When is MS going to allow gifting on Live? There has been times that I've wanted to get someone an Live Arcade game but didn't want to sneak into their house at night to buy it on their console.
@waywardchemist: I've done that a couple times, but that's mostly limited to games. If I want to buy a Beatles album for someone for BRB, or a dumb helmet for someone's Avatar, there's really no way to do it that I'm aware of.
@Mike Newlad: You make a very valid point. It also helps that bundles are great values. But I could totally see it being people buying consoles for themselves.
Still have a little tough time believing most people's partners and parents can spend 300+ dollars on a gift for anyone. But that's just cause I lack the funds to be most people.
@xxXX_Insanities_Birth_XXxx: I don't know personally, but I have read in reviews it (360 version) has lower rez textures.
I have Dragon Age for the PC, and it looks and plays great. My neighbor has it for his PS3, and he let me bring the game over to check out. I don't like the fact that you can't pull back to see your battles, and it looks nothing close to the PC version. Glad I didn't buy the console version.
@xxXX_Insanities_Birth_XXxx: If you read some reviews, I think the consensus is the 360 version has lower rez textures, but has higher, more consistant framerates relative to the PS3.
I don't know, it felt like they just clumped a random patch of the highest-rated games this year. They didn't even mention Arkham Asylum! And WET? WET was positively awful!
@DukeOfPwn: The article does disclaim this by saying that "just because [a game is] on this list doesn't mean that [Kotaku is saying that one] should get it," but by the same token, if Kotaku themselves condemned the game not just for aesthetic reasons but technical reasons (camera and controls), then there -may- be a little less "well-someone-might-like-it" room to negotiate. I could be wrong, though.
@laikapants: I agree, Batman AA is a fantastic game and should have been included in both lists. I play it on the PC and with PhysX on high, it looks amazing.
It's one of my favorite games of the year. Right up there with Uncharted 2 (even though I have only rented it and played part way through).
@homernoy: Arkham Asylum was my favourite game this year. Anyone even remotely interested in the Batman comics/mythology will spend countless hours playing it. Best piece of fan service ever, and for everyone else it's the closest thing to the joys of beat-em-up action since Streets of Rage II. Christ, was that really 16 years ago?? :-S
How is the PC version, by the way? Can't imagine what it plays like without a pad...
@dubculture: Very good combat. Believe it or not, I feel the gamepad slows me down. With the keyboard, you can tap the keys so fast to change directions and change type of attack it's unbelievable.
I love Batman comics as well, or used to. I haven't read one in years, but greatly appreciate the character, and the history so this game has that little something special. I really like being Batman, in this game, more than any other game character I have ever played. I just can't help but smile during a fight with the bad guys.
Well, there was Bring Down the Sky, that was this year, right?
I got through Pinnacle Station, but only on the one playthrough - can't see me doing it again without being bored to tears. I guess it depends what you use it for as to whether or not it's worth it.
For me, as a Bioware fangirl, DA:O will be up there on my list of 2009 aceness, far above ME dlc (despite my preference for a sci-fi setting over a fantasy one).
I was wondering about Dragon Age. I was hoping that the "dark-and-edgy" variant of a fantasy setting wouldn't come across as more clumsy or overdone than truly "mature."
@dracosummoner: I'll admit, I don't have a great deal of fantasy rpg experience to judge it against. I couldn't get past a couple of hours play of Oblivion, but Dragon Age seems more relevant, somehow.
Okay, that sounds stupid - perhaps by relevant I do mean 'mature'. I'm 31, relatively new to latest generation gaming, and I feel more able to connect with the Bioware games I've played so far. That's not to say Dragon Age isn't without its problems and niggles (and I don't mean in terms of graphic handling on the xbox - I'm fine with that), but the world and story certainly feels more fleshed out and 'grown up' (for fear of sounding patronising) than I'd have expected from a fantasy rpg.
Like I say, maybe that's just my lack of experience showing?
Oh, that sounds fine. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a bunch of language and sex shoehorned in, but I suppose I should know BioWare better than that.
I love Bethesda RPGs to death, but I also enjoy Bioware's games. I am planning on at least renting Dragon Age at some point (right now I have other games I'm planning to purchase in the near future).
@dracosummoner: It can feel like you're pursuing the relevant dialogue tree to get someone in the sack, but at the same time, you can immerse yourself in the rp and not do that too. Plus, once you have started a relationship with a character (if you choose to), there are emotional repercussions, to varying degrees. That appeals to the mushy side of me.
Being able to repeatedly shag Zev/Alistair/Leliana, reload and do it again appeals to the bored, dirty housewife side of me ;)
Thanks for that advice. I just purchased Mass Effect earlier today as part of Gamestop's post-Thanksgiving three-used-games-for-two sale. I won't have time to play that game or the other two I bought until the semester is over (three weeks), but I had no guarantee that Gamestop would repeat the sale at Christmas time.
I'm excited about playing Mass Effect. I loved both of the novels.
@dracosummoner: You've read the novels but not played the game? Wow. I've done it the other way around. You're in for a treat (hopefully).
The novels and comics are on my list of things to do over Christmas to stop me feeling completely on edge as the release date for ME2 inches (very slowly) closer!
Do you think they could do one of the Covenant in disarray being slaughtered by Chief like in Pablo Picasso's Guernica and all abstract? that would be worth seeing... #halo3odst
@Obama takes time to read kotaku's comments...: My parents paid for it. I was just lucky. Although, I do like artwork so I would still want to buy one, even if I was on the other side of the fence.
11/26/09
McWhertor, I sentence you to fifty lashes with a wet noodle, to be executed by a fat chick with a tramp stamp wearing a super woman costume.
EDIT: Speeling
11/26/09
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11/26/09
11/27/09
11/26/09
How about a PS3 so they can raid all the cheap games on the market for the next year?
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N+ (sure it's been out years but it's still one of the best games on the market and it never gets coverage)
Street Fighter IV was defo one of the better ones missing from the list. Other than that, I am struggling.
Still though, that's a rather impressive list of games (providing you pay out for xbox live, otherwise most of them are gonna be a big let down)
It's just a shame so many got delayed like Splinter Cell, man I can't wait for that game.
11/26/09
11/26/09
Either way, it was a joke but if it wasn't, why do you think console sales are at their highest across the Christmas period?
Must be a bunch of people buying it for themselves right?
11/26/09
Still have a little tough time believing most people's partners and parents can spend 300+ dollars on a gift for anyone. But that's just cause I lack the funds to be most people.
11/26/09
11/26/09
I have Dragon Age for the PC, and it looks and plays great. My neighbor has it for his PS3, and he let me bring the game over to check out. I don't like the fact that you can't pull back to see your battles, and it looks nothing close to the PC version. Glad I didn't buy the console version.
11/26/09
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11/26/09
[kotaku.com]
11/26/09
11/26/09
It's one of my favorite games of the year. Right up there with Uncharted 2 (even though I have only rented it and played part way through).
11/26/09
How is the PC version, by the way? Can't imagine what it plays like without a pad...
11/26/09
I love Batman comics as well, or used to. I haven't read one in years, but greatly appreciate the character, and the history so this game has that little something special. I really like being Batman, in this game, more than any other game character I have ever played. I just can't help but smile during a fight with the bad guys.
11/26/09
11/26/09
Well, there was Bring Down the Sky, that was this year, right?
I got through Pinnacle Station, but only on the one playthrough - can't see me doing it again without being bored to tears. I guess it depends what you use it for as to whether or not it's worth it.
For me, as a Bioware fangirl, DA:O will be up there on my list of 2009 aceness, far above ME dlc (despite my preference for a sci-fi setting over a fantasy one).
11/26/09
I was wondering about Dragon Age. I was hoping that the "dark-and-edgy" variant of a fantasy setting wouldn't come across as more clumsy or overdone than truly "mature."
11/27/09
Okay, that sounds stupid - perhaps by relevant I do mean 'mature'. I'm 31, relatively new to latest generation gaming, and I feel more able to connect with the Bioware games I've played so far. That's not to say Dragon Age isn't without its problems and niggles (and I don't mean in terms of graphic handling on the xbox - I'm fine with that), but the world and story certainly feels more fleshed out and 'grown up' (for fear of sounding patronising) than I'd have expected from a fantasy rpg.
Like I say, maybe that's just my lack of experience showing?
11/27/09
Oh, that sounds fine. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a bunch of language and sex shoehorned in, but I suppose I should know BioWare better than that.
I love Bethesda RPGs to death, but I also enjoy Bioware's games. I am planning on at least renting Dragon Age at some point (right now I have other games I'm planning to purchase in the near future).
11/29/09
Being able to repeatedly shag Zev/Alistair/Leliana, reload and do it again appeals to the bored, dirty housewife side of me ;)
11/29/09
Thanks for that advice. I just purchased Mass Effect earlier today as part of Gamestop's post-Thanksgiving three-used-games-for-two sale. I won't have time to play that game or the other two I bought until the semester is over (three weeks), but I had no guarantee that Gamestop would repeat the sale at Christmas time.
I'm excited about playing Mass Effect. I loved both of the novels.
11/30/09
The novels and comics are on my list of things to do over Christmas to stop me feeling completely on edge as the release date for ME2 inches (very slowly) closer!
11/26/09
Also, Dragon Age? On X360?
Otherwise .. huge list is huge. o_o
11/26/09
It also reminded me I need to get my 360 repaired and pick up KOF.
11/26/09
PC has no games at all
Not a single one
11/26/09
11/26/09
speaking of which, where the hell is BlazBlue?
11/26/09
11/18/09
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11/18/09
I can haz fancy? #halo3odst
11/17/09
I have a massive MGS4 promo poster; it cost about 60 dollars to get professionally framed, and the poster was about 60 too.
If you are a Halo fan, this would be a good deal. Hell, if I had more wallspace I would buy #3. #halo3odst
11/18/09
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11/17/09
These, quite honestly, remind me of those landscape images that you see and can buy at the souvenir shops abroad.
Now No. 2 is admittedly cool, but not $175 cool. :P
But anyways, the fact that this is limited to 100 printings should get the antiquarians' panties all riled up in a bunch. #halo3odst