Welcome to Modojo, 
Almost there
Written by Snow Wolf on Friday, November 11, 2005
It's 11/11 and we're 11 days away from the 360 launch. Feeling good? Just minutes ago, Microsoft released the backwards compatibility list, a full 213 games. It's a surprisingly long list, considering that many people were seriously expecting maybe 10 titles, but there's still notable omissions. A lot of Sega titles like Panzer Dragoon Orta, Crazy Taxi 3, Otogi, Otogi 2 and more, the Splinter Cell series, the Burnout series and others are missing, but this is a pretty good start and we should be seeing more titles added to the list as time goes on.
If you're wondering why your favorite game is off the list and bargain bin fodder like Barbie Horse Adventure made the cut, here's my explanation: playing these games on the 360 with the Xbox emulator requires writing lines of code specific to each game. In the process of activating a more acclaimed game, the team probably noticed that other games were activated as well with no additional work. So yeah, there's a lot of undesirables on that list, but they were "free" in a way.
In any case, the team is still working on making the 360 more backwards compatible, so hopefully your favorite games will be added soon.
I've been watching Extras, which is a comedy by Ricky Gervais, the same comedian behind the British version of The Office. He plays an aspiring actor who can currently only find work as an extra and is struggling to make a name for himself. This show has that same deadpan British humor that I loved in The Office, and what's cool is that big movie stars make special guest appearances. Kate Winslet and Ben Stiller have an episode each, and of course, there's the new infamous 6th episode with Patrick Stewart.
I always like to type up these transcriptions, but they're obviously never as funny as watching the scene for yourself. So if you can, check out the 6th episode. This following scene has some of the best comedic timing and delivery I've seen in a long time, Patrick Stewart was just phenomenal.
Ricky Gervais: I've written a script.
Patrick Stewart : You see, writing, that's the key. I'm writing, myself, at the moment. You see, as actors, the only choice we have is "yes" or "no". Whereas if you're writing your own material, you're creating your own opportunities.
Ricky: This is my thinking, yeah.
Patrick: I'm writing a screenplay, and I find the whole process absolutely exhilarating.
Ricky: What's yours about if you don't mind me asking?
Patrick: Well, how best to explain it? You've seen me in X-Men?
Ricky: Yeah.
Patrick: The character was Professor Charles Xavier. If you remember, he can control things with the power of his mind. Make people do things or see things. So I thought, "what if you could do that for real?" I mean, not in a comic book world but in the real world.
Ricky: Alright.
Patrick: So in my film, I play a man who controls the world with his mind.
Ricky: Right, that's interesting.
Patrick: So for instance, I'm walking along, and I see this beautiful girl and I think I'd like to see her naked. So all her clothes fall off.
Ricky: ... all her... clothes fall off?
Patrick: Mmm, yes. And she's scrambling around to get them back on again, but even before she can get her knickers on, I've seen everything. I've seen it all.
Ricky: Ok... it's a comedy, is it?
Patrick: No. It's about what would happen if these things were possible.
Ricky: What's the story though?
Patrick: Well, I do other stuff. Like I'm riding my bike in the park and this policewoman says, "Oh! You can't ride your bike on the grass." And I go, "Oh no?" and her uniform falls off. And she goes "Ahhh!!" and she's trying to cover up but I've seen everything. Anyway, I get on my bike and I ride off. On the grass.
Ricky: So this is mainly you sort of going around seeing... ladies' tits?
Patrick: Mainly. And I do other stuff. Like I go to the World Cup Final and it's Germany vs. England. And I wish I were playing and suddenly I am! And I score the winning goal. They carry me into the dressing room, and there's Rooney and Beckham and then Posh Spice walks in and --
Ricky: Her clothes fall off?
Patrick: Instantly.
Ricky: Sure.
Patrick: She doesn't know what's happening. But, uh, I've seen --
Ricky: Seen everything.
Patrick: Again.
Ricky: Is there a narrative at all? Is there a story in the film or is it just --
Patrick: Well, I'm a sort of a James Bond figure. And I have to go to Iraq to rescue these hostages. And I get there and I rescue them. They're all women and they're naked because their clothes have rotted off. But I get them into the helicopter and I'm flying the helicopter, but I can still see in the mirror. And I can see everything. One of them is bending over, two of them are kissing.
Ricky: Those two are lesbian.
Patrick: Yeah, because they've been in the camp for so long.
Ricky: Well look, good luck with that. I've just written a sitcom, but I wonder if you could give it to anyone you know.
Patrick: Is there any nudity in it?
Ricky: Any...
Patrick: Any nudity in it?
Ricky: Not really.
Patrick: *disappointed look* Oh.
Ricky: Well, there could be.
Patrick: Men or women?
Ricky: Either.
Patrick: *disappointed look* Oh.
Ricky: Or... just women.
Patrick: *nods approvingly* Right.
Ricky: I'd need to rewrite, but in the meantime, if you could give it to anyone, in TV or film...
Patrick: Yes, definitely. I will make it so.
Ricky: *stares blankly*
Patrick: You've seen Star Trek: The Next Generation?
Ricky: I haven't, no.
Patrick: Why, your wife won't let you have it on?
Ricky: I'm not married.
Patrick: Oh, your girlfriend then?
Ricky: I don't have a girlfriend. I live alone.
Patrick: You're not married, you don't have a girlfriend. And you don't watch Star Trek?
Ricky: No.
Patrick: Good lord.
