Next Month!
I know where my money is going...
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
Online gamer killed for selling cyber sword. 30/03/2005. ABC News Online
Online gamer killed for selling cyber sword. 30/03/2005. ABC News Online
---
A Shanghai online game player has stabbed to death a competitor who sold his cyber sword for real money.
The sale created a legal dilemma because China has no law covering the ownership of virtual weapons.
The China Daily newspaper reported that a Shanghai court was told Qiu Chengwei, 41, stabbed competitor Zhu Caoyuan repeatedly in the chest after he was told Zhu had sold his dragon sabre, used in the popular online game Legend of Mir 3,
The online game features heroes and villains, sorcerers and warriors, many of whom wield enormous swords.
Qiu and a friend jointly won their virtual weapon last February and lent it to Zhu, who then sold it for 7,200 yuan.
Qui went to the police to report the theft but was told the weapon was not real property protected by law.
"Zhu promised to hand over the cash but an angry Qui lost patience and attacked Zhu at his home, stabbing him in the left chest with great force and killing him," the court heard.
'Private property'
Newspaper reports on the incident did not specify the charge against Qiu but said he had given himself up to police and already pleaded guilty to intentional injury.
No verdict has been announced.
More and more online gamers are seeking justice through the courts over stolen weapons and credits.
"The armour and swords in games should be deemed as private property as players have to spend money and time for them," said Wang Zongyu, an associate law professor at Beijing's Renmin University of China.
But other experts are calling for caution.
"The assets of one player could mean nothing to others as they are by nature just data created by game providers," an unnamed lawyer for a Shanghai-based Internet game company said.
-Reuters
---
Fantastic.
I can see it now:
CUE: Chinese Movie Music
SET: Chinese Temple courtyard, where Zhu Caoyuan turns to see Qiu Chengwei walking angrily towards him wagging an accusatory finger at him.
Qiu Chengwei: "You sold my Dragon Sabre! I'll kill you!"
Zhu Caoyuan: "Your kung fu is no match for me, besides I'll give you the money when I get it off my bank account."
QC: "You are a dirty rat! I need only this kitchen knife to kill you!"
ZC: "Just try it! Lazy Cyber Gamer Fist!"
QC: "Smelly Chinese Resto Cleaver Technique #1! Stabbing foe in Left Chest with Great Force and Killing Him Strike!"
Both: "Yaaaaaaaaaah!"
*SSSSSSHHHHHHWINNNNGGG!*
ZC: "My left breast... stabbed... with great force..."
QC: "That's for my Dragon Sabre! You dirty swine!"
FADE OUT
---
A Shanghai online game player has stabbed to death a competitor who sold his cyber sword for real money.
The sale created a legal dilemma because China has no law covering the ownership of virtual weapons.
The China Daily newspaper reported that a Shanghai court was told Qiu Chengwei, 41, stabbed competitor Zhu Caoyuan repeatedly in the chest after he was told Zhu had sold his dragon sabre, used in the popular online game Legend of Mir 3,
The online game features heroes and villains, sorcerers and warriors, many of whom wield enormous swords.
Qiu and a friend jointly won their virtual weapon last February and lent it to Zhu, who then sold it for 7,200 yuan.
Qui went to the police to report the theft but was told the weapon was not real property protected by law.
"Zhu promised to hand over the cash but an angry Qui lost patience and attacked Zhu at his home, stabbing him in the left chest with great force and killing him," the court heard.
'Private property'
Newspaper reports on the incident did not specify the charge against Qiu but said he had given himself up to police and already pleaded guilty to intentional injury.
No verdict has been announced.
More and more online gamers are seeking justice through the courts over stolen weapons and credits.
"The armour and swords in games should be deemed as private property as players have to spend money and time for them," said Wang Zongyu, an associate law professor at Beijing's Renmin University of China.
But other experts are calling for caution.
"The assets of one player could mean nothing to others as they are by nature just data created by game providers," an unnamed lawyer for a Shanghai-based Internet game company said.
-Reuters
---
Fantastic.
I can see it now:
CUE: Chinese Movie Music
SET: Chinese Temple courtyard, where Zhu Caoyuan turns to see Qiu Chengwei walking angrily towards him wagging an accusatory finger at him.
Qiu Chengwei: "You sold my Dragon Sabre! I'll kill you!"
Zhu Caoyuan: "Your kung fu is no match for me, besides I'll give you the money when I get it off my bank account."
QC: "You are a dirty rat! I need only this kitchen knife to kill you!"
ZC: "Just try it! Lazy Cyber Gamer Fist!"
QC: "Smelly Chinese Resto Cleaver Technique #1! Stabbing foe in Left Chest with Great Force and Killing Him Strike!"
Both: "Yaaaaaaaaaah!"
*SSSSSSHHHHHHWINNNNGGG!*
ZC: "My left breast... stabbed... with great force..."
QC: "That's for my Dragon Sabre! You dirty swine!"
FADE OUT
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Honey Flash!
Sometimes being all to philosophical gets boring. Hence, the need for some bubblegum entertainment that will leave you laughing, but no smarter or wiser than you were when you started.
Cutey Honey the Movie (staring Eriko Sato) is a masterpiece of mindless entertainment. Unlike the original anime, where you had undressed women kicking ass and generally following a strange and meaningless plot, the movie has dressed women kicking ass and generally following a strange and meaningless plot.
The previous readability score test I posted earlier would die at that previous paragraph.
Anyway, it's fun, cute and remarkably entertaining. However, I would like to advise all people who would like to watch this film to kindly leave their brains at the door, lest it suffer any ill effects from this movie.
If you're still curious, check it out, you might enjoy it as much as I did.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Don't miss the finish line because you're too engrossed in staying ahead of the race.
With all this talk I've had about enlightenment and the blurb about the holy grail on the sidebar of my blog, I figured it was time to take a moment off and take a look at where we are and where we're going.
A thought that came over me while I was walking home the other day pondering on the idea the Vin mentioned:
"If the Bhuddist ideal is to achieve enlightenment by transcending temptation [and hence suffering formed by expectations], then aren't you being tempted by the very Enlightenment that you seek?"
It was an interesting question really, and one that I was mulling over on my ride home. As I was staring out into the darkness, watching lights pass me by in the MRT, an image popped into my head.
A knight, in his armor and holding his helmet, walking past the Holy Grail. Along with the image, I heard my own voice state: "Do not be so caught up in the quest, that you forget about the quest."
It's the trap of being too self-righteous. Zealotry and the Taliban lie that way. One can go ahead and exercise what one has learned, but they should never be preoccupied with being "better" than others.
I mean, don't we all hate it when someone who is supposedly moral, upright and more, for lack of a better term, enlightened goes about and starts badmouthing other people? How does that kind of treatment make us feel? Are we not degraded, insulted and angered at such callous treatment?
We should seek to alleviate suffering, not to cause it. By proclaiming ourselves enlightened, or better, then we actually throw ourselves deeper into ignorance, happy to proclaim victory when we have actually lost.
By placing the self above others, you create your own selfishness. The Bhoddisattvas stayed behind to share enightenment, not to mock us with their achievements. This is why true Humility is so valued. Only the truly humble can reach out to help others without taking away sincerity in the act of giving.
Sometimes, the concept of enlightenment is the biggest trap. Those who have achieved a disciplined approach to life, and have learned all other lessons fall to this trap of hubris. It's a fine line to walk, but a line that can be seen, if you keep your eyes on the road.
A thought that came over me while I was walking home the other day pondering on the idea the Vin mentioned:
"If the Bhuddist ideal is to achieve enlightenment by transcending temptation [and hence suffering formed by expectations], then aren't you being tempted by the very Enlightenment that you seek?"
It was an interesting question really, and one that I was mulling over on my ride home. As I was staring out into the darkness, watching lights pass me by in the MRT, an image popped into my head.
A knight, in his armor and holding his helmet, walking past the Holy Grail. Along with the image, I heard my own voice state: "Do not be so caught up in the quest, that you forget about the quest."
It's the trap of being too self-righteous. Zealotry and the Taliban lie that way. One can go ahead and exercise what one has learned, but they should never be preoccupied with being "better" than others.
I mean, don't we all hate it when someone who is supposedly moral, upright and more, for lack of a better term, enlightened goes about and starts badmouthing other people? How does that kind of treatment make us feel? Are we not degraded, insulted and angered at such callous treatment?
We should seek to alleviate suffering, not to cause it. By proclaiming ourselves enlightened, or better, then we actually throw ourselves deeper into ignorance, happy to proclaim victory when we have actually lost.
By placing the self above others, you create your own selfishness. The Bhoddisattvas stayed behind to share enightenment, not to mock us with their achievements. This is why true Humility is so valued. Only the truly humble can reach out to help others without taking away sincerity in the act of giving.
Sometimes, the concept of enlightenment is the biggest trap. Those who have achieved a disciplined approach to life, and have learned all other lessons fall to this trap of hubris. It's a fine line to walk, but a line that can be seen, if you keep your eyes on the road.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Understanding what you write
Once again my skills at finding all sorts of weirdness has cropped up with the discovery of a webpage which has a neat little Web Text Readability Tool. According to the tool, it is supposed to measure how easily it is to read something and how advanced a level the reader must be to understand the text in question.
If you want to give it a try, click here
Oh, and for the curious, the scores for this post (only up to the click here part) are:
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 40
Ideally, web page text should be around the 60 to 80 mark on this scale. The higher the score, the more readable the text.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 16
Ideally, web page text should be around the 6 to 7 mark on this scale. The lower the score, the more readable the text.
Gunning-Fox Index: 25
Ideally, web page text should be between 11 and 15 on this scale. The lower the score, the more readable the text. (Anything over 22 should be considered the equivalent of post-graduate level text).
----
Apparently, my post made little sense to people. :)
If you want to give it a try, click here
Oh, and for the curious, the scores for this post (only up to the click here part) are:
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 40
Ideally, web page text should be around the 60 to 80 mark on this scale. The higher the score, the more readable the text.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 16
Ideally, web page text should be around the 6 to 7 mark on this scale. The lower the score, the more readable the text.
Gunning-Fox Index: 25
Ideally, web page text should be between 11 and 15 on this scale. The lower the score, the more readable the text. (Anything over 22 should be considered the equivalent of post-graduate level text).
----
Apparently, my post made little sense to people. :)
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
d02: Know No Limit!
Once upon a time, there was a Silent Wail who did proceed and hurl himself upon the jaws or RPG.net with this controversial Post, which I will transcribe here with no corrections what so ever:
****
It fails in just about every aspect of a game,and it is more of a rule playign game than role playing game.
Frist off it is way to liniar.You just get better in everyway.THere is no way in avoiding it.I mena no mater what you are, you have have hit points and levels.
It is over comlicated,and simplist at the same time. IT is harder to hit a mmman in plate armor.And hammers and swords tear chaim mail the same way. Then you have the detail of when you can atack,and what range weapons have,and how far you can move.
Classes, are jokes. really.From how hits points.skill points,and bonus powers are moved about. In the end in boils down to this.
levle systems do not work.They may work on paper, but a level 12 fighter or even mag doesn't need to fear having a sword swung at them, or even getting stabed. Also with the way hit points work, your either fighting as if nothing happened or are out cold.Nothing in the middle.
the flaw of rolling a d20 is also that the best fighter in the word, taking up his most magical sword, misses 5% of the time.ALso so all fighters are just as good with all weapons they use.We all know that training with hand to hand weapons will make you great with a bow.Also if your good with guns, you must know how to use a sword.
In the end, d20 is too many rules, and not enough rules at the same time.Has too many strick rules, while leaving many feild wide open with no reason. I am ranting here,and know this dosen't make much sense to many people.BUt in the end I would like to see one come with a good reason d20 is a good system
****
As you can see, it's a fantastic work of art. Needless to say, if you followed the link I put at the start of this entry, you'll realize that he was then assaulted by the RPG.net's version of throwing tomatoes at him.
Anway, for those wondering what this was all for, I present to you Teh Clawring Crabe's "D02 Know No Limit! the Ultimate Role-Playing Game" evolved from that post and blown completely into functional mockery of the Silent Wail.
It's so cool. :p
****
My hate of d02 know no limit.
It fails in just about every aspect of a game,and it is more of a rule playign game than role playing game.
Frist off it is way to liniar.You just get better in everyway.THere is no way in avoiding it.I mena no mater what you are, you have have hit points and levels.
It is over comlicated,and simplist at the same time. IT is harder to hit a mmman in plate armor.And hammers and swords tear chaim mail the same way. Then you have the detail of when you can atack,and what range weapons have,and how far you can move.
Classes, are jokes. really.From how hits points.skill points,and bonus powers are moved about. In the end in boils down to this.
levle systems do not work.They may work on paper, but a level 12 fighter or even mag doesn't need to fear having a sword swung at them, or even getting stabed. Also with the way hit points work, your either fighting as if nothing happened or are out cold.Nothing in the middle.
the flaw of rolling a d20 is also that the best fighter in the word, taking up his most magical sword, misses 5% of the time.ALso so all fighters are just as good with all weapons they use.We all know that training with hand to hand weapons will make you great with a bow.Also if your good with guns, you must know how to use a sword.
In the end, d20 is too many rules, and not enough rules at the same time.Has too many strick rules, while leaving many feild wide open with no reason. I am ranting here,and know this dosen't make much sense to many people.BUt in the end I would like to see one come with a good reason d20 is a good system
****
As you can see, it's a fantastic work of art. Needless to say, if you followed the link I put at the start of this entry, you'll realize that he was then assaulted by the RPG.net's version of throwing tomatoes at him.
Anway, for those wondering what this was all for, I present to you Teh Clawring Crabe's "D02 Know No Limit! the Ultimate Role-Playing Game" evolved from that post and blown completely into functional mockery of the Silent Wail.
It's so cool. :p
Friday, April 01, 2005
Not Again!
Not again... not again!
Taken from KYW Newsradio 106
The chicken crossed the road and then the sun set. Therefore the Sun set because of the chicken crossing the road.
Please... just punish the guy if he's guilty, but at least stop these witch hunts!
Taken from KYW Newsradio 106
A South Jersey man is being jailed without bail in Montgomery County, Pa. on charges that he stabbed three people to death last Friday in King of Prussia.
In addition to facing first-degree murder charges in the stabbing deaths of Lisa Greaves, her sister Heather, and Heather’s three-year-old daughter, district attorney Bruce Castor says John Eichinger will also be charged with the 1999 murder of Jennifer Still of Bridgeport (Montgomery County), Pa.
Castor (below right) says the motive appears to be jealousy, but they are also looking into some sort of connection with the fantasy role-playing game ”Dungeons and Dragons”:
"I mean, you have many, many stab wounds and those 'Dungeons and Dragons' fantasy games involve swords and knives and daggers and things of that nature. There may be a connection but I can’t say for sure.”
He says it appears they were all part of the same circle of acquaintances. Castor hopes to prosecute all four murders at one time, and says he will seek the death penalty for Eichinger.
----
There is something to be said about this line of thinking:
Post hoc ergo propter hoc.
"Before this, therefore because of this."
Example:The chicken crossed the road and then the sun set. Therefore the Sun set because of the chicken crossing the road.
Please... just punish the guy if he's guilty, but at least stop these witch hunts!
RPGs on the Horizon
Stepping away from the anger of my rant below, let's just check out some of the upcoming RPGs that will be released in the next few months:
First of all, we've got Weapons of the Gods from Eos Press
This RPG is based on a Hong Kong Wuxia comic book by artist/writer Tony Wong. Players take the roll of martial artists who fight in Mythic China. I haven't had the chance to read through the system very well, but I hear that the resolution system is unique and reviews from people who have had a chance to test it say that it's really well done. I've been itching for a Wuxia game to come out for so long, so this might be the Holy Grail of Wuxia lovin' RPG fandom.
Next up, here's The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game, 2nd Edition from Green Ronin and Black Industries.
The long awaited second edition to the venerable Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game (or WFRPG as it is commonly called.) This edition kicks in with a host of updates without taking out the Grim darkness of the setting. The Warhammer Fantasy world is no more optimistic than before, with humanity still struggling with survival, while being attacked by greenskins, beastmen and the Hordes of Chaos. Where D&D is all about stopping evil and taking home tons of gold and treasure, WFRPG is about barely surviving without missing limbs, losing your companions, barely fending off the bad guys and then finally coming home to be rewarded with food. Fantastic stuff, if you really enjoy getting out by the skin of your teeth.
In sharp contrast, here's the Blue Rose RPG by Green Ronin
Blue Rose is something that really isn't new in theory as much as new in the way it was packaged. Touted as "The roleplaying game of Romantic Fantasy", Blue Rose is a game that focuses on the more "feminine" aspect of things, where relationships and such count as much as being able to get a feat tree that will allow you to do multiple attacks and deal optimum damage. It's supposed to be influenced by a lot of Mercedes Lackey and Tamora Peirce, so I'm interested to see if this game becomes more popular with the ladies, and if the guys out there will actually give it a chance. Personally, I don't mind picking it up, it should be a refreshing change from the usual RPGs out there where it's all dungeon delving and killing.
Lastly, the game that I would not hesitate to buy immediately, even if I was in debt and had to whore out my body to do so would be:
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you should know that I'm a big , BIG fan of the old Mage: the Ascension game from White-Wolf games. Sure it's often a messy game where players and GMs come to blows over high concept discussions such as paradigms and the nature of a Consensual Reality, but hey, I'm still as giddy as a schoolboy again just thinking about it. Too bad the release date is waaaaay over in August.
Anyway, that's my current wrapup of the games coming over the horizon, and if I ever get my grubby hands on any of these, I'll make sure to put up a review for you guys as well. Have a great weekend guys!
First of all, we've got Weapons of the Gods from Eos Press
This RPG is based on a Hong Kong Wuxia comic book by artist/writer Tony Wong. Players take the roll of martial artists who fight in Mythic China. I haven't had the chance to read through the system very well, but I hear that the resolution system is unique and reviews from people who have had a chance to test it say that it's really well done. I've been itching for a Wuxia game to come out for so long, so this might be the Holy Grail of Wuxia lovin' RPG fandom.
Next up, here's The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game, 2nd Edition from Green Ronin and Black Industries.
The long awaited second edition to the venerable Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game (or WFRPG as it is commonly called.) This edition kicks in with a host of updates without taking out the Grim darkness of the setting. The Warhammer Fantasy world is no more optimistic than before, with humanity still struggling with survival, while being attacked by greenskins, beastmen and the Hordes of Chaos. Where D&D is all about stopping evil and taking home tons of gold and treasure, WFRPG is about barely surviving without missing limbs, losing your companions, barely fending off the bad guys and then finally coming home to be rewarded with food. Fantastic stuff, if you really enjoy getting out by the skin of your teeth.
In sharp contrast, here's the Blue Rose RPG by Green Ronin
Blue Rose is something that really isn't new in theory as much as new in the way it was packaged. Touted as "The roleplaying game of Romantic Fantasy", Blue Rose is a game that focuses on the more "feminine" aspect of things, where relationships and such count as much as being able to get a feat tree that will allow you to do multiple attacks and deal optimum damage. It's supposed to be influenced by a lot of Mercedes Lackey and Tamora Peirce, so I'm interested to see if this game becomes more popular with the ladies, and if the guys out there will actually give it a chance. Personally, I don't mind picking it up, it should be a refreshing change from the usual RPGs out there where it's all dungeon delving and killing.
Lastly, the game that I would not hesitate to buy immediately, even if I was in debt and had to whore out my body to do so would be:
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you should know that I'm a big , BIG fan of the old Mage: the Ascension game from White-Wolf games. Sure it's often a messy game where players and GMs come to blows over high concept discussions such as paradigms and the nature of a Consensual Reality, but hey, I'm still as giddy as a schoolboy again just thinking about it. Too bad the release date is waaaaay over in August.
Anyway, that's my current wrapup of the games coming over the horizon, and if I ever get my grubby hands on any of these, I'll make sure to put up a review for you guys as well. Have a great weekend guys!
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