The cynical part of me rears its annoying head once in a while, reminding me video games are a business first and always. The industry has expanded since the NES launched in 1985, bringing us unmatched content for nearly every digital desire we could possibly imagine (within reason, holodecks are yet to come). People have become deservedly rich from creating, distributing and selling games and consoles.
Most of us are willing participants because we feel games are, mostly, a strong product. They can be played as many times as you wish, and many have multiple reasons to return. They can be discussed in great detail, played with others in the same room or even around the world. They are constantly evolving, bringing new ideas, challenges and artistic interpretations straight to our living rooms. They are truly a marvel, and we are lucky to be in a position to play games so often when others are much less fortunate. READ MORE
The premise of the original Super Smash Bros. on the N64 centered around the idea that Nintendo figures were drawn from a toy box, brought to life by Master Hand to duke it out on various battlefields. While the franchise hasn’t really been known for its lore, the concept itself has clearly defined the path the series has taken. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, brought to life by Masahiro Sakurai and a team at Bandai Namco, feels even more like a collection of cool toys in a box than previous installments, eschewing any attempts at narrative and cohesion in favor of a menu full of disparate-but-entertaining options. READ MORE
The last release from Jackbox Games, Fibbage, was definitely a fun game, but it was also an experiment in using tablets and phones to control games on your TV. The Jackbox Party Pack represents the next logical step in that exploration, though the release itself was definitely a surprise. The compilation includes five games, including a new You Don’t Know Jack and a version of Fibbage with more questions, and it’s angling for a spot at your next game night. READ MORE
Ten years of World of Warcraft. Ten years of expansions, of leveling and of raiding, only to repeat the cycle when a new expansion comes out. But it’s also ten years of friends, and of looking forward to whats next in the way only an MMO can manage. After playing this game for so long, I have really come to notice that it’s how a game balances the social aspect with the content, and not the content itself, that keeps you coming back for more. READ MORE
Rumors of the death of the shoot-’em-up has been greatly exaggerated. In the aftermath of the Japan-exclusive gold rush of shooters for the Xbox 360, we are starting to see the market stabilize a bit more as independent developers are finding success in the PC market outside of Japan. Leading the charge of localizing doujin games is Fruitbat Factory. Its latest release stars a character that may be familiar to players of 100% Orange Juice, the party game released last year, but the shoot-’em-up gameplay won’t be so similar. We’re going to take a look at how well QP Shooting: Dangerous!! holds up as a shooter compared to its contemporaries. READ MORE
