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This week I finally got that photo scanner I won. Don't have any use for it, but it was free. I also went to the bookstore, but I didn't find any new books that tickled my fancy. But I did buy a used copy of Left 4 Dead. Unfortunately, my free X-Box Live subscription ran out, so I can only play single player, but I think I'll be renewing it soonish.. but I might as well get some solo practice, first, so I don't suck in multiplayer. (My aim isn't the greatest, particularly in high pressure situations... though it would probably help if I didn't have to always be the one leading the way or the AI characters wouldn't go anywhere).
Edit: Oh, and sometime this week I had either a dream or a theme (semi-conscious speculation) involving a video game company producing two completely different games that could still somehow be multiplayered together to create a completely different experience. Like, say, Grand Theft Auto and a D&D style fantasy game, that you could play online into a game where a dimensional rift opens connecting the modern era to the fantasy universe, and you have criminals stealing cars dealing with or running away from rampaging hordes of demons, or a 'one person against a zombie apocalypse' game and a sports game turning into a zombie outbreak at a sports arena where the players fight with baseball bats, etc.
I imagine in real life it'd require both games to be built on the same Engine (and of course, designed to interface multiplayer in this way, but that should go without saying), and so the actual applications would be very limited, but it would kind of be interesting if somebody tried it (or probably already have and I'm just not aware of it).
Anyway, let's move on to Book Foo.
Finished: Singularity Sky, by Charles Stross (reread)
Started: Iron Sunrise, by Charles Stross (reread)
Rereads, so don't have a lot to say. Some of the weakenesses in Singularity sky pop out a bit more on a read, but it's still a pretty good initial concept.
Finished: Patriarch's Hope, by David Feintuch (reread)
Started and finished: Children of Hope, by David Feintuch (reread)
Started: To Your Scattered Bodies Go... (Riverworld, Book One), by Philip Jose Farmer (reread)
That's the end of the Seafort Saga, at least the published one. David Feintuch passed away a few years ago, and though supposedly he'd completed (at least the first draft) of a final volume, Galahad's Hope, there's, to my knowledge, no word on any publication date or plans. Both were fairly good, not quite as good as the early ones, but the last did show a bit of promise for the future, and for the first time creating a viewpoint character other than Nick Seafort that was appealing (if a bit more unbalanced). Like I said, it's a pretty strange series and I can't even account for why I like it, but I do.
On to more visual media... the reason I'm rereading the first of the Riverworld books again is because I just recently watched the Riverworld miniseries. Not the one from a couple years back, Sci-Fi did a remake of it. And... it kinda sucked even more. And I'm not a purist for the books. I recognize that while Philip Jose Farmer created one of the best story concepts ever, his actual story was lacking. I don't even mind if they toss out every character and come up with a new cast to explore the concept. ( Read more... )
Now that we've had two failing gos at the Riverworld concept, I bet we won't get any more attempts at a Riverworld series or pilot for a couple years. But if we did, here are some thoughts on what I'd like to see:
( Read more... )
Quite liked Doctor Who this week, Vincent and the Doctor. Sure a bit cliche in a couple ways nad the monster was somewhat lame (could have been done much better), but the overall effect was quite good. One of the better episodes of the season.
Also checked out another British TV show, called Misfits. About a group of criminals, sentenced to community service, who get struck by lightning in a strange storm and each develop super powers. It's not bad so far, although one character (the 'chav') being really hard to understand. A bit cheesy at parts, and the characters haven't yet really fully endeared themselves to me, but they have more than I thought they would. I'll probably give it the full 6 episodes.
Edit: Oh, and sometime this week I had either a dream or a theme (semi-conscious speculation) involving a video game company producing two completely different games that could still somehow be multiplayered together to create a completely different experience. Like, say, Grand Theft Auto and a D&D style fantasy game, that you could play online into a game where a dimensional rift opens connecting the modern era to the fantasy universe, and you have criminals stealing cars dealing with or running away from rampaging hordes of demons, or a 'one person against a zombie apocalypse' game and a sports game turning into a zombie outbreak at a sports arena where the players fight with baseball bats, etc.
I imagine in real life it'd require both games to be built on the same Engine (and of course, designed to interface multiplayer in this way, but that should go without saying), and so the actual applications would be very limited, but it would kind of be interesting if somebody tried it (or probably already have and I'm just not aware of it).
Anyway, let's move on to Book Foo.
Finished: Singularity Sky, by Charles Stross (reread)
Started: Iron Sunrise, by Charles Stross (reread)
Rereads, so don't have a lot to say. Some of the weakenesses in Singularity sky pop out a bit more on a read, but it's still a pretty good initial concept.
Finished: Patriarch's Hope, by David Feintuch (reread)
Started and finished: Children of Hope, by David Feintuch (reread)
Started: To Your Scattered Bodies Go... (Riverworld, Book One), by Philip Jose Farmer (reread)
That's the end of the Seafort Saga, at least the published one. David Feintuch passed away a few years ago, and though supposedly he'd completed (at least the first draft) of a final volume, Galahad's Hope, there's, to my knowledge, no word on any publication date or plans. Both were fairly good, not quite as good as the early ones, but the last did show a bit of promise for the future, and for the first time creating a viewpoint character other than Nick Seafort that was appealing (if a bit more unbalanced). Like I said, it's a pretty strange series and I can't even account for why I like it, but I do.
On to more visual media... the reason I'm rereading the first of the Riverworld books again is because I just recently watched the Riverworld miniseries. Not the one from a couple years back, Sci-Fi did a remake of it. And... it kinda sucked even more. And I'm not a purist for the books. I recognize that while Philip Jose Farmer created one of the best story concepts ever, his actual story was lacking. I don't even mind if they toss out every character and come up with a new cast to explore the concept. ( Read more... )
Now that we've had two failing gos at the Riverworld concept, I bet we won't get any more attempts at a Riverworld series or pilot for a couple years. But if we did, here are some thoughts on what I'd like to see:
( Read more... )
Quite liked Doctor Who this week, Vincent and the Doctor. Sure a bit cliche in a couple ways nad the monster was somewhat lame (could have been done much better), but the overall effect was quite good. One of the better episodes of the season.
Also checked out another British TV show, called Misfits. About a group of criminals, sentenced to community service, who get struck by lightning in a strange storm and each develop super powers. It's not bad so far, although one character (the 'chav') being really hard to understand. A bit cheesy at parts, and the characters haven't yet really fully endeared themselves to me, but they have more than I thought they would. I'll probably give it the full 6 episodes.
