Be Excellent To Each Other

As 2012 is coming to an end I thought it might be nice to find out stuff I can ask Santa for discuss what we've enjoyed the most this year. You can talk about anything, not just computer games!

So off the top of my head, and to get things rolling:

Console Game: Dark Souls THE DLC WAS 2012

Sank most of my gaming hours into this and for me to start again from scratch tells my brain that I must love it. Surely everyone knows this is the best game ever.

Xbox Live Game: Fez / Trials HD

Loved playing these two games and I've lumped them together as I played them when I was off work with my tender post-vasectomy ball bag.

Music: The Seer - Swans Late entry!

Long triple vinyl album that sounds like chanting satanists take happy pills then come down again. Fantastic sounds.

Music: Visions - Grimes

Picked this up after WTB(?) included a track it in Song Wars. Beautiful and Ethereal.

Telly: Walkning Dead - Season 3

Fucking awesome Zombage. Fuck all else on so this was an easy choice.

I have a terrible memory and can't remember what I did in 2012 compared to 2011.
I'll tell you what -- I'll start keeping a list now, so that when 2013 rolls around I'll be able to tell you what the best of 2013 was. Deal?

Gangnam Style.

That's all... Lock the thread.

I used a 'search engine' on the 'information super highway' to help with my chronologic conundrums.

Because I'm a 21st Century Digital Boy.

Curio doing Gangam Style.

With Russ.

Right.

I'm adding a serious Dimlie to the thread title.

This was certainly 2011.
Not that that stops it being the most awesome game I've played this year.

Good point.

But yeah, played/watched/etc in this year counts.

And the DLC was released this year, so it defo stands.

Games: Hotline Miami and Legend of Grimrock.

Music: Hotline Miami soundtrack

This is really the golden age of gaming. I'm glad i didn't buy an xbox in 2008.

TV: Highlights for me were Trailer Park Boys, more proper LOLs than I've had from anything I've seen for ages, my new favourite thing. Also some damn fine seasons of Boardwalk Empire and Breaking Bad.

Games: Been a very meh, year for games, although we aren't done yet on that one I don't think, ooh no, wait, Birds Of Steel.

Music: Listened to all sorts but they've mostly been flashes in the pan, nothing new heavily rotating round here.

Cinema: Seen loads so I'll have to think about that one a bit more.

Waiting four years really paid off!

I've seen Russell dance this naked.

Curio wasn't there.

OK!

Game
Only had it a few days, but lego LOTR is awesomesaurus.

TV
Community is probably my favourite show of the last five years. Very funny without resorting to base humour. Doesn't always need to be clever, and very warm. We watched all three seasons within a couple of weeks of discovering the show.

Finally watched Twin Peaks. Never watched it before, but viewed it from beginning to end. Obviously not new, but new to me.

Um... right...

Game: Gravity Rush on Vita is probably the new game I played most this year and it was fairly awesome sauce. I also played a wee bit of the new XCOM as time has allowed (I know Grim... I need to send your 'extended demo' back to you and I swear I will sir, much promising!). The game I probably played more than anything else though has been Red Dead Redemption, which I'm currently playing through a 2nd time now it's gone free on PS+.

Music: ¡DOS! by Green Day, largely because it is one of only two new albums I've listened to, the other being ¡UNO! by the same band. The best album that I only heard for the first time this year would have to be Super Delux by Terrorvision.

Movie: Dredd. Easily. Fucking awesome movie.

Gig: Seeing Terrorvision at Download 2012, and then again a couple of months ago at Camden Underworld. Truly one of the most amazing bands ever, even now.

Telly Box: I never watch it, except for Doctor Who really. The missus has been trying to get me into her Supernatural box sets though and, it must be said, it is a surprisingly very entertaining show, even if it is largely designed for the ladies. We're currently up to Season 5, so have a long way to go before we caught up with current. She's also been watching Switch on ITV2, which has proven an excellent opportunity for me to do countless other things with my life.

I don't really do the TV or music thing, so teh gamezz is where it's at for me. This year, I've only really played two games to any extent, so joint winners are Skyrim and Borderlands 2. I suppose B2 should be the winner since it was actually released in 2012, but Skyrim occupied a huge chunk of the first nine months of the year, so it definitely deserves a mention.

I did try to like Dark Souls, but it didn't click with me at all.

Community doesn't resort to base humour?!

I'll go!

PC Game: X Com is top turn-based fun.

Console Game: Left 4 Dead 2. Zombie pew pew pew with chums.

Xbox Live Game: Double Dragon Neon. Bro op!

Phone / Handheld Game: Monsters Ate My Condo.

Music: Scooter live in concert were amazing.

Telly: Dollhouse. Holy crap Dollhouse!

Do you think it does? Didn't strike me as so. I like it either way

Hmmm...

AAA Game: XCOM. Astoundingly good, against all odds. Dishonored was great but not in the same league. Far Cry 3 might yet sneak this, though.

XBLAH/PSN/indie/etc game: Mark of the Ninja. Appeared out of nowhere (DYSWIDT?) to be one of my favourite games ever.

Movie: I've watched 35 films this year, apparently. Looking through the list I keep of such things, I gave two 5* ratings: The Avengers and Margin Call. Due to Joss Whedon fanboyishness, it has to be The Avengers then.

Music: Ben Folds Five in concert last week. Narrowly beats watching Bob Mould tear through Copper Blue.

Book: Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway was aces. I also enjoyed Zone One by Colson Whitehead.

TV: Tricky. I've watched lots of quality TV this year, like 8(?) stunning episodes of Breaking Bad. But I also watched the entirety of The West Wing, which (due to being about 112 hours long) manages to eclipse everything else in terms of Sheer Awesomeness Volume. So: if it's Thing I Watched This Year, it's The West Wing (with an honorable mention for It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia). Whereas if it's Thing That Was Released This Year, it's Breaking Bad.

Food (home made): for the sheer effort, risk, and (eventual) result, as well as representing the culmination of my learning how to barbecue in 2012, my favourite meal I cooked was probably the pulled pork I made for Craster.

Food (eaten out): I've been a bit more reserved this year than previously, with probably two highlights: L'Enclume in March and Casamia in September. Casamia was very good, but L'Enclume runs away with that one.

*points finger right inbetween Gaywood's eyebrows* LOOK!

Oh yeah:

Gig: Orbital at Academy Manchester

Fucking excellent, third time I've seen them and probably the best show they've done. Shit support act though.

I see most Beexers didn't play Hotline Miami yet. I must urge you all to do so.

I must also add Skyrim to the list even if it's a 2011 game. Its by far my most played game on steam (100 hours) so there's no reason to omit it.

I did and didn't like it.

Zardoz, have you put your Christmas tree up as well?

Keep playing until it does then.

No, not yet.

Going up this weekend.

Do you want to turn on the lights?

Best XBLAH game: Stacking. Though it made me sick to play it (motion sickness) it was great to half-watch.

I'm putting my tree up on Saturday. Also the best Christmas decoration ever which I will obviously photograph for your amazement.

Is it a knitted Mr Dave sat on a knitted Dimrill Claus knee?

Being ever up-to-date, I don't think I've played any games or watched any TV series' from this year. Music-wise, Gangnam Style wins best song by default but at least I can add something for films as I've been to the cinema a bit this year, so in order of preference -

Cabin in the Woods
Avengers Assemble
Dark Knight Rises
Dredd
Prometheus
Battleship
Total Recall
Bourne Legacy

That would involve more effort than I'm willing to give, I'm afraid.

Console game: Halo 4

Live Game: Fez

Album: Ceremonials by Florence & The Machine

Telly: the Thick Of It or Game of Thrones

Have you all started eating your harvest festival hampers too?

I don't review unfinished games. Until mid-December, best stick with NervousPete's preview, as featured last year3 years ago.

Best of 2012. Hmm, may be taking liberties with some of these as many of them haven't been released in 2012 at all.

TV - As ever, pretty much, it's The West Wing. And yes, it's well old. But I get to do another rewatch, so YAAAAY!

Game - Once again, not released in 2012, but some of the DLC was, I guess. Left 4 Dead 2 has delivered far, far more gaming fun than absolutely anything else I've played.

Film - Hmm. I've missed most of this year's big films, so I guess it's going to go to Avengers: Assemble.

Event - Cottag3. Because fucking duh.

Food. Hmm - a bit of a toss up. In terms of sheer impressiveness and originality, probably Viajante. In terms of a food 'event', a charity event a few weeks ago catered by 5 of the best chefs in the country with free-flowing booze.


Overall, the best thing about 2012 was finally grabbing my life around the ankles and giving it a damned good shake. On to 2013!

Dark Souls.

Pic plz

Best Game:

Though it was released before this year, it's probably Scourge of War: Gettysburg, which I only bought this year. It's a real time strategy game played out on an accurately moddled map of Gettysburg. What sets it apart is the phenonomal AI coupled with the option of having the same fog-of-war impairments that a real life general of the time suffers under. You play 'from the saddle', which means that the camera is anchored to your general. You have to actively ride about the battlefield to be able to fully see what's going on. Meanwhile, you send letters out to your officers via courier. You do this by writing out a letter from selected options, enabling you to accurately order units to locations, give them orders to attack or hold or whatever and deploy as you see fit. The officers will then interpret your orders according to their own AI profiles. They will send couriers back to you reporting on how they're doing, or as to what initiatives they've taken, and your map will be updated accordingly. This leads to a lot more of a hands-off control than in Total War, leading to more chaos of war and uncertainty. You can gallop over and take charge personally at critical junctures, however - but of course you cannot be everywhere at once.

The system comes into its own with multiplayer, which has you sending to your friendly allies messages in free text. Each game has a command structure, with up to eight officers a side. One will be the commanding General, and there's a chain below him. I've only played on the lowest rung, but it's great fun following orders and siezing the initiative. They'll send me stuff like, "I told you to hold position, damnitt! Why are you moving your men forward?" and I'll reply, "The situation has changed. The enemy is retreating from the woods, have the opportunity to claim the ridge," and then they'll send back, "Gap is taking the ridge, move your men to his right flank.." and so on. Better yet you can intercept the orders of the enemy, so you get to read their panicked messages to each other as you push forward. It's a system that works even more entertainingly than TeamSpeak.

Plus the battles are about ten times bigger than Total War's, and more realistic.

Best Gig:

Richmond Fontaine at Ten Feet Tall. No brainer for me as I absolutely love this band. The singer-songwriter Willy Vlautin is a lovely chap, and we talked about Oregon and beer and books. He threw in a free CD for me when I bought one and a T-shirt.

Best Album:

Richmond Fontaine's The High Country. Dark, bleak, with spoken word bits to musical backing by some woman who's seen hard times. Not easy listening, but a great tale about an unplanned pregnancy leading to a murder. You can smell the pines, hear the rumble of trucks bearing their redwood loads. I'm also hooked on The Handsome Family's Snow White Diner, which I've only discovered this year - probably some of the best lyrics ever in a song.

Best Book:

Tough one. Maybe Vivian Meier's book of New York street photography. She's an unknown photography great whose negatives have only just been discovered. My favourite stuff of hers is her self portrait stuff, shooting into store windows with her Rolleiflex. She looks oddly beautiful with her odd features and fierce gaze. However, the book might have benefited from waiting a little longer until her archive had been better explored.

To be honest I haven't read much that's been released this year.

Best Film:

I very very much enjoyed The Hunger Games and the world it conjured, and The Avengers was pure giddy fun. I think I've got to give this one to The Cabin in the Woods though, which was a perfect smart little Twilight Zone of a B-horror.

Best TV show:

Apart from the odd documentary I haven't seen that much TV this year. As ever, South Park is a contender. Though a patchy season it had some brilliant highlights, my favourite being Randy's Blockbuster Video folly. Doctor Who was somewhat disappointing this year, I fear, with a bad case of convolutotiasis. And the Angel one made no fucking sense and Amy Pond ultimately proved unrelatable and there was yet more RIVER FUCKING SONG being smugitty-smug-smug. Nice one Moffat, you oaf. Thankfully Matt Smith knocked it out the park again.

So can I choose one I've only discovered this year? That show in question is The West Wing. Two series in and its ace-best. It is the lovable lightness to The Wire's enthralling dark. I needs must single out praise to the actors who portray Leo, C J, Donna and Josh. Best episode is probably the one where Josh has to overcome his post-traumatic stress. The wassailing at the end really makes it.


Best Event:

My ongoing photography project set up with the aid of the wonderful Kern. Five or six weekends of pure photography and old-timey bliss. Massive thanks for Kern for provinding an understanding gateway to this world, plus thanks for his loan of a tent and knowledge. The photo book's coming along nicely too, look out for it in't Spring.

Best new thing:

Coffee Barker in Cardiff, where I am typing now. Good coffee, great music, comfy seats and totally relaxed. Also has photo magazines. Eight coffees and you get one free and a muffin. I recommend.

Borderlands 2.

Half Life 2.

Jet Set Willy II: The Final Frontier

We'll get you in blue one day, Pete!

Sweet, I made Zardoz buy an album!

Best thing in 2012 was getting a Distinction on the LPC and finally getting a job. Hard work works!

It only took me 26 years to find out.

Well, seeing as it is a bit closer to the end of the year...

Best Game: Forza Horizon. The Rally DLC released earlier this week has turned a great game into one that is absolutely epic. It could have gone so hooribly wrong, but they get it right. I hope there is more to come in a sequel - the only thing it lacks is the sheer scale of driving around Hawaii a la TDU.

Best Film: Death of a Superhero. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO2Ja6X09Sg

Best gig: Probably Rammstein in Manchester. Really enjoyed Goyte a few weeks ago.

Been a year of incredible highs and equal lows. Life is all about moments, I reckon so in no particular order:

Seeing in the New Year in Marina Bay, Singapore, with half a million happy people and not one of them drunk out of their minds. Sitting next to an infinity pool 560 ft in the air, sipping cocktails.

Standing on the sea wall in Howth, thinking the bloke next to me looks really, really, like Paul Landers out of Rammstein. Then truning round and Till Lindemann and Oli Riedel walk past me. I have never been so star-struck as I was at that moment.

Submitting my MSc dissertation.

Watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony and thinking "they've nailed it. They've really nailed it." The following two and a bit weeks were amazing. Then followed by the Paralympics, which were great. Saw GB win a Sitting Volleyball game in front of the noisiest crowd imaginable. Like the 2002 Commonwealth Games, those memories will live with me forever.

Burnley vs... them at Turf Moor. 0-1 down after being on top for most of the game. Despair turns to joy as Junior Stanislas crosses and Sam Vokes gets the faintest of touches to put it in the net.

Taking on a new contract and realising that the client really needs me, the gig is mine for as long as I want it and my career will hopefully go from strength to strength.

Turning down two approaches from Microsoft.

Hope for 2013? I'll take the highs not being quite so high as long as the lows aren't quite so low.

Peadogeddon strikes again!

Best. Thing. EVER.

*handshake of awesome*

(also, you forgot something.. ME! )