Next Generation: The Rise of AA Games?

2012 wasn't a pretty year for the video game industry. Hardware and software sales slumped 22% year-over-year and retail sales declined for the thirteenth consecutive month in December, according to NPD. Free-to-play models, cheap mobile games, and the recovering economy are among those responsible for the AAA industry's woes according to industry analysts. Though the next generation of consoles will most likely reinvigorate excitement surrounding core games, I doubt that'll be enough to offset its current problems.

Critiquing the Narrative of Halo 4

When videogames mimic film, it's only fair that they be held to the same standards as the medium they've taken inspiration from. Plot structure, exposition, coherency, and overall narrative quality are hardly exclusive to film, but I feel videogames aren't held to similar standards in these areas when they should be. For example, how critics barely touched upon Darksiders' cringe-inducing, confusing, and cluttered story is deflating. At many points throughout the game, Darksiders made me stop and critically think why I enjoy playing games. Its narrative was so juvenile and so poorly executed that I questioned whether I was too old to be playing videogames at all. In a time where narratives are becoming increasingly important to the videogame experience, I think it's imperative that reviewers be more critical, and place a greater value on, narrative execution.  

The Top 5 Cinematic Trailers

*CLICK. A grizzled dwarf blasts his blunderbuss at a raging Tauren as his pet bear charges to defend his master. An army of infernals charge into battle as a bleak storm brews overhead. A night elf struggles to defend herself from an orc warrior on a lush open plain. Atop a crumbling castle, a crazed wizard struggles to stun enemy advances. The hulking Tuaren smashes his totem on the ground and the title "World of Warcraft" assembles on screen.

Halo 4 Has a Descent Shot At Outselling Black Ops II

It's that time of year again. A time where gamers speculate whether Game X can overthrow the latest Call of Duty. Last year, CoD was up against Battlefield 3, and the year before that, was matched against Medal of Honor and Halo: Reach. But it seems that no matter what it's paired up against, Call of Duty continues to smash sales records and shatter the expectations of gamers everywhere. However, I'm convinced that's going to change in 2012. Well, at least for the Xbox 360.

State of the Franchise: BioShock

In this State of the Franchise, the BioShock brand is explored as well as its long term viability. Bioshock Infinite is also profiled and how its performance may impact the future of the series.

When BioShock Infinite was announced in August 2010, it was met with puzzlement and, in some cases, anger by many fans. This uproar wasn't so much about Infinite's premise, setting, or art style, which was marvellously showcased in its reveal cinematic trailer. The controversy surrounding Infinite stemmed from having "BioShock" in the title. Infinite is such a drastic departure from the original, many questioned why it shared the BioShock name. Whatever your stance on the subject, one thing is very clear: BioShock doesn't pertain to specific settings or characters anymore; BioShock is a brand.