Supergiant Games’ Bastion is on sale this week for 600 Microsoft Points ($7.50) on Xbox Live. This excellent game is fun action-RPG with a unique narrator, a sweet soundtrack, and great gameplay. It was one of my favorite games of 2011 and I hope you guys give it a shot. If you happen to pick it up, please let me know what you think of Bastion in the comments section.
With the rumor that the Xbox 720 will have some sort of anti-used-game feature, I was curious to hear how much of a factor not playing used games will be for you. Most of us agree that blocking used games would be bad for consumers and…
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, sharpening your video poker skills before heading to Vegas, Japanese curry, or Great Tea Latte Kit Kats, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
With the rumor that the Xbox 720 will have some sort of anti-used-game feature, I was curious to hear how much of a factor not playing used games will be for you. Most of us agree that blocking used games would be bad for consumers and retailers, but what’s it worth to you personally? Will it be a major purchasing consideration? Or will you just grin and bear it?
I see it playing out a bit like backwards compatibility. It will be a huge deal for a small number of gamers; there are some people that will not buy a console that can’t play used games (totally understandable). A larger group of people will make a lot of noise, scream, and shout about the travesty of consoles that can’t play used games…and go ahead and buy one despite their bluster. I believe that the majority of consumers won’t know or won’t care if a console can’t play used games.
So is this issue a deal breaker for you? Kindly let me know if not being able to play used games will be a factor in your future console purchasing decisions. Also let me know how you think most people will treat the issue (please!).
After the expected new-year lull, a trio of interesting games will be released this week. Final Fantasy XIII-2 hopes to address some of the shortcomings of its predecessor. It also adds a Pokemon-like feature, a cute Moogle, and an odd Assassin’s Creed crossover. I’m really looking forward to this one, despite the lack of Reona Rewis. Speaking of Assassin’s Creed crossovers, Soul Calibur V adds Ezio Auditore da Firenze to its list of sword-swinging combatants. Last, but not least, is NeverDead. This trippy action game from Konami features an immortal hero with detachable body parts.
Any of you picking up new games this week?
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and CD Projekt RED have announced that The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings will launch on April 17, 2012 for the Xbox 360. RPadholic smartguy thinks highly of the PC version and has often said that it’s one of the best RPGs in years. It will be interesting to see how the game translates to consoles. Being an RPG fan and valuing smartguy’s opinion, I’m definitely keeping an eye on this one.
Any of you psyched for The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360?
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Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD is still on my playlist. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish a large chunk of the game this weekend. I recently picked up The Bard’s Tale for iPad, as it was on sale for $2.99. I enjoyed the game on consoles and am really looking forward to seeing how it plays on the iPad 2. The game is totally in my wheelhouse — it’s an action-RPG with some of the funniest writing I’ve ever enjoyed.
How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?
Kotaku’s Stephen Totilo recently posted a bunch of “Xbox 720” rumors. The most interesting one was that it will have some sort of anti-used-games measure. Half of me thinks this is preposterous, while half of me sees this as the way the business is going. Naturally, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Before I get to that, here’s an excerpt from the article:
I’ve heard from one reliable industry source that Microsoft intends to incorporate some sort of anti-used game system as part of their so-called Xbox 720.
It’s not clear if that means that the system wouldn’t play used games or how such a set-up would work. Obvious approaches–I’m theorizing here–like linking a copy of a game to a specific Xbox Live account could seemingly be foiled by used-game owners who would keep their system offline. My source wasn’t sure how Microsoft intended to implement any anti-used game system in the new machine.
This would have huge ramifications for the gaming business. Developers and publishers would love the move, while many retailers and most consumers would hate it. Part of me thinks that it’s a little too bold of Microsoft, as it would alienate too many partners that have helped the Xbox and Xbox 360 become so successful. Part of me thinks that it doesn’t matter too much, since physical media will eventually become obsolete; people will bitch and moan for a year and eventually forget that it was even an issue. As a verbal entertainer, I’m hoping that the rumor is true. I’d sit back, grab some popcorn, watch the crazy fallout, and talk about with all of you.
What do you make of the rumor that Microsoft’s next console will have anti-used-games measures?
The good news is that Blizzard will be holding the Battle.net World Championships in Asia at the end of 2012. The bad news is that Blizzcon is on hold until 2013. In a recent press release to promote the the Battle.net World Championships, this little line was slipped in:
In light of our jam-packed schedule, we’ve decided to hold the next BlizzCon in 2013.
BlizzCon is an awesome event full of passionate fans, great panels, and cool products. I’m bummed that it won’t be happening this year (especially since I skipped BlizzCon 2011). That said, I’m excited about possibly trekking to Asia for the Battle.net World Championships.
Any of you bummed about BlizzCon 2012 not happening?
The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences recently announced the nominees for the 15th annual Interactive Achievement Awards. The awards ceremony takes place at the annual DICE Summit in February. Being a huge fan of the AIAS and the IAAs, of course I’ll be on hand. For now, please check out the list of nominees, let me know which games you think should win, and what you think of the nominees in general.
Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham City
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Portal 2
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Developer: Valve Corporation
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Naughty Dog
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Bastion
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Supergiant Games
L.A. Noire
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Team Bondi
Portal 2
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Developer: Valve Corporation
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Toys for Bob
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Action Game of the Year
Battlefield 3
Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Developer: DICE
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
Dead Space 2
Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Developer: Visceral
Gears of War 3
Publisher: Microsoft Games
Developer: Epic Games
Saints Row: The Third
Publisher: THQ Inc.
Developer: Volition INC.
Adventure Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham City
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
L.A. Noire
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Team Bondi
Portal 2
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Developer: Valve Corporation
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Naughty Dog
Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
Dark Souls
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Developer: From Software
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Eidos Montreal
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Developer: BioWare Austin
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Publisher: Atari
Developer: CD Projekt
Mobile Game of the Year
Contre Jour
Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Developer: Chillingo
Dead Space
Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Developer: EA Mobile
Infinity Blade II
Publisher: Epic Games
Developer: Chair Entertainment
Tentacles
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: Press Play
The Dark Meadow
Publisher: Phosphor Games Studio
Developer: Phosphor Games Studio
Handheld Game of the Year
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Publisher: Capcom U.S. A.
Developer: Capcom
Kirby Mass Attack
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Hal Laboratory
Mario Kart 7
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Professor Layton and the Last Specter
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Level 5
Super Mario 3D Land
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Downloadable Game of the Year
Bastion
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Supergiant Games
Drawn: Trail of Shadows
Publisher: Big Fish Games
Developer: Big Fish Games
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Publisher: Microsoft Games
Developer: Fuel Cell
Ms. Splosion Man
Publisher: Microsoft Games
Developer: Twisted Pixel Games
Orcs Must Die!
Publisher: Microsoft Games
Developer: Robot Entertainment
Bethesda Softworks and id Software have announced the official dates for QuakeCon 2012: August 2 – 5. Like last year’s QuakeCon, the event will take place at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, TX. It’s a marvelous time for gamers, especially those that are into first-person shooters and want to hear the brilliant words of John Carmack.
I’d like to go, but August is too far ahead for me to be planning anything. Who knows what I’ll be doing or where I’ll be working. Any of you interested in attending? You down for some QuakeCon 2012 excitement?
After being away from home for almost two weeks, I’ve been reunited with my precious consoles. This weekend I plan on playing some Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD. I’m a pretty big mark for Oddworld Inhabitants and really want to see how this remake fares. I’m also addicted to Run Roo Run! by 5th Cell. The game is a simple platformer that’s structured like Angry Birds. It’s cute and charming, which is no surprise coming from the creators of Scribblenauts.
How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?
