document.write('<ol class="tumblr_posts">\x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_link_post">\x0a                <a href="http://www.gamebizblog.com/gamebizblog/2009/04/the-visionary-behind-simcity-the-sims-and-spore-leaves-his-creations-behind-to-focus-on-other-areas-of-the-entertainment-wor.html" class="tumblr_link" >GameBizBlog: Will Wright: More Than the Sum of his PR</a>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_link_post">\x0a                <a href="http://www.gamebizblog.com/gamebizblog/2009/04/david-perry-technology-will-prevail.html" class="tumblr_link" >GameBizBlog: David Perry: Technology Will Prevail</a>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_photo_post">\x0a                <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4w4Aa7cAom4zcq5zmlaoutbbo1_400.jpg" alt="Nothing says Happy Easter like decapitation." class="tumblr_photo"/>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    <div class="tumblr_caption">\x0a                        <p><a href="http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/04/lamb-entations.html">Nothing says Happy Easter like decapitation.</a></p>\x0a                    </div>\x0a                \x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_link_post">\x0a                <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3976/unlocking_achievements_rewarding_.php" class="tumblr_link" >Gamasutra - Features - Unlocking Achievements: Rewarding Skill With Player Incentives</a>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_quote_post">\x0a                <div class="tumblr_quote">\x0a                    <span class="tumblr_open_quote">&#147;</span>Here comes an awkward metaphor: Mirror’s Edge (the delayed PC version of which was finally released last week) is hiding in the closet. Unsurprisingly, this only makes life difficult for it. For every moment it pretends to be an FPS, it feels wrong, and to any onlooker it’s visibly uncomfortable in this assumed role. If only it would cast off this sham and reveal its true colours – well, then we’d have a game proud of itself. Mirror’s Edge is a racing game, but it doesn’t have the courage to admit it. Be proud, ME. Tell the world what you are, cry it from those rooftops you spend so much time gallivanting across: “I AM A RACING GAME!<span class="tumblr_close_quote">&#148;</span>\x0a                </div>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    <div class="tumblr_source">\x0a                        Alec Meer at Rock, Paper, Shotgun. He has perhaps one of the best takes I&#8217;ve read on <i>Mirror&#8217;s Edge</i>, although I disagree with his conclusion.\x0a                    </div>\x0a                \x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_quote_post">\x0a                <div class="tumblr_quote">\x0a                    <span class="tumblr_open_quote">&#147;</span>Spell Check recommends replacing the word &#8216;videogame&#8217; with &#8216;vomit.&#8217;<span class="tumblr_close_quote">&#148;</span>\x0a                </div>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    <div class="tumblr_source">\x0a                        And we wonder why videogames still have trouble swimming in the mainstream.\x0a                    </div>\x0a                \x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_video_post">\x0a                <div class="tumblr_video">\x0a                    <object width="400" height="336"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNiFQa1JGh4&amp;rel=0&amp;egm=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNiFQa1JGh4&amp;rel=0&amp;egm=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="336" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object>\x0a                </div>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    <div class="tumblr_caption">\x0a                        <p>I usually don&#8217;t watch TV. I did however JUST see this ad for GameFly. It&#8217;s sort of atrocious. But I give the company props for its use of videogame iconography. (Also of note, since July 2008&#160;GF has reduced its entry price from $8.95 to $6.95).</p>\x0a                    </div>\x0a                \x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_text_post">\x0a                \x0a                    <div class="tumblr_title">Boom Blox, for Ages 60 and Up</div>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                <div class="tumblr_body">\x0a                    <p><i>Boom Blox</i> was an unexpected Christmas miracle. It brought the whole family together&#8212;as its members fought for control of one of the household&#8217;s two remotes.</p>\x0a\x0a<p>As seen on TV, guided demos and on paper, <i>Boom Blox</i> is a stupid idea. You could be cruising around Liberty City shacking up with ladies of the night or slinking past giant mechs as a geriatric soldier of fortune. Why would a game player waste her precious hours smashing up virtual Jenga towers? </p>\x0a\x0a<p>Most would choose not to. The game sold a mere <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/boom-blox-a-bust-at-retail-sells-only-60k-units/">60,000 copies</a> at its debut (although anecdotally it performed well in the long tail). <i>Blox</i> was a victim of marketing: How do you convey this game to the masses via cheesy video? You can&#8217;t. Because you have to play <i>Boom Blox</i> to grasp its appeal, the game is easily dismissed.</p>\x0a\x0a<p><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/chronliar/boom.jpg"/></p>\x0a\x0a<p>I dismissed it. I only gave it a second glance because Steven Spielberg was attached to the project.</p>\x0a\x0a<p>And because my parents got a Wii for Christmas.</p>\x0a\x0a<p>They don&#8217;t <i>really</i> play games. In fact, they did their best to run a videogame-free household. Beyond one parental unit&#8217;s obsession with <i>Goldeneye</i> and <i>Civilization</i>, and the other&#8217;s obsession with electronic <i>Bridge</i>, they abstain. So I raided my library for games that might get them hooked on their new system:</p>\x0a\x0a<p><i>Mario Galaxy</i>: No<br/><i>Wii Sports</i>: Yes<br/><i>Raving Rabbids TV Party:</i>: No<br/><i>Tiger Woods All-Play:</i> No<br/><i>Boom Blox</i>: A resounding yes.</p>\x0a\x0a<p>It was amazing. My brother, bored, tossed <i>Boom Blox</i> in the Wii. Within minutes, my father was practically leaping from his seat to snatch the controller away. My mom was content to observe&#8212;at first. Soon she was offering unsolicited advice&#8212;commanding he pluck a particular block from the tower or blow up a certain bomb. Soon she too could no longer stand couch-side quarterbacking. </p>\x0a\x0a<p>The kids relinquished the controls and sat back to watch the pair bicker as they attempted to solve the game&#8217;s puzzles.</p>\x0a\x0a<p>When they found out they could play against each other, it was practically all they did for two days. Then they discovered they could instead work together&#8212;they&#8217;d be awake long past the hour the kids had retreated to their rooms, laughter and cursing ringing throughout the home.</p>\x0a\x0a<p>Word is they still play it. You might even call it love.</p>\x0a\x0a<p>So why isn&#8217;t there more software aimed at older players? Much of the drivel rolled out onto the Wii may be age agnostic, but that makes it neither accessible nor appealing to my parents. They both golf, but <i>Tiger Woods</i> is too complicated&#8212;despite the All-Play moniker. They don&#8217;t understand <i>Raving Rabbids</i>. And a games like <i>Wii Music</i> and <i>Zelda</i> hold no appeal. </p>\x0a\x0a<p>I don&#8217;t know what <i>Boom Blox&#8217;s</i> secret is, but I&#8217;m glad that it has some legs. I do not the rents to give up gaming, but right now there&#8217;s nothing else to give.</p>\x0a                </div>\x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_text_post">\x0a                \x0a                    <div class="tumblr_title">Not Dead, Yet</div>\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                <div class="tumblr_body">\x0a                    <p>Time was taken to sort the business. I&#8217;m back but am unsure what sort of unscheduled programming will run in the New Year.</p>\x0a                </div>\x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            <li class="tumblr_post tumblr_text_post">\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                <div class="tumblr_body">\x0a                    <p>It is still up for debate whether the videogame industry is recession proof. It turns out writing about the games industry is not.</p>\x0a                </div>\x0a            </li>\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a</ol>');