How to be a Video Games Blogger

Editor's Note: (ಠ_ಠ)

By Tom

One might look at my creation here at Gamefanboys.com and think to themselves, "I can do this easily," but you do not have any idea how wrong you are. Blogging, is in fact, hard work. It is; on the other hand, some of the most rewarding work you can do. Blogging is one of the last true ways for random people on the Internet to make their ideas known without being lost in the shuffle of shitty forum posts and youtube comments. I encourage everyone to at least try blogging about anything, but blogging about video games is a beast unlike any other.

How do you become a successful games blogger? Allow me to show you the ropes

Crossing The Line?

Every Friday, the crew at GameFanboys.com will bring you an opinion/analysis article. These are articles that are longer than our normal everyday posts, and are written by either Tom, Mark, or any of our contributors. Feel free to take time over the weekend to read and add comments of your own.

By Mark

In the news the last few weeks have been Sony's attempts to fight back against the hackers who have caused numerous security patches to the PS3 firmware. The most notable of these patches includes the now-infamous taking away of the Other OS feature in older "Fat" PS3s that allowed Linux to run on the system. Readers may recall that gamers (mostly people who wanted to run emulators on their PS3) were in an uproar that Sony would take away a feature that had been implemented in their consoles.

Though their anger may have been slightly misguided - the people who yelled the loudest on message boards primarily used that function to hack their PS3 - it wasn't without valid arguments. One of the most notable being Sony failing to deliver on its earlier promise of an open system; a system in which programmers found a haven to run an operating system that could tap some of the potential of the PS3's computing power. After all, Yellow Dog Linux - a company that produces a version of the Linux operating system - had a contract with Sony in which they provided customers with PS3 systems with Linux already installed. While the contract most likely ran out once the PS3 Slim units hit store shelves, I'm sure YDL never saw Sony retroactively take away the OtherOS feature, and have them lose a customer base. The feature itself was touted by Sony as a business model, which had suddenly evaporated with GeoHot's (George Hotz) newfound ability to bypass the PS3 security partition via the OtherOS.

"Next Generation Portable" Impressions

By Mark

The big story today was Sony finally unveiling its follow-up to the PSP. Called "Next Generation Portable" for now (it will be referred to as the NGP from here out), the little machine is actually pretty impressive. Three of the most important changes include the front screen being larger (16:9 5-inch OLED screen) and it also functioning as a touch screen. In fact, the back portion of the handheld also sports a touch-sensitive area as well. Thirdly, there is the inclusion of a second analog stick - huzzah! Note that I said "stick" too. Gone is the Anaolog Nub that graced every iteration of the PSP until the Go emerged, and they have been replaced by more standout sticks right below the button areas.

There are several other improvements and additions made to the handheld. The NGP also features dual cameras, one on the front and the other on the back, and an open microphone on the front. The cameras are interesting, because aside from being available to take lovely photos of yourself naked, it will provide gameplay functionality in the form of motion-sensing. Remember the six-axis technology? It makes a comeback in the NGP as well. There is also a three-axis electronic compass built in for use with the built-in GPS. Not enough for you? The NGP will also be sporting a 3G wireless device for all your portable online gaming needs. Coupled with Bluetooth and the AdHoc capabilities already present in the system, the NGP really stands out as a formidable mobile gaming platform. But what about the specs itself you ask? Let's take a look.

Kana ~ Little Sister Review [NSFW]

Console: PC [reviewed], PSP
Developer: AngelSmile
Publisher: G-Collections
Released: July 2, 2002
Price: $24.95 [Warning: Links to NSFW material]

EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN IMAGES AND THEMES SOME MAY CONSIDER OFFENSIVE. 

By Tom

Truth be told, I was hesitant to review this game. Not because it's unworthy, but because I know 90% of you reading this (all 4 of you) will probably not buy this game for some very justifiable reasons. For one, this is most definitely an adult game in every sense. Not only does the game contain blatant pornographic material, but it deals with the themes of incest, death, and sacrifice. Not only that, but if that didn't narrow down the audience, it is also a visual novel, which means there is very little actual gameplay. It's not that western audiences are not already familiar with these kind of gameplay mechanics. We have a growing library of adventure style text based games on the DS like Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton, but Kana ~ Little Sister is primitive even by those standards. The gameplay boils down to the level of interactivity you'd expect from a choose your own adventure book you read in the 90s.

All that in mind, if I still have your attention for some odd reason, then follow me past the jump as we're going to talk about the most deeply emotional game I've ever played.

Hell Will Freeze on May 3rd

Still more acceptable than the Dead Space 2 ads

By Tom

One of the longest running jokes in gaming history will finally have its glorious punchline. On March 3rd, 2011, Duke Nukem Forever will finally be upon us.

Will it be worth the wait? Who cares! It's Duke back in action! He's looking for some alien toilet to park his bricks. Whose first?

We Can Have Our Cake and Eat it if we Damn Well Please

To be fair, I wouldn't want to destroy this cake by eating it

By Tom

Bloggers are known for two things: making statements so broad that they cannot possibly be true and accusing others of doing the same. Case and point, see the last sentence I wrote.

One of my absolute favorite mainstays of the gaming blogging community is the old argument that gamers cannot call games art and still call their favorite violent games "just inconsequential video games." I completely understand this concept as I have said this before, but now my eyes are open. So, is it true that games cannot just be stupid fun and art at the same time?

Stabbing Ourselves

By Tom

Simply put, anyone who has ever been attacked, minus a select few, have decided to defend themselves. Now that most battles are fought with words and not swords, defending yourself has gotten easier and easier. Of course, it's no secret that mainstream media has absolutely no handle on how to cover video games, and they have even less of an idea who your average gamer is. If we were to look at most gamers between the age of 18 to 35, I'm sure you're going to find a healthy collection of well adjusted adults who enjoy gaming like people would enjoy any other hobby (and I base this opinion on absolutely nothing).

As adult gamers who also view ourselves as normal people, it can come off as rather insulting every time the mainstream pretends that gaming is a child's hobby. After all, the first arcade machines were mostly found in bars, the 2600 had a vast collection of pornographic games, and modern games routinely cover topics that require a supreme emotional investment you just won't find in children.

Still, the reputation persists, and once again, another study was released that gives gamers yet another bloody nose in the eye of the mainstream. And if that wasn't bad enough, EA's latest ad campaign seems to make public opinion worse.