So, you've read through this site top to bottom and you think it's the best of all time? I knew you would. however, there are other sites on the Internet (some of which are quite good) and so here are a few which come with my recommendation.
X-Files Sites
Bugs Sites
Red Dwarf Sites
Monkey Island Sites
Gabriel Knight Sites
Knightmare Sites
Sites from people I know
The Official
X-Files Site: Well, you can't say fairer than that. Possibly the most
comprehensive Episode Guide on the web, but as it is official it lacks the conjuncture
and superstition which make so many other great pages. Following problems with
webmasters and various corporate traumas, the site has finally received a much needed
makeover, sporting Shockwave enhanced visuals and (shock!) regular updates! Except
now. Because the series has ended. Aww...
The X-Files
Timeline: Without a doubt the most complicated thing ever devised by mankind
in the history of the universe is The X-Files Mythology. Common heresay would have
us believe it was an integral part of The X-Files television show. However, more recent
research (by a panel of: me) has decided it was in fact all an insidious plan to keep
geeks off the streets for nine years and to try and wipe them out by exploding their
brains from exposure to tedious voice-over. Judge for yourselves at this exceptionally
nifty little site which lays out the mythology in an easy to follow timeline format. Don't
blame me, though, if your brain explodes as a result.
The Official BUGs
Homepage: After four years, BUGs now has hit the web for real. Like most
official pages, the BUGs site has an extensive episode guide, character bios,
background information and teasers about forthcoming attractions. Lots of pictures
and content to get your teeth into, and a discussion group to get your.. er...words into.
Unfortunately, due to the axing of BUGs the site is now deader than a great big dead
thing. Go on, try poking it with a stick to see if it moves...
Bureau 3: Any respectable cult series cannot hope to become
respectable, even in geek circles, until someone somewhere starts complaining that
they can write it better and then, for no particular reason, sits down and actually writes
an entire story for nobody's amusement but their own. Thus, fan fiction was born and
what a wonderful thing it is. It's like writing for a cult TV series... except nobody reads
it. So, very much like writing for a cult TV series, then. This is the one for BUGs
containing, among other things, the Great BUGs Spoof of which I wrote the ultra
complex and pun filled final chapter. And very funny the whole thing is too.
The BUGs Tour: The great thing about BUGs is that it's set
in London, and the great thing about London is that it is a real place. No, really. You
can walk around it and everything! With this knowledge at her fingerprints, BUGs fan
and London resident Miranda2001 constructed what she describes as the BUGs tour
where you can see all sorts of funny, futuristic buildings used in the creation of the
series. And, having participated in it myself, I can confirm it's jolly good, too. Take a
look for yourself, then go to London and try and catch a tube that'll take you to
Uxbridge. Go on, it'll take you hours.
The
Official Red Dwarf Site: Eleven years and eight series later, we finally get an
official site. And as with all official sites, it's full of inside information and absolutely
no fun speculation or back biting whatsoever. But what it does have is oodles and
oodles of news. Like, every week. Which is impressive as there really isn't a lot to say
about Red Dwarf on a weekly basis. Except it's still not being made. And the movie is
a really, really terrible idea. Big kudos for the DVD updates, too. Much better than the
eventual DVDs themselves, it has to be said...
Kryten's Home
Page: This one gets a big mention as it is the one created by comic actor and
writer, Robert Llewellyn (who plays Kryten in 'Red Dwarf') other than shameless
advertising for his books, it is a very amusing and nicely photographed site. It's
expanded to incorporate coverage of the Red Dwarf movie, Scrapheap Challenge and
all the other worthless tat Robert is responsible for (only kidding, Mr. Llewellyn. Love
you.)
The Pickle Jar: Good site. Shite name. That would be my
summation if I only had four words, but as I have considerably more than that I'll say
that The Pickle Jar is a nice, comprehensive site full of great RD titbits. But what
you're *really* going here for are the amazingly tough quizzes at which I've done
stonkingly well because I'm a genius who knows all sorts of useless knowledge about
British Sci-Fi. Think you can beat me? Click through and do your worst! (Or, if you
actually want to win, your best)
The Gap
Homepage: The official(ish) site for top Christian youth group, GAP has
established itself on its own site. Co-written by numerous members of the group
(including my good self, the previously mentioned Tim Sparks and fellow 'Gapper',
Paul Gray), it contains all you need to make you want to go there and meet these
'individuals'. Includes pictures, timetables and comedy segments by yours truly. If you
visit, be sure to sign the guestbook and make us look wanted!
Pages of the Tim: Tim Sparks offers his personal choices of
links around the Net (including the obviously linked worlds of Tolkien and Men in
Black). A big part of this site is juggling and the rather good Christian juggling
troupe, Jublio, with links and info for the taking, so why not go there now and see
what's 'going down'. (I just crack myself up, sometimes) More recently Tim has
decided to inflict his musical compositions onto an unprepared world. And thanks to
the wonders of computers you can enjoy the truly bizarre sound of Tim harmonising
with himself. The big cheat.
The
Benjy: A page by Ben (Tim's brother, you would never guess, would you?) A site
offering Ben's own insight into the worlds of computer games, philosophy and books.
Reviews are available for numerous Tolkien and Monkey Island matters. Ben proudly
claims not to be a great critic, you won't be pushed to see why.... :) The site also
features a nicely flourishing Beatles MIDI library (IF the links ever work. It's been
nearly a year since the last update, a case of sloth or a poor memory? You decide...but
I'll help by saying it's probably both)
Out of the
Blue: A slightly more representative taste of what Ben's been up to for the past
three years (besides the "Oxford thing") can be found with A Cappella sensations Out
of the Blue. There's already enough hyperbole to be found at the soothing homepage of
the Oxford song-sters, and pretty much all of it justified. Take a look and a listen, and
then hunt out the original version of "Title of the Song." Go on, you know you want
to.
The Fire of Artifice:An extraordinarily silly name for a site, I
know. But what do you expect from the Mad
Woman? Read her pet loves and pet hates and laugh at very cute baby pictures. (And
then laugh even more after she kills me for using one here....) You may have seen that
the site isn't there any more, but I'm keeping the link only because I like the photo.
Awww, so cute!
LucasArts
Entertainment Company: I suppose I'll have to give these people a mention. OK.
so they may be one of the most respected groups of people on Earth who made these
games and have loads of stuff on their 'ample' site. But they don't have any wallpaper
(tut, tut). And what's all this silly flash stuff about? Whatever happened to a nice
simple site designed by people with little or no talent with nice pictures and lots of
text? Oh, right, you're already here.
The Monkey Island Scumm Bar: Quite probably the best
Monkey Island site you will ever visit. Loads of information about all four games,
downloads, a novel (!), a message board and loads more stuff. Also notable for
spending more time down than practically anything, ever. Including the combined
trousers of JFK, Bill Clinton and Casanova. I can, of course, write this safe in the
knowledge that none of the above will ever read this site. Especially JFK and
Casanova. Because they're dead.
The International
House of Mojo: Another great Monkey Island site offering more of the same, and
some completely different things too. Check out especially the excellent Unofficial
Monkey Island 4 trailer, co-hosted with the SCUMM Bar, which is bears a striking
resemblance to LucasArts official one which was created *after* this one. It just makes
me all warm and fuzzy to know big corporate types wet their pants every time fan sites
do something creative.
The Official
Gabriel Knight 3 Site: The third game in the Gabriel Knight series is without
doubt the crowning glory to the series' metaphorical great big shiny statue thingy. The
Official Site includes screenshots, movies, forums and a Tim Curry
soundfile. (He's the voice of Gabriel Knight) also interesting because it was meant to
mirror the
interface of the game's computer, SIDNEY, but doesn't... Life's just full of little
letdowns. Like the fact that Sierra have now removed the site. No doubt to make way
for more tedious Half Life rip offs or real time strategy games which are about as
interesting as poking an ant around a hockey pitch for an hour and a half (apologies to
the Official Ant Push Federation for the previous slur on their fine, yet boring,
sport.)
The Gabriel Knight Message Board: Well, Gabriel
Knight sites are disappearing quicker than a bowl of chocolates at a Weight Watchers
convention. However the Official Message Board, long the pantheon of the fan
community, is still going relatively strong and still attracts comment from some of the
more 'official' names in the GK hierarchy. This is an immensely good thing. And a
good site, just don't expect me to ever finish that latest fan fiction I started...
JaneJensen.com: Jane Jensen is the creator and writer of
the Gabriel Knight series and, therefore, one of the most talented people on the planet.
Why? Because I say so. And you obviously believe I have some taste otherwise why
would you be poking around my Links page looking for places to go, hmm? With
semi-regular updates and semi-confusing navigation it's typical of all Official sites but
with lots of bits of novels and forthcoming computer adventures to keep you salivating.
If you're the type that eats books and computer disks, that is. And, if so, well done
you!
The Home Page of Knightmare: The first site I
found on the Net was this rather white one from a Knightmare loving American. It
contains info about most of the series (guess who submitted half of it?) and some stuff
about the characters and other bits and bobs. It also has video clips of the show and a
message board to swap tapes. Just visit it now and reminisce.
Knightmare,
The TV Show: After months of searching I was finally guided to another
Knightmare site, and this one written by a Brit! Hurrah! The design here is excellent
and now it's fully updated and regularly added to it has everything you could ever want
to know about Knightmare. Ever. And even articles by me because that's the mark of a
truly great website: as I'm sure you know by now. With these two Knightmare sites,
you can get two great perspectives on the show from across the Atlantic in different
directions....if you like that sort of thing, obviously...
© 2003 sculder_mully@yahoo.com
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