San Francisco Update: Busy Bee
Wow -- San Francisco, I'm never leaving.
This town is amazing, everything from the people to the mixture of cultures to the wealth of things to do. I'm sorry I haven't updated this little place of mine here, but boy have I been busy. The night beckons, sometimes for gaming-related stuff (see: work), but most nights just for socializing. And beer. California, you make a tasty brew. Many tasty brews, to be exact.
On the work front, I've done a ton of previews. I thought that I might have to hit some of these moving out here, but I wasn't prepared for the sheer quantity of what's in the Bay area. Within the span of a month, I've whipped these little pieces up for Joystiq:
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/goldeneye-007-ds-preview/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/goldeneye-007-wii-preview/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/medal-of-honor-preview/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/james-bond-007-blood-stone-preview/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/dead-space-2-multiplayer-preview/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/spider-man-shattered-dimensions-ds-preview-hand-not-held/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/pinball-fx-2-preview-the-pinball-youve-known-all-your-life/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/minervas-den-bioshock-2-dlc-preview-stomping-around-as-sigma/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/preview-xbox-live-on-windows-phone-7-and-launch-games/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/preview-nba-2k11s-jordan-challenge-mode/
Oh, and then there was PAX Prime 2010:
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/the-dishwasher-vampire-smile-preview-hobbyist-graduated/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/bit-trip-beat-ipad-preview-move-to-keep-the-beat/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/lilt-line-preview-stay-between-the-lines/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/slam-bolt-scrappers-preview-build-those-blocks-up/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/05/sonic-colors-preview-wisp-you-were-here/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/05/swarm-preview-strength-in-numbers/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/retro-city-rampage-preview-a-hodgepodge-of-homages/
- http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-2-preview-force-majeure/
For my first 30 days in a strange city, it's quite the increase in work load -- in addition to these previews, I still have to write every day. It's a challenge, but one I welcome with open arms. I need to grow not only as a games journalist, but as a writer. I need this challenge and, slowly, I think I'm improving my craft. But not only that, I'm much happier. Have I told you how awesome this town is yet?
My only regret is that I haven't had more time for this here blog of mine. Hopefully I can find a way to produce some more content here. For more immediate happenings in my going ons, keep up with me on Twitter: @davehinkle
[Image: Union Square, San Francisco]
Interview with Glen Schofield
Glen Schofield, the guy who came up with that very awesome Dead Space game you should've played, recently chatted with me as part of a feature for Joystiq, the site I work for. It was a great interview and Glen spoke rather candidly in our phone conversation and I think it turned out pretty well. He was one of the better interview subjects I've dealt with in my years working in the games biz -- right up there with Richard Ham -- so feel free to hop on over and check it out.
Listen to me on the latest Xbox 360 Fancast
I guest-hosted on the latest Xbox 360 Fancast this week (we actually recorded on Friday). Joining the Xbox 360 banter you'd expect, there's plenty of talk about the Dropbear problem in Australia and I even do a funny voice or three. It was a hoot and a holler and if you enjoy entertaining things, I suggest you make with the link clicking.
A Boy and His Blob review for Joystiq
My review for A Boy and His Blob (I always type "blog" first, then have to erase it) has gone live at Joystiq. Here's an excerpt:
A Boy and His Blob tells the story of an extra-terrestrial, amorphous lifeform and his young handler as they combat an evil emperor, hellbent on doing what all evil emperors want to do: kill most and rule over what's left. The only thing standing in this extreme evildoer's way is the boy's willingness to feed the Blob different jellybeans, which cause him -- it? -- to transform into different shapes, thereby overcoming the game's many obstacles.
Click here to read the whole thing and be sure to check out my video review at the bottom!
I guest-host on the latest Joystiq Podcast
On the latest episode of the Joystiq Podcast (111, for those counting), two of the regular hosts find themselves indisposed, so me and colleague Griffin McElroy roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. Amid the discussion of the latest gaming news, I contribute my fascination for one Billy Ocean and that Blast Corps is a perfect game. No, really, it is!
If you would like to jam some of me into your earhole, point your mouse to this link and make with the clicking.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story review for Joystiq
My review for Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story went live on Joystiq this morning. Here's an excerpt:
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story doesn't put on airs about itself. Up until now, the series has been a collection of chuckle-filled titles, with light action and RPG elements designed to make the game accessible to just about everyone -- and this latest game is no different. It's plain and direct in what it wants to be, but it's set apart from its predecessors in a deepening of the core aspects of the series.
Check it out here and if you're interested in reading any more of my reviews, check out my reviews page.
Video walkthrough of the new Nintendo Channel on Wii
Today, the Nintendo Channel on the Wii updated, adding a bunch of new features. I did a little walkthrough video (nothing special) for Joystiq and figured I should probably dump it over here, too. So, that's what I'm doing. What, you wanna fight about it?
Press copy of Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box comes with Diabolical Box
Nintendo sent out the press copies of Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box today and it really didn't take me that long to solve it. I'm not gloating, mind you, but I wanted to point out here (where nobody is going to read it) some of the others that have received this package and how they're handling it.
- First up is my ordeal, here at Joystiq (link)
- MTV Multiplayers' Russ Frushtick dished his off to his interns (link)
- GameDaily also solved the riddle and rubbed it into Russ' face (link)
- Go Nintendo promises a video later (link)
This is all I've seen so far, but I'll be on the lookout for more.
Quick bio:Hi! I'm David Hinkle, Contributing Editor for Joystiq, former Lead of DS Fanboy and Wii Fanboy and co-host on the Xbox 360 Fancast. Basically, I write about games, talk about games and play games -- all the time.
This place is mainly a dumping ground for random thoughts, but you can also find links to all of my reviews and my contact info. Email me by clicking on this link.
Paying the Bills
twitter.com/DaveHinkle
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