I agree to a point. I know that everyone's got different tastes, and I'm sure some of these novels are actually well-written stories, but there's so much to be read (and watch and listen to and play) and not a whole lot of time to do it.

For consoles or PC? 'Cause my very limited understanding is that the Hauppage video recorder is the best value for recording console gameplay in HD. If you want to save some cash and don't mind recording in (and playing in) SD, you could get the Dazzle (which I have... because I'm cheap). I think you can use an HDMI…

I agree, although maybe for a slightly different reason.

I was going to point out that Civ 5 is a bad joke compared to Civ 4. I bought it for the full retail price when it came out, got up early to get it downloaded during my workday, and proceeded to hate the rest of the week. I love the entire franchise, but I just can't play Civ 5 after spending so much time with a much,…

This is why I don't listen to film scholars talking about video games. I don't come from a film background - I'm much more comfortable with literature and theater - and I really don't see why they're our overseers of legitimacy these days. I wasn't aware a legitimate form of art (which video games are) was beholden to…

Maybe they'll ban someone for claiming to be LeRoy Jenkins, despite the fact that their account's credit card information doesn't indicate that name. After banning someone for a casual joke on a forum, I guess I wouldn't put it past them at this point.

I didn't even use a human if I wasn't doing a loyalty quest/something that absolutely required them. I don't know what the Bioware writers have against the human race, but I've always found their humans to be some of the most tragically boring characters of any major sci-fi franchise that comes to mind.

I was going to say, the Vita Chamber respawning sounds like what they're talking about. Otherwise, I can't remember playing very many "1999-era" games with actual perma-death - not ones that didn't give you a "save game" password option at least. What I do remember is saving. A lot.

You're also citizens of the internet community with a considerable communications infrastructure to commit to a protest of obvious and inexcusable tyranny. Last time I checked, no one's excused from human ethics, which should supersede your own views on whatever professional ethics you may hold.

"Braaaaans! Braaaaaaaaans!"

The whole "zombie" thing is really awesome in the right context, but this does seem a little contrived. I know that the Rakghouls are a part of Star Wars lore and aren't entirely off-topic for BioWare to add into the game... but, really? Zombies? A substantial addition to a game that just came out not that long ago,…

A little off-topic (but maybe not?), but I've thought about using American Apparel's shirt to open an online t-shirt marketplace for some of my 8-bit stuff. I know t-shirts can sell enough to be profitable (to supplement my office job), and I've heard that AA is apparently the vendor of choice for good quality…

Thanks! I'll have to look at the jeans more in-depth when I need a new pair.

It's not the consumer. If you would have released a "U.S.A." version of the PS3 that cost $100 more than the cost of my current PS3 (which I think was $350 or $300 or something like that), I would have ponied up for it. I've seriously tried to buy products made in the States, but places just don't carry them.

PC Skyrim wasn't really an option. My poor, rickety laptop has more or less hit its time in the Sun, and I've been left picking up the console-strewn pieces (of a very badly-made PS3 version). I admit that that may even be part of the reason I like Skyrim less... But, to the point.

I still think Morrowind's sense of freedom and openness with gameplay makes it more fun over the long-term than Skyrim. While I really like the better combat, the improved graphics, and the crafting in Skyrim, that doesn't mean that Morrowind's eccentricities didn't have very attractive charms to them. I mean, the…

Wait - we're talking about the same Firaxis that made Civ 5, right? Because that game was so stripped of complexity, it barely kept my attention for a week - and I've rabidly played Civilization since Civ 2. I think Firaxis does a good job making games more complex and adding to a system. You could even say they do a…

"Fuck yo(ur) couch."

Call me crazy, but I identified with Grunt closely. His cultural dilemma actually plays fairly well to any American who's thought about their far-foreign heritage and what it means to culturally "awake" into a place you're not sure you belong. I know that's a weird sentiment for a lot of people to hold, but I know…

This is one of the major reasons I refuse to shop at GameStop. I understand their business model is meant to sell, sell, sell and is usually tailored to parents/children for maximal sales... but, c'mon. I'm not going to pre-order unless I'm going to pre-order, I'm not going to buy a strategy guide, and, if I've…