Borderlands 2 Is Vita Bound. So Much For Anything Resembling Free Time in 2014…

Posted on August 21, 2013 by geelw

Buried under all that PS4 news yesterday was the really nice “surprise” that there’s a portable version of one of the best games of 2012 in development and set for a 2014 release. This is a great thing for anyone who has yet to play Borderlands 2 as well as an even better thing for those who loved (and still love) the game for all its crazy fun and loot drops galore. 2K Games has only sent out this teaser image (boo!), but we’ll definitely be keeping a collective eyeball peeled for more on this one.

Actually, it’s a good thing it’s coming out next year, as my calendar of games to play is quite full (and then some!)…

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Launch Trailer: On Loving (or Hating) the Alien…

Posted on August 19, 2013 by geelw

After a complete shift in development from a tactical first-person game (that drew instant and completely unwarranted hatred from die-hard fans of the original PC game) to a third-person squad-based tactical shooter, 2K’s XCOM origin story rolls out on August 20. I actually liked the more stylized visuals and perspective in the original concept, but I’ll still play this as a fan of the series who happens to have a more open mind. Now, I don’t have a review copy incoming as far as I know, but I’m betting this drops in price quickly thanks to some obstinate embargo breakers at another site that ran a negative review already (which seems to have been taken down – I guess 2K put the kibosh on that kibosher). Oh well – I rarely pay attention to other reviews anyway, as it’s never a good thing to rely on the opinions of others when they go in expecting something entirely different than what’s on the plate. As usual… we shall see…

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified – “Origin Declassified” Trailer: Agent Carter, I’m On YOUR Side…

Posted on May 13, 2013 by geelw

From the bits of gameplay shown, this origin story looks like a re-skinned version of last-year’s XCOM reboot, so you’d think it would shut the naysayers up a bit more. Nope. 2K Games is still getting not too much respect from those folks, but I say the company doesn’t need these people at all at this point. Let others who want to play the game do so and enjoy it while you keep your opinions to yourselves and sleep better clutching that old boxed copy of the Microprose classic you hold so dearly as the “best game ever” to your chests. Eh, whatever – I love that original game myself, but I’m at least more open-minded and can respect a new developer who wants (or WANTED, as far as the original design went) to do something outside the box. As always, we’ll see how the new game turns out when it hit s retail on August 20, 2013. Unless he and his team are complete klutzes, Agent Carter’s got nothing to worry about from me…

XCOM Remake Goes From FPS to Tactical Third Person. Change Is Good (Hopefully)…

Posted on April 26, 2013 by geelw

I actually didn’t mind at all that the initially announced (and formerly Xbox 360 exclusive) version of this was going to be a first-person experience, but some really stubborn hardcore fans of the classic PC game as well as misguided message board denizens who think ANY game with a FPS viewpoint is going to be a Call of Duty retread didn’t like the new direction at ALL. While all that turmoil was going on, veteran developer Firaxis was tapped to create a new tactical game in the series that followed and enhanced the gameplay of the original and as expected, it did quite well critically and (it seems) commercially. During all this, a poll was taken about the other game and fans basically asked it to be pretty much as similar as can be to what they “expect” and so, here we are… Continue reading →

BioShock Infinite Launch Trailer: 2K & Irrational Games Get To Say “See? Told You So!”

Posted on March 25, 2013 by geelw

So, it’s out and getting high marks overall, but what else did you expect? Sure, the Internet did its thing last year when a few post-E3 looks revealed the game wasn’t quite done and ready to ship and there was a delay while it seemed things were being further tweaked. But I’ve always trusted Ken Levine and Irrational Games to get this one as polished up as possible before unleashing it onto the public. Will I run out and BUY it right away since it seems I’m not getting a review copy? Probably not this week or next, but it’ll get added to the “to-do” list at some point. I’m in no rush to jet out a review before anyone else, but it’s good to know that when I actually DO get to play this, I’ll be having quite a blast…

BioShock Infinte’s Elizabeth: Creating Much More Than Just A Pretty Face…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

It takes a good deal of work to put together a video game and with being Women’s History Month, I’m gathering Irrational Games is trying to celebrate their version of the event in a bit more interesting manner by showing what it took to create Elizabeth in its upcoming game, BioShock Infinite. As you’ll see, it wasn’t an easy process at all, but the end results seem to be working for both male as well as female fans of the series. Of course, the final test of that comes when the game hits stores on March 26, 2013 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

BioShock Infinite TV Spot (Long Version): A Good Week Is Many Miles Away… Look Up!

Posted on March 18, 2013 by geelw

March 26 is what, a week away and 2K Games is finally getting the bigger, more splashy ads for this out in full force. As usual with a game so long awaited and important, I’m not going to go poking around for quickly written reviews or the opinions of friends who blow through this in a day at all. I’m thinking this is yet another one of those deeper than it looks games that deserves a full play on my own time and not some speedy rush through just to make a deadline. I’m gathering Ken Levine and Irrational Games would prefer people take the time to “relax” when they’re not being shot at or otherwise maimed in the game world and check out as much of Columbia as they can survive, as I can see the potential for Easter Eggs galore that take a bit of Sky Hook action, some deft shooting skills or other fun, challenging navigation and/or gameplay to reach. As usual, we shall see, folks… we shall see…

BioShock Infinite: Some Questions Answered And Mysteries Solved For Your Curiosity…

Posted on March 16, 2013 by geelw

Will BioShock Infinite be as well-received as the original? Will we see so many ads for the game that 2K Games breaks some sort of record for spending on a single title? Will Ken Levine ever give a boring interview? All signs point to “yes” or “no”, as my crystal ball is busted and I’ve been called a False Shepard before. Eh, whatever – I’ll be playing this at some point and know I’m going to enjoy it no matter what the jaded flies on the wall say. As for ken and interviews, well… THIS one at BAFTA certainly isn’t dull at all:

Anyway, March 26 is rolling up REALLY quickly and I’m betting a few people call in dead from work just to spend some quality time buried in the story, characters and gameplay Irrational has cooked up…

BioShock Infinite’s Booker/Elizabeth Duet Brings Back AM Radio Memories…

Posted on March 7, 2013 by geelw

Well, well… if it isn’t 1972 all over again! I actually got a good laugh in when seeing this video for a few reasons, but I really HOPE this song doesn’t show up until the end credits or isn’t in the game at all, as it’s the last thing I can see some “core” players expecting. What’s next? “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” played on the gatling gun by that George Washinton-looking mech boss? THAT would be pretty funny. Or maybe “Dueling Banjos” done by some of the NPC townsfolk of Columbia? Hey, I’m a child of the 70’s… I could do this all day… I actually wish we had all those old classics mixed up with soul, rock,R&B and more like AM radio USED to do so well before it became polluted by talkers and schemers with low brain cell counts and big mouths…

BioShock Infinite “Lamb of Columbia” Trailer: That’s Certainly NOT Mint Jelly!

Posted on February 19, 2013 by geelw

Customer: “See, I was right! Next time I’m sticking with the Cobb Salad!”

Waiter: Actually, I hear the game is going (or has gone) gold, which means no changing your order, sir.

Customer: (ah, the cranky waitstaff and the “no substitutions” rule!) “What? But I’m the customer and the customer is ALWAYS right! SO, get me that salad, make it a SMALL one… and a burger, really well done so it tastes like a hot shoe heel, and a Diet Kook!”

Waiter (rolls eyes and sighs, points at big red letters stating NO SUBSTITUTIONS on menu cover): This isn’t your local fast food place, sir… Chef Levine and his staff at Irrational Games have cooked up a dish they KNOW you’ll love and as everything on the menu is a Chef’s Choice, you’re getting what he gives you and it’s ALL good.

Customer: “Blaaaaaaah!, I’m not paying for something that’s not what I want!!!”

(and so forth and so on…kinda sorta based on a true incident I overheard a few years back)

Anyway, let those two have at it all day in your head if you wish. Me, I’m staring at that space in the library I’ve made for BioShock Infinite when it’s finally released on March 26, 2013.