document.write('\x3cmeta http-equiv=\x22x-dns-prefetch-control\x22 content=\x22off\x22/\x3e\x3col class=\x22tumblr_posts\x22\x3e\x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_photo_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3cimg src=\x22http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lshgxe11by1qzn7vbo1_400.png\x22 alt=\x22\x22 class=\x22tumblr_photo\x22/\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_link_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3ca href=\x22http://feeds.delicious.com/v2/rss/chronliar?count=15\x22 class=\x22tumblr_link\x22 \x3e404 Not Found\x3c/a\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_link_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3ca href=\x22http://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\x22 class=\x22tumblr_link\x22 \x3eGameBizBlog: Will Wright: More Than the Sum of his PR\x3c/a\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_link_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3ca href=\x22http://www.gamebizblog.com/gamebizblog/2009/04/david-perry-technology-will-prevail.html\x22 class=\x22tumblr_link\x22 \x3eGameBizBlog: David Perry: Technology Will Prevail\x3c/a\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_photo_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3cimg src=\x22http://25.media.tumblr.com/4w4Aa7cAom4zcq5zmlaoutbbo1_400.jpg\x22 alt=\x22Nothing says Happy Easter like decapitation.\x22 class=\x22tumblr_photo\x22/\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_caption\x22\x3e\x0a                        \x3cp\x3e\x3ca href=\x22http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/04/lamb-entations.html\x22\x3eNothing says Happy Easter like decapitation.\x3c/a\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a                    \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_link_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3ca href=\x22http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3976/unlocking_achievements_rewarding_.php\x22 class=\x22tumblr_link\x22 \x3eGamasutra - Features - Unlocking Achievements: Rewarding Skill With Player Incentives\x3c/a\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_quote_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_quote\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cspan class=\x22tumblr_open_quote\x22\x3e\x26#147;\x3c/span\x3eHere comes an awkward metaphor: Mirror\u2019s 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\u2019s visibly uncomfortable in this assumed role. If only it would cast off this sham and reveal its true colours \u2013 well, then we\u2019d have a game proud of itself. Mirror\u2019s Edge is a racing game, but it doesn\u2019t 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: \u201cI AM A RACING GAME!\x3cspan class=\x22tumblr_close_quote\x22\x3e\x26#148;\x3c/span\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_source\x22\x3e\x0a                        Alec Meer at Rock, Paper, Shotgun. He has perhaps one of the best takes I\x26#8217;ve read on \x3ci\x3eMirror\x26#8217;s Edge\x3c/i\x3e, although I disagree with his conclusion.\x0a                    \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_quote_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_quote\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cspan class=\x22tumblr_open_quote\x22\x3e\x26#147;\x3c/span\x3eSpell Check recommends replacing the word \x26#8216;videogame\x26#8217; with \x26#8216;vomit.\x26#8217;\x3cspan class=\x22tumblr_close_quote\x22\x3e\x26#148;\x3c/span\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_source\x22\x3e\x0a                        And we wonder why videogames still have trouble swimming in the mainstream.\x0a                    \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_video_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_video\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3ciframe width=\x22400\x22 height=\x22299\x22 src=\x22http://www.youtube.com/embed/eNiFQa1JGh4?wmode=transparent\x26autohide=1\x26egm=0\x26hd=1\x26iv_load_policy=3\x26modestbranding=1\x26rel=0\x26showinfo=0\x26showsearch=0\x22 frameborder=\x220\x22 allowfullscreen\x3e\x3c/iframe\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_caption\x22\x3e\x0a                        \x3cp\x3eI usually don\x26#8217;t watch TV. I did however JUST see this ad for GameFly. It\x26#8217;s sort of atrocious. But I give the company props for its use of videogame iconography. (Also of note, since July 2008\x26#160;GF has reduced its entry price from $8.95 to $6.95).\x3c/p\x3e\x0a                    \x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a        \x0a            \x3cli class=\x22tumblr_post tumblr_text_post\x22\x3e\x0a                \x0a                    \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_title\x22\x3eBoom Blox, for Ages 60 and Up\x3c/div\x3e\x0a                \x0a                \x0a                \x3cdiv class=\x22tumblr_body\x22\x3e\x0a                    \x3cp\x3e\x3ci\x3eBoom Blox\x3c/i\x3e was an unexpected Christmas miracle. It brought the whole family together\x26#8212;as its members fought for control of one of the household\x26#8217;s two remotes.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eAs seen on TV, guided demos and on paper, \x3ci\x3eBoom Blox\x3c/i\x3e 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? \x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eMost would choose not to. The game sold a mere \x3ca href=\x22http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/boom-blox-a-bust-at-retail-sells-only-60k-units/\x22\x3e60,000 copies\x3c/a\x3e at its debut (although anecdotally it performed well in the long tail). \x3ci\x3eBlox\x3c/i\x3e was a victim of marketing: How do you convey this game to the masses via cheesy video? You can\x26#8217;t. Because you have to play \x3ci\x3eBoom Blox\x3c/i\x3e to grasp its appeal, the game is easily dismissed.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3e\x3cimg src=\x22http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/chronliar/boom.jpg\x22/\x3e\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eI dismissed it. I only gave it a second glance because Steven Spielberg was attached to the project.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eAnd because my parents got a Wii for Christmas.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eThey don\x26#8217;t \x3ci\x3ereally\x3c/i\x3e play games. In fact, they did their best to run a videogame-free household. Beyond one parental unit\x26#8217;s obsession with \x3ci\x3eGoldeneye\x3c/i\x3e and \x3ci\x3eCivilization\x3c/i\x3e, and the other\x26#8217;s obsession with electronic \x3ci\x3eBridge\x3c/i\x3e, they abstain. So I raided my library for games that might get them hooked on their new system:\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3e\x3ci\x3eMario Galaxy\x3c/i\x3e: No\x3cbr/\x3e\x3ci\x3eWii Sports\x3c/i\x3e: Yes\x3cbr/\x3e\x3ci\x3eRaving Rabbids TV Party:\x3c/i\x3e: No\x3cbr/\x3e\x3ci\x3eTiger Woods All-Play:\x3c/i\x3e No\x3cbr/\x3e\x3ci\x3eBoom Blox\x3c/i\x3e: A resounding yes.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eIt was amazing. My brother, bored, tossed \x3ci\x3eBoom Blox\x3c/i\x3e in the Wii. Within minutes, my father was practically leaping from his seat to snatch the controller away. My mom was content to observe\x26#8212;at first. Soon she was offering unsolicited advice\x26#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. \x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eThe kids relinquished the controls and sat back to watch the pair bicker as they attempted to solve the game\x26#8217;s puzzles.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eWhen 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\x26#8212;they\x26#8217;d be awake long past the hour the kids had retreated to their rooms, laughter and cursing ringing throughout the home.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eWord is they still play it. You might even call it love.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eSo why isn\x26#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 \x3ci\x3eTiger Woods\x3c/i\x3e is too complicated\x26#8212;despite the All-Play moniker. They don\x26#8217;t understand \x3ci\x3eRaving Rabbids\x3c/i\x3e. And a games like \x3ci\x3eWii Music\x3c/i\x3e and \x3ci\x3eZelda\x3c/i\x3e hold no appeal. \x3c/p\x3e\x0a\x0a\x3cp\x3eI don\x26#8217;t know what \x3ci\x3eBoom Blox\x26#8217;s\x3c/i\x3e secret is, but I\x26#8217;m glad that it has some legs. I do not the rents to give up gaming, but right now there\x26#8217;s nothing else to give.\x3c/p\x3e\x0a                \x3c/div\x3e\x0a            \x3c/li\x3e\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a\x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a        \x0a\x0a                        \x0a    \x0a\x3c/ol\x3e');