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              <p><font color="#0000FF"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0000CC">volume 
                1, issue 17</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>

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              <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><a href="../../1.16/topshelf/index.html">The 
                Top Shelf</a>:<b> </b>Our review of <b>Half-Life</b>, our game 
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              <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><a href="../../1.14/topshelf">The 
                Top Shelf</a>: Our review of <b>Grim Fandango</b>, our adventure 
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              <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><a href="../../1.10/topshelf/index.html">The 
                Top Shelf</a>: our review of <b>Shogo</b>, our deathmatch game 
                of the year.</font></p>
              
              
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        <p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="+3" color="#0022A8">It's 
          a Very Geeky Christmas<font size="+1"></font></font></p>
        <p align="LEFT">&nbsp;</p>
        <p align="RIGHT"><font color="#804000"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By 
          Jason &quot;<a href="mailto:jason@loonygames.com">loonyboi</a>&quot; 
          Bergman</font></b></font></p>
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<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/2.15/">2.15: Livin' With The Sims</option>
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<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/2.13/">2.13: Not Just a Passing Wind</option>
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<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.41/">----- Volume 1 -----</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.41/">1.41: Put a Little Love...</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.40/">1.40: Game Programming...</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.39/">1.39: More loonygames @ E3!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.38/">1.38: loonygames at E3!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.37/">1.37: The ReRuns Issue</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.36/">1.36: Inside Raven Software</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.35/">1.35: Waking Graeme Devine</option>
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<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.28/">1.28: Adventures in ASCII</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.27/">1.27: Serious Brass Ones</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.26/">1.26: Two Programs...</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.25/">1.25: The Unreal Cliffy B!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.24/">1.24: Gimme Your Money!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.23/">1.23: Old Crusty Gamers</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.22/">1.22: Bugs!</option>
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<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.19/">1.19: The Rise and Fall...</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.18/">1.18: romuluSngan HoH!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.17/">1.17: A Very Geeky Christmas</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.16/">1.16: 5 Years of Doom!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.15/">1.15: Tune Up Your Game!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.14/">1.14: NT + Games = ???</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.13/">1.13: Blue and Levelord...</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.12/">1.12: When It's Done!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.11/">1.11: Hangin' With John Romero!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.10/">1.10: Still Sick of Games</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.9/">1.9: Gettin' Odd with the loonies</option>
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<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.7/">1.7: The Community Summit</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.6/">1.6: DRAW Pardner!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.5/">1.5: Taking Aim at Paul Steed</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.4/">1.4: Play Where You Like!</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.3/">1.3: *Special Duke Issue*</option>
<option value="http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.2/">1.2: Are You Sick of Games?</option>
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        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0022A8" size="+1">Part 
          Three: Software</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah, here it is. Our picks 
          for the best games of the year. It was especially tough this year with 
          so many great new games coming out seemingly every day…but shoooeee 
          are these some great titles. Not one of the games we’ve picked is anything 
          less than an instant classic. If you’re making your list this year, 
          be sure to include <i>all</i> of these if at all possible. They’re all 
          worth it. No geek levels on software, by the way…software’s by default 
          immune. Start the fanfare…here’s our games of the year.</font></p>

        <p></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Action Game of the Year: 
          </b></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Heretic II:</b> Now <i>here’s</i> 
          a shocker. This one came totally out of left field and quickly became 
          one of my personal favorites. The title formerly known as &quot;Project 
          Y&quot;, and a title completed in under a year, managed to beat out 
          some games that were in development for much longer periods of time. 
          Here’s the scoop on <b>Heretic II</b>. It’s a third person, balls-to-the-wall 
          action game. No sissy puzzles here…this is blood, guts, and carnage, 
          with some seriously sick ways of doing it. And, to top the whole shebang 
          off, it’s got one hell of an involving story line (who knew?). Raven 
          Software has outdone themselves with this title. A must have for any 
          action game fan.</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Publisher: <a href="http://www.activision.com">Activision</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Developer: <a href="http://www.ravensoftware.com">Raven 
          Software</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Avg. Price: $40</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Runner Up:</b></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Sin</b>: While it’s not 
          quite as over the top as <b>Heretic II</b>, <b>Sin</b> deserves a definite 
          mention for its sheer fun factor. <b>Sin</b> features lots of wisecracking, 
          some superb level design, and some great action to boot. Major bugs 
          out of the box (although there is a patch available) and some truly 
          hideous dialogue keeps this one down slightly (although one suspects 
          that it was put in there by design) but don’t let that scare you off. 
          <b>Sin</b> is one hell of a ride. Oh, and <b>Sin</b> takes the award 
          for &quot;best ending&quot;…it makes the whole game worth playing.</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Publisher: <a href="http://www.activision.com">Activision</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Developer: <a href="http://www.ritual.com">Ritual 
          Entertainment</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Avg. Price: $45</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Deathmatch Game of the 
          Year:</b></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Shogo: Mobile Armor Division</b>: 
          Another shocker for you. Before any of this year’s top tier titles shipped, 
          I never would have thought that this would end up on my list at <i>all</i>, 
          let alone as DM game of the year. But hey…what can I say? I’m addicted. 
          <b>Shogo</b> deathmatch is a total rush…fast paced, totally chaotic, 
          and fun as all hell. Plus, the fact that you get to choose between robot 
          and human DM makes it very difficult to get bored with this one. I haven’t 
          enjoyed a DM experience this much since <b>Quake 1</b>. Look for &quot;loonyboi&quot; 
          on those <b>Shogo</b> servers…I can’t stop playing. ;)</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Publisher: <a href="http://www.lith.com">Monolith</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Developer: <a href="http://www.lith.com">Monolith</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Avg. Price: $40</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Adventure Game of the 
          Year</b>:</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Grim Fandango</b>: Playing 
          <b>Grim Fandango</b> is like sipping a fine wine. It’s best done <i>slowly</i>. 
          Of all the games I played this year, I think I lamented finishing <b>Grim 
          Fandango</b> the most. Featuring the most complex and intriguing plot 
          to hit the gaming industry in years, <b>Grim Fandango</b> proves that 
          LucasArts still knows how to make the best damn adventure games in the 
          industry. While other developers are toying with 3D graphics, and some 
          just can’t shake that whole &quot;point and click&quot; problem, LucasArts 
          has delivered a game that you’ll want to play all the way through multiple 
          times. This one goes on the &quot;every six months&quot; list, along 
          with <b>Sam &amp; Max Hit the Road</b>, <b>Zork I</b>, and <b>The Hitchhiker’s 
          Guide to the Galaxy</b>. This is one of those games that reminds you 
          why you love games to begin with. </font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Publisher: <a href="http://www.lucasarts.com">LucasArts</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Developer: <a href="http://www.lucasarts.com">LucasArts</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Avg. Price: $40</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Console Game of the Year</b>:</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Zelda 64</b>: You know 
          why this is our console game of the year? Because of the crack factor. You see, 
          every now and then a title comes along that’s so addictive, you have 
          to lock yourself in a room for a few weeks until you finish it. <b>Zelda 
          64</b> is definitely this year’s version. Try asking anyone who’s got 
          it what it’s like, and you’re likely to get a response along the lines 
          of, &quot;quit bugging me, I’m playing <b>Zelda</b>, you moron!&quot; 
          And that pretty much says it all. If you’ve got a Nintendo 64, you won’t 
          want to stop playing it. No matter what comes up. You must get this 
          game.</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Publisher: <a href="http://www.nintendo.com">Nintendo</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Developer: <a href="http://www.nintendo.com">Nintendo</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Avg. Price: $60</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Game of the Year</b>:</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Half-Life</b>: Like you 
          didn’t already know this was coming? Yeah, what can I say. <b>Half-Life</b> 
          is probably twice as good as you’ve heard. Truth be told, I wasn’t quite 
          sure <i>what</i> to call <b>Half-Life</b>. Its got plenty of action, 
          but the pure action in <b>Heretic II</b> is better, in my humble opinion. 
          Its got a decent deathmatch, but <b>Shogo’s</b> offers more variety 
          and more overall chaos, and while it has plenty of puzzles, they simply 
          can’t compete with <b>Grim Fandango’s</b>. So why is <b>Half-Life</b> 
          our game of the year? Because despite the fact that individual parts 
          may be surpassed, the overall experience can’t even be <i>approached</i>. 
          <b>Half-Life’s</b> revolutionary storytelling style, mind blowing AI, 
          and spectacular level design make it a fantastic experience, and one 
          that shouldn’t be missed. </font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Publisher: <a href="http://www.sierra.com">Sierra</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Developer: <a href="http://www.valvesoftware.com">Valve 
          Software</a></font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Avg. Price: $40</font></p>
        <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">So there you have it kids…our 
          picks for the year’s best bets. Happy shopping!</font></p>
        <ul>
          <li><a href="toys.php"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Part 
            One: Geek Toys</font></a><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
            <br>
            </font></li>
          <li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="hw.php">Part 
            Two: Geek Hardware</a><br>
            <br>
            </font></li>
          <li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Part Three: Geek Software</font></li>
        </ul>
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    <td><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-2"><b>Credits:</b> 
      Illustration &copy; 1998 Dan Zalkus. It's a Very Geeky Christmas is &copy; 
      1998 Jason Bergman. All other content is &copy; 1998 <a target="_self" href="http://www.loonyboi.com">loonyboi 
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