8:07 PM
Bezzy is my new hero, for providing a full WMV of the Lewis Black rant I talked about yesterday. So that I don't draw on his bandwith, I'll toss it up for you here. It's 5.27MB, so get it before I remember how much of my webspace it's taking up.

(I note that Black hasn't been playing GTA3 for long--at least in this game; he has less than $10,000, and the Mafia and the Triads aren't shooting at him as he (or, let's be honest, some Daily Show production assistant) drives willy-nilly around Portland.)

In other news, the copy of the Introversion Manifesto I posted here in the office has sparked some good conversations, most notably one this afternoon between myself, JP, and HH programmer Mike Craddick. These have solidified my opinion of the Manifesto--that while there are counter-arguments to nearly everything they say, their heart is in the right place, and I stand behind their intent.

They've also helped solidify some of my own personal opinions.

For one, I think the real next step in games will be better environments in which players help create their own experiences (with games ranging from MMORPGs to GTA3 exploring the crudest borders of the concept) rather than better scripted and polished single-experience games. There are great examples of the latter--Medal of Honor: Allied Assault comes to mind--but that way leads competition with Hollywood rather than a true exploration of gaming's unique strengths.

For two, some of my opinions on story in games and my long-announced essay on the topic. But that will have to wait until I'm free from my current freelance deadlines. Back to work on that.