barely fatal

Well, you know I usually don’t like to link to stuff I found the link to on other sites – it feels like stealing. However, this is the internet, and it’s all about stealing – or building a community, as I prefer to call it

These two links I found on one of my favourite sites, Scott Johnson’s ExtraLife. Two flash games which might keep you busy for a while. This one isn’t work safe: The nudist trampoline. Go have some fun, not much more needs to be said.

The second one actually is an ad-related thing. It features a ‘painting’ with 50 hidden riddles. Each riddle represents a horror or thriller movie. It took me half an hour and I only got 26 out of the 50, maybe you can find more. I really had trouble, because most of the times I don’t know the original (English) titles of movies.

Then, I would like to recommend downloading the official gameplay demo (E3/GC) of Bioshock, the System Shock 2 successor that is due to be released next year. It’s incredible, not only the graaaaphics, but also the original concept makes me want to see more. It’s not a trailer, a developer shows the world and explains AI and story. Get the hi-res version from Gamershell.

On the personal site, I feel like tearing myself apart over the smallest, unimportant things again. That’s stupid and I’ll get over it in a few days, as I always do. Still feels stupid to grow up, learn so much and continue nursing all bad habits from years back. At least I know I’m still me.

Two busy weeks are over. Software releases always result in stress and worries, but it’s way, way better in the new company than in the old sweatshop. I think we did really good this time.

In the meanwhile, I’m through the 3rd season of The Sopranos. I still love it. It’s so realistic – as far as my imagination goes anyway. Paulie is my favourite character. He da man. Old-school.

Game wise, all signals are set to Go. One more month, and the 4th quarter starts, bringing many great new games every week. More than I – or anyone – can play, so smart and strategic decisions have to be made. However, as I’ve said before, Gothic 3 and Dark Messiah are must-haves.

Nobody said anything about my question from last week. 9/11 has come and gone, countless documentaries have been aired, as well as Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. I know it’s something Americans take very personally, but the movie is kinda cheesy in parts, and a bit too long. It shows Moore’s perspective on things quite well though. Mine? I don’t have one. I always expect the worst while ignoring the media hypes and rumors. Usually turns out to be the right thing.

Do you know about the Overheard sites? They quote funny, stupid or simply remarkable conversations that were picked up in the public – in the office, at the beach, in New York … I spent half a day on the Overplot site which combines those quotes with Google maps, so it’s almost like walking throught the streets of New York, listening to what people chat about. Worth checking out!

I mean it. Work kept me busy this week and will continue to do so next week. So, whatever happened on the net or in the real world, I missed it. The weather is great – though it’s remarkably cold – and yet I didn’t leave my couch much yesterday. Sleep – the second best thing on Earth after Lasagne – okay, the third best.

And today? Formula 1, the race in Monza is about to start in five minutes. Maybe Michael Schumacher will announce his retirement (*chuckle*) … maybe not. Can’t say that I care much, I’ve always been a Kimi + Heidfeld fan. Besides of that, I still have a Civilization 4 savegame, the Greek are begging to be spanked.

Yah, lazy weekend.

PS. What do you think? September 11th movies, yes or no? What’s your opinion?

You know that itch that no matter how much you try to ignore you eventually have to scratch? Well, that probably best describes the relationship I have with Jumpgate.

Last night, I relented and reactivated my account. Despite space being noticeably emptier than before, it felt so good to be sitting in my virtual cockpit, kicking conflux butt. Surprisingly, even after all this time, I found I could still take on c6s with relative ease. In fact it was like I’d never left.

I was nice to chat with Vorlon31, Nudge, Sicone and several other familiar names. (OK, I’d only spoken to Nudge and Sic last weekend at Billing but that’s not the point). It reminded me how much of a community is built around JG and how I much I had missed it in other MMO games.

I guess I’ll be sticking around for a while.