Comments for sortiv // a jordan rivas blog http://sortiv.com Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:48:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Comment on After Mass Effect: Death, Indoctrination, and the Last Song Ever Written by The Afterlife of Commander Shepard | bigtallwords http://sortiv.com/?p=2177&cpage=1#comment-44904 The Afterlife of Commander Shepard | bigtallwords Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:48:55 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2177#comment-44904 [...]  I must also mention that my interpretation of the “Citadel” DLC was directly influenced by this article, of which I had read parts before I’d even played the DLC. Finally, the style of this piece, the [...] [...]  I must also mention that my interpretation of the “Citadel” DLC was directly influenced by this article, of which I had read parts before I’d even played the DLC. Finally, the style of this piece, the [...]

]]> Comment on This is a post about SimCity, shooters, and spending money by Lebedeph http://sortiv.com/?p=2202&cpage=1#comment-44534 Lebedeph Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:30:13 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2202#comment-44534 Thanks for this article, I like your fresh perspective on SimCity. I haven't played the latest episode yet, but I think the analysis is valid for the franchise in general. I would love to play a game which offers a wider set of economic tools than just public spending, for example some sort of monetary system including central banks, interest rates, currencies influencing your imports and exports, etc. Thanks for this article, I like your fresh perspective on SimCity. I haven’t played the latest episode yet, but I think the analysis is valid for the franchise in general.
I would love to play a game which offers a wider set of economic tools than just public spending, for example some sort of monetary system including central banks, interest rates, currencies influencing your imports and exports, etc.

]]> Comment on This is a post about SimCity, shooters, and spending money by Scuzzball http://sortiv.com/?p=2202&cpage=1#comment-44507 Scuzzball Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:35:21 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2202#comment-44507 That is quite an interesting deviation from most of the articles I read about how the new Sim City, and how it is just bad because EA. I hadn't thought about it like that before, but I think I do agree that I would like to see more games exploring that, the way many shooting games such as Deus Ex try to provide many options. That is quite an interesting deviation from most of the articles I read about how the new Sim City, and how it is just bad because EA.

I hadn’t thought about it like that before, but I think I do agree that I would like to see more games exploring that, the way many shooting games such as Deus Ex try to provide many options.

]]> Comment on This is a post about Skyrim and Self Deception by This is a post about SimCity, shooters, and spending money | sortiv // a jordan rivas blog http://sortiv.com/?p=2057&cpage=1#comment-44492 This is a post about SimCity, shooters, and spending money | sortiv // a jordan rivas blog Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:51:14 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2057#comment-44492 [...] the right circumstances. Generally, if we have healthy awareness and understanding about our own self deception habits, nothing is wrong with fantasy and diversion. Also, I think it should go without saying that one [...] [...] the right circumstances. Generally, if we have healthy awareness and understanding about our own self deception habits, nothing is wrong with fantasy and diversion. Also, I think it should go without saying that one [...]

]]> Comment on After Mass Effect: The False Cthulhu at the End of the Galaxy by julie http://sortiv.com/?p=2189&cpage=1#comment-44462 julie Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:51:16 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2189#comment-44462 I also think they could have tied up the endings a little more, being this was to be the end of that particular storyline. At least, no matter which ending you choose, there is a definitely sacrifices made. It doesn't fully give in to the overindulged "winner take all" ending. Shepards victory in the plot did find legitimacy in the sense that the dispute between synthetic and organic life was overcome through alliance with the geth as well as through edi. With the dillema resolving itself, without a harvest (though impending doom proved to be the catalyst for that alliance) the solution became apparant once you imbue consciousness to a machine you must respect it as the sentient individual it is. That aside shepard didn't just waltz in and defeat them, the master program allowed it because the solution was rendered obsolete by the swift adaptability of both organic and synthetic species in the current cycle of advanced civilization. I also think they could have tied up the endings a little more, being this was to be the end of that particular storyline. At least, no matter which ending you choose, there is a definitely sacrifices made. It doesn’t fully give in to the overindulged “winner take all” ending. Shepards victory in the plot did find legitimacy in the sense that the dispute between synthetic and organic life was overcome through alliance with the geth as well as through edi. With the dillema resolving itself, without a harvest (though impending doom proved to be the catalyst for that alliance) the solution became apparant once you imbue consciousness to a machine you must respect it as the sentient individual it is. That aside shepard didn’t just waltz in and defeat them, the master program allowed it because the solution was rendered obsolete by the swift adaptability of both organic and synthetic species in the current cycle of advanced civilization.

]]> Comment on After Mass Effect: The False Cthulhu at the End of the Galaxy by Jordan Rivas http://sortiv.com/?p=2189&cpage=1#comment-44429 Jordan Rivas Mon, 08 Apr 2013 02:14:39 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2189#comment-44429 Hi Julie; welcome to the blog. Thanks for reading and commenting. You bring up a great point about the gamer in you being unhappy with certain trappings of a Lovecraftian story. So much of the appeal in all games, not just Mass Effect, is the empowerment and agency we're granted in these fictional settings. I mainly tried to stay within the literary sense, but yes, what you mention about the interactivity aspect is especially valid. Hi Julie; welcome to the blog. Thanks for reading and commenting.

You bring up a great point about the gamer in you being unhappy with certain trappings of a Lovecraftian story. So much of the appeal in all games, not just Mass Effect, is the empowerment and agency we’re granted in these fictional settings. I mainly tried to stay within the literary sense, but yes, what you mention about the interactivity aspect is especially valid.

]]> Comment on Interview w/Beautiful Escape Developer by Cart Life Wins Three IGF Awards « Electron Dance http://sortiv.com/?p=781&cpage=1#comment-44131 Cart Life Wins Three IGF Awards « Electron Dance Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:52:47 +0000 http://jordanrivas.com/?p=781#comment-44131 [...] (at the time) better-known sociopath game Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer (best game ending of 2010) via Jordan Rivas. Somehow the game had been posted onto rpgmaker.net and never achieved escape velocity. I forwarded [...] [...] (at the time) better-known sociopath game Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer (best game ending of 2010) via Jordan Rivas. Somehow the game had been posted onto rpgmaker.net and never achieved escape velocity. I forwarded [...]

]]> Comment on After Mass Effect: The False Cthulhu at the End of the Galaxy by julie http://sortiv.com/?p=2189&cpage=1#comment-44120 julie Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:20:10 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2189#comment-44120 i think the writers, to a certain degree, set themselves up for a level of failure by attempting to use lovecraftian themes in conjunction with more conventional themes. An ending that would be palletable for a typical gamer will not fit when dealing with a lovecraftian superbeast. its like putting a square peg in a round hole. i tend to enjoy lovecraftian themes as a reader. However, the gamer in me would be pissed at the ending where shepard becomes indoctrinated and is instrumental in the destruction of advanced civilization, before becoming a prized goo wad in the reaper collective. unfortunately any "hero saves the day" endings, sacrificial or otherwise, would make the story fall flat. once u inject that lovecraftian principle of incomprehensability and inevitability, you are locked in. any stray from it in the ending feels like selling out to the gamer's need to defeat the opponent. i think the writers, to a certain degree, set themselves up for a level of failure by attempting to use lovecraftian themes in conjunction with more conventional themes. An ending that would be palletable for a typical gamer will not fit when dealing with a lovecraftian superbeast. its like putting a square peg in a round hole. i tend to enjoy lovecraftian themes as a reader. However, the gamer in me would be pissed at the ending where shepard becomes indoctrinated and is instrumental in the destruction of advanced civilization, before becoming a prized goo wad in the reaper collective. unfortunately any “hero saves the day” endings, sacrificial or otherwise, would make the story fall flat. once u inject that lovecraftian principle of incomprehensability and inevitability, you are locked in. any stray from it in the ending feels like selling out to the gamer’s need to defeat the opponent.

]]> Comment on This is a post about Skyrim and Self Deception by Rams http://sortiv.com/?p=2057&cpage=1#comment-44050 Rams Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:29:02 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=2057#comment-44050 Awesome observations. Both self-deception and a cognitive reality are actually closely related. Most of what we "understand" as reality is merely our own views or subconscious dogma replaying itself over and over and over again. From an early age we are taught what is what and when is when. It's not often that we are able to step out of that as we grow considerably older. In a way, "Can't teach a dog new tricks" is merely a simpler way of saying that your reality cannot expand. A lot of the reason why traveling abroad (and viewing other cultures) can be such a mind blowing experience. The cultural views of other societies can be so drastically different that reality can change for a person, to an extent. It's a tool, though, like you mentioned. Some people make a living, or remake their lives by it (neurolinguistic programming). Thank you for highlighting it in way that most people would miss it. Awesome observations. Both self-deception and a cognitive reality are actually closely related. Most of what we “understand” as reality is merely our own views or subconscious dogma replaying itself over and over and over again.

From an early age we are taught what is what and when is when. It’s not often that we are able to step out of that as we grow considerably older. In a way, “Can’t teach a dog new tricks” is merely a simpler way of saying that your reality cannot expand. A lot of the reason why traveling abroad (and viewing other cultures) can be such a mind blowing experience. The cultural views of other societies can be so drastically different that reality can change for a person, to an extent.

It’s a tool, though, like you mentioned. Some people make a living, or remake their lives by it (neurolinguistic programming). Thank you for highlighting it in way that most people would miss it.

]]> Comment on This is a post about 9/11 and Splinter Cell by Pepe http://sortiv.com/?p=1847&cpage=1#comment-43991 Pepe Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:45:38 +0000 http://sortiv.com/?p=1847#comment-43991 Interesting read... But there are a couple things that I would like to add. Maybe you gave them some thought before or maybe not. First, that the history of the USA is full of wars. Your generation isn't the only one to have lived through it. In the early nineties there was the Gulf War so there were only ten years without a war. Second, the world didn't change on 9/11. Maybe the perception of the world of many USA citizens changed with the 9/11 but world-changing events happen everyday. I'm sure that for a lot of chilean citizens the world changed on 9/11 1973. The last thing I would like to point out is that freedom as the USA conceives it is more an abstract ideal that is used to manipulate people. I would prefer a freedom like the one Sartre proposed. And I say this because the freedom of the USA is the freedom to be like the USA, you can't be different. In other words: you HAVE to be capitalist and a democracy. While I can somehow accept the later the former is actually a model for making slaves (you can check Zygmunt Bauman's concept of "liquid modernity" and how we are slaves of the economic model). Quite complex... isn't it? Interesting read… But there are a couple things that I would like to add. Maybe you gave them some thought before or maybe not.
First, that the history of the USA is full of wars. Your generation isn’t the only one to have lived through it. In the early nineties there was the Gulf War so there were only ten years without a war.
Second, the world didn’t change on 9/11. Maybe the perception of the world of many USA citizens changed with the 9/11 but world-changing events happen everyday. I’m sure that for a lot of chilean citizens the world changed on 9/11 1973.
The last thing I would like to point out is that freedom as the USA conceives it is more an abstract ideal that is used to manipulate people. I would prefer a freedom like the one Sartre proposed. And I say this because the freedom of the USA is the freedom to be like the USA, you can’t be different. In other words: you HAVE to be capitalist and a democracy. While I can somehow accept the later the former is actually a model for making slaves (you can check Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of “liquid modernity” and how we are slaves of the economic model).
Quite complex… isn’t it?

]]>