July 18th to 24th

Section: 

It's been an excellent start to the week with news that Elysium's open heart surgery went really well and he's come out of it in great shape. Rumor has it he waved off the anesthesia, chugged a Corona, put a leather strap in between his clenched teeth and told them to go to it. In a show of true manliness he also spurned their razor and simply willed his chest hair to relocate to his majestic beard so they could cut him open. 2011 has found its John Henry -- only this one lives forever.

In other news: video games. The Summer of Arcade kicks off with Bastion coming out this Wednesday. The narrated isometric action game has a great art style, cool weapons and a unique story delivery system. I enjoyed what I saw at PAX and early buzz has been very good. With Call of Juarez: The Cartel prompting IGN to eschew the usual preview crammed with ravening optimism and go with a suggestion that you should not buy this game ... you may want to wait for reviews.

In case you haven't noticed, the front page has been a bit lighter on content than usual. With summer upon us, our lead writer getting his heart mended and our editor breaking his magic editing arm -- we're probably going to be cruising with trimmed sails for the rest of summer. You should be outside anyways, so read the game release list and then go play some stick ball.

PC
Supreme Ruler: Cold War

Xbox 360
Bastion (XBLA)
Call of Juarez: The Cartel
Captain America: Super Soldier

PS3
Captain America: Super Soldier
Call of Juarez: The Cartel
Dead Block (PSN)

Wii
Captain America: Super Soldier
The Smurfs Dance Party
Just Dance Summer Party
Just Dance Or We'll Eat Your Pets

Nintendo 3DS
eShop Stuff
Crushing Despair

DS
Captain America: Super Soldier
The Smurfs

Comments

Slow week, but whatever. I have Ocarina and both Bioshocks sitting on my pile

Certis wrote:

Nintendo 3DS
eShop Stuff
Crushing Despair

At first, I laughed.
But then, I felt it

game of the week isn't....

Operation?

Play some stick ball? OK, sure. Can I download that from Steam or somewhere?

Stickball sucks.

Now Stick on a Hoop? That's some serious fun.

tanstaafl wrote:

Play some stick ball? OK, sure. Can I download that from Steam or somewhere?

You asked it before I could.

I'm really not thrilled that Bastion got chosen for the Summer of Arcade cause I was planning on getting it on the PC. Alas ...

Wait, is this the first downloadable GOTW? Elysium must be spinning in his hospital bed. The nurses thank you ironically for all the extra work they have to do now untangling his IVs.

Hans

I heard that they were keeping Elysium in the ICU not because he needed intensive care, but because they needed to be careful of his intensity.

Personally I prefer Ball in a Cup ™

Come on now, that's just too easy.

"Just Dance Or We'll Eat Your Pets" sounds like a must buy to me.

How about good old fashion pocket ball?

I just want to jump in and say yaaaaaaay to the good news!

But it's hot as balls outside.

Hadn't heard of Bastion before, it looks fun, gonna have to pick it up now you filthy enabler! Any idea how many points it is?

Rainsmercy wrote:

Hadn't heard of Bastion before, it looks fun, gonna have to pick it up now you filthy enabler! Any idea how many points it is?

1200

Rainsmercy wrote:

Hadn't heard of Bastion before, it looks fun, gonna have to pick it up now you filthy enabler! Any idea how many points it is?

A hefty 1200 spacebucks, but looking very much worth it.

Edit: Tannhauser'ed thanks to my propensity to cite.

so read the game release list and then go play some stick ball.

I'm waiting for the DLC which adds locations (backyard , old sandlot & playground) with the patch that removes the random oncoming traffic.

hidannik wrote:

Wait, is this the first downloadable GOTW? Elysium must be spinning in his hospital bed. The nurses thank you ironically for all the extra work they have to do now untangling his IVs.

Well, there was last week...

Jayhawker wrote:
hidannik wrote:

Wait, is this the first downloadable GOTW? Elysium must be spinning in his hospital bed. The nurses thank you ironically for all the extra work they have to do now untangling his IVs.

Well, there was last week...

Which was also a Certis pick. Man, Elysium's been spinning since last week. I bet he's sick of that.

He started it with Magic 2012 a few weeks ago. I regret nothing!

Spaz chose Magicka: Vietnam a ways back. Yes, I actually went back and looked through to figure that out ...

I think the real turning point here will be when iOS games start making the GotW on a regular basis. Or board games.

garion333 wrote:

I think the real turning point here will be when iOS games start making the GotW on a regular basis.

Which will surely be the case if rabbit ever takes over posting The Week Ahead.

Certis: I trust that you will never let that happen.

rabbit might explode into a thousand stars if he had to write every week for the site

Certis wrote:

rabbit might explode into a thousand stars if he had to write every week for the site ;)

Ah, but what a beautiful site it would be.

wordsmythe wrote:
Certis wrote:

rabbit might explode into a thousand stars if he had to write every week for the site ;)

Ah, but what a beautiful site it would be.

But how do you get there?

I knew the apocalypse would be coming soon, but I had no idea it had already arrived!

Hans

Didn't you hear? EA bought Stickball. Now you must have an internet connection, pay-as-you-play, and watch ads.