Your best gaming purchase of 2008

[Forward Observer]

I posted this at previously as SimHQ and not surprisingly, the one decent flight sim that came out last year was mentioned most, but was curious what this group would list.

Some of these came out prior to 2008, but for the reasons given, I only got them in 2008.

For me on the PC, it was probably

1. Fallout 3--I actually got this in December with a discount coupon, but only started playing it in January. Due to erroneously transposing the first two digits of minimum NVidia graphics card nomenclature, I thought my current rig wouldn't play it, so I was just going to keep it until I got my new PC next month. When I later realized my error, I loaded it up and haven't stopped playing it since.


2. FEAR Gold Edition with "FEAR Extraction---I know this did not come out in 2008, but I found a copy for only $10 from a clearance shelf at Target about last June. Great FPS and Expansion--typical of the quality Monolith/Sierra shooters like NOLF and A vrs P II.

For the PS 3

1. Uncharted--Drakes Fortune--of course this came out in 2007, but I only got my PS 3 last year---just a beautiful and fun action/adventure/3rd person shooter.

1. Civilization Revolution--I've never really liked the Civ type RTS's, but due to the limitations of the console this game was like Civ light--easy to pick up and play anytime.


What are yours?

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

A new graphics card.

Although it's maddeningly difficult, Battle of Tiles is fun and unique. And like $3.

[Gregoshi]

Oblivion for the 360: no game has grabbed my attention quite like this one in a while.

[Zenicetus]

PC games only, no console:

Bioshock - Technically a 2007 game, but I had to wait for a video card upgrade in early 2008 to play it).

GalCivII: Twilight of the Arnor

The Witcher (Enhanced Edition) - Another 2007 game, but I waited for the EE to finish it.

Fallout 3

X-Plane 9 - A last-minute entry, I bought it in December as a way to get back into flight simming with a computer that isn't quite up to FSX (before I heard the news about MS dropping the franchise). It's quirky if you're used to MSFS, but a blast to fly. Feels good to get my HOTAS and rudder pedals back in action.

I guess that's the cream of the crop for me. There were others that I thought were worth the money but not up to the level of the games above, like Dead Space and Mass Effect. A few disappointments like Neverwinter Nights2 that I may re-visit. And inevitably, a few turkeys like Assassin's Creed (fun at first, but not in the long haul) and Far Cry 2 (which might be a fun game for all I know, but it doesn't like my sound card and won't even boot up).

[tibilicus]

Probably Fallout 3 although gears of war 2 is also up there.

I got Fallout in December and I've been playing on and off since. Currently playing through with my second character and still finding it as impressive as the first run through.

[seireikhaan]

My computer- went from struggling to play MTW on a 16 GB hard drive to blowing through Mount and Blade on a 150 GB hard drive.(laptop)

[Husar]

Hmm, hard to rate them but here goes my list:

- the PS3, a nice gaming system

- Titan Quest(PC), older game but IIRC I bought it in 2008, at least I played it a lot in 2008

- Battlefield: Bad Company(PS3), a very fun game and for the first of the series with a campaign, i actually liked the campaign, played it twice so far

- Call of Duty 4(PS3), was hesitating about this one but after a recommendation from a good friend I went ahead and I still like it and play MP often, also had a nice campaign

- GTA IV(PS3), nice game indeed, I like the somewhat grittier style and it gives some nice city feeling as well, even though the resolution is a bit low, a helicopter flight can look really great

- the Benq G2400W, the monitor I use with my PS3, it was cheap, it outputs the PS3s sound from HDMI to my 2.1 PC speakers, it can be connected to my notebook or PC as well, it has FullHD, it's my biggest screen yet and it was only 334EUR including shipping, probably some of the best value for money I got so far

[Crandaeolon]

If sales count, then Mount & Blade for $7.50 on Steam. Close follow-ups are World of Goo (cheap, original, fun) and Left 4 Dead (tons of fun with buddies.)