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Tom Chick Author Bio

Status: Battle dancing

Last Login: November 21, 2009 4:27:02 AM
Joined: February 10, 2008 7:48:55 PM

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	Review: Assassin's Creed II (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 11/20/2009 12:52:26 PM \| 2 comments Assassin's Creed II performs a sublime balancing act.
	Review: Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 11/13/2009 4:24:37 PM \| 0 comments Jak and Daxter serve a purpose.
	Review: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 11/13/2009 12:39:22 PM \| 23 comments Infinity Ward's latest disappoints on more than one level.
	Review: Way of the Samurai 3 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/26/2009 5:04:31 PM \| 1 comments With Way of the Samurai 3, replaying the story has finally gotten old.
	Review: Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/26/2009 1:52:38 PM \| 5 comments You'll find race and relaxation in Forza 3.
	Review: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (PC) by Tom Chick \| 10/23/2009 4:06:49 PM \| 3 comments War in Dragon Rising is great, until it all goes pear-shaped.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Majesty 2* and the Sickness Unto Death* by Tom Chick \| 10/21/2009 10:36:17 AM \| 3 comments A Majesty 2 wizard gets his hopes up.
	Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/13/2009 4:45:27 PM \| 30 comments Uncharted 2 explores new territory in a very old way.
	Review: Dirt 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/8/2009 7:31:31 PM \| 2 comments You'll have fun with Dirt 2. Just don't listen to it.
	Review: Guitar Hero 5 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/8/2009 7:25:51 PM \| 3 comments Pretend World Tour never happened. That's Guitar Hero 5.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Swords & Soldiers & Monkeys & Rockets by Tom Chick \| 8/28/2009 1:07:50 PM \| 2 comments Tom Chick picks Ronimo's brains on Swords & Soldiers and Chinese ninja monkeys.
	Review: Wolfenstein (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 8/26/2009 5:08:39 PM \| 0 comments Shooting Nazis would be more fun with blue ammo.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: And Now for Something Completely Different by Tom Chick \| 8/13/2009 6:27:27 PM \| 1 comments This might be the Next Big Thing in real-time strategy.
	Review: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 8/10/2009 4:07:05 PM \| 7 comments The G.I. Joe videogame is not a real American hero.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Waiting for StarCraft II by Tom Chick \| 7/29/2009 5:07:33 PM \| 4 comments Still waiting on Blizzard's latest? These seven games will satisfy the RTS gamer in you.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Real Time After Real-Time by Tom Chick \| 7/15/2009 6:03:13 PM \| 2 comments Tom Chick tells you what the first RTS really was. Also: the shocking results of the Sims 3 RTS Challenge!
	Review: ArmA II (PC) by Tom Chick \| 7/13/2009 3:47:08 PM \| 6 comments Everything goes haywire in ArmA II, but not in the way you hoped. Tom Chick reviews the new military sim.
	Review: Prototype (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 6/16/2009 5:06:26 PM \| 34 comments Is there anything other than busywork in Prototype's open world? Tom Chick lets you know.
	Column: Rush Boom Turtle: Tom Chick's Sims 3* RTS Challenge* by Tom Chick \| 6/9/2009 3:38:52 PM \| 14 comments If you don't think The Sims 3 is a strategy game, Tom Chick might change your mind. Read his latest column and challenge.
	Review: Red Faction: Guerrilla (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 6/4/2009 3:19:50 PM \| 3 comments You'll break down Mars to move forward. Tom Chick reviews Red Faction: Guerrilla.
	Review: Boom Blox Bash Party (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 5/26/2009 7:25:21 PM \| 0 comments The Boom Blox sequel makes breaking even more fun -- with building (and anti-gravity). Read Tom Chick's review of the Wii game.
	Column: Turtle, Turtle, Turtle: RTSes for Basebodies by Tom Chick \| 5/15/2009 6:39:21 PM \| 6 comments Tom Chick won't stand around and wait for most tower defense games. Find out which ones strike his fancy.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: The Man Behind the Demigods of Demigod by Tom Chick \| 4/28/2009 6:57:22 PM \| 3 comments How do you make demigods? Tom Chick interviews Mike Marr, lead designer of Gas Powered Games' latest RTS.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: I Like to Watch, Eve by Tom Chick \| 4/14/2009 10:05:41 PM \| 1 comments Armchair generals like watching toy soldiers go pew pew. Here is Tom Chick's list of dos and don'ts for RTS graphics.
	Review: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 4/7/2009 6:16:48 PM \| 29 comments Tom Chick has a bone to pick with Riddick. Read his review of Assault on Dark Athena.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: The EndWar* Way* by Tom Chick \| 3/25/2009 5:01:44 PM \| 6 comments If you wrote off EndWar, you might want to rethink your decision. Tom Chick tells you why.
	Column: Dissenting Opinion: Resident Evil 5 by Tom Chick \| 3/18/2009 7:17:31 PM \| 7 comments It's provocative, but is Resident Evil 5 fun? Tom Chick provides a second opinion on the game.
	Review: Empire: Total War (PC) by Tom Chick \| 3/17/2009 8:20:59 PM \| 34 comments The epic Empire: Total War is the most ambitious game in the series. Tom Chick reviews the historical strategy game.
	Review: 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 3/12/2009 8:35:58 PM \| 5 comments 50 Cent wants his skull back, and he's going to be really mean about it. Tom Chick reviews the third-person shooter.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Sins of a Sins* Developer* by Tom Chick \| 3/10/2009 7:51:29 PM \| 1 comments Tom Chick and Sins of a Solar Empire designer Blair Fraser go head-to-head in the latest Rush, Boom, Turtle. Read on for the fine details on the Entrenchment expansion's return to turtling.
	Column: Rush, Rush, Rush: Halo Wars* and the Endangered Turtle* by Tom Chick \| 2/24/2009 7:37:31 PM \| 4 comments Impatient field commanders are trying to kick the turtle out of the RTS. Tom Chick looks at Ensemble's strategy in Halo Wars.
	Review: Halo Wars (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 2/23/2009 6:23:34 PM \| 12 comments Ensemble Studios' swan song is this real-time strategy game set in the Halo universe. Is it the console RTS everyone's been hoping for? Read Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC) by Tom Chick \| 2/20/2009 7:06:08 PM \| 5 comments Dawn of War II revamps the series and real-time strategy itself. Tom Chick reviews Relic's latest.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Real-Time Strategy Games, 1989-2009 by Tom Chick \| 2/10/2009 6:29:43 PM \| 10 comments It fought a good fight, but Ensemble Studios, and real-time strategy games, passed away recently. Read Tom Chick's obituary.
	Review: Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle (PS2) by Tom Chick \| 2/6/2009 5:29:05 PM \| 4 comments Iron Triangle brings hardcore strategy to the PlayStation 2, but Nobunaga's Ambition might be reaching too high this time. Tom Chick reviews the latest in Koei's historical series.
	Review: Saints Row 2 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/12/2009 8:36:01 PM \| 0 comments On road, on foot or in the air, make Stillwater your personal playground in Saints Row 2. Does the PC version hold its own against the console gang? Tom Chick thinks so.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (DS) by Tom Chick \| 12/3/2008 7:28:58 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here on the DS, and it's really, really ugly.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 12/3/2008 7:28:53 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 12/1/2008 7:34:22 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (PC) by Tom Chick \| 12/1/2008 7:32:03 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 12/1/2008 7:20:28 PM \| 2 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Feature: The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Early Impressions by Tom Chick \| 11/19/2008 8:31:32 PM \| 1 comments The Mines of Moria expansion is set to take The Lord of the Rings Online into deeper, darker territory. Tom Chick tracks his first forays into the MMO's new realm and items.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Everybody Look What's Goin' Down by Tom Chick \| 11/13/2008 8:09:12 PM \| 2 comments Tom Chick wants you to see past the razzle dazzle of Red Alert 3 and check out some games that are redefining what an RTS can be. Read on for the latest edition of Rush, Boom, Turtle.
	Review: Guitar Hero World Tour (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 11/10/2008 8:10:01 PM \| 2 comments With new and revamped instruments, and a diverse song list, Guitar Hero World Tour attempts to steal the limelight back from Rock Band. How's the view from the stage? Tom Chick critiques the game and its fake instruments.
	Review: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 11/3/2008 9:30:23 PM \| 31 comments It's a frantic, chintzy three-way between the Allies, the Soviet Union and the Empire of the Rising Sun, in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Is the third time the charm, or just time to pack it in? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Review: MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/30/2008 7:17:45 PM \| 0 comments The sequel to the PS3's racing launch title attempts to whip up another storm. Tom Chick brings us the forecast for Pacific Rift.
	Review: Fallout 3 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/28/2008 5:25:44 PM \| 5 comments Nobody said the wasteland would be full of birds and flowers. But does Fallout 3 have life as a sequel to one of the most beloved RPG franchises ever? Tom Chick reviews.
	Review: Fallout 3 (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/28/2008 5:25:17 PM \| 0 comments Nobody said the wasteland would be full of birds and flowers. But does Fallout 3 have life as a sequel to one of the most beloved RPG franchises ever? Tom Chick reviews.
	Review: Fallout 3 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 10/28/2008 5:24:25 PM \| 8 comments Nobody said the wasteland would be full of birds and flowers. But does Fallout 3 have life as a sequel to one of the most beloved RPG franchises ever? Tom Chick reviews.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: The Game So Nice They Made It Thrice by Tom Chick \| 10/24/2008 5:10:46 PM \| 4 comments Blizzard's announcement about StarCraft II being split into three games, one for each race, surprised many RTS fans. Tom Chick looks into the RTS's potential as a storytelling medium.
	Review: Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/24/2008 4:58:14 PM \| 0 comments Midnight Club: Los Angeles shoots you and your ride into the City of Angels at breakneck speed. Does this open-city racing game from Rockstar outrun the competition? Read on for Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Midnight Club: Los Angeles (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/24/2008 4:57:48 PM \| 1 comments Midnight Club: Los Angeles shoots you and your ride into the City of Angels at breakneck speed. Does this open-city racing game from Rockstar outrun the competition? Read on for Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Saints Row 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/15/2008 8:24:45 PM \| 2 comments On road, on foot or in the air, make Stillwater your personal playground in Saints Row 2. Can the new sequel compete with today's bevy of open-world games? Tom Chick thinks so.
	Review: Saints Row 2 (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/15/2008 8:23:54 PM \| 0 comments On road, on foot or in the air, make Stillwater your personal playground in Saints Row 2. Can the new sequel compete with today's bevy of open-world games? Tom Chick thinks so.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: "For the love of God, Montresor!" by Tom Chick \| 10/7/2008 5:53:12 PM \| 0 comments If you can't keep the invaders out, maybe it's because you built your base in an open, welcoming valley. Tom Chick discusses ways that your opponent's strategy might hit a wall. Check out his latest column.
	Review: SimCity Creator (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 10/6/2008 7:32:58 PM \| 2 comments Dust off that mayor's hat and settle into your couch in SimCity Creator, the latest in the venerable line of city-builders. Does Creator retain the depth of classic SimCity, or is it meant to be a casual playground? Tom Chick reviews.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (DS) by Tom Chick \| 9/23/2008 6:16:38 PM \| 4 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice in The Force Unleashed for the DS, feel the power of the Dark Side coursing through your stylus onto the touch-screen. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 9/23/2008 6:16:32 PM \| 0 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice in The Force Unleashed for the PSP, feel the power of the Dark Side in the palm of your hands. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 9/23/2008 6:16:27 PM \| 0 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice in The Force Unleashed for the Wii, feel the power of the Dark Side coursing through your Wii remote and Nunchuk. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 9/17/2008 7:41:05 PM \| 2 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice, feel the power of the Dark Side in The Force Unleashed. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/17/2008 7:40:59 PM \| 5 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice, feel the power of the Dark Side in The Force Unleashed. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/15/2008 7:03:22 PM \| 3 comments Sturdier gear, tons of songs and new ways to play -- Tom Chick takes the stage to tell you why Rock Band is better than ever.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: You Suck at RTS by Tom Chick \| 9/9/2008 6:40:04 PM \| 2 comments Does your anonymous "best friend" simply suck at real-time strategy? Tom Chick sheds light on some basic tenets of RTS gaming for that unfortunate person.
	Review: Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 7/7/2008 6:05:47 PM \| 2 comments Is it Call of Duty with comedy? Or Battlefield with a bad attitude? Tom Chick goes gold-digging in enemy territory -- read on for his review.
	Review: Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 7/7/2008 6:05:45 PM \| 2 comments Is it Call of Duty with comedy? Or Battlefield with a bad attitude? Tom Chick goes gold-digging in enemy territory -- read on for his review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Your Guide to Threesomes by Tom Chick \| 6/25/2008 6:03:15 PM \| 0 comments Is your real-time strategy game feeling a little crowded? Tom Chick walks you through the delicate dance of the RTS ménage à trois in his latest column. Read on.
	Review: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 6/16/2008 6:13:11 PM \| 5 comments Fans of the Metal Gear series, this is the finale you have been waiting for. For the rest of you? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 6/5/2008 6:17:20 PM \| 0 comments Console gamers now have a shot at battling the Strogg in this online tactical shooter originally released for PCs. Will Quake Wars shake things up on the PS3? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 6/5/2008 6:17:18 PM \| 0 comments Console gamers now have a shot at battling the Strogg in this online tactical shooter originally released for PCs. Will Quake Wars shake things up on the Xbox 360? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Step Away From the Xbox 360 (and That Sony Thing, Too)! by Tom Chick \| 5/28/2008 6:19:29 PM \| 0 comments With more RTSes making their way from PCs over to consoles, the woes of the ported game are becoming more apparent. Tom Chick makes a plea to keyboard-and-mouse developers going for the gamepad -- read on for his latest column.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Brian Reynolds and Big Huge Legends by Tom Chick \| 4/30/2008 2:37:37 PM \| 0 comments To celebrate the two-year anniversary of Rise of Legends, Tom Chick talks to the creative director of Big Huge Games about what goes into a good RTS and the company's move to make an RPG. Read on.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Naval Gazing by Tom Chick \| 4/16/2008 2:55:52 PM \| 0 comments "Water is nothing to be scared of," says Tom Chick, who takes to the high seas to explore RTS naval subgames in his latest column. Read on.
	Review: Universe at War: Earth Assault (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 4/15/2008 2:44:39 PM \| 0 comments Does this RTS make the definitive leap from PC to 360? Check out Tom Chick's review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: "I'm the bad guy?" by Tom Chick \| 4/2/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Online rules vary -- and sometimes even the best of us run afoul. Check out Tom Chick's take on rush strategies in his latest column.
	Review: Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (PC) by Tom Chick \| 4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments With new campaigns and new factions with which to tinker, does this C&C3 expansion pack bring enough to your RTS table? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: How to Make an RTS by Tom Chick \| 3/18/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Eyes to the front of the classroom, game developers! Tom Chick's teaching RTS 101 in the debut edition of his new column. Read on for Rush, Boom, Turtle: How to Make an RTS.
	Review: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 3/9/2008 12:00:01 AM \| 5 comments After a five-year hiatus, Super Smash Bros. is back -- and they're having a brawl. Get ringside with Tom Chick's review of Super Smash Bros. Brawl developed for the Wii by Nintendo.
	Review: Culdcept Saga (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 3/6/2008 3:46:12 PM \| 0 comments How does this magic-meets-Monopoly cult classic fare on the Xbox 360? Find out in Tom Chick's review of Culdcept Saga, developed by Omiya Soft and published by Namco Bandai.
	Review: No More Heroes (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 2/20/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Slacker Travis Touchdown is the world's #11 assassin, and he's killing his way to the top. Does this action-adventure cut it on the Wii? Read Tom Chick's review of No More Heroes, developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by Ubisoft.
	Review: Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Blueside's Kingdom Under Fire series returns, this time as an action RPG for the Xbox 360. Does this somewhat misfit series find a home in the genre? Tom Chick reviews Circle of Doom, published by Microsoft Game Studios.
	Review: BlackSite: Area 51 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The sequel to Midway''s Area 51 delivers alien enemies, UFOs and a political bent -- but is this first-person shooter actually news or the stuff of the tabloids? Tom Chick reviews BlackSite: Area 51 for Xbox 360.
	Review: BlackSite: Area 51 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The sequel to Midway''s Area 51 delivers alien enemies, UFOs and a political bent -- but is this first-person shooter actually news or the stuff of the tabloids? Tom Chick reviews BlackSite: Area 51 for PC.
	Review: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments With two new sides to play, new maps and twists to the core game mechanics, is Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts aims to deliver a big hit for this WWII RTS. Find out more in Tom Chick''s review of the release Relic Entertainment title.
	Review: Crysis (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments This free-form, sci-fi first-person shooter developed by Crytek pops you in a nano suit and sets you off in the tropics for some special ops. Find out whether this PC title from EA is worth the trip in Tom Chick''s review Crysis.
	Review: Empire Earth III (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Better run for the hills, Sierra Entertainment -- Tom Chick''s geared for battle in his review of this disappointing third real-time strategy game for PC from the Empire Earth series.
	Review: FEAR Perseus Mandate (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments This second stand-alone expansion pack to the original F.E.A.R. first-person shooter brings new weapons and more story. But did developer TimeGate Studios demand enough? Tom Chick reviews Sierra Entertainment''s Perseus Mandate for the PC.
	Review: Guitar Hero III (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix''s Guitar Hero isn''t the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the 360 from Activision.
	Review: Guitar Hero III (PS2) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix''s Guitar Hero isn''t the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for PS2 from Activision.
	Review: Guitar Hero III (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix''s Guitar Hero isn''t the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the Wii from Activision.
	Review: Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Part MMO, part RPG, part pastoral life sim, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 from Capcom is more than a hack-and-slash adventure -- it''s a game of skill and strategy built for the wanderer. Tom Chick reviews this genre-bending release for the PSP.
	Review: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The dynamic duo Ratchet & Clank tear it up on the next-gen hardware with this latest developed by Insomniac Games. Tom Chick put the pair to work for his review of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.
	Review: SOCOM: Tactical Strike (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Fans of the popular SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series, prepare yourselves: This one''s an RTS. Will this title developed by Slant Six games for the PSP satisfy the SOCOM action jones? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Tactical Strike.
	Review: Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments All your favorite elements from Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror are back in this sequel developed by Sony Bend and released by SCEA. But does this shooter hit the mark? Tom Chick shines the light on Logan''s Shadow in his review.
	Review: The Orange Box: Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments This first-person shooter is part of Valve''s The Orange Box, but it''s available on its own for PC. How does it stand on its own? Find out what Tom Chick thought about Half-Life 2: Episode Two, distributed by Electronic Arts.
	Review: The Orange Box: Portal (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Sold as part of The Orange Box, this first-person puzzle-action title from Valve is available for purchase as a standalone for PC. Does it hold up on its own? Tom Chick reviews Portal.
	Review: Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Getting ready to do battle in Universe at War: Earth Assault.? In this review, Tom Chick reports from the front lines of this RTS developed by Petroglyph and released by Sega.
	Review: Armageddon Empires (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments A turn-based strategy game in a post-apocalyptic world -- with dice, cards, dinos, aliens and more, this indie PC game from Cryptic Comet has it all. Tom Chick reviews Armageddon Empire.
	Review: The Orange Box (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal -- all in one disc. Do big things come in small packages? Read Tom Chick''s review of Valve''s The Orange Box for Xbox 360.
	Review: The Orange Box: Team Fortress 2 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Originally planned to be a mod for Quake, this game has seen the gamut of design changes and finally emerges as a team-based first-person shooter in The Orange Box. Can it stand alone? Tom Chick reviews Team Fortress 2 for PC.
	Review: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Developer Naughty Dog raided the treasure troves of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft -- and might well have made an action-adventure legend of their own. Tom Chick explores Uncharted: Drake''s Fortune for PS3 in this review.
	Review: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (DS) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 2 comments Taking the expansive visual gameworld of Call of Duty and packing it into the dual-screen sounds like an epic undertaking -- do the developers at n-Space pull it off? Tom Chick reviews Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for the Nintendo DS.
	Review: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/30/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Does Guitar Hero shred on the PC? Find out in Tom Chick's review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, developed for the PC by Aspyr Media/Neversoft and published by Activision.
	Review: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/30/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix's Guitar Hero isn't the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick's review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the PS3 from Activision.
	Review: The Orange Box (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/30/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal -- all in one disc. Do big things come in small packages? Read Tom Chick's review of Valve's The Orange Box for PS3. ...
	Review: Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/29/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 1 comments Driving sim or “carPG?” Tom Chick fires up this racing game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft to find out what it really means to pimp your ride. Read his review of Forza Motorsport 2.
	Review: The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (PC) (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/29/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 1 comments When it comes to wizards and elves, this PC MMO may not spell the end of WoW, but it could give it a run for its money. Tom Chick reviews The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, developed by Turbine and published by Midway and Codemasters.
	Review: Blacksite: Area 51 (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/29/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The sequel to Midway's Area 51 delivers alien enemies, UFOs and a political bent -- but is this first-person shooter actually news or the stuff of the tabloids? Tom Chick reviews BlackSite: Area 51 for PS3.

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Tom Chick was born in Dallas, raised in Little Rock, went to graduate school in Boston, and now lives in Los Angeles. He has been writing about games for more than 10 years. He currently holds the world's record for worst Rock Band drummer.

Age: 40 (chronologically), 14-24 (mentally)

Education: Far too much for someone who sits around all day writing about games.

Publications: Games for Windows, Sci Fi Channel, Variety, GameSpy, Yahoo!, the late great Computer Games Magazine.

Platforms played: All of them. Yes, all. Seriously. Try me.

Genres played: All of them. Yes, all. Seriously. Try me. Okay, fine, you got me. I don't play sports games that aren't golf and I avoid MMOs as much as possible.

My 10 favorite games:

1) I'm saving this slot
2) BioShock
3) I'm also saving this slot, just in case
4) Civilization IV
5) Killer 7
6) The RTS du jour
7) Internet message boards
8) Dark Cloud 2
9) BioShock
10) Checking to see if anyone has defaced my Wikipedia entry

Modern Warfare 2

November 13, 2009 3:20:20 PM

@Catastrophic1: Yes, what Mr. St0rm said. I hope it didn't sound like I was making that dramatic a leap. Infinity Ward may have lost their storytelling chops and their sense of decency, but I don't think they advocate the murder of innocent people!
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

October 28, 2009 10:38:55 PM

@Austin: The drive to being cinematic is a big issue for games these days. Games have to struggle with the fact that they aren't movies, yet they often appeal to us on the same level that movies appeal to us. It's a fine line, isn't it? For what it's worth, I think the Uncharted games do a great job of walking that fine line. Better than most games, actually.

@obonicus: I'm more than happy to discuss the review and it's disingenuous of you to suggest otherwise. What I'm not interested in discussing is the rating. Whether it's a 7 out of 10, three stars, or a Buy It is just a distraction when there are 1500 words of text besides that.

As for Call of Duty 4, you have some weird issue with scripting that I don't understand. You might as well rail against Call of Duty 4 for having guns. And I'm not sure how you think it applies to me. I don't have any issue with scripting when it's done well.

@Sam Huge: If you'd like examples of how Uncharted 2 does or doesn't hold up next to Uncharted 1, I offer some in the review. Again, it's those 1500 words of text underneath the rating. And you don't even have to read all of them! If you'd like examples, they're early on. Here are a few ways I think Uncharted was better: "as a story about Nathan Drake, as a romantic adventure, as a series of set pieces". Those are pretty specific.
Forza Motorsport 3

October 27, 2009 1:51:38 PM

Yeah, you can tell that Turn 10 knows they've got their fan base, so Forza 3 is an attempt to reach out to folks who might otherwise be frustrated with these kinds of driving games. And while I think it's cool that Turn 10 is attempting that, I have to wonder if those folks aren't perfectly happy playing Burnout. Will a consequence-free racer appeal to them? And is it worth making the game feel so low stakes for guys like me who want more of a challenge?
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

October 27, 2009 1:49:08 PM

Armery, I was on the default setting, with all the HUD elements. I'm not quite ready to play Dragon Rising as hardcore as it should be. :)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

October 22, 2009 2:42:31 PM

Someone is railing against a Try It rating? How odd. I'm all for simpler rating systems, and I'm perfectly capable of a working with a binary thumbs up/thumbs down (in which case I absolutely think Uncharted 2 is a thumbs up!). But the whole point of Crispy Gamer's system is that most review sites waste the range of their ratings by opting for the safe confines of a 7, 8, or 9. My feeling is that if you have a range of ratings, you should use it. As a writer and a reader, I love the three-tiered Buy/Try/Fry system.

But mostly, I refuse to discuss ratings. It's just so pedantic when there's actually a whole mess of text to discuss. It's too bad that so many gamers are so juvenile and inarticulate that they're only capable of whinging about a rating.

Anyway, I'm not sure what you're point is about Call of Duty 4, obonicus. But I'm glad you're acknowledging that you were wrong about me "gushing embarrassingly about the ham-fisted scripting", whatever that was supposed to mean. It's much easier to disagree with someone when you simply invent his perspective rather than considering what he actually wrote.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

October 19, 2009 9:22:47 PM

@frostyc: Exactly. I'm not sure why you'd expect it to be an insult. Because it has the same root as sophomoric?
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

October 16, 2009 5:51:42 AM

@Mr_Adam:

Thanks so much for your replies. I think you and I feel very similarly about the original Uncharted, so I'll be curious whether you share my disappointment. Like you, I carefully avoided any spoilers before playing, although I'd gotten a few press demos beforehand. But for the most part, I came to it with a fresh slate and a deep fondness for the original.

However, there's really not much point us discussing the game until you've gotten through it. :) I sincerely hope you enjoy it. It's a good game in most ways and I think you'll have fun.

@iCubPro

Thanks for the clarification. It has been a while since I played the original, but I seem to recall having to go through all sorts of shenanigans -- whether it was finding some clue to unlock a door, making dramatic ledge climbs and leaps, or doing some sort of puzzle -- only to find myself fighting guys with AK-47s who got there before me.

Whether I'm mistaken or not, it's not a problem in Uncharted 2, although the henchmen work in some places that OSHA wouldn't approve of.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

October 14, 2009 10:35:56 PM

Gus, they're actually more careful this time about having Drake open some ancient doorway with a byzantine locking mechanism only to discover a bunch of guys with AK-47s. Although what does discover is worse. And by "worse", I mean "more annoying".

Obonicus, you seem to have some trouble parsing Crispy Gamer's ratings system. "Try It" is in no way mutually exclusive with "this is a good game". Also, can you please show me where I "gushed", embarrassingly or otherwise, over the scripting in Call of Duty 4? I don't remember writing any such thing.

Mr. Adam, as I noted in the review, the storytelling is disappointing in that it doesn't live up to the promise of the first game. I could go into more detail, but I'd end up just reiterating what I wrote in the review. As for the Tomb Raidering, as I explained in the...wait a minute! You didn't read the review, did you? You're just commenting on the "What's Hot/Not" entries!
Rush, Boom, Turtle: Waiting for StarCraft II

July 29, 2009 8:49:10 PM

Mr. Bangkay, I think the tutorials and challenges help. If you work your way through those, you'll pick up a lot of stuff that will help you in the story mode. And if you think Shota is bad, wait until you meet the Beard Brothers. Those guys are jerks!
Rush, Boom, Turtle: Waiting for StarCraft II

July 29, 2009 8:45:08 PM

I quite like Swords and Soldiers based on a few skirmishes and the first Viking campaign. It's simple, but effective. And the matches are about five minutes long. It reminds me a bit of what it would be like if that old classic, Ancient Art of War, had multiplayer. I'm really glad I caught this one.

Tom Chick hasn't rated any games yet. Have you? Find some.

The Chatter Box

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Jones Destroys Valuable Collectable; Hangs Head in Shame
10 Comments
Last November 21, 2009 by piccolo13
It's supposed to look old and beat up anyway isnt it? Just pretend yours is the Ultra rare edition....i mean, it is one of a kind afterall!
Left 4 Dead 2
12 Comments
Last November 21, 2009 by w1ndst0rm
Incase you haven't found it the Juke box in LFD2 plays JoCo. Gus and I listened to the whole song and let the swarm come. It was surreal.
Experience Points 11/20/2009
3 Comments
Last November 21, 2009 by Ethrarn
gotta love modern warfare 2...
Weekend Playlist, 11/20/2009
5 Comments
Last November 21, 2009 by beanzfury
@Jones: If you end up liking 'Preacher', Garth Ennis does another series called 'Crossed'. It's along the vein of 'The Walking Dead'; although it's more ...

Ding! 03/30/2009
678 Comments
Last November 15, 2009 by Xenoth
The issue was never that he decided not to make this comic anymore. It was that he said Ding was returning and strung everyone along for months playing ...
So I just played "that part" of Modern Warfare 2
59 Comments
Last November 14, 2009 by Catastrophic1
Well I broke down today and bought the game and I played "No Russian" but unfortunately, probably due to all the talking about it and seeing it on YouTube, ...
Weekend Playlist, 11/13/2009
35 Comments
Last November 18, 2009 by girlgamer21
@RyanKuo: thank for letting me know.
"It's a Massacre!": The Appalling Failure of Modern Warfare 2's "No Russian" Mission
29 Comments
Last November 17, 2009 by RyanKuo
@TomBissell: Pulling out narrative flowcharts to defend the scene doesn't seem so different from calling it out for being awkwardly rammed in, ...

ChknKitty Says

Wow, people win every day in the Chicken Out contest! Sign up and win.

	Review: Assassin's Creed II (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 11/20/2009 12:52:26 PM \| 2 comments Assassin's Creed II performs a sublime balancing act.
	Review: Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 11/13/2009 4:24:37 PM \| 0 comments Jak and Daxter serve a purpose.
	Review: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 11/13/2009 12:39:22 PM \| 23 comments Infinity Ward's latest disappoints on more than one level.
	Review: Way of the Samurai 3 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/26/2009 5:04:31 PM \| 1 comments With Way of the Samurai 3, replaying the story has finally gotten old.
	Review: Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/26/2009 1:52:38 PM \| 5 comments You'll find race and relaxation in Forza 3.
	Review: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (PC) by Tom Chick \| 10/23/2009 4:06:49 PM \| 3 comments War in Dragon Rising is great, until it all goes pear-shaped.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Majesty 2* and the Sickness Unto Death* by Tom Chick \| 10/21/2009 10:36:17 AM \| 3 comments A Majesty 2 wizard gets his hopes up.
	Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/13/2009 4:45:27 PM \| 30 comments Uncharted 2 explores new territory in a very old way.
	Review: Dirt 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/8/2009 7:31:31 PM \| 2 comments You'll have fun with Dirt 2. Just don't listen to it.
	Review: Guitar Hero 5 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/8/2009 7:25:51 PM \| 3 comments Pretend World Tour never happened. That's Guitar Hero 5.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Swords & Soldiers & Monkeys & Rockets by Tom Chick \| 8/28/2009 1:07:50 PM \| 2 comments Tom Chick picks Ronimo's brains on Swords & Soldiers and Chinese ninja monkeys.
	Review: Wolfenstein (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 8/26/2009 5:08:39 PM \| 0 comments Shooting Nazis would be more fun with blue ammo.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: And Now for Something Completely Different by Tom Chick \| 8/13/2009 6:27:27 PM \| 1 comments This might be the Next Big Thing in real-time strategy.
	Review: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 8/10/2009 4:07:05 PM \| 7 comments The G.I. Joe videogame is not a real American hero.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Waiting for StarCraft II by Tom Chick \| 7/29/2009 5:07:33 PM \| 4 comments Still waiting on Blizzard's latest? These seven games will satisfy the RTS gamer in you.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Real Time After Real-Time by Tom Chick \| 7/15/2009 6:03:13 PM \| 2 comments Tom Chick tells you what the first RTS really was. Also: the shocking results of the Sims 3 RTS Challenge!
	Review: ArmA II (PC) by Tom Chick \| 7/13/2009 3:47:08 PM \| 6 comments Everything goes haywire in ArmA II, but not in the way you hoped. Tom Chick reviews the new military sim.
	Review: Prototype (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 6/16/2009 5:06:26 PM \| 34 comments Is there anything other than busywork in Prototype's open world? Tom Chick lets you know.
	Column: Rush Boom Turtle: Tom Chick's Sims 3* RTS Challenge* by Tom Chick \| 6/9/2009 3:38:52 PM \| 14 comments If you don't think The Sims 3 is a strategy game, Tom Chick might change your mind. Read his latest column and challenge.
	Review: Red Faction: Guerrilla (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 6/4/2009 3:19:50 PM \| 3 comments You'll break down Mars to move forward. Tom Chick reviews Red Faction: Guerrilla.
	Review: Boom Blox Bash Party (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 5/26/2009 7:25:21 PM \| 0 comments The Boom Blox sequel makes breaking even more fun -- with building (and anti-gravity). Read Tom Chick's review of the Wii game.
	Column: Turtle, Turtle, Turtle: RTSes for Basebodies by Tom Chick \| 5/15/2009 6:39:21 PM \| 6 comments Tom Chick won't stand around and wait for most tower defense games. Find out which ones strike his fancy.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: The Man Behind the Demigods of Demigod by Tom Chick \| 4/28/2009 6:57:22 PM \| 3 comments How do you make demigods? Tom Chick interviews Mike Marr, lead designer of Gas Powered Games' latest RTS.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: I Like to Watch, Eve by Tom Chick \| 4/14/2009 10:05:41 PM \| 1 comments Armchair generals like watching toy soldiers go pew pew. Here is Tom Chick's list of dos and don'ts for RTS graphics.
	Review: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 4/7/2009 6:16:48 PM \| 29 comments Tom Chick has a bone to pick with Riddick. Read his review of Assault on Dark Athena.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: The EndWar* Way* by Tom Chick \| 3/25/2009 5:01:44 PM \| 6 comments If you wrote off EndWar, you might want to rethink your decision. Tom Chick tells you why.
	Column: Dissenting Opinion: Resident Evil 5 by Tom Chick \| 3/18/2009 7:17:31 PM \| 7 comments It's provocative, but is Resident Evil 5 fun? Tom Chick provides a second opinion on the game.
	Review: Empire: Total War (PC) by Tom Chick \| 3/17/2009 8:20:59 PM \| 34 comments The epic Empire: Total War is the most ambitious game in the series. Tom Chick reviews the historical strategy game.
	Review: 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 3/12/2009 8:35:58 PM \| 5 comments 50 Cent wants his skull back, and he's going to be really mean about it. Tom Chick reviews the third-person shooter.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Sins of a Sins* Developer* by Tom Chick \| 3/10/2009 7:51:29 PM \| 1 comments Tom Chick and Sins of a Solar Empire designer Blair Fraser go head-to-head in the latest Rush, Boom, Turtle. Read on for the fine details on the Entrenchment expansion's return to turtling.
	Column: Rush, Rush, Rush: Halo Wars* and the Endangered Turtle* by Tom Chick \| 2/24/2009 7:37:31 PM \| 4 comments Impatient field commanders are trying to kick the turtle out of the RTS. Tom Chick looks at Ensemble's strategy in Halo Wars.
	Review: Halo Wars (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 2/23/2009 6:23:34 PM \| 12 comments Ensemble Studios' swan song is this real-time strategy game set in the Halo universe. Is it the console RTS everyone's been hoping for? Read Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC) by Tom Chick \| 2/20/2009 7:06:08 PM \| 5 comments Dawn of War II revamps the series and real-time strategy itself. Tom Chick reviews Relic's latest.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Real-Time Strategy Games, 1989-2009 by Tom Chick \| 2/10/2009 6:29:43 PM \| 10 comments It fought a good fight, but Ensemble Studios, and real-time strategy games, passed away recently. Read Tom Chick's obituary.
	Review: Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle (PS2) by Tom Chick \| 2/6/2009 5:29:05 PM \| 4 comments Iron Triangle brings hardcore strategy to the PlayStation 2, but Nobunaga's Ambition might be reaching too high this time. Tom Chick reviews the latest in Koei's historical series.
	Review: Saints Row 2 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/12/2009 8:36:01 PM \| 0 comments On road, on foot or in the air, make Stillwater your personal playground in Saints Row 2. Does the PC version hold its own against the console gang? Tom Chick thinks so.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (DS) by Tom Chick \| 12/3/2008 7:28:58 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here on the DS, and it's really, really ugly.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 12/3/2008 7:28:53 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 12/1/2008 7:34:22 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (PC) by Tom Chick \| 12/1/2008 7:32:03 PM \| 0 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Review: Need for Speed Undercover (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 12/1/2008 7:20:28 PM \| 2 comments The sound of hammy acting and the smell of fried rubber wafts through the Tri-City Bay. Tom Chick has been through here, and it isn't pretty.
	Feature: The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Early Impressions by Tom Chick \| 11/19/2008 8:31:32 PM \| 1 comments The Mines of Moria expansion is set to take The Lord of the Rings Online into deeper, darker territory. Tom Chick tracks his first forays into the MMO's new realm and items.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Everybody Look What's Goin' Down by Tom Chick \| 11/13/2008 8:09:12 PM \| 2 comments Tom Chick wants you to see past the razzle dazzle of Red Alert 3 and check out some games that are redefining what an RTS can be. Read on for the latest edition of Rush, Boom, Turtle.
	Review: Guitar Hero World Tour (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 11/10/2008 8:10:01 PM \| 2 comments With new and revamped instruments, and a diverse song list, Guitar Hero World Tour attempts to steal the limelight back from Rock Band. How's the view from the stage? Tom Chick critiques the game and its fake instruments.
	Review: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 11/3/2008 9:30:23 PM \| 31 comments It's a frantic, chintzy three-way between the Allies, the Soviet Union and the Empire of the Rising Sun, in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Is the third time the charm, or just time to pack it in? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Review: MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/30/2008 7:17:45 PM \| 0 comments The sequel to the PS3's racing launch title attempts to whip up another storm. Tom Chick brings us the forecast for Pacific Rift.
	Review: Fallout 3 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/28/2008 5:25:44 PM \| 5 comments Nobody said the wasteland would be full of birds and flowers. But does Fallout 3 have life as a sequel to one of the most beloved RPG franchises ever? Tom Chick reviews.
	Review: Fallout 3 (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/28/2008 5:25:17 PM \| 0 comments Nobody said the wasteland would be full of birds and flowers. But does Fallout 3 have life as a sequel to one of the most beloved RPG franchises ever? Tom Chick reviews.
	Review: Fallout 3 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 10/28/2008 5:24:25 PM \| 8 comments Nobody said the wasteland would be full of birds and flowers. But does Fallout 3 have life as a sequel to one of the most beloved RPG franchises ever? Tom Chick reviews.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: The Game So Nice They Made It Thrice by Tom Chick \| 10/24/2008 5:10:46 PM \| 4 comments Blizzard's announcement about StarCraft II being split into three games, one for each race, surprised many RTS fans. Tom Chick looks into the RTS's potential as a storytelling medium.
	Review: Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/24/2008 4:58:14 PM \| 0 comments Midnight Club: Los Angeles shoots you and your ride into the City of Angels at breakneck speed. Does this open-city racing game from Rockstar outrun the competition? Read on for Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Midnight Club: Los Angeles (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/24/2008 4:57:48 PM \| 1 comments Midnight Club: Los Angeles shoots you and your ride into the City of Angels at breakneck speed. Does this open-city racing game from Rockstar outrun the competition? Read on for Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Saints Row 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 10/15/2008 8:24:45 PM \| 2 comments On road, on foot or in the air, make Stillwater your personal playground in Saints Row 2. Can the new sequel compete with today's bevy of open-world games? Tom Chick thinks so.
	Review: Saints Row 2 (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 10/15/2008 8:23:54 PM \| 0 comments On road, on foot or in the air, make Stillwater your personal playground in Saints Row 2. Can the new sequel compete with today's bevy of open-world games? Tom Chick thinks so.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: "For the love of God, Montresor!" by Tom Chick \| 10/7/2008 5:53:12 PM \| 0 comments If you can't keep the invaders out, maybe it's because you built your base in an open, welcoming valley. Tom Chick discusses ways that your opponent's strategy might hit a wall. Check out his latest column.
	Review: SimCity Creator (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 10/6/2008 7:32:58 PM \| 2 comments Dust off that mayor's hat and settle into your couch in SimCity Creator, the latest in the venerable line of city-builders. Does Creator retain the depth of classic SimCity, or is it meant to be a casual playground? Tom Chick reviews.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (DS) by Tom Chick \| 9/23/2008 6:16:38 PM \| 4 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice in The Force Unleashed for the DS, feel the power of the Dark Side coursing through your stylus onto the touch-screen. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 9/23/2008 6:16:32 PM \| 0 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice in The Force Unleashed for the PSP, feel the power of the Dark Side in the palm of your hands. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 9/23/2008 6:16:27 PM \| 0 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice in The Force Unleashed for the Wii, feel the power of the Dark Side coursing through your Wii remote and Nunchuk. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 9/17/2008 7:41:05 PM \| 2 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice, feel the power of the Dark Side in The Force Unleashed. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/17/2008 7:40:59 PM \| 5 comments As Darth Vader's apprentice, feel the power of the Dark Side in The Force Unleashed. Can Tom Chick resist? Find out.
	Review: Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 9/15/2008 7:03:22 PM \| 3 comments Sturdier gear, tons of songs and new ways to play -- Tom Chick takes the stage to tell you why Rock Band is better than ever.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: You Suck at RTS by Tom Chick \| 9/9/2008 6:40:04 PM \| 2 comments Does your anonymous "best friend" simply suck at real-time strategy? Tom Chick sheds light on some basic tenets of RTS gaming for that unfortunate person.
	Review: Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 7/7/2008 6:05:47 PM \| 2 comments Is it Call of Duty with comedy? Or Battlefield with a bad attitude? Tom Chick goes gold-digging in enemy territory -- read on for his review.
	Review: Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 7/7/2008 6:05:45 PM \| 2 comments Is it Call of Duty with comedy? Or Battlefield with a bad attitude? Tom Chick goes gold-digging in enemy territory -- read on for his review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Your Guide to Threesomes by Tom Chick \| 6/25/2008 6:03:15 PM \| 0 comments Is your real-time strategy game feeling a little crowded? Tom Chick walks you through the delicate dance of the RTS ménage à trois in his latest column. Read on.
	Review: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 6/16/2008 6:13:11 PM \| 5 comments Fans of the Metal Gear series, this is the finale you have been waiting for. For the rest of you? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 6/5/2008 6:17:20 PM \| 0 comments Console gamers now have a shot at battling the Strogg in this online tactical shooter originally released for PCs. Will Quake Wars shake things up on the PS3? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Review: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 6/5/2008 6:17:18 PM \| 0 comments Console gamers now have a shot at battling the Strogg in this online tactical shooter originally released for PCs. Will Quake Wars shake things up on the Xbox 360? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Step Away From the Xbox 360 (and That Sony Thing, Too)! by Tom Chick \| 5/28/2008 6:19:29 PM \| 0 comments With more RTSes making their way from PCs over to consoles, the woes of the ported game are becoming more apparent. Tom Chick makes a plea to keyboard-and-mouse developers going for the gamepad -- read on for his latest column.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Brian Reynolds and Big Huge Legends by Tom Chick \| 4/30/2008 2:37:37 PM \| 0 comments To celebrate the two-year anniversary of Rise of Legends, Tom Chick talks to the creative director of Big Huge Games about what goes into a good RTS and the company's move to make an RPG. Read on.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: Naval Gazing by Tom Chick \| 4/16/2008 2:55:52 PM \| 0 comments "Water is nothing to be scared of," says Tom Chick, who takes to the high seas to explore RTS naval subgames in his latest column. Read on.
	Review: Universe at War: Earth Assault (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 4/15/2008 2:44:39 PM \| 0 comments Does this RTS make the definitive leap from PC to 360? Check out Tom Chick's review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: "I'm the bad guy?" by Tom Chick \| 4/2/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Online rules vary -- and sometimes even the best of us run afoul. Check out Tom Chick's take on rush strategies in his latest column.
	Review: Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (PC) by Tom Chick \| 4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments With new campaigns and new factions with which to tinker, does this C&C3 expansion pack bring enough to your RTS table? Find out in Tom Chick's review.
	Column: Rush, Boom, Turtle: How to Make an RTS by Tom Chick \| 3/18/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Eyes to the front of the classroom, game developers! Tom Chick's teaching RTS 101 in the debut edition of his new column. Read on for Rush, Boom, Turtle: How to Make an RTS.
	Review: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 3/9/2008 12:00:01 AM \| 5 comments After a five-year hiatus, Super Smash Bros. is back -- and they're having a brawl. Get ringside with Tom Chick's review of Super Smash Bros. Brawl developed for the Wii by Nintendo.
	Review: Culdcept Saga (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 3/6/2008 3:46:12 PM \| 0 comments How does this magic-meets-Monopoly cult classic fare on the Xbox 360? Find out in Tom Chick's review of Culdcept Saga, developed by Omiya Soft and published by Namco Bandai.
	Review: No More Heroes (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 2/20/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Slacker Travis Touchdown is the world's #11 assassin, and he's killing his way to the top. Does this action-adventure cut it on the Wii? Read Tom Chick's review of No More Heroes, developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by Ubisoft.
	Review: Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Blueside's Kingdom Under Fire series returns, this time as an action RPG for the Xbox 360. Does this somewhat misfit series find a home in the genre? Tom Chick reviews Circle of Doom, published by Microsoft Game Studios.
	Review: BlackSite: Area 51 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The sequel to Midway''s Area 51 delivers alien enemies, UFOs and a political bent -- but is this first-person shooter actually news or the stuff of the tabloids? Tom Chick reviews BlackSite: Area 51 for Xbox 360.
	Review: BlackSite: Area 51 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The sequel to Midway''s Area 51 delivers alien enemies, UFOs and a political bent -- but is this first-person shooter actually news or the stuff of the tabloids? Tom Chick reviews BlackSite: Area 51 for PC.
	Review: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments With two new sides to play, new maps and twists to the core game mechanics, is Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts aims to deliver a big hit for this WWII RTS. Find out more in Tom Chick''s review of the release Relic Entertainment title.
	Review: Crysis (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments This free-form, sci-fi first-person shooter developed by Crytek pops you in a nano suit and sets you off in the tropics for some special ops. Find out whether this PC title from EA is worth the trip in Tom Chick''s review Crysis.
	Review: Empire Earth III (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Better run for the hills, Sierra Entertainment -- Tom Chick''s geared for battle in his review of this disappointing third real-time strategy game for PC from the Empire Earth series.
	Review: FEAR Perseus Mandate (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments This second stand-alone expansion pack to the original F.E.A.R. first-person shooter brings new weapons and more story. But did developer TimeGate Studios demand enough? Tom Chick reviews Sierra Entertainment''s Perseus Mandate for the PC.
	Review: Guitar Hero III (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix''s Guitar Hero isn''t the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the 360 from Activision.
	Review: Guitar Hero III (PS2) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix''s Guitar Hero isn''t the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for PS2 from Activision.
	Review: Guitar Hero III (Wii) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix''s Guitar Hero isn''t the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the Wii from Activision.
	Review: Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Part MMO, part RPG, part pastoral life sim, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 from Capcom is more than a hack-and-slash adventure -- it''s a game of skill and strategy built for the wanderer. Tom Chick reviews this genre-bending release for the PSP.
	Review: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The dynamic duo Ratchet & Clank tear it up on the next-gen hardware with this latest developed by Insomniac Games. Tom Chick put the pair to work for his review of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.
	Review: SOCOM: Tactical Strike (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Fans of the popular SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series, prepare yourselves: This one''s an RTS. Will this title developed by Slant Six games for the PSP satisfy the SOCOM action jones? Find out in Tom Chick''s review of Tactical Strike.
	Review: Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow (PSP) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments All your favorite elements from Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror are back in this sequel developed by Sony Bend and released by SCEA. But does this shooter hit the mark? Tom Chick shines the light on Logan''s Shadow in his review.
	Review: The Orange Box: Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments This first-person shooter is part of Valve''s The Orange Box, but it''s available on its own for PC. How does it stand on its own? Find out what Tom Chick thought about Half-Life 2: Episode Two, distributed by Electronic Arts.
	Review: The Orange Box: Portal (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Sold as part of The Orange Box, this first-person puzzle-action title from Valve is available for purchase as a standalone for PC. Does it hold up on its own? Tom Chick reviews Portal.
	Review: Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Getting ready to do battle in Universe at War: Earth Assault.? In this review, Tom Chick reports from the front lines of this RTS developed by Petroglyph and released by Sega.
	Review: Armageddon Empires (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments A turn-based strategy game in a post-apocalyptic world -- with dice, cards, dinos, aliens and more, this indie PC game from Cryptic Comet has it all. Tom Chick reviews Armageddon Empire.
	Review: The Orange Box (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal -- all in one disc. Do big things come in small packages? Read Tom Chick''s review of Valve''s The Orange Box for Xbox 360.
	Review: The Orange Box: Team Fortress 2 (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Originally planned to be a mod for Quake, this game has seen the gamut of design changes and finally emerges as a team-based first-person shooter in The Orange Box. Can it stand alone? Tom Chick reviews Team Fortress 2 for PC.
	Review: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Developer Naughty Dog raided the treasure troves of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft -- and might well have made an action-adventure legend of their own. Tom Chick explores Uncharted: Drake''s Fortune for PS3 in this review.
	Review: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (DS) by Tom Chick \| 1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 2 comments Taking the expansive visual gameworld of Call of Duty and packing it into the dual-screen sounds like an epic undertaking -- do the developers at n-Space pull it off? Tom Chick reviews Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for the Nintendo DS.
	Review: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/30/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Does Guitar Hero shred on the PC? Find out in Tom Chick's review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, developed for the PC by Aspyr Media/Neversoft and published by Activision.
	Review: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/30/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Neversoft taking over Harmonix's Guitar Hero isn't the same as a band getting a new lead singer, but does it give the game a new sound? Find out in Tom Chick's review of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the PS3 from Activision.
	Review: The Orange Box (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/30/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal -- all in one disc. Do big things come in small packages? Read Tom Chick's review of Valve's The Orange Box for PS3. ...
	Review: Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360) by Tom Chick \| 1/29/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 1 comments Driving sim or “carPG?” Tom Chick fires up this racing game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft to find out what it really means to pimp your ride. Read his review of Forza Motorsport 2.
	Review: The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (PC) (PC) by Tom Chick \| 1/29/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 1 comments When it comes to wizards and elves, this PC MMO may not spell the end of WoW, but it could give it a run for its money. Tom Chick reviews The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, developed by Turbine and published by Midway and Codemasters.
	Review: Blacksite: Area 51 (PS3) by Tom Chick \| 1/29/2008 12:00:00 AM \| 0 comments The sequel to Midway's Area 51 delivers alien enemies, UFOs and a political bent -- but is this first-person shooter actually news or the stuff of the tabloids? Tom Chick reviews BlackSite: Area 51 for PS3.

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