Hey Everyone!

Is it odd to be behind on blogging and ahead on video uploading? That is my
current predicament, hopefully we can start to level things out here.

I have completed the first series of installments on my Wii Fit Plus Complete
Playthrough and that first series was of course....

Yoga!

I've had the vids up a few days now, but I will go ahead and get them
archived here for your convenience.

There are a lot of options and poses ranging from the most basic (Deep
Breathing) to some challenging poses for Advanced Users (Cobra, Gate, Dance, etc). I would have to say I
enjoy the Chair Pose, Bridge, and Spinal Twist the best. Anyway, here are the
vids:

Well, I was finally able to get the first few videos uploaded.  I didn't have feedback on for or against commentary so I just left the commentary in place.  With this being a complete playthrough it does tend to "liven" it up a bit.

I'll cover the other videos I uploaded later, but I wanted to give everyone the heads up that the Yoga Portion was complete and I am actively working on compiling the Strength Training vids.

The storm kind of slowed me down last night, but as promised they were all uploaded early tonight.  I will detail them in a post tomorrow (cough, later today..3:45 AM now!).  Speaking of which, I believe I will call it a night. 

Hope you enjoy the Yoga Playthrough!

Well, I know I said the Yoga Playthrough would upload tonight...

Believe me it is ready to go, however we are having a thunderstorm for the first time all year.  This computer isn't a week old, and well, you tell me.  I am erring on the side of caution!

I did get two vids up that I will detail tomorrow.  And just so you know, I have edited the Yoga Playthrough and tonight I did the 1st installment of Strength Traning.  It is actually 3 parts to the first "part," but we'll get to that shortly.

I'm going to enjoy this strange sound of water falling from the sky and keep this computer from drawing a lightning stirike!

Well, good news!

Any potential issues with the Dazzle have been averted for the time being.  My hunch that it was the Amazon Basics RCA cables simply not mating with the the female hubs on the Dazzle was correct.  I ran to RadioShack this afternoon, picked up their el-cheapo RCA Cables, got back home, plugged them in, and voila...the audio is back!

Radio Shack had them at the bottom of the wall...they had their "good" cables up higher, I nearly bought them, then inspeced the ends and realized they were probably a little too thick for comfort.  The Amazon Basics are great cables, really good quality and over-the-top heavy-duty, which is where the problem lies. 

They will fit perfect to the tv input jacks, and snatch up the Y-splitters with no issue.  The problem comes when trying to couple them with the Dazzle, which has relatively recessed jacs compared to most RCA's...that coupled with the housing of the internals makes for a tight fit, one too tight for the extra thick cables and ends.

However, if you read this, you can keep from making the same mistake I did.  It isn't too big a deal as the Amazon cables are pretty sweet, but I would have prefered to spend $12 for cheap cables and have $20 in my pocket than just being able to brag about the great set of RCA cables I have around and can't use.  Oh well, live and learn.

That aside, tonight I was able to wrap up the Wii Fit Plus Yoga Playthrough...yes, all of it!  And no, it is not uploaded yet...I might try to pull that off tomorrow night after work. I've got some with and some without commentary, still debating which to go with...I proposed that issue to some folks at http://www.fitgameforum.com/ Friday and will probably check in for the consensus (more on that later).

But in conclusion, sometimes the best laid plans and premium parts can't compete with the "cheap route."  It usually works the other way, but hey, what can you do?  The main thing is the problem is solved, it wasn't anything major, or expensive, and most importantly I can get back to making videos!

See you soon with some uploads in-tow!

Well, I had planned on wrapping up the Yoga Walkthru and uploading all 3 segments to YouTube, but...

We have problems.  After no issues the first few days, I now have no sound on my captures.  I first thought it must have been the Dazzle itself, but now I think it might be the fact the Amazon Basics RCA cables have  a wider than standard flange on the male ends.  They mate fine with the video hub on the Dazzle, but the L and R audio hubs are a little more recessed and thus have less to grab to before you are in the plastic housing of the Dazzle. 

So, I may have to buy yet another set of RCA cables.  I thought I was doing a good thing getting "good" cables, but apparently not.  I will try to pick some up tomorrow and see if I can get my audio back.  It is a shame bc I had a lot of good captures tonight.  It really isn't the same without the appropriate audio.

Well, 3 AM after dealing with this the last little bit...I will be sur to chime in tomorrow, cough-later todaym with an update for you.  Keep your fingers crossed it is not the Dazzle.

Hey Everyone,

As promised I spent some time last night testing out the new Logitech Headset.  I think it was definitely well worth the money.  The earphones do a nice job of replicating the sound from your input, however there are a few high frequencies here and there.

The microphone, which was my biggest concern and main reason for purchase, worked surprisingly well!  I was correct that the mic is a little short and is definitely not as close as you would like to your mouth, but in testing a few recordings I think it sounded fine.



I am still really shocked that this model did not have the thumbswitch to mute the mic, but I suppose I will survive.  That would really be a nice feature, and something I kind of expected given the fact that this thing was a "step-up" from the base, stereo mic.

Anyway, I decided I would go ahead and get the video up for good measure.  It is just another unboxing styled video which will give my initial impression and let you see what you get for the money should you go this route.



Here are some specs, for those who care:

Logitech USB Headset H330
Digital Audio, Adjustable Headband, Noise-Cancelling Microphone
Specifications:

Frequency Response:
Headset: 50Hz-15kHz
Microphone: 100 Hz - 10 kHz

Input Sensitivity:
-64 dBV/uBar -44 dBV/Pa +/- 3 dB

Cable Length: 6.5 Feet

USB Compatible: 1.1 and 2.0

Works With: PC/Mac, Logitech Vid, Skype, Windows Live, AIM, and Yahoo
Buy a set:

And being the nice guy I am, here is where you can source a set for yourself:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-981-000127-H330-USB-Headset/dp/B001ULD744/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308959826&sr=8-1

Also note that most of the people who picked these up also got the 9' USB 2.0 extension cord, lol.  As I stated in the video, 6.5' is very long, but you will be surprised how much length you might need to allow for your usual position while gaming...keep it in mind while you check your options.

Hey Everyone,

Just a quick update.  I managed to pick up a headset tonight...a Logitech H330 USB unit with Digital Sound.  I have just started to play around with commentary so the verdict is still out.  I have an unboxing video I can probably get up tomorrow at some point.

In the meantime I "officially" started my Wii Fit Plus Playthrough.  I am starting with Yoga and will work my way thru the entire game.  I am not sure that anyone has done this yet, so hopefully folks will find my channel's playlist to be a nice alternative to highlights of various games or exercises scattered across the web.

I complted 2 parts tonight and will upload them tomorrow while finishing out the Yoga section.

I may also begin my "surprise" walkthru...We'll just have to wait and see.

Anyway, I am off to play with the headset and see how well it holds up.

As promised, here is the unboxing vid...Please note that I am simply trying to show you what you get, where to get it, a rough cost, and a quick verbal explanation of how to hook things up.  The cited text-based version will be below the video.

Video: How to Record Yourself Playing Video Games, Unboxing the Dazzle Video Creator Plus HD


Now for the old school instructions...

Quick Text Instructions

Unbox your Dazzle after making sure your computer meets the requirements: XP SP3, Vista, or Windows 7 (not listed, but it works) and a minimum of a 2.4 GHz processor.  Check the box for more specifics.

Install the software (CD-ROM).  Simply follow the on-screen directions.

Now, head to the console you wish to record from.  The cable from the console to the tv is going to have your RCA connections.  Red, White, (both audio) and Yellow (video).  Remove the Yellow male RCA cable from the female terminal on the tv.  Install a Y-splitter.  Reinstall the console's RCA Yellow to one Female end of the splitter.  Now take your spare set of RCA Composite Cables and install the Yellow Male Terminal to the female port on the splitter.

Repeat this process for the red and white leads as well.

Now plug the other end of the RCA Composite Cables to your Dazzle...just match the colors.

Plug the Dazzle into your computer via a USB 2.0 connection.

Open Pinnacle Studio 14.  Navigate to "Import."  Click on Dazzle Capture Device.  Power up your tv and console, move to the appropriate input, check the computer screen for the signal.  If you see the same screen shot on the computer as you do on your tv monitor type in a file name on the right hand side and click "Start Capture."

That is it, you are done!  Follow these simple directions and you will be recording, editing, and uploading your gameplay footage in no time!

Here is a crude chart if it is of any help...

Flow Chart

Computer USB 2.0>Dazzle

Dazzle Yellow Feamle Port>Yellow Male RCA Cable>Y-Splitter>Yellow Female Port on TV>Y-Splitter>Yellow Male Console RCA Cable>Console Connection to (Wii, PS2/PS3/Xbox etc).

Dazzle Red Female Port>Red Male RCA Cable>Y-Splitter>Red Female Port on TV>Y-Splitter>Red Male Console RCA Cable>Console Connection to (Wii, PS2/PS3/Xbox etc).

Dazzle White Female Port>White Male RCA Cable>Y-Splitter>White Female Port on TV>Y-Splitter>White Male Console RCA Cable>Console Connection to (Wii, PS2/PS3/Xbox etc).

Thus, Console>TV::Console>Computer

Questions

Does that make sense?  We are really getting to the point where if you don't follow you need to do some basic research, ask a question, or just find a friend that can help explain it to you.  If you've got qusestions at this point I will do my best to help, but can't make any promises.

This was a very rough day...

I had to persevere thru work and running errands before I could get home, crank up the new computer, and install the Dazzle Video Creator Plus HD capture device!  I somehow made it, lol.

The computer was as quiet as I remembered, the screen is massive, and it was a quick and easy install of the Dazzle's software.

I shot an unboxing video last night for those of you interested in going this route.  I tried to just keep it simple and easy to understand.  I am basically just showing you what you get, where to get it, roughly what it costs, and of course, how to hook it all up.

I think I will save that for another stand alone post though...

I naturally had to try the Dazzle out and see how well it performed...I am please to announce that everything went great: quick captures, high quality, good sound, and it sure beats the old "point-and-shoot" method.  I finally feel like folks can watch the vids and not have to complain or wish it was "better quality."

I started out with a quick lap around Wuhu Island.  That will be the first in a series of videos that will cover a playthrough of Wii Fit Plus.  I couldn't stop there though...I wound up shooting the following: Peripheral Vison Test, Soccer Heading Advanced, Island Cycling Island View, Segway Circuit Expert, Skateboad Arena Advanced, and Penguin Slide.

I was not happy with Penguing Slide, so it will be getting a redux.  Skateboarding started out great and then I had issues with the sound from the desktop's speakers screwing me up in real-time.  I didn't actually score too bad, it just wasn't nearly as good as I would have hoped to post.  Similarly the Peripheral Vision Test (second video captured) wasn't a high score, but is probably good enough to upload.

However, none of that even matters at this point...

On two of my old favorites, Island Cycling Island View Course and Segway Circuit Expert, I somehow, someway managed to net new Personal Bests in each.  The Island Cycling eclipsed my prevoius mark and to the best of my knowledge is a new Wii World Record!!!  I don't know if the Segway Circuit Expert matches up, but you will enjoy it.  I pulled off the insta-hit on the final mole (did it last night oddly enough as well) and beat my previous best by 1 point!

As we speak I have videos editing and uplaoding...I will highlight them soon.

Well, I had alluded to this last Wednesday...I needed a computer to handle the Dazzle.  (Please note the past tense "needed")!

That's right, I finally picked up a new computer!  So far it has been great!  The first day of summer 2011 will definitely be memorable in lieu of this occassion. Here is how it went down...

I had found an HP (PC Only) for a pretty good price.  It had a 3.1 GHz processor, 6 GB RAM, and a 1.5 TB HD.  I figured I would pick it up, source a cheap (<$100 20" monitor) and call it good.  That is not what happened...

I did find the computer, I even had it in the cart...

However, fate intervened and led me to a better option, albeit in a round-about-way.  What essentially happened is there was no stock of budget monitors, I mean NOTHING.  The cheapest monitor was just under $200 ($189ish if I remember right) and was 23 inches.  The next up was 25 inches.  Problem there is two-fold: I didn't want to spend that much and my desk is actually fixed...you can only fit so much screen between the framework, lol.

The monitor debacle led to looking at other options...there was a close-out "last model" sale on 2, but I am always leary of taking the demos.  A sweet slimline was on display, but none were in stock.  The top-of-the-line was on the corner just begging to be looked at, but for around $900 I was able to resist.

What fell into place was the HP p7-1037cb

And yes, that is a bundle.

The desktop features an AMD Athlon II 645 QuadCore Processor with a clock speed of 3.1 GHz!  This is a huge improvement for me and the main reason for needing an upgrade.
Accenting the processor is a nest of 8GB DDR3 of system memory and a 1 TB HD.

 I can't stress enough that I will store everything on external HDs.  A lesson learned from my last pc was that you need space.  You can't just keep saving songs, pictures, and videos and hope to have anywhere near the same performance from your computer.  I will probably make weekly sweeps of the HD.  This will not only make backup copies, but it will keep the desktop's HD clear and performing as best it can.

Oh and the monitor...how about a full 23" of 1080p HD LED viewing delight?  Yeah, that sounds nice!

It really is in my case.  I am coming from a 17" flat screen monitor.  Note that I did not mention a flat panel monitor....That's right I had an old shool, late 90s unit putting 40 lbs of downforce on my desk!  I kid you not the desk let off a sigh of relief when I pulled the old monitor off.  And the best part?  literally gained about 18" of floor space just due to the fact I can finally scoot my desk back towards the wall...amazing isn't it?!

I've only been running the desktop for a few hours now, but man is it nice.  The other big perk for me is how quiet this thing is.  My old eMachine, which I will be keeping btw, had a nice fan, but it was LOUD (see replaced after an early crash).  Without the LED indicator up front I wouldn't know this computer was even on...definite upgrade!

I know I could have gotten a cooler case, maybe some better features, but the fact of the matter is for the money this was one heck of a deal.  I am on the computer a lot, but aside from editing pics and videos, building and tweaking a few websites, and making use off spreadsheets and word processors I am not the most demanding guy. 

I am very happy with the purchase and hope that I can get as much of a lifespan from this HP as I was able to with the old eMachine.

I am still exploring the features, preloaded software, and adjusting from XP and Vista to Windows 7.  It'll take some time, but I certainly can't complain.  I might have pics and an unboxing video up soon...

I had mentioned these in an earlier post and I am finally getting the chance to unveil them.  I am always on the hunt for Series 3 Super Mario figures from Popco (talk about delayed!).  I have managed to find Fire Flower Mario and Donkey Kong, but no others.  They were sourced at one of our less frequented Game Stops.  The others stores and Toys'R'Us, only seem to have Series 2 figures on the shelf, and of course the Series 1 Box Sets.

Anyway, that aside, the hunt for more Series 3 did come up empty, but not entirely.  Much to my surprise I found these Super Mario Galaxy 2 figures, which I had never seen before!  I believe these are a product of BanPresto, which I rarely see around here.  I have yet to find the exact figures and their packaging online with a definitive maker, but that would be my best guess.

All that aside, here is what you have been waiting for:




The 3 I found and picked up.

  Now, for a closer look at each:



Spring Mario



Bee Mario

Bee Luigi

As you can see, the three make up a very nice set and do a good job portraying the different power-ups from the game.  I believe the 4th figure in this set might be Bowser Jr.  I would have to assume that Bowser Jr. and Bee Luigi will be the harder figures to come by.  Hopefully I can get more information and maybe some links to share with you.

Well, the first week has wrapped up.  It was nice to kind of fall back into a routine last night.  Most of the time was spent unpacking and cleaning up after the trip.  I did get my time in on Wii Fit Plus, no new records or anything.

I am thinking it is about time to actually go look at new computers.  Mine is, well, how do I put this mildly...OLD!

I've got a lot of storage thanks to an early crash and HD install, however the processor is overloaded.  It just won't handle things the way it used to as things on the web have become more dynamic.  That will be my main criteria for a new desktop/laptop...the processor. 

I will go ahead and pay the extra price to have something that can handle the video editing and web page creating with ease.  I will let you know what I came up with and why.  Here is a little tidbit for those might know what it means, I'll be trying to find and add, or build a tower with MIDI Drivers ;)

Most of the videos I make and pictures I take will go straight to an External HD.  After having to move files so many times, it makes sense to just do it from the start.  That is actually what I have been doing lately.  You keep your computer wide-open and have the back-ups stored safely away. 

Obviously, once I get the computer I can FINALLLY hook up the Dazzle and start capturing my footage without the old digital camera and screen shooting method...I think everyone will enjoy that improvement.  That is honestly why I'm holding off on walkthroughs, playthroughs, and reviews.

I will try to get some time to upload a few of the new WFP Records and some other stuff that is backlogged.  Hopefully by the time it wraps up I will be all set to record my video game footage with the Dazzle and new computer.

Unitl next time...

Well, no new videos as I ran out-of-town on vacation.  Naturally tried to source some new games for play-throughs, but the GameStop we visited didn't have what we wanted; we will get it tracked down eventually though!

On the bright side, we made it to LegoLand!  What an awesome place!  You've got to have a kid with you to get in and the crowd is pretty bad during high-traffic times, but the pros defintely outweigh the cons.  If you are a fan of the Lego series of games, you definitely want to make it...You can pick up some harder to find Lego pieces with no trouble here.  And there is a bonus, they have Kingdom Quest as you finish up your tour of the factory. 

Kingdom Quest is essentially a first-person shooter.  You have to save the princess from a band of ruthless houligans (why does that sound familiar?) and your only help is the friendly red dragon.  A tracked vehicle that sports 2 rows of 3 proceeds through the arena.

You stop several times to watch a brief video screen that broadcasts battle updates and you follow that up by shooting as many targets as possible with one of the cart's fully equipped laser guns.  A little over halfway through the adventure I realized the spot for a 3rd person on the seat, and subsequently a 3rd gun...

I know what you are thinking and what you want to ask and the answer is...

Oh heck yes!  You know I started double-fisting that thing.  It kind of serves as more of a hindrance, but it sure felt good.  The primary target seemed to be spiders and miscellaneous items, but a few foot soldiers were tied-in...basically if I saw rings of black-and-white it was time for the guns to go a blazin'...

The real kicker is that once you have completed Kindom Quest and saved the princess you proceed to a photostation where you can purchase photos or keychains to commemorate the event.  We all wished we knew when the picture was going to be taken (we were all in "action" position and not really posing for a shot, but nonetheless it was too good to pass up for the memory.  And for those who care (probably most of you) the picture sports 6 blocks with red numbers that are of course...your score 8)

If you've got kids, can get in, or just want to check it out, I highly reccommend it.  When LegoLand is crowded you get 1 pass thru the ride, but if they are slow (cough, weekdays, cough) you can probably go a few times with no qualms from the employees.  It really is both enjoyable and memorable, your kids will love it, and chances are you will have a hard time not cracking a smile or going for a top score (yes, we asked, and no they don't know what the record is, haha).

Oh and lastly, we got to see the Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat and bring home their first ever NBA Championship!  It was a great game and honestly one of the better Finals matchups in awhile.  So there you have it, still didn't find the game we were looking for (it will get ordered soon), got an unexpected first-person shooter in with Kindom Quest at LegoLand, and had a great night with the Mavs winning!  (And just so you know, I've always been a fan...even back to the days when they weren't that great.  Loyalty pays dividends, and this is the ultimate pay out!).

And since you are still reading, I had an udpate for Day 5, but didn't get to post...When we initially went out looking for a recently released game, we did not come up empty.  We managed to score some pretty cool stuff (new to us) that I will get posted once we are back home.

Well, I am off to bed...undoubtedly I will probably dream of treking through fields covered with badguy Legos and saving a princess, but things couldn't be better...

I'm spending a little time between bites of a sandwich to tweak the layout a little, nothing too major.

I did add a poll, I decided I would let it run thru Labor Day.  I'll try to style season appropriate questions to readers and those of you oh-so-unfortunate to stumble onto this page.

We might end this one earlier, depends how much feedback we get.

But for the time being, which one do you prefer:

Wii Fit Plus
or
Wii Sports Resort

Consider this your chance to chime in with your logic behind the vote and possibly debate some who are  in dissent.

-Wiisdom

Well, another late night, but more great news...

I obliterated my previous Personal Best on Wii Fit Plus Island Cycling's Island View Course.  I recorded the last 2 checkpoints and finish line.  As soon as I get some time I will upload the videos to my YouTube account and edit this post...maybe this weekend!

Well, got my usual time in on Wii Fit Plus...

Very tired, yet I managed to set 3 new personal bests.  I am sure I had done so on Wii Fit, but in skimming thru I noticed that I only had 3 Stars on Hula Hoop.  I took it on and cranked out a 325 which earned me the 4 Star Ranking!  I did a few more I haven't played in awhile, and since I had wanted to do my Island Lap, but the Balance Board was on I opted for Advanced Step.

I had a few glitches, but not many...the result was a new personal best of 662 points, eclipsing my previous best of 661. 

I followed that up by checking the new episode of Nintendo Week only to find a short run time and...

TONS of new trailers for the E3 announced titles...awesome!  You can find the trailers at either http://www.nintendo.com/ or the Nintendo Channel on your Wii Console.

All in all it was a great day...lots to look forward to and some new records!

Well, here we are on Day 1 of 1ofWiisdom's blog!

I am very excited right now as Nintendo just wrapped up their press time at the E3 Conference and unveiled some great stuff for the future: Wii U, successor to the Wii, New Super Mario Bros Mii (yes, I said Mii), a ton of steallar games for the 3DS, and even a few new titles for the Wii and DS systems.  I will cover them here in a bit, but for now that is all I've got.  Have to get some game time in tonight.

I will be tweaking this blog and setting it up to share tips, playthroughs, and more.  If you are a fan of the Wii, hopefully you will enjoy this blog!