Crying Doom for Call of Duty

Posted on 12 July, 2012 by ncapozzoli

Crying Doom for Call of Duty

Activision’s Flagship Franchise is not Long for this World

by Nicholas Capozzoli

©2012 Nicholas Capozzoli

In the fall of 2007 I was just beginning my first semester of grad school. Following a new friend’s suggestion one night, we ventured over to a nearby dive bar for a few pitchers, and to play a video game that the place was featuring as part of their nightly special.

The game was Guitar Hero.

My friend, as it turned out, was well versed with plastic instruments, blasting through Blue Oyster Cult‘s Godzilla as I plinked and plunked my way through alongside him. But as each new track went by I found myself rapidly improving, upping the difficulty and powering through tough solos with aplomb.

A passion was born that night, one that followed through to the release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. I beat Metallica’s One to the cheers of classmates in studio. I remember the desperate relief and aching fingers that came from surviving Slayer’s Raining Blood.

But in the span of just a couple years my plastic guitars collect dust under my TV. Literally, they’re dust magnets. The most activity that they see is when they occasionally fall over and scare my dog.

The problem is self-evident: the instrument rhythm genre suffered from profuse over-saturation.

A staggering twelve games were released under the Guitar Hero name for consoles between 2005 and 2010, and that doesn’t include portable titles or mobile apps. There was far more than even the most devoted gamer could possibly want, and when the players found themselves sated, the bubble burst hard.

Two years out from the rhythm game implosion, and the genre is a radioactive wasteland.

Mutants like Rocksmith and BandFuse sift through the rubble, looking for scraps. Harmonix, maker of the original Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series, was sold for $50, and that’s not even a joke.

Is the end nigh? See for yourself…

Filed under: 3rd Party Games, Console gaming, Editorial, Game Impressions, New Xbox 360 Games, Oxcgn Special feature, PC News, PS3 News, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 3rd Party Games, Xbox 360 News | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

What Dishonored Has On Assassin’s Creed

Posted on 2 July, 2012 by ncapozzoli

What Dishonored Has On Assassin’s Creed

Honoring The True Assassin

by Nicholas Capozzoli

©2012 Nicholas Capozzoli

Let me preface this piece by saying that I’m thoroughly impressed by what I’ve seen of Assassin’s Creed 3. In fact, I gave it “Game of the Show” honors for E3.

But do you recall the debut trailer for the original Assassin’s Creed, unveiled back at E3 2006?

It’s still the best game trailer that I’ve ever seen, and I vividly remember how amped it made me for a game that I had never actually seen in action.

Remember the scene? A public execution. As a knight at the gallows decries the actions of the accused, a figure appears on a tower high above the crowd. A split second later and he’s gone, vanished in the time it takes for a single ring to sound.

He’s on the ground now, and moving with purpose. He reaches the gallows, and dispatches the knights in a flourish of violent attacks, finishing the leader with a signature leap and hidden blade.

Then it’s off to the races, as pursuing guards struggle to keep up with the assassin’s acrobatic free-running moves. He reaches a church, makes a dramatic turn, then melts away into the crowd with casual ease.

It still manages to give new chills, even six years later.

But you’re probably wondering why I’m talking about an old Assassin’s Creed trailer when this article purported to be about Dishonored, aren’t you?

Dishonored in action: is it good? here

Filed under: Console gaming, E3 2012, Editorial, Oxcgn Special feature, PC Previews, PS3 News, PS3 Reviews, Xbox 360 | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

E3 2012: Backstage Pass: Confessions of an E3 virgin

Posted on 13 June, 2012 by ncapozzoli

E3 2012: Backstage Pass: Confessions of an E3 virgin

What really happens behind the dazzle

by Nicholas Capozzoli

©2012 Nicholas Capozzoli

Other-Nick made me do this.

A lot of work in games journalism is undertaken on a part-time basis, and I’m no exception.

I’ll confess I’m relatively new to the industry, with barely half a year of writing about it to my name.

So when OXCGN offered me the chance to be part of the live coverage team for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), I was surprised, and flattered.

Needless to say, I hadn’t expected such an opportunity so early into my writing career.

I knew right away that I wanted to share the day-to-day of the experience, somehow.  A journal of the trip seemed like a good idea.

Something to share with the uninitiated, those in the same position I was just weeks before.

The plan is also to use E3 as a chance to get a feel for the industry, which is probably a bit like trying to gain an understanding of fluid dynamics by hurling yourself off Niagara Falls.

Also, your swimming experience begins and ends with having once seen the movie Splash.  So yeah, there’s a 64% chance that I won’t survive past day 1.

I ended up experiencing the underside of L.A., the glitz and outrageousness, the celebrities and parties, and all the madness of the show.

And even a bit about games too.

Down the rabbit hole we go here

Filed under: Blogbanter, Console gaming, E3 2012, Editorial, Events, Game Impressions, GameBanter, New Game Information, New Xbox 360 Games, PC News, PS3 News, Wii News, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 News | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

E3 2012: “Stealth” Games Are Evolving The Wrong Way

Posted on 10 June, 2012 by ncapozzoli

E3 2012: “Stealth” Games Are Evolving The Wrong Way

Stalking gone stale

by Nicholas Capozzoli

©2012 Nicholas Capozzoli

Taken at a glance, you’d have to think that E3 2012 would be a great showing for fans of the stealth genre.

A new Splinter Cell?  Hitman?  Assassin’s Creed?  Metal Gear game? That would have to be enough for anyone, right?

Those games are all looking fabulous, undeniably.

I’m excited for the whole lot of them.  Yet as stealth games, each title featured a number of failings.

It’s enough to say that I’m officially concerned about the genre.  Are stealth games evolving in the wrong direction?

Sneak this way

Filed under: 3rd Party Games, Console gaming, E3 2012, Editorial, Game Impressions, Gaming Videos, New Game Information, New Xbox 360 Games, Oxcgn Special feature, PC News, PS3 News, Xbox 360 News | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

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