Here’s a politically charged bit of news for your Friday, Geekologists:  the conservative movement, revitalized by Scott Brown’s victory and flagging support for the Obam administration, is turning to none other than video games to help secure the young vote.  This announcement comes, of course, with a fair dose of irony, since conservative values generally reject video games as a morally inadequate medium.  Still, it’s clear that the event organizers are hoping to create a community space for young people at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and for that, we thank them.  Here’s the deal:

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) kicks off tomorrow in Washington D.C. and organizers of the event are turning to videogames and hip-hop in an attempt to ramp up the event’s attraction to a younger audience.

Fox News reports that videogames will be featured in a room called the XPAC Lounge, or as one event organizer termed it, the “hub of fun.” The lounge was the brain-child of radio host Kevin McCullough and actor Stephen Baldwin.

Ten videogame stations will be featured in all, offering attendees the chance to play games such as Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution and Call of Duty.

The XPAC Lounge will also be home to a late night “rap/jam” session on Thursday night. The article questions the viability of such a function in light of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele’s (pictured) failed past attempts at interjecting hip-hop culture into conservative principals. Steele previously published a blog entitled “What Up?” that he eventually killed in reaction to ridicule of the name and he also reportedly once described a GOP public relations initiative as “off the hook.”

CPAC Director Lisa De Pasquale seemed to think that “the energy” is flowing more towards conservative candidates right now, adding, “To be a rebel on campus, you have to be a conservative.”

5,000 people are pre-registered for the conference, 61.0 percent of whom are students.

Here’s the kicker, folks:  Kevin McCullough, lounge creator?  Yeah, he’s the same media personality who made those unsubstantiated claims about objectionable content in the original Mass Effect. Until now he has been a reviled figure among geeks, even earning his own jeering Penny Arcade strip.  Now, though, I’d like to believe McCullough has seen the light.  While there’s a little bit of ha-ha-told-you-so at work here, I’m willing to extend a hand of friendship to this prodigal player.  If anyone’s headed to CPAC, stop into the lounge and engage Mr. McCullough in one of your favorite ‘murder simulators.’  Just don’t dominate him too badly, OK?  We’re building a relationship, here.

[Via GamePolitics]

[Image Source: Townhall]

By that token, he engineered his first game, The Sims, to have consequences of characters dying, rather than a flash of a restart that just sets you back a few steps. While I’m not a huge gamer, I’m a storyteller at heart, so I’m a big fan of creators who want to extend that joy to their consumers.

Do you agree that games that allow players to determine their fates are necessarily better than those with preordained plots?

[via NYU Local]

[pic via Games For Learning Institute]

(All artwork: copyright Chimera Design – Marvel Entertainment)

It looks like the park will be less about cementing the worlds of the various superheroes and more about immortalizing the experiences — and from the almost comic-panel art, I have to think that some of these “rides” will take place in simulators of sorts.

As cool as the experience could be, I feel like the vastness of Dubai will be outweighed by the time/money to get there. When I think of a superhero theme park, I’m more apt to book a trip to LA or Orlando. Would you go to Dubai to take a ride on the Spidey coaster?

[via Cinematical]

You can read the whole list of nominees here; awards honor art direction, genre, strategy/simulation, characterization, score, and a hell of a lot more. There’s even an award for Casual Game of the Year, for you part-time gamers. Some of the nominees: Little Big World, Scribblenauts, Zelda, Call of Duty, FarmVille (no, really), Left 4 Dead 2, Assassins Creed II.

Some games, like darling Scribblenauts, are up for multiple awards, proving that they can span genres and still ensnare fans. The show is hosted by Jay Mohr, inexplicably, but looks to be a fun time.

So remember, at 10pm EST, go here for the awards show (you can watch a promo right now), and see if your faves got honored.

[via IFC.com]

[pic LIFE]

Yesterday’s pretend cyber attack on U.S. security, attended by a bevy of former U.S. defense officials, aired on CNN. Aside from being a fascinating little role-play situation, it also proved that we would be unable to fully deflect a large-scale attack on our technology without citizens’ lives being affected.

Not “lives” as in we would be in danger, but rather, many of us would have our technology invaded — read on:

The ballroom of the Washington’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel was for this event transformed into the the White House Situation Room, complete with three video screens displaying maps of the country, simulated updates and broadcasts by “GNN”, an imaginary television network “covering” the crisis.

A bevy of former top US officials were given various roles to play:

- John Negroponte, the former Director of National Intelligence, as the Secretary of State
- Michael Chertoff, the ex DHS Secretary, as the National Security Adviser
- Fran Townsend, former White House Homeland Security Advisor, as the Secretary of DHS
- John McLaughlin, ex CIA deputy director, as the Director of National Intelligence
- Jamie Gorelick, former deputy attorney general, as attorney general
- Charles Wald, retired Air Force general, as the Secretary of Defense
- Stephen Friedman, former director of the National Economic Council, as the Treasury Secretary.

The entire scenario was thought up by Michael Hayden, the former CIA Director, and the faux attack began with malware masquerading as a free March Madness application for smartphones. Once activated, it spread fast and first incapacitated cellphone networks, then landlines, the Internet, and finally – aided by mock bombs exploding in a couple of gas pipelines and power stations and a hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast – brought the entire East Coast electrical power grid to its knees. Air traffic was thrown into disorder and commerce came to a standstill.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the group considered various maneuvers to put an end to the attack and mitigate the effects it had on national networks.

When the servers serving the malware were “discovered” to be located in Russia, “National Security Advisor” Chertoff immediately began inquiring about the possibility of shutting them down and the implications of such an action. “Would the Russians view that as an attack?” he wanted to know. “If the attacker is either a state actor or a terrorist group what are our options for responding or retaliating?”

You can follow the rest of this pseudo-drama here, but the outcome wasn’t good. Still, it’s good that officials are at least staging these simulations in order to test the government’s preparedness.

[Via Help Net Security]

[Image source: Techie Zone]

Although the original intent of the European game Bumrise is hopefully to raise awareness about the plight of the homeless no matter what the country, instead it’s received a ton of backlash from the homeless community.

In the game — called Clodogame in France, where there’s been especial protest — you start out as a homeless person and have to move up the ladder to become a Manhattanite elite. You can do this by collecting bottles, learning to play an instrument, and fighting other homeless people for their possessions.

But homeless collectives in France are calling foul on the game, saying that it pokes fun at people’s suffering; the Red Cross has called it humiliating. To be sure, when one of the feature allows you to team up with your friends and play together, that definitely makes it sound more like a weird reverse-escapism, like “slumming it”. At the same time, however, Bumrise could serve as a bleak example of how much of the world lives. Further, German developer Farbflut Entertainment claims that some proceeds have the game have been “regularly” donated to homeless organizations.

Would you play a game like Bumrise seriously, or find yourself unable to relate to its hyperbolic (in relation to your life) style?

[Via GamePolitics]

[Image source: Nathan Ballentine, Bumrise]

Further, they implore people to do the one-day Carbon Fast in which you give up technology for twenty-four hours and donate the money saved to charities.

The Bishop of Oxford, Rt. Rev. John Pritchard, explains the aim of the fast:

Lent is a period when we should look at how we live our lives. Giving up chocolate is a symbol of that but giving up technology is a more serious way of looking at the issues that face us as a global community. It is a statement [of solidarity] with a world that does not have that ability to communicate the way we can and a reminder to us that perhaps we may have got beyond ourselves in terms of our own consumption of technology. We have galloped forward so fast maybe we have out-run our global responsibility in doing that.”

Thing is, wouldn’t we be best served to highlight the plight in developing countries through the Internet and TV? Ironically, #carbonfast is already trending on Twitter.

As I pointed out yesterday, a lot of the actions above are stuff that you should be doing year-round. The toilet thing is within reason, of course, but it still makes sense — same with veggies, both in how you cook ‘em and how often you eat ‘em. It was a weird adjustment for me to start eating vegetarian meals a few times a week thanks to my roommates’ preferences, but now I appreciate a good bowl of spiced zucchini/onions/chickpeas over pasta.

When it comes to clothes, thrift stores — especially ones that give you store credit for the clothes you sell to them — can yield excellent dresses, tops, and accessories. College students are used to taking buses and trains in lieu of planes, and I have to say from experience it’s not bad at all if you’ve got a good book/a charged iPod and maybe wifi.

That brings us, of course, to the one-day abstinence from technology. I doubt I could do it, since my job obviously depends on me being plugged in and updated on news across various channels. Even when I’m not posting for Ology, it’s easier to work on my scripts through programs than by hand. But could I do it for a day? Certainly. It would give me time to exercise, write by hand (which has proven inspiring), and make that compost like the article suggests.

Should you decide to take on this mighty task, CNET’s got you covered with tips on how to live without Facebook for forty days. They’re straightforward but quick fixes to your temporary absence; almost like setting up a voicemail so as not to have any confusion with friends (or more likely, acquaintances) trying to reach you over the season.

Will you do it?

Also — how cool are these digital rosaries?

[Via The Daily Telegraph]

[Image sources: LIFE, Times Online]

In my travels with the site, I’ve learned that Geekologists come from all walks of life.  Though united by a common geekery, we who wear the cape and chainmail have wildly divergent professions.  Some Geekologists (like yours truly!) are writers and artists.  Others build and design games for other enthusiasts to conquer.  But the most visible Geekologists are computer scientists–veritable high priests of our Web-crazy subculture.  These are the men and women who live the geek dream, immersing themselves every day in the technological revolution.  Just where do they acquire the mystical skills, the technical experience and the sheer geeky grit to make computer science their day-job?  Geekology is here to answer that question with a round-up of the nation’s best schools for computer science majors.

University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign

This is the ‘killer app’ of computer science colleges.  Sure, it may not have the prestigious ring of MIT or Stanford, but for a keen focus on new technology and research, the Urbana-Champaign campus can’t be beat.  What’s the U of I’s claim to fame?  In 2001: A Space Odyssey, it’s the place where supercomputer HAL was designed.  Bill Gates says Microsoft hires more graduates from Illinois than from any other single college.  And right now, Urbana’s working closely with IBM to design ‘Blue Waters,’ the fastest super-computer in the world.  Impressed?  You should be.  You’ll have to be a pretty strong candidate to make it into such a respected program, but if you can prove your skills to admissions reps, Illinois could lead you straight to the cutting edge.

University of Massachusetts–Amherst

UMass Amherst’s Computer Science offerings may be tied with similar(ly great) programs at Rice University and Duke, but don’t be fooled:  this Nor’Easter has it all.  For the complete campus experience, you’d be hard pressed to find a better comp-sci destination.  At Amherst you’ve got abundant Greek life opportunities, tons of student government positions, and a wide array of research labs.  Better still, you have the resources of the Five-College Consortium at your disposal and the city of Boston within easy reach.  Amherst is also home to the tallest academic library in the world…which will make your stay feel that much more like Hogwarts.  And if that isn’t enough wizardry for you, keep in mind that U.S. News has ranked Amherst’s artificial intelligence program among the top ten in the country.

University of California–Berkeley

You might think of sunny, free-spirited UC Berkeley as a hippie’s paradise, but the school’s laid-back reputation conceals a culture of furious research and scholarship.  UC Berkeley is one of only three schools with a 5.0 rating in Computer Science on U.S. News’ college rankings.  The school trains professionals in many fields and is well-represented on top ten lists in multiple industries.  The University of California system is regarded as one of the best in the country.  If you’re into student activism and sustainability, Berkeley could be a wonderful home for your geeky, green heart.  And if you’ve got interests outside your monitor (and we know you do) you’ll find one of the most diverse course catalogs in the nation, featuring classes on Batman, South Park, poker and DJing.  

What other computer science schools are on your lists, aspiring Geekology college grads?

[Rankings via U.S. News]

[Image Sources: Brookdale CC, Worldwatch, UMass History Club, York]

…insofar as it has a touch screen that allows users to find out the nutritional values of the various candy choices, plus play games for the chance to win additional treats. Not bad, Diji-Touch, not bad. Though I can already see two small cons:

- longer time waiting for people to make up their weak minds, meaning less chances to snag a candy before class
- you won’t get to hear that great thump when the candy falls out of its spiral holder

Still, minor setbacks in a change that could really contribute to educating kids about proper eating habits. Maybe they should make it that you can only get extra sweet snacks if you answer questions about healthy living?

[Via Just So You Know]

[Image source: Chip Chick]

Over the past few weeks, StarCraft has become the game of choice for me and my roommates.  Sure, it’s pretty old, and we’ve been waiting for a sequel for-freaking-ever, but it still inspires discussion: yesterday, over a few slices of cheesecake, the three of us pondered the proper arrangement of Siege Tanks and the best ways to prevent a nuclear launch.  But no news got us talking quite like this surprising bit of info, apparently snatched from Blizzard’s jaws by the enterprising folks at StarCraft Source:

Just a few moments ago I received a news tip via our news tip line which contained this Beta Access FAQ. We can’t confirm the validity of this FAQ because we do not find it published on any Blizzard sites and the person who submitted the news tip requested to remain anonymous as well as their source which was not disclosed to us.

Whether it’s real or not, it sure does seem legit in some form. What do you think, is it real? Post your comment below.

Here are just a few of the questions answered in the document:

Beta Access

How do I sign up for the StarCraft II beta test?

In order to sign up for the StarCraft II beta test or future Blizzard Entertainment beta tests, you first need to create a Battle.net account. You can then opt in to the beta for StarCraft II, as well as betas for future Blizzard Entertainment games, through the beta opt-in process. To get started, simply click Beta Profile Settings in Battle.net Account Management. Please note that opting in to a beta test through this method does not guarantee that you will be selected.

If I opted in to the StarCraft II beta, how will I know if I’ve been selected to participate?

If you are selected, you will receive an email from Blizzard instructing you to log in to your Battle.net account at www.battle.net. You will be able to download the client directly from within Battle.net Account Management. We plan on inviting players in waves, so if you do not receive an invitation in the beginning of the testing period, there’s a chance you might receive one in a later wave.

How long will the beta test last?

We have not determined an exact date for the end of the beta test. We will notify participants when the beta test is nearing completion.

How many players do you plan to invite to the beta test?

The number of players we invite will be based on our testing needs. If during the course of testing we determine we need more players to participate, we’ll invite more.

How are beta test participants selected from the opt-in pool?

Beta testers are chosen according to their system specs and other factors, including luck. Our goal is to have a good variety of system types to best test compatibility.

A lot more info can be found in the FAQ, including stats on game modes and methods for finding computer and human opponents over the new Battle.Net.  Sources say the FAQ is legit–it was evidently yanked by Blizzard soon after the tip came in.  Check it out for yourself and prepare for StarCrafty goodness when the beta finally–finally!–makes it onto some lucky computers.

[Via StarCraft Source]

[Image Source: 2DayBlog]