Abalest

Gah, they got me in the pictures! But my hat does look good.

It was fun, but I was technically on shift at the time.

Come back next year, everyone! We'll be having the whole place to ourselves!

Hey!
'The Money Pit' is a comedic masterpiece.

And I do like Cast Away. I can't recall Tom's acting, because it's been a while, but my entire focus was on the moment when you realize there hasn't been a musical score until he's off the island. It's a very powerful scene because of that simple thing. Sure, the imagery at the end is way too literal, but on the whole, it's a worthwhile, simple movie with some excellent images and uses of soundtrack.

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But Halpin is no sensationalist seeking high drama and cheap tears. He’s taken pains to present a spectrum of views as the film looks at how games are created, distributed, regulated, sold and received, and he bristles at any comparison to a Michael Moore-style attack. “We’re very careful to avoid the whole titillation factor,” he says pointedly. “Interactive entertainment is the next major media form and the most important issue in terms of the young generation. I want to show how and why games are developed and what experiences they offer, which can have positive or negative effects on children.”

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Oh, well I guess I'm placated then. He says he's not being sensational. Carry on.

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*Snrk* Hawhaw!

If he didn't want the reaction, HE SHOULD'VE NOT MADE THE TRAILER THAT WAY.

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There's this one game on the Nintendo DS...some surgery game...Trauma Center (very fun but can be difficult). I can't wait for someone to say it teaches malpractice.

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Actually, the instruction booklet states several times that the game is NOT a subsitute for medical school, and suggests that people interested in doing operations for a living look into medical school.
Atlus covered its hinder!

The reply is the worst possible way to have responded.
-No backup for claims
-Poor use of fontsize
-Overused music (Silence is a better way to do this)
-Cursing
-Feels more like an attack ad than anything else.


Sorry about the use of Statesman, Jack.


And to those who are trying to put this off as a non-issue... Politically, it's just like abortion/same sex marriage. The litmus tests, the hot buttons, the base mobilizers... I'm sure that the politicians know that this stuff is just silly, but they also know that it's a way to make themselves look good.

One might even consider game developers and gamers the perfect scapegoats for enduring political games.

1. The industry is growing. making lots of money, and could only be seriously hurt by legislation. That is, no matter what's said, politicians don't have to worry their words making a lasting effect.

2. The industry has a very strong and easy defense in the First amendment. Also, consider that in addition to the legal teams developers would bring, Microsoft's legal team would be brought in. There's going to be a huge amount of defense, and once precedent is set, the defense only gets easier.


3. Almost by definition, Gamers are unlikely to mobilize to express their disgust. We don't get in people's faces because we're... playing games.

4. The highly visual medium of video games (especially as they become more photorealistic) can be used to great effect without a lot of lead-in. Show realistic violence, blood, sexual content... All the stuff that sells on TV, but tie it to the word 'game', and... MY GOD! CHILDREN PLAY GAMES! MUST SMASH! PROTECT CHILDREN! NO OTHER INFORMATION MATTERS!



We all just sit around, making our devestatingly intelligent and well-reasoned arguments against things like this horribly-concieved trailer, but if we don't show up in Washington DC, grab airtime on major networks and present these arguments to the nation and have them on record, our exploitation as a political tool will keep on happening.

What's unfortunate is that it will work.

Why can I say that?

Elections since 2000.
The information has been covered up by 'truthiness' (to trot out that increasingly-overused chestnut) that plays not to the logical mind, but to the emotions of the viewer. Facts are boring!
With prejudice and misinformation, extremists have done a great deal of damage to America's economy, morality, and foreign policy.
There's no reason to expect the successful tactics won't work again.
Hmph. That trailer needs a ticker disclaimer, even if it's just the lead-in to a balanced debate.
Documentaries should NOT create bias in any way leading into the program, even if it's intentioned only to get people to watch.

Currently struggling with youtube's post reply post limit.

Last I checked, 496<500.


The thing is: Even if this is framing a debate, it's doing so in a way that would make the people who should see it figure that they don't have to. They 'know' the content and message just from the soundbites of the trailer.

By presenting a documentary in this way, the sensationalism will actually hurt the issue.

Bye, Shane!

Thanks for your awesome contributions to the game and its story!

And good luck on your new project!

I, too, wish to know the meaning of:
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This is a hero-centric Issue that finally levels the playing field between Heroes and Villains.

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The only thing that makes sense is the addition of Safeguard and Police band missions, but that hardly 'levels a playing field'.

CoH and CoV are different games. The only interaction (aside from the snaptooth missions) between them is in PvP, and I have not heard much in the way of saying villains are too powerful.

A playing field implies that both sides are in the same area, and levelling it means eliminating an unfair advantage. As levels are not that great of a factor in the PvP zones, what could this mean? Nerfs? Buffs?

In a press release like this, there's no way that remark is without merit. I'm not quite sure I like the implication that Heroes are underperforming in direct contests with Villains.

Put me down as a player in search of a P.S. to this message.

I think and hope so; I'm intending to have Ray "Specs" Smith submit another article at some point.

Well, I've got a story idea, so I want to make sure it's plausible.

What would praetorian 5th column/council be like?

Freedom fighters who went to ground after WWII, and now recruit from the citizenry to help fight against Tyrant and so on?

It's rather important, because my most interesting "hero" character would have had a very different life, one that her praetorian counterpart would be unintentionally mocking her with... Muahah.

Well, now I definitely have to go to PAX... Wish I'd preregistered...


Thanks for everything, CuppaJo! Swing around every so often, okay? Safe to say you'll always be welcome on any server.

I think you mean nom .

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I'll be working on transforming this into a podcast, as well as writing a transcript for it since y'all want that. Just remember... There was a lot of talking, two and a half hours worth. So it may take a bit of time.

So, yes yes. There ya are.

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Or if you leave out the *giggle, giggle* and the "BADGES!" its only 25mins and easier to transcribe.

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I'd prefer a full transcript, personally.

Sounds like 'The Giggler' has been given the mic again, for some reason... And that SI has yet to actually learn that the best way to prevent dead air and embarassment is to actually do research, like playing the game and clarifying answers to questions PRIOR to starting a live broadcast.

It's okay, though. I just hope someone's recording this for posterity.

I'm betting that raider (actually, all 3 PvP zone time badges) are required.

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And, unfortunately, Chum Spray has been renamed to Bile Spray. Our powers guys’ felt that Chum was just too campy.

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I shall now call this power...

The spray formerly known as Chum

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I will call it "Ol' Chum".

Three for three?

Edit: YES! Hat-trick!
Hm... How can I work in Zooters,Yorkers, and Googlys?

I suppose we'll have to settle with a cricket with a cricket bat and a lighter. It will be TEH FUNNAIEST THINGEVAR!

"Edited by Cricket" has an interesting ring to it.
I mean, I think of the offending post getting eaten by insects.

Hey, there's an idea for an animated avatar...


By the same token, 'Edited by CuppaJo' makes me think that there was a scalding cup of coffee that washed over the post.

Will you accept Cricket lighters as part of the avatar?

Hi, Cricket!
Glad to have another Community Coordinator, as it means our community is growing.

Now, about the "Save Dr. Percy's work" mission... Heh.

Welcome to City 17. It's safer here.

T: TO INFINITY AND...!
C: Shh! Disney! Lawsuit!
T: SOME OTHER PLACES!

"This could have all been avoided if Marcus had just paid me back the five bucks."

At level 31, I'm trying to NOT level up so I can get through all the contacts. This involves me running into purple mobs in St. Martial until I debt cap, then watching with horror as I claw my way back out in rather short order.

Brutes need never fear debt.
After much number crunching and omphaloskepsis, I determined what is important to brutes.

In descending order of importance:
Endurance (without this, glorious SMASH cannot be achieved)
Fury
Health
Teammate Health
Belly-Button Lint
Debt

As you can see, this is very scientific.