Dale Weir's blog

Remember RedOctane? I sure do. It went from making game controllers (and renting games!) to releasing an $80 peripheral with a game called Guitar Hero. I thought it was nuts for doing this. But almost six years later it looks like one of the greatest videogame risks and success stories (after the Nintendo Wii).

This is one of the best trailers for a videogame I have ever seen. You don't know what you're in for until it is too late and the game, or at least its premise, has a hold of you. That is what Techland has accomplished with its disturbing trailer for its "first-person zombie-slasher/action-role-playing game", Dead Island. You have to hope that the developer is able to actually create the game that lives up to the hype generated from such a haunting trailer.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was not a favorite game of mine—I played it for a few hours and put it down never to pick it up again—but I did always like the character Midna. Others have apparently played the game as well and become quite fond of Midna. They have gone so far enough as to create a Midna costume. As with such things, some are more successful than others, but no matter where you go, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better example of Midna cosplay than Kagomechann's.

As I am not a big follower of Guitar Hero record-breaking, Annie Leung, has flown below the radar despite the apparent abundance of photo shoots and public appearances documented all over the Internet. This UC Berkeley graduate—who claims to practice four to six hours at a time before a competition—has reached the top of her... sport(?) and set the official Guinness World Record for female Guitar Hero players.

Rémi Gaillard's dedication to authenticity continues to impress. Too bad by standers and The Law don't share his passion.

A big jar of hearts for the creators of this fan-made trailer for tackling five of the big 1980s teen movies. (The Breakfast Club, Say Anything, Sixteen Candles, and two others.) Post a comment if you know the names of the last two movies.

It's just an indisputable fact that playing Dungeons & Dragons makes you a monumental nerd. Still, kudos to writers of Community for dealing with the subject matter without stooping to condescending humor.

So all of these years that Mario and Link—and by Mario and Link I mean me—have been devoting themselves to rescuing these ladies and it turns out they don't even appreciate it?

I actually remember that section of that level in Super Mario World quite well. If it's any consolation to Yoshi, it wasn't an easy decision to make at the time.

Publishers should take a page from LucasArts. The best way to sell your preposterous video game might be to put away the expensive pyrotechnic effects, shaky-cam footage and orchestral score and just go for laughs.