The Beat Goes On

To The Editor: Interesting article [‘In 3-D’, by Allen Varney], but disappointing to see the negative use of the word “pussy” in the first sentence. I doubt you’d publish an article describe the technology as “totally gay”, so why fall back on a similarly offensive playground-level prejudice?

Shame on you, The Escapist – for a magazine that has made a real effort to examine and counter some of the sexism around games, you’ve let yourselves down with this. Please remember that you have a lot of readers for whom a pussy is a part of their bodies, not an insult.

– Kerry Turner

Author’s Reply: A little etymology lesson: Believe it or not, “pussy” was originally an informal term for a small kitten. That original usage gave rise to the slang term meaning (according to the American Heritage Dictionary) “a man regarded as weak, timid, or unmanly.” The slang usage meaning “vulva” is later, though apparently more pervasive on Mkt’s playground.

– Allen Varney

In response to: “In 3-D” from The Escapist Forum: As an artist who often makes stereographic still work, I’ve always wanted my games to one day be in 3-D.

One possible drawback would be that once we have fully stereoscopic games we will realize exactly how much visual information in our game environments, objects and characters are implied by flat textural images mapped onto polygonal surfaces. In a way it will be a big step backwards: in 3-D, Halo 2 would suddenly look much like Marathon 1 (but with depth).

– David Miscavidge

In response to “Shark Bone or Snake Oil?” from The Escapist Forum: From my experience, Brain Age doesn’t make you smarter, but it does seem to make you a little more alert (something I wasn’t expecting). A while ago, I was getting consumed with my responsibilities. From 6:30am to 9:00pm, it was all about my son, work, my wife, and the house. I ended up selling my Xbox and GameCube, as I had no energy to do anything. Not even play games. This went on for several months. My work was being affected by my unhealthy routine. Then I bought a DS Lite and Brain Age. Each night I’d play it for about 20 minutes. What I noticed is that after a month or so I became more focused at work and then as I became more satisfied with my efforts at work, I had more mental energy for my responsibilities at home. Now I “train my brain” with Clubhouse Games.

– Echolocating

In response to “From the 360 to the Moon” from The Escapist Forum: When someone comes up with an energy shield and says “I got the idea from Halo”, shame on him. Give the credit to Halo? Come on. Do you really believe the concept of “energy shield” made a first appearance on that particular game?

Video games are not references for new concepts, new ideas, break-throughs in science, they are a powerful media. And when you combine a talented game designer with a great idea, you get awesome games. Making an energy field fun in a game is difficult. Getting the idea of an energy field is something else.

Game designers often cite their references. Give the credit to who deserves it.

– MacTuitui

In response to “From the 360 to the Moon” from The Escapist Forum: Say that to a 7-year-old who doesn’t read sci-fi but plays Halo 2 like there’s no tomorrow.

– Joe

In response to “Final Fantasy XII’s Unfair Astrology” from The Escapist Daily: Well, I think we can take this as a lesson in game design; one that I have always pondered. Should we let the player access the most powerful weapon in the game with a minimum of work? Or, should we force them to squirm knowing any minute that they could squander their chance to get their hands on the Portable Earth Smashing Gun (or whatever you want to call it)?

– generalissimofurioso