Collecting Qualifications

I firmly believe that our generation will become one of the most educated in recent history.

As people finish their under-graduate degrees they face an inhospitable working environment. Whether justified or not, employers are less likely to take chances and strive to cut costs on the labour front. The prospect of trying to earn a living in this atmosphere is truly terrifying to many students and they are increasingly choosing to take further studies. Applications for MA programmes will grow exponentially as a result.

But is this a positive trend? While padding a C.V. with qualifications is of course a good thing it comes at the expense of real experience. Businesses will naturally look to minimise the risks inherent in employing applicants. Experience in a field allows an employer to accurately assess these risks. This is certainly different than the generally abstract skills and theoretical knowledge we gain at college. In short, while qualifications are essential it is the ability of a person to apply this knowledge to everyday life that gives value to an employee.

However, these negative effects are only temporary. The current "economic climate" is a transient situation that is already recovering in many places. When we all survive this situation our qualifications will very quickly become experience. This will benefit us both individually and collectively as a high-end labour force will place us at the fore of the increasingly lucrative research and technology industry. Ultimately, this temporary set back will have a positive effect on every aspect of our lives.

We may just be collecting qualifications now, but soon these qualifications will mark us as one of the most educated work forces this country has ever seen.

-The English Student

Conjectures on Game Development

With the release of browser versions of classics like Doom and Hexen at Newgrounds, it is the perfect opportunity to assess the progress of game design.

The most obvious improvement on these games is the graphics. The incoming DirectX 10 graphics cards promise to render incredibly detailed textures at excellent speeds. This is leaps and bounds ahead of the Doom Engine that can only create a semblance of three dimensionality. However, when playing these older games it is easy to wonder if these graphical improvements are conducive to a more enjoyable game. Hexen combines eerie (if simple) sound with tight level construction in order to create a very atmospheric gaming experience. This is a marked difference from many contemporary FPS games such as F.E.A.R. that have relied more heavily on graphical brilliance than competent level construction.

The second most obvious change is based in the style of game that was demanded in the days of Wolfenstein and Doom. Hexen is a very linear game that forces the player down a certain path with very little chance for deviation or player imagination. This is somewhat alleviated by the secret chambers all of these games used to encourage exploration. However, contemporary games such as the Grand Theft Auto series create a far more open-ended "sandbox" experience. While these approaches are different, neither is necessarily better than the other. Linear games allow developers to set tone and create more challenging environments and non-linear games allow the player to make more meaningful decisions and connections to characters. Combinations of these styles have been attempted with varying success and perhaps the most appealing games are the ones that encourage the player to "choose" the linear path designed by the developer. 

At the base of both of these conjectures is the importance of video game heritage. The PC has proven itself the most adaptable and enduring gaming platform. With advances in technology, changes in game design are inevitable. But we must not forget why the PC became such an appealing gaming medium. For games like Doom to be successful, developers like id Software had to create brilliant maps and game mechanics and while that is no longer a necessity these precepts would help many struggling contemporary FPS companies.

But at least we can now go back and play these classics, even if developers have forgotten the lessons they taught.

-The English Student

21st Century Breakdown: Album Review

Green Day's long awaited eight album has been released to much fanfare. But is the hype justified?

With American Idiot, Green Day became a household institution with sales and popularity soaring. Their new found political drive became the voice of an angry American generation and endeavoured to awaken the people from an apathetic slumber. Unfortunately, with such lofty ambitions the music of American Idiot became more of a backdrop to politics and not the focal point of the album. I feared that Green Day would continue down this road and place more emphasis on political messages rather than creative forms of expression.

It is with this trepidation that I listened to Green Day's newest offering, 21st Century Breakdown. The album is divided into three different acts and the more expensive edition is bundled with artistic impressions of each act and song. While this approach may seem pretentious or contrived it is indicative of the adjusted focus of the band. Green Day have used these forms along with varying song length, sound and structure to experiment with methods of sharing their message. While the political theme is still evident, it is more expertly weaved through the actual music and as such, both are equally important to the album.

21st Century Breakdown is therefore less politically divisive and more musically creative. This is borne out in many of the songs on the album.  "Before the Lobotomy" and the title track both showcase an array of musical arrangements and a wide range of versatility. Tracks like "Know Your Enemy" are more overtly political and stand as weaker (but more popular with militant American youths) points on the album. At least these songs are shorter and just as musically simple as their message. 

These tracks really bring us to the crux of 21st Century Breakdown: the political messages are there if you want them, but Green Day have managed to make the music the focal point of this new album and I very much hope they continue in this manner.

-The English Student

The Foundations of Literature

Students of literature often overlook the foundations of contemporary works: Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey.

These epic poems are frequently identified as the core of all subsequent literature. Homer (if indeed he did exist) created a formulaic method of literary expression and transliterated stories from the prevalent oral tradition. While these poems can be viewed as the first form of literature, the stories told and the manner in which they are told are far from primitive.

These poems directly deal with literary framework and issues of vocality. The Iliad contains a prolonged flashback and a very subtle illumination of the previous ten years of the Trojan war. In a similar vein, The Odyssey is written from the perspective of both Telemachus and Odysseus and contains a circular narration regarding Odysseus' 'nostos'.

The themes and patterns of these poems are also still evident in contemporary literature. Including specific references to the vents of The Iliad and The Odyssey, the creation of the return motif and issues of military leadership, honour and spirituality have their basis in Homer. These themes have directly and indirectly influenced countless writers throughout the history of literature.

To understand the vast forests of literature it is necessary to trace their roots in the beautifully complex work of Homer.

-The English Student

In Praise of The Creative Assembly

As The Creative Assembly release an extensive patch for their latest game we should pay homage to this excellent game developer.

The "Total War" series is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) strategy game series ever conceived. The games combine large scale, turn-based campaign strategy with fast paced real time battles - and do so perfectly. From the earliest iteration, "Shogun:Total War", it was clear that The Creative Assembly had hit on a wonderful formula for breathing new life into the stale strategy genre. From the humble beginnings of "Shogun", The Creative Assembly have gone from strength to strength with two medieval games, the highly popular Rome-based effort and countless expansions. Besides the obvious engine similarities between these games a common thread of excellent attention to detail and innovative growth is evident.

With the release of "Empire: Total War", The Creative Assembly have taken another ambitious step. The sheer scope of this effort is phenomenal, with huge tracts of the globe now theatres of war. With this fresh approach comes a fresh attitude to the fan base. The "Total War" community has been pampered with daily updates from developers on the official forums, a huge dedication to bug fixes and tangible displays of progress regarding game updates. This is especially laudable considering the fickle nature of many (but certainly not all) community members that berate The Creative Assembly for game problems.

Of course, these problems do exist. The Creative Assembly was forced to release "Empire: Total War" long before they had wished to. When Sega denied the application for an extension, a flawed game was inevitably released. Very serious problems are also evident with "Stormrise", a new game from the developer outside the "Total War" series. While the pressure of publishers and the quality of "Stormrise" are reasons to worry, I cannot question the skill and dedication of The Creative Assembly.

If they can maintain their honest and real connection to the gamer I have no doubt that The Creative Assembly will continue to make a fantastic contribution to the gaming community.

-The English Student