24Xero's Blog 10 Year Anniversary!

Today is the 10 Year Anniversary of 24Xero.com, my blog. I posted quite a bit the first years. But then I began to have more drafts than posts. My last post was on February 21, 2013. I can't believe that over 6 years have went! My only excuse is the lack of motivation. I mainly post on Twitter and Instagram. So search for me there (@24Xero).

Hopefully I will get back and this site will probably change. I have a few ideas for new logos. The overall layout will stay the same most likely. If I find a new cool theme, then I might change to that. Change is good, even though it's hard sometimes.

That's all for now. And happy 10 Year Anniversary to my blog! 😍

PlayStation 4 Officially Revealed!

There's been many rumors about Sony's nextgen video game console. They invited us to "See the Future" on February 20th and everything pointed to that PlayStation 4 would make its first appearance. And I was very excited and a little nervous for the PlayStation Meeting 2013. It's always a special feeling when a new video game console is announced. I remember the last times it happened, and it's a wonderful feeling.

Today was the day everyone's been looking forward to. It was an exciting day for gamers everywhere. And it didn't take long before Sony revealed PlayStation 4 live to millions of gamers across the world. This next-generation console will deliver breakthrough gaming experiences for fans starting this holiday season.

PlayStation 4 is centered on all the gamers. It redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalization, deeply integrated social capabilities, and innovative second-screen features. When Sony designed PlayStation 4, they focused on building an architecture that will allow the greatest game developers in the industry to push boundaries and dig deep within their imaginations to create the most immersive and unique games for gamers to enjoy.

The PS4 Games

The future of PlayStation is all about great games and entertainment, and at PlayStation Meeting 2013, Sony brought some of the brightest and most creative minds from the development community on stage to unveil the games that will define PS4. A partial initial lineup for PlayStation 4 includes first-party games from Guerilla Games (Killzone: Shadow Fall), Sucker Punch (inFAMOUS: Second Son), Evolution Studios (DriveClub), and Japan Studio (Knack), as well as titles from partners such as Activision/Bungie (Destiny), Blizzard Entertainment (Diablo III), Capcom (Deep Down), and Ubisoft (Watch_Dogs). PlayStation also reinforced its commitment to self-publishing and the independent development community by having Jonathan Blow onstage who gave a sneak peek of his upcoming title The Witness. Finally, the incredible minds at Media Molecule and Quantic Dream gave glimpses of their conceptualization process and the future of gameplay with some remarkable footage. Sony only scratched the surface at the event, and will have many more exciting titles to come.

With so much amazing content in development for PlayStation 4, the fans will get every opportunity to check out virtually any PS4 game when it becomes available. In the future, when a gamer sees a title of interest in PlayStation Store, they can immediately start playing a portion of the actual game.

DualShock 4

The new DualShock controller to PS4 has been redesigned and now features a more rounded form factor as well as what appears to be a slightly rubberized grip. The new, built-in sensor provides a highly sensitive motion controller. You can interact with games like never before thanks to the touchpad on the controllers' front panel. Sound effects are played back through a built-in speaker, and headset jack. You can both hear the game sound and chat with friends. The dual analog sticks on the controller have improved and got better precision. With the new, curved L2 and R2 buttons, you get even more control.

You will instantly be able to share images and videos of your favorite gameplay moments on Facebook with a single press on the DualShock 4 controller’s new SHARE-button. You can also broadcast while you play in real-time through Ustream, allowing friends to comment or jump into your game in new ways. This new feature will change the way you interact with friends while you play.

An LED Light Bar on the controller's top matches the color of the characters in the game so that players can keep track of each other. You can, for example, also see when a character has been damaged. The new Light Bar isn't just a way to identify your player number. It also works like a PS Move. Another reason that the Move functionality was incorporated into the DualShock 4 is to enable the console to know where you're sitting in relation to the TV, and your on-screen character. 

PlayStation 4 Eye

A new camera has been developed in conjunction with the controller, and it tracks the position of the DualShock 4 via the LED Light Bar. The PlayStation 4 Eye comes with a pair of 1280x800 cameras, four microphones and an 85-degree field of view. The two lenses are designed to be used in a variety of ways, including triangulating the 3D space, gesture recognition, Kinect-style body tracking, and in conjunction with accessories like the Wonderbook or DualShock 4 controller. The original PlayStation Eye camera only has one lens, and it had to do everything. With the new unit, one camera will concentrate on capturing the action and ensuring good picture quality, while the other is dedicated to motion tracking. Sony is also aiming to enable users to take 3D pictures and video and store it on the console. As for the microphones in the new PS Eye and how that'll impact interaction with the PlayStation 4 on a system level isn't known at this time. Though it'll be incorporated into games using voice commands.

The PlayStation Move controller will also work on PlayStation 4. Media Molecule, the creators of LittleBigPlanet, introduce on-stage what the company's been creating for the nextgen game system. They showed a video where they sculpted a digital clay and created their own characters and environments using the Move controller. You could then control the characters with the Move controller and act as puppeteers. Media Molecule didn't announce an actual game title, but is certainly working on a new game for the PS4.

With PlayStation 4 you will be able to access your games quicker than ever before. PS4’s “suspend mode” eliminates the load time on your saved game and allows you to immediately return to where you left off by pressing the power button. PlayStation 4’s background downloading and updating capability also allows you to immediately play digital titles as they download, or update the system when the hardware is powered off.

PS4 will make it easier for you to play your favorite games and access content wherever you are by leveraging PlayStation Network with Gaikai technology. Sony sees the PS Vita as the ultimate companion device for PS4 and it’s their long-term vision to make most PS4 games playable on PS Vita, so you can bring your favorite games from the big-screen TV to your PS Vita over Wi-Fi. They're also introducing a “PlayStation App” for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices that acts as a second screen, allowing for unique gameplay possibilities such as viewing maps during an adventure game or remotely watching friends play during an epic battle—right from a smartphone or tablet.

LP Underground 12 has launched!

Linkin Park has launched the 12th year of their official fan club, the LP Underground! You can choose from two different membership packages. Read further down for details.

And as always, the new LPU12 CD is available for order, both as physical CD and digital download. You can find the tracklist for LPU12 below. 

The $25 LPU Pass includes:*

- Annual membership to the LPU
- Membership laminate and lanyard
- Access to the newly redesigned LPUnderground.com
- Opportunities for Meet & Greets with Linkin Park
- Early entry at Linkin Park shows
- Access to pre-sale tickets
- $5 credit to the LPU store

The $60 Plus Pass includes:*

- ALL of the LPU Pass benefits
- PLUS LPU merchandise package including:
- T-shirt
- Water bottle
- Guitar pick
- Carabiner key chain
- Access to special LPU events including LPU Summits

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, the LPU12 CD featuring 10 never before released Linkin Park demos is available for just $1 when you purchase an LPU12 membership. As always, worldwide shipping is FREE. In addition, if you join LPU12 between now at December 1, you will be entered to win a guaranteed meet & greet with Linkin Park at a future show. 2 runner ups will receive a Linkin Park prize pack.**

Take advantage of these special offerings now. Join LPU12 today.

*Some restrictions apply. Offer subject to change and based on availability

**Subject to official rules

LPU12 Tracklist:

01. "Homecoming" (MTM Demo)
02. "Points Of Authority" (Demo) 
03. "Clarity" (MTM Demo) 
04. "Asbestos" (MTM Demo)
05. "Bunker" (MTM Demo)
06. "So Far Away" (Unreleased 1998)
07. "Pepper" (Meteora Demo)
08. "Debris" (MTM Demo)
09. "Ominous" (Meteora Demo)
10. "Forgotten" (Demo)

Linkin Park: LOST IN THE ECHO (24Xero Remix)

This is my version of "LOST IN THE ECHO" which I think is one of the best songs from LIVING THINGS. I'm happy that Linkin Park decided to do another remix contest, because it was fun to remix "The Catalyst" last time.

When I found out that it was "LOST IN THE ECHO" that we were going to remix, I immediately started to think in what ways I could change the song. I struggled a bit with the beginning of my remix. After a few variations, I decided to make an intro that started before the actual song began. I wanted my remix to have a lot of heavy beats and electronic sounds. I continued in this direction the entire track. I incorporated some of the original stems in the remix as well.

I put a lot of hours into this remix, and the result became something that I'm very proud of. Listen to my remix of "LOST IN THE ECHO" that you can find below. And if you like what you hear, I'd be happy if you voted for my remix.

LINKIN PARK: LIVING THINGS REMIXED (Cover Art)

This cover is for the LIVING THINGS REMIXED subscription that you get when you Pre-order the LIVING THINGS album from linkinpark.com.

I made the picture in Adobe Photoshop CS6. I mixed the "BURN IT DOWN" cover art with the LIVING THINGS cover. I layered the picture a few times to get this look with the colored fractions. I also put some scan lines in the background and added a little noise.

You can use this cover when you add the songs to your iTunes album. It always looks better to have a digital album cover rather than just a picture of a music note.

Linkin Park: "BURN IT DOWN" Cover Art

I've put together all the 16 pieces into one high resolution picture (2400x2400). And that includes the missing 15th piece (white area).

Before burnitdown.linkinpark.com went down I downloaded the scrambled 15th puzzle picture and put together all the small pieces in the correct order. When that was done I still missed one piece, the black one. So I figured that the opposite side must be similar, and it was. I was now able to fix the missing piece.

You can see the high resolution 2400x2400 picture below.

"Burn It Down" Coming April 16, 2012

Linkin Park is currently shooting a music video for the first single from their upcoming fifth studio album. Mike announced today from the set that the single will be called "Burn It Down" and will be released on April 16. He also mentioned that we will soon be able to unlock pieces of the song at linkinpark.com.

This has become a tradition for all Linkin Park fans to figure out puzzles and get teased with bits of the song. I remember how exciting it was when you got news about the upcoming Linkin Park album. When the single and album title was released and to find out the release dates. And the exciting feeling when you for the first time heard the newest single. When the track listing was released, I immediately started to think what the songs would sound like. It was always very overwhelming with lots of Linkin Park news. I didn't know what to do with myself. However, it wasn't too long before we got new stuff from Linkin Park because the music video was released, and it was always fun.

You can find the video from Mike below.