tempting to say i see in all i see

The Internet Hath No Fury Like a Gamer Scorned

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

Fox News and a self-help author faced major backlash from gamers recently after a program on that channel, “The Live Desk With Martha MacCallum” featured a discussion of the sexual content of the hit video game Mass Effect, one of the most critically praised games of 2007, that it contains frontal nudity and explicit depictions of sexual activity. The gaming community worldwide has been ablazed with indignation and fury ever since the Fox News program was aired.

Mass Effect includes a complicated romantic subplot that is no more risqué in its plot or graphic in its depiction than evening network television. Cooper Lawrence, the author, mischaracterized the game when she said: “Here’s how they’re seeing women: They’re seeing them as these objects of desire, as these, you know, hot bodies. They don’t show women as being valued for anything other than their sexuality. And it’s a man in this game deciding how many women he wants to be with.”

Asked on the air by Geoff Keighley of Spike TV whether she had ever played the game, Ms. Lawrence laughed and said, “No.” In fact Mass Effect allows users to play as either a male of female and the few suggestions of intimate contact occured in the context of a detailed interpersonal story line.

Irate gamers have flooded the page on Amazon.com selling Ms. Lawrence’s most recent book, “The Cult of Perfection: Making Peace With Your Inner Overachiever,” sending its user-generated rating into oblivion. Gamers have also attacked the book on the Barnes & Noble Web site

In response to the author not having verifying the contents of the game herself before criticizing it, one Amazon user posted:

“I know all about this book but have never fully read it. Why? Due to the overwhelming backlash, I have no choice but to agree with the 1 star ratings. The rumors are rampant that this book was poorly written and poorly researched. So without verifying the contents myself — I give it a 1 star. Good thing video games aren’t judged in this manner — whew!!!”

In an interview on Friday, Ms. Lawrence said that since the controversy over her remarks erupted she had watched someone play the game for about two and a half hours. This is what she has to say

“I recognize that I misspoke”
“I really regret saying that, and now that I’ve seen the game and seen the sex scenes it’s kind of a joke”
“Before the show I had asked somebody about what they had heard, and they had said it’s like pornography”
“But it’s not like pornography. I’ve seen episodes of ‘Lost’ that are more sexually explicit”

By telephone from Edmonton, Alberta, Ray Muzyka, the medical doctor who is chief executive of BioWare, the Electronic Arts studio that made Mass Effect, said: “We’re hurt. We believe in video games as an art form, and on behalf of the 120 people who poured their blood and tears into this game over three years, we’re just really hurt that someone would misrepresent the game without even playing it. All we can hope for is that people who actually play our games will see the truth.”

_{Original Source: New York Times}

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Australia Day

Monday, January 28th, 2008

Australia Day, celebrated annually on 26 January, is the official national day of Australia, commemorating the establishment of the first European settlement on the continent of Australia. The date is that of the foundation of a British penal colony at Sydney Cove on Port Jackson, New South Wales, by Captain Arthur Phillip, who was to become the first Governor.^[1] Australia Day is an official public holiday in all states and territories of Australia, and has also been known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day and Invasion Day.

On Australia Day each year, the Prime Minister announces the winner of the Australian of the Year award, presented to an Australian citizen who has shown a “significant contribution to the Australian community and nation”, and is an “inspirational role model for the Australian community”.^[2] Subcategories of the award include “Young” and “Senior Australian of the Year”, and an award for the “Australian Local Hero”.

Records of the celebration of Australia Day date back to 1808, and in 1818, Governor Lachlan Macquarie held the first official celebration of Australia Day.^[3] In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.^[3]

_{Via wikipedia}

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srWaEkrOf1s]
_{Note: this is not me}

And what is a bogan?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA8gJoT5yl4]

They are also known as Chav (England), Dres (Poland), Ned (Scotland), Scanger (Ireland), White Trash (United States and Canada), Skid (United States and Canada), westie (Australia & NZ), gogan (goth/bogan combination), wigger, Trailer Park Boys (Canada), Yobbo (also Australian), Gron.

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Videogames and Guys

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

According to a media research company, Nielsen, about two-thirds of all men in television owning household (thats like almost all men =x) in the age group of 18 to 34 owns a videogame console (i.e. PS3, Xbox360, Wii etc). There is a pretty good chance that any guy you meet is a gaming guy. So can the choice of a gaming console tells you something about its owner?

Apparently, according to a panel of experts which includes a psychologist, chairman of Game & Simulation Programming, CEO of a online gaming network company and an editor-in-chief of a popular gaming website, they presented the following findings.

Playstation 3
Owning a PS3 indicates an “early-adopter” (i.e. someone who likes to be the first to have things). He enjoys gaming and demands the best out of his experience—and probably his women. He enjoys life to its fullest, is sophisticated, intelligent, enjoys competition and is willing to wait for a good thing. He is loyal as well.

He also knows the right people, goes to the best restaurants, doesn’t wait in line to get into the club and will be difficult to keep up with, as he is always working. When he’s not, he uses videogames as a chance to unwind and relax. Owning the PS3 may also send the message that the person may have deep pockets.

Nintendo Wii
The Nintendo Wii owner is selfish about his passion, but he knows that the Wii is acceptable because of its social interaction functionality. He is smart enough to find a way to continue to game and not scare his date away. He’s also a fun guy. The Wii-mote will force him to get up off the couch and actually get a little exercise while he’s playing. Of all of the consoles, the Wii is probably the best date machine, as a lot more of the games appeal to both sexes (I’m looking at you Chris, you cunning devil).

He is also not the typical slack-jawed, bleary-eyed gamer who wants to sit on the couch staring blankly at the screen for hours on end. You can rest assured that this type of guy is smart with his money.

Microsoft Xbox 360
The Microsoft Xbox 360 owner may mean that the owner is willing to play cooperatively due to the wide variety of games available for the system and hence higher probability of finding a common game with the fairer sex whom may not be an avid gamer. He’s also probably into serious gaming. Take a look at his game stats. Ask him to show you how many hours he spent playing his favorite games. Many guys log 100 to 200 hours on their favorite games. These guys tend to like extremely violent, visceral games, as well as the social aspect of connecting with friends online.

They may be living out an active and social life through games, because they are a bit on the shy side. Xbox 360 fans tend to make good money and like to spend it. These guys are passionate about gaming and that transfers into the bedroom as well.

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I’m not sure about the accuracy of these statements but it is entertaining =). The original article may be found here.

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