In a lesson on animal cruelty not soon forgotten, if the man isn't just angry at the animal and unable to learn from his own mistakes, this person caught a mouse and tossed it on a small fire he had going in the yard. The mouse, on fire, ran back to the house setting the thing ablaze.
Quote:It's no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity.
That was the last straw. This time he's gone too far!
While the Metroid manga is supposedly liscensed by Tokyopop, it will be some time before its released stateside. In the mean while, Nintendo has 2 volumes of Metroid released and it talks about Samus's childhood as well as the Chozo who raised her. I stumlbed upon a fan translation here:
Use the easy to read format link to get the full series, the individual pages do not contain the full volumes. I think Volume 2 has only been partially completed.
In case you're interested, theres an electronic version, the original Flash version that is, published in Japan, and they can be found here:
Quote:I hate the videogame press. There, I've said it - after you don't know how many false starts trying to weave that statement into a cleverly constructed sentence, I've just said it outright - I hate (...the majority of...) the videogame press.
Being a part of said clique the feeling of eating my young is beginning to set in as I write this, but whilst reading various magazines and online publications for reviews, previews, features and editorials lately I've had a nagging feeling at the back of my mind which burst forth one morning into a revelation: I don't like what I'm reading one bit. And consequentially and rather unsettlingly, I don't much like most of what I've written in the videogame press in the past, particularly in the area of reviews and previews.
Why this sudden wave of self loathing and revulsion? (Well, to sensationalise it somewhat... I'm not going to cut my fingers off anytime soon as some frustrated artists, with emphasis on the "i", have been known to do.) Well I've just been a bit late coming to the conclusion that the formulaic, child-minded writing-for-the-lowest-common-marketing-denominator style that encapsulates 99% of the mainstream videogame press is a load of crap.
Starting in the most critical area of the videogame press's remit and where I have the most self-doubt about my own writings in the past, reviews and previews have to be the most generic, structured and circumspect pieces of writing which we produce en masse for a public which, despite perhaps doubting its value to them, would still crucify any publication which dared to do it any other way.
Previews are, alongside reviews, the bread and butter of most publications. You can fill up ¼ to 1/3 of a magazine or websites content with them, they're obviously relevant as readers want to know what to expect in six months time as well as a critique of whatever has already arrived, and yet most previews are not worth the paper they are written on.
Apart from a few scolding incidences where old scores are settled via poor previews, such as with the now rather old Red Faction 2, sequel to a game which many magazines ran previews on their covers with such exultations as "Move over Half-Life!" only to have to then quietly do a one page review of the terrible final product tucked away at the back of the publication, most previews are sugar coating.
For one publications do not want to tick off their PR contacts who probably won't be sending them further preview or review copies if the publication trashes a game at preview time.
I would contest that it is at preview time where the press can make the most positive contribution to an otherwise poor game - with constructive criticism, and not, mind, the opposite of the sugar coating we see now and simple-minded trashing of seemingly poor games, the press can affect the thinking of developers so that the final product will be much better received than it would be with great previews and then trashy reviews, which takes away from the standing of the publication as well as sinking many the game.
The other critical element of all videogame press coverage is reviews, and these are not much better off than their preview counterparts, except the author has more of a free hand to give an opinion as opposed to invoking every positive expletive known to mankind in the space of 800 words.
Most reviews follow a simple formula of going through the game, taking apart all the bad points if it is a bad game and sticking a line or two in about its redeeming qualities, if in fact there are any, at the end, or else (if it is a good game) going through all the really good points about the game, and then sticking down the negatives into a paragraph at the end, usually beginning something like "Despite all this, Game X does have one or two minor problems..."
The problem with this, apart from the single-mindedness and near clerical nature of reviewing games, is that picking out good points is almost as subjective as some reviews. Harken back to Half-Life 2 and read all the amazing coverage about gravity guns and reflective water and then go searching for a line or two on all the (far more critical to the overall experience, I would say) atmosphere invoked by the environment of City 17 - because one or two lines is about all you're likely to find in most reviews, as Matt Sakey correctly pointed out in IGDA a year ago.
Rather than being critics who add to the industry as film and music journalists arguably did back in the heady days of the 50's - 70's (though there's a whole other debate in the state of those two branches of critical journalism these days and in the past) videogame journalists are mere extensions of the marketing machine, pushing even the most mediocre of games into a good light with the public in previews and then trashing them for sport to see how many good puns can be dredged out of the 500 words which the author really doesn't want to have to write.
Previews are wasted so as not to annoy the PR machine and reviews are even more by-the-numbers, sometimes also softened in order to keep the marketing hacks well buttered up.
As well as this there is a pervasive childishness running through many publications as they attempt to appeal to the adolescent-minded with crude jokes repeated to the point of being not all that funny jokes in themselves. There is also an arrogance which runs through many in the industry, with the replies to letters and feedback from readers who do not agree with the stance taken by a publication reading more like cheap put-downs as opposed to real responses.
Having been eating my young for the past 979 words you'll note that I haven't named the names of magazines, websites or otherwise for obvious reasons. Apart from libel there is the issue of burning my bridges, and I do want the option of being able to work in the videogame town again at some stage myself, and I daresay this piece being dragged out in a few years will not do me many favours with all but a few.
This also means that I can't name the names of the rather decent publications, blogs and even one or two mainstream writers and publications which manage to do a decent job and push the envelope somewhat, though still not to the extent of being worthy of many accolades for real critical contribution I'm sorry to say.
It is up to you as the reader to decide if the sugar-coated previews with not a negative adjective in their columns are what you really want; though I daresay that as consumers of these publications we do not help the situation by our complacency in it. The Powers That Be would be more than happy to let the videogame press roam at least somewhat more freely if it was what sold magazines and attracted eyeballs to websites, and so the old clichéd adage of "Voting with your feet" must be applied.
I wouldn't expect an overnight change from the current superficial to a superfluous model of videogame journalism, but a gradual expunging of the arrogant, child-minded and ultimately pointless style of writing and mindset would be more than welcome, and perhaps essential if the videogame press is to survive as videogamers grow up and mature past the age of 16.
I'm interested to hear what other people think about this article. As a former videogame journalist I have some opinions on the industry, but I wanted to see what you guys thought first.
Seems that MMORPGs are interesting. Apparently this party consists of a business meeting at first, showing exactly the limit of BOREDOM that can take take place in these games. Sorry, but I play games to have fun, not talk like I'm at a frickin' board meeting.
Next, a demonstration of stupidity, as Leeroy Jenkins proceeds to shout his own name as a battle cry (for reasons best understood by him) and just attacks the MAZE of enemies, forcing everyone into a completely unwinnable battle.
Seems they used Teamspeak for this. Last time I played WOW it didn't support voice chat.
Quote:The DS sales numbers keep coming in, and they're still good for Nintendo's new portable. However, there is one problem--they may be too good for Japanese gamers trying to buy one.
Only a few days after Nintendo announced sales figures for the DS in America (nearly 4 million units), Nintendo of Europe today chimed in with its own regional tally. The DS has sold roughly 3.5 million units in Europe since its debut in March, bringing the global total to almost 13 million.
Like other regions, European gamers were gaga for Nintendogs, taking 1.6 million copies of the game for a walk. The recently released Mario Kart DS is also off to a fast start, selling 800,000 copies since its late November launch.
Nintendo's DS continues to sell well in its home country with more than 5 million sold--but that may slow down as available units are becoming scarce. On its Japanese language Web page, Nintendo has issued an apology to gamers trying to get in on the DS action. A rough translation explains that stock of the item is low, and that more DSes are expected to be in stores in late January.
Oh, and there is another report in the latest Famitsu that says to expect a hardware revision sometime in 2006, but wouldn't specify what it was. I think it's safe to say it's either the DS or PSP...and I'm leaning toward the DS.
This could mean many things, it could mean that Revolution could be predominately a TV console with games specially for the visor. This could mean that Nintendo is just looking in to new technology for handhelds.
Remember this one?
"the virtual boy is something we'll come back to, when technology catches up with our ideas."
Oh yeah, I said it. Virtual Boy 2.
Personally if we see anything from this, i'm expecting to see Nintendo release an FPS multiplayer game along with the visor peripheral.
No matter what it is, it involves Nintendo and stereoscopic visors.
Posted by: etoven - 4th January 2006, 10:42 PM - Forum: Ramble City
- No Replies
Ok, my company is develping and AI or Natural Language Query Engine, the plemenary data in our reserch looks promising but I would like any openions or debate on our research.
Below is or research documentation to date:
General Project Summary:
TovenNet AI Project Summery
[i]December 30, 2005
By Erich Toven
[/i]Introduction<O:p</O:p
TovenSolutions in an effort to further computer technology is now attempting to build the worlds first learning computer. This section of the site will detail every step in the process, and eventually provide real time demonstration of the final project.<O:p</O:p
Basic AI Skills<O:p</O:p
The TovenSolutions AI will be comprised of the following skills:<O:p</O:p
The engine will understand natural language query.<O:p</O:p
The NLQ engine will be composed as a engine module<O:p</O:p
The module can be modified by users will sufficient permission.<O:p</O:p
The module will be self modifying, correcting.<O:p</O:p
The module will roll back to the last working state at any compile or run time error.<O:p</O:p
Interpreted query commands will be executed by process modules.
Process modules will be loaded/unloaded based on a configuration file.<O:p</O:p
Process modules can be modified by users with sufficient permissions.<O:p</O:p
Process modules will be self modifying, correcting.<O:p</O:p
Any process module will roll back to the last working state at any compile or run time error.
Restrictions will be placed on engine capabilities
The engine will parse natural language queries<O:p</O:p
The engine may gather information from remote websites. However the engine may not execute remote website scripts, controls, or dynamic content<O:p</O:p
The engine may store remote website content in variables.<O:p</O:p
The engine may store user specified content in variables of type, string, int, long, real, date, time. All other content stored in variables will be converted to a null value at the time of script compiling.<O:p</O:p
The engine will display content to the user via a web page interface. Displayed content may not consist of any script, control, or dynamic content of any kind. Offending content will be converted to an empty page at the time of module compiling, and the engine will be rolled back at the first offence.<O:p</O:p
The engine will allow for admin defined const, such as time$, date$, ext.<O:p</O:p
The engine will provide routines for user defined scripts<O:p</O:p
Such as NQL parsing routines.<O:p</O:p
String manipulation routines.<O:p</O:p
Data storage routines<O:p</O:p
Web content routines<O:p</O:p
Variable manipulation routines<O:p</O:p
Data & Time manipulation routines<O:p</O:p
The engine will have the ability to construct and maintain its own code using only the above available routines.<O:p</O:p
All data stored from user or engine created routines will be stored in either a default or a user specified knowledge file. <O:p</O:p
AI Components<O:p</O:p
A general configuration file<O:p</O:p
Knowledge files<O:p</O:p
NLQ Knowledge Files<O:p</O:p
Module files<O:p</O:p
A module file editor<O:p</O:p
An knowledge file editor<O:p</O:p
An NLQ file editor<O:p</O:p
A roll back cache<O:p</O:p
The engine beta will be published as a web component on this site, more to come....<O:p</O:p
<O:pArticle 2:</O:p
<O:pThe 4 Tear Intelligence Hierarchy of the Engine<O:p</O:p
By Erich Toven
The AI engine is basically structured as follows:<O:p</O:p
At the top tear is the management layer: The management layer is the highest layer in the hierarchy and routes all requests to the other layers.<O:p</O:p
The next level of the tear is the protection layer: The protection layer can run security checks on all scripts, and users, it logs and reports offences, and rolls back AI models with security risks.<O:p</O:p
The third layer is the processing layer: This layer compiles and runs scripts, rolls back any damaged code models, and passes the parsed out put along.<O:p</O:p
The forth layer is the presentation layer: This layer is responsible with communicating with the user.<O:p</O:p
Any layer that raises any flags or concerns prohibits the lower layers from receiving instruction.
For example if a violation is found at the protection layer, then control is returned to the management layer, the processing layer is not passed along the data and presentation layer is instructed to report the error.
No violations can be raised at the presentation layer
![[Image: bushnazi.jpg]](http://www.45-rpm.net/images/bushnazi.jpg)
![[Image: AI%20Process%20Diagram.gif]](http://69.175.72.62:52296/CommunityStarterKit/AI%20Process%20Diagram.gif)
</O:p>
