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About Me

My name is Matt and I am a doctoral psychology student that plays and reads about videogames. A lot. I have high hopes for the games industry in terms of the application of the medium to less escapist entertainment means. I also like disagreeing with people on the internet because anonymity is awesome.

I will play any kind of videogame but I mainly play action and adventure games, although I have been known to play the occasional racing game and whatever whacked out genreless DS/Wii game that is thrown at me. Typically, the less formula-based and cookie-cutter the game, the more I like it. For some reason I have a dislike for RTS games and turn based RPGs.

To me, the best games allow for freedom, not so much the "you have three different missions to choose from" freedom. I like games that give me choices in how "levels" are defeated providing a different experience each time (GTA, Hitman, Mercenaries). I also like games that let me make real decisions that effect the outcome of the game, not basic decisions that simply keep me alive until the next prescribed story element becomes apparent (Deus Ex). That isn't to say I don't sometimes enjoy the force-fed completely linear game (Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Castlevania).

Favorite Games:

NES:
1. Super Mario Bros. 3
2. The Legend of Zelda
3. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
4. Bubble Bobble
5. Dr. Mario

Genesis:

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
2. Gunstar Super Heroes
3. Comix Zone
4. Contra: Hard Corps
5. X-Men 2: The Clone Wars

SNES:

1. Super Metroid
2. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
4. Contra III: The Alien Wars
5. Super Mario World

PS1:
1. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
2. Metal Gear Solid
3. Ape Escape
4. Crash Team Racing
5. Syphon Filter

N64:
1. Super Mario 64
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
3. Mario Kart 64
4. Star Fox 64
5. Paper Mario

PS2:
1. Grand Theft Auto III
2. Shadow of the Colossus
3. Beyond Good & Evil
4. Ico
5. Okami
6. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
7. Mercenaries
8. Amplitude

Gamecube:
1. Resident Evil 4
2. Metroid Prime
3. Pikmin
4. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

PC:
1. Deus Ex
2. Far Cry
3. Fable: The Lost Chapters
4. No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way
5. Fa�ade

GBA:

1. Metroid: Zero Mission
2. Fire Emblem
3. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
4. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
5. Klonoa: Empire of Dreams

DS:
1. Elite Beat Agents
2. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
3. Animal Crossing: Wild World
4. New Super Mario Bros.
5. Kirby: Canvas Curse

Wii:
1. Super Mario Galaxy
2. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
3. Wii Sports
4. Warioware: Smooth Moves

Xbox 360:
1. Rock Band
2. Mass Effect
3. Bioshock
4. Assassin's Creed
5. Call of Duty 4

Gamer Profile

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Following ()

"Brain Boost is better than Brain Age" -Gamestop TheBrain | 11:56 PM on 09.09.2007 5 comments

I was in Gamestop today with a friend looking for some good original Xbox games on the cheap. As I was putting up with the horrible selection as I do on every visit, I overheard the cashier speaking to a customer. "That's the new Brain Age, it just came out." "Oh, really? Well what's this (picks up Brain Boost)." "That's Brain Boost." "What's the difference?" "Brain Boost is probably better than Brain Age for kids." I thought to myself, yes, Brain Boost is indeed better than Brain Age for kids...as punishment. Seriously, the woman appeared to have not played either game and simply assumed that the two games were targeted at different audiences and then proceeded to guess that Brain Boost was a game for the younger crowd. I can find no evidence for such an assertion but such random ass conjecture annoys me almost as much as Majesco does for making the game in the first place. Luckily, my friend was able to even things out by informing another customer that, while Gamestop was out of Wii, the Circuit City across the street had some in stock. On a side, but related, note, has anyone played Brain Age 2 yet? It appears to be more of the same, but I couldn't really get into the demo since it wouldn't let me play left-handed. Worth getting?