Top Ten Games, 2012 Edition

Another year of video game blogging has come and gone - actually, my first full January-to-December year doing this. Fifty-two weeks in a year and one review per week (skipping last week) means I've played 50 games to completion this year. But wait, that's not quite true - January was indie month at 3 games per week, and I played some games I didn't review, so that puts me well over 60 this year.

Anyway, if you remember my list from last year, the purpose is not to talk about the best games that came out this year. I don't play games soon enough after launch to do that kind of a list. No, this is simply my 10 favourite games I played this year.

And so, with no more ado, and in alphabetical order, here we go!

Tips: Skip the Mann vs. Machine Queue

Having a hard time getting into a Mann vs Machine server? Experiencing wait times of 40 minutes or more? Try this method, originally posted by HotShot88 on the TF2 Steam forum:

EDIT: this no longer works.

TF2 weapon idea: the Perilous Pointer

Here's a rather silly weapon concept I came up with for the Soldier:

His finger.

Character Design: ChemicalAlia's female TF2 models

Artist and modder ChemicalAlia has been working on some female character models for Team Fortress 2. I'd like to take a look at them and tell you why they're awesome.

TF2 Medigun idea: the Class Act

I originally posted this on the Steam TF2 forum.

One thing I find lacking with the existing Ubercharges in TF2 is that the vast majority of the time, it's a stupid idea to use your Uber on any class other than the Soldier or Demo (sometimes Pyro or Heavy).

The Class Act is a Medigun that grants a unique effect to each different class, reinforcing an existing strength to extremes. The uber would last for about the normal duration, but charges much quicker since it leaves the patient and Medic vulnerable (like the Kritzkrieg). This Uber would be a powerful utility that can adapt to many different situations and can be used many times in a round. It would also encourage Medics to use their Uber on many different classes over the round as the situation calls for it.

A new visual would be required; maybe instead of + symbols coming out of the target, the target would emit large class symbol particles to show that an existing strength has been boosted.

The following are examples of the kinds of effects that could be used. If you can think of better ones, then by all means, let me know!

Scout: enemies are flagged for all teammates for duration of uber
Pyro: afterburn applied during uber cannot be extinguished and applies to buildings
Soldier: increased speed and blast radius on rockets fired during uber
Demoman: grenades/stickies become proximity triggered and fire faster during uber (use offensively, or defensively to set up a proxy trap)
Heavy: penetrating bullets for duration of uber (minicrits?)
Engineer: sentry fire rate and knockback increased, unlimited ammo during uber
Medic: fills target's Ubercharge
Sniper: primary weapon charges instantly for duration of uber
Spy: backstab radius is increased, sappers placed during uber cannot be removed

The only potential problem I can foresee is that you'd have to either:
a) play with it and figure out what it does to every class
b) have a very long item description

What do you think? Would you like to see something like this in game?

Heavy needs more heavy weapons!

One thing that's bothered me about the Heavy updates in TF2 is that he only ever gets miniguns. I guess the Tomislav is a bit different, but functionally it's just a number tweak. The thing is, he's the Heavy Weapons Guy, not the Minigun Guy.

What other heavy weapons could we give the Heavy Weapons Guy? Try to include some stat speculation!

Check out the Steam forum discussion here.

TF2012 + Analysis!

So, the TF2 team has posted a big teaser for this year's TF2 updates on the official blog. Let's break it down, shall we?

Top Ten Games, 2011 Edition

First things first: this is NOT a Top Ten Games of 2011. This is a list of my top ten games as of 2011. There are no qualification requirements other than that I like the game — they didn't have to have been released this year, I'm not looking at any specific genre or platform. Furthermore, I don't play enough new games to have a top ten of 2011 list. Nope, these are just my ten favourite games as of 2011. Although I've also included an Honourable Mentions section because picking only 10 games is haaaarrrrrrrddddddd.

The games are in alphabetical order. If you're a regular reader, you'll know I'm loathe to assign numerical scores, so I'm not ordering this list in any way that suggests a #1 game. If you're not a regular reader, well, now's as good a time as any to check out what Post-Launch Reviews is about.

Some of the game names are links. Those links will take you to the full review of the game. The others? Well, consider them to be on the to-review list.

TF2 Australian Christmas 2011

This is a repost of something I put up on the Steam forums in response to the news of tonight's impending Australian Christmas update to Team Fortress 2. If you're a TF2 player, let me know what you think of the new weapons in the comments below!

BONK!

Check out this awesome TF2 animated short by El Cid:

Team Fortress 2

Post-Launch Review #1:

Team Fortress 2 (PC*)

Developer: Valve

Publisher: Valve

Released: October 10, 2007

About

Team Fortress 2 is an online multiplayer class-based first-person shooter set in an alternate 1960's, where two mercenary teams -- RED and BLU -- fight for control of resources and locations in a variety of game modes. TF2 is most recognizable for its retro cartoonish art style and dark humour, featuring nine classes with their own personalities.