Today marks a moment I personally would never want to announce... But as it is, here I am, announcing something most painful to me and a great burden to the rest of the community. Because today marks the day we've lost a great member of the community, an active Destructoid member since the days I first started lurking this site. As some of the regular IRC members knew, Vexed_Alex has a drinking problem, one that we would make jokes of, but ultimatly cost him his life. We're so sorry to hear that one of Destructoid's original members have passed away.

So, in memory of Vexed_Alex, our prayers are with you and your family,

Here's a picture I snapped of the celebrations in Miami of Mr. Destructoid looking thoughtfully towards the future.



<3 U Guys

Since this months theme is about "Expanded Universes" I'll argue that games and the stories or shows created about them to be a planet... Consider that a planet's pull is proportional to its mass. So, more spin-off material makes a larger, more engaging experience.
A proper story line, and enough questions in need of answers are reasons I like turning to the serial novels etc. of an exceptional title. The trash aside (Books all for profits and catalysts to sell more copies,) good material is like a mini-history lesson, drawing a parallel line over top a story, and succeeding to expand on things that dialog, cut scenes and character development alone could fail. As a learning tool, the expanded universes bring lore and mythos to an otherwise linear experience of what you see is how things are.



Yes the poem came before the game, but to appreciate the latter you should read it.


I think an excellent use of expanded universes is to fill in the blanks in a story that won't fit in the main theme. It's a lot to digest, but it might also give you a better understanding of your protagonist, his companions, the enemy, and the world you have to survive in.. Breaking the immersion by a sudden unexplained circumstance, or event, is awful. It's arguably easier to succeed against an opponent you understand. Likewise the battle is all the more immersive knowing the history of the war.





Bioshock expands it's own game with it's audio logs. This use of a storytelling device like it in other games was rare. The tapes answered questions and revealed story elements otherwise outside of the scope of Bioshock's scenarios. I only argue the tapes being too much of a crutch. I'd eat up every printed word I could find on Rapture... Bioshock 2 should be a book.





As horrible a movie Street Fighter: TLOCL is, I can sum up the point of this post using it as an example. Because it was made, my experience of Street Fighter IV is made better because of it.
With more backstory, you're sure to immerse yourself further in a game.

As CaffienePowered is busy and ScottyG is in New York, your friend Chooly will be making the TF2 FNF post:

No new maps tonight, but expect the usual awesome group of people to be there,

8pm central (that'd be 9pm Eastern, 2am moon-time)

---Standard Info For Everyone---

Map Pack 5: you can direct download here, or torrent here.

Again, if you would like to get placed on the reserved slot list, please POST YOUR STEAMID HERE. Your reserved slot is a privilege, not a right, and asshattery will get it revoked.


Time: 8pm Central (2am UTC)
Server: brbuninstalling.com #1 [FastDL|Customs|HLStatsX|Voting]
IP: 8.12.20.112:27015
Password: littlecart

Spill-Over Server:
Server: brbuninstalling.com #2 No Crits
IP: 18.243.2.105:27015
Password: N/A

Spill-Over-Over:
Server: brbuninstalling.com #3 European Server [HLStatsX|Voting]
IP: 217.115.196.210
Password: N/A

Spillover Instructions:
1) Join the overflow server
2) Open the server browser menu, double click on server #1 and click 'auto-retry' and then click 'join as soon as a slot is available'.
3) Hit Esc to close the menus, this will allow you to continue to play TF2 while you wait for a slot to open.

This is a second reminder for the Dtoiders living in or around Ontario, the member group list is growing and if you haven't already added your name to the list then post in the comments to join the Prestigious Dtoid Ontario group!

INCOMING COPY-PASTA

The Original Forum Post is Here
Post a comment here if you live in Ontario to have your name added to the list of Dtoid Ontario members, if your house could be host a NARP (wealthy loft-dwellers with impressive bars will be considered first.) let us know as well, because while mine might be appropriate for a camp out, fall is upon us and Tent weather has passed.


DTOID ONTARIO:
Chooly
Vishusdelishus
CelicaCrazed
CarlCastello
MEE
Blind assassin
Nincompoopery
Timdabrat
MrCrowley33
Oni
NihonTiger90
vishusdelishus
Brilliam