Up late talking games & writing? You're...

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Books: Finished Brian Keene’s Kill Whitey a few days ago. I have nothing but respect for the man for a number of different reasons, but a big one is that he just doesn't write bad books. When you pick up a Keene book, you know it's going to be an entertaining read, at the very least. Kill Whitey is no exception.
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The story starts out as a standard crime drama. A group of working-class Joes start frequenting a strip joint run by the Russian mafia, and the main character becomes enamored with their star attraction. When this knockout dancer escapes the club by hitching a ride with him, things start going to hell in a hurry as the Russians try to get her back. About halfway through the book, things take a supernatural turn as Keene reveals why killing the mob boss named Whitey turns out to be a lot more difficult than anyone would expect.
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Most of the action takes place over the course of a day, and once things start cracking, there’s hardly a break in the pace. Events flow from one to another, and I particularly liked the book's ending. I won't give away anything here, but it was really in tune with the book's overall tone, and I admire an author that doesn’t puss out at the finale. Pardon my French, but there's not really another way to say it.
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It's not my favorite Keene book, but it's a fun ride and one worth tracking down.
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Misc: A while ago, a friend turned me onto The Guild, a series of short videos found on Xbox Live. Totally free and available in both HD and SD flavors, The Guild is live-action comedy (yes, it uses real people for actors) that spins a pretty hilarious tale about what happens when a group of MMO players get together in real life.
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I'm not an MMO’er myself, but the humor will be readily apparent to anyone who plays games-- and I hate to say it, but the writers are exactly on the money when it came to crafting the characters. This show may be fictional, but I've met people in real life who are exactly like what is portrayed on screen. Recommended (and free!)
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Games: My latest play obsession is Weapon of Choice, a fantastic sidescrolling shooter available in the 360’s Community Games area. Reminiscent of Contra and other games like it from the 16-bit era, WoC actually incorporates a number of innovative features that turn the formula on its ear.
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Besides the extremely clever decisions in game design, the game is basically batsh*t crazy with weapons that go to 11, and all sorts of large-size action. As an example, the primary weapon of my favorite character is a jet engine that kicks in an afterburner for extra damage and lets the hero hover above the ground. Like I said, it’s nuts… but nuts in the best way.
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Check back soon for an interview with the man behind the game, former Running With Scissors and Insomniac developer, Nathan Fouts.
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