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Game(s) of the Year 2012

A winner, and two brilliant runners-up
- By John Higgins
- Posted December 14, 2012
It has been an excellent year for video games, as Geoff discussed in Gaming Moments of the Year.
But even among some all of those amazing games, there were three stand-outs, one of which is our Game of the Year.

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Gaming Moments of the Year 2012

Sort of like awards, but less awards-y. And with more action.
- By Geoffrey Morrison
- Posted December 3, 2012
It's that time of year again when those of us who review stuff, rank said stuff in some order that says what stuff is better than what other stuff.
This year, instead, I figured I'd do something slightly different. Not too different, I definitely have a Game of the Year in mind (more on that in a few days).
Instead of giving out awards for this and that, I thought I'd talk about some of my favorite gaming moments of the year, why they were special, and why the games that caused those moments are worth your dollar (or in some cases, just the time to download them).

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The S+V Interview: Hitman: Absolution Director Tore Blystad

On the limits of technology, emotion and emulating a filmic camera style in a virtual world
- By Timothy J. Seppala
- Posted November 20, 2012
Sabotaging a gas pump and watching from inside a dumpster as a criminal walks up to it, takes a phone call, lights a cigarette and then explodes is one of Hitman: Absolution’s (out today for PC, PS3, Xbox 360) simplest pleasures. Last week I talked to the game’s director,18-year industry veteran Tore Blystad, about his latest project.

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Review: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

The alien invasion strategy franchise rebooted, with turn-based action and tension intact
- By Geoffrey Morrison
- Posted November 9, 2012
I have to admit, I didn’t think I’d get into this game. I like my action games actiony, and my strategy games real-time. A turn-based action game? What kind of unholy chimera is that?
I never played the original X-COM (the 1994 version had a hyphen, and an incredible following), so the excitement surrounding this remake was lost on me.
Once I tried it, though. . . wow is it easy to get sucked in.

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The S+V Interview: Need for Speed Most Wanted Audio Lead Vanesa Lorena Tate

A head-on collision never sounded so good
- By Timothy J. Seppala
- Posted October 30, 2012
Criterion Games wants wanted their latest open-world crashathon racer Need for Speed: Most Wanted (out today for PC, PS3, Vita, Xbox 360) to be a more film-like experience. So they hired BAFTA Award nominee Vanesa Lorena Tate to take on audio lead responsibilities. She’s been composing since she was four years old and has worked on such films as Hellboy 2: The Golden Army and two Harry Potter flicks: The Order of the Phoenix and The Deathly Hallows part 2 in addition to Criterion’s last Need for Speed, 2010’s Hot Pursuit.

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Review: Half-Life Returns With Black Mesa

High-res nostalgia of awesomeness
- By Geoffrey Morrison
- Posted September 28, 2012
Reverence. That is what I, and most gamers, feel towards Half-Life. Released in 1998, it was revolutionary. More importantly, it was fun.
Playing now, though, is nearly impossible. Not because of any technological limitations (it was ported to Steam), but because the 14-year-old graphics make you want to weep.
At least they have until now.

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Review: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

One of us is getting old
- By Geoffrey Morrison
- Posted August 31, 2012
I've been playing Counter-Strike for 13 years. Not continuously, mind you (that would be weird), and less and less as the years go on, but thirteen years. Wow.
So much has changed. Back then I was a bald writer, avid pc gamer, and lover of classic cars. Now I’m... hey, wait...
Perhaps it's fitting that C-S, with its latest iteration C-S:GO, hasn't changed a bit either, save for a polish and some softer edges. Softer edges. That’s what we have in common.

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