“Easy Mode” gets a bad wrap. There is a stigma in the gaming community about being “hard core” when it comes to the games we play. For many it’s all about playing through the toughest games on the hardest settings to prove just how awesome we are at pushing buttons on a controller.

I think this is a huge load of crap. People play games for a wide variety of reasons.

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"Actual Game Graphics (as seen by my memories)"

As the internet makes everyone’s voices heard more and more, whether it be through comment systems, forums, or social media sites, it’s interesting to see the different patterns that develop. One I’ve taken note of in the last couple of years is the inaccuracies of our memories. Yes, I say “our” because I’ve fallen into this same trap from time to time just like everyone has.

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When PokéMon Red and Blue came out, I was as happy as a young boy could be. Catching monsters and using them in turn-based battles was an exciting concept. I can think of few games that I have obsessed over as much as the original PokéMon generation in its day.

That being said, I can’t help but feel like each new generation is limiting itself in a lot of very arbitrary ways. While some things never change in order to preserve connectivity with older titles, other aspects remain stagnant for no apparent reason.

That isn’t to say new generations aren’t bringing anything new to the table. As the series has progressed we’ve seen new areas, new PokéMon, new elements, double battles, and more. But I’d like to take a moment and re-examine the series and see where its great concept could go if it wasn’t held back by its old traditions.

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"REAL adventure is waiting for you, DS."

I’m the type of gamer who mostly plays old Sierra and LucasArts adventure games. Some people might not even consider me a gamer at all, in fact. I didn’t have a console until very recently. My circa 2002 computer may be running like a champ, but it had some lagging problems running Psychonauts… in 2005. So, modern computer gaming is also out. I was lucky enough to be visited by the Wing Damage Fairy a while back, who blessed me with a DS.

I was excited about rumblings of the DS being the promised land of adventure gaming; I’d read on many a message board and blog that since the console’s point-and-click stylus interface was ideal for the genre I would have a bevy of adventure games to choose from once I had a look around. I was bummed to find out, however, that there is not, in fact, a whole lot of quality adventure games on the DS. At least not the kind I’m looking for.

Read after the jump to see my findings.

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With the massive success of the movie Avatar, television manufacturers are convinced the world is ready for some sweet 3D action in your living room. LG, Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, and Samsung are all gearing up some form of 3D displays. ESPN is going to broadcast the first 3D sports network. Forget HD. The world seems on the verge of a 3D TV revolution.

What does this mean for gaming?

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The airport scene in Modern Warfare 2 is the single most upsetting moment I have ever experienced while playing a videogame. Infinity Ward realized that the level might be too much for some people, so before the game starts a message pops up asking you if you want to experience this controversial level or skip it with no penalty. If you don’t want the level spoiled for you I suggest skipping this article with no penalty, until you have played it for yourself. (more…)

With the Playstation 1 and Playstation 2, Sony was the undisputed King.  Fanboys and fangirls can argue and make any claims they want, but the fact is Sony crushed the competition. For 10 years it wasn’t even close. So coming into this current generation Sony was riding high. They were riding in with a decade of dominance and they had the most powerful console in history. The perception was Microsoft was a one trick pony (Halo) and Nintendo was for kids and Pokefreaks. Of course, Sony was confident, they had never really been challenged, and it seemed like it would take a miracle to stop the juggernaut that was the PS3. It had everything going for it. It was a technophiles dream come true.  Everything was built in from blu-ray to blue tooth to the Hard Disk Drive. This was the system that was going to usher in the HD era.

Then the PS3 came out and sold out everywhere. eBay prices sky-rocketed, and it seemed like it didn’t matter that it was the most expensive, it didn’t matter that the Wii was trying something new, and it didn’t matter that the 360 had a head start. Microsoft had its fun and the Wii was poised to make a little noise but the King was back.  And then, something strange happened. Something that isn’t supposed to happen to mighty Sony. Suddenly, PS3 consoles were everywhere, and Wiis were sold out. Suddenly, everyone wanted the cute little souped up Gamecube with Motion Control, and the Mighty blu-ray HD monster was getting hammered. How did Sony fall, and how can the PS3 rise?

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"It's-A Me! Smartio!"

The first “Super Mario Bros.” game is one of , if not the most, significant video game in history.  It almost single-handedly brought the entire console games industry from the brink of collapse and ushered in the NES era.  For some people, the name Mario is synonymous with video games, and it all started with this little cartridge.  However, very few people have taken the time to examine the deeper philosophy behind Mario.  Just as Mario himself teaches us, there is a lot more to this world than meets the eye.  Come with me as we explore just what Mario can teach us.

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"View the latest sections of your disc, now available for purchase!"

In our modern age of online-capable gaming consoles, downloadable content (DLC) is becoming increasingly common. There’s no denying this fact. But is this a positive trend? On the outside, it would appear so. DLC allows developers to continually provide their users with new content for games that might otherwise be put back on the shelf quickly after their release. In theory, it’s a wonderful system to potentially add a great deal of longevity to a game over time. Unfortunately, developers don’t always use this concept in a way that’s fair to their users. That’s right. DLC has a dark side.

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I work in an independent videogame store that sells used games. I think this gives me a somewhat unique perspective on the differences between new and used games.  It is amazing, but few things divide publishers and consumers the way that used games do.  For publishers, used games are destroying their business and gutting their profit margins.  Recently, games like “Gears of War 2″ have come with bonus maps that are only available if you purchase the game new. It doesn’t take much to realize this is a way of trying to disrupt the used games market. For consumers, used games are a great way of saving a few bucks when they are picking up the games they want.  As someone with a bit of firsthand experience when it comes to ordering in new games and taking in used games, I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts.

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