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              <p><font color="#0000FF"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0000CC">volume 
                1, issue 1</font></b></font></p>
              <p><font color="#0000FF"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0000CC"> 
                </font></b></font></p>

              <p>  <p><font face="Courier New, Courier, mono"><b><font color="#339900" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Today 
                in loonygames:</font></b></font></p>

<P><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">New!!</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> The Archives have been cleaned up, fead links fixed, and printable versions restored! Also, don't miss the new comments <a href="../../../index.html">on the front page</a>!</font></p>
              
<P><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><a href="../../2.15/feat/index.html" target="">Livin' 
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  Vasquez on <b>Omikron: The Nomad Soul</b>.</font></p>
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        <p align="LEFT"><img src="../../images/fback.jpg" width="213" height="191" align="RIGHT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0022A8"><b><a target="" href="../../../feedback.1"><font size="-1">The 
          &quot;We Can't Make this Stuff Up&quot; Dept.</font></a><font size="-1">:</font></b></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="+3" color="#0022A8"><br>
          MailBag for Issue #1</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT">&nbsp;</p>
        <p align="LEFT">&nbsp;</p>
        <p align="RIGHT"><font color="#804000"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Comments 
          by Stephanie &quot;<a href="mailto:bobbi@loonygames.com">Bobbi</a>&quot; 
          Bergman</font></b></font></p>
        <br>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>Every 
          week our associate editor takes on the big ol' pile of mail for your 
          reading enjoyment...got something to say? <a href="../../../feedback.1">Send 
          it in</a>. You just might win a swanky <b><font color="#804000">loonygames</font></b> 
          <a href="../mouth/tshirt.html">t-shirt</a>. Letters are presented 
          exactly as they are recieved.</i></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="+1">...And 
          still more Steed:</font></b></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Subject: 
          </font></b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">cool!! </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Great job loony!!! 
          I found your page on Blues and I'm damn glad I did! This just seems 
          like a great site, its completely fresh, and the articles lined up for 
          it look great! I can't wait till Friday to see them all, I'll definitely 
          be coming back each day! Anyway good job!! Oh, and thanks for giving 
          Paul Steed somewhere to put his rants. I god damn loved his .plan files 
          and was very sorry to see them leave, long live Steedisms my friend!! 
          </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <font color="#0022A8"><i>Heya 
          Sam! We're awful glad Paul's here doing his ranting too, it was a gap 
          in our community for a while, wasn't it? Nothing like hearing him spew 
          his opinions to the rest of us to get a gal going in the morning. </i> 

          :)</font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">From Sam "the 
          Dingbat" Winzar<br>
          oh and can have shirt, I need some new ones ;) </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i> 
          </i> </font><font color="#0022A8"><i>Um, no, but thanks for asking.</i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="+1">Kickin' 
          back with the gamers:</font></b></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Subject:</b> 
          Refreshing! </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, without 
          being too longwinded about this site. I love it! It's a breathe of fresh 
          air for the gaming community to me. Gamers talking about games and helping 
          one another with these great tutorials that are coming up sounds awesome. 
          I don't even code and I read the whole "Code on the Cob" article excitedly. 
          </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's just great 
          to see the creators getting a chance to just hang out in thecrowd and 
          share their stories and knowledge with the rest of us. I also enjoy 
          the "kickback" attitude of the site and hope it remains so. It doesn't 
          need to rely on being flashy because the content is more than enough 
          to make up for it. Also the weekly magazine format rocks! Gives you 
          time to create quality articles and the reader time to sit back, relax, 
          and enjoy them without feeling rushed because tomorrow it'll be gone.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well there it 
          is, simple and to the point. I hope your site remains that way too. 
          I'd never heard about it until this morning when I listened to Flamethrowers 
          Real Audio show where he mentions it but I'll be coming back daily to 
          find out what's new on the site!</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">P.S. I remember 
          kicking back with loonyboi at QuakeCon97 at some party in the top floor 
          of the hotel just talking about games and the community and I think 
          this site reflects a lot of what he is about. Congrats on the site!</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Darx</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i> 
          I think this site would be a bit more of what loonyboi was about if 
          he found a way to give Guinness and toys to every visitor, but hey, 

          that's not possible, so...he tries. :)</i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>But 
          yes, you're right, this is different. One of the great things about 
          going to places like QuakeCon and E3 is that you can sit back with the 
          developers and talk to them about games, listen to them rant, complain, 
          whatever. Actually get to know the developers as real people, and learn 
          from them, instead of just seeing them as names on a credits page. And 
          that's what we're doing here, hopefully. Chris Hargrove, Paul Steed, 
          Rich Wyckoff...get inside their minds. See them as people, learn what 
          they like and dislike, just like you would over a beer at a convention. 
          So hey, wanna be a real loon? Go to the fridge. Grab a can of Guinness. 
          Pop the top, pour it into a nice frosty pint glass, and sit down to 
          read. Just like you're still at QuakeCon talking to all these people. 
          Although we couldn't find Guinness in Texas :(</i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="+1">And 
          a letter from my good friend and Clan leader (Quake clan <a href="http://www.gamegirlz.com/pms/">PMS</a>) 
          Mistress Aurora:</font></b></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Subject:</b> 
          My take on Loonygames</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, first 
          off, I have three areas to comment on. The design, the content, and 
          the best thing about it! </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">As for the design, 
          it is simple, yet interesting. I say bravo on having the courage to 
          launch a game site that isn't 2 frames, both with black backgrounds 
          and ".plan updates" at the top. (the courage!) yeah, so the design is 
          very pleasing and a refreshing from any of the game sites I visit. Very 
          well done. Oh, and I love the images too!!! </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>My 
          first thought when I read this, was gee, doesn't Rora's site do exactly 
          what we do? </i>:) <i>(which is <a href="http://www.gamegirlz.com">GameGirlz</a>, 
          btw) She also has a white background, and no .plan updates, God bless 
          her courage!! </i>:)</font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i> 
          BUCK THE ESTABLISHMENT!!!</i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>Ok, 
          calm down Stef.</i> :)</font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The content 
          is excellent. If I want to read all game reviews and press releases, 
          there are quite a few sites which can provide this already. Having people 
          who work in the industry write columns is a great idea. It's fun to 
          read what those who make the games think about the industry and hear 
          what they have to say other than "our game uses the latest...". They 
          are real people, and it's nice to know your giving a few of the developers 
          a place to show that.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Last but not 
          least.... one of my favorite sections is Off the Shelf! Least we not 
          forget not everyone wants 60 dollar 3D games. Thanks for remembering 
          those people! </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Congrats on 
          a job well done! </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Cheers!<br>
          Aurora </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>Exactly...game 
          prices have hit the roof these days. And when you're spending $3 or 
          4,000 on a system, are you really going to be able to afford another 
          $60 for a game? Nooooo, unless you're Bill Gates' bastard son, you're 
          definitely not. So, try these. They're cheap, but they rock.</i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Subject:</b> 
          Rich "Beaker" Wyckoff's edit.</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dear Loonyperson,</font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>Why 
          thank you, I feel so included....as I am obviously NOT the loonyboi. 
          </i>:)<i> </i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Congratulations 
          on an intelligent, interesting site--I'll be coming back for more, especially 
          as you seem to attract some pretty big names in the industry. </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I just finished 
          reading Mr. Wyckoff's editorial, which was an articulate treatment of 
          a subject that has been beaten to death in the gaming press for at least 
          as long as Quake has been out. What I'd like to hear about is how or 
          what he and other designers intend to do about the conservatism, the 
          endless emulation of successful formulas, and how he approaches game 
          design. I notice that he's working on "Trespasser" which was certainly 
          one of the most interesting pieces of technology previewed at E3--I'd 
          love to hear about how his feelings about the industry are shaping/have 
          shaped the design of that particular game. I see that he's going to 
          be doing a regular column from now on, and hope that we'll get some 
          real insight into the concept, design and execution of a successful 
          title. </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">After working 
          for a startup gaming company (www.doubleaught.com) for the last two 
          years, the one thing that I've noticed in the industry is something 
          of a vacuum when it comes to meaningful discussion of design of the 
          kind that is fundamental to other, more established fields such as graphic 
          or industrial design. Editorials on design tend to either be dissecting 
          the mysterious qualities of "Fun", or examine "Getting a Job in Games 
          (When your Uncle Doesn't work for Nintendo)". If you can, get Mr. Wyckoff 
          to write about design decisions on a specific game. </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>Hrm. 
          Fun. Enjoying something. Getting a job in games. Work work work.</i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>Obvious 
          to me, isn't it? </i>:)</font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i> 
          I think it's pretty safe to say we're going to be going far beyond that. 
          </i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0022A8"><i>As 
          for specifics on Trespasser, as it's still in development, Rick Wyckoff 
          is probably limited on what he can say about it, so I wouldn't expect 
          tooo much along those lines. But certainly he has a significant amount 
          of experience in games, so he will most likely share some of those.</i></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks for taking 
          the time to read this, and keep up the good work... </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">--Chris Geisel 
          </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="+1">And 
          now, our honorary loon, and first winner of a Howard Cruse designed 
          <a href="../mouth/tshirt.html">loonygames t-shirt</a> goes 
          to this nutball who decided our <i>disclaimer</i> was worth a rant. 
          Gotta love it.</font></b></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Subject:</b> 
          So you're ripped, are you? </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey there. I'm 
          just a little bit offended, you know? When you put something SO controversial, 
          SO different at the bottom of one of your pages, well, man, you gotta 
          expect some action, you know what I'm saying? </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am, of course, 
          referring to the scandalous "copyright" addendum on the bottom of this 
          weeks "Thinking Outside the Box" column. There I was, happily reading 
          the rants and raves of Mr. Steed, examining every facet of the column 
          to better remember it, when I discover your hidden message to the masses: 
          </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Unauthorized 
          reproduction is strictly prohibited, so don't even try it. We've got 
          really big guns, and we're ripped, baby." </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">What is this? 
          I think to myself. Could it be that the editors and web masters of loonygames 
          don't think that I, your typical Internet user, work out? Could this 
          mean that we, as a community, are being condescended to by the oh-so-elitist 
          group at loonygames? </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Or could it 
          just be that I found that intensely amusing and worth the eye strain? 
          I leave it to you, the redoubtable editor-in-chief, to take such action 
          as you deem fit. </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">STC </font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">P.S. I really 
          liked the column, and I'm happy you're doing it. More to the point, 
          the web page I run has a strikingly similar notice on the bottom of 
          our front page. In a sleazy effort to get you to check out a webpage 
          that probably has no interest to you personally (unless you went to 
          Rice University or live in Houston), instead of telling you WHAT our 
          copyright notice says, I'll just give you the address. . . <a href="http://wrn.home.ml.org">http://wrn.home.ml.org 
          </a></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0022A8">While 
          we here at loonygames would NEVER presume that most of our readers are 
          not ripped, it is just a fact of life that we are all Rambo look- a-likes, 
          and have the bodies to back it up. Now, your disclaimer claims you'll 
          bust us like Robocop, which is an entirely different claim altogether. 
          If I recall correctly, Robocop was entirely fake...metal...created only 
          after the death of the majority of his 'real' body. Our claim of being 
          'ripped' tells you that we are completely and totally natural (egos 
          aside, some may claim those are artificially inflated). So while I respect 
          your Robocop image, I think we'll stick with ripped. </font></i></p>
        <p align="LEFT"><font color="#0022A8"><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Alright, 
          I'll be honest. We're not all ripped. Some of us are just overweight 
          alcoholics. But those that use the free steroids loony gives out? Man 
          are they ripped.... </font></i></font><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"></font></i></p>
        <p align="LEFT">&nbsp;</p>
        <p align="RIGHT"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>- 
          Stephanie &quot;Bobbi&quot; Bergman is an associate editor for<font color="#804000"><b> 
          loonygames</b></font>. </i></font></p>
        <p align="RIGHT">&nbsp;</p>
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    <td><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-2"><b>Credits:</b> 
      MailBag logo illustrated and is &copy; 1998 Dan Zalkus. The MailBag is &copy; 
      1998 Stephanie Bergman. All other content is &copy; 1998 <a target="_self" href="http://www.loonyboi.com">loonyboi 
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