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Modern Warfare 2 delayed til Q2 2010 - Analyst
"Specifically April, Fool"
I am unapologetic about the title of this blog - and nothing short of a Carter-Ruck Super Injunction will make me want to change it.
Don't get me wrong, I will be buying Modern Warfare 2 on it's release day, but it is the kind of game that I want to enjoy as part of a well balanced release schedule - and by all accounts this game is responsible for Christmas 2009 being delayed until Easter 2010. Most telling of all, if the title of this blog came true it would not bother me one jot.
The problem is that I am suffering from Gamer's Block.
I know that this condition is not unique to me (I have recognized the telltale signs in other gamers from time-to-time) but let me describe the symptoms of this malaise:
- A lack of interest in any of the vast back catalogue of unplayed games sat on your shelf
- Difficulty in committing to play any one videogame, with lots of games started but abandoned during the first level
- A jobsworth approach to videogaming, with a low tolerance of puzzle solving (and lots of visits to GameFAQs)
- An increase in time spent retrogaming (specifically mindless arcade shoot'em ups courtesy of MAME)
- An absence of excitement for any title due to be released over the next 6 months
- A sense of low level dread that you have, in fact, finally grown out of playing videogames
It's that last point that I find the most confusing - like being an addict who wants to kick their habit but panics at the prospect of going a whole day without getting a fix. If I have naturally lost interest in videogames (not that I want to) why on earth would I be pining the loss?
And don't think that I haven't been giving this season's latest and greatest a go: Batman Arkham Asylum was a nice surprise, Halo 3: ODST was a crushing disappointment and I am currently 95% through Uncharted 2 (which is good, if a little over orchestrated). All perfectly fine ways of passing the time (maybe not ODST), but I am used to getting a lot more out of the golden Christmas release rush.
Maybe this is only natural after the heights of the Christmas 2007 release schedule, which seemed to see a triple-A title released every week from August 31st to Christmas day. With such a tough act to follow, I thought that 2008 would be a disaster but it somehow managed to pull off a respectable line-up. No, it's 2009 that has turned out to be the lemon, with the worst Christmas release list since the void of 1995.
So, sceptical as I am, time for a Christmas appeal: what games should I be getting excited about?
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
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Lack of anticipation is definitely not an issue. Lack of time, followed by a lack of follow-through due to said lack of time, are my two biggest issues.
I'm currently sitting on unfinished games of Brutal Legend, Uncharted 2, and Borderlands. I may one day actually finish Fallout 3 (too many side quests :) and Bioshock too.
Oh, to be young and unencumbered by reality again . . .
Bioshock is a quick one to tick off the list. Can you ever really finish Fallout tho? lol
I meant the main storyline; I intentionally didn't finish because when I last played the Brotherhood of Steel DLC wasn't available, meaning the game ended when the main storyline was completed. I've held off on the DLC as well, because I figured the GOTY edition was inevitable. I'll be picking that up when it falls under $40 since I already spent too much on the LE when it was released.
My biggest time factor is due to not being able to play when my kids are around and because my wife has so much stuff to catch up on on the DVR. She's monopolizing the HDTV. I suppose I could always connect my 360 to my unused monitor upstairs ;)
I get the old guilt complex when i play now, i always feel like i should be doing something more important. Stupid growing up!
"by all accounts this game is responsible for Christmas 2009 being delayed until Easter 2010"
I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to force the schedules back and give these other games more polishing time, too many games are rushed out for the Christmas period with insufficient fine tuning - the developers are probably thankful.
Borderlands has single-handedly cured me of a malaise that shared at least five of your six criteria. It's the first game for a long time that has made me anxious to get home from work just to play it.
Great blog, by the way.
thanks mate.
That's two votes for Borderlands - I had previously dismissed this game as 'the one that isn't Rage' but I am now starting to get interested.
Seriously, I don't know what has been spent on Marketing and PR for the Xmas also-rans, but they appear to have looked at sales projections for MW2 and decided to spend the money on beer & dog chews.
Boo fucking hoo, gamers have to be the whiniest group of consumers. Seriously we are like a bunch of old women (and yes i realise im totally guilty as well)
Excellent reply - you should work in counselling!
I've definitely been experiencing point 2 a lot. I've recently started and mehed on oblivion, mirror's edge and scribblenauts (most disappointing game ever?). Still, Borderlands has me hooked now (despite edge 6ing it!). I think it's the bright, exciting graphics as much as anything else (there certainly isn't a lot of puzzle solving for me to gamefaq).
I'm holding back uncharted 2 for christmas gaming, as I probably won't bother picking up MW2 for a while..
gotcha.
Whilst the answer will likely be 'no, I'm busy being murdered thanks to the topic title', I'm more than willing to walk you through some games of Firefight to try and swing your opinion of ODST.
As far as recommending games goes, if it's not out, how can we know if it's any cop? I can tell you what I'm looking forward to though, if it helps
Ratchet & Clank
Tekken 6
LittleBigPlanet
Blue Toad Murder Files
Thanks Alex - an untimely death would certainly solve the problem!!
It's the lack of anticipation for upcoming titles that's bothering me - I'm not looking for predictions on what will be worth the wait, so thanks for your suggestions.
I don't get anticipated that much on upcoming titles anymore.
In fact, there are a few games I still haven't beaten, but I enjoy playing or re-playing the first level. Not only that I like going back to games I have beaten (Bioshock being a class example).
You haven't grown out of videogames I think, so don't fret.
Thanks for the words of support!
I am mercenarily making sure that I reply to all comments to keep this blog on the Recent Comments sidebar - because let's face it, any shock value is seriously diminished after 10/11/2009
Indeed. I've also been playing Borderlands and I really love this game. It is incredibly good man, you need to get it!!
Seriously though, it is such a good game. I can't even describe it, it's so addictive. You get a gun....but you want more...and more....AND MORE.......
Trust me, this game, Borderlands, will help you.
I don't have Xbox Live Gold, but it's Mentor07825 anyway if you intend to get it for the Xbox, it's worth playing.
I also intend to get it for the PC, and my Steam account name is....wait for it......mentor07825
It's a great game to play on your own, but it truelly shines when you play with others in it.
I just picked up borderlands today after one of my live friends said it was really good and I kept hearing nothing but good things about it. The art style in the screen shots sorta turned me off to the game but if it's supposed to be that good then I don't care. I haven't played it yet since I've been digging into Tekken 6 (more of a tekken tag fan) but tomorrow I'm going to crack open Borderlands. My gamertag is O1 (the letter O then number 1) I could use a another live friend who plays borderlands if you want to add me.
I'll remember!!
I just need to get my hands on the Xbox this weekend, and Xbox Live Gold!!
Also have this on the PC, like I said, my username for Steam is Mentor07825.
Pretty much my name for everything is Mentor07825 that is internet based, or Rotnem07825
Hey Nick,
I ended up buying a 2nd copy of Borderlands so my son and I could play on separate TV's (split-screen doesn't do the game justice) - good thing Best Buy has that buy 2, get 1 free deal going on! While the game has it's faults it nails that "I'll just play a little longer" feeling of games like Diablo. We'll definitely be playing some this weekend, so feel free to jump in if you'd like.
Anybody playing it on PS3?
Anybody?
Hello....?
Well, in case anybody is, add Stealth-Badger (some git already took the non-hyphenated version), if you want a lot of arguments about who gets to keep the combat rifles!
I like how you can punch your team-mates to start a battle over things like loot.
Sorry, StealthBadger, I only have this on 360 - I'm up for a game of Uncharted 2 co-op though if you have that game (PSN: grognard66).