Mittens 2011 - UPDATE: aftermath

Monsieur OUXX · Thu 01/09/2011 14:40:45

Quote from: Mods on Thu 01/09/2011 12:08:06
Oux - you are French. That's about all I know of you, you were glued to your laptop all week!

Hey! Not my fault! I was there only 3 days and the first thing I did when arriving was to make all my DLLs blow up. I then spent the next 2 days trying to fix my laptop :'( :'( :'( Lots of frustration I must say, that's also why I wasn't very social.

On the other hand I must confess I didn't really realize that Mittens was more of a "holidays that happen to be spent with AGS people" rather than a "AGS marathon". Now I know!

Grundislav · Thu 01/09/2011 16:03:13

Haha but unlike Benidorm, m0ds, no lip contact happened there. And as far as I know, there's no eyeball licking photos in existence, so we're safe for now.

Anyway, now that I've had a suitable night's sleep in my own bed and have had a day of work, I can unleash the sentimentality that's been building up ever since everyone left and I got to spend an extremely Post-Mittens Depressiony time in Dublin.

So, first and foremost: thank you. Thank you to all the Mittens regulars, the recent regulars, and the newbies. You are all the best people I know, and the main reason we all get PMD is because it's a shame to think that we only get to see each other one week out of the year. However, I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to share that week with all of you. The last night in Rosslare, CJ, Layabout and I were talking about vacation time from work and CJ commented how he was impressed I used my one week a year of vacation for Mittens, but honestly I couldn't think of a better use for it.

Despite the minor hiccups (lack of hot water/having to bathe with jugs, travel problems) this was probably the best Mittens I've ever been to.

Individual messages? Sure, why not?

abstauber - You sir, are the most positive and cheerful person I've met in a long time. I hope you attend many more Mittens. I owe you for the help that last night in Dublin when you so kindly got me water before the "volcanic eruption" in the bin outside Abrakebabra.

AGA - You're part of the Mittens furniture, but this year we shared some experiences I'd rather forget. Despite the eyeball licking and having to see your pale Welsh behind though, it was a blast.

bicilotti - Francesco...oh, Francesco. We all know I have developed a man-crush on you. The most stylish and classy pervert I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Sorry I couldn't "unload."

cat - I've never met anyone so enthusiastic about jacuzzis and drinking in them. You bring a welcome enthusiasm to the group and I'm glad you came back this year.

Creed Malay - I always look forward to spending time with you. Your creativity is amazing, and working together on crazy ideas always proves fruitful.

CJ - Always a pleasure seeing you. Your willingness to play along with all the crazy ideas and enthusiasm to just have a great time is always inspiring. Thank you for making AGS and allowing all of this to exist in the first place.

Disco - Our organizer! Thanks for pulling everything off and for being another entertaining member of the Mittens crew. No thanks for that one night with the towel. You know what I'm talking about.

Esseb - Though I didn't talk to you as much this year, having you around was still fun. I think you made up for Berian sleeping this time around.

Jake - Kissing Chicken? Really? Well, it looks like we're the new Valentine's Day splash screen. Good to see you again, and sorry I only honored my buying pints promise once.

Kim - Also great seeing you again, and thanks for playing along with our movie! Your banshee scream still haunts me to this day.

Layabout - Like I said at The Celt, having Mittens in Ireland without you would just have seemed wrong. Fantastic hanging out again. I haven't laughed as hard as I did with the Banshee Hunter for a while.

LimpingFish - I'm also glad you came, and stayed the full time. I really enjoyed seeing the caterpillar grow wings, and count our drunken conversation in the streets of Wexford among my favorites of the week. The guy I said goodbye to after Cafe En Seine was completely different to the one I greeted at Connoly Station, in the best way possible.

Magintz - Another fun travel companion through the craziness of Dublin. Next time I hope you can make a full Mittens, you're fun to have around.

Matt - Dear Matthew, who would I have touched all week if not you? See you on Skype later... oh god.

Miez - A gentleman and a scholar...as well as a capturer of horrible drunken activities! But you're my favorite Dutchman, and I'm always happy to enjoy your company.

m0ds - What can I say? You're also a main reason Mittens exists, and I can't thank you enough for that. Also, I appreciate the help with the movie. Always a pleasure.

Ouxx - Unfortunately we didn't have too much interaction, but when we did speak it was enjoyable. Sorry we couldn't hang out in Dublin.

Snarky - I really enjoyed our talks this year, and feel I got to know you a lot better. Hey, I told you all about my post-Ben Jordan game, and I wasn't even drunk! That's gotta mean something.

Tzach & Noa - You two were a delight. It's always a bit of a worry when new people show up and you wonder how they'll adapt to the insanity of Mittens, but you fit right in (that's a compliment, I assure you!) Thanks for keeping me company the last couple of days in Dublin.

So, now that all that's overwith, here's my pictures!
http://www.grundislavgames.com/mittens2011

And here's the Voyeur Bathroom Panorama
http://www.grundislavgames.com/mittens2011/panorama.jpg

So that was Mittens! I'll have the movie edited and out after BJ8 so as not to spoil anything, but I'll probably pass along clips via PM as I get them together.

Oh yeah, and I didn't meet a single Seamus! Ireland, I officially want my money back!

Monsieur OUXX · Thu 01/09/2011 16:57:36

Quote from: Grundislav on Thu 01/09/2011 16:03:13
the Voyeur Bathroom Panorama
http://www.grundislavgames.com/mittens2011/panorama.jpg

So. Cool.
Also I'll make sure I send you pictures of every single Seamus I meet from now on.

Layabout · Thu 01/09/2011 17:05:34

Aww, Davy looks so sad with the toilet roll in the porn bathroom panorama.

LimpingFish · Thu 01/09/2011 18:28:12

My brain is back in working order, and the sun has stopped roasting me!

Such a crazy, intoxicating seven+ days I have never before experienced. Everyone was wonderful, but to single out the special times:

Grundislav and Layabout, who braved a journey into the unknown nightlife of Wexford with me, along with CJ, who blagged us some female company for the evening. Snarky, Meiz, and Cat, in whose company I began the first day's traveling to Rosslare, and who were always open to conversation and company for the entirety of Mittens. Abstauber, the bringer of the Mojito, and the most upbeat individual I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Bicilotti, who along with being the only Italian I've met, is surely also the greatest, for every Italian after him can only be a letdown. Creed Malay and Kim, two of the sweetest people I've been lucky enough to meet, and also two of the most open and creative. Matt, who managed to make me laugh almost every time he said something. AGA and Jake, whose friendship and perverse banter were a highlight of the house's drinking sessions. Tzach and Noa, whose friendliness and humor were both a pleasure and enlightening. Mods, who must be experienced before he can be explained, is surely the most delightfully insane individual I've ever had the pleasure of drinking with. Esseb, who I regret I didn't get to know better, but who was always up for a laugh or a trip to the pub. And the late additions, Monsiuer Ouxx, and the ever-friendly Magintz, both of whom I look foward to seeing more of in the future.

But Disco, who brought us all together this year, and who kept the house in order, deserves special thanks. Well done, Ken!

I was quiet when I arrived, I was loud when I drank. Neither of these people is the real me, something I always find it hard to express, but Mittens brought me closer to expressing it than I've ever felt before.

And it leaves me confident about next year. I hope you'll all be there.

...

Damn you, PMD!

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Thu 01/09/2011 20:14:19

QuoteMatt - Dear Matthew, who would I have touched all week if not you? See you on Skype later... oh god.

I want in on that action!

noavana · Fri 02/09/2011 01:44:09

Here are my photos :
https://picasaweb.google.com/110602168011571668444/MittensIrelandAugust2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Thank you guys for your kind words! We had a blast!
You're all so interesting, funny, creative, unique and so imaginative..
On the night we had show and tell I was so amazed to see all the wonderful things people created.
Hell, I wanted to make a game.. you really inspired me, guys!
And to think that Chris is the father of all this is also amazing!

Can't say I got to know each and every one of you well, but I look forward to

Ken, thanks for organizing this, it was awsome!

Noa

BTW the pics and clips are great.. I'm gonna steal some for facebook

bicilotti · Fri 02/09/2011 08:19:13

Quote from: bicilotti on Thu 01/09/2011 14:34:48
Quiz time (for some mitteneers)

Who is this man?

puah, no one even tried!

http://tinyurl.com/3mmfpvt

abstauber · Fri 02/09/2011 08:24:54

Prince Michael!

Sorry, I didn't bother, because I thought it would be as hard and random as the movie guessing thread.

Anyhow...:
GOD AND JUSTICE!

Miez · Fri 02/09/2011 09:45:35

Quote from: abstauber on Fri 02/09/2011 08:24:54
Prince Michael!

Sorry, I didn't bother, because I thought it would be as hard and random as the movie guessing thread.

Anyhow...:
GOD AND JUSTICE!

No no no .... COD AND JUSTICE!

noavana · Fri 02/09/2011 11:05:03

Quote from: Snarky on Thu 01/09/2011 13:04:05
Quote from: Pumaman on Mon 29/08/2011 17:27:21
photos here: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/mittens2011/

Ken looking bad-ass:

Lookin' back on the track for a little green bag...

Gunnar looking bad-ass:

Monsieur OUXX · Fri 02/09/2011 11:32:17

OK, who is this? (no, it's no a relative of OceanSpirit Dennis)

Miez · Fri 02/09/2011 11:37:05

Oh that's whatshisname, from Wexford. Commander Blake or something?

Snarky · Fri 02/09/2011 11:46:16

Re: that picture, I think I was just grumpy about my hood being tied in front of my face.

The statue guy down by the harbor was Commodore John Barry (hero of the Revolutionary War), but this seems to be a different statue.

Monsieur OUXX · Fri 02/09/2011 12:02:50

Quote from: Snarky on Fri 02/09/2011 11:46:16
but this seems to be a different statue.

Yep! I tried to confuse you but you're definitely too clever, AGSers.

Also he then became famous for inventing tablecloth with autostereographic properties (seriously, if you watch long enough you'll see OSD wearing a cow scarf).

Layabout · Fri 02/09/2011 17:09:04

I look like i should be on the cover of an assassins creed game. AC:das Banshee.

I'm in Dubai. Flight one of three complete.

bicilotti · Fri 02/09/2011 17:20:28

Quote from: Layabout on Fri 02/09/2011 17:09:04
I look like i should be on the cover of an assassins creed game. AC:das Banshee.

I'm in Dubai. Flight one of three complete.

Nice! Show Dubai people how to summon them banshees!

cat · Fri 02/09/2011 19:31:21

Finally I'm back home! Spending a few more days in Ireland delayed PMD for me, so it will probably start tomorrow

It was so great to meet everyone again. Also the new people and people I haven't met yet were great.
Thanks a lot to Ken for organising everything, paying the deposit (which I hope you got back already?) and constantly nagging the owners about stuff that didn't work.

It was a fantastic week + weekend and I'm already looking forward to next year!

LimpingFish · Fri 02/09/2011 19:50:11

It's raining. I'm wet. Why the hell am I smiling?!

Also, that should be the cover to our first album.

cat · Fri 02/09/2011 19:53:46

Quote from: LimpingFish on Fri 02/09/2011 19:50:11
It's raining. I'm wet. Why the hell am I smiling?!

Because it's Mittens! And it's the most wonderful time of the year