WARNING: The contents of this article may be subject to causing boredom. I know, I said I was here to both inform and entertain you. Sue me. Humor will be inserted in order to make a point (or to just excite a laugh as usual) where I deem necessary, so grab your hardhat and put your serious face on, it’s time to show those naysayers what’s up!

Have you ever played Mass Effect? Have you ever watched a porno? Did you know that the two seemingly-unrelated things are pretty much one and the same? Or at least they were in the mind of developmental psychologist Cooper Lawrence. Of course, sexuality in video games isn’t the only hot-button issue; violence is the most fiercely-contested one. Why is it that video games are looked down upon while movies, music and television seem to get by unscathed?

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“Achievement Unlocked.” So you did it? You shredded that song to pieces in Guitar Hero. You finally killed that SOB terrorist in Call of Duty 4. Maybe you nailed that ridiculously-tough line in Skate. We’ve all experienced those few short seconds of gaming ecstasy, flexing your proverbial muscles by adding those dozen or so points to your ever-increasing Gamerscore.

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Here's an old article I wrote right around the time Half-Life 2: Episode 2 released. It's interesting to read now in retrospective with what Valve is doing with Left 4 Dead 2. Many gamers believe L4D2 should be released as an add-on to Left 4 Dead rather than a standalone installment.

Valve Software is one of my favorite developers. That’s why my excitement for The Orange Box was nearly on par with my hype for Halo 3 (I think I can already hear fanboys yelling “blasphemy” in the distance). It goes without doubt that the Half-Life franchise is one of the best in its respective genre. Despite this, many of Half-Life’s followers questioned Valve’s decision to take the episodic content route. Was it the right thing to do for both the developer and the fans? Let’s take a look.

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I caught up with GamerZines' Dave Taylor. We chatted about the new endeavor, its current success and its future plans. GamerZines is an online multimedia gaming magazine that is free to readers. Take a look!

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The sci-fi genre is a favorite among many developers. Why? Because there are, in essence, no rules. You want a hyper blaster in your game? Go for it. On the other hand, modern day warfare games require detail and accuracy to acquire realism. EA/DICE had just about depleted the modern and historical warfare genre with Battlefield 1942, Battlefield Vietnam, Battlefield 2, and other various expansions. That’s why it decided to take a step into the future. Was it a smart choice? We think so. Was it a successful choice? Not entirely.

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Few single player games intrigue me. Of the game’s I have played, the Half-Life series and Deus Ex are probably the best, in terms of shooters. They have interesting plot lines that really draw you into the game and keep you playing. For over a year, I’ve been really looking forward to BioShock because it looked like it would be a promising title that would be added to my favorite games list. Wow, was I right.

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Bomberman is a classic series. Originating back in 1983, the game quickly became a hit as subsequent installments to the series were released. Bomb-throwing chaos sounds like a perfect Xbox Live Arcade title, right? After playing Bomberman Live, I can thankfully respond to that question with an enthusiastic YES!

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You know when you get some really good ice cream, but it just feels like it’s missing something, like hot fudge or maybe cookie dough? That’s DiRT. It almost has everything, but it’s just lacking a few components. And although it doesn’t taste quite as good as ice cream, DiRT will be sure to please your gaming palette, nevertheless. You probably played the demo, and if you’re still on the fence about the game, hopefully this review will help you decide, for better or worse.

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Mass Effect is caught in what’s more or less of a love-hate relationship. Kind of like a cute, fuzzy dog that drags its cute, fuzzy ass all over your new carpet. One moment, you’re cherishing the game’s brilliant dialog–and ultimately, its illustrious storyline—and another moment, you’re punching your own face as you try to fight through the painfully-low frame rates and the ubiquitous texture pop-ins. God, I love this game.

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I snagged an interview with Wideload designer, Doug Zartman. We talk about working at Wideload, the next generation of gaming, and a bit about Stubbs the Zombie.

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