Toronto Thumbs

X-Summit 2012
X-Summing It Up
Storytelling – Part 1

Since X-Summit 2012 occurred at the beginning of November, we have posted one article about it (an interview with Troy Morrissey). To be clear, there is always a lot to say about this annual event – and 2012 was no exception. However, the challenge lies in delivering something that our readers will enjoy.

X-Summit is a meeting of the minds; a cross-media haven where the exchange of ideas incubates. It is a place that allows people to get some assistance from other professionals on projects that they are working on. At X-Summit, one can find out what help the Government can offer – and what help IO can offer in the realization of goals. Is there posturing? Of course; but, it’s not unjustified – there are some heavy hitters at this event. What makes it refreshing is the gaggle of young blood that makes up a good portion of the audience.

So what did we learn from X-Summit this year?

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Posted in Commentary, Events, Interest, X-Summit | No Comments »

Guest List
Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Online Star Wars Gaming Experience

One of our neighbours from down south had a neat piece to contribute – and since we haven’t run a “top ten” list in a while, we figured we’d throw her post up. So here it is! While some of you more “hardcore” players may scoff at this list, there are many people out there who will find this useful. Just so you know: Celina writes regularly on Star Wars content for a variety of gaming websites and blogs. She’s a self-confessed gaming addict; she’s also a massive Star Wars fan who is always keen to get the most out of her online gaming experience. -ed.

The Clone Wars expansion of the Star Wars universe has proven a hugely popular part of the saga, especially among a younger audience. Alongside the television show and short films, there are many great online games set during Clone Wars (several of which are free to play). On top of this major gaming environment, this part of the franchise has generated vast amounts of merchandise. Here are some tips to help improve your Star Wars online gaming experience.

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Ormed and Dangerous
The Best Mario?

We have been receiving a number of requests to publish work on our site. We like to give people a fair shake that have something to say. Check out this neat piece by Cody Orme about his choice for the best Mario game in the series.

Oh Mario. That crazy Italian stereotype has stomped and jumped his way into the hearts of gamers around the world and has stayed there for almost 30 years as the face of Nintendo.
That status doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon with the release of New Super Mario Bros. U alongside the Wii U. It is insane how in the age of high definition graphics and cinematic cut scenes Nintendo can still count on a 2D side-scroller starring their moustached hero to sell their brand new hardware.

While New Super Mario Bros. U is a good game, I can’t help but compare it to some of its predecessors. Obviously it isn’t the best 2D Mario game; but what is? In order to actually figure this out, I need to determine what makes a good side-scrolling Mario game.

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Posted in Commentary, Ormed and Dangerous | 2 Comments »

Double Take
Assassin’s Creed Series

Jorge has been a friend of mine for several years now, and I’ve learned that although he’s passionate about video games, he’s also pretty laid back and easy-going. However, a few years ago, he started raving about this game he was playing, about how awesome it was, how great the story and game-play were, and so on.

“Is it available for the Wii?” I asked (it was the only console I had at the time.)
“Nope – Xbox 360 or Playstation 3,” he said.
“Ah well.”

He’d send me links to the trailers for the games, and I agreed that they looked pretty interesting, but I still couldn’t play it and didn’t have the time for a second console.

Fast forward two years. On my birthday this past March, I finally broke down and got an Xbox. The very first game that I bought to play was…not the game Jorge had been badgering me to get for umpteen years*. But I also purchased a copy of his favourite game, just for the heck of it. I didn’t play it at first – partly because there was a problem with the disc, partly because it took me four attempts to get through the damn tutorial. Once I did, however, I was hooked.

He was right – Assassin’s Creed is awesome.

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Food For Thought
Street Fighter 25th Anniversary – Worth The Wait?

Yesterday, on CBC (Canada’s NPR), I was listening to some clips of radio personality and all-around awesome dude Jian Ghomeshi speak about what we have lost in terms of the process of gaining music. In the old days, we would have to travel to the record store, buy the record, travel home, and play it. There was no online pre-ordering or iTunes or any such thing. The process of acquiring a new artist’s work was large enough that one felt invested when they brought it home and unwrapped the vinyl.

I would like to argue that this feeling -this way of being- has not gone away. It has just changed forms. To illustrate that, I would like to tell you about my journey to attain the Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition.

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Posted in Awesome, Commentary, Unboxing | 1 Comment »

Krytical Eye
Cures for a Stale Shooter Genre

Will Halo 4 be significantly different than the last iteration?

An old saying claims that variety is the spice of life. On paper a game franchise may earn you billions of dollars but in reality there exists a number of gaming enthusiasts (such as myself) who feel nauseous at the sight of the same damn thing. What do you do?

I can tell you one thing you shouldn’t do – that’s release the same game with several game-play tweaks and try to pass it off as a whole new experience everyone needs to get excited about. Call me what you will after I take my frustrations out on some of the best-selling franchises of all time, but easy to impress will not be one of them.

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Events
Mario Tennis Showdown

Sully and his lady recently went to a Nintendo event that featured Mario Tennis Open. After causing a racket, they courted danger by showing the advantage of their love…Seriously, I suck at tennis puns. Just read the article about how Sully’s missus squared off against Canada’s gaming pros…

To celebrate the launch of Mario Tennis Open, Nintendo held an event in their Toronto offices late last month, in which local press gathered to play online against fellow Canadian journalists across the country. Well, fellow Canadian journalists and my girlfriend, Kate.

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Posted in 3DS, Commentary, Events | 2 Comments »