Darth Maul is alive.
Darth Maul, who Obi-Wan sliced into two pieces, is alive.
How? And more importantly, why?
I know! To attract more attention to the Clone Wars and the 3D release of The Phantom Menace.
Darth Maul was a fantastic, one-shot villain. Fans thought Maul was cool because of his fighting style, not because he had an interesting back-story or amusing sense of humor. The Maul-Kenobi-Jinn lightsaber fight is amazing. It never loses its luster.
Oh wait, with this announcement, it just did.
Think about the latter part of the fight. Obi-Wan, Maul and Qui-Gon are separated from each other. Maul paces like a caged beast. His nostrils flare with anger. Qui-Gon appears worn out and tries to regain strength. The timers then turn off and he and Qui-Gon engage in an exciting duel. We watch as Maul puts one of his blades through Qui-Gon and hear Obi-Wan’s anguished scream.
At that moment, many of us wanted to see Darth Maul pay for what he did to Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan rushes forward and assaults Maul in a frenzy. Soon Obi-Wan is hanging on for his life while Maul swings his lightsaber like the smug Sith Apprentice he is.
And then…then Qui-Gon’s lightsaber moves, Obi-Wan leaps up and slices Maul in half. A spray of blood appears and Maul tumbles down the shaft. Obi-Wan has defeated the Sith. It’s one of his greatest moments.
Not anymore!
Regardless of your opinion of The Phantom Menace, that entire sequence is amazing and moving. Knowing that Maul survived and that Obi-Wan didn’t defeat a Sith kind of kills it.
This action brings another question to mind. How? The man was cut in half. His body bounced off the sides of a metal shaft. I find it hard to believe that his skull wasn’t at least fractured. It’s not as if he was caught on fire like Vader or lost a limb. He was cut into two definite pieces. No humanoid lives through that.
With the release of The Phantom Menace 3D poster, I am even surer that this move was tied in. Darth Maul is the predominant picture, yet Anakin is omitted. You know Anakin? The character the entire saga is about? At least Darth Sidious made it in the shadows, a placement that’s rather appropriate.
Oh wait. Anakin's in his podracer. Probably. Let me get the magnifying glass.
I mulled the news around in my head for a day before writing this blog entry. I didn’t want to fall into a fit of rage or illogical ranting. Obi-Wan is such a crucial character to the Star Wars saga that any change that dramatically alters his character needs looked at. While I applaud the staff of the Clone Wars for keeping people talking about the series, I can’t get behind this plot decision. Give Maul a brother. Why not? Bring in Chewie? Sounds like a plan. Bring back a dead character? No thanks. Bringing back the dead is a horrible plot device. It’s up there with time travel. Overused, cliché and cheap. Bringing in Maul's brother and Chewie didn't harm other characters.
The cartoon should not take precedent over the movies. Period.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
The Clone Wars: Heavy Indicator of the Problems with an EU Cartoon
Ah Star Wars: The Clone Wars, how I want to love you.
I’ve tried. I’ve tried so many times, but I just can’t get into it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the Clone Wars. It’s a great way to bring new fans into the Star Wars universe and to keep the fandom alive. I just can’t get into the episodes. If I were nine years old again, I’d be in love with the show.
The Clones Wars does deserve some addition credit. Ahsoka is a fantastic female character. The decision to use her instead of a male is a great step forward in furthering integrating women into the sci-fi fandom. In addition, Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka) worked to bring us the Her Universe line.
What I don’t like about the Clone Wars is that the characters are too overpowered and, to put it bluntly, it’s too cartoon-y. The actions of the characters fit the medium perfectly, but it’s not appealing to all fans. This is fine, as long as this overpowered behavior stays on the animated screen. Keep it out of the books.
I do enjoy some of the episodes. The R2 ones in particular are quite fun. Who doesn’t want to see R2 save the day? The production team has done an excellent job when it comes to deciding when to give us a piece of R2. The episodes don’t occur too much to make his heroics seem overplayed, yet enough to satisfy us fans.
Recently Catherine Taber, who provides the voice of Padme in the Clone Wars and Princess Leia in the Force Unleashed, said that she would like to lend her talents to Jaina Solo. Now, while it would be neat to see some kind of cartoon, movie or live-action show with Jaina Solo, I have reservations.
The Clone Wars messes with continuity. I know, I know, it’s an old argument. As the guys over on the Cantina Cast pointed out, it seems as if the only continuity the production team is worried about the exchange in Revenge of the Sith between General Grievous and Anakin Skywalker.
As a die-hard EU fan, I don’t want to see any of it ruined by a show. Have events happened that I didn’t like? Yes, but once it’s done, it’s done. They can’t undo the mistakes. As I’ve said in a previous entry, I am against reboots. A show would feel like an alternate EU unless it followed events correctly. Of course, one could argue that it could hurt suspense (something that the Clones Wars often lacks).
Ultimately, I feel that the fact that Star Wars is a continuous story makes it a more appealing fandom. Adding a television show into the post-ROTJ Expanded Universe seems like it would add way too many cooks to the kitchen...or Dex’s Diner, if you prefer.
I’ve tried. I’ve tried so many times, but I just can’t get into it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the Clone Wars. It’s a great way to bring new fans into the Star Wars universe and to keep the fandom alive. I just can’t get into the episodes. If I were nine years old again, I’d be in love with the show.
The Clones Wars does deserve some addition credit. Ahsoka is a fantastic female character. The decision to use her instead of a male is a great step forward in furthering integrating women into the sci-fi fandom. In addition, Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka) worked to bring us the Her Universe line.
What I don’t like about the Clone Wars is that the characters are too overpowered and, to put it bluntly, it’s too cartoon-y. The actions of the characters fit the medium perfectly, but it’s not appealing to all fans. This is fine, as long as this overpowered behavior stays on the animated screen. Keep it out of the books.
I do enjoy some of the episodes. The R2 ones in particular are quite fun. Who doesn’t want to see R2 save the day? The production team has done an excellent job when it comes to deciding when to give us a piece of R2. The episodes don’t occur too much to make his heroics seem overplayed, yet enough to satisfy us fans.
Recently Catherine Taber, who provides the voice of Padme in the Clone Wars and Princess Leia in the Force Unleashed, said that she would like to lend her talents to Jaina Solo. Now, while it would be neat to see some kind of cartoon, movie or live-action show with Jaina Solo, I have reservations.
The Clone Wars messes with continuity. I know, I know, it’s an old argument. As the guys over on the Cantina Cast pointed out, it seems as if the only continuity the production team is worried about the exchange in Revenge of the Sith between General Grievous and Anakin Skywalker.
As a die-hard EU fan, I don’t want to see any of it ruined by a show. Have events happened that I didn’t like? Yes, but once it’s done, it’s done. They can’t undo the mistakes. As I’ve said in a previous entry, I am against reboots. A show would feel like an alternate EU unless it followed events correctly. Of course, one could argue that it could hurt suspense (something that the Clones Wars often lacks).
Ultimately, I feel that the fact that Star Wars is a continuous story makes it a more appealing fandom. Adding a television show into the post-ROTJ Expanded Universe seems like it would add way too many cooks to the kitchen...or Dex’s Diner, if you prefer.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Come On Ladies, Get Your Geek On This Halloween
Halloween is the time to spread the word that female geeks are here to stay.
Think back to when you were a child. What types of costumes were in the “girls” section of the costume aisle at the local department store? Disney Princesses (specifically Jasmine and Belle), Thumbalina, Pink Power Ranger, witches, genies, maids, Wednesday Adams and nurses come to mind. I can’t recall seeing a Princess Leia costume until recently. Padme also joined the costumes, but the prequels weren’t out when I was a child).
On Halloween in 2006, while working at a Victoria’s Secret in an outdoor mall, I stood outside and handed out candy to trick-or-treaters. That year I saw over a dozen Hermione Grangers from Harry Potter. I remember thinking how awesome it was to see such so many girls dressed up as such a great female character.
As women become a stronger market in the sci-fi/fantasy market, the amount of female-geared costumes for these genres seems to increase. It was next to impossible to find a Princess Leia action figure growing up; imagine how difficult it would have been to find a Leia costume for a child!
With the addition of stronger female leads in books, TV shows and movies, we have more options. There still aren’t as many options as I’d like, but at least the market is improving somewhat. Many sites and stores also offer options to coverage, so consumers don’t have to abandon the Wonder Woman costume in the name of personal modesty.
Halloween is the perfect opportunity to show our love for a great female character.
And we don’t need to modify a men’s costume to do it.
Think back to when you were a child. What types of costumes were in the “girls” section of the costume aisle at the local department store? Disney Princesses (specifically Jasmine and Belle), Thumbalina, Pink Power Ranger, witches, genies, maids, Wednesday Adams and nurses come to mind. I can’t recall seeing a Princess Leia costume until recently. Padme also joined the costumes, but the prequels weren’t out when I was a child).
On Halloween in 2006, while working at a Victoria’s Secret in an outdoor mall, I stood outside and handed out candy to trick-or-treaters. That year I saw over a dozen Hermione Grangers from Harry Potter. I remember thinking how awesome it was to see such so many girls dressed up as such a great female character.
As women become a stronger market in the sci-fi/fantasy market, the amount of female-geared costumes for these genres seems to increase. It was next to impossible to find a Princess Leia action figure growing up; imagine how difficult it would have been to find a Leia costume for a child!
With the addition of stronger female leads in books, TV shows and movies, we have more options. There still aren’t as many options as I’d like, but at least the market is improving somewhat. Many sites and stores also offer options to coverage, so consumers don’t have to abandon the Wonder Woman costume in the name of personal modesty.
Halloween is the perfect opportunity to show our love for a great female character.
And we don’t need to modify a men’s costume to do it.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Female Geeks: Carving Our Own Fashion Niche
Picture a female geek in your head. What does she look like? Is she wearing glasses with thick lenses? Braces? Dowdy clothing? Or did you picture the opposite stereotype of a busty woman in a tight costume?
For years, female sci-fi fans have had an almost impossible time showing their geek pride. With the Her Universe line (among other retailers), it’s becoming easier, but still a challenge. I can’t walk into a major retailer and find a Star Wars shirt in the women’s department, though there are plenty in the men and boys sections. I remember the excitement I felt with Hot Topic began carrying Star Wars shirts for women. It is rather frustrating, though, that only specialty stores carry these types of items for women.
There is an unseen benefit to this annoying limitation: we can create our own style beyond the T-shirt and jeans regime by letting retailers know what we want.
Think about what type of products you want outside of the shirts and hoodies category. For example, jewelry. Her Universe currently sells two different types of earrings and a charm bracelet for Star Wars fans and a toaster necklace for Battlestar Galactica fans. The jewelry fits well with almost any outfit.
The options go beyond jewelry. I’d like to see a line of handbags and totes from any manufacturer. Even socks, undergarments and pajamas would be neat to own.
Male geeks face their own stereotypes: overweight or super skinny, greasy faces, dark jeans with tattered T-shirts and old Converse shoes. It’s a stereotype that many hope to escape and one I don’t want to fall into.
While both female and male geek styles can overlap, they need to be two separate entities. Forcing women to wear the same or similar “geek style” as men stops us from being taken seriously as a group. It’s almost like squeezing us in an overstuffed bookcase. The book doesn’t fit correctly, but it will do.
None of us wants to be that book.
For years, female sci-fi fans have had an almost impossible time showing their geek pride. With the Her Universe line (among other retailers), it’s becoming easier, but still a challenge. I can’t walk into a major retailer and find a Star Wars shirt in the women’s department, though there are plenty in the men and boys sections. I remember the excitement I felt with Hot Topic began carrying Star Wars shirts for women. It is rather frustrating, though, that only specialty stores carry these types of items for women.
There is an unseen benefit to this annoying limitation: we can create our own style beyond the T-shirt and jeans regime by letting retailers know what we want.
Think about what type of products you want outside of the shirts and hoodies category. For example, jewelry. Her Universe currently sells two different types of earrings and a charm bracelet for Star Wars fans and a toaster necklace for Battlestar Galactica fans. The jewelry fits well with almost any outfit.
The options go beyond jewelry. I’d like to see a line of handbags and totes from any manufacturer. Even socks, undergarments and pajamas would be neat to own.
Male geeks face their own stereotypes: overweight or super skinny, greasy faces, dark jeans with tattered T-shirts and old Converse shoes. It’s a stereotype that many hope to escape and one I don’t want to fall into.
While both female and male geek styles can overlap, they need to be two separate entities. Forcing women to wear the same or similar “geek style” as men stops us from being taken seriously as a group. It’s almost like squeezing us in an overstuffed bookcase. The book doesn’t fit correctly, but it will do.
None of us wants to be that book.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
SWTOR: Why the Character Name Matters
What’s in name? Why does it matter?
In late December, I will create my characters in Star Wars: The Old Republic. While it’s easy to decide the character’s appearance, the name is a whole other issue.
The name is the key identifying feature of the character.
Selecting a character’s name in a MMORPG may not sound like it matters, but that is how people identify you. In past games, I never put much thought in the name. I usually chose names based off book characters. Even doing that, I still debated about the name.
With Star Wars: The Old Republic, I intend to make up the names beforehand. Instead of selecting a name from a book or movie and changing the spelling, I plan to come up with original names. That being said, I want these names to fit Star Wars. For example, my Chiss Imperial Agent will have an appropriate Chiss name, not something more appropriate for a Corellian nerf farmer. You don’t need to know that Malgus is a Sith to know he’s evil; his name says it all.
For role players, the name is even more important. It acts as part of the character’s story. Many role players create a back-story, personality, traits, history and other facts. While I am not a role player, SWTOR caters to RP players in addition to the regular gamer.
The ability to select exactly which response to a quest fits your character makes the character more customizable. This, along with selecting the right name, makes the character feel more like it’s “yours.” In “World of Warcraft,” as much as I enjoyed my character, there was nothing about her that made her feel “different” from any other undead arcane mage walking around Orgimmar. That I can select how moral my Imperial Agent or Jedi Knight is adds something extra to the game.
And there is certainly some irony to making a “dark side Jedi” or “light side Sith.”
These factors play into the naming decision- along with what I want people to call me in chats. I’ll pass on Boss Nass.
In late December, I will create my characters in Star Wars: The Old Republic. While it’s easy to decide the character’s appearance, the name is a whole other issue.
The name is the key identifying feature of the character.
Selecting a character’s name in a MMORPG may not sound like it matters, but that is how people identify you. In past games, I never put much thought in the name. I usually chose names based off book characters. Even doing that, I still debated about the name.
With Star Wars: The Old Republic, I intend to make up the names beforehand. Instead of selecting a name from a book or movie and changing the spelling, I plan to come up with original names. That being said, I want these names to fit Star Wars. For example, my Chiss Imperial Agent will have an appropriate Chiss name, not something more appropriate for a Corellian nerf farmer. You don’t need to know that Malgus is a Sith to know he’s evil; his name says it all.
For role players, the name is even more important. It acts as part of the character’s story. Many role players create a back-story, personality, traits, history and other facts. While I am not a role player, SWTOR caters to RP players in addition to the regular gamer.
The ability to select exactly which response to a quest fits your character makes the character more customizable. This, along with selecting the right name, makes the character feel more like it’s “yours.” In “World of Warcraft,” as much as I enjoyed my character, there was nothing about her that made her feel “different” from any other undead arcane mage walking around Orgimmar. That I can select how moral my Imperial Agent or Jedi Knight is adds something extra to the game.
And there is certainly some irony to making a “dark side Jedi” or “light side Sith.”
These factors play into the naming decision- along with what I want people to call me in chats. I’ll pass on Boss Nass.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Star Wars: The Old Republic to Launch Dec. 20
Star Wars and gaming fans rejoice. Star Wars: The Old Republic is coming out Dec. 20 (North America) and Dec. 22 (Europe).
Finally!
In addition to the release dates, the monthly subscription fees were released.
The rates fit in with World of Warcraft, the biggest competitor. The one, three or six month options are very reasonable. I am more willing to pay the six-month fee for the lower price than a year’s worth of fees. I imagine that the three-month plan will be the most popular.
Sounds like a great early Christmas present for everyone!
Check out the official forums announcement here: SWTOR Release Announcement.
Finally!
In addition to the release dates, the monthly subscription fees were released.
•1 Month Subscription: $14.99 (£8.99/€12.99)
•3 Month Subscription: $13.99 per month (one-time charge of $41.97/£25.17/€35.97)
•6 Month Subscription: $12.99 per month (one-time charge of $77.94/£46.14/€65.94)
The rates fit in with World of Warcraft, the biggest competitor. The one, three or six month options are very reasonable. I am more willing to pay the six-month fee for the lower price than a year’s worth of fees. I imagine that the three-month plan will be the most popular.
Sounds like a great early Christmas present for everyone!
Check out the official forums announcement here: SWTOR Release Announcement.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
SWTOR: The 2011 Release Date is Still Possible
The SWTOR community is atwitter tonight. During an EA investor conference call, Eric Brown was asked what could cause a possible delay. He told the crowd that if beta testing didn’t go as planned then it could be delayed to the March quarter of the 2012 fiscal year.
Before that, he said:
Somehow, many members of the SWTOR forums missed Brown’s statement that they were still looking at the calendar 2011 release. Instead, people are freaking out about the slim possibility that the game BioWare and EA could delay the game to 2012. Yes, a delay is possible, but don’t forget that 2011 isn’t out of the equation.
The game also has it's official rating: Teen.
It’s easy to focus on the negative, even if it comes from a hypothetical question. Fans have been jerked around with this game for years. The constant promise of release windows that end up delays chip away at fans excitement for the game.
Instead of diving into a fits of nerd rage and canceling the game, take a step back from the computer. Read all of the information before reacting.
Before that, he said:
In terms of timing, again, we haven't given a street date yet. We won't do so for some time, possibly at our next upcoming earnings call towards the end of October. We're in beta testing mode. We're expanding the scalability of the testing. It's not about working to complete content. We feel very good about the content. That's ready to go. It's about tuning the game to make sure, for example, we can get the level of concurrent users per server cluster that we want. That the response time is what people would expect. So the factor, just to reiterate what we said last earnings call about timing, we expect to ship Star Wars by the end of this calendar year.
Somehow, many members of the SWTOR forums missed Brown’s statement that they were still looking at the calendar 2011 release. Instead, people are freaking out about the slim possibility that the game BioWare and EA could delay the game to 2012. Yes, a delay is possible, but don’t forget that 2011 isn’t out of the equation.
The game also has it's official rating: Teen.
It’s easy to focus on the negative, even if it comes from a hypothetical question. Fans have been jerked around with this game for years. The constant promise of release windows that end up delays chip away at fans excitement for the game.
Instead of diving into a fits of nerd rage and canceling the game, take a step back from the computer. Read all of the information before reacting.
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