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Evil Avatar
11-14-2005, 10:13 AM
Ok, yeah... the holiday shopping season doesn't officially begin until next Friday, but if the malls can put Christmas decorations out at Labor Day, CNN can be forgiven for putting out its video game buying guide (http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/11/commentary/game_over/techgift_game_buying_guide/index.htm) the week before Thanksgiving. Obviously, gamers know what they want, but it's interesting to see what's being recommended to parents and others.
CrashCart
11-14-2005, 10:27 AM
Nothing really out of the ordinary, in my opinion. But a decent list of good titles from this year. As I spend all of my (relatively small amount of) free time playing World of Warcraft, and hence have a relatively large stack of unplayed/unfinished console titles, I don't know if I really need to add anything else to my wishlist. I have titles from last Christmas to be completed, even. Curse my lack of free time.

Though, the list did remind me of God of War, a game that I enjoyed for its ridiculous violence and DMC-style action. One of the few I managed to play through since my WoW addiction began, but never got around to purchasing. Perhaps I'll have to add that to my collection this holiday season.
NACIONAL
11-14-2005, 10:35 AM
Not having xbox360 and its games on that list is stupid in my opinion...

I'm not really sure, but i really think that the X360 will be the hottest gaming device this hollydays.
earthworm48
11-14-2005, 10:37 AM
Good to see SotC on there, seems to be a lot of older games from this year there, and any particular reason on the extremely slim number of PC games and a game from last year?
KDups
11-14-2005, 10:47 AM
I'm not really sure, but i really think that the X360 will be the hottest gaming device this hollydays.

That's great, but when the majority of people can't buy one they'll move on to picking up games for older systems. Regardless the guy seems on top of things, I'm sure a 360 feature is on the way.

Pretty standard list. Though I objected to this line:

Here's an ugly truth: "Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories" is one of the weaker "GTA" games in years -- and controlling the game on the PSP is a frustrating affair.

Bah, I couldn't disagree more.
BleedTheFreak
11-14-2005, 10:50 AM
Not having xbox360 and its games on that list is stupid in my opinion...

I'm not really sure, but i really think that the X360 will be the hottest gaming device this hollydays.

They did explain it's absence in the first paragraph, I'm not sure if you saw that. In any case, it's hard to recommend it and it's games in such a guide when few have had a chance to play this stuff. Sure, I could recommend Kameo and Condemned to someone off the stree, but having not even played them yet myself, really, should I?

That being said, where the hell is Civilization IV on this list? Easily the most incredible PC title of the year, this is an amazing title and anyone who enjoys strategy should certainly check it out.

EDIT: I'm a jackass, I didn't realize the guide was in the hyperlink, I thought the article itself was the guide! At any rate, cIV is the very first PC title they have listed, so I'll back away slowly....
ezzkmo
11-14-2005, 10:52 AM
no mario kart ds on there??? shame on them.
BleedTheFreak
11-14-2005, 10:53 AM
no mario kart ds on there??? shame on them.

That hasn't even come out yet, has it?
Imelman
11-14-2005, 10:55 AM
Not having xbox360 and its games on that list is stupid in my opinion...

I'm not really sure, but i really think that the X360 will be the hottest gaming device this hollydays.

Not having the Nintendo Gamecube and its games on that list is stupid in my opinion
Dabombpizza
11-14-2005, 11:02 AM
That hasn't even come out yet, has it?
Today is the release date.
bean19
11-14-2005, 11:16 AM
CNN really shouldn't be forgiven. . . I wonder if they research more serious subjects so poorly.

First, why format the buyer's guide to a tiny window? The bar to change between games is fine, but put it in a frame to the left on a normal sized page, so that we can read stuff quickly and without readjusting their pop-up window.

Then they don't have Gamecube games OR X360 games.

Who is the intended audience of this article? One would suspect that a buying guide would be mostly directed at parents who may know little or nothing about games, 3 of the 5 X-Box recommendations are rated Mature, as are 2 of the PS2 games, one of which is "God of War" - a game that shows boobs, has an off-screen sex mini-game, and incredibly graphic violence. . . also a wonderful title, but I wouldn't tell my grandmother to buy it for my ten year-old cousin.

Finally, most of the titles have been out for a long time and have already proven successful. They are good games (with the exception of Jade Empire - which should not be on this list), but many of their readers may already own those titles, or are at least familiar enough with them to request them as gifts directly if they are wanted. Why not do a little research and deliver a buying guide about holiday buying that focuses on games that are on sale during the holidays? I can just imagine someone's grandmother making use of this buyer's guide and getting them a game they already own, or that they have already beaten as a renter.

It's like they found the one gamer in their office and asked what games he enjoyed most this year and made a story out of it.

Hate to see CNN doing such a bad job reporting though. I've read some really insightful articles from Chris Morris before. Articles that show research was done. Oh well. Maybe he is too busy playing Civ 4 and decided to mail one in.
BleedTheFreak
11-14-2005, 11:20 AM
Today is the release date.

I just don't think games that are only just being released today (or even not at all yet, see my thoughts on why no 360 in the article above) should be on any buyers guide yet. Not until they have proven themselves by getting excellent word of mouth and professional reviews, at any rate.

Though, this brings up the question, why release this guide so early? Meh. I saw Christmas decorations up when I was trying to get a Halloween bucket to keep candy in for my kids, like a week before Halloween this was. Rediculous. It's all about getting new toys, right!? *sigh*

-Scott, Hippocrite getting a 360 for Christmas.... *cough*
Suicidal ShiZuru
11-14-2005, 11:40 AM
Who the hell uses crap like this. Soccer moms and grandparents thats who...
Nite_Moogle
11-14-2005, 11:50 AM
no mario kart ds on there??? shame on them.
No Castlevania DS on there? For shame!
Kelegacy
11-14-2005, 01:07 PM
Why doesnt EvAv come up with our own Buyer's Guide? Coming from a REAL group of gamers, I bet we can make a much better and thorough list. It could help us with games we've missed over the year, too, from sleepers to blockbusters.
NACIONAL
11-14-2005, 01:28 PM
Why doesnt EvAv come up with our own Buyer's Guide? Coming from a REAL group of gamers, I bet we can make a much better and thorough list. It could help us with games we've missed over the year, too, from sleepers to blockbusters.

Actually, THAT is a pretty good idea!
NELS
11-14-2005, 01:58 PM
Actually, THAT is a pretty good idea!

I second that. Could be cool with a voting system and all...
Nite_Moogle
11-14-2005, 02:02 PM
Why doesnt EvAv come up with our own Buyer's Guide? Coming from a REAL group of gamers, I bet we can make a much better and thorough list. It could help us with games we've missed over the year, too, from sleepers to blockbusters.
Third.
Ed.
Thirded?
BleedTheFreak
11-14-2005, 02:18 PM
Third.
Ed.
Thirded?

*whoosh* Right over my head.
XxSATANxX
11-14-2005, 03:12 PM
Evil's Buying guide I quad it
mister_slim
11-14-2005, 05:50 PM
Evil's Buying guide I quad it
Pentagram backgrounds, right?

Should go over well with parents.

"What kind of evil should we buy little Jimmy? Oh, gosh, this should be helpful."

(Your name is quite fitting)
bean19
11-14-2005, 06:43 PM
Good point. It would probably be a great resource that never, ever gets read by the intended audience. :)