Hmmm... the PC market is just different I suppose. But PC gaming has way better multiplayer, or well, in my opinion anyway... also, FPSes are rubbish on consoles - OK, they're not really, but nothing rivals keyboard and mouse control. PC is also always at the forefront of graphics (although this costs more).

It's not unfair to say that PC games are (generally) lacking in originality - but the same is also true for consoles. There are loads of final fantasy clones and in my opinion most of the sports and racing games are pretty much the same thing too. I'd love to see some more creative games come out on PC though, since the gaming industry has become more lucrative, publishers take less risks and seem to prefer tried and tested formulas.

I'm a little jealous of consoles for some of the exclusives they have, and also the fact that they don't need to worry about system requirements. However, PC has (for me) better control, better multiplayer and modding communities. The games are great too, but I agree that they could do with some REAL innovation and not just gimicks

When I was younger I used to play every game with cheat codes, like doom and duke nukem 3D. I thought it was cool to skip the effort and just sort of "sandbox" the whole way through the game. But I grew out of it when I figured out that games are actually a lot more fun when you play them properly and are challenged...these days I play most games on the highest difficulty, because I guess I get a lot of enjoyment out of beating it if I do, even if it frustrates me a lot!

As for the "sandbox" thing, I have no interest in running around a game aimlessly doing "cool" things... I guess I'm just bored of that, and that's the reason I don't like Grand Theft Auto. I prefer something story driven...this isn't to say I don't like open-ended gameplay, it's just that I like it when it's grounded, immersive and practical...not "let me ramp this car and do a flip and see how many cops come after me" ... I don't find that fun anymore.

As for cheating though, it sucks. Especially in online games...it really defeats the whole point.

Hmmm...from my own experience? No.

 I played wow for about 6 months last year. It was fun, but eventually I simply had too much work from university, as well as kung fu training which I have 12 hours per week. WoW is a game that tends to be demanding on time because of the community behind it - there are some SERIOUS addicts, and you can tell quite easily who they are ingame. You can also spot a lot of people who are just casual players though.

I could have kept playing, but I have friends to go out with and time to spend doing other things, and WoW just wasn't worth it anymore. Most of the people I've encountered who're WoW addicts consider WoW to be "social"... which is tragic. There is no digital subsitute for going out with some friends for a drink or spending some time with a nice girl :D . The way I see it, as has been mentioned before, a lot of the addicts actually don't have anything better to do. 

Just a little self-control is all it takes though - but if you lack it, stay away...and if you don't do sport/activities and get out much, AND you lack self-control...then I think you're screwed. I've seen people drop out of university cos they just played wow...what a waste. But I assume you aren't like that. 

Neither, it'll be the next FarCry, which I rate under many other shooters, including FEAR and Half-Life. To be honest I don't see how people in this topic can throw out some of their points about a game that isn't out yet. Crysis has the eye candy, but does that make a game good?

NO.

Graphics may be fun for a but until you get bored of them, and it doesn't take that long. And once the graphics fade, there has to be really solid gameplay to back it. I think FarCry was a decent game, but not a great one... the storyline and flow of the game was terrible in my opinion, but it did look pretty and played quite nicely...well, it didn't really suck me in.

I will check out crysis, if at least for the technology... but whether it'll be good gameplay wise? That remains to be seen. either way, if I base it against FarCry, then my answer is no, it won't be better than either of those games. But it does look better than FarCry, I just pray the storyline isn't such dribble as FarCry's was...seriously, a five year old could come up with something like that during his pre-school lunch break.

Yeah, definitely! Don't pass on a good deal! Today, I bought Battle for Middle-Earth 2 collector's edition, brand new in original packaging for the equivilant of 3 US dollars! That's less than I spend on lunch daily! I'm not the biggest fan, but it was a good deal!

...oh yeah...the game is pretty sweet (DOW), especially if you like RTS. If you don't...well, I think RTS is a genre that's not very accessable to those who dislike it. 

I dunno... I LOVED starcraft, still do, and I think it's one hell of a fantastic game.

 However, most of the original blizz team are now gone. 

 I don't deny that they make good games - they still do. But if you compare their games NOW (in terms of innovation) to their older material (pre WC3, or possibly even pre diablo 2), I find that it just doesn't live up anymore. 

 To be honest I don't think it could ever be a worthy sequel - pessemistic I know, but there're 2 reasons: the original staff are gone, and because SC is one hell of a game to have to live up to. WC3 was fun, but It can't touch StarCraft... even the storyline of WC3 - ever stopped and compared it to that of SC? On it's basic structure (and that's what matters most), it basicially mirrors that of starcraft. 

Blizzard just cashes in on their popular franchises now... they're selling out like crazy with tons of merchanidse and sequels - not that they don't produce quality material - but it just isn't what it used to be about 10 years ago. :( 

...but I'll still try it. 

Beware of SupCom... I have an 8800 and the game brings my system to it's knees during the more intense battles... it's actually a bit demonic how power-hungry that game becomes at times.

As for the game itself, I dunno yet...on one level I like it, on another I don't - games take too long, and I really don't have the time for them ,especially during the week. 

No, HL2 isn't the only one... I know Dark Messiah's multiplayer requires not (not single player though), but I don't know about SiN, sorry :(

...actually had a pretty bad experience today cos I bought episode one and the shop sold me an obviously used copy. It was in poor condition and the CD key was already used. I'm going back tommorow to force them to give my money back despite their no-return policy.