Commercials from the Past: Super Smash Bros. (1999)
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to a time before crossovers and the idea of Mario and Sonic facing off in the same game was even being entertained by gaming communities, let alone developers. When...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)
In a feature that is based on the very principle of nostalgia, it makes too much sense to feature a game which may hold the title for “most nostalgic game of all-time.” Despite the already enormous fan...
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Commercials from the Past: Sonic Triple Trouble (1994)
While this game was released during what was still probably considered the “glory years” of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, the actual commercial may have been an indication that the series was going...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
After Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized the open-world genre, Rockstar Games followed it up with what many consider to be one of the premier titles of all-time in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The...
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Top 10 most memorable licensed songs in video games
Ever since the technological capability has existed, game developers and publishers have looked to license great songs by mainstream artists as a sort of cross-promotional way to entertain the player,...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Mass Effect (2007)
A well-executed trailer allows for people unfamiliar with the mythology surrounding a release to instantly identify with the situation being presented. In this case, nobody knew anything about the Mass...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Bomberman 64 (1998)
In marketing, when all else fails, perhaps it’s time to take a well-known jingle and shoehorn lyrics about your product into the song. While Bomberman was already an iconic figure in gaming, the...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Guitar Hero II (2006)
Before the Guitar Hero series was one of the top selling franchises of all-time, it was a game that seemed too gimmicky to truly catch on. The idea that people would buy expensive fake guitars for a...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
Developers, publishers, and game critics are always excitedly remarking how “cinematic” a game is in its presentation. The idea is that players enjoy feeling like they’re in an interactive movie. We’ve...
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Eleven video game-related things upcoming generations will never experience
If you’ve been gaming over the past twenty years, you’ve noticed more than a few changes in the way things work. Going beyond the obvious “the graphics look better,” there are things you don’t think of...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball (2003)
Alright, alright. We all know what the Dead or Alive series is most well-known for (hint: it isn’t the gameplay or fighting mechanics), but when a game is so hypersexualized, it’s rare that a developer...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Nintendo Wii (2006)
When Nintendo announced the name of its new console, people who were calling it the “Revolution” were surprised to see the name “Wii” pop up on their screens. While nobody knew what it meant initially,...
View ArticleCommercials from the Past: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (2009)
Every so often, a commercial comes along that perfectly captures the spirit of the game that it’s selling. The Ratchet & Clank Future series is known for its creative weaponry and frantic action,...
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Musings on MAGFest 2013: For the love of gaming
Walking around National Harbor — a small, almost European-like town just outside of DC — during the first weekend of 2013 was a sight to behold. Amidst the couples walking arm-in-arm on their way to...
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Eleven nostalgia-charged arcade machines from the 90s
There was a time when four quarters were worth more than a dollar. There was a time when when quarters meant an afternoon at the local arcade. That first quarter you pumped into a machine was like...
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The Future of Gaming: Tracing the Evolution of Innovation
On February 20, 2013, Sony invited the world to take a look at the future of gaming and the worst kept secret in modern entertainment since Solid Snake told all his buddies about the time Otacon wet...
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Eleven amazing local multiplayer experiences from the past
The art of the local multiplayer session has been greatly overshadowed by the advent of online gaming, but there is absolutely no denying the value and the excitement that comes with playing video...
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Is our fixation on nostalgia discouraging innovation?
Whether you’re buying an American sports car or picking up the latest release from Nintendo, you’re bound to have noticed a trend in the product you receive. While innovation and new technology seem to...
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