Welcome a new member to the family

Finally having finished a large chunk of homework that really needed to get done, I find myself finding the time to post to you lovely folks about some exciting video game things headed my way.

First of all, can we talk about the new Dead Space 2 Lullaby gameplay trailer? Let's.

Cary and I are really, really, really excited. I mean... really excited. This is a franchise that gets more and more awesome each month, it seems like. And the dudes at Visceral are all so great (I will never forget the panel at PAX East) who really have the fans of the games in mind.

Switching to another video game topic: my Xbox is, basically, sort of, no more. The other day, Cary and I were watching a video on it, the picture went funny (which it had done once before) so I turned it off, then turned it back on to an E74 error. Now, about a year ago, I had to take it somewhere for an overheating repair and I've decided that I'm not willing to throw another $100 into a piece of equipment with which I've already had so many issues. So I've decided it's time for...

No, you are not hallucinating. That is a PS3.

Now, let's be clear. Cary and I have never railed against the PS3. We believe it's a great system but Cary started out with an Xbox and when I got back into gaming, I wanted to play online with her. Things, since then, have changed.

I've spent a great deal of time weighing the pros and the cons of switching platforms and the pros heavily outweigh the cons. After trading in all my Xbox games and accessories, the money I'll put into a new PS3 won't be much at all. And let's talk about how Microsoft just jacked up the price of the Xbox Live Gold subscription... I can't even say how much it irritates me that you have to pay to watch Netflix (a service you already pay for, separately) on a console you've already paid for -- isn't paying for my own internet enough?

But I digress. Point being, I'm making some sacrifices in this move but another large reason for it is this blog/podcast/etc. Cary and I like the idea that we'll have two platforms on which we can game and have discussions. And if I ever want to play Left 4 Dead, I can always shark her Xbox for an hour or two... or maybe invest in it on my computer. Who knows.

This purchase, with a bit of luck and determination, will be happening tonight. So get ready. get excited. Better late than never, we'll be able to discuss Heavy Rain and other games we never thought we'd have a chance to play let along chat about on our blog. I hope this gets everyone else as excited as it has gotten me... Holy crap.

Jingle, Jangle, Jingle

With high hopes of an open, exciting world, catchy music, intriguing quests and fun combat I picked up my copy of Fallout: New Vegas day one and eagerly jumped back into the irradiated wasteland I’d missed so much.

This game had a lot to live up to and let’s just say that I wasn’t terribly optimistic when it was revealed that Obsidian Entertainment (the developers behind the ultra glitchy Alpha Protocol) would be releasing it. Still, I remained very enthusiastic and optimistic about this game.

Now, approximately 15 hours in, I want to share my thoughts so far.

Fallout: New Vegas begins in a very different way than Fallout 3. Instead of beginning your life within the safety of a vault you are instead captured and shot in the head for a platinum chip you’ve been tasked with delivering to the New Vegas strip. When you recover, you set out to find your assailants and, wouldn’t you know it, an entire complicated world soon envelops you.

Well, maybe not “soon”.

While the plot to Fallout 3 gripped me from the very beginning, I would say it was a good 8 hours – when I finally reached The Strip - before I really started to get into the groove of New Vegas. I think before I got to The Strip I’d done maybe 6 mundane quests and found a few locations but once I made it to Sin City all of a sudden I had dozens of options. So many in fact that at times it was a bit overwhelming.

Who do I work with? How will this affect my relationship with the other bigwigs in New Vegas?

There are three major factions who you have the option of allying yourself with: Mr. House, Caesar’s Legion and The New California Republic. In a massive quest called “Wildcard” you pick your side and once you’ve completed 4 quests or so for that one side you’re considered enemies of the other. Unless of course you decided to do small missions for them all but never really align yourself with one.

And that’s one of the greatest things about New Vegas: your impact on the world.

This game takes the karma system from Fallout 3 and gives it a little oomph. No longer are you just “good” or “evil” but rather feared, hated, and honored. It’s certainly a great case for re-playing the game since you will literally get locked out of certain quests once you declare your allegiance.

Now, for the only bad remarks I have which all goes back to my initial concern with Obsidian taking this project over: Fallout: New Vegas is glitchy as hell.

In the first few hours I fell through the world, had my gun repeatedly pull itself out of its holster, had VATS target objects instead of enemies and several lock-ups. It was never enough to make me want to stop playing but it was certainly bad enough to irritate me at times. I feel that had this game been delayed it could have been noticeably more smooth.

There has however already been a patch for the 360 and the game does seem to be performing better. Or I could just be getting used to it.

Either way, I am very much enjoying my time in New Vegas and hope you all are too.

All Good Things Don't Always Flow Into The City

Yesterday I received an automated call from Gamestop telling me that because I'd pre-ordered "Dead Space 2" I could stop in and pick up a code which would entitle me to a free download of a new arcade game called, "Dead Space: Ignition".

The mini-game based, comic book style DLC is meant to bridge the gap between "Dead Space" and "Dead Space 2" specifically by showing how the Necromorphs ended up in Sprawl.

Sounds really interesting.

Too bad the only way I'll find out about it is to read the story on-line.

You see, after sitting through the first poorly animated panel I was presented with a mini-game which consisted of me attempting to maneuver a red beam of light through a panel of obstacles faster than the blue beams of light trying to get ahead of me:

Not exactly as fun as strategically dismembering a Slasher with a line gun now, is it?

After failing the race twice, I said, "Nope. Dumb" and exited out to the dashboard.

It's really a shame that a neat idea like this had to be ruined with such an ill-thought out, elementary design. No one wants to sit through irritating mini-games but especially not those who are attempting to play it to feed their excitement for what's bound to be an incredible and exciting release come early next year.

Hurry up and get here, Isaac. I miss you.

Going Out Like a BAMF

In three mere days Left 4 Dead players (ME ME ME!!) will have "The Sacrifice" - the DLC that details how the original survivors made it down South and how they lost one of their own. If you've been reading the comic (or played "The Passing") then you know which survivor will be one no longer but this DLC is still bound to be full of surprises.

In addition to both "The Sacrifice" and "No Mercy" coming with the Left 4 Dead 2 version, we'll also be getting 5 new mutations with this download. Including one where apparently in versus everyone on the infected side plays as a Tank.

I think part of me likes that - the part of me that hates life.

Anyway, for now, head on over to the official site for "The Sacrifice" and check out the new trailer!

Corsets Suck in Emergencies

Yesterday GameTrailers released a 10-minute gameplay footage video of Bioshock: Infinite.

Oh my God, did they ever.

This is the type of video that you watch with your mouth open - gasping and squealing with joy – until it sadly ends. Then you sit there trying to gather your thoughts and contain your euphoria until the other side of your brain finally kicks in and you remember that this game isn’t coming out until 2012.

Then the crying starts.

The only negative to this video is that it’s bound to spoil your initial reaction to the game. You’ll never be able to un-see this footage so if you’d rather experience the game as a whole, I’d suggest ignoring it. However, if you’re insatiable like me, dig right in.

You may want to put a towel under you.

Just sayin’.

Left 4 Dead Gets Graphic

Back when Valve first announced that they would be releasing a digital comic detailing the original survivors trek from the end of the Blood Harvest campaign and down to the South I wasn’t really sure if I cared. Of course, as the release date got closer I started to get more excited for new, official Left 4 Dead material and today I logged on to read the first installment of “The Sacrifice” comic.

As I should have anticipated, by the end of the first panel I was totally into it.

The art is wonderful, the colors are vibrant and the dialogue reads utterly loyal to the game.

And that dialogue is, without question, my favorite part of the comic. I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed the conversations between the survivors - however slight they are - especially ones that illuminate their relationship to and dependence on one another. As Valve continues to release installments of the comic every Tuesday leading up to the release of the DLC, “The Sacrifice” I am greatly looking forward to learning more about the original survivors journey and how they all came to meet Ellis, Nick, Coach, and Rochelle.

Any and all fans of the game should really check the comic out here.

My Veins Are Useless

While attempting to turn Lynsey on to the wonders of Dragon Age: Origins last night I came to two realizations: one, she’s probably not going to pick it up again. Two, I could totally play that game all the way through for a fifth time. So I snatched my game back and popped it in my 360 to start up a new character and I noticed something – the new DLC entitled, “Witch Hunt” had been released. Not only that, but another DLC that I hadn’t even heard of called “The Golems of Amgarrak” had been out almost a month.

Then something else hit me.

I’ve played a shit ton of downloadable content for Dragon Age: Origins.

7 to be exact, which isn’t including the full-size expansion (which I enjoyed) “Awakening” and the above mentioned “The Golems of Amgarrak” which I have no interest in playing.

7 DLCs, 7 purchases at about 7 bucks a pop. Oh, and about 2 bucks for those feastday gifts/pranks.

When you add in the 40 bucks I spent on “Dragon Age: Awakening” and, of course, the 60 for the original game, I’m looking nearly $150 dollars on this one game. Now, I’ve also spent about 150 hours of time playing through the world of Ferelden so it’s hard for me to argue that I haven’t gotten my money’s worth but . . . I don’t know . . . something feels wrong here.

Maybe it’s because aside from “Leliana’s Song”, “The Stone Prisoner”, and “Return to Ostagar” which I really enjoyed, the other small DLCs were just . . . well, okay. Hang on, that’s not really true. “Darkspawn Chronicles” and “Witch Hunt” were pretty bad, even aggravating.

This is the first time I’ve spent so much money on downloadable content on a single game and really haven’t been that satisfied with most of it. Would I do it again? Probably not. But at the same time, I feel that because I loved the core game so much . . . I don’t know, I feel compelled to continue it?

You know . . . typing this out has made me think I have a slight issue with this game.

But I’m just gonna go ahead and blame Bioware and their microtransactions.