December 7, 2009
Call of Duty 4 is the mom who tells her kids they can run around outside for only ten more minutes, while Modern Warfare 2 is the dad who tells his kids they can run around outside for as long as they want.
You thought you had the coolest mom ever when she was in charge, especially after that time you spent with your weird uncle World at War, but now that it’s dad’s turn, playtime has never been better.
Modern Warfare 2 spoils Call of Duty 4 veterans by allowing them to have their cake and eat it too. Players can now wield an assault rifle and a shotgun or equip C4 and a rocket launcher in the same class without the use of extra perks, fire extra powerful bullets extra fast, and yes, run outside for as long as they want.
Keep reading →
December 7, 2009
Magic: The Gathering haunts me.
I’ve quit thrice before, but it’s never left me. Aside from the physical box of cards I’d hate to get rid of without some kind of monetary compensation, something reminds me of the addicting mechanics every few months, forcing me to check out what’s new with the game.
I’ll never play paper Magic again, and the money-trap element keeps me away from Magic Online, but I spent several weeks tapping islands and swinging with drakes into early summer mornings nonetheless thanks to Stainless Games’ Duels of the Planeswalkers.
At first, I was content helping my roommate understand the mechanics of the game as he played the demo, but by the time he was done, I was offering to pay for half. It wasn’t just because it was a cheap, legal way to play Magic again. Duels of the Planeswalkers‘ streamlined execution adds a subtle but unique element to the game I loved to hate.
Keep reading →
December 6, 2009
Demoman is a feature in which I make (incredibly harsh) assumptions about upcoming games based upon their (horrible) demos, while making observations about their purpose and importance.
Today’s victims: My Life as a Darklord, World of Goo, and Pokemon Rumble.
Keep reading →
October 12, 2009
BOLDSTATE– “Even if a year passes, Mario [will still sell],” Shigeru Miyamoto said to Japanese retailers during a demonstration of New Super Mario Bros. Wii last week according to retailer Games Maya.
Keep reading →
September 29, 2009
Hello. My name is Chas, and I’m a video game addict.
It’s been over a month since my last post, but I’ve been playing more games than usual lately: Scribblenauts, Okami, Final Fantasy VI, Modern Warfare, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and I’m about to play through Lost Winds again. I also have a new addiction thanks to Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. It’s not the game, however, that has me obsessed, but the tea brewing mini-game.
An in-game hobby of the professor’s has become a real-world hobby of my own.
Keep reading →
August 21, 2009
My review of Bit.Trip Core is live on Game Positive. The game joins its predecessor and several other games that make me glad Nintendo hasn’t canceled its download services outright. Core consists of only three levels, and it doesn’t take long to complete overall. Of course, it doesn’t cost much either, and the number of times you’ll play through each level (without frustration) will more than guarantee the six dollar purchase.
August 17, 2009
When most students return to Nicholls State University this week, they’ll find every vehicle in the school’s various parking lots showing off the university’s new interpretation of their controversial mascot, Colonel Tillou. The controversy is new again, however, as instead of seeing a supporter of the confederacy, some students and alumni feel the new mascot resembles a Nazi.
Others, like myself, will see a different evil dictator while on campus.
Have a great school year, everyone!
August 8, 2009
I’m sitting in my living room, listening to the same chip tune play over and over on a loop as I type this post. Bit.Trip Core’s title screen is displayed on my television, and it’s indicating that I have yet to beat the game’s second level.
Discovery was easy enough, but I’m having trouble beating the boss of Exploration, an homage to Missile Command. I want to beat the level as soon as possible so I can play the third and final level of Core and get started on my review, but I know that when I reach it, I’ll be in the same rut I’m in now. In fact, I’ll be there longer.
I know, because I’m also stuck on Growth, the third level of Bit.Trip Beat, which is Mega Man hard. And like Mega Man’s sequel, Bit.Trip Core is even harder than its predecessor. Also like Mega Man 2, Core is a much deeper game.
Keep reading →
August 1, 2009
The video game community is quick to dismiss the occasional claim games are becoming racially charged, but many fail to fully understand the issue, posting shallow arguments on popular gaming blogs.
In response to an article in the Houston Chronicle citing Left 4 Dead 2 as an example of racism in video games becoming “the norm”, Chet Faliszek, a writer for L4D2, said, “when two of the characters in your game are African-American, it’s a weird thing to be accused of [racism]. (src)”
Faliszek is correct in that, as far as anyone can tell, his game is in no way racist, but his argument is in the same vein as those of countless posters on Kotaku: shallow and flawed.
Keep reading →
July 14, 2009
I apologize for the late review, but several important revisions were necessary for the final draft of my take on The Conduit. Originally, I compared The Conduit to first-person shooters on other platforms in order to make the broader comparison of the Wii’s lesser position to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. That was a bit ambitious and out of place for a simple review, so I decided to take my opinion and expand upon it here in my blog.
The Conduit begs players to ask,
“Is good for the Wii good enough?” The answer is a strong “no.”
Keep reading →
