As co-headhoncho here at Level 99, I get caught up in my work. Also as someone who doesn’t read webcomics in general, doesn’t really care about what other people think is funny, or doesn’t even have a television subscription, I can probably get a bit out of touch. So, fair readers, I had a tender moment and thought about what you might want for a change, at least in terms of the actual comic. Sooo……

Was there something you wanted, but was not included in this poll? You can take it up in the forums. I would really like to know what you guys think.

EDIT: Okay, I screwed up. I tried to declare this forum closed, and for some reason it fudged the numbers. Boobs did, in fact, win this poll with a total of 56 votes.

I know it’s probably not relevant anymore, but I just couldn’t help myself. (NSFW!) Mass Effect came out for PC not too long ago, so maybe the few of you who are still playing it may give this comic some relevance. Maybe. I’ve mentioned before how I have this intense penchant for everything Mass Effect, and I thought I would comment on the unfairness of their romance subplots. For those of you who have played it, you can understand my frustration and may chuckle at the comic. For those of you who havent…well, you get some side-boob action anyway.

In other news, I need to address a few site-related things:

- You may have noticed an an unofficial podcast and video.

- You may also have noticed that I put Digg buttons on all the comic item pages. If you don’t see the Digg button on top of the title, click on the title itself. I’m working on a better way to do this. I’m trying to get Level 99 a little more widespread, so if you have a Digg account and genuinely like a comic, please, Digg away!

- I also wanted to note that the Java Chatroom has been fixed, and people are able to get in again. I idle in there while I’m at my job sometimes. Come peek your head in, but I may be taking pictures of ugly purses, so you’re best to catch chatroom activity after 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

- Lastly, I just wanted to address that I have no idea what the fuck is going on with our web server, and I apologize for all the down time. It’s either because our webserver is a douchebag, or we’re really really popular and all the traffic is killing the site. I’m feeling self-deprecating today, so I’m figuring that the former is the more likely explanation. I’ll call my server about this issue soon.

Incidentally, as of this moment, Level 99 is #14 on The Webcomiclist! Holy cow! I don’t update for six freaking months, then I do four comics and we jump like 800 spots! You guys must really like us. =P Thanks everyone, for your support and your visits that may be artificially raising our ranking. We’re not worthy!

~Race

I’m sure people that if this game existed, people will get it and defend their purchases with, “The gameplay is really good.”

~Race

This strip pretty much sums up my frustration regarding females and the gaming industry. It seems that girls can’t ever win, despite their ability to do so in actual games. If they look fairly average, they’re labeled as being nerds or fatties, and if they’re good-looking, they’re accused of being sluts who are only doing it for attention. Girls never seem to catch a break in this industry. You might even say that they get THE SHAFT. The only time when females seem to succeed as gamers is when they succumb to being sexualized, and this is probably true for most male-dominated markets.

My point is, is that I’m trying break into an industry doing something I love, but it’s extremely difficult doing so while wanting to keep clothes ON, when all the Stevie Cases and PSP-Lickers out there are seemingly getting their breaks from doing next to nothing. *sigh.*

ANYWAY, enough of this feminist garble. Yes, yes you do detect a hint of nipple. I’m a damn hypocrite.

~Race

So yeah, it took longer than I thought it would, but 63 installments in, and we finally get to see Race out of those boring jeans and white hoodie and into something much less comfortable. All for the sake of your enjoyment, you sickos…oh, and for plot development, I guess.

I like to play games online, particularly first person shooters, but I’ve never dabbled in the competitive gaming circuit (although I’ve always wanted to), so I can’t claim to have our current strip to account for real life experiences. I just don’t have the time to practice. I can’t even crank these damn strips out on time! >.< I haven’t had much experience playing these sorts of games with other girls, either, although I’ve lurked in “grrl gamer” forums and I think the main difference between competitive gaming between boys and girls, is that instead of talking a bunch of shit, girls tend to be extremely supportive and adopt that whole “go, sister, go” attitude. That’s why those girls are mudwrestling in the background. They’re supporting each other. ^.~

At any rate, I try to get in as much gaming as I can, and for the past week or so, I’ve been playing nothing but Quake 4. If you wanna come frag with me, my Xfire name is “level99.” I need some Xfire buddies who play similar games as I do…all the people on my list play WoW. Doh.

It’s late. I need to go to bed. Stupid job. YOU! Stop playing WoW so late!

~Race

So, so true. We had this guy planned for a “strip” for a couple of weeks now (and the concept has been around for a while), but not too long ago, Penny Arcade bust out with their own etch-a-sketch boobs. Ours are real. Race is so good with the etch-a-sketch boobs. You should see her Einstein.

The reason this “strip” comes with quotes is because it’s almost like filler. It’s a chance to give a break to Race for a turn because she need to get ready for The Great Move. Pray for her. The move will be long, arduous, and across town. Seriously. I mean, you remember that episode of Bobby’s World where the family has to move because of the new addition to the family and Bobby is really scared because he doesn’t want to move and then when they all pile into the car Bobby goes, “Are we there yet?!” and his parents go, “Yes!” and they really were because the new house was on the other side of the cul-de-sac? This is exactly like that. Except not.

New strip on Friday.

What is this? The gauntlet was just thrown down. I’ll tell you now, I’m no good at that game. Race kicks bootay. Troll…. well, Troll doesn’t move much.

So I was driving to my mom’s work to help her with her printer and I was thinking that certain words just don’t get the reverence they deserve anymore. For instance: Supermarket. “I’m going to drive to the supermarket and get some eggs. Maybe one of those tiny half-dozen containers this time.” How can you say that? In passing?! That shit is super! Give it some respect. “I’m going to drive to the SUPER(!) market, where any number of wonderful amazements and oddities may be found along with those necessities that its majesty deems to provide to us in all its glory, and get some eggs. Maybe those tiny half-dozen containers this time. Those are wicked sweet.” That’s better.

And Marshmallow! … Ok, that one is just weird.

I took a break from Oblivion tonight to watch some Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU. It’s an interesting departure from the regular tone of the series and is the peanut butter to Excel Saga’s jelly. It manages to make fun of almost every convention of modern anime and still remain compelling in its source material. Check it out. But maybe check out the original first, otherwise, you’ll be way lost.

Today, the assistant manager from my neighbor store phoned me up just to call me out on my xbox affinity. It was odd. I held my own in objectivity, not fan-boy-ism. And that was the whole conversation. That was it. He said he looked forward to further banter. It was fun, actually… but very random — kinda like the flow of this post.

-Arlo

The saga continues… to disturb! Once again, the theory that any noun can be enhanced in humor tenfold by adding the suffix “-age” is put to the test — and it passes!

I am so glad we are doing this story line because I can’t think good right now. Oblivion isn’t so much the greatest game ever, as it is all comsuming. For instance, Tarbosh, Lord of the Four Moons, Destroyer of Worlds, and Bringer of Chaos® may consume all sentient life in his path, but he’s maybe, like, the forth coolest God — just beating out Geoff, God of Biscuits.

Troll just created his character. He doesn’t really have any interest in a game like this. He just wants to punch people really hard… in the face. So he created a character called “Markistehsuck” and a class called “Defacerizer.” He needed me to spell it.

When this story line is over, you can be guaranteed that Race and I will be compelled to make a strip about it. Await your doom with pee soaked britches. Good Lord, what is wrong with me…

-Arlo

P.S. Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention the supermegaimportant news. We registered our new domain over the weekend. You can now change your bookmark to http://www.level99comic.com. Right now, it’s just redirecting you here, but when we do make the switch, you’ll be ahead of the game. Exciting things will unfold now that we have a new domain. Exciting things. You should probably just wear a diaper at all times. I know I do.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…. If you have beaten Ninja Gaiden for the XBOX, you are a god damned, no good liar and you’re not my friend anymore.

rant

Hey, I found out something fun about Sony and any spec announcements they make. (Me’s Note: Take everything you read there with a grain of salt as it is a year old and from a site called “Team XBOX.”) The gist of this first section is as follows: Sony announced a system in PS2 that would make it twice as strong as what would become the XBOX. Well, we all know that’s not true. 4mb of RAM on the video card. Let me put that into perspective for you: my crappy-ass video card has 128mb of RAM. No wonder the PS2 graphics are so shitty. I’m not a hater, just a realist.

Oooooh, MGS4 looks so good! Yes. Yes, it does. But better than anything the 360 has to offer? And that’s just graphics. And, when? I mean, hell, I can play Fight Night 3 right now. Look at me. I’m actually controlling the beautiful looking characters in a compelling and real world. (Me’s Note: That last link takes you to a place called “PS3 Land.” These webmasters are fun.)

My point is not that 360 will rock the PS3 (only time will tell with that one and I really don’t have any predisposition), but that I’m tired of all the customers I get at my unnamed place of business that say, “Screw Micro$oft! Sony rules my anus!” Just give credit where credit is due and shut up and play the goddamned games.

/rant

-Arlo