DesertEagleXIX
CAGiversary!
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http://tech-gaming.com/2007/12/21/we-missed-you-at-christmas-but-well-see-you-next-year.aspx
(Sung to the holiday classic, sans 'figgy pudding')
The closing months of 2007 showed us quite a finale with the releases of Super Mario Galaxy, Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Bioshock, Halo 3, and the Orange Box. However, publishers pulled a few punches, delaying a few triple-A titles until the first quarter of 2008. We’ll examine a few of these titles, and speculate on the reasons for delay:
Grand Turismo 5 Prologue(PS3) - Strangely, this game is prominently featured in Sony’s current television ad campaign. Currently enjoyed by European and Japanese gamers, GT5 Prologue was delayed in the U.S. until February 19th. With recent critically acclaimed titles like Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank selling less than 200K units, perhaps Sony is waiting for a surge in $399 40Gb PS3 sales, before releasing the game. In the past, the GT series has been quite a system seller, we remember gearheads buying Gran Turismo 3 along with a PS2. Time will tell if Sony’s delay proves fruitful.
Home(PS3) - Sony’s oft-delayed project was at one time, due for an October release. This enigmatic, ambitious software allows users to create an avatar, roam virtual worlds, and ultimately, have Sony’s network compete with the functionality of Xbox Live. Now due for a Spring 2008 release, to presumably coincide with Little Big Planet, Sony did mention a fall open beta for the US. We expect one of two things to happen with Home: One, decreased functionality to meet the Spring deadline, or two, further delays.
Super Smash Brothers Brawl (Wii)- At E for All, we played a fully playable, complete version of SSBB. When we heard the title was being pushed back until February 10th, we assumed Nintendo was maximizing the size of Super Mario Galaxy’s spotlight. Little did we know that Nintendo was adding online capability to take snapshots of gameplay, and stage building options. This is one title we’ve happy to see delayed.
Wii Fit(Wii) – Released in Japan to brisk sales, Wii Fit is a game designed to work with a balance board. Players are weighed in, body mass indexes are calculated, and 40 calorie-burning exercises are performed, along with daily goal monitoring. What’s puzzling is Nintendo’s reluctance to release the title in the U.S. at the end of December- the traditional time of year when gym memberships are purchased and quickly forgot. Apparently, the title has a large amount of localization issues; the game’s ‘coach’ speaks in high-pitched Japanese. Perhaps Nintendo will get squeaky voiced exercise guru Richard Simmons to record the English voices.
GTA 4(360 and PS3) – In August, it was announced that Rockstar’s proverbial golden goose was going to be delayed until early 2008. Most journalists were more than happy with the news; early betas were impressive in scope and vision, but lacking in execution. Recent showings of GTA 4 still had problems; framerates were chuggy, loadtimes were present, but the game had improved noticeably in hand-to-hand combat and weapon aiming. Bioshock brought an influx of cash to the starved Take 2, thereby buying GTA 4 a few more months of time. Success if nearly guaranteed upon release, regardless of sales figures.
Also missed this year in the U.S.:
- Sony's Dual Shock 3 in the U.S., unless you want to pay $80 for an import.
- Hot Shots Golf 5
Anything else that was notably missed this year in the US?
(Sung to the holiday classic, sans 'figgy pudding')
The closing months of 2007 showed us quite a finale with the releases of Super Mario Galaxy, Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Bioshock, Halo 3, and the Orange Box. However, publishers pulled a few punches, delaying a few triple-A titles until the first quarter of 2008. We’ll examine a few of these titles, and speculate on the reasons for delay:
Grand Turismo 5 Prologue(PS3) - Strangely, this game is prominently featured in Sony’s current television ad campaign. Currently enjoyed by European and Japanese gamers, GT5 Prologue was delayed in the U.S. until February 19th. With recent critically acclaimed titles like Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank selling less than 200K units, perhaps Sony is waiting for a surge in $399 40Gb PS3 sales, before releasing the game. In the past, the GT series has been quite a system seller, we remember gearheads buying Gran Turismo 3 along with a PS2. Time will tell if Sony’s delay proves fruitful.
Home(PS3) - Sony’s oft-delayed project was at one time, due for an October release. This enigmatic, ambitious software allows users to create an avatar, roam virtual worlds, and ultimately, have Sony’s network compete with the functionality of Xbox Live. Now due for a Spring 2008 release, to presumably coincide with Little Big Planet, Sony did mention a fall open beta for the US. We expect one of two things to happen with Home: One, decreased functionality to meet the Spring deadline, or two, further delays.
Super Smash Brothers Brawl (Wii)- At E for All, we played a fully playable, complete version of SSBB. When we heard the title was being pushed back until February 10th, we assumed Nintendo was maximizing the size of Super Mario Galaxy’s spotlight. Little did we know that Nintendo was adding online capability to take snapshots of gameplay, and stage building options. This is one title we’ve happy to see delayed.
Wii Fit(Wii) – Released in Japan to brisk sales, Wii Fit is a game designed to work with a balance board. Players are weighed in, body mass indexes are calculated, and 40 calorie-burning exercises are performed, along with daily goal monitoring. What’s puzzling is Nintendo’s reluctance to release the title in the U.S. at the end of December- the traditional time of year when gym memberships are purchased and quickly forgot. Apparently, the title has a large amount of localization issues; the game’s ‘coach’ speaks in high-pitched Japanese. Perhaps Nintendo will get squeaky voiced exercise guru Richard Simmons to record the English voices.
GTA 4(360 and PS3) – In August, it was announced that Rockstar’s proverbial golden goose was going to be delayed until early 2008. Most journalists were more than happy with the news; early betas were impressive in scope and vision, but lacking in execution. Recent showings of GTA 4 still had problems; framerates were chuggy, loadtimes were present, but the game had improved noticeably in hand-to-hand combat and weapon aiming. Bioshock brought an influx of cash to the starved Take 2, thereby buying GTA 4 a few more months of time. Success if nearly guaranteed upon release, regardless of sales figures.
Also missed this year in the U.S.:
- Sony's Dual Shock 3 in the U.S., unless you want to pay $80 for an import.
- Hot Shots Golf 5
Anything else that was notably missed this year in the US?
ers.