I see you coming from a mile away and drop my next guard tower on you. :P

Map packs will be free, but they've also said paid DLC is coming. They just need to figure out what form that will take. Either way, the map packs are a great act of good will from Sony.

Your SF skills are not any worse than mine. We're pretty evenly matched, which is why I had so much fun playing with you the other night. I hope we can do it again soon. Do you play any other fighting games?

Unfortunately, all my IRL friends favor the XB360 or PC, so none of them will be buying Starhawk. Diablo affords me a rare chance to actually get to play with my best friends, so I don't want to pass up the opportunity to get in on that right away. I'll get Starhawk eventually. Probably around Christmas time.

Amen to rockets. In the beta, my fun consisted of a simple three step process that brought me endless pleasure:

Goodness I used to be addicted to chopped. If there was a chopped game, Chris Santos would have to be the end boss. That bastard is impossible to please.

I loved the beta, and sincerely wish I could buy the game, but I'm broke as dirt, and Diablo is my jam this month (which was preordered with Christmas money). The building mechanic introduces a new element to the TPS gameplay that I can't get enough of. It makes me feel like someone like me, who isn't so great at the…

You understand compromise in a relationship. Glory be. I thought I was the only one! My wife watches her garbage reality shows on Netflix when I'm gamin', and I whip out the handhelds when it's time for Top Model on Wednesday nights. Give and take my friend. It's the only way.

I think a community of enthusiasm is exactly what I need. I'm so tired of arguments and negativity. That whole atmosphere is so antithetical to how I approach scrutiny of a hobby I pursue for joy. When I don't end up liking a game, I actually get sad that I can't appreciate it. I don't revel in hate. I may have to…

So I've been thinking alot this morning about Matrix Software and their awesome contributions to the hardcore RPG community over their lifetime. They really are masters of their craft, but have gone rather unnoticed over the past decade. They're often overshadowed in name by whoever publishes their work. Some of…

Call me a fanboy, but I think there is an inherent magic in Blizzard games. That feeling comes built in. There's something about their style (art, music, etc.), their sense of storytelling and world building, and their dedication to crafting the finest game they can that makes me weak in the knees without fail. I'm…

I've noticed the shift since Crecente leaving as well. But I still stand by my stance on this site as an honest, intelligent place to come for games writing that has a great turnaround for timely news. I honestly prefer the tone and style over at 1up, but their coverage of news is simply slow and not comprehensive…

I just find it bizarre that the game and its launch are getting so little press around here. There have been several positive hands-on articles over the past few months. . . and it's not like this is some niche game. We're talking about a first-party flagship title for the PS3 here. I mean . . . I guess they can't…

I can't believe how little general excitement there is for Starhawk around here. I guess it's hard to crawl out from under the shadow of some of this month's other treats. Still . . . the beta was ROCK solid. That game is gonna be hard to top for online multiplayer fun.

I would wait until the end of my days for BG&E2. If I die playing it, and my progeny must pull the controller from my bony, leathery claw-hands, I will have died a happy man. Take your time Mr. Ancel. Make your game your way. Make it right.

Hahaha. It's hardly a matter of any magic or time manipulation on my part . . . although I'd probably actually beat more games if I could do that. I work 8:30-5 at my full time job Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday I work 5-6 hour shifts at a toy store in the mall near my house. One weekend a month I…

I'm with you on the avoiding online with UMVC3 business. I don't usually play any fighters online unless it's with someone I actually know, in a private session. It's no fun being trounced by strangers who are light-years ahead of your skill level, or who have a calculated, competitive approach to play that doesn't…

I've always been "that guy," and the amount of shame I experience from it fluctuates. My main reason is my view of gaming as an experiential practice. I want to experience as many different games, their worlds, and their mechanics as possible . . . but this impulse doesn't necessitate completing a game. Often 5-10…

I really want to give Nier a try too. I've heard such mixed things, but all of the positive reviews talk about about how interesting the game's genre-crossing gameplay is. It's a hard title to ignore, since new copies are hovering in the $20 range. How are you liking the shmup elements in some of the boss battles?

My cat is named Peach, after Princess Peach, because we found her as a stray kitten in a drainage pipe. My little sister's cat is named Pico, after the defunct Sega learning system for kids.