Frothing Demand

First week of controlled eating has yielded a loss of 2kg. Still a ways to go.

Lots of work to be done, many annoyances prevent the working environment from being adequate.

Reviews
Madden NFL 09 (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Bionic Commando Rearmed (XBLA) at Games On Net
Galaga Legions (XBLA) at Games On Net
The Last Guy (PSN) at Games On Net

Features
The Warp Pipe – 25 Random Video Game Facts IV at Games On Net

The first quarter-century is over. I spent the celebratory day working, followed by eating a nice pizza from a non-chain restaurant, and gorging myself on cheesecake. The unfortunate side effect was a new record weight, so we officially started dieting this morning with a bowl of Bran Flakes and All Bran.

The review wave hits with full force this Thursday. I’m still wrestling with my early month work, but should clear that out shortly. It’s harder for the online folk because we don’t have the luxury of lead time, though following statements from the editor this week, it sounds like we should.

Print media is dead, but the publishers refuse to acknowledge it, using the defibrillators of exclusives and long lead times to keep a weak pulse going.

Reviews
Soulcalibur IV (Xbox 360) at Games On Net
Braid Review (XBLA) at Games On Net
Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty (PSN) at Games On Net

Features
The Warp Pipe: Games of Q4, 2008 Part II at Games On Net

After 4 years, the 3200 was moved on, and the 8400 has slotted in in its place. New computers are fun, but backing up and transferring old data, and re-installing programs is a real drag, especially when there is work to be done.

Six reviews on the run now, plus Warp Pipes that need to be prepared in advance. The review backlog at GON must be insane, because only one review I published in August is live on the site.

Features
The Warp Pipe: Games of Q4, 2008 Part I

The Internode folks re-launched their site this week. Internode Games Network is now Games On Net, and it looks a lot more professional. Hopefully the improved look will be beneficial to all.

I have this problem where I start on a million different projects with all kinds of ambitions, and then drop them by the end of the week. Two projects keep recurring – the video games guide book (inspired by the Maltin movie guide), and a video game.

The former is easily doable – it’ll take 10 years, though. In that time I’d have to educate myself on about 15-20 years of “micro computers” such as the Sinclair range, Atari 8-bit and ST, Commodore 64 and Amiga, and so on.

The latter I could put together in under a year, but it’s really damn intimidating, even trying to use the most basic of tools. I’d love to do it all myself, but I suck at the art stuff (unless I use simplistic shapes). I have been looking at AGS as my first point of call – it’d be easy enough to get a game up and running with stick figures and simple backgrounds while learning more about the scripting side of things before moving onto anything ambitious.

I always have the worst timing with these little projects I want to work on. Right now we’re entering the thick of the review season; I’ve already got five on my plate, and need to make the most of the steady, high paying work flow that this time of the year grants. Yet I’m impatient and want everything now.

Features
The Warp Pipe – Most Wanted Remakes II at Games On Net