Seattle

One thing I really like about Seattle is how many video game companies are here in Seattle. Sure, there are a lot of game companies in California (both north and south) but the differences here is everything is spread out in Cali...here, everyone is relatively close together. In fact, its so close, that it is possible to be eating at a restaurant next to guy working on a competing game. And not just any competing games or companies, BUT major games and major companies all working very close to each other. I mean, both Nintendo and Microsoft are here, but not to mention the 2 biggest games to come out this year are made here: Half Life 2 and Halo 2. This is also why we have to be careful about talking about our projects outside of work here.

One of the coolest thing about living here that happen to me that made me realized how much of a gaming hub this place is, while at the local gym here (known as the Pro Club, which is very fancy and expensive), I ran across a car with the license plate "TETRIS". That was Alexey Pajitnov's car!! I know this cuz he works and lives here in Redmond, working for Microsoft (and a co worker of mine sez he knows him too and would like to introduce me sometimes!). Is that cool or what?!

This is truely the Silicon Valley of Video Games.


Toronto

Here's great article I read recently about how Prince LOVES (and lives in) Toronto.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1083190211674&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630

*sigh* I miss Toronto. Go Leafs Go!


Azeroth

Thx to my good friend Ben at Blizzard, I am one of the few lucky chosen to help beta test World of Warcraft MMORPG. I have never played an online game like this, mostly because I am afraid of getting addicted. So far, I am having fun. I had no idea what I was doing and I died a lot at the beginning, but now I am understanding it and getting into the game. Cant wait to actually start playing with people I do know who is also beta testing it (ahem...Mir...Leila...Uncle Benny...Sze...). If you are happening to be playing, look me up. I am namofni.