Tainted Report

Compared to most people, I have a pretty expansive knowledge in terms of video games. I have a light understanding of gaming trends, robust knowledge on the gaming culture, and a lifestyle deeply rooted in my own gaming preferences. I'm what you might call a nerd.

However, one thing I have noticed is that on the Internet, I am much less knowledgeable on the prominent issues of gaming. Even on good ol' Neoseeker, my knowledge takes a backseat to those who have a much better understanding of the industry. They throw out developers names that I've never even heard of. They reference games for consoles I barely know existed. And above all else, they carry with them an extensive list of titles that they have played in their lifetime.

As someone who's beginning to lean towards a career in the field of gaming journalism, I'm learning that... well, I still have a lot to learn. While at my s
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If there's one area of the Nintendo Wii that I've yet to explore, it's the multitudes of WiiWare titles. Because of my limited budget, WiiWare and Virtual Console have taken a backseat so I can focus on getting up to date with the Nintendo DS. However, Christmas funds allowed me to get a Wii Points card, and so I began to look through the WiiWare games. I sifted through World of Goo and My Life as a King because they were too expensive. I didn't think Tetris Party was worth 1200 points, and Maboshi's Arcade seemed too gimmicky. I was running out of options.

And then I saw Lostwinds, and I remembered hearing good things about it. 1000 points still seemed a bit steep, but every review site I saw said it was a fantastic game. So I gave it a download. I'm glad I did, too, because it's a charming, innovative platformer that is well worth the ten bucks.

This blog post is to encourage any
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Renegade Kid first appeared as a developer for the Nintendo DS with Dementium: The Ward, a first person horror game that was all about the creepy atmosphere of the insane asylum where you were imprisoned. While the game featured a cool story and great graphics for a DS title, the combat itself was pretty boring, and switching between the flashlight and weapons grew tiresome. It was an ambitious first effort to be sure, but Renegade Kid's first attempt left a lot to be desired.

Renegade Kid obviously learned from their first title on the DS. Their sophomore title, Moon, addresses all of the problems that crippled Dementium, delivering an experience that shows a lot of polish and pushes the DS hardware to its limits. Moon not only looks incredible, but offers tight controls and an excellent story. All of these come together to create a compelling experience that any fans of the Action
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Before I get flamed for my title, let me explain.

Animal Crossing is a game set in fantasy and surrealism. You are the sole human, living on an island with talking animals. Every day you can find fossils buried in the earth that weren't there before. Fish are magically attracted to your fishing hook without the need for bait. Currency erupts from rocks after hitting them with a shovel. For a life simulation game, it sure doesn't focus on creating a lifelike environment.

Except, that is, when it comes to the personalities of your neighbors. The critters that move into the town quite varied; there are mice, horses, elephants, koalas, and many more. Different neighbors have different personalities, so no characters are clones of one another. It's a cool addition, to be sure, but at the same time it gets a little ridiculous.

There are personalities that make sense; "Athletic" is for tho
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Here's another review for all you people interested. Enjoy!

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Booting up Professor Layton and the Curious Village is like throwing yourself into an Encyclopedia Brown book, but without the chance to solve the mysteries yourself. The premise of the game seems to be a point and click mystery game, but it turns out to be a entirely puzzle-driven experience with little else to do. While there is a great story that drives the plot, there's not a whole lot you can do to actually progress it other than completing puzzles as you find them. However, if you can look past this and enjoy it for the quirky little title that it is, than you will get a lot of enjoyment out of Professor Layton, because it still has a lot to offer.

The game centers around Professor Layton, and his young assistant Luke. Layton and Luke are called to a mysterious island, St. Mystique, to try and solve the mystery of the
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One of the most pleasant surprises of 2008 for me was seeing Mario Kart DS return to the top 10 selling games of the year. The game, released in November 2005, remains the most played game on my DS, and is easily my favorite game on the system. However, it is still surprising to see it sell so well this long after its initial release. Many people are probably a bit stumped as to why this happened, especially after Mario Kart DS was absent from this list in 2007. This blog post is my speculations as to why the game is still selling so strong years after its release.

The most obvious reason for the continues success of this game is the blazing success of the Nintendo DS itself. The DS is continuing to sell like hotcakes, outselling every console and handheld on the market by a mile. In December of 2008, the DS sold over 3 million units, which is a new record for most hardware units so
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I picked up Dragon Quest IV yesterday and I've been playing it when I get the chance. I've put in about 2 hours probably, and here's what I have to say so far:

• The animation in this game is awesome. Seriously, for a game that originally came out on the SNES, this game is gorgeous. It holds up really well on the DS, too.

• This is RPG goodness at its finest. I'm loving the depth of this game even at the start, with tons of different weapons to buy/find within the very first level of the game.

• The way this game starts out is incredibly unique. You get to play as every character individually, showing the events that lead up to the party members coming together. It's really fun and different.

• Music is excellent. It's pretty simple, but man does it work.

Expect a full review for this game once I finish the game, or get a better impression of the game. Until then, I suggest that
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Note: This is a review that is currently under review in the CRS queue. However, being a relatively unknown movie, I figured that it wouldn't get too much attention, so I am posting it here to get more feedback. Comments and feedback are appreciated! Enjoy!

If there is one genre of movies that I can’t stand, it’s those sappy movies that are funny the whole way through, but have a sad ending that completely twists the focus of the film. There is a way to combine both elements into a film without becoming a trite family movie that shoves good morals down your throat. Smoke Signals is a perfect example of a film that combines both elements beautifully, using a unique story to produce a masterful glimpse into the life of a Native American living in America today.

Smoke Signals is a movie based on the novel The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie. The novel centers
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I was listening to Songs About Jane today, and I have to say, Maroon 5 is a brilliant band.

When I think about it, my taste in music is much more mainstream then I might believe. I am not much of a music person. I have a mp3 player, but I barely use it. So, the music I like is really a lot of the stuff that is easily accessible, although I'm still not a pop kinda guy. I like soft rock, so current bands like Barenaked Ladies (yeah, not totally mainstream), Maroon 5, The Fray, people like that are all people I get into.

If you have a similar taste in music like I do, then I want to introduce you to a new group, one that is definitely not mainstream. They are Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. You may recognize the name because their album is my current signature.

Anyway, Ted Leo has a pretty unique sound, although it is similar to groups like Maroon 5 and the like. It's probably better to
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Over the past week I have done my best to watch every episode of The Office, from season 1 through season 4. I'm midway through season 3 right now, and at this point I can honestly say that The Office is the best show on television.

That's a pretty bold statement, but I think a lot of people will agree with me. The show is hilarious, first and foremost. Every episode is filled with gags, one liners, and plenty of awkward moments and "That's what she said jokes." I honestly believe that there is a joke for everyone in this show.

If you have never watched the show, then you may not enjoy the first episode that you watch. It's a pretty accessible show, compared to the complex storylines of Lost and Heroes, but there are still a few things that might leave you a bit confused. A lot of the humor comes from the relationships between the characters, which you may not easily understand. And
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