November 16th, 2009
Avatar POSTED AT 09:49 PM in Movies Much has been made of James Cameron's upcoming film Avatar. Waay too much. After seeing the trailer, some 'sneak peeks' and other interviews, I have surmised this much about the plot: A young warrior seeking to prove himself is transformed to take on the appearance of his enemy. Finding himself in an unfamiliar viewpoint, he comes to understand his once-enemy's viewpoint, even falling in love. He then seeks to right the wrongs he has wrought, even if it means turning against those he once counted as brothers. That's right ladies and gentlemen, James Cameron cribbed the plot for Avatar from Disney's Brother Bear! Welcome to the 2009 movie experience! 2 Retorts
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October 29th, 2009
Maintaining an Online Identity POSTED AT 11:50 AM in Technology I've often been an advocate against most social-networking sites, especially with regards to their creep into the workplace and jobhunt. My general rule has been to lock down the security of my online presence to the point where I cannot be found in all but the most specific of web searches. However, as my friends have been going on callbacks, they've reported back that their employers are utilizing Google, Facebook, and Twitter information during the interview. I applaude that employers are using technology to be able to learn as much about potential hires as they can, but it comes with a flaw: some of my friends have been forced to do damage control in their own interviews. Not because of inappropriate information that was dredged up on their online profiles, but rather because the information the employers pulled up was for the wrong person. It's happened more (obviously) with my friends that have more common last names, but it's still an issue. So I've now run into a problem with my approach to protecting my online identity from the other direction. In locking down the access to my accounts so that no one can find me, I leave employers not with no information to find on me, but only misinformation to find on me. The modern-day mantra is no longer protecting the online identity, but rather maintaining it. Yesterday, in preperation for a meet-and-greet with potential employers, I found myself creating a LinkedIn profile, opening up portions of my Facebook account to public search, and creating a Twitter account. I also created a Google Profile and cross-linked every single one of these accounts to create a cohesive online presence. The idea is to make yourself easily searchable, but limit the information that can be found in a search. I give away enough information that an employer will be certain that I'm the same person he/she is looking for, but beyond that, there's almost nothing to be found. Maintain the identity, don't hide it. It's better to be found than someone else to be found and it assumed to be you. |
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September 28th, 2009
August 2nd, 2009
Stupid Career Choice POSTED AT 10:15 AM in School Back in Jacksonville, and have an MPRE prep course this afternoon. It never stops. |
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July 9th, 2009
This is what happens when video games get involved POSTED AT 02:27 PM in Gaming Dave posted a fantastic, though mildly spoiler-ish summary of the facts leading into Mass Effect 2 and his thoughts on what the plot will be. It's a good write-up that addresses a lot of the outstanding loose ends in the Mass Effect universe and weaves a compelling and coherent plotline out of them. Like any good attempt at a plot, it leaves itself open to a healthy discussion on the merits of the plot. On the other hand, any good discussion quickly spirals off from whence it began. It is in that vein that I'm re-posting the comments between Dave and I on his post. I've reorganized the statements so they can be followed more coherently. But first, go read Dave's article. I'll wait. You back? Ok then. Me: Good theory, but I don't think it'll pan out. Here's why. Dave: Points noted. I find it very difficult to reconcile BioWare's announcement of post-credits content with the archetypal 'hero cast down in shambles' denouement to a trilogy's 2nd act. In the end, I went w/ the latter in the hopes that BW could implement the former in some, to me, unforeseen way. Me: Ah yes. I remember that planet now that you mention it. I can't decide if this is a throwaway from Bioware to flesh out the mythos of the Reapers (and a mythical savior from them), or if it will be, as you suppose, massivly important.
I think it's probably going to be tied in somehow, if not in ME2 then in ME3. Dave: I must admit, it does come off as rather red herring-ish in retrospect. I suppose one question is, at what point does forshadowing become too obvious/easy?
Me: I think at the point where it becomes like Indiana Jones 4 (see www.youtube.com for what I mean).
I mean, a single reference on a non-landable planet isn't a huge foreshadow. I expect most players won't even have visited Klencory. Even of all the players who visited the planet, it's still uncertain how many took the time to read through all the dialouge on each planet. I know that during my second run, I was just checking at the bottom to see if I could land/scan. Personally, I think it's likely a great small foreshadow that completionist players will remember, but most fans won't realize until after playing the entire trilogy. Me: ETA: On the dying side, here's my concern: I remember from an article that Bioware said that if you die in ME2, you'll play as "a Shepard" in ME3. Not "your" Shepard, but as Shepard nonetheless.
Two things: One, this reinforces your argument that dying isn't the "right" ending, and will likely be treated differently. It's still a viable outcome, just not the right one. Two, I still not sure how Bioware can enforce death to Shepard as a viable outcome, but then maintain continuity into ME3. Even if it's not the right outcome, it's still feasible, and the story should bear that out. Dave: As I currently understand it, the death outcome is not intended to be rolled into ME3. It represents end game, end trilogy, finito, for your Shepard. The playing as "a" Shepard but not "your" Shepard in ME3 I've interpreted as BioWare's way of saying that ME3 would then function just as if you'd never played 1 or 2.
Me: I think you're right, I just think it's a shoddy choice continuity-wise for the second part of a trilogy.
Dave: ETA: perhaps the post-credits action could consist of your primary handler with Cerberus (presumably Miranda) feeling a stronger connection from all your time together than she does for Cerberus any longer (another archetypal action), going rogue, and rescuing you. You then have a ship, a squadmate, and the ability to re-build your crew via DLC. Just a thought. Me: That could certainly work, especially if your handler is a potential romantic interest for Shepard. Even if they're not the person you choose to consummate teh relationship with, it still provides adequate fodder for why your handler would choose to go rogue and save you.
Dave: I imagine that Miranda will be a romantic interest in ME2. From the footage we've seen thus far, she tends to eschew armor in favour of an eye-catching body suit, and is voiced by Yvonne Strahovski.
Me: My remaining question then is: In the interest of Bioware maintaining the availability of "non-traditional" pairings, will Miranda be a character with possible romantic linkages to both male and female Shepards? Or will the Miranda character actually have a different avatar/actor depending on the gender of the PC?
Dave: I believe Miranda is likely set; I'd doubt that BioWare would cast Yvonne and only make her accessible on certain playthroughs. That said, application of a KotOR II either/or scenario pertaining to party members, e.g. Handmaiden/Disciple & Mira/Hanharr might be interesting. I already believe that BW is (somewhat) reprising KotOR II's Influence system.
On whether Miranda might be romance-able from both perspectives, there was actually a 100+ page Miranda thread on BW's forums that eventually delved into that question with much speculation and little in the way of answers. Me: I suppose that's to be expected from a forum discussion.
Dave: With purportedly 12 potential squad members, I think there's room for only 1 swing character, as it were. In that instance, Miranda's sexuality may entirely depend on whether BioWare doubles down on the Asari card. If there is no Asari romance interest, I could definitely see Miranda playing the Silk Fox role.
Incidentally, if Ash bites it in the beginning like I think she might, I'll be gunning straight for Tali. Me: My only thought on that is that I have no idea what Quarians look like under their suits. Does Ascension shed any light on this?
Dave: One of the characters encounters a quarian sans enviro suit, but the lighting was poor (inside a basement) and the poor sap had been tortured, so I don't recall it revealing especially much.
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