Among other news from Day 1 of E3, this is easily the best on-disc lineup for a music game I have ever played. Mind you that the current line from EA is that these are ALL master tracks [NO covers]. The ones I bolded below are ones that I am most excited about.

Also, because the original goal was to have 100 songs [!] on the disc, they are 'apologizing' with a basically free [sub-$5] DLC pack of 20 more songs within a few months of release.

Other big news: Sony backs out of the PS3 exclusivity deal, and Final Fantasy XIII will be on my 360! WOO-HOO! Versus XIII [the spin-off fighting (?) game] is still PS3 exclusive [for now], but the main game should launch in the US on the same day as the PS3 version.

So far, E3 is a win for me. All I want now is some news in the MMO circles [SE's now MMO, GW2 announcement, etc.]

I know, I'm blogging about a blog, but whatever. Stuff it.

The single best place in the world.

Some of what I did at work this week:

More important to some of you than others, I'm sure...

The Five Love Languages

My primary love languages are probably
Physical Touch and Quality Time.

Complete set of results

Physical Touch:		9
Quality Time:		9
Acts of Service:		6
Words of Affirmation:		4
Receiving Gifts:		2

Take the quiz

I bought a new PC. If you want a Dell XPS laptop, I recommend them, and know a guy that would be happy to cut you a deal. In related news, Vista is not total crap, but neither are the contents of any toilet - there's some piss and TP in there, too.

Girls are complicated, even when they try to be simple. The less you want to answer a question, the more you probably need to.

I have new end-game gear in FFXI, and am still looking forward to events in the game even after 6 years.

Work is good - I think they have placed the future of our flagship brand in my design hands. Safe to say I will be here a while.

I've got about 60 hours of D&D 4.0 scheduled for June. Yes, I'm excited. No, I haven't started writing anything yet.

This picture literally made me salivate:
 

So, Struggle of Empires this weekend, anyone?

What we have here is the top 106 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing’s users. As in, they sit on the shelf to make you look smart or well-rounded. Bold the ones you've read, underline the ones you read for school, italicize the ones you started but didn't finish.

Or Brill-tarded... Yeah, I like that one better.

26

Today is the relaxation day between the 2 long ones - pompeii and the vatican. I'm officially out of real money and working on credit, but the fact that I only need to do that for the last couple of days doesn't worry me that much.

Getting to pompeii was interesting, to say the least. We decided to go on Easter, since every church in Rome would have a lot going on, an therefore other sites would be less crowded. We got up at 6:30 and made it onto a 9ish train to Napoli, stopping there for the Archeological musem. Word to the uninformed: Naples is a shithole. Jessie called it 'sketchville' - the train station, the streets around town, and just the general vibe of the people out and about was a bit more edgy and aggressive and unsavory that anywhere else we have been. Naples also has a trash problem - they have nowhere to put it - so the random empty lots become ersatz dumps and the abandoned buildings are filled up by the neighborhood. So, not a very nice place to visit, and I'm glad that I don't live there. The museum was well worth it, though, containing lots of frescoes, artefacts, mosaics, and sculptures from pompeii that were recovered and saved from looting.

Getting to pompeii from naples is supposed to be easy, but the regional train and bus lines were closed for the holiday. So, it was purely by the skill and bravery of Alex that we made it to pompeii at all, though we did only have 2 hours or so there. Had I realized that when we got there, we'd have taken a different route through the site. As it was I saw most of what I had seen last time, and we were chased out at closing time before we saw much that was new to me. The train back from Naples was an hour late (These are not german trains, you know), but the extra time to chat and generally enjoy the company was welcome. Sometimes, not having anything to distract you from people is the best way to get to know them better.

We're heading back out to the local stuff like the Pantheon and Trevi again tonight. These simple place really are my favorites so far. We visited the first Christian church in Rome earlier today. It was only a couple of piazzas from the apartment we're renting. Who knew?

Tomorrow, we get up really early again and cab it over to the Vatican, and see if the line is long enough to warrant paying for the tour. It's expensive, but very worth it, in my opinion. Skipping the line and learning so much from the tour guide is certainly worth it at that site, if not at most others.

And, if you didn't know, white chocolate is not really chocolate at all. Therefore, I won't be bringing any home with me.

We've made it to Rome, taking the same train route we used to get to Florence. The final day or two in Florence were great - we did make it to the Uffizi, the biggest art museum in the city. There was a literal ton of stuff there, dating as far back as the 12th century, including a room full of Leonardos, the 'Birth of Venus' and many more by that painter, and a number of other works that you might recognize if you have ever taken an art history course. Jessie's brain was all melty from taking in that much art, and ven though the vast, vast majority of it was involving that dead guy on the stick, I found a lot of things there to appreicate. For instance, there's a room full of statues depicting one family. Apparently, the mother of teh family bragged to everyone that she had more children than the gods. So, as they do, the gods killed her and all of her children. The statues in the room were all of the family members in that 'holy shit!' moment, and were pretty engrossing.

Anywho, on to Rome. The apartment is tiny - about as big as my living room back home - but it has a kitchen and that saves us a lot of money on food. Alex has already taught me a couple of recipes that were amazing, and so simple I was a litle ashamed that I had never had the gumption to make them before myself.

The Forum is no longer free, and everything closes early before the summer proper starts. However, your ticket for the forum, colloseo, and the Palatine is good for 2 days total, so we can go back and see more tomorrow. Hopefully with more sun. Trevi was stunning, as always, and the Pantheon was as I remembered it. Except for the Roman Catholic service we walked in on. So, we'll so back there after this whole easter thing is over. So far, getting a feel for the layout of the city, trying to find good coffee (to the quality we had at Uncle Saint San Marcos), and learning how to cook a bit have been the majority of the sightseeing we have done.

Tomorrow, we return to the forum, and also see the Colosseo. Sunday, we avoid Easter in Rome and train down to Napoli and see Pompeii. Tuesday, hopefully after all the religioso have gone home, we try for the Vatican.

I probably don't have enough of the good chocolate yet - if you want a bar, reply to this post and give a flavor preference so I can make sure I have enough. Ciao!

Hmmm... How many days has it been since the last post? I haven't exactly gotten much sleep. We keep waking up too late for the housekeeper, except for today, and then they don't come. Boo.

Important tip: On mondays, most tourist attractions, museums, etc. are closed. If you come out to Firenze [which I recommed], or to Italia in general, Save the outdoors-walking-through-elaborate-gardens for Monday, as it'll be the only thing open.

We did in fact see the David, which also included a tour throug a series of unfinished sculptures, and an adjoined historical musical instruments exhibit. You have seen him before, you have sniggered at his junk and oh-so-arranged mound of small rabbits, but the real deal, in person, is a much more impressive experience.

Today, out trip back to the Palazzo Pitti was curtailed [see above comment about Mondays], so we took in some shopping [It is the birthplace of fashion], and anothe Basilica - the Santa Maria Novella. That one was more impressive than the Duomo, I think, and very, very full of mysteries. Enough such that it was worth it to pick up the guidebook and read more about it later.

Tomorrow is our last full day in town, and we're going to go to the Uffizzi, the largest art and history museum in the city. Tonight, there's some clothes wahsing [cheaper than Roma], and some Amaro tasting [so I know which brand to buy and bring home].

Expect the next installement from Roma in 2-3 days. Wish us good luck for the line at the Vatican!

Here's the link.

D&D wasn't the first gaming system I played; my introduction to dice and numbercrunching came with the Palladium fantasy game. However, D&D is the system I've played the longest; I've been running a game constantly since 3rd edition's release in 00. Many of my best memories of my high-school years revolve around the 2nd edition game we played for 6 years or so, the people in that game, and the friendships we still have. I've been getting psyched about the release of 4th edition, and plan to be running a game in that system from day 1 to the release of fifth ed in 8-10 years.

The Final Fantasy game series [any computer or console RPG, for that matter], any MMO or other pen and paper game I or you has ever played, and any joke you have ever heard that includes the words 'Jesus Saves' were at least influenced by, if not directly inherited from, Gary's work.
To put it it perspective, while he was not the sole contributor, Gary is responsible in a large way for what is probably a majority of what I do in my life - recreation, media, and even my choice of career.

I'm not sure I have felt this strongly about anyone's passing since my grandfather died.

I never met Gary - I think I was only at one event he attended. Maybe GC 03, when 3.5 was being released. However, his role in the games I referenced above is exactly the role I want to have in the products I create. He was the architect of systems that allowed people to express themselves in ways that Gary himself probably never imagined. The mathematics, systems integration, and scope of detail he gave to his games were what made it possible for people to envision the worlds in their games. His ability to model the entirety of a fantasy universe, or the parts of it relevant to the struggle between man and dragon, inspired countless other game designers, DMs, and players to build upon his system, making it grander, more complete, and more personal to each an every one of them than any other kind of game in the history of... well, anything, maybe.

So don't make your stupid 'gee, he failed his saving throw' or 'too bad there's no 'resurrect' spell in real life' jokes. Don't turn back to the game you were playing or the work you were avoiding and act like nothing has happened. Stop for a second and ask yourself what your life would be like - or the lives of your friends - if not for the game - the GAME - this man helped create.

If you want to comment, do that thing they tell you never to do - tell me about your character.

They went down to the river
On a warm summer night
The air was think with the
Smell of temptation
He said why don't we lay in the water
Let the water run over me
And she grinned and she said
Now she said now she said

Now that's a good idea
She said she said

He held her head high in his hands
He held her down deep in the stream
He saw the bubbles and matted hair
Mixed in with seaweed
She started to scream
Was it something I said
Was it something I said
And she said and she said
And she said she said

Now that's a good idea she said she said
To be alone with you she said she said
I've been waiting for years
And I'd rather be dead

That's a good idea he said he said

He held her down in the river
He held her down in the water
Another river of mud
Wash away those tears
He said and he said
Now that's a good idea
He said now that's a good idea

I saw them from the ocean
She didn't seem to mind
Didn't fight at all
She didn't fight it at all
Some things are best left alone
Sometimes I'm best left alone
And sometimes I see you in the water
At night at night at night

That's a good idea she said she said
I wanna feel you in the water
With your hands on my head
Push you down into the water
She said she said
Now that's a good idea she said she said
Now that's a good idea that's a good idea
She said she said
Now she said now she said
That's a good idea that's a good idea
That's a good idea
She said she said
I want to feel you in the water
With your hands on my head
Push you down into the water
She said she said

That's a good idea
She said she said
...

:I: do better the more :you: play it.

http://pedestrania.myminicity.com/

Put that in your homepages as a separate tab or something. I wanna see how it works.

It's the midway point of the 2007-2008 Academic Review of Habitual Solitarism, or 'Why Steve is Not Suited to Single Life'.

In this experiment, we have removed a constant source of stimulation and happiness, that is to say jadefalcon14 from the subject's living, social, and recreational environments. The purpose of this change is to determine whether the subject is capable of performing common self-subsistence tasks [cooking, cleaning, washing behind the ears, remembering where he put things]. Also, a significant change in mood, temperament, and leisure activity was expected, and is being recorded.

To ensure that the subject remains in a state of maximal longing and unsettled languor, sporadic exposure to the aforementioned source of bliss should ensue, simply to remind the subject of what and whom they are missing. VOIP communications and text chat should be sufficient to bring back thoughts of closeness and contentment, thus rendering the subject wan and languid for prolonged portions of the experiment.

Results as of this writing:
-Increased reliance on interactive media: consumption of video games, internet porn, and board games has increased with the rise in unclaimed free time. Subject seems very excited about spending larger parts of his day involved in these pursuits, despite knowing that the free time will diminish again at the conclusion of the experiment.
-Lack of sleep: Perhaps connected to the previous entry, the subject is receiving less sleep, and less restful sleep, as a result of the removal of the sleep aid referred as the 'girl-cocoon'. Subject often finds himself watching content-barren late-night TV in an attempt to dull his senses to sleep.
-Furtive concerns for future events: What time is not occupied with distractions is spent in daydreams for the return of close human companionship, and subtle fears for the resolutions of the meetings of jadefalcon14 and alexmkg. This future event appears to be vital to the subject's desire to see the experiment through to its conclusion.
-Eating habits: The subject is reduced to much simpler forms of sustenance, and may be shorting themselves nutritionally. The occasional accidental forgetful exclusion of meals, or the replacement of meals with coffee, has been observed with increased frequency.
-Passive stimulus: The subject has been opted for the more melancholy and furtive parts of his music library and television catalog, leaving the more upbeat elements of these groups untouched.

Conclusion: While there is no immediate danger, risk of permanent harm, or cause for alarm, it is expected that the subject will remain in this semi-dormant state for the second half of the experiment. Further attempt to drag the subject out of his apartment may be required by anyone with the ability to do so, even [perhaps especially ] if the subject resists.

Whenever I hear a Feist remix [as I did at the coffee shop a minute ago], it only makes me want to hear the original.

Remember kids, 'Remixing a song is like admitting you were wrong.'

Also, boobies on dieselsweeties... Why is it that the convergence of two things I love makes me uneasy? Is this the beginning of the end for the web's best comic?

You were wrong when you said
Everything's gonna be alright
You were right when you said
All that glitters isn't gold
You were right when you said
All we are is dust in the wind
You were right when you said
We are all just bricks in the wall
And when you said manic depression's a frustrating mess

You were right when you said
You can't always get what you want
You were right when you said
It's a hard rain's gonna fall
You were right when you said
We're still running against the wind
And life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone

You were right when you said
This is the end
Do you ever think about it?

83% Mike Gravel
83% Dennis Kucinich
83% Barack Obama
82% John Edwards
82% Joe Biden
79% Chris Dodd
78% Hillary Clinton
77% Bill Richardson
44% Rudy Giuliani
35% John McCain
28% Mitt Romney
27% Mike Huckabee
24% Ron Paul
21% Tom Tancredo
19% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Who's unhappy with his selection of candidates? Yep, that's me.

It always seems that many things happen close together, and only after the dust settles do I remember to inform the world.

Jessie left for India today. If you didn't know, she's off to train the people that do her job on the nights and weekends, and apparently do it very well. She's gone for two months, and hopefully she can turn the trip out to the East into a career opportunity back home here in the West. Not to mention the kinds of emotional, personal, and cultural opportunities traveling to a foreign country for the first time brings with it.

I love her very much, and so I miss her very much as well. For now, it's the 'wish I were going on an adventure with her' variety, and not the 'the apartment / my time is so empty' kind, and I'm ok with that. I just hope she's not too caught up in all the newness to text/call/email.

Also, in a different sector of my life, I have a new job. On 1/2/8, I start at Screenlife Games, makers of the famous DVD game series 'Scene It?'. I will be designing games for them - both developing other people's ideas, and creating my own new concepts from scratch. I know they are looking to move past just DVD games, and so I'll be able to make things that fall into broader categories. I had a lot of fun interviewing for the job, and I think the personalities will be a good match. As usual, I think I'm the young one in the department, but I don;t think that's a bug drawback this time.

There's still a week to go before I start, and lots of social activities to go. I do hope to motivate myself to work on finishing my European vacation blogs, though.