No Dull Moments with Online Games

In a galaxy not too far away, online gamers may soon scour the job boards for paying posts as Galactic Empire insurgents or anti-Vader moisture farmers. Massive multiplayer online role-playing games boast subscriber populations that rival those of many North American cities. As a result, game developers are moving beyond simply creating ultrarealistic 3-D worlds. They're also modeling less tangible Earth phenomena such as governance and commerce -- prompting a rise of real economies in imaginary societies. "Traditionally that kind of kill-the-rat, get-your-five-gold-pieces model hasn't changed with most (multiplayer online games)," said LucasArts producer Haden Blackman, referring to the revenue strategy pioneered by the early text-based multi-user domains on which modern MMORPGs are based. "One of the things we wanted to do is have a more viable player-run economy from the very outset." Blackman heads up the LucasArts branch of the team that's working with Sony Online Entertainment to produce the first Star Wars-based MMORPG, Star Wars Galaxies, set to hit shelves in late January.

The elaborate handle for these online role-playing games is shortened in various ways throughout the online gaming industry: MMOP, MMO and MMPOG, in addition to the Star Wars Galaxies-styled, MMORPG.

Typically, MMORPG gamers move through elaborate environments as digital action figures called avatars. Successful adventures yield monetary rewards that can be used to purchase equipment and clothing.

The major problem with older MMORPG economies has been their artificiality. The ability to sell to market-oblivious machines and the presence of infinitely durable goods, for example, have led to a variety of economic problems, which Blackman said his team is working hard to minimize.

"We identified some problems with the previous MMORPGs -- things like the older a (gaming) server is, the more money is available, meaning less value for 'über-items,'" Blackman said, referring to the devaluation of currency that occurs when an economy lacks monetary drains. "We wanted to avoid that syndrome if we could, and so a very simple addition like 'item decay' in our game will hopefully help."

And as similar games move closer to economic reality, the line between "real" and "fake" economy begins to disappear.

"From an economist's standpoint what's happening in these games is real," said Edward Castronova, an associate professor of economics at California State University at Fullerton. "You've got a distinct territory with specialization of labor, gains from trade, a floating exchange rate -- real economies are happening."

As a doctorate student in economics, Castronova had a strictly recreational interest in gaming -- until he encountered Sony Online's EverQuest, the most massively popular MMORPG in history.

"I started playing EverQuest in early 2001, and was playing for about four days when I saw the reality of the economy in it," he said.

A year later, Castronova had penned the first-ever study of a game society's economic system. His paper examines the EverQuest world of Norrath, where "the exchange rate between Norrath's currency and the U.S. dollar is determined in a highly liquid (if illegal) currency market, and its value exceeds that of the Japanese yen and the Italian lira.... Norrath's GNP per capita easily exceeds that of dozens of countries, including India and China."

Star Wars Galaxies directly addresses many of the economic problems Castronova identified in the Norrathian economy -- namely the reduction of computer-controlled merchants and the elimination of infinitely durable goods. Both of these measures should eliminate the deflation experienced in Norrath.

Castronova believes games will eventually move from the creation of "real" economies to the formation of "real" governments.

"What you have now is a customer service state -- history has shown that this is not a viable way to run a people," he said. "I'm sure that we'll see a move toward consensus-based decision making. You are going to see player parliaments, or people are going to go to Earth courts and sue."

SOURCE: http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/news/2002/11/55982

Beautiful Spots in the Philippines

Explore the Philippines. Take a peek at Filipinos' history and culture mirrored by century-old churches, ancient forts and modern museums. See the best of nature in our white-sand beaches and three-layered virgin forests.Discover the Philippine islands. Blessed with an extensive coastline, the Philippines is ringed with unspoiled beaches and first-class resort facilities. Its deep-blue, crystal-clear waters offer about 40,000 square kilometers of coral reefs teeming with a wide variety of marine life. Endowed with a temperate climate, the Philippines offers a perfect treat to enjoy the sunlight.

Boracay

Lying in southeast Asia and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines boasts of unsullied beaches, spectacular sunsets, luxuriant pastoral lands, cool mountain weather, brilliant man-made resorts and dazzling islands.The Philippines boasts some of the best beaches and scuba diving waters in the world, supported by golf and an increasingly-impressive inter-island tour and transport system.Witness the vast expanse of nature's splendor under the spell of cool mountain breeze. A perfect setting for romance or nature tripping, the country's mountain villages serve as a perfect hideaway from the lowlands' summer heat.If you have yet to see the Philippines, then embark now to what promises to be a trip to paradise! Feel the breeze of summer at white-sand beaches deemed as among the world's finest; be fascinated at the spectacular view of Baguio and Tagaytay; and take a dip in the refreshing waters of modern resort facilities.

banana and mango spring rolls with coconut-chocolate ganache

INGREDIENTS:

Ganache1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk*1/3 cup palm sugar* or 1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger8 ounces semisweet chocolate, choppedSpring rolls8 (8-inch) square frozen spring roll pastry wrappers,* thawed4 small ripe Chinese bananas (dwarf bananas),* peeled, halved lengthwise, or 2 regular bananas, peeled, halved lengthwise, then halved crosswise2 Champagne mangoes (small orange kidney-shaped mangoes) or 1 regular mango, peeled, pitted, cut lengthwise into 3-inch-long, 1/2-inch-wide strips1 egg, beaten to blendVegetable oil (preferably grapeseed oil; for frying)Fresh mint sprigs*For more information on these ingredients, click here.

PREPARATION:

For ganache:Combine coconut milk, palm sugar, and ginger in heavy medium saucepan. Bring mixture to simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until mixture is melted and smooth. DO AHEAD Ganache can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Before serving, stir over low heat just until pourable. For spring rolls:Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 1 spring roll wrapper on work surface in diamond shape (1 pointed end toward you and 1 pointed end in opposite direction). Place 1 banana piece across center of wrapper, then 2 mango strips. Fold bottom pointed corner of spring roll wrapper up over fruit, then fold in sides over fruit. Brush unfolded part of spring roll wrapper with beaten egg. Roll up wrapper, enclosing fruit completely. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining spring roll wrappers, banana halves, mango strips, and beaten egg. DO AHEAD Spring rolls can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Pour enough vegetable oil into heavy deep skillet to reach depth of 1 1/2 inches; heat oil to between 360°F and 375°F. Working in 2 batches, add spring rolls to hot oil and cook until golden and crisp, turning often, about 3 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer spring rolls to paper towels to drain. Place 1 spring roll on each of 8 plates. Garnish with mint sprigs. Drizzle with coconut-chocolate ganache.

KTM reveals completed X-Bow prototype

Austrian motorcycle builder KTM today released photos of a full-scale prototype of its new X-Bow (crossbow) roadster. The 1500-pound car has a four-cylinder Audi engine offering 220 horsepower in the base model, and a potential 300 horsepower in a more expensive variant. A choice of either a six-speed manual or DSG gearbox will be given. KTM says the base X-Bow will hit 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

The X-Bow has no windshield, and instead will come with specially designed helmets, intended to offer shelter from the elements rather than full crash protection.

After its debut in Geneva, 100 units will be manufactured in-house by Italian racing car specialists Dallara and sold by KTM. The price for the basic version will be around 40,000 euros.

If all goes well, KTM plans further small series productions of the car. This production will take place in Austria and begin in 2008. KTM is working on the basis of a projected 500 units per year. The decision concerning production will be made at the end of April 2007.

Ten All-American Sports Cars

Sports cars are different things to different people.For Don Chaikin, the recently retired automotive editor of Popular Mechanics, if you look up "All-American sports car" in the dictionary, there's a picture of only one set of wheels."To me, it's the Corvette," he says. "The classic definition is, it's got to be front-engine, rear-wheel drive. It has to have a V8, and it has to have a true dual exhaust. It has to have two doors and two seats, and it can't be a sports coupe."

Another widely held and passionately defended definition of "sports car" is the tiny, affordable two-seat roadster. Like America the melting pot, this concept is a blend of different nationalities.Its roots are in the post-World War II boom in tiny, lightweight, mostly British sports cars like MGs and Triumphs. They were finicky to start on a rainy day, not very practical and not even all that powerful. But when they ran, they were, and are, immense fun to drive.

"In the old days, a sports car was thought of as an open two-seater that might not even have a top," says D. Randy Riggs, editor in chief of Vintage Motorsport magazine. "Or else it had a top that you had to spend an hour putting up and down."High costs and poor quality all but drove the British car industry out of business and into foreign ownership by the 1980s. A Japanese brand revived the British sports car concept in 1989, with the original Mazda Miata, now in a new generation. Compared with other sports cars, it's tiny and unpowered but undeniably fun to drive.

American Adopters American models, on the other hand, have plenty of muscle. To make our list, a car had to be an American brand and built in North America (the Dodge Challenger will be built across the border in Canada).Such icons include the Pontiac Solstice, for the 2006 model year. GM added the closely related Saturn Sky for 2007.The Ford Mustang is another All-American set of wheels, in between the bulked-up Corvette and the stripped-down Miata concept.

But since the Mustang and its competitors have four seats, some purists consider them "sport-y cars," as opposed to sports cars per se. Automotive News, the auto industry trade magazine, lumps most of the cars on our list into the larger category of "sporty cars," which are then subdivided based on price. Consulting firm J.D. Power and Associates has a similar "sporty" category, which includes most of the cars on our list that are on sale. Some of our picks aren't on sale yet, so they're not categorized.However, Riggs points out that even classic Porsche 911s had folding jump seats for kids, and nobody would think of calling them anything but sports cars.Bottom line: The freedom of choice, the right to different opinions, and the blending of ideas and cultures from different countries doesn't apply to just the good old U.S.A. It applies to her sports cars as well.

Cadillac CTS Sedan

A coupe design study of the Cadillac CTS sedan was a surprise attendee at the Detroit auto show.

Mazda2 Range

The Mazda2 didnt put too big a dent in the national consciousness the first time round. The second generation model looks as if itll do a whole lot better. Andy Enright reports.By most measures, 410,000 is a lot of cars. Even when theyre as small as the old Mazda2, park em end-to-end and theyll stretch for 1,000 miles. Mazda sold this many 2s from 2003 to 2007 but for a company that usually takes a big slice of the small car pie, the UK didnt account for too many of those sales. The replacement model has to do a whole lot better.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

Thankfully, Mazda have equipped it to succeed.When it was introduced in 2003, the Mazda2 didnt make much of a splash. It followed the tradition of the unloved 121 in offering Ford Fiesta underpinnings with a bit of Mazdafication overlaid. In the case of the 121, that process involved little more than prising the Ford badges off and branding it a Mazda but with the 2 things went considerably further, the Japanese company developing a new body shell based on the existing hard points and making some worthwhile changes to the Fiestas rather low-rent interior. It wasnt enough though.

In order for the Mazda2 to really differentiate itself, it had to offer something over the Ford other than the fact that it wasnt a Ford. With products like the Focus, Puma and Mondeo having lent kudos to the Blue oval, many customers had wised up that Ford meant good and associated Mazda with little other than the MX-5 sports car. So whats changed this time round? As some of you may well have guessed, Mazda isnt going it totally alone with the latest Mazda2 range. Itll share its underpinnings with the next generation Fiesta, so in that respect little has changed.

What is novel is that this time round, Mazda get a run at the market before the Ford is launched its similar in many respects to Volkswagen letting the Skoda Fabia off the leash with the all-new Polo chassis first. The chassis itself is simple but very rigid, Mazda using MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam at the back to keep costs down."The styling is neat, the cabin well finished and the Mazda brand is now in ruder health than at any point I can remember"Most buyers will opt for petrol power where theres a choice of 75 or 86ps 1.3-litre engines or a vaguely sporty 102ps 1.5. Dealers will also sell you a 1. 4-litre 68ps diesel version.

Prices start at £8,499 for the entry-level 75ps 1.3, but even at this level, you get a decent kit quotient. This runs to ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, driver and front passenger airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, driver seat height adjust, CD radio with AUX jack and two speakers, multi-function glovebox with magazine rack, Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser and electric door mirrors. At the top of the line-up sits the 1.5-litre petrol model costing £11,799 and wearing a Sport badge apparently justified by its full sports styling kit. Buyers of this model can expect 16-inch alloy wheels, dynamic stability control, traction control, cruise control, fog lights, rain sensing wipers and auto lights, electric rear windows, a trip computer, speed alarm, six audio speakers and climate control air-conditioning.

The car that Mazda whipped the dust sheets off at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007 was undoubtedly a very tidy piece of styling. With a sharply rising waistline that suggested a three-door bodyshell, it was clear that the company had managed to give the car a lithe profile while keeping the practicality of five doors. Top marks on that score, although a three-door model is due. At the front, theres the traditional V-shaped Mazda grille and the headlights are very deftly smeared into the front bumper assembly. Likewise the tail lights are neatly integrated into the tailgate which, from a practical perspective, doesnt have the widest aperture as a result.

Still, when budget small cars like the Proton Satria Neo now look as good as they do, the expectation for a company such as Mazda is cranked ever higher. The interior features a number of welcome design touches such as a glove box with integrated magazine rack. Theres also a floor console between the front seats with a large rear tray affixed. In total theres 250 litres of storage space which isnt half bad for a supermini. Silver on black detailing on the fascia gives a rather more grown up look and feel than many key rivals. Many of the design themes of the Mazda2 follow on from the SASSOU concept car that was first seen at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. Although hot hatch fans will be disappointed to hear that theres no tyre-shredding MPS model to go toe to toe with the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa VXR and Renaultsport Clio 197, for those looking for a more sedate pedal theres a lot to offer.

With pricing pitched at below Fiesta levels, the initial signs look very good for the Mazda2, albeit with one or two caveats. The styling is neat, the cabin well finished and the Mazda brand is now in ruder health than at any point I can remember. Perhaps the Mazda2 can get it right second time round.

SOURCE: http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/mazda2-range-1005420.html

2007 Lotus Exige S

The latest addition to its family of lightweight sports cars, the 2007 Lotus Exige S weighs just 2057 lbs, and is powered by a 218 horsepower high-revving supercharged engine. This gives it a 0 - 60 mph time of 4.1 seconds.