Sunday, January 01, 2012

Happy New Year!

Happy new year, everyone! Are you ready for 2012 to rock your world? I hope so, because it's here whether you're ready for it or not.

In terms of games and systems, are you looking forward to anything in particular this year? For instance, are you looking forward to the release of the Vita or the Wii U? Or maybe you're looking forward to the release of a certain title (or two or three)?

Personally, along with the games I wrote about in this post and in this post, I'm very much looking forward to learning more about the Wii U. I'm also looking forward to learning more about Microsoft's and Sony's next-generation consoles.


The image above was created by bartotainment, by the way. It's actually an animated GIF, but apparently Blogger doesn't like such things. (Either that or I just don't know how to imbed them properly, which wouldn't surprise me at all.)

Anyway, if you'd like to see how the Galaga-esque (or maybe I should say Aleste-ish, thanks to the ship?) creation is supposed to look--you know, moving and all that--check out this post on the artist's blog, PIXELkitsch.

21 comments:

Andrew said...

2012 seems to to be the year in which we are saying good bye to this current generation of gaming. With the 3DS finally coming into it's own. The PS Vita and the Wii U have official release dates in 2012, I'm excited to see what the new hardware coming from Sony and Microsoft will be.

Game wise I really want to play Uncharted for the Vita. As for other games that I just must play...I have such a huge backlog and a bunch of games I didn't get when they were released including Arkham City... so I look forward to playing all the games I didn't get to from 2011.

Matthew "Sajon" Weise said...

The Last Guardian, MGS3DS, and... nothing else new comes to mind.

As for old stuff...

I'm actually rather excited with the idea of picking up the Takeshi's Castle Family Trainer games. I discovered their existence recently and realized I must play them, with the pad and everything. Now all I need to do is pick up a Famicon and a Family Trainer Power Pad.

Motherplayer said...

Cant say what I'm completely interested in seeing for now since its still early. For now I am interested in seeing Street Fighter X Tekken and thats really it for now. Though I also will be paying attention to certain low level releases throughout the year, like early on will be Devil Survivor 2.

Kimimi said...

The only new releases I'm really looking forward to are the new Dreamcast games Sturmwind and Gunlord, once those two are out the way that's about my brand new gaming done for the year. I am interested in the Vita, but not enough to do anything about it - at the minute neither it or the 3DS represent good value for money for me personally.

warp770 said...

2012 US releases are looking really depressing so far. Xenoblade is the only thing I really want, though I will probably end up also getting Gugnir and Grand Knights History and not playing either one. If I had a PS3, then I would be all over Ni No Kuni.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Andrew: Sounds like we're of a similar mind. I, too, look forward to playing all of the games I didn't get to in 2011, for instance :) I also look forward to whatever surprises Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony (and third-party developers/publishers) decide to throw at us this year!

Bryan Ochalla said...

Matthew: The Last Guardian! How could I have forgotten to include that in my list of "games I'm looking forward to playing in 2012"? Sigh.

Of course, it may have had something to do with me not being all that sure the game will be released in 2012 -- at least in North America. I hope I'm wrong, though.

As for the Takeshi's Castle Family Trainer games: I've never heard of these! Must consult with Google at once!

Bryan Ochalla said...

Kimimi: I had no idea new Dreamcast games were to be released this year, although I really shouldn't be surprised, should I?

As for not looking forward to many/any "new" games or systems: I understand that. What would make the Vita and/or the 3DS worth the money for you, if you don't mind me asking? Are you looking for certain games to be announced for either or both systems before picking them up?

Also, are you looking forward to picking up any old games or systems this year?

Now that I've asked that, I think I've got to publish a post about the old/retro games and systems I'm looking forward to buying/playing in 2012...

Bryan Ochalla said...

Motherplayer: I understand. I'm also looking forward to a number of low-level releases this year. Those releases are some of my favorites, so I hope a number of them are announced and released throughout the year -- and that some of them find success!

Bryan Ochalla said...

warp770: Sounds like you and I are of a similar mind, too. I really, really want to pick up Grand Knights History, but a good part of me wonders if I'll enjoy it or even play it. I was one of the people who called for its NA release, though, so I figure I should support Xseed for bringing it over...

I don't know enough about Gugnir to say if I'll buy that game, too, or not. Guess I should do a bit of research on it.

Bryan Ochalla said...

warp770: OK, I just watched a video of the Japanese demo for Gugnir PSP. It has been added to my "to buy" list, no ifs, ands or buts. Yumm! :P

GameOverYeah said...

Happy New Year.

As for gaming in 2012, I'm not really thinking about it as I'm still trying to complete games from 1992, nevermind 2012. :-)

diaglyph said...

Happy New Year :)

I am looking forward to Wii U - will be interesting to see how it turns out. I really hope Nintendo has learnt from the 3DS and makes an outstanding online system.

Gamewise, I'm looking forward to Luigi's Mansion 2 and Paper Mario.

On the Vita front, I'm only interested in Persona 4, but even then I will not be buying Vita as it will be way too expensive just for one game. Maybe in a couple of years time when its cheaper.

Will be interesting to see what MS and Sony will do (or announce) this year as a counter to the Wii U.

Bryan Ochalla said...

dste: Ha! You and me both. Well, not the part about not thinking about gaming in 2012, but definitely the part about still needing to complete games from 1992 :) Anyway, good luck to you!

Bryan Ochalla said...

diaglyph: I'm really curious about the Wii U, too. I do think the Wii U's online system will be another step up for the company from the 3DS. Nintendo slowly but surely seems to be getting with the program, if you ask me. The 3DS' online system isn't perfect, but it's miles better than the Wii's, and I think they'll continue to improve things with the Wii U. Or at least that's what I'm hoping.

I'm with you RE: the Vita, by the way. I'm just starting to flesh out my PSP game library, so there's no way I'll be buying a Vita until it's a LOT cheaper. Even if they dropped the price to $150, though, I'd likely wait until about 2014 (or maybe 2013) before getting one.

diaglyph said...

Also don't forget, they will be offering a discount of some sort for PSP games you already own - so you will have re-buy all your PSP games if you just want the Vita.

Luckily I don't have many PSP games, maybe 4 or 5. I just haven't found any interesting games on the PSP over the years, and I find I don't really like playing on the PSP. True it has a great screen (wish 3DS had similar screen), but I just don't find it comfortable to play with and I have found it has worse battery life compared to DS/3DS (yes, even worse than 3DS!).

Kimimi said...

Bryan - in the case of the Vita, I'm just waiting for a general price drop all round - I like the hardware and some of the games but not enough to pay launch day/new import prices for them. As for the 3DS - I'm waiting for the inevitable "Lite" version.. and then I'll be waiting even longer for an affordable Japanese unit as there's no way I'm being stuck with EU only games. As I said before, I recognise that these are problems unique to me :)

There are a lot of older games I'm hoping to pick up this year - a few Chinese RPGs, the Nightruth series for the Saturn, and a few bits for the Super Famicom too!

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, no, diaglyph, I wouldn't bother with that. I don't mind at all keeping my PSP and playing my PSP games on it. I'd only get a Vita if there were Vita games I'd want to play.

As for not enjoying playing games on the PSP: I agree! I actually like a lot of its games, and like you I love its screen, too, but its d-pad and analog nub are horrible. Sigh. Still, I'll play certain exclusives on it simply because it's either do that or not play them at all.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Kimimi: No, those problems aren't unique to you. I was in the same boat RE: the 3DS. Er, at least the part about waiting for the inevitable "Lite" redesign. In the end, though, Nintendo roped me in with its current line-up. I'll surely buy the redesign eventually, too -- I know ... sucker! -- but in the meantime I can enjoy the current games, too :)

As for the Vita: Yeah, a price drop is a must for me, too. Even then, though, it's going to be quite a wait for me.

Viewtiful_Justin said...

Happy 2012!

Bryan Ochalla said...

You, too, Justin! Did you have a nice New Year's Eve? I hope so :) Ours was kind of boring, but not in a bad way. I actually prefer boring New Year's Eves, to tell you the truth...