The term gets thrown around so much, doesn't it? But what games are genuinely AAA titles? Is The Conduit REALLY AAA? Madworld even?

I myself, work in a games store and the way my store is laid out, we have one medium sized stand (or gondola, as we call it) at the front of the store. The big new releases of the week are displayed here. The semi-big ones are given a shelf on the side wall near the entrance and all others are located in chart/back catalogue. My definition of AAA is a game which is to be displayed at the front of the store (determined by our head office).

Now obviously, there are other factors, such as what other games are releasing at the same time. For instance, if Resi5 released on the same day as Madworld, Resident Evil would undoubtably get the space (though that's not to say only one game can go on the front gondola - can be about 4).

For me, AAA titles are mainly on PS3 and 360. Resident Evil 5, Killzone, new Guitar Heros, new Fifas etc.

I can see Madworld perhaps getting a space on the side wall and based on the games coming out on the same day, House of the Dead may get a slot on the front.

What do you think are the main AAA titles, if you take all formats into account?

For the J man its mass effect and bioshock. Nothing this gen comes close to what these games do.

An AAA game is a game that gets at least an 90% average review score on Gamerankings/Metacritic and has worldwide sales of at least 1 million copies (although I think it should be at least 2 million).

There is so much conjecture around here.

Most people consider a AAA game, a game that has a 90+ percentage on www.gamerankings.com

There is no other qualification.

/bow

For me, Super Mario Sunshine is the ultimate AAA game.

Your thread lost all credibility when I read this.

Then how can people possibly call yet-to-be-released games AAA?

Let's play a little game: a company has 2 major releases coming out and only has space for one game to be displayed at the front of their store. Which of these games do you think would the company choose to take pride of place and lure people in?

Madworld v's Uncharted 2

Resident Evil 5 v's Killzone 2

New Zelda v's Halo 4

Wii Fit 2 v's Grand Theft Auto V

Bioshock 2 v's Super Mario Galaxy 2

Guitar Hero 5 v's Heavy Rain

God of War 3 v's Fallout 4

A game that gets high reviews and high sales?

So... AAA franchises would be like the Mario platformers, the numbered FFs, the Metal Gear Solids, the Gran Turismos, the Halos etc.

You simply look in your crystal ball to see which games will sell millions.

Madworld v's Uncharted 2 - Uncharted 2

Resident Evil 5 v's Killzone 2 - Resident Evil 5

New Zelda v's Halo 4 - New Zelda  (tuff choice... both will sell over 10 million)

Wii Fit 2 v's Grand Theft Auto V - GTA5

Bioshock 2 v's Super Mario Galaxy 2  - Super Mario Galaxy 2

Guitar Hero 5 v's Heavy Rain - GH5 of course

God of War 3 v's Fallout 4 - Fallout 4 (although God ov War looks very good on a display)