Kafka
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Sorry, theater actors: now robots can play leading roles
We've seen robots star in plays before, but the one in a new production of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis doesn't take on a bit role or even a supporting one: it's the show's lead actor. While we feel bad for struggling theater performers who can never seem to get a big break, it seems rather fitting for a robot to take center stage for this particular story. See, The Metamorphosis is about a man who inexplicably turns into a giant insect -- the play's director, Oriza Hirata, just substituted a robot for the bug in this Japanese-French production. Sure, it's a lot easier to just get someone who can act like an automaton, but where's the fun in that?
The Franz Kafka Videogame bugs desktops, mobile in 2014
Franz Kafka's mind is a ripe setting for a video game, full of anxiety, bureaucracy, daddy issues and a little bit of magic. Indie developer Denis Galanin, known as "mif2000," has transformed The Castle, The Metamorphosis, Amerika and a few other works from Kafka into The Franz Kafka Videogame, due out for PC, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android in 2014. Mif2000 was previously responsible for translating William Shakespeare's Hamlet into a game with a ridiculous name but respectable accolades. The Franz Kafka Videogame follows the main character, K, after he gets a new job that requires traveling to a distant land. And then things get weird, just as Kafka intended.
Chances of Netflix on Nintendo 'excellent,' says Netflix CEO
In case you missed it last night in the All Things D event -- and frankly, given the length and general jejune of it, we wouldn't blame you -- Reed Hastings of Netflix took the stage and sat down with Peter Kafka. Here's the takeaway: when Kafka asked him the chance of "getting on Nintendo," Hastings replied, "our chances are excellent." It's not much, but after at least a year of hints and teasers, it's by far the best confirmation we've got. Of course, he didn't say which system, but let's be honest... the only logical choice is DS, right?
