It only took two days. Two days after I gave Gazerk a glowing recommendation, they then implemented sponsored links on the results page.
Luckily, they did it right. The ads are off to the side and they don’t inhibit or emulate the results you’re looking for. Good job, guys. You get to survive.
You can truly tell who the Nintendo nerds are these days. They’re the ones with all the Nintendo-news bookmarks, who have owned every Nintendo console and every version of Game Boy that ever existed, who vehemently defend their company in every single gaming-related messageboard they go to, and…they go to Camp Hyrule.
Each and every registered camper is assigned to a virtual cabin,where he or she can meet other gamers and interact with Nintendo’sgameplay experts in exclusive Camp Hyrule chat rooms and messageboards. Daily events include live chat shows, games, art activities andsurprises galore from Nintendo Power Magazine.
If you like to talk about video games, play practical jokes and rubelbows with Nintendo’s expert gamers, then pull out the tanning lotionand get ready to meet new friends at Nintendo’s Camp Hyrule 2006. Coming the week of August 14, 2006.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m not making fun of Camp Hyrule. I’m signing up, too. See you at Camp!
Blogged with Flock
Let me start off by saying that I hate print gaming publications. They are–in this electronic, online age we live in–essentially worthless. I recently received a free 1-year subscription to Electronic Gaming Monthly. Every bit of information found within its pages I had learned already weeks prior to its arrival in my mailbox. Pointless. Except where the advertising is concerned.
I had never heard of Gazerk before discovering an ad for the video game search engine nestled between reviews of games I will never play. So, on a whim, I decided to check it out and see if it was worth utilizing.
The first thing I noticed upon reaching the site was the absolutely wonderfully clean interface. Black background, logo in the corner, search bar, GO button. That’s it. A little text near the bottom lets you know the service is “powered by Kosmix“. No annoying text or banner advertising, no pop-ups, just careless, wanton usability.
Surely this was a front for something. The minimalist interface was just a way to lure you in; I was certain those pesky ads were saved for the results page. I performed a search for Tales of symphonia.
And then, angels began singing.
The results were relevant and helpful. Still no sign of advertising or endorsement. Simple freedom. My results were even broken down into useful categories, like so:
All Results ( 30,808 )
Reviews ( 1,566 )
Cheats ( 1,177 )
Forums ( 405 )
ScreenShots ( 978 )
Previews ( 367 )
Walkthroughs ( 45 )
I was in heaven. I began checking out results in specific categories and finding highly useful information that wasn’t buried or blocked or otherwise barriered. It was available, it was easy, and it was beautiful.
I think it goes without saying that I am now a hefty proponent of the Gazerk service.
Blogged with Flock
I haven’t been blogging much recently due to a slight barrier to my online time: Tales of Symphonia. I’ve owned this RPG for almost two years now, but haven’t had the time and/or desire to actually continue it. I recently acquired the Tales of Phantasia remake for the GBA, and when I learned that Symphonia was actually created as a sort of unofficial “prequel” to Phantasia, I forced myself to jump back into the game.
I’m trying now to figure out why I stopped playing it in the first place. I’m now roughly 30 hours into the game, just about to enter the Toize Mine.
My hope is to finish this game sometime soon and then pick up Baten Kaitos now that it’s down to about $20 at Target. I’m such an RPG addict.
And that’s where I’ve been. Pathetic? I think not.
Blogged with Flock
The Wii-mote’s LEDs serve two roles. The first is to show which player is communicating with the console at a given moment. Player 1 will light up on the far left, Player 2 the next over, and so on. The second purpose is to illustrate battery life. Upon booting up, four LEDs blink when the controller has between 75% and full power. Three LEDs blink to show 50% and 75% power. Two LEDs blink to show 25% and 50% power. And one LED blinks to illustrate anything below that.
IGN: Wii Controllers: Unlocking the Secrets
That is just really, really cool. More nifty Wii info at the IGN link.
Blogged with Flock
After contacting Toys’R’Us for comment, they have indeed confirmed that everyone will receive a free game with their Wii as part of the package, but they did not know which game this might be. To be sure, we called three different stores, and all said the same thing
Free Game With Wii – Gameworld Network news story
Blogged with Flock
Let’s have fun with Google News searches!
A search for Sony + Playstation nets us about 5 negative stories, 2 positive, and a couple unnotables.
A search for Microsoft + Xbox shows us about 2 negative stories, 4 positive, and a lot of unnotables.
A search for NIntendo + Wii gets us nothing but good stuff.
And that’s been (a completely unbiased!) Fun with Google Searches!
Blogged with Flock
I’ll be interviewed tonight on WoR Radio at 10PM CST! We’ll be talking a little bit about Superman Returns, and a lot about Zoinks! and webcomics in general. Might be a good time, who knows! I tend to ramble on and tangent often, so it could end up being an extremely boring and unnecessary discussion. But tune in nonetheless so you can hear my fumbling, stammering voice.