Everything I Know I Learned From Ultima
In some alternate universe where I'm a shade geekier and considerably more intellectually stunted due to insufficient human contact and limited sexual activity, this space is filled by a clever blog entry. That entry is packed with bulleted allegories comparing real life to the Ultima series of video games. It's also well-linked to and probably the intellectual apex of that other me's year.
Luckily for me we're not in that alternate universe. I lack the enthusiasm.
That's not to say the here and now me didn't love those games to death when I was a kid. They were what kids with thoughts in their heads were playing in the 80's while everyone else was smashing mushroom creatures with a little pixelated plumber.
While the games required thinking and improved puzzle solving skills, the moral lessons learned weren't particularly valuable. In the world of Britannia the tyrants usually were conveniently part of organizations with names such as "the oppression" so you knew who to hate. And as much as I'd like to believe that the acquisition of gold coin and other shit magically increases my chi, I'm afraid that's a delusion reserved for Conservative free-market think tank employees.
All of that said, this guy is still my personal hero. He's playing through every single Ultima game (sans the MMORPG) from start to finish and blogging his progress.
Anyone who slogged through Ultima V and sent in a photo of the finish screen knows that's essentially like climbing Mount Everest wearing only Darth Vader underoos. That's to say it's not impossible, but you're going to see some nasty physical side-effects and sidelong glances during your potentially fatal voyage.
I also noticed that the Ultima series creator Richard Garriot is being launched into space with Stephen Hawking.
Godspeed, Lord British.