The fever came back, but I welcome the state when I have time to lie back and enjoy it. I understand that the pleasurable sensations are actually important parts of my brain winking out, but there is something luxuriant about the consumption of such a precious commodity. Fish eggs? Liver paste? Come now. Let my consciousness be my strange meal.
Many key questions arose and were resolved with lightning celerity over the course of this second harrowing exercise, including but not limited to:
- How a spacecraft would actually control in real space
- Alternate Scenes from Channel 4's Green Wing that don't, well, exist
- A variety of branching conversations with an unseen, but not unheard third party
- Voles (analysis: they are alright), and
- A continuation of my previous Sword of the Stars related fantasies.
I would go into the SOTS dream in (perhaps excruciating) detail, but after pouring out my soul in a mail to one of the designers, who then mentioned it to the writer, who then wrote me back last night, I would imagine that the dream - in it's entirety - should probably remain a secret.
As for the strip, it must take place in some Else-worlds Alternate Continuity or something, drawing more from Gabe 2k6 than the stasis-held versions of ourselves we've been drawing on, because there is a direct reference to Gabriel the Younger which doesn't happen very often. We did not realize we had done it, I don't think. He's a good kid, he probably deserves it.
As regards the subject matter, where Vivendi is saying that Diablo Online and Starcraft Worlds (or whatever) are not he way Definitely and Blizzard is suggesting - nay, demanding - that they talk to the (ahem) "Hand," I must say that I don't really believe Blizzard. World of Warcraft is Diablo Online, it is Warcraft III context plus Diablo playstyle. This assessment only becomes more pronounced in the expansion - maybe you didn't hear about the sockets. I'm just waiting for someone to smash a crystal into their forehead, and the circle will be complete.
Starcraft has not been cannibalized in this way. It remains The most popular game in the universe, played even by the semi-sentient Siliqid. I don't just think it's there and on the table, I think it's in process already. Blizzard doesn't like to announce product with Powerpoint slides, though - they drag them out with excruciating javascript timers and ASCII owl jokes. Then, they have new sculptures made, along with a new video from Blizzard Cinematics that shatters even the most pronounced cynicism. So I can understand why they'd feel the need to stave off the rumors - they like their announcements to be just so (see Proverbs 25:11).
(CW)TB out.
Lil’Gabe get’s a mention in today’s strip and so I hope you will all forgive me if I play the proud papa for just a moment. It’s true this is essentially my blog but I normally try to avoid this sort of thing. Since Father’s day is this weekend I figured it was sort of appropriate.
Gabe is nearly two now and it’s still hard to get used to him being a little person instead of just a warm lump that we need to take care of. He can communicate with us now using a few words and hand signs. There are things he wants (cookies) and things he doesn’t want (carrots) and he has no problem letting you know what’s what. He also picks things up at a ridiculous rate. We were teaching him animal noises like any good parent when it occurred to us that we could teach him imaginary animals as well. I mean, it’s not like he knows. So along with lions and doggies he also does a mean werewolf and a very convincing zombie. I have a little clip here of him doing his best murloc impression which I think is pretty damn good.
I’m sure at some point he’ll ask me why they don’t have murlocs or werewolves at the zoo and I’ll have some explaining to do. I’ve got some time before that happens though, and that’s good because I still need to teach him unicorns and griffins.
-Gabe out
Tycho mentioned some new goings on at our store yesterday and I just wanted to mention it again. We’re introducing three new designs and we’re getting rid of three old designs. Here are the new shirts:
The store was getting a little crazy and so we decided that every month we’d have a sort of fire sale. We’ll be taking the bottom three selling shirts every month or so and getting rid of them. We’ve dropped the price on these designs down to $12.99 in order to blow through what stock we have remaining. Once they’re gone they’re gone though so if you’re interested in:
I duped this shirt - men’s and women’s
Baby vs. Rhino – men’s and women’s
You should grab one now…BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
-Gabe out
