• I’m Afraid

    March 8, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: Gaming, Podcast

    On this week’s PGL Lobbycast (which is my second time on, so yes, I really like this show and you should be subscribed to them on iTunes) we have a brief discussion of scary games. Ok, very brief, and it’s mostly me saying I can’t play them. Read the rest of this entry »

  • Fret Nice Review

    February 15, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: PS3, Review

    Fret Nice endeavors to repurpose your guitar peripherals to a task outside the rhythm niche. Not all endeavors succeed. Some fail miserably, and Fret Nice is among that less illustrious set. It’s simple, you won’t want to play this game as the developer intended.

    Continue reading on ZTGD…

  • Weekly Gaming Review Wrap-Up Episode 14

    February 3, 2010 // 2 Comments

    Posted in: PC, PS3, Review, Wii, XBox360

    I play catch up with the slow season in full effect, and break down our latest reviews including Mass Effect 2, Emberwind and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.

  • Happy Birthday, Corey!

    February 3, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: Uncategorized

    Now don’t you all go clamoring for birthday wishes – I happen to know this gal makes regular stops by this blog. Oh, and she gets special privileges, being all related to me and whatnot. Happy Birthday to my sis-in-law, Corey!

    (and if you bump into her on the street, buy her some cake)

  • The Tester: Trailer

    February 2, 2010 // 2 Comments

    Posted in: Gaming, PS3

    My buddy Will (a.k.a. UNCyrus, of Trophy excess) is going to be on the PlayStation Reality show, The Tester. In case you haven’t heard, it has the fantastic premise of pitting gamers against one another all vying for the grueling job of game tester.

    Will isn’t featured strongly in the trailer, which is good. That means he didn’t cause enough drama, meaning there’s still hope I’ll speak to him after the series airs. Maybe, Will. Maybe.

  • Made Up Holiday. Day. (and How I Learned to Love the Internet)

    January 29, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: Industry

    The other day I learned from fellow industry type person Sam Houston that what I was blithely calling “Monday” others had jazzed up with “Community Manager Appreciation Day”. I felt a little ripped off. There I was, already a few hours into what should have been a very self congratulatory affair and not a parade in sight – just me, my laptop and the kitchen table. Which didn’t even have a tablecloth on it.

    My job is pretty amorphous, and mostly serves to baffle well-intentioned family members that can’t quite get a handle on what it is I do. So, Dad, this is for you (though in fairness I went most of my life having no clue what you really do at work!): I work for the N4G Network. I am one of three Administrators for the Network and a Reviews Editor for Network site ZTGD. At the crux of the N4G Network is, unsurprisingly, N4G, and there I function essentially as a Community Manager, tackling the news, the forums, member issues and the like.

    As far as I can suss out, “Community Manager” is a made up job that emerged in recent years and that in many ways I carved out for myself in the N4G sphere. My colleagues are talented, engaging people that conjured up a profession out of blood, sweat and fanboy tears – it’s only fitting that someone (one of us?) make up a day of observance for all those labors.

    Here’s the thing though – for as bizarre, stressful and trying as the job can be, I am incredibly blessed by the work I do. I delight in the bizarre, relish conquering the stress and thrill in solving problems. The next time CoManAppDay (what?) rolls around, I fancy myself toasting the internet for making crazy things possible 24-7.

    I work for people I’ve never met in a place that doesn’t exist with a community of people the world over that are completely apart.

  • Trauma Team Preview: Forensics Mode

    January 28, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: Preview, Wii

    Earlier this week Atlus treated me to a look at Trauma Team’s new forensics mode. One of six disciplines featured in the Wii title, Forensics lets the player out of the lab. Playing as Dr. Naomi Kimishima you examine the body, search the crime scene for evidence, interview witnesses and ultimately piece together the clues to reveal how the crime was committed. It’s a lot of fun, particularly for any CSI, Bones or other forensic types. Read the rest of this entry »

  • N4G Battle of the Immortals Beta Key Giveaway

    January 22, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: News, PC

    Thanks to Jason Varden and the rest of Perfect World Entertainment, we have 5000 beta keys to give out over on N4G for the closed beta of their upcoming MMO, Battle of the Immortals!

    A 2.5D MMO, Battle of the Immortals is a highly competitive PvP MMO with players pitted against one another for the right to slay epic bosses in dungeons.

  • The Art of the Top Ten

    January 21, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: Gaming

    In this top tenner, I cover the ten most important things to remember when crafting a top ten list.

  • Replay: Aqua Globs

    January 20, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: IPhone

    Almost half a year has passed since I reviewed the first version of Aqua Globs. A straightforward line-drawing game with one level and three units, all the addictive little time waster was lacking was, well, more. More levels, more units and more online integration. Now, with more features and many initial complaints addressed by the developer the little title that could is getting a replay. Read the rest of this entry »

  • I Watch TV #6

    January 19, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: TV and Film

    If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you might want to start here.

    Community
    Community is a little goofy and occasionally derivative. Thing is I’m a bit of a Joel McHale fangirl and I like this show (though now I’m an Abed fangirl). You know, I think it’s time for Arrested Development to come back. From The Office to Parks and Recreation to Community, it’s clear the audience is finally ready.

  • I’m in ur podcast: PGL Lobbycast

    January 18, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: Podcast

    One of my favorite podcasts is from the PGL guys. We bump into each other on N4G about once a week and they were nice enough to have me on their show. You can check out episode 47 here.

    PGLLobbycast

  • ZTGD Review Wrap-Up 13

    January 18, 2010 // 4 Comments

    Posted in: IPhone, PC, PS3, Preview, Review, Wii, XBox360

    This week I return after a long winter’s nap with the latest video review wrap-up including recently released games such as Bayonetta, Darksiders and Sky Crawlers.

  • Emberwind Review

    January 18, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: PC, Review

    Emberwind is a charming fantasy platformer from indie developer TimeTrap. You play as gnome watchman Kindle and are accompanied by your snowy owl Hedwig. I mean Wick. King Gyro rules over typically safe streets, but now an evil army has hit town. Bummer. A Fire Gnome, Kindle has the duty of lighting the lamps of Grendale and thus delivering it from the invading gremlins and the evil CandleFinger while Wick provides taxi service. Other than that, Emberwind is light on lore and heavy on combat. Of course, how many of us really cared about why we were rescuing Peach, or how the gal got herself into such a predicament anyway? We were in it for the mushroom devouring, Koopa stomping glory, and Emberwind largely forgoes the pretense. Read the rest of this entry »

  • I Watch TV #5

    January 17, 2010 // 0 Comments

    Posted in: TV and Film

    If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you might want to start here.

    Gavin and Stacey (BBC)
    This is a quirky BBC gem that I recommend all Stateside folks check out. Especially if you want to make fun of the Welsh and people from Essex.

    The Soup
    There’s no reason not to watch this half hour. It takes reality television, all things entertainment, and makes it safe for the rest of us.