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(04/30/14 5:06am)
Game criticism has evolved so completely from its early years to the point that many modern reviews would look wholly foreign to the ’80s, neon-jacket wearing kids who read Nintendo Power. Assuredly many outlets do still follow the basic framework established back then. A succinct summation of the game’s features, how well the story holds up, its replayability, etc.—these terms aren’t likely to go away, but they do demonstrate an advancement of the gaming lexicon.
(04/16/14 3:26am)
Mundanity is alluring. Typically a sentence like that would seem like a fairly overt contradiction, but when it comes to video games it tends to hold true. Games are built on bombast, splendor and extravagance. Most commercial games appeal to the player looking for the greatest spectacle possible. Graphical power struggles have existed in the industry for decades, but the minute, sparkly details in modern consoles are exacerbated in the battle for people’s loyalty.
(04/09/14 4:41am)
Finding humor in games is generally like trying to search for some really blunt needle in a stack of crap—it’s pretty unpleasant usually barely worth the effort. Writing in games is generally horrendous, so trying to garner any amount of hilarity out of stilted scenes is about the best you can get.
(03/26/14 4:45am)
Virtual reality isn’t a new fad in the gaming world. Since its earliest inception, there have been hilarious depictions in popular culture of kids entering some futuristic deathtrap masquerading as a VR machine. There has already been many failed examples of trying to immerse players in a virtual environment, such as the quasi-VR Nintendo Virtual Boy that doubled as a retina destroyer.
(03/12/14 4:45am)
When Telltale Games released “The Walking Dead” back in 2012, it was mostly known as the studio that was keeping alive the oft-forgotten adventure game genre with some mildly successful licensed titles. They had just come off the maligned “Jurassic Park.” The limited number of people who knew about Telltale were those paying close attention to the industry. Flash forward two years and they’re producing four different licensed series with one of the most popular game franchises in the industry.
(03/05/14 5:24am)
Anyone who decided to try out the Internet this past week likely stumbled upon the popular “Twitch Plays Pokemon” stream that just finished up a few days ago. Although it may have taken over everyone’s lives and provided the one reality show that actually seems worthwhile, the dramatic conclusion merely spawned a fresh stream of “Pokemon Crystal.”
(02/26/14 3:27am)
When Irrational Games shut its door last week, the industry lost a prominent developer that placed a strict focus on narrative. While "Bioshock Infinite" may not have been the savior everyone hoped it might be, it shipped over four million copies and if nothing else, created a worthwhile dialogue about the nature of sustaining a compelling narrative within the context of a typical AAA shooter.
(02/19/14 6:15am)
Students on college campuses have relied on the same crop of multiplayer games to provide enjoyment for what seems like forever now. “Mario Kart,” “Mario Party” and various sports games are always excellent staples, but there’s been a movement afoot in the PC space to create a greater emphasis on local couch co-op. Rather than battling some folks around the world in “Halo”, why not take a trip to yesteryear and enjoy rubbing defeat in your buddies’ faces while they sit next to you.
(02/12/14 4:28am)
"Flappy Bird” is dead. The simplistic app that dominated the cultural zeitgeist this past week seems to have perished more quickly than most of my pitiful attempts at its egregiously difficult gameplay. Countless articles were published chronicling the insightful commentary “Flappy Bird’s” success provided for an industry that generally succeeds on stagnation.
(02/05/14 6:47am)
Most of the time people are only exposed to the most high profile student produced video games. “Portal” started out as a tiny project called “Narbacular Drop,” created by several college students out in Washington. Valve Software scooped them up and it went on to become one of last generation’s breakout success stories. Carnegie Mellon’s perspective-bending tech demo the other week is another example of a student designed game well deserving of all the publicity it’s received.
(01/30/14 3:11am)
Creating a video game is hard. Rarely has a more obvious statement been proclaimed, but I thought I may as well reiterate the fact. I’ve never tried making a game before this past weekend when I was fortunate enough to compete in the Global Game Jam.
(01/22/14 2:31am)
It's impossible to predict how a year will turn out. That's particularly true in video games, where projects are often shrouded in secrecy until they're revealed at various trade shows throughout the year. There's a basic outline for how the year may play out, but in an industry where poor sales can immediately sink a developer, guessing basic narratives is almost impossible.
(01/21/14 6:58am)
I have a confession to make: I still haven’t bought a NextGen console. You’re probably thinking, “Why the hell should I believe anything this guy says when he’s not even in the current generation!” Totally fair, but to be honest, any game that people may come close to deeming a “system seller” isn’t going to be released until 2014.
(12/03/13 8:01am)
It’s finally arrived. The week everyone waits for all year is upon us. No, I’m not talking about E3—it’s Video Game Awards week on Spike! Sometimes on warm summer nights, I wake up in a cold sweat just thinking how far away the prime video game awards show is. My body defies science purely out of excitement.
(11/19/13 6:23am)
Let’s play a game. Imagine I walk up to you, a typical 20-year-old college student, and introduce myself. Moving past the niceties of introductions you inquire what my interests are. “I’m a gamer,” I reply casually. How do you respond? Do you think of me as childish? The word “gamer” has acquired a vile connotation in most people’s vernacular nowadays. I hate being embarrassed to associate myself with my passion.
(11/12/13 6:10am)
There’s an old Japanese saying that translates roughly to: “Mario Kart Double Dash!!’ is the eighth wonder of the world.” I can’t attribute that prophetic claim to anyone specifically, but I’m assuming it was some revered Shogun. The phrase’s meaning is beyond dispute however; “Double Dash!!” will forever rule the “Mario Kart” roost.
(11/05/13 7:03am)
Last week, Take-Two Interactive Inc. announced “Grand Theft Auto V” sold 29 million units in the six weeks since its launch. Somehow that’s not a misprint. To put it in perspective, every “Call of Duty” installment has trended toward 20 million or so lifetime sales. “GTA V” eclipsed that in six weeks. My mind exploded when I saw that so as I haphazardly stuff it back together, let’s look at the implications of this mind-boggling number.
(10/29/13 4:42am)
Franchise fatigue is usually thrown around among video game players like pizza among the hordes of drunken friends you invited down this past weekend. It’s natural for people to hunger for a new series after playing through the twelfth “Call of Duty.” I’m someone who abhors the concept, and have mostly given up hope for new intellectual properties in the AAA space. If you’re hungering for new experiences check out the indie space, it’s the video game Mecca of innovation right now.
(10/22/13 4:14am)
Delays are a touchy subject among video game players. Drawing on Internet ire seemingly from the fiery pits of hell, some players vent their unbridled frustration on the friendly confines of NeoGAF.com. Others take a more rational approach, believing extra time should make better product.
(10/15/13 5:43am)
Telltale Games is no longer making adventure titles. There is no sequence of puzzles hidden around a sprawling environment for you to explore. The inventory tends to stay hidden off to the side. A forgotten relic of the past is rarely brought back into relevance. For a studio founded on honoring a once-dead genre, Telltale is severing ties with its heritage. As it turns out, stripping away genre conventions has made Telltale the most relevant storyteller in the industry right now.