Chi Kong Lui's blog

The Xbox 360 became the hardcore gamers' console of choice by creating a robust online play space and filling its library with slick-looking, tried and true, formulaic games with mature content. The Wii captured a new generation of casual gamers by redefining the control scheme with gimmicky motion sensors and offering family oriented games and applications that were accessible to the non-gamer. Nearly two years after the release of the PS3, I have difficulty in describing what the strengths of the PS3 are and who it's for because Sony hasn't developed a clear brand position. Is it the console of choice for gamers who want a Blu-ray disc player?

With all due respect to Mr. Fils Amie, when you trumpet—a game about collecting furniture to decorate your house and writing letters to other cutesy animals in the town—as your shining example of what "core" gamers are expecting, what we have is a failure to communicate.

At E3 2008, Microsoft unveiled a line-up of products designed to appeal to the more casual gaming audience that Nintendo currently dominates with the Wii. The miscalculation on the part of Microsoft is that they think they can appeal to the masses by providing something useful like Netflix connectivity and online chat parties or something that is supposed to be an improved experience like Lips, which is a refinement of the singing/rhythm game.

On the second week after my injury, my back was about 80 percent recovered and it felt like a good time to do some light workouts. In addition to resuming my power walking, I thought the low-impact/resistance exercises in Wii Fit would be a good way to ease back into my weight training.

I apologize for the lack entries to this training log in the last couple of weeks. I had hurt my back while setting up a canopy for my son's birthday party. I was in a fair amount of pain and the range of movement in the lower half of my body was severely limited. Obviously, exercise of any kind wasn't an option.

I recalled the original PS3 launch-day hardware problems and inferior online experience and thought that it was prudent to wait for the kinks to be ironed out. Yet, for all the issues that have been addressed through several console variations and numerous firmware patches, much to my surprise, there are still some glaring issues that need to be addressed immediately. This is my open letter to Sony to get these items fixed ASAP.

I normally try to do spread out 40 plus minutes of power walking everyday for cardio, but since I had an intense full-body workout in my home gym yesterday (with no rest time between sets), I figured I'd take it easy on my rest day. Without any strenuous activity planned, I thought this would be a good time to test out of the Wii Fit balance games.

Prior to purchasing the Wii Fit Balance Board, my health had been on the decline for years. After getting married, having a child, and buying a home in New Jersey, I stopped exercising due to a perceived lack of time and at the age of 32, I thought physically my best days were behind me.

Game designer and academic, Greg Costikyan, recently renewed the debate on the importance of game criticism and the lack thereof in a recent post at . I'd be lying if I didn't admit that every time there's a call for serious-minded game criticism (not game reviews), it pisses me off quite a bit.

In just under two years, my much publicized and prized 37 inch Sceptre LCD HDTV died an unceremonious death. There were few warning signs and end was quick and final. I've since recovered from the ordeal by purchasing a 40 inch Samsung LCD and in the process of doing so I picked up some valuable lessons I'd like to share with our readers.