Did your pile become less of a mountain? - 2011 in review

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm weak. Resident Evil 4 was on sale for $9.99, and I wanted it for my collection. However, I needed to pad that order up a bit to get free shipping, so I bought Resident Evil 5, too. I've already played RE4, but RE5 goes on the pile. It's a sad day for pandas.

Which system did you get RE5 for? If it's on 360, you can hit me up for co-op if you like. Supposedly the companion AI is kind of boned in Single Player, and I've been meaning to replay it anyway.

Added Costume Quest to my collection, shifted Bulletstorm to $30 or less. 99% finished LBP2 (story), just didn't make it under the January wire. DC Universe Online is consuming way too much time, need to dedicate time to Devil May Cry 4 or [Prototype] next (goals for Feb).

RSPaulette and KidDork, you're now officially in the system, welcome aboard.

I'll add all of our current 'pledges' to the intial post in the next day or so, the same time as I add the link in for Hemidal's new thread for February. Giving it a rest for now, I'm getting some tonal hearing back in my right ear, but the left ear seems to be getting confused by the 'range' that is returning in the right ear, and it just scrambles anything that coincides.

It is leaving me with the mother of all migraines, and being an ear, there is just no way to turn it off.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the hearing is returning (as is my doctor), but it really does suck that the recovery is worse than the symptom (in the short term at least, although at current recovery levels, I may be saddled with this for another 3 weeks ontop of the two already).

Anyway, enough about me. Congrats to those that got some of the pile shifted, and give some thought as to what you're going to pledge with Hemidal for the relatively short month of February.

Looks like a Metal Gear Solid game is in my near future. I really should get to/through 3 or 4 before Dragon Age 2 drops in early March...

I played 3 (Snake Eater) awhile ago, but I've ended up with Subsistence (the re-release) and the original version's saves do not carry over (and I don't have the game anymore), which is why it got backlogged.

Considering I've wrapped up some XBLA games recently, I could totally go for another short game, but if I'm going to attempt something bigger, might as well go with something awesome...

Great to hear you're getting some hearing back, m0nk3yboy.

I noticed that I put Drawn: The Painted Tower on the spreadsheet. I beat that last month so I crossed it out. I plan on completing Castlevania: Lords of Shadow this month so I added that to the list.

Has anyone played Hydrophobia?

It isn't on my "2010 and Earlier" list, but I was thinking of adding it, especially after that big patch and price drop. It's on sale this week on XBLA for 400 points, and I'm thinking of picking it up, but not sure if it's worth it.

Garden Ninja wrote:

Has anyone played Hydrophobia?

It isn't on my "2010 and Earlier" list, but I was thinking of adding it, especially after that big patch and price drop. It's on sale this week on XBLA for 400 points, and I'm thinking of picking it up, but not sure if it's worth it.

I played the demo, and to me, it's worth the 400 space bucks. It was originally 1200 before they patched it. It was then patched and dropped to 800, now it's only 400... It is a steal.

However, this is a support forum to de-enable as well as support pile completion. If you think you're going to get to it before the year is through, then add it to your list for the year. If you have a 'better' game that uses the same mechanics, that is already on your pile list, then don't add it. Time on this is time away from what you already have.

Hope that helps with the decision making process. It's kind of the process I go through when weighing up an 'indiscretion'.

I just updated the doc with games I am available to play co-op, most of which were already on there (I added LBP 2). I just need advance notice to set up a time for co-op, otherwise my evenings will all be occupied well in advance. I can usually swing at least one night a week, Thursday being the best one.

m0nk3yboy wrote:
Garden Ninja wrote:

Has anyone played Hydrophobia?

It isn't on my "2010 and Earlier" list, but I was thinking of adding it, especially after that big patch and price drop. It's on sale this week on XBLA for 400 points, and I'm thinking of picking it up, but not sure if it's worth it.

I played the demo, and to me, it's worth the 400 space bucks. It was originally 1200 before they patched it. It was then patched and dropped to 800, now it's only 400... It is a steal.

However, this is a support forum to de-enable as well as support pile completion. If you think you're going to get to it before the year is through, then add it to your list for the year. If you have a 'better' game that uses the same mechanics, that is already on your pile list, then don't add it. Time on this is time away from what you already have.

Hope that helps with the decision making process. It's kind of the process I go through when weighing up an 'indiscretion'.

OK, dis-enabled. I was kind of leaning toward not getting it (yet anyway), but if someone said it was undiluted awesome (see what I did there), I'd have grabbed it. It seems interesting, but knowing what I want to get through this month (Dead Space 2, and FFXIII at least, plus Uncharted 2 borrowed, and Lego Indy from GF), I'd probably have just left it sit for a while anyway. It will be there later, for the still reasonable price of $10. If I manage to beat Dead Space 2, and either Uncharted or Lego Indy by Sunday I may still pick it up. We'll see.

ahrezmendi wrote:

I just updated the doc with games I am available to play co-op, most of which were already on there (I added LBP 2). I just need advance notice to set up a time for co-op, otherwise my evenings will all be occupied well in advance. I can usually swing at least one night a week, Thursday being the best one.

I see you have Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light for 360; I'd be up for that in co-op. I've beaten it already, but feel free to invite me to a game when the mood strikes you.

Garden Ninja wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm weak. Resident Evil 4 was on sale for $9.99, and I wanted it for my collection. However, I needed to pad that order up a bit to get free shipping, so I bought Resident Evil 5, too. I've already played RE4, but RE5 goes on the pile. It's a sad day for pandas.

Which system did you get RE5 for? If it's on 360, you can hit me up for co-op if you like. Supposedly the companion AI is kind of boned in Single Player, and I've been meaning to replay it anyway.

I bought it on 360. I have a pretty erratic schedule for when I can play games thanks to my two year old, but we might be able to work something out. I'll let you know when I get to it.

Garden Ninja wrote:

Has anyone played Hydrophobia?

It isn't on my "2010 and Earlier" list, but I was thinking of adding it, especially after that big patch and price drop. It's on sale this week on XBLA for 400 points, and I'm thinking of picking it up, but not sure if it's worth it.

You just had to post in here about a price drop... Pile +1.

This past weekend I resisted the urge to buy RE2 for n64 and New Super Mario bros for DS.

Win!

I wrote a gigantic list in the google doc that I won't burden the thread with here. Needless to say, there are 74 titles listed, about equal numbers PC and console.

So far this year I've managed Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna, Ghostbusters: The Video Game, and Back to the Future - episode 101: It's About Time!

I'm also very close on Serious Sam: The First Encounter HD (level 12/15), Trauma Center: Under the Knife (on mission 5-9, which is faster than my hands are able to move), and Art Style: Orbient (27/30). Wtf? Every single game is in this format - Series title : subtitle.

2011 Releases I will be purchasing - depending on reviews
The Witcher 2
Duke Nukem Forever
Beat Hazard Ultra
Jurassic Park (and any other Telltale adventure)

2010 and Prior Releases I might be purchasing
Mega Man 10
Batman: Arkham Asylum

I, AUs_TBirD, solemnly pledge to take part in the Pile of Shame monthly threads. Even if it is just for one game, I will put forth effort to clear my ever-growing pile, one game at a time, and will do my utmost to make a serious attempt at finishing at least half of the games I've listed.

I also pledge to do everything within my ability to restrict my game purchases to those that I've listed, and, if I should falter, will shamefully add them to the pile in full sight of this support group.

Apollo0507 wrote:

I sense a trend here, I may need to stop watching quick looks and going through the Deals thread....

I'm beginning to wonder if I don't need to ban myself from the deals thread, as well.

So I didn't mention it at the time, but when Newegg had Dragon Age 2: Signature Edition available still about a week or so ago (I saw it in the Deals thread), I bit and pre-ordered for PC. I am not totally proud about doing it,but it is BioWare and before I put down DA:O to play something else new and shiny, I really enjoyed playing DA:O. All of the talk on the Conference Call about DA2 re-enabled me after I disabled myself.

Therefore, I admit my weakness and I will add DA2 to the list of games I am purchasing in 2011. My February Pile Goal is to finish Dragon Age: Origins in time for the release of Dragon Age 2.

I am also very interested in Stacking, which comes out next week from Double Fine and Magicka. I know that Stacking will be purchased because from the Giant Bomb quick look, the gameplay looks like a lot of fun and I really like Double Fine's sense of humor. Magicka also may be purchased because of what I've read about it and again, the Giant Bomb quick look.

I sense a trend here, I may need to stop watching quick looks and going through the Deals thread....

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Apollo0507 wrote:

I sense a trend here, I may need to stop watching quick looks and going through the Deals thread....

I'm beginning to wonder if I don't need to ban myself from the deals thread, as well.

The deals thread is definitely evil. I currently have it sitting in my track tab with 93 new posts listed. Don't go there.

On a related note, I had a bit of a mess up at my end with my pre-order bonus of Dead Space Ignition when I bought added to the pile Dead Space 2. As a result, they sent me two redemption codes, so I have a 'spare one' for anyone who wants to play the prequel to Dead Space 2 (for free), just PM me. First in best dressed.

m0nk3yboy wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:
Apollo0507 wrote:

I sense a trend here, I may need to stop watching quick looks and going through the Deals thread....

I'm beginning to wonder if I don't need to ban myself from the deals thread, as well.

The deals thread is definitely evil. I currently have it sitting in my track tab with 93 new posts listed. Don't go there.

On a related note, I had a bit of a mess up at my end with my pre-order bonus of Dead Space Ignition when I bought added to the pile Dead Space 2. As a result, they sent me two redemption codes, so I have a 'spare one' for anyone who wants to play the prequel to Dead Space 2 (for free), just PM me. First in best dressed. :)

I actually enjoyed ignition. It was a pretty easy 200 points as well.

I showed some remarkable (for me) signs of willpower tonight. I've set aside $500 of my tax return to spend on anything I want, and tonight I went to both GameStop and Best Buy without buying anything at all. I considered but didn't purchase: a Kinect, a PS3, a PSP, a DSi, and a whole bunch of games. Every time I eyed something, I thought of this thread.

However, my wife is really interested in LittleBigPlanet, and that's made it quite hard to not get a PS3.

I broke down and purchased Nier earlier today. I had completely forgotten about the game until I had seen it at Walmart for $20 and couldn't resist...

m0nk3yboy wrote:

On a related note, I had a bit of a mess up at my end with my pre-order bonus of Dead Space Ignition when I bought added to the pile Dead Space 2. As a result, they sent me two redemption codes, so I have a 'spare one' for anyone who wants to play the prequel to Dead Space 2 (for free), just PM me. First in best dressed. :)

Congrats to Serenj, code all gone

Done with Max Payne 2.

I added Magicka to my list (also to the group work section). It seems fun so far but also has the potential to get really frustrating so my definition of finished is going to be somewhat fluid on that one.

I'm bouncing around games atm. Having fun in Forza 3 right now, but ain't no way I would commit to that within the span of a month.

Ben There, Dan That, in the can. Fun little game. I am reminded (but gently, thankfully) of why I don't play adventure games; I have no patience for them. This one was pretty good, though, in terms of not being obscure. And, it was only a couple of hours to get through! Big bonus for Gamers With Little Kids.

Eldon_of_Azure wrote:

I broke down and purchased Nier earlier today. I had completely forgotten about the game until I had seen it at Walmart for $20 and couldn't resist...

Same here. I saw it for $20, and couldn't leave it behind. That would have been tragic. To keep it company, I also grabbed Lost Odyssey. In for a guilt penny....

Lost Odyssey was fantastic. Enjoy!

I finished up ilomilo but was bored of watching the Super Bowl and bought The Harvest to replace it.

One game off the pile, one game onto it. That's not too bad...

I just pre-ordered Marvel vs Capcom 3. A couple people were talking about it at lunch and got me really interested. Then I realized I had a 50% off deal for the game from Amazon (due to an issue with the Pre-order extras for Dead Rising 2), so it would only cost $30. So yeah. I added it to the list.

Knocked off two yesterday.

Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - Count me among the "this is overrated" crowd. It's a competent, occasionally cute platformer with impressive-for-the-time graphics that haven't aged well, but it's not exactly the bee's knees...or monkey's bananas, or whatever. There weren't too many mandatory trial and error sections, which I was thankful for, and Cranky Kong was pretty funny. I was surprised to note that music was frequently recycled for levels, and I think I caught a few Super Mario World sound effects in there. It kept me going until the end without much need to force myself, so it is good, but it really didn't deserve the marketing budget and review scores it received at the time.

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter (PC) - Back in 2001, I wrote a review for the non-HD version of this game and called it "the best $20 I've spent in ages!" I didn't pay $20 this time, but I stand by the sentiment. This was the first time I've finished the game in single player, and although it's a pale shadow to the blast that is going through the game cooperatively with enemy numbers in the stratosphere, it's still a great time. The upgraded visuals add a beautiful new shine to a great game.

I didn't have it on my list, but I did just finish Dracula X Chronicles, so that's one more item down this month. It also marks the near-completion of my PSP pile, leaving only Jeanne d'Arc remaining (which I've had to restart 3 times now due to corrupt save files, I may just give up).

Got inspired by the Killzone 3 beta to finally play Killzone 2. Finished up the single player campaign a couple days ago, so marked it finished on the spreadsheet. I might dabble with the multiplayer a little bit until K3 actually releases. Might put that on my list to purchase sometime in 2011 too.

Not really breaking the pledge, it's just like the God of War 3 thing, I have it on my probable purchases list, once I actually get around to playing the GoW 1/2 Collection and decide whether I like it or not.