News Roundup 9/4/2013

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China:

Even Baidu is getting in on SmartTV.  This is going to cease to be a trend and just be a norm at this rate.  So who’s next?

Internet Propaganda battle?  China’s president wants one and is sounding awful insular (and in campaign mode).  Could be interesting, and is another case showing how publicity and internet awareness affects politics – makes me wonder if they’ll try news channels as well.

Demographics:

People leaving California are affecting the politics of where they move.  Interesting little demographic tidbit there that provides some insight on what mobility means for politics.

Film:

Indie director Randy Moore filmed his psychological horror film Escape From Tomorrow – where a man who’s just been fired starts to hallucinate while visiting Disney World – in the actual Disney parks without permission. He took the results to Sundance and found a distributor, which is now publicizing the film with a poster featuring a bloody Mickey Mouse hand and the trademark Disney font. Which is pretty much triple dog daring the House of Mouse to file a lawsuit – thus guaranteeing the film and its director ultimate publicity.

Maker:

100 makers you should be following on Twitter.

Video Games:

Paid storage for your Pokemon – online?  Oh come on guys, just give us the MMO.  You know you want to.  Actually, worth seeing what Nintendo does with this because I do think Pokemon is inching towards PSO/MMO type gaming.  At that point Nintendo can just sit back and make money forever.

– Steven Savage

Cool Futurism: You Can’t Have Science Fiction Without Science

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So as we come to the end of my posts on what happened to Cool Futurism, let’s go on and whack reality with the truth stick: Anti-Scientific attitudes really put a cramp in the Cool Future.

As naive, distant, and consumeristic as the Cool Future we remember from the Omni days was, it was all about the science. It was all special materials and computers and sexy tech. There was also a lot of reality in there, even if some ideas seem laughable or we’re proven wrong or were modified.

However, science really has taken a beating in American culture. Wether its denial of global warming despite the evidence, or the idea that a well-used theory like evolution is completely equal to Creationism, that vaccines are worse than diseases, or that smoking really isn’t bad for you, science was a might inconvenient for some folks. It gets questioned a lot – and of course the bizarre trend in America to blame teachers and education for everything didn’t help (you don’t support by education by acting like everyone doing it is a moocher out to destroy society).

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Feeling Wild About WIldstar Online

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If you know me, MMO’s aren’t quite my bag.  I did some City of Heroes back in the day, tried Dungeon Fighter and liked it but lost tracked, and was rather charmed by Dragon’s Nest and it’s anime-esque style for some time.  I just don’t really get into them, and with the way they suck time, they better be worth it.

I think one of the next-Gen MMO’s may not also get my attention, but it looks like it’s going to try some interesting mechanics and design ideas.  Welcome to WildStar Online.  Let’s take a look at why I’m paying attention.

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