Several months ago, in one of my commentaries, I came out of the DDR closet and have been open about it ever since. I knew I had nothing to be ashamed of. I'm a DDR addict and I am proud of it. In a more recent commentary, I even had the dilemma of deciding on whether to pick up the latest US DDR title (DDRMAX2, hereafter referred to as MAX2) or to import DDR Extreme (DDRX). After researching the track lists of both games, I decided to give both of them a try, and needless to say I am pleased … Continue reading Report To The Dance Floor→
‘Mainstream' is a dirty word in the world of gaming. Call someone a ‘casual' gamer and that's tantamount to fighting talk. Casual gamers buy FIFA instead of Pro Evolution Soccer and think movie licenses are a guarantee of quality. They are the sole reason that the rest of us have to endure sequel after sequel of mediocre platformers and Bond games that aren't Goldeneye. Why buy Rez when you can play another driving game? That's what the casual gamer thinks. Then they download all the cheats and use the walk-though like a step by step instruction manual. I mean, how … Continue reading Has Hardcore Gone Soft?→
During my last commentary, I gave my opinions of the Jokia Un-Gage and the eventual failure I predicted it would be. Turns out I may have been right all along. In its first week of release, my sources say only 5,000 units were sold in the US, with an additional 500 in the UK. Not only that, but both EB and Gamestop are now selling the Un-Gage at $199, although it is actually due to an instant rebate. Still, even with a $100 price drop, there is no way that the Un-Gage will even have a slight chance against the … Continue reading Nokia N-Gage Fails In Sales→
Point and click adventure games are dead! Or so Charles Cecil would have us believe, if his opening statement at the ECTS 2002 press conference is to be believed. This only holds only any significance if you know that Charles Cecil is the creator of point and click greats such as the Broken Sword series. When it comes to mastery of an engaging narrative driven game, Charles, or Mr Cecil is the king. Nevertheless, I must protest and declare that Charles is wrong. Now, this is not something I take lightly, believe me. Here is a man who has single-handedly … Continue reading Point And Click FOREVER→
Computer games can be so realistic that they are downright scary, and that can be a good thing. Researchers at the University of Quebec in Outaouais found that video games can be more effective in treating patients with phobias than commercially developed virtual environments costing as much as $10,000, and the games do it at a fraction of the cost. "In some respects, despite their low cost, therapeutic virtual environments derived from games are superior to their commercial counterparts," researchers reported in a study published in the November 5th issue of the journal CyberPsychology & Behavior. Using map editing programs … Continue reading Games That Heal→
Now that the hockey season has officially started, my work as a Sports Correspondent can rest for a while. Sure, ESPN NBA Basketball comes out this week, but considering that it is the first of a massive slew of titles, including SSX 3, Rogue Squadron 3: Rebel Strike, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (back in its purist form after 10 years), and the biggest surprise of them all, an early release of Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, there is no time for me to write an NBA report card against NBA Live (then again, I don't care much for basketball, except maybe … Continue reading Too Complex→
In the last couple of weeks Nintendo has come to a brave decision. In a Robin Hood style gesture, the big N has decided to take from the rich and give to the poor. Yes, Nintendo is effectively giving away the GameCube. This is less a gesture of goodwill and more a sad sign of desperation. At the new price point of around £79, the GameCube is cheaper than the Game Boy Advance SP – er, that's a handheld, in case you'd forgotten. Nintendo is on the verge of doing a three for the price of two deal. Buy two … Continue reading Nintendo Throws In The Towel?→
Before Monday, my original concept for this week's commentary was to center on the launch of the Jokia Un-Gage and how poor pre-orders will end up resulting in the biggest gaming flop since the Virtual Boy. However, certain factors come into play when you least expect it. Enter the "Madden Curse." We've all heard about it. Up until the 2000 release, John Madden graced the cover of his EA Sports football franchise. With 2001, star players were used as cover athletes. What first might seem like the next best thing since being on the cover of a Wheaties box has … Continue reading The Cover Curse→
Gamer.tv has begun its search for the UK's sexiest gamer, according to this week's press release. It is this revelation that has brought me to wondering whether this is just the modern day search for the Holy Grail. Are gamers sexy? And if we are, what are the implications, if any? It is kind of like searching for the world's sexiest comic book shop owner. I guess there could be a sexy one somewhere, but do we really need to know!? Apparently, contestants of Gamer.tv's illustrious competition will be put through rigorous testing to prove that they are "genuine computer … Continue reading Sexy Gamers?!?→