Metapost: Just when I think I'm out...

Oh, it's you. Hi there. How's it going. What? Oh, you thought I was serious with that last metapost where I said goodbye to Games for Lunch after 500 posts? Oh, you're so gullible. Don't you know not to take what I write so seriously? Jeez, lighten UP!

OK, seriously, I did think Games for Lunch was done for good when I wrote that last post. But life has a funny way of changing things up on you. In this case, the change up came in the form of an opportunity to write Games for Lunch over at new site Gameroni.

Games for Lunch will be running there in much the same format it always did, with one small change -- the schedule is now set for Monday, Wednesday and Friday, rather than every weekday (I'll change the header image soon). While this might seem like a large scale back in the quantity of GfL posts, regular readers will know I've never really been able to keep up the five-days-a-week schedule consistently. In fact, in 2008 and 2009 I averaged roughly three GfL posts a week, so this should be the perfect schedule (for me, at least).

Enough mindless chatter... as Radiation Dude would say, up and let's go!

Metapost: The end of an era

As you already know if you're an avid reader of my Twitter feed, today's Games for Lunch is the 500th one-hour review to be posted on this blog. It is also the last one that will be posted, for the time being.

The fact that these two events coincide is mostly a coincidence (though I did scale back to three reviews this week just so I'd end on a round number). The plain truth is that Joystick Division, which has been paying me to write Games for Lunch since April, has rearranged their budget and decided to leave this feature on the unhappy side of the new arrangement. As of now I've been unable to find another outlet that's been willing to pay to continue running the feature on their site.

Part of me wants to keep writing Games for Lunch sans pay, as I did for over a year before Crispy Gamer first picked it up. But a larger part of me realizes that, at this point in my life and my career, I can't justify spending a couple of hours (editing and formatting included) playing and writing about a new game every weekday. There's always a chance someone will want to pick it up in the future (Are you that someone? Get in touch. Reasonable rates!) but for now, the Games for Lunch experiment is over.

It's been fun and educational playing so many different games over the years -- many that I wouldn't have even considered spending an hour with if it weren't for this column. The one-hour review idea didn't exactly start a revolution in the game journalism community, but it did spawn some imitators (see sidebar) and I'd like to think it got people to look at their staid old review formats in some new ways. Maybe I'll go through the whole collection and compile some statistics and favorites as a sort of send off for the concept.

Thanks to everyone who contributed a comment, sent in a review suggestion, subscribed to the RSS feed (700 of you?! Insane!) or even just read a single review. I hope you didn't consider it a waste of time.

And that's the end of that chapter!

Metapost: You can't get rid of me that easily!

Hey readers. Didja miss me?

So, as some of you may be aware, Crispy Gamer decided to lay off their entire editorial staff back in January. This, unfortunately left Games for Lunch without a permanent home on the web and me without a job. The past few months have been spent trying to rectify both of those states of affairs, leaving me with precious little time to waste writing up GFLs for free here on blogspot (not that writing GFL is a waste of time... but when that time could be spent more productively writing for pay or hunting for work, it was a hard case to make to myself).

Anyway, I'm happy to say that I've found a new sucker outlet willing to pay me for my stream-of-consciousness ramblings: the good folks at Village Voice Media's Joystick Division. Games for Lunch will now run there every weekday, with excerpts and links posted here, as normal.

Thanks for bearing with me during this latest hiatus and for your continued support.

Lunch for Lunch: Turkey and Swiss Sandwich

Developer: Kyle Orland
Publisher: Giant Eagle Supermarkets
Release Date: Apr. 1, 2009
System: Toaster Oven, Refrigerator
ESRB Rating: N/A

In a nutshell: Thin mints make everything better ... even burnt challah.

0:00 I know I usually only review lunches I haven't eaten before on this column, but I'm making an exception today because I pretty much eat the same boring lunch every damn day.

0:01 I get up and get my bread out of the refrigerator ... a nice loaf of challah. Usually I prefer a simple, cheap honey whole wheat, but my wife felt like buying challah last week, apparently. If it's in the fridge, I'll eat it; that's my motto.

0:02 This minute spent slicing some nice, thick challah slices.

0:04 Two slices of turkey and one slice of Swiss, as is standard for these things. On to the bread and into the toaster oven, la dee da.

0:05 There were only three slices of turkey left in the package, with a single slice left lonely in the bag. This cannot stand. Into my mouth it goes. Om nom nom.

***-->CONTINUE READING AT CRISPY GAMER<--***

____________________________________________________

Metapost: The First Hour

This Sunday I got a rather surprising e-mail from one Greg Noe, the creator of "The First Hour" blog. Greg writes weekly game reviews based on just the first hour of play, just like I do here daily at Games for Lunch. That's not the surprising part; I've gotten similar e-mails from the creators of other sites. The surprising part is that, apparently, Greg has been doing this for 15 months (nearly as long as I have) without either of us knowing about the other until now.

A recent post on The First Hour, Greg says he was a bit discouraged when he found he wasn't actually "unique among the vast sea of video game reviewers and journalists." Still, I'm glad to read that this initial shock isn't leading Greg to stop his work. There isn't any special talent I have that makes me uniquely qualified to write hour-long game reviews. In fact, I think as many people as possible should take up the form as a way to analyze how they feel about games and improve their writing and critical thinking skills.

Anyway, if you like Games for Lunch, you'll probably also enjoy The First Hour, seeing as they're practically exactly alike. Although, as Greg notes, he has a lot more screenshots with his reviews. Maybe I should do something about that...

More "One Hour" Reviews

If you like Games for Lunch, you will probably additionally like the new "Hour Play" review format being rolled out at Pushing Play. Editor Jacob Karsmeyer lays out a detailed and thorough justification for why an hour is enough to get an idea of how a game feels:

Like books, movies, plays, radio shows, and any other form of entertainment, video games should be designed with a ‘hook’ to draw in players. Video game designers often design the first level of the game last, so that they can employ all of the tricks and techniques that they’ve learned throughout the game’s development. While a deeper understanding of a game can be achieved through extended play the major gameplay elements of a game can be experienced within the first hour. Usually players familiarize themselves with the game controls within the first few minutes of gameplay. Once familiar with the controls, the player sets out within the game world to encounter whatever challenges it has to offer. It is during this stage that the most accurate and relevant criticism can be offered. The player is no longer inhibited by any resistance to the control mechanisms in the game, and is completely focused on the challenges within the game world (beating the level, finishing the mission, etc), and how they are presented. This style of gameplay usually continues for an extended period of time, if it ends at all.

Despite my somewhat snarky comment on the site, it seem Karsmeyer came up with the idea completely on his own. Always nice to see others breaking free of the tyranny of the 60-hour playthrough.

Games For Lunch is One Year Old!

Well, one year and one day, actually. Yep, on June 4, 2007, I posted my first one-hour review -- a piece on the then cutting-edge Halo 3 multiplayer beta. Since then I've written nearly 200 such reviews on everything from Backyard Baseball 2001 to Grand Theft Auto IV.

This post is just a quick thanks to everyone who's stuck with it through the low points (the few months I effeectively took off over the winter) and the highs (the move to a paid position over at Crispy Gamer!) Here's hoping you'll stick with me for many more years full of quick impressions.

Metapost: An update on updates

If you haven't noticed, Games for Lunch finally got back to the usual five updates a week as of last week. Those technical difficulties that accompanied the move to Crispy Gamer seems well and done and the every-weekday updates should consider for the forseeable future. I'll continue to manually update this blog and RSS feed daily, but if I should for some reason forget one day, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Metapost: Game liveblogging

If you like the Games For Lunch concept, you might enjoy the tongue-in-cheek game liveblogging posted over at MegaTonik. My personal favorite:

N+

5:44 PM: I jumpe… I died.
5:44 PM: I jumpe… I died.
5:44 PM: I jumpe… I died.
.
.
.
7:37 PM: I jumped to the side, dodged three missiles, dodged 4 blue guys, hit a bouncy white block, jumped off the right side, hit the switc… I died.

Check out the whole thing.

Metapost: Updated Games for Lunch FAQ

A little more than eight months after this site launched, I figured it was time to update the Frequently Asked Questions file with, er, some questions I'm frequently asked (and the answers, of course). Check it out.

Also, a note on updates: Due to some lingering tech issues over at Crispy Gamer, Games for Lunch updates might not hit every weekday for the time being. The schedule will probably be closer to every other day until the process can be streamlined. All updates will still be posted here and on the RSS feed. Thanks again for your patience as we get back up to speed.

Metapost: Games for Lunch relaunches on Crispy Gamer!

After multiple hiatuses, announcements, false starts and unanticipated delays, I'm extremely happy to announce that Games for Lunch has officially launched at it's new home on gaming portal Crispy Gamer. A one-hour review of Timeshift is already up and a new one will be running in its spot every weekday from now on (and no more missed days, either -- the long break has allowed me to build up a good sized buffer of reviews).

While there are no RSS feeds on Crispy Gamer yet, I've been given permission to post links to the Crispy Gamer's Games for Lunch posts on this blogspot page for the time being. You RSS readers will have to click through to get to the actual review, but you won't have to change any feed settings to continue to be notified of updates. For non-RSS readers, just click on the "Features" tab on the Crispy Gamer front page every weekday to find the new review.

On behalf of Crispy Gamer's John Keefer and myself, I'd like to thank you all for your patience in watching this move slooooowly come together and we hope you'll continue to enjoy Games for Lunch at its new home. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.

Metapost: Technical Difficulties

*Begin resigned tone*

Due to technical difficulties with the Crispy Gamer beta beyond my control, the planned re-launch of Games for Lunch has been put on hold for the time being. When this issue is resolved, you'll read about it here. Thanks for bearing with us. Questions and comments can be directed to John Keefer.

*End resigned tone*

Metapost: Crispy Gamer launches; GFL coming back Monday

I'm happy to announce that Crispy Gamer, the new home of Games For Lunch, has finally launched! The revamped Games for Lunch column will show up there on Monday and run every weekday thereafter for ever (and ever and ever and ever...)

In the meantime, check out editor-in-chief John Keefer's introductory letter to find out why the site is so special. You know, as if the inclusion of GFL wasn't sign enough ...

Update: EIC John Keefer asked me to note that the site is still in beta and undergoing quality assurance and testing. Comments are welcome and can be directed to jkeefer@crispygamer.com.

Metapost: Games for Lunch to move to Crispy Gamer

So, after months of inconsistent updates and apology posts, I've finally been given the go-ahead to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the next phase of the Games For Lunch project. Starting soon, Games For Lunch will be a regular feature on Crispy Gamer.

What is Crispy Gamer? It's the highly anticipated gaming site being set up by former Gamespy EIC John Keefer and a cast of dozens of well-respected game freelancers, yours-truly included. We're setting out to create a no-nonsense, BS free source for news, reviews, previews, and features, including one daily feature that will review a game based on just the first hour of play. I'll also be writing standard, long-form reviews for the site, and yes, those will require more than an hour of playtime.

What will this mean for Games For Lunch? Well, most importantly to the reader, it will means no more skipped days. Now that I'll be earning a decent wage of my GFL work, I can justify prioritizing daily updates over other paying work, even during the busy times. I've spent the past few months saving up a good-sized buffer of posts in anticipation of the move (hence the lack of updates here), meaning your weekdaily dose of hour-long game reviews should continue unabated even if things like dentist appointments, vacations, or sleeping occasionally get in the way.

Other than that, not much will change. The timestamped, stream-of-consciousness format you know (and love?) will stay the same, as will the eclectic mix of classic and recent games reviewed. You will have to change your bookmarks -- I'll put up a big redirection link once the site is launched and the move is finalized (hopefully by the end of the month) -- and you may need to change your RSS feed (details will also be posted here).

I'd like to thank all you readers for bearing with the site as it makes this transition and hope you'll continue to enjoy it at its new home.

Metapost: I'm still alive... again

I know... I know!

It says "every weekday" right up there, and yet I've barely done a half dozen posts this month. Chalk it up to extra paying work, holiday travel/socializing and more time spent with games that last significantly longer than an hour (Rock Band rocks my world).

Rest assured, though, that I am not dead, and neither is the Games For Lunch project. In fact, there ware some big plans in the works for this entire enterprise that should be coming to fruition next week. Watch this space for more.

Metapost: Don't worry! I'm still alive

Hello, faithful readers. As you've probably noticed by now, I've been slacking off on my daily playing/posting duties for the better part of a week now. Sorry about that. As a freelancer, I do occasionally have to do work that makes real money, and with the holiday season being so important to the game industry, the paying work has been piling up. To make matters worse, I'm flying to London to be with family for a long Thanksgiving holiday, so updates are likely to lag for a while longer.

Anyway, just know that I'm still here and still committed to the site. Look for updates to start again Monday, Dec. 3. You'll see ... the time will just fly by! You'll barely continue to notice I'm gone!

Metapost: "...but now I'm back to let you know I can really shake 'em down"

(Ten brownie points* to the first reader to identify the lyric in the headline)

Update: Since a couple of people have asked me already, the two white CDs are Flight Simulator X and Zoo Tycoon 2 for the PC (or perhaps expansions of the same... too lazy to check right now)

Hawaii was nice and all, but now it's time to say aloha to the beach and aloha to the games. Above is a sampling of the games that greeted me from the mailbox when I returned from my honeymoon. It's also, coincidentally, a sneak peek at some of the games you'll be seeing reviewed here in the coming weeks (plus my Xbox 360 is on the mend, so look forward to more reviews for Microsoft's console).

Many thanks to the guestbloggers who kept things going over the break and many more thanks to the readers and commenters that pretended to be engaged by their clearly inferior scribblings. Your sacrifice has been noted.

* - Brownie points can not be exchanged for actual brownies. And no points if you had to use Google, you cheater.

Metapost: Bring in the guestbloggers

Hola, Games For Lunch readers,

Tomorrow morning I leave for a two week honeymoon in beautiful Hawaii. While it pains me to leave you, rest assured that you'll still get your daily dose of one-hour reviews thanks to a bevy of guestbloggers that have generously donated their time to keep the home fires burning. They are, in alphabetical order:

• Greg Costikyan of Manifesto Games and Play This Thing
• Tom Kim of the Gamasutra Podcast
• Cyril Lachel of Defunct Games
• Matt Matthews of Curmudgeon Gamer
• Alexander Sliwinski of Joystiq
• Dave Thomas of The Denver Post and Buzzcut
• Michale Zenke of Slashdot Games and MMOG Nation

Please shower them with the appropriate praise in the comments and visit their sites, multiple times if possible, to help reward them for their participation. Don't get used to this sudden bump in the quality of the site, though... I return to regular posting on Oct.15.

Metapost: RSS feeds fixed and e-mail subscriptions added

So a big thank you to everyone who let me know that my RSS feed seems to be broken. Long story short, Pheedo, my feed provider up until recently, sucks, and has provided no help in fixing the problem. I've moved the feed over to the excellent FeedBurner, which offers a great and hopefully more stable feed tracking service. So, for all you RSS cats, please redirect your feed-reader over to:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/GamesForLunch

As an added bonus, we're now offering Games For Lunch updates through e-mail. Just use the form on the right sidebar to sign up and you'll get my quick reviews every day right in your inbox. Look for it right between the Nigerian lottery prize note and the breast enlargement offer.

Metapost: Play Those Things

If you like Games For Lunch then you'll probably also like Play This Thing (PTT). Like Games For Lunch, PTT looks at a new game each day. Unlike Games For Lunch, all the games on PTT are freely available as downloads or browser-based games.

PTT doesn't review the games per se. As the About page points out, the guys at PTT "feature games we think are cool," so just being listed is basically a positive review. Lots of Web 2.0 features like user rankings and personal blogs complete the extremely polished package. Check it out!