Playing Catch-Up

Sorry about the drought-and-swamp posting technique I've been using lately. Playing catch-up is always a pain. I've got 1615 unread bloglines postings, 3 back-issues of the Escapist, and, of course, most of a month away from being able to program Machine City.

But I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things, along with the swing of some new things. I'd like to write an essay or two for the Escapist, so I was reading their list (in Excel format, the dirty bastards) of upcoming topics.

Here are some upcoming topics, and the idea for an essay that pops into my head upon reading them:

"In the Hands of the Enemy", which is about whether it's the players or the devs that'll be killing the game industry. I'd like to write about player content or indie studios, but it isn't something I think I can get first place in. I would love to write about player density/submission organization, but that's pretty... technical...

"Love the Ones you're With", a multiplayer game issue. I'd like to write about people who watch people play games. I'd also like to write an essay about the game of metagaming, but I think that might be a little too niche, don't you?

(That's a pun, people. Of course, it's even more niche than the concept, so... I guess I'm just punning to myself.)

"Groovy Games" just begs to have an article or eighteen about Guitar Hero, but as I haven't played it yet, I'll have to pass on that particular essay. However, I do have a good concept in mind for comparing what different cultures think when they hear "retro". Hell, to me, Katamari Damacy and Aeon Flux are "retro".

What do you think? I wonder if they take multiple submissions for a single issue...

Hell, I wonder what their submission guidelines are.

So, talk to me, people.