The Soap Club

GameSpotters with a passion:
"Battlefield 3 Recon Class Guide" By: Hellfire-1
"This Is Why I Remain A Gamefly Member" By: Setho10
"An Open Letter to GameSpot" By: -Saigo-

The World of Games

Games, games, and more games:
"Grim Grinning Ghosts" By: Pierst179
"Update 11/13/11 - It was, and IS all the Rage!" By: Iridescent406
"MW3 First Impressions" By: Bioshockraptor
"Skyrim Impressions" By: auron11022

The Art of Gaming

GameSpotters prove that gaming isn't just a hobby but also an art:
"Living with a Skyrim addict : Day 1" By: Gen_Warbuff
"Now maybe they will believe me!!!" By: Sandpiper121PP
"Greatest Console-Exclusive Game Series (By Sales)" By: YodaOfTheEmpire
"Coupla' Game Recommendations" By: Geeky Dad

Off the Radar

While they might not be gaming related here, we still read some thought-provoking blogs:
"Without Music Who Are We?" By: Kid_Black_Star

Staff Fingerprints

Last but not least, we check out what the staff has been blogging about this week:
"Favorite Recipes?" By: JodyR
"Mine's a large one" By: FearTheCreeper

The Recap

All is quiet on the GameSpot front. That's not because there haven't been any posts. Due to many issues that have currently occurred, we are at the moment unable to post in the manner we have in the previous weeks. However, this week's Wrap-Up will be kicking it old-school style.

Announcements

The Controller Reality Show: We are already up to episode four of The Controller, the new Web series that pits six pros with six newbies for the chance to win $50,000. There's a leaderboard, as well as a roll call page for you to get in on the action and earn emblems!

Blacklight: Retribution Beta Keys: Want to get in on the beta for Blacklight: Retribution? What is Blacklight: Retribution? Brought to you by Perfect World Entertainment, this first-person shooter is based in a futuristic urban war zone for the PC. How can you get in on the beta to try out this game? Simply tune into this week's episode of On the Spot and be among the first to answer the trivia question for your chance to win a key!

Member Spotlight

This week's member spotlight shines on SQUALL20XX for his superlative emblem-creating skills. He lends his talents to the highly coveted E.V.O Emblem, so let's hear three cheers for him!

Union of the Week

This week's featured union goes to Gamers Planet, a union established back in 2009 that has made it a place where gamers can come together to talk about new and old releases for just about any console. Be sure to stop by and check it out or simply congratulate it on its victory and union level feature!

Blog Bunker

Here we see some interesting blogs that were written this week by some of the talent of GameSpot.
"Dishonorable Discharge" By: pokecharm
"Super Mario 3D Land and Zelda Skyward Sword reviews" By: ad0234
"Whining About Uncharted 3 (WARNING: Ending Spoilers)" By: Rottenwood
"Skyrim: Early Impressions" By: Uesugi-dono
"Mass Effect 3: A Gateway Drug?" By: yeah_write
"Who doesn't love a good RPG" By: NeonNinja

User Reviews

Top 100
Batman: Arkham City By: AK_the_Twilight
[8.5 - Great] Batman: Arkham City is the definitive Batman experience, offering diverse gameplay and a gripping open-world design.
DLC Quest By: JustPlainLucas
[7 - Good] DLC quest is a game that's sold to you bit by bit (with in-game currency, thank god).
Kirby's Return to Dreamland By: Pierst179
[7.5 - Good] Return to Dreamland does everything right, but does not excel at anything

Top 500
Sin and Punishment: Star Successor By: Aberinkulas
[9 - Superb] or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Rail Shooter
Beach-Head By: Azghouls
[7 - Good] Beach Head earmarked a new evolution to the tactical war games genre as it's entirely action-orientated.
Dark Souls By: GeekyDad
[9.5 - Superb] So That Fans May Be Mended
DeathSpank By: kbaily
[8 - Great] An epic adventure lined with blood and steel and bacon!
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger By: ZanarkandTidus
[8 - Great] A very stylish and creative fighting game and one of the most beautiful looking fighting games I have played.

Top 1,000
Battlefield 3 By: adit942
[9 - Superb] Multiplayer - redefined !
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception By: bugbag
[9.5 - Superb] Uncharted 3 improves on a variety of aspects, and is as polished as gold in nearly every regard.
Dark Sector By: ChiefFreeman
[5.5 - Mediocre] Dark Sector is a derivative, dull third person action game with only one saving grace: the Glaive.
Batman: Arkham City By:cronosblaster
[9 - Superb] "It's billionaire, Vicki. Millionaire is so last year."
Sonic Generations By: gamefreak197
[9 - Superb] Old School collides with New School to create one of the very best Sonic experiences ever.
Valkyria Chronicles: Selvaria's Mission - Behind Her Blue Flame By: siberian142
[8.5 - Great] Behind Her Blue Flame is a prime example of downloadable content done right.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception By: skratchmasta
[9 - Superb] Unforgettable, incomparable, unmissable.
Battlefield 3 By: Uesugi-dono
[7.5 - Goo] This is not your PC's Battlefield.

Tip of the Week

Issues With the Site Continue
We understand that these issues are frustrating, and we appreciate your patience during this time. If you notice something wrong with the site's functionality, please feel free to let us know in the site enhancements forums. And make sure to keep in mind that clear and concise descriptions about the issue are far more useful than telling us something like "L2 not glitch GS."

We'll be making some changes to the game pages sometime today. The changes will make it much easier to find GameSpot content in the search engines. Be sure to use the FEEDBACK tab on the any of the game pages, and if you have technical problems, you'll want to drop by the Technical Support forum.

UPDATE at 4:37pm PT on 11/3: I've been notified that the changes won't be happening today. Also, when it does happen, there won't be a Feedback tabs on the pages. If you have any feedback you can post them in the comments or the Site Enhancements forum.

UPDATE at 4:18pm PT on 11/4: False alarm! Looks like it won't be happening until early next week. Thanks for your patience on the changes.

Top 100 Reviews

Deus Ex: Human Revolution
gbrading [8.5 - Great] Human Revolution is not revolutionary, but it is an evolutionary step in the right direction.
Shadows of Undrentide
Gelugon_baat [7.0 - Good] Shadows of Undrentide is a decent expansion that offers a few new things to the main game.
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
AK_the_Twilight [8.5 - Great] Dizzyingly presented and addictively frantic, Pac-Man's latest XBLA title is an absolute rush and by far his best yet.
And Yet It Moves
c_rake [6.0 - Fair] Though none of its elements truly come together, And Yet It Moves is a solid platformer.
Worms Ultimate Mayhem
DraugenCP [8.0 - Great] Above anything else, this game made me realize I've been missing out as a newcomer to Worms.

Top 500 Reviews

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
gamefreak197 [9.0 - Superb] With friends to enhance the experience, All 4 One makes for another great entry in the series.
Duke Nukem Forever
loopy_101 [6.5 - Fair] A curious but tainted piece of video entertainment history: comparable to Daikatana or the Atari 2600 version of Pac-Man
Espgaluda II
NeonNinja [9.0 - Superb] Espgaluda II is a landmark shooter from a development team known for being one of the best in the genre.
Nintendo 3DS
YearoftheSnake5 [8.0 - Great] The 3DS is a solid handheld that is worth owning despite a few flaws.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
ZanarkandTidus [9.0 - Superb] Amazing Blade Runner style atmosphere and a good mix of cover shooting and stealth gameplay make this game awesome.
Sid Meier's Civilization V
akhorahill [8.5 - Great] Great strategy game but lacks the awe inspiring greatness and soul of its predecessors.
Nuclear Dawn
bowlingotter [8.0 - Great] The learning curve is painful, but the payoff is worth it.
Touhou Youyoumu: Perfect Cherry Blossom
Cloud_765 [9.0 - Superb] Perfect Cherry Blossom delivers on many levels.

Top 1,000 Reviews

Crysis 2
adit942 [8.5 - Great] Maximum Review, engaged.
BioShock
bugbag [8.5 - Great] BioShock sinks you into the very depths of it's incredible story and creepy atmosphere.
Dark Souls
cronosblaster [7.5 - Good] You're hardcore!
Deadly Premonition
der_spudmeister [7.5 - Good] Good, bad and ugly mix in this ghostly goofball adventure.
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
gamefreak197 [9.0 - Superb] With friends to enhance the experience, All 4 One makes for another great entry in the series.
Rage
skratchmasta [7.0 - Good] Lush visuals and solid shooter elements stand out in what is ultimately a shallow experience.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
siberian142 [9.0 - Superb] Arkham Asylum is one of the best action adventure games you can get, even if you are not a fan of Batman.

Platform Battle: Battlefield 3

For this week's platform battle, we have a special three-way edition where we take a look at the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and the PC.

Honorable Mentions

World of Tanks
Ricoxs [8.5 - Great] The main reason why a lot of people complain about the game is because it requires intelligence to master.
Batman: Arkham City
super_tails [9.5 - Superb] Arkham City stands out alone as a awesome Batman game, but also a fantastic follow up from 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum.
Kirby's Return to Dreamland
rushiosan [9.0 - Superb] Kirby's Return to Dreamland marks the return of a classic Kirby game on a home console and the end of the Wii era.
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
Darrt_Feld [7.0 - Good] While it's not the same as traditional Ace Combat game, it has some decent new concepts.
X-Men: Destiny
DylanWirta [7.5 - Good] You can clearly tell this game was rushed but it is still a very enjoyable X-Men game!

Recap

Last week, we shared some GameSpotter blogs, videos, and reviews. We also shared the big unveil of our first episode of The Controller. We got pumped for BlizzCon 2011 and teased you with some news about what GameSpot has planned for Halloween.

Forum Forecast

GameSpot Gaming Forecast: October 24 to 27: We can expect a high chance of new game reviews with a slight chance of awesomeness as the GameSpot office is bombarded with dozens of new titles. In other news, the onslaught of new releases is sure to cause System Wars Forums to flood with awesome topics.

What's Happening!

- 10:00 a.m. Now Playing, Lord of the Rings: WitN Replay
Earlier in the day, we had a Now Playing for Lord of the Rings: War in the North where we answered many of the burning questions from Twitter and the chat room. To check out what happened, click this link here.

- Oct 25, 2011: BF3 Launch With Mrs Violence in the House
Tonight, GameSpot will be attending the Battlefield 3 launch event, but we decided we needed a little company, so Mrs Violence (MLG pro gamer and contestant from "The Controller") will be joining us for the launch of Battlefield 3. Be sure to stop by later tonight for some awesome BF3 action.

- The Controller Leaderboard Sign-Up and Predictions Board!
We've got some awesome activities planned for "The Controller," including a Predictions Leaderboard. The goal? To predict which team will be eliminated during the episodes for the next few weeks. Currently, we are predicting who will be eliminated for Episode 2 so you'll want to make your prediction in the board before October 28 at 10:30 a.m. PT. You'll also be eligible for some exclusive emblem action every week, so get in the game and feel in control!

Socialize Create and Celebrate!

Pumpkin Carving Contest
It's time to put your skills to work for our first annual GameSpot pumpkin carving contest. Big, small, lumpy, and round pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes; a perfect canvas for any aspiring sculptor. GameSpot wants to see your best pumpkin, and as an added bonus, if you submit your entry before Wednesday October 26 by 5:00 p.m. PT, you might just see your pumpkin during our broadcast of On the Spot. For more information, check out our Competitions and Activities page here.

Fuse Storytelling
It's time for a story time round table, where you Fusers continue the story to create something big and awesome. Start following GS-Community and continue on the community post made earlier this week. We will be posting the stories results in the Blog Bunker for November 2. To add to a story, click on this link here. For rules and details on this activity, follow this link.

Blog: 2011 Top 10 Spookiest Villain Blog Activity
They're big, they're bad, and they're often ugly. That's right, I'm talking about video game villains. Whether they are large, vicious, or just plain nasty, video games are filled with them. And in honor of Halloween, GameSpot wants you GameSpotters to tell us about these creepy characters. We're encouraging all you avid bloggers to tell us about your top 10 Spookiest Video Game Villains. For more details, click this link here.

Union Halloween-Themed Logo Contest
We want to see your union banners looking their best for the upcoming holidays, and with Halloween around the corner, we want to see your unions in a Halloween theme. What would a Halloween theme even look like? You can find some direction at this page here.

More Spook-tacular Content to Come
On All Hallows' Eve, you can expect to see two time sensitive activities in both Off Topic and System Wars. One is a trick-or-treating-inspired versus activity, while the other is a scavenger hunt with a bit of a twist to make it appropriate for Off Topic.

Big Shot Costume Contest
Big Mama is giving away some fantastic Final Fantasy collectable figures for those who wish to show off their cosplay skills on our GameSpot YouTube channel.

The Controller is a new reality show featuring Battlefield 3. Six pros will be challenged to coach a noob for a chance at $50,000. The first episode is live on YouTube! Later today, you'll have the chance to sign up for a predictions leaderboard, so stay tuned for more details.

Watch the first episode!

We also have The Controller forum ready for your discussion needs, and if you'd like to create some fan art (avatars/blog headers/signatures), you're more than welcome to do so by posting them in the cast discussion threads. We have multiple emblems up for grabs in the coming weeks, so be sure to keep a look out for how you can catch 'em all!

GameSpot will also be bringing you behind-the-scenes videos from our very own Homer Rabara and Ryan MacDonald. You can join the conversation by following @GameSpot on Twitter (#TheController) and by checking our page on Facebook.

New Releases: Rage

-Rage Review
GameSpot fan UnionJackGaming posted this video in response to GameSpot's review of Rage. "RAGE, the first major release title from id Software since Doom 3 has been in the making since 2008 and has finally been released to gamers. The question is, is it a amazing polished id game or will it make you RAGE? Watch the review to find out!"
-Rage "Like a Boss"
Here we see gameplay of a boss battle for Rage.

Gameplay

-WARHAMMER 40K: SPACE MARINES // SLAUGHTER TIME
jlhatland87 posted this video on our GameSpot channel saying: "This game is so F****** funny and brutal! KILL THE ORCS!! The game is Warhammer 40K: Space Marines."
-The Best Of xQuimbo
GameSpot fan MrTommy8100 posted the following video in response to our COD: Black Ops video: "The Best Of xQuimbo what we got recorded, enjoy this video."
-Rusty Hooknail's Metal Gear Something: Episode 3
RustyHooknai shares this video titled:"Everything Snake loves explodes in the thrilling third episode of the timeless saga."
-Max Payne Gameplay
GameSpotter Azghouls shows us this video about finding the secret room in the training grounds in Max Payne.
-Forza 4
GameSpot fan A0Gaming shared this Forza 4 Audi R8 gameplay video with us. Enjoy.
-F1 2011 Gameplay Melbourne Ferrari
GameSpot fan AllForUGaming shared this video with our GameSpot channel. "Check out this gameplay clip from F1 2011 of a time trial lap behind the wheel of a Ferrari car, Racing at Melbourne Grand Prix. New Gameplay from F1 2011. Melbourne Grand Prix Gameplay. F1 2011."
-Soul Calibur II Playthrough: Link
GameSpotter nintendoboy takes us on a playthrough of Soul Calibur II as Link.
-Dead rising 2 off-the-record funny gameplay HD
GameSpot fan michaelpro11 posted this Dead Rising video in response to one of GameSpot's videos. Some hilarious gameplay is seen here.

Off the Wall

-Metal Gear Solid 4 - Diamond Eyes (Music Fanvid)
A fanvid music video by Meconate posted in response to the Big Shot Bounty "In Love with a Snake."
-I GOT IT BABY! LBP2
GameSpot fan MyFunnyBrianShow shares his funny video about Little Big Planet 2.

Classics

-Metal Gear Solid: Urban Legend Stories
GameSpotter Gamer_4_Fun made this fantastic Metal Gear Solid video.
-FFVII--Death of Ruby Weapon
GameSpotter N-REAL takes on the big, the bad, and the red! The infamous ruby weapon!
-How to create a human cannon
GameSpotter kerk12 shows us how to create a human cannon in Minecraft.
-Mortal Kombat - Fatality Madness
GameSpotter GaminiEntity shares some classic Mortal Kombat fatality action.

Big Shot Bounty: Cosplay Contest

In this week's Big Shot Bounty we're giving away some awesome Final Fantasy collectible figures.

GameSpot is proud to announce "The Controller", a new reality show featuring Battlefield 3. Twelve gamers, guys and girls, the "Pros" and the "Noobs." A seasoned gamer will pair up with a novice for a chance to win as they compete in the dusty "Battle Zone" of So. Cal. But there is a catch: Only the noobs will be allowed to touch the controllers while the professionals coach (or scream) at their teammates from the sidelines.

Starting October 21 on GameSpot's official YouTube channel, the show will bring together the gamers to compete in various challenges both in game and on the field. The show will be an eight-episode miniseries where the six teams will eventually be whittled down to two with the final chance to compete for a $50,000 grand prize. You can expect to see pros like TSquared and Mrs. Violence, along with AyIIIa from Real World Cancun and Chet from Real World Brooklyn, as well as the awesome FreddieW.

GameSpot will also be bringing you daily streams of behind-the scenes videos, thanks to our very own Homer Rabara and Ryan MacDonald. You can join the conversation by following @GameSpot on Twitter or by using #TheController.

The Recap

GameSpotter's Contributions: This week's Blog Bunker had quite a few entries with over 20 different blogs. The Gameflicks report was a little quieter than usual, but we shared many GameSpot Spotlight classics to make up the difference. And the Gamer Reviews seemed to favor Xbox 360 titles, though the PlayStation 3 followed close behind, with PC and handheld titles bringing up the rear.

Announcements

MLG in Orlando
The GameSpot video crew is headed out to the Major League Gaming Pro Circuit in Orlando, Florida, this weekend! MLG provides a chance for professional gamers to live the dream of playing competitive games for a living, while offering ways for players to learn how to improve their skills and socialize with some of the biggest names in competitive gaming. The tournaments include StarCraft II, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops. As for the e-celebs that will be on the scene, the professional gamers and teams that will make an appearance include SlayerS-Boxer, ST_JulyZerg, Quantic FeaR, eon EnVy, Instinct, and more.
For a chance to check out the action, head on over here. Want more coverage? Then you'll definitely want to consider checking out MLG's LIVE streams all weekend long. To access the high-definition ad-free streams and discounts on competitors or events passed, you'll want to become an MLG member.

BlizzCon 2011 Coverage - Coming Soon
BlizzCon kicks off on Friday, October 21. What are some things that we hope to see? More news on World of Warcraft and some FuFighting? Perhaps even some DOTA action? Some StarCraft perhaps? Well, whatever ends up being shared with the world will be covered by us in full force. GameSpot editors Tom Magrino and Maxwell McGee will be bringing you some excellent coverage. Is there something you want us to cover? Be sure to sound off in our BlizzCon thread here.

GameSpot Minecraft Block Party
As some of you may know, there are a few GameSpot staff members who fancy the game quite a bit. And if you've been paying attention to the good folks over at GameSpot UK, you are already aware that GameSpot is hosting a Minecraft server, and we would like to invite you to join us! For more details on the GameSpot server, check out FearTheCreeper's blog.

AGDC Online 2011 Wrap-Up
Another year at GDC in Austin has come and gone, and it was an interesting time. We've heard doomsday about the end of consoles, microtransation missteps, and calls for game maturity. There were many other exciting stories to read as well. Check out our news coverage of the event at this page here.

Member Spotlight

Earlier this week, we mentioned that we had a copy of the Battlefield 3 novel The Russian to give away to the GameSpot user who could come up with the best cover art for the novel. We had several entries, and after thinking long and hard, GameSpot editors Carolyn, Maxwell, and Fuse sensation CharlieSpot all weighed in with a unanimous vote. The winner of the Member Spotlight, the book, and the level up is -DaNuTz- for his awesome entry.

Union of the Week

This week's featured union is "Union of Ice and Fire". This union features a community for those who are fans of "A Song of Ice and Fire and the HBO TV version known commonly as "Game of Thrones." This is a new and close-knit community, and I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the leader and GameSpot moderator Artekus. You can read the interview here.

Tip of the Week

Embedding Videos on Your Blog
Ever want to show off a video on your blog? It's as easy as ctrl+C and ctrl+V. If the video is currently on GameSpot, all you have to do is fetch the BBCODE for the video and paste it in your blog. You might think that you need to be a GameSpot Total Access Subscriber for this awesome feature, but all you have to be is a Phoenix Down (a level 10 GameSpot member).

Activity

Project Pamper
Attention unions! As promised, we'll be starting some union activities to help with your union's level gain. This week is Project Pamper. For more details about this activity, click here.