Just returned from my first ever Penny Arcade Expo. It was everything I had heard it was. Next time I’m bringing some game-playing friends so I can actually partake in some game playing. I’m just too much of an observer when I’m by myself.

While I’m on the subject, PAX 2009 and Ron Gilbert, who delivered the keynote address this year, were the topics of my latest “Trigger Happy” column in the Georgia Straight. The PAX preview is here, and the interview with Gilbert goes something like this:

Are video games art? Game designer Ron Gilbert will ruminate on that very topic when he delivers the keynote address at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle on Friday.

Earlier this year, Hewlett Packard unveiled the VoodooPC designed Firebird computer. which was significant for being both a high-end gaming system, but also an efficient one.

The Firebird, and chief technology officer Rahul Sood, are the subject of an article I wrote for bchydro.com.

Rahul Sood loves cars. He’s got a thing for high-performance machines like Porsches and Ferraris and he drives a limited edition Ford GT, which reminds him of the old-school American cars.

A few months back I was interviewed by Joe Yachimec for a story in the Ryerson Review of Journalism.

That story, a look at why mainstream media has been slow to cover video games, published in the Summer 2009 issue of the magazine.

Read The WoW Factor.

In today’s issue of the Georgia Straight is my look at the video games that you’ll want to be playing as summer turns into fall. There’s a good list of things from shooters to RPGs to hockey.

You didn’t think I’d leave out hockey, did you?

When the rains come this fall and you’re trapped indoors, what’s your plan for keeping yourself from descending into despair? I’ll be playing video games to stay active, exercise my brain, and blow shit up. Virtually, of course. Topping my list are these games, released in the last weeks of summer and the first months of fall.

Seven game reviews in today’s Georgia Straight, and four of them were developed in Vancouver by the likes of Hellbent Games, Next Level Games, Blue Castle Games, and EA Canada. Nice work, everyone.

Reviews of Infamous, Lego Battles, Punch-Out!!, EA Sports Active, and The Bigs 2 are here.

Also look for reviews of Bionic Commando and The Conduit.