Find a feature

1. All in all - A code phrase signifying the start of the final paragraph of a review, wherein the writer will sum up the meat of his opinion in a few brief sentences. If you see this at the end of a review, it's a clear sign that the last paragraph is the only one you actually needed to read.

2. Immersive - So fascinating and realistic, it almost makes you forget that you're actually sitting on a couch, twitching your thumbs

Game design must be super, super hard. What else can explain the number of shortcuts being taken in almost every one? Genres are repeated, environments are recycled and storylines all begin to sound the same. Most copied, however, are the characters. Dreaming up an entirely new personality with entirely new traits is a daunting task, so the majority of folks you meet in games end up feeling identical to the folks you met in previous games.

Now that the dust has settled from the most aggressively mediocre E3 yet, we've entered that yearly lull in which the game industry kicks off its shoes and takes a pre-autumn nap. With crumminess behind and boredom ahead, we can't think of a better time to dedicate this week to a celebratory prodding of all that is banal, boring and mediocre in the game industry. In the coming days, we'll drag the laziest aspects of our industry - kicking

E3 is not so different from being trapped on a supernatural island wondering what the hell is going on. Our video response should clarify things for you. Enjoy!Jul 18,

Another year, another grueling E3 experience for all involved. As press, we have to be in constant motion, reading, writing and presenting all the information that's blasted at our eyes and ears. As readers, you're tasked with digesting an ocean of content in 72 constantly updated hours. It's a hell of a ride and we're glad to be at the end, especially given the rather dismal nature of this year's show.

Instead of wasting your weekend

E3 may be getting smaller and smaller, holding fewer and fewer surprises, but you can still count on the show for one thing - horrible, horrible press conferences. When a bunch of corporate suits and publicity flaks try to relate to gamers, while still hitting all their boardroom selling points, the results are never pretty.

2008 is certainly no different. After only two days, we've already suffered through an agonizing gauntlet of

With all the meetings taking place in the hustle-bustle of E3, we feel the manner with which our colleagues have overlooked a very crucial "appointment" is absolutely disgraceful. Year after year, these longstanding convention attendees greet the press with warmth and unbiased affection and it’s about damned time someone sung their praises. You’re welcome.

We’ve peppered the poopy jokes with clichéd gaming

So there’s this book knocking around E3. It’s produced by the (yawn) Entertainment Software Association. It’s green. It’s full of, and I quote, “Essential facts about the computer and video game industry. It’s quite dull and probably only of use to marketing types who like pleated trousers, wear ear-piece phones (ACKKKK!) and talk in serious tones about “fiscal years.”  Either way, we

If you've been following the games industry for any length of time you're keenly aware of E3. It was once the biggest show we had, a time of year when the entire world focused on the LA Convention Center and put on the loudest, craziest, busiest trade show video games could muster. Some loved it, others couldn't stand the shoulder-to-shoulder, body-odor addled conditions. Doesn't matter now, as the once proud and mighty E3 has shrunk like a