I’m sure everyone games for their own reasons. Some do it as a distraction, some do it solely for entertainment purposes, and some just like to annoy other people in online lobbies. As for me, I do it because no matter how much older I get, it makes me feel like a kid all over again. Remember the Nintendo 64 kid – yeah, that was me. Well not in a literal sense at least, but in the sense that video games had the ability to make me more happy than a virgin at the Hustler Club. The only thing that would trump gaming, would be gaming with a best friend or family member and staying up all night to do so. Join me on this journey through one of my favorite all night gaming marathons ever.

It was 1998, and I was 14 years old. It was a really hot summer in New York City. Mark Macguire and Sammy Sosa were all the rage as they were in a heated HR race that would reignite everyone’s love of baseball (and coincidentally would later on tarnish the sport), meanwhile the Yankees were cooking up their 25th World Championship. In the movies Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” was top dog in the box office, and Ben Stiller became a household name thanks to Brett Fa-ve-ra and ”There’s Something About Mary.” Wyclef Jean was ”Gone Till November” and we had no idea we were going to be “Living La Vida Loca” thanks to Ricky Martin, but unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. I apologize for so many 1998 highlights I just wanted to paint the picture while we go on this trip down memory lane. You see, the year was full of distractions, but none of them would matter and that was because 1998, for me, was all about three words.

Metal… Gear… Solid…

Thinking back I remember that fateful week as being my last hurrah before I would enter the sinful world known as high school. My cousin Yaris had spoken on the phone to plan out our gaming marathon (as we normally would) and said that there was this game coming out that he’d been reading about all summer in the gaming magazines. He was trying to describe it in his own words but just couldn’t. He said it was going to be a big deal, and we may need more cans of Coca Cola than previously planned. I did extra chores at home that week to make sure I would have the allowance to buy enough of the high fructose corn syrup nectar to keep us up.

When I arrived, we made our mad dash to the local supermarket where we ransacked the soda aisle like a pair of junkies with keys to a methadone clinic. We grabbed a case of 12 (ridiculous I know) and scooted on back to his place. However, we couldn’t play yet as Yaris had to do some house chores of his own. To this very day I can say that no one in the history of lawn mowing had ever mowed the lawn as fast as Yaris did on that faithful day. Have you seen footage of football players pushing a five man sled at practice? Well, that’s exactly what it looked like. Yaris was like the f*cking Dallas Cowboys pushing that lawn mower with no remorse. In about 10 minutes the man child had managed to mow about 1/3 of an acre of grass and weed whacked in that same time.

It was about 7pm when we began. I can still remember seeing the Konami logo and hearing that familiar chiming in the background. We got to the title screen and Yaris with his man child sausage fingers hit the circle button (not X, circle was the confirmation button in Japan) twice and we were on our way.

The opening sequence was like something never seen before, especially on the PS one. The cinematic style…but then realizing that you were actually looking at in game visuals when snake pulled him self out of the water, it was something special to behold. And yes, before you get up in arms about visuals, Final Fantasy VII was a power house a whole year prior, but let’s face it, Cloud Strife had Pop Eye arms and muffins for hands. Solid Snake looks like a real human being albeit with perfect standing hair.

This is the exact moment when video game story telling changed forever.

Within 5 minutes though, after you enter the freight elevator in the first area, Snake takes off the mask and then the opening credits start, that’s when it officially hits you and you realize you’re about to play something that is like nothing you’ve ever played before. From that point on, I think Yaris and I were stuck in some kind of stupor where we didn’t even talk. We just stared at each other as a form of communication that it was time to pass the controller.

Boss fights were the best as we would be dying and arguing about who was the biggest noob. I think we dropped so many F-Bombs and mom jokes on each other that it would make Jonah Hill in Super Bad blush.

As far as who of all the bosses was the most difficult, I would have to say Gray Fox (or the Ninja) was a real pain in our asses. I think he kicked the crud out of us like 20 times. To this day, I have the sound bite “Snake? Snaaaaaaaaaaaaakee!!!???” still stuck in my head because of it. Our biggest freak out moment of the night was with Psycho Mantis, who would not only “change” the TV input on us to “Hideo” instead of “Video” but also told us that he knows Yaris is playing Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. At that point I was like “okay, time to turn on the lights and turn the game off.” I was officially freaked out. Instead, Yaris made a smart remark about my integrity, masculinity and challenged my sexual orientation, so instead of quitting we kept moving forward.

Along the way, we fell in love with a girl named Meryll and befriended a computer nerd who had the backbone of a snail by the name of  Hal “Otacon” Emmerich. We realized snake has a twin brother with a bad attitude whose ass we would eventually kick. It was now 6:30 in the morning, and we’re just sitting there not really understanding what we had just experienced but we knew we liked it. Scratch that, we loved it. The credits stop, and we hear a familiar voice. It’s Revolver Ocelot, who appears to be on the phone with someone. He highlights some of what we just witnessed in the game and then his conversation ends with “Goodbye, Mr. President.” Yaris and me just stare at each other and nodded in disbelief.

We practically crawled out of exhaustion back to his room. I laid down in my make-shift bed and just stared at the ceiling- he was doing the same. I think we were both trying to fathom what we just played. We were talking and just trying to piece together the missing elements of the story while the sun began to shine brighter and brighter through the blinds. We fell asleep while talking, and when we came to, it was around 2pm in the afternoon. We got up, ate breakfast and then we did it all over again.

It wasn’t the first time we had broken night playing a game. It definitely wasn’t the last time. I just think because the title was such an experience, it was the best time that we would stay up all night and because of that, I’ll never forget it.

What was your favorite gaming experience when you stayed up all night? Let us know in the comments section!

That’s the best way to describe our experience with Enslaved, the upcoming action adventure title from Namco Bandai. At a recent press event in NYC, our very own Al Zamora had the privilege of chatting it up with Ryan Adza who is the associate producer for the title. Ryan breaks down the story for those of you who aren’t already familiar with it, as well as what to expect when the title lands on store shelves this October. One of the main characters is named “Monkey”, isn’t that enough incentive to give it a look? Check out the full video interview below and witness why you, like us, may enjoy being Enslaved. Enjoy the clip.

Recently we were invited to check out some of the fall lineup from Namco Bandai during their recent visit here in New York City. Upon entering the swanky Upper East Side hotel suite (which by the way had a delectable spread of fruit and pastries) there was one thing that immediately called my attention from everything else that was going on. Time Crisis was one of my favorite games growing up, whether it was at the arcades, or even importing my own gun con controller from Japan way back when I couldn’t ever get enough of the storied light gun shooter.This year Time Crisis: Razing Storm will release in the  Move launch window making the motion peripheral even more enticing. After taking with Namco Bandai brand manager and seeing how much value is in there, now I’m pre-ordering the move. Check out the clip below and find out why Time Crisis is another reason to buy the move.

We’re in July, so that means two very important things. One, it’s way too hot and sunny outside for any self respecting gamer to leave the comfort of a fan, air conditioner or central air unit. Two, EA Sports has released another edition of their popular collegiate football title with NCAA Football 11. So is it enough to keep you out of the pool and getting comfortable in the couch? The short answer is yes, the long answer is a little more complicated than that. Let’s find out why, shall we?

Considering that for the most part yearly sports titles usually experience only minor graphical bumps, I figured that this review should be focused primarily on gameplay. But before we do get into gameplay mechanics, I would just like to point out one noticeable difference from last year’s game to this year’s version in the graphics department. The change can be found in the transitions, and I’ll explain what I mean.

Last year, one thing you would notice immediately was a drop in frame rate once a play was blown dead. It wasn’t too dramatic, but for someone who is taking in all the audio and visuals, and putting them under a microscope, it was definitely there. With NCAA 11, EA Sports has made that frame rate drop a thing of the past. Now, the transitions have become much cleaner and the game looks as polished as it does when the ball is actually in play.

Okay, let’s get back to gameplay. If you’re more of a passer than a runner when you play football games, you may not find much to write home about with this year’s iteration. Minus a few additions in the catching animations department, not much has really changed since 10. Defensive backs are still as dumb as rocks, and with the right receiver, triple coverage can sometimes feel the same as being wide open.

Here’s a quick example of what I mean: I played against a buddy of mine (for review purposes of course), and he played against me using the Miami Hurricanes. The AI level was set to Heisman but that mattered nothing. He was able to abuse both a star safety and cornerback who were double-teaming his wide out (who apparently wasn’t a star) on every single down. Due to the two softies I had on defense, my team made junior wide out, LaRon Byrd (umm… I mean #47) look like Randy f*cking Moss playing against a Pop Warner team. It was pretty silly to say the least. I’m certainly not a fan of the defense in NCAA 11 and it is something that MUST be addressed with next years title.

Okay, I’m glad I got that off my chest.

Unfortunately, the passing game is a joke, however, if you like running the ball, well then my friends you have hit the jackpot as NCAA 11 is a running back’s dream. EA Sports is simply referring to it as locomotion, I refer to it as looking like Michael Jackson on the football field because you will be dancing more than a washed up athlete on ABC.

Seriously though, I run the ball like it’s my job, and I have to say that since playing this game, business has been good. With the inclusion of “Dual Stick Control” instead of taking your thumb off of the analog sticks and reaching for face buttons, your arsenal of moves are never more than a flick of the stick away. You’re able to plant your feet, wait for a block, change direction and most importantly, it feels natural. It even makes you wonder why this wasn’t used since the inception of the right analog stick. I’m not complaining because the addition of this gameplay feature has helped me put together some runs that, had they been done in real life, would make the Sportcenter top 10 with ease. I managed to store a highlight where I was able to shake off three defenders, hurdle over a safety and run 60 yards for a touchdown. It felt so good, that I was waiting for my girlfriend to come with a tub of Gatorade to pour all over me.

One of the biggest additions to this year’s title has been the emphasis on eat, sleep, and play football. In case you’re one of those players that every year around this time get completely lost in your Dynasty mode, then please prepare yourself to have absolutely no life. With NCAA 11, players can now completely manage their dynasty anywhere they go with, you guessed it… Dynasty Anywhere. Now, instead of eating up corporate time playing Google Pac-man or leveling up on Farmville on Facebook, you can be doing what’s most important; which is recruiting blue chip prospects for your school’s program via the EA Sports website: dyanasty.easports.com.

Presentation, just like years prior is top notch. The inclusion of the ESPN personalities Brad Nessler, Kirk Herbsreit, and Erin Andrews does not disappoint, but at the same time doesn’t provide anything that you aren’t already used to. The ESPN layovers and visual effects add a little bit of wow factor, but just like the team entrances at the beginning of the game, they too begin to lose their charm, and you find yourself jamming on “X” to skip through them after only a few games.

Overall, NCAA Football 11 is a fun football title that has plenty to offer fans of the sport. Having followed the series for years now, it feels as though the potential has always been there but we have yet to see any real groundbreaking follow through. It seems that all the cool features are always left for its much more attractive counterpart –Madden, and why shouldn’t it be as it is EA Sports’ golden goose. I had hopes that it would have changed this year and maybe it would even receive a feature or two before Madden, but unfortunately NCAA remains to be the ugly duckling.

• Game: NCAA Football 11 (PS3, 360)
• Release Date: Available Now
• MSRP: $59.99
• Developer: EA Tiburon
• Publisher: Electronic Arts Inc.
• Platform Reviewed: Playstation 3
• Review Copy Info: A review copy of this title was provided to DualShockers Inc, by the publisher for review purposes

Yes, we just went there. The word “gangbang” is officially included in a post title, however it’s with good reason. You see, the last time we had the chance to check out and play Bulletstorm was at E3 (you can read the impressions HERE), and although, I enjoyed the bit I had played, I was worried because even though the gameplay was entertaining I couldn’t help but think that the story would probably lack any substance. Well now my worries can be put to rest as our very own Al Zamora had the chance to chat with Epic Games marketing director Kendall Boyd who reassured us that there will be plenty of story to keep us enthralled throughout. So again, there’s more to Bulletstorm than gangbangs and nutshots! Check out the complete video interview below!

Did you really think that 2K sports was going to slap a picture of MJ on the cover of NBA 2k 11 just for fun? This morning the team at 2K sports has announced a brand new play mode called the Jordan Challenge. I know you see the name and you’re thinking what I’m thinking; it’s going to be a ridiculous game of horse where you and Larry Bird compete over a Big Mac sandwich from McDonalds. Unfortunately this is not the case. However, what the mode will do is put players in the shoes of “his airiness” in the 10 biggest games of his career, where you would have to duplicate what Jordan did in real life. One can only hope there will be a Jordan Fail Challenge mode, where I can play as Jon Starks and dunk on his ass in Madison Square Garden. Sorry just a disgruntled Knicks fan from the 90’s here.

Hit the jump to check out what Jason Argent, the vice president of marketing for 2K sports had to say about the inclusion of the Jordan Challenge mode as well as some career highlights you can expect to relive when the game releases this fall.

“Fans of the series are going to be thrilled to know that in NBA 2K11 Michael Jordan is much, much more than just a cover athlete, we’re excited to start talking about the ways that Michael will be used in the game and there’s still a lot more to come.”

While playing The Jordan Challenge, fans can try to stun the world in Jordan’s self-described greatest game by torching the Cavaliers by 69 points in March of 1990; attempt to battle back from the flu to defeat the Jazz in Game 6 of the 1997 finals; or leave the world wanting more as they relive one of Jordan’s finest performances during his last game as a Chicago Bull on June 14, 1998. In addition to The Jordan Challenge mode, gamers will have the unique opportunity to play as some of the greatest teams in NBA history, including the ‘85-’86, ’89-’90, ’90-’91, ’94-’95, ’95-’96, ’96-’97, and ’97-’98 Chicago Bulls.

Absolutely ridiculous. That’s really  the only way I can describe the latest handheld God of War title from the team at Ready at Dawn. The same guys that brought us all God of War: Chains of Olympus have not only raised the bar but pretty much “maxed out” what can be done on the PSP. I had the chance to chat with Eric Koch who is a Senior Producer at Sony Santa Monica (who also pitched in their help on the title) all about Kratos’ latest bloody romp. The man had plenty to say and it was definitely enough to make anyone want to run out and buy PSP (or dust off the one they already own) just for this game. Take a look at the video interview below!

***Note*** The game is so good that Hiphopgamer was speechless in the background while playing it. If that doesn’t say a lot, I’m not sure what will.

Yesterday we were fortunate enough to hang out with our buddy Anton Mikailov from SCEA at Sony’s Holiday media preview event in NYC. We caught up with Anton and the PS Move a while back, and although he had some cool stuff to show us last time around, this time I was absolutely floored. Anton showcased some never before seen PS Move tech demos; the same demos that are being shown to 3rd party developers and publishers in order to showcase what the PS Move is all about. The first demo in the clip, is one you may have seen but just wait until you see the “chameleon” and “Rts” demos. Just think about all of the potential. Amazing is the only way to describe it. Check out the clip below.

Come one, come all. On July 17th at 9:30pm DualShockers.com will be celebrating its 1 year anniversary, and we’ll be doing it the only way we know how, by getting nice and inebriated. This will be an easy feat as there will be an (optional $30 bracelet) OPEN BAR. Yes, you read that correctly, but in case there’s any doubt you can read it again: OPEN BAR. Whether you’re an avid reader of the site or just check us out on occasion or a dirty troll who says naughty things in the comments section or maybe you even stalk us on N4G, either way if you’re in the New York City area we’re extending an invitation for you all! There will be raffles and giveaways throughout the night for those wearing the open bar bracelet! Hit the jump to check out the party address we hope to see you all there!

Off the Wagon

109 MacDougal St. (between w. 3rd and Bleeker)

New York, NY 10012

RSVP on Facebook by Clicking HERE!

Sponsors are listed below :

New York, New York – June 27, 2010 – DualShockers today announced that its one year anniversary party will be taking place on July 17, 2010, beginning at 9:30PM at Off The Wagon on 109 MacDougal Street, New York. The event is to celebrate the success of the gaming media website that was started by Yaris Gutierrez and Joel Taveras. The website was set out to break away from the uniformity of what gaming journalism has become, and has come a long way since its humble beginnings.
The event is also to celebrate with all the readers, friends and partners who have all had a hand in getting DualShockers to where it is today. Co-founder Joel Taveras says, “It has been an incredible first year and the site has experienced amazing growth in that short time. We want everyone who has supported us during that time- friends, family and peers to help us celebrate because we couldn’t have done it without any of you.”
For more information, please visit www.dualshockers.com.

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About DualShockers

DualShockers is the brainchild of two passionate gaming journalists from New York City, Yaris Gutierrez and Joel Taveras. The name does not represent any allegiance to a particular video game console (or its controller), the name was chosen because it describes what we aim to do: shock the video game journalism industry. The mainstream gaming media as a whole has become bland, predictable, and full of profit driven bias. Smaller sites (the heart and soul of the industry) are becoming polluted with flamebait, rumors, and fanboyism. We don’t want to be part of either. At this site you will only read real gamer news, real gamer reviews and real gamer editorials. All of which will be garnished with some good ol’ New York City attitude. Prepare to be shocked, ladies and gentlemen.

Contact:

The Editors
editors@dualshockers.com

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***BONUS*** You can download The mp3 file directly from HERE.

During the wild week that was E3 2010, one of our biggest interviews didn’t actually take place on the show floor. Instead it was a couple of blocks away at the ultra swanky JW Marriot, and the interview was with Sony’s director of hardware marketing, Mr. John Koller. We asked John about the newly revitalized relationships with 3rd party publishers and Playstation Move’s influence with that. John made it clear that game creators we’re behind the Playstation brand because of the momentum behind the platform. We also talk a bit about the new campaign behind the PSP as well. Take a look at the clip below.

DualShockers were recently invited to a Namco Bandai event in New York City. While there we ran into a number of good industry friends, and one of them was Torrence Davis of TheBitBag. A little over a week ago Torrence wrote an editorial that was  used as an experiment for N4G. By using a (mild) sensationalist headline to get people’s attention Torrence was able to prove that while people bitch and complain about the use of sensationalist headlines and tabloid journalism, at the end of the day, that’s all they want to read and argue about anyway. Find out why he did it and the motivations behind it. Take a look at the full video interview below!

In case you were wondering about the benefits of a PSN plus subscription here’s a quick one. Select Plus subscribers have been chosen as test dummies part of a pilot program to test out the Hulu Plus service. David Hinkle of Joystiq was one of those lucky people selected and he’s put together a pretty nice video preview of what we all can expect when Hulu Plus is available for mass consumption. Hit the hump to check out the full video below, and let us know in the comments section if this application will be enough to merit the $10 per month Hulu plus subscription price.

[Joystiq]

Walmart is known to slash prices like it’s no one’s business especially when it comes to gaming.While Microsoft has yet to confirm the price on their upcoming Kinect motion control, Walmart is wasting no time in getting some pre-order sales going for the peripheral with an oh so sweet pre-order bundle. Starting right now you can go slap down $199  to ensure that you too can look like an idiot in your own home on day one of launch. Hit the jump to see what’s included in the bundle.

What Walmart is offering is the following: Obviously the Kinect,  your choose of any $60 launch title, and they throw in a $30 eGift card. If you have even the thought about picking up Kinect, it’s a pretty sweet deal. I’ll be all over this like a virgin at a comic book convention. I just hope that Dance Central is one of the launch titles so I can do the running man dance all over my house.

Now while there’s no doubt that this IS a damn good deal, it does bring up some questions. Are the experts and analysts wrong about Kinect’s presumed $150 price tag? I mean I know Walmart is a bad ass discouting machine but are they about to take a $40 hit on every bundle sold? Highly Unlikely. We’ll obviously watching this one closely as well as looking for any other bundles and offers on Kinect.

If any of you readers stumble upon any crazy prices, let us know and we’ll give you credit for the find!

Email it to: editors[AT]dualshockersDOTcom

[Walmart] VIA [Kotaku]

There’s something that frequently happens in the game industry more so than any other form of entertainment and that is delays. On occasion you see it happen in the music business when an artist isn’t too happy with the way a record omes out and wants to take a second go at it. But let’s imagine if when you went to go see Toy Story 3 in the theatre ane when you arrived the person at the booth told you the movie has been delayed, what would you say? Well that’s something that occurs in gaming pretty much all the time so when you see the complete opposite occur it leaves you with an almost stupid look on your face followed by a very distinct noise coming out of your mouth; that noise is usually something along the lines of: Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Well get ready to make that ridiculous noise, because it has been announced that Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days has gone gold and because of it will actually ship a whole week early. So instead of having to wait until August 17th in North America and August 20th in Europe and other Pal Territories, players need to mark their calendars for a whole week earlier. Niels Jørgensen, General Manager of IO Interactive chimed in on pushing up the date and here’s what he had to say:

“The team has worked hard to deliver a game that’s different from the current trend of third-person shooters and we’re so pleased to be able to share it with the world ahead of schedule… With development now complete, why keep people waiting any longer? We want to let gamers experience the game we’ve created and get them online betraying their friends in Fragile Alliance, so we have decided to bring the release date forward by one week.”

Don’t you hate it when a highly anticipated title get’s retailer specific pre-order goodies or special editions? I know I am certainly not a fan, especially if the game has a multiplayer component and the minute I sign on to it there’s people running around with golden guns and/or super-weapons. Well fret not because with Medal of Honor’s upcoming Limited Edition, this is certainly not the case.

While those who purchase the limited edition do get access to 3 extra additions to their arsenal, it’s for the single player campaign only and won’t be used for online play. The three weapons are two new shotguns, the TOZ194 and 870MCS, and a submachine gun the MP7. The shot guns should supply for plenty of help in the close quarters combat department, and the MP7 is supposed to provide the range and firepower of a rifle with the handling and size of a pistol. Sounds good to me.  Take a look at the two special edition exclusives in the following pics and in action in this game-play trailer:

Let us know how you feel about pre order weapons or special edition upgrades in the comments section below!

As we approach our 1 year anniversary milestone we here at DualShockers figure what better way for you all to familiarize yourself with the site than by checking out some of our past original work that has helped gain some serious momentum throughout our first year in the biz. Believe it or not, but we’re much more than your everyday gaming news site, and it’s actually editorials like the ones listed below that have helped gain the respect of readers as well as our peers throughout the industry. Considering that it’s Monday, we’re in the middle of the Summer, and Michael Pachter hasn’t made any ridiculous predications recently, actual gaming news is pretty light. So instead of searching for news that isn’t really there, how about checking out the very best gaming editorials you’ve never read!

“Why I Game – To Escape“

Tragedy and violence convoluted my life ever since I became self-conscious.  I wouldn’t wish it upon my most hated enemy living the life I’ve lived.  Some people would call it luck, while others might think it was destiny.  Whatever it was, it assisted with battling my demons.  Growing up when and where I did would seem like something out of a movie – or the constant crap you hear and see in the media revolving gangs and whatnot.  I’m not saying I’ve lived the worst of lives, but I think that at my age, I’ve seen things that would put what most have seen to shame, sadly.  Fortunate for me, I found my Mecca in gaming – a hobby that would save my life from the clutches of the stereotypical lives lived by those who were my neighbors, my friends and even my family; a solemn life that egregiously leads to incarceration or death…

“How Racism is Ruining Online Gaming“

Gaming is a place that normally provides asylum to those who seek it. An escape if you will, just like sports, video games are a distraction or remedy that help people recover from the daily stresses of everyday life.  You get into the zone, and for that moment when you’re shooting zombies, rescuing the princess, or preparing for a raid you can forget about everything and take a lot of society’s harsh realities and tuck them into the back of your mind. Unfortunately, there are times when real- world situations or ideals follow you into the only refuge you have, and it’s usually when you enter the online gaming arena…

“Is Handheld Gaming Really That Great?“

The majority of us who grew up with gaming as our hobby of choice can easily remember the excitement we felt when we first heard and saw Nintendo’s over-sized handheld, the Game Boy. Back in those days, the thing looked extremely high-tech and surpassed the expectations of many of its first buyers. Let’s forget that it looked like a brick with a screen the size of a saltine cracker at the time – it was acceptable then. It was 1990, tech-toys were bulky as is, and people wore purple pants, orange shirts, and neon green cigarette-branded hats. The Game Boy was your “carry me around” toy that all your friends wanted to kill you for.  The black pixels would impregnate the green-tinted screen with the sights of memorable titles like Tetris as we held the 15 pound gaming device while smiling to ourselves.  I had man hands at the age of ten because of its exaggerated size…

“Gaming Journalism Gone Fanboy“

Gaming has become a remedy for cultural unison. It has broken down barriers of competition, communication, and entertainment; it has throttled our very own perception of evolving technologies and creativity. From Nintendo’s first console release in 1985 – which paved the way for console gaming as we know it – to our current generation of console diversity with Microsoft’s Xbox360, Sony’s PlayStation 3, and Nintendo’s intuitive Wii, gaming has become a luxurious means of expressive entertainment beyond our wildest dreams…

“DLC = Dirty Low Corporations“

In this current generation of video games, we as gamers have been witnessing the increase of certain industry trends. Whether it’s the recent emphasis on more casual experiences via the Nintendo Wii (which some would argue is hurting the industry, but in fact it is making it bigger and stronger by broadening the demographic), or the almost automatic inclusion of an online multiplayer component, thanks to the Xbox 360. One trend that has spread like the plague across all platforms is downloadable content (DLC), and I feel this is something that deserves some serious thought…

“Linearity In RPGs – An Exploration“

Perhaps one of the most fortunate (or unfortunate, as the case may be) realities about our lives is the fact that we travel in a linear direction through time. Our lives have a beginning and a finite point; there is no changing that. We don’t have a Delorean we can charge up and race off into a different time period to influence our past and change the future (at least, not yet, right?). It’s with this in mind, it seems, that our favorite books and movies define themselves – one linear motion, each having a start and finish, regardless of their genre or plot….

“Exploration In Games – Why Do We Do it?“

“Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.” ~ Henry Miller

The worlds we’re given to explore through the games we play are full of nooks and crannies, hiding rich treasure, knowledge about our characters via cut scenes or any number of other mechanics to improve, prolong and excite our game play experiences. Exploration is pushed to the forefront in some games and genres, while its left by the wayside in others. Still, in nearly every game out there where we’re put into a fictional universe there are benefits to exploration, whether the developers intended it that way or not….

“The Hype Machine – Managing Expectiations“

We’ve all been a victim of it at some time or another – the Internet hype machine. We heard about a game we’re excited to see being developed, whether it’s the next title in one of our favorite franchises or a brand new IP that appeals to us, and we get excited. As development progresses, we hear about things being worked on for the game and, perhaps, some game features are promised which end up not being in the final product…

” Dear President Obama…“

For years on end, gamers have been plagued with the same continuous rants from religious aficionados, parents, and political deities that gaming harms the minds of our youths and promotes an egregious form of thought and violence. With the constant evolution of graphical capabilities within gaming, the attraction to experience something in a different form of entertainment tends to appeal crowds of every form; whether its children, teenagers, adults, the elderly, this consistent transformation in technology grasps the minds of all. This doesn’t only apply to gaming, of course. This applies to the movie industry, the music industry, and anything else which profits from the technological gain that distracts our consciousness. I won’t deny that too much gaming without constraints, in fact, can decay the minds of our children and so forth. But this goes for anything that we consume without moderation…

“Nintendo: Victim of their Own Success“

In the world of video games there are words that are seldom used. One word that’s on the top of that list is the word different. The thing with being different is that it can be a double-edged sword. Sometimes a game is different and it’s a breath of fresh air for the industry, on the other hand sometimes it’s too different and winds up seeming more gimmicky than anything else…

Thanks to the DS’ wifi capability, you’ll be able to team up with 3 other players anywhere and anytime to “explore mysterious dungeons and tangle with fearsome monsters throughout a spellbinding world of adventure.” Another great social aspect coming to the title is Tag mode. In that mode, even if your DS is closed and in your pocket or bag, players can exchange customized greetings, items, and treasure maps. The treasure maps will provide info for secret boss hideouts and, well… treasure.

If you have a DS today, I salute you. If you’re too nervous to make the jump on your own, you can always just wait around for our review from our in-house RPG guru, Chad Awkerman! Just be patient, because like you all, he’s jumping from one 60 hour RPG to another all summer long.

Let us know what’s your favorite Dragon Quest so far in the comments section!

Whether you’re a casual or a core gamer, at one point or another, we’ve all fallen victim to a good old-fashioned online ass kicking. And sometimes, it’s not because you’re unfamiliar with the genre, or unfamiliar with the control scheme. Sometimes, it just happens because you waited too long to buy it and/or play it. It’s the online shooter learning curve, and it’s a casual’s worst nightmare. However, even core online gamers fall victim to it.

Warhawk anyone? The 2007 online shooter was arguably the worst game that you could “jump into” anytime after its launch. Within a week of release, it was already too late (if you wanted to actually enjoy it that is). The game, which still has a rabid following to this day, expected players to pick up and master three very different modes of play (Air, Ground, and Vehicular Ground). Once you finally got your bearing with the ground combat, it was time to take to the skies and learn a completely different control scheme. The problem with that was as soon as you even learned how to take off, other players were already locking on your position and shooting you down. Anytime I even looked at a plane I would have flashbacks to Top Gun and in my mind all I would hear was Berlin’s 80’s ballad “Take My Breath Away,” and thought about Maverick and Goose chasing me all around the game’s god forsaken maps.

If you need to think of an online shooter in more recent times, you don’t need to look further than Modern Warfare 2. The game, which seemed to have inherited all the MLG “try-hards” from the Halo series, has one of the biggest learning curves to get used to. While I think that there’s nothing wrong with being competitive and even talking a little smack, when you see all of the self proclaimed “pros” running around while making the game un-enjoyable, it’s enough to keep players away.

Even the most seasoned FPS veterans have trouble adjusting to the game’s speed, lack of recoil, and lack of reality, ZING! That’s why they turn to tactics like using the grenade launcher attachment. And you know what? I don’t blame them; how else are they supposed to survive online?

So, while pros moan and grown in the game’s lobby, calling the weapon a “noob tube,” instead it should be referred to as the “pro pipe” as it’s really an amateur players only line of defense.

I have this one buddy who plays nothing but sports titles and Uncharted 2 online (which is also a shooter). When he tried to make the jump over to Modern Warfare 2 he described it as “being too frantic and all the other players being too demanding.” For him, it was constant yelling and screaming at him for not knowing what was going on.

Throughout the process, he brought up a great argument. He said “what’s the point of having these ranks and leveling up if I’m a level 8 and yet the game has me facing off with 70’s right from the start?” What kind of retarded game is this?” And you know what, he’s absolutely right.

It’s because of these broken ranked matchmaking systems that make these online shooters have too big of a learning curve. It’s because of these learning curves that certain players and (listen up developers) potential buyers stay clear from these titles. A month is an eternity in gamer years, and once you missed the boat you feel like you have to wait for the next one. I can easily think of about 5 high profile shooters that I never had the chance of enjoying because I didn’t want to jump in to late and get curb stomped all night. How many have you missed out on? Let’s hear it in the comments section!