Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins engraving by Pieter Bruegel the Elder,
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Tuesday Open Thread
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So, all you gamers here, unless you’ve been living under a rock, have probably heard about the raging wildfire of resentment over Mass Effect 3′s “WTF?!” of an ending, with plot holes large enough to drive a tank through and leaving many questions unanswered about all the companions that have followed your Shepard through the course of three games. If you’ve played the game or don’t mind spoilers, you might find these videos, here and here, on the “indoctrination theory” to be interesting and entertaining.
For those who care, a theory has sprung up in the fan community that the last ten minutes of the game are essentially happening inside Shepard’s head, as he/she attempts to resist that last ditch attempts of the Reapers to indoctrinate him/her, and that Bioware planned on releasing the “real” ending via DLC (which does have precedent with other games). The theory actually plugs a lot of the plot holes, has support from in-game lore, and seems to fit a lot of details in ME3. Now that Bioware has confirmed that they are releasing DLC that will “clarify” the ending, a lot of people are wondering if the theory is true.
Also, A Logical Breakdown of Why the Mass Effect 3 Ending Makes No Sense. A long document.
“For those who care”
Whew, thought you were talking about me for a second there
I’m just kidding you. I’m quite the gamer but after playing the first ME, I just couldn’t stand it and never put more than 20 min into the game. Most of my distaste comes from Bioware’s failed attempts at “choice” gameplay. It was just goofy to me.
I have no idea what either of you are talking about, but is it possible the folks who wrote it phoned it in and are laughing all the way to the bank at the hours of time folks are wasting trying to justify their shoddy work?
Well…the bulk of the cash came from basement-dwellers trying to get the lesbian sex scene…
Wasn’t much “trying” to it
It’s possible they’re laughing all the way to the bank, in either case. If it’s just shoddy writing, they’re still going to release DLC the fans will buy. If it was a nefarious plan to withhold the real ending, they’re still going to release DLC the fans will buy. But such tactics damage their brand. It’s the same criticism I have of the cynical tactics used by publishers to inflate sales over the shorter term. It erodes customer goodwill and fan loyalty, hurting long term profitability. Quality is always the better and more farsighted business practice.
To me it reeks of Star Wars silliness. Maybe, just maybe the reality doesn’t live up to the myth. Maybe the movies/video game isn’t as good as folks have built them up to be. Occam’s razor likes that option, but instead fans spin a web of alternate theories to justify their mythos.
To me it reeks of Star Wars silliness. Maybe, just maybe the reality doesn’t live up to the myth.
To some extent, but it should be remembered that in the case of Star Wars, the prequels really do suck in comparison to the originals. It’s just that the fanaticism of the fanatics has intensified it and blown the whole thing out of proportion.
In the case of Mass Effect, it’s a disappointment with literally the last ten minutes of the final game. I can testify to the fact that the rest of it is quite good, probably the best entry in the series (though I won’t hyperventilate over it’s quality, as some would). And the ending really is tonally jarring and rendered almost incoherent with plot holes. The irony is that the “indoctrination theory,” if it were true, would be damn clever on their part, and actually go a long way to explaining the ending. In truth, if past statements are taken into account, they were likely coming uncomfortably close to the release deadline and had to cut things short with ending(s).
David, we’ve all got our guilty pleasures and I’m no exception. I just find it amusing when, rather than simply admitting we enjoy something for fun, some folks spend hours inventing alternate Universes were they are actually doing some high-level, advanced function.
You had fun playing 90% of a game. The designers ran out of creativity and slapped an ending together to get it released so revenue could come in. That’s all it is.
You’re preaching to the choir, here.
Oh for heaven’s sake. Surely the apocalypse is nigh!
A lot of games have been disappointments, I hear. I wonder if the companies that make them run out of money toward the end and rush things, half-assed.
From what I gather, publishers are often an issue. Not attempting to understand the nature of the products they sell, they place arbitrary demands on a game’s design, cut corners to save money or inflate sales, and push games out the door before they’re ready. That’s not to say that developers are entirely virtuous, but generally the people who design games also play them, while many on the publishing side do not. Really, it’s not much different than what Hollywood studios do, though less ideological.
Bingo! Scope creep and missed deadlines and cost over runs. It’s the story with most every creative project.
Coffee, krullers, hogmeat and eggs, pancakes for whomever desires! Come and get it.
COFFEE. Need it. At a meeting all morning. Why does this stuff tire me out. BTW pscing to far away lands. The pack up starts now. This house has so much garbage in it that I can’t make heads or tails of it.
Safe travels!
Happy packing Stephanie! I know it’s a large pita to have to move. I used to move every 3 years when I was a railroad supervisor. What a pain!
I’m moving these here from yesterday’s Open thread. Both are important and I posted them late, so here ya go.
http://www.moneynews.com/Headline/fed-debt-Treasury/2012/03/28/id/434106?s=al&promo_code=E92C-1
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/nbc-trayvon-investigation/2012/04/01/id/434455
-fritz, I’m working on a post related to this…
Which one Rufus, the Fed or Trayvon? I used to be blond, remember?
Hey! What does your former hair color have to do with anything?
Oops! I didn’t realize you were listening! My apoologies. Did you get your beauty sleep yesterday? You popped in to say you were going back to bed, and never returned.
Apoologies? Really? *(&^%$# typos!
No prob. I thought you were whining about your back yard again.
Now, why would fritzie whine that you were back yet again?
Shady’s back, back again.
The Fed.
I see!
“Said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw.”
As a result, the only nail he drove was his thumbnail!
Regarding the Fed: It just gets worse and worse, doesn’t it? If the economy crashes, it’ll make The Great Depression appear to be America’s “Golden Years.”
Hmm. Why did this reply post, and the one about the GSA didn’t? Oh, well, I’ll post the corresponding link here: http://wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2812034
Maybe the Spaminator is up to his old tricks…
Ixnay on the amspay!
Here’s the pivotman doing what he does best: Attempting to make the right look bad, when in reality it’s his admin. that can’t seperate the shinola from the sh*t!
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/obama-supreme-court-healthcare/2012/04/02/id/434583?s=al&promo_code=E93A-1
Anybody remember John Murtha?Oink,oink….
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/murtha-airport-brought-american-taxpayers-100702844.html
Why do you hate interstate commerce, Scott?
Wee wee wee all the way home!
Kinda Murtha’s way of sticking his finger in the eye of the American taxpayer, even after he’s dead.
Obama, the guy who pushed ObamaCare on us, has the nerve to call Paul Ryan’s plan a “Trojan horse”? Apparently being a Community Organizer doesn’t include understanding the meaning of the word hypocrisy.
Same guy bemoaning “judicial activism” if the Supremes deem his healthcare plan unconstitutional, so, yeah, I’d say there’re a lot of terms with which he’s unfamiliar. Anytime you want to gripe about the Ninth Circuit’s meddling with the people’s will re. gay marriage and/or illegal immigration, Mr. President, I’m all ears.
And why did CBS feel the need to insert a campaign ad disguised as talking hoops during halftime last night?
He be black,Rufus…he be a community activist!
What does his skin color have to do with it?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Scott’s point was that putting the campaign ad during a basketball game was a pathetic attempt to pander to the black community.
I’ve also noticed within the past year and increasing incrementally, all the time, that there are more and more blacks, closely resembling Obama, in commercials on TV. Not a racist, just don’t like asskissing no matter how it’s disguised!
I’ve noticed the same thing with the hiring of new local news reporters. Down here, each local network news has a new Obama clone.
Thank you,Jimmy…
he’s all ears too…. oh… you meant that figuratively
Paul Ryan responds to Obama with his typical dose of awesomeness (h/t Hot Air):
“History will not be kind to a President who, when it came time to confront our generation’s defining challenge, chose to duck and run. The President refuses to take responsibility for the economy and refuses to offer a credible plan to address the most predictable economic crisis in our history. Instead, he has chosen tired and cynical political attacks as he focuses on his own re-election.
“The President has offered four budgets during his four years in the White House – each committed to funding ever-higher government spending by taking more from hardworking Americans and adding to a crushing burden of debt. His failed agenda is stifling opportunity and hope for the next generation.
“Like his reckless budgets, today’s speech by President Obama is as revealing as it is disappointing: While others lead by offering real solutions, he has chosen to distort the truth and divide Americans in order to distract from his failed record. His empty promises are quickly becoming broken promises – and the American people will hold him accountable for this violation of their trust.”
You’d think I would have noticed in the 3-ish years I lived there, but how come Stephanie never told us how racist Wisconsin’s politicians are?
The GSA chief resigns over an $800,000.00 conference, which included clowns, magicians, and mindreaders. OK, I suppose; but, how many vacations have the current WH “Occupiers” taken? And, what might be the average cost of each of those excursions?
And they blame Republicans past for voodoo economics!
We’ve gone from ‘voodoo’ to ‘doodoo’!
Ole Missy Michelle going to London in July for the Olympics..she’ll need one plane for dresses,one for dog,one for shoes…
…one for relatives, two for staff…
. . .one for the media, another for friends, one to fly her there, another to fly her home . . .
. . .one for the money . . .
…two for the ho…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXr4N51RsHA
Considering yesterday’s Heidy heidy, etc. this one fits better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ_R8QBeYvs&feature=related
What a hooty,hooty hoot.
We’ve got tornadoes on the ground in the D/FW area, folks!
Hey Outlaw — are you prepping to take shelter yet? The track is pointing in our direction!
It’s fascinating to watch…I guess this is our school this afternoon, watching the weather. Little d looks pretty safe, but we’ve put away our laundry just in case (safe room is our laundry room)
It’s about to hit us here in a few minutes…heading into the shelters…
Stay safe gooz!
Yes, please do!
Any news, Gooz?
We’re still in the middle of everything, so I’m assuming he is too, but no tornadoes on the ground right now in the area. Lots of hail, lots of potential, but nothing on the ground.
Out of the shelter for now…more activity to our SW. Up to baseball sized hail in the area, rotation was spotted, but still waiting for tornado confirmation in the D/FW Airport environs. Can’t wait to see what the car looks like.
Sirens going off in Denton where I live…
Good to hear. With your history of feigning your own demise I didn’t expect to hear from you this soon.
Yo I found this laptop sittin out inna field. Looks like your boy went out!
You must be north. I swear north Denton, especially Krum, has a freaking tornado magnet. Looks like we’re clear of warnings for now. I put away all our patio furniture and zoon came home so we’ve made sure we’ll not get anything more than a sprinkle.
I work in Las Colinas next to the Airport; I live in Denton right next to TWU.
And now they just fired off another Tornado Warning down here…stay tuned!
You drive from Denton to Los Colinas every day? Traffic must be a bitch.
After 3 years of mostly unemployment, I would have made the drive to Hillsboro!
Traffic is not so bad — it is an hour door to door on average. I don’t have to be there until 9, so that helps. It’s usually worse on the way home.
I wouldn’t mind an AH-64 commute, though.
Assuming you use 35 to the Bush?
It takes me about 15 minutes from Los Colinas to Hurst…but I’m pretty much going against the flow. Unfortunately I don’t have a helicopter to get to work with.
Yep. I can take the scenic route — 2499 to 121 to 114, but that adds 20 min. at least. Had to do it one morning, though, when 35 was shut down at the lake. I loved threading the D/FW Connector construction!
I have many relatives in the DFW area. Thanks for the updates… Take care!
Tracy? Still there and O.K.?
We’re good. We got very little actual storm, just some good rain and bit of thunder. We didn’t even take cover.
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure… it’s ok, you can admit y’all were skeered!
nah…. we’re the idiots out filming the funnel cloud
We got one up on youtube from last year. But we really didn’t get much of anything today, we were right between two warnings, but there’s not even any branches down where we are (we could toss you a breakfast burrito when you go 2499)
I posted a pic my brother took from his front door during last year’s breakout — so you were much closer to it, then! Copper Creek? Highland Villiage? Flower Mound?
I’ll be by for the burrito directly!
Currently watching the live feed, here: http://www.nbcdfw.com/weather/stories/Severe-Storms-Building-to-the-West-145934445.html
Ohhhhhh, Mikey: Tull, Tull, Tull!!!
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jethro-tull-catalog-contest/
The Credence reunion would be good, if it comes to pass.
Well, now I’m heading out—will my car look like the dark side of the moon? Let’s find out!
TTXM2M…Outlaw; hope y’all are safe and sound!
Glad you are okay, as you said, hopefully everyone else is too!
We hid in the simulator bay…it was raining hard and some marble sized hail in Hurst where I work, but nothing dramatic. No green skies or thundering trains approaching thank goodness.
ALL CLEAR!
Glad you’re ok! And nice to hear Hurst is, too. My parents are visiting my sister there. Haven’t talked to them yet.
Oh, the skies were green over the staging area — we watched the wall cloud roll in until the siren went off. The tornado must’ve lifted as it approached — but it dropped again later. We were lucky.
I’m just curious, in the painting why do the girls in the back all have bruises on their butts? Some hidden meaning?
I’m not sure; but, if you act quickly, you can scoop it up for a mere $9500.00! That’s a 50% savings. Details here: http://www.masterworksfineart.com/inventory/2399
I can think of no better engraving to place above the fireplace mantel in your bedroom!
You are a doctor and yet you don’t recognize dimples on (bottom)cheeks?
if the butts you see all have those on them…there’s something wrong with the butts, me thinks.
The looser the waistband, good Doc, the deeper the quicksand. Yup, that’s what I said.
One reason I never became a real doctor. Highly attractive people aren’t sick nearly often enough.
Where’s Mr. Kriskey with the Netflix streaming coming soon/leaving stuff? Just watched that movie from Finland, Rare Exports, where they find Santa buried in a mountain, and he’s evil. I think they had the trailer on here a year ago. It’s actually a very good movie. Also watched, Pet Sematary (for the first time since seeing it when it came out), that was just added. The first two Friday the 13th movies are on there too. I saw that Fatal Attraction is there too, which must be new. That’s about all I noticed for the new stuff.