A Healthy Dose of Escapism
May I direct your attention to the MMORPG titled City of Heroes?
It's currently in its Beta testing phase and allowing pre-orders. The graphics are impressive, the rationale for cordoning off sections of the city is acceptable, and the assigning of "missions" in the superhero genre is also plausible and fun. It really makes you feel like you're part of a group of super-powered heroes working together to fight the enemies of the citizens of Paragon City.
The costume creation mechanics are neat - they really give you a wide variety of body shapes and costume colors, patterns, and "flair". The fact that you retain that distinctive look during gameplay is all the more impressive.
A friend of mine mentioned that the term "kill-stealing" doesn't really apply to the world. Given the "super-hero" setting, it didn't make sense for the champions of the city to argue "HEY... that guy was mine!" Well, maybe sometimes... but not ALL the time. You're supposed to be heroes! So, they've just agreed on certain protocols (such as offering help, or saying things like "thanks... but I could've taken him myself!" to keep things friendly) for now...
As for character creation - it's very versatile and allows for a wide variety of superpower combinations, but keeping the power levels low initially... and then growing as the hero gains experience.
Rumors, Threats, and Scares: Holy Week in the Philippines
It's Holy Week again here in the Philippines, and the rumor mill is in full swing. There are rumors that a terrorist attack by various groups is imminent. Possibly explosives placed in a public area such as a mall or on a crowded public road, various text messages and concerned friends declare. Which terrorist group? No one can say for sure.
Still, that won't stop most people from braving the malls or the roads. The rumors are more or less the same every year.
But it IS an election year, and one that will probably get quite heated as election day gets closer. It is also very close to the tragic terrorist bombing in Madrid. These two circumstances may certainly cause many to think twice about dismissing the rumors.
Another rumor flying around is that the bombings are not necessarily going to be by terrorists, but by the current administration or one of the other parties interested in taking power in the Philippines.
The current administration (one friendly to the current interests of U.S. Presidential incumbent George Bush), may be considering a Plaza Miranda-type move to remain in power... given that for all their Social Weather Station surveys showing PGMA in the lead... it's likely she's only ranked 3rd or 4th nation-wide. For those of you who don't know what Plaza Miranda is...
On August 21, 1971 (only 12 days after I was born), Plaza Miranda was bombed. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was blamed, and this was the basis for the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in 1971 and the imposition of martial rule in 1972.
Other parties may be considering such a tactic to throw shame into the current government, or to further destabilize the country, or as a prelude to yet another coup. ("Come to our beaches, stay for the coup! WOW Philippines!") I don't think I need to explain what a coup is. Every minor and major incident seems to be viewed as the prelude to one.
Or these may all be part of the propaganda and psychological warfare between the increasingly fragmented and self-absorbed political factions of this country.
And who pays the price?
Perhaps we can go to the streets and ask where Juan de la Cruz is. Perhaps he's already decided to take his chances in places like the U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Better than starving or being caught in the crossfire between people who worry where their next million pesos will come from.
It's Holy Week again here in the Philippines, and the rumor mill is in full swing. There are rumors that a terrorist attack by various groups is imminent. Possibly explosives placed in a public area such as a mall or on a crowded public road, various text messages and concerned friends declare. Which terrorist group? No one can say for sure.
Still, that won't stop most people from braving the malls or the roads. The rumors are more or less the same every year.
But it IS an election year, and one that will probably get quite heated as election day gets closer. It is also very close to the tragic terrorist bombing in Madrid. These two circumstances may certainly cause many to think twice about dismissing the rumors.
Another rumor flying around is that the bombings are not necessarily going to be by terrorists, but by the current administration or one of the other parties interested in taking power in the Philippines.
The current administration (one friendly to the current interests of U.S. Presidential incumbent George Bush), may be considering a Plaza Miranda-type move to remain in power... given that for all their Social Weather Station surveys showing PGMA in the lead... it's likely she's only ranked 3rd or 4th nation-wide. For those of you who don't know what Plaza Miranda is...
On August 21, 1971 (only 12 days after I was born), Plaza Miranda was bombed. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was blamed, and this was the basis for the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in 1971 and the imposition of martial rule in 1972.
Other parties may be considering such a tactic to throw shame into the current government, or to further destabilize the country, or as a prelude to yet another coup. ("Come to our beaches, stay for the coup! WOW Philippines!") I don't think I need to explain what a coup is. Every minor and major incident seems to be viewed as the prelude to one.
Or these may all be part of the propaganda and psychological warfare between the increasingly fragmented and self-absorbed political factions of this country.
And who pays the price?
Perhaps we can go to the streets and ask where Juan de la Cruz is. Perhaps he's already decided to take his chances in places like the U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Better than starving or being caught in the crossfire between people who worry where their next million pesos will come from.
PVCOMICS: Full of Indy Comics Goodness
No, not PVP Comics... PV Comics! Some of their comics you have to subscribe to, but a lot of the free ones you can see at www.pvcomics.com.
I really enjoy Lint McCree and the creative and mysterious (and a bit funky to navigate) Invisible Forces.
No, not PVP Comics... PV Comics! Some of their comics you have to subscribe to, but a lot of the free ones you can see at www.pvcomics.com.
I really enjoy Lint McCree and the creative and mysterious (and a bit funky to navigate) Invisible Forces.
Ocean's Eleven: Say What?
There's a lot of slang in Ocean's Eleven, and here's my take on one line loaded with slang...
"You'd need at least 12 guys doing a combination of cons. A Boesky, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Jethroes, and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald EVER."
Okay. So these are the names of the cons... each one obviously alluding to what each of these folks are famous for... but what the heck do they mean?
Boesky: Could refer to Ivan Boesky, responsible for one of the biggest insider trading scandals in the U.S. The scam for getting lots of insider information was performed by their resident tech guru. On the other hand, Reuben, the guy who bankrolls the heist also knows a lot about the vault and about casinos in general... but it's not really a con, is it? However, my vote goes to Frank Catton was the planted inside man WHO WAS CAUGHT. Boesky was caught doing his thing and so was Frank... so that they could steal the codes from Terry Benedict.
Jim Brown: Could refer to Jim Brown, a legendary running back in American football. Bigger, better, and fast fast fast. Also an activist. Since he's black, many folks chalk this up to Frank Catton's "it's all because I'm black" scene. Still, a running back carries the football during a running play... so which con is this? I thought this might actually be Saul's performance as the bigshot "Lyman Serge" (sp?). He carries the attache case that could be thought of as his "football" and doesn't let it go until it's in the end zone (the vault).
Miss Daisy: Miss Daisy was a rich white person driven around by a chauffer. Could be Saul again, but as a con... it could be the con of getting someone else to "drive" the Amazing Yen into the vault.
Two Jethroes: The two scenes of two idiots fighting each other, causing a disturbance. Gee, who did these? Obviously, the two idiots of the team...
Leon Spinx: Delivers a knockout punch. Probably Basher, who was there to engineer the blackouts.
Ella Fitzgerald: Some folks believe that that's supposed to be the fake vault tape. This is because of a Memorex tape commercial wherein a taped Ella managed to break glass. For me, it's either this or the performance of Linus... who had to improvise all the way through a tough and shrewd Terry Benedict.
Feh - I'm not really all that sure... but what do you think?
There's a lot of slang in Ocean's Eleven, and here's my take on one line loaded with slang...
"You'd need at least 12 guys doing a combination of cons. A Boesky, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Jethroes, and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald EVER."
Okay. So these are the names of the cons... each one obviously alluding to what each of these folks are famous for... but what the heck do they mean?
Boesky: Could refer to Ivan Boesky, responsible for one of the biggest insider trading scandals in the U.S. The scam for getting lots of insider information was performed by their resident tech guru. On the other hand, Reuben, the guy who bankrolls the heist also knows a lot about the vault and about casinos in general... but it's not really a con, is it? However, my vote goes to Frank Catton was the planted inside man WHO WAS CAUGHT. Boesky was caught doing his thing and so was Frank... so that they could steal the codes from Terry Benedict.
Jim Brown: Could refer to Jim Brown, a legendary running back in American football. Bigger, better, and fast fast fast. Also an activist. Since he's black, many folks chalk this up to Frank Catton's "it's all because I'm black" scene. Still, a running back carries the football during a running play... so which con is this? I thought this might actually be Saul's performance as the bigshot "Lyman Serge" (sp?). He carries the attache case that could be thought of as his "football" and doesn't let it go until it's in the end zone (the vault).
Miss Daisy: Miss Daisy was a rich white person driven around by a chauffer. Could be Saul again, but as a con... it could be the con of getting someone else to "drive" the Amazing Yen into the vault.
Two Jethroes: The two scenes of two idiots fighting each other, causing a disturbance. Gee, who did these? Obviously, the two idiots of the team...
Leon Spinx: Delivers a knockout punch. Probably Basher, who was there to engineer the blackouts.
Ella Fitzgerald: Some folks believe that that's supposed to be the fake vault tape. This is because of a Memorex tape commercial wherein a taped Ella managed to break glass. For me, it's either this or the performance of Linus... who had to improvise all the way through a tough and shrewd Terry Benedict.
Feh - I'm not really all that sure... but what do you think?
VANCE INTEGRAL EDITION
I picked up a new book the other day: Dragon Masters by Jack Vance. I've not started reading the novel proper, but have been reading about the author and fandom.
Interestingly enough, there's a website for the Vance Integral Edition at www.vanceintegral.com. The project's goals?
1. Create a complete and correct edition, in 44 volumes, a permanent, physical archive of Vance's oeuvre disseminated world wide, doubled by a digital archive (already being made available to commercial publishers).
2. Promote the universally appealing work of Jack Vance through library donations. Funded by the Paul Allen Foundation, and private individuals, dozens of libraries around the world are receiving V.I.E. book sets.
According to the site, Vance's literary works include "150 novels, novellas and stories. Vance is mostly known as a science fiction writer; a definition he rejects. In his long career he has written books in several genres, including the fantasy classic 'The Dying Earth' (the true title, Mazirian the Magician, is restored in the V.I.E.). He has also authored a dozen novels which are categorized as mysteries."
Not familiar with his work (which by the way influenced the D&D style of "fire & forget" style of magic), it's interesting to see the fan categorization of his work: "His 'fantasies' are closer to L. Frank Baum than to Tolkien. His 'mysteries' are closer to Thackery than to John D. MacDonald. His 'science fiction' is closer to Cervantes, Dante, Swift, de la Fontaine or Rabelais than to Asimov or Herbert."
I'm looking forward to reading his works...
I picked up a new book the other day: Dragon Masters by Jack Vance. I've not started reading the novel proper, but have been reading about the author and fandom.
Interestingly enough, there's a website for the Vance Integral Edition at www.vanceintegral.com. The project's goals?
1. Create a complete and correct edition, in 44 volumes, a permanent, physical archive of Vance's oeuvre disseminated world wide, doubled by a digital archive (already being made available to commercial publishers).
2. Promote the universally appealing work of Jack Vance through library donations. Funded by the Paul Allen Foundation, and private individuals, dozens of libraries around the world are receiving V.I.E. book sets.
According to the site, Vance's literary works include "150 novels, novellas and stories. Vance is mostly known as a science fiction writer; a definition he rejects. In his long career he has written books in several genres, including the fantasy classic 'The Dying Earth' (the true title, Mazirian the Magician, is restored in the V.I.E.). He has also authored a dozen novels which are categorized as mysteries."
Not familiar with his work (which by the way influenced the D&D style of "fire & forget" style of magic), it's interesting to see the fan categorization of his work: "His 'fantasies' are closer to L. Frank Baum than to Tolkien. His 'mysteries' are closer to Thackery than to John D. MacDonald. His 'science fiction' is closer to Cervantes, Dante, Swift, de la Fontaine or Rabelais than to Asimov or Herbert."
I'm looking forward to reading his works...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)