Gamesylvania

It’s the end of Day 2 at PAX East. I’m walking towards the main theater to watch the Saturday night concert in the Hynes Convention Center when I hear music coming from the end of the hallway. As I get closer, I can see the source of the music: a cosplayer looking like a Mega Man boss, sitting with a laptop, a set of powered speakers and a digital effects box. The music is a mix of chiptune/video game music set to hip-hop, dance beats … Continue Reading

Like the MC Frontalot song “First World Problem” says, some problems are pretty good to have — like having to many cool things to do at PAX! Did you attend the keynote speech Wil Wheaton gave or did you check out the Journalists vs. Developers Grudge Match hosted by EA’s Jeff Green? Did you spend all of your time in the console free play room or did you hang out with your D&D friend’s in the tabletop area? Maybe you just walked around in the main hall and checked … Continue Reading

The Sheraton is a nice hotel — expensive, but nice. Unfortunately, free wifi is not one of its many virtues; however, a hot shower with plenty of water pressure is. I almost give it 5 stars for that, but I’m easy to please. So far, I’m hanging out with a good friend of mine. We’ve been through 2 PAXes, and this is his second as an Enforcer. In fact, I’m in a room full of Enforcers. These guys arrive early and build everything you see. They help … Continue Reading

I spot a hole in a wall called “Bukowskis Tavern,” and I wonder if it has anything to do with the writer. A neon light in the window says, “Dead author’s club,” so I walk in.
The next thing I notice is the ATM placed conspicuously near the front door and a notice that reads, “In God we trust; all others pay cash.” “Fair enough,” I figure, so I pull out my card and gag the machine til it spits out a double sawbuck. A few moments later, I find a table and set up shop.

The waitress asks me if I … Continue Reading

First, let me start by saying that I don’t condone piracy, but when it comes to classic arcade games, you’re kind of stuck. Unless someone snatches up the rights to produce a version of your favorite game for your favorite platform, there’s nothing you can do about replaying that forgotten favorite. Sure, you could spend hundreds of dollars fixing up a vintage cabinet, but who has the money or space for all that? Are you Ricky Stratton? No, and your life sure ain’t Silver Spoons, … Continue Reading