Comment Two Sparks Further Elation

A second comment has been made on Dangerous Gaming. Readers wonder: Will every comment warrant its own article?

For the time being, the answer is yes - every time someone comments on this blog, a witty retort will be made by the author in the form of an article. The articles will quote the comment:

Either you're way too excited over one comment or there's so much sarcasm my brain can't even process it all.

And then bring the funny. The funniness brought in the article will have a direct, positive correlation with the funniness that was brought in the original comment. Like a used carpet salesman, I will not be undersold. So please folks, bring your repartee and get ready to partee. Wow, that one sounded better in my head. Anyway, thanks for the input sis. How's that art I asked for coming? This place still looks like a shi... I'll call you tomorrow.

Dangerous Gaming's Popularity Swells Among the Proletariat

It's official, Dangerous Gaming is the world's most talked about blog.

Break out the champagne and cheese puffs, we've received our very first comment on Dangerous Gaming! Blog creator, Chris "Danger" Lewis, noticed the comment notification in his in-box at 7:33 EST on Sunday, March 30th, in the year of our Lord, 3008. He immediately hopped into his DeLorean, booted up the flux capacitor, and shot back in time precisely 1000 years to create the article that you are currently enthralling yourself on.
The comment was posted by anonymous, and was in response to an article on the death of the PS2. While the identity of the poster will most likely go unsolved for years to come, speculation runs rampant throughout the offices of Dangerous Gaming. Was it William Mark Felt? Aliens? Perhaps something even more sinister? (In all likelyhood it was Alex Hufford, a smarmy relative of the author). Whatever the case may be, the implications for the future of the site are clear: Dangerous Gaming will go down in history as the coolest site I've ever created.
The comment itself was largely positive, although further sarcasm analysis will have to be made to verify the sincerity of the content. Anyway, without further ado, here's the comment in full, glorified forever in cyber ink on the pages of Dangerous Gaming:

Oh my god a Shakespeare reference! This is hands down the best videogame site I've ever seen, bar none.

Well there you have it folks, the site is a hit. Investors please direct your inquiries to Chris "Danger" Lewis.

The Taming of the PS2

Prepare yourself for the death of a king. Wait, he's been dead for how long?

I was just thinking about the PS2 and how, until fifteen minutes ago, it was still the best-selling console. Remember that Target sale a while back? Yeah that was awesome. But as much as it has resisted, it looks like Sony's wunderkind (I knew what that word meant before I wikied it, did you?) is finally going quietly into that cold night.

Actually, it looks like the analysts called it a long time ago. I guess I'm behind the times. Well, how about a moment of silence for the undisputed champion of the sixth generation of consoles? Oh, and I hope everyone caught the sly title. I've been feeling punny lately. I apologize.

The Long Bomb: Will 2008 See the Revenge of the PS3?

Sony is looking good for the first time in a while. Blu-Ray has won the HD format wars, some big titles are finally coming to fruition this year, and Sony just reported going into the black after two years of seeing red. It seems that the PlayStation 3 could turn it all around this year.

The slick black machine is gaining momentum in sales and the Wall Street Journal is calling the company's stock a good investment for bargain hunters. It's not going to be easy, but the PS3 could feasibly climb out of last place in the console wars by 2009.

Several factors are going to play a part in making or breaking Sony in the next year. Clearly software is going to be the number one issue, and with many upcoming titles to choose from, it looks like Sony is covered on that front. From multi-platform games like GTA 4 and Fallout 3 to the all-important exclusives Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance 2, LittleBigPlanet, and Killzone 2, the PS3 looks to have a definite edge in the coming year.

Another important factor is going to be the release of Home. The PS3 has come under fire for its lackluster online support, but Home could step up to challenge Xbox Live when it launches this Spring. Smaller refinements are showing up as well, including better PSP support and the upcoming release of a true DualShock controller. While these may not be console movers when taken alone, they can certainly go a long way in making a $400 purchase more palatable.

Developers are also showing less fear when working with the PS3, with one going as far as to call it "crazy-easy". Look for that to cut down on release differences between multi-platform titles in the near future, both in terms of delays and graphical discrepancies.

It's not all sunshine and roses though. The PS3 has its work cut out for it, and it's going to be an uphill battle to dethrone Microsoft's reigning Xbox 360 or Nintendo's family-friendly Wii. As much as Sony has denied it in the past, market share is the name of the game; as of this writing, they just don't have the numbers. That said, the PS3 has been closing the gap recently and seems poised for a strong comeback. We'll just have to wait and see. Whatever happens, one thing is for sure – 2008 is going to be one awesome year for PS3 owners.

Coming Soon on Dangerous Gaming

Some killer articles are coming, just you wait.

In the next week I'm going to break down Sony's potential win in 2008, give some impressions on Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness for the PSP, and maybe even wax philosophical while ruminating about the recent death of the PS2. Okay, maybe it hasn't been that recent, but still. Also, I'm hoping for some more artwork from the art staff (read: my sister) to spruce things up around here. Stay tuned.

Something Dangerous: The Chains of Olympus

Well it's a day late and a dollar short, but here's my review of God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP. Okay, so if you own a PSP you owe it to yourself to pick this game up. If you don't, you should rush out and get the special edition that comes with some sweet Kratos art on the back. Yeah, it's that good.

The game features as epic an opening level as any of its PS2 big brothers; that's pretty amazing considering the hardware limitations. It's no stretch to say that this game looks like an early PS2 game. The animations are smooth as silk and the frame rate keeps up in all but the stickiest situations. Make no mistake, Chains of Olympus is a true God of War experience right there in the palm of your hand.

Salivation aside, I should admit that the game is short – I clocked in at about five and a half hours and I'm no speed-runner. It's a damned meaty five hours, with all the action and carnage that you've come to expect from the series, but for those that tend to only play a game through once, that's a major sticking point.

Anyway, the boss battles still feel larger-than-life, especially the cave-troll looking thing at the beginning. The combat system has made the transition intact, with few concessions. The only problem of note on that front is the quick time events – the rapid button commands work flawlessly, but forget about it when it comes to nailing the required joystick rolls. They were hard enough on a DualShock, and the PSP's tiny nub just isn't up for the challenge.

It's few faults aside, Chains of Olympus is hands down the best PSP game released. Ever. At least until Crisis Core comes out (which is today, so you PSP owners out there are probably already revisiting Midgar as I write). Anyway, look for my review of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII as soon as I get some cash together (readers should feel free to contribute to my funds. You laugh, but since my Mom's probably the only one reading this now anyway, I've got a real good chance.).

PS3 Blu-ray Update Announced for Release in March

Playstation 3 owners are about to get a little more functionality for their Blu-ray capable machines in the next couple of weeks. Sony just announced the release of a new firmware update that promises increased interactivity through the use of the new BD Live format and a slew of new features.

Those that have been aching for better Blu-ray support will be pleased to find downloadable content among the new refinements. Users should be able to check out trailers and download ringtones with the new firmware, version 2.20.

The much touted BD Live format already has several compatible titles on shelves now, including War and Saw IV, with Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6^th Day slated for release in early April. Disney has also committed to future releases with BD Live functionality.

The update will include “resume play”, a feature that allows a movie to start from the last point stopped, even when the disc has been removed from the PS3.

For those that don't care so much about the Blu-ray aspect, Sony hasn't forgotten you. The update will increase the PS3's browser speed, making pages load faster. Rounding out the package is an audio output feature, allowing PSP owners to remotely control music played over the PS3.

Blu-ray is far from finished from a developmental viewpoint. Continuing research on disc layering looks like a viable option for increasing storage capacity and that's going to go a long way in increasing the format's longevity. In any case, the PS3 still appears to be the strongest buy in terms of a Blu-ray enabled machine; right now it's the only player capable of online firmware updates. 2008 just gets better and better for Sony. And the plot thickens.

Welcome to the Danger Zone

Hello and welcome to Dangerous Gaming, the most important video game blog on all of the internets. Whether you're looking for fresh industry news or reviews of the latest hits, you've come to the right place. I'll be your host, you can check out my bio above for some juicy gossip. Anyway, prepare yourself – this is going to be AWESOME...