Archive for Games

  • Microsoft is killing itself softly with its hard drives

    From a business perspective Microsoft has done a great many things wrong with the Xbox 360.  It ignored the potential threat of the Wii until far too late.  It released a system with a major design flaw that later cost it a cool billion dollars to fix.  But it has also done things right, and maki...

  • A swiftly tilting media landscape

    For years the promise of one console to unify all games has been little more than a pipe dream for gamers.  Yes, it would be wonderful to play Mario, Gran Turismo and Halo all on one console--but gamers no better than to dream for such things.  But why? Video games remain the only major media t...

  • Zelda steps into third dimension by returning to roots Zelda steps into third dimension by returning to roots

    Just how confusing is the headline to this post?  This of it this way—if this headline were the instructions on how to successfully save yourself from a rapidly depressurizing submarine you found yourself stranded in at the bottom of the ocean, well, you’d be dead by now.  Thankfully no su...

  • Sony’s grand failure with the PSP Go Sony’s grand failure with the PSP Go

    The PSP Go is an odd little system.  It’s not a true successor to the PSP, but it’s different enough to garner some attention.  That makes it similar to Nintendo’s DSi, but that’s actually an evolution of the current software.  The PSP has been a lukewarm success at best, a...

  • Future in franchising for video games Future in franchising for video games

    Could there be a future for franchising in video games?  No, not of the GameStop variety, but in actual games themselves.  How so?  By letting fans control games that no longer make financial sense for developers and publishers. For example, the old Electronic Arts MMO game Earth ...

  • Twenty common misconceptions about gamers Twenty common misconceptions about gamers

    It’s rather easy to pick on self-described gamers.  Lord knows I’ve done my fair share (in jest, though some miss it).  But in truth, many of the perceptions about gamers are false—some even bigoted.  For this reason, I feel it’s my place to clear some of the most common mi...

  • Getting adaptations of nostalgia completely wrong Getting adaptations of nostalgia completely wrong

    There’s a growing problem in media and that is of the nostalgia adaptation.  It’s the process of taking a property which mostly resides in the golden plateau of nostalgia and trying to adapt it to a new medium for today’s audience.  Or, in other words, it’s taking something from...

  • Top five most influential Sony PlayStation games Top five most influential Sony PlayStation games

    When Sony originally announced they were making their own console much of the gaming world scoffed at them.  How could they hope to compete with the likes of Nintendo and Sega?  However, compete they did—even helping to knock Sega completely out of the hardware business.  Below a...

  • Games as art: where are they? Games as art: where are they?

    It may incense gaming fans, but many still view games as time occupiers for children.  One would be hard pressed to argue this point with titles like Pokemon, and so stereotypes about gamers living in their parents’ basement and not talking to women persist.  Fair, or foul? Roger Ebe...

  • Top five most influential Sega Genesis games Top five most influential Sega Genesis games

    While the Super Nintendo may be looked back upon most fondly these days, at the time of the 16-bit console wars the Sega Genesis reigned supreme for most of that war.  Below are the five titles that have been most influential since their release.  Keep in mind, these are the most influe...

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