I got off work at 4am last night.
James, Steve and I singing Pizza Day by The Aquabats on the car ride down.
During the last two days:
-I escorted Vic Mignogna through the exhibit hall, encouraged his purchase of a Star Trek TOS T-shirt. Found out Vic is in the Star Trek: New Horizons series, and that he voiced Junpei in Persona 3.
-Met Tom Wayland and assisted him in a few panels including a dramatic read of a Vampire Hunter D story, and Hentai Dubbing.
-Dubbed me some hentai. Quotes of the Dub: “I can’t *** unless you do your best Robert DeNiro!” “Churn my butter! Churn it like I was Amish!” “701, 702, 703, 704…HIGH SCORE, *****!” and “Focus the camera! Is it focused? Come ON mom! It’s the button on the side!”
-Did several interviews, including David Gaiter, the Lead Writer for Dragon Age: Origins and Geoff Battone, Creator and Game Designer from Slugfest Games and James Jacobs, editor-in-chief over at Paizo Publishing. Links to all those coming in soon. My MP3 encoder isn’t working on this computer.
Hear the interview with Geoff Battone
-I embarassed Geoff Battone from Slugfest when I admitted to playing Red Dragon Inn as a drinking game. But we talked about his inspiration for designs, and what it was like to be a new company at a convention during their first Gen Con in ’04.
Listen to me talking to James Jacobs
-When speaking to James Jacobs we discussed their new Pathfinder game (which I picked up). Pathfinder is written over the open source 3.5 rules, and is poised to take a bite out of the tabletop market from Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition. Also, spellcasting classes get cantrips for free. Win.
Observe as I nerd it with David Gaiter
-I press David Gaiter about the dialog choices in Dragon Age: Origins, asking him about the writing process for dialog. He touched on the Mass Effect meter, but pointed out that Dragon Age: Origins is more about the consequences of your actions. This made me smile. Morally gray options! Yay! No multiplayer in Dragon Age: Origins, by the way, but he discussed how they worked through the process of deciding whether to have it in the game or not. I also embarass the hell out of myself with a brain fart. Listen in.
-Watched “Gamers: Dorkness Rising” and was pleasently surprised. The movie was funny and very, VERY nerdy. I got every joke, and I enjoyed the level of detail put into the production. If you get a chance, watch/buy Gamers and Gamers: Dorkness Rising. Must have fun films for the D&D player in all of us…D&D players.
-Worked the overnight shift last night, till 4am this morning. Woke up sleeping people, chased people from the hall, busted people for drinking, checked a room of 1,000 people playing TCGs for their badges. Some people were nice. Others gave me sass. I remained professional, but it was a THOUSAND PEOPLE. Heh, I had a good time with it. Then I woke up more sleeping people (Quote of the night: “You don’t have to touch me, man!”), I drove the cart around a bit, I checked badges some more.
-Bought Johno a present. Tee hee hee!
-Got my picture taken by Brandy.
-Might be staffing Otakon next year.
-Went to a bar where the drinks were cheap but sugary as all get out. Yech.
-I’m listening to the Beyblade opening “Off the Chains” right now in the Westin Lobby and rocking out while Vic signs autographs.
-Trying to get these damn files to compress down so I can upload them faster. A 5 minute interview should not be 70mbs!
I’ll be back in Chicago on Tuesday, friends. I’ll see you all soon, but if anyone is a licensed massage therapist…I’m going to need one. My dogs are baaaaaarkin’.
Working hard, or hardly workin? Hahashutup.
-Joe
PS: “I have an Ouran [Boys Club] guild on NeoPets, and when I told them I’d see you they all wanted me to ask you to say ‘Hi!’.” Quote.
PPS: Vic Mignogna, myself, and the cast of the Westin Indianapolis Lobby singing “Piano Man” while Vic plays the piano.