Biggest *system* game of the year

[JoyBoy]

Theres absolutely no chance in hell that Sims 2 will be the biggest seller this year. Perhaps as overall top seller on the PC, but across all formats its got Gran Turismo 4, Metal Gear Solid 3, GTA:San Andreas and HALO 2 to compete with. Even 'smaller' titles like Metroid Prime 2, Ninja Gaiden, FIFA, Pro Evo/Winning Eleven, Burnout 3 and maybe Half-Life 2 will surpass the sales that Sims 2 generates worldwide. Any other year, and these smaller titles would have been the big hitters for their respective system.

But the fact is, this is could very well be the last Christmas for the current generation of consoles (PC dont count). But flipping heck, what a line up of games they got coming.

Of the 4 Franchises Games listed at the top, I gotta say GTA: San Andreas will walk all over the competition. Its a flipping gaming template now, other developers blatently steal Rockstar's ideas or just shamlessly steal the gameplay (see Spiderman 2, and the upcoming Scarface). I still dont get why HALO is so loved, its an average FPS, repetitive as hell and only the very last level actually made me smile. Heck just check out how much the other Franchise Games have sold compared to HALO and it could turn out HALO 2 could end up being the 4th Biggest Seller of the Year.

GTA: San Andreas = My pick for overall Top Seller of 2004.

But the Christmas Number 1 will be Gran Turismo 4. No question about it. Just check its release date in North America and UK/Europe to find out why

[Warlock]

I think it will be out of Halo2 and GT4. Halo2 will probably win even though Xbox doesnt get its due credit on the japanese market as well as a few other places.

[JoyBoy]

Godamn it. GT4 has been delayed in Europe till Feb/March 2005. Also, I only just relised this, but Europe does not get MGS3 till Feb/March 2005 either. So its down to GTA: San Andreas (looks awesome from the new trailer, just pre-ordered the game ) and HALO 2 (those corridors, godamn those corridors). Microsoft are claiming pre-orders for HALO have topped 1.5 million. For the first time in ages, there are actual big games due out after Christmas. This has not happened in years. Forza Motorsport (which now goes head to head with GT4 in Europe ), Splinter Cell 3, MOH: Pacific Assualt, Championship Manager 5 (in name only), GT4 and MGS3 to name a few.

[Luciel]

The New MOH is looking awsome i tried the demo the other day, i did "like" allied assault altho the expansions were crap thing is there was no gore watsoever, the new one does :P

Originally Posted by BountyWarrior

Theres absolutely no chance in hell that Sims 2 will be the biggest seller this year.

Frank Gibeau, senior vice president of marketing, EA. "The game has sold one million units worldwide in its first ten days at retail -- more than fifty percent of those games were sold in Europe."

Love it or hate it Sims 2 is there and will be up there if not top seller.

[JoyBoy]

Dude, thats just in comparison to other PC Games. Obviously the Sims is the biggest Franchise the PC has. But in comparison to other formats, it pales in comparison. Just compare it to Gran Turismo, in total that has sold something like 35 million +. I think GT3 alone has sold 16 million. You honestly think, Sims will shift those kinds of numbers. If I remember correctly, the first Sims has 'only' sold 6 million+. Face it, if developers want to make money, they should be developing for consoles.

By the way, I'm not disputing that the Sims is not a huge franchise. It is, and the girls love it. I'm just saying that it doesnt sell as well as other license to print money franchises. (Stuff like FIFA)

*cough*

So far the The Sims and it's seven expansions have sold well in excess of 30 million copies and sales are still going strong.

Now ok you can say that this isn't just 1 game cos it has 7 expansions. In fact you could go a bit further and say 30,000,000 / 7 and say it really has only sold 4.28 mill copies. But it's still a gaming phenonina (sp), don't get me wrong here I hate the Sims as much as it's evident that you do but u can't deny it's not up there....

[JoyBoy]

OK, to make it simple. Sims 2 will not be the biggest game this year.

Look out for the numerous press releases Rockstar releases next week when GTA: San Andreas breaks records and makes a few new ones too.

[JoyBoy]

GTA: SA MURDERED MY MOMS WHILE ON ROUTE TO LEAVING A HOLE IN MY ANUS

GTA: SA STABBED LITTLE SALLY WHILE HUMPING MY ARM CHAIRS ARMREST!

UK data only, but puts it into perspective how big the game will be. If Microsoft, Nintendo* and SONY, had any sense, they would secure the next game in the Franchise as an exclusive launch title. It just makes sense.

* Nintendo are very strict as to what kinds of games are released on their systems. So I'm not sure they would ever allow a GTA title on the 'Revolution' system. Yeah, yeah theres now a GTA on the GBA, but thats some 2D bollocks.

[Grumpy]

@ Luciel
You say the MOH expansions were crap! Have you played the 'Breakthru' expansion? This is an absolute awesome expansion! The only complaint I have about it is it wasnt long enough! But it looks, sounds and plays great!
@ BW
You have really got me wanting to download some of those GTA SA trailers now.
@ everyone else
Bring on Halflife 2!