It feels like this year has seen all of the consoles getting some amazing releases which has kept many people quiet in the usual debate about which console rules. A recent survey from Valued Opinions, a company that creates paid surveys, surprisingly showed the the Nintendo Wii was the most popular console amongst respondents. But we are looking at games here so let’s have a look at some of the stand out titles from 2012.

Borderlands 2 - Developer: Gearbox Software Publisher: 2K Games

Borderlands 2 had a great year in 2012. It has sold almost 3 million copies since its release and has managed to get an average review score of 89! For those of you unacquainted with the Borderlands series you take control of a vault hunter. There are a selection to choose from, each with individual skills that you can then develop as the game progresses. The storyline is set five years after the events in the first Borderlands and sees Handsome Jack, the games’ main antagonist, declaring himself Dictator of Pandora and claiming all the credit for finding the vault from the first game. The game then proceeds to take your character on an adventure as you look to rescue the four original vault hunters from Handsome Jack’s clutches, before going on to remove Handsome Jack.

Gameplay is bright, frantic and full of fun. There is little wonder why this game scored so highly –  it has a visually stylish feeling that you are playing a part in a comic book. The storyline is kept moving with humorous well scripted dialogue from claptrap and other NPC characters in the game. Below is some gameplay action from Borderlands 2 to give you a feel for the game.

FIFA 13 – Developer: EA Canada Publisher: EA

The FIFA series has been going for some time now and it has come a long way from being able to stand in front of the goalie and head it into the opposing teams goal unchallenged. The game is all about realism and it looks absolutely stunning. The controls are also very intuitive leading to creative passing moves and tricks coming at the flick of a stick. This year it has sold over 8 million copies, scored an average review score of 88 and is available on 12 different platforms! One of the major aspects of FIFA 13 is the online play. You can now create and build up teams to enter into tournaments and take on people from around the world. This gives the game so much life that you will not be getting bored of it in a hurry.

Mass Effect 3 - Developer: BioWare Publisher: EA

This long awaited game which was delayed and had fans climbing the walls was dropped finally dropped in 2012, and it got quite a reception. This was billed as the conclusion to Commander Shepard’s story which had been continued from the previous Mass Effect games. Previous decisions made in the previous titles actually had an impact on Mass Effect 3 and the final outcome of the game.  Furthermore as this was the final part of the trilogy the developers were not constrained by the necessity of allowing the story to diverge. Mass Effect 3 managed to sell over 3.5 million copies and averaged an outrageous review rating of 93%

Assassins Creed 3 - Developer: Ubisoft Montreal Publisher: Ubisoft

Assassins Creed 3 is, surprisingly, the fifth major instalment of the Assassins Creed series. There have only been three numbered games hence the 3. The third game is set before, during and after the American Revolution from 1753 to 1783. It also has a modern day setting where Desmond Miles must adventure to prevent the 2012 apocalypse. Assassins creed has always allowed a fair amount of freedom when traversing beautifully designed areas. And Assassins Creed 3 continues this trait.  Assassins Creed 3 has sold over 7 million copies and averages a review score of 86. Surprisingly there are seven limited editions of the game which is unheard of for any other game released this year.

Pokemon Black/White 2 - Developer: Game Freak Publisher: Nintendo/The Pokemon Company

Gotta catch ‘em all! Black 2 and White 2 are set two years after the events of Black and White, and much of the beginning events take place in new locations on the western side of the Unova region. These new locations also feature several Pokémon that were previously unavailable in Black and White, featuring a total of 300 unique creatures available from the start of the game. Ramping up the total number of catchable Pokémon to 649. Good luck catching them all! Black and White 2 managed to sell over 5 million copies and scored an average review score of 81, this is a franchise that will continue to grow and grow and grow.

Call of Duty Black Ops 2 - Developer: Treyarch Publisher: Activision

This was the biggest game of the year, well of all time actually. Black Ops 2 has made over a $1 billion in worldwide sales in just 15 days beating the previous record holder Avatar. This makes it the quickest selling entertainment product of all time, quite a feat for a computer game. The story runs along the lines of the year being 2025 with Raul Mendes looking to take control of the US military unmanned drones to bring down civilisation. The game has many different choices that will have huge effects on the ending of the game. There is also a bit of time travelling thrown in for good measure. The online play adds even more life to this game with many people becoming almost too good.

Diablo 3 - Developer: Blizzard Entertainment Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment

Diablo 3 began development in 2001 and was announced in 2008 before being finally released in 2012. This series has some fanatical fans that Diablo 3 would have to impress while still staying true to the original ideas of the game. Thankfully they pulled it off with the majority of players being overwhelmed by the sheer size and quality of the dungeons. Diablo 3 has sold 1.8 million copies  and averaged out a review score of 88. It may be a while till we see a Diablo 4 but we are sure people won’t mind waiting that long.

NBA 2k13 – Developer: Visual Concepts Publisher: 2K Sports

NBA 2k13 is a revelation of a sporting game. Now in its 8th year on Xbox and 7th on Playstation the game is still remarkably fresh with new developments. It may be lacking in Boomshakalaka but for in depth gaming and build characters and teams this gives the player hundreds of options. Again online play will increase the lifespan, and you will probably be beaten by some insane players, remember practice makes perfect.

These are a few of the best games that have come out this year. And we are sure that you will have your own opinion of which game dominated this year, so let us know in the comments section below.

As it is Christmas we have a gift for all of you lucky Geek Overture readers. The lovely people at Valued Opinions have put together a collection of the best games of the year and pulled a lot of interesting statistics on them. But there is more, not only are the statistics interesting you can battle against your friends as they have been turned into awesome top trumps cards. Simply print off and cut out and you will be able to battle Game vs Game. And to think you probably deserved a lump of coal. Merry Christmas!

Computer Games 2012 PDF

Rather than showing us a bunch of ‘not actual game’ footage, they’ve decided to show us the first five glorious minutes of actual game play!

*spoiler alert* This video contains scenes that may spoil the story line (duh, it’s in-play footage), but if you’re like me and can’t resist it, watch the trailer below.

As you’ve probably guessed by now I love what I’ve seen in this trailer. The look and feel of the environment is great with crashing waves and casting shadows in the lighthouse. There’s nothing really significant we’ve learned in terms of the storyline if you’ve been keeping up with developments (i.e. set before previous series and bringing back a woman named Elizabeth) – but we do know how Booker DeWitt reaches the flying city of Columbia.

With recent news from studio head Ken Levine suggesting the ending is ‘nothing you’ve actually experienced in a video game before’, it’s certainly shaping up to already be a GOTY contender – or a massive over-hype. I’m guessing Booker wakes up to find it’s all a dream a la Dallas.

Sure I’m a little disappointed not to be playing it by now (the release date was pushed back from October to March), but if it means developing a game that’s closer to the first BioShock than to its sequel, so be it.

What do you think of the trailer? Tell me in the comments section below.

First up we have a look at a new title from Ubisoft called Watch Dogs. This game looks to be high in detail and an interesting story line. It looks a lot like many of the sandbox games that have gone before but this one has a digital aspect to it that brings it bang up to date with everyone and their smartphone. The video below shows a few of the different digital bits and pieces that you can use to cause some trouble.

Of course it remains to be seen if the rest of the game is decent or if it will be a bit of  a one trick pony, there is no denying that it looks amazing and hopefully the depth of gameplay will support its looks.

One of the most anticipated games in a long time is BioShock Infinite. The third game in the BioShock series, it is not a direct sequel or prequel to any of the previous games but it still has a similar styling to the previous games. The game was due to be released in March 2013 however there may be further delays to the release.

This game is bound to be winner, the character development and gameplay will have gamers glued to their screens for quite some time.

A classic game that is getting a modern day reboot is Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series. Always a mix between action and puzzle aspects, this game is looking fairly spectacular. I was never really that into the early Tomb Raider titles but this game looks like it has grown up a bit and would put the gamer in control of their own adventure movie.

For our final game we are looking at The Last of Us. This is another amazing looking game that people are talking about already. The story tells that it has been 20 years since a fungus was released that managed to kill a huge amount of the human population and then re-animate their corpses. Nature has been reclaiming the once proud cities leading to some really stunning gaming environments. The military has created quarantine zones that are keeping people safe from the fungus and Joel, the main character is a black market dealer who promises to look after a lifelong friend’s daughter.

They decide to escape the quarantine zone, for some reason, and are now being chased by the military. The game looks great but there have been concerns raised that it may be a bit to cinematic and scripted which may lead to the gameplay being a bit rigid. We will have to wait and see.

These are some of the titles that we are looking forward to in 2013 and it appears it is going to be another year for massive sandbox games, with the mighty GTAV coming out too. Are there any games that you are waiting for with baited breath? Let us know in the comments sections below. We will leave you with the GTA trailer just to get you in the mood for the fun and games in 2013.

This December will see the launch of the new Nintendo console the Wii U. It’s already causing quite a buzz and for those who are lucky enough to get their hands on one of the first next generation consoles there are gaming delights to be had. As it is Nintendo, the new Mario game will be one of the flagship titles that will look to show off all the Wii U’s capabilities. We are sure that this will be under quite a few trees this Christmas.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated releases is Halo 4. This iconic Xbox game has undergone many changes and has been given to a new company to develop. Many people will be waiting with baited breath to have a go on this game, a must for any gaming fans this Christmas.

For those of us with more of an interest in racing, it would be worth checking out Forza Horizon. The Forza franchise has always prided its self on creating exciting, realistic racing games with a huge number of cars and courses to choose from. This edition also adds more of an open world element allowing drivers to choose different paths throughout the race.

Another Christmas winner out now would be Dishonored. This game sees you play the role of an assassin who as otherworldly powers at his disposal to eliminate targets. The interesting thing about this game is that you can play it in so many ways. You can complete the game without killing a single person if you should feel that way inclined. It is this openness and creativity that make Dishonored  a really interesting title.

Our final tip for the Christmas gift list would be Borderlands 2, this shooter has been out for a little while now but it is one of the most engaging games this year. It looks and plays like a dream and with a huge amount of missions and four player co-op mode it has enough depth to keep people coming back for more.

Do you have any games that you think should be included in the Christmas wish list? Please let us know in the comments section below.

Image via Fifa Facebook

The usual; you know, improved dribbling and graphics that make it more realistic than last time. ‘First Touch Control’ is a new feature however that means better players will have silky skills while cumbersome oafs will have a ‘touch like an elephant’ as they say. This is a terrific feature as previously its felt like pinball and it’s all too easy to pass your way up the pitch.

Each year Fifa adds a new game for those who don’t want a ‘proper game’ (purists gasp!). There are a number of training pitch exercises that are similar to PES like free kicks and lob passing which can help you to improve in game too. Warning: these can be addicting like Angry Birds when you just have to pass a level and before you know it, its morning.

I love the addition of the Football Club section. For too long there hasn’t been a way of collecting experience points together with something worth saving them for. But now you can spend your experience points on buying classic kits and new celebrations for example. It gives you something to work towards apart from winning the World Cup with Scotland (can’t be done even on Fifa) and reaching the very top in Be A Pro mode.

There is also the addition of Playstation Move and Kinect. While the former does look a little awkward, the latter looks great and really could improve the overall game experience.

I am a little gutted none of these features were included in the game however…

The Twitterverse is going nuts with Fifa’s imminent release!

On Friday it’s gonna be: Dan Cooper is now “in a relationship” with FIFA 13.

— Dan Cooper (@MrDanCooper) September 26, 2012

The male version of fifty shades of grey arrives this Friday. They are calling it FIFA 13 — Dan ™ (@D_3_L_B_O_Y) September 26, 2012

If you had to choose between buying FIFA13 or taking your girlfriend out to dinner on her birthday,which club would you start a career with? — Cooper (@united90) September 26, 2012

Ohh so Fifa 13 is out, take care all you girlfriends out their won’t see your man for a while Looool

— chelsee healey (@chelseehealey) September 26, 2012

What do you think of Fifa 13? Tell us in the comments section below.

The story goes that the last Emperor of the Pandaren discovered a way to protect his land from the demons that flooded onto Azeroth by shrouding the land in an impenetrable mist that would last for 10,000 years. It will have to be seen as the mists evaporate if this land will be able to survive the ongoing battle between the Alliance and the Horde.

I personally hope so and from the trailer below, Pandaria is a stunning mix of landscapes and shrines with a real ancient Chinese feel. Check out the trailer below to see what this new expansion has to offer.

What are your thoughts about the expansion? Will you be picking up the new race or are you more concerned with how the servers will react to the new expansion? Let us know in the comments section below.

However, it was this article that caught my eye and made me think that the lines between gaming and real life were beginning to get a little bit mixed up. I would also like to state that I don’t think computer games cause people to be violent, money on the other hand can. The article tells the story about 19 year old student that was really into a mmorpg RuneScape.  I have never played RuneScape but after a quick search it appears that you control your character and can level up, partake in some questing and interact with other players online. You can also buy items with money that you earn through different challenges.

RuneScape logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is where the blurring begins as the 19 year old student was looking to buy this online money with real money except his real money was actually fake and this is where things became a little crazy. On the 19 year-old’s second attempt to buy this online money with fake currency and being caught out again he proceeded to pull out a BB gun and demand that the person he was trying to get the online money from make the transfer. The 19 yr old student was caught with the help of CCTV cameras and is now facing up to 15 years in jail because of his actions.

Computer games can be challenging and enjoyable and this is why people choose to put time into trying to either complete games or developing characters to the highest level possible. It is when this competitiveness and perhaps frustration at not being able to get to a point as fast as you would like leads to incidents like the one above. This is of course an extreme example of games becoming involved in real life and the makers of RuneScape are looking to ban players trading online cash for real money. Is it time that games developers start to think about impacts of their work outside of the gaming world they create?

Do you think that the gaming world is beginning to cross over to the real world a little too easily? What are your thoughts on the above example, is jail the best answer here? Please let us know in the comments section.

Image from PES 2013 Facebook

So what’s new? There seems to be an overhaul of gameplay in terms of mechanics. Konami suggest PES Fullcontrol allows gamers a better and more realistic experience with first touch, movement and AI all receiving special attention. I think marketing promises this every year however.

Konami have been explaining their Player ID concept also. Essentially, there are a number of big name stars who move exactly like the real players. That means Ronaldo’s unique free kick routine and even Balotelli’s arms folded celebration are included.

After years of playing PES, I changed to the dark side (Fifa) a few years ago. The difference between the two is huge. Players move a lot more freely in Fifa; a truer representation of the beautiful game. But it has started to feel a little like pinball and passing your way up the pitch is a doddle.

PES has been living on past glories and reputation for a number of years now. I remember the ball flying through the air like a beach ball one year – with sound to match. It was truly awful. But I’ll always have a soft spot for the Master League mode; something Fifa has failed to recreate. Can you still play with classic players like Castillo and Espinas?

My PS3 got the dreaded YLOD (I’m still mourning) so I won’t get to play the demo unfortunately! Here are some people who have though.

Just played the PES 2013 demo for the first time. It’s awesome! Just try shooting on goal with Pirlo.

July 30, 2012 8:19 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@CemYildiz

Cem Yıldız

Very impressed with PES 2013 demo. First one in years that’s made me look forward to the actual game.

July 25, 2012 7:45 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@PlayMagRyan

Ryan King

If I was use I’d download the pes 2013 demo, its amazing! Fifa have got some competition this year.

July 25, 2012 4:36 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite

@__Kayne17

Kayne Forshaw

Gave the PES 2013 demo 10 minutes before I deleted it off my Xbox

July 29, 2012 6:34 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@passthepadfam

elaban

PES 2013 demo is out – Just played it, it’s awful like usual. #PES2013

July 25, 2012 2:46 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@FootballLiveFL

Football Live

Just downloaded & played the PES 2013 demo, it took me back to FIFA 98 so shocking

July 31, 2012 4:05 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@UsualKano

Kane McDonald

Tried the PES 2013 Demo, same old arcade style garbage

July 25, 2012 4:50 pm via Mobile WebReplyRetweetFavorite

@JordanStevens92

Jordan Stevens

What do you think of the demo? Is it Fifa or PES for you? Tell us in the comments section below.

I think the first time that I became aware of pixel art was when I found out about an artist called Invader. He is a French artist that drew inspiration from the classic Space Invaders game. He created mosaic space invaders and proceeded to put them up around Paris, this was the start of his invasion idea. He has since invaded cities all around the world.

The following images are examples of his work that can be found in many cities that you visit.

Space invader in art nouveau #bru #RW12 @ Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium http://t.co/QMcU8f2H

July 1, 2012 3:30 pm via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@DMavrokefalidis

Dim Mavrokefalidis

The idea behind Invader’s work is so simple but I find it intriguing, a surprise is probably the best way of summing up how it feels when you stumble across a piece.

Space Invader in #lille. #street #art #streetart http://t.co/0ef8OYkO

June 28, 2012 8:13 am via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@adnmemb

Adrien Triangle

You could quite easily walk straight past some of the space invaders, perhaps showing us that we don’t pay that much attention to our surrounding environment.

Sometimes the thing you're looking for most is actually right under your nose. My favorite invader I've seen http://t.co/r8hX1qql

June 28, 2012 2:20 pm via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@ashleymmurphy

Ashley Murphy

There are other characters from loved video games that get the Invader treatment and in many ways the mosaic style captures the characters perfectly.

As always there are people looking to push the boundaries of what can be done. I think the image below is a great example of how creative people can be. It might not be strictly pixel art but it does work on similar principals with grids but it has been taken to an extreme level of skill and patience.

#supercool #rubikcube #rubik #cube #cubo #art #pixelart #pixel #instagram http://t.co/LSD8Sygu

June 26, 2012 4:43 am via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@GioBert81

Giovanni Bertozzi

I hope that you enjoyed this glimpse into pixel art and that you will keep your eyes open while wandering around your city as well as those that you visit as you never know what you might be missing by not looking up.

Do you know any pieces of pixel or street art that people miss all the time? If you could see any classic computer game character pixelised in a mosaic fashion who would you pick? Let us know in the comments section below.

There is nothing like a computer games expo to bring out the inner child. Fantastic hat.

NICE!!! RT @guyselga I got my Oswald ears!! #e32012 #e3 http://t.co/xPU7luXb

June 5, 2012 10:49 pm via TwitterrificReplyRetweetFavorite

@imagineeringdis

Imagineering Disney

There was the a lot of talk about Halo 4 at the convention including their very own warthog.

Just cruising in the warthog NBD #halo4 #e3 http://t.co/yRePcHb1

June 8, 2012 7:11 pm via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@KeeganAllen

Keegan Allen

And as you can probably tell from these images this convention does not do things by halves.

Can I join YOUR #GeekGirl Army!? RT @milynnsarley: So how your's #E3? http://t.co/N2j4PnVQ

June 7, 2012 12:53 am via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@bonniegrrl

Bonnie Burton

The Lego themed games have proven to be a real hit. They were at the E3 convention in all their blocky goodness.

Lego Batman @e3expo #e3 http://t.co/FJPLBTGF

June 10, 2012 6:48 pm via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@Eddy_Choi

Eddy Choi

There was so much happening at the E3 convention that seeing an alien attacking a cargo loader is par for the course.

Alien action at E3. :P #e3 #expo #entertainment #electronic_arts #alien #bo @ Los Angeles Convention Center http://t.co/mXFiEeM8

June 12, 2012 3:19 pm via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@pecks13

axel#13

As all of the major gaming companies were there it was a real opportunity to show off what they were up to and what they had planned for the future.

Sony press conference! #e3 http://t.co/oiOxEkuN

June 5, 2012 12:59 am via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@heyredtomato

gwen.

E3 is also a great opportunity to showcase new games and get some amazing feedback. From the looks of this Soundshapes is going to be a game to watch out for.

SOUND SHAAAAAPES RT @zachariah_wood: This happened today. @soundshapes #e3 #awesomeness http://t.co/d1ZxVeh7

June 7, 2012 4:10 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@Capy_Nathan

Nathan Vella

These are just a handful of the images that can be found from the event. It looks like it was amazing and with so many announcements we are sure that there will be plenty of gaming to look forward to until next year.

Were you at the E3 expo? What did you make of it? Is there anything you think that should have been there that wasn’t? Let us know in the comments section below.