Myst DS is out in stores today! Yey! From the tiny bit that I've played, it's nearly identical to the original (which isn't a bad thing). There's a new menu on the bottom of the screen (not too distracting), and it plays faster than it did in the old days (obviously). Other than that, I've heard there's an extra Age. Don't know if that's a rumor or not, but cool.

DS seems to have stirred up an interest in classic adventure/puzzle games. There are quite a few titles available, and many more new (or ported) adventure games on the way. I'm kind of looking forward to Runaway 2. Should be out sometime this year. And the first two Broken Sword games will be released for DS around September. All of these are 3rd person adventure games (the classic style), in contrast to Myst (1st person puzzle game). I enjoy both, but prefer 3rd person adventures.

I'm glad there's still a market for adventure games. They're nice alternatives to the standard action fair that consistently tops the charts. Don't get me wrong, I like action games, too.. but every once in a while, it's fun to play a game where you don't have to shoot a gun (or fireballs, or whatever) to progress through a stage. In point-and-click games, you don't have to worry about your reaction time or constantly worry about what's around the next corner. I like this sort of thing in survival horror, but there's a place for a calmer, more intellectual game experience, too.. which is why I'm so happy that developers are continuing to put together decent adventure games (and resurrecting old ones on new systems).

All that's really needed for a true adventure game renaissance is a significant improvement in the voice acting department. The games that have been released of late have been fantastic visually, story-wise, and in all other aspects. Sound effects and ambient landscapes have been above average. But these voice talents in the bulk of recent adventures have been miserable. Someone needs a kick in the arse.

Early notes as I prepared to write the first Scott Pilgrim. Click to make big.

Note uncertainty about the band name, etc... it was a while before I was fully comfortable with "Sex Bob-omb". Because it's idiotic. But at least it's idiotic in a way that is true to the characters!

I found some earlier notes (from 2002) and see that I had whittled the characters down from a larger number.

Stephen Stills was the last "final" character to appear. Young Neil was named first - although he was originally an actual young kid, for HILARIOUS purposes - and Stills flowed naturally out of that, I guess.

Originally, Scott had a number of friends based on old characters I made up in high school and stuff. Of these, only Kim Pine survived (thank god).

He also had multiple roommates.

I am really happy that I figured out a little thing called "narrative economy" between conceiving this book and executing it.

Anyway, this scrap of notes is from pretty much immediately before I wrote the first book.

Tags: process, scott pilgrim
Current Mood: bemused

Up until this point, I don't think either child has had an ear infection (very surprising since something like 90% have one by age 3).

Go figure...right now, holden has two, kelsey has one. Nothing quite like a houseful of sickos. Thank goodness preschool is almost over. I'm tired of the petri-dish.

The Portland Mercury interviewed me last week prior to our signing. Whittled down to three questions. Easily digestible. Go for it.

Tags: interview
Current Mood: blank

.
.
Directing: B
Acting: B
Writing: B
Cinematography: B
Editing: B

( Another fairly amusing comedy by Team Apatow. )



Overall: B
.
.

Step 1: go to feed your fish
Step 2: startle the fish
Step 3: watch in horror as your crab grabs one of the fish and holds it
Step 4: back away in horror
Step 5: run back to get your telephone
Step 6: break a glass
Step 7: try to make the cats get away from the broken glass
Step 8: vacuum and pick up the pieces
Step 9: try to call encyclops, but his phone is off
Step 10: cry.

Current Mood: upset

• 11:59 I am in Chicago. It is a lovely fucking day. #
• 17:23 Sittin' in First Class about to fly home. #

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Throughout our lives we have meaningful moments where we shape ourselves into a particular way of being based on the experience at that time. This mostly happens in childhood as we struggle to figure out who we are and what the world is all about. However, it can happen throughout life as we try new things or revisit previously held beliefs.

Although the specific experiences we encounter at any time in our lives come and go, meaningful moments are carried with us in the present as long as we hold onto them. The experiences we remember and the experiences for which we wish so strongly are all in our consciousness. The past is the collection of memories, of those things that are in fact completed except for the memories we carry. The future is the collection of our dreams, those things for which we wish but have not yet begun to create for ourselves.

When we explore the moments that continue to live within us, we begin to see how burdened we are by "negative" experiences that are over in physical reality but continue to live on in us through our hearts and minds. The moment is over, but the meaning persists as long as we allow it to persist. It is only when we consciously decide that the meaning we once knew no longer serves us and should be discarded that such things no longer weigh us down.

Of course, there are those moments that lift us up. However, even some of these we release. Dreams we once held in childhood are often left by the wayside as we decide our dreams are too outlandish or the wishful thinking of a child that needs to grow up. Our rigidity sets in as we kill our dreams and hold onto our fears more tightly. To truly heal ourselves, we must learn to do the opposite. We must release the fears we gathered, while holding onto the wisdom we have learned from those difficult moments. We must then use that wisdom to build for ourselves a new future filled with everything we hold dear and all the dreams we can muster into existence.

See other entries for this series

Tags: efth
Current Mood: full

Shortpacked!: A crippling technical set-back for Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann.

Book 3, when I get around to assembling it after Book 2 is put to bed, is to be titled "Shortpacked! Is Totally Gay." (Book 3 features the Ethan Realizes He's Gay storyline.) I've started doodling concept sketches for the eventual cover image, and the first one is to the left.

I showed it to Maggie, and her eyes went big. She thinks it's a bit much. It is a little over the top, but that approach tends to be hilarious to me. But does it go over the top in a way that won't scare people away? Can I sell that cover to passer-bys at Comic-Con? Americans can be squeamish about male sexuality. Hmmm.

Here's another concept. Guess the reference! I think it's funny (in an insular Internetty way), but I'm not sure if it suits the title as well as the first one.

In response to both of them, I kinda want a more dynamic character layout, instead of merely staggering layers of characters. Maybe inspiration will hit me. Maybe you'll all beg me to move in the direction of one of these displayed ideas. Who knows!

In the world of diminishing returns, the fund-raiser to afford two thousand books continues! We didn't nearly match the first day's tour de force preordering, but I didn't really expect to, either. Still, we must soldier on! Preorder Book 2, or bid on this original Batman art from me. The latter ends in under a day. Both serve the purpose of providing more books to everyone! Great thanks from me to everyone who's preordered thus far. You are the heroes.

I leave you all with this post from HeroGojira, who alerted us of an Amazi-Girl sighting in City of Heroes. It makes me so happy.

Tags: art, books, shortpacked!, video games

OK, finally have a few moments to import more of our vacation pics.

This one was taken just outside of our hotel.

There are a ton more on my Flickr page.

( A few highlights )

Full trip report to be added to this post after I've had some dinner and a few Advil.

Tags: photos, travel
Current Mood: busy

No word from my former employer. I imagine he's received the letter from me, so I wait.

On the flip side: My new job rocks! It is hard, busy work, I really have to move my butt to get things done. My new boss is funny, down to earth, swears like a sailor, generous... I really really like her. She has been very demonstrative in her delight that I am such a great assistant. She tells every patient that she had wanted to get me to work for her for years, but didn't want to poach me, so the second she heard that I was unhappy where I was, she told me that I was working for her.

My first paycheck was roughly 5/3 what I had been getting a week, so Yay! Did I mention that it's basically a $15,000 a year raise, if you consider the part-time reality of my previous job. I can quit or at least really cut down my time at NotDisney. They may be fixing to fire me anyway. And that's okay too.

I'm loving life a bit more now.

Ok, I now feel like even more of a complete saddo after going down to Whitcoulls and seeing a new Doctor Who DVD (well, new DVD of an old Doctor Who) available.

"Oh, we have a special of 2 for $40 today for the Doctor Who range." says the clerk.

"um, that's ok. I...already have them all"

(hangs head in (sort of) shame.)

However I do suspect that there might be one or two people reading this who have a complete collection of Star Trek (although not Enterprise, no one could possibly love Enterprise), Friends, Transformers, Buffy/Angel, or Disney films, etc. hiding in a closet (of not-so-secret shame) somewhere.

Plus the "shame" bit is not at all serious, since if not for the show I wouldn't have met Phil (for better or for worse ;) ), so my life would actually be completely different. And my DVD shelf would also be a lot emptier.

Current Mood: geeky

postin' this by boyfriend request so wendy will see it before i mail the original from 'merica. (surprise wendy i drew you a comic) p.s. wendy your boyfriend is cruisin for smooches

efterklang - frida found a friend