Hey - we've still a few tickets left to the Teletext and Digifest on October 1st.
You can get them here, while they last. I've spent most of this week trying to resist sharing something with you that has been made for the evening festivities. Providing my loins can remain strong... if you want to know what it is - you'll have to come along. H'hah. I tease you.
Anyway. Look now: it's the Friday Letters Page. And!
You can get them here, while they last. I've spent most of this week trying to resist sharing something with you that has been made for the evening festivities. Providing my loins can remain strong... if you want to know what it is - you'll have to come along. H'hah. I tease you.
Anyway. Look now: it's the Friday Letters Page. And!
PUGGSY THE DOG
I was wondering if you or one of your readers might be able to explain to me the forgotten 90s platformer mascot Puggsy.
What is he? Where did he come from? What tragic accident befell him to make him look like that?
His Wikipedia page is a bit thin at the moment so I'd like to update it with any and all information that you can supply. Thanks in advance,
Alan
I was wondering if you or one of your readers might be able to explain to me the forgotten 90s platformer mascot Puggsy.
What is he? Where did he come from? What tragic accident befell him to make him look like that?
His Wikipedia page is a bit thin at the moment so I'd like to update it with any and all information that you can supply. Thanks in advance,
Alan
He was that orange thing, with the sort of wilted, flaccid antenna, yes? He looked a bit Q*Bert-like. Only less appealing. Nobody ever asks what Q*Bert is, and yet you bring up Puggsy. Puggsy! What is wrong with you, Anal?
SUGGSY OUT OF MADNESS
My mum says that you aren't real because you are on the Internet. She shouted it really loudly through the keyhole of the cupboard. I can't decide whether or not she is locked out or if I am locked in. She is just jealous because I have every one of your Teletext pages in a series of scrapbooks.
If I cut it out and send it to you, would you please autograph the mole on my left calf? With everlasting love...
Me.
My mum says that you aren't real because you are on the Internet. She shouted it really loudly through the keyhole of the cupboard. I can't decide whether or not she is locked out or if I am locked in. She is just jealous because I have every one of your Teletext pages in a series of scrapbooks.
If I cut it out and send it to you, would you please autograph the mole on my left calf? With everlasting love...
Me.
Just been a bit sick. Press reveal to see something that'll make it all better.
REVEAL:
THE MAD NESS MONSTER
I had a go at using the Teletext Editor to draw Jet Set Willy, the most detailed and visually complex character in video game history.
Anyway, I have a question about Teletext.
The question is this: was there some kind of fantasy adventure page, a bit like Bamboozle but with dragons instead of questions?
I vaguely remember reading something like this during the school holidays, but maybe I just had sunstroke or something.
Stringfellow Hawke
Great. Now you're all doing your own teletext pages I might as well give up and go home, shall I?
MONSTER TRUCKS
While the ability of 'real' music to be recorded for computer game scores has led to many impressive pieces, I feel that this has caused many game soundtracks to be less creative and distinctive than in the days of 'programmed' music. There are notable exceptions to this I admit, but I think that too many games sound like 'epic' films.
To what extent are you interested in the NX? The recent leaks give a good idea of how it will function, are you more or less interested than 6 months ago?
Do you think that 'indie' games currently receive 'soft' treatment from computer game critics (especially if they have a certain look) compared to more mainstream games?
Which games have you found genuinely funny in your career and what was it that you found most amusing?
John Whyte
While the ability of 'real' music to be recorded for computer game scores has led to many impressive pieces, I feel that this has caused many game soundtracks to be less creative and distinctive than in the days of 'programmed' music. There are notable exceptions to this I admit, but I think that too many games sound like 'epic' films.
To what extent are you interested in the NX? The recent leaks give a good idea of how it will function, are you more or less interested than 6 months ago?
Do you think that 'indie' games currently receive 'soft' treatment from computer game critics (especially if they have a certain look) compared to more mainstream games?
Which games have you found genuinely funny in your career and what was it that you found most amusing?
John Whyte
I dunno. I honestly can't think of any off the top of my head which are properly funny. I don't belly-laugh at them, but I think the Lego games are witty and charming. The joke is slightly wearing a bit thin now, but, well, y'know...
Hmmph. This has vexed me. The only times I remember really laughing at games isn't through the script or gags. It's always been through the gameplay... or because I've changed the character names to something absurd. Like my character in Super Punch-Out, who I named AA Milne.
Hmmph. This has vexed me. The only times I remember really laughing at games isn't through the script or gags. It's always been through the gameplay... or because I've changed the character names to something absurd. Like my character in Super Punch-Out, who I named AA Milne.
TRUCKS OF MY TEARS
My name is superamigafan20004eva and I think you've got a bit of an attitude, chum. You wouldn't know a good machine and OS if something maybe a little bit important depended on it, 'kay?
Anyway, you can keep your false PC and console idols. The mighty Zool will decide your fate in the End Time. Once you're jumping around on a giant keyboard, trying to find the right tune to enter the secret bonus level that is the afterlife, you'll wish you had been nicer, 'kay?
superamigafan20004eva
My name is superamigafan20004eva and I think you've got a bit of an attitude, chum. You wouldn't know a good machine and OS if something maybe a little bit important depended on it, 'kay?
Anyway, you can keep your false PC and console idols. The mighty Zool will decide your fate in the End Time. Once you're jumping around on a giant keyboard, trying to find the right tune to enter the secret bonus level that is the afterlife, you'll wish you had been nicer, 'kay?
superamigafan20004eva
Press reveal to see your favourite teletext page:
REVEAL:
TEARS FOR EARS
Another question! Raised this time by Parpit; his illustration along with many others you've done, including live action characters, like Santa from Biffovision, and more recently with Stefan the neighbour, all have a strange set of lines coming out of their mouths and apparently wrapping around their heads. What is that?
Glyn Heaviside
Another question! Raised this time by Parpit; his illustration along with many others you've done, including live action characters, like Santa from Biffovision, and more recently with Stefan the neighbour, all have a strange set of lines coming out of their mouths and apparently wrapping around their heads. What is that?
Glyn Heaviside
There is a story behind it, believe it or not. There's a progressive rock band called IQ, who I very much used to be into in the late-80s/early-90s.
One time, I made a bunch of half-face masks - which just covered the mouths - which I handed out to my mates, and we wore them during an IQ gig at London's Marquee Club. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea; despite us looking up at them from the front row, the band dutifully ignored us. I also wore them while on a pedal boat around the lake in Hyde Park.
But anyway. That's the inspiration of the mouth/lines thing.
One time, I made a bunch of half-face masks - which just covered the mouths - which I handed out to my mates, and we wore them during an IQ gig at London's Marquee Club. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea; despite us looking up at them from the front row, the band dutifully ignored us. I also wore them while on a pedal boat around the lake in Hyde Park.
But anyway. That's the inspiration of the mouth/lines thing.
THE WALLS HAVE EARS
I normally avoid pre-ordering for two reasons:
1. I'm usually skint and need to save the money for hot bovril instead
2. I think pre-ordering is stupid.
Yet when No Man's Sky was made available, I found myself indulging in the practice. I don't know what it was about that game and the story of its creation that caused me to part with coin ahead of release. Seeing a small and passionate team taking risks and being ambitious - it caused something to stir in me (steady on).
I could see that pre-ordering can be used to do something other than reinforce the status quo. Or maybe I just really, really, wanted the game and am a big doo doo head hypocrite. Either way I'm not actually that fussed if NMS turns out to be less than stellar, as I'm just happy to support people who shoot for the moon.
So whaddya think biffers - is pre-ordering ever justifiable?
Mike
I normally avoid pre-ordering for two reasons:
1. I'm usually skint and need to save the money for hot bovril instead
2. I think pre-ordering is stupid.
Yet when No Man's Sky was made available, I found myself indulging in the practice. I don't know what it was about that game and the story of its creation that caused me to part with coin ahead of release. Seeing a small and passionate team taking risks and being ambitious - it caused something to stir in me (steady on).
I could see that pre-ordering can be used to do something other than reinforce the status quo. Or maybe I just really, really, wanted the game and am a big doo doo head hypocrite. Either way I'm not actually that fussed if NMS turns out to be less than stellar, as I'm just happy to support people who shoot for the moon.
So whaddya think biffers - is pre-ordering ever justifiable?
Mike
I pre-order the big games, so that I definitely get them on release day, and don't have to wait too long to review them, if for some reason I can't get out of the house to buy them. Unfortunately, I frequently forget I've pre-ordered, and end up with two copies. Press reveal for more information about this.
REVEAL:
EAR PIE
Why does my patreon "donation" appear as fireworks, trophies and gravestones on my CC statement?
My wife goes through my statements with a fine tooth comb and is furious that I have been frittering our money away on gravestones again.
David Roebuck
You mean you haven't received the fireworks and trophies we send to all our donors? We'll look into it. The gravestones were just for you though. You know: like a sort of threat, yeah?
PIE HOLE
Who's idea was it to put video games on to cassette tapes? And how do I get them to give me back all the months spent waiting for the bastards to load? I'll take a cheque, thanks.
Tilly "Piccalilli" Famff
Who's idea was it to put video games on to cassette tapes? And how do I get them to give me back all the months spent waiting for the bastards to load? I'll take a cheque, thanks.
Tilly "Piccalilli" Famff
One time, a magazine gave away a game on one a flexidisc. I didn't realise you were somehow meant to transfer the audio to cassette, and played it next to my Spectrum, and couldn't work out why the game wouldn't play. Good story, yeah?
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