Archive for Category: Columns

  • Gamer Girlfriend: A Guide to D&D, Part II

    Columns Columns by Vangie Ridgaway on Comments4

    As with any other game, the first—and often most frustrating—step of playing Dungeons & Dragons is learning all the rules. This is most definitely not an easy task, since D&D rules are a bit more complicated than most other games. Remember in my last article, when I mentioned that the D&D rulebook was a “tome”? This was not, in fact, entirely accurate. The truth is that the D&D rulebook is actually several tomes. Apparently, the official creators of D&D like to revamp the rules every so often, and regularly put out new editions with formal changes and updates. Meanwhile, other people, whose identities I cannot comment upon except to say that they are most definitely not the official creators of D&D, are also putting out their own volumes. For example, the last several campaigns I have played in were based on a book called Pathfinder, which is an unofficial “streamlined” version of the Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 Edition Rulebook. But hey, it’s not so bad, right? At least you just have to deal with one book that serves as the bible for your campaign!

  • Quantum Geek: Episode 22 – Epiphany

    Columns Columns by Michael Ridgaway on

    “So Emmi,” said Tom, “this ‘giant confrontation’ we need to distract the bad guy. What would that entail?”

  • Captain Eric’s Psychic Thumb Feature Presentation

    Columns Columns by Eric Regan on

    PSYCHIC! THUMBS! PSYCHIC! THUMBS! Here they are, at last! Oh yeah. It has been MUCH too long since you fine people, you fine CHOSEN people (which of course means that you chose to click this link!),

  • Minus the Pudding: The Best of Xbox Live Indie Games

    Columns Columns by Paul Franzen on Comments2

    Some of you may be familiar with the Game Developers Conference—that's where developers from all around the world gather to build new friendships, share ideas with one another, swap war stories, and, in general, work together hand-in-hand to realize the full potential of videogames as an art medium. Hah-hah! I'm kidding of course; it's actually just another way for people to promote and sell videogames. It's like E3, only with more pretension; or, it's like PAX, only with a lot more pretension. It's not without its highlights, though, and one of the highlights of this year's conference was a panel on none other than Xbox Live Indie Games. (At least, I assume it was one of the highlights. GameCola, as typical, didn't get an invite, probably because we do things like call it pretentious.)

  • Versus Mode: Negativity, Videogames as Art, Guitar Hero’s Death, and More

    Columns Columns by GameCola on Comments9

    GC writers Mark Freedman and Stuart Gipp discuss negativity in gaming, videogames as art, the death of Guitar Hero, and more.

  • The Ten Reasons: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

    Columns Columns by Matt Jonas on Comments2

    Welcome to "The Ten Reasons," where I discuss ten reasons why I like or dislike a particular game... Wait a god-darned minute! I'm not Michael Gray! Whose responsibility is this article now, anyway?T

  • Quantum Geek: Episode 21 – Fun With Pronouns

    Columns Columns by Michael Ridgaway on

    “Rick, just what the hell is going on?”

  • Gamer Girlfriend: A Guide to D&D, Part I

    Columns Columns by Vangie Ridgaway on Comments12

    Not all gaming has to be electronic. Over the last year or so, I’ve been making my first forays into table-top gaming, which is another way of saying that, yes, I now know how to play Dungeons and Dragons. Well, kinda. It’s a steep learning curve. When I think of “game rules”, I think of the stapled 4-6 page pamphlets that come with most board games. The D&D rulebook, on the other hand, is a hardbound, 200+ page tome. And that’s only the latest edition.

  • Gamera Obscura: Sonic Eraser

    Columns Columns by Jeff Day on Comments1

    I'M TRYING TO DRAW A SELF-PORTRAIT, AND IT'S NOT GOING VERY WELL.

  • The Ten Reasons: Space Quest Collection

    Columns Columns by Nathaniel Hoover on

    Ten reasons why Space Quest is the best thing to ever scar you for life.