what games are you looking forward to the most?

[Thermal]

for me christmas time will bring the realese of brilliant games (i hope) my top game list (santa better be watchin )
1-empires total war!, if this wasn't at the top i'd let you all shoot me
2-FALLOUT 3, its made by beshetda softworks, makers of oblivion, need i convince you more?
3-fable 2, fable 1 was ace, but a little short, previews from this game are staggering
4-tom clancys endwar, not at the top, but sure looks like a brill game, thats looking to be a completely different technology (actually speaking the command) instead of your typical FPS
5-gears of war 2, first version was short, but the visuals and creativeity make it a game on my list :)


that was mine, now whats yours!
ill add previews and video links to games in demand, so this can be a portal to upcoming games as well as a disscussion! please share your views!

links:
fallout 3

http://uk.pc.ign.com/dor/objects/568...=2484uuw512bou
http://uk.pc.ign.com/dor/objects/568...il_092508.html
http://uk.pc.ign.com/dor/objects/568...od_092408.html

empire total war

http://uk.pc.ign.com/dor/objects/958...=2knhkvl78xs2i

hist war

http://uk.media.pc.ign.com/media/765/765354/imgs_1.html

starcraft 2

http://uk.mac.ign.com/dor/objects/71...=164ubuv4j8vvj
http://uk.mac.ign.com/objects/714/71...#aboutThisGame

civization-colonization

http://uk.pc.ign.com/dor/objects/890...d=qoqsuv7lu0ed
http://uk.pc.ign.com/dor/objects/890...ro_081508.html

resident evil 5

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/object...=1gtr1pq6dto03
http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/objects/760/760880.html

dead space

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/object...=19m3gjwvsbra5
http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/object...=6ja3vpjdl6137
http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/objects/850/850402.html

stardock fantasy

http://www.tacticularcancer.com/archives.php?id=2228

fifa 2009

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/object...d=3r7g5yd3qdim

rise of the argonauts

http://www.rise-of-the-argonauts.com...ory=EnglishUK&

[Crazed Rabbit]

Mafia 2
FEAR 2

We'll see if E:TW has good AI.

2-FALLOUT 3, its made by beshetda softworks, makers of oblivion, need i convince you more?

I don't need further convincing, I'm just confused why its on your wanted list.

CR

[Zenicetus]

The one I'm most interested in is Stardock's upcoming fantasy TBS, but that's a ways off. I think the beta starts this winter?

I'm looking forward to Bioware's Dragon Age, although I just saw some in-game videos with dialog and hints of a plot line that seemed a bit cheesy, coming from that company. I've probably been spoiled by The Witcher lately (re-playing i with the new enhanced edition now). I'm still interested in DA though, if my computer can handle the graphics.

I'll wait to see user reports on Fallout 3 before getting too excited about it. That's another one where I'm wondering about whether it will live up to the hype, and how much computer/graphics power is needed to enjoy the game. I don't think there's anything I'm ready to buy sight-unseen right now, except for that Stardock fantasy strategy game.

I was looking forward to CA's Empire until I heard about square riggers sailing upwind (ugh).

[Kekvit Irae]

Civ IV: Colonization
Fallout 3
Metal Gear Solid Existence
Resident Evil 5
Dead Space

[drone]

The one I'm most interested in is Stardock's upcoming fantasy TBS, but that's a ways off. I think the beta starts this winter?

The Master of Magic pseudo-sequel. That's the one I want.

[Martok]

The one I'm most interested in is Stardock's upcoming fantasy TBS, but that's a ways off. I think the beta starts this winter?

This is the game I'm most anticipating as well. Supposedly there will be an official announcement in a couple months (I seem to recall November being mentioned, but don't quote me on that). I'm not holding my breath, however, as it wouldn't be the first time Stardock has delayed announcing it. No idea when the beta starts, although I'm guessing it'll probably be concurrent with the game's official unveiling.


I *was* awaiting Red Alert 3 -- eagerly so -- but its inclusion of SecuROM castrated my desire for it. About the only other game I can think of offhand that I'm looking forward to is Empire Total War, and that's only if it's not packaged with invasive DRM.


Wait, I take that back. An indie title, Empires of Steel, has captured my interest. Despite the primitive graphics, it looks like it could be fun. Much will depend on the AI, though.

[Ramses II CP]

None really. I'm at that point.

Maybe, kinda Battlefield Heroes. Portal 2 whenever it comes out.

[CountArach]

HistWar: Les Grognards

[seireikhaan]

That looks impressive, CA. When does it come out?

[Zenicetus]

This is the game I'm most anticipating as well. Supposedly there will be an official announcement in a couple months (I seem to recall November being mentioned, but don't quote me on that). I'm not holding my breath, however, as it wouldn't be the first time Stardock has delayed announcing it. No idea when the beta starts, although I'm guessing it'll probably be concurrent with the game's official unveiling.

Here's what I can remember about Stardock's "Not-MOM" from recent dev posts at their forum (someone correct me if any of this is wrong):

* Turn based strategy with a fantasy theme. Unofficial successor to MOM.

* Multiplayer designed in from the start.

* New ground-up game engine with tactical battles as well as the strategy layer, and the engine will be the basis for GalCiv3 a few years down the road. I never missed tactical battles in GalCiv that much, but that will make a lot of people happy.

* Scaling for multiple processors, or not, so it can look great on high-end machines but degrade nicely to work on lower-end machines. They need to hit the lower-end hardware market for a niche product like a turn-based strategy game, but it sounds like they're shooting for some flash graphics if you have the hardware for it.

* Hints of an RPG element. I'm guessing that probably refers to a scripted campaign alongside the sandbox game, but maybe they're going for the "hero" thing there too. No details at all on this yet.

* Open (with pre-order) beta sometime in early '09, with the release date being "when the players think it's ready." That would be the same deal they did with GalCiv2/TA. If they make that window for the beta, then the game must be pretty far along already. That marketing model only works well if the initial beta is already solid enough to have fun with (like the first TA expansion beta last year).

I'm sure it will be a fun game, but I hope they hire some good writers for the background world and faction designs. They're doing a fantasy world and rules system from scratch, which always has great potential (not to mention no royalties!)... but it's not easy to come up with something original and compelling. I enjoyed the Kohan series as a strategy game, but ugh.... the writing, and the world design seemed pretty slapdash (IMO). One of the things that made Warcraft successful, as a non-D&D title, was the quality and humor of the writing and design of the world.

[naut]

Football Manager 2009 - lack of SecuROM permitting.
CoD 5 - maybe depending on whether TreyArch does a good job.
Mafia II - looks like sandbox heaven.
Diablo III - but that's some way off.
Empire: Total War - depending on AI and bugs.

TBH I've got too many older games to go back to that I've missed out on.

[TevashSzat]

Fallout 3
Guild Wars 2
Diablo III
Starcraft II

lol all part of franchises

[CountArach]

That looks impressive, CA. When does it come out?

I think very late this year is the earliest general time that has been given. The Developer really wants to get the AI right for the first release and as such it has been delayed a few times - but it means the final package will be complete and playable.

[Crandaeolon]

Fallout 3
Guild Wars 2
Diablo III
Starcraft II

I'll just copy-paste that and add the Stardock Fantasy TBS. Colonization remake... mmm, maybe. Disciples 3, not really expecting anything good out of that but we'll see.

[rajpoot]

Hist War Les Grognards
Grand Theft Auto 4
Empire Total War
Fallout 3
Demi-God
Rise of the Argonauts


That's it.
Hist War though, it's as if it's never going to come out at all. They keep shifting the date month by month.

GTA 4 and Fallout 3 I've just got to get.

Demi God and Rise of the Argonauts sound nice. Demi God specially as Stardock is the publisher and lately, these people have become the heros of gamers.

ETW ofcourse..........unless they have some dirty copy protection.

[Fragony]

Fatal Frame: mask of the lunar eclipse and The Conduit.

[Ferret]

FIFA 09. That's about it.

[woad&fangs]

HistWar: Les Grognards

Interesting...

The games I'm currently interested in are Fallout 3, E:TW, and now HWLG. I'll look at purchasing fallout if it has good reviews after it comes out. I'm salivating over E:TW. I'll buy it if I have a computer which can play it and the game doesn't come with you know what.

HWLG looks like it could be an interesting replacement if I can't play E:TW.

[Thermal]

updated first post with game infomation on the majority of those mentioned

[Martok]

Interesting, Aries777777. By following another link mentioned in your link to Stardock's fantasy game, I found a mention of some more of its features (of which I was previously unaware):

1) Character building. The player is a character in the game. Nearly all magic in the world actually flows from the player. If you've ever read The Silmarillion (Tolkien) all the magic in Arda basically comes from the spirit of the things created by Eru. So in this sense, the player is a kind of Valar of sorts who can choose to invest their growing power into their creations/minions or into themselves (or a bit of both). That's an over simplification but the point is, part of the game mechanics is having to choose between making your forces more powerful or actual character.

2) The game is very spell-centric. The 3D engine is being designed so you can do Populous style spells to the world. Since it's turn-based (as opposed to real-time) that also means you can have some ridiculously fancy spell effects.

3) Very distinct magic schools.

4) You cannot build heroes. They have to be recruited and there's no Inn. Ones ability to attract heroes is one of the game mechanics and "interesting choices" players have. Those heroes can be wimpy or powerful depending on how the player chooses to use and invest in them.

5) There is massive scaling in this. At the beginning of Fellowship of the Rings (the movie edition) you could see just how powerful Sauron is. In this, if you manage to get a dragon, that dragon can wipe out hundreds of units. And by scale, we mean there's thousands and thousands of troops. One ancient dragon is taking out hundreds of troops.

6) Cities are built and improved and local geography matters. I won't say more on this right now. ;)

7) Multiplayer will involve all players moving at the same time.

8) Battles zoom in so that tactical combat can occur which is also turn based.

Sounds pretty frickin' cool, if I do say so myself. I do have one quick question, though....

I don't quite understand the difference between building and recruiting heroes, and how that will have an impact on gameplay. Anyone care to enlighten me?

[drone]

I don't quite understand the difference between building and recruiting heroes, and how that will have an impact on gameplay. Anyone care to enlighten me?

Sounds kind of like the original MoM. Heroes would arrive and offer their services. They would have random statistics and may or may not be a good fit to your magic skills/race. You couldn't "build" them, you had to wait for them to arrive.

[Paradox]

1. Fable 2

2. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

3. FIFA 2009

4. Duke Nukem 3D (WORLDWIDE XBLA release)

5. Batman: Arkham Asylum

[Ja'chyra]

The only game I was looking forward to was ETW but since reading this thread I have found out Civ 4 has a new expansion coming out and the Stardock fantasy game looks quite interesting too.

Well worth 5 minutes of my employers time to read it seems.

[aimlesswanderer]

- ETW, most definitely.

- X3 Terran Conflict, which should be out this week! It's damn complicated, sometimes overly, but has great depth.

- Starcraft 2, damn, it has been a long time since the original came out, bring it on.

- Diablo 3, ditto above