Every week on Wednesday, I’m going to take a few moments to write a formal letter to the community .   In the letter, I’ll talk about the different things going on with the site and what you all have to look forward to in terms of new content, features, community events, and more.

This week, I want to focus on two additions to the site.  You have probably noticed that a Digg button has been added to all of the unique and important posts on the site.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with digg, it is a website that collects important news submissions from users all across the web and ranks them based on how many people recommend each story.  Essentially, it is a way for you to say “Hey everyone!  This guy/gal has the best coverage of this important event”.  It is a great way for blogs and websites to get some exposure outside of their immediate network.  So, if you see a review or story that you like, I ask that you click the digg button so that you can help other people get to know and enjoy The Exclaiming Gamer as much as you do.

While digg buttons are live and have been for the last few days, the other announcement is still in progress.  Soon, The Exclaiming Gamer will feature a steady stream of video content.  I am currently in the process of getting my A/V system set up and I have a few more piece of equipment I still need to buy, but by this time next week, you will hopefully see regular video review companions in addition to other features that I am not quite ready to let out of the bag.

I hope I have been able to give you something to look forward to.  I can’t wait to start putting together some video features for you to enjoy.  If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or responses to this letter, please feel free to comment below.  It has been a great ride so far and I hope to continue it into the future with all of you.

-Doug

The Exclaiming Gamer

Battlefield 1943 probably would have been reviewed days ago if it were not for the issues with the servers that occurred on release day and beyond.  Since I am a stalwart fan of the original game, I decided to give EA and DICE a chance to get their act together before I buried them with a 1/5 for trying to sell a title screen for $15.

Luckily for all of us, a bunch of new servers have been going up for the game everyday and the original connectivity issues have been solved.  I have found joining a game to be extremely quick and pointless as of the time of this review.

Once I was able to connect consistently to the servers, I found a highly distilled Battlefield experience.  There are no pre or post-game lobbies to sit in between matches, only a scoreboard at the end of the match.  There are only three maps included with the game coming from the Pacific maps in 1942 (Guadalcanal, Wake Island, and Iwo Jima) with a fourth map being released after the community has aggregated 43 million kills.  There are also only three classes to choose from (Scout, Rifleman, and Infantry).  The classes all feel balanced, with certain classes having the advantage depending on the situation.  As far as game modes go, all you get—and need—is your classic ‘capture and hold control points’ Battlefield action.

The concentrated nature of the game is simultaneously its biggest strength and most glairing weakness.  The game is both highly accessible and easy to pick up and play.  If you have an hour or two to kill or you are just looking for a quick bit of action, then 1943 delivers.  However, if it is a more sustained experience you are craving, the three maps and three classes begin to get stale over time.

Overall, Battlefield 1943 is a great way to get a little dose of some classic Battlefield action during these lean video gaming days.  Even though I enjoyed the game, I couldn’t help but wonder if it would have been more enjoyable as a total 1942 remake.  I personally hope that EA and DICE add to the game in the future with DLC or free updates, as a few more maps or another class or two would do a lot to keep the game fresh over time.  Regardless of the small number of maps and the rough launch, it is unlikely that you will find a game that will provide as much fun as Battlefield 1943 does for $15.  If you are at all interested in some World War II multiplayer action in the grand Battlefield style, then you should definitely consider spending your summer in the Pacific with Battlefield 1943.

Final Score:  4/5

The Exclaiming Gamer Podcast 7-14-09

Runtime:  38:15

Now, usually I don’t bother with collectors editions, but if I have the extra cash, I may be forced to let the uber-nerd inside of me come out to play.  So what about you?  Will you fork over the extra cash for NVGs that will probably be lackluster at best?

They need time to make the Little Sisters even creepier.

Well, even though it isn’t officially out of the question that BioShock 2 will be released this year, the odds do not look very promising. 2k announced today that they will be delaying the release of BioShock 2 until Fiscal Year 2010. For those of us who use a regular calendar, that roughly translates to sometime between November of this year to April 2010. So while there is still a chance that the game will be released during the holiday season, the consensus around the internet is not optimistic.

In a way, I’m glad that 2k is taking the time and give the game a proper chance at fulfilling the lofty expectations that have been set for it. They would be foolish to put it out if it is not ready. Besides, I will be too buried under the tons of other releases this Fall, so having something to look forward to between January and April could be alright. Whatever the case, be sure to keep your eyes open for more updates on this story as it unfolds.

- The grand finale of my “Most Anticipated Games for the Second Half of 2009″

-  The Exclaiming Gamer Podcast (Episode 2)

- Battlefield 1943 Review

- New Editorial Series:  Future of  [insert genre here]

- The Secret of Monkey Island Review

Of course, there will also be plenty of news and other fun stuff all week long.  Make sure to check back often and enjoy!

5. Alpha Protocol (Sega, Obsidian)

Platforms: XBOX 360, PS3, & PC

Expected Release: October 6th

Pictured: Me punching Obsidian in the face for KOTOR II

Why it made my list: It has taken me a while to forgive Obsidian for what they did to my beloved KOTOR series when they were handed the follow-up project to the smash hit and released what was, at least in my opinion, a mess of a game with KOTOR II. The information leaking out about Alpha Protocol has restored a little bit of my faith in the developer, making me think that they have probably learned a lot from their KOTOR II days. The game promises to have branching dialogue that will have a heavy impact on the storyline and gameplay. Combine that with a promising amount of action and RPG elements and you get a game that gets me interested.

4. Brutal Legend (EA, Double Fine)

Platforms: XBOX 360 & PS3

Expected Release: October 13th

I, Jack Black, do solemnly swear to not ruin this game...

Why it made my list: Even though I have never played Psychonauts, I have heard so many people heaping so much praise upon the game that I have come to respect Tim Schafer and the way he goes about making games. Everything I have seen or read about Brutal Legend has forced me to put the game in my top 5. October is going to be a great month!

3. BioShock 2 (2k, 2k Marin, Digital Extremes)

Platforms: XBOX 360, PS3, & PC

Expected Release: Late 2009 – Early 2010

What I may turn into if I don't get my fix of BioShock in 2009.

Why it made my list: Ok, so there is a really good chance that BioShock 2 will not actually come out in 2009 (See this article), but since fiscal year 2010 still technically includes part of 2009, I am holding out hope. Like most people who played the original BioShock, I was enthralled by the entertaining gameplay, thrilling story, and rich atmosphere. I do not know if BioShock 2 will live up to the lofty reputation of its predecessor, but I am sure willing to give it a try.

2. Assassin’s Creed 2 (Ubisoft, Ubisoft Montreal)

Platforms: XBOX 360, PS3, & PC

Expected Release: November 17th

Altair was great and all, but Ezio is at least twice as bad ass.

Why it made my list: Take the original Assassin’s Creed. Get rid of all the stupid things that annoyed you about it (pointless open world, repetitive mission structure). Now put the game in Renaissance Era Italy and you have Assassin’s Creed 2. Do you see why I am excited?

1. Modern Warfare 2 (Activision, Infinity Ward)

Platforms: XBOX 360, PS3, & PC

Expected Release: November 10th

Make sure to hit the enemy's weak point for massive damage!

Why it made my list: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ran away with my personal game of the year in 2007. I still play it regularly today. It contains one of the most polished and entertaining single player campaigns ever included in a blockbuster FPS. CoD4 also has, in my opinion, the best multiplayer action of any console game around. Modern Warfare 2 promises to improve upon both the single player and multiplayer aspects of CoD4. If Infinity Ward is able to deliver on theses improvements, I will be playing a lot of Modern Warfare 2 in November.

So there you have it.  Those are the games I am excited about for the rest of the year.  As the release dates approach, be sure to look out for previews, reviews, and news on all these games and others.  The annual Fall deluge of games approaches!  Time to start saving up some cash.

Red Faction:  Guerrilla is not an epic thriller with an intense storyline that will keep you playing for hours on end.  It will not preach to you about moral choice or bog you down with difficult dialog decisions.  Red Faction: Guerrilla is, however, a really good game that will fully satisfy your craving for destruction on a massive scale.

The story for the game is quite simple and exists only to provide the framework for the aforementioned carnage.  You play as Alec Mason, who has come to Mars to mine with his brother Dan.  About five minutes into the game, Dan gets smoked by an Earth Defense Force gunship and you run off to join the Red Faction who are trying to push the EDF out of Mars.

To liberate Mars from EDF control, you must take over the six inhabited sectors of the planet.  The level of EDF control in a sector is represented by a score that drops as you perform missions, destroy propaganda, and demolish buildings that are critical to the control of the sector.  Once the EDF control reaches zero, you then take on a final story mission to liberate the sector.

As I progressed in the game, I found myself focusing more on demolishing critical structures as opposed to running the side missions, mostly because the same mission types are recycled between sectors and become quite stale the third or fourth time around.  This was not a problem however, as going on destruction raids is far and away the best part of the game.  Trying to find the most creative way to turn a building into rubble is unsurprisingly awesome and there were times where I found myself destroying everything around me just to enjoy the resulting explosions.

You are given plenty of different tools to make the pyromaniac inside of you giggle.  There are rocket launchers, mines, bombs, and even a gun that shoots nanites that turn whatever it hits into dust.  Overall, the gun play feels good, probably on par with that of GTA IV but not quite as good as Gears of War 2.  You can upgrade your weapons by using salvage gained as mission rewards or from blowing up buildings.  The upgrades consist of things like being able to carry more ammo or adding lock-on capabilities.

The biggest surprise about Red Faction:  Guerrilla is the multiplayer.  Offline multiplayer features “Wrecking Crew” mode, where players pass the controller and try to outscore each other in different destruction challenges.  As nice as the offline multiplayer is, the real gem of the game is the online.  You will find your traditional deathmatch and team deathmatch, capture the flag, and control point modes all with little twists that make them that much more fun.  For example, instead of capturing a control point by standing next to it, you blow up the control point and use a ‘reconstructer’ to but it back together.  There is a full suite of unlocks for you to earn as well as an experience system and leaderboards.

Red Faction: Guerrilla is a solid game that fans of the open world action genre will likely enjoy.  It does a good job about keeping the action going and making sure that you don’t go too long without blowing something up.  If you are looking to cause some mayhem and guns and bombs are more your style than superpowers, Red Faction:  Guerrilla will likely fit the bill quite nicely.

Final Score:  4/5

10. Halo 3:  ODST (Microsoft, Bungie)

Platforms:  XBOX 360

Expected Release:  September 22nd

Stop! It's HammerTime! (I am so sorry...)

Why it made my list:  Ok, so it’s probably going to just be another Halo game, I know.  However, not playing as that invincible cybernetic badass Master Chief has me intrigued and the chance to find out more about what is going on with Halo:  Reach will probably be enough to get my $60.

9. Borderlands (2k, Gearbox)

Platforms:  PC, XBOX 360, & PS3

Expected Release:  October

Wait! I need to pick which gun I'm going to use to kill you!

Why it made my list:  With Borderlands, Gearbox is attempting to combine the fun and action of FPS combat with an MMORPG style class system, Diablo like character building and co-op, and a procedurally generated list of approximately 650,000 guns.  Does it sound a little too good to be true?  Well, perhaps.  I for one know that I can’t wait to find out.

8.  Forza Motorsport 3 (Microsoft, Turn 10)

Platforms:  XBOX 360

Expected Release:  October 27th

I think that this would look better in orange and black. Probably could use an exclaimation mark or two.

Why it made my list:  I’m the first to admit that I didn’t play a ton of Forza 2.  However, I did play enough to appreciate the game and to be able to look forward to this follow-up.  With 100 tracks, 400 customizable cars and the return of the highly versatile paint shop, Forza 3 will likely satisfy my driving fix for a long while.

7. Uncharted 2:  Among Thieves (Sony, Naughty Dog)

Platforms:  PS3

Expected Release:  October

WHAT? YOU DON'T HAZ PS3?!?!

Why it made my list:  Uncharted 2 is the first reason why I want a PS3 right now.  The combat is apparently much improved from the first game.  The guns feel more powerful and the cover system has been improved.  Graphically, it looks beautiful.  Add in some cooperative and competitive multiplayer and you have the formula for one solid game.

6. MAG:  Massive Action Game (Sony, Zipper)

Platforms:  PS3

Expected Release:  Late 2009

This is but 1/25th of what will be trying to kill you when MAG is released.

Why it made my list:  256 people in one fight with high customizable characters and weapon load outs with tons of unlocks and an experience system to keep you coming back for more.  Must…get…PS3…

So that is 10-6.  I know that it is going to be hard, but you are going to have to wait until tomorrow to find out the final 5, including my most anticipated game of 2009!

15. The Beatles:  Rock Band (EA, Harmonix, MTV Games)

Platforms: XBOX 360, PS3, Wii, & PS2

Expected Release:  September 9th

Are you the Walrus?

Why it made my list:  I like Rock Band.  I like the Beatles.  I like buying lots of fake plastic guitars and drums.  I don’t see how this combination could fail me.

14. Dark Void (Capcom, Alright Games)

Platforms: PS3, XBOX 360, & PC

Expected Release:  September 22nd

I hope it isn't 'going to be a long, long time' until I play Dark Void

Why it made my list:  Everything that I have seen about Dark Void has shown me that it plans to be a game centered on the player flying around with a jetpack and shooting dudes in the face in an alternate dimension.  Oh, you get to hang out with Nikola Tesla in between levels so that he can build you all kinds of crazy new upgrades.  In all seriousness, Dark Void looks like it will be a fresh spin on the third-person shooter and I really hope it makes it out before the end of the year.

13. DJ Hero (Activision, FreeStyleGames)

Platforms:  XBOX 360, PS3, & Wii

Expected Release:  Late 2009

Featuring: I Can Be Your DJ Hero, Baby! (Enrique Iglesias Remix)

Why it made my list:  Even though I am still really skeptical about how DJ Hero is going to work, I am a sucker for rhythm games and I would really like the chance to get my hands on it and play it.  I think the game has a lot of potential if Activision and FreeStyleGames are able to give it the right feel.

12. Left4Dead 2 (EA, Valve)

Platforms: PC & XBOX 360

Expected Release:  November 17th

Pictured: Gamers who aren't so happy about the short 1 year gap between the original and the sequel...

Why it made my list:  Left4Dead was a bunch of fun when it first came out, but I couldn’t help but have a bunch of issues with the game.  They committed the worst sin they could when they didn’t give me an axe or chainsaw I could use to do some zombie hacking.  I was also let down by the AI director, as it was promised to give you a new experience every time but to me just seemed to let out different boss zombies at different points.  These problems and others have apparently been solved in Left4Dead 2, so how could I not get excited about it?

11. Battlefield:  Bad Company 2 (EA, DICE)

Platforms:  XBOX 360, PS3, & PC

Expected Release: September 28th

I hope this game smells as nice as the original!

Why it made my list:  I have been a fan of the Battlefield series since 1942 and I really enjoyed the totally different direction DICE went in with Bad Company.  The dialog and story from the original were crazy and funny and the characters were memorable and entertaining.  The multiplayer wasn’t half bad either.  If the campaign and multiplayer are anywhere as fun as the original game, then Bad Company 2 should be a sure-fire blast!

Well, that is the end of the list for today.  Check back tomorrow when we bust into the top 10 with games 10-6.