I've been pretty light on the posting again recently, I realize - sorry about that. It occured to me last weekend, as Witness for the Prosecution was about to close on Saturday, that I've been doing theatre almost nonstop for the last six months. There hasn't been a week since June that hasn't involved either rehearsal or performance almost every night of the week. That's absolutely not a complaint - I'm loving being back into it - but I have to admit I've felt a bit weary the last few weeks, so posting here has taken a backseat. I hope to have something fun for you to look at and play this weekend.
Right now, though, there are two things I'd like to bring to your attention which I hope you'll be interested in. The first has been dear to me for a long time, and that's the yearly Child's Play charity, which just kicked off for 2010. Since you're reading this site there's a better-than-even chance you've heard of Child's Play already, but in case you haven't: for the last seven years, Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade - with the help of Kristin Lindsay and other lovely, talented folks - have run a charity to deliver games and toys to children's hospitals all over the country (indeed, all over the world). It centers around the holiday season for the fundraising and gift-giving, but sick kids and their families use these gifts year round while they're stuck in the hospital. In the span of its existence, Child's Play has raised over $5 million in contributions.
As someone who spent more than his fair share of time in hospitals as a child, let me tell you with absolute certainty that this charity is extremely important. My truly good memories of hospitals are few and far between, but every single time I remember playing the vector-engine Star Wars game with my mother in the patient lounge at Texas Children's Hospital, it makes me smile. Almost nothing could be more helpful to a frightened sick child than comfort. Distraction. Fun. Hospitals are scary places for anybody, and can be doubly so for kids. If you've never heard of Child's Play, or hadn't planned to donate to them this year, please do. Feel awesome when you click that button, because you are awesome, and I know exactly how much your donation will mean to someone. If you were already planning to donate, I was happy to learn that Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is on their recipient list for the first time this year. If you feel like donating to them specifically, odds are pretty good I know some of the kids you'll be helping personally, and I thank you ahead of time on their behalf.
The second item is considerably more frivolous, but hopefully still of interest to some of you. Mathew Kumar, another games writer up in Canada whose work has appeared in Edge, Gamasutra, Eurogamer and (my favorite) Rock Paper Shotgun, has just released the most recent issue of exp., his personal short-form videogame magazine. I purchased and really enjoyed the first two issues of exp. (one - two), and I'm looking forward to reading his latest, which covers (among other things) VVVVVV and Dragon Quest IX, two of my favorite games of the last year. In a surprisingly generous move, he's made a PDF version of this issue of exp. called "minus infinity" available for free right here, and you can go read it now online if you like. If you want a hard copy - as I will - they're $6 and can be had over here. Congrats on churning out another issue, Mathew. Can't wait to read it.
Alright, that's it for now. Back with something free for you to play tomorrow or Sunday. Promise.