Video Games and More (But Mostly Video Games)

I frequently get asked by new iPhone/iPod Touch users what applications I use.  Here are some of the apps I have on my iPhone.

iLog It ($1.99) - The application I used to log my daily Weight Watchers points.  While not officially supported, it allows custom formulas, so you can enter the WW points formula yourself.  I have to admit it's a bit pricey for what it does, but I've lost 70 lbs. and this helps me keep track.

TwitterFon (Free) - I've tried all of the free twitter iPhone applications, and this one is the best.  It picks up your feed where you stopped reading it, and it easily allows you to do things like reply, follow/unfollow, retweet, and add photos.

CheckPlease (Free) - As a lazy person, I use this to calculate my tips when eating out.  I've tried several free tip calculators, and this one was the easiest to use.

Grocery iQ ($.99) - I've tried several free grocery lists, but I was unsatisfied with them all.  This one supports a built-in food database, saving of favorites, organization of the aisles in the store, and fast response.  One small downside is that you cannot use this for any other type of list - just shopping items.

Shazam (Free) - If you've ever heard a song and wanted to know who sings it, this is the app for you. I've used this for radio stations, and coffee houses, and I'm still impressed at how this works.

VoiceRecord ($1.99) - I wanted to be able to capture interviews or memos and at 2 bucks, this worked great. Descent sound quality, the ability to rename your files, and transfer over Wi-Fi to your PC for editing.

fring (Free) - Connects to most IM services (including AIM, MSN, Google, Skype, etc), and allows you to make VOIP calls.  It's great for when I need to ping someone and don't want to send them a text (because I'm either cheap, or they don't have a text-capable phone)

Bible (Free) - I've tried several bibles on the iPhone, and this one was the best.  Supports a ton of different translations, different font sizes, has searching, and email capabilities.  The downside is that while some translations are supported in offline mode, most bible translations need an internet (or cellular) connection.

Dr. Awesome ($.99) - This is basically Qix for those who remember that old arcade game.  It's done in the style of Trauma Center, and it uses your contact list for the patient names, which really adds to the game. Because it's a tilt-only game, it's difficult to play in a car or on a bus.

TapDefense (Free) - Solid pre-pathed tower defense game with a heaven/hell theme. I prefer Fieldrunners, but you can't beat free.

Line Rider ($2.99) - It's a pretty solid port of the Flash game.  You can save/upload/download your tracks to the cloud too.

Bejeweled 2 ($2.99) - You've played this game on 7 different platforms already, but if you dig Bejeweled this is a great version.  I got this early in the life of my iPhone, and while I still play it, there are better games in the app store.

Fieldrunners ($4.99) - My favorite tower defense game on the iPhone.  It's free-path (similar to Desktop Tower defense) rather than pre-defined path, but the graphics are solid, the units and towers are varied, and there have been several game content updates with new units, enemies, and maps.

iDracula ($.99) - This is my current favorite game on the iPhone. It is a two-stick shooter (like Geometry Wars, or Robotron) that reminds me of the PC game Crimsonland. You kill monsters and gain experience levels - which allow you to take different skills.  It's addictive, and I think it should cost more than $.99.

Aurora Feint II - The Arena ($4.99) - For those that have played Aurora Feint, this is the asynchronous player vs. player version with a little more polish.  If you like PuzzleQuest, you will like this game.  You play a puzzle game to level up your character buying new skills.

Amazing Sudoku ($1.99) - I got this when it was free during October, but since the price has increased.  Compared to all the other free Sudoku games I've played, this one was the best - but I'm not sure how it compares to paid Sudoku.

SimCity ($5.99) - This is the most expensive app. I've purchased (I paid $7.99 for it), and it's a really solid version of SimCity. They did a great job taking advantage of the iPhone's interface. Despite the complaints in the review section, I've not had it crash on me very often.  If you like SimCity you will like this, if you don't - this won't change your mind.

Baseball Superstars ($1.99) - Reminds me very much of Baseball Stars.  There is a cute and surprisingly solid baseball game in here that arcade fans should pick up immediately.  Has an RPG like career mode, and the controls are very well done.

App logos from Appshopper.com

The controversial topic of used video game sales has just gotten even more interesting as online retailer Amazon has entered the used-game market, allowing customers to mail in their games (with postage paid by Amazon) in exchange for credit usable at Amazon.com.

Gamestop CEO Dan DeMatteo, was quoted as giving "the probability of this working at zero".  Other stores (including Gamestop itself) have tried and failed at a mail-in trade model.  DeMatteo also feels gamers want to bring their old games to exchange for store credit to purchase new releases on the day they are launched.

The industry argues that the used game market profits retailers such as Gamestop (and now Amazon), and keeps money from the creators, developers and publishers that worked on these titles.  Many gamers don't care who gets the profit, if it means saving a few bucks - especially in today's unstable economy.

Game companies could battle the resale market by incentivising new game purchases.  By including redeemable codes for content (maps, extra character models, weapons, etc.) game companies would increase the value of purchasing games new.  By making this extra content available for purchase for those who got the game used, you could also prevent some of the backlash and community fragmentation that would occur otherwise.

In an age where everyone has a voice, complaining usually isn't enough.  Unless you can come to the table with a potential solution to the problem you are spotlighting, your voice could get lost in the thousands of others yelling on the Internet.

Only time will tell what happens with the used game market, but hours after Amazon's announcement Gamestop shares fell 13%.

Money Talks image from MacDjinn's flickr page
Megaphone image from Dave77459's flickr page

In 1991, Dr. Marcell Depuence accidentally invented the sport of Boxing when he attempted to find a cheaper and faster way to connect his motorcycle to the internet.  Ok, that's not at all true, and boxing's been around as long as history has been recorded.

EA's Fight Night series, however, started in 2004, and each of the two sequels has improved on it's predecessor.  This year's Fight Night Round 4 is no exception.  While I can't discuss the gameplay features (although I can share there were definitely boxers punching each other), I was lucky enough to attend EA Vancouver's FNR4 Community Day.

The list of attendees included Rich (XboxSolution.com), Dougie (StickSkills.com), Ladyluck34 (GamertagRadio.com), Desz (TQCast.com), Shawn (5WGaming.com), DaKing240 (360sync.com), Jacob AllHipHop.com), Hank (OperationSports.com), Armando (PastaPadre.com), Tim (NextGenLeagues.com), Tyrone (MaxBoxing.com), Robert (Xbox-Sports.com), WePeeler (YouTube.com), Adam (TotalGamingNetwork.com), and PoeticDrink2U (BoxingScene.com).

We hung out at a local restaurant, got to know each other a bit better, and played some FNR3.  The informal first night is always my favorite part of the events.

After getting an early breakfast the next morning we went over to Griffin's gym and went through some work-outs. I expected to learn how to throw a punch and then do a few laps - but our trainer Dave actually put us through about 30 minutes of training.  We used gloves, a heavy bag, and a 3 lb. medicine ball, and I got a better workout than I have in years.  I'm still sore three days later.  Boxing is the real-deal, and while these athletes aren't making the mad cash that NFL players do, they work just as hard - if not harder.

While I snuck away to the restroom in attempt to keep down my cookies, professional boxers "Sugar" Shane Mosley, and Sergio Mora walked in.  Poetic, LadyLuck, and Jake actually got to spar against Sergio - it was a pretty sick moment.

Afterwards we went to EA Canada and got game information, talked with the developers, had a Q&A session with Shane Mosley/Sergio Mora, and eventually hands-on with the game.  The boxers were very open, and it's always refreshing to ask blunt questions - and receive honest answers back.

A great time was had by all, and I appreciate my fellow community members, and EAC for their hospitality.  I'll give my game impressions after the press embargo lifts.  All I can say right now is that I'm a huge fan of FNR3, and Round 4 looked, felt, and played two or three times as good as Round 3.

More photos are found on my facebook page, and for other community coverage reports check out the above sites, or go to the official FNR4 website.

On April 15, 2005 I recorded the first episode of the Dreamstation.cc Video Game Show.  We lived at DreamStation for about a year and a half before I was hired by Microsoft's Xbox Community team and left the podcast to avoid any conflict of interest.

On August 28th, 2006 the crew recorded the first episode of the Gamercast Network Video Game Show.  The guys just wrapped up their 128th episode having been going for 2.5 years strong.

On January 27th, 2009 I made my return to the Video Game Show, and I have to say that I missed it greatly.

I've learned quite a bit in the last 3-4 years.  I've made tons of friends, both physically and virtually.  I've done countless podcasts and videos.

Despite all the time I've been away, VGS feels more like home to me than I thought it would.  The circle of life is complete.

As you probably know, Microsoft was forced to make layoffs last Thursday, and I was one of the casualties in that layoff.

I've said it 1000 times, but thank you all for the support, and encouragement.  I can't express how much it means to me when I get notes, emails, phone calls, etc.

I haven't blogged in over a week, my heart wasn't in it and I needed some time to absorb everything that had happened.  I'm in the job market and looking, and wanted to pass on my tips and experiences.

1. UPDATE YOUR RESUME ANNUALLY - It's much more difficult to do when you are under pressure, and stressed should your employment status change.  Keeping your resume updated while you work will help you when you aren't.
2. GET YOUR PITCH DOWN - When asked what my job was at Xbox I would grin and then start to explain.  You should be able to convey job duties and scope to someone (at a high level) in 30 seconds or less.  If YOU don't know what you do, why should someone pay you to do it for them?  For the record, my job was "to energize and engage the online community, bringing Xbox owners from customers to evangelists".
3. GET READY FOR AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER - I've been out of work merely 7 days, and I've experienced every emotion from anger to acceptance, optimism to depression.  My friend Chuck told me that you WILL have great days, and you WILL have really bad days.  It helps a little to know that at some point you will (in his words) "freak the f-out".  This is normal.
4. THINKING IS THE DEVIL'S WORK - Try and maintain some semblance of "real life".  Wake up and go to bed at a normal time.  Don't sit in your house and mope, don't make yourself sick worrying.  Worrying today never makes tomorrow any better.  Keep yourself busy and don't succumb to watching the evening news filled with depressing unemployment stories.
5. NETWORK - Use twitter, use facebook, use LinkedIn, and go to social meet-ups.  I heard on the news that 80% of jobs are found through referrals.  It's not just what you know - it's also who you know.

I hope these tips help.  No one likes to be unemployed, but try and keep perspective on things.  Use your friends and family for support, and it will turn around in time.