Video Games

Headshots: Do you ever quit games just before beating them?

Welcome to Headshots, where Nightmare Mode writers commit their faces to video to answer weekly questions. This week’s question: Do you ever quit games just before beating them? Why? Apparently, achievement whoring leads to unfinished games. What a shame. Video

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Headshots: Do you ever quit games just before beating them?

Welcome to Headshots, where Nightmare Mode writers commit their faces to video to answer weekly questions. This week’s question: Do you ever quit games just before beating them? Why? Apparently, achievement whoring leads to unfinished games. What a shame. Video

/ 10 Comments

After Pressing Start: Waking Up In Morrowind. Twice.

In the waning years of the Third Era of Tamriel, a prisoner born on a certain day to uncertain parents was sent under guard, without explanation, to Morrowind, ignorant of the role he was to play in that nation’s history…

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After Pressing Start: Waking Up In Morrowind. Twice.

In the waning years of the Third Era of Tamriel, a prisoner born on a certain day to uncertain parents was sent under guard, without explanation, to Morrowind, ignorant of the role he was to play in that nation’s history…

/ One Comment

The Angelic Architect in Splice

Splice is perhaps the first bildungsroman story told strictly through puzzle elements where the main character is none other than God himself.  Religious games have been around for a long time — for example, when I was seven, I had

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The Angelic Architect in Splice

Splice is perhaps the first bildungsroman story told strictly through puzzle elements where the main character is none other than God himself.  Religious games have been around for a long time — for example, when I was seven, I had

/ 5 Comments

Heroes without a Cause: The Allure of Avernum

Today I saw that Avernum: Escape from the Pit was on sale on Steam for under $4. This is a steal for one of the landmark pre-millennial indie role-playing games. (Avernum is a re-remake of Exile: Escape from the Pit,

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Heroes without a Cause: The Allure of Avernum

Today I saw that Avernum: Escape from the Pit was on sale on Steam for under $4. This is a steal for one of the landmark pre-millennial indie role-playing games. (Avernum is a re-remake of Exile: Escape from the Pit,

/ Comments Off on Heroes without a Cause: The Allure of Avernum

Steamroll: Tiny Coaster Magic

When your gaming criteria depends solely on how cheap a game is, it’s easy to get clunkers or unexpected surprises. It’s rare to get both in the same week, though. This is one of those weeks. At least I managed

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Steamroll: Tiny Coaster Magic

When your gaming criteria depends solely on how cheap a game is, it’s easy to get clunkers or unexpected surprises. It’s rare to get both in the same week, though. This is one of those weeks. At least I managed

/ One Comment

Nightmare Mode Video: Headshots

Welcome to Headshots, where Nightmare Mode writers commit their faces to video to answer weekly questions. This week: “What’s your favorite guilty pleasure game?” In which our writers make excuses for playing embarrassing games. Video after the jump.

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Nightmare Mode Video: Headshots

Welcome to Headshots, where Nightmare Mode writers commit their faces to video to answer weekly questions. This week: “What’s your favorite guilty pleasure game?” In which our writers make excuses for playing embarrassing games. Video after the jump.

/ 3 Comments

3 fictional universes that should go MMO

It’s really easy to imagine a well-established fictional world as an MMO. Any imaginative world beyond our own has factions, races, neat archetypes and cities that could be strung together into another WoW clone. As much as we all would like to see innovation beyond that, here’s my top three “why by Odin’s raven does this not exist?” contenders for fictional universes that haven’t already been made into MMO’s. Expect the “verse” suffix attached inccorectly to many words and plenty of foolish optimism.

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3 fictional universes that should go MMO

It’s really easy to imagine a well-established fictional world as an MMO. Any imaginative world beyond our own has factions, races, neat archetypes and cities that could be strung together into another WoW clone. As much as we all would like to see innovation beyond that, here’s my top three “why by Odin’s raven does this not exist?” contenders for fictional universes that haven’t already been made into MMO’s. Expect the “verse” suffix attached inccorectly to many words and plenty of foolish optimism.

/ 4 Comments

Soundscapes – The Future of Virtual Surround

This is part three of a three part series, earlier we looked at the future of sound and music. Understanding the subtleties of how the brain perceives sound, and the real world concerns, such as what speakers or headphones you’re

/ One Comment

Soundscapes – The Future of Virtual Surround

This is part three of a three part series, earlier we looked at the future of sound and music. Understanding the subtleties of how the brain perceives sound, and the real world concerns, such as what speakers or headphones you’re

/ One Comment

Living with a Prosthetic Avatar

Around six months ago I enrolled in a theology class known as “The Problem of God”. Although my professor was a Pastor and my college a Catholic institution, the issues we tackled were bravely secular and refreshingly open-minded. My professor

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Living with a Prosthetic Avatar

Around six months ago I enrolled in a theology class known as “The Problem of God”. Although my professor was a Pastor and my college a Catholic institution, the issues we tackled were bravely secular and refreshingly open-minded. My professor

/ 2 Comments

Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut is a Watershed Moment in Videogame Narrative

(Note: Just to be clear, there are some light spoilers regarding the ending of Mass Effect 3. If you haven’t played through it, I recommend going through and experiencing the “disappointing” ending before Tuesday so you can know what all

/ 2 Comments

Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut is a Watershed Moment in Videogame Narrative

(Note: Just to be clear, there are some light spoilers regarding the ending of Mass Effect 3. If you haven’t played through it, I recommend going through and experiencing the “disappointing” ending before Tuesday so you can know what all

/ 2 Comments