Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen
The gaming community (as well as many others) can be somewhat myopic at times. I'm sure many people are aware of Father Roderick and his prolific body of work. Is there a game, genre movie, TV show or some form of technology that he doesn't cover on his various podcasts and YouTube videos? Yet outside of this environment, his championing of all things "geek" still comes as a culture shock to the wider world with their somewhat entrenched attitudes towards both the “nerdy” and the religious. His 2013 book Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer, endeavours to address this issue. Furthermore it clearly advocates that the church should embrace all forms of new media and engage with all communities. Fandom, shared interests and hobbies are a great starting point for this.
Blogging Advice
Providing advice is an important part of Blapril. Guidance that may seem obvious to those who have been regularly writing, may potentially be a revelation to those who have only just started a blog. Hence I usually write over the course of these events, three or four posts offering tips. However, I hit a minor snag today as I sat down to write such a post. As soon as I had an idea about a specific aspect of blogging, I quickly discovered that I’d already previously written about it. I have been participating in various writing events of this kind since 2012 and have therefore covered a lot of ground (as have many of my esteemed colleagues). So I decided to collate all my past posts that offer advice and insight into specific areas of writing, into a single list. They cover a range of subjects from basic advice to those just starting a blog, to how often you should write and whether or not you should allow comments. Then there are other posts about writing styles, courting controversy etc.
MMO Etiquette
A lot of MMORPGs are experiencing high levels of new or returning players at present (for some particular reason). Despite this particular genre of games having radically evolved over the last two decades, there is still one fundamental component that has remained a constant. Namely the human factor. Hence there is plenty of scope for both old and new players to clash, disagree and fall out. Why, you may ask. Well mainly because behavioural and social norms that prevail in the real world, do not necessarily translate so well to a virtual environment. Visual cues such as body language are not available and it’s harder to pick up on tone and nuance from plain text, typed in global chat. However, we can all take steps to prevent any misunderstanding that can lead to a “wee stoushie”, by refreshing our respective memories about some basic MMO etiquette.
COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 Part 2
It’s been one and a half weeks since my last entry regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020. As I’m sure you’re all aware, a lot has happened globally in that time and many nations are currently coming to terms with the ramifications of dealing with this virus in their own “bespoke” way. Personally I think a global approach to the problem would be beneficial but the rise of nationalism and a diminishing of worldwide institutions such as the United Nations has made such a strategy very difficult. I was going to summarise my thoughts on the UK’s response to this crisis but I have decided instead to defer such a post for another week and instead focus upon a more positive theme. Because something has happened recently in the UK. Something I was doubtful about because I’ve been so jaded by contemporary politics. And yet despite my cynicism, I have seen a demonstrable increase in community spirit, solidarity and compassion in the last few days. And it has been a thing of beauty to behold.
Blogger Recognition Award 2020
I woke up this morning to discover I’ve been tagged for an “award”. However, my dreams of donning a tuxedo, taking to a podium and emotionally thanking my loved ones were quickly dispelled when I realised this was one of those internet “tag and promote” exercises. Not that there’s anything wrong with such undertakings. These sorts of exercises serve a purpose and can be used to amplify the writings of new bloggers. It’s just that there’s no gold plated statuette involved. Never mind. This “award” also presents an opportunity to share some advice, which hopefully will be of use to many of those who are new to blogging and have recently signed up for Blapril. So without further ado, let us begin. First off, let’s recap what’s involved regarding the Blogger Recognition Award 2020.
More Gaming Amnesia
I wrote back in January 2018 about “gaming amnesia” and how if you step away from a game for a while, then often you can forget not only the basic control layout but the essential mechanics as well. Well I’ve had a couple of further instances of this recently and it got me thinking as to whether there’s a finite amount of game related data you can retain at one time. I suspect the answer is yes and that it all comes down to the old “use it or lose it” maxim. If you’re not playing a complex game regularly, then the knowledge gets superseded by information you have a more pressing need to access. Hence I do not think I’m experiencing the early signs of dementia of anything like that. Nonetheless, it can be quite frustrating and age is also a factor. Our reactions do slow as we get older and quickly recollecting information becomes more of a chore.
The Devil Inside (2012)
Following in the wake of The Last Exorcism (2010) which enjoyed box office success, The Devil Inside also includes two staples of horror cinema: supernatural possession and the found footage/faux documentary genre. On paper these themes have the potential to yield an interesting drama. Sadly that is not the case with The Devil Inside which excels at neither and is distinctly average at best. It lacks the gravitas and visceral power of The Exorcist and even the sensational shock value of Paranormal Activity. The plot focuses upon Isabella (Fernanda Andrade), an American woman who sets out to make a documentary about her mother who murdered three members of the clergy. She was judged insane and subsequently sent to a mental hospital in Italy. Isabella meets two priests, Father Ben Rawlings (Simon Quarterman) and Father David Keane (Evan Helmuth) who explain that her mother's condition may be due to demonic possession.
The Importance of Making Notes
As this is the start of Blapril prep week, I thought I’d share an important aspect of my blogging experience. As ever, I would like to state that what works for me may not necessarily work for you. We all approach writing in our own unique way and ultimately it’s all about doing what is appropriate for you. I find that having some processes in place helps me immensely with my writing. And perhaps the most fundamental of these is having a way to manage my thoughts. I’m sure many of us have experienced a situation where a good idea has occurred to us or we’ve thought of a good counterpoint to something we’ve read and thought “I must write that down”. Sadly, we then all too often fail to do so and hence we waste potential blogging “gold”. Which is why I want to talk about the importance of making notes.
Learning How to Live Stream Part 2
It’s been a year since I wrote my last post about “learning to live stream”. I think that should give you a very clear indication of how well I’ve progressed. I mainly stopped streaming after a few experiments last March because of the time requirement involved. The only window of opportunity I had “go live” was from between 9:00PM and Midnight. That would have meant cutting into time I spend with Mrs P. Plus, due to health reasons, she often goes to bed before me. And as I use the spare bedroom as an office, my constant babble would have kept her awake. So this is yet another project that got shelved. However, a year later I find myself with a lot more time on my hands due to the current “global situation”. So today I fired up SLOBS once again and tried to get back on the horse. As with my previous experience, there’s a lot of fine tuning to be done if you want to live stream to any standard. So this latest outing was mainly a technical test to determine what needs to be changed in my current set up.
Get Ready for Blapril 2020
Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that all this spare time that many of us now have, can be put to good use. Belghast over at Tales of the Aggronaut, has brought forward his yearly blogging and content creation festival Blaugust and rechristened it Blapril. As the name indicates, this event will now run throughout April. Blapril is primarily a festival of blogging (although it offers much that is relevant to other types of content creation) designed to bring together and encourage new or lapsed bloggers. It is also an ideal opportunity for existing writers to renew their motivation and up their game. The event provides a means to share information and offer valuable advice based upon personal experiences. Blapril is about community, mutual support and sharing content. As I mentioned in a previous post, self isolation is in many ways the perfect time to take up blogging, podcasting, live streaming or generally creating some form of online content. If you’re looking for a gentle nudge to start any of these activities, Blapril 2020 can provide it.
Riddick (2013)
Contrary to the endorsement on the above poster, Riddick was not "the most entertaining action movie of the year" in 2013. It was just an adequate third instalment in a rather ambitious franchise, that has failed to grab the wider public's attention. That’s not to say that they didn’t make money. This is after all the third movie. Writer and Director David Twohy has done his best to try and make the character of Riddick (Vin Diesel) more than the sum of his parts and I admire both of them for their persistence. Unfortunately, Riddick just isn't engaging or complicated enough a protagonist to sustain a franchise of this nature. The anti-hero was sufficient to drive the original Pitch Black back in 2000 which had some good ideas but just couldn't sustain the overarching and overblown Chronicles of Riddick in 2004. This instalment is competently made but ultimately superfluous.
COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 Part 1
The COVD-19 Pandemic is an unprecedented global event and the way day to day life has changed so rapidly over the last few weeks is deeply unsettling. Hence I’m writing this recurring post as a coping mechanism; a means to process what is happening and observe how society is reacting to the ongoing crisis. And first off, let me state that I’ve already spoken to two people today, who do not see a Global Pandemic as being a crisis. Yes because we live in a post truth world where some people labour under the delusion that all opinions are of commensurate value, there are still people who “feel” that this is all an overwrought brouhaha. I suspect “crazy people watch” may become a major part of my writing. So where to begin exactly? Well I guess the best thing to do is to explain what my personal situation is.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 12
Due to the ongoing Global Pandemic, many people are now finding themselves working from home or having to stay in for health or childcare reasons. Hence there has been a marked increase in online leisure activities. Steam has been hit by a record number of concurrent users and Netflix and Amazon prime have both seen an increased demand upon their respective streaming services. If you’re not commuting then you are freeing up a substantial amount of hours each week. This potential abundance of “free time” along with a practical need to channel your energy into something to prevent yourself from going “stir crazy”, presents some interesting opportunities. Many people who have previously expressed an interest in writing and content creation now have the leeway to do so. Naturally, as a writing enthusiast and a long time blogger, I am happy to encourage such activities.
Completing the Minas Morgul Expansion
Despite taking a short break out of pure frustration, I decided to grit my teeth and try to finish the Minas Morgul expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online over the last few days. As I suspected, once you start questing in Minas Morgul itself, it all becomes very homogenous. The circles of the city are deliberately ponderous to navigate and the quests are padded out with generic filler content that requires you to kill multiple types of mobs. Furthermore, Minas Morgul itself is a “lagfest” and you can often find yourself instantly in combat with a mob lurking immediately outside the door of the Rangers camps. The density of the enemies means that you’re continuously pulling aggro when travelling form A to B. And you often find yourself rubberbanding and stuttering due to the poor build of the city. Completing all of the various tiers of the city is a grueling task and upon completion you’re immediately sent to Thuringwath which has many of the same problems. Although some of the quest stories are well conceived, the realities of completing much of the content in Minas Morgul make it very much an uphill struggle.
Classic Movie Themes: Friday the 13th
It was Friday the 13th yesterday, so I thought it was about time that I added Harry Manfredini’s iconic score to the annals of Classic Movie Themes. The 1980 slasher movie Friday the 13th has become as legendary in the pantheon of cinematic horror history as John Carpenter’s Halloween. Although there are marked differences between these two films, both use minimalist musical scores extremely effectively to punctuate the proceedings and embellish the overall atmosphere. However, Manfedini did not want to provide viewers with obvious audio cues during scenes of building tension. He preferred to focus his score upon the activities of the franchise's iconic killer, Jason Voorhees, and hence have strong musical cues when he was on screen. This approach meant that he had to use a unique musical motif to denote potential tension, without diminishing its effect on the audience by excessive use of obvious and melodramatic cues.
Waiting for the New Middle-earth MMO
In late 2018 it was announced that Amazon Game Studios and Leyou were collaborating on massively multiplayer online game for PC and consoles set in Middle-earth. Ongoing development is being handled by Athlon Games, a global developer and publisher of free-to-play console and PC games. The studio is a subsidiary of Leyou Technologies Holdings Limited. But beyond the fairly vague press releases that can be found on the Athlon Games website (the last was posted in July 2019), little detail has emerged about the project. There has been unsubstantiated rumours that the project may well tie-in with the forthcoming Amazon Prime TV show that is set in the Second Age of Middle Earth. However, there is little information at present in the public domain to fully substantiate this or any of the other ongoing speculation. Hence, the entire situation raises some interesting questions and I’m sure like me, you have probably pondered some of them. Here are just a few that have crossed my mind.
Old is New
If you keep up with news in the MMORPG community, you’ll be aware that there has been a recent resurgence in “rogue server” offering emulation services for titles that have officially closed. City of Heroes and Star Wars Galaxies continue to sustain a player base and the level of interest clearly indicates that this is not just due to mere nostalgia. Simply put these games maintain an audience because they are good. They’re well designed, engaging and rewarding to play. Similarly, remastered games are proving to be both popular and commercially successful. Resident Evil 2 which was released last year has sold over 5 million copies and received critical acclaim. It currently has a rating of 91% on Metacritic (for those who put stock in such things). Pundits are already predicting that the remake of Final Fantasy VII will enjoy similar success. Again when you analyse the reviews and critiques available online, you find that these remastered titles fare well due to their inherent quality. Is this something newer games are lacking?
Making Your Own Fun
I’ve yet to read a cogent definition of the term “emergent gameplay”, so it won’t feature in this post because I’m not sure if I fully grasp the concept. It seems to be a very elastic term. However, what I will say is that sometimes you run out of officially sanctioned tasks to do, when playing an MMO. You find yourself having completed all quests and missions, languishing at level cap with acceptable gear and kicking your virtual heels. It is at this point one of two things happens. You either find a means of keeping yourself engaged with the game, or you logout and find something else to play. Too often have I done the latter. At present, I’m currently at the “what should I do now” stage both in The Lord of the Rings Online and Star Trek Online. This time rather than just temporarily abandoning these games, I intend to set myself some new goals and effectively make my own fun. It may or may not work. But at the least it will make for a couple of blog posts.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
I’m not familiar with the original series of children’s books that Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is based upon. From what I’ve read, it would appear that the film manages to channel the spirit (if you’ll pardon the pun) of the short stories by Alvin Schwartz, via the four supernatural vignettes that feature in the movies plot. Furthermore, the illustrations featured in the original publications, by Stephen Gammell, have obviously influenced the visual effects and production design of the movie. However, despite being marketed as a portmanteau movie, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is much more than that. The framing story is more than just an arbitrary pair of cinematic bookends, designed to wrap around the proceedings. It is entwined into the central narrative and the four supernatural meta stories. Rather than being a pure anthology movie, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is at its heart, a film about the nature and inherent power of stories themselves.
Countdown (2019)
I believe that Countdown received an unnecessarily hard time from the US critics. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Countdown is a masterpiece. It is not. But it is adequate. A phrase that a lot of people could do with reacquainting themselves with. I won’t retread old ground, as I’ve written about this subject before. I simply think that many people (and critics are people) just have unrealistic expectations when it comes to movies. Not every film created should be, or can be a boundary pushing, cinematic masterpiece. Once again I will invoke my cuisine analogy. There are Michelin five star rated restaurants and then there are fast food franchises. Both serve a purpose, cater for a specific market and can provide relative pleasure. Therefore comparing “like for like” is a critical mistake and based upon a misplaced assumption of false equivalence. Which brings me onto Countdown. It is not The Shining. Nor is it Plan 9 from Outer Space. But it is as I said, “adequate”.