Archive for January, 2010

Star Trek Online – Away Missions

The Offspring (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Image via Wikipedia

Data: “Lal, I am unable to correct the system failure.”
Lal: “I know.”
Data: “We must say goodbye now.”
Lal: “I feel …”
Data: “What do you feel, Lal?”
Lal: “I love you, Father.”
Data: “I wish I could feel it with you.”
Lal: “I will feel it for both of us … Thank you for my life …”

Three days ago Star Trek Online – Open Beta was closed. If you didn’t get into it and you still want to try the game, you will have to wait until Feb. 2nd when, so they say, Star Trek Online will open for general public.

XMLbeans scomp fails with “java.io.IOException: CreateProcess error=2, The system cannot find the file specified”

Beans Alubia pinta alavesa. Álava, Spain.
Image via Wikipedia

If you are using xmlbeans on Windows to bind your schema to Java types then you are probably using a tool bundled with the distribution called scomp or Schema Compiler. For schema compiler to work you will need to correctly setup computer environment by installing JDK. You can follow through the following check-list to detect if any additional installation steps are required on your machine setup:

  • Start->Run->type cmd and type java in the command line. If no error then your setup is correct; otherwise setup JAVA_HOME and add %JAVA_HOME%/bin to your Path environment variable and try again.
  • Start->Run->type cmd and type scomp in the command line. If no error then your setup is correct; otherwise setup XMLBEANS_HOME and add %XMLBEANS_HOME%/bin to your Path environment variable and try again.

Then run scomp. Depending on your wishes you will probably wan’t to create a .jar file of the Java types scomp compiles from schema files. I used the following command line:

scomp -d schema -src src -out my_schema_1_0_0.jar ./schema/mySchema.xsd

where mySchema.xsd file was stored in ./schema folder.

If you get my_schema_1_0_0.jar, by some coincidence then kudos to you, but most likely you will end up with something similar to this error:

Time to build schema type system: 1.282 seconds
Time to generate code: 18.687 seconds
java.io.IOException: Cannot run program "C:\your current path\javac": CreateProcess error=2, The system cannot find the file specified
java.io.IOException: CreateProcess error=2, The system cannot find the file specified
java.io.IOException: Cannot run program "C:\your current path\javac": CreateProcess error=2, The system cannot find the file specified
 at java.lang.ProcessBuilder.start(Unknown Source)
 at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Unknown Source)
 at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Unknown Source)
 ... 6 more
BUILD FAILED

Read on to solve this problem.

Star Trek Online – Characters and Space Combat

Star Trek Online

Image via Wikipedia

Star Trek Online was one of the more, if not the most, anticipated games here at Three Wise Men. That is right, we are all trekkies, we are sure that miniskirt uniforms were dropped because crawling in Jefferies Tubes could become a bit awkward. We also know that crossing replicator power converter with plasma manifold isn’t something you should do if you want to keep your plasma relays in a working order.

Star Trek Online – Exploration with a touch of epic space battles?!?

Previously questioned by BigWhale, now we all are beginning to wonder if Star Trek Online will replace Eve Online? Final revelation will be known when beta testing is opened to public. Discovery is scheduled to commence on January 12th and close on January 26th.

We know, so far, that Star Trek Online will not be ONLY about space battles. Players will also be able to experience exploration, diplomacy, star ship crew micro management, ship upgrades and more. Although some reports from closed beta test mention only space battles we hope that this means that closed beta tests were focusing on space battles and space battle systems while open beta test will expand to ‘Space the final frontier … ‘.

With the end of closed beta test, Cryptic studios also announced the names chosen for Tier 5 Starships. They are:

  • Emissary class for Tier 5 Cruisers
  • Dervish class for Tier 5 fleet Escorts
  • Destiny class for Tier 5 Science Vessels

The following video shows how will exploration look in the Star Trek Online.

UPDATE: We successfully downloaded installed and played the open beta. It looks quite nice, the interface is something that you will have to get used to. Still there are few bugs and glitches here and there.

Sony is dedicated to 3D stereoscopic experience for 2010

CHIBA, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 24:  Visitors watch a...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

After almost a year of rumors and guessing, on the 7th January, 2010, Sony announced that it is dedicated to bring the 3D experience  to consumer homes. Announcement was made at Consumer Electronics Show (CES). As seen from announcement 3D will be integrated into most aspects of Sony’s product line meaning consumer electronic devices, TV and movie content and game devices.

The latest information is really interesting because it means that PS3 will be able to play stereoscopic games. The update which will enable stereoscopic game play will be available through PS3 update which will be available sometime in the summer 2010. Playback of “Blue-ray” discs with 3D content will also be able on PS3 with later updates.

Read more for additional information about first experience with 3D stereoscopic games.