Penny Arcade

Dante’s Inferno makes less and less sense each time it bobs to the surface of games coverage.  That shouldn’t be construed as a review; I don’t know anything about it.  I’m just saying that whenever an asset does emerge, video, image, or interview, it falls instantly out of my head.

Now, Electronic Arts seems determined to wrest the title of “most egregious promotional bullshit” from the Acclaim of old, with some crazy Comic Con antics that involve committing “acts of lust” on “booth babes.”  They apologized, ostensibly, but it’s a mealymouthed, worthless thing - a recitation of what they’ve done, capped with the assertion that they’re sorry you’re offended, but not sorry for offending you, as though your reaction were some bizarre, extra-dimensional phenomenon independent of their own actions. 

Judging by the “apology,” we’ll soon be treated to additional stunts based on a rotating tap of grave sins, until (one assumes) they’ve urged consumers to harvest livers.

If this is the result of the critical dialogue, I think it may be time to declare a moratorium on interviews for Star Wars: The Old Republic.  If they don’t want to talk about it, that’s alright, no-one resents them for it.  We all know they’re busy and can find other things to do with our days.  The whole thing has that day old, bargain loaf texture about it: more crust than bread.  Go back to work.  Return to us with screenshots, or on them.

The last time I had occasion to reference the title, it was to say that their reluctance to actually discuss their work made enthusiasm impossible.  There are still substantial gaps in the narrative, but the video on Voice Acting fills many of them.  This clip is now ancient, by Internet standards - but I think about it constantly.  It communicates what they mean by the “Story Pillar” much better than earlier attempts.  It’s actually very interesting, I think, and I wonder if it could possibly work:  what they’re positing is not a multiplayer game, but a single player game that multiple people can play.  Will people subscribe to a game of that kind?

Again, still not enough to set the world ablaze.  Enough, perhaps to strike the flint; enough to diligently blow the embers.

(CW)TB out.

only twenty streets away

We will be choosing the Omeganauts on August 5th, from the pool of those who have registered to attend this year’s show.  If you want to get “in the mix,” as it were, then registering today is strongy advised.  Of course, even if you aren’t chosen, you’re still going to PAX.  There’s really no way to lose.   

(CW)TB

My deepest fantasy is that, in my meanderings on this site, we will produce a piece of language that is useful to you.  Not a slogan; not a quip or a retort, though if we do happen to provide those I’m happy to be of service.  What I actually want to do is to create a useful linguistic tool that will improve your life, or has a life of its own, used over and over until the original source has been completely filed away. 

That represents real success, as I define it: ubiquity and anonymity, in equal measure. 

It was such an intense pleasure this last week to see how many people wanted sketches of Carl Swangee.  Some knew him as Carl, some as “The Robot,” and some - just as people in the universe of Automata would - knew him only as a “Swangee Man.”  We’re starting work on Automata very soon, and I’m doing some preliminary stuff now.  But the affection of readers for the nascent setting was incredibly gratifying.

(CW)TB

Because I’m on Popcap’s mailing list (one of the few I tolerate, for reasons you will soon see) I had a chance to grab Bookworm Adventures 2 a little early.  That all happened here, so if you were a fan of the first one, maybe that will work for you?  Reviewing such a game is beyond worthless.  You either want to spell words or you don’t, and if you do, a context where spelling is an act of almost barbaric aggression will appeal to you.

In any case, I wanted you to know that I defeated a boss last night with the word “Canadians,” and what’s more, an A, an I, a D, and another A were all special tiles.  My foe was obliterated with the utterance of a single word, which must be the dream of all writers, wizards, or combinations thereof. 

(CW)TB