• 13Dec 12

  Meet Mr Backlogman

  http://backloggery.com/mrbacklogman

  Game on, Comrades

  

  • Posted Dec 13, 2012 3:45 am GMT
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• 1Jan 12

  Eleven from 2011, New Years Resolution and Twelve for 2012

  It's been nearly a year since I hit the setting sun, but I have been checking in to install patches (I still have the odd 'boxed' game), rate games, and see what everyone else is playing. It's been good to pop in every now and then.

  I completed 35 games in 2011, which is probably a record of some sort for me. There is a real mix of games, with only RTS missing out (I just can't get into them). Of those 35 games, the games I enjoyed most (in order) in 2011 are:

  (My Game of the Year) Bastion – Superb narration, environment and gameplay substance. Had me hook, line and sinker. The kid rocks…

  Batman Arkham Asylum – Finally installed just to see what it was like and absolutely loved the action, the combat and the world of the asylum. Being Batman is cool.

  Fallout 3 – Once I got into the pacing and the levelling, this was a world waiting to be explored with unique characters, quirky quests and brutal combat

  Limbo – The actual game is marginally above average, the austere presentation was sublime

  Dead Island – A gory, bloody romp with a level 20 Hanbo Stick on a tropical island. You can play 'spot the influence' if you want, but I recommend you play 'smash the zombies'.

  Bulletstorm – Outrageous combat and visually appealing. Leave your brain at the door.

  Dirt 2 – The game that finally got me back into racers and the X-Box controller. Deep, decent career mode and quality graphics and performance

  Medal of Honor – I never understood the rage for the franchise – I like it more than Call of Duty. This was a gritty, white-knuckled campaign which did things (even if only a little bit) differently

  Hamilton's Great Adventure – A deceptive complex arcade puzzler presented in bright, colourful environments are cheeky solutions to puzzles. Good luck getting gold on all of them

  F.E.A.R 2 – Project Origin – I've played the F.E.A.R series and whilst this may have been the weakest of them, the visceral combat is hard to beat. There's a few new things (some work, some don't) and the ending is just plain weird.

  Shank – A cartoon-like side scrolling carve 'em up which is both visceral and comic at the same time. Kudos for the programming, the frame rate never drops and there are some truly hilarious moments and bosses

  So 35 with games completed, you'd think I would have made a dent into my gaming backlog eh?

  No.

  Steam and digital distribution owned me this year and I am too afraid to count how many games I purchased, but thrice that would not be unreasonable. Gamersgate and Green Man Gaming really competed with Steam in the Christmas sales, and we were the winners. Total War Shogun 2 for $8.70? OK then….. Civilization V for $7.50? Twist my Arm….. Fable 3, Gothic 4, F.E.A.R 3, and DIRT 3 for the price of a take away lunch? Oh go on then…. And then Humble Bundle and Indie Royale roll in with their 'pay what you want' deals for 5-6 decent indie games and other indie games on sale for less than the price of a coffee…. It's been a bulging year for the collection.

  So here is the gaming New Year's Resolution…… After I spend the last $20 in my Steam wallet (and I'll do that by 3 January 2012) there will be no more purchases until the 2012 Christmas sales. I have plenty to keep me going and I'm going to stick to it. I'm sure my friends on Steam will monitor this resolution closely……

  Anyway, here is the Twelve Games I MUST play in 2012 (in no order).

  S.T.A.L.K.E.R - A must-play (with the complete Mod). The developers appear to have folded, so it's time to give this game it's due

  Metro 2033 – I want to explore those tunnels and I want to see what's above…. I completed the first mission and it's a suitably intense and visceral……

  Psychonauts – A peerless that I have ignored. Played an hour for the Winter Gift Grab on Steam and loved it. Needs to be played.

  L.A Noire – Just forked out $20 in the Steam sale. It will be played in 2012

  Batman – Arkham City - $20 from Gamersgate in the Christmas Sale. Played about an hour, and enjoyed it just as much as my 'Game of the Year' Runner-Up

  Warhammer 40 000: Dawn of War 2 - $6 last year on Gamersgate. Again played a couple of missions and enjoyed it. Time to play it properly.

  Global Ops – Commando Libya – Why, Why you ask? Because Azghouls says so…. But I am resisting purchasing Shadow Harvest : Phantom Ops

  DOOM 3 (Installed – 2GB) – Purchased in 2005 and once started. I almost bought RAGE but decided this and Quake 4 needs to be completed before buying RAGE. Also have the ROE expansion.

  Deus Ex – Human Revolution (Installed – 8GB) – Have not played any Deus Ex game, but this is where I will start. Got it cheap at Green Man Gaming on release, but it's been cheaper since

  The Saboteur (not installed) – Based on Perth's 2008 review of a perfect 10, it's the year to roll this one out.

  The Witcher (Enhanced Edition) – A game I've always passed by until I won it in the Summer Sale gift grab. A ground-breaking RPG that deserves to be played, and so I considering whether to move onto The Witcher 2

  Dead Space – I game I have had since 2009, and then got another copy with a Dead Space deal in the July sales. Everyone raves about it and it's my type of game, so it's time to commit some time to it and lead into Dead Space 2.

  After that, the plan is to eat away at the remainder of the backlog. There's Bioshock (1 and 2), Dirt 3, Crysis (and Warhead), Fable III, Fallout 3 DLC's, Just Cause (1 and 2), Saints Row 3, Warhammer 40000 – Space Marine, F.E.A.R 3, Hard Reset, Lord of the Rings – War in the North, Quake 4, Mass Effect (1 and 2) and a whole bunch of others.

  I don't really need to buy any games this year, do I?

  Online I will play Left 4 Dead (1 and 2) and Payday – The Heist. I enjoy L4D and want to try more of the pure thuggery of Payday – an offline game proved very enjoyable. I'm into co-op more than deathmatch, so those should keep me going.

  With my kid - We played Pop Cap games and Toki Tori in 2011. But it's now time to roll out Viva Pinata!

  On a life front, we moved to the other side of Australia this year (from Western Australia to the Torres Strait) and it's been an interesting and unique life experience. It's cool to live in a town of a couple of thousand again, as well.

  Anyway, if you have read this far you deserve a medal. This post is about keeping me honest… All the best in 2012. I'll be back and forth a bit and keeping an eye on what my mates are playing.

  Game on, comrades!

  • Posted Jan 1, 2012 6:37 pm GMT
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• 14Jan 11

  So Long Gamespot

  Loved my time here, but time is something I have little of. Apparently I have to make a special request to delete my account. Frankly, I couldn't be bothered. I'll log off now and head for the settin' sun.

  Game on comrades.

  8)

  • Posted Jan 14, 2011 2:52 pm GMT
  • Category: Other
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