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January 31, 2005
so i have this cool new writing gig . . .
Do you ever have something really exciting that you want to share with the world, but you're not allowed to talk about it? It drives you nuts that you have to keep it to yourself, so you quietly mention it to Janet, but Chrissy overhears you from the kitchen, and thinks you're dying, so she tells Larry, and pretty soon you're attending your own wake down at the Regal Beagle. You think this could be a chance to get Mr. Roper to give you a break on the rent, and maybe get a little something-something from that Kaylnn girl who passes out skates at the roller rink, but Mrs. Roper finds out the truth, and somehow you're learning an embarassing lesson in front of all your friends, rather than getting lucky on the waterbed in your cousin's van conversion.
In other words, I've been sitting on this big news for weeks, and I just got the green light to announce it. So pay attention, Chrissy:
I am writing a weekly column for The Onion A/V Club! Yeah, that's right! The Onion A/V Club! Wooo!
Check out the spiffy announcement:
The Onion A.V. Club also extends a hearty welcome to a new contributor who comes to us from Hollywood via the Internet. Each week, actor/author/gaming enthusiast/icon/renaissance man Wil Wheaton, who maintains an online presence at wilwheaton.net, will take a look back to games past with his Games Of Our Lives column, reaching beyond Pac-Man and Donkey Kong to find the dusty arcade games and worn-out cartridges that paved the way for the games of today.
(When I read that, I told my editor, "I love it. Can I just tell you how happy I am that it's not all 'Star Trek Star Trek Star Trek Star Trek (tiny font: writes some stuff too.)'?"
He said, "Well, the original draft referred to you as 'the spunky lad who saved the universe' and then went on to say 'Star Trek, Star Trek, Star Trek.' Then I had second thoughts.")
Can you freakin' believe that I get to write for them?! Holy shit! Writing this column is as much fun as doing Love Machine at ACME each week. I get a chance to be funny, add something pretty prestigious to my resume, and I finally have an excuse for playing so many classic video games. I mean, how many people do you know who could deduct an X-arcade Controller? :)
I did an interview with The Onion A/V Club in 2002. If you haven't seen it, you can read it here.
My first Games of Our Lives appears tomorrow. Check it out, and let me know what you think!
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That's amazing. I can't wait to read it. By the way, do you play any World of Warcraft? Again, congratulations.
Posted by: OddieTaco![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.wilwheaton.net/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 31, 2005 02:50 PM
Hey Wil,
Thank you SO much for letting us know this FINALLY! (HaHaHa)I am so happy for you. I have been hoping for some good news for you every night, and it looks like you got what I asked for.
I have been looking into writing gigs lately, and it is all die to you and your Blog. THANK YOU for giving me my "life" back, which has always been writing. Keep writing Wil, keep feeding and purging that creative energy. Drop a lone somwtime, I would love to know that you have ready my many well wishes for you.
LOTS OF LOVE,
Quincey
at January 31, 2005 02:52 PM
That's great news! Congratulations!
Posted by: vegimatic at January 31, 2005 02:54 PM
That totally rocks! I can't wait to read it.
So, will they allow you to expand to include genre-defining games on the PC? Some I can immediately think of:
StarFlight I & II
Star Control 2
Dark Forces [too contemporary, perhaps]
Can you/will you take game suggestions? As in "WWDN[or Onion] reader Alice Jenkowitz wrote in this week to tell us how 'Rescue The Pumpkin' on the Atari 800 XL changed her life. We overview that classic game this week".
Posted by: Craig Steffen at January 31, 2005 02:56 PM
Ok, I am reposting my comment because I read it after and was totally embarassed. I had too many distractions in the room when typing and the grammer and spelling are hidious:
Hey Wil,
Thank you SO much for letting us know this news FINALLY! (HaHaHa) I am so happy for you. I have been hoping for some good news to come your way every night, and it looks like you got what I asked for.
I also have been looking into writing gigs lately, and it is all due to you and your Blog. THANK YOU for giving me my "life" back, which has always been writing. Keep writing Wil, keep feeding and purging that creative energy. Drop a line sometime as I would love to know that you have read my many well wishes for you.
LOTS OF LOVE,
Quincey
at January 31, 2005 02:59 PM
Congrats, I am a huge fan of the onion
Posted by: KatieB at January 31, 2005 02:59 PM
"renaissance man"
Thats quite a compliment, especially coming from the onion; they don't throw that term around lightly. I will have to check out the A/V club more often now.
Posted by: dthree at January 31, 2005 03:00 PM
Hey Wil,
Thank you for announcing this! I will go subscribe at once! You mentioned that you were going to ask them kick down a little more $$$$ when you signed my book at Borders in San Francisco...so now you can because Tim in Nor Cal is subscribing. (smile)
Ha ha! Anyway, it is totally rad news, and I can't think of anyone better suited!!! I look forward to reading more of your wonderful writing. Thank you for becoming such a great author!
Tim
Posted by: TimCalif at January 31, 2005 03:02 PM
Awesome! Congrats!
Posted by: lomara at January 31, 2005 03:02 PM
Congrats! Good news for everyone! Now more excellent reading to be had!
:D
at January 31, 2005 03:03 PM
Sweet! Go you! Now I'll have to actually remember to check The Onion more regularly!
Posted by: Clay at January 31, 2005 03:29 PM
Congrats Wil, now that's something to party about!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: drdrew at January 31, 2005 03:48 PM
dude - that is such great news! i have been lazy about reading the onion lately, so this will be just what i need to get my butt back over there.
Posted by: arifa at January 31, 2005 03:51 PM
Sounds like someone was dealt pocket Wheatons!
Heres hoping Robotron 2084 is one of your first few lookbacks....or any Williams game from that era. Mmmmmmmmmm, pre-MacGuyver Stargate Reference .....
Posted by: Rob Holland at January 31, 2005 04:02 PM
You have found the way of the Force, my young Jedi apprentice.
Posted by: jslicer at January 31, 2005 04:05 PM
I don't know anyone else with an X-Arcade stick. I love mine (although it doesn't do so hot on Sinistar or 720 -- you need an optical 256 direction joystick for that). You should deduct two of them so you can play the multi-player goodness of two-joystick games like Smash TV or four player Gauntlet.
Oh, and congratulations.
Posted by: Alan at January 31, 2005 04:07 PM
Sweet. Congrats, Wil.
But where the heck is the RSS feed, so I can subscribe to the AV Club? ;-)
Josh Bancroft
www.tinyscreenfuls.com
www.geekblog.org
at January 31, 2005 04:13 PM
that is awesome! Conrats!!!
Posted by: JenniferB at January 31, 2005 04:24 PM
So, does this mean you'll need some help building a MAME machine? :D
Congrats, Dude!
Posted by: Slacter at January 31, 2005 04:24 PM
I don't remember the exact words but in the Sound of Music, Julie Andrews says: "Whenever God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window". I hope that this window leads you to wonderful places. You're fabulous Wil. Don't forget it!
at January 31, 2005 04:46 PM
congrats. nothing quite so exciting as getting to do something you love. well done.
Posted by: mainja at January 31, 2005 04:47 PM
Congratulations, Wil!! See, if you had been able to bring The Script to life, it would have only lasted a few months, this will probably last longer!
Can't wait to see your article! Again, congrats!
at January 31, 2005 04:51 PM
all those hours playing games are paying off big time...congratulations on the fun gig.
Posted by: d. burr at January 31, 2005 05:04 PM
Congrats, the Onion Rules!
btw ... that was my fave episode of Three's Company
Posted by: jcklsgk at January 31, 2005 05:45 PM
WIL,
Good for you and the onion. I am sure you will do nice work for them.
FG
at January 31, 2005 06:03 PM
Rock on! Cool beaners, Wil. Onion = Funny Stuff, You = Funny Guy, so it should be the perfect gig for ya! Can't wait to read and remember all those classic games I played when I was a kid.
Pleas please please please please please do a write-up on my all-time favorite Arcade Classic - FOOD FIGHT!
Posted by: Eric in PA at January 31, 2005 06:25 PM
hmm, finally, something to sit and talk about with my friends in all the oldgames IRC channels I hang out in :)
at January 31, 2005 07:04 PM
Excellent!! Sounds like the perfect gig. Can't wait to read it. Congrats!
Posted by: sonjaag at January 31, 2005 08:36 PM
Yay! Congrats! I love The Onion. :-)
Posted by: That's Hot at January 31, 2005 08:54 PM
haha, I told you to write ;)
You rock, I'll so read that column now. I had never seen it before until now.
Posted by: jude at January 31, 2005 10:35 PM
Great news, Wil! I look forward to reading your articles. Games are a big part of my life.
Posted by: Ryan C. at January 31, 2005 10:38 PM
All RIGHT! We get The Onion in hard copy around Denver, so I'll have to make sure to clip out your articles and post them on my cube walls at work.
(Oh, and, if you get the chance, pick up World Championship Poker for your Xbox...I've been having fun with it recently, and it's a steal at $20. This has been a totally unpaid and unsolicited testimonial. :-) )
Posted by: Erbo at February 1, 2005 01:32 AM
I just hope you won't use up all your creative juices at The Onion AV (NO sexual innuendo implied, really!).
Give them the funny stuff about video games and save the funny stuff about life for us, k? :-)
All the best
Posted by: pbarnes7 at February 1, 2005 05:27 AM
Congratulations, Wil! If you're going to write on some classic PC games, I have just one word for you... Zork! :-)
Posted by: VineyardDawg at February 1, 2005 06:23 AM
w00t!
Rock on, Wil! I know you've always loved the Onion. My company used to print the Denver version of The Onion, so I used to be able to get my hands on it easily. Now I will have to look around for it again.
Cheers!
Posted by: Lytspeed at February 1, 2005 06:39 AM
Congrats, Wil! You'll be great!
(As I add one more thing to my far too full already must-read list...)
Posted by: Scott Ganyo at February 1, 2005 07:00 AM
Wow! Congrats, Wil!!
Posted by: Sue R at February 1, 2005 07:38 AM
Sweet gig, congrats! If you consider requests, I have to suggest Zaxxon for Coleco. That changed my life. Kind of.
--T
Posted by: t_knotts at February 1, 2005 08:01 AM
How about if they had mentioned "Voice of the Teen Titan's AquaLad"?
Posted by: Ruger at February 1, 2005 09:29 AM
Sweet!
So did you hear about that movie yet? Huh? We're all dying to know.
(Okay, not dying really, but we're interested.)
at February 1, 2005 11:16 AM
Congrats, Wil! That is supra cool!
Posted by: Carol at February 1, 2005 12:07 PM
plz plz plz review the old commodore 64 game called paperboy at some point, I used to luv that game!!
Posted by: Noel Burke at February 1, 2005 12:09 PM
Go, WIL! *gets out the pompoms and dances...then puts them away*
Posted by: Beth at February 1, 2005 03:38 PM
Just read Games of Our Lives. Wil, that was extremely hilarious. As a former Atari 2600 player, I laughed out loud at your account of the game's graphics. Heh. And it looks like they've totally revamped the A/V Club page's look. They obviously want it to look nice for you.
Posted by: Brian I. at February 1, 2005 04:02 PM
I know have this mental image of you and Dan Savage sitting next to each other in a cubicle farm. I know he'd be able to suggest what to do with that X-arcade controller!
Posted by: TDH at February 1, 2005 05:23 PM
You've got to look at Daley Thompson's Decathlon for the spectrum. Brilliant. Go through the ten events,winning by pressing x and y at different speeds. What was it called in the US?
Also, have you seen the xbox in a millennium falcon on ebay? Very very cool.
http://www.rummaging.org/2005/02/millenium_falco.html
Posted by: Andy at February 2, 2005 02:07 AM
My wife and I were talking just the other day about how the games back then were a lot more fun that a lot of the games today (altough the graphics are better now).
How many people had fun with Adventure (and getting to the hidden section of the game)?
Posted by: Unearthed Ruminator at February 2, 2005 09:54 AM
That is so freakin great! Good for you, Wil! Sounds like it will be a lot of fun for you to write!
Posted by: LynnZee at February 3, 2005 11:34 AM
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