It is Monday, May 1st. I am currently sitting in my living room (where no one lives) and writing this on time, for the first time. So many things have been happening, but let’s get down to brass tacks (don’t throw them up).
Last week I watched Sonic 2, I continued reading Mortal Engines and I started a new RPG system to replace the previous one (it wasn’t even finished). I also discovered some new tech, “fixed” a computer and had trouble with food.
I think the highlight was Sonic 2. I watched the first Sonic movie at home, sitting on the carpet, looking up at the TV, much like I did when I was playing the Mega Drive games. It was bliss at the time. Those sounds, the music, the characters. Everything was fantastic and beyond belief for how fun it was. So I was expecting a great adventure for Sonic 2 (no pun intended) and boy does it deliver. I’m just bummed that I didn’t watch it sooner. But it was worth it. Unfortunately, the movie series seems to be taking a turn to unknown territory which either means I will no longer love it like I do, or I have to play more sonic games and expand my nostalgia tank.
Reading Mortal Engines has been slow. Having watched the movie first, some scenes are very different and much more is explained, which was the reason I even picked up the books in the first place, which is fine. I still haven’t gone through a lot to have a good opinion on it. I’ll get back on reading when I’m done with this one.
Writing has taken a sharp turn. I was constantly shifting between The Grand Tour and the RPG system, but last week was all about the RPG. I realised I was making a system that would be far too detailed and complicated for what it proposes, so I took a step back, set up a new idea, and started from scratch. That is not to say that the original format was completely abandoned. It’s still there, tables and all, but I thought I might try my hand at making something simpler, more direct. I have managed to start building something more organically and seemingly faster and more spontaneous. I shall update as I go along with it.
This week I also discovered a new portable emulator called Ayn Odin, which looks mighty fine, but it’s literally a smartphone without the phone parts, made completely for emulating (or streaming as they say) and it looks very nice. Cheap too. All good things. I’m just not sure I should get one. Maybe in time, but not now. But it got me thinking about portability and how much I really enjoy portable games. When I was growing up, I had the Mega Drive and the Gameboy, which I played mostly at home, because it was something expensive and even though I lived in a nice area, it was still dangerous to take it even to school. Now I wonder if it’s really worth having a console over something like a very fine computer and one portable gaming device just for the comfort of it. Maybe if I get back to streaming, that would be a good separator. One system to stream, one system to relax and have fun wherever I go. I’ll have to get back on that.
As for the fixed PC, I just bought a CMOS battery for a very old laptop. I think that’s as much as readers want to know about what I do. And if you’re interested, I should be updating my Patreon page this week as well. Pop in sometime.
Here’s to writing, gaming and consuming pop-culture. Cheers and see you next time.
The Red Universe 