The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition Unboxing (I swear that's the title)

I have never been much of a PC gamer, as I've made clear in the past. More recently my experience with PCs, specifically laptop-based gaming, has been limited to demoing console releases via the OnLive streaming service. By no means a perfect replacement for either consoles or PCs, the service still offers a novel approach to this generation's gaming options. During one of my several timed demos with OnLive, I sampled a good 25-30 minutes of The Witcher. A surprise hit during its original release, The Witcher gathered a substantial following thanks to the craftsmanship of Polish developer CDProjekt; a unique blend of mature story and sophisticated combat mechanics.

A few years down the road a sequel was released, which enhanced the Witcher's tight combat/magic controls and added to the deep lore of the original. The resulting game was another very polished (Polish'ed?) release from a still relatively unknown Eastern European developer. With my total experience limited to a taste of what the series had to offer I knew I had two choices: buy a better laptop, or pray for a console release.

How many Polish developers does it take to ship a smash-hit RPG?

Prototype 2: Blackwatch Collector's Edition Unboxing

I haven't made this clear enough but Prototype on Xbox 360 is quite possibly one of my favorite games. Ignoring the plot that takes itself a little too seriously, the adventures of Alex Mercer running, gliding, and kicking helicopters make for a good time. I wouldn't call Prototype perfect, it's just fun. Imagine living the life of a superhero in a decaying New York City, without the responsibility or moral dilemma of helping citizens. Instead, you consume their life force to fuel your rampaging bloodbath. All to save the day.

Look at our hero in action.

Clearly deserving of a sequel, Prototype 2 finally released this week after three long years. Feeling compelled to purchase collector's editions I naturally scooped up the fancy pants Blackwatch Edition from Best Buy. Check out the pics after the jump.

PAX East 2012: Contest Winners!

Well, the weekend passed and I picked the two winners for the PAX East 2012 swag giveaway. Congratulations to you both, you lucky gamers will be receiving your prize packages shortly.

Thanks to everyone for commenting; it was great seeing all the excitement and support! This was an even better turnout than my last contest so you can definitely expect more giveaways in the future.

And just a reminder to the winners: I sent out the official notice on Saturday morning via email/PM. If you have not responded with your information please contact me asap.

My best regards to all who participated and keep on checking out the blog!

Game Plus+: Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction – Xbox

I remember playing a demo of the original Mercenaries for Xbox years ago in college. It came with another game or movie or something like that. I didn’t know anything about it at the time but I was aware of Pandemic’s work on Star Wars: Battlefront, one of the best games in the franchise. After completing the first mission I was hooked on the formula, and jumped right into the full game the day it was released. Eventually a sequel followed three years later, which was a mixed blessing depending on what one’s expectations were. Regardless, the series deliver unapologetic mayhem without taking its plot too seriously. While any future games are highly unlikely given the demise of Pandemic, I found myself replaying the first entry these past few weeks. And I gotta say this game was way more awesome than I remember.

CLOSED - PAX East 2012: Contest!

UPDATE: CONTEST CLOSED!

I'll be picking two winners shortly, stay tuned for a follow-up post.
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Alright folks, time for the good stuff. After countless hours walking the convention floor and seeing all the sights I've collected a hefty haul of swag. Naturally, since I have barely enough room for my games as it is the only fair thing to do is give away a bunch of free stuff.

Free stuff after the jump!

PAX East 2012: My Favorite Bits

I know PAX East is still new to Boston (3 years old) and it already feels like an entirely different show than the first expo in 2010. This year's event was phenomenal with tons of games to check out, including small and local indie titles unavailable anywhere else. I probably couldn't even remember half of what I saw and played if it wasn't for all the pics I took. So here there are, just a few of the best bits of PAX East 2012.

Easter Sunday. Not so busy on the outside...

PAX East 2012: Jet Set Radio!

Even though we usually plan out costumes months in advance, it always seems like my wife and I rely on the last two weeks to finish assembly. I guess there's something about the hurried insanity of way too many late nights that add a little touch of magic to the costumes. Oh well, some insomnia never hurt anyone, right? Onward to costumes at PAX East 2012!

 We're down there, I promise.

PAX East 2012: Most Promising Game

This past weekend was Penny Arcade's annual celebration of all things gaming. Between a Saturday filled with costumes and picture taking, and a Sunday of non-stop gaming and swag, I'm pretty damn tired. Over the next couple days I'll have some posts recapping the highlights of the weekend shenanigans. First up, a brief preview of a seriously exciting game coming out later this summer: Deadlight.