posted
The following shouldn't be disclosed to OSC! We don't want him to spend time away from writing books!
But there is an amazing new strategy game out called MAKING HISTORY: THE CALM AND THE STORM. It's made by a company called Muzzy Lane and aims to be a historically accurate strategy game of the WW2 era. Until now, it was mainly used in class rooms, but now they're gearing up to sell the game to the wider public as well.
I first learned about it in an article in NEW YORK where the famous historian Niall Ferguson praised it highly. http://newyorkmetro.com/news/features/22787/index.html Ferguson: "Based on a combination of system dynamics, a technology designed to generate simulated scenarios from real-world data, The Calm & the Storm has a completely different feel from any other war game I’ve played. To begin with, it is based on a quite astonishing quantity of factual information about the war."
The company has just released a free demo, I'v played a few games and I'm impressed. I recommend it. And no, I have "no financial interest" in Muzzy Lane
posted
Michiel, nobody is accusing you of being a "bot." [though Strider notes the possibility, as I see now] If I am reading this situation correctly, you are [primarily] being accused of being a "plant;" i.e., not an automated spamming program, but a real livin' & breathin' person who sets up a history and relationships at a site in order to insert product promotion for which he or she has some sort of vested interest.
Or, perhaps, decides later to shill at a site where he or she is already a member. See also "tool."
I'm sorry if you are not a shill. The reaction you are getting would be quite disheartening. But you sound, look, and smell like one. Really, you do. You give off ultraviolet waves of it.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
You know, you are welcome to get involved in other conversations here, should this all be a misunderstanding. Tell us more about yourself, what you are thinking about and doing in your life. Get to know people, let us really get to know you.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Does someone have the URL of the Penny Arcade strip about message board "plants"? I can't remember it. Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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quote:This marketing plan actually refers to "Hiring viral specialists to advocate NBA Live online via chat rooms targeting gaming fan sites" and "Placing offensive, defensive and PR shills into common gaming chat arenas."
quote:It's all very measurable and very effective. You should see the monthly reports you get from these guys: everything is detailed. Spooky.
quote:It's all very insidious and, I'm sure, widespread. So much so that I don't trust anything I read. Unless it's a board where I "know" the posters, I always assume everyone on the board is a shill.
quote:Guys, it's not spam! I am just very happily reporting on this excellent game, which may be of interest to others here.
It's just that when a new name with a really low post count starts a thread basically advertising a product, warning signs go up. Plus, it seemed odd to bring up OSC in the thread title just to recommend a game completely unrelated to OSC. And not being familiar with your posting style, I can only assume you talk like an infomercial in real life too(sorry, couldn't help it).
If you're sincerely recommending a game you think other people here would like, then I am sorry. But you have to see how this thread looks to other people, and I question whether I'm giving too much credit by even saying this.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
CT, the *really* insidious thing about that tactic is that those links that they insert, unless the thread gets deleted, will boost traffic to their site even if people on the forum don't click on it.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Hey, when I started here, I was accused of being a bot.
I'm no bot.
Really.
But, have you guys heard about Chicken Soup (tm)? Actual Scientific Studies have shown it to be a useful remedy for common cold, flu, dandruff and "that special time of the month". Made only from wholesome natural ingredients, it tastes great and is great for you. Chicken Soup(tm) had been highly valued by indigenous cultures throughout history. That "mess of pottage" that Esau sold his birthright for? Chicken Soup(tm) with Matzah Balls. The "pot of gold" at the end of the leprechaun rainbow? Chicken Soup(tm) with noodles. The "hidden treasure of El Dorado"? Chicken Soup(tm).
Actual archaeological and anthropological discoveries prove this!
Personally, at one time, I was very sickly, and suffered from halitosis, post nasal drip and some kind of rash. After eating just one bowl of Chicken Soup(tm) a day, I found myself to be in radiant health after just FIVE DAYS! It is the secret to longevity of those really old people in those remote mountains in Georgia, too! They live to be well over 100 and maintained in full vigor without any complaints of dandruff or athlete's foot fungus! Really!
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Plus, it seemed odd to bring up OSC in the thread title just to recommend a game completely unrelated to OSC.
This part made sense to me, because it strikes me as the kind of game OSC might like, and there have been references to not doing anything to distract OSC from Master Alvin/Ender in Flight/Rasputin/etc. in the past.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I'm very sorry if I have annoyed anyone with posting this.
And I realize that 'only the paranoid survive', but in this case this wasn't justified. I am real person, not a "bot", a "tool", a "shill", a "plant" and even emitting "smells" (as if the gas smell here in Manhattan this morning wasn't enough)...
Just for the record, I am a real person, a genuine fan of OSC, I have been reading his books for fifteen years. I discovered this board quite a while ago as well. Obviously I have been doing more reading than posting here, but I hope that isn't a problem.
All I wanted to do is share my genuine enthusiasm for what I think is a great game with other people who might share my interests.
I know I can't prove this to your skeptical satisfaction, but I have absolutely nothing to do with the game developers. My day job is keeping me plenty busy, thank you very much!
But I apologize if anyone disliked reading this.
Posts: 64 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Tante, where can I find this marvelous Chicken Soup(tm) you speak of? Is it possible that it would be available for purchase somewhere?? Can you provide a link???
quote:and there have been references to not doing anything to distract OSC from Master Alvin/Ender in Flight/Rasputin/etc. in the past.
OSC is posting a lot on the other side of the forum. Kind of narcissistic right? Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Michiel, I think the wording of the original post just kind of caught us off guard and all. That, and you don't post enough that we recognized your SN from being here over a year.
Don't let our initial reaction run you off.
I'll mention the game to my son. He always loves to try out new strategy games, and especially loves that era.
posted
For what it's worth, it wouldn't have even crossed my mind that you were possibly a plant if nobody had mentioned it.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
It still really sounds like you hired Bob Barker or his little announcer to tell me what ive won . . . and why its great Posts: 201 | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
Crossed my mind. Then again for a WW2 strategy game, I don't even care if he's a plant so long as the game is good.
After reading some of the site, there's a good article on it about using video games as teaching tools. It'll be interesting if someday I can assign some RTS WW2 games as homework to kids.
posted
Michiel, I was unsettled by some of the wording and by the all-capital letters, as these are characteristic of products pitches via spam here in the States.
It'd be great to learn that this was all a misunderstanding exacerbated by English as a non-first-language. I think the longer you stay and get engaged in the community, the more people will relax about this incident.
So, you are Dutch and currently living in New York? That's fascinating. Could you tell us more about yourself and what brought you here?
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
i like Hearts of Iron II better. and eu2 is a good game.
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quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: Personally, at one time, I was very sickly, and suffered from halitosis, post nasal drip and some kind of rash. After eating just one bowl of Chicken Soup(tm) a day, I found myself to be in radiant health after just FIVE DAYS! It is the secret to longevity of those really old people in those remote mountains in Georgia, too! They live to be well over 100 and maintained in full vigor without any complaints of dandruff or athlete's foot fungus! Really!
But will it fix my crooked teeth and narrow rib cage?
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
I must confess... I'm a plant. Hibiscus, actually. I've spent the last seven years earning your trust, only to seduce you with my succulent leaves and gaudy blossoms.
That long, wordy Landmark was just to win your sympathy.
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
That's a pretty bold stamen, Olivet - I think you might be pollen our legs. Then again, you've always been quite the pistil...
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
We've had an influx of spam accounts being registered, too -- I've tried to get rid of most of them before they have a chance to post, but since it's not only a manual process, but something I have to ask someone else to do, it's a bit much to keep up on. And I don't want to delete the new account of a real person, so I'm sure plenty of them get through. I'm also sure plenty of them register with the plan of waiting a long time before posting, and plenty register not realizing that a real actual e-mail account is needed, so probably a quarter of all registration e-mails bounce back to me.
posted
So I downloaded the demo of the game being touted here.
It's a lot of fun. It's a 20 turn demo, and everytime it hits 20 turns and shuts off I curse at the thing. Apparently it takes more than 20 turns to see if a surprise attack into Alscasce Lorraine by the French will work to put the Germans on a defensive footing, but it's nice to see the British jumped in to help me as soon as I did it.
Playing a smaller nation, like France is actually fairly easy, to manage the economics, military, diplomacy, etc. But playing the US us almost unwieldly there's so much to deal with. I left half of it alone, trusting that everything would just naturally work out.
It was a lot of fun, and I'll probably buy the full scale version if/when it's out, depending on how much it is. I think it'll be a blast to play on multiplayer, and if other Hatrackers get it, let me know immediately.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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It'll be interesting if someday I can assign some RTS WW2 games as homework to kids.
Lyrhawn, you want to be a teacher?
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
It was a lot of fun, and I'll probably buy the full scale version if/when it's out, depending on how much it is. I think it'll be a blast to play on multiplayer, and if other Hatrackers get it, let me know immediately.
I found out about this a while ago and intend to buy it. Time permitting, count me in.
But remember, we have that Greek gender roles project lined up.
One of these days I'll get off my butt, drive to the university library, and update the Sparta thread.
Posts: 1762 | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
Yes I want to be a teacher, or at least, that's what I'm going to school for, so I hope it works out. I'm planning to be a secondary education history teacher.
Is the full version of the game even out yet? How much is it?
I'm game for the Greek project, I'm going to have a few hours a week of spare time not taken up by reading for fun or Guitar Hero that I can devote to side projects. Just let me know when you're ready and where you want to start.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: So I downloaded the demo of the game being touted here.
It's a lot of fun. It's a 20 turn demo, and everytime it hits 20 turns and shuts off I curse at the thing. Apparently it takes more than 20 turns to see if a surprise attack into Alscasce Lorraine by the French will work to put the Germans on a defensive footing, but it's nice to see the British jumped in to help me as soon as I did it.
Playing a smaller nation, like France is actually fairly easy, to manage the economics, military, diplomacy, etc. But playing the US us almost unwieldly there's so much to deal with. I left half of it alone, trusting that everything would just naturally work out.
It was a lot of fun, and I'll probably buy the full scale version if/when it's out, depending on how much it is. I think it'll be a blast to play on multiplayer, and if other Hatrackers get it, let me know immediately.
Glad you liked it. I was experiencing similar feelings at every "20 turn"-moment. You do need a lot of RAM to play the game comfortably. I also just played a round as France. They're in a bind! But I thought the AI tends to be a little bit passive, so multiplayer is probably best. Then again, the game is supposed to be very realistic, so 20 turns isn't much, you're still in 1939 at the end...On the whole, I am quite impressed by this game.
Posts: 64 | Registered: Mar 2005
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