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Christmas Cheer Entertainment Games

Discussing The Most Awaited Games Of 2004? 179

Posted by simoniker from the definitely-pong dept.
Thanks to 1UP for its end-of-year summary feature, in which the site editors discuss the most intriguing and perkiest gaming events of the year, but also "look ahead at the newborn trends of 2004." Next year's particularly lusted-after games include Psychonauts ("Double Fine's Xbox platformer has been delayed a lot now, which can sometimes spell trouble, but I have faith in them to deliver something amazing when they do get around to it"), Metal Gear Solid 3 ("After the talking-heads nightmare of Metal Gear Solid 2, I can't wait to just trot off into the jungle and start killing people"), and Halo 2 ("With a gun in each hand and the ability to hijack vehicles, this one has the potential to be as popular as the first one continues to be.") Which games are you particularly looking forward to in 2004?
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Discussing The Most Awaited Games Of 2004? More

Discussing The Most Awaited Games Of 2004?

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  • The obligatory... (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Duke Nukem Forever! Woohoo!

  • For me (Score:3, Interesting)

    by shione ( 666388 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @09:27AM (#7802193) Journal
    They are:
    Deus Ex 2 (still hasn't come out where I am yet)
    Theif 3
    System Shock 3
    Freedom Force 2
    Total Annihilation 2 or Chris Taylor's Version of it

    Most of all I want to see a Lunar 3, they haven't made a true sequal for this game since 2 came out on the SegaCD.

    • Who said innovation in the game industry is dead...why just look at all those original titles.

      I forsee the gaming market bottoming out in '04....again.
    • I don't think there will ever be a System Shock 3. From what I hear, EA owns the rights to the System Shock name and they don't have any plans of using it. I'd be kind of afraid of an EA-developed SS game anyway.

      If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend downloading the Deus Ex 2 PC demo. I was a huge fan of the original and had every intention of picking up the sequel when the demo completely changed my mind. I'm glad I didn't drop money on it.
    • "Deus Ex 2 (still hasn't come out where I am yet)"

      Well, you could get an import. If you're feeling particularly masochistic anyway - Having experienced the full thing, and been as underwhelmed as I was when playing the demo, I'd recommend you save your money for something that is worth it.

      "Theif 3"

      I was looking forward to that, until I played DX2 (they share a lot of code). If they've made as big as mess of that as they have of DX2 Ion Storm can expect a lot of very, very angry taffers paying a visit.

  • Three Words.... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Geraden ( 15689 ) * on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @09:29AM (#7802200) Homepage
    Duke....Nukem....Forever.

    What? Delayed until Two thousand and FIVE?

    Well, hope springs eternal!

    • Stars! Supernova Genesis (Score:1, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Any game that's been in production for ten years just has to be able to live up to expectations!

  • HL2 (Score:4, Funny)

    by Drunken_Jackass ( 325938 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @09:31AM (#7802207) Homepage
    So, um, are we just pretending that HL2 came out in September and that it shattered our perception of what a FPS could be?

    Ok, good. Now i can get on with my life.

  • I've learned -not- to look forward to games... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by *weasel ( 174362 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @09:37AM (#7802227)
    I mean, in this day and age, when the hype monster is birthed roughly at the same time as the project is green-lit for a full team - 'looking forward' to games is synonymous with 'setting yourself up for disappointment.'

    All you do is feed the downward spiral when you buy into any of the proprieters of 'exclusive previews' and 'preorders' of years-away games.

    all that said, i can't help myself - Halo 2 has caught me. Halo delivered like Half-life delivered 5 years ago. Half-life 2 I am hungry for as well, the only difference being, i think Halo2 will be released first ;p

    But this excitement has nothing to do with marketing bullet-points or 'previews' or 'screen shots' from e3. it has to do with me still believing in a developer to deliver a good game.

    let me clarify my whole position:
    Fans looking ahead, making sites, getting excited -- this is fine.
    But the selling of this excitement has gotten out of hand.
    • What do these have in common? The period of anticipation is often more fun than the actuality. The problem is that if I have to wait too long (cough * Duke Nukem * cough * PC Halo *) I get anticipation fatigue and move on to something else.

      • Re:Christmas day, ketchup, virginity... (Score:4, Insightful)

        by *weasel ( 174362 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @10:32AM (#7802430)
        fan anticipation is fine.

        a company astroturfing a community, lying about specs to keep people 'in', aggressively hyping a game that's 3 years behind in the press(*cough*romero*cough*), photoshopping screenshots, passing renders off for in-game shots, giving 'exclusive' demo downloads to pay sites, etc -- these are the bad things.

        when the company is -creating- the press it's bad. when you get yourself excited from the mere idea, that's fine.

        Half-life 2 is an example of a game where they didn't overmarket the thing before it is/was done.
        Fable is an example of a game where they -are- overmarketing the thing before it's done.
      • "I get anticipation fatigue and move on to something else." Now wait a minute... being that I hang out with a lot of geeks, and am a bit of one myself... I know quite a few people that have been anticipating that whole Virginity thing for a REALLY long time... and they don't seem to be showing any signs of fatigue. But in all seriousness, yeah, this manufactured hype thing is horseshit. It really gets me when they do it with Console systems (Anyone remember the first 6 months of the PS2 release?).
    • Halo delivered like Half-life delivered 5 years ago.

      Except Half-Life had a much stronger single player experience from the get-go, where as the campaign in Halo is rather redundant and tedious.

      But then I should also point out that Half-Life's multiplayer options weren't very robust at its release.

      And, while there was a mountain of hype and buzz surronding the first Halo, I recall very little hype for Half-Life. Of course, back then the "hype monster" was still a baby compared to what it is today.

      • Except Half-Life had a much stronger single player experience from the get-go, where as the campaign in Halo is rather redundant and tedious.

        But then I should also point out that Half-Life's multiplayer options weren't very robust at its release.

        Good call. I'm not a big gamer, but Half-Life's single player surprised the hell outta me, TFC was cool when it came out, but that was a while after...

        I never really got into the XBox and never saw the validity in the hype for Halo until recently. My neighbors

      • Except Half-Life had a much stronger single player experience from the get-go, where as the campaign in Halo is rather redundant and tedious.

        That's funny, I remember a ton of tedious platforming/jumping elements in HL...different strokes and all.

        And HL1 had a ton of buzz for well over a year before it came out. I remember watching prerelease vids, reading all of the various magazine articles, salivating at the thought of various features they hyped yet never included in the game (It was originally suppo

  • The classics (Score:5, Funny)

    by seinman ( 463076 ) * on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @09:48AM (#7802262) Homepage Journal
    Pffft, who cares about all these fancy-schmancy FPS games? I can't wait for Nintendo Puzzle Collection for Gamecube. Dr. Mario, here I come!
    • Because those "fancy-schmancy" games push quality forward (well, usually)!

      Maybe you don't see a difference between Doom 2 and Battlefield 1942. If that's the case, then you're probably one of the many people who's afraid to try new games out who's missing out on a shitload of fun. >_
  • Half-Life 2

  • Doom III (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    No question about it. I'm saving money to buy a new machine when Doom III is released, just to play it full quality...

  • DOOM3 & Half-Life 2 (Score:3, Interesting)

    by CAPSLOCK2000 ( 27149 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @09:58AM (#7802299) Homepage
    DOOM3 & Half-Life 2, if I can have those two I don't care about the rest.
  • Worlds of Warcraft, and Half Life 2.

  • The most awaited game of 2004 (Score:4, Funny)

    by TerryAtWork ( 598364 ) <research@aceretail.com> on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @10:08AM (#7802335)
    is Doom 3 as far as I am concerned.

    Duke Nuken Forever is the most awaited game of 4002....

    • Doom 3 (Score:3, Informative)

      by dpilot ( 134227 )
      At the game store at the mall, they're selling empty Doom 3 boxes for $5.00. Of course it's a preorder, but there's an arrival date of 4/15/04, and a price of $50.

      Unfortunately the box has no hardware requirements listed.
  • Definately want MGS3: Snake Eater and MGS: Twin Snakes. MGS1's story with the MGS2 engine and "reinvisionment"? I danced for joy everytime I see a video or screenie from Twin Snakes.

    Doom 3, Half-Life 2, yadda yadda. Yes I'm still waiting for Duke Nukem Forever. Oh, and the sequel to GTA: Vice City. More 80s bubbbly goodness. Call of Cthulu looks cool..if it'll ever come out. Maybe Tribes 3 if the non-Dynamix crowd doesn't hose it.

    But I don't know. 2003 was pretty lean on the games department, and '04 isn'

  • There's only one I'm exited about: Thief III [thief3.com].

    Of course, I'll have to check out DOOM III [doom3.com]... it looks like it might be the first playable survival horror game, ever. It'll be nice to see if the id folks can make a good game (you know, with a plot and stuff) with their excellent engine... ;-)

    Oh, and my Neverwinter Nights [bioware.com] modules.

    • Re:there can be only one (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Hassman ( 320786 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @10:26AM (#7802403) Journal
      Too bad the game is suppose to be super short (something like 5 or 6 hours long only) and that the multiplayer only supports 4 people or so to play against each other.

      I'm really disapointed with ID on this title. To me it looks like they more or less sold out and created DoomIII for the engine alone. This way they can sell it to other game makers, the fact that DoomIII is attached to it is more for a way to show off the engine than anything.

      That being said, I'm still going to upgrade my computer so I can play it. :)

      Please, if anyone has any knowledge to the contrary about this one let me know.
      • An issue of Game Informer (can't remember the month...Maybe August... Had Jade Empire on the cover...) had an article about DOOM 3 and from what they explained in the article, it sounds like id is actually trying to go for some atmosphere in DOOM 3. There's a situation where you're walking through a pitch black room with a flashlight that only lights the way like 10 feet all around you, and you can hear demons and such gathering in the darkess surrounding you. Of course, this could just be a case of seeing

      • Re:there can be only one (Score:3, Informative)

        by aliens ( 90441 )
        They only demo'd a 4 player deathmatch, but the people who played said it was unlike any DM they'd played before. The shadows and atmosphere of the world changed their tactics.

        While no one rightfully knows the length of the single player. I don't think this will be played at the manic run through and kill everything. More like take your time and immerse yourself in the game.

        And remember this is just Doom 2's story redone with the new engine.

        Either way with its release the engine will be out, and we can u
        • I am guilty of this "upgrade for Doom3" meme myself, but let's not overuse it. Games like Max Payne 2, Silent Storm and even Mercedes-Benz World Racing and Splinter Cell are quite demanding already. They've got hi-res textures, high-poly models and large levels. If you can play existing games with quality graphics, you are likely to be just fine when Doom 3 comes out (unless they delay it till 2005).
    • It'll be nice to see if the id folks can make a good game (you know, with a plot and stuff) Yep, I still remember the old QuakeTalk posts to usenet, which would quote the id folks talking about Quake as the ultimate multiplayer experience, featuring dragons, cutting heads off, an inventory system, etc. :|

  • Guess... (Score:3, Informative)

    by GTRacer ( 234395 ) <gtracer308&yahoo,com> on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @10:28AM (#7802407) Homepage Journal
    Gran Turismo 4 all the way, bay-bee!

    My copy of Prologue should be in my grubby little hands this week, so after playing what is admittedly a rushed-and-defective demo disc, I'm going to be salivating at the thought of what will happen dev-wise in the next six months before its full release.

    Also, Baldur's Gate II, Project Gotham 2, Perfect Dark 0, Kingdom Hearts 2...

    GTRacer
    - Long live the Sequels!

    • Re:Guess... (Score:2, Interesting)

      by chrismcdirty ( 677039 )
      PD0 is vaporware. There has been nothing from that game except for artist renderings. Not even information or occasional screens.
    • Baldur's Gate II? That's been out since...lessee...2000.
    • Kingdom Hearts 2

      Oh yeaaaaah...forgot about that! : )

      Is there any news on that? What Disney Movies are there left? Can you play with The King? Etc.

      Oh, and is the camera still an evil spawn of hell? That camera was the toughest enemy of the whole game! Killed more times than anything else.
      • Funny, the camera worked for me. Play with the options some, everyone likes their lock-on different.

        Which is why it sucks that tehre are only two options.

  • Two words (Score:2, Funny)

    by DeDmeTe ( 678464 )
    Gran Turismo 4. Oh, I guess that's 3 words. But anyway... this game is the only reason I will be purchasing a PS2 next year.
    • this game is the only reason I will be purchasing a PS2 next year.

      You mean you don't have one yet?
      I thought they were basically ubiquitous, hence the reason sales are so low right now. That, and that Sony has awakened the beast of PS3 Hype...

  • What I'm looking forward to... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by code-e255 ( 670104 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @10:47AM (#7802475)
    Doom III, cause id software never fails to make the best FPS games.

    Half-Life 2, even though I hate Valve for continuously bullshitting their fans.

    Unreal Tournament 2004, because I like first-person-shooter games with lots of interesting extra stuff, such as vehicles and mission objectives.

    Worlds of WarCraft, because I like MMORPGs when I have lots of spare time and Blizzard is the only company I know who seems to be able to make fun RPG systems.

    Gran Turismo 4 'cause it'll be the best racing simulation.

    Battlefield Vietnam because I'm a fan of BF1942.

    I'm sure there will be tons of other great games in the year 2004, but either I can't remember themn off the top of my head, or I haven't heard about 'em yet. :P
    • Worlds of WarCraft, because I like MMORPGs when I have lots of spare time and Blizzard is the only company I know who seems to be able to make fun RPG systems. ... Which Blizzard's RPG system do you mean? ;)

      I'm guessing you just plain don't like RPG systems period. I really hope you're not going to tell me the diablos are RPG.
  • I usually find new games way too expensive so I patiently wait until they get cheaper. That means the games I'm looking out for are games that were new last year or even longer ago, like Uru, Post Mortem, The Sims... Yes I'm an adventure player. I'm very curious about Syberia II but I gues I'll have to wait until 2005 before I buy that game.
    • I find it interesting that some people have no problem spending $20 on a 1.5 hour movie that one gets to watch passively ($30 if you're buying snacks, probably), but won't spend $50 on a game that may take 10-25 hours to complete and enjoy interactively. I used to think that $50 was a little high as well, but then I did the math as far as the enjoyment per hour was concerned, and I think that if the game is decent, it's a much better value. Plus you end up with something you can trade in or sell when you'
      • One possible reason is that you have to think with a game, but with a movie, you can just sit back and relax. And the experience might be a bit different, because with a game, you're just sitting in front of a small screen, but with a movie, you get to have this enormous screen and big sound. And until they make a computer like that....

        As a note, here in Australia, movies cost about $US10, and about $US8 for students. Snacks might take it up to $US20.

        Now, for a game taking 10-25 hours to complete and e
      • You also have to remember that $20 is still around the impulse buy point, which means that most people that aren't in financial trouble don't think a great deal about dropping $20 once in a while. On the other hand, $50 is usually enough money to require some forethought.

        In any case, I don't spend $7 on any old movie, I do have to be fairly sure it will be a good one. Even then, I do complain about things like $5 drinks, because we all know it's rediculous, but that's how the theater makes money. Paying to
      • The problem is that with a game the chance of a disappointment is about the same as with a movie, so I want to be REALLY sure I like the game to pay E50,- for it (I live in Europe :-)). But you're right; if you do the math a good game is cheaper than watching a good movie in the theater.
  • I eagerly awaited Ultima IX year after year, delay after delay. I was awed by what I saw was going in to it, and struck by the real beauty of it. It came out, I rushed out and bought it, and installed it.

    What a turd. Took days to get my system to run the damn thing, then it got about 5 FPS. The music might have been nice, but the "environmental sound" sounded like I was tromping through the marble clad city hall in hobnailed boots. The avatar's voice acting sounded like someone who walked in hung over
  • Personally I very much hope to see a 'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic' sequel sometime next year. That game was excellent and a definite 'Game of the Year' in my book.

    I'm also hoping that Thief III doesn't get the Deus Ex: Invisible War treatment. Ion Storm already butchered one franchise with their oversimplified garbage.

    • Re:KOTOR sequel. (Score:2, Interesting)

      by PainKilleR-CE ( 597083 )
      Personally I very much hope to see a 'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic' sequel sometime next year. That game was excellent and a definite 'Game of the Year' in my book.

      Personally, I hope not to see a sequel to KOTOR next year, because the original spent a great deal of time in development to become what it is. The last thing I want is some crap sequel spun off in 12 months to cash in on the success of the first one. Give me a sequel in 2-3 years, probably on the next generation XBox, that's truly
  • Stalker looks very cool. [totalvideogames.com]

    Holy christ. I'm afraid and excited that it might be better than Half-Life2.

    Of course, I'm also afriad that it might suck.

  • Trend? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by zenobr ( 677134 ) <zenobr@yahoo.com> on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @11:41AM (#7802761)
    Anybody else noting a trend in almost everyone's responses?

    THEY'RE ALL SEQUELS! They all end in a freakin' number. Looks like '04 is shaping up to be the year of rehashing and revamping. =/
    • just look at the movies this year. Movies were the 'Year of the sequel' try and name a handfull of blockbusters that werent sequels this year.
      • Ummm... Pirates of the Carribean and... that's all I got.
      • Uhh.. this year and last, 50% of the top-10 highest grossing films weren't repeats. 70% in 2001, although two, Ocean's Eleven and Planet of the Apes, were remakes of old films, bringing us back to 50%. 80% in 1999, which is as far back as IMDB box-office revenue listings go, as far as I can tell. Point being, it's not exactly a recent trend, but has been going on for several years.
    • I don't care as long as the sequels at least innovate and improve on the original. Just like a great movie that you never want to end, a sequel opens up the game "universe" again with a sense of nostalgia and greatness.

      On the other hand it is sad to see absolutely great games get passed by because they don't have a "number" at the end.

    • Re:Trend? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Ondo ( 187980 ) on Wednesday December 24, 2003 @01:57PM (#7803452)
      Anybody else noting a trend in almost everyone's responses?

      THEY'RE ALL SEQUELS! They all end in a freakin' number. Looks like '04 is shaping up to be the year of rehashing and revamping. =/

      That's not an indication of what games will be released, or even what games will be well-liked, it's an indication of what games people are looking forward to. Generally, most people who like a game will look forward to the sequel. The only reason to look forward to a non-sequel is if it's a developer you like, or they have a lot of hype.

    • Re:Trend? (Score:3, Insightful)

      by robson ( 60067 )
      THEY'RE ALL SEQUELS!

      But Psychonauts isn't a sequel 8)
    • killer7 [ign.com], Baten Kaitos [ign.com] (release outside of Japan not sure, but likely), and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles [ign.com] (despite of the name) are not sequels - yet many GameCube owners await them. :)

    • Re:Trend? (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Snowmit ( 704081 )
      Anybody else noting a trend in almost everyone's responses?

      THEY'RE ALL SEQUELS! They all end in a freakin' number. Looks like '04 is shaping up to be the year of rehashing and revamping.

      Can I just say that I'm sick and tired of people equating sequels with a lack of creativity in games? I'll go ahead and do it anyway.

      I'm sick and tired of people equating a sequels with a lack of cretivity in games.

      We need to get over the mistaken notion that sequel == uncreative. It may be true (but not 100% true) tha
  • Metroid Prime 2 and Metroid Zero Mission. This generation of consoles has been very good for Metroid fans.

    I'd say the next Zelda, but I have a feeling it only stands a chance of a 2004 release for Japan.
    • I agree about Metroid Prime 2 and Metroid Zero Mission. I'd also add Tales of Symphonia, Baten Kaitos, and killer7 to the list.
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • Kingdom Hearts 2
    Doom 3
    Metal Gear Solid 3
    Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

    That about sums up my 2004 must buys

  • some others (Score:2, Interesting)

    by ghettoreb ( 711310 )
    this year will be the year that professional game developers like id Software and Valve will finally raise the bar on game development and on graphics card makers. So far 90% of the new power in DirectX 9.0b have not been utilized extensively in games. Sure some games have some here and there, but nothing that would truly stress the hardware.

    The party is over, slackers

    Half-Life 2 shows an excellent example of the power of DirectX9. Shaders 2.0 loops allow truly realistic effects on key map materials
  • The worlds first super hero MORPG!!
  • Personally, I'm looking forward to:

    Starcraft Ghost
    Metroid Prime 2
    Everquest 2

    Two of those I'll be able to play right away, one is gonna take some cash on a new system.

    Some of you were complaining that it is going to be a year of sequels. Well guess what, it's all been done before and it's no different from any of the other entertainment mediums: tv, movies, books. Get used to the feeling, it's called getting older. :) Call me a fanboy, but I for one don't mind playing sequels of my favorite titles, as
  • MGS3: Snake Eater [konamijpn.com]
    MGS: Twin Snakes [konamijpn.com]
    CY Girls [konamijpn.com]
    Gran Turismo 4
    Starcraft: Ghost [blizzard.com]

    These games are all due out soon... i'm not even thinking about end of 2004 yet, as that's too far away (nearly an eternity in the gaming world, as so much can change)
  • Psyvariar 2: The Will to Fabricate
    ( http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/dc/psyvaria r2/ )

    Now, let's hope the rumor about Castle of Shikigami 2 is confirmed as well! ^_^
  • I'm still hoping it's all a bad dream :(

    I suck down a couple of rad-aways and head towards Interplay's tac-nuked headquarters, searching for remains...

  • Announcing the most-awaited games of 2004 *fanfare*...


    Duke Nukem Forever and Half-Life 2! Ladies and gentlemen, what a surprise!


    And announcing the most-awaited games of 2005 *drum roll*...ibid.


    Aaand the most-awaited games of 2006 *cough* *wheeze*...ibid.


    Aaaaaand the..oh buggrit.

  • Far Cry [farcry-thegame.com].

    The game offers, technologically, all the features expected from a new fps (dynamic lighting using bumbmaps, realistic physics and such) and a feature most games don't apply (except maybe Serious Sam): huge enviroments. You have a field of view to miles away, real-time rendered.
    You find yourself in an island full of people that want you dead. You can go wherever you want in a huge and very detailed landscape.

    Instead of talking just check out the tech demo movie [farcry-thegame.com] and the new trailer [farcry-thegame.com].
    It can speak for
  • In Metal Gear Solid 3? Knowing Hideo Kojima, it's probably "Trot off into the jungle and learn to write poetry."
  • I hear part of Halo 2 is set on Earth, after a Covenant laser bombardment... I'm going to be interested in seeing that. Starcraft Ghost is a nice upcoming one too. And as the Pokemon freak I am, Pokemon Colosseum is coming up in March, I believe.

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