Coming Up For Air

I needed to do this a week ago! Just popping my head in for a moment while I take a brief respite from writing the script for an upcoming episode of Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures If you're checking the Enthusiasms with ANY regularity, I apologize, but this thing is sort of dominating my life. Things I promise once the script is locked and my hours go back to normal:

::A post concerning the process of writing and designing one of these things.

::An article where I break down all that BS Gamestop was spouting last week about used game sales spurring new game sales in the market. Watch out, this could get raw.

::Pie.

One of these is simply isn't true. Anyway, while I've been tip-tapping away on this behemoth, I thought I'd share a quick list of my favorite things that have helped contributed to the creative process. My favorite things, if you will. Like Oprah's, but without crocheted nose warmers or forced displays of affection.

::My Pandora station entitled Big Hair where I can get a quick hit of Nelson or Boston

::Telltale Design staff -- I am stupid, they, on the contrary, are not.

::This squishy wrist support thingy

::Oatmeal

::Twitterfox -- although a slew of crappy tweets almost forced this off the list

::Googledocs

::Little Big Planet -- definitely more on this in the future

::Bulliet Bourbon -- defniitely more OF this in my future



Again, sorry for being a lazy writer -- I promise you won't be disappointed once the game drops though!

Presenting Your 2009 Vanny Award Winners

As 2008 has come to a close, we're all still reeling from the extravagant gift giving, emotionally imbecilic family reunions and shameful New Years Eve dalliances fueled by a potent blend of cheap champagne and prozac. But better than all of that, the Vanny Awards are upon us! Each year, the Vannys recognize various achievements in the arts of gaming, romance, electronics, story telling, semi-general awesomeness, friendship, culinary expertise, internet comedy, entertainment, and haberdashery. This is not a comprehensive list.

Looking back on the year, I like to award the things that impressed or impacted, shamed or startled. Nominees are meticulously judged by a benevolent committee of one with eligibility determined not by date of creation, like those pedestrian Oscars, but by their date of appearance in the life of the awards committee.

Without further ado, your 2009 Vanny Award Winners. Congratulations to all, you've earned it.

Acceptance speeches are encouraged to left in the comments or on your website, if you have one, or are in fact human.

Best in Sandwich: Michael's Sourdough Sandwiches, San Rafael CA

I've eaten no less than 17 Michael's sourdough sandwiches since starting at Telltale Games. From their fresh baked sourdough bread to their simple ingredients and filling portions, Michael's has delivered a quality sandwich a mere 500 yards from the office. Scoring high points in taste, quality and proximity, Michael's Sourdough is your 2009 Vanny Award Winner for Best in Sandwich. Other nominees include: Porto's Bakery: Glendale CA, the Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich: Corner Bakery, and the Brooklyn at Canter's Deli: Los Angeles, CA>.

This is a good time to mention that I had planned to make some slick Photoshopped awards images of a trophy with my face on it, but I just haven't found the time.

Comic Book of the Year: Mesmo Delivery Service by Raphael Grampa.



This is a fantastic single issue comic that combines incredible character design with thrilling story telling and a substantial amount of gore. Raphael Grampa is really amazing. You can pick it up here if you're interested.

Internet Meme of the Year: Old Greg

I'm sure this is older than 2008, but I saw it in 2008 so it's eligible for a Vanny this year. I'd like to thank Adam Nace for introducing me to the Old Greg. I really don't know what to say about it. It makes you feel...odd. You want to turn it off but you can't. Then, after a few hours of thinking about it, you'll have the uncontrollable desire to show it to every single person you know. If that doesn't qualify as Meme of the year, then I don't know what does. Other Nominees: That Justin Timerblake Jizz video, Drunk Girl runs into a bathroom door.

Hot Dog of the Year: Moishe's Pippic San Francisco CA



On a lark, I popped into this little deli with Adam over the holiday while he was in town. We had two of the best Chicago Dogs I've ever had and the owners are some real hard-ass Chicagoans -- blue collar guys who know their food. If you're ever in Hayes Valley near downtown in SF, check this spot out. Vanny awards all around.
Ed. note: nothing has really yet to top the infamous "danger dogs" one can procure after a USC home football game on the carts by the stadium but on the flip side, you can go to Moishe's without ever thinking the word e.coli.

Non-extradition Treaty Country of the Year: Maldives

I've just robbed the Federal Treasury and making my escape via a hijacked AC130 gunship? This will do.



Casual/Internet Game of the Year: Audiotorium

Check it here. I started playing this at work one day and immediately had to put it on my list of 9-5 banned activities. It's a puzzle game with no right answer -- you're goal is coerce a flow of musical juju into some targets located around the scene, creating a harmonic orchestration of sounds that lead you into the next puzzle.

Multiplayer Gaming Experience of the Year: The first time I survived an all out attack from a Tank and the horde from Left For Dead.

This was a real hard one for me. And I need to say that last night I was playing Gears of War 2 with the Nerd Poker crew and we had some 5x5 Execution going on Subway. Four of my compatriots went down in the first minute and I was left in a 5x1 situation with the torque bow. With some frantic hiding, a couple lucky shots and a good angle, I took down my five opponents with five consecutive torque bow bolts, winning the round and feeling pretty good about myself. I would like to cheat and make that my best moment of 2008, but that would be both untrustworthy and a bit douchey.

But for 08, here it is -- the feeling you get after surviving that first onslaught with three other people, even if they're not friends, is tremendous. We were facing down a tank, shouting orders to each other, protecting each others backs, handing each other health and making sure no man was left behind. And I was playing with goddam strangers. I can't speak highly enough of this experience -- get the game, get online, and make sure you join a lobby with three people with working microphones and decent dispositions. Best multiplayer moment of the year awaits. Nominees: Gears of War 2 Co-Op Campaign, going on a skull-hut on Legendary in Halo 3 four player co-op and playing Rock Band at my old house until 4 in the morning.

The Black Tar Heroin Award: Geometry Wars 2

This Vanny is in recognition of the game or activity that required serious intervention to remove from my life. I've already commented on this game here but Geometry Wars 2 caused some serious problems in my life. I had an ongoing, two month rivalry with Dan Bryner, a designer at Crystal Dynamics for high score dominance in the Deadline Mode. I put up 9 million, he put up 11. I put up 15, he put up 20 million. I put up 21 million, he put up 22. It was maddening. I would play until my eyes burned. I could pause, quit and restart a game with an instant button press that took no longer than quarter of a second. There were times, at the height of my mania, that if it were between Geometry Wars 2 and a loved one, I would've stammered before selecting the human's life be saved.

Game of the Year: Left 4 Dead



This screenshot really says it all -- this game makes you work together, keep an eye out for your fellow man, and double back for a friend. I like that. You and three other people are in it together and this game is calculating every possible way to tear you apart. The AI director, which makes every play-through unique is relentless on the harder difficulties. Your party just got wiped out and has to go back to the last safe room and start again? Tough shit, here comes the horde. You're the last remaining team member and the check point is just up ahead? Ha! Defeat this indestructible behemoth first. Such a fantastic game. And DLC to look forward to? I may cry.

There are a bunch of games I didn't play in 2008 because I'm too busy trying to make one but I plan on getting to them in 2009 (Fable 2, Fallout 3 and Far Cry 2 and any other sequels that start with the letter F) so they weren't considered (but are eligible for a 2010 Vanny under the bylaws).

The 2009 Vanny award for GoY goes to L4D. Nominees included: Gears of War 2, Rez HD, Geometry Wars 2, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People and Burnout Paradise.

Thanks for sitting through another pointless end of the year list, even if it's a week late. And remember, the 2010 Vanny's are just around the corner!