Category: Today’s Specials

Coffee Talk #271: Sleeper Hits of 2010

There were so many fantastic games in 2010 that some of them were bound to get less attention than they deserved. Are there any games that you loved this year that fit that description?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, whether you got powers from the recent lunar eclipse, why the hell Manny Pacquiao is fighting Shane Mosley, or Cafecito Organico’s Guatemala El Carmen Estate, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

There were so many fantastic games in 2010 that some of them were bound to get less attention than they deserved. Are there any games that you loved this year that fit that description? 1Up.com’s Sam Kennedy, Gamasutra’s Christian Nutt, and GameFly Media’s (Shacknews) Garnett Lee share their sleeper hits of 2010. Watch the video above to see if any of your favorites made the list.

Naturally, I want your picks for 2010’s sleeper hits. Let me know what games you think should have gotten more love.

Coffee Talk #270: The Biggest Gaming News of 2010

What was the biggest gaming news of the year? Find out what 1Up.com’s Sam Kennedy, Gamasutra’s Christian Nutt, and GameFly Media’s (Shacknews) Garnett Lee had to say on the matter.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, CAA’s involvement with the formation of Respawn, Harmonix suing Viacom, or Larry Brown’s next coaching job, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

2010 was a truly fascinating year for the gaming world. There’s so much change in the air! 3D gaming, social gaming, motion controls, mobile gaming, developer consolidation, publisher power shifts, and more have changed and will continue to change the gaming landscape. What was the biggest gaming news of the year? Find out what 1Up.com’s Sam Kennedy, Gamasutra’s Christian Nutt, and GameFly Media’s (Shacknews) Garnett Lee had to say on the matter by watching the video above.

Naturally, I want to know what you thought was the biggest gaming news of 2010. Shout it out in the comments section (please)!

Coffee Talk #269: Your 2010 Videogame Disappointments

My excellent friends GameFly Garnett Lee, Gamasutra Christian Nutt, and 1Up.com Sam Kennedy are back! This time around they talk about the games that disappointment them the most in 2010. What games let you down in 2010?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the dangers of acting in the Spider-Man musical, Bryan Danielson wrestling his real-life trainer last night, or Yao Ming out for the season (again), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

My excellent friends GameFly Garnett Lee, Gamasutra Christian Nutt, and 1Up.com Sam Kennedy are back! This time around they talk about the games that disappointment them the most in 2010. Naturally, I want to know about your videogame disappointments (But only after you’ve watched the video. Ha!). What games let you down in 2010?

Coffee Talk #268: Your Favorite Game of 2010

It’s time for you to declare your favorite game of the year! I’ve dragged three of my friends into the mix — three friends that happen to be some of the best editors in the videogame business.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Milwaukee Brewers making some noise with the Greinke trade, WWE Edge as your new World Heavyweight Champion, or your favorite Christmas dish, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

It’s time for you to declare your favorite game of the year! I’ve dragged three of my friends into the mix — three friends that happen to be some of the best editors in the videogame business. 1Up’s Sam Kennedy, Gamasutra’s Christian Nutt, and GameFly Media’s (Shacknews) Garnett Lee share their personal game-of-the-year choices in the video above.

Kindly check out the video and share your favorite game of 2010!

BioWare’s Muzyka and Zeschuk Entering AIAS Hall of Fame

It was excellent waking up to the news that BioWare’s Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences hall of fame in 2011. BioWare is one of the best developers in the business and the AIAS is one of the most respected organizations in the industry. Ray and Greg are also two of the nicest, most incredible people I’ve met and the AIAS is my favorite professional groups in gaming.

The induction will take place during the Interactive Achievement Awards at DICE 2011. Here’s what AIAS president Martin Rae had to say:

The Doctors — Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk — have produced some of the most wildly successful and accomplished games, and these will resonate among gamers for a very long time. The range of their talents is endless, from game design and production to being accomplished in business and corporate leadership, and their original backgrounds as physicians. They truly embody what it means to be a Hall of Fame recipient and the AIAS is looking forward to including them into our esteemed list of inductees.

The docs are just talented, hard working, and shockingly nice people. If my right knee wasn’t damaged, I’d be jumping up and down over their pending induction. As some of you will recall, during DICE 2010 I actually asked Greg who he’d choose to induct him into the hall of fame. Epic Games president Dr. Mike “Busta” Capps will be handling the honors…but I really think they should let me do it. I’m going to go work on that now.

Coffee Talk #267: Your Favorite Music of 2010

It’s time for more of your 2010 favorites! This time around it’s music…because you can’t stop the music.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, following Scarlett Johansson to Jamaica to console her, dreaming about the MacBook Air, or Paul Pierce giving Nate Robinson a back body drop, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

It’s time for more of your 2010 favorites! This time around it’s music…because you can’t stop the music. This’ll actually be really good for me too since I shy away from modern music. All the indie-pop bands I loved in 2001 have broken up and the only new music I’ve listened to a lot this year is Infant Sorrow. Hopefully some of you will inspire me to buy some new tunes!

Now give it a go (please)! What was some of your favorite music in 2010?

Coffee Talk #266: Your Favorite Sports Moment of 2010

Let’s wrap up 2010 by discussing a few of our favorite things (raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens). We’ll talk about our favorite music, movies, and games of the year in the next few Coffee Talks. Today I want to hear about your favorite sports moment of 2010.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Cafecito Organico’s El Salvador Rainforest Alliance, Scarlett Johansson breaking up with Van Wilder, or the Julian Assange defense fund, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Let’s wrap up 2010 by discussing a few of our favorite things (raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens). We’ll talk about our favorite music, movies, and games of the year in the next few Coffee Talks. Today I want to hear about your favorite sports moment of 2010. As for me, that’s easy!

LeBron James’ “The Decision” was the most fascinating sports event of the year to me. It transformed a generally loved athlete into a generally hated one. It showed that even super-rich athletes look like picnic tables when wearing red gingham-check shirts. It gave the world an all-purpose phrase — “I’m going to take my talents to South Beach” — which can be used for bailing out of drinking sessions, going to the toilet, playing with yourself, and more. “The Decision” offered drama, unintentional comedy, emotion, and more. I loved it!

Now it’s your turn. What was your favorite sports moment of 2010?

Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Screens: Tifa and Lightning!

The latest batch of Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy screens adds some girl power with Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII) and Tifa (Final Fantasy VII). Laguna’s there too…but he’s not nearly as interesting (for boys). While I enjoyed the first Dissidia, the gameplay was a tiny bit lacking. The sequel should be a deeper experience. I’ll definitely play it just so I can mark out at different Final Fantasy characters sharing the screen.

Kindly check out the screens and let me know if you’re interested in Dissidia 012 [duodecim] and if you’ve been calling it Dissidia 012 Dewey Decimal System. What Final Fantasy character match-ups fill your dreams? I want to see Faris (Final Fantasy V) and Vivi (Final Fantasy IX)!

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Coffee Talk #265: The Gaming Press Must Evolve or Die

I’m convinced that the videogame enthusiast press is at a critical junction. When I first started writing about games, a magazine cover from the likes of EGM, Game Informer, and Compuer Gaming World was a PR flak’s ultimate prize. That changed to website takeovers, with the big fish being IGN and GameSpot. These days…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Cliff Lee going to the Phillies, Brett Favre’s streak ending, or Christina Aguilera’s naughty photo leak, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’m convinced that the videogame enthusiast press is at a critical junction. When I first started writing about games, a magazine cover from the likes of EGM, Game Informer, and Compuer Gaming World was a PR flak’s ultimate prize. That changed to website takeovers, with the big fish being IGN and GameSpot.  These days games are making big splashes on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, in Entertainment Weekly, and during the Spike TV VGAs. Traditional videogame enthusiast outlets can’t compete with NBC, EW, or Spike TV.

Last night Uncharted 3 made an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Naughty Dog’s Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra were on hand for the demo. Can you imagine Hironobu Sakaguchi and Yoshinori Kitase showing off Final Fantasy VII on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1997?!? Triple-A videogames debuting on mainstream television and in mainstream magazines is becoming the norm. Traditional videogame outlets have to change their approach or lose relevancy.

That’s what I think anyway. How about you? Do you think the Entertainment Weeklies and Jimmy Fallons of the world are making it harder for the IGNs and GameSpots? Will videogame outlets have to focus on follow-up articles on triple-A games instead of debuting them? Or are enthusiast magazines and websites fine the way they are?

Coffee Talk #264: Game Developers vs. Game Journalists

I have the utmost respect for game developers. I’m amazed by how hard many of them work and how much they put into their games. With that in mind, I hate when developers…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the beauty of Buddha Bar, the Red Sox owning the MLB winter meetings, or why Winona Ryder isn’t bigger, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I have the utmost respect for game developers. I’m amazed by how hard many of them work and how much they put into their games. With that in mind, I hate when developers accuse reviewers of “not getting it”? I understand that developers get attached to their products and it’s sometimes hard for them to take criticism, but it’s ridiculous when they think it’s some sort of disrespectful conspiracy.

Silicon Knights’ Dennis Dyack immediately comes to mind when thinking about this whole deal. More than any other developer, he has been extremely critical of game reviewers. (In some cases he’s absolutely right. In others, he sounds a little crazy.) When Too Human was met with mediocre to poor reviews, Dyack accused journalists of not getting it.

More recently, Warren Spector felt that game reviewers didn’t understand the camera in Epic Mickey. He told MTV:

This is a game that takes platforming elements and adventure game elements and role-playing elements and merges them. So we couldn’t tune the camera perfectly for platforming or for action adventure. It’s a very different camera style. What we did is try to find the best compromise in the moment and give the player as much manual control as we could. So we took the hardest problem in third-person gaming and made it harder by trying to accommodate two different playing styles.

And I will go to my grave, imperfect as it is, proud as hell of my camera team. If reviewers want to give us a hard time about it because they’re misunderstanding the game we made, it’s not for me to tell them that they’re wrong, absolutely not.

The thing is, I don’t think reviewers should give a damn that the camera tried to accommodate a variety of genres. They should give a damn that the camera takes away from the game’s fun and should convey that to their readers. At the end of the day, reviewers are gamers. They are responsible for telling their fellow gamers whether a game is enjoyable enough to purchase.

Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue. Should reviewers care about the developers’ technical goals when judging a game? Do developers have a point when they say that reviewers don’t get it? Lastly, can you please take away my nasty hangover?