An EXCLUSIVE Interview With Someone I Met on Xbox Live

A near-universal complaint people seem to have with playing random games online with people around this god-forsaken world is that they don't seem to be very nice. They're yelling stupid inane shit over the speakers all the time, referencing tired-ass internet memes constantly, using extremely derogatory language, and asking complete strangers to performs acts most of us would rather not perform.

But, being the amazing award-winning intrepid journalist general that I am, I decided I was better than most people merely by asking myself if there was perhaps some way to rectify this. Perhaps it wasn't that these people were using anonymity to commit hate crimes that would otherwise land them in jail or prison without consequences. Perhaps we, the people they're so desperately -- ineffectively -- trying to communicate with are the problem. I decided to get to know some of the people that regularly are seen as the vile half-bred step-child of 4Chan and see if there was perhaps something to this. I entered an online shooter match and let the sparks fly, as they say. I don't say it because I'm too creative to do so.

(The following conversation contains some very strong language. So strong it could break your...heart.)

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Microsoft admits schizophrenia, healing process begins

In an effort to confuse potential customers regarding their upcoming Xbox 360 motion controller, now renamed “Kinect”, Microsoft has both confirmed and denied a retail pricetag of $150. Multiple online retailers have had the device listed at the $150 price point for over a week now, but earlier today the official Microsoft store put up a Kinect pre-order page matching that price.

Conversely, Xbox Live Group Manager Aaron Greenberg announced via Twitter that any retail “estimates” are “purely speculative”. Immediately after sending the tweet, Greenberg unbuttoned his shirt, tousled his own hair, and levitated over Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel to complete what he referred to as a “mindfreak”.

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EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: Deadly Premonition

When my review copy of Deadly Premonition arrived in the mail about 20 minutes late¹, I didn't know what to expect from the budget-horror title. The review was due in a week, and I was too busy watching awful movies that didn't mean anything ² to be bothered to review a game that didn't already have some sort of buzz surrounding it. But, I bucked up around 7 p.m., dizzy from being so full of myself, and sat down and started the game up.

Holy graham cracker-filled wheelbarrows, did Deadly Premonition surprise me. After checking the achievements as another test to see if the game was worth playing, I watched the beginning cutscene in utter awe. Not the sort of awe you feel in your stomach after seeing two puppies cuddle -- the sort of awe that you get in your gut when you found out that thing about Locke being a girl. I was literally so amazed by the kinds of gravitas that this game had in its first cutscene that I deleted Braid from every machine I had it installed on -- three, in case you're wondering -- in anticipation for the god-damned art I was about to get myself into.

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An evening with Gex; Snarky no more, just pissed

I've managed to land an interview or two in the last year. Still, when I logged into my email inbox -- prepared to send out a few new requests for interviews -- I was shocked to find a request already sitting in wait for me. I didn't even have to ask this time, as one of the former stars of video games himself, Gex, was asking me to interview him.

Honestly, he came off a little desperate, so I felt bad for him. I agreed to meet him at a local coffee shop, as he said he didn't have room for me at his home. When I arrived he motioned me over from a table in one of the dark back corners. He had sunglasses despite being inside, and a coat with the collar popped up.

"Hey, uh... trying to stay low because of the... fame?" I asked.

"Not exactly." He responded, seemingly annoyed.

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