today, some obscure sierra on-line & dynamix history that shouldn't be obscure yet is due to how gaming culture developed: Front Page Sports Baseball. this just came in the mail, and i'm so glad to finally have my own copy after playing a demo from a CD-ROM Today! magazine cover disc as a kid.
this dynamix-produced and sierra-published title is weird for a bunch of reasons.
first, it's one of the last few DOS-only games that came out in the mid-90s.
second, it runs in hi-res mode using what i suspect is a blend of software-rendered 3D and 2D sprites that were a holdover from dynamix's 3Space engine used in almost all of dynamix's titles. (pic 2) the animation is crisp, the sprites are beautifully rendered in a very compressed colour palette.
third, the Front Page Sports series were massive hits - outselling other sierra/dynamix titles of the time. but no one talks about it, because sports games often get irritated yawns from gamers.
fourth, this game is fun to play. it's not just an average EA sports-style title. the batting/pitching gameplay is addictive, and the simulation of the players and teams is deep.
and finally, there is - unbelievably - still an active FPS Baseball community still modding and developing rosters for the game. someone maintains a tool that generates websites that lets other people see the outcomes of your baseball games like a late-90s ESPN network site 🤣 https://www.silverbox.com/biorhythm/
@vga256 Great write up! My brother and I played over 20 seasons of FPS Football 96, switching to 98 eventually. I think I have their baseball game but never tried it, definitely going to find the CD and try it out!
I’m so inspired after seeing “One Found Sound” perform at Cafe Du Nord tonight. This orchestra is just too damned talented! Here’s a snippet of #Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony. It’s such a privilege to hear a well played masterpiece in such a casual and welcoming venue! #SFBA#SFBayArea#Music
We’ve got a couple shows in your neck of the woods.
1: #Sacramento!! We are SO EXCITED to share this show with you Saturday night. At THE SOFIA! 🤩
We’ve been developing this show for the year since we last saw you, AND we’re bringing some new songs for you this time around, too — some old faves and some new old faves. 😉
Nitter and its clones have been down for about a month now.
Musk shut down the service that enabled it to work properly.
It's even more important now, for there to be an alternative to Twitter (and for nonwhite people to use it, instead of staying on Twitter where most of the world either can't or won't go).
Early screenshots of Leisure Suit Larry 3, from Game Player's PC Buyer's Guide, vol. 2 no. 5 (Nov/Dec 1989).
The comedy club has different-colored chairs. Meanwhile, Patti has a different hairstyle, both arms visible, and no top... #sierra#leisuresuitlarry#adventuregames
Early screenshots of Conquests of Camelot from Game Player's PC Buyer's Guide, vol. 2 no. 5 (Nov/Dec 1989).
Notice that in Merlin's study, the tapestry on the wall has a "fylfot" (swastika) on one side. This was probably meant in the ancient sense of a sun symbol. It was removed in the final game, but the description of the tapestry still mentions it. #sierra#conquestsofcamelot#adventuregames
The very controversial "Nightmare Rock" at the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California. Nearly every B-western from the '50s was filmed in the Alabama Hills as well as hundreds of other movies, both classic & modern. The Alabama Hills are public lands. Thankfully, while roadside Nightmare Rock has been painted in various ways over many decades, I have never seen any other street art or graffiti in the area.
I told myself I'd stop buying big box PC games, so check out the 3 big boxed PC games I bought recently: Space Quest IV, King's Quest IV and Conquests of Camelot. #vintagepc#sierra#msdos#mt-32
@douglasvb How's the meadow looking? Appears (so far?) that the blizzard didn't blitz too hard. E.g., Kirkwood reporting 18" in 24 hours, and getting ready to open. #CAwx#Tahoe
Tahoe Fund seeks artists to paint murals inside Forest Service restrooms to inspire stewardship. Officials hope murals depicting Tahoe’s plants, animals, and beautiful landscapes will reduce vandalism, inspire people to take care of #Tahoe. #art
So, does anyone know if there is a museum in the Bay Area that exhibits items from the 1915 Pan Pacific world fair? I have an original sculpture from there, an actual paper mache monstrous.
@caseyjennings yes I thought about that, I haven't been to the current location! I should contact the palace of fine arts org though.....do they still use the space for something?
Strange request -- are there any physical locations in the Bay Area that sell little vials or lockets of gold dust? Trying to source some elements for an art piece on the Gold Rush. #sfbayarea
