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A journalist and editor for an online news site in southern Illinois, I’m also a freelance games writer since I’m incapable of simply keeping a hobby for the fun of it.

Location:Illinois

stories by Caleb Hale

Wii U has a fatal flaw that isn’t about next-gen graphics

There's been a lot of debate about whether Wii U's graphics have doomed it in the next generation. Turns out the console's real fatal flaw resides somewhere else.

Skylanders: Swap Force looks like a good game, not just a clever sales pitch

The Skylanders series may be making the kiddos squeal and raking in the cash, but the actual games have never been something to write home about. The next installment in the franchise, however, might change that.

Next-gen consoles need to focus on enabling great games to stay relevant

Hopefully, Sony and Microsoft have remembered that their consoles are game machines first as they prepare to introduce new systems.

Wii U sales might be a preview of what other console makers can expect

Wii U sales were respectable but still disappointing for Nintendo. Given the changes coming to the gaming industry, other console makers might find their enthusiasm equally tempered in the coming years.

Vigil’s abandonment shows game publishers won’t take risks

With a new project in hand, developer Vigil was left on the table in THQ's recent auction. What does this say about the gaming industry's aversion to risk, and does it promote an environment where new ideas are rewarded?

Games need to address women in military combat

Women in the military will soon be in firefights on the real battlefield, so video games that want a realistic simulation will inevitably have to address the issue. If they do it responsibly, they could actually play a constructive role in changing the hearts and minds of future generations.

Piston, Razer Edge could bring the rise of easy PC gaming this year

2013 is on course to be the year that PCs show you that a smoother, higher resolution world exists outside of the walled gardens of gaming consoles.

Violent game tax more opportunistic than realistic

The proposed violent video game tax presents all kinds of problems, not the least of which is government's continued willingness to ignore a public health concern.

Wii U is a different, not better, console experience (Review)

Nintendo insists on creating solutions to problems that don't necessarily exist in gaming. It's newest home console, Wii U, approaches things differently than other boxes on the market, but that doesn't make it a better experience.