'bout to LEVEL UP

Utrecht calling, busy preparing. I'm sad to say that other things than my thesis have gobbled up my time after returning from Tokyo...But the conference should serve as a suitable place to get into that researchy mindset again. Also, I'm glad to say that I got an invitation to give a lecture at Copenhagen! :)

Jap stuff

Here's the game-related stuff that I bought from Tokyo: Boktai Bundle, i.e. special edition GBA SP + Boktai (the vampire-slaying "Sun is in your hand" game with a solar panel, by Hideo Kojima), Taiko No Tatsujin + the drum peripheral (Namco's original arcade game now released for PS2 with a special taiko-drum-set!), and picked up Sega's latest Cube-platformer Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg.

I must say that the Taiko drumming game is fun as hell. But not for those beloved ones watching & listening, I was told ;) Of course, my black and red SP is cool, though the pink one Satu bought is way cooler, I guess. Anyway, with the SP I regained enthusiasm over Metroid Fusion and was playing it quite a lot on the flight back home.

Also, I'm writing a review on ESPN NHL Hockey, so not much time for other games - for instance Jak II and KotOR are laying unopened somewhere among the japanese paper wrappings that have invaded our home. I'll be back with some impressions on Billy Hatcher as soon as I get around to it, though.

back, unquaked

Ok, I'm safely back from Tokyo just before the earthquake which fortunately was not that bad...I'm slowly catching up with things and should return to my theorising self in a few days. Also expect some notes on my gaming purchases on the diary section!

Meanwhile, congratulations to The Ludologist himself, Jesper, who has just submitted his Ph.D. Go Jesper! :)

quiet... before storm?

Unfortunately not that much to report, dear gaming diary. Steady success with WE7 and FC Porto, a quick peek at Buffy: Chaos Bleeds - seemed fine, although Satu complained about the slightly different controls compared to the first game.

Ah, almost forgot: I have been playing the excellent Super Monkey Ball minigames - especially Monkey Target and Monkey Bowling, as me and a colleague recorded some game sessions on video for research purposes.

But things should get busier after all those yen spent at Akihabara the coming week! :)

another Tokyo-bound ludologist

Even after Gonzalo leaves Tokyo, the city's ludological quota will remain stable for an extra week or so - I will replace him! :) I'll leave on Saturday...I might even drop an entry from Akihabara or some other heavenly place, but do not hold your breath. Back to academic grinding around October 16th - maybe I should make a notable comeback with the promised mechanics paper and all.

Sayonara!