What we are playing is a weekly column published on Sunday. Select members of the team talk about the games they’ve been playing over the past week and which they’re most looking forward to. 

Christine Mitchell – I got a new kitten this week so I took some time off work to settle her in so I also got loads of time to play games. Her name is Tali and she’s been helping me play Kingdoms of Amalur and Tropico 4. She’s not too impressed by my [easyazon-link asin=”B0050SYYEK” locale=”us”]Dance Central 2[/easyazon-link] skills though.

Perry Jackson – Finished up Walking Dead Episode 2 which completely shattered the first episode in terms of moral choice and compelling narrative. At points, I legitimately felt bad for the things I had done and who witnessed it. Also started up Spelunky which Todd and I can’t stop gushing about. You’ll hear more on the podcast and I’m about to start up Quantum Conundrum. So much XBLA going on here.

Ross Adams – I reviewed Episode 2 of The Walking Dead, really impressed by what Telltale are doing, you can read my review for more thoughts. Also picked up a cheap copy of [easyazon-link asin=”B0050SY9WC” locale=”us”]Syndicate[/easyazon-link] and played through the co-op, some really cool systems for upgrading and stuff, a lot of fun.

James Heiger – Busy gaming week for me. Played a bunch of the Epic Quest table on Pinball FX2. Then I played through the second episode of the Walking Dead. The game truly forces you to make tough choices. I finished out the week playing Penny Arcade Episode 3. So far so fun.

Nathan Bowring – I picked up and finished The Walking Dead Episode 2 this week, and while it had an amazing narrative it freaked me out. Also continued building my world in Minecraft and played a few rounds of [easyazon-link asin=”B002BSA20M” locale=”us”]Halo Reach[/easyazon-link].

Matt Liparota – I started the week out by buying Link’s Awakening on the 3DS eShop and literally spent my Sunday doing nothing but playing that – so that’s been happening a lot this week (it’s also got me considering going back and finishing all the titles in the franchise I’ve never beaten, so that should be fun if I actually do it). I also spent a good deal of gaming time this week back in[easyazon-link asin=”B004HYK956″ locale=”us”]Skyrim[/easyazon-link] (though I didn’t pick up the new DLC yet) taking back the land from the Empire (sorry, guys, but if you’re going to start the game by trying to chop my head off, I’m going to play for the other team).

Mark Seymour  – Combination of Dawnguard, Space Marine and The Walking: Dead Episode 2 this week. Dawnguard was disenchanting, eschewing Skyrim’s greatest features (exploration) while shining light on its many foibles (story and endless loading screens, chiefly). Space Marine is even dumber than I anticipated while The Walking Dead left me fuming. Trouble is, I can’t explain why without giving everything away (although Telltale do a stand up job of that that anyway).

Some of us have been whispering about this year’s Summer of Arcade over on The Twitter. We think many of the games outside of the annual soiree are more exciting than those in it. What is your view, good reader? And, as always, what have you been playing this week?