Slashdot Mirror
2003 Videogame Holiday Gift Guide
Tim Grube writes "Gaming Horizon is currently
hosting a feature that informs gamers on what to buy this holiday season. The
2003 Holiday Gift
Guide presents twenty-five titles per console including the Microsoft Xbox,
Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PC, and HandHelds."
Also, same thing for Tony Hawk: Underground. Does anyone know if anything has changed other than the small bits mentioned in the blurb?
I've done a little research into Silent Hill 3 and I have to say that it looks like it's going to be a great game. It actually looks like it might have some of the best game-mode graphics I've seen on the PS2 yet.
The guitars sound good, now give me about 10db more on the cow bell.
In the spirit of the season you should send links to Jesus Dressup out to your loved ones. It's free[1] and really makes one appreciate the holiday spirit.. or something like that.
[1] Nails not included
Trolling is a art,
Thanks Santa!
The bigotry of the nonbeliever is for me nearly as funny as the bigotry of the believer. - Albert Einstein
Wow - two comments and the website is already getting slashdotted...
I work for one for the larger electronics distributor in Georgia, and we greatly depend on the profits generated during the holiday season.
One thing we have noticed, is that a lot of young professionals seem to own and purchase video games on a regular basis. These are probably the same children who in the 80s were purchasing Atari's 1300, Intellivision, Coleco, and Amtrads.
We find that there is a great shift to more mature titles such as Final Fantasy 13, Gotham Racing 4, and Super Smash brothers.
I'll probably return next January to post our sales statistics in this forum, since it may be of interest to some folks around here.
... not giving the gift of MMORPG to your kids, because not only will you be laden heavy monthly fees, but you'll probably never see them again.
Unless you, like... hate them or something. At least they won't pester you for a car anymore. Excelt way to remove them from your life without giving 'em away. And you can feed them with just cheap chips!
How about consulting the wish list your kids wrote to Santa? Or asking?
Finding God in a Dog
Metacritic
These games are great and everything, but before you get any of them for me based on this advice, I would like to call your attention to the fact that I lost my job on Monday.
Therefore, here is my list:
A manual labor job at the North Pole, which probably has better weather and better working conditions than my last workplace
And one XBox so I can play Fable.
Thank you Santa!
Gaming Horizon is currently hosting a feature that informs gamers on what to buy this holiday season. The 2003 Holiday Gift Guide presents twenty-five titles per console including the Microsoft Xbox, Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PC, and HandHelds.
When anger rises, think of the consequences.
Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
... in Christmas 2056.
I hear it comes with bundled Arthritis cream, for we'll all have old-man joints by the time it finally comes out.
...presents twenty-five titles per console including the Microsoft Xbox, Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PC, and HandHelds.
Uh, I hate to break it to you, but a PC isn't a console. Would it behove you editors to actually correct sentences like this one before you hit the "publish" button?
Can't you correct other people's mistakes? Is that it? Well, let me help you out then:
"...presents twenty-five titles per platform, including the Microsoft Xbox, Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PC and HandHelds."
There you go. Drop the italics from the above, and you're good to go. I've even tidied up some of the punctuation for you. No charge.
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
hosting a feature that informs gamers on what to buy this holiday season
rent before you buy, so much sod out there these days. never ceases how much time and money and eyesight (on behalf of programmers) goes towards creating utter sh*te.
on my list is simpson's hit & run, keeping it simple.
### http://www.gunfinger.com ### greed / tec
I often ask for older games, on my Christmas list. At least, I seldom ask for games that are brand-spanking new. Jak 2 and the transportation expansion for Sim City 4 are fairly new, but established. Diablo 2 is old news. Not only are the products usually a little bit less expensive, but I have had plenty of time to read reviews and check out the game in advance.
Virtue finds and chooses the mean.
Aristotle, Ethica Nichomachea
Yes, I suggest you get an Xbox, PS2, GameCube, PC, or HandHeld.
The google cache didn't index the 2nd page, so here's the first 12 of 25 for all the systems:
XBox:
Soul Calibur II
Freedom Fighters
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3
Capcom vs. SNK 2: EO
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder
Burnout 2: Point of Impact
Counter-Strike
Dino Crisis 3
Enter the Matrix
Midnight Club II
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
PS2:
Final Fantasy X-2
SOCOM 2: US Navy Seals
Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando
Silent Hill 3
Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
Soul Calibur II
Madden NFL 2004
Jak II
Manhunt
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Everquest Online Adventures: Frontiers
Primal
PC:
Halo: Combat Evolved
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004
Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of World War II
Homeworld 2
Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Deus Ex: Invisible War
Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Counter Strike: Condition Zero
Call of Duty
Midnight Club II
Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
Gamecube:
Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Viewtiful Joe
Soul Calibur II
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
NBA Live 2004
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
I-Ninja
F-Zero GX
Need For Speed Underground
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Freedom Fighters
Handhelds:
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Medal of Honor: Infiltrator
Boktai
Banjo-Kaozzie: Grunty's Revenge
Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition
Madden NFL 2004
Monster Truck Madness
Stuntman
Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue
Mega Man Battle Network 3 White
The Simpson's Road Rage
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
This sequel was supposed to be an improvement over the incredible first game, but instead it became a straight X-Box console port.
The AI sucks, it takes 5 shots to the head to kill a guy, the ragdoll physics are ridiculous, the interface is notoriously console-oriented (you even have to use the keyboard to exit a menu screen), the graphics are bad, and as far as gameplay goes, they removed:
- Skills system
- Conversation logger
- Size-based inventory screen (12 slots...candy bar takes the same slot as a rocket launcher)
- Seperate ammo types (that's right, all guns use the same ammo)
- Weapon reloading
- About half of Deus Ex 1's length of gameplay...Invisible War is only 10-15 hours long, and you can just sneak through airvents for most of the levels
I'm fuming at Ion Storm. Warren Spector promised so many things, but he let Harvey Smith oversee Deus Ex 2 this time around, and it became a dumbed-down X-Box console game. We PC users suffered for it.
Check out the www.ionstorm.com forums which are packed with pissed-off PC gamers.
"Sufferin' succotash."
Would it behove you editors to actually correct sentences like this one before you hit the "publish" button?
Wouldn't it behoove you to check your spelling before correcting someone's semantics?
This comment was generated by a squadron of trained super elite albino ninja chickens for you.
All I have to ask is, where is Worms 3D on this list? True, so far it has only been released in Europe and Australia, but it has for more playability value, and overall "fun" factor than some of the other games on this list.
And so we go, on with our lives
We know the truth, but prefer lies
Lies are simple, simple is bliss
As an avid gamer and owner of several different video game systems and a PC used extensively for gaming, I gotta say the holiday guide is an absolute joke.
The games on the list are dated, and there are several newer, much better games available for nearly every single game they list. For example, nobody in their right mind would choose NFL Fever 2004 instead of Madden 2004 or ESPN NFL on XBox.
If you're using that guide to buy games for your kids, friends or relatives, please expect them to hate you after Christmas.
In Soviet Russia, I ruled you
Games I've played over the past few weeks...working 40+ hours a week for this comment ;)
STAR WARS GALAXIES (PC)
The big MMORPG is promising and I have invested 200+ hours in it. However it's full of as much frustration as promise--vaporware gone horribly. Would NOT recommend to anyone even without the $15/mo fee.
MADDEN 2004 (GAMECUBE)
This cash cow for EA Sports is better than last year's. I've seen so many bad sequels (coughMatrix) that I'm impressed. I like the well-done execution as well as the fact that it's a party game that people can get into fairly quickly. In addition, there is added depth in the mini-camp and owner modes. Is it worth $50? Maybe, maybe not. But it IS unequivocally a better game than last year's, which is more than I can say for...
MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH (GAMECUBE)
Welcome to Mario Kart, rehashed. I've seen companies get fried for "tinkering with the original formula" and Nintendo took this one to heart by producing...well...the same game. You'll see "clever" re-releases of each track (read: the same thing, rehashed a little and with new names to boot) along with the somewhat-gimmicky two-person-in-one-kart feature. THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THIS IS A GOOD GAME--just like its predecessor--but I feel like I'm playing the exact same game as before. Having said that, it's still a great party game and the learning curve is low, low, low. That makes this game still a "safe" buy for anyone who has a GameCube.
CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 2003/2004 (PC UK)
Good luck finding this one in the US. The best selling game in the UK last year, CM4, was a good game with horrible execution. Bugs, crashes, everything. This feels like the finished product of Championship Manager. However this game is relatively time-intensive and some people just don't like the idea of not controlling Ronaldo running down the field. Having said that, this game has rabid fans (including me) and the execution is relatively flawless. I'd rate this a strong buy towards folks into management games--the soccer knowledge can come later.
CIVILIZATION 3: CONQUESTS (PC)
Welcome to Crack, redone. I played the original Civ, Civ2, Col, CTP2, SMAC, SMACX and limited doses of Civ3, so I'm a Civ fanatic at heart. Having said that, I realize this game is not for everyone. It's an expansion pack for CIV3 so prior purchase may be necessary (but inexpensive). Yet while a safe gift for Civ3 enthusiasts, how much value this game adds is questionable. Perhaps I'm spoiled from Half-Life and its endless string of free MODS. This pack honestly feels like a MOD--decent-looking campaigns added on that DO drag on for me (I'm talking about 20+ hours). I wouldn't buy this game for myself if I were worried about money. Yet as much as it doesn't do much good, it does no bad.
SIMCITY 4: RUSH HOUR
Disclaimer: I love public transportation. I couldn't wait for this expansion pack to SC4. I bought it from EBGames the first day it came out. Last week, I saw it FAR (free after rebate) on Black Friday. Perhaps free is too low of a valuation (SC4 required, but you can buy the deluxe version at Costco which includes both) but the added value is questionable after a few hours/days of play. One-way streets are cool, and I love watching the variation of traffic patterns, but I fear that it's too nerdy for the rest of you. Plus, the U-Drive-It feature is kind of lame IMHO. If you really want to drive around a city, go check out GTA3 for a much more fun implementation. This is a risky bet IMHO.
Amazon has a list of Mac games, not sure about the newest and greatest for most but they do have ratings. Halo says it will be out on Dec 11... until then perhaps you can content yourself with such exciting titles as Burning Monkey Majjong
What about Linux?
Nathan's blog
ESPN = Sega's NFL series?
Yup!
I loved NFL 2k2. Awesome game. Enter NFL 2k3 stage left. Horrible disapointment, I hated the gameplay mechanics. Haven't had a chance to check out the newest installment.
NFL 2k3 wasn't that bad, but they did redo NFL2k4 quite a bit. I have converted every Madden fan I have come across because of the gameplay.
You have to bite your tongue and bare the learning curve (if you're unfamiliar with the 2k series), but it is really worth it. It is much more realistic in the game, not the mechanics.
The mechanics are realistic, but less compared to Madden, but the overall end result if more realistic. I.E. L. Tomlinson will run for 2.1 yards per carry and then break off a 45 yarder. This is quite in tune with the way he plays, as opposed to him getting 4.0 a carry, and that matching him.
If he doesn't break off his long runs, he's an average back. NFL2k4 does a better job of this than Madden which assumes that since he is a good back, he will play like a good back, and not as much like himself.
One thing I like about Madden is the Mini-Camp mode. Awesome stuff, it basically teaches you how to play. I feel 100% more educated about football and I have more of an appreciation for skills like pocket presence on TV. Seems more...realistic.
And that's true. Madden's Mini-Camp rules. No doubt.
I loved playing it, and the Madden cards add a great aspect to the game.
But NFL2k4 is a much better game to play. It feels much more like a real game than Madden. Madden doesn't seem very fluid.
Try a screen pass in Madden, and you'll see what I mean.
Running is also not as fluid. That doesn't mean it's easier in NFL2k4, but it definately is much more realistic, fluid, and fun.
The utter best part about ESPN football is the ability to tweak every single part of the Computer AI. If I feel as those the corners are converging on the reciever realisticly, but the cover skills are not as realistic, I can tweak them.
I love that.
http://use.perl.org
I'll make an XBox list.
Beyond Good and Evil
Burnout 2: Point of Impact
Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO
Colin McRae Rally 3
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix
Deathrow
Deus Ex: Invisible War
ESPN College Hoops
ESPN NBA Basketball
ESPN NFL Football
ESPN NHL Hockey
FIFA Soccer 2004
Freedom Fighters
Gladius
Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde
Grand Theft Auto Double Pack
Madden NFL 2004
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Midnight Club
Midtown Madness 3
Morrowind Game of the Year Edition
NASCAR Thunder 2004
NBA Street Vol 2
NCAA Football 2004
NCAA March Madness 2004
Need for Speed Underground
NHL 2004
NHL Hitz Pro
Otogi: Myth of Demon
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Phantasy Star Online
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Project Gotham Racing 2
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Soul Calibur II
SSX 3
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3
Tony Hawk's Underground
Top Spin
XIII
There you have it, 45 count. All of which were released this year. Their article had to borrow from last year's games. Also, I just scrolled down the GameTab list of XBox games, which doesn't include each and every game. Mind you, I wouldn't necessarily play every game (like DDR) that I listed, but, there is something for everybody and each game is good within their genre.
Until Slashdot fixes the funny modifier, use insightful or interesting. The poster knows your intentions.
I wouldn't suggest all of those games. Instead, let me cherry pick the true greats:
1. Grand Theft Auto Double Pack
2. Deus Ex: Invisible War
3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time