About
Tales of a Scorched Earth is a personal weblog devoted to the critique of video games and game culture, but easily integrates other forms of consumable media. Here you will find independent analysis and opinions on video games, comfortably distanced from the industry at large. Updated at least once a month, but more if I'm feeling particularly inspired.
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Playlist
- Dead Rising 2: Off the Record (360)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (360)
- Darksiders (360)
- SpaceChem...always SpaceChem
Recent Comments
Mostly Disposable Text
- No matter how shitty I'm feeling, the guitar solo at the end of this song always makes me feel better. (3:25) http://t.co/BtrCy7I7 01:13:03 PM May 19, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- "D3 is like your favorite pair of jogging pants." "But I don't own any jogging pants." "You will." 01:04:36 AM May 17, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- maladjusted 12:40:03 AM May 16, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- It sounds like they are playing the Dead Rising mall music in this grocery store. Should I be worried? 01:53:59 PM May 12, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- The new Silversun Pickups record is waiting for me when I get home. Exciting! 10:08:32 PM May 10, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
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Category Archives: gaming media
The Video Game Demo: advertising catalyst or legitimate demonstration?
Within the first fifteen minutes of playing a video game, I can tell if it will be good. I have yet to decide whether this is a useful skill in the context of adult life. Services like Steam and the … Continue reading
Posted in console gaming, demos, game culture, gaming media, pc gaming, xbox 360
6 Comments
sinking creativity to new depths
Now that proper BioShock 2 video previews are circulating instead of scanned magazine covers and wild fan speculation, I can’t help but feel like the gaming public is being duped and they don’t even realize it. Or maybe they don’t … Continue reading
Posted in fps, game culture, gaming media, pc gaming, rpg, xbox 360
3 Comments
Some Deep Thinking on BioShock
Beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, there is a hidden metropolis established by a megalomaniac tired of dealing with the confines imposed on him by the modern world. In the wake of a civil war that tore this city … Continue reading
Posted in fps, gaming media, pc gaming, reviews, rpg
2 Comments
PC Gamer: striving to lower expectations, one beta review at a time
Once again, PC Gamer displays their horrendous case of tunnel vision. Not satisfied with simply improving the quality of game reviews, they would rather change their review policy for the worse and then tell us that it’s a good thing. … Continue reading
Posted in gaming media, pc gamer, pc gaming
3 Comments
EDGE online: we shamelessly allow marketing people to write game commentary
My association with adventure games is a tenuous one. While Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is my favorite game of all time, I haven’t actively pursued the genre in years. The last adventure game I played seriously was … Continue reading
Posted in adventure, gaming media, pc gaming
4 Comments
Earth to PC Gamer: your best days are behind you
Glutton for punishment, and all that other crap: yes, I am reading the print version of PC Gamer again for lack of anything better in the PC-only category. Any help on finding something better would be appreciated. Really, this is … Continue reading
Posted in gaming media, pc gamer, pc gaming
5 Comments
Should DRM affect game reviews?
I recenly picked up a copy of the December 2008 issue of PC Gamer while waiting at the airport. I haven’t read it since 2004, but it’s not like I have a choice for PC-centric commentary in print now that … Continue reading
Posted in game culture, gaming media, pc gamer, pc gaming
5 Comments
as seen in PC Gamer’s review of The DaVinci Code
In the September issue, Kristen Salvatore writes about the adventure game adaptation of the film: I confess that I’m something of a literature snob, so it isn’t easy for me to admit I enjoyed a mainstream book like The Da … Continue reading
Posted in adventure, gaming media, pc gamer, pc gaming
1 Comment
