#only a android copy of ancient trains

[desktopmermaid]

Big Booooy (she/her)

[comet-bugs-in-jars]

book recommendation tag game!

rules: recommend as many books as you like. please include genre and some basic information on it (either your words or a copy+paste synopsis). feel free to include cover art, a personal review, trigger warnings, and anything else! just don’t spoil the book!

thank you for the tag @eloquentspeeches !! I immediately forget every book I've ever read xD I'm going to put what I do remember under the cut. Let's see~

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

This series is one of my all-time favourites. It's a science fiction series of seven books and short stories about a rogue cyborg security agent, set in a space-faring society with wormhole technology and alien remnants. The first book in the series is:

All Systems Red

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure." In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern. On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.

The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

An epic fantasy saga spanning multiple books and worlds, featuring magic, war, and the return of the ancient Knights Radiant. The first installment is:

The Way of Kings

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them. One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable. Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity. Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war. The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making. Speak again the ancient oaths: Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before Destination. and return to men the Shards they once bore. The Knights Radiant must stand again.

and last one for now

Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda

Deltora Quest is the collective title for three distinct series of children's fantasy books. It's a series I read consistently throughout my childhood and it's one I still enjoy as an adult. The overall synopsis for the first series is:

For centuries, the evil Shadow Lord has been plotting to invade Deltora and enslave its people. All that stands in his way is the magic Belt of Deltora with its seven gems of great and mysterious power. Now, Leif, Barda, and Jasmine must unite to find the seven gems and save Deltora from an eternity of darkness.

I tag @wickedthemusicalaustralia @astillnight @stunt-muppet @beeawolf and @avatarofterminus if you want to give some recommendations! No obligation, of course <3

[beesatthedisco]

How does this even work...

Okay, so I’ve been on tumblr since before the first time they very slightly changed the shade of blue and I hope that in and of itself is enough to help y’all know... I’m ancient. (I’m 27, and will only rp with ppl 18+, sorry friendos)

Somehow, despite being on tumblr and despite having made about a million accounts for various things in my day, I’ve not made an RP account, and don’t really know how to get started. I guess I’m just gonna put down what I know about myself and what I’m looking for here and hope for the best, but I’d be open to any kind of protips from those of you who have been using tumblr to find rp for much longer.

RIP to your eyes ahead of time, this is a long post. If you want to skip to the part where I share my Original plots, pairings, and fandom cravings, please just scroll to the end and accept my humble apologies. (Highkey I copied this out of my google doc, don’t shoot me.)

I enjoy writing both original plots and fandom stuff. When RPing within a fandom setting, I'm open to playing as canons, as ocs, or any combination of both. I'm open to co-creating settings inspired but not based in fandoms, and open to playing AU or canon settings as well. When originals are involved, I prefer co-creating our worlds together, so we're both invested in the landscape that our characters inhabit. Speaking of characters- I'll play as any gender and in any pairing type- I hope that this is the same for you. I love writing a broad spectrum of characters to keep things interesting for myself and to practice viewing the world through different perspectives. I feel it's difficult to do this when being forced or pigeonholed into writing as a gender you DEMAND of me. However... I can be flexible, and if your ideas are interesting enough, I may just give you what you ask for anyways, haha. I'm perfectly open to playing multiple characters, whether it's a broad interactive cast of mains and background characters, a system of noninteracting or separate sets of doubles, triples, you name it, or whatever other configuration of multiple-character-playing you prefer.

I'm not too terribly concerned about post lengths and am open to writing with people who might be new to the RP scene. I'm pretty flexible about how much I'll write. A good rule of thumb for myself is that I tend to respond with more when I have more to work with. That doesn't always mean that there are more words on your post for me to respond to; instead, I mean that if your post has enough ideas, inspiration, and momentum, I can go buckwild with my posts. My comfort zone seems to be around 4-6 paragraphs per post, but I've been known to write either a lot more in particularly thrilling rps. If I'm writing a huge post- don't feel daunted or expected to match length. I love all sized posts!!! I'm just overly enthusiastic and get carried away sometimes. (This means you can also at any time tell me to chill out on how much I'm writing. ) When it comes to writing style, I only have a few hard expectations of you- I do not engage in roleplay featuring the 'would' style of writing. (For example: "She would pick up the rock and inspect it closely.") I don't exactly know why I dislike this tense so much, but it pulls me right out of the immersion of writing/reading and tends to entirely destroy my interest in the story. I'm sorry. Next, I care at least a little about punctuation and spellchecking. If you're roleplaying online, you have access to ways to make sure that you're not just submitting gibberish. If you need help finding those resources... feel free to ask!

I'm open to the idea of making profiles for our characters, but I'm okay without making them too. I'm also vaguely ambivalent to 'beautifying' our posts, should we do them somewhere that allows that sort of thing. I'm fine with any style of reference images, or with not using them at all. I can't promise I won't send you songs and images and memes that remind me of our story, though! Also- I'm super down for dice systems if we decide to go that route (and prefer dice systems if we include combat of any variety in our story.) I love romance, but it doesn't necessarily have to be the drive of our plot if that's not your style. My favorite genres to write in are science fiction, any variety of fantasy, horror, drama, historical settings, wild western settings, and mysteries.

Last but not least, I tend to like making friends with my writing partners. I prefer writing with people I actually get along with, so for me, the plotting phase is the most important. It helps me get to know your personality a bit more, and you mine, so we both know whether or not it's a good match to write long term! I'll write on most platforms, so let's discuss what makes the most sense for us. Finally, I generally only write with folks 18+, for the safety of everyone involved. Thanks for understanding.

Well, as I said, I've got a big ol list of ideas, if any of this strikes you as 'good writing friend' material, so send me a DM and I'll get back to you asap! Feel free to share your ideas too!!!

Original Ideas

- There's something dire down in the mines to the east of this old Western town. Folks keep goin' in to investigate, disappearin' for days at a time, then comin' back all different-like with the lights gone from their eyes. What could be happenin' out there, sheriff? (horror/western)

- A high-fantasy world's balance is shattered when the source of magic is destroyed. How will the people of this mystical land navigate a now mundane life, and how can they survive when so many magical devices go defunct and awry?

- A no-magic world is suddenly spun into chaos: an apocalyptic event leads to the sudden introduction of magic into a world that had previously never known it. In the post-apocalyptic (and mystically-charged) ashes of a world that once was, how do the survivors compete for resources and control?

- A star falls from the sky! They're rare, and it's dangerous to be one. Are you the star, hunted and lost? Or are you someone who finds a star?

- A lich (my character) is rumored to live in the castle at the foot of the mountains, only a mile or so from your town. It's said they're a true villain, the worst of the worst... but what is the truth?

-Arranged Marriages between physical embodiments of the seasons or planets

- There's something dire down in the mines to the east of this old Western town. Folks keep goin' in to investigate, disappearin' for days at a time, then comin' back all different-like with the lights gone from their eyes. What could be happenin' out there, sheriff? (horror/western)

-A sailor, pirate, or other seafarer keeps noticing the same shape in the waters near their ship. After a terrible storm, the ship wrecks… now, one’s a mermaid, one’s a sailor, and they’re both idiots trying to find their way back home.

-Disaster has struck! A grisly assassination attempt leads a bodyguard to quickly usher their liege to safety. Drama ensues!

-Stowaways, and the people who catch 'em!

- Androids and more androids! Or... androids and non-androids!

-In a dwindling-magic world, those who cling to the olde magicks and the old way of living struggle against the new capitalist society and its nonmagic technology. In one still-magickal neighborhood where our story takes place, shopkeepers fight against nonmagickal gentrification in an effort to keep their businesses, communities, and traditions alive.

- A wandering traveler gets caught in a storm and chances upon an abandoned home, castle, or manor.... oh no!

- A train hopping crust punk encounters the ghost of a fellow train-hopper who fell under the rails and died.

- A living person's computer, gaming device, or phone is inhabited by a flirty ghost!

- There's a friendly but sad ghost living in a living person's new home! (Can you tell I like ghosts?)

Original (and corny) pairing ideas

fairy or elf / vampire or other dark creature

vampire / human

god / mortal

demon / angel or other dark/light archetypical pairings

dragon / humanoid

naval captain / stowaway

mob boss / citizen

superhero / supervillain

serial killer / investigator

serial killer / citizen

Bounty hunter/outlaw

outlaw/sherriff

outlaw/outlaw

farmhand/outlaw

Current Fandom Interests/Cravings

Pokemon - preferably with ocs and in a custom setting ft. all the ‘mons/us playing as humans

Elder Scrolls - pls, i’m craving this almost more than anything, and have been for years

Red Dead Redemption - it is cowboy time now

Legend of Zelda - i have a couple of cute ideas for this!

Avatar/Legend of Korra

Labyrinth - please please please someone play jareth for me, ill give you my firstborn in exchange

Star Wars - currently a little burned out on playing as kylo for everyone, so please don’t ask me to be him dlfkjdslfj

Game of Thrones

Lord of the Rings

Night in the Woods

Brutal Legend - does anyone but me remember this??? Omfg lets rp in this setting PLS

The Dragon Prince

[itsclydebitches]

Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball Z Dragon Ball Super. Which is your favorite?

Oh, anon. You poor soul. You’ve activated my current obsession. Okay. I preface this by saying that DBZ, imo, is the CLASSIC. Frieza, Cell, and Buu? Iconic. DBZ is what I think of as the core of the DB franchise and I adore it accordingly. That being said… I’m really, really loving Dragon Ball Super. 

(And I’m totally gonna tell you why because you made the mistake of starting this conversation in the first place :D)

I’m just? A sucker for lore filled with fallible gods?? This is my long-lived love of Greek mythology rearing its head. Even back in DBZ the Supreme Kai was instantly a favorite of mine. Yeah, yeah, the whole fandom rags on him for supposedly being “useless,” but that’s precisely why I love him? He starts out as this mysterious, incredibly powerful figure–powerful enough to scare the crap out of Piccolo–and then very quickly falls off that pedestal, making him relatable and humanized. Shin clearly has a shit ton of trauma from, you know, watching Buu kill and/or absorb his entire family. He’s been forced to take on a job meant for five and he definitely hasn’t been trained (or at least fully trained) for this particular position. He comes to Earth expecting to use mortals as a tool, as one would expect from a high-ranking god, and is just totally blindsided by how powerful they are. It’s an instant double-edged sword. On the one hand hell yeah defeating Buu just got a whole lot more likely. On the other hand, existential crisis much? Who am I–who are all the gods–if we’re not intrinsically more powerful, knowledgeable, or spiritually sturdier than the mortals we watch over? Goku, Vegeta, and especially Gohan upset the presumed hierarchy. It’s why we get such a good dichotomy between Shin and Kibito. Shin rolls with this new information and embraces it fully. Okay. Mortals are stronger than us in so many ways, how wonderful! We can learn from them and rely on them, forming equal partnerships to achieve our goals. Kibito is stuck in his assumptions. How dare you set foot on this world? How dare you think you can pull out the Z Sword? How dare you think yourself equal to a god? 

It’s a familiar theme for DB: humanizing the latest, all-powerful entity. And each new introduction becomes more extreme.

Kami was our original god… who got some awkward moments. Then King Kai is the top guy…who loves lame jokes and lets Goku tear up his sacred planet in the name of training. Then Shin, Supreme Kai of the whole damn universe… who is also an anxious bean Just Trying His Best. It’s a theme I love because it upholds humanity (or in this case Saiyans adopted by humanity) as beings of endless potential. DB is all about pushing past your limits, but that doesn’t just apply to physical power. It also ties into upending the status quo; showing those who think themselves arrogantly better–in this case the gods–that no, we all have worth here. When the chips fall it’s mortals who consistently manage what the gods cannot, reaching a point where, ki-wise at least, they’re indistinguishable from gods, raising the question of why they were ever above them in the first place. They’re not. We’re all on equal footing once those assumptions are acknowledged and done away with. Ancient Kais can like dirty magazines. Supreme Kais can have panic attacks. Destroyers can love pizza as much as the next, average anime watcher.

Indeed, we see in the Tournament of Power that these rules now apply to Goku in his god state. He might have reached incredible power that everyone else thought impossible… but that doesn’t make the rest of the cast “below” him. It’s only because of his friends–presumably “useless” friends like Krillin and Tien–that allow him to enter the tournament and get as far as he did. It’s his old mentors who he has far outpaced that remind him he still has much to learn and who help Goku tap into Ultra Instinct in the first place. It’s a simple android we haven’t seen in years who manages to win the whole damn thing. The story consistently applies that same message of equality and worth to everyone, including our original paragon who has now reached the status of the very beings he’s worked to outpace. Rather than turning Goku into the hypocrite, DB keeps reminding him that no amount of power is going to change his or anyone else’s worth. He’s still BFFs with Krillin. Still married to Chi-Chi. Still needs other “weak” people like Bulma to help him when things get tough. No time machine, money, or strategic smarts? Sorry, no win.

In short, Dragon Ball Super takes that fantastic message and dials it up to 11. Now suddenly we’ve got a scary Destroyer God… who is easily swayed by tasty Earth food and a good nap spot. Angels who are equally humanized in their humor and love of mortal creations. An omnipotent ruler who is recognizably child-like. It both makes Zeno lovable and downright terrifying. He’s human enough to form friendships and use his power inappropriately. Zeno has the capacity to fall in love with a simple handshake as well as destroy an entire universe with the same detachment that we might, say, walk through an ant hill. Why did I do it? Because I could and no one has taught me yet that this might be something I shouldn’t do. Everyone has the capacity for growth.

And it’s so goddamn funny? Literally this scene is everything to me because it slams godly assumptions together with simplistic, mortal friendships, then lets that contrast play out. The most powerful being ever, creator of it all, the god that makes every other god shake in their boots wants… a friend? Okay! Our equally intimidating Grand Priest cracking up at this development? Whis losing his shit in the background? Shin straight up fainting? Goku pressing his shiny new god button because who DOESN’T press a button when you’re suddenly presented with one? All of it slays me. Forget stories where you endlessly bow before your supposed betters, knowing that you will never be able to even fathom their power. I want more stories like this, where the hero introduces enough kindness and brazen communication that it upends everyones’ expectations and fun, crazy new relationships form. Goku moved from utter shock at learning the Supreme Kai even existed to hoisting him over his shoulder like a drunk friend who is still refusing to head home. I love this weird-ass family.

All of which of course introduces the opposite as well. What if we’re given Zamasu, a fallible god whose imperfections don’t result in him becoming another quirky family member, but lead him down a path that endangers the entire multiverse? Though Super hasn’t commented on it explicitly yet, we’re also starting to toy with the idea of exactly how “human” the top gods are and how much growth they are capable of. For example, I’m fascinated by the Grand Priest. The anime makes him out to be far darker than he is in the manga, and I know there’s a disconnect between the two, so I’m not currently inclined to think that he’s the end Big Bad. Rather, he seems to actually have a stronger moral sense than Zeno–he comments on how awful it is that mortals riot and kill one another after learning about the Tournament–but as Zeno’s subordinate, and being well aware of how easy it can be to displease him, he’s not in a good position to sway him. We see him introducing tiny bits of logic to the Zenos (like stopping the fight between Goku and Toppo in the anime), but that’s a far safer thing to suggest then, say, “How about we don’t erase a ton of universes at once, hmm?”

Like his angel children, the Grand Priest ultimately exists to serve his Lord… but Goku and his friends are in no such position. Not as overtly, anyway. Created through evolution and developing their own ideals, they have the freedom to challenge and ultimately teach all those high-level gods, including Zeno. He says it himself in that clip: “No one will try. You can do what no one else can do!” Goku, both as a mortal and a very straight forward one, has the capacity to charge past those expectations and hit on something grand.

However, we see with Whis that, wow… maybe angels really are so far removed from us that they don’t care in any meaningful way. Whis seems like a friend, but when push came to shove he wasn’t very upset about his entire universe–and a Destroyer he’s known for who knows how many thousands of years–getting destroyed. We can attribute this apathy to him assuming it will all turn out alright (if anyone would realize that whoever wins can just use their wish to revert everything back to normal, it’s Whis), but even if he actually doesn’t care much right now… he’s learning too. Whis went from shrugging about Beerus destroying the Earth (at least he has his leftovers!) to telling Trunks and Mai how to break more time rules–rules Whis originally thought were more important than anything else–just so they could get a happy ending. We’ve seen him form a legitimate friendship with Bulma. He does little things like waving a Universe 7 flag and having them hold hands that demonstrate care, outside of practicalities (like delivering Bulla so Vegeta can fight). He seems more invested in challenging the status quo than his brother and even his brother, notably, slips up and uses “Father” instead of “Grand Priest,” demonstrating a certain level of familial love that can sometimes override pure duty.

Vados copies Whis and sits with the Universe 7 team, shrugging off the other gods’ disgust. Whis then shows legit pride in Goku managing Ultra Instinct. It’s GREAT watching these beings move from seeing mortals as inconsequential specs in the multiverse to individuals worthy of their time, attention, and respect. We’re seeing that development with Whis most of all, slowly but surely.

And it helps that our protagonist is really worthy of that respect this arc. Beyond his innate capacity for kindness, Goku is wonderfully smart in Super. I myself have mentioned that being naive and battle obsessed to the point of endangering others is kind of his thing, but Super hits a wonderful middle ground. Goku is the one who thinks to use the future Zeno to destroy Zamasu. He figures out a good portion of Zamasu’s plan. He thought up the idea of using dead warriors in the Tournament of Power and instantly has a way of negating the danger Frieza would pose: let’s use Baba so he can only come back for 24 hours. The anime (strangely…) emphasizes how the Tournament is supposedly Goku’s fault, but Vados reminds everyone that Zeno planned to erase the universes regardless. Though he didn’t intend the outcome, Goku’s suggestion of a tournament gave all universes a fighting chance. Much more importantly, it introduced the reward that would ultimately save them all. Goku’s got a good head on his shoulders this time around and the story emphasizes that it’s his capacity to care that saves far more than his brute power. Sparing enemies leads to them turning over a new leaf. Cultivating a diverse family results in a team with the strength and strategy to win. The ability to look at anyone–even Zeno–and smile as you shake their hand results in allies who can save the day when your own strength fails. IT’S ABOUT LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP AND I’M A WEAK GOODY-GOODY.

I just… fucking love DBS. It takes all of the best underdog themes of the DB franchise–Can a low-class warrior become the best? Can a normal human woman gain the love of a prince? Can mortals ever stand side-by-side with gods?–and homes in on those questions, emphasizing them to an almost meta extent. I could give you another hundred reasons of exactly how much I’ve enjoyed these new stories… but I should stop now lol

Last note though Ultra Instinct is AWESOME

[muthur9000]

Alien: Engineers vs Prometheus

As you’ll already know if you’ve followed the progress of Prometheus through its production, Jon Spaihts was the screenwriter from its early stages, back when it was still described as a true Alien prequel. After turning in successive drafts, screenwriter Damon Lindelof was brought in to rework Spaihts’ script and incorporate director Ridley Scott’s ideas. 

By this point, the project was no longer a prequel, but a less direct predecessor - a directive, we later learned, which was handed down from the people in suits at Fox. This origin story immediately begs the question: what was Prometheus like before it was Prometheus, and prior to Damon Lindelof’s involvement? Was Spaihts’s script a superior piece of work that became sullied and muddled in the process of its rewriting, as some had hinted? 

 November 2012, those questions could finally be answered, as a leaked copy of a Spaihts draft appeared online. Although there were initial doubts over its provenance, Spaihts later confirmed that it was genuine. Titled Alien: Engineers, it’s unclear exactly which of the writer’s drafts it is, but one things for certain: it was written before the project mutated into what we now know as Prometheus.

 So what’s it like? Old gods Initially, it appears to be markedly similar. The story opens in Earth’s prehistory, and we see an Engineer descend from a shadowy spacecraft, and in a ritualistic fashion, sacrifice himself to further life on our planet. 

Moving forward in history, we meet our two central characters, a pair of archaeologists hunting for clues of alien visitations in ancient art. In this draft, the duo are rather different; the one played by Noomi Rapace in the movie is called Jocelyn Watts in this version of the script, and not Elizabeth Shaw. 

Although roughly the same age (early 30s), Watts is less overtly religious than Shaw, and no reference is made to her being unable to conceive (a fairly major plot point which was clearly introduced in later draft. Her fellow academic and lover is still named Charles Holloway, but he’s a much older (48 years old) and erudite chap than the bullish, somewhat unsympathetic character played by Logan Marshall-Green. 

This version of Holloway does, however, have an annoying habit of quoting the Bible all the time in the second half of the film. Broadly speaking, the spine of Spaihts’ script is entirely recognisable. Piecing together a star map from ancient art, Watts and Holloway lead an expedition to a distant moon, all funded by the unfeasibly rich Peter Weyland. 

A refined and faintly sinister robot butler named David is sent along to assist, as is Vickers, Weyland’s corporate attack dog with a heart of ice. Some of the character motivations, meanwhile, are somewhat different. For one thing, Weyland isn’t obsessed with the pursuit of eternal life, but with further lining his pockets with new technology. 

Buying into Watts’ and Holloway’s theory that the alien Engineers have the ability to terraform planets, Weyland bankrolls the expedition in order to acquire that ability for himself. Naturally, things go awry when the ship touches down on that distant moon, which, in this draft, is LV-426: the site of those nightmarish events in Alien. 

 After a brief search, Janek - the ship’s captain, who still plays an accordion as Idris Elba did - brings the craft down near the entrance of an alien pyramid. Within lurk long-dead Engineers, scuttling, centipede-like creatures, and leathery pods containing some very familiar parasites. It’s at this point - roughly around page 40 - that the Alien: Engineers script diverges more obviously from the events in Prometheus. 

Yet even here, there are two comically hapless chaps named Fifield and Milburn, and they still end up spending a stormy night in the alien pyramid. Milburn is still attacked by something weird that wraps around his arm, and Fifield still mutates into a big, fleshy monster with an elongated head. 

 One thing is missing, though: alien goo. It’s a relatively minor detail, but the goo of Prometheus - a substance that could both create life and mutate it into new, aggressive forms - is described as a cloud of tiny black insects, whose bites cause those savage mutations. 

Its presence is also far more limited here, and the insect cloud only shows up twice in the entire script: once to devour that luckless sacrificial Engineer at the start of the movie, and again to turn Fifield into a rampaging beast. Instead, Spaihts concentrates on gradually reintroducing the acid-spitting xenomorph immortalised by HR Giger in 1979. 

As he does so, it’s notable how some of the events which seemed so mystifying in Prometheus make far more sense in this early draft. Watts and Holloway still find a severed Engineer’s head (pulled off aeons ago by a xenomorph here) and take it back to the ship, but this time, it simply dissolves in the ship’s atmosphere. It doesn’t explode like a pumpkin with a firecracker inside it, and it doesn’t start peering around and curling its lip like Elvis before it goes pop.

 Moreover, the kidnapped head actually serves a dramatic (if rather peculiar) purpose. In her scientific probings, Watts discovers that the Engineers wear goggles that allow them to see rays of light invisible to the naked eye - rays that David already knows an awful lot about. Ah yes, David. An android with murky agendas in Prometheus, he’s the outright villain in Alien: Engineers. 

While Vickers and her minions begin to saw sections of the pyramid apart to work out how the alien terraforming tech works, David’s sneaking around other parts of the ancient structure with mischief in mind… Impregnation As in Alien and Aliens, Spaihts’ prequel takes its time before letting the acid spitters loose. It’s at the mid point where the true horror begins; Holloway, while exploring the alien pyramid, falls down a shaft and disappears. 

He’s found later, dazed, without his space helmet and unable to remember where he’s been or what happened. A tell-tale mark on his neck - like the bruise left from a stranglehold - is a clear wink to the audience: he’s doomed. It’s during a sweaty love-making session with Watts that Holloway goes into labour; the infant starbeast erupts from his chest, spattering Watts in blood before scuttling off into the bowels of the ship. 

It’s a shocking, blackly comic scene even on paper, and while it’s difficult to imagine Fox allowing this nexus of sex and death to be committed to film - they were, after all, still toying with making the movie a PG-13 at the time - it’s difficult to fault the grim power of Spaihts’ imagination. Nor can we fault the brilliance of a later incident, which ranks alongside Vincent Ward’s abandoned wooden planet idea as one of the greatest Alien franchise moments never filmed. 

 In it, David reveals his true villainy. Dragging Watts into an alien egg chamber, he teases open one of the leathery pods, and coaxes out the facehugger within. The creature, he explains, isn’t interested in the cogs of an android. But Watts’ body, on the other hand, is a far more enticing prospect. 

David handles the facehugger like a kitten before he deposits it onto Watts’ screaming face. Here, then, is the genesis of not only the med-pod scene - perhaps the most convincing moment in Prometheus - but also the whole idea of David spiking Holloway’s drink with a spec of goo, Holloway’s impregnation of Shaw, and her later caesarian section at the clanking hands of an automated machine. 

 These moments in the script exemplify the difference between earlier drafts and what ended up on the large screen. Many of the same elements ended up in Prometheus, albeit in distorted form. Holloway is still ‘infected’ and dies, yet the process bears more dramatic weight in the script. This isn’t to say, however, that Alien: Engineers is perfect. 

The earlier introduction of the med-pod is just as clunky and pointed as it is in the finished movie, and the Fifield monster still reads like an extraneous addition to a story already overflowing with monsters of all sizes. And, as was the case in Prometheus, it’s sometimes difficult to tell the various secondary characters apart, or even keep track of how many are alive or dead. For the most part, they’re screaming alien fodder. 

 What’s most notable about Spaihts’ draft, though, is what it lacks when compared to Prometheus. Peter Weyland is introduced at the beginning of the script, and never returns. He doesn’t make a dramatic last-act appearance on the ship, and there isn’t the rather tepid late revelation that Vickers is Pete’s daughter. Although an Engineer is still prodded from his slumber, and still pulls David’s head off like a champagne cork, the old gods are less of a presence in Spaihts’ script, and the story feels leaner and more focused as a result. 

There’s a greater sense that events are building inexorably to a climax, in which David, in his eagerness to speak to an intellectual superior, kicks back into action the Engineers’ plan to wipe out humanity. Admittedly, the motivation for that extermination is still obscure. 

The Engineers wanted to “destroy their wayward children” is David’s somewhat glib explanation, before launching into another of the script’s quotes from scripture: “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth… for it repenteth me that I have made them.” 

In an early scene, one character makes the suggestion that Jesus may have been an Engineer - an echo of Ridley Scott’s frankly worrying idea that the Engineers’ facehugger Armageddon was intended as punishment for crucifying one of their representatives. Reading Alien: Engineers is a bittersweet experience. 

On one hand, it’s a gripping read, rattling along like an express train full of ghosts and monsters. On the other, it’s frustrating that what’s on these pages was never filmed. Had Fox not insisted on downplaying the presence of aliens, chestbursters and facehuggers, it’s likely that what we’d have seen in cinemas this year would have been fairly close to this draft. 

 Ridley Scott clearly liked it, because, for all the curious choices made afterwards - the thawed-out old men, the exploding head, the flutes - Scott worked hard at keeping most of its salvageable elements in, even though they didn’t quite make as much sense in their amended form. 

Although some have been quick to point an accusatory finger at Damon Lindelof for Prometheus’ faults, it’s arguable that he faced a thankless task: taking what was an Alien movie and dreaming up ways of writing all those xenomorphs back out again.  Sadly, we’ll never know for sure what Alien: Engineers would have been like. We can only read the script’s final confrontation - a battle between Watts and an alien freshly emerged from the corpse of an Engineer among the debris of the crashed ship - and imagine what might have been…

[rex-the-ok]

Power Rangers Celestial

Years ago, the Dark Star Armada ravaged the universe, searching for an unknown “weapon” that could defeat them, but where held back by a man powered by the stars who held them for many years, but disappeared to a dissent planet in search of allies.

Now on modern day earth, the dark Star Armada is invading and draining the planet of its energy. Meanwhile, a job-hunting traveller discovers the Star Pool café and the power to defeat them, the Star Stones.

Cast

Rangers/Star Pool staff Leon Red Leo Ranger An orphan who travels the contrary looking for odd jobs. Currently the Star Pool’s delivery boy. Facts: has luck on his side (both the aspect and his scooter; Lucky) Was raised on the streets and knows of to protect him self Has no memory’s of his birth family

Hotten Arachna Orange Scorpius Ranger An alien smuggler and enemy of Dark Star, he is looking for his bother. Facts: is an orange tail verity whose venom acts as a strong sedative Dislikes crowds and public places Has a collection of belt buckles to hide his tail in public

“Arsen” Blue Lupus Ranger An alien refugee who’s home was destroyed be Dark Star, he landed on earth and works as the mascot for the Star Pool. Fact: likes to collect tech and junk from the alien black market Real name is bark-growl-howl but is called Arsen as a substitute Only wears a mascot head at work (he hates it)

BL-37 (Balance) Gold Libra Ranger A defective justice droid and partner to Naga. Crashed on earth looking for a criminal. Facts: being an early model, he is almost 300 years old Is an excellent mechanic Was brought by Naga’s mother at a young age to help him “express him self”

TR-00 (Toro) Black Taurus Rangers A prototype enforcement robot. his creator was murdered by a “man with a poison tail”. Facts: made money in illegal robot fights (held tile for 4 years) Is on earth working with Ryu No one knows why he has a Spanish accent

Naga Hamad Silver Ophiuchus Ranger An Intergalactic Police Officer and partner to BL-37. Crashed on earth looking for a criminal. Facts: his spices “removed” emotions years ago, but he is trying to gain them Is very popular with women (is completely unaware to this) Is secretly nerdy and owns every copy of Dragon Man

Sophie Kakusareta Green Chamaeleon Ranger An Astrology student and waitress as Star Pool Café. Is a childhood friend of Dolce. Facts: is currently studying the Celestial Stones and there connection to the constellations Is trained in Ninjutsu by her Grandfather Is known to laugh at the smallest joke  

Raptor283 Pink Aquila Ranger The ship AI from Naga’s ship placed into an android body modelled after a human. She is a known space blogger. Facts: named her self after her blog Is known to fantasies and ship her team mates Got her body from Arsen, no one knows why he had it or why it has wings

Dolce Stellino Yellow Dorado Ranger Chef at the Star Pool Café. Is a Childhood friend of Sophie. Facts: is descendent from Italian immigrants Can make a meal out of literally anything Learned to cook taking care of his mother

Ryu Eirian Purple Draco Ranger The hero who fought Dark Star, he fled to earth to look for more allies. Know the owner of the Star Pool Café. Facts: is descendent of humans who where abducted by aliens Is currently married and has a child Had comic books based off his days fighting the Dark Star Armada

Gabe Medved Aqua Ursa Ranger A kind hearted middle schooler who is trying fight back against The Dark Star Armada. Facts: is a school friend of Ryu’s son Has top grades in gym, math and arts-and-crafts Has a large collection of stuffed animals (mostly bears)

Dr Kuma (deceased)  Scientific genius and lead researcher into the Star Stone before his untimely death. Was a close friend to Ryu. Built all the morphers and Weaponry for the rangers.

Fen Argo Phoenix Soldier An ancient warrior who killed Armage 10,000 years ago and lived among the race that that made the Star Stones, the Orianins. Facts: was guard to their royal family for 300 year and spent 10,000 in cryo sleep. Has the ability too reverse his age by lighting him self on fire(but is running out of times he can do it). Send 2 hour in the morning grooming his feather like hair.

Dark Star Armada Don Armage Leader of the Dark Star Armada. I furiously looking for a “weapon” that can defeat him. little is know about his past or how old he really it.

Commander Jaeger A high commander who has been entrusted with the Sagittarius Star Stone.

Physkrieg A bounty hunter hired by Dark Star, he can predict any attack. Is the man responsibul for Dr Kumas death

Octofia Partner to Physkrieg and double agent for Crassica. She is able to revive her self after death (each regeneration changes her personality)

Crassica Arachna Brother to Hotten and Dark Stars top killer. Is a Black Tail verity who’s venom can control and slowly kill victims.

Flatflorians A race of alien’s who pledged allegiance to Dark Star.

G-Men Robots used as footsoldiers. The G stands for Grunt. each have very levels of “self”.

Equipment

Star Stones Stones made by an ancient, lost civilisation to combat evil in universe, they are powered by “the belief in the stars”. They are stronger on earth as it is were all the constellations align. most information has been translated from vague translations of the language.

Star Blasters Tech built by the Dr Kuma to utilise the power of the Star Stones. Allow the user to transform, attack and summon Zords

Star Weapons A weapon developed by Dr Kuma. It has an infinite number of possible weapons it can form  

Draco Cane An ancient weapon built by the lost civilisation, it holds many secrets

Blaze Defender A weapon built for Fen to protect the royal family and summon his personal Zord

Celestial Zords Large mechanised weapons built by the lost civilisation, only a small number ever made.

[skipbifferty-blog1]

Can’t Afford a New Computer Because of Software?

2018-05-02 11:38

Within the past couple months, several people have told me that---although they have computers that are old and behind the curve in performance,---they cannot afford a new computer because they will have to buy all the Microsoft programs like Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and such, since they cannot be transferred legally (or practically) to a new computer, and that is hundreds of dollars of additional cost thus making it too expensive to upgrade.

Feeling 'locked-in' to expensive Micro$oft productivity suites in this era is simply unnecessary.  I have been using open-source, free alternative programs since before I got back from Germany, having experimented with converting while in Germany but still using Windows, and ultimately switching away from Windows to Linux around 2011.  But one does not have to leave Windows to use the open-source alternatives as most are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, although I now much prefer Linux to Windows for a multiplicity of reasons.  Germany is a place where even slight additional cost is a killer in everything of life---which is why you never hear music in stores or restaurants, because of the royalty fees that must be paid to play it.  Most Germans I was acquainted with, turned to the alternative and free open-source programs more than a decade ago.  I finally took their cue and tried them.

Thus, it has now been over 10 years that I have been using the free alternatives to Microsoft offerings.  I can read other people's messages and documents and they can read mine.  All these alternative programs can save documents in a Microsoft compatible format.  I have even used the 'redlining' editing and correction features of the word processors, and sent corrected files back to the authors, who usually have no trouble opening and dealing with those modified documents.

If you're leery of leaving Microsoft, then just install the alternative programs on your current computer and try using them for a while.  That is what I did over in Germany.  They work, and do not require the hundreds of dollars M$ wants you to send them to activate their software which is nowadays preinstalled but disabled after a trial period on every computer you might buy.

When you use an Android phone, you are basically using Linux (a stripped down version), so if Android is your phone, you are already exposed to an alternative system.  iPhones are Mac OS-oriented, so if that is your phone, you are using yet another alternative to Windows, too.

I am currently upgrading to a new computer---a big Dell 17-inch touchscreen laptop that Costco was selling for an extremely good price, and which has AMD video that is about the only video card that will work properly when editing video.  I'm not going to say it is easy to install Linux as an operating system---one of the reasons computers are preinstalled these days, is because installing any operating system can be difficult, and both Apple and Microsoft have tried to eliminate the hassles encountered in using computers by preinstalling everything on the computer, so there are no hang-ups when you first turn a new computer on.

This is not the place to go into a detailed description of problems I encountered, but a little patience and willingness to try the different alternatives presented during installation has paid off.  I am a guy who brings computers to their knees.  Typically I run 3 desktops with email, calendar, daily calibre downloads for my Kindle (it functions to load my Kindle up with what are the equivalent of several daily newspapers), financial software tracking expenses, my Google Keep lists of grocery and to-do items, and general web browsing, all in desktop 1; the weather reporting tools and audio recording/editing for the daily weather reports I do for a community radio station in desktop 2; and radio automation software that runs 24/7 as an experiment in desktop 3, which feeds an MP3 server that sends the output of the automation to a LAN connection that I can access from anywhere in the house.

For the past 6 years, all of that has run on a small 13” notebook that is hooked into an external 27” monitor, keyboard, mouse, and professional speaker system.  My estimate is that any computer more than 5 years old is by then ancient technology (the notebook does not even have Bluetooth, which is now completely ubiquitous), so I try to upgrade every 5 years.  This change is actually overdue, and so are you if your computer is more than 5 years old.  I especially liked the portability of the smallish 13” computer, but video editing is nearly impossible with its incapable nVidia video card---which is fine for gaming, but absolutely terrible for video editing.  The 17” Dell came to my attention because of the AMD video card, and so I will have a much larger laptop for a while.  Not really what I wanted, but a necessary improvement for the video editing.

Those I have discussed the alternative of using productivity suites other than Microsoft, are literally very scared to leave Microsoft.  Again, I suggest just trying it on your current Windows computer first.  Once I installed the alternative programs while over in Germany and began using them, I never went back to the Microsoft ones.  Ever.  Not even tempted.

Here is a list of all the programs I use regularly:

**Evolution (Linux only) - email/calendaring substitute for M$ Outlook

**LibreOffice (all OS platforms)- substitute for Microsoft Office with word processing, spreadsheet, Powerpoint compatible alternative, drawing program which I use as a replacement for the now defunct M$ Publisher and which imports old M$ Publisher files, and a math program for statistics people

**Firefox - web browser with the following add-ons:  NoScript to prevent websites from reaching into your computer; AdBlock; Blacken to turn grey print solid black; One Tab, which allows saving tabs in a list when you have a bunch of tabs open; Video DownloadHelper which allows downloading video/audio files to your local computer.  Before the Quantum release of Firefox, I also formerly used Tab Mix Plus, which allows a lot of useful customization of Firefox, and Down Them All, which came in handy for things like downloading 30 episodes of “Danger Man” without having to manually do those one at a time. Hopefully those add-ons will eventually be made compatible with Quantum and later versions of Firefox.

**GnuCash - financial program similar to Quicken, but capable of double-entry accounting

**calibre - a Kindle organizing, library, and downloading program which allows converting practically any document into a Kindle file, and will also unlock files you paid for that often only work on a Kindle reader when you may have a Kobo or Nook reader---or in the other direction if you bought a book that only works on Kobo or Nook.  Additionally, I download several news sources daily, including BBC News, Washington Post, local TV news station feed, and several economic or industry blogs and newsletters related to my field that I can then read anywhere on my Kindle.

**Gimp - image editor similar to Photoshop, only far more flexible

**Xsane (Linux only) - a program that operates scanners

**Pidgin - a program similar to the old AOL Instant Messenger which can connect to many different messenger programs.  With cellphone texting, I have not used Pidgin for years.

**Audacity - an audio recording and editing program

**Cinelerra CV (Linux only) - video editing program

**gPodder - an automatic podcast downloader program.  I do not use gPodder since returning from Germany, where I commuted an hour each way to work on the train and listened to several news podcasts daily (primarily BBC).  If I listen to podcasts now, it is in the car and from my cellphone using the Bluetooth connection.

**puddletag (Linux only) - a Linux metadata tagging program for audio files similar to MP3Tag in Windows

**Rivendell (Linux only) - the radio automation program with many modules for creating logs, automatically downloading and carting up programs, and managing the audio library of radio stations

**Jackd and JackCTL - a patch panel program for routing audio to and from various programs

**VLC - the most universal and versatile video and audio player for computers ever, devised and maintained by French developers plus very lightweight in size

**wxMP3val - an analyzer for MP3 files to find quality problems

**Spotify Player - for Linux

**WINE - a Windows emulator program which I use to run Exact Audio Copy, a CD ripping program, and IrfanView, an image display and manipulation program that only work in Windows

**R - a very deep and complex program for math people like my son and used by statistics people for manipulation and publishing of math stuff, which includes access to special characters used only by math folks

Maybe there are those who need other programs, but for my work, the above fulfills all of my particular needs.  And in 7 years without Microsoft, I never miss it.  In fact, with no regrets at all, I blew away all the Windows stuff that was preinstalled on the new Dell.

All new computers come with Windows, and---as you can see---almost every program above can be loaded into a Windows computer, negating the need to send Microsoft any further money at all.  Try them on your old computer, then have no fear in going out and getting that new computer and saying, “bye, bye Micro$oft, I don’t need your pricey office suite anymore,” thus joining what I have done for well more than 7 years now.

[bonsonigamingstyle-blog]

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[kickstarter-promotion]

Another Amazing Kickstarter (For Lorne Hope by Multivarious Games —Kickstarter) has been published on http://crowdmonsters.com/new-kickstarters/for-lorne-hope-by-multivarious-games-kickstarter/

A NEW KICKSTARTER IS LAUNCHED:

You’ll need an HTML5 capable browser to see this content.

Play

  No Mercy follows the story of four main characters, Elliot, Ray, Belle, and Orion, as they work to cleanse the forest and restore balance. Use their different weapons and powers to crush anything that stands in your way, and explore the surrounding levels for hidden secrets. Bursting with vibrant art and interlocking character arcs, No Mercy draws both you and the characters deeper into the heart of a forest under siege.

Your only hope lies in each other, but everyone has something valuable to lose. In a story of love, trust, and a fourth wall-breaking bird person named Kevin, you must work together to save the forest, your friends, or at the very least, your life.

No Mercy is a brawler built around the lives of strangers who find themselves in the forest as an ancient darkness, the Corruption, breaks free. It plays like Castle Crashers mixed with the discoverable narrative of games like Journey, Braid, and The Stanley Parable. We’re working on a Steam Release for PC and Mac, with Act I being released in Summer 2017, Act II in fourth quarter 2017, and Act III in March 2018. We would like to release the game as one, complete story, so if we exceed our funding goal, that will allow us to work full time on No Mercy and accelerate our development timeline to release the game more quickly!

Features:

BLOODSHED: Hack and slash your way through slugs, spirits, and  corrupted golems that are destroying the forest. We named the game No Mercy for a reason. We expect you to bring your A-game or button mash your way through the forest to defeat the Corruption. Once you’ve beaten the game the first time, levels will unlock, and you’ll be able to play as any character you want, fighting until your heart’s content.

  MULTIPLAYER: Relatively self-explanatory, but No Mercy has multiplayer! Play alone or with a friend (or hundreds of your closest friends on Twitch… we won’t complain). 

  ART: Every great battle is commemorated in a stunning painting. Get lost in the ever-shifting, colorful art of No Mercy: the painting that pays tribute to your quest to save the forest. The gestural strokes, expressive colors, and 2D backgrounds are designed for a visually expressive experience. 

  HIDDEN STORY: While destroying every enemy you can find, remember to stop and explore the vast forest around you. Eons of time have passed through those branches, and terrible secrets about the woods, the Corruption, and even your friends could be hidden amidst them. We never want story to break the flow of gameplay, so it has been integrated into the surrounding levels as hidden areas, context clues, and dialogue instead of long cutscenes. 

  CHARACTERS: Alternate through four playable characters in levels designed to gradually reveal more about their wants, needs, and (occasionally tragic) backstories. Each character has a unique fighting style that can be combined to add new challenges and depth to levels. 

    ACCESSIBILITY:  MVG has been working with The Able Gamers Charity to ensure that our game is accessible for those with disabilities. Our goal is to create a game that respectfully represents the disabled community, as two of our main characters, Elliot and Orion, live with disabilities. Accessibility and representation are important beyond measure, so we’re working to make sure we do it right. 

Nature thrives on balance: the ebb and flow of the tides, life and death, day and night, order and chaos. The Shrine Keepers are entrusted with maintaining this balance and tending to the veil between what we know and what we wish we didn’t.  The forest they protect has always known Corruption, trickling like veins through the trees, but its true chaos was sealed away long ago. That is, until a golem is broken and releases the Corruption into the world. As it gushes out from behind the broken seal, the world is left to deal with an ancient, all-consuming chaos that has been building for hundreds of years.

Our story begins with Elliot as he’s racing to find his closest companion, Lorne, who was taken by the Corruption. His luck takes a turn for the worse when a corrupted golem tries to kill him, and the lost battle leaves him with only one arm and much less blood than when he began. As he phases in and out of consciousness, a stranger stops to heal his wounds and fashion him a new arm, albeit hastily, before moving deeper into the woods. As Elliot regains consciousness, he wakes with a renewed passion to find Lorne and to discover the person that replaced his arm, instilled it with magic, and saved his life.

Allies like Ray, Belle, and Orion will join his quest, though their motives are their own, and together they’ll work to defeat the Corruption. Belle’s training as a Shrine Keeper will be instrumental in purifying each shrine and weakening the looming foe. Though each character brings new talents to the table, they also bring baggage. It doesn’t take long for questions to arise. Why was Elliot so deep in the forest? Why was Lorne taken? Why does a bird person in a sweater keep following the group and making bad jokes?

Before long, our heroes will learn that the corruption wasn’t the only secret hiding in these woods. 

  We’re Multivarious Games, a game studio from Columbus, OH. Welcome to our No Mercy Kickstarter. We’re glad you’re here. 

We’ve been in the game industry for 6 years, but between everyone on the team, we’ve been making games for many more years than that (plus a few months if you include Intern Brian). Serving as the focal point for the game industry in Ohio, Multivarious is working to make Columbus the next hotspot for video game development and to foster a growing community of creative and innovative developers. In just a few short years, our community has grown to over 1,100 members from organizations like The Central Ohio Gamedev Group, affectionately known as COGG, The Able Gamers Charity, and development studios scattered all over the Midwest. We also make games, but hopefully that was implied.

Multivarious keeps the lights on by working with companies all over the world to realize their visions. We develop tons of apps, games, and interactive experiences for some of the worlds largest organizations. Working with your clients and partners is a great way for us to learn, and be able to eat. But our true passion is in making our own games and experiences. Your support on Kickstarter helps us get the funds needed to full devote our development time on No Mercy, and let our creativity flow… everywhere.

That community of love and support has gotten us this far, and we’re asking more of you to join us. We’ve chosen Kickstarter in the hopes that we can reach a broader audience, receive enough support that we can devote all of our energy to development, and hopefully prove to the world that there’s more than just corn in Ohio.

Thank you for being awesome

– MVG

  For a long time, we’ve balanced client work as a means of income, running GDEX: one of the largest game dev expos in the Midwest, trying to build a community for developers, and actually making our own games. It keeps the lights on, but it takes much longer to make the games we want with out energy divided between so many things. We’ve spent a year of solid development meticulously crafting our story, game mechanics, and art, and we’ve reached a point where No Mercy is all we want to focus on. If we cut out everything other than game development, we are going to need a way to pay our employees. 

The $30,000 is going to help us with development while the team offsets the remaining costs with our normal consulting and external development work. Any money above the $30,000 will allow us to allocate more of our time towards No Mercy without relying on our development services to provide our income. Ultimately, the game includes 4 playable characters, a deep funny while serious story, and wide variety of interesting levels. Full funding of our goal will be allocated as follows:

We estimate that the total remaining costs to complete this project would be around $180,000 ($225,000 on Kickstarter with fees and rewards)

  We have already laid the groundwork. The game mechanics, AIs, and multiplayer are all there. Now we just need to model out some characters, polish our story, and get all of it to you. Let’s do this.

   Check out our nifty guide for which Rewards get what!

 ***The VIP Invite and Escape Room rewards do not include the price of travel. If you are unable to travel but still want to donate at that tier, we can arrange a private Google hangout, stream, or metaphysical dream experience. 

Extra Game Add-On: Add $8 to any tier and we’ll add in an extra copy of the game.

Achievement System

We love being gamers, and free stuff, so we wanted to implement a system that rewards all our supporters as No Mercy becomes successful. Everytime we reach a new milestone listed below, No Mercy will get xp and as the amount of xp increases, it will unlock bonuses for backers. Spread the word and help us be a success!

***Baby companion is not an actual baby, but our office dog who is named Baby. Unless you want a large, cool baby to follow you around the game. Is that what you want? I mean.. okay. I guess we can do that if that convinces you to donate. Please donate. 

This is Baby

                                                                                                                                                     Risks and challenges

Game development is a cruel mistress, and there is always risk in this industry. However, Multivarious is a full time game and app development studio that has developed our own title, Hatch-It for iOS and Android, and numerous projects for clients ranging from Mastercard, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, OSU Medical Center, and many more.

Beyond our own experience, we have a brilliant community of developers we’ve nurtured in the Midwest that are available to help us take development over the finish line when ready.

It costs a lot of money to make a game, and we have erred on the lower side of what is needed for this game. Anything past our funding goal will allow us to work full time on No Mercy without having to rely on our client work.

Our team is ready to face whatever struggles may arise, and we will show them No Mercy. This is a game we want to make and a story we believe in and we have a track record of releasing projects over the past six years. Thank you for your support, patience, and trust. We’re in this for the long haul.

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