The Games of 2008 for the 360 Update: PS3 too Update2: Wii added Update3: PSP and DS

[Queasy]

Next-gen.biz

The Xbox 360 enters 2008 with the highest installed base of any current generation console in the US, but it is rapidly losing ground to the Wii. In order to maintain its leadership position, it needs to bolster its image as the go-to system for the hardcore while also appealing to a broader demographic. While the latter might take a price drop, the former is all about exciting, high-quality games, something the 360?s 2008 catalog is full of. Our choices for 2008 are games that have garnered much creative and commercial anticipation.

As all of the games are works in progress, release dates and some details are subject to change. Sales estimates are for the first three months of US sales and only take into consideration the Xbox 360 version of the games. Estimates were calculated by reviewing the sales of a 2008 game's previous franchise installment (or a similar game, if it's a new IP) and increasing that amount by the expected percentage of growth of the console's installed base. Other factors such as consumer buzz, release dates and expected marketing push were also taken into consideration in our estimates.

It goes on to list Burnout Paradise, Lost Odyssey. GTA IV, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Ghostbusters, Ninja Gaiden 2, Halo Wars, Fable 2, Too Human, etc etc.

Games of 2008 for the PS3

Along with its high price point, the thing that irked consumers most about PS3 during 2007 was its lack of killer games. Of course, PS3 played home to the likes of Uncharted: Drake?s Fortune and Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, but they were never going to catapult PS3 from third place in the latest console cycle into a position of dominance. That?s what makes a great portfolio of software during 2008 so vital to PlayStation?s future ? Sony needs system sellers, and most likely these will be PS3 exclusive titles. Thankfully for the platform holder the PS3 has a slew of potential blockbusters lined up for the coming year.

Many of the same multi-platform games that were listed for the 360 are included along with Haze, Little Big Planet, MGS4, Home, GT5, Killzone 2, Final Fantasy, Resistance 2, Motorstorm 2, and SOCOM.

Like the 360, I'm sure there are other games not on this list.

Update: Games of 2008 for the Wii

2007 was a great year for the Wii, and with 2008 beginning there are still no signs that the system is losing favor in the eyes of the casual game-buying public. Nintendo has been handling the surprise success well, but one decision does threaten to derail the console: the number of cheap budget games that get the Nintendo Seal of Approval. While such products are all well and good in a honeymoon period where both consumer and game creator are excitedly testing the waters, as a long-term plan this will make developers complacent and consumers apathetic. Instead of allowing more such schlock onto the Wii, Nintendo should be focusing on games of the sort highlighted here.

Gotta agree with the shovelware comment. The good thing about the Wii though is that most of its games are exclusive.

Games of 2008 for the PSP

If it weren?t for the phenomenal success of Nintendo?s DS, today we might be praising the PSP up-and-down for being such a hit. Ever since the last price drop, the hardware revision and some wise marketing decisions by SCEA, it seems that people are finally realizing that the PSP is a great machine in its own right.

In all of our other Games of 2008 features, we?ve given software sales estimates for the first three months of US sales, but for PSP, we?re going to give a very general range for all titles, because history shows that the handheld?s top titles all sell within about the same range. Taking into consideration a growing installed base, we expect the higher-profile, late-year PSP games to sell as many as 400K copies in the US in the first three months (which would be a sizeable achievement compared to the top-sellers in 2007). More obscure or niche titles on our list may sell around or below 100K during the same time frame.

Games of 2008 for the DS

With over 6 million hardware units sold in the US in 2007 alone and a life-to-date installed base in the Americas of over 16 million, we?d venture to make the stunning conclusion that the DS is a bona fide success. As for DS software, getting a grasp on what will be a big seller is a challenge. When games like High School Musical: Makin? the Cut, Spectrobes, Drawn to Life and Paws & Claws Pet Vet can hang with the "big boys" on the sales charts, you know you?re working with a considerably different animal than your typical home console.

While there is a solid lineup of DS games for this year, it?s unlikely that even with the increased installed base we?ll see a game achieve the astronomical sales of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. But there are still plenty of titles that have garnered our anticipation from both creative and commercial perspectives.

 

[Wildog]

You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

Off the top of my head, I have Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and GTA IV as MUST BUY for the first half of the year. I'm pretty happy about that considering the best games of 2007 didn't even start coming out until August (BioShock).

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

i agree, however MS has not really said ANYTHING about games coming out this year at all. remember at E3 they said they were focusing on 2007 and they will focus on 2008 when it comes?

i think there are great games coming just we don't know yet what they are.

the only system that doesn't have a game in its future that I care about is the Wii. there isn't 1 game that is in development (to my knowledge) that I can honestly say I'm excited about at all.

PS3 should have a solid year and I think we will REALLY start to see the quality of the PS3 this year.

and if rumors from the qman from EGM are to be believed (and i trust his rumors more than any other rumor guys) then we will see Gears of War 2 this holiday season.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

I just got a 360, so I have good games from 2005-2007 that I want to play.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

Off the top of my head, I have Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and GTA IV as MUST BUY for the first half of the year. I'm pretty happy about that considering the best games of 2007 didn't even start coming out until August (BioShock).

:thumbsup: Ditto. I'm looking forward to all three of these. I know GTA IV is supposed to land Q1/Q2 of this year, but are there any ETA's for Mario Kart and SSBB for the Wii?

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

i agree, however MS has not really said ANYTHING about games coming out this year at all. remember at E3 they said they were focusing on 2007 and they will focus on 2008 when it comes?

i think there are great games coming just we don't know yet what they are.

the only system that doesn't have a game in its future that I care about is the Wii. there isn't 1 game that is in development (to my knowledge) that I can honestly say I'm excited about at all.

PS3 should have a solid year and I think we will REALLY start to see the quality of the PS3 this year.

and if rumors from the qman from EGM are to be believed (and i trust his rumors more than any other rumor guys) then we will see Gears of War 2 this holiday season.

Gears of War 2 + 4-player co-op over Live this upcoming Fall/Winter would rule. I want to play as Cole Train. "Can't stop the train, baby! Woo!"

It looks like there are already a lot of promising titles for 2008. It's hard to tell since we don't have any info/videos/screenshots for a lot of them, but I'm hopeful that it will be another good year for the 360. I hope the same for the PS3, really, so that I won't be able to resist buying one any longer.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: tdawg

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

Off the top of my head, I have Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and GTA IV as MUST BUY for the first half of the year. I'm pretty happy about that considering the best games of 2007 didn't even start coming out until August (BioShock).

:thumbsup: Ditto. I'm looking forward to all three of these. I know GTA IV is supposed to land Q1/Q2 of this year, but are there any ETA's for Mario Kart and SSBB for the Wii?

SSBB is a rather solid February 10th in North America and Mario Kart Wii just says Spring 2008.

If I remember correctly, MK was originally slated for February but they bumped that back at the same time they pushed SSBB from December to February. I subscribe to the speculation that the bump was (at least partially) a marketing move so they didn't cannibalize one another's sales, so I'm confident it will make it out for Spring '08. The online play for both sounds good (for Nintendo games) so I can't wait to try them out with old college friends.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: R Nilla

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

i agree, however MS has not really said ANYTHING about games coming out this year at all. remember at E3 they said they were focusing on 2007 and they will focus on 2008 when it comes?

i think there are great games coming just we don't know yet what they are.

the only system that doesn't have a game in its future that I care about is the Wii. there isn't 1 game that is in development (to my knowledge) that I can honestly say I'm excited about at all.

PS3 should have a solid year and I think we will REALLY start to see the quality of the PS3 this year.

and if rumors from the qman from EGM are to be believed (and i trust his rumors more than any other rumor guys) then we will see Gears of War 2 this holiday season.

Gears of War 2 + 4-player co-op over Live this upcoming Fall/Winter would rule. I want to play as Cole Train. "Can't stop the train, baby! Woo!"

It looks like there are already a lot of promising titles for 2008. It's hard to tell since we don't have any info/videos/screenshots for a lot of them, but I'm hopeful that it will be another good year for the 360. I hope the same for the PS3, really, so that I won't be able to resist buying one any longer.

Yep, from the viewpoint of this year, the PS3 is shaping up to have a more killer app titles than the 360 - Metal gear, killzone and littlebigplanet for sure, and hopefully GT5 and FF13.

I'm thankful that pretty much the only killer game guaranteed to be coming out the first half of the year is SSBB, as I've got a huge backlog of 360 and Wii games that I want to play.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

I'm dying for a sequel to Earth Defense Force with 2-4 player online coop.

Also wouldn't mind seeing sequels to Kameo and Crackdown.

Unfortunately, I probably won't get any of these, and MS will just work to continue pushing the First Person Shooter of the Month Club.

I am looking forward to Burnout Paradise, but I will likely get that on the PS3.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Man, I'm just getting around to buying a used copy of Crackdown tomorrow. Who knows when I'll get around to Bioshock (waiting for used prices to come down), Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed...and other good single player games? I tend to wait for good used prices on those. Promising multiplayer games I'll go out and and grab on launch though.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: BD2003
Yep, from the viewpoint of this year, the PS3 is shaping up to have a more killer app titles than the 360 - Metal gear, killzone and littlebigplanet for sure, and hopefully GT5 and FF13.

Currently, I think it may be an issue of perception. Sony has had MGS4, Killzone, LBP cooking in the hype machine for a while because they didn't have as much to show for 2007 as MS did. Since we've been hearing about the PS3's future AAA titles for quite a while I think they're just more prominent in our minds at the moment.

Who knows, 2008 could be Sony's year, but I'm not ready to proclaim the winner of the 2008 Christmas season on January 2nd.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Krakn3Dfx
Unfortunately, I probably won't get any of these, and MS will just work to continue pushing the First Person Shooter of the Month Club.

The next-gen.biz list is populated with american RPGs, JRPGs, adventure games, horror games, stealth games, third-person action games, RTSs, kid-friendly LEGO platformers, fighting games, racing games, sports games, arcade games, etc etc . A significant exclusive game they don't mention is Banjo-Kazooie.

I know it is common to bash the Xbox for being a FPS console but that is steadily showing to not be the case with the 360.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Krakn3Dfx
Unfortunately, I probably won't get any of these, and MS will just work to continue pushing the First Person Shooter of the Month Club.

The next-gen.biz list is populated with american RPGs, JRPGs, adventure games, horror games, stealth games, third-person action games, RTSs, kid-friendly LEGO platformers, fighting games, racing games, sports games, arcade games, etc etc . A significant exclusive game they don't mention is Banjo-Kazooie.

I know it is common to bash the Xbox for being a FPS console but that is steadily showing to not be the case with the 360.

Honestly, the only 2 games on that list that I am interested in are Alan Wake and Fallout 3, and I will likely buy both on the PC, especially Fallout 3 since the PC modding community for this game is going to be huge.

 

[Queasy]

Well, MS has something big planned for the upcoming Game Developer's Conference. They've reserved a huuuuge booth space. I guess they're going to start heavily promoting the 2008 games now.

Link

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: BD2003
Yep, from the viewpoint of this year, the PS3 is shaping up to have a more killer app titles than the 360 - Metal gear, killzone and littlebigplanet for sure, and hopefully GT5 and FF13.

Currently, I think it may be an issue of perception. Sony has had MGS4, Killzone, LBP cooking in the hype machine for a while because they didn't have as much to show for 2007 as MS did. Since we've been hearing about the PS3's future AAA titles for quite a while I think they're just more prominent in our minds at the moment.

Who knows, 2008 could be Sony's year, but I'm not ready to proclaim the winner of the 2008 Christmas season on January 2nd.

Oh no, certainly not. This was definitely the 360s year, but I've been interested in the big games theyve had (Orange Box, etc) for quite some time in advance. Of all the games announced so far, theres not really a single one that really lights my fire for MS. I'm more looking forward to playing cheap games I missed over the past two years all of next year than actually playing anything new on the MS/Wii side. Theres always room for surprises though.

Besides, most of those games are Q1-Q2 releases, unless they slip.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: Krakn3Dfx

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Krakn3Dfx
Unfortunately, I probably won't get any of these, and MS will just work to continue pushing the First Person Shooter of the Month Club.

The next-gen.biz list is populated with american RPGs, JRPGs, adventure games, horror games, stealth games, third-person action games, RTSs, kid-friendly LEGO platformers, fighting games, racing games, sports games, arcade games, etc etc . A significant exclusive game they don't mention is Banjo-Kazooie.

I know it is common to bash the Xbox for being a FPS console but that is steadily showing to not be the case with the 360.

Honestly, the only 2 games on that list that I am interested in are Alan Wake and Fallout 3, and I will likely buy both on the PC, especially Fallout 3 since the PC modding community for this game is going to be huge.

I'm really looking forward to Alan Wake. In fact, I've been quietly excited about this game since I read about it and saw the videos and screenshots. Hopefully it performs like it does in the teaser video clips.

 

[gorcorps]

I'm not anxiously awaiting any of those games, but expect many to be good enough to get. I've always liked the Devil May Cry series and Ninja Gaiden, and Fallout 3 looks to be shaping up nicely. GTAIV while not my style will more than likely be really fun, and after seeing multiple movies for Ghostbusters I'm getting excited for that too. I was really impressed with some of the tech demos I saw with the Force Unleashed engines... but I'm worried they spent so much time worried about the engine that the game itself will suck.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Well, MS has something big planned for the upcoming Game Developer's Conference. They've reserved a huuuuge booth space. I guess they're going to start heavily promoting the 2008 games now.

Link

that's funny, i didn't even see this link before posting how I think Gears2 will be out this holiday season.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

I'm sure they've got Gears 2 in the pipeline for this year, they really haven't got many big exclusive titles to talk about in 08:

- Lost Odyssey (probably not a big seller, but time will tell)
- Ninja Gaiden II (I'm thinking timed exclusive on this, Ninja Gaiden Sigma sold very well on the PS3, I'm betting Tecmo already has a NG2 framework in place and running on the PS3 to release 6-12 months after the 360 version, but regardless, it will sell like mad on the 360)
- Fable 2 (eh, I was really looking forward to the original, and was kind of let down by what got cut in the final game, still good, but promised greatness)
- Halo Wars (I would think this will sell much more than next-gen.biz is predicting, even if it's not an FPS set in the Halo universe, it's still Halo, fans of the series will eat it up)
- Too Human (big question mark here, but I love anything based on Norse mythology, so we'll see, I'd like to like it)

There are some big games coming out on both the 360 and PS3, it'll be interesting to see if devs decide how to differentiate the 2 versions of each game, if at all, and if the PS3 really is a more capable system that will offer better graphics and gameplay, I think '08 is the year it will start to show.
Regardless, '08 will be another big gaming year across the board, I don't think MS has anything to worry about at this point, at least in the U.S. market.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Krakn3Dfx
I'm sure they've got Gears 2 in the pipeline for this year, they really haven't got many big exclusive titles to talk about in 08:

- Lost Odyssey (probably not a big seller, but time will tell)
- Ninja Gaiden II (I'm thinking timed exclusive on this, Ninja Gaiden Sigma sold very well on the PS3, I'm betting Tecmo already has a NG2 framework in place and running on the PS3 to release 6-12 months after the 360 version, but regardless, it will sell like mad on the 360)
- Fable 2 (eh, I was really looking forward to the original, and was kind of let down by what got cut in the final game, still good, but promised greatness)
- Halo Wars (I would think this will sell much more than next-gen.biz is predicting, even if it's not an FPS set in the Halo universe, it's still Halo, fans of the series will eat it up)
- Too Human (big question mark here, but I love anything based on Norse mythology, so we'll see, I'd like to like it)

There are some big games coming out on both the 360 and PS3, it'll be interesting to see if devs decide how to differentiate the 2 versions of each game, if at all, and if the PS3 really is a more capable system that will offer better graphics and gameplay, I think '08 is the year it will start to show.
Regardless, '08 will be another big gaming year across the board, I don't think MS has anything to worry about at this point, at least in the U.S. market.

i think the graphical power of the PS3 will definitely come out this year. i'd argue to say that uncharted is better looking than any xbox360 game thus far.

this killzone 2 video has amazing graphics and it's not even a direct feed. granted i can't put my finger on it, but the gameplay just does not look that spectacular.

 

[Xavier434]

I am actually glad that 2008 is looking like a slower paced year for great release titles. This gives me time to catch up on 2007 haha. I just got my own Wii for Christmas so I got catching up to do. My current gaming plans are to finish Zelda, Metroid, and Mario Galaxies before GTA IV comes out. Thankfully, I am well on my way to finishing Zelda already. Mario Kart for the Wii is definitely on my list but that game can be less time consuming since it is one of those things where the replay value is practically infinite and there is no story to finish. Halo Wars is also something I look forward to.

I really wish Lost Odyssey didn't have 20 hours of video since I was really looking forward to it before learning that fact. That is a real downer.

What about that game Borderlands? Has anyone heard more details about it? It mentions being a Diablo 2 style game which intrigues me since those games always have potential.

Of course, I have to get all of this in between my time playing WoW which isn't too hard for me, but I know the expansion is going to be released sometime later this year which is going to kill most of time for other games.

 

[KaOTiK]

From all I've seen and read the 360 big game list isn't all that great imo. Personally I am really interested in the PS3 this year as it will be its second year on the market and the second year for a console is usually one of its best (360 is a fine example, last year the 360 had an excelllent line up). The Wii will be interesting too but my focus for consoles is the PS3 this year, Sony looks to have some very good games coming down the pipe.

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

Off the top of my head, I have Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and GTA IV as MUST BUY for the first half of the year.

So far, beyond catching up on all the stuff from 2007, those are only games I'm looking forward to next year too. But I'm sure that list will grow.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: RandomFool

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: Wildog
You know, honestly for me, 2008 isn't shaping out to have as many "MUST HAVE" games as 2007 did. Which is honestly just fine with me, because I've got too many to play as it is.

Off the top of my head, I have Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and GTA IV as MUST BUY for the first half of the year.

So far, beyond catching up on all the stuff from 2007, those are only games I'm looking forward to next year too. But I'm sure that list will grow.

Oh, I forgot Mercenaries 2 is dated for April 8th. I'm certain it's not as popular as the other games I listed, but I LOVE sandbox games and the first one was so much fun. And throw in online co-op? Joygasm.

Link