Turns out I’ve got a lot of pent up malevolence that was released while playing A Game of Thrones. I need something like that on a regular basis as it’s not appropriate to engage in evil queen sorts of activities at my job.
Full Story »Diablo 3: The Anticipation
I am both sad and proud to admit that I have broken a mouse in the heat of the moment playing Diablo. I died a horrible death and may have slammed my mouse down on my desk a few too many times. Oops.
Full Story »Games: Dungeon Siege III
Normally, I’d see a game all the way through before delivering a verdict, but so far Dungeon Siege 3 (by Square Enix and Obsidian) have left an impression that’s too strong to set aside. Unfortunately, it’s not a good one.
Full Story »Videogame Flashback: Halo
If you look back at games that are iconic to their console, Halo stands out as a game that not only made the Xbox what it is today but continues to be a big revenue earner for Microsoft. Putting that aside, this is a game can be considered one of the best First Person Shooters of all time and a superb example of how you create and maintain a successful franchise in branding, marketing and game development.
Full Story »Videogame Flashback: Classic Videogame Villians
Old videogame, the classics, had many things we loved which in essence have now made them … “classic.” Part of that love was the love/hate relationship we had withe the bosses, villains, banes of our existence when we got to the boss battles that would drive us nuts.
Full Story »Videogame Flashback: Gaming Myths and Legends
Sure there are many others old gaming myths and legends, but these choice few are prime examples of the old school version of a viral video. Maybe by the time we get to another generation of game systems there will be some legends and myths from our current generation of games and consoles.
Full Story »Video Game Flashback: The Nintendo Power Glove (1989)
Somewhere in there world there is either a warehouse full of these or in the various basements, attics and garages of parents’ homes, there lies the remnants of what was something that was truly ahead of its time. While it may not score any monetary value at this point, the Nintendo Power Glove does stand as an example of forward thinking and innovation in video game technology.
Full Story »Videogame Flashback: Mario
Even if Nintendo decided today to stop making Mario games he has not only cemented his place in videogame history, he is the epitome of the longevity of this industry and an icon that we can be proud to call our own.
Full Story »Videogame Flashback: Pac Man (1980)
To date Pac-Man is the only videogame to have eight awards in the Guinness Book of Records: Gamers Edition. No other game so far has matched it’s success, popularity or longevity in the industry.
All this from a yellow circle eating dots. Go figure.
Full Story »Videogame Flashback: Videogame One Liners
And of course the all time favorite — from Zero Wing. Nonsensical, obtuse and the kind of line that makes you wonder what the actual translation of this line was in its original language (whatever that was).
“All your base are belong to us!”
Videogame Flashback: The Atari 2600 (1977)
During it’s tenure and even after the crash Atari kept selling units until it was finally discontinued in 1992. Not a bad run for videogame console that has left an indelible mark on gaming history and is basically the reason we have a lot of what we take for granted today in gaming.
Full Story »Game Review: Dead Space 2
I have to admit, I felt the first Dead Space game fell short of being frightening in a lot of ways. The biggest problem was the protagonist, Isaac Clarke, whose face never see (save for the very beginning and end) and never says word throughout the game.
Full Story »Videogame Flashback: Best Videogames of the Last Decade
We had a good run this past 10 years. There were a lot of good games, new peripherals, and new consoles to look back on as well. We started the decade with a new batch of consoles and ended with three consoles that have motion control. As we edge close to having our own holodecks, and neck microchip implants, let’s look forward to another fine decade of great innovation, amazing technology and most importantly — great games.
Full Story »2010 Videogame Profits – A Different Dynamic
Don’t let those Call of Duty numbers deceive you. Apparently despite the gazillion dollars that one game made in less than a month, overall, the last year of the past decade seemed to have been pretty much the same as 2009. At least that’s what the latest reports from the NPD group says. In total the industry pulled in around $15 billion, give or take a few which is apparently is not bad or good .. it’s just the same.
Full Story »DC Universe Online Tries to Take on WOW: Will It Work?
World of Warcraft (WOW) owns the MMO subscription market. That’s not an exaggeration. With millions and millions of subscribers, a game that broke into the mainstream lore and a social network that rivals Twitter and Facebook, WOW has set the standard for what a successful online subscription game is. Could there be a worthy competitor? Enter DC Universe Online(DCUO).
Full Story »Missile Command, The Movie: AYFKM?
Despite a litany of craptaculars from Mario to Tomb Raider and the fact that this game has no back story, someone over at Fox has actually greenlit the production of … a Missile Command movie. By the way, Atari seems to be the publisher/developer du jour because they have had two other games picked up in the last two years, Asteroids and Rollercoaster Tycoon. Thankfully, neither of them have made it to the silver screen … yet.
Full Story »Infinity Blade (for iOS mobile)
By Mike Brendan
Let’s get one thing clear: just because you have the technology to do something in the entertainment industry, you are not obligated to use it. This started with CGI effects in films (The Star Wars prequels and the latest iteration of I Am Legend being examples) and has moved into the realm of 3D (like Clash of the Titans, Saw 3D, and anyone making games using the same sort of visuals).
Infinity Blade, by Epic Games and ChAIR Entertainment, can be added to this list.
Full Story »Synapse: A Free Character-Driven RPG
RPG-creator Greg Christopher argues that RPGs for consoles are limited because you are still restricted by someone else’s world, thereby limiting your choices. Your characters as well as the world around them can only evolve and change according to the settings prescribed by the person who designed that game. Greg saw this limitation and created Synapse, which allows players “to take all the ideas that you have about how you wish your console games would actually work, and actually play them.”
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