Another visit to the mail bag, which for some reason features a lot of actual things. It also shows that press releases will go out to just about anybody these days.
A Love Letter to DOOM
I am always a fan of people who tackle gaming topics in actual printed book form. Being over a certain age, getting somebody to publish that sort of thing lends legitimacy to the whole genre, even if it isn’t likely to make any best seller’s list. So I was interested to see a press release for DOOM: SCARYDARKFAST.
DOOM: SCARYDARKFAST
According to the press release, this 200 page book covers the creation of DOOM, how it impacted the industry, pushed online multiplayer and modding, and spawned many imitators. The book jacket quote:
This book is a love letter to DOOM and its various creators, written by a highly educated and devoted scholar and player. The book offers a well-grounded sense of the game and does an excellent job working its way through a range of topics: from the software company to the graphics engine to the story to the sound to the final game.”
—Katherine Whitlock, California State University-Chico
Never having actually played DOOM (I was working on Mac OS at the time, so Bungie’s Marathon kicks off first person shooters for me) and not being a particularly dedicated shooter fan, some of this will no doubt be lost on me, but it is nice to see it getting recorded somewhere.
D-Link Router for Gamers
D-Link sent me a press release for their new router for gamers.
Available in August
This one interests me because we have to share a rather small pipe to the internet at our house and the tools available for apportioning out bandwidth seem to be to be rather primitive. Looking at the we page for the router, it looks like they are headed in the right direction. And, frankly, things like Quality of Service shouldn’t be rocket science at this point. I am not going to run out and pre-order one, but I will look for reviews to see if it actually works as described.
FitDesk for the Happy Family
FitDesk is a company that sells equipment that allows you to use your electronics while you exercise. A noble calling, or at least one with some merit. I recall a story from a few of years back about a guy who bolted his laptop to a treadmill and spent all his World of Warcraft time walking. He lost weight and got into shape while raiding. So I have nothing snarky to say about the idea really, except that the picture they attached to the press release they sent me is a bit… odd.
Just like no family ever
The thought process that lead to this would be interesting to map. Put dad in the chair. Have him smiling, happy that his son is getting exercise. Hand him a laptop to show he is tech savvy. Give him a smiling trophy wife about his son’s age. Have those two gaze fondly at the son while he plays his game completely undisturbed by this attention. And no sweating! We don’t need to remind people that exercise makes they moist and smelly.
Life in the world of advertisements.
LEGO Middle-earth Rolls On
And the people at LEGO continue to send me pictures of their latest and greatest stuff, like this Tower of Orthanc set.
LEGO Saruman
Unfortunately, the age of LEGO seems to be pretty much over at our house. My daughter is in the pre-teen stage and becomes quickly bored when forced to do things like assembling LEGO kits with dad. Time marches on. Now we’re worried about paying for college.
The Ancient Gaming Noob 