2011 was one heck of a year for gaming. Once again, the Call of Duty franchise set records for the largest entertainment launch in history. A game that was only in Beta was able to sell millions of copies and spawn an ungodly large community to the point they had a convention before the game was officially released. There were tons of critical darlings encouraging developers to rethink how they create games.
Take a look this week at the awards The Flickcast (along with The Bitcast team) are proud to present for gaming in 2011

Think Outside the Box Game: Portal 2

While many may argue that Minecraft may be the most deserving of this award, they need to remember one thing. In Minecraft, there are no rules. The expanses of the box are too extreme to find the outer boundaries of. Within Portal 2, players are asked to explore new viewpoints of physics, matter and… well, portals. The puzzles in Portal 2 completely overtake the complexity and creativity of the original, which in itself was groundbreaking. With additional toys at their disposal and the introduction of a cooperative mode, the team at Valve came up with a game that redefined both the puzzle solving and FPS genres all at once.

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Saturday night, Spike TV held its annual Video Game Awards show which, as promised, gave the first looks at some huge trailers for 2012′s gaming landscape.

Naughty Dog gets to step away from their blockbuster Uncharted series to work on a new IP titled The Last of Us. This new title takes a different approach from the recent string of zombie / infected scenarios where it looks like it can be a game of stealth and horror mixed together. It isn’t a world like Dead Rising or Left 4 Dead where the creatures flood the street and makes the possibility of combining the stealth and horror genres pretty intriguing.

This has the possibility of becoming a fantastic PlayStation exclusive franchise. The trailer for The Last of Us is definitely one of the great surprises from the VGAs this year.

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Welcome back to another episode of The Bitcast, our very own video game only podcast hosted by JC and WallE. The boys hit lots of big news this week including the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sales records, Activision’s multimillion dollar charity donation, Limbo hitting its millionth sale and discuss the upcoming Dead Island DLC.

In the Topic of the Week, the two discuss the ever decreasing distance of video games and reality and when that line is crossed. In their Now Playing Section, JC talks more about his experience with Modern Warfare 3 as well as his $0.99 download of Scribblenauts Remixed for the iOS.

WallE takes an unexpected turn and talks about the Flash “game” from PETA that tries to target Mario for the reintroduction of the Tanooki suit in Mario Bros. 3D Land for the Nintendo 3Ds.

Don’t forget to subcribe to The Flickcast’s iTunes feed to get your weekly dose of The Bitcast!

The world of video games and the world of toys have always had an interesting dynamic. Many people will remember the main outlet for purchasing their original NES games was from the cage at Toys R Us. Then, as gaming evolved and players matured along with the content of the titles, video games began getting their own stores and found their way into electronics superstores like Best Buy.

As that happened, many people began their arguments that video games were a form of art and not just simple boys. But… why can’t we have both? Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure works behind the concept of “Bring Your Toys To Life” where players blur the lines between their collectible figures and their gaming console experiences.

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The Flickcast and the world got their first look at Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure back at Toy Fair.  Activision has come up with a way to combine the collectible aspect of high detail model toys along with the addictive nature of a classic dungeon crawling action game. Don’t let the word “toy” or the game’s lighthearted graphics fool you. Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure is going to be full of depth.

While the game won’t be as intense in terms of upgrades and item management like a title like Mass Effect, it won’t be a slouch either. Players will need to work through levels, upgrading powers to further both their exploration experience and combat prowess. Being able to save these stats to a fancy action figure that they can bring to their friend’s console to play is just an added bonus.

With PAX this weekend, Activision has released a bundle of new screen shots and character vignettes for the game. This batch focuses on Dark Spyro, Bash, Sonic Boom, Stealth Elf and Voodood. Make sure to take a look at all these characters have to offer below.

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As much pressure as a movie game has on it, Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is getting an extra added dose as it is the first video game based on the DC comic book property as well. While various Green Lanterns have been featured as supporting cast in other games such as Justice League Heroes, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and DC Universe Online , this will be the first time Hal Jordan will be taking the starring role.

More important than the game’s graphics, story or even voice acting comes the question, will the game make a player feel like the Green Lantern? Some games recently have done a great job putting players in to the role of their headline hero and let players blissfully experience the super hero feel that they expect like Batman: Arkham Asylum or Wolverine: Origins.

Others haven’t been so successful, with the notable example being pretty much any Superman game ever created as the invincible Man of Steel seems to always constantly be in danger of dying.

When it comes to the Green Lantern, especially Hal Jordan, the use of the ring to create solid light constructs is paramount. While some Lanterns just shoot bolts of light, Hal has the creativity of someone from planet Earth backing him, resulting in everything from baseball bats to machine guns.

Take a peek below at how Warner Bros. Interactive has incorporated these concepts in to the in game combat of Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters. While we haven’t gotten our hands on the title yet, seeing these images gives us hope that they understand the excitement behind the prospect of playing as Hal Jordan.

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With the upcoming Green Lantern eature film drawing ever closer to release, it is no surprise that there will be a licensed game title coming out around the same time. Enter Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters which will be coming out for the XBox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS.

Harness the power of the ultimate weapon! Inspired by the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures’ superhero feature film Green Lantern, Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters soars onto game consoles this summer, extending the theatrical experience of one of DC Entertainment’s most popular superheroes. Playing as gifted pilot Hal Jordan, the first human Green Lantern, gamers will create an arsenal of ring constructs and take flight in outer space and beyond to restore intergalactic order. Players will use the Power Ring to build an array of weapons from green energy to defeat the Manhunters – an evil android race bent on destroying the Green Lantern Corps.

Set for June 2011 release, Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters will place players in the role of Hal Jordan, the first Green Lantern of Earth, defending Oa from a group of Manhunter androids bent on the destruction of the Corps. The XBox 360 and PlayStation versions will feature the likeness and voiceacting of the film’s star, Ryan Reynolds.

Also exclusive to the next-gen consoles will be optional 3D:

Xbox 360 and PS3™ gamers can play in anaglyphic 3D with technology that is compatible with all standard TV sets and visible while wearing the 3D glasses that come packaged with the videogame product. Fans can also enjoy the game in stereoscopic 3D when playing on any 3D HDTV while wearing active shutter glasses that are compatible with the television.

As you can already see from the screens and trailer below, the game looks to capture some of the more iconic moments of Green Lantern’s combat whether it is creating power beams to shoot enemies to extra large firsts or even complex devices like a Gatling gun for combat. Take a look for yourself and let us know what you think so far about Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters after the jump.

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When people think of Disney, 999 times out of a 1000, Mickey Mouse is the first thing to come to mind. While some people may be the oddball who thinks of Goofy, Donald or even the lovable Stitch, Mickey is the icon of the company.

And even though he is Walt Disney’s most famous creation dating back to 1928, he is not the first. One of Walt’s earlier creations, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, is brought back to center stage alongside Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s first true solo adventure in years on any platform, and his first on the Wii.

Disney Epic Mickey was created by industry legend, Warren Spector. Also the general manager and creative director at Junction Point Studios, Warren is best known for being the director of the 1997 hit Deus Ex. Focusing on a game where “playstyle matters”, Spector spoke about a game that would change the way people feel about Mickey and the way they interacted with him in this world.

Gameplay:

Choice is a big factor in the world of Disney Epic Mickey. First and foremost, people get to choose if they want to play as Mickey “the creator” or Mickey “the destroyer”. Those these aren’t official names for the lovable mouse, that’s how the game’s basic mechanics break down. During gameplay, players are equipped with a magical brush that either shoots out paint or paint thinner. As you’d expect, paint allows Mickey to create objects while thinner destroys them. The paint can also be used in combat to coat enemies until they decide to befriend Mickey while thinner sticks to destroying the pesky ink blot foes.

Mickey will also be able to use these actions to decide how to deal with some of the quests presented to him through the course of the game. Do you help paint someone’s house or just erase them from existence? Ultimately, these choices will determine rewards for completing quests, depending on the method taken, as well as interactions with characters later in the game. The Pete’s aren’t going to be too fond of Mickey if he has thinned their brothers off of Wasteland.

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James Bond returns to familiar territory in Goldeneye 007 for Wii, which is a remake of the much-loved classic Goldeneye 007 for Nintendo 64. However, there’s a lot of changes in this new Wii version, and all of them are wise ones.

Daniel Craig’s Bond is now our star, and the gameplay is familiar yet foreign, allowing for a sense of nostalgia while still bringing a unique and new game to the Wii in the form of Goldeneye 007.

In Goldeneye 007 for Wii, the plot and gameplay of the Nintendo 64 game is maintained, but tailored to the Wii in a way that really works. Graphics are updated, and the story is tailored to fit Daniel Craig’s portrayal of Bond, details that make Craig’s appearance in this game make sense and bring a fresh experience to both newcomers to 007 and die-hard fans.

Transitions between gameplay and cut-scenes are seamless in this game, making it really enjoyable to experience the story of Goldeneye, whether you’re a fan of Bond or just a lover of a good ol’ fashioned shooter. Because we haven’t gotten a James Bond movie in quite some time, the top-notch cinematics and voice acting from Daniel Craig and Judie Dench almost make up for that.

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No game was more popular at the Nintendo booth at this year’s New York Comic Con than Kirby’s Epic Yarn, the first Kirby game since 2003.

Gameplay-wise, Kirby’s Epic Yarn is pretty straight forward. Using the Wii-mote, you navigate Kirby through the world. Using a whip, you can attack enemies, throw objects, and pull back portions of the world to reveal new areas. While watching the game, I saw two little kids playing multiplayer, who rather than helping eachother through the level, were whipping eachother

Visually, this game is absolutely gorgeous. Though the footage released in June at E3 made this apparent, I wasn’t prepared for just how good this game looks in person. I don’t think any game has ever showed off what the Wii is capable of until Kirby’s Epic Yarn and I hope other developers follow suit.

Kirby’s Epic Yarn, much like Donkey Kong Country Returns, seems to be easy enough for both the most experienced players and the younger newcomers. It seems that, this holiday season, Nintendo is certainly playing to the younger crowd.

But honestly, after experiencing these two games, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

It’s always great when a franchise finally gets a sequel, which is why Donkey Kong Country Returns was one of the most exciting games announced for the Nintendo Wii at this year’s E3. I made my way to Nintendo’s booth at New York Comic Con, where I was able to take DKCR for a spin.

Donkey Kong Country looks great, and it plays great too. Like other Wii games, players can choose to use the Wii-mote and nunchuk, or just hold the Wii-mote sideways as they move Donkey Kong and DK through the side-scrolling levels, collecting bananas and bashing baddies along the way.

I was able to experience the two-player mode of DKCR, which was one of the reasons I was most excited about this game. Multiplayer in DKCR is incredibly fun, especially because either player can contribute as little or as much as they’d like. DK can hop onto Donkey Kong’s back and hurdle bananas at enemies while Donkey Kong runs through the level, or each player can play independently and help eachother complete the level.

This is going to be a great game for kids and adults to play together, because players of all different experience levels can still experience the game fully. Similar to New Super Marios Bros., when players die they are easily brought back to life and can continue

Donkey Kong Country Returns is a fun addition to the Donkey Kong franchise, and a sure hit for both kids and adults alike. The game will be out just in time for the holiday season, since you’ll be able to pick it up on November 21st exclusively for the Nintendo Wii.

Ever since E3, Lost in Shadow is one of those games that I just had to try for myself before I made any decisions. Luckily, I was able to fight the crowds at last weekend’s New York Comic Con and secure myself a few minutes with this intriguing side-scrolling adventure, which I surely but quickly became enamored with.

In Lost in Shadow, you play as the shadow of a young boy that has been separated from his body for unknown reasons. By manipulating the physical world using his companion, a sylph, players traverse through the shadow world solving puzzles, collecting “memories” (these basically serve as hit points), and defeating any shadow beasts that may lie in the boy’s path, all in order to climb the tower where the boy’s body lies waiting for his shadow to return.

This game is so impressive because it really shows off the Wii in a variety of ways. With an easy to use control scheme that doesn’t rely too much on motion control and gorgeous art design, this game makes a big impression right away. When I took over the controls and started running around the starting level, I never found myself fumbling over the controls or forgetting which button did what.

Overall, my short time with Lost in Shadow was enough to more than sell me on the game. Be sure to check back here at The Flickcast for updates about Lost in Shadow before its release on January 4th.