Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
Save for The Walking Dead stumbling into retail outlets, the remainder of this week’s new releases will come streaming across the internet. With DLC arriving for Assassin’s Creed, Dishonored, and Halo 4, the concluding weeks of the holiday season aren’t quite as empty as previous years; mid-December now looks like the time publishers are pushing expansions for their triple-A titles and well as adding a few original curiosities (Chuck E. Cheese’s Alien Defense Force anyone?) apt to tempt gamers who have had one spiked eggnog too many.
360
American Mensa Academy (XBLA, $TBA)
Assassin’s Creed III: The Hidden Secrets Pack (DLC, XBL, $10)
Black Knight Sword (XBLA, TBA)
Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials (DLC, XBL, $5)
Halo 4: Crimson Map Pack (DLC, XBL, $10)
The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series
PS3
Assassin’s Creed III: The Hidden Secrets Pack (DLC, PSN, $10)
Ben 10 Omniverse (PSN, $39.99)
Big Sky: Infinity (PSN, Cross-Buy Enabled, $9.99)
Black Knight Sword (PSN, $9.99)
Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials (DLC, PSN, $4.99)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2 Classic, $14.99)
Judge Dee: The City of God Case (PSN, $7.99)
Mix Superstar (PSN, $9.99)
The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series
Wii U
No Releases
3DS
Crimson Shroud (eShop, $7.99)
Gardenscapes (eShop, $7.99)
DS
Chuck E. Cheese’s Alien Defense Force (DSiWare, $4.99)
Rytmik World Music (DSiWare, $7.99)
Zombie Skape (DSiWare, $1.99)
Vita
Big Sky: Infinity (PSN, Cross-Buy Enabled, $9.99)
PC
Assassin’s Creed III: The Hidden Secrets Pack (DLC, $10)
Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials (DLC, $5)
Hawken (Free to Play)
Robert’s Pick: In a week dominated by digital downloads, I’m going to have to recommend the disk-based compilation of The Walking Dead games. For those who didn’t already download the series or prefer to own a shiny piece of optical media, Telltale’s adventure was one of the unexpected highlights of 2012. While I can’t quite call it the game of the decade like my colleague Sean (BioShock likely earns that honor), it is a contender for one of the best experiences of 2012.
Jeremy’s Pick: To find out if you’re truly a fan of an auteur, I think it’s worthwhile to investigate their smaller studies and entries into their art. Level 5’s Guild01 project is interesting in that way: 4 game designers (well, 3 and an entertainer) have each created a bite-sized experience on the Nintendo eShop as part of a “compilation.” The final piece announced for the US is Crimson Shroud, a simple RPG from Yasumi Matsuno, best known for his involvement in Ivalice Final Fantasy games (including the concept of Final Fantasy XII, my personal favorite). Not much information is available about Crimson Shroud, but it is purported to be straightforward, small ($7.99, US eShop), and focus on old-school “tabletop-style” RPG combat . If the experience speaks to you, you may be interested to go back and check out Aero Porter (by Yoot Saito) and Liberation Maiden (by Suda 51) which were released in the last few weeks.
Sage’s Pick: Return to Dunwall! For any of you who listened to the review Deagle and I gave on the podcast, you know that one complaint was the disincentive to commit full murder and mayhem due to the (possibly mistake) belief that the “good” ending would be worth the restraint. Well it seems others may have felt the same way, because the DLC is an opportunity to really stretch your assassin abilities and make the most of manipulating time and space. Trials to prove your worth will give players a better estimation of their skills as an assassin… and possibly put you in a better mood for the holidays as you get all that pent up frustration over buying gifts out of your system. At only 4.99 it’s a good pick for the week.
Eric’s Pick: After all of the praise Sean has heaped on The Walking Dead, it’s hard not to take notice. My experience with the series in any form is, at best, limited, but what I’ve seen of the television adaptation was as gripping and intense as anything I’ve watched all year. If the game follows suit, how can I not give it a recommendation?
F**K DLC.
Between Dragonborn’s permaglitchery and Assassin’s Creed III: The Hidden Secrets Pack tendency to erase save files, I’m going to have to agree.
I’m staying away from both until issues get sorted out. Thanks for the heads up.
If I were to get anything, it would be the Dunwall City Trials. I’m much more likely to plunk down $5 for DLC than $10.
Anyone remember when publishers first started talking about microtransactions? A penny here, a nickel here, a dime here. Now, it’s $10 and $20 most of the time.
Retro games for $5 are almost all gone, which is something I miss.
PSN has PS1 games for $5.99 which can play on PS3 and PSP. Some on Vita.
Crimson Shroud seems like it has a chance at being good.
Chuck E. Cheese’s Alien Defense Force? You’re kidding, right?
Aliens love shitty frozen pizza. You haven’t heard?
I liked Walking Dead, but when you boil it down, it’s just puzzles, choices and QTE’s. Even though any game can be reduced, TWD felt a bit shallow, IMO.
Still for $29.99 worth picking up. Just not game of the decade.
GOTY for sure. One of the best games I’ve played in a while, maybe a few years.
“Ivalice”? Jeremy is moving into Des territory with that one.
I stand by it! The best Final Fantasy properties are the Ivalice ones. 🙂
That’s not a given? Is there anyone who would argue with that statement? Show yourself heathens!
I’ve tried to play them. I can’t get into any of them.
I probably won’t be picking up anything until Metal Gear Rising: Revengence.
Crimson Shroud does look interesting. Gonna have to wait for the reviews, though.
Hawken for me. Any of you guys going to be playing next week?
Sean must have not posted his pick because he’s celebrating Walking Dead’s VGA wins. Probably not enough Japanese wins for Des, and Earth Defense force loss is eating away at Blue.
I really doubt he watched the VGAs…
Speaking of did any of you watch the VGAs? I missed them, but I caught the highlights. It’s pretty cool that Walking Dead got the nod.
Still, the promised hype wasn’t really there. I cool reveal (Moby Dick) and most stuff we would have guess (Dark Souls II) or already knew about (The Last of Us) The unevent event.
I didn’t watch it. I’d rather play games that actually watch developers interact with personalities that pretend what the hell they’re talking about (“Garry”), besides Felecia Day’s awkwardness last year hurt my crush for her a bit.
Still, I doubt too many people who read this site watched. I get the vibe they think some of the marketing stuff is a little too slick and not genuine.
Didn’t watch/don’t care.
I don’t even like Doritos or Dew. I guess I’m barely a gamer :/
My favorite moment:
Haha. Nice one!
This place is turning into NeoGaf lite.
Watched parts here and there. I don’t think I’m the core demographic at 38.
Not only did I not watch it, but I had a holiday party, and one of our friend’s fiance worked on it, so when he found out I worked with Tech-Gaming, he was all excited to talk about it and get my opinions on the show and yadda yadda. I felt kinda bad about it.
Felt bad for who?
The guys who worked on it? (Wasn’t it live?)
Yourself for hating on it?
The Dorito Pope?
Everyone involved and the millions(?) of viewers who who promised 5 big reveals?
The guy who had worked on it. He was really excited to talk to me about it, and I dashed his hopes.
Sean’s been getting a lot of wear out his favorite shirt lately.
Seriously, weren’t you happy that TWD won???
Just picked up War fighter, finished the SP campaign and we’ll its pretty bad. Any of you play it? The
The PS blog has a new more releases BTW.
Thanks, Trident. Updated!
No problem. Let me know if you need my pick. 😉
Big Sky: Infinity looks kind of cool. Plus, I’m always a sucker for cross buy enabled!
Also the Dorito Pope, because I stopped going to Dorito Church, so his Dorito Miter had to be 1″ shorter and slightly less gilded this year.