(Posted By: Alex Deckard)

The Supreme Court has spoken, and we won.  Video games have been provided with the same protection as books, movies, music and all other forms of art.  One of the majority Justices, Antonin Scalia wrote:

Video games qualify for First Amendment protection. Like protected books, plays, and movies, they communicate ideas through familiar literary devices and features distinctive to the medium. And "the basic principles of freedom of speech . . . do not vary"

Wow.  Looks like we’ve got friends in high places, or at least non-crazy people in high places.

(Posted By: Ryan Clark)

Hunted: The Demon’s Forge. Hrm. Don’t know what to truly say about this game, as I oscillate between thinking it’s a ton of fun, and wanting to drop kick Bethesda into a goddamn wood chipper. A forewarning, I will drop minor spoilers. It can’t be helped. That being said, let’s begin.

By: Alex Deckard

Well.  Here it is.  The big one.  The unreleasable game.  Duke Nukem Forever.  As a gamer and a journalist, I have spent a large amount of time waiting for this damn game.  And I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me hoping for true greatness.  But I’d also be lying if I said I was expecting it.  And that is where I take issue with some reviews I’ve read.  So, without further ado, here’s my review.

By: Alex Clippinger

5. Halo: Reach

What list would be complete without a nod to a franchise that has firmly established itself in gaming history? Surprisingly enough, I decided to prefer Halo: Reach over the original Halo game. The reasons for this are somewhat contextual: in my opinion, the potential of Halo: Combat Evolved wasn't fully realized in Halo 2 & 3. Though the sequels' multiplayer is considered top-tier, I felt like their campaigns started to become too straightforward and at times gimmicky for my tastes.

Reach's slogan about how we already know the outcome is part of its appeal. There's something appealingly Norse about soldiering on (no pun intended) knowing that the core characters are ultimately doomed. There's an interesting dramatic irony between the character holding the gun and the player holding the controller, and it's something I think Reach balances rather well in its storytelling.

To top it off, Reach boasts breathtaking graphics, with attention to detail from everything from the sweeping landscapes to the attention paid to the combat environments. The biggest thing Reach can boast over Halo 2 and 3 is the part where I give a damn. For God's sake, Reach has normal people. Civilians, even! It's not just a Spartan running around Futuristic Environment Number Four shooting Alien Group Number Four Hundred and Fifty-Seven.

By: Alex Deckard

For those of you unwilling to read the following article, here’s the short version:  Uncharted and Resistance got us all excited, then a bunch of things we didn’t care about got announced, then Sly Cooper, then an incredibly intriguing EVE tie-in.  Then they started talking hardware.  Firstly, there was a neat 3D display that can make split screen not suck by dividing the signal and feeding it through the 3D glasses.  Just look it up, it’s awesome.  Finally, there was the Playstation “I hope this is better than the PSP” Vita.  Big HD touch screen, dual sticks, front and rear facing cameras, a touch pad on the back and NO MORE GODDAMN UMDs.  If all you wanted was a brief highlight reel, stop here.  If you want more, follow along after the break.