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Archive for September, 2005:


Exmortis

Published by Michael Arnzen in Online Gizmo of the Month on September 9th, 2005

Exmortis is an excellent haunted house game, reminiscent of the “Silent Hill” series of twisted “crawlers”. You click your way around a creepy abandoned house, picking up clues (and weapons) as you try to solve the mystery of where you are, why there’s a head in the microwave, and why there’s blood all over the furniture. Try to solve the symbol puzzle before you die in a horrible fashion.

Sure, you’ll spot a lot of familiar horror images and feel like you’ve been here before. But there’s something about the way this game is put together that makes it really creepy. Combining nice art and a moody score, Exmortis is effectively chilling, even if it tests your patience as you try to figure out what to do next (a link to a helpful “walkthrough” is included below for the frustrated).

Play Exmortis (warning: the game is a 5 mb file that downloads when you load the game)

Brought to you by Ben Leffler Web Design

Need help? The Exmortis walkthrough can assist, as a last resort.

[Note: Exmortis requires Macromedia Flash, which is probably already plugged into your web browser]


Board Games for the Demented

Published by Michael Arnzen in Weird Sites of the Month on September 9th, 2005

World’s Goriest Board Game

Googly Chess by Bob Crouch

Totally Gross Board Game

BONUS FUN, KIDS!
Gross Out Games for Christian Youth Camp


In Delirium

Published by Michael Arnzen in Arnzen News on September 7th, 2005

The anthology — IN DELIRIUM — which includes my previously unpublished story about a mad dentist who creates his own toothy monster called “Mr. Mouth” — just went up for sale at Delirium Books and rumor has it that it’s already almost sold out! It’s a cool limited edition, due out this Christmas, and aside from being full of extreme horror tales, the collection is unified by one principle: the stories were all free gifts donated to the publisher, Shane Ryan Staley, by people he’s published in the past — simply as a gift for being one of the best publishers of horror around. The quality of Delirium hardcovers is among the best in the business, and with a line-up that includes hot writers Brian Keene, Kurt Newton, Mark McLaughlin, Tom Piccirilli, Weston Ochse and more, I can see why this rare collectable is almost sold out already. Get it while you still can at Delirium Books.

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The True Value of Interior Decor

Published by Michael Arnzen in Pithy Morbid Thoughts on September 7th, 2005

“The consumer’s side of the coffin lid is never ostentatious.”
– Stanislaw J. Lec (died 1966)


Twisted Prompts for Sicko Writers

Published by Michael Arnzen in Instigation on September 6th, 2005

It’s twisted memoir time!

+ Dramatize your own funeral (and/or wake) from the viewpoint of the person in attendance most likely to be bored by it all.
+ Look deep inside and mull over your greatest fear. Now write about what you think caused you to be so scared of this silly little thing. Consider everything out there that’s even scarier.
+ Write about being tortured in hell for your own greatest sin. Go on. You deserve it.

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Instigation is a WEEKLY department in Hellnotes newsletter.


Ransom Notes & Reviews

Published by Michael Arnzen in Arnzen News on September 1st, 2005

A really great review of Play Dead has just been published in RANSOM NOTES, the mystery reader newsletter published by Barnes and Noble: “If Play Dead were a poker hand, it would undoubtedly be a royal flush.” Positive reviews have been coming in this month all over the place. Booklist (the journal of the American Library Association) is highly recommending the book, writing: “Established contemporary horror author Arnzen serves up a chilling brew of gritty dialogue and hard-boiled, James -Ellroy-style action that, by means of unexpected plot twists, never fails to keep readers alert and guessing.” Kind readers are also already posting great reviews of the book on sites like Amazon.com, where you get the book at a good price. This book is a somewhat experimental horror novel, so I’m very excited that readers and reviewers alike are enjoying it! If you’ve already read it, please consider posting a short review someplace to help spread the word and share your thoughts.

If you live in the Pittsburgh region, come on by one of my readings (listed below) and pick up a copy! Otherwise, signed copies are available at online bookstores like shocklines.com.