Normally in a game everything’s mapped out for you along the way, and you learn about the character that someone else created. Not so in Fable II, which has given me the only example I can remember of learning about a character that I created.
I’ve been running the Carnival of Video Game Bloggers for over three and a half years now: here’s the first Carnival for those of you curious to see how it started. It features the inaugural Jordan Bieber Award for Most Articles Submitted and a photo from Spartacus, so that’s something worth clicking for.
Sadly, I haven’t had the time to give the Carnival proper attention in the past year or so: I’ve been writing more and more for Nintendo Life as it continues to grow and devour the world of independent Nintendo reporting, but I don’t want the Carnival to die, so it’s moving hands.
Eclipse from the excellent Gaming My Way has stepped in to give the Carnival a good home, and I wanted to say a public thank you to him for taking it on permanently. I’m sure it’ll be a huge success under his guidance and I wish him all the best.
Thanks to all my regular contributors to the Carnival over the years – Jordan Bieber, Alvaro Fernandez, David Herbert, jigsaw hc, old-wizard, Eric Gargiulo, Apocalypso, Eclipse (of course!) and everyone else who sent in articles, hosted the Carnival and helped out in any way. You have my gratitude.
I’m listening to No Use Crying by Embrace, from This New Day [UK]
Welcome to the July 19, 2010 edition of carnival of video game bloggers. Sorry it’s a day later than scheduled, but here it is anyway!
Eric Gargiulo presents Guitar Hero Needs A Tune Up posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “One of my favourite video games of the last five years has turned into one of my least favourites. Apparently I am not alone in thinking that the Guitar Hero video game series has jumped the shark.”
Meg presents Silkroad Society posted at Simpson’s Paradox
Eric Gargiulo presents Tonight’s Forecast: Heavy Rain – Video Game Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “To begin, I am only going to say this once. the Heavy Rain video game contains scenes of Explicit Language, Violence, Nudity, as well as Very Strong Dramatic Scenes that are inappropriate to anyone under the recommended age of 17+. I, John Yomtov Jr., Eric Gargiulo, Sony, Quantic Dream, as well as everyone else here at The Camel Clutch Blog are NOT to be held accountable if anybody’s children get a hand on this game and are playing it.”
redmongoose presents Mistwalker releases concept art for new Wii RPG posted at Red Mongoose.
Apocalypso presents 7 Top Irish Characters from Video Games [St. Patrick’s Day] posted at Apocalypso’s Atomic Arcade.
Matt Willard presents Today’s Really Kickass Moment – Excalibur Sonic posted at Giant Robot Invasion!, saying, “I may bitch on the Internet about a Sonic game I’ve never played, but is there something in Sonic and the Black Knight that can change my opinion? Find out in Today’s Really Kickass Moment!”
Emily Pritchard presents 9 Ways To Save Money on Video Games posted at SciFabulous!, saying, “Ever gone broke pursuing our admirable hobby? This is my latest blog post on how to save money and keep from going into the negatives while still feeding the habit.”
Danny presents Joanas Horde Levelling Guide – The Benefits Of This Levelling Guide posted at horde levelling guide.
Eric Gargiulo presents New Wide Receiver Technology In Madden 11 posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “It may be a several months away, but EA Sports is beginning to reveal tidbits about improvements and enhancements to the Madden 11 video game. Every year EA tends to spend more time with a specific aspect of Madden than another. This year, Madden 11 will see big improvements in wide receiver play with the implementation of the Catch Debugging Tool.”
networkandy presents Cheap Gaming computer- Cyber power PC | Good Cheap Gaming Computers posted at Good Cheap Gaming Computers, saying, “I hope you enjoy this article good day”
Eric Gargiulo presents Dana White Lifts the UFC Ban on EA MMA Fighters posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “It has been over six months since UFC president Dana White announced his war with EA Sports over their EA MMA video game. As part of his battle call, Dana White announced that he would ban any fighter who appeared in the EA MMA video game from fighting in the UFC. Cooler heads and reality have prevailed and Dana White has lifted the EA MMA fighters ban.”
DIYGamer presents Puzzle Bloom [Review] | DIYgamer posted at DIY Gamer.
Simpsonsparadox presents Passionfruit Hutong posted at Simpson’s Paradox.
Simpsonsparadox presents My Tribe For Facebook posted at Simpson’s Paradox.
Troy Pearce presents Pacman: The Movie Trailer posted at TWISTIE-TIE.
Natasha Rucker presents I Swear I’m a Girl! posted at The Girlie Geek Blog.
Eric Gargiulo presents This! Is! Kratos! God Of War 3 Video Game Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The God Of War video game is hands down one of the most recognizable Playstation franchises with its fast paced game play. It is also known for being one of the most graphic games on the market with its over the top violence and scenes of very suggestive themes and interactions. Above that, God Of War is one of the most addicting games on the market with a fan base that is enormous in stature. Based on famous mythological characters from the Greek variety, Kratos is a character developed by the Santa Monica Studios of Sony Computer.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Drew Brees Gets the Madden Cover & the Curse posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The Madden 2011 cover will feature Drew Brees. The New Orleans Saints quarterback was voted by fans to be the new Madden 11 cover. Beware of the Madden Curse New Orleans Saints fans. Did most of those votes come from Minneapolis?”
swollenpickles presents The quick and dirty guide to gearing up a Hunter posted at Arcane Shots.
Eric Gargiulo presents First Official Madden 11 Video Game Trailer posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Watch the first Madden 11 Game Trailer from EA Sports. The attention to detail may the best yet in the Madden franchise. The Madden 11 trailer features Madden cover player Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Some highlights in the video include locomotion and deeper online innovation.”
Bobfredpo presents Best Online Flash Gaming Sites posted at Top Game Of The Day, saying, “A review of the best flash video game websites”
Eric Gargiulo presents UFC 2010 Undisputed Full Roster & Demo Release Date posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The long awaited list of the UFC Undisputed 2010 full roster has been released. The video game will feature new UFC Undisputed 2010 fighters, game store exclusives, and exclusive PS3 legends. You won’t have to wait long to start playing UFC Undisputed 2010. The UFC Undisputed 2010 demo will be released this Thursday.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden 11 Dual Stick Control Preview ? Video posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The Madden 11 countdown officially began when Drew Brees announced that he would grace the Madden 11 cover. From now until August or as we like to call it, “Maddenoliday†EA will tease us with Madden 11 videos, previews, tips, and news. The newest Madden 11 video features Dual Stick Controls, something new to this year’s Madden video game.”
Michael Kotson presents What Brand of PC to Buy? posted at Test My Geek Stuff, saying, “Thought this might be interesting to your readers”
aiwendel presents Long List of MMORPGs posted at TubeBlogger, saying, “Check out this complete list of MMORpG’s with gaming videos. Some are even free to play and still made it on this list of best mmos.”
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of video game bloggers using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: carnival of video game bloggers, blog carnival.
I’ve been writing for Nintendo Life for about two and a half years now. In that time I’ve been to London, Paris, Poland and Dewsbury, reviewed over sixty games, written hundreds of articles and met dozens of wonderful people, from PRs to developers.
That said, there’s still that nagging feeling that, because I have a day job to pay the bills, I’m not quite a meaningful part of the industry yet. Not to say that the industry metes out status by the size of your pay packet, but to make my living solely from doing what I love to do – that is, writing about it – is a long, long way off yet.
There’s the thought that I still measure my success in a print medium, that to transfer across from writing online to getting my name on paper is a huge step up, when if anything the overall industry is trending in the opposite direction. Perhaps that explains why I’ve been so reluctant to start work on a piece to pitch to magazine editors, though it’s much more likely I’m simply being lazy.
I do wonder where I’ll go next, and I don’t mean geographically. This year promises to be a huge year for me to prove I’ve got what it takes to make a name for myself in such a hugely competitive industry. From small beginnings I have the opportunity to go global, and that brings a smile to my face.
The answer to that seemingly rhetorical question is “yes”. I am in the industry: I may not have influence, but I have a part to play. The 10-year old me would have dreamt of this lifestyle and it seems blasé of me to criticise it. I have the opportunity to make my dreams come true and I’m going to do just that.
Welcome to the March 1, 2010 edition of carnival of video game bloggers. As always, I’ve been a busy bunny, beavering away over at Nintendo Life, creating podcasts, reviews, news and loads of other stuff. Still, the Blog Carnival rolls on with some fantastic content this month as always. Let’s get on with the show!
Bryan Sharp presents The 5 Types of People Playing Brutal Legend posted at Gamebane, saying, “Here’s a funny article based on the audience for the new Double Fine game Brutal Legend.”
Brice Morrison presents 3 Overlooked Keys to Making Outstanding Games posted at The Game Prodigy, saying, “I’m editor of The Game Prodigy, a blog for indie developers and game students. I’d love to be part of this game blog carnival; let me know if you see any other articles of ours that you’d like!”
Martin Huang presents Dragonica Online Review posted at Martin Huang.
Jennifer Mannion presents Moshi Monsters – Educational Computer Games and More for Kids posted at Kids Computer Games Recommendations.
Eric Gargiulo presents EA Sports MMA Video Game Trailer – Video | CamelClutchBlog.com posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Check out the trailer for the upcoming EA Sports MMA video game. The trailer aired live on the Strikeforce CBS broadcast and appropriately features Brett Rogers vs. Fedor Emelianenko. As far as graphics go, the game looks tremendous. The action sequences feature takedowns, strikes, an arm bar, and a muay thai clinch. This is the first visual taste gamers have gotten at EA’s new venture. The game is scheduled for a 2010 release.”
Eclipse presents 100 Games I?ve Played, Part 1 posted at Gaming My Way.
Eric Gargiulo presents Kickin’ It Old School: New Super Mario Bros Wii Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Back in the early 1990’s, Super Mario Bros. dominated the platform game market, and for good reason. Super Mario Bros. 3 was and still is the most successful video game to have ever been released, spawning a generation of competition that could not even come close to its dominance. Super Mario Bros. 3 was the most sold and highest reviewed NES games to have ever been released, this game has even the dubious honor of having one of the first product placement movies ever to be its launch pad.”
Matthew Overstreet presents Gritty Grand Theft Auto 4 is a Humorous Comedy posted at Matthew Overstreet’s Film Thoughts.
Shin presents DJ Hero 2 confirmed posted at Playstation 3 Game Console Blog, saying, “Activision has announced that they will indeed make another DJ Hero. Despite lackluster sales, it hopes to make a bigger name in the near future with this title. The idea is quality over quantity.”
Shin presents Sony announces PS3 DVR kit for Japan posted at Playstation 3 Game Console Blog, saying, “Sony announces a PS3 DVR kit for Japan that allows you to play your system or watch movies will recording and browsing programs.”
Shin presents Good interview on how to effectively voice act on Video Games posted at Playstation 3 Game Console Blog, saying, “A video on how to voice acting and how to get into a voice acting interview.”
Shin presents New Rocket Knight Adventures due in 2010?! SAY WHAT??? posted at Playstation 3 Game Console Blog, saying, “Rocket Knight adventure, a cult classic, is remade on the PS3 and Xbox 360.”
Shin presents Megaman 10 and Final Fight confirmed for 2010! Footage of Megaman 10! posted at Playstation 3 Game Console Blog.
Eric Gargiulo presents Clank To The Future: Ratchet & Clank Video Game Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Ratchet & Clank have been some of my favorite games across multiple Playstation systems both portable and console. The first game was an instant classic on the PS2, it introduced new ways to play a 3D platform and it also brought with it a very good sense of humor. Jak & Daxter at the time were the kings of the 3D platform for the PS2 and many felt that this game would simply just use those characters as a spring board to make some cash, but they were wrong.”
Tony Huynh presents Greatest Video Game Trailers, God of War III (3) Release date and cover posted at LimitlessUnits.com, saying, “A countdown to the greatest video game trailers of all time. God of War III release date and cover finalized.”
Eric Gargiulo presents New UFC Undisputed 2010 Details and News posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The buzz is already well underway for the next Ultimate Fighting Championship video game. UFC Undisputed 2010 is just a few months away with a scheduled May 25, 2010 release date. One of the designers from THQ recently revealed a ton of news and details about the upcoming MMA video game. As great as the first UFC Undisputed video game was, if even half of these changes and improvements live up to expectations, this game could go down as one of the greatest video games of all time.”
Vicky presents Fun with ThinkGeek Ice Cube Trays posted at TGAW, saying, “Not sure if this is entirely fitting for your carnival. A post on using ThinkGeek Ice Cube Trays to make geek chocolates such as adorable little Space Invaders. 
”
Joshid presents Why there isn’t a new Power Rangers for 2010? posted at SentaiRider, saying, “Just awesome news on power rangers, I love it.”
Luke Geraghty presents 101 Classics: World of Warcraft posted at Luke Geraghty.com, saying, “I believe ‘World of Warcraft’ has earned its place in the hall of video game classics. Please check out my article!”
Bilal Mughal presents Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2 Review. Worth the buy ? posted at House of Tech, saying, “The path Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has come till now. Is it Still worth it to buy ?
Especially when there have been controversies, mainly being the dedicated servers..”
Bilal Mughal presents New Game Titles. Are they ridiculously over priced ? posted at House of Tech, saying, “Are the Game Really Over Priced ?
How much do the Developers Earn ?
Is it Fair ?”
KPC presents Aion: Tower of Eternity Review posted at Aion the Tower of Eternity.
KPC presents Add ons for Aion posted at Aion the Tower of Eternity.
KPC presents Tips for Getting Kinah in Aion posted at Aion the Tower of Eternity.
KPC presents What is Aion the Tower of Eternity? posted at Aion the Tower of Eternity.
KPC presents How to Create the Best Charter in Aion posted at Aion the Tower of Eternity.
sheila hopes presents Wii-fit and Wii-games Reviews: August 2009 posted at Wii-fit and Wii-games Reviews, saying, “This game is great for Star Wars fans! It allows you to take the place of a variety of characters from the Clone Wars series and movie and battle with other characters. I really love this game”
D.C. Douglas presents Video Game Nirvana posted at THE D.C. DOUGLAS BLOG.
Adam presents Top 10 Halo Guns posted at Flip The Turtle.
Eric Gargiulo presents Guitar Hero 5 Video Game Cheats and New Features posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Guitar Hero 5 is available today and for some, this is the first half of your Guitar Hero 5 / Guitar Hero Van Halen bundle. The game features 85 songs, new GH features and the debut of Kurt Cobain. Expect a lot of the standard Guitar Hero cheats to work with the game.”
Jennifer Mannion presents Tropix- Fun, Educational Kids Computer Game Ages 6 on up posted at Kids Computer Games Recommendations.
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden 2010 Tips: Breaking Down The Cover 2 Defense posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “This year it’s a bit harder to break down the Madden 2010 Cover 2 defense, since you can’t just put the tight end on a streak and get between the safeties. You have to open up the playbook a bit more to do this.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Old-enstein: Wolfenstein Video Game Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Now fast forward almost ten years later, the newest Wolfenstein game in the series tries its best at eclipsing that games success but comes up way short. The new game continues the story of William “B.J.” Blazkowicz and his pursuit to eliminate the Nazi Empire.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Guitar Hero 5 Full Import Song List posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Guitar Hero 5 was released earlier this week with 85 songs. This is the third Guitar Hero game released in 2009. Unlike previous GH games, Activision has now allowed users to import songs from older Guitar Hero games into the GH5. Here is the full list of import-friendly Guitar Hero 5 songs.”
Cricket presents Game Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum posted at NERDSOCIETY.com, saying, “Review of the latest hype game, Batman: Arkham Asylum”
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden 2010 Tips: Breaking Down Defensive Man Coverage posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “I like to break down man defense in Madden 2010 using one of four strategies. I like to either use my Madden opponent’s weakness to my advantage, hit the flats, use my tight end, or use wide receiver or half back option routes.”
Eric Gargiulo presents OrcPad Online Games Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Orcpad.com is an online gaming website and has a lot of cool free games. I was pretty happy with their random tab because each time when I visited the page I got a random selection of 15 games and at the same time some very cool games came up initially. Also I could find lots of fun games this way.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden Curse Strikes Troy Polamalu In Week 1 posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The Madden Curse wasted no time this NFL season. Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t even make it to halftime in Week 1 against the Titans. The Madden 2010 cover features Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald fantasy football owners are holding their breath everywhere.”
Eric Gargiulo presents New Madden 2010 Roster Update Details posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Madden 2010 video game players may have noticed that their roster is a little outdated. EA will fix that with a new Madden 2010 Roster Update. EA released the details of the next Madden update. The update will bring rosters up to date with NFL opening day lineups and recent transactions.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Can Buy Me Cheats! The Beatles: Rock Band List Of Cheats posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The Beatles: Rock Band is a very popular video game. Like other Rock Band and Guitar Hero games, there are plenty of Game Cheats available. Check out the full list of The Beatles: Rock Bands cheats. Follow these instructions and you will have more game unlockables than you know what to do with.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden 2010 Tips and Strategy: Breaking Apart the Cover 3 posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Breaking apart the Madden cover 3 defense is a lot easier than breaking open a cover 2. I like to overload one side and have underneath routes just in case. In that play, there aren’t any buzz zones (purple zones) so the corners are open. You can run a play that has a corner route and a flat route to break down the lack of coverage they’ll have against one of the two routes.”
Eric Gargiulo presents The Side Scroller Is Back: Shadow Complex Video Game Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Epic Games delivers another solid hit outside of there Unreal Tournament series. This time around its a 2D/3D side scroller called Shadow Complex. This title unlike there previous games on the consoles is a Downloadable Title online on Xbox Marketplace.”
Jaybot presents Jaybot’s essential Top 10 best Videogames of all time. | Jaybot7 : Jason Surguine : Music : Audio : Design : Games posted at Jaybot7 : Jason Surguine : Music : Audio : Design : Games, saying, “You wanna study game design without blowing all your money at Full Sail? This is so subjective, but people always ask me what my favorite games are (since I design games as a profession). This is a list of the 10 (okay, 50) best games that inspire me as far as game design.”
Surbhi Bhatia presents Epoc-h of Gaming posted at The Viewspaper » The Viewspaper.
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden 2010 Tips and Strategy: Twin WR Sets & Beating A Nano Blitz posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “A nano blitz has been around Madden since the years of Madden 04-05 where your opponent would setup a blitz that gets to your QB really fast, coining the term nano blitz as it got there almost in a nano second. If it’s a good nano, someone will break free even with a TE blocking.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden 2010 Gets AFL Legacy Pack Today posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “EA will release yet another Madden 2010 video game update today. The AFL Legacy Pack download is now available for Madden 10. The pack pays tribute to the AFL and will integrate classic AFL presentations and uniforms into Madden. The download is available on Xbox Marketplace and the PSN store.”
James Reilly presents Xbox Repairs � How To Fix A Stuck Game Using A 360 Repair Guide posted at XBox Repair Guide.
Eric Gargiulo presents WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 Deals and Screenshots posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The new WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 video game is on the way! WWE superstars John Cena, Undertaker, Randy Orton, Edge and Rey Mysterio all featured on the cover. New game screen shots reveal the most detailed pro wrestling video game in gaming history. In addition to great graphics, the new game promises more customization than ever from users.”
Eric Gargiulo presents Mario & Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story – Video Game Review posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Mario & Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story is a game I have been waiting to review for quite some time. The game was released in Japan back in February and since then, I have done everything I can to get as much information about this classic.”
Jennifer Mannion presents Top 5 Educational Kid Friendly IPhone/ITouch Apps posted at Kids Computer Games Recommendations.
Eric Gargiulo presents Madden 2010 Tips And Strategy – Pittsburgh Steelers Money Plays | CamelClutchBlog.com posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Madden video game players are very familiar with the term “money plays.†A money play is a play that works almost 90% of the time you run it either on offense or defense. Today, we take a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ money plays. Use these Madden plays and lead the Steelers back to the Super Bowl.”
RetroEnter presents RetroEnter Presents: Spiderweb posted at For the Love of Retro, saying, “RetroEnter about Spiderweb’s games”
Luke presents How to rush with UNSC leaders in Halo Wars posted at Lukedude5′s Blog, saying, “How to rush with UNSC leaders in Halo Wars for Xbox 360. Head to my blog for how to rush with Covenant leaders.”
Eric Gargiulo presents New Madden 2010 Roster Update #6 Details posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “The boys at EA have worked hard on yet another new Madden 2010 update. The update is available now for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 users and features updated NFL rosters, player injuries and skills/attributes. Get Michael Crabtree on the field immediately or have Mark Sanchez throw deep to Braylon Edwards immediately with the new update.”
Bryan Sharp presents Dante’s Inferno Encourages Baby Killing posted at Gamebane, saying, “Gamebane is a video game comedy blog that offers a unique perspective on the game industry. This post is some commentary on the recently announced Dante’s Inferno achievement that encourages players to kill babies.”
Eric Gargiulo presents It’s Go Time: PSP Go Review | CamelClutchBlog.com posted at CamelClutchBlog.com, saying, “Sony has finally answered the demands by the media, blog community, and well just about everyone else outside of those two demanding sources. I have be waiting for an upgraded PSP with a built in Hard Drive for some time since I have always wanted a more digital gaming handheld. Well enter the PSP Go, a screen sliding, hard drive equipped, much more smaller and sleek looking PSP brings with it a new way of playing gaming while on the go. Instead of a media drive such as a Game Card slot like the Nintendo DS or the UMD with the current PSP, the Go relies solely on downloading anything and everything.”
As always, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a post, and I hope you find at least one interesting post to read and comment on. Get to know your fellow bloggers and all kinds of avenues may open for you.
If you want to get involved in the next carnival of video game bloggers, use our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: carnival of video game bloggers, blog carnival.
My name is James Newton, and this is my website - a collection of my writings about
videogames, music and all my other thoughts.
