Toby Clark
Just remember kid, there are others like you all over the world! I fondly remember those words from playing Fighting Street for my overpriced TurboGrafx CD player ($399 at launch . . . in 1989), which, because it was the early days of voice in video games, were so compressed and distorted that they sounded like the fighter had a mental or speech disability. Nonetheless I felt that I was on the cutting edge of the video game world and was completely unaware that I was apparently one of only five people that ever got the CD-ROM add-on for the TurboGrafx-16. However, in my mind the months of begging and cajoling to get the add-on (thanks again Mom & Dad!) were well worth it for one game alone: Legacy of Ys: Books I & II. True voiced Japanese anime style cinematics and a sprawling, yet sometimes brutal RPG experience culminating in one of the final boss battles that remains deeply entrenched in my memories to this day. What other final boss confidently announces, “I am pure evil,” when you finally confront him?
That anecdote exemplifies my utter and complete love of video games. Okay, more like obsession. After all, I have all three “current gen” consoles plus both handhelds (DS and PSP) and follow video game news like others follow politics and hollywood gossip. My usual morning routine finds me checking video game news websites before reading the New York Times. So, I’ve finally decided to espouse my thoughts and feelings on various video game happenings. Will anyone listen? Who knows. But I’ve got to purge these pixels from my brain before it’s too late.
It’s just me at the wheel of this ship. So, I’m not attempting to cover the entire industry or all games as some type of competitor to the big sites. Instead, I will focus on news, announcements, and games that interest me and give my thoughts on them. For me, great games are about the story and well-implemented game mechanics with some type of progression. I can handle less than stellar gameplay when the story is amazing or implemented in a way that envelopes you (i.e. Mass Effect 1, Heavy Rain) and a little less compelling of a story when the gameplay is great (i.e. Mario Galaxy, Ratchet and Clank Future, Gears of War, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess). When both are combined well, my favorite games of all time result (i.e. Mass Effect 2, Uncharted 1 & 2, Fallout 3, Resident Evil 4).
So, while my tastes range across several genres, there are a few types of games that I probably will not cover much, like military shooters, online shooters, or sports games. Although even in those genres, there are exceptions that really catch my interest: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Fight Night, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for Wii.
I currently live in Brooklyn and can be reached at tobyclark@pixelateme.com. However, this summer I’ll be riding my bike 3,300 miles in 48 days from Seattle to Washington, D.C. in support of the American Lung Association (and you can donate in support of my ride here.). Then, I’ll be moving across the country to San Francisco for a more laid back environment and great weather throughout the year!
