Life or Game

Librarian Avenger (and one of my former students) Erica Firment has a new post up, where she describes her life in video game terms: "A Parent’s Life as a Video Game"

...when I was pregnant with my daughter, I realized that pregnancy is essentially a really immersive resource-conservation RPG. I was always asking myself questions like: “Do I pick up this stuff on the floor, or do I save my Bending Over points for later?”

Video Games as Culture/Form

Professor Sheila Murphy is teaching her class again this semester, entitled "Video Games as Culture/Form."

Besides a trip to our archive to get up close and personal with some of the more violent games in our collection, students from the class are also contributing to the course blog at http://videogameform.blogspot.com/, where they give their unedited perspectives on a variety of topics related to video games and culture. Feel free to take a look.

3DS

We now have the new Nintendo 3DS available in the archive, along with two games: Rayman 3D & Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D. (More games to come, of course.)

If you've been wondering how Nintendo can offer a true 3D experience without the need for special glasses, you can now see for yourself!

Top Games - Week of March 21

Here are our top games from last week, with Sengoku BASARA quickly venturing to the top (better known as "the samurai game," which is much easier to say):

1. FIFA soccer 11   
2. (tie) Call of duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360)   
2. (tie) Super Smash Bros. melee   
4. Sengoku BASARA samurai heroes
5. (tie) Super Smash Bros. Brawl   
5. (tie) Marvel vs. Capcom 3
7. NBA 2K11
8. (tie) Left 4 dead 2
8. (tie) Call of duty: Black Ops (PS3)   
8. (tie) Mariokart Wii

Also, a reminder that there is only one more week to participate in our water games carnival, so try out a few water-themed games for a chance to win an Amazon gift certificate!

2nd Person Shooter

We've all hear of first person shooters (Halo, Call of Duty) and third person shooters (Gears of War). Ever tried a second person shooter? What would that even look like?

Well, I found an interesting entry into what must be a rather minuscule genre: Second Person Shooter Zato.
(requires downloading a plug-in to play)

Quirky, challenging, and actually very fun, I recommend everyone try it for a unique experience.

Top Games - Week of March 14th

Here are the top 10 games from last week. Also, a reminder that our Water Game Carnival starts today - start playing games from our water-themed game list today to be entered into our Amazon gift card drawing!

1. Super Smash Bros. Melee
2. Fifa Soccer 11
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops (PS3)
4. Marvel vs. Capcom 3
5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
6. Halo: Reach
7. (tie) NBA 2K11
7. (tie) Super Smash Bros. (N64)
7. (tie) Mariokart Wii
7. (tie) Shin Megami Tensei: P3P

Water Video Game Carnival - Kinect Adventures

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Endless Ocean: Blue World

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - River Raid

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Echo the Dolphin: Tides of Time

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Ship Simulator Extremes

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Bloodwake

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Sub Hunt

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Aquaman

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Wakeboarding Unleashed

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival - Aqua Aqua

Poster/flyer for the upcoming Water Video Game Carnival.

Water Video Game Carnival: March 21 - April 2

To tie in with the LS&A Water Theme Semester, the Computer & Video Game Archive is hosting a Water Video Game Carnival March 21 - April 2.

The following water-based games have been selected for the Carnival:

• Aqua-Aqua (PS2)
• Aquaman (Xbox)
• Bloodwake (Xbox)
• Ecco the Dolphin: Tides of Time (Genesis)
• Endless Ocean: Blue World (Wii)
• Kinect Adventures: River Rush, 20,000 leaks (Xbox 360)
• River Raid (Atari 2600)
• Ship Simulator Extremes (PC)
• Subhunt! (Intellivision)
• Wakeboarding Unleashed (Xbox)

Prizes!

Play five of the games above (for at least 30 min each) and get an entry into the prize drawing. If you play all ten games, you get an additional entry into the drawing (for a total of two, but each person can only win one prize).

Prizes include ten $10 gift certificates to Amazon.com.

To play, just come to the archive room (B474 in the basement of the Duderstadt Center) during the regular archive hours. The carnival is open to all current U-M students, staff & faculty with a valid U-M id.

Video Game Book Table Display

Our library table display for March is books about video games:











The books were selected by the ULAs (Ben, Rebecca & Stephanie) and me; Stephanie put together the presentation. Come by the 2nd floor to check it out, and there are many more books in the stacks!

Move.Me

Do you find yourself wishing for more opportunities to use your Playstation Move?

Due to be released in Spring 2011, Sony has come out with a software server application called Move.Me that allows you to use PS Move paraphernalia and a PC to create new software that can be used with the Move.

Move.Me is designed specifically to be used by game software developers, researchers, and college nerds who are lying in wait to put their personal mark on the Move market.

Find out more at http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/move-me/.

Top Games - Week of February 21st

Here is our Top 10 List for this past week. Melee has fallen down the list a bit to make room for Brotherhood, which has been popular amongst a few dedicated people, and NBA 2K11. We'll have to see if the Smashers can pick up the slack next week, when the archive reopens.

1. (tie) Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
1. (tie) NBA 2K11
3. (tie) Super Smash Bros. Melee
3. (tie) Fifa Soccer 11
5. (tie) Call of Duty: Black Ops
5. (tie) Halo: Reach
7. NCAA Football 11
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
9. Starcraft II
10. Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64)