END OF THE WEEK

Did you watch the used-to-be-an-awards-show 2009 Video Game Awards on SpikeTV this past Saturday? Yeah, me neither. After all, it's become more of a publicity show that happens to be placed before Christmas. However, some big games were announced, so if you haven't caught up already yet, here's what you missed.

Batman: Arkham Asylum 2

The show was supposedly saving a "big surprise announcement" for the start of the show and...this was it. Truthfully, it's a solid announcement, considering how much people loved the first game, but it didn't really live up to all the hype this "surprise" was given. Supposedly, four villains were shown in the trailer - if you've played the orginial Arkham Asylum, you're probably very excited about this game. Hopefully Rocksteady Studios will be able to get this one out by next holiday, but that might be quite the stretch, considering the original was released only in August.

Green Day: Rock Band

I'm a fan of Green Day's music. I'm a big fan of the Guitar Hero/Rock Band franchises. However, I am not a fan of this game...yet. I understand the fact that it makes money, so why not make it, but some video game fans need to realize when a franchise has overstayed its welcome. Come out with a new game with new enhancements every couple of years, fine. Release downloadable content consistently, fine. But to have bands make their own games, some of which only have half of the setlist feature the band's music, while the rest of the music is "inspired by" them? Both Guitar Hero and Rock Band are guilty of this and I'm of the opinion that it needs to stop. However, if you ARE going to make a game, Green Day is a respectable, "modern" choice. When they make a Guitar Hero: Fall Out Boy (as much as I enjoy their music), that's when it has gone too far. At least you'll be able to export the full setlist to Rock Band 2, a feature that was missing in the recent "Beatles" iteration.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2

Star Wars (the original trilogy, anyway) will always be known as one of the greatest film series of all time because of all the things it did right with story and special effects for the time. With a few exceptions (KotOR, Battlefront 2, even Lego), its video games have absolutely not lived up to that mark - although who DIDN'T love Pod Racer for the N64? I'll admit, I didn't touch the original Force Unleashed for the Wii because of its reported horrendous waggle issues. But WAIT! There's Motion Plus now! Hopefully this title will take full advantage of that...and maybe even a little bit of the Vitality Sensor, too? But then again, what does that REALLY do, anyway? Plus, aren't Star Wars fans waiting for The Old Republic more than they are for a Force Unleashed sequel?

Halo: Reach

I know, it wasn't an announcement. However, Halo fanboys finally got a first legitimate look at a teaser trailer for Halo:Reach and are probably very excited about it. Yet, the more general, over-arching reaction is that the graphics and gameplay appear to be more or less the same, just without Master Chief. Is this what Halo has been resigned to? Trying to reinvent itself, but coming off as sticking to same ol', tried-and-true method? I, for one, am not that impressed. Microsoft is already claiming that Halo: Reach will be the "biggest game of 2010," but what does that mean exactly? Sales? Campaign length? Overall experience? "Biggest" is a vague word and to be making these claims now takes guts, especially with certain game from Square Enix coming out in March that is looking more phenomenal in regards to visual and gameplay means than another Halo reinvention. A multiplayer beta for Halo: Reach is supposedly on its way this spring, so we'll have to wait and see until then, and if you bought Halo 3: ODST, you already have a keycode for it. Live it up, Halo fanboys, this one's for you

Aside from Uncharted 2 deservedly winning Game of the Year, that was pretty much it for the VGAs. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try to whet my appetite for a real awards show elsewhere. After all, the Grammys and Oscars are only a few months away.

Youko is the host of Show Me Your News and is a guest host and blogger for End of the Week.