With this year coming to an end and this being my last Gamer’s Corner article ever, I have decided to list my personal top five games in the hopes of maybe giving some inspiration or even just showing what I judge other games based on. So, without further ado, here are my top five favorite games.

 5.) Silent Hill 2 (Survival Horror) 

I’m going to put a disclaimer here and say that Silent Hill 3 is actually my favorite of the series. However, Silent Hill 2 is critically acclaimed and also stands alone, so if you’re going to play one it might as well be this one.

Unlike most horror games, Silent Hill has never boasted a lot of jump scares. It always feels as though the monsters are right next to you the entire game, rubbing up against you but never attacking until you least expect it. The true terror of any Silent Hill – the lonely, foggy atmosphere,and the fact that everyone in the town plus you have some serious mental scars – is extremely evident in this game.

An oldie but a goody, Silent Hill 2 is a legitimately frightening game that I can’t recommend to people who have weak stomachs. The combat is a bit clunky, and the voice acting ranges between hammy and not-trying-hard-enough (Angela has a strange warbling that is grating but sort of works), but it’s a really great game regardless. Avoid the HD Collection at all costs.

 4.) Ace Attorney Series (Puzzle/Visual Novel)

Perhaps the best thing about this game is the love and care that the localization team put into it. The dialogue is funny (if dated at times), the characters are sincere, the writing is fabulously translated from Japanese to English, and it handles tragic events beautifully. As hilarious as it can be, it can flop to tragedy quickly and harshly and it handles it very well where other games would struggle.

The cases might not make sense sometimes, but that hardly detracts from the overall game. Check it out, if you have the chance.

3.) The Walking Dead (Point-and-Click/Horror)

To be clear, this is referring to the Telltale version, not the newer Activision one. The Walking Dead is a series that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you want to curl up in a ball and just sit there for a while.

The characters are extremely memorable, especially the main ones – history professor Lee and young , optimistic Clementine both feel genuine and you hate to see them get hurting any way. The rest of the cast is less memorable, but still manages to leave an impact. If you are looking for a zombie game with hardcore action and zombie killing fun, this really is not the game for you. It is slow-paced and focuses pretty strictly on narrative and the bonds between people during the apocalypse. Still, there is a reason why it won Game of the Year, and you will be hooked onto every single moment of this amazing game up until the shocking ending.

 2.) Portal Series (First-Person Puzzler) 

Honestly, the true beauty of Portal only comes through once you have played it. It is hilarious, dark, and extremely innovative. Admittedly the puzzles are not as hard as they are disorienting, but let’s be honest – you do not play Portal for the puzzles, not really.

Pretty much everyone has heard of “the cake is a lie” and Cave Johnson’s “lemons” speech, but there is so much more in these games that it is surprising that more people have not played them.

Clever, intuitive, and easy to play (but not so easy to solve the puzzles, do not worry), the Portal series should be picked up and played by everyone.

 1.) Mass Effect Trilogy (RPG/Third-Person Shooter/Strategy/Games You Play When You Want To Cry) 

Mass Effect boasts a massive, well developed universe (there are about nine novels worth of text in these games) with memorable characters who you may or may not like but are all well written and well-acted. You find yourself getting attached to these characters, and the games rip out your heart every time it takes them away for one reason or another.

With the final DLC out, it’s finally time to put Commander Shepard to rest. They’re working on a Mass Effect 4, but is it really worth it at this point? Mass Effect  ended with Shepard for me, and it will always be a journey that I do not regret taking.

Whether sprinting for home plate, putting away a game winning volley, or attacking an opposing striker, this season the Royals varsity girls soccer, tennis, and softball teams showed their fight during the spring sports season to earn first place rankings.

The girls varsity soccer team scored a Central District title for the first time since 1993, and in doing so earned two upset victories over their slightly favored rival, Thomas Dale, for the first time since 1996. The key to the teams success on the soccer field has been staying focused during practice, which has become the most efficient way that they prepare for games.

“A lot of our players have a lot of skill and we don’t goof off during practice,” sophomore stopper Chaelin Magruder said. “We know when to have fun and when to be serious.”

According to Magruder the team has had to make some sacrifices with having some members of the team stepping into positions they wouldn’t normally play because its best for the team. Making sacrifices for the team is a big part of head varsity soccer coach, Kendell Warren’s, philosophy.

“We look at it as ‘if you want to help the team, you have to make sacrifices’,” Warren said.

The sacrifices are often out weighed by the constant motivation to be the best each girl has.

“[What motivates me is] the want to be the best, Warren pushes us every day, and we want to win for each other,” junior outside mid Mandi Cummings said.

The girls soccer team’s record in the first half of the season was an impeccable undefeated record, but a mid-season loss to Thomas Dale looked to be a momentum stopper. The girls soccer team had to rebound in much the same way that the varsity softball team had to bounce back from heart breaking loses to Matoaca and Dinwiddie. After these loses the team’s experience came out and the girls began to set their sights on avenging the upsets they faced.

“We focused and picked up our intensity level no matter who we were playing,” sophomore pitcher Casey Abernathy said.

The softball team used both in district and out of district games to work on key skills that would help them achieve a comeback as well as an undefeated record in the district for the second half of the season.

“I feel like we deserved it because we worked really hard and started focusing on one goal,” Abernathy said.
They say its hard to win a title the first time, but the defense of that title is the hardest road an athlete has to face in his or her career. This lesson is something that the softball and girls’ tennis teams have learned in their triumphant attempts in defending the team titles they earned in 2012.

For the girls tennis team, 2013 meant defending the legacy set by the teams before them. The Prince George girls tennis team has over 20 team titles in the last 30 years to its name, and with experienced leaders and coaches hopes to continue the streak in 2014. The team fought off tough opposition from the Dinwiddie Generals, including a tense late-night match that had to be postponed, but the Royals still snuck out a 5-4 victory to maintain an undefeated record that has lasted since 2011.

“I think it is an awesome feeling because it shows how all our hard work paid off,” senior number one and three time defending singles district champion Melissa Tomlin said.

As the time when conferences replace districts comes near, the Prince George girls soccer, tennis, and softball teams have firmly placed their names in the history books.

The PG Players share their exciting ritual that they do before every performance.

Senior Khalil Sanders pursues his dream by furthering his dance career and education in New York.

Article By Mallory Cox

Senior Khalil Sanders takes a few deep breaths, attempting to calm himself as he stretches in preparation for the performance ahead. As he starts to dance, all his anxiety melts away, replaced with a happiness and peace that only dance can give him.

Dancing is a common pastime for many students, but only a handful of them plan to make a lifelong career out of it. Sanders is one of those few.

“I’ve been dancing since the age of seven,” Sanders said.

He began to dance after viewing a performance by a friend of the family.

“My mom had a friend who danced, and we went to a show and saw him dancing. That’s where I got my inspiration from,” Sanders said. “I also took gymnastics for three years, which also helped me get into dance.”

Sanders does not limit himself to one category of dance. In fact, he takes five different types.

“I take ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, and tap at Genia Johnson Dance Company in Colonial Heights, where I’ve been dancing for a year or so,” Sanders said. “My favorite is lyrical. It lets me show more feeling.”

Dancing is something that Sanders has made a long-standing commitment to.

“I dance every day,” Sanders said. “I spend about two hours a day dancing, but I spend at least four hours dancing on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.”

Sanders’ also plans to center his future completely around dancing.

“I am attending MYU in the fall for dance,” Sanders said, “It’s going to be my main focus.”

Although he is looking forward to attending MYU, he does have some anxiety about the transition.

“I am a little nervous because the dance there is so intense. I actually have to leave early because we have to train beforehand. Also, I’m used to taking five classes a week, but when I go to MYU, I’ll be taking twelve classes a week,” Sanders said. “It’ll definitely take some getting used to.”

One thing that Sanders is not so nervous about is performing in front of large groups of people.

“The most people I’ve performed in front of is somewhere between 100 and 200,” Sanders said. “It didn’t make me nervous because I had performed in front of big crowds so many times already that once I was on stage, it just came naturally to me.”

Sanders sees dancing not only as a pastime, but also as a way to get rid of stress.

“It’s a great way to express myself,” Sanders said, “Getting new moves down, preparing, stretching, doing my jumps, leaps, and turns…it just feels great. If I’m down on school, or having any other problems, I dance. It’s like a pain reliever.”

His goal is to dance as long as he can, including after his college years.

“I plan on being professional for ten to fifteen years, and afterwards I’d like to have my own dancing studio. That’s my long term goal. I’ll dance until I get older and can’t dance anymore, and then I’ll teach,” Sanders said.

As a student, Sanders has had no shortage of dancing opportunities; one of them being the recent production of the school play, House of Dracula.

“This year I choreographed the play,” Saunders said. “It was very different than other performances I’ve done. I’ve never choreographed for a group before, compared to how I usually choreograph just for myself. It was different than what I’m used to, but I liked it.”

Another opportunity came from Kings Dominion. “I’ll be performing at Kings Dominion from June 18th through the 21st,” Sanders said. ”I’m actually getting paid to do it.”

To Sanders, it does not matter where he goes; as long as he is dancing, he’s content.

“I just love it,” he said, “I can’t see myself not dancing.”

While judges carefully scrutinize the scene, a compact Chevrolet Cavalier carefully moves backward in a serpentine motion between cones. The driver will be scored in three categories to test their safe driving ability.

“This is the first time Prince George has participated in this driving competition,” Lisa McDaniels said.

McDaniels is a member of the board of VADETS, and has been president of the board before.

The Virginia Association for Driver Education and Traffic Safety(VADETS) 28th Annual Safe Driving Contest will be conducted at John. B. Todd Stadium in Newport News on Saturday, April 27, 2013. Students who want to participate must be enrolled in a state approved driver education program or have completed a driver education program since January 1, 2012. Any completion of a driver education prior to this date renders a student ineligible.

“They base the number of contestants from each school on the school’s population,” McDaniels said. “Our high school can take two.”

Before these two students go to Newport News for the state level competition, they have to be chosen as contestants from Prince George.

“Mrs. Gilbert is holding the Prince George level competition on April 16, 2013, at 5:30 to see who will go on to the state competition,” McDaniels said.

The competition consists of three categories. Each category is worth 600 points. The first category is “Range Testing,” and will be held on a multiple-car-range. During the test, only the competing student and a range instructor guide is allowed in the car. The testing items include straight-line tracking, offset or lane changing, serpentine (forward and backward), diminishing roadway turnaround maneuver, and parallel parking. These are all timed, but this is only used to break ties.

“Some of the tasks will include parallel parking, diminishing roadway and emphasizes reference points,” McDaniels said.

The second portion of the competition showcases an on-road test that requires 30 minutes of driving around the City of Newport News. The competing student is accompanied by a member of the law enforcement community and a driver education instructor. The student will be evaluated on their on-road performance and steps taken after and before they drive.

Finally, each contestant will complete a 60 multiple choice knowledge test.

The vehicles used in the contest are all the same; a compact Chevrolet Cavalier. They also have the same perks, to include an automatic transmission and power steering.

The winner of this competition can win up to $1000 dollars.

“I’ve only known Bubba since the beginning of the year, but the short time I did know him he left quite an impression. He was a great kid, relatively quite, but funny. I used to call him Slim Shady and he’d retort by calling me Immigrant. We’d entertain our breakfast table going back and forth trying to one-up one another. I’ll miss that kid. Who else am I going to rap with?”

Junior Bradley Smithson

“Gerald was a phenomenal football and frisbee player and was always really enjoyable to be around. I had a great time on the football field. He will be missed greatly.”

Junior William Bonnell

“Bubba and I grew up together, he’s like a brother to me and I’ll never forget him! He always made me smile and had a smile on his face! I love him miss him. RIP Bubba.”

Junior Victoria Miller

“Bubba was a really good friend of mine. I remember that he always had a smile on his face and loved to make people laugh. He would always listen to everybody and was just an amazing friend.”

Junior Samantha Barton

“I will always remember Bubba used to bring a bottle of ketchup to our lunch table, just so all of us would have enough.”

Senior Shelby Emerson

“Bubba was my best friend from 1st- 5th. He was like family. I love him and miss him like crazy.”

Junior Alexandria Wiseman

“Bubba was more than a best friend. The times we shared are more memories. He’s my saving grace. Bubba and I used to spend hours talking about everything under the sun or taking pictures in history. He’s still here with me, his smile will be forever engraved in my heart, soul, and mind. There are so many things I wished I had told him, but I know he hears me now. I love and miss you dearly, Bubba.”

Junior Jessica Cunningham

“Bubba was always a full person. There was never a dull moment when he was around. His smile lit up a room and he always kept a positive mood.”

Junior Savannah Hackley

“I knew Gerald Fouts and I had a few classes with him. He was always happy and in good humor. What I remember him most for was his amazing speed, precision, and craftsmanship in woodshop. He’d make a project look great, but when I’d try to replicate his work, I’d be left with splinters and cracked wood. Gerald was a great friend to me and many others and he will be missed. ”

Junior Adam Kyle

“I will remember Gerald Fouts as a student with impeccable character and a strong work ethic. He always greeted me with a smile and a kind word. His manners were of a caliber I seldom see anymore. In regards to his schoolwork, he exhibited a positive attitude and a desire to learn- a recipe for success. He will be missed by many.”

English Teacher Sonya Lee

Photo from Amazonaws.com

By Alex Crowder

In honor of it being 4/13, I’ve decided to take my focus away from major companies and look at where small companies and enthusiasts are starting to make their home; Kickstarter.

Kickstarter is a fundraising program that has attracted many small indie companies and people with dreams of grandeur come to find money. Though it’s not strictly for video games, there are already some major projects that have been funded through it. I’ve decided to take this month’s column to focus on some of these titles, showing why they earned the money they did and why you should keep an eye on these projects.

Wasteland 2 – raised $2,933,252:

I’ve never played the original Wasteland game, but with the team behind this new one it’s hard to not get excited. The original Wasteland, created in 1988, was the inspiration for the original Fallout games. Set in an apocalyptic Southwestern America, gamers played as ‘rangers’, who were forced to make painful decisions that all tied together into a powerful storyline.

Wasteland 2 is planned to have all that and more, though whether it will simply be a refurbished Wastedland or an entirely new game has yet to be seen.

Project Eternity – raised $3,986,929:

Of all the games on the list, Project Eternity (which does not have an official name yet) is the one with the most star power. With writers from BioWare who worked on Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale and the company that worked on Fallout 3: New Vegas behind them, Project Eternity promises a story driven experience that’s bound to make you think in more ways than one.

If you’re a fan of anything by BioWare – though special attention must be paid to Dragon Age and Baldur’s Gate fans – this is a game to watch. So far they’ve boasted about having strategic combat where you can pause and place your party, collecting companions along the way in a suspiciously Thedas-esque world.

It’s unknown how much this is going to reinvent the fantasy game genre, but it looks like an interesting game nonetheless. Keep an eye on it.

Double Fine Adventure – raised $3,336,371:

If there’s another group that can rival Project Eternity, it’s Double Fine. They’ve created games such as Psychonauts, Costume Quest, and Brutal Legend. Unfortunately they’ve never been known for making a lot of money off of their critically acclaimed games (everyone should play Psychonauts at least once in their life), and so this new project – with them returning to their roots in a traditional point-and-click – is both risky and exciting.

Otherwise, not much is known about Double Fine Adventure. I’m personally excited, though. If you want to get a taste of Double Fine, I recommend Costume Quest or Psychonauts.

Homestuck Adventure Game – raised $2,485,506:

The reason why we’re celebrating 4/13 with Kickstarter? The Homestuck Adventure Game – which we know very little about – is based on the webcomic which is the longest (length-wise) running comic, the fourth (as of writing and without including dialogue in the Flash files) longest written thing in the English language, and currently the only webcomic that has successfully completed a Kickstarter to create a game.

Considering that the webcomic is based on a (fictional) game called Sburb, it’s hard to guess what the game will actually be about. Will it be moving through the comic, taking the role of the kids and trolls as they struggle to win the game without dying (and they do die, oh boy do they die)? Will we be able to create our own Sburb sessions with our own friends, aiming to win the game in the safety of our own homes and hopefully not destroying the universe in the process?

All we know is that author Andrew Hussie is keeping mum on details, but it’s due to come out in 2014 while the comic is slated to end in 2013.