Hank Chien, a 35-year-old Manhatten based Plastic Surgeon has beaten the Donkey Kong record set by champion Billy Mitchell in 2007.

Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell were both featured in the documentary entitled "King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters" which is how Hank Chien first became interested in beating the record.

"The King of Kong piqued my interest in the game and after watching the documentary I started to play seriously in November 2008. I have been pursuing this goal for quite some time, so it was very exciting for me to finally achieve it," said Chien.

Chien beat Billy Mitchell's score of 1,050,200 that was set during a live gaming event in Floriday in 2007. The new score of 1,061,700 set by Chien was verified by Twin Galaxies.

Chien lives with his brother in Manhatten and the brothers support each other as Hank aims to beat his new record again.

It's a unique experience when you get "Killed by Death" as I recently discovered playing BFBC2. If you're familiar with the game, you'll notice this message will display if you're killed by an object or vehicle in the game rather than another player.

And although Battlefield Bad Company 2 has had its fair share of network issues and bugs, the game is absolutely awesome and I highly recommend it.

Probably the most attractive aspect of the game for me is the diversity of the classes. You can play as a straight-up shooter type with the 'Assault' class or if shooting a whole lot of players all of the time isn't really your thing, you can opt to play as more of a 'support' class such as a 'Medic' or 'Engineer'.

As reported by the LA Times, Cylon-lovin' gamers everywhere will be thrilled to hear about the franchise being developed as an online multiplayer game.

The game will be introduced at the Game Developers Conference this week and like Quake Live, will be completely browser based and free to play:

"We're picking a point in the chronology of the series that fans are very familiar with to tell new stories," explained Bill Kispert, vice president of digital platforms for the partnerships and licensing department of Universal Pictures, which owns the "Battlestar Galactica" rights and made the game deal. "There will be space combat as well as missions and exploration."

Battlestar Galactica the game is set for an August/September release and will be published by BigPoint.

Via the LA Times

Image via GoreMasterNews

If there's one thing I love about online gaming, it's the opportunity to see people at their very worst or their very best. People who are normally calm under pressure in person, can sometimes change into the most horrid of creatures online - especially in multiplayer games.

If you're likely to fall into one or several of the following categories (minus 'The Mute'), you may want to consider turning on the mute button. Ever tried playing an online multiplayer game with the mute button switched on? Oh the the experience can be utterly blissful! This is particularly so if you're the 'overly' competitive type that just revels in pointing out other people's faults during the worst possible time. I mean, there's no point yelling "WTF dude - why didn't you see the Sniper?!" down the mic when your friend has already respawned. Firstly, they've respawned and secondly, everyone knows a good sniper is one that's hidden from view...

But try putting it to the test. The next time you're gaming, switch on the mute button and try listening to what everyone else is saying. It can be one of the most hilarious things you'll ever do. Inbetween erratic fits of silent frustration, I quite often also find myself doubled over in hysterics at some of the things gamers will say when playing games. People will tend to take on certain personality types online and it's not too hard to pick them out.

Firstly, there's the "Oh WTF - how did I die just then?" type that will insist, no matter what the situation (even if they are running around in wide open spaces with bullets flying towards them from every direction) that they shouldn't have died. Duh. Try asking them why they didn't use cover - you know like, the entire forest of trees located all around the map and woah... the 'Gamer who should never die' will soon become 'The Rager'.

Unlike myself, I am sure there are many gamers out there who could probably put their retro gaming knowledge to the test by examining the image above. This pic displays some of the oldest gaming consoles/systems around (some of which I haven't even heard of, just quietly). Think you can name them all? Put your gaming knowledge to the test and let us know what you think here.

Image via Tumblr

Chile was hit by a devastating quake last weekend, killing hundreds and leaving hundreds of thousands more homeless. How do you cope after something so terrible?

Well, some people apparently play games. A story on ZAM tells of a 33-year-old woman named Karen who was playing games when the quake hit. And two days later, after she discovered her family was OK, particularly those in the hardest hit areas, she was back playing games and making plans to play with friends.

From the story (she apologized for her broken English):

In this week, I only play Starcraft to keep my mind out of all this stuff. Today my best friend come to my house we start to talk and we decide to play this Friday and Saturday on my Xbox360... we are going to play Fifa 2010 and some Left 4 Dead to take out everything ... and try to relax ..."

Turns out hse had her spirits raised when on of the few things that survived was a World of Warcraft stein she had recently purchased (see picture). So I guess games can offer hope as well.

Fanfiction or 'Fanfics' are nothing new and there are thriving communities of writers who spend many dedicated hours writing about their favorite video game characters and publishing this work online. Gaming website 1UP recently published an informative article about this phenomenon with insight from some of the writers who create their very own characters and world's based on video games.

According to the article, one of the most prominent Fan Fiction communities online is FanFiction.Net which is home to thousands of writers. The website contains all sorts of content including fanfics based on movies, video games and books:

In 1998, a student named Xing Li founded Fanfiction.net, a general archive for fanfiction. Fanfiction.net's all-inclusive format defied the fandom-centric archives that were the norm at the time, and by 2002, over a hundred thousand writers had signed up for a chance to deposit their own works.

 

An Australian fanfic writer named 'Blaise' started writing fanfic pieces in 2007 and is particularly fond of writing fanfic based in the Final Fantasy universe:

"[The] Final Fantasy XII fandom got me committed to the idea of writing fanfiction because it had a massive range of possible works," she says. "There was no one style or genre being written, no one true pairing [also "OTP," a term that refers to a fan's favored romantic pairing in a game, book, or TV series], multiple options to meet any a reader's tastes, and a lot of people really enjoying themselves."

Twin Galaxies has been recording video game records for almost 20 years, and now, the man behind the company's success is hanging up his clipboard.

Walter Day, who founded the company in 1981 after finding no one was keeping track of video game scoring records, in retiring to pursue a music career, according to a Twin Galaxies press release. The company began as a small video game arcade in Ottumwa, Iowa, during the origin of the video game boom.

More from the release:

Recognized by Guinness World Records, CNN, MTV, Wired Magazine, and others, Twin Galaxies references have appeared in numerous movies and popular television shows over the past year.  Last June, G4tv aired an official Twin Galaxies World Record attempt on live television as part of their E3 Expo coverage.

Day has been slowly removing himself from day-to-day duties at Twin Galaxies over the past few years, turning over many of his former duties to a new generation of staff members including David Nelson, Rich Booth,Todd Rogers, Patrick Scott Patterson, and Nik Meeks.

Walter Day now plans to pursue his lifelong dream of a music career, as seen in several documentary films.  He states in the video interview that he finally feels that Twin Galaxies is in the right people's hands to move into the future.

Good luck, Walter, and thanks for helping to document the impressive feats of our industry.

A gamer's setup is of vital importance - especially for those marathon gaming sessions. Ultimate Game Chair have designed a chair especially for those long hours gaming in front of your PC or Console and the seat comes with compatability for most gaming systems:

. Full Size Leather Recliner For Hours Of Extreme Gaming
· 12 Strategically Distributed Feedback Motors
· Variable Output On All 3 Vibration Sensation Levels
· Powered & Adjustable 3D Stereo Speakers
· Personal Headset Jack
· Extra Port Built-In For Other Great Gaming Accessories
· Compatible With...
· xBox 360™ And xBox Live™
· Playstation 2 & 3™ And PS Online™, PSP™
· Nintendo Wii™, Game Cube™, DS™
· PC, Mac, Home Theater, iPod™

At $499.00USD, I'm thinking that's just a tad out of my price range. With that in mind, what is everyone else's setup like and would you consider purchasing the 'Ultimate Game Chair?' for your own gaming comfort? Me - I'm pretty happy with my current setup which changes depending on where I do my gaming but I wouldn't say no to one of these bad boys in my room!

Image/details via Ultimate Game Chair

Cheating can come in many forms and cheating rarely needs definition but in the realm of video games, using a 'cheat' and actually cheating the system are two entirely different things. So, lets say John Doe goes out and buys a game. He is excited about playing this game and enjoys himself until he gets to a certain part in the game that he just can't beat no matter what he does. The game remains unbeaten and he scours the community for help. He uses his vast network of gaming buddies but can't seem to find an answer until he's pointed towards one of many websites online that offer 'cheats' for video games. He decides to use this information to beat the part of the game he can't pass and continues on his merry way. Does this make John Doe a cheat?

Enter JohnDoe2. JohnDoe2 thinks he is smart and knows a way to modify his XBL Gamerscore by using a variety of methods. He understands that he's probably abusing the terms of use for his XBL account, but he doesn't care. The lure of the greatest gamerscore in the community is too strong so he reads all about how to 'hack' his gamerscore and voila, achievements unlocked. There's no need to ask the question because it's fairly obvious that JohnDoe2 is a cheat.

Abusing terms and conditions is pretty much like breaking a law. You agree to adhere to the rules of the services you use. So hacking your Xbox Gamerscore by using external tools is definitely cheating. But what about John Doe's situation? John Doe isn't breaking any rules or laws by using 'cheats' in his game, but does that make him any less of a cheat if he's beating something he can't beat on his own without help?

I've come to accept that there are reasons for gamers to use 'cheats'. But it doesn't detract from the fact that without them, there'd be alot of gamers out there who wouldn't have beaten the game without help from another source.

Another study is out on the effects of violent videogames on youth behavior, but the professor conducting this one has said it now proves "conclusively" that makes more aggressive, less caring kids, regardless of age, sex or culture.

According to an article on YubaNet, The study, published today in a the Psychological Bulletin's March issue, was conducted by eight researchers, and headed up by ISU phychology professor Craig Anderson. Videogame researchers from Japan also were part of the team. They used approved methods for combining and analyzing stats from previous related literature to look at how violent games affect thoughts and behaviors in individuals ranging from elementary school age to college undergraduates.

According to Anderson:

"We can now say with utmost confidence that regardless of research method -- that is experimental, correlational, or longitudinal -- and regardless of the cultures tested in this study [East and West], you get the same effects," said Anderson, who is also director of Iowa State's Center for the Study of Violence. "And the effects are that exposure to violent video games increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior in both short-term and long-term contexts. Such exposure also increases aggressive thinking and aggressive affect, and decreases prosocial behavior."

However, he does throw in a caveat:

Lara Croft's tomb spelunking adventures have finally paid off for her in real-world recognition: Her home town in Britain has named a street after her.

The Derby City Council wanted to name a stretch of road and put the naming to an Internet vote. Lara Croft Way won in a landslide. But why would the hero of a videogame even be considered for such an honor? Turns out that Core Design, the game design house that created Tomb Raider, is based in Derby.

According to a story in the Derbyshire press:

Nearly 28,000 of 30,000 votes were cast for Lara Croft Way, while Mercian Way, after Derbyshire's Army regiment, received 1,570 votes.

They were among eight names short-listed by city council officials for the £36m ring road.

Lara Croft Way will be used to name the Osmaston Road to Burton Road stretch, with Mercian Way becoming the Burton Road to Stafford Street link.

Many commenters at the paper's web site were upset, particularly when it was revealed that people could vote more than once. But it is an interesting tribute to a local icon.

Congratulations, Lara.

Continuing our trip down memory lane, we find that the first two Final Fantasy games have come to the small screen. That's right: Final Fantasy I and II are now available for the iPhone and by extension, the iTouch.

From our friends at Kotaku:

The original Final Fantasy includes the five bonus dungeons, The Soul of Chaos pack and The Labyrinth of Time, added to later editions of the game. While Final Fantasy II contains the five bonus dungeons added with the Soul of Rebirth and Arcane Labyrinth pack.

The games are available for $8.99 each. Final Fantasy I is available here and Final Fantasy II can be downloaded here.

It's like reliving my 20s all over again (yes, I'm that old).

Believe it or not, the venerable arcade game Missile Command has turned 30 and to celebrate, Atari is relaunching a new version of the game.

In a press release late last week, Atari announced that the game has been "reimagined" by OMGPOP, with the new version free to play at the official Missile Command site, Atari's website and the OMGPOP site.

The new game features aliens, powerups, upgrades and yes, even co-op online play. From the news release, we get the obligatory rhetoric from the Atari and OMGPOP CEOs:

"Missile Command is a pop culture phenomenon that millions upon millions of fans have enjoyed throughout the years," says Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc. "The new Missile Command maintains the appeal of the original while bringing it to today's casual and social game players. It is an example of how Atari's games portfolio is well positioned for today's growing online games market."

"Working with Atari was terrific," says OMGPOP CEO Dan Porter. "To be able to work on a classic that many of us grew up playing and add the social and multiplayer features was a great way to bring the game to the millions of teens on omgpop.com."

I was never very good at the original game, but the updated version has all the bells and whistles you may need for a quick gaming fix and a bit of nostalgia.

I stumbled upon this gamer's fun idea that anyone can do with a fortune cookie. You can use any game you like (and it's best to swap them around a little) and if you're like me and don't happen to have fortune cookies on hand, you can go here. Once you've got the fortune, add the name of any game you like to the end of it and see what you can come up with.

Here are a some of the better ones:

    * The gambler is like the fisherman - both have beginners luck…in Torchlight.
    * Do not upset the penguin today…in Batman: Arkham Asylum.
    * Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant…in Plants vs Zombies.
    * You will always be surrounded by true friends…in Left 4 Dead 2.
    * You are a person of strong sense of duty…in Call of Duty.
    * We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails…in Empire: Total War.
    * Failure is not defeat until you stop trying…in Demon’s Souls.
 

If you get any worth posting let us know in the forums.

Image via Nassau Library

God of War III hits stores next month and I can't help but feel a little saddened by the thought that the adventures of Kratos, God of War, will soon be over. It has been reported that God of War III will be the final installment. If this is indeed the very last time we'll see Kratos, what game if any, could replace the gaping hole that will undoubtedly be left behind?

A franchise as strong as God of War is certainly going to be missed. And as close as some games may come to emulating Kratos' hack-and-slash mayhem and furious blood-letting, I doubt any game could replace it.

Dante's Inferno gathered a little momentum as another "God of War clone" and as much as I liked Dante's Inferno, Dante is no Kratos. So fans will be left with rumours of a movie in the works and comic books released by DC on WildStorm's imprint. But it's just not the same... not by a long shot.

So today I pay homage to a fantastic game and to one of the coolest, kick-a** game characters of all time. Kratos, you will be missed.

Image via Gaming Bolt

Last week, we read about the rare NES video game that went for more than $13,000 on eBay. This week, we get another game related eBay auction, but for considerably less money.

A St. Peteresburg, Fla., woman put up an unopened box of the Nintendo Cereal System, a limited edition cereal concocted by Nintendo and Ralston. The auction garnered 22 bids, with the bid starting at $20 on Feb. 13. A week later, when the auction closed, the bid was $207.50.

From the auction description:

THIS IS AN ORIGINAL NINTENDO CEREAL SYSTEM FROM 1988 WITH TWO DIFFERENT CEREALS IN IT, SUPER MARIO BROS ACTION SERIES AND ZELDA ADVENTURE SERIES.

COMPLETLY SEALED IN THE BOX. IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION FOR BEING A 22 YEAR OLD THIN CARDBOARD BOX. ONLY ONE DISCLAIMER IT WOULD NOT BE WISE TO EAT THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOX EVEN THOUGH I NO YOU WILL WANT TO. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT MENY TIMES MY SELF.

The fruity Super Mario Bros. cereal side included Marios, Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Bowsers and Mushrooms. The berry Zelda side contained Links, Hearts, Keys, Boomerangs and Shields.

For a real kick, check out this ad for the cereal on YouTube.

If you did a word association with the word StarCraft, one of the first responses you would probably get from anyone that knows games is "Korea." The popularity of the Blizzard real-time strategy game is unprecedented in that country. What better way to find out why than to ask a Korean.

The Ask a Korean blog tackled the issue in a recent post, going in-depth into the phenomenon, while analyzing the popularity of CGI movies such as Avatar, as well as the emergence of PC bangs in the country. A few tidbits:

The most recent development would be the establishment of pro gaming leagues and cable televisions. Once these institutions came to being, the popularity of StarCraft became a self-sustaining force. People talk about it because it is on television, and television keeps on showing it because people talk about it. People practice the game because the gaming league pays well, and the gaming league pays well because people watch the games, again because the games are on TV.

On PC Bangs:

The result is that StarCraft became a standard rather than a choice. There have been other worthy real-time simulation (RTS) games that were just as entertaining as StarCraft. (EA Game’s Command & Conquer series comes to mind.) But once StarCraft was chosen to be the standard for PC Bangs, there was no turning back. The fun of an online game multiply with more players even though the original merits of that game may have fallen below those of a later game. So StarCraft lives on in Korea, even though it has been 12 years since the game came out.

On the game itself:

Take a good look at the images below. If you find yourself identifying with these images then you're probably right where you should be!

Via GameSpy

Darrin Hurd is probably unknown outside of his native Christchurch, New Zealand. But Hurd along with his three children came up with the idea for the "Flutternator 300" - a gun that works with "BF1C explosive attack-trained killer butterfly ammunition".

"The kids came up with one that shot bumble bees but I wanted something a little less deadly," Hurd says. When asked about the Weta Workshops replica, Hurd replied; "It's pretty much spot on. I have a one-off, Weta-designed thing. I'm quite happy about it."

The gun was created as part of the challenge to design a weapon that Ratchet and Clank would use in the game. Weta Workshops came onboard and created a full-sized replica of the gun. The competition was judged by the head of Insomniac Games, Brian Allgier and Weta Workshops.

Via Stuff

If the ultimate game controller became available, would you buy it? Recently reported by Gamespot at the weekend, Sony has filed a patent for what they're calling the "Ultimate Game Controller".

The controller will provide emulation for the following according to the patent website:

"the PlayStation.TM. made by Sony, a controller made by Nintendo, X-box.TM. game controllers made by Microsoft, Amiga CD-32.TM. controllers, Atari Jaguar.TM. controllers, Gravis Gamepad.TM. controllers, Sega controllers, and Turbographics controllers"

 

Although gamepads are represented, it looks largely like the "Universal Game Controller" won't be helpful to PC gamers who rely on keyboard and mouse controls. The diagram displays an 'LCD Touch Screen', speakers and a main display area. In concept, it seems like a great idea to have a 'one-stop' place for all your console controller needs but how well will it function? It will be extremely interesting to see how this product will do in the market when or if it's finally made available.

Via Gamespot

If you ever wondered what DS fans like to eat when they game, how about some Nintendo DS toast for breakfast? I dunno about you but I prefer my toast well done rather than patchy but hey, I'm sure the DS fans worldwide would appreciate the gesture if this showed up on their plate in the morning.

Via Digg and Rorr.im

GC recently chatted to Mark Neveldine, co-writer and co-director of the movie 'Gamer' which features Gerard Butler as an 'icon' controlled in a video game by 'superstar' gamer Simon Silverton (played by Logan Lerman). The movie also features actor Michael C. Hall as Ken Castle, the evil mastermind behind both games featured in the movie ("Slayers" and "Society") where real people are controlled in the game by other people using a form of nano technology.

It's an interesting concept and one that is a little scary to contemplate. If the technology to do such a thing was available, would you be signing up for a monthly subscription? If you could take a real person and control them in every way, wouldn't it be just a little tempting to try it? And then of course there is the flip side to this - all those people out there willing to let another person have complete control over them in a video game. It does seem just a little too over-the-top but when you think about the advances we are already making with technology, is it really that far-fetched?

As gamers we're always looking for the 'next best thing' - the game that takes things one step further, pushing the boundaries of visual and auditory excellence. We want games that can deliver more reality to our computers or consoles. But after watching Gamer and having time to think of what the future of video games could become, I think I'm happier knowing that regardless of how real things may appear to look on my television screen, it's still just a game.
 

Image via Giant Bomb

Keeping in line with the "Games as Art" topic here at GC, we recently posted about the 'Pac Man' cake from Jet City Cakes and decided we had to know more. GameCulture spoke with Paul, the 'Evil Genius' behind the Pac Man cake and discovered that the "cake is not a lie"...

GC: How long have you been in the business of customizing your cake creations and how did you get started?

JCC: I have always loved to cook and I have always loved to build stuff.  So when I saw Duff Goldman on a Food Network Challenge building crazy cakes with a blowtorch I immediately thought "that looks like a blast!".  At the time I was living in Washington D.C. and since Duff was in Baltimore I thought I would shoot him an email and see if I could come up and play.  He wrote me back saying, "Paul. you are a f**king freak." and invited me up to intern with him.  Shortly after that he got his show on Food Network.  I am not claiming those events are related, but you can draw your own conclusions.  That was in January of 2006, so I guess I have been at this for about four years.  I moved back to Seattle in June of 2007 to start Jet City Cakes so I have been running my own freak show for almost 3 years now.

GC: You specialize in making “wild cakes for weird times”. What’s the weirdest cake request you’ve ever had to make for a customer?

I've touched on the issue several times here in the past, mostly with posts about Game Art exhibits, but this time, we have an actual discussion in the Games As Art debate.

Nathan Hardisty over at Platform Nation states in a headline that "Games Can Never Be Art," but then goes on to debate the topic in his article. He brings up points that force you to stop and think about the issue, particularly involving such radically distasteful games such as RapeLay from Japan. He points out that controversial games such as this tend to add to the black eye that the industry already gets in the mainstream media:

Games don’t really get represented as well as films do in the press. The only brief instances we are represented is whenever a celebrity face shows up at a awards ceremony, controversy leaks from our pores or one giant game release which will swallow all of our lives whole. We’re not represented maturely, I’d still argue we’ve been represented the same as we were twenty years ago – as toys.

He also takes on the intricate story of BioShock and compares it to Super Mario Galaxy and discusses the merits of each as works of art or potential art. But near the end, he pounces upon what I think is a key point:

You know video games have "made it" when they start appearing in local newspapers in a column about savvy shopping. And  thanks to a column in the Daily News in Virginia, we now know about a great deal for Command & Conquer.

The column, which tells readers about free pancakes at IHOP, discounts at the local zoo when using a code from orange juice maker Tropicana, and free days at the local museums, includes this little nugget "for gamers:"

In anticipation of the release of "Command & Conquer 4" (March 16), a PC war strategy video game, the Command & Conquer brand has released three of its previous titles for free download.

Gamers can play classic "Command & Conquer" games such as "Tiberian Sun," "Tiberian Dawn" and "Red Alert." The games include a free Windows XP patch so the older versions will work with updated computers.

Now, the concept of free downloads is nothing new, particularly when promoting an upcoming game. However, seeing it in your local newspaper in a bargain-hunting column is just another shining example that games are now a permanent part of our culture, like it or not.

This is a few days old, but it still boggles the mind nonetheless. Someone has shelled out more than $13,000 for an old NES game system and five games in an eBay auction.

After you pick your jaw up off the floor, the initial raction is why? The answer lies not in the console itself, but in one of the games also offered: An incredibly rare version of Bandai's Stadium Events game from 1987. Apparently, there are only a few copies in circulation and according to the NY Daily News, it is one of the rarest games sought by collectors:

This uninspired sports game sent the value of the eBay auction through the roof. First listed on February 3 for just $9.99, within hours it shot up to $5,000, until February 10, when the game peaked at its eye-popping sale price.

The final bid? $13,105. There was no word on the value of the spiffy version of Duck Hunt and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II included in the bundle. You also have to wonder if the seller realized what he had on his hands, with the bidding starting at only $9.99.

There are a lot of problems in the world at any given time. Poverty, famine, war, and natural disasters are in the news on a regular basis. Most recently, the earthquake in Haiti has everyone clamoring to help, including the gaming community.

Change.org has posted an interesting article looking at designer Jane McGonigal of Avant Game (who was speaking at this year's TED Conference) and her "mission in life" of creating games that manufacture real-life conditions. She feels that gamer have a chance to radically change the world in which we live:

Think about it. When a gamer joins a site, they're immediately get a mission to complete. That mission is matched with their particular skills, which pushes them to achieve. They have hundreds of potential collaborators around with whom they can team up to better accomplish those missions. There's a constant feedback loop that's adding information about what the player can accomplish, and what type of missions they should be working on.

And, importantly, when gamers game, they experience a level of 'blissful productivity.' In other words, they're more satisfied and happy when they're working hard. That feeling helps establish a social fabric. Gamers who have played together establish layers of trust, even when they've lost. Most of all, they have a story connect to, a mission.

The article also mentions Zynga's efforts for Haiti, raising $1.5 million in virtual good sales in only five days. 

It's a thought worth pondering. The power of the gamer ... I like it.

(Image of McGonigal courtesy of the Future of Museums website)

Gaming LANs are nothing new. But LANs are certainly not for everyone. It takes a very dedicated gamer to pack up and carry around all their gear every time and travel (sometimes hundreds of miles) to a LAN.

Gaming LANs can also be an extremely powerful way to get the message across about the power of video games in the community. BlizzCon is one of the largeset video game LANs and events held every year. Sponsored by Blizzard Entertainment, developers of the StarCraft, Warcraft and Diablo franchises, BlizzCon brings together thousands of gamers worldwide each year to compete in competitions and participate in the event.

I'm a fan of gaming LANs and think they should be encouraged for several reasons. Firstly, LANs are a very social event and participants show a level of commitment to gaming that is rarely seen by outsiders of game culture. Secondly, it's a whole lot of fun to spend time with like-minded people who share your passion and enthusiasm for video games. And lastly, it fosters a strong sense of community amongst gamers when they meet face-to-face.

So if you've been wondering about whether or not LANs are a good idea, maybe you should check one out and experience it for yourself. Or better yet, invite some buddies over to the house some time rather than rely on the internet to play online. It doesn't have to be as big as BlizzCon to be fun and you don't have to have thousands of people over for it to be worthwhile.

Image via Blizzard Entertainment.

Some of my gaming habits relate to what games are on the radar at the time. I don't necessarily follow any of my gamer buddies when it comes to games that I play but I do enjoy playing the latest releases, especially if they're shooters, RPGs or MMOs.

But there are times when I won't feel like playing any of the recent releases and will instead pick up an older game that I may not have finished or that I want to play over for various reasons. I wonder how many other gamers do the same thing?

I'm not sure what it's like in the US but in New Zealand, it's common for gamers to purchase a game, play it, finish it and then sell it. I actually do the exact opposite as I like being able to keep games and play them again.

So what sort of 'gamer habits' do you think you might have? Do you like to keep your games, even if you finish them or do you like to sell them afterwards? Do you think you're influenced by your gamer buddies when it comes to what you play or do you just buy whatever you feel like playing?

I've found alot of satisfaction from picking up older games and playing them through again. Remember the game 'Dungeon Seige' by Gas Powered Games? This is one of my favourites and I've spent many wonderful hours playing it through several times. On the weekend, I reinstalled Quake 3 and I've started playing Quake Live again as a result. I'm also seriously thinking about reinstalling Unreal Tournament and Diablo in anticipation for Diablo 3.

It's made me think about older games in general and how many of them still give me alot of enjoyment, even years after the game has been released. Don't overlook the older games. Some games simply defy their age and even oldies can still be goodies.