Feature: Child’s Play: Gamers Unite for a Good Cause

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

It’s pretty awesome to have a charity for gaming minded-folks that also helps out hospitalized kids. If you’re feeling generous this holiday season, Child’s Play is a great cause. Plus it was formed by the folks over Penny Arcade, which is killer. Seriously, go read the comics and the witty write-ups, it’s like a +13 Sword of Funny (+20 vs Gamers) aside the head.

Anyhow, I wrote up a feature on Child’s Play for What They Play which can be read over there. I urge you to check it out and consider making a donation.

Top Downloadable Games October 2010

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“The spooks and specters are out and about this month, which means the holiday gaming season is almost upon us. With lots of big blockbuster titles recently released and many others great games set to launch in the coming weeks, there’s a lot to be excited about. But don’t forget about the tasty downloadable goodies awaiting you as well! This month’s downloadable games selection has us hunting for candy in crazy costumes, hopping through scores of comics, rhythmically blasting robots in space, and head-banging with some baddies.”

Ok, I’ve neglected to post each installment here over the past few months, but my monthly downloadable games column is still going strong over at What They Play. Check out the October installment here.

Top Downloadable Games August 2010

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“Summer has faded away, and school is back in session, but that hasn’t stopped the flow of great downloadable games. In this month’s exploration of downloadable gaming delights, we jump into high speed racing boats, corral strange monsters on a dangerous planet, pummel 8-bit baddies to win a girl’s affections, and explore a mirror-image kingdom.”

Check out the full column here at What They Play.

StarCraft II: 6 Things Parents Should Know

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“It’s been many years since StarCraft first took players by storm, but the lengthy wait for the highly anticipated follow-up to the original is now over. As thousands of players flock to StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and dive into this dark sci-fi real-time strategy game, parents will no doubt hear about it from their kids sooner or later. After spending many hours waging war against the Zerg, Terran, and Protoss forces, we’ve put together six important things parents should know before deciding whether to purchase the game for the household or their kids.”

Check out the full article here at What They Play.

Top Downloadable Games June 2010

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“Summer is officially here, and the month of June brings with it some seriously hot downloadable games to match rising temperatures and sunny weather. If you need a break from the bright sun, there are plenty of cool new gaming downloads to check out for every system. Get ready for action this month, as we blast colorful gems, pull off daredevil bike stunts, incinerate space garbage, and dogfight with classic cartoon characters.”

Check out the full column here at What They Play.

Top Downloadable Games May 2010

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“The warmer season is ramping up into full swing, prompting many folks to venture outside for some fresh air, T-shirt temperatures, and pleasant sun. But when the inevitable rainy spells and cold snaps put a damper on the many delightful outdoor activities that summer brings with it, there’s still plenty of downloadable gaming fun to explore. This month we ride along with rocket-powered possums, shred carpet in tiny remote controlled race cars, go jogging with Commander Video, and bust out some silly kung-fu moves.”

Check out the full column here at What They Play.

Dead to Rights: Retribution – 6 Things Parents Should Know

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“Once a grand metropolis full of thriving commerce and industry, Grant City has long since fallen under the thumb of numerous gang factions bent on causing havoc and mayhem throughout the darkened streets. Retribution re-imagines the original plot and gameplay of the original Dead to Rights on modern consoles. As Jack Slate, an ex-marine turned vice cop, you’ll get sucked into a personal quest to strike out at the numerous gangs and other scum responsible for dragging the city into the toilet. You’ll also pursue your goals with the help of Shadow, a large, powerful, and lethal dog who accompanies you throughout the game.”

Check out the full feature here at What They Play.

Feature: Great DSiWare Games for Kids

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“This month marks the one year anniversary of the launch of Nintendo’s DSiWare service, and with multiple new releases coming out each week since it made its debut, there’s a ton of games currently available to dive into along with new ones on the way. Modeled after the popular WiiWare service for the Wii, DSiWare features a variety of smaller, cheaper downloadable handheld games created by large and small developers alike. The past year has seen some excellent and affordable titles launched through DSiWare, and parents will be happy to know that the vast majority of these games are all-ages friendly. Here’s a selection of some of the best DSiWare games available for kids and adults alike.”

Check out the full feature here at What They Play.

Feature: All About XBLA

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“Xbox Live is kind of like the granddaddy of online downloadable gaming services on home consoles. It first launched on the original Xbox, allowing players to access online play and game downloads from home, and was reborn in a snazzier format with the launch of the Xbox 360. It’s been around for many years now and only seems to get better with age, thanks to steady updates and new features. If you own Microsoft’s gaming console, you’d be remiss not to check out the downloadable games available. Here’s what you need to know to get started!

Check out the full feature, which is geared towards newcomers to the Xbox 360, here at What They Play.

Top Downloadable Games March 2010

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Nathan Meunier

“The month of March is so jam-packed with hotly anticipated downloadable games that it was a real challenge to decide which games to highlight this time around. While there are quite a few other excellent games worth checking out that didn’t make it onto our list, this month’s gaming download picks cover some diverse ground. Fire up your high-speed internet connections and get ready for sports enthusiast blobs, rampaging hotrods, magic doodles, and murder mysteries.”