Star Trek Beyond (2016)
I am not a dogmatic fan. In fact as I get older, I become far more flexible and forgiving in my outlook. I certainly don’t buy into the concept that your “childhood can be ruined”. The only way something new can spoil the memories of something old that you hold dear, is if you allow it to. If you wish to explore this concept further, I’d suggest reading Marcus Aurelius. Back to the matter in hand. When I found out that Star Trek was to be rebooted via an alternative timeline plot device, I was content with this. I decided to ditch my personal baggage and try and be objective about the now named “Kelvin Timeline”. I make no bones about the fact I have liked the previous two Star Trek movies. Are they masterpieces? No. Are they entertaining? Yes. That is far more than some reboots have achieved.
I am not a dogmatic fan. In fact as I get older, I become far more flexible and forgiving in my outlook. I certainly don’t buy into the concept that your “childhood can be ruined”. The only way something new can spoil the memories of something old that you hold dear, is if you allow it to. If you wish to explore this concept further, I’d suggest reading Marcus Aurelius. Back to the matter in hand. When I found out that Star Trek was to be rebooted via an alternative timeline plot device, I was content with this. I decided to ditch my personal baggage and try and be objective about the now named “Kelvin Timeline”. I make no bones about the fact I have liked the previous two Star Trek movies. Are they masterpieces? No. Are they entertaining? Yes. That is far more than some reboots have achieved.
Since J.J. Abrams move from director to executive producer on the new movie franchise, I’ve been a little sceptical regarding the third instalment. Justin Lin is not a film maker I would have immediately thought of with regard to Star Trek. Thankfully, I am happy to say my personal misgivings have been proven wrong. The director’s frenetic signature set pieces are certainly present in Star Trek Beyond. But so is an obvious understanding of the source material. In many respects the film plays out like a big budget, extended episode of the original series. However far from being a criticism, this is a major compliment, showing that the entire production team fundamentally understands what makes the franchise great and what fans like the best.
The plot is relatively straightforward, involving the Enterprise being lured into an ambush within the confines of an uncharted nebula. Marooned on a nearby planet, most of the crew find themselves prisoner of Krall, an alleged alien warlord. However, Kirk, Chekov, Spock, McCoy and Scotty evade capture and plan to rescue their colleagues. It is here that the film comes into its own, with the focus on the crew interaction. The pairing of McCoy and Spock is very reminiscent of scenes from the original series and includes some classic banter between the two. I was very pleased to see Karl Urban given more onscreen time, as his portrayal of Doctor McCoy is spot on. Although at times reminiscent of DeForest Kelly, Urban manages to provide a contemporary spin on the character and make the role his own. The movie also comes to life when the classic trinity of Kirk, Spock and McCoy come together. It would also be remiss of me to not mention Simon Pegg who has an expanded role this time round. His pairing with another alien Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), who has also been marooned, provides a greater insight into the character. There is humour and pathos in his performance.
Star Trek Beyond also takes the time to ponder some wider issues pertaining to the franchise. I like the concept of a captain questioning the validity of the five year mission faced with the infinite nature of the universe. The screenplay written by Doug Jung and Simon Pegg also sensitively deals with death of Leonard Nimoy. The passing of Spock Prime causes his younger self to reflect of his various choices, such as joining Starfleet and his relationship with Uhura. It is a credible dilemma that could beset those who find themselves part of a diaspora. The movie’s only narrative weakness it with its villain Krall, played by Idris Elba. He lacks sufficient development and although we understand his motives, they are somewhat arbitrary. Perhaps some additional screen time could have remedied this minor deficiency.
It was announced last week by producer J.J. Abrams that the role of Chekov will not be recast after the tragic death of Anton Yelchin. However the franchise will see a further instalment with a plot featuring Kirk meeting his dead father, George. Despite some rather vocal naysayers, it would appear that these new movie set in the “Kelvin Timeline” are finding an audience and proving commercially viable. With Bryan Fuller recently revealing that his new TV shows will be called Star Trek Discovery, it looks like the entire Star Trek franchise is in good shape after fifty years. Star Trek Beyond certainly contributes to this current good standing and manages remain true to the spirit of Gene Roddenberry’s vision, despite an unlikely director.
My Home Entertainment System
The ongoing changes to the way we consume media is a common subject for discussion these days. In recent years I’ve written about it on this blog and discussed the matter at length with my co-host Brian on the podcast. The focus of these debates has usually been about the cultural shift away from fixed viewing schedules, to watching shows and movies on demand. For many people TV has broadly moved from a shared cultural experience defined by broadcast times, to a more isolated experience. One has to be doubly aware of spoiler etiquette these days, as friends and colleagues may well watch the same show but be a season ahead or behind.
The ongoing changes to the way we consume media is a common subject for discussion these days. In recent years I’ve written about it on this blog and discussed the matter at length with my co-host Brian on the podcast. The focus of these debates has usually been about the cultural shift away from fixed viewing schedules, to watching shows and movies on demand. For many people TV has broadly moved from a shared cultural experience defined by broadcast times, to a more isolated experience. One has to be doubly aware of spoiler etiquette these days, as friends and colleagues may well watch the same show but be a season ahead or behind.
However on this occasion I want to talk about the actual hardware that we use to consume media. My PC, tablet and phone are all used to varying degrees to watch videos and TV shows but the television in the lounge still remains the focal point for shared, family viewing. Today I made some minor changes to our home entertainment setup to try and make it more flexible with regard to our viewing needs. I could have spent several thousand pounds if I wanted to ensure I was at the bleeding edge of home entertainment but frankly I did not see the sense in that. Much of the hardware that’s currently in place is perfectly adequate so there was merely a need to augment rather than replacement. So that is exactly what I did.
The 38 inch Samsung TV that resides on the wall in the lounge is somewhat old but it’s only real deficiency has been up to now, it’s lack of online functionality. The attached BT YouView box provides access to both digital terrestrial television and premium IPTV services. It’s also a DVR and has a range of optional on demand services. Until today a LG Blu-ray/DVD player was the third device in this humble home entertainment system. It’s only additional function was playback of video files via a USB flashdrive. However in recent months a lack of access to You Tube, along with multi-region support for both DVDs and Blu-rays has proven inconvenient. An increased use of .mkv files has highlighted a need for network functionality.
With all this in mind, I decided to replace the LG player with a newer Panasonic model. The DMP-BD83 has the multi-region support I was looking for, as well as internet apps including You Tube. The player has an ethernet port at the rear and also reads external HDD of up to 4TB. As of today the new player has been installed and as a result we can now enjoy multiple forms of entertainment in one location. The only logistical problem was sourcing an additional ethernet cable to the location. The existing one which serves the IPTV box is connected to the internet router via twin powerline adapters. Rather than add more of these I just bought a mini switch and split the existing LAN connection. I even kept the cable management tidy.
I must admit I’m happy with the results of this nominal upgrade. Both items cost a total of £75 and I was fortunate enough to have a spare 1TB portable HDD available to connect to the new Panasonic player. This has allowed be to consolidate all my current TV shows and movies in one place and free up space on my PC. I also linked my phone to the new setup and can now easily search You Tube on my Samsung S6 but view the results via the TV. Overall the ageing Samsung television has now gained full smart TV functionality without incurring the cost of purchasing one. Furthermore the setup is not especially difficult to operate which is beneficial for my significant other, who is not a major fan of technology.
The only weak link left in the current setup is the audio quality. I have toyed with the idea of buying a soundbar but can’t find one that is the right size for the shelves. For the present I’m considering a single all-in-one wireless speaker as an alternative. Perhaps Google Home will offer an appropriate solution when it is launches later this year. In the meantime, what is currently in place is sufficient for our entertainment needs. Perhaps the next television we’ll buy will be 4K compatible. Certainly I’m sure they’ll be more online delivery platforms to consider in the future. However we’ll cross those bridges, as and when we come to them.
New Content or Rinse and Repeat?
Over the weekend I finally finished the Blood and Wine DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. By which I mean I’ve completed the main story (and achieved the “best” of three possible outcomes) and all (allegedly) of the secondary quests. It’s hard to tell with this game; it may well still have surprises to spring within its open world. However pedantry aside, to all intents and purposes I’ve played through the game. This got me thinking about the thorny issue of game content because The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and all its DLC contains a lot. Playable content is a subject that frequently comes up when discussing games because there is no standard quantity. Furthermore the nature of content itself varies. Some is meant to be unique where other is specifically designed to be repeated. Whatever a developers approach to this issue, a game’s content is certainly a key selling point.
Over the weekend I finally finished the Blood and Wine DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. By which I mean I’ve completed the main story (and achieved the “best” of three possible outcomes) and all (allegedly) of the secondary quests. It’s hard to tell with this game; it may well still have surprises to spring within its open world. However pedantry aside, to all intents and purposes I’ve played through the game. This got me thinking about the thorny issue of game content because The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and all its DLC contains a lot. Playable content is a subject that frequently comes up when discussing games because there is no standard quantity. Furthermore the nature of content itself varies. Some is meant to be unique where other is specifically designed to be repeated. Whatever a developers approach to this issue, a game’s content is certainly a key selling point.
Both the RPG and MMO genres are very much dependent on the volume of content that they contain. New releases need to ensure that the player has a viable amount of content to work through. It’s the same with expansions and DLC. Players want to feel they are getting “value for money” although that can prove a somewhat nebulous term to quantify. However creating quality new content for both these genres, is both expensive and time consuming. It requires input from writers, programmers and a plethora of other creative artists. Furthermore regardless how much is produced, players always seems to burn through it too quickly. Consumption and demand simply cannot be met.
One solution to this conundrum is to encourage players to replay old content. This is common in the MMO genre and is also applicable to RPGs. With a game such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, due to the multiple story outcomes, there is a sufficient incentive to play again. Some MMOs will offer you a degree of new content if you play through old content with a new class or faction. SWTOR does this well, offering a bespoke central regardless of what character you choose to play. Guild Wars 2 also provides a similar degree of variety. Star Trek Online also does this to a degree, offering unique stories to each faction for the first third of the game. After that the remainder of content available is standardised. However Cryptic have cunningly devised ways to encourage players to repeat content. Last year saw the Delta Recruitment event and the current expansion, Agents of Yesterday, provides further incentives. Enhanced XP, bonus Dilithium, improved loot drops and account wide unlocks can encourage even the most reticent of STO players to do it all again.
Sadly there are many examples of games that are far from generous with their content. Star Wars Battlefront for example launched with a woefully poor amount of maps and game modes. Subsequent DLC has addressed this to a degree but that didn’t benefit those playing on day one of the game’s launch. Also many of the ageing MMOs suffer from a lack of new content. A declining player base means less revenue which inevitably means less frequent new content. LOTRO is a prime example of this. Since the game moved from paid expansions to free updates, most new content has just been variations on existing themes. It keeps the faithful quiet but does not bring new players to the game. Guild Wars 2 has also suffered from lack of regular new content. Last year’s expansion was aimed squarely at those players at level cap and the new content was far from universally well received. Beyond that the base game endured without any significant update for several years.
As a player, a simple solution to this problem is to not be an early adopter. Starting an MMO a year or so after launch often ensures a fair amount of content will be available. Once the game of the year edition of an RPG is released, twelve months after the initial launch, players often find the game bundled with all DLC and a lot of bug fixes. I tackled Skyrim in 2013, eighteen months after it’s release and as a result got over three hundred hours of enjoyment out of the game. However the issue of repeating content is a more difficult matter. Some players simply don’t like to play through material they’re already familiar with. It’s a position I have a degree of sympathy with as it’s not something I always enjoy. Certainly there is no incentive when it comes to older MMOs unless the games developers make it so. At present replaying through Rift, or Age of Conan: Unchained will not be significantly different experience to how it was five years ago.
Conversely music, books, films and TV can all be revisited at a later date after their original consumption, to varying degrees of success. This may be due to the respective depths of these mediums and the fact that content of these genres can be multi-layered and nuanced. Each visit can potentially yield something new or a broader meaning. The fact that we change with age and experience may also aid this process. Games may not necessarily follow suite. Gaming mechanics do not always offers such varied outcomes and unfortunately many games still suffer from poor narratives, especially the RPG and MMO genres. Overall I think that for the immediate future there is no long term solution to this problem. Content availability is still going to be a sticking point for both developers and gamers. Perhaps the future lies with games that side step this issue. Procedurally generated content is one option as is simply relying on non-narrative driven genres. Perhaps Pokémon GO and Overwatch ultimately offer greater longevity, due to their non-narrative nature. The content in these cases is the unique experience of actually playing the game. If that is the case we may need to rethink exactly what the definition of content is.
Pokémon GO – Ten Days Later
Ten days on from the launch of Pokémon Go the game has finally been officially released in the UK. However judging by the amount of gyms that have been claimed in my neighbourhood, it would seem that many people have already opted to download and install the client unofficially, like myself. Pokémon Go has gone beyond being just a popular mobile game and quickly morphed into a pop culture phenomenon. It’s everywhere at present and Nintendo are obviously enjoying the fruits of their labour. However it will be interesting to see in the weeks to come whether the level of enthusiasm the game currently enjoys can be sustained.
Ten days on from the launch of Pokémon Go the game has finally been officially released in the UK. However judging by the amount of gyms that have been claimed in my neighbourhood, it would seem that many people have already opted to download and install the client unofficially, like myself. Pokémon Go has gone beyond being just a popular mobile game and quickly morphed into a pop culture phenomenon. It’s everywhere at present and Nintendo are obviously enjoying the fruits of their labour. However it will be interesting to see in the weeks to come whether the level of enthusiasm the game currently enjoys can be sustained.
As for me, I’ve already dialled back by excitement for Pokémon Go. All the local Pokégyms are beyond my current level and none of my existing Pokémon are sufficiently robust enough to provide a significant challenge, so I’m mainly focused on collecting at present. Due to where I live, there are plenty of Pokéstops. It would appear that pubs, churches and parks all meet the games criteria to be a designated as such and there’s no shortage of these in South East London. Avery Hill Park next to the Halls of Residence for Greenwich University has over twelve Pokéstops and two gyms. The park itself can also offer a variety of Pokémon, which change according to the time of day.
The twenty minute walk that it takes to reach this particular open space, plus the time needed to walk round the entire park provides a great opportunity to hatch eggs. This is an additional facet of Pokémon Go that brings me pleasure, although it raised a curious look from Mrs Peril when I told her I was going out to incubate my eggs. It’s also the only aspect of the game that has so far made me contemplate spending money. I briefly thought it may be useful to purchase additional incubators but quickly shelved the idea. I already put enough money into several other games that I play and am still suspicious about the cost to fun ratio of mobile games. I also have a nagging doubt that I may get bored with Pokémon Go because I cannot invest the time that is needed to progress and succeed in the game.
One final part of Pokémon Go culture that is worth mentioning is the comradery. I was at the Crayford branch of Sainsbury’s yesterday and there was several families shopping while playing the game. A few friendly words were exchanged once everyone determined we were all doing the same thing, which makes for a pleasant change. I also noticed more people politely nodding and smiling when out and about. I guess the way we carry our phones and the manic grin is a bit of a giveaway that we’re all after the same rare Pokémon. Personally I find these minor but positive changes in social interaction a pleasant counterbalance to all the negative stories that have been associated with the game. It would seem that there are still many players who seem oblivious to their own and others safety.
Pokémon Go uses a popular franchise and combines it with the human compulsion to collect, as well as our love of gamifying the arbitrary and the mundane. I’m still not sure if the game is a stroke of genius or a case of the emperor’s new clothes. Certainly it has been nice to be part of a burgeoning craze while it actually happens, rather than being on the outside looking in. I also think that Augmented Reality may be the sleeper game format that gazumps the crown that Virtual Reality is striving for. We’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime perhaps we should start placing bets on other popular franchises from the nineties that may be revived. My money is on Johnny Bravo.
Pokémon GO – The Madness Spreads
Well the world seems to be going crazy for Pokémon GO at present, myself included. I must admit the first thing I did today when I woke up was reach for my phone and log into the game. I ended up catching a Drowzee in my bedroom which came as a surprise to me. So much for me trying to temper my smart phone “addiction”. Just five days after the release of Pokémon GO, the Nintendo Corporation is enjoying a $7.5 billion increase in their market value. The game itself is certainly gaining a lot of media attention as well as traction with the player base, despite performance issues and bugs. I hope that Niantic release an updated client soon with various fixes.
Well the world seems to be going crazy for Pokémon GO at present, myself included. I must admit the first thing I did today when I woke up was reach for my phone and log into the game. I ended up catching a Drowzee in my bedroom which came as a surprise to me. So much for me trying to temper my smart phone “addiction”. Just five days after the release of Pokémon GO, the Nintendo Corporation is enjoying a $7.5 billion increase in their market value. The game itself is certainly gaining a lot of media attention as well as traction with the player base, despite performance issues and bugs. I hope that Niantic release an updated client soon with various fixes.
Although I applaud the notion of encouraging gamers to venture outdoors and exercise, it would seem that many of the problems that I and others pointed out last week, have indeed manifested themselves. PokéStops and Gyms are at times in inappropriate locations. Health and safety issues have also been raised over players pursuing their quarry. Sadly it’s the human factor that is the most upsetting and problematic. Stories have emerged of players behaving poorly in sensitive places such as cemeteries, churches and even the Holocaust Museum in Washington. The fact that some people don’t seem to have any grasp of social etiquette, decorum and old fashioned good manners both worries and angers me. Here are a few examples (and yes I know not everyone is an asshole but guess what, they’re far more than you think!)
Pokémon Go: Singapore company sacks Australian for rant
US Teens Accused Of Using Pokémon Go To Rob
Pokémon Go player finds dead body in Wyoming river while searching for a Pokéstop
However, it is not all doom and gloom. The Pokémon Company has since clarified that there is a system in place for buildings and businesses to be delisted from the game. "PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon Go are found at publicly accessible places such as historical markers, public art installations, museums and monuments," a Pokémon Company spokesperson said. "If you want to report inappropriate locations or content, please submit a ticket on the Pokémon GO Support website https://support.Pokémongo.nianticlabs.com." In the meantime, let us hope that at least some of the offending individuals reflect upon the situation and moderate their behaviour.
Dark of the Sun AKA Mercenaries (1968)
British cinematographer Jack Cardiff had an extremely distinguished career working with the like of Powell & Pressburger, Hitchcock and John Huston. As a director he received acclaim for Intent to Kill (1958), Web of Evidence (1959) and Sons and Lovers (1960). However his 1968 adaptation of Wilbur Smith's novel Dark of the Sun (also known as Mercenaries) is often overlooked. In some respects this gritty action movie may have been a little before its time with regard to both its politics and depiction of the Simba Rebellion of 1964-65. It still packs a punch forty eight years later.
British cinematographer Jack Cardiff had an extremely distinguished career working with the like of Powell & Pressburger, Hitchcock and John Huston. As a director he received acclaim for Intent to Kill (1958), Web of Evidence (1959) and Sons and Lovers (1960). However his 1968 adaptation of Wilbur Smith's novel Dark of the Sun (also known as Mercenaries) is often overlooked. In some respects this gritty action movie may have been a little before its time with regard to both its politics and depiction of the Simba Rebellion of 1964-65. It still packs a punch forty eight years later.
Dark of the Sun is set during the Simba revolt when the Congo government recruited mercenaries to fight a Marxist insurgency. Rod Taylor and Jim Brown star as Captain Curry and Sergeant Ruffo, a pair of professional soldiers paid to retrieve a cash of diamonds. The story starts in a fairly formulaic fashion with the rag tag assortment of mercenaries being assembled, including racist ex-Nazi Henlein (Peter Carsten) and alcoholic Doctor Wreid (Kenneth More). As they travel by train into the Congo interior, they rescue Claire (Yvette Mimieux), a white settler and victim of the Simba revolt. On reaching the diamond mine, they find that the vault has a time lock and must wait several hours. Tension increases as the insurgent’s approach, especially as they have a reputation for committing atrocities.
What makes Dark of the Sun different from this point onward is its exploration of the polarised politics of Africa and its uncharacteristically harsh and brutal depiction of the atrocities. By the standards of mainstream cinema of the time, this was considered a hard edged movie for a studio such as MGM/UA. There are scenes of the Simba's raping a Nun and a man being dragged by a motorbike whilst having petrol poured on him. Another victim has a burning torch thrust in his face. There is also an inference of male rape, which was far from common place in US cinema at the time. The film also has several brutal fights between Taylor and Carsten which are still quite strong.
However it is not just these aspects that make the film so intriguing. Dark of the Sun also contains a subtle performance by Kenneth Moore. As an actor he always gravitated to bluff English stereotypes and has often been accused of simply playing himself; his screen persona being forever synonymous with his performances in Northwest Frontier and Reach for the Sky. Here he bucks the trend playing an alcoholic Doctor whose conscience gets the better of him. It’s a measured and thoughtful performance proving that Moore's had a far wider range than many thought. Doctor Wreid is a flawed man who struggles with his own failure, afforded a chance to do something right, no matter how futile it may ultimately be. If only Moore had chosen other such roles during his career.
There is an element of truth to Dark of the Sun, as the two lead characters are loosely based on real life mercenaries 'Mad' Mike Hoare and Siegfried Müeller. Although far from a historically correct depiction of events, the action scenes are robust and the location filming bolsters the authenticity of the narrative. There is also an air of melancholy to the film as it ponders the end of colonialism, the futility of war and the realities of international politics. I therefore recommend Dark of the Sun to action fans as an interesting late sixties exploration of the genre. Tonally it has similarities to Cornel Wilde's World War II movie Beach Red. It certainly showcases the talents of Jack Cardiff as an eclectic director.
My Phone and Me
I was wandering to the shops yesterday when there was an audible alert from my smartphone informing me of some message that needed “my urgent attention”. On this occasion it was from Discord regarding a new post and was nothing of significance. Needless to say this got me thinking about the endless stream of whistles, chirrups and beeps that emanate from my pocket during the course of the day, most of which are trivial. Frankly it’s been getting on my nerves for a while. In recent weeks, due to my Father’s illness, I’ve been using my phone in a far more traditional fashion; namely making and receiving calls and text messages. This shift in use has given me a different perspective and as a result I have fallen out of love with this constant barrage of trivia.
I was wandering to the shops yesterday when there was an audible alert from my smartphone informing me of some message that needed “my urgent attention”. On this occasion it was from Discord regarding a new post and was nothing of significance. Needless to say this got me thinking about the endless stream of whistles, chirrups and beeps that emanate from my pocket during the course of the day, most of which are trivial. Frankly it’s been getting on my nerves for a while. In recent weeks, due to my Father’s illness, I’ve been using my phone in a far more traditional fashion; namely making and receiving calls and text messages. This shift in use has given me a different perspective and as a result I have fallen out of love with this constant barrage of trivia.
Until today I had over fifty apps on my Samsung Galaxy S6. All of which were happily draining my phone’s battery as well as constantly updating and eroding my monthly 2 GB data allowance. Furthermore, they were constantly vying for my attention. It also has to be said that I’ve been complicit in this relationship. On mature reflection I’ve turned into one of those people who constantly check’s his phone. I reach for it first thing in the morning, to see what’s happened on Twitter during the night and am loath to put it down last thing at night. I’ve developed the mentality of an overexcited child at Christmas who “doesn’t want to miss anything”. However that has now changed. Circumstances and a healthy dose of reality have made we revise my “relationship” with my phone.
To cut a long story short (as Spandau Ballet said) the SIM card in my phone went on the blink this morning. After a trip to the Vodafone store it also became apparent that the excess of apps where causing conflicts with the phones network settings. As result I randomly couldn’t make or receive calls without having to manually switch between 3G and 4G. Fortunately a factory reset and a new SIM card the resolved the problem. It also presented me with a golden opportunity to install only those apps I deemed essential. So I grasped the nettle and said goodbye to dozens of pointless programs whose primary goal was to nag me incessantly.
Although I greatly enjoy the banter of twitter and like to stay abreast of the news, I think I’ve made an important change to my life. I will still use my phone as a window onto the world but I intend to be less dependent upon it; because I do feel that there is an element of psychological addiction associated with smart phone culture. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people I see crossing roads or alighting from public transport, transfixed by their respective handheld device. I’m also a bluff old traditionalist who believes that certain social activities are sacrosanct, such as dining together and face to face conversations. So a change has been made and it will be interesting to see how well I cope. No doubt a future blog post will tell of my progress.
Pokémon GO
"Okay, it's 1 AM in Seattle, and I saw no fewer than 12 other people roaming the downtown Seattle streets looking for Pokémon" Tweeted by Talarian 7th July 2016.
I’ve never been a big Pokémon fan. My exposure to the franchise was mainly through my son who was obsessed with it during the late nineties. Over the years I’ve played a few of the games on handheld devices and like so many other Nintendo products found them to be engaging and polished. In recent times I’ve watched with both sadness and fascination as Nintendo’s fortunes have waned, both within the console and handheld markets. For a company with so many good products and customer goodwill, they certainly seem to make a lot of poor business decisions. So when they finally announced a year ago that they would enter the mobile game market my interest was piqued.
"Okay, it's 1 AM in Seattle, and I saw no fewer than 12 other people roaming the downtown Seattle streets looking for Pokémon" Tweeted by Talarian 7th July 2016.
I’ve never been a big Pokémon fan. My exposure to the franchise was mainly through my son who was obsessed with it during the late nineties. Over the years I’ve played a few of the games on handheld devices and like so many other Nintendo products found them to be engaging and polished. In recent times I’ve watched with both sadness and fascination as Nintendo’s fortunes have waned, both within the console and handheld markets. For a company with so many good products and customer goodwill, they certainly seem to make a lot of poor business decisions. So when they finally announced a year ago that they would enter the mobile game market my interest was piqued.
One year on we now have Pokémon GO, a game that despite much publicity somehow managed to stay off my radar until Wednesday when my twitter timeline became filled with curious tweets such as that at the top of this post. Naturally I did some investigating and decided that this augmented reality game sounded like a lot of fun and I should join in. However Pokémon GO has not been officially released in the UK. For the present the game is only available in the US, Australia and New Zealand. However I see no reason why the regional marketing policy of Nintendo should stand in the way of me and casual gaming, so I found a third party website that hosted the appropriate APK file and installed the game manually.
So the first thing I noticed about Pokémon GO is that there aren’t any instructions with the game, or at least not with the version I installed. So I had to figure the basic mechanics of the game out for myself. It took me a while to work out how to throw the Poké Ball and capture the various beasties. It would also seem that some of the features of the game won’t load or have details missing. For example there is a Pokéstop at the end of my road but when I get there it doesn’t show anything other than the base template. It should also be noted that I haven’t yet encountered anyone else who plays the game. This aspect of Pokémon GO has the potential to be both great fun and problematic. Interfacing with other carbon based lifeforms is so often fraught with risk these days. How long will it be before we hear of the first Pokémon GO related assault or murder.
But enough of these moral conundrums and societal concerns; one of the biggest issues that comes with the launch of a new game is picking a cool name. The best ones go very quickly. I won’t burden you with the tortuous events and factors that lead to my current screen name but needless to say Uncle Trumpet was not my first choice. Furthermore, beyond a few circuits of my local streets, I’ve done precious little than capture a few low level Pokémon. Again, possibly due to the version I’ve installed there doesn’t seem to be a way to cleanly close the game. It may be prudent to re-install the game client once an official version becomes available in the UK.
From what I’ve experienced myself (which is somewhat limited) and read on other people’s blogs, it looks like Pokémon GO is proving to be a major shot in the arm for Nintendo. The game includes a ubiquitous cash store and shares in the company have risen over the last 24 hours. If I can convince my son to install the game then I think I should be able to get a much better handle on what Pokémon GO can offer. It must admit what I’ve seen so far is fun and I really like the way the game links to your location. If this provides an incentive for people who are usually housebound to venture outside, then so much the better. Mind you I wouldn’t be surprised to read of someone being run over while playing Pokémon GO; as if smart phones weren’t absorbing enough already.
Star Trek Online: Agents of Yesterday
The third free expansion for Star Trek Online, Agents of Yesterday, went live today and there was much merriment and rejoicing among TOS fans. Cryptic have done a fine job in capturing the essence of the sixties shows. The new faction has a starter zone set in the 23rd century which features several stories that link to specific episodes from the classic era. There are Gorn in Gornkinis, neural parasites and Rumulans in knitwear. The game aesthetic is spot on and features a wealth of sound effects that are lore appropriate. Mind you, if you spend too much time on Taurus II revelling in your tricorder readings, you may find yourself on the wrong end of a Folsom Point.
The third free expansion for Star Trek Online, Agents of Yesterday, went live today and there was much merriment and rejoicing among TOS fans. Cryptic have done a fine job in capturing the essence of the sixties shows. The new faction has a starter zone set in the 23rd century which features several stories that link to specific episodes from the classic era. There are Gorn in Gornkinis, neural parasites and Rumulans in knitwear. The game aesthetic is spot on and features a wealth of sound effects that are lore appropriate. Mind you, if you spend too much time on Taurus II revelling in your tricorder readings, you may find yourself on the wrong end of a Folsom Point.
The game writers then cleverly linked the old with the new via Temporal Agent Daniels who featured in Star Trek: Enterprise. Through this plot device your newly created character is brought forward in time to the 25th century of the prime Star Trek universe. However the latest expansion has even managed to find a way to include the alternative timeline from the recent Trek movies. There’s also a ton of new gear, a new skills specification and rep faction. Plus there’s a wealth of new ships including the Kelvin Timeline Heavy Command Cruiser [T6] (the JJ-verse Enterprise) and Intel Dreadnought Cruiser [T6], also known as the Vengeance-class. If that wasn’t enough to get excited about Cryptic have once again secured voice acting from the actors associated with the various shows both canonical and non-canonical, including Walter Koenig, Chris Doohan and Vic Mignogna.
If you’re looking for a new MMO to play and like the Star Trek IP, or if you’re a former player who’s drifted away, then now is an ideal time to return to the game. Regardless of some of Star Trek Online's faults, namely a somewhat clunky game engine and a lack of polish here and there, the game has constantly improved over the last five years. The stories are incredibly lore friendly and creative, space combat is immense fun and the much lambasted ground combat is not half as bad as it’s claimed. As for that tedious mantra that’s regularly trotted out about the lack of exploration, all I can say is try watching a lot of the TV shows both old and new. Exploration usually means flirting with a green chick, flying chest kicks, ripping t-shirts and blowing shit up.
Like many MMOs, STO has lots of game mechanics and systems that don’t immediately become apparent. However there is a wealth of information available online, via Reddit and Gamepedia. Plus if you join a fleet you’ll find lots of like minded players happy to share their knowledge. STO also benefits from not having to rely upon all the default sword and sorcery tropes you find in most other games of the MMO genre. At present, five years into its lifecycle, STO has a healthy player base and plenty of new content. It’s a game you can spend money on if you see fit, or play quite happily as a F2P player. It’s also has managed to keep me continuously occupied for the last year. Agents of Yesterday has just added to that and done so with a degree of panache. Not many MMOs can boast such a claim.
Update: I was fortunate once again when it came to opening a few lock boxes (okay another 20) and managed to secure a Vengeance class Dreadnought Cruiser. It really is a beast of a ship, although it handles like a sonofabitch, so it may be time to swap to the Pilot Specialisation to improve its mobility. I also ran both the new Special Task Force missions that have been added to the game, one of which "Days of Doom" is based in the TOS era and features the iconic Doomsday machine. It even includes music cues by Sol Kaplan from the original show.
Blood and Wine
Blood and Wine, the swansong DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is yet another exquisitely crafted blend of quality adult narrative and action gaming. As ever with this franchise there’s a central story that drives the game but the devil is in the detail of the secondary quests, witcher contracts and treasure hunts that occur along the way. Blood and Wine oozes both beauty and mystery during its thirty plus hours of content. It’s also a fitting denouement for Geralt of Rivia; a character I’ve warmed to over the four hundred plus hours I’ve played. Future RPGs will have a tough act to follow now that CD Projekt Red has set the bar so high.
Blood and Wine, the swansong DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is yet another exquisitely crafted blend of quality adult narrative and action gaming. As ever with this franchise there’s a central story that drives the game but the devil is in the detail of the secondary quests, witcher contracts and treasure hunts that occur along the way. Blood and Wine oozes both beauty and mystery during its thirty plus hours of content. It’s also a fitting denouement for Geralt of Rivia; a character I’ve warmed to over the four hundred plus hours I’ve played. Future RPGs will have a tough act to follow now that CD Projekt Red has set the bar so high.
Set after the events of the main game, Blood and Wine finds Geralt of Rivia summoned to the Duchy of Toussaint to investigate the slaying of the regions elite by a creature dubbed “The Beast”. The new region bears a striking resemblance to Southern France, with a warm climate, vineyards and picturesque villages. It’s a striking contrast to the windswept and rainy forests of Velen and Novigrad. As with the main game the superficially straightforward plot soon become complex, filled with duplicity, difficult decisions and multiple story outcomes. Toussaint is also a dangerous zone which can be taxing even at the default difficulty level. Bandits and monsters are considerably more robust requiring a more considered approach to combat. Alas, Superior Grapeshot is no longer the get out of jail card it was in previous DLC.
Blood and Wine not only offers new content but a wealth of upgrades to the UI, quest trackers and such like, which greatly enhance the game. Sorting your inventory is now far easier as is managing your abilities. The DLC adds a new mutation mechanic that allows you to create specialised ability modifiers. It certainly adds to the combat system and levels the playing field against some of the sturdier monsters. Blood and Wine also embraces the cosmetic allowing colour customisation of Geralt’s armour, of which there is now a Grandmaster tier. Early on in the game you are awarded a vineyard and an estate that can be upgraded. It boasts an alchemy table, armour bench and stable for Roach.
Irrespective of the fine tuning, which is most welcome by the way, the foundation of Blood and Wine as well as the main game is the quality of the stories it tells. When I first started playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, I was not overly familiar with the character of Geralt of Rivia. I had played through some of the first game in the franchise and had skipped the second. At first I thought Geralt was going to be another gravel voiced anti-hero in the classic Clint Eastwood idiom. I was greatly surprised by breadth of his backstory and depth of his character. Due to the dialogue options there is scope to play Geralt as an insensitive dolt, if you so please. However if you embrace the emotional quandaries that the story offers and go with your gut feelings, you’re rewarded with the tale of a decent and humane individual that flies in the face of the stereotype that witchers are emotionless.
Blood and Wine offers several storylines that have moral choices and these tend to be complex and nuanced, as opposed to arbitrary and trite. I found the side quest involving the Spotted Wight especially tragic yet the option to be merciful has a satisfying outcome. There is sentiment in the game from time to time but it is tempered and often bitter sweet. Life is frequently depicted as a bleak struggle, especially for those of the lower classes. Yet it is through the prism of this flawed and brutal world that CD Projekt Red explores the finer points of humanity. Games seldom have this level of maturity and intellectual honesty.
Games reviewer Tom Senior over at PC Gamer effectively sums up how I feel about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its DLC. “Frankly if one of these expansions came out every year I'd still be playing The Witcher 3 in 2020”. Sadly this is the last we’ll be seeing o the Northern Realms and Geralt of Rivia for the immediate future. Developers CD Projekt Red naturally wants to focus on new games and fresh ideas. In the meantime I shall content myself with finishing all available content in Blood and Wine and ensuring that I’ve left no stone unturned. It’s the little things in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that are the most rewarding. The notes and journals that you read with their snatches of people’s lives or the rhymes the children sing as they play in the streets. The pop culture references that you find along the way often raise a wry smile. So I intend to enjoy every last part of the game as I suspect it will remain a high point, not to be bettered for a long time.
Preparing for Agents of Yesterday
With the latest free expansion for Star Trek Online, Agents of Yesterday, launching on 6th July, I decided to do some in-game housekeeping in preparation today. Having only three alts this wasn’t too difficult and it didn’t take long to trawl through inventories, sell unwanted items and delete or dry dock unused ships. I also moved some energy credits into the shared bank so the new character I create on Wednesday is not without financial resources. I also receive my monthly Zen stipend round about the time of the new expansion launch, so overall I consider myself ready to enjoy the new content.
With the latest free expansion for Star Trek Online, Agents of Yesterday, launching on 6th July, I decided to do some in-game housekeeping in preparation today. Having only three alts this wasn’t too difficult and it didn’t take long to trawl through inventories, sell unwanted items and delete or dry dock unused ships. I also moved some energy credits into the shared bank so the new character I create on Wednesday is not without financial resources. I also receive my monthly Zen stipend round about the time of the new expansion launch, so overall I consider myself ready to enjoy the new content.
While undertaking these tasks, I decided to see if the recent economy adjustment caused by the introduction of the Infinity lock boxes, has yet had an impact upon the various third party vendors that trade in STO consumables. It would appear that it has and one site has already started heavily discounting the various items it sells. As a result I was able to buy both the Delta Rising Operations Pack and the Legacy of Romulus Legacy Pack for $40, which is about £30 at the current exchange rate. Needless to say this was a ridiculous bargain as these items collectively retail at £130 at present.
As well as the multitude of ships that these bundles offer, the Legacy of Romulus Legacy Pack also comes with thirty lock box keys. So I took this opportunity to open twenty Infinity lock boxes which proved to be very lucrative. Not only did I make one hundred and nine Lobi but I also gained over a half a dozen items that sell well at present on the exchange. However the jewel in the crown was obtaining a T6 Tholian Tarantula Dreadnought Cruiser. I managed to sell this for 150 million energy credits and promptly bought the T6 Wells Temporal Science Vessel, a ship I’ve been after for a while.
Agents of Yesterday certainly offers a wealth of account wide benefits if you create a new faction alt and play through the existing game content once again. One year on from returning Star Trek Online, I’m still enthused and engaged by this MMO and happy to spend time in what is at present my primary game. STO is also great for people watching as it seems to have a higher proportion of über fans and whales, compared to some of the other MMOs I’ve played. It’s more than likely due to the IP. Whatever the reason it’s reassuring to know that at the present, STO seems to be thriving which is not bad for a five year old game.
Resetting the Market
Over the last five years Cryptic have introduced a variety of themed lock boxes into Star Trek Online. Each type of lock box has only been available for a limited period of time, thus making much of their contents quite rare. Naturally this has led to a booming market based on the trading these items. Consoles such as Plasmonic Leech and such ships at the Wells Temporal Science Vessel have regularly sold on the exchange for hundreds of millions of energy credits along with other scarce rewards. STO has long been a haven for commodity speculators and even led to an illicit trade outside of the game where rare items are sold for real money.
Over the last five years Cryptic have introduced a variety of themed lock boxes into Star Trek Online. Each type of lock box has only been available for a limited period of time, thus making much of their contents quite rare. Naturally this has led to a booming market based on the trading these items. Consoles such as Plasmonic Leech and such ships at the Wells Temporal Science Vessel have regularly sold on the exchange for hundreds of millions of energy credits along with other scarce rewards. STO has long been a haven for commodity speculators and even led to an illicit trade outside of the game where rare items are sold for real money.
However on Tuesday 28th of June Cryptic took steps to address the matter of lock box rarity and in doing so also reset the in-game market. The introduction of The Infinity Lock Box offers players “the prizes from nearly all retired boxes in a single, massive prize table”. Until now if you were hoping to obtain a Jem'Hadar Heavy Escort Carrier, you would have to open a Dominion Lock Box. Similarly the Tholian Tarantula Dreadnought Cruiser was exclusive to the Mirror Incursion lock box. The new system allows players who have won a top tier prize to pick the specific item of their choice from a comprehensive list. Scarcity of specific types of lock boxes is no longer a factor.
Naturally this has caused prices of previously rare and obscure items to plummet on the exchange. Those who play the in-game market are peeved but many players, including myself, are extremely pleased with this supply and demand re-calibration. I have already taken advantage of the situation and bought several personal space traits and news abilities such as Kemocite-Laced Weaponry. All of which have had a positive impact upon my current ship build and its overall DPS output. It will be interesting to see if this market change will impact as quickly upon the third party traders that exist outside of STO and whether it spells an end for this illegal cottage industry.
Cryptic have made a positive improvement to Star Trek Online with the introduction of The Infinity Lock Box. However these are not to remain in the game indefinitely. It would appear that the developers still intend to release further themed lock boxes in the future, with the Kelvin Lock Box due for release on the 6th of July in conjunction with the new expansion, Agents of Yesterday. It would appear that The Infinity Lock Box will continue to appear from time to time in-game to ensure that new and returning players can still potentially access items they may have previously missed.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - The Realities of Blogging
As this year's Newbie Blogger Initiative draws to a close, I would like to take time to reflect on some aspects of blogging that don't always get talked about. I guess that's because some of them can be perceived as negative things, although that may not necessarily be the case. The NBI is all about encouragement, promotion and advice; however it would be remiss of us all if we simply ignored some facts because they weren't "upbeat" enough. So let's grasp the nettle and talk about some of the practical realities of blogging, in the spirit of "forewarned is forearmed".
As this year's Newbie Blogger Initiative draws to a close, I would like to take time to reflect on some aspects of blogging that don't always get talked about. I guess that's because some of them can be perceived as negative things, although that may not necessarily be the case. The NBI is all about encouragement, promotion and advice; however it would be remiss of us all if we simply ignored some facts because they weren't "upbeat" enough. So let's grasp the nettle and talk about some of the practical realities of blogging, in the spirit of "forewarned is forearmed".
Many new Blogs will fail:
After five years of being involved with the NBI, it's hard to ignore the fact that many of new blogs despite being born out of the enthusiasm surrounding the event, will fail and peter out. Writing regularly is hard, takes times and self-discipline. It also has to compete against the practical day to day realities of life such a holding down a job, family life and other social obligations. There will be occasions when a new blogger simply runs out of stamina or time, resulting in a blog that slowly falls into decline and is then sidelined. There is no shame in this. Not everyone who starts a blog can sustain it. The positive side of this situation is that a blog can always be resurrected at a later date or a new one created when the circumstances are better suited. If you only blog about a single topic then it’s only natural that as your passion waxes and wanes, so does your blogging on the subject. A natural rate of attrition is a healthy thing and in my experience; the blogs that survive will do so through their author’s hard work and dedication.
Opportunity knocks?
Blogging is not a fast path to wealth and fame:
I've raised this point in previous NBI posts but it does no harm to reiterate it once again. Despite what many people say to the contrary, it is still quite a common "dream" that blogging, podcasting or becoming some sort of internet personality will lead to fame and fortune. For a few fortunate individuals it does so, however that is usually due to a lot of hard work on their behalf, along with being in the right place at the right time. For the rest of us lesser mortals, creating content is simply a time sink that costs money. I can testify to the fact that as a website grows, the operating costs do so as well.
Since 2011 when I consolidated all my various blogs into Contains Moderate Peril, I think I've spent somewhere in the region of £1,750 on various hosting packages, Word Press templates, design work as well as podcast recording hardware and software. That's a sizeable amount of money for a hobby and doesn't include the competition and giveway budget. Furthermore, although I've enjoyed myself immensely over the years creating content, Contains Moderate Peril has not put a red cent back in my pocket. As for "fame" well I now annoy a few thousands of people on Twitter instead or a few hundred. So if you're looking for a quick buck, then try the race track or writing a self-help book.
The ability to speak does not make you intelligent
Blogging does not make you an expert:
Regularly writing about the things you love does not by default make you an expert on the subject. Blogging can sometimes be a bit of an echo chamber and if too many people tend to agree with you and a small circle of readers always post positive comments, it can somewhat jade your outlook. Therefore always endeavour to research what you write and make sure you quote your data sources. Try to think critically and don't fall into the usual literary and rhetorical traps. If in doubt when writing about a tricky subject or controversial point, sleep on the matter before hitting the publish button. Too many gamers confuse knowledge with wisdom and the two are most definitely not the same.
Also simply having strong convictions does not make your point right. Playing a game does not give you a unique insight that the developers do not have. The internet is sadly awash with armchair experts and bloggers who are legends in their own lunch hour. More often than not they have no practical experience of games development, business management or corporate finance. Therefore a little bit of humility in blogging goes a long way. Recognise that your personal opinion may not be any more informed than others.
Fortune and glory
In some respects the blogging community is still a meritocracy at heart and genuine talent does mainly rise to the top. However not every blog needs to be a literary masterpiece so there’s more than enough room for niche sites and every day writing styles. Simply sharing your enjoyment with others can be enough to find an audience. As long as you're having fun blogging then that's all that really matters. These are ultimately the realities of blogging and for many writers that is enough. So don't get diverted by pipe dreams of fortune and glory; just write for pleasure and enjoy communicating with others.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - The Importance of Taking a Break
The Newbie Blogger Initiative has a wealth of good advice encouraging people to blog and maintain regular content. However I felt that there was one aspect of writing that wasn't being addressed; specifically the importance of taking a break when it becomes necessary. Writing for all its virtues can be hard to sustain. Real life demands often conflict with our desire to maintain a regular writing schedule. This causes pressure and even anxiety, which if left unchecked can lead to many writers abandoning their blogs.
The Newbie Blogger Initiative has a wealth of good advice encouraging people to blog and maintain regular content. However I felt that there was one aspect of writing that wasn't being addressed; specifically the importance of taking a break when it becomes necessary. Writing for all its virtues can be hard to sustain. Real life demands often conflict with our desire to maintain a regular writing schedule. This causes pressure and even anxiety, which if left unchecked can lead to many writers abandoning their blogs.
Although bloggers all share a love of communicating, our motivations are often quite diverse. Some of us write to highlight moral and social issues, others write to build friendships and social networks. Blogging can also be very therapeutic if you are convalescing or going through a difficult period in your life. The focus and discipline of writing can offer a calming and stabilising influence during times of transition. Then of course there are those who aspire to write professionally and look upon their online endeavours as their portfolio. I should also mention those who like to write and share for the sheer pleasure it brings them.
However there are times when life and circumstances take priority over writing, podcasting and live streaming. We all have jobs, families and other factors to consider. All these things have an impact upon our creativity. Also burnout is not just confined to gaming. It can manifest itself in most hobbies and pastimes. Although writing regular material is often very gratifying, it can also be quite demanding and stressful as well. Live steams and podcast especially so, as they often have an extra level of technical requirements that can be complex and time consuming.
So it is perfectly logical that all writers at some point consider the need to take a break and to put the virtual pen and paper down. As with any task, you can only apply yourself to it for so long before you reach a point of fatigue and cannot see the woods for the trees. You may as a result find yourself being a little less even handed in your writing or simply not producing content to the standard you usually maintain. In some instances you may even start to resent the very thing you enjoy doing, as it turns from being fun into a tedious chore. Yet despite all this, many of us will resist taking time out and elect to "soldier on".
As to why do we do this, there is no single answer. Perhaps the most common reason is bound up in some sense of responsibility to our readership. That may sound a little egotistical but let's face it, if you're writing a blog and sharing online, you have already shown a modicum of vanity. But a sense of commitment can be a good thing. I do feel bound to do my best especially with regard to the podcast and like to keep to a fairly regular schedule, so listeners no where they stand. Another reason why we may be a little reticent to take a break is that maybe we fear we'll lose our audience. Blog and podfading are real things and many new sites peter out after a while. Perhaps the most common concern for bloggers is that if we stop, we simply won’t start again.
However in my experience, a lot of these fears and concerns are unfounded. Although readers can be fickle many can be quite loyal. They will wait for new content. It’s not a crime to simply hang up your blogging spurs, temporarily, and hit the beach (other leisure activities are available). In fact not doing so may be bad for your health. Then there are the other reasons that may not be fun but have to be addressed. If some ones sick or you have a personal situation to deal with it, then it naturally takes priority. Readers appreciate this. So my advice to all bloggers both old and new is to take a vacation when necessary. It usually works wonders and you will return refreshed and champing at the bit.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - The Importance of Blogging
It's a curious thing that in real life, I've always tried to position myself outside of hierarchies and pecking orders. I went into IT during the middle nineties as a way of bypassing office politics and the usual bullshit associated with the work and "climbing the greasy pole". At that time working with technology was still swathed in a mystique and was to a degree outside of established preconceptions. These days I tend to avoid affiliations with monolithic entities and broadly avoid the tribalism that is rife in contemporary western culture. Don't get me wrong, I'm saying I’m some sort of unique free thinker or radical lone wolf. I just tend to run parallel to the pack rather than directly with it. This approach suits me best.
It's a curious thing that in real life, I've always tried to position myself outside of hierarchies and pecking orders. I went into IT during the middle nineties as a way of bypassing office politics and the usual bullshit associated with the work and "climbing the greasy pole". At that time working with technology was still swathed in a mystique and was to a degree outside of established preconceptions. These days I tend to avoid affiliations with monolithic entities and broadly avoid the tribalism that is rife in contemporary western culture. Don't get me wrong, I'm saying I’m some sort of unique free thinker or radical lone wolf. I just tend to run parallel to the pack rather than directly with it. This approach suits me best.
Yet despite my aspirations to remain independent, I still find myself part of a wider gaming community. My ongoing association with the Newbie Blogger Initiative seems to validate this, regardless to my protestations to the contrary. Despite my cynical, non-team playing, I'll do it my way attitude, I do feel strongly, dare I say passionately about blogging and the like. We live in extraordinary times where we have free access to cutting edge communication tools. I was raised during the seventies and if you wanted to write and share any sort of material, these facilities where gated behind specific professional careers paths. Expressing your thoughts and finding an audience is far easier by comparison these days.
Publishing a blog post can now be done quickly and easily, at any time or place. Potentially the world is your Oyster. Furthermore, despite attempted interference by governments and big business, these tools still remain publicly available and have proven instrumental in facilitating change. Okay, let's have a reality check at this point. As a games and movie blogger I am not claiming the ability to alter the course of human history. However I can communicate and engage with likeminded fans from all over the world. I can share information as well as learn from others. I can make new friends and gain a greater understanding of the things that I love. All of this can be done from the comfort of my executive chair. This is possibly one of the greatest examples of human altruism that I can think of. It is also demonstrates a degree of political power. Don't be surprised if certain parties and institutions try to take it away from us in the years to come.
Moving away from such lofty concepts, I think it is fair to say that it is a human imperative to share and exchange ideas. I think this is why so many of us are drawn toward writing and feel compelled to express ourselves. It's why I write and why I seek out others who do so. I like to know what people are thinking and feeling, especially about the things that I like. It doesn't matter if their views are different from mine, I still find their perspective of interest. So this is why someone as jaded and sceptical as myself still sees great virtue and merit in blogging per se.
I think it's important that people take advantage of the democratisation of communication. I think that a lot of the traditional mediums for providing information have lost their way of late, or have simply become too commercial. The public is definitely a lot more cynical about them these days. Gamers for example are more likely to trust and respect the opinions of their peers, rather than those who work in the gaming press. Sure there's a lot of white noise out there and not every fan site is of outstanding merit but do they all need to be? There is an honesty to most fan generated endeavours. Although they sometimes do have an axe to grind it is seldom driven by money.
So you've probably guessed by now that I do consider blogging, podcasting, live streaming to be important. I think that the communities that arise around such practises are of value. They do far more good than ill. Furthermore, there is another aspect that is of equal importance to some of the loftier notions I have mentioned. Getting involved and being part of something outside of your own life can be fun. Be it leaving a comment on a well written post, uploading a video of a successful raid, or just enjoying a joke about a shared experience; these thing bring us pleasure. This is the proverbial glue that binds us together and keeps us from setting about each other with Mattocks. It's what makes us human and helps keeps us sane. Well most of us. So why pass up an opportunity to make a social activity such a gaming, even more social?
Caring for the Elderly
The UK population grew by half a million last year to 65.1 million, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Of that number 10% are over 75 years old. At present there are 6.5 million carers in the UK, many of whom are coping with an aging parent(s). As healthcare in the UK improves overall life expectancy, the population is rapidly aging which means that every year over 2.1 million adults become carers (although almost as many people find that their caring responsibilities come to an end). This turnover means that most families in the UK face this issue at some time and 3 in 5 people will become carers during their lives.
The UK population grew by half a million last year to 65.1 million, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Of that number 10% are over 75 years old. At present there are 6.5 million carers in the UK, many of whom are coping with an aging parent(s). As healthcare in the UK improves overall life expectancy, the population is rapidly aging which means that every year over 2.1 million adults become carers (although almost as many people find that their caring responsibilities come to an end). This turnover means that most families in the UK face this issue at some time and 3 in 5 people will become carers during their lives.
This spring, due to my 85 year old Mother’s declining mobility, I became her carer. My Mother is now Registered Disabled and I’ve taken early retirement from work to attend to her needs. Being self-employed it made sense for me to adopt this role, rather than my sister who has worked full time for civil service for the last thirty years. Changing her working practises now would have a major impact upon her pension and future prosperity. So I now focus on my Mother’s care and visit daily. I get a respite on weekends as my Sister takes the lead. My finances are in order and I work occasionally to ensure my economic stability. I have also moved to be nearer to my parents.
At present my caring duties are mainly administrative and logistical. I do paperwork, arrange appointments and do household chores. Once a week I take my Mother out in her wheelchair so she can visit the shops and have her hair done. Effectively I have taken on many of the duties normally carried out by my Father who can no longer do them due to old age. Neither of my parents have a single overarching medical problem, just a plethora of minor ailments that collectively impair the quality of their lives. At present through me and my Sisters intervention, a status quo is maintained. However this is not something that will continue indefinitely. Sadly the long term prognosis is that my parent’s health will continue to decline.
Something I have learned of late is that caring is more than just providing the practical support that the old need. There are other factors to consider such as my parents emotional well being. Both are fiercely independent and are far from comfortable with being reliant on others. That terrible phrase about “being a burden” comes up from time to time. There is also a lot of frustration because being old and feeling old are not the same thing. Therefore I endeavour to help my parents with good grace. I try not to get frustrated when they fret over minor things as I realise that it is not I who is relinquishing control of day to day matters. As far as I’m concerned my parents took care of me as a child and have always been there for me throughout my adult life, so it is only right and proper that I now address their needs.
Carers such as myself are far from saints. We’re just regular people trying to get by. We grumble and gripe with regard to our lot from time to time. There are arguments with are loved ones on occasions simply due to the stress all are subject to. Luckily there is support out there from fellow carers, charities, local authorities and even central government. My advice to all concerned is to put your pride in your pocket and take any help you can find. If you in turn can assist someone else then do so. The slightest assistance is often invaluable. Healthcare services often only covers emergencies but at least in the UK the government is canny enough to realise it’s more cost effective to help carers while in the home, before there’s a need for a hospital.
This week my Father took a turn for the worse. In the space of seven days he’s gone from being out and about to bed ridden. Again he doesn’t have any new medical problems but his existing ones just seem to be getting worse. At nearly 87 there’s a chance that he may well recover but there is also scope for things to deteriorate. Everything that can be done is being done so it really just comes down to a waiting game. At present I see it as my duty to keep the home ticking over and maintain a sense of order and calm. I try to keep a positive disposition as fear can be contagious and counterproductive.
There are many carers who have to cope with far more than me. However sharing my story has helped me order my own thoughts and provides a degree of catharsis. Perhaps I can in some small way provide some sort of help or support to others who are experiencing a similar situation or just embarking upon this challenging journey. I don’t have many words of wisdom to offer. I think the most important thing you can do is to have a frank and candid discussion with those that you are caring for. It helps clear the air. I find having a routine is also invaluable. It allows me to cope with the daily tasks. Also consider your loved ones feelings and reassure them that you’re motivated by love. I want my parents around irrespective of their health because I enjoy their company so. I think it’s essential to keep a sense of humour and laugh together at the absurdity of the situation.
If you and your parents are still relatively young, I guess the notion of caring for them may seem years away. However time has a terrible habit of running away from you and the next thing you know twenty five years have rolled by. It is also a sad fact that illness and infirmity can strike at any age. So it never does any harm to be prepared to some degree. The current economic climate may not lend itself to saving or paying for an insurance policy but I would urge all too at least consider the possibility of becoming a carer at some point. Therefore make whatever provision you can. I suspect that the statistic of 3 in 5 people becoming carers at some point will only get larger in the years to come.
Data via Carers UK and the Office for National Statistics
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Fine Tuning Your Blog
There has been a great deal of good, common sense advice shared over the last three weeks of this year’s Newbie Blogger Initiative. What I would like to do in this post is loosely group a few points together under the catch all term of "fine tuning". These are things that you may wish to consider after you've been blogging a while and feel that you are building up a head of steam.
There has been a great deal of good, common sense advice shared over the last three weeks of this year’s Newbie Blogger Initiative. What I would like to do in this post is loosely group a few points together under the catch all term of "fine tuning". These are things that you may wish to consider after you've been blogging a while and feel that you are building up a head of steam.
Advertising:
Okay, let's get this particular Elephant in the room, dealt with. I have no problem with the concept of someone trying to make a few bucks out of their website or blog. If you have bought a domain name and have paid a year’s hosting fees, I can see sense in trying to get some money towards those ongoing costs. Advertising can help with this.
However there is no guarantee that your entire readership will feel that way. Most people accept a degree of advertising as long as it is not overwhelming. Some people hate it and really do get upset by it. You need to consider the impact that carrying advertisement will have on your site. Bloggers build up a readership partly due to their reputation. Some folk see advertising as selling out, or associate it with low rent sites.
So if you do decide to advertise, then think long and hard about its effect on your reputation. Also consider how much it impacts upon your articles, so make informed choices about placement and the types of ads. Contextual advertising will randomly generate content based on keywords in your post. You may not be able to control this. I once wrote a piece about stereotyping girl gamers and the objectification of women in games, only to find that the corresponding ad was for "Mature Dating Online". Hilarity did not ensue in this instance.
Finally with regard to adverting, please re-adjust your expectations when it comes to how much money you will make. 99% of these get rich quick articles you'll find online are bullshit. Most ads run on a CPM model and you need a crap ton of traffic to get a return. Also remember that ad blocker software is increasingly common place these days. You can still generate revenue but advertising is not the cash cow that it was a decade ago.
Donations and sponsorship:
If you have a big site that incurs a substantial operating cost, then you may wish to ask for donations from your readership. This quid pro quo approach really only works if you have a big audience. Again I see nothing wrong with this, if it is done correctly. By correctly I mean the money raised is genuinely used towards running your site. As with advertising, some people won't mind where others will consider it begging. Tread carefully
The moment you take money from people two things happen. Firstly, you immediately have a responsibility be totally transparent about your accounts. You have to credit all donations and show all expenditure to the last penny. Secondly, those who have contributed may feel that they now have a greater stake in your blog. Be aware of this. A reader who doesn’t like something you've done or said may now feel they have some sort of say with regard to your content creation. However services such as Patreon are very useful for raising fund and allowing you to be very clear with regard to where funding will be spent.
The truth about "be yourself":
I think nearly every veteran blogger who’s participated in previous NBIs has said that it’s important to be yourself. I whole heartedly endorse that sentiment. Yet this position does come with some potential pitfalls. With regard to gaming, your readership will get to know your likes and dislikes over a period of time. You may follow common consensus or have unorthodox views. Either way, this can be part of your appeal. However although your readers may enjoy your stance on gaming issues, it doesn’t mean they will reciprocate your views on other subjects. So stay clear of such troublesome areas such as politics, religion and wider social issues unless you have to.
Now this is a lot harder than you may think. Your personal views are the very things that contribute to you as a person. I have written previous posts about sexual stereotypes in games and also same gender romance arcs. These posts, although not overtly political, betray some indication of my views on certain things. As a result I have been accused of being a "purveyor of filth" from some quarters along with other hyperbolic epithets. Gaming may well bring readers to your blog, but anything else may push them away.
The internet provides you with a truly international readership. Its immediacy and the use of common languages such as English can make us feel like we are all each other’s neighbours. But cultural differences can and inevitably become apparent. So be yourself by all means but never assume that the audience from your gaming blog is willing to follow you anywhere else. Oh and never admit to being a brony.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Backing Up Your Blog
I'm sure many new bloggers are thinking to themselves, “I’ve only just started blogging, why should I worry about backing it up?" My response is that it's never too early to put in place sound working practices. If you're still blogging in a years’ time, then you may have built up a sizeable amount of content. Why risk losing all your hard work? As for veteran content creators, consider for a moment the prospect of losing hundreds of posts and years of work in one go? It would be crushing. Therefore ensure that you have some sort of backup regime.
I'm sure many new bloggers are thinking to themselves, “I’ve only just started blogging, why should I worry about backing it up?" My response is that it's never too early to put in place sound working practices. If you're still blogging in a years’ time, then you may have built up a sizeable amount of content. Why risk losing all your hard work? As for veteran content creators, consider for a moment the prospect of losing hundreds of posts and years of work in one go? It would be crushing. Therefore ensure that you have some sort of backup regime.
Free blogging platforms such as Google Blogger and WordPress.com usually have built in functionality that allows you to export your work as an XML file. I used a German blogging platform a few years ago that allowed you to save individual posts or the entire site as a PDF file. If you have a self-hosting WordPress installation then there are numerous plugins that can automate the backing up process. It's just a question of doing some research and finding the right one for you. However, if you prefer low tech solutions, then the simplest thing to do is to create your posts in Microsoft Word or one of the free packages that are available and ensure they're stored somewhere safe.
Once again I would like to point out our reliance on the various free services that are available. Google Blogger and WordPress.com are great services but are subject to the caprices of their owners. Free facilities have been decommissioned and closed in the past and it can certainly happen again. Let us not forget the fate of Google Reader, Labs and Lively. Then there is the thorny issue of ownership when you are using a free service, something that is not a clear cut as you may expect. Therefore I would advise all new bloggers to have an eye on the future and have a plan in place with regard to backing up and preserving their work.
Consensus or Debate?
I’m of the opinion that there’s a little too much consensus within the blogging and podcasting community that I'm part of. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have something in common with my fellow writers and it helps when advancing ideas to have grass root support. However if everyone pretty much agrees with each other it doesn't always make for an entertaining or rigorous debate. Braxwolf recently wrote a very personal post about his faith and strayed in to territory that most bloggers consciously avoid. As a result it attracted a great deal of comments because religion is a divisive subject and candid articles of this nature are rare.
I’m of the opinion that there’s a little too much consensus within the blogging and podcasting community that I'm part of. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have something in common with my fellow writers and it helps when advancing ideas to have grass root support. However if everyone pretty much agrees with each other it doesn't always make for an entertaining or rigorous debate. Braxwolf recently wrote a very personal post about his faith and strayed in to territory that most bloggers consciously avoid. As a result it attracted a great deal of comments because religion is a divisive subject and candid articles of this nature are rare.
We live in a world where many people are increasingly reticent to court controversy or publicly nail their colours to the mast. There are legitimate concerns that the moment take any particular stance on religious, political or social issues, your words can be willfully misconstrued, taken out of context and used against you. Political correctness, which is a greatly misunderstood term, has both benefits and pitfalls and sadly one of the negative effects it has is killing the desire to express a view for fear of how it will be received.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, the art of debating and critical thinking are all too often absent from many blogs and podcasts. Many people are either unable to raise their arguments above the binary, or choose to ignore the intellectual requirements a rational debate imposes upon all parties. Too often a person’s right to have an opinion is mistaken for a right to have their opinion respected. Another fallacy is that all opinions are of equal value or merit. They are not. Giving an uninformed view equal airtime as that of an expert can be damaging. It implies that both views are on a par with each other. This is dangerous. Look at the harm the anti-vaccination lobby have done for example.
Another reason why many of us choose to stay away from major and controversial debates is because it takes a lot of hard work to prepare a measured, informed and persuasive argument. An empty sound bite, a glib one liner and scaremongering rants are two a penny and seldom require anything other than bluster and faux conviction. Considering all sides of a discussion and researching a credible, evidence based argument is a far more labour intensive task. Plus we now live in a world where being factually correct may not necessarily be perceived as winning an argument. Style so often trumps substance these days and the slick public speaker with the personality and jokes, may be able to convince audiences that they have won, even when they haven't. Spin is the foundation of modern politics and has subsequently bled out in to the wider culture.
The net result of this reluctance to engage as well as the refusal to acknowledge that one may be wrong, has led to the fragmentation of the gaming community. #GamerGate provided an object lesson on this phenomenon recently and we are still feeling the after effects. A divided community is hardly beneficial, especially if change is being sought. Then of course there are some individuals who do not have any specific sense of conviction and are simply affiliated to a particular side to advance their own ends. Usually this will be about self-promotion, click bait and money. Personally I think there are far too many "false prophets" in the gaming community at present.
With Burton & Scrooge Uncut making a return to podcasting, we have decided that the show is not going to dodge some of the harder and more challenging subjects. However we have no intention of showboating and throwing more fuel on the fire. We intend to grasps the nettle and discuss things in a measured, informed and adult fashion. Furthermore we will agree to disagree on some matters and will not feel the need to fallout with either our guest or listeners as a result. The mentality of the playground has been allowed to taint and derail discussions for too long and I think as a community it is time for us to relegate it to the fringes where it belongs.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 – Promoting Your Blog
People blog for all manner of reasons but there is one thing that’s common to us all. Let us dispense with the false modesty and be candid about this. We may well write for ourselves but the fact that we post our thoughts publicly on the internet is a fairly big clue that we want others to read them. If we didn't then we'd make our blogs private or simply keep a traditional diary or journal, would we not? Now that we've got that out of the way let me add that there's nothing wrong with this. A desire to communicate is not a bad thing. If you have aspirations beyond that and seek fame, prestige and the esteem of your peers then that's a different matter altogether. However whatever your personal motivation if you want people to read your blog then you have to promote it.
People blog for all manner of reasons but there is one thing that’s common to us all. Let us dispense with the false modesty and be candid about this. We may well write for ourselves but the fact that we post our thoughts publicly on the internet is a fairly big clue that we want others to read them. If we didn't then we'd make our blogs private or simply keep a traditional diary or journal, would we not? Now that we've got that out of the way let me add that there's nothing wrong with this. A desire to communicate is not a bad thing. If you have aspirations beyond that and seek fame, prestige and the esteem of your peers then that's a different matter altogether. However whatever your personal motivation if you want people to read your blog then you have to promote it.
As a blogger it is natural to want to find an audience. You may well be content with a readership that grows organically, or you may wish to pursue a more concerted plan to increase your audience. Blog rolls, twitter and other social media are invaluable tools for bringing your work to a wider audience. However to get the most out of such facilities you do need to be diligent in your use of them. Catchy titles and interesting headlines are essential for attracting passing traffic. Be mindful that the work to result ratio when using social media may not be as equitable as you think. For example my current twitter following is a matter of public record. Yet the most hits I've ever had from a tweet promoting a post in a single day is one hundred and seventeen. As my American colleagues say "Do the math".
Whether you actively strive to attract more readers or not, be prepared to invest a great deal of time before you see any tangible change in your site statistics. If you're hoping that you can start a new blog and achieve over a hundred thousand hits a day within the first three months, then you're on a hiding to nothing. The internet is a very big, noisy place and it's filled with people like yourself. I don't say that to discourage you but to merely provide a reality check. Blogging is driven by a degree of ego which you may need to temper occasionally. If you really want to pro-actively develop your blog audience then you have to treat it like a job, which is exactly what those folk who are trying to monetise their sites are doing. If you want to make a living from your writing, it's a completely different ball game and you have to throw yourself into it 24/7.
One of the best aspects of the Newbie Blogger Initiative is the sense of community that it fosters. This can also be an invaluable source of promotion and support. Riffing off each other’s posts, linking to an article you found interesting or posting a stern rebuttal of something you disagree with can bring a lot of new readers to your site. Pingbacks and comments again feed into this flow of traffic between blogs. As long as it doesn’t violate any TOS why not post links to your work on fan forums or subreddits? If you’re feeling especially bold then why not just send an email to a writer you admire or respects and see if they respond in kind?
I've been blogging since 2008 and I've elected to post daily or as near as damn it. My work and domestic situation allows for this, plus I relish the opportunity to regularly gather my thoughts and place them in some semblance of order. As a result Contains Moderate Peril has a back catalogue of posts. Some of that content is time specific, such as writing about the launch of an MMO expansion or some specific ongoing drama. However the material regarding movies or perennial gaming subjects do not have a shelf life. As a result approximately half of my daily traffic is through random Google searches that have linked back to my site.
Simply put the more you write, the greater your body of work. The greater the body of work, the more chance there is that it will be found. Feel free to indulge in old adages about throwing excrement at vertical brick structures. So whether you’re looking for a cosy fireside audience or hell-bent on global domination with a volcano lair, the fact remains that blogging is a long term enterprise. As one of my colleagues succinctly said, "Be prepared to fail for a long time". In the meantime feel free to woo your readership in whatever fashion you see fit, just don't expect overnight miracles. There are no real substitutes for just hard work and determination.