As the new year is coming, I am sure many here like I were beneficiaries of some really great discounts on Xbox Live content. At some points through this countdown, we've gotten some discounts exceeding the likes of Steam discounts (I think most CAGs are aware of the kinds of discounts on that platform, even if he/she does not partake in any of it). I know most of us here hit the 2000MSP mark for the December Xbox Live Rewards offer, and will likely get a decent 2% return for our purchases from MyAchievements as well from the rewards.

As the holidays could be for some, there's always some sort of squabbling ^^, even on this thread. It's expected with the added traffic and activity with the countdown to New Years with additional channels of discounts like the Sales & Specials + app alongside the regular Deal of the Week, there's much discussion to be had on this thread. My posts on this thread tends to be walls of text, so I've mercifully hidden my thoughts behind spoiler tags (and some abuse of the youtube tag) and made the topic in bold; just understand that these are just my opinions which are of my own weird tastes in games and has a high likelihood not being similar to that of others. Don't worry, I respect your opinions as well, and I feel how others spend their money and Microsoft points are their own business, and I definitely know that part of being a CAG is timing.

The thread gets jumping when a high quality discount is live, especially now with the quantity of them, but also whenever there's mention of Fez. I can distinguish an artist from their creation. For instance, I am able to enjoy Shadow Complex despite having an opposing political view to Orson Scott Card (writer of a book from which the game's story is loosely based on), so when I say that I did not enjoy Fez, I am talking about the game without association with its creator. Also some spoilers in my opinion of the game: One would think the game would really appeal to my sensibilities for games with its gorgeous pixel-art-like appearance (yeah, I know by technical reasons it isn't pixel art), chiptune music (I'm currently digging this non-related chiptune song at the moment), and retro throwbacks (cryptic secrets, note-taking, etc.), so imagine my surprise when I find I do not like the game. I found almost all the regular cubes and a decent number of the anti-cubes without assistance from any outside input (guides/FAQs) and don't intend on doing so, which took me a bit of time, but I feel I am at a point in the game where I feel I am personally done with the game (a state which does not mean I will not return to a game but just a point where I am satisfied to call it off my backlog). While the perspective changing mechanic is what makes this game stand apart (not the first game to do so, but it's the feature of the game), the perspective mechanics are more for its narrative rather than gameplay (aside from traversal) which is basically "code deciphering" to get cubes which opens more places to go and repeat the "code deciphering" process of a new area. I did hit one "a-ha" moment when I saw the chalkboard which was my Rosetta Stone which practically spelled out something for me in a 'A=Z and Z=A' kind of way. Yet that's my point, I'm so old to remember puzzle/activity/challenge books (back in my day we used pieces of tree for entertainment sometimes) which offers the same kind of "code deciphering" fun, but I personally don't find it as fun in a videogame, when there are things like QR codes which require an outside device to decipher for in-game clues (I missed out on those, because I lack such a device, I am old). Adding to some annoyance is that I may have to continue to mess around with redoing old solved puzzles just to backtrack, rather than teleport to specific map parts marked with a gold border (indicating a solved puzzle). I guess at only 400MSP from the New Years countdown sales, it may be worth it as a conversation piece; however the 800MSP standard price would be a ripoff in my opinion, even worse the creator having wanted it released at 1200MSP would do most CAGs wrong, again, in my opinion. I feel the game was just over-hyped by its creator. I think a theme of the game was about the possibilities beyond others' perspectives, which the creator sure didn't seem to uphold well, speaking of which ...

I think Phil Fish is extremely ungraceful wielding English, it's just that simple, but he sure can market something. If he had said something like "I have not found any Japanese games (recently) which appeals to me," it'd be a non-issue opposed to his "Japanese games are shit" statement. When given the opportunity to clear the air, he chose a path of non-tact which almost sounds like 'I don't hate [ethnic group], I just hate it when they do that thing, you know, breathing, it would be great if they'd stopped doing that' (I'm exaggerating and embellishing =P), but the point is he chose to push the issue further. He's free to his opinion, which I am free to disagree and can respect his perspective.

Phil Fish wins a second award from the same organization for the same category in different years (that's a fault of the IGF organization; I mean sure Street Fighter 2 was probably the GotY multiple years in its day, but some would just disqualify SF2 to give notice to another title), in reaction to winning a 2nd IGF award Phil Fish told everyone to "suck [his] dick," you know that just exudes class. Instead of giving some modest thanks or humble pride, he continued to just be abrasive with English.

Fish deflects blame to Microsoft for forcing his hand to not further update his game due to their prices for patches, terms he agreed to when publishing on the Xbox format. That makes him hypocritical when he spewed venom on PC users, to later stating how publishing on the PC may have been a better option. If only he had said something like, I don't know, "I initially chose to publish on the Xbox format because I think it protects my interests with this game best," see, the power of English can ease the edge easily. Him saying "gamers are the worst ing people," great way to endear oneself to the market purchasing the product.

I bring those examples up because I can imagine the amazement of a game named after a misdemeanor/felony could benefit in some way from controversy for pure marketing reasons. I mean, every time Fez is brought up on this thread, there's always some typing, hell, I further it right now ^^. I see the game's creator as a great marketer, got the word out for others to know. Basically, I'm amused by Phil Fish's poor use of English, it's akin to that of a pro wrestler. When he says "I must be in Quahog, 'cause all I see are hicks," the proper response many take is to punch the nearest kid and go "you take that back Macho Man Randy Savage!"

Speaking of wrestling, that's one of my potential last minute considerations for this countdown to New Years sale. I chose to pass on Trails Evolution at 800MSP. On the original Trials HD, I had to stop playing when I hit the "hard" difficulty tracks, so I miss out on all content after that difficulty. I already read on this thread that Trials Evolution is probably better built for me with more reasonable for my ability, but I was hoping for a 600MSP or less price point, so it doesn't hurt for me to wait like I do for GotY editions of games due to my large backlog. Since I didn't purchase Trials Evolution, I am under budget for my planned spending for these sales. While I have tried some demos, I do look for your opinions to steer me towards or away from purchases (yes, I stated earlier what people use their own money for is their own business, but recommendations don't hurt ^^).

Fire Pro Wrestling, based on the demo is still a somewhat charming avatar game even though it is not a Fire Pro game I'd expect, but I've not seen it on discount before. I'm somewhat tempted by A World of Keflings due to the DLC also up on discount but I was burned when its previous iteration A Kingdom for Keflings went on discount and I purchased. I found A Kingdom for Keflings basically "busy work" but the sequel appears to be "new and improved busy work" with avatar awards ^^! Sonic 4 - Episode 2, I am waiting on a price drop then subsequent discount, so that could wait. I'm just oblivious to the Joe Danger games, maybe for the better because I have a backlog to clear first.


Some somewhat quick personal recommendations for last minute purchases: I already purchased Super Meat Boy when it was released at 800MSP, even though I am one of the worst game players you'd ever know (perfect storm of being unlucky, unskilled, uncoordinated, lacking the time, and just plain stupid) I managed to finish it all. I played a bit early on, took a month or two break, then tackled a stage a day. Even later on, I started to do my leaderboard humping trying for a time that would land me in the top 200 (at that time there were some glitched 0.00 seconds logged, even I had one from pure accident, but that had been patched and I logged a time to clean up the missing entry). By now my times means nothing because I think the only reason I had decently ranked times was due to more and more people had stopped playing after a certain point, rather than me getting a good time. PROTIP: some leaderboards, have no other way of sorting similar scores (times in this case) can just sort you by alphabetical order from your gamertag, so you are a better player if you are named something like "Aardvark" opposed to my gamertag starting with a "Z" ^^ (maybe 'date attained' should be another category sorting order for these things). Anyway, at 600MSP, you're paying for less than what I paid and I enjoyed the game greatly in its day.

Peggle, good clean fun. The DLC adds maps with a larger focus on moving/dancing bricks, but not needed to play online, since the maps are downloaded by those without the DLC (but preferred so everyone else is not waiting for confirmation of download by those without it).

Plants Vs. Zombies, still in my backlog, can't tell ya what it is like ^^.

Jet Set Radio, loved it so much back in the day, I bought it at full release price of 800MSP. Granted, I've already played it plenty back then, so I don't need achievements to validate that, so I pretty much just bought it for closure to great memories. Perhaps my bias to nostalgia affects my judgement, but 400MSP is a great price ... it'll help my "closure" to know that others purchased to maybe send an implied message of "hey Sega, remember when you made games like this, release more like Eternal Arcadia to XBLA for me to buy!" (or bring for me to enjoy on my Xbox, your more recent stuff like Rusty Hearts, Border Break, or even PSO 2 since I noticed ya cancelled the crappy PSU on 360 service this past September ... I'd even settle for Shining Force Cross Elysion ... all for me and only me at least? ... please?)



I think I typed a bit much, so maybe I'll save some for my next wall of text =P. Anyway, we had great sales through the year, I got almost all I wanted. I'm still waiting on just a few more XBLA titles to get a discount like: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure HD, Marvel Vs. Capcom Origins, NeoGeo Battle Colosseum, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, the Sega Model 2 titles, and DLC. I still look forward to surprises for discounts in the future. Happy New Year everyone, get your bargain games ^^.