We made a game for Molyjam (official entry here). I’ll write up more later, but for now, go play it!

What originally started out as a half-joke has now become an international event, with over a dozen cities and hundreds of game developers onboard. I’ll be hosting the Las Vegas game jam, and am currently finalizing location and sponsors.

The concept, in a nutshell:
Choose a game idea tweeted by PeterMolydeux (here are some of his favorites), team up with a few friends or strangers on the evening of the 29th, and then spend the weekend of March 30 – April 1 making a game.

If you’d like to take part, RSVP via the Facebook event link below. Cajole friends into signing up and form your own team, or group up with strangers and make some new friends. Win win.

RSVP for MolyJam 2012 Las Vegas

Update! Details!

So here’s the plan:

Meet at the Shuffle Master Interactive studio on Friday evening at 7:00pm. From there we’ll assemble teams, game concepts, and introduce the whole thing.

Teams can work together however they want over the weekend. The studio will be open and food and drinks will be served (huge thanks to Shuffle Master for sponsoring!).

At 7pm on Sunday, development will cease and we’ll have ourselves a mini festival, with each team given an opportunity to show off their game. Prizes may be awarded, but don’t do this for prizes. Do this for The Art.

Game Jam Location:
Shuffle Master Interactive
4035 S El Capitan Way
Las Vegas, Nv 89147

Double Fine Adventure hits $1 million funded in less than 24 hrs.

Will this cut out the middle man entirely and kill the current publishing model? No. Tim Schafer, Ron Gilbert, and Double Fine have existing reputations, built in part with the coffers of publishers, that they were able to leverage to pull in such extraordinary funding in such a short amount of time.

Will this stir things up a bit in the industry? Oh hell yeah.

Seamus Blackley’s new team of Atari coin-op superstars aim for iPad. See also: The Founding Fathers of Video Games.

Fibonacci Game Design: Tips From A Combat Designer.

From Colette Bennett, the beginner’s guide to Japanese drama.

The Confederate Constitution: What was changed, and why?

Downtown Vegas is gonna get interesting. Tony Hsieh’s new $350 million startup.

Play this: Abobo’s Big Adventure, the Ultimate Tribute to the NES.

Bookmark this: Game Pitches, the repository for video game pitches and design documents.

Chad Concelmo writes lovingly on the joy of pinball.

Neo Geo Pocket Returns! New officially licensed portable device inclues 20 Neo Geo classics. It looks neat, but we want details! Details!

What if you died at 38 but no one found you for three years?

In August of last year, Mad Catz announced a series of Major League Gaming branded accessories. While the MLG logo emblazoned FightStick was simply a Tournament stick with new decals, the other product announcement got gamers’ attention: a new controller design with customizable inserts, allowing users to configure the layout according to their own preferences, potentially freeing the gamer from the sloppy and inaccurate clutches of the Xbox 360 dpad (and to be honest, the dpad was 90% of the reason I ordered the MLG Pro Circuit Controller).

Last week, the new controller finally shipped, and I’ve got a few solid days of testing in. How does it stack up against the competition?

First Impressions

Like most of the offerings since the Great & Sudden Mad Catz Quality Turnaround, the MLG controller feels solid and well-built. With the controller packaged in a two-sided flip up container with display windows, the unboxing experience is pleasant, reminding one that yes, I really did just pay $99 for a third party game controller.

But whatever. Kudos on the nice presentation, but is it any good?

Clockwise, from the top left:
PlayStation DUALSHOCK3, Razer Onza, Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller, and Xbox OEM controller.

Where controllers are concerned, I’m an Xbox apologist. The OEM 360 controller is one of the most comfortable I’ve used, is arranged smartly, and aside from the horrible dpad, features generally excellent buttons and sticks all around. The PlayStation controller, on the other hand, has an awkward legacy design that feels too small for my hands and convex sticks positioned too close to each other, but a responsive dpad and face buttons.

The Mad Catz and Razer controllers take design cues from the 360 controller, with each improving on its deficiencies in differing ways. Both controllers resolve the slow-turn issue that some have seen with the OEM sticks, with the Onza going a step further, letting the user adjust the stiffness of the sticks via a twisting torsion control.

Mad Catz, on the other hand, has done something entirely new, allowing the user to completely remove and relocate the two sticks and dpad (the face buttons cannot be swapped out), rearranging them into preferred positions or replacing them entirely with new variations that are expected to be released sometime soon. Assuming the next console revision doesn’t change up the controller scheme, I can see gamers using the Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller well into the next generation.

Both Razer and Mad Catz have relocated the Start and Back buttons, the Razer’s positioned at the bottom of the controller face, the Mad Catz’ up top, just above the Guide button. While each lessens accidental presses, I find the Razer Start/Back buttons easier to reach and more convenient for games that use them often.

Buttons & Triggers

I like the bumper and trigger buttons on both the Onza and MLG Pro Circuit Controller. The assignable extra set of bumpers on the Razer are fun to have around (I usually have the top right mapped to Back, for example), but I haven’t found myself missing them in any way on the MLG controller. There were rumors for a time that the MLG would feature the ability to swap trigger/bumper assignments, but there’s nothing of the sort in the final version. Sure, it would’ve been a nice touch (Hi Dark Souls!), but the lack of such an option isn’t a deal breaker.

Bonus! Fan of the Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller? Here’s a 1680×1050 desktop background version of the above image.

The face buttons on the Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller feel very much like the 360 OEM setup, with comparable button travel and resistance. I’ve never really had a problem with the 360 buttons, and these are just as serviceable in use.

The Razor Onza microswitch buttons, on the other hand, are extremely sensitive and tactile, requiring only the slightest touch to activate. They do take a bit of getting used to, and even after months of use I still occasionally fumble in games that have both tap and press to hold actions assigned to the face buttons (hi Skyrim!). I can see some gamers preferring them over the OEM and Mad Catz buttons, but I give the edge to Mad Catz here.

One other minor point: the Razer face buttons are backlit, while the Mad Catz are not.

Sticks

The Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller ships with two pairs of sticks: one concave dimpled set, matching the Xbox standard, and one textured convex set, similar in feel to those on the DUALSHOCK 3.

As far as I can tell, both sets function exactly the same and are roughly the same height, so choosing one or the other will depend entirely on your comfort preferences. I like the concave dimpled sticks, myself.

Dpad

Thank you, Mad Catz, thank you!

Not only has Mad Catz been kind enough to give us two dpads – an Xbox style one-piece over the base dpad and a PS3 style separated nubs under the base dpad – but both of them are good! While I prefer the PS3 DUALSHOCK 3 pad mounted in the Xbox position, both are responsive, accurate, and well constructed. A notable improvement over the original (and the Razer), I can’t say enough good about ‘em.

Razer tried, bless their hearts, but the Onza dpad is as bad as the one on the OEM Xbox 360 controller, just in an entirely different way. While the 360 dpad is sloppy and inaccurate, the Onza dpad is clunky with a ridiculous amount of travel. Sure, it’s great for weapon switching or to call up menus, but for games that use the dpad as a primary means of control, it’s awful. That’s unfortunate, as the rest of the controller is so well designed.

Accessories

The MLG Pro Controller ships with an entire extra set of magnetic plates that attach to the face and grips of the unit, letting the user choose between the lightly textured matte or shiny smooth plates. I prefer the matte plates, and set aside the shiny ones for a paint job sometime in the future.

A quick note about cables. Thanks to Microsoft’s stranglehold on their wireless format and the baffling disdain of the hardcore towards wireless, both the Razer and Mad Catz controllers are wired. They each make up for this with extra-long braided cabling, with the Mad Catz MLG Controller going a step further, allowing the user to unscrew and detach the cable completely for storage. A good idea in theory, but in practice, the extra bulk of the cable attachment brings the center of gravity on the MLG Controller too far forward. Luckily, this can be mostly counteracted by the included weights that fit in where the battery on a wireless controller would go. I’ve found the best balance by using only the rear-most weight, but I’m sure everyone will have their own preference.

Speaking of weight, out of the other three controllers, I believe the DUALSHOCK3 is the lightest, followed by the Onza, with the Xbox OEM the heaviest of the bunch. Without any of the weights added, the Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller sits somewhere in the middle, but once the two 35g weight cartridges are in place, it’s noticeably heavier than the others.

To complete the package, Mad Catz includes an MLG-branded case to store the controller and all your extra bits in. The compartment walls are velcro so you can rearrange them as you please, and the case is padded enough to keep everything fairly secure.

So is the Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller worth $99? The OEM 360 controller is by no means a bad controller. If you have no complaints with it, then hell, keep what you’ve got and game on. But if you do, and if you have no problem spending a little extra on a quality piece of kit, chances are that Mad Catz has resolved your issues with the release of the MLG Pro Circuit Controller. You’ll be happy with this one.

Honestly, my only real complaint with the Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller (if you can even call it a complaint) is that it doesn’t magically work with both the PS3 and Xbox 360. That’s a shame, as it means I’ll probably end up doling out another hundred bucks down the road for the PS3 compatible version. What can ya do.

Is it worth the upgrade cost if you already have a Razer Onza? If you cherish the idea of a quality XBox 360 dpad, or want nothing more than the PS3 stick layout on your 360 controller, then yes, it absolutely is. Otherwise, aside from the input swapping, the Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller does lack the bells and whistles of the Razer Onza. I don’t miss them, but your story may be different, so try to get your hands on one for a few days to give it a shot before buying. Still, I have a feeling that if you’re currently watching the controller landscape even after owning an Onza, you’ll probably end up siding with the Mad Catz.

On that day, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will be holding a hearing to examine the impact of DNS and search engine blocking on the Internet community and related industry. The Senate will be voting on PIPA on January 24th. See americancensorship.org for more information on these bills and how to get involved.

If you’ve got a WordPress blog and want to join in, I recommend installing the SOPA Blackout plugin. It’s dead simple to set up, replaces your content for the day, and spits out a 503 so that search engines don’t freak out.

Both SOPA and PIPA undermine the core structure of the Internet, and pave the way for even more nefarious uses of censorship in the future. Contact your representative, and help us defeat these bills!

Update: SOPA has been shelved! Unfortunately, PIPA is still moving forward, so we’re not quite there yet.

Hey look, Kotaku did a Total Recall featuring my Divers Dreamcast.

The Atari History Book just met its funding goals, but the Kickstarter campaign still has a week remaining. Go back it and help those guys write about our nerd history.

Oh, oh! The 2012 IGF Finalists were announced!

Practical advice on what to expect from your Tumblr.

Battle Royale is finally coming to Blu-Ray in March. Suck it, Hunger Games!

“Eels always look like they just told a joke and are waiting for a reaction.”

Note that this list is in no way exhaustive – consider these my recommendations.

Arts District

Artifice (map)

One of my personal favorites and an anchor of the Arts District, Artifice was built by Westwood Studios co-founder and gallery owner Brett Sperry. Cozy and spacious (these aren’t contradicting when applied to Artifice), the bar features great art, a strong DJ lineup, and a friendly crowd.

Be sure check out Bar + Bistro next door while you’re in the area.

Fremont East

Insert Coin(s) (map)

Arcade slash bar slash nightclub, Chris LaPorte’s Insert Coin(s) continues to draw a big crowd, so don’t be surprised to see a line on a busy night. Arcade games and consoles surround a large glowing bartop, with a DJ station and dance floor in the back. Only place I know where the table service might include a copy of Mario Kart alongside the vodka and mixers.

Downtown Cocktail Room (map)

Right across from the Fremont St Experience, near the corner of Fremont and Las Vegas Blvd. Modern decor, moody lighting, and often a DJ spinning house or downtempo. DCR has fancy drinks by actual mixologists, and their Bloody Mary is damn good if you’re the sort that likes salad in your alcohol.

The Griffin (map)

More cozy to DCR’s swanky, but often catering to similar crowds, this is the place where Harry Potter would go to get laid. Brick and leather interior, a nice firepit, and good music, especially if you’re a fan of the band Metric.

Beauty Bar (map)

Yep, we’ve got one here too. Right around the corner from the others listed above, on Fremont. Mmm, hipsters. Once you’ve have your fill of the live music and PBR, walk two doors east and grab something to eat at the newly-opened Le Thai.

Continuing on Fremont East, there’s also Vanguard Lounge, The Beat (great for hangover coffee, too!), Maharaja Hookah Cafe, Don’t Tell Mama, and Azul Tequila.

Downtown

The Lady Silvia (map)

Located in the Soho Lofts just south of Fremont, this new entry brings library chic to the downtown drinking scene. Walkable from the Arts District bars above.

Frankie’s Tiki Room (map)

A newer bar by P Moss (owner of the Double Down), Frank’s Tiki Room is a tiny place just west of Las Vegas Blvd, on Charleston. As the name suggests, it’s wall to wall tiki, with a menu full of custom drinks. Possibly enchanted.

Huntridge Tavern (map)

Wanna get the hell away from the rest of the tourists and see what a real Las Vegas dive bar is like? Here’s your bar. Open all night, the bartenders are friendly and the drinks are dirt cheap. While the HT can be slow during the week, weekend nights are usually hopping.

Central

Double Down Saloon (map)

Happiest place on earth! On Paradise nuzzled right within the closest thing Vegas has to a gay district… kick ass jukebox, and an excellent alternative during CES if the downtown bars are slammed. Always a good vibe, even with Alfonzo and the midget porn gone.

Dino’s (map)

Wondering where everyone goes after the bars on Fremont East shut down for the night? If not bed, chances are they’re at Dino’s. One of the oldest bars in town, Dino’s is known for its Thur-Sat karaoke and cheap drinks. Hit up Tiffany’s across the street for some late night grub when you’re done.

Peppermill Fireside Lounge (map)

It’s the Peppermill, been here for years and years. It has a fountain that is also on fire. Due to it’s Strip location, expect it to be crazy busy over CES, unless you go around 3am (which, to be honest, is really the only time one should be visiting the Peppermill).

9) Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

8) Bastion

7) Virtual-On OT

6) Bayonetta

5) Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection

4) El Shaddai

3) Beyond Good & Evil HD

2) Amnesia: The Dark Descent

1) Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

Hey all, we made a puzzle game called CircuitBreaker, and it made its way to the App Store last night!

It’s free, so give it a shot, and let me know what you think.

Here’s the marketing bit.

• Over 150 levels
• Three board sizes with increasing difficulty, from the fast-paced 5×5 to the challenging 9×11
• Oh, and FREE level updates!

BONUS: The game is ad supported, and we’ll be donating a third of studio revenue for the rest of the year to Child’s Play, a charity that everyone in the studio is a big fan of.

(and hurray, my first official credit as a designer)

If you are a press type, send me a note and I’ll get you hooked up with a review copy.

It’s exciting to see the game finally nearing release, and Joseph Hewitt, the lead designer on the project, has really done a hell of a job wrangling Highborn to completion. I’ll be showing off the title at E3, and giving away promo codes to bloggers and press, so hit me up if you’d like to see it for yourself.