JP’s Virtual Soapbox

From EU Cantina:

Looks like it has been officially confirmed. The Un-named LucasArts and Bioware game has officially been labled as a KotOR MMO by Bioware parent company EA. From Joystiq:

Portfolio.com just published a short excerpt of its interview with EA boss John Riccitiello who tells the site that it’s “got two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry in development” including “the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about — in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare.” One doesn’t need to connect too many dots to arrive at the conclusion that BioWare is returning to the Star Wars universe with a Knights of the Old Republic MMO.

Of course, this product has been rumored for … well, for a long time. Separately confirming a BioWare / LucasArts collaboration and a BioWare MMO project lead to certain obvious conclusions and countless other rumors and leaks seemed to do everything but confirm (and some denied) the project’s existence. Though it would appear Riccitiello wasn’t quite ready to put a name on that project – it’s Portfolio.com connecting those dots – by referencing that this is the game that “people are dying for us to talk to them about” he clearly seems to be pointing to KOTOR.

[Update: We've just spoken with N. Evan Van Zelfden, the writer of the report, who told us that when asked specifically if this game was "KOTOR Online", Riccitiello responded unequivocally, "Yes." So, there you have it – sounds like we can take off our skeptical glasses.]

And there you have it. It’s far from official (as there has been no annoucnement from LucasArts or Bioware) but I think we can bet it’s coming. Chances are also good that this game will be the one that uses the names that LucasArts trademarked earlier this week (or maybe late last week).

I’ve finally read the whole trilogy, making it past the Two Towers which is the problem, the 2nd half is tough and long, on the 3rd try over the years.  Worth the read, if you saw the movies and have not read the books, you’re missing 25%+ of the story.  Great for summer reading!

R2D2 & C3P0 are stars!  A long time ago..

We went this weekend all four of us to see the new Pixar flick Wall-E and the reviews are promising (see Rotten Tomatoes), at a fresh rating of 97%.  OK, I’ll bite.

My reservation was how they were going to pull it off, just like any other Pixar movie.  When we saw Cars, I had the same reservations, just like with Nemo.  The wizards at Pixar came through, and can’t stress how much fun this was.  As a bonus, the short flick Presto was just hilarious.

Run and see it, you won’t be disapointed.  Just one thing I wish they’d done differently, they added footage of real live humans Vs animated.  Kinda removes 1% of charm.

I think this was the last of the “original” Pixar movies, prior to the Disney buffet frenzy.  Let’s just hope that the Mouseketeers have enough sense to leave this marvel of film making alone.

If you’re like me, you’re thinking you are getting “hosed” to say the least.  Your vehicule is not that much more fuel efficient than 10 years ago and the pump is murder for your wallet because of market speculation..  Any good coming out of this?

Yes, finally western civilization is “planning” to break its dependency on oil, especially foreign oil.  We’re years away from something tangible no doubt, but government + oil/gas are not the only ones working towards reducing petroleum consumption.

Car manufacturers are trying to get the “next best thing” out like hybrids but really it only re-enforces short-term solutions which have not been “eco-proofed”.  How does one recycle a Prius battery?  That’s a whole other debate by itself.

GM years ago touted an electric car which seemed to be a brilliant concept but I think they killed it themselves, the piece was in Wired (link).  Few parts, almost no lube, brilliant concept, you could change the body for another.  Now that’s something I’d buy!  Why was it killed you ask - conventional business models needed to be sustained is my guess.  With no parts, little maintenance, the automaker’s empire would crumble since it lives off service and parts.

And what about race car technology?  Incorporating the R&D at an aggressive pace and designing in the same lines would make much more efficient cars.  Just take weight reduction, I’m sure there are a few hundred pounds to be shaved off my Mazda6.

So the race is now on, and I’m sure that every car maker has a strategic alliance in its backpocket or more to deliver the next-gen thing.  Plus we need the re-fueling infrastructure like electric or hydrogen pumps.  My guess is that the first vendor to release a ride that will redifine the marketplace, distance itself from classical business models and deliver a true green car will win, there are so many of us willing to buy in that direction.

This is a major milestone at work, we made it onto eWeek.com’s front page yesterday!  We’re off by now since they added more stories, but it is a great thing to make it that fat into the IT media.  The piece can be found here.  Work’s web site is here.

Once in a while, you find a gem and the Quebec City band Sense is one of those, or at lease the 3rd album (must now buy the others!), Going Home.  It falls in between neo-prog and symphonic prog, so if you like Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, Yes, Camel, Pink Floyd you’ll find a winner.

The tracks are long (9+ minutes) except for a 5 minute one, and I wish they were longer.  Its been playing continuously in my iPod for the last few weeks.

Please post comments if you have listened to it!

NHL general managers for the most part are mental.  They spent a gazillion dollars on players that are not necessarily worth the moolah.  I don’t mean to pick on any player but some are lucky to have found idiotic cash-spending loonies like the GM in Chicago, Huet now makes more than Brodeur and how much does that make sense?

Let’s face it, Bettman & Co. are back where they were 2 years ago, with the same financials (give or take) at play, where they can spend waaaay too much then they’ll complain about making money.  They should ALL be fired, Bettman first for allowing this 2 years after the strike.

Congrats to the GMs who did not go berserk, namely our GM Bob Gainey who is criticized on a regular basis for “inaction” but heck, he’s not sinking his ship with contracts.

We were at the Hitec hospitality tech show a few weeks ago and we won a FAVE award!

We did “The Petite Aventure” with Velo-Quebec this weekend/Monday for the first time, what a blast!  We took our 8-year old son with us, on his own bike, no assistance (giraffe-style bikes or linking tools).  We ended doing just under 150Kms in 3 days, did camping for the first time in 15+ years, saw amazing scenery and have a great sense of accomplishment.

Next year, doing it again (we hope, 1717 registrations in 1/2 day, all sold!) with our 2nd one and also with other families we know.  Its much more fun when you have your own group during and after the rides.  Most of the audience is families or casual riders, the real pros don’t show at that one.

Their setup is very well done, very professional, and we ate quite well.  We were quite lucky weather-wise, we only rode for a few minutes on day 1 with droplets coming from the skies.  Both nights it rained but heck, we did not care, the storm on the 2nd night was a blast.

Can’t wait till next year!