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Totally fresh comments, never canned. . . catch up on all of the community happenings here.
Other Site Blogs
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Reviews Blog
Gears of War: Judgment review-in-progress update
The launch of Gears of War: Judgment is nigh upon us, and though our written and video reviews aren't ready just yet, the review...
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Producer's Note
GameSpot Versus: Beat the Pros Edition Winter 2012 MVP's
GameSpot Versus Beat the Pros Edition is a way for GameSpot members to test their skills against super star pro gamers. From FPS to...
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Rumor Control
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 arriving Nov. 13?
Source: A supposed Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 box art photo posted to the unofficial Modern Warfare 3 Twitter account. What we...
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Downloads Blog
Interested in a challenging yet fun indie turn-based strategy game?
You wake up in an unknown facility, in a medical gown and nothing else. The cold sense of reality sets in; you don't know your...
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Field Trip: Industry Community News Is Back!
Guess what? We're bringing back the game industry community news, but it's gonna be much more expanded with its own news piece in the Spam Filter each week. Don't worry, though. If you miss out, Synthia will put a link to it in Friday's wrap-up.
We plan to call this little weekly news update the "field trip." So, let's go on a field trip to see what Capcom, Sega, Blizzard, Activision, and EA are doing in their communities this week!
Capcom knows just how important sipping your favorite hot drink is, so it has a set of Resident Evil mugs up for grabs. Head on over to leave a comment about RE Code Veronica X and win!
Sega, on the other hand, likes to keep things limited! Nintendo Wii owners will want to make sure they pick up R-Type, because the game is being removed from the Virtual Console store on September 30.
As we take a tour over to Blizzard, the company has announced that the Foo Fighters will close out BlizzCon this year. Tickets are sold out, but virtual attendees can find out how they can get a BlizzCon virtual ticket.
But wait, it looks like Activision has given TurtleBeach the rights to have Modern Warfare 3 in our ears! Check out what OneOfSwords.com has to say about the Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition 9mm Earphones.
Lastly, EA has made its fans quite happy this week with the Battlefield 3 open beta available across multiple platforms! Drop by the official site to get in on the action.
That's all I've got for this week! Have a great weekend.
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Reader Reviews: Not So Final Fantasy
TOP 100
These reviewers have proven their fantastic writing quality time and again, and because of this, they are holders of the Top 100 Reviewers Emblem.
Ms. 'Splosion Man By: AK_the_Twilight
8.0 - Great
Ms. 'Splosion Man will 'splode into your heart in an instant, but only after tearing apart your thumbs first.
Burnout Crash! By: c_rake
8.0 - Great
Burnout: Crash is a rip-roaring, long-overdue return to what Burnout does best: crashing cars.
Age of Mythology By: Gelugon_baat
9.0 - Superb
Age of Mythology looks like yet another exploitation of mythology but turns out to be figurative manna from the gods.
Rotastic By: JustPlainLucas
5.5 - Mediocre
Rotastic is barely so-sotastic.
Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly By: Tikicobra
1.5 - Abysmal
An absolute broken mess of a game in every way, Enter the Dragonfly fails to do anything it attempts properly.
TOP 500
These fabulous writers of note and GameSpot members have the Top 500 emblem.
Supremacy MMA By: bowlingotter
4.5 - Poor
Should've been the NFL Blitz to the UFC. Instead, it's a confused and buggy brawler short on content.
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition By: Cloud_765
8.5 - Great
3D Edition pulls off Street Fighter like no handheld could.
Bayonetta By: gamefreak197
10 - Prime
Over-the-top, crazy, shameless, brutal, and awesome; just a few words to describe Bayonetta.
Shadows of the Damned By: Mangaminx
8.5 - Great
Hola Amigos!!! It's time to blast some demon butt with your big, fully loaded Johnson!
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom By: ZanarkandTidus
8.5 - Great
If you like great fighting games and have an appreciation for Tatsunoko productions, this game is for you.
Platform Battle: Who Played It Better?
This week, we look at Catherine on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Which do you think is the better play?
Catherine By: AltoShadow13
9.0 - Superb
A unique game with an excellent story that covers the concepts of relationships in a rather unique way
VERSUS
Catherine By: sora_heart
9.0 - Superb
Catherine is an experience like no other: The game is so immersive and fresh, it's hard to not to recommend to people…
HONORABLE MENTIONS
These GameSpot members do not yet have an emblem for their fantastic writing, but in time, perhaps they too will join the ranks. What do you think?
Valkyria Chronicles II By: Uesugi-dono
9.5 - Superb
Once again, Gallia is free.
Shadows of the Damned By: Mangaminx
8.5 - Great
Hola Amigos!!! It's time to blast some demon butt with your big, fully loaded Johnson!
Pikmin By: Wensea10
9.5 - Superb
Great single-player and multiplayer modes
Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force By: AQWBlaZer91
4.0 - Poor
Voyager's problems results from technical issues, graphical faults, and any lack of any sufficient multiplayer.
Bayonetta By: gamefreak197
10 - Prime
Over-the-top, crazy, shameless, brutal, and awesome; just a few words to describe Bayonetta.
"Most Popular"
These are current games that are labeled as most popular and "out now" for September 28.
1. FIFA Soccer 12 (X360) By: PseudoElite
9.5 - Superb
I'm going to write this review quickly because I want to get back to playing FIFA 12 ASAP.
2. Gears of War 3 (X360) By: Magnaxilorius
9.5 - Superb
Easily the best game on the Xbox 360.
3. Street Cleaning Simulator (PC) By: Xaiano
1.0 - Abysmal
This game made my eyes bleed!
4. Dead Island (X360) By: Tinkertown
8.0 - Great
Despite the major graphical glitches and lack of polish on this game, there's just something about it!
5. Final Fantasy XIV Online (PC) By: AtariOno
6.5 - Fair
FFXIV missed the mark by a long shot, but after its rough start, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
6. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PS3) By: mahan-k
9.0 - Superb
An amazing and thought-provoking masterpiece that shall not be missed.
7. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (PC) By: Megotaku77
7.5 - Good
A review of a game that takes gaming backward 10 years. A truly squandered opportunity.
8. X-Men: Destiny (X360) By: nBaJaM4
8.0 - Great
The latest X-Men beat-'em-up review.
9. Driver: San Francisco (PC) By: footballracer
1.0 - Abysmal
Easy taking, deficiency, and foolishness of Edmondson brothers make this game an end for the Driver franchise.
10. FIFA Soccer 12 (PS3) By: danno1no1
9.5 - Superb
An honest review of this year's installment!
Don't Forget!
If you have an amazing review to share with the GameSpot community, be sure to share it with Synthia and you might just get featured! And be sure to tune in today at 4:00 p.m. PT for On the Spot!
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GameFlicks: Superdome
Now playing this week at the GameSpot Spotlight YouTube channel!
The Games
Eurogamer Expo - Little Big Planet Vita
GameSpotter Lim_ak went to the Eurogamer Expo and shares with some awesome experiences
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
aliessa93 Porsche Carrera GT gameplay
Vs Battles Ep1: Ashley Williams Vs Kaidan
SW92VsBattles is having the first Vs. battle; you decide who wins
Mortal Kombat 9-Ermac Combo 53%-Midscreen-1 Meter
A combo video for Mortal Kombat 9's Ermac
Batten Down The Hatches - Act IV - Chapter 4/5
rossmahon2 shares some Gears of War gameplay
Battle Field Early Release Beta
Video response by Trophypredator09:
It's a BF3 beta for PS3 and gameplay
PSN is tnakng2009; message me for new video on BF3; thanks for watching
Dungeon Fighter Online
GameSpotter psycho_chan13 (aka psychoman125) Dungeon Fighter Online Combat and 100 subscribers to his channel
Final Fantasy Event 03/08/10
Video response by SuaveLlaveBlog:
Went to the Final Fantasy 13 Experience Event in the Regency Center in San Francisco; Played FF13, met some of the voice actors, Spike TV's GT TV host Geoff Keighley, AOTS's Chris Hardwick; it was a fun little gathering
FPS In Real Life
MrDinocks shared this video with our GameSpot YouTube Channel:
What would it be like if life was a shooting game? Like this, of course! Three combatants (Dinocks, Terrorbird, and ToxicSam) are pitted against each other in a forest in Britain; Who will emerge victorious?
Walkthroughs
Gears of War 3: Good Game
WARNING: This video contains adult gamers using adult language.
By: Youtube Member sgtCOLDCUTS
===============
I've been trying to improve my game. I'm starting to get better. I got a better feel for the maps now and weapons. I still have a lot to learn and improve but I'm getting there. Any tips will help post a comment, and thanks for watchingReviews
Dante's Inferno Review and Gameplay HD by Assman123
Critics say this is just like God of War, but there are things in it that makes it original and a clone. Many aspects of the God of War are seen in this game in a higher, and some lower, degree, which EA took too seriously.Funny
Fruit Assassins
A video shared from ADLProductionsTV:
Justin and Fetsch become asses...I mean assassins. Basically, they are killing melons. No melons were harmed. Well, technically they were harmed. Never mind.Music
Gears of war 3 remix
WARNING: This video is rated M for Mature! ==========
Voltraxer1 shares a remix for Gears of War 3
Spotlight Classics
Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Review
GameSpotter charlie_killer aka Catmangamer shares a review of the epic-rated game Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Angry Birds Walkthough Part 1
GameSpotter usatheman2001 shows off some Angry Birds skills in this walkthrough. His review of the game was "just plain fun," giving it a score of 10. League of Legends
League of Legends Gameplay. L.A Noire Review
Bioshockraptor gives us his take on L.A Noire. To check out more of his videos, go to his YouTube channel: youtube.com/biofuze gamespot.com/users/bioshockraptor -
Blog Bunker: Pixel Flavored
Breaking News!
Chris Needs to Get PWNED!
Join us tomorrow at our Community Game night.
We will be starting at 4:00 pm PT and will be joined by the fabulous Jody Robinson, as well as Sophia Tong, Carolyn Petit, Ryan MacDonald, Justin Calvert, and, of course, your very own Chris Watters. In addition to the 100 percent club, Chris has a challenge for you. He is the holder of the viral achievement for executing an Epic Staff Member. If you can manage to execute Chris you get the "cheevo." Check out our Community Game Night page for more details.Soap Box
-Some More Things on Indie Games By: Gelugon_baat
- Downloadable Content: The Common Day Witch Hunt By: pokecharm
-The Science of Sonic Part two By: Hyrule4EVER
Top 100
-So long, Summer….. By: Asagea_888
-I went to the Eurogamer Expo! By: AzelKosMos
-The Whistleblower - Film Review By: biggest_loser
-Drive review By: calvinsora
-Human Pursuits By: gbrading
Top 500
-Gaming Sorbet By: adam1808
-Gamer's Avalanche! By: NColdhardt
-Art Design, Detail, and Graphics, that is what I want. By: parkurtommo
-Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One Beta Impressions By: bbkkristian
-My first gaming PC and gaming background By: seanmcloughlinHonorable Mentions
-Across the Terrain By: Hirasugi
-NTSB releases address on baleful activity access By: guomonong
-Badass Shooter Month- Frag to Brag! By: NeonNinja
-Do You Remember Love?,Macross Plus,Deadman Wonderland. By: ZanarkandTidus
-Operation Rainfall, Or Let's Crap On Nintendo For Once By: Rottenwood
Lastly, it's important to remember the Game Spot Moderation Survey, where the fate of GameSpot rests in your hands. Click here for more details.
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GameSpot Moderation Survey
"If you don't create change, change will create you."
"The key to success is often the ability to adapt."
"Change is the only constant."All of these things are often true. Times change, and it is important to learn to adjust to those changes. GameSpot knows that there are things that you (our fantastic community) would like to see happen. Important change. Change that NEEDS to happen. And if this relationship is going to work, we are going to have to start talking about those big digital elephants in the room. So here we are, asking you to take this survey and let us know what you think about how our moderation policy currently affects you as a poster and, more importantly, as a GameSpot member.
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Weekly Wrap-Up: Autumnal Equinox
Announcements
Battlefield 3 Early Deployment Beta Tournament
That's right, I said Battlefield 3 beta tournament! For those lucky people who live in the fabulous California Bay Area, we are inviting you to join us for this event. We will be dividing people into four 12-vs.-12 groups as they battle it out in Rush mode. To sign up, head over to our events page here. Not in the Bay Area? We will be streaming the tournament live from right outside the GameSpot offices, giving you a chance to see the action and maybe get your hands on a few beta keys.GDC 2011 in Austin, Texas
Yee-haw! We hope you are all excited for GDC 2011 located in the heart of Texas. Yep, Austin is an amazing city, and we are excited to see what GDC has in store for us this year. What do you guys want to see? Be sure to check out our Events and Attractions board and let us know!Gears of War 3 100% Club
Gears of War is having a contest, challenging you GameSpotters to unlock Gears of War 3 achievements for a chance to win some pretty amazing prizes. What are they, you might wonder? How about a gold retro lancer and a custom limited-edition Gears of War 3 Xbox 360? Check out this page for more details. Looks like Garrison_Ford and dab198 are rocking pretty hard!Member Spotlight
This week's Member Spotlight shines on XenoLair for his fabulous entry in the My JRPG Tokyo Game Show activity titled "Andromeda Chronicles."
Union of the Week
This week we are featuring the Battlefield Union. It's one of the newer unions to be featured in the Union of the Week awards, but a great one nonetheless. They have a great and growing community of Battlefield enthusiasts, and many of them are excited about Monday's beta tournament at our offices in San Francisco.
Tip of the Week
Did you know that when you post questions about specific games that your friends who are following can answer them? When you see a friend in need of some gaming guru guidance, simply click on "Lend a Hand," and it will take you directly to your friend's question. Pretty cool, huh?
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Reader Reviews: Press Start to Play
Top 100
These reviewers have proved time and again their fantastic writing quality, and because of this they are holders of the Top 100 Reviewers Emblem.
God of War: Chains of Olympus: stephenage
8.5 - Great
Though it doesn't stand up to its console brethren, Chains of Olympus does a great job of bringing Kratos to the PSP.
Portal 2: PSFreak1
9.5 - Superb
Portal 2 is a rare, delicious burst of creativity, originality, humor, and fun.
Bulletstorm: nutcrackr
8.5 - Great
Fun shooter that gives you beautiful environments with a satisfying skill-shot system.
Fallout 3: LOLhahaDEAD
9.0 - Superb
Fallout 3 is an outstanding reboot to a time-honored series.
Renegade Ops: JustPlainLucas
8.5 - Great
Renegade Ops is a blast, be it blowing stuff up or getting yourself blown up.
No One Lives Forever 2: Gelugon_baat
9.5 - Superb
The use of LithTech 3 and game play improvements makes A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way a better game than its predecessor.
Europa Universalis III Chronicle: DraugenCP
8.5 - great
As accessible as golf, as addicting as a browser game, and as deep as a flight simulator.
Plants vs. Zombies: AzelKosMos
7.5 - Good
Flower Power.
Top 500
Fabulous writers of note, these GameSpot Members have the Top 500 emblem.
Robotech: The Macross Saga: ZanarkandTidus
3.0 - Bad
I love Robotech but I hate this game.
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division: NeonNinja
8.5 - Great
Fans of giant robots, shooters, anime or all of the above are in for a real treat with Shogo.
Dead Island: Mangaminx
9.0 - Superb
A vacation on the dead island of Banoi is a relentlessly violent, fantastically enjoyable open-world RPG experience.
Dead Island: bowlingotter
7.0 - Good
The PC version is somewhere between a masterful adventure and a sloppy mess.
Metro 2033: Bamul
10 - Prime
Metro is an unforgettable experience with a fantastic story, masterful atmosphere and spectacular, top-notch graphics.
Bulletstorm: Azghouls
8.0 - Great
If you are a fan of no-nonsense, come-get-some brutality this is your smorgasbord. There's plenty to go around.
Dead Rising 2: akhorahill
8.5 - Great
Test your survival skills and creativity against a zombie outbreak in a Casino.
Platform Battle: Who Played It Better?
This week we look at Batman: Arkham Asylum on the Xbox 360 and PC. Which do you think is the better play?
Batman: Arkham Asylum: turtlethetaffer
8.5 - Great
A fun action game that is also one of the best super hero games ever.
===VERSUS===
Batman: Arkham Asylum: BIOJECT
9.5 - Superb
Perfect Batman game even if you don't like Batman.Honorable Mentions
These GameSpot members do not yet have an emblem for their fantastic writing, but in time perhaps they too will join the ranks. What do you think?
God of War Collection: adam1808
9.0 - superb
Two of the greatest action games ever made are re-mastered in HD in all their bloody glory. Go. Buy.
Gears of War 3: xGlenn11x
10 - Prime
Never has a series come together full-circle and as completely all-around as Gears of War 3.
Portal: benleslie5
9.0 - Superb
You'd be amazed how awesome Portal is, just a shame that it's a very short game indeed.
Gears of War 2 GOTY: pokecharm
9.0 - Superb
Sequel Surpasses Original in Grand Style
Halo: Reach: ShadowMoses900
9.0 - Superb
Bungie says farewell to their famous flagship series, but man do they go out with a BANG
Top Ten
Games that are trending as "Most Popular" for September 22.
1.Gears of War 3: vengefulwilberg
10 - Prime
Gears of War is the only reason why you should own an Xbox 360. And GOW 3 proves why I made such a bold statement.
2.Burnout Crash! (X360): 7.0
No Reader Review.
3.Dead Island: MrAlWhite
8.5 - Great
An in-depth look at Dead Island.
4.Dead Island : AvatarBlue
7.0 - Good
What a shame….
5.NHL 12: LDMASTER14
9.0 - Superb
NHL 12 similar but better then NHL 11!
6.Deus Ex: Human Revolution: DarthLefein
8.5 - Great
Prequel to one of the greatest PC games of all time (Deus Ex)
7.TrackMania 2 Canyon: swiftsilk
9.0 - Superb
High Octaine - Addictive - Fun
8.Burnout Crash! (PS3): 7.0
No Reader Review.
9. Dead Island: Venom_Raptor
9.0 - Superb
Dead Island's grisly first-person melee combat lets you bludgeon and dismember your way through a zombie-infested island
10. Deus Ex: Human Revolution: BIOJECT
6.5 - Fair
A linear FPS with an okay story, but lacking gameplay depth and actual choices.
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Tickets for GDC Online in Austin, Texas
Did you vote in the Game Developers Choice Online Awards this year? Voting has ended, but that won't prevent you from getting a chance to attend the GDC Online and the awards show in Austin, Texas, in the coming weeks! We've got a limited time code for you to use to get a ticket that gets you in on both days, and the awards ceremony. All you have to do is be one of the first 25 people to send us a PM letting us know that you'll be in the Austin vicinity from October 10 to 13.
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Blog Bunker: Happy Punch Day!
Tokyo Game Show 2011
We had some fabulous entries for the "Create your own JRPG" activity as well as a few for "TGS Experience and Impressions." You can read all 30 of these fantastic blogs here.
Soap Club
-Potential That never was--the Tragedies of Cancelled Games: Asagea_888
-Takin' it up the ol Digital Portal: Uesugi-dono
-The Complexity of Modern Games: best_Alchemist
-Rant: It's as if They WANT Apple to Succeed (Handheld Gaming), CiM Video: jwallace
World of Games and Gaming
-Assault on Battery: AK_the_Twilight
-The Return of the RPG??: bleigh316
-The Forces are Dark, and I am a Jedi Knight: starduke
-A Portal 2 Blog: PSFreak1
-Skyward Expectations: PSFreak1
-Blast from the past: nutcrackr
-You Got Sloppy, Payne, Ya Screwed Up: Goyoshi12
-Portal 1 is free again; Link Blog: Aberinkulas
-Sex and Violence: adam1808
-Japanese import only anime games I'd like to get: nintendoboy16
-Netflix changes name, offers games: yeah_write
-Let's look at some underappreciated games: turtlethetafferOff the Radar
-I played a really fun board game over the weekend
-Days of Heaven Film Review
Staff Fingerprints
-Driver: San Francisco - The Battle Within: carolynmichelle
Punch Day Activity!
In honor of Punch Day, we want you to jot down your favorite fighter combo! Just make sure you also list which game it is from, and you will receive a profile power-up!
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Tokyo Game Show Activity Blogs
TGS Experience and Impressions
-TGS 2011- Thats cool…: Giratina98
-TGS 2011: canand
- The TGS Games I'm Most Hyped For (Part 1 - 3DS): phoenixgaiangelJRPGs
- Allicrombie's JRPG
-JustPlainLucas: JRPG The Trails of Aclasia
- ZanarkandTidus' JRPG: Wo De Ai
- Darthkaiser JRPG Regnum Dei
- syam32245340 JRPG
- ZEYAAM898 JRPG
- My JRPG - Billy Bobs Revenge
- addictedgamer10 JRPG
- Yagr_Zero JRPG
- music_guru JRPG - Sky Pirates RPG!
- Super-Poke-Bros JRPG
- Hey_Jay JRPG: A GRAVE NONE TOO SOON
- SQUALL20XX JRPG: The Dark Revenge
- Sidburn19 JRPG - 'The Unwritten Book of your Soul'
- MariusCojo JRPG
- Just-Adam JRPG: The Emperor's Trek
- Soulreavercross JRPG: Crown of Twilight
- Burner101 JRPG
- maniamsmart JRPG: Destination Fantasy
- Dan_Lero JRPG
- poochythegenius JRPG -- King of Dreams
- AbuSharkas8 JRPG
- Nerissa JRPG is called Midnight Memories
- Dakotacs JRPG
- LiquidVenom JRPG
- My JRPG, Paths of Glory
--DaNuTz- JRPG
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Battlefield 3 Event: Early Deployment
BREAKING NEWS: September 19, 12:44 p.m.
For those diehard fans of Battlefield 3, we have some exciting news!
GameSpot will be hosting a 48-player tournament at our downtown San Francisco office on Monday, September 26, and we want you to join us. We are reaching out to players and fans to check out our action live on the site. Our tournament play will begin at 5:30 p.m., and we hope to see many of your there. If you plan on making the trip to San Francisco, please visit the event page here get your ticket!
We now return you to our regularly scheduled Daily Report.
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Daily Report: Talk Like a Pirate Day!
It be Monday and ye know what that be meaning. It be time for yet another Daily Report! This week we be talkin' about Battlefield 3 Tournaments, All-Time Greatest First Mates, and our Community Game Night, staring Chris WatteRRRRRRRs!
Announcements
Battlefield 3 Tournament Event!
On Monday, September 26, GameSpot will be hosting a Battlefield 3 event code-named "Early Deployment" at our office in sunny San Francisco, California! If you're a part of the Bay Area, we encourage you to check out this awesome event here. Not in the area? Don't fret! We will, of course, be streaming the event, so you can still be a part of the excitement.All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick
Today, we enter the final three stages of this year's All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick event. With the Elite Eight, many of our favorites fought hard and are still hanging in there.
Be sure to vote for your favorite eight, as the Final Four stage will take place on Wednesday, September 21, with the final battle on Friday, September 23.Community Game Night
This week, we are having a community game night dedicated to Resistance 3 for the PlayStation 3. We'll be kicking things off at 5:00 p.m. PT with Chris Watters leading the charge into this altered 1950's universe. Grab your guns; it's going to be a grand old time! Check out our game night page for more details.Activity
Talk Like a Pirate Activity!
Arr, what with it being Talk Like a Pirate Day, I be wantin' to hear yer best pirate-themed jokes! Post 'em in the comments below and ye may be receiven' a special booty from the community chest! -
Weekly Report: TGS Style
It's time for your Friday wrap-up. Let's take a quick look at the things that happened earlier this week and jump into some new announcements. Then, we'll feature the member spotlight and union of the week!
The Recap
We started off with the Monday Report as usual, talking about our All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick event, as well as our Tokyo Game Show activities and our Mario Kart Community Game Night MVP! Next up, we showcased 17 videos from our GameSpot Spotlight channel. And, finally, on Thursday, we showcased 32 user reviews, as well as introduced a new feature titled "Platform Battle," a System Wars-inspired segment.
Announcements
Tokyo Game Show Is Here!
We've already seen a lot of cool coverage from the Tokyo Game Show this year, but there is still plenty to watch over the weekend. We have Street Fighter X Tekken, Ninja Gaiden III, Final Fantasy XIII-2, and an awesome photo gallery just to name a few.
All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick
Round three voting has begun, and we are now in our Sweet 16 phase of our All-Time Greatest event. Be sure to check on who has made it to this stage of the game. Who made it to the final 16? There are certainly a few surprises, but many favorites are still holding strong. Head over to the page to make your vote!
PAX Prime Nerd Shirt Show-Off Winner!
It was a really close call, and we almost had a tie. Legolas_Katarn and Devil_Spooky were running neck and neck, but in the end it was Devil_Spooky who won, making him the PAX Prime Nerd Shirt Show-Off Winner! If only a certain GameSpotter had voted sooner. Congrats Devil_Spooky; we will be contacting you shortly!Activities
With awesome events come equally awesome activities, and we have some neat ones. But if what we have planned isn't your thing, then we do have some classic ideas in mind. Many of these activities promise emblems and prizes, so be sure to check out the following:
TGS Toy Story: Scavenger Hunt
GameSpotters are on a quest for the cover art to many of these exclusive toys from the TGS show floor.
TGS Signature Roll Call
We have a classic activity for GameSpot events: Change your signature to a TGS-inspired one, sound off in the roll call, and get a power boost to your profile level!
Tokyo Game Show: JRPG Creator Blog Activity
Have you always wanted to create your own JRPG? Well, head on over to check out the details for this activity and, perhaps, an emblem.
TGS Puzzler Activity
GameSpot staff members have been turned into anime characters. Follow the clues, assemble the puzzle, and earn a nifty emblem!
Tokyo Game Show 2011 Experience and Impressions Blog Activity
Wow, that's a mouthful. Let us know about your experiences. For details on this activity, click here.
TGS JRPG Cosplay Contest!
Sprit gum, check. Face makeup, check. Awesome costume, check. Giant sword, check! Looks like you're just about ready for this activity. Head on over for the details. Did I mention emblems and awesome prizes?
Member Spotlight
This week's spotlight shines on Sidburn19 for his amazing contribution to our Community Game Night--an awesome blog about his game night experience And if that weren't enough, we have a nifty video of what happened for those who missed out So three big cheers for this week's member spotlight! He totally deserves it!
Union of the week
This week's featured union is the "animecafe," which is a union that focuses on quality anime, important news about anime, and anime reviews. It also recently concluded its Anime Cafe Awards for 2011. I had the pleasure of speaking with union leader Gr33nHippo about the union.
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Reader Reviews: Press Start to Play
Top 100
The few, the proud… Here we see the cream of the crop, GameSpot members who have the Top 100 Reviewers Emblem.
Unreal II: The Awakening: Gelugon_baat
7.5 -Good
"Unreal II has some great moments and weapons, but there is little else to put it above its predecessors."
Yar's Revenge: Domstercool
5.0 - Mediocre
"If only more was done to help Yar move into 2011…"
de Blob 2: c_rake
6.5 - Fair
"Though it's a short-lived endeavor, de Blob 2 brings a healthy dose of lighthearted platforming to the DS."
Dead Rising 2: AzelKosMos
8.0 - Great
"Addictive, often funny with tons to do and see."
BloodRayne: Betrayal : asian_pride69
8.0 - Great
"This stylish 2D action platformer is brutal, but satisfying combat and solid controls make it a fun experience."
Star Fox 64 3D: Asagea_888
8.0 - Great
"A solid, no-frills update of the Nintendo 64 classic that's just as fun and engaging as it was fourteen years ago."
Deus Ex: stephenage
8.0 - Great
"Though it provides a great experience overall, Deus Ex has too many objective flaws to warrant a proper recommendation."
Super Meat Boy: Pierst179
9.0 - Superb
"A game good enough to die for…. over 1000 times."
Top 500
Here we see GameSpot members who are proud owners of the Top 500 Reviewers Emblem.
Star Fox 64 3D: GeekyDad
6.5 - Fair
"History Will Remember Star Fox 64 More Kindly Than the Present."
Fruit Ninja Kinect: Garrison_Ford
6.0 - Fair
"If you want to be a fruit slaughtering assassin, purchase the much cheaper mobile version and not this rip-off."
Super Metroid: gamefreak197
10 - Prime
"Take out anything frustrating from the first two Metroid titles, enhance the depth, and you instantly get Super Metroid."
Obscure : Cunhao
5.5 - Mediocre
"Really a disappointment to see ideas being wasted like that. Usually, cut and paste don't work well in games."
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror: Cloud_765
7.5 - Good
"A fun platformer killed by a design choice that can put off some players."
Valkyria Chronicles II ZanarkandTidus
9.0 - Superb
"Has deep strategy, nice presentation, charming characters story that's emotional at times. Great strategy/RPG."
Hitman: Blood Money TechnologoDoom
8.5 - Great
"The environments steal the show in the sandboxy stealth-action game, and the open-ended gameplay shines on replay."
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron NeonNinja
9.0 - Superb
"El Shaddai is one of the most surreal games ever created."
Metro 2033 Mangaminx
8.0 - Great
"In Post-Apocalyptic Russia, Rat Eat You…"
Platform Battle: Who Played It Better?
This week we look at Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters on the PS2 and PSP. Who played it better? You decide!
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PS2) : bleigh316
7.0 - Good
"A solid adventure."
=== VERSUS===
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP) Genesis_123
7.0 - Good
"This portable addition to the series is very well done."Honorable Mentions
While these GameSpot members do not yet have an emblem for their writing talents, we felt their reviews deserved to be featured!
Avadon- The Black Fortress : kozzy1234
8.0 - Great
"A fun throwback to old school rpgs, give it a try!"
Final Fantasy XIII : TheBatFreak777
9.0 - Superb
"Despite its linearity, FF13 has beautiful environments, an intelligent battle system, and a fulfilling new story line."
James Bond 007- Blood Stone : Metamania
7.0 - Good
"James Bond is a spy that can say or do the right things in any situation. In Bloodstone, that's sometimes not the case.""Top Ten"
Games that are currently trending as "Top Rated" for September 15.
Dead Island (x360) : Alizerothree
7.0 - Good
"Satisfying combat and exploration marred by tons of bugs."
Hard Reset : PeterDuck
7.0 - Good
"Quality over quantity, I guess."
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC) : maffaxxx
7.5 - Good
"Halfway metal gear and mass effect 1, lacks something in gameplay and in finishing touches to be a real blockbuster."
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PS3) : andreperezpalha
8.5 - Great
"The absence of choice."
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (X360) : JokerPRO10
9.5 - Superb
"Definitely a Game I will recommend to RPG fans, great package including Excellent Story."
Dead Island (PS3) : lazerboi
7.5 - Good
"Will this zombie game live up to the hype?"
Dead Island (PC) : downwithpeace
6.5 - Fair
"That's a good boy, fetch the quest item."
Resistance 3 (PS3) : Shacks210
10 - Prime
"Resistance 3 is by far the best in the series and one of the best shooters this year."
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine : Kakaroti4
8.5 - Great
"The Warhammer 40k universe has been honored!"
NHL 12 : DoomDahDoomDoom
8.0 - Great
"Basically the same game as NHL11. Still all the same bugs. Oh, but they've added goalie fights?"There you have it, this week's awesome reviews. Didn't see your name up there but wrote something that you feel deserved to be featured? Make sure you send a PM to GS-Community or to Synthia to help let us know how awesome you really are!
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GameFlicks: Betamax Plus!
Now playing this week at the GameSpot Spotlight YouTube channel!
The Games
-Game Night By: Sidburn19
Here we see our most recent GameSpot Community Game Night where we all decided to get together and throw shells at one another into the wee hours of the night. Check out the fun!
- Monotonous Gears of War Match - Gameplay Commentary By: charlie_killer
Catmangamer takes us back in time for some Gears of War gameplay in honor of GOW3's upcoming release date.
-"I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT": Completed By: THECaptainPlanetHD
Here we have gameplay to I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT, a neat little indie game available on the X360.
- Spawn Points - Domination Nuketown By: 1978pickett
Dominating players from his high vantage point in Nuketown.
- Counter Strike 1.6 - TRIBUTE By: GND796
A tribute to Counter-Strike 1.6.
- Persona 4: The Golden for Playstation Vita By: Shadow-Elite
A quick update on info about Persona 4: The Golden for the PlayStation Vita.
- Mortal Kombat 9-Reptile Combo By: angelbless45
Mortal Kombat 9--let's check out some Reptile.
Walkthroughs
- How To Make Glowing Text Effect On GIMP By: maniamsmart
How to make the glowing text effect on GIMP.Reviews
- Cave Story…. so far By nintendoboy16
A short video on the PC freeware version of Cave Story. To sum things up, "It's a pretty good game."Funny
-Let's Play - Minecraft…. BLOW S*** UP!!
WARNING: This video features adult gamers using adult language.
What happens when you gather a few friends, a custom world in Minecraft, and a s***load of TNT? Let's find out.
- Fruit Ninja Kinect By: 1HGPG
A video in response to our review of Fruit Ninja for the Kinect. In this video he seeks to prove that you can in fact use everyday items to slice fruit.Music
- Isolation By: meconate
The latest dubstep mix by awesome GameSpot talent.Behind the Spot
- GameSpot on Xenoblade
GameSpot editors Chris and Carolyn talk about Xenoblade.
- You've Been Spotted Episode 4
We talk about All-Time Greatest Game Sidekicks, Sound Byte: Meet the Composer of Resistance 3, Dead Island, last week's BlazBlue winner, and a new Poke-themed contest!Spotlight Classics
- InsertCoins in Las Vegas
StutteringCraig shares his thoughts about this hip new 21-plus club. He offers an inside look at the grand opening of Insert Coins, a video game lounge bar in Las Vegas.
- Cat Boss - FINAL FIGHT!
GameSpotter Mufujifi takes on the dreaded "cat boss" as it returns once again to terrorize one adventurer. Will she prevail?
- Red Dead Redemption User Review
Today's SpotLight focuses on Lydia Ellery and her review of Red Dead Redemption. -
Daily Report: Video Games Day!
Did you know that September 12 is National Video Games Day? Celebrate today by playing video games in mass quantities. Better yet, grab a few friends and hold a competition. Just make sure you have enough batteries. We wouldn't want to blame the controller now would we?
The Recap
In last Friday's Weekly Wrap-Up, we featured 27 blogs and showed off 15 awesome videos and 32 user reviews. We talked about You've Been Spotted Episode 4, and we announced that the PAX Nerd Shirt Show-Off voting was happening. Be sure to check this link here for the full report.
Announcements
All-Time Greatest Sidekick
Voting in Round 2 for this year's All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick begins later today. Make sure you head over to the battle hub and take part in Round 2 for the All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick. Also make sure that you grab a nifty image kit to spread the love for your All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick.Tokyo Game Show Activities Galore!
This year for TGS we have a few things in store for the community, including a few scavenger hunts, a cosplay contest, and a JRPG blog activity. And what would an event like this be without emblems and prizes! Want to know more? Then be sure to check in to our Events and Attractions forum as details are unveiled.Mario Kart Wii Community Game Night MVP!
Well, much fun and merriment was had by all who joined. We had a pretty successful turnout. While many GameSpotters showed off some awesome karting skills, the MVP for this Community game night goes to the nearly undisputed champion, angelbless, though there were a few members who gave him a run for his money. Also, we would like to give a shout out to a very special GameSpotter known as Sidburn19 for his amazing efforts in helping the Community team get the game night up and running in a timely fashion. So congrats to the both of you! Enjoy your profile points, and we hope to see you at our next game night! -
Weekly Wrap-Up: TGS Is Almost Here!
It's time for your Friday wrap-up. Let's recap stuff that happened earlier this week and jump into some newer announcements, and then we'll feature the member spotlight and union of the week!
The Recap
We started off with the Monday report, but that actually happened on Tuesday due to the US holiday. But it did give you a chance to be prepared for a busy week in GameSpot's community! Then, from Tuesday through Thursday we featured 74 of your creative contributions. Let's do some math, shall we? On Tuesday we featured 27 blogs, plus Wednesday's 15 user videos, plus Thursday's 32 user reviews, which totals 74! That should give you something to read and watch this weekend.
Announcements
All-Time Greatest Gaming Sidekick
Brackets have been formed, and the voting has finally begun! Don't forget to grab an image kit to help spread the love for your All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick. While the image kit contest is over, you can still create some images for campaigning.You've Been Spotted Episode 4
In this week's You've Been Spotted, we talk about All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick, Sound Byte: Meet the Composer of Resistance 3, Dead Island, last week's BlazBlue winner, and a new Poke-themed contest! You can watch this week's episode by heading over to our GameSpot Spotlight Channel.Mario Kart Wii Community Game Night
It's a Mario Game Night! After all the shooters and Mining and Crafting, we thought it was about time to pay our respects to one of the kings of games. Yep, you guessed it. That lovable plumber Mario! We’ll be kicking off our game night at 5:00 p.m. PST tonight (Friday) and will be opening the chat room at 4:45 p.m. PST to swap friend codes and maybe even get in a few practice rounds. For more information, head on over to the Community Game Night forums page.Tokyo Game Show
TGS is almost here! Last year we saw some interesting things, but this year is sure to beat it! The Community team has been hard at work brainstorming some awesome and interesting activities for TGS this year. Be sure to check the Events and Attractions Board for more updates!PAX Nerd Shirt Show-Off - Vote Now!
During PAX Prime, we asked you to show off the best nerd shirt in an attempt at some awesome PAX schwag as well as a few new T's to add to your collection. We've finally collected the entries and have created a video montage. Head on over to this page here, and vote for your favorite shirt by entering the time stamp in the comments below. Good luck, and may the best shirt win!Member Spotlight
This week's Member Spotlight shines on Pokecharm for her honesty and thought-provoking blogs about GameSpot as displayed in Tuesday's Blog Bunker.
Union of the Week
This week's featured union is the Legend of Nintendo Union for its awesome contributions. They often share reviews on games for all things Nintendo, having interviews on their favorite Nintendo titles and holding activities. So three cheers for Legend of Nintendo! -
Reader Reviews: Game On!
Reader Reviews: Game On!
It's Thursday, which means it's time for another helping of fresh Reader Reviews! This week we highlight the talents of many of our Top 100 and Top 500 writers, as well as some honorable mentions and, as a cherry on top, reviews for those oh-so-popular games that are out now!
Top 100
From Dust: nutcrackr
8.0 - Great
"Charming strategy game where you use powers to battle natural disasters."
Enslaved - Odyssey to the West: PSFreak1
8.0 - Great
"The excellent storytelling, great acting and fantastic pacing elevate it above the ranks of your average adventure game."
Super Mario Galaxy 2: AK_the_Twilight
10 - Prime
"Nintendo has taken years of inventive platformer progression and made what could only be the Wii's defining moment."
Fable III: Cube_of_MooN
5.5 - Mediocre
"Fable 3, while an enchanting game, has too many problems to recommend as a full-priced title."
Uncharted 2 - Among Thieves: c_rake
8.5 - Great
"Vastly improving on its predecessor, Uncharted 2 delivers a rapturous good time, both online and off."
Impossible Creatures: Gelugon_baat
7.0 - Good
"This game had potential with its bizarre theme and titular gameplay, but it did not make much use of its uniqueness."
Sonic and the Secret Rings: JustPlainLucas
3.0 - Bad
"Some secrets are best kept to themselves."
Top 500
Donkey Kong: GeekyDad
8.5 - Great
"A Must-Buy Virtual Console Title."
Metroid - Zero Mission: gamefreak197
9.5 - Superb
"While it lasts, Metroid: Zero Mission is a superb update of a classic game."
Dead Space 2: Cunhao
9.0 - Superb
"Waking up into a new nightmare."
Serious Sam - Double D: bowlingotter
9.0 - Superb
"At a bargain, Serious Sam Double D reminds us that sometimes, all you need is lots of guns and lots of enemies."
Call of Duty 2: Bamul
8.0 - Great
"It almost feels like a remake of the first game, yet in truth, it's still an impressive sequel with plenty to offer!"
Mass Effect: Azghouls
9.5 - Superb
"Shepard, you are one of a kind."
Amnesia - The Dark Descent: akhorahill
8.0 - Great
"Amnesia is a terrifying game when you're progressing through the story but it's somewhat held back by its puzzles."
Bleach: Soul Resurreccion: TristanH12
8.0 - Great
"A fantastic first entry for the Bleach franchise on the PS3!"
Deus Ex: Human Revolution: TechnologoDoom
9.0 - Superb
"A worthy sequel, Human Revolution's world is immersive. More beautiful than technically good, it succeeds on spirit."
Honorable Mentions
Final Fantasy Fables - Chocobo's Dungeon: benleslie5
7.5 - Good
"It may be a Family-Friendly game and it's also a fan-service game for it's Final Fantasy fans."
Tales of Vesperia: AQWBlaZer91
9.0 - Superb
"The enhanced Battle mechanics and excellent pacing make Vesperia the finest and impressive tale in the series yet."
Crysis 2: xGlenn11x
9.0 - Superb
"EA crafts a successful sequel in Crysis 2, and has developed one of the more intense shooters on the market."
Fallout: New Vegas: CyberLips
9.0 - superb
"A great RPG that is guaranteed to have you playing for hours!"
Crysis 2: MaxFolten
9.0 - Superb
"Crysis 2 :D by (Max Folten)."
Picross 3D: Super-Poke-Bros
9.0 - Superb
"Picross 3D has clever, innovative, and overall excellent gameplay, but it also has some unappealing visuals."
Most Popular - Out Now
Dead Island: Coolinbny1
9.0 - Superb
"The trailer sparked off an incredible amount of hype, but does the game deliver?"
Dead Island: Lauryn2000
8.5 - Great
"Can't wait for AMC's Walking Dead?"
Dead Island: Shelledfade1
7.5 - Good
"It has its fair share of flaws, but… damn. What can I say, I've been waiting for a game like this forever."
Deus Ex - Human Revolution: Mogzsnet
9.0 - Superb
"The third installment of the Deus Ex cyberpunk series breaks a lot of new ground while remaining true to it's roots."
Resistance 3: Gamebit357
9.0 - Superb
"Bigger and Badder, Resistance 3 made everything that we've all wanted on the series."
Deus Ex - Human Revolution: Kuraime
8.5 - Great
"A proper Deus Ex game. With some annoying little things."
Deus Ex - Human Revolution: ShimmerMan
9.0 - Superb
"Possibly the best SCI-FI Cyberpunk RPG created."
Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marine : kingliono
9.0 - Superb
"I am impressed by this great shooter."
Driver: San Francisco: Rynir
6.0 - Fair
"Not too bad, but not nearly good enough."
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine: kilo666
8.0 - Great
"Fun blood bath although a bit shallow."
There you have 'em! This week's awesome Reader Reviews! Didn't get mentioned? That's OK! If you write an awesome review, be sure to send a PM to Synthia with the name of the game you reviewed along with a link to the review, and it just might end up here next week. Happy reading!
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GameFlicks: Please Rewind
BREAKING NEWS - 11:30 a.m. PST
Our Community Game Night for Mario Kart Wii has been rescheduled for September 9 at 5:00 p.m.
For more details about this Game Night, check out this forum page here.
Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday! Today we bring you new and exciting videos from GameSpotters, as well as some classic videos from yester weeks.
The Games
-Hit and Run By: woutie
Some mischievous action here as this GameSpotter partakes in some hit-and-run action in GTAIV.
-Mortal Kombat 9-Rain Combo By: angelbless
Mortal Kombat action featuring an awesome Rain combo.
-Beating a Terrible Q Player By: irishdude1988
Someone has some pretty awesome skills as he takes on this helpless Q player and destroys him!
-Street Fighter 3 Online Edition By: Quaiser1997
This YouTube user shows off some Ryu vs. Ryu gameplay.
- Gatling Gears Gameplay By: acer0169
Here we see some gameplay from Gatling Gears thanks to this particular YouTube member.
- STO Multi-Vector PVP By: TornadoCSA5
Here we see some Star Trek Online multi-vector PVP.
- Persona 4: The Golden for Playstation Vita By: Shadow-Elite
We take a look at why this GameSpot member is so excited about Persona 4: The Golden for the Vita.
Walkthroughs
- Deus Ex I Balls Achievement By: DopInHD
Here we see how to get a secret achievement in Deus Ex.
Reviews
- Let's Talk About LA Noire - Spoilers By: SoapboxMarkD
L.A. Noire. Was it good? Was it bad? Well, this is what he had to say about it.
Music
- The Android Invasion By: xxlilb54
This GameSpot member shows us an AMV featuring clips from Dragon Ball Z.
-Eminem: The Real Slim Shady By: maniamsmart
This GameSpot member sings along to the melody of one of Eminem's hit songs.
Spotlight Classics
- How to Create a Human Cannon By: kerk12
How to create a human cannon in Minecraft.
-GAME BOY MUSIC (but not the kind you_re thinking of)
Awesome all-STOMP-style music using an old-school Game Boy.
- The Legend of Zelda: Cover By: Xtermin8r13
A polka-style cover of the Legend of Zelda theme. Enjoy.
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Blog Bunker: Fighting Procrastination Edition
Time again for some great blogs by the gamers of GameSpot!
BREAKING NEWS! 3:33pm PT
There is less than 24 hour remaining to campaign for you to participate in the All Time Greatest Sidekick Image Kit Contest! And while many Sidekicks clearly have the backs of GameSpotters there are some who have been shown no love at all! As a reminder, those who's submissions are chosen for the ATGGS Campaign will be awarded the Greatest Game Sidekick Pro-Gamer Emblem. But only those who's entries are selected will obtain it! The Sidekicks who still need a champion are: Athena, Dog, Globox, Issun, Morte, Minsc, Jan Ors, Johnson. There is still time to go and show your support for these supporting characters! But act fast, your chance to get this emblem ends at September 7th 10:00am PT
Soap Club
-Suggestions for Improvement for Gamespot: pokecharm
-When Developers Fight, Gamers Lose: The_Game21x
-Things I DON'T want to see from Nintendo in the next generation: cronomagus36
-Augmented Reality: Is Deus Ex Racist?: Hirasugi
-Modern Warfare 3 vs. Battlefield 3: A Pointless Battle: TwistedMetalFanGreatest Game Sidekicks
-My Official All-Time Greatest Sidekick Bracket: zwgiantsfan
-Gamespot's Sidekick Contest: Rottenwood
-Minecraft/Greatest Game Sidekicks: Tee-3
-My Greatest Game SideKick Blog: bbkkristian
-All-Time Greatest Game Sidekick - Final Four Character Profile: Garrison_Ford
World of Games and Gaming
-Mega-Blog-o-Rama: AlmightyMax
-Pokemon, Gotta Catch 'Em All!: AjaxNeron
-My favorite videogame soundtracks - first draft: jamesglover101
-How to Make a Great Gun: adam1808
-Uber short, temporary reviews: calvinsora
-Dear Square-Enix: **** you!: nocoolnamejim
-Top 20 DS Games: 6 to 10: Pierst179
-Xenoblade Chronicles: First Impressions: ShadowLaguna
-The Humans are Revolting Part 2: stephenage
-My top 10 favorite Trainers in the Pokemon series: Cloud_765
Platforms and More
-Complete List of NES Ambassador Games Revealed: GeekyDad
The Insider
-**Looking for a reviewer!!!**: Bioshockraptor
-How to get a union to be successful (for leaders, officers and recruits): michaelP4Off the Radar
-13 Assassins - Film Review: biggest_loser
-Book review: Halo - The Fall of Reach: AzghoulsStaff Fingerprints
-What You Leave Behind: RicardoT
Monday Report
Since Monday was a holiday here at the GameSpot office, the report did not go up at its standard time. However, we are still bringing you the news and goings-on for this week here.
