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Yeah, that gut wrenching laughter is what I'm really on about, though non of the examples I gave caused such. Except physics lessons. Please stop me before I ramble about them. Seriously.
It would be interesting to see a game that makes me laugh like that, but physics lessons are a bad example since we laugh at the endless puns and sexual innuedos our teacher blurts out. And with real people, it can be much funnier. I think people in general are funny, but it's not in everyone's humour style to make fun of someone by say, giving them the wrong directions
However, just being crazy with my friends has the same effect. Conclusion: I laugh like a madman, about crazy stuff.

Note: Please forgive my futile attemps to be funny.

Today I remembered after a long time what it's like to laugh out loud.
It's been a while since I did, I must say, at least by my standards (once a day at least is an ok dosage of laughter by those, and the more the merrier), probably because I haven't had a physics lesson lately.
Ah, those physics lesson, always the place to go for a good laugh. I believe it's come to the point where I expect to laugh on them, and come to the lesson with a certain readiness, and am in the mood for laughing at just about anything, and end up laughing more. So, essentially, it's an infinite loop, the more I laugh, the more I want to laugh and the more I do as a result. Which is of course always welcome.

Some people don't value homour as much as they should, or perhaps don't value laughing. Apart from proven scientific theories that laughter is good for your health and can lengthen your life (I like to think after this amount of physics lessons I'll live to be 150), which has something to do with chemicals being released in your brain, I really don't know, laughing is first and foremost, fun. Fun like nothing else can be fun. Pure FUN!
So why this long rant about FUN and laughter? Ah, that's getting me a bit closer to the point of this post.
A bit too soon for my style. I think I'll just ramble on a bit more.

So as I was saying, today I remembered once again how great it is to laugh out loud.
Sure, all around us we see amusing things, but nothing that really hits the nerve hard.
Today, while reading a thread about the new pope (and hope this doesn't offend anyone) but a humourous remark posted in that thread took me somehow by surprise, and I laughed. For real.

Yesterday i had a close experience aswell. I was walking my dog, passing the post office thing.. And what did I see on the ground nearby? A toilet seat. I'm not a fan of toilet humour (ooh, bad pun ) but that almost made me laugh. At the very least i found it weird and amusing that the toilet seat would be lying there like that.
More importantly, it was surprising. Did I mention I was surprised? I was. And that, some say, and I might too, is the key to making people laugh.

I also considered what I read in the thread today. I don't recall it exactly, and am too
lazy to check, but the remark said something absurd about the pope's name and I found it very funny. Maybe it's just my type of humour, if I can even define that. I know some people are offended by this or that type of humour, but I find just about any type funny to some degree.
However I look at it, it makes me feel lucky, as I get to laugh spontaneously at many things, and I enjoy laughing so much.

Right, what was I supposed to write about? Oh right, GAMES. Games need humour. Players need to be surprised, caught unready with something funny. But remember not to make it clash with the game's mood. Timing is of the essence. USE THE ESSENCE.. Erm. Sorry. I'm not gonna go into HOW to implement humour, mainly because I don't feel like it ^_^. You could call this an incomplete post. I'm done ranting for now.


Please post if you have something to say on the topic, or some tips for humour in games, or your own rants somewhat related to the topic, or if you think I should stop ranting because AGS games have a lot of humour ^^.

P.S. This was all partially inspired by these 2 articles:
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6114407/index.html
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/articles/article1595.asp
The other part is my mind just thinking up this starting sentence, and then I had to go with it and it led me to this great starting paragraph.... Damn my controlling mind

I think Israel is a very nice place for him to visit, don't you? 

And damn, SSH, do you want me to swim the ocean? ^_^
Seriously though, thats a good idea.
Except, doesn't Tim live in the US?

Oh, damn, why don't I live in england? Meeting him would be so great. Be sure to take video cameras and tape record EVERYTHING. Ya hear?
SSH - I'd probably swim to london if Tim Schafer was going too..

Ooh, I used to love Choose Your Own Adventure. The first one I got I "re-played" several times. It was about a kid on a magic carpet going to some far off land.. I dont remember the name exactly. I still have it somewhere, and 1-2 more.
I really would love to have something to collect the way you collect LW, stuh.

My vote goes to Fmarais. Leopards, damn how could I forget Leopards!

Last minute entry. hey, it's still the 20th in some countries! I did it text adventure style, to some extent.
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The director of the zoo walks in to check on the animals. As he passes your cage, he says in an annoying voice "Boo Boo, no monkey business you hear".
"If I hear that pun one more time I'll kill myself.." you think. "Or maybe someone else."
You're in a small cage with lots of tree branches, a water bowl, and a huge padlock. There's a banana peel on the floor, and some hay.
>Get Out through Gap
Director: "Stay put."
"Hmm, I can't sneak out while he's watching. Amazing how he hasn't noticed this huge gap in the bars all the years."
> LOOK Branch
"It's not very sturdy."
>LOOK Banana Peel
"That used to be a delicious banana... before I ate it."
"It's all gooey and soft."
{>LOOK Banana Peel (again)
"Like I said, it's GUI."}
>GET Peel
>CLIMB Branch
>JUMP
You jump up and down a few times, until you feel the branch swaying a bit and stop. "This doesn't seem safe."
Director: "Oh how cute, jump Boo Boo jump!"
You feel the sudden urge to strange someone.
>JUMP some more
I do not understand the word 'some more'.
>JUMP
"I don't want to fall on the floor from this height."
>Go Down
>GET Hay
Your hands are full. Of banana peel.
>PUT Banana Peel on floor
>GET Hay
You pick up some of the hay.
>Put Hay on floor underneath branch
>CLIMB Branch
>JUMP
"I think it's still a bit dangerous if I fall, that hay isnt very soft, and I dont have health insurance."
>GET Banana Peel
>Put Banana Peel on hay
>JUMP
You jump on the branch fiercly, and the branch cracks and falls down, taking you with it. You land on the banana-peel-hay-pillow-contraption, slip on the banana peel, and shoot right through a wide spot in the bars at strong force.
> (4 seconds pause) {possibility to GRAB Banana Peel}
Director: "Hey! Stay in there!"
The Director rushes towards you and picks you up, then starts rummaging through his keys. He opens the huge padlock, places you in the cage, and locks.
He then returns to his chair a few metres away, and starts reading the daily newspaper.
Oh no! You lost you banana peel outside.
>LOOK Broken Branch
It's pointy and quite sharp. How.. convenient.
>TALK to Director
You: "Hey, could you get me that banana peel?" --> "Eeep Eep Oop!"
Director: "What's that girl?"
You: "BANANA PEEL!" --> "EEPOOPAPP!"
Director: "Now no need to make a fuss. Here, have a banana."
He trows a banana at the cage.
>PEEL Banana
You throw the peel on the floor, the only right thing to do.
>EAT Banana
"Ah, Energy boost!"
>USE Banana Peel with Hay
>PUT banana-peel-hay contraption under a branch.
>CLIMB Branch
>JUMP
Once again, the branch falls, and through a brilliant maneouver, you manage to slip on the banana peel right in the direction of the gap in the bars.
Director: "Stop doing that, Boo Boo!"
>GRAB Banana Peel
Director: "Back in your cage.."
The director takes out his key..
>THROW Banana Peel near padlocked gate
The director slips on your banana peel, and falls backwards.
>GET Key
>RUN to Padlock
>UNLOCK Gate
>DROP Key
>GRAB Stick (a.k.a. broken branch)
>RUN Out
The director is starting to wake up, looks up at you, and reaches for his gun..
>KILL Director
With what?
>KILL HIM DAMNIT
I do not understand the word "Damnit".
>SAVE Game1
Saved.
>..
The Director shoots you ruthlessly. You die a horrid painful death, bleeding by the gate and the huge padlock, in "Chloroethane Zoo"
>LOAD Game1
>KILL Director with Stick
You Stab the director and kill him, finally taking your revenge on the way he treated you. And that name, where did he get it??
>CLIMB Fence
Wait, I need my paper bag!
>ENTER Cage
>LOOK at Bowl
It's a regular water bowl.
>MOVE Bowl
"A-ha! My paper bag."
>LOOK Inside paper bag.
"Hey, it's my old Monkies album! I was wondering where that was."
>GET Bag
>INV
In your paper bag, you are carrying: A Monkies album
You are holding: A Stick (sharp..)
>POCKE.. err, BAG Stick
>Get Out
>TAKE OUT Stick
>USE Stick on Director's Ear
"Ah, the ultimate revenge! I'd take his vocal cords, but that would be a bit.. messy."
>BAG Stick
>BAG Ear
>CLIMB Fence
"Oh no! There's a gaurd standing here looking out. I can't let him catch me."
You go back to the zoo.
>LOOK
"Theres a cabin for the director here. He seems to live here. Err, lived."
>GO Inside
>LOOK
"Well, he hasn't got much stuff.. A little couch, a counter, and a microwave."
>GET Couch
You can't lift it.
>GET Counter
It's glued to the floor, silly.
>GET Microwave
"Ugh, grah!" You lift the microwave with both arms.
>BAG Microwave
"This is NOT fitting into my bag."
>GO Outside
>CLIMB Fence
"I can get a clear view of the guard here."
>DROP Microwave on guard
The Microwave flattens the guard completely, smashing in the process. "Ouch."
>CLIMB Down
"Free! Free at last!"
>LEAVE
>GO to internal affairs office (or the equivalent in your country)
>CHANGE NAME to 'BooBoo La-La Loo-Boo, the grand MONKIE'
"Ah, much better. I hate two word names."
THE END

And, something I just had to do:
Chloroethane Zoo:

I wonder if anyone gets it.. "Organic Chemistry 1 Expanded" is getting to me..

I'm probably a little late, but what the heck, I had fun

I like the new approach. Will write something up as soon as I can.

Heh, I remember a telemarketer called us recently, and my mom wasn't home, so I said so, and she asked when she'll be home, except she was gone for 3 days, so I said I didnt know and that they can call us back in a few days. Thankfully, they never did . Otherwise, we usually get a lot of surveys calling. Sometimes we answer, if its some important topic, but it's usually about our choice of dairy product or some such thing.
That last telemarketer was terribly annoying:

Me: Hello
Her: Hello, can I ask you just 2 simple questions?
Me: Umm.. ok..?
Her: Do you like resting?
Me: Uh, yeah?
Her: Do you like making money?
Me: That's a bit irrelevant to me.. I guess.
Her: Even if you just like one of those things, you'll like this new supermarket program we have for you. -bla bla bla bla bla bla-
Me: Well, I'm not interested. Goodbye.

I sat and stared at the phone for a few moments after, thinking "wtf? Do you like resting? Do you like making money? Do you like resting AND making money at the same time?" Jeez, what a terrible sales pitch.
The worst part was she was speaking in such a perky voice, sounding as if she really likes this job and is very excited about calling ME and about this wonderful super market program.

That car insurance example is hilarious. I think that happened to us once too, only we didn't endure a long pitch.

I feel, like Dragonrose, that the best part is planning. I can plan and plan wonderful things that'll appear in the game, and then I'll marvel at how great it would be, but making that plan come to life is well, problematic. Sometimes I can sit and imagine my game, imagine the response players might have to certain parts, etc.. daydreaming

I never really get to animating cause the characters have always been a weak spot for me. However I do think it would be a great feeling to see my creation come to life.
I also feel joy when I achieve something in scripting, some trick or some bit I was trying to get to work.
And, naturally, when the release part arrives, sitting there checking for replies every minute is kinda fun .

Installed.. Running.
I've heard of SETI before, but this seems a more worthwhile cause.
The prime numbers program is for the FBI, right?

Whats the difference between working alone and in a team?

Bappy Hirthday Eggie!!!!
Dont poke your eye out.. o_O

Logical yelling? sounds like me
Either way, i'll be using my voice a lot ^_^

Haha, it is so weird to hear my voice in a game. Nice work for one month, especially recording all those lines (liek 140! wow).

Happy Birthday Darth!

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Long live JP & Cosmo!

I've been thinking, has anyone heard of the gospel jazz music style? There's a pair of singers (israeli ones, surprisingly) whose concert I went to, and it was wonderful. Most of the songs were in english, so I'm wondering if this style is sung in other places.
To clear up: Gospel Jazz sounds like gospel music (or church songs) but accompanied by Jazz music. I'm not christian myself, but it appealead to me.

Btw, if Iris and Ofer Portugaly are on tour somewhere near you and you think you might like this style, it's very recommended.

Heh, it's always terribly annoying to feel that your choices of career or study must be guided by the current market state. As corny as it sounds, I want to follow my heart in choosing my course in university and in the work area. It's a real shame that Computer Science majors are having trouble finding work.. I am thinking of going that direction myself, but nothing will probably stop me once I make the choice.
As for the interview tips, those may just come in handy later

PS. How's the physics-scientists market doing?

I found it interesting, but it is quite complex. ATC is probably making people busy, but dont postpone it till after, thats too far away. Maybe just a week or two more.

Yeah, but the french are known for their disliking of the english language.. Actually it may have been translated to french. Anyway, its probably the hippie moosd that they liked.. It a very short game. The voice acting (in hebrew) isnt too bad.

Aww, Psychonauts.. *drools*
I really hope they release it for PC or an emulation is available for it, as I can't afford an Xbox just for one game.. I hope Shcafer is successful with this title. he deserves to be.