And the award goes to...

In 2012 our world survived one of the many predicted apocalypses, Master Chief woke up and we gamers were given beautiful new titles like Dishonored and Journey to satisfy our anti-sequal appetites.

During the final days of last year and the beginning days of 2013, video game websites and magazines have taken time to reflect on the video game accomplishments of 2012. Ultimately, they end their analysis by honoring a single title the Game of the Year award.

Here' s who won this year:

IGN - Journey
GameSpot - Journey
Nick.com - Power Rangers Samurai: Super Samurai ... :)
GamesRadar - The Walking Dead
Spike TV's VGAs - The Walking Dead
Edge - Dishonored
Kotaku - XCOM: Enemy Unknown
X-Play - Borderlands 2
Game Informer - Mass Effect 3

As it is with almost every year, no one game ever stands on top of all the lists. For us gamers, that's a good thing. It means that while we wait for the big games of 2013 to be released, we have a nice list of games to play that are guaranteed to satisfy.

Dishonored cover via Wikipedia

Although I have not had the opportunity to play all the fantastic games that were released this year, I can confidently declare Dishonored as my Game of the Year. It was the first game that after I had completed the campaign, I immediately wanted to play it all over again. Oh the choices! The moral conflicts, hidden items, objectives and side quests beckon you to play the levels over and over.

I've played other stealth games such as Assassin's Creed, but there was something special about having the option to engage the target in combat, murdering him in the shadows or knocking him out and disposing  him in a nonlethal way that drew me in.

Sure, there were some glitches because no game is  perfect, but ultimately Dishonored was the best game I played all year and has earned a place on my favorites list.

If I had the opportunity to play Journey or The Walking Dead, maybe my choice would be different. Too bad I don't have all the time or money to invest in these award-winning games. Time to wait for the markdowns.

What was your Game of the Year?

P.S. Sorry about the absence. To see what I was up to click here!

Sony's Conference - E3 2012

Sony didn't open their conference with one game, but with dozens. They utilized their multiscreen stage to it's full potential, while presenting a montage of games that will come to Sony systems.

The first person to take the stage was Jack Tretton, Sony of America's President and CEO. Of course he talked about the industry, where the show could be watched and also payed homage to the loyal Sony's gamers. After a little bragging about Sony's hardware, Trentton handed the reigns over to Quantic Dream's David Cage.

This is where the show really begins. Cage wasted no time when presenting Quantic Dream's new IP, Beyond: Two Souls. This PS3 exclusive is a game that explores the life of a girl who can see the dead. The way Cage describes the project makes it sound more like a movie than a video game. Jody Holmes, the main character of Beyond: Two Souls, is to be played by Ellen Page. So if you've ever wanted to run around in a virtual world as Ellen Page who can control a ghost, your game has arrived. 

The trailer looks fantastic, but until we get some more gameplay and details I can't say I'm sold yet. 

Here are the other games Sony presented: 

• Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale (P) (V)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified (V) 
• Assassin's Creed III Liberation (V) 
• Assassin's Creed III (Naval Warfare Demo) 
• Far Cry 3 (Four Player Co-Op Demo) 
• Diggs Nightcrawler (W)
• Book of Spells by J.K. Rowling (W)
• God of War: Ascension (P) 
• The Last of Us (P)

(P = Playstation Exclusive) (V = Vita ) (M = Playstation Move) (W = Wonderbook)

New Features and Hardware: 

• Little Big Planet 2 Cross-Play - Play and save Little Big Planet 2 on your vita and resume on you PS3. 
• PS1 Classics for Vita 
• Crackle Television and Hulu Plus will be added to Vita 
• Wonderbook - An interactive book that uses the Playstation Eye camera to bring books to life.
• PlayStation Mobile - Sony games on tablets and smartphones 

The Sony conference always has too much bragging. You can't go two minutes without Tretton saying something about how great Sony is or how exclusive something is. It get's a little old. (I still prefer him over the Ubisoft hosts.) Another thing I didn't like about this year's conference was the lengthy montage at the very beginning. Like some of there demos, it was too drawn-out and I got bored. Sometimes shorter is sweeter.

Sony's conference also had a lot of great features. This year, they presented two new items that do a fantastic job of bridging the game industry to both the film and print industry. Also, they are the only ones that allowed non-industry fans into their conference. In addition, they pulled an Oprah and gave all attendees one year free to PlayStation Plus.

To watch the conference for yourself, click here.

What did you think about Sony's conference?

Your truly,
HavokRose

Threats and Benefits

The industry that brought you Jelly Car, Words with Friends, and Angry Birds is striking agitation in the hearts of big shots like Nintendo's CEO, Satoru Iwata.

                               Kim White/Nintendo of America, via Associated Press

Satoru Iwata speaks at the Game Developers Conference in San Fransico.

The reason Nintendo is the only company who has made a fuss is because they are being threatened the most by the all-in-one smartphones that can be bought at a cheaper price with even cheaper games. The audience that is often attracted by Nintendo's handheld games can be easily lured away by the games these new smartphones have to offer. Here is a list of a few games that are very similar (or exactly the same game), but for a cheaper price.

Although these games are substancially less expensive, they don't provide the same quality as the DS games, which is the main point Iwata is trying to get across to consumers. The DS versions of the games often have better developed story lines and more game play. Despite these advantages, causual game players are less likely to purchase a DS due to the price difference.

Competitors Microsoft and Sony are taking the opposite approach when it comes to the smartphone craze. Microsoft has developed apps for Windows 7 phones that allow users to access xboxlive. Not only can they check their XboxLive accounts and view their achievements but they can also play exclusive games on their phones with others that can boost their gamer score. Currently, Windows 7 phones are available for major service providers including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. By making this available on a wide varaiety of phones, consumers who own an xbox will probably be more active on Xbox live.

Sony took the most direct attack on the smartphone beast. Catering directly to their fans, Sony has created a phone that completes the smartphone experience while still utilizing their handheld systems. The Sony Xperia Play, released this past April, has all the basic phone capabilities, android apps, and complete PSP controls. Sliding the top layer of the phone up reveals the buttons and analogue touch joystick. (To find out more about this phone, click here.)

Overall, I believe Microsoft has the best approach. Its subtle, yet at the same time more widely available to consumers. Sony's Xperia play is just flat out cool. I personally wouldn't purchase it, but it is unique and I am sure it'll please some of its fans. Nintendo does have a problem on their hands but those who are truly dedicated to its products and games, will keep their handhelds on the map. 

Yours truly,

Havok Rose 

Smartphone advances hurt console gaming industry

The console game industry is being challenged by a growing platform for gaming: Smartphones.

            These phones are widely available and used by 42.7 million Americans, according to a 2010 study by comScore.

Smartphone users are creating an entirely new audience as the demand and popularity for these games grow.

         “It takes away a lot of my boredom and I can just get out my phone and play,” HTC Aria user Amanda Segura said.

            Due to the rising demand for game efficiency on smartphones, Sony has dedicated a new phone entirely to gaming.

            The phone is the Sony Xperia Play. According to the Sony Ericsson website, it slides up to reveal the same gaming controls as the PSP and was released March 2011.

            In addition to this type of phone, developers are equipping other smartphones to have more effective gaming programs that appeal to xbox users.

            “Many of the Windows 7 phones are capable of connecting to their Xbox at home,” AT&T sales associate Brian Luna said. “There are mobile versions of the games that you can only play with these phones.”

            Despite these new developments there is one feature that smartphone users value the most.

            “I like the quickness,” iPhone 4 user Briana Murray said. “It’s only one thing and you don’t have to set it up to play.”

         The ease of access of the games pose the biggest threat to the console game industry Mobiledia reported. However, there are still some people prefer to stick with the console games for detailed reasons. 

         “Smartphone games are very addicting, but you don’t get as involved,” PS3 owner Tricia Workman said. “They are basic games that don’t have the full story mode experience.”

        The work that goes into a console game also has a stern advantage over smartphone games and provides a unique experience claims Xbox 360 owner Gilbert Lopez.

         “The average game on a console can take up to two years to develop,” Lopez said. “There are in-depth storylines, graphic designers, and a lot more that make it a long process.”

         The price reflects the immense detail and work that is put into the console games. The average price for a console game is $60 while a large variety smartphone games can be downloaded for free.

            “I don’t spend money on the games I get,” Segura said. “I get their free ones, like a Pokemon one I downloaded. They are still pretty good quality, but not the best.”

           Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has said the inexpensiveness of the games could cause a threat to the console gaming industry, according to Mobiledia. But for others like Murray, it’s a new opportunity.  

“I think [smartphones] help the gaming industry. Its just like another console, you just have different ways to play different types of games,” Murray said.