Roderick

I had a subtle Christmas this year. From an unexpected corner I got the book What is the What, and then today I treated myself to a late Christma present: the Lego Home One Calamari Cruiser which was on sale at Toys R Us. Don't know how I'll bring it back home to the Netherlands, but I'll figure it out.

You know what? That is fucking fine and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. When I started Captain August five years ago, some people knocked it for the obvious Invader Zim clone it was. But it didn't take more than a few instalments before it totally found its own swing and voice. In the end it doesn't matter where you draw your inspiration from in the beginning. What matters is what you then do with it. This is probably way more sincere than the situation called for

That is awesome I was only aware of people whining about how it was a 'white guilt trip', obviously tying it into racism and other bullshit.

That was fun, Psych! Do I see a lot of Brütal Legend influences in the comic or is that mere coincidence? Bookmarked your website, in any case!

Merry Christmas everyone! I went to a bar where there were a couple of crazy drunk rockabilly nobodies, and then played Scene It, the DVD boardgame Pretty good times actually! Though next time I'll gladly spend it with family again. Nothing like that cozy family feeling

Though that's absolutely true, one wonders at the strange absence of many Germans here. After all, that has traditionally been the bastion of adventure gaming in the late 90s up until now.

Excellent info, thank you =) (I mean: )

Miffy, you are so rude, offering people your dirty, dirty money.

Awesome, Stevan. I think the best thing for you to do is become a suburban, decadent baby-boomer wannabe. How's that sound? My life here in the States has taken a bit of a weird turn, as my girlfriend in the Netherlands broke up with me. It was kind of consensual, seeing as how we both grew apart from each other while I was here. So there's no huge drama from my side, though that might still come when I return to find her... not there. This has got me kind of thinking whether the whole relationship thing is something for me at all. Some of it is fantastic and I couldn't do without (the quiet comfortableness of having someone that'll always hear your story, the first person to turn to for anything, the small intimacy of watching movies and gaming together), but other things were a struggle (sleeping over, not having enough time for a proper relationship, differences in needs and desires). Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's someone out there for me that'll fit me like a glove, it's just not going to be in any standard shape or form, I think. I'll just have to let these thoughts mature a bit more. In a few years, maybe I'll have a clearer idea of what's right for me.

Those starting areas look huuuuge! I don't care that much about linearity, I've always found that to be a superficial critique of games. Some games revel in being linear. Some games don't. If it works, it works. For instance, one of the major criticisms of LBA2 was that it was too linear. Yeah? So what? It was a brilliant game and it worked. If the mechanics are fun enough, or the environment beautiful, the linearity of FF13's first chapters won't be a problem at all. Also, I liked the Oblivion cave. It gave me some playtime to explore all the new physics and whatnot. Not saying I loved it, but I didn't mind. It seemed like a nice bit of pastiche, seeing as Arena started you off in a dungeon/sewer as well.

Thank you for that.

Water mark buffel rhubarb. I'm guessing that's where this topic is at now I wouldn't block anyone here, but I do frequent some forums where some people have a high tendency to be the kind that I don't want to be confronted with. They're not trolls, they're just people I don't want to see daily. It's nothing sinister. I LOVE YOU GUYS MAN!!

I just came back from an illegitimate double feature matinee where I watched Avatar and Princess & The Frog. About the latter, I can be brief: it's charming, but nothing more than that. It didn't manage to grab me at all, and many of the jokes were stale. The songs seemed particularly dull and disguised moral lessons. But then I had my doubts as soon as I heard that Randy Newman was doing the music. Avatar was a whole other thing. Amazing. I didn't see it in 3D (which is apparently jawdropping), but even 'normal' it was a good experience. I came in there quite sceptical, even kind of prepared to hate some of it, but it manages to be so sincere in what it says and does that it swept me along. Whatever flaws it may have, it has a huge heart.

I don't know a lot about forum technology, but I know what I would always like: the ability to filter out certain people. Say that I don't like to read someone's stuff, I as regular user could have the option to filter out that person, and the forum would automatically remove all their posts from the forum for me, so that it'd be as if they weren't there. Any inconsistencies with the topics I'd take for granted. Why is this functionality not yet widespread?

The science museum sounds awesome. I also read there's a cartoon art museum there, so it seems like a great place to be. I've already checked hotels in the centre and if I go in January it shouldn't be more than 400 Dollars for the week. Now all I need is to convince my company to let me go for a week. Maybe I can work for them from my hotel room

I am! It's weird. But none of you are actually out here to do some lunch or whatever, are you?

Abercrombie & Fitch. I walked into that store (it looks like a huge darkroom), and was awestruck by the most iconoclastic, incredibly designed, insane store ever. I walked around there slackjawed for ten minutes. I can't describe it.

Excellent, thanks =) More suggestions are obviously welcome if you have them! ^__^

I'll have to wait a bit for my presents on account of being abroad. But come Januari 29th, I'll join you in the rejoicement!

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As it so happened, today I was walking in the Grove, a posh shopping area in Los Angeled, and suddenly a band with cheerleaders burst out in a 20-min energetic act holding GAP bags and stuff. I looked on with a mix of wonder and revulsion. I am, as a sidenote, often amazed by how US commercials will incorporate ridiculously cheesy cheerleader singing and dancing to promote something. As a European, it comes across as incredibly contrived and fake.

I'm tremendously lagging behind with the series, so I'm not reading any of the posts above and just ninja-ing this in. I hope you forgive me. I just finished Lair of the Leviathan, the third episode, and it was by FAR the best one yet! So freaking awesome! Everything about this episode was fantastic. This has really set the bar after the somewhat disappointing second act. Virtually no recycling! Superb! I'll be playing the last two episodes in the next couple of weeks, savouring the taste.

I've finally gotten my own mitts on this game, and so far it's pretty fun! It feels like returning to an old friend. I suddenly realized how much I had really enjoyed Phantom Hourglass, and how good that game was. Whether or not Spirit Tracks is as good, it's too early to tell. The train is decidedly less cool than the boat, but I do really enjoy that it's something different, something I haven't done before. That's valuable. So far I'm liking the steering-Zelda mechanic, not very far yet... so I'll just see where it goes! =) Mikemariano:

Holy shit! They're back!

I'm buying Spirit Tracks