[Welcome to Game Start, an ongoing retrospective where various video game editors and personalities share their tales of growing up gamers. We kick off the series with the Editor-in-Chief of 2D-X, technology and video game journalist Jeffrey L. Wilson.]

It is, I suppose, more than a little odd that a man who spends his every waking moment pondering and writing about technology and video games didn’t think of himself as a geek when he was younger. It’s true. Despite the fact that I digested a steady diet of PBS’ 3-2-1 Contact, Newton’s Apple, and Nova as a pre-teen, I didn’t consider it nerdy or unusual. Many of my peers who grew up alongside me in a low-income Flatbush, Brooklyn housing development were into the same topics.

I was a geek before I recognized that I was a geek. I built model airplanes, robots, and even attempted to construct a rudimentary computer form a metal Band-Aid case and rubber bands. Hey, I was six years old and didn’t have a functional understanding of transistors, circuits, electricity, or technology. According to the lovely, wise internet denizens, I still don’t.

My video game love began as a kid during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s when nerds could find an arcade cabinet in nearly any location. Asteroids in the laundromat. Kangaroo in the corner store. Ladybug in the pizza shop. My life revolved around receiving my $5 weekly allowance, changing it into quarters, and exploring the early bits and bytes.

But it was the proliferation of ‘80s 8-bit home computers that took my love and transformed it into an obsession. I didn’t own an Apple II or Commodore 64–the machines were too expensive for my single mom at the time–but I longed for them as my Atari 2600 looked like a savage’s system in comparison. Oregon Trail had storytelling! Summer Games had good-looking graphics! I wanted that. I needed that.

We couldn’t afford one of those 8-bit computers, but I received a NES for Christmas in 1986 and it was a wrap. It was the era of the pack-in game, and Super Mario Bros., the 8-bit world-changer, became the central focus of all my free time. I’d played Super Mario Bros. at various friends’ homes who were from a higher station in life. I was familiar with the Mushroom Kingdom, but now it was in my home–I could play before school, immediately after school, or before bed. This pleased me on two levels: As a gamer, and as a poor kid who didn’t quite feel as poor because he owned one of the most highly-desired entertainment items ever.

From there I amassed nearly every major video game system and handheld released both in the USA and Japan. SEGA Genesis? Had it. PC Engine Duo-R? One of my favorite systems of all time. Neo Geo Pocket Color? Total sweetness.

My love for all things shiny and digital lead to jobs penning gadget- and video game-related nerd-copy for E-Gear, Game Theory with Scott Steinberg, Laptop, LifeStyler, Parenting, PCMag, Sync, Wise Bread, and WWE. Outside of cloning technology breakthrough that will allow me to live my childhood dream of being a dinosaur wrangler, I’m pretty happy with my station in life. I’m surrounded by a circle of excellent nerds from all walks of life who I’m happy and proud to call my friends–a few of which are 2D-X compatriots. I’ve also had the chance to interview some childhood heroes.

This nerd’s done good, methinks.

Hardcore gamers carry with them a reputation, and it isn’t a particularly good one. Both outsiders and members of the hardcore gaming community recognize that there’s a section of the gaming populace stigmatized as obsessive-compulsive types who lack certain inter-personal skills–particularly when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex. I’d like to say that this is untrue, but unfortunately it’s reality.

Gamers, and I talking specifically to the male demographic here who’d rather frag all night instead of approaching a crush, you need to learn how to step up and meet the woman of your dreams. You can do this. This isn’t coming from a place of judgement, but from a place of love and understanding. Allow me to demonstrate that by relating a tale from my youth, and then by offering helpful tips. Not that my love game is perfect by any means; it’s just some lessons learned from years in the nerd-dating trenches.

Nerding It Up, Old School Style
Year: 1988. Place: Reynolds Junior High School cafeteria. Situation: Dire.

My best friend, Nelson Wong, had recently acquired the insanely hyped Super Mario Bros. 2 either by borrowing it from his brother or purchasing it outright. The memory’s a bit hazy on that fact. But not on this: Unless you were a gamer in 1988, it’s hard to express with words Super Mario Bros. 2′s importance to an entire generation of nerds.

Super Mario Bros. 2 is the follow-up to what was then the greatest showcase of video gaming to date–and we were getting more. I pleaded with Nelson for days to let me borrow the cart as Nintendo’s marketing blitz made my life incomplete until I had chucked vegetables into a fat frog’s mouth.

Nelson attempted to hand me the cart in full view of all the young ladies in our class. I wanted to die.

There were rules for being a geek in my circle, an established set of standard operating procedures that we agreed upon when handling nerd-items in front of the fairer sex. If we were in school and need to borrow a comic, game, baseball card or what have you, they were to be passed to friend under a desk or lunch room table. The females did not need to see what geekiness occupied our spare time.

Even at age 14 we knew that being nerds meant that love we would not know. We were awkward and odd around the girls, the things that teenage boys are wont to be, and lacked general insight of the female mind. Our non-mainstream interests only made them view us that much weirder, which made us feel even more weird.

We let our insecurities rule, which resulted in us hiding within the games we loved–a most vicious cycle. Are you doing the same?

Nerds Vs. Girls
“I’d be a little put off [to date a gamer],” said Lauren F., a twenty-something from Brooklyn, New York. “If he looked really good and I really liked him, I’d give it a whirl for a couple of weeks, but a Halo marathon doesn’t sound all that promising.”

Lauren explained that she had been, at one point, a video game widow. And that’s one of the problems: many gamers don’t know when to put the controller down and call it a day. Unlike a movie, which lasts for a set amount of time, typically 90 minutes, there’s no definitive break in a gaming session–you can attempt to save the princess for hours on end. This lack of social interaction only fuels the issues when it comes time to engage the opposite sex. Meanwhile, your flesh and blood lady is left feeling neglected and unsatisfied. On all fronts.

“[Gamers] probably don’t have much experience in the bedroom.. With another individual, at least,” said Jamie Roberts, a twenty-something marketer based in New Jersey. She likened gamers to troll-like beings who only scuttle out from under a rock into the sun when it’s time to check Gamestop for new releases.

An over-generalization? Yes. But that doesn’t mean that the stereotype doesn’t exist.

It doesn’t have to be that way. It shouldn’t be that way.

Marni Kinrys thinks you can do better.

How To Meet Women
I’ve found that nerds who complain the most about their relationships tend to have very similar issues: the gamer guys has problems summoning his level 12 spell of Eros to win over a woman. This is often due to being too involved in their video game worlds, or lacking the inner strength to make the move. Real talk, as they kids say.

Marni Kinrys, “The Ultimate Wing Girl” and advice and relationship expert to men, has the answer. She believes that building confidence is the key to romantic success.

“Nerds say that women aren’t in their league because they truly believe that. They have to learn their self-worth,” said Kinrys.

This lack of self-confidence causes many gamers to pass on speaking with the objects of their affections, returning to the warm glow of their televisions and monitors. Kinrys suggests that speaking with women is very much like playing a video game–lots of practice can lead to success.

“Approach 10 random people per day. Work your way up from the people who are you in comfort range to those that are hot,” said Kinrys. “Chances are that if you’re apprehensive about approaching the hot brunette with big boobs, you won’t be intimidated by the overweight guy. Start with him. Speak with him and build your confidence.”

And I’ll add this: Become well-versed in at least one other topic besides video games.  If Metal Gear Solid 2‘s meta storytelling is your focal point for a long, insightful chat with someone you’re potentially interested in dating. Stop. It’s not. Ask about her. Discuss your favorite album. Share a funny story. Don’t simply be a “gamer.” Be an intriguing human being.

The Takeaway
So, what’s the lesson learned here, fellas? Confessing to a Skyrim marathon soon after meeting a PYT will at best raise a red flag; at worst, you’re going home without the digits. You may not want to hide your inner game cart under the figurative table–and I support your willingness to do so–but prepare for the consequences.

Be yourself, but recognize that there’s always room for growth.

A new Sonic the Hedgehog game is out and you can be sure we’re paying attention. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, the continuation of 2010′s Sonic 4 Episode I (makes sense!), came out Tuesday. While we prep our review, you can check out this tidy Q&A we had with SEGA’s Associate Brand Manager Aaron Webber and Digital Brand Manager Ken Balough.

We start off with the subject of Metal Sonic — Sonic’s mechanical rival from Sonic CD. He returns in Episode II and stars in his own Episode, Episode Metal, if you have both episodes on the same console, a likely callback to the “lock-on” technology of Sonic & Knuckles. Then we move on to the improvements in Sonic 4 Episode II, whether “Classic” Sonic will return and other Sonic ephemera comes up as well.

Let’s juice it loose! (Ugh.)

Metal Sonic LOVES this look. Seen here in the Sonic OVA.

Metal Sonic: best Sonic rival, or best Sonic rival?

Aaron Webber: Best Sonic Rival. Well, right behind the Tails Doll, but we can’t put him in games anymore… Last time we did, he terrorized three of our producers and two of our marketing interns just vanished one night. We still haven’t found the bodies.

Ken Balough:  It was an HR nightmare. But Metal Sonic has the right balance of being a great villain, while also realizing he needs to stay within the boundaries of his own games. He’s as solid as the Ralph Lauren polos I wear every single day to work!

Metal Sonic returns in Sonic 4 Episode II, but he’s actually popped up a lot over the years, like in Sonic Heroes and Knuckles Chaotix. Why bring him back again?

A: One can never have too much awesome. Well, maybe one can, but personally: I think it’s about time Metal Sonic got his time in the spotlight again.

K: Absolutely. Metal Sonic was one of the coolest villains to ever grace a Sonic game. In Sonic 4: Episode II, not only do you get to fight against him, but if you own Episode I + II, you even get to play as him in the bonus Episode Metal!

What’s your attachment to Metal Sonic? What is it about the guy that we love?

A: He’s one of the enemies out there that has come the closest to taking down Sonic. Metal Sonic was first introduced in Sonic CD as a serious threat, and I think it’s nice to know that all these years later, he can still hold his own against the blue blur. Plus, he’s quite shiny.

K: It’s gotta be those eyes, in my opinion. Something about those eyes lighting up just says “I’m a big, blue, metal hedgehog… and I’m going to kill you.” And I think that makes for one heck of an antagonist.

Would it be fair to say you played an instrumental role in Metal Sonic’s return this time?

K: We were both there when it was largely decided. Of course, it should be noted that everyone at SEGA’s teams on Sonic, from the US, to Japan, to Europe, all have influence and help contribute ideas. Sonic 4 is the same in that regard, so we all work as part of one larger team.

A: I remember the exact moment when we knew Metal Sonic would be returning – and I don’t get to talk about any of it. You’ll want to wait for the tell-all book that Ken and I are publishing, titled “Rolling Uphill: Ken and Webber go to White Castle”, which will be coming out December 2015. (Please don’t tell our lawyers.)

What’s your favorite depiction of him? Ever see the Sonic OVA? What are your thoughts?

A: I thought Metal Sonic was awesome in the OVA. Cold, calculating, and ruthless, and in the right light, has a terrifying exterior. Incidentally, that sounds a lot like my first girlfriend.

K: I really like his depiction in Episode II. What I think is really cool is that we pick up where Sonic CD left off – Metal Sonic is still on Little Planet, right where he was defeated by Sonic in the race. And now, he has a chance to get back into the game and get his due revenge.

Sonic replicants aren't always cool. Take Pseudo Sonic! Really. Take him.

Remember the Pseudo-Sonic episode of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog? What the hell was that?

A: Ah, the old cartoon! One second, Ken and I need to watch this episode to get you a legit reaction.

[A few minutes later… you can watch the same episode on Netflix Instant, if you dare.]

A: Oh wow. Too many chili dogs?

K: I’m picturing our Episode II co-op moves with a Sonic that size. Thank goodness he slimmed down.

Metal Sonic and Tails return in Sonic 4 Episode II.

So, in Sonic 4 Episode II it looks like Tails will actually be useful. Will little brothers and sisters around the world actually enjoy playing co-op?

A: I certainly hope so! You know the world is becoming right again when we’re releasing 2D Sonic games that let your little brother or sister help you out as Tails.

K: From the all-new co-op moves to the fact that Tails is really useful for clearing the way and taking out enemies, a new generation of Sonic fans will now get to team up just like we all did as kids.

Also, pro-tip for the kids: don’t let Tails steal your air bubbles.

Episode I took cues from Sonic 1. It looks like Episode II takes cues from Sonic 2, like the Bonus Stage and playable Tails. What else from Sonic 2 returns?

A:  There are two levels that have heavy inspiration from two great levels in Sonic 2. (You’ll see them and smile when you play them!) But there was also a big focus on doing new things for Episode II – I’ll let Ken explain.

K: It was important for us to balance the nostalgia that older fans love while also offering new experiences and levels, both for old and new fans alike. We’ve got a brilliant snow level and a new desert level, both of which really stand well on their own as all-new inspirations.

Can you tell me of any other enhancements and/or additions made to Sonic 4 Episode II?

A: Ken, this is all you… except those physics and momentum improvements that I have been pestering you about for two years – very glad to see those, personally.

K: The backgrounds also received a big, notable lift. There are huge improvements and tons of detail now going by as you run through the stages. The graphics on the whole also received a major update and overhaul, and it really shows.

Both graphically and in gameplay, Sonic 4: Episode II is a great step up from the first Episode.

Despite that final boss, Sonic Generations was a hit. I assume we’ll see Modern Sonic in HD again, but what about Classic Sonic? Was that the last we’ve seen of him?

A: No word from me, sorry. Only time will tell!

K: I asked your question to the Classic Sonic figurine on my desk.

He’s not speaking.

What about a new Sonic on 3DS or Vita?

A: See above!

Metal Sonic appeared in the comics, too. Wish I kept issue 25...

Will we ever see Sally, Antoine and Rotor in a game? And have you been keeping up with the Archie comics? I can’t make heads or… Tails of it.

A:  The Archie world exists separate from the game world (save for one or two rare occurrences in the 90’s), so no word on the odds of seeing them in a game anytime soon.

As to Archie, I read them all the time starting with #0 as a kid, but stopped halfway through. I’ve started re-reading them recently and getting up to speed again. It’s really impressive to think that Sonic is now the longest running comic book series for any video game character, ever!

You guys are bringing back Boom. What can fans expect this year?

A: We have a lot of surprises planned this year, both for Sonic Boom in the US (which is at San Diego Comic Con this year) and Summer of Sonic in the UK! You’ll want to stay tuned to the SEGA Blogs (blogs.sega.com) for all the latest announcements.  Also, if we get enough donations, I hear Ken is going to do a dramatic reading of his Big the Cat fan Poetry on stage.

K: Maybe I’ll be there
Maybe I won’t
Maybe I’ll read Sonic poems
Or maybe
Aaron needs to stop talking about my Big the Cat obsession!

Sonic Boom should be a great show either way. And if you really want to hear me do a dramatic reading… let me know on the SEGA forums. But really, please don’t.

A: Do it. Oh please.

Last year was Sonic’s 20th anniversary. What’s the milestone this year?

A: The big 21! I think it’s also very fitting that this year’s big Sonic games are Episode II and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, which has a lot of favorite Sonic + SEGA characters from over the years. We’ve had a great trend with good Sonic games over the last few years, and we plan to keep it up!

Phantasy Star Online 2 -- bound to come here someday, maybe!

Final question: What can you say about Phantasy Star Online 2?

A: What is there to say about the best MMO I’ve played since… PSO? The Japanese Beta was amazing. That said, the game has only been announced for Japan… I recommend practicing Katakana in the meantime!

Hmm… well, it may be a while before we see Classic Sonic again or get our hands on PSO2, but Sonic 4 Episode II is out now on XBLA and PSN. Expect our full review shortly!

[How To is a recurring feature in which we demonstrate techniques designed to improve your game, and make your skill set more than a little bit awesome. This time out, we’ll help you prep for Diablo III.]

If you’re reading this, chance are you’ll remember May 15th as the day you (and/or many of your gaming friends) became victims of Diablo III’s addictive RPG action. It’s full of dungeon crawling goodness that even has some dedicated console gamers looking to fire up their Macs and PCs for gaming sessions.  But make sure you’re properly prepped before you jump in by doing the following:

1. Make Sure You Have Decent Gaming Specs
Diablo III doesn’t have high-end system requirements, but your Mac or PC will need a half-way decent graphics card to offload some of the work from the CPU and properly render the game. Intel’s integrated GPUs just won’t cut it in most instances unless you have the HD Graphics 1000/2000/, 3000, or 4000 model–and that will only allow your computer to run Diablo III in “Low Performance” mode. Run this system check to see if you have a compatible set up.

2. Invest In a Mouse
Regardless of whether you have a desktop or laptop,you need to purchase a separate mouse that will see dedicated Diablo III action. Blizzard’s action-rpg demands a lot of clicking (for movement, attacking, managing inventory, etc), so your existing mouse or (desktops) or mouse buttons (laptop) is going to endure some heavy wear and tear. It need not be a premium mouse; a $10 one from Best Buy or Newegg will do the trick nicely.

3. Check Your Internet Connection
Diablo III lacks an offline mode. Zero. Zilch. None. As such, when you fire up the game–even for solo runs–your Mac or PC has to speak to Blizzard’s servers. You’ll need a strong wireless signal or, better yet, an Ethernet cable that will serve up ever greater speeds.

4. Study the Character Classes
Diablo III features five radically different character class–which do you choose? Blizzard provides many character slots, so you can experiment with different class and builds. However, if you want a general sense of each class, check out our Diablo III character class guide for overviews and tips.

Bonus! Prepare for a Lengthy Digital Download
If you’ve purchased Diablo III via digital download instead of boxed copy, prepare for a really long download; it took me just shy of four hours to get the game on my hard drive. Your mileage may vary, but plan a nap, workout, movie outing, or other activity as the game downloads.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There are two things in the world that I love: Mass Effect and Dark Horse Comics. DHC has brought us phenomenal comics over the years, and great movies that came from those. And now it’s bringing us amazing replicas.

I already own and enjoy the Cerberus SR-2 model I received for my birthday this past year, and it seemed my birthday all over again when the new $34.99 Alliance model showed up on my doorstep. Both Normandies are high quality, well done, and most importantly, accurate.

They are roughly the same size, but the Alliance model seems slightly heavier and thicker in most parts. Whether or not this is true, I’m not sure, so perhaps I need to locate a scientific scale.

And they both sit on my desk and I often have pew-pew battles with them.

Following the failure of the SEGA Saturn, SEGA had one more chance to get it right. Its previous console war with Nintendo and Sony left the company in a financial ruin, mainly due to awful business decisions that alienated both consumers and retailers alike. SEGA would try its hand at the next generation with easily the most underrated console to ever be released: The SEGA Dreamcast.

The SEGA Dreamcast entered the Japanese market in November 1998 with a weak lineup that was fronted by Godzilla Generations. Ten months later the Dreamcast was released stateside, and sold well thanks to an incredible launch lineup featuring Soul Calibur, Power Stone, and Sonic Adventure. Yet you have to look at what this console did to understand why it was so amazing. It was the first console to include online gaming (via a built-in 56K modem), and it gave birth to 2K sports. The Dreamcast also had instant classics like Jet Set Radio, Phantasy Star Online, Crazy Taxi, Skies of Arcadia, and one of my favorite games, Shenmue.

The shortage occurred because of the issues VideoLogic ran into when producing the consoles graphic chip, which stalled sales and left many gamers unhappy. Still, the Dreamcast performed well against and actually surpassed the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation in sales that year. In the end, none of it mattered. SEGA was in a deep financial whole and the Dreamcast cost them more money to manufacture than what they were making. Plus, dropping $70 million on Shenmue and Shenmue II sodomized the company.

This microphone was used with Seaman.

Unfortunately for SEGA, Sony released its showstopper, the PS2, on October of 2000 and halted the Dreamcast’s momentum. To make matters worse, piracy killed game sales. SEGA made the decision to use GD-ROMs because of their large capacity, but SEGA overlooked a major flaw. The data could be easily burnt on standard CD-ROMs, they could then be played with the use of an easy to make boot disc, that mimicked the data needed to run a game on the console.

All of this led to SEGA discontinuing Dreamcast production in March of 20o1. The once proud and mammoth company withered away, and eleven years later is still suffering financially.

There are so many good games on this console that it would be almost impossible to pick only five games, so for this list I’ll choose my personal favorites.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Crazy Taxi
This is the perfect arcade port. Players pumped so many quarters into this game, when the annoucement  for the Dreamcast came life was merry. It was difficult to grasp why a game with minimal features was so amazing. Crazy Taxi had two stages to choose from, and only four different drivers who differed slightly. Yet burning rubber down the hills of sunny California was incredibly addictive. The insane driving kept the game interesting as players tried to each others high scores. The Offsprings catchy tune “All I Want” added to the adrenaline-fueled cabby experience.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Phantasy Star Online
The first console MMO and it was a stellar pioneer for the console MMO’s to follow. Phantasy Star Online took the franchise in an unprecedented direction and it paid off. Players enjoyed an immersive world full of interesting locations that they could traverse with friends. Grinding was painless, although the plot was forgettable the game had enough content to keep gamers hooked for months at a time. SEGA did an amazing job in providing extra content in a timely matter keeping the game relevant for quite sometime. The recently announced Phantasy Star Online 2 looks to improve on everything its predecessor accomplished. Bravo to Hideaki Kobayashi and Fumie Kumatani for an amazing sound track.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Seaman
Seaman which came packaged in with a microphone that plugs into the controllers VMU slot was quite peculiar. Your main objective was persistent interaction with a strange cross-bred man fish (What!?!). You could literally just sit and tell Seaman about your day. The AI was incredible at the time, Seaman responded with life-like and believable remarks, answering questions along the way and learning more about the player. It’s funny that in 1999 SEGA had done something that Lionshead Studio was trying to call ground breaking and innovative in 2009 (remember project Milo).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jet Set Radio
If you haven’t experienced the cell-shaded, spray painting, graffiti action you have missed a hell of a game. Through out the game players roller blade around a fictional Tokyo–Tokyo-to actually. Players had to fend off rival gangs and avoid “five-0″ all in the name of self-expression. The stages were some of the most detail and intricate seen in gaming, players could use a variety of paths through each stage, all while performing tricks and grinding any rail in sight. For those of you that missed this when it was on the Dreamcast you’re in luck, an HD release will make its way to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network this summer.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shenmue
When I first picked up this title I knew nothing about it. A friend had played a piece of music from the game that caught my attention, yes I made a purchase decision based on music, and I’m glad I did. Before Grand Theft Auto III blew the sandbox genre out of the water Shenmue set the foundation. The plot followed Ryu Hazuki on his quest for vengeance after watching his father murdered by the hands of a mysterious lethal martial artist. Players roam the streets of Yokosuka Japan in search for clues regarding the murderer’s whereabout. This is one of the first times in gaming where you could explore an open world, at one point you’re even tasked with working a job. The game used Virtual Fighter‘s fighting engine which led to an engrossing fighting experience.

SAY-GAH!
Any respectable gamer knows that at one point SEGA had one of the most innovative consoles with the Dreamcast. The Dreamcast was ahead of its time, and took the risk that others didn’t even dare take like online gaming. It was home to some of the strangest and more experimental games like Cannon Spike, a rare Capcom beat-em-up/shoot-em-up that featured Darkstalkers, Street Fighter, Mega Man and other Capcom characters fighting their way past enemies while wearing roller blades.

Writing this piece has taken me on a personal journey and has rekindled my love for gaming. I’ve relieved my childhood and have re-played a lot of the games that define me as a gamer. SEGA will always have a place in my heart because it made games that mattered; it was the magical little guy that no one believed in. I’ve been around SEGA for as long as I can remember, from blowing into my carts during the infancy of my gaming life, to polishing my games on my Saturn, and playing Power Stone ’til wee hours of the night with my family. All I can say is thanks SEGA it’s been a great one. All we can do now is hope for the best, because when everything is clicking for SEGA it can produce some amazing and original games.

Delays, delays everywhere! BioShock Infinite, Tomb Raider, the South Park RPG from THQ, and Itagaki’s Devil’s Third (also from THQ) all got hit by delays in the past few days. And Devil’s Third might not make it out the door entirely. Man, it’s like video games take a lot of hard work, time, and money to make or something.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories got hit by a second delay during this Great Delay Wave. Konami pushed it back without telling anyone — its second time being so stealthy. All the other game delays were publicly announced, so it’s odd Konami keeps taking the not-telling-your-parents-about-that-math-test-you-failed route. It works for a couple of days, then your teacher calls home. Or Destructoid and the rest of the Internet checks the game’s Amazon listing.

Since I got to play an early build of Book of Memories last Fall at an event held by Konami at Beats by Dr. Dre in Soho, Manhattan, (where I also got a look at Downpour and the unfortunate Silent Hill HD Collection), I figured I’d say a bit about what the version I played was like, and perhaps shed some some light as to why it’s been pushed back again (this time to a more fitting October 31 release date).

So, Book of Memories is a PlayStation Vita title in development by WayForward, the studio behind Aliens: Infestation for Nintendo DS and BloodRayne: Betrayal for XLBA and PSN. They usually take on projects associated with long-running franchises, like Aliens and BloodRayne, and Contra, Thor, and other licenses. The Internet goes crazy over them, but as I confess in my BloodRayne review, I see WayForward as the card sharks in the “Almost Got ‘Im” episode of the Batman Animated Series. Charming, but they… fall short. It was a matter of time, I suppose, until they franchise-hopped to Silent Hill. As you can tell by looking at screenshots, Book of Memories has little to do with previous games in the survival horror series.

Most notably, it’s not a survival horror game. It’s played from a top-down perspective in an arcadey, Gauntlet-like dungeon-crawler fashion. It also has little to do with previous WayForward games. WayForward’s biggest strength, charming 2D spritework, is nowhere to be found here. It makes sense to go for 3D graphics in a Silent Hill game, but the graphics quality wasn’t exactly spectacular in the build I played. This was evident in the amateurish menu design and character customization as well. Visually, Book of Memories resembled a middle-road iOS game, not a $40 PlayStation Vita game.

Would you pony up 40 bones/smackers/simoleons for this?

I spent a decent amount of time with the demo, mainly doing the same thing over and over, going from room to room, defeating indecipherable creatures and gathering keys to unlock more rooms. I kept playing to try and find the main “hook” to the game, but I wasn’t finding it. It seemed pretty standard. Creating a character from scratch provided a tiny bit of satisfaction — I got to give a goth girl a stovepipe hat. There wasn’t really much else to customize. Characters came in pre-set templates and “personalization” amounted to giving them accessories like… hats. Hrm.

Cooperative multiplayer is supposed to be a feature, but I didn’t have anyone to play with at last Autumn’s event. The company rep there only had one PS Vita for everyone there.

Daniel Licht, who composed the music for Downpour, apparently returns. I couldn’t discern any specific tunes in the noisy area I was playing, but his involvement can only be a boon. He did a good job continuing the same flavor of sound series composer Akira Yamaoka established for the series.

Supposedly, past Silent Hill characters will return, though it’s unknown in what capacity. Pyramid Head’s a shoe-in, for sure. He’s like Stan Lee appearing in all the Marvel movies at this point. But I don’t know what good it would do, to have Harry, James and Heather involved in a game so unlike previous games in the series.

An oven. Yes, this game needed to go back in the oven.

Eventually, I grew tired playing the demo. I got lost — there was no map or indication of where I was or where I had to go; the game suffered from Every Area Looks the Same Syndrome — and handed the PS Vita off to another journo. Months later, I’d find the game’s been delayed a bunch of times. And with good reason. It wasn’t ready, not nearly. It wasn’t fun, there was nothing to it. It didn’t take advantage of the PS Vita’s power or capabilities, nor was there was any way it could justify being a $40 retail title in a time when cheap, digital releases offer far more fun and visual quality for a fraction of that price.

There was no way it was going to make its March date in that state. Or its June date now that we know it’s been pushed back a couple seasons. What’s more, there hasn’t been a new scrap of info or anything since the Soho event. It’s only been nebulous release dates and silent delays from Konami. Hardly encouraging stuff.

With the complaints lobbed at the glitchy, unfinished HD Collection (still waiting for those game-fixing patches), the Silent Hill series is yet another legacy franchise in hot water at the moment. We can hope Konami and WayForward use this long delay to turn Book of Memories – and the franchise’s reputation — around. And maybe all this playing it close to the chest stuff could work out well. It worked for Downpour.

It seems strange that the SEGA Saturn under performed after the Genesis’ success, but it suffered numerous issues that crippled the console.

The issues began with sloppy marketing. Kalinske (the then SEGA of America CEO) announced that the Saturn would be released on “Saturnday” September 2, 1995 giving gamers and developers time to save up cash and create games, respectively. But at the first ever E3 (May, 1995) Kalinske and SEGA released the console months before the initial date, and exclusively to Toys ‘R’ Us, Software Etc., and EB Games. This unexpected direction shift led to some retailers boycotting the console, and actually promoting and pushing Sony’s PlayStation, the Saturn’s biggest competitor, instead. Gamers were pissed, too, as the Saturn’s early release resulted in a game shortage–only six games were available at launch. The risky move proved costly.

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The Saturn had the potential to destroy its competitors (Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64), but it came with a hefty price: $399.99, which was $100 more than the PlayStation. Yes, the hardware did justify the price, with its dual CPUs and six processors. Unfortunately, this made development extremely difficult. Both CPU’s had issues accessing the console’s RAM at the same time, thus leading to long and tedious game development times. Some ports even were redone altogether to run on the Saturn, but this resulted in subpar releases and a software drought. This changed over time, but it took SEGA manning the helm and showing other developers how to harness the console’s potential. As a result, the best Saturn games are first-party titles.

The development challenges that the Saturn created led to a number of studios bolting to the PlayStation. On paper, Sony’s PlayStation had inferior hardware, but it was easier to program. Many SEGA fans abandoned ship and purchased a PlayStation. Sony exclusives like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy VII, Twisted Metal, and Warhawk helped solidify their decisions. By 1996, Nintendo also knocked on SEGA’s doors with its Nintendo 64 and one of the greatest games of all time, Super Mario 64.

Top Left: 3D Control Pad, Top Right: Saturn Wheel, Bottom: Saturn Virtua Stick

By this point, SEGA was running out of options, but continued to fight the console war by porting over a number of its arcade hits. Virtual Fighter 2 ended up becoming the consoles best seller, and SEGA Rally Championship proved another popular title despite graphical issues. Virtual Cop also made its way over, gamers began to realize that like the Master System, only SEGA would truly support the system.

It’s not a surprise that arcade ports carried the console through the mid ’90s–SEGA’s arcade systems were flourishing. The Model’s I-III arcade boards were extremely successful. These boards gave birth to the Virtual Fighter series which improved with each board iteration. The Virtual Cop series was a fan favorite at the arcades also, and SEGA Rally Championship could be found in a many malls and theaters across America.

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NiGHTS into Dreams
This is one of the most creative games SEGA has ever released. Players take control of Nights and visit children’s dreams in order to obtain a magical item. The dreams consist of a Nightopia section where the world is bright beautiful and peaceful, along with a Nightmare section where things usually take turns for the worse. The gameplay consists of flying through a series of rings in an aerial obstacle course, collecting different colored items. NiGHTS in Dreams has a whimsical soundtrack that really captures the game’s imaginative theme. The soundtrack is so good that songs from the game appeared in other SEGA titles.

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Panzer Dragoon
Panzer Dragoon drew comparisons to Star Fox due to the on-rails gameplay. Players ride around a dragon and engage enemies using a handgun and the dragon’s homing attack. The game’s graphics outshined other titles on the platform, and the sound track is considered one of Yoshitaka Azuma’s greatest compositions. Panzer Dragoon saw follow-ups that ended with its sequel Panzer Dragoon Otra on the Xbox.

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Virtual Fighter 2
The original Virtual Fighter deserves recognition, but the Saturn port is so inferior to the arcade version that it missed this list. However, with its sequel came a vast number of improvements. Firstly, VF2 is a technical marvel that runs at 60 frames per second. It also adds two characters that expands an already deep roster.

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Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Quite frankly Editor-in-chief Jefferey Wilson might kill me for not including this game. But seriously this is one of the better games in the Saturns lack luster library. Symphony of the Night follows Alucard, Dracula’s estranged son who isn’t to fond of the family business. The Saturn version is praised for having smoother sprites and better audio quality, it’s actually one of the only multi-platform titles that was better on the Saturn. If you aren’t familiar with the series by now, you might wanna consider a different hobby other than gaming.

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SEGA Rally Championship
Before Gran Turismo, SEGA Rally Championship was THE console racer to play. It’s a port of the wildly successful arcade games, but it isn’t the most accurate port.  There are frame rate issues, and the graphics are extremely blocky and jagged. Still, it’s fondly remembered to this day.

Next: Death of the Dream
The success that SEGA gained with the Genesis was quickly lost with the Saturn. The console ended up in a distant last place behind the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation, but behind the scenes SEGA worked on its next console, which would also be its last.

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Given the struggles of the Master System, it was shocking that SEGA produced a successor so soon. It only took three years after the release of the Master System for the SEGA Genesis (SEGA Megadrive in Japan) to launch in the United States in August 1989. In Japan, SEGA continued to struggle against the NES (and later the Super Nintendo), but in other markets, primarily the American market, the SEGA Genesis flourished. SEGA learned from the many mistakes it made with the Master System…but went on to make fresh ones.

The SEGA Surge
The company’s arcade presence exploded during the late ’80s and early ’90s, which saw the rise of popular titles like Golden Axe, Space Harrier, and Super Hang-On. SEGA ported those hot properties to the Genesis with the marketing slogan “Genesis does what Nintendon’t.” A bold, and genius, move.

SEGA continued to make drastic changes by replacing Michael Katz with Tom Kalinske as CEO of SEGA of America and relieving Tonka of marketing duties. This brought a variety of successful changes to the company. Initially, the Genesis came bundled with Altered Beast, but Kalinske replaced the game with Sonic The Hedgehog. Sonic received amazing reviews, gaining high praise for being a solid platformer with slick controls and interesting level design. This pushed gamers to purchase a Genesis, and nearly doubled the Genesis’ sales. SEGA continued to promote the Genesis as the superior, “cooler” console after the Super Nintendo arrived on American shores, and due to it’s larger game library and cheaper price, gamers flocked to the console.

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Kalineske continued to make memorable marketing decisions in print and television commercials. SEGA compared the Super Nintendo to the Genesis side-by-side in what may have been the first console smear campaign. The commercial depicted an F-1 car with a SEGA Genesis attached to its rear, and an old van powered by a Super Nintendo. The commercial showcased how much faster and graphically intense games were on the SEGA Genesis. SEGA marketed the consoles graphical rendering power as “Blast Processing,” and stated that its hardware was far superior than anything found in the Super Nintendo. It was clear that the marketing took off, as here in the United States SEGA held more than half of console sales during 1994.

The SEGA CD, released in 1992, was critically acclaimed despite the huge amounts of shovelware. However, some of the best games from that generation appeared on the SEGA CD. Sonic CD (1993), for example, was hailed as a gaming masterpiece due to its amazing level design and improved visuals. Lunar: The Silver Star (1992) was released to a crowd of thirsty gamers who were in dire need of a great RPG.

It would be a gross oversight to not mention the TurboGrafx-16, the Liquid Snake to the Genesis’ Solid Snake. The 16-bit systems were released the same year (1989), and both had CD add-ons. However, the TG-16 had a weaker library than the Genesis and SEGA CD add-on. The TG-16 didn’t stand a chance and the Genesis trampled it.

All together it cost $580. Yikes!

SEGA’s 32x  was released in November of 1994, but the add-on didn’t reach the cult acclaim that the SEGA CD enjoyed. It suffered from bad timing, a lack of developer support, and a ridiculously high price point ($160). The lack of developer interest goes hand-in-hand with the bad timing, as SEGA made the huge mistake of releasing the 32x a month after it released the SEGA Saturn in Japan. Developers quickly flocked over to the Saturn and dismissed the 32x as a gimmick. The 32x only had 39 games, and was quickly discontinued a year later.

Still, there are a number of games on the Genesis that every gamer should take the time to try. Personally, I had both a Super Nintendo and SEGA Genesis in my household, but I spent much of my time on the Genesis. Not because I thought it was a better console, but because it had some of the most innovative and unique games at the time. Such as….

Ecco The Dolphin (1992)
Ecco the Dolphin captured gamers’ imaginations with its deep-sea exploration, and underwater caverns full of sea creatures. The story has an intriguing plot about extraterrestrials, time travel, and Atlantians, but what makes this game so special is the ambiance; you feel the disparity and the loneliness throughout your travels. Everything from the enemies to the amazing soundtrack (from the legendary composer Spencer Nielsen) helps convey this feeling.

Sonic 1,2,3, Sonic and Knuckles, and Sonic CD
These five games comprise the hedgehog’s golden age. The original Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) contains speedy platforming and excellent level design, but it’s criticized for being too linear.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) is vibrant, fast, and has many branching paths (as such, it’s considered the best in the series). Sonic can now crouch and charge into a devastating speed ball that destroys anything in his path.

Tails is even more useful in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) as he can carry Sonic to unreachable locations. Knuckles the Echidna debuted here, and his rivalry with Sonic that would later turn into friendship. Gamers were also interested in playing as Knuckles, so SEGA heeded their calls with Sonic & Knuckles.

WTF!

During the second half of 1994, the innovative Sonic & Knuckles hit store shelves. Gamers could play the game as a standalone title, or they could attach either Sonic 2 or Sonic 3 into a built in slot on Sonic & Knuckles. This let gamers play Sonic 2 as Knuckles, but the real treat was replaying Sonic 3 as Knuckles. All the locked out locations became reachable, which opened up a whole new game. Sonic & Knuckles could also be played as a standalone title.

Sonic CD is easily the best title for the SEGA CD add-on. The time traveling aspect was a new concept that fans of the series weren’t to familiar with. Each stage has four different variations depending on the point in time which Sonic traveled.

Gunstar Heroes (1993)
Treasure’s game is brutally hard, but it has some of the best multiplayer experience on the SEGA Genesis. The anime art style is a welcome change from the dull art design seen in other 16-bit side-scrolling shooters. The weapons system is the main attraction here as players can combine different ammo types to achieve various effects like homing bullets, flame throwers, and high-powered lasers.

Shining Force II (1994)
The Genesis doesn’t have many RPGs, but the ones it does have are brilliant. Shining Force II is nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s that generation’s deepest, most tactical RPG and it features a steep learning curve. It also features one of the most fleshed out and character driven stories in gaming. This is rare in the tactical RPG genre; it took what Fire Emblem did right and improved upon it, and influenced games like Tactics Ogre, Arc the Lad, and Final Fantasy Tactics.

Comix Zone
Comix Zone looks like your typical beat ‘em up, but if you take a closer look, you’ll find that it’s one of the deepest Genesis brawlers. It take excellent timing and precise moves to defeat enemies; button-mashing leaves you demolished. The game is also known for its fourth-wall breaking plot that sees a comic creator battling his own creations.

The Next Episode
The Genesis is easily SEGA’s most successful console. With the Genesis, SEGA established a dominant foothold in the United States that was short-lived. Sony’s emergence as a console manufacturer and the on-going disagreements with SEGA’s arcade and console department in the mid to late 90′s would prove overwhelming. Next: The SEGA Chronicles pt. III.

Diablo fans have a reputation for being one of the most hardcore segments in the gaming community–now a new generation seeks the action-RPG battles. It’s been nearly twelve years since Diablo II’s release, and as such, newcomers may not be aware that one of the most challenging decisions occurs seconds after booting the game. Creating a character and choosing a class can prove daunting and even frustrating. It doesn’t have to be, friends.

In hopes of making your decision easier, we’ve crafted a character guide that highlights both the advantages and disadvantages that each class faces, along with some basic tips to get you started.

Don your armor, warriors.

BARBARIAN
This is a straightforward hack-and-slash class. Players can get away with making more mistakes with the Barbarian than with other classes due to the health boost it receives. The ability to equip shields and heavy armor further complement the Barbarian’s natural ability to soak up damage. The class’ combat aptitude lets Barbarians wield any melee weapon in the game, ranging from one-handed swords and axes (which may be dual-wielded) to more powerful two-handed weapons that plow through waves of enemies. Each class has a resource that allows it to use special attacks; in this case, the Barbarian uses Fury. With each punishing blow they take and deal, Barbarians acquire Fury which opens the door to monstrous abilities like Seismic Slam (a chaotic wave which knocks enemies back) and Hammer of the Ancients (which punishes close-range enemies).

Tip: Barbarians have very short-range attacks and are therefore effective when they are up close and personal to brutes–this leads to some difficult situations. This often results in enemies surrounding the Barbarian and sometimes suffocating the ruffian. Abilities like Ground Stomp, Leap, and Seismic Slam are crucial during these moments, as they each push enemies back and give you breathing space.

MONK
Monks are very similar to Barbarians in that they don’t have the long-range capabilities. They differ, however, by relying on speed and not heavy armor. Their hands are their primary means of offense, but they can use staves and dual-wield blades. Monks can perform devastating combos that also carry special properties. Combos increase Spirit (the Monk class’ resource), which opens offensive and evasive abilities. Monks also have access to mantras, special energy fields that grow stronger depending on the number of enemies you defeat. They affect both the monk and its allies, and are extremely helpful in keeping the monk out of trouble. Players looking for creative combat solutions should pick up the monk, as there are countless numbers of ways to obliterate enemies.

Tip: Aggression is mandatory for the Monk’s success. Monks, at early levels, chase your targets down and pick away at stragglers, killing any chance enemies have at surrounding you. Also, don’t be afraid to spend Spirit; Monks have some of the best mixes of defensive and offensive abilities early on. Blinding Flash is your go-to ability if you’re being overwhelmed. At later levels, use Seven-Sided Strike the minute you’re surrounded, as it causes you to dash between enemies causing 777% of damage while getting you out of trouble.

WIZARD
The Wizard is the master of control. The class relies almost entirely on its resource, Arcane Power. Wizards are excellent at long- to mid-range combat and are offensive beasts; they have powerful area-of-effect attacks that slow enemies down while dealing damage. Elemental spells that single out enemies help Wizards take out stronger enemies. Yet when a Wizard runs out of Arcane Power, it has protective spells that cost little to cast. Staying mobile and not taking damage is a survival essential. This class best suits players who love to manipulate the battlefield and control space.

Tip: Wizards control large amounts of space and can destroy groups of enemies. The key is to draw enemies out and bait them into large groups. Then combine Slow Time with any number of spells and enjoy the devastating results.

WITCH DOCTOR
The Witch Doctor class is my personal favorite and one of the more creative classes in the game. Featuring an incredibly useful pet-summoning ability, Witch Doctors never venture alone and have various ways to distract demons. The pet options range from fire bats to the brutal gargantuan. Summoning pets comes at a price however; these grueling summons cost large amounts of slowly replenishing Mana. This is when Hexes come into play; Hexes help lower enemies defenses and cause damage over time, often weakening enemies enough for pets to pick them apart. Playerswsho like playing a support role and enjoy company will have fun with the Witch Doctor.

Tip: Don’t over-summon, and make sure you support your pets; the longer they’re alive the more mana you can recover without pressure. When you’re surrounded, use Horrify and watch your foes away. Use that free time to regroup or summon new pets.

DEMON HUNTER
This is probably the most complicated class to play. That said, Demon Hunters have a nice selection of tools that make them extremely deadly. Demon Hunters are strictly long-range fighters who use crossbows. They also have the ability to use stealth and surprise enemies by attacking from shadows. Their resource is also a bit complicated; their offensive abilities cost Hatred while their defensive ones cost Discipline, leading to some tactical decisions. Demon Hunters can also employ traps to keep enemies at bay; some of which slow enemy progress and create distance. The Demon Hunter is ideal for creative players that want to wreak havoc in many ways.

Tip: Always create distance between you and enemies. The Vault ability is great for staying mobile and escaping enemies’ grasps. But using Entangling Shot with Caltrops will keep enemies moving at a snail’s pace, making it easy to kill larger enemies.

Diablo III will cater to a multitude of play types, as the in-depth skill tree allows each class to feel unique and will complement a number of styles. Hopefully, with this guide, you’ll spend less time deciding what class you want to play and more time questing.

See you online.