Top 10 Reasons The Video Game Industry Is In Trouble

Yes I will do it! I’m the bearer of doom and gloom. Someone has to do it. While most publications are rife with BEST this and that about the industry, few are looking at what ails it. I intend to rectify this with my list and hopes for the fixes of my favorite hobby. Without further ado…

10. Sequelitis

Yes, the industry has gotten sick with it. Following Hollywood tit for tat video games, for the most part, have become wholly un-original. Before you come stampeding my way with torches, let me explain. I don’t mean original as in a new genre or way to play a game (ducking Wii-motes). I mean original as in a new IP (Intellectual Property). What happened to getting excited over new characters? All of the gaming icons we know were once new. Instead of creating new characters, we get the same ones for the fifth, sixth, and eleventh installments.  I subscribe to the financial reasoning of betting on a name that people know, but it also smacks in the face of how that character became popular in the first place. No! I don’t want to play as Dante anymore, at least not for a while. I’m tired of hopping around with Mario, can I get a new character? Everyone talks about how this year was so great for gaming, but virtually every game on the Best Sellers list is a sequel – GTAIV, MGS:4, DMC 4, GHWT, Rock Band 2, GOW2, Res: 2, Mario Kart, etc etc  (You know these titles so well I can abbreviate them) How about a year without any sequels and totally new IP? Wouldn’t that be refreshing… [Continue Reading]

Top 10 Most Disappointing Games of 2008

With the awful Spike TV VGA concluded, us gamers are now able to reflect back on a rather interesting year for video games. Long awaited sequels like “Gears of War 2” curb-stomped their way into our homes, and the shareholders at Rockstar celebrated the release of “Grand Theft Auto 4.” But, much like any kid who waited months for that special toy on their birthday only to be disappointed once they got it, gamers also follow the same path.

So, here is the Top 10 Most Disappointing Games of 2008. The rules are quite simple: any game that I, Marky X, was personally hyped about, and then it didn’t meet my standards will be on here. This means games like “Crysis,” “Far Cry 2,” “Dead Space,” “Metal Gear Solid 4,” and “Tomb Raider” won’t be on this list, because I didn’t care about them in the first place.

10 – Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix

I won’t give a history lesson on this game, as I’m sure if you’re reading this, you know about the franchise’s impact on not only the arcade scene but organized gaming competitions as well.

When Capcom announced a “Street Fighter” “HD Remix” with online play, balance changes, and easier controls, I couldn’t wait. I really enjoyed the concept and character designs of the “Street Fighter,” but couldn’t really get into it because controls were such a pain in the ass.

That wasn’t the case. The game is still unbalanced, as Ryu and Ken are grossly overused, but now the ex-banned Akuma breaks into the scene as the third most used character in the game. Controls are still horrid, especially with some of the charge characters being harder than it was on the SNES D-pad days. At least the netcode is pretty damn good and the artwork is sharp, despite the creative anatomy by Udon.

9 – Mario Kart Wii

When the Wii version was announced with the Wheel and online play, I couldn’t wait. I have a MOMO Steering Wheel, and it does add to the experience of any racing game, and playing “Mario Kart” against people around the world was something I’ve dreamed about since the SNES days.

Unfortunately, what I got was a game that had way too many players on the track with stupidly overpowered and overused weapons. Even the pointless drifting is still here, but instead of waggling the stick left and right, while giving the player the illusion of “skill”, all you have to do is hold down a button. The tracks are overcrowded with 12 players, making it nearly impossible to get the items if you’re at the back of the pack. Speaking of tracks, where’s the variety and innovation? Most of them are just simple GC or SNES remakes. And finally, the blue shell.

8 – Super Smash Bros. Brawl

I’ve never been a big follower of the “Smash Bros.” franchise. I didn’t own a Gamecube so I never got a chance to play ”Melee,” and the amount of minutes I spent on the Nintendo 64 debut could be counted on one hand. I don’t know why, but I was never really that hyped about it.

Then came “Brawl,” which not only supported online play, but allowed me to play as Sonic. Finally, a game where two favorite childhood mascots of mine can finally beat the shit out of each other, and I can do it online.

Instead what I got was a game that had perhaps one of the worst netcodes in my so-called gaming “career.” This is a game which only dealt with four people, yet suffered from nearly unplayable matches most of the time (Mario Kart handled 12 just fine). Even if I did find a lagless match, everyone would choose Ike or Metaknight since there are such a broken characters. And then if people didn’t choose them, then we’d end up on a crappy stage would be selected where I needed the Hubble Telescope just to see my tiny character.

As for single player campaign, I’ll be brief: crappy enemies, floaty controls, and copy-paste levels. [Continue Reading]

Xbox 360 Achievement Whorage!

I have to admit, I used to be a fan of XBOX Live Achievements. Really. I was one of the early supporters for recording the milestones you’ve achieved during your conquests through videogamedom.

I remember the lunch time arguments about who had the high score in game a or b, or who had gotten all the Choas Emeralds in “Sonic the Hedgehog” or unlocked Super Sonic. Arguments usually went like this; Guy A, “Man the Rocket Launcher in “Resident Evil” was off the hook!” Guy B, “Yeah, and when you jumped off in the parachute and had to kill the Omega Tyrant – that was hot too!” Guy A. “Parachute? What parachute, there’s no Omega Tyrant” Guy B, “Uh Huh! You gotta do six back flips during the final boss battle!”

Obviously Guy B was lying about his supremacy. But with Achievements you could “PROVE” that you did what you said you did. In theory… [Continue Reading]

Gears of War 2 Review: Well Whaddaya Know?

It’s that time of year again. Gamers are among a slew of high quality games as the holiday season approaches.  We’re infected with sequelitis around this time of the year; which is no different than last year, and the game at the top of most 360 owners must play list is the sequel to 2006’s epic release, “Gears of War 2.” The first “Gears” game really put the Xbox 360 on the map, and cemented its reputation as the console of choice for action/shooter games, but can the sequel follow it up with the same intensity?

“Gears of War 2″ brings us right back into the thick of things with Marcus Fenix and his trusted partner Dom. We quickly find out that the events from the first game hadn’t turned out quite like the humans had hoped, and they are now forced into a corner by the ever ferocious locusts. Humanity must now go on the offensive, if they don’t want to end up extinct. [Continue Reading]

GEARS 2 – MP Footage

Here in you’ll fine some serious footage on GOW 2 Multiplayer mode.  I say serious because it’s worth looking at.  Cliffy B and other creators indulge us with the different modes and gameplay you can expect for this highly anticipated title for XBOX360.

Most notable are improvements in grenade tagging (noobs), a human based capture the flag mode and more. Mr. B also points out several fixes for the game that include the loss of that Glitch-Chain-ChainSaw-Pwnd-Move, and the inclusion of “you can’t roll at me and shot gun me anymore”.  If you didn’t know, in the previous MP mode you could essentially chain kill multiple enemies with the chain-saw. Chain sawing enemies would temporarily put you into God Mode. Not any more. Also, gamers often take advantage of the dive and roll move (with a shotty in hand), and bumb rush you for an easy close up kill. That’s gone to. So it’s bigger, smarter, and more bad ass.  Oh, lets not forget the most important thing: more blood. I’ve had my fair share of announces with GOW on the PC and clearly relate to the Shotty Gangs, and Chainsaw Chainers. It’s nice to see that developers are punk busting these guys in the arse.

New Gears of War 2 footage

This is what you guys have been waiting for! New in-game footage for the upcoming sequel Gears Of War 2. This video is introduced by none other than Cliffy b. himself giving you a little synopsis on what you’re about to see. And from what’s shown, and what I’ve guessed, the game looks pretty much the same as the first. This is not necessarily a bad thing as the original still holds up as one of the best looking 360 games to date. from the vid you can see some new elements such as the chainsaw fights and now being able to grab the enemy and use them as shield. Also you get to fight those big ogre guys and there’s more enemies on screen at once ( which finally makes sense since they’re locust!). The game will drop this November exclusively on the xbox360 and looks to give fans the same experience as the first. I just hope they give us a real ending this time! check the video below.