The Top 12 Gaming Waifus Of 2014 (Spoilers)

by Josh JacksonDecember 30, 2014

Since I first selected Chun-Li at that laundromat Street Fighter II arcade so many years ago, I quickly learned a lesson that has stuck with me throughout all my years of gaming; that girls are just better characters. Sorry guys, but it’s true. As a matter of fact, unbeknownst to some people, (like Derek) many a gamer have associated their favorite female game characters as their “waifu”. Whether or not you associate this term as a girl you would marry, a character you admire, or just an all-around bad ass chick, 2014 surely wasn’t short of some incredible female heroines to draw inspiration from. Thankfully, we’ve compiled 12 characters from 2014 who are certified waifu material, using their power, brains, beauty, or sometimes all three, to leave their own mark on their games and our heats. So without further ado…

Honorable Mentions: Chihiro Fujisaki (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc) and Princess Kenny (South Park: Stick Of Truth)

Chihiro was an early standout in the first Danganronpa. As the Ultimate Programmer, the genius level intellect required for such a title was held back by a timid personality and severe self esteem issues. Early into the story, she decides that enough is enough, and takes steps to become stronger in an attempt to help her friends survive the horrors of the Hope’s Peak Academy killing game. Although things take a turn for the tragic early in the story, Chihiro’s legacy lives on through Alter Ego, an A.I. that would not only create a window for the survivors to escape, but played an important role in the second game as well! Her strength finally showed through. It’s just too bad she wasn’t around to see it.

Princess Kenny on the other hand, is a powerful archer with the power to control animals. As the most kawaii princess in all of South Park, she proves to be a valuable asset in the fight for the Stick of Truth. But behind that gorgeous smile, those flowing locks, and that orange hood hides something much more sinister.

Obviously, these are strong qualities that anyone would want from their perfect waifu. So why aren’t they on the list? Well… Neither of them are actually girls. Chihiro took on the identity of a woman since he felt like he was too weak to be a man, (with Japanese gender roles firmly in play), while Princess Kenny is obviously just Kenny roleplaying as a woman. Still, these “ladies” managed to leave a huge mark on 2014, being prominently featured in two of the best games of the year. They’re everything you would want in a strong female character. You know… except for the “female” part.

Miigan (Tomodachi Life)

Tomodachi Life puts Mii’s on an island and allows them to live out their life in a multitude of crazy ways. Whether or not they want to make friends, fight their neighbors, or have a nightly rap battle, one thing that even Mii’s can’t escape is the call of marriage.

Enter Miigan, the Mii based on my real wife. Even more shocking than the fact that a woman actually decided to marry me, was the fact that my Mii was dumb enough to plant her firmly in the friendzone, despite hanging out constantly and being labeled as each other’s favorite person. Well, it’s okay in the end. Miigan ran off and got married to the local transient by the name of Hungry Hungry Hobo, while InuJoshua floats around the island with Fils-A-Mech in a sad, lonely stupor. All’s well that ends well, right?

Toadette (Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker)

As Captain Toad’s loyal assistant, Toadette is just as capable as her boss, solving puzzles, uncovering treasure, and chasing adventure with the best of them. While she may start off kidnapped, she gets a real chance to shine when the tables are turned and she has to rescue the Captain. Eventually, she gets tired of the whole damsel in distress role, and rescues herself late in the game. So what if Toad’s are technically asexual? That doesn’t change the fact that in a game full of treasure, Toadette is the most precious of all.

Bayonetta (Bayonetta 2)

The witch is back! Bayonetta completely understands what it means to use her immense power to her advantage. Whether its destroying enemy angels with her powerful summons, toppling giant bosses with over the top attacks, or trolling opponents with her sexuality, she definitely isn’t a woman to mess with. The only thing keeping her from being higher on the list is that the thought of being someone’s waifu would probably result with a bullet in someone’s head.

Espella Cantabella (Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)

The mysterious woman who is the catalyst for bringing the Top Hat Professor and the Ace Attorney together. While her potential status as a witch is a major plot point that the two continuously try to refute, the one thing that’s apparent is her unwavering strength when it comes to protecting the people she cares about. Any doubt is erased at the point where she volunteers to be executed as the Great Witch Bezella, all in the hopes that the witch trials will cease with her death. While things don’t go exactly as planned, (on top of her background causing additional trouble for our heroes after the fact,) there’s no doubt that this newcomer holds her own in the presence of such legendary characters.

Palutena (Super Smash Bros for 3DS/Wii U)

The Goddess of Light makes her playable debut in the latest Smash Bros., and she’s just as endearing as she was in Kid Icarus: Uprising. Not only does she have the distinction of being the character with the largest range of unique custom moves, but she even takes the time to give Pit advice between fights if certain conditions are met. Compassionate, wise and nurturing, yet powerful, funny, and a sarcastic jerk. She reminds me why she was one of the best parts of that incredible 3DS game from two years ago. Now, can we PLEASE get an Amiibo for her?

Princess Zelda (Hyrule Warriors)

It’s never been a secret that Princess Zelda is one of the most powerful beings in all of the Zelda universe. Often seen as too huge of a threat to Ganon’s power to allow to run free, she’s typically forced to support Link from the background while either in hiding, or flat out kidnapped. That all changes in Hyrule Warriors, where she finally gets to put that power to use. Fighting as both a powerful fencer and a magic wielding ninja in her Sheik form, using her was a definite highlight from one of the biggest surprise hits of the year for me. Just try to kidnap her now. We’ll wait…

Yukiko Amagi/Yukari Takeba (Persona 4 Arena Ultimax/Persona Q)

It’s true that Persona 3 was far from the first “Waifu Simulator”, a game that allows you to build relationships with your party members, (with a bit of romance thrown in when approaching the ladies,) but it’s definitely credited with making them popular in the West. For my money, Yukari and Yukiko were the top Waifu’s from 3 and 4 respectively. Seeing them return with their powerful spells, the Personas they control, and the revelation that Yukari is a freaking Power Ranger in Arena, combined with the attachment built from their core games, make them easy inclusions. But most importantly? They starred in two games this year! That’s a lot of Waifu to go around.

Kohaku (Tales Of Hearts R)

In the world of Tales of Hearts R, a person’s power and personality is shaped by their Spira, a crystallized manifestation a person’s spirit. As the girl with the perfect Spira, Kohaku has the perfect balance of emotions, partially due to a goddess that resides within it. Obviously, this becomes problematic when protagonist/bumbling idiot, Kor Meteor, shatters it in an attempt to save her. When the shards of her Spira scatter across the world, this sparks an adventure that pits Kor, Kohaku and their party against various enemies who would want to her power for their own means. But damn it, if you weren’t endeared by the girl’s personality, especially with her reactions as each emotion is put back into her, then we can’t be friends.

Yuelia (Fantasy Life)

As the daughter of the Goddess who saved the land of Reveria from certain doom decades prior, Yuelia comes down from the heavens to follow in her mother’s footsteps. After taking the form of a butterfly for the majority of the game, her magical prowess and hysterical wit are almost matched by how adorable she is. Plus, the bond she builds with your character makes them total ship material, and just might be the strongest bond between two protagonists this year. When you consider that your character rarely talks, Yuelia deserves all of the credit for anchoring one of the most charming games of the year.

Ibuki Mioda (Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair)

What can I say about Ibuki that can properly describe her in text? She’s unique. Her hair style is impossible to figure out. She’s laugh out loud hysterical, and completely owns the title of Ultimate Musician with her ridiculous music. As my personal favorite character in a cast of numerous strong candidates, Ms. Mioda has this quality about her that brings out the joy in a situation as dire as being locked on an island with the only means of escape being to kill the rest of your friends. Sure, she might have the strange habit of pointing at nothing mid conversation, writing songs of questionable quality, and uncontrollably foaming at the mouth at the slightest sign of distress, but that’s why we love her. Here’s to hoping Ibuki sneaks her way into future games, because I surely haven’t had enough of this girl’s wild style.

Ibuiki might not have lasted very long on the Island of Mutual Killing, but that doesn’t mean that she didn’t make every minute count.

Neptune (Hyperdimension Neptunia: Re;Birth 1)

If there was a perfect girl for your average gamer, than it would be hard to come much closer than Neptune. As a literal video game goddess, she helps defend Gamindustry while taking the form of Purple Heart, complete with an outfit that would make Bayonetta blush. But outside of battle, she’s lazy, irresponsible, and doesn’t do anything but play games all day.

Sound familiar?

But beneath the slacker facade lies a cute, funny, charming, and powerful girl who puts herself at risk to protect her land of Planeptune, her friends, and even her enemies. Neptune leads her game with a level of quirkiness that made Re;Birth 1 a game that I won’t soon forget, which ALMOST makes her the top candidate for waifu of 2014.

Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair)

Yet, topping the list is Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer from Danganronpa 2. Like Ibuki, she’s trapped on an island with the rest of her class, with the only sure means of escape lies in getting away with murder. Like Neptune, she’s obsessed with gaming, claiming to be an expert at every genre available aside from dating sims. Well… That’s conveniently where our role as husbando comes in, and anyone who played the game would tell you that getting to know her is one of the definite highlights of an already fantastic game. While she has her fair share of airhead qualities, (including falling asleep standing up,) she’s all business when it comes to solving Monokuma’s twisted mysteries. Often leading the protagonist and the rest of the class through threads of logic they wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise, Chiaki is a literal lifesaver.

Which makes the moment of her death all the more disheartening.

Because despite technically being a mole who was working for those who put everyone on the island to begin with, she always sees the best in her classmates, giving up her life so that they could live on. Much like those who she was working for, she has an undying faith in the group’s ability to serve as the ultimate hope in the fight against despair. Whether she’s standing up for her little sister, Usami, bravely facing an inevitable demise, or helping the lead turn Super Saiyan, Chiaki is all that you could ask for in a partner, a friend, and especially a waifu. Oh, did I mention she’s an AI? She’s sure to fall right in line with the virtual girlfriends the rest of us have.

So how right is this waifu list? Did we leave out your favorite Japanese gaming heroine? Let us know who we’re missing, and here’s to another great year of virtual crushes!

Josh Jackson’s Top 15 Gaming Moments Of 2013!

by Josh JacksonDecember 31, 2013

2013 was a great year to be a gamer, wasn’t it? While we all look ahead to 2014, let’s take a look at some of the best gaming moments of this past year.

There are definitely spoilers below, so proceed with caution!

15. Rayman Legends music stages.

There were few moments this year that put a bigger smile on my face than Rayman Legends‘ music stages. Combining rhythm with platforming, these stages had you jumping and punching to the beat of some very strange song choices. What better way to reach your goal than by doing it to a mariachi version of Eye of the Tiger?

14. Saints of Rage.

Since Saints Row 2, the open world crime game has had no problem referencing other video games. For example, the not so subtle Mass Effect spoof that lets your character romance every member of your team sans Keith David, (he doesn’t want to ruin the dynamic between crime boss and awesome actor/Vice President you see.) But those pale in comparison to Saints of Rage, a three stage side scrolling throwback to the classic Sega brawler where your character and Johnny Gat relive the latter’s biggest nightmares in 16-bit form. It’s incredible stuff.

13. Disney Infinity Intro

Disney Infinity promised a world of limitless imagination rivaling the films that put the studio on the map. If all of the advertisements didn’t wow you, the developers at Avalanche made sure to do so in the first 15 minutes of the game. Initially controlling a “spark” of imagination, players are treated to a beautiful, ever changing world led by characters such as Rapunzel, Ralph, Vanelope, Anna, Elsa and most importantly, Mickey Mouse. The scene has to be seen to believe, and is one of the most gorgeous moments of any game this year.

12. Cat Bowser

Do you ever wonder why Bowser never uses the power ups Mario comes across? I guess he started to wonder too. In the final encounter of the main campaign in Super Mario 3D World, Bowser finally wisens up and uses the Cat Bell, transforming into one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen with Cat Bowser. To make things worse, this new, furry, more agile version of Mario’s greatest foe comes across the double cherry too, having multiple Cat Bowsers trying to take you out at once. Reminiscent of the excellent end sequence from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, it’s a mad dash to the top, and one of the most exciting stages in a while.

11. Louie’s an Asshole

In Pikmin 2, it was shown that Olimar’s lazy sidekick, Louie, was the one responsible for all the hardships the duo had to go through. Not one to pass up a great opportunity to attempt to murder a group of strangers, Louie takes his douchebaggery to a whole ‘nother level by stealing the new protagonist’s reserve food with about a quarter of the game left. Keep in mind that not only have you gathered this food for hours at this point, but this food is needed for your characters to survive. The worst part is that he’s not even sorry when he gets caught! Yeah, I hope he’s in the next Smash Bros. just so I can pay him back Falcon Punch style.

10. DmC: Dante Fights a Fetus.

DmC was full of controversial moments, but none of which come close to when Dante tries to get Mundus’ attention by killing his unborn son. Little doesn he know that the mother and baby have a bit of a… let’s say symbiotic relationship. The fetus would grow large and drag the mother around while she barked orders at him to kill their foe, all while electronic music played in the backround in a dance floor arena. Yeah… it was weird, but it was awesome. And I sure as hell will never forget it.

9. Lysandre’s “Death” in Pokemon X and Y

Early Pokemon games never shyed from violence. Red and Blue led to Team Rocket killing a Pokemon and Gold and Silver had them cutting off Slowpoke tales and selling them as a delicacy. Since then, the games got much softer, but that changed with Lysandre, Team Flare’s boss and the primary antagonist of Pokemon X and Y. His ultimate plan is to use an ancient weapon to kill most humans and ALL Pokemon in order to reshape this “rotten” world into the perfect image. After going all Doctor Octopus on the protagonists, he is defeated, only to pull a last ditch effor to either use Xerneas’ power to force eternal life on himself and everyone in the building, or bring upon death with the power of Yviltal, depending on the version. Either way, the building collapses and Lysandre is seemingly killed, becoming the first main character in a Pokemon game to die. What makes it worse is that Pokemon X implies that he received eternal life before the building collapsed on him, implying that he’s still alive after being maimed and crushed in the explosion. Harsh…

8. Michael Getting Drugged

Grand Theft Auto V had tons of moments that stood out. Maybe it was the hipster conversation between Michael and Trevor. Maybe it was the much talked about torture scene. But for me? It was when Michael, who was doing his best to repair his broken family and trying to bond with his son, Jimmy, is drugged by his own son. After waking up from his drug trip, Michael finds himself clothesless, carless, and wifeless as his family ends up leaving him after his wife finds out that he was “doing drugs.” If that wasn’t a big enough middle finger, Jimmy keeps the car. Out of all the scumbags that reside in the world of GTA, this solidified Jimmy as the biggest scumbag of them all, which was hard to do considering I grew up with Pete and Pete and Danny “Little Pete” Tamberelli plays him. Ugh… what a bastard.

7. That Bioshock Infinite Ending

It’s been months since I finished Bioshock Infinite, yet the ending still feels fresh in my mind. After finally finishing off Comstock and escaping Songbird once and for all, Booker was ready to end it, making sure that Columbia and the horrors surrounding it would never come to fruition. Using her powers to traverse across alternate dimensions, Elizabeth shows Booker that there will always be a “Columbia.” There will always be a “Booker” and there will always be a “Comstock.” The universe is full of infinite realities, but with similar events unfolding in each one. It is at this point that Elizabeth from multiple dimensions converge on Booker and grant his wish, ending his stay in Columbia as it began with a baptism that washes him of his sins. After his death, each Elizabeth slowly fades away, seemingly erasing their realities and freeing Booker of his crimes by making sure they never happen. It’s incredible stuff.

6. Dying (Tomb Raider/The Last of Us)

Games as of late are striving for more and more realism, so it’s no wonder that this would eventually translate into the way characters die. With The Last of Us and Tomb Raider, they made sure to test this theory as much as possible. Glass through the throat, pikes through the skull, having your throat ripped out, getting your face ripped off… it was the kind of stuff that would make the most hardened gamers cringe. Worst of all? It made it so I couldn’t help but fail QTE’s on purpose just to see how far they would take it. Big, big mistake…

5. AZ (Pokemon X and Y)

Remember that ultimate weapon that Lysandre tried to use? You should, I just talked about it in entry number nine. Anyway, that weapon was made by AZ, an incredibly tall, incredibly dirty and probably incredibly smelly transient that is spotted multiple times throughout the game. It turns out that AZ was a king who lived with Pokemon hundreds of years ago and fought in a great war that cost the lives of humans and Pokemon alike. One of the Pokemon that was killed in battle was his best friend, a Floette that he treasured like no other. In his grief, he harnessed the power of Xerneas to grant himself and Floette eternal life while using the weapon, (presumably with Yviltal’s power,) to wipe out most of his kingdom. Ashamed and grief stricken, his Floette couldn’t live with being the reason for such destruction, so it left AZ, never to be seen again. After a very Return of the Jedi-esque award ceremony where you and your friends receive awards for saving the world, AZ appears and challenges you to a battle, claiming that your passion has helped him see the good in people again. After the battle is over, Floette senses the good in AZ’s heart return and is reunited with its friend, destined to live together for the rest of eternity. This is POKEMON GUYS! And it was one of the most touching, heart felt moments I’ve experienced in a game this year. And I won’t lie, a manly tear almost fell down my cheek. Almost.

4. Ravio’s Reveal (The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds)

Did anyone like Ravio throughout A Link Between Worlds? He barges in your house, forces you to let him live there rent free, then has the audacity to charge you huge amounts of rupees for weapons necessary for your quest. But Ravio had an ulterior motive, one that surfaces at the closing moments of the game. He reveals himself as Lorule’s Link, a protector who was too cowardly to fight for his kingdom, which eventually fell to darkness. Knowing that his Hyrule counterpart would hold the courage he lacked, he snuck off and supported Link in secret, hoping that he could save both kingdoms. After the Triforce is restored, Link and Zelda wish for Lorule’s restoration, creating another touching moment that rewards Ravio’s hopes for him and his kingdom. Plus, he made enough Rupees to retire, so there’s that…

3. The Reveal of The Phantom (Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies)

Over the course of the series, Phoenix Wright and his friends have had to go up against some of the most shocking foes the legal system has ever seen. In Dual Destinies, the big bad is an international spy who is a master of disguise, a person who has long forgotten his own face. But when it’s revealed that the spy is really Detective Fullbright, the bumbling detective that’s been present through most of the game, that’s when it really hits the fan. Apparently killing the real Fullbright months before, The Phantom takes the identity to keep a close eye on Prosecutor Blackquill, the prisoner who potentially held the secret that could blow his cover. When he’s finally cornered, an unseen sniper silences him for the rest of the game, all in the shadows to the pont where we never see his face. This was one of the most rewarding endings of a Phoenix Wright game yet, which is a tall order considering how amazing the stories typically are. I just finished it two months ago and I already can’t wait until the inevitable sixth entry. At least I’ll have Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney to hold me over.

http://youtu.be/HeuU2sZQV-o

2. Beyond: Two Souls Revenge Scene

I’m sure we’ve all wanted to go Carrie on a group of insufferable douchebags at some point in our lives, and thanks to Beyond: Two Souls, we finally get the chance. Early in the game, Jodie, the protagonist of the game, recalls a time where she was sent to a birthday party to try and get used to interacting with kids her age. As many an 80’s movie has taught us, these kids decided to bully her, including burning her with a cigarette and locking her into a closet. The moral of the story? You don’t mess with girls who might have psychic powers. The game gives you the option to unlock the closet and leave, but that’s no fun. Choosing to take revenge against the kids escalates as far as the player wants it to, which includes knocking them out with furnature, stabbing the would be boyfriend through the shoulder with a kitchen knife and setting the whole damn house on fire. The best part? Jodie just kind of sulks out of the house and rides home with The Green Goblin. Like a boss.

http://youtu.be/nVMKqVOHXXA

1. The Last of Us Intro

The Last of Us is a game full of memorable moments, from Tess to Joel’s interactions with Ellie and especially the controversial ending. But nothing, and I mean NOTHING came close to the opening moments of the game. After fighting through mass panic when the in game outbreak is first reaching critical levels, Joel attempts to escape the city with his daughter. It’s not until he comes across a lone soldier that is ordered to kill anyone on site in an attempt to quell the virus, that Joel tries to escape. He gets shot right before his brother kills the soldier, but not before realizing his daugther was fatally shot in his arms. Her cries of pain and fear while tears stream down both of their eyes is haunting, until she stops breathing, leaving Joel in a hysterical panic. And this is all in the intro.

I chose this moment because not only was it powerful, but it set the tone of the narritive and for Joel’s motivations throughout the game, making every distasteful choice he makes throughout the campaign feel somewhat relatable. He’s broken. He’s cold. And why shouldn’t he be? It’s not until he bonds with Ellie that he starts to open back up, which is where the heart of the game lies. But that heart wouldn’t be there without those pivital opening moments. This is why without question, I feel that the introduction of The Last of Us is the best gaming moment of 2013.

Josh Jackson’s Top 10 Gaming News Stories Of 2013!

by Josh JacksonDecember 31, 2013

While all of us at Geekscape are busy compiling our “Best Of” lists of 2013 (check out our favourite games here, and Saint Mort’s favourite albums here), Josh Jackson has gone one step further, listing his top 10 gaming news stories of this past year.

Take a look at everything below, and let us know if you agree!

10. The Great Nintendo Network Crash of 2013

Why not start the list with a hot topic taken from gaming headlines over the past week. After an apparent influx of users logging into the Nintendo Network on Christmas Day, combined with the Japanese release of Pokemon Bank, brand new Wii U and 3DS owners got a taste of what the Nintendo online experience is all about. By that of course, I mean it didn’t work. This caused all those brand new adopters with digital copies bundled with their consoles unable to download their games and led to an indefinite delay of Pokemon Bank that’s still ongoing as of this writing. Since then, at least the Nintendo Network and store are back up, but this is surely a bad sign for a company who has a reputation of being clueless when it comes to online. Speaking of bad press for Nintendo, that leads me to…

9. Nintendoomed

Throughout this year, you couldn’t log on to a video game website without some editorial, analyst prediction or angry blogger declaring that Nintendo is a sinking ship. Poor Wii U sales have led to the conception that the system has “no games” despite having some of the highest reviewed titles of the year. As they say though, perception is everything, and although this doom and gloom scenario tends to ignore the wild success of the 3DS and its software, Nintendo has done little to curb the negative image of their latest home console. It speaks volumes when the Wii U’s reputation of having a poor library helps keep it from selling while the PS4 and Xbox One, two consoles with fewer positively reviewed exclusives than the Wii U had at launch and tied to price tags that are $100 and $200 more expensive, manage to sell more. Regardless, this isn’t the first time Nintendo was declared dead in the water. As the saying goes, “Nintendoomed since 1889.”

8. That Ducktales Trailer!

Be honest. How much did you freak out when the Ducktales: Remastered trailer hit the web? This classic NES title has been beloved for ages, but I can assure you that no one ever expected the game to get the HD treatment. But that’s exactly what happened thanks to Wayforward, Capcom and Disney Interactive. Bringing back the original voice cast with a faithfully recreated version of the nostalgic side scroller put us back in the top hat of Uncle Scrooge, but it all started with that incredible trailer. I had a smile on my face for a week after watching that trailer on repeat while trying to make sure this was still real life. Thankfully, it was very real. And it was awesome!

http://youtu.be/G6d1A2row6I

7. Tomb Raider Fails to Meet Expectations at 3.4 million units sold within its first month.

Remember those old N64 commercials declaring games a “greatest hit” once they sold more than 1 million units over their lifetime? Oh, how times have changed. But even by today’s standards where inflated budgets and big spending are commonplace in the game industry, one quarterly report from Square Enix turned them into the laughing stock of the gaming community. The highly anticipated Tomb Raider reboot somehow missed expectations after selling 3.4 million units in its first month. Let that sink in for a second… 3.4 million units in one month is a failure. How many did they expect to sell? This just goes to show that so-called “AAA” games are caught up in a spending addiction in the hopes that gamers will recoup their losses. When a game is a failure at that many units, the sales aren’t the problem, it’s the budget. But more on that later…

6. Deal With It: The Adam Orth Saga

Early in the year, rumors were swirling about what the next Xbox and Playstation would and would not do. One persistant rumor was that the next Xbox would not function without a constant Internet connection. Adam Orth, a Microsoft employee didn’t see what the big deal was, telling a friend who was upset about these developments to “deal with it” on Twitter. Considering how controversy spreads across the Internet like wildfire, outside parties started to question him on his stance, where he delivered retorts like suggesting that people still buy vacuum cleaners knowing the electricity might go out. But the real story was less with his ridiculous comments, (which he’s admitted to since this incident,) but more with how out of hand the Internet can get. After his resignation, Orth was bombarded with death threats, hate mail and even threats to harm his family, which led him to relocate partially out of fear. No matter how much someone disagrees with someone, I think we can agree that this is disgusting behavior. For better or worse, Orth has become somewhat of a meme for clueless gaming executives, but the price he paid was way heavier than any perceived crime.

5. Capcom is Broke.

On Twitter, Yoshinori Ono stated that Capcom didn’t have the resources for a next gen fighting game, which was puzzling considering how successful Street Fighter IV has been. Roughly a month later, the news broke that Capcom as a company only had $152 million in the bank. With the way gaming budgets are even on current gen consoles, $152 million would be bad for any company, but especially one as big as Capcom. So where did they go wrong? Some people point at the drastic changes in established franchises like Resident Evil and Devil May Cry. Some site the company’s recent DLC controversies, such as selling the ending of Azura’s Wrath seperately or locking off completed content in Street Fighter X Tekken to sell at a later date. Others even blame the gaming giant’s recent shift in focus to mobile games, (which enraged their fanbase when the long absent Breath of Fire series was announced as a free to play mobile game.) Most seem to blame them for flat out ignoring their fans when it comes to releasing more Mega Man content, forcing their most loyal fans to give up on them. The worst part? Capcom’s apparent solution is to increase focus on mobile games and DLC, all while Mighty No. 9 is off raising $4 million from crowdfunding and winning over the Mega Man fanbase by providing something that people are eagerly waiting to throw their cash at. Let’s hope that Capcom can turn things around, but it’s hard to have sympathy for their situation.

4. Feminist Frequency

With the Adam Orth story, the idea of people threating the man over comments he made about an imaginary console at the time was ridiculous. But how about being attacked for doing nothing but being a woman with an opinion? It seemed like the media got much more vocal about their distaste for how women are portrayed in the medium, and time after time they were met with disdain from a very vocal segment of the gaming community. It ranged from Carolyn Petit, a reviewer at Gamespot who happens to be transgendered, getting threatened and accused of “trying too hard to be a woman,” because she didn’t like how women were portrayed in GTA V, to gamers being accused of being called “white knights” for being offended at mini games where you can rub a squirming woman who’s tied down by the wrists in a touch screen segment from the Vita version of Dragon’s Crown. Leading the charge was Anita Sarkeesian, a feminist blogger who decided to tackle the subject of female tropes in gaming with her “Feminist Frequency” videos. Since then, a quick search for her Kickstarter or YouTube page shows how much bile is thrown her way simply for challenging potentially negative gaming stereotypes, and she’s gone on record saying that she’s received death threats… JUST FOR MAKING YOUTUBE VIDEOS! While I don’t often agree with her stance personally, this reaction is embarassing, but it kept her in the news for most of the year to the point where saying her name on forums is treated like some kind of dirty word. To get this many people talking about her, she has to be doing something right.

3. Mega Man Invades Smash Bros.

The Super Smash Bros. reveal was always expected to be exciting, but we didn’t quite expect what we got. There was a small glimmer of hope that the impossible would happen and Mega Man would be added to the cast, but we all approached that with cautious optomism. But after the official trailer had ended and a “New Challenger” approached, NES gamers had their collective dreams come true the moment the blue bomber’s eyes lit up. Between Mighty No. 9 and Super Smash Bros. building up so much hype for Mega Man, (literally and in spirit,) it’s bizarre that Capcom has yet to capitalize on this obvious demand. Capcom’s loss is Nintendo’s gain for now, because the collective screams of excitement on that day show that Mega Man is still a software seller. Even months later, Mega Man comes to mind more than any other character when talking about Smash Bros. for myself and many others. The worst part is that we have to wait another year to play it.

2. The Xbox One Saga

Oh boy. Where do we start? This event took so many twists that you would think M. Night Shyamalan wrote it. First, the Xbox is revealed, but hardly focuses on games and answers none of the questions gamers had about the hardware. Then various Xbox executives gave conflicting information on what kind of restrictions it would have, but most of which, including from Xbox head Phil Harrison, pointed at what everyone feared: console DRM. No renting or borrowing. Discs would be registered to the console unless you “gifted” it to a friend, which could only be done once and couldn’t be returned. A “family plan” would later surface as a possible solution, but much like the initial reveal, specific details were non existent. Most of this information would be confirmed at E3, which gamers HATED! Cue Sony who would hold their press conference a few hours later, and pretty much turned it into an Xbox witch hunt, undercutting everything from their DRM policies to their price and their ability to rent and borrow games. The backlash would lead to Xbox pulling a 180 and reversing nearly every unpopular feature of the console, essentially turning it into a PS4 with Kinect. This drew the ire of many in the gaming industry, including former Epic head Cliffy B, who would go on a Twitter rant stating that used games were killing the industry and DRM is necessary. As stated earlier, I think there’s something wrong when muilti million selling games are considered failures, and pirating, renting and borrowing has next to nothing to do with it. With that said, whatever side of the debate you were on, it’s undeniable that these events completely dominated the gaming world for most of the year. There’s only one piece of news that’s big enough to top the start of the next console war…

1. The Steam Box

Rumors of a Valve home console had been swirling for a long time. The popularity of their Steam service was growing every day, so we all figured that it was a matter of time before it would attempt to make a mark on the home market. After a long wait, Valve finally revealed their console, which will run digital Steam games from the comfort of your couch. Why is this so big? Because Valve might make this generation of consoles turn on its head. Let’s face it, Xbox has next to no exclusives worth playing since the Kinect came out, and PS3’s exclusives aren’t typically high sellers, forcing both companies to rely on third party support for the majority of their AAA library. This Steam Box could potentially undercut this third party advantage completely, especially since the service is known for its crazy good sales. This would also introduce DRM to the home market, but most people would agree that not being able to share your 6 game bundle that you paid $15 for is much better than being forced to pay $60 for a game you can’t try before you buy. And to top it all off? This could potentially turn Valve into a first party developer, making games like Portal, Left 4 Dead and… *gasp* Half Life 3 excluve to their console. Sony and Microsoft have fired the first shots, but Valve just might be the ones with the final victory. Only time will tell, but this news might be looked at one day as the news that changed the industry forever, which is why this story was the top story of the year.

Geekscape Casts The ‘X-Factor’ Movie!

by Matt BlackwoodFebruary 28, 2012

With the financial and critical success of X-Men: First Class breathing new life into the franchise, Fox is almost certainly on the lookout for the next breakout title in Marvel’s extended mutant family. I have no idea how writers might squeeze the convoluted continuity of Peter David’s super-powered detective agency into the confused canon of the film universe, but I do know who I’d like to see in an X-Factor movie.

JOSHUA JACKSON as MULTIPLE MAN

Over the past few years, Peter David has made Jamie Madrox one of the most complicated and interesting characters in comics. Madrox has used his simple ability to create duplicates of himself to learn several lifetimes’ worth of skills, which he uses to investigate mutant-related crime.

Joshua Jackson naturally exudes Madrox’s boyish charm and disdain for authority. He is also credible as a man of varied talents; he’s in his fourth season playing jack of all trades Peter Bishop on Fox’s sci-fi drama Fringe.

BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD as SIREN

Not only is Howard the spitting image of Theresa Cassidy, but growing up in the shadow of her famous father gives her an emotional inroad to play Banshee’s daughter. She can also scream with the best of them, as evidenced in last year’s The Help. Plus, she is a bona fide nerd, having publicly declared her love of the Luna Brothers’ The Sword.

PAULA PATTON as MONET

Monet St. Croix hit the genetic jackpot: flight, super strength, invulnerability, mind-reading, AND the looks of a supermodel. Paula Patton can definitely pull off the looks aspect but also proved she could balance emotion and action in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

PAUL “BIG SHOW” WIGHT as STRONG GUY

No ordinary man could fill the over-sized shoes of Guido Carosella (whose code name is a joke that stuck), but the Big Show is far from ordinary. The 7-ft, 200-lb wrestler might actually look believable lifting a car AND he can act, recently carrying the entire feature Knucklehead on his broad shoulders.

KELLY MACDONALD as WOLFSBANE

Boardwalk Empire‘s import has been in over 30 movies since her debut in 1996’s Trainspotting. She definitely has the range to capture the mood swings of the lycanthropic Rahne Sinclair WHILE using her natural Scottish brogue.

ELLE FANNING as LAYLA MILLER

Young Elle Fanning hinted at her potential in Spielberg’s Super 8, and playing the precocious and enigmatic Layla Miller would let her realize it. Check out her spooky performance in The Nines, and you will believe she knows stuff.

GAEL GARCIA BERNAL as RICTOR

Julio Richter’s ability to generate earthquakes is awesome, but it will take more than just knowing your faultlines to bring the bisexual superhero’s emotional depth to life. Acclaimed actor Bernal usually stars in Oscar bait like Amores Perros and The Motorcycle Diaries, so this role would be a great opportunity for him to shake things up.

JERI RYAN as VAL COOPER

Jeri Ryan is a great actress who has plenty of nerd cred, having played 7 of 9 in over a hundred episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. Not to mention she may as well have modeled for X-Factor’s government liaison.

That’s just one fan’s opinion. Let me know what you think!