fairy tales
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Richard Dawkins blames fairy tales for making kids unscientific
What sort of grumpy academic would pick a fight with Santa Claus? Well, actually, not Richard Dawkins. The prominent zoologist, atheist and skeptic is no stranger to controversy, but his recent, widely quoted comments at a UK science festival run much deeper than just hating on one specific fairy-tale character. Rather, he's worried about the entire tradition of promoting make-believe to children, and he makes a decent argument. His real concern is that kids are being guided away from a scientific way of thinking before they've had much of a chance to look at the world for themselves. "It's pernicious to inculcate into a child a view of the world which includes supernaturalism," he says, because they already "get enough of that anyway." Dawkins suggests that rather than going along with "magical fantasies," adults should be "fostering a spirit of skepticism" instead. Check out fuller coverage at the Daily Telegraph if you think you can handle some of the other negative things he says about frogs and princesses.
En Masse releases new TERA Halloween video
Gamers, prepare to be TERA-fied (and not just of bad marketing puns like that one). En Masse has just released a new Halloween video hyping its long-in-the-making TERA MMORPG, and the clip features some of the creepier characters from the fantasy title's eclectic cast. The video is called The Old Witch, and it's a riff on the famous fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm (and comes complete with a storybook-style presentation). Click past the cut for the chilling tale of an adventurous lass lost in the woods and the nefarious witch who harbors her own dark designs.
Gamania announces fairy tale-inspired Dream Drops
Today's funky name award goes to Dream Drops, a newly announced free-to-play fantasy MMO from Gamania Digital Entertainment. Gamania's press release makes good use of the words surreal, warped, and unusual, so we're guessing that the company is looking to highlight Dream Drops' unique take on genre conventions and traditional fairy tales. "Classic fairy tales are altered and well-known characters are transformed," the company says, and "the perverse personalities of familiar fairy tale characters [...] will amaze and delight players as they help the game's heroine on her mission." Who is that heroine? Her name is Sophie, and you can get a glimpse of her, as well as some Dream Drops atmosphere and gameplay footage, in the video after the cut.
The Daily Grind: Is space the "final frontier" for MMOs?
"Space: the final frontier." Sounds a bit short-sighted, doesn't it? I mean, no offense to the ghost of Gene Roddenberry, but we've barely scratched the surface of what's out there beyond our atmosphere. To claim that it is the "final frontier" to be explored, charted, and colonized may not be entirely accurate. But, it does make for a catchy slogan and a great series of TV shows, movies, and games (ok, games... historically, not so much).Thus far, "space" may appear to be the final frontier in MMOs as well, but to claim it as such is also short-sighted. The creativity of the human mind is a great thing. I'm sure we'll conjure up some novel concepts or twists on old themes or settings and make them work. The two biggest MMO sub-genres so far are undoubtedly Fantasy and Science Fiction (often space-oriented). Superhero MMOs are making a run for it and so are MMOs in post-apocalytic settings. There are even a plethora of oddly-themed kids games too. Are there any genres we haven't thoroughly tapped yet? What about Horror? Mystery? Crime? Modern warfare? As for settings, what about Earth present? Earth historic? Alternate dimensions? Fairly tales? What genres and settings are you itching to explore?
Fairy Godmother Tycoon: get your magic wand ready
Ever since Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon came out in 1990, there's been an onslaught of "Tycoon" games. You've got everything from RollerCoaster Tycoon, to Airport Tycoon, to Prison Tycoon, amongst others. There's even a "Tycoon Collection" that contains Circus Tycoon, Carnival Cruise Lines Tycoon, and Mall of America Tycoon. It's a total invasion of the tycoons.Adding to that pile is one more tycoon game that at least sounds creative: Electronic Arts' upcoming Fairy Godmother Tycoon. All the past tycooners (we just trademarked that phrase, fyi) simulate a type of business, from running a lemonade stand to operating an amusement park, but this one takes you into fairy tale land, where you have to manage being a Fairy Godmother. Which is essentially a kind of business as well, you think dealing out magic and wishes comes cheap?Apparently it doesn't come easy either, because in this game "you must make careful decisions -- purchasing supplies when they're cheap, pricing your potions correctly, hiring goons to help you with your marketing, casting spells on peasants and upgrading elements around your shop." Check out the interview on VH1 GameBreak with game producer Todd Kerpelman, and find out more about it.
