You can slog it! Slog it good!Don't forget it: You heard it hear first, folks. First, there was weblogging. Then there was blogging, vblogging, podcasting, twittering; the list goes on. Now I'm pleased to introduce a new buzzword into the mix: Slogging!

So, you ask, what the hell is a slog? Let me show you an example from our own expert slogger, Stu: Gates of Delirium Live - Post 13. Stu (alias yakumo9275) has been slogging his way through a game called Gates of Delirium, which turned out to be quite a grueling challenge indeed. Nevertheless, he got all the way through the game, making regular slog posts on AA complete with screenshots and personal reactions. Earlier examples of slogs include the famous Blogging Ultima slog.

So, why slog? I see at least five reasons. One, it gives you the chance to become pretty much the undisputed expert on at least one game, particularly if it's a rare or obscure game like Gates of Delirium. Second, you get to provide an insider's view into a game, which may lead to terrific insights for modern game makers and writers. Thirdly, it's lots of fun to play through a game and share your experience with similarly-minded people, who may offer you tips, advice, and even mojo when things get rough. Fourthly, you can correct people who call you a "blogger" by pointing out, "No, I'm a slogger." Finally, you get that awesome sensation that comes from triumphing over a game in the face of insurmountable odds (i.e., your own boredom and laziness).

What kind of games are good for slogging? I think the best slogs are for games that few people, if anyone, have had the persistence (or, obsessive compulsiveness!) to get all the way through to the end--the "so bad, they're bad" games. These are lots of fun to write and read about. Another good candidate are very long or involved games, such as Sierra's Time Zone. A third category are games that are very old or existing only for rare platforms. It's always nice and helpful to read about a game with unusual hardware requirements or that few, if anyone, will have ever seen (much less played all the way through).

I might also add that slogging is better for games that do have some sort of beginning, middle, and end. I couldn't imagine really slogging frogger, for example. However, I could easily see slogging the Adventure cartridge or Ultima: Escape from Mt. Drash. Any game with a reputation for obscurity, wretchedness, or difficulty is a solid slogging candidate. Want to slog through Wizardry IV? The Tarturian? How about Adventures in Serenia?

Remember, a good slog has to do more than just describe the game. You should also talk about your thoughts and experiences. What did you try that didn't work? What aggravated you? What made you giddy? If you have the ability to take screenshots or capture video (via YouTube), even better.

So, folks, get out there and slog it up! Armchair Arcade will proudly publish any slog worthy of the name, so get after it.