For some reason, I don't remember exactly why, I stumbled onto the concept of Antipatterns this weekend.  This is precisely the sort of "insider language with strong generalist implications" that I like to collect, and it gave me the grounding I needed to read this article here.  Riot Games' Design Director Zileas lays out a few pernicious, lingering design practices in clear language with solid examples.

Brenna took my Xbox and its grim Observator to a party, and when she returned near midnight, she didn't have it with her. She'd left it at the party because the gathered throng were so amused by Dance Central that she couldn't bear to withdraw their Funk Totem. When her friend Ellen brought it back the next day, she wanted to know if they could get one for their Xbox, or if you had to have some special version, or what. I don't know what the arrangement is between Microsoft and Harmonix; whatever it is, it can't possibly be commensurate with their contribution. "Free Dance Central" when you spend 25 dollars at Old Navy? When would Old Navy have ever been in striking range of those wretched Goddamned werewolves and sorcerers in Redmond?

This a comic about... Well, just read it. It's quick.

The pre-orders are going out, and the four disc set is now in stock.  2 Player did a fantastic job with the set, which I feel comfortable calling "exhaustive."  

Gabriel tried his hand at running an update of a classic D&D adventure for a group of players for whom 4th Edition is God's edition, with grim results. They aren't familiar with the casual obliterations that characterize the old ways. They know that earlier systems were byzantine, because I have shown them fairly standard tables that used to be completely ordinary player knowledge and seen them recoil as though from a serpent. But older modules of the "meat grinder" variety, modules designed to punish the most devious players, represent something far outside their experience.

I really like games from Telltale, so there wasn't a tremendous amount of deliberation when they asked to use Tycho in their new Poker Game Thingy.  Tycho as a character is the straight man, generally speaking, so at a table with so many strong personalities he's generally just sort of happy to be there.  Unless he's losing.  I have a lot of experience with that branch of the dialogue; hopefully you'll fare better.    

We believe, like every cognizant being, that progenitors should arbitrate the media consumption of the organisms they create. In other words, parents should parent. One sees this sentiment everywhere. As an axiom, it's incredibly compact. As a life edict, especially for enthusiasts of interactive media, it's somewhat more complex.

It’s pretty obvious that Kinect is not for me. Chances are if you’re reading this it’s not for you either. Like Sony with the Move, Microsoft has decided to set their sights on those Wii loving casual gamers. The only difference is that while Sony has made at least some concessions to the hardcore it doesn’t seem like Microsoft has.

As per usual, Mega64 isn't afraid to tackle the tough issues.

Our experience with Kinect voice commands was odd, powerful, almost unsettling. This is incredibly interesting as a piece of technology, and as a means of instructing technology to do what we want it to. You will have a variety of experiences with this device, some of which are truly fascinating, some of which don't work entirely, and some of which will make you believe every terrible thing you have read on the Internet is true.

Intel is giving away a huge pile of Shank-related stuff, including literal copies of the game Shank for the PC, and you can get your share of the aforementioned by heading over here and "entering to win" (as they say).  

When you're first learning a wargame, you might fudge some stuff. Maybe every model isn't, for lack of a better term, "painted." A styrofoam cup might do double duty as a hillock. This usually happens until it drives somebody so nuts that they flip out and get crafty.

Today is the day to get out and vote...for your favorite new Penny Arcade comic! Just hit this link and vote for your favorite:

Our last offering is the Queen of Bells. I’ve had a few requests for a wallpaper of the last panel and I hate to disappoint.

A long time ago, I made a song in the game Jam Sessions called My Belruel. The song is more or less about falling in love with your in-game character, but it's part of a larger story framework that already has several more songs to its credit. It's somewhat elaborate, but given Gabriel's execution today on Queen of Bells I think we're up to it. Would you like to learn more about this young woman? It can be simply arranged.