The Way of the Exploding Eardrum

Whilst looking through the archives over on the Gameov3r Forum I came across an old post of mine about the first time I was impressed by speech in a video game. Ghostbusters and Impossible Mission were 2 games, both on the Commodore 64, that I'd recalled.

Reading this I was reminded of a speech related gaming incident. A pant filling, speech related gaming incident. This is another Commodore 64 game and this incident happened the first time I loaded up the game.

Picture the scene, I'm sitting at my Woolworths own brand, fake teak, computer desk in front of my C64. I press Shift, Run/Stop on my trusty Commodore breadbin followed by the play button on the tape deck. All going well so far. Found:Exploding Fist is confirmed on screen and then colourful lines begin their dance down the screen. Nothing unusual and I remember having my head firmly buried in the fold-out instructions trying to learn all the moves. Then this >>> appears on screen and a Bruce Lee-esque yell comes screeching from my 14" portable TV's tiny speaker, piercing the tranquillity of my room. I almost fell off my chair with surprise! I didn't really fill my pants, honestly I didn't, but I did jump out of my skin!

There are a few things on the Gameov3r Forum that might make you jump. In fact there are a few members that might make you jump too but only if you feed them after midnight. So avoid that and come over for a chat and a drink at the bar. Using a synthesised voice is optional

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho

I was back to work yesterday after having had 2 weeks off for Christmas and New Year. I don't ever remember two weeks going by so quickly. I managed to do most of the things I wanted to.... eat too much, drink too much, snack constantly, drink constantly, stay up too late and play video games, and yet I feel unsatisfied. I did spend one whole week away from home, staying with my parents, away from any consoles, and this may be at the root of this unfulfilled feeling. I’m certain that more gaming, throughout 2009, will correct this feeling and so my new years resolution is to play more games.

I did play some games over the festive holiday even managing to find some time while at my parents to play Final Fantasy on the GBA SP that mysteriously found it’s way into my travel bag. Have you ever had that feeling of other people’s eyes tearing into your soul while you bury your head further into a game or a book or newspaper? I have.

Once I returned home I quickly set about playing some of my favourite older games. Not older as in mature, I know where some forum members minds will be wandering too, older as in retro and games as in video. With time seemingly on fast forward I merely dipped into Daze Before Christmas on my Mega Drive and Monty's Christmas Special on the PC. Both games that I'll leave until next December now. I blew the dust off my C64 and played Infocom's brilliant game Suspended, probably my favourite adventure game, John Singleton's Lords of Midnight and Maniac Mansion just so I could microwave hamsters. It just never gets boring!

The disappointing Fable 2 occupied a lot of the game time in the evenings and early hours. When I could get away with staying up late that is. I saw 2am once. I think it was 2am. My eyes were so bloodshot and sore that I may have been looking at the cat food dish. Now I know I'm getting old.

So although I would have liked a little more pixel time this Christmas I still had a really great holiday. Especially being with my family and visiting family and friends back home in Cheshire. I guess that's the real reason that time went so quickly.

Happy new year!

Sick bags are in the seat backs in front of you on the GAMEOV3R FORUM