I was thinking about how much I have had to work on my list of games for the rest of this year and actually figure out which games I am going to purchase which are must haves and which are absolutely a moral imperative to own and beat so thoroughly that the lead developer and game producer weap sweet tears of defeat.

So I ask you, are there any amongst the ranks of gamers here who plan on playing and beating literally ALL of the AAA titles coming out between now and the end of the year.  Is it even humanly possible? And can anyone remember a time when gamers had tougher decisions not only concerning their wallets but at the measly 24 hours with which we have to work with each day when trying to fit in work, sleep, eating, being social (optional for some), and the most mandatory activity of all, gaming! 

I submit to you my fellow gamers that the state of our industry, and I do mean our industry, is stronger than it ever has been.  But I also submit that we have squabbled, bitched, moaned, and whined ourselves right out of the realization that right here...right now...we stand on the threshold of what will likely be remembered as one of the golden eras of gaming.  That we have lost sight of the fact that regardless of console, graphics, control scheme, or online capabilities ...that games are fun for everyone, that when a game is amazing and fun to play...we all win. I think a number of us have lost sight of the idea that gaming is first and foremost about having fun.  Whether having fun means playing the most realistic games known to man, watching your friends make complete asses of themselves playing Wii boxing, or just chilling with your friends online slaughtering zombies by the thousands.

This site should not be a bitch fest about how much better one platform is, it should be a nexus for any gamer to come and sit by the fire and tell of the glorious games that he/she has played so others might bask in that glory for themselves.  A place where the goal is enlightening your fellow gamer on the latest game information rather than a place to tear down the opposing platform because we for some reason percieve it as a threat.

So I ask you, next time you feel the urge to bash, flame, and/or troll...instead pick up the nearest controller and have a good time playing one of the many amazing games that you are undoubtedly going to be buying in the near future. Because life is to short to play all the good games out there and it makes no sense wasting valuable gaming time that could be better used saving the world, the galaxy, or the universe (depending on which game you are playing obviously).

PS - I think "Winter-en-Mas" came early this year....very early! 

Well whats AAA to you might not be to me.

::laugh:: Way to get into the spirit Hus. And if you read what Sqrl wrote, he wasn't specific about what games were AAA, and said:

".we all win. I think a number of us have lost sight of the idea that gaming is first and foremost about having fun. Whether having fun means playing the most realistic games known to man, watching your friends make complete asses of themselves playing Wii boxing, or just chilling with your friends online slaughtering zombies by the thousands."

Yet somehow, his saying you should enjoy whatever type of game it is you like, not being console specific, or game specific, you still come up with some sort of defensive remark.

Good read Sqrl. I agree. I think this is a golden age of gaming, and I am excited about the wide variety of games coming out that satisfy many different tastes. I think there is too much whining and bashing going on myself. Just enjoy the wonderous gaming industry while it's strong and exciting.

Edit: And there is no way for me to play and beat all titles I consider AAA. I just do not have the time. Maybe if I ignored my family and devoted my life to gaming, heh. I remember in the past when I could buy and play through every good game that came out. But not anymore. I feel left out on many games I'd love to play, but just can't get to.

Blasphemy! Blasphemy I say!!
Surely Sqrl should be band for saying such things!
If you want to play "realistic games" you'd be better watching a movie.
If you want to watch your friends "make complete asses of themselves" just get them drunk!

Games are not for fun but for proving yourself to be better then everyone else and have the most Powerful/greatest/best/coolest/retro system/games.

It's a culture, not entertainment!!

On another note, wow, there are alot of games coming out this year!

Personally I'm finding it hard just to choose the PC games (UT3/Half life 2 and it's great mods/Bioshock/AC/ and some interesting game that reminds me of RedFaction that I saw in E3 and can't remember the name of and will research after this post) let alone all the Wii games that are on offer.

Money isn't a problem but my family and friends will give me that old lecture again...

Who here owns all of the consoles to play all of the games?

8 AAA Titles @ £40 + Wii @ £179 + Xbox 360 @ £199 + PS3 @ £425 = £1123 = $2200

Oh, DS Lite and PSP too?

Games for that DS, PSP and PC? And a PC Upgrade? Graphics Card? CPU? Memory?

You consider games x, y and z to be AAA too?

You want an Xbox Premium rather than Core?

Extra controllers for AAA Party games? (SSBB)

Xbox Live Gold?

So are these the gamers rules??? I like them. But alas I don't think they'll fly with a lot of people here.

Hus, AAA games are AAA games whether you like them or not. Metal Gear Solid isn't really my cup of tea, but I would be a fool to suggest MGS4 is not a AAA title.

I have no intention of buying all the AAA titles because (1) I don't own all three home consoles, and (2) not all of them interest me (see MGS4).

I will be buying Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Don't know of any other AAA titles I'd want from now till the end of the year.

I totally agree with you sqrl.
The AAA titles of this year that i plan on getting are:
UT3
Heavenly Sword
Warhawk
COD4
DW6(is this still classed as AAA?)
Haze
Assassains Creed

Its a good job my b'day's close to some of these games coming out i would never be able to afford them all this year otherwise.

sqrl, I agree that this period is gaming is going to be looked back on as a golden era. The beginning of the HD period and the beginning of motion sensing are two *huge* achievements. I think the titles we play today will be remembered by a large number of people up there with Mario and Duck Hunt on the NES. Iconic, amazing, insanely replayable, and if nothing else, remembered for being here now, and not later.

Personally, the games I am getting this year (unless my income forecast raises sharply, which it might depending on an interview next week) are:
1) Guitar Hero 3 (Wii) [although iff Rock Band for Wii is announced to be in early '08 i might change that. I don't think it will though]
2) Mario Galaxy
3) Geometry Wars
----
Maybes:
4)SSB:B (a friend is getting it, so its not imperative)
5)MP:3 (same friend, we split up the Nintendo franchises so we can play them all without huge investments)

Also, if any of my housemates return for school with a PS3 or 360, I will probably go in on a rock band bundle with them. Our house is/was really into guitar hero, and so i can see Rock Band being huge with us, assuming any of us has a PS3/360, which isn't that likely as we are poor college students.