The Goo podcast has a lot to answer for. Specifically, the episodes ‘ExtraLife08’ and ‘ExtraLife09’.
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Podcasts can Save the World
July 24, 2010 By 2 Comments
Top 5 Dungeon Crawlers
March 17, 2010 By 1 Comment
Scott’s news that Bethesda is publishing a new co-op dungeon crawler got me digging out my old favorites, and it inspired me to compile a Top 5. Even though dungeon crawling action-rpgs are a sub-genre in themselves, within that I see at least four obvious styles:
• Classic Rogue-like, just you against a dungeon. With terrifying perma-death…
• Single-player with shops and quests – maybe a pet, too.
• Parties with NPCs. These tend to be more traditional rpgs, albeit with trimmed down combat systems.
• Multiplayer, local (console), and online (PC) with parties
It has to be said that the best dungeon crawlers have probably been on PC over the years, but as a committed console and arcade gamer my top 5 tends to lean toward the latter style, more specifically local co-op, and will probably be different from most peoples’ choices. I’m sure most of you will be horrified at the omission of Diablo (I only played the inferior playstation version, with its use of 10 memory card blocks!!). And I haven’t played Torchlight yet. But hey, here are my TOP 5 DUNGEON CRAWLERS: [Read more...]
Walking the Line: The Industry’s New Obsession With Linearity
March 11, 2010 By 1 Comment
Note: This article was written prior to the release of FFXIII, but Scott’s lazy ass didn’t get around to publishing it until now. I’d like to thank thecabbage for his infinite patience, and now we can easily point out how right or wrong he is. Thank you – the management. 
As reviews pour in for Final Fantasy XIII, one word seems to be cropping up again and again: Linear. Most reviewers seem to suggest linearity as the key component that will divide fans of the series. I’m not sure I buy that though, as no one seemed to criticize Final Fantasy X, although that was remarkably linear. XII was too. The grind-fests of the early NES Final Fantasies were fairly linear too as well. So why is this game being criticized for it now? [Read more...]
Who’s the Daddy? How Parenthood Changes the Gamer
March 3, 2010 By 3 Comments
As we get older, the real world has a defining impact on our gaming vocation. In the same way floating Medusa heads or jumping robotic fish got in the way of our childhood avatars, a job, home and other commitments can conspire to hold us back from spending the time we would like in our adult lives servicing our joystick addiction. The days of a 7th playthrough of our favorite RPG, or choosing full season mode in a sports sim are diminishing. Aren’t they? [Read more...]
Exclusive Dhalsim T-Shirt with SSF4 preorders at UK website
British online retailer shopto.net are offering a nice Dhalsim T-Shirt with preorders of Super Street Fighter IV. It could mean American gamers will look to import from Europe for a change. Will it be enough though to entice fighting game noobs like myself to take the plunge into this hyper-competitive highly skilled game? I fear you who have played this for the last 19 months, I FEAR YOU!