Tom Kosiec- Freelance Content Writer

Who would have thought a redneck character that looks like he spawned from the classic Texas cartoon King of the Hill could surprise me with his smart strategic spin on the racing/puzzle genre. Hill Bill, developed by Balloon 27 looks like a simple time waster, but its surprisingly deep gameplay, large amount of content, and a clever hybrid of Rainbow Unicorn Attack and Angry Birds style surprised me.

Hill Bill starts out by slowly teaching you increasingly harder daredevil tricks and then adds more challenging environmental obstructions to block your path. By the end you’ll be soaring over the Grand Canyon with gusto and achieved Bill’s dream of being the next Evel Knievel.

Being able to position Bill farther back for the perfect jump and scoping out the environment ahead to find the goal line adds strategy to the game and keep things from getting stale. Another point worth mentioning is the variety of cool set pieces found in Hill Bill. Going through flame rings at the circus, massacring birds in the air in the swamp, and doing huge leaps over the Grand Canyon kept the game interesting to me.

Most players will be able to finish Hill Bill with minimal use of the trick system, but if you want to get the best score on all 60 levels, you will have to master it. Also, while I’m not a fan of the southern redneck vibe the game emulates, the simple character design of the people are fun to look at and add to Hill Bill’s charm.

Although, the game is pleasing to look at, I struggled initially to get the grasp of the gameplay. I found it tricky to get the correct landing after hitting a jump and died dozens of time until I got it right. I figured out later that I needed to adjust how far back to place Bill and that proper positioning was key to avoiding wipeouts.

Some reminders of how to position Bill after a few failed attempts and an option to skip a level would have been helpful. Fortunately, the game does hit its stride in the fourth area where failed landings happen less often, and I greatly appreciated that I wasn’t punished for not doing the most advanced tricks.

Difficulty faults aside Hill Bill has a generous amount of content, and I felt the $1.99 price was worth the investment along with the promised downloadable levels on the way. New environments I’d like to see are an underwater or space level, some new gameplay modes like a crash mode similar to Burnout, and a more ambient soundtrack.

In conclusion, Hill Bill is a fun game and a good first effort from B27. I encourage you to try it out if you’re looking for something unique and different.

Final score B

If you think modern games have gotten too easy, and you’re ready to get your ass handed to you, then Metal Gear Rising Revengeance is the game for you. MGRR isn’t as accessible as the recently released DmC, but it’s another solid action game from Platinum and definitely worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre.

It’s also incredibly faithful to the Metal Gear Solid legacy, and successfully implement’s the series trademark stealth, wacky boss encounters, creative weapons, and over the top story. Best of all, if you haven’t played a MG game before you won’t be lost.

I like to think of MGRR as a polarizing game you’re either going to love it or hate it. Some parts of the game are exceptional while others need improvement.

For example, the game does a poor job of teaching you how to play. I didn’t even know I had health items, a dodge move, or that I could upgrade Raiden’s moves until I stumbled upon them by mistake. MGRR includes VR training missions and sometimes gives you tutorials to help you out, but often you’re expected just to figure things out on your own. It’s also odd that to access most of the training VR missions you need to find hidden computers to unlock them. A better idea would be to show them gradually like Deus Ex Human Revolution or have them all unlocked from the beginning.

The story is a bit disappointing too, and the final boss has to be seen to believe to comprehend the sheer ridiculous of it. The plot borrows from Raiden’s past wand has him rescuing children prisoners from suffering the same fate he did as a child when his code name was Jack the Ripper. Those expecting more revelations about MG’s backstory will be disappointed because MGRR doesn’t reference Solid Snake and Big Boss’s past and is instead an original story. On the plus side, this makes the game more welcoming to newcomers but you will appreciate the story more if you have played the older titles.

That said, the good far outweighs the bad, and once you get the hang of the combat the game is a joy to play and will give your hands quite the workout. You really do feel like a badass from the get-go instead of slowly becoming stronger like Metroid or other action games. The game can be frustrating, but once you figure out enemy attack patterns, you’ll get the hang of the controls in no time.

Combat is similar to most action games with Raiden utilizing two combat moves, a fast and strong attack. Raiden also has a dash button allowing you to circle around enemies and run away from attacks. As well as a sliding kick move and the ability to deflect bullets while running.

However, the most noteworthy gameplay mechanic is when you deal enough damage to enemies, and they start to grow blue allowing you to slice them up limb by limb.

It’s here where things get interesting. In Zandatsu, you have the opportunity to steal health from enemies by grabbing their blue energy or sometimes perform button prompt commands to deal massive damage. The special attack reminds me of Sega’s Shinobi for PlayStation 2 where you could do dramatic one hit kills to annihilate your enemies.

Enemies can be ruthless if you’re not on your guard. They will attack and sometimes leave you staggered and do their own super attacks. Often the best course of action is waiting for them to attack so you can counter with a well-placed parry move to do massive damage. You can tell whether enemies are vulnerable to parries by watching if they glow red before they attack

Still, often your greatest challenge is the horrendous camera that needs to be manually adjusted and can be a real pain in the heat of battle. It’s not game-breaking or as bad as Ninja Gaiden 2’s, but it’s something that definitely needs to be more polished.

Besides the standard lighting fast sword combat, you can use weapons like guns, grenades, and similar weapons from past MG games. Unfortunately, they aren’t as effective as your trusty sword against enemies, and I only used the rockets and chaff grenades periodically.

Stealth also plays a big role in MGRR, and I found it more effective in certain areas to take out enemies silently rather than attack them head-on relentlessly. Cameras look for you, and guards act suspicious when they catch a glimpse of you and the alarm phase plays just like it did past MG games. I also got a kick out of hiding from enemies in a cardboard box and silently sneaking upon them to perform a stealth kill.

Boss battles are intense and will leave you saying “holy shit did I just do that!”. Such as taking down giant MG Ray, running up buildings while dodging gunfire and explosions, and facing off against a certain secret nuclear weapon. Others will test your patience like Monsoon, a cyborg ninja who can separate his body into pieces to attack you and you’ll be in trouble if you’re low on health items.

I must have died a dozen times before I emerged victorious against some of these bosses, and I found that there are a short way and a long way to defeating them. For instance, bosses can be very frustrating if you attack head-on, but many drop healing items and have attack patterns you can exploit. Once you find the right rhythm of offensive and defensive actions to take against certain bosses the game stops feeling unfair.

One standout feature in MGSR is the vocal soundtrack which will give you an adrenaline rush in boss battles. Some of the songs are cheesy, but it’s still entertaining. I really enjoyed the music, and it helped ease the pain of dying against bosses dozens of times.

Many critics and players have complained about MGRR length(close to ten hours depending on what difficulty you play on), but I found it to be just right. There aren’t a lot of reasons to replay except for the challenge since you unlock all the stuff pretty earlier. The VR missions add some replayability, but I found them to be just okay.

In conclusion, MGRR is a solid action game for hardcore fans of the genre but for the mainstream gamer, it’s too frustrating and not as accessible or forgiving as DmC is. It’s still worth playing though, and the game ends with a possibility of a sequel.

Score: Four stars out of five

You’ll Love

+ The Awesome soundtrack

+ Fast action-packed combat

+ Clever gameplay nods to past Metal Gear Games

You’ll Hate

– Dying dozens of times against the boss Monsoon

– Having to research how to play the game on your own

– Barely seeing any story references to Solid Snake

It’s been almost five years since Devil May Cry 4, but Dante’s back and better than ever. Many people were skeptical of the new Dante when Ninja Theory officially unveiled the game back in 2010, myself included. However, those fears can be put to rest because DmC maintains the same stylish crazy action of its predecessors and improves the formula in numerous ways.

To start off, Dante is a much more likable character this time around and his over the top cockiness is still intact from past games. For example, when Dante is about to enter a nightclub a bouncer stops him and says “you’re not on the list.” Dante proceeds to knock the guy out, write “fuck you” on the list and say’s “now I am.” Although, Dante can be a dick most of the time, Ninja Theory has done an admirable job humanizing him. Look past Dante’s devilish exterior and you’ll see that he has a heart and is more interested in doing the right thing than seeking power.

It’s very evident with Dante interacts with the female lead Kat who helps him navigate the tricky world of Limbo where the ground shakes and disappears before your very eyes. You’ll also notice Dante’s reluctance to assist his brother Vergil in certain tasks and that the bond between them is starting to break.

The story feels like it could happen in a modern day setting and what a motion picture of DMC would be like. At times, it doesn’t feel like DMC, but Ninja Theory is still faithful to the source material.

While the plot was expected to be strong with Ninja Theory’s previous background with games like Heavenly Sword and Enslaved Odyssey to the West, the gameplay has received a welcome upgrade as well.

DmC is the rare action game that I can recommend to casual gamers because the combat system makes them feel empowered and is easy to grasp. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever played an action game that’s given me so much freedom to eviscerate enemies like DmC does.

In DmC, you can slices enemies with your sword, stun them with firework blast from a shotgun, pull them towards you, launch yourself at them to go in for the kill and more.

Switching between weapons is effortless because it happens seamlessly with a push of a button instead of having to go to a menu and do it manually. Another interesting thing about the combat is that some foes can only be hurt with certain weapons and you’ll have to make full use of your arsenal to survive. This time around guns are way more useful than they were in past DMC games. For example, use your shotgun to fend off enemies with Dante’s firework move or use the nightmare gun to plant a bomb on enemies to stun the momentarily.

Boss battles are also very surprising, and some are unlike anything you ever encountered in a DMC game before. The bosses are akin to God of War where the encounters are meant to be more memorable battles then repeat encounters with similar enemies. Some of the fights are too reliant on Dante’s grab/pull mechanic and drag on a bit, but overall their nicely done.

To complement the action, you will do a lot of platforming in this game. Thankfully, it’s pretty forgiving, and you won’t have to redo large sections if you miss a jump. As for puzzles, there aren’t very many, and the few included don’t overstay their welcome. Also, included are secret missions hidden around the main stages that test your speed and combat skills.

In terms of replay value, it may be disappointing for some to hear that DmC isn’t a terribly difficult game compared to previous entries in the franchise. I played on the nephillm(hard) mode and only died a handful of times. The lower difficulty didn’t bother me because I think DmC is a less frustrating experience than past games that got bogged down by annoying platforming sections and too many repeat boss fights. However, like past DMC games there are unlockable difficulties once you beat the game so you can further challenge your skills.

The Verdict

To wrap up, Ninja Theory has successfully rebooted Capcom’s DMC franchise and will no doubt attract newcomers with its accessible gameplay and exceptional presentation. While nothing here is revolutionary, DMC is a hell of a lot of fun to play and anyone looking for a solid action game to add to their collection could do much worse. Hopefully, Capcom will allow Ninja Theory to do a sequel or reboot another Capcom franchise like Resident Evil since they’ve proven to gamers and critics that they’re more than capable of doing a good job.

Score 9.0 Amazing

Dmc is a great reboot and a good starting point for those new to the franchise.

+ Phenomenal Presentation

+ Stylish Crazy Action Intact

+ Dante much more likable this time around

+ Creative Boss Battles

– A little too easy

Rather than writing a top ten list of last year’s best games, I made my own award categories. You won’t find the ordinary best multiplayer, soundtrack, graphics, and game of the year awards here. Instead, this article is meant to recognize the most memorable gaming experiences I had from last year. Now let the awards begin!

Most charming game -Journey

I couldn’t believe IGN named Journey their game of the year, but now that I’ve played it, I understand why it resonated so strongly with so many people. Everything from the gorgeous graphics to the amazing soundtrack and the way your character gracefully slides in the sand is emotionally gripping. Journey is unlike anything I’ve ever played and is something everyone even non- gamers should experience to remind us why we love this medium.

Best new style of gameplay- Gravity Rush

If I had to describe Gravity Rush in one word, I’d choose exhilarating. Using the game’s gravity controls to send the main character Kat soaring through the sky and catching her right before she falls face down on the floor is incredibly exciting. The story mode is pretty generic, but I never got tired of collecting hidden orbs around the city, walking upside down buildings or what other ways I could defy gravity. Here’s hoping Sony greenlights a sequel.

Game with the most WTF moments – Lolipop Chainsaw

Leave it to crazy game designer Suda 51 to create one of the stupidest, hilarious, and creative games I’ve ever played. You just can’t help but chuckle when slicing up zombies with a chainsaw while the song “Mickey” plays in the background. Also, what other game lets you shoot zombies down during a softball game, control a corpse with your dead boyfriend’s head, or has a boss that attacks you with swear words? LPC is overly repetitive and flawed, but it never stops being outrageously entertaining.

Most improved genre- fighting games

Mortal Kombat’s story mode raised the standards for what gamers expect from fighting games and now other titles like Dead or Alive 5 and Soul Calibur 5 story modes are following MK’s lead. While there’s still need for improvement in those game, it’s something I want to see continue. Having an actual plot to a fighting game gives players more motivation to play and gives other characters more time in the spotlight that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. It’s much more interesting than the standard arcade modes in most fighters, and it’s a chance for game developers to be more creative with their franchises.

Most happy game- Rayman Origins for PlayStation Vita

Rayman Origins is one of the freshest and fun platformers I’ve played in years not involving an Italian plumber. The cartoony graphics are gorgeous, and this game has a lot of depth to its gameplay along with some great replay value. I also love the silly character designs, like the chili pepper taking a bath in hot lava and gasping at the mouth when Rayman uses him as a stepping stone. Best of all is the phenomenal soundtrack with catching music that helps make RO a joy to play.

Best intro hook- Far Cry 3

I didn’t think I could play another shooter after Call of Duty Black Ops 2, 007 Legends, and Halo 4, but Far Cry 3 proved me wrong. What started as a pleasant vacation on a beautiful island turned into a desperate escape from terrorists for survival. After playing the intro, I was hooked and eager to rescue the main character’s friends and get even with my captive. FC3 has Grand Theft Auto’s open world design, Red Dead Redemption hunting style, and Skyrim’s leveling up system that all blend cohesively to form one of the most creative shooters on the market.

Most creative game- NintendoLand

Wii Sports didn’t impress me, and I was surprised when NintendoLand turned out to be more then just another forgettable mini game collection. While not all the mini-games are winners, NL makes full use of the GamePad and shows me the potential of the Wii U. All the games offer something different such as the Pikmin, Metroid, Zelda attractions that feel like full on games with multiple levels to conquer.

Multiplayer feels balanced in the Mario, Luigh, and Animal Crossing modes and F-Zero, Ninja Star, Ballon Fight, and Yoshi play like classic arcade Nintendo games where getting the highest score is your main objective. Like the DS Nintendo has crafted something incredibly unique compared to other system.

Best fresh take on aging franchise – Call of Duty Black Ops 2

I enjoy the single player campaigns in Call of Duty games, but they’re starting to get repetitive. Luckily, Treyarch decided to take some risks with Call of Duty Black Ops 2 instead of playing it safe, and the game is all the better for it. The alternating between past and present is exciting, and the fact that I can shape the storyline through my choices give the game a lot of replay value to me that most shooters don’t have.

Best reboot- Kid Icarus Uprising

The original Kid Icarus was a frustratingly hard game that I almost didn’t finish, but it had an interesting concept. With Kid Icarus Uprising, Nintendo has taken the best part of the original game, (the final flying level) and modernized the 2D platforming into 3D to create the best original game on the 3DS. Seriously, it will blow your mind how much content this game has.

Also, this game has the largest roster of boss characters I’ve seen in a Nintendo game along with a staggering amount of unlockable content similar to Super Smash Brothers. Add the best production values seen from the big N since Metroid Other M and you got a winner. Play it if you missed it the first time.

Game with the most kick ass presentation- Max Payne 3

The way Max Payne 3 seamlessly blends its gameplay, story, and audio is astounding. I watched in awe listening to Payne narrate his past in New York then witness an effortless transition into a modern day scene of him on a ship. Other standout moments include the nightclub scenes where words flash across the screen and the shootout in the mall featuring an electric soundtrack. The production values are another huge leap for Rockstar after LA. Noire and I’m eager to see what they do next with Grand Theft Auto V.

So there you have it my list. I missed out on a lot of big titles from last year like Dishonored, Resident Evil 6, The Walking Dead, and Xenoblade Chronicles so I’d be interested to know what you guys and gals think. Leave them in the comments.

This year was my first time attending Macworld at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, and the main reason I came was to check out the mobile games. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot on display, but the few titles I played are definitely worth checking out, and best of all some of them are free. Here are my impressions.

Telekinesis Kyle

From Vellum Interactive

What is it?

A 2D puzzle platformer starring a young boy named Kyle who can manipulate objects in the environment with his mind control powers. As Kyle, you must escape a deadly fortress filled with challenging test chambers or continue being a guinea pig for the military.

How was it?

From the very brief demo I played, Telekinesis Kyle reminded me of a 2D version of Portal minus the gun. Like Portal, you move from room to room and must use your wits to survive. The section I demoed was fairly simple requiring me only to stack boxes to create a path into the next room, but I imagined the game gets more complex the further you play. Also encouraging, is that TK feels more like a complete gaming experience on par with dedicated handheld games rather than a short five-minute diversion. I’m curious to see what else TK has to offer and will be checking it out again when it releases in March.

DreamCat

From Vellum Interactive

What is it?

An on-rails side-scroller where you control Terrance the cat and try to eat as many cheeseburgers as possible without falling to your death.

How was it?

Very fast paced and a lot like Cartoon Networks Robot Unicorn Attack. Terrance runs automatically, and you tap the screen to make him jump, double jump or burgerdash across the screen. The game is pretty challenging, and you’ll need some fast reflexes to survive if you want to get the best score. I died a lot, but I never felt frustrated or thought the game was unfair. For $1.99 DreamCat is well worth the price, and it’s satisfying to playing short bursts or for hours because of its addictive nature.

Ghostbusters Paranormal Blast

From XMG Studios

What is it?

An augmented reality game where you move your iOS device around real life environments to locate ghosts and take them out with your gun.

How did it play?

Ghostbusters Paranormal Blast looked and played similar to Face Raiders on the 3DS. The AR tech is impressive and playing on a bigger screen like the iPad works great. It’s cool that you can play using real locations you go to every day and finding ghosts is cinch thanks to the handy red icon that appear on screen. The ghost I encountered during my demo darted frantically across the screen and when I did take him out with my ghostbuster it was incredibly satisfying. The verdict? GPB is a fun diversion to tide you over until Luighi’s Dark Moon hits the 3DS and it’s only 99 cents.

Fashion Star Boutique

From XMG Studio

What is it?

A fashion game where you can design your own clothes or pick from other designs from top designers and interact with customers while running your own boutique.

How did it play?

To be honest I didn’t try this one out because it not my type of game. However, it’s really impressive how much content is packed into this title. The tagline for the game is “designed by fashion lovers for fashion lovers” and with over 80 million fashion designs, tons of customizable options to personalize your experience, and active Facebook community it definitely lives up to that claim. As a free download, it’s steal for girl and guy fashion enthusiasts.

Cows vs. Aliens Barnyard Blitz

From XMG Studio

What is it?

An animal herding game with a charming art style where you need to carefully push your cows back into the barn without knocking them off the cliff or allow them to be captured by aliens.

How did it play?

The touch controls proved to be difficult at first, and I sent way too many cows off the cliff to their death, but once I got the hang of it everything clicked. I found slow and precise swipes to work best instead of frantically tapping the touch screen. The time limit adds a nice sense of urgency to the game and can get addictive after awhile. Right now you can download it for free in the app store, but in my opinion it would be worth paying for too.

The Angry Billionaires

From XMG Studios

What is it?

A short collection of micro mini games similar to Warioware.

How was it?

The world can always use another WarioWare style game, so I was excited to play XMG’s micro mini-game collection Angry Billionaire. I didn’t play it at the show, so I downloaded it for free to test it out on my iPad mini. The art style and music compliment the gameplay well and look like The Artist or a Charlie Chaplin short. I also found it pretty cool that the micro mini games are in a Monopoly board game format and that the character designs look like they’re from a Popeye cartoon.

As for the gameplay, AB is a lot harder than I expected and tilting the iPad or touching the screen isn’t as precise as pressing buttons in WW. That said, with practice you’ll get the hang of it, and you’ll want to test out each micro games because many have hilarious objectives like dodging veggies to reach a cupcake. A free iOS title that’s several games in one is hard to find, so I recommend you check out AB if you enjoyed the WW games.

Pinyinpals

From Chinese Character a Day Foundation

What is it?

Words with Friends with the added benefit of learning Chinese while you play.

How did it play?

Pinyinpals plays exactly like Words with Friends, so there’s no steep learning curve to master. Letters of the alphabet represent Mandarin characters, and you must guess the right one to get points or you risk losing to your friends. You can also identify definitions for Chinese’s words and even if you fail miserably, with repeated exposure you’ll start to memorize the language. The best part of Pinyinpals, besides that it’s free is that you can disprove people’s notion that video games aren’t educational.

Bowblade

From Chiropractor Ron Green

What is it?

Practice your archery skills with Bowblade a bow and arrow set for your mobile phone. 35 games are currently available each offering a variety of gaming experiences from duck hunt style games, target practice, and first person shooters. Two bow versions are available for $188 and a second one for $200 which offers an exercise program.

How did it play?

I was a little skeptical of Bowblade at first, but after testing it out I found it to be surprisingly fun. You hold the device just like a normal bow and follow the cell phone screen to lock targets in your sight. Once you’re ready to fire the perfect shot you pull your arm back as if you were firing a real arrow and tap the trigger to shoot. The hardest part is keeping your arm all the way back because if you don’t your shots won’t game won’t register in the game. The games I tried involved shooting snowball at turkeys, target practice, and sniping soldiers similar to a first person shooter. Playing the games got to be tiring after a while, and I could feel like my arms were getting a good workout. I can see parents liking this game because of the physical exercise involved, but I think the price is too high.

I hope you enjoyed my impressions and will consider giving some of these games a shot. Thanks for reading.

I thought it would be fun to share my experience at PAX East last month. For those of you who don’t know, PAX East is a three-day gaming convention in Boston honoring video games, PC games, and tabletop games that’s open to the public, unlike E3. Here are my impressions of the event and why I think PAX East is an incredible experience that no gamer should miss.

AWESOME THINGS ABOUT PAX EAST

Epic sense of scale
PAX East is massive! I didn’t take a head count, but an article on the Boston CBS website said something like close to 80,000 people attended. Even before the convention officially opens at 10 am thousands of people waited outside to be the first ones to enter the convention center. However, even with some long lines and a crowded expo floor I was able to get around pretty easily.

Astounding amount  of things to do
The enormous expo floor alone holds booth after booth of triple AAA and independent games to play, cool merchandise to buy, a whole section dedicated to tabletop/card games and more. Outside the expo floor, you can find impressive artwork from your favorite games, Rock Band performances, game tournaments, concerts, and other hidden gems like an arcade room with classic Pac-Man and Galaga arcade cabinets. Another room has all the consoles you could ever ask for from old school Nintendo systems all the way to XBOX 360. If you’d rather play your own games, you can hang out in the handheld lounge and rest up on a big beanie chair.

Cosplay
If there’s one thing I never get tired about from video game and anime conventions it’s the cosplay. Seeing gamer’s make their own costumes and strike poses of their favorite character is awesome. Some of my favorites include Link, Big Boss, Kid Icarus, and Dante.

Indie Games
The amount of Indie games at PAX East is insane! They have a big presence here, and I chose to play as many of them as I could. Rather than waiting in line for the big AAA releases like The Last of Us, Remember Me, and Pikmin 3. Lots of creativity on display from indie developers and it’s encouraging to know that these guys are getting the exposure they deserve.

Great people
Some of the best parts of PAX East ironically is spending time in lines. Mainly because you meet so many cool people who share your passion for games. Plus, in a male dominated industry it was encouraging to see so many girls here who are just as knowledgeable about games as you are.

Enforcers
These guys and girls rock! I’ve been to anime conventions like ACEN where panels didn’t start on time, but PAX East, on the other hand, was very well organized. I was able to attend every panel I went to, and the enforcers helped me find my way around the convention when I got lost and answered all my questions.

FOOD!
I found it surprising that the food prices in the convention hall weren’t outrageously expensive, and you can’t beat Dunkin Donuts for coffee.

Ridiculously fun after parties
Once the expo floor closes and the panels end the fun isn’t over. I checked out many of the after parties including IGN’s, where Tim Schafer made an appearance.It was really great to talk with all the editors who work I’ve read online and get a feel for what they’re like in person.

Cool swag
Lots of free stuff up for grabs at PAX East. Such as posters, t-shirts, toys, music cd’s, free download codes, cards, etc. Extra cool being able to buy games a day early like Luighi’s Dark Moon from the Nintendo booth.

Interesting panels

if there’s one thing you don’t want to miss it’s the panels. Unless it’s live streamed or recorded, you won’t get another chance to gain some valuable insight into the industry by listening to professionals and asking questions. You’re not going to be able to attend all the panels unless you can clone yourself to be in multiple places at once so choose wisely.

FIVE BEST PANELS OF PAX EAST I SAW

Story Time with Cliff Bleszinski
Cliff Bleszinski is one of the most charismatic and likable guys in the video game industry and seeing him talk onstage was a delight. After walking in with the badass “Guile’s Theme Goes With Everything.” Bleszinski shared how he got started in the industry. His experience being bullied in middle school. Seeing his name in the first issue of Nintendo Power, the lack of violence in the video game community compared to some sporting events, how he met his wife and other highlights. The panel was a great way to kick off the convention.

Retro Games We Want to Love
A fun panel with the Retronaut crew Bob Mackey, Joey Desena, John Della, and Marty Sliva, who all shared their personal games that failed to live up their expectations. The four games discussed ranged from the old school Zelda II the Adventures of Link, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest to the surprising Final Fantasy 7 and Halo. Audience members listed their own shockers like Super Metroid, Shadow of the Colossus and Super Mario 64. My pick was Vagrant Story.

It’s Dangerous to Go Alone- The Take This Panel
I almost didn’t go to this one, but I’m glad I did. In a convention dedicated to video games, it took courage to base a panel around anxiety and depression. The Take This website was created after freelancer Matt Hughes, a writer for Joystiq, GamesRadar, and other gaming websites committed suicide due to mental illness. Many gamers suffer from feelings of loneliness and distress, so it’s great to see a panel dedicated to this and have a resource for people to seek help when they’re feeling down.

IGN Presents: Steal my Job: How to do what we do now but BETTER!
The IGN team Mitch Dyer, Daemon Hatfield, Casey Lynch, and Greg Miller all gave valuable tips on how to land a job at IGN. Like the importance of maintaining a blog, posting your content on My IGN, having a YouTube channel, how one negative comment on Twitter can destroy your career and more. Interesting stories I didn’t expect to hear include Greg Miller applying to IGN 13 times before he got the job. Also, how Miller surprised a guy, who came in for an interview with a record of all the negative things he said about him and IGN.

Games Journalism in the Age of Independence
With so few video game magazines left and websites like 1UP and GameSpy closing down it seemed like a depressing future for gamer’s interested in writing about their favorite hobby for a living. However, after going to this panel and hearing stories about independent journalists like HipHopGamer, who build their own brand by doing stuff different from everyone else. It made me rethink my role as a journalist and give me hope for the future of video game journalism.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PAX EAST

Plan ahead
Map out directions to hotel and convention center ahead of time to save yourself the headache of getting lost. Do the same for panels, booths on the expo floor and after parties so you don’t waste valuable time. The PAX East app for phones and tablets is a godsend for this because it makes planning your day a cinch.

Arrive early
I didn’t miss any of my panels, but I did make it a habit to arrive at least a half-hour early. For the bigger more popular panels and parties arrive even earlier or you might not be able to get in at all.

Check Twitter constantly
Twitter is a valuable tool for finding out how long lines for panels are, where your favorite editor or celebrity is hanging out, after party locations, and unscheduled events. I missed out on some parties and running into people like Cliff Bleszinski because I failed to check my Twitter in time. Don’t make the same mistake.

Don’t be shy
Do your best to stay out of your head. It’s true that you regret the things you don’t do so don’t be embarrassed to say hi or ask for a photo even if someone looks too busy. These people love their fans and want to talk to you.

Instead of playing a game while waiting in line say hi
I met a lot of cool people this way, and it was amazing how easy I clicked with everyone.

Go out at night
PAX East is a blast, and it’s over before you know it. You’re going to feel exhausted in the evening, but I encourage you to go to after parties, so you get the full experience. If you do, you get the opportunity to make small talk with people in the industry you follow online, get lots of free food and drinks, and most importantly have fun.

Support the underdogs
There were very long lines for big games like The Last of Us and other AAA games. Instead of trying out games you’re going to play anyway why not play indie games you’ve never heard of and spend more of your time gaming rather than waiting.

Don’t get over encumbered
You will accumulate a lot of free stuff at PAX EAST from t-shirts, drinks, download codes, posters, and more so it’s handy to have a bag to carry it all in. However, you don’t want to be bogged down too with too much stuff so use the coat check area and leave the heavy stuff like your laptop at your hotel.

Do your best to find a close hotel
The closer your hotel is to the convention the better. This way you can drop all the free stuff you get at PAX East to your room and don’t have to walk around the bar with a giant backpack.

PAX East was one of the most fun weekends I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to go to PAX Prime in Seattle or maybe even PAX Australia. If you get the opportunity go. You won’t regret it.