Alan Wake, Remedy Entertainment’s 2010 thriller for the Xbox 360, is an interesting trip into the mind of an estranged writer. The game aims to keep you in suspense throughout it’s duration, but does it hit it’s mark?

Pros

Presentation – Alan Wake brings an episodic television series style presentation to the Xbox 360, something that hasn’t really been done before. Each episode starts with a recap of the story so far and ends with a title card and credits. While this may sound gimicky at first, it leads to a pop-in and play style for those who need to put the game down for a little while. Couple this with a cinematic camera and riveting cutscenes, and you have a product that trumps most series on television today.

Atmosphere – I’ll admit, Alan Wake made me scream and jump out of my seat on many occasions. With enemies popping out of the woods at every dark corner and musical red herrings around every corner, Alan Wake can and will keep you on the edge of your seat when it wants you to. Darkness is your enemy here as you scramble to find sources of light to protect yourself against enemies. However, it’s not trying to stay alive all the time and even the sections where you’re interacting with NPCs in the daytime keep you hooked. Smart dialogue and an clever storyline keep you hooked from beginning to end and even encourage multiple playthroughs.

Combat – Combat in Alan Wake is very interesting as instead of your typical “pour bullets into anything that moves until it stops” horror affair, combat focuses on using light to fend off your enemies. Enemies in Alan Wake are powered by the dark, rendering them immune to physical harm. To defeat them, you’ll have to use flashlights, lamps, flares, a man in a diver suit, anything that will illuminate them and weaken them enough to take them out with your revolver (or any of the other guns available to Mr. Wake). It’s not an easy task either; enemy AI is smart and will play rough and flank you from every corner. You’ll have to keep your guard up if you plan to survive the night.

Cons

Controls – While I eventually was able to get a hang of Alan Wake’s controls, at first try I felt as if Mr. Wake controlled very stiffly. There’s a reluctance in his movements that’s very hard to describe, but for those who have played Max Payne will understand what I mean. Also, there are some moments in the game where come platforming are required and the stiff nature of Wake’s movements will drive you insane during these parts. Super Mario he is not.

Holes in my pockets – Listen, if you’re being attacked daily by evil supernatural forces that are weak against light, you’d do well to keep at least one flashlight on you. After almost every episode (and even after some major events during episodes), Alan loses his weapons and is forced to recollect them. Now I know this is done for the sake of game balance, but there had to be a better, more realistic way to do this (yes, I’m aware that I’m searching for realism in a game where darkness is trying to kill you). Not a major complaint, but it was a definite annoyance as time went on.

Ending – The story of Alan Wake is a very interesting tale. However, it’s abrupt ending will keep you puzzled and in some cases, completely frustrated. It’s not bad per say, but the fact that it hardly explains the chaos going on around Wake was slightly disappointing. Here’s to a sequel, I suppose.

Alan Wake, while not a must buy, is definitely a worthy of at least a try from just about everyone. Play it with the lights off and the sound up and you will not be disappointed.

Score: 8/10

Arcades in America are a thing of the past, a depressing fact for a generation of gamers who grew up with pocketfuls of quarters amongst dimly lit corridors of coin-op goodness. The dirt nap can be attributed to many factors: the emergence of online gaming, a lack of major releases for the arcade market, and even the decline of interest in arcades themselves to name a few. However, given the right investments and marketing, arcades can be brought back! Using elements from the few arcades that are still in business as well as learning from recent advancements in console gaming, I’ve composed some ideas and tips to help bring the arcades of yesterday into the future.

1. Arcades do not always need to be in malls.

You can find some of the last remaining arcades taking refuge in major malls across the country. While placing video games in an area with a high concentration of people seems like a great idea in theory, it seems to always leave these arcades with an identity crisis. On one hand, mall arcades try to please the hardcore gamer with random fighting games and maybe a version of Dance Dance Revolution or two; And on the other, you’ll typically find various ticket redemption machines for the younger set of children that are dragged to the mall by their parents. So you wind up with some lackluster Chuck E. Cheeze meets basement arcade hybrid that fails to please both camps and eventually finds itself sinking into mediocrity. There are successful arcades far removed from the malls that plague suburbia, such as Dave and Buster’s in NY and 8 On The Break in NJ, that use their unique locations to suit the audience around them instead of hopelessly trying to please everyone. These arcades create an identity for themselves, allowing them to create a reputation and draw attention from gamers in the area, and in some cases, worldwide.

2. Be unique

An arcade does not does not always have to be restricted to hosting just arcade machines, experiment. Take Tokyo Game Action in Winchendon, MA for example. Tokyo Game Action (henceforth known as TGA) focuses on Japanese theme, going so far as to import actual Japanese arcade cabinets and opening an in-house Japanese café. .While a costly endeavor, especially in today’s economic climate, it has payed off as TGA is currently in its 5th year of business! How? Because the owners of TGA gave their arcade a personality, something that the home gaming experience could not compete with. If more arcades could tap into a unique niche, they would gain back some of the leverage they’ve lost to the recent advancements of home consoles.

3. Classics are classics for a reason.

Pac-man, Centipede, Galaga, and Space Invaders. These were some of the original games that created and defined arcades in the early 70’s and 80’s. They’re classics that, unfortunately, are often dismissed by the current generation of gamers due to their dated graphics. And since these titles can’t seem to move customers into arcades and make money on their own, these classics are shelved for other money makers. However, there are still some arcades that aren’t afraid to go old school. Take 8 On The Break in Dunellen NJ for instance. Known for its various assortment of rhythm and fighting games, 8 On The Break (henceforth known as The Break) has never really turned its back from the classics, as you can find games like Galaga and Pac-man side by side with recent games such as Tekken 6 and Maximum Tune 3. Sure they may disappear from sight for a little while, but before you know it they come back, draining quarters out of pockets faster than Hummers at gas pumps. The simple and addictive nature of these games are perfect for both new arcades as they draw in those older gamers who wish the relive their glory days as well as those who’ve never held a joystick in their lives. Plus these games often end quickly, allowing many more players to drop coins in and play then other more competitive titles like Street Fighter IV. In fact, retro games are so popular and profitable in Japan, entire arcades dedicated to them! Classics gained their namesake because they’ve been able to stand the test of time and still have gameplay relevant for today’s gaming generation and to abandon them is a disservice to past and future gamers.

4. Form a community

Websites like Facebook and Twitter have made creating groups and organizations easy, and in addition sites like WordPress and Blogger allow users to create entire websites with a few simple clicks of a mouse. These tools are free and available for everyone, allowing any small business to promote themselves without much cost to their bottom line. Start a website, promote your arcade on gaming message boards, and start forming a community. Arcade owners need to utilize these tools in order to promote themselves on a global scale. And once the customers start coming in, you’ll need to keep them there. Run tournaments, have promotions and specialty nights, or come up with your own original ideas. The more you promote, the faster you create a personality and reputation for your arcade and separate yourself from the competition.

5. Don’t be cheap

Once you’ve decided to start up an arcade, don’t have a tight wallet. Keep your machines maintained and updated to the latest versions. No one is going to pay to play on broken and outdated games! Buy newly released games as soon as you can to drive traffic to your arcade and don’t be afraid to try out beta releases of new games. 8OTB was one of the first arcades to test out In The Groove, Roxxor Games entry into the rhythm game genre. The game caught on quickly with the fans and 80TB became synonymous with it as it was one of the only places in the country that carried it, bringing customers in from around the country.

6. You cannot compete with consoles.

Don’t overcharge. Arcades are generally competing with free gaming on consoles, so charging $1 for something players can get at home for nothing is not the greatest business model. Arcades such as The Break offer the latest and most popular games for as little as 25 cents. While charging this little is a risky move, but if you’ve picked the right location and promoted yourself correctly, then gamers will come out in droves! The arcade crowd has always been about competition. To them, there’s nothing like being able to literally go head to head with another player, and the excitement that this experience brings cannot be recreated by today’s consoles, no matter the advancements made in online gaming.

While the arcades of yesterday are long gone, their spirit remains. It’s up to the few arcades left in America to evolve and bring gamers back into those dimly lit corridors. I, and my pocketful of quarters, cannot wait.

Links to the various arcades I mentioned in this article:

www.thebreak.net

www.tokyogameaction.com

www.davesandbusters.com

Time Hollow for the Nintendo DS is Konami’s foray into the graphic adventure genre, a genre that’s starting to make a resurgence as of late on the DS due to its touch screen controls (see the Phoenix Wright series and Hotel Dusk Room 215, to name a couple). And while Time Hollow does have a nifty premise, it falls short on some major elements.

Time Hollow has you following the life of Ethan Kairos, a teenager with an everlasting bad hair day, as he searches for his parents who mysteriously disappear on his 17th birthday. In fact, Kairos’ whole world changes around him due to various disturbances in time, and it falls on him to use the mysterious Hollow Pen to correct these disturbances (that range anywhere from missing presents to outright murders) and restore order to the timeline. The storyline is engaging and deep due to the multiple parallel timelines you’ll discover as well as its strong narrative. There are even anime cutscenes for major events and these are both well animated and acted.

The key mechanic of Time Hollow revolves around the Hollow Pen, a mysterious pen Ethan finds on the day his parents disappear. The pen allows players to circle various areas of the game using the DS’ stylus, thus opening portals into the past in order to search for clues, see key events, and just generally fiddle around with the timeline. Of course, this power comes at a price, which is Ethan’s own lifespan. Overuse it, and the game is over.

But therein lies the major issue with Time Hollow: it’s way too easy. Not once in my playthrough did I even come close to using all of my life let alone get near a game over because the game just gives you way too much. Also, the puzzles are extremely linear and formulaic. You’ll find yourself repeating a similar routine for each one: cutscene, investigate, go to the library, investigate, open some portals, and repeat. After awhile the game seems to be playing itself as characters will literally just blurt out clues or solutions with little to no effort. Sometimes the game won’t even let you proceed further until you’ve talked to X person or visited Y place, even when they have nothing to do with the problem at hand!

And it’s a shame, as Time Hollow’s narrative and unique premise are severely hampered by mundane gameplay. Many other graphic adventure games survive because they have modified and evolved to suit today’s generation of gamers, a lesson that Time Hollow and Konami need to learn. I hope that if there’s a sequel, Konami will pay more attention and care because Time Hollow definitely deserves it.

When Epic Games first announced Gears of War 2, sequel to their 2006 smash hit, I was a bit skeptical. While I thoroughly enjoyed the first game, Gears of War did have some nagging flaws: a sometimes glitchy control scheme, multiplayer that was marred with bad connections and game breaking glitches, and a lackluster campaign mode. This time around, however, Epic has released a much more polished game packed with content and replayability.

Gears 2 actually adds something new to its campaign mode this time: a story. Marcus Fenix returns and takes the fight to the Locust in order to save Jacinto, the last human stronghold. Along the way, he reunites with the rest of Delta Squad, meets new allies and enemies, and helps Dom search for his missing wife Maria. The new campaign is fleshed out with some awesome atmospheric arenas (no more looking at dull caves for an entire game) and much needed character development as well as some truly epic moments that really show off not only the new advancements to the Unreal Engine 3, but also the war going on around you and your squadmates.

Of course, a story without good gameplay is nothing. Gears 2 carries over its control scheme from the first game. The cover system is refined for the most part (sometimes too refined. There were times where my character would stick to walls ten feet away instead of the car to my right) and combat is as fun as ever, adding some new weapons, new tricks (meatshields and grenades that now stick to walls), and refines the classic weaponry. Your squadmates are also a lot smarter and tougher now; the days of having three squadmates crying out for help every five minutes are far gone.

For multiplayer, new game types have been added such as Guardian, a modification of the Assassin gametype found in Gears 1 and Submission, a capture-the-flag type game where the flag is an AI bot with a very mean shotgun. The real treat here is Horde mode, a five player co-op mode that pits you and your friends against 50 waves of increasingly powerful Locust. You can now form parties a la Halo, making gaming with friends easier, and the addition of 5 on 5 combat makes things more tactical and exciting.

However, Gears 2 isn’t perfect. There is some glaring texture pop in at the outset of multiplayer games and throughout the campaign. Some scenarios, like the worm and tank missions, involve traps that are tedious and aggravating, and the last boss is a joke. Multiplayer glitches are starting to arise (including a very nasty one involving an invisible shield and a shotgun) and even after some patching, matchmaking can take up to twenty minutes to find a match.

Despite these issues, however, Gears 2 is an excellent sequel. While not as groundbreaking as its predecessor, Gears 2 refines its core gameplay and adds some new features that are sure to satisfy returning and new players alike.

SCIV is a serious piece of eye candy; characters spring to life with realistic movement and vibrant attacks without slowdown. Stages are robust and detailed, and even the main menus pop with excitement. The sound is superb—beating ancient warriors over the head with broadswords never sounded so good.

Soul Calibur IV looks fantastic in action (Photo from IGN.com)

Gameplay –wise, SCIV is akin more to SCII in terms of character balance and combat with some new elements thrown in. Fights are faster and fiercer then ever due to the new Soul Crush system; block too much and your guard will break, leaving you vunerable to a devastating combo or a round ending Critical Finish. The Xbox controller does its best to keep up, but serious fighters definitely want to invest in an arcade stick; sometimes the wobbly D-pad just can’t cut it. While the new armor breaking mechanics are fun, they don’t necessarily add a new dimension to combat and feel more like a cosmetic add-on included to make battles even more exciting. One big gripe about combat is that button mashing can get you pretty far in this game. There were times where I felt that mashing one button repeatedly was a better plan then actually learning combos. In addition, the AI in the single player mode isn’t very smart or attentive, falling victim to the same pattern of run, grab, run, grab.

With over 30 characters, Soul Calibur IV is a who’s who of the series, bringing in some new characters as well as a huge list of returning favorites. Unfortunately, some of the characters are clones of others and others just seem to be broken. Take Yoda for example. While The Apprentice is an excellent addition, Yoda is a three-foot flying assault weapon that can hardly be hit due to his quick and highflying combat style. He also can’t be thrown, making pinning him down even more impossible as well as making him extremly annoying to fight.

Yoda, while a fun addition, is just broken

SCIV also boasts a robust character creation system, so if you get bored with the main cast, you can create your own warrior. Unfortunately, you can only create characters based on existing fighters, so sometimes it feels as if you’re just creating new skins.

There are plenty of modes to enjoy for both online and off. Single players can take part in the usual arcade and story modes as well as a new survival type mode called the Tower of Souls. However, the main draw this go-around is definitely online play. During test runs, online play was fast and smooth with hardly any hints of slowdown, and challengers were readily available.

Soul Calibur is fun for newbies and veterans alike.

Fans of the series will be pleased, and new players will be happy with what they find. Soul Calibur IV is a solid addition to the series; intense gameplay, a smooth online experience, and a wide range of modes and customization make Soul Callibur IV a must-have for fighting game enthusiasts and other gamers alike.

Crisis Core changes a couple of things from its predecessor. To start, you’ll be taking the role of Zack, a member of SOLDIER, an elite fighting unit of the Shinra Corporation. And that’s it; there are no other party members that are joining you on your quest. Sure you’ll see familiar characters such as Cloud and Sephiroth, but they’ll never actually fight by your side.

Combat is repetitive and tiresome.

But that’s also in part due to the switch from the turn-based combat system of FF7 to Action RPG combat ala Kingdom Hearts with battles now functioning like the previously mentioned Hearts. You’ll navigate with the left and right bumpers through a menu consisting of various attacks, magic spells, and items while moving Zack around with the D-pad and attacking with X. And while a switch from the drawn out battles of console JRPGs sounds like a good idea, it’s actually the death kneel. What should be a fast and furious, combat based game turns into a race to see how many times you can mash the X button till you get bored and move to something else. Sure there are a lot of magic and materia combinations to use, but there’s no point when your sword does so much damage and is faster then any spell in the game. Also, the enemy AI will, for the most part, stand in place and let you pummel it to death.

Now to rectify this, I tried the game’s hard mode. Enemies hit harder, the sword is considerably weaker, and using magic for elemental weaknesses increases damage. This was going great until I started to get further into the game and up against enemies that would kill me in one hit. To rectify this, I tried some side-missions to level up, but that was no use as Crisis Core decided to venture from the normal leveling system and try a new approach which fails miserably.

Instead of a normal leveling and experience system, Crisis Core uses the DMW, a slot-like gauge placed in the lower left corner that spins constantly to determine character status, limit breaks, leveling for materia and Zack, and random summons. This takes character and item growth completely out of the players’ hands, completely negating any strategy the player would be able to input. It was aggravating to complete 15 or so missions only to level up my fire materia after the 14^th one. It’s a really frustrating system that really defies a lot of RPG rules, and while I’m all for trying new things, it’s really hard to not throw you’re PSP out the window after three hours of playing only to level up once.

Another hit to the game is the story: it has almost absolutely no relevance to FF7’s storyline in anyway. Don’t buy this game expecting some amazing plot revelation that will having you rushing to find FF7, besides the Nibelheim scene and the ending, this is primarily a story based on Zack and his adventure through soldier. While there is considerable character development for Zack as he progresses through his journey, the rest of the characters and some situations just felt out of place and rushed. I really couldn’t care for half of the characters and some where even thrown in for fan service, such as Yuffie’s random appearance in Wutai.

If only the game played as good as it looked.

And it’s a shame as this game had the potential to be a massive game for the PSP. The sound is top notch, the graphics are gorgeous for a handheld, and it’s a prequel to a beloved game. The stars were lined up for this one, but it misses the mark in big areas. I’m sure Final Fantasy fans will dig it, despite the flaws, but for everyone else it’s not worth the $40. The gameplay is flawed, the story is boring, and the mission system is just the same find-the-monster-and-kill-it missions.

Verdict: 2 out of 5

Bioshock begins with your character, Jack, on a plane that has an unfortunate trip into the ocean leaving you stranded. Several moments later, you find yourself trapped in Rapture, a failed underwater utopia created by menacing-but-well-spoken dictator Andrew Ryan. From then on it’s up to you to discover the secrets of Rapture as well as an escape from its’ insane, mutated inhabitants.

One the first things that players will notice are the stunning visuals that coat every nook and cranny of Rapture’s walls. The detail that was paid to the environment is amazing: neon signs stand out from the sullied surroundings, the water that drips unto screen when you’re underneath leaky faucets and ceilings; even the detail paid to your weaponry is pretty nifty, especially after you upgrade them a little bit.

The game also has a thick atmosphere patterned after the styles and décor of the 1950’s, giving it an old fashioned mobster movie meets horror flick vibe. Jukeboxes play old fashioned hits, the dialogue contains language and accents that fit the 50’s theme, and the violence and scares along the way will make you jump or just plain creep you out. It’s a welcome change of pace from the usual WWII or gritty, near-future FPS’ that are crowding the market nowadays.

Bioshock unique look and effects make it a stand out from the FPS crowd

Bioshock plays like your basic first-person shooter. Tapping the left or right bumpers on your controller allows players to quickly switch through weapons, while holding them will pause the action on screen so you can select them from a menu. The back triggers fire off either your selected weapons or activate your Plasmids, genetic altering chemicals that give you powers such as telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and the awesome power of shooting bees from your arms. There are a multitude of powers and upgrades for players to mix and match to their hearts content, allowing for players to dictate their own style of play.

And that is where Bioshock truly shines; it’s open-ended enough to allow players to play the game the way they see fit. Want to avoid confrontation? Hack security bots and cameras to have Rapture’s defenses do the dirty jobs for you. Enemies wearing heavy armor? Equip some armor piercing rounds and take them out or use an Enrage Plasmid and have the heavy brute take everyone else out. Some of those murdering splicers getting their feet wet? Electrocute their impromptu pool and take them all out in one shot. The choose-your-own-play aspect of Bioshock enhances replayability given it’s multitude of plasmids and playstyles, and ensures multiple playthroughs can be unique and refreshing.

However, while Bioshock is a great game, it’s not without its flaws. One of my biggest gripes with Bioshock is that there is no penalty to dying. There are vita-chambers scattered throughout the game that act like checkpoints so when you die you’ll respawn at the nearest chamber. The problem with that is that it makes even the tougher enemies really easy as players can just charge in, do as much damage as possible till they die, then respawn and finish them off. The hacking system is also relatively easy and simple, and while that’s fine for casual players, it’s a missed opportunity to add some depth and challenge for the more hardcore audience. Enemy AI also leaves something to be desired. Enemies will hardly ever work together or even take cover, making the majority of them easy pickings. It’s also a short game, averaging around three to five hours of playtime and while there are multiple endings, a well placed save could have smarter gamers net both easily.

Not so scary with unlimited lives

However. none of these flaws diminish or break the game in any form. Bioshock is still a great game that shows off the power of the Xbox 360. It’s got a great story, great controls, spooky atmosphere, and is just an absolute blast to play.

Verdict: 4 out of 5

Not to say that the new graphical style is bad. In fact it’s gorgeous, taking a weird art style that could only be described as a collision of Japanese anime and western comic books and bringing it to a pseudo 3D plane. The fighters are big (maybe even too big as some fighters, like Zangief, are personified by their exaggerated muscle mass), bright and colorful. The stages are very lively; some even have crowds and onlookers that react to the action on screen which is a nice touch that breathes life onto the screen. Special attacks explode with vibrant, detailed colors and crisp sound effects making SFIV not only a blast to play, but a spectacle to watch.

And it’s not all old school, four new characters have entered the world tournament this time around: C.Viper, an agent working for a mysterious organization using her wide array of gadgets for combat, Abel, an amnesiac fighter searching for his pass using his judo and grapple skills to cut through the opposition, El Fuerte, a high flying luchador relying on complex air grabs and flamboyant attacks, and finally Rufus, a bloated, exuberant martial artist who wishes to challenge Ken for the title of U.S. champ. These new faces bring with them fresh new strategies and attacks while not unbalancing the game play. They fit in as if they were in the lineup all these years.

But a fighting game lives or dies on its controls and I’m happy to say that SFIV keeps things simple using the same controls as its predecessors. One joystick for movement and six buttons (three for punches and three for kicks of varying strength and speed) make movements and command inputs quick and precise. The game’s hit collision has been reworked and is now as tight as the 2D incarnations. All the classic moves have returned as well: hadoukens, final atomic busters, flash kicks, you name it and it’s there in some shape or form. The game plays like classic Street Fighter save for one major addition in the form of the focus attack.

The focus attack allows for defensive and offensive counters

The focus attack (activated by pressing the middle punch and kick buttons simultaneously) is an attack, that once fully charged, can stun your opponent leaving them open for follow up attacks. But those are just the basics, the system gets deeper then that allowing players to cancel in and out of special attacks, ultra combos, and dashes. The focus attack ensures that there’s always a chance to come back from a beating and that matches are never felt to be one sided. The system is deceptively simple, but is complex and deep offering both offensive and defensive options without the burden of overwhelming new players while still rewarding those that take the time to master it.

SFIV runs at a fluid pace, never chugging no matter the amount of chaos occurring on screen. However, one gripe I have with the game is the speed of gameplay itself. This game is fast, maybe a little too fast and the change of pace is dramatic compared to Street Fighter 3: 3^rd Strike (the last 2D iteration of the series). The game is user friendly, but experts will soundly defeat new players swiftly. This isn’t a big problem for an arcade release, but a console release without an expansive online network of challengers may alienate casual players who are turned off from the idea of investing their time into learning SFIV.

All in all, Street Fighter fans new and old will be proud of this latest entry. It’s fast, furious, and most importantly: fun. This is definitely one of the must play fighting games of the year.

For being my first tournament, I wasn’t particularly nervous. I play fighting games because of competition, so as long as I had the chance to play new players I was fine. The venu, however, was small as it was in just one room and the tournament organizers didn’t seem to know what they were doing.

For those that are interested, here’s the game by game break down (I played as Slayer in all matches):

Round 1:

First round was against a Ky player. To be honest, he wasn’t that hard as his main weapon was a Vapor Thrust infinite that I’ve seen all too many times. Easy win.

Round 2:

A complete slaughter by my opponent who was using May. I have no real experience against a May player, so I didn’t know what to expect. My opponent capitalized on all of my mistakes and had some hard hitting combos involving dolphin loops and hard hits from the anchor. I didn’t have much of a chance.

Round 3:

Fighting a Baiken when using a close range character such as Slayer is not fun in the least. I lost the first round by a fair margin; every time I got inside I was countered and stunned. Second round I started using distance attacks and mix-ups to confuse my opponent, which allowed me to win. Third round I was getting smacked around, but I managed to pull off a comeback no-life win thanks to my mix up game.

Round 4:

Testament, with all his traps and weird attacks, is a tough fight in general. But I had played my opponent in casuals and memorized most of his moves. I kept the pressure on him, blew up his traps, and preceded to give a beat down.

Round 5:

Testament again. This time someone new and someone who knew exactly how to beat me. Another loss. I was eliminated.

Playing players from a different state with different styles is why I play fighting games. So it’s nice to see communities like the ones in Brooklyn get together to test each others skills and just generally come together for some old-fashioned fun. The days events definetly took me back to the arcades of old.

Now if only they could make an online community this cool. Hmmm…

Now,I am very competitive and I love to increase my own skill level in just about anything. But for some reason I haven’t been attracted to the tournament scene. Don’t get me wrong, one of my favorite youtube videos is of the Evo 3rd Strike match of Daigo vs Justin Wong. I just never seemed to have the time to dedicate toward traveling from tournament to tournament and perfecting my skills. But I’ve had a recent attitude and will be attending a tournament this Saturday in NYC.

I’ll let you all know how I do. Stay Tuned!