GameCola Recap: December 2012

After several prolific months in a row with obscure gaming website GameCola.net, things finally slowed to a crawl. I still managed to get my name attached to three articles, though my contribution to one was technically written back in November, and the other two articles were a spur-of-the-moment "Huh, guess I'd better write something for this."

Oh, and hey, looks like one last review got published, just under the wire.

Columns:

- The Archive Dive: We're On Holiday Break Edition

- Q&AmeCola: Worst Game in a Series


Comic:

- Sprite Flicker: I Give You a Special Present


Review:

- Mega Man II (GB)

GameCola Recap: November 2012

November seems to have been the all-podcast month for me at obscure gaming website GameCola.net. And I'm still having trouble describing the site in a way that flows. "Videogame humor website" worked so well, but we've changed our slogan to "GameCola: Gaming Outside the Mainstream!". That's a little cumbersome to drop into casual conversation, though it still works as a slogan. But "obscure gaming website" sounds less like we talk about obscure games, and more like nobody's ever heard of us. Both of which are true.

Whoo, that's a dense-looking paragraph. Better get to the part where I hyperlink to stuff.

Podcasts:

- GC Podcast #55: Gaming Outside the Mainstream

- Off-Topic Podcast #3: The Thirties

Videos:

- GC Podcast #38 on YouTube: Too Many Podcasters

- GC Podcast #39-40 on YouTube: The (Rest of the) Mike and Jeddy Show

GameCola Recap: October 2012

Just as October was a significant month here at Exfanding, so it was for me at videogame-humor-turned-obscure-gaming website GameCola.net. Aside from my regular contribution to the monthly "Q&AmeCola" staff questions column, I completed one major endeavor with the help of my fellow staff writers, and embarked upon a new one unlike anything else I've done so far for GameCola...

Enjoy a hefty helping of collaboration this time around:

Columns:

- GameCola’s Most Essential/Influential Games of All Time (S-Z)

- Q&AmeCola: What’s in the Cube?

Podcasts:

- Crystalis D&Dcast – Part 1: The Adventure Begins…If We Ever Leave the Inn

- [NSFW] Crystalis D&Dcast – Part 2: Cave Story

- [NSFW] Crystalis D&Dcast – Part 3: The Slippery Slope

- [NSFW] Crystalis D&Dcast – Part 4: Like Stealing +9 Armor From a Baby

GameCola Recap: September 2012

Not much to say about my September contributions to GameCola.net--whose slogan changed from "Videogame Humor" to "Gaming Outside the Mainstream"--except that they're more of the same, which is not necessarily a bad thing. A sequel, a continuation, and another installment, plus a lot of time spent behind the scenes on the multi-part Crystalis D&Dcast that should provide a good number of links for October's recap.

So, while you're waiting for that, go ahead and soak up some September silliness:

Columns:

- [NSFW] GameCola's Most Essential/Influential Games of All Time (L-R)

- Spam Attack: Super Fighting Spambot

Videos:

- GC Podcast #37 on YouTube: This Thing Came Apart

A Proper Crystalis Celebration

As is my yearly custom, I am pleased to report that I have celebrated the (15th!) anniversary of The END DAY by playing through Crystalis, the NES RPG cult classic that made the bold proclamation that this day in 1997 would mark the end of civilization as we knew it. Well, I say that the post-apocalypse has never looked better.

For starters, for the first time in a few years, I was able to play through Crystalis from start to finish in a single sitting. Marathoning the game isn't a requirement, but I'm at the point now where I can breeze through it in 3-4 hours; that's about how long I spend playing video games anyhow (when I get the chance), so why not finish the whole thing in one go? Besides, part of the enjoyment I derive from playing this every year is experiencing the continuous progression of the story and the gameplay from one area to the next; I don't get the full effect by taking a few days to complete the game.

More exciting than that, however, was the release of Part 1 of GameCola's Crystalis-themed D&D podcast, hosted by yours truly. It's an alternate retelling of the story in which the game's four wise men--Zebu, Tornel, Asina, and Kensu--are the heroes. If you're interested in Dungeons & Dragons, or are a Crystalis fan, or just like sitting in on other people's (virtual) tabletop gaming sessions, this one comes highly recommended.

However, the best part of this END DAY was unquestionably the rare opportunity to fire up my NES, settle myself into the couch, and watch the graphics of Crystalis' otherwise normal introductory cutscene go completely bananas:

Apparently, the mistakes of the past could have been avoided with a little more Tornel Teaches Typing.

 

In short, this was a good day for Crystalis.

GameCola Recap: August 2012

August was a month of collaboration for me on videogame humor website GameCola.net. There's a lot of material this time around that's not only humorous, but insightful--the coveted double whammy of writing. Take a peek, why don'cha!

Columns:

- [NSFW] GameCola's Most Essential/Influential Games of All Time (A-D)

- Q&AmeCola: Games That Kickstarter Should Resurrect

- GameCola's Most Essential/Influential Games of All Time (E-K)

- Q&AmeCola: Fighting Dream Team 

Videos:

- GC Podcast #36 on YouTube: Boring Gaz Problems

GameCola Recap: July 2012

Podcast, podcast, podcast, and another chance to complain about Mega Man 10. That's all you'll get from me on videogame humor website GameCola.net this time. Assuming that "this time" means "in July," which it does.

Column:
- Q&AmeCola: Games That Exceed/Fell Short Of Your Expectations

Podcast:
 - GC Podcast #51: Just Another Podcast

 Videos:
- GC Podcast #34 on YouTube: The Thirty-Fourth Podcast

- GC Podcast #35 on YouTube: It's Pronounced "Episodic"

GameCola Recap: June 2012

Wow, I really do not remember writing anything in June for videogame humor website GameCola.net, but apparently I'm upholding my reputation of not being a complete slacker. A promising news blip, a collaboration, a...you know what? It'll be easier to just let you read the titles for yourself:

Column:

- Q&AmeCola: What Character Would You Be?

News:

- Wreck-It Ralph Is Gonna...Wreck It

Review:

- Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge

Video:

- Bad Dudes & Predator

GameCola Recap: May 2012

It looks like I've suddenly become a slacker again around videogame humor website GameCola.net, with only two articles to show for my involvement. Especially compared to last month. Especially because other people were the driving force behind this month's articles. Especially because the content I provided to these articles was technically from last month, and just didn't get posted until this month.

Enjoy an encore of my April contributions:

Column:

- Q&AmeCola: Anger-Inducing Games

Podcast:

- GC Podcast #50 Hour 5: Halfway!

GameCola Recap: April 2012

Holy Hatris! Thanks to a frenzy of podcasting activity, some exciting news in the adventure gaming world, and the celebration of its tenth anniversary, videogame humor website GameCola.net was inundated with my participation in the month of April. Looking back through the archives, there haven't been this many articles with my name attached to them since February 2010!

I need a nap.

Column:

- The Archive Dive: GameCola's 10th Anniversary Edition [Collaboration with Paul Franzen]

News:

- See Ya on the Chronostream...Again?

Podcasts:

- GC Podcast #38: UNCUT [April Fools' gag]

- GC Podcast #39: It's Pronounced "Crystalis"

- The GameCola 10th Anniversary 10-Hour Podtacular Is Live NOW!

Videos:

- GameCola 10th Anniversary Blowout Extravaganza Collaboration Celebration

- GC Podcast #33 on YouTube: 3D Games

GameCola's 10th Anniversary Podtacular!

Just a quick link post to help explain why I've been so absent from the blog this week: Sunday, April 22, 2012 is the tenth anniversary of GameCola.net, and among other things, I've been throwing myself into a big collaborative post that'll hopefully be posted by the time you read this.

Tomorrow, though, is The Big Day, and to celebrate ten years of videogame humor, we're doing ten hours of continuous podcasting. I, of course, will be participating for at least an hour, possibly two. More info at the link below!

SAVE THE DATE: GameCola's 10th Anniversary Podtacular

GameCola Recap: March 2012

Apparently I was more active than I thought at videogame humor website GameCola.net in the month of March. I offer you a nice blend this time around: a belated fluff post, a new (and well-received) column, a heads-up about a fun video series in which I participated, and a meaningful and entertaining all-staff post. Have at!
Columns:

- Spam Attack: Remembering Couch Outlet Store Online

- Q&AmeCola: Your First Game

Videos:

- Back to the Future: The Game – Episode 4: The Video – The Post: Marty is a Jerk

- GC Podcast #32 on YouTube: Crossover Games

GameCola Recap: February 2012

As if to make up for several months of barely qualifying as a contributor to videogame humor website GameCola.net, February saw me writing or participating in a whopping FIVE posts. I wish FIVE were actually a more impressive number to say out loud, but that's still the most I've been visibly involved since October 2010, and I'm particularly pleased with my review and "Flash Flood" column this time around.

Take a gander (or a mallard, or a loon) at what I have to show for February:


Columns:

- The 2011 GameCola Videogame Awards

- Flash Flood: Videos Inspired by The Legend of Zelda

- [NSFW] Q&AmeCola: Embarrassing Games

Podcast:

- GC Podcast #46: Catching up on Saramail

Review:

- Out There Somewhere
.

GameCola Recap: January 2012

Despite my best efforts, I'm back down to just two contributions to videogame humor website GameCola.net this past month. One of which barely counts. The other of which...also barely counts. It's more like a cameo, really. OK, so not my most prolific month. Still, I think it's pretty fun material to check out. Behold, 'tis January!

Column:

- Q&AmeCola: Movie Games

Videos:

- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
.

GameCola Recap: December 2011

This is the part where I begin to make up for the last two months of minimal contributions to videogame humor website GameCola.net. With the wedding and honeymoon seen through to completion, my spare free time (that's right: spare free time) was once again available for GameCola use in the month of December.

Consequently, I've got a fresh take on my wedding story and a brand-new review to spotlight, along with participation in a podcast (that you probably won't hear until February) and two all-staff articles. I'm quite happy with how everything turned out, and I'm pleased to report that what I'm about to list is all quite accessible to non-gamers. Enjoy!

Blog:

- A Very GameCola Wedding 3: Wed Hard with a Vengeance

Columns:

- GameCola's Top 50 Worst Games Ever Made (Part 2)

- Q&ameCola: Strange Games

Review:

- Gradius (NES)
.

GameCola Recap: November 2011

This is the part of the recap where I make excuses and promise I'll make it all up to you next month. Oh, I've got something to show for being a staff writer with videogame humor website GameCola.net--a ROM hack video that's pretty clever, if I do say so myself--but if you read our Thanksgiving post, then you've already seen it...and you might have even seen it before that, considering it was originally released back in 2009.

Still, I wrote a whole four sentences about the video, and that makes following the link and watching it all over again totally worth it.

Video:

- A Very EarthBound Thanksgiving
.

GameCola Recap: October 2011

With all the work and wedding planning going on behind the scenes in October, I quickly ran out of time to craft a significantly noteworthy new article worth recapping on videogame humor website GameCola.net. While I can't guarantee my lone contribution for the month was significantly noteworthy, I at least pulled together a full-blown review...which I had started (and abandoned) back in March. One paragraph and six screenshots later, my review was complete. Sheesh.

Review:

- Galcon Fusion (PC)
.

GameCola Recap: September 2011

My contributions to videogame humor website GameCola.net in the month of September keep with the tradition of the previous two months: there are two.

This time around, I got an easy sprite comic out of Frogger that may or may not provide a quick laugh, and a review of a Mega Man game, which shouldn't take anyone by surprise. To be fair, it's a review of a somewhat obscure Mega Man game that the general public seems to hate, and I haven't written a review that wasn't prompted by a company giving me a free game since January, so I think it's worth tooting some kind of horn. Bweeet.

Comic:

- Sprite Flicker: Amphibian Impasse

Review:

- Mega Man (PC)
.

GameCola Recap: August 2011

For a while I was averaging three contributions per month to videogame humor website GameCola.net, and I seem to have developed a knack for frantically submitting an article at the end of the month in the hopes of nearly meeting that quota, only to have the article published at the beginning of the next month...and to have that article end up being my only contribution for that month, keeping me locked into this sad, sad cycle.

Thus, I bring you but one article--hang on; my other article just got published at the last minute, and now I need to actually write something for next month. Thus, I bring you two articles from August 2011. Failure to enjoy them will result in the untimely termination of...whatever it was that was making you happy before you started reading them.

Reviews:

- Tobe's Vertical Adventure (PC)

Videos:

- Big Changes for GCDotNet
.

GameCola Recap: July 2011

Considering how busy July was for me, I'm impressed that I only fell one contribution short of my regular three per month to videogame humor website GameCola.net. This time around, I relied mostly on gimmicks to prompt other people and transcription software to be funny on my behalf; I have mixed feelings about the results, but I suspect I'm being overly self-critical as penance for not submitting one more article in time.

Here's what I had to offer in July:

Column:

- Impaired Closed Captioning: EarthBound

Podcast:

- GC Podcast #38: Too Many Podcasters
.