Sure Fire Hits for the 2009 Holiday

Well, these are what I'm looking forward to, at least:

1. Modern Warfare 2

2. DJ Hero

3. Portal 2

4. Massive Action Game

5. Max Payne 3

6. Final Fantasy XIII

7. Mafia II

8. Tekken 6

9. The Beatles Rock Band

10. Borderlands

Politics: The Game

You've all probably thought about this a little bit. Playing video games you've said "I would have done this differently," or thought your favorite game was missing something pivotal. So, if you could make your own video game, what would it be like? What platform? Storyline? Online, or single player?

I'll be receiving my BA in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara in the Spring, so if I could harness the production budget and talent of a development company, I'd create Politics: The Game. Now, I know that the fascination with politics has subsided now that the hectic presidential election is over, but I still think it could be a good idea. You create your own politician, preferably with your personal political views, and you throw them into the political arena. Ideally, this would be a MMO title that would incorporate local and national politics, and maybe even throw in bureaucratic politics (somebody gets to be the head of the CIA, FBI, and such) and later international politics. Imagine being the Secretary of State and discussing treaties with France or a Middle Eastern country? It'd be pretty interesting, I think. Players could vote for who they want in power at any time, and would introduce/vote on legislation in their given political bodies. The supreme spot to get to, to "win" if such an end point could be given to a game like this, would be President. But then again, just as in real life, we'd see Senators and House members wielding a fair amount of power.

What strikes me about a potential game like this is its scope. Every time you sign into your email, Live, or PSN account you'll receive updates that legislation needs to be voted on, or you're being challenged for your Congressional seat, or even that war has broken out between your and another's country. It'd have to be a simple enough game that everyone could enjoy it, but it'd still have to have some production value, or otherwise it'd simply be a web game with nothing much to it. I'm sure many internet-minded companies would find some free marketing opportunities as well. What better way to spread the word about your ad agency online than by offering to create a political campaign poster for one of Politics: The Game's most well-known candidate for President? I think it could be a very interesting way for people to get involved in politics; and who knows, maybe our political leaders will even gain an insight into more common sense policies by looking to what happens in this game.

So, what game would you create?

Portal 2: Let Them Eat Cake!

Portal was the surprise hit of 2007. Nobody, really, saw it coming; those who did were undoubtedly struck by its humor and originality nonetheless. It's no surprise, then, that many people are excited about Portal 2. This is the really exciting part of a game's development, when rumors are stirring and developers give out little tid-bits of information to create buzz. Take rumors from Kombo about the introduction of a new AI host similar to GLaDOS named Cave Johnson. Apparently a casting call for voice actors to play Cave Johnson, the recently deceased Founder and CEO of Aperture Science, was sent out several months ago. If you read some of the sample dialogue (not posted here for fear of being burned at the stake for giving spoilers), you'll see that this is gonna be some pretty funny stuff. The midwestern/southern accent, along with the unavoidable eccentricities of being a billionaire forever preserved in a computer, should take Portal 2 in an interesting new direction. I normally am very hesitant when one gaming site claims an anonymous but trusted source for such a big exclusive, but this seems a bit too clever to be fake.

In terms of storyline, I haven't heard too much. The introduction of Johnson hints at a sequel, as GLaDOS is fundamentally "Still Alive," but functionally in pieces (remember all the backup pieces in the basement with the cake at credits? Multiple AIs are possible). Or, maybe they'll go with a prequel, having Johnson be the first true "host" of Aperture Science training exercises/mandatory cremations.

Everyone looking forward to this one?

Keep you eyes on the sky for HAWX

Sure, I once owned a flight sim joystick, I even had Microsoft Flight Sim 2004 for awhile. Granted, I was horrible at it (really, just simply terrible), but I loved it. This was all after I had really been into Il-2 Sturmovik though. I was, and am, a huge history buff; opening up Il-2 was very much opening up the Eastern Front of WWII to me. I knew very little about it at first and that game really opened my mind to learning more. That said, I was really into combat flight sims, I just wasn't really good at them. There is always a severe learning curve for them it seems, especially Microsoft's titles, which more or less seem to require you be a real-life pilot. Well, that's a stretch, but you know what I mean.

Next year fans of the somewhat forgotten genre of the combat flight sim may find a new savior in the upcoming Tom Clancy title HAWX. Set in the near future, the U.S. goes head to head with a private military company (honestly, not a very ignorant view of the near future) and takes to the skies. It's a Tom Clancy franchise title, so if the Splinter Cell and Rainbow Six series are any testament, we should see a degreee of international intrigue. I'm calling it now, the last mission in the game will expose the fact that the PMC fighting the U.S. is being financed by the Russians, at which point you provoke the Bear and a big MiG-F22 dogfight ensues. And then, true to Clancy form, the battle will abruptly end and both sides will decide on peace.

I'm actually really looking forward to this game. I've watched a couple videos, and while I still have reservations about flight sims in general, this one looks worth a run through, at least through a rental on GameFly.

Anyone else looking forward to this one?

What to expect from Call of Duty 6

True to form, next Fall we should expect to see another Call of Duty from Activision. All reports are saying that Call of Duty 6 will take off where Call of Duty Modern Warfare left off. One of the protagonists, "Soap" MacTavish, is airlifted out of a war zone by the Russian military, Captain Price's fate is unknown, and if the epilogue is any hint, there is a hostage crisis that leads to a larger international issue. I think it would be very clever of Infinity Ward to take off right at the point of jumping out of the airplane in the final phase of the epilogue, and maybe landing in hostile territory and having to fight your way out.

As of now, there doesn't seem to be any other contenders for biggest holiday hit for 2009, so COD: MW2 may completely corner the market. What would you like to see in this title? New, higher-tech weapons? More vehicle use? What kind of direction in the story line? Personally, I can't wait for this game. Call of Duty World at War has been a lot of fun, no doubt, but come Fall I'll be itching for a new Call of Duty.

An Offer You Can't Refuse

In 2002, I was pretty heavily into PlayStation 2. I had a sub-standard computer and I seldom played games on it. I don't remember how I found myself playing Mafia. Sure, the mechanics may not have been the like of Grand Theft Auto III, but it had such authentic 1930s feel to it, especially with Django Reinhardt's guitar pieces. I found myself enjoying Mafia more than the dark GTA III for many reasons.

It's no surprise, then, that I'm really looking forward to Mafia II next year. Granted, it's not going to eclipse such bound-to-be-hits as Call of Duty 6, Halo ODST, Halo Wars, Final Fantasy XIII, Resident Evil 5, or even HAWX. I hope it does get some attention though, because with its mobsters, guns, a Marlon Brando doppleganger, and the 1950s setting, it's bound to be something special.

Where I think this game could really shine is in multiplayer. I don't many details about the game, I don't think anyone does, but if there is a very open world feel to the multiplayer, where players can set up shop in a given district and run black market operations to gain money and prestige, I see a lot of people embracing this title.

Anyone else looking forward to this one?

Killing Nazi Zombies Ist Gut!

I didn't buy Call of Duty World at War simply to kill Nazi Zombies. I knew a little bit about the game mode, but I was really looking forward to the campaign mode. The voice acting by Sutherland and Oldman seemed awesome, the multiplayer was bound to stand on its own, and after playing the game through, I was glad I bought it.

The first time I played Nazi Zombies was online with three other buddies, and I had a blast. For such a simple concept, the game mode gives hours and hours of entertainment, and some stress when you get to round 19 or so. Who would have thought that in a video game you'd be blasting off the heads of decomposing national socialists with a futuristic ray gun?

My biggest hope is that Activision and Infinity Ward embrace this idea that Treyarch added into World at War and add it into Call of Duty 6 (coming next fall). I'm sure it doesn't take a lot of development effort to create such a game mode, and it's something that will keep me coming back.

Your thoughts?