Collection of fake game reviews/interviews and other interesting stuff:
http://thelastmetaphor.com/?p=1923
http://nightmaremode.net/2011/08/_____-on-the-planet-x-a-year-of-interviews-with-jeffrey-auburn-2-8751/
http://nightmaremode.net/2011/10/raymond-carver-vs-the-mortality-of-man-%E2%80%93-a-year-of-interviews-with-jeffrey-auburn-3-12325/
http://nightmaremode.net/2011/09/deliverance-3ds-review-10226/
http://nightmaremode.net/2011/09/imaginary-games-book-review-10714/
http://thelastmetaphor.com/?p=190
http://thelastmetaphor.com/?p=1188
http://nightmaremode.net/2011/11/gaming-in-the-dark-13092/
http://thelastmetaphor.com/?p=1637
http://thelastmetaphor.com/?p=401
Lycka till med utställningen!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
2011
This years GOTY list and reminiscing. Not a super thrilling year for me gamewise or otherwise; I left the blogosphere completely half-way through and have since then barely gotten any news on what has been going on. I've been reading Extra Lives, article series of growing up, watching Buffy, playing Bastion, studying tarot/heroes journey, and realizing why Majoras Mask haunts me so (it's about growing up, yes).
As always, there are hundreds of games on steam which look like they just might be good if I give them a change, but without that push from people whose opinion I trust, most of the games just seem meh and I have no energy giving them a try. Many of the games I was looking forward to have actually not been released, so next year looks good at least. Hopefully Weir, Cavanagh (even if I haven't played At a Distance yet) and increpare will get their shit together (top three from last years list) for next year and do something mindblowing. Asides from games such as Mass Effect 3 and Max Payne 3, there will be those late-coming games which I for some reason thought would be released 2011: Dear Esther, Duality ZF, Silent Hill Downpour, SpyParty, Cavanaghs game, X-com, Hazard: Journey of Life, Metal Gear Solid Rising, Unfinished Swan, Fez, The Witness, The Dream Machine, Tuning. Add some newcomers such as Kentucky Route Zero, Quantum Conundrum, Twinkling Stars, The Journey Down, Fez, Miegakure, Elysian Tale, Paradox Shift, and, to not forget, all those new wonderful games of which I yet do not know (and probably will not find out anything about since I don't read about games anymore).
Perhaps 2012 is the year when some of those games which are never to be completed actually become completed? I'm thinking Forge (sequel to Loom), the sequel to A Second Face, Team Effigys Out of Time, Planescape Trilogy, cactus sequel to mondo agency... I mean the restoration project for Kotor 2 finally got to an end in 2011, and so did Duke Nukem 4ever! So I will start the new year by playing Kotor2, and then going through the mass effect trilogy in february and mars. Overall I am now looking back at what has been, and revisiting my past through pop culture. I am hoping this is not a way of regressing, but transgressing, growing.
For the sake of disclosure and completion, this is what I've missed out on this year: Achron, Esoterica America, new Batman game, Uncharted 3, To the Moon, Gunstringer, Fate of the World, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and, silly me, almost forgot: the new zelda game. I have also wanted to play some kind of co-op game but haven't really the right friends for it. Left For Dead 2, or something in that vein. Not Gears of War though. Oh, Glitchhiker for example, in a more formal setting, would be awesome. Also I would like more vertically oriented shmups with much procedural content and many extends, as always, but still return to Kenta Chos games instead because it seems damned hard to satisfy me in that specific area. Somehow, I must have super acquired taste when it comes to them because the few I've played, well, not my cup of tea. And since Kenta Cho won't answer my emails on updating Rootage, noiz2a, and parsec47 for newer computers/higher resolutions/widescreens, I'm out of luck. Linley Henzels shmups work so so on windows 7 too, with colors getting messed up, and from hir I got an answer, but no update. Maybe the new game Angry moth will be good?
Well, here's the list. I don't think any of the old stuff has changed really, but I might as well post it.
2011
Honorable Mention
A Mother in Festerwood (Austin Breed)
American Dream (Stephen Lavelle, Terry Cavanagh, Jasper Byrne and Tom Morgan-Jones)
Balloon-Diaspora/Ruins (Jake Elliott)
Cat and the Coup (Peter Brinson/Kurosh ValaNejad)
Fotonica
Glitchhiker (vlambeer)
Hot Throttle (Cacusquid)
NightSky (Nicalis/Nifflas)
No Longer Subject to Judicial Review (NiallM)
Raccord Sniper (Nicolai Troshinsky)
Rebuild (Sarah Northway)
Soul Brother (Jasper Byrne)
Spent (McKinney)
Technobabylon Part III (James Dearden)
Wunderputt (dampgnat)
You Shall Know The Truth/The Book of Living Magic (Jonas Kyratzes)
10 The End of Us (Chelsea Howe & Michael Molinari)
9 Negative Spacecraft (Chris Cornell)
8 A History of Democratic Process in Eire/English Country Tune/Salome/Pirouette (Stephen Lavelle/Increpare)
7 Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony (Final Form)
6 Rebirth (Daniel-D. "Guert" Guertin)
5 Trauma (Krystian Majewski)
4 The Stanley Parable (Cakebread)
3 Bla Bla (Vincent Morisset)
2 Portal 2
1 Bastion
-1984
10 Solar Fox (Arkad)
9 Excite Bike
8 Pac Man
7 Galaxian
6 Millipede/Centipede
5 Boulder Dash
4 Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
3 Pooyan
2 Robotron 2084
1 Jetpac
1985
Boulder Dash 2: Rockford's Revenge
10 Balance of Power
9 Bomberman
8 A Mind Forever Voyaging
7 Binary Land
6 Gradius
5 Field Combat
4 Ice Climbers
3 Space Harrier
2 Battle City
1 Super Mario Bros
1986
10 Alex Kidd in Miracle World
9 Solomon’s Key
8 Zanac
7 Adventure Island
6 Paper Boy
5 Balloon Fight
4 Bubble Bobble
3 Metroid
2 Legend of Zelda
1 Super Mario Bros 2
1987
10 R-Type
9 Zelda 2: Adventure of Link
8. Rainbow Islands
7 Bureaucracy
6 Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It
5 Maniac Mansion
4 Castlevania
3 Mega Man
2 Tetris: The Soviet Challenge
1 Dungeon Master
1988
10 Snatcher
9 Space Harrier 2
8 Ghouls n’ Ghosts
7 Arkanoid
6 Bubble Bobble
5 Spy vs Spy
4 Ninja Gaiden
3 Mega Man 2
2 Contra
1 Super Mario Bros 3
1989
10 Dig Dug 2
9 Twin Bee 3
8 Blazing Lazers
7 Cobra Triangle
6 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
5 R-Type 2
4 Adventures of Lolo
3 Prince of Persia
2 Dungeon Master: Chaos Strikes Back
1 Final Fight
1990
ActRaiser
Adventures of Lolo
Ducktales
Eye of the Beholder
Smash TV
10 Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
9 Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse
8 Super Contra
7 Ninja Gaiden 2
6 F-Zero
5 Mega Man 3
4 Loom
3 Lemmings
2 The Secret of Monkey Island
1 Super Mario World
1991
10 Mega Man 4
9 Another World
8 Sonic the Hedgehog
7 Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts
6 Ninja Gaiden 3: The Dark Ship of Doom
5 Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge
4 Area 88/UN Squadron
3 Street Fighter 2: World Warrior
2 Super Castlevania IV
1 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
1992
Mega Man 5
The Legend of Zelda: Third Quest
10 Pocky and Rocky
9 Street Fighter 2 Turbo
8 Puyo Puyo
7 Jezzball/Maxwell's Maniac (Marjacq Micro/Dima Pavlovsky)
6 Sonic the Hedgehog 2
5 Super Double Dragon
4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
3 The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse
2 Super Probotector: Alien Rebels/Contra 3: Alien Wars
1 Super Mario Kart
1993
Jurassic Park
Shadowrun
World Heroes
10 Sonic the Hedgehog 3
9 Mega Man X
8 E.V.O: Search for Eden
7 Bart Simpson's Nightmare
6 Doom
5 Gunstar Heroes
4 Sam & Max Hit The Road
3 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
2 Day of the Tentacle
1 Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
1994
Donkey Kong Country
Jazz Jackrabbit
Mega Man X2
Micro Machines
10 Cyberdogs
9 Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
8 Beneath a Steel Sky
7 The Great Circus Mystery: Starring Mickey and Minnie
6 Puzzle Bobble
5 Uni Rally/Uniracers
4 Lode Runner: The Legend Returns
3 Contra: Hard Corps
2 X-Com: UFO Defense/UFO: Enemy Unknown
1 Super Metroid
1995
19XX: The War Against Destiny
Discworld
The Dark Eye
Warcraft 2
Zoop
10 Micro Machines 2: Special
9 Diddy's Kong Quest/Donkey Kong Country 2
8 Full Throttle
7 Mega Man 7/Mega Man X3
6 Heroes of Might & Magic
5 Gunbird
4 Alien Soldier
3 Worms
2 Strikers 1945
1 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
1996
C-Dogs (Cyberdogs 2)
Dixie Kong's Double Trouble/Donkey Kong Country 3
Donpachi
Death Rally
Quake
Resident Evil
Sengoku Ace Episode II/Sengoku Blaede/Tengai
10 Samurai Shodown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
9 Metal Slug
8 Leisure Suit Larry: Love For Sail
7 Three Dirty Dwarves
6 Mega Man 8
5 Nights: Into Dreams
4 Mario Kart 64
3 Diablo
2 Soul Blade
1 Super Mario 64
1997
Diddy Kong Racing
Duckman
Mega Man X
Samurai Showdown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
10 Dungeon Keeper
9 Blade Runner
8 Worms 2
7 Fallout
6 Hellfire
5 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
3 Strikers 1945: Part 2
4 Starcraft
2 Dodonpachi
1 Final Fantasy VII
1998
Banjo Kazooie
Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
F-Zero X
Gunbird 2
LSD: Dream Emulator
Medievil
Micro Machines V3
NHL 1999
Photopia (Adam Cadre)
Rockman & Forte
Sanitarium
Space Bomber
10 Liero (Joosa Riekkinen)
9 Fallout 2
8 Dink Smallwood
7 Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
6 Hexplore
5 Starcraft: Broodwars
4 Grim Fandango
3 Baldur’s Gate
2 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
1 Metal Gear Solid
1999
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
Darkstone
Grandia
Guwange
Heroes of Might and Magic 3
NHL 2000
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Soul Calibur
Vib Ribbon
Worms Armageddon
10 Super Smash Bros
9 Castlevania/Legacy of Darkness
8 Final Fantasy VIII
7 Silent Hill
6 Unreal Tournament
5 Longest Journey, The
4 System Shock 2
3 Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast
2 Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
1 Planescape Torment
2000
Banjo Tooie
DX-Ball 2
Dragon Blaze
Galatea (Emily Short)
NHL 2001
10 Ricochet (Counter-Strike)
9 Escape from Monkey Island
8 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
7 Diablo 2
6 Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
5 Elasto Mania (Balázs Rózsa)
4 Shrapnel (Adam Cadre)
3 Deux Ex
2 The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask
1 Baldur's Gate: Shadows of Amn
2001
Conkers Bad Fur Day
Devil May Cry
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Final Fantasy X
Freak Out!/Stretch Panic
Frequency
Gothic
IF Arcade
Jak & Daxter
Kingdom Hearts
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
Pleurghburg: The Dark Age (Chrille Blomqvist)
Project Zero/Fatal Frame
Ribbons (J.D Berry)
Serious Sam
Super Monkey Ball
Super Smash Bros Melee
Zone of the Enders
10 Cyberd
9 Rez
8 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
7 Luigis Mansion
6 Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
5 Shadow of Memories/Shadow of Destiny
4 Max Payne
3 Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal/Ascension
2 Silent Hill 2
1 Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty
2002
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Ketsui
Ratchet & Clank
Sly Raccoon
Super Monkey Ball 2
The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
The Trials of Odysseus Kent (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Hobo Soccer (Magic Whisper)
9 Psyvariar: Revision/Psyvariar: Medium Unit
8 Pop n’ Music 8
7 Super Mario Sunshine
6 Ikaruga
5 Noiz2sa (Kenta Cho)
4 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
3 Guilty Gear XX
2 Metroid Prime
1 Metroid Fusion
2003
Amplitude
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
Espgaluda
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Samorost (Amanita Design)
Soul Calibur 2
The Apprentice (Herculean Effort Productions)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4
Warioware Inc: Minigame Mania
Zone of the Enders: 2nd Runner
10 Seiklus (cly5m)
9 Perfect Cherry Blossom (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
8 5 Days a Stranger (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
7 Beyond Good And Evil
6 The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
5 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4 Silent Hill 3
3 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
2 dodonpachi DAI-OU-JOU
1 Parsec47/rRootage (Kenta Cho)
2004
A Case of the Crabs (Pinhead Games)
Beatmania IIDX 8th Style
Glass Rose
Imperishable Night (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final
Polarium
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Tontie (Eyesmaze)
Tuboflex (Molleindustria)
Tumiki Fighters (Kenta Cho)
10 Levers (Patrick Smith)
9 Go go roppongi Stick!
8 Katamari Damacy
7 Cirque de Zale (Rebecca Clements)
6 Mushihimesama
5 The Apprentice II: Knights Move (Herculean Effort Productions)
4 7 Days a Sceptic (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
3 Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
2 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
1 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
2005
Anna (Vince Twelve/xiigames)
Beatmania IIDX 9th Style/Beatmania IIDX 10th Style
Blue Wish (x.x)
Cedric and the Revolution (Bernie)
Conker: Live and Reloaded
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Electroplankton
Espgaluda 2
Guilty Gear XX Slash
Gunroar/Val & Rick (Kenta Cho)
Ossu! Tatakae! Ouendan!
Pop n' Music 11
Soul Calibur 3
The Apprentice Deluxe (Herculean Effort Productions)
We Love Katamari
10 Cave Story (Daisuke Amaya)
9 Soviet Unterzögersdorf (Monochrom)
8 Resident Evil 4
7 Psychonauts
6 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
5 Experimental Gaming: Tower of Goo, On a Rainy Day, The Crowd, Gravity Head, Square Off, Attack of the Killer Swarm, Riff
4 Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
3 Killer 7
2 Jade Empire
1 Pathologic
2006
Automaton (Mr Colossal)
Blue Wish Resurrection/Eden's Edge (x.x)
Hallway of Adventures (Mordalles)
La La Land 5/La La Land 4/La La Land 3/La La Land 2/La La Land (TheAnemic)
Museum of Broken Dreams (Jonas Kyratzes)
Mushihime-sama Futari
New Super Mario Bros
The Shivah/Blackwell Legacy (Dave Gilbert)
10 Torus Trooper/Titanion (Kenta Cho)
9 Within A Deep Forest (Nifflas)
8 Beatmania IIDX 11: IIDX RED
7 Pop n' Music 12
6 Sam & Max Episode 1: Culture Shock
5 Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
4 WarioWare: Smooth Moves
3 Spooks (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
2 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
1 Trilby's Notes (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2007
Beatmania IIDX 13: DistorteD
Blackwell Unbound (Dave Gilbert)
Contra 4
Feed the Head (Patrick Smith)
Frozzd (Jesse Venbrux)
Game, game, game and again game (Jason Nelson)
Knytt Stories/Knytt (Nifflas)
La Croix Pan (TheJBurger)
Mountain of Faith (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Murder In A Wheel (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nelly Cootalot (Alasdair Beckett)
Pacman Championship Edition
Rorschach (Collecting Smiles)
Samorost 2 (Amanita Design)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Trilby: The Art Of Theft (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Garden of Coloured Lights/Excellent Bifurcation (Linley Henzell)
9 Sam & Max Season 1: Cont’
8 The Witcher
7 Mondo Agency/Mondo Medicals/Clean Asia (Cactusquid)
6 Mass Effect
5 Super Mario Galaxy
4 Bioshock
3 Passage (Jason Rohrer)
2 Portal
1 6 Days A Sacrifice (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2008
Achievement Unlocked
Aether (Edmund McMillen)
A Second Face (Jospin Le Woltaire)
Blue Wish Resurrection Plus (x.x)
Des Rêves Élastiques Avec Mille Insectes Nommés Georges (Deirdra Kia)
Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu
Fallout 3
Free Culture Game/Queer Power (Molleindustria)
Gateway II (Anders Gustafsson)
Geometry Wars Evolved 2
How Many…
Little Girl In Underland (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson?)
Psychosomnium/Seizuredome (Cactusquid)
Virtual Silence/Seven Minutes (Tuukka Virtanen)
10 Rescue: The Beagles (Nenad Jalsovec)
9 The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
8 Self-destruct/Xoldiers (Terry Cavanagh)
7 Nanobots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
6 Karoshi 2.0/Execution/Pazzon/Torque/Karoshi/Karoshi Factory/Karoshi: Suicide Salaryman (Jesse Venbrux)
5 Gravitation/Police Brutality/Between/Perfectionism (Jason Rohrer)
4 Dear Esther (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
3 World Of Goo (2d Boy)
2 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot
1 Braid (Jonathan Blow)
2009
!, Robot/Shifters Box (Ben304)
4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness (Petri/Kloonigames)
And Yet It Moves (Broken Rules)
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Au Sable/All Our Friends Are Dead (Amon26)
Backup/Bars of black and white (Gregory Weir)
Chaser (Connor Carpenter/shadestorm)
Devils Tuning Fork (DePaul Game Elites)
Eden’s Aegis (x.x)
Evidence of Everything Exploding (Jason Nelson)
Flow (thatgamecompany)
Play: Free Will - The Game (raitendo)
Gravity Bone (Blendo Games)
Harpooned (Conor O’Kane)
lose/lose (Zach Gage)
Mental Repair Inc (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nestlings (Lewis Denby)
Repent (Aaron Oldenburg)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Small Worlds (David Shute)
Spectre (Vaguely Spectacular)
Super Karoshi/Focus (Jesse Venbrux)
Takishawa Is Dead! (Andrew Brophy)
Today I Die (Daniel Benmergui)
The Company of Myself (Eli Pülonen)
Windosill (Patrick Smith)
10 Everyday The Same Dream/Kosmosis (Molleindustria)
9 Time Fcuk (Edmund McMillen, William Good & Justin Karpel)
8 The Marionette (Team Effigy/Auriond)
7 Korsakovia (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
6 Radiator 1-2: Handle With Care/Radiator 1-1: Polaris (Robert Yang)
5 Tales of Monkey Island
4 White Butterfly (Linley Henzell)
3 Judith/Don’t look back/Pathways/Bullfist (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Dragon Age: Origins
1 Opera Omnia/Home/Therapy Game/Mirror Stage/The Black Yeti/Signifier (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
2010
...But That Was [Yesterday]/Together (Michael Molinari)
After (Aaron Oldenburg)
Alan Wake
Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer (Nicolau/calunio)
Blades of Passion (Drew Wellman)
Crimzon Clover (Yotsubane)
Conquer the Shadow World/Lackadaisium (Ultimate Walrus)
Covetous/Good Fortune (Austin Breed)
Cow Clicker (Ian Bogost)
Depict1 (Retro Affect)
Digital: A Love Story (Christine Love)
Dragon Age: Awakening
Dual Transform (Andrew Plotkin)
Eternally Us (Ben304)
Feign (Ian Snyder)
Frenzy Defense (Jan Willem Nijman)
Hero Core (Daniel Remar)
Hoosegow (Ben Collins-Sussman and Jack Welch)
Howard Glitch Game (Robert Allmand)
Leaky Worlds: A Playable Theory (Molleindustria)
Limbo (Playdead)
Loved (Alexander Ocias)
My First Quantum Translocator
Norrland/Gamma4 (Cactusquid)
Octodad (DGE2)
One Chance (AwkwardSilenceGames)
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
P0nd (Peanut Gallery)
Puji (Alexander Jhin, Matt McKnett, and Pat Kemp)
Puzzlebots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
QWOP (Bennett Fodd)
Super Crate Box (Vlambeer)
Super Meat Boy (Team Meat)
Super Street Fighter IV
suteF (Ted Lauterbach)
Symon (Singapore MIT Gambi Game Lab)
Technobabylon - Part II/Technobabylon - Part 1 (James Dearden)
Tedium (EddieC))
The Arm/Refus Q. Jibberjabber's Day Out/Flin McGraw's Last Day (tipp)
Tower of Heaven (askiisoft)
Which (Mike Inel)
10 A House in California/Hummingbird Mind (Jake Elliott & friends)
9 Life Flashes By (Deirdra Kia)
8 Snakes of Avalon (Igor Hardy/Ascovel & Baron/Alex Van Wijst)
7 Super Mario Galaxy 2
6 The Dream Machine (Erik Zaring & Anders Gustafsson)
5 The Journey Down: Over The Edge (Theodor Waern)
4 Mass Effect 2
3 VVVVV/Phobiaphobiaphobia (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Looming/The Day/Narthex (Gregory Weir)
1 Treatise/Hush/Modernauts/Primitive Pattern/Starfeld/100 Names/Queue/The Terrible Whiteness of Appalachian Nights/The Rose Garden/Catalan/Cascode (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
As always, there are hundreds of games on steam which look like they just might be good if I give them a change, but without that push from people whose opinion I trust, most of the games just seem meh and I have no energy giving them a try. Many of the games I was looking forward to have actually not been released, so next year looks good at least. Hopefully Weir, Cavanagh (even if I haven't played At a Distance yet) and increpare will get their shit together (top three from last years list) for next year and do something mindblowing. Asides from games such as Mass Effect 3 and Max Payne 3, there will be those late-coming games which I for some reason thought would be released 2011: Dear Esther, Duality ZF, Silent Hill Downpour, SpyParty, Cavanaghs game, X-com, Hazard: Journey of Life, Metal Gear Solid Rising, Unfinished Swan, Fez, The Witness, The Dream Machine, Tuning. Add some newcomers such as Kentucky Route Zero, Quantum Conundrum, Twinkling Stars, The Journey Down, Fez, Miegakure, Elysian Tale, Paradox Shift, and, to not forget, all those new wonderful games of which I yet do not know (and probably will not find out anything about since I don't read about games anymore).
Perhaps 2012 is the year when some of those games which are never to be completed actually become completed? I'm thinking Forge (sequel to Loom), the sequel to A Second Face, Team Effigys Out of Time, Planescape Trilogy, cactus sequel to mondo agency... I mean the restoration project for Kotor 2 finally got to an end in 2011, and so did Duke Nukem 4ever! So I will start the new year by playing Kotor2, and then going through the mass effect trilogy in february and mars. Overall I am now looking back at what has been, and revisiting my past through pop culture. I am hoping this is not a way of regressing, but transgressing, growing.
For the sake of disclosure and completion, this is what I've missed out on this year: Achron, Esoterica America, new Batman game, Uncharted 3, To the Moon, Gunstringer, Fate of the World, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and, silly me, almost forgot: the new zelda game. I have also wanted to play some kind of co-op game but haven't really the right friends for it. Left For Dead 2, or something in that vein. Not Gears of War though. Oh, Glitchhiker for example, in a more formal setting, would be awesome. Also I would like more vertically oriented shmups with much procedural content and many extends, as always, but still return to Kenta Chos games instead because it seems damned hard to satisfy me in that specific area. Somehow, I must have super acquired taste when it comes to them because the few I've played, well, not my cup of tea. And since Kenta Cho won't answer my emails on updating Rootage, noiz2a, and parsec47 for newer computers/higher resolutions/widescreens, I'm out of luck. Linley Henzels shmups work so so on windows 7 too, with colors getting messed up, and from hir I got an answer, but no update. Maybe the new game Angry moth will be good?
Well, here's the list. I don't think any of the old stuff has changed really, but I might as well post it.
2011
Honorable Mention
A Mother in Festerwood (Austin Breed)
American Dream (Stephen Lavelle, Terry Cavanagh, Jasper Byrne and Tom Morgan-Jones)
Balloon-Diaspora/Ruins (Jake Elliott)
Cat and the Coup (Peter Brinson/Kurosh ValaNejad)
Fotonica
Glitchhiker (vlambeer)
Hot Throttle (Cacusquid)
NightSky (Nicalis/Nifflas)
No Longer Subject to Judicial Review (NiallM)
Raccord Sniper (Nicolai Troshinsky)
Rebuild (Sarah Northway)
Soul Brother (Jasper Byrne)
Spent (McKinney)
Technobabylon Part III (James Dearden)
Wunderputt (dampgnat)
You Shall Know The Truth/The Book of Living Magic (Jonas Kyratzes)
10 The End of Us (Chelsea Howe & Michael Molinari)
9 Negative Spacecraft (Chris Cornell)
8 A History of Democratic Process in Eire/English Country Tune/Salome/Pirouette (Stephen Lavelle/Increpare)
7 Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony (Final Form)
6 Rebirth (Daniel-D. "Guert" Guertin)
5 Trauma (Krystian Majewski)
4 The Stanley Parable (Cakebread)
3 Bla Bla (Vincent Morisset)
2 Portal 2
1 Bastion
-1984
10 Solar Fox (Arkad)
9 Excite Bike
8 Pac Man
7 Galaxian
6 Millipede/Centipede
5 Boulder Dash
4 Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
3 Pooyan
2 Robotron 2084
1 Jetpac
1985
Boulder Dash 2: Rockford's Revenge
10 Balance of Power
9 Bomberman
8 A Mind Forever Voyaging
7 Binary Land
6 Gradius
5 Field Combat
4 Ice Climbers
3 Space Harrier
2 Battle City
1 Super Mario Bros
1986
10 Alex Kidd in Miracle World
9 Solomon’s Key
8 Zanac
7 Adventure Island
6 Paper Boy
5 Balloon Fight
4 Bubble Bobble
3 Metroid
2 Legend of Zelda
1 Super Mario Bros 2
1987
10 R-Type
9 Zelda 2: Adventure of Link
8. Rainbow Islands
7 Bureaucracy
6 Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It
5 Maniac Mansion
4 Castlevania
3 Mega Man
2 Tetris: The Soviet Challenge
1 Dungeon Master
1988
10 Snatcher
9 Space Harrier 2
8 Ghouls n’ Ghosts
7 Arkanoid
6 Bubble Bobble
5 Spy vs Spy
4 Ninja Gaiden
3 Mega Man 2
2 Contra
1 Super Mario Bros 3
1989
10 Dig Dug 2
9 Twin Bee 3
8 Blazing Lazers
7 Cobra Triangle
6 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
5 R-Type 2
4 Adventures of Lolo
3 Prince of Persia
2 Dungeon Master: Chaos Strikes Back
1 Final Fight
1990
ActRaiser
Adventures of Lolo
Ducktales
Eye of the Beholder
Smash TV
10 Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
9 Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse
8 Super Contra
7 Ninja Gaiden 2
6 F-Zero
5 Mega Man 3
4 Loom
3 Lemmings
2 The Secret of Monkey Island
1 Super Mario World
1991
10 Mega Man 4
9 Another World
8 Sonic the Hedgehog
7 Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts
6 Ninja Gaiden 3: The Dark Ship of Doom
5 Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge
4 Area 88/UN Squadron
3 Street Fighter 2: World Warrior
2 Super Castlevania IV
1 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
1992
Mega Man 5
The Legend of Zelda: Third Quest
10 Pocky and Rocky
9 Street Fighter 2 Turbo
8 Puyo Puyo
7 Jezzball/Maxwell's Maniac (Marjacq Micro/Dima Pavlovsky)
6 Sonic the Hedgehog 2
5 Super Double Dragon
4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
3 The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse
2 Super Probotector: Alien Rebels/Contra 3: Alien Wars
1 Super Mario Kart
1993
Jurassic Park
Shadowrun
World Heroes
10 Sonic the Hedgehog 3
9 Mega Man X
8 E.V.O: Search for Eden
7 Bart Simpson's Nightmare
6 Doom
5 Gunstar Heroes
4 Sam & Max Hit The Road
3 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
2 Day of the Tentacle
1 Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
1994
Donkey Kong Country
Jazz Jackrabbit
Mega Man X2
Micro Machines
10 Cyberdogs
9 Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
8 Beneath a Steel Sky
7 The Great Circus Mystery: Starring Mickey and Minnie
6 Puzzle Bobble
5 Uni Rally/Uniracers
4 Lode Runner: The Legend Returns
3 Contra: Hard Corps
2 X-Com: UFO Defense/UFO: Enemy Unknown
1 Super Metroid
1995
19XX: The War Against Destiny
Discworld
The Dark Eye
Warcraft 2
Zoop
10 Micro Machines 2: Special
9 Diddy's Kong Quest/Donkey Kong Country 2
8 Full Throttle
7 Mega Man 7/Mega Man X3
6 Heroes of Might & Magic
5 Gunbird
4 Alien Soldier
3 Worms
2 Strikers 1945
1 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
1996
C-Dogs (Cyberdogs 2)
Dixie Kong's Double Trouble/Donkey Kong Country 3
Donpachi
Death Rally
Quake
Resident Evil
Sengoku Ace Episode II/Sengoku Blaede/Tengai
10 Samurai Shodown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
9 Metal Slug
8 Leisure Suit Larry: Love For Sail
7 Three Dirty Dwarves
6 Mega Man 8
5 Nights: Into Dreams
4 Mario Kart 64
3 Diablo
2 Soul Blade
1 Super Mario 64
1997
Diddy Kong Racing
Duckman
Mega Man X
Samurai Showdown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
10 Dungeon Keeper
9 Blade Runner
8 Worms 2
7 Fallout
6 Hellfire
5 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
3 Strikers 1945: Part 2
4 Starcraft
2 Dodonpachi
1 Final Fantasy VII
1998
Banjo Kazooie
Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
F-Zero X
Gunbird 2
LSD: Dream Emulator
Medievil
Micro Machines V3
NHL 1999
Photopia (Adam Cadre)
Rockman & Forte
Sanitarium
Space Bomber
10 Liero (Joosa Riekkinen)
9 Fallout 2
8 Dink Smallwood
7 Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
6 Hexplore
5 Starcraft: Broodwars
4 Grim Fandango
3 Baldur’s Gate
2 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
1 Metal Gear Solid
1999
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
Darkstone
Grandia
Guwange
Heroes of Might and Magic 3
NHL 2000
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Soul Calibur
Vib Ribbon
Worms Armageddon
10 Super Smash Bros
9 Castlevania/Legacy of Darkness
8 Final Fantasy VIII
7 Silent Hill
6 Unreal Tournament
5 Longest Journey, The
4 System Shock 2
3 Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast
2 Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
1 Planescape Torment
2000
Banjo Tooie
DX-Ball 2
Dragon Blaze
Galatea (Emily Short)
NHL 2001
10 Ricochet (Counter-Strike)
9 Escape from Monkey Island
8 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
7 Diablo 2
6 Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
5 Elasto Mania (Balázs Rózsa)
4 Shrapnel (Adam Cadre)
3 Deux Ex
2 The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask
1 Baldur's Gate: Shadows of Amn
2001
Conkers Bad Fur Day
Devil May Cry
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Final Fantasy X
Freak Out!/Stretch Panic
Frequency
Gothic
IF Arcade
Jak & Daxter
Kingdom Hearts
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
Pleurghburg: The Dark Age (Chrille Blomqvist)
Project Zero/Fatal Frame
Ribbons (J.D Berry)
Serious Sam
Super Monkey Ball
Super Smash Bros Melee
Zone of the Enders
10 Cyberd
9 Rez
8 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
7 Luigis Mansion
6 Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
5 Shadow of Memories/Shadow of Destiny
4 Max Payne
3 Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal/Ascension
2 Silent Hill 2
1 Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty
2002
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Ketsui
Ratchet & Clank
Sly Raccoon
Super Monkey Ball 2
The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
The Trials of Odysseus Kent (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Hobo Soccer (Magic Whisper)
9 Psyvariar: Revision/Psyvariar: Medium Unit
8 Pop n’ Music 8
7 Super Mario Sunshine
6 Ikaruga
5 Noiz2sa (Kenta Cho)
4 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
3 Guilty Gear XX
2 Metroid Prime
1 Metroid Fusion
2003
Amplitude
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
Espgaluda
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Samorost (Amanita Design)
Soul Calibur 2
The Apprentice (Herculean Effort Productions)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4
Warioware Inc: Minigame Mania
Zone of the Enders: 2nd Runner
10 Seiklus (cly5m)
9 Perfect Cherry Blossom (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
8 5 Days a Stranger (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
7 Beyond Good And Evil
6 The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
5 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4 Silent Hill 3
3 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
2 dodonpachi DAI-OU-JOU
1 Parsec47/rRootage (Kenta Cho)
2004
A Case of the Crabs (Pinhead Games)
Beatmania IIDX 8th Style
Glass Rose
Imperishable Night (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final
Polarium
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Tontie (Eyesmaze)
Tuboflex (Molleindustria)
Tumiki Fighters (Kenta Cho)
10 Levers (Patrick Smith)
9 Go go roppongi Stick!
8 Katamari Damacy
7 Cirque de Zale (Rebecca Clements)
6 Mushihimesama
5 The Apprentice II: Knights Move (Herculean Effort Productions)
4 7 Days a Sceptic (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
3 Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
2 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
1 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
2005
Anna (Vince Twelve/xiigames)
Beatmania IIDX 9th Style/Beatmania IIDX 10th Style
Blue Wish (x.x)
Cedric and the Revolution (Bernie)
Conker: Live and Reloaded
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Electroplankton
Espgaluda 2
Guilty Gear XX Slash
Gunroar/Val & Rick (Kenta Cho)
Ossu! Tatakae! Ouendan!
Pop n' Music 11
Soul Calibur 3
The Apprentice Deluxe (Herculean Effort Productions)
We Love Katamari
10 Cave Story (Daisuke Amaya)
9 Soviet Unterzögersdorf (Monochrom)
8 Resident Evil 4
7 Psychonauts
6 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
5 Experimental Gaming: Tower of Goo, On a Rainy Day, The Crowd, Gravity Head, Square Off, Attack of the Killer Swarm, Riff
4 Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
3 Killer 7
2 Jade Empire
1 Pathologic
2006
Automaton (Mr Colossal)
Blue Wish Resurrection/Eden's Edge (x.x)
Hallway of Adventures (Mordalles)
La La Land 5/La La Land 4/La La Land 3/La La Land 2/La La Land (TheAnemic)
Museum of Broken Dreams (Jonas Kyratzes)
Mushihime-sama Futari
New Super Mario Bros
The Shivah/Blackwell Legacy (Dave Gilbert)
10 Torus Trooper/Titanion (Kenta Cho)
9 Within A Deep Forest (Nifflas)
8 Beatmania IIDX 11: IIDX RED
7 Pop n' Music 12
6 Sam & Max Episode 1: Culture Shock
5 Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
4 WarioWare: Smooth Moves
3 Spooks (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
2 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
1 Trilby's Notes (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2007
Beatmania IIDX 13: DistorteD
Blackwell Unbound (Dave Gilbert)
Contra 4
Feed the Head (Patrick Smith)
Frozzd (Jesse Venbrux)
Game, game, game and again game (Jason Nelson)
Knytt Stories/Knytt (Nifflas)
La Croix Pan (TheJBurger)
Mountain of Faith (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Murder In A Wheel (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nelly Cootalot (Alasdair Beckett)
Pacman Championship Edition
Rorschach (Collecting Smiles)
Samorost 2 (Amanita Design)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Trilby: The Art Of Theft (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Garden of Coloured Lights/Excellent Bifurcation (Linley Henzell)
9 Sam & Max Season 1: Cont’
8 The Witcher
7 Mondo Agency/Mondo Medicals/Clean Asia (Cactusquid)
6 Mass Effect
5 Super Mario Galaxy
4 Bioshock
3 Passage (Jason Rohrer)
2 Portal
1 6 Days A Sacrifice (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2008
Achievement Unlocked
Aether (Edmund McMillen)
A Second Face (Jospin Le Woltaire)
Blue Wish Resurrection Plus (x.x)
Des Rêves Élastiques Avec Mille Insectes Nommés Georges (Deirdra Kia)
Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu
Fallout 3
Free Culture Game/Queer Power (Molleindustria)
Gateway II (Anders Gustafsson)
Geometry Wars Evolved 2
How Many…
Little Girl In Underland (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson?)
Psychosomnium/Seizuredome (Cactusquid)
Virtual Silence/Seven Minutes (Tuukka Virtanen)
10 Rescue: The Beagles (Nenad Jalsovec)
9 The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
8 Self-destruct/Xoldiers (Terry Cavanagh)
7 Nanobots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
6 Karoshi 2.0/Execution/Pazzon/Torque/Karoshi/Karoshi Factory/Karoshi: Suicide Salaryman (Jesse Venbrux)
5 Gravitation/Police Brutality/Between/Perfectionism (Jason Rohrer)
4 Dear Esther (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
3 World Of Goo (2d Boy)
2 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot
1 Braid (Jonathan Blow)
2009
!, Robot/Shifters Box (Ben304)
4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness (Petri/Kloonigames)
And Yet It Moves (Broken Rules)
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Au Sable/All Our Friends Are Dead (Amon26)
Backup/Bars of black and white (Gregory Weir)
Chaser (Connor Carpenter/shadestorm)
Devils Tuning Fork (DePaul Game Elites)
Eden’s Aegis (x.x)
Evidence of Everything Exploding (Jason Nelson)
Flow (thatgamecompany)
Play: Free Will - The Game (raitendo)
Gravity Bone (Blendo Games)
Harpooned (Conor O’Kane)
lose/lose (Zach Gage)
Mental Repair Inc (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nestlings (Lewis Denby)
Repent (Aaron Oldenburg)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Small Worlds (David Shute)
Spectre (Vaguely Spectacular)
Super Karoshi/Focus (Jesse Venbrux)
Takishawa Is Dead! (Andrew Brophy)
Today I Die (Daniel Benmergui)
The Company of Myself (Eli Pülonen)
Windosill (Patrick Smith)
10 Everyday The Same Dream/Kosmosis (Molleindustria)
9 Time Fcuk (Edmund McMillen, William Good & Justin Karpel)
8 The Marionette (Team Effigy/Auriond)
7 Korsakovia (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
6 Radiator 1-2: Handle With Care/Radiator 1-1: Polaris (Robert Yang)
5 Tales of Monkey Island
4 White Butterfly (Linley Henzell)
3 Judith/Don’t look back/Pathways/Bullfist (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Dragon Age: Origins
1 Opera Omnia/Home/Therapy Game/Mirror Stage/The Black Yeti/Signifier (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
2010
...But That Was [Yesterday]/Together (Michael Molinari)
After (Aaron Oldenburg)
Alan Wake
Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer (Nicolau/calunio)
Blades of Passion (Drew Wellman)
Crimzon Clover (Yotsubane)
Conquer the Shadow World/Lackadaisium (Ultimate Walrus)
Covetous/Good Fortune (Austin Breed)
Cow Clicker (Ian Bogost)
Depict1 (Retro Affect)
Digital: A Love Story (Christine Love)
Dragon Age: Awakening
Dual Transform (Andrew Plotkin)
Eternally Us (Ben304)
Feign (Ian Snyder)
Frenzy Defense (Jan Willem Nijman)
Hero Core (Daniel Remar)
Hoosegow (Ben Collins-Sussman and Jack Welch)
Howard Glitch Game (Robert Allmand)
Leaky Worlds: A Playable Theory (Molleindustria)
Limbo (Playdead)
Loved (Alexander Ocias)
My First Quantum Translocator
Norrland/Gamma4 (Cactusquid)
Octodad (DGE2)
One Chance (AwkwardSilenceGames)
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
P0nd (Peanut Gallery)
Puji (Alexander Jhin, Matt McKnett, and Pat Kemp)
Puzzlebots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
QWOP (Bennett Fodd)
Super Crate Box (Vlambeer)
Super Meat Boy (Team Meat)
Super Street Fighter IV
suteF (Ted Lauterbach)
Symon (Singapore MIT Gambi Game Lab)
Technobabylon - Part II/Technobabylon - Part 1 (James Dearden)
Tedium (EddieC))
The Arm/Refus Q. Jibberjabber's Day Out/Flin McGraw's Last Day (tipp)
Tower of Heaven (askiisoft)
Which (Mike Inel)
10 A House in California/Hummingbird Mind (Jake Elliott & friends)
9 Life Flashes By (Deirdra Kia)
8 Snakes of Avalon (Igor Hardy/Ascovel & Baron/Alex Van Wijst)
7 Super Mario Galaxy 2
6 The Dream Machine (Erik Zaring & Anders Gustafsson)
5 The Journey Down: Over The Edge (Theodor Waern)
4 Mass Effect 2
3 VVVVV/Phobiaphobiaphobia (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Looming/The Day/Narthex (Gregory Weir)
1 Treatise/Hush/Modernauts/Primitive Pattern/Starfeld/100 Names/Queue/The Terrible Whiteness of Appalachian Nights/The Rose Garden/Catalan/Cascode (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Not-games, player privilege and counter-gaming
Some links with thoughts concerning the state of affairs of video games, what they are, what they're supposed to do, and how player expectation and privilege can be subverted; as dialogue, as not-fun, as anti-commercialism.
http://www.notgames.colognegamelab.com
http://notgames.org/blog/2010/03/19/not-a-manifesto
http://tale-of-tales.com/tales/RAM.html
http://www.mikejones.tv/journal/2010/2/14/most-computer-games-arent-games-at-all.html
http://critdamage.blogspot.com/2010/07/death-of-player.html
http://critdamage.blogspot.com/2010/08/player-privilege-why-it-is-still-just.html
http://www.copenhagengamecollective.org/uploads/On%20Abusive%20Game%20Design%20%28web%29.pdf
https://wiki.brown.edu/confluence/download/attachments/7143524/countergaming.galloway.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1207715401000
"‘Fun’ is a blunt weapon used to injure and exclude. Please take your ‘fun’ elsewhere." -- Stephen Lavelle
http://www.notgames.colognegamelab.com
http://notgames.org/blog/2010/03/19/not-a-manifesto
http://tale-of-tales.com/tales/RAM.html
http://www.mikejones.tv/journal/2010/2/14/most-computer-games-arent-games-at-all.html
http://critdamage.blogspot.com/2010/07/death-of-player.html
http://critdamage.blogspot.com/2010/08/player-privilege-why-it-is-still-just.html
http://www.copenhagengamecollective.org/uploads/On%20Abusive%20Game%20Design%20%28web%29.pdf
https://wiki.brown.edu/confluence/download/attachments/7143524/countergaming.galloway.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1207715401000
"‘Fun’ is a blunt weapon used to injure and exclude. Please take your ‘fun’ elsewhere." -- Stephen Lavelle
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Unnerving/frightening/horror experiences
This is a list with the video games that has scared the most shit out of me. Most of these are not classic horror games with monsters, bur rather disconcerting experiences which through questions, atmosphere, and play make for the most interesting scares I've gotten. My favored type of horror puts the player in the dawning realization of being the evil or going someplace bad with no choice except to comply. It plays with dissolution of identity, of losing sense of self in a world where there is barely any certainty as it is. It makes you ponder your place in the universe, or tries to psyche you out with confused realities. But it also makes you fear the next door, the next hallway, and the next apparition. The games are arranged by category, and the top positions in each category are not necessarily the best games of those mentioned, but the ones that uses what the category implies in interesting ways to frighten.
Perhaps the best horror series ever, in par with silent hill, which only gets
better with every game and deserves special attention: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chzo_Mythos
Subdued angst:
http://www.increpare.com/2009/02/opera-omnia/
http://mikeinel.deviantart.com/art/Which-Short-Game-152503626
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/09/browser_game_pick_the_day_greg.html
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=1228 (The Marionette)
http://distractionware.com/blog/?p=759 (Judith)
http://www.increpare.com/2010/11/activate-the-three-artefacts-and-then-leave/
http://www.increpare.com/2010/04/the-terrible-whiteness-of-appalachian-nights/
http://xiigames.com/anna/
Existential displacement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid_2:_Sons_of_Liberty
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_pathologic_pc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planescape:_Torment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braid_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_Knights_of_the_Old_Republic_II_The_Sith_Lords
http://www.increpare.com/2010/11/treatise/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_of_Memories
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_of_Kain:_Soul_Reaver_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Goo
http://playthisthing.com/pazzon
Twisted, uncanny, disgusting and freudian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill_3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill_%28video_game%29
http://gamejolt.com/freeware/games/puzzle/sutef/4195/
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=5395.0 (All Our Friends Are Dead/Au Sable)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_Frame
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer7
Psychological:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanitarium_%28video_game%29
http://www.freeworldgroup.com/games6/gameindex/gateway_2.htm
http://snakes.hardydev.com/
http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,993 (Mental Repair Inc)
Mind games
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_%28video_game%29
http://www.kongregate.com/games/AlexanderOcias/loved
http://globalgamejam.org/2010/depict1
POEtic/Lovecraftian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Eye_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Esther
http://www.moddb.com/mods/nestlings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penumbra:_Overture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Darkness:_Sanity%27s_Requiem
Cyberpunk/identity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid_Fusion
http://www.moddb.com/mods/korsakovia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioShock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_Ex
http://www.joltcountry.com/trottingkrips/shrapnel.html
http://armorgames.com/play/4918/the-company-of-myself
http://www.kongregate.com/games/increpare/the-black-yeti?referrer=increpare
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/08/howard_glitch_the_youtube_indi.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneath_a_Steel_Sky
Nightmarish confusion
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/542658 (Time Fcuk)
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/511754 (Covetus)
http://www.gamemakergames.com/?a=archive&submit=1&searchtype=creator_name&search=TheAnemic (La La Land Series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD_%28video_game%29
http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/games/the-museum-of-broken-memories/
http://www.yoyogames.com/games/26339 (7 Minutes)
Atmospheric otherworldliness
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/07/browser_game_pick_looming_greg.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Castlevania_IV
http://www.thedreammachine.se/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbo_%28video_game%29
http://rpgmaker.net/games/2068/ (Beautiful Dungeoneer)
http://www.devilstuningfork.com/
http://ludusnovus.net/2010/07/14/narthex-released/
http://www.asecondface.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Path_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_McGee%27s_Alice
Disconcerting/surreal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Payne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Payne_2:_The_Fall_of_Max_Payne
http://indygamer.blogspot.com/2007/12/mondo-agency.html
http://cactusquid.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=games&action=display&thread=13 (Mondo Medical)
http://www.gamemakergames.com/archive/the-arm
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/06/trailer_norrland_cactus.html
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=7086.0 (Edmund)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_rose
http://aaronoldenburg.net/e_repent.html
http://www.moddb.com/mods/radiator/news/hl2-mod-release-radiator-1-2-handle-with-care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_The_Masquerade_%E2%80%93_Bloodlines
http://www.secrettechnology.com/explode/evidence.html (Evidence of Everything Exploding)
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/09/browser_game_pick_feign_ian_sn.html
Exploration based fear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diablo_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO:_Enemy_Unknown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Metroid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid_Prime
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Park_%28SNES_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Master_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania:_Circle_of_the_Moon
Twitchers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condemned:_Criminal_Origins
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_Evil_4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Space_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_%28video_game%29
I do recommend you trying some of these out, most of them are short
indie games which do not take more than half an hour to complete.
Perhaps the best horror series ever, in par with silent hill, which only gets
better with every game and deserves special attention: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chzo_Mythos
Subdued angst:
http://www.increpare.com/2009/02/opera-omnia/
http://mikeinel.deviantart.com/art/Which-Short-Game-152503626
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/09/browser_game_pick_the_day_greg.html
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=1228 (The Marionette)
http://distractionware.com/blog/?p=759 (Judith)
http://www.increpare.com/2010/11/activate-the-three-artefacts-and-then-leave/
http://www.increpare.com/2010/04/the-terrible-whiteness-of-appalachian-nights/
http://xiigames.com/anna/
Existential displacement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid_2:_Sons_of_Liberty
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_pathologic_pc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planescape:_Torment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braid_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_Knights_of_the_Old_Republic_II_The_Sith_Lords
http://www.increpare.com/2010/11/treatise/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_of_Memories
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_of_Kain:_Soul_Reaver_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Goo
http://playthisthing.com/pazzon
Twisted, uncanny, disgusting and freudian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill_3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill_%28video_game%29
http://gamejolt.com/freeware/games/puzzle/sutef/4195/
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=5395.0 (All Our Friends Are Dead/Au Sable)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_Frame
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer7
Psychological:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanitarium_%28video_game%29
http://www.freeworldgroup.com/games6/gameindex/gateway_2.htm
http://snakes.hardydev.com/
http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,993 (Mental Repair Inc)
Mind games
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_%28video_game%29
http://www.kongregate.com/games/AlexanderOcias/loved
http://globalgamejam.org/2010/depict1
POEtic/Lovecraftian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Eye_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Esther
http://www.moddb.com/mods/nestlings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penumbra:_Overture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Darkness:_Sanity%27s_Requiem
Cyberpunk/identity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid_Fusion
http://www.moddb.com/mods/korsakovia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioShock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_Ex
http://www.joltcountry.com/trottingkrips/shrapnel.html
http://armorgames.com/play/4918/the-company-of-myself
http://www.kongregate.com/games/increpare/the-black-yeti?referrer=increpare
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/08/howard_glitch_the_youtube_indi.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneath_a_Steel_Sky
Nightmarish confusion
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/542658 (Time Fcuk)
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/511754 (Covetus)
http://www.gamemakergames.com/?a=archive&submit=1&searchtype=creator_name&search=TheAnemic (La La Land Series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD_%28video_game%29
http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/games/the-museum-of-broken-memories/
http://www.yoyogames.com/games/26339 (7 Minutes)
Atmospheric otherworldliness
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/07/browser_game_pick_looming_greg.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Castlevania_IV
http://www.thedreammachine.se/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbo_%28video_game%29
http://rpgmaker.net/games/2068/ (Beautiful Dungeoneer)
http://www.devilstuningfork.com/
http://ludusnovus.net/2010/07/14/narthex-released/
http://www.asecondface.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Path_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_McGee%27s_Alice
Disconcerting/surreal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Payne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Payne_2:_The_Fall_of_Max_Payne
http://indygamer.blogspot.com/2007/12/mondo-agency.html
http://cactusquid.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=games&action=display&thread=13 (Mondo Medical)
http://www.gamemakergames.com/archive/the-arm
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/06/trailer_norrland_cactus.html
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=7086.0 (Edmund)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_rose
http://aaronoldenburg.net/e_repent.html
http://www.moddb.com/mods/radiator/news/hl2-mod-release-radiator-1-2-handle-with-care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_The_Masquerade_%E2%80%93_Bloodlines
http://www.secrettechnology.com/explode/evidence.html (Evidence of Everything Exploding)
http://www.indiegames.com/2010/09/browser_game_pick_feign_ian_sn.html
Exploration based fear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diablo_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO:_Enemy_Unknown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Metroid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid_Prime
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Park_%28SNES_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Master_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania:_Circle_of_the_Moon
Twitchers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condemned:_Criminal_Origins
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_Evil_4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Space_%28video_game%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_%28video_game%29
I do recommend you trying some of these out, most of them are short
indie games which do not take more than half an hour to complete.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
A link to the past
In an attempt to make amends with the completionist and perfectionist in me, I shall now present thee a list of my favorite video games of all time! There is not a better time than now and I shall never be "finished" with anything in my life and therefore I cannot realistically hope to have played all the games I want to and then make an informed decision or the ULTIMATE LIST. I am now on sick leave, burned out, and have not played a single new game this year, as opposed to the hundreds of different games I've tried out last year, and the thousands of blog posts I've read concerning them. I must learn to like the here and now, mindfulness, mind you, and not to have lists of things to do which makes me unfocused and weary of how much I should learn and have the time to enjoy. Now is now. The 30-some page long treatise on the ontology of video games and my relationship to gaming in a world or rapidly changing actor-networks will have to wait, or better yet, just float out there in a sea of possibilities, with no rush or musts. Neither will I be able to make a list which makes sense at all times to me. Now is now. I shall make up with my past. HERE. Goes.
Honorable mentions first, numbers 10 to 1 afterwards. By year.
-1984
10 Solar Fox (Arkad)
9 Excite Bike
8 Pac Man
7 Galaxian
6 Millipede/Centipede
5 Boulder Dash
4 Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
3 Pooyan
2 Robotron 2084
1 Jetpac
1985
Boulder Dash 2: Rockford's Revenge
10 Balance of Power
9 Bomberman
8 A Mind Forever Voyaging
7 Binary Land
6 Gradius
5 Field Combat
4 Ice Climbers
3 Space Harrier
2 Battle City
1 Super Mario Bros
1986
10 Alex Kidd in Miracle World
9 Solomon’s Key
8 Zanac
7 Adventure Island
6 Paper Boy
5 Balloon Fight
4 Bubble Bobble
3 Metroid
2 Legend of Zelda
1 Super Mario Bros 2
1987
10 R-Type
9 Zelda 2: Adventure of Link
8. Rainbow Islands
7 Bureaucracy
6 Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It
5 Maniac Mansion
4 Castlevania
3 Mega Man
2 Tetris: The Soviet Challenge
1 Dungeon Master
1988
10 Snatcher
9 Space Harrier 2
8 Ghouls n’ Ghosts
7 Arkanoid
6 Bubble Bobble
5 Spy vs Spy
4 Ninja Gaiden
3 Mega Man 2
2 Contra
1 Super Mario Bros 3
1989
10 Dig Dug 2
9 Twin Bee 3
8 Blazing Lazers
7 Cobra Triangle
6 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
5 R-Type 2
4 Adventures of Lolo
3 Prince of Persia
2 Dungeon Master: Chaos Strikes Back
1 Final Fight
1990
ActRaiser
Adventures of Lolo
Eye of the Beholder
Smash TV
10 Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
9 Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse
8 Super Contra
7 Ninja Gaiden 2
6 F-Zero
5 Mega Man 3
4 Loom
3 Lemmings
2 The Secret of Monkey Island
1 Super Mario World
1991
10 Mega Man 4
9 Another World
8 Sonic the Hedgehog
7 Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts
6 Ninja Gaiden 3: The Dark Ship of Doom
5 Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge
4 Area 88/UN Squadron
3 Street Fighter 2: World Warrior
2 Super Castlevania IV
1 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
1992
Mega Man 5
The Legend of Zelda: Third Quest
10 Pocky and Rocky
9 Street Fighter 2 Turbo
8 Puyo Puyo
7 Jezzball/Maxwell's Maniac (Marjacq Micro/Dima Pavlovsky)
6 Sonic the Hedgehog 2
5 Super Double Dragon
4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
3 The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse
2 Super Probotector: Alien Rebels/Contra 3: Alien Wars
1 Super Mario Kart
1993
Jurassic Park
Shadowrun
World Heroes
10 Sonic the Hedgehog 3
9 Mega Man X
8 E.V.O: Search for Eden
7 Bart Simpson's Nightmare
6 Doom
5 Gunstar Heroes
4 Sam & Max Hit The Road
3 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
2 Day of the Tentacle
1 Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
1994
Donkey Kong Country
Jazz Jackrabbit
Mega Man X2
Micro Machines
10 Cyberdogs
9 Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
8 Beneath a Steel Sky
7 The Great Circus Mystery: Starring Mickey and Minnie
6 Puzzle Bobble
5 Uni Rally/Uniracers
4 Lode Runner: The Legend Returns
3 Contra: Hard Corps
2 X-Com: UFO Defense/UFO: Enemy Unknown
1 Super Metroid
1995
19XX: The War Against Destiny
Discworld
The Dark Eye
Warcraft 2
Zoop
10 Micro Machines 2: Special
9 Diddy's Kong Quest/Donkey Kong Country 2
8 Full Throttle
7 Mega Man 7/Mega Man X3
6 Heroes of Might & Magic
5 Gunbird
4 Alien Soldier
3 Worms
2 Strikers 1945
1 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
1996
C-Dogs (Cyberdogs 2)
Dixie Kong's Double Trouble/Donkey Kong Country 3
Donpachi
Death Rally
Quake
Sengoku Ace Episode II/Sengoku Blaede/Tengai
10 Samurai Shodown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
9 Metal Slug
8 Leisure Suit Larry: Love For Sail
7 Three Dirty Dwarves
6 Mega Man 8
5 Nights: Into Dreams
4 Mario Kart 64
3 Diablo
2 Soul Blade
1 Super Mario 64
1997
Diddy Kong Racing
Duckman
Mega Man X
Samurai Showdown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
10 Dungeon Keeper
9 Blade Runner
8 Worms 2
7 Fallout
6 Hellfire
5 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
3 Strikers 1945: Part 2
4 Starcraft
2 Dodonpachi
1 Final Fantasy VII
1998
Banjo Kazooie
Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
F-Zero X
Gunbird 2
LSD: Dream Emulator
Medievil
Micro Machines V3
NHL 1999
Photopia (Adam Cadre)
Rockman & Forte
Sanitarium
Space Bomber
10 Liero (Joosa Riekkinen)
9 Fallout 2
8 Dink Smallwood
7 Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
6 Hexplore
5 Starcraft: Broodwars
4 Grim Fandango
3 Baldur’s Gate
2 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
1 Metal Gear Solid
1999
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
Darkstone
Grandia
Guwange
Heroes of Might and Magic 3
NHL 2000
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Soul Calibur
Vib Ribbon
Worms Armageddon
10 Super Smash Bros
9 Castlevania/Legacy of Darkness
8 Final Fantasy VIII
7 Silent Hill
6 Unreal Tournament
5 Longest Journey, The
4 System Shock 2
3 Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast
2 Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
1 Planescape Torment
2000
Banjo Tooie
DX-Ball 2
Dragon Blaze
Galatea (Emily Short)
NHL 2001
10 Ricochet (Counter-Strike)
9 Escape from Monkey Island
8 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
7 Diablo 2
6 Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
5 Elasto Mania (Balázs Rózsa)
4 Shrapnel (Adam Cadre)
3 Deux Ex
2 The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask
1 Baldur's Gate: Shadows of Amn
2001
Conkers Bad Fur Day
Devil May Cry
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Final Fantasy X
Freak Out!/Stretch Panic
Frequency
Gothic
Jak & Daxter
Kingdom Hearts
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
Pleurghburg: The Dark Age (Chrille Blomqvist)
Project Zero/Fatal Frame
Serious Sam
Super Monkey Ball
Super Smash Bros Melee
Zone of the Enders
10 Cyberd
9 Rez
8 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
7 Luigis Mansion
6 Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
5 Shadow of Memories/Shadow of Destiny
4 Max Payne
3 Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal/Ascension
2 Silent Hill 2
1 Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty
2002
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Noiz2sa (Kenta Cho)
Ratchet & Clank
Sly Raccoon
Super Monkey Ball 2
The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
The Trials of Odysseus Kent (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
9 Ketsui
8 Hobo Soccer (Magic Whisper)
7 Psyvariar: Revision/Psyvariar: Medium Unit
6 Pop n’ Music 8
5 Super Mario Sunshine
4 Ikaruga
4 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
3 Guilty Gear XX
2 Metroid Prime
1 Metroid Fusion
2003
Amplitude
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
Espgaluda
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Samorost (Amanita Design)
Soul Calibur 2
The Apprentice (Herculean Effort Productions)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4
Warioware Inc: Minigame Mania
Zone of the Enders: 2nd Runner
10 Seiklus (cly5m)
9 Perfect Cherry Blossom (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
8 5 Days a Stranger (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
7 Beyond Good And Evil
6 The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
5 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4 Silent Hill 3
3 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
2 dodonpachi DAI-OU-JOU
1 Parsec47/rRootage (Kenta Cho)
2004
A Case of the Crabs (Pinhead Games)
Beatmania IIDX 8th Style
Glass Rose
Imperishable Night (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final
Polarium
Tontie (Eyesmaze)
Tuboflex (Molleindustria)
Tumiki Fighters (Kenta Cho)
10 Levers (Patrick Smith)
9 Go go roppongi Stick!
8 Katamari Damacy
7 Cirque de Zale (Rebecca Clements)
6 Mushihimesama
5 The Apprentice II: Knights Move (Herculean Effort Productions)
4 7 Days a Sceptic (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
3 Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
2 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
1 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
2005
Anna (Vince Twelve/xiigames)
Beatmania IIDX 9th Style/Beatmania IIDX 10th Style
Blue Wish (x.x)
Cedric and the Revolution (Bernie)
Conker: Live and Reloaded
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Electroplankton
Espgaluda 2
Guilty Gear XX Slash
Gunroar/Val & Rick (Kenta Cho)
Ossu! Tatakae! Ouendan!
Pop n' Music 11
Soul Calibur 3
The Apprentice Deluxe (Herculean Effort Productions)
We Love Katamari
10 Cave Story (Daisuke Amaya)
9 Soviet Unterzögersdorf (Monochrom)
8 Resident Evil 4
7 Psychonauts
6 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
5 Experimental Gaming: Tower of Goo, On a Rainy Day, The Crowd, Gravity Head, Square Off, Attack of the Killer Swarm, Riff
4 Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
3 Killer 7
2 Jade Empire
1 Pathologic
2006
Automaton (Mr Colossal)
Blue Wish Resurrection/Eden's Edge (x.x)
Hallway of Adventures (Mordalles)
La La Land 5/La La Land 4/La La Land 3/La La Land 2/La La Land (TheAnemic)
Museum of Broken Dreams (Jonas Kyratzes)
Mushihime-sama Futari
New Super Mario Bros
The Shivah/Blackwell Legacy (Dave Gilbert)
10 Torus Trooper/Titanion (Kenta Cho)
9 Within A Deep Forest (Nifflas)
8 Beatmania IIDX 11: IIDX RED
7 Pop n' Music 12
6 Sam & Max Episode 1: Culture Shock
5 Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
4 WarioWare: Smooth Moves
3 Spooks (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
2 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
1 Trilby's Notes (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2007
Beatmania IIDX 13: DistorteD
Blackwell Unbound (Dave Gilbert)
Feed the Head (Patrick Smith)
Frozzd (Jesse Venbrux)
Game, game, game and again game (Jason Nelson)
Knytt Stories/Knytt (Nifflas)
La Croix Pan (TheJBurger)
Mountain of Faith (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Murder In A Wheel (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nelly Cootalot (Alasdair Beckett)
Pacman Championship Edition
Rorschach (Collecting Smiles)
Samorost 2 (Amanita Design)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Trilby: The Art Of Theft (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Garden of Coloured Lights/Excellent Bifurcation (Linley Henzell)
9 Sam & Max Season 1: Cont’
8 The Witcher
7 Mondo Agency/Mondo Medicals/Clean Asia (Cactusquid)
6 Mass Effect
5 Super Mario Galaxy
4 Bioshock
3 Passage (Jason Rohrer)
2 Portal
1 6 Days A Sacrifice (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2008
Achievement Unlocked
Aether (Edmund McMillen)
A Second Face (Jospin Le Woltaire)
Blue Wish Resurrection Plus (x.x)
Des Rêves Élastiques Avec Mille Insectes Nommés Georges (Deirdra Kia)
Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu
Fallout 3
Free Culture Game/Queer Power (Molleindustria)
Gateway II (Anders Gustafsson)
Geometry Wars Evolved 2
How Many…
Little Girl In Underland (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson?)
Psychosomnium/Seizuredome (Cactusquid)
Virtual Silence/Seven Minutes (Tuukka Virtanen)
10 Rescue: The Beagles (Nenad Jalsovec)
9 The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
8 Self-destruct/Xoldiers (Terry Cavanagh)
7 Nanobots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
6 Karoshi 2.0/Execution/Pazzon/Torque/Karoshi/Karoshi Factory/Karoshi: Suicide Salaryman (Jesse Venbrux)
5 Gravitation/Police Brutality/Between/Perfectionism (Jason Rohrer)
4 Dear Esther (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
3 World Of Goo (2d Boy)
2 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot
1 Braid (Jonathan Blow)
2009
!, Robot/Shifters Box (Ben304)
4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness (Petri/Kloonigames)
And Yet It Moves (Broken Rules)
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Au Sable/All Our Friends Are Dead (Amon26)
Backup/Bars of black and white (Gregory Weir)
Chaser (Connor Carpenter/shadestorm)
Devils Tuning Fork (DePaul Game Elites)
Eden’s Aegis (x.x)
Evidence of Everything Exploding (Jason Nelson)
Play: Free Will - The Game (raitendo)
Gravity Bone (Blendo Games)
Harpooned (Conor O’Kane)
lose/lose (Zach Gage)
Mental Repair Inc (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nestlings (Lewis Denby)
Repent (Aaron Oldenburg)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Small Worlds (David Shute)
Spectre (Vaguely Spectacular)
Super Karoshi/Focus (Jesse Venbrux)
Takishawa Is Dead! (Andrew Brophy)
Today I Die (Daniel Benmergui)
The Company of Myself (Eli Pülonen)
Windosill (Patrick Smith)
10 Everyday The Same Dream/Kosmosis (Molleindustria)
9 Time Fcuk (Edmund McMillen, William Good & Justin Karpel)
8 The Marionette (Team Effigy/Auriond)
7 Korsakovia (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
6 Radiator 1-2: Handle With Care/Radiator 1-1: Polaris (Robert Yang)
5 Tales of Monkey Island
4 White Butterfly (Linley Henzell)
3 Judith/Don’t look back/Pathways/Bullfist (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Dragon Age: Origins
1 Opera Omnia/Home/Therapy Game/Mirror Stage/The Black Yeti/Signifier (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
2010
...But That Was [Yesterday]/Together (Michael Molinari)
After (Aaron Oldenburg)
Alan Wake
Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer (Nicolau/calunio)
Blades of Passion (Drew Wellman)
Crimzon Clover (Yotsubane)
Conquer the Shadow World/Lackadaisium (Ultimate Walrus)
Covetous (Austin Breed)
Cow Clicker (Ian Bogost)
Depict1 (Retro Affect)
Digital: A Love Story (Christine Love)
Dual Transform (Andrew Plotkin)
Eternally Us (Ben304)
Feign (Ian Snyder)
Frenzy Defense (Jan Willem Nijman)
Hero Core (Daniel Remar)
Hoosegow (Ben Collins-Sussman and Jack Welch)
Howard Glitch Game (Robert Allmand)
Leaky Worlds: A Playable Theory (Molleindustria)
Limbo (Playdead)
Loved (Alexander Ocias)
My First Quantum Translocator
Norrland/Gamma4 (Cactusquid)
Octodad (DGE2)
One Chance (AwkwardSilenceGames)
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
P0nd (Peanut Gallery)
Puji (Alexander Jhin, Matt McKnett, and Pat Kemp)
Puzzlebots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
Super Crate Box (Vlambeer)
Super Meat Boy (Team Meat)
Super Street Fighter IV
suteF (Ted Lauterbach)
Symon (Singapore MIT Gambi Game Lab)
Technobabylon - Part II/Technobabylon - Part 1 (James Dearden)
The Arm/Refus Q. Jibberjabber's Day Out/Flin McGraw's Last Day (tipp)
Tower of Heaven (askiisoft)
Which (Mike Inel)
10 Dragon Age: Awakening
9 Life Flashes By (Deirdra Kia)
8 Snakes of Avalon (Igor Hardy/Ascovel & Baron/Alex Van Wijst)
7 A House in California/Hummingbird Mind (Jake Elliott & friends)
6 The Dream Machine (Erik Zaring & Anders Gustafsson)
5 The Journey Down: Over The Edge (Theodor Waern)
4 Mass Effect 2
3 VVVVV/Phobiaphobiaphobia (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Looming/The Day/Narthex (Gregory Weir)
1 Treatise/Hush/Modernauts/Primitive Pattern/Starfeld/100 Names/Queue/The Rose Garden/Catalan/Cascode (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
Honorable mentions first, numbers 10 to 1 afterwards. By year.
-1984
10 Solar Fox (Arkad)
9 Excite Bike
8 Pac Man
7 Galaxian
6 Millipede/Centipede
5 Boulder Dash
4 Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
3 Pooyan
2 Robotron 2084
1 Jetpac
1985
Boulder Dash 2: Rockford's Revenge
10 Balance of Power
9 Bomberman
8 A Mind Forever Voyaging
7 Binary Land
6 Gradius
5 Field Combat
4 Ice Climbers
3 Space Harrier
2 Battle City
1 Super Mario Bros
1986
10 Alex Kidd in Miracle World
9 Solomon’s Key
8 Zanac
7 Adventure Island
6 Paper Boy
5 Balloon Fight
4 Bubble Bobble
3 Metroid
2 Legend of Zelda
1 Super Mario Bros 2
1987
10 R-Type
9 Zelda 2: Adventure of Link
8. Rainbow Islands
7 Bureaucracy
6 Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It
5 Maniac Mansion
4 Castlevania
3 Mega Man
2 Tetris: The Soviet Challenge
1 Dungeon Master
1988
10 Snatcher
9 Space Harrier 2
8 Ghouls n’ Ghosts
7 Arkanoid
6 Bubble Bobble
5 Spy vs Spy
4 Ninja Gaiden
3 Mega Man 2
2 Contra
1 Super Mario Bros 3
1989
10 Dig Dug 2
9 Twin Bee 3
8 Blazing Lazers
7 Cobra Triangle
6 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
5 R-Type 2
4 Adventures of Lolo
3 Prince of Persia
2 Dungeon Master: Chaos Strikes Back
1 Final Fight
1990
ActRaiser
Adventures of Lolo
Eye of the Beholder
Smash TV
10 Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
9 Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse
8 Super Contra
7 Ninja Gaiden 2
6 F-Zero
5 Mega Man 3
4 Loom
3 Lemmings
2 The Secret of Monkey Island
1 Super Mario World
1991
10 Mega Man 4
9 Another World
8 Sonic the Hedgehog
7 Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts
6 Ninja Gaiden 3: The Dark Ship of Doom
5 Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge
4 Area 88/UN Squadron
3 Street Fighter 2: World Warrior
2 Super Castlevania IV
1 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
1992
Mega Man 5
The Legend of Zelda: Third Quest
10 Pocky and Rocky
9 Street Fighter 2 Turbo
8 Puyo Puyo
7 Jezzball/Maxwell's Maniac (Marjacq Micro/Dima Pavlovsky)
6 Sonic the Hedgehog 2
5 Super Double Dragon
4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
3 The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse
2 Super Probotector: Alien Rebels/Contra 3: Alien Wars
1 Super Mario Kart
1993
Jurassic Park
Shadowrun
World Heroes
10 Sonic the Hedgehog 3
9 Mega Man X
8 E.V.O: Search for Eden
7 Bart Simpson's Nightmare
6 Doom
5 Gunstar Heroes
4 Sam & Max Hit The Road
3 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
2 Day of the Tentacle
1 Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
1994
Donkey Kong Country
Jazz Jackrabbit
Mega Man X2
Micro Machines
10 Cyberdogs
9 Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
8 Beneath a Steel Sky
7 The Great Circus Mystery: Starring Mickey and Minnie
6 Puzzle Bobble
5 Uni Rally/Uniracers
4 Lode Runner: The Legend Returns
3 Contra: Hard Corps
2 X-Com: UFO Defense/UFO: Enemy Unknown
1 Super Metroid
1995
19XX: The War Against Destiny
Discworld
The Dark Eye
Warcraft 2
Zoop
10 Micro Machines 2: Special
9 Diddy's Kong Quest/Donkey Kong Country 2
8 Full Throttle
7 Mega Man 7/Mega Man X3
6 Heroes of Might & Magic
5 Gunbird
4 Alien Soldier
3 Worms
2 Strikers 1945
1 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
1996
C-Dogs (Cyberdogs 2)
Dixie Kong's Double Trouble/Donkey Kong Country 3
Donpachi
Death Rally
Quake
Sengoku Ace Episode II/Sengoku Blaede/Tengai
10 Samurai Shodown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
9 Metal Slug
8 Leisure Suit Larry: Love For Sail
7 Three Dirty Dwarves
6 Mega Man 8
5 Nights: Into Dreams
4 Mario Kart 64
3 Diablo
2 Soul Blade
1 Super Mario 64
1997
Diddy Kong Racing
Duckman
Mega Man X
Samurai Showdown 4: Yamakuzas Revenge
10 Dungeon Keeper
9 Blade Runner
8 Worms 2
7 Fallout
6 Hellfire
5 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
3 Strikers 1945: Part 2
4 Starcraft
2 Dodonpachi
1 Final Fantasy VII
1998
Banjo Kazooie
Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
F-Zero X
Gunbird 2
LSD: Dream Emulator
Medievil
Micro Machines V3
NHL 1999
Photopia (Adam Cadre)
Rockman & Forte
Sanitarium
Space Bomber
10 Liero (Joosa Riekkinen)
9 Fallout 2
8 Dink Smallwood
7 Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
6 Hexplore
5 Starcraft: Broodwars
4 Grim Fandango
3 Baldur’s Gate
2 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
1 Metal Gear Solid
1999
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
Darkstone
Grandia
Guwange
Heroes of Might and Magic 3
NHL 2000
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Soul Calibur
Vib Ribbon
Worms Armageddon
10 Super Smash Bros
9 Castlevania/Legacy of Darkness
8 Final Fantasy VIII
7 Silent Hill
6 Unreal Tournament
5 Longest Journey, The
4 System Shock 2
3 Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast
2 Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
1 Planescape Torment
2000
Banjo Tooie
DX-Ball 2
Dragon Blaze
Galatea (Emily Short)
NHL 2001
10 Ricochet (Counter-Strike)
9 Escape from Monkey Island
8 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
7 Diablo 2
6 Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
5 Elasto Mania (Balázs Rózsa)
4 Shrapnel (Adam Cadre)
3 Deux Ex
2 The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask
1 Baldur's Gate: Shadows of Amn
2001
Conkers Bad Fur Day
Devil May Cry
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Final Fantasy X
Freak Out!/Stretch Panic
Frequency
Gothic
Jak & Daxter
Kingdom Hearts
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
Pleurghburg: The Dark Age (Chrille Blomqvist)
Project Zero/Fatal Frame
Serious Sam
Super Monkey Ball
Super Smash Bros Melee
Zone of the Enders
10 Cyberd
9 Rez
8 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
7 Luigis Mansion
6 Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
5 Shadow of Memories/Shadow of Destiny
4 Max Payne
3 Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal/Ascension
2 Silent Hill 2
1 Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty
2002
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Noiz2sa (Kenta Cho)
Ratchet & Clank
Sly Raccoon
Super Monkey Ball 2
The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
The Trials of Odysseus Kent (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
9 Ketsui
8 Hobo Soccer (Magic Whisper)
7 Psyvariar: Revision/Psyvariar: Medium Unit
6 Pop n’ Music 8
5 Super Mario Sunshine
4 Ikaruga
4 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
3 Guilty Gear XX
2 Metroid Prime
1 Metroid Fusion
2003
Amplitude
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
Espgaluda
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Samorost (Amanita Design)
Soul Calibur 2
The Apprentice (Herculean Effort Productions)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4
Warioware Inc: Minigame Mania
Zone of the Enders: 2nd Runner
10 Seiklus (cly5m)
9 Perfect Cherry Blossom (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
8 5 Days a Stranger (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
7 Beyond Good And Evil
6 The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
5 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4 Silent Hill 3
3 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
2 dodonpachi DAI-OU-JOU
1 Parsec47/rRootage (Kenta Cho)
2004
A Case of the Crabs (Pinhead Games)
Beatmania IIDX 8th Style
Glass Rose
Imperishable Night (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Psyvariar 2: Ultimate Final
Polarium
Tontie (Eyesmaze)
Tuboflex (Molleindustria)
Tumiki Fighters (Kenta Cho)
10 Levers (Patrick Smith)
9 Go go roppongi Stick!
8 Katamari Damacy
7 Cirque de Zale (Rebecca Clements)
6 Mushihimesama
5 The Apprentice II: Knights Move (Herculean Effort Productions)
4 7 Days a Sceptic (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
3 Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
2 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
1 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
2005
Anna (Vince Twelve/xiigames)
Beatmania IIDX 9th Style/Beatmania IIDX 10th Style
Blue Wish (x.x)
Cedric and the Revolution (Bernie)
Conker: Live and Reloaded
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
Electroplankton
Espgaluda 2
Guilty Gear XX Slash
Gunroar/Val & Rick (Kenta Cho)
Ossu! Tatakae! Ouendan!
Pop n' Music 11
Soul Calibur 3
The Apprentice Deluxe (Herculean Effort Productions)
We Love Katamari
10 Cave Story (Daisuke Amaya)
9 Soviet Unterzögersdorf (Monochrom)
8 Resident Evil 4
7 Psychonauts
6 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
5 Experimental Gaming: Tower of Goo, On a Rainy Day, The Crowd, Gravity Head, Square Off, Attack of the Killer Swarm, Riff
4 Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
3 Killer 7
2 Jade Empire
1 Pathologic
2006
Automaton (Mr Colossal)
Blue Wish Resurrection/Eden's Edge (x.x)
Hallway of Adventures (Mordalles)
La La Land 5/La La Land 4/La La Land 3/La La Land 2/La La Land (TheAnemic)
Museum of Broken Dreams (Jonas Kyratzes)
Mushihime-sama Futari
New Super Mario Bros
The Shivah/Blackwell Legacy (Dave Gilbert)
10 Torus Trooper/Titanion (Kenta Cho)
9 Within A Deep Forest (Nifflas)
8 Beatmania IIDX 11: IIDX RED
7 Pop n' Music 12
6 Sam & Max Episode 1: Culture Shock
5 Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
4 WarioWare: Smooth Moves
3 Spooks (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
2 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
1 Trilby's Notes (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2007
Beatmania IIDX 13: DistorteD
Blackwell Unbound (Dave Gilbert)
Feed the Head (Patrick Smith)
Frozzd (Jesse Venbrux)
Game, game, game and again game (Jason Nelson)
Knytt Stories/Knytt (Nifflas)
La Croix Pan (TheJBurger)
Mountain of Faith (Zun/Team Shanghai Alice)
Murder In A Wheel (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nelly Cootalot (Alasdair Beckett)
Pacman Championship Edition
Rorschach (Collecting Smiles)
Samorost 2 (Amanita Design)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Trilby: The Art Of Theft (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
10 Garden of Coloured Lights/Excellent Bifurcation (Linley Henzell)
9 Sam & Max Season 1: Cont’
8 The Witcher
7 Mondo Agency/Mondo Medicals/Clean Asia (Cactusquid)
6 Mass Effect
5 Super Mario Galaxy
4 Bioshock
3 Passage (Jason Rohrer)
2 Portal
1 6 Days A Sacrifice (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw)
2008
Achievement Unlocked
Aether (Edmund McMillen)
A Second Face (Jospin Le Woltaire)
Blue Wish Resurrection Plus (x.x)
Des Rêves Élastiques Avec Mille Insectes Nommés Georges (Deirdra Kia)
Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu
Fallout 3
Free Culture Game/Queer Power (Molleindustria)
Gateway II (Anders Gustafsson)
Geometry Wars Evolved 2
How Many…
Little Girl In Underland (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson?)
Psychosomnium/Seizuredome (Cactusquid)
Virtual Silence/Seven Minutes (Tuukka Virtanen)
10 Rescue: The Beagles (Nenad Jalsovec)
9 The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
8 Self-destruct/Xoldiers (Terry Cavanagh)
7 Nanobots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
6 Karoshi 2.0/Execution/Pazzon/Torque/Karoshi/Karoshi Factory/Karoshi: Suicide Salaryman (Jesse Venbrux)
5 Gravitation/Police Brutality/Between/Perfectionism (Jason Rohrer)
4 Dear Esther (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
3 World Of Goo (2d Boy)
2 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot
1 Braid (Jonathan Blow)
2009
!, Robot/Shifters Box (Ben304)
4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness (Petri/Kloonigames)
And Yet It Moves (Broken Rules)
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Au Sable/All Our Friends Are Dead (Amon26)
Backup/Bars of black and white (Gregory Weir)
Chaser (Connor Carpenter/shadestorm)
Devils Tuning Fork (DePaul Game Elites)
Eden’s Aegis (x.x)
Evidence of Everything Exploding (Jason Nelson)
Play: Free Will - The Game (raitendo)
Gravity Bone (Blendo Games)
Harpooned (Conor O’Kane)
lose/lose (Zach Gage)
Mental Repair Inc (Renzo “Eshaktaar” Thönen)
Nestlings (Lewis Denby)
Repent (Aaron Oldenburg)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Small Worlds (David Shute)
Spectre (Vaguely Spectacular)
Super Karoshi/Focus (Jesse Venbrux)
Takishawa Is Dead! (Andrew Brophy)
Today I Die (Daniel Benmergui)
The Company of Myself (Eli Pülonen)
Windosill (Patrick Smith)
10 Everyday The Same Dream/Kosmosis (Molleindustria)
9 Time Fcuk (Edmund McMillen, William Good & Justin Karpel)
8 The Marionette (Team Effigy/Auriond)
7 Korsakovia (thechineseroom/Dan Pinchbeck)
6 Radiator 1-2: Handle With Care/Radiator 1-1: Polaris (Robert Yang)
5 Tales of Monkey Island
4 White Butterfly (Linley Henzell)
3 Judith/Don’t look back/Pathways/Bullfist (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Dragon Age: Origins
1 Opera Omnia/Home/Therapy Game/Mirror Stage/The Black Yeti/Signifier (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
2010
...But That Was [Yesterday]/Together (Michael Molinari)
After (Aaron Oldenburg)
Alan Wake
Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer (Nicolau/calunio)
Blades of Passion (Drew Wellman)
Crimzon Clover (Yotsubane)
Conquer the Shadow World/Lackadaisium (Ultimate Walrus)
Covetous (Austin Breed)
Cow Clicker (Ian Bogost)
Depict1 (Retro Affect)
Digital: A Love Story (Christine Love)
Dual Transform (Andrew Plotkin)
Eternally Us (Ben304)
Feign (Ian Snyder)
Frenzy Defense (Jan Willem Nijman)
Hero Core (Daniel Remar)
Hoosegow (Ben Collins-Sussman and Jack Welch)
Howard Glitch Game (Robert Allmand)
Leaky Worlds: A Playable Theory (Molleindustria)
Limbo (Playdead)
Loved (Alexander Ocias)
My First Quantum Translocator
Norrland/Gamma4 (Cactusquid)
Octodad (DGE2)
One Chance (AwkwardSilenceGames)
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
P0nd (Peanut Gallery)
Puji (Alexander Jhin, Matt McKnett, and Pat Kemp)
Puzzlebots (Lively Ivy/Erin Robinson)
Super Crate Box (Vlambeer)
Super Meat Boy (Team Meat)
Super Street Fighter IV
suteF (Ted Lauterbach)
Symon (Singapore MIT Gambi Game Lab)
Technobabylon - Part II/Technobabylon - Part 1 (James Dearden)
The Arm/Refus Q. Jibberjabber's Day Out/Flin McGraw's Last Day (tipp)
Tower of Heaven (askiisoft)
Which (Mike Inel)
10 Dragon Age: Awakening
9 Life Flashes By (Deirdra Kia)
8 Snakes of Avalon (Igor Hardy/Ascovel & Baron/Alex Van Wijst)
7 A House in California/Hummingbird Mind (Jake Elliott & friends)
6 The Dream Machine (Erik Zaring & Anders Gustafsson)
5 The Journey Down: Over The Edge (Theodor Waern)
4 Mass Effect 2
3 VVVVV/Phobiaphobiaphobia (Terry Cavanagh)
2 Looming/The Day/Narthex (Gregory Weir)
1 Treatise/Hush/Modernauts/Primitive Pattern/Starfeld/100 Names/Queue/The Rose Garden/Catalan/Cascode (Stephen Lavelle/increpare)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Links: Social games and what's wrong with them
http://www.bogost.com/blog/cow_clicker_1.shtml
http://www.bogost.com/blog/cow_clicker_cloned.shtml
http://www.above49.ca/2010/08/what-does-free-really-cost.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Above49+%28Above+49%29
http://www.bogost.com/blog/cow_clicker_cloned.shtml
http://www.above49.ca/2010/08/what-does-free-really-cost.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Above49+%28Above+49%29
Saturday, May 29, 2010
What happens in vegas stays in vegas?
"Prepare to cross steel!"
"Oh honey you couldn't afford it!
An article based off of the minor controversy sparked by bethesda, followed by this article and the responding forum thread:
http://borderhouseblog.com/?p=2344
http://nma-fallout.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54879&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
My own article is a direct riposte to the views expressed in the thread.
First things first; I'm not questioning the lawful RIGHT of people to laugh at stuff, like, fucking anything they want. I just want to make people understand what my two cents are in the matter at hand and also make others more sensitive to the concerns of others and what effect the inclusion of sub groups of people that are already kicked on can have for the sub groups themselves and also others. I apologize beforehand of the de-identification of specific people in this thread; I don't want to lump you together, but I'm to lazy to quote specific people. Also, even if the creation of tabitha wsn't malicious, the response of many gamers is enough for the article which is refered to at the beggining of the thread to be justified, because it creates discussion which I belive is needed in the video game community where many things are seen as just entertainment and just fun where it simply is not for some members.
"It never takes long for someone to play up something in Fallout for controversy."
True for fallout, and video games in general. True for video games that already had one controversy and therefore are used (especially by media) as sacrificial lamb or discouraging examples.
Nontheless, here is your first transperson, and an offended one for that matter! I'd like to play down the fact that I'm a transgendered person though, because I'd like to argue that people have a right to be offended or concerned even if the matter at hand doesn't concern them "directly". I'd like sto start out with Godwins law so we can get that out of the way: Chaplin once got the question "Are you a jew?" and gave a very honest and thoughtfull answer: "No, I don't have that honor".
Taking an example from my own political practice as an autonymous leftist/libertarian/anarchist (in Sweden mind you, so don't worry). I often have to relate to the problem of representability in my political activism; since representative democracy is not good enough for the world I want to life in, and even demonstrations are controled to some extent by the organizors and the holders of the megaphone, and the ones with flags and messages on a stick/piece of cloth, what can the outside viewer or even those inside the protesting take for granted concerning the participants and what they stand for? Like coalition building, it simply is erronoumous to assume that people that are in close physical viscinity (in a political context) all stand for the same opinions or way of action or even have the same motives behind the course the protest or media contact should be taking. You do remember the old goodies right?, ”Assuming makes an ass out of you and me!” But to some extent the protest or supported action of others, even though they don't agree with your political agenda to 100%, can be valueable and important.
These thoughts and practices apply even when I alone go to a different part of town than the one I live in and want to stop some construction workers from tearing down a house in which squatters have settled down; since I want (political and other) power and democracy to be decentrialized and developed in a grass roots fashion, from the people and not politicians, to a bigger extent, I too get the problem of representaiton. Shouldn't I just stay the fuck outta the neighbourhood which isn't ”mine” and in which the squatters live? Isn't it the responsibility of the inhabitants of that neighbourhood to stand up against the authorities, and me going there is encroaching upon their autonomy? Isn't it arrogant of me to think that I know better or that the inhabitants of that neighbour don't have the power to stand up for themselves? Independent of how I answer those questions, what the auhthorities do in their area, it still affects me. Since no-one in that area wanted to squat the abandonded building, and someone else did, well, for me that opens up for a different understanding of room and ”ownership”. And what the authorities do anywhere affects people everywhere; it affects the media, it affects the inhibitants of the neighbourhood, it affects what the authorities get away with/what they learn/their sense of superiority, and it sure as hell affects me specifically because their jurisdiction may become bigger, theirs rights extended, while at the same time my rights will be broken down piece by piece.
I don't know if it's an typical american thing (and I don't mean that as an insult, rather as a query) that people should only respond to offences made against them personally, but I do find it to be a slippery slope; if you don't protect the rights of others and they get silenced, when it comes to protecting your own rights, it just may be the case that all the others have no power left to help you and it all goes to bonkers.
Ok, enough with the melodrama, this question isn't as serious for me as some of you probably think by now, I'm just drawing parallels and hoping that you appreciate my train of thoughts or at least my effort of trying to make myself understandable. I certainly don't want to feed the potential mutants if that has crossed anyones mind! :P I especilly don't want to feed the mutants of the transsexual maffia; in Sweden they are a fucking bitch, always talking about the ”genuin transsexual”, medical conditions backed up by weird conclusions based on inconclusive biological studies, and so forth.
”Did you also notice how the players hatred of green-skinned Super Mutants dovetails nicely with the American prejudice towards coloreds? ”
This is another potential area that could be problematizised. Just because one person doesn't adress ALL issues doesn't make a specific issue less significant or logical to adress. Others have adressed the race issue already, although I have not reference to back up that statement.
”Surely the complainer has a point, or else clothes wouldn't magically change gender to match the sex of the character in Beth games. ”
I agree with this! My critique isn't necessarily dependant on the fact whether tabitha is identified as transgendered or not; by human standards, those through which we view other characters, even if they are of a different race!. I've seen people laugh at for example the lama in the emperors groove when zie (gender neutral pronoun, I apply it to everyone, don't put to much into it) wears women clothes, and the emperor is as much human as tabitha so why shouldn't people be laughing at tabitha? Clothes or lipstick are an important signifier of gender identification in most societies. What's important is not only authorial intentions, butthe average players understanding of the situation/game at hand. And btw, why the hell do all mutants look like men?
”Well, I guess neutral gender is gender. ”
I'd argue that neutral gender is gender, yes, simply because the binary coding of our society and the need for most people to gender others is such a big part of daily life. Sure that many don't even think about it, but this is because people usually adhere to the rules and conventions concerning gender, but I who do not get the question of whether I'm a boy or girl very often, and people simply refuse to acknowledge sometimes that I don't define myself as either, or that what I have in my pants is not information I wish to part with, and I get stones and threats thrown at me from time to time because of this.
”And btw. who can seriously say that is 100% not a little racist, xenophobe or homophobe?
Indeed; I am a bit racist and a bit heterophobic (since I'm a dyke it makes sense I guess, in a twisted way). I critisize my self and try to understand my feelings; does this take away from the argument at hand?
”In truth this is more of an identity crisis than anything. ” (concerning tabitha)
Since many people I've come across believe that gender dysphoria IS in fact an identity crisis (or psychological illness, as in Sweden), tabithas use of lipstick COULD still be playing the transgender card or at least be understood in the narrative and context of trangendered people and as such still be the object of disdain and humor.
”But its a game, its meant to be entertaining ”
Ok, so I don't agree that games should necessarily be entertaining, or only entertaining, but perhaps we have different definitions of the word or simply do not agree. Anywhos: even if something is meant to be entertaining, I still feel that I want to make others aware of how I believe representation and creation of art, games, whatever, may affect real people in the real word, and why it could be disrespectfull to create something that blatantly disregards the complexities of the question at hand, or simply includes the character/stereotype to make others laugh at it. To some extent I'm only speculating concerning the intentions of the creators of the expansion, which brings me to an adjacent point.
Something along the lines of... ”we don't know how the final game will be.”
This is a valid point, although it's doubtful that tabitha would be a character that adresses the issues I'm adressing, or the complexity of transgenderism, I conclusion I draw especially after reading bethesdas mail answer:
”And seriously, we have a world where human life has no value, where orphans live alone, hungry, a world where there's no medical aid, people die of hunger, thirst or diseases that are a mere nuissance today, and this individual complains about making fun of this freak or the other?
The orphans, hunger and death is contextualized in a different way in fallout 3! The hunt for resources breeds desperation, xenophobia, different political affiliations are struggling, and human nature shows its ugly face. How is tabitha contextualized and explained exactly? We do not know, but the effort is in mainstream art often very sub par. And coming up to someone and shooting their face is a trope of video games and FPS games especially, which can be understood in the light of game mechanics and of course the post apocalyptic setting, whereas the inclusion of transgendered people who seem to be there only to humor others is not part of the trope of video games but rather a part of the mainstream society that is transphobic and barely believe in the rights of gay people to be fullfledged members of society, and even less respected for who they are. Both gay people and transgendered people are most often included just for the funsies, are are stereotypical. I think it was in scary movie or not another teen movie where there was this black guy screaming ”that is wack all the time”, and at a party there was another black guy and they started a meta kind of conversation where they discussed the fact that there should only be ONE black guy in a movie where they finally decided on which one should stay in this specific scene!
”You don't see anybody bitching about the lack of Mexicans in Fallout 3 now do you. ”
Oh, they're incorporated alrite-they're the zombies! XD
”And I'm pretty sure gender identification is not an action. ”
Well, no, yes. It is an action to acknowledge a specific identifiaction, to choose it, and represent it. Tabitha chooses to make it visible, somehow, I'm assuming. Maybe zie doesn't and just wears lipstick for the fun of it or to throw of hirs enemies, but most of the time transgender identification entails actions such as clothing and behavioral ”changes”.
”I disagree with the assertion that any group of people is never funny.”
I agree! I too find transgender people who try their hardest to pass for the sex they identify as laughable sometimes! Or tragic, rather; some people are destructive in this way as they do not acknowledge that gender identity is not either-or and in this process of change and need of passability they strip apart their personality until there is only the archetypical WOMAN or MAN. This I apply even to people who aren't transgendered though (i.e cisgendered) and I believe that gender stereotypes disncourage others to try out things which may be constructive to their lives, I know it stopped me from doing a bunch of stuff while growing up, and makes me stigmatized now that I do them.
Tabitha doesn't look like a girl though, and neither do I to some people, so in order for our gender identity to be known we have a need to make our appearances speficially woman-like. A cisgendered girl with lipstick is probably not frowned upon or laughed at, so I wouldn't say that tabitha is the achetypical woman that is laughable BECAUSE zie is a parody of womenhood, but in the context of being a mutant it certainly is a trope of mainstream transgender representation to laugh at the incongruety of gender mixing. I'm not saying you shouldn't laugh because that would be a very weird approach according to me, a sort of approach that endevours to make people who laugh shamefull of their feelings and actions, which I don not want. I just want people to think about what I'm thinking and perhaps giving someone a drive to be more accepting and respectfull of transgender people by not ONLY laughing but to understand where that comes from and understand that the matter at hand is important for some.
”I went to lunch yesterday not realizing I had left my zipper down. Maybe somebody noticed and laughed. Should I complain? I think not. ”
Why is the left down zipper laughable? I believe it's because people have all these rules concerning the presentation of one-self, rules in orderly conduct, and sometimes people laugh to take off the steam of a situation, to not make people embarressed, to show them that's it's ok, and hoping that also they will return the favor of not making a big thing out of it and laugh at their mistakes in the future. Laughing at tabitha though, well, if someone does that, I don't think its the same reason based on reciprocality at least.
”I gotta say some guys make really hot chicks..... *shudders* ”
That makes two of us! ;) Me, I love when a women has a cock, or at least a very big clit that can be sucked on really hard. ^^ Oh, NSFW I guess.
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