I'm Blue, updated Tuesdays and Fridays without fail.

Monkey On The Back
February 5, 2002

Look out peoples - yet another rant is coming your way. Wheee.

Today's strip is one I promised a while ago and finally make good on, much to, I'm sure, the delight of one or more of my peeps, who have long had to put up with my rhapsodizing on this game before break. And to those who have ever succumbed to the siren's song of "Just *one* more game" - this sweet nectar I'm sampling here is poured out in part for you. Or as they say in the 'hood (read: the suburbs of Mesa, Arizona), "This one's for me - and this one goes out to my homies." Word [I second that, word yo - Josiah].

Good God, it appears I neglected to mention the delicious partyness that happened on Saturday night: wherein I was subject to the furthering of a virtual gamer wet dream: a PS2, a Dreamcast (upon which, in Sambadeamigo, I received a coveted Perfect score - go me), and an XBox, of all things, upon the latter of which Web Guy Josiah played Halo for the ENTIRE NIGHT. I'm not making this up. Five hours of insane shoot 'em up alien bliss was his, and from the looks of it (as well as the crazed look in his eyes, the severe case of Gamer's Leg he contracted, and his repeated mutterings of "Halo...sweet, sweet Halo...), he's pretty dammed addicted. I also got a look at the extreme beauty of Baldur's Gate II (DIG those water effects, man - they can make crawling through a reeking swamp filled with rotting, poo-flinging zombies look *gorgeous*), and got my first glimpse of the illustrious Devil May Cry: a game so incredible in its scope, shape, and asskickingness, that I was nearly moved to break down and cry. Instead, however, at a particular attack I shrieked with joy like a little anime schoolgirl, but I think for that I may be forgiven. But games were played, new friends were made, and by the time "the fuzz" arrived to kick us out the door, I had a new sense of self. Or at least my mizad game fix. Until next time... ::grin:: ::evil giggle:: I'm *telling* you, people, this is gonna, this is BOUND to happen again, and you best hop in this crazy train and ride it for all it's worth, because great jumping Satan jellybeans, it's NOT stopping. You heard it here first.

Well, I ought to get my ass going on to that whole "schoolwork" thingy, but be well, take it easy, and return on Friday for another totally NEW episode of "I'm Blue." Same Blue-time, same Blue-channel. ::pause:: I promise I won't ever say that again. Eek.

It ain't nothin' but a Blue thang.
Annie "Blue" VM

It goes a little something like
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- Citizen King
"Better Days"

Hey guys...Annie's really not kidding about the 5 hours of Halo either. In terms of controls, I would say that on average, for the control of the game, it was much superior to Bond 64 (this one actually made sense from a computer gamer perspective). Strafe on the left joystick, aim with the right, shoot with right trigger, grenade with the left trigger, other buttons used on occasion (for reloading, swapping weapons, etc). Yeah, my hands are small, and thought the controller is a little big, I think the pain I experienced in my hands was partly due to the fact that I clutched that controller for so damn long. On the upside, it was my first time playing, and we (me and one of three other people, they traded, I didn't...there wasn't much demand...surprisingly) were able to bust through the first 6 levels on normal difficulty. Yeah, it was pretty rad. I want Halo on the PC god damn it. Microsoft, get your bitch asses off the toilet, and give me Halo for my PC. I may even upgrade my vid card for it...may.

Oh, and because I can, I thought I would do a bit of pimping. As mentioned on Slashdot a few days ago, there's this IM client called Trillian, that manages to combine ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, and IRC into a single program. Crazy you say? No, I do not Jest. Sure, almost working versions can be found via Jabber IM, or even Odigo, but those two are not with out their problems (which are crippling if you ask me). Trillian is absolute instant messaging perfection for windows users. I dare you to find better. I hear there is something almost as good for linux, but I've got little to no information about it. Maybe you linux/mac users should beg the developers for a version for you? Anyways, enough about me and my stuff. You came here for the comic and for Annie's rant.
- Josiah