Why would anyone want to do business with an outfit calling themselves Gamecock Media? Especially one run by the same people who ran a company into the ground with the exact same business plan, trying to bring games to market without all the classic publisher oversight and occasionally making total asses of themselves?

That's pretty much why. I can't claim I asked every one of the nine developers at Gamecock's EIEIO 2008 showcase the question, but I did most of them, and they all had the same answer: "They let us keep our IP."

Can't argue with that. In truth, I have nothing against anyone who can bring good games to market. For goodness' sake, Gamecock have at least a few bona fide hits on their hands, except that their hands-off attitude toward their development means that it's pretty much entirely up to the developers to execute.

As for the games themselves, they're all over the map, both in terms of apparent quality in their unfinished state (and more than half won't be released for at least six months) and target markets, from very family-friendly to keep-the-kiddos-away.

I had a fine time, shuffling between the enclaves set up in the ampitheater back lot of Stubb's BBQ in Austin in the freezing rain, not that I expected anyone at Gamecock to control the weather. I just wish I hadn't worn short sleeves.

And I wish I hadn't been screwing around instead of writing on this, because I really meant to do some reporting on games this time around. But, you know, Nick Chester's done a pretty good job of it.