Playing the Rape Card: ‘Media Psychiatrist’ Ratchets Up Anti-Videogame Rhetoric
Pundits and legislators have been attacking the gaming industry for decades now, pinning the blame for tragic events like the shootings at Columbine and Virginia Tech on violent videogames. This week, self-described “media psychiatrist” Carole Lieberman took that war of words one step further, claiming explicit games trigger rapes.
Read the rest at Wired.com

The Men Who Stare At Protoss
Ever try watching ants? It’s not that fun. All they do is crawl around, trying to hunt for food or whatever, just living their ant lives until they get stomped, eaten, or otherwise slain in some unceremonious fashion. Sounds boring, right?

That is, until you watch them with commentary.
Read the rest at Eurogamer

Playing Final Fantasy 6 For The First Time: A Newbie Goes Retro
It’s difficult for experienced gamers to gauge the quality of classic games. When we play old favorites like Super Mario Bros. 3 or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, we’re often so blinded by nostalgia that it’s hard to look at them with cold, hard objectivity. Instincts guide our fingers through every jump, every sword swing. Memories permeate specific moments, plunging us back to our elementary school days. We don’t just see Link riding Epona – we see Link riding Epona during the freezing winter of 1998, when the definition of bliss was a Nintendo 64 controller and a mug of hot chocolate. Our judgment is blurred.
Read the rest at G4TV.com

How a Blind Gamer Plays Zelda by Ear
When Terry Garrett plays Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, he pays close attention to the videogame’s sounds.

The beep of a blinking bomb, the desperate cry of a friend in need, the pounding of a Mudokon’s hammer: They all provide crucial details that enable Garrett to get through the game’s punishing levels. When he needs orientation, Garrett listens carefully for “sound landmarks” like running water or footsteps shifting from grass to earth. And as he works his way through the side-scrolling puzzler’s world of weird creatures, Garrett pieces the noises together and sees the game’s levels laid out in his mind.

Proper listening is essential for Garrett to enjoy the game — after all, he is blind.
Read the rest at Wired.com

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