Completed Diary Of A (Mad?) Man - A Codexian Nightmare. (DREAMWEB) - COMPLETED

[Haba]

In this case my guess is that the UI is mostly there to fill the space. Time and money probably restrained the developers from making bigger game areas or larger and more detailed pixel art. But yeah, the strange UI definitely adds to the game's style.

Might also be simply to save memory for other stuffies and thingies.

 

[SCO]

Nowadays the UI would include 'realistic psychopathic crisis progression' or some such popamole bull.

 

[ghostdog]

It's kinda cool that putting on your sunglasses and your watch changes the UI.

 

[Brother None]

Might also be simply to save memory for other stuffies and thingies.

Heh. Like console TPSs that cover half the screen with your guy's back to save up on memory.

Oh well.

 

[spekkio]

An UI? In a computer game? That's sooo last century.
One button should be enough for everyone.

 

[ghostdog]

< 08 > - < A BLAST FROM THE PAST >

Spoiler

Here I am at last. Interplay Industries.

The outside and the walkway leading up to the entrance is mostly constructed from stone. The sombre grey walls have only the smallest of windows and the building looks totally unwelcoming.

Next to the door is a large keypad with the Interplay Industries logo printed at the top. I already know the code.

The lobby is spartan and decorated to give an impression of efficiency. The blue carpeting and grey walls are lit by subtle blue neon lights. There is a reception computer here. It controls the building's security.

Damn. I must find a way to reach the upper levels. I head to the right, but it's a dead end:

To the left I come upon an elevator. On top of it is a huge analogue clock that has "Interplay Industries" written across its face in bold blue lettering.

The doors must be opened automatically by the security system, if only I could activate it...


I go back to the entrance and face my true enemy, the security computer.

I don't know shit about hacking or engineering. My options are limited. My options can only be... EXTREME.

Chefe - Interplay supercomputer : 1 - 0.

The burnt out remains of the reception computer. It fizzles and sparks occasionally and small wisps of smoke rise up from inside. The doors of the lift are now hanging open.

I guess I'm going... up.

As the elevator's doors are about to open, I'm thinking that things have gone pretty smooth so far...

SHIT.

Caen runs away and leaves me with his two armed goons. I reach for my pistol.

***








FUCK !! The gun is not an option. What then, the knife ? The screwdriver ? No, I'm not a goddamn ninja, I can't pull this off. It's at this time of despair that my gaze falls on this mystical crystal I found in the Dreamweb...

I hold the crystal firmly and raise my arms...

One billion dreams flowing simultaneously throughout the galaxy. One trillion nightmares traversing silently throughout the cosmos. I can feel every single web of dreams that has ever existed at my fingertips, I can sense their collective knowledge channeling through my veins. Every thought, every question and answer, every fear, every need and emotion.


I am there.

My battle with the security guards has taken its toll. The walls are marked with bullet holes, fittings lay in broken shards of glass on the floor amongst the bodies of my victims, who themselves lay in pools of blood.

Caen's briefcase is left lying on the ground and a trail of blood leads through the nearby doors.

This must be important for Caen to hold on to it so fiercely. I open it and find a file marked "Top Secret" :

This document is presented by Dr. Van Buren,
Head of Security and is for the information
of Mr. Caen and chief security personnel
only.


This document MUST be destroyed as soon as
the contents have been examined.


Following the deaths of two public figures
under the watch of our security operation we
have decided, with Mr. Caen's approval, to
concentrate our efforts on the strongest
remaining members. All possible security
measures will be taken in order to protect
these people.


There are now five members of the Project 7
committee, Mr. Caen, Father Riccitiello,
Cliffella Bleszinski, Jacy West and Dr. Kotick.


Kotick has not been located although all
remaining committee members report that they
feel he is close. His power is stronger than
all the other members and although he is
mentally unstable and volatile, he is important
to our success.

The device has been programmed to deactivate
upon completion of our objective. Miss West
is not contactable in any way at present as
the phone lines have been disconnected as a
security measure.


Father Riccitiello is similarly protected
having been located in the disused building
discussed in my previous security update.


It is thought that the priest will reach
transition stage before any of the others.
His power grows stronger with every hour. I
examined the priest last night and I have
found signs of mutation within his basic cell
structure. This is a good sign that he is
approaching successful transformation.


Further to our meeting yesterday, I have
initiated the termination of Cliffella Bleszinski.
As I predicted in my psychological report
on her, this woman is mentally weak.


She does not have the necessary amount of
dedication to this organization or to Project 7.
Therefore she is to be terminated so that
her power will become useful to the surviving
group members.

In conclusion I can say that despite the
loss of two of our members, and shortly a
third, we are close to achieving our goal.
Hines was a fool who new nothing of his
potential and could see only short term gain.


General Laidlaw, however, was a strong and
important part of our team, but you must all
continue to think positively over the next
24 hours.


With you all securely protected I wish you a
short and comfortable wait until you all,
finally, emerge as one within the Dreamweb.






Dr. Van Buren. R.D.T.
Interplay Industries Ltd.

I stand for a moment trying to absorb all this information. It's truly invaluable, but if Caen escapes, it will be worthless. I start to follow on his trail...

Standing at the bottom of the stairwell I can hear Caens's footsteps echoing back down to you. I must hurry now or he will escape and I doubt that he'd be so easy to find next time...

The rooftop of Interplay Industries gives me a vertigo-inducing view of the city. The wind blows strong against me and I find it hard to keep my balance. I see an aircraft on the helipad off to the left. Caen and Van Buren must be inside.

I stand uncertain as the craft is about to take off. Not knowing what to do, I stand there for too long...

***










Bad move. When uncertain, I can always turn to my trusty little friend :

Before transforming into pure energy, I send a last farewell to Caen, Van Buren and Interplay. Another distorted childhood dream is laid to rest...

 

[CappenVarra]

Holy hell, it all finally makes sense!

Further to our meeting yesterday, I have initiated the termination of Cliffella Bleszinski. As I predicted in my psychological report on her, this woman is mentally weak.

Love the comic, as always!

 

[Haba]

 

[ghostdog]

:D

 

[lightbane]

In the grim future of Bloodnet, pistols are so overpowered that they can blow up entire planes (granted, he was aiming at the engines, but still)...

 

[Gondolin]

And the blast is confined to the plane itself. Our brave Codexer is perfectly fine two meters away from the damned plane.

 

[ghostdog]

In the grim future of Bloodnet

Satori put you up to this ?

And the blast is confined to the plane itself. Our brave Codexer is perfectly fine two meters away from the damned plane.

Yeah, thank god they built them with excellent safety regulations in the future.

 

[lightbane]

Whops, it seems I had a slip of the tongue here. That's what happened, really, it totally was not a subconscious attempt to encourage you to continue the lp of certain cyberpunk game

 

[spekkio]

We should preserve the comic for future generations of 'Dexers.

A sticky in Retardo should be our minimal goal.

 

[SCO]

Hey ghostdog you forgot the writing on the door in panel 2 of the first comic page. Not that i care, but i noticed after all the work you had on panel 1.

 

[Tigranes]

I made it in!

 

[ghostdog]

Yeah I realized I forgot the door on the second panel after I posted it. I'll probably fix it along with the next chapter.

You know, after editing the watchmen comic I started to appreciate Gibbon's work a lot more. He really managed to fit in a huge amount of detail in each panel. Granted, the art itself is kinda old-fashioned and so is the strict number of panels in each page, but on one hand I think Moore wanted it to have this old-fashioned look and on the other hand, there is so much text in each volume that they probably had to do some compromising about the size.

 

[marooned]

ghostdog Seriously there wouldn't be any Christmas without you. It shouldn't.

 

[ghostdog]

ghostdog Seriously there wouldn't be any Christmas without you. It shouldn't.

Merry Christmas !

 

[Haba]

That's actually my ringtone.

If you hear the tune, it's already too late. Just so ya know.

 

[marooned]

This game has an atmosphere like no other.

Wandering through youtube saw a random playthrough video and soon enough in the comments:

This needs a 3d shooter style remake =P

As long as it's nothing like Call of Duty that would be good

No I mean like Fallout 3 or some such. (...)

What's wrong with you.

 

[spekkio]

That's probably some 'Dexers trollin'.

 

[ghostdog]

< 09 > - < THE GEARS OF WAR ARE SET IN MOTION >

Spoiler

Once again the Dreamweb is calling me. Another kill, another dream.

What has happened?

We sense that one of their number, a woman named Bleszinski, is weakening. She was a harbinger of the decline with her combat programmme "Gears of War".

I've heard of it. It's the one that made sticky cover action so popular. Some refer to it as "popping the mole".

Indeed, the repercussions of GoW were devastating, but Cliffella's past shows that when she started out, her intentions were good.

We fear that they are planning her assassination.

What if she is killed before I find her?

Then she has been lost to us. Seek out a woman called Jacy West. She is another warmonger. Her soulless, railroaded and heavily scripted "Call of Duty" campaign has caused the death of millions.

Where is she?

Wait, she was mentioned in Caen's file. I believe I know her whereabouts.

Then you must hurry. Your task lies ahead of you.


I am now familiar with the workings of the Dreamweb. Just as murder has ceased to shock me, so has the opening of the seals become nothing more than a simple key-turning process.

That trip is always bumpy though...

I take a look around and see that I am in an almost empty car park. I can hear nothing but the distant and incessant drip of water. The place smells of damp and mould and is lit by unfriendly green neon lights.

There is a sheen of water across the floor of the car park. A pickup truck sits in the corner and water from a broken pipe drips down onto it with a dull metallic clang. I can feel cool air blowing from the exit. My attention centers on the van :

Tools like these always come in handy in situations like mine. I put them into my inventory and move on.

I must reach Bleszinski ASAP.

I stand nervously by the wall surrounding the house I think belongs to the aristocrat. There is a strong smell of burnt wood in the air and the flicker of lights from a nearby Police car.

Things don't look good. A Police car is parked haphazardly on the pavement guarding the entrance to the house. A detective stands by the car. The lights on the car flash constantly. I approach the cop.

Sorry sir, I'll have to ask you to leave the area.

What happened here, um, detective...

Detective Vince D. Weller. Looks like a terrorist attack. Are you a journalist?

No I'm not.

Too bad, I really wanted to bust someone's skull. If you keep on waisting my time, I might just do that.

Uh... Actually I knew Miss Bleszinski. Was she inside?

Can I go inside?

No you can't. There's still plasma residue from the explosion. It's too dangerous.

Are you sure, I just wanted to-

Goddammit, I told you it's impossible right now. Come back next Thursday, we may have finished our work by then.

Yes Sir, that's a good idea. Hey, you look familiar somehow...

Err, I just have one of those faces...

Hmm, I don't know...

Well, I used to play electric trombone in a scat-metal band called "The Fallouts". Maybe you've seen us live ?

What ? No ! Now if you don't mind, I've got work to do.

OK, goodbye...


I have a feeling I barely avoided a demonstration of police brutality. I should try to keep a low profile, but I must see what happened with my own eyes.

This wall isn't that high. Maybe I could...

All right, I'm in !

There must have been quite an explosion here. The whole wall of the house has been blown outwards. Inside I see broken furniture amongst the rubble. The floorboards have given way inside and a water main has burst.

I feel that the church is important... but where is it ?


I look around trying to find anything that could help me. I spot something among the debris :

It might be important. One last look at the scorched remains of the house makes me realize that Bleszinski couldn't have survived the blast. Time to go.

Desperate in need to be close to someone, I head over to Eden's...

No one here. She must be working. I entertain the thought of visiting Trash for a while, but I conclude that it won't do any good to my morale. I decide to walk back to my flat.

The news are talking about me again.

The wealthy heiress, renowned
socialite, and weapon systems
developer, Miss Cliffella Bleszinski
was killed by a plasma bomb planted
at her home in Kensington Place
which was activated when she
returned home.

Her parents visited the scene
shortly after the blast and they
are said to be devastated.
Police say that every effort will
be made to find the man responsible
for at least 3 recent killings.


This news will be updated over the next few hours...

Bastards ! They pinned her murder on me !


And no word about Caen. I guess they're trying to keep his death a secret. Let's see what's inside that blue cartridge I found...

Damn, it's password-protected.

Kotick, huh ? That's one of the seven... Dr. Kotick.






Just speaking the name out loud brings me shivers and waves of disgust. But he'll have to wait his turn. Jacy West is my next target.

 

[Brother None]

This is so excellent.

 

[marooned]

Brilliant.