Wombats!

I've been back all week and I'm kinda caught up, with the exception of an old PM backlog that I still need to get through. Most of my time is still spent fixing bugs and play testing Castle Crashers, which continues to be fun after all these years, thanks to all the crazy multiplayer mayhem.

Today we'll be announcing the winners of the annual awards! I also need to include an announcement about Apple Con in NYC, where a bunch of us will be on June 7th and 8th (next weekend). You can get all the details in this post by Luis.

Next up: I'm finally gonna finish Pixel Puncher. It should run insanely well with the Flash 10 plugin!

I'm horrible, I can't fight the itch to keep sharing the videos that get sent my way. So here's the latest.

Right now I'm working on the desert level of Castle Crashers... trying to make it feel as exciting as a desert can feel. I really gotta take some time out to get all the contracts together for the Audio Portal artists whose music we might use! Speaking of the AP, the prize packs for the last MAC were sent out early this past week.

So here it is, robotic flaming legs pushing a shopping cart:

I normally wouldn't make posts about trivial things during the day, but the desire to share any weird video that comes my way compels me to package it with some news.

I'll be announcing the Pico Day pre-loaders this afternoon! I have a post just about ready to go.

I'm also rushing to have a good build of Castle Crashers ready, because Luis is coming to visit tonight! He's spending the night at the office, then going to NYC with MindChamber and some of the guys. I'll be staying in the office all weekend, of course, because I no longer get to live a life beyond Castle Crashers... but not for much longer!!!!!!!!!!!

So here's the video, it's a Japanese subway.

PsychoGoldfish (3:36:16 PM): man I should make a drinking game called "TAKE A SHOT WHENEVER TOM FULP USES 'BTW'"

Tom (3:36:26 PM): haha REALLY?

PsychoGoldfish (3:36:37 PM): haha

Tom (3:36:37 PM): I would have thought I was more known for overusing smiley faces.

PsychoGoldfish (3:36:47 PM): yeah but I don't want alcohol poisoning

Wyclef Jean was on Stern this morning and the topic of his new song, "Fast Car", came up. Wyclef explained how his brother had come up with the concept, and he (Wyclef) had written most of the song out, but it wasn't until he went to a charity event at Paul Simon's house that it all came together. He said that after shaking Paul's hand and checking out Paul's studio, he got hit with the vibe for the song and decided to go acoustic. He called Paul the next day and invited him to participate, to which Paul responded with something along the lines of "I'll grab my guitar and come on over!"

Five hours later, they had the song. Wyclef explained how Paul took everything he had written, and brought it all together in four lines (the bridge), which became Paul's part of the song.

It was just cool to picture Paul picking up his guitar, running over to Wyclef's place, and banging out a song. We have things KINDA like that happen here on NG, but it would be cool if it could happen on a level more like that. Like if everyone lived near eachother, and people could just run across the street and collaborate in real time whenever the spirit of the moment grabs them. I guess that's how Hollywood became Hollywood.

synjclock (5:20:30 PM): so hey

synjclock (5:20:41 PM): there was this group of girls that came by wonder-con

synjclock (5:20:46 PM): had an interesting conversation on NG

synjclock (5:20:55 PM): they were like, so what is this game

synjclock (5:20:58 PM): i go, castle crashers

synjclock (5:21:03 PM): and they go never heard of it

synjclock (5:21:11 PM): and then they pointed at salad fingers and dad n me

synjclock (5:21:16 PM): and i am like so you guys go to newgrounds?

synjclock (5:21:17 PM): they are like yeah

synjclock (5:21:26 PM): and i go so how is it you don't know about castle crashers

synjclock (5:21:31 PM): tom fulp works on it

synjclock (5:21:35 PM): and they go, who is tom fulp

synjclock (5:21:41 PM): and i laughed because i thought they were joking

synjclock (5:21:43 PM): but they weren't joking

synjclock (5:21:49 PM): and i was like wtf, how long have you been going

synjclock (5:21:53 PM): they all said around 3 years

synjclock (5:21:58 PM): i go, do you ever read the news??

synjclock (5:22:01 PM): they all said no

synjclock (5:22:09 PM): they said they just see a bunch of stuff at the top and click it

synjclock (5:22:36 PM): thought that was interesting

synjclock (5:22:45 PM): they also said they are more interested in the games than movies

synjclock (5:23:39 PM): thought that was interesting

synjclock (5:23:48 PM): they say they go almost daily

synjclock (5:23:49 PM): for 3 years

synjclock (5:23:55 PM): and they don't know anything about the site

Next time you're on some generic Flash site with copies of all the same stuff you can find on NG, just remember, these are the kind of assholes who set up sites like that:

http://www.getacoder.com/projects/clon e_newgrounds_65108.html

In case that link goes dead, the project title is "Clone of Newgrounds", with a budget of $300-1000, and the job description reads:

"Basically I would like a FULL working clone of Newgrounds.com

The clone would need to have a full administration backend to manage users/submissions.

The clone would also include all graphics and also in the form of PSD so I can easily edit the graphics and buttons etc.

I pretty much want every feature newgrounds.com has in one easily contained script that I could proceed to install on multiple sites.

The FULL project amount will be sent after the script has been thoroughly tested on both yours and my server.

An easy installation process (much like those for other online scripts such as forum software etc.) would be a fantastic bonus, and a portfolio of related work would be great as well.

I am looking for someone who would be able to get this done quickly, as the script is in need ASAP and at a low budget."

So I'm at my desk, TRYING TO MAKE THE KNIGHTS STOP FALLING OUT OF BSP LINES, when Bob calls out "Hey these guys are from Perkasie!"

He was watching a video on YouTube about two "kinetic artists" who set up a long domino chain at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center in Vermont. I walked up and was like, "OH MY GOD! That's Mike Perrucci! I ate lunch with that guy!"

Apparently, Mike and his brother also set up the domino intro for Penn and Teller's Showtime series back in 2005. I remember Mike used to make these really exact maps of Mario levels... Good to see his methodical talents have paid off!

Watch the video!!!

Never order your Valentine's Day flowers from FTD. Rather than have them delivered by a local florist as they imply, they will FedEx them the day before and your special someone won't receive them until the day AFTER Valentine's Day.

The sad thing is, I placed my order EARLY. Bob ordered his flowers from another vendor just a few days ago and his wife got them early this afternoon.