On the bolded part: You didn't answer the question though, why are you gaming if not for fun? Seriously that makes zero sense to me. Why would you spend time and money if you are not enjoying yourself? That is lunacy and honestly a little sad if that is what you are really saying.

Aside from that we are getting into an area where neither of us is qualified to discuss much of anything and that is how good SMG really is. But its nice to know you discount it out of hand simply because its a sequel and yet by your very own standard it should be based soley on how good it is. Sorry but I find that hypocritical, you are cutting away the good and leaving in the bad and only where it suits you.

PS - Why did you make another topic on this when there was already a current one going? 

Where did I discount it? Stop putting words into my mouth. I said I won't consider it for game of the year period. It will probably be one of the best games of the year from the looks of it.

Also, did I say I don't have fun? I said I don't play games just for fun. There are other things I look for in games too other than the fun part. How would I be playing something if I didn't enjoy it. Also, the other thread is about what game people consider game of the year, this is not game of the year, this is the top 10 games according to my opinion of the year so far. They're both very different things.

 I would say that when someone says "I won't consider it for game of the year." that they are discounting it, I can't fathom how you don't see this but I see it quite clearly.

On the second part:  Where did I say you don't have fun? I asked a question.  For the second time I might add.  And for the second time you didn't answer it. Actually if anything it seems you are now changing what you said and are saying that you do in fact only play for fun.  Or am I wrong there? 

Honestly you need to chill out, I'm not trying to attack you and I have not tried to put words in your mouth at all, I am asking questions. Since you made a topic specifically about your beliefs on the top 10 games they are quite valid questions.   Personally I think you could have expressed your views in the other thread but if you feel it warrants a whole thread then I am happy to have a discussion specifically on this topic.

 Just to recap, I am still confused or uninformed on your positions on these topics:

• The idea that a sequel somehow is a worse game than a non-sequel when we are by your benchmark assessing how good the game is as the criteria.
• How/Why/If fun is your reason for gaming, and if it isn't what is?  And if it is then why isn't it the benchmark?
• What do you think of what you have seen of Crysis so far?

I played the demo of The darkness and it was awful, right up with Def jam for worst game of the year in my list, but everyone likes different games, it was a nice list and a good read overall.

I don't really agree with The Darkness and MotorStorm being there. However, alot of the other games I do agree with; for instence Bioshock, Paper Mario, and Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

Sqrl,

There's more to gaming than just fun. Some people play for nothing but fun; others may play for the experiance. This is the beauty of gaming, as there are mutiple ways to approach gaming. There is no standard to how one should approach gaming. Thus, we have a large, diverse number of different genre's that allow gamers to find the gaming experiance they're looking for. If it's for fun, the experiance, or the art of gaming, there will be something for you.

Yes but all of those methods or reasons to approach gaming are the vien through which they are having fun. Its that enjoyment that keeps you playing, if you wanted to experience a flight simulator but it wasn't enjoyable/fun then why would you continue? All of it boils down to the question "Are you enjoying yourself and are you having fun?"

 to learn to fly?

this may be off topic, but there are also educational games...

and i've heard the army uses video games for training now, along with the obvious application to the air industry with their big flight simulators. 

I discount it as my candidate for game of the year, yes. I don't discount it as a great game. Bottom line is it is much more likely that I will be blown away by something brand new to me than something I've seen before, even if it's great. To be game of the year it has to be beyond good, it has to really impress me and stick with me as an experience. I've been waiting for a proper Mario 64 sequel for more than a decade so don't assume that I am somehow not excited about Mario. It's the reason I bought a Wii, simple as that. I didn't buy it for Metroid Prime or Smash Bros., but Mario first and foremost. As of right now, it's at the top of my most anticipated games list for the year since GTA IV got delayed.

You said that if I am not looking for fun then what am I doing gaming? I said I am not looking for fun alone. It's pretty easy to unerstand. You went from saying I claim not to look for fun to claiming that I am only looking for fun. I am telling you I am looking for fun among other things. Sometimes I'm also looking for a challenge, sometimes for puzzle solving/thinking, sometimes for a good story, sometimes for good emotional content, sometimes for an adrenaline rush, sometimes I'm looking to be creeped out or disturbed...

Basically depending on the game I am looking for different things, but overall I'm looking for a great experience. I'm not judging games solely based on how fun they are. If a game is extremely depressing and really disturbed me then I would be interested in that too, I am looking for as many different types of reactions as possible when I play a game and I wish games had more variety. When you go to watch a movie or read a book are you only looking for fun? I'm not. Same with a game.

I think Crysis looks pretty good, both in graphics and some of the stuff you can do in the game. It's not at the top of the list for me but it's there as far as games I have my eye on are concerned.

Bottom line is I don't want video games to always be like boardgames just a fun passtime, I want more out of them.

If I had two great games, I am naturally inclined to be more interested in the more origina and/or different one than the one that seems more familiar. This doesn't mean that every game that is different is automatically better than a sequel, it just means I like originality and I prefer a great new game than a great sequel even if it is a sequel to one of my favorite games ever, generally speaking.

 Most fun ck, Most fun.

Great list. Interesting pick on Crackdown: I've heard good things.

And to everyone else. LAY OFF THE GUY! he made a favourite games list. Why would you want to get all puffed up about it?

My list, of games i bought this year, so it may be made in another year, I bought it this year.

1: God of War 2
2: Metal Gear Solid 3
3 Okami
4: Canis Canem Edit (Bully)

That's it:P