No, he’s not writing for me, but he did write a nifty little piece on BradyGames’ facebook page. For those who do not have a facebook account, here is the quoted blog:
It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving here in the United States and though the weekend has come and gone, my feelings of shame and discomfort persist. Why do I do this to myself every year? Why can’t I ever say no? Every November it’s the same old story–I tell myself this year will be different, but then I spot something I haven’t tasted in two years and my gluttonous ways get the better of me again. The first bite is always wonderful, then the reality sets in: I simply have too much on my plate.
You’d be excused for thinking I was talking about holiday deserts, but I doubt I have to explain the analogy to my fellow gamers. No, I’m referring to the annual crush of premium releases that pile up this time of year and, like clockwork, simultaneously work to drain my wallet and sleep schedule. This year it was the three-pronged attack of Modern Warfare 2, Forza 3, and Borderlands that proved too tempting to resist (not to mention the XBLA release of Gyromancer). And though I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with each of them, our relationships have barely moved beyond initial introductions.
I recently completed an interview about my upcoming strategy guide to Darksiders and one of the questions I was asked dealt with the pros and cons of being a strategy guide author. The cons are few, but I had forgotten the biggest one. As a gamer, you’re pre-programmed to get excited about the fall releases and the blockbuster titles that dominate the forum discussions. You rush out and buy them just like so many others do. It’s a twitch-reflex, actually. October comes, you swipe the Mastercard. November arrives, you reach for the Visa.
Now imagine you’re a strategy guide author. You get home with those shiny new games and the doorbell rings. It’s a courier. In exchange for your signature, he’s willing to hand over a beta of one of the biggest titles of 2010. A title so big I’m not at liberty to mention it by name. You see the conundrum. There is only so much time and energy one can spend every day playing games and the strategy guide author lives in a vacuum, enjoying unreleased pleasures in silence while the games du jour scream shrink-wrapped insults at us from the shelf of forgotten games.
One game I can discuss, and happily, is Darksiders. I have to admit to not having followed the development of this one too closely, but it had my full attention within minutes of putting the disc in. At the risk of stepping in a pile of journalistic hyperbole, I have to say that Darksiders features some of the most entertaining boss battles and level design I’ve experienced in years. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s not everyday that I shout with glee at my monitor but that’s indeed what I did on several occasions. I don’t want to spoil anything but let’s just say playing as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse has certain perks–especially once you’re reunited with your horse. Darksiders releases later next month, just in time to help you ring in the New Year.
As for that secret project I’m working on, maybe next time…
Of course, I’m wondering about the secret project and if it could be in reference to a guide coming out soon. Would it be for a hit game like Mass Effect 2 or a game not many people are that gung-ho about, like Avatar or The Saboteur. OR could it be Final Fantasy XIII? That would make my day. Doug writes nice guides.
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