|
Explosion of Indie Games Kills 'Best of' Column
This is getting ridiculous. Two years ago, I wrote my first column celebrating the best indie games: small, offbeat titles, programmed usually by a single auteur and given away for free. I figured I'd make it an annual affair. For 12 months, I'd scour the net for independent games that had a spark -- some innovative bit of design or gameplay -- and gather a list of the top 10. But I've decided it's impossible. This is not because I can't find any games to praise. It's because I can find too many. Two years ago, the number of people making genuinely polished indie games was pretty small, numbering in the dozens or scores. A single columnist could reasonably hope to sample the year's offerings and make some picks. But in the last two years, things have blown up spectacularly.
Popping the question
Though we had told her she could start dating when she reached the prime age of 35, she jumped the gun on us and started dating Tom Poch at college in Minneapolis sometime in the fall of 2002. Tom was interested enough in Elizabeth that he arranged to spend Christmas vacation with our family that year, and we (four daughters strong) subjected him to a testy cross-examination about his intentions, who he was and where he was going. At the end of the questioning, he surprised us with a question of his own, and point blank asked us if he and Elizabeth had our blessing to pursue their relationship. Despite the fact that 35 was still a significant number of years away, we relented and gave our blessing. Fast forward to the following Christmas, 2003. Tom called me early in December and advised me that he would like to surprise Elizabeth by flying out to the Black Hills and would like to propose to her during his time here. He asked me if there was a particular location that was special or meaningful to her, and I suggested that his timing was perfect for a Harney Peak event. Our friend Jeff had arranged for us to have a boys and a girls cabin outside Hill City for two nights, and Jeff agreed to ferry Tom from the airport so he was already at the cabins when our family arrived. Suffice it to say, everyone was surprised and delighted (especially Elizabeth) to see Tom there, but no one had a clue that there might be an ulterior motive. So we played card games and word games and used the sauna and the hot tub and ate and relaxed, started the tradition of a New Year’s Eve toast with root beer, and five of us (the young couple, Jeff and myself and my youngest daughter, Moriah) prepared for the Harney Peak hike on New Year’s Day. For all practical purposes, it seemed like our usual trek, except that we were introducing a Minnesota snowboarder to the natural beauty of the Needles and more.
Cody Rosen-Stone, Owings Mills, wrestling
Nominate athletes The Sun has set up a phone line for Athlete of the Week nominations. From Friday night until Sunday at 6 p.m., coaches can call 410-332-6801 to nominate athletes. Please provide name, school, class, sport, position, team results and the athlete's accomplishments for the week, with statistics by game, and other supporting information. Coaches also should provide a number where they can be reached Sunday night. .
Zednik stable after carotid artery severed in Panthers-Sabres game
He was conscious, I guess, that's what the trainer said. His eyes were closed, but he was moving and moaning." Zednik's injury was eerily reminiscent of an injury sustained by Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk about 19 years ago at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium. On March 22, 1989, Malarchuk severed his jugular vein when St. Louis Blues forward Steve Tuttle was upended while skating toward the crease, slicing Malarchuk with a skate. "I was back here watching, and I knew what it was right away," Sabres longtime equipment manager Rip Simonick told The Buffalo News. "Just like that night." Malarchuk required over 300 stitches but spent only one night in the hospital, returning to practice after four days. On April 2, he played the final five minutes in the season finale, less than two weeks after his injury.
McCartney Dr: Stop boozing
DOCTORS ordered SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY to quit boozing over heart fears, it was claimed yesterday. But the Beatle, 65, who recently underwent surgery to clear his arteries, allegedly IGNORED them in 2005 - sparking huge rows with estranged wife Heather Mills. A source told the New York Post newspaper he has had electric shock treatment since to alleviate the problem. The insider added: It’s not a threatening condition, he just needs to take better care of himself. This was a major source of problems between him and Heather Mills. .
Ree-membering history
$75.00 (plus GST) for up to ten articles on any one topic. This is a research, information service offered to professionals, students, businesses, internet users.
Photo Reprints @ $46.00 (plus taxes) (8 by 10 colour glossy)
Full Page Reprints from Sun newspapers @ $100.00 (plus taxes) suitable for framing.
Personalized Mock-Up Frontpages @ $130.00 (plus taxes) suitable for framing.
Tearsheets or Back Editions of Sun Newspapers @ $15 each (plus taxes)
Orders from outside Canada must be paid in US funds.
.
Peach Buzz
Gates, who also dug up family history stories for each person, offered a sneak preview of the special before an audience of 500-plus with Kiss 104.1 syndicated talk-show host Tom Joyner. Others who took part in the second special included Chris Rock, Morgan Freeman, Tina Turner and Don Cheadle. The special airs in two parts on Georgia Public Broadcasting Feb. 6 and 13. ON MY IPOD & TIVO Amanda Diva, rapper, poet, TV and radio personality: "On the iPod, there's Lupe Fiasco's 'The Cool.' I love jazz, and I saw a great Wynton Marsalis program that made me want to download this album he and his father did of all of the 'Peanuts' songs, 'Joe Cool's Blues'. Freeway, [Beanie Sigel] and [DJ] Drama's 'Gangsta Grillz.' And [her own EP] 'Life Experience.' … You know what's funny? Before you make your own music you can't imagine listening to your own music — until you have it.
|
