Video Game News and Views

City of Heroes Freedom

2011-07-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

City of Heroes, one of my favorite MMORPGs, is going free to play later this year. If you're looking for full details on City of Heroes: Freedom, check out the guide I wrote for Bright Hub. You'll find details on the various levels of accounts, restrictions, and benefits of each. Definitely check out the game now that you can play for free.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS Bottle Guides

2011-07-05T22:04:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, been doing a bit of writing about the re-made Zelda for 3DS lately. I've written a series of guides covering how to find the bottles in the game. Bottles in Zelda sound like they would be lame, but they're actually some of the most useful items you can find.

The first bottle in Zelda 3DS is found in Kakariko Village, and you'll have to help the Cucco Lady recapture her wayward chickens to get it.

The second bottle in Ocarina of Time 3DS is found at Lon Lon Ranch, and you'll have to beat your buddy Talon at his own game, identifying three super cuccos.

The third bottle is found at Lake Hylia, but you'll have to go through Zora's domain and check out a diving contest to win the Silver Scale that you'll need to dive down and grab it.

Rift Guides

2011-06-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

I've also been exploring the world of Rift recently. I'm not sure I like it more than WoW, but there are definitely features I find innovative and interesting, including the rift events and the "Ascended Soul" class system.

I've written a few guides for Rift players.

First, the Rift Character Creation Guide will help you make your first character.

The Guide to Rift Collector's Edition will help you decide which version of the game to purchase.

And finally, my guide to the Rift Refer a Friend Program Guide has full information for those who want to earn exclusive rewards in the game by exploiting their friends.

Nintendo 3DS Guides

2011-06-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

So I picked myself up a Nintendo 3DS and I've been exploring its features and writing a few guides about them.

If you're curious about the basic features of the system, check out my Guide to the Nintendo 3DS and All It's Built-in Features.

If you have a 3DS and want to know how to get online with it, I've written a Guide to Connecting your 3DS to the Internet.

And finally, after you've connected the thing to the Internet, you may want to buy yourself a game or two from the Nintendo eShop. My guide to connecting and downloading will help you there, as well.

Trading Pokemon Online

2011-03-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

A couple more Pokemon Black/White related articles for you. I've written a pair of guides to trading pokemon online using the Global Trade System. You can trade with trainers around the world and get pokemon from other regions.

There are two ways to do it. The first, Global Trade Station (or GTS) is like the Cragislist of pokemon trades. You put up a pokemon you want to trade, identify what you'd like to get in return, and wait. You can also browse the pokemon other trainers have put up for trade. Read my full Guide to Online Pokemon Trading With the Global Trade Station for more.

If you're a bit more impatient or slightly more flexible, or if you just want to see what's available out there, you can opt for the GTS Negotations style of trading. Similar to above, except you put up three pokemon for trade and your partner does the same. You can communiate a bit and work out which you'd like to trade with one another in real time. My Guide to Online Pokemon Trading in Black and White With GTS Negotations has all the details.

Thanks for reading, and happy trading!

How to Catch Victini in Pokemon Black and White

2011-03-24T15:17:00.001-07:00

Hey guys,

I've written a few new articles this month (squeezing them in during Spring Break). Pokemon is all the rage these days, and those who pick up Black or White in the first month can gain access to an exclusive legendary pokemon: Victini. I've written a couple guides about the little rodent that you should check out. First, a complete Guide to Catching Victini in Pokemon Black and White will walk you through the process of downloading the Liberty Pass and gives advice for actually catching the wily little guy.

Second, I've written a complete Profile/Moves List for Victini. He's a pretty amazing little guy with some awesome base stats. Definitely worth adding to your squad. If you're wondering which moves he gets or if he can be evolved/bred, check out my article.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer Guides

2011-03-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone. Check out my latest two articles over at Bright Hub. The first is a Guide to the Best Multiplayer Perks in Call of Duty: Black Ops. Check out my favorite perks for the game, and how using them can keep you from dying so damn much.

Second is a general Guide to Multiplayer in Black Ops. It's full of useful tips and tricks for noobs and veteran gamers alike. These strategies will also keep you alive longer and hopefully get you more kills. Which adds up to more experience points and more levels in the long run.

World of Warcraft Faction Mounts

2011-01-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've just written a pair of guides for those who want to ride the mount of a player faction that is not their own. That is, if you're an Orc who desperately wants to roll around on a Goblin Trike, my guide is for you.

You Alliance types aren't left out either, there's a guide just for you covering how and where to purchase and equip the tabard of the city you'd like to gain reputation points with (Darnassus, Orgrimmar, Gnomeregan, Darkspear Tribe, etc...) and another complete listing of mount vendor locations so you know where to go to buy that new mount once you've reached Exalted status with your desired faction. Check the Guide to Horde Capital City Mounts and Faction and the Guide to Alliance Capital City Mounts and Reputation Points over at Bright Hub!

All Quartermaster and Mount Vendor locations are covered. Don't wander aimlessly asking "Where is the Darnassus Quartermaster," just follow my guide.

Red Dead Redemption Cheats

2010-05-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Looking for the best Red Dead Redemption Cheat Codes? Our comprehensive guide has all the cheats you're looking for, including unlimited ammo, invincibility, weapon unlocks, new outfits, opening up the whole map, and even a sweet sepia filter for the game.

Unlike some other Red Dead Redemption cheat guides you're likely to see, we also include information on the exclusive cheats unlockable only through the Rockstar Social Club, including "Bad Guy," "Good Guy," "So So Guy," and "Donkey Rider."

Read the full Guide to Cheats in Red Dead Redemption over at Bright Hub.

City of Heroes: Going Rogue Expansion Preview

2010-05-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

I used to be hugely into the superhero MMO City of Heroes. I started playing it at launch and have invested a fair bit of time into the sequel, City of Villains, as well.

The game's latest expansion, Going Rogue, allows players to cross from villain to hero territory, and explore a huge new game area. There are also several brand new (and awesome) power sets that will be available to those who pre order.

If you've read this blog at all, you know what's coming next: I've written a City of Heroes Going Rogue Expansion Preview over at Bright Hub. If you're a fan of comic book action, you should definitely check it out.

WoW Gear Score, or is it WoW Gearscore?

2010-05-14T00:21:00.000-07:00

Gear Score is an interesting statistic in World of Warcraft. It can make or break you in terms of getting into raids, yet it takes nothing into account but the level of your gear.

You can wear any class's gear to increase it, and it does not take the skill of the individual into account.

Still, it's a good way to quickly assess someone's raid worthiness.

I've tried to outline the concept and the pros and cons of Gear Score in my article WoW Gear Score, What is it?

I know, clever name.

Star Trek Online Uniforms

2010-05-14T00:08:00.001-07:00

Star Trek Online is not bad, for sure, but what's really awesome is all the cool unlockable stuff.

Like being able to wear the uniforms from The Original Series, or the Next Generation, or the awesome Wrath of Khan Dress Uniforms.

I wrote an article about all the unlockable uniforms in STO. Check it out.

Star Trek Online Uniforms

Top WoW Addons in the Universe!

2010-05-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

I've written up a small collection of our Bright Hub articles re: WoW addons. There's an addon for practically everything (even playing Peggle) so check it out if you're at all interested in the game.

You may ask yourself, where might one find this amazing piece of writing? I provide this answer: Guide to the Best WoW Addons.

10 Tricks Every Star Trek Online Player Should Know

2010-05-11T15:03:00.001-07:00

I've been playing STO for a few months now, and along the way I've picked up a few tricks that weren't exactly explained in the tutorial mission.

If you're looking to get the most out of your Star Trek Online experience, check out my full guide to 10 Things Every STO Player Should Know over at Bright Hub.

I bet you were expecting me to make a Star Trek joke here, weren't you? You know me too well.

So give er all you've got, captain, and check out my guide!

Red Dead Redemption Achievements and Trophies

2010-05-06T00:48:00.000-07:00

Red Dead Redemption is set to be the next big game of the year.

I'm sure, like me, you're excited to dig in and get started collecting all the trophies and achievements for this game. Luckily for you, I've already written you a Guide to Trophies and Achievements in Red Dead Redemption, so you can get started memorizing them now.

No need to thank me.

Modern Warfare 2 Perks List

2010-05-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Sure, the game's been out for awhile, but I'm sure some of you out there haven't fully explored all the great perks available in Modern Warfare 2.

My Guide to Perks in Modern Warfare 2 over at Bright Hub has all the info you're searching for, including a full list of perks, what it takes to unlock the pro versions of those perks, and what exactly each perk does.

It's worth a look.

Nintendo Wii Netflix Streaming Setup

2010-04-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

Netflix streaming on consoles has got to be the coolest innovation of the last several years. Finally we can watch thousands of movies without leaving the comfort of our couches.

Setting the service up on your Wii is a simple process, but it can be slightly confusing for the less than tech-savvy. Fortunately, my Guide to Netflix Setup on the Nintendo Wii has all the information you could possibly need. You'll be watching old Knight Rider episodes in no time.

Star Trek Online Ship Combat Basics

2010-04-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Probably the best part of Star Trek Online is the ship-to-ship combat. The ability to take the helm and take down Klingons, Orions, and Romulans just like the heroes of the shows throughout the years is pretty damn cool.

It's a different take on MMO Combat, though. One that even veteran players may have a bit of trouble adjusting to. So, I've written an introduction to space combat in Star Trek Online, a sort of Photon Torpedo 101, as it were.

Check it out over at Bright Hub.

Nintendo DS Game Rentals

2010-04-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

Can you believe you can't walk into a store and rent a Nintendo DS game? It's the second-biggest selling console of all time and nobody rents games for it.

Fortunately, a few online rental services are picking up the slack. If you're looking for the best selection, lowest prices, and fastest shipping for your Nintendo DS game rentals, check out our review of three different online services over at Bright Hub.

Find the full scoop at Game Rentals for Nintendo DS

Star Trek Online Free Trial

2010-04-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of interest in free trial codes and buddy keys for Star Trek Online lately, largely because there is no easy way to get free access to the game.

Never fear, however, because I've written you a guide on the only ways to get an STO free trial, and I give you the information for free because I want everyone to check out this excellent game.

Check out the full scoop at Bright Hub: How to Get a Free Trial for Star Trek Online

Bad Company 2 Assault and Medic Strategy Guides

2010-03-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

I bet you thought I was done with the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 articles, didn't you?

The final two articles in my series of class-specific guides are up now.

If you have ever been told to "have fun storming the castle," then you may want to check out the Guide to the Assault Kit in Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

If hanging back and keeping your teammates alive while showering your foes in a deluge of lead fired from your machine gun sounds more like your style, then you will definitely want to take a look at the Guide to the Medic Kit in Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

Hopefully the information in these guides can help you maximize the amount of experience points you earn.

I do not hope, however, that you use them to kick my ass if we ever find ourselves in the same game online.

Bad Company 2 Engineer and Recon Strategy Guides

2010-03-27T12:38:00.001-07:00

The deluge of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 articles continues!

The two most recent guides are for the Recon and Engineer classes. Each one covers advanced tips and tactics that help you get the most when using either kit.

For all you tankbusters out there, I present the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Engineer Kit Strategy Guide

If you'd rather decapitate your enemies from a half mile away, you may want to check out all the great tips on sniping positions and weapon selection in the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Recon Kit Strategy Guide

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Unlockables Guides

2010-03-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Currently losing huge amounts of sleep to Battlefield: Bad Company 2. It's just so hard to escape the urge to play...just...one...more...round.

Staying up until three was fun before I had a kid, now I have to pay the price for my arrogance.

But, I digress. I've compiled a few guides to the game, covering all the unlockables for the engineer, medic, assault, and recon kits. Check them out over at Bright Hub:

For those who like to do their killing from a distance or spend their time healing and reviving teammates, there's the Guide to Recon and Medic Kit Unlockables in Bad Company 2

If a more straightforward approach is your style, or if you enjoy spending time repairing and destroying vehicles, check out the Guide to Assault and Engineer Kit Unlockables in Bad Company 2

Or, if you're more of a driver and are curious about the weapons that can be used by all the game's classes, check out my Guide to Vehicle and Universal Kit Unlockables in Bad Company 2

Star Trek Online Guide to Ships

2010-02-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome again to my personal Captain's (b)log.

Okay, that's probably enough Star Trek puns. For now, anyway.

Anyway, I've written a comprehensive guide to all the fantastic Federation ships available in the new game Star Trek Online over at Bright Hub. Whether you're a lowly Lieutenant or a lofty Admiral, your ship selection is covered in my article series.

You can check out part 1 of the Guide to Ships in Star Trek Online over at Bright Hub.

May the force be with you...(what?)

Black Nintendo Wii Console Coming to America?

2010-01-29T00:53:00.000-08:00

Well, speculation has run rampant about a new Nintendo Wii, shiny black, coming to the states sometime this year. After Europe and Japan got one, it only seems fair that we get our shot as well, doesn't it.

Check out the full scoop at the link above.