Rikku of the Al Bhed (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
the_merriest) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2011-04-12 03:03 pm
the_merriest) wrote in fandomhigh2011-04-12 03:03 pm
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Science is Awesome!!!, Class #14, Period 3, April 12th
Class had been handwavily told they were meeting in the Danger Shop; the Danger Shop looked like a bright summer's day, but with huge slingshots sitting up ahead, and some wooden structures off in the distance.
"Hi!" Rikku chirped. "Today? We're talking more about physics, but I wanted to kind of demonstrate physics and ... okay, I wanted to have a little fun. This week we'll be talking about games, like, as in, video games. Video games have been getting more and more realistic with physics; in zombie slasher games, for some reason, people really like to see the zombies lurch around realistically. I mean, as realistically as can be expected."
Considering that, for most of these people, zombies didn't exist, and all.
"And some games are puzzles based on physics, where you need to solve something based on trajectory, or weight, or how it's going to fall. Don't worry, it's not something where you sit and work math equations! A lot of it is trial and error. Which is just what science is, when you get down to it. Some games, you get to break things with a slingshot, and figure out the structural weaknesses of the buildings you're knocking down. And today, we're playing one of those games."
Rikku was now walking everyone over to the slingshots. Next to each was an independently mounted screen.
"This is so you can see a sideview," she explained. "You'll be able to watch how and where you pulled the slingshot, and gauge what it is you need to hit. It's a little hard to see from here, and that's not fair, you know?"
The screen wasn't a touch screen. They would need to actually hurl the projectiles themselves. But they'd at least have a good view on it, and be able to adjust accordingly.
"Your goal is to knock the buildings down, and to smash those little pictures of piggies that are sitting inside," she explained. Not real piggies. That had seemed mean.) "If the building is still standing, but all the piggies are down, you win. But you'll need to knock most of the buildings over in order to get some of the piggies. Now!"
She clapped her hands excitedly, doing a happy wriggle. "Meet your ammo!"
The creatures that filed in, lining up behind the slingshots, were all different sizes and colors. But one thing was clear: the ammo was perfectly willing and complicit in the activity to come. You could tell from the excited way they were chirping that they could not wait to be flung at those facsimile pigs.
The pigs had wronged them, and they were some seriously angry birds.
"Hi!" Rikku chirped. "Today? We're talking more about physics, but I wanted to kind of demonstrate physics and ... okay, I wanted to have a little fun. This week we'll be talking about games, like, as in, video games. Video games have been getting more and more realistic with physics; in zombie slasher games, for some reason, people really like to see the zombies lurch around realistically. I mean, as realistically as can be expected."
Considering that, for most of these people, zombies didn't exist, and all.
"And some games are puzzles based on physics, where you need to solve something based on trajectory, or weight, or how it's going to fall. Don't worry, it's not something where you sit and work math equations! A lot of it is trial and error. Which is just what science is, when you get down to it. Some games, you get to break things with a slingshot, and figure out the structural weaknesses of the buildings you're knocking down. And today, we're playing one of those games."
Rikku was now walking everyone over to the slingshots. Next to each was an independently mounted screen.
"This is so you can see a sideview," she explained. "You'll be able to watch how and where you pulled the slingshot, and gauge what it is you need to hit. It's a little hard to see from here, and that's not fair, you know?"
The screen wasn't a touch screen. They would need to actually hurl the projectiles themselves. But they'd at least have a good view on it, and be able to adjust accordingly.
"Your goal is to knock the buildings down, and to smash those little pictures of piggies that are sitting inside," she explained. Not real piggies. That had seemed mean.) "If the building is still standing, but all the piggies are down, you win. But you'll need to knock most of the buildings over in order to get some of the piggies. Now!"
She clapped her hands excitedly, doing a happy wriggle. "Meet your ammo!"
The creatures that filed in, lining up behind the slingshots, were all different sizes and colors. But one thing was clear: the ammo was perfectly willing and complicit in the activity to come. You could tell from the excited way they were chirping that they could not wait to be flung at those facsimile pigs.
The pigs had wronged them, and they were some seriously angry birds.
Sign In - SCI14
During the Lecture - SCI14
(or feel free to pick a fight. srsly. i am 1000% okay with that.)
Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
For those of you who know the game, feel free to mod any particular birds or set-ups you may have been given. For those of you who don't, you can see a quickie runthrough of the first few levels here, although given the real-life nature of things, it's going to look more like this.
Also for non-players: the default bird looks like this icon, and doesn't have any special tricks or characteristics to him; him, you just hurl and he knocks things down, le fin.
And if anyone wants to talk to the birds, feel free, although I'm using this icon no matter which you specify you're talking to, because it is the only one I have. Also, they don't so much "talk" as shout "Wheeee!" when you fling them, so.
Talk to the TA - SCI14
Talk to Rikku - SCI14
Which means she's trying not to swear in front of her own students.
OOC - SCI14
B: I had no idea what to do for the second physics class
C: seriously, no clue
D: I've been playing a lot and am up to the stupid cowboy levels
E: and I got this as an early birthday present from the best N ever
F: no, seriously, IDEK.
Re: Sign In - SCI14
Re: Sign In - SCI14
Re: Sign In - SCI14
Re: During the Lecture - SCI14
[ooc: *pokes* Y so srs, brdy?!]
Re: Sign In - SCI14
Re: Sign In - SCI14
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
There was only one thing to do.
He settled himself in the slingshot and used his legs to pull it back as far as he was able. Then he lifted his feet off the ground. "WHEEEEEEE!!!"
He hadn't counted on the fact that he was much heavier than the birds. Which was why he faceplanted into the ground only a few feet from the slingshot. "Did I do it?!!?!?"
Re: During the Lecture - SCI14
See, the pigs had stolen their eggs? And, well. They kind of liked destroying random physical structures. It was a hobby.
Could they go flying now????
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
Of course the fact that they were jumping into her sling just disturbed her even more.
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
Anyway, she was offering Hank a hand, so he could pull himself off the ground again.
"No," she said, "but that was a really awesome effort. I'll get you some more birds. Or ...."
Okay, Rikku, it probably wasn't wise to encourage Hank.
"... I could try flinging you, instead."
At all.
Re: During the Lecture - SCI14
Or, rather, she didn't know that saying, "cheep cheep cheeeep?" back to the cute and eyebrow-frowny bird was not Bird for a friendly greeting and attempt to understand their anger and become friends.
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
"They don't mind," she said calmly. "I mean, they want to. Look."
She pulled the slingshot back, and the little red one went sailing out towards the structure.
Shouting "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" the whole way.
Re: During the Lecture - SCI14
For now! She was hopping into the slingshot and pullllllling it back. And giving big eyes to Momoko. Could she help?
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
"This is so totally weird!" Momoko shook her head as another bird fluffed itself and settled into the sling, chirping angrily at her. Momoko looked up at Rikku, then at the sling, getting another chirrup of readiness from it's occupant.
"Really? I mean, I know they're not real, Rikku, but..." her voice dropped to a whisper, "they're too cute to fling!"
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
This was the same kid who had once jumped off a roof with an umbrella for a parachute. Physics was not his strong suit.
He scrambled back to the slingshot and got himself ready. "Fire away!!!"
Re: During the Lecture - SCI14
"No no! We can find some rocks or something!" She reached in to try to remove the bird from the sling. No wonder they were so angry; using them as ammunition!
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
"I didn't want to tell you this," she said, conspiratorially, "but there's a reason the birds are so angry. The pigs ... tried to steal the birds' eggs."
She was very quick to add, "The eggs are back! The eggs are okay. But the birds are seriously pissed off about it and want to teach them a lesson."
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
But this was the danger shop, so the regular protocols were in place about not letting students accidentally maim themselves. That should help.
"Okay," Rikku said, pulling the slingshot back, and bracing. "Check the screen. Tell me where I should aim."
She was going to let him decide where to be hurled. It was only fair.
Re: During the Lecture - SCI14
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
"Then let's get those pigs!" She patted the head of the bird in the sling and aimed carefully before sending the little creature flying. And totally taking out the structure in one easy-peasey blow.
Although she did still wince when the birdie went *pft* away.
Re: OOC - SCI14
And I have never played, so thank you for the links!
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
It wasn't, really. But then again, this was a bad idea.
Hank quivered with excitement, and tried to mimic the noises the birds were making.
Re: Sign In - SCI14
Re: During the Lecture - SCI14
And worrying the poor birdie would launch itself as agitated as it seemed to be.
Re: Sign In - SCI14
Re: Talk to the TA - SCI14
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
Rikku held the slingshot in place, streeeeeeetching it ... and then she let it fly!
Okay, maybe she was supposed to be the teacher, here, but come on, that looked like all kinds of fun.
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
Re: OOC - SCI14
And if not, there's always Crush the Castle -- no cute birds, but a similar premise. You get to kill some peasants with a trebuchet, and that's always fun.
Re: Play Angry Birds! - SCI14
First squirrels that reported the news, and now pigs that stole bird eggs and birds that wanted to get revenge... "I am totally never going to be able to look at animals normally again, when I leave this island, you know!"