Gaming and Science Fiction. Problems? What do ya mean, problems?

I guess I'm the only one left with a win xp x64 system who hasn't given up, taken the refund, and gone away.  The forum topics have basically dried up.  The support ticket timer is counting down, and I'm left sitting here, frustrated, waiting and hoping that someone, somewhere will actually do some work there, and fix this damned thing that has been the cause of so much grief over the years.  Yes, years!!

It's been problematic for quite some time now, and nothing seems to change with it. If it's not the EADM, then it's problems with the patching system from the game Loaders - at least for The Sims stuff.

The fact that I have a different OS from the norm isn't really a factor here, because the same crap was going on when I had the OS of the multitude. The "default" if you will.

I guess it's my turn to leave without my toys and go home.

Now EA has bought BioWare, who created Neverwinter Nights.  Another fave developer of mine.  I'm guessing that the local Bethesda (Elder Scrolls Morrowind and Oblivion) are probably next on the EA hit list.  Will their stuff turn to crap in the hands of EA now???

It's like the corellary between good Science Fiction and SciFi (Syfy = pretentious?).  SyFy is the place where Science Fiction dies, and horror and gore are born.  Intelligent television?  Nah!  We'll just steal / buy some from the BBC, call it Original, and let it die here from lack of advertising, and the timeslot shuffle.  If they can't find it, then they won't watch it, and we'll still get the advertiser dollars to make more cheap crappy stuff that the unintelligent, adolescent-minded mass wants.

I dunno ...  I've been gaming, and occasionally beta testing, for over 30 years - before there even was such a thing as the computer gaming industry, playing Beat the Wumpus and Star Trek on daddy's IBM mainframe at work.

It started out pretty well, with Sierra, then Maxis, making some quality, innovative games.  The situation started to change when the executives and their cost/analysis reports started to become involved, and it became a business, possibly a chore, rather than something enjoyable for the developers.

Science Fiction was never SciFi.  SciFi was the rockets and rayguns stuff, nothing to compare to the quality of the Isaac Asimovs or John Campbells of the day.  Guess my age is showing, but so what.  It's still at least semi-pertinent ...  for the dwindling few of us who still can remember the greats of the 'industries' of science fiction and gaming.

Eventually, I'll die off too, and the mundane crap won't have any more nay-sayers to stick a thumb in their pies, and call the taste bad.  That'll be a happy day for them, won't it?

Climbing off soapbox for now ....

Earthquakes & Plate Tectonics This week

I was interested in how the Japanese earthquake and its associated tectonic plate have impacted other locations surrounding that plate, and other plates which interact with it.

I found the following links:

This one started the journey
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plates_tect2_en.svg

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/Maps/map_plate_tectonics_world.html


Lots of quakes around that area lately - notably the quakes in New Zealand and Chile, as well as the Japan quake.  The plate in Arkansas has been active this week as well.

Hmmm ....  Kinda made me wonder how the worlds plates are readjusting lately.

Reminiscences

Just looking at the pic I put up for this.  My old SL home.  It no longer exists in any reality but my own heart ...

Haiku # 2011 - 001

Haiku # 2011 - 001

Balance of Terror
Space and deep water alike
Run Silent, Run Deep

LEW
2011-02-23
Faves

Haiku #011

constructed cistern
depths of tempting mystery
darkness resolute

'Mug of Coffee'
Dilana Nightfire
2009-10-28