Opinion: Ten Most Anticipated Games Of 2013

Next year’s gaming line-up looks to be one of the strongest in living memory, with both highly-anticipated sequels and fantastic-looking originals heading our way. Casting his gaze over the impressive release schedule, Mark Butler picks out the ten games he’s looking forward to the most.   BioShock Infinite Its development may have been slightly marred by unfortunate delays, issues with the (now-defunct) multiplayer and – slightly... Read More

Opinion: Four Reasons To Be Excited About Gaming In 2013

With January just a few weeks away and a whole load of compelling developments, groundbreaking ideas and great new games right around the corner, Mark Butler presents four reasons why 2013 looks set to be a truly stellar year. Look, I can be a cynical tosser at times. This time last year I was expressing my pessimistic view that 2012 looked to be a rather uninspiring forthcoming twelve months for gaming. And while there have been many terrific experiences... Read More

Opinion: Eight Incredible-Looking New IPs Coming In 2013

Next year’s gaming landscape may be predictably dominated by sequels, prequels and reboots, but there are also some fantastic-looking original experiences scattered among the familiar faces. Mark Butler picks out eight of the most exciting new IPs…   Watch Dogs (PS3/Xbox360/PC) Armed with a deliciously intriguing premise, Ubisoft’s eagerly-anticipated open-world adventure is that rarest of things: a big-budget Triple A game... Read More

Opinion: Ultra-Violence And Sexism – Does Gaming Need To Grow Up?

Following recent controversy over the dominance of violence in mainstream games, and continued allegations of rampant sexism, Mark Butler asks whether we should be prepared to take these criticisms more seriously. Perhaps the most ludicrously ironic moment of this year’s E3 conference occurred during the centrepiece presentation of strikingly mature post-apocalyptic title The Last Of Us, when a gruesomely violent kill – clearly intended... Read More

Opinion: Critics Should Stop Praising Bad Storytelling

In a world where Gears Of War 3 can be widely-praised for its plot and script, Mark Butler argues that game critics need to have higher standards when it comes to stories. Last week, reports emerged that Uncharted and Last Of Us developer Naughty Dog feel “disheartened” by the praise many games receive for decidedly average plot-construction and story, when they themselves work long and hard to imbue their titles with something a little more... Read More

Opinion: Sixteen Things To Look Forward To In Gaming This Year

We’re only two weeks into 2012, and already the year is shaping up to offer plenty of exciting new games, incredible innovations and memorable events. Gazing wistfully into the near future, the FMV Team takes a look at the things we’re most looking forward to over the next twelve months… Mass Effect 3 The culmination of Shepard’s epic space adventure sees our hero attempt to save the galaxy in the face of an all-out apocalypse,... Read More

Opinion: Console Fanboyism Is Petty – And Pathetic

Unimpressed by the reaction to his recent article on PlayStation 3 and Xbox360′s 2012 line-ups, Mark Butler sounds off on the issue of console fanboyism – and why it does us all a disservice. Last week, I posted an article in which I argued that the PlayStation 3 has a stronger array of exclusives lined-up for 2012 than the Xbox360, and suggested this may have something to do with Microsoft’s over-reliance on Kinect. The reaction... Read More

Opinion: The PS3′s 2012 Line-Up Trumps Xbox360′s – Is Kinect To Blame?

Next year’s console line-ups appear to have the Xbox360 on the back foot, with the PlayStation 3 mustering a greater and more impressive array of exclusives. With Kinect games dominating Microsoft’s stable and a worrying lack of unique ‘hardcore’ titles on the way, Mark Butler asks whether the company is putting too much faith in its motion-gaming technology. With the New Year almost upon us and gamers beginning to cast their... Read More

Opinion: The Last Of Us – And The Trend For Post-Apocalyptic Games

Naughty Dog’s intriguing new IP is the latest in a spate of post-apocalyptic games. Mark Butler explores the reasons behind the booming sub-genre, and asks why its themes are proving so popular with developers and gamers alike. The surprise news that Uncharted developer Naughty Dog have been hard at work on a new action-adventure title – set in a bleak, desolate world overrun with bloodthirsty, mutated humans – has undoubtedly been... Read More

Gaming News: The Last Of Us Revealed

Last week, images of an upcoming PlayStation 3 exclusive called The Last of Us were revealed across the internet. Since last night’s Spike TV Video Game Awards in the U.S.,  more details have been revealed about this post-apocalyptic action game. In the reveal trailer we see a middle-aged man and a teenage girl rummaging around an abandoned home, looking for any supplies that they can use. The man deals with an infected human and kills... Read More