Looking back at my 2015 in video gaming
A handful of gaming experiences from 2015 that I'll always remember, some of them from new releases and others from titles I should have explored years ago.
The Tech Deck archive for Jan. 1, 2015
TUESDAY, DEC. 29, 2015
MONDAY, DEC. 28, 2015
This week's free game: "Ski or Die!"
Skate or Die! was a 1988 hit for Konami and Electronic Arts on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The follow-up, "Ski or Die!" took the action to the slopes.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23, 2015
Contest winner picks 'Wolf Among Us'
Karen G. won our Tech Deck game for the holiday contest, selecting Wolf Among Us for the Xbox One. Thanks everyone for playing!
MONDAY, DEC. 21, 2015
This week's free game: "Commander Keen"
id Software's young dream team of John Carmac and John Romero cracked the side-scrolling code on DOS systems and produced a cutesy romp that belied their future work on DOOM.
THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 2015
Forgot about game-night?
Every DM has those games they did not prep as much as they wanted, if at all. This is a guide to help you prep better and faster. It also includes some tips on some places to prep first if very strapped for time.
MONDAY, DEC. 14, 2015
This week's free game: 'WWF Superstars'
The 1980s were the heyday of both coin-op arcades and WWF Superstars like Hulk Hogan and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. Enjoy the wonderful cocktail both provide with this week's free game.
TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015
Hopping in to the 'Uncharted 4' multiplayer beta
Naughty Dog has released a bite-sized sample of multiplayer gameplay from the upcoming fourth entry in its wildly popular "Uncharted" series for Playstation consoles. What does the package have to offer?
MONDAY, DEC. 7, 2015
This week's free game: "Jade Empire"
Venerable RPG developer Bioware's take on the kung-fu genre is free through Electronic Arts' "On the House" promotion this month.
MONDAY, NOV. 30, 2015
We're giving away a free game to celebrate the holidays
You've read a lot of meandering thoughts on gaming over the past year. We're paying you back.
MONDAY, NOV. 23, 2015
Gaming - when the weather hates you
Being without power is rough, you can’t watch TV, there’s no internet, lights don’t work, no heat, etc… That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Here’s a quick blog on how to pass the time while you wait for the power to hopefully come on.
This week's free game: "New York! New York!"
No, you won't be shagging flies from Derek Jeter or gulping down slices of thin crust pizza. This game is all about saving the Statue of Liberty from space invaders.
TUESDAY, NOV. 17, 2015
War slightly changes in 'Fallout 4'
While hitting the franchise's high notes and introducing some interesting new mechanics to the series' power armor, "Fallout 4" stands as more of a tiptoe, than a leap, forward.
MONDAY, NOV. 16, 2015
This week's free game: 'Chicken Shift'
Rube Goldberg meets the barnyard in this zany 1984 arcade game from Bally, free to play in your browser from the folks at the Internet Archive.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11, 2015
'Super Meat Boy!' gives old-school platforming a fresh sheen
Super Meat Boy! is both an homage to the classic platformer and a game that turns the conventions of the genre on their head.
MONDAY, NOV. 9, 2015
This week's free game: "Jetpack 2 (Beta)"
What once was vaporware has become a free-to-play reality, as the follow-up to 1993's platformer "Jetpack" is available to play for free, in your browser!
THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 2015
Alien vs. Lincoln
Saw this image floating around on Reddit, and it's spooky. The thoughts and possibilities that open up your mind: What if Abe Lincoln WAS an alien? I mean, LOOK at this guy:
TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2015
'Rocket League' is action sports nirvana
Psyonix's strange mix of vehicular combat and soccer makes for an irresistible gaming cocktail.
MONDAY, NOV. 2, 2015
This week's free game: "Mega Man (Game Gear edition)"
The franchise may be dead (for now), but Mega Man was king in the 1980s and '90s with a series of non-linear action platformers that were fiendishly difficult. The Internet Archive gives you a bite-sized taste of the action with the 1995 handheld port, free in your browser!
FRIDAY, OCT. 30, 2015
Is the midnight release celebration a thing of the past?
In the early days, video games and consoles arrived at stores when distributors got around to it. Then Sonic 2sDay changed all that. Now, with the digital release of hot titles, is the celebration of a blockbuster launch a thing of the past?
TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 2015
All Hallows Eve Gaming
Greetings loyal readers, this week I’m treating you with a second blog post. I’ll show you the tips and tricks that I’ve learned throughout my years and offer some suggestions on spooky-fun games.
MONDAY, OCT. 26, 2015
Character Background Table
Everyone comes from somewhere. Your characters are no different. Though sometimes you might have difficulty coming up with ideas on where they came from. This blog post contains the table of 100 backgrounds.
This week's free game: "Maniac Mansion"
The game that defined the zany graphical adventure of the early 1990s, and gave genre legend Tim Schafer his start, "Maniac Mansion" is an incredible late '80s feat of non-linear gameplay and hilarious writing.
MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2015
This week's free game: 'Lunar Lander'
NASA says there's water on Mars, and now you can live out your space-adventuring fantasies with Atari classic "Lunar Lander," free in your browser!
TUESDAY, OCT. 13, 2015
Combat - Balancing the Dice
The dark forest is lit by a lone campfire. Four figures crouch next to it, eating heartily. “I can’t believe we did it, I mean we actually won!” Another speaks, “Well, my goblin friend, when the dice are on your side anything is possible. I’m gonna get some more ale … I think that fighter had some left in his pack.”
MONDAY, OCT. 12, 2015
This week's free game: 'Narc'
The highly controversial 'Narc' had players taking the role of two macho drug cops much more inclined to pump bad guys full of lead than put them in handcuffs.
Blog Archives
| Dec. 2015 | Nov. 2015 | Oct. 2015 | Sept. 2015 |
| Aug. 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 |
| April 2015 | March 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Jan. 2015 |