2010 – the year when 30 years ago when I was at primary school we used to think was going to be full of robots and people living on space stations and walking around in astronaut suits. That did not quite happen but in 30 years I have seen video games go from small pixelated square blocks to full blown graphics which also look cinematic. I remember playing a text adventure on the Commodore 64 and I remember being in awe of the graphics, there was a shot of the outside of a cave and there were only 3 colours – green for the grass, brown for the cave rocks and black for the inside of the cave. I do also remember saying to my Dad back then that it was so amazing then I could never imagine graphics getting better than that ever. Of course at 7-8 years old at the time I never realised that computers would get better and that programming skills would get better and over time use different softwares and better softwares to create those worlds around us.
I feel honoured to0 be this age (36) that I am now. I have seen computer games from birth to the present day and all their incarnations and have enjoyed the excitement and amazement that every new games generation console has brought me and assuming I live another 50 years, I cannot wait for the next generation of consoles and then one after that and that etc. I could see 5 more generations of consoles and be 86 years old playing Call of Duty: Gulf War 10 and having 10 year old kids telling me they are going to kill my mother when she will probably already be dead by then. I really cannot wait for what is to come and how game graphics will be seen in future generations.
That is all too far into the future though and right here and right now we have a slew of games coming out in the first quarter of 2010 which are beginning to excite the games playing audience. This is not an exhaustive list and some dates may slip further.
Bayonetta – devil woman attacks peeps with her long hair. Xbox 360, PS3 – 8th January
Alan Wake – Been in production for many years, will it make it? – Xbox 360 exclusive – 29th January (let us at least pretend)
MAG Massive Action Game – First MMORPG for the PS3 (exclusive) 29th January
Mass Effect 2 – It has to be played, its the law. Xbox 360 exclusive, 29th January
Dead Rising 2 – More millions of zombies causing claustrophobia and dirty pants. Xbox 360, PS3. 29th January
Bioshock 2 – Needs no description of this awesome game. Xbox 360, PS3 – 9th February
Dante’s Inferno – More horror/evil/hell/demons/devils. Xbox 360, PS3. 26th February
Dead to Rights: Retribution – Will the dog be in it? PS3 only. 26th February
Final Fantasy XIII – Not my cup of tea but worthy of a mention. Xbox 360, PS3. 9th March
Splinter Cell Conviction. Its a pretend date really… Xbox 360. 26th March
Mafia 2 – Bring on the Mafia in the cars going at 20mph! woo. Xbox 360, PS3. 26th March
Red Dead Redemption – Cowboys and Indians go open world and free roam. Xbox 360, PS3 26th March
Max Payne 3 – Please no more dream sequences. Xbox 360, PS3 – sometime next year maybe
carocat says:
Yey to:
Alan Wake [whenever]
ME 2 [PC as well though, I believe, so no exclusive]
DR 2
RDR [Loved Gun, love R*!]
Not too sure about BioShock 2, loved the first one, not sure if the atmosphere and great story [up until 2/3's through] can be replicated.
Mafia 2.. Liked the first one many moons ago, feel there are too many sandboxy games now.
Max Payne 3 I’m not sure about. 1 was awesome minus dream sequence and 2 couldn’t keep me hooked.
Splinter Cell I’ll buy, but not sure about the change of direction. Seems less stealthy with each version.
beck says:
Hi Cat, you say there are too many sandboxy games but Read Dead Redemption has gone sandboxy. Personally, I cannot get enough of them. I dont want every game to be like that of course, there is a place in society for linear games like Max Payne and Splinter Cell
carocat says:
I love sandboxy games, but sadly too many just don’t do it well enough. The first Mafia was good, but I’d say in terms of sandboxy games it’s not good. Unimaginative world and it’s not making me want to explore. Just like Crackdown [redeemed by jumping/levelling], Just Cause [redeemed by beauty/over the top gameplay] and others I can’t think of now.
Maybe Mafia 2 will be different..
beck says:
I think Red Dead Redemption may struggle a bit. Its the wild west and it used to be a long horse ride between buildings out there. Rockstar are good at the open world games but they are very limited to the era, so we shall have to see what they can come up with to counteract the empty countrysides.
carocat says:
I have full faith in R*’s creativity.
Have you ever played Gun? That was a pretty good Wild West game.
beck says:
Yes I loved Gun aswell. Out of the 3 western games (gun, red dead and call of juarez) I think Red Dead Revolver was the best game but then Rockstar usually do excel in their games. IIRC it didn’t sell that well though?
carocat says:
I think Gun sold well as it was on every platform.
Can’t remember the sales of RDR and I REALLY disliked CoJ. Didn’t play past the first level.