DanJW

This came up on the NWN2 forums. I know we have Colbert fans here so: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=5202025&blogID=241799626&MyToken=e0aefc56-313c-4e81-9083-60dfc1421164

When you say non-fiction do you actually mean non-genre? A non-fiction book would be, well, factual. Like A Brief History of Time or something. Making a non-fiction game would be odd, and probably boring to play. Non-genre though, that has potential, although I feel it will be some time before suitable gameplay can be devised for it. I'm also not sure about the reality of any sci-fi renaissance on xbox. Gaming has traditionally been swamped with games in a sci-fi setting. I don't think that ever went away. Also, when compared to scifi literature, games are still behind. Most of the games mentioned are actually space opera (sometimes called Science Fantasy), as they contain no science whatsoever. Halo for example is complete fantasy. It's just fantasy with lasers. BSG appeals to non-geeks, i suspect because of its naturalistic approach. I hold Trek's lycra responsible for severely damaging the genre for many decades I'd love to see a scifi game that could be as mindblowing and cerebral as some of the classics. Good as the Dune games were, I can't say they made me ponder the evolution of mankind the way Frank Herbert did. Or even just get a "holeeee shit" moment like the first time you understand the scale of a ringworld. It's these kind of things that make sci-fi, for me anyway, and they are missing from games.

Since it has the Terminator brand they're bound to put terminators in it, and no this wouldn't fit the continuity of the films. Bad idea if you ask me. I'd rather we finally get the full-on war of the machines in a T4. Interestingly Eljay, current theroetical physics predicts that a "soft" paradox like the one you described is perfectly possible. It's only "hard" paradoxs that are impossible (or possibly destroy the universe if they happen). To put it another way; you can't kill your own grandfather, but you can become him. Also, here's some of the Sgt Candy deleted scene from T3. Shame I can't find the full thing.

Hehe those were fun, I look forward to the next one. I also enjoyed Terminator 3. It was more of a pastiche on the first two movies than good in its own right, but that didn't bother me. Was cool to see the T1s etc (not to mention the Colonel Candy deleted scene - that really should have made it into the movie). Predator is a good movie (ignore the sequals though). Watch it, it has aged well. I didn't recognise the clips they used here though, were they from AvP?

Oh, that reminds me. I got a free ticket to see Inland Empire last weekend, David Lynchs latest release - but really a pet movie that he's been working on for years. Erm... it's absolutely bat-fuck insane, as you might expect. It takes a real effort on the part of the viewer to tie the threads together - you feel like you are clutching at straws the whole way through. I really didn't like the fact it was shot on handheld camcorder with no post-proc. It made it very difficult to believe you weren't watching some student movie. It also made it a very ugly movie - the format is less than flattering, especially to the lead, Laura Dern. She over-acts a bit for my liking in regular movies, so in this one she looked positively rubber-faced. There were some great moments through, and it is genuinely unsettling. In conclusion, see it only if you are a big Lynch fan and/or you want your brain melted. What the fuck is with those rabbits!?!?!?!?!?!?

Rado, you kind of touched on a point I was about to make. What we're now talking about is the limits of choice within video games. Obviously, designers can't add every possible choice, and however many they did add players would think of some more. One option in the future which I have considered (while designing a hypothetical game with Spaff) is procedural social effects (and I consider good/evil to be a purely social effect, except in special circumstances). What is needed is a metaphysics engine, that works along the same line as a physics engine. Objects collide, just like morality and opinions, and the effects are emergent in the same way. Heh, I'm speculating wildly, but this is all stuff I've thought about before. I suspect it will be some time before anything like it is seen though (unless I get a chance to develop it myself). Oh, and the special circumstances I mentioned are when your fictional universe has some source of objective evil, whether it's the Dark Side of the Force, or demons or whatever. Int hese situations I think it is justified in modelling the effects on your character, as they are really actually being tainted by the evil energy. In more naturalistic settings I agree about this sort of thing being heavy handed - any moral effects on the character should be implied, not explicit.

Nope, it wasn't. I wouldn't have been able to unlock it if it was. edit: also I've realised, that for me at least, the word "twat" is completely unhelpful in this discussion. It doesn't really mean anything beyond a personal dislike for a person. Completely subjective and meaningless in the wider scope.

Yeah, but between you three there couldn't have been any other possible conclusion.

Heh, just as this thread appears I find out about the StarGate MMO. Not sure what to think of that at all.

It's a good point, whatever it was.

Lionhead is great, and it's been made great by Molynaux. A lot of the features in their games are truly progrssive, pushing new ideas into the industry. The Dog takes on a whole new aspect if you look at in light of the "inbedded interface" that Lionhead have being improving on for years - From B&W through to The Movies. It's all about repacing HUDs etc with feedback within the gameworld, and I for one find that very exciting. Also, people complain about how all the suits from the publishers only care abuot money and stifle innovation. Molyneux is a man who is as passionate about games as any gamer, who wants to innovate and talk about possibilities and ideas and the future. And then people like yufster hate him for it. Seriously, it looks like Devs just can't win either way if you act like that.

That's the smudge tool, not the blur tool.

I'm guessing the EB games wouldn't have let you use their phone? With a few exceptions, most high-street games stores give awful service. They seem to be completely clueless about why they are faring less well and what they can do to compete against online stores.

After playing too much MGS3 lately, I keep trying to creep up on the family dog without being seen. But I haven't tried to slit his throat yet.

And that's 10 times in the Gaming or Feedback forums, Idle Banter posts don't count. Please keep your posts on topic in whatever thread you participate in (as much as anyone stays on-topic round here anyway )

Stevan did say some time ago that he had an online stalker.

In other LOLs... Curtesy of UKR

No, they're not playing right now. The objective of the Fiend-out is to say or suggest something utterly repulsive, or so "wrong" that the recipient's mind cannot process it. You can tell when you've won by the screwing up of the face, the closing of the eyes and the little grunt as the mental gears grind together in the effort to prevent the brain exploding. It should be noted that Ginger is normally playing this game during every waking moment. Rusalka only slightly less constantly, but more viciously.

Apocophilia? Hmm, apocophilia! I like it. I think I might be a sufferer too. I blame Wyndam.

I've been watching the trailers as they've come up on Eurogamer TV, and the game is looking pretty dated now. Also there is no hint of a plot whatsoever. Shame, as it was meant to pip HL2 with some of the stuff it did. The main thing that can make it a success now is how much of the story is intact. For those wondering what the general tone was meant to resemble, read the short story Roadside Picnic, which is available on the internets somewhere.

You were being diplomatic? Here?!

Laugh heartily.

I know. I was stunned!

Egads you're right. Which makes Yufster a cylon. Which means she has no human rights. Eeeeexcellent...