October 28 - November 2
For the record, it's not that I endorse EB games exactly, but they do provide a nice and consistent link to the weekly list of games and rather than hunting high and low on the intertubes, often unsuccessfully, for each game's official site, I am taking the easy way out. So when I link to the games in the list below, see each EB link merely as a reference point so you can purchase from your preferred retailer.
So, November is upon us and with it a true overload of games, though with some demos, betas and initial reactions perhaps the list of immediate must-have games has begun to slim a bit. I would have assumed this summer, for example, that Hellgate: London would have been an automatic choice for Game of the Week, but with a questionable demo and the reminder that I'll have to pay for it, pay for it more over the long-term and then be served in-game ads, it's increasingly distasteful. Similarly, Tabula Rasa seems like a great idea, but in the beta I found the execution occasionally lacking, and I wonder if it would really sustain me. Timeshift was an interesting concept, but again marred by an uninspiring demo, and so it comes to an old standby for me. Regardless of how much I anticipate Rock Band, Guitar Hero holds a sacred place in my heart, and not only does this newest version come with over 70 songs, online multiplayer, updated visuals and the long awaited introduction of the wireless guitar for the 360, but after spending a day with it, I can at least confirm that it remains a fun experience. Yes, I'm as disinterested in the boss battle nonsense as any self-respecting, fake-guitar thrasher can be and the UI has some growing yet to do on me, but the fundamental concept remains pure and nailing a killer solo still manages to give me a smile, so it gets Game of the Week.
Can't get enough of Jim from The Office? Well, you can see him play the exact same character this week in Licence to Wed which releases to DVD this week along with Spiderman 3 and a special Angel Complete Series Collector's Edition, in case you don't feel like you've given Joss Whedon enough of your money. More DVDs here.
PC:
Hellgate: London (10/30)
Richard Garriot's Tabula Rasa (10/30)
The Witcher (10/30)
Timeshift (10/30)
Flatout: Head On (10/30)
PS2:
Guitar Hero III (10/28)
King of Fighters XI (10/29)
Manhunt 2 (10/29)
The Simpson Game (10/29)
Bee Movie (10/30)
DS:
Neves (10/30)
Super Collapse 3 (10/30)
The Simpson Game (10/30)
Bee Movie (10/30)
PSP:
Manhunt 2 (10/29)
Disgaea Afternoon of Darkness (10/30)
XBOX360:
Guitar Hero III (10/28)
Bee Movie (10/30)
Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition (10/30)
Naruto Rise of a Ninja (10/30)
The Simpsons Game (10/30)
Timeshift (10/30)
Virtua Fighter 5 (10/30)
Viva Pinata Party Animals (10/30)
PS3:
Guitar Hero III (10/28)
Stranglehold (10/29)
The Simpsons Game (10/23)
Wii:
Guitar Hero III (10/28)
Batallion Wars 2 (10/29)
Manhunt 2 (10/29)
Bee Movie (10/30)
The Simpsons Game (10/30)
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I think I'll be picking up The Witcher.
Spore | XboxLive: Fly GWJ | PSN: The _Fly | Twitter
Tabula Rasa and Hellgate London coming out the same day. What a sad day for PC gaming. Hopefully The Witcher redeems it.
Why should I believe that first pragraph?
http://twitter.com/Primosis
Why not reference to Gamefaqs? They usually have correct release dates for games and respective countries or regions.
* deleted *
If I were a bad demoman, I wouldn't be sitting here dicussing it with you, now would I?
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It's interesting how little Manhunt 2 is registering with people now, after the whole ratings fiasco. It'll be interesting to see how it sells.
If I were a bad demoman, I wouldn't be sitting here dicussing it with you, now would I?
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Wii Code: 3516-1828-0081-7936
I'm surprised you don't link to Amazon so you can at least pick up a little commission here and there.
Because, um, he's not a liar? In less you mean pragraph in some other way I'm not familiar with? Plus, if you've ever heard him go OFF on EB/GameStop you'd know the idea of him being a corporate shill is both ludicrous and amusing.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"In other news, Miyamoto pissed on my head, and gave me a forecast of rain." - *Le
Given the scope and hype of these two projects, and how often they were delayed, what are the ODDS of these both releasing the same day.
I've already picked up GH3 (360) and the HGL beta left a little to be desired. I'm drawn to Disgaea on the PSP (liked one much better than two on the PS2) but something about the release is pulling at me to rent it a while first.
XBox Live: fyedaddy
Guitar Hero III just proves my rule about video game breasts. The larger the size of a main character's breasts when compared to the previous game, the worse the quality of the game itself (i.e. Judy Nails).
"Poor Eli Nooo... *child starts crying*"
"Come on now, there's no need to make that kind of noise. It sounds awful and you'll upset other people." - Ionae from Spirit Engine 2
Squelch the non-believers! Did you register just to complain. Purple?
Despite all the doubts attached to it, I'm still going with Hellgate.
The brain you stole, Fritz. Think of it. The brain of a dead man waiting to live again in a body I made with my own hands!
http://isisless.deviantart.com/
XBOX LIVE: AtomicVideoHead
From what I've heard (and seen) of Hellgate, the game is pretty damned cool. A buddy was playing the betas and I caught a glimpse. Apparently they (unwisely) rushed the Demo and it's not nearly as good as the betas-- it doesn't have hardly any of the magic or weaponry available-- I was told it was basically just the training mission(s). Either way, I heard the demo was so bad that I'm glancing past it for now, if only because I still have Orange Box and Halo 3 to play. Not to mention I REALLY want GH3.
Plus, I was playing GH3 on my friend's PS3 and it seemed like the button response was laggy. Just barely, even after calibrating. 2 other friends (who own GH2 on 360, like me) pointed it out too, without my having said anything. Anyone else notice this? I hope it's not the controller...
Disgaea for PSP some time in the future for me. But not this week.
Yet even then we ran like the wind,
whilst our laughter echoed under cerulean skies...
I'm just going to pretend it's a different actress playing the role of Judy Nails. I liked alterna Judy better.
Steam ID: http://steamcommunity.com/id/nyles
Website: http://banditosbanditosbanditos.typepad.com
Favorite puzzle: Grim Fandango -- the metal detector
Wow. A Chessmaster for the 360. Interesting. Probably loads of feature per it's PC editions thru the years. MP play could be interesting with ratings given (maybe even thru the USCF). I enjoyed the Spyglass chess mode. The AI seemed decent. But it was a barebones program. Anyway, I 'might' get this if I see some positive reviews and what kind of 'extras' it has. (I've been buying various chess programs for a long time...not that it's done me much good:)
AND finally, 'My So Called Life' reissue. I'm all over this. I partook of the 'Save Life' back when (and have a T-Shirt to prove it). And the extras seem interesting for anyone who enjoyed the show.
XBL: DonanGWJ
PSN: Toxdon
Yeah, what the hell? She used to look like she belonged in the Pipettes or Le Tigre or something. Now she looks like some scary old white trash Metallica fan.
XBL Gamertag: Magmarok GWJ
Steam ID: Magmarok
www.indefinite-articles.com
If you get The Witcher, make sure you patch up to 1.1a.
XBox Live|Tshirts|xfire | Last.fm
Heheh, uh, well, in NO way was I violating the NDA by showing this person the game, heheh...
I'll let the full game speak for itself, as I've already given my opinions elsewhere.
Sephirotic | I am your future...swallowed up in fire | PSN: Sephirotic
I'm still hopeful for Hellgate, and plan on getting it, but "rushing the demo" makes zero sense to me. I was very high on Hellgate, and a demo of questionable quality - particularly one that was obviously rushed - always puts me off. I don't really understand the benefit of releasing a demo that doesn't accurately portray the final version, but I hope the final game is much better.
"I think Elysium has the right of it" - Certis
I've been curious enough to go ask them about that. I'll see if I can get an answer as to WHO put the demo together, and WHY they thought it was representative of the full game. I'll post when I get the answer.
Sephirotic | I am your future...swallowed up in fire | PSN: Sephirotic
Bill Roper talked about it a bit on this week's 1up Yours podcast. Basically, it sounds like the philosophy was that they wanted the demo to include a gentle introduction to the game, so they just went with the opening section. It also sounded like they are all fully aware that the demo was a failure, and in retrospect they wish that they had assumed that the player would be able to figure things out a bit and throw them in the water with a bunch of equipment and skills and stuff.
XBL/PSN: zeroKFE | BHA: zeroKFE
HG:L demo = serious buzz kill
It seems like they released the demo early enough and gave out more beta invites to compensate for some of the damage.
Even my enthusiasm for the game is a bit shaken as I figured that I would play single player until the multiplayer sorts itself out in the first few weeks. I figured the singleplayer performance would be a reprieve. (it gets laggy and crowded at the stations and I know its not going away on launch) Im still leaning towards this, but only since my familiarity with the beta pointed to telltale signs that the demo was very old code.
The demo seemed like the game was trying not to give away any of the depth of a game for a game with little depth. The fact is that HG:L has a ton of depth and nothing to hide.
Being fangoriously devoured by a gelatinous monster.
And do so before you start really playing as it can invalidate saved games.
I tried the HG:L demo and was whelmed at best. It seemed more of the same; nothing special. Not being one interested in online gaming, and this being, presumably, much of the draw of this game, I doubt it will ever be in my shopping cart.
The Witcher, on the other hand, is much more interesting. Now if I can just be patient enough to wait for a price drop on the uncensored UK version.
"Gamers With Jobs will take over the world someday. I hope they're benevolent overlords." -- Bill Harris
Crap. sorry dude, I wasn't even thinking about that. first post fixed... Sorry again.
Picked up Guitar Hero III for the Wii today. My three oldest kids have monopolized it so far, but it looks like fun.
Whats this about abundant advertisments for AXE body spray in guitar hero III, haphazardly?
The brain you stole, Fritz. Think of it. The brain of a dead man waiting to live again in a body I made with my own hands!
http://isisless.deviantart.com/
XBOX LIVE: AtomicVideoHead
Don't forget the Pontiac truck stage, WITH spinners!!
Isn't the DS horror FPS, Dementium: The Ward, coming on Halloween ?
I think you some people took my comment too seriously, obviously he doesn't endorse them, and since when is a question a complaint? Of the people who replied to my comment, only 50% of them answered the question. These are staggering results.
http://twitter.com/Primosis
I enjoyed beta testing Hellgate, and plan on getting it when I get back from Canada.
Wannabe priest with a sword....