Name: Dalibor
Posts by Dalibor:
- The contest starts today, Thursday February 2nd, and ends on Sunday night, February 5th, at 11:59PM Pacific Time PDT.
- Leave a comment in this post and up to three others telling us what your addiction is, and use the hashtag #skylanders in the comment, for up to 4 chances to win.
- Winner selected by SideQuesting on Monday morning, February 6th, around 10:00AM EDT.
- Winner receives our review copy of Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, an unopened Boomer Skylanders figure, and a 3DS Portal of Power.
- Available to US residents only
- Please see our official Contest Rules for more information.
- You’re going to see your baby grow, from the time you hit the “buy” button at a hosting company to the moment that you have your first 1000 views on an article, into something that you will be proud of.
- You’ll make some great connections, some in business and some in friendship, and meet some fantastic people.
- You can work at your own pace.
- You’re going to have great content to show.
- You can be as adventurous in content as you’d (legally) like to be.
- You’re going to learn to code web pages and create artwork, learn new software, and have more things that you can put on your resume in the future.
- You’ll possibly grow into a huge community of visitors and readers.
- You may be able to get review copies, access to events & people, and maybe even make money from advertising.
- You will become the “expert” on the subject in the eyes of your friends and family, and it may even lead to some great new things at your full-time job, school, or other hobbies.
- You’re going to go to bed at night with some of the biggest smiles on your face that you’ve ever had.
- Your health will deteriorate. You’ll lose sleep and gain weight, almost assuredly, if the website consumes your life.
- Your personal relationships will be strained as you’ll lose much of your free time.
- You’ll spend a LOT of money.
- You’ll have just as much negativity as, if not more than, positive encouragement. It’ll come mostly from Internet trolls and doubters.
- You’ll make enemies and be accused of stealing ideas.
- You might face some legal troubles.
- You’ll go through depression and frustration, possibly often, if things start to fall apart.
- I repeat: you’ll spend a LOT of money!
- Your website will crash, and you might lose data and visitors.
- You will have days, weeks, and months when no one will visit your website.
- You will be told that your site is insignificant, and that you should leave it to those who are professionally experienced.
- One more time: you’ll. spend. a. lot. of. money.
- Contest starts today (Friday, January 27th) and runs through Sunday, January 29th at 1:59PM EDT Eastern (10:59AM PDT Pacific).
- Tweet the message above up to once per day, Friday through Sunday, for a total of 3 chances to win.
- Winners selected by SideQuesting on Sunday afternoon, around 2:00PM EDT.
- Available to US residents only
- Please see our official Contest Rules for more information.
Giveaway: Win Skylanders!
February 2nd, 2012
All this could be yours, Skylander
I’ve personally spent nearly $125 on the Skylanders figurines. Not only are they well-crafted collectibles, but they’re a bit like a narcotic: buy and appreciate one, and then buying more is only a matter of time. It also appears as though others have the same idea, snatching up millions of the figures as soon as they’re available.
The only surefire way to relieve ourselves of the addiction is to remove them from our sites. So, we’ve decided to pass the addiction onto you!
Enter our contest and have a chance to win Skylanders for the Nintendo 3DS, a Portal of Power, and an unopened Boomer figurine. Just leave a comment in this post and up to three others telling us what your addiction is, and use the hashtag #skylanders in the comment, like this:
The contest starts today, Thursday February 2nd, and ends on Sunday night, February 5th, at 11:59PM Pacific Time PDT.
Good Luck!
RULES
Gamestorm! Tonight! Live! January 31st
January 31st, 2012
Do you need an idea? Need help writing a piece and looking for a new angle? Are you stuck and need some fresh thinking? Join a group of folks that are in the same boat, free-floating in the blue ocean, who want to help get some good ideas going.
Gamestorm is a no holds barred chat about gaming-related things that you’re working on, or would like to work on, but just need an extra push. Will the next great idea come from you? Join us tonight, January 31st from 9PM-10PM EDT (Eastern Time) in the SideQuesting Google HangOut as we work on our ideas together!
Upcoming Interview: George RR Martin
January 31st, 2012
George RR Martin, Photo by Nick Briggs
Coming up next week we have an interview with one of our favorite authors, George RR Martin. If you follow SideQuesting long enough you’ll realize that A) we’re HUGE fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, and B) we go into some nefarious buildings. Stay out of the buildings and just stick to point A.
We’re sure that you have as many questions, if not more, than we do for Mr Martin, so feel free to drop a few of them in the comments. We’ll try to get to as many as possible.
Oh, and while we’re at it… Here’s the new EPIC trailer for A Game of Thrones season 2!
LaunchPad: Starting Your Own Popular Video Game Website, Part 1
January 30th, 2012
I’m the owner of over 60 domain names. I’m a bit of a whore when it comes to website creation. If I hear a good idea, or create one of my own, and there’s no website associated with it, I jump at the chance. Most of the time, the website never gets beyond “wouldn’t it be cool if,” but sometimes I end up with SideQuesting. Or with CarDesignFetish. Or MakLink. Sometimes that idea spurs a community or a job, opening up doors that I never knew existed and resulting in friendships that I cherish to this day.
When I first got into the video game website business it was with GoGamingGiant, which I created in 2008 and left in early 2009. Later that Spring I started SideQuesting because I wanted to try something a bit different. Since that time, SideQuesting got me into PAX, E3 (something that was always a nerd’s dream for me), and gave me unbridled access to a hobby that became a passion. It’s no surprise then, that friends and strangers ask me about how to do the same.
With this regular column, and with the site posting more content about getting into the biz, I’ll be giving away all of my secrets about starting a compelling website. All of them. Even the dirty ones. From the first ideas, to working with PR, to getting into E3, I hope to touch on as many facets as possible. It’ll take time (I DO want you to come back regularly) but it’ll be worth it… I promise. You may become the next Vox Games.
There are a lot of things that go into a starting any website, not just one geared at video games. It all starts with you asking yourself this simple question:
“Why?”
If you want to get into the gaming industry from whatever aspect, starting your own website isn’t always the best way. There are thousands upon thousands of websites already created that have good readership and consistent visitors. It’s probably easier to join one rather than start your own. In fact joining a website helps reduce almost all risk, like money and legal issues, inter-staff problems, and late late late nights of fixing server issues. And, you can leave almost whenever you’d like to try something bigger and better. But there are limitations. As a new addition to the staff you’re more than likely to be lower in the pecking order for reviews and industry event access, and you may need to build up your seniority for your opinions to have as much weight as members that have been there for years.
So why start a website, then?
If there is anything that creating a website offers most of is ownership. Creation leads to ultimate satisfaction, especially if the product that you create is something that becomes successful. The ability to see something blossom that you’ve built with your (virtual) hands is going to give you more fulfillment than you could probably imagine. Nothing is perfect, though, and you’re going to hit times that make you want to second-guess yourself, and maybe even pushing you to give up.
The Good
The Bad
So again, why create a website if there are so many things to consider? Really, the decision is yours, but we can keep circling back to that sense of being proud of something that you’ve created, no matter how small.
Perhaps the most valuable thing that comes from owning a website is experience. You’ll make mistakes, learn from them, have success, and grow from it. And if you decide to try something new afterwards, you’ll already have gone through the bumps and bruises of a first-timer. You’ll be ready, you’ll be streamlined.
That’s what we hope to accomplish with LaunchPad, or whatever we call this regular feature. We’re going to share the mistakes we made and the advice we have, hoping to help you out a little along the way. We’ll feature other websites and people that started right where you are starting, with columns, articles, and a new podcast.
So tell me one more time: why do you want to start a video game website?
Next time: The Idea
Hot Deals, Bro! Here are the latest pre-order bonuses for 2012
January 28th, 2012
February is going to be INSANE. In fact, this whole year may be more epic than 2011, with hardware launches, ginormous sequels, and tons of new IPs. Yeah, pretty crazy, huh?!
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to maximize the value of your dollar before you spend it. Here are the pre-orders for the big releases of 2012, including all of the bonuses, collector’s editions, and pre-release price drops. Dates are subject to change.
NOTE: We’ll be updating this as new pre-orders become available. If you spot one, let us know in the comments!
Final Fantasy XIII-2 – January 31
Pre-order Final Fantasy XIII-2 and get the Omega boss battle, $20 Amazon credit, and digital strategy guide
$59.99 Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Collector’s Edition – $79.99 Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Mass Effect 3 – March 6
All versions: Pre-order Mass Effect 3 and get the M55 Argus Assault Rifle [watch video] and a $10 promotional credit, and release-day delivery
$59.99 Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
$53.99 PC Download
Collector’s Edition – $79.99 Playstation 3, PC
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning – February 7
All versions: Pre-order Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and receive The Ultimate Treasure Hunter Pack, The Fate Touched Weapons Pack and release-day delivery
$59.95 Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
$50.95 PC Download
The Darkness II – February 7
Pre-order The Darkness II and get a free upgrade to the limited edition and release-day delivery
$59.99 Xbox 360, Playstation 3
$49.96 PC
$42.49 PC Download
Syndicate – February 21
Pre-order Syndicate and receive the Executive Package as well as a $20 promotional credit and release-day delivery
$59.99 Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
$53.99 PC Download
Borderlands 2 – Date TBD
Pre-order Borderlands 2 for Xbox 360 or PS3 and get a $10 Amazon credit
$59.99 Xbox 360, Playstation 3
$49.96 PC
Twisted Metal – February 14
Pre-order Twisted Metal and receive the Twisted Metal Limited Edition, which comes with a voucher good for the download of the PlayStation 2 classic Twisted Metal: Black. Pre-orders will also come with a DLC code for Axel and release-day delivery
$59.99 Playstation 3
Playstation Vita 3G/Wifi Launch Bundles – February 22nd
$249/$299 Pre-Order Now
Pre-order the Playstation Vita to receive over $55 worth of stuff, as well as release day delivery.
FreeStuffFriday: Win Pocket Ninjas for iOS
January 27th, 2012
We’ve got a bunch of codes for Pocket Ninjas for your favorite iOS device (iPod, iPhone, and iPad… it’s universal!) and we’d love to give them away. The problem, though, is that we don’t know how. Maybe we’re just lazy, but we’ll do an ultra-simple Twitter contest instead.
Just tweet the following message:
We’ll choose our six (6!) favorites at COMPLETE RANDOMNESS and each will get a code for the game.
So yeah, help us out!
RULES
Cool, creative uses for Swapnote on the Nintendo 3DS
January 26th, 2012The first 10 minutes of using Nintendo’s Swapnote might make you think that you’ve just drawn the most 3-D boners that you ever could want to. Yeah, now you can add in some sound clips of you burping, attach a photo of your dog catching a Frisbee, or make some snazzy digital invitations to your SuperBowl party, but you might be getting a little bored.
But oh-ho! There are many more things you can do with Swapnote than just swap notes! The Streetpass and Spotpass features really open up the app to some useful and fun concepts. I’ve compiled a wonderful list of some things that I’ve tried, and plan on doing, that have nicely extended what can be done with the fun little service. Feel free to follow along and do the same, or drop your own suggestions in the comments.
Self Promotion
Thanks to the app’s Streetpass capabilities, it’s very easy to promote your self. Think of it like a virtual business card with a few added benefits. Write in your website info, Twitter handle, gamertag, contact info, and more.
For musicians, including a short clip of your music with your contact info could be a nice viral treat for folks who walk by. The same can be said with photographers and artists, who can include their work (even with non-3D images that they’ve uploaded to their 3DS memory cards) like a mini portfolio.
Dating
More Streetpass usage abounds with the app that you can use to your advantage come the next gaming/comic/geek convention. Throw your photo, quick audio “hello”, likes and dislikes, and contact info in a few Swapnote slides and HOPE AND PRAY that some like-minded attractive person of the opposite sex has their 3DS with them and gets your ping. You could even carry on communicating, pen pal style, via the app afterwards. Who knows… it could be love.
Scavenger Hunts
The random cool things that pop up when Streetpass is turned on can be pretty exciting. Whenever a new Mii enters my plaza and gives me puzzle pieces, for instance, I feel like Santa just dropped by. Think of how cool it would be if you were out shopping when the Streetpass notification pops on for Swapnote, and inside is a photograph of a hidden stash of rare Skylanders figures at your local Target in the women’s shoes section? The next time you’re out shopping or at the movies, leave a (friendly) surprise for some lucky stranger. Draw a map and drop in a photo of a treasure that they could find. Or, maybe it’s a note of how to get a great deal at the store they are in. Say the “secret password” and get 10% off of your latte.
It’s kind of like a lite geocaching. With PAX coming up in April, there are plenty of opportunities to have some fun. I can already imagine publishers walking the floor at expos, sending out little notes for people to visit their booths to get free swag for mentioning a secret phrase.
Streetpass Flash Mobs
“On January 30th, everyone get in front of WalMart and do the Captain Lou Albano Mario Dance.”
Flash mobs happen all the time, even though they are soooo 2008. Swapnote can be used to set a time and place, using Streetpass to virally pass along the info. Instead of dancing, I suggest maybe getting people together to play Mario Kart 7 or Starfox 64 3D. Unless you actually DO know the Mario dance, then we’ll pretend to not know you. Ever.
Giveaways & Contests
This one is easy. Got a contest running or an extra code for Castle Crashers? Ask a trivia question to your friends, with the first correct answer recieved winning the code. Or, just give away stuff to random people on Streetpass.
Games… WITH FRIENDS!
I rarely used the DS’s Pictochat, but when I did manage to get a few friends together we almost always played hangman through it. There are a ton of games you can play through the app, depending on how involved you want to get. Tic-Tac-Toe, quizzes, “boxes & lines”, Hang Man, and even Battleship can be played.
For something like Battleship create a simple board of squares, 5 boxes tall by 5 boxes wide, and label each box from A-Y. You’ll probably need two of these boards, one to track your ships and one to track your hits or misses with your friend. Send your playing board to your friend via Spotpass. Now, sketch in 2 ships of 2 squares wide and 2 ships of 3 squares wide on the board (don’t send it this time) to use as your own board. Reply back and forth with the letter and the result — I use the messages “MISS” or “HIT” — until someone wins.
Drink & food recipes
This one is pretty enjoyable, and easy to do. Take a photo of something you’ve made — food or drink — and include it in the already provided “dish” stationary. On the 2nd page and onwards detail the recipe with ingredients and steps to make it.
Art contests
This one is probably the easiest way to interact with friends on Swapnote. You’re already sending sketches of 3D boners, so why not make an actual art out of it? Minus the boners. Pick a subject, send it to your friends, and let everyone sketch their interpretation of it. Or, take a 3D photo and have a caption contest. Daily doodles (like what Google does with their log) are fun to do, and can act like a simple visual journal.
Poetry & group writing
We’ve all done the “four word story” type of thing on message forums, so this should be no surprise. Start a sentence with 4 words on a slide, send it to your friends, and have them reply one by one. A second option: team poetry, with each person taking a line.
“Lite” animation
Even though the sketching is limited, there are ways to do some simple animation within Swapnote because of the way that the app renders the individual strokes in order. Falling water, shooting stars, and rockets exploding into fireworks are easy enough to do. My favorite: a fish jumping in and out of water, across both of the levels of 3D. With a little practice and a creativity animations can be really interesting.
By using dotted lines, you can make a simple animated fireworks explosion
ARG
Hosting an alternate reality game can be quite fun, and can get your friends to reply often, especially as a group. Start with an audio message that sounds like a phone call, and have your friends “call” back. Leave tasks for people to do, like take photos or solve puzzles, and have your friends work together to solve them. Think of this like a deeper, more narrative version of the scavenger hunt I mentioned above.
Dungeons & Dragons RPG
When we first heard of people hosting RPGs via Swapnote, we were somewhat intrigued. Could someone make an engaging experience in such a short form? Perhaps it may just require a different approach to accomplish, or a separate sheet of paper. The interaction could be done completely through Swapnote, with simulated dice rolls and group battles.
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We’re sure there are plenty more ways to enjoy Swapnote, and the uses will adapt and grow over time as more people begin to use it. We’ll just keep looking for more things to do that don’t involve sketching our balls.
SideQuesting’s Game of the Year 2011: Portal 2
January 14th, 2012
It’s a difficult task to top a nearly-perfect gaming experience. Excellent storytelling, engaging characters, and thrilling puzzles are already a rare combination, and one that is usually impossible to follow up in a sequel. In fact, it becomes very easy to be let down by a sequel to a game we love as a less-than-stellar sequel can ruin our impressions of the first.
Valve Software has an incredulous record of sequels that top their predecessors (when they actually release, that is), so when they announced that the wonderful Portal would receive one the entire Internet let out an excitedly happy “whoop” without knowing a lick of what the game would encompass. The initial expectations were massive; how would the beloved game’s simple brilliance of mechanic and snappy, humor-filled plot translate to this new game, and would it need to be similar to the original or something completely new?
The development team quickly let fans know that the core of the game — shooting portals — would remain, while new mechanics and physics-based puzzles would be added. Further on, cooperative play was announced and a wonderful voice cast was revealed, and even Steam integration for the game would come to the Playstation 3. The game seemed to be pushing all of the right buttons leading up to its release, but the niggling feeling remained: would Portal 2 actually live up to the hype?
OH. HELL. YES.
It’s not just the “When Nature Calls” version of Portal. Yes, it carries over many of the same constructs of the first game — notably, the mind-mending puzzle structure and the humor — but it uses them as a pedestal to jump from instead of copying. The new mechanics that result from the gels, vortexes, jump platforms and gravity lifts allow for some of the greatest puzzles in video game history, almost always resulting in “oohs” and “ahhs” and “holy shit, it worked” responses when playing. What may seem like an accidental solution is almost always the one that Valve intended. We are supposed to figure this out, in any way possible, even if we’re meant to break the game.
The co-operative play is itself an amazing feat. It isn’t just an extension of known Portal 2 levels, or a clone of it’s magnificent plot, but an entirely separate game on the same disc. Heck, it’s perhaps a better experience than the single-player mode.
And speaking of the plot: the character development and several narrative twists throughout the adventure are simple, yet extremely fulfilling. It’s not a new plot, by any means, but the delivery is magic. Wheatley, voiced by Stephen Merchant, may be the greatest bumbling sidekick in video game history, and his rise within the game’s plot left us hoping to see him again post-Portal.
Valve created a true masterpiece that should be played over, and over, and over again, with and without friends, for everything it has to offer. It’s better than a sequel should be, even for an already-beloved classic, and sits alongside Bioshock and Uncharted 2 as the greatest games of this generation. Quite simply put, Portal 2 was an easy selection for Game of the Year.
