Matt Butler SU

My Syracuse University Tumblr Account

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The Republica Times: Notes

Chronicle

Game has an 8-bit pixel art style to it; suggests that this is an indie-game.

Soundtrack is very basic, as expected.

The biggest articles placed get the most attention.

When you must print a negative article, make sure it is the smallest size possible.

You must meet a quota by a certain period to advance.

Game focuses on the issue of biased media in today’s society.

Catalyst

Are there any real-life news sources that could constantly be hiding bad news to fit their agenda?

Why does the media have such a huge influence on people?

Does a newspaper gain readers the same way it does in the game?

Why is every news source biased in some form?

Ampersand

http://www.doublezeroonezero.com/westport.html

http://papersplea.se/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/media-bias/

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My Game Experience

Favorite Games:

Max Payne

Sim City

Uncharted

Grand Theft Auto

NHL Series

People enjoy video games because it is a source of entertainment.  However, it is different than similar forms such as movies because it gives the player a simulation of an alternate reality.  When you go to a movie, the only thing you can do is watch what is happening on screen.  But in a video game, you can help control what happens, and maybe what the outcome could be.

Games I Would Like to Play:

Battlefield 1:  I would like to play this game because I have been a longtime fan of the Battlefield series.

Final Fantasy XV: I want to play this because Final Fantasy is a legendary video game series that I have never caught on with, so I might as well start with this one.

Resident Evil 7: I want to play this game because I occasionally enjoy playing survival horror video games.

Planet Coaster: I want to play this game because it has a connection with an older video game series known as “Roller Coaster Tycoon.”  I used to play the older series a lot when I was younger, so this game might have some nostalgic value.

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Max Payne: Gameplay Mechanics

Third-person shooter

Linear-based level design

Slow-motion (Bullet time) gunfights

When bullet time is triggered, the passage of time is slowed down so much that the movements of bullets can be seen by the naked eye, which enables the player to perform special moves.

Enemy AI based on pre-scripted events

Game has a neo-noir style

Graphic novel style cut-scenes

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Class Notes: Friday Feb. 17, 2017

In order to play a game, there must be some kind of conflict or goal.  It also should be entertaining.

There has to be rules to the game.

Most games involve strategy/tactics.

The game “Resistance” was fairly interesting, but not overly exciting; it could become predictable at times.  The premise of the game was similar to “Mafia” and “Werewolf,” so it was easy to grasp as well.

The structure of the game was fairly simple.

The approve/disapprove tokens represented how much players trusted their peers.

The success/fail cards represented the goals for each player.

The resistance/spy cards assigned roles to the players that received them.

The action of the game was slow-paced; majority of it was planning a mission.

Story: Resistance tries to succeed in their missions; spies try to sabotage them.

Players either try to gain trust or deceit their peers.

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This data capture shows that “fight” was the most significant word used in the poem.  I believe this is different than my original post because in my opinion, rising up was the most important part in the poem.  However, since the word “fight” was used more than once, the data capture believes that it is the part that stands out the most.

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I like this excerpt from a poem because of what it represents.  This text glorifies resiliency and determination; to never get knocked down by obstacles.  No matter what, we will always face some issues and problems in life.  The important thing, however, is how you respond to it.  Whenever you get knocked down, make sure to get back up and stand your ground.  Even though these are only a few words and lines, they have a strong connection to most people.

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Notes taken down after skimming through these two books I borrowed from Bird Library.

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Written notes after reading “The Art of Chance Opportunism in Creativity and Scientific Discovery”

And listening to the podcast: “An Illumination” from Benjamin Walker’s Theory of Everything

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My current Habitica Habits

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Ecology of “America”

In Trump’s inauguration speech, he used the word “America” many times throughout.

What was the purpose of this? Was Donald Trump repeating it many times for emphasis?

“America” is a term that has been used for a few hundred years now.

It was originated by a cartographer named Martin Waldseemüller

It is often circulated through documents, literature, journals, movies, speeches, media, and through conversations/debates.

Many people immediately connect “America” to the”United States of America,” but Latin Americans refer themselves as “Americans” as well, since they believe America is a region, not a country.

During a majority of the 20th century, the term “America” made its citizens feel a great sense of pride.  Although America is still prosperous today, many citizens don’t feel that way anymore.

This negative feeling is a huge reason why many people bought into Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan during his campaign.

From other parts of the world, when these people hear “America,” they believe the citizens of the country are arrogant, fat, and overly patriotic.

Both of these groups view America in a negative light, but in different ways.

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Habitica Habits

Potential Good Habits:

More Exercise

Organize an event calendar

Have a specific laundry day every week

Spend more time with people socially

Join clubs

Potential Bad Habits:

Ordering takeout food

Spending too much time procrastinating online

Wasting money without having an income

Spending too much time in my dorm room

Not getting enough sleep every night

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Presidential Rhetorical Situation

Trump’s Inauguration Speech (Transcript):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/20/donald-trumps-full-inauguration-speech-transcript-annotated/?utm_term=.0f544cd12baa

Rhetorical Situation:

Speaker: President Donald Trump

Context: Presidential Inauguration, Washington DC, Exchange of powers, Historical moment.

Issue: To bring hope to the American people, to explain goals during the first term, to attempt to unite all of the American people.

Audience: American viewers (both at home and at the inauguration), former presidents, senate and congress members, the entire world.

Medium: Speech (English), recorded video and audio, translated audio (for other countries), Photographs, social media blogs and posts.

Analysis of Speech:

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-inauguration-speech-analysis-20170120-story.html

Rhetorical Situation:

Speaker: LA Times, Mark Z. Barabak (Reporter)

Context: Aftermath of inaugural address, analysis of Trump’s words, connection to previous campaign speeches and rallies.

Issue: Is Trump being truthful, or lying?  Can we trust him?  Some believe he still had a lot of anger and hate in his speech; and that it extended the attitude he gave during his rallies in 2016.  Despite his attempt to bring everyone together, he has completely lost the trust from a good portion of the American population, not even one day stepping into office.

Audience: American citizens, Los Angeles citizens, democrats, anyone who has doubt towards Trump and his policies.

Medium: Newspaper, electronic article, shared through blogs and posts, videos embedded in the article.