Bullestorm is a rather silly FPS from People Can Fly, focusing irreverance, violence, points for ridiculous achievments and fun fun. It's marketing campaign has included the meta-game "Duty Calls", which savagly skewers it's equally violent but far more self-serious competition such as Call of Duty: Black Ops. Naturally, Fox news has freaked out and started a campaign against it, including a claim that it will cause rape. Rock, Paper Shotgun responds. FOX responds to the response. RPS responds to the response to the response, with a summary of the debacle so far.
posted by Artw on Feb 21, 2011 - 119 comments

Every person is assigned a role at the start of the game. You are randomly sided with either the village, the mafia, or a third party. During the night, the mafia secretly meet and discuss to decide who they want to kill, while other power roles decide what to do. During the day, the village players must figure out who is not sided with the village and get rid of them. [more inside]
posted by GooseOnTheLoose on Jul 17, 2010 - 38 comments

The Psychology of Video Games. Jamie Madigan has a Ph.D. in psychology. He's also a Gamer with a capital G, has written gaming strategy guides and countless game reviews, and follows the gaming scene like some people follow baseball. In his blog, Jamie tells you "why things are" when it comes to game psychology. Conan the Loss Averse Barbarian. How Reciprocity Yields Bumper Crops in Farmville. Phat Loot and Neurotransmitters in World of Warcraft. [more inside]
posted by Cool Papa Bell on Mar 10, 2010 - 58 comments

At the recent Games for Change conference, Brenda Brathwaite debuted her game Train. The WSJ blog Speakeasy interviews her: Players load boxcars with tiny yellow figurines and are asked to move the trains from one end of the course to the other. They pull cards that either impede their progress or free some of the characters. Once a train reaches the "finish line," the game is completed and it is revealed [more inside]
posted by j.edwards on Jun 25, 2009 - 49 comments

Pop psychology, in fun-for-the-whole-family game form. Based on her nationally syndicated radio show, this fast-paced board game has players matching wits with the doctor, responding to some of her 600 real, phone-in dilemmas. This amazon outlet deal features Nag, Preach, and Teach cards, and a scary looking box. You know your fifteen minutes are up when you hit the amazon outlet rack.
posted by mathowie on Jan 30, 2001 - 3 comments

It's common knowledge that Tetris players often see the game in their dreams. Now scientists are using the game to help understand the very nature of dreams themselves. But it doesn't address the question I've always had: Why Tetris? Why doesn't this happen with Quake or Ultima or even Super Breakout?
posted by jjg on Oct 14, 2000 - 14 comments

oh.
my.
god.
hasbro made a dr. laura boardgame. (unironically, i might add.) parody, anyone?
posted by patricking on Jun 17, 2000 - 8 comments