Apologies

I deeply apologize to everyone for the near incoherency of the previous post. I was writing it on the brink of sleep, much like I used to write all my columns in college... which reminds me that is time to apologize for the incoherency of those pieces.

Sometimes, just because words can be fit together, does not mean they should be.

I also apologize to everyone who I have to send e-mails to... This time my excuse is still lame, but it is better than most times as my laptop has inexplicably lost function of its G, H, Backspace, and ' keys. I generally prefer writing on my laptop, and it is psychologically difficult for me to use my tower for that sort of thing these days.

We (and by we, I mean I, but maybe you will empathize) have been spoiled by an abundance of technology. I will get my act together very soon, but I have two other things distracting me right now.

1. I received a pass for the Chicago preview screening of the movie version of Hellboy the comic. I like Hellboy a lot. To me, it's a readable superhero comic, one that works well in a short story format along with the drawn-out serial plotting. The characters are clear-cut and consistent. The art is superb; bold, dark and brooding with elaborate simplicity. And it's got everything... Demons, Nazis, mythological monstrosities, fishmen, frogmen, wolfmen, Lobster Johnson... I'm excited to see how well it will transfer onto celluloid. I'll throw my thoughts up here.

2. Also for free, I signed on for the Lineage 2 open beta. It's my first experience with a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game since Gemstone 3 and Federation (which I cannot find even a tangential link to) were centerpieces of AOL's online gaming aspect. Both were text-based if it helps you put things in perspective. Unfortunately, Lineage 2 has been packed and the servers seem unpredictable as to their ability to keep people on, so I haven't been able to get a decent session going. I have, however, killed my fair share of wolves on the open plains of the game's starting towns. It's a funny sight to walk over a hill and see hordes of individual players chasing wolves around and slaughtering them. I don't understand why MMORPGs insist on having players mass execute in order to get to a point where they can actually begin playing. Give players a quick tutorial era where they can get a chunk of abilities and develop their own style within a few fights. After about ten kills, I should be choosing if I want to be on my way or if I want to screw around with brutality. No other genre could get away with the tedium that's acceptable in MMORPGs. But, as I said, I haven't really gotten to play for more than a few hours, so my criticism may not be entirely fair.

Anyhow. I'm going to try and ride my bike for a bit before the movie, so I'll be taking off now.