It’s just huge.

Hugggeeee.

I have a second monitor and it takes up half of it (it’s 1680×1050!). I am not blind, I can perfectly use the friends list which is much more acceptable in size…

This screenshot below is as small a width as I could make it (height limitations are not as bad, ie; it’ll go down to 500 or so pixels high):

I really, really prefer a smaller Pidgen/Skype/IM client style, is it too much to ask to have such an option back so it doesn’t waste so much screen space if I have it open on top of or next to things? This is also the smallest way to display games – although the grid option is there to display more games you can’t narrow it any further. A simple list, ala the steam friends view, and previous game small view, would be awesome.

Or I’m missing the button to change it (although I’ve tried every button, you can’t even remove the toolbar at the top either, and the options are 90% the same in the settings menu for UI things ).

Sadly, not being a Steam Forums member, for strictly sanity reasons, it appears there is no email to feedback this to! how…silly!

I’m also surprised, since I thought netbook-sized screen resolutions (or just small laptops) wouldn’t even be able to display so much width, and that, you know, we weren’t blind and that the previous small list worked fine.

There’s…Mass Effect 2, BioShock 2, maybe Battlefield Bad Company 2 even. I noticed Supreme Commander 2 is out in March, although I’ll see what reviews say and see if there is a demo. I think I have some download ticket for DiRT 2 as well. Probably should go find it! On the Wii, man, I still need to finish Super Mario Galaxy (have I mentioned I’m rather terrible at platformers?), but really want to try No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle now too.

Further along this year, well, I decided to get a Blizzard account to try and get in the Starcraft 2 beta. No word on if it’ll be out this year though, and I doubt I’ll get into the beta.

The main one I won’t be purchasing ever is Assassins Creed 2. Humph. There is also Modern Warfare 2, which I still can’t be bothered with for the price (cost/time ratio is rather low, so many other good, longer games for my not exactly cash filled wallet to buy).

Expansion wise there is Dawn of War 2: Chaos Rising (not out until March luckily, but have on order, the singleplayer is darn fun), and Dragon Age Origins: Awakening (perhaps…still got Dragon Age to finish once I’ve reinstalled it and the horrendous DLC stuff). Hey, something without the number 2 in it!

Oh, hell with these sequels. I think I’ll open up my new copy of Planescape Torment, or maybe try out Grand Theft Auto 4 that’s sitting on my desk – hey, it must be twice as good as the games above! (I also have Farcry 2, although that is tending towards my “if I’m really board” bit of my desk). While some of the above titles are tempting, there is also Borderlands which was recommended last year too…

Choices, choices! Looks like Mass Effect 2 will be in the mail mainly because of this post I’m finishing off of the original from months ago (edit “Last week” to “Last year” ), just a lot of good choices, especially since I don’t buy on release date. Shame not many of them are entirely original, ho hum!

Women in Games Conference 2010

I went to the last conference in 2008, which was fun. I’m no further in doing things in the industry, but since it had informative talks – while the most costly of the events I’m planning to go to – still should be worthwhile. In any case, I love supporting any event that improves the diversity of the games industry (no, you don’t see many women at Develop or GDC generally outside PR… ).

Paris Game AI Conference 2010

The last years one was free, but the low cost, the fact it is AI (always fascinating and an area I still want to go into in games), and last years being a good, fun visit to Paris has made my mind up. I need to find some things to do while I’m there, so I’m pretty undecided how long I’ll stay around the event.

Brighton Develop Conference 2010

I’ve volunteered for this conference yet again, since I find that despite having to work all day it is informative and I get some choice in what to see (and I get to hear a OneLifeLeft special too I hope!). I am sure many volunteers will be returning, and I swear we’ll play a proper game of Werewolf again. Sadly, Brighton is a bit light on extra things to do, so I doubt I’ll book more time then the conference down there, having been around their museum and shops already.

It is fascinating not just how big businesses try and keep what (under current international law at least) is not copyrightable or patentable, but that they still want to make sure no one else can ever use.

I love Lego. I just rightly am satisfied this long winded appeal thing, which is a fascinating little story, comes out on the side that: It doesn’t make sense that a trademark can be of the product itself. Thank goodness.

Basically it seemed to be a way to stop anyone making the same designed bricks. This would be a problem – you’d never compete on quality, just instead have a monopoly.

Designing things like Toys must be a minefield. Any kind of games are similar – depending on jurisdiction (it’s an area of law that is quite complex I’m led to believe), designers sadly have patent worries (if you plan to do an American release) and overburdened copyright to deal with at the best of times. Sigh.

(BTW: I want this to be a record of what at least I think is interesting, and dammit I’m failing – I’ll get back to posting something more original someday. Give me time, I’m just finished Baldur’s Gate, and am now on Baldur’s Gate II – I guess I could post up the mod list and Baldur’s Gate Trilogy installation hints for those who are interested.)