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My 2012 Wish List
I'm still inundated with many great games that recently released, but once the holidays roll around I can't help but think about what's in store for gamers next year. With that in mind, here are 15 things I would love to see happen in 2012.
More Skyrim
I'm so immersed in Bethesda's spawning role-playing game that I'm avoiding the main story campaign because I don't want the experience to end. Eventually, Bethesda will announce a substantial expansion pack, which should give me the comfort to charge toward my destiny as Dovahkiin. Until then, it's guild quests and side quests for me.
BioShock Infinite
Among all this talk about social connectivity and online gaming being the future, no scheduled 2012 release has me more excited than a straight up single-player experience. I'm talking about Irrational Games' spiritual sequel to BioShock, one of my favorite games of this generation. I'm curious to see how creator Ken Levine leverages the vitriolic political climate of the floating city Columbia to inform the narrative, and I can't wait to jump on a Skyrail for some rollercoaster gun fights.
An Epic Finale For Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2 was one of my favorite games this generation, but I'm a little worried about how BioWare plans to wrap up the fight with the third installment of the trilogy. Pulling off a strong conclusion is crucial to the long-term legacy of this franchise, and I hope the corner cutting that was so apparent in Dragon Age 2 doesn't foretell a downfall for this series.
The Last Guardian
Where the hell is this game? I guess Fumito Ueda has one of those Kazunori Yamauchi development deals where Sony doesn't pressure him to meet deadlines and the game is "done when it's done." Team Ico announced the game at E3 in 2009, but since then it's basically gone dark. Here's hoping it returns to the spotlight soon.
New Battlefield 3 Maps
I'm anxiously looking forward to stepping back into my favorite Battlefield 2 maps with the Back to Karkand expansion pack in December, but I also expect DICE to deliver some new maps sometime early in the new year. If you want to convince your community that you consider the game a service, you can't make them wait six months between map packs.
A Decent Football Game
I couldn't have been more disappointed with Madden NFL 12, a game that promised many long overdue fan-requested features that ultimately fell flat due to poor execution. Is it too much to expect a football game on par with the leading sports franchises like FIFA, NBA 2K, and EA's NHL series? It's time for Madden to stop sucking for Luck and start living up to the quality of the sports league it represents.
A New Direction For Call of Duty
Call of Duty has dominated the shooter market this generation, but it's formula is starting to wear thin. I hope the next installment introduces some new elements to the gameplay that reinvigorate the franchise. I also wouldn't mind more variety in the style of maps they offer in multiplayer. Maybe it's time to re-introduce vehicles to the mix for a few maps like United Offensive had?
New Console Announcements
We still have several amazing looking current generation games to look forward to, but the wide quality gap between the PC version of Battlefield 3 and the console one convinced me that the time for a new console announcement is now. I'm not talking about Wii U here, which I'm skeptical of because of Nintendo's half-assed approach to online. I'm looking for encores to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
A Major Xbox Live Revamp
Maybe the fall update will take care of some of this stuff, but I think Xbox Live is long overdue for a big remodeling project. I can have thousands of friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook, but I can only have 100 on Xbox Live? This needs to change. In addition, I would love higher quality chat audio, a more open platform for developers, and a new function that allows you to accept a game or party invite immediately when the notifier pops up. Microsoft should also extend Xbox Live interoperability to the rest of the mobile phones. It looks like a great feature, but no way in hell am I trading my iPhone for a Windows 7 Mobile phone just for the one app.
A Patrice Désilets Announcement
Since he left Ubisoft Montreal, former Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia creative director Patrice Désilets has been off the radar outside of the occasional report about his messy divorce with Ubisoft. Now that he's running THQ's Montreal office, I hope he reveals some information about his new project in the near future. He has a resume that inspires confidence in his game making abilities, and given his prominence and position of power in the new and improved THQ, this next project could be the game he's always wanted to make.
A Half-Life 3 Announcement
I haven't played a Half-Life game since 2007 and frankly, I'm sick of the wait. I have no delusions of grandeur about playing this game, Episode Three, or whatever other Half-Life incarnation Valve has planned in 2012. I just want confirmation. A splash logo teaser. A one-liner from G-Man. A screenshot. Anything! Hook us up, Valve!
A Red Dead Redemption 2 Announcement
Many analysts doubted the viability of a Western franchise, but after selling over 12 million copies worldwide you can guarantee Take Two wants Rockstar to gallup back into the Wild West. Right now, Rockstar has a lot on its plate with the development of Max Payne and Grand Theft Auto V. Rockstar's never shy about announcing projects that are several years away, so I hope the studio reveals its future plans for the Red Dead franchise.
Auteur Releases
A lot of good indie games came out in 2011, but none of them blew me away like titles like Braid or Limbo did in years prior. I hope 2012 brings more visionary games that challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of game development. Two early candidates? The Wtiness by Jonathan Blow (Braid) and Spy Party by Chris Hecker (Spore).
Industry Stability
I'm sick of reading about studio closures, staff layoffs, and publisher restructuring. The economy is undeniably tough right now, but I hope by analyzing past failures and game-planning for the pending announcements of new consoles that publishers start staffing up responsibly. Getting your first pink slip shouldn't be a rite of passage in this industry.
A New Vikings Stadium
What does this have to do with video games? Nothing. I just really don't want to lose my NFL team; I arbitrarily tie too much of my happiness to the franchise and if they moved it would probably end my love affair with football in general. This is actually number one on my wish list. I'm looking at you, Minnesota legislatures – get this done and preserve one of the state's most treasured cultural institutions!
Those are my wishes for 2012. What are you hoping for?
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