Two blog updates: Halloween and Portal
Current mood: pissed off
Category: Games

Check it out, with some new photos.

Currently listening : The Glow, Pt. II By The Microphones Release date: 25 September, 2001

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Empire
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Games

The trip to Manhattan went well. We demoed Blacksite for Maxim, Playboy, CNet, Fangoria and some others. People responded very positively to the high concept, the story, the graphics, the discussions around morale, the evidence of breakables in the Mosque, and the levels we demoed. One of the most popular things we showed was downtown Rachel, in the rain. Lots of respect for the mood and familar setting.

The trip was one night only, so the travel was rough. On the way back my flight got delayed 3 times, so I sat at the gate for 5 hours and got home at 330am last night. On the way there, a lady brought a canvas bag full of frozen seafood and several bags full of "something else." Halfway through the flight, the seafood melted and drained down out of the overhead bin. The plane smelled like dead fish. Just as we were about to land, I looked down and saw something monstrous creeping toward my foot. My arachnophobia kicked in and I shrieked. Seeing that it was only a crawfish, I said, "Omg, I thought that was a tarantula." All the people for 4 rows in any direction heard was, "Omg...tarantula." Mass panic ensued. Some guy kicked the poor crawfish into the center aisle. I experienced cognitive dissonance as the vegetarian in my cried out for the crawfish, while the arachnophobe was screaming in my mind, "Genocide the entire species!" Turns out the woman with the seafood was carrying several plastic bags full of live crawfish. Everyone hated her. I thought they were going to beat her to death. Best lines I heard as we were disembarking:

"I'm allergic to shellfish...I think it touched me."

"What has 12 legs and flies?" (Me.)

"They took my lotion but she gets to keep her crawfish?"

To make up for this, my room at the Bryant Park hotel was an 1100 square foot penthouse that looked out onto the Empire State Building. The suite had two bathrooms. There was a $300 cigar in the snack cabinet. (And a bunch of "toys" in something called "the Pleasure Chest." I've never stayed in a hotel with "the Rabbit" and similar devices on the room service menu.) It was insane.

Currently listening : Read Music/Speak Spanish By Desaparecidos Release date: 19 February, 2002

5:41 AM - 5 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

I loveDDDD my game studio
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Games

It’s so cool working down the hall from a guy who has collected every Star Wars lightsaber from Luke to Yoda to Mace to Darth Maul...awesome!

Currently listening : Daydream Nation By Sonic Youth Release date: 23 November, 1993

5:26 PM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Oh, Hell Yeah
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Games

Deus Ex recognized...sweet!

Currently listening : Black Sheep Boy By Okkervil River Release date: 05 April, 2005

8:53 AM - 7 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Sweet review!
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Games

Clint Hocking (Splintercell) has been counting down his favorite GDC talks. He picked mine on avatars and a talk by Randy Smith (Thief) on save games as his favorites. Given the clarity of Clint's thinking and his passion for the more interesting aspects of gameplay, this is flooring.
 
Clint Hocking's blog (recommended)

Currently listening : Impeccable Blahs By Say Hi to Your Mom Release date: 25 July, 2006

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"Dog Callar" (tm)
Current mood: exhausted
Category: Pets and Animals

Leah and I are still in Australia. Walking back to the hotel, this idea hit me that I love.

Imagine an attachment for your dog's collar that called your cell phone if your dog ever barked all crazy. (Ie, louder and longer than a specific threshhold.) After calling, the dog's collar would stay on speakerphone mode.

This would allow you to do two things: Listen for breaking glass or thuggish voices, in case the dog is responding to a burglar. Calm your dog down by telling it to chill the fuck out over the phone.

Pure gold. TELL me that wouldn't sell like hot cakes.  

The "Dog Callar."(tm)

Currently listening : Wincing the Night Away By The Shins Release date: 23 January, 2007

2:28 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Avatars
Current mood: calm

I just gave my avatar speech at GDC (the Imago Effect). It's like nerd/gamer culture has swept into the mainstream.

Currently listening : Oh, Inverted World By The Shins Release date: 19 June, 2001

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The White Tree
Current mood: lazy
Category: Art and Photography

Saw this today while walking with Leah, a stark white tree.

Currently listening : Whip-Smart By Liz Phair Release date: 01 October, 1996

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UT Video Games Archive
Current mood: awake
Category: Games

UT hosted a gathering for the upcoming Video Games Archive. Lots of fun, hanging out with people I used to work with, 6, 10, 14 years ago.

These might be the worst pictures I've ever taken. Shown here are Richard Garriot, Warren Spector and Rich Vogel.

We drank too much and had a great time. UT is collecting up video game materials for the archive. At the event, people brought stuff like design docs from 15 years ago (that became games like Wing Commander), marketing materials and music from very old games. Lord British brough a roll of yellowing teletype paper from his first game, pre Akalabeth.

Currently listening : Death to the Pixies 1987-1991 By Pixies Release date: 07 October, 1997

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MTV Interview for BLACKSITE
Current mood: melancholy
Category: Games

MTV Interview for BLACKSITE

Our game is coming together here in Austin. It's hard work, but I love it. This MTV interview is based on a recent conversation.

Currently listening : Silent Alarm By Bloc Party Release date: 22 March, 2005

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