Up late talking games & writing? You're...

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Diverging a bit from my usual format tonight... You've been warned.

So, the last few days have been kind of a weird time for me… I feel like a lot of things are on hold at the moment, and for someone who’s used to charging full-speed ahead on a bunch of things at the same time, it's odd to have a few nights when I'm not really focused on much.

For example, I was getting ready to start putting word out about my new book and had hoped to have full details on how people can buy the print version by this time, but there's been a slight delay. Although the electronic version is out and about, I don't really want to start pimping it in earnest until people can have a choice between e- and print.




In terms of games, I finished Dark Souls II a while ago, and that was the last big thing I was doing for review. Since then, I haven't started anything from my backlog because I hate putting a game aside half-completed if something to be reviewed comes in, but then nothing that needs to be reviewed has come in…

(Side note, my wife started Dark Souls II after I wrapped it, and she is KICKING ASS. Going melee with a mace and shield, she’s been burning through Drangleic with little resistance. Just watched her squash the Ruin Guardians this morning and then she pulped the demon at the base of the windmill in Harvest Valley after that. SO proud of her!!!)

First off, Escape Goat 2 is now available on Steam, GOG and Humble, and it looks fantastic.

Although my computer is not able to run it (note to self: get a new computer this year!) I absolutely loved the first one, and I have total faith in @MagicalTimeBean to turn out a quality product. Everything he's ever made has been good, and there's no reason to think that he's going to break that streak anytime soon.

Look for the official review on @Gamecritics soon, courtesy of @Gelles22, but in the meantime, do yourself a favor and check it out. If it's anything like the first one (and I expect that it is) you'll be in for a good time. Probably a hardcore one, too.

Any of my Monster Hunter fans will probably already know about this, but Capcom is sponsoring a contest to let players design one of the weapons that will be featured in the upcoming Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Click on over for more information, and best of luck if you enter!

Next up, I've been asked to spread the word about a pen-&-paper RPG called Golden Sky Stories.

Full disclosure, I have not had a chance to play this yet (it's recommended for between 3-5 players) but it looks incredibly cute and the artwork is great. Also, I'm always interested in non-violent games, and this one is about friendship and cooperation. Also, anthropomorphic animals. Be a fish. 

I've got it on my game table to bust out the next time I have enough people gathered together, but since those instances are pretty few and far between, I can't vouch for it YET. However, if this sounds like your sort of thing, check it out.

Finally, this was a link that my wife passed on to me, and I have to say that I absolutely agree with it. It's a piece written by a mother on the subject of "tough love", and what the true definition is. If you ask me, it's a hell of a lot tougher to be the kind of patient, giving parent this mother is talking about than it is to be one who’s quick to spank and scold… We need more moms and dads out there practicing what she's preaching, for sure.

That's it for now. More to come!

********************PR/NEWS/INFO********************

There's more than meets the eye in Taisho year 20 when private detective Shouhei Narumi and his assistant, Raidou Kuzunoha receive an unusual request from a young girl, fearful for her life. But no sooner does she appear than she is kidnapped right in front of the two detectives by military police. Now, Raidou must use his skills as a Devil Summoner to find the girl...

Thus the story is set for Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, now available on PlayStation Network. Like previous PS2 Classics, the action RPG will be $9.99 and is currently available in North and South America. Rediscover the classic blend of action and mystery on your PlayStation 3 -- oh, but don't forget to visit the Gouma-Den to fuse some demons. Check out the game here. 

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So the ESRB post everyone seemed to find earlier this week told you that Persona 4 was coming to PlayStation 3 as a PS2 Classic, but it didn't tell you when, did it? It didn't, but we're going to go ahead and tell you anyways. Persona 4 will be available to download on PlayStation Network beginning April 8!

Astute fans will recognize the date is three days before the main character transfers to Yasogami High School, so if you're the type of super-dedicated player that wants to play the game exactly to the calendar date, there's still time! 

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