RYAN FINLEY
COMMUNITY WRITER
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Do I try to actually KILL this guy with a BB gun, just for doing his job? Do I just try to run away? In the parlance of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?” I loved that I HAD a choice, but hated that I was so unsure of what the “right” thing to do was.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 | Comments (1)
POST BY THIS AUTHOR (17)
2guys_1title
The real issue that I have with higher difficulty levels is that they often substitute frustration for fun. There are a number of ways that developers can try to ratchet up the challenge of games, but too often they make bad choices. It's wonderful when they get it right, but horribly frustrating when they get it wrong.
Batmanaa
Every once in a long while, though, a real gem squeaks through this gauntlet of licensed trash and surprises everyone with its quality – Batman: Arkham Asylum is one such game.
Resident-evil-1
Nostalgic thoughts of encountering our first zombie in the original Resident Evil can prompt us to overlook the flaws of later titles. But sometimes you just need to pull the plug. Let’s look at a few gameplay mechanics that are better off dead.
Uc2
Strong storytelling is an excellent way to keep older gamers interested, and Uncharted 2 is an excellent example of how the industry is slowly moving from the old ways of game story as an afterthought to fully fleshed-out, engaging narratives.
Heavyrain
There’s a kind of mystic alchemy to the creation of a gaming masterpiece; you can put together a title with eye-popping graphics, killer sound and voicework, amazing gameplay and an engaging storyline and STILL not quite have a classic on your hands. Heavy Rain is a title that didn't quite get there.
Backtothefuture
Finally, some licenses I can get behind. If you haven’t heard, Telltale games just picked up the licenses for Back to the Future and Jurassic Park to start work on a couple of new episodic games.
Gamestore
Used game sales are a problem for publishers, and I think most people understand why. What we don't understand is their decision to go after the people who buy used games, rather than try to work something out with retailers.
Ces
I thought it would be a fun exercise to think about what my “dream” E3 announcements would be. Here are a few of the things I would love to see announced, but will not likely see the light of day for one reason or another.
Gow3
Rather than add to the massive pile of plain old God of War III reviews, I decided to do the unthinkable, and review all 3 at once. So get yourself a drink, buckle your seatbelt, and try to relax – we’re going to be here for awhile. Here is my review of the God of War Trilogy.
2guys_1title
We all have outlandish dreams of “what we’ll be when we grow up.” Some kids dream of spacewalking as astronauts, some dream of game-winning shots in basketball, and some dream of becoming stars in Hollywood. When I was young, the one job I wanted more than anything was as a Nintendo game counselor.
Rncpsp
The point is this: oftentimes ideas look a heck of a lot better on paper than they do in practice. Similarly, when I first caught wind of the coming PSP, I was beside myself with anticipation. A handheld with analog support, a beautiful widescreen, and disc-based media – how could it go wrong?
Lolbox_thumb
I associate F2P with half-assed, graphically challenged boutique games littered with bugs and ads. Due to these prejudices, I approached League of Legends with a bit of trepidation – but its combination of strategic depth and devilishly addicting, competitive team-based gameplay kept me logging in on a nearly daily basis.
COMMENTS BY THIS AUTHOR (32)
"I've been trading on Goozex and trolling the boards there for a good 9 months, and I'm always surprised at how much support the PSP gets there.  I complain about it all I can, but I'm only one guy.  ;)"
Friday, August 27, 2010
"Here is my Goozex username.

Splendorlex

In case anyone is wondering, it's the name of my long-dead rock band.  :)"

Tuesday, August 03, 2010
"I'm with David and Jazz, and I'm sure there's a way for us to enter.  :)  It's like the law or something.  :)  Can I shamelessly promote one of my early articles that was a sort of veiled commercial for Goozex?  I LOVE that site.  :)  

http://www.bitmob.com/articles/build-your-game-collection-without-breaking-the-bank"

Monday, August 02, 2010
"@Nathan Isn't that why we have analog sticks, though?  Push a little to walk, all the way to run?"
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
"@Rob and others: I know they can't make it smooth like a keyboard and mouse, but my complaint is more about really slooooowww targeting that can only be sped up a tiny bit through sensitivity tweaking. Sometimes the sensitivity tweaking makes it bearable, but not always.

@Brett You're right, I couldn't stand RE5's aiming mechanics.  

@Pete Not completely "tank" perhaps, but certainly "tank-ish" with the move forward/turn element.  Any way you slice it, they were frigging awkward.  :)

&nbs"

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
""Sponsor reserves the right to make determinations of suitability in its sole and absolute discretion, and to disqualify any entries it determines to be inappropriate for any reason."

That's from the official rules, so I guess I'll try to wing a creative entry, and hope that it passes muster with the Sponsor.  :)"

Thursday, July 08, 2010
"I'm another one of those poor folks who doesn't already own a 360, and therefore would love to take a crack at the contest. 

What to do, what to do..."

Thursday, July 08, 2010
"@Randy Maybe Schafer reset them all to keep people out?  :)  The first UC had similar plot pieces with remnants of the Nazis who had come before.  

@Rachel Agreed.  They tied everything up nicely, and frankly they don't need to "set up" a sequel with Nathan Drake.  "

Thursday, June 24, 2010
"I really feel your pain, Jasmine.  I have a tough time handling it when temps get in the high 80's.  :)  Thanks for the link!"
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"Giant Bomb is ALWAYS my first choice.  But I listen religiously to many of the others that you have listed here.  "
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"When I hear of game piracy (or music or movie piracy for that matter) I always want to ask one question.  Would you walk into a Best Buy or Gamestop, take something off the shelf, and leave?  No?  Then why steal digitally? "
Friday, June 11, 2010
"The FIRST Back to the Future was and still is an awesome flick.  I will readily admit that II and III were not very good, not at all.  

Still, I think it could be the perfect setting for a humorous, mystery-tinged adventure.  "

Friday, June 11, 2010