Massive Auditorium
Atmospheric fog coils across the floor of the auditorium, sliding beneath the plush seats and around the base of the black stone pillars. Zombie waiters shamble about, proffering dark silver trays loaded with canapes and wineglasses full of some ancient vintage. A stage at the front of the room is the sole bright spot in the room, emblazoned with "2005 XYZZYS".

You can see: READ THIS PLEASE, xyzzy drinking game, a chalkboard listing the XYZZY Award winners
Visible Exits: west
inky walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
Kali walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice her approaching it from the other side.
Rob arrives from the west.
Jaybird drops Note for the Xyzzy awards.
ErWenn arrives from the west.
inky hollers, "'xyzzy' to come to the auditorium"
Rob says, "boo, normally I'm first in"
DrewMochak arrives from the west.
Recchi walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
Guest2 arrives from the west.
ChainGangGuy walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
K-Y materializes.
zarf concentrates, and disappears.
zarf walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
Emily says (to Rob), "you can still have the very front seat"
Merk says, "I hate telnet. I'm gonna try connecting with java client. I assume somebody is logging."
Jaybird asks (of inky), "Maybe you should put a timed lock on that exit?"
Guest1 arrives from the west.
Merk leaves the auditorium to the west.
robgrassi arrives from the west.
Recchi exclaims (at chainga), "Hi there!"
olethros walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
Recchi says (to CGG), "Whoops"
Jaybird says, "Ok it's now officially 4:00"
ChainGangGuy asks, "I'm excited to be here?"
DrewMochak points and laughs at Robb.
Merk walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
inky says (to ChainGangGuy), "I hope so!"
Jota pulls up a LA-Z-BOY recliner in the third (and, when reclined, second and fourth) row(s).
Rob has arrived.
Thrax arrives from the west.
HairBrain arrives from the west.
Rob takes an aisle seat.
HairBrain asks, "Ooh!  Ooh!  What'd I miss?"
jmac walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
(From Thrax) Rob drops an aisle seat.
zarf says, "hi"
Rob says (to HB), "you missed it again!"
jmac howdies
ParserGirl arrives from the west.
olethros says, "haha"
HairBrain says, "dang"
Jacqueline takes a seat.
DrewMochak says, "The awards are over, man."
olethros makes fake crowd noises.
HairBrain tries to remember where he put his crowd noise recordings.
Thrax says, "the awardees listed on the chalkboard are suspiciously familiar"
Guest1 says, "welcome to 2005"
inky says, "nuts, I forgot to erase the chalkboard"
Eric arrives from the west.
DrewMochak gets out his MP3 player so that he can broadcast the sound of crickets chirping whenever Larry the cable guy makes a joke.
olethros resets his watch.
Bishop exclaims (at klimas), "Congrats! Again!"
maga accosts a zombie waiter and acquires a fruity girl drink
wojohz walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
Thrax says, "2005 XYZZYs? we'll be here for a while"
Jon arrives from the west.
DrewMochak says, "Hey, you cna't win the same award for hte same game twice. Nice try."
Rob practices clapping with one hand
Thrax says, "he would've gotten away with it if it weren't for you pesky kids"
Jearl walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice her approaching it from the other side.
Jaybird asks (of inky), "Hey is that chalkboard just any old object or does it have secret verbs authorized people can use to add or change winners?"
inky says, "it's just a regular chalkboard"
Thrax scrapes his nails on the chalkboard
olethros throws a chalk at Thrax.
Thrax claps the erasers
Lee covers his ears
olethros pinches the bottom of the girl in front.
olethros says, "Just like being in high school"
Jacqueline says, "eep"
Jacqueline says (to olethros), "Stop that."
olethros says, "oh, hi jacq. I didn't know it was you"
Jacqueline says, "Sure sure."
maga says (to olethros), "seriously, dude, she could kick your ass eight ways to Wednesday"
jess walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice her approaching it from the other side.
Jacqueline laughs at maga.
olethros says (to maga), "my point exactly"
Rob says, "she how she taunts him with laughter"
Guest1 asks, "when does it start?"
olethros asks, "should the lights be dimmed or not?"
Rob says, "momentarily"
Thrax says, "this seems like light turnout"
inky says (to Guest1), "just as soon as the anticipation builds sufficiently!"
DrewMochak says, "It started four hours ago, this is just hte after-awards boozeup."
The lights dim!
olethros looks at teh anticipation dial.
maga says, "when inky finds his dress pants"
(From Norah) >cls
Guest2 asks, "Will Ray Charles be performing?"
Merk says (to Norah), "Hola"
olethros says (to guest), "I hate to break it to you but.."
DrewMochak says, "I am Ray Charles."
maga says (to Guest2), "quite possibly, although not here"
klimas laughs.
olethros says, "Ray Charles has been reincarnated"
wojohz exclaims (at Norah), "you're gonna win!"
Norah says (to wojohz), "Calm down man"
wojohz exclaims, "awards you're not up for!"
wojohz calms down.
olethros asks, "so, how does one get to win one of them awards?"
ErWenn goes home.
Rob says, "first, write a game"
Norah says (to olethros), "It is random"
DrewMochak says, "Making a game is usually a good start."
Rob says, "then, make it good"
HairBrain says, "step 3, profit"
ErWenn arrives from the west.
olethros asks, "how about using intrusive advertising for a game that does not exist?"
maga says, "then, bribe the five people who actually vote in the first round"
olethros says (to maga), "point"
inky has arrived.
DrewMochak says, "First you make the game. Then you win the XYZZYs. Then you get the women."
wojohz says, "and the rest follows"
Bill Conti starts up the orchestra.
wojohz says, "i'm not sure what 'the rest' is, but it must be sweet"
DrewMochak gets up on stage and starts playing drums to amuse the crowd before the show begins.
Rob claps
DrewMochak exclaims, "Did it all for yoooooooou!"
DrewMochak air-guitars.
Lee morphs into Andy Kaufman and joins DrewMochak on stage
lpsmith steps up to the front of the auditorium, and a spotlight illuminates him.
zarf says, "yay"
lpsmith exclaims, "Welcome, everyone, to the XYZZY awards for the Best Games of 2005!"
Jacqueline claps!
maga says, "woo"
Rob claps.
Guest1 says, "clap"
sdee applauds
olethros says, "ELA"
maga claps
Merk says, "wooo"
Norah clapping
jmac says, "ibid"
olethros stamps his foot.
DrewMochak does a 30-second version of Ticks and Leeches then steps down.
Lee claps and gets down from the stage
Guest2 exclaims, "Ray Charles! Ray Charles!"
Lee exclaims, "Whooo hoo!"
JasonD exclaims, "yay!"
Jota asks, "We're all just here to play #tomb, right?"
lpsmith says, "Eileen, our traditional host, will be with us in spirit for the majority of the awards, but with any luck, she'll be here in time to award the Best Game."
olethros throws a peanut at Jota.
wojohz concentrates, and disappears.
wojohz walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
DrewMochak says, "...And now i get ot figure out how to inject cocaine while blindfolded."
jess taunts Happy Fun Ball.
zarf says, "zz snrkl"
zarf asks, "what?"
lpsmith exclaims, "So, without further ado:  here's zarf, to announce the finalists and the winner of the Best Use of Medium!"
Guest4 arrives from the west.
zarf says, "Oh great"
Rob claps for zarf.
zarf runs towards stage
inky says, "zarf!"
jmac hrays
zarf says, "(in slow motion)"
maga claps
olethros says, "Go for it zarf"
Lee claps for zarf
Bishop exclaims, "zarf! zarf! zarf!"
Rob cl aa   a  a  p  s
zarf says, "Hi everybody!"
Merk says, "hola"
zarf says, "I've been asleep."
robgrassi says, "whoooooo"
zarf says, "Actually, I *am* asleep."
olethros snickers.
jmac nods in silent agreement.
zarf says, "You are all the ghoooosts of memooooory"
Lee giggles
zarf says, "inky, for example, represents my third-grade teacher."
Rob chuckles
olethros narrows his eyes and looks critically at inky.
zarf says, "The parrot in the far corner represents -- um, a parrot. I think."
AWwwwk.
lpsmith says, "Apparrotly."
olethros says, "hee"
zarf says, "And this trophy in my hand represnets the Best Use of Medium 2005! Woot it, folks"
Rob says, "woot"
olethros says, "hooray"
Jacqueline says, "Hooray!"
ParserGirl says, "So wooted."
maga says, "duly wooted"
jmac says, "arugula"
Jaybird exclaims, "Woot!"
inky says, "hooray!"
wojohz says, "w00t"
Allen walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
sdee woots
Kali exclaims, "woot!"
zarf considers making a 'best use of medium' / 'eileen is here in spirit' joke
zarf says, "But no."
wojohz says, "/root"
jmac says, "Too late."
Jacqueline snickers.
maga says, "ouch"
zarf points at jmac. "SILENCE KNAVE"
jmac falls over silently, where he will remain unmoving for the rest of the afternoon. Let this be a lesson to you all.
zarf says, "He represents my desire to work fifteen hours a day on bizarre software projects."
zarf says, "I don't know how he got in here."
zarf says, "But anyway."
zarf says, "Nominees!"
zarf says, "(note how I skip the part where I explain what this award is for.)"
zarf says, "The finalists are:"
Guest1 asks, "what is this award for?"
wojohz says, "the winner"
Bishop says, "'What is this award for, zarf?'"
zarf says, "A New Life, by Alexandre Owen Muniz"
Rob claps for mystery and enigma
Rob applauds
lpsmith claps.
sdee claps
inky says, "woo"
klimas says, "yay"
Bishop applauds.
Jacqueline applauds.
Lee claps
Rob **
wojohz says, "huzzah"
Kali applause
Norah says, "yay"
zarf says, "Book and Volume, by Nick Montfort!"
JasonD exclaims, "Way to go Alexandre!"
Jacqueline applauds.
wojohz exclaims, "nm!"
Rob claps
sdee claps
JasonD says, "And Nick"
ParserGirl claps.
Rob says, "en em en em"
Lee claps
inky says, "throw the book at him"
zarf says, "Distress, by Mike Snyder!"
olethros says, "yeah"
Jacqueline applauds.
Rob CLONK
maga says, "yay"
Merk says, "yay me."
sdee claps some more
olethros claps
Norah claps
Rob claps
inky says, "yay"
Guest1 says, "yay distress"
wojohz says, "yah hugo"
ParserGirl hurrahs.
zarf says, "Mystery House Possessed, by Emily Short!"
Lee claps
Allen huzzahs.
Merk exclaims, "Wooo!"
maga exclaims, "yay!"
DrewMochak bangs a coup
Guest1 says, "yay mystery"
ParserGirl cheers.
inky says, "hooray for MHTO"
Jacqueline says, "Woo!"
Rob applauds
klimas claps.
sdee claps
Norah claps
zarf says, "Whom The Telling Changed, by Aaron A. Reed!"
DrewMochak bangs a couple cocanuts together.
Rob claps more
sdee applauds
Jacqueline applauds.
wojohz yay aar
ChainGangGuy says, "This is more exciting than I thought it'd be."
Merk exclaims, "Good luck to all!"
Lee claps
robgrassi says, "a great game"
olethros claps
zarf asks, "So, do I have an envelope?"
Norah claps
zarf says, "Hm. No."
zarf says, "Fortunately, I am asleep."
zarf dreams he has an envelope.
DrewMochak says, "Due to budget constraints, the envelope has been downsized to an infinit stasis tube."
maga asks, "more importantly, do you have pants?"
ParserGirl says, "Dream yourself some pants while you're at it."
koblin smiles.
olethros says, "haha"
zarf says, "Also, you are all butterflies. In case anyone asks."
Rob flutters
zarf says, "The winner of Best Use of Medium..."
Allen says (to Rob), "oh no a hurricane in China!"
Lee flaps his wings
ParserGirl butters
wojohz says, "zyxwvutsrqpoNMlkjihgfedcba"
zarf says, "Mystery House Possessed, by Emily Short!"
Guest1 says, "clap"
klimas says, "woot!"
jmac yays
maga exclaims, "yay!"
JasonD exclaims, "Woot!"
Rob applauds!
sdee says, "woo"
DrewMochak is the fly to ParserGIrls' butter.
HairBrain says, "Hooray!"
Lee claps
Thrax exclaims, "yay!"
koblin claps
Jota applauds.
lpsmith cheers!
ParserGirl cheers!
olethros says, "hah"
wojohz says, "yay Emily Short"
Bishop exclaims, "Woo!"
Emily says, "oh, hey"
Norah Yay!
Jacqueline claps and claps.
Merk exclaims, "Wooo!"
Eric applauds
olethros says, "YEeee"
Jacqueline says, "Hooray!"
inky says, "woot"
Lee exclaims, "whooo hoo!"
zarf says, "Hm, what's the give command"
olethros exclaims, "hooray, emily!"
Jacqueline says, "Go Em!"
robgrassi says, "good"
inky says, "give trophy = emily"
maga says, "go Emily"
zarf gives Best Puzzles 2005 XYZZY to Emily.
ParserGirl says (to Emily), "Wake up and claim your eternal glory."
inky says, "hee hee"
zarf says, "And there we have it."
Rob asks, "is she here?"
GaylaW says, "wtg"
Jearl claps
zarf sits down and wakes up
HairBrain says, "Puzzles!  Excellent!"
Rob claps
Kali clap!
zarf asks, "zz. What?"
Emily says, "I don't have anything prepared to say because mostly I've been writing my dissertation instead"
wojohz says, "speech"
olethros says, "This is the first time that both the awarder and the awardee have been asleep"
inky says, "when you wake up, give her the other trophy instead"
lpsmith exclaims, "That'll do!"
Jacqueline says (to Emily), "Good girl."
Rob says, "the-sis! the-sis!"
maga exclaims (at Emily), "let's hear an extract!"
klimas says, "ha!"
Jacqueline says (to maga), "Sh!"
zarf says, "heh. Wrong trophy. Oh well"
Jacqueline says, "I mean, great idea."
Emily says, "but thanks! and I should also thank Dan Shiovitz and Nick Montfort who worked with me on this project, and Graham"
Allen says, "Footnote #17!"
olethros says, "yay, extract"
Emily says, "and as a special treat I will spare you any bits from the thesis"
zarf gives Best Use of Medium 2005 XYZZY to Emily.
Rob claps
Emily sits
ParserGirl claps.
Lee exclaims, "congrats to emily!"
Guest1 says, "cheer"
Rob says, "hermetically sealed trophy"
Thrax exclaims, "yay ancient Greek!"
inky says (to Rob), "hee hee"
lpsmith claps and approaches the front again.
lpsmith says, "The next award is for Best Individual PC.  And here to present, our very own ghost in the machine, inky."
Merk exclaims, "Congrats!!"
Rob claps.
DrewMochak asks, "So does Em get to keep the first one as a bonus for just being cool?"
Emily gives Best Puzzles 2005 XYZZY to zarf.
sdee claps
inky stands up and walks to the podium.
maga exclaims, "inky! inky!"
Norah says, "whew"
klimas says, "yay inky"
Emily says, "no, that was me trying to remember how to give it back :)"
jmac exclaims, "Go zarf!"
jmac says, "Oh, wait"
maga says (to Emily), "suuuure"
ParserGirl says, "He's blinking blue!  Let's get  . . . too late."
inky says, "actually, I'm not going to be presenting this"
klimas says, "awww"
Rob asks, "???"
(From olethros) inky says, "This is a hold up"
Jacqueline says, "inKY inKY inKY"
Jota exclaims, "Oh well. Next award!"
Bishop says, "Boooo."
Rob says, "eileen!"
DrewMochak exclaims, "Yay Zarf! The game you didn't make this year had the best puzzles i've ever seen!"
Jacqueline says, "Eileen!"
Norah exclaims, "quick hide!"
inky says, "due to new changes in the law, for ethics reasons the Best Individual PC award needs to be presented by an NPC"
Allen says (to Norah), "and act like a grue!"
lpsmith hollers, "Come on, Eileen!"
klimas laughs.
wojohz says, "yay ethics"
olethros chuckles
Lee giggles
Guest1 laughs.
eileen walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice her approaching it from the other side.
inky says, "so we've hired the firm of Flathead, Flathead, and Flathead, accountants"
Rob says, "yay eileen"
zarf claps
koblin claps
inky says, "originally an architecture firm, Flathead, Flathead, and Flathead designed both the Royal Maze and the Bank of Zork"
Thrax says (to inky), "I hear their audit reports are millions of pages long"
inky says, "which showed they were eminently qualified to move into tax law"
Jacqueline applauds, even though they sound like attorneys.
DrewMochak heckles the speaker.
Jaybird cheers for Eileen!
olethros says, "snrk"
inky says, "so please give a big round of applause for Bernie Flathead, CPA"
BernieFlathead has arrived.
eileen blows kisses to everyone
Rob claps lamely
olethros claps reluctantly.
Lee claps
Jacqueline claps.
BernieFlathead polishes his glasses, accidentally bumps into the podium, then drops his paperwork.
ErWenn applauds.
DrewMochak claps in slow motion.
BernieFlathead looks out at the large audience and blinks.
maga says, "hooray for bureaucratic oppression"
DrewMochak laughs, loudly.
BernieFlathead says, "er, I'm afraid Mr Flathead and Mr Flathead were unable to come today"
BernieFlathead says, "so they sent me, er"
BernieFlathead examines his nametag.
ChainGangGuy says, "hooray oppression"
BernieFlathead exclaims, "oh, yes, Mr Flathead!"
Jacqueline looks at Mr. Flathead suspiciously.
BernieFlathead says, "anyway, as I'm sure you know, there have been a number of recent changes in the tax code which necessitate new strategies in the year to come"
BernieFlathead says, "elvish weaponry can no longer be considered an antique"
Merk says, "Yikes, if it takes 30 mins per award, I'll have to leave half-way though. :,-("
Lee laughs
BernieFlathead says, "spell research and expenses related to buying new scrolls is still deductible, but costs relating to regaining strength to cast spells is not"
ParserGirl rustles through her purse for her notebook.
olethros yawns.
DrewMochak would take notes, but he never takes notes. SO instead he'll jsut forget it all.
BernieFlathead says, "and, as usual, profits made from investments made with knowledge gained by save/restore must be declared separately for each play sessions"
BernieFlathead pauses.
BernieFlathead rechecks his notes.
BernieFlathead asks, "oh, dear, this isn't "Make Your Zorkmids Work For You", is it?"
olethros says, "I think you have thev wrongnotes"
Thrax asks (of BernieFlathead), "what about spellbook depreciation?"
Rob shoots a spitball
zarf shouts 'EXEX FLATHEAD'!
BernieFlathead says, "oh dear"
inky sighs and walks up on stage.
inky says, "ok, clearly we'll have to delegate this better next year"
Guest1 says, "get on wiv it"
inky says, "still, I think Bernie did very well for an NPC"
ParserGirl claps.
BernieFlathead says, "I don't know much about that"
Jota exclaims, "Hold it, I want to know more about magical deductions!"
Jacqueline says, "Good try, Bernie."
inky says, "anyway, for Best Individual PC, the nominees are ..."
inky says, "Inspector Maltelli from Beyond (by Mondi Confinanti)"
olethros improbably kicksV Jota in the shin
(From Thrax) inky says, "Dell's new laptop"
Rob claps
sdee claps
Guest1 exclaims, "maltelli rocks!"
Norah claps
Lee claps
inky says, "Conan, Conan Kill Everything (by Ian Haberkorn)"
Jacqueline claps.
Rob claps
Norah claps afresh
sdee claps
Guest1 says, "co-nan.co-nan.co-nan"
Jaybird cheers!
Fang arrives from the west.
Allen says, "yay kill everything"
Jacqueline applauds.
inky says, "Jacques in Flat Feet (by Joel Ray Holveck)"
Ian arrives from the west.
Bishop kills everything.
olethros claps
DrewMochak asks, "Conan... it's not exactly the most original thing, is it?"
Jacqueline applauds.
sdee applauds
Rob stomps his feet
klimas says, "yay"
maga says, "yay games I haven't played"
inky says, "Wendy Little in Tough Beans (by Sara Dee)"
olethros claps
Jacqueline claps.
Norah claps
Rob applauds
maga claps
HairBrain says, "Yay, beans!"
klimas says, "yay"
inky says, "and The abbot in Vespers (by Jason Devlin)"
wojohz applaudclaps
Merk exclaims, "Wooooo! Good luck nominees!"
olethros claps
Rob claps.
Jacqueline claps, remembering the period at the end and everything.
sdee claps
Norah says, "Hurrah"
JasonD says, "Good luck all"
Kali clap!!
HairBrain yells, "VESPERS!"
inky asks (of Bernie), "and the winner is ...?"
wojohz clapapplauds
BernieFlathead asks, "er, not deductible?"
BernieFlathead says, "oh, wait"
klimas chortles.
BernieFlathead hands the envelope to inky.
inky looks inside.
inky says, "Wendy Little In Tough Beans (by Sara Dee)!"
GaylaW claps.
maga exclaims, "woo!"
Rob says, "yay!"
klimas says, "woo!"
zarf says, "woo!"
olethros says, "Hooray"
sdee says, "wowza"
Jacqueline says, "Yay - congrats!"
Eric applauds
Jota cheers.
JasonD exclaims, "Congrats Sara!"
Ian exclaims, "Allright!"
Norah claps
Merk exclaims, "Wooo!"
olethros claps.
wojohz says, "moo"
Rob says, "first time winner!"
BernieFlathead gives Best Individual PC 2005 XYZZY to sdee.
Lee exclaims, "horraay!"
robgrassi says, "wooo"
jmac cheers
Lee claps
Merk asks, "Is the winner here?"
koblin cheers.
sdee exclaims, "oh goodness!  thanks!"
maga exclaims, "speech!"
ChainGangGuy exclaims, "Go Beans!"
Rob claps
Merk exclaims (at sdee), "Congrats!"
Allen says, "Cool beans!"
ParserGirl cheers!
DrewMochak applauds.
Kali speech!
Jacqueline says, "Cool be - darn"
olethros exclaims, "yeah, speech!"
Rob sets off firecrackers in a dumpster
[peanut-gallery] Fang says, "Oh cool."
ErWenn claps politely.
sdee says, "heh heh"
Lee exclaims, "congrats sdee!"
HairBrain says, "Beans!  Beans!"
wojohz exclaims, "Sara Dee!"
inky hands over the microphone.
Norah exclaims, "Do it! Do it!"
wojohz exclaims, "nobody doesn't like Sara Dee!"
sdee says, "thanks chris, olaf, and dayle for testing it and for being encouraging"
sdee says, "and thanks to people for playing it"
Norah claps
Lee claps
inky says, "yay"
Rob claps
lpsmith cheers.
sdee sits
Jacqueline says, "Yay you."
maga says, "awwww"
zarf claps
Eric claps again
(From wojohz) people says, "you're welcome"
DrewMochak yahoos.
sdee blushes
lpsmith grins.
lpsmith returns to the stage.
lpsmith says, "The next award is for the Best Individual NPC.  Bernie was not nominated this year."
Jaybird cheers!
lpsmith exclaims, "But here to present the award, we have Audrey from Necrotic Drift!"
Jacqueline says, "Yay!"
Rob claps
maga exclaims, "woohoo!"
Audrey has arrived.
Jacqueline says, "Oh, Goddes, it's Audrey!"
Lee claps
wojohz says, "yay Aud"
inky says, "he's still waiting for the right breakout accounting role to appear"
Jacqueline says, "Goddess, even."
sdee claps
Eric claps with moderate enthusiasm.
Audrey exclaims, "Hello, everyone! Thank you all so much for the opportunity to present the XYZZY Award for Best Individual Non-Player Character!"
maga hides his dice
Lee exclaims, "whoo hoo!"
Dave arrives from the west.
wojohz says, "best-Case scenario"
DrewMochak waves his phone number.
Audrey says, "The characters on the list are all very deserving. So deserving that we'd like to use this big bag of dice to help us announce  the nominees."
HairBrain says, "Cookies!"
ChainGangGuy exclaims, "Dicey!"
Audrey says, "The first nominee for Best NPC is..."
Dave concentrates, and disappears.
Dave walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
Audrey rolls a twelve-sided die
Audrey consults a Dungeon Master's screen
Audrey exclaims, "Our first nominee is Cecilia, from the game Vespers, by Jason Devlin!"
Rob claps
maga exclaims, "critical hit!"
sdee cheers
koblin claps.
Eric applauds
DrewMochak exclaims, "Yay!"
Jacqueline says, "Hubba hubba."
Guest1 exclaims, "cecilia!"
Norah clapping
Lee cheers
Merk exclaims, "Woooo Jasond!"
Lee claps
olethros says, "go, delicecilia.."
skeleton walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
Audrey says, "Our second nominee is..."
DrewMochak says, "Aw bloody hell, an infestation."
skeleton exclaims, "All Hope Abandon!"
skeleton exclaims, "All Hope Abandon!"
Audrey exclaims, "That's a great point, skelly. We'd better not leave that one to the roll of a die. The second nominee is Agrath, from All Hope Abandon by Eric Eve!"
Allen says, "Lasciate ogni speranza"
sdee claps
Jacqueline applauds.
wojohz exclaims, "yay game i played yesterday!"
JasonD exclaims, "Go Eric!"
Lee claps
olethros claps.
Rob claps
Audrey asks, "Could a member of the audience be so kind to punch the skeleton for me?"
Rob punches the skeleton
HairBrain asks, "Will they win a prize?"
wojohz ditto
olethros exclaims, "prize-fight!"
Jacqueline does an elbow takedown on the skeleton.
DrewMochak totally flips out on teh skeleton.
skeleton breaks up into a thousand little pieces
inky says, "full damage from bludgeoning attacks"
skeleton goes home.
Bishop kicks the skull.
Rob says, "take THAT"
Jacqueline says, "YAY"
wojohz throws computer monitor at skeleton
olethros asks, "is that a fortune-skeleton?"
Audrey says, "Thanks! As for our third nominee --"
Rob levels up.
DrewMochak turns into Chuck Noris and kicks him to pieces with a roundhouse kick.
jmac exclaims, "Wait... it's full of delicious candy!!"
BRAAAAaaAaAIiinnnnss walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
Rob says, "ahhh"
Audrey says, "Oh, Goddess, here we go."
HairBrain asks, "Zombie pinjata!  Where's me poking-stick?"
BRAAAAaaAaAIiinnnnss says, "..Audrey ..."
ParserGirl says, "Shoot it in the head!"
Audrey exclaims, "That's right! Our third nominee has no name. It's the storyteller from Whom the Telling Changed by Aaron A. Reed!"
maga asks (of zombie), "shouldn't you be serving drinks?"
inky says, "uh-oh, one of the waiters can gone feral"
Rob claps
inky says, "woo storyteller"
Jacqueline applauds.
Merk exclaims, "Good luck, storyteller!"
Merk asks, "Is AAR here?"
Norah claps
Lee claps
Eric applauds
Audrey rolls a twenty-sided die towards the zombie
olethros puts his hands together.
BRAAAAaaAaAIiinnnnss steps on the twenty-sided die and slips, knocking himself out.
DrewMochak exclaims, "Empty half a clip of 5.65 assault rifle amunition into its gut to make it as gorey as possible before you think to shoot in in the head!"
(From olethros) It explodes.
Audrey exclaims, "Okay! This brings us to our fourth nominee!"
JasonD says, "I don't think so, Mike"
revenant walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
revenant asks, "ARE ANY OF YOU... MY KILLER?"
maga says (to Audrey), "you're totally going to level up before you reach the award"
Audrey says, "..revenant "As I understand it, Ralph from Flat Feet (a game by Joel Ray Holveck!) was your killer."
lpsmith says, "Not me."
ParserGirl claps.
Rob points at someone else
Audrey applauds
klimas says, "yay"
DrewMochak points at George W. Bush.
Lee claps
HairBrain says, "XP!  XP!"
Eric claps.
sdee claps
Merk exclaims, "Good luck Ralph!"
Audrey says, "RIGHT. I'M OFF THEN, TO FIND THIS 'RALPH.' HIS ENTRAILS, HIS FLESH AND HIS BONES WILL BE AS FLAT AS THESE FEET YOU MENTION"
Audrey says, "heh"
maga says (to Audrey), "aie possession"
DrewMochak exclaims, "You! You're not hte real Audrey!"
Audrey exclaims, "Beware of possession on this one!"
jmac snorts
DrewMochak exclaims, "You're one of the kung-fu creatures on the rampage! Three!"
inky says, "we should have cast protection from evil on Audrey first"
revenant exclaims, "EXIT!"
Rob wonders who the nominee is
revenant exclaims, "/Q!!"
Kali says, "WELL, THIS IS EMBARRASSING"
DrewMochak says, "Hit ctl-alt-del, revvie."
Kali goes home.
wojohz says, "cast protectFromEvil = Audrey"
Ian says, "finger Audrey"
Rob claps for whatever is about to happen
Audrey says, "And now, our final nominee."
DrewMochak says, "Eeeww."
Kali walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice her approaching it from the other side.
olethros asks, "hey, is this the same award?"
Rob says, "it's a long one"
Kali raises her hand
Audrey asks, "Yes, we have a question for the overdone, leather-draped Incisor Skank?"
Kali asks, "Confidently, you will not intend to forget about Val in the game "that plate with gold, ' by John Yevans as danger?"
Audrey exclaims, "If by that you mean that the fourth nominee is Val from Gilded, by John Evans, as A Hazard... then yes, I agree!"
Kali smiles
Rob claps
sdee claps
Kali turns into a bat
Lee claps
Kali goes home.
Allen asks, "when does the strangling begin?"
wojohz w00ts
Audrey says, "The winner of the XYZZY Award for Best Non-Player Character is..."
BRAAAAaaAaAIiinnnnss gets up off the floor and shambles over to the stage!
Bishop drums his fingers impatiently.
BRAAAAaaAaAIiinnnnss says (to everyone), "...!!""
inky says, "uh-oh, zombie with regeneration"
Jacqueline says, "Oh NOES!"
Lee slaps his head
Audrey exclaims, "Yes, in English, the winner for Best NPC is the narrator, from Whom the Telling Changed, by Aaron A. Reed!!"
Bishop exclaims, "Woo!"
klimas says, "yay!"
inky says, "woot"
Jota claps.
zarf says, "wazoon!"
Rob claps!
olethros exclaims, "WOO!!"
Norah claps !
GaylaW applauds.
sdee exclaims, "yay!"
Jacqueline applauds.
Merk exclaims, "Yay for the storyteller!"
Audrey crams a very pointy four-sided die into the zombie's head.
koblin tries to remember the rules for turning undead.
ErWenn applauds.
Lee exclaims, "whoo hoo!"
lpsmith cheers!
JasonD says, "Good job Aaron, if you're here"
ParserGirl applauds.
jmac says, "zombie bondo"
Ian cheers
Lee claps
BRAAAAaaAaAIiinnnnss goes home.
Eric applauds loudly.
Fang stabs the zombie with a revive syringe, and claps.
DrewMochak jumps up and down.
wojohz says, "hurray for telling, hurray for changing"
Ian goes home.
Audrey asks, "Is Aaron here today?"
Rob says, "first slamdance, now this"
olethros says (to fang), "nasty"
Merk asks (of Rob), "And didn't it win Spring Thing '05 too? Or was highly ranked?"
Rob says, "I believe it did"
Rob says, "but I believe all sorts of wacky things"
lpsmith returns to the stage to accept the award on behalf of Aaron.
eileen applauds and applauds
Rob claps
Fang applauds.
Norah claps
lpsmith says, "I'll be sure to get this back to him.  And to apologize for the necrotic drift that's gotten on it, but hey."
DrewMochak plays a rimshot.
Lee applauds
klimas snrks.
lpsmith stashes the award in a drawer under the podium.
lpsmith exclaims, "Next!"
Guest2 says, "Damn. I've been sitting here for almost an hour now, and still no sign of Brother Ray."
DrewMochak says, "I *am* Ray Charles, punk."
lpsmith says, "The presentation for the award for Best Individual Puzzle is next, with Rob."
wojohz says, "yay Rob"
Jacqueline says, "Yay Rob."
sdee claps
Recchi has arrived.
Rob somehow emerges from a featureless white cube on stage.
maga exclaims, "yay Rob!"
wojohz asks, "wait, what did Rob write?"
HairBrain says, "Rob *is* the puzzle!"
Rob says, "While the award for Best Puzzles tends to go to the latest in the noble lineage of puzzle-fest IF games"
Lee laughs
maga says (to HB), "and danishes are the answer"
wojohz turns Rob ninety degrees counterclockwise
Rob says, "the prizes for Best Individual Puzzle, on the other hand, have often gone to more story-oriented games, singling out the instances where the crossword and the novel synchronize, where solving the puzzle is the same as advancing the story."
Allen says, "Mohemmedan pastries"
inky says (to wojohz), "Rob is subbing for half sick of shadows, who is buried under his own thesis work at the moment"
Rob says, "These special puzzles require both involvement and ingenuity to surpass."
Rob says, "Continuing this tradition of giving IF players that special 'aHA!' moment where the real magic happens, the nominees for Best Individual Puzzle for 2005 are:"
Rob says, "Moving the stone (after escaping the labyrinth), in All Hope Abandon. Writing and programming by Eric Eve."
sdee cheers
Norah claps
klimas says, "yay"
koblin claps.
Jacqueline applauds.
wojohz says, "yippee"
Lee cheers
Merk exclaims, "Woohoo!"
Recchi applauds
Rob says, "Following the murderer, in Beyond. Concept and main story by Roberto Grassi, programming by Paolo Lucchesi. (Graphics by Alessandro Peretti)."
olethros claps.
Eric cheers.
Guest1 exclaims, "following murderders rocks!!!"
Jacqueline applauds.
sdee claps
Norah claps
Lee claps
wojohz says, "yay Glulx"
Merk says, "Woohoo! My fav. game (that I actually played) from last year."
Guest1 says, "beyond is awesome"
wojohz says, "yay pseudonym"
Rob says, "Finding something to eat, in Chancellor. Writing and programming by Kevin Venzke."
inky says, "it's the murderiest!"
Norah says, "No hissing"
inky says, "yeeeeeah pizza"
sdee applauds
Jacqueline applauds again.
Eric claps enthusiastically.
wojohz says, "yay weird vending machine"
Lee claps
Merk exclaims, "Wooo! Another great game!"
Rob says, "Beating the creature, in Distress. Writing and programming by Mike Snyder."
HairBrain says, "yay nutrrrrients"
JasonD exclaims, "Wooo Chancellor!"
Jacqueline applauds for a great puzzle.
Norah claps
wojohz says, "woo Merk"
sdee claps loudly
olethros applauds.
inky says, "yay Distress"
maga exclaims, "yay!"
Guest1 says, "yay"
JasonD exclaims, "Woo Distress!"
Allen asks, "who doesn't like beating the creature?"
DrewMochak exclaims, "Yayaya!"
olethros says, "that was one long puzzle that was"
maga says, "also, yay the hints"
Rob says, "Identifying the killer, in Mystery House Possessed. Writing and programming by Emily Short."
Merk exclaims, "Woo me!"
Jacqueline applauds.
olethros exclaims, "hooray!"
maga claps
sdee exclaims, "yay!"
Thrax says, "YLT 'beat the creature' AMATNG"
Eric claps.
Norah claps
wojohz accuses Emily... of winning
klimas claps!
Lee applauds
inky says, "it was the butler!"
Rob says, "And the Xyzzy goes to...."
Jacqueline leans forward.
Rob opens the envelope.
Jacqueline leans forward more.
Rob says, "!!"
wojohz uses xray vision to read the sheet
Rob says, "Beyond, by the Mondi Confinanti team of Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, Alessandro Peretti!"
Fang asks (of Rob), "A puzzle in itself?"
Storme walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice her approaching it from the other side.
inky says, "woo!"
Fang applauds.
Norah claps aloud!
Merk exclaims, "Yah Beyond!! Great game!"
klimas says, "yay!"
zarf says, "yay!"
sdee claps
Guest1 exclaims, "YES!!!!!! congrats italian dudes!"
HairBrain cheers!
lpsmith cheers
Jacqueline says, "Congratulations all of you!"
olethros exclaims, "hooray!"
Rob asks, "is robgrassi here?"
inky says, "go team Mondi Confinanti!"
Lee exclaims, "whoo hoo!"
JasonD exclaims, "Good job!"
jmac nods.
wojohz says, "hurray Mondi Confinanti"
Bishop exclaims, "Grats italian-type peoples!"
Lee claps
sdee exclaims, "nice!"
eileen claps and claps
Eric applauds egregiously/
Recchi applauds!
GaylaW exclaims, "Bravo!"
Guest1 says, "mondi confinanti =  new dario argento"
Rob gives Best Individual Puzzle 2005 XYZZY to robgrassi.
olethros exclaims, "Speech! Speech!"
Rob claps for the idling winner
Thrax says, "perhaps he's fallen asleep"
Guest1 says, "sara perche ti amo"
Roberto Benigni leaps up onto the back of his seat!
Norah pokes the man
Thrax says, "it's almost midnight there"
olethros says, "hehe"
Roberto Benigni says, "I MAKE LOVE TO YOU ALL!!!!"
Jota applauds.
olethros says (to thrax), "dinner time"
wojohz says, "discorso  discorso"
jmac falls over in the other direction.
maga asks (of Roberto), "do we have to form an orderly queue, or what?"
lpsmith asks, "Wasn't Narcolepsy last year?"
olethros says (to maga), "hahaha"
olethros sneks
lpsmith returns to the stage.
Trumgottist walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice him approaching it from the other side.
lpsmith says, "Well, if robgrassi unidles at some point, he can make a speech."
lpsmith says, "But next!  The show must go on, with inky presenting the nominees and winner for Best NPCs."
ChainGangGuy claps!
Fang goes home.
inky climbs up on stage again.
inky says, "ok, this one I am going to present"
Allen says, "you never climbed off the stage"
Rob claps.
maga exclaims, "yay inky!"
jmac says, "inkay"
olethros exclaims, "Go, inky!"
DrewMochak stomps.
inky says (to Allen), "I snuck off while you were all cheering for Sara"
inky says, "anyway, the Best NPCs award is a very important one in IF"
Lee exclaims, "go inky!"
ant arrives from the west.
inky says, "a good NPC is like a microcosm of what makes a good game -- it requires bringing writing, puzzle, and plot together to make a whole greater than the sum of its parts"
inky says, "the games nominated for Best NPC have to do this not once but multiple times -- sometimes they're nominated mostly for having a single major NPC, but even then the supporting cast must be there to back that NPC up"
inky says, "the nominees for Best NPC are:"
inky says, "Agrath, from All Hope Abandon (by Eric Eve)"
sdee claps
inky says, "er, whoops"
Lee claps
inky says, "right game, wrong listing"
inky says, "All Hope Abandon, by Eric Eve"
Jacqueline applauds.
inky says, "there we go"
Rob claps
Norah claps
sdee claps again
Lee claps again
ChainGangGuy claps
lpsmith chuckles, claps.
inky says (to Bernie), "I guess I'm not the only one with mixed-up paperwork"
Recchi claps!
Merk says, "Wooo AHA"
inky says, "Bolivia By Night, by Aidan Doyle"
Merk says, "Wooo BBN"
klimas says, "yay"
HairBrain says, "BOLIVIA!"
Eric claps.
Emily claps
sdee applauds
Norah claps
Guest1 exclaims, "yay bolivia!!!"
inky says, "Flat Feet, by Joel Ray Holveck"
Recchi applauds
Rob claps
Lee claps
wojohz says, "yay Doyle"
Rob stomps
Eric claps.
sdee claps
Jacqueline applauds.
olethros claps.
inky says, "Gilded, by John Evans (as A Hazard)"
wojohz exclaims, "yay Sam and Max!"
Norah claps
Rob gilds
Lee cheers
Jacqueline applauds.
sdee claps
olethros says, "hooray again"
wojohz says, "woo"
Eric claps
inky says, "(possibly the only game besides Plundered Hearts which allows you to dance with all the NPCs)"
inky says, "and Vespers, by Jason Devlin"
lpsmith says, "Yay"
Jacqueline applauds.
sdee cheers
olethros says, "hooray"
maga says, "yay"
Lee applauds
Norah claps
ant claps
Bishop exclaims, "Yay monks!"
Eric claps loudly.
inky says, "and the winner is ...."
Guest1 exclaims, "VESPERS!!!"
Rob vesps
inky says, "Vespers, by Jason Devlin!"
maga exclaims, "Yay Vespers!"
sdee exclaims, "yay!"
Rob claps
GaylaW applauds.
Bishop applauds wildly!
Norah says, "Yay"
jmac cheers!
olethros says, "Hooray!@"
Thrax exclaims, "yay, a game I've actually played!"
Jacqueline claps wildly.
Emily says, "woo"
inky gives Best NPCs 2005 XYZZY to JasonD.
ant applauds enthusiastically
zarf claps
Eric applauds enthusiastically.
wojohz says, "yay Guest1's lucky guess"
Rob applauds for creepy diseased NPCs
klimas says, "woo!"
ErWenn applauds.
olethros exclaims, "Excellent!"
inky sneaks off the stage again.
ant applauds for creepy demonic NPCs
olethros asks (of rob), "you mean grittily realistic NPCs?"
Merk exclaims (at Jasond), "Congrats!!!"
koblin applauds.
wojohz says, "speech"
Guest1 says, "guest1 is all-knowing..."
lpsmith cheers.
Norah keeps clapping
JasonD says, "Wow!  Who knew assigning different names to was essentially the same NPC four times would pay off :)"
DrewMochak ph34rs Guest1.
olethros says, "haha"
Jacqueline laughs.
Guest1 laughs.
revenant goes home.
Norah says, "Oh yeah, good point lol"
JasonD exclaims, "Thanks guys!"
koblin laughs.
Lee chuckles
jmac says, "well done"
wojohz says, "hee"
robgrassi says, "ohhh"
inky says, "the Vespers NPCs are all crazy in their own way"
eileen applauds madly
robgrassi says, "my son is sleeping"
robgrassi says, "at last"
sdee exclaims, "nice job, jason!"
Norah says, "SPEECH"
robgrassi asks, "where we are?"
olethros says, "everyone knows monks are essentially indistiguishable because of the strange bald patch"
inky asks (of robgrassi), "would you like to make a belated speech about winning best individual puzzle?"
Guest1 says, "tell robgrassi you missed your award"
maga says (to olethros), "and the buboes"
ChainGangGuy claps for monks
wojohz says, "lpsmith won"
olethros says (to maga), "ew"
JasonD says, "Go for it Rob!  You earned it"
Miseri arrives from the west.
robgrassi says, "my gid"
Merk says, "My little girl is asleep too, for the moment."
wojohz says, "for 15 minutes"
robgrassi asks, "i've won a prize?"
Rob says (to robgrassi), "you won best puzzle!"
Rob says, "check your inventory!"
lpsmith says (to rob), "Yes!  Congrats."
robgrassi says, "great! :D"
zarf says, "Good speech, that."
Lee cheers robgrassi
DrewMochak says, ""Welcome back! By the way, you won an award!""
robgrassi says, "eer...."
koblin cheers.
robgrassi says, "so, i'm not good at speeches"
ChainGangGuy says, "Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy..."
robgrassi says, "the puzzle has been inspired by John Dicson Carr books"
Merk exclaims (at robgrassi), "Excellent game, by the way!!"
robgrassi says, "i wanted to make a closed chamber puzzle"
Guest1 says, "loved the giallo stuff"
robgrassi says, "and then we let the player 'play' the murder again"
robgrassi says, "in different ways, from different points of view"
olethros says, "sounds like an excellent idea"
ChainGangGuy says, "yay ideas"
robgrassi says, "and that's all"
Norah claps
sdee claps
olethros claps.
zarf applauds
lpsmith cheers, and returns to the stage.
inky says, "hooray"
wojohz applauds discorso
Jota claps.
Rob claps
robgrassi says, "I can't scream otherwise my son get awaken"
inky says, "ha ha"
eileen claps happily
olethros says, "hee"
jmac laffs
robgrassi says, "and i could miss the best story prize"
robgrassi says, "... ;)"
lpsmith says, "So, after seeing the winners of the NPC awards, some of you may be wondering if you can get NPCs this good for your own games.  Well, the stable of good NPC actors, actresses and other beings is small but solid.  Here tonight, we present you with behind-the-scenes looks at the folks that brought you some of the XYZZY's greatest roles."
olethros looks up in wonder.
inky pushes a button on his remote, and a screen drops down to reveal a picture of Boldo, from Lock & Key
inky says, "After his stint on Lock & Key, Boldo had a spot in a short-lived made-for-CYOA remake of Enchanter, as the Adventurer, and then his career took something of a downturn after an unwise role in Adoo's Stinky Story."
Guest3 goes home.
inky says, "Still, he landed a plum role in Sting of the Wasp as the tennis instructor, and I believe he's in negotiations with Paul Allen Panks for a spot in Ninja III, so we can look forward to seeing a lot more of Boldo in the future!"
klimas says, "ha"
Norah claps
maga says, "hee hee hee"
olethros says, "Haha"
Emily says, "ha"
Jacqueline says, "YAY"
Bishop exclaims, "Ha!"
Guest1 laughs.
DrewMochak laughs.
Recchi laughs
wojohz says, "mo boldo"
jmac gah
maga says, "inky wins"
lpsmith says, "After many years of appearing in small roles, from Trillian in 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' to the Clapper in 'The Frenetic Five', she finally achieved stardom in 1999 as Miss Sierra in 'Varicella'.  That proved to be the push she needed to make the crossover into graphical adventures, and she's appeared as several Bond Girls in Electronic Arts' 007 games, and most recently signed up with Tim Schafer to be Secret Agent Milla Vodello in 'Psychonauts'."
olethros asks, "several bond girls at the same time?"
wojohz says, "heh"
Merk says, "Wooo Psychonauts."
Emily says (to olethros), "that's real diversity for you"
inky says (to olethros), "that's the advantage of it being done on the computer"
lpsmith says, "The wonders of modern technology."
olethros says, "M<mm"
inky says, "We got in touch with Triage to see what it was up to these days now that Slouching Towards Bedlam is over, and it sent back the following message:"
inky | CAT:RESPONSE.RE.CUR
inky | RENT.OCCUPATION....
inky | UTIL:FILL.TIME.BETW
inky | EEN.AWARDS.PART:FIR
inky | ST.GIG.ENIGMA.MACHI
inky | NE.JIGSAW.MOST.RECE
inky | NTLY.APPEARED.IN...
inky | ALL.THINGS.DEVOURS.
inky | AS.TIME.MACHINE....
Emily says, "ha ha ha ha"
klimas says, "ha ha"
zarf says, "yay"
Bishop says, "Hee hee."
olethros says, "yay"
Jacqueline giggles.
Recchi says, "^____^"
robgrassi says, "heheheh"
JasonD exclaims, "That was awesome!"
zarf says, "*double* yay."
jmac says, "who knew."
Rob claps
lpsmith says, "And, finally:  Graham Nelson first discovered this aspiring young demon in 1994, pressing him into service as a hint-giver (of sorts) in 'Curses'.  Wary of being type-cast as a glorified invisiclue system, he sought out Andrew Pontious in 1996, and begged to play a role in the developing 'Small World'.  His bet paid off, and he won 'Best Individual NPC' that year as the devil in that game.  His shape-changing abilities make him a great character actor, and he's appeared as some form of supernatural force in such games as Madame L'Estrange, John's Fire Witch, Nevermore, All Hope Abandon, and Gamlet.  But you'd be hard-pressed to recognize him in his role in this year's 'Vespers', where he played... well, that would be telling."
jmac would be worried about getting typecast
Emily says, "ha"
Rob claps
olethros says, "haha"
wojohz yays
olethros says, "that was excellent character acting indeed"
Norah claps
inky says, "hooray"
lpsmith says, "And now, back to the ceremony!  We once again call zarf to the stage, to present the nominees and winner for 'Best Puzzles'."
zarf says, "hi hi hi"
Rob cheers
Jacqueline says, "Yay zarf."
zarf says, "I see we're running behind, so I'll cut straight to the point:"
sdee claps
Norah claps
wojohz says, "go zarf go"
zarf says, "Puzzles!"
klimas says, "yay point cutting!"
zarf says, "puzzles are what bring us together."
Rob says, "rah"
Lee claps
jmac exclaims, "But first, a cartoon!"
zarf says, "In a game of true complexific... um... synergies... moment of realiziation..."
inky says, "puzzles lead to hint requests, which lead to newsgroups, which lead to, uh, whatever those lead to"
DrewMochak says, "Flame wars."
HairBrain says, "Awards!"
zarf says, "Oh, hit it with a rock. You know you want to."
zarf says, "Solves anything."
HairBrain says, "Flaming awards!  With rock!"
Guest1 says, "true dat"
inky says, "it worked in Wishbringere"
Bishop says, "That's what The Edifice taught me, anyways."
zarf says, "So, the 2005 nominees for Best Use of Rocks in Achieving Your Goal..."
maga says (to Bishop), "I liked the Z:GI version"
zarf says, "Building, by Mike Tulloch!"
lpsmith claps.
sdee applauds
Lee cheers
Norah claps
klimas claps.
Jacqueline claps.
wojohz hoots.
inky says, "hooray for cubicles"
Merk says, "All these really had rocks?""
zarf says, "Cheiron, by Sarah Clelland and Elisabeth Polli!"
Merk says, "Woo"
Merk says, "I don't remember rocks in Cheiron..."
Jacqueline says, "YAY"
sdee claps
maga says, "yay unsolveable puzzle"
olethros says, "hee :)"
wojohz hollers.
inky says (to Merk), "well, technically they're gallstones"
Bishop's hands percussively palpate each other, or something.
Lee claps
zarf says, "Distress, by Mike Snyder!"
Norah claps
Merk says (to inky), "ooooh. Yeah."
[peanut-gallery] zarf says (to bishop), "eww"
Merk exclaims, "Yay me!"
Jacqueline says, "woo"
Guest1 exclaims, "yay distress!!"
Eric claps
Lee applauds
sdee claps
inky says, "definitely rocked"
wojohz says, "yay Mike"
olethros says, "yay once more"
zarf says, "Finding Martin, by Gayla Wennstrom!"
Rob claps
maga says, "yay dangerous field medical procedures"
ErWenn leaps to his feet and cheers, "Way to go, Mom!"
Rob claps
Lee chuckles
Merk says, "Yay Martin"
inky says, "yay large puzzle game"
sdee applauds
Recchi exclaims, "yay!"
olethros exclaims, "Ole!"
wojohz says, "woo Finding"
Jacqueline says, "yay"
Norah claps
Rob applauds for puzzle games in general
zarf says, "Vespers, by Jason Devlin!"
koblin applauds.
Norah says, "yay"
sdee exclaims, "woo!"
klimas says, "yay"
Eric claps again.
Merk exclaims, "Yay Monks!"
olethros exclaims, "Bizz!"
maga exclaims, "yay sinfulness!"
Guest1 exclaims, "yay vespy baby!!"
Lee cheers
Jacqueline applauds a whole bunch.
wojohz says, "woo Vespers"
zarf says, "And, the envelope..."
ErWenn provides a drumroll.
zarf attempts to open the envelope
zarf attempts to unlock the envelope
Norah says, "pdrrrrrrr"
Trumgottist waves a big rock.
Bishop exclaims, "Hit it with a rock!"
olethros says, "damn, I didn't think of writing a XYZZY theme song"
DrewMochak says, "Rezrov it."
koblin looks for his REZROV scroll.
zarf goes in with lockpicks
jmac says, "Watch out for scorpions"
olethros says, "haha"
Merk says, "argh phone again"
HairBrain says, "Pliers!  Pliers!"
ErWenn exclaims, "go back in time to make it so it was always open!"
zarf pushes over a pillar which knocks over two statues which animate three fountains which turn four gears which open the envelope
inky says, "hooray"
Rob says, "yay"
Jacqueline says, "Hooray!"
klimas says, "cool"
JasonD exclaims, "It was so obvious!"
jmac nods.
GregB arrives from the west.
olethros exclaims, "deductive skills!"
Lee giggles
zarf pulls a rock from the envelope,.
Jacqueline says (to JasonD), "heehee"
Merk says, "LOL"
jmac says, "Someone read the walkthrough"
olethros says, "haha"
inky says, "ha ha ha"
zarf says, "The winner is: Distress, by Mike Snyder!"
Rob applauds!
maga says, "yay"
Bishop exclaims, "Woo!"
Norah exclaims, "yay!"
Merk exclaims, "OMG!"
ParserGirl claps.
zarf claps
Jacqueline applauds.
GaylaW applauds.
olethros exclaims, "Hooray!"
inky says, "yay!"
JasonD exclaims, "YAY!"
sdee cheers loudly
lpsmith cheers!
DrewMochak exclaims, "Yyyaaaahoooo-ooooo!"
klimas says, "woot"
ErWenn applauds.
Merk says, "**faints**"
Guest1 exclaims, "yikes! congrats!"
olethros exclaims, "Utter Puzzliness!"
Thrax looks distressed.
jmac says, "ROCK \m/"
Trumgottist throws his rock.
Eric cheers ecstatically.
Lee claps
wojohz cheers Mike
HairBrain says, "Stoning!  Stoning!"
HairBrain says, "I mean, speech!"
cendare arrives from the west.
olethros says, "for a moment I thought zarf was going to throw the rock at something"
Merk exclaims, "Thank you thank you thank you! I'm amazed! I'm thrilled! I'm honored!"
eileen applauds mightily
zarf gives Best Puzzles 2005 XYZZY to Merk.
Lee chuckles
koblin applauds.
wojohz says, "hey, that's Emily's"
Merk says, "Thanks!! *takes a humble bow*"
Bishop says (to wojohz), "Heh."
Rob claps
sdee claps
Norah claps again
wojohz applauds
Lee claps
koblin claps.
wojohz keeps applauding
Recchi claps
lpsmith returns to the stage, clapping for Merk.
wojohz stops applauding, starts clapping
Jota applauds.
DrewMochak says, "...I'd just like to mention that I'm now three for three in games I betatest ending up winning heaps of rewards. ^___^"
Norah says, "You are awesome Drew Mochak"
Rob claps for testers
Merk asks (of drew), "Were you on the Distress test?"
inky says, "Best Use of Drew"
Bishop asks (of DrewMochak), "You've got.... 'connections'?"
Lee cheers for testers
olethros says, "haha"
Merk says, "I forget. My brain is fried."
DrewMochak says, "Yeah. I'm Lysander. ^^"
lpsmith says, "Next, we have the award for Best Setting.  Our presenter for this award is ifMUD's Jacqueline."
Rob claps
Norah clap
Jacqueline rises from her chair and walks to the stage.
Merk says (to drew), "Oh yeah! Woohooo! Maybe I can recruit you again later this year. :)"
sdee claps
Eric claps.
wojohz says, "yay time and place as a backdrop for action"
maga asks (of Merk), "he was the one who used anime smileys in every sentence, remember?"
olethros says, "Hooray"
Lee claps
jmac hrays
Jacqueline says, "Thank you, lpsmith.  It is my extreme honor to present the award for best setting, but I've given this a lot of thought and decided that I really can't do it alone."
robgrassi asks, "is anyone taking a log?"
ChainGangGuy claps for Mohawk Mochak!
DrewMochak says, "...Heh."
maga says, "yay Jacq"
inky says (to robgrassi), "yeah"
Jacqueline says, "I'd like to introduce a friend of mine.  Some of you may remember him from his brief but exciting role in The Fire Tower."
inky says (to robgrassi), "it will be up on brass lantern and the xyzzy site and probably other places like usual"
Bishop exclaims, "Oh, no, a bear!"
lpsmith says (to Jacqueline), "The Flatheads are all busy, I think."
Jacqueline says, "Please give a big round of applause to... TheBear!"
TheBear slowly ambles up the steps, then over to the podium.  He glances out at the faces in the audience silently.
Emily backs away slowly
ant applauds wildly
sdee applauds
inky says, "don't make any sudden moves, guys"
maga says, "yay ursines"
Norah claps
Rob hides the marshmallows
Bishop stands completely motionless.
ParserGirl protects her most of her.
maga hands out bear spray cans
Rob tries to look bigger
TheBear suddenly rears up on his hind legs, waves his claws about dramatically, and roars in a very menacing way that exposes some very sharp, surprisingly white teeth.
Lee throws a pot of honey on the stage
wojohz takes the bells off his backpack
inky says, "eyi"
Eric looks in bear-keeping manual.
wojohz says, "to avoid scaring the bear away"
TheBear regains his composure, and rests his front paws on the podium.
Trumgottist faints.
Rob says, "gulp"
maga says (to Lee), "uh-oh. now you're in trouble. if the bear doesn't kill you, the ranger will"
Jacqueline shakes her head.  "I can't take you anywhere.  You love doing that, don't you?"
Bishop says, "Where's Jacq when you need... oh, wait, she's on stage."
Jota opens and passes around his picnic basket.
TheBear lets out a low, growling laugh.  "Rar, and thank you.  It's great to be here this evening.  Be sure to try some of the Alaskan salmon roe caviar that's being passed around in the audience - a real delicacy for an east coast bear such as myself."
inky says, "ha ha"
Lee chuckles
wojohz says, "hee"
Norah scopes for napkins
ParserGirl asks, "How can you bear his antics?"
klimas groans.
Jacqueline asks, "Bear, the award?"
wojohz says, "that's 'TheBear'"
TheBear says, "Oh right.  The next award is for Best Setting.  The nominees are..."
robgrassi smiles
DrewMochak throws a drumstick at Parser Girl, bearly missing.
Jacqueline says, "All Hope Abandon, by Eric Eve."
Norah claps
Rob claps
sdee says, "yay!""
Lee claps
olethros claps.
koblin claps.
wojohz says, "yay settings"
ParserGirl says (to Drew), "Next time don't aim for the nonexistent gap between the r and the G."
wojohz says, "yay Hell"
ParserGirl claps.
Merk says, "wooo AHA"
HairBrain says, "infeeeernooooo"
inky says, "AHA? aha!"
TheBear says, "Building, by Mike Tulloch."
olethros claps.
Norah says, "yay"
Lee claps
sdee cheers
wojohz says, "yay Building"
HairBrain applauds the great indoors!
Eric claps.
lpsmith claps.
Merk exclaims, "Woooo for Building!"
Rob claps
Jacqueline says, "Chancellor, by Kevin Venzke."
wojohz says, "hurray switching out settings"
Rob sets off a weird blue strobe light
Eric claps.
Merk exclaims, "Woohooo! Chancellor! Awesome game!!"
sdee applauds loudly
Lee claps
olethros exclaims, "hooray!"
JasonD exclaims, "Go Kevin!"
TheBear says, "Distress, by Mike Snyder."
Guest2 says, "We need a Ray Charles number soon."
wojohz says, "woo other planet"
Eric claps again.
Norah exclaims, "yay Merk!"
Merk says, "Woo me."
klimas says, "yay"
Rob claps
sdee says, "woo"
Lee applauds
Merk says, "Woo plain, flat desert with nothing around. =)"
mcp arrives from the west.
Norah says, "There was spaceships exploded"
Jacqueline says, "Vespers, by Jason Devlin."
Rob says, "I gotta woman, way cross town"
Merk exclaims, "Go Vespers!"
Norah exclaims, "yay!"
wojohz says, "yay Vespers"
sdee exclaims, "yay!"
Eric claps yet again.
Rob claps
Lee claps
olethros exclaims, "hooray!"
JasonD says, "I hope there's a lot of northerners and Mountain folk out there"
robgrassi claps
lpsmith cheers the slate of nominees.
TheBear says, "Before we announce the winner, I'd just like to point out that more than one of these games featured hunger as an important element at some point."
Norah says, "Hmm..."
TheBear says, "As I was wandering around in search of food I was really dismayed to see that none of the authors implemented the verb 'hibernate.'"
ParserGirl says, "Uh-oh."
klimas laughs!
wojohz exclaims, "I AM SINISTAR!"
wojohz exclaims, "I HUNGER!"
Lee giggles
Bishop backs up slowly.
Jacqueline says, "Um, Bear, this isn't about puzzles, it's about setting."
TheBear says, "Oh, right.  Without further delay..."
Jacqueline says, "The winner is..."
TheBear says, "A really wonderful game - while it didn't allow me to hibernate, it did allow me to chew on the bodies of plague victims..."
Guest1 exclaims, "VESPERS!!!"
Jacqueline says, "BEAR!"
Norah says, "Ahh"
TheBear exclaims, "Seriously.  It's quite the easter egg.  Go back and play it and see if I'm not telling the truth!"
wojohz exclaims, "Bear won!"
Jacqueline says, "Vespers, by Jason Devlin!"
klimas laughs!
Rob says, "eeegh"
klimas says, "yay!"
maga exclaims, "yay!"
Rob claps
sdee cheers!
olethros exclaims, "yay!"
jmac hurrahs
Merk exclaims, "Wooo Vespers!"
olethros asks, "really?"
HairBrain says, "Chew!  Chew!"
Bishop exclaims, "Yay!"
Lee cheers
ant cheers
mcp applauds
ant goes home.
Eric cheers loudly.
Jacqueline gives Best Setting 2005 XYZZY to JasonD.
lpsmith claps.
olethros says, "I tried everything apart from doing anything with the dead people"
zarf claps
GaylaW applauds.
olethros says, "hm"
wojohz says, "yay Jason Devlin"
Lee applauds
JasonD says, "Thanks guys.  I hope this inspires all of you to go back and try munching on the corpses, they're delicious"
Guest1 exclaims, "yay eating plague victims!"
TheBear laughs.
inky says, "don't forget to tip your waitress"
Lee giggles
Norah claps
sdee laughs
olethros says, "haha, yay"
Eric asks, "What if theyhave mad corpse disease?"
Lee chuckles
maga exclaims (at Eric), "you'll be in hell anyway, so you won't care!"
wojohz says, "heh"
lpsmith waits until TheBear is well clear of the stage before returning.
TheBear ambles back down into the audience.
Jota cheers.
wojohz cheers Devlin
Lee runs screaming from the room
Jacqueline follows, keeping a close eye on TheBear.
robgrassi says, "i still haven't played vespers completely"
lpsmith says, "Up next, Chris Klimas presenting two awards, for Best Story and Best Writing."
Rob klaps
klimas takes the stage, looks around, and begins uncertainly:
lpsmith says, "But only one at a time."
Lee claps
sdee exclaims, "wooo!"
Norah claps
klimas says, "Once I was at a party, and this guy kept asking me for a ride somewhere --"
Jacqueline says, "Woo Chris!"
Eric claps
wojohz says, "yay best story"
klimas says, "Except instead of a party, it was an awards ceremony --"
klimas says, "And the guy wasn't asking for a ride, he was feeding me lines from beneath the stage --"
olethros asks, "and instead of a guy it was ab bear?"
klimas says, "And frankly none of what he was saying made a lot of sense, but it sure sounded good."
DrewMochak, from under the stage, looks around guiltily.
klimas says, "The nominees for best story, he said, were:"
klimas says, "All Hope Abandon, by Eric Eve."
olethros claps furiously.
Norah says, "yay"
Lee claps
sdee exclaims, "yay, eric!"
wojohz says, "woo"
klimas says, "Beyond, by Mondi Confinanti (Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, and Alessandro Peretti)."
Merk exclaims, "Yah for all nominees -- in advance!"
Rob claps
Eric claps.
Guest1 exclaims, "BEYOND ROCKS!!!"
olethros claps industriously.
Lee applauds
wojohz applauds All Hope Abandon
sdee applauds and applauds
Norah claps
klimas says, "Chancellor, by Kevin Venzke."
wojohz applauds Beyond
sdee claps
Lee cheers
Eric applauds.
olethros claps energetically.
wojohz superapplauds Chancellor
JasonD exclaims, "Good luck all!"
klimas says, "Distress, by Mike Snyder."
Lee claps
Norah claps
sdee claps
wojohz superapplauds Distress
Jacqueline claps.
olethros claps with lots of reverb.
Merk says, "Woo me."
Guest1 says, "yay distress"
klimas says, "And Vespers, by Jason Devlin."
Norah exclaims, "yay!"
sdee claps
Eric applauds
robgrassi checks if his son is really sleeping
Lee cheers
wojohz superduperapplauds Vespers
olethros claps thunderously.
Jacqueline claps.
klimas says, "The winner, he said, was --"
wojohz says, "yay --"
klimas says, "Beyond, by Mondi Confinanti (Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, and Alessandro Peretti)!"
olethros says, "hee"
inky says, "woo!"
Bishop exclaims, "Woo!"
zarf says, "yay!"
Norah claps
olethros exclaims, "Ole!"
Rob claps!
sdee applauds
Merk exclaims, "Yay Beyond!!!!"
JasonD exclaims, "Way to go Beyond!"
Rob says, "double winner!"
Lee applauds
HairBrain says, "Flair!!"
Eric applauds enthusiastically.
GaylaW applauds.
wojohz says, "yay Beyond"
Lee exclaims, "whoo hoo!"
robgrassi screams!
Rob says, "don't wake the baby"
wojohz says, "triple winner"
DrewMochak puts his equalizer all the way up and then claps one time, listening as it repeats and reverberates over and over and over.
jmac whee!
robgrassi and his sons awakes crying! :D
Jota claps.
GaylaW says, "Bravo"
klimas gives Best Story 2005 XYZZY to robgrassi.
robgrassi takes the prize
lpsmith cheers!
robgrassi says, "thank you all"
Rob claps
mcp claps
Lee claps
robgrassi says, "nearly two years of work"
Norah claps
robgrassi says, "but tonight it's great"
Rob says, "yay"
Lee cheers robgrassi
olethros exclaims, "Excellent!"
robgrassi says, "thank youy all, really"
sdee exclaims, "yay!"
Merk exclaims, "Very deserved, robgrassi!"
Merk exclaims, "Looking forward to what you guys come up with next!!"
robgrassi says, "we'reworking at it Mark"
inky says, "they've got stuff now if you speak italian"
Guest1 says, "excellent, beyond is highly overlooked in the ifcomp"
robgrassi says, "actually, two games"
wojohz says, "woo two games"
Merk says (to Guest1), "It did get 2nd place... :)"
wojohz says, "in a language i don't know"
klimas says, "So I moved to leave the stage but I couldn't: the guy under the stage explained, there's one more favor I need from you and then you can go back to the desert, or the party, or work, or Beatrice's house, or wherever it was you really were before you began dreaming --"
klimas says, "The nominees for best writing, he asked me to say, are:"
Bishop cheers for the mutual appreciation of the anglophone and Italian IF communities.
Rob says, "ha ha"
Lee cheers
klimas says, "Bolivia By Night, by Aidan Doyle."
orah claps
sdee applauds
Lee claps
Guest1 exclaims, "BOLIVIA!!!!"
Merk says, "Wooo Bolivia"
Rob claps
Eric applauds stylishly.
olethros claps bolivianously.
klimas says, "Chancellor, by Kevin Venzke."
inky says, "hooray for ninjas"
sdee claps
olethros asks, "ninjas?"
Lee claps
Rob clpas
Merk exclaims, "Wooo Chancellor!"
Eric applauds economically.
klimas says, "Mix Tape, by Brett Witty."
Rob chalupas
Norah claps
Lee applauds
Jacqueline applauds for Brett.
sdee claps
Eric gives mixed applause.
klimas says, "Tough Beans, by Sara Dee."
wojohz says, "yay Chancellor yay"
maga says, "yay"
Lee claps
Eric claps toughly.
wojohz says, "yay Tough Beans"
lpsmith cheers.
Merk exclaims, "woo mix tape & tough beans!"
olethros exclaims, "Hooray!"
Rob asks, "num num why violence in streets?"
klimas says, "And Vespers, by Jason Devlin."
Rob claps.
maga says, "woo"
sdee exclaims, "woo!"
Lee claps
Guest1 says, "yay vesp"
klimas says, "The winner is..."
Eric applauds monastically
klimas says, "Vespers, by Jason Devlin!"
Rob claps
Norah claps
maga says, "woo"
olethros says, "Hooray"
Lee cheers
sdee cheers
wojohz says, "hurray Vespers"
Guest1 says, "congrats"
Lee exclaims, "wooo hoo!!"
Eric exclaims, "Well done, Jason!"
Merk exclaims, "Congrats to JasonD!"
GaylaW claps
inky says, "woot"
Jota applauds.
jmac snaps appreciately
klimas gives Best Writing 2005 XYZZY to JasonD.
robgrassi applaudes
wojohz applauds again
Lee applauds
olethros applauds.
Eric hums a suitable dies irae ditty.
lpsmith says (to Jason), "Do you have anything more to say, or have you said it already? ;-)"
Merk exclaims, "One more left! The big-dog of awards!"
JasonD says, "The pressure's especially on to say something deep and insightful when someone gets Best Writing.  And it doesn't get more deep and insightful than "Thanks guys!""
klimas laughs.
koblin laugh.
ParserGirl cheers!
lpsmith chuckles.
Eric cheers.
Norah says, "Heh"
Lee laughs
olethros says, "hahaha"
sdee claps
Jacqueline says, "Well stated, Jason."
koblin laughs.
Bishop laughs and claps.
klimas claps for everybody and heads for his seat.
wojohz says, "hee"
eileen claps enthusiastically
Merk says (to Jason), "Also, now the pressure's on to keep up the high standards game after game!! =)"
lpsmith says, "OK, there seems to be only one award left."
lpsmith exclaims, "And we have an Eileen here!"
Eric asks, "Only one?"
eileen tiptoes carefully up onto the stage.
klimas says, "yay eileen!"
inky says, "hooray for eileen"
Miseri turns attention back to screen just in time. yay
maga says (to Merk), "yeah, but if he keeps it up he may be rewarded by his very own r*if troll nemesis"
lpsmith exclaims, "So, the floor's yours.  Here's the nominees and winner for Best Game!"
JasonD exclaims, "YAY EILEEN!"
eileen winces when a floorboard creaks.
sdee applauds
DrewMochak asks, "Hey Jason, can you write my next game?"
Merk says (to maga), "Heh."
Rob says, "yay eileen"
maga says, "EILEEN"
olethros exclaims, "Ei-Leen!"
eileen exclaims, "Hello, everyone!"
Rob claps
jmac cheers!
Norah claps
robgrassi claps
Rob says, "hi!"
klimas says, "hi Eileen!"
Bishop exclaims, "Yay Eileen!"
olethros claps harmoniously!
wojohz says, "hello"
eileen says, "I'm going to present this award as quietly as I can, because my son is taking a nap."
JasonD says, "As long as you test it Drew :)"
Dave hides his eyes, "I can't watch...it's too suspenseful..."
Lee cheers
Jacqueline says, "shhh"
wojohz claps resoundingly
HairBrain says, "Son!  Son!"
eileen exclaims, "I know that line's been used already tonight, but it's true for me too!"
JasonD says, "hah"
HairBrain says, "Children equal true!"
Bishop holds his breath, rapt with anticipation.
Lee is turning blue
lpsmith says, "It's like we're all members of the same socioeconomic quartile."
eileen says, "The finalists for best game are:"
eileen says, "All Hope Abandon, by Eric Eve"
wojohz says, "yay Eric Eve"
Rob claps
Norah claps
klimas says, "woot!"
Eric modestly refrains from clapping.
Lee cheers
Merk exclaims, "Good luck Eric Eve!"
sdee applauds
olethros says, "hoooooray"
wojohz clap
Jacqueline claps for Eric.
eileen says, "Chancellor, by Kevin Venzke"
wojohz says, "yay Chancellor by Kevin Venzke"
wojohz applauds
Jacqueline claps.
Lee claps
Rob claps
olethros exclaims, "huuzzzah!"
Eric claps loudly.
sdee claps
Merk exclaims, "Good luck, Kevin Venzke!"
eileen says, "Distress, by Mike Snyder"
Rob claps
Guest1 says, "ya distress"
Merk exclaims, "Good luck, self!"
sdee claps
klimas says, "yay!"
Norah exclaims, "Yay!"
wojohz applauds
Jacqueline claps for Mike.
Eric stamps his feet to make more noise.
Lee claps
zarf says, "yay"
eileen says, "Finding Martin, by Gayla Wennstrom"
ErWenn cheers his throat raw.
Rob claps
zarf claps
Multum_Viri walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
sdee claps
Lee claps
Merk says, "Good luck, Gayla Wennstrom!""
lpsmith cheers.
klimas applauds!
inky says, "hooray for eccentric houses"
Norah claps
JasonD says, "Good luck all"
wojohz says, "gaylafindsxyzzy"
ErWenn gets a headache and feels dizzy when he tries to look at the contents of the envelope.
Eric claps.
inky says (to ErWenn), "ha"
eileen says, "and Vespers, by Jason Devlin"
Guest1 exclaims, "CMON VESPY BABY!"
Rob claps
Jacqueline claps for Jason.
olethros says, "hooray once more"
Merk says, "And good luck, Jason Devlin""
maga claps
zarf says, "yay!"
Norah says, "Heheh"
DrewMochak says, "Oh, what a shock that is."
Eric claps loudly.
[peanut-gallery] Rob says, "heh"
Lee claps
sdee claps
Rob applauds all nominees
Multum_Viri clap
olethros asks, "what happenned to that guy who wanted to sweep the awards?"
(From wojohz) God rolls dice.
Merk says (to Jason), "Once or twice, my fingers get crosswired and I've referred to you as Jason Devil."
eileen says, "...and the winner is"
lpsmith | "Help me, father!"  Cecilia calls from the tower. "He has gone mad!"
lpsmith | >ne
lpsmith | Base of the Bell Tower
lpsmith | Nestled in the northeast corner of the cloister, the bell tower rises high: higher than the steeples of the church. Footsteps cut a line in the snow from the cloister to the southwest to the tower itself in the northeast.
lpsmith | Someone jars into the bell and a slothful ring begins as the bell sways back and forth. One. Two. The momentum slows. Three. Four. Five. It sounds like it will stop.
lpsmith | No.
lpsmith | Six.
lpsmith | Vespers.
Bishop is far too lightheaded to applaud.
eileen stops and listens for a sec. Was that a baby crying?
olethros exclaims, "hooray!"
koblin applauds.
(From wojohz) Audrey says (to God), " that parts over"
Rob applauds?
Norah says, "yay"
Bishop exclaims, "Yay!"
Jacqueline says, "Hooray for Jason - very deserving."
klimas says, "yay!"
sdee exclaims, "hurray!"
maga says, "good work, sir"
jmac woohoos
ErWenn applauds.
GaylaW cheers
Lee applauds
olethros exclaims, "Excellent!"
JasonD exclaims, "YAY!"
Multum_Viri exclaims, "hurray!"
Guest1 exclaims, "pray to cecilia baby!!!"
klimas says, "now you have to come up with some sort of coherent speech!"
Recchi exclaims, "congrats!"
zarf says, "congrats"
inky says, "woot"
wojohz says, "yay Jason Devlin"
Rob cheers
eileen applauds for Jason
Eric exclaims, "Well done, Jason! Richly deserved!"
robgrassi says, "congrats"
Lee says, "congrats"
wojohz says, "you win again"
Multum_Viri goes home.
Norah says, "congrats"
ErWenn exclaims, "Mazel tov, Jason!"
Eric applauds thunderously.
JasonD says, "Thanks everyone!  This has been amazing"
eileen gives Best Game 2005 XYZZY to JasonD.
jmac says, "Good job, mr. jason"
Guest1 asks, "whats next for jasond?"
Jota claps.
Multum walks out from under the archway south of here, although you didn't notice it approaching it from the other side.
wojohz says (to Guest1), "he's building a shelf"
Rob claps for everybody
Jaybird cheers!
JasonD says, "I'm working on a somewhat IF-related project which is fairly top secret at the moment"
wojohz applauds winners and also-winners
Bishop asks (of JasonD), "Man, you're on the I7 dev-team too?"
wojohz and all nominees
inky says (to Bishop), "this is how rumors get started!"
ErWenn congratulates all who were nominated (especially his mom).
JasonD says, ":)"
olethros says, "hehe"
Thrax belatedly cheers Vespers.
wojohz applauds, heck, even the first round nominees
olethros asks, "something like DRAMA?"
HairBrain asks, "Oh no!  Rumors at an awards ceremony?"
lpsmith exclaims, "Thank you all for coming!"
inky says, "congratulations to everyone who was nominated!"
Multum disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
Merk exclaims, "Yes, congrats to winners and all the nominees!!"
Bishop says, "Yay everyone who wrote _anything_ this year."
Jacqueline says, "Congratulations to everyone!"
zarf says, "indeed"
JasonD exclaims, "Congrats to everyone!"
DrewMochak says, "I uh... wrote something..."
Merk asks, "Other than the first award, were any of them non-ifcomp games?"
inky says, "thanks to David Welbourn for putting together the winner list, and lpsmith for MCing!"
DrewMochak says, "DIdn't release a game, but y'know..."
koblin congratulates everyone.
lpsmith says, "And thank you, authors, for providing us with another year's worth of IF."
Dave says, "even if you didn't finish yet"
Guest1 says, "shame bolivia didnt win anything, but nice spread of awards otherwise..."
inky says (to Merk), "Whom the Telling Changed was in the springcomp, not the ifcomp"
robgrassi exclaims, "bye all guys, greetings fro mItaly, and good night!"
Lee applauds everyone
Bishop says (to DrewMochak), "So did I, but not soemthing I'd mention in polite company."
Merk says (to inky), "That's right."
Merk says, "Thanks."
Dave disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
klimas says (to robgrassi), "night!"
wojohz asks, "where's the Carousel Bar and Grill?"
HairBrain says, "Does anyone remember Animate Dead offhand?  I could use a drink."
robgrassi goes home.
Trumgottist wakes up, and asks "Is the bear gone?"
inky says, "yeah, traditionally we go to the Carousel Room for a bit -- west, north, up"
lpsmith says, "The traditional post-award ceremony banquet is held in the Carousel Bar and Grill."
Recchi leaves the auditorium to the west.
zarf says, "Must run"
zarf walks off through the wall; vivid gold light flares briefly around him.
maga leaves the auditorium to the west.
lpsmith says, "Which, yeah, that."
inky says, "oh, and of course thanks to eileen for doing the website and the votes and everything else!"