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2008 a year in view
We asked ourselves various questions based on what 2008 could bring us gamers. There's a lot of cool games on the horizon, but what are going to be the highs and lows of this year? Check out the thoughts of the MSXBOX-WORLD staff and see if you can agree or disagree with what we all thought.
What Will Be The Biggest Selling Game of 2008?
Wayne Grand Theft Auto 4
Sam Grand Theft Auto 4
Fraser It has to be GTA4
Rob - Without a doubt this accolade will go to GTA IV simply because it's the first game in the series to have the next generation make over. A lot is riding on this game and I think R* should be able to pull out all the stops and provide a game that goes beyond San Andreas in gameplay as well as graphics. Or at least I hope so...
Lee - GTA IV, by far. This game appeals to many casual gamers as well as the hardcore gamer market.
What Are You Most Looking Forward To In 2008?
Wayne Gears of War 2
Sam Rock Band
Fraser Brothers In Arms or Battlefield Bad Company.
Rob - MGS 4 on PS3 Ninja Gaiden 2 on Xbox 360 (I would have said RE 5 but that's delayed until 2009).
Lee - I'm personally looking forward to Brothers In Arms, Halo Wars & GTA IV. I like the changes GTA IV is promising, hopefully these changes will make the gameplay play a bit more realistically. Brothers In Arms has so far lived up to its name in the sequels, bringing realistic/authentic WW2 tactics to play and I have no doubts about this one. And everyone has been wondering when someone would confirm a Halo strategy game, from the demo that has been presented it looks very promising.
What Could Be The Biggest Disappointment of 2008?
Wayne - The Xbox Live service failing for weeks when I want to play Gears 2 online.
Sam Halo Wars, its got halos name on it and its being made by Ensemble studios. Its already way too overhyped.
Fraser Halo Wars.
Rob - GTA IV people will expect so much from the game, that it fails to deliver...
Lee - I suppose EndWar could be, being the first strategy game known from Ubisoft.
When Will GTA4 Be Released?
Wayne July 4th
Sam August 29th
Fraser March 3rd Worldwide
Lee - Sometime in April
Will There Be A New Version Of The 360, If So What Will The Setup Be?
Wayne - I don't think one will be coming directly from Microsoft as such, though I wouldn't be surprised if and when MS release their next larger Hard Drive for the 360, that BT start selling HDMI equipped Premium and Elite packages to potential IPTV subscribers, with the new and larger Hard Drive is their own bundle with matching remote thrown in for good measure.
Rob - I doubt there will be a new version, other than perhaps a phasing out of the core system once the price of the premium package can be reduced further. I don't see how a new system will be able to add enough features to warrant being released beyond the current Elite system. The talk of a HD-DVD version is perhaps premature and moot considering HD DVD and Blu Ray are still rival formats with no clear winner as of yet. Microsoft won't want to commit as far as including the unit in the Xbox 360. Remember there's always the chance of an add on Blu Ray drive if necessary.
I think we'll continue to see lots of different bundles over the course of the year...
Lee - I did hear rumors of a version with a HD-DVD drive built in, that will be most likely and wished for.
Sam If I had to pick, No I dont want another version. But I can see Microsoft Releasing at least one
Will Gears Of War 2 Come Out This Year?
Wayne Yes.
Sam Id be pleasantly surprised if it came out this year.
Fraser I can see it in November
Rob - Prior to Xmas 08, there's a chance but I doubt it. We shall see, I could be wrong.
Lee - This year? Hopefully not, a little bit early for me. If Epic games release Gears of War 2 it will be near Christmas or early next year, I want this to be a huge leap forward.
What Will Be The Biggest Surprise Announcement of 2008?
Wayne - Peter Moore jumping from EA to the darkside, to the Sony side!
Fraser Microsoft will buyout 2k sports or games.
Rob - MGS 4 Confirmed for Xbox 360 in 2009. Announced just after the Xmas rush...
Lee - Releasing Metal Gear Solid 4 to xbox 360?
Sam I can see a big 360 price drop happening at some point.
Will Live be free by the end of 2008?
Wayne - No.
Fraser No, But there will be more benefits for gold users.
Rob - No chance and why should it? Microsoft believes gamers are getting a premier service and the cost is minimal anyways - if you can afford an Xbox 360 and games then surely you can afford Xbox Live Gold for a year. Silver members already get the service free...
Lee - Rumors have said Microsoft have thought about it, my feelings, no.
What would you like to see on the Xbox Live Arcade?
Wayne - New and original games, more stuff like Sony is getting on their PlayStation Network basically.
Fraser Dreamcast games, Shenmue for example.
Rob - SEGA Dreamcast games like Shenmue. Sonic etc
Lee - Packaged deals, buying a group of arcade games making it more worth the price.
Sam Some free XNA-created content.
Best sequel, yet to be announced?
Wayne - Gears of War 2
Fraser Well, Wolfenstein has been announced but nothing has been said about it, if thats technically wrong then say Halo 4 at E3 or a new perfect Dark
Rob - Mass Effect 2 without a doubt. I can't wait.
Sam Crackdown 2?
What would you like to see added to the Dashboard?
Wayne - I would like to see more game downloads, but of actual full Xbox 360 next-gen titles. The likes of Gears of War, Halo 3 and anything and everything else. I think Microsoft is in more of a position to pull this off with all Xbox 360 games, as file size wise, we know they need to be small enough to fit on a dual layer DVD anyway. We just may need the rumoured much larger 300+GB Hard Drive around the same time too.
Fraser - More movies, clan support and online TV channels, kind of like an xbox youtube.
Rob - Animated themes, different user uploaded images for each page. Possibility of sharing themes and more sharing of content in general.
Will the Ps3 over take the 360 in terms of sales by the end of the year?
Wayne - No, not by the end of the 2008.
Fraser Too close to call, none will have a major lead.
Rob - No. The logistics are that the head start has afforded Microsoft a comfortable lead. Sony's line up of games still does not not scream out "BUY ME" to the masses of gamers.
Lee - Highly doubt that, not in that short space of time.
Will any Sony exclusives come out on the 360, if so what ones?
Wayne - Sure, Metal Gear Solid 4 has been rumored for ages. I'm starting to think that it wont come to the Xbox 360 now. Though as these things usually go, something will come. I think Devil May Cry 4, WWE SvR, Resident Evil 5 and GTA IV are pretty much proof of that.
Rob Haze & MGS 4
Posted By: Sam Morris
Date: 2008-01-21
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