If you’re reading this, you probably have a decent library of video game titles. I know that I’ve been purchasing more games than I actually have time to play because of deals I’ve found via CheapAssGamer.com. Over the summer, I’ve found myself using Hooked In Motion’s app, which catalogs and organizes my collection in a convenient format. The app has undergone many changes since I initially downloaded it (mostly fixing the crashes I would frequently experience), and currently goes for $3 on iTunes. If you do decide to purchase the app, you can do so here.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icollect-video-games/id346509881?mt=8#

 The two main ways to add a game to your collection are entering a title in a database search, or using the iPhone’s camera to scan barcodes. From there, you can replace the boxart of the entry with an in-app Google image search, your photo library, or take your own personal photograph. It works well for the most part, but the app has crashed on me once in awhile. For some reason, the app has automatically synced release dates, IGN scores, etc. with certain titles, but not with others, which is a bit strange. 

If you’re concerned about data loss, then you should know that iCollect Video Games has a Backup/Restore feature, although you’ll need to be on a computer with internet access to use it. To backup my data, I can go to the Settings tab at any time. Once I find the location of the feature, the app will create a .txt file and ask for an e-mail address to serve as a recipient. This .txt file needs to be uploaded to hookedinmotion.com, and I will need to enter a URL code within the app. There should be a more practical way of restoring this data, but I’ve used this feature, and it works.

Whether or not you should buy iCollect Video Games will depend on how much use you have for it. It’s been an effective way for looking over the games I’ve bought over the years, but it can be inconsistent. It’s also worth mentioning that Hooked In Motion also has similar apps for movies, books, comics, and music if you happen to have a personal museum in those mediums. As for me, I can see myself using the app whenever a new release comes around that I aim to purchase.  

So, Morgan Webb reviewed Starcraft 2, which you can read here. I found something amusing about one of her complaints: 
 

 I also want to mention a more personal problem with the game. I take issue with the holographic stripper in the background of every shot in the cantina. There are normal female characters in the game, but every time you go to one area of your ship, the only thing moving is an undulating hologram of what looks like a blood elf with a boob job. Maybe they didn’t expect women to ever play this game, but they’ve created a self-fulfilling prophecy. She’s distracting, completely unnecessary to the story or atmosphere, and makes me think that Blizzard needs to hire more women.
 

 

I was bored, so I basically just did stuff on MS Paint. 
 

A friend sent me this picture. 

 Last week I was able to attend Cheapassgamer.com’s first E3 party in Los Angeles, California, and it was a cool experience. Now, I’m not a member of the press or media, so this was an opportunity to get a chance to meet the people that I have watched in videos, read about in blogs, and listened to in podcasts. It also gave me a chance to talk these guys about their impressions on what E3 was like for them this year, as my only exposure to the convention is streaming videos over the internet. At the end of the night, I chatted with CheapyD,Wombat, and Shipwreck from cheapassgamer.com; Destin and Stuttering Craig from Screwattack.com; Justin McElroy from Joystiq.com; and unexpectedly, Robert Pelloni from the infamous Bob’s Game. 

As I was outside The Golden Gopher I discovered that it this party was a private event, as I did see a couple of people being turned away from entering the bar. As soon as I entered I recognized Wombat, said hello and moved around the giant crowd. I brought a friend with me to the event, who mostly came for the free booze, and he had a long wait in line for a free drink. Eventually the crowd died down later in the evening though, which allowed me to get some soda (I had to drive). You might remember Shipwreck’s post, in which he said that he was giving away some swag at the event. I enquired to Wombat as to how I would enter the raffle, to which Wombat just picked a random package, handed it to me, and said I won. As awesome as that was, I’ll admit I was a little embarrassed for being put on the spot.

Anyway, you’re probably wondering what I won, so…









I don’t have room to display anything at the moment, but Leona (from King of Fighters) will fit in with the rest of my video game figures. 
 

 I was a big fan of Ryan Davis’ This Ain’t No Game video series, and so I had this crazy idea that I would spinoff that concept and review other properties, specifically TV shows based on video games. Now I used to watch a lot more TV when I was younger, and I actually grew up watching a lot of these programs because they were based on video games I enjoyed. For the sake of nostalgia, I want to go back and see if any video game based series can hold my attention now that I’m an immature adult, when in the past I was just immature. Earthworm Jim HD was just released this week on XBLA, so it seems like a good place to start…

Earthworm Jim

The Earthworm Jim series started in the mid-90’s and aired on the Warner Bros. Television Network, and it showed. The program’s humor was fairly reminiscent to other cartoons, specifically Freakazoid!, The Tick, and some elements of Looney Toons, but it was not as entertaining as either of those programs. Jim is voiced by none other than The Simpsons’ Dan Castellaneta, who works surprisingly well in portraying the character as a gung-ho, but dopey, action hero. The show constantly broke the fourth wall, and every episode had side gags that were not tied to a cohesive storyline. In a kid’s show, this formula works and was frequently used in other programs, but unfortunately Earthworm Jim just is not as memorable.

There is more comedy than action in Earthworm Jim, and you can probably watch any episode without being lost, since there’s very little, if any, continuity. The series lasted for about two seasons. Fans of the game will recognize the characters from the game, including Jim, Peter Puppy, Snott, as well as villains Professor Monkey-For-A-Head and Psy-Crow. There was a recurring gag with a falling cow at the end of every episode, which you might remember from games.

If you’re curious, you might want check out an episode or two, but it is not a series you’ll want to stick with. Very little story is present, so it end it feels more like a collection of gags loosely stitched together.

 You can watch the first episode here on gametrailers.

Join   Apathylad next week, when he reviews   600+ episodes of Pokemon…(“NOoOoOOOooo!”). Yeah, I don't think I'm actually going to do that.

So I was asked this question on a test (True or False?): 
 
"There is little evidence to suggest that playing violent video games increases violent thoughts and actions". (or something along these lines). 
 
Since I am a gamer, I answered that the question was 'True', since there are random studies that pop up now and again saying that there isn't a link. 
 
Looks like I was wrong, my textbook flat-out says: 

1.    "Playing violent video games increases aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors." 
2.  "..expressing anger breeds more anger, and practicing violence breeds more violence. Tomorrow's games may have even greater effects." 
3. "Most abused children don't become abusive adults. Most social drinkers don't become alcoholic dependent. And most youths who spend hundreds of hours in those mass murder simulators don't become teen assassins....Although very few will commit slaughter, how many will become desensitized to violence and more open to violent acts?

This was held at a Best Buy, and it was pretty lame to be honest. It mostly involved standing outside in line for a few hours. I got there at around 9:00pm, and they did not sell the games until midnight. Strange thing is that the e-mail suggested that customers would be able to play the game early, but the majority of the time we were just outside. At least I got this swag stuff.