The Lonesome Road

Well, my class has seminars this week, and in the time tested tradition, attendance has been made compulsory. Don’t get me wrong - if it wasn’t done, the only people who would turn up for the day are the guys who have to give the seminar and their friends

However, sitting the hall - with no fans, closed windows and no ventilation for seven hours with just an hours respite is a major headache. And I mean that literally. Had a pounding headache when I came back yesterday.

My seminar is tomorrow, so will try to give a demo to the staff-in-charge (internal and external) of my seminar today. Let’s hope it goes well.

Wish me luck!

You know, I actually wanted to do a feel good piece on this issue, but somehow the rains have actually conspired to put my mood under - so to speak. So while I will still try to keep my ranting to a minimum - i don’t promise anything.

Yeah - it’s Independence day. 57 years. It’s really a funny concept, one not understood till you actually lose it. And somehow, I feel that we as Indians, don’t really understand the concept anymore. I mean - look at the country. You can see it everywhere.

This is about an article I read in the paper today. The first Indian martyr was Mangal Pandey - he died during the Sepoy Mutiny. Why is he in the spotlight - oh simple. A Mr.Amir Khan is making a film on his life. And the gist behind the published story - how two families claim that there are of Mangal Pandey’s bloodline. And they both threaten to sue over the movie. It’s so bad that one of the families does not even know the relationship - not even in abstract terms. Of course, in all this the statue of the martyr that was supposed to be unveiled has been standing patiently for the last 6 years. Don’t you just love independence.

Somehow, all this makes you wonder - are we all just one day patriots? Most of us will buy the tri-colour today. Then what? It will hang for a few days and then just disappear. I think we are the only people in the world who have/need laws on the proper diasposal of the flag. I’m not kidding. There are actually laws that fine/imprison you for improper disposal of the flag. I mean - it’s the national flag - and if you truly feel about it, would you throw if away in the first place? It toolk us almost forever to get permission to hang flags in non-government edifices. I’m pretty sure the government didn’t want us to - knowing our penchant for disposing the flag the next day.

So, what have we done in 57 years? I suppose there has been some good done. Don’t get me wrong. I love my country, but I really don’t have the strength and courage to change it. It’s a coward’s way to mock things people have done - but that’s all I am doing now. To all the people who believe and work for a better India - especially those who work in rural aread, improving the life of the people there - my salutations. We’ve made strides in the quality of living, I suppose. Life expectancy has increased, women are treated better ( an urban rule - female infants are still regularly killed in rural areas ). You know, I really can’t think of more. I know there are more, but they really don’t come to me now. (will update this as I see)

So, where do we stand? The same place. Our politicians are the smartest people on earth. It’s a simple rule - we are highly emotional people. Most of the issues we decide and the people we elect are on the basis of what we feel - rather than on logic. I’m not immune from this myself. Everytime I hear the National Anthem - something stirs my blood. But then - this makes an easily lead nation.

Well, enough of the negativity. Enjoy the day - but do remember the people who fought to give it to all of us. And let patriotism not be a one day affair.

Jai Hind!

Just how important is a storyline in games today?

Of course in Adventure games and RPGs’, a storyline is (technically) the most important part of the game. It is the basic premise around which the game is designed. In these games, a poor storyline can detract a lot from the gaming experience. Some of the best RPG’s I’ve played are the Baldur’s Gate Series, the Icewind Dale series and Planescape:Torment. All else being equal, Planescape walks away with being the best of the lot. Why? Because of an amazingly immersive storyline and great character interaction. It’s probably one of the only games where you can talk your way out of the final battle. Go figure.

Coming to the RTS and FPS sections - now this is where a plot line can really help. In most RTS, there is usually a good storyline. The major problem comes in that most of the plots are linear - and to a large extent - predictable. However, I do agree that to make a non-linear series of challenges for an RTS can be a challenge. most RTS cover this by giving an option where the players decision causes changes in a later mission. It’s in the case of the FPS that the major problem comes in. There are usually two basic types of people who play these games.
a) Those who just want the adrenaline rush. no questions asked shooting
b) Those who want to actually feel the type of person they are role-playing.

For people of the former category a storyline is the last thing to look for. And there does seem to be a sort of revivalist trend going on in this direction. Games like Serious Sam (1 and 2), Painkiller, Doom 3 are all Classic retro games where the storyline and pseudo-reality go for a toss. In my opinion - these games are usually 15 minute stress killers. They can’t really hold attention for longer periods of time. The lack of a storyline is usually covered by toning up the eye candy.

For immersiveness, a plot/story is a must. Consider Half-Life and it’s much awaited sequel. Not examples of great storylines - but what it had, combined with the impressive AI really helped players get under the skin of the character. Similarly, System Shock 2 - with great atmosphere and a decent storyline was an absolute joy to play.

Finally, the want or lack of a storyline is the choice of the person playing the game. but remember, as the reviewer of Doom3 said : “Space marine saves earth by killing monsters isn’t a plot”.

Until next time…

Well, this should have been the first post - but knowing me - I managed to put up the second post first. Oh well, I guess it doesn’t realy matter.

Anyway, I was “encouraged” to put up this blog by a good friend of mine. So, help me repay the favour. Go check out his blog at : Anshul’s Blog

I’ll try my best to keep posting .

The debate whether capital punishment should be abolished or not is an old one. It is a testimony to the seriousness of the issue that it is still alive.

Coming to the specifics, Dhananjoy Chatterjee ended a life - a first degree murder. By the law, his sentence is death. What is wrong in these cases is the speed of justice.

Rather than questioning the decision of the judicial system, it’s the appalling delay after which the decision is given that is the crucial factor. A crime that was commited in 1990 has taken 14 years to come full circle to the man who commited it. In normal cases the concerned person/criminal waits out most of his life in jail, waiting for the day his case will see the light. In many ways, it is a punishment in itself.

While I agree with the author of India Be Not Proud about the examples he has given, there are countless more examples where killers have escaped scot free and gone on to commit more crimes. The death penalty is the ultimate punishment - and as such one to be dispensed lightly. It acts as much as a deterrent as a punishment. But if there is no bite behind the sentence - there is no use. A mad dog must be put down - not locked in a cell and pardoned after a set period of time.

This is always a hard issue to look at objectively - emotions and sympathies always come in the way.

It’s not just a question of re-examining justice. It’s a question of re-examining the system that spawns this “justice”.