Intelligent conversation about games… and stuff
Timeless Game Visuals
Like several of the people on my buddy list, I've been playing XBLA gem Limbo. The game, with its eerie settings, story, and gameplay is trumped only by its striking visual style: black and white...
Game Pitch: Guitar Hero RPG
We know: it's 2010. And yes, we're still fans of the occasional spin on Rock Band or Guitar Hero, though the series have become repetitive in recent years and milking is undoubtedly in full swing. ...
The Gaming Industry Trends of E3 2010, Part 3: Safe...
Click here for Part 1 of the trends review | Part 2
As technology advances and pushes the limits of gaming, there has been an inevitable resurgence in classic gaming standards, with possibly none...
The Gaming Industry Trends of E3 2010, Part 1: Technology
Each year, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) showcases the games and technology that we will be playing over the foreseeable future. Often, that can mean products that are debuting in the Fall,...
Interview: 38 Studios' Founder Curt Schilling
"How cool would it be if..?"
Those are the words at the top of the homepage of Boston (Maynard)- based game developer 38 Studios. That's the kind of question that all of us have asked at one time...
Earlier today, Major Nelson revealed through his blog that Microsoft will be raising XBox Live prices by $10/year from $50 to $60 on November 1st. Unsurprisingly, the Internet exploded with both negative and supportive commentary.
In this edition of #GameChat, we ask you what YOU think of the $10 price hike. Leave a comment below, or let us know via Twitter by using the hashtag: #GameChat.
XBox Live at $60/year: Blown out of proportion, or the nail in your Live coffin?
Category : Community
I had a sort of dilemma when planning my review of Singularity. On one hand, it is pretty clear in what genre this game wants to be classified in — the hybrid FPS/RPG style of BioShock, for example — but it could never be as fresh or groundbreaking. On the other, it is the middle of a scorching summer filled with late-night work weeks, and I’ve wanted nothing more than escapism to make me forget about the projects that have been haunting me.
To try and review Singularity from the standpoint of its artistic significance and how it fits in against similar games wouldn’t do it (or my experience with it) any justice. The game isn’t special; it’s hardly spectacular. In fact, had Singularity been released at any other point in the already jam-packed gaming year, it might be reviewed with much poorly in comparison to the high profile properties surrounding it.
But it wasn’t released in the Spring, and it isn’t going to be released in the Fall. It was released during the aforementioned Summer when it was the only game of it’s type, much like Red Faction was last year. And for that reason, for the need to play a game and forget about the automotive industry that I work in, Singularity is the perfect getaway.
Category : Reviews
When I first heard about Inception, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. “It looks cool, I guess. Nothing I haven’t seen before.” I’m normally a sucker for mind-bending or “smart” sci-fi. It wasn’t until the Twitter and Facebook chatter of “how great the film was” spread like an epidemic that I decided to actually see it.
I look back at my initial thoughts, and I can’t help but repeat them: It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.
Which, I guess, is why I enjoyed it so much.
Category : Reviews
Written and Contributed by: Alex Rubens | Videogame Journalist | @alexrubens
When Shank, the latest stylish game from Klei Entertainment, was revealed, it created a buzz that spread through the internet for days. On the eve of its release, I talked to Jamie Cheng, Founder and CEO of Klei, about Shank and its development. He talks everything from inspiration to his favorite weapon in the game.
Category : News
Over the next three days, the fine folks at 72 Hours Remain are punishing themselves for the greater good. Hosting a gaming marathon inspired by the 72 hours of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, the team will be playing a plethora of games over the next few days in efforts to raise donations for Child’s Play, a charity devoted to providing games, movies, and toys to hospitalized children around the globe.
From 6AM August 13th (THAT’S TODAY!) until 6AM August 16th, the group will play and complete classics like Shadow of the Colossus, ActRaiser, Wind Waker, Pikmin and more as they aim to beat last year’s total of $1500 donated. At key intervals, specific secret “events” will take place, hopefully prolonging the length of time the team will play.
The entire marathon can be watched live on their website, via Ustream.
Here’s how you can help:
- Donate to their cause! Every little bit helps. Click here to donate.
- Mention the event on Twitter, Facebook, in blogs, and in your podcasts… The more people know, the more will join in.
- Follow their official twitter account at @72hoursremain for information, news on the event, etc
It’s a great cause, and a great way to reach their goal! Now, click that donate button!
Red Dead Redemption. It’s one of the best games of the year thus far. Many of you have played it, often touting its great use of storytelling in a Western open world setting.
For those that HAVEN’T played it, now is your chance! We have one copy of the game for PS3 available to send to a lucky reader, courtesy of Rockstar Games! All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us what open world setting you’d like to see Rockstar tackle next! Europe? Space? Caveman days? It’s your call. One random commenter will receive the game.
[UPDATE: Winner, #25: ANDREW!]
Category : Community
We love BioShock. The world of Rapture is incredible. But, what many feared was that the confines of a liquid universe would eventually become stale.
Enter Irrational Games’ latest: BioShock Infinite.
Category : News
You know what happens after hours and hours of writing, follow-up, and more than a month after a big conference or expo? You forget things. Well, YOU might not, but I sure did.
Almost 2 months ago we hosted our first ever staff E3 predictions game, with the winner receiving a prize. Here’s how we did, and who won.
Category : Community, SideQuesting
Like several of the people on my buddy list, I’ve been playing XBLA gem Limbo. The game, with its eerie settings, story, and gameplay is trumped only by its striking visual style: black and white silhouettes amidst a silent film’s grainy design. The experience is borderline beautiful, and will probably still be beautiful when the eventual next gen and next next gen consoles debut.
It got me thinking about what other games will be just as good to look at in 10-15 years’ time. What makes a game’s visual style stand the test, and truly be “timeless”?
Category : Featured, SideQuesting
CodeMasters released a teaser for the third installment in the DiRT series today, appropriately titled “DiRT 3″. A slickly-designed video using transitions to showcase some of the different environments that will be available in the next game is all we get for now, but I’m already liking what I see.
As expected, particle effects are improved over previous iterations (rain and snow in particular are looking better than ever), as well as vehicle and environment rendering, which are beginning to cross into the uncanny valley as far as realism goes.
No specific release date has been announced as of yet, just a nebulous “2011″ at the end of the trailer. A simultaneous cross-platform (PC, PS3, 360) release is hoped for by this PC gamer in particular.
