Welcome to the second week of 2018! I am going to make a bold prediction for this year. I am calling 2018 the year of the indie to mid-size size game studios. Why you ask? Looking through the known releases and knowing that there are of course of number of tent pole releases in Q4 that always show up, nothing is exciting me right now. I am guessing I am not alone. The overall feeling in the Destiny 2 Clan is Bungie dropped the ball and I have noticed a sharp decline in clan activity as well as my own. Forza is great and all and kinda ho-hum at this point. Same can be said for COD and AC. Maybe it's because I am pushing ever closer to 50 or maybe, just maybe, the gaming industry as a whole is in a rut. I am going with the latter on this one. The majority of the big releases already known are either sequels, re-releases or releasing on different platforms. Where is the innovation? Where is the equivalent of DOOM in '93? Back then you could argue id Software was an indie developer and I am willing to bet all the snow on my front lawn that the innovation that the games industry is sorely in need of will come from an indie to mid size team. I am also willing to bet all the snow on my neighbors lawn that we will see some of that this year!
Lets take a look at how this year is starting off.
InnerSpace
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Release Date: January 16th, 2018
InnerSpace is a flying exploration game where you look for artifacts and bring them back to the cartographer to see what they are. Kinda like the engrams back to Master Rahool in Destiny but hopefully the stuff you get will actually be decent!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWQw3SeCNa4
Kerbal Space Program: Enhaced Edition
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: January 16th, 2018
Finally us console only geeks can launch the ever so adorable Kerbals out into space on a ship of our design! Will they make it past the launch? Will they survive the cold vastness of space? Will they be able to plant your flag on a nearby planet? It's up to you to design and build the machines that will keep your Kerbals alive!
Street Fighter V Arcade Edition
Platforms: PC, PS4
Release Date: January 16th, 2018
Do you really need a preamble for this game? If you don't know what Street Fighter is your gamer card needs to be revoked. Just saying...
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory
Platforms: PS4, Vita
Release Date: January 19th, 2018
They still make games for the PS Vita? Well...color me surprised! Anyway, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory was released laast month in Japan and this week it gets the worldwide release. I really have no idea what this game is supposed to be about. I read the description but from the trailer below the two don't seem to match.
Kirby Battle Royale
Platforms: 3DS
Release Date: January 19th, 2018
So I am thinking the best way to describe this is PUBG but with Kirby and Nintendo-ized so it's more party and less chicken dinner.
