The Exclusivity Wall

Game exclusivity blows. Today’s Tomb Raider news at Xbox’s Gamescom press conference was the straw that broke the camel’s back. How is this fair to the consumer at all? It’s not. Corporate puppet masters are pulling strings to raise profits as they strip a product away from select audiences. They are punishing consumers for not owning their game box.

And yet, I am a hypocrite. I love exclusive titles. The Last Of Us is my favorite game of all time, which is exclusive to PlayStation products. As I think about it, if Joel and Ellie made the jump to Xbox or PC, I would feel a tad betrayed. Then I realize that thousands more get to experience a game that moved my heart and soul. It is not fair that Xbox gamers can’t play The Last Of Us.

Right now, the Xbox One sales cower in the shadow of PS4 sales. PC gaming is as large as ever. None of this makes sense to me as a smart business move. Square Enix is actively cutting out 2/3 of it’s potential profit. Obviously, Microsoft is writing a huge check to Square, but is that number worth the unavoidable loss in sales. Kotaku has complied responses to this morning’s announcement; It’s no surprise that gamers feel cheated. Top notch artist, @Pandamusk, captures perfectly how the community feels at large right now.

There does seem to be some miscommunication about the exclusivity of the title. Official statements say “exclusive on Xbox for Holiday 2015.” Clearly, that leaves some hope for fans and gamers all around. This problem isn’t only about exclusive games. What about exclusive DLC or portions of gameplay? GameStop has even been discovered to try and secure exclusive chunks of final games, not just missions. Exclusive costumes, missions, characters, collectibles, and editions need to stop. Gamers are the most passionate fans I have ever encountered. We are die hards for the games. When companies strip our passions from us, it’s hard not to feel cut out. I’m a gamer too. If you’re reading this, you most likely are too. Exclusive content needs to stop.

The best way to prove this to the corporate puppet masters is to stop pre-ordering for exclusive content. As the consumer, we need to speak with our wallets. Petitions will not stop contract agreements. We hold the power within our hands. If we don’t buy it, companies won’t produce these exclusivity barriers. We can do it. Break down the walls of exclusivity and let’s help bring games to gamers.

Left Behind Live Stream Schedule

Here is the final schedule for the live stream and giveaway. The trivia for the prizes will happen during the show itself; not during the pre and post shows. Winners will be emailed there codes after the show.

March 4, 2014
All of the times below are EST

5:00-6:00 PM- Pre-Show; Multiplayer and general discussion
6:00-9:00 PM- Show; A full live stream of the Left Behind DLC for The Last Of Us (end time subject to changing if play through takes less or more time)
9:00-11:00 PM- Post-Show; Multiplayer with fans and friends!

If you would like to play factions after the main stream with me, tweet at @GoLeftGaming your PSN and I can add you into the party. If the list is larger than four, a rotation pattern will be implemented. Microphones are encouraged for multiplayer! Hope to see you on Go Left Gaming’s Twitch channel !!

Left Behind Review– Welcome Home

Left Behind Review– Welcome Home

By Max Roberts

Editors Note: Due to the nature of the DLC and where it fits into the entire story, spoilers for The Last Of Us appear in this review. Please, if you wish to go into the main campaign spoilers free, do not read this review or play the DLC until completion of the story. Enjoy.

Developer Naughty Dog is often praised for creating top notch games that are unmatched in quality, experience, and fun. Rightly so too. They, truly, have not made a bad game.

I want to praise Naughty Dog for something else in this review. That something is pure, sacred, and innocent. “The Kennel” crafts beautiful, rich, powerful and meaningful relationships. One relationship in particular is the beating heart of The Last Of Us’ DLC, Left Behind.

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Under the Radar PS4 Games– PS4 Week

It truly is an exciting time to be a gamer. The next generation of console gaming is upon us. Hundreds of games are being made for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. With the launch of the PS4 just one day away, I invited Mitchell Morgan to write a piece for Go Left Gaming’s PS4 Launch Week. Mitchell decided to about the games you need to keep on your radar, despite the lack of news and being over shadowed by huge first-party launch titles. So without further ado, here are games you need to keep an eye on.

Under The Radar PS4 Games

By Mitchell Morgan

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DualShock 4 Unboxing & Impressions– PS4 Week

Sony has taken an interesting route during the week’s building up to the PlayStation 4’s launch. They have removed the street dates on all titles and peripherals, allowing consumers to go buy what they would like before the PS4 is out. In my opinion, this is a smart move. It builds even more hype for the launch, letting gamers stare at game boxes and useless add-ons. But there is one that is not entirely useless. That would be the DualShock 4, the brand new controller for Sony’s new system. Customers may buy the DualShock 4 and hold it and get a real taste of what the next generation will feel like. BEYOND that, the DS4 even works with the PS3 in some capacity, allowing users to play first-party games with the controller plugged in. This is the closest taste the public has to the next generation’s feel and let me tell you it feels mighty good.

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#PlayStationMemories– PS4 Week

#PlayStationMemories

By Max Roberts

Just moments after I sat down to write this nostalgic article, my girlfriend found a micro USB cable at her house. That was the crucial piece I needed to make my brand new DualShock 4 controller work with my PS3, just a mere sixteen days before the PlayStation 4 launch in North America. That was over an hour ago. Today was a #PlayStationMemory for me.

Back on February 20, 2013, Sony had a press conference to reveal the future of PlayStation. The hype was palpable all over the web. Memories and nostalgia swept through gamers like a tidal wave and a hashtag was created to share those intimate moments gamers had with PlayStation; #PlayStationMemories. The hashtag took Twitter by storm and everyone was BEYOND excited for the new hardware reveal.

Then 25 days before the launch in North America, Sony released a commercial of sorts, inspired by the viral hashtag. The video was titled #4thePlayers.

The video took gamers on a long trip down memory lane, taking the hype for the next generation of PlayStation to new heights.

Now here we are, just FOUR days away from Sony’s next home console. New memories are bound to be born as the next generation of console gaming takes flight, but I wanted to take a moment and take one more good long look back on gaming with PlayStation throughout the years. I want to share with you my five favorite gaming memories with PlayStation at their core. Let’s look back in time at all the crazy adventures I’ve had with Sony by my side.

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The Game Boys- Episode 002: Counting to Three is Fun

Episode 002: Counting to Three is Fun

Hosts Max Roberts, Mitchell Morgan, Alex Wray, and Rocky Ankeny are back in episode 002 of The Game Boys! In this episode we discuss billions of dollars, more Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS characters, Metal Gear Solid V’s ups and downs, and the future of Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us. Our Topic of the Week is the amazing fact that Valve can count to the number three! For a list of all the news stories and their respective links, just scroll down below and click the respective link!

Head over to The Game Boys official blog to listen to the show online! Click here

Subscribe to us on iTunes! Click here!

Have any questions or topics you would like us to read on the show! Tweet at us or send us an email! Check out our contact page for the proper information!

Audio Format–

Listen here!

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Animal Crossing: New Leaf Review

By Max Roberts

Oozing. Oozing is one of my favorite words. I sounds so cool when you say it and it puts such a clear image in your mind. Just say it with me: Oozing. I love using it in my writing and I love when other people use the word too. I am sure you can see where this is going…

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is oozing with content. It truly is a game that could never end; it has that much content. It doesn’t all hit you as soon as you hit the power button though. No, like I said, it oozes out (all right I’m done). The game gradually teaches you it’s core mechanics and adds new layers that you will want to experience. Somehow Nintendo has struck a true addictive formula with it’s Animal Crossing franchise, and New Leaf evolves and expands on that formula in small, powerful new ways. Animal Crossing: New Leaf really perfects on what makes the franchise such a delight and will keep people coming back day after day after day.

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Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Week Three

Animal Crossing: New Leaf- Week Three

By Max Roberts

I am back baby! I had quite a successful week as mayor of World 1. Accomplished quite a bit of remodeling, new shops popped up, and my house seems to be coming together. This week was a major step-up from last week’s failure at my mayor duties. So let’s dive into my last weekly update for Animal Crossing: New Leaf before my official review, which I will post next Sunday. Let’s go!

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Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Week Two

I have failed my town this week.

(Real) Life hit hard this week. Lots of work to do, both for my employer and Go Left Gaming. The Last Of Us Review took quite a bit of my free time this week. Alongside work, friends, either from out of town or close by, popped in, which I loved. So my town was neglected more than it should have been this week. I had quite a long play session on Tuesday, but the rest of the week was just popping in and watering my flowers or even not getting to the game at all. I’ll summarize my Tuesday and few other pleasant surprises in-game here and I hope that this next week will be MUCH better. The upcoming week is also my last week for these entries. What will follow is my official review of Animal Crossing: New Leaf. If you would like to keep up with my town and its development afterwards, add me on your 3DS! My friend code is 2363-6425-535. Direct message me on Twitter your Friend Code, or leave it in a comment below! Now onto my (shabby) week in Animal Crossing: New Leaf!

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The Last Of Us Review

By Max Roberts

“The problem with The Last Of Us is that not every single person currently living on Earth will play it.” – @MaverickTenSays

My friend Maverick makes a bold statement. Can a game truly be that good? Something everyone should play? In short, yes. The Last Of Us is a true experience. Not like watching a movie or reading a book. No. You are actively involved in this post-pandemic world Naughty Dog has fashioned from man’s fears. You will invest your time, energy, and emotion into the story and characters of The Last Of Us. You will feel loss and fear alongside grace and hope. The Last Of Us is a masterful production.

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Animal Crossing: New Leaf — Week One

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

– Learning the Ropes of Being the Mayor

By Max Roberts

My what a week it has been. As far as the gaming community is concerned, this was the biggest week of the year; E3 week. Along side all the new game and console news, Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us launched on Friday (side note: That game is superb, expect a review shortly after I complete the campaign.). For myself personally, I also had college orientation at the University of Central Florida! That was quite the two day event, but somehow, amidst it all, I played quite a bit of Animal Crossing: New Leaf every day. And now it is time to share with you my first week as “Mayor Max” in my town, World 1. Let my reign begin…

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Super Mario 3D World Preview

By Max Roberts

Cat Mario is real and Cat Mario is fun. This power-up is just one of the new features that makes Super Mario 3D World a unique, charming, and colorful game. At the Nintendo Experience I had the fortunate opportunity to play 3D World twice. The demo had four different levels and one boss battle. I played the World 4-2 and World 6-3 portions of the demo. The game supports up to 4 player simultaneous multiplayer, a first for 3D Mario games. Both times I played with four people. After selecting a level we were taken to a player select screen. The characters were Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach. Both times I played as Luigi, since he is my preferred character in these types of Mario games. From there, we immediately jumped into the level.

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E3- Previews for Nintendo Demos at Best Buy

Nintendo E3 Demos

By Max Roberts

“The Nintendo Experience, only at Best Buy.” For the Electronic Entertainment Expo this year, Nintendo has opted out of having a live press conference. Instead, the company had a Nintendo Direct streamed worldwide this morning showing off their new titles. While many new titles were revealed, such as Super Smash Bros. 4, a few titles were announced as being playable to the public at select Best Buy locations; dubbed the “Nintendo Experience.” The games available to play are Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD.

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The Last of Us Demo Preview

By Max Roberts

One word describes The Last of Us demo: Atmosphere. Naughty Dog’s games excel at immersing their players in vibrant, living worlds. From Crash Bandicoot with its colorful, cartoon levels to the cinematic adventures of treasure hunter Nathan Drake, Naughty Dog always makes a world that you want to be in. The Last of Us seems to be the pinnacle of 19 years of creating worlds with an immersive atmosphere.

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