I think Heavenly Sword is going to bomb. Just a hunch. It looks (and sounds like, from previewers) a God of War 'Me-too' game. With boobs. And Lair, unless they hacked the game down and streamlined gameplay will be a headache, so those big three sound right. 

I honestly think that there will be a Wii version of Katamari, considering that Nintendo and Namco-Bandai have a pretty decent relationship, and I just couldn't see them sticking a game that's very quirky and purely Japanese onto an American system exclusively. Perhaps a timed exclusive? Sure. But NB would have to know at this time that 1) Wii controls Japan console sales. 2) Of the three consoles, 360 would get them the least sales in Japan. So, exclusive would have to just be timed.

 A God of War 'me-too' game wouldn't bomb if it's good, people like action games like that. You guys are thinking of the past when thinking of the Sony big 3, but I think this generation like previous ones will have big new franchises that are going to sell as good and better than the established franchises.

I think Gears of War, Mass Effect, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword are the games that will define the consoles more than just sequels of established games. 

People don't really like action games like that all that much. Simple examples: God of War II has barely outsold Raving Rabbids, and will be blown away by Mario Party 8. How about saying that you like action games of that ilk? Because I absolutely abhor them, and I'd pick up Mario Party 72 before I bought another God of War type game.

I really get irked by your comments that the casual games are "non-games," with the suggestion that real games are Gears of War and Heavenly Sword et al. I cannot emphasize this enough: I am a hardcore gamer, and I will not touch Heavenly Sword with a ten foot pole.  

By people I meant hard core gamers not the average consumer who would rather buy Rabbids. As for your opinions those are yours, usually a hard core gamer prefers God of War to Rabbids you're the exception to the rule not the other way around.

Non games aren't Rabbids they are Brain Age and whatnot. Where did I say God of War is selling like crazy compared to Rabbids again? Point it out for me. You make it sound like a million selling game is not a big deal...

No problem -- you've never said it directly, but you've certainly implied it, and specifically made your disdain for "Casual" games and mini-games clear. Let's go quote by quote.

"A God of War 'me-too' game wouldn't bomb if it's good, people like action games like that."

In response to the rumored Project Hammer cancellation:

"More non-games... yes cancel the action games for non-games..."

In response to the possibility of more casual games:

"Going to be? It's happening man, it's happening now. Sure the PS2 had a lot of garbage games but at least they were games, now is the flood of non-games."

I'm looking for another post around a day ago where you specifically attacked mini-game titles. Can't find it yet.

And you're not a hardcore gamer, from my perspective. My personal definition: unless you make money off of gaming, you're casual. The PS3, God of War, Metal Gear -- it's all casual unless you play as a job. Hardcore is World of Warcraft 12-14 hours a day, or professional UT/CS play. Again: just my opinion. Interesting fact! Fatal1ty, well known professional gamer (And one of the world's best), plays the PC and the Wii. That's it. He wrote the article for Newsweek's 100 most influential people, where he praised Miyamato.

Tales of was rumored to becoming to the 360 - with the huge support Namco has been giving the 360, I wouldn't be suprised if it was PS3/360, or even a 360 timed exclusive.

Some time ago, I read an article about the boss of the tales studio, saying that tales games weren`t a good idea in next gen consoles. Who can blame them. Tales games get almost half of their sales from Japan, where 360 is lacking. I think they end on handelds, or continue on Wii. Same for the main KH series ( focus on disney). The Keyblade Wars game is probably coming to PS3/360. Thats an easy bet, I think.
E3 and TGS will prove me right, Wii and maybe PS3 are grabbing everything not made by Mistwalker from now that is made for Japan. Though in America, 360 will grab most support. That`s a sure one.

Ck, I want to apologize. You happen to pluck at particularly irritating strings for me. Let me make my position and make my preferences clear, and hopefully I can do it in a less hostile tone.

I love the casual games, because I feel they are including people who never played games before. That's what I want. I don't want to be surrounded by 95 percent males aged 15-25 all the time, especially once I'm 35. I don't want to feel like I'm engaging in a market that's largely targetted at immature boys.

I love the hardcore games because I play them intensely, and I play them for skill. I just don't think many, or any, console games apply to this: practically every serious professional game has been on the PC, despite the fact that the player pool is so much smaller. In addition, the few games that have allowed console gamers to play PC gamers (such as Unreal Tournament) have seen the console gamers get decisively defeated, to the point that many console gamers have specifically asked for servers where PC gamers are not allowed. This will be replayed again, I suspect, when Team Fortress 2 allows for cross-market play (I'm perfectly aware that this disparity is in part because the control scheme for PCs is superior. This only leads me to question why anyone who wants to be "hardcore" would play with an inferior control scheme in the first place). In addition, the continued upgradability of the PC allows for a continuously evolving system, not one stuck in the same place for 5-6 years.

My problem is that 360/PS3 material -- lots of it, anyway, and most of the stuff you personally seem to prefer -- is neither hardcore nor casual. It's usually very violent (God of War, Gears of War being good examples), and as such, only persists in keeping mature adults away from video games. This is the heart of why I seem to spew so much scorn at such games: I want well educated adults to play video games. I want video games to be considered an art form, and not just an entertainment venue for 18 year old boys. There are many reasons why this hasn't happened yet, but one of the main reasons (in my opinion) are games like God of War. As long as God of War "me too" style action games, with grandiose plots, oodles of melodrama and gobs of violence are seen as the pinnacle of gaming by "serious" gamers, mature adults are simply going to stay away.

In short -- God of War, and games like it, are keeping gaming from what I personally want it to be.

Just my thoughts, Ck. Again, I know I've spewed a lot of hatred at you recently; I'm feeling bad about it, and I apologize. Hopefully, the above post explains why this particular issue peeves me so specifically. I feel like God of War/Gears of War/Killzone style games are directly holding games in the 15-25 year old mind frame, and I want games to expand or even move away from that demographic entirely.

Bodhesatva, at least that was a mature post you wrote there. ;)

Now that you just spoke about your love for casual games (or the so called casual games) it started me thinking. What if I like those kind of games too? That is something I have to check out. Perhaps after I've bought the X360, I might just go and buy a random casual/family game that got good or decent reviews. Like Eternal Sonata, or even a pure music game. Or why not a puzzle game (just happened to see there are many puzzle games under development for the X360). Or a brain game? Dammit, I actually have no clue about "casual" games.

Do you have any tips, Bodhesatva? ^^
(just don't say The Sims)

One of my friends bought a PS3 in December (I helped him carry it up the Hill actually, by helped I mean I did carry it up the hill for him.) and really has turned into a fanboy in an attempt to boost his opinion of his console. He once complained there were no mature games for the Wii and he can't enjoy that anymore.

For the past 2 weekends, we have been playing Poyo Poyo Panic on the DS. I was the little Onion with eye holes and he was the 2 foot tall girl in a green robe. I didn't comment. He also really really really wants to play Mario Party 8.

But what makes a "Mature" game? Violence, I was playing quake since I was 12. I tend to agree with the Carebear that maturity is conveyed in a variety of manner, from engaging appropriate music, art direction that imposes a mood (Hopefully beyond dark and destroyed, and I love fallout), I loved the artistic backgrounds in Baten Kaitos, and a story that has characters with interests, conflict etc. And shrug, sometimes it's fun to shoot the hell out of a zombie without any rhyme or reason, or strum in rhythm on a guitar that guarentees you won't get laid unless you're with a geek guy/girl.

Also, Crono, your namesake isn't allowed to speak.

Theres a few different definitions of "mature" games:

1. Games with boobies
2. Games with lots of guns/gore
3. Games where you beat up hookers
4. Games with the most polygons

Of course, just because its rated M for Mature, doesn't mean it is for Mature people. Its like rating a movie R. Wasn't the South Park movie rated R?