miffy495

What?

Not necessarily. He could also be Canadian. Our version was named "Philosopher's Stone," but most people over here just call it "math."

Hey folks. I decided recently that a replay of Grim Fandango would be appropriate, as it's been about 3 years since the last time I went through it. Unfortunately, the computer I'm trying to play it on is newer than that, and I'm having a couple of stability issues with my machine. It's a 32-bit Windows 7 laptop, and though the install and executable work fine, it has a tendency to lock up entirely and require a ctrl-alt-del to desktop every 5 minutes or so. I figured this place was as good as any for GF compatibility tips. Any advice on running this?

I probably see more movies than my coworkers, and I see about every 4th movie that comes through the place. A lot of that is due to my girlfriend also being a movie buff and convincing me to go in with her on my night off. It's a free date, and we see a good movie. When the actual shows are going though, I either have to be keeping an eye on the lobby, doing manager duties (cash management, dealing with clients, receiving Coca Cola orders or print shipments or what have you), or doing projectionist duties (building and breaking upcoming and outgoing prints, projector maintenance, etc). If I'm going to be watching a movie on my shift, it comes at the expense of about 20 other things I should be doing. I did it yesterday because the owner of the theater specifically told me to, and I was still doing projectionist duties while doing it. So no, it's not weird at all for a manager of a theater to not see that many movies. If he's anything like me, he'd quite like to have the time and opportunity to watch every single movie that comes through, but there's too much else going on and to come in when he has free time means going to work on his night off. Every now and then I'll make an exception. Enough people wouldn't shut up until I'd seen Scott Pilgrim that when we had the print I stayed until 3am after a shift to put on a private show for myself, for example. Usually if I'm in the building that late though, it's because I brought a PS3 to hook up, some beer, and a couple of buddies. EDIT: On reading your quote though, I notice you said "organizer" and not "manager." In my experience, when someone organizes a special event and rents us out, they get to stand around and bask in the crowd while the projectionist is running around taking care of everything for them. As it should be, really, as they've put the event together and are paying to have the theater for a couple of hours. Importantly, they also have the free time to watch the movie. We have a guy who has rented us out the first Thursday of every month for years now who always shows the shlockiest, campiest horror movie he can find a 35mm print of. I know for a fact he watches every single one in the theater. In fact, I'm pretty sure that every client I've dealt with on a rental has either seen the movie less than a week prior to the screening, or sits in on it. So yeah, if the organizer doesn't actually work for the theater, it's a little weird.

My job is really awesome some days. Take yesterday, for instance. We are currently showing The Social Network, but in the opening scene on Friday night, I noticed what sounded like a scratch on the soundtrack (for those who don't know, sound on a 35mm print is a purple or green track all down the side of the print whch is read by a stylus on the projector. Analog all the way.). To the audience, a soundtrack scratch comes through as an audible but not overwhelming crackle anywhere in the movie that it is present. This one was kinda bad, and in a noisy bar scene (first one in the movie) it made it so that at times you could barely make out the dialogue. I informed my boss of it so that he may deal with the distributor to maybe get us a replacement. Yesterday afternoon he told me that they wanted a complete assessment of the damage, so my job was to watch the entire movie and keep an eye out for damage on the print. I did that, but I also got to watch the entire movie. It was really fucking good. Scary for the fact that, if not entirely true, it was at least based off of the accounts of those who know the guy, but a great story to tell. Any comparisons to Citizen Kane are unfortunate, as if you compare another movie to C.K. the other movie will lose, but it certainly hits a lot of the same story beats along the way. I think that it has aspirations of being the equivalent film for the internet age and though it isn't completely successful it definitely makes a good bid for the spot. Long story short, you should probably see it if you haven't already. Also, my boss plans to open Rare Exports as an exclusive Calgary engagement on Christmas Eve. Whoo!

Finished God Of War: Ghost of Sparta for PSP today. I know God of War seems to be met with mostly indifference around here, but I quite enjoy the series. It's not the best thing, and certainly not a challenge, but it knows exactly what it wants to be and executes beautifully time after time. I'd say that this newest portable one is (despite a disappointingly easy [played on normal difficulty] final boss) probably my favourite of those I've played so far. I've finished every God of War game save 3 on Normal difficulty. This one is fantastic. I'm becoming a really big fan of Ready at Dawn studios. Easily recommend it to anyone with a PSP in the market for a character-action game. I'm getting a bit weary of the way that they keep bolting backstory into the series with the portable installments. (Oh wow! Kratos has a brother that was He knows who's responsible, but somehow it never came up when he interacts with them in games later in the timeline.) Taken by itself though, it's a compelling enough narrative to get you from setpiece to setpiece, and the setpieces are great. Again, greatly enjoyed this game. Anyone with a PSP should give it a shot. EDIT: Whups. Fucked up my spoiler tags. All better.

So, today was moving day part 1. I don't actually take possession of the new place until the first, but it's currently vacant so I'm able to divide up my move over several days rather than having to do it all in one shot. Today, my uncle was down from Edmonton with his huge truck. This means that all of the big stuff has now been taken out of the place I'm still in for the next four days and been moved to the place I will soon be in. That takes a lot of pressure off, as now I have nothing but some small stuff to move over and have a few days to actually organize the place before I live there. It also means that I'm sleeping on an air mattress for the next few nights. Oh well. Just a few stacks of books, some posters, my computer, and my printer left to take to the new place. I'm feeling pretty good about it, but anxious for the transition shit to be over so I can settle in and start getting ready for Christmas. Also, I won't have internet until January, so you'll be seeing quite a bit less of me for the next month. I'll still be connecting at work and while helping my girlfriend house-sit for her uncle for two weeks of the month (these two weeks of not being home was why I figured I didn't need internet right away), but there it is.

Silly bot. Why would Dave Gilbert have any say in a sequel to Shaq Fu?

I also gave him my address. A few weeks later, a copy of Animal Crossing DS was in my mailbox. 'blix is a rad dude, and nothing to be afraid of. In other news, I now officially have a home in 4 days, and have even moved most of my things in there. I'll be sending along the address to 'blix immediately so that he may delight the new home of my girlfriend and I with his Christmas card.

Well, the $5 "Indie Story Pack" contains the $20 Recettear, so those who (like me) were waiting for this game to get a bit cheaper may want to check it out. I already own Gish, Jolly Rover, Puzzle Agent, and And Yet It Moves (this one on Wiiware), so the rest of the pack is meaningless to me, but the 75% off Recettear may make it worth it by itself. Also: $5 for Kane and Lynch 2? Any thoughts?

Finished a replay of Assassin's Creed (the first one) as I can't afford Brotherhood and needed to satisfy my jones somehow. The bits that were great have aged really well. The bits that were frustrating have aged terribly. I swore a lot, but still ended up enjoying the game overall. Of course, I really liked it a hell of a lot when it came out, and even quite liked the PSP game that a bunch of people were ragging on last year, so I may not be one to talk. Next up, God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

Actually, I've tried that already. It says my disk two doesn't contain Grim.exe, which is weird since the regular install worked fine.

Oh shit, like 2 days ago I was saying if Alpha Protocol goes under $10 I would buy it. Done.

Abra-ca-preorder. Soon as I saw it in the Steam news thing, I went for it. Considering how much I enjoyed the first, I'm totally down for more.

Although to be fair, I can't stand LotR for pretty much the same reasons.

Well, he's only 87 in internet years...

Damn. Yes. Buying immediately. No release date announced, as far as I can tell? The IGN thingy ways "spring," but that's a pretty big window.

Man, this is pretty good. I lolled a few times, and despite not really knowing how to play poker, very much enjoyed my first game. Well done, Games n' Famous (also, may I propose the splinter studio name "Famous Video Games?")!

Well, that's MGS Peace Walker bought. Also considering Joe Danger, as I remember it being really well received. Any Thumb opinions? EDIT: Wait, what? Just went on the PSN store and it's still $40. Does this deal start later? EDIT EDIT: Ah. Tomorrow. Well then, you folks have a whole day to prosthelytize about Joe Danger.

I am a huge fan of the DKC series. I can't freaking wait to play this game. From what I played at PAX, the controls were a bit loose for my liking, but good enough. twmac, were you playing with the Wiimote held sideways, or the Wiimote/nunchuck combo? At the demo station, they only had the latter. I just assumed that that was the only way to play, but now reviews are telling me that the game is controlled NES-style. Anyone have the scoop?

I bought it. For the record, I suck out loud at strategy games. I'd be willing to play with some thumbs who are equally lacking in skill.

I second MF Doom.

What the shit:

Shit. I must play this, but will be without an internet connection for the month of December. Why???

Ha. I have almost all of my things in boxes, but kept a few books and games out to read and play during the transition time. Oddly enough, three of those books are Journey to the Centre of the Earth, The War of the Worlds, and Persuasion. Well called, sir.