No games this week?

Hey dudes, Mom and I probably have something else going on this coming Sunday night. Meranalf has the gamecube and games and stuff with him, so unless something else happens, he's going to host.

Supersonic!

No doubt at least ONE of you will find this interesting.

I'll have to remember to preorder that soon.

Oh, and also, apparently MarioKart is going to have motorcycles in it. Just so's ya know. I think we'll be preordering that one too, do you?

New Logo!

Thanks to Klutch for the new blog-duds. For those of you who only ever RSS this, check out the site and ogle the new logo. Hey, that almost rhymes!

G4 Does Halo

This is an introduction to G4's live coverage of the countdown to the release of Halo 3. All the actors in this are the hosts of a few shows on G4.

Wii bowling Lego über bot

In the words of Will Smith... I have got to get me one of these!

8-Bit Art

I can't believe I missed this but apparently there was a contemporary pop art show called I AM 8-BIT! This was a show that was focused on the theme of old 8-Bit games. It featured many big pop artist including Steve Purcell. These are some of my favorites:Yes! Someone built a giant Atari joystick that actually works!If you want to see more pieces check out these galleries: 1 2

No electricity required!

Just wanted to invite you all to join us on next next Saturday (not this Saturday, not next Saturday, but the Saturday after that) at the Celebration in the Park at Neff Park. Jess and I went a couple years ago and it was a lot of fun. I have no idea when we'll be there, but if you're interested in going, let me know. Maybe we can coordinate.

Holy-Aunt-Betty-In-A-Rented-Hamster-Suit!

For those of you who are Sam and Max fans from either the old Lucas Arts PC game, the cartoon series or the old comic, here is a fun treat.

There is a new Sam and Max PC game that is available! (sounds of S&M fans rejoicing) What’s unique about this game is that it is being released overtime in episodes like a cartoon series. Season one has already been released and they’re already into season two! Check out the official website of Tell Tale Games.

The really cool part of this whole thing for me is that Steve Purcell (the creator of S&M) is creating a new S&M comic! This sort of "graphic novel" is being release entirely online in pieces kind of like the game. Steve told me when I met him at the Comic Con in San Diego, that once he has completed the comic he will publish it with a combined republication of the original comics. I can’t wait! If you want to read the comic just click here.

Steve also told me that the animated series will eventually be released on DVD at some point in either the fall or the spring. If you want to check out the series it can be viewed for free at GameTap (To view it on their site, click "Animation" up in the top left, then click "Sam & Max Animated Series," ).

Sam: (reading a Greek restaurant sign) "No shirt, no shoes, no souvlaki." HA HA That’s funny!

Max: At least pants are optional.

The system is back up!

I layed hands on Mom's tv, so it's working again now. Everything should be set to go for tonight!

THE SYSTEM IS DOWN THE SYSTEM IS DOWN

Hey guys, bad news.

Monday, Mom turned her TV on and nothing happened. She's sure it's not our fault because she was watching tv after we all left Sunday night, but it means no tv for this Sunday. If I can swipe the projector from work this weekend, we can still game-on, and with an even bigger screen, but otherwise we migh thave to figure out an alternative activity and/or meeting place.

I'll keep you all posted re: equipment.

Oh, and I think it's Klutch's turn to pay for 'za.

Comic COOOONNNN!!!!

Hey guys!
I went to Comic Con '07 last weekend in San Diego and guess who I bumped into?I asked someone at The Behemoth stand about an update on Castle Crashers. They still don't have set release date nor do they know if it will be released on a Nintendo game system. At this point it will be released on the X-Box.
We also got some pics of this great character statue of Mario!Aside from video game stuff, I visited the great Doug TenNapel and got a signed copy of his lastest book Black Cherry.You guys are more then welcome to borrow it.
If you want to read more about our Con experience checkout our blog where both Katie and I posted about out time in the "Geek Gathering."

Side-Scrolling Cinema

What happens when beloved hero Mario is killed?Well basically, never piss off the Mushroom Kingdom!

Pizza for July-August

7/1 - purchased by Meranalf?
7/8 - purchased by Gramma Mouse
7/15 - Giblets (eLP¹ a long time ago)
7/22 - Dewb² (eLP 5/27)
7/29 - E-Bag (eLP 6/3)
8/5³ - Klutch (eLP 6/17)
8/13 - Meranalf (eLP 7/1)
8/20 - Giblets (ewhLP⁴ 7/15)
8/27 - Dewb (ewhLP 7/22)

Also, as you think of it, leave comments when you buy pizza so that we can keep track over time and update rotations if necessary.

As unanimously ratified by the only people whose votes matter (me and someone else, I don't remember who; maybe Matt) Zhitnik has been removed from pizza rotation on account of spotty attendance and a propensity to bring dessert and/or drinks when he comes.

¹eLP: estimate last purchase
²Dewb, are you still coming regularly? Should we remove you from the pizza rotation?
³I will be camping the weekend of 8/5. I do not know for certain that I will be at Game Night. I will converse with Mrs. Giblets and let you know.
⁴ewhLP: estimated will-have-Last-Purchased

Links!

No, not the kind that run around with swords and poke monsters, all the while chasing after that ever-so-elusive tri-force. I mean the kind you can now find over on the right hand side of the page. If you have links you think should be added, let me know.

Yet another...

Yes, another bunny has been killed somewhere, because I have started yet another blog, thus perpetuating what has been termed by my amazing wife as 'blogsterbating'.

For those of you who care about my thoughts about manhood, check out http://guy-thoughts.blogspot.com

New Super Mario Bros Koopa Shell

And finally, a haiku in honor of my favorite Super Mario power-up of the NSMB, and possibly of all time, the Koopa Shell:

Hold down B and run,
Spin and bounce, kill everything.
Can you keep the pace?

It's a little rough, and I had trouble with the last line, but that just means there is room for perfection.

Pizza

Here is the order of pizza purchase as I understand it. This is based off of who bought pizza most recently, so if I'm forgetting someone's recent purchase, please correct me.

6/17 - Klutch (last purchased who knows when?)
6/24 - Meranalf (last purchased who knows when?)
7/1 - Zhitnik (last purchased who knows when?)
7/8 - Giblets (last purchased who knows when?)
7/15 - Dewb (last purchased on 5/27?)
7/22 - Ebag (last purchased on 6/3?)

These dates may also be subject to change as the MotherShip may decide to purchase pizza at some point in this range of dates. If so, we'll just bump things back from that date.

Also note that this list does not take into account things like people who regularly buy soda and/or dessert, so if we want to issue a special dispensation for Ted, then he can skip his week.

And finally, if you know you are not going to be here for your week, please inform everyone so we don't have to go hungry. If you feel that you don't come often enough to justify having to pay for pizza (again, primarily Ted) then further indulgences may be offered.

Hopefully actually keeping track of these things will keep us from always saying, "Whose turn is it to buy pizza this week?"

New Stuff!

I just thought I would add a couple of new purchases to this blog for those of you who are interested. Note that neither of these purchases will affect you unless you have access to a Nintendo DS:

1) Nintendo DS Browser! Yes, I jumped in with all my Nintendo and Opera fanboyness and bought the Opera cartridge for the DS. It's pretty cool, and I've already used it to post a couple of things on a forum. I'll bring it on Sunday and see if I can find a wireless connection to 'borrow' so I can show it off.

2) I just won an auction on eBay for Star Wars II: The Original Series for the DS. Soon to ship, then I'll bring it along and show it off. We can play up to four player over DLaP, so Josh, I'll let you know when you should bring Katie's DS.

One last thought regarding potential future purchases:
Mario Party 8 (I think) for the Wii is due out soon. I have heard nothing but good reviews, and I think this might well fall into the category of something we should think about getting.

Also, those of you who haven't put any money into the Wii yet and are feeling bad about it, we could still use a couple of Nunchucks.

Top 5 Games

Well, it's time for a good old fashioned top 5 list. These are the top 5 video/computer games I have played. I take into account graphics, gameplay, and replayability, but most of all I'm looking at the ones that gave me the most continued enjoyment. Also, only single games are included, not entire series (though that does leave it open to all five coming from the same series).

5. Scorched Earth (PC)
Death's Heads, Hot Napalm, and Funky Bombs are only some of the many varied weapons available to you to blow up you opponents' tanks. Countless hours of enjoyment were spent in my high school computer science class playing this game. Ten years removed from high school, and I'm still playing it.

4. Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64)
I went with this version over the GameCube one because this is the one we played hours on end back in Texas. And when things got dull, we could always spice them back up by playing with our feet or upside-down.

3. Commander Keen in Goodbye Galaxy: Secret of the Oracle (PC)
This was one of the first (if not the first) side-scrolling, jump-around-and-get-all-the-goodies game I played on the PC. My siblings and I played it so much we had just about every level memorized. The fourth installment had better graphics and gameplay than the first trilogy, and while I may like the fifth one a little better now, Commander Keen 4 will still have that unshakable special place in my gaming history.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
No matter what way you slice it, whichever criteria you may use, Ocarina of Time is a great game. It strikes a nice balance between puzzle solving and smiting baddies, and very rarely is a world so filled out as it is in this one.

1. Metroid II: Return of Samus (Nintendo Game Boy)
This was the first game my siblings and I purchased for our Game Boy, and it is the game that has gotten the most use. It is the first game of it's sort that I was able to beat every time (being able to save really helped), and with my brother, we managed to figure out every secret and goodie the game has to offer. And yes, I can beat it in under two hours every time.

Honorable mentions:
Banjo Kazooie (Nintendo 64)
The Curse of Monkey Island (PC)
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Nintendo GameCube)
Railroad Rider (PC)
Sim City (PC)

So now the gauntlet is out. Can the rest of you come up with a list just as good or better than mine?

LOL!!!

This new SNL cast has got some great gems! Check this one out:

Sofa King

Survivor Finale

Heads up: This Sunday is the Survivor: Fiji finale at 8:00. Hence, we shall be ending promptly at 7:55. Those of you who wish to stay and cheer on Yao Man, Boo, or Earl are welcome. All others will be shunned.

Ode to GameNight(tm)

Gentlemen, I give you my ode to GameNight(tm), in Haiku form:

Fingers are cramping;
Eyes are dry from not blinking;
Now I have to pee.

Mothers' Day 2007(tm)

So, Mothers' Day is this Sunday. I know she's my mom, but I thought I'd see if you guys were interested in doing anything special for our hostess in honor of the occasion (e.g. flowers, dinner, a new car, whatever). Ideas are welcome. If we can't agree on anything, we can at least all give her a hug or something. Any thoughts?

-Adam

Doug TenNapel Update

I found some of the following info on Doug TenNapel's latest comic book:

Story DOUG TENNAPEL Art & Cover DOUG TENNAPEL
192 PAGESBWJULY 11$17.99
Down-on-his-luck Mafioso, Eddie Paretti is so desperate for cash he’s agreed to steal a dead body from his own mob boss! Things only get worse when he discovers the body isn’t human!
With few options and fewer people he can trust, Eddie calls on the man who raised him, Father McHugh. The priest tells Eddie that the body was stolen from his monastery by the Mafia. Father McHugh is accompanied by a beautiful woman Eddie swears looks just like a stripper he once fell in love with named Black Cherry.
Blending crime thriller with TENNAPEL’s utterly breath-taking brushwork, BLACK CHERRY is delicious.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

A New Post

To echo Gabe, I'm not sure what to do with this blog either. So I give you an ode to one of the great PC side-scrollers: Commander Keen.

Pogo stick
Blaster
No other weapons are needed.

Vorticons
Shikadi
All warnings must be heeded.

Teddy bears
Water drops
You must collect them all.

Switches on
Platforms up
There's secrets in the wall.

Flower Power
Babysitter
Bean-with-bacon megarocket.

Billy Blaze
Commander Keen
No one would e'er dare mock it.

New Layout

Check out the new layout when you get a chance, and let me know what you think!

Gentlemen, we have the technology . . .

The secret Esther project. These lost government plans were mysteriously abandoned.

um...

I have no idea what this blog is for.


But I think it's cool.

The evil one.

Welcome Game Night Guys!

Welcome to our Game Night (GN) Blog!!

Finally, we have a way to take GN anywhere! Great hu?! HU?!!

Enjoy!!