In my hands, the Vita felt awesome.  I don’t see myself getting cramps like I do with the PSP or DS (or any other handheld ever).  Yeah, it’s big, but with the popularity of gaming on tablets, I don’t think size will hurt the thing.  It does feel like holding a controller, and the analog sticks are actually sticks instead of nubs.  I played Uncharted, and controlling Drake around felt great.  Though, I didn’t get anywhere requiring shooting, so with the lack of the extra set of shoulder buttons, we won’t get the actual console experience that this seems to be marketed toward.  But what am I talking about?  This thing is close enough.

Navigating in and out of games, ‘touching’, all that – this thing is impressive.  I will buy it for sure, well, I think.  I’m not too happy about having to then buy the proprietary, over-priced, SD card that is required just to play.

But this is how I see the future of gaming: Nintendo is starting it with the WiiU, tablets are doing it, and the Vita is proving it – future gaming consoles will be personal devices that can be hooked up to a monitor, used with accessories or not.

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And could only stomach a couple hours.

The beginning has so much dialog.  So much redundant, shallow, uninspired dialog.  During all that, I walked around a bit and obtained a sword.  Then, I got tired of what I was doing and shut off the Wii.  That’s pretty much how far I got.  I have no drive to continue.

Image via Wikipedia

A fellow coworker explained it the best: They tried to make it as robust as an RPG, but without how engaging an RPG would be.  There is no exploring.  Exploring is what Zelda games pulled people in with.

I agree.

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Just months ahead of its release, some exciting features and descriptions are starting to get out for Mass Effect 3. The Xbox, PC and PlayStation 3 release is sure to be one of the most hyped video gamereleases in the first half of 2012 and news of some game play specifics should only continue to build it up. Developers of the game recently spoke out that there would be more endings for the game than we’ve ever seen before, as well as a number of ways for gamers to formulate an individual experience.

Mass Effect 3 is said to have thousands of dialogue lines included, as well as a focus on continuing relationships and characters from previous releases. Each player will be involved with their own storyline, including relationships and quandaries taking place throughout the storyline. Characters within the game will feature innate characteristics, helping to build the game’s storyline with memories of past events during game play.

Gamers will also be offered great choices when it comes to the game play for Mass Effect 3. Bioware producer Casey Hudson recently spoke out to the media claiming that three different modes in role playing, story and action, all of which will have definitive options during game play. This means that once players begin playing in either of the three mode options, they will have the ability to make adjustments afterwards.

Most importantly for BioWare, this is expected to give ME3 an innate sense of individualism and tailoring for each player. Each gamer has their own preferences, whether it be to watch more action sequences or dabble more into the story lines involved. The new presets will allow for each player to help build their own experience, making it more enjoyable for each player in the long run.

Certainly Mass Effect has helped to build its franchise more through intrinsic storylines mixing with game play and action, quite contrasting to the formula that many have used to build a fan base. The reliance and focus will continue to be on the story line and game play with Mass Effect 3. It’s quite evident that BIoWare and the producers have big expectations for the modes, dialogue and endings that will rely on a sense of tailored game play. With the early news of game features and dialogue aspects, Mass Effect 3 looks to be a refined addition to the strong gaming franchise.

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Sanctuary

The thing is, what is a computer without the internet?  Well, you can say ‘a computer’ and you’d be right, but a generation from now, a computer is a machine that is online – but that’s for another post.  I’m almost in that boat as I don’t have internet at the apartment yet, and sitting at an internet-less machine does some strange things to my brain.  Apparently when getting it hooked up, Time Warner noticed that the line to my building was bad – so I have to wait.  In the meantime?  I’ve still been getting a lot of gaming done.

Luckily for me, my girlfriend loves Uncharted 3, so she forcibly makes me play it just to watch.  I can’t complain.  She’s also a fan of SNES titles, so the virtual console has been of some use.  When she’s not around, I’ve been getting some Serious Sam 3 in.  SS3 is amazing.  It is the type of FPS that doesn’t come around too often, only because the masses seem to love hand-holding, linear, military shooters (or interactive movies).  Yeah, I’m really just talking smack about Call of Duty. SS3 requires accuracy, planning, quick moving, and taking your time.  And when the girlfriend is doing something like cleaning her closet and I’m lonely (hey, what can I say, I’m clingy), I’ve been getting a lot done on the 3DS in Mario Land 3D and Sonic Generations.  Both incredibly difficult, but fun.

And yet, no internet required.  It is possible to live this way and I’m alive to tell the story.  I won’t lie, I can do some things with my HTC Radar 4G since T-Mobile has good 4G and Windows Phone has built-in internet sharing.

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Hard Reset – Awesome old-school PC-only FPS that fits in perfectly with the current gen.  Awesome difficulty to boot.  And apparently some single-player DLC is on the way.

Space Marine – Completely awesome.  The campaign was over before I wanted it to be, and the multiplayer kept me playing – both console and PC.  Console development is some of the best I’ve seen with an excellent PC version.  Relic are simply awesome.

Jamestown – Indie Shmup with awesome, old-school visuals and great controls.  The difficulty really slaps you in the face.

Dead Island - Pleasantly surprised.  While the previews looked great, the actual game was the most enthralling experience I had this year.  Even with its bugs and glitches, this game, especially in co-op, was damn fun.

Crysis 2 – Now that I think about it, while it was a lot of fun, it didn’t hold up to the original Crysis.  I still think the original Crysis is underrated due to 90% of the population not able to run it – so they just disregarded it.  People loved this sequel, but Crysis did so much more.

Sonic Generations – Sonic did not disappoint. Awesome PC port which was a pleasant surprise.  The visuals were great as was the gameplay, but it was over way too soon for me.  More levels!!!!

Super Mario 3D Land – While a Mario game, it definitely is an old-school/indie gamer’s dream.  Very unique platforming with some crazy difficulty.  No one should miss it.

Uncharted 3 – I almost just want to give this GOTY, but I haven’t finished it.  And I probably won’t until next year.  The story is incredible and I’m never bored.  So much better than Uncharted 2.  But, the control scheme patched in was definitely needed.  The default change was way too inorganic.

Duke Nukem Forever – Totally didn’t deserve the flack it got.  This Duke Nukem entry was just as fun as I expected.  A fun campaign that always had something to say.  Never a dull moment with fun old-school blasting.

But, this was the year of disapointments.  While I enjoyed playing Dead Space 2, it just wasn’t as good as the first.  It was almost a bit too monotonous.  Homefront’s multiplayer went from what was expected (Frontlines!!!) to what…is now expected from publishers: Call of Duty clone.  Yeah, not a full-blown clone, but moreso than the unique gameplay of their previous title, Frontlines.

Bulletstorm, while fun, was also a little boring.  It was too much of the same thing over and over.  And, it was a horrible console port.  Boo.  Rage – I don’t even want to get into that.  Let’s just say that it’s mediocre appearance on the PC barred me from playing simply due to principle (Ok, and maybe I had JUST met my girlfriend when this was released…)  I can understand Bethesda, but shame on you id Software.

Speaking of Bethesda – Hunted and Brink? So lame.  These games come out with nothing unique when a ‘unique’ game is just around the corner.

Now, I didn’t get a chance to play Skyrim or Zelda Wayward Sword.  Skyrim I may not like because I’m not interested in investing so much time in those types of worlds, but I hear Wayward Sword is as good as Ocarina of Time – I need to get in on that.

But, if I had to pick one game from this year to play right now, I’d say Space Marine.  I can’t see myself getting bored of that.

Honorable mentions: Battlefield 3, Hardcore: Uprising, Warhammer 40k: Kill Team, Revenge of the Titans (though, it was a Dec 2010 release), Renegade Ops, and Saints Row the Third.

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Sonic Generations for the 3DS is the handheld version of…Sonic Generations on the console.  Pretty self-explanatory.  But with this game, the modern Sonic takes cues from the DIMPS developed handheld games.  Sounds like it would be awesome?  Well, I feel the same way about it as I did with Sonic 4.

The game is a lot of fun, but it does things it shouldn’t.  Classic Sonic eventually gains abilities from modern Sonic in the Rush series.  This is a huge blow and doesn’t do much to differentiate the time-lines.  I get confused when playing classic Sonic as I’m at times required to use the modern Sonic abilities, such as the homing-attack.  This is fucking stupid.

But, like I did with Sonic 4, I was able to look past the fanboy hatred and accept it as it is – a fun game.  That’s what Sonic 3DS is so far.  Maybe a full review later.

I finally had some time in my dungeon this week, and luckily Uncharted 3 arrived.  The Uncharted games have always been fun, but this 3rd entry is pretty effing epic.  It is a very story-driven, game-play heavy game, which is rare.  Either a game has a good story but is boring to play, or is a lot of fun to play but has the normal throw-away story.  I’ve been doing a lot of brawling and platforming around while uncovering awesome story elements that keep me playing.  Just from the first chapter I’d call this GOTY, but I still have a ways to go.

The recently waned Sonic Generations 3DS has also arrived, but I’ll bite into that a little later.  I’m sure I’ll still have fun because it is Sonic, but some of the mentioned annoyances with the game I’m not looking forward to – 2D levels littered with modern Sonic abilities. Thumbs down.

Oh…I’ll have a whole other post on this, but Mario Land 3D is quite epic.  A must-buy for sure.  Don’t let the first world fool you.

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Well, I think I just kind of did that anyway.

Rumor had it that BioWare would be making the new C&C.  We already knew Victory Games was working on a new entry in the series.  Then on the VGAs it was announced (and leaked a bit earlier) that BioWare would indeed be making Generals 2.  BioWare Victory that is, formerly Victory Games (headed by Jon Van Caneghem) - formerly EA LA, whom made the previous C&C games and should in fact still house ex-Westwood devs.

So, to reiterate – BioWare is not making the new C&C.  BioWare also is not making the Star Wars: Old Republic MMO.  That’s Mythic.  BioWare is simply a rebranding used as a marketing technique.  No, the creators of Mass Effect aren’t making the Star Wars MMO or a new C&C.

Good news here is that Generals 2 will retain the classic C&C gameplay (wether that means Tiberium or Generals 1, either is fine with me).  C&C 4 was so bad that there’s no way they’d stick with that.  I don’t even know how it was made.  But, needless to say, I’m excited.  While not an entry in the Tiberium universe, Generals has fantastic RTS gameplay that trumps StarCraft (IMO).  But, after Generals 2, I want another Tiberium title with Joe Kucan.  Though, for the market they may just make another Red Alert.

Generals won’t see the light of day until 2013.  Dear god.  That would mean a Tiberium game wouldn’t be out until, like, a long time.

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Yes, this happened.

I never really got into the first two Saints Row games. I saw my brother play them, and they looked to be action-packed, but I am tired of playing an open-world sandbox game as a criminal. My favorite of the genre have been True Crime: LA, Mercenaries, and Just Cause (only the first one). But I decided to play Saints Row 3 because it was doing something different – not taking itself seriously.

From the first mission, I’m already skydiving, shooting missiles from Helicopters, being shot at by thugs in bunny suits. It’s a spectacle, and makes the unoriginal crime-theme new and fresh. The controls are spot on and so far I haven’t run into any tedious, mundane missions (escorting, just driving, etc). So far, no complaints, and it runs beautifully on the PC.

Getting further in-depth with Mario 3D Land (see what I did there?, the game does become more of a challenge. This is what I need from a Mario game, but the first world missed the opportunity to give me that impression. I can definitely say it’s worth it.

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With a massive fan following for the movie franchise already in tow, Star Wars: The Old Republic has had some buzz surrounding it for quite a while now. The December 20 MMO release from LucasArts and Bioware is expected to enter the market as a major competitor with traditional online games like World of Warcraft that currently dominate the market sector.

Some estimates have pointed towards Early indications have been generally positive for the upcoming release. As the month of November grows to a close, it looks like there will be a strong interest and gamers will pre order Star Wars the Old Republic ahead of its Christmas-time release. Right now, the game sits atop the pre-order charts. Much of the hype this week could be due to an extensive testing weekend which is now in the books.

During this past weekend’s beta testing for Star Wars: The Old Republic, there were over one million hours of testing logged. Hundreds of thousands of people were said to take advantage of the initial testing release as beta codes were spread throughout the internet last weekend. Bioware is expected to be running a few more testing sessions ahead of December 20, as well as some that could be larger than the one million hours logged this past weekend. Reviews from the even have been relatively positive, even for gamers who aren’t huge fans of Star Wars.

A number of great reviews have cited features such as great video game play, user interface and story development as major positives for the upcoming release. This isn’t the first Star Wars MMO, but the new release is expected to be a definite upgrade over the “Galaxies” platform that will be halted upon the new release.

With the story development, the new Star Wars release has a very strong repertoire of cut scenes throughout. Many gamers skip through these cut scenes, but with this release, they should stick around and play through. Users will be given the option of using their own dialogue during these scenes, allowing for better personality and overall feel during game play, almost like a movie.

The story itself has been a major talking point of early discussion about the game. Star Wars: The Old Republic will likely be one of the few MMO releases that has a truly well thought out storyline. The voice acting within the storyline is supposed to be solid, as well as the already mentioned dialogue features that will be impressive.

Certainly the other planned testing sessions will continue to drive the hype before the December 20 release of Star Wars: The Old Republic. With over a million hours completed and numerous users taking part in the first testing session, expect the anticipation to grow as the month of November comes to an end. With positive reviews coming in from the early testing sessions, expect this Star Wars release to do well this December.