October 17th

Saints row 2
This looks like it could be a lot of fun, but am holding of pre-order for a while. There are lots of open world games (Far Cry 2 , Fable 2 and Fallout 3 for example) and I only really want to put in the hours on the good ones. Want to see how one pans out before committing.

Golden Axe: Beast Rider
Looks interesting, can can’t say that I don’t have the fond memories of the originally Golden Axe that SEGA are clearly caching in on here. Its something I am keeping my eye on, but I always thing that if the game was going to be that good.. it wouldn’t need to cash in on an existing franchise, but then I am skeptical about these things.

October 24th

Far Cry 2:
This looks awesome, I mean… really really awesome. It’ stunning, it has an incredibly effective approach to immersion, and it has nailed some of the best features you can look for in a a game. Check out the video: -

• Gameplay area will be 50 km2 (19.3 sq mi).
• Fully open-ended, free roaming sandbox.
• Approximately 50hours of core gameplay.
• Destructible environments, buildings to plants can be blown apart or damaged
• Fire simulation, start a fire.. its spreads
• Map Editor, create share and play your own maps.
• Fly, Drive, Run, slide and hover over the huge open world with your glider, trucks, cars, boats and much more.
• Real-time story telling, 1min real time is 5min in game time.
• Dynamic day night cycles, weather systems
• Non-scripted AI, a real focus on avoiding classic ‘forward only’ combat
• Full multi-player support.

Fable 2:
I have been looking forward to this for so long now that I am starting to thing its never going to happen.

October 30th

Fallout 3:
I removed this form pre-order after seeing some developer previews, I hope that was a mistake, and that I pick it up a little later, but I figured with Far Cry 2 and Fable the week before, Im not going to be board regardless.

November 7th

Gears of War 2:
I liked the original Gears of War, but I am a little worried that grinding nature of its gun battles is going to be at odds with the one-shot-one-kill comfort zone that my Call of Duty 4 gaming has made me love. I also hope that there Gears 2 takes things to the next level, and isn’t simply more of the same with a few new features

Tom Clancy’s End War:
This is a tricky one, you may remember that I got to play this a few months ago, although crucially not with a headset so I tryout the games main feature, the voice command system. I saw enough to make me like what the game, and see its potential, but like everyone else am waiting for a full demo on this one. This is something of a problem for Ubisoft, as they recognise that this game is a significant departure from anything we have seen before. Not a bad thing by any means, but it dose mean that people are going to have to address the learning curve of this game. This is perhaps compounded by the fact that the game looks like it plays the same as lots of other RTS games, when its really doesn’t. Approaching it on those terms is probably going to lead to frustration. The need to get the game out there in a way that’s going make it clear how to play it, and more importantly how to have fun playing it. Defiantly one to keep an eye on.

Guitar Hero World Tour :
So to be honest this is a party game for me, I don’t think its going to be something that I am going to invest time in perfecting (please take note JP), but I do think its going to be a lot of fun, and should lead to some fun parties.

November 14th

Call of Duty: World at war:
Just as everyone who are skeptical about this game, and the direction its going to take, I am going to get it. You have to hope don’t you.

Mirrors Edge:
I like the idea of Mirrors Edge, although of all the games on this list, this is the one I am most skeptical about. I am unlikely to buy this but am keeping an eye on it.

November 21st

Left 4 Dead:
Multi-player online zombie goodness… what’s not to love!

Tomb Raider Underworld:
From what I have seen of this game, it could very well get me interests in this franchise again. I think Tomb Raider 3 was the last time a looked at one of these games, and can’t say I was overwhelmed. However Underworld has that next-gen feel, and I hope that with that, a new lease of life.