Greg Chaffins – Page 316

You know the Video Game Industry is Big Time When…

You know the video game industry is big time when two new major movie releases, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and Ironman, have movie assets that are directly for the video game. According to Sci Fi Wire, Caspian has two scenes filmed exclusively for the video game version, and the Ironman game based on the movie is utilyzing the film's computer model used by Industrial Light and Magic in creating the movie.

I can see using the computer models from the movie in the game. Now this is a very expensive intellectual property, and we are talking big bucks for ILM to put this together like it is happening, but it really moves the game and the movie so much closer together. In a lot of ways this blurs the line between the two, and the game almost becomes an extension of the movie.

Actually filming extra scenes for the game version of Caspian ties together the effort of movie and game as well, with both efforts being of high importance in the design and execution of the entire project. We can see how the video game is becoming part of the movie itself, not just an impression afterwards.

There are several favorite movies I would have liked to see given this much thought to their disappointing video game counterparts. However, with the cost of movie making spiraling upward, we can expect the same with the video game production, especially if it is tied this closely to the movie itself. The video game represents the movie more now than ever and it can be argued that the attachment is justified, but does it leave any room for the smaller development efforts to compete?

I guess it will be just a matter of time where the line is drawn between the big budget Hollywood games and Independent games. I just hope that these new indie games, like the seemingly bulk of their Indie film counterparts, are not subtitled as well… It takes away from the fragging.

Aloha from the Beach,
greg

The Doctor Who “Time Crash” Video

Greg Chaffins

Okay, if you are a Doctor Who fan, you know that the current Doctor is the 10th Doctor Who. (If not, well, you know that now.) Obviously that would mean that there has been more than one Doctor Who, and in the past there have been confrontations between the Doctor's own different incarnations.

This entertaining storyline mechanism continues today. For the November 16th, 2007 Children In Need Charity show they debuted a humorous short featuring a confrontation between the 10th doctor (played by David Tennant ) and the 5th Doctor (played by Peter Davidson). If you have not watched this before I suggest checking it out while you can get it, and for free. See the video below or click here for a full screen version .

Aloha from the Beach,
greg

Ghost Hunter on SciFi Channel – Why?

Greg Chaffins

The SciFi channel fills a much needed niche in the cable channel jungle, and I will admit that I am a fan. There are several good shows to watch, and many fun if not exactly quality movies that do entertain.

However, there are one or two shows that really should, in my humble opinion, be put to rest immediately. One of these is the show known as "Ghost Hunter".

How could a channel supposedly dedicated to Science Fiction and Fantasy be caught up in this horrific reality craze? I know such shows are cheap to produce (manufacture?), but the failed concept here crosses the line from scientific imagination and curiosity to charlatan tricks (feelings based measurements?) and junk science. A show that explores and attempts to accurately quantify such things as the possibility of ghosts would be most welcome, but this one empirically misses the point. When I see popular shows like this I am concerned that we are moving towards a dark age and away from any chance of enlightenment.

The actors (?) on the show come across as likeable characters, and it is not their fault that the concept and execution is all wrong. If anything the Ghost hunter crew makes the bone rattling bearable. But it should not have to do so.

There are many other great choices if SciFi insists on doing reality based shows. Look around for inspiration from such works as Mythbusters, How Its Made, or even Junkyard Challenge. But stay clear of a show that confuses science fact with junk science. Or maybe that is the point, that any science at all portrayed in this show is SciFi, in its most subtle form…

Aloha from the Beach,
greg

Say Goodbye To Your Legally Purchased MSN Music Songs

Greg Chaffins

Okay, so I was one of no doubt thousands that bought music from MSN Music (the service they offered before they started offering the Zune). But that's okay, I legally bought my music, and it is safely tucked away on a drive and on my current computer.

Now, fast forward to today. I receeive an email from MSN Music, and they have some information for me. Let me quote from the email:

"I am writing to let you know that as of August 31, 2008, Microsoft will change the level of support to be offered for music purchased directly from MSN Music prior to November 14, 2006. As of August 31, 2008, we will no longer be able to support the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased from MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers. License keys already obtained as of August 31, 2008 will continue to allow you to listen to songs on all the computers that you previously authorized for service."

OKay, I understand that. If I don't have the license keys in place by August 31, 2008, then I won't be playing this music. But as I said I have the music, and it plays. So I am good to go for the duration, right? Wrong, read the next paragraph, straight from the email:

"Please take this opportunity to make sure you have the licenses you need to access your music. As a friendly reminder, please remember that the MSN Music service allows you to authorize up to 5 computers for songs purchased from MSN Music. You must have licenses for the songs on each authorized computer, in order to be able to play the songs successfully. If you have already played a given song on a computer, then you have successfully obtained the license key for that song. MSN Music keys do not expire. If you intend to transfer a previously downloaded song to a new computer (or an existing computer with a new operating system, such as an upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista) within the maximum allowed limit of 5 computers, please do so before August 31, 2008. You will need to obtain a license key for each of your songs downloaded from MSN Music on any new computer, and you must do so before August 31, 2008. If you attempt to transfer your songs to additional computers after August 31, 2008, those songs will not successfully play."

Read that last line again. "If you attempt to transfer your songs to additional computers after August 31, 2008, those songs will not successfully play." That means, if this computer plays out, crashes or gets hit by a bad virus, after August 31, 2008, my music is gone. Bye Bye. Adios. Solo no More.

Lessons learned? Simple, Avoid DRM Music like the plague, or rip a music CD of it as a backup as soon as you download it (if the DRM allows it, many do not). Amazon and others are now offering music without the DRM circus attached. Take advantage of it. That is, unless you like buying your music library everytime you buy a new computer. While that may make RIAA happy, I would suggest just buying it once. (But please buy it, piracy is theft).

Aloha from the DRM free Beach,
greg