The process of creating a new world for our Ultima Online game server has passed a mile stone. The map is finished, at least finished enough to start building towns and decorating dungeons. I still have some tweaking to do here and there to fix glitches produced by the map compiler program, UOLandscaper.

Other than tweaking the map, I need to finish drawing the “paper map” image that will be used for treasure maps, etc., and drawing a smaller version for the web site that players will use to learn their way around the new world.

I’ve already updated the new, unreleased web site with descriptions of the new races and classes, and I’ve finished my first draft of the world history that will be used as a back story for events and quests that we put together to keep the players occupied.

Mean while, on the live server, we’ve started the process of ending the world, so to speak. We kicked off an event this week that is the first in the story arc that we came up with to set up our move to the new server. I won’t go into detail, as I don’t want to give away all the goods in case any of our players happen across my blog.

If any readers think they might be interested in playing UO, check out the current game site and feel free to ask me any questions you have about getting started.

This Saturday, Tammy went to Disciple Now, a youth retreat that almost all of our “kids” attended. I took the opportunity for a little movie time. I got out my trusty IMDB movie list (movies I want to see if I ever get the chance) and picked a few.

Now, I’ve been going on a lot lately about tHGttG. I had a vague memory of seeing a little bit of a BBC TV version back when I was a kid. So I gave it a shot. I asked the clerk about it and, low and behold, they have just released a two disk DVD version of the 1981 BBC mini-series! w00t!!

The DVD contains all six episodes of the TV series, so it’s a little disconnected; nothing like watching a movie. The acting is… well… BBC, and the special effects are as much a source of laughs as the show itself. What a gas!

I had a great time watching this and it got me back up to speed on tHGttG. It’s only a thin slice of the BBC radio series, which was a pretty thick slice of the book.

It has quite a few Monty-Python-Holy-Grail type scenes. You know, stuff that’s only funny because it’s completely off the wall and devoid of logic. None the less, I really recommend this campy, off-beat, and very enjoyable little show. If you take pride in you geek-hood, then you really need to see this. I give it a solid three grins.

There is a new “exclusive internet only” trailer for “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. (I may have to start using an ultra geeky acronym for this one too! tHGttG? Sure. Why not.)

This new trailer is much better than the theatrical trailer and gives a little more of an idea of what tHGttG is all about.

I’m getting very excited about this. It might just be one of the very few movies I go see on opening night.

*Marking calendar… April 29th*

Any self-respecting geek should take a stroll down memory lane in this article: The 50 Most Important Games Ever Made. It lists all the greats from 1972 consoles, Atari 2600, Commador 64, and more. Several of my personal favorites are listed.

• Pong
• Space Invaders
• Adventure
• Battle Zone
• Pitfall
• Donkey Kong
• Zork (the original text version)
• Dragon’s Lair
• Gauntlet
• Tetris
• And, of course, Ulitma Online

Wow… I am numb with nostalgia. It would take all day to read all the articles linked here and to consider how different our world would be if it were not for these cultural gems.

Does anyone know where I can find an emulator for pitfall?! I need some time on the vines!!

Via Apropos.

I’m so excited about the new theatrical version of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. The new trailer is on Amazon.com.

Check it out.

I have to be honest. I never finished reading the book. But I did listen to the entire 13 hour BBC Radio version.

(Edit: Updated links)This is wicked awesome. Check out these animated gifs about Crazy Boromir. If you read as slow as I do, you’ll have to watch them loop two or three times to get all the dialog.

Boromir’s Imaginary Phone

Boromir’s Ninja Wizard Plan

Boromir’s Catapult Plan

You know you’re a hopeless LOTR geek when stuff like this eats up 30 minutes of an otherwise productive day.

Okay, I’m dating myself with this one, but who remembers Les Nessman? He was the neurotic news man at WKRP in Cincinnati. Okay, who remembers his “office”? Poor old Les lived in the days before cubicles, so he didn’t even have the luxury of five foot, cloth covered, pseudo walls that we have today. Instead, Les had bright yellow tape on the floor around his desk and even a “dashed” section of his “wall” to represent the door. He would usually ignore people who addressed him without first pretending to open his “door”.

I often think of Les Nessman when I’m in a cubicle farm, those doorless mazes for conducting “The Rat Race”. Cubicles never have doors. Even the nicest offices leave their racing rats exposed to unwelcome guests and constant interruptions, not to mention prying eyes that are always interested in what you’re surfing.

That is until now! For a mere $29.95 (plus shipping and handling) you too can have what Les Nessman could only dream of; a DOOR! Check out cubedoor.com. This is a link from a link from a link sent to me by my old buddy Randy Peterman (aka Randypants).

In a twist of bitter irony, I have achieved the pinnacle of cubicle status in that I dwell in a cubicle with a large window. Yes, I can actually watch the squirrels, and they, in fact, are merry. But as a result of being at the top of the racing rat food chain, one side of my cube “door” is a window. Thus the above mentioned CubeDoor will not work on my cube.

. . .

“KHAAAAAANN!”

Yep. I’m sorry to say, I’ve given in and fallen for one of the web’s most ancient evils… the Meme list.

CD I have in my car that I roll up the windows to listen to
It’s actually a cassette tape of my favorite Doctor Demento songs.

Book I read flat so no one could see the title
PVP The Dork Ages

Crappiest song ever sung at karaoke
Yellow Submarine

Bad movie I watch repeatedly
Bubble Boy. Seriously, though, I still think this movie SHOULD BE a cult classic. But it’s not… *pout*

Article of clothing I love though I know it’s wrong
Any number of t-shirts that Tammy won’t let out of the house. Particularly one with a line drawn face picking its nose with the caption, “WHO CARES?”

What I order at the bar when no one is listening
As if I ever go to bars. But when I do it’s usually water with lime.

Fast food item I adore
Chipotle!!!!

A TV show that is a good example of the downfall of civilization that I love anyway
King of the Hill. I swear I grew up with some of those people. I AM related to Bobby Hill. Just with a slightly different name.

This came down the pipe from Mouse Words, to Rox Populi, to A Small Victory, to Apropos of Something, to me.

If you know me, you know I’m into web design, CSS, and the standards compliance trend. And if you’ve been to this site a few times, I hope you will have taken the time to visit the CSS Zen Garden.

To really understand CZG and all it represents, you have to notice a couple of things on that site. First, click on any number of the “Select a Design” links. Then, you have to understand that the HTML code that generates all those design pages is exactly the same. Yes. The code is exactly the same. The only thing that changes is the style sheet or CSS file. That’s the point of the page. Pretty cool, huh?

Now, imagine taking this really cool concept and wicked awesome technology to the absolute end of the WRONG end of the spectrum. Exhibit A: The Really Bad CSS Zen Garden Page.

As you can see, standards compliant CSS design is not, by default, good design. This was just a really good jab at design elitists and I had to share.

If there is something strange about this post, please forgive me. I am forced to make this entry directly into the database, rather than use my blog site. I’m not sure why, but I can’t get logged on from here.

I am at Microsoft Brainwashing again, this week. What?! Training on the week of Christmas? Yes. Isn’t that sad?

There is much I’d like to post about, but I dare not while Big Brother Bill is monitoring my every thought. I’ll be sure claw my thoughts into the flesh of my arm so I’ll remember to post about them next week.

Until then, BUY MICROSOFT OR DIE!