Boomsticks & Broomsticks

Do you know what I really want to play right now? A fantasy version of Battlefield 1942. Online multiplayer skirmish level fantasy warfare (and deathmatch), with all the trimmings, in good old-fashioned first person perspective.

Think: a fantasy version of Tribes. That's better. Can you imagine how fun a game like this could be? Sure you can.

Dragon riders... Floating islands & castles... Magic minefields... Lancers on horseback... Giant crossbows... Giants!... Tornado spells... Juggernauts... Magic carpets... Battle barges... Sorcerous duels... Airships... Elemental summonings... Infernal machines... Terrain-warping enchantments... Divine intervention... Transforming enemies into chickens*...

Crazy? With a little tempering, no crazier than Battlefield 1942 or Tribes. So who will make this game, in some fashion, first? I have no idea but I bet somebody will and if they do a good job of it I bet it will be a hit.

*Hats off to Raven Software's Heretic.

What It Is

To start things off, these are the kinds of topics I'll be getting into.

• Indie games.
• Retro games.
• Freeware games.
• Digital Eel games.
• Mods.
• Boardgames and paper roleplaying games.
• Game design.
• Level design.
• Game history and evolution.
• Game sound and music.
• Creativity, intuition, innovation and art.
• Raves about good PC games.
• Friends' projects, blogs, etc.
• Goofy tangents.

These are the kinds of topics you won't read about here.

• Game industry gossip.
• Console games.
• Handheld games, generally.
• Trendy electronic gizmos.
• Hardware.

Not to totally spill the beans but that's the plan. The question is, will I manage to keep things upbeat and constructive or will I slide inexorably into curmudgeonry? Stay tuned!