RETROGRADE TECH GEEKS Go back in time to when How does Microsoft’s 3-pointers were bombs layout and design and a frog could dance at program hold up? We halftime in Double Dribble. take it for a spin. PAGE 11 PAGE 10

Fourth Quarter 2009 PRINCE OF THE IRON TEKKEN FIST

A fallen student of Namco’s Cybertainment division shares SOUL his beginnings CALIBUR with its aging series Tekken. PAGE 2 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009 editorial Though the average Joe doesn’t care about E3, you should h … the leaves are transpiring in the Los Angeles media. So why should you care beginning to change Civic Center, and they don’t about E3? colors and the kiddies care. If you don’t, that’s cool. But if AAA are back to school. So why does anyone give a you want to know what’s coming That can mean only one thing: hoot? Because it’s simply the out, what looks decent and worth It’s fall! With fall also comes the biggest event of the year for your time and your money, care. change of seasons also for the video gamers and the compa- If you care at all about how your Cry of War gaming industry. Christmas is nies that need them. money’s going to be spent just around the corner. Anyone who is anyone in the around Christmastime for the So how does the gaming in- industry goes. For years since its gamer in your life, care. If you dustry measure when it’s time to 1995 conception, the trade show don’t watch the conferences, I change the blankets on the bed? gained a mythological stature don’t blame you. They can be Good question. One need to and perception. It was the place snoozefests (*cough* here’s look no further than July. Yes, set to be if you cared a shred about looking at you Nintendo your clocks back a few months gaming. Since it’s been toned *cough*). Read the coverage in to the heat and desperation of down by the board that runs it, the various trade magazines, July. E3 has had its star diminished a however. Get the small bites of Lyndsey Mosley The Electronic Entertainment little. But that doesn’t mean that information. Watch it on G4. Bet- Expo is heralded in the industry it’s no longer a premiere event. ter yet, read it in our Third Quar- with the fanfare reserved for the So why does the average ter 2009 coverage. Oscars. While the industry is go- gamer not know about E3? All I’m asking, as a gamer, is ing gaga over the newest an- Blame it on the overenthusiastic that you become better informed nouncements, most average media. Not the gaming media, about the industry, one that’s joes know nothing about what’s mind you, but the mainstream worth the hype. contents Columns Features Usual Suspects

The Cry of War ..…...... ….2 Prince of the Iron Fist What We’re Playing …...… 8 ….....3-7 Sage’s Chronicles ..….....8 Tech Geeks ……….…...... 10

Retrograde ….……………11

Save the Date ………...... 17

GAMING staff this issue INSURRECTION

Lyndsey Mosley is the editor and Editor Lyndsey Mosley Lyndsey M. Mosley founder of GI. Mosley is a copy editor and page designer in the newspaper Columnists industry as her day job and is an avid Lyndsey M. Mosley gamer and amateur photographer in James T. L. Mosley her spare time. Mosley resides in North Carolina with her husband. Contributors Marcus Barnes Brandon Beatty ContactContactContact: editor@gaming Noob insurrection.com Web site What I’m playing: Scribblenauts (DS), www.gaming Jamie Mosley is a contributor CrossworDS (DS), Dance Dance insurrection.com to GI, researching and writing Revolution Extreme (Japanese) (PS2) the quarterly D&D feature Blog www.gaming Sage’s Chronicles. “J. Mo,” insurrection.com/ as he prefers to be called, Brandon Beatty is a contributor to GI. blog resides in North Carolina with Beatty has a degree in criminal justice his wife. and enjoys Resident Evil games. Youtube Beatty resides in Columbia, S.C. www.youtube. Contact:Contact:Contact: fromthedungeon@ com/user/ Gaming gaminginsurrection.com ContactContactContact: brandonb@gaming Insurrection insurrection.com What I’m playing: Command Twitter & Conquer 3 (PC), Final What I’m playing: Resident Evil 3: @GamingInsurrect Tactics Advance 2 (DS), Nemesis (PSOne), Crash Bandicoot 2

Magic the Gathering (XBox) (PSOne), Teenage Mutant Ninja Gaming Insurrection Turtles (NES) Media copyright 2009 PRINCEPRINCE OFOF THETHE IRONIRON FISTFIST SSSTORYTORYTORY ANDANDAND PHOTOSPHOTOSPHOTOS A former Namco arcade manager talks about LLLYNDSEYYNDSEYYNDSEY M. MM. MOSLEYOSLEYOSLEY his time learning Heihachi, Nightmare and the gang

king among players. Well, maybe a prince among ROYAL PROCLAIMS

players. That’s how I would accurately describe RESOURCES ………………...…...5

my husband of nearly 5 years. He is king in his TEKKEN CHARACTERS …..……..6 own domain but Jamie Mosley is far lesser royalty A SOULCALIBUR CHARACTERS…...7 in his mind when you ask him about his Tekken skills or skills with any fighting game, for that matter. Why the humble façade? Maybe it stems from his upbring- MORE ONLINE WANT TO SEE AND ing or maybe he reflects on his time surrounded by some of WATCH MORE? the most gifted Tekken players in the world. Whatever it is, VISIT GAMING Jamie knows that secret alone and until very recently was INSURRECTION.COM reluctant to share it … even with his non-Tekken inclined wife. FOR MULTIMEDIA FROM THE SERIES. PAGE 4 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009

general knowledge about electricity,” he I think that Namco makes part. I put pressure on them to look for ROYAL BLOOD AWAKENS said. gaps in their defense. I use the left jab a He would love to apply that knowledge high-quality fighting games lot to try to throw off their rhythm. In the Jamie’s Tekken-induced fog began in elsewhere but doesn’t have the need for and I hope that they will continue second round, while still using the left 1995 when he joined the staff of the it right now because “mostly today in my “ jab to throw off their rhythm, I look for Namco arcade in Greenwood, S.C., as present job, I don’t have to use that ex- to do so. I think they should press holes to make damaging combos. If an assistant manager. He was no perience,” he explained. on with both series while not there’s a third round, I use the same stranger to the establishment, however. Jamie claims the job was interesting technique.” “I used to go there a lot and then I for him. forgetting either series’ roots. His strategy, he says, was put to the stopped going in 1993, the year before I “Working for Namco had its ups and test with tournaments in both series. graduated from high school,” he said. “I downs. Namco was supportive of its “I’ve played in tournaments for both was asked to come and apply by the products. They always sponsored tour- series,” he opined. “I finished first in four manager, whom I knew from high naments if they were held and organ- Jamie Mosley of six tournaments for Soulcalibur. Usu- former Namco Cybertainment employee ” school,” he said. By 1998, he’d moved ized using Namco games. I always re- ally in Tekken I would finish eighth or up the corporate ladder within the com- ceived Namco-themed gifts for tourna- ninth.” pany. ment winners.” “I was offered a store management po- So what exactly caused him to leave With Tekken, he judges himself at the TIME FOR APPLICATION sition at South Dekalb Mall in Decatur, the company? “intermediate level. I have seen some Ga., in January 1998 and I accepted it “Namco closed the arcade I was man- great Tekken players and their skills are By utilizing his time with different and moved shortly after.” aging in South Dekalb Mall. I would vastly superior to mine. In fact, I would styles, Jamie put it to the test on the With his move, Jamie decided he have had to renew my contract with feel good if I get in two punches against road in addition to tournaments. needed to improve his skills overall to them and move to a different state. I de- those superior Tekken players.” “It was a group of friends: Caylon compete with the players in the notori- cided not to continue with the company He continued, “I would say I am at an Hardy, Mike Magha, Rhian Zimmerman, ously competitive Atlanta region. at that point,” he said. advanced Soulcalibur skill level. I have Preston Jones and myself, that would “I was playing more Soulcalibur then. Casting a pensive glance when asked seen great Soulcalibur players and travel around to different arcades in the Soulcalibur was bigger in Greenwood if he would do things differently, Jamie fought against them. I would win two out Southeast looking for competition,” he than Tekken at the time. I had to play pointed out, “Looking back, I think I of five battles. I am just not as consistent said. more Tekken after I moved. There was would have still made the same decision as they are.” “We usually did it on weekends for more competition with Tekken than Soul- because Namco closed the location that Jamie’s sure about his assessment be- both series. We started traveling for Tek- calibur, although I still played them they wanted me to transfer to almost cause of his time with the company. ken 3 in 1997 and we continued through both,” he said. “I had to change my three months later.” “Working for the division gave me am- 1998 with Soulcalibur.” level of play style with Tekken.” So much for staying put. ple time to play. Every Namco arcade The same group still gets together, ac- So what did he learn that could push had a Soulcalibur machine of some cording to Jamie, for Dungeons and him further in his skill level? type,” he said. Dragons play every now and then. “South Dekalb Mall taught me to set up IN TOUCH WITH HIS ROOTS “Of course, you couldn’t play on the Despite leaving the company early in opponents for damaging combos, which clock but every week you were allowed the decade, Jamie still enjoys a good I didn’t do beforehand. Before, I was just While he enjoyed his time with the $5 in tokens to play games at any time. match of Tekken or Soulcalibur. When trying to hit my opponent whenever they company it wasn’t just a chance for Ja- By playing against more people at does he have time to jump on the messed up. I was too defensive,” he mie to move up in the corporate world. different times, my play style was im- sticks? said. He also pushed himself to better his proved.” Not too often, he says. knowledge of Namco’s hot properties: “With Soulcalibur, I play about five or Soulcalibur and Tekken. MATCHED UP six times a month now. With Tekken, now KEEPING THE PACE While in Atlanta he made a few friends about three or four times a month.” and picked up strategic tips along the With some reluctance on his part Jamie His relationship with the company is Despite moving several hours away way. He credits other players with mov- spelled out his thought processes for a still good and he plays the recent re- from his beloved hometown, Jamie did ing him beyond his initial base of play. typical match in Tekken. leases when he has time. quite a bit of learning. “Being a Paul [Phoenix, of Tekken] fan, “My first thought is to look at the char- When asked how he feels about his During his tour with Namco during the I watched how a friend of mine named acter my opponent is using. I think former employer, Jamie smiled after day he was allowed to play games in his Clint played with him and realized that about whether or not they are some thought. store. He also received on-the-job train- you have to make your own openings. aggressive, what would be best used to “I think that Namco makes high-quality ing in other skill sets. That made my play style more aggres- make them more defensive,” he ex- fighting games and I hope that they will “Working with them, I got to learn the sive. My friend Caylon Hardy also influ- plained. continue to do so. I think they should Jamie enjoys playing Tekken on the PlayStation 2 and Soulcalibur on the Dreamcast. He mechanics of video game equipment. I enced me, playwise.” He continued, “In the first round, I look press on with both series while not for- owns Tekken Tag Tournament, Tekken 4 and Tekken 5 for the PS2; Soulcalibur for the learned how to fix a monitor, how to sol- He’s humble in his assessments of his for patterns and gaps in their patterns. I getting either series’ roots.” Dreamcast and XBox 360; and Soulcalibur 2 for the GameCube and PS2. der on a motherboard and I learned skills. then look for timing mistakes on their The prince has spoken. FOURTH QUARTER 2009 GAMING INSURRECTION PAGE 5 Tekken resources Tekken Zaibatsu No. 1 stop for help

BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY GAMING INSURRECTION

If you’re looking help with demol- ishing your opponents in Namco’s upcoming Tekken 6, look no further than Tekken Zaibatsu. Of course, there’s more than just Tekken 6 here and if you look hard enough, all of even your most inane Tekken questions can be an- swered. The site, founded in 1999 as an offshoot of Tekken.net, is home to some of the most in- depth Tekken information on the Internet. Looking for graphics from Tekken 3? They’ve got it. Want to know how Tekken Tag fits into the overall series canon? They’ve got that, too. If the wealth of information doesn’t bowl you over, how about the fo- rums? The Zaibatsu forums are a source of knowledge for anyone who wants to talk Tekken. Up-to-date news, matchmaking, general chat, strategy discussion and a vibrant international community are features, and inspiration in the form of art is here, too. If watching combo videos from top players are your thing, Tekken Zaibatsu has that as well. Media on the site is plentiful and easy to ac- cess. Do yourself a favor and help out the Zaibatsu with donations. A Tekken Zaibatsu’s forums provide an excellent wealth of resources for Tekken players looking to better their great site like this shouldn’t go to game, make matchups or find tournaments to travel to. waste. Graphic TEKKEN BLOODLINES designed by Lyndsey M. Mosley

Artwork used from Tekken Lars Roger Zaibatsu and Fa th Lili er -so n Tekkenpedia.

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Gaming Insurrection Media © 2009 Characters and artwork copyright of Namco-Bandai Ltd. PAGE 8 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009

From the Dungeon By James T. Mosley Use imagination, creativity to enjoy gaming sessions n the past few weeks, I have been trying to research how to improve the overall role- III playing experience. After asking, I received suggestions, insights and ideas from the Coun- cil of game masters, also known as friends and experts spread Photos courtesy of mobygames.com throughout the world. It was de- Magic the Gathering: Battlegrounds was released in November 2003. creed that the only way to improve the overall experience in your gaming sessions is to just enjoy the moment that you are playing. Every game master’s well will run Magic the Gathering dry of ideas on what should hap- pen next. Maybe you have that one person in your group that al- ways seems to argue with the game master. Perhaps, dare I say casts spell over XBox it, you do not agree with how the game master is running the game. There could be dozens of reasons BY JAMIE MOSLEY why the game goes sour. This GAMING INSURRECTION sage is just saying this: Enjoy whatever is salvageable and focus This quarter I wanted to on that. So your group as a whole play something a little dif- hates the fact that the game mas- ferent. A game that in- ter has the “I am your god!” com- volves tactics, but with plex; Who cares? Enjoy his or her simple game play that eve- games while your group continues ryone can understand. Fi- its search for a new game master. nal Fantasy Tactics was my A better idea is to find another first thought, but that would angle on gaming altogether. Most require me to pull out the game masters are open-minded, old PlayStation, find the so your group can make some PSOne memory card and suggestions on how to improve dive into a game that has your gaming sessions. been known to suck away As a game master, I open a chal- more than 100 hours from lenge to all game masters: Try me in the past. Well, the something different! In your next Xbox 360 is already scheduled gaming session tell the plugged in … so sorry, group that you are not going to Sony. It is not your time to play your normal role-playing shine yet. game. Try a new pen-and-paper Magic: The Gathering- Magic the Gathering: Battlegrounds incorporates the me- role-playing game. A good idea is Battlegrounds has a real chanics of duels in the card game in a visual board game possibly going with something that time strategy feel as I men- setting. your group is familiar with already. tioned before, but with a An example could be “Dragon ball twist. You are a duelist in Z,” which is known around the the Magic universe. Each in my opinion, is the most the power of “mana drain,” world. duelist can only recruit up annoying single color deck which drains your enemy Within my group, our members to five allies on their side of in the game. The deck al- mana so that they cannot began developing their own role- the field to attack the en- lows the use of Trample, defend themselves, it is playing games. We had games emy duelist. Just like the which causes your ally to easily the most entertain- involving aliens invading our Magic: The Gathering card continuously attack every ing deck. hometown. George W. Bush game, you will use five col- enemy creature on the Finally, the black deck drafted our group, as registered ors of magic to summon board until either they die represents death. It is one heroes, to save the world from the your allies. or the enemy duelist is hit. of the slowest decks in the mutant scum. I know; it sounds First, there is the red The most common strategy game when it comes to weird now, but those games were deck. The red deck seems that I have seen and used play, but it can be used to enjoyable. Of course, we always to be all about speed and is to summon your allies. destroy everything in its went back to our role-playing cam- fury. With it, you can use Keep producing mana until path. That includes the du- paign but everyone wants a break raging goblins swarming you are able to summon elist using it. Juzam Djinn, from time to time. your enemy. After three are Overrun. Overrun adds +4/ a 4/4 creature, deals one Costumes, cosplay, whatever on the board, summon the +4 and trample to all of point of damage to the du- you want to do is possible with a Goblin King to add +1 at- your allies. elist who summons it, and little creativity, imagination and tack and +1 defense to The white deck is about one point of damage each hard work. I have personally each raging goblin. If you producing strong creatures time it respawns. Sengir dressed up in leather and wielded have at least played the with the “first strike” ability Vampire receives a +1/+1 a bastard sword created out of Magic: The Gathering and gaining hit points. boost each time it destroys foam, silver duct tape, and PVP game, then you will under- There are a couple of crea- a creature. piping. I was hailed King from the stand the +1/+1 system tures that attack and you Within the game, there is land of Crunk. Indeed, I was the used in the video game will receive the damage a story mode and an ar- King of Crunk. It’s lame now, but I version. One of the red that they do in converted cade mode. Arcade mode enjoyed the gaming sessions, re- deck’s most awe-inspiring to hit points. The white allows you to create your gardless. I feel that this form of role creatures is the Volcanic deck also enables “Wrath own deck in which you can -playing experience is quite crea- Dragon. Volcanic Dragon of God,” which destroys all combine the colors for dif- tive and you can get plenty of ex- is a 4/4 flying creature with creatures on the map. ferent effects. Experienced ercise. haste. Add the enchant- The blue deck is about players will find challenge Enjoy your gaming sessions. If ment Gratuitous Violence defense. You can summon and depth when tooling things get stale, take a break. If and all of your allies dish ground blockers and at- around with different decks you can’t come up with an idea, out double damage. tack the enemy from about offered. Rookies will find a then grab some water guns and The green deck is about with the most powerful air solid introduction to an in- play cops and robbers. It’s a time- producing mana, summon- units in the game. With the tricate and complicated less classic that even the most ar- ing strong creatures and knowledge of deck-based system. dent of RPGers can find a way to making the strong crea- “unsummon,” which forces As an XBox original, it’s a customize. tures stronger. This deck, the unit to respawn; and gem worth picking up. FOURTH QUARTER 2009 GAMING INSURRECTION PAGE 9 Chronicles bites into competition

BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY GAMING INSURRECTION

Ah, Vampire Chronicles. What would an importing gamer girl to do without her trusty Dream- cast and DC-X to play one of the most complete and good versions of Vampire (aka Dark- stalkers to us Americans)? Vampire Chronicles for Matching Service is a must- have in any fighting game con- noisseur’s library. Released only in Japan in August 2000, Vampire Chronicles takes every character in the fran- chise, throws them together and lets the player figure out what game style they want to use (Vampire, Vampire Hunter, Vampire Savior, Vampire Savior 2) before battling. What’s inter- esting is that you can have characters use styles from the games they weren’t in, such as B.B. Hood using Vampire Hunter style. With altered movesets a lot of depth is pro- vided. There aren’t that many game modes, but what little there is plays extremely well. The con- trols are fluid and easy to use. My only gripe is that some of the supers are a little ridiculous to perform because of the but- ton combinations. Other than that, the controls are beautiful. PHOTOS BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY Gaming Insurrection Vampire Chronicles really Vampire Chronicles was released only in Japan for the Sega Dreamcast in August 2000. shines in the presentation. Both the audio and the backgrounds (check out Revenger’s best bet is PlayAsia.com, working Matching Service literally shine. The artistry and Roost hidden stage). You which specializes in import port, by all means go for it. care is evident when you look will remember the game’s games. While you’re at it get Despite this, the replay at the different stages. Of par- sound easily with the an- a DC-X or a Gameshark be- value is high for this one of ticular note is the fact that Mor- nouncer who sounds like cause you will need it to Capcom’s unsung heroes on rigan’s sprite doesn’t look so he’s right out of a horror film. boot up the game. the Dreamcast. You’d think out of place here as it does in In a game about mythologi- Unfortunately for Ameri- they only made Street other games. cal horrorfest beings, it cans, that Matching Service Fighter but Darkstalkers The music is a standout piece doesn’t sound so bad. Al- part is out of the window; proves that the company’s of the action. Many tunes are though the game is import that’s a Japan only feature. If best games aren’t always so memorable and some of them only, you’d be doing yourself you can find a way to get on involved with Ryu and his even get a remix of sorts a favor by finding it. Your Japanese servers and find a destiny.

The art style remained largely the same as Vampire Savior’s style.

Characters such as Donovan return in the Vampire mashup. PAGE 10 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009 TECH GEEKS — GEAR YOU CAN USE n an industry that is falling apart at the seams, technological advances have long since made page layout and design easy enough for anyone to do it. While most of the programs are extremely expensive (think Adobe In- Design or Quark 8), there are cheaper, albeit less powerful, alternatives. This quarter we look at one of the lead- I ing cheaper brands to get started with desktop publishing and we give a shoutout to Firefox add-add---onsons we can’t live without. Microsoft Publisher 2007

We at GI are all about cheaper, easier, smaller. We’d be the poor man’s version of Daft Punk’s “Better Faster Stronger.” Publisher 2007 accomplishes what we need on a budget at a fraction of the cost of pagination leaders Quark and InDesign. Yes, we’d love to have those since we use them every day in our day job. But we can’t have what is unreasonably priced. The full version of Publisher 2007 is roughly 25 percent cheaper than either of the other two. Quark 8 costs $800 for the full version and $300 for an upgrade. With a few add-ins like print- ing to PDF, we’re set with Publisher. Publisher does have some drawbacks such as image transparency issues and limited Web design capabilities. However, it was not made with the idea of being an answer to Dreamweaver so we can’t really fault it. As someone who works as a graphic designer and layout per- son, I can safely say Publisher does its best to mimic the industry stan- dards. It’s easy to use as a layout professional with many of the tools the same as Quark’s. Although those in know within my industry scoff at Publisher, it’s not bad. It gets the job done and it’s easily affordable. You cannot go wrong with that.

PricePricePrice: $169 – full version (at most retail); $99 – upgrade version

FIREFOX ADD-ONS WE LOVE

Scribefire FireFTP There isn’t much not to love about this blogging tool. At ver- A great tool overall, FireFTP is one of the best solutions for sion 3.4.3, it allows bloggers to logon to their blogs (provided FTP. GI uses it to publish on the Web. It’s easy to use and the they remember their information) and post without leaving fact that it’s built to work with FireFox directly is a definite the page they’re on. There’s support for the most popular plus. Files moving across are a little slow moving, but it’s not blogging platforms out there and we’ve encountered few hic- anything that makes it unusable. It’s simplicity is great for cups. FTP novices: All you need to know is your login information It’s nice to be able to update blogs through one platform (which your web hosting provider should give you) and without going to different places to login. you’re set. Best of all, it’s free. You cannot go wrong there.

Ad Block Plus

The powerful ad-blocking ex- tension is a welcome addition when browsing pages. Popups are annoying as are the random Pix2Fone squicky ads about girls exercis- ing in bikinis. Ad Block Plus nips We use this to send pictures and ringtones all of it in the bud by knocking from our laptops. Sometimes sending e-mailed out all of the ads at a particular attachments isn’t the way to necessarily. With address. It also cuts down on Photo2fone, my pictures are sent at the correct potentially harmful ads automati- size and dimensions based on my chosen cally making their presence phone without a whole lot of hassle. We defi- known. Say goodbye to seizure- nitely can appreciate the built-in cropping fea- inducing shaking ads about girls. ture.

Down Them All!

While the interface is a little clunky, when you need something downloaded in batches quickly, DTA is your program. It’s worked its magic on im- ages, music links and files for a report. This is ex- tremely necessary when you have a great connec- tion and need links gotten in a hurry. GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009 PAGE 11 Castlevania improves in 4th entry

BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY GAMING INSURRECTION

Haunting. Beautiful. Hard. The mere mention of Ko- nami’s masterpiece Super Castlevania IV invokes won- der and frustration. How can a game this beautiful be so prone to causing anger- induced fits? Well, by going to the source, we see that it’s probably because Simon Belmont is the worst jumper in the world, beating out Link in Super Smash Bros. by a longshot. However angry one may become because of Bel- mont’s lack of upward mo- bility, you cannot deny the grace of this game. Every- thing about the environ- ments and music scream attention to detail. The color- ing alone makes the graph- ics pop, even with a coat of satin poured over it. The mu- sic, which easily fits in with any jazz soundtrack, is a de- light. This score is one that PHOTOS BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY Gaming Insurrection belongs in a gamer’s collec- tion. It soothes yet creates Super Castlevania was released for the Super Nintendo in December 1991. anticipation at what lies around the corner for one and switch planes of view Little touches such as platform spilled me off as I hapless vampire hunter. by going through gates. His these making moving Simon landed on it is annoying to Storyline-wise, this is a re- special weapons have been around a little easier when no end. telling of the original Castle- moved to a different button, there’s enemies in the way Aside from the grind of vania that was released in which can be changed in and platforms are dropping Simon’s jumping and revolv- 1986 for the Nintendo Enter- the options, and his jumping fast. ing platform design deba- tainment System. With that is a little better. Not by Speaking of dropping plat- cle, Super Castlevania IV is knowledge in hand, it can much, but at least this time forms, whoever came up one of my favorite games. be inferred that Simon’s ad- you can control Simon a little with the timing for landing Great soundtrack, gorgeous venture was a wee bit larger bit in where he’s going while on the revolving platforms design and a rich history of than what was presented in airborne. that lead to your doom be- one of gaming’s premiere the original game. Simon All of Simon’s old weapons low should be made to play series mix together to make has been updated with a are present and his whip is a those areas in a continuous a great game carrying on certainly better degree of little better, too. What better loop until they realize that the tradition of classic plat- control as a result. way to take on Dracula’s it’s not cool in this game. Se- forming. Here, he has the ability to minions than to have a good riously, having to replay a Classic platforming can be latch onto rings scattered whip? Try firebombing with a section four or five times be- had at Simon Belmont’s re- around the play environment little higher arc. cause a missed revolving told expense.

Super Castlevania IV’s story is a remake of the original Castlevania’s plotline. Different bosses make appearances but memorable enemies such as Medusa heads are present, too. PAGE 12 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009

PHOTOS BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY Gaming Insurrection Double Dribble was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in September 1987. Konami’s ancient NES baller no bench warmer

Double Dribble still relevant after 20 years

BY JAMIE MOSLEY ing the stadium as it is spots at the 3-point line GAMING INSURRECTION being played. You can that you can launch then warm up. bomb after bomb and By warm up, I mean not miss. It does require Every time I play Dou- pick your options. You a little trial and error. If ble Dribble on the NES, will practice your jump you keep stealing when I think back to when I shots to pick your time you get the chance and was just a youngster. limit, A.I. difficulty, the maintain dropping My family watched bas- team you want to play bombs, you will have ketball all the time and as and finally your op- your opponents beg- we played it all the time ponent’s team. Then it is ging for mercy. as well. We even sat time for jump ball. After Double Dribble can be around and talked years of playing this enjoyable. If you want a about basketball at the game, I discovered that quick and easy basket- dinner table. In those if you wait until the op- ball game to play, this is days, my heroes were ponent reaches the it. Spud Webb, Link, height of his jump, then The only strategy you Charles Barkley, Rick if you jump at that mo- need is steal and shoot. Mahorn, Michael Jor- ment, you will steal the But again, it does have dan, James Worthy, ball away from him. flaws. Sometimes you among many. During Stealing is one of the will pass the ball and the offseason, we major components to your teammate will be played Double Dribble. keeping your self in the standing out of bounds. Double Dribble repre- game against the higher Sometimes your team sents classic all- -level A.I. difficulty. member will not even American basketball. It You have to be close catch the ball, and it will keeps it clean and sim- to the goal to trigger hit the wall out of ple. You didn’t have to one of three dunk an- bounds. Your team call plays on the fly. The imations. member will then run referees could see even Regardless of what the out of bounds to pick up the slightest bend in the A.I. does, you can hold the ball and the referee rules, and the crowd is the shoot button and will turn the ball over. always happy, even if push the control pad in But who cares about you lose. the direction you want to that when you are lead- I am not saying that go to avoid those pesky ing 88-37 in the second this is the best basket- blocks. quarter? ball game of its time. Just remember, to let If you want something The game did have go of the shoot button easier to play, then Mid- some quirks. I was before you hit the way’s NBA Jam and its raised that when the na- ground to stay away clone College Slam are tional anthem is being from turnovers. good choices. played that you are to Shoot a couple of 3- Just remember that stand and place your pointers and listen to Midway basketball hand/hat over your the falling sound of the games always get more heart. In Double Drib- bomb. On each side of difficult in the fourth ble, the fans are enter- the court there are hot quarter.

A “sweet spot” at the bottom of the screen helps play- ers with making 3-pointers. FOURTH QUARTER 2009 GAMING INSURRECTION PAGE 13 A strange adventure for NES

PHOTOS BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY Gaming Insurrection Adventures in the Magic Kingdom was released in June 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Magic key to kingdom in Disney fairytale

BY LYNDSEY M. MOSLEY GAMING INSURRECTION

Let’s get one thing straight from the beginning: My status as a retrophile with class and grace is in no way diminished by my old-school gaming tastes. I asked for and received this game for my ninth birthday in 1990. I was desperate and I more than made up for it with my other gaming gift that birth- day: Super Mario Bros. 3. With that confession out of the way, let’s get to the nitty gritty: Is this game any good? Well, yes with a few caveats. The story is ser- viceable for young fans. Mickey tasks you with re- trieving six silver keys to the Magic Kingdom because Goofy messed around and misplaced them/had them stolen. The keys are in five different attractions through- out the park and one can be obtained by answering trivia questions. It’s enough to turn off inex- Simple enough, right? perienced gamers and sea- Wrong. Those five attrac- soned veterans alike. tions are ridiculously hard to What do I like? Well, the master and the trivia ques- music is OK. It’s appropri- tions are no joke, either. ately Disney. The graphics, Navigating each attraction though looking quite ugly, takes skill. have a certain charm to It may seem throwaway to them. have to time button presses, It’s no Kingdom Hearts but for instance, in Space Moun- it’s not “keep your TV off tain or complete the Autoto- ugly,” either. I like the trivia pia course but it is not that aspect, too. easy at all thanks to the ca- It made sense to test pricious controls. Your char- knowledge of the brand in a acter will take hits, believe game that’s promoting the me, and it’s frustrating to brand. only have three hit points in That much good among the levels. the bad, I can’t outright hate Yes, there is an item man- the game. agement element where you It holds a special place in can buy back lives among my heart despite its clunki- other things, but it doesn’t ness and inability to hold up quite cut it. well after nearly 20 years. And let’s just go on the re- But those are the breaks of cord and say that the jectives but whoever de- ance on enemy cheap being an NES game in the Haunted Mansion level is signed it didn’t play through deaths. early ’90s. the hardest out of them all it enough. It’s got wacky pit- Nowhere is this most It’s a magical trip down by far. fall jumps for an avatar that prevalent than the Haunted memory lane but all is not The level design is a beast. doesn’t jump so well, and Mansion and Pirates of the merry in this Disney king- It’s varied with different ob- there’s an overabundant reli- Caribbean levels. dom. PAGE 14 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009

Photos courtesy of Gamespot.com Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was released Nov. 16, 1999, for the PlayStation One. It was later released for the Sega Dreamcast and remade for the Nintendo Gamecube. ‘Survival horror’ to the third level

BY BRANDON BEATTY GAMING INSURRECTION This quarter, I am going to focus on another top Capcom franchise is a long-running series that has produced three major motion pictures and count- less merchandise. This series has also has made the phrase “survivor horror” an icon in video game history. Yes, GI readers, I’m talking about Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. For some of the GI readers who are not familiar with the Resident Evil se- ries, here’s a brief summary: Resident Evil or Biohazard, as it is called in Ja- pan, pits a special forces organization known as S.T.A.R.S. against an evil multinational conglomerate called Um- brella Inc. In RE3, the storyline fo- cuses on S.T.A.R.S. member Jill Valen- tine who resigned from the organiza- tion. Valentine attempts to leave the town of Raccoon City, which has been over- run by zombies and other demonic creatures as a result of unethical ex- periments by Umbrella. In addition to surviving a city under siege by zom- stronger ammo if she makes the same For RE fans, RE3 has tons of replay bies, Jill must also contend with a new level of ammo. value, especially for those who still Umbrella killing machine code named Another feature that will help players hold their original PSOnes near and Nemesis whose mission is to destroy save firepower is the ability to shoot dear. It will also have great value for any remaining S.T.A.R.S. members objects such as oil barrels, bombs to those who are new to the series and that threaten their goals of world domi- defeat certain enemies. Keep in mind want to experience its greatest tri- nation. RE3 players that saving the magnum umph on one of the best systems I’ll give R.E. veterans a heads-up: and its ammo is beneficial for when around. This game is a prequel that takes you face off against Nemesis. Finally, Resident Evil’s grip on the world of places before and in between Resi- for the first time in this series, players video games is firm as evidenced by dent Evil 2. Veterans of the series will will come across certain scenarios the critical praise lavished on the re- also notice a few surprises in this in- that will require players to think care- cent fifth entry. The father of survival stallment. For starters, Jill has a new fully about their course of action. Be horror still has the ability to frighten tool to help her create ammunition for careful because those decisions will and entertain, and the third game is various weapons. She also will gain have an impact in the game’s ending. proof of that. FOURTH QUARTER 2009 GAMING INSURRECTION PAGE 15 PAGE 16 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009

videos photogalleries podcasts

PRINCE OF THE Double Adventures in the IRON FIST podcasts Dribble Magic Kingdom

Prince of the Super PRINCE OF THE IRON FIST

Iron Fist Castlevania IV Contributing editor Jamie Mosley talks about his life during his time Double Adventures in the Super Vampire with Tekken- and Soulcalibur- Dribble Magic Kingdom Castlevania IV Chronicles creator Namco-Bandai.

CHATS EVERY WEEK!

Editor Lyndsey Mosley talks gaming with guests!

Listen each week for her thoughts about video Vampire Marvel vs. Capcom games and the culture surrounding them. Chronicles 2 random matches FOURTH QUARTER 2009 GAMING INSURRECTION PAGE 17 October 2009

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NBA 2K10 (XBOX 360, PS3)

Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising (XBOX 360, PS3)

Rogue Warrior (XBOX 360, PS3)

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up (WII)

Brutal Legend (XBOX 360, PS3)

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (XBOX 360, PS3)

A Boy and His Blob (WII)

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Marvel Super Hero Squad (WII)

WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2010 (ALL)

Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo (WII)

25 26 27 World of Zoo (ALL) 28 29 30 31

Fairytale Fights (XBOX 360, PS3)

Tekken 6 (XBOX 360, PS3)

Heist (XBOX 360, PS3)

Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time (XBOX 360, PS3) DJ Hero (XBOX 360, PS3) PAGE 18 GAMING INSURRECTION FOURTH QUARTER 2009 November 2009

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Blur (XBOX 360, PS3)

LEGO: Rockband (ALL)

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Modern Warfare 2 (XBOX 360, PS3)

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (WII)

15 16 17 LEGO Indiana Jones 2: 18 19 20 21 The Adventure Continues (ALL)

Tony Hawk: RIDE (ALL)

Karaoke Revolution (ALL)

Need For Speed NITRO (ALL)

Planet 51 (ALL) 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Where the Wild Things Are (ALL)

29 30 FOURTH QUARTER 2009 GAMING INSURRECTION PAGE 19 December 2009

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Saboteur (ALL)

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game (ALL)

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31