SuperVoodoo

Nuts and Bolts is the first game in the Banjo series that I delved into, so I had no preconceptions from the previous games.  I had a fairly good understanding of what the game would be like going in, and I think that the radical mechanic that they built the game around intrigued me.  I saw it as one of those games with a great concept that could go either horribly wrong or be really fun.  Luckily it worked out to be the latter.

Before hitting the jump I’ll just say that this game will hit you hard if you ever played with Lego blocks as a child, it’s basically that simplistic set of creativity wrapped around fun, varied objectives.  To get more than that, you’ll have to hit the jump.

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With every new year comes new excitement for the upcoming gaming season. This past year was filled with major disappointments, blockbuster busts, and an overall feeling that the gaming world had crossed too far over to the side of casual. When E3 leaves the entire industry pissed off and upset, you know that something is wrong. Despite the fact that this past year sucked for gaming (if you’re hardcore, if you’re casual then you must be pretty pleased with yourself), there has to be a glimmer of hope.

Check the jump for Staff Predictions for 2009

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I’ve been pretty critical of Home since it launched a couple weeks back, I never really understood the point and even cringed at the same problems being mentioned by others such as the exciting promise to “wait in line.” Sony apologists without fail have hidden behind the “beta” moniker in the title, saying that it’s unfinished and should be looked at more in terms of potential. I take issue with that because the term “beta” has taken on a very different meaning in the last few years and isn’t a way of excusing problems that exist.

So to hide behind the moniker and then to come out and say that it may be permanent and is “sort of synonymous with our idea of launch” doesn’t shock me because it exposes it for what it is. Sony wants it both ways, they want to be able to hide behind the fact that it’s not done yet (even though it is), and then spin it to be some cool feature.  Sounds like more marketing than anything else, and I feel somewhat disrespected that they would hijack terms like that as a way to push a product that is really feature complete as a first release.  The features might suck, but they are complete.

Even GMail is still technically a beta product, and all these companies just need to stop with the insanity and just officially release stuff.  Sony uses the title as a way of making critics sound like they are punching a baby in the face, and it’s really not fair when they plan on keeping it that way indefinitely.

As far as how good Home actually is, I think one of the better reviews was posted by a reader on GiantBomb.com and is nicely summed up with the following quote:

This is what Sony has been working on? Not making a competent online service that can compete with Xbox Live? Not improving XMB functionality? Not working on across-the-board PS2 emulation? Every day it seems more and more that Sony is doing everything they can to lose this generation’s console war…

… record-setting in that this has to be the tardiest review on the game.

But, better late than never.

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OK, first, I know, it is one DLC pack, and I don’t have to buy it.  But it’s part of an ongoing trend.

What happened to you, Rock Band?  You used to be cool.

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I like trivia quite a bit, and I really, really like my PS3.  So, the two things together should be bliss.

The surprise?
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No seriously though, merry Christmas!

I’ve decided to take a few of the videos tangentially Xmas related videos that have crossed my desk and repost them here for your viewing pleasure.

There are times when you’re forced to look at certain aspects of yourself from an outside perspective and see who you are and how it affects those around you. Vital points in your life really make you question everything you do and who you are.

I started gaming as a small tot and since then I’ve only continued to push myself forward towards this new found obsession.  Gaming was so visceral, so real…it gave me a chance to experience feelings I never thought I’d be able to experience before.

The hooks were in. I was caught.

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GPG and Stardock recently unleashed a raw version of the beta 2 for Demigod.  As you may remember I’ve been keenly interested in the game and have played a bit of it.  With the new version we get near final skill trees and internet play at long last.  There is also a lot missing from the second beta that still needs to happen.

So how does it all come together?  You’ll have to jump to find out…

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Holy shit, an article by EvilJ!

The apocalypse is nigh…

I’ll do you one better for a rarity:  this is a short one just asking you, the reader, for input. Read the rest of this entry »