I'm not sure if I read this, or whether Yahtzee said it, but it was to the effect that when you need to use the threat of the "End of the X" (world, galaxy, etc.) to create drama, you've fallen into a cliched dead end of ideas. I ponder that from time to time.
I'm not sure if I read this, or whether Yahtzee said it, but it was to the effect that when you need to use the threat of the "End of the X" (world, galaxy, etc.) to create drama, you've fallen into a cliched dead end of ideas. I ponder that from time to time.
I wouldn't say that. The thing is, is once you've gotten to the "End of X" you have to reverse your course. Instead of making bigger and more threatening problems, you make the problems smaller and more personal. You know, focus on character development and stuff. Then, even if the problem does not seem as drastic at first, there ends up being more drama than when X was at stake.
Doctor Who does this all the time. I mean, Earth's nearly been destroyed dozens of times.
I like the ones where you know X will die and there hero's know and try in vain to stop it and having to come to terms with it. Like on Doctor Who "He will knock four times".
I like the ones where you know X will die and there hero's know and try in vain to stop it and having to come to terms with it. Like on Doctor Who "He will knock four times".
Yeah, I mean that was the one-up from saving reality, too.
The reality is that nearly every plot and/or plot-device will ultimately fall under some form of cliche. Even the exploration of character development.
Think about it. Saving the world/galaxy/universe is cliche. The main character having amnesia is cliche. Exploring one's sordid past is cliche. Not realizing one's past is sordid (perhaps as a result of amnesia) until later in the story is cliche. "It was all a dream" is cliche. Using time-travel to fix everything at the end is cliche. Just because a story element is familiar, that doesn't mean it can't be used effectively.
What it really comes down to is this: Is the story engaging or is it boring? Does it balance properly with the gameplay (considering the gameplay style intended)?
What I'm getting at is that, for example, Mario and Zelda games are cliche--Mario games especially. Does that make the story stupid or pointless? No. The purpose is to enjoy yourself. Further, just because a story attempts a fresh/"artistic" spin on things doesn't mean it's good.
I hate being a hypochondriac. It's one of my greatest flaws, one I fight daily to combat. Must be why I run eight miles a day and eat a horde of vegetables, fruit and whole wheat.
And yet there's the alcohol...
Which actually I've been reducing steadily over the last year. Whoo!
People tend to complain about China a lot, but at least they don't allow the Scientologists or money grubbing televangelists to set up shop. Good on 'em.
People tend to complain about China a lot, but at least they don't allow the Scientologists or money grubbing televangelists to set up shop. Good on 'em.
Communism is bad that way. The marketplace of ideas needs to be free to everyone, regardless of the value we place on their ideas.
I'm the opposite. Well the opposite of the general term...Literal opposite would mean that I live in hope. Anyway, yeah. I almost had to be hospitalised for pneumonia when I was like 22 because I got sick, didn't take care of myself, walked to and from work in -30(F or C, pick one) and eventually got bad enough I was forced to the doctor where I was then heavily medicated and bedridden for 1-2 weeks...hard to keep track of time when I was sleeping 15-17 hours a day. I try to take better care of myself these days. I have to make a strong conscious effort just to be good to my body. Crazy.
I'm the opposite. Well the opposite of the general term...Literal opposite would mean that I live in hope. Anyway, yeah. I almost had to be hospitalised for pneumonia when I was like 22 because I got sick, didn't take care of myself, walked to and from work in -30(F or C, pick one) and eventually got bad enough I was forced to the doctor where I was then heavily medicated and bedridden for 1-2 weeks...hard to keep track of time when I was sleeping 15-17 hours a day. I try to take better care of myself these days. I have to make a strong conscious effort just to be good to my body. Crazy.
Wow. I can't even contemplate that existence. Life is funny that way.
Communism is bad that way. The marketplace of ideas needs to be free to everyone, regardless of the value we place on their ideas.
I disagree. If this happens, the gullible and the foolish will be nothing more than prey. Every society has these people, regardless of standards of education, and Scientology and evangelical Christianity are designed specifically to scam these people. The State should concern itself with protecting them. Hence, while it is heavy handed - and they really handled the Falun Gong situation foolishly - the Chinese system of regulating religion seems like a smart idea.
That being said, I should state that for all my complaints about religion, I'm not so blind as to be unable to see that it does work for some people. Indeed, I dare say that I even find a degree of beauty in Buddhism, Taoism and Catholicism. However, by allowing the government the ability to regulate religion, abuse can be quite well drawn down - if not eliminated.
The Chinese, as I understand it, have a list of allowed religions from which you can pick: Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam and traditional beliefs being amongst them. While the system is far from ideal and leaves a lot of religions that actually do good work out of the loop, it protects the simple, naive and gullible from abuse and this is to be commended.
by allowing the government the ability to regulate religion, abuse can be quite well drawn down - if not eliminated.
You mean like how Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, so he separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church, and declared himself the supreme head of it?
This sort of thing is why the United States has separation of church and state written in the federal Constitution.
You mean like how Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, so he separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church, and declared himself the supreme head of it?
This sort of thing is why the United States has separation of church and state written in the federal Constitution.
Well, you didn't see Scientologists stealing stupid peoples' money, did you?
There needs to be a videogame that teaches people how to play videogames.
EDIT:
Or a Siri-like app that idiots can ask videogame questions to, and it then tells them, step by step how to do it.
A speaking FAQ! HA! What a crazy idea! XD
"How doez I jump!?"
"To jump. Push the A button"
"Which button is the A button?"
"The green one"
(You get the jist)
EDIT: YES! I came up with a pretty neat idea for my enterprise module.
(Not a brilliant business idea though. But could be a great short term prospect)
I disagree. If this happens, the gullible and the foolish will be nothing more than prey. Every society has these people, regardless of standards of education, and Scientology and evangelical Christianity are designed specifically to scam these people. The State should concern itself with protecting them. Hence, while it is heavy handed - and they really handled the Falun Gong situation foolishly - the Chinese system of regulating religion seems like a smart idea.
That being said, I should state that for all my complaints about religion, I'm not so blind as to be unable to see that it does work for some people. Indeed, I dare say that I even find a degree of beauty in Buddhism, Taoism and Catholicism. However, by allowing the government the ability to regulate religion, abuse can be quite well drawn down - if not eliminated.
The Chinese, as I understand it, have a list of allowed religions from which you can pick: Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam and traditional beliefs being amongst them. While the system is far from ideal and leaves a lot of religions that actually do good work out of the loop, it protects the simple, naive and gullible from abuse and this is to be commended.
... So what? The founding fathers already knew this, that's why they feared the tyranny of the masses. Regardless, when you give the government the authority to regulate the voice of the people, youve given up an essential component of liberty. You're saying that the government knows better than I do who to choose to represent my values and what is best for me to believe. And that is invariably and historically wrong. Every man must act according to his conscience regardless of how much I disagree with hi choice. If an individual chooses not to educate himself/herself and makes an ignorant decision, I may disagree with it, but that's THEIR choice. The government cannot make a better decision for me with regard to personal expression of faith than I can for myself or another person can for themselves. Allowing the government to do so leads to the mass persecutions seen under Anglican England and the persecution of groups like the Quakers who, mind you, went on to have some of the most significant input on the Constitution with regard to personal liberty of all groups in the U. S.
... So what? The founding fathers already knew this, that's why they feared the tyranny of the masses. Regardless, when you give the government the authority to regulate the voice of the people, youve given up an essential component of liberty. You're saying that the government knows better than I do who to choose to represent my values and what is best for me to believe. And that is invariably and historically wrong. Every man must act according to his conscience regardless of how much I disagree with hi choice. If an individual chooses not to educate himself/herself and makes an ignorant decision, I may disagree with it, but that's THEIR choice. The government cannot make a better decision for me with regard to personal expression of faith than I can for myself or another person can for themselves. Allowing the government to do so leads to the mass persecutions seen under Anglican England and the persecution of groups like the Quakers who, mind you, went on to have some of the most significant input on the Constitution with regard to personal liberty of all groups in the U. S.
Watch Jesus Camp, live in the South your entire life and research Scientology and other cults for a while and then tell me that total religious liberty is a good thing. I posit that it is not.
tell me that total religious liberty is a good thing. I posit that it is not.
Because obviously the government knows best for everyone, and any politicians involved are pure of heart, wise and uncorruptable. They're also totally not power hungry and wouldn't take advantage of the situation at all.
You might as well say that Anarchy is a good idea, so that anyone can do or take whatever the hell they want whenever the hell they want so long as they have a big enough gun. It makes just as must sense as saying our government is wise and uncorruptable to be given power over deciding people's spiritual beliefs for them.
Because obviously the government knows best for everyone, and any politicians involved are pure of heart, wise and uncorruptable. They're also totally not power hungry and wouldn't take advantage of the situation at all.
You might as well say that Anarchy is a good idea, so that anyone can do or take whatever the hell they want whenever the hell they want so long as they have a big enough gun. It makes just as must sense as saying our government is wise and uncorruptable to be given power over deciding people's spiritual beliefs for them.
I'd much rather have a government provide me with a list of acceptable superstitious delusions than have evil men prey upon gullible people. Some people will always fall prey to spiritual con men and the Chinese system is effective in preventing this.
Also, how can you "take advantage lol" of something as arbitrary as religion?
I'm all for a laissez-faire approach from government when it comes to personal belief. A set of prescribed "appropriate" belief systems is completely at odds with a free, individualistic society, and seems wide open to abuse and persecution. Ever heard of the Spanish Inquisition?
Pants - as to the point about "preying on gullible people", aren't you a staunch atheist? From that standpoint, surely members of theistic religions are largely "gullible people" anyway.
Because our chief weapon is surprise and fear- I mean, our two main weapons are fear and surprise and ruthless efficiency- Our THREE weapons are fear and surprise and ruthless efficiency and an almost fanatical devotion to the pope- no, 4-
Amongst our weapons are- Ah, I'll come in again.
(Yes I know the entire sketch by heart. I'm such a nerd.)
I disagree. If this happens, the gullible and the foolish will be nothing more than prey. Every society has these people, regardless of standards of education, and Scientology and evangelical Christianity are designed specifically to scam these people. The State should concern itself with protecting them. Hence, while it is heavy handed - and they really handled the Falun Gong situation foolishly - the Chinese system of regulating religion seems like a smart idea.
That being said, I should state that for all my complaints about religion, I'm not so blind as to be unable to see that it does work for some people. Indeed, I dare say that I even find a degree of beauty in Buddhism, Taoism and Catholicism. However, by allowing the government the ability to regulate religion, abuse can be quite well drawn down - if not eliminated.
The Chinese, as I understand it, have a list of allowed religions from which you can pick: Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam and traditional beliefs being amongst them. While the system is far from ideal and leaves a lot of religions that actually do good work out of the loop, it protects the simple, naive and gullible from abuse and this is to be commended.
Pants. Do you REALLY want the government regulating religion? Because personally, I don't want them regulating the construction of a paper BOAT, what with the current people in office. They'd just fuck it up and make everyone become evangelical Baptists or some shit like that.
Though, as per previous conversations, I wouldn't mind all Churches having to undergo some sort of tax audit or something, you know, akin to other non-profit agencies... just to make sure they aren't milking their tax-free status.
Danny Devito as the Penguin is one of my favourite villains he both is sympathetic and heartless and evil. He's got a horrible back-story that makes you feel sorry for him and yet the things he does makes him irredeemable. And his dark comady jokes make him steal the show.
Watch Jesus Camp, live in the South your entire life and research Scientology and other cults for a while and then tell me that total religious liberty is a good thing. I posit that it is not.
Sometimes with religion bad things happen. Sometimes with government bad things happen. People are flawed and bad things happen because people get greedy, spirtual beliefs or not.
Some people will always fall prey to spiritual con men and the Chinese system is effective in preventing this.
You're hardly pointing to China, a country with a shitty shitty human rights record as an example of doing it right are you?
If they don't fall to the spirtual con men they fall to some other scam, there's gullible people out there who'll be scammed, in work I get at least 5 people every day who've been conned some way or another, some oblivious, some in tears, then there's the Scientologist woman...
We were examining the latest wave of cons which are tied to the London 2012 Olympics, do we propose we ban the Olympics because some dishonest people are using it as a means to extract money from the vulnerable? No. We educate people and make them aware. Reactionary action is never the way forward, moreso when it impedes on peoples civil liberties and freedoms.
Watch Jesus Camp, live in the South your entire life and research Scientology and other cults for a while and then tell me that total religious liberty is a good thing. I posit that it is not.
A person gets to believe whatever they want, irregardless of what you think of their beliefs, because no man gets to place value on another man's personal pursuits.
Comments
Oh noes!
Yay, he says he liked the Mako from ME1 ("it made the galaxy feel like it had things in it.")
I totally agree.
Awesome!
I wouldn't say that. The thing is, is once you've gotten to the "End of X" you have to reverse your course. Instead of making bigger and more threatening problems, you make the problems smaller and more personal. You know, focus on character development and stuff. Then, even if the problem does not seem as drastic at first, there ends up being more drama than when X was at stake.
Doctor Who does this all the time. I mean, Earth's nearly been destroyed dozens of times.
Yeah, I mean that was the one-up from saving reality, too.
Think about it. Saving the world/galaxy/universe is cliche. The main character having amnesia is cliche. Exploring one's sordid past is cliche. Not realizing one's past is sordid (perhaps as a result of amnesia) until later in the story is cliche. "It was all a dream" is cliche. Using time-travel to fix everything at the end is cliche. Just because a story element is familiar, that doesn't mean it can't be used effectively.
What it really comes down to is this: Is the story engaging or is it boring? Does it balance properly with the gameplay (considering the gameplay style intended)?
What I'm getting at is that, for example, Mario and Zelda games are cliche--Mario games especially. Does that make the story stupid or pointless? No. The purpose is to enjoy yourself. Further, just because a story attempts a fresh/"artistic" spin on things doesn't mean it's good.
Can I use this as I would a real diploma?
And yet there's the alcohol...
Which actually I've been reducing steadily over the last year. Whoo!
Communism is bad that way. The marketplace of ideas needs to be free to everyone, regardless of the value we place on their ideas.
I'm the opposite. Well the opposite of the general term...Literal opposite would mean that I live in hope. Anyway, yeah. I almost had to be hospitalised for pneumonia when I was like 22 because I got sick, didn't take care of myself, walked to and from work in -30(F or C, pick one) and eventually got bad enough I was forced to the doctor where I was then heavily medicated and bedridden for 1-2 weeks...hard to keep track of time when I was sleeping 15-17 hours a day. I try to take better care of myself these days. I have to make a strong conscious effort just to be good to my body. Crazy.
Wow. I can't even contemplate that existence. Life is funny that way.
I disagree. If this happens, the gullible and the foolish will be nothing more than prey. Every society has these people, regardless of standards of education, and Scientology and evangelical Christianity are designed specifically to scam these people. The State should concern itself with protecting them. Hence, while it is heavy handed - and they really handled the Falun Gong situation foolishly - the Chinese system of regulating religion seems like a smart idea.
That being said, I should state that for all my complaints about religion, I'm not so blind as to be unable to see that it does work for some people. Indeed, I dare say that I even find a degree of beauty in Buddhism, Taoism and Catholicism. However, by allowing the government the ability to regulate religion, abuse can be quite well drawn down - if not eliminated.
The Chinese, as I understand it, have a list of allowed religions from which you can pick: Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam and traditional beliefs being amongst them. While the system is far from ideal and leaves a lot of religions that actually do good work out of the loop, it protects the simple, naive and gullible from abuse and this is to be commended.
You mean like how Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, so he separated the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church, and declared himself the supreme head of it?
This sort of thing is why the United States has separation of church and state written in the federal Constitution.
It shouldn't be too long before I get back to my ideal weight, as seen here.
Well, you didn't see Scientologists stealing stupid peoples' money, did you?
EDIT:
Or a Siri-like app that idiots can ask videogame questions to, and it then tells them, step by step how to do it.
A speaking FAQ! HA! What a crazy idea! XD
"How doez I jump!?"
"To jump. Push the A button"
"Which button is the A button?"
"The green one"
(You get the jist)
EDIT: YES! I came up with a pretty neat idea for my enterprise module.
(Not a brilliant business idea though. But could be a great short term prospect)
Stupid people spend their money foolishly anyway. Otherwise, there wouldn't be infomercials selling random crap that no one uses.
... So what? The founding fathers already knew this, that's why they feared the tyranny of the masses. Regardless, when you give the government the authority to regulate the voice of the people, youve given up an essential component of liberty. You're saying that the government knows better than I do who to choose to represent my values and what is best for me to believe. And that is invariably and historically wrong. Every man must act according to his conscience regardless of how much I disagree with hi choice. If an individual chooses not to educate himself/herself and makes an ignorant decision, I may disagree with it, but that's THEIR choice. The government cannot make a better decision for me with regard to personal expression of faith than I can for myself or another person can for themselves. Allowing the government to do so leads to the mass persecutions seen under Anglican England and the persecution of groups like the Quakers who, mind you, went on to have some of the most significant input on the Constitution with regard to personal liberty of all groups in the U. S.
Now I want those AR cards!
(Come on retailers get them out there. I wanna collect them all!
The funny thing is: I haven't even played the game yet! XD
EDIT: Cards I got:
Pit
Dark pit
Magnus
Dark Lord Gaol
Ore Club
First Blade
Watch Jesus Camp, live in the South your entire life and research Scientology and other cults for a while and then tell me that total religious liberty is a good thing. I posit that it is not.
Because obviously the government knows best for everyone, and any politicians involved are pure of heart, wise and uncorruptable. They're also totally not power hungry and wouldn't take advantage of the situation at all.
You might as well say that Anarchy is a good idea, so that anyone can do or take whatever the hell they want whenever the hell they want so long as they have a big enough gun. It makes just as must sense as saying our government is wise and uncorruptable to be given power over deciding people's spiritual beliefs for them.
I'd much rather have a government provide me with a list of acceptable superstitious delusions than have evil men prey upon gullible people. Some people will always fall prey to spiritual con men and the Chinese system is effective in preventing this.
Also, how can you "take advantage lol" of something as arbitrary as religion?
Pants - as to the point about "preying on gullible people", aren't you a staunch atheist? From that standpoint, surely members of theistic religions are largely "gullible people" anyway.
By spreading your own doctrine and belief while stifling competing views. What would you do if "atheism" was not a government-approved viewpoint?
I really didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition to be mentioned in this thread.
Okay, I HAVE to say it.
NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!
Well, somebody did have to say it!
Also, your description; 'person'. Hehe.
Because our chief weapon is surprise and fear- I mean, our two main weapons are fear and surprise and ruthless efficiency- Our THREE weapons are fear and surprise and ruthless efficiency and an almost fanatical devotion to the pope- no, 4-
Amongst our weapons are- Ah, I'll come in again.
(Yes I know the entire sketch by heart. I'm such a nerd.)
Pants. Do you REALLY want the government regulating religion? Because personally, I don't want them regulating the construction of a paper BOAT, what with the current people in office. They'd just fuck it up and make everyone become evangelical Baptists or some shit like that.
Though, as per previous conversations, I wouldn't mind all Churches having to undergo some sort of tax audit or something, you know, akin to other non-profit agencies... just to make sure they aren't milking their tax-free status.
Yes?
Sometimes with religion bad things happen. Sometimes with government bad things happen. People are flawed and bad things happen because people get greedy, spirtual beliefs or not.
You're hardly pointing to China, a country with a shitty shitty human rights record as an example of doing it right are you?
If they don't fall to the spirtual con men they fall to some other scam, there's gullible people out there who'll be scammed, in work I get at least 5 people every day who've been conned some way or another, some oblivious, some in tears, then there's the Scientologist woman...
We were examining the latest wave of cons which are tied to the London 2012 Olympics, do we propose we ban the Olympics because some dishonest people are using it as a means to extract money from the vulnerable? No. We educate people and make them aware. Reactionary action is never the way forward, moreso when it impedes on peoples civil liberties and freedoms.
A person gets to believe whatever they want, irregardless of what you think of their beliefs, because no man gets to place value on another man's personal pursuits.