More fun and GAMES (the Musical)

Yes, as Pete tells below, I am BLANK's champion of driving games. The secret really is to never, ever use the brakes.

A similar approach worked well for BLANK's season at the 2008 MICF (hold your applause for that segue).



If there were a prize for the Comedy Fest's most over-committed cast, BLANK should've won it - with some people starring in/directing/producing several shows simultaneously, and others doing a lot of stapling before BLANKs. And I mean a lot.

One day, I really hope we'll have cheap electronic-paper flyers that we can add things to digitally - ie: without the RSI of using a stapler. That'd make adding things such as pull quotes from reviews much easier (ready for another supreme segue?). Quotes such as these from Funny Tonne reviewers:

"if you like impro, this is as good as it gets"

and

"masters of impromptu"

Nice.

Speaking of games (my segue-gland has dried up), we did GAMES the Musical. And it involved computers. Good thing we visited Game On, huh? We can claim those tickets on tax as "research" now!

As for brakes (in improv, we call that reincorporation of ideas "shelving" - impro skillz are life skillz, okay?), a few of us also took a bike ride from St Kilda to Sandringham and back again in only two hours. Had we used our brakes, it would've taken much, much longer.

What we learned about video games

It was Wednesday - one of our two days off for the week - and cycling was the order of the day. However, it was Melbourne, and the sun was quickly replaced by wind and clouds. A second plan was concocted: head to the Game On exhibition at ACMI.

Game On is a (mostly interactive) museum of computer games. From the original arcade machine (an early version of Space Wars) through 30+ consoles to machinima. Before we even made it down to the exhibition we came across a two-player driving game.

Lesson 1: Being able to drive in real life means nothing to a machine.
Players:
Pete (11 years' driving experience);
Tim (Red P-plater);
Keira (failed her L test).

Keira and I raced first, followed by Keira vs Tim and finally Tim vs Pete. After the tournament Keira revealed her secret tactic, which was "never use the brakes". Tim revealed his secret tactic midway through the final lap of our head-to-head race for second place when he knocked the back of my car out on a sharp turn, sending me into a spin, careening into the wall, and finally resting facing the wrong direction. My own secret tactic, humility, served me better off the track than on.

Final Standings:
Keira Daley - Gold
Tim Judge - Silver
Pete Lead - DNF (so much for nice guys finish last!)

Lesson 2: Arcade games are racist
Well, old arcade games. For example Metal Slug, a side-scrolling (awesome) arcade shooter, in which you shoot people of Middle-Eastern descent. Actually, they're people of Middle-Eastern residence. So I guess that makes the American soldiers (or are they mercenaries?) the invaders and murderers. Which is just plain racist. But it's lots of fun, especially as you progress into zombie and alien levels. And we had unlimited credits. That's right. We may have paid $15 each to get in, but we would have pumped twice that into Metal Slug alone.

Lesson 3: Life is cheap when you have unlimited credits
A few nights later we walked past one of those tiny arcade parlours they have in Melbourne. No Timezone or Intencity this - just a barren store filled with arcade machines (and Asians). Now you must understand that after the few hours at Game On Keira was OBSESSED with Metal Slug. And the very front game at this arcade parlour, facing us - nay, taunting us - as we walked by was Metal Slug 5. Bam! In a flash Keira and Tim were facing the zombies or racists or whatever this sequel presented. And bam! a few flashes later the machine was asking for more coins. What? All of a sudden the importance of dodging bullets and saving your grenades dawned on the stunned pair.

They may never kill again.

Well, not entirely true. On the last night of BLANK Tim did pick up a gun again to make one final glorious mark on Melbourne. What happened? Find out soon on...
BLANK the Blog

Throwing Down the Gauntlet!

This is a challenge to all the BLANKers out there!
I feel like I could easily go into detail regarding the crazy last few weeks - the Melbourne Comedy Festival - the fact that we done did good and all that stuff. How we had great crowds, did great shows, got great reviews.
I could do that.
No problem.

But I CHALLENGE others to post about it. Go on. GO ON!

Am I right? I'm right, right? Right? Am I right? Its soooo easy.