Paradoxes in gaming

[Slimedog]

Heres the story. My buddy is a Zen Buddhist and avid gamer and he is going on a Sesshin (spiritual retreat) for 5 days. Without his Gameboy. During this time, he will be doing lots of meditating and pondering zen paradoxes, called koan. These are kind of like the old "If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?" and "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

Being the helpful guy that I am, I tried to come up with some gaming related paradoxes for him to contemplate. All I got was:

What is the sound of all Aquaman fans clapping?
Army Men. Why green? Why not tan?
Why is Microsoft neither micro nor soft?
How did Ping Pals get a green light?
The title of "Final Fantasy X-2".

Obviously, these are deeply stupid. I need some good ones. Help!

[Cmosfm]

If he's out there contemplating stuff like this...he's really not a good Buddhist.

[tritium]

Heres the story. My buddy is a Zen Buddhist and avid gamer and he is going on a Sesshin (spiritual retreat) for 5 days. Without his Gameboy. During this time, he will be doing lots of meditating and pondering zen paradoxes, called koan. These are kind of like the old "If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?" and "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

Being the helpful guy that I am, I tried to come up with some gaming related paradoxes for him to contemplate. All I got was:

What is the sound of all Aquaman fans clapping?
Army Men. Why green? Why not tan?
Why is Microsoft neither micro nor soft?
How did Ping Pals get a green light?
The title of "Final Fantasy X-2".

Obviously, these are deeply stupid. I need some good ones. Help!

Armymen do sometimes come in tan and brown, and also the occasional blue.


Why so many pipes in the mushroom kingdom?

[Slimedog]

If he's out there contemplating stuff like this...he's really not a good Buddhist.

Its just for fun. Obviously I don't expect anything I come up with to be more worthy of contemplation that the widsom and mysticism of hundreds of years of dedicated wise men. Especially if it involves some third person shooter.

[Slimedog]

Armymen do sometimes come in tan and brown, and also the occasional blue.


Why so many pipes in the mushroom kingdom?

I know that, but why are the Green ones good? What makes them deserving of victory moreso than the tans? Do the tan soldier love their children too?

[McBacon]

How can Adult Link and young Link fight each other in SSBM. If either went through time to meet each other, they would gorw up/get younger as shown in OOT. Same deal with Baby Mario and Mario sharing a Kart in MKDD.

[Haoie]

Why aren't human memories more like mem cards?

[Nirvana]

Paradoxes, eh...?


"Snake? Snake...? SNAKE!!!!"

*Time Paradox*

(I realize thats not what you mean) LOL

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Paradox's? Hmmm, reminds me of the ending of Soul Reaver II...

"History abhors a paradox"

Most time travelling stories involve certain paradox's ~ I'm sure this is no exception in games. Any game with a *destiny* type storyline will involve a paradox...

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi. Han vs. Chewie?? WTF!!!???

OK, not very helpful. But I've always considered that a paradox.

[Roth]

Streets of Rage; why so angry, concrete?

M.C. Kids; are they hungry, or rappers?

The fantasy has never truly been final.

;)

[GrandAmChandler]

The fantasy has never truly been final.



Actually, wasn't there some interview from someone from Square that said the title of the games make sense because it is that particular set of characters "Final" Fantasy? Make sense a bit seeming that very few of the charachters overlap (Cid, although it could be a different Cid each game, 8-) )

[Gemini-Phoenix]

The fantasy has never truly been final.



Actually, wasn't there some interview from someone from Square that said the title of the games make sense because it is that particular set of characters "Final" Fantasy? Make sense a bit seeming that very few of the charachters overlap (Cid, although it could be a different Cid each game, 8-) )

Square have explained themselves for this hypocritical series titling.

Back when the first game was released, they only had enough money to make just one last game and hope it sold well. It was indeed supposed to have been their "Final" game, but thnakfully for Square, it was popular, and gave them the money they needed to keep going.

They then decided to keep the same title for all subsequent games.

[MarHel78]

Why can't you get cat food with mouse-flavor.... wait... that's not on topic. forget what I wrote.

[Slimedog]

Square have explained themselves for this hypocritical series titling.

Back when the first game was released, they only had enough money to make just one last game and hope it sold well. It was indeed supposed to have been their "Final" game, but thnakfully for Square, it was popular, and gave them the money they needed to keep going.

They then decided to keep the same title for all subsequent games.

I've heard this one before and I believe it. But I'm especially amazed at the title of FF X-2. Not only is it part 10 (of the "Final" series) making is one of the most non-final series of all times, but is actually a sequel to the 10th sequel. From my perspective, this iteration would be the least "final" game currently available anywhere. At least until they release either FF X-3 or maybe FF X-2.B (possibly followed by FF X-2.B/Continued).

At any rate, this title is at least as ironic as a black fly in one's chardonay. x_x

[Push Upstairs]

"GREAT SCOTT!" (Someone had to say it.)


Something i don't get is that if Mario was "NEW" to the Mushroom Kingdom in the orginial Super Mario Brothers....how did he end up being there as a baby in another game?

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Square have explained themselves for this hypocritical series titling.

Back when the first game was released, they only had enough money to make just one last game and hope it sold well. It was indeed supposed to have been their "Final" game, but thnakfully for Square, it was popular, and gave them the money they needed to keep going.

They then decided to keep the same title for all subsequent games.

I've heard this one before and I believe it. But I'm especially amazed at the title of FF X-2. Not only is it part 10 (of the "Final" series) making is one of the most non-final series of all times, but is actually a sequel to the 10th sequel. From my perspective, this iteration would be the least "final" game currently available anywhere. At least until they release either FF X-3 or maybe FF X-2.B (possibly followed by FF X-2.B/Continued).

At any rate, this title is at least as ironic as a black fly in one's chardonay. x_x

and so you should believe it. It's the truth, straight out of the horse's mouth. D'oh. You can't argue with the truth now, can you?


I hate how the marketted FFX2 as the first FF sequel... When in fact the Legends on the GameBoy had two sequels... And is FFXII classed as a sequel to FF Tactics?


And technically FFX is not the tenth FF game, as there have been a few more inbetween, such as Tactics and Crystal Chronicles...

I think it would have been better if they had gone the route of Space Channel 5 and named it "Final Fantasy X Part II" or something.

And how do you say the title? Do you say "Final Fantasy X (Ex) two" or "Final Fantasy ten two"? It is unusual to see a mixture of Roman numerals alongside our Arabic numbering system... Now THAT is irony for you!!!


It's FFVII you need to start worrying about now ~ Is Dirge Of Cerberus classed as FFVII 2 in that case? But hang on, DoC is set three years after FFVII, and Advent Children come inbetween (Two years after FFVII) so is DoC a sequel to FFVII or Advent Children?

Now THAT is a paradox ~ A sequel to a film, which in turn is the sequel to a game...


Personally, I class games like *Street Fighter: The Movie* as a true gaming paradox, as it is a game of the film of the game...



And going off-topic here ~ Has anyone heard Alanis Morissette's new re-recording of Jagged Little Pill? She has changed the song "Ironic" a little, and substituted words, and it sounds appaling!!!

[Jorpho]

I hate how the marketted FFX2 as the first FF sequel... When in fact the Legends on the GameBoy had two sequels...

Once again...the Legends series on the Game Boy was originally the first SaGa trilogy.

[Slimedog]

and so you should believe it. It's the truth, straight out of the horse's mouth. D'oh. You can't argue with the truth now, can you?


Who is arguing? I said I had heard this elsewhere and thought it was true. God, what a jackass. x_x

[MarHel78]

Why did a Frogger cross the road? :P

[jajaja]

Why did a Frogger cross the road? :P

To get to the other side ;)

[Dangerboy]

Things I've often pondered.

1. Why is it there is no such thing as a hospital in role playing games. You are always cured of everything sleeping at the inn.

2. No one is ever questioned as to how they rose from the dead after dying to continue their quest.

3. Ever bust open a crate in real life and find fresh food...on a plate no less?

4. Specifically in FInal Fantasy 1...if you can walk into a shop and buy "Life"...why are their dead people? :)

5. For a small fee, priests can bring you back to life.

6. Why don't the koopas take the mushrooms and fire flowers for themselves?

7.What do end bosses do while they wait for the heroes to arrive?

8. Who follows Liu Kang around with a disco ball so he can do his Friendship at any time? :)

and on...on

Jason

[Slimedog]

Things I've often pondered.

1. Why is it there is no such thing as a hospital in role playing games. You are always cured of everything sleeping at the inn.

2. No one is ever questioned as to how they rose from the dead after dying to continue their quest.

3. Ever bust open a crate in real life and find fresh food...on a plate no less?

4. Specifically in FInal Fantasy 1...if you can walk into a shop and buy "Life"...why are their dead people? :)

5. For a small fee, priests can bring you back to life.

6. Why don't the koopas take the mushrooms and fire flowers for themselves?

7.What do end bosses do while they wait for the heroes to arrive?

8. Who follows Liu Kang around with a disco ball so he can do his Friendship at any time? :)

and on...on

Jason

Great ones! Believe it or not, number 7 has kept me up at nights. I imagine Bowser (SMB) juggling hammers. Or those poor robot masters in Megaman. Stuck in a big empty room for days on end, just staring at the walls. Even if they wanted to head out to Taco Bell, they couldn't make the wacky jumps needed to get out of the level. Those poor bastards are probably praying for Megaman to show up and put them out of their misery.

[Dangerboy]

Heh, just thought of these while I was turning off my game deck...these are a bit stretching it...

1. Why no one in the entire Chinese kingdom has found the culprit who keeps painting giant black octagons all over the countryside, forcing troops to move in really weird groups. Family Circus's Billy has been brought in for questioning after the lastest octagons were dotted lines...

2. Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man are both completely naked minus Ms' bow. No genitalia is present, and neither has a butt. For the first time...the stork bringing babies makes sense (Pac-Man Jr).

3. If you're an alien air force bent on destroying mother earth, it is imperative that all your squadrons fly in predicatble patterns, and all mother ships must have a very big glowing obvious weak spot.

4. Why is "X" always the letter of choice for mergers and super characters? You have Mega Man X, the Sega CDX, the JVC X'eye, Capcom x Namco, etc. By those rules, Malcom X can play both cart and CD propaganda.

5. Does anyone realize the X'eye could be pronounced "Cross-eyed?" or if you're a catholic, "Christ'eye"

6. It does nto matter how much you get the shit kicked out of you in the fighting game universe, your body will heal itself in 3 seconds for another round of whoop ass and a second chance at redeeming yourself.

7. Guile is in the US Army, and has the most UNLIKELY US Army hair cut...ever.

8. And finally, follow this one:
Street Fighter The Movie: Game was based on the STreet Fighter the Movie, which was based on the Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo game. It's arcade version was its own game, with characters not found in the game. When it was brought home, they changed the engine back to the original SSF2T engine and took out the exclusive characters, but tossed in the missing ones...everyone except Fei Long and T. Hawk. Which means you have a movie game based on a movie that was based on a game that ended up a remake of the original game without all the characters.

Or as a bonus...my own personal experience:
Originally:
GameShark = US Action Replay
Codebreaker = Stolen Action Replay engine

Interact goes out of business, but Mad Catz buys the name rights to GameShark, and the property rights of the Codebreaker.

Datel says screw you all and releaes Action Replay as itself in the states...so now it reads:

Action Replay = Action Replay
GameShark = Codebreaker = Stolen Action Replay Engine.

Or...a product kept the name, but went from being licensed version of something to the pirated version of the same product.

Ain't copyrights and trademarks a kick in the ass? :)

[Sothy]

Armymen do sometimes come in tan and brown, and also the occasional blue.


Why so many pipes in the mushroom kingdom?


Perhaps... but the geen ones are always American. Usually based on allied helmet and uniform design.
The blue Or grey ones are usually Wearing Axis helmet and unifrom designs.

Perhaps the the color of forces diplayed on tactical maps or something?

Not sure. Although I ahve seen some blue/grey "enemy" army men modeled after Russian-Eastern bloc Helmet uniform-weapon design.


God I buy too many plastic army men at thrift stores.