Score: SPAAAAAAAAAACE!

To know me and my relationship with Portal 2 is to know it's still my heavy favorite for game of the year, I love the voice acting - particularly Stephen Merchant's performance -, and that I probably have an unhealthy love for the space personality core.

Thankfully, or worrisome, I'm not the only one. Youtube user Zeddforever took a little love for that core and it's love for space and mixed that with "Fortune Days" by Glitch Mob. This is the result of that crazy marriage.

Randomness Exercise - Post GDC Online

GDC Online has come and gone and if I've learned anything it's that this industry drinks. A lot. Over the table, under the table, in child booster seats, in randon homeless people's wheelchairs. Okay, this really isn't news to me. I just needed a cheap excuse to make a denouement is detox in this industry joke.

If somehow you take Texas getting drummed by OU last weekend as the wheels falling off a good team, I'm not sure what planet you're from. Much like this week against Oklahoma St., the Red River Shootout (get that Rivalry junk out of my...uhhh rivalry) was a test to see if the Longhorns are any good. This wasn't a good team falling off. This is an average team still finding it's way back up.

It's not really my style of art or music but I'm glad to live in a world with Child of Eden. Weird friggin game.

Speaking of weird, enjoyable things from Japan, Catherine.

Difference between the NFL and NBA lockouts. I was worried about missing offseason NFL action. I won't miss the NBA till spring gets here.

Fantastic Arcade: Day Four Reflections, Gallery

A Grand Prize in TexasJesus vs Dinosaurs.

Seriously, find a friend and play it.

Fantastic Arcade when out not with a bang, but with a boot. A boot full of Shiner. Welcome to Austin, Texas. I personally went hands on a bit more with Payday the Heists, played a little more Pixel Junk Pilot, and Jesus vs Dinosaurs (seriously, it's stupid-crazy fun). We got a little four-piece Owlboy orchestra going. I'll share some thoughts later on Deep Sea, probably one of the most creepy experiences in gaming most of us will never experience (sadly) because I'm not sure there's a way to get this one out into the market.

Meantime, here's a rundown of the (absolutely silly) Fantastic Arcade Award winners:

• Best in Show: Faraway by Little--Eyes
• Audience Choice Award: Fez by Polytron 
• Most Punished for Lack of Ninjas Award: Radical Fishing by Vlambeer
• The Bionic Commando Award for Grappling Hook Excellence Award: Capsized by AlienTrap 
• The "You got 2D in my 3D, or maybe 3D in my 2D" Award: Fez by Polytron
• The Mandlebrot Award: Fract by Phosfiend Systems 
• The Most Recent Use of Japanese Tradition by Westerners Award: Skulls of the Shogun by Haunted Temple Studios
• The Implied Cephalopod Intercourse Award: Octodad by Team Octodad 
• The Teach the Controversy Award: Jesus vs. Dinosaurs by Martin Jonasson, Petri Purho

Fantastic Arcade: Days Two and Three Reflections, Gallery

Jesus vs Dinosaurs.

I don't even know what to say about it. That is just a really, really weird game. Such is the world of indie games at times. It's the side of the industry that gives us oddball ideas as an octopus pulling it's best Mr. Doubtfire in Octodad, ultra-bloody fishing that makes Deadliest Catch look like a game of Go Fish with Radical Fishing, and canine's on trial for crimes against humanity in Murder Dog IV: Trial of the Murder Dog and a game based around a woman attempting to have as much as possible before getting married (insert politically incorect sorority/groupie/bopper joke here) in UTE.

It is at times a very, very strangely inspired group. Which is also why it is important to the industry. One fact remains in any big publisher (or big business, period): cash rules everything around it. And while I'll take to task any indie developer spouting the lie they aren't concerned with making money, there's a very real restraint on diverse and innovative ideas within corporate structures concerned with retailers, their confidence in marketing a product and shareholders. EA, Activision, Square Enix, Ubisoft and THQ are just not going to cultivate many of the previously listed ideas. Which is perfectly fine, those publishers are great at putting out the types of games they do and innovate in their own rights. Just rarely in true WTF ways.

As things come to a close today and I'll start putting together write ups for PSNFans and XBLAFans, here's a look at more sights from the floor as well as a very painful hip-hop karaoke night a much more likable dance party DJ'd in part with PixelJunk 4am.

Fantastic Arcade: Day One Reflections, Gallery

Fantastic Fest is off and running in full force which means the second annual Fantastic Arcade. While last year's video game showing had a very hefty dose of Microsoft next to all of the featured indie, this year the competition has taken center stage. The result is a lot of Playstation Move on public display. More important, a really exciting slate on indie games on tap for the future. I'll keep people posted on when my takes on already critically acclaimed Journey, rhythm-action excuse to break out the old Rock Band controller Retrograde, innovative Lost in Shadow meets Gettin Up platformer Sideway, and the Team Ico-quese (and I don't use that comparison remotely lightly) adventure-puzzler Papo Y Yo on PSNFans.  

Also expect some coverage for XBLAFans looking at Skulls of the Shogun amongst other games I get some hands-on and developer interview time with over the course of tonight and the next two days. In the meantime, here's a look at some of the sights from last night including Sony's feature PS3 and PSN games, the indie featured games, and the Starhawk tournament.