My mom: How’s work going, Meg?
Meg: Space travel completely redefined interplanetary trade today.
My mom: Um… Would you like some dinner?
Problems Only I Have
Posted in New York City, virtual life
Tagged my virtual life, New York City, problems only I have, travel, virtual life
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Twistianapolis 500
The sharp contrast between the all-out promotion of AAA titles at E3 and the laid-back schoolyard of IndieCade was particularly evident at Twistianapolis 500. Twistianapolis relies on a homemade, souped-up Twister board, a recording calling out body parts and colors, and six players who don’t mind twisting, turning, balancing and thinking fast to get to the finish.
Via Twistianapolis 500 at IndieCade | The Indie Game Magazine
Posted in Los Angeles, My Other Writing, New York City
Tagged e3, Indie Game Mag, indiecade, Los Angeles, my other writing, New York City, Twistianapolis 500
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Guessing
“Guess what I did while you were away?” Harold asks, when I get back from E3.
“Read a Star Trek novel on your iPad?”
“Um. Well, yes. But I was going to say something else.”
Airport Camping
I was delayed at LAX on the way back from E3. I camped out by an outlet, with my laptop and my Starbucks cup and about ten thousand press kits, all the paraphenalia of my awesome life. Ok, so I wasn’t looking forward to what a surprise red-eye home would do to my already-damanged sleep schedule, but I was enjoying reading my friends’ coverage and uploading my photos.
Stick asked — and talking with Stick again is another awesome thing, in a long list of things that are becoming awesome — if I had to change planes, and I texted back that, no, I’m flying non-stop, but I have to be back at work in Manhattan in the morning.
Stuck in the airport rocks.
Posted in Los Angeles, New York City
Tagged e3, Los Angeles, New York City, Starbucks, Stick
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Closing at E3
Sometimes I take pictures with weird lighting and think I’m artistic.
Sold Out Screamland
This is where Harold’s Screamland would be if Meltdown Comics on Sunset wasn’t sold out.
This is the sort of event that makes me call up and leave a superexcited voicemail (…it also seems to make me forget that there’s a time difference between LA and NYC. Sorry about that!).
Harold’s reaction was a bit more restrained, and by that I mean he made some points on the nature of publishing and distribution and the possibility that just because large numbers of stores sold out, it doesn’t mean that he’s successful or anything.
Obligatory Press Pass Photo
Freelance Media, by Simpson’s Paradox
…and then I cracked myself up, thinking that I’ve gone to enough conferences and shows to say “obligatory press pass photo”.
Posted in Los Angeles, New York City
Tagged e3, Los Angeles, New York City, press pass
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SCVNGR
“You’ll like this place,” Figment tells me. Figment and Jim, a filmmaker friend, have picked me up one night after E3 for dinner. “Barney’s Beanery. It has the longest menu imaginable, it would take hours just to read everything on the menu. Whenever I come here, we always try to guess how long it would take to eat everything they offer.”
I love whenever Figment describes Los Angeles locations to me. He loves LA so much, he describes places like the Santa Monica pier was built to his specifications, or like Hollywood hotspots are trendy because he says so.
“Oh, I’m checking in on SCVNGR!” I say. “Then the internet will know I’m cool!” (Because I don’t yet have the Auto-Cool Twitter App)
“I’m on SCVNGR too!” Jim says, “I’m going to check in here now,”
“Let’s do social check-in! I never get to do social check-in because most of my friends are on FourSquare!”
“You guys should really look at the menu,” Figment suggests, completely failing to get out his phone and play too.
“Are you on FourSquare, Meg?”
“No, I don’t really feel like being the mayor of anything,”
“But FourSquare does offer more prizes.”
“Take a look at the menu, guys, it’s pretty extensive.”
There is a conversational pause. (Hint: I’m not really looking at the menu.)
“Hmm, I’ve never made an SCVNGR challenge question.”
“Let’s do it now! Let’s ask Figment’s question!”
“My question about when you two are going to look at the menu?”
“No, Figment, your question about how long it would take to eat everything on it. I’m adding it now.”
“Is your challenge live?” Jim asked.
“Yes! Are you answering my challenge?”
“Yes! Are you reading my answer?”
“Yes! Now I’m going to plus-one your answer!”
“Guys. Seriously. At least a drink order.”
Can there be any better proof of how mobile apps, social media and online communities add so much to our lives?
Tomb Raider Reboot
I slipped into a demo of the new Tomb Raider reboot (Thanks again to the person who snuck me in and doesn’t want to be named on my blog), featuring a young Lara Croft. Now, I’ve always been a bit annoyed by Tomb Raider. Seems that the only thing separating it from a million other games asking you to run round and shoot things was Lara’s boobs.
I was expecting to enjoy the pretty graphics, and roll my eyes at the bouncy boobs, but I actually felt moved when young Lara got hurt (and she DID get hurt… there’s some seriously not-Meg-friendly gore in this game). Lara does the same climbing, jumping, melee fighting and so forth that she always did, but I felt myself actually rooting for her to succeed this time. I even heard a gasp from another journo when Lara slipped and almost fell. After the barrage of gameplay demos we’d all seen over three days of E3, it really took a lot to feel connected to a character. Maybe young Lara is the sympathetic yet tough core-game heroine we’re all looking for?
Time will tell if it’s a great new game or a great demo, but it’s got me reconsidering Tomb Raider.
