Skylanders

So, I spent time today convincing a fan of the old Spyro games that the Skylanders games, while not truly part of the Spyro seri3s, were still worth the time and investment to play.  A whole lot of talk, explaining, and debating didn't get anywhere near as far, though, as just plugging in the game and handing him a controller.  After the first level, he was hooked

Another Good One

So, since playing the game Ittle Dew by Ludosity, I've been eagerly awaiting a new title from the self-started game company, and there newest title didn't disappoint.  They have come out with a TCG game that has the feel of Triple Triad from FF8 and the gameplay of Konami's Yu-Gi-Oh console titles.  And as to be expected from Ludosity, there is plenty of parody and tongue-in-cheek humor.  If you grew up loving the Yu-Gi-Oh series, this game will make you laugh and challenge your skills all at the same time.

I'll be writing a bit more about it in issue #2 of Linux Gamer Monthly, so if you want to learn more before buying it yourself, check it out there.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

So, for Christmas I finally decided to ask for an upgrade to my DS system and move to a 3DS.  The options that Ms. Clause (my wife), had were a special edition Dream Team 3DS, or the 2DS bundled with either Pokemon X or Y.

She wanted to know which I wanted, and as tempting as the new Pokemon has been, I went with the M&L Dream Team.  And I couldn't have made a better choice.

As one of the off-shoots of Super Mario RPG, the M&L series has grown with its odd sense of sometimes subtle humor, and it's unique cast among the Mario Bros. franchise.   I  found myself getting sucked in to the usually ridiculous storyline and caught up in ancient war of the Pi'llo  people.

I have to say that over all, I really enjoyed M&L Dream Team, but the end was rather weak.  The final area is huge, but there are few amenities, and the grind is exhausting.

I would have to give the game four out of five arbitrary and meaningless stars.

A New Direction

So, now that I've had almost a year to play with Steam for Linux, have lost myself, and finally found my way back, I have to report that my time will be split further.  I'm starting another blog, and with it, a publication.  I'm taking the time to write and edit Linux Gamer Monthly, Blogger blog here.

As I have enjoyed writing this column devoted to all things gaming, I felt that gaming on the Linux platform needed some more careful attention, as the average gamer doesn't even know there is anything decent on the platform.  And now, with steam up to almost 500 titles on Linux, and other publishers finally testing the water, I feel the time is ripe to devote time to the subject.

The magazine will not lean heavy on working or playing on a Linux system, but will focus on games that are available on Linux, kind of like the old Nintendo Power.  I plan to add cool things like level walk-throughs and promo art, and since the largest part of the Linux games are indie, I've found a lot of support and encouragement from the developers.

I hope all of you will take the time to stop by the new blog and check out our line-ups from issue to issue, and if you find yourself caught up in the awesome, pick up the digital download from Digital Fruit.

Till next time, I tip my hat to you.

Holy Crap Its Finally Here!!!

Holy crap its finally here.  There, I said it.  Steam for Ubuntu is finally publicly available, and Linux will hopefully be taking its next steps into major consumer use.  This is awesome.  More details as I download, try out, and learn more.

Finally, Mounted Combat

So, as many of you have probably guessed, LOTRO is my personal favorite MMO, and I'm ecstatic that they have finally added mounted combat as a playable feature.  It has always been the one feature I felt would make the game complete, and I couldn't figure out why it wasn't in the game.  Turns out that was because they were saving it for the Riders of Rohan.

A Trip Back to Yesteryear

So, I picked up the Kirby's Dream Collection 25 anniversary boxed set the other day, mainly because it didn't include any of the games on the newer systems, and almost all of the games that made Kirby a classic.

Now, I wasn't initially wowed, but I was impressed with how well the tribute to the pink fluff ball was done.  The simple menu, the new challenge levels, they all seemed fresh and new.  No, what did wow me wasn't some much a wow, but that amazing trip back to childhood.  What got me was the old games.

Now, I'm a huge fan of advancing video games, and I've always been one of those people that goes out of his way to play something 'new', but picking up that wiimote and starting into the Kirby's adventure, so many fond memories of wasting time in my grandparent's spare bedroom trying to trounce King Dee-dee-dee and the weird vampire boss at the end that I never could figure out how fit into the story.

And the nostalgia only continued, along with a growing appreciation for how well the artwork was done on old systems.  Seeing the pixelated graphics of the nineties on my screen again, I wasn't put off by how old it seemed, I was actually sucked in to how amazing the details were for such primitive systems.

All in all, I loved the game, and would recommend it to anyone looking for an awesome platform-adventure throw back.  Enjoy, and remember.