the way of the ninja

December 5, 2007 12:14 PM

N, that dangerously addictive and simple flash game (previously # # #) is very close to being available on X-box live[IGN] and soon, on the PSP and Nintendo DS. More news about N and their next project, robotology can be found on their blog.

I got to play N+ at PAX. It was insanely cool. The physics feels different, but its something you will acclimate to.

The company is still only three people - the two original developers plus a graphics guy. All three were very cool.

BONUS - the female half of the development team is cute. </geek crush>

posted by nihlton (55 comments total)

Was that last remark really necessary?
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:39 PM on December 5, 2007

Yeah, it's been a landmark day for moronic shit said 'round these parts, but that remark holds up to any of the asinine turds dumped into the other threads.
posted by Item at 12:43 PM on December 5, 2007

Looks neat - do you get cake?

I hope you're not drawing cartoons about people spaffing on the female half of the development team, becuase that sort of thing is Very Wrong.
posted by Artw at 12:44 PM on December 5, 2007

BONUS - the male half of the development team looks similar to cortex.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 12:54 PM on December 5, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

Oh, well draw away then, far as I'm aware theres no particular injuction against spaff-cartooning the male team members.
posted by Artw at 12:57 PM on December 5, 2007

You can't say someone's cute!

That's totally sexist!
posted by kbanas at 1:04 PM on December 5, 2007 [6 favorites has favorites]

You can't say someone's cute!

That's totally sexist!

You'll notice he didn't say that about any of the men.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:11 PM on December 5, 2007

All hopes that his comment would defuse the coming shitfest had nearly vanished. "Remove from activity." CitrusFreak12 hovered his cursor over the words for several moments, thinking. He hit the back button on his browser instead. "Give it time," he thought, for his faith in MetaFilter--despite all past experiences--had not completely diminished, "surely this will end well."
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:12 PM on December 5, 2007 [6 favorites has favorites]

You'll notice he didn't say that about any of the men.

You'll notice that I don't see how that's in any way relevant.

He didn't find any of the men attractive.
posted by kbanas at 1:17 PM on December 5, 2007

You'll notice he didn't say that about any of the men.

I can't tell if you're serious. Is that really the metric for measuring sexism? I didn't realize someone had to make compliments about both sexes at the same time in order to not be sexist. If it makes any of the female mefites uncomfortable, then I presume it would be too huge a deal for one of the mods to take it out, no? but honestly, is it sexist to say that you have a crush on a cute female?
posted by shmegegge at 1:18 PM on December 5, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

that should have said "would NOT be too huge a deal..." apologies for the misleading typo.
posted by shmegegge at 1:19 PM on December 5, 2007

You'll notice that I don't see how that's in any way relevant.

He didn't find any of the men attractive.

The point is that men aren't subject to "Oh, he's accomplished in his field, but nevermind that, he's cute! It's degrading and sexist and condescending.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:19 PM on December 5, 2007

So, it's degrading and sexist and condescending to find someone attractive?

Or it's degrading and sexist and condescending to say you find someone attractive?

So, basically, women who are accomplished in a particular field cannot be described using adjectives which compliment their physical appearance?
posted by kbanas at 1:22 PM on December 5, 2007

Anyway, I think your moniker is appropriate. You obviously feel pretty guilty about something.
posted by kbanas at 1:24 PM on December 5, 2007

I like how there's absolutely no room for any kind of subtlety or nuance in this kind of conversation.
posted by Artw at 1:30 PM on December 5, 2007

Doesn't the 'BONUS' mean that the OP finds the woman's success and accomplishment et al. to be her most stellar qualities, qualities that make her a commendable person, and in addition to all of this she is physically attractive?
posted by shakespeherian at 1:33 PM on December 5, 2007

this thread is a parody of metafilter.
posted by nihlton at 1:36 PM on December 5, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

So, it's degrading and sexist and condescending to find someone attractive?

Or it's degrading and sexist and condescending to say you find someone attractive?

So, basically, women who are accomplished in a particular field cannot be described using adjectives which compliment their physical appearance?

The point is that men aren't subject to this sort of thing, this "Hey, x is accomplished, but let's ignore that because x is really cute!" Men get to stand on their accomplishments, women- no matter how accomplished- get judged on their looks. That's sexism, and it's fucking disgusting to see it defended. (And even worse to see it defended by pretending I'm saying something I'm not.)
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:37 PM on December 5, 2007

MeTa.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:37 PM on December 5, 2007

Doesn't the 'BONUS' mean that the OP finds the woman's success and accomplishment et al. to be her most stellar qualities, qualities that make her a commendable person, and in addition to all of this she is physically attractive?

This is how I read it, which is why I was so confused by the outrage.

I mean, it's not like, "Hey, this guy programmed this awesome game and this super hot chick stood around and watched him because she's just a silly girl, but man, she's hot!"

She designs awesome videogames, and she's cute. Nothing strikes me as too degrading about that.
posted by kbanas at 1:37 PM on December 5, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Hmmm... Rubbstone notes stirring Mefi brouhaha and swings into action.
Let's start from the beginning... Is she cute? No, no she is not.

Don't worry about it folks, nothing to see here move along, Everything's under control. Just a guy with Geek Goggles on.
posted by Rubbstone at 1:37 PM on December 5, 2007

Hey, you can't say she's not cute!

That's sexist!
posted by kbanas at 1:39 PM on December 5, 2007

So yeah, anyway. How about that robotology?
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:43 PM on December 5, 2007

So these computer games, are they cool and fun? I seemed to have missed the previously posted flash versions. I'll be sure and try them when I get home from work. Thanks!
posted by marxchivist at 1:43 PM on December 5, 2007

Fuck it, I'm giving up before somebody explains to me how calling a black man "articulate" isn't racist.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:44 PM on December 5, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

This thread is useless without pics.
posted by designbot at 1:45 PM on December 5, 2007

So these computer games, are they cool and fun?

A friend of mine and I were actually talking about N just the other day, citing it as a perfect example of a well made and addicting flash game. The fact that it's been posted to MeFi three times should count as supplementary evidence of this.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 1:45 PM on December 5, 2007

robotology is sounding really sweet. There was a while back on their forums where they took suggestions for possible future versions of N, or maybe for a different game. Lots of cool ideas came out of it and they stitched quite a few in - from what I understand. grappling hook!
posted by nihlton at 1:45 PM on December 5, 2007

OMG NO ONE CARES ABOUT WHO IS CUTE ON THE DEV TEAM WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE JUST GIVE ME A WORKING LINK TO THE GODDAMN FLASH VERSION OF THIS GAME SO I CAN ESCAPE FROM MY PATHETIC LIFE FOR A FEW MINUTES.

Thank you.
posted by Pastabagel at 1:46 PM on December 5, 2007 [4 favorites has favorites]

</geek crush>

Monday Nights on CBS, "The Big Bang Theory" from the producers of "Two and a Half Men"... which singlehandedly moved the "geek crush" from a personality quirk to sexist behavior. But since you don't own a TV, you might not have been aware of that.
posted by wendell at 1:51 PM on December 5, 2007

...theres no particular injuction against spaff-cartooning the male team members.

There isn't? WELL THERE IS NOW. DO NOT WANT.
posted by wendell at 1:54 PM on December 5, 2007

Sexist.
posted by Artw at 1:57 PM on December 5, 2007

I get where you're coming from, Pope Guilty. I, too, never cease reminding my many, many fans that I am more than a pretty face.
posted by signal at 2:03 PM on December 5, 2007

My awesome brother totally designed one of the levels on the PSP version.

Uh, also, my sister did too?
posted by chrismear at 2:13 PM on December 5, 2007

I certainly hope so, signal, because if you're getting by on your looks, you're in a lot of trouble.
posted by wendell at 2:13 PM on December 5, 2007

I don't get it I like The Big Bang Theory.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 2:16 PM on December 5, 2007

The way of the idiot. Now on the metafilter platform.
posted by srboisvert at 2:20 PM on December 5, 2007

I don't get it I like The Big Bang Theory.

Me too. My thinking was that any show where Asimov's three laws of robotics is a punchline can only raise the level of discourse on American television.

I realize that my sexism alerts might need calibration... but is "Big Bang Theory" considered sexist?
posted by pineapple at 2:23 PM on December 5, 2007

I think you're all very cute. Especially you!
posted by Gentlemen, I Sure Do Love Analingus at 2:32 PM on December 5, 2007

Deraily, but yep, Big Bang's first 5 or so episodes, Penny was so annoying. She was totally Barbie with the 'math is hard' schpiel. It was teeth-gnashingly annoying. In the later episodes, she's gotten better - she has retorts, she comes back and belittles them when they try to belittle her, as opposed to just doing a bend-and-bounce to make them happy.

I love the show, but those early eps were cringeworthy.
posted by cashman at 2:35 PM on December 5, 2007

The point is that men aren't subject to this sort of thing

Utter horseshit. You need to get around some real women, and do some real listening.
posted by Horken Bazooka at 3:14 PM on December 5, 2007

Is there anything nefarious about IGN that I should know about? I noticed you warned us about the link.
posted by yath at 3:22 PM on December 5, 2007

Y'all are missing the point here: Video game! Shiny cool video game!

Seriously, a DS version of N is going to be awesome. And I there's a grappling hook? When can I get my paws on this thing? Gimmie now!
posted by JDHarper at 3:42 PM on December 5, 2007

This thread inspired me to re-try N, as I never seem to have caught the hang of it.

I'm pleased to report I have wasted a chunk of my afternoon catching the hang of it. It is a cool game.
posted by never used baby shoes at 3:46 PM on December 5, 2007

I have not caught the hang of it and am finding it really frackin' hard.

I just can't seem to get jump-timing down, which might be the result of this really old PC I'm trying it on.

Maybe I'll have more luck when I get home.
posted by quin at 4:41 PM on December 5, 2007

JDHarper - grappling hook is for robotology.
posted by nihlton at 4:45 PM on December 5, 2007

Yeah, by the way N is more interesting than talking about cuteness.
posted by ersatz at 5:02 PM on December 5, 2007

Pics or it isn't true.
posted by zardoz at 5:18 PM on December 5, 2007

Rats. Maybe for N³: Roboninjas.
posted by JDHarper at 6:01 PM on December 5, 2007

If you think the standard game is impressive, you should check out the work being turned out by the extensive fan community. just mosey on over to the N Game homepage, download the desktop version, and check out the "User levels" option on the main menu.

Many of the available maps are essentially bonuses to the main game, and some are extremely challenging. But the best, in my view, are the "concept art" maps, some of which display an almost inhuman mastery of the N level design interface.

There are art pieces. There are minimalist challenges. There are labyrinths made of triggered locks that manifest as you move through them. There are even a few hideously complex maps that are solvable by simply holding the left or right arrow, or by not moving at all -- with the fearless ninja being tossed through the air by lifts and bouncers, coming within a pixel of firey and/or electric death.

The most impressive one of these "DDA" ("don't do anything") maps, called "Tattletale", has a single homing missile follow the inert ninja through the cluttered environment, constantly looping just 'round him and narrowly slipping through impossibly thin cracks. A close second is the one made entirely out of "Thwumps". How the designer managed to make this map work when it consists solely of always-moving shock-pistons astonishes me. It's mesmerizing...
posted by Rhaomi at 7:17 PM on December 5, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

I've always heard that the flash version is donkey poop compared to the download version. Is that true?
posted by inigo2 at 7:23 AM on December 6, 2007

xkcd
posted by signal at 7:41 AM on December 6, 2007

That cartoon is totally sexist in the way that it assumes the girl stick-figure needs a guy stick-figure to kick down the door and talk for her.
posted by Artw at 8:50 AM on December 6, 2007

What's wrong with being sexy?
posted by space2k at 9:46 AM on December 6, 2007

N, that dangerously addictive and simple flash game

and by "simple" you mean very, very difficult and frustrating.
posted by straight at 1:58 PM on December 6, 2007