Author: Todd

So Mel and I tore out of here at 10:00 in the PM to grab us a Starbucks. But it wasn’t meant to be. We live in Ventura County and the good God fearing folk out here in the country are in bed by long before Letterman. So, with the heat blasting and the two of us bellowing the Black Eyed Peas we tested the shocks and acceleration of German performance. No complaints.
Back at the house Mel went mad scientist in the kitchen and concocted her own version of a Vente Mocha and I gotta say…

Outstanding. I shall hereby call it Melanie Mocha.
So as we approach 11:00 o-clock on the PM, a litty more than an hour from the day we celebrate our arrival to the land of the free and our step-one of stealing a country from the Injuns, coyotes are screaming like little girls outside my window. Probably because it’s cold. Cold for here anyway but I love the cold. I’m sitting here in a pair of ratty shorts and Ugg Boots with my warm coffee and I’m awaiting the server reboot of World of Warcraft.
It came out yesterday and it has been less than a seamless launch. Which is a shame because I think I prefer it to EverQuest 2.
It’s a hard call. EverQuest is still plagued with the same crap and time sinks that existed in the original game. It takes forever to hook up with your friends and once you do then accomplishing anything requires trial and failure. And although the world is clearly designed with the best of graphics the design is dull, colorless….grey.
World of Warcraft is the other end of the spectrum. The colors are amazing.

Witness, the good Priest, Farmer. A dwarf standing over the recently killed body of a Wendigo. Notice the moonlight, the reflection off the snow. Notice how night time is “movie” night time. You know it’s night but you can still function.
With EQ night is freaking dark. You can’t see jack. This is the difference in thinking. The Warcraft Developers seem to put gameplay and enjoyment ahead. EQ puts obstacle and failure ahead.
It’s sad really. I wish I could take elements of both and make one game. Course, my phone ain’t ringing and neither company is asking for my opinion.

Melanie in EQ2. I mean, come on. How hot is that? And she kicks butt too. She’s a tank. Which means she runs in and taunts everything and just hopes that I can keep her alive with heals.

Then, here again is the Priest, Farmer. Grey vs Color. Real vs Cartoon. I guess it’s not unlike “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon”. I mean, some people are just drawn to the realism of Deep Impact. Others prefer the comic book style of Armageddon. It’s a tough call.

I mean, in EQ2 the other night, we and a friend were knee deep in skeletons, deep deep deep within a dark and brooding catacomb and we were loving it. The realism made it creepy. The graphics pretty freaking cool.
Then on Warcraft today as I started Shepherd, another priest on a different server, I faded into the game to the following view:

A line of dancing dwarves. I mean the pic doesn’t do it justice. They were dancing Russian style, butts near the ground, legs kicking into the air. And those aren’t computer programs. There are real people sitting around behind computers making them dance and simply goofing off because it’s fun. You don’t see that in EQ where everything is serious and life altering. But the dancing dorfs had me cracking up and of course, I joined them. But notice the simple difference in colors. EQ a bit more drab. And as for landscapes, Warcraft wins hands down. Stunning landscapes. And each one utterly unique. In EQ it all sort of looks the same.
Of course, I still got grudges against EQ for poor Yllo’s account hijacking. I suppose I’d leave EQ for WoW but then I went and got level 20 with my druid…who now becomes a Fury and gains the gift of shape-shifting.

Come on. How cool is that?
Reckon we’ll bounce back and forth for awhile.
Okay, servers should be back up over at the Warcraft so Mel and I will play a little longer then get some rest in preparation for Turkey with the Loreys tomorrow.
Goodnight you Princes of EverQuest, you Kings of Warcraft.

Half-Life 2 came out this week but I’ve yet to take it out of the box. Our free time is still flourishing within the world of EverQuest. From left to right, Melanie, Todd and Dean. I’ll wait until the Christmas downtime for Half-Life. I don’t mind waiting. Gives me another game to look forward to.

It’s been a busy week as busy weeks go.
Nicole watched Patrick’s “Mass Destruction” trailer and loved it. We’re going to go out with it and follow up with our story pitch. Patrick and I will write and Patrick is attached to direct. Granted if it works then he gets two jobs out of it but that’s a good thing. With Patrick directing at least the end result will stay closer to whatever vision we end up creating. I’m not really interested in directing myself. Nor producing. But, I’m guessing I’ll work my way into an acting roll and that will make my second job. Plus I’d be around if we need any last minute emergency work on the script.
About a year ago I was telling Patrick some of our sob stories about our old apartment and that gave him a movie idea. We bantered back and forth and it was a good idea but I never ended up swimming in passion over it. This week he pitched me more of what he’d come up with and I told him to run with it. I’ve added nothing to the little story and my staying attached wouldn’t really be fair.

Mel and I met a stranger and ventured into the caves of Blackburrow. We got wet and killed evil bipedal canines.
I had my “Necroscope” meeting and I think I blew them away. There were some concerns that the A story could be better. I’d stayed with some elements from the book (simply because I didn’t want to ignore the book completely and I’d already discarded so much), but they were willing to leave even more aspects of the book behind. This was not a bad thing. It opens the realm of creativity and will make my job even easier if I get the job. This weekend I’m coming up with a string of possibles and shooting them to the producers at the Monday or Tuesday.
Truth is, I can make any of them work. I can make any story work. So I’ll give them a list and let them choose, then I’ll make the magic. Welcome to Hollywood.

As a druid you get the spell, Enduring Breath. This allows you to stay underwater for 15 minutes without drowning. So, I did some fishing on the ocean floor.
I met with actor, Tom Jane (Punisher) this week. He and Steve Niles (30 days of Night – graphic novel) have joined forces to start a production company. They’re working a deal with Lions Gate. And thus he has shown some interest in Patrick and Lions Gate’s Flight movie. He’s also been talking to Hensleigh about the lead in “Riddle Me This”. Of course, we’re still negotiating Constantin’s option extension on Riddle, so, that’s up in the air. Tom was interested in dark, disrespectful, hardcore movies. He’d read Riddle and loved it. He’d read Thunder and loved it. But Thunder wasn’t hardcore enough. And I won’t debate that. Thunder is an A movie.
I pitched an idea I’d been playing with for a couple of years and Nicole called later saying he wanted us to develop it. I’m going to meet with he and Steve this week to beat out a story. Then we’re going to create a graphic novel. Before the graphic is out we’ll go to Lions Gate, pitch the thing and I’ll write the screenplay.
I’m a little unclear about rights. I’m unclear whether or not I’m going to be attached to the graphic. If not, then I’ll have issues. If I’m not attached then I’ll be writing a movie based on a comic, a comic based on my idea. There is the possibility of getting bent over if I’m not careful. I’ll discuss with Nicole Monday.
Tom did say he’d love to play one of the leads and I told him that was fine as long as I get to play his retarded brother. But he wants to play my retarded brother. Figures.

Later, I gave my Purity a little of the Enduring Breath loving and we battled killer Octopi in the underwater depths.
F.J. left a message Thursday about “Magnus” which I have sadly been procrastinating. I still dig the project but it was leaning toward complex and that’s my biggest fault as a writer. I get too complex. So I pulled back to clear my head. But I’m going to have to call him Monday. Course, they can’t be too upset. This is a development gig and I’m not getting paid for it yet.

We learned to fly this week. In old EQ there was this constant terror in the sky by the name of Griffins. They flew through the treetops and thus you wouldn’t see them until it was too late. In new EQ they’ve been tamed. You hop on one of their backs and soar over the world. This would be Viktor watching as his Purity arrives on birdback.
Chris Carlisle had originally contacted me about taking some of my ideas, turning them into graphic novels then taking those to studios. The graphic doesn’t have to be successful. Studios just react well to something they can touch or see. So I sent two of my and Patrick’s combos. “Narcosis” and “Mass Destruction”.
At the same time Chris has been courting me slightly. He’s also working as a manager and wants to manage me. It’s been three weeks and as of Friday he still hadn’t read either Narc or Mass D, but he’s turned on the “let me manage you” charm quite a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, nice guy. I’ve worked with him in the past back when he was an exec at Top Cow. Got nothing against the guy, but I’m figuring if he was serious about me then he’d find the time to read ten pages and watch a three minute trailer.
Plus…a manager? Ugh, do I really want to give away another 10 percent of my earnings? I mean a manager would have to increase my work and pay by 20 percent for it to even be worth my time…for me to even break even. Eh, I don’t know. He wants to meet with me again next week and introduce me to his boss. This would be the time they would pitch me what they could and would do for me. Eh, I don’t know. If they can’t read my work in three weeks time then how can I take them seriously? I’m starting to think the graphic novel pitch was a hook and nothing more.

I created the character of Yllo. Yllo was my first in EQ. Named after Ylo from a Dave Duncan book. I named a character Yllo in Jason X (later changed to Lowe since Jimmy who had been told a thousand times how to pronounce it kept saying yillow — moron). Of course Yllo was hijacked by guild members when I took a break from the game and I could never get him back. Turned me very sour. So sour I really didn’t think I’d play EQ2 at all. But I gave in. And yesterday I created Yllo again in EQ2 but as a warrior instead of cleric.
Last night this little gnome stared questioning if I’d used the name before. I said yes, years ago. As it turned out the little gnome was Gonadan from the old EQ days. Gonadan was a monk and the first player to reach level 20. This was back when it took a month to reach level 20. Gonadan was a legend on the server because of this simple fact. Anyway, I used to heal his butt as Yllo.
What I didn’t know at the time was that Gonadan was played by two people. A fella and his girlfriend. And looking back, it all make sense now. There were times when he was the friendliest dude on the planet and other times when he acted like he didn’t know me. As it turns out I was friends with the girlfriend and she’s now playing Moonbeam on EQ2.

Mel and I joined she and her friend and we killed stuff. We’re gonna meet them again later tonight. They are in a guild and perhaps it’s time we joined the guild world as there are bonuses and benefits to doing so.

Brandon (Jenosis) sent me a link the other day to a couple of his new designs. I thought they were awesome. I ordered Mel the long jacket but the dummy hasn’t started making them yet. I can’t find his website address but as soon as I get it I’ll link to it.
I’ve yet to hear back from Boesky after his departure from ICM. According to Nicole the comic/video game world wasn’t turning enough profit. That is a shame and hard to imagine. It seems every movie coming out is based on either comics, video games, books or remakes and his part was half of those. But I guess I understand as I still haven’t seen any of the money owed me on Demonik. But, Boesky was always extremely supportive and I hate seeing him go.
Mark’s Last House is still moving forward. MGM is back in play and New Line is still interested. With MGM Mark would most likely have to give up the directing reigns because of the size of the budget. But, he’d still produce and still get his writing credit and foot in the door. At NL the budget would be perhaps smaller and the possibilities of Mark’s directing even higher. Pros and Cons on both sides. Cunningham is talking to Cravan about joining the team so who knows what will happen. Interested to see how it plays out.

I still think I would make a wonderful dark Jedi.
Dean and Jimmy are still out pitching “Tony’s”, their sitcom. They are to Joey Pants at the moment. It’s a very funny pilot script and it seems like a no-brainer. Which, of course, means nothing out here.
As for Dean and I, no word on Thunder. I guess it’s dead until we get to a place that we can actually produce it ourselves. And I’m waiting for him to scan his Damon/Jordon pics so I can post them (Dean, are reading this you dummy?). He also got his Don Maitz painting which features a wizard, a dragon and his boys, Chris and Alex. I’m waiting on the pics. It’s an amazing painting.
Speaking of Paintings. Sarah’s in Japan shooting Tyranny but has completed our paintings. We’re having diner with she and the crew Monday night to pick them up before she vanishes to Prague.
Thanksgiving will be spent at the Loreys. It will be a Turkey Day of friends this year. Jimmy and Maggie will be there along with J.P. and his wife who will have moved here by the beginning of this week.
And World of Warcraft comes out this week. Paul’s joining. Natalie and her fiance, Patrick, are joining (or were they joining EQ2? I forget). Of course, Dean, Mel and I will be there. So our downtime is covered as far as games are concerned.
Then Christmas will find us in Tennessee.
And the bestest part about this week? This was the week that Dean’s Thirty went all the way to Seven. Happy birthday, dummy.
I guess that brings us mostly current.

So, we’re playing the EverQuest II. And for the most part we’re liking it. See Mel dance.

I have retired the good Dwarf, Wendago for the moment in exchange for Viktor the fury. I’ll go back to Wendago eventually but for now I wanted to make sure the name was in my possession. I simply can’t tolerate another using my namesake.

Notice how Miss Melanie, in the Purity persona, does battle with the beast in order to pull the vile creature off of her purring hubby.
Tonight we’re meeting the Loreys for fish.
Speaking of the Loreys we are in night…four…of the seven days of Dean Lorey. It’s like Hanukkah but more Birthdayish. Last year Elizabeth bought him a Lama for a farmer. Dean never saw the Lama…never petted the lama…but it was his birthday present all the same. There are two reasons I tell you this. One, the life and times of the Loreys get very little respect and/or privacy within the pages of this journal. And Two, I’m not blowing a big secret as this incident became a storyline in one of last year’s “My Wife and Kids” episodes on ABC — check it out for charming laughs.
So, to make sure she doesn’t become another storyline, Misses E is giving dummy one present a day for a week.
So, here’s the quoted conversation of the day:
Mel and I took a walk to the shopping center near our house. As we walked passed the Osh Hardware, Melanie took note of a rather large fiberglass wheel barrel — at which point she noted.
Melanie: Wow, this is big enough for a body.
Todd: Yeah but you’d have to cut his legs off.
Melanie: Not really, it’s big enough we could just fold him into it.
Todd: Good point.
It was at this point that I noticed the young man and his young son staring at us with dropped jaws. We smiled and walked on.

Both meetings I thought I had this Wednesday were actually next Wednesday. So all the rush to prepare on “Necroscope” could have been avoided, but at least I’m ready. I’m also meeting with Niles and Jane Wednesday morning. Was supposed to meet with Goldstein too but me pushed to Thursday…thank goodness.
Speaking of Goldstein, TNT passed on “Last Vamp” but USA loved it. It’s been sent up the ladder and now awaits top dog approval. I’m feeling confidence.
Brad’s been emailing me from Japan. Konami loved Psychopath’s concept and wanted a pitch. Brad said the pitch went great and now the big talks begin.
Brad also mentioned in passing, “Sucks about Boesky.” To which I replied, “What sucks about Boesky?” The Boesky, to whom we were referring is Keith Boesky. He was an executive with Eidos who according to reputation seems to be the guy who started the serious moves from video games to movies by making the move happen for Tomb Raider. He was running ICM’s video game and comic branch. I don’t know all the details but last Friday was Boesky’s last day with ICM. I popped him an email but still no word back. I really liked him. I mean, I know he ain’t dead or nothin’ but still.
The Death of Bugsy. First off, no panties in wads. This is not the Death of Bugsy the Cat. It’s the Death of Bugsy the Computer. It frustrates me that Mel names her computers after our cats. To me, a computer deserves his or her own name. But, Mel’s stubborn.
We bought Bugsy the Computer in March and the harddrive has crashed six times since. The first time required a reinstall of Windows. The second required a new harddrive. Then three more reinstalls of Windows, a visit from a Tech Guy who couldn’t fix it and now they’re sending out another Tech to replace the motherboard. It’s been something of a nightmare.
My computer company loyalty has always been tech support driven. All computers have glitches. As a matter of fact, I’ve never experienced a system without flaws. Even the Alienware had it’s issues when we first got it. But the trouble with Bugsy has gone beyond reason. The problem with Bugsy has been the motherboard from the beginning, but Gateway was sluggish to admit to this and had up jumping through hoops to get to this point.
And to make things worse, EverQuest II came out this week. So here was a new game coming out and Mel without a computer. For shame. So we took troubleshooting to the next level. While waiting for the Tech to come out (which won’t happen until next week) we went to Best Buy yesterday to purchase the best they had to offer. The best gaming system they had was a Sony Vaio.
I bought a Vaio laptop in April for me Texas trip and the truth is, of all my computers, I’ve had no trouble with it. Dean bought one back when City of Heroes was released. His Alienware was down so he bought a Vaio from Best Buy and it worked great. We also purchased one for Mel’s mom and it’s run without error. So it seems this is an Alienware, Gateway, Vaio household. This purchase yesterday was monster system and only required the upgrade of a video card.
Mel and I left it with the Geek Squad and ran errands for an hour. But there was a problem. The video card we bought was an AGP card and the Vaio used PCI Express. Best Buy didn’t have a top of the line PCI Express so Mel went back up there and started casting magic.
By the end of the day we ended up with another Gateway. A floor model which Mel and the Tech Guys built into a monster. It helps that Mel plays games and knows enough about Firefox, Linux to put Geeks in a lusty sweat.
I wish that was the end of the story, but we had issues when we got it home. It seemed that everything on it was glitchy. It took forever to get it up on the network then it wouldn’t load DirectX 9c (which is an EQ2 requirement) and all Windows Updates were failing.
Finally I figured out that it was running on a prehistoric copy of Service Pack I. So old that you couldn’t upgrade to SP2. What a nightmare. So I had to install Service Pack 1a before I could then install Service Pack 2. Once that was done DirectX 9c loaded happily. The stubborn network popped up and said, “Hi Todd!” and EQ2 would finally load.
Service Pack 2 fixed everything. In what dimension did I ever think I’d hear myself say that?

So, say hello to Precious. Sorry Mel, but we ain’t naming this one after a cat. She’s lightning fast and nearly silent. The fans are blowing but you barely hear them. She’s faster than the Alienware but I can live with that for now.
The Tech guys come out next week to attack Bugsy and if Bugsy is running happily by Christmas then Precious will make the trip to Tennessee where she will become a Christmas present for Mel’s brother.
So now to EverQuest II. Eh, I’ve had better. We’ll give it a couple of months. Dean and I met online last night. Mel would have joined us but her absence should now be justified.

Say Hi to Wendago. He’s Dwarven Priest starting out in the town of Qeynos. Dean’s High Elf Mage and Mel’s fighter, Purity will be adventuring on the EverFrost server if anyone would care to join us.
For now, I am going to drink some coffee and start reading the “Inhumns” graphic novel.