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Review: Subsonic Pro Controller Fluo (PS3/PC)
You know, for the most part, I’m a modifier kind of guy. When I had my 5th Gen Honda Prelude, I upgraded the intake, the springs, the ECU, the sound system, and more. When I got my first iPhone, it was jailbroken post haste, and each iteration has been ever since (going on four years, now). When I buy a computer, it comes in individual pieces that I put together to my heart’s content. ...[Read More]
Review: Subsonic Racin’ Pro (PS3/PC)
Ever since I was a human child, playing a racing game of any sort would see my dramatically tilting, angling, and swinging my controller around as I leaned into turns and weaved around obstacles and competitors. Now, even as a human spawn, I knew that my wild undulations and swaying had no actual effect…but it totally did, so sod off. There were racing wheels, sure, but they weren’t al...[Read More]
Review: Deus Ex: Human Revolution – The Missing Link DLC (XBLA)
Adam Jensen’s consciousness slowly fades in as he finds himself strapped to an EMP chair, negating his augmented abilities. An interrogation begins, and the first strength of Deus Ex: Human Revolution‘s first DLC experience, The Missing Link, becomes apparent. Adam escapes, and the second strength of The Missing Link becomes apparent. Adam fights or sneaks his way to the end, and the t...[Read More]
Review: The War of the Worlds (XBLA)
I remember the first time I heard about The War of the Worlds. I was at E3, being herded from a behind-closed-doors preview of the upcoming Star Trek to a small adjacent appointment room. I was wearing my “Ten Reasons Why Kirk is Better Than Picard” t-shirt (because Kirk IS better than Picard), still geeking out about what I had seen in the pre-alpha preview when I was directly address...[Read More]
Review: Rocksmith (360)
Until you become a fantastic guitar player in your own right, don’t expect to 100% anything in Rocksmith. Why? Because Rocksmith is the ultimate troll. What’s that, Player 1? You’re so close to mastering the chords of Plug In Baby? Well, I think that calls for a celebration! And by celebration, I mean I’M GOING TO INCREASE THE DIFFICULTY SO THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE JUST ALMO...[Read More]
Review: PowerUp Heroes (Kinect)
While enjoying elementary school recess in the late 80’s, my friends and I played various games of the imagination, from X-Men to G.I. Joe, and from Super Heroes to Street Fighter. You have never known joy if you didn’t spend 30 minutes a day running around shouting, “HADOUKEN! NO… NO! SNAKE EYES CAN’T BLOCK A HADOUKEN WITH HIS NINJA POWERS, YOU BIG BUTTHEAD!” N...[Read More]
A Gamer’s (Early) Mid-life Crisis
I heard your call to action, Dark Souls. I heard the boasts that you shared, declaring yourself one of the most difficult games in history. I decided to take up arms against you and stop your reign of terror. I dimmed the lights, I consumed an unhealthy amount of caffeine; I even turned off my cell phone. But, alas, it is I who has been smitten by your merciless destruction. Today, the dragon has ...[Read More]
Review: Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (360)
Do you want to know how I knew this would be a great game within minutes of starting the campaign? Allow me to paint a picture for you: it was a Monday afternoon, and the sun was bright in the sky. My wife sat on our couch with the laptop in front of her, while I was on the living room chair getting everything prepared for my first game of Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. The Portal was set, m...[Read More]
Review: Sonic Generations (PS3)
I start the console, hear the familiar cry of “SEGA!” and then bliss, as I hear an updated but still recognizable Sonic theme song. I press start, and find myself returned not just to the levels of the past, but that feeling of skill and response that I developed as a child for these games. I’m in heaven.
Review: A Game of Thrones: Genesis (PC)
I have tried incredibly hard to love A Game of Thrones: Genesis. AGoT has so many great ideas it hurts to not love it. First, a little bit about my knowledge of the stories that inspired this… game. I know this will upset the diehards but I entered the world through the exemplary HBO series. I read the book along with each episode, making sure to stay just behind the current story. Then scho...[Read More]
Breaking into the Industry: Lessons Learned
To get into the industry is really hard. It helps to know people and to know a thing or two about a specialization in the field. This can be tough for a lot of students and other people to understand without years of rejection from game companies telling you that you are not the type of person they are looking for. So the question is what skills can you learn and how can you get into the industry.
Breaking into the Industry: Top Five Pieces of Advice
For the past few conferences I’ve attended, I have been asking people what the best advice they had for students or anyone else wanting to get in the industry was. The responses ranged from amazing to really, that’s your answer? At times it feels like people don’t want to help students get into the industry, but that’s why I am here to help by compiling my knowledge of what...[Read More]