Category: Videogames

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

After hopping around Asia for a few weeks, adjusting to life in America, and combating jet lag (it’s winning), I’m ready to resume my gaming life! I’ve played a bunch of “Witch Hunt” for Dragon Age: Origins and will likely give it another run or two this weekend. Aside from that, there are a bunch of PSP games I want to play. My copy of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep arrived yesterday and I’m excited to jump into that world again. My PSP Memory Stick has copies of Disgaea Infinite and Cladun waiting to be played too.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of August 2010

[Michael Buffer voice] Are you ready?!? And now…the top ten games…of August 2010 as cited by NPD Group. Let’s get ready to rumble!!! [/Michael Buffer voice] Here they are:

[Michael Buffer voice] Are you ready?!? And now…the top ten games…of August 2010 as cited by NPD Group. Let’s get ready to rumble!!! [/Michael Buffer voice] Here they are:

  1. Madden NFL 11 (Xbox 360): 920,000
  2. Madden NFL 11 (PS3): 893,600
  3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 124,6000
  4. Mafia 2 (Xbox 360): 121,600
  5. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS): 110,400
  6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
  7. Mafia 2 (PS3)
  8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
  9. NCAA Football 11 (Xbox 360)
  10. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)

Nobody should be surprised that Madden topped the charts. I was very surprised that New Super Mario Bros. for DS made it back to the top ten. That’s pretty crazy. I’m happy for the peeps at 2K that Mafia 2 did well. On a petty note (and one that I can’t entirely explain), I’m please that Just Dance is nowhere to be found.

Any thoughts on August’s top ten?!? Shout it out in the comments section (please)!

Namco Bandai Confirms Keita Takahashi’s Departure

According to Gamasutra, Namco Bandai has officially confirmed the (much rumored) departure of Keita Takahashi. Best known as the creative force behind Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy, Takahashi has a reputation for making refreshingly unique and original games.

His departure isn’t too surprising. He’s currently working on designing parks for children and seems more interested in that than videogames. As recently as last month he seemed disenchanted with the direction the gaming business is headed. He told CVG:

I’m actually not thinking about a future in games. It’s not that I’m not interested in them, but I want to try lots of different things. At E3 I saw people putting on speeches but I thought the future seemed a bit dark. The 3D games didn’t spark my interest. I think motion control’s a bit old now, I don’t think those games are the future. It all seemed a bit dull.

I sincerely hope Takahashi ends up making games again. In an industry full of copycats and countless World War II shooters, Takahashi always had something cheerful and original to offer. Are any of you guys going to miss him?

Source 1

Source 2

This Week’s Videogame Release

I’m still getting back into the swing of things in America, but as far as I can tell there’s only one interesting game out this week: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. As a comic-book nerd and videogame nerd, I’m all over this one…except that the “Witch Hunt” DLC for Dragon Age: Origins is also out this week. Sorry Spidey, BioWare takes priority over you.

Any of you down with Shattered Dimensions? Perhaps there’s something else on your wish list for this week? Remember, with great power comes….

Dog and Finn Join Dragon Age: Origins “Witch Hunt”

Hot on the heels of Ariane’s introduction, BioWare has revealed that Dog and Finn will be in the mix in the “Witch Hunt” DLC for Dragon Age: Origins. If you’ve played the game then you know that Dog (or whatever you named him) is a charming and devastating companion. As for Finn, here’s the scoop:

Finn is a young mage from the Circle of Magi in Ferelden. He considers himself the Circle’s best linguist and foremost expert on ancient Tevinter history — even if others might consider him more of a bookworm, a recluse that spends all of his time in the tower’s dark library. Finn is the unlikeliest of adventurers… but it may come to pass that his academic expertise will force him to out of the library and into an adventure where his arcane might is the only thing that stands between him and certain death.

I like him already. He sounds much more interesting than Ariane — almost like that dork wizard Presto from the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon. Reluctant adventurers can be loads of fun and I’m looking forward to hearing other characters pick on him in “Witch Hunt”.

Any thoughts on the Dog and Finn?

Source

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Aside from Wordfeud for Android with RPadholics Big Blak and SlickyFats, I’m still not playing much of anything in Asia. I will be playing some games on United’s business class IFE on the trip back, but that’s about it. Surprisingly, I don’t miss my consoles too too much. I love traveling, seeing different countries, and experiencing different cultures. My mind has been so busy with Asia, the shoot, and my cold that I haven’t regretted not brining my PSP or DS. Yeah, that sounds blasphemous, but I’m being honest. Ha!

Soooooo, what are you guys and dolls playing this weekend?

Coffee Talk #207: While You Were Out

The title of this edition of Coffee Talk should really be “While I Was Out”, but then it wouldn’t fit in with one of my favorite Mr. Majestic trade paperbacks. Majestros is cool and underrated. You should read his books. Anyway, today’s question is really simple: what was the biggest gaming news while I was away from the site?

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, Kaval winning NXT season two, that giant woman from NXT season three, or if you’re buying a new iPod Touch, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The title of this edition of Coffee Talk should really be “While I Was Out”, but then it wouldn’t fit in with one of my favorite Mr. Majestic trade paperbacks. Majestros is cool and underrated. You should read his books. Anyway, today’s question is really simple: what was the biggest gaming news while I was away from the site?

I’m still in Asia catching up on the industry from afar, but I heard a lot of buzz on the new Xbox 360 controller, Epic’s iPhone game, and Steve Jobs claiming that iOS was bigger than Jesus the PSP/Nintendo DS as a gaming platform. So what happened in the last week that was super huge in your opinion?!? I really want to know…because…well, I missed you all!

Coffee Talk #206: Story More Important Than Graphics?!?

A few days ago, Rpadholic bsukenyan made some interesting statements on the importance of story over graphics in videogames. He wrote:

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 latest Apple iTV rumors, seeing a chicken get its head chopped off, or your prediction for NXT season two’s winner (go Kaval!!!), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

A few days ago, Rpadholic bsukenyan made some interesting statements on the importance of story over graphics in videogames. He wrote:

This idea of “mobile gaming is about to erupt” also supports story over graphics in the classic which is more necessary debate. Story is much more important. I think there are plenty of arguments to be made in favor of story, but for the sake of this topic mobile gaming as the platform works for right now. If graphics were the only thing that made games great then we wouldn’t be having this discussion now, mobile gaming would have already erupted because the graphics are already extremely good.

While story is more important to me as a verbal entertainer and an avid reader of nerd things (comics, R.A. Salvatore, etc.), I completely disagree it’s more important than graphics in the grand scheme of things. In fact, it made me shout out a Brian Fellow, “That’s crazy!!!” Graphics are sexy. Graphics sell consoles. Casual gamers are wowed by the hottest graphics and rarely care about the latest compelling story. The vast majority of people are into visuals, whether it’s games, movies, or members of the opposite sex.

Hopefully bsukenyan forgives me for calling him out (I swear I’m not picking on you), but it’s an interesting debate (even though I know I’m right :P). What’s your stance on videogame graphics vs. story?

Dragon Age: Origins “Witch Hunt” Character Reveal–Ariane

BioWare has revealed information on Ariane, one of three new characters in the upcoming “Witch Hunt” DLC for Dragon Age: Origins. Here’s the official word on this Dalish warrior princess:

Ariane is a gifted Dalish warrior, and her clan’s best hunter. When an ancient artifact belonging to the clan’s Keeper is stolen, one with a history tied to the very roots of the elven people, Ariane is charged with the task of reclaiming it. She is determined to carry out her solemn duty, and when her task turns out to intersect with the Warden’s quest to find Morrigan she realizes that there may be far more to the artifact’s disappearance than simple theft.

Hopefully she’s not an angry Dalish woman like Velanna from Awakening. I’m totally over Dalish people whining about the slavery, being ousted from their lands, etc. I’m pretty sure there are better ways to deal with persecution than becoming a nomadic people that wear funky facial tattoos…but that’s just conjecture.

Source

Morrigan’s Fate Revealed in “Witch Hunt” DLC for Dragon Age

The biggest cliffhanger in the outstanding Dragon Age: Origins will be addressed on September 7, 2010 in the “Witch Hunt” DLC. Along with a new tale than answers a juicy question — what the hell happened to Morrigan? — the game adds three new playable characters. Here’s the official description from BioWare:

The dreaded Archdemon has been slain and the advance of the darkspawn halted by a lone, heroic Grey Warden. The kingdom rejoices, but at least one question remains: what happened to Morrigan? The sorceress joined the Wardens cause, but it is said her true purpose was not revealed until the eve of the last battle. She vanished into the shadows, and while rumors claimed she crossed over the mountains into Orlais no trace of her path could be found. She was never heard from again… until now. Nearly a year has passed since the Archdemon’s death, and word has reached the Wardens that Morrigan has returned to Ferelden. She has been sighted in the southern wilderness where she was first encountered. Is it truly her? If it is, then why has is she here and what secret does she carry with her? The Warden heads into the forest to find out and tie up this last loose end once and for all.

I can’t wait for this DLC!!! Dragon Age: Origins was my favorite game of 2009. In 2010 I’ve been feasting on the DLC and the Awakening expansion pack. I’m pretty sure that “Witch Hunt” will increase my BioWare markdom by at least +100.

“Witch Hunt” will cost 560 BioWare Points on PC, 560 MS Points on Xbox 360, $6.99 on PlayStation 3. Anyone else psyched for this game? How do you think it will play out? Time to write some Morrigan fan fiction!!!

[nggallery id=16]

Source