Messages

Ooo! Haggis, you are so close I'm surprised you can't smell it!  Your reasoning about letters is serendipitously partially correct.   Just remember, I have nothing against pirate interjections. 

You think correctly... in that you are wrong. Partial success with the STDs, though.

Starry daughter with two left-hand guns in the air, minus the herpes and gonorrhoea (5, 6)

Adventure Related.

Have you told Ponch your seeing other co-developers?   

It's an open relationship.

Damn! Now why is this dance floor so crowded with good looking people

It's just the beer-goggles, MWL.  If I were you I would reserve judgement until you wake up next to one of us on the morning after.

Yeah, that's right.

I've collaborated with many an AGSer in my day, and in just about every circumstance I've discovered a great sense of camaraderie and an admirable skill-set far beyond my own abilities.  From Ascovel's philosophy and game-analysis to Radiant's unholy scripting abilities, and from Problem's brilliant musical powers to Yarooze's unshakeable optimism, and from Cat's careful attention to detail to Ponch's eerie ability to belch and snore at the same time, I genuinely feel as if these collaborative relationships have helped me grow as a developer and a person.

Thus, with about three weeks to go before OROW, I'm thinking about partnering up.  Hey, maybe I'll hook up with someone and maybe I won't, but for now I'm interested in seeing what's out there on the singles scene.  I'd probably be interested in working with someone I haven't before, at least in a major capacity -getting back together with an ex is rarely a good idea.   What am I looking for in a relationship?  Well, this is more of a one-week fling, so exnay on the long-term ommitmentcay (Baron doesn't need any clinging vines).  Ability to communicate and compromise would be key.  I'm not so fussy about specific skills or experience, since I've been around the block a few times and could probably fill in any gaps.   My ideal partner would be aged 18-63, not because I'm ageist but because I'm not entirely convinced that my mom didn't make an account here at some point and I don't think our relationship can handle the kind of pressure that OROW would inflict.

So what about me?  I have absolutely no pre-conceived ideas about plot or game-style for the competition (parameters to be announced, I'm sure), but I have been thinking it'd be nice to experiment with a new drawing style I've been developing.  I'm young at heart but lengthening in the tooth, quick to laugh and slow to anger, mildly disorganized and often pressed for time.  I like long walks on the beach except when there are jellyfish involved, but I hate pina coladas!  What are they made out of, anyway?  Sour cream?  Guh!

All right, so let's see what kind of action is out there!  Don't get put-off if I dance with more than one of you as I shop the market -I intend to inspect the goods before I make a purchase.     Even if there's not enough hours in the competition to work with everyone, rest assured that my heart is big enough to love you all.

So.... Wanna dance? ââ,,¢Â«

There was some experimentation with making AGS games playable in a browser window, which would put us on a level playing field with other game types.  For us freeware developers, the download is a competitive disadvantage when we're up against most games that can just be streamed on the internet.  I have no idea about the technical complexities involved in this, but if I found a genie it'd be on my wishlist.  

In terms of formally raising money to support development of the editor/engine/webpage and promoting them, I think it's the logical way forward.  In the past we've relied on extremely devoted and committed volunteers, and will for the most part continue to to so, but roles that require full-time work really do need something approximating full-time pay.  Likewise, if we've hit a brick-wall development wise, I'd rather fund-raise to hire in the skill-set we need rather than wait 5 years on the off-chance that a volunteer might acquire the skills and remain interested in the project.

Alas, once we have money involved this will have to change the organization of the community into something of a more formal structure, with hiring committees, bookkeeping, and regular communication of what's going on to the community, which is a whole lot of inglorious unexciting and often unappreciated grunt-work for those who volunteer for it.  And once you strike down that path it'd be hard to turn back the clock....

[Curtshaved Transvestdrunk]

Correct!

Who is rudely brief, trimmed, put's on women's clothing and hangs around in bars?

There is no doubt in my mind that this refers to

Spoiler

Curtshaved Transvestdrunk

[close]

Hopefully for the rest of the writers Baron is too busy because this contest is perfect for the huge thesaurus in his brain...

True story: one time by accident I put my pickelhaube on upside-down and had to plug the bleeding hole in my head with the nearest tome at hand....

I require a (1) character answer.

We can use weird wingding symbols! 

I give up (1)

Spoiler

You're going to need this list

[close]

[Sinitrena]

Agreed.  Although you must take solace that your defeat wouldn't have been nearly so categorical if I'd been allowed to vote.

So Sinitrena is hereby declared the winner, with kconan an easy second.  I'm sorry but I've been away from my computer for about a week (it's still 300km away), so trophies will have to be deferred until I can make them.  Thus I hereby charge Sinitrena with the awesome burden of competition administration.  I look forward to it!

In terms of commentary, each piece had its own merrits.  I liked how both drew the reader in trying to guess the outcome.  My personal preference in terms of content would be kconan's shady underworld populated by larger-than-life characters constantly struggling with the fallout from just acting like themselves.  I agree with Sinitrena that the infodump was a lot at the beginning, but it was sure handy to refer back to just one paragraph to figure out who was who (by mid-story I had them all down, though).  In such a short story it'd be hard to grow-to-know the characters naturally, though, so other creative approaches might involve the use of descriptive nicknames or paring back the cast a bit.  But I definitely liked his characters, and the plot was exciting.  And although his paragraphing might benefit from some editing, the writing style was certainly entertaining.  I look forward to another story from him next time.

For Sinitrena's story I really liked the background world, which was developed nicely through the story and left me curious to learn more.  I liked her characters as well, the not-too-clever lover-boy and the emotionally-scarred object of his affections.  Illé struck me as just a little too prickly and melodramatic, but I suppose that could just be the nature of fairy culture, or maybe it's a flaw of her character that she dwells too much on the past (for what, like 50 years? ).  I definitly liked the message at the end, making the reader wonder at the motives of love -very profound, in a sad and tragic way.  Congratulations on your victory, Sini!

Well, that's all for me.  See everyone again in the next exciting instalment of....


The Fortnightly Writing Competition!  

[The Small Six Cabal Club]

Well I hope nobody tried to enter when the thread got accidentally locked....   I'm going to assume that we've got everyone, though, and go ahead and close the competition.  It's voting time!

Here are our esteemed entries:

The Small Six Cabal Club by kconan
Of the Little Fairy who Didn‘t Want to Fly by Sinitrena

...and here are our voting criteria. 

Best Character: most believable or captivating or magnetic or unique: could be main character or supporting role
Best Atmosphere: Which story evoked the strongest feelings due to excitement/humour/intrigue/wonder/emotional intensity?
Best Background World: The best setting or milieu for a story: a place brought to life.
Best Writing Style: The technical art of combining words in clever or gripping ways.
Most Substantive: Which story provides the greatest insight into the lives of the altitudinally challenged?  Or imparted a really great moral?  Can be philosophical or humorous.

Vote early and vote often!  All votes will be tabulated on Saturday July 25 or whenever I get back from camping.   Good luck to all participants!

[Pawn Snip I Male]

Spoiler

skinning Mandle = peel off outside, as in the M----E, or maybe the MA--LE....?
blending "one cup" = pounce
potentially mighty something = pen, blended = nep?

following the recipe:

pounce + nep + i + male =  Pawn Snip I Male

[close]

One more day until the deadline!  So make it count.  I'd love (in the abstract platonic sense) to see two more entries.  It doesn't matter if it's short -the theme is all about short stories!  Let your muse loose and get your better sense another drink 'cause you've got a story to write.  So get hackin', whydoncha?

Ace!  Impressive.

The chaos of thy school zoom, without the toilet (10)

AGS related.

He he.... C'mon, Mandle!  Who taught you how to carpet bomb?

My guess is:

Spoiler

SilverHawke

[close]

Easy peasy!

-Garlic
-Italians (if you eat enough garlic it starts to come out of your pores -an old bug repellent trick)
-Presumably closely related plants like onions and leaks
-Stakes
-Sunshine
-Mirrors
-Lasers
-Werewolves (Underworld)
-Crosses
-Holy Water
-Loneliness
-James Woods
-Nonsequential numbers (Sesame Street)
-Dentists
-Spiders
-Fire (Interview with the Vampire)
-Moving Water
-Charcoal
-Wesley Snipes
-Exsanguination
-Silver
-Vamptonite
-Sonic waves
-Starvation
-Leprosy
-Roasted Soybeans
-The Montesi Formula incantation
-Death
-The smell of pumpkins
-Anti-vampire weapons
-The Hoffan Drug (Stargate)
-Roses
-White eyes painted on black dogs
-The Lucifractor
-Normal healthy relationships (Twilight)
-Chuck Norris

Were they Oompa-Loompas?

One week remaining!