Well the ink has been dry for almost 24 hours now; yesterday I signed my book contract, so the deal is no longer 99.9999%, but 100%.
As mentioned before, it’s going to be a text book on game design. So I’ve been telling folks the good news, and not surprisingly, one person asked what games I’ve worked on, which is a really nice way of asking, what makes me qualified to write a book? And hey, its a valid question, and the $64,000 question no less.
Basically, anyone who’s familiar with my body of work will know that I’ve worked on quite a few games… just none that anyone has probably played, let along heard off (unless you live in the UK and fancy budget games based on 80′s properties). Hell, my most popular title was some web game, and that’s probably due to the fact that you assumed the role of some Asian stereotype who has to mop up after men at a jerk-off palace.
So, do I have the qualifications to write a book? Maybe, maybe not. Though keep in mind, I’m not doing a how-to-guide on the ways to successfully make a good game per say. Instead, its aim is to be a guide that introduces the fundamentals, and explore concepts that any designer, no matter how big or small the game, or what platform it is (or depending on the platform as well) should always consider. Plus along with my own examination of the subject, I’ll try to have others chime, as well as offer a historical context to everything, which is what I try to do in my class.
Anyway, as for other highlights from the past few week or so….. Saturday night was the opening for the Zombie art show at the MF Gallery which features a few pieces from Joe, including this one, which is apparently the first in a series…
The place was insanely packed. First you had about 50 or so people all in a space no bigger than a closet (or a studio apartment in Manhattan), along with a live band, and the weather was ultra shitty so no one wanted to be outside. Plus there was an open bar, which is where I was found myself sandwiched between folks fighting to move as well for literally ten minutes. As for the booze itself: fucking horrible. First was perhaps the worst beer ever, Anheuser’s Best, which was so bad that it even managed to sober up Richie and Mike from the BDF. Hence why we moved onto to a very sickly-sweet vodka mixed with Red Bull. It was like drinking melted LIfe Savers in juice form, mixed with rubbing alcohol.
I also ran into quite a few folks, such as one girl who didn’t recognize me, but whom I know quite well from a few years ago, back when I would spend all day and night either playing video games, watching digital cable (mostly G4, the video game channel, and old episodes of Pete & Pete), and flirting with girls via Instant Messaging from Make Out Club (this was when I was unemployed, so I had a lot of time to kill.
There was also Drew Mallard, who’s art was also part of the show. Drew is like the third person I ever met when I came to NYC ten years ago, and ever since I’ve been running into the guy at the most unexpected of places, and at the rate of every few years or so. He’s a super talented illustrator, so along with Joe’s work, make sure you scope out Drew’s when you go to the show. Plus, Dr. Chud was there, along with a member of the X-Ward (Dr. Placebo I think? I’m more than certain Joe will be able to correct me). I was able to bust his chops a tiny bit about no-showing the pre-Halloween show at Don Hill’s, which as it turns out, was totally not his fault. Anyway, totally nice guy.
left to right: Dr. Chud, Drew, and Joe
Despite the booze not being that hot, it did manage to get me nicely buzzed, so afterwards I made my way back to Brooklyn where I had a late night dinner of cheeseburger and fries at one of those greasy ghetto fried chicken joints (you know, the other KFC: Kennedy Fried Chicken). Then I stopped by the Dunkin Donuts around the corner from where I lived for some hot chocolate since the walk home was freezing. Word to the wise: mixing cheap sugary booze with hot chocolate and donuts is a lethal combo that I would later learn. Once home, I caught the last half of SNL which I sorta wanted to see, despite it being SNL, since Scarlet Johansen being the host. As expected, not a laugh was to be found, but then again, I seem to be one of the few folks who didn’t find that Narnia rap that was all the rage a few weeks back all the hilarious (it made me chuckle, but come on folks, it wasn’t that fucking funny), so maybe its just me. I then decided to kill time till the 3 am class SNL by playing Burnout Revenge (with the in-game music turned off, and while listening to death metal on my iPod), but once I discovered that instead of a classic 80′s/early 90′s episode, it was just one from just a few years ago, I got pissed and decided to go to sleep. And that’s when I started feeling nauseous all of a sudden, and then immediately got sick.
The next day MK came over… she had been home recovering from stomachs of her own, which became full blast during last Wednesday at movie night. The featured film was the Swimmer, and I don’t think it helped things much…
Just like the tag-line on the DVD box, its the story of some guy who decides to head home by swimming in every pool along the way. Its a rather long, drawn-out tale (with some totally trippy parts), and is based on a John Cheever story, and as MK put it: “if you’ve ever read one, you’ve basically read them all”. His whole m.o. is apparently pointing out how banal suburban life is, which the film does brilliantly… along with some bizarre Lolita-eqsue elements, running around in a horse pen, and an argument over a hot dog cart.
Back to Sunday, we just spent the night watching Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. And on Monday we saw The Warriors (it was MK’s first time seeing it), along with Robin and Colleen at her place. MK & I originally came over to learn how to silkscreen from Colleen, who gave us a demo, and I even got to make a test shirt (one featuring Phyllis Diller!). Back to The Warriors: awesome flick, but I’m a bit torn about the new version, which now has a comic book-like presentation. My attitude is that if you are going to release a definitive director’s cut of a movie, try to at least include the original cut, since that is what most people are familiar with (hello Star Wars). Anyway, aside from the wacky characters (its all about the Baseball Furies), I’m a total sucker for films that feature “old” New York. And its even gotten me more interesting in playing The Warriors video game than ever, which I hear is actually pretty good; I was resistant at first since I hate Rockstar and all, but… I have a buddy who works there, so I’m trying to get a copy from him (Job also was nice enough to pick up a copy of Chaos Field which I have to grab from him).
… Back to Burnout Revenge, yeah played that game quite a bit over the weekend, as well as a few others. Every couple of months I try giving Super Mario Sunshine a shot; the game gets a lot of hate, and I’m always quick to defend it. Sure Sunshine not as bind-blowing as Mario 64, nor is it meant to be; its just a nice follow-up with a quirky new gameplay twist (the whole water pack thing), which I actually dig. Plus I love the, the music, the atmosphere too much to hate it, hence why I always get a nagging urge to give it a spin, especially when the weather is shitty and I’m particularly stressed, both of which has been the case as of late. But once I turn it on, I quickly realize why I haven’t gone far with the gam: the Jesus-what-i-the-fuck camera. I also tried playing a few first person shooters but didn’t go very far due to my nagging problem with motion sickness. Everything’s great at first, but after a bit, I always get dizzy, it never fails. I hear its an Asian thing, hence why the genre is not that popular in Japan. But it also came up while playing Ratchet & Clank! Well the camera does move a lot….
Aside from the book, there’s plenty of other stuff coming up. I’ve recently began talking with the folks at ICON, to discuss the details of my appearance for this year’s show. As soon as I find out which panels I’ll be speaking at, I’ll pass them along. And MK is supposed to be a guest as well, and we might even do a panel together! Plus, MK got me a domain for my birthday last which I haven’t even touched, so she’s developing the site, but we’ll both be producing the content. I don’t want to spill the beans just yet, but in addition to the site, we’re aiming for a radio show component (I’ve actually been interested in doing another radio show for sometime now… I know there’s podcasting, but its missing the whole calling in component). I’m also sorta putting together a magazine as well…. plus I still have Unlucky to work on. Once again, lots of stuff is happening. Later tonight is movie night at Jeff Rovin’s, plus I’m thinking of maybe catching Gun Play, the “live-action video game/performance” sometime this week, time permitting.
