 2011.  The day we launched their new site, they bested their previous best day of pageviews by almost five times.

Just wrapped up and put live another website for our friends at Berk Technology.  They specialize in exhaust parts manufacturing including high flow cats for the 350Z/370Z/G35/G37 and has an awesome BMW 135i race car.  We're currently working on a website for Track.One Motorsports and a children's book author, Stacia Deutsch.  Stay tuned for those site launches as we're getting busy again!

I haven't had as much time as I'd like to play the wonderful 3D remake of one of the best Zelda games ever, but I figured I'd do a quick post on it for those that still haven't bought a 3DS and wondering if it's really worth the money.  There's so much negative press surrounding the 3DS right now, and although most of it is warranted, very few ever mention that the 3DS is actually a very neat piece of hardware.  I feel bad for those that aren't able to handle the 3D functionality of the system, as the depth and effect it gives off in games really gives an experience that no other system can offer.  I don't care if you're wearing funky glasses while trying to play your Playstation 3 in 3D.  Sliding the 3D slider to 2D and back up to full 3D in Ocarina of Time leaves me staring in complete awe, and that says a lot.

Not much keeps my interest these days but I really have to admit that Ocarina of Time on the 3DS is an awfully beautiful game to just look at.  The little effects of Navi flying by, or the feathers flying off a cuckoo is pretty impressive.  Fortunately I'm one of the apparently rare few that can play the 3DS on full 3D without any adverse effects so I'm able to take advantage of what the system is all about.  I can definitely see the plight of those that can't enjoy the 3D, which really leaves the 3DS being a beefed up DS with a remake of an old game being it's only real title.

Look, if you have any doubts of getting the 3DS, go check it out at your local video game retailer.  See if you can live with the 3D effect.  I really think the complaints are completely blown out of proportion.  I can easily sit there for an hour or two straight of playing a game and never do I get annoyed or irked that the 3D is out of focus.  Maybe I have magical eyes that focus quickly compared to the rest of the editorial world out there, but I really think there's way more people that can enjoy the 3D than those that can't.  Sure the 3DS had some really weak launch titles, but there's some bright ones on the horizon.  And if you're really thinking that the eShop or internet browser was a selling point to the 3DS, well then you're just silly.  I will admit that my 3DS sat around gathering dust shortly after the initial release of the hardware.  Street Fighter IV and Ghost Recon got my attention every now and then, but mostly when I was lying in bed and looking for something to do before I fell asleep.  But I will say that if Ocarina of Time's remake is any sign of what's to come then the 3DS will be a very good purchase for me.

And seriously, was the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3's launch titles really that great?  Hell, the Playstation 3 barely gets any good titles now.  Stop hating on the 3DS, it's a solid system that offers something no other gaming platform does.  Sure some may think it's gimmicky, but gaming is all about adding onto the experience.  To me, the addition of 3D and the way it's done in Ocarina of Time makes the game exponentially better to enjoy.  Instead of being annoyed having to catch cuckoos and throw them into a pen (who the hell believed that was "gameplay" when they came up with it?) I don't mind running around and figuring it out because it's just so neat to look at.

I'm completely anti-3D if it involves glasses.  I only watched Avatar to see what the hype was all about... but I can't imagine having to game in the comforts of my own home, staring at my television, while wearing silly little glasses.  And truth be told, the 3D effect coming out of those expensive Sony televisions isn't even close to the solid realism that the 3DS has to offer.  If you're able to witness the full effect of the 3DS' 3D, it's very natural.  It's not your Captain EO's "I want to reach my hands out and grab that furry creature" type of 3D - it's depth that brings things to life.  When staring at a laptop, computer monitor, television and phone screen all day that isn't in 3D, then turning on the 3DS, it's very refreshing to see a new perspective on how things can be done.

Yeah, I think I'd take one.  I never thought I'd be a fan of hybrids, but after owning the Prius I find it difficult to go back to a car that gets 20-30 mpg.  And realistically, driving a Prius isn't all that bad.  I actually loved what Honda did with the CR-Z when it first came out, but the idea of cramming stuff into a tiny coupe has lots it appeal over the years.  But the Mugen CR-Z is pretty killer, sporting 197-hp and 158 lb-ft of torque.  That's pretty impressive out of a hybrid that still sports a 1.5L (albeit rebuilt) and still gets 42 mpg in "eco" mode.  "Mugen" mode as they call it only nets 29.4 mpg, which is in line with your old school Integra Type-Rs with the same power output.  But the idea of having the option of saving a ton of gas, or having a little fun all in one package is pretty neat.



The Mugen CR-Z features a beefed up 1.5L and Mugen's iCF system.  iCF stands for Integrated Centrifugal Forced-induction, which basically sounds like a hybrid-friendly supercharger to me.  Mugen's claiming performance numbers that rival the Civic Type-R and really this car to me proves that modifying and tuning hybrids isn't a thing to just laugh at.  By being able to combine performance with reliability and saving fuel, the cars of the future may still have a relationship with tuners all around the world. Then, once you have the ideal car to drive and have got insurance like RAC breakdown cover, you can take it for a spin. Feel stylish and adventurous in your new model and enjoy your trip. Even if it's just to the shops, you will be the envy of the otwn.



Mugen also outfits the CR-Z with their aero kit, a set of 17-inch GP wheels, carbon fiber hood and doors.  I could do without the rear spoiler though.  For suspension, they throw on a set of five-way adjustable dampers and beefs up the braking performance with larger disc rotors and 4-piston calipers.  For the interior, Recaro seats outfit the driver and passenger side while a Mugen shift knob and three Mugen gauges are just bonuses.

Just plain stupid.

In anticipation to tomorrow's release of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS, I've been reading up a lot of reviews and came across a cool article on GamesRadar comparing the 3DS' visuals with the N64's original release.  Considering how long ago the game originally came out, it's a given that there would be vast improvements, but seeing just how greatly improved the visuals and environments are on the 3DS, I really can't wait to get my hands on the game tomorrow.  It's about time the 3DS came out with a real game and hopefully it'll hold me over until Starfox comes out.

Having had the opportunity to drive the Lexus LFA out at California Speedway and riding passenger while Scott Pruett hit 178-mph on the track, I have to say firsthand that the LFA is one of the most brilliant and well-built machines in the world.  Sure its price tag is pretty extravagant, but if you have that type of money anyways, it's a nice car to add to your collection.  I still haven't had a chance to blog up about my experience with the LFA, but the world famous Gene Tjin has, so his post is worth reading. Anyways, there are rumors flying around that Lexus is already working on an LFA II and I can only hope when and if it comes out that I'll have an opportunity to get behind the wheel of that too.  As for now, check out the render and hit the read more link to check out a video that I did when I did my ride-along with Scott Pruett.

SEMA 2006, Chargespeed Booth.

While making my normal rounds through my Google Reader, I came across this JDM Acura Integra Type-R up on Fatlace.com and knew I had to post it up.  I have a huge soft spot for JDM Integras, I still think the Integra body is one of the cleanest cars around, and it's really sad that the JDM front-end wasn't standard issue in America.  Even after all these years, I still find them to be one of the most attractive cars around.  I still hope to one day get my hands on a mint body Integra Type-R, throw on a JDM front end and that's it. 



I'm not a huge fan of the major camber kicking off on the car, but it does sport a nice flush fitment of gold BBS LM wheels.  As you can probably tell, I love gold-faced wheels too and the contrasting red is really interesting on the car.  Of course you can't mess up with a step-lip on a BBS wheel.



The bay is clean as hell too featuring a tuck and shave and a '98 Spec ITR powerplant.  I sometimes wish I didn't go completely overboard on my Project Integra and just stuck to the original plan of a JDM front-ended sedan with a K-Series swap and HRE wheels.  Oh well, one of these days I'll build an Integra the way I want to and actually be able to drive it around.



Source: Fatlace.com

I finally got off my ass and dug up some photos and wrote up a little thing on my G35 Coupe and what I did with it.  It wasn't a huge project by any means, but even in this day it would have been the perfect daily driver.  An intake, axle-back exhaust, springs, front lip and wheels/tires was all that was needed to make the G35 an awesome car for the money.