IdeaSpace

I remember Warren Ellis writing something about the "IdeaSpace". This is where things go when someone thinks them up. Every idea goes into idea space, and once there, it is there for the taking by anyone else. I relate to this theory too well, because as my close friends know, and my wife especially, I lose to many things to the IdeaSpace.

I wanted to be a game designer for a number of years, a job that is highly coveted, and almost impossible to get. So I settled for just writing up ideas, stories and treatments for things that I could never really bring to reality. But sho'nuff... I see my ideas being implemented all the time. I like to think it because I'm ahead of my time.

Long before HBO's Rome, and Gladiator, I lived for the ancient world of the last great empire of the Romans. I loved the grandness of movies liek Spartacus and Ben-Hur. I had to make an homage to them in game form. I even had a chance to show my idea to several professionals in the game industry, all of them commenting on the originality of the idea in a genre long thought to be dead.

Bread and Cirusues was my chariot racing/fighting game, complete with all the settings and detailed character backgrounds, as well as a decent description of game actions and dynamics. I kicked this idea around to whoever would listen, placing it upon numerous game forums, and just getting the idea out there. Maybe someone would like it and want to work with me on a hobby level.

Then I read about Circus Maximus.

I was pissed. Someone had taken my idea, and actually made a game out of it. No one had even thought about the roman era till the success of Gladiator. Now I had to sit by and watch as something I had worked on for a number of years was turned into a pile of shit by a second rate game company. Anyone buy Circus Maximus? Anyone even play it? No? I have a theory why.

You can take an idea out of the IdeaSpace, and try to make it work. But unless it was yours to begin with, it will never be 100% of what it could be. Its like a built in safety feature.

Yes, I am glad Circus Maximus turned out to be shit. I hope people got fired over it. I dont even think the company that made it exists any more. Yes, maybe I am bitter about never making my dream job come true. But my idea is still my idea.

And it still leaves me a chance to make Bread and Circuses into what it should be. One day.

Behold the crap that is Circus Maximus here:
IGN Review

Scarecrow... Badass of Oz.

"You want some Lead, Tinman....?" says the Scarecrow, using the Lion as a human shield. "I didn't fucking think so... Step off bitch."


We've all seen the Wizard of Oz. To some people this is a classic and one of their favorite films. I happen to enjoy the magic of Oz immensely myself. But the last time I watched it, I noticed something strange... No not the guy who killed himself in the woods, or the fact that they all get doped up in a field of poppy's and pass out.

It was the Scarecrow.
That straw stuffed gangsta was strapped!

How could I have not noticed this before? Ive seen this movie dozens of times, surely one of those times I would have noticed him carrying a gun . When I think about it, Scarecrow always seemed like a bit of a pussy to me, but now, I had a new found respect for him.

FACT: You can't fuck with the Scarecrow.

Here's a guy thats been crucified in a field for god knows what, goes on a road trip with a 15 year old girl, Gets set on fire a few times and shrugs it off, and is backed up by a heartless axe wielding loner in full body armor, and a freakin' Lion! Plus, he's brandishing a Six Shooter and he's got no brain. He's a mindless killing machine! No wonder he took over as the leader of Oz. Beneath that goofy exterior , he was 100% pure badass. Born in the country, educated on the streets (or the Road, but its the same thing).

Now I know why they sent him and his crew to kill the witch, these guys are pros.

I think the next time they want to make a Bad Boys movie, do it about the Scarecrow and Tinman. They dont come any badder.

You can find out more about this at:
Everybody Run, The Scarecrow Of Oz Has A Gun!!!
Wizard of Oz, The - Tin Man's Tools

This is my 10 minute break...

Actually, my 10 minute break was at 9:50 AM EST, but I didnt start this until now. Screw work, I take my break when I feel like it.

Im going to use this space to write stuff on a daily basis, and I have no direction as far as content, so I'll just write whatver comes comes to mind during my measly 10 minute break. It used to be a 15 minute break, but my boss cut it down to 10... trying to make us more productive. Way to stimulate the work force. I actually consider this 10 minute break a 1 minute break. Let me explain.

- The bell rings and the timer starts.
- It takes almost a minute just to get away from what you are doing. Wash your hands, Save a file. Anything like that. 9 mins.
- By the time you go to the coffee truck, pick out what you want and pay youve blown at least 3 minutes. 9-3= 6 mins.
- Sit down and stretch your legs and breathe for1 minute. 6-1 =5 mins.
- Eat, drink and maybe talk. Another 3 minutes minimum. 2 if you dont talk, and dont chew. 5-3= 2 mins.
- TWO MINUTE WARNING BELL!!! They want you to get up at this bell and start going back to your work area... They are stealing 2 minutes from your 10 minute break. What kind of crap is this! I see guys choking down food as soon as this bell sounds... There is hardly a minute to do the heimlich or CPR. You might not be at your work area in time. At least there will be an open spot in the parking lot tomorrow!

So instead of going through that stupid routine... I'll start a new stupid routine, and write about whatever people write about on these blogs, and do it all on my 10 minute break.