2009: Ones to Watch

By: Staff, GameSpot - Posted on Jan 15, 2009

2008 was a mammoth year in gaming. A quick glance through the games that we nominated for our end-of-year awards tells you that--from the sublime simplicity of Braid to the epic achievement of Grand Theft Auto IV and the breathtaking spectacle of Metal Gear Solid 4--it was a year to remember. But what of 2009? To try to make sense of it all, 10 of GameSpot's editors from across the world have sat down to take stock of the year ahead and let you know what they're most looking forward to in 2009, what they're most hoping for in the next 12 months, and what they fear might spoil the party.

Ricardo Torres, Editor-in-Chief

What am I most looking forward to in 2009? Simple. Marvel Ultimate Alliance II: Fusion (multi), Halo ODST (X360), Forza 3 (X360), God of War III (PS3), New Ratchet and Clank (PS3), Punchout (Wii), Sin and Punishment 2 (Wii), Mario and Luigi 3 (DS), and Resistance Retribution (PSP).

This year I really hope that Ubisoft spills the dirt on the new Beyond Good & Evil. I know, nothing's been officially announced but, unless they're working on a game based on The Island of Doctor Moreau, there's not many Ubisoft games that feature pig men. I'm also hoping for a fighter renaissance. We got Street Fighter back; next up? Darkstalkers! Or not. Sure would be nice, though…

Doom and gloom abounds at the moment, and I'm worried about the economy driving developers and publishers to take fewer chances. Sequels are cool, but if the industry is going to grow creatively and commercially, we need a balanced diet of sequels and more unique content that pushes boundaries.

Justin Calvert, Senior Editor (Reviews)

2008 is going to be a tough year to beat where games are concerned, but there are already plenty confirmed for 2009 that I'm excited about. Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is at the top of my list right now, not only because I'm still enjoying GTAIV, but also because I've long believed that when so much work goes into creating a gameworld like Liberty City, developers should use those worlds for multiple games. The Lost and Damned isn't an entirely new game, of course, but I feel like it's a step in that direction.

Call me crazy, but I'm hoping to get my hands on Diablo III this year. Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty seems a likelier Blizzard release for 2009, but until a 2010 release date is confirmed for Diablo III, I'm not giving up on the idea of playing it in the next 12 months.

If nothing else, perhaps I'll get to play a work-in-progress version of Diablo III at one of the industry trade shows, but which one? Worryingly, the Leipzig Games Convention (a favorite of mine) is facing stiff competition from a similar event in Cologne this year that has deliberately been scheduled for the exact same dates. There's always E3, of course, but there's still so much uncertainty surrounding the "new, larger event" that I'm honestly not sure if I should be looking forward to it or dreading it. Whatever happens, 2009 is sure to be another interesting year in gaming.

Tor Thorsen, Senior Editor (News)

As the current console generation ages like fine wine, games continue to improve--and as a gamer, I can't wait. 2009 will see the release of several long-in-the works games, including Killzone 2 and Dragon Age: Origins, BioWare's spiritual successor to its groundbreaking fantasy role-playing game Baldur's Gate, not to mention Alpha Protocol, Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned, and last but not least, Half-Life 2: Episode Three.

My biggest hope is that the latest Electronic Entertainment Expo rework will kick it old-school--that is, restore the grandeur and spectacle of the E3 of yore. It would be pathetic if Europe and Japan had world-class game-industry trade shows while the US would have to make do with being a footnote to the Consumer Electronics Show. Sure, the Game Developers Conference has news aplenty, but it's an event aimed at the craftsmen behind the games, focused on processes and best practices--not dazzling Average Joe Sorethumbs.

I am terrified that the unholy convergence of skyrocketing costs and the worldwide economic implosion will further quash creativity in game development. Case in point: Electronic Arts. Under CEO John Riccitiello, the company has moved from churning out tired, subpar instalments in uninspired, often-licensed franchises to focusing on original properties and studio creativity. Although the results have been mixed, game-wise (fantastic games such as Dead Space have floundered, whereas mediocre games such as Mercenaries 2 have prospered), financially EA has taken a beating. Though gamers appreciate creativity, shareholders don't like losing money. If Riccitiello is ousted, look for publishers to retrench in existing IPs across the board while indie studios championing new IPs go hungry.

What's exciting or worrying you about 2009? Let us know below.

James Yu, Senior Editor (Hardware)

I find myself entering 2009 addicted to World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. That means that, like other World of Warcraft players, I've abandoned all other games and instead spend my time clearing all of the end-game raids with my guild every week. The current Naxxramas raid instance is tuned just right for casual players, but I'm looking forward to the release of more-challenging raid instances such as Uludar and Icecrown Citadel. Wrath of the Lich King needs more raids with guild-destroying difficulty levels so that I can burn out on the game once again and return to a healthier live/work/play lifestyle.

I loved how Microsoft and Sony upgraded the online services for their respective consoles last year, and I'm hoping for more improvements in 2009. I turn on my Xbox 360 much more often now that I can stream videos from Netflix. After plowing through several seasons of Weeds and 30 Rock on the Xbox, I can't imagine paying per video download anymore. I want to see Sony adopt a similar unlimited video-download model for the PlayStation 3. Let me stream as much video as I want from the PlayStation Network and I'll gladly pay a flat monthly fee.

I'm not worried about anything gaming-related this year. We might have fewer games and less-adventurous game development in the short term, but the industry will survive and defensive game portfolio management will make room for riskier innovation gambles as the economy recovers.

Chris Watters, Associate Editor

We all have our favorite games. Two of my personal favorites, Beyond Good & Evil and Half-Life 2 (and subsequent episodes), are slated to make new appearances this year, and I couldn't be happier. These games astounded and enthralled me in a way that few others have, and are chief among the honorees in my video game pantheon. Despite early efforts to restrain my enthusiasm, I am already chomping at the bit for news about Beyond Good & Evil 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode 3.

Xbox 360 developers, listen up. My dearest hope for 2009 is that you put an end to spoiler achievements. These are achievements that pop up before you actually know that you've achieved anything. For example, while playing GTAIV, I received the "Full Exploration" achievement immediately after finishing a mission. When I checked what it meant, I learned that I could now travel to Alderney, even though the dialogue hadn't yet informed me of this. That was a mild bummer, but poorly timed achievements have also told me that I've finished a game before the end cutscene played out. They must be stopped!

The current generation of consoles recently celebrated its second anniversary as one big happy family (yes, Xbox 360, we know, we know) and, quite frankly, I'm a bit nervous. Although the systems are all flourishing (or not) to different degrees, one thing seems certain: None of them have reached their full potential. We need another few years to really see what these things can do, which is why I'm hoping that the seemingly inevitable next console generation isn't announced this year. Do I think it will be? Not really, but years ago I thought the now-current-generation systems were announced too soon, so it's a "once bitten, twice shy" kind of worry.

Sophia Tong, Associate Editor

I'm most looking forward to getting an opportunity to play Final Fantasy XIII. Seeing as how a demo is supposed to be available by March, I hope that it will give me a chance to get a feel for the combat and maybe catch a glimpse of the story. I don't have any lofty expectations for this one. I would like to see an engaging story, fun gameplay, and interesting characters who hopefully don't whine, brood, or sulk throughout most of the game.

I hope that in 2009 we see fewer games that end with the letter "Z." An exception would be if the name of the game is spelled correctly with that letter at the end, like Buzz, Jazz, or Gigahertz, but please, no Zebraz Go to Town. Nothing against zebras, or the letter "Z," but spelling mistakes bug me and it's even worse when they're intentional.

It has already begun, but it does worry me that everyone is cutting back and that there is a high unemployment rate out there. A lot of talented people are going to be without jobs, and in an industry where it can be tough to get a job even in a good economy, it means that there will be heavy competition for the few jobs that are available. Many qualified individuals with great new ideas may end up switching careers, which would be a sad loss to this industry.

Kevin VanOrd, Associate Editor

When I first saw Infamous in action at E3 2008, I was impressed both by what I saw and with developer Sucker Punch's sheer passion for the project. As this impressive-looking open-world action/platforming hybrid gets closer to release, I get even more excited. Imagine skimming along walls and climbing to rooftops, blasting mutated reapers with bolts of lightning, and fleeing from them along deserted train tracks. Be a superhero, be a hypervillain, use your powers how you like. You better believe Infamous is the game that I am most looking forward to this year.

I'm chomping at the bit for official information on Assassin's Creed 2. We've all heard the rumors of a French Revolution setting for the sequel, which inspires me to start humming "Do You Hear the People Sing" and ask my friends to call me Jean Valjean. Personally, I'm hoping that we'll explore ancient Japan or Maya, both of which were hinted at in Assassin's Creed's elusive final images. I love the original game, and I certainly love conspiracy theories, so lay it on me Ubisoft; I can take it.

Underwhelming console-to-PC ports are nothing new, but recently, the PC platform has been the last priority for far too many major developers, some of them known for their previously high-quality PC games. Bully, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Saint's Row 2 have all suffered from technical issues that simply shouldn't exist. Formerly PC-centric developers such as Epic and BioWare have waited years to release PC versions of some games, or dismissed the platform entirely. Draconian antipiracy measures further hurt the end-user experience. Going multiplatform is fine, but it doesn't mean that PC gamers deserve to be treated like second-class consumers.

What's exciting or worrying you about 2009? Let us know below.

Randolph Ramsay, Editor (GameSpot AU)

This year, the one thing I'm looking forward to most is the mysterious Beatles game, which we know little about except that it'll use music from the world's greatest band and that it's being developed by Harmonix--which is good enough for me.

What am I hoping for more than anything else in 2009? Carnival Games 2, Celebrity Sports Showdown 2, Even More Game Party--just some of the games I'm hoping never see the light of day in 2009. But as publisher after publisher jump on the Wii minigame bandwagon--and as casual gamers continue to be suckered into buying them--it's highly probable that I won't get my wish.

2008 was a rough year when it came to game bannings down under, and I'm afraid that 2009 won't be any better. Although there's some movement afoot, with public consultations (supposedly) occurring on the question of whether an R18+ rating for games should be introduced in Australia, I don't really expect anything to change anytime soon. So for Aussie gamers, it's a depressing case of sitting back and waiting for the next game ban to roll around. Will it be Madworld? Will it be Prototype? Will it be another game completely out of left field? It's a guessing game that I wish we Aussies didn't have to play.

Alex Sassoon Coby, Production Editor (GameSpot UK)

What am I most looking forward to in 2009? Diablo 3. I'm sure I'll get my grubby mitts on it at some point during the year, and frankly I can't wait. I poured many, many hours into Diablo 2, and being in Paris for the announcement of Diablo 3 managed to bring a big grin to my most jaded of faces. Oh, and Blizzard? You'd better implement hardcore.

Every so often you see a game, or a trailer, or a screenshot that just captures your imagination. This happened for me at last year's Tokyo Game Show as I was loitering around Namco Bandai's booth trying to get some information on Nobi Nobi Boy and was utterly captivated by a trailer for a game called Fragile for the Wii, then managed to steal a few minutes playing it just before heading home. Moments like this are few and far between and generally lead to heartrending disappointment and another layer of cynicism being laid down, but I hope that just this once that doesn't come to pass.

Fear is something of an overriding theme across all industries at the moment. Combine Sony posting its first loss in 14 years, well-known UK High Street firms entering administration on a daily basis, and many promising bits of new IP ending up in mediocre-selling games, it's clear that 2009 is going to be a tough year for all sides of the games industry. There are undoubtedly many exciting, interesting, and innovative projects bubbling away in studios across the world, and I'm scared that the current downturn will see the work that's been done on these go to waste as publishers retreat into churning out lazy sequels, low-budget licensed shovelware, and cheap knock-offs of each other's successful franchises.

Guy Cocker, Features Editor (GameSpot UK)

Last week, each member of the GameSpot reviews team chose the 10 games they wanted to review this year. There's no shortage to choose from, but there are also some gaping holes in the schedules. What's Ubisoft got up its sleeve after HAWX? Does EA have anything other than Spore games? And Microsoft must have more than Halo Wars and Halo 3: ODST this year. We're already hearing whispers about new announcements for the next couple of months, so we won't have long to wait before the big publishers reveal their cards.

Some of my favourite games of last year were World of Goo on the Mac, Hunted Forever in Flash, and Rolando on the iPhone. They're amazing games for devices I always carry around. The exciting part is that the technology can go further, particularly the iPhone, and I look forward to game developers starting to incorporate 3G and GPS features into their games. Imagine playing a massively multiplayer, location-aware game while on the move, and then having your progress show up in the "full" version on your PC or console. I'm not sure if it'll arrive this year, but hopefully we'll see something like it soon.

There's no doubt that the economic climate had repercussions on game makers last year, but it's only just started to impact the media that covers it. There have been a number of closures and redundancies over the past few months, and regardless of whether you read the affected publications, it's always sad to hear about. The challenge for journalists is to stay relevant in the face of forums and other social media, while sales teams certainly need to look beyond traditional games publishers for advertising revenue. The games industry is notoriously recession-resistant, but it's going to be a case of survival of the fittest for the specialist media.

What's exciting or worrying you about 2009? Let us know below.