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: Books I Read for the First Time

Since I didn't read any books last year...there's more to this sentence...that were published in 2007, I'm going to list three good reads from last year, regardless of release date. Why only three books? I only read about eight and a quarter books in 2007, which is probably an 825% increase than the previous handful of years combined.

1. My Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Buy from Amazon.com
Along with Ishmael (which you'll have to read before this one), The Story of B, and Beyond Civilization, this book is a great read for those who have enough chutzpah to leave the pyramid schemes of the world and run a small business (or similar way of life) that isn't very pyramid-like. And if you can't totally leave the pyramids behind, there's a lot of philosophical stuff that might help subvert the status quo...in a good way, of course. And if that doesn't sell you on these books - the hero is a wise, telepathic gorilla.

2. The Art of War by Sun Tzu Free e-Book | $1 Audiobook | Free Audiobook | Buy from Amazon.com | Buy for Kindle
If the above selection (and related books) represents yielding to nature when it comes to lifestyle (in general) and business (if applicable), then this one represents badass, yet strategic, warmongering - which is slightly necessary when it comes to competing with rival businesses and bigger fish. I personally feel that several seemingly contradictory qualities are necessary for success. Then again, I am neither a self-help guru nor a life coach. In any case, The Art of War just badass.

3. Old Greek Stories by James Baldwin Free e-Book | Free Audiobook | Buy for Kindle
I love anti-Zeus/Jupiter propaganda. Textbook author James Baldwin's interpretation of Greco-Roman myth is light on the Greek and heavy on the Roman, even to the point of ignoring the whole Cronus/Saturn eating his children storyline. It's this kind of storytelling that makes you want to play God of War II (where Zeus is also the bad guy), or at least watch a YouTube video or two:

By the way, Kindle e-Books require a reader, like Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device.

If this list doesn't float your boat, you can always watch (good) TV:



Francisco Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son" rocks.