Old school shoot 'em up action done right for once + intelligent cooperative mechanics + awesome weapons + zombies. What's not to love?

The game needs more levels (these are coming, from Valve and from the community) and ideally more weapons, but more weapons aren't really necessary.

I can see a few games in 09 that will be able to go toe to toe with AODA. Games like Dawn of War 2 and F.E.A.R.2, but yeah. AODA is going to be in the top 5games of the year for sure, and a massive contender for GOTY.

Here's hoping the sales reflect the quality this time. Far too few people know about EFBB, despite being one of the best games of all time. Didn't realise it was a full sequel. Thought it was a 40% extended version of EFBB. Thanks for the update. Amazing news.

Mass Effect is nothing like Gears of War. Please do not compare them like that again. EVER. biggest_loser

I'm not asking why an FPS is violent or depressive. Im pointing out the fact that most (not all)high rated pc games contain an EXCESSIVELY amount of MEANINGLESS violence. Like I said before, I don't mind violence when it's not excessive and meaningless,NatalieGamer

Well, most high rated PC games contain an excessive amount of meaningless violence because most medium and low rated games do, too. Because most games contain excessive amounts of meaingingless violence. That's what most games are. Toys for boys. Violent toys for boys.

And what gives violence meaning? A story? If a game has a story (however flimsy), and the violence is contextually appropriate for such a story, does the violence not have meaning? What is an example of some meaningful violence?

And what is excessive? I mean, Crysis has little or no blood and no disimemberment or decapitation that I can remember. I agree that Fallout 3 is (stupidly) violent. I mean, if I never again see another slow motion scene where a super mutant gets its head exploded, it'll still be too soon. But what defines excessive? Beyond realistic? If a game authentically renders human injury, is that excessive? After all, it is only striving to be authentic, not excessive. Where is the line drawn, and why?

If someone is playing a game about, say, a war, should not the player experience the true horror of war (as much as the game is able to convey it)? To play a war game and not have people being torn apart and left to bleed out while screaming for their mothers is to play a game that does not accurately represent its subject matter. Why strive to create an authentic experience in (most) other ways, but not in others? Why would you, and perhaps more importantly, how could you, make a game where the fun is derived from killing people without making the player understand what it is to kill a person? That it is bloody and horrible should be something people see when they take a life, I think. Even in a game.

To grossly exaggerate and perhaps glorify violence, like Fallout 3 has done, is one thing, but to make a game that simply strives to be authentic is quite another. Shoot someone in the face with a shotgun in real life and a rainbow doesn't come out. Why censor the game? And even if the game itself is not showing you brain matter and skull fragments, you're still doing the most abohrrent, most horrible thing imaginable. You're still killing people.

For fun.

In Crysis you're kinda all alone in an island full of enemies and you just run around mindlessly shooting koreans and monsters.NatalieGamer

Crysis is a first person shooter. You basically just described the entire genre! I mean, that's how it's always been. I can't think of too many FPS games where bunnies shoot hugs at people! If it's a FPS, chances are you're killing stuff with your gun. I mean, yeah, it's violent and stuff, but asking why a FPS is violent and/or depressive is like asking why a TV documentary about war is about, well, y'know, war. It comes with the territory, and it's definitely nothing new.

And deadspace...lol...the name speaks for itself.NatalieGamer

Dead Space is also a gripping (albeit unoriginal) story about religious, corporate and personal corruption, about insanity and love. The subject matter is certainly morbid, but then again, the story around which it is built (or vice versa, perhaps) makes the subject matter very appropriate.

But my biggest beef with all these games is that there's too much unnecessary violence without substance. What happened to the games that used to touch the deepest part of ourselves, that used to enlighten our minds in the most uplifting waysNatalieGamer

There are still games like that, Natalie. Check out World of Goo, Aquaria, Crayon Physics Deluxe (not yet released) and Braid (not yet released). I'd bet money you'll love at least two of them.

But the thing is, gaming is predominantly a male thing, which means gaming is marketed to males. Easy market research for gaming, look at boy's toys, they play with soldiers and toy guns and robots and monsters. Bigger boys are just the same. Boys are violent. I guess it's the whole hunter/gatherer thing, and the whole Alpha male dominance thing. Violence is in their blood. If you're marketing to an audience that likes violence, and remember that most game makers are boys too, so they like violence too, well, you're just gonna end up with a load of violence all over the place.

and teach us how to be a little better as a human being?NatalieGamer

I dunno if I've ever played or heard of such a game?

Doesnt the world have too much violence and depression already? Isn't the point of gaming as a hobby to have our little entertaining escape from this world? If there's so much violence and sadness in games how are we escaping from the world?NatalieGamer

Sure, but most people don't have violence in their lives, so it's still escapism. I haven't ever killed a bunch of zombies in real life, for example (sadly!). I reallu enjoy violent games, but for what it's worth, I do agree with you. Thing is, big Publisher has its marketing done, it knows what people want, it's got its IPs established and it's milking those udders dry. You want innovative, thought-provoking and delightful games, start looking at indies. I think big Publisher is still releasing awesome games year in year out, but it's almost always last year's game, but a little better.

The guy who wants you to buy his game said it was a revolution? Well I never!

UE3 is a grossly overpopular console engine that needs to die, fast. Hopefully id can muscle in on their engine licensing turf with id Tech 5.

Yes, yes and yes. Sins of a Solar Empire (a magnificent game and practically a new genre), Grid (not a masterpiece, but a damn fine arcade racing game), the definitive version of Mass Effect (it's Gears of War, except good), World of Goo (a masterpiece), Team Fortress 2 updates (making an awesome game even awesomer), Dead Space (the best third person shooter in half a decade? This hedgehog says yes), Left 4 Dead (the definitive zombie game), Crysis Warhead (one of the best shooters ever).

And upcoming we have the definitive version of Grand Theft Auto 4 (mmmmm...), Braid (indie goodness)... hell, man, what more do you want?

2008 was, is and has been awesome now and for all time.