What up ye Children of the ‘Axe?!?!? DK here kicking off another week of Member BattleCries where you can CRY HAVOC and LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! This week we’re tackling a pretty hefty topic…GAME DELAYS! Unfortunately, they’ve become a fixture in the industry, and with the oft delayed Final Fantasy XIII FINALLY shipping this week here in NA, we thought it’d be a good time to explore the different scenarios where a delay has either helped or hurt a particular title. This is where you come in…We’re asking you to rob the memory bank for all its worth and tell tale of game delays that were either tragic or triumphant! Think back as recent or as far as you like and let us know about the games delays that most impacted a project you were, at least at one time, totally stoked for. With that in mind, I pose the following question to you in this week’s MBC Topic Starter:

WHICH GAMES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED THE MOST, EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY, BY A DELAY?

Of course, you can chat up a title from any era of gaming (if you can remember back that far), but please keep in mind that we want both POSITIVE and NEGATIVE responses…We’re not looking to create a bitch fest or warm/fuzzy here…We’re trying to get your input as we evaluate how game delays TRULY impact the titles we crave.

Just leave your Member BattleCry in the comments section below and check back daily to see the featured MBC on EpicBattleAxe.com. Of course, we’ll feature the MBC of the week on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry podcast and we encourage you to sound off on WHATEVER you want, even if it’s a bit off-topic. Oh yeah, don’t forget to vote in our poll this week which deals with your thoughts on game delays in general.

Alright, I gotta a ton of crap to do this week, but I’m really looking forward to checking out your thoughts on the whole game delay thing…Does it help? Does it hurt? Should pubs/devs even ANNOUNCE release dates before they KNOW it will ship (thus eliminating “delays” all together…)??? CRY HAVOC AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!!

Laterz,
DK

Here on EpicBattleAxe.com our goal is to empower and inform you, the gamers of the world, while providing a platform for you to speak your mind. Last week, we leaned on one another to explore our experiences with the most disappointing games of all-time. It was a rather entertaining trip down memory lane that included plenty of stops for all of the bitchin’. Well, this week we’re exploring the opposite spectrum…Instead of looking back at what failed us, we’re looking forward to what we think will please us. Sure, there are games you can pretty much guarantee will deliver, but then there are those titles that are full of POTENTIAL, but might not give us complete confidence that they’ll be what we think they SHOULD be until we get them in our hands.

So, with that in mind, we’re asking everyone here to chime in and discuss the games that you think WILL live up to the hype…Games you’ve had on your radar for a while…The ones that you HOPE we will be talking about for years after they ship. So, our Member BattleCry topic this week is:

WHICH POTENTIAL PACKED GAME(S) ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST?

It doesn’t matter which console, which genre, etc…Just make sure it hasn’t shipped yet anywhere in the world and feel free to sound off. I know there are NUMEROUS titles that fall into this category for me, but I’m opening the floor to you in order to get your feedback. As always, we’ll be featuring a new Member BattleCry each day here on EpicBattleAxe.com and then highlighting the MBC of the week on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast.

Alright gang, let’s here what you have to say! There are a lot of potential-packed games out there…If you could only play one, which would it be?!?!?!?

Cheers,
DK

It’s happened to all of us…you catch wind of a new title coming out sometime down the line and your initial thought is “Wow…sounds kina cool.” You start researching a bit about it and quickly become entranced by the prospect of how good this gaming experience could be. You begin to spread the word, telling all that will listen that game XYZ is potential packed and that you’re “totally pumped” for its inevitable release. Months and months of hype contribute to your fanboy stupor and then you suddenly find yourself in line at your favorite local retailer picking it up with all of the sensations accompanied by a perfect Christmas morning.

Then, after rushing home, you pop the game in, sit back, and the suckage ensues…It’s happened more than a few times to me and I KNOW it’s happened to all of you. The fact is, in an industry where so much is possible, it seems that screwing up the potential is more of the norm than the exception. Sure, there are landmark titles, those amazing gems, the games we hold up as examples for what “interactive entertainment” truly means…and then there’s the games that SHOULD HAVE been great.

So, with that in mind, we’re asking you all to share your personal stories of regret and tell us which titles let you down in the worst of ways. Our Member BattleCry topic this week is:

WHICH GAME(S) DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST DISAPPOINTING OF ALL-TIME?

Obviously, the game you select doesn’t have to be specific to a console or time frame, and we encourage you to be completely honest, even if it means going against the grain and telling the world why you were let down by an otherwise well-regarded title. Just speak your mind about the matter in the comments section below and if you have a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT subject you’d like to sound off on, feel free to do that in below as well. As always, we’ll feature a new Member BattleCry each day here on EpicBattleAxe.com and then highlight the Member BattleCry of the week on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast. Lastly, be sure to chime in on our weekly poll…this week we’re asking you to get specific about a few titles and tell us which one was MORE disappointing to you!

Alright everyone, that’s all from me for now…Feel free to chime in below and let us know your thoughts as we kick off another epic week of Member BattleCries here on the ‘Axe!

Cheers,
DK

Hey everybody, DK here hoping you had a nice weekend and kicking off another week of Member BattleCries here on EpicBattleAxe.com. Now, in the most recent edition of EpicBattleCry (going live later today here on the ‘Axe), we discuss several different console-exclusives throughout the show. It got me to thinking about the importance of console exclusives and which ones you all think have the most value in the industry. Which exclusives are the biggest in all of gaming? Which ones are guaranteed system sellers and which of your favorites have stood the test of time? So with that in mind, I pose the following question to you in this week’s MBC Topic Starter:

WHICH CONSOLE-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE(S) DO YOU LOVE THE MOST AND WHY?

Now, remember, we’re talking about past, present, and future here. Perhaps a good side question to keep in mind when commenting would be, “Which franchise is most likely to make me buy a console in the future?” Of course, the discussion is open to any game, any genre, and any system. Just speak your mind and if you have a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT subject you’d like to sound off on, feel free to do that in the comments section below as well. As always, we’ll feature a new Member BattleCry each day here on EpicBattleAxe.com and then highlight the Member BattleCry of the week on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast. Oh yeah, don’t forget to vote in our poll this week on the console that you think has the best exclusives overall!

Cool gang, I’m really looking forward to hearing what you all have to say! Let’s kick off another great week of Member BattleCries right NOW!

Peace,
DK

What’s up everyone? DK here kicking off another week of Member BattleCries on EpicBattleAxe.com! If you missed out on the conversation last week, we had some really great submissions on the topic of genre defining Action/Adventure games. You can check out the post here and the featured Member BattleCries here.

Now, on to this week’s topic…With the release of BioShock 2 this week, I thought it’d be fun to step back and examine the games or franchises that deliver the deepest sense of immersion…Games dripping with atmosphere and standing apart from the crowd by being ANYTHING BUT GENERIC! The word “Atmospheric” is defined as “creating a distinctive mood”, so with that in mind, I pose the following question to you in this week’s MBC Topic Starter:

WHICH GAME OR FRANCHISE DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST IMMERSIVE OR ATMOSPHERIC AND WHY?

Of course, the discussion is open to any game, any genre, and really anything you want. Just keep it on topic and let us know your thoughts on the matter if you can pull yourself away from BioShock 2 long enough to do so. We’re also glad to hear from you if you have a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT subject you’d like to sound off on, so feel free to do that in the comments section below as well.

As always, we’ll feature a new Member BattleCry each day here on the ‘Axe and then highlight the Member BattleCry of the week on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast. Also, don’t forget to vote in our poll this week on the key elements that go into making a game immersive!

Alright, I’m looking forward to what you all have to say! Check back daily to see if your MBC has been featured and to see what all of the other ‘Axe Heads are saying.

Peace,
DK

Hey everybody, DK here getting another week of Member BattleCries rolling on EpicBattleAxe.com and after last week’s great conversation about the Role Playing Genre (here), I’m really stoked to check out what you all have to say about this week’s topic. Now, with the upcoming release of Dante’s Inferno and ensuing marketing blitz that will no doubt put the game on EVERYONE’s radar, it got me thinking about the action/adventure genre and what TRULY makes for a great experience within that realm. So, I’m opening the floor to you, the EBA Community, to speak your mind and let us know which action/adventure titles you think have set the bar. Here’s this week’s MBC topic:

WHICH ACTION/ADVENTURE GAMES DO YOU CONSIDER AS GENRE DEFINING AND WHY?

As always, there’s really no limit as to what you can submit. Any game, any genre, it’s all good. We want to know your thoughts on the topic as we prepare for Dante’s Inferno and of course God of War III. We’ll be featuring a new Member BattleCry each day here on the ‘Axe and then highlighting the Member BattleCry of the week on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast. Hey, speaking of Dante’s Inferno, be sure to cast your vote in this week’s EBA poll to let us know your level of expectation regarding the game.

Alright gang, let’s hear what you have to say! Check back daily to see if your MBC has been featured and to see what all of the other ‘Axe Heads are saying.

Cheers!
DK

What’s up everybody? DK here kicking off another week of epic Member BattleCries here on the ‘Axe and as always, we’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this week’s topic.

So, with the release of Mass Effect 2 pretty much taking over the gaming industry this week (something we discuss on Skirmish 061 of EpicBattleCry), it got me thinking about the RPG genre and how it has evolved. Obviously, there have been some standout titles over the years that helped push the genre forward…helped define what it is to be a “Role Playing Game”, and helped solidify how RPGs can serve as an example of the capabilities of interactive entertainment. With that in mind, I offer up this week’s Member BattleCry topic for you to discuss:

WHICH ROLE PLAYING GAMES DO YOU THINK HELPED DEFINE OR REVOLUTIONIZE THE GENRE?

Of course, we’re not limiting you to any specific time frame or era in gaming…We all know that the old-school RPGs are what paved the way for titles like Mass Effect 2, so don’t be shy when brining those up.

Anyway, I’m really looking forward to checking out what you all come up with. We’ll be selecting one post each day to feature as the Member BattleCry and then highlighting the Member BattleCry of the Week, which will be featured on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast.

Alright, I’m gonna leave you to it. Have fun and check back daily on the ‘Axe to see which MBCs get featured!

Peace,
DK

Hey everyone, DK here wishing all of you well and kicking off this week’s Member Battle Cries here on EpicBattleAxe.com. As always, you can sound off on ANYTHING that you want here in the Member BattleCry section…You’re completely free to rant and rave as you see fit, but per the norm, I like to get things started by kicking off each week with a question.

Now, anyone who watches our video podcast knows how we feel about Microsoft’s Natal. Instead of remaining negative though, I think it’s in the best interest of gamers to be proactive and attempt to inspire the development community with our ideas. We discuss this very topic on Skirmish 060 of EpicBattleCry and now I pose this question to you as part of this week’s Member BattleCry:

WHAT ARE YOUR GAMING IDEAS FOR MICROSOFT’S NATAL?

I think most hardcore gamers would agree that, while somewhat exciting, Microsoft has thus far failed to inspire us by SHOWING US what Natal is capable of. Hopefully our ideas will feed off one another and help inspire Microsoft and the game devs themselves. After all, we are the intended audience (well, mostly) and the ones who can help shape the future of interactive entertainment. As always, We’ll be selecting one post each day to feature as the Member BattleCry and then highlighting the Member BattleCry of the Week, which will be featured on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast.

OK gang, that’s all for now…Put your thinking caps on and let us hear whatcha got!

Hey everyone, DK here wishing all of you well and kicking off this week’s Member Battle Cries here on EpicBattleAxe.com. Of course, you’re always free to sound off on ANYTHING that you want…To rant or rave about something you think is interesting or absurd, but as always, I like to toss out a topic and get your feedback by kicking off the week with a question. This week, I’m asking for Member Battle Cries relating to “overlooked” or “under-rated” games. Ya know, those little gems in your gaming library that lie close to your heart, but might not have had the commercial success of the big boys. I’m asking this because I spent a good part of the weekend playing Darksiders and boy, lemme tell ya, I friggin’ love it! It’s not Halo, Gears of War, God of War, Zelda, etc., but it IS a very solid title and currently providing me with a memorable and more importantly FUN experience. I’ll be talking more about that later in the week, but for now, here’s my Q to U:

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE “UNDER THE RADAR” GAMES AND WHY?

You can talk about games from any generation of gaming…not just the current one. Hopefully, your BattleCries will turn some people on to games they forgot about or didn’t quite know of in the first place. We’ll be selecting one each day to feature as the Member BattleCry and then selecting the Member BattleCry of the Week, which will be featured on the next skirmish of the EpicBattleCry video podcast.

Well, that’s all from me…Now let’s hear from you! Use the comments section below, sound off, share your thoughts/memories, and HAVE FUN. Now, back to Darksiders…

Welcome one and all to the new year! We’ve been doing a lot of “virtual soul searching” if you will around here at the Axe as of late with commentary and community discussion on topics pertaining to the year/decade that was. It’s been really fun to get people’s opinion on the most innovative franchise of the past decade and find out what folks are looking forward to in the year ahead. Obviously, key to all of those answers is the developers behind the games we love so much. So, with that in mind, I’d like to use this week’s Member BattleCry topic starter to ignite a conversation about today’s most beloved game devs. Here’s the question:

WHICH CURRENT DEVELOPER DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST AND WHY?

Feel free to sound off in the comment section below and your fellow gamers know your thoughts on the matter. Wanna issue a BattleCry on an entirely different subject? Well, you can do that to! We’ll be checking this post all week long to gather our DAILY MEMBER BATTLE CRIES and of course our Member BattleCry of the week, which will be featured on next week’s edition of the EpicBattleCry video podcast.

Alright gang, fire away below…Keep the conversation productive and fanboy free! Looking forward to your replies.