The Cookie Jar,

THE COOKIE JAR HAS MOVED!

2009-12-28T11:15:00.000-08:00

This is an official announcement. The Cookie Jar has moved!

So we'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support during our time here at Blogspot, and hope that you will continue to follow us at www.itsthecookiejar.com

See you there!

The Christmas Podcast is Here!

2009-12-24T08:28:00.001-08:00

Much festive cheer in the our world with the odd expletive and lots of Lady Gaga. Plus, an old friend returns from overseas....

You can listen to the podcast by clicking here.

Links to artists who have music featured on the show this week:

http://8bitcollective.com/members/Byte+Buds!/

Merry Christmas from the Cookie Jar

2009-12-24T01:51:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone!

Just a brief post wishing everyone a merry Christmas from us here at the Cookie Jar.
Hope you all enjoy playing those games you've been waiting to unwrap during the festive period, and you get the ones you wanted.

For those of you whose friends or family didn't get you the game you wanted, I hope you enjoy 'My Horse and Me.'

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Children Refusing to Stop Playing Video Games? Call the Police!

2009-12-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

News for any parents out there who can't get their kids to stop playing video games.

A woman in the US called 911 when her 14-year old son refused to stop playing video games. Kudos to the kid for being a hardcore gamer, but shame on the mother.

Word of advice love, just turn the TV off.

Developers: I beg you to make this game.

2009-12-21T07:34:00.001-08:00

WE HAVE FORUMS!

2009-12-18T07:22:00.001-08:00

I am very happy to say that The Cookie Jar now has an official forum. This is a place for readers of the blog or listeners of the Cookie Jar Game-Cast to to talk and have their say.

If you ever want to post something to our forums, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you'll find it.

Enjoy!

Child's Play: Proof that not all Gamers are Anti-Social Douchebags

2009-12-18T04:09:00.000-08:00

Gamers get a bad reputation for being anti-social and nerdish. Whilst the latter is usually true, The Cookie Jar has decided to draw attention to a fantastic aspect of video game culture.

Child's Play is a charity for children which invites gamers to events with the intent of putting all the money raised through attendance towards helping kids.

So for anyone out there who think that gamers only ever think of themselves?

Suck it.

Hopefully sometime next year The Cookie Jar will be able to host an event in aid of the charity's cause. If anyone out there has any ideas, they are very welcome.

So check out Child's Play at their official website at www.childsplaycharity.org/

If you're feeling really nice and full of christmas spirit, you can make a donation online via paypal.

Game of the Year 2009

2009-12-18T01:25:00.000-08:00

It's coming towards the end of 2009, and so it is time to start deciding on which game will be the The Cookie Jar's Game of the Year.

So, if you have any nominations you want to send us for your favourite game of this year, send them to cjgameblog@gmail.com

The game of the year will be announced next week on the Cookie Game-Cast Christmas Show.

Podcast Team Apologises!

2009-12-18T00:44:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! You may have noticed there was no podcast this week and there has also been a general lack of blogness.

Well the Cookie Jar apologises for this grave injustice. The podcast team was struck with a last minute schedule change and varous other issues.

BUT

Don't miss our Cookie Game-Cast christmas podcast next week! It should be up and ready for your ears on Christmas eve. Finally we will see who is victorious in the final showdown between Tommy and Carl to determine who is.....THE BIGGEST NERD!

So until next week, have a good weekend and see you for the christmas special.

Love and happy gaming,

The Podcast Team.

Uncharted 2 Wins Awards: The Cookie Jar Rejoices

2009-12-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to say congratulations to Uncharted 2, which has quite rightly just won best PS3 game and Best Graphics at the Spike VGA awards.

WWWOOOOPPPP!!!

Bring on Uncharted 3. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!

SEQUELS SEQUELS SEQUELS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

2009-12-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

Both Star Wars: the Force Unleashed and Arkham Asylum have had sequels announced! Fair enough for Star Wars, as 'Unleashed' has been out for quite some time now. But Batman?

It makes me think. Should sequels for incredibly successful games be announced early like this? It makes most gamers worry that the sequel will be rushed. Here's hoping this doesn't happen to Batman.

Still no word on release dates but surely this cannot be for long.

Modern Medal of Honour gets a Trailer.

2009-12-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Considering the timing of this new bout of publicity for Medal of Honour's modernistic come-back, it would be fair to treat this as a Modern Warfare 2 copycat. However, despite my love for Modern Warfare, I have a little more faith in this game and having had a tiny taste of the action in the latest trailer, I have to say, there could be a real war brewing between this game and Infinity Ward's proudest creation.

LET BATTLE COMMENCE!

If political games were popular, they would look like this.

2009-12-11T01:55:00.001-08:00

Left 4 Dead 2 Cookies!

2009-12-10T04:46:00.000-08:00

We love cookies here at the cookies jar. (Just in case the name didn't give it away.)

So, when the good people at Destructoid published images of these beauties, I couldn't resist spreading the word. Perhaps a recipe is in order? Yes. I think so.

Right. I might have to have a cup of tea now. Pity I don't have a cookie Jockey to dunk in it. Oh well.

Podcast Episode 5 is Here!

2009-12-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

There's much talk about dead pets and the mysterious disappearance of Dan Chorlton. Oh yeah, and some talk about games as well

You can listen to the podcast by clicking here.

Links to artists who have music featured on the show this week:

http://8bitcollective.com/members/Byte+Buds!/

Final Fantasy XIII Not So Perfect

2009-12-09T06:59:00.000-08:00

It seems that one of the most anticipated games of next year is NOT perfect. This is according to Famitsu who gave the game 39/40. As I write this i can hear our resident Japanese game fanatic crying into his copy of 'Neo.'

Meh. I'll still buy it 39/40 is still far from terrible!

SITUATION UPDATE: The Dan Chorlton Story.

2009-12-09T04:45:00.001-08:00

For those of you who listen to our weekly podcast, you will know that the mysterious Dan Chorlton was last sighted in the Congo presiding over a Rain-Forest Conference.

It has been revealed that Mr. Chorlton has in fact gone missing. The Cookie Jar has lot contact with him, and is hoping to sweet heaven that he has not been abducted ny a rebel sepeartist group.....Although this is probably the case.

If you are reading this Dan, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

We will update you as soon as we have any more information concerning this unstandably worrying issue. If you loved Dan so much that you actually need moral support, e-mail us on cjgameblog@gmail.com

Bored? Well why not make a piranha plant?

2009-12-05T09:58:00.000-08:00

I might actually try this one day. In the event that I have nothing to do EVER, then it shall be done.

So for those of you who actually have no purpose in life, now's your chance, and hey, if you don't make the plant after watching the video, at least you will have enjoyed the jazzy background music.

I would buy a Playstation 2 just for this game.

2009-12-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

OH MY GOD WOULDN'T YOU!?

Podcast Episode 4 is Here!

2009-12-03T11:03:00.001-08:00

If the player above is not working then you can access the podcast through our RSS feed here.

Dan sends us a message from his rain forest conference in the Congo, and we debate the future of game discs.

Links to artists who have music featured on the show this week:

http://8bitcollective.com/members/Byte+Buds!/

Left 4 Dead Gets the 80's Treatment with an NES Remake

2009-12-01T11:30:00.001-08:00

When we usually hear of an upcoming remake of a well-known video-game franchise, we expect to see a game from a previous console generation being updated and developed for the latest gaming systems. Well, take that expectation and turn it completely on it's head, and you get 'Left 4 Dead for NES.'

Some utter genius has decided to remake the game as it would look had it been conceived in the Golden age of 16-bit gaming. Hell, even the music is the same!

According to sources, the game will be finished within the next month and will be available for free download, suggesting that the game has been created using NES development software with the intention of playing the game on the PC.

Check out the video below for some gameplay specifics, and let us know what you think by e-mailing us on cjgameblog@gmail.com

Prison Break Moves into the Realm of Video Games.

2009-11-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

So pictures of a 'Prison Break,' computer game adaptation have been published, much to the happiness of fans of the series who might also be partial to a spot of gaming. However, the news has reminded me of the issues created by games that are adapted from TV shows.

I know where some people think I'm going with this. 'These games are bad,' and 'please don't play them' are just a couple of things people probably think I am about to say. Well, not entirely.

I very much enjoyed the South Park game on the PSOne, where the humour and visual style of the TV show were expertly captured. This was certainly not the case with the PlayStation 2's adaptation of 'Family Guy,' for the video game audience.....bluergh.

These two examples are obviously both cartoons but the idea of a 'Prison Break' game? Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

Are Bad Graphics OK as Long as the Gameplay is Good?

2009-11-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

For those of you who heard the latest episode of the Cookie Jar Game-Cast, you'll probably remember that we talked about Dragon Age: Origins. If you didn't that's still ok, because we forgot to address a big issue surrounding the game: Graphics.

Dragon Age is currently in my play-list, having won me over despite it's mediocre appearance at the EuroGamer Expo last month. This was probably inspired by my eagerness to play Mass Effect 2, and having just released their latest RPG, Bioware have enticed me to play the next best thing.

On the podcast I forgot to talk about the weak graphics the game possesses. This may not be so applicable to PC players who are able to make the best they can out of the hardware they purchase, but for console players who are limited to a particular technical specification, it is a sorrier state of affairs.

From glitches to bad rendering, the graphics are still far from terrible, but not up to scratch with the current generation. What is amazing however, is the way in which the game compensates for this with such engaging gameplay. I am having such a good time playing this thanks to a rich and interesting narrative structure and a user-friendly interface which is not too overbearing.

So, this leaves me at a crossroads now because of the question it poses. If a game has sub-standard graphics but great gameplay, does that still make a successful game?

Although I'm still unsure, all I know is, Dragon Age: Origins is a lot of fun, and certainly a must-buy for any fans of medieval style RPG's or ex-players of 'Baldur's Gate.'

Podcast Episode 3 is Here

2009-11-25T17:36:00.000-08:00

If the player above is not working you can access the podcast via our RSS feed here.

Apologies for the lack of posts this week but it's all been so that we could get the podcast up and running. Anyway, here is this week's episode 3 of the Cookie Game-Cast, guest starring Kerrie Griffiths and also starring the usual miscreants.

This week we talk about the abundance of DLC on it's way to consoles, the government use of Xbox live, and the lack of reasonably priced chocolate bars.

Links to artists who have music featured on the show this week:

http://8bitcollective.com/members/Byte+Buds!/

Do People Really Want 3-D Gaming?

2009-11-19T12:23:00.000-08:00

Sony have recently announced that they want to have 3-D gaming widely available for players to use by next year. This begs an important question. Do we really want this?

This could just be a personal preference, but most of the time I prefer to see 2-D films as a result of the occasional nausea that is produced by my watching a 3-D film. It's easy to say that the two formats are different but the actual act of playing a game also requires us to stare at our TVs; and being asked to concentrate on controlling these nausea-inducing images? Well that just rubs salt into the wound.

Now I know that not everyone is affected as I am. Obviously not, because 3-D is still a very popular format and offers us all the option of a different experience, but for anyone out there who suffers from the same thing I do, please know, I'm thinking of you when you're playing these games; because let's face it, vomit or no vomit, we're still going to play them.

Podcast Episode 2 is Here!

2009-11-18T18:56:00.001-08:00

Its time for another dose of the Cookie Jar Game Cast!

In episode 2, Carl and Tommy go head to head in a battle to determine who is the biggest nerd, and Dan gives us some Jack Daniels inspired wizdom.

Much news from the gaming world including thoughts on the success of Borderlands, the appeal of Dragon Age: Origins and the run up to the highly anticipated Left 4 Dead 2. Oh, and news about Star Wars Wii sensor bar holders....

Remember you can send any mail you would like read out on the podcast to us on cjgameblog@gmail.com

Links to artists who have music featured on the show this week:

http://8bitcollective.com/members/Byte+Buds!/

Hackers; Making New Super Mario Bros Wii Even Newer Since 2009

2009-11-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how quickly games are hacked these days. With the recent news that hackers have split open Modern Warfare 2 literally days after it's release despite Infinity Ward's stepped up securtiy, it's becoming more and more the norm that games are not as secure as some people might think.

However, there are some cool things that come out of the manipulation of a game's code. Take 'Tanooki' and 'Reggie!' for example. These two programs are level editors for the newly released 'New Super Mario Bros Wii.' The programs allow players to (surprsingly enough) create their own levels for the game, which in itself is a great idea, begging the question, 'why was this not tried out by the developers?'

Now, the answer to most questions like this is that the developers probably had a three-hour long meeting on the subject, pushing to have the feature used only to be denied by the producers of the title or an exec who didn't like the sound of it. So, out of respect for anybody in the developement team for the game who might have tried to push for a level editor, we salute you.

There is a quite significantly negative aspect to these level editors however, and that is the fact that they work through emulation. This means that they only work for versions of the games that have been illegally ported to PC, and therefore encourage players to play pirated copies of a new game.

Emulation is a controversial subject in the world of video games, with most people agreeing that emulation for games that are now unobtainable from retailers or even second hand sellers is for the most part, ok, but emulation for games as widely available as New Super Mario Bros Wii, is a BIG no no.

Source: Joystiq

Does Halo Work in Anime Form?

2009-11-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Halo legends has arrived and for the first time we see Halo translated into a Japanese format.

Now, we talked about this on the first episode of the Game Cast and Tom Maddox (who is The Cookie Jar's leading Halo fan) talked about the new streaming service for Halo Legends via Halo Waypoint.

We all thought it was strange how such a Western franchise was receiving this Japanese overhaul, but agreed that we could not judge the series until we had given it a good look. Well, you can check it out here and see what you think. Here is the first episode of Halo: Legends, entitled 'The Babysitter.'

I've got to say, first impressions of the series are very promising. The anime style certainly successfully allows the Halo universe to shine despite a highly contrasting method of delivery. It's actually refreshing to see Halo storylines presented like this, because I'm sure we can all imagine what it would be like had a big hollywood studio got their hands on it.

So, it looks like Halo fans will be following this one very closely, at least we all here at the Cookie Jar will be anyway.

New Podcast! Bigger and Better with MORE PEOPLE

2009-11-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

Here is episode one of the Cookie Jar Game Cast, featuring Nick Proud, Tommy Maddox, Carl Powell, Laura Turner and the mysterious Dan Chorlton.

ENJOY! Oh and let us know what you think.

Send your reader mail to cjgameblog@gmail.com

Links to artists who have music featured on the show this week:

http://8bitcollective.com/members/Byte+Buds!/

Microsoft: What's that? You Want Another Annoying Piece of Hardware? You got it.

2009-11-11T00:57:00.000-08:00

I love Xbox, but lets be honest, this is getting a little ridiculous now.

When I think about how much time I spend playing games online, I realise that it's important for me to be able to connect wirelessly. Now, the PS3 will give you wireless capability built in, like most PCs today. But, Microsoft, (who actually work with and are known for their work on PC technology) don't do this; forcing you to buy an add on for around £50 or even $60-100.

WHAT!?

So one day I gave in and decided to invest in one of these add-ons, and it worked great......for a while.

It was about 3 months before my device died on me and got me thinking, is this really good value for money? The system is, the games are great and I usually prefer Xbox over Playstation these days but this business around wireless capability is truely a weakness.

And so, with the release of a new, stronger wireless adapter, I really hope that it does the trick, because this could really annoy a lot of loyal customers.

So, if you excuse me, I'm off to play Modern Warfare 2 online via my wired network connection.

Simulations are Everywhere: Suddenly all other games look fun.

2009-11-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

I like the odd sim game. There. It's out there.

What I'd like to re-emphasize in that first statement is the word odd. I like the ODD sim game. For the most part, when I talk about sim games I enjoy I'm talking about Flight Sims. Flight Sims are great because they give you the chance to really experience flying to other lands, entrusting you with the lives of a cabin and crew and other dorky little things like communicating with airport officials in the significant and important profession in which you operate as captain.

Now, I know a lot of people will say things like 'you can get those sorts of things in Boat simulators,' or 'dude have you never played Microsoft Train Simulator? You can go everywhere in that!'

These people are right, you can do similar things in Boat or Train simulators, but they are operating on a lower degree of fun. Take train simulator for example. Stuck on a track, going wherever the long stretch of metal/wood tells you to go. Granted you still have to plan routes and for me this would be fun, but not as fun as a flight sim which grants total freedom.

If boat or train simulators were surprising enough to a lot of people, it would be even more surprising for them to see any of these games on the shelves:

Digger simulator? CRANE SIMULATOR!?

I saw these strange offerings in GAME today and was truly baffled. I know some people play some strange games, and they often come across as extremely interesting as a result of their eccentric personalities, but these are people who play obviously geeky and dorkish games like WoW or even Warhammer Online. (Which are both great games by the way)

This makes me think, 'what are the people who play these games for FUN like then!?'

It alarms me, and definitely scares me , which is why I will leave these games alone for a long time, in the fear that they might replace my real-life activities.

Do you know of any other crazy simulation games? Send your replies to cjgameblog@gmail.com

Game Music Gets Classical

2009-11-07T11:05:00.001-08:00

As devoted gamers, me and my friends spent many a day at high school singing various catchy melodies from our favourite iconic games. Now, whenever I hear the music in-game during a little jaunt into the past, it gives me that warm nostaligic feeling, but feels a little stale when compared with re-workings of the same great music.

Video game concerts are lacking in my part of the world and so in a frustrated quest for orchestrated video game themes, I turned to one of my closest friends. Youtube.

In my research I found a group called VGO. Their take on famous game themes is clever and fun to listen to, and because I love you all so much, I'm sharing it with you. Here are a couple of videos and so if you enjoy it, check out more.

Heavy Rain Demo Announced. The Cookie Jar Rejoices.

2009-11-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

YES!

A demo for the highly anticipated 'Heavy Rain,' is on the way. This blog is a happy one today my friends.

The game draws the player into a realm of mystery and investigation using contextual scenes in a way that makes it highly original. Is no-one else excited about this?

Now, I'm sure the answer to that question is certainly. yes, but I'm having a hard time getting anyone I know to say anything about what they think about what is sure to be a cult classic.

So let me know. Comment below or send your mail to cjgameblog@gmail.com

Meanwhile, for the non-converted, have a trailer.

PODCAST ARRIVES! Very Short but still...it's here.

2009-11-02T10:21:00.001-08:00

This is the first episode of the 'Cookie Jar Quick Cast,' a short podcast that should be here every week, bringing bite sized gaming features and some news.

The podcast will also feature music from various artists so if you would like to have your music played on the show or if you would like to have your mail read out, simply get in touch at cjgameblog@gmail.com

CORRECTION/UPDATE: IN THE PODCAST IT IS SAID THAT FINAL FANTASY XIII HS BEEN RELEASED IN JAPAN. THIS IS WRONG. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS RETRACTED.

Enjoy!

Links to artists who have music featured on the show this week:

http://8bitcollective.com/members/Byte+Buds!/
http://8bitcollective.com/members/Shnabubula/
http://8bitcollective.com/members/electronicMESS/

Zombies Roam the Streets of Toronto

2009-11-01T04:17:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have already seen this, but it's something that still tickles me.

In fact, it irks me.

Toronto recently played host to their annual 'Zombie Walk' where citizens take to the streets dressed as zombies and walk in the same fashion, YES!

I think that the main focus of this post is to ask the question, 'why do we not do this anyway else?' That's why i feel irked, because I want in!

As far as I know, there is nothing like this in the UK, and perhaps not even in the US! So for anyone reading this, start a petition, call some big shots, gather your friends in a unison of voices that shout 'WE WANT TO BE ZOMBIES!....'

'for this....is our Independance Day.'

.............not sure how that quote fell into the equation but it felt like that kind of speech.

(If you know of any other events like this that happen anywhere on Earth then let me know at cjgameblog@gmail.com)

Third Person in Modern Warfare 2? WHY!!!????

2009-10-26T13:07:00.001-07:00

Call of Duty is renowned for being currently one of the most popular first-person shooters of this console generation.

Let's just break that down again. 'Call of Duty is renowned for being currently one of the most popular FIRST PERSON SHOOTERS.....'

Ok. So if you heard that the next game, the highly anticipated Modern Warfare 2 was going to have a third person mode, you'd be a bit shocked right?

To me, this sort of detracts from the point for being a high-profile first person shooter, unless Infinity Ward are trying something new. At least the mode would be optional. PHEW!

The video below shows the apparent third-person shooter mode, and was taken from a video recorded by a gamer in France who seems to have acquired a copy of the game early. (What is it with people in France getting games early?)

Check out the video and see what you think.

First Person Shooter Disease

2009-09-29T13:04:00.001-07:00

I love FPS. Let's face it, there's not many people out there who really can't stand them.

IGN posted a video that I'm placing as my current favourite video. It is quite serious however, as it addresses the problem of 'First Person Shooter Disease.

The Cookie Jar Salutes those of you out there with this awful malady.

Was Paperboy this Violent? I like it.

2009-09-29T04:13:00.000-07:00

Remember 'Paperboy' on the NES?

It was a fun-loving family game with a massive retro following today. So are you ready for the movie version?

Some genius (and I'm not being sarcastic, I actually mean GENIUS) has made a trailer for their new movie adaptation of Paperboy. It's a little more violent than the NES original, so be warned.

For more details on the movie, click here.

MMOs just keep growing and GROWING.

2009-09-28T13:08:00.001-07:00

Sitting at my computer today I'm going through the daily pieces of mail and I stumble upon a press-release from EA.

It talked about a celebration of the longest running MMO. 'Ultima Online.'

The game has been running for 12 years! It just made me think about the longevity of MMOs, and made it clear to me that if you find the right combination of conventions and features, it's possible to keep an online game's community alive for decades. Obviously this is not the case for ALL MMOs. Remember the Matrix Online?,,,,,

So as a tribute to the MMO world, here is the first episode of one of my favourite web shows. 'The Guild,' written by and starring Felica Day. If you like the first episode, click here for the show's YouTube channel.

Japan: Where you can dress up as a gaming character. (And it's normal)

2009-09-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

Gamers love Japan. The Tokyo Game Show is proof enough.

The show is a almighty celebration of geekdom, a Mecca for those of you people out there who are not content with controlling your favourite gaming characters; you want to look like them as well.

Whilst doing my usual rounds around one of favourite games sites, 1UP, I found a gallery of Cosplay participants at TGS, dressed to the nines in representations of characters from Solid Snake to Final Fantasy, the Japanese repertoire for gaming was covered extensively.

The Cookie Jar nominates the fellow who created the Solid Snake costume (see above) as the winner, mainly because he was one of the only characters that wasn't a semi-naked girl dressed as a JRPG character.

You can see the whole gallery here. Some of the costumes are good, some are simply hilarious.

Ever taken part in cos-play yourself or have friends who have? Send your photos to cjgameblog@gmail.com

PSP Go and the Beauty of Un-boxing.

2009-09-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

How many of you out there LOVE the moment when you sit down to open your new piece of hardware?

...I'm guessing most of you.

I know I'm a sucker for this kind of thing and it's something that was brought back to me upon seeing a clip of journalists from Gamespot UK un-boxing the new PSP Go

It's a little bizarre when we sit back and watch other people opening hardware packages for the first time, as most of us would be baffled at the fixation and excitement exhibited by the 'un-boxees,' but it's a different story when we're doing it ourselves. The aspect of ownership and pride is almost overpowering. It's fascinating how this simple act can excite even the most eloquent, nonchalant gamers. I can certainly say it has happened to me plenty of times!

Now...the PSP Go.

I think this lovely little piece of hardware will probably occupy my writing world for a long time to come.

The controversy surrounding the lack of UMD for the handheld, and the new, (often easy to break) flip-up screen is impossible to ignore. As a result, I think it's safe to say that at the moment, the PSP Go should not be seen as a replacement to Sony's latest PSP version, but simply a style change.

Who knows, maybe we could be seeing the PSP 4000 in the time to come.

Here's hoping.

Happy Birthday Dreamcast!

2009-09-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

Happy belated birthday to the Dreamcast!
Forgot to say it so a quick post. Hard luck to people out there who were hoping for the 'Dreamcast 2 Secret Launch.' HA!

I'm guessing you guys look a bit like this:

Never mind. DON'T GIVE UP HOPE.

(Off the record....give up hope.)

Journalists VS Developers.

2009-09-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

After watching coverage of this year's PAX event I've heard a lot of talk on countless panels about the continuing conflict between developers of games and the journalists that review them.

The main complaint from the development side is that when a developer spends hours and hours away from his family working late into the night to build a game that pleases publishers and the executives they report to, only to then post-release, be hounded by a journalist (who probably got a free copy of the game) with questions like 'would it have really been so hard to put the items window in the centre of the screen?' or remarks like 'the UI of this title was so lazily designed it is almost unplayable.' The 'would it have really been so hard to..' question is SO common.

The answer to many questions of this nature is, yes. It is hard.

Developers have to please their boss who has to please their boss who has to say 'hmm no we can't do that for this reason or this other financial reason.' It's the idea that journalists are making superficial remarks without considering the real efforts of the developer.

Obviously this is only one side of the coin. As a games writer myself, I can associate with writers who feel that in order to keep the reader engaged, they have to sometimes be entertaining, which unfortunately may require them to be a little mean about someone's hard work.

Anyway, down to the reason I ended up getting myself involved in this sticky issue:

The lovely folks who are responsible for the GeekBox podcast have posted a couple of videos of a panel of journalists speaking at PAX about their experiences within the industry having worked as both writers (for press) and as developers. It's very insightful and I'm happy to say quite humourous too.

You can get to the page hosting the video by clicking here. It is in three parts. I recommend the second for the most relevant discussion.

Let me know what you think, and if anyone wants to write a response, I will post the best one on the Cookie Jar. Peace :)

The Wii is more reliable than Xbox. What a suprise!

2009-09-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

So a warranty issuer has conducted a survey and managed to conclude that the Wii is the most reliable console on the market at the moment. The sad news is that the report that was published serves to highlight the horribly upsetting failure rate of the Xbox 360. This is most probably due to my love for the console, which I am still playing despite two cases of RROD. (I love how this sounds like a disease now!)

Will this be damaging to Microsoft? I don't think so.

Here's the thing. For any gamers who have actually taken the time to read this report, it doesn't appear damning enough detract from the attention this console receives, and with the highly anticipated Halo: ODST making it's way into our lives, it will take a lot more than a set of statistics to cull the next generation of Xbox fanboys.

Maybe Microsoft should worry about other matters, like disguising the horrible idea of no longer bundling component cables with systems under a hyped price drop.

The beginning of a beautiful relationship....with games.

2009-08-31T11:47:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the beginning of the sacrificing on my normal life.

Since recently joining the UK Team on games website BeefJack.com, I have finally begun to spend my days writing about the games we love to play. (Or a lot of the time, the ones we love to hate)

I want this blog to be somewhere I can interact with my fellow gamers. Get involved people. Seriously. If you want to say something about a game, say it. If you want to start a community event, we'll start it. I'm really interested in starting a podcast, I want to have a gamer of the week, I want to hear about your experiences and then publish them here.

The idea of community within the gaming world, is a very important one. For those of you who took the time to come here (thanks) I have no doubt that at least once in your lives you expressed how you feel about your gaming experience via a forum, in chat rooms, comments on a games site, or even on a blog of your own.

I'm looking forward to writing about games here and on BeefJack, and can't wait to hear what you as gamers have to say.

So get in touch, talk to me gamers! And know that you are always welcome at the cookie jar.

Much love and happy button-bashing,

Nick. (MY COOOKIES)