Coint and Plick 2013 - The Sixth Annual ILX Video Game Poll

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#27 (Tie): I Am Alive – PS3 – 25 pts – 1 vote

http://static9.cdn.ubi.com/en-US/images/IAA_Screenshot_12_620x350tcm1932369.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://thecontrolleronline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/i-am-alive-trailer.png

Zero Punctuation

Rock Paper Shotgun

Dev Interview

”Development Disaster”

Soundtrack on Spotify

http://media.t3.com/img/resized/i_/xl_I_Am_Alive_4_624.jpg

come anticipate a TS w/me: infamous Vs. prototype Vs. I am alive

Jordan: I am the only person alive who liked this game. It worked within its limitations so well that it always felt bigger than it was.

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#27 (Tie): Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 – PS3 – 25 pts – 1 vote

http://cdn.pocket-lint.com/images/4S5W/pes-2013-pro-evolution-soccer-2013-review-1.jpg?20120923-193438

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://www.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/pes-ps3.jpg

Dev Video Interview

”Brand Manager” Interview

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist

http://screenshots.nl.sftcdn.net/nl/scrn/3342000/3342271/pro-evolution-soccer-2013-02-700x393.png

EZSnappin: The best soccer game got better, primarily through better AI. Remember when we all wanted some of the processing power to go towards better AI? At least one group of developers got the message.

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#26: Puzzle Craft – iOS – 26 pts – 2 votes

http://quickman.gameological.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/120905_sawbuck_puzzlecraft_featured.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://www.gamasutra.com/db_area/images/feature/180102/PUZZLECRAFTFINAL.jpg

Quarter to Three

Gamasutra: The Evolution of Puzzle Craft

Dev Interview

”Good At Killing Time, Not Good At Usability”

http://www.hookshotinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Puzzle-Craft-1.jpg

Top 25 to come.
Can a fella hear a little enthusiasm?

I know nothing about video games of the 21st century, but I am v much enjoying the rollout and imagining in my head what the games might be.

are any of these games available for free in browser or are all those types of games only on iOS now

Rebuild, Burrito Bison, Infectonator, Fairway Solitaire - all definitely available for free in browser. I played them all as browser games first, but I think most/all were last year or before, hence it being iOS versions that are in this poll.

I cannot even comprehend what would compel anyone to vote for these community sim games. Like, fine, waste your precious hours playing them, I get it. Life is meaningless. But to recommend that practice to others is cruel.

oh thanks xp. i noticed there were a lot more iOS games this year, and i usually use these threads to find new distractions. played Rebuild a while ago, was a fun hour or two.

puzzle craft is another one that i probably would've voted for w/ a bigger ballot but just too small and inconsequential to feel like one of the 10 best games of the year. the 'puzzle' element is practically non-existent too.

I just started far cry 3. Probably would have voted for it if I had played it earlier.

the first truly millennial video game! or so some idiot game reviewer told me

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/12/behold-the-first-video-game-about-the-millennials/266039/#

atlantic game coverage is truly horrific

xpost
i think i remember that idiot reviewer! where was that?

whoops, you already posted it before i could ask :)

i think fairway solitaire is another game that has shown up on c+p a few times from different systems

i just started it too, and i think it's really solid so far.

yes its "the beach" + "red dawn" story elements are pretty bad, but fwiw still a notch above most shooters

xps it meaning FC3

ha goole i was plowing through max payne 3 so i could rack in some more time on fc3 and then loan it to you!

#27 (Tie): I Am Alive – PS3 – 25 pts – 1 vote

as it should be

If i'd started playing fairway earlier, it totally would have made my ballot. I've three-starred all the levels except for the bonus ones now. so yeah, its pretty much just down to the one daily level, but at this rate it'll take me forever to unlock any of the remaining stuff. the monetization on this is also sort of ridiculous (12$ IAP? seriously? who does that?).

fairway solitaire is the first video game about the millenials

... sit on the bench man, you on a cold streak

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#25: Botanicula – PC – 30 pts – 2 votes - 1 top game vote

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/11/dec/bot1.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://images.pcworld.com/reviews/graphics/products/uploaded/software_manufacturer_botanicula_1199324_g4.jpg

Experience Points

Play the Demo Free Online

Dev Interview

Soundtrack

Composer Interview

http://amanita-design.net/img/games/botanicula-02.jpg

CraigG: I'm never entirely sure that I'm solving the puzzles in this - I'm mostly wandering my little crew aimlessly about, but I seem to keep getting a little further each time. I found Samorost, Machinarium, and games like that really passifying in the past, and this is no exception. Plus, the audio and overall style are lovely.

Zora: This was one of the most original and (I hate to say it but-) charming games I've ever played. It was hard at times because it required an insane amount of lateral thinking, but the upside of course is that it both surprises and satisfies. And it's more affordable than a meal cooked by Heston Blumenthal.

http://i.imgur.com/LsxTDxS.gif
#24: Diablo III – PC, Mac – 30 pts – 3 votes

http://images.pcworld.com/images/article/2011/11/diablo-3-5235391.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diablo-iii-auction-house-trouble.jpg

Zero Punctuation

Hey, remember that slow start? Good times.

Quarter to Three

Brainy Gamer: A Comfy Conditioning Chamber

Diablo Is Kind of a Dick

Gamasutra: Diablo III - Lead Director Interview

California Literary Review

Gay Gamer

That Game’s(UX)

http://www.diablo3classes.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Diablo3_creaft.jpg

Diablo III

EZSnappin: Bought this to play with a friend. Had a blast but haven't played it since that first month. Still, it was worth it.

Forksclovetofu: Bought this to play by myself. Had a blast but haven’t played it since that first month. May have been worth it? I’m just glad this lacked the opiate power of it’s predecessor. I still refer to Diablo II as one of the main reasons I don’t have a bachelor’s degree.

are we wrapping up today?

Nope. Likely gonna go on a bit longer. Prior appointments.

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#22 (Tie): Magic: The Gathering 2013 - Duels of the Planeswalkers – iOS, PC – 31 pts – 3 votes

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Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://www.maclife.com/files/u325188/2012/06/magic_screen.jpg

Quarter to Three

Gamasutra: What Can Magic Teach Us

That Game’s(UX)

http://cultofmac.cultofmaccom.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/E13-Challenge-Gameplay.jpg

Magic: The Gathering C/D

EZSnappin: I hadn't played the card game since the Ice Age expansion, but this got me interested again. I have no desire to get into the collectable bullshit part of it again, but this was fun.

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#22 (Tie): Max Payne 3 – PS3, X360 – 31 pts – 3 votes

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/wp-content/gallery/maxpayne3/max-payne-3-12.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://media.rockstargames.com/rockstargames/img/global/news/upload/maxpayne3_screenshots_03012012_0005.jpg

Zero Punctuation

Quarter to Three

I Broke Max Payne 3

California Literary Review

Errant Signal

Dev Interview

Voice Actor Interview

Nightmare Mode

”Max Payne 3 Soundtrack Should Be A Model For The Future”

Pitchfork Soundtrack Review

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist

http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne3/img/global/screens/maxpayne3-weapon-smgs-01-640.jpg

What about Max Payne 3 already

CraigG: I got this in the July Steam Sale, and alternated between playing this and playing Skyrim in bursts, though both games tended to distract me to the point where 'bursts' become '3-4 hours'. It's definitely just as good as Max Payne 1/2 were, the story is interesting enough to keep it trundling along, but really - as with the first two - it all just comes down to how badass a shootout is with well-implemented (by the developers) and well-executed (by you, the player) Bullet-Time. There are even some great set-pieces that show that real-time-events don't have to be frantically tapping the 'x' button to wrestle with someone, or pushing a joystick one direction at exactly the right moment, they can just be more badass bullet-time!
It does suffer for crappy vehicle missions (I've never enjoyed vehicle missions in games like this, GoW, Halo, etc), so I just drop the difficulty to get those over and done with, then get back on with the shooting.

jjjusten: Haven't finished this yet, so I reserve the right to yank my vote if there's one of those skull-fucking crying baby blood trail levels, but they haven't showed up so far. Thankfully Rockstar also managed to dodge the pitfall of doing another dark shadow noir take on this one, keeping the vibe but splashing color all over the place. Obv being who they are, it's clear that they were throwing buckets of money all over the place for this one, and it shows, from the interstitial cut-scenes to the splashy environments. You learn pretty quickly to take the world-weary max schtick with a grain of salt, and if you hone into the humor it's actually pretty well planned out. I've got some qulams about the controls at times, too many moments where you end up inadvertently shoot dodging for no reason, but it never seems to end up with cheap death scenarios so it's a minor quibble at best. Some not-quite-quicktime events that didn't need to be there arise, but not enough to be all that frustrating, and as a dude that thinks that 90% of cover shooters are rank bullshit, this one actually seems to work (again, level design in a cover system needs to be basically perfect or that shit just doesn't work.) I hear there is multiplayer, so hey, hooray for people that care about that sort of thing.

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#21: Mass Effect 3 – PS3, X360 – 32 pts – 4 votes

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Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/293725_S/mass-effect-3-multiplayer-guide-a-simple-strategy-to-survive.jpg

Zero Punctuation

Quarter to Three

PopMatters

Gamasutra: Mass Effect 3’s Creative Challenges

California Literary Review

That Game’s(UX)

Pixelogic Interview

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist

Writer Interview

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts2012/bioware/masseffect3/MassEffect3GOTY610.jpg

Mass Effect

diamonddave85: As stupid as the ending really was (WHY WAS SETH GREEN RUNNING AWAY FROM THE BATTLE??), as weak as the storyline was, and as much as I hated the protagonist (Shepard looks exactly like this loud jock bro that lived above me at the time), I have a soft spot for space action/adventure games and enjoyed the battle system quite a bit.

WillM: The best thing about Mass Effect 3 is that I'm done with Mass Effect now. I love love love the first game -- it so perfectly captured the essence of space loneliness during those quiet, irrelevant Mako treks on barren planets and moons -- that the shootered up, voice-forever-in-ear Crank 2 High Voltage little brother in Mass Effect 2 could do nothing but disappoint. Mass Effect 3 spends its entirety, from the first five minutes to the last fade out, that HEY USER, THIS IS THE END. Which works for it at times (the Geth/Quarian missions) and not so much others (any time you are reminded of your "galactic readiness" it's just wearying and so so so lame). I was so insanely hyped for 2, and, honestly, 3 too... I'm just glad that it's "over" and that I'll never really be hyped for another one of these. The multiplayer was shockingly competent, which definitely didn't hurt.

mass effect 3 was my disappointment of the year. after playing the first 2 (multiple times) i just could not get into the third one. it's not you, mass effect, it's me. i'm sure. i no longer want to watch 4 hour space opera cutscene dialogues in my video games. i want to play them.

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#20: Quantum Conundrum – PS3 – 34 pts – 2 votes

http://www.gev.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/quantum-conundrum.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://i1.cdnds.net/12/25/618x347/gaming_quantum_conundrum_8.jpg

Zero Punctuation

Gamasutra: Quantum Conundrum’s Kim Swift

Gay Gamer

Producer Interview

Dev Interview

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist

http://cdn2.gamefront.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/quantum-conundrum.jpg?cda6c1

Jordan: Terrible writing (the jokes were not jokes) but some of the puzzle mechanics were great. This is 2012's game that my girlfriend played all the way through with me.

if: Quantum Conundrum is not exactly based on the same mechanics as Portal, but the common creator shows through in a very similar approach and the game play being just as ingenious, even as the story and other design elements all fall a bit flat. Turns out that the puzzles are indeed the single most important part.

i'm getting so excited. only 2 of my votes have placed so far which means 8 of my votes are in the top 20!

haha, 9 out of my 10 already placed, and i think in all i was the only voter. Mr Niche!

I think 6 of mine have placed and of the 4 remaining, 2 of them i am like "of course they'll rank high" and the other two i am SHOCKED are inside the top 20. well one shocked, one kinda surprised.

d85 shoulda been a lady shep

lol@ diamond dave subconsciously choosing a Shepard that looks like his hot neighbour.

i would've chosen femshep if she didn't look exactly like my crazy ex

I voted for ME3, but exclusively for the multiplayer, which I probably dropped 40 hours into

http://i.imgur.com/XMwdCVt.png

(I haven't played any of the ME games)

I voted for ME3 too but I've got no idea why really. I guess a couple of the characters got their stories wrapped up fairly nicely. But it was pretty bad overall.

But wait like

You can make either shep look any way you want

awesome thread, wish I'd known about this and voted now!

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#19: Legend of Grimrock – PC – 35 pts – 3 votes

http://images.pcworld.com/reviews/graphics/products/uploaded/software_manufacturer_legend_of_grimrock_1199294_g1.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/12/apr/grimlock/gri8.jpg

Gamasutra Interview

Nightmare Mode

Designer Interview

Theme Composer Interview (and MP3)

http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/5/11526/z11526545Q,Legend-of-Grimrock.jpg

Zora: Old-skool dungeon crawly awesomeness.

Forksclovetofu: Deeply obsessive logic puzzle fiddly stuff masquerading as an RPG. Immensely rewarding and surprisingly immersive despite the last gen visuals.

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#18: Fallen London – Browser – 37 pts – 4 votes - FREE

http://www.mmorpg-info.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Fallen-London-Map.jpg

Official Game Site

Gameplay Video

http://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/4/7/0/6/1/4/Fallen_London_1.jpg

”Why Free to Play Could Be the Future of Storytelling”

Rock Paper Shotgun

Streaming Radio Soundtrack

Wiki

8Bit Tavern

On Aggressive Advertising Models

http://media.edge-online.com/wp-content/uploads/edgeonline/2013/01/Fallen-London-01.png

jjjusten: So this is that interactive story thing you people keep talking about. Ok that's a slight exagerration, i've played this shit before and (mostly) hated it, but there's something much deeper going on here, and seemingly a near endless number of things to do. I say seemingly because the action limitations are capped way way too low, so just at the point where you are breaking out some strategic moves, you realize that you have to wait ten minutes to do another thing, which is when I close the browser window and play an actual game instead. There's still something lovely about the whole thing, and i get that peeps need $$$, but maintaining that the speed of action generation is so that I sit back and enjoy the game is only legit if they are assuming that their audience is made up of illiterates that need to sound out all the words or ask their mom to help them with the ones with lots of letters in them.

Zora: I wish I'd written this. It's A+. I just wish there was more scope for players to contribute to the narrative. Here's a random sample of the writing, first thing on my action list:
"In the street, you pass a tall, cheerful man with a brisk manner, a stovepipe hat and a row of bright brass buttons down the front of his coat. He winks familiarly as you pass and spreads his hands: eight fingers.
You've seen him before. Of course you have. He was beside your bed when you woke this morning. Or were you still asleep?
Note - Your Nightmares are reaching a dangerous level."
There's a level of ambiguity that can be maintained in a simple text game that 3D photographic quality graphics just don't support, and it's really refreshing.

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#17: Need For Speed: Most Wanted – PS3, X360 – 40 pts – 3 votes

http://i2.cdnds.net/12/41/618x386/gaming_nfs_most_wanted_2.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://s.pro-gmedia.com/videogamer/media/images/xbox360/need_for_speed_most_wanted_2012/screens/need_for_speed_most_wanted_2012_31_605x.jpg

Quarter to Three

Dev Interview

Audio Lead Interview

Exec Producer Interview

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist

http://www.gamrreview.com/media/images/need-for-speed-most-wanted-ios-2-74572602486974931659059457164028.jpg

Need For Speed: Most Wanted 2012, because apparently we have run out of names for things

EZSnappin: I loved Burnout Paradise. This isn't exactly the sequel I wanted but it was good enough to scratch the itch. And it's a mighty itch.

jjjusten: After a refreshing break with the last few years top-notch crazed arcade racers (the Split/Second crowd still deserves praise imo), and enduring the not entirely fair half-sim frustrations of the dirt franchise, it's nice to just tear ass around a city bashing the shit out of other drivers. That in itself would be Burnout Paradise 2, which i guess would have been enough to get in here somewhere, but NFS:MW 2012 throws in a few twists that elevate it even further. The integration of getting chased by cops seems simple at first, but it's more game changing than you think. First of all, it forces exploration and driving experimentation - you have to find alternate routes, and you have to hone your driving skills or you will get pwned. Secondly, it brings some of the anarchic s/s stuff into play, because when cops get involved one lap into a career race, it's goddamn bedlam out there. Add to that a huge and varied map, a brilliant way to get you to keep trying alternate cars and rewarding you for digging deep into the map as well as progressing through career unlocks, smart leaderboard integration, and various other tweaks and treats, and suddenly there just isn't really any reason to pop paradise city back into your console.

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#16: Last Story – Wii – 45 pts – 2 votes - 1 top game votes

http://squadronofshame.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/the-last-story-bar.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://www.geekscape.net/_wp_/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Last-Story-Screen-4.jpg

Sakaguchi Interview

Dev Interview

”When Good Ideas Go Wrong”

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist

Likely to see a WiiU remake

http://www.nowgamer.com/siteimage/scale/0/0/306673.jpg

zappi: Not as fun as Xenoblade but still miles better than the rubbish that gets released under the Final Fantasy name these days. Poor Sakaguchi.

lamp: I saw the best JRPGS of my generation delayed by publishers, despairing lyrical unkind
dragging themselves through the torchlit streets at dawn looking for any fetch quest
Greasy-fingered neckbeards yearning for the ancient heavenly connection
to the same old games of their youth

http://i.imgur.com/U5Bwcat.gif
#15: Tokyo Jungle – PSN – 46 pts – 5 votes - 1 top game votes

http://www.console-arcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Tokyo-Jungle-3.jpg

Official Game Site

Metacritic

Gameplay Video

http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/files/2012/08/tokyo-jungle.jpg

Dev Interview

Zero Punctuation (Jump up to about 3.53)

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist

Lengthy Japanese interview

Initial Pitch “wasn’t received so well”

How to Improve Tokyo Jungle

Muddle through with this ridiculous Google Doc

Battle at Kruger

More Savagery

http://therealmcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ss_preview_tokyo_jungle_4_jpg.jpg

Tokyo Jungle

Forksclovetofu: This hit every gaming sweet spot I have, most specifically my love for E.V.O.: Search for Eden. Gleefully batshit concepts married with Dark Souls difficulty and hidden depths only the most deranged and non RTFM-type would ever think to plumb... which is why they were so sweet when I found them. It’s a badly flawed game in a half dozen ways, no doubt; but it’s never broken. Every halting step (and good luck if you choose to play as a vegetarian) pays off with fantastic new abilities and drastically different goals within the same playing field and an almost infinite variability of gameplay. Sure, the game looked like ass. I barely even noticed.

fallen london is great! i haven't played it since i got too far and everything took forever to do. i didn't feel like grinding 100 gangs or whatever crazy things they asked for.

lol lamp, n1 on Last Story