Quavers posted:

Rectal Death Adept posted:

"Computer, Create a graphic capable of pretending we have content."

peter gabriel posted:

free tophat

Jack-Off Lantern posted:

So why does a planet named microtech have moons that are actually sensible names?

Rectal Death Adept posted:

"Computer, Create a graphic capable of pretending we have content."

peter gabriel posted:

free tophat

Jack-Off Lantern posted:

So why does a planet named microtech have moons that are actually sensible names?

quote:

microTech

microTech (Stanton IV) is a large and generally cold planet that is home to the microTech Corporation. The temperature is the result of an error during the UEE terraforming process, which lead to unusually dense cloud production. microTech produces mobiGlas here, a now-standard piece of digital assistive technology used by nearly everyone in the Empire. Although mobiGlas has become their ubiquitous product, microTech manufactures a wide variety of electronics, including those found in ship systems, and various ATM's located around high population cities including Area18. This planet is a good place to start looking for advanced sensor technologies which could provide an edge while dogfighting. Land on the planet is leased to smaller companies, including some of microTech’s competitors, which solidified the planet’s reputation as the place for cutting edge tech research and development. Buyouts among successful Stanton IV-based startups are common.[1]

Composition & conditions
microTech is a terraformed planet, thus its atmosphere was specifically engineered to imitate Earth's. It is breathable and primarily contains nitrogen and oxygen, as well as trace amounts of argon and carbon dioxide. However, due to the terraforming accident, temperatures generally sit around or below -100 °C (-148 °F), especially during severe snowstorms when wind chill factors exacerbate the situation. As such, exposure without protective gear specializing in cold-weather environments (e.g. the Caldera suit) can quickly lead to hypothermia.

Argon Level
0.93%

Environment
Most of microTech is covered in mountains and ice sheets and subject to strong blizzards and ice storms. There are very few liquid bodies of water. Multiple temperate tundra zones exist in areas associated with deep geothermal activity. Camping expeditions and hikes in these greener biomes are popular vacation activities among microTech’s full-time population. Cold hardy plants such as evergreens, wildflowers, grasses, and lichen grow there throughout the year.

Thawort, a lichen that grows on microTech and other worlds with arctic climates, is the subject of research for several pharmaceutical startups based in New Babbage. Its antiseptic and antibacterial properties have shown promise in the lab, though the properties are only present in wild-collected specimens. Research to replicate these traits in artificial conditions is ongoing.[2]

History
Discovered in 2851, Stanton IV is a super-Earth, and one of four planets in the Stanton system’s habitable zone. Full development of the system would have taken funds not readily available to the government at the time. After beginning initial terraforming, the UEE announced the decision in 2865 to sell it and its sibling planets to private interests in order help pay down its debts and provide a boost to the downturned economy.

An early terraforming error resulted in a climate far colder and harsher than initial projections had indicated, leading to multiple debates on the UEE Senate floor regarding the government’s ability to sell Stanton IV. However, it was thanks to this error that founder and then-CEO of microTech Magnus Tobin purchased it as the new headquarters for microTech. Tobin sold off land his company had been using for server farms in the leadup to this acquisition. According to a contemporary press release, the “reliably frigid” climate of Stanton IV was ideal for keeping their expansive network of servers cool. Tobin personally oversaw the construction of New Babbage, the primary landing zone and now headquarters of microTech at large.[2]

Corporate governance
Planetary governance is conducted by specialized divisions of the microTech corporation. Population-sustaining departments such as water infrastructure and waste management exist alongside economic ones such as taxation, business licensing, and import/export. Former elected officials or government workers are typically hired for these roles, though those from the private-sector are not barred from selection. microTech upgraded their corporate security force to perform police actions where necessary. Wherever possible, microTech utilizes technology and custom microTech-designed systems and software to automate much of the day-to-day operations, including the enforcement of local laws. As immigration to microTech increases, leaders within microTech have debated the implementation of an eventual population cap.[2]

Culture
The city of New Babbage was designed to support the creativity of the highly-skilled workforce needed to drive microTech’s future innovation. Areas like the Commons were constructed as creative workspaces, dedicated to providing areas for programmers and engineers to relax, network, and plan. The city’s robust nightlife provides an outlet for the workforce’s high-pressure crunch times and higher-than-average salaries, and visiting financiers and venture capitalists make regular use of the high-end bars. Inhabitants also like to escape the confines of the city to take part in outdoor cold weather activities.

Bleeding-edge technology is a common sight on microTech. Not only due to the company itself, but also the presence of other established tech companies alongside a constantly-cycling roster of startups. Residents who don’t keep abreast of the latest advances are generally seen as somewhat gauche by their peers, though this outlook varies. Members of the upper classes of the UEE frequent the markets to secure the newest tech before it hits the market.[2]

Landing zones
New Babbage
Main article: New Babbage
Enclosed to protect the inhabitants against the freezing elements, New Babbage is a major social and economic trading hub on microTech. Although it features microTech's flagship store, the landing zone is a haven for smaller tech companies.[3]

Visitors are advised to seek work and cargo news at Wally’s Bar; just don’t ask for Wally.

Pixelate posted:

Wait until you see the horses!

Pixelate posted:

So close!

They’re planning space cows...

This absurdity is dedicated to the freeing of top hat

Pixelate posted:

So close!

They’re planning space cows...

This absurdity is dedicated to the freeing of top hat

quote:

Going to be a little annoyed if we can't kill space whales cause 'whaling is wrong'. The game is going to have slavery, murder, genocide and other lore features but you are telling me we have to 'save the whales' in a video game? Come on.

quote:

Dude, in this game we will literally kill tens of thousands of pirates with presumably families, friends and loved ones. I'm not going to give a poo poo about killing a whale. This kind of PC nonsense drives me crazy.

quote:

Perhaps there will be orgs that put on tracker on these whales to gank on hunters, like some space peace.

Pixelate posted:

So close!

They’re planning space cows...

This absurdity is dedicated to the freeing of top hat

trucutru posted:

And yes, they terraformed a goddamn planet but now cannot raise its temperature anymore. Well, maybe they could, but that would increase the cost of running the server farms you see?

trucutru posted:

And yes, they terraformed a goddamn planet but now cannot raise its temperature anymore. Well, maybe they could, but that would increase the cost of running the server farms you see?

Pixelate posted:

So close!

They’re planning space cows...

This absurdity is dedicated to the freeing of top hat

Kosumo posted:

To catch a space whale, do you need a sandiworm?

Bofast posted:

Would it help to keep this on repeat until they can start the season again?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2KVj2vVxUs

Agony Aunt posted:

Oh gods... CR watched that Star Wars film with the milk things didn;t he?

Jonny Shiloh posted:

No but let's do this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wamtTEVFDiA

I WAS THERE (on the Friday, unfortunately).

Kosumo posted:

Thank God you guys aren't posting the T20 Word Cup super over ....

I was involved in filming 3 T20 internationals that had super overs this season. One against England and 2 against India - Amazing stuff.

Don't know what next seasons work is going to look like .... May not be many internationals - just alot of domestic games. (We may just end up with a trans Tasman bubble with New Zealand and Australia)

On that topic, today was ANZAC day ... Lest we forget.

Kosumo posted:

To catch a space whale, do you need a sandiworm?

Rotten Red Rod posted:

Or they'll discover the exploits that allow them to trick other people into getting crimestats while they get away scot free. These systems are ALWAYS exploited, and it gets more exploitable the more complexity is built into it.

trucutru posted:

FOOL! You have activated my trap card!


Oh wait, that doesn't answer your question. In any case, enjoy!

quote:

Stanton IV is a super-Earth...

Dooguk posted:

Except it's one tenth of the size.

Unlike E:D of course which is 1:1 scale.

Dooguk posted:

Except it's one tenth of the size.

Unlike E:D of course which is 1:1 scale.

trucutru posted:

Ah yes, Star Citizen

Awesome! posted:

so while he was standing on the ship he got blown with it but as soon as he stepped on the ground he was unaffected.

Dooguk posted:

Except it's one tenth of the size.

Unlike E:D of course which is 1:1 scale.

hobbesmaster posted:

The greatest indictment of Star Citizen is that E:D already has most of the space stuff and actually has gameplay loops but is still incredibly boring. That’s what one day star citizen aspires to

Quavers posted:

"Wide as an ocean, deep as a puddle." Same thing is said about Elite[/i]