E3 Rumors: The Big Three Have Things Up Their Sleeves

Here we go again, the proverbial rumor mill is a turning, as we're about a month away from this year's E3. Tons of talk are around the industry's big hitters; Sony, Microsoft, & Nintendo. Let's throw out some tidbits that we know of presently.

First up, SONY will be revealing their iteration of their PS4 platform, a PS4.5 or PS4K* ,*as unofficially coined by Kyle Bosman of The Final Bosman of Gametrailers fame, This PS4.5 will boast a beefier inside to tackle 4K gaming and most likely accompany their Playstation VR, launching in the fall.

Secondly, as in any arms race, the competition will also compete so MICROSOFT has also been rumored to be revealing a more powerful Xbox One. Rumors are swirling if this new iteration to the Xbox platform will also help with introducing people to Augmented Reality games with the Hololens.

Lastly, but not at all least, NINTENDO is working on their own newest iteration of console codenamed the NX. Nintendo's NX is said to be on pair with current Xbox One and PS4 specs. This will be Nintendo's answer for their Wii U mishap. Will the NX have some gimmick just like the WIi U did, and the Wii before that?

My impressions, while yes I and everyone else will be waiting anxiously for Nintendo's newest console to play the breath taking Legend of Zelda title that's in the development, - although it has been revealed that there will be a Wii U version as well - more importantly the introduction of a new console this early in on their respective console generations makes Sony and Microsoft will be breaching new territory. I personally loved PC gaming but I hated the constant upgrading and keeping-up-with-the-Joneses to play the latest titles at the settings that I wanted. With the newest systems that will allow newer gamers to experience the best gaming possible, up to that point anyways, I really hope it doesn't send tidal waves throughout the industry. Will there be many other gamers left out due to their current hardware? If anything, this year's E3 is the big highlight of what's going on, what's going to happen and what everyone is going to be complaining about in a few months. lol

Holiday Gaming Releases Are Upon Us!

Tomorrow marks November 10th, the day three different franchises are released simultaneously. Crazed fans can expect to finally get their hands on Fallout 4, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void - among who knows what other entertainment options for the masses. Yes yes, we're finally there, it's the holiday gaming season.

While gamers have to wait all year long for this time, it's finally upon us. Aside from some stellar releases this year; Rare Replay, Halo 5: Guardians, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain, Bloodborne, Batman: Arkham Knight, Forza Motorsport 6 & Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, the cream of the crop, so to say, is within grasp. Here are a few titles that'll be taking up your precious leisure time in the coming months as they're looking to be stellar additions to their already esteemed franchises.

• Fallout 4 Release: Nov 10th Set in an open world post-apocalyptic infamous "wasteland" setting and littered with mutated enemies, vast loot and staring a dynamic story, did I mention it's an Open-World Role-Playing Game, from the creators of other amazing open world games Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda Studios. RPG gamers have been waiting for the sequel to the critically acclaimed Fallout 3 ever since 2008 - the year that Fallout 3 was released. Here's to hoping productivity globally doesn't diminish due to this game's release. The game's targeting V.A.T.S. is back but this time you can select enemies on the fly without the stutter stop clumsiness of the previous iteration. Also making a reappearing appearance is the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. perks system but this time the level cap has been axed. Want a beefy action guy that's reminiscent of Arnold - Get to the Choppa! -, you got it. What about a stealthy ninja who takes out enemies simultaneously in the dark like a trained assassin, check. Your imagination is the limit with this one. Fallout 4 is a multi-platform game with exclusive features for the Xbox One like Backwards Compatible Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 mods - a first for the console version.

• Rise of the Tomb Raider Release: Nov 10th Continuing the success of the formula Crystal Dynamics retooled into the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, Rise of the Tomb Raider continues to give gamers the high fantasy of being stuck in tombs and climbing icy frozen cliffs a few hundred feet off the ground while unraveling a thralling story with explosive combat and platforming. Promising the same fan favorite gameplay along with new locations and story, it seems like Crystal Dynamics finally knows where the franchise is headed. This action-adventure game is sure to give thrills, chills and vistas but more importantly we finally get a glimpse of the physiological effects Lara Croft endures with the madness she undertakes. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a timed Holiday Xbox exclusive with it going multi-platform in the near future.

• Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void Release: Nov 10th To cap off such an epic story that Blizzard Entertainment has crafted with Starcraft II is a high note. Legacy of the Void tells the continuing story focusing on the Protoss race, their homeworld, lore, buildings and iconic characters we know and love from the Starcraft II storyline. Of course the infamous mutliplayer will also get infused with these enhancements and even if you don't have the stand-alone expansion you'll be able to experience the enhancements as Blizzard is allowing any version of Starcraft able to experience the new features of Legacy. Expect to see some brilliant tacticians in the coming months. Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed they're working on episodic content for the game, in the form of Nova Covert Ops, and assures fans that more of what they want is on the way. Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void is a PC exclusive and finishes the story set up in Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty - which focused on the Terran forces and story - and continues the story from Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm - which focused on the Zerg forces and story.

Whichever title you decide on, yeah it's a good time to be a gamer, game on!

Console's Showdown: Strengths/Weaknesses & E3 Approaching

Sony's PS4

Currently has

• Strong emphasis on Gaming, slick interface, Indies, Netflix & other apps don't need PS+, 1st Party Exclusives & 3rd Party Support

Current Good Exclusives: Infamous: Second Son, Killzone: Shadowfall, flower, Resogun, Towerfall: Ascension, Don't Starve

​Needs work with

• 1st Party Games
• Robust Features
• Robust Online system

Future Exclusives to Look Forward To: The Order: 1886, Drive Club, The Last of Us Remastered, future Uncharted title in dev

Microsoft's Xbox One

Currently has

• Strong emphasis on entertainment, slick interface, Live & TV services, 1st Party Exclusives & 3rd Party Support

Current Good Exclusives: Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome, +Titanfall, Killer Instinct, Powerstar Golf, Zoo Tycoon, Xbox Fitness, *Peggle 2, *Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare *Timed Exclusive, +Microsoft Exclusive

Needs work with

• Games
• Price
• Indie support
• Robust Features

Future Exclusives to Look Forward To: Kinect Sports Rivals, Halo 2 Anv., Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, Halo 5, Fable Legends, future Gears of War title in dev, rumored Halo 3 & 4 HD ports/Forza Horizon's sequel/Crackdown 3

Nintendo's Wii U

Currently has

• Strong emphasis on Gaming, 1st Party Games

Current Good Exclusives: Super Mario 3D World, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, The Wonderful 101, Nintendo Land

​Needs work with

• Games
• 3rd Party Support
• Robust Features
• Robust Online system

Future Exclusives to Look Forward To: Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros Wii U, Bayonetta 2, Hyrule Warriors, X, Zelda HD title in dev

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Current Good Multiplatform Games: Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, NBA 2K14, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare, Call of Duty: Ghosts, FIFA 14, Rayman Legends, NFS: Rivals, Strider, Lego Marvel Super Heroes

Future Multiplatform Games, most spill into PC too, To Look Forward To: Child of Light, Wolfenstein: The New Order, The Elder Scrolls Online, Watch Dogs, Destiny, Evolve, The Evil Within, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Alien: Isolation, Dying Light, The Crew, Project Cars, Mad Max, Mirror's Edge, Batman: Arkham Knight, Tom Clancy's The Division, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Looking forward to E3, it's coming up pretty soon. What will we see there, what's going to be announced and what is going to send ripples in the current console showdown? Games, lots of games since last E3 was all about the hardware, this year's E3 is all about the games!

Powerstar Golf, A Good Fun Golf Game For The Xbox One

Powerstar Golf

The short and skinny:

• $20 Digital (3.88 GB in size)
• Platform: Xbox One
• Developer: Zoe Mode
• Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
• Genre(s): Arcade: Family, Sports & Recreation
• Strength: Fun Diablo-like looting & addictive golf game, pleasing visuals & gameplay
• Weaknesses: Random item unlocks could frustrate some, no traditional multiplayer
• Uses the traditional 3-Click Swing Mechanic with shot and spin options
• Recommend

https://store.xbox.com/en-us/xbox-one/games/powerstar-golf/19ebfc97-9d8d-4cd7-8493-4ec727e8de46

Extra Reading:

Powerstar Golf Developer Interview (link available in the game's Meld, the game's sub-Menu thing.)

The 11 Best Games for Xbox One according to Kotaku (scroll down to middle of the list)

The long and meaty:

So I decided to pull the trigger on Powerstar Golf because I heard a lot of good buzz after the middling reviews when the Xbox One launched initially back in November. It seems, like many launch titles for the Xbox One, that this game has been supported and updated to address the feedback the developers received. I enjoy virtual golf games, (have played many Tiger Woods titles, Hot Shot Golf, Let's Golf 3D on my 3DS and can go way back to the Links days on the PC even), and Powerstar Golf has an unique style while throwing some interesting spin and cool features to the mix.

The biggest thing you'll notice as soon as you start playing is that this game feels like it was inspired off Hotshot Golf and it uses the traditional 3-click swing mechanic. The other thing you'll notice is that there's a certain style achieved here. The developers, who previously have only done Zumba & other casual dance games, call Powerstar Golf's style a sort of Future Past or "forward-thinking nostalgia" with the setting taking place in an alternate history timeline. You'll notice one of the main characters as a chisel jawed well built male Astronaut inspired from the 1950s and the game's tonal setting inspired by Norman Rockwell paintings. There's also the slinky and slender female characters as well as a few caddies to match the game's unique artstyle. The game itself has character while still feeling relatively realistic. That's in large part to the gorgeous visuals and the pretty decent physics engine working under the hood.

Another performance piece you might notice under the hood is the way the game builds on the strengths of the Xbox One's cloud-infused social features with leaderboards, friend records and Rivals Mode where you battle out your friends in a live turn based fashion. I found myself trying to beat my friend's longest putts and closest to the pin records, with much joy in accomplishing such tasks, because due to being a level 1 golfer, yeah this is a Golf RPG game actually, I played to my strengths and ignored my weakness, (in this case that would be longest drive records). That'll come in time, as over the course of playing you'll gain experience based on how well you hit the ball, where it lands, if you had a good recovery from a bad previous swing or just simply related to your final score for the whole. There will also be optional challenges that'll pop up from time to time in order for you to gain additional experience if completed. After the round is over you'll get a final tally on XP and currency, which you'll be able to apply to the in-game store.

Set up like the packs purchased with random items and power-ups from say Mass Effect 3, or recently Plants vz Zombies: Garden Warfare, Powerstar Golf let's you unlock new power-ups, balls, putters, irons, drivers, etc. It's all about the gear, which boosts the player's specific stats, and that's the biggest love it or hate it thing with Powerstar Golf. The gear obtained via store packs, purchased with the currency you earn playing through a round of 18 holes, adds to your character stats, increasing your number of abilities you can use, allowing you to hit the ball harder and farther, gain more accuracy on your shot-which in turn gives you more of a sweat spot to hit while swinging your club, and ultimately betters your golf character in getting a higher probability of a better score. The abilities are tied to the character currently being used and also the caddie accompanying them.

For example, your character can use his ability to hit the crap out of the ball. Use this to drive longer, boost your power in a time of a shot that's going over an obstacle like water or a sand trap, or just trying to get to the pin in less swings. One character can also guide a ball to the hole via Tesla Power, which obviously you can see how crucial that can be. Caddies all have their own perks to use as well as will relay information such as a cautionary wind direction. They'll allow you to use Shot Preview, see where your shot will end up, and Putt Preview, see how your putt on the green will end up. Those abilities haven't been new to the Golf genre but what makes them unique is they're not handed to you every time, these are abilities that will come in handy when you really need them since their quantity isn't unlimited.

Anyways, the overall gest of the matter is that this is a fun arcade golf title with some very appealing visuals and enjoyable social features, that at times feels like the Mario Kart to Forza analogy. When it comes to Powerstar Golf's abilities, boots, and use of stat improved gear the normal golf game gets a little bit of fun infused arcade sense. Stat improved gear isn't anything new for sports titles, the NHL games have done this well in the past, but the RPG infused design of the game will have you swinging away for many hours to come unlocking better gear, more courses and new characters & abilities (wait is it 3AM already?). Seriously, it's no different than dungeon running in a Diablo like RPG looking for legendary loot, well maybe just at a bit more relaxed pace and less the gates of hell have opened haha. I recommend this game, it's fun, gives something new while also keeping the strengths of previous titles of the genre.

Metal Gear Solid Fame or Metal Gear Solid Shame

Big Boss is angry, contempt, it's kinda hard to tell?

Recently the masses got their hands on the latest Metal Gear Solid game called Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros. When I say masses, I really mean it, as this game's release is available on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game is a prequel and a starting point for the much bigger Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, coming later sometime in 2015. The events take place right after Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and the focus this time around is with Big Boss in an action-adventure stealth environment set in a new shiny open world Fox Engine. With the game releasing for either $30 (physical copy) and $20(digitally copy) many have questioned the legitimacy of such a short demo, which is said to have 2 hours of gameplay for the main story, at such a high price.

Each system has its own exclusive bonus or visual flare.

No matter your opinion on the price and value of this title, one can positively say that it doesn't feel like a full fledged video game release. What the masses are getting is a little snip-it of what and how developer Kojima will be utilizing the Fox Engine to bring a whole new era of Metal Gear Solid. In my eyes though I feel like this is the console's first version of "early access" which has been a staple on the PC marketplace for some time now-and an opportunity for a struggling studio to take advantage of their fans. Developers are allowed to charge players an early-access charge in Valve's Steam program and digital giant distribution service. In trade, players get to toy around with the latest game still in progress, as given like VIP passes to experience all of the game. Often or not these games are at such an early process in their development that many key features are still missing or the developers go back to the drawing board wiping their current progress to start a new. Here Kojima has allowed people to toy around and mess around with Metal Gear Solid's new engine and get a piece of the story puzzle along the way, for a price.

Starbound is a notorious early-access game available on Steam, which has seen many server wipes over its development.

As the game came out there were reports that a speed run had clocked in the game in 10 minutes. Other reports were that if you did everything in the game, side missions and collectibles and all, it would go around to 6 - 8 hours of play. In my eyes, that's not much of a value but diehard fans have jumped on board to what I hope doesn't become an industry trend. Critical reception have also poured out for the game as many are hailing the game since it's behind the Metal Gear Solid franchise pedigree veil, eager to get more from the impending release of MGSV: The Phantom Pain. However take for example how Capcom, yet another Eastern developer and publisher, allowed players to sample a bit of the next installment of the Dead Rising franchise.

Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, a downloadable Xbox Live Arcade game, which ties the story from Dead Rising 1 to Dead Rising 2, allowed players a glimpse of what to expect with the next installment, acquire XP to bring over into Dead Rising 2 and all for a $5 digital entrance fee. At that time some people thought $5 for a demo, something you'll no doubt hear some echo about the MGSV: GZ release, was too much. You can think however you want on the value for MGSV: Ground Zeros, as that can always be debatable, but one things for sure, "early-access" has breached the console environment. Games are expensive, publishers don't want to take high risks and if they can get some cash from gamers eager to play the latest while a future game is in development then they'll no doubt continue this trend. It's just smart business, although due to it being relatively new a business that's taking advantage of gamers at the moment.

Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, let players experience the improvements over Dead Rising 1 in a small bit sized Xbox Live Arcade chunk.

I don't think this is advantageous for gamers out there. Even though many would love to test-drive a new game that's in development, as we're seeing more and more closed and open Betas for titles about to launch, I just don't get that motivation as I'd rather play a finished/polished product. However with a Beta program, you're not paying 30 or 20 dollars to play. The developer of Rust on the PC for example even urged players not to buy into the product he was still working on and stated it wasn't finished, had plenty of bugs that needed to be fixed and wasn't the final experience that he wanted gamers to experience. That didn't stop millions from plopping down their money to join in on the latest talked about the video game, as after all video games are in the entertainment medium sharing such other water cooler topics with movies and TV shows.

If anything I'll laugh if this "glorified demo" is included in the release of MGSV: The Phantom Pain , as the demo of MGS 2 was included originally with the copy of Zone of the Enders for free! It just strikes me funny when critical sources harp on how a game like Titanfall or Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare feel "bare bones" due to no meaty single player questioning the full asking price, $60/$30 respectively, yet when it came to the MGSV GZ game you rarely heard such acquisitions. It's a slippery slope we're heading down here and it's apparent the industry is changing, sometimes you hope the non-advantageous shifts come out being trends and not standards.

Titanfail 360: Microsoft's Silence Causes Concern

The latest must-have game is a somewhat questionable purchase on a last-gen system.

With Respawn's Titanfall on Xbox One already out and kicking, it's within two weeks now and we've still  not seen any footage of Titanfall on the Xbox 360. In an industry that loves to tease or build up hype by showing off footage or even screens months-if not years- in advance from the game releasing, is this a sign of caution or a sign of greedy marketing? Microsoft assures us that the Xbox 360 version of the game will be good. When does it become a common courtesy to consumers and not a legal action in hindsight? Do publishers, developers and hardware manufacturers have the right to not show any footage of a game?

Other than having the information that Bluepoint will be handling the Xbox 360 version of Titanfall, very little information is known. This is oddly suspicious as in either that version pales in comparison, there's not a whole lot of difference between the Xbox One and Xbox 360 versions or rather they would like to show you the "next-gen" version of the game to sell Xbox One consoles as a marketing strategy. I'm thinking the latter since Microsoft pulled this marketing move previously with Halo: Spartan Assault and to tell you the truth as a Halo fan, that game isn't anything special. That game didn't come out onto Xbox 360 until a week after the Xbox One version launched. Considering that the Xbox 360 player base is vastly larger than the Xbox One player base, I think people have the right to know what's going on with the Xbox 360 version of Titanfall.

Strangely enough, this also applies to the Xbox 360.

Now I have a lot of faith with developer Bluepoint, as their previous ports were good - porting over HD collections of such classics as the Metal Gear, God of War and Ico & The Shadow of Colossus Collection - but no screens, no video, not even a press release of the Xbox 360 version has me wondering can they do this? Can companies hold off information of a product, a product that many people have probably already paid or set aside pre-orders for, and still follow acceptable business acts? What happens if the game launches and it's in serious disarray? Will we have another Batlefield 4 case on our hands? Time will tell, and that time is closing ever but so very slowly. I can't wait til the 25th and I can get my hands on my Xbox 360 copy of Titanfall - and hopefully this blackout of Titanfall on Xbox 360 is just a marketing move by Microsoft and not hiding an unplayable game.

Does a Cheap Game Deter Its Fun?

Many of you have probably taken part in the all glorious Steam sale or any other digital and/or physical discount event, perhaps Black Friday? While you can save a ton then, the timeframe a game’s price drops over time has decreased over time dramatically. A game used to go down in price after 4 to 6 months after release, I would sometimes be able to hold off by then, but now we’re seeing things almost as soon as a month on average where you’ll see significant discounts on those release prices. These are said to be the “Golden Years of Gaming”, it’s a great time to be gaming as the industry is thriving and pushing onto untold developments. Does this abundance of cheap games take away from the fun factor of a game and ultimately hurt the gamer’s experience when playing such a title?

A while ago, according to the site I signed up in October 2006, I joined a gaming community and deal discovering hideout called CheapAssGamer.com. Everybody loves finding a good deal on games right. Not even talking about dollar mobile games, you can pick up new titles in the $10-$30 price range, lower if it’s a downloadable indie title perhaps, in a few months after release if you know which retailer is doing the deal or who’s got a promo code.  The site is great, I've found so many games at a reasonable price that it’s helped fuel my gaming hobby, nah lifestyle. So the other day, a few days after the last Steam sale actually, a thought hit me, what if picking up cheap games takes away from the game’s quality and experience.

See I say this as I've got a huge backlog piling up. I pride to be knowledgeable about the industry and what each developer is doing to push the player and make an awesome gaming experience. I heard so many people say "I didn't know anything about the game but it was on sale on Steam so I picked it up." With this abundance of games, digitally or physically, at your fingertips you've got a cornucopia of options to choose from. There’s even more distractions to take you away from playing one game. The amount of an attention span you have to have to devote to one game these days is pretty impressive and with all the second screen experiences out there I’m guessing gamers’ attention spans are not improving. Maybe it’s just me but I've lost track of how many games I had started, played for a few weeks or a few months and never got back to as some other game came out to grab my attention.

I've been going back through my backlog lately, it was actually one of my gaming resolutions to finish or complete (get all achievements) more games I have in my backlog before playing new titles. I wonder the psychology of playing a game that I picked up for $10 used a while ago (figuring I wouldn't get that deal later or that it would be that much when I got around to playing it) compared to playing a game I picked up on launch day for the full price of $50 or $60. I know if you pick up and play a game when it releases and you paid a little extra to get that swanky new Collector’s Edition, you build up some weight to your appreciation of the game already. I know this psychological trick is a known fact that publishers use for their games because more and more games keep coming out with their own special editions to cash in on the passionate fan base that is the gaming populace of the video game industry. I remember the games I’d pick up as a kid, often only one for a long period of time, and devote hours to, the gaming experiences were magical. 

I still remember diving head first into Super Metroid when I was a kid. Playing the game straight through my summer vacation finding every little nook and cranny, secret, unlockable and beating my best time. Obviously as you grow up you’ll find less time to devote hours to a game, the main reason I don’t play Counter Strike  anymore, but you’ll also have a steadier income than when you were a kid – the average age for gamers now is 35 years old- - so picking up 3 to 5 games at one time isn't unusual but is this a good thing, we do get to enjoy more, or is it a bad thing, we’re diluting the gaming experience with so many games. Food for thought.

Top 5 Games of 2013, it's the Top Downloads!

Ok so first off we've all read, or watched, all the best of awards or nomination discussions with the video games that came out in 2013. I figured I'd do something different and give you my top 5 games in the download category. Now I had thought of retail games that you can also get in virtual form -- let alone I picked up Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds digitally with that new sweet sweet 3DS XL bundle --, as downloading games is already the future of now, so those however will not be on my list. Also my list is in no particular order although you can totally think it is and get all upset over a list. Whatever floats your boat. Onwards!

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

This one is kind of cheating since it originally came out in 2009 for DS, although I played it on XBLA in 2011, but the game did come out for iOS this year which is great because everyone should play it. Mixing strategy and puzzle forming gameplay this intricate RPG is unlike no other. With memorable characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, brain teasing challenges, and even with multiplayer, there's sure to be something for anybody playing this addicting good beautiful puzzler. The story was pretty good but I really enjoyed just discovering each character's levels. Each world is seen from a different character's perspective which gives a perfect example of how each character's playstyle and abilities compliment such a fun and addicting game design (hmmm GTA V comes to mind now). This game is one of my favorites, lost many hours playing it and will occasionally play a match against the AI to get my puzzle RPG fix, since I'm not playing Puzzle Quest anymore (god I wasted even more hours playing that one). This is a good mobile game although I played it on Xbox Live Arcade on my decent sized TV.

State of Decay

When I first started the demo for State of Decay I was not sold on what I thought was going to be yet another zombie game cashing in on the whole zombie craze (hey we were burned a few times). Boy did that change fast and I went from zombie fatigue to fully loving being fully immersed in a post apocalyptic setting trying to survive the zombie hordes while keeping everyone I was shepherding in check at the same time. This is not really a world you want to live in but the way the gameplay and character development carried on, the deeper I got into this game the more I connected with it. Keeping track of supply lines and other stats also took priority as each factor in the game that has a stat needs to be watched in order to have a successful little pocket of zombie resistance, known as civilization at this point. For example, need food? Aside from creating a garden at your little base, you could search for food on the radio and set out for a little raiding party. Need ammo, fuel, companions, etc well continue to scurry for supplies around your base and make outposts and alliances to achieve them. Build and upgrade your base and outposts to help contain the zombie horde until you have grown too big and need to move on. Anyone who's watched AMC's The Walking Dead should play this game. The biggest thing that held back State of Decay was its buggy launch and the omission of co-op play, initially promised, unfortunately. Taking a friend with you into this pretty big open, this is a downloadable title by the way, zombie infested world would have given me hours of fun (and fright). So a lot of talk goes to Telltale Game's The Walking Dead when it comes to emotional zombie games but for me it's hands down State of Decay. From the time that I lost survivors that I had been living with for a few weeks, to unscripted events of emergent gameplay I still remember to this day, all the way to that ending, there's plenty of game here. Never before did I feel so defeated and yet satisfied at the same time. This needs to become a franchise.

Terraria

Talking about a game that benefits and should be solely played with a co-op buddy or more is Terraria. Following the successful popularity of Mojang's Minecraft comes Re-Logic's Terraria, an open world sprite based game calling back to the 16 bit days infused with charm. This retro RPG, and sometimes platformer, is all about exploring and crafting in the game's world. There's plenty to do in Terraria and even more so if you're planning on summoning large bosses to battle.While initially releasing for Windows back in 2011, recently this title made it to XBLA, PSN and is now available on iOS and Android. Dig down to discover an intricate system of tunnels under ground, mine for materials, return back to your house and craft everything to your heart's content with said material. Create a village and watch helpful NPCs move in to aid you on your journey. The game consists of many hostile creatures and it's a fight for survival. This 16 bit take on being alone in the wilderness couldn't be more fun and whimsical and would let anyone play out their dream of being a 16 bit Bear Grylls. With a beautiful artstyle and score Terraria shouldn't be missed, especially if you liked playing through Minecraft. Tack on a buddy or more and you'll have hours of enjoyment to be had.

Battleblock Theater

Well if you want to talk whimsical and really fun co-op experience look no further than Battleblock Theater. Made by the same studio behind Castle Crashers, The Behemoth, this game has the same frantic yet fun gameplay with the studio's humor to boot. Set as a prisoner among a cat civilization you have to run the gauntlet of good ol' fashioned gaming arenas that have a series of obstacles and collectibles along the way. If a game were ever to be criticized "too gamey", this might be such said game. However I felt the gamey-ness of Battleblock Theater actually made the game. Never had I had so much fun with a platfomer and if you take along a friend you'll both be cooperatively helping each other out to race to the finish or to squeeze that extra second off your best time. Consisting of a single player campaign, online multiplayer, time trials and a level editor there's plenty to be had with this one. Oh and the story and narration is a great touch, I really couldn't stop laughing and grinning my face off while playing this game. I'd say if you liked the humor and gameplay from Castle Crashers and the humor and narration from Bastion, then you'll like Battleblock Theater.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

The 80's were awesome, we just didn't know it at the time. As someone who grew up in the 80s well I have an excuse I was too little to get it. It only took how many years to look back, at the good parts mind you, at the awesomes (what I'm calling the 80s from now on). Ubisoft Montreal decided to give us a stand alone expansion originiated off of their other superb game, Far Cry 3, as a satirical "retro-futuristic" open world first person shooter and for this I applaud them. So many funny one liners, so many awesome moments, so much badassary in this game - while also poking fun of pop culture, gaming references and even itself at times. Taking what many loved from past shooter games and infusing in modern elements of what we've all been blessed with as of today's gaming evolution, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is the perfect mix of nostalgia and modern game design. Set in an open world players choose however way they want to take down the bad guys and get the girl in the end while leveling up and upgrading themselves and their weaponry. One of the best things about this game to me personally, the soundtrack. Yes, from the title screen music to combat induced adrenaline pumping moments throughout, the score for Blood Dragon is dripping with 80, ah ness. From the sprinkled collectibles scattered throughout, from the set amount of outposts you have to overthrow, to the hilarious and cringe worthy segments of the game, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon was the best faux April Fools joke made video game ever (small category there but you get my point).

Honorable mentions: Plants vs Zombies 2: It's About Time, -- ruined by touch controls and free-to-play microtransactions design although has the PvZ formula intact -- The Stanely Parable, -- I have not played it but from others say it's a great game that breaks the 4th wall constantly and will have you laughing before the end -- Rogue Legacy, -- again have not played it but others say it is a good game (check out the best game picks from Rev3Games for example) -- Gone Home, -- not played but is a new and unique story-telling method -- & Path of Exile -- also not played but is a great game along with one heck of a customization tech tree. Whatever your pick is, it's clear there were some great downloadable bite-sized games to choose from.

Grand Theft Auto V Gameplay Trailer

Well it's Friday so what happened this week in video game. Oh I don't know, a little something called Grand Theft Auto FIVE! Yes, gameplay footage was shown and my god it looks like it's going to be a game to rule them all, so to speak.

Wow, that should have gotten you excited, are you excited? If you're not, please check your pulse or maybe you're a robot. If you are a robot please leave a comment in the... wait a minute. So yeah, many different video game companies will show you cool stuff in a trailer for their game but not 100% of it will be actually what you're doing. Not the case with anything Rockstar! See the guy base jumping off a mountain, you can do that. See the guy diving into the big blue, yeah you can do that. The implementation of three main characters will also continue to breathe more depth into your gaming experiences. From switching from a suburban mid crisis father to a ghetto hood hommie just trying to get by will create some interesting moments no doubt. Throw in the improvements in combat - which is most likely influenced from Rockstar's outing of RDR and Max Payne 3 - and that little teaser of multiplayer, you've got yourself something that's bright on my radar.

E3, stick a fork in it.

E3 is done, not so much as the expo is finished forever, but E3 has come and gone. This year has shown us a ton of new information of games, consoles and the industry as a whole. From the unveiling of Xbox One's games to PS4's actual look and price, we've seen a lot. There were a lot of discussions carried out about who won E3. I think it's kind of absurd to have this black and white notion towards the event. On the other hand though we, as human beings, strive for competition and well it's in our DNA with "survival of the fittest" after all. Right off the bat many would call Sony the winner, they've obviously listened to everyone about our doubts with digital DRM, limitations on used games - which is for some the only way they can afford the hobby - and suspicious that under all that power of a system a big fat price will correlate.

The new Xbox One/PS4 controllers

However Sony's big E3 press conference was heavy on the talk and not enough on actual gameplay of the coming next-gen games. On the contrary though Microsoft's E3 press conference was the exact opposite - as previously they stated they'd be bringing part 2 of their Xbox One to E3 focusing on just the games. They showed lots and lots of gameplay footage of next-gen games but never once talked about their perspective moving forward towards a connected digital gaming "utopia". Some would say dystopia, the Kinect ever watching you - what a great time to announce a device like that with the NSA being such a hot topic these days - limiting the consumer's rights to resell their product and having an online check to make sure you're not a gaming pirate.

No seriously, I legally bought this game!

Arrgggghhhh, pirates are awesome though? At least that's what the latest trend from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and what we see with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Of course in that sense the damn Empire deserves the justice as they've got it way better off than the common folk, (the British are in a luxurious lifestyle and the common folk are struggling to meet ends meet). Us gamers are the common folk and the big gaming companies are the governing British Empire. It's even comical to listen to the big timers at Microsoft tell people to play a Xbox 360 if you don't have good enough internet for the Xbox One. Ouch, that's kind of harsh.

In a small sense I can see that reasoning, heck in less favored gaming communities people are still playing on PS2s. There was actually one PS2 game shown at E3 this year and can you guess what the title was? Yup, it was the latest edition of FIFA, soccer is the world's sport after all. I think Sony talked to the common folk better off than Microsoft did and that's why they "won E3". What do people want, no limitations, good games and a fair price. Yup Sony announced no DRM and no limitations for the used games market, showed off some next-gen games as well as the price of $399 for the console. Everyone in attendance at Sony's press conference cheered and gave applause. It wasn't until the next day when we found out that Sony had lied to the masses and ironically previously were being adored for it. Sony's letting the DRM and used game situation be put in the hands of 3rd party publishers. Hmm, where have we seen this move before? Sony and Microsoft are fairly similar here, both requiring a membership to play online, both specialize in media other than games (they're both entertainment boxes), and both haven't really told us enough for a reasonable purchasing decision.

As you can see, they're about the same.

With Sony's PS4 price at $399 many were happy with the price point Sony had envisioned for the launch of their next-gen console - especially after their disastrous $599 reveal from their PS3's days. What wasn't talked about was discovered later on - we are the internet after all - with the fact that the Playstation Eye, a tweaked version of the previous Playstation Eye, will not be included with the purchase of the system. Well with a purchase of this new device, that was discussed at Sony's PS4 reveal event earlier this year, retailing at an estimated $60 we now have a PS4 costing $40 less than the Xbox One. That's not as big of a sense as $100 feels is it. It's obvious that Microsoft's Xbox One console, bundled with the new tweaked Kinect as well, helps make up its $499 price tag. The inclusion of this device shows the reassurance to developers that the platform is there, as previously developers could only develop for a limited optional device that probably less than half the Xbox 360 userbase didn't have. Some great games were shown off for the Xbox One but that lingering yeah what about the DRM situation was on everybody's mind. One thing's for sure I think I'll be grabbing a PS3 or WiiU since they'll be cheaper alternatives with a stack of exclusive games - Uncharted sereis, Mario Galaxy series and more - that I have not yet experienced.

Weekend Gaming, ready set GO!

It's Friday and all that means is start the weekend, what game or games are you playing this weekend?! For me I'm going to continue to blaze through the tricky streets and cliff adjacent tracks in Codemaster's GRiD 2. There's so many things that can go wrong while racing; an opponent runs into you, you oversteer right into a cliff face, you mess up that last corner before the finish line, mess up a corner on a perfect lap, etc etc. Good thing there's flashback, a feature that Codemaster's introduced into the racing genre with the first GRiD five years ago. Yeah, it's kind of a staple in the racing genre now as other competing games allow you to undo that horrific crash which has probably lessened many frustrated gamers out there - I know it's helped me out. I might pick up and play some Halo 4 matches as it seems 343 Studios has tweaked the weapons to feel a bit more competitive. It's nice that that community is still staying strong. Yes community, flashbacks, weekend, I'm getting at E3 and you'll soon see why.

Well or you could drive too close to a cliff.

It's the weekend yet all I can think about is next week. It's funny, it seems the days before E3 always go slower while E3 rushes by in one quicker than normal week. On Monday we're going to see keynote events from Microsoft which will show off their Xbox One intended games, Sony which will show the games - oh man I can't wait to see some Destiny gameplay - and more importantly their system, and the next day Nintendo will have their Nintendo Direct - the first year Nintendo will not actually have a press event - which people will be able to download on Nintendo products. You wonder if after all three go ahead and show their stuff - don't forget EA & Ubisoft will show as well - if anyone company would be willing to use a flashback to undo what they just did. I'm predicting this will be Microsoft as they've just revealed some astounding limitations that their Xbox One will have in regards to its consumer (the paying one too).

Of course the second to best thing about E3 is the gaming community that follows after it. The discussions while it's taking place, the viral videos many will link, and of course the aftermath where everyone talks about who won E3. We have a competitive nature towards everything, it's not just racing. Someone has to win it, someone has to be the one to cross the finish line before everyone else. It's always fun to see who's going to bring the goods at these things. I'm hoping we'll see some real innovation here, this year it's all about the consoles entering the market. Not only will there be the Xbox One, Sony PS4 but also the Ouya, possibility of a Steambox reveal and we just learned Mad Catz wants in on the console market with the project M.O.J.O.. That's a bit severe in my mind, this happened last time when the Sega Saturn tried to join the mix with the N64 and PS1 and it didn't go well for an overcrowded market.

E3 is fast approaching!

If you ask anyone who plays games, probably a majority of them will say yeah they get excited when E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, rolls around every year. To the hardcore gamers this is like the Superbowl of the video game industry. To many of the mass audience that plays games but doesn't wade through gaming forums E3 is a week of gaming news and trailers that help define what's coming. Well E3 is less than a week away and many sites already have "This is what I want to see at E3" so I'll just cover it in general.

This year's E3 should be a good one specifically due to the big two Sony and Microsoft going to show off their very new next-gen consoles to a global audience. Everyone is watching, even people that don't focus heavily on games, let's be honest these consoles are two computers that let you do about anything on them. Surf the internet, - check - watch streaming TV and movies, - check - keep in contact with your friends -check. Microsoft caught a lot of flak targeting their first - as they claim their big press event & console reveal is segmented into two parts - segment on all of what the general public is probably interested in. Now at E3 we're supposed to get the second segment, the games!

Oh man and they've promised a lot with 15 titles upcoming for the Xbox One with 8 of which are new IPs. There will be many many games shown off at E3 this year but many are interested to see what one two punch Microsoft comes out with swinging. Why should people be bothered to upgrade their gaming console if they're quite content with what they have right now. The main thing it looks like that will influence this decision is the ever connected gaming world where players will experience persistent worlds. Many people on the PC front are already putting up their arms in shrugging fashion noting they can do that already on their computers. True, but I think it's now going to become a global invasion to every player on this planet. As the years go by and we all get more connected we're going to find ourselves immersed in a social gaming environment which I feel will only strengthen this beloved hobby of many.

Something New, Yet Familiar.

Something new, it's what keeps things going, it's what keeps things fresh and it often at times goes hands in hand with a concept that's been around for a while. For this instance it's the norm that becomes the standard, the mediocre, the uninspired that always has the chance to suffocate great originality  I recently finally watched the remake movie X-Men: First Class. Being an avid fan of the previous X-Men movies I was actually fairly excited about a remake of such a classic story that originated from flipped panels of intricate artwork. I was also sort of put off that they were already making yet another X-Men movie. With the days of the next Wolverine or The Hulk movies, it can be quite tiring - and usually people loose interest in the content matter. Assassin's Creed comes to mind (slow the heck down Ubisoft, you're killing your own creation).

Having recently experienced completing the game Bioshock Infinite two days after its release - I was immersed and driven to explore the game's world and story - and having watched the X-Men remake I came to a conclusion, story-telling needs brave and creative ideas to keep an audience entertained. However more on that later though as it seems the remake model is the successful method of the future with as can be seen in the movie and gaming industry.

Just recently I ordered the Collector's Edition of Tomb Raider (2013), the remake that finds Lara Croft finding herself, so to speak. I am eager to jump into the world crafted by the original creators of such an iconic franchise. A lot of new concepts and ideas were brought into the fray for this game including even giving Tomb Raider a multiplayer arena.  This adapts the franchise with the rest of the already connected global audience that play games against or with people online. There's also tons to do within the game with an open world like design set in place to again adapt to the growing popularity of choice. Are you with us or against us, Paragon/Renegade, etc.

Going back to Bioshock Infinite though I had found myself all caught up with the world that I had fallen in love with - metaphorically of course I would never want to live in such places - as previously experienced from the original Bioshock. When people played the first Bioshock it was a vastly new experience, from the world, the characters and even the combat that players carried out in a Utopia city underwater. We learned and discovered about a society that became made with power, so many variations of power might I add. In Bioshock Infinite the story really ramps up and the combat and new imaginative setting really captures own's imagination and sense of play.

After completing Bioshock Infinite and taking a step back from being immersed and living in a world where Nationalism was deemed a norm and revolution was right around the corner, I sat back and really breathed in the fresh new concept the people of Irrational Games had so handily crafted. As to not spoil anything I will just mention that the ending was totally not predicted nor was the city in the floating sky or the affection I would feel for an AI character, Elizabeth. I've played many video games before but never have I felt such a philosophical feeling as I did finishing Bioshock Infinite - Mass Effect 3 was close in this regards only to the state of constantly contemplating the game after weeks of completion.

With X-Men, Bishock and Tomb Raider we see innovation through risk, through daring story-telling and that I believe is what will keep each respected industry going. With next-gen systems coming around the corner one can only be so optimistic that more studios will want to generate more quality work through new ideas and innovation instead of blatant cash ins or sequels that run a series into the ground. It's ok to have a cash in here or there, as I know it's hard to stay afloat as a creative studio these days, but injecting some creativity and moxy into this industry will keep it from stagnating or worse loosing fans in a drawn out war of attrition.

The Used Games War

News broke that a next gen system unofficially termed the Xbox 720 - not pictured above - will not allow people with used games to access them. An activation code will be used initially when the consumer puts it into the system and thus eliminating the ability of a second hand exchange since the game's activation code will have already been used. Of course in order to verify this code your system will have to be connected online.

Many however are wondering if this will be a similar concept to DRM techniques seen on the PC market. With this part of the market piracy is rampant due to almost all PCs sold having a burning disc drive device. To contradict this piracy strict DRM has been put in place where the common denominator is you have to be connected online in order to play said game. Often times being thrown back to the main menu when a connection to the authorization server has been lost and initially, when this concept was first used -as it appears to be learned via the mass complaining of gamers that ironically conveyed this outrage through an online connection-, loosing all your progress since your last save.

Rumors about Sony doing something similar with their next gen system unofficially termed the PS4 -again not pictured above - have also arose due to Sony patents found online that talk about a system the tags games for this similar process. See the gist of things here is the system will read the game's tag, similar to the activation codes that Microsoft will implement with their 720, allegedly, but instead not require an online connection as the authorization process is done via the hardware as opposed to an online server. However similarly this will cut the used games market out as a game that's already been tagged with a specific system will not work on another. That's the whole point of this DRM technique.

I modded my original Xbox way back in the day because it didn't allow me to watch movies without going out and buying a remote for movie playback, while this feature was do-able right out of the box as per modders discoveries. If I feel like a company is putting restrictions on the product I purchased then I feel you as a consumer have a right to complain. These companies want to dictate what you can and can not do with their product and will often ban you from live if you're found to be a "cheater". Now obviously this doesn't go so far that you have to get authorities involved because of illegal actions being carried out. Still the ability to play used games, and thus either try out a game you're not sure about -or to save money picking up a used copy, on a console is paramount to many many consumers out there that enjoy the video game industry. Online passes and DLC have been put in place to deter consumers from pawning off their unused games for a little cash or bonuses towards the latest and greatest.

Oh I also highly bet that, just like the online pass, that you'll be able to buy another code with the gracious action of handing over your credit card. I really hope that does not happen, publishers are already getting their cake and eating it too, as the saying goes.

Games, games & more games

gah so many games, aahhhhhhh

It's that time of year again, when there are more quality (I'm talking really good) games out that gamers know what to do with. You may be frustrated, hopefully not at the point of as the dude above, but it's one of those good frustrations. With still playing Mass Effect 3's multiplayer, running and gunning in Borderlands 2, jumping on briefly to get my dailies in Guild Wars 2 and precision driving the turns in Forza Motorsport 4 I feel like my free time is being tugged back and forth with each game (Oh I haven't forgotten you Skyrim or Amular either). Like Donkey from Shrek, Oh oh pick me - Oh play me. 

It seems not only are retail games trying to get your attention but they're trying to keep it with more and more DLC planned or released for said games. We have Halo 4 coming around the corner and it's already been announced there will be a season of co-operative missions that will be keeping your attention for a while. That doesn't mention all of the DLC we've grown to love from Bioware with Mass Effect 3's multiplayer and single player experiences. Neither does it mention the 4 planned DLC campaigns heading for Borderlands 2. Nor does it mention the fact that DLC for an arcade game that came out a long while, A World of Keflings, just came out and was exceptionally good.

team up you say, why not

With not even getting into Dishonored, X-Com, nor Torchlight 2, the backlog is starting to pile up again. Time to get ready for the holidays and more importantly all the great games, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (if you're still supporting CoD that is), Halo 4, Assassin's Creed 3, Far Cry 3, End of Nations, Tomb Raider...!

So many games, insane you say?

Generals 2 is Dead to Me, C&C is Gone

Wow, news that there will be no single player for Generals 2 and that the biggest change, aside from that mind you, is that the game will be known as a free to play Command & Conquer game, a service revisiting all the C&C universes like Red Alert and Tiberium Wars. You got to be kidding me, how can free to play work with competitive RTS games? More importantly though what made every C&C game I've played stellar was the story. Unfortunately they botched the story of the Tiberium universe having it conclude with C&C 4. Yeah nobody played C&C 4 because it was a horrible mistake, some would say abomination. Yet this looks to be yet another horrible mistake. Farewell C&C, your legacy only lives on in my childhood memories. RTS Gamer for life.

Command & Conquer: Generals 2 Announced!

Holy crap, it's been a while but EA is bringing back C&C: Generals (2003) with the sequel C&C: General 2. Using Bioware as marketing push I believe seemed confusing to me but then after doing a bit of research I've figured out that this "Bioware Victory" team have a number of Gens/Zero Hour vets within their crew. EA is also pushing that they're going to be using the infamous Frostbite 2.0 engine. Take a look at a brief glimpse of in-game footage.

So from the gameplay footage, it looks like it's the Command & Conquer we all know and love. Man did they let all the fans down with the disappointing C&C 4, and more importantly way to ruin the conclusion to one of the coolest video game stories of all time EA. While we don't see Kane or the Brotherhood of NOD here we do see the familiar USA faction fighting China and/or GLA units. Now the factions haven't been announced but a bit of digging I got some specifics.

"The game is set in a near future where global peace is a real possibility. However, with all the world's leaders attending a peace conference, a terrorist attack wipes out the entire cadre of politicians and diplomats, leaving nothing but each country's generals remaining to guide the world forward. Given their area of expertise, the generals quickly bring warfare back in vogue."

Where do I sign up (I played Generals for yearrrrs)?! Oh right 2013... Ok hope by then they integrate persistent leveling for online/multiplayer  (I believe this worked for C&C4), keep the experience and fighting will unlock your General's abilities and throw in a whole lot of desctructible environments using the Frostbite 2.0 engine (and of course powers to create such chaos and mayhem).

Gaming Trends

Pictured above is Lucky Space, a new Facebook game that claims to be for the 'core' players out there. As the picture shows you'll be building and managing a lot on your little asteroid from home. You start off with just that little hub building in the middle and then branch off. Resources in the game include food, ore, crystium, and research. The infamous, follow the quests and level up gameplay of social gaming (with some saying MMOs as well) is present. There are certain tasks players are given and by finishing these tasks a specific reward is given back. This isn't anything new but it's the driving force behind the game as players continue to level up by accomplishing set quests or goals. I'm only at level 15 so I can't say for certain if this is the true Facebook game for 'core' (let's say enthusiastic gamers) but I can tell you it's highly fun to continue to expand and flourish on this little rock (gameplay is said to be inspired off of the Sim City and Civilization games).

Now I've also been playing another free to play browser game but instead of it consisting on Facebook, this game has its own site. Castle Empire Online, a free to play browser game, is from the makers of the Settlers games and is published by Ubisoft. You're tasked to build an empire from a very small town center with resources of settlers, fish, firwood, stone, tools and many many more. As you progress and accomplish your set goals, levels start raising and you start to unlock more and more buildings such as a pivotal barracks and provision's house (a building that converts resources). You progress through the game, after the tutorial quests have been completed, by attacking nearby bandit camps on the map which will ultimately allow you to capture a sector thus expanding your empire (and more importantly allowing you more resource spaces/deposits), granted you fell the bandit leader who controlled such sector.

To call these two games similar is a disservice to the person you're telling that to, they are vastly different (mainly Lucky Space revolves around energy use/time duration and friends while Castle Empire Online revolves around intelligent management of resources with the occasional help from friends). However they both are full fledged free to play browser games. Like Dragon Age Legends, all you need is a computer that can run flash and a current web browser like Firefox or Chrome, you can play anywhere with any computer pretty much. This is pretty huge considering the only games you could play in your browser before were practically simple arcade games which did not have a cloud based system so you couldn't continue where you left off on another computer or day and time. Get ready to see full fledged graphically intense games in your browser in the future and will they too be free to play, (along with the micro-transactions that will help the developers/publishers stay afloat), as we see all so many developers/publishers deciding on at the moment?