Thanks to sites like SideQuesting, we already know the biggest gaming news of the week. What’s more interesting is the reaction online to the news. Using a variety of social metrics, we’ve compiled a report on what the trending topics are, and if they’re viewed positively or negatively online. We’ve grabbed the top ten news events of the week and scaled them here, in the handy infographic above. In the end it’s all subjective, since dollars speak more than words and every source scales their values differently. Regardless, it’s still fun to look at how news items affect social media reactions.
UP
Winner: Playstation
Sony’s Playstation brand is getting great feedback this week, thanks to the buzz about the rumored PS4 debut this upcoming Wednesday and the controller image leaks. Thanks to issues surrounding some of the Xbox rumors (see below) the Playstation stock is doing extremely well on the web right now.
PS4 reveal one week from today! Woo hoo! :D #playstation2013
— Victor Vallejo (@socalrider99) February 13, 2013
Grid 2
Though there are always several new racing games on the market at once, not many actually follow the growth of a racing star. That could all change when Grid 2 releases, based around a World Series of Racing to map the rise of one person in the racing world. It’s a fresh take, and one that “is to racing what UFC is to fighting“.
Killzone: Mercenary
The Vita is in a pretty barren spot right now, getting clobbered by its rival the 3DS. One thing that could change that, at least in the Western markets, is the release of a new Killzone game. Mixing contract-mission gameplay with multiplayer and new control methods (where swipe touch actually sounds interesting) Mercenary could very well be a savior for the portable. And it looks hella good, too.
Luigi
Nintendo’s latest Direct outlined 2013 as the “Year of Luigi”, and they are supporting that by announcing new editions in the Mario & Luigi series, a massive New Super Mario U update that centers on the brother, and the impending Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for 3DS next month.
Destiny
Bungie finally revealed their new game, Destiny, using Powerpoint and screenshots. Yup! While the concept sounds cool — an MMO-style FPS game — details are scarce and visuals even more so. No one knows what to expect yet, so we’re all being optimistically cautious.
I don’t know how I feel about the new “Destiny” game… well at least its a different FPS this time.
— Mark R (@Vicariious) February 18, 2013
DOWN
The Last of Us
This hot game got delayed to June… the same week as E3. The game still looks great, but the extra few week wait is becoming a buzzkill to some.
Gamestop
The company came off sounding whiny by citing results of their recent survey about used game sales and next gen gaming. In their internal survey, geared towards their PowerUp members, the company preached that the next gen sales could be hurt if console manufacturers do not allow used games to play on their devices. Also: Gamestop makes a LOT of money on used games. OBVIOUSLY they’d push this agenda.
Xbox
Supposed the next Xbox won’t play used games. It also supposedly will always be online and require Kinect to function. It’ll still supposedly rely on a paid membership to Xbox Live. All of these are turn-offs to a public that wants things to be cheaper and free-er.
Wii U
Those Wii U sales are bad. BAAAAAD. No matter what Nintendo Directs tell us is coming, there is nothing in the stores worth picking up right now. The negative news continues to roll in, and potential buyers are quickly calling for price cuts.
Loser: Aliens: Colonial Marines
What might be the biggest face-palming stories of the year, Gearbox’s interpretation of Aliens has gotten the bottom of the shoe of publicity. Horrific review scores, purported bullshots and faked demos, and even rumors that it was outsourced at the last minute, leave nothing to get excited about for this game.
Aliens Colonial Marines is arguably the worst FPS I’ve played in a long time. Glad I rented it at redbox. #terrible
— Mike Navel47 (@Navel47) February 18, 2013
This report is based on data from IceRocket, Twendz, Social Buzz, and SocialMention
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