The only thing better than playing Skyrim would be playing Skyrim with friends. Enter: The Elder Scrolls online (TESO). Needless to say, I've been anticipating this game and followed every update. However, many of the comments on Gamespot regarding TESO have surprised me--people saying stuff like:

"Fifteen bucks a month! What are you doing Bethesda...?"

"A subscription fee? Looks like I won't be buying TESO..."

I can't help but feeling like these kinds of comments display a failure of logic. But unfortunately, the comment threads are FULL of these comments, and many people are in an uproar against TESO's announcement of a monthly subscription fee. Is Bethesda being unfair by making gamers pay $15 a month on top of $60 to buy the game? Well, I decided to explore this issue and examine the mathematics behind it...

Unless you purchase all of your games during the Steam Sales, the average video game costs about $60 upon release. Taking into account the time it takes to complete a game (using a very rough average), let's break it down to an hourly rate of what you're paying for what you're playing:

If you pay $60 for a game that takes 10 hours to complete, you're paying $6/hr. Here's the numbers:

$60 / 10 hours to complete = $6/hr (i.e., Arkham Asylum, Mirror's Edge, Crysis 2, Uncharted 3, etc.)

$60 / 20 hours to complete = $3/hr (i.e., Assassin's Creed 3, Darksiders, Fable III, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, etc.)

$60/ 40 hours to complete = $1.50/hr (i.e., Final Fantasy: Dissidia, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Mass Effect 2, etc.)

$60/ 100 hours to complete = $0.60/hr (i.e., Skyrim, Final Fantasy X, Fallout 3, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, etc.)

So how do we evaluate a video game's worth? Obviously it's not all about the money. I paid $60 for both Skyrim and Heavenly Sword. I completed Heavenly Sword in under 8 hours, while I'm at 100+ hours into Skyrim and still haven't completed the main quest chain, let alone touched the DLC for Dawnguard or Dragonborn. Yet, in my opinion, Heavenly Sword was well worth the $60; it was a beautiful game, and I enjoyed every moment of it!

Back to The Elder Scrolls online. Many people have voiced outrage at Bethesda's announcement of a monthly subscription fee ($15), on top of purchasing the game for an initial deposit of $60. So let's look at the math again. Say you buy TESO for $60, then sign up for a one year subscription at $15/month. $60 dollars / 12 months is $5/month. Now add that $5/month to the $15 monthly subscription and you're paying roughly $20/month to play TESO for the first year (and we're excluding the first free month).

$20 bucks a month for the first year is $240 total for the year. Is it worth it? Well, let's talk about the MMO model. Unlike traditional video games, MMO's can be up and running for years on end. World of Warcraft, for example, has been running since 2004. Unlike traditional video games, MMO's require continual fixes, patches, updates, expansions, and are always adding new content and new aspects of gameplay. These constant changes require constant staffing, and let's be honest, you can't expect $60 to pay for 5-10 years of continual fixes, patches, updates, and expansions. The developers and publishers have got to be able to live. As for the CEO's who take a monstrous slice of the cake, that's another discussion.

So let's break TESO down to what you're paying as an hourly rate. It's important to note that MMO's are practically unbeatable. There's ALWAYS something to do, so really the question is how much you're going to be playing, not how much can you squeeze in before you're completed every aspect of the game. Let's say you're going to play full-time hours: 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, or 40 hours per week. That's a whopping 160 hours a month of gameage! Here's the math:

($20/month) / ( 160 hours) = $0.12/hr is what you're paying, as an hourly rate. Compare that to a game like Heavenly Sword, and you're paying nearly FIFTY TIMES LESS for TESO!

Sure, you might not be able to get 40 hours of game time in per week, but some people get more than that! My point is, the subscription fee is not a bad deal if you can get your gaming time out of it. Additionally, if you're comfortable dropping $60 on a game that allots only 10 hours of gameplay, then you should have no problem paying a subscription fee to play TESO. Sure, it'd be fantastic if everything was free to play, like Path of the Exile, but we need to support the games we love. We can't expect people to work for free.

And last, but not least, IT'S THE ELDER SCROLLS... WITH FRIENDS!!!

In September 1991, two German toursists discovered a 5,000 year-old mummy frozen in the Alps, later named Otzi the Iceman. Upon examination, it was discovered that Otzi had 57 carbon tattoos consisting of lines and dots, which are thought to have been part of a medicinal practice. This find confirms that tattooing has been around for thousands of years, dating back as far as the Neolithic Age (and probably earlier). There are many reasons why humans have decided to ink their bodies, from religious devotion to identifying with a particular group or culture. Today, tattooing has evolved into a global phenomenon. Gone are the days of lines and dots; would you like Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel inscribed into your back? How about Mona Lisa along your arm? Fancy a poem by Robert Frost across your ribs? Kanji on your calf? Better yet, how about your favorite video game character tattooed to your forhead? Ok, maybe not your forehead. But the potential for turning your body into an art gallery has taken on new horizons as scientific advancements have carried art--particularly tattooing--to a whole new level.

What researchers think Otzi the Iceman probably looked like...

Back in the Baby Boomer era, criminals and gangsters made up the majority of the inked population. Yet "the times they are a-changin'," and despite lingering taboos and stigmas associated with tattooing, the practice is steadily growing in popularity across the globe. Tattooing has become a way for people to literally wear their heart on their sleeves--to illustrate what they cherish, what they hate, and what they want to say. Tattooing has become a form of self-expression, and a means of communication. You can find a tattoo parlour practically anywhere, filled with fantastic artists and sharp, pointy needles.  

Have you ever wanted a tattoo? Well, here's some inspiration from fellow gamers who have chosen to stab their favourite heroes, villains, consoles, and memories into their own sensitive skin.

I have one tattoo so far. It's the kanji for "ronin," and sits on the left side of my chest. Truth be told, it hurt a lot. A LOT. Especially by my nipple. Will I get another one? The question is when. For those of you who have never gotten a tattoo, beware: they are addicting. So, if you were to get a video game tattoo, what or who would it be? Feel free to comment below!

:D

Ever heard of the AngryJoeShow? Some people hate it. I love it, and I'm not the only one. On his youtube channel, AngryJoe currently has over 800 thousand subscribers, with over 108 million views. He's been rolling out reviews since late 2008, releasing 2-3 videos a week. If you've never seen him, he's worth checking out. His videos are high-energy, he's funny, and wow HE CAN RANT! Check out his latest rant on the Xbox One fiasco (it's in 3 parts, however I've only included parts 2 + 3 as part 1 is old news):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryB-hdtpQRw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcXdWRJ-xb4

If you play video games (and I assume you do because you're on Gamespot), you've probably had a freakout or two. My worst video game freakout occurred when I was playing through DragonBall Z: Budokai 2 for a second time. I was trying to unlock additional characters, and found myself facing off against an invincible Majin Buu. What was most infuriating was that I had already beaten him on the SAME difficulty! But this time around, he was near impossible. I still don't understand it.

I felt my temperature rising and my blood pounding behind my eyes. My grip steadily tightened around the PS2 controller, and with every loss, it grew tighter. I grit my teeth and exerted my full concentration, but to no avail. Buu was indestructible.

How is this possible? I thought. I already beat him and it wasn't even hard!

Yet, again and again, Buu won.

"WHAT THE F**K I finally yelled.

I was raised religious and my parents did not take kindly to profanity. But no one came knocking at my bedroom door. It's possible they were too afraid lol

I swear I must have retried at least two dozen times, but Buu was just too strong! He was faster, smarter. He anticipated and countered all my moves. I hung my head in shame for a while, then suddenly threw myself onto my pillow and pummeled it into lumps.

During my many failed attempts, one of my close friends stopped by and sat on my bed, an observer to the rising storm. It all culminated with an especially cruel round where Buu competely annihilated me while practically keeping full health. That was the last straw. I was so angry! I grasped my controller with one hand and with the other, attempted to wrench out the cord. I succeeded, then slammed the controller into the floor. Next, I snatched out the game CD and snapped it in two. But it didn't just snap--it exploded! My friend was shocked and stared at me with rabbit eyes like goggles.

"Wasn't that a rental?"

...Damnit.

We've all had our fair share of freakouts. At the time, they're terrible. But in retrospect, usually they're hilarious. Below are my top 5 youtube freakouts. Enjoy, and feel free to share your worst freak out in the comments section!

5.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4r9AGGz1xc

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVkltJ-gdc

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q4Ut761FQE

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YersIyzsOpc

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNoqh3Dd0xM

While heated fanboys troll comment threads and online forums against the backdrop of the raging console wars, today's international launch of the OUYA went largely unnoticed. The OUYA, an Android-powered, open source console, is currently sold out on amazon.com, and has more than a few heads turning to see why. So what is the OUYA and why might it merit our attention?

The OUYA opened as a kickstarter project on July 10, 2012. In just under a period of a month the OUYA exceeded its funding goal by a staggering 904%, boasting over $8.5 million in funding from over 63,000 backers worldwide. So what makes the OUYA different from next generation consoles and why should we be excited?

Firstly, the OUYA allows any developer to easily create, and design their own video games. Even you. And in a world where the video game industry is worth billions, small-scale independents have the odds stacked against them. The OUYA, then, opens a bright new door for new up-and-coming developers: "You can build games for OUYA [...] Our tools are free and come with every OUYA--no more excuses [...] Create a boundless 3D universe with the UNITY engine or scale things back to the turn-based RPG--youre in control."

Second, OUYA listens to their consumers, and has relied heavily on consumer feedback. In today's world where megacorporations like Microsoft can pump millions into their own projects, consumer opinion is often ignored. Coversely, the majority of financial support for the OUYA has come directly from the wallets of consumers, rather than big money and big corporate interests. For now, at least, OUYA is listening.

Now for the specs. Physically, the OUYA is small and easily portable. It's been outfitted with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. Storage can be increased simply by connecting (via USB) to an external source, such as a thumb drive, external hardrive, etc. In addition, whether you use WiFi or Ethernet, the OUYA allows users to stream their favorite videos or music apps in 1080p HD. As for games, they are downloaded directly to the OUYA, which means less clutter.

As for its game library, 177 titles are currently available on the OUYA. Its shinier titles include: Final Fantasy 3, ChronoBlade, and The Bard's Tale, which isn't much. However, their library is consistently growing. To compete with the big boys, OUYA has partnered up with Twitch.tv, Crunchyroll, iheartradio, TuneIn, XBMX, PLex, and Flixster. And don't forget that the OUYA provides access to multiple emulators, including Atari, NES, SNES, Gameboy, and N64. All users need do is download their favorite ROMS, bringing classic titles back to the big screen. This, perhaps, is the most underappreciated aspect of the OUYA, as there are literally thousands of ROMS available to download--for free.

Now let's talk about price. The OUYA bundle is currently selling on amazon.com for $99.99, and includes the console itself along with 1 wireless controller. Sold separately, the OUYA controller is US$49.99. Not a bad deal. Should you buy a OUYA? Truth be told, probably not just yet. With a limited library and having only just been released, as a console it still has a long way to go. However, keep in mind that it only launched today. With new developers signing up, and new games continually added to its library, the OUYA has the potential to grow into something great. We'll have to wait and see!

What do you think of the OUYA and its prospective future? Feel free to comment below!

The new Superman movie, "Man of Steel," directed by Zack Snyder and written by Christopher Nolan, emerged over this past weekend as a soaring summer blockbuster with an audience rating of 8.2/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. However, not everyone was happy with Superman's make-over; top critics at Rotten Tomatoes were especially severe, collectively giving Snyder's reboot a paltry 5.4/10. The majority of complaints typically included film length (too long), character development (none), action (too much), romance (lacking), and humour (lacking).

Top critics were quick to compare "Man of Steel" to the bygone Christopher Reeve's films. Critic David Kaplan commented: "Rest easy, Christopher Reeve fans. He's still the best Superman ever, and Margot Kidder is still the number one Lois Lane."

Are you kidding me, Kaplan? Anyone suffering under the same assumptions, please, re-watch Reeve's Superman films--when you're finished getting the cheese out of your eyes, come back to the table and we'll have you promptly exiled into the Phantom Zone. Obviously, something is "rotten" with the top critics at Rotten Tomatoes, especially considering that they gave "Superman Returns" (2006) a 7.5/10 while audience ratings dropped to 6.7/10.

With a runtime of 2hr. 28min., Snyder's "Man of Steel" is lengthy, but with good cause, providing us with a new-and-improved look at the planet Krypton, as well as additional insight into its history, and tragic destruction. As for characterization, Superman, Lois Lane, and the Kents remain constant and true to our expectations, while the development of Jor-El, Lara, and General Zod is deepened considerably.

Like its DC counterpart, "The Dark Knight trilogy," the film takes on a darker, more serious level of reality, punctuated with subtle moments of comic relief and romance. Much of the film occupies itself with flashbacks, affording the audience glimpses into Superman's troubled childhood as he struggles to control his powers in a world that threatens to reject him. Searching for purpose and clues to his past, we first see him as a drifter before he dons the cape. But then watch out when the cape is on--the action doesn't stop! From gunfire and explosions to godly brawls and beatings, "Man of Steel" is CGI at its best, accompanied by a soundtrack that compliments every minute.

Romance definitely takes a second seat to action, but "Man of Steel" is not without its softer moments, culminating in a first kiss between Clark and Lois. But really, how much smooching can be expected when the film ends on Clark's first day at the Daily Planet Newspaper? Fans of romance and blue tights will have to wait for a sequel.

On a personal level, I had no complaints. As a stand alone movie, "Man of Steel" was fantastic! Well worth my money, and 2 hours and 28 minutes of my life that I don't want back. In fact, I hope to see a sequel from Snyder and Nolan, both masters in their fields. As for top critics at Rotten Tomatoes, I will--as I always have--take their reviews and ratings with a grain of salt. Audience ratings are usually less severe and much more accurate, in regards to my own preference.

What did you think of "Man of Steel?" And what would you like to see in a sequel? Feel free to comment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34t0QQPlmLs CLICK HERE FOR A VLOG REVIEW