Blog Herding: Editor And Reader Picks 2/25

Every Thursday we highlight both editor and reader blogs worth your undivided attention. Now's the time to get blogging! Check out our picks this week and then get writing. Maybe your posts will appear in a future herd.

How I Made Ben Watch BloodRayne 2
"Odds are that you've never seen BloodRayne 2: Deliverance. That's one thing you don't have in common with Game Informer's Ben Reeves, who I tricked into watching the cinematic abomination through a combination of guile, trickery, and just plain lying." Read on to find out how Joe tricked Ben with words into watching this awful, awful movie. Also, be sure to check out the main image.

Pokemon: A Look To My Youth, And The End Of An Era
GIO community member, SaoSauce, relives the franchise that defined his youth, and explains how it has lost some of its luster over the past few years. He thinks it may be time to hang up his trainer's cap. Should he do it?

This Is Not A Review: Deadly Premonition
"Ignition Entertainment has brought the game to the U.S. for the shockingly low price of $19.99. Yeah, I sound like an infomercial, but the thought of a new game selling at retail for that price on the Xbox 360 and PS3 stuns me. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I picked it up this afternoon, figuring that even if it was completely terrible it wouldn’t be that big of a financial setback. So… is it completely terrible?" Is it completely terrible? Get Jeff C.'s impressions on a bargain-friendly game that he first laid his eyes on while waiting in a long line at Tokyo Game Show.

Kirby, Where'd Ya Go?
"I don't think there's anyone on this earth, and even in Dreamland, who knows where Kirby went to. Announced, then canceled, announced again, then delayed. We don't know where Kirby went. But we're going to try to help him find his way back." GIO community member, Fox, is worried about you, Kirby, and wants to know your whereabouts. He explores the game history of this puffy pink character to try and figure out where it may appear next.

Technick: A Technology-Obsessed Thought Process
Nick kicks off his new blog series that covers all things tech. He starts things off with a look at awesome gear for the tech nerd on the go. For more tech-related news, keep checking into the convenient Technick Hub, and also peruse our monthly Gear section in Game Informer magazine.

Heavy Rain: How And Why It Hurts So Good (Spoiler-Free)
"Heavy Rain poignantly evidences that games can contain a high degree of genuine literary art without having to resort to the use of borrowed material that gets bastardized for the sake of overlapping mass appeal and an ‘all mighty’ temporary industry divisive dollar. While everyone may not enjoy the macabre story, it’s not going to leave people in a ‘grey area’ about it, and will serve as an example of what can be done successfully." GIO community member, Shawn Gordon, shares his impressions, and goes over the larger themes found in Heavy Rain.

Overheard: Tim Turi Plays Mega Man 10 Edition
Tim Turi is incredibly fond of things that are blue. Enter Sonic and Mega Man. Tim Turi plays the Blue Bomber's latest adventure, all the while making priceless comments. His neighbor, Dan, chronicles the entire experience complete with photos and quotes.

Feeding The Cash Cow
GIO community member, Saint, takes a look at the world of game merchandise and lists his picks for favorite online retailers.

GI Fitness Battle: Jeff Wins Edition
The title gives it away. After seven weeks of the grueling weight loss competition between GI editors, Jeff C. was the first to lose 25 pounds. Check out this post to find out how he achieved this significant loss, and how he felt about beating Dan in the competition.

"If I Own This Place And Hell I'll Rent This Place Out And Live In Hell"
"Nothing has gripped my fears more than the desolate town of Silent Hill. As the bleak and foggy town comes alive with that eerie town “air raid” alarm, so does the fear and horror in every corner of my mind. I have always been told to embrace my fear, well with this blog entry, I hope I do." GIO community member, MaddKilo, shares what haunts him most in the Silent Hill series.

Replay: Winter Games Special Edition
In this special blog post, Bertz recounts his childhood experience with Winter Games for the NES that he and his brother picked up at their local toy store. "Once the car pulled into the garage, we sped into the house, popped the cartridge into the console, and began what we hoped to be an amazing recreation of the most popular Winter Olympic events. What actually happened once we pressed the power button couldn't be farther from that ideal." At the end of the text you'll find a special edition of Replay where Bertz, Reiner, Dan and Tim "relive the horrors of the worst game I ever had the misfortune of owning."

Have you produced a blog post on gameinformer.com that you think should be considered for upcoming installments of Blog Herding? Read a fellow community member's blog and think everyone should give it a read? Send over an e-mail with a link to annette@gameinformer.com. I also accept bribes.