This may surprise some of you, but there is a lot that happens in the world than what falls under the umbrella of the Video Games (gasp!). I know, it’s shocking. There was a lot going on in 2008 that changed the way the world views gaming. Some of it was good and some of it was bad and some was a bit of both.
Contained in the pages that follow is my alcohol-influenced opinion on what were some of the more noteworthy achievements, as well as the shameful skeletons in the closet of everything gaming. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with:
The TOP (4 of) 5 MOST EPIC FAILURES OF 2008
#5 Death – In 2008 one kid in Canada runs away from home when his parents take away his 360 and dies of exposure to the cold and falling fatally from a tree. A teen flips out when his mom won’t let him play Halo 3 and shoots her in the face. Of course, people are going to blame the folks that make consoles and develop games. But are they really to blame? Someone who acts out in violent ways like this has some serious, deep-rooted issues that were not taken care of properly. And sadly some paid the ultimate price. A complete and total tragedy.
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#4 Gamer Grub and Mana Potions – A pox on those who would shill products of improper quality upon the culture of gaming. Whether it was energy drinks with pics of Donkey Kong on the cans or ones that came in little novelty magic bottles, companies saw the major potential of the secondary market and proceeded to hock whatever fanboys were willing to buy. Of course, this is nothing new, but it seemed like all the good ideas have run as dry as the Sahara and all that was left was in the reject pile. Putting lousy snacks in a tube does not make it gamer grub. |
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#3 Studios Closing – Woe, how the mighty have fallen. Nothing seemed to reflect the oncoming recession more than the epic amount of studio shutdowns this year. And not just random little fly-by-night ones. Ensemble, Free Radical, and Sierra laid off all their staff and stopped production. Even giants like THQ and Midway have their future hanging the balance in 2009. Is the gaming industry as "recession proof" as it makes itself out to be? Just from what we’ve seen in the first week of the new year, I have my doubts. |
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#2 E3 – Some considered last year’s E3 to be the nail in the coffin. With dull-as-dishwater presentations and a distinct lack of spectacle, E3 failed to deliver what it’s meant for: hype. The entire thing is all about getting major coverage for your games on CNN and MSNBC. News vans were nowhere to be seen and booth girls were spoken about only in fairy tales. To be fair though, The Who did kick some serious ass at the Rock Band 2 concert. Serious. Ass. Will E3 2009 be the year that they get their proverbial shit together and bring back the magic of the old days or will it go the way of the dodo?
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The TOP (4 of) 5 MOST EPIC KICK-ASSERY OF 2008
#5 USA Gets Club Nintendo – Japan always gets first dibs when it comes to Nintnedo gaming, collectables, and memorabilia. It used to be that if you wanted a Mario hat carrying case or Mario hat bookend for your DS and games, you had to import them or buy them on eBay. Now Club Nintendo has come to the states and Mario fanboys everywhere are rejoicing. Time to score that sweet Hanafuda card deck.
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#4 New Xbox Experience – Microsoft took the Xbox 360 and made it into an even more fantastic all-around entertainment experience in November. They added streaming Netflix, the XNE community game network, and party chats, just to name a few of the improved features. And it actually works, unlike PSN Home. |
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#3 Independent Games – Truly, 2008 was the year for the indie developer. Great games like Braid and Castle Crashers showed us that you don’t need a huge team of developers and a truck-load of cash to make something truly brilliant. They had deep plots, clever gameplay, and didn’t take a huge amount of your time. These games were so good that even GR started reviewing downloadable titles. Score one for the little guy.
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#2 The Inner Party Podcast – The most epic, insightful, humorous, and radically awesome podcast about the video game industry you have ever heard. EVER. And starring the most handsome, charming, intelligent, and insightful gaming nerds in the world. Game Revolution took a step into the daring world of internet talk shows and we’ve been having a blast doing it. Whether we featured the folks from PopCap and EA, our undercover GameStop agents, or if it was just the GR Staff, you’ve come to know and love one thing is for sure: We were drunk while we were doing it.
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And The Best and Worst Moment in Gaming is…
#1 Good Ol' Jack Thompson – Poor old Jacky got disbarred in 2008 and gamers everywhere rejoiced. Finally, the house fell on the wicked witch in the Game of Oz. We broke out a bottle of champagne here at the compound and toasted to gaming's victory. It was an epic moment for the rational minded. But how great was it really?
What would Batman be without The Joker? He’d be nothing but an eccentric billionaire who gets his kicks by dressing up young men in bright colored tights and watching them get beat up by thugs. Every great hero needs a great villain for them to constantly beat on like a rag doll. And the best part about Jack was, he was easy to beat. The dude is a bit off his rocker with what he considers a Christian agenda. He was an enemy who beat himself with all of his contempt and improper manner in court. My fear is that Jack could be replaced by someone who is eloquent and insightful and perhaps even makes rational points.
Truly, Jack Thompson getting disbarred is a mixed blessing. He will be missed. But it’s also a big victory as anyone who’s followed GR’s love affair with Jack would know. And who knows, maybe Jack will get a job as another Fox News “Expert”.
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