15 classic PC games you should play again

Golden oldies

Between a flood of HD remasters (Grim Fandango, Homeworld, Resident Evil) and all the games styled to look like older games (Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2) released in the past year, I think we can all agree retro games are back in style.

But what about actual retro games—the classics you've left gathering dust in old CD-ROM cases or are hoarding in your GOG.com library? April's a relatively slow month as far as new releases, so maybe it's the perfect time to revisit some old classics.

Me? I'm about to go replay Planescape: Torment. Read on for that and fourteen(ish) other classic games you should play again.

Baldur's Gate II/Planescape: Torment

Before Pillars of Eternity, there were the Infinity Engine games. Of that fairly large collection of isometric RPGs, the two that stand above the rest are Baldur's Gate II and Planescape: Torment.

Baldur's Gate II has a decent story for a fantasy game, but is mostly notable for being absolutely massive. Planescape: Torment is iconic for its dialogue and story—you can even avoid combat completely, if you're good enough.

Modern perspective: Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition is a decent (albeit buggy) option if you want a (slightly) modernized version of the game—widescreen, plus some small mechanics tweaks. Otherwise these games are about as approachable now as they were upon release.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is one part turn-based strategy game, one part RPG, and all parts addictive as hell. The game is a blend of both exploration and really satisfying turn-based combat, with you controlling an army of mythical creatures led by the titular heroes.

There've been a lot of Heroes of Might and Magic games over the years, but if you can look past the dated graphics then this third entry is simply the best.

Modern perspective: I beg of you: Stay away from the HD version Ubisoft released earlier this year. Yeah, the graphics are better. Yeah, widescreen is nice. But most of the content is missing, due to some issues with lost source code. You're better off sticking with the original plus expansions.

Deus Ex

Along with System Shock 2, Deus Ex forms the cornerstone of the FPS/RPG hybrid that emerged in the late 90s. You'll meet people in the games industry whostill play Deus Ex once per year. It's that good.

The key to Deus Ex is choice, both in terms of story and mechanics. Levels are almost infinitely replayable, due to the enormous number of ways you could approach each objective. This is level design stretched to its absolute limits, and never before nor since have we had a game that gave players this much freedom. No, not even in the game's two sequels.

Modern perspective: The biggest obstacle to playing Deus Ex is the opening level. Liberty Island is commonly considered the worst level in the whole game...and it's the first one you'll play. Just push through it.

Star Wars: X-Wing/TIE Fighter

Fact: Space sims are great. Fact: Space sims are even better when they're Star Wars-branded.

After an interminable wait, the classic Star Wars games finally made their way to a store again, and chief amongst them are Star Wars: TIE Fighter and Star Wars: X-Wing. No joystick? Don't even bother.

Modern perspective: The one major downside? The definitive CD versions of both games aren't currently available. The CD versions upped the resolution, added full voiceovers, and improved the cutscenes, so it's a shame they're not included yet. Maybe down the road?

Riven

Maybe you played point-and-click puzzler Myst—after all, it held the record for best-selling PC game for nearly a decade—but did you play its sequel Riven? Bigger, bolder, and more sure of itself, Riven is every bit as much a classic as its predecessor, and also forms a more cohesive whole.

Plus now you can just download it instead of needing to install five or six different CD-ROMs.

Modern perspective: On the other hand, be prepared to beat your head against a wall. Riven is fiendishly difficult at times. And it just laughs at your big dumb brain. Probability of your consulting a walkthrough: 99 percent.

System Shock 2

When GOG.com finally added System Shock 2 to its store after years of petitioning, people literally celebrated in the streets. Okay, "a person" celebrated in the streets. It was me. I did a little dance.

The spiritual predecessor to BioShock, System Shock 2 will feel familiar—first-person, heavy emphasis on story, et cetera—but with a creepy "survival horror in space" feel. Not only is it a good game in its own right, it's also influenced pretty much every shooter to come after.

Modern perspective: Install some graphics mods. Make the game really shine the way it should. System Shock 2 is beloved enough that you have some great options on modern systems. Oh and by the way: It's difficult. Sometimes punishing. Good luck.

Smriti Irani spots camera in Goa's FabIndia trial room; 4 arrested, store sealedSmriti Irani spots camera in Goa's FabIndia trial room; 4 arrested, store sealed

Panaji: Trying on clothes at an outlet of a reputed garment brand at Candolim village near here, a vigilant Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Friday spotted a hidden camera positioned to record inside the small room, raising an alarm after which Goa Police registered a case against the staff for voyeurism.
Irani, on a visit to Goa, came across the camera when she was in the “FabIndia” showroom to buy clothes and immediately protested, alerting her husband, businessman Zubin Irani, said Superintendent of Police (North) Umesh Gaonkar.

She then called BJP legislator Micheal Lobo, who arrived at the showroom with police and later filed a complaint in this regard. A hard disk and the camera were seized, and some staff of the store were detained for quesioning.

Talking to a news channel, Lobo said the camera was not easily visible and its lens pointed right into the changing room. He further said that footage from the camera was being recorded in a computer in the manager's office.  

While Irani could not be contacted, Lobo, who was on the spot, said the ruling BJP-led alliance government was taking the matter seriously.

Footage from the camera, installed four months ago according to staff at the store, was being recorded in a computer in the manager's office, Lobo said, confirming that it held many recordings of people changing in the trial room.

Calangute police, which searched the showroom after a complaint by Lobo, found a CCTV camera installed in the ventilation unit of the room.

SP (North) Gaonkar said police have recorded the statement of Irani. "Irani's statement has been recorded as a victim, along with another woman who had entered the room earlier," he said.

Four staff members of the Fabindia showroom have been detained for questioning in connection with the case, Gaonkar added. The top bosses of the company will be questioned tomorrow in connection with the case, said the investigating authorities.

After inspecting the showroom the authorities then sealed the shop.

A case was filed under section 354 C (voyeurism) and 509 (intrusion into privacy) of Indian Penal Code against employees who were monitoring the cameras. We are analysing the entire data, the SP said.

Gaonkar also informed that police have formed special team to inspect all the showrooms in the coastal belt to ensure that there are no CCTV cameras installed in changing rooms.

He said instructions will also be issued to all the police stations to form teams and inspect the changing rooms in their respective areas.

In Bangalore, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said, "Right now I'm in Bangalore for National Executive meet but I have been given to understand that Madam Smriti Irani had gone to Goa, and during her stay in Goa probably she went for some purchases in shop by name FabIndia.

"Suo moto case has been registered against the concerned person. We will take stringent action. Don't worry we will take stringent action, case has been registered against the culprit. Through investigation would be done and the culprit will be taken to task," he said.

"I spoke to the police officer over there. It was reported that she had gone for changing of clothes and immediately she noticed that there was one hole in the room and beyond the hole one camera was hanging, so immediately came and complained. It was verified, it was confiscated, it was learned that it was functioning and case has been registered against the manager and the staff," he said.

Later speaking to “Zee Media”, the Goa CM termed the incident as “extremely shocking”. My government will act and thorough probe will be held,” the CM said.

Parsekar also hinted that it could be a conspiracy against Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and this angle will be probed too.

However, the Goa CM advocated people to be more vigilant to prevent this kind of incident.

Parsekar also ensured that all big stores and showrooms across the state will be thoroughly checked to ensure nothing of this sort happens in future.

However, Fabindia Managing Director William Bissel said there are security cameras in all the stores but they are not in trial rooms. "They cannot see what is happening inside the trial room," he said.

Bissel said his staff was not able to detect any of what Lobo had said of images inside the trial room and they have to be verified. "The cameras are routinely placed in places where shoplifting can occur," he said.

Notably, this is not the first time that a camera has been spotted inside a changing room. However, spotting of the same by none other than a Union minister is expected to raise the alarm loud enough to be heard by the authorities.

The Congress, meanwhile, claimed that the 'changing room scandal' was Goa's best kept secret, especially in tourism-oriented coastal villages.

"Not just this boutique. All stores with such a facility must be investigated. A union minister can at least alert the authorities but most people cannot," Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said.

Reacting to the incident, National Commission for Women member Shamina Shafiq said that it needs to be investigated where previous videos have been sent.

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10 Massive Holes In The Earth's Crust That Will Prove Just How Small You Are

1. Dean's Blue Hole

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Where: Long Island, Bahamas

Located in a bay near Clarence Town on the Bahamas’ Long Island, Dean’s Blue Hole is 650 feet deep and is the dreaded challenge of every professional deep-sea diver. Legend has it that the hole was dug by the devil that drags people in it and kills them. 

2. Kennecott Copper Mine

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

Also known as the Bingham Canyon Mine, the mine was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It is a huge 2.5 mile-wide pit located in the Oquirrh Mountains outside Salt Lake City, and is currently owned by the Rio Tinto Group, an international mining and exploration company headquartered in the United Kingdom.

3. Chand Baori

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Where: Abhaneri, Rajasthan

Located opposite Harshat Mata temple in Rajasthan, India, Chand Baori (baorimeans a steepwell) extends approximately 100 ft into the ground making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. It was constructed in 800 AD and consists of 3,500 narrow steps and over 13 stories. Movies like ‘The Fall’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ have been shot here.

4. Kimberley Mine

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Where: Kimberley, South Africa

This location was once home to more than 6,000 pounds of diamonds. Also known as the ‘Big Hole’ it is also the largest hand-dug excavation in the world to date.

5. Door To Hell

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Where:  Derweze, Turkmenistan

A massive molten cavity known as the Darvaza crater – nicknamed the ‘door to hell’ is a continuous burning hole located in Derweze, Turkmenistan. The crater, which is 69 metres wide and 30 metres deep has been burning for the last 40 years. George Kourounis, a Canadian explorer, became the first person known to have ventured into the pit last year. His aim was to explore the hole and to check if there were any signs of life.

6. The Kola Superdeep Borehole

Image Credit: galleryhip

Where: Pechengsky District, Russia

This hole is the result of a scientific drilling project of the Soviet Union in the Pechengsky District, on the Kola Peninsula. The project has dug the deepest artificial point on Earth, measuring a crazy 40,230 ft!

7. The Great Blue Hole

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Where: Belize

This hole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also a popular recreational scuba diving spot. The site was made famous by Jacques Cousteau, who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. The Great Blue Hole is nearly 1,000 feet wide and more than 400 feet deep.

8. The Sawmill Sink

Image Credit: rollingharbour.com

Where:  Abaco Island, Bahamas

This blue hole lies in the interior of Abaco Island in the northern Bahamas. The hole is the location for the amazing find of the remains of a 2,500-year-old giant tortoise shell. The sinkhole measures 55 feet (17 meters) across and 110 feet (33.5 meters) deep.

9. Crveno Jezero 

Image Credit: creterra.com

Where: Imotski, Croatia

Crveno Jezero is the third largest sinkhole in the world. The sinkhole is named after the reddish-brown color of the surrounding cliffs, coloured by iron oxides.

10. The Devil's Sinkhole

Image Credit: express news

Where: Edwards County, Texas

The Devil’s Sinkhole is 350 ft deep and is home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats. It’s a scary sight when millions of bats fly from the entrance to the sinkhole.

from indiatimes.com

9 Indian Failures Who Became Inspirational Success Stories

1. Mahatma Gandhi

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His is perhaps the most inspirational tale. Originally a barrister in India by profession, he was not a strong lawyer as he was unable to cross-question his witnesses. After spending sometime drafting litigation letters, he went to South Africa where he developed his political skills. It was not a cake-walk for him even there and his Satyagraha movement was fraught with difficulties even in India. Perhaps his biggest failure of all times was the partition of India and Pakistan.

2. Amitabh Bachchan

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A blockbuster performer at the Bollywood box-office, Amitabh Bachchan's career tanked along with his production house, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL). His meteoric rise and quick downfall is a true Bollywood tale within Bollywood. He was bankrupt but did not give up and continued to fight. It was at this crucial juncture when his career took at 360 degree turn with the arrival of KBC series in India and slowly, he once again rose to the top. Big B truly proved that nothing, not even a simple desi hairoil advert is "beneath" you but in any profession respect is earned by your skills and your attitude.

3. Dhirubhai Ambani

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Who doesn't know the name Reliance today? But do you know, that Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of Reliance was perhaps controversy's favourite child? Ambani had a humble beginning and he was not from an affluent background. He moved to Yemen at 16 years of age where he worked as a simple clerk. However, he knew he had to follow his calling and risking everything, he returned to India to set up his business with his close friend. Though Champaklal Damani differed from Ambani in his views and decided to split, Ambani did not give up hope and continued his trade, deciding to even enter the stock market. His stock market dealings and success have often been questioned but the man rose to power through sheer grit and determination.

4. Ratan Tata

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What do you do when you have a role model to look up to and then, you are asked to fill the role model's shoes? When Ratan Tata became the chairman in 1991, he had a mammoth task set before him. His futuristic views and liberal attitude did not go well with some of the top honchos at Tata which resulted in a tussle at the management level. At the very start of his career as chairman, two companies under him faced bankruptcy and his employees faith in him dwindled as he brought down the retirement age from 70 to 65, leading to an ouster of some of the oldest employees of the organisation. Despite the many failures he has seen, Tata Nano being the latest, Ratan Tata did not give up and continues to be a global figure even today.

5. Narendra Modi

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A humble chai-vendor, embroiled in one of the most blood-bathed controversies in the country is today the Prime Minister. Does success need any other definition? When Modi took on the reigns of Gujarat as the Chief Minister from Keshubhai Patel, his rise was met with opposition from many within the party. Modi's lack of experience was one of the major concerns. However, Modi stood his ground and became Gujarat's CM. As the CM, he veered from RSS's ideologies and supported privatisation and small government. But perhaps, his true test came in the form of the Godhra violence. While many still blame him for the riots, his name was cleared and he went to become one of the most powerful men in the country.

6. Shiv Khera

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A writer of motivational books, he perhaps needed his words the most when he was accused of plagiarism. Post the launch of one of his books, 'Freedom is Not Free', Shiv Khera was accused by a retired civil servant Amrit Lal of plagiarism. While Shiv Khera was dragged to court, he did not give up and continued his writings. He even defended his writings saying he read a lot of books and researched before writing. Some of that research stayed with him. A pretty lame excuse but despite the court case and the out-of-court settlement, he bounced back and his books continue being motivational best-sellers. 

7. Smriti Irani

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Not exactly a failure, but Smriti Irani's tale is definitely a rags to riches with WTF interspersed in between. She got her dream break while waitressing at McDonalds and became one of the best known faces on the small screen playing the role of Tulsi in Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. However, after a fallout with the small screen queen Ekta Kapoor, her career seemed like it would end. But Smriti Irani decided to enter the world of Politics and is today the HRD minister. With no education (or atleast a few fudged degrees) mind you!

8. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

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A cricketer relies on not just his strong reflexes but one of the most important asset is his power to see. A cricketer since childhood, Mansoor Ali Khan pataudi permanently damaged one of his eyes in a road accident. This led to him seeing doubled image. Though he could no longer see clearly, pataudi did not give up. He feared his cricket career was over but he returned to the field to play with just one eye. He is today regarded as one of the greatest captains India has ever had!

9. Nawazuddin Siddiqui

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Born to humble farmers in UP, Nawazuddin first worked as a chemist in a petrochemical company. Wanting something more interesting, he moved to Delhi to only be a watchman. He developed an interest in theatre in Delhi and moved to Mumbai to try his luck in movies. However, like every struggler, he did not get any good job or any meaty role and kept appearing in small roles. He resorted to conducting acting work shops to earn some money. However, he got his break when he got noticed as a reporter in Peepli Live and there has been no looking back for him since then!

India to borrow over Rs 2500 crore a day

The Union government will borrow Rs 3.6 lakh crore from markets in the first half of the next financial year, which is over 50% of the annual target of Rs 6 lakh crore.

"We will issue long-term bonds of 40 years in early next financial year. It will help us in the long run and will provide stability in the system," Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told reporters. The total borrowing in the first six months would be to the tune of Rs 3.6 lakh crore, he added.

The government borrows money from the markets through T-bills and other instruments to fund its fiscal deficit.

Giving details of borrowing programme for 2015-16, he said the central government would be borrowing about Rs 17,000-18,000 crore through bonds every week.

The calender for market borrowing was decided at a meeting between officials of the Finance Ministry and Reserve Bank (RBI).

The net borrowing in the first half of the current fiscal would, however, be Rs 2.25 lakh crore, Mehrishi said, adding "government will issue concept paper on switching (of government bonds) in 15 days."

The government, as per the budget papers, plans to borrow Rs 6 lakh crore from the market in the next fiscal, up from Rs 5.92 lakh crore in 2014-15.

However, the net borrowings in 2015-16 will be Rs 4.56 lakh crore, after considering repayments of past loans and interest, as per budget documents.

The budgeted target for borrowing in current fiscal was also Rs 6 lakh crore, but it is likely to remain at around Rs 5.92 lakh crore.

In the financial year ending March, the fiscal deficit has been estimated at 4.1%. In 2015-16, the deficit will be pruned to 3.9%.

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Moto X (2014) gets a cool new feature with Android 5.1 update

Motorola started testing Android 5.1 Lollipopon the second-gen Moto X over the weekend. The update packs in a ton of useful improvements, but it turns out the company also slipped in one clever new feature.

The updated Moto X (2014) includes the ability to quickly launch your flashlight with a “chop twice” action. Just chop twice to turn on the lights, then chop twice again to turn them off. It looks pretty similar to the twist-to-launch camera feature introduced with the original Moto X, which actually turned out to work pretty great. Hopefully this new one is just as useful.

For now the update is limited to the Pure Edition handset sold straight from Motorola, but we’re expecting other Moto X models to get the same improvements before too long. The new chop gesture might even make the jump to lesser Moto smartphones as well, though for now we’re looking forward to trying it out on the flagship Moto X.