Recent Activity

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  Today's mantra

  WRONG!

  Posted 14 Apr 08

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  Mindtrip, Altered Existence Movies

  So, I'm in love with movies like Being John Malkovich, The Truman Show, Groundhog Day and The Matrix, which question our understanding about the extent of reality. I especially love "loophole" movies. What movies do you have to recommend to me?
  
  
  Also: I'm writing a super secret, super hardcore roleplaying game (called Cheap) about such things right now. Bonus points go to anyone who recommends me one of those movies which further meets the following requirements: about power, about abuse, about domination, about opportunism, about social experimentation.
  
  Final caveat: I rank entertainment as more important than bulletproof logic. Movies rife with plot holes are still full of awesome idea potential.

  Posted 26 Feb 08

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  Other people's praise.

  So, there's a game store in Vancouver called Strategies. Strategies specializes in Games Workshop kind of stuff, but also has 3 RPG bookshelves. The owner of the store, Darren, is charismatic and energetic and cool. He's really passionate about the stuff he stocks. It used to be limited to WHFRP, D&D, Savage Worlds and Werewolf. About a year ago, I started telling him about my crazy indie games.

  Recently, he got really interested in the stuff he kept hearing on podcasts like HG,WT and Voice of the Revolution. He decided to dive in and order a small shelf of IPR stuff. Agon is one of the games he chose.

  He played Agon a few weeks ago, and was so into it. He energetically described how he got the other heros to give him a leg up, so he could catapult himself into the sky and tackle a harpy down into the storming seas below. He told me how the boat left without him, and he challenged them to see who would make it to the island first - the boat, or him swimming. He won.

  He let me know that Agon kicked ass because it was full of cool options, epic colour, and tight mechanics. My internal response was "I know that game! And that author! Rock."

  Now your turn. Tell me about someone else praising something you know and love. RPG specific or otherwise.
  
  
  
  

  Posted 04 Mar 08

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  Paprika - Crazy Dream Destruction Awesome Ultimate!

  John Harper, thank you for suggesting Paprika. The movie is bizarre, awesome and creepy. Definitely a mindtrip.

  The opening five minutes, with the weird dream montage that switches from Tarzan to Spy Thriller to Personal Life so abruptly, had me hooked.

  I think there were also moments that had me deeply unsettled. The hand sinking into the crotch (butterfly scene) unsettled me so much. The sexualization of the dolls in one part was icky. But... I think those icky bits helped reinforce what was going on. I felt deeply disturbed at the possibility of dream crossing. Moreso than The Cell.

  I thought it was weird how those icky, disturbing, violent moments were offset by Paprika soaring around on a cloud, happy sunshine and theme music playing in the background. Anime is the only medium that I've ever seen successfully pull off such a "clash". Weird.

  Posted 06 Mar 08

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  We have met the forum and it is us...

  John Harper masters yet another facet of the internet! Crowds flock!
  Consider this place bookmarked.

  Posted 26 Feb 08