Microsoft - not Blizzard! - Buys Vivendi Games division, yadda yadda yadda. It's back!

It's nice to see some new screens from Crimson Skies after so much radio silence. These shots are fine by me, love them, but please, please, please tell me this game will be online. I was big into it on the PC, and I will cry myself to sleep if this game comes out with only solo play.

We didn't know what to make of Infinium Labs' mysterious "Phantom" gaming console, but I'm reasonably sure we have accurately portrayed its origins. Every new console has to go through this hazing procedure from us, even magical, spectral consoles like the Phantom which are made of ectoplasm. Feel free to examine their site for clues on what exactly they're doing. IGN pondered many of the same questions we did, it would appear. It seems like it's essentially a sealed PC with a broadband service component that delivers retail games. I mean, don't quote me on that. They could be selling goats for all I know.

***UPDATE!***

Thanks for the heads up on the japanese characers in the CTS logo. The T-shirts and posters will all sport the new revised version of the logo.

When I saw that the Petition to get the Cardboard Tube Samurai into SC2 had over 14,000 signatures I started to think that maybe you guys really like him. Then My mailbox started to fill up with people asking for CTS shirts, posters and wallpapers. Generally we don't have a very good grasp on merchandising. We just aren't good at that sort of thing. Well that is about to change.

Our tireless efforts have resulted in yet another comic, which I hope will meet with your satisfaction. Barring that, approval. If that is also not possible, I would just ask that you not throw things at me and hurt my feelings.

Man, I remember when girls used to grab my crotch. It's mainly just nurses, now.

I just have a quick update today regarding the art style mostly and then it's back to Panzer Dragoon Orta.

I'm not sure if you've had a chance to check out Panzer Dragoon Orta yet, as it did only hit this Wednesday. Good god. Now, before I launch into full scale hyperbole about the game's divine heritage, we did make a comic about it that I found very amusing.

Actually, I met Blambot guy (Nate Piekos) at ComicCon last year. I got really shy, and I might have made him uncomfortable. Only in the geek world is this possible, to swoon over a man who makes typefaces.

I completely forgot to thank Blambot for the great fonts in today’s comic strip. They make some bad ass fonts over there. I always fantasize about how cool it would be to get a custom made font just for PA. Maybe some day.

I can't tell you how glad I am that everyone seems to dig the CBT Samurai. We are looking forward to doing a lot more with him in the future.

First off, thank you all for the great letters about today’s strip. My mail is working again which means there is no way on God’s green earth I could ever respond to all these. I want you all to know though that I did read them all and your kind words are very much appreciated. I agree with many of you that the new style is a perfect fit for Gabe’s fantasy world. Anyway thanks a bunch, you guys rock.

http://www.musiccdsettlement.com/english/default.htm

Something we could have touched on but didn't (because we wanted to actually play it) was, of course, Panzer Dragoon Orta. Maybe for Friday's strip? It launches today, we're going to hit the mizall and snatch a couple copies, and then it's off to either Golden Chopsticks or the Regent Chinese Bakery. I don't know which.