May 6th, 2011
Three years, three Xboxes
I still have my original Nintendo and it still works. It’s more than 20 years at this point and has only required a single $10 repair. That’s about 50 cents a year in maintenance and that’s impressive. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my Xbox 360, of which soon I will be owning my [...]
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May 3rd, 2011
Don’t judge a game by its cover
It’s a long standing theory that graphics do not make the game. Sure, good graphics help but it’s just one of many factors that make a game good or bad. But if you ask Nintendo, this era of ultra-realistic graphics isn’t helping anyone, especially them.
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January 1st, 2011
Jackasses, both of them
My reign as Urban Champion has come to end after less than a year. I held both the Wii and NES world records for the game but recently they’ve both been surpassed. So it’s time to brush up on my game…actually, I need to find the game.
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October 24th, 2010
Crate-O-Games, Metal Gear
Ah, Metal Gear. One of my most beloved franchises thanks to its first NES game. Guns, espionage, maps, giant robots…what’s not to love? This was the first NES game I completed outside of Super Mario Bros., but it wasn’t without some help. And believe me, you needed help with this game.
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October 16th, 2010
Crate-O-Games, Ironsword
I spent part of the day organizing and cleaning around the house in attempts to find a laptop bag that may contain my NES ROM cartridge. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the bag or the cart but in the process did have to move my Crate-O-Games for the NES. Seeing these carts is always a trip [...]
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March 5th, 2010
The true Urban Champion
Last year I became the holder of two world video game records, Urban Champion and Robocop, both NES titles. My title on Robocop has since been beat twice, but my title of Urban Champion remained. But that record was for Urban Champion on the Wii’s Virtual Console. Not to dis the Wii, but that just [...]
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January 31st, 2010
Trials HD, a true Excitebike
Trials HD from the Xbox Live Arcade is another title saved by having a big TV. When I played the demo on my old TV, I just couldn’t get into the experience. The graphics were too dark and too small. But now, they’re awesome. This is game is what you’d get if Excitebike was really [...]
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November 27th, 2009
The new TV, part 1
Outside of a house and couple cars, the new TV we bought over Thanksgiving is the single most expensive purchase we’ve ever made. Last year we wimped out. This year we were determined. Best part is, no one had to get up at the crack of dawn to get a good deal.
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October 26th, 2009
It all started with GeoCities
Back before everyone had a “blog,” they had “home pages,” and GeoCities was the place to have your own little soap box. My on-line life started with GeoCities, so it is kind of sad to learn that Yahoo is shutting down the service after more than a decade. GeoCities was awesome at the time, but [...]
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September 16th, 2009
Scribblenauts, unlocking your vocabulary
After we got an endorsement for Scribblenauts for the DS on a recent CAVEradio episode, I figured I’d give it a chance. It was sold to me as a “you can make it anything” game, but historically speaking those require too much brain power with little pay off in the fun/action department. Scribblenauts, however, I’m [...]
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August 23rd, 2009
Fossil Fighters, letting dinosaurs do what they do best
I wasn’t real big into dinosaurs when I was a kid. If you lined up a dinosaur, a giant robot, and a super ninja army guy and asked little Brian to pick one, it wouldn’t be the dinosaur. I know some kids got really huge into dinosaurs. They had their room themed in dinosaurs. All [...]
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August 11th, 2009
I lost my crown and I want it back
First amazement, then anger. That’s how it went when I saw that my Robocop world record had been beaten. Why amazement? Well, obviously I knew my record wasn’t unbeatable but to be taken down so quickly after I earned it? Sucko. I only had that top spot for a little over a month. Then anger. [...]
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June 22nd, 2009
My second world record is Robocop
I’ve done it again. I have obtained another world record for a video game that no one really cares about. A co-worker asked me, “why don’t you try to beat a record that people know,” and my response was quite simple, “that’s hard.”
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June 3rd, 2009
Space invaders, now more extreme than before
When I got my Nintendo DS one of the first games I got hooked on was Space Invaders Extreme. It took the classic Invaders model and turned it up to 11. More colors, more sounds, more invaders, complete and glorious chaos. And it was tough too, enough to challenge any arcade fan like myself. But [...]
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May 31st, 2009
Blast Works, the Katamari of shooters
What would you call a game where the goal is to move around and collect a bunch of random trash? You’d call it Katamari Damacy. But what would you call a shoot ‘em up that requires you to fly around and pick up parts to build the biggest, baddest spaceship? You’d call it Blast Works. [...]
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May 30th, 2009
CORGS Con, the retro gamer’s yard sale
Retro gaming is yet one more vice I enjoy along with my Hot Wheels, although I don’t think I’ve spent as much on old video games as I have on my Hot Wheels…how bad is that? When I heard mention of a retro gaming convention last month or so over at the GameOn podcast, I [...]
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March 29th, 2009
Today I am a champion
I’m not one that puts a lot of stock in awards and accolades. For the most part I believe they’re completely arbitrary and in many cases the entrants have to pay the organization that gives out the awards. If awards were fair then I’m sure I’d be more inclined to care about them. However there [...]
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February 7th, 2009
Even more tales from Counselor’s Corner
The internet strikes again! Once more bringing me in direct contact with an ex-Game Play Counselor from the old Nintendo Power days. Yes, this episode continues the now three-part series on Tales from Counselor’s Corner. The on-line radiance of my old letters to Nintendo Power seem to be a beacon to ex-GPCs.
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July 16th, 2008
More tales from Counselor’s Corner
As if finding one of the former Nintendo Game Counselors that helped me back in the day wasn’t treat enough, this time they found me! If you missed the first article about my lost Nintendo Power letters, go check it out, and then continue on with my interview with Kirk Starr, the ex-GPC that I [...]
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December 10th, 2007
Tales from Counselor’s Corner
Things like MySpace and Facebook have proven that the internet can connect people like never expected. Frankly, I feel good old e-mail can’t be beat, but call me old fashioned. Nonetheless, while I trusted that the internet would keep me in touch with friends and family, I am always amazed how it connects me with [...]