Movies vs Gaming: The Battle of the Century?

Now that I have your attention with this image, on with the post

All right, before I start, let me enter my "non-biased" mode. I practically live off of anime (which is essentially the same as movies), and I'm also an avid gamer, so before I start rambling, let me remind you that I enjoy both forms of media equally. Putting the industry aside for a moment, both forms of entertainment have their ups and downs; and now, I'll give my two cents worth (well, maybe a bit more) on what they are.

When you break it down to the very basics, there is one fundamental difference between games and movies - interaction. For a movie, you observe a story from a distance, growing attached to the characters as the plot develops. In games, you become a part of the story, taking part in it and (in some cases) influencing the conclusion. Now, many people believe that games are superior because they involve you directly rather than indirectly; and while I agree that this is true in some ways, there are indeed some things that a movie can do that a game can't.

To me, this issue comes down to the viewer's expectations. If a person reads a book, they wouldn't be expecting action or suspense; they would expect a solid plot and evenly paced development. Now, this isn't to say that action/adventure novels can't be written - they get written all the time, actually - but people often agree that the movie adaptations are superior, because they get to witness the action first hand. On the other hand, does this mean that books are inferior to movies? A novel, comprised of mere words on a collection of pages, can delve into the depths of the human mind, tell a tale of modern politics and philosophy, or just discuss the everyday events of an ordinary person's life; and anyone that has read a few decent books would realize that 200 pages of well-written story can reach a level of depth that all the visuals and interaction in the world couldn't reach. It all depends on how the book is written, and how the tale is told. This same mentality can be applied to the modern-day issue of movies and gaming.

So, if a person were filming a sci-fi action movie about a cyborg that fights against an army of evil robots and they asked the general public if they would rather watch the movie or a play a game with the same plot, most of them would probably choose the game. After all, the thrill of playing as a cyborg and exploring a post-apocalyptic world while tearing down anything that gets in your way is an awful lot more fun that watching someone else do it, which is essentially what a movie is. However, what if a person were to film a movie on a similar concept taking place in a similar world, except with heavier dialogue and religious and philosophical undertones that deal with the true meaning of life and the path to destruction that humanity is walking, using specific characters and organizations as symbols of a much larger picture and a much deeper meaning...would something like that work out well in a game? Well, admittedly, I have played some games with remarkably good storylines *coughXenogearscough*, but for the most part, a game like that would bore you to death with dialogue and lack of action. On the other hand, in the context of a movie, the viewer could take their time and appreciate the depth of the plot for what it is, slowly becoming entranced with the tragic struggle against fate or the eerily realistic allegory of the world we live in. In a situation like this, a movie could actually engross the viewer more effectively than a game - and this leads me to my conclusion.

Video games are not superior to movies, and movies are not superior to video games. As much as I'd hate to take such a neutral standpoint, this is the only way I can think of saying it. Like with every form of entertainment, one can only be superior to another in a specific instance; and even so, with enough effort and planning, one can defy logic and write an action novel more entrancing and engrossing than Halo, or program a video game with a plot as philosophical and thought-provoking as 1984. What more needs to be said? I like my games as interactive as possible, and I like my movies (or anime, in my case) to be either entertaining and comedic or deep and philosophical. The trends in the industry may be changing, but the bare basics of the issue will always remain the same: every medium has its ups and downs, and it's up to the artists in each field to capitalize on the advantages and work their way around the disadvantages.

Post 3 - The Boredom of Graphic Artists

"When graphic artists get bored"; a good title for such a unique video. From the hybrids between human and animal similar to what we did this year to the earth and moon masquerading as cat and mouse, the creativity just seems to be overflowing. All of the images in the video were realistic and well designed; they almost feel natural until you look close enough to see that they're not. Needless to say, they must have been created by professionals in the field. I think that these pictures serve to demostrate the creative capabilities of graphic artists and what the technology behind Photoshop can do; and, of course, the effect of boredom on talented people.

I'm pretty sure that most of these images can be created on Photoshop with basic tools, many of which we probably used for our own hybrid projects. For example, the picture with the headless person in a room with shelves full of heads (disturbing as that sounds) was probably created with a bit of cut and paste, with some blurring as needed to make it look realistic. On the other hand, an image like the one with the cow with the world map imprinted on its side could have been made by selecting the black spots and dragging/distorting them as necessary. Most of the other pictures were probably made using similar methods; though of course, the real skill comes in the finishing touches that make the images look real.

One of my favourite hybrids was the image of the swimmer swimming through the road. It caught my eye because it altered the terrain and background rather than the human or animal. At first, I noticed the road and the background which seemed perfectly natural, and then I saw the swimmer; which also looked perfectly natural, aside from the fact that it defies all logic. Not only was the idea creative, but the design in Photoshop was excellent as well, and the finished product is something that caught my attention more than the other pictures.

I guess what this video does best is show us what the potential products of technology mixed with artistic skill can be; and there's a TON of potential. Maybe I should try and do something constructive next time I'm bored...

Post #6 - Ec(h)o

Our annual art show, the culmination of the efforts of a solid portion of the school, the one week celebration where every member of the community partakes in the result of a year of hard work. This is Ec(h)o, the art show of Mary Ward for 2008, and it was as much of a success I had hoped. From the joy of getting to display your works of art to the rest of the school and even to the parents and outsiders that come to watch, to the excitement of seeing the artwork from your fellow peers (especially the seniors), to simply relaxing with your friends and taking a tour of our expertly transformed basement, this year's show was an experience unlike anything else - aside from, possibly, last year's show.

Though this might sound somewhat irrelevant, one of the best aspects of Ec(h)o in my opinion was the new design - specifically, the entryway to the first room. Even for us students in the school, walking into the dark cylindrical body of plastic and arriving in Art for the first time feels foreign, as if we had never seen the room before. So, logically speaking, if my reaction was that great, imagine what our parents would think? Seemingly teleporting into a world of colour and art, the tour begins with a bang and keeps up the pace astonishingly well. Of course, the actual artwork was great as well, but I really thought that the layout of the show was incredible this year; it made me feel like I didn't even know my own school.

My only regret about Ec(h)o was that I didn't get to catch as many of the student films as I would have liked to. My favourite one this year that I got to watch was definitely "A Walk in the Park", which I thought was an excellent depiction of life in modern day society, and shows just how easy it is to get lost in the world. I won't go on a deep analysis on that one film or anything, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed it more than most of the movies last year, and I especially commend the team that worked on it for going with something serious. Many students choose comedy over depth because it's the easier thing to do, so I respect those who take risks and strive for something higher. I also wanted to watch World Asleep and Watchdogs, but didn't get time. Well, when all else fails, I can always resort to YouTube.

So, long story short, I think this year's show was great. The artwork was as detailed and skillfully crafted as ever, the movies ranged from entertaining to thought-provoking, and the layout helped emphasize the work and create the best possible reaction from the viewers. Amazing job, students and teachers that participated - and I'll be looking forward to next year's!

Entry #4 - Facebook and Education. Is it Possible?

I think we've all heard more than enough about Facebook by now, in countless different lights at that. Is it the latest passtime for lazy teenagers? A technological advancement that could revolutionize our education system? The cancer that's killing the internet? Facebook can be an awful lot of things, admittedly, and every individual and every group seems to share a different opinion on it. What I can say for certain, though, is that Facebook is an example of TECHNOLOGY - and throughout human history, technology has never been good or bad. It's all about how it's used.

Now, personally, I'm not a Facebook user. Why? Because I have better things to do with my life. But that's a different story. The issue right now is that a social networking site, something that is often viewed by schools as the worst thing since cell phones (which is probably the worst thing since passing notes in class or hanging out in the washrooms), has now been used for educational purposes. Can a person call their friends in class and chat idly? Yes, albeit they would probably get caught - but the point of the matter is that they could do it, and that it would be a hindrance to the teacher and the rest of the class. On the other hand, could a student call home and ask permission to go on a trip, or call the school when they're out to find out if it's a civvies day? Again, while neither situation is probable, the fact of the matter is that it CAN happen, and that it would help the student and the school a lot more than it would hurt them. So, are cell phones evil? The answer to that should be the answer to this whole Facebook issue.

As I said earlier, I'm not a Facebook user, so my opinion should be an awful lot less biased than many of my colleagues. However, that doesn't mean that my opinion is any different: it's just that, to me, this is an issue of common sense above all else. This student has demonstrated that technology can be used for educational purposes, and that it can help people study. For some reason beyond my comprehension, some people think that this can be a bad thing. Are cars bad because you can run people over with them, even though you can also get to school faster with them? Technology is all the same in the end: it depends on how it's used. A study group in Facebook is no different from a study group on the phone, or a study group in real life. What the schools need to worry about is regulating students from accessing Facebook during school and idly passing time - not restricting a private study group that hasn't done anything wrong other than the fact that it involves the internet.

In the end, I'd say that Facebook has potential to be used for educational purposes; it's a good method of communication, and it's something that students are familiar with. That said, I have to admit that if I were into these things, I would rather keep Facebook as education-free as possible. But that's a different debate, isn't it?

Entry #5 - Mac vs PC

Ah, the war between Mac and PC. It's breathtaking, isn't it? Microsoft or Nintendo, Hotmail or Gmail, Internet Explorer or Firefox; whenever technology evolves enough to provide us with a wonderful new service, rivals appear where one does virtually the same as the other. Now, this isn't anything to complain about - I understand the importance of competition in the industry, and a flame war or two on the internet about which is superior never hurt anyone. So, we all know that the rivalry between Apple's and Microsoft's operating systems has been going on for quite some time; the question is, which is superior? Presently, I'm writing this post on a PC at school; and when I get home, I'll probably download some files on my desktop PC and spend some time on my laptop, which runs on - you guessed it - Windows. That should say something about my opinion.

Now, many of you probably stopped reading right there, but for those open-minded enough to let me make my case, here goes. Needless to say, both operating systems have their ups and downs. The Mac is well known to be user-friendly and comfortable, providing many benefits to casual users and graphic designers. Many would agree that the more time you spend on the computer, the more you would need a Mac, for the sake of simplicity and comfort. Even I agree that Apple utterly crushes Microsoft with their sleek design and outward appearance. However, there are things that a Mac can't do; and I have yet to find something that a PC can't do.

You see, the thing I love about Windows is that it works. With everything. When downloading a program, I don't even bother checking the required specs; I know it'll work on XP, no matter what. Mac users have to worry about a ton of technical difficulties that come up in everyday situations - and yes, this includes leisure, not just business. There goes your ad, Apple. Linux users have it even harder as far as I know, but that's a different debate. The point of the matter is, I hardly ever use my laptop for anything other than leisure, and I'm certain that if I tried to run all of my programs, games, and applications on a Mac, at least a few wouldn't work. Fancy design and convenience are nice, but not at the cost of double-checking everything you do to make sure it works with your OS. This is the very reason why I don't use Vista.

Many of us have probably noticed by now that the popularity of the Mac has soared in the past few years. Simply stepping into Comm Tech, I often see students with their Macbooks open fiddling around with Photoshop. If I opened up my clunky laptop with Windows next to them, I'd probably look an awful lot worse, and get less done to boot. That said, I could use that very same computer to play some games when I get home, and type up an essay the following day. I'm a proud PC user because there's nothing a PC can't do. They may not look the best, they may not be as convenient for casual use, and they may not garner the image of experience as the Mac has done as of late; but they work, and they never stop working. Until I find something useful to me that I can do with a Mac but not a PC, I have no reason to ever switch.

Entry #2 - Music Mania Downloads

Downloading music. One of the most common issues of the current generation. If you’re bored one day, take a stroll in the halls of Mary Ward during a busy time and check to see how many students have visible earphones somewhere – and for those who don’t, stop and ask if they have some form of personal listening device on them at the moment. My guess is that about 80% of them will. Portable music has become a huge thing lately, especially among teenagers; the question is, how are people filling up their 4 GB of empty space?

The answer to that, more often than not, will be "illegal downloading." After all, you have an iPod with far more space than you can ever use and a ton of singers and bands you want to listen to, so what else can you do but steal their music by the truckload and transfer it over to your little mp3 player to listen to on the go? It’s the only logical conclusion. Piracy, with its easy accessibility and little to no risks, has captured the hearts of many an honest citizen of Canada. However, I’m not here to rant about the current issue of piracy; I’m here to give my thoughts on the matter.

I, personally, admit to stealing music, and I plan on continuing to do so. Why, you ask? Well, ethically speaking, there’s no defense for my actions. If I were a famous singer, I would certainly want my fans to, you know, pay for my music. Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d probably give a virus to every computer that’s storing my songs if they were illegally obtained. However, there’s more to this issue than just ethics. For me, there are two reasons why I doubt I will ever stop pirating music – price, and more importantly, availability.

Call me a liar if you want, but if every song I wanted was available online for a dollar, I would pay even if a free version is just a few clicks away. I really would. However, as we all know, this isn’t the case. Online stores like iTunes generally deal with the most popular songs only; what if you want something different? What if you’re looking for a hit song in a foreign language, or the main theme of that new video game? As an avid…er, "fan" of Japanese anime and music, I’m going to want my KOTOKO and Hirano Aya an awful lot more than whatever the popular kids are listening to these days. And of course, if you’re planning on finding a site that lets you legitimately download the latest J-Pop for a decent price – not to mention a readable site for those poorly versed in moonspeak like myself – I wish you luck.

For me, piracy all comes down to practicality. Software, games, music, it’s all the same: can I easily obtain it legally, or is it easier on me to just download the thing? If Adobe Photoshop CS3 is sold in Future Shop for several hundred dollars and I’m not a professional graphic designer, do you really think I’m going to purchase it, or will I just download it for a couple homework assignments and the odd homemade wallpaper? Likewise, if the only way I can get that latest Asian Kung-Fu Generation album is to order it online for $20 and probably toss on another $20 for shipping, isn’t it an awful lot more practical to type a couple words into Limewire and get what I’m looking for? In all honesty, if a click of the mouse could get me a song with a dollar or two gone to the creators, versus scouring the internet for an illegal torrent with a 50/50 chance of getting a virus, I wouldn’t support piracy. But that isn’t the case.

Long story short, the business is killing itself. Say what you will about the fans being disloyal to their favourite bands by pirating their music, but when you compare price, accessibility, and practicality, piracy wins in every way. Ethics alone aren’t enough to sway people. Economic analysis isn’t exactly my strong point, but even I can see that something is wrong here. The entertainment industry has a new enemy, and it has nothing to do with free trade or taxes – it’s called the internet.