2012 Video Game Predictions along with the 3DS, Vita and sports! http://www.ign.com/blogs/miketroy7/2012/01/06/2012-video-game-predictions-along-with-the-vita-and-sports/

Well in the year 2012 I expect big things coming for the gaming industry. To be more specific Nintendo is out for the biggest breakthrough, while Sony is the wildcard. Microsoft I don't expect as much from, but they will have a solid year like they always do. Nintendo is now hitting full stride for the 3DS and the swan song for the Nintendo Wii. The Wii just released it's last real AAA, major release in Skyward Sword, in which I predict to still steadily over the next few months. For readers who don't have a Wii, now is the time to pick one up, as great deals should be coming out for it; but be warned the newer Wii's do not have GameCube Support. We Wii players will be getting Xenoblade Chronicles, the game made famous from the infamous Operation Rainfall. Now let me tell you one thing as I have completed Xenoblade Chronciles...the game is good but not as great as people make it. What I really hope for is the Last Story game, in which I played it for a brief and was blown away by it's gameplay. Too bad i couldn't understand the language but I hope it has a good story; if it is localized people may skip it though which is unfortunate. The 3DS  is the major player. If you look at the numbers the 3DS has just hit the 4 million sales mark and is destroying the PSVita in Japan. And guess what? It can only get better for the 3DS. Here's a glimpse at our lineup: Luigi's Mansion 2, Kid Icarus, Tales of the Abyss, Paper Mario 3D, Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance (Japan), Monster Hunter (Japan), and possibly more rumors on Phoenix Wright v. Profesor Layton. That lineup alone is enough to make one giddy....now if only Ice White 3DS can come out here in the US so I can buy one. As another thing the Wii U is expected to be detailed by E3 so we will wait to see what will come. I can't lay out a prediction I have no information on; but I do predict sales will not be very good as the name of Wii U was a poor choice. Sony PS3 should be the best selling system of 2012. With a TON of first-party titles that just came out (and possibly more) packaged along with free online, expect sales to go up. The PS3 though is the thing, I am not worried about. I am worried about the PS Vita. The Vita has had one good week in Japan but otherwise has been a major disappointment and is already leading to "3DS price cut" rumors. Now first let me clarify something, Nintendo was able to cut the 3DS' price because even with the price cut it was still CHEAPER TO MAKE. Thus still for any person to understand, they still were able to make a profit. Now, Sony I am not too sure on the price of what it costs to make a Vita but if they were to cut the price it would probably be minimal. Remember this is a business and they need to maximize profit, so don't go rushing in for a price cut. Now on the side the Vita is very interesting and I would probably look into buying one come the holidays aka Q4 of the year. The Vita has the new OS system Sony runs called LiveArea which I am interested in and it has a somewhat good lineup. Overall though, the percs on the Vita are amazing but its price may drive many gamers away. [The memory card and video game prices must drop if the Vita doesn't!] Xbox has been about the Kinect and will continue to be so. But do not forget this is the year we are to get the new not Bungie Halo 4 and expect that to be the #1 game of the year. Halo 4 is so largely anticipate that this blog will be shaking just hearing the name! People are expecting noise about a new rumored Xbox but I don't believe we find out anything until the end of 2012.

Another prediction is that the media will stop overrating the iOS and android market and realize the difference between games and crap apps (maybe after Iphone 5 then two weeks later iPhone 5S3)

Sports predictions (I thought I would add another element) Patriots v. Packers Superbowl (packers win) NBA Finals Lakers v Heat (Lakers win in 6) World Series Yankees over Miami Marlins

[b]Overall recap[/b] Biggestsystem of the Year- 3DS (Nintendo) Biggest Flop- PS Vita Best Game- Halo 4 Most overrated game- Xenoblade Most hoped for game- Last Story

I wrote a previous 1 Day Impression on Sonic Generations in a past life (my old account lol) and now I forgot to write a full review of the game after I got 100% in 6 days of its release. Before you ask, no I did not return it to get a full discount, yes I am dumb.

So let's get started: I am a huge Sonic fan, I still own the SEGA Genesis and it is right next to my Dreamcast, both plugged in working condition, (Let's not forget my Gamegear in my closet), I own plushies of Sonic, have VHS' of his tv show, and have multiple Sonic comics from Archie. In addition I have played every Sonic game to date, so my credibility to this game should be substanital. Now I was not only excited for Sonic Generations, I was ready to denoate how happy I was for the game; especially since coming off a pretty good game of Sonic Colors. Now on to the game:

I am not going to go into the story I am just going to go straight into appeal factor. So, the game's graphics are not insane for a video game, they are very good,  especially for a Sonic game. The game is quite bright so a note to those who can't handle looking into the screen that is as bright as the sun, lower the brightness as the beginning brightness contraction line is a lie.

You start as classic Sonic in Green Hill Zone to start with the nostaglia. Unfortunately, although the world looks and sounds like Green Hill Zone, it is not (trust me). The "secret areas" in the first world are a lot harder to reach (which is good and bad) and untrue to Sonic 1 but true to Sonic 2, 3, &Knuckles, and CD, Sonic can spindash (which makes no sense because in Sonic 1 he could not and he makes the Sonic 1 jump noise...argh). The Green Hill Zone is pretty large, along with all of Sonic's new/old/classic stages, but obviously you can beat GHZ in under a minute as long you hit the right paths, but the days of finishing levels in 30 seconds -1 minute constantly are gone.

Now a complaint from me is Classic Sonic does not have the same 'gravity' as his 16-bit former self counterpart. To explain the game does not implement his speed + gravity = higher and longer jump in it. Also, when slown by a hill Sonic's jump (which used to be the key to getting out) is now pathetic. In addition to that, Sonic can not "screech" to the ground to slow him up or (use the, as I say advance Super Mario technique) or  control his jump (as you jump at higher speed but then you tap left or hold it a little bit to slow you up to reach small platforms).

OK, enough negatives:

The positives...well this first one I am neutral on, but the game is considerably easy as I have an S-rank in the every Act I have played. The game though has many sidequest missions and they are entertaining! You race aganist a doppleganger in either new or old Sonic, you have "skills challenge" which is my favorite as some implement moves from previous Sonic games to complete the mission (like fire, water, and lightning shield from Sonic 3), a friend's challenge (and YES you do get to change the voice actors to Japanese if you don't want to hear Amy and Knuckles horrible VA's), and other goodie surprises. The game does force you to play 3 missions to unlock new world's but it is all for the better. Also, the remixes of some of the songs are very well done; other's not so much (I'll list my favs at the bottom). The overworld hub is cool and hey guess what? The Red rings are not 'essential' anymore (unless you want a trophy or more skills)! They do unlock artwork and other bonus stuff for Sonic, but you do not need them as much anymore. There is a skill points shop, in which you generate credits by finishing level [where it determines your points scored to credits], so you can buy OLD skills for Sonic to make him better in the game.

Besides my complaints for old Sonic (being as he could be my favorite video game character) new Sonic has many faults as well. He cannot jump and boost at the same time (it is more of an air-dash) which counters his "new Sonic ways"  it gave away the awesome feeling of speed. His lockon skill has diminshed GREATLY from Sonic Adventure 2 & Unleashed as you have to wait for the game to lockon to enemies and it takes a while for it to do that (aka does not match up with the speed or my finger button speed who knows). And the game flips too much from 2d to 3d, as one  second you could be going down a 3d "racecar" style path, boom one slide it's 2d you have no boost and your lockon sucks.

While I do complain about Modern Sonic, I actually found his levels to be the most enjoyable. It was fun playing as him in all the levels....well maybe except in that Crisis City or whatever (both Sonic's it sucked there). Each level was "redone" and made better than could imagined. Both Classic and Modern Sonic levels were very long, had many ways to travel, and made you want to get that S-Rank. While I complain about the promise of Classic-Sonic levels just the way they were, I can understand you cannot make the same game or even replica of one thing, so I had to put that inner Sonic away.

Here are some negatives overall:

• The story was mediocre along with it's voice acting
• The inclusion of Shadow the Hedgehog game and not Unleashed (and the deferral of Sonic 3)
• The boss remake battles - they didn't have the same feeling
• Some of the mini-game levels like that Vector music note one (perfect example of bad homing attack and camera work)
• SHORT
• Easy to get an S in Acts

Now a run down of the enjoyable aspects:

• Very good graphics for a Sonic game
• Music while most of the OST is good here are my favorites: Hubworld remix of Escape from the City, Sky Sanctuary, Planet Wisp, Classic Remix of Escape from the City, Modern Remix Planet Wisp, Speed Highway
• While not necessarily easy for beginners, it had a moderate difficulty level for not a Sonic expert
• The 'collectopedia'
• I'm skeptical about this but the skill inclusion: as both Sonic's had major flaws, but the skills made them feel more like the real Sonic (although we should not be collecting skills in the first place!)
• Some of the difficult side-missions and the missions including your friends

Overall Grade: 8.8/10

Would you grade it different? Think I'm to hard on my idol?

Well I am here writing this very pointless little blog about what my gaming life has been September? Why September you may ask...well its because I can't remember anything before September, nothing.

Maybe it was because of my decision to took Nutrition 163 for the summer or the next two months after work a 40+ hr, 5 day a week job, or my 1 week escape to Disney World who knows? But well here's what I've done while derping in school:

• Halo Reach

(funny story this is my whole summer of gaming it came back to me while I was writing this post). Halo Reach is my favorite FPS ever and now that Christmas break is here, expect me to be on this game everyday of my life because my life ='s Halo. Also, this past summer was the first time I had LIVE that wasn't either of my brothers and getting all the achievements for them so YES

• Replayed Phoenix Wright 2 & 3

Phoenix Wright is my favorite game on the DS and I especially enjoyed the 3rd (Trials and Tribulations) so I decided what the heck let me replay the two, since I felt like I didn't truly appreciate #2 (Justice for All) and Godot is....awesome.

• Beat Dissidia 012 100% (so Dissidia 012, 013, 000, all the Reports)

Final Fantasy Dissidia is probably like an 8.2/10 maybe a little higher. It's a unique type of fighting game with a really odd battle system, piting the main characters of each respective game against each other and their villain counterparts.While I recommend the game to the hardcore Final Fantasy- enthusiast those looking for a new game or a challenge may like this game. Personally I did enjoy a little bit, it gets really slow and sometimes reptetivie but hey, a lot of games do. Btw after I beat Feral Chaos (the second one, there's a mankin version with like 27g hp) I have permanent swag. It was his 55437 hp to my 10321...my god the fight took 6 days and sleepless nights LOL.

• Beat Resistance 3

Uhh yeah I got the Resistance 3 game with my TV so I was like eh, I beat #2 might as well play and beat this game. I did, tried the 3D function (not that good on resistance), and enjoyed the game a lot more than the second one but still it was just eh, nothing special.

• Xenoblade Chronciles

Will write an article on this, but as you all know I am at the very end of the game and will write an impression/1st half article. And if everyone likes that I will make a spoiler article.

• Marvel vs Capcom 2

I play this game everyday.

• Sonic Generations

I got this game on day 1 and beat it 4 days later. Took me 10 days to get 100% everything, I enjoyed a lot and recommend to this all Sonic fans and newcomers and just gamers, it's a great game, although short. Here's my review incase you wanted to read:

http://www.ign.com/blogs/troyfullbuster/2011/12/10/sonic-generations-the-full-review

So now what's on my upcoming list:

• Get 3DS (when Ice white or Kh3D bundle is announced) [which would mean OoT3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Super Mario 3D land, Cave Story 3D, Mario Kart 7]
• Get Uncharted 3
• Skyrim
• Rayman Origins
• Possibly Halo Anniversary

Well, I mean this is my gaming life but my other life besides school is movies and tv which was basically: Family Guy American Dad Robot Chicken That 70s Show Spongebob Adventure Time Regular Show Durarara!! Fairy Tail (all shows were new seasons/episodes except most of spongebob [I hate new spongebob] and obviously that 70s show) Movies: I saw like all of em and Sherlock Holmes 2 will be this week recently watched: the sitter previous, the muppets Yep....what do you guys have/want?

Pokemon is a role-playing video game I am sure everyone on Earth has heard of. The game has various spin-offs to kick off with its main series game (mangas, animes, movies, merchandise, card-games, etc.) and while many people do try to bring down the series; we have all at least tried to play the game.

I remember when I first got my Pokemon game (Blue, my brother got Red) in the spring of 1999 *it came out in 1998 September and man was I hooked. The freedom of choosing your own "starter", meeting your rival, learning how there are 151 pokemon, and so many more things. The combat system was easy to learn for anyone, the "exploring" in the main world is addicting, making you want to talk to everybody and check every cave as you don't know what lies ahead or what they would give you, and who doesn't love the songs the Pokemon OST has to offer.

The game expanded, with popularity from its anime as well, into Yellow and the Pokemon Trading Card Game, and that is where Pokemon finally hit its stride. The anime was doing so well, it had movies released in major theaters, and then theaters would give special trading cards to those who went, to get you into the PTCG (my dad was able to get me every pokemon movie card lol). Pokemon Yellow was amazing, as it correlated mainly with the anime as you were able to get all 3 original starters (not able to be done unless by trade in Red and Blue) and you could have Pikachu follow you!! [don't forget surfing and flying Pikachu].

Nintendo, building off this success, soon went with another 150 to the Gold and Silver (later Crystal series). But, the fade started to die a bit as Yugi-Oh! and Digimon came into play, in a sense clones. Yugioh was able to take away the trading card game from Pokemon (which even released a Gameboy game for it, but thank goodness for Yugioh there) and Digimon had a little more serious tone to its series than Pokemon, and used tamagotchi's to win over many people.

This is where the fan bases started to seperate, but it never did really affect Pokemon all too hard. More and more series were released, along with many spinoffs, and Pikachu becoming an icon like Mario.

Now to get what I meant by Pokemon will never be old. Pokemon, has come along way since 1998, but if you play Black or White today, you see many things have not changed. While, yes, there are hardcore gamers who know the formulas to affect attribute stats, and Pokemon moods now, the game is still as easily accessible and able to be taught to a 5 or 50 year old! Pokemon still is able to keep the random battle generator annoying, but fun, and battling with your friends still leaves that satisfaction of ass-kicking.

To have a game anyone can learn is key to a game industry. In addition, sometimes new players to the game can go back and play the old ones, without having to "learn an entire new game". Say you love Sonic Adventure so you want to get into the series and play Sonic 3 or same with Super Mario 64 and Super Mario World, they are completely different games; while Pokemon it has stood the same throughout time.

I used to be a super Pokemon fanatic, but now I have waned down to still playing it on my R4 or my classic Yellow on my Gameboy SP or Color (whatever is closest lol) and still enjoy the game. [I also still cry when my save file gets deleted or corrupted ugh]

*side note don't get the wrong idea Pokemon is no where near my top 10 games of all time and has no edge over Mario, Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda, or Sonic in my eyes but it is something every gamer must try or at least acknowledge in respect of video games.

Every game needs to have good music. It is the secret factor that lures people back to playing their games [just kidding...or am I?]. A sad fact is most of my iPod consists of video game tracks and I just wanted to list some of the songs that are constantly played or thought of in my head.

*note Some of the songs here are a fan's variation of the song [like Piano version of song "X" etc.

1- FFXIII Piano Collections Lightning's Theme/Blinded By Light

As much as I hate the atrocity and pure crap FFXIII is; Lightning's theme played on the original OST is amazing, but then I heard the piano collections version of it and I was taken away. I am something of a piano savant and let me tell you this is pure perfection.

2- Pokemon Red & Blue vs Gym Leader

Seriously, this song, just the feeling it brings back when I was kid versing a gym leader. Ugh and when they would full restore or I'd be down a pokemon and be like come on!!!!!

3- Sonic Adventure 2 City Escape (and the Sonic Generations 'Classic' Mix on it)

This song is like....if you didn't want to get up and start running around like you were Sonic, then WHAT WERE YOU EVEN DOING PLAYING SA2!? Runner ups for Sonic [there are many since I find Sonic to have the best soundtrack of all time but : Chrome Gadget Sonic 3, Sky Sanctuary Sonic & Knuckles, Green Hill Zone, Marble Zone, Flying Battery Zone Sonic 3, Ice Cap Zone Sonic 3, Aquatic Ruin Zone Sonic 2)

4- Donkey Kong Country 2- Brambles [I am putting the stickerbrush symphony/ piano version]

DKC2 is one my favorite games of all time, but hearing this when you are in the mine cavern's working your way up on these annoying levels, just makes it all the better. It fits the theme perfectly, a constant beat, with echo-type sounds that go from low to high pitch, and just the whole game and its soundtrack are a masterpiece. *(Runner up in DKC's K.Rool Theme (last boss)

5- Bomberman 64 Redial

I know I know Bomberman64 is a disappointment or bad game to most, but this song is definitely not a part of the bad, not one bit! While Bomberman was at his highpoint during the SNES during his SuperBomberman series, no track was more addicting than this

6- LoZ: Ocarina of Time- Gerudo Valley

Who didn't see this coming? Gerudo Valley is just the definition of an adventure song. From the moment you traveled the desert with Link, everyone who played Ocarina of Time probably just wanted to hangout in the desert all day (unfortunately those constant green baddies [don't remember their name] kept you on your feet). I play this song sometimes on my walk home or in Manhattan...it's epic. (LoZ: Runner ups- Ocarina of Time Theme Song, Link to the Past theme song, Termina Field Majora's Mask)

7- Super Mario Bros

I will not put a link up because of this classic tune is already in everyone's head and mind. But keep in mind the Underground theme (1-2) is good, the koopa bros battle (paper mario), vs Ice King (paper mario), super mario galaxy gusty garden galaxy, and the super mario land water theme.

8- Marvel vs Capcom 2 Clock Tower

MvC2 is my favorite fighting game and while it does not bring the typical fighting game music to its insanely amazing gameplay, the jazz is a warm welcome.

9- Phoenix Wright (3)- Trials and Tribulations Mask DeMasque Theme

Phoenix Wright 3 is my favorite in the series and not only does the game have an awesome story, addictive gameplay, and funny lines, but a soundtrack to boot as well. (Godot's Theme Fragrance of Dark Coffee was the runner up)

10 - Megaman X- Boomer Kuwanger Stage

Megaman series has as many good songs (probably more than Sonic) but Kuwanger just stuck in my head all these years. Megaman 2 possibly every soundtrack in the game is awesome but wow let's go megaman!

Here's someone's top 10

That's it guys I could think of more (spryo, crash bandicoot, darius twins, etc) but hey

anyone you guys like more?

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