Gamestop.com

Gamestop.com is a popular site to the chain of video game and electronic stores. They will buy and sell new and used video games, video games accessories, and DVDs. The site is just an extension of the actual store. The homepage shows a large amount of eye catching photos with small amounts of text. There are mostly adverstisements for popular new released games. There is also tabs at the top of the page which will take you to a particular place, such as a specific video game system.

Navigation is very easy. You can either browse the store by a specific system, or a specific type of game you are looking for, such as action or sports. Their is also a useful search box that allows you to search for a specific title or accessory.

Each page of the site that is navigated to has the same basic structure. Gamestop will appear at the top left of the screen with the navigation tabs right below it. There are several advertisements for newly released games. Each of the game or item info pages reveals a short summary of the game and its features. It also shows a review if the game has been released along with a section at the bottom for user reviews and comments on the item.

The overall buying process is fairly straight forward. There is a shopping cart that a shopper can fill with any of the games or items viewed as long as the item has been released and is in stock. The shopper creates a small account by typing in some basic info, along with the shipping and billing address, selects the payment method and also the shipping preference. I have used the site before, especially when I have not been able to find a specific game or accessory in stores.

OXM Podcast

I listened to a podcast by a magazine I used to get. XBox Magazine has a weekly podcast where they basically talk about whats going on in the video game industry, especially what is going on with the XBOX 360 and its games. Each podcast is done in the basic radio format, however they usually last in upwards of an hour. In the most recent edition that I listened to, the host was quizing a panel of video game writers on several video game industry trivia.
The host is very good at keeping the podcast moving and keeping it somewhat interesting. I think that this podcast is not as interesting as other editions that OXM has done because it was only geared toward older gamers that remember old game trivia. You really had to be a hardcore gamer to be able to listen to the entire podcast. I like hearing about upcoming games, but having to listen to these guys talk about old game trivia. The technical aspects were done well. They really didn't add a lot of extra sound affects, but usually in the OXM podcast, they don't need a lot of background music.

The Sports Game

In recent years, the video game industry has become one of the biggest consumer product industries all over the world. In the U.S. all types of games are played by a wide range of demographics. In the final three months of 2006 alone, Microsoft's XBox 360 division pulled in nearly 3 billion dollars. Microsoft also made over 12 billion in 2006. That is just one of the hundreds of companies in the video game industry that are racking in the dough.


Now as the gaming culture grows so do the complaints of the millions upon millions of gamers. We don't just beg the industry that feeds us to provide us with good quality games, we expect more than that. We want the industry to start treating us with a little more respect. Instead of simply making a game that clearly belongs in the garbage just to increase the profits of the company, set out to make a game that a seasoned gamer can actually have fun with. We also ask that we not be charged for every download or patch that is created for a game. But one great complaint I have and many others share is that the gaming industry, especially the sports game industry has been giving gamers the proverbial shaft for years.


Every year a new version of every major sports game is made and put out on the market. Every time you buy a new game like Madden 2008, it seems like the folks at EA Sports (they sell the game) come out with a new version like this years installment Madden 2009. Really, the only thing that was added to the game was some slightly better graphics, a few new game modes, and a new roster, the basic game play stayed the same. For a gamer to spend sixty dollars every year for a game that is just given a new coat of paint every year is a little ridiculous. This is especially hard in the current economic crisis that the U.S. is going through. However, many reports are suggesting that the video game industry might actually prosper during the economic hardships.

The Blog

Blogging is quickly becoming a norm of the internet. Millions upon millions are already on the net blogging their hearts out and millions more are joining the opinion superhighway everyday. Blogs are used for many forms of discourse and communication. Some are used as how to questions, some are used for debate about a specific issue, but most are used for the public to stream their thoughts, ideals, and opinions so that anyone with a computer and a phone connection can read. Setting up the blog is easy enough, but keeping it up to date and up to a good readable standard is another story.

It seems like because anyone can create a blog than anything can be discoursed. Often, this infinite and open level of communication can be viewed as a good thing. However, some things can be overused or even abused. Blogs are no exception to my opinion. To often blogs are looked to for fact and answers. It is a necessity to realize that blogs are only statements made by the individual. Though, sometimes many do agree with certain statements, that still does not mean that it should be taken for fact. The great thing is that blogs can be a useful communication tool, as long as the individual forms their own opinion after reading the blogs.

The article that talked about old and new media was particularly interesting. The internet has been described as good and bad. It is said that the internet is degrading real journalism. No matter what is said, there is no denying the impact the internet will have on all facets of life, including the upcoming presidential elections. People are now able to get the info they want at the moment they want to have it. In a few short types and clicks, a fairly green internet user can find whatever they may want or be interested in. What is even better is that much of the content is free. The internet was viewed as a place where college students and the younger generation would go for social networking and entertainment.

In the recent months, campaigns from both sides of the political fence have taken notice to the popularity of sites like YouTube and Facebook and have begun to use these sites to their advantage. No longer will the campaigns of old be carried out on television, newspaper and the telephone, it will also include increasing amounts of e-mail and viral videos. Not only will viewers be bombarded with million dollar campaign ads on their television saying one is inexperienced and the other owns to many houses, now groups and individuals that might not even have any official connection to the campaigns can blog, spam, and e-mail until their fingers fall off.

Even if you are not interested in the elections, its hard to surf the internet and not run across and ad or even a strange game where you have to guess which candidates high school picture this is. It’s been said that knowledge is power. Is the internet now a tool in which we can gain this power? Its seems more like the internet is like that one weird and sometimes drunk uncle who is always talking and only making sense about half the time.