I got to check out the upcoming Wizard 101, here are some of my thoughts from my own blog:

I was predisposed to like the new Wizard 101 game. It’s not exactly a secret that I love Harry Potter, and the game promises to be a wizard school MMOPRG. The game is adorable from the first loading screen. They’ve got a Wizard 101 gallery on the website, but it doesn’t do justice to the fantastic sketch drawings and handwritten notes, or the cheery game characters.

read more | Meg's blog | login or register to post comments

There's a little applet on Facebook called PackRat that I just adore! It appeals to all my collector instincts, and I have many. I am an admitted Facebook addict anyway, I just love reading everyone's daily updates and seeing the pictures people put up and playing co-op on PackRat with Katie Postma! The nice thing is that when you need a little break from your daily grind, there it is, waiting for you to waste 15 minutes.

read more | Rosethorn's blog | login or register to post comments

So I've been up to a couple of fun things lately. One is Age of Conan and someday I'll get around to writing about my experiences in that game. The other thing I've been messing around with is Wii Fit.

I'm in terrible shape. I'm a wee bit overweight, but nothing that I'm desperate to lose. But I am by no means fit. So when Wii Fit finally came out in the states (those in Europe got it first for a change!), I went down to my local Toys R Us first thing in the morning and grabbed me a copy.

read more | Rosethorn's blog | login or register to post comments

It's true, perhaps I should focus more on Killer Betties. It's a great site with a great idea and I want it to succeed. It appears that my last partner has taken to the sky without even letting me know! (Ouch) So it took me this long to even notice (doh!)

But after a lot of thought, I've decided I'm not just going to let the site die. As a result, I'm in dire need of anyone who can help, with reviews (we do lots of casual game reviews, so it's quick and easy to do those as well as the more hardcore gamer games), news and blogging.

read more | Rosethorn's blog | 1 comment

The May 2008 issue is out! This issue's theme is Getting Noticed In Gaming. It's also Cerise's first anniversary, and we have a successful year to look back on

We're currently looking for submissions for our June issue. Here's the call for submissions:

Submission deadline: May 20
Theme: Heroines and Villainesses

Male heroes and villains seem to dominate gaming storylines, but there are plenty of fascinating female hero(in)es and villain(esse)s, too. This issue aims to celebrate and discuss our favorite (and least favorite) female characters, both protagonists and antagonists.

Who are your all-time favorite heroines and villainesses, and why are they so great? What makes a video game heroine heroic? What’s it like to role-play as a villainess? What are some of the typical ways in which female heroes and villains differ from their male counterparts – and is that okay? If these questions intrigue you, be sure to submit your work for this issue.

read more | tekanji's blog | login or register to post comments

I just found out there's a World Of WarCraft dating site, www.datecraft.com, where WoW gamers can meet other players for off-line amusements. The site's pretty new, still in beta, but already has quite a few users. User profiles tell their faction, race, level and in-game professions, as well as the usual location/job/maritial status info.

read more | Meg's blog | login or register to post comments

The Life and Times of a Video Game Design Student is a new blog that I've started that revolves around my foray into the study of game planning and design.

From the About page:

This blog is a chronicle of the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of Andrea Rubenstein relating to her studies at HAL, a technical school in Japan. The articles here range from academic critiques to personal entries, including everything from her thoughts on the educational process to analyzing the aspects of the gaming industry that she is exposed to.

It won't really kick into gear until April, which is when school starts, but in the meantime I'm in the process of getting up articles about my experiences up to now.

read more | tekanji's blog | login or register to post comments

Due to recent experiences (and my waiting for the summer to be over so I can play Bioshock) , I would like to post a few rules in regards to pick up groups (PuGs) in WoW. Violation of any of these rules will result in immediate termination of my role in the group as well as my putting the offending player on my "to mock list" whereupon said player will be hazed at every opportunity.

1. Thou shalt play the class you indicated you would play.

read more | variance's blog | login or register to post comments

I've already talked about Chinese Heroes, a new videogame to teach ethics and values, but China's got a brand-new, free-to-download videogame called "The Incorruptible Warrior." In it, you play the only honest official in China. You level, gain gold and XP, work on your magic skills and improve your weaponry, and other typical RPG things, while you run around killing, maiming and torturing the corrupt officials. And their girlfriends. And kids.

I'm not sure how to class this game... Fantasy? Sim?

read more | Meg's blog | login or register to post comments

Sitting on the plane traveling from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, I ponder the upcoming conference still named E3, but which will not be like any E3 that has come before it. My hopes and expectations are high, a far cry from where they were but months ago, when I had first received my invitation. At that time, I felt it might be too exclusive, too small, to have any real purpose. Since then, though, I've made more than two dozen appointments with publishing houses to see all they will show in Santa Monica.

read more | Rosethorn's blog | login or register to post comments

The July 2007 issue is out! The theme is "Inclusive Game Design", and we have some great stories in our new feature "gamer stories" relating to that.

We're currently looking for submissions for our August issue. Here's the call for submissions:

Submission deadline: July 20, 2007
Theme: The Social Gamer

Women gamers are often dismissed as “casual” or “just social” gamers, regardless of the hours they put into play or the attitude with which they approach their games. Of course, the reality is that the vast majority of games are social, in one way or another. Many require social interaction of some kind in order to be played at all, and even games which are designed exclusively for single players have their social components ? bragging about high scores, anyone?

What are some of the social communities and structures that surround games, both online and off, and how do they intersect and interact? What role do they play in the gaming experience? Is it important to have membership in more than one community? Are “special interest” communities necessary? How does one go about finding or creating a community for oneself? And where does the media specter of the “antisocial,” dangerous gamer fit in? If you’re fascinated by these questions, and others pertaining to the social aspects of games, this is the issue you’ve been waiting for.

read more | tekanji's blog | 1 comment

The June 2007 issue is out! The theme is "The Making of a Gamer", and we have some great stories in our new feature "gamer stories" relating to that.

We're currently looking for submissions for our July issue. Here's the call for submissions:

Submission deadline: June 20, 2007
Theme: Inclusive Game Design

We often talk about what developers can do to attract women and other groups outside of the target audience to games, or discuss how bad game design can foster an environment hostile to that goal, but the nuances behind inclusive game design (beyond “give me women heroes who aren’t defined primarily by their sexuality”) don’t get as much airtime as perhaps they should.

What are the fundamentals of inclusive game design? How far have we come, or not come, since the old days of gaming? Should we give companies allowances in terms of these fundamentals, based on potential increased costs and other factors that come with inclusive design? Where do lesser talked-about issues, such as accessibility for people with disabilities, fit in? What about the more complex issues associated with inclusive design, such as using an idealized society versus a flawed one, or giving everyone equal choices versus using a certain amount of difference to create a dialogue about equality? If you have something to say about how, when, and why to strive for inclusive game design, then please consider submitting your piece for this issue.

read more | tekanji's blog | login or register to post comments

The IRIS Network is a new gaming site focused on helping to give women in the community a bigger voice.

From the site news:

After yet another bout of the “where are all the women gamers?” on the internet gaming communities, The IRIS Network (TIN) was finally born. Though there are many individual women gamers who write about their experiences, and many sites for women who game to connect and play with each other, none of these sites are there for the express purpose of highlighting gamers (both in the industry and outside of it) and bringing women’s perspectives into the mainstream. Though it may be a lofty goal, that’s exactly what we here at The IRIS Network aim to do.

So, if you are a gamer, or just like games, and want to be part of it, go sign up for the forums. If you are a woman gamer who wants more exposure for her blog, go to the directory and check if your site is listed (if so, please flesh it out, if not please list it). If you're a writer (female or male) and are interested in submitting works for our gaming magazine, please visit Cerise and check out the submission guidelines.

read more | tekanji's blog | login or register to post comments

Are you interested in the world of games journalism? Have you ever read a review and thought 'gosh, I could write that so much better, the moron?' Now's your chance, as we are looking for volunteers who would like to contribute to Killer Betties, writing previews, reviews, conducting interviews and more. If you are interested, please email me at staci.k (at) killerbetties.com.

read more | kbadmin's blog | login or register to post comments

I was 17 when I got my first full time job.
I was waitressing/bartending/room prepping at a relatively dodgey convention centre. Whose greatest claim to fame was, it was built next to the biggest man made lake in the North Island of this country.
(Whoop de doo)

The job was far from great.
I had the marvellous job of pouring other peoples drinks, relighting the candles on peoples tables. And scrubbing the vomit off the walls, after said people had drunk every drop of liquor they could get their hands on, and then thought how great an idea it would be to mince around the room like a contestant from Dancing with the stars.

read more | Rongomai's blog | 1 comment