Some statistical anomalies...

from the mad design file...
Ah that's the stuff. As you can see game one is progressing nicely. Each player is hacking his way into a dungeon, killing nasty evil types.
I think they're both having some fun. We'll see how long I can keep up with them.

You guys rock!

from the "all you need is friends" file...
I realize the irony of that title. Based on the suggestions of posters I present - mountains V2.0.

I am MUCH happier with this look. Yes they are still stylized and pointy. But I like the look much better.

Now just swamp, desert (dessert? I can never remember which is which...) forest, tundra...

w00t!

from the game dev file...
The PBEM experiment rocks on. I am still tweaking the rules and seeking a level between player actions and turns, but so far I am pleased. I'm also truly impressed with the level of creativity this process can evoke in my players. Both have taken to making their replies into what might rightly be described as character journal entries when each could easily have come back with "I go north..."
I believe, in the end, that the input level, and reward for it, are what will make the difference between playing this for a bit and playing it long term. That and my ability to keep up with my players, of course.

Ah, that's life...

from the game geek file...
Sometimes I just want to hate something. Take this new Lara Croft game. I want to hate it. I want to be mortally offended that we're still allowing the game industry to portray women like comic book heros. I want to not like the game play.

But I can't. It plays too slick.

Now admittedly, it's a short game, apparently. Which is something I have a major bone of contention with. Unless you're going to knock the price way down, anything under 40 hours of game play is expensive for a game. Especially here in Canada where I'm already paying a premium for still being able to call them french fries.

I don't think that's going to stop me though. MAYBE I can wait until I can get it used. I still need to pick up F.E.A.R., and I haven't tried any of the Battlefield games yet.

Maybe.

And maybe we'll find out crack cocaine is good for you. Is there somebody who can sponsor me to a Gamers Anonymous meeting? Aw, I would never make it past step 2 anyways.

Crackalackin'!

from the game teef file...
I am really jazzed about a new experiment I am trying with one of my long term gaming guinea pigs friends. I'll let you know more as it unfolds, but here's the highlight - it's a light RPG by eMail.
Oh, and the art is totally ripped off from Ultima IV. Some day, I'll pay somebody to make me art...

(or You could just call me Art.)

Slartibartfast would understand...

From the Not-So-Artistic Department...
Pictured at left is a snippet from a map concept I'm working on. It should remind you of a narrow segement of land between two water areas. The effect is a bit lost here, but looks not bad when you get several of these style of tiles together (and then they get the margarita mix out ...).
On the other hand we have this sad eddiface. It is meant to conjure thoughts of mountains and highlands. Not so nice.
Soooo... if anybody has any tutorial sugestions on drawing stylized mountains, I'm open to it.

See really nice effect put together (I like it.).

About a Hat

or how sometimes poody, really is...

(/cosby)I want to talk to YOU about a hat.(/cosby off)

Pictured at the left is Adam Baldwin, in his stellar portrayal of Jayne Cobb, mercenary for hire and member of the crew of the Serenity. If you are fan of Serenity or Firefly, or both, good for you. As am I. That's key to this story, so put it in memory. If you want more detail about the hat, and what it's all about, go here:
Jayne's Hat Brigade. (I haven't asked for permission to place that link, but that will be the least of my sins in this post...)

That page will give you plenty of detail.

Now it's not this hat specifically, that I am on about. About three weeks ago, I received a box, in the mail. The box was simply addressed to me, and in and of itself was completely unassuming. It featured nothing besides the postmark and my name and address. I naturally assumed it was yet another eBay purchase which I had lost track of.
When I opened the box it was filled with 3 things. Actually, it was filled with excelsior. Nestled among the excelsior (and who packs anything with excelsior these days anyways) is a hand written note and a hat. This hat is a knitted cap, oddly shaped. The included note is hand written, in an unrecognized scrawl.

The note includes such comments as "Your brother Matty is still suffering from the wet lung."

At this point in the reading of the note, my dear wife, Rebecca (also purportedly a fan of both Firefly and Serenity), suspects the worst. Some fiend has sent us a plague infested hat. And wash your hands. The hat is placed on the top of the fridge. It sits there (out of her reach, really) for three days. She contacts Canada Post in an effort to track the package back to its source. No dice. Feeling that discretion is the better part of valor, she trashes the hat (with my permission, of course).

Two. Weeks. Later.

While at a bachelorette party for a mutual friend, said wife speaks with the wife of a close, personal friend. Who drops the hint "Soooo ... did you guys receive a package lately?"

Yes, dear reader, it is at this point that you may wish to turn to some other blog. Perhaps the blog of some other, better informed SciFi nut. One who gets it. In this case it being the fact that the hat in the box, with the excelsior, and the note, of no return address, is in a hand made replica of the Jayne Cobb hat, with authentic note as seen in the episode of Firefly, entitled "The Message".

Yes, I have already turned in my Firefly fanclub card.

I hang my head in shame.