This month in Joystick Division - July 2012

Video games' best endings [Infinite Ammo]
How a game ends can help determine how well it is remembered. Here are five of my favorite video game endings of all time.

Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection is off target [Review]
Sore arms, wonky aiming and some poor design keep Resident Evil Chronicles from being a light gun must-have.

Mobile gaming doesn't compare to portable consoles [Infinite Ammo]
Smart phones are good for killing time at the doctor's office, but they simply can't replace the portable gaming experience.

This month in Joystick Division - June 2012

Video games' best daddies [Infinite Ammo]
This week I talk about the best fathers in the wide world of video games.

Musings on E3 and childbirth [Infinite Ammo]
My new nephew was born the first morning of E3. My new nephew is awesome. E3 2012, not so much.

Gravity Rush: And I'm free...Free falling. [Review]

Making the laws of physics your plaything is a rip-roaring good time in Gravity Rush for the PlayStation Vita.

Taking my game to the tabletop [Infinite Ammo]

Grab your dice and a few friends. This week's Infinite Ammo abandons the controllers to talk about the wonderful world of tabletop games.

This month in Joystick Division - May 2012

Resistance: Burning Skies not quite a bullseye [Review]
Resistance: Burning Skies provides a fun shooting experience for Sony's portable console, but little frills and a lackluster online offering means the excitement grinds to a halt all too soon.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale: My dram roster [Infinite Ammo]

We're all expecting to see the likes of Nathan Drake, Cloud and Ratchet in Sony's upcoming brawler. Here are 10 less obvious characters from PlayStation's past I'd love to see make the cut.

Rusty Hearts is pretty dang rad [Infinite Ammo]

Find out why Rusty Hearts, the free-to-play action MMO, has become my latest obsession.

Starhawk's DLC maps will be free? More of this, please. [Infinite Ammo]
My thoughts on Lightbox's new method for keeping their online community united, namely in the form of free map packs.

The games that define me - Part two [Infinate Ammo]

The second and final in a series taking a look at the video games that helped make me the gamer I am today.

This month in Joystick Division - April 2012

The games that define me: Part one [Infinite Ammo]
The first in a two-part series exploring the games that helped shape my life, picked me up when I was down and brought me closer to my friends.

It's a Golden Age for gaming [Infinite Ammo]
Sure, things aren't perfect. But on the whole, it's never been a better time to be a gamer than it is right now.

Video games: A constant supply of achievement [Infinite Ammo]

If "sense of accomplishment" were a drug, then video games would be the best dealers out there.

Wii U's "power" not part of the equation [Infinite Ammo]

Is the Wii U really less powerful than current gen consoles? Here's a better question: Does it really matter?

This month in Joystick Division - March 2012

Hells yeah to video game warning labels [Infinite Ammo]

I fully support putting warning labels on our video games...No. Seriously.

Enjoying the seasonal slump in new game releases [Infinite Ammo]

Annual video game release slowdowns don't always have to be a bad thing.

Why Journey is so important [Infinite Ammo]

While Journey receives much-deserved recognition for its various bits and pieces, it should also be praised for creating an experience that can only be achieved in video games.

So, I bought a Vita. Wanna make something of it? [Infinite Ammo]

My three-part PlayStation Vita rant finally comes to a close. I bought one. Here's what I think. (Spoiler: I flippin' love it.)

Don't like the way Capcom does business? Stop giving them your money. [Infinite Ammo]

I know it can be tough, but the best way to let a publisher know you're unhappy with the way they're doing business is to stop giving them yours.

This month in Joystick Division - February 2012

I fought the hype and the hype won [Infinite Ammo]

Hype runs rampant in the world of video games. Will the buzz surrounding the PlayStation Vita push me over the line to making a purchase?

Viva la Vita: Is there room in the pocket for Sony's new handheld? [Infinite Ammo]
The portable gaming landscape has changed drastically over the past five years. Is Sony's latest handheld console, the PlayStation Vita, targeted at a market that no longer exists?

Sometimes I just want to punch stuff [Infinite Ammo]

We tend to fault games that don't attempt to elevate the form to new levels. This week, I ponder when it stopped being okay to just enjoy the mindless fun video games can provide.

Online passes: The good, the bad and the ugly [Infinite Ammo]

Whether you see them as an attack on used game sales or as a means for publishers to stay afloat, it looks like online passes are here to stay.

This month in Joystick Division - January 2012

Why do we love bad games? [Infinite Ammo]

Even terrible video games manage to garner a few diehard fans. In this week's Infinite Ammo, I ponder why that is.

Amy- Frustration has a new name [Review]

What's in a name? In the case of Amy, the answer is "an infuriatingly unfinished game."

Dreamcast: My next gen is old school [Infinite Ammo]
With a new console generation on the horizon, I look to the past for some quality gaming at a fraction of the cost.

The evolution of the complex hero [Infinite Ammo]
Follow the video game hero through its many form, growing to become more relatable, flawed antagonists.

Video games' unsung heroes of 2011 [Infinite Ammo]
In this week's Infinite Ammo, I take a gander at some of the best titles of the year that will likely be overlooked in most "top 10" lists.

This month in Joystick Division - December, 2011

The unbeatable backlog [Infinite Ammo]
Like many gamers, I have a backlog that would probably take years to actually get through. But should I beat myself up over it?

Pining for the days of scarcity [Infinite Ammo]
Back in my day, we were thankful if we got to play a game or two a year. We also had to walk to the video game store. Up hill. Both ways. In the snow.

Dark Souls hates me, and that's why I love it [Infinite Ammo]
Dark Souls is easily one of the most difficult games to every grace consoles. Find out some of my favorite ways the game pulverizes the player, and why I keep coming back for more.

Farewell, sweet multiplayer [Infinite Ammo]
Multipalyer gameplay and I have grown apart over the past year or so. Here are my thoughts on a relationship that, as of late, harbors little love.

This month in Joystick Division - November 2011

Uncharted 3 proves third time's the charm - Review
Uncharted 3 is out and, yep, it's fantastic. Read all about it here in my review for Joystick Division.

The funneth overfloweth: Rayman Origins review
Find out why Rayman might be the single best platformer to come out in a very long time.

Video game journalism deserves a bit more respect [Infinite Ammo]
I make the argument that, while it may not be the romanticized version of the gig we all have in our heads, video game journalism deserves some respect.

Are video games mainstream yet  [Infinite Ammo]
My first Infinite Ammo column for Joystick Division dives into video games' rise to relevance.

Linear gameplay- In defense of a guiding hand [Infinite Ammo]
I argue that, if it's for the good of the story/experience, we shouldn't be so hard on linear design in our video games.

This month in Joystick Division - October 2011

Rochard rocks hard - Review
Find out why I dug this puzzle/platformer and all its low-gravity, mind bending goodness.

inFamous: Festival of Blood a Halloween treat - Review
Find out why inFamous fans will want to head back to New Marais to take on a vampire horde.

Fighting with physics: An interview with Rochard's Hulu Virtanen
Recoil Games treated gamers to a great side-scrolling physics-based puzzle romp with Rochard. Hear about the game's origins, development and more from Lead Designer Hulu Virtanen.

Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken doesn't quite soar
It looks great and pulls off all the basics of puzzle platforming/shooter well enough, but a lack of original ideas kept me from being too impressed.

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This Month in Joystick Division - Sept. 2011

The holiday window is too narrow for all of these games
In which I pose the questions "What would be so wrong with releasing more of these AAA games throughout the year, rather than all at once?"

Eternal Darkness - Lessons learned from a decade-old game
I dove into the Gamecube's Eternal Darkness recently and, man, the video game landscape sure has changed in the past 10 years.

Blood on the walls - An interview with BloodRayne: Betrayal Art Director Matt Bozon
Matt Bozon discusses BloodRayne: Betrayal's unique aesthetics, how it evolved through development and why it looks so damn good.

Five franchises that would make good fighting games
As the fighting genre makes a comeback, I look at a handful of existing IPs that might translate well into fighters.

Resistance 3 review - A reason to keep fighting
Here's what I thought about Insomniac's latest alien-infused shooter. Spoiler: It was pretty great.

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This month in Joystick Division - August 2011

The Lord of the Rings Online - My Journey Home
Hopping into LOTRO after a long break, a return to my first days of play stirs up some unexpected emotions.

Top 10 vampires in video game history
Vampires have gotten a bad rap in recent years. I take a look at 10 from video games that remind us why blood-suckers can be awesome.

Video games: There's no escape
No matter what device you're fiddling with, chances are you can play video games on it. I ponder how gaming continues to seep further and further into the mainstream.

The 5 worst mission types in video games
From the fetch quest to the escort mission, we ponder why these tired staples of gaming remain in our favorite titles.

10 of gaming's most memorable songs
It's hard to get into a game if it doesn't have good music. Here are 10 of the best songs to ever appear in a video game.

This month in Joystick Division - July 2011

Top 10 worst video game box art
Check out some of the video game box art designs of all time. Fair warning: It’s about to get ugly.

Chinese couple sells children to fund gaming lifestyle
Believe it or not, these types of people actually exist. It's a sad, sad world we live in sometimes.

 Five games to play during Comic-Con
Can't hit the road to Comic-Con this year? Play these five comic book games instead.

Remembering the good ole' days of gaming
How an obscure Japanese cooking game called Ore no Ryouri helped me remember the simpler days of my gaming life.

Microsoft Pours $15 Million into U.S. Classrooms
Microsoft looks to help improve the U.S. educational system by providing funding for equipment, training and more.

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This month in Joystick Division - June 2011

Uncharted 3 beefs up its online offerings - Hands-on
Naughty Dog has injected a whole lot of "stuff" into the Uncharted online experience. Find out how it's shaping up.

The top 5 biggest babies in video game history
Babies pop up in video games from time to time, usually as some demented monster looking to kill you. Check out the five best video game babies here.

inFamous 2 Review
Find out why I think inFamous 2 pulls off the concept of "karma" better than any other game on the market.

E3: Press conference report card for The Big Three
Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo each had their moment in the spotlight during the 2011 E3. Here's what I took away from each event.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim steals the show at E3
Bethesda's newest Elder Scrolls game looks to improve on Oblivion in every way.

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This month in Joystick Division - May 2011

Paper Cuts shows off creative gaming art
Check out these awesome shadow portraits of characters from all over pop culture.

PlayStation's Welcome Back Package: A look at the games
Need help deciding which free games to get once the PlayStation Store is back up and running. Read up on your options here.

Terraria will ruin your life (in a good way)
Terraria released on steam last week. Find out why I've already sunk 24 hours into this more action oriented, 8-bit homage to Minecraft.

MotorStorm: Apocalypse an explosive good time
I got to spend some quality time with the PlayStation 3's latest extreme racer, tearing up the tracks in a world that is literally falling apart around you.

3DS Fan gets Altered Reality Card tattoo
This extreme 3DS fan took his love of the portable console to a whole new level, opting to permanently tattoo his left wrist with one of the images that activates the Altered Reality games.

Sony responds to the US House of Representatives
Following the PlayStation cyber attack, Sony looks to be facing multiple legal battles, including a not-so-happy House subcommittee.

PSN Outage - Gamers talk back
Check out some of the buzzing going on around the interwebs regarding Sony's hacked servers and the events that followed.

Sony offers identity theft protection
As Sony works to rebuild its servers, get the details on the latest branch of their apology package here.

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This month in Joystick Division: April 2011

Free Realms sugary sweet, great for the right age group
I spent a few days with SOE's latest family-friendly free-to-play MMO and report back with my findings.

Top 10 Video Game T-Shirts
If you're going to wear a shirt, it might as well be a cool one. Check out 10 of the best video game shirts the world has ever known.

10 Badass Video Game Tattoos
These folks have already worked past the questions of whether or not video games are art and permanently inked said art onto their bodies.

10 PSP Gems You May Have Missed
Sony's portable console is home to loads of great games. Before the NGP buzz starts building, here are 10 classics that may have flown under the radar, but definately should be played.

PSN Still Down, No ETA on Fix
Following an attack on PlayStation servers, PSN has remained down for about a week with little word on a fix or what, if anything, was compromised.

Top 5 Hardest Video Game Bosses
These guys are the reason controllers get broken, TVs get busted and swears get shouted.

This month in Joystick Division: March 2011

A protagonist, but not exactly a "good" guy

The top five movies based on video games
In honor of the Oscars, I take a look at the video game movies that were the most enjoyable; or, more accurately, those that sucked the least.

Supremacy MMA brings women into the fight
Women fighters finally get their chance to stand in the spotlight and kick the crap out of each other thanks to the upcoming Supremacy MMA.

Kinect to connect with PCs
Microsoft opens up Kinect's features for the PC so even more creative mods can be built with greater ease.

The top five protagonists we love to hate
From Nico to Kratos, these protagonists aren't exactly the hero type.

Mortal Kombat brings the pain- Hands-on impressions
Judging by my time spent with the game, Mortal Kombat is shaping up to be a fighting fan's dream come true.

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This Week in Joystick Division

Jan. 30-Feb. 19
The Leading Ladies of Video Games, 2010
I take a look at some of the best roles for women over the past 12 months. Video games have finally gotten to the point where sexy eye-candy isn't the only reason to have a female in the cast and these are five of the best from 2010.

The Top Video Game Voice Actors
As games evolve, so to do players' expectations of the quality they'll have packed onto the disc. But it doesn't matter how much fun the gameplay is or how well the story is written, if you can't get behind the characters, it's going to make for a rough experience. Thankfully, amazing voice actors, like the five highlighted here, are making sure our games are full of fantastic performances.

Modern TV/Movie Hits Made into Classic Video Games
One artist answers the question: What would today's big movies and television programs look like if they were turned into video games for the Atari?

Mirror's Edge 2 Canned
One of the few truly creative titles of this current generation won't be getting a sequel, it seems. I use this opportunity to take a couple shots at an industry afraid of to champion originality over the all-powerful dollar.

Bethesda's Epic RPGs: Am I Playing Them Wrong?
Bethesda is known for making massive RPG adventures set in even more massive worlds full of people to see, creatures to fight, civilizations to explore and an untold number of activities to distract from the main storyline. Despite diving deep into Fallout 3 and Oblivion, I never actually finished either game due to getting "lost" in their worlds. This leaves me questioning how I play the games.

This week in Joystick Division

I'm shifting gears with my Joystick Division posts here on staticEchoes.

Rather than put up links to everything I write for the site, I'll instead be focusing on the reviews, features, bigger stories and those that start some sort of dialogue in the comments sections.

Think of it as an archive of my games stories that go beyond the daily press releases and quick news bits. If you don't feel like following all the info on joystickdivision.com, you'll still be able to see my bigger posts right here every week or so.

Jan. 16-29
Little Big Planet 2 review
Media Molecule's latest PS3 exclusive promises to be bigger, better and more creative than the original, all while creating a platform for players to build their own games. But can one game deliver on all those promises?
 
The seven best uses of food in video games
Food often plays a big part in video games. Check out this list of the seven best uses of food in video game history.
 
Modern Combat: Domination review
Gameloft surprises the FPS world with an $8 downloadable title that features all the explosive action of a great shooting experience for a fraction of the store shelf price.
 
New game labeling act goes a bit too far
Should video games be treated the same as alcohol or tobacco products? One congressman seems to think so.
 
The Playstation NGP revewl- An analysis
Sony has pulled back the curtain on its Next Generation Portable, following up on the PSP with what appears to be a solid design and loads of tech under the hood. But how much will this newest gadget cost and, more importantly, will the support be there to provide top-notch games?

This week in Joystick Division

Jan. 9-15
Magic: The Gathering- Tactics incoming
First Dragonage II DLC revealed
Everquest II game hits Facebook
Uno turns 40, goes on sale
Goozex reveals 2010's top games
Another PlayStation Phone video
Sphero is awesome
PlayStation App hits phones
Wesley Snipes developing game from prison
Mass Effect 2 coming to PSN
LittlBitPlanet 2 partners with Toyota
Supremacy MMA steps into the octagon
Xbox asks you to Refer-a-Friend
3D video may come to 3DS
PSP2 packs PS3 power