Archive for the ‘Best of 2012’ Category

Best of 2012: Top 10 Game Cases

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Time to kick off my ambitious goal of presenting ten top tens of entertainment media in 2012. This is going to require an unprecedented time management effort, but hey, hopefully I’ve grown enough this year to meet the requirements. First up, something I’ve always paid perhaps a little too much attention to: videogame cases.

We live in an age where games are available as full digital downloads more readily than ever, but physical production is still plenty relevant. When you look at a game on a store shelf, a lot of things go through your mind, whether consciously or (more likely) subconsciously. Is the cover eye-catching? Does it stand out from its brethren? Does it give you an adequate idea of what the game will have you doing? Does it do something other than feature a man looking straight at you while striking a badass pose? All these things and more churned around in my mind before I could spit out this list of my top ten favourite game cases of 2012.

But the list doesn’t just take into account what the front cover of a game looks like; I’ve also considered the back, the spine and, where applicable, even the inside of the case. All facets of physical presentation have been accounted for. Yeah, I’m definitely a cool guy.

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VR BEST OF 2012 DISCLAIMER
This list represents my opinion only. I am not asserting any kind of superiority or self-importance by presenting it as I have. My opinion is not fact. If you actually agree with me 100%, that’s scary. You have been warned, fanboys.
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10. Assassin’s Creed III

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When compared to the cover art of the first four Assassin’s Creed games, one thing immediately stands out about the front of the ACIII case. Connor, the newest member of the Brotherhood of Assassins to be introduced to series fans, isn’t simply standing in an ominous pose with a hood over his head. No, he’s actually doing something, and something rather violent at that. That redcoat he has in his very capable grasp is not going to be breathing for much longer, or so the implication stands. The motion-blurred battlefield depicted in the background, complete with prototype American flag, adds to the kinetic excitement of the image, suggesting a history-rich experience well worth playing through.

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Best of 2012 Intro

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2012 has been the best year of my life thus far. This is mostly due to reasons that have no place on Vagrant Rant (as well as, indeed, the existence of Vagrant Rant itself), but there’s no denying that a quality selection of entertainment media played its part. If you had told me at the start of the year that I would be playing three new games consoles by its end, that The Avengers would out-perform The Dark Knight Rises at the box office or that a thirty-something Korean pop star would be nominated for TIME’s “Person of the Year”,  I would have looked at you with stunned disbelief.

Yet here we are, sitting less than a fortnight out from the end of another year (and on the eve of the supposed end of the world), getting all reflective and stuff on what has gone by. What better way to celebrate than with ten top ten lists? Well, I love that idea. In fact I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

Let’s go.