I don't know how it began exactly, but every year for the last four we've gone to see Bioware at noon on the first day. In fact, it is the only time I can remember actually eating anything any year we come to this. So, it is with a certain amount of excitement that we ponder this annual ritual.

At the Nintendo party, which we were able to attend via the grace of God alone, I asked a bar technician for a Melonball. Melonballs are delicious, and constructed as follows.

1 1/2 oz. Melon Liqueur
1 oz. Vodka, Splash of Orange Juice
Pineapple &/or Grapefruit Juice

You might be curious as to how this man constructed it.

Vodka

I tried to tell him, listen man, that shit isn't regulation. I think there's supposed to be juice in there. He was busy though, and honestly, by that point I wasn't in any position to argue with him - in English, or any other language.

When I got back to the hotel, I attempted to suffocate Porkfry, and he responded by trying to poke my eye out. So I'm having a difficult time seeing out of my left eye, but I'm too frightened to contact a medical professional. I'm hoping that it will just feel better, magically, when I wake up tomorrow.

We got here only Tuesday, at five or so, so there are many things we have not seen first hand. Sony announced a portable gaming machine? Team-based, online action based on Conker's Bad Fur Day? This is all just crazy shit I heard at the party. Sony and MS dropped their consoles 20 bucks apiece, instead of the 50 bucks everyone - including the big retail chains - thought was virtually a given? This is going to be a very interesting three days.

It turns out that we need to get a dedicated machine to run our store, there's just too many people that want in there for a stock solution to handle it. I guess if you're going ot have a problem, it might as well be that one, huh? We'll try to work out the particulars of that while we're doing other stuff down here.

I'll talk to you tomorrow.

(CW)TB

I am sitting here at E3 and I wanted to make a quick update regarding the store. As you are well aware, you guys broke it yesterday. So powerfull was your desire for our shirts and posters that you brought the Gameskins server to it's knees. The store had to be taken down yesterday so that we could resolve the problem. We have talked to the server place and they should have us on a brand new server by next weekend or so. Please, please be gentle with this one.

If you have any questions feel free to ask Brad@penny-arcade.com

Gabe out

I have a lot to talk about, but my eye is still bugging me and I wan't nothing more than to hold a physician recommended cold compress over it. We do, however, have a new strip which might do with some background.

Fighting Gabriel's Talim in Soul Calibur 2 is about the most emasculating excperience I have ever had in a videogame. He savages you, but somehow his character is able to remain adorable throughout the procedure. It would appear that other human beings had an opportunity to experience what was until now my own private hell, because Gabe is going into the finals tomorrow to infuriate a whole new set of unfortunates. The prize really is a Soul Edge, so you can probably understand why so much depends upon these battles.

Anyhow, if you're down there, he'll be doing battle at 11:00 am in the Namco booth - he's entered in the PS2 tournament. I think I've seen the Soul Edge they're giving away, it's hanging in another part of their booth. It's got the big eye and everything. Maybe Porkfry can go and try to poke the fucker out or something, that's kind of this thing.

Also, just by way of a reminder, we will be hanging out from twelve to two or so in Kentia Hall, we'll be there near the entrance somewhere in the vicinity of the cafeteria there. We are harmless and will not bite you.

My eye feels like it is full of sand.

(CW)TB

Just to make things clear our meet and greet is at noon tomorrow. Not today. If you want to see us today come by the Namco booth at eleven or so. I am pretty nervous about the finals, so any PA support I have there would be much appreciated. Tycho told me that our credibility is on the line so I better fucking win. No pressure.

-Gabe out