Pac-man brought into the 21st century
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By DECLAN ROONEY
Two students have gobbled their way towards an improving a classic arcade game by bringing it into the 21st century.
The NUI Galway students have developed a new version of Pac-man, the 30-year old classic video game.
Finn Krewer and Padraig Meaney, two second-year Electronic and Computer Engineering students at NUIG, have developed an updated version called ‘Pac-man Unleashed’.
The two students won the annual XNA Ireland Challenges College Cup with their entry which featured four variants on the classic arcade game.
Finn, who is from Tubber, Co. Clare, and Padraig from Cloghan, Co. Offaly, included a multiplayer version, a limited visibility version, a ‘ghost infection’ version, and a combination of all three into the Microsoft sponsored event.
The video game proved a ground breaker in the 1980s as millions rushed to gobble the dots before being gobbled by ghosts.
‘Pac-man Unleashed’ was praised for ‘having everything’ in terms of coding, design, game play and music.
As well as winning the overall award, the students won the individual award for ‘Best in Game Play’ at XNA Ireland Challenges College Cup.
By DECLAN ROONEY
Two students have gobbled their way towards an improving a classic arcade game by bringing it into the 21st century.
The NUI Galway students have developed a new version of Pac-man, the 30-year old classic video game.
Finn Krewer and Padraig Meaney, two second-year Electronic and Computer Engineering students at NUIG, have developed an updated version called ‘Pac-man Unleashed’.
The two students won the annual XNA Ireland Challenges College Cup with their entry which featured four variants on the classic arcade game.
Finn, who is from Tubber, Co. Clare, and Padraig from Cloghan, Co. Offaly, included a multiplayer version, a limited visibility version, a ‘ghost infection’ version, and a combination of all three into the Microsoft sponsored event.
The video game proved a ground breaker in the 1980s as millions rushed to gobble the dots before being gobbled by ghosts.
‘Pac-man Unleashed’ was praised for ‘having everything’ in terms of coding, design, game play and music.
As well as winning the overall award, the students won the individual award for ‘Best in Game Play’ at XNA Ireland Challenges College Cup.
Campaign launched targeting drug drivers
By DECLAN ROONEY
A campaign has been launched to make drivers aware of the dangers of prescription drugs before they sit behind the wheel.
Mayo Road safety Officer Noel Gibbons said that while there have campaigns to highlight the perils off illegal drugs, little has been done to make drivers aware of the side effects of medicines bought by prescription.
A campaign is now being piloted in Co Mayo to highlight the possible side affects of legal drugs that may increase the risk of being involved in an accident.
“Campaigns to tackle those who drive after taking illegal drugs are being run.
“But it is not just illegal drugs which can affect your driving. Some medicines may cause drowsiness and impair judgement, increasing the risk of an accident,” said Mr Gibbons.
He said that road safety measures needed to take all
“Side affects such as drowsiness, dizziness, difficulty concentrating and nausea can all be attributed to over-the-counter and prescription medicines and drivers using medications for illness such as sleeping difficulties, anxiety, allergies, blood pressure and epilepsy are urged to think twice before getting behind the wheel,” he added.
Man charged with pipe bomb posession
By JOHN FALLON
A 31-year-old Kildare man has been charged with possession of a pipe bomb at an auctioneer’s office in Co Roscommon.
Trevor Owen, 3128 Fenview Heights, Milltown, Newbridge, was remanded in custody when he appeared before Harristown District Court in Roscommon yesterday (FRI).
Det. Sgt. John Costello told Judge Geoffrey Browne that Owen had said ‘sorry’ when the charge was put to him yesterday morning.
The offence is alleged to have taken place at Earley Property Partners, Stone Court, The Square, Roscommon on October 18 last year.
Owen had been in custody charged with maliciously causing an explosion on October 18 at Earley Property Partners in Roscommon but Det. Sgt. Costelloe said this charge was now being withdrawn.
Owen was yesterday also charged with two counts of criminal damage at Earley Property Partners on October 18.
Judge Browne remanded Owen in custody, with consent to bail, to appear before Harristown District Court next Friday after being told that Owen would be served with the book of evidence at Roscommon District Court on March 16.
Aherne thinks economic growth is on the way
By JOHN FALLON
A number of factors are starting to fall into place to ensure that economic growth can be anticipated in 2010, according to the special advisor to the Minister for Finance.
Dr Alan Ahearne told an audience in NUI Galway last night that 2009 was a year for stabilisation and that the measures taken last year should result in growth later this year.
Dr Ahearne, who is on leave from his lecture post at NUIG having been appointed as special advisor to the Minister for Finance last spring, was speaking at the Galway Chamber Paddy Ryan Memorial Lecture in the college.
Mr Ryan was a former Mayor of Galway who was a successful businessman in the city until his death in 2004.
Dr Ahearne delivered a lecture entitled ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place — Policy Making in a time of Economic Crisis’ to a gathering of several hundred people.
He said that a number of factors gave rise to optimism. He said there was a 5% improvement in unit labour costs in Ireland since the autumn. The unit cost in Ireland dropped 2% in Ireland last year at a time when they increased by 3% in the Euro area.
“This is already kickstarting growth. We are starting to gain market share but we need to do more as we lost our competitiveness during the boom years,” said Dr Ahearne.
He said that export-led growth would be the engine for the recovery but that it would probably be 2011 before real impact would be felt, after years of over-dependence on house building.
“We are on the road to recovery but it will be a bumpy road. It is still an uncertain world and the financial markets are fragile. “Unemployment is still increasing, although the rate has slowed down,” he noted.
He said that as firms expand in the recovery it was crucial banks could provide credit, so sorting out the banking sector was key to this.
“There needs to be a proper sequence of events and that is what is happening. Around €19billion will be transferred into NAMA next month and that first transfer will give us a lot of information,” he said.
Dr Ahearne said that the remainder should be transferred by the end of September and that the cost of recapitalising the banking sector would become apparent in between.
He said that when the ‘risky’ loans were gone off the balance sheet and the banks were recapitalised, the banking sector would be well able to meet the needs of the economy.
And Dr Ahearne dismissed suggestions that banks should default on bondholders.
“The bulk of bonds in Irish banks are ordinary senior bonds. They are part of the banks’ funding and not risk capital. They are owned by pension funds, insurance companies, credit unions and other long-term providers of funds,” said Dr Ahearne, who added that, in any event, such bonds were covered by the Bank Guarantee scheme.
Time to move on, says O’Mahony
By JOHN FALLON
Mayo TD John O’Mahony — who was parachuted in by Fine Gael ahead of the 2007 election — said that plenty of help is provided by the party for new politcians.
The current Mayo football manager said that while George Lee would be a big loss to the party, Fine Gael needed to now move on.
“The political life can be a very lonely one at times and I have felt that myself at times. But there is help available in a lot of areas especially from more experienced members of the party.
“I am new to this game too. One has to realise that in any job you have to work your way through it. Fine Gael are in opposition and the first priority is to get into government,” said the former teacher who managed Galway to two All-Ireland football titles in 1998 and 2001.
And Deputy O’Mahony backed his fellow Mayo native Enda Kenny to lead them into government at the next election.
“Without question, Enda Kenny is the reason that I am in politics and there is no issue with his leadership as far as I’m concerned,” he added.
Priest slams road authories over students’ deaths
By JOHN FALLON, Media West
A priest has told the National Roads Authority that if they were doing their job properly then four students would not have lost their lives in a horror car accident in Co Galway last week. read more
Man dies working on church spire
by JOHN FALLON, Media West
A man working at the top of a 200 feet church spire died after suffering a heart attack. read more
Kathleen celebrates 107th birthday
By JOHN FALLON, Media West
A former undertakers’ worker who puffed 20 cigarettes a day up to a few years ago was yesterday (FRI) celebrating her 107th birthday. read more
Grandson charged with farmer’s murder
By JOHN FALLON, Media West
A 22-year old Co Galway man has been charged with the murder of his grandfather. read more
Gardai probe Roscommon pub fire
By JOHN FALLON, Media West
A family had a lucky escape after fire destroyed their home and pub in Co Roscommon in the early hours of yesterday (SUN) morning. read more
