T w e n t y S i d e d
I didn’t get around to linking this on new year’s day, but my final column of 2009 (which is actually my first column of 2010) is up at The Escapist.
It’s a list of all the good stuff that happened this year, which didn’t make it into any of my columns because I so often focus on the negative.
Programming Language for Games
Game developer Jon Blow is making a programming language just for games. Why is he doing this, and what will it mean for game development?
Skyrim Thieves Guild
The Thieves Guild quest in Skyrim is a vortex of disjointed plot-holes, contrivances, and nonsense.
Shamus Plays WOW
Ever wondered what's in all those quest boxes you've never bothered to read? Get ready: They're more insane than you might expect.
Free Radical
The product of fandom run unchecked, this novel began as a short story and grew into something of a cult hit.
Blistering Stupidity of Fallout 3
Yeah, this game is a classic. But the story is idiotic, incoherent, thematically confused, and patronizing.
But canceling duke nukem 4 never removed such an obvious,yet still funny joke from you and other writers.How is that a good thing?
Next year could be interesting as well, with starcraft 2 and elemental actually being released.
I like quicksaving immensely. I am playing Far Cry I (for the first time) which allows infrequent saving, and the challenge — while infurating — has been an invigorating change from half life 2 where I quicksave every breath. I guess everyone has different ideas of fun?
I admit that my main point from your article was, “Yes! Someone else liked Brutal Legend!”
I don’t know WHY I like that game so much, but I do. In spite of its many, many poor design choices, I do.
@Daemian Lucifer: I think the problem with DNF is that it was a bit too easy to make fun of; it wasn’t quite like “I can’t think of anything else to make fun of, so let’s jab at DNF!” in most cases, but …
Also, why stop at “the next Guitar Hero”? Why not do something like Guitar Halo? Or Halo Kitty? *brick’d*
@Sean Riley: Brutal Legend, whatever else it is, is undeniably metal. It is, in fact, exactly what metal would be if it was a video game. That’s why it’s so great.
@Krellen:
It really is, and it has charm, something few games master. It’s still got problems … everywhere. (The story goes AWOL, desperately needing a third act, the RTS mechanics are unfairly maligned but the level design is horrendous for the style of play it engenders, there are way too many gimmick battles, and nobody but nobody seems to play it online.) I love it despite it.
Also, as for “I can’t really write good things about games”, I could see you writing about more subtle good things about games, where a gamer might enjoy something without realizing why it works well.
Re: all the complaining
As I see it, the urge to complain about something like gaming issues is synonymous with the urge to improve gaming. The complaining is done in the hope that the right people will eventually listen and things will be improved.
If we don’t care about something, we don’t usually bother to complain about it.
Wow, MW2 made more sales already than starcraft has ever. That’s pretty impressive.
That’s just wrong. Sick and wrong.
I don’t care for MW2, but I can see why you would include it in the list.
Also, I wish Yahtzee would have done something like that. I begin to wonder what kind of game he actually likes.
Aion, Assassin’s Creed II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Borderlands, BràƒÂ¼tal Legend, Dragon Age, Killzone 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Uncharted 2, Modern Warfare 2. It’s been quite a year.
Some years are better than other for releases. 1998, 1999, and 2004 were years that gave us one legendary title after another. It’s too soon to tell if the releases for 2009 will stack up in the long run, but it’s been a really, really good year to be a gamer.
I’d say that list stacks up pretty well against any of the years you mention there. What a murderer’s row.
the RTS mechanics are unfairly maligned but the level design is horrendous for the style of play it engenders, there are way too many gimmick battles, and nobody but nobody seems to play it online.