How Close Science Is To A Real-Life 'Heads Up Display'
In computer games, you usually know things that your avatar could not, like the locations of enemies on a mini-map.
How to Make a Mech - The Science Behind World War Machine
Early in development, Tuque Games brought in Thwacke to consult on their upcoming Mechwarrior-meets-Diablo action RPG, World War Machine. We assembled a team of experts consisting of nanotechology researcher Kevin Neibert and Aerospace Defense analyst Greg Linton to create a unique and authentic sci-fi experience.
Nobody Wins When Horror Games Stigmatize Mental Illness
Public attitudes regarding mental illness are frequently apocryphal and damaging, and a major source of these views is media portrayal of a topic that affects all of us to some extent.
What Arkham Ayslum Gets Right And Wrong About The Criminally Insane
How do real psychiatric hospitals approach the so-called "criminally insane?" Who are these mentally ill criminals? And importantly, what does mental illness have to do with violence?
Here's How Mass Effect's Biological Warfare is Scientifically Possible
Mass Effect’s genophage is one of the few fictions in gaming that is easiest to match to real science. We can already engineer viruses that manipulate genetics within biological systems. While such a bioweaponized feat is difficult to create within model animals (let alone sapient life) let's have some fun speculating…
The Real-Life Science Behind Crysis' Nanosuit
"Nanotechnology offers unprecedented possibilities for progress—defeating poverty, starvation, and disease, opening up outer space, and expanding human capacities. But it also brings unprecedented risks—the specter of devastating wars fought with far more powerful weapons of mass destruction." - Chris Phoenix,…
Real-Life Parasites That Behave Remarkably Like Halo's Most Disgusting Enemy
With the recent release of Halo 4, players have once again been thrust into the space boots of Master Chief Petty Officer John-117. Master Chief has faced a wide variety of enemies since the 2001 release of Halo: Combat Evolved that have been both impressive and terrifying. The mere sight of a particular foe, however,…
Science Explains Why We'll Probably Never Be Able To Respawn in Real Life
You're running out of ammo, the last medikit you saw was three towns behind, and that nice guy shooting at you just got a sniper to help him out.
Zerg Rushes, Suicide Attacks and Splash Damage: How Real Insect Warfare is Similar to StarCraft
Editor's note: Our guy at Thwacke, a Canadian outfit that advises game developers in all things science, writes to us and says he's got an expert who can explain how the Zerg in StarCraft have a whole lot in common with real insects. Are we interested? Of course we are! Read on, unless you're squeamish...
Meet Scott Maxwell: Star Wars Fan. Gamer. And, Oh Yeah, He Drives a Rover on Mars.
Some people have cool jobs. And then there's Scott Maxwell, who has one of the best gigs on two planets. He's one of the people who drives the Curiosity Rover on Mars. How do you get that job? What's it like? And how does it compare to all the sci-fi and video game fantasies we've all had about this kind of thing?
The Two Ways You Become Immersed in Video Games
Editor's Note: Back in July, the folks at the wonderfully-named science-minded consulting group Thwacke, they were telling us about what StarCraft and Mass Effect get right about astronomy.
