Penny Arcade

Last time, I promise.  I talk to somebody in Xbox PR almost every day, on pretty good terms, but they know I love them deep down.  They make it pretty hard not to.  What’s more, I’m afraid that Deathbunny will hurt me if I don’t.

I have the pink eye, the conjunctivitis, in both eyes, which is really cool because when I wake up, I can’t see anything and I fall down.  I’d gotten better (at least I thought), but then it all came back worse than before with this eye shit on top of it.  I’m going to get some antibiotics today and otherwise be unconscious, Gabe said this was okay, so I’m going to take him up on it.  I feel bad that I haven’t been more talkative, but I also feel bad just in general so it all kind of runs together.  Do stick around: with any luck Gabe will be more chipper, Batjew will be more psychotic, and perhaps Monkey will relate how he came to have such a productive union with the MSG90A1.

Did I apologize already?  I think so. 

There are birds outside; I find their joy maddening.

(CW)TB out.

sickman, sickman, sickman

I’m actually feeling quite chipper today it’s true. I’m not sure exactly why, but I think it might have something to do with the fact that E3 is only about four weeks away. Mr. Howarth over at VE3D seems positively put off by the whole affair. Maybe he is talking about some other E3, some kind of elephant expo or something I don’t know. This year’s electronic gaming expo promises to be one of the best in years as far as I am concerned. On the PC side you’ve got Unreal II, Unreal Tournament 2003, Knights of the old Republic, Never Winter Nights, Star Wars fucking Galaxies, and Doom 3. Oh, and a couple of little games from Nintendo called Mario Sunshine, Zelda, Star Fox and Metroid. I’d bet money Sega will be showing off Shinobi somewhere on the show floor. Namco will probably have Soul Calibur 2 and Square should be showing Final Fantasy XI. These are just the first ones I can think of off the top of my head. Last year was nice what with the new consoles and all, but this is the year we get to see what these consoles can really do. Add to that the fact that each year we always see a bunch of stuff that we had never even heard of until E3. In fact a little bird actually told me what Nintendo has up its sleeve this year and when he told me I punched him in the face and called him a liar. When he got back up he promised it was the truth, and I believe him. I don’t want to say anything that will get anyone in trouble but I know I’ll be heading to the Nintendo section first this year. Maybe Mr. Howarth just hates video games or something. If it makes him feel any better I heard there might be some press releases there.

Well I suppose it was just a matter of time. The student has surpassed the teacher. Kara is a much better Soldier of Fortune player than I am. It’s true. Her impressive scores routinely place her at the top of the score board. This is the kind of pride parents must feel when their children become astronauts or scientists.

I think I have all the questions I need now for our import gaming 101 feature. Thanks to all of you mailed me about it. I’ll put them together and get them off to the guys at videogamedepot.com this weekend hopefully. I’m just about finished with my impressions of Kingdom Hearts. God willing and the creek don’t rise I’ll have it up for Friday. Tycho was working on a Gundam Federation vs. Zeon piece but I’m not sure when he’ll finish it now that his eyes are broken.

Now that Tycho is sick and may die I could be in the market for a new best friend very soon. I can’t say for sure who I will choose but rest assured the winner will be drawn from members of Club Penny Arcade. So if you aren’t already a member you better hurry.

Flash King Of Fighters is pretty damn cool for a Flash game.

-Gabe out

Wow, I had no idea my little blurb about Nintendo’s big plans for E3 would get everyone so excited. I was pointed towards this thread over at Gamefaqs discussing what it could possibly be. I have contacted my source and I am trying to find out exactly what I can say without getting anyone in trouble. I will tell you that none of the guesses in that thread are correct. I’ll also say that it’s not a game. I’ll let you guys know as soon as I find out more.

-Gabe out.

It looks like someone else in this forum has the same info I do, so it’s probably safe to say it. Word has it that Nintendo will be showing off a new 3D display designed for the Gamecube. I’ll try and get more information for you guys.

-Gabe out

For reasons that can only be deemed “clinically insane” I have been invited to be a “special” guest at Fanime 2002 this weekend.  Now, when I say “special” I mean it in exactly the way you think I do.  All I can say is they better have plenty of Capri Sun and Pudding cups.  I also expect to be rewarded at the end of it all with a PIZZA PARTY and a MACHO MAN T-shirt!

I was told(yelled at by Gabe) that for whatever reasons I wasn’t supposed to be representing Penny Arcade at this Con.  I have no idea what he’s talking about or why he’s so worried.  From the way he reacted you’d think I was going to run around screaming about Wishbone the Dog and biting peoples ankles.  Boy, attack Tycho’s telemarketing neighbor with old, wet cardboard ONCE and you’re marked for life.  Besides, why would I be representing Penny Arcade at an Anime convention?  Obviously they’ve invited me because not only am I ADORABLE, but also because of my fabulous collection of Godzilla toys!  Anyway, if you’re going and would like to know what they have planned for me, drop me a line and I’ll hook you up.

Love, luck & lollipops!
Batjew!

Sleep for nearly twelve hours.  That’s my recommendation.  I feel much restored, strength of ten men, etc., and would wrestle an elk if I thought I could find one.

As Gabe mentioned, I am currently writing up my impressions of Gundam Federation vs. Zeon DX.  It’s something I would ordinarily do in the newspost, just give a basic outline of a product, but I like the Land of The Rising Fun concept and I want to bolster it with new stuff.  It’s also nice to be playing a new game on my DC, I expected to have to give something up in the visuals department but it makes no apologies on that front.  This game in particular illustrates one of the bummer-esque elements of importing.  Observe:

I’m not Japanese or anything, but this seems to imply multiplayer functionality.  And even with the best FAQ - the quiet refuge of the layman importer - that feature is probably not something you’re going to get to work right.  In my opinion, this game is still a hoot - a wild ride, an action-oriented Big Robots game that wouldn’t be made anywhere but Japan.  But it’s a bittersweet moment not uncommon to those who import. 

I’m also writing a basic overview of that Warhammer 40k card game - not something for current players, just an introduction for the curious - it’s at about the halfway point.  I was going to wait until that went up on Friday so I’d have a nice segue, but I just have to get this out:  What the fuck?  I was pretty excited about the original concept, an online version of the tabletop game lots and lots of people like.  Finally, I thought, people who might be put off by elements of the realspace edition would be able to see what’s so great about it.  Shit, I’d even resigned myself to purchasing individual units.  But I’m bewildered by this new tack, an MMORPG for God’s sake, and I’ll never believe this change was motivated by anything more than a thirst for subscriptions. 

I’m casting about for something to throw at Europe.  Yes, I’m perfectly aware of Warhammer Fantasy roleplaying.  But there’s no shortage of these games online, in my opinion too many, so an entry into this market just looks like license mongering.  Add to that the fact that PC’s can’t play as the fantastic evil races we’ve grown accustomed to in the setting, and I’ve just got to throw up my hands.  What’s going on here?  You have a mature game system loved the world around.  Are you really wondering what to do with it?

I guess Gamespot is going to be a pay service now, as well - it’s a pretty reasonable transition it seems like, different in several key ways from IGN Insider, and I’m curious to see if it will be a success.  If they put up a Greg Kasavin gallery - maybe with him dressed as a fireman, or a police officer - I’d sign up today.

(CW)TB

I would like to say for the record that the information about the 3D display is by no means rock solid. I will say that it had nothing to do with the article at PGC a while ago. My information came from someone else entirely. He had no reason to lie to me but he could have been given false information or I could have misunderstood him. One way or another we will all know very soon.

-Gabe out