The International House of Mojo - The International House of Mojo -

News from Wednesday, September 26, 2007

10th Birthday
Posted by Gabez | Comments: 104

The International House of Mojo turned ten years old this year: what follows is an article chronicling a history of the site, mainly picking up from where Spaff's article left off in 2000. Read! Interviews from previous staff members. View! Exciting images from the past. Gasp! As old secrets are finally uncovered.

See it all, and then some, over here.

Update: Page 3 has been updated with answers from Jake Rodkin.

Update 2 (by Remi): Read all about Gabez's rise to the top, and the long fall down.

Update 3: a birthday chat will take place this Sunday in #monkey-island on Gamesurge (connect to irc.gamesurge.net using mIRC). New people as well as old regulars are welcome: use this as a chance to chat to lots of other Mojoers in real-time 3D! Post on this forum thread if you need any help.

Post a new Comment | Comments for this news post:

Comment by: Skyfox \| Posted Tuesday, November 27, 2007
OMG! My login still works! I REALLY enjoyed reading this! Brought back so many memories! Met up with Spaff purely at random in Birmingham this week, sooo didn?t recognise him. Just wanna say how much this community helped me when I really needed it. You guys may not have known it, but doing the SCUMM Bar and interacting with the community kept me sane! I also feel compelled to apologise to people I may have offended in the later years before I left the community, I know I was a bit of a dick ;p Just for the record, currently work at Sony Europe as a QA Team Leader and am getting married in 3 months time to a gorgeous girl called Ruth! Again, great article and all the best to all!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: black_sheep \| Posted Monday, October 01, 2007
100 ?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: CaptainDread \| Posted Monday, October 01, 2007
How appropriate you fight like a cow.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: black_sheep \| Posted Monday, October 01, 2007
its the other way around, i fight like a dairy farmer, and you fight like a cow. See? I always win. I am rubber you are glue.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
I insist we make it past 100 replies. It's our duty.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Monday, October 01, 2007
You're fired.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: CaptainDread \| Posted Monday, October 01, 2007
Balogna!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: clone2727 \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
I concur.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: counting_pine \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
I disagree, and think we should make every effort to avoid it.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Monday, October 01, 2007
How do you do that?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: 8 of 12 \| Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007
Happy birthday, Mojo! Great article, kudos to Gabez and all involved! :)
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Paco \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
Happy Birthday Mojo! Awesome article and it brings back many memories. Ha! I vaguely remember drawing a backgroundpiece for the WONKY game with a dumpster in it and Jake kept telling me the dumpster looked like it was melting. So I left the WONKY team 'cause of artistic differences. I love you Mojo
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
Not to forget the art you did for the Mojo polls! Great stuff there.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Duncan \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
I was a really infrequent Mojo visitor from about 2000, so it'd be disingenuous to be too effusive, but generally I was in the habit of liking Mojo quite a bit. That comes from the heart. Also, after having been a part of that diseased Mojo byproduct Idle Thumbs, I admire Mojo greatly for managing to exist.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: SarahS \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
Um, just for the record, I'm not married to Jim...soo....if you could remove that, we can just avoid the whole bloody, violent mess that will undoubtedly ensue if you don't. Thanks! :)
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
Anyway it's removed.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
Oh, sorry. You said you were. Or are you married to another Mojo person instead?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: black_sheep \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT SIMON JEFFERY E3 2003 INTERVIEW YOU GUYS PROMISED TO POST? happy anniversary mojo!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I think it got erased in a server crash, followed by Telarium's computer crashing. In that interview, Simon said many things that weren't true, like the fact that Clint Bajakian would be writing the soundtrack to Sam & Max Freelance Police. I guess after Clint heard that Simon said that, he went over to him at E3 and asked about getting the gig, since he'd never heard any such thing until it came out in the interview. Oh well.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: telarium \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I believe he also said that the cancelled Sam and max game would have "2D sets" and that their popular Star Wars game would fund the less mainstream titles. And he also reiterated that there was "no doubt" that there would be a MI5. But still, he meant well.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
The way I remember him saying it, I don't remember him implying that the sets would actually be 2D "drawn" flat backgrounds, but that the team was going for a sort of 2D "flats" look, as in stage flats, or old budget film and TV show flats. Maybe not, but if you look at the Freelance Police trailer, you can see that everything other than Sam & Max's office and the neighboring store are sort of retro 60s looking flat illustrations of buildings, and things.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
Yeah, he also talked about Grim Fandango 2. Sniff.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: black_sheep \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
Oh. Wow. Now I see why you guys didn't post the interview. Good thing, too. I would be going crazy if they announced a new Grim Fandango and a 2D Sam and Max, and Clint doing the music. Man, I might have even killed myself when the cancellation of both games would be announced. Wow Mojo, you just saved one person's life, without even knowing!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: telarium \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
For the record, I do not believe he said anything about Grim Fandango 2 during our interviews.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
No, that was in an interview with PCZone. Sorry.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: black_sheep \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
Whatever dude, Tom Sarris was it? The PR at the time? Anyway, you saved a life. Be happy.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
No no, it was Simon Jeffery definitely. He really got PCZ's Will Porter excited with all that talk of MI5 and GF2.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Remi O \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
Nay, Tom Sarris. More here.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Friday, September 28, 2007
Damn you and your solid facts.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Erwin_Br \| Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007
It's getting a bit cramped in this space here. When was the last time we had over 70 replies anyway?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007
That would be the time that LucasArts canceled Sam & Max 2. ;~
Reply to this comment

Comment by: clone2727 \| Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007
Maybe we can keep going and make the text go vertical!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007
Let's take this to 80!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Erwin_Br \| Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007
Good thing I'm not claus... closetro... clao... afraid of small spaces.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: black_sheep \| Posted Saturday, September 29, 2007
Btw, is "canceled" spelled with an "L" or double "L"? I always get mixed up. I guess it can go both ways.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Metallus \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
"Canceled" is the American spelling, "Cancelled" is the spelling most everywhere else.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: clone2727 \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
Yes, it bugs me. I always prefer the latter but spellcheck tells me otherwise...
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
Help! I can't breathe!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: QueZTone \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
L o o k t h e t e x t g o e s v e r t i g o ! ?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Erwin_Br \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
w o w
Reply to this comment

Comment by: manny_c44 \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
Really?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: clone2727 \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
90!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Murray-Mint \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
gz!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: clone2727 \| Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007
&
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Bobbin Threadbare \| Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007
blargh im squashed
Reply to this comment

Comment by: clone2727 \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Happy 10th!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Glo_kidd \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Happy birthday mojo :D!!!!!!! Here to many many more Cheers!!! Favorite site since the Scumm Bar :P You Guys Rock :D
Reply to this comment

Comment by: JBRAA \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Oh, happy 10th birthday!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Thanks for the archiving work (I used Mojo Art)
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Is what Remi said true, Gabez? That you really reviewed a game you had never played? And you merely based your review on what other magazines were saying about the game? Oh, wait, he didn't say that part did he? Scratch that.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
And screenshots. Ssh. Are you coming on IRC this Sunday?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
If I remember and can be bothered, you can count on me! ;)
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Qouhog \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Has it really been 10 years? I?m sure if someone was to add up all of Mojo?s downtime over the last decade, it could very well come out to a year meaning?HAPPY 9TH CELEVERSADAY! Mojo is like some kind of monster that, just when you think it?s dead, comes back again and again because it?s not a monster, but a robot powered by the tears of a thousand orphans?orphans with diseases and cockney accents. Looking at those chatlogs brought back memories of watching those chats take place while doing something else, good times. Seriously though, Mojo and the community were/are great and if it wasn?t for them, then I?d be doing something constructive with my spare time instead of writing stupid articles and reviews with a few other former community members. Here?s to 10 more!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: woxel1 \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Nothing important to contribute here, just don't ever pull an "Idle Thumbs" on us, k? Keep that dream alive.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: telarium \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Ah, I remember when I used to care about things. Good times! You know, in retrospect, Spaff was like a bad alcoholic father. He gave birth to the site, would disappear for months at a time, return unexpectedly, criticize everything, and disappear again. Plus I think he may have actually been drunk at the time. This article has helped me come to terms with my abusive past and can now move on! Thanks Mojo!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007
Did he hit you?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Blondebeard \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The good old days when I was annoying Skyfox to put a link to MILegend.com on Scummbar, or Spaff to host my site, or Jake to comment some small design change on my site :D I still remember very clearly the black and white design of Mixnmojo, that's probably the first time I visited this site. Congrats Mojo!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Murray-Mint \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
This brings back the memories! Also, #monkey-island reunion this Sunday at 8PM GMT. The old days will return again!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: _Zaarin_ \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Happy birthday, mixnmojo! One of the first sites I visited and it seems like I'm still here. Fuck.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: QueZTone \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Great arrrrrticle :) Enjoyed looking back on those days.. It's funny, whenever I have a moment of boredom on my computer I instinctively boot up a browser and without thinking i type those letters: mixnmojo.com We love teh mojo!!1
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Remi O \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The humorous part of Jake's interview, and I use "humorous" liberally here, is that Mojo 9.5 as a news system does exist and work. And it's all CSS. Look, I'm posting from it now!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I know it exists. I browsed Mojo from it for a while, and it's the only version of Mojo that can load some of the really old news that seems to choke DJG's code... its just that Mojo 9.5's not... available.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: DJG \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
How dare you. My code doesn't break. It must be your browser.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
See, back in the day, you would say something like that and then I would reload and you would have secretly fixed it when my back was turned. Memories... :'(
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Diduz \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Happy Birthday, Mixnmojo! Thanks for providing your trustful service through the ages.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Dalixam \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Congratulations Mixnmojo!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: elTee \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Nostalgia is a terrible, terrible curse. 2007 is also the first year in about four years where I voluntarily stopped routinely signing into IRC, mostly because everyone really has moved on and doesn't have any free time anymore (myself included, sort-of.) But now I half expect the chat rooms to be full of other junked-up memory fiends, and it will be alive and beautiful again. The other half of me thinks that it will still be a tumbleweed range. It is the tension between these two poles - a restless idealism on one hand, and a sense of impending doom on the other - that keeps me going. Or something. Isn't there supposed to be a #monkey-island reunion on Sunday?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
If I can go on holiday to China, get a serious girlfriend in those two weeks, and STILL have time to take pictures and research a Mojo article on Indiana Jones & The Emperor's Tomb, I think that proves that real life and Mojo can truly co-exist. That is until my girlfriend starts to have words with me at some point in the near future.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: spaff \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
This is awful! You guys are doing a terrible job, I think i need to make a return and inject some FUN into this place, tsk!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Quick! Bar the doors!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Marek \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Fuck it. This needs a serious reply. I love Mojo. It, and the SCUMM Bar, have been responsible for so many things in my life. Back in 1996 when I picked up a random game magazine I saw CMI on the cover, and decided right then that as soon as I'd get internets I was going to make a MI fansite instead of a Command & Conquer fansite (oh man, what a mistake that would have been). So I did, and I quickly discovered there were others like me, who really loved MI and all the other LEC games. Spaff was the first person to ever e-mail me about my website ever, and it's bizarre and awesome that he's one of my best friends to this day. It's amazing that I spent my most of my Saturday nights in high school chatting in #monkey-island and not going out. In hindsight, it's totally awesome and 100% unregrettable that I did, because the enthusiasm and humor of the community wouldn't have inspired me otherwise. And if Jake hadn't invited me to come to E3 in... 2000 or whatever the year was, then I wouldn't have gone to subsequent trade shows and conferences, wouldn't have met all the other wonderful people associated with Mojo and LEC, and we definitely wouldn't have started Idle Thumbs. In hindsight it's incredible that Jake even suggested back then on ICQ that I get on a plane to the other side of the world and meet up and it's still unbelievable that I did, even though my first E3 was a complete disaster with me being sick, deaf and confused, leaving a terrible first impression on Jake and the others. There's so many memories here already that it makes me feel super old. Driving around LA listening to Trapezoid's bizarre voiceover file mixes, meeting Metallus and learning that all he ever does is spill drinks, meeting Dominic and all the fine people who worked at LEC, and... well, too much to mention, and just generally always discussing obscure community in-jokes and shifty-eying it up, it's the greatest stuff ever. My hat goes off to everyone in the MI and LEC community. It's been the most incredible thing ever and I'm glad it influenced so much of my life. Hope this post wasn't too lame or wishy-washy, but after reading this article, it really had to be said.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: telarium \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The best thing to come out of your visits with us to E3 was that video of you "dancing."
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Marek \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
To this day I still have nightmares where that one animated gif is stamped all over my vision stretching all the way into my periphery. Someday I will forward you guys the psychiatrists' bills.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Metallus \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I've never seen you wear a hat. But seriously, All my web knowledge has its roots in the Mojo network, and so I guess I probably wouldn't be eating or paying rent checks on time were it not for trying to figure out how to code the Sword Club website in high school. My life would be very different if ZeroXcape hadn't handed the Grim Fandango Network over to me suddenly, or if Jake & Spaff had done the sensible thing and ignored my pleas to update the news during the first version of Mini-mojo. Little weird moments like these have steered my life in its current direction. But yes, Maximar is correct. I spilled some drinks at E3.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Marek \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I have a miniature hat in my pocket specifically for taking off. I'm surprised you didn't know that.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Marek \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Good lord, that was way too long.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Dalixam \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
You didn't mention me! I guess our night under the stars where we shared a sleeping bag meant more to me than it did to you. Turns face away to sulk
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Marek \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I HATE YOU!!!!! I ALWAYS DID. What I mean is, many people are clearly missing from my reminiscing of the old days. That night under the stars was truly magical.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Thriko \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
But well worth writing. ; It is true, this community is superb in all manner of ways. I severely doubt I would have ended up as a full-time designer if I hadn't been continually tempted into working on LEC-related fan sites when I was a youngster, aspiring to be make something as cool as Mojo and its hosted sites. I'm guessing lots and lots of people have been very much influenced in life-changing ways by Mojo and its community, and for that Mojo is great. Great!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Haggis \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Congratulations!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Marek \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
This article brought a smile to my face. Thanks. Also your picture of me in the staff face book is highly bizarre. What is that guy anyway?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Gabez \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Some random Viking!
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Murray the Chao \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Happy Birthday, Mixnmojo! To commerate, I am giving each of you a Hypnobear! [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/MithosYggdrasil/Hypnobear.jpg[/IMG]
Reply to this comment

Comment by: MrSneeze \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Happy birthday IHM .o0~confetti~0o. (or something like that anyway)
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Metallus \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thanks for existing, Mixnmojo! Well done on this article. Somehow I don't remember the Mojo infighting being so extreme, but maybe I just didn't see a lot of it. Thinking back, I was sort of preoccupied with the infighting over at LucasForums at the time.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Gabez is a drama queen. This is known and documented. PS: Speaking of... Remi, where is your epilogue that you promised you'd write, about the two years when Gabez (presumably with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in his sleeve), decided he was too cool for Mojo and IRC and gave everyone the cold shoulder?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: elTee \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Heeeeeeeee. I almost forgot about that! It was during a strange time where everyone was descending into some kind of weird deviance - PTDC was an alcoholic, Thrik was strolling towards Neo-Fascism, I had become an overnight drug advocate and Gabez was obsessed with a preteen girl who lived in his village and also starred in some movies. It all spiralled out of control, inevitably, probably because Remi was very good at winding Gabez up. He responded badly to some 'geek' comments, then Thrik and Benny pushed him over the edge during a game of Quake. The things that happened on MSN after that were also slightly insane. So yeah Remi, write the full story immediately.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Remi O \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Well seeing you answered the interview... I will look at it tomorrow.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Udvarnoky \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Best article ever.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I suck for not answering your questions in time. Wish you would have told me when the article was actually going up.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Remi O \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Yeah, because really, it hasn't been in the staff forum for a week! ? You should answer them though, it could easily be appended.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Read... LucasForums? Since when is this expected of anyone. Anyway, I answered Gabez's questions today right after writing that comment.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jake \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
That article is amazing. Good work! Awesome.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Jayel \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I've been visiting this site for years and I still feel like a newcomer...
Reply to this comment

Comment by: manny_c44 \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
It's been long, although I wasn't here at the very beginning. Hilarious article.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: bgbennyboy \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
This is a brilliant article, injokes, nostalgia, inter-staff sniping, its got it all.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: bgbennyboy \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I also love the DJG interview. From Mojo code-monkey to a phd in Space Science. And we all just thought he was some bloke with a bag on his head.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: DJG \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I tried plastic bags for a while (they are cheaper) but they kept making me lose consciousness....
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Harder to draw on, too.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Thriko \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I've only read the first page, but this article is great. The old quotes saying things like "I wonder what this place'll be like in three years" are also really sad to read. Mainly because I'm accelerating towards death much faster than I'd like. It really doesn't feel like so long since I began visiting Mojo. It just feels weird to be perfectly honest. Weird that I was looking at an IRC window almost exactly the same as I'm look at right now back when I was just 11, and yet with everyone in it including myself having totally moved on with life so much. God. This kind of reminding of how much time has actually passed is totally uncalled for. :(
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Erwin_Br \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I really can't believe 1998, when I first visited this site, is almost 10 years ago. I feel old. Where did the time go?
Reply to this comment

Comment by: Remi O \| Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Am I really that bitter? I guess I'm OK with that.
Reply to this comment

Comment by: The Tingler \| Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Easy way to find out - which tastes nicer: lemons or strawberries?
Reply to this comment

Post a new Comment:
You must have a user account in order to leave comments.

Return to Front Page | Search News Archives | Browse House of Mojo News