90 réponses à ce sujet

[Whatever42]

Walker White wrote...

Schneidend wrote...

Your professor should applaud your creativity and only raise an issue if you end up stating something erroneous.

We applaud creativity when it strengthens the argument.  That's the problem.  If Mass Effect does not further his argument, then it is needlessly making the paper longer.  I am having a hard time seeing what Mass Effect would bring new to the table.  It would be an example or illustration of the concept rather than a justification of it.  And as an illustration, it is certainly less universal than say Star Trek or Star Wars.  So why is it interesting? 

I can see that. If the paper was on the technology of Mass Effect from a sociology point of view then it would make sense. However, the physics in ME are just to hang some fantasy elements are - all you could write about is how they misrepresented it and here's our best understanding of how it really works.

On the other hand, it would make an interesting read for a non-physics major to learn about the real science beyond the concepts in the game. I'd enjoy reading it. But the prof might be less impressed.

[xlavaina]

I actually think this is a situation where the phrase: "Heavy risk. But the prizeeee" could be utilized in a way that doesn't actually degrade the post. Seriously though. I wouldn't recommend this simply because it is too risky. If you go off on a wild tangent in your essay and realize that 3 pages are dedicated to explaining the "science" of Mass Effect, I don't think your professor would be happy. However, if you can actually pull this off in a cohesive and relevant way, then you might actually write a better essay.

[InfiniteCuts]

DO IT! ... then laugh at the nay-sayers when you get contracted by NASA to study recent "findings" on Mars.



[serious]don't do it.[/serious]

[adam_grif]

SomeKindaEnigma wrote...

I'm in a graduate-level course on General Relativity.  My professor wants us to write a 10-page paper, scientific topic (within the realm of special/general relativity) up to us, later this semester.  I am seriously considering discussing the scientific aspects of the Mass Effect series, dissecting/critiquing the uses of things like quantum entanglement and FTL/ultrarelativistic-velocity travel within the game and the implications/ramifications they have on modern physics and vice versa.  Just trying to get an idea as to whether this seems like a good idea or not, considering this project is going to be worth a major part of my grade, so I'm all ears for anyone who has an opinion on this.

P.S.  Bioware, I can honestly say I never expected a video game to possibly contribute to my studies, so you guys are awesome!

Not sure why you would pick this specifically. It's pretty squishy soft SciFi, to be perfectly frank. It's full of things that aren't even consitstent within it's own physical magic. For one biotics don't make sense because Element Zero is used to generate local ME fields, but Biotics can apparently generate them remotely some how? Element Zero itself is a physical disaster, which is something discussed in this topic on the old Mass Effect forums.

Then we have to consider that Mass Effect simply ignores the physical ramifications of Faster Than Light travel, such as the creation of time paradoxes by its frequent useage thanks to the failure of simultineity at a distance. Actually, the universe seems to be outright rejecting postulates of relativity because instantaneous real time communication across arbitrary distances is possible and none of the effects of relaitivity seem to be in play.

Okay, do mention the fact that the theory of special relativity supports
the modification of the mass of an object.

Lolwut?

Are you referring to mass energy equivelance? Because there is no way in hell that MEverse Eezo physics is operating on E=MC^2.

Modifié par adam_grif, 02 février 2011 - 12:36 .

[Legbiter]

This sounds like a great idea....for junior High School.

[darth_lopez]

Legbiter wrote...

This sounds like a great idea....for junior High School.

lulz. Have you been to a university? depending on your wide range of professors they may want you to do something like this. For a history class i had to analyze a sci-fi in comparisson to the 1950-present. I picked star wars. It got me an A in the class.

Furthermore Considering that ME actually has semi-plausible technology/science i think it would be great for a say..Physics student to have to write on the science of ME. If given the opportunity to select the sci-fi ME or Star Trek would probably be your best bets for plausible tech/science.


And as a counter Rebut to anything said to negate the potential plausibility of ME/Star Trek Tech/science I'm sure they said the same thing about cell phones, the internet, teleportation, Space Travel, Cloning, and Flight in their respective "eras of fiction" i.e. the time frame all those were viewed as fictional. We now know all of those have been achieved to some degree Presently. Not saying all things in those series will come to fruition just saying they arent all impossible.

Modifié par darth_lopez, 02 février 2011 - 01:18 .

[Schneidend]

Walker White wrote...
We applaud creativity when it strengthens the argument.  That's the problem.  If Mass Effect does not further his argument, then it is needlessly making the paper longer.  I am having a hard time seeing what Mass Effect would bring new to the table.  It would be an example or illustration of the concept rather than a justification of it.  And as an illustration, it is certainly less universal than say Star Trek or Star Wars.  So why is it interesting? 

Hence why I first posted this:

If you support your ideas with facts, can back those facts up with
citations, and approach it with professionalism, anything goes in an
expository or argumentative essay.

I did in no way advocate just putting Mass Effect in his paper for no reason.

[adam_grif]

Furthermore Considering that ME actually has semi-plausible technology/science

It's the thread that keeps on giving.

[SomeKindaEnigma]

 Thank you for the feedback, it seems pretty split as to whether I should mention ME or not.  I'll decide in the next few weeks or so, after observing my professor for a bit longer and see what his reaction may be to this sort of thing, I will probably hint at it to him on off hours as well.  Remember, as I said, the topic is MY CHOICE so an intellectual analysis of the use/misuse of special and general relativity in movies/games/media, for example, could serve as an interesting idea to explore in my paper.  The main thing I would bring up if I do write it is the negligence of the effects of general relativity/special relativity in the ME series, seeing as this IS a class on General Relativity, after all.  

And a P.S. to the one or two people who subtly criticized my own intelligence or the "legitimacy" of this or whatever, I am a senior double-major in Physics and Math with a focus on Astronomy/Astrophysics (minoring in astronomy as well).  I also have a 3.9 cumulative GPA over the course of 4 and a half years.  Excuse me for wanting to get a little bit creative with MY OWN work, and I feel that my accolades/education speaks for itself when I say I have nothing to prove to you and that your insults are the simple result of your own feeble minds.  To any mods who may read this, this is not an attempt to start name-calling or insulting, just me defending myself from those "trolling" this thread, and I intend to leave it at that with this post.

[garrus and ashley fool]

i would think that might be difficult

[darth_lopez]

adam_grif wrote...

Furthermore Considering that ME actually has semi-plausible technology/science

It's the thread that keeps on giving.

if it had been mentioned before that it's semi-plausible and not entirely impossible sorry for re-iterating.

what you should've pulled from that sentence is that it's semi-plausible. Never said Likely or factually correct. But from Star Trek we got Cell phones from the dream of flying with birds we got planes. From the Desire to Process faster we got transistors. Maybe in 45-200 years  we could have ME FTL. Is it likely no. is it plausible? only a bit. Is it possible? it has potential. Science is ever evolving, We may find something that contradicts all we know 35 seconds from now or 200 years from now or 5000 years from now. I'm sure 40 years ago no one thought it would be possible to teleport particles. Today it is.

Modifié par darth_lopez, 02 février 2011 - 04:09 .

[MisterDyslexo]

I'm no science buff, but I can tell you about the time I wrote a paper about a videogame. It was a critical-thinking type essay that you usually BS your way through, the topic about basically anything that presently conflicting ideas artfully. It sounds like an assignment for an 11-year old, but it had to be like 10 pages and have a short presentation. So I chose from some good candidates (including every Bioware game made, except that Sonic one) and did Bioshock. Wrote 30 pages (cut it down) and my presentation could've gone on for an hour easily. I may have been called a dork for it, but dammit it was the best one the teacher's ever seen, and hell, it got him to play a videogame for the first time in like 10 years xD



tl;dr

You'll do fine if you give a rat's ass about making your creative idea work. I'd only go forward if you care about really do something good and unique.

[Kane-Corr]

Ok, from a realistic perspective...I would advise against using Mass Effect as your main device for this essay if you were for some reason thinking about it. However...if you had a section of your essay that was based upon theories...then coupled with actual researched theories and what-not, I would say mention the Mass Effect Theory....but don't state it as factual, just as a theory.



However, in some of my essays, or even speeches, I do crack a video game line here and there....hahahaha. I mean, it's totally in context and all, but I mean...

Anyways...yeah, ten pages IS alot, so, technically, you CAN have a section devoted to theories, and so, in this light, Mass Effect can work...but also too, I wouldn't be too specific with it...just group it with written mediums (Sci-Fi stories, etc.).

[ObserverStatus]

I suppose writing about the science in ME isn't as bad as writing about the science in ME2, that would really get you screwed.

[adam_grif]

To OP:



This page on the invaluable Atomic Rockets website provides an overview of FTL being used in fictional works. You may find it interesting and it might help you if you're going to compare the way Relativity is treated in a wide range of SF.

[Schneidend]

bobobo878 wrote...

I suppose writing about the science in ME isn't as bad as writing about the science in ME2, that would really get you screwed.

Science in ME1: Mass Effect fields

Science in ME2: Mass Effect fields

Difference: None

[adam_grif]

Difference: None

There's no difference in the physics, but ME2 manages to push the biology silliness to a new level with the reaper goo.

[ObserverStatus]

Schneidend wrote...

bobobo878 wrote...

I suppose writing about the science in ME isn't as bad as writing about the science in ME2, that would really get you screwed.

Science in ME1: Mass Effect fields

Science in ME2: Mass Effect fields

Difference: None

Oh, right, I forgot the paper has to be on physics, not molecular biology. nvm

[ObserverStatus]

adam_grif wrote...

Difference: None

There's no difference in the physics, but ME2 manages to push the biology silliness to a new level with the reaper goo.

not to mention that the writers don't seem to know the difference between dextrorotatory DNA and dextrorotatory Proteins.  (I'll give you a hint bioware, humans have dextro-dna and levo-proteins)

Modifié par bobobo878, 02 février 2011 - 04:34 .

[Bogsnot1]

I would avoid mentioning it strictly because of how the game contradicts itself.

Sir Isaac Newton, deadliest SOB in space vs Lack of relativity/inertia when it comes to the spaceships actually flying through Zero G.

[E-MailA.K.A.Mr.Fox]

Just explain that Sir Issac Newton is the deadliest son-of-a-**** in space, A++ for sure.

[SomeKindaEnigma]

E-MailA.K.A.Mr.Fox wrote...

Just explain that Sir Issac Newton is the deadliest son-of-a-**** in space, A++ for sure.

lmao i love this

[Ahglock]

SomeKindaEnigma wrote...

 Thank you for the feedback, it seems pretty split as to whether I should mention ME or not.  I'll decide in the next few weeks or so, after observing my professor for a bit longer and see what his reaction may be to this sort of thing, I will probably hint at it to him on off hours as well.  Remember, as I said, the topic is MY CHOICE so an intellectual analysis of the use/misuse of special and general relativity in movies/games/media, for example, could serve as an interesting idea to explore in my paper.  The main thing I would bring up if I do write it is the negligence of the effects of general relativity/special relativity in the ME series, seeing as this IS a class on General Relativity, after all.  

And a P.S. to the one or two people who subtly criticized my own intelligence or the "legitimacy" of this or whatever, I am a senior double-major in Physics and Math with a focus on Astronomy/Astrophysics (minoring in astronomy as well).  I also have a 3.9 cumulative GPA over the course of 4 and a half years.  Excuse me for wanting to get a little bit creative with MY OWN work, and I feel that my accolades/education speaks for itself when I say I have nothing to prove to you and that your insults are the simple result of your own feeble minds.  To any mods who may read this, this is not an attempt to start name-calling or insulting, just me defending myself from those "trolling" this thread, and I intend to leave it at that with this post.

You know, you could flat out ask your professor.  After class ask him/her, "do you think a paper analysing the use/miususe of scince in science fiction is a valid topic for the assignment" 

[William Adama]

I thought that the Mass effect fields decrease a vessels mass to near-zero... not negative values. Even mass relays create corridors of virtually zero mass that allow vessels to travel at very high speeds. Once inside the corridor, the ship engages its own mass effect field and travels at FTL within the mass less corridor of space created by the relay; that is why ships can travel such huge distances in such small periods of time.



I think of Mass effect fields as warp bubbles like in Star trek. As opposed to calling it a Alcubierre drive, they term it mass effect drive.



All mass has gravity, and gravity distorts space time. By using fields that increase/decrease mass around a ship, one can create a warp of space time around a ship. This is what allows ships to travel at FTL.



To the OP: I personally would not do a paper on the science of a videogame like Mass effect. The science involved is just not correct and your professor may be offended that you are using his project as an excuse to talk about a game you enjoyed playing.

[Schneidend]

adam_grif wrote...

There's no difference in the physics, but ME2 manages to push the biology silliness to a new level with the reaper goo.

Considering most reaper technology is beyond the characters' understanding, and EDI herself says she can't explain the goo, I'd say this has been successfully lampshaded/handwaved.