Pixel Hunt Issue 3

Is out now - so make sure you download it, subscribe (if you haven't) and tell as many strangers as you can about it.

GET ISSUE 3

Microsoft You Tools!

So, E3 fever hits the world and I'm left a little aghast at a few of the announcements made by Microsoft. But before I even go there, one thought struck me as I watched the feed - why the hell do we even send journalists over for E3?

Is it so that we can get some 'exclusive' interviews? The same interviews that a gazzillion other websites will have up just hours after the event. Is it, perhaps, so that we get up-to-the-minute blog entries that are completely redundant given that anyone who is interested can watch the damn thing live? I dunno, it just seems so... unnecessary to send people half way around the world when by the time they get back to their desks and submit their copy for the next month's issue, all of the info is old hat.

But I digress - what did I like and not like about MS's conference?

Liked

-I liked Fallout 3 - the game looks extremely cool. Immersive as heck and I can't wait to play the thing (more about that in the 'hate' section)

- I liked Rock Band 2's dignified announcement. The series really does shit over Guitar Hero, in my opinion. The RB team really understand musicianship and their games are actually fun to play.

- Liked Gears 2 and Fable 2 and Resident Evil 5. The latter looks the bomb! The other two I've actually seen up close and I think that they will both offer very cool gaming experiences.

Hated

- The new 360 menu overhaul. Serously WTF?? Why go with an iTunes rip-off when you can simply tweak your existing system to utilise space more efficiently.

- Hate the avatars. They look so try hard it's not funny. I really don't know who would enjoy sitting around chatting about photos - sorry Microsoft but I'm pretty sure most of the people on my friends list don't give a fuck about my private life; they're on there to play games with, not sit around and laugh about how I almost got eaten by a Hippo in Africa or some shit. Jeesh.

- I really hate this whole 'games for everyone' slant. Did you notice the complete lack of applause when all those 'family' games got their run? And then some woman comes out and sings over the top of her own song... okaaaay... It just seems to me that MS really need to decide on a direction - I don't know if they can successfully throw a blanket over the entire market. Nintendo are doing their casual thing, let them do it. But don't come out with shameless rip-offs of already established ideas and expect the world's gaming media to give two shits.

- I really, really, really hated that Fallout 3 will have exclusive downloadable content for the 360 - for the simple fact that we're probably NEVER GOING TO GET THE GAME here in Australia. And if we do it will be so watered down and devoid of dismemberments that it will be but a shadow of the actual experience. Please, please, please tell me that I can be happy with importing the PS3 version and know that the DLC will see the light of day on the big black box of fingerprints.

So there you have it, my slightly moronic ramblings after watching the Microsoft E3 2008 Press Conference. Let's see what Nintendo and Sony have to say next...

Pixel Hunt Issue 2 - OUT NOW!!!

Download it NOW

Tell everyone you know. Tie them up and read it to them. Run down the street naked yelling "Pixel Huuuuuuunt!"

Join up to all the clubs you can and bring along some print outs of the zine. Email everyone in your address book with the link. Tell your work mates, tell your parents...

You get the idea. We're pretty proud of this one. Oh, and you can now subscribe to the zine - so that's pretty cool.

Metal Gear Solid and how I'm going with this ezine...

Well, tomorrow is the day - or today if you haven't read this til.... now. If indeed it is today and not yesterday or last week or - you get the idea.

Metal Gear Solid 4 will be unleashed upon the world and I'm pretty darn excited. I do have an order at Play Asia but seeing as that hasn't yet shipped I'm contemplating purchasing the thing from EB and then returning it for a refund when my PA copy rocks up - yeah the things we passionate gamers do huh!

Oh, also. Issue 2 of Pixel Hunt is coming along nicely. We have some extra writers and there will be competitions - so I can't wait to get it out there. It will also look a lot more professional than the first issue as I have a team of designers (read: one or two part time) on the case - and the new logo is super sexy! Ok, back to looking forward to tomorrow...

Pixel Hunt is Live

Okay, here's the first issue for you to download and enjoy. Please be aware that I handled the design duties on this one - so it's not very... good. So hopefully you can look past the garishness and enjoy the content.

I've had offers to help with the design of Issue 2 - so it will hopefully look a LOT nicer ;)

LINK

New Project Info...

Okay, this thing is slowly coming together so I'm happy to reveal a couple of snippets. It is going to be a very small and amateur e-zine, written by myself and a few other writers that you may or may not recognise.

It's called Pixel Hunt, and the first issue is coming together nicely. It won't be as flashy as a magazine, because I'm not a graphics designer, I'm a writer. But I'm hoping that it finds a niche audience for people who are sick of internet gaming reviews and perhaps don't have the money to buy magazines.

Anyways, the first issue should be ready by the end of next week - and we cover a hands-on with Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, as well as reviews of GTA IV, Layton, Harvey Birdman and Boom Blox.

Okay, that was more than just one clue wasn't it! Well, I'm kinda excited and I hope it's received well. More info soon.

Drugs and Aliens

I forgot to put up these links before I went away - but I did a couple of articles for Gameplayer.

The first looks at drugs in professional gaming - you can read it here

The second is a look at Aliens: Colonial Marines, which I got to see when I visited Gearbox Studios in Dallas a couple of months ago. Words appear here

Feedback appreciated peoples :D