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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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- Dead Rising 2: Off the Record (360)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (360)
- Darksiders (360)
- SpaceChem...always SpaceChem
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- X-COPS/FPS is about where we gave up on the X-Files when it was on TV, hard evidence that Carter & Co. had run out of ideas. Good grief. 03:39:36 AM February 07, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- Evil Millionyoung: http://t.co/JkP5ooVi 04:35:40 AM February 06, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- "You could never wear Ryan Gosling's Scorpion jacket." "That doesn't make it any less awesome." 03:56:56 AM February 06, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- The Smurfs (2011): Painless, but a blue turd nonetheless. 12:16:01 AM February 06, 2012 ReplyRetweetFavorite
- Hey 1993, what's up: http://t.co/YXWpOhaF 02:17:39 PM February 04, 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