Windows — Q101 The Alternative

Print this page.

This week, Google has said they’ll pony up a total of $1,000,000 dollars to the people that can crack the fabled “sandbox” security of their web browser/OS, Google Chrome. Offering prize money in the range of $20,000 to $60,000 during the Pwn2Own contest. Pwn2Own focuses on people who can remotely “hack”, and take control of computers that are running up-to-date internet browsers, and other web-based software.

Last year, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, and even the vaunted Apple Safari were successfully hacked into, whereas Chrome stands tall above its competition. ”While we’re proud of Chrome’s leading track record in past competitions, the fact is that not receiving exploits means that it’s harder to learn and improve,” wrote Chris Evans and Justin Schuh, 2 guys that are part of Google Security. “To maximize our chances of receiving exploits this year, we’ve upped the ante. We will directly sponsor up to $1 million worth of rewards.”

However, an issue that Google has with the contest, is that the contest rules have been changed, to where the winners do not have to “show their work” (it isn’t long division, TRUST ME). This means contestants are not required to reveal the vulnerabilities in the systems that they crack, which caused Google to withdraw as a sponsor, but is still daring the coding and hacking community to attack their software.

Pwn2Own starts Wednesday, March 7th. Watch your stuff.

Print this page.

The time has come for Bioware to give gamers the demo they’ve been waiting for, Mass Effect 3. An action & role-playing game made by Bioware, the makers of Dragon Age, and published by the powerhouse Electronic Arts (think about the Madden series), the Mass Effect series prides itself on having over more than 1,000 possible combinations of actions and choices in the series that will affect the outcome as the trilogy of games progress closer to the end.

ME 3 opens with your customizable character Commander Shepard on trial for what happened in the last downloadable content pack (DLC) for Mass Effect 2 called “Arrival”. During these opening events in ME 3, a race called the “Reavers” which are feared throughout the Mass Effect universe attack Planet Earth, and you character and your team escape Earth knowing that they can’t fight the Reavers without help, so you’re on a quest to form an alliance with other races to help combat the Reaver threat and stop them once and for all, while those that want you on trial or dead nipping at your heels.

With that said, you will be given the option to import your saves from Mass Effect 1 & 2, which is where the possibilities come into play. Not having any prior save files will not be an issue if Mass Effect 3 is your first installment, or you’ve done something foolish, like delete your saves, or NOT transfer to your new hard drive like a good boy. Mass Effect 3 will have 4 game modes, 3 of them are single player and consist of:

- RPG where you choose your dialogue responses, with normal game difficulty, and detailed leveling up characters, weapons, and abilities.

- Action, which has automated dialogue replies and normal game difficulty

- Story with dialogue responses you choose, and easy game difficulty.

The multiplayer co-op will let you play with up to 3 other players in separate, original missions where you and your friend’s actions can affect all of your single player campaigns.

The Mass Effect 3 demo is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Network, and the game launches in the U.S. on March 6^th, 2012 for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Windows.

Comicbookjockey is a guy with too many opinions, and too little time. He’s crass and articulate, always has on headphones, talks about nerdy stuff, and cleaning up after himself. Too see and hear more: