Tuesday, August 7, 2001

Black and White Review -- 9:44 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Ars Technica posted a review of Lionhead's Black and White, a game where you get to play a god. The concept sounds quite unique and interesting, but does that make it fun? Here's a hint:

Despite all the effort put into the "gee-whiz-I'm-a-god-and-can-do-lots-of-neat-stuff" factor of the game, the introduction to the game's "story" (for lack of a more suiting word) screams at you that the designers put as little effort into creating an interesting tale as possible. Their end product is high on that gee whiz-factor, but totally non-existent in providing a story that's not 100% post-consumer waste. There's little to get excited about in the beginning, and you really don't care about finishing it towards the end. Sure, along the way you meet a few other gods, but they're as banal and bland as the story itself.

I link to this not so much because I am interested in the game, but because it is an excellent example of how to write a game review.

Pondering the Imponderable -- 9:38 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

No one bothered to tell me that we were going to move several miles closer to the sun this week. This summer has been unbelievably hot, especially considering we only had one day over ninety degrees last summer. Ack. It's supposed to cool down by Thursday, but I'll believe it when I feel it.

The Master comments: What are you complaining about? At least you've got central air :-) Us apartment people get to swelter in the steamy hot air with nothing more than a couple fans to cut the incinerating heat.

Monday, August 6, 2001

Ummmm, Yeah -- 11:30 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Just remember kids, crack kills. Somebody hose him down. Or give him a sedative. Or a clue. Thanks Stomped.

J.t.Qbe comments: That was scary. And nauseating. I think ol' Steve needs to lose some weight and get some exercise. And a life.

Wolfenstein Multiplayer -- 11:20 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

PC.IGN has an interview with id's Todd Hollenshead and Robert Duffy and Nerve's Brandon James about the multiplayer aspect of Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Gray Matter is doing the single player part of the game while Nerve was recently contracted to do all the multiplayer stuff. It sounds like id has learned from the criticism they got for Q3A and is really planning on putting out quite the title. I know I'm looking forward to it. Thanks Blue's News.

Now if I could just get someone to tell me if there will be Linux support . . .

More Shogo 2 Info -- 3:02 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

There is some more rumors floating around about the possibility of Shogo 2 seeing the light of day. Check out the info at my Haus of Shogo.

Pondering the Imponderable -- 2:08 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

I finally got some software to work with my APC Back-UPS Office 500 in Linux. APC's Linux software supports all their uninterruptible power supplies except the Back-UPS Office. Thankfully I found this open source APC UPS Daemon which works like a charm. Why open source software can support it but APC's own can't is beyond me, but hey, it works. I even tested it the hard way (i.e. pull the plug and wait).

And yes, the NFL pre-season gets officially underway with tonight's Monday Night Football game! I'd best start doing some research since my fantasy football draft is coming up soon. I'll have to try to talk Eeyore into predicting the games again this year.

In the "And you thought The Phantom Menace was a dumb title" department, the title for the next Star Wars movie has been announced. You might want to sit down. It will be Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. *cough* I suppose Lucas could have called it Send in the Clones.

The Master comments: Eeyore's picks for this week: Hall-of-Fame game: Dolphins; Week 1 Preseason: Jaguars, Lions, Giants, Seahawks, Titans, Jets, Packers, Broncos, 49ers, Raiders, Bills, Redskins, Eagles, Bucs.

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