And the Fandom Rejoiced/Video Games



""I remember watching the announcement going out on the net, was a real big day for us, and was I think the point where people started to really get excited about the game!""

- Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Executive Producer Steve Lycett on the announcement of Ryo Hazuki as a playable character.

Video game announcements, particularly sequel or casting announcements, can cause a positive uproar among the fans.

"I don't think you'll be able to do this alone..."
 * A new SSX game? Eh, that's not that impressive. Wait, is that "It's Tricky?" by Run DMC playing? Oh damn!
 * Is that Moby? And he has his dreadlocks back? Yes! Oh my God!
 * Bio Shock Infinite. There's something. In. The sky.
 * And Ken Levine is running the show again!
 * Mark Hamill reprising the role of the Joker for Batman: Arkham Asylum, Paul Dini from the animated series writing it, Arleen Sorkin and Kevin Conroy as Harley Quinn and the man himself...
 * And then there was Batman: Arkham City
 * The Need for Speed racing series fandom has been solidly broken ever since a switch in focus from exotic cars to tuner cars, with a majority considering the Hot Pursuit games to be the best. Then Electronic Arts announced that the Burnout crew at Criterion Games would be making a new Hot Pursuit game, with the focus back on the exotics, and a major emphasis on "race and chase" play. That was enough to get most of the NFS fandom on board. Then the reveal trailer was put on YouTube. Most everyone else was sold on the game with the Bugatti Veyron cop car.
 * Command and Conquer fans: Hell. March. Three. Oh, yes, yes, yes. Solidified with the announcement that Red Alert 3 would star Tim Curry, JK Simmons, George Takei, and Peter Stormare in his signature "scientist" role.
 * The original teaser for Command and Conquer 3 had a Fandom Rejoice moment of its own. There's a news broadcast mentioning the Brotherhood of Nod and Kane's apparent death, which is abruptly turned off...by Joseph Kucan! KANE LIVES! And Tricia Helfer and Grace Park from Battlestar Galactica, and Josh Holloway from Lost, and Michael Ironside! Billy Dee Williams! Malcolm McDowell! Lastly, Ric Flair as a general in the cutscenes. MARKING OUT~! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
 * Command And Conquer 4? Seriously, how long can they keep churning out - wait, Joseph Kucan's back? AGAIN? KANE LI- er, STILL LIVES!
 * Command and Conquer Generals 2 is coming? OK, cool - wait, BIOWARE is making it?
 * The announcement of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was largely met with apathy and dread from MK fans, DC fans, and gaming press alike for separate reasons. and then the video of Joker's fatality was released.
 * A more direct rejoicement was the announcement of Captain Marvel and Deathstroke as playable characters. This game marks their debut in video games for both of them. And in the MK side, Baraka.
 * For Mortal Kombat 9, there was both Kratos and Freddy Kreuger as playables.
 * OK, so MK9 is epic, yadda yadda...wait...why is Shang Tsung dressed like a clown...OH MAN, THE JOKER FATALITY IS RESTORED.
 * Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots? Another lame Nick game? ...what's this? Stimpy and Rocko are playable? Wow, Nickelodeon still remembers that they exist!
 * As for the following game: "Why is that money-milker SpongeBob hogging the title of the game n Zim and Dib!??!"
 * Richard Jacques returning to compose Sonic the Hedgehog music (Cue inevitable Sonic R reference) in Sonic and The Black Knight alongside Jun Senoue but also being joined by Tommy Tallarico? Freaking sweet! And Crush 40 is recording some songs for it, after not recording any for Secret Rings or Sonic Unleashed.
 * In an inversion, people were extremely psyched when the first footage of Sonic Unleashed was unveiled, showing Sonic blasting through what ended up being the daytime stages at mach speeds, while seeming to combine 2D sidescrolling gameplay with Secret Rings-esque 3D behind-the-back running - a combination many could not fault. Then the Werehog showed up...and then Tails. And Amy. And Chip.
 * Sega's initial refusal to confirm ANY details about Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (Project Needlemouse) left fans preparing for the worst. Then, finally, after 4 months: "Today, we are about to break the trend that has continued on for many years. To the thousands of you out there asking for a game where Sonic is the only playable character - rejoice. As of today, your wish has been granted. In Project Needlemouse, there will be no new characters - playable or otherwise. The focus will remain solely on one blue hedgehog."
 * Sonic Colors being marketed to kids? Aww man it's gonna stink--Wait, how many journalists have a good impression of this game? Sonic's VA being replaced by a good voice actor? The same voice actor who did Chris Redfield and Ezio?
 * The idea of Tails speaking was initially terrifying, until it was revealed he no longer sounded like a 5-year-old girl. And as for the new voice of Knuckles...Travis Willingham.
 * Another Sonic game is coming. And just in time for his 20th Anniversary to boot. Starts out with Sonic running through the frozen remains of the Green Hill Zone, which is pretty cool until IS THAT RETRO SONIC?! Fans rejoiced even more when they heard that classic Sonic was voiced by the same voice actor who did a voice of Gordon Freeman.
 * There was also CITY ESCAPE, and both Sonics get to play through the stage, board-riding and all. The truck is back. As Modern Sonic, it has friggin' chainsaws and chases you for far longer than it did in Adventure 2, destroying buildings and chasing you sideways across walls! Even Omochao makes a brief cameo! And to put the cherry on top, Sega contacted Tony Harnell, the original singer of "Escape from the City", to do a rearrangement of the song for Generations. Take my rings, Sega.
 * Many The Legend of Zelda fans are keen on the idea of a proposed game that would be developed by Retro Studios, known for fan-favorite series revivals Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country Returns. Then news broke of Retro getting their new Wii U development kit, with a comment of their upcoming game being "a project everyone wants us to do", implying their involvement. But just recently, Shigeru Miyamoto himself stated in an interview that he was interested in letting Retro take a crack at the series. Cue cries of "MAKE IT HAPPEN!"
 * When Valve initially announced that the Heavy of Team Fortress 2 was getting an upgrade that allowed him to rejuvenate health, the initial reaction was anger over the Heavy becoming too unbalanced. Then they released the Sandvich trailer. It promptly became the best update ever.
 * And Lo, It is here.
 * Three words: Meet. The. Medic. At last, it's finally due to be released! And other classes are getting updates in the process!
 * And now it's free to play!
 * Valve has a way of pleasing the crowd, especially fans of Portal 2:
 * Firstly when they announced the PS3 version, then when they said that J.K. Simmons would be the voice of Cave Johnson, and again when they changed their mind on Chell's outfit for Portal 2. She'd be wearing this as opposed to what they were originally planning her new look to be.
 * More yet when Valve finally released a trailer where we actually see Chell. And more, when they announced and released free DLC for it, and later on with a full SDK for PC players. The Modders Rejoiced.
 * Portal 2 soundtrack volumes 1 (released on May 25, 2011), 2 (on July 1st, 2011), and 3.
 * Even more rejoicing involved when Valve stated they're going to release more Portal 2 comics and videos.
 * A Ghostbusters video game? I dunno...what? Almost all of the actors are back? Even William Atherton, Typecasting Obstructive Bureaucrat supreme? AND it's being written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis? DO WANT!
 * It even kickstarted enough interest for a new movie!
 * Are you seriously telling me that Tetsuya Nomura is directing a game written by Kazushige Nojima and scored by Yoko Shimomura, with the Disney taken out of Kingdom Hearts and the Darker and Edgier cranked Up to Eleven? YES! (Final Fantasy Versus XIII, by the way)
 * Dissidia Final Fantasy is just going to be another crappy Final Fantasy spinoff with Cloud and Sephiroth stealing the lime-- Ooo! Kefka! With Shantotto, you'd think we'd get a secret FF12 rep too...Judge Grabanth!
 * Repeated when footage of the game was released in English, this time not with the characters but their voice actors. Chris Sabat as Garland? Yes please!
 * Even more rejoicing when it turns out that there will be a sequel called Dissidia Duodecim, which features Lightning, fan-favorite Kain Highwind, Tifa, Yuna, Vaan and The Unexpected appearance of Laguna Loire! And for those who deride the new characters, you can play as the Man in Black.
 * GILGAMESH has been announced! Oh, and Prishe, too.
 * The new content of Duodecim itself should NOT be overlooked. The HP cap is now broken to the sixth digit, there's an assist system, world map (no Random Encounters!), at least one character's fighting style has been reconstructed (Firion) and Destiny Odysseys for the Chaos characters. Did I forget to mention the Old Save Bonus feature from Dissidia and the 13th Cycle of Dissidia is going to be replayable?! Big Honkin' Game doesn't even begin to cover this.
 * It may count as One Game for the Price of Two, but a code was handed out to those who bought Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep: Final Mix and The 3rd Birthday that, when used in Duodecim, granted Cloud and Lightning a third special costume. Cloud's outfit also gave Kingdom Hearts fans more to rejoice about, seeing as it's what he wore in 1.
 * Early June 2010, the DLC made its way to European shores, too. Not to mention that there's a DLC costume for Sephiroth, too. That One Boss just got Promoted to Unlockable Available For Purchase. Oh yeah.
 * Last but not least, the game has a make-your-own-story mode. That's right: you can write your own fanfiction in the game, program battles to happen in it and share it with your friends!
 * Many mocked Final Fantasy XIII for the character names and huge lack of gameplay information at the time. Then Square Enix revealed Sazh Katzroy --a savvy Dual-Wielding black man with an afro (used as a nest by tiny baby chocobos) who calls himself "Daddy"-- and the mocking turned into frothing demand.
 * Just as the Sazh afterglow faded and gamers began to constantly mock Hope Estheim for being a kiddy girlie character, Square finally revealed that his summon is Alexander - who hasn't been usable since Final Fantasy VIII and was last seen as in Final Fantasy XI. Suddenly everyone wants to play Hope.
 * As of recent updates to Final Fantasy XI, Alexander is finally summonable, though . Also, including in that same update qualifies for this trope on its own.
 * Final Fantasy XIII-2? Wasn't X-2 bad enou.....Sarah is playable? You'll be able to explore the world map again? Aw, Square does learn from its mistakes.
 * Final Fantasy XIV: Yawn, another Final Fantasy title. It's probably just anoth- wait, Nobuo Uematsu is composing the entire soundtrack for the first time since FFIX? WIN.
 * Oh man, not another MMO-- Akihiko Yoshida you say!?
 * Final Fantasy Type-0 has kingdoms named Suzaku, Byakko, Genbu, and Seiryu!, and oh, hey there, Gilgamesh! Taking lessons from Garland, I see...
 * Four and a half years after the Wii's Virtual Console service launches, we finally get...Final Fantasy VI. Please and thank you.
 * In Kingdom Hearts I, the discovery of Sephiroth.
 * And it was written: Ah yes...When Sephiroth appeared in the Olympus Colosseum, the Fandom Rejoiced...and then began to scream in agonizing frustration as he kicked their asses one by one.
 * Sephiroth? Nah, it came during a scene with Donald and Goofy. "Typical Disney cra...Aeris? YES."
 * Kingdom Hearts II got this in a pretty major fashion in terms of voice acting. Square Enix not only got access to several actors from Disney movies featured in the game (examples being Hercules' original VA Tate Donovan and James Woods as Hades), but spared no expenses on roping in some pretty well-known names for other characters, such as Jesse McCartney for Roxas as well as Haley Joel Osment and Hayden Panettiere (better known as Claire from Heroes) reprising their original roles. The best and most shocking though, was for DiZ/: none other than veteran actor Christopher Lee.
 * Two worlds in particular, Tron and Pride Rock, invoked this from much of the fandom. As did the idea of the 1000 Heartless battle at the end of the second trailer.
 * Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep has essentially been a series of ATFRs: three classic Disney Princesses' worlds, Stitch's world, Ansem the Wise's apprentices, a fittingly redesigned Zack Fair in Olympus, and Mickey as a D-Link Summon. In his Sorcerer's Apprentice costume. And Mickey as a party member for Aqua. And now we have confirmation that Leonard Nimoy and Mark Hamill are on board.
 * Kingdom Hearts 3D has a lot of this. To put it into perspective, it has it's own page.
 * Kingdom Hearts 3D has a playable Riku without a card system or a few seconds deadline, and the fact that all of the Disney-based worlds will be entirely new.
 * Notre Dame, that is all.
 * Hold on to your clothes, folks. There's gonna be a Reapers' Game in Traverse Town. Sora is going to cross paths with Neku from TWEWY. Holy Yen Sid, Spring 2012 can't come quick enough.
 * And he's not alone! The whole gang is in Traverse Town: Shiki, Beat, Joshua, AND Rhyme!
 * Hold it! Roxas, Xion, Vanitas, Ansem Seeker of Darkness, Xemnas, Young Master Xehanort (or possibly Terranort), and Lea are all going to appear IN THE SAME GAME!? Square, just take my money already!
 * Tron: Legacy World. Full stop.
 * And after this trailer summed up most of the rejoicing on the YMMV tab of the Kingdom Hearts 3D article, now comes word that Fantasia is one of the new worlds, with the first character being Mickey in his Sorcerer's Apprentice Costume. And not as a D-Link summon, no, as Mickey Mouse himself.
 * The fact that only scenes from the Sorcerer's Apprentice song were shown got some fans on edge, then Famitsu scans arrived and showed off more places from different songs of Fantasia! And then they topped it of by showing a picture of Riku facing Chernabog! Yes, Chernabog, who hasn't been seen since his Giant Space Flea From Nowhere appearance in the original Kingdom Hearts!
 * When Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden was announced, many people seemed rather unpleased they'll be seeing a rehash of the bonus section of the previous "2.5" scenario from Original Generations. The suspense was even ruined regarding Fiona Gureden's fate, no thanks to one trailer. And when the game neared its release date -- WAIT A MINUTE, THE CRY WOLVES OF Super Robot Wars MX!? AXEL ALMER AND ALFIMI ARE COMING Back From the Dead!?
 * Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier's sequel "EXCEED" didn't seem to attract much hype as the only brand new characters are just Aledy Naash (an Expy of Folka Albark) and Neige Hausen, until...yeah, Axel and Alfimi make another moment in that very game, as did Fighter Roar, despite being only a support character.
 * Then one of the latest trailers showcased the villains and the Big Bad, the latter who beared a resemblance to WODAN YMIR. Fans were frothing at the mouths afterwards. Even better, the same trailer highlighted on bosses from the previous game able to be used as part of the support party. Hell, even Saya from Namco X Capcom gets a friggin' Combination Attack with Reiji Arisu and Xiaomu!
 * Super Robot Wars Z2. The cast list was so beautiful that it was first dismissed as a troll. When it was confirmed, there was much rejoicing.
 * To put how awesome that cast listing was, hype for freaking Gurren Lagann was actually eclipsed by the other series. It came from from debuts Dai-Guard, Shin Mazinger, Gundam 00, and Armored Trooper VOTOMS. Then there's the fact that TV Gundam Wing, Godmars, Macross Frontier, both Dancougars and Getter Armageddon returned to the franchise, as well as ALMOST EVERY SINGLE SERIES FROM THE ORIGINAL GAME with only two exceptions. The only quirky entry this time was Invincible Robo Trider G7, which got some hype after Banpresto showed a completely unrelated cross series combo between G7 and Zambot, cross series combos have been wished for for a long time.
 * The Fan Nickname of the cast list was "The Best Thing Ever".
 * Think that's it? Z2: Saisei-Hen adds in New Gigantor (AKA Emperor of the Sun Tetsujin 28), Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Second Season), Macross 7 (which wasn't seen since D), Macross Dynamite 7, Macross Frontier: The Wings of Goodbye, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Lagann-hen, making the series list in the Z2 story going to 40. Now that's a big list!
 * And some people were very happy about what characters are apparently playable - Shako, Karren in bunny outfit and most of all, Boss. IT'S THE AGE OF FATSO!
 * For Philadelphia-based Zelda fans, the announcement that the Symphony of the Goddesses concert would come to the City of Brotherly Love made them squee with delight, as they were almost certain that the concert would not come to the East Coast.
 * Super Robot Wars Original Generations 2! Introducing Super Robot Wars Destiny (with Yuuichi Nakamura AKA Graham Aker as Joshua), Real Robot Regiment, the Alpha 2 arc of Ibis and Kusuha, continuing the story of MX and the story of the good Machinery Children Ing Egret! The best part? It's using Z style sprites in HD with Playstation3!
 * Another rejoicing when Namdai announced Masou Kishin II: Revelation of the Evil God, which continues the Masou Kishin story, adds new characters and full voice acting, meaning those previously never-voiced Masou Kishin characters will finally get some voices. And for limited edition buy, you get Masou Kishin I & II which remakes the DS game in PSP quality and also adds up full-voice feature. This'll make the wait for OGs2 worthy, at least!
 * Activision announcing a "Smash Hits" edition of Guitar Hero? Lame, more money-milking...Wait, all master tracks? And "Freebird", "Godzilla", and a live version of "Cowboys from Hell" are confirmed, with fans getting to vote songs in? Oh hell yes.
 * The release of Guitar Hero V so soon after Guitar Hero: World Tour didn't get much excitement until the announcement of Blink-182's "The Rock Show", Blur's "Song 2", and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". But, really, they had most people at "Ring of Fire".
 * Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, as Neversoft's last game, was assumed to not have much effort put into it. "Rock the 80's" all over again, except "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, "Pour Some Sugar on Me" were confirmed, and both Tesla and The Cure are getting a song on as well.
 * Rival series Rock Band pulled this off as well. More precisely, Lego Rock Band. Harmonix managed to secure the approval with two Queen songs, the Ghostbusters theme, and "The Final Countdown", among others. And the announcement that its songs can be exported to the main Rock Band games.
 * The game also has Lego-ized likenesses of some bands playing their songs (and their songs only )--including Queen with Freddy Mercury, plus Lego David Bowie, Lego Iggy Pop, and The Beatles. For the last, they have full recreations of the places The Beatles themselves performed at, and the Sgt. Pepper uniforms were pure want.
 * There was lastly an absolutely epic DLC, including Megadeth's "Rust In Peace", Rush's "Moving Pictures", Jimi Hendrix's "Axis: Bold as Love" and "Are You Experienced" and massive song packs of Queen, The Who, Iron Maiden and more. There was even a Lady Gaga track pack, with Cartman's cover of "Poker Face". If you buy all the Rock Band games and download all the DLC you will have over 2000 songs.
 * "You Should Be Dancing" by The Bee Gees doesn't seem like much of a comparison, except it was the first song in almost three years to have a bass solo.
 * The Rock Band Network. Simply put, you get to download the same software that Harmonix use to make Rock Band songs, and an artist can use it to make charts and program character animations for one of their own songs, or they can pay for a charting company to do it for them. If it's good enough, it gets released into the store, and you get a cut of the profits. The Rock Band forums went insane at this announcement.
 * For Rock Band 3, the announcement of the keyboard peripheral kicked up a storm, as did the announcement of the Pro Guitar mode.
 * For Mask of the Betrayer look no further than the suddenly halted wank over the details on the female PC romance option, Gannayev. In summary: "A hagspawn? Guys get a bald-but-still-completely hot Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter, but we get a friggin' hagspawn? I don't care if the guy who writes his dialogue is totally awesome, it's just not fai--Wait, that's Gannayev? Naw, that can't possibly be...Really? And he's voiced by Crispin Freeman on top of it? ...I'll be in my bunk."
 * Godzilla: Unleashed (Wii version) - "Yawn, another Godzilla fighting game, same old boring monst-IS THAT GODZILLA 1954?! Biollante? King Caesar? The original Mechagodzilla?! This is gonna be awesome!"
 * Likewise, fans were very happy upon learning that, through a power-up, you can play as "Burning Godzilla".
 * The Play Station 2 version got fans excited with the inclusion of Battra.
 * Bethesda developing Fallout 3? Yuck, just'll be Oblivion with gu-wait, was that Ron Perlman?!
 * That ending was awful, Bethesda! Wait - a DLC retcon? A Playable Epilogue? More Liberty Prime? Hell yeah.
 * Another moment aimed specifically at the anti-Bethesda Fan Dumb would be hearing that Fallout: New Vegas is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, which is (coincidentally) run by refugees from Black Isle Studios (who made the first two Fallout games). If that wasn't enough, Liam Neeson is playing your dad.
 * Ooh look, the New Vegas trailer. Looks really familiar, like they're rehashing the same stuff from the last ga...
 * Along came the E³ trailer. Combat gameplay, it's just like Fallout 3 aga...- Is that a Glock 86 plasma pistol? Did that mutant still have lips, held up with ropes? Was that a classic vault entrance?
 * Danny Trejo and Felicia Day as companions? There goes fifty bucks, secured as a transaction with Michael Dorn's voice coming out of Marcus.
 * Tabitha just talked about the Master. You're really holding a plasma caster, the classic plasma rifle, dressed in classic advanced power armor, and you get to pick up traits too. You actually get to see Caesar's Legion in a game after all this time.
 * Nintendo's E3 2009 conference, which made those raging so-called "hardcore gamers" claiming that Nintendo was killing their hobbies with casual tripe rip their vocal cords out of their bodies. This Penny Arcade strip pretty much sums it up.
 * Wii Vitality Sensor? Great, Nintendo is officially dea- What!? A NEW Metroid GAME?! MADE BY TEAM NINJA!? THIS IS THE GREATEST THING EVER!''
 * Blizzard has recently announced that Robert Clotworthy will be reprising his role as the Terran hero Jim Raynor in Starcraft II, after a earlier announcement that he would not.
 * What do you mean they changed Kerrigan's voice actor? What is this-- wait, Tricia Helfer is now voicing her? AweSOME!
 * It was confirmed that the sequel would pick up on all the plot threads left dangling from the expansion, even that one that only appeared in a special bonus mission you could only access by performing an arcane ritual at 3am on the vernal equinox or something.
 * Another Blizzard example: Me'dan would not appear in Cataclysm, but instead you would get the lead characters of Interactive Fanfic Parody You Awaken In Razor Hill, 'Tednug' and Scratchfever. Fans of this story fell in love with Blizzard all over again when pics of Ted and Scratch appeared, patrolling the area just north Razor Hill.
 * Other examples from World of Warcraft, although they weren't near universal given the fact that Blizzard can include currency bills in physical copies of their games and people would still complain they're folded wrong:
 * The removal of rooftop camping, which was the bane of every person in Booty Bay and Gadgetzan thanks to annoying hunters, reducing XP required to level, various compensations for accounts being hacked or downtime, mounts at 20 (no more running across Stranglethorn Vale when you're not a shaman or druid), 'Nefarian, only needing to get honored to run heroics in Burning Crusade, and making it so only one person needs a Karazhan Key.
 * For that matter, removing of Attunements in 'general''. Everyone who was stuck waiting for an attunement group to form as well as all the raiders' alts were popping champagne.
 * Those of us on Wasteland EST PvP servers with few local groups forming can finally get some five man groups running? FINALLY!
 * World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Meh, another expac, only 5 more levels, are you kidd--HOLY CRAP THAT DRAGON'S DOING WHAT???
 * HEROIC DEADMINES???!? HEROIC SHADOWFANG KEEP?? YES!!
 * Goblins?! FINALLY!
 * FLYING IN THE OLD WORLD!!! IRONFORGE AIRPORT!!
 * Well it took about six years, but they finally fixed intellect! I actually have to look at the weapon's stats, instead of just the spell damage, now! Finally!
 * The announcement of transmogrification, which will enable players to replace the visuals of their current gear with any other gear of the same type that they already own. Paladins, tired of questing in ugly mismatched plate? Look stylin' in full vintage Judgement without sacrificing your stats!
 * The announcement that the final boss of Mists of Panderia will be
 * IGA's stellar track record with Castlevania ever since Symphony of the Night made the 3D versions look mediocre at best. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow looks to change that with the one-two punch E3 announcment of development by Hideo Kojima and voicework by Patrick Stewart. It counts because previous 3D Castlevania titles were all victims of the Polygon Ceiling; did you really think the fanbase would immediately enjoy another 3D game after that track record?
 * "Mark me well, I will wipe the name of Belmont from this world!"
 * "Poor Carmilla...You will cry Bloody Tears before this night has ended."
 * SLOGRA!
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans went Ruined FOREVER when it was revealed that Ubisoft's favorite Spotlight-Stealing Squad, the Rabbids, would be Guest Fighters in Smash-Up. Considering that the game is primarily based on the 2007 film and 2003 TV series, it took a spotting of the Technodrome from the '80s cartoon in the Comic-Con 2009 trailer to raise back their optimism. (They're still complaining, but an improvement's an improvement.)
 * A new Mario and Sonic Olympics title? Yawn. It doesn't take much imagination to think that they're just doing it to cash in on the hype of the Olympics for a quick bu- Wait a minute...was that Metal Sonic? On a home console game for the first time since Sonic Heroes, no less! SEGA, consider it sold.
 * Adding Bowser Jr. and a Perfect Chaos cameo helped as well.
 * Not to mention the remixes of many classic Mario and Sonic themes, including a fantastic remix of Bowser's Road and Sky Sanctuary Zone.
 * I really wished this game had Omega, King Boo, etc...BOSS BATTLE AGIANST THEM!!! Done and done!
 * This was pretty much what happened when fans of The Sims learned that Sims 3: Pets would include unicorns. Rejoicing grew even louder when it was revealed the player could actually control the pets directly, something players had wanted since Unleashed and Sims 2: Pets. Originally, there was groaning at the notion that the game featured all the same animals as 2: Pets. Even more so when it was revealed there were no werewolves in this one.
 * How many fans are you willing to bet wet themselves in excitement when most found out Mega Man 9 was Retraux?
 * Mega Man 10 is gonna be Retraux, too, so they're probably going to spoil it agai- Wait, PROTO MAN's playable ALONGSIDE Mega?!

"Reggie: New Zelda, New GoldenEye, New Kirby, New Metroid, New Kid Icarus, New 3D shit, no glasses, Santa Claus is real, he's in our booth, and he's giving out fucking handjobs. Nintendo, bitches! We out!"
 * Easy mode? You got to be kidding me. I'll just go beat the game on normal mode. There, done! Now I'll go check out the other modes avai...wait a minute...a hard mode has been unlocked? Awesome!
 * Sheep Man? What kind of Robot Master is that?! Is Capcom finally running out of ideas? They could very well be-Wait, What? Whoa. The Rockman Killers are back! I'll tolerate Sheep Man...for now.
 * Mega Man X 2 had the fans start feeling the Capcom Sequel Stagnation on Mega Man as a whole, X3 had to add something new: Zero as a playable character!
 * Even with franchise creator Keiji Inafune at the helm, Mega Man Zero also once received a lot of flak, starting with the dramatic design changes for Zero...until fans start hearing Zero's original Leitmotif again!
 * Rockman Online was thought by fans to be just another Mega Man X game...until they learned there was a reason the game is called that instead of Rockman X Online. Yes, classic Mega Man characters get involved at last, and it appears the character design is influenced by Hitoshi Ariga's Mega Man Megamix, which in itself was a Darker and Edgier take on the classic series to being with.
 * As of the second trailer and press event the rejoicing continued. Reveals included the three Rockman Killers, internet sensations Flame Hyena and Air Man, Command Mission characters; Scarface, Cinnamon, and Ferham, and longtime fan favorites Pharaoh Man and Sting Chameleon. Neo Wiz seems well on their way to stabling every darkhorse in both series.
 * Many Mega Man Legends fans cried tears of joy on September 29th, 2010 when Keiji Inafune officially announced that the long awaited third installment of the series is being developed for the Nintendo 3DS.
 * Then, on July 18th, the project finally got cancelled for "not meeting the expected criteria". Thank you for your patronage, Capcom.
 * Tetris: The Grand Master 4. Disillusioned TGM players thought it was going to be yet another mangled-to-fit-the-Tetris-Guideline game with the "TGM" label slapped on it. One news story for Sega's Amusement Machine Show later, fans were, flowery graphics aside, excited to find out that it's a proper TGM game.
 * Ugh, DJ Hero. Another attempt by Activision to get people to buy plastic par--- wait, Daft Punk is in the game? And they're making 11 mixes for it? Sold!
 * For others, it's Grand Master Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff (Will Smith's old partner) and Jay-Z being in the game.
 * For those that play Rhythm Games, the fact that it's intunitive and not like Beatmania really won some of them over.
 * And you can join in with a Guitar Hero controller. Yes.
 * Feep's experience with Scribblenauts was the spread of a meme that managed to persuade people into getting it: I FUCKING TRAVELED THROUGH TIME AND JUMPED ON A DINOSAUR AND USED IT TO KILL MOTHERFUCKING ROBOT ZOMBIES.
 * Oh boy, Scribblenauts. Its mere existence is an And the Fandom Rejoiced by itself: despite this, the fact you're playing out a vocabulary has been topped by the sequel, the aptly-titled Super Scribblenauts. Not only it changes the stylus-only controls with D-PAD controls, but YOU CAN USE ADJECTIVES.
 * People were going "It's Easy, So It Sucks" over New Super Mario Bros Wii due to Nintendo making it the flagship game for their patented "kind code" which lets the computer take over and allows players to jump back in whenever they want. A few months later, the "kind code" (named "Super Guide" in the game) was revealed to only be available after failing a level eight times, and allowed for the developers to make the levels themselves "devilishly difficult" while still letting less-able players see the whole game. The comments have been oddly positive since, and the game (and the feature) has since been released to near universal-acclaim.
 * Meanwhile, old-school fans that were still bitter about Bowser Jr. having replaced the Koopalings became overjoyed when they learned that they would appear together for the first time ever.
 * Not just appearing together, but from the gameplay videos, but you'll fight them in essentially the same way you fought them in Super Mario Bros. 3. If that isn't the definitive Fandom Rejoice that puts all of the nostalgia freaks in their place, I dunno what would be.
 * Yoshi anyone? Shame you can't take him out of the levels he appears in, but the Super Mario World memories are more than enough for now.
 * Super Mario Galaxy 2: Well, the first game was pretty good, but I feel like a sequel would pretty much just be a rehash of the fir...MARIO'S RIDING YOSHI!! DO WANT!!
 * That drill powerup is where it's at.
 * When they said that there were going to be over 240 Stars, people wondered whether it would actually be that many, or if it would be split between Mario and Luigi like the original. However, as the page image shows, Luigi is available early on and can be used instead of Mario if you choose from that point on.
 * The Green Stars (the 2nd half of the 240 stars) aren't really proper star missions, they're just hidden in the levels rather than actually being proper missions.
 * The game features a classic level from Super Mario 64.
 * Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing? Eh, just another Mario Kart clone...Hold the phone, Ryo Hazuki from Shenmue is playable? And he can drive a forklift? Wow, Sega hasn't forgotten about Shenmue!
 * While many were glad to see Metal Sonic as DLC, it was the unexpected cameo from Ristar on the Death Egg stage that got fans jumping. Although he isn't playable, many enjoyed the fact that Sega didn't forget about the cute 'lil star man after 17 years (give or take).
 * Man, I wish Sega would give sequels to their other ga-- HOLD IT! IS THAT AMIGO, BILLY, BEAT, AND THE BONANZA BROTHERS IN THE GAME! I CAN WAIT 10 MORE YEARS!
 * Relic buying back the rights to their classic, name-making RTS game Homeworld after losing it in a company buy-out saw fans weeping with joy and looking forward to a new game, which Relic have said should eventually appear.
 * Frank West and Zero in Tatsunokovs Capcom: Ultimate All Stars instantly convinced hordes of people who did not care about the game in the first place to buy a copy.
 * And think, "Huh...maybe I won't have to mod my Wii and/or import the original Japanese version after all..."
 * Who cares, we got Tekkaman Blade!!
 * For some fans, the Arbiter wasn't worth it until, "The Cable. I'm going to cut it."
 * For some fans, however, it went like this: "Wait, you play as an Elite half the game? Oh, that su-- Wait a minute, is that the lavishly awesome voice of Keith David I hear? I LOVE THE ARBITER!"
 * Then, in Halo: Reach, the new "Armor Abilities" replaced Equipment, and everybody assumed they were going to be a Power-Up Letdown, or simply useless. Then, a trailer for multiplayer came out.
 * E3 '10 did it again. Ok, a pretty battle in an open environment, more enemies than usual, AND THEN THERE WERE SPACESHIPS
 * Three times for the same game. Forge world. Go look it up.
 * Halo CE's PISTOL was remade in Reach. Let the rejoicing begin!
 * E3 2011 revealed 2 things: The Chief's return in Halo 4, and a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved. You may now release your inner fanboys/fangirls.
 * CE Anniversary will be the same game with remastered graphics, the same overpowered pistol (as it should be) and ACHIEVEMENTS. Set levels to Squeecon 2.
 * No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle has several of those. Where to even start? First, there's Santa Destroy becoming more compact (in response to complaints about the city being "too big" to navigate). Next, there is the side jobs not only having their entry fees getting reduced, but the side jobs themselves becoming 8-bit games! Among other things, there's also optional dual beam katana-wielding, the side assassination missions getting tied into the plot, more interaction with Jean the cat, 50 bosses (including multiples and successive ones) and, last but not least, the opportunity to play Shinobu
 * Unfortunately, the final product was littered with the remains of What Could Have Been. The music, however, was more of a straight And the Fandom Rejoiced moment for the fanbase. Quite a few people were worried about the lack of Masafumi Takada...until we actually heard Jun Fukuda's Crowning Music of Awesome.
 * When The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks was first revealed, some fans were displeased about how the title seemed too similar to Phantom Hourglass, a somewhat controversial title among the fanbase. Then this trailer was shown in November. In addition to gameplay improvements, (such as being able to skip parts of a dungeon you've already played) fans learned that the story was a bit less conventional than saving a kidnapped Zelda. The assisting "Phantom" seen in earlier trailers, which accompanies Link in some dungeons is  All of this caused a massive shift in the previously divided fanbase.
 * "But before you leave, I'd like you to step inside one more world for Nintendo GameCube," said Reggie Fils-Aime that fateful day in 2004. Little did anyone know that in the next few seconds would there be one of the greatest roars of applause and tears in the history of the Zelda series.
 * When Epic Mickey was originally announced, it was met with a general 'Meh' from the gaming crowd, expecting at best a Kingdom Hearts-lite. They they announced that Warren Spector was in on the project, and that they'd be taking a Darker and Edgier route on the concept- fans were still skeptical, until they saw the concept art. And Oswald the Lucky Rabbit- the predecessor to Mickey, whom Disney lost the rights to over 80 years ago (And Spector and Disney got him back just for this game, trading a flesh-and-blood human sportscaster for him)- is a Forgotten Childhood Friend turned Anti-Villain. If that wasn't enough Retraux for ya, Mickey's Karma Meter allows him to act like his original personality as a mischevious jerk, the modern hero or somewhere in between. Disney seems to be clawing their way out of their Dork Age in a Crazy Awesome way (as if the aforementionned Princess and the Frog and Tron Legacy weren't enough proof.).
 * ...Not that the Wii Hatedom are having any of that, throwing hissy fits about how much the game is destined to suck because it's not on an HD console. More And The Fandom Rejoiced moments are necessary to win over a larger audience.
 * I think it's obvious that like with Bethesda and a large portion of the Fallout fanbase, nothing Nintendo can do can win those fans over.
 * Just in case they can, the sequel will be on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, too. And there'll be musical numbers. And you can play as Oswald.
 * Tales of Monkey Island. Some fans were hesitant, seeing as the last 3D installment of the game was...well, Escape from Monkey Island. And who's this Telltale Games, anyway? Wait, it's Dave Grossman? Dominic Armato and Alexandra Boyd are back?? Michael Land is composing new music?!! RON BLOODY GILBERT helped out with the story?!?!
 * Several episodes had their own mini-And The Fandom Rejoiced moments as well. is back in Chapter Three!  is your opposition in Chapter Four! and  is back at the end of Chapter Four and throughout Chapter Five!!
 * Star Trek Online? Man, there's too much combat, there's not enough Klingon content, this is gonna suck as usual-- LEONARD NIMOY?!?! WANT.
 * Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce 2. Great, a spin-off of DW6 is getting a sequel. When are they going to move on to DW7 and stop milking the- Wait, is that Da Qiao? And Jiang Wei? They're bringing back more of the cut characters? And...they're giving Wei a new gal (Cai Wenji)!? This is going to be awesome!
 * Dynasty Warriors 7. Let's just hope that they don't screw it up like they did last- Hold on, they got rid of the renbu system and brought back the old combo system while keeping the weapon change mechanic from Strikeforce? Certain characters have their old weapons back? Xing Cai's back, meaning that the cut characters will return? Jin has been included as a faction, meaning they're expanding past Wu Zhang Plains? OH YEAH!
 * Xtreme Legends? New characters for the first time in Dynasty Warriors? Cool! Fan-requested character Guo Jia to appear? Great! Some characters that shared move sets in DW7 are receiving their own? Sweet! New babe that serves as an Arch Enemy of Ma Chao (Wang Yi)? Awesome! PANG DE'S BACK!?!? TAKE MY MONEY, KOEI!
 * An actual sequel of Warriors Orochi featuring DW7XL and SW3XL characters? Nice! New original mythical characters like Kaguya, Shuten-Douji and Nezha? Neat! Other-timeline characters like Jeanne d'Arc and Achilles!? Awesome! RYU HAYABUSA!?!? Ahem, I repeat...TAKE MY MONEY, KOEI!!!''
 * Now they just included Ayane to the fray, along with Nemea from Zill'Ol. Not just my money. My clothes, Koei. Take'em too.
 * Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3. Deathscythe Hell is in the game. And if that wasn't enough, so is the Gundam Double X! For the first time in history, Gundam X material actually gets officially released in the states!
 * Hokuto Musou's announcement was met with either unconditional devotion due to it being Fist of the North Star, or cynical derision due to it being a Warriors/Musou game...plus, the Warriors games had never so much as shown blood, due to KOEI wanting to keep the franchise's consistent rating under the CERO system (equivalent to a "T" rating in the American/Canadian ESRB system). Then the first footage showed what happened to the first mooks unfortunate enough to face Kenshirou...then a KOEI rep stated that the Western releases would "probably" be more violent (if not gore-y)...then it turned out that the story wasn't Flanderized with Woobies-all-over like Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors and in fact held pretty solidly to the original anime...then American players posted that it wasn't a complete retread of the previous Warriors games...
 * "Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3? Probably just gonna be a rehash with some new features, not planning on this- Wait, Chiyo? Huh, maybe this won't be so- Wait, characters after the Rescue Gaara Arc? Well, that's kinda- Hidan And Kakuzu? This Game, Want, NOW." Probably what happened, the Gameplay cores were pleased because of the balanced gameplay.
 * Completely one-upped by Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2. In order of things that made fans go Squee: !?
 * The most recent Wii game earned some fans, with the announcement Ino makes her first playable Shiipuden appearance,.
 * And now we have Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations. Yeah, maybe that's milking the Sonic Generations hype...but that's justified in that the game features multiple versions of the fighters, meaning - as you probably guessed - characters from both ends of the Time Skip. Cue the Big Yes.
 * Company of Heroes was already a very good game, albeit one with only an average-sized fanbase and only incremental balance patches after Tales of Valor. Then the news came out: Eastern Front is coming out. And there was much rejoicing, indeed.
 * Reiko Nagase became a much beloved character in the Ridge Racer games, but in 5 she was dropped for a new model. Fan grabbed the Torches and Pitchforks and the game tanked. Seeing the error of their ways Namco tried to make amends with the similar Rena Hyami. The game still sucked. Then Reiko made a return in the PSP, XBOX and PlayStation 3 games, And There Was Much Rejoicing.
 * Pretty much every time the Smash Bros Dojo updated the site with the profile of a new character, but particularly the two third party characters, Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog because they were complete with character trailer videos. Sonic's in particular stands out because even if you expected it, it was still a huge deal to finally have Sonic in Smash Bros. If anyone tells you they didn't go nuts when they saw his announcement, they are lying.
 * Hell, Brawl's first trailer was a long string of these: "Cool, a new Smash Bros! Whoah, Meta-Knight! PIT?! After all these years, Pit's back! Zero-Suit Samus? Awesome! Wario, cool! Wait, is that...Snake? Snake? SNAAAAAAKE!
 * A mild form, but there was some mumbling about Gears of War 2 looking too much like the first, in an It Is the Same Now It Sucks kind of way. It wasn't until a gameplay demonstration of the "Road to Landdown" sequence that demonstrated Meat Shields and firing at Brumaks on all sides did people quiet down.
 * "Super Street Fighter IV? Great! As if we needed another overpriced Mission Pack Sequel to a Street Fighter game...Waitaminute? Dudley, Makoto, and Ibuki are going to be in it? Guy and Cody too? Count me in."
 * Even better; Dudley's Rival Match is against none other than fellow boxer Balrog. After years of clamoring for this matchup to happen, you can finally flatten Balrog's punk ass...in the mostly gentlemanly way possible. When the announcer screams, "THIS IS THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY!", he isn't kidding.
 * Going back even further, the announcement of the original SFIV was a massive moment of Fandom Rejoicing because they never expected to receive another entry in the series. Period.
 * Guess who's back in the arcade version of Super SFIV? The Lee Bros., that's who!
 * The King of Fighters XIII? They'll just screw it up just like they did with XII...Hey, those gameplay vids look pretty solid actually, but i paWhawhawha is that you Mai!? And K's back? Can't wait for summer.
 * Hm, I wonder who the last members of those teams are...Takuma, Vice, and HWA JAI? Oh Yeah!
 * Aw crap, SNK has really given up on consoles. At this rate, XIII shall only be an arcade only...wait, DID Atlus JUST SAID THEY'RE BRINGING THEM TO PlayStation 3 AND Xbox 360!?!? We love you, Atlus!
 * Oddly, there were those in the Pokémon fandom who didn't want to buy Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. And then came the revelation that you can play the old 8-bit music in place of the new tunes...and there was much rejoicing. Not only that, but the fact that Nintendo/Game Freak not only allowed their fans the chance to get ALL but the rarest Pokémon...they gave us what we really were after all along...MEW!!!
 * The fandom was already rejoicing, but the notion that the new protagonists in Black and White aren't the same age as the previous one and the female's clothing set them off.
 * Idle Animations and NPCs that actually do things. 'Nuff said.
 * No it's not enough said, because TMs have infinite uses just like HMs now! Too Awesome to Use no more!
 * YMMV but a Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition Crossover game was just announced! The fans went wild, particularly the Pokémon side due to potential for Darker and Edgier elements!
 * Yeah, but Nobunaga's Ambition is a Japan-only series, so...whaddaya say? "The Western title of the game is Pokémon Conquest"?!? You mean...LOCALIZATION?!? Cue the internet exploding. Repeatedly.
 * Pokémon Black and White...2. The first game was already one of the most hyped Pokemon games since Red & Blue, a continuation of the story just made the fandom hype even more.
 * New, awesome gym leaders? Old Pokémon in the Unova dex? And what's this, you can fight old gym leaders and champions? This is going to be GREAT!
 * A new Kane and Lynch game? Whatever...Wait, you get to play as Lynch? And Square Enix is working on it as well? The game might actually be quite good.
 * Square Enix and Eidos (the original game's publisher) are the same company now, so the latter doesn't really count that much...
 * Metroid: Other M is being developed by Team Ninja and there's some Metroid Prime elements (FPS)? Great, another FPS game with huge jiggling boobs and...holy shit! The game is side scrolling!? ALL IS FORGIVEN!
 * Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. I'll say that again. MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3. Ten years later After a decade of demand, Capcom has done the impossible. In the words of Yipes, IT'S MAHVEL, BAYBEE!
 * Not to mention, it's confirmed that Deadpool is in, in all his fourth wall breaking glory.
 * Likewise with Dante and Trish.
 * Also, the return of Felicia. This marks the first time in ten years that another character from Darkstalkers rather than Morrigan appears in a Capcom crossover.
 * Hello, Thor, though we saw that coming. Hello, Amaterasu, whom we didn't, but sure ain't complaining!
 * And hey, finally a Resident Evil crossover character who's not Jill for a change! It's Chris Redfield, baby!
 * Tron Bonne and Viewtiful Joe are making an encore appearance from MvC2 and TvC, respectively. Who are you, and what the hell have you done with Capcom?
 * Now, Spider-Man (who was previously thought to not get in, due to licensing issues) and Wesker have arrived!
 * Mag. Freakin' Neto. IS BACK!!!
 * And with his MAG-FUCKING-NETO COSTUME!!!
 * But even the Master of Magnet pales in comparison to SIR ARTHUR. HUZZAH!
 * From the same reveal trailer, Nathan "Rad" Spencer. While there is some hostility towards the inclusion of the "dreadlocks, wifebeater, and jeans" incarnation of Spencer from the Darker and Edgier 2009 game over his classic depiction, most are glad that the series is finally getting some long overdue representation.
 * Mega Man X disconfirmed as a character? This is gonna be the worst game eve-ZERO?! (Note: Trailer also contains She Hulk. Don't lose focus.)
 * And possibly as a Shout-Out to his previous role as another Zero, Johnny Yong Bosch will be voicing him.
 * Finally, Mayor Mike Haggar has returned to the Capcom fighting scene in a crossover fighter...for the very first time!
 * Whoa Capcom, Just Morrigan and Felicia? Wait a minute...HSIEN-KO!!! Ni-hao!!!
 * Is that...SENTINEL!!! TEN MORE YEARS, BAYBEE!!!
 * And he has DAT MANGO COLOR!!! YO I THINK OF THE NEW YOHK KNICKS!!!
 * Cue weeks, people are complaining that Sentinel is STILL OVERPOWERED...oh, new patch, joy...WHAT, THEY NERFED SENTINEL!? Cue casual players rejoicing.
 * Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Hold up. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3? I can understand the Capcom Sequel Stagnation, but with a Vs. title? It's only been five months since the vanilla version came out, for cryin' out loud! What's that, you say? Ghost Rider, Strider Hiryu, Hawkeye, and Firebrand, plus eight more characters?! We'll never speak of this conversation again.
 * AND PHOENIX. WRIGHT. The fandom has been BEGGING for this. The addition of Frank is pretty sweet too.
 * Even more rejoicing when "Turnabout Mode" was revealed, considering it triggers the most EPIC MUSIC from the Phoenix Sage of Ace Attorney. And again when someone worked out Turnabout Mode + X-Factor + Level 3 Hyper = One-Hit Kill.
 * And on the same day as Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Take That Polygon Ceiling!
 * Fans of regular Touhou Danmaku acted harshly towards the announcement of Hisoutensoku. "Another fighting game...lame. WHAT'S THAT!? CIRNO!? AS A PLAYABLE CHARACTER!?!?!?!
 * 12.8? Seriously? Can we just get to 13 already...what? It's a shooter with Cirno? And you freeze bullets?
 * Oh boy, Touhou 13. I don't know why, but I'm not very exci- YOUMU'S PLAYABLE?! SPELL PRACTICE IS BACK?!
 * Okay, they already did a dub of the anime of Sengoku Basara, and they're bringing the game to western countries too. Let's hope they won't name it Devil Kings agai--they're actually calling it Sengoku Basara now! Finally!
 * Now that it's confirmed, let's hope they won't mess up the voice acting agai-- Wait, what? Reuben Langdon Langdon is cast as Masamune?! My guns are already on!
 * Upon the announcement that Knights in The Nightmare was headed to the PSP like Yggdra Union and Riviera: The Promised Land before it, there was a lot of whining. Sting was just milking their success with the DS version again, the gameplay would be completely untranslatable, nothing would make this game any fun. When the game's website first went up, Sting revealed the game's most closely-guarded secret: The PSP version would include the Yggdra route that had been planned for the original game but cut at the last minute. While this hasn't been able to shut all the wankers up (what ever can?), it was more than enough to garner genuine curiosity in the game.
 * Likewise, Blaze Union. "Sting's just riding on Yggdra Union's popularity! There's a new character designer, and the art is too different! There's even a new writer! Nobody we know's gonna be in it! This game is gonna be stupid!" And then Famitsu leaked the OP, letting us know that this game would cover the Bronquian revolution that took place a few years before the main plot of Yggdra Union--and the Imperial Army makes up a good half of your main characters. Cue tears of joy from a large chunk of the fanbase.
 * Vavle's weekly mutations for Left 4 Dead 2. The first one, Realism VS, was incredibly popular to the point that based on a poll Valve took (almost 60% of people wanted Realism VS back!), they actually listened and announced they were going to make Realism VS a pernament add on to the game. Cue in much rejoicing.
 * Transformers: War for Cybertron; Well, the previous Transformers games haven't been that great an- wait! Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime again! It's taking place entirely on Cybertron! It's not based on any previous movies or TV series! Hot DOG!
 * Further rejoicing also came about after the reveal of this awesome trailer.
 * Alright the sequel Transformers Fall of Cybertron will be out in 2012. But wait there more? Dinobots! Yeah!
 * They've managed to make Grimlock even more badass. How this is possible I don't know.
 * His gameplay preview. In T-rex form, he chews his opponents and breathes fire. You WILL want to scream "GRIMLOCK KING!!!"
 * Here it is, the trailer for Fall of Cybertron. Yes. That is BRUTICUS.
 * There's a new Ace Attorney project? It's a Takarazuka Musical? The lawyers are played by hot women? Ohohoho YES.
 * And- there's a new game? It has Miles Edgeworth as the star? And he has full body sprites? AND HE RUNS? safl;ksd'ga;a.
 * C'mon, Capcom, where is the next main game you've been teasing since 2007? It had better be - wait, what? A crossover with Professor Layton? On the 3DS? With fully animated and voiced cutscenes? Starring Phoenix again? Big Yes doesn't even begin to describe it.
 * Allow me then: YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! ALL HAIL THE ALMIGHTY LEVEL-5 PUBLISHING CORPORATION!!!!!!!!!
 * So a second Ace Attorney Investigations game was announced? BOOOORII--Wait, in the third case you can play as . AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
 * Gyakuten Saiban 5, another Ace Attorney game, was announced on January 29, 2012 for Ace Attorney's 10th Anniversary. Needless to say, many fans were very happy to hear this.
 * If there was one thing that could have possibly solidified the public's support for Nintendo's next handheld system, the Nintendo 3DS, it was the surprise announcement of none other than Kid Icarus: Uprising as the system's premier launch title -- the first Kid Icarus game in nineteen years. Pit himself lampshaded the wait by shouting "Sorry to keep you waiting!" upon his appearance in the trailer -- which was received with an enormous storm of applause at Nintendo's E3 keynote. If you watch the broadcast, you can pinpoint the exact moment people realized it was Pit and Kid Icarus and had this trope hit them.
 * Five words: Ocarina of Time in 3D. Let me say it once again. OCARINA OF TIME IN 3D.
 * The console will have its own Virtual Console. Game Boy games, Game Boy Color games, Game Boy Advance games, and Game Gear games.
 * On the other hand, Nintendo had already begun to win back "hardcore" gamers' support with a rapid-fire barrage revealing of their next biggest titles: The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, a remake of the classic FPS GoldenEye 007, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Donkey Kong Country Returns developed by RetroStudios...Even the dull announcements of another Mario sports game, Wii Party, and sequel to infamous shovelware target Just Dance couldn't stop several people from declaring Nintendo "winner" of E3 2010.
 * Don't forget the Star Fox 64 remake for the 3DS.
 * ESPECIALLY if it uses ZX Advent voice quality...
 * Nor should Metal Gear Solid 3D be forgotten, which, if Kojima is to be believed, will be a remake of Snake Eater with improved graphics, 3D effects and possible co-ops missions similar to Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker.
 * This Penny Arcade comic sums it up perfectly:
 * This Penny Arcade comic sums it up perfectly:


 * Even though Midway Games is gone, their spirit lives on with three announcements in 2010.
 * First up, EA Sports announced that they were bringing back NBA Jam for the Wii, with original series co-creator Mark Turmell advising the devteam, and Tim Kitzrow is back to do the Announcer Chatter that made the original so memorable.
 * Then, Microsoft announced Hydro Thunder Hurricane for Xbox Live Arcade, which keeps the insane action of the original boat racer while giving it a new, shiny, hi-definition makeover.
 * And finally, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which bought most of the Midway back catalog (except for the two above examples and the Cruis'n trilogy, whose rights are with Nintendo), announced a new Mortal Kombat game which has the extreme blood and gore that the DC Universe crossover lacked, takes the Street Fighter IV route of gameplay with 3D graphics on a 2D gameplay plane, brings back Dan "Toasty!" Forden to do the music, and adds a 2-on-2 tag team mode.
 * Yeah, that's all well and good, but any serious MK fan would be rejoicing to the announcement that WB was giving the team as much time as they needed to complete the game. Why would this fit here? Before the buyout, Midway was notorious for screwing around with the games' deadlines and funding, to the point of wanting to milk the franchise for a new game each year, resulting in the subpar quality of the recent games. In essence, this announcement shows just how serious WB is with making a big positive impact with their first MK game.
 * The better part? For PlayStation 3 users, they will be treated with the Guest Fighter of Kratos.
 * DLC has finally been revealed: Kenshi? SKARLET?! OH. YES.
 * It gets better; you might want to sit down for this one. Remember the purple ninja named Rain (yeah, let the name sink in for a bit)? One of two characters from the original trilogy to not be present in MK9 (the other being Motaro, whose starkly non-bipedal form mostly likely would have been difficult to program around)? Yeah, guess who?
 * And he has the trademark Super Roundhouse Kick back!
 * Another Century's Episode R is pretty much made of this. A new sequel to the ACE series, after they said it was over? Great! Lots of popular series like Crossbone Gundam, Full Metal Panic, Code Geass and Macross Frontier? Even better! Then the second preview video came along, revealing the improved, faster and smoother gameplay, a number of Crowning Moment Of Awesomes, while showcasing Kyosuke Nanbu, Masaki Andoh and Ryusei Date from Super Robot Wars Original Generation would be in as well? Things hit a fever pitch afterwards.
 * The game suffered a bit of Unpleasable Fanbase early on when the director revealed each series will be limited to "about" three playable machines. Before the fans could start complaining, however, he made a second blog post that same day, explaining they're merely keeping the cast list from being too overloaded in order to focus on the gameplay and visuals. Later revelations showed the cast list was going to hit all the high notes anyway, meaning there would be some Demoted to Extra, but not enough to dethrone already awesome playables.
 * Especially when they announced unlockable characters would include the alternate samurai-type King Gainer, XAN, from Super Robot Wars Z. Before that, we were under the impression that there wouldn't be any unlockables, then they throw us a big one? Yeeeeeees.
 * Two more ATFR, especially from Armored Core fans. Two words: 's appearance.
 * And an even bigger ATFR. Three words: Playable ].
 * Arcana Heart 3 has been confirmed to be ported to PlayStation 3 and X Box 360. Well, we know the Porting Disaster that got into Arcana Heart 2, I guess they'll screw up aga-- wait, wait, wait...IS THAT Arc System Works DOING THE PORTING!? Well, seeing how well they did Blaz Blue, they must know what they're doing. So...YEEEESSS!!!
 * There were rumors, as crazy as they may seem, but at San Diego Comic-Con 2010 they were confirmed when producer Katsuhiro Harada joined Yoshinori Ono on stage...Street Fighter. Versus Tekken. In a game called, appropriately enough, Street Fighter X Tekken. And then they actually played a round of Ryu vs. Kazuya and, despite all odds, it looked to fit together fairly well. Then came the tag team Ultra Comboes and the room erupted in cheers.
 * Supposedly there will be two different versions of the game. The one shown at Comic-Con with the SF gameplay (Street Fighter x Tekken), and the other version being made with Tekken gameplay (Tekken x Street Fighter).
 * Guile? Dhalsim? Yawn, seen it all befo-wait a minute, pink hair, a police hat, red heels...POISON?!? Finally playable at long last!
 * And then Rolento was confirmed.
 * And if you're just a Tekken fan, rejoice, for you are getting Tekken Tag Tournament 2!
 * The composer of TTT's soundtrack? Akitaka Tohyama, the same man responsible for the musical scores of the original TTT and Katamari Damacy. Is it possible to smell win?
 * The playtest. Fans went insane after getting a mere glimpse of some of the new Tag Combos.
 * The AOU 2011 Trailer. De-aged Heihachi? Cool, cool. Jinpachi? Alright! True Ogre? Sweet! JUN KAZAMA?! (Spit Take) Squee! She did the same thing with the first Tekken Tag.
 * Angel? Sweet. Kunimitsu and Michelle Chang? HOLY CRAP!!! All 3 haven't been appeared since the first Tekken Tag, as well.
 * The general reaction to the reveal that you could romance Tali and Garrus in Mass Effect 2: CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVE!!!!
 * In Mass Effect 1, fans were slightly disgruntled by the perceived low quality of the DLC, plus the fact that there were only two DLC missions available. BioWare proceeded to fix this in Mass Effect 2 by providing a wealth of pre-order content, two entire characters available via DLC, a Nostalgia Level examining the, three Heavy Weapons, two Shotguns, one SMG, one Sniper Rifle, a Heavy Pistol, plenty of Armor Sets, a new vehicle that most fans agree is better than the Mako, a staggering 13 new missions, and plenty of new upgrades and Achievements.
 * Though now some people are complaining that Bioware has sold out with the DLC.
 * The Mass Effect 3 trailer. The screams of "WE'RE GOING TO EARTH!" can be heard from miles away.
 * And the rejoicing continues: Ashley/Kaidan, Liara, Garrus and Tali as permanent companions, and Captain Anderson as a temporary companion.
 * Many fans were nervous about the rumored inclusion of multiplayer in Mass Effect 3, fearing that BioWare was tring to win over the Call of Duty crowd. Well, the announcement's out, and while there is multiplayer, it's only co-op -- with player-customized characters from several races, who have nothing to do with Shepard's squad. Furthermore, while the co-op missions can affect the single-player campaign, it's still possible to get all possible endings, even the perfect ending, without playing multiplayer.
 * Both fans and detractors of the third game's ending rejoiced with the announcement of the Extended Cut epilogue which aims to address the lack of closure and clarity in the ending while keeping the storyline intact.
 * So, the "Resurgence" DLC is not only free, but includes six new classes? Sweet... wait, is that a krogan vanguard? ALLLLL ABOARD THE MURDER TRAAAAAIIINNNN!
 * 'Rebellion' DLC pack: Vorcha, Quarian males, and Cerberus defectors...and it's free as well.
 * Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, and Sly Cooper are getting a crossover? YES. I don't care if it's for the Playstation Move, I WANT THIS.
 * Blaz Blue fans were mostly apathetic to the downloadable content offered in Continuum Shift. Then it was revealed that among the DLC would be three new characters, with two of them being Makoto Nanaya and Valkenhayn Helsing, two of the biggest Ensemble Darkhorses in the series. The fans were immediately happy.
 * Hm, Blaz Blue Continuum Shift II: Plus for PSP Vita?? What now, did they want to make this a ASW Sequel Stagnation...wait, SIX NEW STORIES!? All right, we'll forgive that for the moment...Wait, they made RELIUS CLOVER playable!? INSTANTLY FORGIVEN!
 * Well, this game (now called Continuum Shift Extend) now have a story mode for the DLC characters (and Relius). But I don't think that's enough to buy it...wait a minute? You actually put the Calamity Trigger stories there? AND IT'S ALSO ON XBOX 360 AND PlayStation 3??? INSTANT BUY!!!
 * Guild Wars 2 has had a long string of these. Persistent environments, the new art style, and no dedicated healing class are standouts.
 * Okay, new Telltale game? Lesse what it is...Woah, wait up...Is that Tycho, Max, the Heavy, and Strong Bad? All together? This is gonna be GOOD.
 * And...here it is. Huh.
 * Duke Nukem Forever is finally coming out in 2011?! Cue the Flying Pigs, and HAIL TO THE KING BABY!
 * In one of the latest trailers for Star Wars: The Old Republic, it's revealed that one of the Empire missions will be investigating Darth Revan's secret facility. And at the end of the trailer, before the title, the shadow of a cloaked figure is looking over a familar mask...And then then someone else appears after the title.

"Lakitu: No, no, no! This has to stop! You're gonna take too much away from my job! First gliders which save you from pits, then propellers that make it possible to drive underwater, when back in the good days I had to be paid for even getting the off-road gone karters back to the track!! What's next?! Traffic lights will be used at the start of the rac-
 * After a year of rumors and speculation, Team Ico Series announced The Team Ico Collection, a collection of both Ico and 'Shadow of the Colossus remastered in HD, locked at 30 FPS, and support for Trophies, all for the PlayStation 3. Needless to say, there was much rejoicing.
 * To make matters even more wonderful we have an advert for their newest game, Last Guardian. We are so very pleased.
 * Uh, I think you C+P'd the wrong link, dude.
 * Half-fixed, no more link, but it's better than...that.
 * Around about the time this trailer for Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten came out, the entire fandom could be heard squeeing in unison. Nippon Ichi wasn't kidding when they promised a graphics update, it seems.
 * Basketball games over the years try and pull this by including a certain Michael Jeffery Jordan. Ten years ago EA pulled it off in NBA Live 2000. Now Sega not only have Jordan in NBA 2K11, but a type of story mode where fans can play through his greatest matches. For any fan of basketball during his era this would have good reason to rejoice, not just for Jordan and the Bulls, but for Celtics fans with the 86 team, Pistons fans for the 88 team, Lakers fans...now we just need to know if the Dream Team will be included.
 * Fans were already pretty excited for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, but the revelation of the original hero Isaac's new look practically sent everyone into Perverse Sexual Lust (sorry) territory. For reference, this teenager became this sexy beast of a man. In particular, there seems to be a lot of Memetic Mutation about his Badass Beard. (Note that Isaac had previously appeared in screenshots and trailers showcasing the game before, but he and his beard weren't officially revealed until only a few weeks before the game's release -- until then, no one could have definitively said that that man with the blue Badass Longcoat was Isaac.)
 * Sveta alone got the fandom rejoicing. First nonhuman player character. Werewolf (sadly, not from Garoh as speculated). First female brawler. First Jupiter Adept brawler. And she's Badass Adorable. Even becoming the game's Spotlight-Stealing Squad did nothing to harsh the squee.
 * And then, there was the revelation that "Saturos Theme", one of the most popular themes in both games and perhaps the most popular battle theme, was part of the Dark Dawn soundtrack. The average fan reaction was pretty much "OH SO NOSTALGIC I JUST JIZZED MY PANTS WHEN I HEARD THIS."
 * Rock Band 3. A keyboard. Three-part vocal harmonies. A real guitar. Compatibility with the whole 2000-song back catalogue. And an epic setlist. Free Bird. Bohemian Rhapsody. Crazy Train. Rainbow in the Dark. Break On Through (To The Other Side). Crosstown Traffic. And so many more.
 * Level 5 just announced Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney. Those who knew one game but not the other went "wut". Those who knew both games? This, and this.
 * Not true. Even people who had no idea what exactly Professor Layton is about went gaga when the news came up on the Ace Attorney-centric Court-Record Forums. This may have something to do with the fact that the game will feature voice-acting and full-motion-cutscenes, something Ace Attorney fans have been begging for for years.
 * The fact that Phoenix and Maya are returning after 3 years of absence doesn't hurt, either.
 * IT'S GONNA BE FOR THE 3DS. That's gonna make it even BETTER! Solving puzzles and listening to hilarious and informal statements. AND THEN CAME THE REVERED TOUCH SCREEN.
 * But we all know that since Capcom refused to localize Gyakuten Kenji 2/Ace Attorney Investigations 2, we'll never get this, the bast-wait, it's coming out in America? WE LOVE YOU FOREVER, CAPCOM AND LEVEL 5!
 * Starsiege: Tribes is finally getting an MMOFPS sequel, courtesy of Global Agenda developers Hi-Rez Studios? YES!!!
 * The mere announcement of a Back to The Future game by Telltale Games got a pop from the fandom. Then it was announced that Bob Gale (half of the original creative team) would be working on it. And the announcement that Christopher Lloyd would be voicing Doc Brown.
 * Sadly, Michael J. Fox won't be returning as Marty, but he did allow the use of his likeness and The Other Darrin they've hired can do an - wait,  in the last game sounds downright familiar...and so do   in the finale...my pants have now been crapped in.
 * Persona 2: Innocent Sin is finally getting a remake, and it's confirmed for localization. The fandom EXPLODED.
 * Three words: User generated quests. It gets better: the Climax Theater's "Persona Thief" quest is set in Karukozaka High School. The game was already really popular amongst the fandom, now it's a friggin' must-have.
 * Aand Eternal Punishment remake with extra scenario also makes fandom explode. Here's a hoping for translation.
 * Persona 3 coming out for the PSP? ...with a girl version? AND ROMANTIC SOCIAL LINKS WITH AKIHIKO AND SHINJIRO? AND AN EQUALLY ATTRACTIVE GENDER FLIPPED ELIZABETH? And the fangirls rejoiced.
 * Call of Duty: Black Ops is going to be developed by Treyarch? This Is Gonna Suck...wait, the zombie gametype is basically Left 4 Dead WITH PRESIDENTS!? SOLD!
 * Needs more Michael Wilson, though.
 * More zombie maps. Yeah that's interesting...wait, Sarah Michelle Gellar is in it? As Buffy? There goes my next month of game playing.
 * Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is bringing a full story for Nazi Zombies. Which you can go through with 8 players.
 * The European Playstation Network isn't exactly known for its PSOne Classics library. After months of teasing us by (deep breath) publishing only either obscure games ("Future Cop L.A.P.D." anyone?), Disney Licensed Games ("Toy Story 2" being the only aversion of The Problem with Licensed Games), and Classics that were not mainstream titles like Spyro the Dragon (as of now un-re-released) but more like Classics in every meaning of the word (Pong, Centipede and Missile Command), and, most infuriatingly, after publishing a perfectly working version of the previously withdrawn Crash Bandicoot 2 secretly (you literally got to look for it with the "search" option!) and taking it away again, all of this always being vague instead of ever answering to Classics-related questions and complaints...Maurizio Quintavalle of SCEE made a bombastic [to us, upset for the Classics] announcement in his "3th of November 2010 Store update": "Instead of the usual list, I'd like to make a point: some of the most wanted PS One Classics have been said to be on their way to the Store. We're working on it, although there are no known release dates given the various technical - and legal - problems that have to be taken to account." Now it's a bit pathetic to say and says a lot about the European Store, but nonetheless, BEST. UPDATE. EVER.
 * Mushihime-sama Futari on Xbox 360? Yawn. I don't have a Japanese 360...wait, it's region free?! brb preordering 10 copies
 * Death Smiles gets a proper localization? Thank you, Aksys Games!
 * The Elder Scrolls V is finally coming out? And it's set in Skyrim? Okay, sounds promising. Let's just hope its not as buggy as Oblivion...TES: V will be using a new game engine? By AZURA! BY AZURA! BY AZURA!
 * Super Robot Wars fans have been waiting a long time for this day and it's finally been confirmed: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion and Mobile Suit Gundam 00 in The Second Super Robot Wars Z!!! For more kicks, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and New Mobile Report Gundam Wing TV series (NOT Endless Waltz for once!) WILL HAVE A CONNECTED STORYLINE. For added kicks, both Dancougars finally appear in the same title!
 * Loads more: Shin Mazinger and Dai-Guard, two series fans wished to see in SRW for some time will have their first apperance in the same game!
 * Armored Trooper VOTOMS. That's right, veterans: you've waited more than 10 YEARS and Banpresto's finally putting them in!
 * There's also the fact that Getter Robo Armageddon and God Mars will be making their first appearances since Super Robot Wars Destiny (much like the Gundam Wing TV series). In the case of the Shin Getter, this would means its second appearance as per the Armageddon storyline. For bonus points, this will be the Armageddon and Godmars characters' first voiced appearances!
 * Another Paper Mario game? Please. It won't be an RPG, just a platformer with some plot like Super Pape- wait. It's not a platformer. It's on the Nintendo 3DS. Okay. Fair enough. But it won't be as good as Thousand Yea- YOU GET A CHAIN CHOMP AS A PARTNER!?!? I WILL OBEY NINTENDO FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!
 * Agarest Senki 2. Joy, this game is probably going to be like Agarest ZERO. This game will probably have 20 hours, and not a lot of con- wait, this game will be longer than just 20 hours!? YEA- WAIT. The pink-haired girl will start as a loli again!? YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESS!!!
 * In the same vain as Agarest Senki Zero: Wait, Aksys is localizing it!? WOOHOO!!!
 * Bah, the newest game, Agarest Senki Marriage is going to be for the Play Station Portable instead of either the PlayStation 3 or Play Station Vita. What's up with these character designs and why are they a little bit more loli-fied compared to the rest!? Stupid Compile Hea- wait, did they just announce that the second generation protagonist WILL BE A FEMALE PROTAGONIST INSTEAD OF THE USUAL MALE PROTAGONIST!? IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME COMPILE HEART!
 * Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers: Ugh...just another stupid Backyard game...wait, no pros? The characters have their original personalities and look cartoony again? WOOHOO!!!
 * Few denied the quality of Kirbys Epic Yarn, but it wasn't a Kirby game. It was a cute little experiment in a different art sty- Wha- WHAT!? KIRBY WII IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER! ...What's that? Final Smash-like moves with the copy abilities? YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE- *explodes from awesome*
 * It's going to have 4-player co-op, like New Super Mario Bros Wii. So, who are the other three characters? King Dedede, Meta Knight, and the Bandana Dee!
 * What's that? They all have specific powers you can't change? Ho hum...wait, you can choose to play as the other colored Kirbys from Amazing Mirror and each have your own power?! AWESOME!
 * OK, Valve, Half Life was pretty awesome, but it's been years without word about the sequel...what's that, it's being released in 2005? AWESOME! Wait, what's this beta footage? Ugh! That looks awful! DO NOT WANT. And what's this?? The game has been delayed?! It'll never get made! Valve sucks!
 * One year later, the game is actually released. Jaws drop, hearts skip beats, and everyone immediately pretends they never doubted the mighty, mighty Valve.
 * It's been a year since Tales of Graces was released on the Wii, and still no word on a US release. Tales of Graces F was released last December, and so far, given Namco Bandai's treatment of the series across the border, it looks like the Tales series' chances in the US is sunk...Wait, Graces F was just confirmed for a US release?! The fandom just exploded with joy!
 * Tales of the Abyss in 3D! But wait...It's a port...Of a Tales (series) game that's already been released over here...On a DS type Console...Well there goes any chance of an English rele... IT'S BEING LOCALIZED IN THE USA AND EUROPE! THANK YOU NAMCO BANDAI!
 * Cave Story is getting another remake-but on the Nintendo 3DS, as if fans didn't have enough reasons to buy it!
 * Speaking of Cave Story, the very possibility of a sequel sent the fanbase into pure ecstasy.
 * Dragon Age: Redemption, the Dragon Age web series Written by and starring FELICIA DAY!!!! elicited this response from Dragon Age(And Felicia day) fans.
 * Okami sequel, Okamiden due to release March 2011. It stars Amaterasu's son, Chibiterasu.
 * OK, yeah, we all knew there was going to be a Mario game on the 3DS, no shocke-WAITASECOND! Is that a A RACCOON TAIL ON THE LOGO!?!?!?
 * Not to mention, it's being developed by EAD Tokyo, the team behind the Super Mario Galaxy series.
 * Not to mention... (deep breath) this game is going to blend the free-roaming gameplay of the 3D Mario titles with the power-up system of the 2D Mario titles, Small Mario INCLUDED. See where this is going?
 * Yeah I see it GOING to include the cult favorite Tanooki suit and the boss, Boom-Boom.
 * Super Mario Galaxy-esque visuals, flagpoles...man, just about everything about the game is one damn big ATFR after another.
 * Not to mention that one of the levels is taken straight from one of the early Zelda games, top-down viewpoint included!
 * So the Tanooki Suit was nerfed by taking away it's flight and statue abi-Oh, new pictures! What do they sho-is that Tanooki Statue Luigi? Hinting at playable Luigi and that maybe the Tanooki Suit will get the statue ability after all?! And a BOOMERANG BROS SUIT???!!! All is forgiven Nintendo!!
 * Playable Luigi is confirmed! Looks like we'll be getting the statue ability for the Tanooki Suit, too, and Street Pass bonuses for the Toad Houses as well.
 * A recent video has shown a special gray leaf. It is this item that will allow you to transform into a statue along with the usual Tanooki Mario abilities!
 * Part One, because one bullet isn't enough to explain it all: In December 2007, Jagex learned the hard way that sometimes you just shouldn't trifle with the Unpleasable Fanbase. In an attempt to curtail issues with real world trading, which allegedly was putting the game's economy through the ringer, Jagex removed Wilderness PVP and unrestricted trade from Runescape, replacing player-killers with nigh-invulnerable Demonic Spiders that often traveled in packs. Even though efforts made to offer alternatives for the PVP players enjoyed some amount of success, the numbers still stood at 60,000 canceled membership subscriptions in the weeks immediately following the changes. (Although since real world traders often used stolen credit to pay for all transactions - including membership subscriptions - just how many were legitimate subscriptions in the first place is unknown.)
 * Part Two: In November of 2010, a guaranteed content poll opened up asking if players wanted Wilderness PVP and unrestricted trade back. Four options were presented, as usual, and by far the most voted up option was bringing them back as long as workarounds were set down to keep RWT out of it all. Longtime players had come to better understand and respect Jagex's reasons even though they didn't think the end justified the means. That poll was soon closed, and in December a referendum was opened for any player to vote in on the matter. 91% of 1.2 million votes cast were in favor of bringing back Wilderness PVP and free trade as long as the RWT problems that started the whole mess were neutralized as best as possible, and in February of 2011 everything agreed upon was implemented as promised.
 * After a lackluster Spiritual Successor, and its successively better ports and expansions in regards to Phantasy Star Universe to Phantasy Star Online, finally in late 2011 we will have Phantasy Star Online 2.
 * The Playstation Network got hacked? All the Credit Card data and personal info stolen? And they promised that by May 6 they'll be back? They didn't! That's it, I won't trust Sony anym- WHAT'S THAT? Free 30 days of PSN+? Free games for PlayStation 3 and PSP (2 each)? Online system restored just this May 15? HECK YEAH!!! I don't care that the Store is still closed, let's get to ONLINE BATTLES, YEAH!
 * For the US and the rest of the world, sure. Japan and Asia will have it back this end of May.
 * The classic American McGee's Alice is well-loved by its fans. In 2009 EA announced that they were releasing a much-awaited sequel, named Alice: Madness Returns. After 10 years of waiting. Hooray!
 * Hello, Luigis Mansion 2, Wii U, Super Smash Bros for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS.
 * Especially Smash Bros. for the 3DS. Let's just put it this way -- SSB fans have been begging for a handheld version of any title in the series for years, and finally Nintendo got enough brains to bow down to said requests. Now, if Snake and Sonic join in again, awesomeness will ensue.
 * ...aaaaaaand now we have Sakurai's statement that Brawl won't be the only game in the series with third-party guest characters. Read that again - third party characters have been announced for the next title before its development even began. And to top that, the first ones Sakurai stated to be interested in? "Capcom characters". Hell. Yeah.
 * Aaaaand, the 3DS version will have customization tools for the fighters, possibly including alternate costumes besides just regular PaletteSwaps. And then you can upload your costumes to the Wii U version.
 * And then there was Pikmin 3, for Wii U.
 * PIKMIN 2 WII VERSION FOR USA! PERIOD!
 * And then the Wii U was announced to have no Friend Codes...
 * Wowzers, I bet Nintendo is gonna repackage four old games that I probably downloaded from Virtual Console and a subpar soundtrack CD for the Zelda 25th Anniversary, just like they did Super Mario Bros. Shame on you, Ninten- Wait what's this? Special soundtrack discs? Skyward Sword having a Holiday 2011 release? Links Awakening DX on the eShop right now? Limited Edition Gold Wiimote? The Legend of Zelda Four Swords on DSiWare? Live orchestrated concerts happening worldwide this Fall?!!! Nintendo, you can have my wallet!
 * Let's not forget the Romance trailer. A true dream come true for the thousands of Link X Zelda shippers all around the world. Their Squee will be heard in the wind for the years to come.
 * Oh, about that Four Swords...it's NOT a direct port. It has actual new content, including new levels and an actual single-player mode. And yes, it's still free!
 * A new Mario Party? After all this time? Well if it took this long, it must be good. Oh and Koopa Troopa and Shy Guy are playable.
 * It's a new Mario Kart for 3DS...Really, didn't Wii-title prove it's a stupid nonfair casual fest-COINS FROM SUPER MARIO KART ARE BACK?! IT HAS GLIDERS?! You can even drive UNDERWATER?! Nintendo, you have outdone yourself again!!!!!

Developer: Calm down Mr. Lakitu, to make up for these unfortunate changes regarding your role in this series, we have made suprise for you. *Hands a kart driving license to Lakitu*

Lakitu: ...WHOOHOOO!!!!"


 * The game lets you customize your own kart in advance before the races - big tires ala Monster Trucks, gliders and other karts' parts are yours to command.
 * There's a Donkey Kong Country Returns-based track with Tikis, and even a DS-favorite Airship Fortress is back as a retro track!!
 * Speaking of "retro"... Retro Studios is involved in the game's development. That. Is. All.
 * Hello for Luigi's Mansion and particularly, Maple Treeway!
 * Waluigi Pinball is back, and it seems the original Blue Shell from Mario Kart 64 (as opposed to the much-hated flying version) is as well! And Lakitu is playable for the first time in a Mario spinoff game.
 * Metal Mario is in! Fire Flower is in! Tanooki Leaf is in! And regarding the Blue Shell one, we now have proof! So SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLD!!!!!!!
 * Luigi Raceway from the Nintendo 64 is in!
 * And we finally get a retro Rainbow Road track here! Prepare yourselves for the return of the SNES's Rainbow Road!!
 * And last but not least, there's the most notable kart among the unlockable retro kart bodies, the Pipe Frame, marking the return of the classic kart not seen ever since Mario Kart Super Circuit back in 2001. Hell. Yeah.
 * Come on, why must everyone insist on playing Maka Wuhu? That shortcut glitch is seriously getting anoyi--WHAT NINTENDO?! DID YOU JUST SAY YOU'RE GOING TO PATCH OUT THE GLITCH?!?! YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
 * RHYTHM HEAVEN IS HEADING FOR THE WII!!!
 * With no Waggle!
 * A tech demo which might surface as another New Super Mario Bros Wii for Wii U. That isn't nothing special- Wait, did you say you can play as your own Mii!?
 * It's no wonder it's called New Super Mario Bros Mii.
 * It's now a full game, titled New Super Mario Bros U, and Player 1 can play as someone other than Mario!
 * An RTS based on A Song of Ice and Fire published by a relatively unknown publisher. Oh boy...wait, Nymeria's Landing? Aegon I Targaryen! WAR OF THE USURPER!!! Okay, the pitchforks will be on standby.
 * In the second game of The Force Unleashed, Boba Fett returns!
 * The Last Story and Xenoblade are being localized in Europe. Inverted in this case for North America, the fans aren't very pleased to hear that Nintendo of America says they have no plans to release them here.
 * Europe's also getting Pandora's Tower as well.
 * Inverted and played straight for America now that we have official news that Xenoblade Chronicles is coming out after all. The Last Story was also later announced.
 * Fate Extra being localized by Aksys Games!? Pigs must've been flying in the sky now while Satan is ice-skating! My Type Moon game, in mah local PSP!? DO WANT!
 * WHAT?! Fate/EXTRA CCC has been delayed until winter?! That's going to kill the game -- wait, WHAT?! We're getting PLAYABLE ?! INSTANTLY FORGIVEN.
 * Fortune Street for the Wii this holiday season. I don't know what to thi...Did they have classic Mario games and Dragon Quest games as minigames?!? Shame Mario isn't in i...AND THEY HAVE THE MARIO CAST IN! AND ITS ALL DIALOGUE?!? They will still cheap out with some peop...EVEN MARIO AND THE SLIME HAVE DIAOLGUE?!?!? Now we just need Wi-Fi which will never happ...AND WI-FI IS INCLUDED TO PLAY UP TO 4 PLAYERS?!?! SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!
 * And even more, the remixed theme for almost winning on a Mario Map...
 * What's more, we get this.
 * Okay, Nitroplus. Demonbane is a good Visual Novel and all, but you should start getting serious about America...Wait, WHAT!! Saya no Uta!!! SUMAGA!!! KIKOKUGAI - THE CYBER SLAYER!!! WHO NEEDS BASIC NECESSITIES!! TAKE MY MONEY NOW!!!
 * Nintendo did a price drop on the 3DS starting August 12?!?!?! It can't be that big of a fa-$80 dollars cheaper totaling $170!?!? Fans who bought it aren't amu-the ambassador program will let those who connected to the eShop channel before Aug 11 11:59 EST get 10 free games BEFORE the others get it INCLUDING FREE UDPATES AND 10 free GBA games that are ONLY abvailable to those who purchesed the 3DS at the $250 dollar value as a way of saying thanks for our loyalty, totaling up to 20 FREE GAMES!?!?!?! I would say "TAKE MY MONEY NINTENDO!!!", but we got 20 FREE GAMES to those who used the Eshop channel before August 11 11:59 PM EST. Nintendo, YOU! WON! THE! GAMING! MARKET! FOREVER!
 * Alas, it's December already...
 * ...and then, out of no-effing-where, the complete list of games is revealed, alongside a - GASP! - December 16 release date! So, so far the revealed titles were Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Mario Kart Super Circuit, Yoshis Island, Metroid Fusion and Wario Ware, but given the oddballs thrown in the NES titles, fans were already fearing the worst-- what? The Legend Of Zelda Minish Cap, Fire Emblem, Wario Land 4, Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and F-Zero Maximum Velocity you say?!? WIN.
 * C'mon, Activision. Why did you cancel True Crime: Hong Kong? Especially when it was so close to being finished? Do you really need to focus on online games, as you claimed? *Cut to seven months later* SQUARE ENIX BOUGHT OUT THE PUBLISHING RIGHTS?! IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY? It's most likely going to be called something else, because they did not purchase the rights to the name? I DON'T CARE. SQUENIX, I LOVE YOU!!
 * A wham announcement by Atlus: Persona 4 remake for VITA! Featuring new character Marie and a lot more features. But it pales in comparison of the announcement of Persona 4: The Ultimate Mayonaka Arena, a fighting Persona 4 game, which is a direct sequel of Persona 4 (taking 2 Months after Persona 4), features Persona 3 characters (thus far Aigis confirmed), but best of all...Made by Arc System Works!! Not only that, console versions will also receive a Blaz Blue-style story mode, so it's not just pure brawler unlike the previous attempt with Sengoku Basara (Cross)! Awwwwww yeah...
 * And to make more rejoicing, add the two other fan-favorite from Persona 3, Akihiko Sanada and Mitsuru Kirijo, all in new design which can count as a Fan Service Pack already.
 * Plus, Elizabeth anyone?
 * They're making a Mistborn video game? Meh, it'll probably be some dumb FPS with a lousy story wait they're letting Brandon Sanderson write the script for it personally? OH YEAH!
 * The Pre-TGS conference held by Nintendo dropped some bombshells like a new Fire Emblem game, a new Monster Hunter game, and a Mario Tennis game...made by Camelot!
 * WWE 12? That's the big change, a name? Oh you're rebooting the entire series THQ, whatev.....Create an Arena, you say? And you've fixed Universe mode? So what? I still can't change champions at will. I can? Exhibition and Universe are separate? Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.....there's more? 23 titles? Arn Anderson, LOD, AND Demolition finally get legend appearances? Wow.
 * Mystery superstar? Pfft, bet it's someone crappy like Michael Cole or something. What's that? Here Comes the Pain!
 * Harvest Moon Wakuwaku Animal March? What type of name is that?! It's probably just another sign that the series is going down-hill like Sonic the Hedgehog did, another stupid Mission Pack Sequel...Sheesh, look at those impracticable clothing; they're farmers for Pete's sake.. Oh? You can have Patchwork Children? More than one child?! Legit dates?! You can marry the Gods?! Count me in! It's funny though, because Animal Parade has since become very much th Base Breaker within the fandom.
 * Harvest Moon fans were very happy when Tree of Tranquility had Ellen and Gray in their original Harvest Moon 64 roles. The 3DS game was well-received due to its character customization.
 * Soulcalibur V? Yeah, I'm definitely getting it but I hope we get a good guest character this time--wait. Is that Ezio Auditore leaping at Nightmare with his hidden blade!? Soulcalibur V has officially jumped to day one purchase!
 * To put it another way, in a series where all guests (barring Link in the GameCube version of II) are Base Breakers (mostly for not matching the atmosphere of the series, as seen most famously with Star Wars characters in IV), the announcement (and even the hints, in the form of a leaked character select screenshot) of Ezio led to a massive Just Here for Godzilla reaction.
 * As it turned out, this was pretty much why Ezio was picked -- he had runaway popularity (and had yet to suffer from Sequelitis when Namco Bandai first cooperated with Ubisoft on this) in the West and is probably the only guest character who so completely fit the atmosphere of the Soul games, thanks to his own native setting of Renaissance Italy.
 * Atari has lost the exclusive rights to D&D video games much, much, earlier than the 2015 wait-out? After the lack of refinement in Neverwinter Nights 2 and the obvious They Just Didn't Care borderline Shovelware Dagggerdale, HELL YEAH!
 * And in another sign of things moving upward, Cryptic, who are developing Neverwinter, was bought by Perfect World from Atari. Perfect World saw how low Atari's standards were and realised how shoddy the game would be if it were released on time and decided to delay it.
 * Damn, it's been so long since a sequel to the Grand Theft Auto series had been made- wait, a trailer for Grand Theft Auto V has been announced? (You know something's big when even the announcement of a trailer sprouts interest.)
 * Oh joy. I can't wait to go back to Liberty City aga-- hold the phone, it's taking place where? San Andreas!? And airplanes have been hinted to return!? YES!
 * Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion XL? It's probably gonna be as mediocre as the previous version...Wait, is that the Scotsman? Aku? Johnny Bravo? And the original Ben? And the original voice actors reprising their roles rather than imitators (except Aku, since the original is already resting in peace)? This might be worth a buy after all.
 * Syndicate is getting remade as a FPS? They're ruining our childhoods! Hey wait, it actually looks and feels like Syndicate, unlike that other strategy game getting a remake? Maybe there's hope!
 * 2k games announced something new about their so-called X-COM "reboot"? Just let the game die al...A new game?...an RTS/TBS X-COM?...set in the 90'?...MADE BY FIRAXIS!?! The updates being released only make things better, showing Firaxis's faithfulness to the original. Sectoids! Mutons! Developers that love the soldiers being killable and are considering an Ironman mode! Procedurally generated missions!
 * The announcement that Hyperdimension Neptunia was getting a sequel was already awesome by itself. The better gameplay, more characters, the four Hearts are playable, and the Share system being easier this time. And then they announced they were going to release this to the US.
 * Neptunia Victory: Oh, the site updated again. What's this, another Izawa video? Meh, give us some news alrea- wait, is Nobuo Uematsu and his band Earthbound Papas going to create the soundtrack of the game!? Cue the Flying Pigs.
 * Virtual Console on 3DS is doing fine, but something's missing...Huh? Tetris? Game Boy Tetris? Russian motifs and everything? Sign me the hell up!
 * And two months or so later, we get the first Wario Land!
 * A Scott Pilgrim video game? Meh, even with the source material, it's still a licensed game...wait, it's going to be done in a Retraux style à la Kunio Kun? With music by Anamanaguchi, and artwork by Paul Robertson of Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle fame? Sign me up!
 * Score one for Electronic Arts thanks to their new FIFA 12 port to the Mac.
 * *ahem*....Resident Evil 6 As if that wasn't enough to get fans excited, the trailer revealed Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield returning in the same game. But both Badass protagonist appearances pale in comparison to the return of...wait for it...Sherry Birkin! That sound you hear? Millions of RE fans throwing money at the screen.
 * Oh...and zombies are back!
 * A PC version of Rayman Origins? Oh brother, they'll probably shit all over it with draconian DRM...wait a minute, there's no DRM? At all? YES!
 * Rayman Origins ITSELF was this. A new Rayman game that's actually a 2D sidescrolling platformer and not a Rabbids game? Characters and enemies from the classic games returning, including Polokus (renamed to Bubble Dreamer, but still), Globox, Teensies and MR. DARK? Globox and the Teensies are FULLY PLAYABLE? On top of that, we FINALLY have a game that explains where Rayman came from and his backstory!
 * Deus Ex Human Revolution was seen as a shameless cash-in for most of its production cycle. It was only after an early version of it was leaked that excitement began mounting. It was later revealed that the Eidos Montreal team had spent a lot of time consulting with the original team. Also the opening, which features Bob Page (voiced by the original voice actor) was enough to send chills up gamers' spines.
 * Score yet another one for Nintendo: after a long list of diagrams (as usual for Nintendo), the bottom of this page mentions there's gonna be a new side-scroller Mario for the Nintendo 3DS! Just after the wait for Super Mario 3D Land was finally over, now the hype's gonna grow once again! Of course, it's still a mere announcement by now, but if we're getting a "New Super Mario World", then it's definitely gonna be Worth It.
 * According to Nintendo 5 Star, a domain name has been registered under "http://www.supermario4.com". In Japan, Super Mario World's was known as Super Mario Bros 4 back in 90's. So...will this bne a reboot or indeed a "New" remake of the belowed game?
 * It seems not to be the case; however, New Super Mario Bros 2 already seems to have something to make up for that, namely another return of Raccoon Mario and an August 2012 release date. After being announced just four months earlier. Wow. The only missing things are Yoshi and a Cape powerup, and then we're in business!
 * A-HEM! TANOOKI MARIO DIRECTLY FROM THE NES VERSION!! THAT! IS! ALL!
 * Forget any of that Reznor isback! After years of being absent and only in Super Mario World, the four dinosaur bosses reappear!
 * Metal. Gear. Solid. 5!
 * PlanetSide 2 has been announced, it's rumored to be free-to-play, and PC Gamer's distributing beta keys in their April 2012 issue? OH GOD YES, SIGN ME UP NOW!
 * Jet Set Radio is getting an HD re-release this summer. MY BODY IS READY.
 * Project Mirai looks like fun, but it's just a chibified version of Project Diva...wait...is that Daughter and Servant of Evil? Gumi's gonna be a player character!? THIS IS GONNA BE THE BEST VOCALOID GAME EVER!
 * Sonic fan film? Eh, they're a dime a dozen...oh, it's being directed by Eddie Lebron, of Mega Man fan film fame? Okay, now I'm interest-JALEEL WHITE IS REPRISING HIS ROLE AS SONIC? OH, HELLZ YES!!
 * The trailer for Assassin's Creed III showing a tomahawk-weilding native American assassin in the American Revolution as the new protagonist evoked this reaction from fans.
 * Anarchy Reigns? Never heard of it. WAIT...what's that theme I hear? Is that Bayonetta? AND SHE's PLAYABLE!?! Wait... She uses Witch Time, Wicked Weaves, AND TORTURE ATTACKS!?! SHUT UP AND TAKE MY HALOs/RINGs!
 * So 3DS is getting something called Project X Zone, which is like Namco X Capcom, but also throwing Sega in. Hm, the rosters...wait is that Sanger Zonvolt, The Sword That Smites Evil!? And he's still kicking ass with human-sized Zankantou on foot!? Wow!
 * Those who dislike the treatment to X lately will also be pleased that yes, he's in along with Zero. X is not forgotten.
 * Hell, just look at the characters confirmed for this game! Yuri and Estelle, Ulala, Dante, Jin and Xiaoyu and Kaito and Black Rose. The best part? As of right now, there are still tons more to be announced!
 * Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there's the trailer.
 * Dark Souls is getting a PC release, yay! ....with Games for Windows Live, boo!
 * Acclaim got to experience this when they added the much-requested Ultimate Warrior, Sting and Randy Savage to the roster of Showdown: Legends of Wrestling.
 * Another Shadowrun video game? It's just gonna be another bland FPS- What? Jordan Weisman's running the show? And it's gonna be a turn-based RPG? Damnit - where'd I put my credit card?
 * What is this? Play Station All Stars Battle Royale, you say? Great. Sony equals clony, no surprise here... cashing on Super Smash Bros popularity... wait... holy crap, this is awesome! It works!'
 * So Sonic and SEGA All Stars Racing is getting a sequel...transforming vehicles? Sounds like Mario Kart 7-holy heck, Gilius Thunderhead? VYSE?!? And a Panzer Dragoon track even with a fantastic remix of the iconic Flight theme!?! This is gonna rock.
 * The follow up annoucement that long time SEGA composer Richard Jacques is composing the game's music, and whereas the original featured the direct music from each game for it's tracks, Mr Jacques is going to remix music for each track in this game. Oh yes.
 * The original Shinobi Joe Musashi is also back.
 * Hellsinker getting an english patch? OH HELL YES!
 * Wasteland 2. Waste. Land. 2. Fans of the original Wasteland, and fans of the 2D Fallout games wet their pants the day it reached it's goal on kickstarter. Want to here something even better? Obsidian Entertainment is on board.
 * La-Mulana Wii Ware international release got cancelled?! NOOOOOO-wait. The PC version's still coming out? YEEEEEEESSSSSSS!
 * Hmm... Nintendo's E3 2012 presentation and the Wii U titles are sort of underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, that new Mario game looks decent-ish bu... OH MY GOD, PIKMIN 3 AND A NEW SCRIBBLENAUTS GAME!? SOLD!
 * Platinum Games is making a Wii U title too? THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!
 * And then Nintendo blows their chance to show off new 3DS games by showing us only the stuff we know are coming...wait a minute, Reggie? DID YOU JUST SAY Fire Emblem Awakening IS BEING LOCALIZED?!?! THIS CONFERENCE JUST INSTANTLY GOT TEN TIMES BETTER!!!