Tag: Activision

Why I Can’t Take E3 [Or Any Trade Convention] Seriously

It happens every year.  Every year, without fail, at around this time, "real" news [and I use the word in inverted commas, because really - game releases and hints at game releases aren't really "news" at all.  They're - at best - terrible product placement] drops right off the radar.

Why?  Because some PR drone way up on high has decided that nothing can leak out prior to E3.  And that results in what fans generally call "lots of slow news days."  While that's a problem, E3 - and shows like it - have a far bigger issue that I want to tackle.

They're pageants. Read more

Farewell, Blizzard

Warning!  This is long and ranty and link heavy!  [Links will open in new tabs]

I remember Silicon and Synapse.  You might not, but I do.  They weren't big enough to work on their own projects, so they did ports of other games to various other consoles.  None of these ports were particularly big, but they established the company as detail-oriented and good at what they did.  And a key element from those days has stayed with Blizzard:  they know how to refine.

Which is at least some of what I want to talk about.  But the other thing I want to talk about is how distant Silicon and Synapse are from the Blizzard we have today and why - after almost twenty five years of playing Blizzard's games, I am going to slowly start winding down Blizzard projects I'm still pursuing. Read more

Sequels Are Hurting The Game Industry.

I don't play as many games as I used to. Part of the reason for this has to do with the fact that I'm just more picky now: often, games only appeal to one of my senses and not all of them. As in, I can be swayed a little by the graphics. Or maybe I hear the soundtrack and I get pulled in by that. Or I watch gameplay and my mind starts considering those ideas.

Another part of the problem - especially when it comes to AAA gaming, has to do with the fact that all AAA studios and publishers know how to do is pump out sequels. It's even written into their language, in how they discuss their games - like they're brands and they're perennial and they have to "re-invigorate" those over and over again.

And it isn't doing the industry any favours. Let me tell you why. Read more

New Steam Store Releases: Call of Mushihimesama

It seems that this was a pretty big week on the Steam Store. Not only did the new Call of Duty hit, but also the renowned Arcade developer, CAVE, has made its Steam debut with their hit "bug princess" shooter, Mushihimesama (mooshee-heemay-sahmah). Additionally, SEGA graciously saw fit to bring over their previously Nintendo-exclusive Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic Lost World.

I don't know about you, but the CAVE news alone was enough to send me to gaming heaven (before their punishing shooter promptly sent me to bullet hell). Proceed further to see more of this week's new releases.

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New PlayStation Store Releases: CoD BlOps III

It's that time of year again. Time to write off that $120+ and God only knows how many hours you spent on last year's Call of Duty game and DLC. It's time to pop that disc out of your console and fling it frisbee style straight into the trash can (please don't actually do this). It's time to upgrade to this year's installment. Call of Duty: Black Ops III is arriving this Friday.

Also out this week, the next entry in the Need for Speed series (titled, you guessed it, "Need for Speed"), and an interesting-looking triple cross buy action RPG called Dragon Fin Soup. Mistakes were made. Proceed further to see more of this week's new releases.

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New Steam Store Releases: Transformers: Devastation

I'm still sticking with Transformers: Devastation as my pick of the week. It was definitely the stand-out title on the Steam Store. If you ever wanted to play the perfect video game adaptation of an iconic '80s cartoon show, this is the one you've been waiting for.

Also out this week, a monkey action puzzle game called Ookibloks, another entry in the World Rally Championship racing series, and a mid-'90s adventure game featuring voice acting by Corey Feldman (another icon from the '80s). Decepticons...Rise up! (And proceed further to see more of this week's new releases.)

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New PlayStation Store Releases: Transformers: Devastation!

I've felt a great disturbance in the PlayStation Store; as if millions of wallets cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. There's a LOT of great stuff to choose from this week! Transformers: Devastation, Disgaea 5, Rock Band 4, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, and Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax all look to be must-have titles. If you had to narrow it down to just one, though? Transformers. All the way.

Transformers: Devastation is Transformers done right. Done the way it was always meant to be (and by PlatinumGames, no less). I mean, for God's sake, just look at that image above and tell me you aren't immediately going to drop everything to go get it!

That's what I thought. Autobots...Roll out! (And proceed further to see more of this week's new releases.)

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New PlayStation Store Releases: NBA 2K16

Just in time for the start of the NBA preseason, the PlayStation Store now has two new b-ball games on offer, NBA 2K16 and NBA Live 16. In case you're not sure which one you should get, just go with 2K. That series has always been better.

Also out this week, Mega Man Legends, the granddaddy of all one-on-one fighting games, and...holy $#*%! Tony Hawk is back! Draw a foul, take your free throws, then proceed further to see more of this week's new releases.

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