GameSetWatch Column Index
Links to the Raroos' Output on GameSetWatch
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2011 Edition (Collecting Our Final Thoughts)
Original Post Date: July 25, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnists The Raroos wrap up their San Diego Comic-Con coverage with Missus Raroo's thoughts on the "Catch 'em all" mentality. In case you missed the Raroos' other Comic-Con write-ups, be sure to check out their account of Preview Night, The First Day and The Second Day, and The Third Day, not to mention their photo gallery of Sega Arcade.]
Sega Arcade Opens in San Diego (But Only During Comic-Con)
Original Post Date: July 24, 2011
Excerpt: Sega Arcade? In downtown San Diego? Whaaaaat? Had I suddenly been transported to Akihabara?! Sadly, as I came closer, I realized this was not actually a new arcade, but rather just an exhibition for Sega to show off their upcoming game releases. Still, to their credit, Sega did it with style. They rented a storefront and transformed it into what is essentially the ultimate Sega mancave.
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2011 Edition (Part 4)
Original Post Date: July 24, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family continue their report on San Diego Comic-Con International with a chronicle of the third full day of the convention. If you missed them, be sure to check out their account of Preview Night, The First Day and The Second Day.]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2011 Edition (Part 3)
Original Post Date: July 23, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family continue their report on San Diego Comic-Con International with a chronicle of the third full day of the convention. If you missed them, be sure to check out their account of Preview Night and The First Day.]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2011 Edition (Part 2)
Original Post Date: July 22, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family continue their report on San Diego Comic-Con International with a chronicle of the first full day of the convention. If you missed it, be sure to check out their account of Preview Night. Look for more updates from the Raroos in the coming days.]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2011 Edition (Part 1)
Original Post Date: July 21, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family are representing GameSetWatch at San Diego Comic-Con International once again. We plan to run daily updates from the Raroos, beginning with this account of their adventures on Preview Night.]
Mister Raroo at E3: I Need a Cup of Coffee
Original Post Date: June 10, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo wraps up his E3 coverage and reports on the third day at the convention. Included in the write-up are mentions of Power Rangers, booth babes, coffee, and other such pressing topics. Make sure you take a look at Mister Raroo's first and second day reports, too!]
Mister Raroo at E3: An Overload of StreetPasses (And Everything Else)
Original Post Date: June 9, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo continues his E3 coverage with another repot of the day's adventures. Unlike other media outlets, only Mister Raroo's write up delivers such hard-hitting content like eating sugary cereal, watching the gaming media go into a food frenzy, and talking to others with food on one's face. Be sure to read Mister Raroo's day one write-up if you haven't already, and look for his E3 finale soon!]
Mister Raroo at E3: First Day Jitters
Original Post Date: June 8, 2011
[We sent regular GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo to E3 to report on the experiences of being there. For this first day he details his travel to Los Angeles, the games he saw, the people he met, and even the food he ate, all with his usual intimate style. Look forward to Mister Raroo’s updates over the next couple days as well.]
Safe Travels, My Little Pokémon Trainer
Original Post Date: May 3, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo follows up his report of Nintendo's Pokémon Black & White Tour with a sweet, touching reflection on being a parent and watching your children grow up. Special guest artwork supplied by Maré Odomo.]
Mister Raroo's Poké-Tastic Birthday Bonanza
Original Post Date: February 21, 2011
[Don't think for a minute that Pokémon is just for kids! GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo spent his birthday attending Nintendo's Pokémon Black & White Tour. He thought it would be fun to share photos and thoughts from his experience.]
Missus Raroo Says: Reminiscing About Ragol
Original Post Date: February 2, 2011
[Missus Raroo heads down memory lane with a look at the Sega Dreamcast's beloved Phantasy Star Online in honor of its ten year birthday. If it wasn't for Phantasy Star Online, the Raroos might not be married with kids today! Mister Raroo contributed illustrations, making this a true husband and wife team effort.]
Original Post Date: January 25, 2011
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo is a fan of Microsoft's Xbox 360 peripheral Kinect, but there are five main reasons he's not able to get the most out of his new toy. It's not easy playing Kinect when you don't have a massive living room, share a home with kids and pets, and worry about how silly you look to others!]
Poppy Culture - Spotlight on a Small But Mighty Developer
Original Post Date: December 23, 2010
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo takes some time to highlight the work of one of his favorite iOS developers, Poppy. With so many iOS games in Apple’s App Store, it can be tough for many developers and publishers to have their work get any attention. Mister Raroo loves the cute, simple style of Poppy’s games, and he thinks you just might, too! NOTE: Because Poppy’s art is so charming, Mister Raroo decided to eschew his usual drawings and let the screenshots stand on their own.]
(Article also appeared on Gamasutra)
Original Post Date: December 14, 2010
[As the end of 2010 draws near, regular GSW columnist Mister Raroo details his picks for top games of the year in this special article.]
Refurbishing the Castle(vania)
Original Post Date: November 2, 2010
[In a return for regular GSW columnist Mister Raroo, he looks at this year’s three Castlevania games, reflecting upon how they differ from other games in the series. He then explores possible directions for the series to head into. If you thought Konami had already experimented with Castlevania, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Mister Raroo somehow brings such elements as custodial work, dating simulations, bullet hell, and DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince into the mix. Well, okay!].
Appreciating the Fineness of Print
Original Post Date: August 26, 2010
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo reflects upon how reading information in print is an entirely unique experience that can’t be replicated in any other way. Along the way he touches upon the special qualities that make the best print publications so great, the differences between publishing in print and electronic formats, and how his unsuccessful attempt to join Electronic Gaming Monthly’s staff led him to being the family man he is today.]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2010 Edition (Part 5)
Original Post Date: July 26, 2010
[GameSetWatch's coverage of Comic-Con concludes with a collection of photos from the event compliments of The Raroos. In a revelation that shocked everyone here at GameSetWatch, it turns out Mister Raroo and his family may not actually be a group of elephants after all, but instead are actual human beings! Thanks for reading the Comic-Con series. We hope you enjoyed it!]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2010 Edition (Part 4)
Original Post Date: July 25, 2010
[GameSetWatch's coverage of Comic-Con continues with another report from The Raroos. This update features Missus Raroo at the helm, and she discusses how the changes to Comic-Con in recent years run parallel to the changes in the Raroos' lives during the same period of time.]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2010 Edition (Part 3)
Original Post Date: July 24, 2010
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family are still going strong at San Diego Comic-Con. We’ll be running daily updates from the Raroos, continuing with this report on the second full day of the convention.]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2010 Edition (Part 2)
Original Post Date: July 23, 2010
[GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family are at San Diego Comic-Con and are giving us the skinny on their experiences. We’ll be running daily updates from the Raroos, continuing with this report on the first full day of the convention.]
Comic-Con Time With the Raroos: 2010 Edition (Part 1)
Original Post Date: July 22, 2010
[For the third year running, GameSetWatch has sent our columnist Mister Raroo and his family to San Diego Comic-Con to provide a report on their experiences there. We’ll be running daily updates from the Raroos, starting with this look at Preview Night.]
Falling in Love With Samurai Shodown II for all the Right Reasons
Original Post Date: March 11, 2010
[In honor of the Neo Geo console's recent 20 year birthday, the GSW column regulars The Raroos dug back into the archives of their print zine to present us with Missus Raroo's classic article from 2005 about why she loves SNK's peerless Samurai Shodown II. Not only does her write-up give love to a great fighter, but it also sheds light on the artistry and details that help make it such a timeless game. Plus, her illustrations are really cute!]
Mister Raroo's Top Five Year of the Ox Games
Original Post Date: February 10, 2010
[And you thought the Games of the Year lists were over! Surprise! Regular GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo drops in to visit us with a look at the top five games that mattered to him during the Year of the Ox, from awesome iPhone games to funky DS titles and beyond.]
GameSetContest: Raroo Fun System - The Results!
Original Post Date: December 9, 2009
[Last month we held Mr. Raroo's first GSW contest, in which we asked readers to pitch a Raroo Fun System game in hopes of winning a free download of Arkedo's JUMP! or SWAP! In typical Mister Raroo style, the contest winners are announced in an atypical manner. Don't worry. The rest of us at GameSetWatch are as befuddled as you are!]
GameSetContest: Pitch a Raroo Fun System Game and Win JUMP! or SWAP!
Original Post Date: November 9, 2009
[Mister Raroo is looking for the best ideas of new games for the (fictional game console) Raroo Fun System. Channel your inner game designer and come up with something nifty! Up for grabs are "tokens" for free downloads of Arkedo Series - 01 JUMP! and Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! for XBox 360! Just remember to put fun above all else and be creative.]
GameSetSpooky: Halloween Time With Mister Raroo
Original Post Date: October 31, 2009
[In a change of pace from his usual GameSetWatch column, Mister Raroo treats us to a Halloween tale of gaming gone horribly wrong. As an added bonus, the story features guest artwork by death metal vocalist and illustrator Sean McGrath. You should think twice before you head to your favorite game store around Halloween, or you might suffer the same bad fortune as Mister Raroo. But don't worry, Mister Raroo's tale is only fiction. Or at least, we think it is. Now that we think of it, we haven't heard from him in a while. You don't think this chilling tale could be real, do you?!]
Dreamcast Time With Mister Raroo: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Original Post Date: September 9, 2009
[Continuing his 'Game Time' GSW-exclusive column, Mister Raroo takes a moment to reflect upon the ten years that have passed since the Sega Dreamcast's famous 9-9-09 domestic launch, looking at Fuku-san's piggy bank, Dreamcast "vultures," life-after-death game releases, and much more.]
Comic-Con Time With The Raroos: 2009 Edition (Part 5)
Original Post Date: July 27, 2009
[GameSetWatch has sent GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family to San Diego Comic-Con to report on their adventures there. We've been running daily updates from the Raroos as the convention progressed, and after the first, second, third, and fourth parts, the fifth and final segment is about Sunday.]
Comic-Con Time With The Raroos: 2009 Edition (Part 4)
Original Post Date: July 26, 2009
[GameSetWatch has sent GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family to San Diego Comic-Con to report on their adventures there. We'll be running daily updates from the Raroos as the convention progresses, and after the first, second, and third parts, the fourth segment is about Saturday.]
Comic-Con Time With The Raroos: 2009 Edition (Part 3)
Original Post Date: July 25, 2009
[GameSetWatch has sent GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family to San Diego Comic-Con to report on their adventures there. We'll be running daily updates from the Raroos as the convention progresses, and after the first and second parts, the third segment is about Friday.]
Comic-Con Time With The Raroos: 2009 Edition (Part 2)
Original Post Date: July 24, 2009
[GameSetWatch has sent GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family to San Diego Comic-Con to report on their adventures there. We'll be running daily updates from the Raroos as the convention progresses, and after the first part, the second segment is about Thursday.]
Comic-Con Time With The Raroos: 2009 Edition (Part 1)
Original Post Date: July 23, 2009
[GameSetWatch has -- in a startling journalistic feat -- sent GameSetWatch columnist Mister Raroo and his family to San Diego Comic-Con to report on their adventures there. We'll be running daily updates from the Raroos as the convention progresses, and the first segment is about Preview Night.]
Game Announcement: Mister Raroo's Hauntastic Voyage to Ghosty Ghost Island
Original Post Date: June 7, 2009
[GameSetWatch is proud to unveil Mister Raroo’s Hauntastic Voyage to Ghosty Ghost’s Island, the first release on our new video game publishing label, GameSetWatchGames. Designed by Mister Raroo, Hauntastic Voyage to Ghosty Ghost’s Island will soon be released for the Raroo Fun System game console. Note: Mister Raroo’s Hauntastic Voyage to Ghosty Ghost’s Island, GameSetWatchGames, and the Raroo Fun System exist solely in the mind of Mister Raroo!]
Love Stung: My Affair With Hudson Soft
Original Post Date: May 15, 2009
[In a GameSetWatch-exclusive article, Mister Raroo catches up with one of his first gaming loves, Hudson Soft. Hudson have had an interesting presence in the game industry over the years, and Mister Raroo explores not only Hudson Soft's history, but how his personal experiences and feelings have intertwined with the company's software.]
Growing as a Parent, Growing as a Gamer
Original Post Date: April 7, 2009
[In an interesting mash-up, the latest instalment of Mister Raroo's regular GameSetWatch column uses one of his wife’s blog posts as the backbone for this article, discussing the trials and tribulations of parenthood -- specifically about how being a dad has changed his gaming tastes.]
Mister Raroo Investigates: Japan's Dangerous "Toilet Gaming" Subculture
Original Post Date: April 1, 2009
[In a change of pace from his usual articles, Mister Raroo reports on an unhealthy gaming trend that has recently plagued Japan. With reckless abandon for personal health, a subculture of users exploited a medical product as a way to engage in intense competition for top spot upon an online leaderboard. Thanks goes to GameSetWatch’s Japanese correspondent Shiichi Okuma for assistance in interview translation.]
GameSetPlaying: Mister Raroo's Moments
Original Post Date: March 20, 2009
[Mister Raroo's been a very busy man in the past few months, which means his regular GSW column has been a little on the sparse side a of late. However, anyone looking for a Raroo fix should note that he has been quietly chronicling the games he's been playing on his relatively new blog, Moments. Here's some highlights...]
Original Post Date: March 17, 2009
[Returning to his GameSetWatch-exclusive column after a break, gaming's very own Garrison Keillor, the permanently sunny Mister Raroo looks at why, although many gamers are accustomed to certain types of structure in games, the moment-to-moment enjoyment of playing may be even more important.]
Two Sides to the Story: The Pros and Cons of Digital Distribution
Original Post Date: January 23, 2009
[Mister Raroo's latest regular GameSetWatch column considers the positive and negative aspects of digital distribution - where, naturally arguments for and against are made by an angel and devil sitting upon his shoulders. Can the angel and devil reach a consensus, or will Mister Raroo have to listen to their squabbling to no end?]
Cross-Platform Lovers: How to Cope When Your Girl Isn't a Gamer
Original Post Date: January 12, 2009
[Mister Raroo contemplates what life is like when you're in love with a non-gamer. Speaking from experience, he provides inside tips on how to have a happy and healthy relationship without sacrificing playing video games. This may be the first GameSetWatch article to visually depict carnal relations, too!]
A Year With Mister Raroo: Bidding a Fond Farwell to 2008
Original Post Date: December 29, 2008
[Another 365 days has passed, and in an exclusive GameSetWatch article, regular columnist Mister Raroo takes the opportunity to reflect upon 2008 in terms of not only gaming, but his personal life as well -- and as an added bonus, he includes his top 10 games of the year!]
From Cacophony to Harmony: Wii Music is Better Than You Heard
Original Post Date: December 12, 2008
[Mister Raroo continues his exploration of “non-games,” this time with an examination of the oft-maligned Wii Music. Raroo believes that anyone with the slightest bit of musical knowledge, a touch of rhythm, and plenty of creativity should think twice before they dismiss Wii Music. It may not be software that all gamers can appreciate, but it may also be worth another look.]
Quickie Gaming: Small Commitment Equals Big Fun
Original Post Date: December 5, 2008
[Missus Raroo once again takes the helm in the Game Time column, bringing her unique and personal perspective to the topic of commitment. With our lives seemingly getting busier all the time, it’s tough to commit to just about anything, especially gaming. Missus Raroo examines how in many ways her life has become a series of “quickie” commitments, and brings this discussion around toward ways in which games can successfully make use of the “quickie” mentality.]
Get High: The Return of the Score
Original Post Date: November 28, 2008
[For those of us old enough to remember arcade gaming during its peak, Mister Raroo takes us on a trip down memory lane, recalling the beauty of the high score. Though their importance may have been diminished in the more recent past, his GameSetWatch column examines how in some ways, they may be more popular than ever.]
A Short and Sweet Look at Game Length vs. Quality
Original Post Date: November 11, 2008
[Do you finish your games? Do you believe a game’s quality is measured in part by its length? Regular GSW columnist Mister Raroo takes a brief moment to reflect upon why some games keep his attention while others don’t. As it turns out, he loses interest in most of the games he plays, and he thinks he has the answer to why this is.]
Mister Raroo's Top Five Picks for Halloween 2008!
Original Post Date: October 31, 2008
[Happy Halloween, GameSetWatch readers! After a short hiatus, Mister Raroo returns to discuss some of the games he’s been playing this Halloween season. As is par for the course in Raroo’s articles, other topics manage to find their way into the mix, including embarrassing Halloween costumes, scurrying cats, The Puberty Fairy, and more!]
Happy Anniversary, Sega Dreamcast!
Original Post Date: September 9, 2008
[In honor of the 9th anniversary of the Dreamcast launch in the United States, GSW columnist Mister Raroo takes a look back at 9 of his favorite Sega Dreamcast memories. Beyond simply being a home console on which to enjoy some games, the Dreamcast allowed Mister Raroo to bond with a young student, speak to strange creatures, and even contributed to him falling in love with Missus Raroo. For anyone that fondly remembers the Sega Dreamcast, this article is for you!]
(Side) Eye Training in Minutes a Day!
Original Post Date: September 5, 2008
[Feast your eyes on this! Regular GSW columnist Mister Raroo continues his specially funded examination of non-games with a look at Flash Focus for the Nintendo DS. As it turns out, Mister Raroo's prescription called for eye strain, dizziness, and an eventual secession from the exhausting demands that Nintendo places upon its loyal fans.]
Mister Raroo's Magical Mishaps
Original Post Date: August 26, 2008
[Get ready for more non-game exploration as our very own regular GSW columnist Mister Raroo puts on his magic hat, picks up his Nintendo DS, and tries his hand at Master of Illusion. Unfortunately, it turns out being a master magician is not as easy as it would seem. Do you believe in magic, dear GameSetWatch readers?]
How to Afford Games When Your Cash Flow is Low
Original Post Date: August 14, 2008
[Mister Raroo returns with his regular 'Game Time' column to discuss how his personal finances no longer permit him to buy games in the same quantity as he used to - and why that isn't necessarily a bad thing, given the multitude of choices and alternatives available to today's gamer.]
A Report From San Diego Comic-Con International 2008
Original Post Date: July 28, 2008
[We sent regular GSW columnist Mister Raroo and his family to Comic-Con to report on the event from their usual unique perspective. While the Raroos spent a lot of time investigating the games on display, they also found time to meet up with friends, ride long escalators, and even overhear the difference between Ronald McDonald toys.]
Harvest Mew: My Time as a Pokemon Rancher
Original Post Date: July 9, 2008
[Adorable regular GSW columnist Mister Raroo has been specially funded by GSW to examine what we're elegantly calling “not quite games” - and he starts things off with a visit to My Pokémon Ranch on the Nintendo Wii. Anyone who has ever awkwardly been harassed by a farm boy for being a “City” should take special note with this piece!]
Mistaken Identity: The Perception of Gamers
Original Post Date: June 27, 2008
[In this article, Mister Raroo takes a look at the assumptions that are not only made about gamers, but that gamers themselves make Along the way he manages to discuss a potential murderer that frequents the library, a "bear" meet-up at Disneyland, discussing games with a UPS delivery driver, and more!]
A Baby, a Loveseat, and the Wii: How Nintendo Helped a New Mom
Original Post Date: June 16, 2008
[Missus Raroo takes the lead and brings her unique perspective on gaming to this week's Game Time With Mister Raroo column. She discusses how during her initial time as a new mother recovering from a cesarean section, the Nintendo Wii provided an unexpected source of support. The Wii proved to be more than just a way to play games. Rather, it was a way to access the world beyond the loveseat she was confined to most of the day.]
GameSetPlaying: The Mister Raroo Edition!
Original Post Date: June 1, 2008
[You may remember that we sometimes publish 'GameSetPlaying' round-ups, discussing what games we've been checking out. Well, new GSW columnist Mister Raroo takes the helm in the newest GameSetPlaying to discuss what he's found the time to play lately. It looks like someone's got Nintendo Fever!]
Original Post Date: May 26, 2008
[In this GameSetWatch opinion piece, Mister Raroo returns to take a look at how videogames have helped to break down barriers and bring him closer to his in-laws... and manages to discuss his favorite part of the chicken in relation to his wife's anatomy, spying on someone's late-night cartoon watching, helping to relieve bladder and hunger problems for a hopeful Wii camper, and much more!]
Games in the Modern Public Library
Original Post Date: May 19, 2008
[Kicking off a more regular column from Mr. Raroo with an offkilter starter - the following text is an excerpt from a longer paper he wrote for the course “Information and Society” in the Masters in Information and Library Science program at San José State University.]
All Grown Up: A Gamers Comes to Grips With Adulthood
Original Post Date: May 11, 2008
[In this GameSetWatch opinion piece, we're delighted to welcome veteran game zine writer Mister Raroo, who mailed us because he wanted to talk about how games figure into your life when... your life changes. And we really appreciate his honesty in documenting a change that is affecting so many long-time 'hardcore' gamers.]