-
Archive of "Gaming" Category
I’m Afraid
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. (more…)
The Tester: Trailer
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.
The Art of the Top Ten
In this top tenner, I cover the ten most important things to remember when crafting a top ten list.
Playtime
You would think Christmas would afford me oodles of time to catch up on games, when in fact I tend to spend the time hanging with the family and generally undergoing some mandatory tech-detox. Once I’ve had my fill of that, I promptly get sick with whatever the niece and nephews currently have, and spend the remainder of any semblance of vacation trying to keep up with N4G from the comfort of my bathroom floor.
That’s over now, and despite the lack of consoles or reliable internet connection two games did steal their way into my heart since Santa came to town. Osmos arrived first, an early Christmas gift from Hemisphere tailor-made for Mac. Previously reported on by our ZTGD PC editor, I was anticipating the sheer addictive yet pleasantly bite-sized quality of gameplay. What I was not prepared for was the awesome soundtrack and beauty of the aesthetic.
I figured Osmos was a safe game to play while killing time at the kitchen table, waiting for the grown-up types to get the kiddos bundled for the great outdoors. Within moments of launching the game, however, all my notions about ambient gaming’s lack of appeal to the under 6 crowd were dashed: my 2 year old nephew had found his way lap-ward and was mesmerized. Not only mesmerized, he was clicking away. Next thing I knew he and his sister (4) were trading off, generally a bit kamikaze in their approach to levels but delighting in the colors, variable scale and speed. My mind was more officially blown when my six year old nephew, Theo (more PC savvy than the other two having navigated PBS Kids in his downtime), took the reins and successfully completed two levels after only the most basic instruction. The future is bright.
Where Osmos is compelling in subtle and easily portioned bits, games that rhyme with Wagon Cage are not. I’m putting you on alert while I can still bear it: I am addicted to Dragon Age: Origins. I’m barely 20 hours in and it’s clear that me and my rogue Dalish elf are in trouble. Forget the fact that I’m encouraging a doomed romance with the possible future King of Fereldon, I think I’m looking down the dark tunnel that is unemployment, wretched eating habits and negligible hygiene. Assuming I come out of this whole, I appreciate the glimpse into the darker side of gaming.
Play Magazine’s Heather Campbell Pwns A Question
Thanks to Heather campbell for one of my favorite answers to one of my least favorite questions.
TheStartScreen posed this question to Play magazine’s Cambell:
Being a woman in games journalism probably comes with its fair share of hurdles. What do you think has been or has not been accomplished in the gaming community as it relates to sex and gender? (more…)
Check out the Evolved Gaming Podcast…
…because I’m on it! Well, for this episode anyway. I join Cory, Drew, Jay and Zac for a chat about the best games of 2009.
Harmonix Teams With Gaming Industry Vets for ÜMLOUD!, a Rock Band Night for Child’s Play Charity
From my inbox – the one labelled cool stuff our industry does:
Gamers Give Back with Charity Event Supporting National Children’s Hospital Organization
San Francisco, California—November 19, 2009—Do not miss out on the San Francisco gaming charity event of the year! Ümloud! is an annual fundraiser event for Child’s Play Charity, a “gamers’ charity” started by Penny Arcade’s Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik that provides toys and games to Children’s Hospitals around the country, including Oakland Children’s Hospital. (more…)
GUNNAR Optiks Review
GUNNAR Optiks try pretty hard. They use capitalization and deliberate misspelling more recklessly than an internet troll. Additionally, GUNNARs (capitalization required) make a lot of bold, eye-related claims from creating a micro-climate to curing the world of DEF (Digital Eye Fatigue) and CVS (Computer Vision Syndrome, not the drugstore). The materials assert that half of American adults and 90 percent of our kids are suffering with DEF and CVS, “eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes or headaches, caused by exposure to digital screens.” With stats like that, it’s time cancer took a backseat. After sifting through the press materials and generally self-important blarney, I’m left with hunting glasses for nerds – but that’s not a bad thing. (more…)
Arcane Legions Enjoys a Mass Action Release
From the press release:
Wells Expeditions™ is proud to announce the release of Arcane Legions™, their very first collectable mass action miniatures game. Filled with just the right mix of alternate antiquity and mystifying magic, the game unleashes huge armies to battle it out on the battlefield in less than two hours. Fast and fun, Arcane Legions features the mighty Roman Empire, the upstart Egyptian Imperium, and the mysterious invaders from far Eastern lands known as the Han Dynasty. With a Starter that includes 120 figures (MSRP $34.99), and Army Packs and Booster Packs separated by faction, Arcane Legions is an incredibly affordable game to play.
Whistle Blowing
While reading up on Woot Wine, I was besieged by this Business Software Alliance ad:
It pretty much creeped me out. (more…)
Boss Monster – A Zin from Woot Cellars
Today is ripe with gaming products, and grapes. Woot Cellars has released their Boss Monster Zinfandel, a play on the high alc volume of “Monster Zins”. Drink up!
simBOOTies for SimRacers
I get it. Racing sim fans, well, they’re not “fans” – they’re in the serious business of driving simulation. Naturally, they need booties, special shoesies just like real race car drivers.
Wait…really? (more…)
Rewriting Games Journalism
Digital Trends’ Players Only with Scott Steinberg delivers a memorable season finale that addresses the evolution of games journalism and its place in the industry. (more…)
Me and Chief
Was going to save this for my “weekend at PAX” write-up, but, you know…impatience wins out sometimes.
MC and Me
To Master Chief, wherever you are: you are very tall, good sir!
Nerd Flu
It’s true, I brought home the best souvenir of all from PAX 2009: piggy flu. Oink. While I managed to keep a steady pace going through the early part of this week transcribing interviews and writing about secret societies, it seems that while I could perform those actions sitting down it did not qualify as “rest” – because now I’m sicker than I was four days ago.
So I’m going to go rest. For real. Granted, this may mean you have to wait an extra day to hear about playing Ratchet and Clank with Brian Allgeier, or the media Q&A with Gabe and Tycho’s paternity leave stand-in Robert, but at least now when my Mom calls again I can tell her I’ve been resting. Honestly.
About
I’m Community Manager and Admin for the N4G Network and write for ZTGD.
CatPlaysGames is a blog in its design infancy and under construction. Pardon my mess.
Categories
- Developers (1)
- Feature (9)
- Gaming (48)
- Industry (18)
- Interview (10)
- IPhone (79)
- News (20)
- Nintendo DS (14)
- PC (43)
- Podcast (3)
- Preview (20)
- PS2 (6)
- PS3 (102)
- PSP (10)
- Review (128)
- Tech (17)
- Trailer (2)
- TV and Film (6)
- Uncategorized (6)
- Wii (25)
- XBox360 (49)