Is killing always the ultimate means to an end in games? Should Cloud and Sephiroth have gone to the negotiating table in Final Fantasy 7? Can we spin positive themes out from the violent story of Assassin's Creed 2 -- ideas like protecting what one holds dear and the importance of family? Or am I blowing everything way out of proportion?

With the recent re-release of Ogre Battle 64 -- one of Mike Gingras's favorite games -- on the Wii's Virtual Console, he got to thinking about good games that aren't well represented in mainstream gaming. The "hidden gems," if you will. Here are his favorites.

A look into whether videogames truly have an impact, or if they're truly just a new entertainment medium

Musings of a Gamer: Do you need to know gaming's past to be a real gamer?

Religion and gaming is a touchy subject. Mike Gingras delicately explores why, maybe, it doesn't have to be this way.

One gamer loves his handheld systems, and he's not ashamed to admit it.