To those of you who have been following us for a while, you guys are awesome, and I send you warm internet hugs. We’ve been around (on and off ) for 4 years now, and I want to be around longer. Level 99 has always been something I’ve loved doing, and I want to continue it, regardless if life or whatever else gets in the way every once in a while. In the mean time, the forums are upgraded and are open again. Thanks to UltraMagnus, who helped me migrate the forum while I was busy with the archives. Thanks again for all the support, and I hope to see you guys around. =)

~Race

Unicross, I must thank you again for giving us this press and sending me the magazine. Wherever you are, you should come back ’round and join us once again. It’ll be fun, I swear!

Almost two months have come and gone since the Jaana and Guy show was posted, our most recent, each of us being so incredibly busy to the point of apology that the hours per post/strip seemed… not unimportant, but probably the only thing not incredibly dire in our lives. The irony here is that now is probably an even busier time for me than the past several months: the tremendous retail season, a serious relationship around the holidays, full time school with finals upcoming, required observation hours looming. And here I am posting.

I suppose the better irony there is that the one thing that seemed so… not dire?.. is appearing to be the one thing that will make me feel the most productive and calm the stress. Writing isn’t difficult, per se, but writing that feels good can sometimes take time, a luxury of which we do not have much. As such, it got pushed to the side, a luxury to make way for priority. But as it goes, what seems less urgent is often what calms the stress of urgency. Coincidentally, the very day that I told my girlfriend I was going to stay up late to contact Race and get the ball rolling again was the same day that Race contacted me to see when I was next available.

I guess what I’m trying to say is: expect a new podcast in the near future; a new vidcast will arrive shortly after; several strips are conceptualized; and, I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling more creative.

-Arlo

words I learned in My Word Coach today: bagatelle, impecunious, librettist.

Finally, I’ve found the ultimate simplified tool to help me through my oh-so-complicated life! It has powers even beyond that of the controversial Ouija Board, or the demonic Magic Eight Ball. AND IT’S WIRELESS! Yep, I’m speaking, of course, of the Wii “Everybody Votes” Channel, where once a day you can poll the Mii masses for their invaluable opinions, and provide them yours in return! You can finally toss that pair of parachute pants because 80% agree that they will never make a comeback, or you can be one of the 60% who’d rather scarf down their own boogers than eat their own farts!

Speaking of farts, do I stink or what? I know you’re asking, “ZOMG RACE WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WE’VE MISSED YOUR GREATNESS SO MUCH!” Well, calm down, plebes, I’m still alive. =P I’ve no great reason or excuse for my absence, really, which makes me some kind of horrible person I think. Arlo’s been covering for me saying how I was sick and everything. Well, I shouldn’t say “covering up,” because he’s partially right. I have been sick, but mostly in the head. I’ve contracted a very bad case of emo-betes, characterized by symptoms of anxiety, complete unmotivation, and overwhelming apathy. I lost motivation to do not only the comic, but pretty much everything else (except games and gettin’ busy), including sleep. My job has been so hectic and time-consuming that it’s made me hate myself that I don’t want to do much when I get home. Anyway, point is, having a real job fucking sucks, but I’m learning to deal and I’ve been feeling better. Nothing a little bit of this won’t help anyway, eh?

On a brighter note, I’ve actually gotten a chance to play all these games everyone talks about so much. I finished Gears of War on Hardcore and am wanting to beat it on Insane. For a while I was obsessed with increasing my Xbox Live gamer points, but I’m stuck on 1501 right now, because I’ve recently mostly been playing Tiger Woods 2k7, and it takes fucking forever to get anything in that game. It’s fun, though, so I don’t feel too badly. I’ve been playing UNO on Xbox Live as well, although I suspect the novelty will wear off when I finally get my one remaining achievement for it. Oh hell, who am I kidding? As someone who craves attention, I don’t think the Uno novelty will ever wear off for me until I grow a penis. Outside of the Xbox world, I’ve also been playing with my DS, with Phoenix Wright: Justice for All, and I started Pokemon Diamond the other night. For PC, I’ve also been trying my hand at Command and Conquer: Tiberium Wars, and I find it quite fun and enjoyable, which is unusual for me because I’m not usually an RTS person. Sadly, my Wii is kind of collecting dust at the moment. That’s pretty much a short summary of what I’ve been up to lately in the video game world.

In Level 99 news, I finally updated my webcam with a new URL, after Comcast booted me because they don’t exist anymore or something. I’ve also updated the comic font a bit. I’ve been wanting to for a while, because while on one hand it gives us a quality of originality, I know it had problems with legibility, lol. I don’t know if it’s going to work out better, or if we’re going to decide to stick with it, but I figured I’d give it a shot before attempting at a new font or totally giving up and stealing someone else’s. *Shrugs.* If you want to make your opinion known, head on over to the forums and make yourself heard.

Okay, well, that’s it from me for today! I have some other things to say, but I’m starting to get sleepy and I don’t want to miss out on it.

~Race

Astute readers would have noticed that over April Fool’s weekend, the Level 99 experience was shut down. It was our little April Fool’s joke. I swear. <.<

Ok, really it was just bad timing. Around the same time that Race got hella sick and I got robbed for 75% of my bank account, our domain lease ran out. In that time, I missed my opportunity to talk about Guitar Hero II (360) before it came out (although I doesn’t hit the streets officially until tomorrow, really), GTA IV, a leak of the PSP price drop, etc. and all of thechinpokomon I’ve been playing. I guess I get to do it now. Bing bang boom.

~> I’ve been playing a shit-ton of SotN since it hit the 360 marketplace the other day. The only achievements I have yet to receive are the 200.6% finish and the Richter completion. God I love this game, and it hasn’t gotten any worse. If you’ve played it already, play it again. If you haven’t…. Come on.

~> GTA IV… underwhelming? Meh. I’ll play it. So will you.

~> Pokemon. Sure, I’ve been playing Emerald. You want to fight about it? The guys at work have this friendly competition regarding the new Diamond and Pearl coming out later this month and we’re getting a jump start. Grown men, shit-talking, and pokemon. Me, I haven’t played a Pokemon game since the OG Blue and Red many years ago. Honestly, it’s a compelling RPG with mechanics of no other. A 6-man party that you can choose from hundreds as you collect them at your own pace and use one at a time. An open world that unfolds almost in a Metroid-esque manner with backtracking and discovery that doesn’t get annoying. Even complicated multiple fighting-types that go beyond simple rock-paper-scissors. Get over yourself and play it. It’s a good game.

~> Guitar Hero. Well you know how I feel about that. The 360 version feels better, but the start/back buttons are just as unwieldy as everyone is saying. I like the myriad of achievements and the downloading is so exciting. The HD actually matters, as you might not expect. Switching from one to the other is like night and day. Don’t get it yet if you already have the PS2 version, though. Rock.

So……… my girlfriend is hella sick as well. I guess it’s going around. I’m gonna go take care of ‘er.

We’re back!

-Arlo

I’m not delusional. I don’t really think that Tycho and Scott steal our dreams while we sleep or something. Nor do I think that they’ve ever even seen our site. It’s just been thrust into view how unfamous we are. That’s right. Unfamous. I went and made up another word. I’m not looking for fame and fortune, but even the most mundane of redundancies irks my heart. There will come a time when I get upset because PvP uses the same shade of yellow in their text boxes. This is not going to get better.

The good news is that we got a couple of mentions in the thread following Kotaku’s link to the Ramsoom. Thanks. We love you guys in that Las Vegas sort of way.

Anyway, I still haven’t beaten Crackdown or FFVI. I’m over 30 hours into the Fantasy and have been Cracking Down on all of the lieutenants before I tackle the Kingpin. I really enjoy both, but am glad I don’t have a portable 360, otherwise, I’d set to do nothing in the stead of choosing one over the other (I’d probably still choose FF).

I’ve also had several opportunities to play NBA Street Homecourt. I’m not a sports fan. I’m not a sports game fan. I don’t like basketball players (most, I should say. There are some redeeming characters). NBA Street Homecourt is the best representation of the sport I’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering. I am drawn, inexorably, to pick up the controller for just one more challenge game. Just one more. Just one more level. Just one more step up in “shooting.” How do I bounce a basketball off my opponents “heezy?” Which bumper do I press to pass the ball with my “kneezy?” Come on, PEOPLE! I just said “heezy” with all seriousness! 8.5. Done.

-Arlo

On the cutting room floor during the production of the Valentine’s Volume of the Level 99 Vidcast, you may find an unused Crossballs segment. In it? Why, Guy’s topic is one of the failing state of the modern video arcade and what they may need to become in order to survive! Now, I know I’m not crazy!

Well, at least not about this.

Shut up.

-Arlo

A couple of weeks ago now, Race’s TV had an unfortunate domestic dispute with her Wii Remote. The Wiimote came out on top but must now wear judicially mandated protective gear at all times and must never go more than four inches from a hand while in use, lest it incur some sort of fine or something. She decided to immortalize (“immortalise” if you’re a damn dirty foreigner) the affair via Etch-a-Sketch, like she does. WiiHaveAProblem, the now famous (infamous?) website documenting such negligence, posted Race’s trauma but with one glaring mistake: she ain’t a man.

Now, I had to tell you that story to tell you this story: Guy told Race who told me over AIM that, quote, OMG We’re ON KOTAKU. We had no idea that they were going to post this, correcting the gender issue and vindicating our artist. Yeah, sure, Race sent him the tip, whatever. The funny thing is the very first comment talks about only being able to draw square boobs. Tehe. Yeah, so Race may be functionally retarded when it comes to bowling and yeah, maybe her Wiimote has anger issues, but at least she’s talented enough to turn it all around for us.

Thanks, Race.

And thanks, Ms. Michael Fahey. (See what I did there?) No, really.

-Arlo

Now go send them e-mails and defend my honor! =P

~Race

Me and my niece at Disneyland!

Hurray! Also, keep your eye on the Merch Gallery to see more action shots as we get them in. If you bought your shirt already, don’t hesitate to take a picture and send your Level 99′ed-out mug to us, and we’ll put you in the gallery!

~Race