Manliness is a Power Sword & Shotgun
Stephen & I beat Halo 2 last night. It's a good game. The abrupt ending didn't bother me. I like that Bungie realized the strength of the game would be tested not ultimately in an altogether new gaming experience, but on the weight of the storytelling and the power of the multiplayer aspect. So I look forward to Halo 3, or Halo 2: The Final Chapter, or whatever it is they release to finish up the story, 'cause it's a classic sci-fi ditty, and I want to know how it ends.
I've been saying this for awhile now: video games are a powerful medium. They can attain something approaching art, if only a merging of technology and storytelling would come together into something powerfully creative. I want Michael Chabon to take 6 months and script a great video-game narrative. Even the first person perspective in books is a passive position: think about the possibilities of hopping into the drivers seat. Think about a game done so well that you ARE Ahab, sailing the ship, hunting the whale, game done well enough to make you feel his madness & obsession.
I'd like to give a shoutout to all the homies, the compassionless, the bleeding heart babblers out there. My point about Arafat was that to maintain a moral highground in the current war in Iraq and the war in terrorism it is important to be willing to state what is and what isn't evil. That is, if one thinks that Israel has committed evils against Palestine, we must, must be willing to point out the evils committed by both sides. My point isn't a baised one to either "side", but one I think applicable to the entire discussion.
Finally, of all the blogs & op/eds I've read concerning this whole iraq/terrorism/culture war(?), I think Ryan's Blog is by far the most consistent, novel, and honest (to a certain side of thinking). Now I disagree with Ryan on a fair bit, but he states his hard opinions and unlike many, many others, researches the snot out of any position he takes. I mean, he spent hours researching the finer points of Polish-Turkish relations in the mid 17th century. Hey may occasionally get flippant in tone (which would be something he should correct, though it might not be so entertaining) but he's not flippant in his positions. Of course, I also know that Ryan is a firm believer in "shut-up unless you know what you're talking about", which has its own ups n' downs and qualifications, but I think apropos for the current discussion. So, read his blog.
Oh, The Office makes me want to curl up in a corner a scream. So brilliant, so painful.
Josiah Q. Roe | By Josiah Roe | 04:03 PM
Comments
I'll be working on the compassionlessness of my situation.
On a side note, Mesh where you be at? I get an unsettling feeling when I see your blog as nothing but a blank white page.
-p
Posted by: Pablo at November 17, 2004 04:14 PM
I wander the world, with no man my friend, no house my home.
Actually, I've just been really busy at the Pulse, where I'm working a second job. As soon as my computer/workdesk situation is a bit more compact, I promise to return to blogging with a renewed enthusiasm. Look for a quiet return by the end of the month. Less lengthy essays; more daily links.
Posted by: mesh at November 17, 2004 04:28 PM
Thanks for the shout out Josiah. What exactly on my blog is bleeding heart babbler? Is it my attempted spoof on Onion journalism? Or my entry about absinthe? Does all the music discussion drive you crazy? I'm just trying to figure out why your last two links to my blog have been not so nice when I kind of dropped the political discusison on something like Oct. 17. Maybe your just refering to some of the people who comment on my blog. Whatever man.
Posted by: John at November 17, 2004 04:32 PM
Thanks for the endorsement.
And the flippancy is deliberate. I could take a more serious tone it I wanted to, but as you said, it wouldn't be as entertaining for me or anyone else.
I'm pretty sure that the point of the War isn't Good vs. Evil. Neither side has a stranglehold on either of those (though it's essential to admit that you don't have to be perfect to fight evil). It's us vs. them. I just try to know who the "them" is, and understand the "vs." part.
Posted by: ryan at November 17, 2004 04:53 PM
Josiah you have to beat Halo 2 on "Legendary" mode to get the full game and full ending. So ummm, yah good luck with that.
Posted by: tanderson at November 18, 2004 11:44 AM
Actually scratch that. Just go here. http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/11/15/1452236.shtml?tid=211
Posted by: tanderson at November 18, 2004 11:50 AM
I'm counting the days til The Passion of the Christ video game.
Posted by: scott cunningham at November 20, 2004 10:03 PM
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