Classic Spotlight: Diablo II and Lord of Destruction

August 30th, 2010 by Jason Lightner
If you've ever touched a mouse and keyboard to game, chances are you've experienced the glory that is Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo II, and perhaps even worked the grind in its expansion, Lord of Destruction. With Diablo III on the horizon (if you can call "sometime in 2011" a horizon), I thought it would be appropriate to revisit Tristram (after a ten-year hiatus) and see how our old buddies are faring. Released in June of 2000, Diablo II has been a game I come back to about once every three years or so. Things have changed significantly...

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The Golden Age of Games

July 26th, 2010 by Jason Lightner
It seems to me as though, for a while, there was a period of time for video games which I like to refer to as the Golden Age. Brilliant games were being released regularly, and game developers didn't seem to be afraid of taking risks in order to realize their visions. The Golden Age of games began in 1986 with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System, and ended in 1999 with the discontinuation of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. This was the time when computer technology was beginning to explode, and with it, new innovations kept popping up. This...

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The New Xbox

June 25th, 2010 by Louise
You may have heard that Microsoft has released a new Xbox. Some call it the Xbox 360 "Slim", while others call it the Xbox 360 S; however, as all older versions are being discontinued, this "new" Xbox simply bears the name of its predecessor on its packaging: the Xbox 360. The knowledge of the redesign of the older Xbox 360 was officially released on June 14, 2010, the same day it became available in US stores. (This is not really much advanced notice these days, though rumors had been circulating for a while anyway.) This model replaces the Xbox 360...

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Alan Wake

May 21st, 2010 by Louise
Sick of sequels? Alan Wake might be just the game to satisfy your cravings for something new and original. Inspired by Twin Peaks, 24, The X-Files, and Stephen King, Alan Wake is a single-player action video game, classified under the "psychological thriller" genre, developed by Remedy Entertainment, whose long-delayed release was well worth the wait. Though May 18 marks the official American release of Alan Wake on the Xbox 360, critics have already had a chance to review the game and have come to the general consensus that it is indeed a superb game. On Gamespot.com it earns a fairly...

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Splinter Cell: Conviction

April 20th, 2010 by Louise
You might recognize the name Tom Clancy. He's an American author, well-known for his tales of espionage and military science but also creates story-lines for video games. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction, released on April 13, 2010, is the sixth "episode" in the series which, in addition to the original, includes Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory, Essentials, and Double Agent. They are all based on Clancy's Splinter Cell novels written under the name of David Michaels. The game is classified as stealth and action. Just as one might expect from these genres, players must use stealth to ambush their enemies. Ability to succeed depends...

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