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Peter Max on lead guitar

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Week of the Rat, Day 5

PackRat is meant to be played against one's Facebook friends. If, however, one has few friends or few friends who are playing it, PackRat features a few resident rodents from whom one can steal stuff. Each rat grins at the player from the same 50x50 pixel avatar space that the real people do, but none of them has his/her own profile page since, obviously, none are actual entities. These cheerful critters do, however, have associated with them, just like real people, large-ish avatar-ish portraits. The lovely and talented Shakirat seemed the rat most fitting to be introduced in her full glory because of all the rats she's the easist on the eye. And now she'll sing her latest hit as a finale to this week's ratty festivities. See you next week when we return to our regularly scheduled programming (unless I bump into you in Austin before then).

Week of the Rat, Day 4

PackRat's furry mascot as an Obey Giant spoof was not created to be something officially tied to the game. It was instead me making a joke to get my jollies. It was not my intent to satirically examine society, nor was it my attempt to satirically examine the satirical examination of society (or at least I don't think it was). I was being silly - and hopefully pleasantly so. If, however, I find this smiling verminous fellow plastered onto lamposts, street signs, or any other public property I won't be feeling pleasant about it, no, not at all.

Week of the Rat, Day 3

In its early stages (very, very early stages) PackRat wasn't PackRat at all. Once development on it began it quickly diverged entirely away from the piratey pop culture collecting game it was originally conceived to be and became the rat-like robbery adventure you see today. I for one am quite pleased that the vermin element was added to the equation!

Week of the Rat, Day 2

As PackRat began taking shape it was inevitable that various elements of gameplay stood the chance of being either altered or dropped altogether. That was also the case with the many PackRat items - those tasty thingies one unrepentantly swipes from one's friends, family, and acquaintances. Why would anyone ever want to leave the lovely Tiki Island? Good-bye, raft. The choicest cut of cow flesh seared to perfection? Sure, but we've got nary a pork chop nor a piece of fried chicken to keep it company. A portrait of the artist as a heartless outlaw of the American Old West? Pass. A piping hot slice of pepperoni pizza amply equipped with gooey mozzarella? I'm having trouble remembering what was up with that one because I'm suddenly daydreaming of dragging my lousy, villainous hide onto a seaworthy vessel built for one and setting sail for Naples.

Week of the Rat, Day 1

Once again I'm joining the Alamofire Amigos (formerly known as the Fearsome Firewheelers) as they head deep into the heart of Texas for the SXSW Interactive Festival. But rather than putting this place on ice, I'm automating the posting to present five days of something on the hearts and minds of all online humanity: Rats. Packrats, to be precise. Actually, take off the 's' and capitalize the 'r' and then you're cooking. But you're not ... uh ... you're not cooking rats. That's just nasty.

If you're on Facebook, play PackRat. We thank you!