วันศุกร์ที่ 31 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 30 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
IGN Daily Fix, 9-3: Duke Nukem Returns & Avatar 3D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr-7LzcSuN0&hl=en
วันพุธที่ 29 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Tyra Banks Launches Virtual World
One way to catch a glimpse of America's Next Top Model's Tyra Banks is by chilling out on her very own virtual world entitled "Tyra's Virtual Studio." With a distinct artistic interface to give the users a customized "Tyra" experience, this virtual world equals or might even outshine the prevailing virtual trend. Banks, a 33-year old former supermodel, is also known to be the host of The Tyra Banks Show, as well as creator and star of America's Next Top Model.
Her success in the fashion industry, not to mention her endeavors after her runway stint, engrossed and inspired millions of fans worldwide. Given her massive fan base, she has now thought of a creative approach to relate, communicate and come together with her devotees.
Ecstatic about the recent launch of her virtual world last February 19, she carves up her time from her TV shows like America's Next Top Model to be with her supporters by dropping by occasionally or posting an exclusive affair on her virtual studio. According to 3pointD.com, Tyra's Virtual Studio has attracted more than 400 users since its commencement.
Of course, Tyra's Virtual Studio has the same features as other virtual worlds generated by Doppelganger such as the PussyCat Doll Music Lounge.
With creative execution of vivid and cool personalized avatars, as well as expression-enabled facets, Tyra's Virtual Studio is the cheapest ticket to online parties and restricted events in the limelight. A cool treat for the music and chat enthusiasts as well, this virtual world breaks out the barriers of distance, which is definitely a convenient approach to mingling. Easily suitable for popular operating systems like Window and Mac, this new virtual studio entails practicality, amusing entertainment and a variety of leisure activities that is sure to capture the hearts of fashion aficionados, online buffs, partygoers, and chitchat addicts.
วันจันทร์ที่ 27 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Unique Costume Ideas for Children - Avatar Costumes for Kids
Each Halloween, costumes take their cues from hot Hollywood movies. There have been years where Freddy Kruegers abound, Hogwarts students roam the streets and Star Wars characters are always in the mix. Movies continually inspire costumes for Halloween, and this year, the avatar costume for kids are going to be some of the hottest character Halloween costumes for kids out there.
Avatar is an epic science fiction film written and directed by legendary Hollywood name, James Cameron. It was released in 2009 with astounding box office results. The film takes place in the year 2154 when humans are mining the mineral Unobtanium on the planet, Pandora. However, this mining endangers the indigenous local tribe, Na'vi. Marine Jake Sully, who is paralyzed, goes to Pandora on assignment. He is sent there to secretly gather information about the Na'vi race, and he is able to do so as he is an avatar. However, while he is there, Jake becomes close with the Na'vi people and falls in love with one of them, Neytiri, a beautiful alien. He soon becomes one of them and turns to their side. Avatar was a huge box office success and gained a large following that continues to grow.
Because of the fantastical nature of the movie, Avatar, the characters lend themselves well to avatar Halloween costumes for children. The child neytiri costume avatar will be big this year along with the Jake Sully costume.
One popular avatar costume for children is a child neytiri costume na'vi, of Neytiri, the beautiful alien. This costume is made up of a vibrant blue jumpsuit printed to mimic Neytiri's stripes. This polyester costume has an attached tail and an apron with attached beads. It also comes with a feathered necklace, bracelet and an arm gauntlet. The child's small fits sizes 4-6, the medium is for sizes 8 - 10, and the large is for child sizes 12 - 14. The child neytiri mask and child neytiri wig do not come with this costume. Blue makeup would finish the look wonderfully.
The Jake Sully costume includes a khaki jacket with attached black shirt with Na'vi style sleeves and neck, along with khaki pants. A Jake Sully character mask is included. This comes in small, medium and large child sizes to fit 4-6, 8-10 and 12-14 respectively. Shoes are not included.
Both of these costumes are licensed Avatar costumes. One nice thing about them both is they are easy to wear with no complicated pieces or cumbersome accessories. As these avatar Halloween costumes for kids also come in adult sizes, the whole family can go as Avatar characters this Halloween.
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 26 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Sensational Egyptian Costumes - For Men, Women and Children
Ramses, Pharaoh and Cleopatra all bring to mind opulence and exotic locations. This Halloween, you can capture the mystery of Egypt for yourself with a costume from Egyptian Costume website.
They have a wide variety of Egyptian costumes available for men, women and children, each with its own distinctive accouterments. You can choose to reenact the mummy's curse with a traditional mummy costume or be an alluring teen mummy. The Queen of Sheba child's costume will delight any little girl's desire to play dress up.
Cleopatra costumes come in a variety of styles, from traditional to sexy. You can choose one of several different styles to be the Queen of the Nile, or attend your next party as the seductive queen that captured the heart of Mac Antony. If Cleopatra isn't exotic enough, try the Nefertiti costume. Nefertiti means the beauty that has come, and the costume guarantees you'll arrive in stunning style.
Pharaoh was the most powerful man in Egypt and you'll take control of any event you attend in the pharaoh costume. Complete your ensemble with the Staff of Ra and you'll have Egypt, and maybe Cleopatra, at your feet. Marc Antony was the love of Cleopatra's life and you'll be dashing as the young Roman warrior in her life. You could also choose to go as the infamous King Tut, whose life still evokes a sense of mystery.
The Egyptian Costume site offers an array of accessories to compliment your costume, from jewelry to make-up, and hats to wigs. They also have costume-specific decorations and props. There are even costumes for mascots and your animal companions. Just because you're all grown up doesn't mean you can't have fun playing dress up. It's fun and gives you an opportunity to show others your alter ego. Let your inner temptress ignite the fires of your special someone.
For more information and costume choices, visit the Egyptian Costume website. You can also share the site with friends on several different social media sites including Facebook, Bebo and Delicious.
วันศุกร์ที่ 24 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
LOST Parody #13 - WATCHMEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAtbwKZUS7M&hl=en
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 23 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Avatar the Last Airbender Toys
The Earth, Air, Water and Fire nations used to reside in concord, until the day that the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, who is a grasp of all 4 components, can supply any hope of bringing peace to the conflict-torn world now.
Avatar the Last Airbender facilities Aang, who had the supernatural capability to manage the air round - him. He was an Airbender, but the final of his kind. That was the rationale why he needed to save your entire world from the evil hearted hearth lord and finally end up the battle with the fireplace nation. This out of the bizarre plotline of this present is likely one of the most outstanding causes for its followers to browse the world of web to seek out Avatar the final Airbender toys.
One of the main plot factors from the primary season of the original present, Avatar: The Last Airbender by which seemingly evil Prince Zuko actually rescues Aang, the titular last airbender and savior of the world. This figure appears improbable with the detail on the Blue Spirit mask and the hair coming from it. The visual arts division for The Last Airbender will surely get an Oscar subsequent 12 months if the masks - from this toy is any indication.
Additionally from Avatar the final Airbender toys the first look at Aang's glider, a contraption, that folds up into his employees that permits Aang to fly via the air as an airbender. Very like the original series, the glider's folds and wings are orange in color. Sokka's determine comes with a boomerang, a lot to fan's delight as his humor with the boomerang will provide comedian reduction in the film, but in addition some butt kicking, as we noticed within the animated version of Airbender.
Thank goodness that a Katara action figure is current and it appears to be like excellent as well. This was one action figure from the unique line of toys in the animated series that many followers criticized for lacking. The toys from the animated collection had been all toys of male characters and never a single feminine character toy within the bunch. Katara's hair is finely detailed as is the brown striping on her outfit. Viacom has finally performed justice with the toy line. Now we'll see what the Toph and Azula action figures will seem like within the Airbender sequel.
This show could be simply touted as among the best animations aired ever that's why Avatar the last Airbender toys are very popular. The anime collection is a chock-full of enjoyable and entertainment. Avatar the Last Airbender episodes are centered on life and occasions of a fictional character Aang who has set out on a mission to save the human race from terrifying Fireplace Lord. On the best way, he picks up a quite a few unrivalled abilities, which help him in outwitting essentially the most grotesque enemies.
That is also our first take a look at Appa and Momo, two animal mates of Aang who's animal vocalizations will be executed by Dee Bradley Baker, the lone holdover from the animated series. Appa's toy nearly appears to be like a six-legged pug crossed with a bear, however that would be a nice nod to Aang's origins as a Buddhist-sort monk because the pug originated in Buddhist monasteries. Momo appears to be like like a cute and cuddly Mogwai on Aang's shoulder.
วันอังคารที่ 21 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
วันจันทร์ที่ 20 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Avatar Review (Part 1 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJarz7BYnHA&hl=en
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 19 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Wav Files: Battlestar Gallactica
Any fanatic of Battlestar Gallactica knows that they must expose themselves to it as often as possible. Well, this is not true; but if it is, you know how the videos can get a little tiresome right? Those who are are interested in a new medium to enjoy Battlestar Gallactica, might enjoy listening to a snippet or two from the television program. Look no further, here is a list of a few Wav files containing the best audio of Battlestar.
www.sciflicks.com
You will be excited to know that this particular website contains a diverse list of audio for you to listen to. From the Imperious Leader, to Commander Adama, you can enjoy a few of the best snippets of audio from the television show. In addition, next to the name, you also see the text of what is being said or the sound effect you are hearing. The list of files is not as large as you would like since even I heard them all in a matter of minutes. Still, this is one for the list.
www.msu.edu/~stacey/Galactica/gal-sound.htm
I found it strange that Michigan State University had a page on their site that focuses on sounds of Battlestar Gallactica; but I guess seeing is believing right? Actually, they have a very comprehensive list of files for direct download to your computer. Sadly, many of the files say they are unavailable so I guess it's time to move to the next site.
http://www.dailywav.com/ba.php
This is a great site for all sorts of sounds but for our purposes, we need it for Battlestar. basically, I just hit the link to all "BA" sounds and scrolled down to Battlestar. You can do the same. It takes 5 minutes to get to the page. In addition, you will find a few lines of audio that you might find interesting. The only downside to this one is the order of the files are in, date added to the site. This is actually not much of a problem, so enjoy.
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/bgdownload.htm
This site is very different than the others. Unlike the other sites, this one offers audio interviews. If you are interested in interviews of Katee Sackhoff and Richard hatch, you might get a kick out of this resource. They describe there experiences with the show and special memories they have of the show.
I think you're ready to get started. I have given you a few sites for you to spend time on. Enjoy the different sounds and make sure to look around the rest of those sites as well, they have a lot more to offer.
วันเสาร์ที่ 18 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Dark Avatar Make-Up Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxib3XondD0&hl=en
วันศุกร์ที่ 17 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
HuK vs Excrement - PvT - Jungle Basin - StarCraft 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5umKEXwAO4&hl=en
วันพุธที่ 15 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Avatar Costume Ideas - Techniques For Creating Avatar Costumes
If you are attempting to create an Avatar costume, you should know that you have two options when it comes to the sophistication of your costume. You can either go with the expensive option of buying one that is made to specifically mimic the outfits that were displayed in the movie Avatar, or you can make your own outfit. The following Avatar costume ideas will help you make the right choice.
There are many benefits to purchasing your outfit entirely from a store. If you buy your outfit from a store, you can be sure that your costume will be easy to recognize. When you are wearing a outfit that is hard to recognize, it may take away from the fun of wearing the costume in the first place.
When you purchase the one you like, the manufacturers of the outfit will have had more time to make the outfit you are wearing than you would have when you are putting your Avatar together on your own. The additional time they had to prepare their costumes makes them much more lifelike than they would be if you simply tried to copy the costumes with some khaki pants and a khaki shirt.
If you do want to wear an Avatar costume though, you should definitely start thinking about how you are going to replicate the native outfits. These can be fairly simple, or you can make them fairly complex. The level of complexity you put into creating your outfit will help make your costume appear to be easier to recognize.
You should also add a set of beads or something around your neck when you are developing your outfit. When you are making this type of costume you will definitely want to stay away from making your costume appear to be too neat looking. You should have some frayed portions of your costume that make the overall design uneven structurally. You should also make sure that you color coordinate your costume with the ones that are presented in the movie.
As you can see from these Avatar costume ideas, it is probably a good idea to purchase your own Avatar costumes rather than make them on your own. If you try to make your costume, you will likely run into many difficulties, including the difficulty of making your costume actually look like the costumes that were worn in the movie.
วันอังคารที่ 14 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
The Theology of Avatar
Much has been written about James Cameron's new epic Avatar... about it stunning 3D visual effects, big budget, etc., but I haven't seen much written about the theology or mythology behind it. There seems to be a subtle, maybe even sophisticated, theology behind the story.
I noticed a few things, and I wanted to jot down a few ideas:
o How does Pandora represent an prelapsarian (before the Fall) world in which Nature and Grace have not yet been divorced from each other? How does the god Eywa represent the unbroken bond between Nature and Grace? (and the Holy Spirit?)
o Are the Two Sacred Trees, the Tree of Voices (or Souls) and the Hometree, an allusion to the two trees of the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life?
o Is Sigourney Weaver's character name, Dr. Grace Augustine, an allusion to Saint Augustine's Doctrine of Grace?
o What does the Second Birth of the Na'vi race say about Baptism?
The 7th day of Creation, the Sabbath, serves as a sign of the covenant--of the marriage--between nature and grace. In the beginning, God's creation was perfect: "God saw how good it was" (Gen 1:12). The Sabbath was a day to admire the goodness of creation; all our days were meant to be Sabbaths. Mankind, however, did not fulfill his covenant. Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the original grace of nature was marred by man's will.
In the movie Avatar, however, a day on Pandora is no Sabbath. There's no time to admire the beauty of Pandora with all the massive, angry animals stalking around. Corporal Jake Sully takes a moment to admire the beautiful flora of Pandora, the collapsing "helicoradian," at the beginning of the movie, and ends up running for his life and jumping over the edge of a cliff to escape a "thanator."
But, the Na'vi people do live in a graced harmony with nature in two related ways:
o First, the Na'vi are capable of a neurological connection with animals through the "queue." The Na'vi can actually unite their wills with those of animals by physically connecting their neural networks (by mutual acceptance).
o Second, Dr. Grace Augustine discovers that the bio-botanical connection between all the living organisms of Pandora is far more extensive than anything known on Earth. The Tree of Voices eventually reveals the extent of this.
It's as though mankind has stumbled into a second Garden of Eden, only to fall all over again. Only, our sin isn't so "original" this time. The Corporation, which is mining Pandora's rich natural resources, serves as mankind's representative in the same way Adam did. The Corporation desires, above all things, the fruit of the Na'vi's sacred tree, the rich deposit of "unobtainium" beneath the Hometree, which also--it is said--happens to be the only thing which can keep Earth from dying.
Because of Original Sin, however, mankind cannot freely eat of Eden's Tree of Life. "Lest he put forth his hand and take also from the Tree of Life," man is barred from the Garden (Gen 3:22). The way is shut and guarded. Because of our fallen wills and polluted motivations, there is no easy, painless way to bring forth life. We must suffer to bring forth life, as with childbirth or the paralyzed Jake Sully or the Suffering Servant, who dies on the cross.
A mineral such as can be found by plundering Pandora can only delay the inevitable. It is a temptation destroying the relationship between the humans and the Na'vi, who hold the truest hope for a post-Earth mankind. Did you notice the name of the trucks which harvest that rich mineral, "unobtainium"? Did you notice the name of the human colony on Pandora? Hell trucks. Hell's Gate. It begs the question: on which side of the gate does Hell really lie?
Further, did you notice the name of the mineral: UNOBTAINium? And so it is unobtainable, like the fruit that Tantalus spends an eternity reaching for. It's the illusion, the false pursuit, that will claim your life while impoverishing you. It's the road to hell.
The Na'vi's union with nature proves that their natures are not fallen in the same way as mankind's. The story of Avatar is a story of the reunion of grace and nature. [THESIS]
The story presents this contrast between man and the Na'vi in three ways characters interact with the world around them:
1. Greatest Union of Grace and Nature: The Na'vi Communion, in which the Na'vi connect to nature and to souls directly through the "queue" (i.e. through a bio-botanical neural network);
2. Transitional Union: The Avatar, the greatest union that man can accomplish by his own power and strength, a union which only the Tree of Souls can complete;
3. Dis-Union, or Hollow Union: The AMP (Amplified Mobility Platform) suits of the army, which only mimic the union of animal and human found among the Na'vi.
Dr. Grace Augustine
So, what's in a name? There must be something going on with Dr. Grace Augustine's name. The pairing of the words "grace" and "Augustine" is an unlikely coincidence. With his Doctrine of Grace, Augustine, Doctor of the Church, has ensured that his name will always be associated with grace, the fall of man, and free will.
But what does it mean for Sigourney Weaver's character to be called Grace Augustine? Dr. Grace is portrayed as a clearly brillant woman, with many natural gifts and talents (not unlike Weaver's character in Gorillas in the Mist, Dr. Dian Fossey). As a xenobiologist, one who studies alien life, she dominates her field. She has gone further into the Na'vi culture than any human being alive. But! She ultimately fails to be taken into the Tree of Souls, and dies before her soul can be incorporated into Eywa. It is the free gift of Eywa--it is grace--which allows for the incorporation (i.e. redemption) of a soul. It cannot be earned; it cannot be gained no matter how far we can reach.
The Second Birth & Baptism
Na'vi are initiated into society by being born again: their "Second Birth." This is the Christian Sacrament of Baptism. In Baptism, we are sanctified by the grace of the Holy Spirit; our fallen natures are again united perfectly with grace; we are born again. This is why Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life (CCC 1213).
Christians, like the Na'vi and their "queue," also have a direct link to the life of this world: the Holy Spirit, "the Lord, the Giver of Life" (Dominum et vivificantem, from the Nicene Creed). Eywa represents the Holy Spirit, by whose power Jake Sully can fully transition into his avatar and Pandora's animal life is summoned against the forces of Colonel Quaritch.
Natural Miracles
For me, this biological representation of the Holy Spirit is the most powerful part of the Avatar story, and its greatest contribution to science fiction. This piece of the story, more than any other, sparks my imagination. I suppose I'm always looking for a biological basis for God's miracles. I don't intend to dismiss miracles by physical explanations; I hope to see the whole physical world as a miracle. As Einstein said,
"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle."
Biology and all of science is God's handiwork and His laws. In the case of miracles, God doesn't violate His own laws, his own essence; He demonstrates the full potential of His Creation. Isn't it fantastic that we can ask how?
วันจันทร์ที่ 13 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
How to Download Full DVD Movies For Free?
It seems that everyone wants to know how to download full DVD movies for free. The issue here is not whether you can find them, since there are probably millions upon millions of download sites that allow you to do so. Just do a simple search at the major search engines for a term like "download full DVD movies for free" and I am pretty sure you can find throngs of those sites. So the issue really is whether they are free.
The sites that provide you with free DVD movie downloads are not all that great to use. You see, there are countless of people like you and me, who complained about the infiltration of unwanted software applications onto their computers. It is not uncommon for computer viruses, adware and spyware to be downloaded along with the movie files.
So, even though you do not pay a single cent for the full DVD movies, you have to contend with the fact that your computer would suffer a slow down in performance, and programs would be affected and your surfing speeds badly reduced. In some cases, the adware and spyware may flash you with unwanted commercial advertisements each time you surf or work with your computer. This is all part and parcel of doing so called free shows. Some of the downloads are also corrupted and damaged and non-working so it can be a total waste of your time.
There are no free downloads, really. But if you want to download full DVD movies without spending a bomb, there is another reliable option. Dozens of services have established a presence online offering you movie downloads for a one-time membership either for a year, two years or for life. The prices do not vary much so most go for lifetime membership. With the membership, you get to download unlimited movies. There is no limit to how many movies you are downloading or when you download.
Other advantages to download full DVD movies at these membership sites is that the download speeds are fast and you do not expose your computer to harmful viruses, adware, spyware and so on.
Many movie enthusiasts are hopping onto these download sites in droves. It is much more convenient and cheaper to do so rather than to buy a DVD at the local mall. If you are keen to find out more about these sites to download full DVD movies, check out my movie blog.
วันเสาร์ที่ 11 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Avatar Release Date
Avatar comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray on Thursday, April 22, which in keeping with the theme of the movie, happens to be Earth Day. If you haven't seen it yet, you've probably at least heard of its thinly veiled message about environmental responsibility. James Cameron was able to simultaneously able to break box office records and draw an astonishing amount of aggressive criticism. The movie has been accused of taking shots at President Bush, the Iraq War, and capitalism in general, among a long list of other alleged targets.
A lot of the criticism was actually before the movie came out. Cameron was urged to change the tone and direction of the movie even before production, many people fearing that its message wouldn't be well received. Lucky for him, he was rich enough to produce it on its own. If production studios would have had any say, the movie would have turned out quite differently.
It seems to me as if the movie's theme has been blown out of proportion. Rather than taking shots at various political figures, I believe Cameron was using the move to make a point about how the human race in general has acted throughout history, and how we have a responsibility to the world around us. What happens to nature affects us. We have a history of taking what we have needed, no matter the price. Cameron is calling us to stop being so short-sighted and think about the long-term affects of our actions. Or maybe I'm missing something or just being overly simplistic.
วันศุกร์ที่ 10 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Avatar The Game
Avatar the game is being released December 2009 in conjunction with the highly anticipated movie of the same name.
The movie has been twelve years in development as the director, James Cameron, has waited for technology to catch up to his vision.
Cameron is responsible for some of the most successful movies ever made, both commercially and critically, so when it takes this guy over a decade to concentrate on getting a single movie just right then it's sure to attract a lot of attention and hype so there's been plenty of time for the game developers to fine tune the gameplay and graphics for this title. Cameron is quoted as saying he was fed up of seeing movie titled licensed games tagged on after the fact and wanted the game to be created hand in hand with the movie experience.
The movie is set in the 22nd Century on an alien planet called Pandora which is inhabited by the indigenous Navi tribe. Pandora's atmosphere is toxic to humans so they create hybrids, known as Avatars (a genetic mixture of human and Navi) that can be controlled using a mental link. A paralysed soldier by the name of Jake Sully volunteers to become an Avatar and finds his beliefs and convictions tested in the battle between humans and Navi's.
Avatar the game draws on the rich storyboard present in the movie and takes you to the planet of Pandora where you can play as either human or Navi. The choice as to who you play dictates the path you take in the game as almost two separate gameplays are available depending on which side you select. You're able to use and customise 60 different weapons as well as the ability to create your very own character acquiring skills as you progress through the game. It's also possible to drive all of the vehicles in the game as well as ride and control the alien animals you will meet across your journey although beware as not all the animals are friendly.
There are different weapons for the different sides but the controls are pretty much the same and whichever side you choose you will still be able to enjoy the stunning scenery, lush, exotic jungle foliage with alien plants that can surprise you with what they do!
As with the movie, Avatar the game is available to play in 3D although a suitable television set and 3D glasses are required.
Avatar the game is available on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PSP, Nintendo DSi and the PC.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 9 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
วันอังคารที่ 7 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Virtually Yours - The Importance of Virtual Avatars in Casual Games
Many online games feature virtual avatars , a simple yet effective way to make the player feel immersed in their environment. This is evident by the countless makeover games, virtual worlds and MMO's available on the Internet today. This is a design feature many independent game developers can learn from and make an integral part of their game.
Large companies such as Nintendo have embraced virtual avatars with the creation of the Nintendo Wii's Miis. Others are taking notice of the importance of having a 3d virtual representation of them selves with Sony creating the Home service and Microsoft is rumored to soon replace their static 2d Xbox Live profiles with fully 3d animated avatars as well. Other companies such as IMVU have focused entirely on just having virtual avatars with thousand of choices for changing your appearance. It stands to reason if many large companies with millions of dollars budgeted for advertising and research are leaning towards trend, your small game development company should too.
What is exactly the appeal of having virtual avatars? This is an abstract topic as it varies from one user to another. For some it is pure escapism, for others it is unlimited freedom to experiment with styles, looks, and colors they would otherwise never try in the real world. Virtual avatars appeal to our ego at a fundamental level and for some people it becomes an extension of themselves as a person. There tends to be a varying degree of seriousness taken as some people strive to make their avatar look "cool" or "sexy" while others intentionally make their avatar look outlandish and as silly as possible.
When planning to develop a game title, regardless of if it is a action game or puzzle game I think it is important to leverage the fact that gaming audiences have an eager appetite for having a customizable avatar. For example if you were developing a small racing game, you should take a two pronged approach this. Firstly, you should let the person create their virtual identity with a name tag and simple customization choices, hair color, clothing color etc. If you had the time to invest, it would be beneficial to create more accessories and variations. Secondly, you would give the player the option to customize the car as in depth as you did the avatar character. With this extra bit of development work you have just increased the chances of having your player feel like they have something invested in your game which is almost the opposite of what many casual game developers do. Casual games do not have to mean limited user investment.
Key elements of making any virtual avatar game succeed would include large variety of choices for clothes, hairstyle, accessories and colors. Also it is extremely important for the player to have their avatar be seen by other people via either in game if multi-player is supported or via a user profile page. Introduction of rare avatar items is a extremely important element as well. Many MMORPG's cater to this exclusively as the quest to gain items is dependent on playing the game more and more. GAIA Online for example displays its users avatars on their message forums, and gives them the option to change their appearance with various clothing items but also displays public wish lists in the hopes that strangers buy items for them.
Regardless of the game theme or style of play there is room for addition of player avatars in any game if planned properly. Having a game with customizable virtual avatars greatly increases the chances of your games popularity, user investment and overall enjoyability.
วันจันทร์ที่ 6 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 5 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Avatar Movie Costumes - Full Costume and Makeup Choices
With Avatar costumes you can dress up like Jake Sully or Neytiri in the distinctive look of navi blue and aqua blue. You definitely won't be mistaken for any other movie heroes.
There are costumes from the movie Avatar for boys and girls, men and women. This is also a unique costume as you have your choice of going full makeup route, or go easy and buy a ready to go Avatar costume with mask and clothing.
The Jake Sully costume comes with shirt, coat and pants with attached tail and full mask for the men's version and half mask for boy's version. Sexy Neytiri Costume comes with a tight striped body suit with attached tail, front apron, arm gauntlet and beads. It comes in sizes for girls and women. These costumes do not come with masks so they will need makeup to really complete the Navi look. For those men and boys who want to make their own costume but not want to put on makeup there is a beautiful full size Jake Sully latex mask with wig. Those guys who are willing to do their own makeup there is a Jake Sully wig available. There is also a Neytiri wig for those ladies who will make their own costumes.
No Avatar warrior costume is complete without weapons like Navi spears, knifes and bow and arrows.
These costumes are great for Halloween trick or treating and Halloween party's, going to your favorite event like Avatar viewing party or conventions like Comic-Con.
วันศุกร์ที่ 3 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Norah Jones Shoot the Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TENV8IhpZ2A&hl=en
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 2 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Halloween Costume Elf Ears Are Easy to Make
An elf is a mythical creature of German origin. They are known for their magical powers and are often associated with fairies. Most fairy tales, fantasy themed books and movies have elves in them. Their depiction in the 20th century is based heavily off their portrayal by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, popular for his Lord of the Rings series. His portrayal of elves is described in the book The Silmarillion. Aside from their place in early folklore, elves are more famous for their tiny appearance and their elf ears.
Elf ears are often worn as a part of a Halloween costume as they are relatively easy to make and one can even buy them premade in costume stores. Making your own elf ears can be fun, especially if you are preparing for Halloween. If you make them yourself, you can be sure that it fits you just fine and that they are proportional to your face.
If you just want to make a simple pair of elf ears to add to your Halloween costume, you can make use of cardboard. Cut the cardboard in the shape of elf ears, this means cutting it upwards with a pointy edge. You can search the internet and print out a picture of an elf and then trace its ears or you can just download a template. After you cut out the cardboard, colour it with water colour or other colouring materials, make sure the colour matches your skin tone. You can also add details to make the ears look more realistic. You can then tape them on your ear or use strings to attach them and there you have a simple Halloween costume accessory.
Some people are very meticulous about the way they make their costumes as they want it to look and feel as realistic as possible. There is a more intricate method of creating elf ears to make your Halloween costume more appealing. First, you have to buy liquid latex, clay for moulding, adhesive and makeup. Once you have all the materials, you can start by moulding your clay in the shape of elf ears. This is probably the hardest part as you have to make sure you mould it properly because once it dries, you can't alter it anymore. You can practice with play dough so you know exactly how to go about the process. After you have moulded the ears, leave them overnight to dry. When they are dry paint them to match your skin colour, and then use liquid latex or spirit gum to attach them on your ears. Don't forget to apply latex on the tips of the elf ears for a smoother finish. After you have attached the ears apply a little make up to cover the part where it is attached.
Making your own elf ears can be a very fulfilling project and sometimes custom-made costumes even look better than those sold in stores. Complete your Halloween outfit with your own specially made set of elf ears.