Is 2009 a Vintage Year For Games?

I can’t believe my luck this year: I’m an avid gamer, and I find myself spoilt for choice at the moment.  This is one of those years in which the sheer amount of quality games releases have well and truly out-stripped my budget!  With several games that could legitimately be called ‘Game Of The Year’, I’ve been wondering if 2009 could be called a vintage year for video games?

SO, let’s take a look at some of them, shall we?

Killzone 2 (February 2009)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Killzone 2 kicked off the start of the year’s gaming heavyweights with a solid FPS following on from the events in the first game on the PS2.  Killzone is to the PlayStation franchise like Halo is to the Xbox franchise.  Now, I love my FPS games, but Killzone 2 just didn’t do it for me.  Graphics to die for and gameplay to match?  Is that not enough for me?!  Well, I only have so much money this year, and I have been saving my money for the big releases in the last half of the year.  I’m not ruling out buying this at bargain basement prices in the future.

Resident Evil 5 (March 2009)

Resi followed on in fine form with perhaps a repetitive formula (pardon the pun) but with great visuals, a new and interesting setting for the series so far, and good gameplay.  I get scared silly with zombies and their kind, which is why I’ve avoided this release so far.  Maybe I’ll pick up this game in the future just out of curiosity.  But seriously, zombies.  I shudder at the thought.

Continue reading Is 2009 a Vintage Year For Games?

PlayStation Home: Capitalism at its worst?

Following on from the previous article in this series, ‘It’s good to be back Home‘ I’m now going to address the availability of clothes, furniture, and even ‘personal spaces’ for a modest fee, known as a microtransaction.  I must admit, I felt a little sick when I saw the rows of virtual t-shirts, jeans and trainers, each priced at a few pence each.  I just could not understand why anyone would want to pay for stuff like this!

Being the intrepid reporter that I am, I felt I had to try using the system in order to comment on how it works.  I picked up a reasonably cheap yellow t-shirt from some kind of brand that I’m not going to give airtime to here, some jeans, and some trainers.  The whole experience left me feeling a bit hollow inside.  We’ve run out of clothes to buy in the real world, and now we’ve been reduced to paying good money to clothe an avatar?!  Seriously?

Continue reading PlayStation Home: Capitalism at its worst?

LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2 and Resistance 2 release windows confirmed

LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2 and Resistance 2 release windows confirmed– SCEE has confirmed that LittleBigPlanet and Killzone 2 are due for release for September this year, with Insomniac’s launch title sequel, Resistance 2, down for a November release.  I can’t wait for any of these titles, they’re all very compelling.  At least it gives me enough time to save up for them!