Impressions of Cities in Motion's Open Beta

The open beta of city transport simulator "Cities in Motion" finished yesterday, and shockingly enough for a sim game it left me considering pre-ordering it from Steam for when it releases tomorrow (22nd February 2011).

Smithsonian Exhibit

The games of the 1940s weren't much to look at, but nowadays they are indeed an art form. You'll have a hard time getting others to agree though. I remember the days of A Level Graphic Design, even my teacher thought it was pointless to look at the composition of videogames and their cases, posters and other related media. Films were OK though.

Now the Smithsonian American Art Museum is going to hold an exhibit highlighting the development of game visuals over the last forty years. Not only that, but they want you the public to vote for which titles will be included!

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is an option for the PlayStation, as is Shenmue for the Dreamcast, Deus Ex and Doom II for DOS/ Windows. And that's just Era 4. There are a lot of gems competing with each other on there!

You can only vote for one game in each genre on each platform in each era, and have a total of eighty permitted votes. All you need to do is sign up with an email address.

The exhibit will run from March 11th until September 30th 2012. You have until April 27th of this year to vote. If the event will be within reasonable travelling distance for you, why not consider going there next year?

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee

With a HD remake of this game being announced just days ago and the fact I've been replaying it, there's no better time than now to write about the masterpiece that is Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee.

Voiced by the ever-wonderful Lorne Lanning, Abe is a Mudokon on planet Oddworld, and slave at the Glukkon-owned, Slig-patrolled RuptureFarms. All you need to know about that is in the name.

Upcoming analyses and such

A mix of new and old stuff we're gradually writing about:



[Psst, I think I wanted an excuse to use that notepad template from Shabby Blogs]

Pre-launch event: Nintendo 3DS

My partner and I were sent barcoded tickets to the exclusive pre-launch event for the 3DS console. If you didn't already know, it's like the Nintendo Dual-Screen, but you have the option of observing games in 3D without glasses.
I'm not much of a handheld-console gamer these days, I received a DS and DSi as gifts time ago, I occasionally enjoy Resident Evil on the former and I have this tradition of playing with my Nintendog every new years eve, although I usually won't see him for the rest of the year. I jumped at the chance to go, anyway.

The joys of Theme Park

Ah, Theme Park. I could spend entire sunny days of my childhood, sat indoors with the aim of running a successful park. Despite being roughly the age of five and having no concept of financial responsibility. Each of my creations would last a few in-game years before I was shown the disturbing bankruptcy screen we all know.