Iconic game and psychodelic graphics programmer Jeff Minter has recently come under fire for his comments about his latest Xbox Live Arcade flop Space Giraffe.  Another case of BAD (blogging and drinking) turned bad.

Fresh off a two day stint of sobriety, Minter called an impromptu press conference at the 2008 Birkenstock Holiday Market Expo in Amersterdam to announce his next (and unexpectedly soon) game release.  Shown to Expo attendees behind genuine llama fleece curtains, the game garnered rave reviews from those that played it.

While no Sarcastic Gamer correspondents were actually able to play it first hand, the game looked strikingly similar to the recently Space Giraffe.  One difference to note is that the game is now being shipped on disc instead of being delivered electronically.  The other odd thing was the loading screen between levels periodically popped up a message asking the player to lick the “special” page in the instruction manual based on the level they were playing. 

I have to admit some confusion regarding the amount of enjoyment going on and the actual gameplay on screen (the llama fleece curtains left plenty of opportunity for stray peeks).  In fact, one of the most vocal “fans” of the game was actually playing while staring at a crate of sandals and holding his own shoe instead of a controller.

On their way out, I happened to notice one of the players still holding the game manual.  Taped over what appeared to be the Space Giraffe logo was a mailing label and the typed title Llama Soft Design Invaders with a phone number for ordering replacement manuals.  Strange.

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