Image via Wikipedia

Tomas Dolby posted a fun update on his blog about some future Star Wars projects that has got many running in circles.  Is it much ado about nothing rather then something?

Thomas Dolby, poptastic mastermind of Hyperactive and She Blinded Me With Science fame, posted an update to his blog about his current stay in Tiburon, CA, across the bay from San Francisco. His host, he revealed, is one Paul Sebastien of Lucasarts. The kicker comes when Dolby writes:

Last night he was telling me a little about the forthcoming Star Wars-related TV show, movie and online games—very cool indeed.

Because of the probable NDA he would have to be as vague as to mention a TV show, Movie and Online Games.  This would keep the actual project secret and would still be true since Lucas Arts is working on all three anyhow.  It sounds to me like he is referring to many of the projects that are already in the works.

Game:  The long awaited KTOR online MMORPG.  I can’t wait for that to come out.  There is also Star Wars Battlefront 3, also can’t wait for that one.  And probably several other tie in games I would be shocked if there weren’t.

Lucas Arts is working on a live action TV show, a project that has been in the pipeline for a while now.  I hope that is what he was referring to.  I want to see this project.  Since the success of releasing the Clone Wars pilot as a movie I hope this will be repeated for the live action show.

What I wish they would do is:

• KTOR movie, maybe a tie in to the MMORPG
• A movie taking the Star Wars saga forward after the Yavin event or maybe a movie version of Legacy of the Force!

I can hope.

(via /Film)

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Mass Effect 2’s new voice talent, Vlad the Impaler not a vampire? and Clash of the Titans poster.

Mass Effect 2:

Image via Wikipedia

Michael Dorn is added to the voice cast for Mass Effect 2.  I love Michael Dorn’s voice.  Best known for his role as Worf in Star Trek, he has lent his voice talent to many projects.  I espically enjoy hearing Dorn’s voice on the Discovery specials and other science shows.  He will be a great addition to mass effect 2.   Mass Effect one is so good, I’m really looking forward to the second game.  (via TrekToday)

Vlad the Impaler:

Vlad the Impaler is better known as Dracula was thought to be another vampire move turns out to be about the historical figure instead.  I would be interested in seeing a movie based on the Historical Vlad. Those comparing it to the likeness of 300 concerns me, I definitely don’t need another homophobic movie.  (via /film)

Clash of the Titans:

The movie poster is out.  How can a movie with a fairly cool and exciting trailer have such a bland movie poster? I would expect this quality for the box art on the DVD but a movie poster! Honestly? (via /film)

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Good news about the development of Star Trek Online and hope for game play.

Episodes within Star Trek: Online are meant to let the player feel as if they’re playing an episode of Star Trek itself. The writers and developers of the game went though over seven hundred Star Trek television episodes before sitting down and writing their own for the game.

First, I like that they are calling missions episodes.  That is very inspiring.  Secondly, requiring the writers and developers to watch and be familiar with the shows is a big plus too but did they get the spirit of the show?

Included in the episodes are themes, dialog and dramatic moments, all designed to “look, feel and play like Star Trek.”

I really like that they are going to set up the game play more like an episode of Star Trek.  What they have to say about the use of drama and including 3 “seasons” each containing 14 episodes of play at the start is inspiring.  I still have some questions though.

• Will each episode include in some moral, ethical question or social exploration of the human condition that was at the heart of all Star Trek?
• Will the missions assignment have some means of randomness or include in random missions so that the game does not come across as playing through a linear storyline?

(via TrekToday)

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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time only caught a passing interest from me.  Movies based on games tend to be a hit and miss venture.  Add that to Disneys involvement and this project had caution written all over it, that is until I watched the trailer above.

I’m now excited about Prince of Persia.  The effects looks good.  I like the use of a broader variety of weaponry especially the more exocitic ones.  The trailer does a nice job of setting up the back and forth between Dastan and Princess Tamina, even if a bit cliche.

Prince of Persia hits the theaters on May 28, 2010.

Pilot / Story:  Based on the game Prince Of Persia.  Dastan is a street urchin in 6th century Persia. Adopted by the king as his heir after showing valor in battle in hopes of keeping the king’s two sons from fighting over the throne.  Dastan teams up with Princess Tamina  to rescue the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that controls time, from the hands of the villainous nobleman, Nizam.

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I have featured “March of Cambreadth” by Heather Alexander before, but something about this video cried out, “Share me!”

This vid cuts together footage from the “Dominix-Ops” from Eve Online.  Watching this, I wish I enjoyed playing the game more than I did, but I suppose this is a game I will have to enjoy from a distance.

What made this vid so so compelling to me was one thought it forced into my head:

Why can’t Machinima be easier to make?

I am looking into software like True Bones and Daz 3D.

Frankly, every MMO should have a Machinima package, it would be free publicity for them, build a stronger core audience.

Anyone have any tips?

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There is much more to the 3D social network Second Life than fun and games. You can network with writers, poets, actors, musicians, and artists at places like Quills (pictured here). You can visit foreign countries and learn new languages by speaking to those with a true native tongue. You can attend live concerts, workshops, readings, and plays. You can even join role playing games and become a vampire, werewolf, mage, or Hogwarts student.

But what if you’re just looking for some fun wind-down time? Well, they have that too. Recently I’ve been checking out the amusement park rides on Second Life. Yes, you heard me. If you haven’t got the time or money to pop over to Disneyland in real life, you can spend a few hours at these wonderful builds on Second Life. Every bit as realistic and awesome as the real rides, without the waiting in line!

My favorite ride so far is the Alice in Wonderland ride at Kleio Island Amusement Park. 
According to the signs posted in front of the ride, this massive dark ride took six months to develop. These screen shots show you just some of the great artwork and structure building this project encompasses. Add to this the sound clips and environmental perks and you have an excellent experience that you can ride any day of the week for as many times as you like with no waiting!

The ride gondola is very cute and set to theme. It starts out as a black and white checked car and changes colors as you ride. The seats are made of playing cards and the four corners of the vehicle are capped in chess pieces. All this gets you in the mood to take a ride into Lewis Carroll’s fantasy.

First the ride takes you through the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

Then you get to ride by the Queen of Hearts and her King.

The high build shows you a view of the entire amusement park as it brings you through the Jabberwocky section.

Then you spiral down through the black and white tunnel into the end of the ride, where you can ride it all again.

Kleio Amusement Park offers all sorts of carnival rides such as a ferris wheel, jumbo slide, and this merry-go-round where you can ride crystal horses through the snow.

Rides and extras on this land such as cotton candy and tea party venues, are mostly free. Some cost a minimal amount, but you can choose to buy or go on to the next event. The Alice ride is free, but if you’d like to leave a donation to those excellent creators of this fun ride, they have a tip cup near the entrance.

To get to Kleio Amusement Park, join Second Life for free and then click this landmark below:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kleio/61/92/22

Art direction and structure creation of Alice in Wonderland ride by Atom Burma
Scripted motion by Jay Karlfeldt
Sculpted characters by Kanic Huldschinsky
Narration of The Jabberwocky by Roxxy Rhode

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THIS VIDEO IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

I never thought of Sephiroth as a Gay Pimp before, but after seeing him in this AMV, I don’t think I will ever see him the same way again.

Kudos to Jim Briefs for making this.  I laughed and shouted, rock on!

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First off, I have to say that I am getting tired of SyFy site winking at bigotry.

Known Bigot Orson Scott Card has released a never game called Shadow Complex.  200,000 people either didn’t know or didn’t care that this bigot was behind the game and purchased it!

SyFy’s Fidgit turned this into a joke… and people like me are just getting tired of fighting this fight.

Homophobia is one of the last acceptable biases in our culture.  Honestly, I am out of breath on this topic for now.  I will just say it again:

STOP supporting bigots like Orson Scott Card and those who pay him.  Maybe I should cancel my Xbox live Gold Account…

(via Fidgit.)

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I wish I could crochet!  I really want to make one of these Mario Plushies.

It is odd.  I can knit, but crochet is far beyond my abilities.  Mario is one of my favorite video game characters, and this plushie is one of the cutest things I have ever seen.

You don’t need a lot to make it:

MATERIALS:

WW yarn in blue, red, white, peach (or a skin color) and small amounts of black and brown
G Hook
Fiberfill
Yarn Needle
Felt in small amounts (white, blue, black)
2 small shirt buttons in yellow (or gold if you have it)
Sewing thread to match yarns and felts and a medium duty to heavy duty sewing needle (Wolfdreamer Off the Hook)

Full instructions can be found at Wolfdreamer Off the Hook.

(via Cthulhu Crochet and Cousins)

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The Hollywood Reporter has an article up about Will Wright’s future as an Entertainment Designer.  While it was interesting, it got me thinking more about the future of creative works.

The Future of Fiction

I am reading What would Google by Jeff Jarvis do right now.  Well, actually, I am reading it over and over again, especially the chapter on books.  I love writing novels, but I feel a little limited by the format.

I love franchise fiction.  Delving into the worlds of Star Wars, Star Trek, the Dragons of Pern, or The Lord of the Rings, pulls me deeper into the world and characters than anything else I know.

What makes these work for me is the multimedia nature of these products.  I am just not sure how an independent creator like me can pull off anything like that easily.

Easy is the Key!

If we are going to movie forward in our attempt to re-envision creative works we need easy tools for content creators to make multimedia productions.  What kind of tools?

1. Simple mechanima maker.

   • Character and setting creation as simple as the Sims.
   • Good auto-lip-sync tool.
   • No scripting required character animation and special effects.
   • Easy unique setting creator for the 3D impaired people like me.
   • Easy import of most if not all existing mesh and skin formats.
   • Easy export into at least the most popular video formats.
   • Low price point

2. Simple MMORPG Maker

   • The same features as Mechanima maker.
   • Easy story telling engine.
   • Simple cut scene maker
   • Setting time line that will allow players to decide what era they want to start in so they can play through the storyline in a dynamic and ever changing world.
     • Certain setting elements are fixed over time as part of the over arcing plot, over setting elements would be dynamic and alterable by the players.
   • The ability for players to move their characters easily from era to era through both play and choice.
   • The software would allow users to visit any setting with 1 client and one monthly fee.
   • Creators are paid for the amount of “player hours” their setting attains.

3. Hypertext Novels that relate to the text.

   • Web based and downloadable hypertext versions.
   • The hypertext layer should be shown only by the reader’s choice.
   • Readers should be able to flow through stories via their chosen path, for example, when the reader discovers a new character they should be able to:
     • pull up a biography of that character.
     • see a list of other works containing that character and the size of their role in the story.
     • navigate into those books/stories if they want to, then return to the previous place in the book and read on.
   • This type of meta-book should be self updating and thus be treated as a service rather than a product.
     • possibly as a subscription to the meta-book reader service, paying the author based on “reader hours.”
   • Books should be printable, sharable, linkable, and searchable.
   • Authors should be able to add special features like outlines, setting notes, and general notes to the text.

4. Cross platform integration

   • All of these platforms should be integrated one with the other.
     • If someone playing the MMORPG wants to pull up the text, video, or audio relating to the era they are playing in.
     • Locations in the MMORPG should be able to pull up context about characters, items, and locations from the other media.
     • Readers should be able to switch between the text, video, audio, and game versions of the content at whim on multiple devises which are kept in sync one with the other.
   • Fanfiction and Fanfilm should be integrated into the platforms.
     • Fanworks should be community and creator curated.
     • Fanworks should be community and creator rated.
     • Fanworks should be promotable to cannon by the creator, and revenue sharing engaged at that point.
   • Content should be importable and exportable from one platform to another.
   • Content should take advantage of and if necessary create open standards.

The Creative Suite we need!

This is the creative suite we need, and that I am personally hoping for.  With state of technology, most (if not all) of these features exists in separate non-compatible applications.  What I want to see is for all of these features to exist in one comprehensive and affordable creative suite.  Once we move authors and other content creators into mixed platforms like this, we will see the birth of real entertainment designers, and I think we will see much more compelling content.

What do you think?

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