Operation Flashpoint: Red River is not Call of Duty. Hailed as a tactical, fire team based shooter that requires more thinking than trigger pulling, Red River aims to bring reality to gamers that are used to being able to get shot a dozen times and still direct a danger close air strike, all from the comfort of their own couch.  Having just returned from beautiful Helmand Province (sarcasm yes, however, it does have its moments), Afghanistan, I was naturally drawn to this game simply because it’s modeled directly off Operation Enduring Freedom (even though they say its “Tajikstan”).  Now that I’ve got a little over five hours on the books, I feel it’s the right time to spew out some initial thoughts, and hopefully address arguably the two biggest questions surrounding Codemasters’ latest shooter: Is it realistic, and is it actually fun to play?

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Demon’s Souls really brings me back. Just two and a half glorious years until I grace the age of 30, some of my best days or memories when it comes to gaming come from the NES era. Back in those days, you only had X number of lives, and the only way you could check out a walk through was by stealing your neighbor’s Nintendo Power when he wasn’t looking. If you don’t know what Nintendo Power is, you are way too young for this website; that or I am getting way too old. But I digress. What I’m getting at is that video games, for the most part, have really lost their challenge factor. Now players can save games at will, and hop online while they play to read once-coveted strategy guides instead of having to learn the hard way. Well Demon’s Souls has brought the challenge back folks, and oh is it awesome.

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If you’re a regular around these parts, you surely are aware of my enthusiasm surrounding Sony’s Kevin Butler advertising campaign. Back in May I kindly asked for more Kevin Butler commercials, and my prayers have been answered in what is arguably the funniest commercial yet.  The new motion-sensored, Wii-competitor Kinect is the target of this latest epic Sony commercial, but in my opinion, it doesn’t matter what product their advertising because Kevin Butler just steals the show.  Be sure to check this one out and always, standby for more.

For the three of you who follow Glitchoris regularly, you may have noticed how much I like quoting movies when I excrete prose through my fingertips.  If you would be so kind, I want you to close those tired eyes of yours and think of Office Space.  You smiled, didn’t you?  I want you to go back to that scene with Jennifer Aniston (okay, you smiled again, didn’t you – hey, hands up!), where she’s getting counseled by her manager at Chotchsky’s regarding the serious lack of flair on her uniform.  Do you remember what her manager said?  Let me help you out, if you don’t recall: “Listen Joanna, our customers can get a burger anywhere.  They come to Chotchsky’s, for the fun and the flair.”  Now the final step I’d like you to do is replace “burger” with “guides”, and Chotchsky’s for Glitchoris, and bam, you have our philosophy on guides.  Gamers can get guides for games everywhere, but they come to Glitchoris for the gaming lifestyle guides.  And of course for the flair.  Today’s guide: How to lose weight, fast, if you’re a gamer.  Hit the link below for mo’.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadows has only been released to the public for about 30 hours, yet the God of War comparisons, and “this isn’t Castlevania” quotes have been swarming the gaming corner of the Interweb faster than a fat kid can open a Twinkie wrapper (okay, maybe not the fairest of analogies, considering Twinkie wrappers are not the easiest to open).  Well folks, guess who’s got two thumbs and has already played well over four hours of it?  This guy!  So grab a bottle of your favorite holy water and click the link below if you dare, however, if you’re allergic to any and all things Patrick Stewart, I would suggest you steer clear.

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