Game designer Jane McGonigal gives a fascinating TED talk on how video games can have a real, positive impact on people's lives as she compares deathbed regrets to the reported benefits of playing a simple game. In the talk, McGonigal reveals that she suffered a...
video games
The Last of Us ~ Bill’s Safe House ~ Comic-Con 2012
Naughty Dog's post Uncharted franchise hopeful The Last of Us received enormous buzz at the 2012 E3 convention. During Comic-Con 2012, they released another teaser video for the game. This is looking good. NSFW due to language....
Frog plays “Ant Smasher”
Ant Smasher Frog ~ This is a very popular video of an actual frog playing the "Ant Smasher' game app (for android). As a long-ago biology major who frequently worked with frogs (xenopus laevis), I would have done a research project on frogs playing Ant...
Playing video games can improve brain function
Gamers are saying, "We told you so!" Parents are saying, "WTF!?" According to recent studies, playing video games can increase brain function and improve: creativity decision-making hand-eye coordination night vision But at what cost? According to one analyst, if you...
Guild Wars 2 beta ~ Impressions ~ Videos & Links
Guild Wars 2 beta - Some videos and links of beta testers' first impressions. I hope to add more as I find them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKxrTaVO69Q The video contains a montage of characters roaming the beautiful world of Guild Wars 2 and performing amazing...
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning ~ Looks great!
I found this IGN review of the new RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning quite compelling. Conclusion: Gameplay combat is fantastic Story a little obtuse Character animation  for cut scenes not of highest quality Background settings quite good and beautiful Attack or...
Mass Effect 3 ~ Female Shepard Trailer
Mass Effect 2 was one of my favorite video game experiences. Except for the grinding for minerals, totally a killer ride. I played a female Shepard in my full run through, so this new, "enhanced" version of the female Shepard in Mass Effect 3 caught my interest. She...
Adam Adamowicz ~ visual designer Skyrim & Fallout 3 ~ dies of lung cancer
Visual designer Adam Adamowicz, who contributed/led the visual/concept design of Skyrim and Fallout 3 among other video games, passed away from lung cancer on February 8, 2012. His work was inspired, and the world of visual design has a huge hole to fill. Adam was 43...
Zynga’s strategy ~ “Don’t f***ing innovate!”
“I don’t f***ing want innovation...You’re not smarter than your competitor. Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers.” ~ Zynga CEO Mark Pincus This Forbes piece, Leaked Zynga Memo Justifies Copycat Strategy, analyzes the recently leaked memo where...
Mass Effect 3 ~ Voice Cast Reveal
Mass Effect 2 was one of my favorite "video game experiences." This video reveals some of the main voice actors in the cast for Mass Effect 3, which is to be release March 6th. Most are returning members of the cast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG9otVyV6GI Martin...
Dead Space 2 – Hardcore – Pulse Rifle Only
YouTuber moonable does an awesome job with this speed run through Deep Space 2 on hardcore mode, where he uses almost exclusively the pulse rifle and HARDLY EVER uses stasis. Very cool. Inspired me to get the game. During my first play through on casual, I was running...