My Week With Minecraft - 'The Springstonne Tower Saga'

As someone who spends an increasing amount of time gaming on a PC, it would be an almost obvious assumption that I had at least tried minecraft. And yeah, I have, so you'd be right for assuming that. Though my experience with the game was a unique one. Then again, whose isn't? So, I will be telling you the (very abridged, but still unavoidably lengthy) story of my first proper time playing the game, and my resulting opinions and review of it. I will call this story 'The Springstonne Tower Saga':

I purchased Minecraft back in its Alpha phase. The game had blasted its way into internet culture, seemingly out of nowhere. I couldn't move an inch (a metaphorical internet inch) without hearing ravings about the game. Naturally my curiosity was peaked, and my usual unfounded skepticism was enflamed. It was only about a tenner, so I picked it up and tried it out. I read a quick starter's guide, explored some mines, and built some stuff. I found it to be unremarkable, dull, and thoroughly overrated. I tried to keep playing, but after a week or so I set it aside and never touched it again. It didn't help that after roughly an hour of minecraft, I would always experience painful headaches in return (An effect that no other game - save for Condemned 2, for some reason - has had on me).

(If you wish to skip the long-winded story and just get to the summary and review, you should probably just ctrl+f for the phrase "I don't think", which is where it starts.)

Podcast - Episode 5!

Episode 5 of the podcast is out. Get it here!
In this one, Lyndon doesn't talk much, Stoph seems generally uninterested, I get antsy, and Matt gets increasingly enraged at any signs of frivolity. Business as usual!

Also, here is a Sketch I did of Lyndon, Matt, and myself (In that order)

3 Games that made me proud to be a gamer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm never ashamed of being a gamer, but there are certain games which come along every now and then that reassure me just how great the medium of games is. Each of these three games made me proud to be a gamer, each for very different reasons. Click on to read what and why.

Resident Evil - The Remake

In my last two articles, I mentioned I would be taking a look at the Gamecube (and later ported  to Wii) remake of Capcom's classic survival horror, Resident Evil. Today I will be doing that very thing. Though this time, rather than deconstructing what makes it work, I'll be looking at how it holds up as a remake and my experiences with it as a lifelong fan.

I've previously covered many of the aspects that make Resident Evil a horror game. I'm sure I've made it quite clear that I'm nothing less than enamoured with this classic, so you can imagine my apprehension upon hearing that a remake had been made. For a long time I went on with life as if it didn't exist, in fear of what horrors (Or, uh, not-horrors) it may contain.

But my assumptions couldn't have been further from the truth.

Indie Developer Interview Number 2: Open Emotion Studios

This is the second developer to consent to answer my questions! Games Shrine is on a roll! This time I contacted Paddy Murphy of Ireland-based studio Open Emotion, the team behind Mad Blocker Alpha, Ninjamurai and Revoltin' Youth, three superb minis that are available via the PlayStation Store. Here's the interview.

What I thought of Metro 2033

I bought Metro 2033 in one of Steam’s numerous sales and only completed it recently.

Indie Developer Interview Number 1: Grip Games

This is an exciting day for Games Shrine. Today we present the first of a planned series of e-mail interviews with independent developers, beginning with Grip Games, whose works I have waxed lyrical about previously here. I contacted Jakub Mikyska of Grip, and he agreed to answer some of my questions. Here is the result.

6 Legitimately Free Games that Games Shrine Reccommend

Want something for nothing? Here's some free games. With download links and gameplay videos and everything. Reccommended by your favourite bloggers in the whole entire world. Enjoy.

The New Humble Bundle is a little different to the others - IT'S FREE.

Like free games? Of course you do! Well, you can find the new Humble Bundle, which includes 5 free games here. I haven't played any of these games yet, but I have downloaded them all, and will be playing them in the near future. It does however, contain Nitronic Rush, a game which Jerrod spoke highly of in the recent New Years Podcast. So why not?

Oh, and my apologies for the recent lack of content on the blog - I have been bogged down with coursework and exams. Thankfully, the mad rush will have come to a temporary end by the end of this week, so expect some new words then.