The Force Unleashed: Your Training Is Complete

This blog entry qualifies for some sort of ubergeek reward this year. Check out this video promoting the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game:

The exciting part (for me, anyway) is the mechanics that create the virtual environment of the game, which is a collaboration of three major physics emulators:

1. A program called Digital Molecular Matter tells wood to splinter, glass to shatter, metal to dent, etc.
2. A program called Havok makes sure that objects moved by The Force move according to Newton's Laws - that is, with The Force involved with actual physics.
3. A program called Euphoria gives non-player characters and enemies an advanced artificial intelligence, to deal with splintering wood, shattering glass, denting metal, projectiles thrown at them by The Force, and being thrown like a projectile by The Force.

The fanboys and fangirls of that long ago, far away galaxy would be more excited about the plot, which centers around Darth Vader's secret apprentice, who's going to kill more Jedi during the time between the Prequel Trilogy and the Original Trilogy. I guess having a secret apprentice is some sort of scandal in the Star Wars galaxy, like having a mistress or another family in another state. I suppose getting caught with a secret apprentice would be bad for Darth Vader's political career (it is an election year, after all).

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be unleashed this summer (the current release date is August 26, 2008) in the above physics-robust format for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, a less physics-robust but with lightsaber swinging action version for the Wii, and other consoles as well.

Ryan's List-Worthy from Last Year List: Computer Programs

Happy New Year!

Since it's that time of year where virtually everyone writes a list or two about their favorites from the year before, I think I'll join in with my insignificant opinions about random stuff. I've been creating more media than consuming it in 2007, so these lists will be rather short.

Anyhow, here are my Top 5 new computer programs, installed in 2007:

1. Upgrade to Pro Tools 7.3 - I wouldn't be able to properly score Elan Vital without the video function.

2. Digidesign Strike - I loves me my robot. Requires Pro Tools.

3. FXpansion VST to RTAS Adapter - RTAS plugins cost money. Lots and lots of money. Several VST plugins can be found on the Net for free, and some of them are pretty darn good. Only really useful to wrap VST plugins for use in Pro Tools.

4. Upgrade to BIAS Soundsoap Pro - Awesome. I tried it a little bit last year, but I'll really put this program to the test when I get back to dialogue editing for Elan Vital. Works in Pro Tools (RTAS), as well as other host programs (VST, etc.).

5. Upgrade to the latest iTunes ("iTunes Plus" with the DRM-free mp3s for sale) - Because I think I've run out of 2007 programs to praise. Anyhow, Amazon.com has a competing high-bitrate, DRM-free mp3 store.

Asynchronous Television at Hulu

NBC Universal and News Corp. (Fox) joined forces earlier this year to create a rival video-on-demand service to Google's VOD empire (YouTube, Google Video, Blogger Video, etc.) - called Hulu. Right now it's in beta testing, and I've been fortunate enough to be selected relatively late in the game as a beta tester. Truthfully, though, Hulu beta and YouTube are different animals. Hulu currently just offers industry-official broadcast media, whereas YouTube contains user-created media and copyright-infringing media.

I don't know if you'll be able to see this video, but here's a full episode of The Office, with limited commercial interruption:

You gotta love this satire of the 9-to-5, hierarchical, bureaucratic, climb-the-ladder microcosm of civilization. Anyhow...

Instead of paying various monthly subscriptions to digital satellite, digital cable, and/or TiVo, you can just pay for (extremely) high speed Internet, buy a media PC (not for creating or productivity, just for receiving - har, har), buy a large flat panel hi-def TV, and buy a good surround sound system. Put those all together, along with next generation video game consoles, and you'll have a sweet entertainment center. Use free VOD services like Hulu whenever possible; otherwise pay for movies and episodes on Amazon.com or iTunes as you go.

How's that for being a cheap geek? Anyway, sign up for Hulu, and you might get into their beta test; otherwise, wait until the site goes public. From what I've seen, it's very convenient. I'll give some props to these industry dinosaurs for trying to adapt in this new media age.

Übergeek "Chic" egregia cum laude

Again, I think I'm meant to miss the boat on Internet phenomena. What have I been doing to miss the obvious? Running a business? Creating art? I don't know.

So here's a shooting gallery of true blue übergeeks. They're not the kind who could be properly exploited by either Madison Avenue or Hollywood. They're probably not the correct archetypes to sell Gap clothing, Apple electronics, or Starbucks coffee. Obviously not for the mainstream, they're not chic in any sense of the word, and neither are they the ironically labeled "indie" hipster. For a moment you might think you're watching a MADtv or Saturday Night Live sketch. Here they are:

Leslie Hall, of Leslie and the LY's and GemSweater.com:


Jay Maynard, the Tron Guy:


Randy Costan, otherwise known as Peter Pan:


They found their "fame" via the pure democracy of the World Wide Web. And while large corporations can't exploit them (and others like them) to sell products to the middle and working classes of world, they've come together for a good cause: Net Neutrality, the very reason why they have their apparent notability today.

Here's their music video:


Anyway, you can go to the clever viral video people (for a seemingly good cause) at WeAreTheWeb.org.