<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Grinding Down]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://grindingdown.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Paul]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/author/mylifecomics/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Videogames I&#8217;m definitely buying in&nbsp;2011]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2166" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/hand-reaching-for-service-bell-on-counter/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="585,357" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Visual Photos \/ Blend \/ Ronnie Kaufman&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;BLD009661&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Hand reaching for service bell on counter&quot;}" data-image-title="Hand reaching for service bell on counter" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg?w=585" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2166" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg?w=500&#038;h=305" alt="" width="500" height="305" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg?w=500&amp;h=305 500w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg?w=150&amp;h=92 150w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg?w=300&amp;h=183 300w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/gd-ring-me-up-copy.jpg 585w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></p>
<p>I kind of thought this would be a light year for DO WANT games, but with each day that hits anew I&#8217;m finding myself becoming intrigued more and more with shiny new titles. Too many to remember by remembering alone at this point, which is why it&#8217;s great that I have this <strong>Grinding Down</strong> blog, which is now being used as a forthcoming grocery list, but hey, it still loves me. That said, let&#8217;s get to the meat of this post, the tenderloin, the chicken cutlet, the bacon bits.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s everything I&#8217;m planning to purchase this year videogame-wise so long as I don&#8217;t get mugged in a back alley:</p>
<h3>LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2167" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/lego-potc-001/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lego-potc-001.jpg" data-orig-size="639,359" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="lego potc 001" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lego-potc-001.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lego-potc-001.jpg?w=639" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2167" title="lego potc 001" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lego-potc-001.jpg?w=300&#038;h=168" alt="" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lego-potc-001.jpg?w=300&amp;h=168 300w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lego-potc-001.jpg?w=598&amp;h=336 598w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lego-potc-001.jpg?w=150&amp;h=84 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Release date:</span> May 10, 2011</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll have some demo impressions up soon for this one, but I&#8217;m pleased from what I&#8217;ve already gotten to experience. Sure, it&#8217;s the same formula over and over, but it always works for me, and they absolutely nailed the way LEGO Jack Sparrow runs. And it&#8217;s one of the franchises perfect for playing through co-op, especially with a loved one. Also, <a href="http://gingercurls.wordpress.com/">Tara</a> already suggested the next great franchise to LEGO-ize: <strong>Back to the Future</strong>! Mmm-hmm.</p>
<h3>Bastion</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2168" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/1638271-bastion_112010_0002/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1638271-bastion_112010_0002.jpg" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="1638271-bastion_112010_0002" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1638271-bastion_112010_0002.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1638271-bastion_112010_0002.jpg?w=1024" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2168" title="1638271-bastion_112010_0002" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1638271-bastion_112010_0002.jpg?w=300&#038;h=168" alt="" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1638271-bastion_112010_0002.jpg?w=300&amp;h=168 300w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1638271-bastion_112010_0002.jpg?w=597&amp;h=336 597w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/1638271-bastion_112010_0002.jpg?w=150&amp;h=84 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Release date:</span> Q3 2011, but I&#8217;m hoping for early summer</p>
<p>Like a painting brought to life, <strong>Bastion</strong> looks simply beautiful. That would be enough to get me interested, but then I learned it&#8217;s a mix of action elements and RPG elements. Sold!</p>
<h3>Deus Ex: Human Revolution</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2169" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing.jpg" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing.jpg?w=1024" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2169" title="dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing.jpg?w=300&#038;h=168" alt="" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing.jpg?w=300&amp;h=168 300w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing.jpg?w=597&amp;h=336 597w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dxhr_screenshot_turret_firing.jpg?w=150&amp;h=84 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Release date:</span> August 23, 2011</p>
<p>Any game that can be played in multiple ways is a good game to me. Variety trumps linearity. Especially if one of those ways is all about being sneaky and non-confrontational. It kind of reminds me of <strong>Fallout 3</strong> in that sense, but shinier, slicker, with more vibrant highlighting. I should, at some point, go back and play some <strong>Deus Ex: The Conspiracy</strong> even if it hasn&#8217;t aged too well.</p>
<h3>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2170" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/skyrim-spider/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/skyrim-spider.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="skyrim spider" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/skyrim-spider.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/skyrim-spider.jpg?w=1024" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2170" title="skyrim spider" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/skyrim-spider.jpg?w=300&#038;h=168" alt="" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/skyrim-spider.jpg?w=300&amp;h=168 300w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/skyrim-spider.jpg?w=597&amp;h=336 597w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/skyrim-spider.jpg?w=150&amp;h=84 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Release date:</span> November 11, 2011 (11.11.11 for the cool people)</p>
<p>Pretty sure I won&#8217;t be the only one picking this up in November. It&#8217;s only a huge followup to a huge followup. I&#8217;m very interested to see what&#8217;s changed from <strong>Oblivion</strong> to <strong>Skyrim</strong>, as I was always fond of exploring that game&#8217;s world, but found the combat and quest system to be a bit disappointing. Here&#8217;s hoping, but it&#8217;s gonna be epic no doubt.</p>
<h3>Assassin&#8217;s Creed: Revelations</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2171" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/ac-revelations-hanging/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-revelations-hanging.png" data-orig-size="1477,1078" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="ac revelations hanging" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-revelations-hanging.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-revelations-hanging.png?w=1024" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2171" title="ac revelations hanging" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-revelations-hanging.png?w=300&#038;h=218" alt="" width="300" height="218" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-revelations-hanging.png?w=300&amp;h=218 300w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-revelations-hanging.png?w=597&amp;h=436 597w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-revelations-hanging.png?w=150&amp;h=109 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Release date:</span> November 2011</p>
<p><strong>Assassin&#8217;s Creed: Brotherhood</strong> was certainly a surprise. It was not, as many feared, just a quick cash-in on a building franchise. In fact, it only made the claim truer that, yes, Ubisoft, knew what it was doing with its stabby-stab games. Multiplayer is back, and that&#8217;s great as it&#8217;s some of the only multiplayer I&#8217;ve played and enjoyed. But when is <strong>Assassin&#8217;s Creed III</strong> really coming out?</p>
<h3>Animal Crossing 3DS (no official title yet)</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2172" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/3ds_acrossing/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/3ds_acrossing.png" data-orig-size="410,515" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="3ds_acrossing" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/3ds_acrossing.png?w=239" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/3ds_acrossing.png?w=410" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2172" title="3ds_acrossing" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/3ds_acrossing.png?w=238&#038;h=300" alt="" width="238" height="300" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/3ds_acrossing.png?w=238&amp;h=300 238w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/3ds_acrossing.png?w=119&amp;h=150 119w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/3ds_acrossing.png 410w" sizes="(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px" /></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Release date:</span> August 2, 2011</p>
<p>Very few details exist, but you&#8217;ll supposedly be the mayor of the town in the next iteration. Maybe that will lead to more control over shops and such. Either way, this&#8217;ll give me a reason to buy a 3DS game. Buuuuuurn. I think they could do neat things to with Play Coins and StreetPass functionality, but time will tell. If it&#8217;s the same freakin&#8217; game all over again, I&#8217;m swearing off the series for good.</p>
<h3>Fantasy Life</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="2173" data-permalink="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/videogames-im-definitely-buying-in-2011/fantasy-life-town-colors/" data-orig-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fantasy-life-town-colors.jpg" data-orig-size="400,240" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="fantasy life town colors" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fantasy-life-town-colors.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fantasy-life-town-colors.jpg?w=400" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2173" title="fantasy life town colors" src="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fantasy-life-town-colors.jpg?w=300&#038;h=180" alt="" width="300" height="180" srcset="https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fantasy-life-town-colors.jpg?w=300&amp;h=180 300w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fantasy-life-town-colors.jpg?w=150&amp;h=90 150w, https://grindingdown.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fantasy-life-town-colors.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Release date:</span> Sometime in 2011</p>
<p><a href="https://grindingdown.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/level-5-bringing-fantasy-life-to-nintendo-ds/"><strong>Fantasy Life</strong> is turning out to not be the <strong>Fantasy Life</strong> I remember seeing previews for many moons back.</a> It&#8217;s instead getting revamped for the Nintendo 3DS, and while the art style and graphics have sadly changed, here&#8217;s hoping the gameplay&#8211;a life sim in a medieval fantasy setting&#8211;hasn&#8217;t. I&#8217;ve always wanted to know what it&#8217;s like to sell fruit in an open market to a range of peasants.</p>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<p>That&#8217;s all I can think of right now. I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;m forgetting a few games, and I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll want another five within a few weeks, but such is the life of a gamer, I guess. Naturally, I can&#8217;t list impulse buys, <strong>Fallout: New Vegas</strong> DLC, and games to add to my PlayStation 2 collection as they go on sale, but yeah&#8230;games. I love &#8217;em.</p>
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