5 Wii games for the hardcore gaming crowd

It's no secret that Nintendo maintains a family friendly image.  The level of marketing to the parents of young children feels like the brunt of Nintendo's marketing budget. With the lack of Pandora's Tower and Fatal Frame 4 in the US, it's very easy to dismiss Nintendo as yet another greedy corporation who only cares about where they can make the most money.  Even so, Nintendo still pays attention to their core audience in some form or another.  Whether you believe it or not, the Wii has several games that cater to the interests of the hardcore gamer.  Here's 5 of them that you should be interested in:

Silent Hill Downour's Latest Trailer

Konami released another trailer for the upcoming Silent Hill: Downpour.  Let's just say that I am disappoint.

Really? Korn in my Silent Hill?  I like Korn as much as the next guy, but this is a bit ridiculous.  There's a reason why Akira Yamaoka left Konami for Grasshopper Manufacture.  S*** like this is why.

Retail Surveys are job security!

In the current economy, almost every retailer out there has an online survey on the receipt asking for your feedback about your shopping experience.  Not many people realize how much an employee's job depends on customers filling out those surveys.

Collector's Edition Goodies: We don't want any more crap!

One thing that has always bugged me about video game collector's editions is the glut of useless crap that they tack on, and the hype that gets attached to it.  Most of the bonus goodies are poorly made, fall apart easily, and we're told that "limited" quantities were made to attempt to bolster the inherent value.  Thankfully, not every publisher falls into this trap, and I'd like to see the industry learn from their example.

Review: Mortal Kombat (2011)

Rating: M for Mature

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3

Genre: Fighting

Game Reviewed on: Xbox 360

I have many fond memories of playing Mortal Kombat in the local arcade. It was over the top, gratuitously violent, and adults hated it. Of course, a game as violent as Mortal Kombat will always draw the ire of politicians and advocacy groups. That and the downward spiral of Midway Games forced the MK series to withdraw from the spotlight. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I love the new MK so very much.

Scrooge Alert: Power Gig for $30

Guitar Hero and Rock Band may have gotten us hooked on music gaming, but finding replacement instruments these days is really tough.  GameStop is currently running an in-store special right now on Power Gig: The Rise of the Six String for Xbox 360 and PS3.  Game & guitar for $30, full band kit with guitar, air drums, and mic for $40.  All of the instruments are compatible with Rock Band and, for the most part, Guitar Hero games as well.  If you're on the lookout for cheap replacement instruments, hit up the local GameStop.

Sex, Guns, and Rock 'n Roll: A Double Standard

Contrary to popular opinion, I actually dabble in topics beyond gaming.  One thing I've noticed over the years is that as new media and technology comes to the forefront of human culture, there will always be someone out there trying to squash it.  It's been this way for centuries, and I don't see it changing any time soon.    What does this have to do with gaming?  Plenty.

Duct Tape DDR...Wait, what?

Back when I was in college, I made a modification to one of my DDR dance pads.  The top side was starting to rip, and I figured I'd go for the whole enchilada and give the entire dance pad a makeover.  This little duct tape mod took me about 3 hours to complete, and looked great when it was done.  That dance pad has since bit the dust, but I kept the pictures and reference notes I took, just in case.  Well, now is the time to resurrect this bad boy and pass along what I learned.

Review: Shadows of the Damned

Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3

Reviewed on: Xbox 360

Rating: M

Price: $59.99

Release date: June 21, 2011

I have to commend Electronic Arts for financing such a gamble. They have a notorious track record for killing small development studios. The top talent usually gets carted off to another project and the remainders get gutted for whatever cash EA can find. That's the nature of the beast, I guess. New games based on an original concept rarely see big publisher backing the way Grasshopper Manufacture did. Goichi Suda, better known by his fans as Suda51, has a knack for making "arty" games that fascinate, but not necessarily sell well. However, he makes games that combine fantastic narrative, immersive aesthetic, and memorable characters. Shadows of the Damned is no exception. Suda51 wasn't alone in this venture, either. Accompanying him is Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series of horror games. If that wasn't enough star power, the audio was directed by Akira Yamaoka, composer for the Silent Hill soundtracks. This is top tier talent, and all three have years of game development experience following them wherever they go. Believe me, it shows.

Face Lift!

I'm making some major changes to this blog. Namely, I'm removing the $9.99 and under description, discussing gaming topics beyond simply video gaming, and I'm going to make more posts in general. I'll talk about issues pertinent to the gaming industry, alternate game formats, and other similar topics. I'll also bring my girlfriend in as a "guinea pig" of sorts, for additional feedback and testing.

All in all, I think you'll like the new changes. Especially since I've been away for so long.