The future of gaming: Unified by Steam
When Valve brought Steamworks to the Playstation 3 for Portal 2, a light bulb flickered to life over my head. “What if Steam were to become the backbone of choice for the console’s online offerings?”...
View ArticleThe Future of Gaming: One Console To Bind Them
John Carmack is a smart man. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, the id Software mastermind and industry legend mused on the present development methods and how streaming games is a realistic option...
View ArticleThe Future of Gaming: Freemium reigns on iOS; Are consoles next?
The problem with most entertainment mediums is that you don’t know precisely what you’re going to get until money changes hands and a product is purchased. As consumers continue to timidly approach...
View ArticleFuture games will literally play with your emotions
Proponents of “games as [insert serious thing here]” have long cited the medium’s ability to convey resonating emotional content as proof that games are worth taking seriously. Recent rumblings in game...
View ArticleFuture of Gaming: Permanence of Choice
Disclaimer: This piece contains spoilers to Heavy Rain and inFamous. You slowly open the door to the final trial, unaware of what lies beyond the dark, narrow hallway. A blinding light shines in room...
View ArticleValve may or may not be developing a proprietary hardware platform
Following a choice few salacious details in an interview a few weeks ago with Penny Arcade Report’s Ben Kuchera, this weekend is rife with news, courtesy of TheVerge’s Joshua Topolsky, that Valve may...
View ArticleFuture of Gaming: Where does Xbox go from here?
We all acknowledge the evolution of the Xbox 360’s dashboard. Whether we like the new changes, the old changes, or wish it had stayed the same from the beginning, we all need to understand that changes...
View ArticleSearching for gaming in Samsung’s smartphone world
Samsung brought out all of the stops with the launch of its latest smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S III. Being touted as “The Next Big Thing,” the Galaxy S III is gunning for the top of the charts and...
View ArticleThe Ouya: A gaming revolution no one needs
I’m guilty of impulse buying. I’m even guilty of impulse Kickstarter backing. But I can’t find a reason to back this Ouya thing. Sure, the industry isn’t exactly all behind it, it seems dead in the...
View ArticleFuture of Gaming: Difficult video games and where to draw the line
As God is my witness, I’ll never empty that chamber pot again. The first video game I ever considered “hard” was King’s Quest 3. I was very young, playing on a PC that couldn’t even show color...
View ArticleThe 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...
View ArticleFun isn’t exclusive: Gamers Against Bigotry and the quest for inclusive gaming
Play a game online, and chances are at some point you’ll hear a stream of racist, homophobic, or sexist remarks aimed at yourself or one of your peers. It’s an ugly side of our community, but, thanks...
View ArticleThe Future of Gaming: The Evolution of Quick Time Events
The quick time event gameplay mechanic burst onto the scene in its current form in 1999 with Yu Suzuki’s Shenmue for the Sega Dreamcast. Suzuki is credited with coining the term “quick time event,” but...
View ArticleThe Future of Gaming: PlayStation 4 Pros
Sony unveiled the PS4 at a press event on February 20, and while it boasted impressive visuals and some top-notch internal specs, one of the most awe-inspiring reveals was its revamped network...
View ArticleThe Future of Gaming: Return of the Expansion Pak?
With E3 2013 right around the corner, the stage is set for a serious showdown between the PlayStation and Xbox. While Sony has already revealed the PlayStation 4′s’ basic features and Microsoft is set...
View ArticleE3 2013, Day 1: A good day to be a gamer
For plenty of gamers, myself included, E3 is an event to look forward to all year; a fact that is especially true any year when new consoles are expected to make a debut. This year, I was indisputably...
View ArticleThe waiting game: spoiled by the next generation before it’s arrived
It’s Summer 2013. I’ve got few complaints, aside from the heat. Summer sales are going strong; between Steam, GOG.com, and PlayStation Plus, I’ve acquired 10 or so games in the last month. I’m...
View ArticleThe Next-Gen Open HDMI Port Conundrum
Over the past few months, Sony and Microsoft have done their best to introduce their next-gen consoles to gamers around the globe. Sony got in early with its PS4 reveal in February, and Microsoft...
View ArticleThe Future of Gaming: The Evolution of the Companion
Perhaps the biggest mainstay throughout this lengthy console generation has been the companion mechanic. This element has also been one of the most troubling features to master during this same span of...
View ArticleIt’s Not Like It Used to Be: The New-Age Multiplayer Dilemma
The current landscape of the gaming industry isn’t one to be boastful of. In fact, in some cases, it’s downright disturbing. This is the time of the year where we should be anticipating the fall lineup...
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