• 1Dec 07

  GameSpot Subscription Cancelled

  

  The whole situation regarding the Kane and Lynch review and of Jeffs undignified send-off has pierced me to the core. Not only have I cancelled my subscription but will be checking this site a whole lot less. I guess kotaku gets the hits now. Doesn't the management of gamespot understand the reason that I am here in the first place it to hear HONEST reviews? To get an idea of what the game is like from an actual person's perspective. Not some editorial/marketing symbiotic multiheaded hydra.

  The reason that gamespot has done so well that it has fostered a trust with the reader. A trust that has been breeched now.I do not expect sites like playstation insider to give unbiased reviews but I certainly do here. Well I used to anyway. I personally did not see the tone of the video review as being offensive and am extremely shocked to see the response of cnet to one of its most respected editors.

  If you happen to read this Jeff... were all with you brotha.

  Your GameSpot Plus subscription has been successfully cancelled, and your membership will not be renewed.

  'nuff said

  • Posted Dec 1, 2007 2:03 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
  • 6 Comments
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• 9Aug 07

  Help! I can't stop playing geometry wars!

  

  Well apparently geometry wars just got dropped on steam. And for less than five dollars I couldn't resist. I needed to see what all the fuss was about.
  
  Ok... buying game... downloading game... alright lets give this a go. (2 min's later) "Is that it?"
  
  I was under whelmed for a game that got so much press. Then I gave it a few more tries and now I can't stop playing it. I like the fact you can just play for 10 min's and then take off. It is pretty much the polar opposite of the Myst series for me. All of which incidentally I own. Which all looks very impressive sitting magisterially on my bookshelf. But here's the thing I have to admit to anyone who see's these proud specimens.
  
  
  Usually the conversation goes something like this.
  
  Someone else: "Wow, you own every myst game"
  
  Me: "Yep, even got the collectors edition of riveren."
  
  Someone else: "How do you like them?"
  
  Me: "They are beautiful games, the music is enthralling and really gives you a sense of being somewhere otherworldly."
  
  Someone else: "Have you beaten all of them?"
  
  Me: "Not a single one."
  
  I think I just like the idea of liking Myst. I get really into them at the outset, but eventually just get so fed up I just quit. I don't like the idea that game guides should be required reading. Myst is like one of those things you buy as window dressing. Sort of like how my parents own loads of leather bound books from important authors, war and peace, othello, Ulysses. When really.... the last book i read was "The Deathly Hallows". Has there ever been a game you really wanted to like but just couldn't for whatever reason?
  
  Do tell...
  
  Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go blow up some squares.
  
  

  • Posted Aug 9, 2007 9:19 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 6Apr 07

  Is there any point to buying PC games in stores anymore?

  Let me just say this is not a post endorsing piracy . I am talking of course about digital distribution. I have used steam, Gametap and ealink which are all varying shades of awesome. Steam and Gametap being the best of the bunch. My thoughts on this have gone through 3 distinct stages. Skepticism, acceptance, and lastly embracing it. It all started out with steam who offered it free to any game you have already purchased from them. Letting the service grow on you like a friendly moss. Finally i dipped my toe into the murky depths of digital download's with psyconauts. A game almost impossible to find anywhere else.

  It all just worked. I love it that i can let anyone play my games by just installing the client on there computer and have the game stream on. No more lost keys or scratched cd's(a big deal for me). I almost find it archaic now when I use a cd to install something.

  Then I gave Gametap a go. It still has its flaws but does a brilliant job of streaming multiple games onto your computer. Many stream as you are playing them minimizing the download time. If you haven't tried zork grand inquisitor you must give it a go, its brilliant. Since i had such great experiences with both i used EA link for C&C 3 which is less awesome. Download game, uncompress, uncompress (again?), install and THEN play. Once you go through that it is smooth sailing, in fact many problems people have with the physical version don't exist with the CDless version.

  So why bother with buying them in stores anyway? The only argument I can think of is the bargain bin, and people without broadband. In the age of nearly infinitely large hard drives we can avoid allot of problems. I have to be honest i do miss the manual and the shiny box a little but in the grand scheme the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

  PS. The weather was really nice a couple days ago  so i decided to take my motorbike out. All of a sudden a giant wall of clouds came rushing towards me. Decided to take a couple pics on my phone. Both ominious and beautifull.

  

  

  • Posted Apr 6, 2007 8:57 am PT
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