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Each week, we present the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the gaming universe. This time:

The Winners--The Village Voice, NPR, Thumb Gods
The Losers--Game Daily, IGN, GameSpot

Like you, we browse scores of gaming-related stories every day. Some of them get our head nodding. Others get our blood boiling. Consequently, we decided to share those experiences with you, given that the Games.net mission of bringing you the very best and worst the gaming universe has to offer. Every Thursday, our hackneyed crew of web monkeys will mete out the sordid stories that made us laugh, cry, and blow snot bubbles in agony.

Our criteria for a winner: lasting effects of intellectual engagement, profound thoughtfulness, and funky humor. Everyone else: a loser. And then there's the pwned, which is another story entirely.

And now on with the W&L!

THE WINNERS

The Voice of the Village
A recent Esquire story (you'll need to pay to read the entire article, which in itself is a Loser) about how there isn't a "true" game critic out there sparked a great discussion in our office. Esquire asserted that "there is no major critic who specializes in explaining what playing a given game feels like, nor is anyone analyzing what specific games mean in any context outside the game itself." While the story brought up great points, the true winner is The Village Voice and its game column, which totally contradicts Esquire's statement. The Village Voice, as pointed out by my editor colleague Frank Parisi, does in fact effortlessly mix out-of-context issues as well as emotional reactions in its game reviews. Just read the Hitman: Blood Money and Table Tennis reviews, and you'll see why these are some of the smartest and well-written game reviews on the Net.

In All Seriousness, Press Start Already
Sure, we can listen and laugh at some irreverent podcasts about games from the usual sources (1up, GameSpot, etc.), but for some serious and insightful takes about video games, check out NPR's latest, Press Start. The first cast revolved around the always hot topic: Are video games art? This engaging fifteen-minute program touched on everything from games making social statements and game immersion to having a transcending experience during gameplay. And how is art and violence intertwined in games? NPR: Violence can be integral in telling a good story--just watch how the movie, The Godfather was presented.

Console Chronicles
This simple piece by Marsha James on Thumb Gods is a straightforward visual look into the evolution of video game consoles. Each system is linked to a Wikipedia entry, which then goes into detail about the specific console. Although it's a quick one-time read, this is a story that can be used as a reference for future articles about game systems. Be sure to bookmark this page.

THE LOSERS

Suck It In, Halo
What a pitiful way of garnering page views. Game Daily knows all to well that "Halo 3" is still one of the most searched game phrases to date, and so it green lights this pathetic piece just for its Halo 3 reference. The story is more about an author's (Chris Buffa) retrospect about his Halo 2 review, but somehow he spun it into "Five Reasons Why Halo 3 Might Suck." A better approach would have been: Five Ways to Save Halo. Then your tirade of Halo 2 faults is justified, as is noting how Halo 3 could turn out--good or bad. Sorry, Master Chief--this story does suck.

Better Odds with a Bookie
How many times does it take to finally know that "predicting" the outcomes of a live sports event by playing virtual games is totally a dumb and ludicrous idea? This week, of course, everyone's trying to predict the 2006 FIFA World Cup outcomes, and IGN is right there predicting the winner. After the editors played upcoming matches on EA's FIFA World Cup 2006, the prediction was that Ukraine would win over Spain and Saudi Arabia and Tunisia would tie. First, the predictions were way off. Second, no prediction was needed to know that this story ended up a true loser.

A Guide to No Where
Okay, I can empathize with a custom sponsored site ('cause I make them, too!), which is normally a list of recommended games compiled together in a nicely-designed area that is optimized for advertisers to do their stuff. But when a custom site looks rushed--such is this one on GameSpot, everyone loses. The theme: Dads and Grads Gift Guide. Sounds fishy already, but when you notice some of the games listed, then you know there's something really wrong. For instance, would you really want to give Ice Age 2, Kingdom Hearts II, or Daxter to your Dad? These games are best suited for only the recent grads. Next time have a separate site for Father's Day, which could include high-end hardware and more compelling games.

THE PWNED

The Last Bite
Last week I stated that IGN editor Jeremy Dunham was a loser because he gave Jaws Unleashed such a high score. I assumed the reason for the high score was because Jeremy didn't play much of the game. Well, I got PWNED in a major way. This was sent from Jeremy (note his reference to The Bouncer):

Hey Lindsay, I enjoy your weekly article on Winners and Losers. I was a few weeks behind on them and then there it was -- I was surprised to see myself as one of the losers! But it's all in good fun.

Just figured I'd tell you, since you asked: Yep, I beat the game -- I'm just in the minority. Maybe you might wan to let your readers know that. :)

I thought JAWS was decent where most people didn't. But I played and beat a final retail copy -- not sure which version of my peers played (Don't know for sure, just a possibility).

But hey, we all have differing opinions. Or need I remind you of a certain 4.5 out of 5 score you gave The Bouncer. Haha. Take it easy man I'll see you around.

*Note from the Editor* If I labeled you as a Loser and you think otherwise, then call me out on it. I'll be more than happy to correct myself. And if you think you found a Winner, by all means send it my way. Contact me, here.

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