The games of Q1 2009

[Triforcer]

Most recent info on Arkham Asylum is pointing toward a March release (see:  Wikipedia and its link).

[Ratman_tf]

Sims 3 is going to make every game on that list it's bitch. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK4wJv8WaMg

[Hawkbit]

Wow.  That's really hip. 

I don't get the phenomena. 

[Yoru]

Sims 3 is going to make every game on that list it's bitch. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK4wJv8WaMg

Pretty much the top thing on my watchlist right now.

Edit: Strange that EA's being so quiet about it right now, despite this being one of their huge franchises and only a few weeks out from launch.

[schild]

Pretty much the top thing on my watchlist right now.

Edit: Strange that EA's being so quiet about it right now, despite this being one of their huge franchises and only a few weeks out from launch.

It would be unfortunate for them to spend what little money they have in the coffers on marketing a game that will market itself. They have more important things to market. I could ramble off a list but that seems unnecessary.

[Trippy]

Pretty much the top thing on my watchlist right now.

Edit: Strange that EA's being so quiet about it right now, despite this being one of their huge franchises and only a few weeks out from launch.

It would be unfortunate for them to spend what little money they have in the coffers on marketing a game that will market itself. They have more important things to market. I could ramble off a list but that seems unnecessary.

Yup. The people that care about the franchise already know about it and The Sims has essentially an "infinite" shelf-life -- i.e. for as long as EA keeps making them stores will stock them given their perpetual best seller status -- so there's no need to try and pile in all the sales within a month or so like many other games that have very limited shelf lives.

[Riggswolfe]

I've already picked up Ars Tonelico 2 but haven't played it yet. (I've got a lot of stuff on my to-do list currently.)

I'm moderately excited for Star Ocean. Schild, you haven't expressed any interest, do you know something I don't or is the Star Ocean series just not a jRPG you enjoy?

[schild]

I've already picked up Ars Tonelico 2 but haven't played it yet. (I've got a lot of stuff on my to-do list currently.)

It's.... cheekier than the first. And even more aware of itself, if that's possible.

I'm moderately excited for Star Ocean. Schild, you haven't expressed any interest, do you know something I don't or is the Star Ocean series just not a jRPG you enjoy?

I haven't enjoyed a Star Ocean since the first. Will I play this one too? Sure! Will I like it? I hope so!

[Merusk]

Sims 3 is going to make every game on that list it's bitch. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK4wJv8WaMg

Pretty much the top thing on my watchlist right now.

Edit: Strange that EA's being so quiet about it right now, despite this being one of their huge franchises and only a few weeks out from launch.

My daughter discovered Sims2 a few weeks ago and has taken great pleasure in dismantling the newbie family.  The maid has moved in and gotten pregnant, which lead to the wife booting the husband out of the house (but not the maid..  ).  The kids are failing school and the teenager cries all the time.  I hesitate to think of the havoc she can wreck in a new version.

[Ratman_tf]

Yup. The people that care about the franchise already know about it and The Sims has essentially an "infinite" shelf-life -- i.e. for as long as EA keeps making them stores will stock them given their perpetual best seller status -- so there's no need to try and pile in all the sales within a month or so like many other games that have very limited shelf lives.

But they don't want to get soft and complacent. Blizzard still does newbie incentives and markets the shit out of WoW.

 

[Yegolev]

The newbie incentives are probably cross-pollination from things like MySims Kingdom and Sim Animals or whatever it is with the commercial where a bear is using a Wiimote.  Promote the "sub-games" and you will probably draw some girls into The Sims main franchise as they get older.  I really don't see much need for promoting The Sims 3, but then Burger King still promotes the Whopper, so I don't know.

You guys reminded me that I have to have the new computer built before The Sims 3 arrives, else my balls will be relocated.

[Murgos]

I haven't enjoyed a Star Ocean since the first. Will I play this one too? Sure! Will I like it? I hope so!

HA, HA </nelson>

You're going to have to touch a 360.  Does the anticipation make you feel dirty?

[sidereal]

Sims 3 is going to make every game on that list it's bitch. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK4wJv8WaMg

Mop2Crush!

[schild]

I haven't enjoyed a Star Ocean since the first. Will I play this one too? Sure! Will I like it? I hope so!

You're going to have to touch a 360.  Does the anticipation make you feel dirty?

No, not really.

[Soulflame]

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

Gamestop shows it shipping around end of Feb.  I'm sort of enthused.  Assuming I can put down Disgaea on the DS down long enough to play something else.

[Moaner]

Considering I'm completely awestruck by Stone Soup, I'll doubt I'll be playing much of anything else.  I have never been this addicted to a game (maybe UO beta).  I've been playing it for about 2.5 weeks now and I love it more everyday.  How long this enthusiasm will last is a mystery to even me, but in the meantime I'm not throwing away money on a bunch of Q1 releases that will in all likely hood sit on my shelf.

However, with that said, SF4 + special edition super stick will be mine.

[Segoris]

Skate 2 (360, PS3)

Ninja Blade (360)

MadWorld (Wii)

Really hoping these 3 are shit, only because I've been happy not having consoles. These 3 may finally get me though

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3, 360) - Contains over 40 of Sega's Genesis games

Fucking awesome

<Edit: Removed War40k multiplayer demo comment due to Steam forum thread>

[MisterNoisy]

Skate 2 is pretty slick - the additions are fairly logical and it's still good times, though if you didn't like the first you won't like this version.  Did anyone else pick this up?

[Riggswolfe]

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

Gamestop shows it shipping around end of Feb.  I'm sort of enthused.  Assuming I can put down Disgaea on the DS down long enough to play something else.

I recently downloaded Puzzlequest: Warlords from XBLA. I find it...strangely addicting. RPG crossed with a puzzle game mechanic? In fact, this is the number 2 reason I haven't started Ars Tonelico yet. The other being prep work for a pnp rpg I'm going to run starting Saturday.

[Rasix]

Skate 2 is pretty slick - the additions are fairly logical and it's still good times, though if you didn't like the first you won't like this version.  Did anyone else pick this up?

Yep, I did.  Challenges are as inconsistent as the first.  Goddamn, some of them are a pain in the ass.

Still, it's the most fun I've had with a "sports" game in a long time.  The addons are nice, as getting off your board is a welcome addition.  The moving around of stuff is.. well, dicey at best.  I can never line anything up straight and stuff has absolutely zero mass.

Just a game you can sit down with for hours and get nothing done.  Find a spot, think of a trick you want to pull off, and then go at it until you get some nice footage.  I haven't gotten too good yet, mostly due to playing WoW and two other console games at the moment.


 

[Paelos]

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

Gamestop shows it shipping around end of Feb.  I'm sort of enthused.  Assuming I can put down Disgaea on the DS down long enough to play something else.

I recently downloaded Puzzlequest: Warlords from XBLA. I find it...strangely addicting. RPG crossed with a puzzle game mechanic? In fact, this is the number 2 reason I haven't started Ars Tonelico yet. The other being prep work for a pnp rpg I'm going to run starting Saturday.

Are they going to do the same PC thing they did with this last time? It was out on the DS for like...a year before it ported over from what I remember. That would be sad.

[Velorath]

Sims 3 pushed back to June 2nd.

[Yoru]

Sims 3 pushed back to June 2nd.

Fuckers. To be expected since they hadn't made a Gold announcement yet.

[Soulflame]

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

Gamestop shows it shipping around end of Feb.  I'm sort of enthused.  Assuming I can put down Disgaea on the DS down long enough to play something else.

I recently downloaded Puzzlequest: Warlords from XBLA. I find it...strangely addicting. RPG crossed with a puzzle game mechanic? In fact, this is the number 2 reason I haven't started Ars Tonelico yet. The other being prep work for a pnp rpg I'm going to run starting Saturday.

Are they going to do the same PC thing they did with this last time? It was out on the DS for like...a year before it ported over from what I remember. That would be sad.

It's being released on a number of platforms simultaneously, PC is one of them.  More info (and demo) available here.  Warning:  Flash.  And more Flash.  Plus, it uses Flash.

[Merusk]

Sims 3 pushed back to June 2nd.

Fuckers. To be expected since they hadn't made a Gold announcement yet.

My daughter's comment was, "Those jerks!"

Heh.

[Yegolev]

Wife won't like this Sims 3 bullshit.  Effectively removes the deadline to build her computer, though.