Newsbrief: No Time to Split

...I use my time unwisely.

It's Monday, and it's also been a week since the last time I posted, so I thought it would be appropriate to discus what's going on right now. Before we get into that, I wanted to update a few things. First off, I'm on Twitter now. Well I guess it would be more appropriate to say I am using my Twitter now. I had created a while back but pretty much forgot about it the second I signed up. If you feel like stalking me, or just want to be one of my followers, there's now a link to it in my links section on the sidebar. Secondly, I'm still trying to increase site traffic so if anyone has any ideas on how I can promote this place, send a comment to me at the end of this post. I already use Facebook and Twitter now so I need something other than that. I'm thinking of doing a giveaway as well, so keep your eyes peeled for more info on that too. Lastly, I'm also now writing for the Sakurahana Anime Network's blog too. I haven't done a whole lot there yet, but there's a good mix of stuff both anime and gaming related there, as well as some other miscellaneous things, so go check them out too!

Alright on to the news.

Timesplitters 4 Not In Development

Dashing the hopes of many fans, Crytek UK confirmed on Sunday that they are not currently developing Timesplitters 4. The development team has reportedly spent all it's money on monkeys (though they did clarify to say the game was not in development.) For the past few years teaser art has leaked here and there, and there were rumors in 2010 that developers were talking with publishers about getting the game released. It's a real shame too, because Timesplitters has a reputation has one of the finest first person shooter franchises from the last generation of consoles. However the series has not been seen on this batch of consoles, and it now seems as if the franchise may be in danger of disappearing altogether.

Bethesda Announces First Skyrim DLC

Bethesda announced, alongside their release of Kinect functionality, the first downloadable content for Elder Scrolls V:: Skyrim. Dawnbreaker will release at some point this summer, and is a timed exclusive to the Xbox  360. Details are scarce as of now, Bethsda only confirmed the DLC and announced that more details will come at E3. Given that Bethesda has said that the DLC for Skyrim will be more like expansion packs, this could be a fairly sizable chunk of new content headed our way. Some leaked files have pointed to snow elves and crossbows, but for now it seems we will have to do a little more waiting to see what Bethesda is up to.

Black Ops 2 Confirmed

The UK site for Call of Duty has confirmed the newest installment in the franchise is Black Ops II. The site says the game will "Push the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record setting franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops II propels players into a near future, 21st Century Cold war, where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare." A trailer and screenshots are listed as "coming soon" on the site.

Nvida Announces New $999 Flagship Card

Last week, Nvidia teased a coming announcement. Now we know what they were hiding. Nvidia peeled off the covers on their new flagship graphics card, the GeForce GTX 690. The sleek new card is touted to have the performance of two GTX 680's tied together. The performance chart that Kotaku shared boasted some extremely impressive FPS stats. The card will be released on May 3rd and can be yours for the low low price of $999.


Image sources:
#1. http://nexus404.com/Blog/wp-content/uploads2/2012/04/TimeSplitters-4-logo.jpg
#2. http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17lazeg6svbvejpg/original.jpg
#3. http://cdn4.spong.com/news/c/a/callofduty368739l/_-Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops-II-Website-Launches-Release-Date-Confirmed-_.jpg
#4. http://www.gamersdailynews.com/userfiles/image/2012/April/GeForceGTX690.jpg

The Top Games of 2011: Best Game of 2011

And finally we reach the end. Hmm....what did I not cover yet. I know I missed something.

Oh right....

Best Game of 2011

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 

This is the kind of game we have always wanted. the three previous Elder Scrolls games all laid the foundation that Skyrim is built upon. But for the first time ever in the series, it actually feel 100% as if your in a whole other world than the one your sitting in when you play the game. The visuals of the are gorgeous, and they display a landscape that is land cold and often inhospitable, but it's so much more than just a great looking game. Butterfly's can be found around flowers, dragonflies coast along the surface of rivers and streams, elk and deer roam the countryside waiting to be hunted, and salmon swim upstream near small waterfalls. Meanwhile the townsfolk go about their day, some of them run their stalls, others head to the nearest inn for some music, and children can be found running playfully around, you can even join in their game of tag if you want. Meanwhile as you adventure you'll run into guards from different towns on patrol, you might run into some soldiers from the Imperial Legion transporting a Stormcloak prisoner. You can free him if you want to try, you can even give him some of your gear to improve his odds of successfully escaping. This game world truly feels as if it is alive. It's very easy to get sucked into the game world and not want to leave.

But there is so much more to the game than it's world though. The leveling system has been improved, removing some of the more questionable skills, and adding in a progressive perk tree for every single skill in the game. A lot of these perks help you in nay number of ways and it can sometimes be difficult deciding exactly what perks you want sometimes. The combat is also a lot of fun, now allowing you to dual wield weapons and spells in any number of ways. Archery is also a decent combat skill for the first time in the series, and you'll find plenty of arrows lying around that you won't have an empty quiver too often. The voices and characters are better than they were in Oblivion but still aren't quite at the level of some other RPG's, and the dialogue gets recycled quickly among guards and commoners. The story is also not especially a knockout, but it's an interesting ride and is worth your time no matter what your doing. There's also several guilds and factions you can go work for, although the College of Winterhold is much too short of a quest series. You'll find plenty of random quests to go on though, some very simple, others long.

In the end though Skyrim is an Elder Scrolls game and that means that you can go wherever you want, do whatever you want, whenever you want. I have never played a game where I felt more compelled to just go and explore the world. The game does feel a bit simpler than it's predecessors, especially in the magic department. There's much fewer spells, and you can no longer create your own, in part due to the fact that your spells get more powerful as you level each spell schools respective school. However, overall this is the ultimate game to just go march around in. There is plenty of fun to be had, there are some amazing stories you can find, and there is more than enough to see and do that you could be playing this game well into next year before your ready to put it down. This is the kind of game we've wanted for awhile now. A game that takes you away to another world and makes you feel like your actually there.

Image Sources: #1. Mixdl.com/ #2. Totalvideogames.com /#3. Amazon

Best Genre Specific Games
Best Console Specific Games
Best Sound and Art
Marshmallow Fluff! Present: The Top Games of 2011

The Top Games of 2011: The Best Genre Specific Games

This year was a banner year for games but RPG's had it especially well seeing the release of several premier titles that have been both critically and publicly acclaimed. Several big shooter franchises also released new games, and have raked in the dough. There were was also some cake and some big, tough, manly men getting emotional. So what were the best games of each genre? 

Best Shooter: Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3 is the kind of shooter I wish I had growing up. The campaign solidly wraps up the Gears trilogy, along with plenty of emotional moments and chainsawing fun. The multiplayer is solid and has plenty of modes and features to keep you playing. Horde mode is back and better than ever, and coupled with the new Beast mode there is more than enough to keep you playing for hours upon hours. The gameplay is just as good as it's always been in the Gears series, and the visuals are stunning. Apart from a few bugs here and there this is the kind of shooter you can find yourself playing for a long time. 

Image Source: G4TV

Best Action Game: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

I felt that I should let a real big Zelda fan cover this one, so my good friend Bryan will be covering this one. Take it away!

Legend of Zelda, is one of the most respected game franchises around. Many of the games titles are beloved classics. So when I say that Skyward Sword is the greatest Legend of Zelda game ever, you know it is one incredible experience. The storyline is intense and refreshingly different, giving players a new take on the relationships between key characters. The really impressive part of the story though, is how it links the past games together and how it sets some of the really interesting parts of the franchise up. The gameplay is extremely solid as well, utilizing the Wii’s motion controls in a way that hasn't really been seen before and provides a whole new spin on the combat. The games graphics are also gorgeous and different, using a watercolor style that sets Skyward Sword apart from most other games in the graphics department. All of the new ideas and features that Nintendo created for Skyward Sword were implemented with incredible execution, and the end result is perhaps the greatest Legend of Zelda experience ever.

Image Source: Digital Trends

Best Puzzle Game: Portal 2

Portal 2 is a prime example of a sequel that rises above the original. Every last part of this game improves one the already incredible foundation that Portal built. The voice acting is absolutely incredible and the visuals are awesome. The levels are much more impressive this time around. Part of that has to do with the game no longer being set only in a sterile lab environment now that plant life has invaded the Enrichment Center. But it's the puzzles that, once again. really make this game a lot of fun. The new elements are added in wonderfully, and don't feel forced and the scale of some of the levels is just insane. The co-op mode is brilliant as well, and really utilizes having an extra person around for puzzle solving. If you liked the first one at all, there is no reason to avoid Portal 2.

Image Source: Squidoo.com

Best RPG: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls Series has always been about huge, detailed worlds, where you can do pretty much whatever you want. With the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim though, Bethesda may have created one of the finest open world RPG's ever. From the second you step foot out of the games tutorial section the land of Skyrim is your playground. If you want to go do the main story, go so it. If you want to join the Mages College, you can make your way the frozen town of Winterhold, or maybe the Dark Brotherhood is more your speed. And if none of that really appeals to you, you could just go roam the wilderness, looting every last tomb, cave, and residence you find.You can essentially play the game how you want too, with no real restrictions on styles of combat. You want to go into a battle wearing heavy armor but blasting spells left and right, you can. Want to dual wield an axe and a sword? You can do that too. The game is downright gorgeous as well, and the soundtrack always sets the mood just right when trekking through the mountains. And of course...you know....dragons. Really, apart from a somewhat disappointing main quest line, the only big flaw Skyrim has is being a bit too big. 

Image Source: Videogamer.com

Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat returned this year, and it's just as ridiculously fun and bloody as always. The game is largely the dame it has always been but tweaks the combat mechanics and controls and you have a pretty solid fighting game. Add in all of the unlockable features, costumes, fatalities and you have a game that you can get sucked into for quite a bit of time. The number of modes is fairly impressive as well including the Challenge mode, a tower of 300 objective oriented levels, as well as the classic tournament mode. Online play is fun too, including with it a new King of the Hill mode where groups of players wait turns to take on each other, while those not fighting take in the show. The story mode is a bit cheesy and unimpressive, and the sounds aren't particularly impressive but every single fighter has different movesets and fatalities. This is the best version of Mortal Kombat so far, and is defiantly the best fighter of this year. 

Image Source: Mortal Kombat Wiki

Best Sports Game: FIFA 12

FIFA 12 doesn't do anything particularly new and interesting, but it further refines the gameplay, modes, and presentation. The real big change in this years version is the new tactical defense system. No longer is it just a button press or two for you to essentially shut down defense. Now you have to actually time your tackles and sometimes the decision to simply hold back an opposing player is a smarter decision. The animations are also much smoother and more realistic now, making the game not just play realistically, but look the part as well. The online modes are compelling and football fans will love the way that matches are arranged when playing on versus one matches. You now pick your team before you start matchmaking, the servers then take into account your team, division, your personal ranking, did not finish percentage, and location which makes matches much, much fairer and fun. Ultimate Team is now included right out of the box, instead of being offered up as DLC which is really nice as well. All in all, this is the kind of football game you can not miss if you enjoy the sport. There is plenty to do, both online and off, and the presentation is slick and intuitive, even if the game doesn't take many chances. 

Image Source: Soccergaming.com

Best Racing Game: Forza 4

If you like cars, racing, or racing cars, Forza 4 has everything you can ask for. Over 450 cars, including everything from a Suzuki SX4 to a 1993 Mclaren F1. And with 25 tracks, many with multiple stages and layouts, there are plenty of different places to enjoy your vehicles on. There's a bevy of tuning and customizing options for every car, meaning that gearheads who link fine tuning every aspect of their ride can get lost for hours. Then you've also got the paint shop Then there's the online racing that now allows 16 players to race at once, not to mention Rival mode where you and your friends can try to outdo each other on various challenges and trials. There are also Car Clubs, where you and some friends can put cars that become available for everyone in the club to drive. The visuals are very impressive, especially the landscapes, and the sounds (except the music) are exceptional. The only real problem with Forza 4 is it offers virtually no tutorials or guides, so beginners can become somewhat overwhelmed, but there are enough driving aids that novice racers can get comfortable before too long. The Kinect features aren't really worth the trouble, headtracking was a particularly large let down, but it never takes anything away from the experience to be found here. 

Image Source: Gamereactor.eu

The Best Console Specific Games
The Best Game of 2011
The Best Sound and Art
Marshmallow Fluff! Presents: The Top Games of 2011

Weekly Wrap Up: A New Format

Before we get started...

Okay, so you know how this blog has been updated here and there with some in depth stories and pieces? Yeah that's changing today. I'm making some changes to make this place somewhere where you can keep coming back all the time to find new stuff to read and listen to. A lot of this will be a work in progress as I go along, and more changes will more than likely to occur. As per the usual, your guys job is to spread the word as much as you can, and mine will be to keep them (and you) coming back for more.

Don't fear though, if you enjoyed what I used to do, those kinds of things will still be here, and I will still be writing new ones. But I felt like I could make this blog somewhere people flock to for the most interesting reading material about video games period. So, let's see how this goes.

- Nolan


...Let it begin.

The reason I almost missed Thanksgiving dinner.

This past week was, for us here in America (ummm....hell yeah?) was Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally Black Friday, the single biggest shopping day in the world. Ridiculous sales are on in every shop and everyone knows it's the best chance they have to haul in huge savings while doing Christmas shopping. Nonetheless the world continued to spin, so here are some of the highlights in news and interesting accomplishments from the past seven days.

South Korea's "Cinderella Law" Goes Into Effect

Fearing the problem that game addiction in a technologically focused country could have on the next generation of Koreans, South Korea has put into effect a law that bans players under the age of 16 from playing online between midnight and six in the morning. The law was drafted in April, and while it initially only covered MMORPGS, the law was extended to cover all kinds of gaming.

The law has met (obviously so) some harsh criticism from various gaming groups. The Korean Association of Game Industry, a massing of fourteen publishers and developers, has called it "excessive prohibition" of a specific group, and reportedly has plans to file a lawsuit.

The obvious reason behind this law is that teenagers should be spending the evening hours sleeping rather then gaming, but the law calls into question the civil liberties of children. And while the Korean government have made their views crystal clear, one has to wonder if this kind of law could spark similar reactions elsewhere in the world. The law also calls into question whose job it is to see that children get a decent amount of sleep, but for now this law is here to stay.

Curious Elder Scrolls Player Finds Entire Continent Beyond Skyrims Borders

One person playing Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim decided he just had to know what lay beyond the invisible boundaries of Skyrim's game world. I'm not entirely sure what he was expecting when he turned no-clip mode on to see what lay beyond Skyrims invisible borders, but I can guarantee he did not expect to find the entire continent of Tamrieal. The player took numerous screenshots as he flew around, seeing such sights as the Vvardenfell volcano and the Imperial City (well, the land area it sits upon anyhow.)

The question now is what exactly are they doing there? The most likely answer is so that when players look out over the horizon, they can see familiar landscape landmarks from past games, to help them feel like they are in the same world as the past Elder Scrolls games, but who knows? Maybe there is some sort of secret Bethesda hasn't let us in on yet.

New Xbox 360 Dashboard Launches December 6th

The title is somewhat self explanatory. Microsoft will roll out it's newest version of the Xbox Dashboard on the 6th. Aside from a sleeker look, the new dashboard will have greater integration for Kinect Voice Recognition. This is also the same day that the Microsoft will be launching some new TV and movie apps, so Xbox users should be paying special attention to this date.

All in all a quiet week overall, but the "Cinderella Law" (as it is apparently being called) that went into effect in South Korea this past week is an obviously important event. South Korea has earned a notorious reputation for how seriously they take their games, and for how long some people play them. But, as stated above, this law causes many questions to appear, and some have no clear answers. I personally find this law a bit of drastic step, and for parents it's somewhat of a slap in the face that the government has decided that they can't keep their children offline. We'll see what kind of an uproar we get from this law in the coming weeks.

News: Shepard Can Lose, Skyrim Same-Sex Marriage, and more!

...investigative reporting without the investigation.

This week was filled with interesting information reveals for games coming out over the next few months, as well as a Warthog preview in Forza. Yes, the Halo Warthog as it will appear in Halo 4 (supposedly)was show off in Forza 4. No you can not drive it. Not in Forza anyway...

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Will Allow Same-Sex Marrige
In case you didn't hear already, Bethesda is taking a page out of Peter Molyneux's book and allowing you to marry NPC's and have relationships with them in Skyrim. Skyrim will allow men to marry men, and ladies to marry ladies, if they so choose. As far as I'm concerned, good on Bethesda for not restricting marriage to men and women only. I also like their response that it's not even that big a deal. The same-sex part not the relationship mechanic itself. That part is supposed to be very useful, partially because your partner can accompany you around the game world, offer you relationship-specific quests, and probably some other things we haven't seen yet.

You Can Lose In Mass Effect 3

As much as I didn't want to read this, I already kind of knew it should be possible. Bioware has confirmed that if you play Mass Effect 3 and have been screwing things up royally from Eden Prime to the final showdown with the reapers, you can fail to stop them. Bioware has already said there are many possible endings for Mass Effect 3 and that it all comes down to the choices you've made, so really this isn't so much a shocking reveal as it is a confirmation of our suspicions. Still, failing so bad the entire galaxy is wiped out. How many games can say you can even do that?

Turn 10 Shows Off Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's Showroom
Turn 10 has made on hell of a crossover with Halo at Halofest, showing off the first look at Halo 4's version of the Warthog in Forza 4's car viewing garage mode. You can check it out yourself when Forza 4 ships this fall, but the Halofest execs stressed that you can not race the vehicle in the game (they say because it's too slow, I say because it'd be too much awesome) , and even unlocking the vehicle to view will involve some dedication from players. They haven't said what it will take to unlock it, but they have said it won't be easy.

Man Sues Microsoft for $500 Billion Dollars

I really wish I was making that up. To sum the story up for those of us non-legal folk, David Stebbins found a loophole that allows Xbox consumers to amend the Terms of Service. Microsoft, by law, has to respond to the letter by either adding the changes or (as per Stebbins terms) cancel his account. If they didn't respond in ten days, Microsoft would be forced to submit to the new terms. Stebbins' added in a 'forfeit victory clause' that said Microsoft would have to pay him $500 billion dollars if they did not respond within 24 hours of the new Terms going into effect. Guess what Microsoft did not do? Now let me be upfront about this: No matter the legal implications of this, there is no chance that Microsoft will ever be forced to pay all that money to this guy. I can't even speculate what the hell is going to happen with this, but I can tell you right now, this guy has a better chance of being bit by a shark, hit by lightning, winning the lottery, and winning a Nobel Prize in the space of five minutes, then he does of getting that money.

Thats all for this weeks news. Check back next week to see if Half Life 3 has been announced! (spoiler alert: it won't be.)