It’s happening, folks! We just hit May, but the storm of awesome movies is fast approaching and it starts with Iron Man 3. This usually means that gamers can expect the usual product placement of soda cans, fast food and rushed tie-in video games. Like death, taxes and split-second bathroom urges, this is inevitable. What’s less expected is how dedicated I’ve become in clearing out my backlog while the release schedule is light. In keeping with the “man” theme, I [...]
I woke up this morning to find I had some new items in my Steam inventory, which is always an exciting thing. Opening it up, I saw that I had a coupon for a “match 3″ style puzzle/RPG called Dungeon Hearts. I’m not sure how it got there, but for a second I thought that Cube Roots (the developers of the game) had stumbled upon my Cheap and Dirty series and were trying to bribe me in order to get [...]
I’d describe myself as a “gaming tree,” firmly rooted to where my consoles and computers are like an expensive security blanket. On the surface, I can’t say I really have any issues with travelling. I definitely am aware of the benefits in getting away from the familiar and having unique experiences. Maybe the reluctance comes from in how video games let you go to places, both real and fictional, without actually having to deal with the time between points A and B. [...]
A little over a year ago, Double Fine changed the way the video game industry looked at Kickstarter and crowdfunding in general. The result of this experiment was the dramatically successful $3 million+ funding of the creation of a new adventure game by Double Fine and a documentary of the process behind the scenes. Backers have had access to intimate 8 episodes of footage since the project started, but formal announcements about the game had been minimal. During the Double [...]
Back in 2007, I was surprised by a journey I took under the sea to a place called Rapture. It was majestic, yet dreary. Foreign, yet familiar. Wet. Very, very wet. The highest honor I can bestow upon Rapture is that I’ll never forget it. It’s not rare for video games (or anything, really) to root themselves deeply in a person’s mind and essentially live forever. Bioshock was less a game for me than it was an experience, getting pulled into [...]
Zen Studios is on a tear as of late. The reigning kings of virtual pinball are following up their run of quality Marvel tables with a planned 10 tables of Star Wars Pinball themed goodness. Josh and Justin, resident Horrible Night pinball apprentices, take the first three tables for a spin in this episode of Game Curious. May the balls be with you. This video is intended for a mature audience as our commentary is not kid-friendly: For more Game Curious and [...]
Video games are some of the most comfortable forms of escapism available at my fingertips. If I want to drive a taxi off a pier, I can play Grand Theft Auto. If I want to jump-kick a sightseer off a pier, I can play Sleeping Dogs. Seriously, the pier is just a dangerous place. In terms of actually exploring the unknown and discovering the discover-able, I’ve indulged in a couple of titles that let me venture into the deep down darkness on [...]
A typical year in video games tends to be lopsided in terms of big name releases. Slow in the beginning, but everyone is swimming in AAA titles by the holidays. What happens as those big titles get completed? I’ve chosen to reach shoulder-deep into the dirtier side of gaming and play two poorly-received games, hoping for laughs and good times. In space, no one could hear me scream. In this week’s Radio Waves, everyone can. Two mouths, one marine Make [...]
Zen Studios broke through in a big way with us last year, even taking home a Grimmy in the process. I had written off digital pinball, but it’s is hard to argue with quality table designs in any form. Next week though, digital pinball is set to get an even wider audience to pay attention. Zen Studios is releasing Star Wars Pinball tables across a variety of platforms. The first pack of Star Wars Pinball tables for The Empire Strikes [...]
I never thought I would be considering rehab. First, let me explain that I’ve got a problem. It’s not a “real” problem like being trapped in a gauntlet of traps run by a puppet, but is a problem nonetheless. When I first started gaming, it was an affair that required a computer, a monitor and a place to rest your bottom for some real fun times. Things are different now. You can play in your living room, secretly at your [...]
