If you grew up in the NES golden year then you may well remember the infamous Konami Code. One site online has cataloged all the other sites that use it and what secret easter eggs occur when you enter it in.

http://konamicodesites.com/

Awesome to see so many people implementing this bit of game history where they work.

A bit more information on the code and its history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami_Code

I hear many people mention that video games are more expensive than they were in days of yore. Its interesting as this image has recently surfaced to somewhat dispel that idea. Some games cost in upwards to $70 in certain markets depending on the launch system and demand for it.

I don't mind the $60 if the game is worth it and now games can be MUCH less if its digital. Do you think games cost too much? What was the most expensive game you have both recently and ever?

This just in from the land of things that needed to happen yesterday: 8-bit Gangnam Style. If you haven't been initiated to South Korea's own Psy and his video masterwork, please do so now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tWbKmS69PBM#!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psy_(rapper)

Kingdom Rush was recently released for the iPhone and being a fan of the original browser Flash game installing it was a no brainer. It being free also helped as well. Since Kingdom Rush had an iPad port it was fairly inevitable that there would be a port to the iPhone and after playing a few levels I can say the wait was worth it. Occasionally the map doesn't fit the size of the phone and the game lets your flick around the map to see areas you couldn't otherwise. That said, the port is nearly flaweless and in not time I was enjoying myself protecting my Kingdom from invaders.

Tower Defense is one of those game types that does well on a touch screen device. Tapping to select the tower you want to build is simple enough but Kingdom Rush ups that a notch by tossing the invaders at you at a quicker pace. If you don't feel the game is fast enough, you can tap to allow the next wave of invaders to come faster and if you do so, incur a bonus of reinforcement units.

The game picks up on the pretty popular freemium model by allowing you the ability to collect gems and spend those on in game bonus items. If you want to purchase them with real money, you can. As with many freemium games you need not pay to win, that said I could see where it would help you out quite a bit.

If you have an iPad or iPhone you should download Kingdom Rush as it is a really fun high quality tower defense game. The ability to replace levels with different challenges adds to its replay-ability and its fantasy theme make it more fun that most of its kind.

I just watched an interesting documentary I've heard quite a bit about titled Indie Game: the Movie. It basically follows a few indie game developers through development ups and downs in really interesting documentary style. They focus on the team that made Super Meat Boy as well as the developers that made Fez. They also talk to the developer that made Braid as Braid ushered in the new wave of Indie game development on XBLA.

The movie is very interesting and if you can check it out, I recommend you do. I felt it was a little long but that was my only negative to the film. The soundtrack is fantastic and the camera work stands out to me as some of the best I've seen in a documentary yet.

If you love video games or ever want to make them, you need to watch this!

http://indiegamethemovie.com

Update: Indie Game the Movie is now stream on Netflix!

When I found out Portland had a Retro Gaming Expo I had to be part of it. To hang out with other like minded geeks and talk about some of the coolest things ever made? I had to do it.

Originally I wanted to volunteer up a storm and hang out the entire weekend, but things being what they are starting a new job, I couldn't commit to the full schedule. I had a few hours today(Saturday) and I was able to help out. When I arrived at 8.30 AM people were already lining up and I was excited to see so many people in attendance. I wasn't sure what to expect as it was my first year and I was happy to see so many happy geeks in lines.

My first job was to hold a sign directing people to purchase tickets. There were a few other volunteers holding signs and directing people to will call and other whatnotery. It seems all the volunteers I met had some love for gaming and are involved in it. One such nice person person I met was Clifton. I actually remembered seeing Clifton at PAX this year. As it turns out he is a game designer and is working on a game called Clobbr and you can play it right now @ http://clobbr.com/

http://i.imgur.com/Nca7z.jpg [ because you want to see a fairly blurry photo of the sign I held ]

After the expo opened up and the line cleared I headed to my first major volunteer assignment of answering questions and looking knowledgable at the Auction Booth. It was a fun experience and I enjoyed talking to all the people that came to ask questions or just talk about gaming. The items that got the most attention were the Ps2 & GameCube dev kits as well as a pristine Virtual Boy as part of the entire collection lot that was up for auction.

A few items from the Auction Booth I was extremely happy to be standing around:

http://i.imgur.com/6Vqby.jpg [ Factory Reconditioned Atari Computer System ]
http://i.imgur.com/lcEK8.jpg [ This was one entire collectors lot for auction, no reserve ]
http://i.imgur.com/NUcfI.jpg [ The SNES library from the lot ]
http://i.imgur.com/5vZnD.jpg [ Final Fantasy II & III ]
http://i.imgur.com/DaGuw.jpg [ Chrono Trigger & Earthbound ]
http://i.imgur.com/5hdqt.jpg [ Super Star Wars & The Rest of the Amazing Trilogy ]
http://i.imgur.com/2bkq0.jpg [ A bit of this and that... The Rob the Robot is the Japaneese version. ]
http://i.imgur.com/N0l7U.jpg [ Yep, thats Sunday Funday... ]
http://i.imgur.com/dIGdO.jpg [ A Ps2 & GameCube Dev Kit ]
http://i.imgur.com/Yg3ZY.jpg [ Yes, you are playing with power... ]

At 2pm I had someone relive me and I was able to hit up the show floor and check out the rest of the exhibitor hall. If you lust for all things retro and dream in 8-bit, the Retro Gaming Expo show floor is your heroin. Due to my brain being in an unfortunate state this morning I forgot to bring cash with me and as such suffered greatly as I couldn't buy anything... Oh well, I snapped a few rad photos so I can judge myself later.

http://i.imgur.com/oAsqt.jpg [ One Exhibitor was printing off Level Screen Posters from Games. Earthbound. ]
http://i.imgur.com/rS7zd.jpg [ Super Mario Brothers Level Print ]

Many exhibitors were creating 8 and 16 bit art pieces from a craft supply I have seen but can't put a name on. Can you guys help me figure out what these little plastic bits are you put together, heat up and they stick to form things? That said, the stuff the artists made out of them was stunning:

http://i.imgur.com/WHqjH.jpg [ A Super Metroid 16-bit collage ]
http://i.imgur.com/gyOvv.jpg [ More of the above ]
http://i.imgur.com/XcZAY.jpg [ A large assortment, I dig the Secret of Mana pieces ]
http://i.imgur.com/ukA7a.jpg [ These presentations really looked fanstastic. One day something like this will sit over my mantle ]
http://i.imgur.com/Tu7lY.jpg [ This was hands down the coolest piece at the show. A 16 bit art creation from Final Fantasy II. Fantastic. ]
http://i.imgur.com/h597K.jpg [ Not made from the same plastic, these were made from wood ]
http://i.imgur.com/x9ZxS.jpg [ Wooden tiles make this Boo stand out ]

Oh right and many people were selling The Secret of Mana. I had to take a picture, you know, because... I love this game.

http://i.imgur.com/uigJV.jpg [ The Secret of Mana. Skip you next vacation, play this instead ]

A few vendors were selling other awesome bits from my childhood I never thought I would ever see again.

http://i.imgur.com/6XzSe.jpg [ The Original Nintendo Trading Cards in the packaging. Proof there is a God ]
http://i.imgur.com/pLOhd.jpg [ Super Mario Brothers 2 Disk System. I don't believe this came to the states. I really dig the packaging ]
http://i.imgur.com/5zQbQ.jpg [ Didn't every school have the Apple II? I didn't see any Oregon Trail ]
http://i.imgur.com/mRBZ6.jpg [ This original GameBoy station was for play in the free play Arcade area ]

I talked to many people and made some friends along the way. I'll be posting more about some of the individual booths I found awesome in the next few days. If you have time to hit up the Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2012 tomorrow you should, it is awesome. If not pencil in time for next year, you will not regret it. I look forward to having more time to spend time volunteering next year and meeting more awesome people. And, if I am in luck I will remember to bring money so I can something awesome on my mantle.

The full album of all the photos I took is available for you to persue on imgur right here:

http://imgur.com/a/HOPpp

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http://www.retrogamingexpo.com/auction.php

I think I have finally hit a good note with my Gunzerker. My strategy is to hit every side quest before I continue the main quest line. This means I get some great guns from the missions but I also get other loot as well. For instance, I just completed a quest line called "Eternal Flame" where these cultists worship Lilith, the Siren from Borderlands 1. It's a fun, messed up and quirky quest and by the time you finish it you get an amazing shield. The shield has a fairly high armor rating but it has an awesome ability in that when it depletes it creates 4-6 massive fire explosions around you. It took a few times to remind me "oh right, this is a good thing that is happening" because when it starts I strafe around thinking I am being hit with a rocket or grenade. Beyond the fact that I am not entirely used to its ability, it is a fantastic shield.

I haven't sunk a ton of time in Borderlands 2 but I have put more time in the last few days and I am now level 14. All the guns I currently use have elemental damage(yay) and have to keep a fairly varied arsenal because of a pretty awesome addition to Borderlands 2. Enemies have elemental types such that if there is a fire enemy and you hit him with a fire gun it barely does anything. I really enjoy this as it requires you to switch up guns a few times in a battle if there are multiple enemy types.

With that, I am getting much more savvy to which weapons to use against certain enemy types in which situations. Corrosive to drop an armored enemy quick, fire against unarmored and shock if you want to drop a shielded enemy fast. No idea why, but during the original Borderlands that never really sunk but it does now. I imagine because it matters more now?

I enjoy the loot drops in Borderlands 2 more compared to any other grind loot game I have played, save perhaps the original Borderlands. You don't go too long without finding a few great weapons and I find that it is really hard to part with certain guns over others. I mean, its a great problem to have, but compare to say... Diablo 3 where the majority of stuff you get is trash, Borderlands 2 shines.

As I opened the post with, I think I have hit my stride for the Gunzerker and as such I don't die too often. I enjoy the difficulty and having to adopt different strategies for different situations. Looking forward to playing the game more and digging deeper into the other classes.

The above image is a picture I snapped during my PS3 play through. It is a skeleton of a huge fish covered in snow I found just wandering off somewhere.

I want to love the Wii U. My passion for video game started with the original Nintendo and continued to the Super Nintendo. Nintendo has been a large part of gaming for most of my life. That said, the Wii U isn't catching my excitement.

The always amazing video game YouTube celeb boogie2988 has a new video rant as Francis, a character he does on his channel about the Wii U(video above). After a hazy start the rant is spot on with much of how I feel(warning, it is an intense video with some colorful humor that may offend some).

I like the end of the video, where he whimpers to the camera that he will get the Wii U because he loves Nintendo so much even with all its shortcomings. It was a very apt ending to the video, sad in a way because I think its possible Nintendo is leaving a high place it once had in my life, as the epicenter of all my awesome game experiences.

What do you think, are you excited about the Wii U? Does Nintendo rule your world as it once did? Do you lament Nintendo's pivot away from your video game world or does it not phase you too much?

I was thinking something today I wanted to hear your thoughts on.

Skyrim or Fallout 3? I have been making my way a bit at a time through Skyrim and whereas its a great game, I think I liked Fallout 3 a bit better. At least, so far I do.

Skyrim has had some amazing moments, but I guess I prefer the end of the world games where you are born in a vault.

That said, what did you like better Skyrim or Fallout?

This evening I downloaded the Torchlight 2 demo on Steam and decided to give it a shot. Right away I noticed that the menus were pretty different from the original Torchlight. Not a huge deal, but it wasn't immediately apparent how to exit the game the first time I launched it. Its the upper right corner and is greyed out, I didn't see that the first time through.

I created an Ember Mage and liked the character customization. After creating my character I was quickly in the game killing things. I was surprised how differently it played from the original Torchlight. One main difference is that your character moves very fast around the screen. Its very smooth and I like the character pacing much better than the original Torchlight or Diablo 3 even. Which is another thing about Torchlight 2, the game is really really smooth. Compared to Diablo 3, which lags the first few minutes in game, moving through Torchlight is like butter.

I like that you are not merely relegated to dungeon crawling in Torchlight 2. The outdoor environments are a welcome addition to my style. After I made it to town I got a few quests and headed out straight for the first one. After taking them down one by one I noticed the enemy and game difficulty ramp up considerably. My third quest in I met up with something like 5 champion mobs protecting the quest ending. They didn't pose a huge challenge but they did take a while to kill and all in all it was very fun.

I stopped playing around level 8 (before I stopped I snapped the pic above) and really enjoyed the game. I would say largely, Torchlight 2 is a big improvement over Torchlight. That said, I had a few nits with it as I felt the graphic style of the original was a bit better than Torchlight 2. As with the first game occasionally my character was behind the forefront graphic and the ghost/outline thing is hard to play through. Again, small things because overall the game was very fun.

No reason to not check it out as it will play on most under computers and the demo is out now on Steam!