DanJW

I can't remember where I read it, but one of the most enlightening things for me was "the human brain does not make decisions; it makes judgements". In that model, punishment is good because even without choice, it still influences the judgements. It increases the risk of doing the bad thing, and so increases the chances of the brain judging it not worthwhile - a simple reaction to stimuli, in the end. I sometimes wish my college had offered philosophy A-Level. Ah well. I loom forward to any of you thesis that you can show us; I will prepare my brain-cooler in advance.

Hah! Yes! In your face, melee spammers!

Indeed. Things like the animation of a knocked-over pedestrian, and even moreso the sound they make - these things can be authored precisely to trigger real human reactions.

Another point: prior to Ebert, the authorship definition of art was not often formulated. He likely created that definition specifically because he hoped to exclude video games. If we forget about video games for a moment, is it even a good definition of art? Probably not. Gamers often take criticism of games personally, because often it is meant personally, as a personal attack against those who like games as being less important than those who like films, or books (despite the fact that we are almost always those same people).

Cool stuff. But if there is no free will, then we have no choice but to criticise wrongdoing? There you go, thesis done, you can credit me if you want But yeah I find this stuff interesting too. Scary, but interesting.

Yes, ridicule is the major weapon used against the male species these days. Well spotted Thunderpeel. Women have had it much worse for the past few thousand years. but I still think there is a psychological crisis of masculinity going on right now. Misandry is everywhere in our culture.

No artform is about delivering an exact message from author to audience. Those that try are perceived as 'preachy' and hamfisted. There is always interpretation going on, and a diologue between art and observer. In painting there are terms like "observer's portion" to describe this (where, say, a suggestion of a shape is extrapolated by the brain to be a full representation of the shape). The best art allows the beholder to find themself in it, things which the artist did not put there, but allowed for. It even operates in motion picture, which makes me think that however good a critic Ebert is, he still does not fully understand even his chosen field, let alone other artistic mediums. Those that can, do. Those that can't, become critics.

I got the impression that after the battle at the Resurrection Hub, there were only two basestars left - one for Caville and one for the rebels. Any non-rebel centurions and raiders were lobotomised so they can't make decisions for themselves, and the skinjobs were pretty much wiped out. The rebel 'redstripe' centurions had made their peace. But it is interesting to think that there could be a civilisation out there descended from the redstripes. As for the rest; yeah it is kinda disappointing that there was no grand plan after all.

That is the stance of almost all legal systems, yes (at least in heterosexual intercourse). Like I said, apparently erection counts as consent. Southpark did an excellent take on a real case of a female teacher having an affair with an under-age student, and the complete lack of sincerity that this statuary rape was accorded (compared to cases in which the genders are reversed). All Southpark did was make the boy a bit younger still.

Isn't there even an achievement for managing to spend all your MS points? Or was that just a joke?

Yes but you need to buy both to make Space Pirates! These look like slight updates of old sets. I think my brother had that fort. Which is, of course, awesome.

SPOILERVILLE Yeah, the lack of Starbuck explanation was the biggest cop-out for me. Other unsolved mysteries: The barest snippet about the whole god thing. Only a tiny bit more for Kobol and previous civilisations (how did the whole 13th tribe thing go down?) The Final Five turned out to be a whole lot less special than they were built up to be in season 3 (incongruence even at the end, between their glowing golden visions and them actually knowing fuck all about anything, besides resurrection). What was their special secret knowledge/purpose, besides inventing the skinjobs? What was their connection to the Watchtower song and all the other mystic stuff? Who built the various temples and things encountered during the series, if not the 13th tribe? Who were the previous pantheon, really? Similarly for all the prophecies and stuff. Where'd that prophet go? What did Caville actually do to the missing cylon model? Probably other things forgotten along the way. Perhaps if the show hadn't been rushed to conclusion, more of these would have been answered. Still, I think they did a pretty decent job, and I actually kind of like the 'let's name this planet after Earth' conclusion. I'm looking forward to The Plan feature. The Caprica series not so much, it sounds like a soap opera to me. Perhaps it will turn out to be interesting though.

All the cool cats say 'hep'. Daddy-O.

Hehehe, well it is staying true to its Mormon mythological/Chariots of the Gods roots!

...aaaannd it's done. Was it 100% satisfaction? No, not really (for instance it was a shame that the humans failed to realise that they were all descended from previous cylons). But it was pretty good all the same, and I'm slightly sad that it is over. Despite myself I did get a lump in my throat in some of the closing scenes. And a few mysteries left even at the end (so Starbuck was a ghost, or something... eh?). I suppose they need to keep a few back for the spin-offs, and just to keep the air of mystic appeal.

Yeah, like the new Tropicana cartons, those pepsi bottles scream "cheap own-brand knock-off" to me. I've always preferred Coke anyway.

I'm of the opinion that a lack of 'no' does not mean 'yes' (trouble is that 'yes' is normally supplied by actions rather than words). But this does sound more like a case of a woman having sex and then regretting it afterwards. The same thing happened to a boy in Southampton - girl regretted sleeping with him, called police, boy went to prison for 2 years before being acquitted on appeal. False rape claims hurts real rape victims. edit: also, new rape laws in the UK may mean that legally, a woman is incapable of giving consent while under the influence of alchahol. So even if she says 'yes', you had better breathalyse her first. Strangely, the same rule does not apply to men. It seems that for men, arousal counts as consent (which could make viagra a date rape drug?)

Golden ratio is not some kind of Theory of Everything, but it is a useful tool for artists to know. Like HistSoc says, knowing the ratio can make checking your proportions much easier. Also, I've always been taught that the "rule of thirds" is a good way to anticipate how the human eye flickers around a scene, and it seems to work. I don't have any replacement tools if you take that one away, other than trial and error. Also there is definitely something in the Fibonacci spiral appearing in nature, which is closely related. It's not mysterious, just a fact: circles, spirals and cones are strong supportive shapes. How do you build one as you grow? Fibonacci sequence.

That privacy issues thing is slightly different to how the press paints it. Fact is, Google built in a privacy request form into the system, so you don't have to complain, you just request that your property be removed. This is so effective, that an American couple lost their case when they tried to sue instead of using the privacy tools provided. Also, I think in the long term people removing their property from it may be shooting themselves in the foot. I wouldn't surprised if uses turn up for Google street level that are very helpful. I can just see all those whiners pleading to google "please, put our property back on". "Sorry" says Google "it's gone for good. Bitches".

Yeah, those instant achievements violate TOS, and anyone found to have used one gets all their bonus weapons locked again for a number of weeks. See here

Hmm, as Ruby I encountered a bench, but I still have no idea how to unlock the secret rooms.

Oh I'd say this is definitely horror. The conviction grew the longer I played. Eventually I just kind of got lost in the experience - quite probably the desired effect and metaphor that it is aiming for. I played as Ginger. Followed the path all the way to grandmother's gate... and then thought what the hell, I'll go for a wonder. Found a bunch of stuff, encountered a charming little woodland girl who eventually led me back to the start. Then I accidentally used the phone and went back to the selection screen doh. Started up again, found a bunch more stuff. Then I am taking a break now before deciding which sister to travel with next (I think Ruby). I am definitely slightly shaken, but I think only because I got so relaxed and hypnotised by it. If I had remained lucid and in control it might well have been underwhelming. This is indeed horror, just a very rare type.

Sounds right up my street. Purchasing now.

Nice Lovecraft reference in the title there

"This video is not available in your country." W. T. F?! Youtube now has border restrictions? Well that just blows...