Today in Joystiq: March 19, 2008

by Ross Miller { Mar 19th 2008 at 11:59PM }

Though his only venture into gaming was Rama a decade ago (pictured above), science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke (2001: A Space Odyssey) most assuredly influenced a number of game designers. He passed away today at age 90. A moment of silence; check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Law of the Game on Joystiq: Video game laws (abort/retry/fail)
Metareview -- Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

News
Gamespot Exodus: Say 'adios' to Brad Shoemaker
Next Halo 3 map pack coming April 15, includes Sidewinder remake
See the first gameplay footage from Tom Clancy's EndWar
EA releases first details, screens of Sims 3
Nickelodeon to bulk up online game library
Disney announces DS sequel to Spectrobes
Nintendo still dead last in Greenpeace electronics rankings
Gamestop expects at least six more months of Wii shortages
Best Buy giving $50 gift cards to HD DVD adopters
Acer planning 'open standard' gaming PC
Fable 2 will 'talk to' three XBLA games
Guitar Hero: On Tour and 'Guitar Grip' DS peripheral revealed
Heavenly Sword dev working on new IP for 360, PS3
Variety: Sierra devs need to justify games after Activision merger
Cast, date, director revealed for Street Fighter film
Call of Duty 4 GOTY edition, map pack DLC coming April 3
News on Bully Xbox 360 patch coming tomorrow
22 unlockable characters confirmed for Castle Crashers
Beau Bridges steps out of Stargate, onto set of Max Payne
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 not released B4 June 24

Rumors & Speculation
UK OXM's April issue: Ikaruga 'out now' on XBLA
Haze PS3 exclusivity clouds over ... again

Culture & Community
Ben Heck's one-handed Xbox 360 controller refined
Zero Punctuation hunts Turok and other FPSs
Rapper wants you to quit gaming, get laid

Tags: arthur-c-clarke, arthur-clarke, dailyrecap, rama

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Double J @ Mar 20th 2008 12:23AM

Remember when Arthur C. Clarke was accused of pedophilia? Good times. Good times.

Bluebrake @ Mar 20th 2008 12:31AM

That was completely, 100% debunked. Don't even bring it up.

Jansperus @ Mar 20th 2008 12:46AM

I don't know that much about Arthur Clarke except that I thought his Space Odyssey movie was really lame (and seriously, Leslie Nielsen as the star? What a hack!), but I do want to point out that though it might have been debunked, it was also PROVEN in court that OJ was innocent. Just food for thought.

Double J @ Mar 20th 2008 1:08AM

Hence the word "accused".

Bluebrake @ Mar 20th 2008 2:36AM

I'm not talking about O.J.-style debunking. The accusation was part of a plot to embarrass the British Crown, which was about to knight Clarke. The plot was uncovered and the accusers admitted they'd made up the whole thing (not all that surprising, since the tabloid's story was based on a ridiculous fabricated "quotation" from a nonexistent interview where he expressed how much he enjoyed being a pedophile. Just the kind of thing you would admit to the media, I'm sure...). The whole story fell apart long before the case ever got near a courtroom.

But of course, because of our society's paranoia and demonization of this subject, one absurd accusation was enough to plague him for the rest of his life, and no doubt for many decades yet to come.

And I have no idea what movie you're talking about, but it's not 2001. Forbidden Planet, maybe?

bm @ Mar 20th 2008 6:25AM

Wow, here we have someone asking for a moment of silence for one of the greatest sci-fi writers in history, and all you fucktards can do is talk about THAT? Get the fuck out, you bunch of kids.

Shmil @ Mar 20th 2008 9:53AM

@jansperus
you're thinking of 2001 a space oddity starring leslie nielson the wonder slapstick actor from the naked gun series and airplane (and many more such as surf ninjas)

2001 a space odyssey is quite possibly one of the most classic sci fi films/books ever filmed/written
there are countless parodies about the movie, the monkey's and the monolith, the red eye of hal, i can't let you do that dave

so in conclusion if you don't know much (anything) about the author of a book then shut your mouth

Korova @ Mar 20th 2008 12:30AM

That picture of Peter Molyneux in the top bar of the site has been freaking me out for quite some time. Can someone PLEASE change it or move it farther off center!

Peter Molyneux @ Mar 20th 2008 1:00AM

I can see you writing about me, you know.

*smiles omnisciently*

Korova @ Mar 20th 2008 10:23PM

Finally! Thank you.

horngreen @ Mar 20th 2008 1:03AM

Uhhh are you claiming Leslie Neilsen was in 2001 A Space Odyssey? If so keep your opinion of the movie to yourself as IT'S THE WRONG MOVIE FOOL! You probably didn't like it because "not enough stuff exploded!".

ChaoZ @ Mar 20th 2008 1:17AM

The Rama game was actually quite good, but I recall the puzzles were very difficult. Released at the height of the FMV craze, it managed to avoid being just an interactive movie and had some seriously interesting gameplay elements.

Although if I were to play it today, I supppose I would judge it quite differently.

Shagittarius @ Mar 20th 2008 11:07AM

I just bought a copy of RAMA off ebay like 2 weeks ago but I haven't had much time to play it yet. What I did play seemed like a decent use of FMV in a game, but the acting is crap so far.

Anyways, It seemed interesting enough for me to pick it up and put some more play time into it.

that'smypowerupahole @ Mar 20th 2008 3:55PM

A gripe I had with the game was with Pippin. Clarke wrote him to be more like a peter pan type than just a wise ass. Seriously, those were the times with click adventure games. Remember Sierra?

//CHILDHOOD'S END

Deck @ Mar 20th 2008 1:32AM

Rest in peace Arthur.

2001: A Space Odyssey was a brilliant piece of work.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 20th 2008 2:31AM

That movie was weird in a good way.Pure Win.

First the creator of D&D and now Him,seriously why they have to die while people like Fidel Castro,Zedillo,Uwe Boll and the guys sending me spam live?

bm @ Mar 20th 2008 6:27AM

Well, he -was- 90 years old.

Paul @ Mar 20th 2008 5:44AM

A Great Film maker is forever lost.

Shmil @ Mar 20th 2008 9:49AM

actually he's just the writer,
stanley kubrick made the film

Superstar90 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:23AM

That woman is thinking "God... I'm a videogame FMV actress? Computer generated models have more spotlight than me." I wonder how much she got paid.

Shagittarius @ Mar 20th 2008 11:09AM

I have this game, shes the worst actor in the game. She must have been a model gone actress, she probably ddn't make much, but none of them probably made much.

Sesur @ Mar 20th 2008 10:42AM

Arthur C. Clarke has always been my favorite author. It pains me to know great minds such as his are likely the last of their kind.

Read his books people; Sir Clarke has written so many books and short stories and they are all very fucking good.

Jonah Falcon @ Mar 20th 2008 11:08AM

Actually, there was an earlier Rendezvous with Rama adventure game from the 80's.

rdaneel72 @ Mar 20th 2008 11:43AM

"Though his only venture into gaming was Rama a decade ago"

The preceding statement is false. You've forgotten Rendezvous with Rama, published in 1984 for C64 and Apple II. Great game from a great adventure game publisher, Trillium (later, Telarium). Thier Fahrenheit 451 game was another favorite.

http://www.mobygames.com/game/apple2/rendezvous-with-rama

343 Guilty Fart @ Mar 20th 2008 12:31PM

Give this man a cookie.

Abscissa @ Mar 20th 2008 1:50PM

Hey, I have that game! Been a long time since I've touched it, though. I remember the puzzles being insanely hard. I should dust it off. Lighthouse, too.

Mike @ Mar 20th 2008 3:43PM

Amazing author. I'm sad to hear of his passing. He's one of my favorites. I've read probably at least a dozen of his books. That said, why the hell haven't I ever read 2001: A Space Odyssey or seen the movie? I need to get on that.

Eric @ Mar 20th 2008 10:19PM

Remember that RAMA is also based on my favorite series from him--the RAMA quartet. Now those were great reads. The ODYSSEY books explained more and in my opinion were better than the movies--especially in regards to 2010--but he really lost it after he published his craptacular cash-in 3001. Sorry Dr. Clarke, but that book is a mistake on your record....