Resources: Everything There is to Know About Grand Theft Auto IV

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on April 30, 2008.

Is all the Grand Theft Auto IV information that’s swirling around the Internet a little overwhelming? Probably so, but if you’re planning to add the game to your collection, it helps to be prepared!

Kotaku has put together a “Grand Theft Auto IV Information Dump” that includes helpful tips about practically everything you might want to know about the game including reviews, comparisons between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, reports of the game freezing and crashing, and an FAQ titled “Everything You Wanted To Know About GTA IV (So Stop Asking!).”

And on the other side of the coin, What They Play has created the “Grand Theft Auto IV Parent Resource Center” detailing why kids want to play the Mature-rated hit, how they plan to do that without their parents finding out, and “11 Things Parents Should Know About Grand Theft Auto IV.”

April 2008 Issue of Library Technology Reports Does Gaming

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on April 21, 2008.

Library Technology Reports, a monthly magazine from ALA TechSource, has put out their April 2008 issue and the entire thing shines a spotlight on gaming in libraries.

The issue is titled “Gaming & Libraries Update: Broadening the Intersections,” and it was put together by Jenny Levine as a followup to a previous issue of Library Technology Reports she wrote about gaming in 2006.

“Gaming & Libraries Update: Broadening the Intersections” focuses on three main topics:

  • Expanding the idea of “gaming” to include “big games” (scavenger hunts and other real world games) and board games.
  • Expanding game programs to include those who don’t normally play games.
  • Expanding gaming services to include things like fantasy sports leagues.

If you’re new to the whole “games in libraries” thing, or if you’ve been doing it for awhile and are looking for new things to try, this issue of Library Technology Reports is a must read.

Wii Essentials

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on April 10, 2008.

Choosing what games to buy for your video game collection can sometimes be a tough task. Where do you start? Ideally, it would be great to be able to buy at least one copy of every game, but realistically, that’s just not possible. So here are ten highly recommended titles that belong in every Wii collection. They may be critically acclaimed, they may be sitting atop the sales charts or they may be cult classics that have been unjustly overlooked. But all of them are essentials.

The first thing you’ll notice about this list is that eight of the ten titles have been published by Nintendo. It may be that other developers don’t understand the Wii like Nintendo does just yet, but as of today, if you want a quality Wii game, you want one made by Nintendo. Continue reading

Legend of Zelda Manga Coming to US

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on April 4, 2008.

Simon & Schuster has revealed, through their online store, that they plan to release two volumes of the Legend of Zelda manga in 2008.

The Legend of Zelda: Volume 1 will be released on October 7 while The Legend of Zelda: Volume 2 will sneak in before the end of the year on December 2. Both titles will be written by Akira Himekawa.

Himekawa has been writing the Legend of Zelda manga in Japan since 1998, when he authored an adaptation of The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time. Since then he has also adapted Majora’s Mask, Oracle of Seasons/Ages, Four Swords Adventures, A Link to the Past (though the manga was titled Triforce of the Gods) and The Minish Cap.

It is currently unknown which series Simon & Schuster will start with this Fall.

Gaming Night at Computers in Libraries 2008 Conference

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on April 4, 2008.

If you’re heading out early to the Computers in Libraries 2008 conference next week in Arlington, VA you might want to check out “Gaming (& Gadgets!) Night” this weekend.

“Gaming (and Gadgets!) Night” will be hosted by Jenny Levine (from The Shifted Librarian) and Aaron Schmidt (from Walking Paper). It will be a gaming free-for-all with playable copies of Wii Sports, Dance Dance Revolution, Hotel Dusk, Guitar Hero III, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, and Rock Band. So if you’ve never had a chance to play around with any of these games before, now’s your chance.

But if you’re a more serious gamer (or just a newbie who hopes for some begginer’s luck), there will also be a tournament involving one of the “big three” games (Guitar Hero III, DDR, or Rock Band). To place your vote on which game should get the tournament treatment, you should check out Aaron’s blog post on the subject at Walking Paper.

Here’s the full details on the event:

What: Gaming (& Gadgets!) Night
Where: CIL 2008, Jefferson Room
When: Sunday April 6th, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
How Much: FREE
Who: You and other people interested in gaming

Consoles Are Not Dying Out… Don’t Panic!

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on April 1, 2008.

Last Friday, Sandy Duncan, the former head of Xbox Europe was interviewed by That VideoGame Blog. During the conversation, Duncan was quoted as saying that game consoles will disappear in 5-10 years and that everything will be piped into your TV as “web services.” Here’s the full quote:

“I think dedicated games devices i.e. consoles (and handhelds) will die [out] in the next 5 to 10 years. The business model is very risky and the costs associated with creating new hardware are incredibly high. There is a definite “convergence” of other devices such as set top boxes. There’s hardly any technology difference between some hard disc video recorders and a an Xbox 360 for example. In fact in 5 to 10 years I don’t think you’ll have any box at all under your TV, most of this stuff will be “virtualized” as web services by your content provider.”

But don’t worry, the idea is absurd on its face, and I’ll tell you why. Consoles aren’t going anywhere, and you’d think a former Microsoft bigwig would know that. But then, you’d think the current bigwig of Sony would know that too… Continue reading

Apply for a 2008 Presidential Citation in Gaming from the ALA

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on April 1, 2008.

The American Library Association has announced they are offering citation certificates to any library that uses games and gaming as “tools for learning, literacy development and community development.”

Each applicant much include a description (under 100 words) that details “how games and gaming of all kinds has had an impact on learning and literacy at [their] library. Be sure to highlight the library, organizer, the program, the participants, the staff, and the learning outcomes.” Applications are available online here.

The application deadline is Monday, April 21, 2008. The full rules can be found right here:

Just choose a category – recreation, education, or innovation – describe the program, initiative, or collaboration, and tell us why your nominee deserves to receive an ALA Presidential Citation.

  • Nominations will be accepted from Monday, January 14, 2008 through Monday, April 21, 2008.
  • Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of experts from the library field, the gaming industry, academia, and philanthropy.
  • The winners will be announced at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim.
  • Dr. Loriene Roy, ALA’s 2007-2008 president, will present the citations during ALA’s first open gaming night at the 2008 Annual Conference.

Winners of the 2008 Presidential Citation will receive a certificate and be featured on ALA’s gaming website. Self nominations are strongly encouraged.

Good luck to all who apply.