Where's the Hall of Fame Award?

The Video Game Award's have improved significantly over the years. I mean when Samuel L. Jackson is the host and Linkin Park is performing, you're probably at the right place. The 2012 VGA's did not disappoint. I think I counted 4 awards being given out, but that's nothing compared to some of the trailers we saw. The one that sticks out the most to me is The Phantom Pain. I have no idea what the gameplay for that game will be like, but that trailer was badass. I was hoping to see a Fallout 4 announcement, but I'm happy it wasn't announced. I'd rather wait another 5 years for the next Fallout than to play another rushed game. As good as the 2012 VGA's were, there was one thing that was noticeably missing besides myself. Where was the Hall of Fame Award VGA's?

The VGA's began handing out the Hall of Fame award at last years award show. Shigeru Miyamoto graciously accepted the award on behalf of the Legend of Zelda. I remember standing up and clapping to my television as the crowd cheered for the legend himself.Mr. Miyamoto. That was the first moment where I felt like I had an opportunity as a gamer to thank Shigeru Miyamoto for his many contributions to video games. I think I shed a tear at that moment.

After Mr. Miyamoto accepted the Hall of Fame award, I began wondering what game would be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2012 VGA's. Would Miyamoto be back on stage to bring Mario into the Hall of Fame? Would Hideo Kojima swag it out for Metal Gear Solid? Would Cliff Blizinski announce Resident Evil 7 if he accepted the Hall of Fame Award? The world will never know since the VGA's didn't give out a Hall of Fame Award this year.

Not giving out the Hall of Fame Award feels like a missed opportunity. There's so many timeless classics that need to be inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame. We don't have time to waste. Let's say the VGA's gave the Hall of Fame award out every 2 years. That'd take forever to catch up with the current generation of classic games that should be up for consideration. Maybe the VGA's could do it like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and required a videogame series to exist for 25 years being, but that's not what this post is about.

What I'm trying to say is the VGA's Hall of Fame Award is a big deal, and it's a shame it wasn't awarded this year. There are plenty of games and developers that deserve their moment where gamers can thank them for creating timeless art. Yes video games are art Roger Ebert. Hopefully I'll be in the audience as the Hall of Fame Award is given at the 2013 Video Game Awards. Maybe I'll be the one presenting the award. Guess we'll have to watch the VGA's next year to find out. Until next year VGA's.

2012's Most Wanted

New year, new videogames. 2012 has a lineup of releases that looks solid. This year marks the return of many beloved franchises as well as sequels to some of the most impressive games around. Here's my list of most anticipated titles for 2012.

 

Resident Evil Revelations 

2/7/12

This might be my most anticipated game of the year. I'm curious to see what Capcom has in store with Resident Evil: Revelations. Capcom promises that Revelations will bring the series back to it's survival horror roots, which I couldn't be more excited about. Add the fact that it's release is only a month away and you've got me sold.

Twisted Metal
 2/14/12

Twisted Metal makes its next generation debut this Valentines Day. I'm a bit skeptical about this game. I wasn't a fan of Twisted Metal Black, but I haven't played a Twisted Metal game in years. That alone is enough of a reason for me to check this out. 

Asura's Wrath
2/21/12

I mostly put this game here because it's an original title. It's not a sequel or a remake, which means it's probably going to have a hard time standing out from the titles coming in February. Hopefully Asura's Wrath gets good reviews and stands it's ground against the competition.

Playstation Vita
2/22/12

Despite all of the negative stories, I'm buying a Playstation Vita on launch day. Why? Because it's being released two days after my birthday. A new portable videogame system sounds like the perfect birthday present to myself. I'm looking getting my hands on one and trying it out. Hopefully the Playstation Vita has an arsenal of quality titles that makes me happy that I bought one.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss
2/22/12

Sony made the right move by making Uncharted: Golden Abyss a launch title for the Playstation Vita. It made my decision to buy a Vita on launch day that much easier. Hopefully Sony keeps up the quality titles on the PS Vita. I've got hope for it.

SSX
2/28/12

2012 marks the return of my favorite snowboarding series. SSX is the NBA Street of Snowboarding. SSX is over the top. It's known for it's gorgeous visuals, and damn near impossible tricks. I've been waiting for a new SSX for years, and I can't wait to see what we have in store with this one.

Mass Effect 3
 3/6/12

Another adventure with Shepard? Bring it on. This time it looks like we'll be trying to save planet Earth. If Mass Effect 3 is anywhere near as good as Mass Effect 2, I'll probably invest at least 50 hours into it. Can't wait to play as female Shepard again. 

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
March 2012

Metal Gear Solid on the 3DS? Yes please. I've actually never played Metal Gear Solid 3. Ok I did, but I was too focused on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to get into it. Metal Gear Solid 3D is kind of like redemption for the days I put off the PS2 version. I'm curious to see what the game is going to look like on my 3DS.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD
Summer 2012

I must say that it's about time Tony Hawk went back to what it does best. Old school Tony Hawk is one of the best videogame franchises of all time. It just over saturated the market with yearly releases. It's been years since Activision released an old school Tony Hawk game. This summer marks the return of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. This version includes locations from the first and second Tony Hawk, and is going to be sold for a whopping $15 dollars this summer. First Day Purchase indeed.

Grand Theft Auto V 
???

Honestly I don't think we'll see the release of Grand Theft Auto V in 2012. All we've seen so far is a minute long trailer. When a new Grand Theft Auto is released, Rockstar makes sure the world knows it's coming way ahead of time. I hope we get more details about the GTAV this year. Is the multiple characters perspective true? What's the time period? Is it going to be on the Wii U? Things like that.

Wii U
???

I doubt the Wii U is coming in 2012 as well, but I wouldn't rule it out. One thing noticeably missing from this list is upcoming games for the Wii. It's a bad sign when the only game I can think of coming this year for the Wii is Madden 13. I do hope we get more details about Wii U this year. What is the price going to be? What games are in development for it? Does it perform better than the PS3 and Xbox 360? Guess we'll just have to wait and find out.

The crazy part about this years most anticipated list is that with the exception of Tony Hawk, all of the games listed will be released in the first half of the year. This either means that the holiday season will bring even more great games, or it will be quiet due to flood of the games being released in the first half. I think the holiday season will be great. Maybe I'll do another most anticipated list as games get announced for the holiday season. Until next time.

PAX Easter

PAX East 2012 falls later in the year than usual. Instead of a tradition weekend in March, PAX East will be held the weekend of April 6th - 8th, 2012. That happens to be the weekend Easter Sunday falls. Make sure you get your passes to PAX Easter. You don't want to be left out on the first annual PAX Easter.

PAX East has been awesome ever since it's debut in 2010. A convention that's focused only on games has never been seen on the East Coast. PAX East changed all of that by hosting the first annual PAX East at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. I was one of the 52,000 people that attended in 2010. It changed my life. It made me believe that being a gaming journalist is really possible.  I saw people walking by with different badges that said "Media" on them. I asked myself,

"If people with "media" badges are able to attend PAX East for free to cover the convention, why can't I?"

My search for that answer brought me to PAX East 2011. PAX East really outdid itself in 2011. It moved from the Hynes Convention Center to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) in South Boston. BCEC opened in 2004, and proved to be a better home for PAX East. As one of the 69,000 attendees, I would say it was epic. I feel like I did more to promote "Errol Games" during this convention. I did interviews, I took pictures, and I settled disputes during that weekend. I learned that people who have media badges like to make fun of your 3 Day Pass if they don't like you.  I like my 3 Day Pass. I have no problem paying money to cover PAX East my way. It would be nice to go to PAX East for free tho. I feel like I need to win a contest or something to make that happen. I could use some guidance.  2012 should be an interesting year.