This double stuffed episode makes up for last week’s week off, even without Paul in the podcast.
The news covers the following items:
They then covered the top stories of the year, which leads to the Question of the Week, “What was the biggest news item in 2012?”
Electronic Arts has announced SimAnimals, a game where you play the godlike hand and control the lifestyle of over 60 animals. In the game you’ll play the role of a disembodied hand which moves around and life animals, pick flowers and interact with the environment much like a past Lionhead Studios game: Black and White.
EA’s not exactly being the most creative with this Wii and DS game based on the sounds of it so far, as it clones a lot of the features in Black and White, including how “animals react” when you treat them a specific way. However, we’ve not had this style of game on the Wii or DS, both very “touchy” in methodology.
Black and White had the touch sensitive control scheme using tactile feedback with the mouse implemented with Immersion technology. This brings the style of gameplay to a new level, but nothing we’ve heard thus far makes us think originality. Cute and cool, perhaps but it’s nothing new. Of course, who said it had to be new?
We know old gaming concepts sell well at this point!
The latest episode, which is on the short side after having a really long one two weeks ago, sees Paul returning from the flu with somewhat of a shady attitude this week. Meanwhile, the Gaming Flashback is the 1976 coin-op arcade game Blockade.
The news for this week includes:
All that plus Reader Feedback and the Question of the Week, “What was your favorite handheld game?”
We’ve talked about it on the podcast before, we’ve made speculations and we’ve come up with theories. Blizzard has now cleared up much of the fuzzy details and theories by announcing their next title: Diablo III.
Some of us thought it was too early to announce the game, right on the heals of a StarCraft III announcement but Blizzards marketing team must consider this the perfect time, as it’s official. Not only did they announce the title, but they’ve got a cinematic and a good five minutes of game play footage.
We’re not talking about vaporware, this is a real game with really sweet features, hot new graphics and sound and enemies that make prior diablo look like childs play. The worlds are destructable, you can drop walls upon your enemies, toss them over cliffs (on fire no less) and rescue people whom help you do battle.
The game play footage covers barbarian (fighter) class and the witch doctor (sorta a necromancer archtype) with both male and female varients. They explain some of the great powers of the warrior style class and show off a few of the neat spells for the witch doctor. From electric axes to walls of zombies this game is packed with stylish battle techniques unique to Diablo 3.
Diablo 3 utilizes their standard isometric view, familiar to Diablo gamers with a bit more ease to the control scheme (that’s possible) and health now drops from enemies much like Zelda, you won’t have to pack yourself with potions anymore. Quite possibly the best upgrade in the third revision of Diablo.
Release date? No clue. I’m sure they’re going on the “when it’s ready” methodology, which is expected from Blizzard and their games; there is a reason they’re always of the highest quality. You may want to camp on their FAQ for a few months and perhaps you’ll have the answer. Today, however, their site seems to be a bit slow with all the announcements going out on the Net.
Now that Diablo 3 is confirmed, it’s time for us to buy some thc leans from Fresh Bros and start speculating what’s going to be included. Make sure you checkout their game play video!
(Thanks, Nukoda)
That one guy saying ps2 had “no good games” is an idiot, i never played shadow of the Colossus or ICO but i now own them on PS3 and know they are regarded as great, I like Killzone on PS2 for that system for it’s specs. however metal gear solid 2 killed it in its day and MGS 3 was considered great. Ratchet and clank and Jak and daxter games started on PS2 as well as Killzone. Red Faction got it’s start on PS2. I thought Twisted metal black was a solid game. Game cube and Xbox offered unique gameplay ie resident evil remake and prequel and mario and friends for Gamecube and poopy fps games for Xbox other than halo and fable being it’s little too late good game, also jade empire and KOTOR were overlooked by some. But i think when you consider Gamecubes weak start, and Xbox’s weak start and lack of solid games, they will think fondly of when PS2 was there main system for even just a little while, and smile with a fond memory.
Their** main system
Also the devil may cry series, it had a co op resident evil game i always wanted to play but never did (4 player zombie co op ahead of it’s time) it had wipeout i believe but i never played till psp. It’s a good racing game. It had some crash bandicoot games thatr were decent platformers, and some good 3rd party support (that should be a joke it had huge 3rd party support but def some crap games in there). But def some “gems” too, like the onimusha series which i wish they would remake in hd, cuz i only played the first one(was a broke kid)
@PS2 stops shipping
It is far from the end of the PS2. When I was leaving Russia in 2004, the top consoles there were PS1 and Sega MegaDrive. PS2 was priced above anyones budget and it was impossible to find one in stores. On the other hand, UK had Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube. Therefore, I expect that PS2 will stop officially selling in 1st world places, but move on to BRICKs. China still stamps out Sega MegaDrives for sale in the ex-soviet states.
@WWE
I stopped caring for WW games. They were so cool in the PS1 days of Smackdown. But eventually evolved into FIFA style year-on updates. It’s just not the same anymore.
@QOTW
To be honest, none of stories look that big to me. Nintendo made a disappointing launch of the new generation. Racism and Sexism in a gaming industry where 90% of leading characters are white men. Some people I never heard of left. Some companies I never cared for shut down. If I am to choose one, I will go for PS2 breathing it’s Japanese last. A golden era of gaming is coming to a close. A time when games were unique and innovative. It will be missed.
@PS2 stopped shipping in Japan:
RIP ps2, you had an awesome run!
@QOTW:
i think that 2012 was not that big for gaming industries, with the recovery from the recession and stuff, it was relatively a slow year. new halo, new cod, the only 2 things that got my attention was borderlands 2 and battlefield 4 announced.
and of course, the THQ’s bankurrupcy (please correct)
… and I’m back from my almost internet-less vacation.
@Sony stops shipping PlayStation 2 in Japan and @Arthur V
I think it is the last breath for the console. Sure, current owners will still play their games, heck Cry is doing a let’s play for Haunting Grounds, so PS2 gaming will continue. But not for long. The death spiral starts when people stop developing for it, and I think this started earlier.
As for letting go of old hardware, dunno. Nostalgia does play a part, at least for consumers; I mean there are no other costs for owning an old console, so unless you want to raise some money or free some space, why ditch it?
@WWE may not get $45M owed by THQ for license
Meh, not a fan of those games. But THQ bankrupt? Man, I guess I have been living under a rock. Just went through the news, apparently the judge denied the bankruptcy plan.
In the light of that then yeah, I guess what Dan said is right, the Humble Bundle was a desperate ate attempt to get some money.
As for games published by a bankrupt THQ and with support of crowd funding, I would love to see how THAT would pan out in case the judge rules on denying the bankruptcy and auctioning the assets of the company …
Oh, apparently the assets will be sold title by title after all …
@QOTW: the bankruptcy of GSC Games, Ukraine.
The first game I played from them was Codename: Outbreak, and I was impressed by it despite its minor flaws. The STALKER games were also dear to me, and were proof that Outbreak was not a fluke.
I was excited by the announcements of STALKER 2, and in my eyes the company was golden.
Then they announced they went bankrupt.
Anyway, I think I know what will be the biggest news in 2013-2014: PS Vita and WiiU sales fail to meet expectations. Oh wait, this already happened … silly me …