Due to my colleague at Zombiegamer having way too much coffee this morning and covering every last bit of gaming news that matters, I found myself digging around and picked up on a bizarre gamer’s love story. Shortlist entertainment online mag are reporting on one, Eric Smith who custom designed an engagement ring to propose to his girlfriend with.

Unfortunately she dumped him and being the avid gamer he is, he sold the ring on eBay and commissioned an artist to create a full scale suit of armor modeled after Master Chief from Halo.

To help in the pursuit of finding a new love interest, personally, I would have suggested a Baird from Gears of War makeover… but everyone to themselves I suppose.

For sometime now, we at Zombiegamer have been not getting that thrill with gaming that we were so used to. Personally, I found myself bored with a game a few hours into it, game after game. I don’t know if it’s the age, or just playing too many gamers, but I was just not getting my fix. And so I finally found something to let me retire the “controller”, and its not a keyboard and mouse I assure you.

I then got invited to a social event at a mate’s house. After some lekker braai meat and some drinks out came 30 Seconds. One of the more popular board games where you have 30 seconds to explain to your partner the words on the cards, without actually saying the word. One hour turned to five and I found myself “thrilled” as I was with the type before that I was so taken with.

I promptly bought the game and when investigated forums and what else goes with this, I came across the The Gamers Society. It is basically people of all ages that love board games of all kind.

So long story short, we discussed this amongst ourselves and decided that there is a market for a blog for board games> Harold Jansen, President of The Gamers Society explained to me that “our society consists of almost 38% of previous video gamers,” and continued to explain that “when the audio-visual hand-to-eye stimulation no longer quenches the brain to ‘game’, board games fill that gap.” So because a large number of these people where gamers like you and I, they more than likely frequent blogs and forums etc. And in enters Zombiegamer – The board gaming blog. Look out for our first review early next week on the smash hit Battle of the Sexes. Oh, and have a happy April Fools Day.

South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, who is an outspoken opponent of violent videogames, has said that his family is more at risk from angry video gamers than outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Atkinson revealed in an interview that a “threatening note from a gamer” was placed under his door early one morning. He said that he felt that him and his family “are more at risk from gamers than we are from the outlaw motorcycle gangs” who apparently also hate me and are even running a candidate against him. Atkinson was involved in introducing tough new laws to outlaw biker gangs in South Australia several years ago.

You can only laugh at stories like this. Putting an entire group in a ‘pigeon hole’ like that is just ridiculous if you ask me. I mean one gamer did this and he is putting us all in the picture. Absurd!

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A German magazine PCGames has published the first few details on Crytek’s Crysis 2 which is a port from pc to consoles. And it is sounding very good indeed.

The game takes place three years after the first game in a devastated New York City where, Crytek says, players will experience plenty of surprises as well as a deeper storyline than the studio’s previous games have offered. The protagonist’s Nanosuit 2, which Crytek is very proud of, has been changed up a bit too. Going beyond the different looks, a new ‘tactics’ mode has been introduced, a mode that will help players gather information about the environment, enemy positions, as well as find out information about fallen soldiers. The suit still has a total of four modes but, as many players requested, the ‘power’ and ’speed’ modes have been combined. The destroyed big city setting allows Crytek to do more vertical level design that in turn will give more gameplay options — planning an attack from above, for example.

That VideoGameBlog reported that the article in the magazine says that it is, “one of the best looking games available on any system.” Which give me more confidence in this being a big title to watch.

Infinity Ward will be releasing new content for Modern Warfare 2 but the kicker is that they will first release it on the Xbox 360 for one month, then PC and Playstation 3.

A Microsoft representative told Eurogamer, “We have a 30-day timed exclusive on the Modern Warfare content packs. So it will be available on other platforms, but you get to try and play on Xbox 360 first.”

We should be getting this around March and the first two map packs will included in this deal.

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I saw this article on PS3 Vault whom I respect for taking the initiative to post on their site. By now we all know of the devastating situation in Haiti who were struck with the biggest earthquake in 200 years. So gamers alike can spare anything they could possibly by donating to the relief effort. The American Red Cross would probably be the best and quickest way to get your donation to assist the people in need. The article also mentions that CNN has an excellent list of organizations you can donate too, including some international organizations.

I know most of us are having tough times, but it is things like this that reminds us that thing can always get worse. So if you can spare anything please visit the following links:

• American Red Cross.
• CNN Relief links.

We would just like to wish our supporters a happy gaming year in 2010. May you get all the achievements or trophies you have set your mind on.

We should be back up and running in a few days, bringing you news, previews, reviews and all things gaming. Look out for our first review which should be the awesome looking Bayonetta. So you can get a ZA insight on the game.

Peace and love to all zombies around the world.

Yes, between them all, there are some original IPs coming, but the most anticipated games are looking to be sequels, prequels or extensions of existing IPs.  Maybe I’m being a little cynical, but isn’t that playing it a little safe and milking the consumer a bit?  Or maybe I should learn to be more grateful, because admittedly, the list of games coming next year is awesome.

Microsoft has already said that they will have no less than one Triple-A Xbox 360-exclusive titles a month for the first half of the year.  Speaking on Major Nelson’s podcast, Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg confirmed that both Alan Wake and Crackdown 2 would receive 2010 retail releases in the first half of the year.

“Starting in January we have like a triple A exclusive title pretty much every month for the first half of the year,” explained Greenberg. “You’ve got Mass Effect 2, you’ve got Splinter Cell, you’ve got Alan Wake, you’ve got Crackdown 2…you’ve got things like Fable 3 and Halo: Reach coming later that year. Those are just the exclusives.”

So, what can we expect next year?  While this list isn’t complete and release dates are not given, it really does give an indication of what to expect next year, the year of the sequels – trademark pending…

Original IP’s

We can expect Bayonetta, the Devil May Cry-alike with an admittedly sexy protagonist, but it’s first problem is it isn’t strictly speaking a 2010 release, but a 2009 release.  A couple of ‘dark’ games, in name and/or matter – Darksiders, Dante’s Inferno and Dark Void.  A few possible throw away titles like RUSE, Prison Break and Singularity (anyone remember Timeshift?).  Some potential sleeper hits in Metro 2033, and Alpha Protocol.  And some truly overdue titles like Alan Wake, Heist and Heavy Rain.  Not a terrible list of games in their own right (except Prison Break), but just have a peak below, and prepare to be truly excited…unless you don’t have a pulse.

The Sequels, Prequels and IP Extensions

Let’s cut to the chase, there are all the obvious franchises that’ll be churned out in 2010.  FIFA, Madden, NBA, Wrestling, Tiger Woods PGA Tour (maybe not…) and every other title ending in a 2009/2010 this year will get a release next year.  Every rhythm game known to man will get a new release, whether via a number or some or other current flavour of the month band.

After that, there are lots to get excited about.  Some long running franchises have some old friends visit: Max Payne 3, Splinter Cell: Conviction, God of War 3, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Prince of Persia, Castlevania, Final Fantasy XIII, Fable 3, Gran Turismo 5, Halo Reach and a new Ghost Recon – although its official full name is not 100% clear yet.

Some newer franchises strike with their second offerings, and these are where some of the real gems for next year lie.  Bioshock 2 arrives complete with multiplayer.  Batman 2 has been announced, but let’s be honest will probably slip into 2011.  Dead Rising 2 – the original Xbox 360 zombie kill-a-thon comes and also adds a multiplayer component.  Crackdown 2 will muscle itself in and hopefully carry on with the quality of the first one.  The scariest game ever, Dead Space might still sneak in with Dead Space 2 this year, but there are indications it might miss out and arrive only in 2011.

A group of old sleeper hits have their sequels grace your preferred platform next year.  Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2, Just Cause 2, Kane & Lynch 2, Mafia 2, Lost Planet 2, True Crime and Army of Two: The 40^th Day all look very promising.

Rockstar Games releases the cowboy game to end all cowboy games (hopefully) – Red Dead Redemption, the follow up to Red Dead Revolver.  There is also Aliens vs Predator and Dead to Rights: Retribution which also come from existing franchises.

I Leave You With This…

2009 had some fantastic new IP’s that, along with some obvious high quality sequels, came and stole the year: Batman, Borderlands and Prototype to name a few.  I think my concern for next year is that there aren’t too many quality new IP’s on the horizon that will be competing for GOTY come the end of 2010…although I might be proved wrong still.  Roll on 2010 and happy gaming to all – if the Bank Manager is willing…

I am officially going on leave as of tomorrow, so I will be spending some much needed time with my wife and daughter. I will be making some guest appearances here and there but generally slowing down for the festive season.

I would just like to thank all our readers for supporting us by reading, the other zombies for all their effort and distributors who support us.

So from me to you…