Saturday, October 16, 2010

Statistics of the Games

Delhi 2010 changed the record books and gave stat gurus lots to work for. Presenting the statistics of the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi:

Australian Coutts and Indian Narang ‘Queen and King of the Games

• With five Gold medals in Swimming, Alicia Coutts (AUS) was the most successful athlete at the Games
• Gagan Narang (IND) was the most successful male athlete. He won four Gold medals in Shooting.

Australians Jones and Seebohm equal all-time medal records

• Leisel Marie Jones (AUS) became the third person to win 10 Gold medals in the Commonwealth Games history, tying the all-time record of Susie O’Neill (AUS) and Ian Thorpe (AUS)
• Emily Jane Seebohm (AUS) equalled the record of winning eight medals in total in one Games. Swimmers Ralph Hutton (AUS) in 1966 and Susie O’Neill (AUS) in 1998 were the only other athletes to achieve this feat

Australia was the most successful Commonwealth Games Association(CGA) in Delhi

• Australia was the most successful CGA at Delhi 2010. It won 74 Gold, 55 Silver and 48 Bronze medals. It was the 12th time they led the medal table
• Australia has been the most successful CGA in every Games since 1990
• England was the third-best CGA at this Games, behind India. Only once before, at the Victoria 1994 Games, have two CGAs performed better than England

Host nation India performs better than ever

• India won more Gold medals than it had won before in one Games. It took 38 Gold medals, its previous record was 30 in 2002
• With its 101 medals in total, India finished runner-up in the medal tally and became the fourth CGA to reach the century mark in one Games
• Every host nation of the Commonwealth Games has beaten its previous record number of medals, and India has joined that list in 2010

Four CGAs win their first Commonwealth Games Gold medals

• Natasha Mayers (SVG) clinched the first Gold for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in the Women’s 100m in Athletics, on 7 October
• Amantle Montsho (BOT) won Botswana’s first Gold in the Women’s 400m in Athletics on 8 October
• Faavae Faauliuli (SAM) collected Samoa’s first Gold medal in Commonwealth Games history, in the Men’s 94kg Weightlifting on 9 October. One day later, two other Samoans won Gold in this sport
• On 11 October, Cydonie Camile Mothersill (CAY) won the first Gold medal for Cayman Islands, when she ran to victory in the Women’s 200m event in Athletics

Australia reaches medal milestones in Delhi

• On 8 October, Kasey Brown (AUS) clinched Australia’s 2000th medal in all Commonwealth Games. She took the Bronze medal for Australia in the Women’s Singles in Squash
• The Women’s Hockey team won Australia’s 800th Gold medal in Commonwealth Games history on 13 October

Australia’s Croak wins Gold in two different sports at the Commonwealth Games

• Alexandra Croak (AUS) became the first athlete to win Gold in two different sports at the Games, considering Cycling Road and Cycling Track as the same sport
• Croak won a Gold medal in Diving in Delhi 2010, and had previously won gold in Artistic Gymnastics in Manchester 2002

More podium sweeps than ever in Athletics

• In six Athletics events, one CGA swept the podium, more medal sweeps than ever at the Commonwealth Games in this sport
• Kenya clinched the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in four events: the Women’s and Men’s 3000m Steeplechase, the Men’s 800m and the Women’s 5000m
• England swept the podium in the Men’s 110m Hurdles and India won all medals in the Women’s Discus Throw

Winning streaks in Rugby Sevens, Men’s Hockey and Synchronised Swimming extended

• New Zealand won the Rugby Sevens Gold in Delhi, as it had also done in the three previous Rugby Sevens tournaments at the Commonwealth Games. New Zealand has never lost a match in Rugby Sevens in Games history
• Australia won the title in Men’s Hockey, having won Gold in the event at all three previous Games in which it was held
• Canada kept its 100 per cent record in Synchronised Swimming alive. It has won all 14 events since the sport was included in the Games in 1986.



info from:-

http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/news/statistics_games

my Achievements At Mtv- INDIA'S NUMBER 1 YOUTH CHANNEL. STAY RAW







the day, was not one of my luckiest days but still i got the lucky call from MTV. i was very excited when i got the call.
Then i informed my gang members and we went to chanakyapuri for the auditions 2 days later.



The Venue was Delhi College Of Arts And Commerce at 9.30am. By the time we all showed up from all the corners of delhi [Noida, East Delhi To be precise] it was 11 am.
We were the last of the teams on that day sign up the registration sheet. We were all given a ID- with number 22 on it. When we entered the hall, there were other teams seated and one team was performing a Pole Dance on stage, we were shocked because we hadn't planned on anything....



But luckily before it was our turn to perform on stage we were called into the audition room for G.D(group discussion). V.J BANI was our judge for the day. She gave us the topic "IS CHEATING VALID IN A RELATIONSHIP". We were in support of the topic. Mr. Ali helped us out. He was with the MTV team. He was really good with his arguements against the other team.



After we completed G.D,we came back in a hall, we were called on a stage and we were asked to perform a single-legged dance. We did our best. :)



We didn't expect to win the GD but stil we did, we were all really happy. The next round was P.I(personal interview.)




Personal Interview was a much more relaxed affair. They asked us word play questions and asked some questions about our Gang. It went well and we were all happy as we left the place and made our way to our respective homes. As we were in metro we got the call that our gang TOONZ GAMERZ is one of the 10 Gangs selected from Delhi. 
It was truly a happy moment.....



Friday, October 15, 2010

Ramayana - The Epic review by cgtantra

Film: Ramayana - The Epic (Animation) (U)
Director: Chetan Desai
Voices: Manoj Bajpayee, Juhi Chawla, Ashutosh Rana, Mukesh Rishi
Dialogues and Script Research - Rituraaj Tripathii
Art Director - Priyam Chaterjee
Rating: 3/5

Ramayana - The Epic , the Chetan Desai rendition to the original Valmiki’s Epic Poem is one of the latest mythological 3d-animated feature venture and an honest attempt to marry this still nascent medium of animation of feature story telling to an Indian Audience which has spent their weekends more with the Superstar entertainers than with computer animated versions of Hindu mythologies. With the formula of Animation as a preferred medium and Mythological Heroes like Hanuman kickstarting the trend, Ramayana the Epic with its pre-release marketing and perfect Dussehra Release timing should be expecting a decent turnout of the families and kids. Though from a technical and animation point of view, its nothing superlative but surely a much-required fledgling step towards achieving international quality foot-holding.

Plot: Ram (voiced by Manoj Bajpayee), the eldest son of Dashrath, is exiled from the kingdom for fourteen years because of over jealous StepMom Kaikei . His beloved wife Sita (voiced by Juhi Chawla) and the younger brother Laxman (voiced by Rishabh Shukla) who is devoted to him, decide to accompany them to the jungle of Chitrakoot. One day, Surpanakha, the ravishingly beautiful demon princess spots Rama in the jungle and is attracted to him. When he rejects her proposal, she complains to her brother, Ravan (voiced by Ashutosh Rana), the demon king of Rakshasas. Ravan disguises as a sage and kidnaps Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. And thus begins the epic battle between the forces of good and evil, as Rama unleashes his powers against Ravan in an amazing demonstration of heroism, and super powers accompanied by the massive Vanar Sena of King Sugreev and Bahubali Hanuman.

With a story already set deep within the religious sentiments of all Indians and Ramanand Sagar’s version of Arun Govil as Lord Rama set in the minds of millions of TV Viewers from our childhood days, Chetan Desai’s Ramayana The Epic , has made an effort to package the Magnum-an-opus into a 100 minute narrative in his own style. With grand SETS and locations, innovative weapons, time dissolves with voice overs and lots of cutting edge visual effects. Though the editing is crisp and the story flows on from one incident to another, a bit more punch could have been added to the screenplay to make it more fluid , as at times it feels slightly disconnected or as if there is a sense of hurry - especially in the second half. 

The music is peppy and catchy and especially the Vanar Song when Ram enters Khiskhinda jungle with all the Vanar Sena doing “Matar Gasti” would hopefully be enjoyed by Kids. The dialogues(Rituraaj) though can be difficult at times for kids and the layman to understand as it is very textual and attempted to be staged in the ancient times and hence bordering on sanskrit.


As the film begins, the first thing that catches your attention is the very stylized title design which had pumped up my expectations form an aesthetics and design value perspective for the film. With Ketan Mehta’s Maya Digital Media ( earlier Maya Ent. Ltd) as being one of the oldest Animation and VFX Production houses in India, Ramayana The Epic comes as the first Feature Length Movie release for the team and a stepping stone to churn out more in the coming years.

But , except for a few really great sequences and executions, there seemed a lot of disparity in the quality of animation as well as design. The main characters designs could have been done better except for Ravan ( Ashutosh Rana is a treat to hear personified by the best character design in the movie). Ravan as a Villian and the way the voice artist has done justice to the character portrait (the scene where we see 10 different perspectives of Ravana coming from Ravana’s seated on different seats symbolizing the conflict of 10 headed Raavan) is really commendable and something to look out for. And personally, Ravan with the portrayal of over egoistic and bordering on hot headed maniac seems to be one of the best crowd pullers in this entertainer.

The Animation throughout the movie is something that could have been given more attention and except for a few fight sequences like the Bali-Sugreev Rain duel and the Raavan multiplying and disappearing in FX Dust part there are very few visually grand choreographed sequences that one could go back home and talk about. The Samudra Dev formation VFX scene is also something that deserves a mention for the tremendous Machine Power that might have gone in executing it by the Maya Digital team.

With Ramayana known for generations as having some of the best visual duels and fight scenes, more could have been done in orchestrating and choreographing the battle scenes..especially the ones in the end. There was some great visual imagery in the form of Ravan’s Lanka kingdom touching the skies and Ayodhya nagari but still too little from a full length movie perspective. Cool gadgets and weapons like Ravan’s Flying Vehicle Pushpak and the telescope vision machine and freaky creatures like the Naag Maata and Sea Creature are also worth mentioning.

As a whole in the summary it can be said that though the movie has its moments of glory , and definitely a step towards making animation movies more visible in front of the Indian Audience to appreciate - We still await the day when we come across that landmark film which can also gain praises worldwide for that elusive blend of Great Storytelling and High Quality Animation and Art Direction. With Indian Kids and Audience now having instant and regular exposure to all forms of International Quality animation, and with prospects of more and more animation films being made and released in India, lets hope that Indian Animation and VFX studios are raring to go and make the best of the opportunities ahead.

Well, from an Animation artist and technician point of view if this movie can rule the roost of Dussehra time and do good for the makers, then that’s more than said encouragement for the aspiring filmmakers and the deep pocket investors behind them..then may the power be with us -

Jai Shree Ram! :-)

Review Ramayana – The Epic By Komal Nahta | Koimoi.com






Star cast: Animation film with dialogues dubbed by Juhi Chawla, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Mukesh Rishi.
Plot: The story is from the epic Ramayana. It talks about the 14-year exile of Lord Rama; Sita’s kidnap by Ravana; and her ultimate release by Lord Rama with the help of Hanuman.
What’s Good: Sets; some part of the animation.
What’s Bad: The screenplay; the other part of the animation.
VerdictRamayana The Epic will be an ‘epic’ disaster at the box-office
Loo break: Anytime!


Maya Entertainment Ltd.’s Ramayana The Epic is an animation film which talks about the chapter of Lord Rama’s 14-year exile, the kidnap of Sita by Ravana and how Rama, with the help of Hanuman and his army of monkeys, finally rescues Sita from the clutches of Ravana.

The story is based on the epic, Ramayana. However, Chetan Desai and Rituraj Tripathi’s screenplay is a job childishly done. Although the story has such a lot of drama, excitement and emotions, all of these have been kept out of the screenplay. Frankly, the story unfolds on the screen like an ordinary account devoid of any emotions. Even the dialogues, penned by Rituraj Tripathi, are commonplace and not of the kind befitting an epic story like the Ramayana. Since the story is common knowledge, the presentation should have been mind-blowing if it was to be brought on screen. But the presentation in this case adds nothing to the drama.

Dubbing of the animation characters by Manoj Bajpayee (for Lord Rama), Juhi Chawla (Sita), Mukesh Rishi (Hanuman), Ashutosh Rana (Ravana) and Rishabh Shukla (Laxman) is appropriate. However, the animation could’ve been better. Several human animated characters look a bit awkward as their faces look plastered on their bodies without the necks or with disproportionate (small) necks. Otherwise, the animation is fairly nice.
Chetan Desai’s direction looks like a job hurriedly done. Sharang Dev Pandit’s music and Raamendra Tripathi’s lyrics ought to have been far more appealing and inspiring. Priyam Chatterjee’s sets are rich and grand.
On the whole, Ramayana The Epic lacks entertainment and will go largely unnoticed. Disaster!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Incredible storytelling, great characters, and exciting battles are just a few of the things that make this fantasy role-playing game so extraordinary.

When was the last time you felt totally lost in a fantasy gameworld? When was the last time you played a game with such a well-crafted and enjoyable story that you knew you’d remember it for a long, long time? Dragon Age: Origins is that kind of game, so rich and involving that you are powerless to resist its wiles and whims, so touching and triumphant that your mind and heart will be moved. In the fictional land of Ferelden, you meet memorable characters and fight for a cause you believe in, and it's this backdrop that makes developer BioWare's newest role-playing game so extraordinary. Dragon Age is more than a well-crafted story, however: It's a lengthy, intricate, and thoroughly entertaining adventure that's easy to fall in love with.
Dragon Age's plot, which deals with the impending invasion of a horde of demonic creatures called the darkspawn, isn't where the story's biggest surprises lie. The shocks, the joys, and the disappointments spring from the repartee among a number of remarkable characters; they lurk within books of lore and stories of martyrs; and they burst forth during spine-tingling moments when you must choose from a selection of difficult choices that affect the tale's direction--and the way your associates interact with you. Ferelden is a colorful and fascinating kingdom that takes enough cues from well-known fantasy tropes to be familiar, but bends enough conventions to feel original. Dragon Age features dwarves, but their caste-based society and the social paragons that rise above it twist the norms enough to keep you intrigued. Mages remain under the constant watch of templars, a restriction that doesn't sit well with those who view such policing as virtual slavery. The role of religion in human circles is of particular note. Chantries provide refuge to those worshiping the all-powerful Maker, and chanters recite the holy word near their houses of prayer. But lest this world sound too serious, don't despair: One such disciple slides food references into her chant, and a few dwarves warn you not to fall into the sky. Small, humorous touches like this are plentiful. Even if you aren't the literary sort, Dragon Age may inspire you to read every note, every character bio, and every creature description, thanks to the richness of the world and the consistency with which it's presented.
You'll learn even more from the companions who join you, and you'll grow to care about them on your quest for glory. There's Morrigan, the cynical apostate mage bound to your cause for reasons that become clear only late in the journey; Sten, the strong, silent type who isn't so quick to reveal his innermost thoughts; and Zevran, a darkly mischievous would-be assassin with a wild streak and a playful disregard for the law. There are others too, including Alistair, a wisecracking, vaguely insecure member of the Grey Wardens, an elite group of champions that recruits you early on. Great dialogue and fantastic voice acting make these characters leap off the screen as if they were real friends, and the way they interact with one another feels authentic. Morrigan and Alistair banter about the role of templars in the lives of mages, and the sweetly devout Leliana tries to communicate with your trusty canine cohort in some amusing exchanges. You may even develop a romance (or two) before all is said and done. The course of love isn't always a smooth one, though it can be a bit steamy, in a PG-13 sort of way.
Relationships must be nurtured; in the world of Dragon Age, love doesn't develop at first sight. Rather, you must improve your standings with available party members by giving them gifts and fulfilling quests in ways that please them. Doing so opens more dialogue options and may even reward you with unexpected gifts beyond the private pleasures of your tent. Your personal relationships aren't all you need to worry about when facing a difficult decision, however. On significant quests, you'll encounter complex choices that force you to weigh the risks against the rewards, even as you try to stay true to your own vision of your character. Are werewolves heartless killers, or is there a method to their madness? Should you wholeheartedly embrace a political candidate, or will some unexpected information have you playing double agent--or just killing the opposition? Such open-ended quests have become staples in many similar RPGs, but few make these decisions feel so momentous. The anxiety that results when you encounter important choices is a result of superb writing and character development: When you care about your destiny, decisions have more weight.
Even Dragon Age's initial moments present important decisions that affect how your adventure plays out. You'll customize your own avatar's look from a variety of presets, but more importantly, you'll choose a race and class. The choices may seem initially limited, but your options eventually expand. Later, you can choose up to two subclasses once you reach the necessary level requirements, and there are a few different means of unlocking additional skill trees. Your initial race and class choices don't just determine the kinds of skills and spells you will have access to, however; they influence how the first few hours of the game progress. You will experience one of six different "origin stories" that follow the events that lead you to the elite Grey Wardens. Every origin story leads to the same place, but that doesn't mean you leave these events behind for good. Characters you met early on will cross your path again, and crucial moments of your origin story will continue to haunt you. The varied origin stories not only provide plenty of replay value, but allow you to see familiar characters from a different angle. A prisoner you meet within a dank dungeon may not have much impact on you if you are playing as a Dalish elf, but if you play as a human mage, this encounter is a bittersweet reunion.
You aren't a lone adventurer, however. You can take up to three companions along with you, and eventually you will meet more willing (or unwilling, as the case may be) darkspawn slayers. You can switch out party members back at your camp or in other friendly areas. Party members you don't use will remain at camp, though they thankfully level up even when you don't take them along. Your comrades aren't just AI-controlled henchmen; you can take full control of any party member at any time, though how you do so depends on the platform. PC owners get the most versatile and rewarding experience in this regard. You can zoom the camera in to a close third-person view when exploring and conversing with non-player characters, or pull the camera back to a tactical view, which makes it a breeze to quickly and easily micromanage every spell and attack, in true Baldur's Gate tradition. On consoles, you always view the action from behind a single character, and you use a shoulder button to switch among them. It's a great way of experiencing the buzz of battle, though occasional pathfinding quirks are more apparent in the console versions, simply because you experience the action from a single perspective at a time, rather than while managing four characters simultaneously.
If you've played a BioWare fantasy RPG in the past, you'll feel right at home with the combat system. By clicking on your target or pressing the attack button, you don't just swing a sword, but you approach your target and queue up your attack. Once your party has gained access to a good number of spells, stances, and skills, battlefields explode with bright colors and raucous sound effects, and it's a lot of fun to switch back and forth between party members, managing your abilities and taking advantage of various spell combos to wreak havoc. There are dozens of different types of enemies to slice up, from giant spiders and darkspawn, to ghosts and walking trees, to demons and, of course, dragons. Allies will join you in the biggest battles, and the best of these, particularly those toward the end of the game, are thrilling. On the PC, they're particularly challenging, and many battles benefit from frequent pausing and tactical thinking, so that you can queue up attacks across your entire party. The same battles on consoles are noticeably easier.


source: internet