Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Review

Sometimes you come across a new game that makes you think; 'man, twelve year old me would love this.' It's not that you don't like it or that it’s boring or anything; it's just that the game has bad timing. I've spent the last few days playing Atlus's new 3DS title Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers and one thing's for sure; twelve year old me loves it. Its simple turned based combat, the fact that it’s a first person RPG and its sometimes fatal random encounters would have kept me playing well past my bedtime.  

But I'm not a tween anymore and haven't been for over a decade. Since then, my tastes have changed and videogames have come a long way. Many of the elements I would have found commonplace or enjoyable years ago, are now the most frustrating parts of Soul Hackers. The main reason it feels so dated, and why it seems so suited to younger version of me, is that the game originally came out in 1997. The 3DS version is the first time it's been officially released in English. 

People will talk: getting lost in sensationalism

As long as videogame journalists talk to videogame developers, there will be controversy and sensationalism. That statement should be expanded; as long as journalists talk to anyone, there will be sensationalism. Let’s expand that one more time, as long as PEOPLE talk to PEOPLE there will be sensationalism and everything will be blown way out of proportion and things said will be taken out of context and did Jenny really say that about Peggy?

People will talk.   

That said, Ben Kuchera, the man in charge over at the Penny Arcade Report, makes some good points about the way the media interacts with game developers. Let’s rewind; Mr. Kuchera’s article, Sexism as inclusion, racism as criticism: why the press and developers have trouble communicating, is about two developers saying sexist and racist things. In his article he talks about the potential conversations we missed by over sensationalizing recent controversies, specifically the comments made by John Heming way and Alex Hutchinson.

Meager Means Minefield: Game Dev Story

Have you ever wondered how videogames are made? Well, let me tell you. First; assemble a team of game writers, a sound designer or two, a bear, a mysterious masked man and a coder if you really feel like it. Second; give each person a computer and an energy drink. Third; members of your development will catch on fire and pound on their keyboards while little numbers appear above their heads. And that’s where videogames come from.

More Marvels of Geekery

The internet is truly amazing place; it connects us, informs us and allows us to engage in a global community. It's a place for business, philanthropy and entertainment. It is truly phenomenal, a place where one can find, and buy, true marvels of geekery. And now: panties.




Your Path is Blocked by Snorlax Underwear
Snorlax just gets in the damn way.

Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America. A Book Review

Digital Punch and Pie is not exactly the best place to come for book a review; the main reason being that I am hardly literate. Another big motive for me not to review books here is that they are, by definition, not videogames. Along those same lines, the written word has only recently been made digital and tends to have little to do with digital punch and/or pie. While I like to read (I love me some Italo Calvino), books aren’t my area of expertise, but I’m going out on a limb and reviewing Jeff Ryan’s SuperMario: How Nintendo Conquered America.

In his 2011 book, Jeff Ryan takes a closer look at the past of a fat Italian plumber and the company behind him. He examines the rise of the videogame industry, the rebirth of Nintendo as a game company, introduces us to Mario’s fabled creator Shigeru Miyamoto and guides us through the history of one of the largest companies in Japan. While chronicling Mario’s rise in the western world, he maintains a fun, pop-cultured fueled tone.

Star Wars: The Old Republic will be 'Free to Play'

For anyone who has spent any time playing Bioware's MMO, and has seen the declining in-game populations and server mergers, the news that Star Wars: the Old Republic will be going 'free to play' this fall comes as no surprise. People have predicted that Bioware would drop the subscription fee since the first few weeks of the games release.

Over the past few months, the MMO has been hemorrhaging  players, dealing with near empty servers and Bioware's SWTOR studio has had massive lay offs. The game has not be doing as well as expected, there's no question about that. What's up for debate is whether or not going to the 'free to play model' will help.

The Punch Bowl: News roundup

This is a new feature I plan to do from time to time; a simple news round-up sort of thing. Get all the facts covered in a light Digital Punch and Pie glaze. Actually, it’s a bit more like a rub. Maybe its a marinade brushed on at the last second. I don’t know. Food metaphors are complicated and I’m hungry.

Steam Sales: How Deep Discounts Really Affect your Games (Gamasutra.com)

There has been a lot of talk about Steam’s summer sale and how the digital distributor’s deep discounts might devalue intellectual properties. The whole debate gained steam (hehe)