The lights are on
I want to clarify this right away: I’m not an achievement junkie. I don’t get an adrenaline rush from the distinctive bloop that accompanies the “achievement unlocked” message, and I don’t care about my gamerscore. Given those facts, it may seem strange that I have gone to absurd lengths to get every achievement in a small handful of games. These elite titles are the members of my 1000 Club. More
I've added Mass Effect 3 to the list of Xbox 360 games for which I've gotten all 1000 achievement points.
A strategy guide isn't always worth buying. Sometimes the game doesn't warrant an in-depth dissection, and sometimes the guide itself is just doesn't convey the information well. Neither of those things are true with Final Fantasy XIII-2, making the strategy guide a wise purchase for anyone who wants to spend significant time with the game. More
This strategy guide is a wise purchase for anyone who wants to spend significant time with the game.
Strategy guides have an undeservedly bad reputation among hardcore gamers. Some seem to think that guides are just for people too stupid to figure a game out, or for those who want to get all of the reward with none of the effort. I disagree. I believe strategy guides help me get the most out of my games, and these are examples of the guides I’ve owned that accomplish that goal with flying colors…plus one that fails miserably. More
These are examples of the guides I’ve owned that made my gaming experience much better…plus one that fails miserably.
Okay, I don't really want to give this thing any free advertising, but we got a flyer for "Macbeth: The Video Game Remix," a play going on this weekend as a part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. The description alone would keep any self-respecting gamer from seeing the show. More
We got a flyer for "Macbeth: The Video Game Remix," but the description alone would keep any self-respecting gamer from seeing the show.
It's the case of The Shoved Sucker! After encountering my co-worker Dan Ryckert in L.A. Noire, I decided to stop at nothing until he was dead. More
It's the case of The Shoved Sucker! After encountering my co-worker Dan Ryckert in L.A. Noire, I decided to stop at nothing until he was dead.
My co-worker, Tim Turi, is a Sonic the Hedgehog fan. How big of a fan is he? Let's just say that he has spent no small amount of time drawing fan-made friends for Sonic. More
His name is Drog. He's a Droganian.
The "New Xbox Experience" launched two years ago, replacing the 360's old sliding blade dashboard with a slicker and more colorful interface. While it may have been a visual step up, I initially had reservations about the funtionality of the new format. Over time, these reservations have blossomed into a full-blown hatred that burns like the sun whenever I need to navigate my 360 while connected to Xbox Live. More
Come with me on a journey of complaining as I outline my frustration with the Xbox 360 interface, complete with visual aids.
As each year draws to a close, I always find myself adding to my growing stack of must-play titles. For many gamers, this is a stressful process. It makes them feel overwhelmed. For me, my holiday backlog is a tradition I look forward to every year, like a gigantic feast just waiting to be devoured. More
My holiday backlog is a tradition I look forward to every year, like a gigantic feast just waiting to be devoured.
Okay, so some of us in the office have an unfortunate fascination with watching bad video game movies. Last week, this bizarre hobby resulted in tragedy as four of us watched one of the worst movies ever made: Far Cry. More
Ugh. Seriously? I watched Far Cry?
I like playing video games and reading books, but I only do one of those things professionally. I'm not qualified to assess Drew Karpyshyn's Mass Effect: Redemption (in stores today) in terms of literary merit. However, from a gamer's perspective, I can give you five reasons why the book is definitely worth reading if, like me, you're a fan of the Mass Effect series. More
Are you a fan of the Mass Effect series? Have you read the previous novels? Then you'll enjoy Retribution, and here's why.
I haven't beaten Red Dead Redemption yet. It just came out two months ago and it's a massive game, so I was slowly working my way through it. Now, thanks to Tim Turi, I don't need to worry about finishing; in an email, he casually ruined what happens in the closing minutes of John Marston's Wild West adventure. Because I'm a better man, I'm going to keep this post spoiler-free, but the incident got me thinking about two things. 1) What is the best way to take revenge on Tim, and 2) How soon is too soon to talk about pivotal moments in games? More
How soon is too soon to talk about pivotal moments in games?
It's July, which means we're halfway through 2010. With six months left to go, discussions about the Game of the Year may seem premature, especially since the holiday season always has some great titles to contribute. However, thanks to the Great Delay Epidemic of 2009, the first half of this year was unusually packed with awesome games...and one of them is probably the Game of the Year. More
The first half of this year was unusually packed with awesome games, and one of them is probably the Game of the Year.