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Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Gaming Life Lessons: Pac-Man
2007-10-10 14:31:00
Video Games have taught me a lot over the years.Pac-Man taught me that round things must be eaten...and that they protect you from ghosts.I have yet to be attacked by a ghost.
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Storked Has Been Released!
2007-10-09 15:12:00
I haven't really dedicated a post to the obvious, but if you haven't noticed Storked has been released! You can download the demo or purchase the game here on the blog (you'll find it on both the left/right columns). Now back to all the marketing that goes along with such a thing: submitting to portals, distributors, review sites, download sites, etc. Good news is that there has alredy been interest in nearly all of the above!
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Top 5 Best Things about Storked
2007-10-09 15:05:00
5. You can play any MP3 on your PC during gameplay with just a few simple mouse clicks.4. Multiple Difficulty levels, infinite lives, rewind, etc. make the game approachable to everyone and it's completely family friendly. NO VIOLENCE, BAD LANGUAGE, ETC!3. Level Editor allows you to make your own levels adding to the 100+ levels already in the game.2. Milton's 6 Gadgets are particularly fun (especially the rocketpack)1. 4 Unique Penguins who play completely different
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Storked! Press Release
2007-10-08 16:59:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEGraduate Games Release s Storked! The PC Puzzle & Platform GameGraduate Games is proud to announce the immediate availability of Storked!, a family friendly PC puzzle and platforming game. Storked is puzzle-driven game with addictive game play, with over 100 challenging levels, 4 unique penguins to control, 6 wacky gadgets to utilize, and easy to learn gameplay. The Stork has had an unfortunate accident over the Antarctic and must rely on his flightless penguin pals to roll an egg to safety. Control 4 different penguins as you roll the egg through 3 different worlds and over 100 levels of frustration free gameplay!Wilmington, Delaware -- October 8, 2007 -- Storked is a puzzle / platform game where you control four different penguins in their quest to protect an egg. The stork in charge of the egg has gotten into an unfortunate accident over the Antarctic and must rely on his flightless pals to roll the egg to safety. Each penguin?s abilities and strengths w...
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Stranglehold Xbox 360 Review
2007-10-08 15:34:00
Stranglehold is a John Woo game through and through. It definitely does not tread new ground in either story or gameplay, but does a pretty good job fusing familiar elements from all of its influences.Gameplay: 8/10Pros: The gameplay is just plain fun. It's a mix of Max Payne Bullet Time gameplay with some pretty flashy new moves and situations. Face-Offs are nice gun duels that break up the monotony of running and diving. Story is serviceable if a little over the top and out there even for John Woo.Cons: Enemies are retarded. They pretty much run straight at you and spawn from closets/doors strewn throughout the level. Deaths can be frustrating because it's due from an enemy spawning in a door behind you with a shotgun, rather than a lack of skill on your part. Interaction with the Environment can be difficult/frustrating.Graphics: 8/10Pros: Nearly everything is destructible and when stuff starts exploding in slow motion, it's a thing of beauty. There's a fantastic array of lev...
More About: Xbox , Review , Xbox 360 , Angle , Tran

Bungie and Microsoft Split
2007-10-05 18:12:00
I just have to pass along Bungie 's Press Release:http://www.bungie.net/News/conten t.aspx?type=news&cid=12835Turns out the Rumors earlier this week ended up being true about Bungie leaving Microsoft . I actually think Microsoft/Bungie agreeing to the split was the smart move by Microsoft. This way you stay in good graces and don't have a massive Bungie talent exodus. Bungie is hoping that they'll be getting the cash from their next IP instead of Microsoft (which owns Halo). Bungie making Halo games is probably finished which means Halo 3 is definitely it from Bungie....and that's what really matters since if a FPS Halo Sequel comes out it will probably be done by a crappier/lesser studio. I don't look forward to that.
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Showcase: Halo 3 and Bungie.net Stat Integration
2007-10-05 14:28:00
Bungie.net is an addictive addition to Halo 3. Not only can you replay your recent games and analyze them in the game's theater...you can also track all your stats, service record, and recent game kill/death charts on Bungie.net. The Integration is pretty seamless and it's just one of those additions that really goes a long way. If you have Halo 3 , you should definitely check out Bungie.net. Can't wait till Bungie Recommends starts incorporating User Generated Content. Bungie's website goes above and beyond the call of duty and is a definite bonus to a fantastic game. Give it a look if you haven't already.
More About: Bungie , Showcase

Storked Will Be Released Next Week
2007-10-04 22:37:00
Our Game Storked is 99% complete. We only have 2 more puzzles to create and then a quick level progression test and final once over and it's ready to go. Over the weekend, the final touches will be finished and the demo & retail version will be compiled. It should be available early next week, but if disaster strikes this weekend...it could get pushed somewhat. Don't forget that tomorrow is your last day to sign up for $5 off our game when released by signing up for email subscriptions or registering in the Graduate Games Forum. It's like preodering...but both ways are free.
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The Halo Trilogy - A Deeper Look
2007-10-04 14:10:00
Part 1: Theme OverviewOne of the characteristics that make Halo such a phenomenal game series is its story. Unlike a lot of action games and shooters, Halo?s story is not simply about the UNSC vs. the Covenant. It is about humanity?s struggle with religious zealots with vastly superior technology. While there are many intricacies within the grander story, the real fear and threat to humanity is in the faith and goal of the Covenant?s religion and it?s Great Journey. This conflict in a video game actually parallels a lot of the current fears in present day society in regards to terrorism. At least in the present day, the US and other Nations don?t have to worry about the threat of these extremists having superior technology.While the Covenant regards Halos as religious sacred structures, the Halo narrative tells us otherwise. They are in fact weapons capable of wiping out all sentient life in the galaxy. Unlike real life, the Halo narrative verifies that the religiosity of the Covena...
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Halo 3 Pop Quiz SATs
2007-10-03 20:08:00
Question #1Jackal : Beam Rifle :: Elite :MagnumEnergy SwordShotgunSpikerMaulerhighlight graphic below to see the answer:Question #2Guardian : Lockout :: Zanzibar : Last ResortMidship : ValhallaTombstone : Hang Em HighDerelict : DesolationBlood Gulch : High Groundhighlight graphic below to see the answer:Question #3Master Chief John 117: Spartan :: Brute : ArbiterProphet : TruthSergeant Johnson : Bad A$$Elite : ArbiterTartarus : Brutehighlight graphic below to see the answer:
More About: Halo , Quiz , Halo 3

The Top 5 Best New Additions to Halo 3
2007-10-02 15:02:00
5. Bungie.net Integration4. Equipment3. The Forge Map Editor2. 4 Player Co-Op Campaign (with Scoring)1. Videos Editor and File Share
More About: Halo , Halo 3

Top 5 Best Halo 3 Multiplayer Maps (so far)
2007-10-02 14:51:00
5. Valhalla4. Epitaph3. High Ground2. Snowbound1. Guardian
More About: Halo , Maps , Halo 3 , Multiplayer , Layer

Top 5 Worst Things about Halo 3
2007-10-02 14:08:00
5. Shotty pwns Sword now4. Campaign is short3. You Never have Enough Grenades (no flame grenades in matchmaking)2. Not Enough Maps/Map Diversity in Matchmaking1. Shotty Snipes in Team Slayer A LOT
More About: Halo , Halo 3 , Things

Halo 3 Review
2007-10-01 14:44:00
Halo 3 has its flaws, but delivers on so much more than the average game. Let's answer the major questions up front. Does Halo 3 live up to the hype? Yes. Does Halo 3 wrap up the Story of Master Chief? Yes. Is multiplayer better than Halo 2? Yes. Is Halo 3 a totally revolutionary and unique experience? Nope. Halo 3 is still Halo, both in look and style. It's a natural evolution of what was built in Halo 1 and 2. It adds plenty of new wrinkles, but the fan faithful will be instantly more familiar and skilled than newbies. Halo 3 is undoubtedly one of the biggest games ever and rightfully so since it's probably the best game of the year and will continue to be played and enjoyed for years to come.Gameplay: 10/10Pros: The same great gameplay we had from the first two Halos continues with great new additions such as independent reload, equipment, 2 new grenades, video recordings, the forge, 4 player co-op, shield doors, and more. Controls are great once you transition from X to RB fo...
More About: Halo , Review , Halo 3

A Halo Themed Week
2007-10-01 14:42:00
For the opening week of the new blog features, we will of course be highlighting Halo 3 since it was widely anticipated and talked about frequently on this blog. Enjoy.
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Our Digital Magazine & Blog Features:
2007-09-28 21:31:00
Our Blog is becoming a completely original and unique digital magazine and blog. Our daily features are as follows Monday: Game Reviews Top 5 Tuesdays Wednesday: Lite Gaming Fare Thinking Cap Thursdays Friday Showcase Please Click any of the following Links above to Read a Description about each of... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
More About: Magazine , Features , Digital , Feat

Friday Showcases
2007-09-28 16:00:00
This will be the most subjective and diverse feature. Friday Showcases may feature everything from a phenomenal indie game, an old retro classic, a great game trailer, a notable game story, developer interview, indie company, etc. The possibilities are endless, but the feature is planned to be on... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]

Thinking Cap Thursdays
2007-09-27 17:18:00
Going from lite and cheery on Wednesday to Academic on Thursday. Thinking Cap Thursdays will feature in depth looks and essays into the deeper elements of gaming. Some of the planned series include looks into great game stories, video games as art, symbology in games, mythology in games, etc.... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]

Wednesday: Lite Gaming Fare
2007-09-26 14:24:00
Lite Gaming Fare will probably end up being the shortest post of the week. This feature will look at the lighter side of gaming and typically revolve around gaming trivia, video game jokes, gaming quips, quotes, etc. Expect Short and Sweet Posts with a sense of humor and wit. [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
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Register in the Forums before Oct. 5th to be eligible to receive a Storked
2007-09-25 22:28:00
Head over to the Graduate Games Forum and register before October 5th and you will receive an email with a coupon for our upcoming game Storked. You can also register for email updates/subscriptions to receive the $5 off Coupon. [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
More About: Forums , Register , Regis

Top 5 Tuesdays
2007-09-25 15:00:00
This is an easy feature to describe. Basically, Tuesdays will feature Top Worst/Best 5 lists. All of the Top 5 Lists will of course focus on gaming and range from the Top 5 Best games of 2007 to the Top 5 Most Annoying Gaming Mascots of all time. I will do my best to try and describe/defend each... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]

Monday: Game Reviews
2007-09-24 15:00:00
Every Monday will feature a new Game review. These reviews will range from console games, retro/classic games, handheld games, indie games, and even some mini reviews or demo reviews. Reviews may not be limited to only Mondays, and some games/reviews I will post as soon as they are written, but in... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]

The new Blog/Digital Magazine Launch this week
2007-09-24 14:20:00
This week we will be revealing the regular features that will be released every day of the work week for our revised blog & Digital Magazine . We are still open to suggestions or revisions, but think that most features give us enough flexibility to cover nearly any gaming relating thing that we... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
More About: Blog , Launch , Week

NEW WEB ADDRESS
2007-09-24 14:13:00
Not really that big of a deal but you will notice that gnadegames.blogspot.com now reroutes to http://blog.graduategames.com. I just thought it was appropriate to have everything on the one domain. [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
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The Blog has been Overhauled!
2007-09-19 18:46:00
Our Blog has been reworked a lot the past couple hours. With the release of Storked quickly approaching (hopefully before Halo 3), changes were needed and the blog needed to be restructured. Here are some of the changes: Less ads/junk all around the posts and content- now there is a more focused... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
More About: Been , Has Been

The Blog has been Overhauled!
2007-09-19 18:46:00
Gnade Games has been reworked a lot the past couple hours. With the release of Storked quickly approaching (hopefully before Halo 3), changes were needed and the blog needed to be restructured. Here are some of the changes:Less ads/junk all around the posts and content- now there is a more focused effort to feature sponsored links and reduce all other adsNew Sidebars/content/blog lookFree Indie PC Game Reviews are coming back VERY SOON!ALL original content - no more reiteration/news posts from other sitesThemed Articles and Series - Haven't quite figured out which day will be what, but we will have 5 posts a week falling into particular categories such as: Top 5 Lists, Best Games you've never played (Retro Gaming), Console Game Reviews, Indie Game Reviews, Game Demo Impressions/Mini Reviews, etc. (Please feel free to comment or suggest other article ideas)A shift in focus from current/next-gen gaming to gaming as a whole and througout all the eras (8-bit through next gen)Articles ...
More About: Blog , Been , Has Been

Submit your Game for Review
2007-09-19 18:22:00
Gnade Game s features several different types of Review s:Free Reviews for Independent Games and Fellow Developers*Guaranteed! Timely Paid Reviews through Review MeCurrent Console/Handheld Game Reviews Retrospective Reviews on overlooked, under appreciated, classic, and retro gamesIf you are looking for a timely and guaranteed review for your title, please use Review Me to reserve your review and set a deadline for us here:If your are an Independent developer who would like a glowing, positive, Free Review, please comment to this post or contact me. I will certainly check out your game and/or demo and if it grabs my interest, I would certainly love to give your game or demo a critical review of what makes it so innovative and enjoyable. Unfortunately, I can no longer guarantee free reviews to everyone due to time constraints. I will also no longer be posting reviews trashing poorly made games, because even they required a lot of time and effort to make. I understand the time and e...
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Submit your Game for Review
2007-09-19 18:22:00
Our Blog features several different types of Review s: Free Reviews for Independent Game s and Fellow Developers*Guaranteed! Timely Paid Reviews through Review MeCurrent Console/Handheld Game Reviews Retrospective Reviews on overlooked, under appreciated, classic, and retro games If you are looking... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
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Geon: Emoticons Released on Live this Wed 9/19
2007-09-18 19:37:00
Geon: Emoticon s is described as a fast paced abstract sports game. I thought after reading the description that I would be able to piece together the gameplay after seeing the screenshots...well I still can't. The game relies heavily on emotions such as fear, melancholy, rage, envy, etc. Couldn't really tell you how it plays though. It's coming out tonight at 12:01AM on Xbox Live Arcade.
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Geon: Emoticons Released on Live this Wed 9/19
2007-09-18 19:37:00
Geon: Emoticon s is described as a fast paced abstract sports game. I thought after reading the description that I would be able to piece together the gameplay after seeing the screenshots...well I still can't. The game relies heavily on emotions such as fear, melancholy, rage, envy, etc. ... [...to read the entire article with pictures, video, and more, please proceed to http://gnadegames.blogspot.com]
More About: Live , Released , Ticon