Tag Archives | gaming

Misogyny in video gaming: sexist apologists abound in the community

by on March 27, 2012 in Arts

For as long as graphics in video games have been realistic, people have criticized video game developers for the vulgar or crass depiction of women. Comically hyper-sexualized female characters are usually written off as marketing tools to pander to younger audiences, and because (so the argument goes) nobody is really hurt in the process, it is often ignored.

Misogyny in gaming is often argued on the basis of pure aesthetics. But the issue of misogyny in gaming is not just predicated on character design anymore; it has grown into something more systemic that frightens me as a gamer. It took a blatant act of laser-guided abuse to understand how many layers there are to sexual harassment in gaming.

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Intense snowboarding series SSX carves back onto your console

by on March 9, 2012 in Arts

SSX, one of the most renowned arcade snowboarding games of all time, returns to your console with plenty of speed, frustration and a ton of dubstep.

The SSX series flourished over the previous decade amid a gaming environment with an intense over-saturation of extreme sports games. That time has passed and EA has revived the series with some pretty strong results.

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I suck at video games: a personal reflection on an acceptable flaw

by on February 4, 2012 in Arts

I’m 24 years old, and when you get to a certain age you start to come into yourself. For some this happens earlier, while for others it happens much too late.

Fortunately, I seem to be coming along nicely (thank you very much), but certain aspects of my identity are also coming into focus that are starting to cause dreadful anxiety and constant self-doubt. No, I’m not referring to my marks or getting a job or wondering why the heck I’m writing this article instead of the essay due tomorrow. No, it’s something far less relevant, but it stings just the same.

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New American copyright legislation jeopardizes gaming community

by on January 17, 2012 in Arts

The intention of new American copyright legislation (SOPA) is to stop online piracy, a legitimate problem, but the discretion given to the American law enforcement and companies is the most troubling part of the current bill. With SOPA, companies won’t have to pick their battles; in fact, there won’t be a battle to be fought. If you are in violation by their loosely defined parameters of infringement, you will cease to exist on the Internet.

While SOPA will affect every facet of entertainment, SOPA most jeopardizes the robust community sustaining the gaming industry.

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Scratching the surface of The Old Republic

by on January 12, 2012 in Arts

If you are unfamiliar with the Old Republic series, the first game Knights of the Old Republic single-handedly established Bioware as a best next-generation role-playing-game developer. They then proceeded to make such well regarded games as Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Although these other games are great, fans demanded another Old Republic game and Bioware finally answered those demands.

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A preview of what 2012 has to offer the video game world

by on January 6, 2012 in Arts

After an up-and-down 2011 for gaming, 2012 looks like it’s going to be a quality (and expensive) year for gamers.

Some standouts to consider in early 2012 are Bioware’s epic space opera Mass Effect 3, the slick (and Skrillex’d) espionage-shooter-reboot Syndicate and Ken Levine’s highly anticipated follow-up to BioShock, BioShock: Infinite. Rockstar is aiming high with releasing both Grand Theft Auto V and the long-awaited Max Payne 3 this year.

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Phylo has players around the world compare DNA from different species, improving genetic research

by on January 5, 2012 in News

Imagine if all the hours you spent moving coloured blocks on Tetris or cultivating wheat on FarmVille actually led to something productive — terminal disease research, perhaps?

Two McGill University academics are tapping into our appreciation for simple video games in order to further research into illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

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A binary Christmas: classic flash games for the holidays

by on December 20, 2011 in Arts

It’s sad but true: there aren’t a lot of Christmas video games out there. Sure, you can dig out your PS2 game adaptation of The Nightmare Before Christmas or load up a holiday-based texture pack in Minecraft or Team Fortress 2, but there’s not a lot else that may be common knowledge (or any good). As a gift to Sheaf readers, here’s a list of holiday and winter-themed games, all of which are enjoyable and a great way to get in the holiday mood while you procrastinate studying for finals. Better yet, they’re all available for free online!

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Saints Row: The Third is a new kind of crazy

by on December 2, 2011 in Arts

When the first Saints Row title arrived in 2006, it was dismissed by many as a shallow Grand Theft Auto clone. However, in subsequent years, the series has developed a significant fanbase and carved out a unique identity in the urban sandbox genre. The latest entry, Saints Row: The Third, takes a spectacular plunge off the deep end.

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Game of the Year frontrunner Skyrim is a quest worthy of the ages

by on November 30, 2011 in Arts

The moment you turn on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you might as well kiss 100-plus hours of your life goodbye.

There are few games like Skyrim. Bethesda’s greatest triumph is in making a game that is so engrossing, it can literally replace your life. Video games have always aspired to be virtual reality. Skyrim gets as close to that goal as any game ever.

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