When was the last time you played an older console game? If it’s been a while, you may have forgotten about some of the headaches brought on by old game designs or technology. While there’s a certain charm to the gameplay and graphics of many older games, there are also definite problems. It’s here that we catalog those changes and remind you why progress is often for the best. Please enjoy Part 1 of this series as well.

Whether you’re playing the oldest PC text adventure or the newest console game, there’s been one constant throughout the history of gaming: controllers. And every time I pick up an old controller, I’m sure as hell glad that these things have changed in the past twenty-plus years.

The control options we now enjoy are the result of evolution of controller design and innovation. The D-pad introduced with Nintendo’s NES is now standard on controllers worldwide, as is the four-button layout introduced on the Super NES. The exterior design of Sony’s Dual Shock controller has remained almost unchanged since its 1997 introduction in Japan. That strange, trident-style Nintendo 64 controller brought us analog controls as standard and force feedback via the Rumble Pack introduced with StarFox 64. When you combine all of these improvements, .

Think about the controllers we use now: The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers each feature four face buttons, four more on the top of the controller, two analog sticks and a D-pad. The PlayStation 3′s Dual Shock 3 also has motion controls built-in. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Wii’s remote and nunchuk are designed specifically for motion controls. All of these controllers are wireless (though the Wii remote and nunchuk attach together with a wire) and all have rumble built in as well. Just imagining the technology involved is jaw dropping, but seeing what it allows game designers to do is amazing.

I, for one, am glad for that process of evolution. Sure, there’s an old-school charm to playing games on NES or Sega Genesis or even the PlayStation, but between features and comfort, there’s a reason controller design has changed. That old SNES dog bone-shaped controller may be your best friend when playing games like Super Mario World or Mario Kart, but pick it up now, 20 years later, and the D-pad isn’t terribly good and the physical form factor isn’t really comfortable either — it’s too thin for my large American man-hands. Conversely, the original Xbox controller — aka The Duke — was way too big, and its jellybean face buttons were awful. And let’s not talk about the Dreamcast controller; though the games are still some of my favorites and I spent countless hours with the damn thing, few things in life inspire hand cramps like trying to play Crazy Taxi now.

If you’re new to gaming those standard controllers are now more complicated than calculus, but I’ll take that when it allows me to do so much in gaming. Now we’re breaking in motion controllers, from the previously mentioned Wiimote to the Sony Move and touch-screen based handheld gaming and Microsoft’s Kinect, which doesn’t even have a physical controller at all! Who knows where the future will take us; I may be writing here in ten years about how foolish I was to play games with a controller when motion control was so clearly the best solution. All I know is there will be change and evolution.

Another year is nearing its inevitable end, and we couldn’t be any happier about it. Although 2010 has already played host to a plethora of amazing and potentially award-winning video games, it’s not quite time to start hedging bets for the game of the year. Read on for our staff’s own list of noteworthy releases that you should be excited for.

Sid Meier’s Civilization V

September 21st — Windows

I’m a late bloomer when it comes to strategy games, and it pains me that it took me so long to understand what makes the Civilization series one of the most cherished in the history of video games. Even though I’ve had a variety of friends bursting to tell me all about their fantastic strategies and the hilarious anachronisms that have arisen in the matches they’ve played across the entire series, it took an iPhone port of Civilization Revolution to offer me a gentle enough learning curve to work up the confidence to take on the “real” series. A couple dozen hours later, and I think it’s safe to say that I’m a Civ 4 devotee.

But with some clever gameplay tweaks and some borrowed lessons from both Civ 4 and Revolution, Civ 5 looks like it’ll offer the best of both worlds: the depth and scale of classic Civ with the accessibility and streamlining of Revolution. Add in full Steam support and you’ve got a veritable crisis waiting to happen for law students, newlyweds, and anybody with the faintest hope of maintaining a regular sleep schedule. — Nick Cummings

Formula 1 2010

September 22nd — 360/PS3/Windows

This is a game that will probably not receive much hype in the United States. Developed by Codemasters and built on the engine that powers its other racing franchise, Dirt, this is the first Formula 1 game for Xbox 360 and the first for PS3 since 2007. Videos and preview coverage from Gamescom in Germany lead me to believe this will be a fast, fun and gorgeous title.

More importantly for fans of racing games it promises to do something more interesting with its career structure. The off-track politics, rumor mills and movements in real Formula 1 are almost as interesting as the on-track racing; Codemasters has tried to reproduce that for F1 2010. You start at a lower team, trying to meet low team standards — you’re not expected to win with the worst car on the grid — and advance from there. If you make it into a top team, you’ll then be expected to challenge for race wins and the championship. If the handling engine lives up to the promise, this could be the best racer since Forza 3. — Doug Bonham

NBA Elite 11

October 5th — 360/PS3

The sarcastic answer to the question of “Why NBA Elite 11, Doug?” would be, “Because it’s how I can play NBA Jam on next-gen consoles.” And that’s partially true — NBA Jam promises to be an excellent remake of one of my favorite sports games of all time, with nice graphical and roster updates. I’m sure it will become a multiplayer favorite soon enough.

However, that doesn’t take away from what Elite can become. This is the third EA Sports franchise to undergo a hard reboot in recent years, and the other two (NHL and FIFA) have become the high-water mark for their respective sports. Elite also happens to be developed by EA Vancouver, who is responsible for those other two series, and also features the producer who led the NHL revamp. I know that I play the hell out of sports games with franchise modes, and in a fall heavy on games but light on budget, if NBA Elite turns out well, I’ll get my money’s value — even before Jam is factored in. — Doug Bonham

Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley

October 6th — Xbox Live Arcade

Having made a name for itself with popular downloadable games like The Maw and ‘Splosion Man, Twisted Pixel is set to release its third original game — “original” being the key word in that phrase. Perhaps better than any other small developer, Twisted Pixel has infused more character and humor into its ten-dollar downloadable games than can be found in most big blockbuster titles. With Comic Jumper, Twisted Pixel seems determined to raise its bar for absurd hilarity to dizzying new heights.

The game stars Captain Smiley and his sidekick, a star-shaped thing embedded in his chest (who happens to be named Star). They’re tasked with battling the good captain’s arch-nemesis, Brad, across several iconic comic book styles, including the Silver Age, manga, fantasy and modern. Based on the short time I had with it at PAX, it seems like the Twisted Pixel folks are still thoroughly out of their minds — and that can only mean good things for their games. — Nick Cummings

Fallout: New Vegas

October 19th — 360/PS3/Windows

Fallout 3 was a revelation. Bethesda absolutely nailed the classic series’ transition from isometric 2D to awe-inspiring 3D. A game I spent a combined 150 hours playing across multiple characters says something of the quality of development. New Vegas may have been handed over to Obsidian, a studio with a spotty track record of delivering stable and worthwhile software, but it has Bethesda peering over its shoulder to (hopefully) keep the best parts of Fallout 3 alive in this full-fledged follow up. Don’t get me wrong: I thought Obsidian’s work on Knights of the Old Republic II was fantastic — the arguably better storyline made its mark and showed the team’s writing chops — and I can’t deny the positive critical reception of Neverwinter Nights 2 and its bevy of expansions. I’m only worried for the next installment of one of the best titles to come out this generation.

However, New Vegas has a lot going for it; be it the vivid neon Nevada landscape, the improved companion AI and significant gameplay additions like iron sight aiming and political affiliations with three different area factions. Considering I would have kept opening my wallet for extra Fallout 3 DLC until Fallout 4, I’ll go ahead and place my bets and take a chance on Fallout: New Vegas.

Now say it with me: Big money, no whammies. — Aaron Thayer

Fable III

October 26th — 360/Windows

Peter Molyneux, the head of Lionhead Studios and the lead designer for the Fable series, is nothing if not enthusiastic about his games. While many gamers had reason to chide Molyneux’s over-optimism after the first Fable, 2008’s Fable II was a different story. It might not have been perfect, but Fable II had a solid story and combat, and provided players with many ways to engage the game’s world.

Most importantly, though, it was incredibly fun and had very well-designed emotional moments. Fable III’s concept of rising to power, overthrowing the government and then having to deliver on promises is incredibly novel, and it also looks to provide more of the challenging aspects that made Fable II memorable. It may not provide the emotional impact that Molyneux is promising, but I’m looking forward to seeing how close the final game is to Molyneux’s pie-in-the-sky vision. — Doug Bonham

I don’t understand why a vocal minority of gamers has been allowed to cast such a dark pall over the entire Fable series. Some people are just incapable of looking past Molyneux’s boasts to accept the core product for what it has always been: inventive, imaginative and interactive. Countless designers make overblown claims about their projects, but sitting at the top of this entitled-gamer negativity pile is the work of Peter Molyneux. Oh well: I don’t buy into it. Unfounded criticism won’t, for me at least, detract from the great likelihood that the third Fable title will be a substantial improvement over the last one — and you can quote me on that.

If the Lionhead team was capable of making me care about a virtual canine in 2008, I can only salivate at what they will do in 2010 with an entire royal hierarchy and political undercurrent at my fingertips. With additional polish seen in the improved graphics, tweaked combat, an upgraded dog companion and a less-cluttered menu interface, a throng of issues keeping Fable from becoming an even more exciting experience have been handled. Honestly, I’m so eager that common economic sense has failed; Fable III might just be the one special edition package I purchase this year. — Aaron Thayer

Rock Band 3 & Dance Central

October 26th (RB3), November 4th (Dance Central) — 360/DS/PS3/Wii (RB3), 360 with Kinect (Dance Central)

Harmonix is serving up a double-header of games this fall, beginning with what might be the closest a game can get to simulating a real-life band experience. Rock Band 3 is bringing a bajillion small tweaks to the formula I’m so intimately familiar with, but the biggest changes have to do with the new instrument lineup. For the first time, keyboards will be playable thanks to a new keytar-like peripheral. But that wouldn’t be exciting if it weren’t for the addition of the game’s pro modes. Essentially, the pro modes attempt to bring the game as close as possible to playing real instruments by differentiating between tom and cymbal hits on the drums, mapping out a full two octaves of playable notes on the keyboard, and even integrating support for a real Squier guitar as a controller. And with the option to plug in any MIDI-compatible instruments you might have on hand, the lines between game and actual music practice really begin to blur.

But as much as Rock Band 3 is about refining an established concept, Dance Central appears to be all about introducing a brand-new one. By accurately tracking a player’s movements and limb positions, Dance Central is designed to get anybody dancing — provided they have the guts to step up and give it a shot. A highly intuitive interface helps the player to visualize dance moves quickly, and by highlighting body parts that aren’t matching the current step, it also allows for fast and easy self-correction in my experience. It seems like a surefire hit for parties, but whether it’ll be enough to sell Kinect to the skeptics remains to be seen. — Nick Cummings

LittleBigPlanet 2

November 16th — PS3

To be honest, the first LittleBigPlanet bored me. I didn’t have a great time because I was thrown into the hectic four-person multiplayer with no previous training, and I had to cope with what I still feel is an awkward use of physics-based jumping. A platformer that can’t jump well isn’t much of a platformer at all.

But I’m no curmudgeon: Charm exudes from Media Molecule’s brainchild — it’s cute and cuddly, but it also encourages cunning and cutthroat co-operative play. This is what I’d call a “smart” game. If players use their brains and imagination, an entirely new world will open up to them. The “Play, Create, Share” tagline is a marketing tool, sure, but it’s also a real concept, and LittleBigPlanet 2 is evolving the already impressive design tools present in the first to embolden the control available to creative types.

As a new PlayStation 3 owner, it behooves me to support exclusive titles that go beyond the requisite elements of more blood, more violence and more banality. Looks like I’ll have to shell-out some cash for more controllers. — Aaron Thayer

This is basically what PAX looks like, except with more neckbeards, less politics, and a sea of iPhones

I couldn’t go to PAX 10. Neither could Doug. But Nick’s there! He’s also Internet famous now, thanks to his picture being taken at a Rock Band 3 event last night and then posted to Twitter. I can only hope that in his new-found celebrity, Nick Cummings won’t forget the little guy. And by “forget the little guy” I mean I hope he invites us to really rad pool parties in Hollywood.

OK. I won’t feel so bad about jumping right into the backlog now that my introduction is complete.

Let’s do this.

Doug:

I have no idea why there's a Pickle Man in Dragon Quest IX, but Square-Enix's marketing department has just made me extremely interested in the game

I feel like bowing deeply at the waist in appreciation to Nick for strongly suggesting I get Dragon Quest IX. I suppose it was only a matter of time; or, perhaps, I’ve finally stumbled upon something I like. But after 9 years of studying Japanese language and culture, it would only make sense to actually really dig into a JRPG, right? I’m not totally inexperienced — hello, Dreamcast fanboy favorite Skies of Arcadia — but games like FF7 have never really caught me.

Seriously, though — this game is good. Yes, it’s certainly a Dragon Quest-ass Dragon Quest game — you fight slimes, you grind levels, and the character designs are by DragonBall creator Akira Toriyama. No wonder the Japanese gaming public bought roughly 3 million copies at launch last year. I’m not terribly far, but the world that’s been created is captivating for both young and old gamers in the way the best Pixar or Disney films are; the religious overtones (and the Real Big Question I have regarding that) might go over kids’ heads, but they still understand you are on a quest and need to do things. I’m glad I have reason to pack my DS along.

Adding to that is the copy of another Japanese RPG-ish thing, The World Ends With You, that I borrowed from Nick. This does such a good job of crystallizing contemporary Japanese tastes and trends (not necessarily down to particulars, but in how the Tokyo culture deals with them), and combines the aesthetic with an interesting story and combat. DQIX is going to be hard to displace, but this will try.

Of course, there’s been more time in NCAA 11, Tiger Woods (picked up last year’s game because I needed a golf fix), and Red Dead Redemption. I’ve almost finished the latter; hopefully that is wrapped up in a day or two. Pardon me while I go fight some more slimes, though.

Nick:

Shank is upset at Nick's lack of enthusiasm toward his tale of revenge…and mega uber reaming

PAX begins in less than a day, and I’m already starting to worry about the long lines, the people with poor personal hygiene, and the overstimulating frenzy of the exhibition hall. But as exhausting as PAX inevitably is, it’s invariably a hell of a lot of fun. So while I expect my next Backlog contribution will involve the new and unreleased games and technologies I’m hoping to check out over the weekend, this entry is mostly about wrapping up some loose ends.

I finally completed the God of War Collection last week after months of on-again, off-again play sessions. While I’d played the original around the time it came out in 2005, this was my first opportunity to get more than a few hours into the sequel. Five years later, the same strengths and weaknesses have stuck with those games. While the combat is relatively good (although maybe not as refined or technical as I would have liked) and the puzzles are clever, the writing is just so damn stupid that I could barely stomach it. I haven’t played God of War 3 yet, but I’m eager to see whether they gave the script a little more substance for the finale; after all, haven’t games like Uncharted 2 raised the bar across the board for quality of writing in games?

I also sank an hour into Shank‘s local co-op campaign. I haven’t played much of the single-player game yet, but the co-operative mode has been a pretty good experience all around. I get the sense the game could have been a little better balanced in terms of how many times you have to stab the average thug before he’s down, and timing windows on bosses could have been a little more generous. I realize those are time-honored traditions of the beat-’em-up genre, but when I look at games like Castle Crashers and Scott Pilgrim, they have enough little tweaks to the formula to avoid feeling like outdated concepts at their core. As it stands, Shank is certainly a pretty good-looking game, but it looks like the same amount of care just wasn’t given to the actual play experience.

And if you’re going to PAX, be sure to look me up! I’m hoping to see everything I can on the show floor and to attend a number of panels, but if I were a betting man, I’d look for me at the Harmonix booth. I’ll probably be spending an unhealthy amount of time on mastering the moves to Salt ‘n Pepa’s “Push It” in Dance Central.

Aaron:

What? A Team Ninja game that doesn't cause anger-fueled heart palpitations? Sweet!

Honestly, I’ve been playing far too many games this week to feel good about myself.

Now that I’m back home I realize I want to play catch up and delve into all of the fantastic titles I’ve missed out on. And, as a new PlayStation 3 owner, I’ve had to go back into the PlayStation Network vault and acquire more than a few of the service’s best games. Oh, and Metroid: Other M came out Tuesday. It’s pretty damn great, and that’s coming from a fair-weather Metroid fan.

So instead of trying to dress up this week’s block of prose with fancy impressions about what I’m liking or disliking so far, I’ll go ahead and gaudily disgorge my giant list of videogame preoccupations and be done with it. My criticisms (and, by extension, my witticisms) will have to wait until next week.

The List

Shank
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
Flower
FlOw
Limbo
The PixelJunk series(Eden, Monsters and Shooter)
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition
Everyday Shooter
Noby Noby Boy
Metroid: Other M

The new Mario game is out, though we’re all still playing Red Dead Redemption. Alan Wake is also mentioned in this week’s edition, and Nick even played a real board game. Like, one that has pieces and tiles and you have to have a large, flat surface to play it on.

What an interesting year for games, and what a fantastic year for consumers. We have new iterations of old franchises (Mario), revamped sequels (Red Dead) and fresh concepts from established developers (Alan Wake). The most amazing fact about that previous sentence is every one those games came out during the month of May, which further means we’re only halfway through 2010.

Oh hell yes.

In Carcassonne, you're given an actual medieval territory to develop. The deed to this historical German town comes in the mail after two proof-of-purchase box tops and $2.99 are received by the game's creators.

Nick:

I’d like to talk about the time I’ve been spending wrapping up Red Dead Redemption‘s middle act, and how compelling a character John Marston continues to be, but I’m much more excited to talk about the other games out there. I’ll leave RDR to Aaron, who I imagine has a lot to say about it, considering that he basically owns the entire region of New Austin by now. (Editor’s Note: Yes, and I can get you, today only, into a beautiful home on the prairie with an excellent mortgage rate)

Frankly, ever since Super Mario Galaxy 2 arrived, I’ve been hard-pressed to play anything else. When a game this polished, innovative and earnest comes along, it all but demands my undivided attention — and rightfully so. I’ve played every Mario game countless times by now, but I’m tempted to say this is the absolute best 3D Mario adventure in the nearly 15 years since Super Mario 64. (Has it been THAT long? Man, do I feel old. I still remember waking up at 6:00 a.m. to rush out to Fred Meyer to pick up their last Nintendo 64 on launch day in September of 1996.)

Galaxy 2 takes the bold new ideas that made Galaxy such a blast and refines them to perfection. As a result, there are more worlds to explore and a minimum of repetition in objectives. After scouring the universe for 30 stars, I haven’t yet encountered even one frustrating level or one concept that I felt overstayed its welcome. If nothing else, it proves just how lucky we are that Shigeru Miyamoto and the folks at Nintendo are still setting the standard for top-quality gaming. I’m tempted to call this the most fun game in years. If you have a Wii, you absolutely must play this game. And if you don’t? Well, I’ll let Aaron talk about that.

I spent the last few days away from my Wii, and that meant there was plenty of time for indulging in some Picross 3D. While it plays out in a significantly different fashion than Picross DS, it retains the same feeling of brain stimulation that gave Picross a near-permanent home in my DS for years. Fans of logic puzzles should give it a look. After all, there are much worse ways to spend $20.

And last but perhaps most significantly, I’ve been spending a fair bit of time playing a board game. I received a copy of Carcassonne for my birthday, and I’ve had the chance to play a few rounds with anywhere from two to four players. For someone like me who isn’t familiar with the more intensive, strategic board games like Settlers of Catan, I welcome the simple learning curve of Carcassonne. What makes it brilliant, though, is how the game’s hidden layers of strategy begin to emerge over the course of a game. It’s deceptively deep, and it makes for a fun, relatively casual game that just about anyone can enjoy. If you’re more inclined to play games online, there’s a great port available on Xbox Live. But the real charm of board games is that they bring people together in the same location, and there’s something valuable about that.

Product placement in Alan Wake: This screenshot is brought to you by Warner Bros. hit 1996 movie Twister, out now on Blu-Ray!

Aaron:

Nick’s right, by the way: I do have a lot to say about Red Dead Redemption. However, I won’t be spilling those proverbial word-beans right now. I’m going to save a significant portion of that monologue for my review, which I’m looking to post later this week. I will say that after reaching 100% completion in the game I still find it enticing. No matter how many bounties I catch and regardless of how often I win at blackjack (not that often, actually), I find myself loading the game up long after the near-perfect finale has ended to just ride around on my Hungarian half-breed horse, whose name is Sugar. It reminds me of my passion for Grand Theft Auto 3, when I would literally spend hours driving the streets of Liberty City with no goal in mind. Rockstar makes virtual worlds that I want to “complete” by exploring everything they have within them.

And yes: Nick, Doug and I will soon be terrorizing Xbox-ers across the world when we posse-up in RDR. The only problem is I already have a cowboy name — Theodore “Doc Dynamite” Perkins — and they don’t. This needs to be rectified; we’re open to suggestions.

I almost can’t believe how amazing the last two weeks have been for videogames. I would’ve been fine if RDR was all I had until the rush of other games are released this fall. But no, I’ve greedily sunk my teeth into two other massive, May-released blockbusters: Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Alan Wake.

After close to two years without one, I bought a replacement Wii and not a PlayStation 3. Scoffers can scoff all they want, because my Wii purchase is justified for the reason Nick gave above: Galaxy 2 is the best 3D Mario title since Mario 64.

I, being insane, would even go as far as calling it the best core Mario title, period. Yeah, everyone loves Mario 3, but I’m a Super Mario World kind of guy anyway. Galaxy 2 plays better than both of them. Nostalgia and definitions of what constitutes a “classic” game can get in the way accepting the superiority of a newer title, but then again it doesn’t matter which game is considered the best — it’s all opinion. So while I don’t want anyone to be converted to my opinions, a part of me hopes that this latest Mario is enjoyed the way I have enjoyed it. It’s gratifying, and it has Yoshi.

I didn’t expect to like Alan Wake as much as I do. Remedy made Max Payne, but that series hasn’t had a pulse for seven years now. I was thus a bit skeptical of their new intellectual property. Alan Wake was also delayed numerous times over five years, which made me believe it might be shelved indefinitely at some point. But it wasn’t. The game is finally here, and Remedy has done an admirable job over the first few hours to keep me hooked and involved in the concept.

Though the game is categorized into the “Thriller” genre (thanks to Microsoft’s cutesy marketing department, no doubt), a friend pointed out that this is pure Survival Horror. He’s right, as Alan Wake recalls fond memories of the early Resident Evil titles with their overarching sense of dread, tension and mystery. That the narrative of Alan Wake is segmented into digestible TV “episodes” is a plus, and I feel a sense of closure at the end of each chapter. Honestly I’m surprised by that; I’ve been anxious about how a game pretending to be a primetime sci-fi drama would work. Alan Wake, if it were an actual television program, would be a joint CW and SyFy network production, with the requisite amount of cheesy dialog and acting those networks foster in their products. Supernatural is a great show, to be fair.

So while the character animation in cutscenes is laughable, the voice acting is a tad corny and the product placement is distracting, I’m unable to pull myself away from the game. It’s like some of Stephen King’s books: enthralling, but occasionally banal. (Man, that sounded snobbish. I do love his epic The Dark Tower series!)

Go ninja, go ninja, go ninja go!

Doug:

Well, I did it. After playing the opening hour or so with Nick, I’ve gone out and purchased Red Dead Redemption. I haven’t had much time to go explore the wilderness in the West quite yet, but I look forward to forming a posse with Nick and Aaron sometime soon to go roam around and cause some havoc.

My iPhone gaming itinerary continues. I feel bad for my DS, because it’s gathering dust and feeling rather unloved, but the iPhone just has better games for bite-sized gaming, at a better price point, and it’s always in my pocket. That’s a great combination. In any case, the games I’ve been playing have been some recent standbys — Words with Friends and Bejeweled — and a few of the best-selling games out there, too.

On recommendation from GamePro‘s John Davison on the Weekend Confirmed podcast a couple weeks ago, I downloaded two of the most popular iPhone games right now: Ninjatown: Trees of Doom and Angry Birds. Angry Birds is a cross between a puzzle game and the shooting mechanics of the old Worms games. Playing a level, you have to judge how to solve the puzzle — how to squish, smash, and take out the pigs on each map — and, importantly, how to do it with the birds you have available. You don’t have unlimited shots at each puzzle, and after introducing a variety of birdshot (including ones that splinter apart, speed up, and also turn into bombs), you have to make shots with what you’re given in a specific order. It’s definitely an interesting challenge.

However, the Ninjatown game Trees of Doom is what I’m throwing my weight of suggestion behind. Not only is it a well-designed game, but it’s a true indie product — it’s based on the Shawnimals toy line and crafted by indie developers to boot. But that “support the little guy” sentiment only works so well; I wouldn’t be suggesting it if it wasn’t a good game. It’s a vertical platformer kind of in the mold of Doodlejump, but with more ways to move up and without the persistent bouncing and movement. Jump from tree to tree and try to climb as high as possible. The art style is super-cute, and one of the power ups is literally a mustache ride. I think it’s still $1 on the App Store; there’s really no reason to not pick it up at that price.

The Holidays approach. For some that means quality time with family members not seen for a year — maybe more. Others, well…can I get a “what what” if at some point during your life you hid away in the midst of celebrations to finish Earthbound (or, insert other game reference here). However, my adult years have made me more personable when it comes to the holidays; I’m now infinitely more interested in the going-ons of my kin.

Still, I won’t lie that this year I’d prefer to mow down more of Left 4 Dead 2′s cajunized zombies with a giant plate of delicious turkey and fixins on my lap. I’m thankful for me.

We’re back on track for backlogs, and this week is mega-sized to make up for our absence. To summarize: Nick informs us he essentially played everything ever released this month, Doug gushes about his beloved Forza 3 between study sessions, and I write about why two wonderful November-born titles should be played on the PC.

Do the Mario!

Nick:

Life served up a particularly hellish week for me, so it was fortunate that I had a slew of excellent games to escape with.

I spent a few fantastic hours in New Super Mario Bros. Wii in its fantastic cooperative/competitive mode earlier this week. What Jerry Holkins said about this game’s debilitating effects on a relationship is true, to a point; while we were able to help each other out for the most part, there were times where my attempts to “take the lead” or “get us through this tough spot” often led to one or both of us being killed, prompting my girlfriend to say some things about me that are rarely included in the same sentences used to talk about a Mario game. But it was all in good fun — something this game has in ample supply. It’s Mario in his best form ever, and anyone who grew up playing these games should purchase it without hesitation.

This week also brought another sequel to a game I adored: Assassin’s Creed 2. Transporting the game to Renaissance Italy is perhaps the most significant shift in story and setting that I’ve seen in a franchise in quite some time, and Ubisoft Montreal deserves some commendation for crafting an incredible sequel to an already ambitious debut title. There’s so much I could say about how things were improved — combat, economy, actions and consequences, exploration, story — but I’ll lay it out like this instead. If you loved Assassin’s Creed, you’ll love Assassin’s Creed 2. And if you hated the original? You’ll probably love Assassin’s Creed 2 anyway.

Having completed all five campaigns in Left 4 Dead 2, I’m happy to pronounce myself an official fan of the series. Although I bought the first game and had my fair share of fun with it, I always felt a little uneasy playing it. And it wasn’t because of the game’s tension, or horror-film veneer, or anything like that; it was just that the game sent a constant message that your survival was entirely at the game director’s mercy. In the sequel, the tone has changed significantly for the better. If Left 4 Dead was Valve’s attempt to make an interactive zombie movie like Dawn of the Dead, Left 4 Dead 2 is Valve making a balls-out Zombieland-style game. Melee weapons encourage close combat, lending a sense of strength and confidence to the survivors that was sorely missing from the first. All four of the characters in the sequel have stronger personalities than the first game’s survivors, and their determination on getting to New Orleans to be rescued encourages the player to keep slogging it out through hell and high water. It’s one of the most improved sequels of the year, without a doubt.

And when you consider that Left 4 Dead 2 was developed in just one year, it’s disappointing that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 didn’t shape up to be more substantial. To be fair, Infinity Ward’s last game, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, not only reinvented the series — it raised the bar significantly for what an online multiplayer experience can be. I sank a “mere” 40 hours into COD4′s multiplayer mode, which pales in comparison to most of the people on my friends list. Multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2 is technically just as good as COD4′s, but after a solid six hours online in a variety of modes I’m struggling to stay interested. The mantra in developing this sequel seems to have been “more options in every aspect of play,” which is a good thing, but the core sensation of Call of Duty 4 has dulled for me. I was hoping lightning would strike twice, and I suppose it did, but I was hoping for a more risky and adventurous update to multiplayer — not a mere iteration. If I wanted that, I’d have bought last year’s Call of Duty: World at War. If there is one area that received a substantial improvement, though, it’s the single player. Rather than attempt to keep things within the bounds of reality, Infinity Ward opted to create an over-the-top global conflict that was flawlessly paced from start to finish. It’s ludicrous, but it’s so, so much fun. At about six hours to complete, it’s shorter than COD4′s — but considering how tedious replaying that game’s campaign was for me, I’m much happier with the new game’s approach.

I’m still slogging through Dragon Age: Origins with my city elf rogue. Steam says I’ve played for quite a long time, but I’m only at about 15% completion. Maybe it’s because I love reading every entry in the admirably written codex, or because I can’t help but talk to every NPC, but I’m getting an astronomically entertaining experience for my money with this game. I’m really struggling to fathom just how Mass Effect 2 could top the quality of this experience once it hits in January.

I also sank a few rounds in with the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta. I’d been hoping for a return to the glory days of Battlefield 2, and instead what I got was Bad Company with a moderate graphical upgrade; it’s good, but there are better options available. Looks like I’ll still be holding out for Battlefield 3 after all.

Doug sums up his feelings on this picture with an articulate "WEEEEEEE!"

Doug:

While I’ve been way too busy finishing up the majority of my grad school quarter, I’ve still found time to play a little bit of…erm…Forza Motorsport 3. And nothing else.

But it’s so good! I still love pretty much everything about it, even if I haven’t been able to play online with my friends at all. The rewind button is a godsend — it erases single-player frustration with the ease of control-z functionality. The selection of cars and tuning options are superb; I’ve made an old-school Volkswagen Rabbit into a fire-breathing, turbocharged four-wheel-drive monster that could eat a Ferrari for lunch and spit out its bones.

It’s been said that Microsoft and Turn 10 gets things right in the third iteration, and this particular game is a great example of that. It’s almost strange to think that all three Forza Motosport games have been released since Sony and Polyphony released Gran Turismo 4 on the PlayStation 2. It’s scary to think how much Forza has moved ahead certain aspects of console racing games.

Along with Forza, I’ve tried out a few of the Xbox Live improvements from this week’s update — namely the implementation of Facebook and Twitter. And that’s really the extent of my interaction; they’re there, they work just as advertised, but I feel like I’m kind of missing the point. It’s nice to have both services everywhere at all times, but until a real killer use for either blooms on the 360 they’re going to feel like tacked-on additions.

I don't think James Brown had this in mind when he wanted to take us to "the bridge."

Aaron:

Let’s get down to it. Left 4 Dead 2 and Dragon Age: Origins are two amazing games that deserve to be played on the PC only.

Now, I love consoles. This isn’t a fanboy thing. And I fully understand that not everyone has a modern computer capable of playing the latest releases — Boot Camp Macs included. So, let’s assume you’re a lucky gamer who has the following: a home console of the PS3 or Xbox 360 variety, and a gaming PC. Let’s also assume you enjoy co-op zombie shooting and in-depth fantasy RPGs. You’re excited about the aforementioned titles, but you’re hesitant to commit to a particular platform. Here’s the answer: Play those games on the PC, or you’re not getting your money’s worth.

That may be a blatantly ignorant statement to some, but these words come from a person who, before this month, more or less abandoned PC gaming over the past year (aside from Dawn of War II and Left 4 Dead 1). PCs get the short end of the doomsday stick these days. People say the PC as a gaming device is dead, no one makes money off of the games anymore, and pirating is ruining developers left and right. Controversies aren’t helping the perception of PC gamers amongst the general gaming populace either. So that’s why I’m glad to see Electronic Arts promoting the platform with a definitive version Dragon Age, and Valve doing their thing by releasing such a quality computer title as L4D2.

Dragon Age works best on PC because of the following: the overall better performance (higher frame rate, less glitching, faster loading), a more sensible control/camera mechanic, and a BioWare community toolset that paves the way for future user mods. If Neverwinter Nights is an example to go by, expect years of free, quality content flowing from the collective mind of an invested fan base.

Now, Left 4 Dead 2 deserves to be experienced on the PC because it’s a Valve title first, console port second — plain and simple. The Steam service is consistent in its ability to match like minded players and bring friends together promptly. PC gamers are spoiled when it comes to online play. Thanks, dedicated servers.

I’d also wager the community on Steam is better than Xbox Live’s. Actually, it is better. Left 4 Dead 2 even has a section specifically for add-ons, and it’s exciting to think of the campaigns an active community will create using the sequel’s assets. The original’s user-made maps were generally great, so expect a longer lifespan if you pick up L4D2 on the PC.

Oh, and PC versions are cheaper than their console counterparts. That’s a plus.

Why hello there, future purchase

What a week it’s been. The inaugural Gamescom in Cologne, Germany opened on Wednesday and guess what: Sony kindly unveiled the new PlayStation 3 Slim. Media outlets weren’t exactly surprised by the announcement, but I think we’re all glad the rumor mill has finally ceased its incessant turning about the damn console. Looks like I finally need to go get a PS3.

Oh, and a little event in Anaheim, California called BlizzCon flung its +10 Doors of Nerd Barricading open to the (literally) unwashed masses of Blizzard fanatics today, and so far we’ve already been made privy to the next World of Warcraft expansion, a new Diablo III class and StarCraft II being confirmed for release in 2010.

You know, as a gamer I like it when these big gaming-related events run back-to-back with one another. The ESA might as well wedge E3 2010 between next year’s Gamescom and BlizzCon to mentally and physically destroy every games journalist in existence. That could be Silicon Sasquatch‘s in!

An image so good it makes the prequels look half-decent

Aaron:

For some odd reason I’ve devoted a large amount of my gaming time this week to Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. I’m under the deluded notion that I can reach 100% completion in the game without going insane. It’s not a particularly hard title, it’s just tedious…incredibly tedious. Still, I have to hand it to Traveller’s Tales for making what’s overall a fun and goofy title. Just don’t ruin the experience by trying to do what I’m doing.

Other non-block-themed bytes I consumed this week were Fallout 3′s Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta — mostly for review purposes. Go ahead and check out each write-up for my impressions of Bethesda’s final two post-nuclear roleplaying simulator DLCs. Now, to be completely honest, I’m glad to wash my hands of the game. Hundreds of hours sunk into one title (that’s not an MMO) makes you feel way too involved. Strange, I know. I’m ready for Fallout: New Vegas, though. Get to it, Obsidian Entertainment!

Next on my gaming queue: Halo Wars, Shadow Complex, Batman: Arkham Asylum (which is getting many glowing reviews) and…more Lego Star Wars.

Doug's local sports pride is fantastic. But why are they called the Vikings anyway? Vikings usually burned and pillaged, I recall.

Doug:

This week has been busy — class Monday, finishing homework, quizzes and team projects for accounting on Wednesday, then a test in Finance on Tuesday, more class Wednesday, being social (bars, basketball and more bars) and finalizing some back-end paperwork stuff for grad school. I haven’t fired my 360 up since…maybe Monday. All I’ve done gaming-wise is play with the NCAA 10 TeamBuilder — it’s super powerful and, being the kind of person to toil over minor details regarding team jerseys, it’s right up my alley.

Above is a photo for the work-in-progress team I’ve created; the fun part will be editing the roster from head to toe. Thankfully, you can now do that through a web browser instead of on a console.

Nathan Drake/The Prince takes flight in Shadow Complex for Xbox Live Arcade

Nick:

With this scorched-earth Oregon summer winding to a pleasantly breezy conclusion, my gaming backlog is finally getting the attention it deserves. Having made my way through the wonderfully crass House of the Dead: Overkill and Namco’s doting recreation of PlayStation platforming classic Klonoa, I’ve almost finished clearing out my GameFly queue. I hope to finish Killzone 2 and Punch-Out!! this weekend.

Of course, that all depends on whether I can release my vice grip on Shadow Complex. Chair Entertainment created a game that went right for my Achilles’ Heel: side-scrolling, Metroid-style adventures. While I’m not convinced it’s the greatest game of its kind, it’s a pleasant surprise and a nice homage to some of the finest games ever made.

And hey, it’s always nice to hear Nolan North playing another character who looks an awful lot like Nathan Drake; maybe it’ll hold me over until Uncharted 2 struts in and dictates how I live my life for the next few months.

Somewhat ironically, Animal House was filmed at the U of O…but you all likely know that by now

First of all: Congratulations recent college graduates. Welcome to a world full of (seemingly unavailable) opportunities!

I’m sorry, that was harsh.

Still, the University of Oregon’s ceremony for the geography and anthropology departments had a wonderfully apocalyptic keynote speaker telling everyone the skills they earned during four years of tuition-giving are for jobs not yet created, and that there are no guarantees of gainful employment right now — but good luck anyway! I laughed for my graduating friend.

As far as Silicon Sasquatch goes we’re back on track this week with our lovely Daily Recaps, and we’ll actually get around to posting additional content over the next few days.

Doug’s preparing a wonderful beginner’s guide to sports games, which is something I’ve always wanted to read considering my inability to get into the genre. I’ll be working on a review for Saints Row 2 and I can’t say enough good things about it from the in-depth customization to the spraying of public property with fecal matter.

Also, look for our impressions of the recently released Overlord II demo; as far as I can tell, controlling a horde of gremlin-sounding demons with a penchant for clubbing baby seals results in guilt-laden hilarity.

Monday’s news = 1UP posts some hefty Project Natal rumors, Verizon steps onto GameTap’s turf and Shigeru Miyamoto really wants to help you win at gaming.

Unfortunately, that's not a trick of perspective. Natal is, right now at least, pretty big.

Microsoft’s Natal hardware, demoed famously at E3 two weeks ago, is kind of the current poster child of gamedom. Sure, E3 2009 had a lot of fantastic announcements from all sorts of developers, publishers and console makers, but the media bees are certainly buzzing about the capabilities of the company’s proprietary Xbox 360 camera.

Now 1UP has confidently posted significant (if proved to be true) rumors about Project Natal, believing that the camera is actually part of a “new” Xbox console package to be launched in the fall of 2010. However, as the post states, don’t think of it as the Xbox 720, but more of what happened between the GameCube and Wii transition: similar hardware that can play the last generation’s games while offering new ones with different control schemes and slightly better graphics. Something tells me this new Xbox will cost a bit more than the Wii’s meager $250 asking price.

I’ve read a lot of postulations about Natal recently, but 1UP is really going all out here. The idea isn’t extremely far fetched, but one would have to question Microsoft’s methodology of extending the 360′s life cycle — which we know the company wants to do. Why continue to carve the gaming population into accessory-laden segments? Oh yeah: cash money.

It’s bad enough with overpriced hard drives, and it was worse when there used to be Core, Pro and Elite models. If Microsoft does introduce a redesigned 360 to bundle with Natal, the price has to be competitive and the package can’t alienate current 360 owners by offering too many upgrades to then negate the older model. Of course the company can do whatever it wants, but the backlash from gamers could be tremendous.

Verizon seems to be everywhere, but you can't say the same for their downloadable game service; not yet at least

Apparently Verizon craves a slice of the deliciously profitable pie that is downloadable PC gaming, à la GameTap.

Joystiq has a story up unveiling that the telecommunications giant will soon be introducing a test program in New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts to offer over 1,400 PC games for a $9.99 per month subscription fee. The games can be played online, likely through Verizon’s own software, or can be downloaded directly to the computer. I’m sure users can expect some form of DRM considering the format.

Now that one big telecoms company is on the bandwagon, who’ll be next?

An image from Nintendo's patent for "demo play," originally referred to in the document as the Kind Code

It’s been mentioned for a while, but now the truth finally comes out: Nintendo will be introducing a new feature in New Super Mario Bros. Wii that can finish difficult parts of the game for you. Shigeru Miyamoto seems to be spearheading this innovation, currently referred to as “demo play.” The famed designer wants to attract people who give up on games after failing during trying portions of a title.

I truly support the idea, but it took a few minutes of deep pondering to come to that conclusion.

It’s not that I’m worried “demo play” could take away from the experience of overcoming adversities — after all, if someone wants to pay full price for a game to watch it be played, that’s their own decision — it’s that I initially assumed this feature might turn games into a boring spectator sport where friends rent and “beat” a title on autopilot just to say they did. I’m already not a fan of videogames adopting cinematic cliché­ after cinematic cliché, so the idea of literally watching a game like a movie sounded off-putting.

However, I think “demo play” is a promising development for gaming as a whole. How many times have you or someone you know quit a game due to frustration? Maybe the option just being there will bring the more timid and inexperienced toward gaming, and as such the act will become even more socially acceptable.

Sure, the so-called hardcore can use this as flak to say you’re not getting the most out of a difficult game if you let the computer do it for you, but I’ve always been more concerned with the experience of videogames and not high scores or bragging rights. A game’s story, presentation, art style, music and a multitude of other things matter way more than if it’s hard or easy enough. Even with achievements I only try to get the most points in games I care about and love, not solely just to have a bigger gamerscore than someone else.

Now let’s be honest: every other website has some kind of intimate E3 coverage planned for videogame fans and followers of the industry. You have your liveblogs, live video, exclusive interviews, previews, hands-ons and podcasts. We, a fresh and puerile (but not juvenile?) website without access to E3, can’t provide the coverage like bigger media entities can. However, what we can do is offer our analysis and summations of big E3 press bombs and try to cut the fat the best we can.

So stay with us throughout E3 and think of our content as the delicious Andes mint after a filling dinner — a complement to a main course of news from the hundreds of other videogame journalists doing the real work this week.

We’ll be posting our recaps of each big press conference and attempting a few interesting things this week in terms of  feature articles. Next week you’ll see more thoughtful content, as post-E3 lends itself well to in-depth analysis and status reports of individual genres — even the consoles themselves.

I’ll leave you with the times and dates for the five major press conferences.

Enjoy E3…we’re besieged like this only once a year, or twice depending on how interesting the Tokyo Game Show will be come September.

Press conferences for Monday, June 1st:

• Microsoft: 10:30 a.m.
• Electronic Arts: 2 p.m.
• Ubisoft: 5 p.m.

Press conferences for Tuesday, June 2nd:

• Nintendo: 9 a.m.
• Sony: 11 a.m.

The criticisms largely echo mine in reviewing the first add-on, Knothole Island, and it’s an overall shame to again see Lionhead botch its DLC. Costumes and potions will only get your game so far, you know.

You got all excited for nothing, pup

It’s also unfortunate that my predictions of See the Future being more worthwhile turned out wrong–that’s what I get for speculation, I suppose.

News for Thursday: Sony loses cash, a lack of funding shutters another development studio and Telltale Games sells a lot of Strong Bad. It’s all very money-oriented today.

The House of PlayStation might have expectantly lost money, but they're selling many more of these than before

Sony posted a $1 billion loss for the end of the previous financial year ending March 31, 2009; however the company’s operating losses have been cut in half during the same fiscal period. This isn’t anything new considering the global economic issues still plaguing businesses everywhere, but Sony has in the past especially received flak for the high production costs associated with the PlayStation 3.

Now it seems the company has improved the methods of producing their next-gen console to subsequently reduce monetary expenditures and perform better at market in spite of a weakened Yen and slower PlayStation 2 sales.

However, Sony accomplished much more in terms of sales figures: over the last year the company saw a 10-percent increase in sales of PS3 units and a doubling of software sales for the console. Despite the retail successes Sony expects to lose another $1.25 billion over the course of the next fiscal year.

That price drop doesn’t sound too promising, does it?

If only Factor 5 could've used the Force, financially

In some very sad news (as reported by 1UP,) development studio Factor 5, best-known for their series of Rogue Squadron titles, has closed its San Rafael studio. It appears that after financial problems resulting from the bankruptcy of Brash Entertainment last year–with whom Factor 5 was crafting a Superman title–the long-running development studio could no longer afford to keep going.

On a personal note, the Rogue Squadron series for both the Nintendo 64 and GameCube meant a lot to this then-young Star Wars fan. They weren’t just geek indulgences, but truly amazing games for their respective generations and showed what great work Factor 5 was capable of. In the end the company likely felt pigeonholed into the role of “awesome Star Wars game people.” As such they tried to expand their horizons with Lair, which ended up to be a commercial and critical mess.  The complications with Brash seemed to only make matters worse.

Now, they’re gone. We sincerely wish those affected the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Max is certainly enthusiastic about Telltale's success

On the happy side of videogame development, Telltale Games announced that they reached 1,000,000 to-date sales of downloadable episodes for their Sam & Max and Strong Bad games. Congratulations to the independent studio, as it’s quite an impressive milestone to reach for a smaller and more-focused method of creating games.

That’s not meant to sound condescending; it’s a testament to Telltale’s ability to craft humorous titles people truly want to play. I’ll admit I’ve yet to check out any of their episodic games, but now seems like the right time to do so considering the company’s 5-year anniversary sale currently happening on Steam.

Plus, it’s been so long since I’ve watched anything Homestar Runner-related that I might as well get back into the swing of things.

"Awesome!" indeed

So, we want to extend a ginormous gracias to those of you who read Silicon Sasquatch daily and continue to direct your comrades to our corner of the web. We promise to keep bringing you things of a decidedly awesome and videogame-related nature.

Now, it’s time for the real news: Atari gets cold feet, the telenovela that is Midway’s financial woes gets juicier, we get to know Modern Warfare 2 a bit better and Valve’s Team Fortress 2 team takes a “bow.” (You’ll get the pun in a bit.)

Let's hope Atari backing out of E3 doesn't mean advertising for Ghostbusters: The Video Game or Champions Online will suffer

Despite having a very capable line-up of releases coming out this year, Atari has suddenly decided to skip E3 2009, citing a desire to explore “other selling and marketing initiatives.” Joystiq seems to believe the company’s change of heart is due to a lack of sufficient cash flow to pay the Entertainment Software Association‘s fees. That’s possible, but without up-to-date financial analysis available it’s hard to be certain.

Our cursory research implies that Atari has seen significant increases in business-related performance over the last year in comparison to its stock delisting ordeal last May. Things might not be so bad at the company, but without knowing for sure that’s quite the guess.

Maybe Atari is actually going to pursue alternative methods of marketing its Ghostbusters and Champions Online titles as their announcement said. But with E3 2009 supposedly returning to its old tricks of cacophony and neon light insanity–which always made the event a great place to get a game noticed and hyped–this could be the makings of a huge mistake for Atari.

These financial issues are totally getting in the way of a sequel to Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy

Gamasutra has a fantastic post on the developing story of creditors who are suing Midway Games‘ former big-wig board members for running the company into the ground to allegedly benefit themselves.

Sumner Redstone, quite the controversial name as far as Midway’s current situation goes, is singled-out along with daughter Shari Redstone and former investor Mark Thomas, among others.  Two of the suit’s many claims center on the Redstones intentionally investing $90 million into the struggling company to then recoup it under claims of “debt,” and also using Midway’s $700 million in tax losses to later obtain a beneficial refund.

It’s a great if depressing read, and goes to show once again that money is quite the motivator when it comes to personal gain. No one wants to see any development studio go under thanks to fraudulent actions of insensitive businesspeople. But, yes, I suppose it’s “just business.”

Digital war has never been so cover-worthy, until now

Infinity Ward‘s Modern Warfare 2 is getting a blowout piece in the next issue of Game Informer, and multiple websites have posted some of the initial details. What’s known so far sounds both promising and unfortunate at the same time. Taking place years after the last game, “Soap” MacTavish–the main character throughout the British SAS missions in Call of Duty 4–is now a captain who will serve as the new character’s mentor as did Captain Price the last time around. It’ll be interesting to see a former protagonist in a different context.

Unfortunately, Infinity Ward won’t be including a cooperative campaign option, although Treyarch managed to include the feature in Call of Duty: World at War in a very polished manner. Also, MW2 sounds like it might be shorter than CoD4′s already short campaign.

Knowing Infinity Ward’s track record, the title will likely turn out to be superb. It’s just a shame to see the team once again won’t add co-op, an ironically modern gameplay feature, into the so-called Modern Warfare 2.

While this picture isn't related to the Sniper update, I think we can appreciate an engineer in mid-burn

And because they’re just so sweet to their fans, Valve has teased its impending Team Fortress 2 Sniper update with details on one of the new unlockable weapons: The Huntsman–it’s a bow and arrow!

The extremely old school weapon will actually pin its victims to surfaces upon a killing shot; even if the target lives through a direct hit, they’ll still have an arrow protruding from their bodies. Groovy.

Valve has consistently supported Team Fortress 2 with new maps, unlockables and achievements since its 2007 release, all for free, and it’s a real testament to the company’s belief in PC gaming.

Now we eagerly await the inevitable Zelda mod using the new bow and arrow’s physics. Get to work!