March 2018’s Free Games With Gold for Xbox One/Xbox 360

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Microsoft has announced which games will be available to download for through the Games With Gold program in March on the Xbox Wire blog, and they include a pair of puzzling first person shooters, a Disney adaptation, and a “driving platformer.”

In March on Xbox One, take control of Sergeant Rex Power Colt’s cyber commando kids as they drive and shoot their way through a variety of environments in Trials of the Blood Dragon, then experience one of the most innovative and award-winning shooters in Superhot. On Xbox 360 and Xbox One via Backward Compatibility, we’ll start with the action adventure game based on the classic Disney-Pixar film Brave: The Video Game, followed by the challenging puzzle-platformer Quantum Conundrum.

Superhot and Quantum Conundrum are both fantastic games, and their puzzle-based levels make them perfect for crowd play.

Click here to learn more about Microsoft’s selections for Games With Gold in March 2018… Continue reading →

February 2018’s Free PlayStation Plus Games for PS4, PS3, Vita

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Sony has revealed the games that’ll be available to download for free this February as part of their PlayStation Plus subscription service on the PlayStation Blog:

First up, we have Rime. This single player puzzle adventure is set in a beautiful world where you play as a young boy who has awakened on a mysterious island after a torrential storm. Armed with your wits and a will to overcome, you must explore this mysterious island, reach the tower’s peak, and unlock its closely guarded secrets.

Next up is the family friendly adventure game Knack. Take control of Knack and his signature size-shifting abilities to protect the world from a dangerous threat – the invading Goblin Army. Knack is a fun-filled adventure that lets players wield fantastic powers and discover a uniquely vibrant world.

This month’s PlayStation Plus lineup also includes:

  • Grand Kingdom (PS4)
  • Spelunker HD (PS3)
  • Mugen Souls Z (PS3)
  • Exiles End (PS Vita)
  • Grand Kingdom (PS Vita)

A trailer showcasing the selections for February 2018 has been embedded above.

Video Game Librarian’s Favorite Games of 2017

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2017 was an absolutely incredible year for video games, and after helping put together the “Golden Pixel Awards” at Warp Zoned, I thought I’d share also some of my favorites from the past year right here.

Some of the picks, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, won’t be too surprising, but maybe some of them will… Continue reading →

Four-Player Sports Video Games @ Inverse Genius

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Just in time for the Super Bowl, the Games in Schools and Libraries blog at Inverse Genius has offered up a great collection of sports video games that are perfect for four players:

Sports games are always an excellent addition to any video game collection. They see constant play and are nearly always multiplayer. Their appeal to a broad audience brings in a fair number of patrons we wouldn’t see otherwise, as well as being accessible to all ages.

Whether they’re rumbling down the sidelines for a touchdown or taking a last-second shot at the goal, your patrons will definitely enjoy Madden NFL 18, FIFA 18, NBA 2K18, and NHL 18.

February 2018’s Free Games With Gold for Xbox One/Xbox 360

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Microsoft recently announced which games will be available to download for through the Games With Gold program in February on the Xbox Wire blog, and fans of chaotic car stunts should be pleased.

Shadow Warrior, a “juvenile” first person shooter,” and Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, a side-scrolling spinoff of Ubisoft’s history-spanning saga, will be available for the Xbox One. Xbox 360 owners will be able to download Split/Second, a “Reality TV” racer, and Crazy Taxi, a re-release of Sega’s arcade classic.

I spent a lot of time playing Crazy Taxi in my youth, and it’s still pretty great today. It’s a great game to pass the controller and get a whole crowd involved in a game that’s technically only playable by one person.

Click here to learn more about Microsoft’s selections for Games With Gold in February 2018… Continue reading →

Life-Size Pac-Man @ Teen Services Underground

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Did you grow up collecting Dots and dodging Ghosts in Pac-Man? If so, you might want to give a “Life-Size Pac-Man” program a try.

Teen Services Underground recently recruited Casey Chwiecko to describe how she built a Pac-Man maze for her library:

Using our biggest program space, I set up a very simple grid similar to the tradition Pac-Man game without allowing them to out the sides and pop back up on the other side. It was surprisingly easy after I’d sketched it out to eyeball it on the floor of our room. I used paper plates as the objects they had to pick up so it was easy to a) reset and b) grid out the section.

The program sounds like it was a huge success, and hopefully “Life-Size Pac-Man” will be coming soon to a library near you!

Ready Player One Read-Alikes @ Teen Services Underground

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I think it’s fair to say that Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One is one of the most popular novels about video games. And with a Spielberg-directed film adaptation scheduled to open on March 30, there’s likely going to be renewed interest in the book over the next few months.

Thankfully, Pamela Penza of Teen Services Underground has put together a Read-Alikes guide for fans of Ready Player One:

The cinematic adaptation of Ernest Cline’s popular novel Ready Player One releases in theaters on March 30. We all know what that means–everyone will want a copy of the novel, and none of them will be available. To cheer up dejected teens, try offering one of these titles.

Pamela’s picks include Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, The Eye of Minds by James Dashner, Warcross by Marie Lu, and and a few others.

Best Games of 2017 @ Library Journal

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The new gaming columnists at Library Journal have published a look at some of their favorite games of the year:

LJ’s new gaming columnists have chosen their favorite games of the year. The titles include board games, video games, and a mobile title that will appeal to a wide range of patrons with differing interests and experience.

In addition to several board games, Bungie’s Destiny 2 and Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp were picked as two of Library Journal’s favorite video games from 2017.