Week in Gaming 8.05.11

Well, just because I’m doing most of my writing elsewhere doesn’t mean that I can’t occasionally post about the comings and goings of my gaming world!

• I took a trip to Gamestop yesterday and preordered a few more games, mainly, the collector’s edition of Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (which looks, absolutely amazing, btw), as well as Battlefield 3. Both were PC preorders, which is a first for me, as I’ve never preordered any PC games before in my life. I suppose it’s just a transition as I slowly move towards PC gaming more and more, and leaving the console gaming for the high end exclusives. This brings the running total of preorders to 4 this fall season, including a Collectors for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and the Epic Edition of Gears of War 3.
• Most people by now should have heard about Nintendo’s 3DS Ambassador Program (i.e., a major 3DS price drop so early in its life and the games announced that Nintendo will use to make it up to the early adopters). Personally, I knew what I was getting into when I picked up the thing, and while I’m surprised at the price drop happening so soon, that really is the fate of the early adopter. I’m actually pretty excited about the games though, so I’m looking forward to it.
• Most of the games I reviewed for Touch Arcade this week were not that good, although my most current one in the works, a game called Companions, looks to break that mold. Stay tuned in a few days as at TA as I get that one written!
• Oh yeah, Final Fantasy Tactics, on iOS. ‘nuff said.

Game on folks.

Week in Gaming 07/22/11

Week in Gaming is what I hope to be a quasi-regular post regarding games I’ve been playing recently, and perhaps random stories that have occurred that I find interesting.

 

• Like many folks this morning, I took the liberty of  pre-ordering the Collector’s Edition of Star Wars: The Old Republic. I thought it might have been a good idea to pre-order it as soon as I woke up, and I even redeemed my pre-order code from Amazon before I went to work. Sure enough, I read later on int he day that most online retailers had already sold out of the Collector’s Edition. Apparently, it looks like Bioware is actually treating the Collector’s Edition like…. a rare thing (what a concept!), so I am pleased that I managed to snag a copy this morning. By the way, this looks to be a pretty decent CE, with an included authenticator, a lore book, an art book, a ton of in-game items, a 7-day ‘early access’ to the game, possible preference for the weekend beta, and a supposed “Collector’s Store” that will let folks with the CE purchase special items in-game. Can’t wait for its eventual release!

• In non-PC gaming news, I picked up Sid Meyer’s Pirates for iOS this last night. As a fan of the NES version, as well as the several iterations throughout the year, I’m looking forward to checking it out (and maybe posting an actual review about it here).

• By the way, the Star Wars themed Xbox 360 announced today at Comic-Con is one of the coolest things that I’ve ever seen. I need to figure out a way to pick that up somehow this fall (in addition to the Star Wars Blu rays, a new iPhone, possibly a new iPad, and so many other damn expensive electronic toys.

• Finally, in geek news, I picked up a DNA11 Mini-Portrait a few days ago. I actually won a 100 dollar gift card in a sweepstakes, so I decided that the gift card was enough of a subsidization to check out the mini-portrait. My DNA (aka Cotton Swab) kit is in the mail, so hopefully I get it soon so I can send it back and get my awesome ‘unique’ art piece.

Week in Gaming 07/15/2011

Week in Gaming is what I hope to be a quasi-regular post regarding games I’ve been playing recently, and perhaps random stories that have occurred that I find interesting.

• Unfortunately, not a lot of time for gaming this week. I did manage to spend a decent amount of time with Shadows of the Damned. A new title out for the PS3 and Xbox 360. I’m really not sure how to even begin to describe this game. The story is based on a Spanish demon hunter that seriously antagonizes a top demon (known as ‘Fleming’) at the beginning of the game. Fleming subsequently kidnaps the latin lover’s girlfriend and takes her back to hell. The demon hunter (Garcia Hostpur) then jumps into the hell portal to get back his girl. Oh yeah, and Garcia’s partner is a former demon that is now just a skull but can turn into a variety of weapons and defaults to a flaming torch for Garcia to explore with. Gameplay is the standard third person shoot-em-up with some remnants of Resident Evil controls. Personally, the controls and gameplay are satisfactory, but the music, presentation, and out of control story are going to keep me coming back at least for a bit. Anyone even remotely interested in a game like this just needs to check it out.
• On the iOS front, I’m still playing Tiny Tower mostly, and returns somewhat to Baseball Superstars II, which deserves its own post sometime.
• An interesting title I started playing this week that I picked up from the Steam Sale is Recettear. This game is half rogue-like combat and half item shop simulator. That’s right, you play a young girl who must pay off her missing father’s debt by owning and operating an item shop. You can make the game as mundane as buying items from locals and whole sale shops, and then selling them with a markup at your own store, or as exciting as hiring an adventure to take you into a dungeon and pick up all the treasures that are dropped as he takes down all the baddies. It is definitely one of the stranger games I’ve ever played, but it’s also addicting.
• It looks like Rift is allowing former players to come back for a week and check out the updates. I’m thinking of diving back into it maybe for a little bit.

That’s it for this week! Enjoy “Carmegeddon” if you live in LA.