Topic: Too many games, too little money

[Gamefreak]

Why must this year be the release year of pretty much the biggest games ever?

I mean, there are always certain years that are remembered as truly great years for gaming in terms of the amazing games that are released (1998 with Ocarina of Time, Starcraft, Metal Gear Solid, Half-Life, just to name a few, 2002 with all it's great games, etc) but the period from a month or two ago to E3 2005 is just crazy. So many amazing games are coming out I don't even know which ones to buy. The funny thing is, they are also all sequels to some of the greatest games ever.

Gran Turismo 4, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Splinter Cell 3, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, DOOM 3, The Sims 2, Everquest 2, Viewtiful Joe 2, Metroid Prime 2, Paper Mario 2, Resident Evil 4, Burnout 3.

That's not even counting two certain other games that will probably come out after E3, Zelda and Final Fantasy 12.

And that's also not counting portable games at all.

And that's still not counting "lesser-known" amazing games that are equally as good in my opinion but just not quite as big in name and anticipation, such as Pikmin 2, Rome: Total War, Timesplitters 3 and many many more. And I didn't include some original games because no one really knows if they will be good or bad, like World of Warcraft, Baten Kaitos, Starcraft: Ghost, and the Lord of the Rings strategy game for PC. But the games I listed above are all pretty much garaunteed to be both amazing sellers and amazing games (although I'm not too sure how good Everquest 2 will be, but the others I have confidence in).

And who could possible afford all these games and still have money for the new systems or the new portable systems, let alone have time to actually play them?

So which ones do you guys think are the most deserving out our money? Personally I want each and every one of them except DOOM 3 and Everquest 2 (because I'm just not that interested in them).    

[Bill Aurion]

I like how you completely skipped over Mario Tennis, which is bound to be more fun than more than half the titles you listed...

(How do I do it?  I ignore lollerskating games like GT4, MGS3, The Sims, Everquest, PoP, Halo 2, Splinter Cell, and Viewtiful Joe)  

[PaLaDiN]

I know what you mean.

I'm only getting EXTREMELY high quality games for now... so that rules out Halo 2 (I'm sorry, it hasn't even come out yet but in the best case scenario UT2K4 still kicks its ass all over the place), Fable and GTA: SA (more of the same, I'm bored of GTA).

I already bought ToS, Pikmin 2 and Paper Mario 2. All I'm definitely planning on getting are RE4, Metroid, VJ2, Half-life 2 (if it works on my laptop) and DMC3.

Tentative are Mario Tennis, Baten Kaitos, MGS3 (second one sucked), PoP2 (first one sucked).

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

^ I'm employing a similar strategy.

[Ian Sane]

Personally I think I'm buying too many games period and this huge glut of titles is a good excuse to cut back.  Fortunately I don't own a PS2 or Xbox so that limits things considerably.  Basically I'm going to try to limit myself to titles I KNOW I'll like.  I've beaten one RPG in my entire life.  I always get bored by their sheer length and slow pace so realistically I might as well not get Paper Mario 2 or Baten Kaitos.  I didn't beat Paper Mario 1 or Mario & Luigi so it's unlikely I'll beat Paper Mario 2.  I never beat Viewtiful Joe so why buy VJ2?

Realistically I could if I really wanted to limit things to four Cube titles a year with one or two GBA games.  The only problem is that few places have good Cube or GBA rental selections so it's not like I can just rent games I'm unsure about.

Still it's something I need to try.  I'm buying more than I play.  I need like a game purchase cap.

[PaLaDiN]

"Still it's something I need to try. I'm buying more than I play. I need like a game purchase cap."

I'm a college student... that's what summer is for. Whatever games I don't finish I complete in summer.

[joshnickerson]

Which really makes you wonder why some people complain that there are too FEW games coming out...
I'll probably score Paper Mario 2 for Xmas, and I plan to buy Alien Hominid, if only just to support small publishers, but that's about it for me for the year. Everything else can wait until next year (and when I can actually afford them).
There is always a huge glut of games that comes out in the last quarter of the year, and more often than not, many of them get lost in the rush and are quickly forgotten, even if they are better than what outsells them. Which is why Capcom delaying RE4 to next year was a very wise decision.

[Mario]

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill Aurion
(How do I do it?  I ignore lollerskating games like GT4, MGS3, The Sims, Everquest, PoP, Halo 2, Splinter Cell, and Viewtiful Joe)

How dare you lump Viewtiful Joe with those other shitty games.

I guess I should consider myself lucky to be a PAL gamer, I only have to buy half the amount of games as you guys! I plan on getting GTA: SA, Pikmin 2, Paper Mario 2, Donkey Konga and Metroid Prime 2 this year. Early next year i'll get Viewitiful Joe 2, Nintendo DS (which alone makes whatever month it launches in the biggest month ever), RE4, Mario Tennis, and... whatever comes out that i'm interested in! I'm not really focused on next year yet, i'm trying to save up enough money for current games. So many great games, it's awesome, and it just keeps getting better.

[Bill Aurion]

I didn't mean to lump VJ with them!  It's just that it's a game I have no desire in getting(still love the style! ='D)

[KDR_11k]

The easiest way is to be a PAL GC-only gamer, keeps the flood bite-sized. Okay, my interests are pretty specific so I wouldn't buy e.g. Halo 2 or GTASA even if I had the hardware...

[Gamefreak]

How can you guys not like GTA or not be interested in Halo 2?
I have Halo on PC and I thought the game was extremely fun and the fighting was well-balanced while it lasted. It did have flaws like the repetitive levels and enemies but the shoot-outs were just great and the game had so much unrealized potential and great ideas that are being perfected in Halo 2.

And GTA is just brilliant. I love everything about GTA. I got GTA2 on PC a long time ago it was pretty crappy. Then I got GTA3 for PC and it was just brilliant in every way. Then Vice City just made it all better, and the radio is just so funny and well thought out and written, not to mention the music is amazing. And that's not even touching the great living environment and fun missions, and great story, and just the freedom and fun of doing pretty much whatever the heck you want.

You can be a Nintendo fanboy, as many of you obviously are, and still respect and *gasp* even like other games on other systems. I mean, how many of you actually have played these other games thoroughly or gave them any sort of chance?

Yeah yeah, this is the part where you all jump up and say you know all about those games and they are crap and you still don't like them.

[Bill Aurion]

Halo is VERY boring...The only reason I played it was because I had a friend to play it with...And then we got bored together!  So Halo 2 is MEH to me...

GTA has also started boring me...I bought the first two, and I would rather use the money elsewhere than get another GTA game in which you have to eat, and then get fat...*yawn*

And I own both a PS2 and Xbox, so you can't say jack about me being a Ninty fanboy

[Mario]

GTA SA has me worried that the frame rate will be equally as bad as Vice City's or maybe even worse, and I consider Vice City unplayable for that reason, I'll still get San Andreas though. And i've been hearing really bad things about Halo 2 lately ;P

[KDR_11k]

Halo was too repetitive, even moreso than Serious Sam (because even the rooms felt all the same), GTA 3 is a GTA game, fun for five minutes while you discover the possibilities but boring since, well, yes you can do everything but why would you want to? Acting without some purpose is fun for five minutes then I realize I'm not getting forward this way. I didn't find the missions any more interesting, either.

[PaLaDiN]

The reason I'm not interested in GTA:SA is because I'm already bored of GTA. I finished the first one, got bored five minutes into the second one, forced myself to almost complete it anyway, then decided to move on to better games.

Halo... Halo just sucks. I don't see what the hoopla is all about. FPS's have been done a million times better on PC... just look at UT2K4 for proof. I was actually considering buying an Xbox just for Halo... and then I actually played it and put the money back into my wallet. And the big thing about Halo 2 is online gaming via an annual subscription gaming service? You mean, the kind I got for FREE at least 5 YEARS ago? Oh God, I can hardly contain myself. I'm a frothing, bubbling fountain of giddy, unmitigated excitement and feverish anticipation. I think I just wet myself. Somebody hold me.

[couchmonkey]

Everyone has different tastes.  Just as Halo is considered crud by a lot of us, I'm sure Xbox fans could (maybe even rightfully) argue that Super Mario Sunshine and/or The Wind Waker were overrated.  Or, you could just appreciate the games that you like and not worry about what other people think.  That's not always easy...but it's something I'm trying because I'm a lot happier that way.

As for me, I would really like to get Alien Hominid and Donkey Konga before the end of the year.  I'm also very interested in Mario Power Tennis but it can probably wait until next year, along with the DS and about 10 other games I'd really like.

[Gamefreak]

You people aren't listening to what I'm saying at all....

Quote
Halo... Halo just sucks. I don't see what the hoopla is all about. FPS's have been done a million times better on PC...

...the above person obviously didn't see me post this:

Quote
I have Halo on PC and I thought the game was extremely fun and the fighting was well-balanced while it lasted. It did have flaws like the repetitive levels and enemies but the shoot-outs were just great and the game had so much unrealized potential and great ideas that are being perfected in Halo 2.

Quote
GTA SA has me worried that the frame rate will be equally as bad as Vice City's or maybe even worse, and I consider Vice City unplayable for that reason,

Again, I have Vice City for PC and I run the game at 1280x1024x32 with full graphics (although the only thing you can actually adjust is draw distance) and it runs at a perfect frame rate. I also downloaded an add on which updates my Vice City PC (which is identical to the original PS2 version except it has superior keyboard/mouse controls and the textures are higher resolution) with the water, real-time reflections, and 3D vehicle wheels from the Xbox version. I also have the new Logitech Rumblepad 2 gamepad which is a very high quality dual analog gamepad with rumble. It is basically identical to the PS2 controller except it is more comfortable and the d-pad is like the Xbox S dpad instead of the Sony dpad. That's what the PC for. Basically I have the best version of Vice City possible. I have the best graphics out of all the systems, the PC version plays your MP3's in the MP3 radio channel, the frame rate is perfect if your computer is good, you get keyboard/mouse controls for on-foot action making the combat way, way better than the messed up targeting crap, and you get to use your analog gamepad for driving cars and helicopters and boats, unless of course you really want to use the keboard.  

[KDR_11k]

Gamefreak: I think his issue with GTASA was that it is PS2 exclusive for now and no matter how many details you can cram into your PC version the PS2 is woefully underpowered to handle this task.

[nitsu niflheim]

I have three games I haven't even played yet, let alone the many I haven't finished yet.  Phantom Brave and La Pucelle are both unplayed and Sabre Wulf is still in it's protective plastic shrink wrap.  I am very tentative about MGS3, only because the second one sucked so bad.  I skip most of the other games, but I am getting Baten Kaitos, Metroid Prime 2, Resident Evil 4, XenoSaga 2, Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Final Fantasy I & II Dawn of Souls, Mega Man Anniversary Collection GBA, Legend of Zelda (New GCN), Final Fantasy XII, and whatever DS games interest me but those will wait until I know for sure what is coming out, though I have preordered the New Super Mario Bros. game.

[Gamefreak]

Yeah well I have no doubts the PS2's weaknesses will make the PS2 version much worse than the PC version but that doesn't change the quality of game.

Anyway I'm just waiting the 6 months for the PC version. I'll have plenty of other hits to spend those 6 months with

[Dirk Temporo]

Quote
Originally posted by: Gamefreak...Gran Turismo 4, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Splinter Cell 3, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, DOOM 3, The Sims 2, Everquest 2, Viewtiful Joe 2, Metroid Prime 2, Paper Mario 2, Resident Evil 4, Burnout 3...

o_0

Those are all sequels. Every last one of them. Aren't there any original games you want?

[Aussie Ben PGC]

PSYCHONAUTS!!!  Alas, it doesn't come out until January.  But oh my, I'll be getting it as soon as it does.

And yes, the Christmas Flood is driving me insane, once again.  Being a 3D Platformer game-player-type person, I'm interested in Sly 2, Ratchet & Clank 3 and Jak 3 (albiet grudgingly).  Paper Mario 2, Mortal Kombat: Deception and Crash Twinsanity are also on my list of "To Get...".

[Gamefreak]

I know they are all sequels...
In fact, if you bothered reading the rest of my post, you'd know that I actually went out of my way to comment on the odd fact that all of the biggest games of this year are sequels to some of the biggest games ever.

Even in E3 2004, every single big game was a sequel, usually carried over from E3 2003, and in some cases, like Resident Evil 4, well beyond that.