Latin America International Cooperative Biodiversity Group Essay

Mission and Background The Latin American International Cooperative Biodiversity Group program (LA ICBG) was established to study semi-arid region biodiversity in Meso and South America in the hopes of discovering natural products suitable for pharmaceutical and pesticide development. It is the first ever large-scale drug discovery study of dryland biodiversity to be undertaken following the International Convention of Biodiversity. Initial findings from the study of semi-arid plants demonstrate potentials for medicines that would target infectious disease and cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders to name a few. However, of equal importance is the project's ability to foster and encourage conservation and sustainable economic development, transforming the concept of biodiversity from a resource to be reaped, into an asset to be developed and protected. The project will also be the first to describe and establish a database of hundreds, even thousands, of dryland plant and endophytic microbe s pecies never before studied or recorded. The activities of the project will also be used as teaching vehicles for college students of all levels, including undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc students. Although pharmaceutical or agrochemical leads may not manifest themselves, many well trained and experienced scientists as well as large quantities of data about dryland biodiversity will certainly be valuable products of the LA ICBG's efforts. Collection Several countries are involved in the collection of specimens and data for the ICBG project, including Mexico, Chile, and Argentina. These countries were chosen because each has large sectors of arid to semi-arid climate zones with a diversity of life unique to those areas.... ...uding relevant background information, called the Flora of Chile web database (see links). Currently, the database is composed of pictures submitted by Prof. Gloria Montenegro of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Prof. Montenegro has assembled a collection of 200 photographs detailing the native Chilean plants in various stages of growth during a range of seasons. Dr. Barbara Timmerman co-edited a book with Prof. Montenegro entitled Chile Nuestra Flora Util, (), which is a comprehensive and extremely well illustrated guide to the native medicinal plants of all thirteen regions of Chile. Works Cited: Rouhi, A. Maureen. Seeking Drugs in Natural Products. Chemical and Engineering News. April 7, 1997. (pp. 14-29). Timmerman, Barbara N, et al. The Latin American ICBG: The First Five Years. Pharmaceutical Biology. Vol. 37. 1999. (pp. 35-54). references

An Analysis of Freud’s Critique of Religion Essay

In his book Future of an Illusion, Sigmund Freud critique uses his method of psychoanalysis on religion. By comparing the relationship between human and religion to that of a child and his parents Freud effectively demonstrates that religion is a product of the human mind. After exposing religion as a an illusion Freud concludes that humanity will be better off when it has forgone religion. This paper will argue that Freud’s assertion that religion is an illusion is correct because of it’s blatantly traceable evolution through the history of the human civilization and psyche. The first argument that Freud makes in his assault on religion regards civilization. Freud argues that human civilization arose as a result of mankind’s needs to protect itself from nature. â€Å"It was precisely because of these dangers with which nature threatens us that we came together and created civilization.† (Freud 19) As a result of the need for organization and manpower to prepare defenses against nature, the instincts of men had to be controlled. He furthers this argument by saying that two human traits, laziness and the unwilling nature of the masses to listen to reason are responsible for the necessity of the rule of law. Freud then describes the various methods of coercion that can be employed by civilization to halt instinctual privation. The most important of which he points out as being religion. The main reasons that Freud ranks religion as being/having been the most important tool in civilization are it’s ability to explain the various inequities and inexplicable phenomena that afflict human civilization. Freud points out how ancient civilizations used religion to â€Å"humanize† nature. By making these natural terrors beings that could be dealt with just like men it allowed people the chance to react to and have the illusion of influence on nature. He also illuminates with slight sarcasm how convenient religion is in it’s ability to rectify all the trials and tribulations of life for us. â€Å"Everything that happens in this world is an expression of the intentions of an intelligence superior to us, which in the end, though its ways and byways are difficult to follow, orders everything for the best.† (Freud 23) The existence of this divine creature who creates justice for us ensures that the masses will not stray from the laws and tenets of religion  and society for fear of being judged by this entity. Religion is also valuable to civilization for it’s ability to explain death. Thanks to religion, death became something other than simply the termination of a life. Death stopped being the end and was recasted into the role of a doorway to another existence. As though knowing that the continuation of life were not enough, religion furthers it’s own appeal by promising that the afterlife will be better than life on Earth. The afterlife itself also serves a function as well. A desire to gain entry into this afterlife will cause many of the masses to renounce their instincts. Another argument Freud makes is how religion is an attempt to fill in the gaps where civilization and the pursuit of life cannot make individuals happy. He says that, â€Å"The urge to rectify the shortcomings of civilization which made themselves painfully felt† is fulfilled by religion. (Freud 27) This can be seen throughout modern society in many different forms. It is telling that quite often individuals who are extremely ill, paralyzed, poor, or otherwise frowned upon by civilization and culture tend to be more religious. Later Freud turns his argument to the legal historical proof surrounding religions. Using an analogy of a child learning geography and simply accepting on faith that the places he sees on a map exist rather than going on a journey around the world, Freud attacks religious doctrines. He does this by pointing out that though the child takes on faith what he sees on the map, he could take a journey around the world and see for himself that these places indeed exist. He then applies this same manner of thinking to religious doctrines when he asks what these kind of claims these doctrines are founded on and why we should believe them? The answers he says are that they were believed by our ancestors and that it is forbidden to question them. Freud points out that it is the latter point which highlights society’s own awareness of â€Å"the insecurity of the claim it makes on behalf of its religious doctrines.† (Freud 33) The own paranoia that religions have of even questioned shows how much they realize that their beliefs do not follow reason. As Freud shows us the early church recognized this all too well when it instituted a doctrine that maintained that religious doctrines  do fall under the microscope of reason. The most common religious document of all time, The Bible, holds a particular Proverb that further illustrates the paranoia or religion against reason. â€Å"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding†. (Proverbs 3:5) Another important concept that Freud uses to critique religion can be found in his broad background in psychology. He alludes greatly the Oedipus complex in his dealings with God and the individual. According to Freud, humankind is similar to a child who needs to be protected and supported in his/her everyday life, thus he/she sees God as supportive, protective father. Freud gives his own theories far too much justice in this regard. One does not need to regard God as a father-figure to believe in him. There are many people who believe in God but do not accept God as a beneficent omnipotent being. However, we cannot say that Freud in his genius could not apply psychoanalysis to these other divinations of God and rectify them to individual situations. Freud’s best argument in favor of religion’s existence as an illusion is when he describes the convenient nature of religion to particular times of civilization. Freud says that we know approximately at what periods and by what kind of men religious doctrines were created. He also argues that it is very telling how religion tells us almost exactly what we want to hear. â€Å"We shall tell ourselves that it would be very nice if there were a God who created the world and was a benevolent providence, and if there were a moral order in the universe and an afterlife; but it is a very striking fact that all this is exactly as we are bound to wish it to be.† (Freud 42) Freud’s assertion that religions are in fact illusions created to deceive men into reunouncing their instincts for the advancement of civilization is based entirely on generalizations about all religions. These generalizations, however, can be well supported when one looks back throughout history. Religion could easily be compared to a chameleon that changes it’s color to fit whatever the needs of civilization are to survive. It is ironic that religion can be traced throughout history as being so adaptable given the intransigent foundations of religion. Whether or not religions really are illusions as Freud’s ultimate conclusion states, there is undoubtedly a clear link between religion and the evolution of civilization. A fantastic example of religion changing it’s color in order to better fit the evolution of civilization can be seen in the ancient Order of the Knights of the Temple Mount or Knights Templar. The Knights Templar in the middle ages were created to be the shock troops for Europe’s holy war against the infidels. When this war was lost and the military arm of the knights were no longer needed, the organization was systematically eliminated. It’s leaders were charged with heresy and killed and it’s wealth was confiscated, simply because the organizations purpose no longer coincide with church doctrine. Another great example of religious adaptability can be seen in the evolution of Christianity in Rome. As the old religions in Rome were in decline and material decadence had taken over, Christianity appeared over the horizon as one of the saving graces of the Roman empire. As the threat from barbarians grew in on the empire’s borders grew, so did Christianity place in Rome. It was eventually elevated to being the state religion under the empire Diocletian. Even Christianity would not be able to save Rome from the barbarian hordes. In their hour of defeat Romans were undoubtedly able to pray and ask for salvation from Christ. It is interesting that such a doctrine would arise shortly before a time of annihilation. Finally, it is important to note the role of religion in capitalism. Capitalism, as pointed out by Marx, is a vastly unfavorable system of economy for many people. While some would argue that it allows people the freedom make their own destinies, others would say that capitalism traps some in a cycle of poverty. Either way, those who are born poor are in a highly disadvantaged situation to those who are rich. That is, in this world. With religion and the afterlife, all are on an equal playing field. In fact, the poor even have quite an advantage. â€Å"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God† (Matthew 19:24). This type of thinking has been fundamental for the stability of capitalism throughout history. No amount of earthly wealth  could ever compare to the golden paved streets of heaven and eternal bliss. Freud’s critique of religion demonstrates the disturbing correlations between religion and civilization and shows us the true motives behind religions existence. Freud proves that religion was a product of the human necessity to protect itself from nature and the need that arose from there to stop our own instincts from destroying our creations. In conclusion, Freud disproved the claims of religious doctrines as being divinely originated, but he did not disprove God. His belief that it was time for civilization to grow up from religion may be correct but it will never happen. Religion is far too embedded in civilization to ever be removed by simply showing the educated it’s true purpose. Like life on this planet, religion has adapted to whatever environment our 8000 year old civilization has placed it. Even if everyone knew religion to be nothing but an illusion, that knowledge alone would not be enough to make that illusion disappear from the psyche of humanity. People would have to have a conscious desire to not believe in religion for it to be eliminated. This desire to discover the truth would be outweighed by the desire of a majority of humanity to rectify the inexplicable world of death and injustice to their own lives.

The Importance Of A Leader Within A Community College Setting

I explained to Dr. Hirsch that my primary reason for the interview was to gain insight into the role of a leader within a community college setting and what skills and talents are required to advance in the field. As a High School College Advisor in Philadelphia, I have approximately 40% of students who plan to enroll in a two-year college and I understand the challenges of this student population. Throughout graduate school, I have been drawn to the community college and feel that it could offer me a great start in the field of higher education. Therefore, meeting with Dr. Hirsch provided me with a unique opportunity to learn about the differences between leadership in a two-year college and a four-year university. Since Dr. Hirsch was a guest of our course’s Student Affairs panel, I already had acquired some information pertaining to his progression through Higher Education. During the nighttime panel, Dr. Hirsch detailed his first position at Community College of Philadelphia as the Coordinator of the Learning Lab. It was the story of his mentor that I felt most connected with. As a young professional, he had not planned for a position within higher education and he was apprehensive about his future career goals. In his position, he found himself taking work home and staying up late at night wondering, â€Å"What was the point?† His defining moment came in a meeting with his mentor. She provided him with some hopeful and realistic advice on how to step back from theShow MoreRelatedThe Future of Nursing Essay1053 Words   |  5 Pagesdiverse healthcare settings. In any practice setting the climate of health care change is evident. There are diverse entities involved in t he implementation and recommendation of these practice changes. 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Analysis Of The Book How We Survived Communism And Even...

Slavenka Drakulic, a highly respected journalist and commentator on culture in Croatia, published the book How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed in 1991, which was a collection of essays that comprised of the stories of many women’s lives throughout Eastern Europe that lived in a communist society. Drakulic wanted to capture women’s stories and share them with others, because these were women who suffered from carried the biggest burden of life, living at the bottom tier of their society. As Drakulic states in the book’s introduction, Trivial is Political: â€Å"It was the relationships between political authority and the trivia of daily living, this view from below interested me most. And who should I find down there, most removed from the seats of political power, but women. Even if they fully participated in revolutionary events, they were less active and less visible in the aftermath of those events† (xv). I feel Slavenka Drakulic also wanted to e xpress to others through these women’s stories just how impenetrable and distressing attempting to adapt to living in a non-communism society is when you have known nothing but communism. This struggle could be applicable to any society changing from one political ideology to another, and Slavenka Drakulic’s ability to communicate these women’s stories can inflict a large sense of empathy for these women who fought so hard every day against the political ideas ingrained in their minds, so that they may have a chance atShow MoreRelatedEssay on Cold War Book Review670 Words   |  3 Pages Political and economic perspectives should not dominate the analysis of communist rule. Analysis of the social aspects and results of communist rule are necessary to achieve a full understanding of the effects of such government. Slavenka Drakulic produced How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed, an appealing work with this fresh social approach. This nonfiction work combines the authoramp;#8217;s own recollections with the stories of other women of the Eastern Bloc. Drakulic, a renowned journalistRead MoreA View from the Bridge: Story of a Brooklyn Longshoreman6101 Words   |  25 Pagesprovides a convenient outline or a bounding set of markers guiding the search through the historical context of A View from the Bridge, as well as the personal and cultural influences at work on him. But before examining the details of Miller’s life, we should zoom out to a larger view of this period and the currents leading into the 1950’s to root our understanding in a broader context. The economic depression of the 1930’s had a profound effect on Miller as he has intimated in his autobiographyRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 PagesSTUDIES ECS8C_C01.qxd 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 598 ECS8C_C01.qxd 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 599 Guide to using the case studies The main text of this book includes 87 short illustrations and 15 case examples which have been chosen to enlarge speciï ¬ c issues in the text and/or provide practical examples of how business and public sector organisations are managing strategic issues. The case studies which follow allow the reader to extend this linking of theory and practice further

Essay on Afghanistan- A Country in Distress - 894 Words

Afghanistan- A Country in Distress Afghanistan, a country located in South Asia just east of Iran whose population is 28,513,677, is one of the countries that I chose to address. Their government is under Transitional Authority which is in a state of unrest as national elections would formally dissolve this system and adapt or establish the Government of Afghanistan under a new constitution. The country like others in the Middle East suffers from enormous poverty and a few other problems to include the lack of skilled and educated workers, which also has such a grave effect on most other countries. The lack of is more than likely what lies beneath the country’s poverty. If people aren’t educated or don’t have the knowledge to perform†¦show more content†¦The agricultural workforce is made up of 80% of the country’s people while the other 20 percent works in services and industry. Even though unemployment doesn’t exist, the country is still poor but hopes to see some signific ant progress and changes to offset the housing shortages, the lack of clean water, infrastructure reconstruction, jobs, education, and economic reform. One third of the GDP comes from opium trade which fell to a low with the past drought but the replacement is well under way. The GDP rate is 29% but appears to be such a high amount because of past figures resulting from the drought and the impact of international assistance. The country exports opium, fruits and nuts, hand-woven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems and equals to about $98 million not counting the illicit trade of opium. The country’s import totals to around $1.1 billion which clearly shows that they spend more than they actually out. The imports are essentials and couldn’t be eliminated or substituted as they are capital goods, food, textiles, and petroleum products. 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The Video Game Industry Free Essays

Abstract This research paper will cover the different aspects of project management in video game development. Focus will also be on discussing and overviewing the project lifecycles as it pertains to game development. There is also interest in seeing within the realm of video game development how the application of knowledge, various skills, tools, and the techniques are used. We will write a custom essay sample on The Video Game Industry or any similar topic only for you Order Now The will also be focus on examining pre-production, production and post production in the gaming industry. Topics will explore issues pertaining to, but not limited to, stakeholder expectations, timeliness of implementation, and optimization of resources. Additionally, information will be given covering the concepts of meeting the needs of business’s vision and mission regarding development and exploring how the identification of and addressing any issues that may arise in game project development.? Introduction The video game industry has been steadily growing for over almost four decades. From Nintendo to Sony, there have been a myriad of games that have been made for the platform over the course of the video game industry. The initial commercial history of video games and the birth of this industry inevitably begins with the US military’s computer hardware and networks. At the time, infrastructure was beginning to shift towards facilitating both game development and market consumption. Over the course of almost four decades, many games have been made, but the question is, exactly how are these spectacular pieces of art being made. When people buy video games, their focus is not on the people who actually make the product, or even on the process it takes to create the game that they own. Consumers only see the end product that is distributed and hit store shelves. For most, their energies and focus are on purchasing the product and investing in actual game play. However, the process and man power it takes to create a game is an intricate undertaking. It is stated that the intricacy of modern video games requires workers with varied skill sets such as computer engineers and programmers, visual artists, audio engineers, animators, game designers, writers, and quality assurance testers (Weststar, 2015). For starters the biggest component to game development are video game developers (VGDs) (Weststar, 2015). Additionally, these projects can consist of a producer and studios have a range of upper managers and administrative personnel. Weststar stated that with project-based model the outputs of each new game are unique. In turn the environment is complex and uncertain. Coordination among project members is rooted in diffuse and informal power relationships in relation to their roles as it pertains to those that direct the work and those who perform it (Weststar, 2015). Thusly, with the consumer, the process of making video games is a non-factor, largely an unknown, and rarely registers in the thoughts in most people’s minds. Many again just see the end product, of which is what is their main motivating factor of going to a retail store and purchasing it. However, there is a select pocket of individuals who are more cognizant of the game development process and they are more greatly invested. For this segment, they faithfully follow their favorite game, or for some developer, and wi ll be aware the specifics from the announcement of the game and will stay engaged until the game goes gold. This is, going gold, that the game is finished and ready to be put on a disc and distributed. The creation of each video game is a project with a well-defined production cycle of pre-production, production, and post-production phases of which reach require different and various resources (Weststar, 2015). HistoryBefore one can actually delve it the game development process, it is important to have some background understanding on the development of the gaming industry. Nolan Bushnell is credited as the pioneer of the worldwide commercial video game industry. Bushnell was the founder of Atari and is responsible for generations of home and arcade gaming hardware and software including the truly influential game, Pong (Grantham ; Readman, 2006). Arcades games were very popular and peaked in the early 1980s. As time progressed and newer technologies burst onto the market most titles were converted to play on the evolving home technology – home computers and consoles (Grantham ; Readman, 2006). It was also during this time of change and development, many independent develop ers and publishers started to emerge. One of the most noted and widely known, Activision for example, was founded by former Atari developers seeking greater ownership and control over their developments (Grantham ; Readman, 2006). Over time people have come to recognize software games as new and very popular mode of entertainment and an important application of technology. This outlook has become increasingly accepted and by people of all ages. In today’s culture, technology is easily accessible and has become more convenient. In turn more and more people like to play games and are also becoming motivated to design their own games. Also, software games are gaining importance because they are not only used for entertainment, but also for serious purposes that can be applicable to different domains such as education, business, and health care (Aleem, Fernando- Capretz, Ahmed, 2016). Game Development ProcessPre-productionAs with any industry as it relates to project development, within the gaming industry, pre-production is the beginning phase of the life of a game, the project. It is during this phase that developers/project managers determine how long will it take to game to make, the personnel needed, and the budget needed to make the proposed project. During pre-production it is paramount that very specific goals are fleshed out of which will be essential to a successful project. Walfiz, Zackariasson and Wilson pointed out that certain elements are fundamental to projects: commitment to timing, staying within a budget, and producing an output (Zackariasson, Walfisz, Wilson, 2006). Also, it is important to note that, these fundamentals are developed before the project starts, and thus commit both parties to specific activities/objectives. Drew Liming and Dennis Vilorio states that in the pre-production phase, the lead designers outline a game concept with the help of lead artists and programmers (Liming Vilorio, 2011). Additionally, it is at this time that the lead designers might select special feature(s), such as an innovative gameplay element, or powerful graphics, that will make the game unique (Liming Vilorio, 2011). It was also pointed out that when the game finally receives the funding needed, programmers begin building its technological framework (Liming Vilorio, 2011). Pre-production considerations tends to produce a hierarchy of plans that guide the project and the pre-production phase is instrumental in producing the basis on which to build the game (Zackariasson, Walfisz, Wilson, 2006). The over-ridding goal of pre-production is essentially to create a game plan that will be the road map in which the player(s) will finish the game. The game plan must include information of the game concept, the unique feature(s), the constraints that affect this concept, and analyzing risk assessment.Risk management is a necessary aspect of game project development. Alem, Carpatz and Ahmed states that the importance of risk management is essential for the efficiency of game development. Thusly this is often the focus for project management (Aleem, Fernando- Capretz, Ahmed, 2016). Alem, Carpatz and Ahmed also state, that it is with the upmost importance to identify risk factors early in the game development process (Aleem, Fernando- Capretz, Ahmed, 2016). During game development, the project manager is the game’s producer and must bring together management, the technical components, and the appealing aspects to create a successful video game. They also identified two risk factors that must be addressed during this development process: failure of development strategy and absence of the fun factor (Aleem, Fernando- Capretz, ; Ahmed, 2016). Additionally, it is important to realize that in game development, other important risk factors can have an impact such as the development strategy, the fun factor or extent of originality, scheduling, and budgeting. With these, there will always be some level of â€Å"the unknown† when addressing risk factors. Taking time early on to identify risks is paramount as there will always be unforeseen issues in a project. Working to minimize as many issues initially will decrease unadvantageous developments later in the project development/production cycle. Thus, efficient work done during pre-production will work to minimize or even eliminate unforeseen issues. Production Now that the risks, personnel, and assets are identified, for the project, it can now to enter the production phase. Thusly, the completion of the prototype signals the start of the production phase of development (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). During the production phase the project team can now move forth with focusing on the cusp of the project work. Energies can now finally be channeled towards actual development of the game. It is importance to note that certain aspects of the work can be initiated during pre-production. Thus, there can be at times, some objectives running concurrent and simultaneously with those that are just commencing. Even though the project team is in full stride during this phase, and most of the ideas are being carried out, some new plans can happen that may have an impact and thus alter work. For starters, assets can be added or even removed at this point. Accordingly, with these alterations, it is important that changes are accurately noted and are effectively communicated to the project team, the developer, studio upper management, and the publisher. Making such changes are crucial and essential and must be relayed in a timely manner. It is imperative that during development, the project document continues to remain as a point of reference for the entire project team. As pointed out by Liming and Vilorio, during the production phase, teams of designers, artists, and programmers use the project document as a guide to ensure efficient game creation (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). When the plan is communicated to the project team, it is the role of the project manager to remain vigilant on keeping the plan up to date. Ensuring that there is sound communication and a streamlined vision/design, will allow the project teams to collaborate to make the most of each other’s expertise (Liming Vilorio, 2011). There is feedback during production that helps the project team revise the document as needed. For instance, feedback might encompass how to improve a game’s mechanics, or more so, remove an unfeasible feature (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). Throughout production, developers continually build improved versions of the game. This allows for the creation of more content that is better looking, more streamlined within a design, and thus is more refined (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). Liming and Viliorio also went on further to state that the conclusion of the production phase is that the fully playable game includes art, music, and sound effects. This milestone is referred to as â€Å"content complete.† (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011).Post production Production ends when the developer and publisher agree that no more features are needed; thus, no features are added during post-production. Instead, the main goal of this phase is to finalize software quality. The post-production phase starts at least three months before the end-of-project deadline. During post-production the focus is on playing the game to test for errors, called bugs, and on tweaking it to eliminate unwanted elements (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). Post-production is key for the game develop process as quality assurance and process validation are critical components. The quality assurance staff tests the game by playing it and attempting to do things the development staff never considered (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). It is during this time that such things as bugs and compatibility issues are fixed. Additionally, work will be done to ensure that all coding is optimized. Process validation plays an important role in assessing game quality. Also, during this phase, the development process as a whole is analyzed. Collection and evaluation of process data from the pre-production phase through to the post-production phase can provide evidence that the overall development process produces a good-quality game. Congruously, analysis can depict either product errors, in-complement coding, or that the final product does not measure up to expectations. It is known, as the game testers find bugs, they document the errors and assign them to a programmer, designer, or artist to be addressed and fixed (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). Efficiently identifying and correcting issues is essential for the game roll-out deadline. Additionally, the developer may sometime want the game put into consumer hands before official release. Such instances could be in the form of advance releases, or advance copies for select consumer testing and gameplay which is a marketing strategy in gaming. Developers also use beta testing. Beta testing in games is used to gage overall game functionality using external testers or a select segment of identified consumers (Aleem, Fernando- Capretz, ; Ahmed, 2016). Beta testing is a kind of first public release for testing purposes by users. Game publishers often find it effective because bugs are identified by users that were missed during the in-house testing process (Aleem, Fernando- Capretz, ; Ahmed, 2016). Dealing with bugs and tweaks can make postproduction time-consuming. Thus, the process may take as long as production, especially for more complex games that have bigger budgets (Liming ; Vilorio, 2011). Conclusion The video game industry has grown tremendously over the last four decades. From Nintendo to Sony, a plethora of games have been made over the course of the video game industry. Games, the end-products, are the results of the efforts of many. The process of video game development is an intricate undertaking. The production cycle encompasses a myriad of derivatives which adhere to pre-production, production, and post-prediction phases. During the entire production cycle of a game key players such as computer engineers and programmers, visual artists, audio engineers, animators, game designers, writers, and quality assurance testers are involved. The pre-production phase helps lay out the groundwork and plan that will be followed as the game develops. During pre-production specific goals are fleshed out and key fundamental elements to the project are identified. It also during this phase that focus is on working to minimize as many issues initially. This works to decrease unneeded or potentially negatively impacting developments later in the project development/production cycle. During the production phase the project team’s main focus is on the actual creation of the game. It is during the production phase that new plans can happen which can have impact and alter work. A project document is used to ensure efficient game development and thus the project manager must ensure that the plan is up to date. Additionally, the project manager will work to ensure that there is sound communication for the entire team. When the game has entered post-production, the focus is on playing the game to test for errors and other unwanted elements. There is a lot of focus on quality assurance. Within the gaming industry, testing can be done both in-house and the use of a select segment of consumer beta testers. Though most consumers only see the end product that is distributed and hit store shelves, there is a lot that has happened to ensure that the they will have a quality game playing experiences. Additionally, there is a select pocket of consumers who are more engaged development process and have a greater apperception for the game development process. Overall there is a great deal that transpires in the development of a game. From stakeholder expectations to timeliness of implementation, a lot of resources have been invested to create that end-product game. Understanding the life of a game through the lens of game development production cycle helps to foster a heightened appreciation for the final pro duct. How to cite The Video Game Industry, Papers

Reality show free essay sample

‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ is an American reality show based on the lives of the Kardashian / Jenner family. The show mainly focuses on the daily lives of Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian. The Kardashian / Jenner family has turned out to be so famous that they’ve almost turned into a brand name, from shows, to modeling, to clothing line and also make up. Reality show is a genre of TV show that aims to be both real and entertaining. The show involves filing of the actions and behaviors of people in a certain situation that may be either a natural one or it may also be contrived. The way the people behave is usually the main focus of the reality show. Reality TV show is a genre that presents unscripted events that are usually real life events involving either people from the public or even celebrities in that case. Some of the conventions used in ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ are: -Real people, not professional actors. We will write a custom essay sample on Reality show or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the show, the Kardashian / Jenner family are not actors but either models, athletes or socialites. -The situation that usually takes place in the episodes are supposed to be real. It is usually based on what we may hear on the news. -It is both real and entertaining. -The show always has a voiceover where the different characters explain and talk about the situation. -In my opinion, there is usually a high level of editing that takes place in order to make the show not just real but also entertaining. One of the main reasons why reality TV shows are famous is because it is supposed to be based on real life events showing the unscripted and real dramas that take place. And when it is a reality show like ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ where the audiences are able to see the unscripted lifestyle and events of the Kardashian / Jenner family, it is all the more entertaining. The reality show allows us to enter the life of the Kardashian / Jenner family and like all TV shows, one of the biggest ways of keeping audiences hooked to the show is the part where they show what happens next in the show. They always make it a point to make the ‘Next’ scene very interesting mixing bits of the scenes, or sometimes even playing with the minds of the viewer by mixing scenes making it look like something when in reality it is totally different. I’ve been watching the American reality show ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ for a long time now, but the question is how real is it? The reality show follows all the uniform conventions that reality TV shows usually have, and the show runs once a week for 40 minutes, but what makes me feel like the unscripted show has a bit too much editing is the fact that every episode there is something eventful that happens, be it a fight, a misunderstanding, tears, anger, hatred, jealousy, or any such feelings, and what is more surprising is that by the end of the episode usually everything is solved. Although the events that take place in the show may be real, the way every episode is made to end in a nice note is probably a way fulfilling the audiences’ need of a happy ending. Although I may be critical regarding the show, I think it is entertaining and have been watching it since the very first season, and having watched it for such a long time, I have watched different people on the show grow, almost making me feel like a part of it, hence definitely making me a dedicated viewer of the show.