- Thursday night was another meet up for ex-FGer’s at Katz’s. Even though I didn’t work there, I am friends with them via my association with Jason who used to be a Flash animator at the place. And I always relish any opportunity to talk shop with a bunch of old school, perpetually pissed grumpy, out of work cartoonists while eating greasy food.
These meet-ups usually happen when Dave Savage is in town, but this one was just an informal get together brought together by Shawn Taggert, and it was just nice to have a chance to chat with the guy since it felt like ages. Of the various topics that were talked about, perhaps the most interesting was the lack of furry rape porn on the internet. Yeah, it is weird how there’s hardly any.
- On Friday, Katie Salen came by SVA to talk to students who were interested in participating in the upcoming 24-hour game jam. Plus I was able to learn more bout what my exact role will be in scheme of things.
As it stands right now, there should be about two groups from SVA, maybe more; during his weekly senior class lecture, John Mac mentioned the event and asked for interested parties. Now, McIntosh isn’t the kind to ask his students to enter competitions unless he’s certain that they will win… I guess that’s why I was enlisted to help. Plus he’s offering a cash prize, out of pocket (which I mistook from before as something Atari was providing), as a motivational tool. It’s not $3,000 like I last thought, just three grand, but that’s still good money. He went to the west coast earlier this week since the GDC’s coming up, so he doesn’t know yet that I can’t participate due to a sudden change in the rules (Katie confirmed that it’s due to various legal reasons). I’m certain that he will not be happy to hear the news, but at least I can still be an advisor to the teams, and even during the event.
Two weeks before the event, all the participants will receive spec-sheets to learn how to program for the 2600, which is in assembly. To make things easier (assembly is a bitch to learn), Atari is also providing simplified tool-sets. My plan is to organize the teams so each will have the right amount of key people, then give them exercises, which will be bare-bones, simple games to practice making. And on the day of, I will be present to provide on the spot design help.
- Katie asked me the one question that everyone has been asking: am I going to the GDC, or Game Developers Conference, this year? And it sucks to be asked cuz the answer is no. I won’t be attending due to various reasons; usually, one came blame one’s schedule, but this time around since next week is also spring break at SVA, meaning no class to teach, and perfect opportunity to go. But no… I have some stuff that has to get done this week, plus I might be moving out that week as well. Plus, I’m… for lack of a better term… dirt poor at the moment (as is usually the case, those freelance checks never come in when they’re needed the most).
And this year’s line up of panels and participants looks particularly enticing, especially with Satoru Iwata and the Tetsuya Mizuguchi returning (I’m still really pissed that I wasn’t there for his panel last year… plus I think that awesome PSone Ico presentation also took place at that time). This isn’t the time or place to discuss why I’m not going along with John Mac, but there’s always next year I suppose…
- As for yesterday, I passed on the Tekken 5 Tournament and instead took MK to see Respecto Montalban at the UCB, which I’ve been wanting to do for weeks now (every single attempt has been derailed for some reason or another). And it was well worth the wait; even with just Paul Scheer, Owen Burke, and Jackie Clarke, the show was totally amazing. Yes, even without the Silver Fox.
Each show they ask the audience for a life altering experience, and the response given, a bar mitzvah that takes place where a midget convention is also going on, was more than enough to work from. What did I learn from the show? That Jews and midgets really hate each other. The definite highlight was Clarke, as some Jewish woman, trying to fuck Scheer, who was R2 D2. His R2 sounds were totally spot on.
- Earlier this week I bought tickets to see The Cat Returns, which is playing as a part of the New York International Children’s Film Festival (you might recall me really wanting to catch Steamboy, but since it was sold out, I figured seeing Ghibli film was an okay alternative). I thought it was this morning, but before it was too late, I realized the showing is in two weeks. And I got MK out of bed before 2 in the afternoon for nothing. Hey, she likes to sleep, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Sleeping rocks.
So I took MK to the Little Bee, a really cute French brunch spot (and whose shirt I gave as a birthday present). They have awesome waffles and the worst service imaginable.
