Big Changes

I've been planning some major changes to electric overdrive for awhile now, and these changes are finally coming to light. Soon, posting here will cease, and all old posts will be moved to a new blog, which will be hosted on Wordpress. I won't be telling you the name of the new blog just yet, but within days, it will be up and running. This blog will remain as an archive to the blog's "earlier days".

Blog Hiatus

electric overdrive will be taking a breif, four to five day hiatus this week. Once it has ended, I will come back with an "Overview" of all the news I had missed.

Microsoft Plans To Trump Google

Microsoft's old, outdated search engine "Live" is getting dumped, and will be replaced by "bing" - a new search engine from Microsoft that they say will beat Google.


Although not yet available to the public, those invited to the beta testing are giving it positive reviews, but are still skeptical as to whether it can beat the search giant known as Google.

For a review of the new search engine, go here. "Bing" will hopefully launching soon, but for, we can only sit and watch.

Credit goes to Wired for the image.

Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour 2009 is happening today at 8:30 - 9:30 (your local time). I encourage you all to participate in this world changing event. Earth Hour is just minutes away (in my time zone), and I will be participating by turning off all lights and other electronics in my house. You should to the same!

Ultimate Showdown: GORT VS. Optimus Prime

Although the movie The Day The Earth Stood Still went by without any thunderous applause, or any raving reviews, it wasn't a bad movie. And one of the coolest parts of the movie was the re-imagining of "GORT" (Genetically Organized Robot Technology). What started off as a nearly 8' actor in a costume became a CGI behemoth capable of mass destruction.


Because Gort is a giant robot, it wasn't hard to find a battle partner for him. Gort will be facing off against the world famous Optimus Prime, of the Transformers series. I will be using the latest movie version, as opposed to an older one, simply because I am using the newest version of Gort. And now: let the battle begin!

***

Optimus Prime patrols the city under the guise of a Peterbilt truck. All seems calm, until an explosion is heard nearby. Prime's radio tells him of an impending attack. "Something has escaped... government facility... great danger... evacuation... genetically organized... technology..." Prime jumps into action by transforming into his original form. And heads off in the direction of the trouble. But the trouble has already found him.

A swarm of grey bugs lands in the city, quickly materializing into Gort. Prime is dumbfounded, and is frozen. Gort takes advantage of his shock by releasing a laser blast that hits Prime directly, throwing him back several hundred feet. Prime fires a missile at the robot that shatters his left arm into millions of pieces. But that minor victory means nothing when his arm re-materializes within seconds.

But then Prime has an idea. He transforms back into his truck form, and drives away as fast as possible. Gort keeps up easily by breaking down into his swarm-form again. But just as Gort is about to destroy Prime, he transforms into his original form and runs in the opposite direction, scattering Gort. And Prime doesn't give Gort any time to recover - he quickly unleashes multiple missiles in the area, scattering Gort forever...

WINNER: Optimus Prime

Ultimate Showdown (Team): Barret Wallace & Vincent Valentine VS. Detective Spooner & Sonny

I've reviewed the game Final Fantasy VII before, and spoke wonderfully of it, but I have not yet mentioned the movie I, Robot. It tells the story of Detective Spooner, and his quest to show that the inventor of the modern robot was killed by one of his own creations. He ends up successful, but the "murderous" robot, Sonny, turned out to be a protagonist in the story, as well as being one of Spooner's friends.

For this battle, I'll be matching up two teams. Barret Wallace, a rebel with a gun for an arm (literally) and a short temper, teams up with Vincent Valentine, a vampire-like man who is quite proficient in firearms (as well as having the ability to transform into a variety of different monsters). Those two are pit against two of the protagonists of I, Robot: Detective Spooner, a detective with a hatred for robots (along with having a completely robotic arm) and Sonny, the first intelligent robot of the world.

***

Not knowing where they are, Barret and Vincent exchange a quick glance before looking over the large metal table they curiously appeared behind. They see Detective Spooner pointing his gun straight at them before they dive for cover. However, Spooner fires no shots. Meanwhile, Spooner and Sonny are discussing the events behind cover of their own. Spooner says "I'll get a look at them, then you run around the side of the room and test out their firepower." Sonny replies, "So I'm the bait? Why?" Spooner makes a fist and knocks on Sonny's metal casing a few times before saying, "That's why." Sonny follows the detective's instructions and dashes out of his cover. Barret opens fire on him, screaming the whole time, while Vincent lands three well-aimed blows at his head before realizing that their guns are futile. Vincent ducks for cover as Spooner's bullets shower the area, eventually ending Barret's ammo. Vincent watches quitely as his friend silently slides to the floor, lifeless. He sighs and jumps out of cover, just as Sonny runs up to him to deliver a final blow. He is successful, but in his last moment Vincent pulls the trigger, which is silently stopped by detective Spooner's head.

WINNERS: Sonny & Detective Spooner (deceased)

Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament Update

The new Live Wire site has been updated with the first match-ups of the Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament. The contestants were matched up at random, though I was somewhat hoping Eagle Eye and V.I.K.I. would meet in the first round...

Later tonight, the results will be posted, and you will get to see who moves on to Round 2.

Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament

Whether it be a movie, game, or a TV show, there is nearly always an antagonist. The villain that causes all the trouble, whether it be trying to take over the world, kill the protagonist, or simply trying to cause chaos.

I've decided to commemorate these villains, and bow down to them in all their glory. And so begins the Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament. I will post here any time the tournament is updated, but the actual tournament will take place on Live Wire's new website.

This tournament will involve 16 of the most amazing villains from games, movies, and TV shows alike. For each "battle", I will choose who I think should move on, but my friend Cody will also choose his opinion. If our opinions clash, then my sister will intervene to decide who should win.

And so, here are the villains:

- Sephiroth (Game, Final Fantasy VII)

- Azula (TV, Avatar: The Last Airbender)

- Eric Cartman (TV, South Park)

- The Joker (Movie, The Dark Knight)

- The Ghosts (Game, Pac-Man)

- Gormagon (TV, Bones)

- Ganondorf (Game, The Legend of Zelda)

- Scar (Movie, The Lion King)

- Darth Vader (Movie, Star Wars)

- Al Capone (Movie, The Untouchables)

- V.I.K.I. (Movie, I Robot)

- Eagle Eye (Movie, Eagle Eye)

- Bowser (Game, Mario series)

- Satan (TV, Reaper)

- Red Skull (Game, Captain America and The Avengers)

- Stewie Griffin (TV, Family Guy)

You can find the reason I chose these characters, as well as images of them, on the new Live Wire website.

Ultimate Showdown: Indiana Jones VS. Lara Croft

You may have read my previous "Ultimate Showdown" post, but I'd like to point out that this segment will be changed. Instead of having 5 categories that the contestants are matched in, I will instead simply write a paragraph or two depicting a battle between the characters (though the 5 category system will still be used for those that cannot actually fight, like the original post).

This battle will be between two quite famous (yet fictional) explores: Indiana Jones, the beloved archeologist who's career has spanned from the roaring twenties to the fifties, and tomb raider Lara Croft, who's famous for her... tomb raiding skills... Both characters have a unique set of skills, yet they each come with disadvantages. Who will win? This battle will take place in Lara Croft's domain (the 21st century), so Indy is going to have to think up some tricks to help him as he's blasted over fifty years into the future...

***

Henry Jones, nicknamed "Indy", is left baffled as he is transported from his home into a large mountain with a seemingly never-ending cave complex. He is further shocked by the appearance of a woman, around half his age, armed with dual pistols. Indy may be confused, but he ain't stupid - he pulls out his own pistol while being shot at by Lara, and quickly returns fire while running to get cover behind a large boulder. The shots keep coming, and at a much faster rate then Indy's tiny pistol. He needs to take drastic measures. Meanwhile, Lara stops firing and flips herself behind a smaller boulder. What is that old man doing? She thinks. She runs out of cover and begins firing twice as fast, but is shocked to see Indy swinging from his whip, which has wrapped around the cliff of a cave twenty feet over her head. "I hate to hit a girl!" he screams as he swings down toward her. She is almost knocked to the ground, but Indy catches her just before she hits it. "Need any help, ma'am?"

WINNER: Indiana Jones