The OXM Blog

Dear PC graphics snobs: youre holding gaming back - 360 

Pixel and frame-counting isn't the way forward

You can tell its time for a new console generation because of the air of overpowering smugness emanating from craggier PC gaming forums. The Xbox 360 and its Loyal Opposition have been on the market for years now, and while developers like Epic continue to surprise us, theres no denying that in terms of raw horsepower the latest, most lovingly accoutred desktops have the edge. 31 comments

Gaming needs a watchdog: force publishers to change - 360 

Community comment: Grummy calls for industry-wide regulation

In our latest OXM community feature, forum veteran Grummy shares his thoughts on why games industry schemes like the Online Pass will run awry without proper supervision. Join the debate. 19 comments

Six things we couldnt do under SOPA - 360 

Don't take it all for granted

By now, youve probably heard of US Representative Lamar Smiths Stop Online Piracy Act and its sister bill, the Protect-IP Act - its the reason that Wikipedia is blacked out today, as is N4G, Reddit and Destructoid. If you havent, you need to get wise. 19 comments

The Darkness 2 is great - dont play the demo - 360 

A dire warning from our reviewer

Im currently writing a review of The Darkness II for the magazine. Theres an embargo, so I cant talk much about it, but Im fairly sure it wont cause too much trouble to tell you that Im really enjoying it. In the normal run of things, that would mean Id encourage you to check out the Xbox-Live exclusive demo that has popped up today. In this case, however, it isnt a good idea. 5 comments

Skyrim: what else can Bethesda cut? - 360 

Can Elder Scrolls shed any more features?

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim might look massive and mountainous, but in an alliteration-breaking turn, its actually the least feature-heavy Elder Scrolls to date. Devices and mechanics once deemed essential to unplanned wolf-punching have been waved imperiously off stage like X-Factor also-rans. 29 comments

Why Ill take Black Ops 2 over another Modern Warfare - 360 

Two is the magic number, Mason

There comes a time in every man, woman or videogame studios life when you need to shrug on the trousers. A time to lead, to strike your colours. A time to say something along the lines of: no, Soap, why dont you wait for me to open the goddamn door, you massive, load-pause-disguising control freak, oh and Ill be driving the cars in future, you scowling excuse for on-rails level design. Its all part of growing up, finding yourself, making your mark. 9 comments

Is XBLA pricing creeping out of control? - XLA 

1200MP for Choplifter HD? Mike calls foul

Im no economist, but my basic understanding of inflation is that it involves things getting more expensive and old people grumbling about how, because of broken Britain, penny sweets now cost two pence. I dont like moaning, but I get the sneaking suspicion that inflation is making itself felt in the prices of XBLA games. 26 comments

The time I chipped my Xbox - XBX 

This happens to Larry David every day

It feels like another lifetime. Before I surrendered my intellectual curiosity to the comfortable garden of a smartphone with a marketplace. A time when I would use a command line without a tide of panic lapping at my guts. A time when I was curious about my stuff. 6 comments

My number one next gen gaming wish - 360 

Why designers need to fall out of love with menus

One of the things Ataris most recent Alone in the Dark did well, other than destroying a much-loved brand, was find a way to have menus without actually having menus. Instead, you get to look inside Edward Carnbys coat. This is more interesting than it sounds. Less salacious, too. 2 comments