Month: June 2009

So, I find out that there’s a thread over on Story Games called “China Mieville and Gaming”, about setting games in his world.

I go check it out, because Adamant has the license, and we’re producing TALES OF NEW CROBUZON.

Big Fucking MISTAKE.

There is an absolutely bizarre thread of hate-on for Adamant going through that discussion — from the first post where it is discovered that a game is in the works (“Aw, crap.” is the delightful individuals response), to gems like this:“I expect that I probably won’t like it (mechanics-wise, though I have no basis for that assumption),” “I assume it will be a lame, d20-derivative game …”, discussions of who would’ve been better to get the license, disappointment that China didn’t “consider other options”, and one asshole who even finds my fucking press release “aesthetically offensive.”

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Wow. Way to give us a chance, assholes. I’ve given ZERO statements publicly on the design, or the direction we’re taking, but the Indie Kewl Kids Kabal have already decided that it’s crap, and should be bitched about.

If you ever find yourself wondering why I’m “cranky”, “controversial”, “blunt”, “an internet meany-head”, or any of the other delightful charges leveled at me — This sort of thing is a good example.

I know I shouldn’t let it get to me, but COME ON.

The mind boggles.

Not only is Microsoft trying to do their usual “mine! MINE!” toddler method of business competition in a category solidly locked down…and we’re talking “solid” to the point where the competitor’s product has become the generic name for the category….

But the tv ads for their new “bing” search engine are based on the fact that other search engines provide you with too much information and that’s hard.

So…. Microsoft’s target audience is, what exactly: Stupid People?

I’m sure that bing will light up the market as much as their last effort against an entrenched category. Those “Zune” mp3 players are selling like hotcakes, right?

Some of you might remember the very expensive Gamer Porn game table that appeared at GenCon last year — it was “The Sultan” model from Geek Chic. Very snazzy, but priced between 8 and 10K with options.

Well, now they have a more inexpensive model, which converts to a standard dining table, called “The Emissary.” A gamer over on RPGnet has posted a picture-heavy thread about getting one.

VERY nice — and, according to the Geek Chic site, the Emissary starts at only $1500.

Something worth considering, once I have a dining room to put such things. Hell, taking a look at the pictures on that thread, it wouldn’t be too hard to build one, rather than buying and shipping….