10th Annual VGA News Recap Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2012 has...



10th Annual VGA News Recap

Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2012 has come and gone, and because the punishing torrent of funeral-fart quality jokes paired with awkward celebrity appearances may be too much for my readership to ever force themselves to watch, I’m here to recap the big announcements the ceremony glanced over in order to make time to reference the fact that Samuel L. Jackson was in Pulp Fiction and that he says “motherfucker” well.

  • The Last of Us – Naughty Dog’s PS3 exclusive ode to post-apocalyptic fiction and water bottles with real water physics – debuted another fantastically crafted trailer (seriously, they never cease to shoot tingles up my back) and, finally, a solid release date: May 7th, 2012.image
  • FromSoftware has risen from the ashes in order to majorly fuck you up all over again.  Tonight’s VGA’s saw the surprise announcement of Dark Souls II, slated for the PC, PS3, and 360.  After the premiere, FromSoftware issued a threat to players that they can expect continued “unrelenting challenge and suffering” from the sequel.  Because you crave the abuse, that’s why.
  • I may not know what the hell Big Bang Theory is (kidding, I know what it is: annoying) but the balding actor from that show certainly knew that Halo is exactly the type of game that needs no introduction.  After a slight Winter hiatus, Halo 4’s Spartan Ops: Season One recommences on January 21st, 2013.

Being the thinly veiled two-hour commercial it is, at least I can say I like what the VGA’s are selling.  We were privy to some truly cool previews of next year’s blockbusters and I can safely say that 2013 looks geared to deliver on the goods.  Of particular note:

  • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 emerged from the darkness with a short glimpse at its glory (I swear I caught some modern day action there; so glad they didn’t drop that idea).  No date, though.  That’d be just too much good.
  • Tomb Raider had an impressive showing accompanied by a live orchestra.  Retreaded footage, yes, but no less interesting each time I see grimy Lara shooting arrows into where men’s brains should be.image
  • The recently re-delayed Bioshock Infinite got to strut its stuff tonight, and while Irrational insists the push to March 26th, 2013 is to work out some bugs and polish rough edges, I have to wonder how much more spit and shine this title really needs.  Because it looks jaw dropping in action. Throughout the cacophony of canon belching airships, area clearing plasmid attacks, and the onslaught of the hulking Handyman, I sat in stupefied silence, reminded that this game is a guaranteed must-have.

Finally, we arrive to the main event.  Here’s the 2012 Video Game Award Winners:

  • Most Anticipated Game - Grand Theft Auto V
  • Best Social Game - You Don’t Know Jack
  • Best Downloadable Game - The Walking Dead: The Game
  • Best DLC - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Dawnguard)
  • Best Adapted Video Game - The Walking Dead: The Game
  • Best Performance By a Human Male - Dameon Clarke (Handsome Jack/Borderlands 2)
  • Best Performance By a Human Female - Melissa Hutchinson (Clementine/The Walking Dead)
  • Best Handheld/Mobile Game - Sound Shapes
  • Best Fighting Game - Persona 4 Arena
  • Best Independent Game - Journey
  • Best Graphics - Halo 4
  • Best Original Score - Journey
  • Best Song in a Game - “Cities” by Beck (Sound Shapes)
  • Best Driving Game - Need for Speed: Most Wanted
  • Best Team Sports Game - NBA 2K13
  • Best Individual Sports Game - SSX
  • Best Multiplayer Game - Borderlands 2
  • Best RPG - Mass Effect 3
  • Best Action Adventure Game - Dishonored
  • Best Shooter - Borderlands 2
  • Best PC Game - XCOM: Enemy Unknown
  • Best Wii/Wii U Game - New Super Mario Bros. U
  • Best PS3 Game - Journey
  • Best Xbox 360 Game - Halo 4
  • Character of the Year - Clap Trap (Borderlands 2)
  • Studio of the Year - Telltale Games
  • Game of the Year - The Walking Dead: The Game
  • Best Game of the Decade - Half-Life 2

Egad, it seems it’s the year of the digital game!  Both Journey and Telltale’s The Walking Dead cleaned up on wins, proving big retail’s fears are not, uh, for naught.  Download-only titles have come into prominence this generation and, going forward, especially with next-gen in mind, it’ll be commonplace to see artistic and critical masterpieces offered up digitally.

And, my word is it nice to see years and years after it hit the scene and spun our minds right ‘round that Valve’s Half-Life 2 is the most beloved game this decade.  I just have this to say on that: you’re damn straight it is.

Read the article →