Pixelated Playtime: Avatars on the Edge (XBLIG)

Avatars on the Edge is a game where you skate across rooftops that look an awful lot like the ones found in Mirror's Edge, and those rooftops are the best part of the game. Now, that's not to say the rest of the game is bad, but the visuals are definitely the high note in this otherwise rather average game. The racing is okay and the controls are fine, but there's nothing exciting and the stunts--which should be exciting--exist only for building up boost. If you can't already tell, I didn't particularly enjoy this game, but if like what you see in the video below, I'd recommend checking it out because myabe, just maybe, you'll find what I found elusive in this game: fun.

Daily Sketch: This thing has got a pretty sweet beard

Just some randomness, an excuse to mess around with watercolor, a medium I'm not that experienced with. Pen and ink, colored with nice and cheap watercolors (on watercolor paper).

Pixelated Playtime: JamSouls ! (XBLIG)

JamSouls ! is the opposite of many great XBLIG: from the outset, it looks like an amazing game with a lot of promise, but once I started playing the game, I wanted nothing more than to stop. JamSouls ! is absolutely beautiful and screams casual-esque, party fighting game--think Super Smash Bros. and please don't leave any passive-aggressive comments regarding my referring to SSB as a more casual fighter (just be aggressive)--but then the gameplay decides to take a dump on everyone's face, or, more accurately, jumps on everyone's head. That's right, the default attack in JamSouls ! is jumping on opponents' heads and it feels awful. But maybe that's just me, maybe you'll enjoy all the jumping on heads, in which case I'll say, check out this game because it is fantastic at everything other than when it comes to actually playing of it.

Daily Sketch: A friend goes a long way

Here is a sketch of a friend. Pen and marker on the back of a postcard. Enjoy?

Xbox LIVE 'Deal of the Week' for 05/21 - 05/27/13

This week's Xbox LIVE 'Deal of the Week' is another collection of seemingly random XBLA games for anyone and everyone. There are some good deals included, but not enough new products and, seeing that the #XboxReveal event in later today, I would have liked to have seen something a bit more substantial; however, maybe a bigger promotion is set to go live during/right after the event (there's always hope). Anyway, a full list of games and whatnot on sale can be found below. And by the way, the Matt Hazard retail game may have sucked, but the XBLA game, Blood Bath and Beyond, is actually quite good, a.k.a., I recommend it.

To get the games and whatnot, go straight to the Xbox LIVE 'Deal of the Week' page by clicking THIS, or enjoy individual links below. Enjoy them or else! Or else I'll send more empty threats.

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