Not an April Fool's Gag

Jumping in today for my 'hello world.' I'm Josh, I've known Shawn since back in our high school days, and I've been asked to throw my two cents into the blog. (I also did the English degree too...but mine's a BS. That's right. And yes, I have heard that joke already, don't go thinking you're all creative.) I'll be more than happy to do so, though I'm still waiting to see just what kind of role I'll be able to take here. Should I be the token 'guy in Japan?' The gaijin otaku (foreign geek, just in case anybody here was unaware...it's been 2 years since I've been around people who DIDN'T know what those words mean)? Just another voice weighing in?

Bah, I'll do it as I've always done, wing it and see what goes over best.

But I'll be dropping in on occasion with a little of the 'slice-of-life-in-Japan' that I can offer, especially since my time here ties very closely in to my love of games anyway. My 'expertise' industry-wise begins and ends with the systems I own, and I always seem to be a generation behind. Still, I can talk a little about importing, and a lot about life in Nintendo's (and Sony's and Sega's and SquareEnix's and and and...) homeland.

Anyway, looking forward to sharing what I can. For tonight, I leave you with the following homework (especially those of you who've been wasting the past few weeks/months/years on Rock Band or Guitar Hero): Bemani. Look it up. Learn it. Love it.

Who the Fuck are you?

I am assuming you have stumbled across this site on accident and for that I am very sorry.

This blog will cover games and gaming in all aspects of the industry. It is a place for reviews, previews and private thoughts on games. There will rants and raves about the industry and all of it will be unfiltered. Conversation topics and controversy will surely abound.

I will start by introducing myself. I am a gamer, a very cynical, skeptical, ranting, pissed off gamer. I have been playing games since the days before Atari fucked themselves and became a minor game studio praying that their next game will save them from going bankrupt. I'm sorry guys it won't...deal. I also have a degree in English which isn't good for much other than writing and playing Jeopardy. Since Alex Trebek hasn't returned my phone calls I figured I'd start this blog.

I will make you some promises with this blog

1. I will post at least once a week minimum: no exceptions, no excuses.

2. I will post the raw unadulterated truth as best as I know it and will not knowingly lead you astray.

3. In keeping with rule two I will make all attempts possible to research the accuracy of the topics that I will cover.

4. I will cite my sources and never take their work as my own.

5. I will listen to my community.

6. My reviews will be my own. I will never write a review based on a review or hearsay.

These are my promises to you. Stick with me, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Shawn out.