Sunday, May 25, 2008

Game On!

I desperately needed a good newstory but critically running out of time.

Hence, I checked out 'what's on in Melbourne' and thanks to Natasha for giving me this great idea. Oh, and thanks for keeping me in company too. ^^

Hmm... due to laziness, I should just post my assignment here as a review for the fun visit.



The pizza with a slice missing was moving towards the left.


While busy clearing the dots from a maze, it was also avoiding four ghosts, dressed in red, blue, purple, and orange zigzag-bottomed-blouses.


Oops, caught by the red one.


Game over, Pac Man.


It was the first scene set at the entrance of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) Game On Exhibition, launching the journey of the video gamers’ forty-year-old memory lane.


Awww~MARIO!



The international touring gig began at Barbican Gallery in UK in 2002 has finally landed in Melbourne’s Federation Square, displaying the most comprehensive evolution of video games.


It includes the extensive collection of hardware, from the largest arcade machine to the smallest handheld console, and features almost all the classic games, from the oldest Pong to the latest Grand Theft Auto.


Not limited to display though. You are allowed to touch them and, of course, play them.


Stage one: Reminiscence.


The left end of the gallery space has rows of coin-operating machines (You do not need a coin to play in the exhibition), set up exactly like the arcades in the pubs, bars, and entertainment centre.



Standing in front of the cabinets, concentrating on the monitor, left hand controlling the joystick, right hand switching swiftly among six buttons – these are the standard postures.


The man in his fifties had been sitting there for hours. He had neither taken any break nor moved to other cabinets.


He was in his space war – Space Invaders, the world-crazed game which you have to stop an alien invasion by shooting at the descending invaders who heavily outnumber you. Your only protection is the green bunkers.



He kept shooting.


This is the power of video games. Like cigarette, allures you from the reality and locks you in the virtual world, you become so addictive that you can hardly abstain from it.


It is a collective memory. Mike Manning, a father of two kids, remember his first attempt on arcade games.


“After school, I’ll drop by at the Fish and Chips shop with my buddies. We’ll compete to be the highest scorer of the day,” Mike said.


Stage two: Family.


The Brown Box – contains of a big box with sixteen buttons and two small boxes with three buttons and a scroll at the side – invented by Ralph Baer, has started the life of home consoles and brought video games into family.



No longer in dim lights. No longer above eighteen. No longer labeled as problem behavior.


Home consoles have torn down the wall between parents and video games. Children are the biggest beneficiaries.


“Jump! Jump! Jump! Then you eat the fruits!” the mom sounded more excited than the boy, teaching him how to play Bubble-bubble.


Jordon Du, 7, had his first Game Boy two years ago. “My favorite game is Mario Cart,” he said in a show-off tone.


Jordon’s mom said, “video games are very effective in terms of rewarding your children. Jordon will behave really well for a new game.”


The ten most significant home consoles, including Atari, Sega and Nintendo, are presented in the exhibition, each equipped with their own characteristics.




The Italian plumber with a large nose, bushy moustache, short and stocky body – Mario – has witnessed the development of these home consoles.


In the cartridge console era, Mario jumped on the evil mushrooms and avoided the barrels threw by Donkey Kong. In the CD console era, Mario drove the carts and fought the bad guys.


Stage three: Community.


Booths are setup in the center of the gallery, largely populated by young adults.


The guy looked so intense, clicking the mouse rapidly, and not affected by the crowd at all.


Suddenly, he burst out laughing.


No, he did not win. He laughed because he received funny instant messages from other players that he did not even know their names.


Massively multiplayer online game (MMO) is the current hit in gaming world. World of Warcraft has hit ten million subscribers this year.


MMO-ing


Players are not on themselves anymore, they get protection from a larger group. They form a clan, and these clan members share news and advices on strategy via their own community websites. Some of them even meet up and become close friends.


Like what happened in this exhibition, four unrelated people started to play Halo at the booth and became acquaintances by the end of the game.


Is video game isolation from the society or an enhancement of social interaction? The answer blurs again.


Stage four: Futurism.


Fingers are not enough.


In this section, you need to move your body.


A couple was playing boxing game in front of a big TV. Nothing was held in hand. They just had to move like real boxers. Their actions were captured by Sony Eyetoy’s digital camera, sent into the console, and appeared on the screen.


People around were cheering for them. Commenting as well. “I think Jeffery is winning. He always hits Jamie’s head.” As if they were spectators around the boxing ring.


In these futuristic technologies, physical interaction can be made with the game characters without joystick.



For example, you can direct Pikachu in the Pokemon game through a microphone. Or you can blow into the Nintendo DS to move the bubbles.


This new facet of video games has attracted a totally new consumer group – the mothers.


“I asked my husband to buy me a Wii Fit, because I can play yoga and aerobic.” Marrissa Co, who had not played video games for twenty years, said. “Exercise is good.”


After the tour, you might start to doubt that you have actually come to a gallery exhibition.


ACMI Visitor Support Officer Roberta Armetage observed the distinctiveness: “People just run around, speak loudly, and laugh freely, unlike other ‘serious’ and ‘sophisticated’ exhibition.”


“This is the first time I see so many young people in this space. And the first time I see them so enthusiastic.”


Regardless of age, it pulls out your playful self.


Congratulations, game accomplished!


Gamers, don't miss it!

Non-gamers, it's worthed a visit.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Bless You

You're brave.

You're sober.

You'll get over it.

You'll be great!

Utilize your safety net. ^^

Monday, May 12, 2008

给挚友的一封信

刚刚游览朋友的部落格。

看到一篇留言。

我已经对着电脑屏幕半小时了。

我在键盘上输入了又删除、删除了再重新输入,

仍然找不到一个准确的方式来表达我的想法。

请包容我的零散文字。

丽君,

我们相隔很远。

你的MyVi是到不了的。更甭说我的11号巴士。

可不知为何,我觉得我们近了。

过去,我们常常在一起,是一种需要、是一种习惯。

现在,我们想要在一起,是一种珍惜、是一种思念。

它的意义,不一样。

你没有走过大学,我们可以代你走一走。

把我所听、所看、所感受的与你分享。

就像我没坐过摄影棚、没谈过恋爱,

你也会讲故事给我听,让我知道那是什么一回事的对不对?

不一样的生活形态,不会让我们越来越远。

因为我们的基础不一样。

你不是我的shopping咖,没有了可以再换人。

你不是我的同班同学,毕业了就说再见。

你不是偶尔的合作伙伴,完成目标后散场。

你是极少数把我彻彻底底、里里外外、前前后后翻过一遍的人。

OMG,我在你面前那么赤裸裸,你怎么可以不负责任,说走就走?

生活形态差异,只代表我们见面时有更多更多的‘口水多过茶session’。

我们一定会是彼此进化论的见证者。

顺便在这里偷偷告诉你,

在一个很失礼的夜晚,

我在叫嚷你们的名字叻!

怎么可能会忘记你喔?

寂寞难耐吗?

我们没有用的啦。

找你的sotong最实际!

很噁心的奕卉上

Sunday, May 11, 2008

母亲节快乐

第二个我不在妈妈身边的母亲节。

每一次母亲节总像在提醒我,已经很久没有问妈妈她过得好不好了。

我知道她的答案。她一定会说:“ok啊,就这样咯。”

我从来不知道那代表什么。

是工作顺利吗?是家里安康吗?是开心吗?她有想要什么吗?有需要一点什么吗?

看吧,这都不懂,多失败。

是害羞吧,是胆怯吧,是传统吧。

任何理由,都不能解释自己不懂得关心家人的行为。

妈咪,母亲节快乐!

今年我送你的礼物就是我会好好学习怎么令你们开心。

不要太想念我哦!XD

Sunday, May 4, 2008

A Lesson

The moral of the story is: 'binge drinking is ultimately destructive'.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

We are the World

Random search on youtube. Found this great song.







There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon/Kenny Rogers)

We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
That someone, somehow will soon make a change (James Ingram)
We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner)
And the truth (Billy Joel)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner/Billy Joel)

( CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Michael Jackson)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross)

Well, send'em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick/Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jurreau)

( REPEAT CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Kenny Logins)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Steve Perry)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)

When you're down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)
Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)

(REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE )






送愛到南亞-愛
原曲: We Are The World

愛(國語版)
曲:Michael Jackson / Lionel Richie 詞:鄭國江 / 小蟲Johnny Chen.H
編:林道善 / Paco Lam

點一盞燈 把溫暖傳給每個人  (周華健)
這土地 有你 才能夠叫我們 (吳宗憲 周華健)
我們心都善良 不忍心誰受傷 (任賢齊 梁靜茹 吳宗憲)
伸出手 不求回報 都快樂 (任賢齊 梁靜茹)

打開心門 給予真愛和心疼 (黃品源 蔡健雅)
關於愛 才會 擁有得更完整 (張菲 黃品源 蔡健雅)
相信有股堅強 他來自心深處 (張菲 黃品源)
是爸爸媽媽給我們 最好的禮物 (五月天)

We are the world We are the children (合唱 張艾嘉 FIR)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (張艾嘉 FIR)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (潘瑋柏 FIR)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (潘瑋柏 張艾嘉)

把手敞開 讓需要愛的都進來 (阿杜 范逸臣)
牽著手 不會孤單 一起走 (阿杜 范逸臣)
這份愛是永恆 他來自心深處 (江美琪 阿杜)
是爸爸媽媽給我們 最好的禮物 (5566)

We are the world We are the children (庾澄慶 黃立行)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (庾澄慶 黃立行)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (江蕙 莫文蔚)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (江蕙 莫文蔚)

不要小看自己渺小的力量 (張惠妹 莫文蔚)
你的雙手可以拯救無數的希望 (鍾鎮濤 張惠妹)
人生充滿無奈 勇敢面對著未來 (張惠妹)
不要怕 這裡有我有你還有愛 (信樂團)

We are the world We are the children (伍佰 梁靜茹)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (伍佰)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (梁靜茹)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (梁靜茹 張鎬哲)

We are the world We are the children (張鎬哲 趙傳)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (張鎬哲)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (趙傳)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (趙傳)

We are the world We are the children (合唱 王力宏)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (合唱 五月天)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (王力宏)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (王力宏)

We are the world We are the children (Energy)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (Energy)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (戴佩妮)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (戴佩妮)

We are the world We are the children (合唱 K One)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (合唱 K One)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (張鎬哲)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (張鎬哲)

We are the world We are the children (蕭煌奇)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (蕭煌奇)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (許慧欣)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (許慧欣)

We are the world We are the children (BAD)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (BAD)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (張韶涵 王心凌)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (范瑋琪 張韶涵 王心凌)

We are the world We are the children (東方快車 姚可傑)
你是我的兄弟和姊妹 是愛的世界 (東方快車 姚可傑)
生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (5566)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (5566)

生命像花和蝴蝶 相互依偎才會美 (小蟲)
珍惜身邊你所愛的 Just you and me (小蟲)