If you have $10 per month: Buy bargain used games/retro games and swap for games. Don’t have enough money to play Diablo III? You can find Diablo II on these sites for less than $10:

http://www.ekeys.us/product_info.php?products_id=50

http://compare.ebay.com/like/300576576306?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y

If you have $20 per month: Congratulations, you now have enough money to play World of Warcraft with money to spare! For all you console gamers, $20 means you can buy most used games and used accessories like extra controllers. For $20 this month I bought myself Mario Party 6 $15 and the microphone for $5!

If you have $50 per month: You either have no student debt, have a good job or are getting bankrolled by your parents (lucky you!). Either way, even though you are $10 shy of being able to afford an AAA title a month, you can allocate your money in order to get the most out of your gaming dollars. $50 per month allows you to buy less expensive new games and new accessories. If you allocate your money wisely, $600 can go a long way in one year. Things you can buy: Final Fantasy XIII-2, Soul Calibur V, Mass Effect 3, Diablo III, Max Payne 3, and the upcoming Borderlands 2, Assassin’s Creed III, Halo 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops II. All of these games amount to $530 which means you can spend the other $70 on accessories, or an XBox Live Gold membership, or cheaper games.

If you aren’t into AAA titles or don’t have current-gen consoles, you can either buy a bucketload of cheaper/used/retro games or save up your money to buy a Wii/XBox 360/PS3. Either way, if you can afford $50 per month for games you are pretty lucky guy/gal!

On top of the finalist games and tailgating, the event was four days long with free concerts from Kiss and Jimmy Buffet as part of the “Big Dance” event that included a Guinness World Record game of “knock-out.  

My location, “Bracket Town,” was comprised of the primary sponsors of the event and served not only as a great way to get their brand across to consumers, but also raise community awareness.  A large group of inner city kids took part in an event where they bounced basketballs from the Superdome, all the way to the convention center.–That was about 2-3 miles of basketball bouncing!  After the event, the kids were allowed to keep their branded jerseys and basketballs, so the convention center was a buzz with kid’s playin’ ball.

In all my years of technical production, this was one of the most impressive event entrances I’ve witnessed to date.  It completely set the tone for the event from the moment you stepped in.

You went through a black curtain/space to clear your thoughts/perceptions before entering the attraction.  From there you emerged into an area that had the classic wood flooring of a basketball court, with massive spandex screens displaying projections of the team’s logos, and the sound of an immense crowd cheering during the peak of a game.  

The event floor was ridiculously huge.  Most of this shot was JUST Capital One’s footprint.  Their footprint included opportunities to test your prowess at everything from basketball to hockey with some awesome swag for those who played all the different sports.

Coca Cola was on-site as one of the primary sponsors.  They were doing 3-on-3 tourneys for most of the event.  Though I personally thought that the “all you drink” free soda courtesy of Coca Cola Freestyle machine, which has 100+ flavors, was the best part of their display.  (They gave away literally thousands of gallons of soda, sports drinks, and flavored-water during the event.)

Cartoon Network was on-site promoting their “Get Active” program for kids with a variety of activities featuring some of their popular programs like Ben10, Adventure Time, and Level Up!

EA Sports’ footprint offered “free play” stations with some of their more popular sports games.  They also broadcasted some sports highlights on a big screen for attendees to enjoy.

Pink AT&T sweat bands, LG screen wipe, slap drink coozie, Buick Mardi Gras beads, and LG headphones to just name a small portion of the swag I secured from the event.

Next time, I’ll be bringing a little “Jazz” to my blog as I showcase pics from Jazz Fest!

Are you a broke student who also leads an active gaming life? Would you like to get more games for your scarce dollars? Many of us are in school or otherwise broke, so I thought it would be time to start a series on how to game on the cheap. So here goes:

1. Be patient. While new releases of AAA titles are standardised at $60 a pop, if you wait a bit longer for those titles to drop in price you can save as much as $20 or $30 per game. Just look for the labels Nintendo Selects, Greatest Hits,and Platinum Hits. These labels are used to designate popular games that have been re-released at a lower price point. In the world of gaming, patience pays.

2. Buy used. Used games are a really good way to game on the cheap. Reputable stores like Gamestop or BestBuy have return policies on used games so if your used game purchase is a bit wonky you can get a refund or exchange.

3. Go retro! There’s a reason why my primary consoles are N64, GameCube, and GameBoy Advance. Simply stated, if you pick up an older console, you can play classic and retro games for a fraction of the price you’d pay to play current gen games. A good time to pick up a cheap console and cheap games is right around the time of a new console release. For example, when the Wii first came out, many of my classmates were selling their GameCubes and games. During that time, I snapped up a GameCube plus controllers for only $60! Therefore, I fully expect to buy a used Wii in December this year for under $100 when the Wii U launches.

4. Swap for games. Do you have games you just don’t play anymore? You can swap them for games you haven’t played for free on www.Waygoz.com. Waygoz is a free game swap site. It’s free to use and free to sign up. All you have to do is list the games you want to get rid of, the games you want to receive, and your zip code. You can find other games within your local area, arrange meetups and swap games.

Computer, Video, and Mobile Gaming

May 16, 2012 @ 7:30am, Cost $20.00
NTEC Conference Center, 6170 Research Road, Frisco, TX  75033

This first program in our 2012 series focuses on the explosive growth experienced by the gaming industry over the last 10 years.  The industry – driven by computer games like Orcs Must Die! andBorderlands (ask your kids), social games such as Words With Friends, and mobile games including JetPack Joyride andHero Academy -  will continue to grow  rapidly well into the future.  North Texas is home to many successful gaming companies and in our May program, you will learn much more about this exciting industry and the business opportunities it presents.

 Jeff Williams from Covera Ventures will moderate.

Jeff Williams is a managing director of Covera Ventures and has more than 13 years experience investing in early and late stage companies. He also brings operational experience to Covera Ventures as a result of managing and ultimately divesting several companies in the commercial finance, property and casualty insurance and technology industries.

As a managing director for Covera Ventures, Jeff employs his unique experiences to investment opportunities in software, internet content and media and wireless communications. Prior to working in venture capital, he was a successful investor, providing growth capital to middle market companies in the southwest U.S.

Other speakers on the agenda include: 

Patrick Hudson, CEO of Robot Entertainment

Patrick is involved in far too much at Robot. Previously, he was an Executive Producer at Ensemble Studios for six years. Before game development, he worked in boring industries that seem even more boring now. Patrick is terribly overeducated for his current role, with a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree from Harvard Business School. He regrets not profiting wildly from the credit bubble that sank the global economy.

Based in Plano, Texas, Robot Entertainment is a world-class independent game development studio owned and operated by many of the founders of Ensemble Studios. With a team that has proven experience and expertise in creating games that appeal to massive audiences, Robot Entertainment is focused on titles that set new standards for their respective genres as well as groundbreaking original Intellectual Properties. Their output includes the Age of Empires series and Halo Wars for Xbox 360. We are currently in development on Orcs Must Die™!

The Games of Robot Entertainment

According to Robot Entertainment, “We exist only to serve humanity – or at least, to create entertainment experiences that will lull you into a slack-jawed stupor so that we may take our rightful place as your supreme overlords.”  Some of the games created by Robot Entertainment include:

• Orcs Must Die! - Orcs Must Die!™ is a white-knuckle blend of action and strategy that challenges players to defend fortresses under siege. With a wide variety of traps and weapons to choose from, Orcs Must Die! dares players to find the best ways to hack, launch, flatten, gibletize, and incinerate an endless army of filthy orcs and their vile allies. Orcs Must Die! features a vibrant look, addictive gameplay, and a blatant disregard for the welfare of orcs.
• Orcs Must Die! 2 - Orcs Must Die! 2 thrusts players and their friends back into battle against a terrifying mob of orcs and other monsters. With a redesigned spellbook, players will have a broader range of options to build a deadly arsenal of defenses. Investing hard-earned skulls in an enormous new upgrade system will allow players to cater to their favorite methods of burning, grinding, tossing, or dismembering orcs.

• Hero Academy - Welcome to the Hero Academy!™ Teams have gathered from all over the world to engage in friendly contests before seeking adventure in the wider world beyond the Academy’s walls. The Academy extends a warm greeting to all players – whether they’re already heroes, or simply heroes-in-training. Success belongs to the captain that can keep both his magical crystal and his team intact in this light-hearted battle between friends!

• Age of Empires Online - With more than 20 million copies sold worldwide, the Age of Empires series redefined real-time strategy games for Windows PC players. Now the timeless franchise once again invites players to experience its rich storyline in new ways. Age of Empires Online will invite you to create a living, growing online world, shared with friends and friendly rivals around the globe.

• Halo Wars - Halo Wars is a real-time action strategy game for the Xbox 360 that allows the player to control large armies and to shrewdly direct them in realistic warfare. Set early in the iconic war between the Covenant and UNSC – made famous by the Halo FPS games - Halo Wars provides a new angle on the war while bringing new heroes to the battle.

• Age of Empires 3 - It’s the dawn of a new age in real-time strategy games. A brave New World is rising – a hostile yet beautiful world, filled with innovative gameplay, new strategic scenarios, eye-searing graphics and much more. Welcome to a world called Age of Empires III.

Aaron Thibault, Gearbox Software

Aaron is Vice President of Product Development at Gearbox Software located in Plano, TX, where he is responsible for production and resourcing of all projects.  Outside of commercial game development, he has created and incubated tech, led military R&D projects, run academic programs, and managed promotions campaigns for rappers.  Aaron started in games as a sound designer and cinematic animator at Origin Systems in Austin, TX and was part of the team that launched Ultima Online, the first serious Massive Multiplayer Online Game.  Aaron was Deputy Director and Senior Lecturer at Southern Methodist University’s Guildhall graduate degree program, and prior to that he collaborated with serial entrepreneur and business innovator George Kozmetsky to create and lead a videogame R&D and incubation program at UT-Austin’s IC2 Institute in concert with AI and education researchers, game developers, Stanford’s Media X program, The Austin Technology Incubator and various Army departments and programs.  Aaron is currently focused on shipping Borderlands 2 and Aliens: Colonial Marines, and raising two very active boys.

Yes, it’s true that Diablo 3, one of the most highly anticipated games ever, was finally released at midnight the other day.

But wait…there’s more!

Are you ready for some serious action?

Because C + 2 wants to share some great news about a new third-person multiplayer shooter game called Mercenary Ops. In this epic, jam-packed, free-to-play game, players can battle against one another as well as aggressive enemies for the sake of survival. By earning points in gameplay, opportunities to upgrade equipment and unique weapons become available. Or join a team of fellow mercenaries and take on fierce bosses for a chance at rare, powerful loot.

Watch outstanding visuals come alive through your monitor by use of extreme details provided by Unreal Engine 3.

Explore a future society where the government system has collapsed while global terrorism remains unstoppable across the world.

http://mercenaryopsgame.com/game/story.html

In Mercenary Ops, you are your own class. While most games have a linear class system, Mercenary Ops allows you to play however you want by offering two primary weapon slots, along with a side arm and a variety of upgrade and customization options. This helps to ensure that you always have the right tools to get the job done. 

Gamers who would like to participate in the closed beta test for the third-person multiplayer shooter Mercenary Ops can “like” the Mercenary Ops Facebook page in order to be placed in the running.

Beta testers will be able to play the competitive online multiplayer matches as well as the cooperative team missions.

Mercenary Ops will be released as a free-to-play title this summer.

The best way to stay in touch with other mercenaries is to check out the Mercenary Ops community forums. Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and updates.

Facebook – http://facebook.com/mercenaryopsgame
Twitter – http://twitter.com/mercenaryopsgame

Have you always wanted to write about video games, whether it be recreational or professional?

There’s a new online class designed specifically just for that.

Writing is not as easy as it sounds. It’s overwhelming, time-consuming, but if you’re passionate about what you’re writing about, it can be quite rewarding.

Hilary Goldstein, a freelance writer, published author, consultant, instructor and former Editor-in-Chief of IGN.com, has developed a program created specifically for those who long to fulfill the dream of being successful journalists in the video game industry.

http://hilarygoldstein.com/about/

This isn’t a course likely to be found in any university curriculum, and even with blogging become more and more popular, it’s extremely wise to learn the proper techniques involved. Competition is monstrously fierce, something Mr. Goldstein knows all too well, especially with more that 10 years of experience to work with not to mention the ability to make a living playing video games! Now he’s sharing his expertise with those interested in putting time and hard work into learning this extraordinary craft.

This course requires you download Skype (a free group communications tool). As members of a vibrant Web community, you will receive craft advice, motivation, and support through:

• Monthly 1.5-hour group Skype chat sessions online to discuss thought-provoking lectures on game design and game journalism. Transcripts will be available for students who are not able to attend.
• Submission to Hilary of up to four articles for written feedback, to be discussed during one-on-one Skype conversations at times that are convenient to you.
• Weekly email check-ins with Hilary to review goals, discuss progress, and address questions.
• A private Skype group where you’ll have the ability to engage in conversations with classmates, share writing, and discuss your favorite games, along with optional writing exercises to hone your skills.

At the end of the course, you’ll have a concrete plan to get your work in front of millions of readers.

Visit the website below to learn more and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

http://www.writingsalons.com/class-descriptions/video-games/

E3 2012 Expectations

by Gina

Now, most big-name companies haven’t released their official E3 2012 line-up yet, but excitement for this year’s expo is already mounting. Here are my top 3 anticipated games for this year that I hope to see at E3:

#3 FINAL FANTASY XIV 2.0 (Square-Enix) – No official release date

Don’t let the “2.0″ throw you – while most can agree that our beloved Square-Enix more or less botched the initial release of Final Fantasy XIV, their new development team has made solid improvements and version 2.0 boasts a brand new…well, almost everything! New graphics engine, storyline, quests, character options and gameplay, FINAL FANTASY XIV Producer/Director Naoki Yoshida promises that fans of the long-standing series can experience a game “worthy of the FINAL FANTASY name”. How badass is the new graphics engine, you ask? Well, if you take a look at the picture above, you may find a hint – at first glance you may have believed it was a screenshot of an FMV sequence, but it’s not; it’s a screenshot of 2.0′s actual in-game footage.

#2 Resident Evil 6 (Capcom) - October 2nd

ZOMBIES. SURVIVAL HORROR. Need I say more? The RE6 theatrical trailer promises more gruesome monsters, more gritty combat and more goose-bump inducing plot twists. I for one am super excited to see Leon and Chris come together in this next game and interested in seeing how the newest “C-virus” will create MORE ZOMBIES TO DESTROY! 

#1 Borderlands 2  (2k/Gearbox) – September 18th

Anyone who knows me knows how ridiculously obsessed I am with Borderlands. Being the first FPS game that I truly enjoyed and played to pieces, having beaten the game and its expansion packs 3 or 4 times using all the different characters, words cannot express how much I am looking forward to Borderlands 2. The unique cell-shading art style will be kept but new changes and tweaks will be made to missions, weapons and skill trees. As Lilith was my favorite character from Borderlands 1, I’m particularly interested in the new Siren, Maya, and how her Siren skills will differ from Lilith’s phasewalk. Currently released gameplay footage looks promising and fresh while not deviating too far from the original nitty-gritty feel of Borderlands 1. Fans can rest assured that it will still be the Borderlands they love but with more features, more customization, more replay value, and above all… MORE LOOT! 

Other noteworthy mentions: Pikmin 3 (Nintendo), Darksiders II (THQ), Titan (Blizzard).

What games do you want to see featured at E3 this year? 

by Gina

This article will show you a quick timeline walk-through of how I like to prepare for working an event. It covers a variety of situations, be it modeling for a photoshoot or working a booth gig and through it I hope to convey to you the amount of background work that goes into such events. 

1 Week Prior:

STAY HEALTHY – make sure you follow a healthy lifestyle such as eating right, exercising, and following a regular sleeping schedule in order to minimize the risk of getting sick or catching a cold right before your gig. 
You want to be at your best both physically and mentally in order to represent your client well, so this is very important! 

RESEARCH your event and make sure you understand the client’s needs and how you can help fulfill it. This includes educating yourself about your client’s company, their products, goals, their target audience and how they want to be represented. There are many ways to go about this, the company’s website, if they have one, is always a good resource. 

Starting a week prior, I also like to run quick 15-30 minute simulations daily by doing a “mini-rehearsal” of what I’m expected to do at the event; for example, if working a booth I will practice smiling and greeting and posing with others; for a photoshoot, I will practice posing with different clothing, shoes, and jewelry in front of the mirror, etc.  

 4~5 Days Prior:

This is a good time to plan out the outfits for your gig. Lay out everything you will need as well as everything you MIGHT need. How many different “looks” are required? Do you need a uniform? Are the clothes you plan on wearing in good condition, clean, and ironed? If not – this is a great time to do it. Visually check for any stains, tears, or rips. Coordinate your outfits from head to toe, including accessories such as handbags, sunglasses, jewelry, props – and pack them away neatly! This will eliminate the possibility of you accidentally wearing it between now and your photoshoot and end up not being able to find/clean/iron it before your event occurs.

If the client requires specific items such as plain black high heels and you do not have exactly what they are looking for, use this time to go on a quick shopping trip to get it. You can always return the item(s) afterwards if it ended up not being used. If you are not sure if something fits the bill (i.e. directions specified to bring a plain black T shirt but yours has a small graphic or logo on it) then bring 2~3 items that fit the description so that the client will have a choice. Whenever possible you should always ask questions to confirm what the client wants if you are unsure of your instructions. Always bring extras in case what you think will work clashes with what the client is envisioning. For example if I am asked to bring 3 different outfits and black high heels, I will bring at least 5 outfits and 2-3 different pairs of black heels as well as a variety of accessories, jewelry, and props.

This means in addition to my makeup and hair tools/kits I end up preparing a small to medium suitcase full of stuff even for a simple half-day photoshoot, but it is usually worth it. If anything else, showing up prepared proves your professionalism. Once I had a photographer love all my outfits so much that even though he originally planned on shooting only one look, I ended up doing three outfit changes and the gig turned into a full day photoshoot. I was compensated much more than what my original gig promised and we are now in the midst of discussing another photoshoot!

3 Days Prior:

If you know that you will be responsible for doing your own makeup, this is a good time to do a “test run”. Check that you are not running low on any of your “must have” items.

If you want to try a new makeup technique or product, now is the time. Avoid trying new things the day of or even the night before the event as it can be too risky. Make sure your makeup will complement what you are wearing; since you have already picked out your outfits, this should be easy.

If you will be wearing more than one outfit, make sure your eyeshadow and lipstick colors will complement ALL of your different outfits because you may not get the time to change your makeup in between your outfit changes.

Make sure your makeup matches the setting of the event. You do not want crazy neon colors, flamboyant glitter or “out-there” eyelashes for a professional event unless specifically instructed to do so. 

However, you don’t want to arrive bare-faced either. At the very least, you will want to put on foundation/concealer, groom and define your brows, and some tinted lipbalm. Also, a touch of mascara & eyeliner will help you look alert and awake!

Even if a client wants a “clean/make-up free” look like the “nude face” that is currently fashionable, it still doesn’t mean you should arrive without any makeup. Even with a naturally gorgeous face, being devoid of makeup simply does not translate well in photos. What you will want to aim for is to do your make-up in a way that makes you look like you aren’t wearing any (It’s actually a lot harder than it seems). 

2 Days Prior:

This is when I usually prefer to start my “physical prep work” such as getting a manicure, doing any waxing etc that needs to be done. Very important note about NAILS! In general, you will want nails that are neatly manicured but not in any exotic colors or with wild, distracting designs. Also avoid if possible having rhinestones, artsy patterns, alternating colors, etc on your nails.

A traditional French manicure works great for this as it is simple yet elegant and goes well with any kind of clothing. Otherwise nude/flesh toned, clear or light pink colors work well. Your nails can be rounded or square, but not pointy. Also, they should not be super long and preventing you from doing simple tasks like typing or buttoning up a shirt. 

1 Day before: 

Make sure you know the location of your event, where to find parking, and have all the important contact numbers you need. Familiarize yourself with nearby landmarks, print out the directions and put in your car. Touch base with the person in charge and confirm to them that you are excited and committed for your gig. A quick text message or email saying “Just letting you know that I’m ready for tomorrow, I’ll see you at (time), (place) !” usually works great. 

Calculate the amount of time you need to get ready and travel to the event, accounting for traffic conditions and time needed to find parking. Now add 30 minutes to account for unforeseen delays such as getting lost, getting pulled over – anything! Subtract this final number from the time you need to arrive to figure out when you should wake up. You should always aim to arrive around 10-15 minutes early.

Double check that everything you need is packed away and ready. Be prepared with items like safety pins, bobby pins, hairspray, compact mirror, deodorant, snacks, clear nail polish for any runs in hosiery, cell phone charger, etc. Lay out the outfit you will be wearing so you can just toss it on the next morning. Right before bed, I also like to do a mini-facial at home, especially if the event will be outdoors. It will do the double duty of rejuvenating your skin and making you feel nice and relaxed  Be sure to get plenty of sleep! 

 

 

The Big Day of the Event!

It’s important to eat a light breakfast that will keep you energized for most of the day – fresh fruit, plenty of water, and toast usually works well for me. Do not eat a heavy meal for breakfast as this will make you feel sluggish, but do not skip eating either! Particularly if you will be working long hours, make sure to at least eat something prior to the start of your event because you may be too busy to have a proper meal later.

Resident Evil? Again, there are those who say yay and those who say nay.

But while there’s yet to be a film adaptation that meets the approval of dedicated gamers and developers alike, the creative community of fans have been actively bringing about their own ideas and interpretations through art.

Yahoo! Games just released a post showing images of how some characters just might look in real life. Not every single concept might be believable, although prospects remain infinite. Why not compare examples of two famous names from Super Mario Bros. with past versions of them seen on film and/or TV?

Which of these portrayals of Mario work for you?

How about Bowser?

The ever-growing imaginations of cosplayers continue to become more and more clever as they employ gracious time to better their constructions.

One can only imagine what future developments in art and film will look like in the years to come.

What if Mario wielded mechanical hands that shot fireballs?

What if Bowser was really human but got tattoos, dental implants, and other operations to make him look like a lizard king?

Endless possibilities!

 Today was one of my most anticipated days of the month, Free Comic Book Day! I searched the shelves of three different comic book stores in the Los Angeles area in hopes of getting my hands on as many if the free comics as I could. As I am fairly new to collecting comics, taking part in the Free Comic Book Day celebration not only strengthened my new love for comic books but also opened the doors to a whole world that I have been itching to get into. With all of my great new finds I have noticed myself flipping page after page of my 24 free comics. As much as I looked forward to this day’s arrival I am still left awestruck over all of the cool things I saw today.

Here is a list of all the comics I got:

With being home for less than an hour I have already reached the end of Bongo’s Simpsons comic. The humor added to the comic was just as funny as what is seen on the show. The cover of this comic really caught my interest because it showed Comic Book Guy dressed as many well known comic book characters. The comedy attached to the cover drew me in immediately. I can’t wait to get the time to read all of the other comics I got today. Some of the ones that I am most looking forward to diving into are The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Transformers: Regeneration One and Sonic The Hedgehog. From what I have read I can already tell I will not be left disappointed!