As 2011 draws to a close, it’s time for me to sit back and reflect on some of the things that really made this year for me.
Gaming
While there were tons of AAA titles released this year, I didn’t really play or finish any of them. The first half of the year was spent waiting for games to be released whilst I kept myself occupied with Starcraft 2 and SD Gundam G Generation. There were only 3 new games which I really put any time into:
Super Robot Wars Z2
Uncharted 3
(Ultimate) Marvel vs Capcom 3
I played Marvel 3 for a while, but sadly the online community in Australia really died down a few weeks after the game launched. Which is understandable, because the game can be so unforgiving to new players. While the game was hard to play, it was hella fun to watch, especially online and in tournaments.
One of the most hyped Marvel 3 matches ever. I was watching it online as it happened, and it was NUTS.
Uncharted 3 will probably replace Uncharted 2 as my most played game of all time. The game itself is both a triumph and a failure at the same time, with Naughty Dog rushing the game out for release and dropping the ball several times in the multiplayer department. The game is still a blast to play, just not as fun as U2, and I hope ND will continue to support the game as time goes on. I also wrote the Ultimate Dragon Sniper Guide, or what I now like to call “Way of the Dragon”.
Check out my Let's Play SRW Z2" thread!
And finally as with any Super Robot Wars game, I was full on with the release of Z2 on PSP. This also marked the first time I did a “Let’s Play” series on anything. Despite being extremely time consuming (I was doing nothing but playing and writing up every day for almost 1 1/2 months) it was really enjoyable and I look forward to doing more LPs on future SRW games.
FGC
The FGC revival continued this year, with Marvel 3 bringing alot of hype back to the scene, the release of SSF4:AE, and announcement of Street Fighter X Tekken. The improvements in streaming technology have also contributed massively, with alot of tournaments now offering a live feed of sorts. I don’t play fighting games as much as I used to, but with all the streams and quality commentating (shoutouts to @ultradavid and @jchensor) nowadays, I’ve become one of the new generation of FGC spectators or “Stream Monsters”.
I attended only one tournament this year, which was of course, Shadowloo Showdown 2011. I only played SSF4:AE teams for fun, but the major highlights for me was meeting all the international players in person. I also managed to play Itabashi in a Zangief mirror, where I got murdered unsurprisingly.
My signed copy of Arcade Edition from Shadowloo Showdown 2011
The day after SS2K11 I ran into Gootecks and Mike Ross on the street. It was a surreal moment.
I also found this year’s EVO to be way more hyped than last year, which I can also attribute to Marvel 3 and also knowing/following the players more throughout the year. And also, because of this one match:
Gundam
2011 will be known as the year of the Wing and Unicorn, with both series dominating the MG lineup for most of the year. It’s still a sad time for my personal building, with yet another year passing where I haven’t built or finished a kit, but there’s still hope for a few months in the new year.
As for Gundam AGE…well let’s just say that I’m not putting much hope into this series. MG AGE-1 looks kinda cool though. I’m still holding out for the MG Gundam X if Bandai ever decide to release it.
What’s in store next year?
You’ll see the usual stuff next year, but I’m going to be trying to write more articles in 2012, although they will probably be shorter ones given that I don’t have much time nowadays. I’m also going to try produce more video content for my Youtube channel.
I will still dedicate a fair amount of time to Uncharted 3, but I’m going to try play Gundam Extreme VS a bit more as well. With Street Fighter X Tekken coming out in Feb, I may just have to try my hand at fighting games again…
As for games I’m looking forward to:
Super Robot Wars Original Generations 2
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Street Fighter X Tekken
Hitman Absolution
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
Mass Effect 3
Diablo 3
Halo 4
Tomb Raider
Metal Gear Solid Rising
Heart of the Swarm
Bioshock Infinite
Grand Theft Auto 5
Ninja Gaiden 3
Assassin’s Creed 3
PS Vita
So on that note, goodbye 2011 and hello 2012! Happy New Year!
