The first game I discussed for this holiday dealt with the experience on a personal level, free of monsters. The second focused on a particular monster. Now, let’s talk about an overall game that actually captures an atmosphere of dread. The situation in X-Com: UFO Defense is as follows: Aliens are attacking human cities. They… Continue reading Ghoulish Games III: X-Com UFO Defense
Month: October 2010
Ghoulish Games II: System Shock 2
I mentioned in my previous post on games that’ve unnerved me that the level in question had no monsters. It’s a great example that the setting and design of a well-crafted atmosphere doesn’t necessarily require direct antagonists to be effective. That isn’t to say there’s anything wrong with monsters, and in this second game I’d… Continue reading Ghoulish Games II: System Shock 2
IT CAME FROM NETFLIX! Demolition Man
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Ghoulish Games I: Bloodlines
Halloween is right around the corner, despite the tendency of retail outlets to forget the holiday as quickly as possible. You can’t milk consumers for as much cash with costumes as you can with guilt-induced gifts for family and co-workers they don’t like. Anyway, since horror is interesting from a variety of standpoints and I… Continue reading Ghoulish Games I: Bloodlines
On NaNo & Scrivener
So National Novel Writing Month – NaNoWriMo to you Web-savvy types – is right around the corner. I know a few of my fellow pensmiths will be participating in the event, and I’m more than happy to offer my support, encouragement and advice. But I, for one, won’t be participating. The simple reason for this… Continue reading On NaNo & Scrivener
Into the Nentir Vale: Part 3
The Nentir Vale is a campaign setting provided to new players of Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition. It’s present in the Red Box and most of the starting materials. For a party almost all completely new to D&D and a DM re-familiarizing himself with the latest edition, it’s a great place to start a campaign.… Continue reading Into the Nentir Vale: Part 3
The Hunter in Cataclysm: Survival
I didn’t have the good fortune to make it into the beta for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm but with the release of the latest Patch, I can now make some educated guesses as to how the different talents of my primary class, the Hunter, are going to fall together. I plan on using my secondary… Continue reading The Hunter in Cataclysm: Survival
Three Stars
As part of VACATION HELL over at Terribleminds, I submitted a little horror story called “Three Stars”. Now that it’s posted there, I can post it here as well. Enjoy! She walked through the halls with his picture in her hand. She stopped the hotel’s staff and other guests alike. She struggled to keep her… Continue reading Three Stars
Further Thoughts on Zwartboek
My wife did an excellent job reviewing Black Book yesterday. I can’t say I disagree with anything she said. The film (called Zwartboek in its native Dutch) didn’t work quite as well as it could have on a variety of levels. Danielle touched on a couple and I’d like to expand on them, mostly because… Continue reading Further Thoughts on Zwartboek
IT CAME FROM NETFLIX! Black Book
[audio:http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/uploads/blackbook.mp3] This review marks the one year anniversary of ICFN’s podcast component, and to celebrate this, uh, monumental occasion, this review is being written and voiced by me, Danielle, aka that wife Josh always talks about. You’ll probably notice some stylistic differences between the two of us, too, so try not to get your panties… Continue reading IT CAME FROM NETFLIX! Black Book
