GAMING MUSIC TECHNOLOGY The final installment of the The Sony Walkman MP3 series on tunes from our player and other tools favorite games focuses on to keep you going in Tekken Tag and 4 others. hard economic times. PAGE 10 PAGE 11 Second Quarter 2009 Gaming Insurrection reflects on the series that introduced Samus Aran to the world Page 2 Gaming Insurrection Second Quarter 2009 The second quarter of 2009 brings the end of our video game music feature. For now, we’re saying good- bye to our series on the best tunes in the industry. GI contributor Jamie Mosley relates his escapades with Halo and XBox Live. We also take a look at two of GI’s favorite retro titles: Crazy Taxi and The Addams Family: Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt. Cry of War Cry of War Visit the multimedia section of our Web site to From the Dungeon Lyndsey M. Mosley Lyndsey M. Mosley download extras and watch videos from this quarter. James T. L. Mosley Giving the gift of Villains are essential Contents — Second Quarter 2009 software always a element to D&D game good idea for gamers flow, management Columns Features Usual illains. y first video game con- Suspects They are an important part Cry of War … 2 Metroid saga … 3-7 sole was a Nintendo of a campaign. Villains Entertainment System. Retrograde … 9 push the heroes to improve Many of our readers Video game music themselvesV and the storyline ahead. haveM read that I got it as a Christmas From the Dungeon … 10, 12 They can even help save the world … What we’re playing … gift in 1988 and had to share it with … 2 only because they want to rule it them- 8 my older brother. What readers don’t selves. I know that not every villain is know is that most of my games evil, but to me an evil villain is so were first given to me as a gift as Tech Geeks … much more fun. I mean, wanton de- well. 11 struction, intriguing plots, stealing It used to be, in our household at souls — who wouldn’t want to play least, that I got games twice a year: Save the date … these guys or gals? Christmas and my birthday. Because Let’s keep these villains alive and 13-15 they are almost exactly six months close in every campaign. apart, I usually prepared a list to How do you keep the villains close? give to my parents of four titles that You could use the “wolf in sheep’s I wanted. clothing” ploy. Although, if use it too More often than not, that list was much and the heroes will stop trusting narrowed to two. anyone they meet. No trust equals hard As I got older and able to afford times for the dungeon master. Effects games on my own, I bought them of the scheme could lead to paladins myself at various points during the destroying anyone they deem evil. He- year but sometimes I would still re- roes will follow the mission to the let- ceive them as gifts. Out of the nearly ter and not venturing outside of the 200 games that I own for all of my box. The heroes may not talk to any systems, probably 50 I actually pur- PCs you have in place. If they do, they chased. may not trust what they have to say. The gifts have come from variety Therein lies the problem with the of family members: my mom, dad, “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” The more brother, husband. Page 8 Page 9 you use it, the less likely you will keep Even best friends: GI contributor a gaming group. We wouldn’t want Marcus Barnes has gifted me with that now, would we? several classics that I hold near and I suggest letting one of the PCs play dear. an evil character. A player in your My original collection of NES and group that is evil can lead to the most Super NES games were handpicked memorable games ever. out and some of my Nintendo 64 Who are we? The heroes can still save the day, games were gifted as well. even the multiverse. If you know the gamer you are The rogue, which is what I will call buying for, buying games you know the villain PC character from now on, they’re looking for or liked to play is can even help the heroes in their task. a smart idea. Though some folks’ Why? The hero business can be very tastes change from year to year, you lucrative. Every villain needs funds of can’t go wrong with buying a good some kind to help them achieve their title, wrapping it up and giving it as goals. a present. Everywhere the group goes they are Some gamer somewhere will thank either greeted with rewards or death you for taking the buying process threats. Either way, the rogue will re- out of their hands. ceive a benefit. If the heroes are re- Tips to consider when shopping for Lyndsey Mosley , an avid Marcus Barnes is the co-founder warded, the rogue will expect their fair gifts for gamers: video gamer and journalist, of Gaming Insurrection . Barnes will share. If the champions receive death 1. Is it a series they are known to is editor of Gaming Insur- sell you all of the electronic equip- threats, the rogue is rewarded with like? If they like multiple games rection . Mosley, a copy ment and gadgets you need in his knowledge that they are part of group from a certain franchise, chances are editor by trade, resides in hometown of Columbia, S.C. that is getting a “street rep.” The he- they will like the game you’re look- Columbia with family. roes will be known across the mul- ing at. But, please ask before you tiverse as “Bringers of Tranquility.” buy because some series are notori- People in need for tranquility are usu- ous for dropping off in quality in ally will to pay top dollar to receive it. later additions ( looking at you, Tomb Jamie Mosley is a contributor to Gaming Insurrec- Hence, the rogue receives their share Raider and Twisted Metal 3&4 ); tion , providing the quarterly From the Dungeon of the reward for helping out. 2. Did the gamer give you a list to column. “J. Mo.” resides in Columbia, S.C., with his Why stop there? Instead of one refer to? If they did, stick with that. wife and in-laws. rogue, why not the whole group? Let Make sure it’s written out clearly the PCs come up with their most devi- because there is nothing more em- ous plans. Maybe they want to destroy barrassing than going into a game a kingdom that irritated them because store and asking for Mario 3 on the Brandon Beatty is a newcomer to the world of of their laws. Possibly they want to Genesis. Please do your homework journalism but no stranger to video games. destroy a certain race because they ahead of time; and believe that the entire race is evil. Per- 3. Will toys suffice? If the gamer Brandon provides video support for Gaming haps these rogues want to wield the in question enjoys collectibles, it’s Insurrection and is one of the newsletter’s big- power of the gods for themselves. OK to buy a toy with said game. It’s gest cheerleaders. Beatty hangs out with These are just a few examples. not OK to buy a collectible in place friends in Columbia, S.C. Remember, the plans only have to of a highly anticipated game. Never make sense to the rogues. The dungeon is that OK. Again, it’s like buying a master’s job is to try creating a group Mario-themed DS carrying case of “champions” to stop the rogues when the gamer really just wants GAMING INSURRECTION STAFF from achieving their crucial objective. Super Smash Bros. That is not cool When I run a game, I more often than at any time. not allow the players any alignment Learning how to gift games cor- Editor Columnists Contributors they want. It has never caused a prob- rectly will help anyone come Lyndsey M. Mosley Lyndsey M. Mosley Marcus C. Barnes lem in my group. In fact, they enjoy home with the right present every James T. L. Mosley Brandon H. Beatty the freedom. In the end, isn’t that what time for that special gamer in their everyone desires? More liberty in their life. Blog: http://www.gaminginsurrection.com/blog gaming session. Lyndsey Mosley is editor of Gaming Jamie Mosley is a quarterly contributor to Insurrection. She can be reached by e-mail WEB SITE: www.gaminginsurrection.com Gaming Insurrection. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]. E-MAIL: [email protected] at [email protected]. Second Quarter 2009 Gaming Insurrection Page 3 BY LYNDSEY M. M OSLEY world finally realized that ness of Metroid’s land- women were strong and scape provides an inter- able-bodied creatures that esting case study in char- could carry a game all by acter design and back themselves. story. With the wonder reflect on all that Samus What I have come to and splendor of Samus’ has achieved as a charac- learn about Metroid could environments comes a ter and as a property and fill volumes of an ency- detail unknown before decide her place in annals All about Metroid clopedia. Super Metroid Metroid. Samus is one of of gaming history.