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I'm holding out for a Grignr-themed MMORPG.

With today's graphical capabilities, Jim Theis' prophetic vision can finally become reality!

A sweeping blade of flashing steel riveted from the massive barbarians hide enameled shield as his rippling right arm thrust forth, sending a steel shod blade to the hilt into the soldiers vital organs.

The disemboweled mercenary crumpled from his saddle and sank to the clouded sward, sprinkling the parched dust with crimson droplets of escaping life fluid.

The enthused barbarian swilveled about, his shock of fiery red hair tossing robustly in the humid air currents as he faced the attack of the defeated soldier's fellow in arms. "Damn you, barbarian" Shrieked the soldier as he observed his comrade in death.

A gleaming scimitar smote a heavy blow against the renegade's spiked helmet, bringing a heavy cloud over the Ecordian's misting brain.

Hang on, then why the hell would I want to attach one to a PC? Surely even the pleasure of DXing doesn't get augmented with use of the PC.

Lots of reasons, but one is that SW listening conditions are changing constantly in only somewhat-predictable ways. If you are a dedicated DXer it can be both helpful and fun to exchange notes (quickly!) with other DXers.

Used to be, that happened via print media that was always pretty out of date by the time one got hold of it, or via radio programs that one had to have reception to get (so you got into a Catch 22 of how do you hear the program if you can't figure out current reception conditions?)

One group of DX'ers who moved from print to online is SPEEDX. Their website is a vast improvement over the old magazine format.

They revamped the Airport completely
now it looks just like a nightclub,
Everyone's excited and confused .
Baby, check this out I've got something to say,
Man it's so loud in here!
When they start the love machine and I can love again,
I'll remember what it was.

Whilst I know that I'm going to find scant support amongst a demographic known for its irreverance and disdain for tried and tested knowledge,

and a plethora of trolls who wouldn't know tried and tested knowledge if it bit them on the butt.

(But hey, I'm bored...)

I have to say that I'd honestly thought that Dungeons & Dragons had gone the way of the dodo many years ago.

That's why there's not one but two computer games based on the game system, with more to come?

When was the last time that anyone heard anything about D&D or its equally dubious successor, Magic the Gathering?

Well, Wizards of the Coast will be releasing the 3rd edition for Dungeons and Dragons in about 2 weeks, so expect to hear more about it. As for Magic the Gathering, well, they show the tournaments on EPSN2 of all places.

I had thought that roleplaying was an eighties fad whose time was thankfully past,

Not bloody likely.

Now the cycle of fantasy starts again, as this is sure to turn more youngsters from wholesome persuits to playing a game which teachings that violence and dark arts are tools for success, and that the acquisition of wealth makes you a better person.

God would I have loved to have been the first to post with the NFL crack, but there was a good point -- there are far more "socially acceptable" hobbies and interests which teach some rather poor morals.

In fact, Tracy (Dragonlance trilogy co-author) Hickamn wrote an excellent essay on morality and role-playing that I show to people whenever this topic comes up.

I'm with BADD on this one - these games teach dangerous morals to the people that are most vulnerable.

It's funny you should mention BADD -- Michael Stackpole (genre author and part of the Industry Watch segment of GAMA, the gaming industry's trade association) compiled The Pulling Report which investigates the claims of Pat Pulling (the founder of BADD) and rather expertly debunks her allegations and attacks her credibility as a "cult crime investigator".

For more on GAMA's point of view, check out their Q&A about role-playing games, with the rather interesting factoid:

"One of the more persistent claims is that role-playing games has caused teens to commit suicide. The Center for Disease Control conducted an extensive study of teen suicide and found no evidence to link role-playing games with suicide. Investigations by the Association of Gifted and Creative Children (Dublin, CA), the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (the Bronx, NY), and the American Association of Suicidology (Denver, CO) have likewise found no evidence that games encourage suicide.

Moreover, researchers point out that the most heavily weighted factor in determining a child's suicide potential is whether or not he is a loner. Participation in a group activity of any sort sharply reduces that potential. It also provides a circle of friends who can pick up on any unusual behavior and encourage their friend to get help when there is a crisis."

Jay (=

If you want to know how that got started, there is an excellent report at The Gamer's Realm. I highly recommend this to anyone who was told that D&D was "evil" or "satanic" in their youth.

BTW Patricia Pulling died earlier this year IIRC.

http://www.cybercomm.net/~alindsey/rw97/

with pictures of all the robots, different matches and stuff. Like someone else said, fighting robots is cool .

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