Author: Chris Scullion

Chris Scullion is a Scottish video games journalist who's been covering video games professionally for 16 years. For the first six years of his career he worked at the Official Nintendo Magazine in the UK, then became the Games Editor of CVG before its untimely end. After setting up his own site, Tired Old Hack, Chris then joined Video Games Chronicle (VGC) where he is currently Features Editor. He has a passion for retro games and cataloguing their history, hence his ongoing series of console encyclopedia books (search his name on Amazon).

Her Story review (spoiler-free)

Published on June 29, 2015 by Chris Scullion7 Comments

Her Story is a plot-based game. As such, this review is completely free of spoilers. The only plot information revealed is what is revealed to the player right at the start of the game before any user-instigated interaction takes place.

There’s currently a thread on popular games forum NeoGAF called ‘Her Story | Spoiler Thread’. I won’t link to it in case you’re tempted to click it before playing the game.

In it are all manner of theories, questions and debates on the events of Her Story, the latest game from Sam Barlow, writer of the incredible Silent Hill: Shattered Memories.

While I have my own theory and I’m pretty happy with it, I’ve also seen some contradictory (and pretty convincing) ones from other people on the thread who have also enjoyed the game’s 3-4 hour duration. It’s making for some exciting discussion.

That there’s such animated chat surrounding the game is mainly down to the clever way in which Barlow presents Her Story to us, turning a series of linear video interviews into a fragmented mess we’re expected to gather and tidy up in our heads.

I’ve read other reviews of Her Story that have made some pretty bold (and in my eyes, wrong) decisions as to what’s considered spoiler material. For this review the only plot details I’ll reveal are those made available to you right when the game starts. Everything else should stay off-limits until you discover it for yourself. Continue reading “Her Story review (spoiler-free)” →

Yoshi’s Woolly World amiibo costume gallery

Published on June 24, 2015 by Chris Scullion6 Comments

Yoshi’s Woolly World is out in Europe on Friday (Americans will have to wait until October for it). Now the review embargo‘s passed I can tell you it’s one of the most beautiful, charming games you’ll play this generation.

One of my favourite features in in the game is the ability to unlock unique costumes (well, wool patterns) for Yoshi by scanning amiibo figures on the Wii U GamePad at any time.

When you scan one, Yoshi’s wool colour changes so he looks like the character you scanned. This costume is then unlocked for good and selectable at any point (meaning you can scan a friend’s amiibo, as with the Mario Kart 8 costumes).

As someone who’s a bit of an amiibo addict, I’ve scanned every single one released in Europe to date, except for the Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl from Splatoon. Turns out they all work, except for the Pokemon ones (which I’d imagine is down to The Pokemon Company not wanting its characters involved in that way). Continue reading “Yoshi’s Woolly World amiibo costume gallery” →

Video – Xbox One backwards compatibility demonstration

Published on June 17, 2015June 17, 2015 by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

During its E3 conference this week Microsoft surprised gamers by announcing that the Xbox One will soon be backwards compatible with a number of Xbox 360 games.

Although this feature isn’t rolling out until later this year, anyone signed up to the Xbox One Preview Program can test it out right now with a select number of games (around 20 or so) in order to give feedback to Microsoft on how smoothly things are running.

I’m a member of the Preview Program, so yesterday I held a quick 20-minute livestream on my Twitch channel showing the entire process. If you missed it, here it is in its entirety. Continue reading “Video – Xbox One backwards compatibility demonstration” →

Nintendo E3 2015 Digital Event: exclusive script leak

Published on June 12, 2015June 12, 2015 by Chris Scullion6 Comments

And so we come to the end of my week of exclusive E3 script leaks.

On Monday I brought you Sony’s entire E3 conference, exactly as it will play out.

Then, on Wednesday, I did the same with Microsoft’s E3 conference. Neither should surprise you now.

Finally though, to show no company is safe from my investigatory skills, here’s the script for Nintendo’s E3 2015 Digital Event, which will stream next Tuesday. Enjoy. Continue reading “Nintendo E3 2015 Digital Event: exclusive script leak” →

Microsoft E3 2015 conference: exclusive script leak

Published on June 10, 2015June 10, 2015 by Chris Scullion9 Comments

On Monday I busted open Sony’s E3 conference by leaking the entire script a week before it was due to be presented.

Sony isn’t the only company with lax security measures, though. I’ve also managed to obtain the full scripts for Microsoft’s E3 conference and Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event.

Today I’ll be chucking a middle finger in the face of Bill Gates (or whoever it is now) by revealing Microsoft’s E3 script in its entirety.

On Friday I’ll round things off with the entire shooting script for Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event.

I’m really too good to you. Enjoy. Continue reading “Microsoft E3 2015 conference: exclusive script leak” →

Sony E3 2015 conference: exclusive script leak

Published on June 8, 2015June 10, 2015 by Chris Scullion16 Comments

The leaked Sony document: read it in its entirety below — The leaked Sony document I received: read it in its entirety below

In my years as a games journalist I’ve built up a sizeable repertoire of contacts I can get in touch with to verify rumours, ask questions, what have you.

Sometimes these sources, under an agreement of anonymity, will reveal juicy information to me so I can report on it.

Last week one of these sources forwarded me the mother lode: the entire scripts to Sony’s E3 Press Conference, Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference and Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event.

It is my journalistic duty to present these to you so you know exactly how each conference is going to go, starting with Sony’s. You’re welcome.

To anyone at Columbia University looking to contact me regarding my Pulitzer Prize: my email address can be found in the sidebar to the right.

Until then, here is Sony’s E3 2015 conference, in its entirety, more than a week before it is due to be presented. Some content subject to change. Continue reading “Sony E3 2015 conference: exclusive script leak” →

TOH Dev Open Invitational #1: Wrassling

Published on June 3, 2015June 3, 2015 by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

This is the first entry in my regular series, the Tired Old Hack Developer Open Invitational, in which I challenge developers to send me their games for a guaranteed review. I don’t promise positive coverage, I only promise a review: so if I don’t like it, it could backfire. If you’re a developer (be it triple-A or a one-man indie) and you’re confident your game is good enough to pass the test, check out how to submit your game. I’m not a snob so all genres and budgets are welcomed.

Given that the Tired Old Hack Developer Open Invitational is blatantly inspired by the WWE and John Cena’s US Title Open Invitational, it’s perhaps fitting that the first developer to brave my inbox came bearing a wrestling game.

Wrassling is the work of indie devs Colin Lane and Folmer Kelly, and is a physics-based wrestling game with its tongue placed firmly in its cheek.

It’s set in the land of Slamdovia, where champion ‘wrasslers’ are considered the greatest athletes in the country.

You play as one such wrassler, and it’s your job to defeat all-comers by chucking them out of the ring, battle royale style. Continue reading “TOH Dev Open Invitational #1: Wrassling” →

The Tired Old Hack Developer Open Invitational

Published on June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 by Chris Scullion8 Comments

I’m a big fan of professional wrestling. Look, just shush.

At the moment John Cena is the United States Champion. Rather than keep him going in a feud with another wrestler, the WWE have decided it would be best for him to fight a bunch of different wrestlers: lower-to-mid card ones who may not necessarily get the chance to feature in a title match during a pay-per-view.

It’s called the John Cena US Title Open Invitational, and I reckon it’s a great idea because it gives everyone a fair chance to shine.

So, I’m going to rip off the idea.

Continue reading “The Tired Old Hack Developer Open Invitational” →

An open letter to journalists who don’t give a shit

Published on June 1, 2015June 2, 2015 by Chris Scullion113 Comments

Bear with me here, things are going to get a bit rambly and train-of-thoughty. Yes, it’s a phrase.

This morning I went to a Rock Band 4 press event, where I got to try out the game.

I wrote up this preview article detailing my thoughts. Long story short, my opinion was that at this stage it didn’t seem to be revolutionising things by any means, but that was fine because it was still Rock Band and that’s good enough for me.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s completely fine to be negative in a preview. Some believe that publications are scared to badmouth a game at preview stage because they might be denied review code, but as long as the publication is fair about it then publishers are actually usually okay with it. Continue reading “An open letter to journalists who don’t give a shit” →