Topic: Is it just me...

[iPPi]

...or has PC gaming been really slow and mundane lately?

I'm not sure what it is, but I don't see really any PC games out there lately that really interest me at all, and there are only a handful of games that are on the horizon that I look forward too, but the problem is that most of them aren't exclusives to the PC, which might mean that the PC version may be inferior and may be beneficial to go to the console version (Bioshock, Assassin's Creed come to mind, though I do hope the PC version is better and play it on the PC).

I mean, the last really memorable games for me on the PC were Oblivion, FEAR, and Hitman, and almost everything after that has really been nothing spectacular.  I've been playing a bit of Prey, and it's interesting, but it's not a really compelling shooter and I've grown bored with it.  I'm not even sure how far I'm into the campaign yet... maybe 2-3 hours. 

I was anxiously awaiting the new Splinter Cell, only to find Ubisoft fucked up the PC version of the game massively.  I played it to the last level, but it truly pales in comparison to its predecessors, and coupled with the technical issues, the game is just a complete mess.

I see that there are several (re: 3-4) new strategy games recently out, or are coming out, and I guess that's what the PC is most ideal for, strategy games.  I mean, with a mouse and keyboard, RTS' are easier to play, but I'm not the biggest fan of RTS games, and the lack of innovation to the genre makes nearly every single new RTS game that comes out is, in reality, pretty much the same game.

I mean, we can say that about a lot of genres, but recently for example, first/third person shooters have innovated by using the cover system, which definitely makes the game a lot more interesting (re: Gears of War and Rainbow Six: Vegas).  The problem?  They're really console games.  I mean, Vegas is available on PC, but pug has mentioned problems of the MP component for the PC version, which is a shame, since the 360 version is great online and stuff.

There's always MMOs, and I want to go and play WoW, but it's such a time sink and it's so addictive I'd rather stay away from it while I focus on my studies.

One thing is that I'm finding myself moving back towards consoles, they get a lot of games, they're optimized to run well on that console, etc.  The 360 has really done a lot of things right and really shown what console gaming can do.

I don't really want to diverge this thread to innovation of game genres and evolution, but really focus on what the PC has to offer in terms of gaming nowadays.  To me, the PC has really been lacking in terms of quality gaming lately.  I look at the latest game releases, and in all honesty, the only PC games that I really look forward to are Spore, Bioshock (will see if PC or console version is better), Assassin's Creed (will see if PC or console version is better), and possibly STALKER.

[Quemaqua]

Well, how many games do you need?  It sounds like you're looking forward to a fair number.

Anyway, I'm not the guy to ask as I don't have much money these days and haven't been spending a lot on gaming in general.  I've noticed a few distinct failures in the PC market recently, but there's plenty I'm looking forward to and still plenty I'm playing.  Not to mention the indy scene.  I haven't noticed anything particularly terrible.

[Pugnate]

I sorta agree with you iPPi, though I really loved NWN2 and Titan Quest. Something else to look forward to is Company of Heroes that I am going to start soon and Supreme Commander I have ordered because the PCG review made me really excited.

I think there is some validity in your comments because games just aren't exclusive anymore.

One thing is that I'm finding myself moving back towards consoles, they get a lot of games, they're optimized to run well on that console, etc.  The 360 has really done a lot of things right and really shown what console gaming can do.

Well these are the golden years of the 360, but the performance of Oblivion already pales in comparison to the PC. I think by next year the PC will be much ahead. But you are right on the 360 having done plenty right.

The future isn't looking as exciting as it has in the past, I agree. This past year wasn't as impressive as a few recent years, but I am sure it will pick up.
Games that are coming out this year:

1. Bioshock
2. Crysis
3. Alan Wake
4. Spore
5. Dragon Age (Fantastic looking Bioware RPG that has linguistics PHDs working on multiple languages.)
6. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
7. Duke Nukem Forever (haha)
8. Half-life 2 Episode 2 (Not really looking forward to it)
9. The Witcher (Gorgeous looking adult themed RPG that will kick so much ass)
10. Titan Quest (expansion)
11. Unreal Tournament 3
12. HellGate: London

That's pretty decent I think.

[Jedi]

Hmm thinking about it there's stalker, Sup Com all the two games I want on the PC, but I know my PC can't run them 
To be fair though my recent purchase of a 360 has meant I'm more looking for games on that platform, it just strikes me as being more reliable as in I know the game will run I don't have to worry about it (and I know the 360 wont crash on me after 30 minutes!). But that's just a result of my recent PC issues.
But looking back even further like 12 months there hasn't really been much that's I've been interested in, 3 years ago i'd buy maybe 5 games a year, now (for the PC) maybe 2.

[MysterD]

...or has PC gaming been really slow and mundane lately?

I'm not sure what it is, but I don't see really any PC games out there lately that really interest me at all, and there are only a handful of games that are on the horizon that I look forward too, but the problem is that most of them aren't exclusives to the PC, which might mean that the PC version may be inferior and may be beneficial to go to the console version (Bioshock, Assassin's Creed come to mind, though I do hope the PC version is better and play it on the PC).

The RPG genre seems to hit a boom. I can't keep up w/ all the RPG's, all of sudden. NWN2 end of last year, Gothic 3 came out end of last year, Titan Quest came out last year. For this year -- Oblivion expansion #2 coming soon this Spring 2007, The Witcher coming in 2007, Sacred 2 in late 2007, Titan Quest: Immortal Throne expansion -- hell, I can't keep up!!! There's more! I know that ain't all of them!!! Oooh, yes -- Silverfall in March 2007. Dragon Age is whenever, 2007-2008. Jade Empire PC is now out in 2007.

I think PC gaming right now lacks a brand new kick-ass shooter, myself. Those are pretty much on the horizon, all the good ones are coming -- Crysis, Bioshock, and also STALKER, just to name a few.

I mean, the last really memorable games for me on the PC were Oblivion, FEAR, and Hitman, and almost everything after that has really been nothing spectacular.  I've been playing a bit of Prey, and it's interesting, but it's not a really compelling shooter and I've grown bored with it.  I'm not even sure how far I'm into the campaign yet... maybe 2-3 hours. 

I thought Prey was pretty good, myself.

Hitman: Blood Money, FEAR and Oblivion were great.
Especially Oblivion.

I was anxiously awaiting the new Splinter Cell, only to find Ubisoft fucked up the PC version of the game massively.  I played it to the last level, but it truly pales in comparison to its predecessors, and coupled with the technical issues, the game is just a complete mess.

I like the Splinter Cell games, they're a solid series. But that's about it.

I see that there are several (re: 3-4) new strategy games recently out, or are coming out, and I guess that's what the PC is most ideal for, strategy games.  I mean, with a mouse and keyboard, RTS' are easier to play, but I'm not the biggest fan of RTS games, and the lack of innovation to the genre makes nearly every single new RTS game that comes out is, in reality, pretty much the same game.

I'm not big on RTS, though there's a good handful of recent ones -- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Dark Crusade expansion, Company of Heroes, and Supreme Commander.

I mean, we can say that about a lot of genres, but recently for example, first/third person shooters have innovated by using the cover system, which definitely makes the game a lot more interesting (re: Gears of War and Rainbow Six: Vegas).  The problem?  They're really console games.  I mean, Vegas is available on PC, but pug has mentioned problems of the MP component for the PC version, which is a shame, since the 360 version is great online and stuff.

Not really too innovative -- it's just now, cover is basically being "mandatory" to be used to win and done well. KillSwitch for the PC used "duck and cover", but I heard the game wasn't that great.

I can't wait for Gears of War for PC, which is inevitable, according to Epic.

There's always MMOs, and I want to go and play WoW, but it's such a time sink and it's so addictive I'd rather stay away from it while I focus on my studies.

One thing is that I'm finding myself moving back towards consoles, they get a lot of games, they're optimized to run well on that console, etc.  The 360 has really done a lot of things right and really shown what console gaming can do.

I don't really want to diverge this thread to innovation of game genres and evolution, but really focus on what the PC has to offer in terms of gaming nowadays.  To me, the PC has really been lacking in terms of quality gaming lately.  I look at the latest game releases, and in all honesty, the only PC games that I really look forward to are Spore, Bioshock (will see if PC or console version is better), Assassin's Creed (will see if PC or console version is better), and possibly STALKER.

I think right now, all PC gaming lacks right now is a new shooter.

Right now, it seems like every other PC game coming out is a RPG, Action-RPG, or an RTS.

Where are the freakin' shooters?!?!?!?

[iPPi]

You raise a good point.  There are indeed a plethora of RPGs being released or have been released lately.  I'm not the biggest RPG fan out there, and I do enjoy an RPG once in a while, but clearly, when you get so many RPGs being released,  you're bound to get a little overwhelmed.

Pug made a good list of games to look forward to, but it just seems that the 'good old days' of PC gaming have passed.  I mean, I can't remember a game for the PC released recently that I could label as 'must-own' or something like that. 

There are decent titles coming out every once in a while, but where's are the instant classics, where are the games that you play, and you'll remember them forever, something of really great quality... the only thing I can think of in recent months is Oblivion.

[Pugnate]

Well looking at that list, I don't see many that are PC exclusives. I think Blizzard needs to get off its ass and put together Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2. Bioware need to work with Obsidian to create Baldur's Gate III. Christ Taylor needs to make Total Annihilation 2... oh wait.

Lucas Arts needs to do a new Jedi Knight. This one actually pains me, because I can't understand why it isn't happening.

Someone needs to redo Deus Ex in the Unreal 3 engine. Oh man that would be awesome.

Also Remedy needs to do a Max Payne style game.

[MysterD]

Well looking at that list, I don't see many that are PC exclusives. I think Blizzard needs to get off its ass and put together Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2. Bioware need to work with Obsidian to create Baldur's Gate III. Christ Taylor needs to make Total Annihilation 2... oh wait.

If there's a BG III, it better have NOTHING STORYLINE-WISE to do w/ BG 1 and 2.

Lucas Arts needs to do a new Jedi Knight. This one actually pains me, because I can't understand why it isn't happening.

B/c they probably want to do KOTOR III.

Someone needs to redo Deus Ex in the Unreal 3 engine. Oh man that would be awesome.

I could go for Deus Ex 3, if Irrational's given the license.

Also Remedy needs to do a Max Payne style game.

I look forward to whatever Alan Wake will be, even though it's Vista Exclusive.

[Quemaqua]

What you're seeing is the entire industry going cross-platform.  That's all there is to it.  The PC is as fine a gaming platform as ever, and if the game is properly developed, you're basically guaranteed to have a better experience on the PC side if the developer isn't an idiot.  Oblivion on the PC with the mods I've got is about 800 times better than stock Oblivion.  The mods are mostly simple things that add very slight changes and improvements to the gameworld but don't really affect the stock gameplay.  Right now, if I went back... fuck.  I couldn't do it.  I'd have to wait a good 2 or 3 years before I could go back and try again with the stock game.  But many, many games don't offer that sort of thing, so there's often no super great advantage of going with the PC version (except, perhaps, free online multiplayer, but in a few years I don't think that's even going to exist anymore because of the fact that people are stupid enough to pay for it with the consoles and the PC is basically going to be Microsoft's next console if they have their way about it).  So don't blame the PC.  Blame the money in consoles, which is why all developers are looking to go that route and provide their games in as many flavors as possible.  And blame it on the giant corporations that want to control anything with the slightest potential to make them more money even at the expense of killing everything that makes that target worth using in the first place.

[MysterD]

What you're seeing is the entire industry going cross-platform.  That's all there is to it.

Pretty much.

It'd be true even more so, if the X360 would use a KB/mouse so that they can actually have RTS games and point-and-click-RPG's on their system.

The PC is as fine a gaming platform as ever, and if the game is properly developed, you're basically guaranteed to have a better experience on the PC side if the developer isn't an idiot.

Agreed 110%.

Oblivion on the PC with the mods I've got is about 800 times better than stock Oblivion.  The mods are mostly simple things that add very slight changes and improvements to the gameworld but don't really affect the stock gameplay.

Which is great.
Kudos to modders.

Right now, if I went back... fuck.  I couldn't do it.  I'd have to wait a good 2 or 3 years before I could go back and try again with the stock game.  But many, many games don't offer that sort of thing, so there's often no super great advantage of going with the PC version (except, perhaps, free online multiplayer, but in a few years I don't think that's even going to exist anymore because of the fact that people are stupid enough to pay for it with the consoles and the PC is basically going to be Microsoft's next console if they have their way about it).

The best thing a PC game can have going for two things: a SDK and modders.

That is what keeps the game alive.

Hell, I just recently saw Vampire: Bloodlines get ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL patch -- a game that never had a SDK or anything released. What modders will do for a game they really love can be unreal.

So don't blame the PC.  Blame the money in consoles, which is why all developers are looking to go that route and provide their games in as many flavors as possible.  And blame it on the giant corporations that want to control anything with the slightest potential to make them more money even at the expense of killing everything that makes that target worth using in the first place.

Great point, Que.

[Cobra951]

Of the crowd posting here, I think I've moved away from PC games the most.  I'm very much with iPPi on this, on both the software and hardware issues.  My PCs are more than adequate to do everything I want to do with them, except games.  But I don't feel the urge to upgrade just because of games.  There are impediments I can't stomach, like DX10 being tied to Vista, and the quicksand of all these hardware changes.

I find myself back in the console camp, without any regrets.  The games I look forward to are coming to the 360, or are there already (and I haven't gotten them yet).  I find Que's mention of Oblivion as a PC poster child to be ironic.  I want to experience that game in some semblance of the splendor it was meant to have.  The only way I can do that is to get the 360 version.  I've pondered it, even though I've played the PC game for about 200 hours.

[Quemaqua]

Well, my point there is that there's a distinct advantage to owning the PC version.  For many PC games, that advantage isn't there any longer because developers are going the console route as hard as they can and neglecting the aspects that make PC stuff so much better than console stuff.  And *that's* hurting PC gaming, just like making everything cross-platform is hurting it because people don't want to spend the money on PC stuff anymore and, for the most part, don't actually *have* to.  Which I'm now beginning to understand what with being married to a woman who can't work and being poor as dirt all the time.  My only hope is that people continue going the console route and then PC hardware gets cheaper in order to compete.  Because as much as I love consoles and console gaming in general, I'm always going to be a PC gamer at heart.  I do love my consoles, and I have no regrets about buying my 360, but that doesn't mean I won't give my PC first consideration when it comes to a game that's coming out for both.

[Pugnate]

I agree that games are just going a lot more cross platform now. But as Que said, the games that are arriving to the PC are incomplete or just not optimized for it. It is just the developers being lazy.

Just recently games like NWN2, Double Agent, Dark Messiah, and R6: Vegas come to mind.

Maybe they feel the pressure of having to release the cross platform games simultaneously. Maybe if they can take a month extra with either version...

[iPPi]

I don't know.  We've seen enough cases of this happening to make me pretty apprehensive about cross platform games most of the time.  I try to make sure that the PC version ends up being good before getting it, but sometimes reviews don't compare it with the console counterpart and stuff.

[gpw11]

I think it may be because there are like two genres of pc games, and withen those two all the games are essentially the same but have different art assets. 

[Quemaqua]

 ... what?

[Xessive]

I know how you feel iPPi.. I'm just grateful for Oblivion.. Splinter Cell Double Agent is so buggy I can't be bothered to play through it again.. NWN2 makes me angry.. FEAR doesn't wanna install properly.. HL2 and Hitman Blood Money are boring.. R6 Vegas is too heavy on my system (CPU just meets the minimum reqs).. And I'm not in the mood for any strategy gaming.. So, God Bless Oblivion. It's the only game saving me right now.

[Quemaqua]

And a mere 17-ish days until the expansion!  Woo!

[Xessive]

And a mere 17-ish days until the expansion!  Woo!

Ah, I must be patient.. I shall meditate in Oblivion until the arrival of Shivering Isles.

Hehe I just checked out on of the creepiest console commands on the game! I typed "sexchange" in the console and Holy Monkey my character is one creepy transvestite!

[Quemaqua]

Nothing like a little console fun to entertain and creep out.

[idolminds]

I reinstalled Oblivion last night. Only played till I got out of the sewer, currently downloading mods and such. Theres a better bodies mod, and this "Unique Landscapes" series seems completely awesome. Makes certain areas of the map into unique places...redwood forest, swamps, all sorts of cool things. That was something I felt was missing...the whole land of Oblivion felt the same no matter where you were (outside the frozen north and the swampy place to the south).

[Pugnate]

I've been putting off restarting Oblivion for the sake of the expansion. I look forward to the visual updates. It all sounds very sexy.

[MysterD]

I agree that games are just going a lot more cross platform now. But as Que said, the games that are arriving to the PC are incomplete or just not optimized for it. It is just the developers being lazy.

And b/c of this, I feel like punishing these designers.

When your game comes out and I read a review saying "Buggy", I'll go buy something else and "Bargain Bin" the game when I feel it's worth while to do so.

GRAW PC still runs not-so-great, BTW. That can float in the boat w/ Double Agent and R6: Vegas for UbiSoft's botched PC versions of 2006. They 0wn that category.

Just recently games like NWN2, Double Agent, Dark Messiah, and R6: Vegas come to mind.

Maybe they feel the pressure of having to release the cross platform games simultaneously. Maybe if they can take a month extra with either version...

NWN2 and Dark Messiah are no excuse, really. Those game aren't even cross-platformed. Both are pretty good games, BTW -- once you get by their technical issues w/ their newest patches.

I can expect Double Agent and R6: Vegas to not be the greatest port, especially since those were being co-developed for both X360 and PC at same time. It tends to happen more so when it's co-developed rather than when a straight port's being done at a later date for just the PC version.

For a port though, say the X360 version is made then they decide to release a PC version way later is being made, then there should be no issues for the PC version. That's why Fable: TLC turned out good for the PC -- they did Fable for the XBox first, then LATER on decided to port it to the PC. I'm guessing this is also why Jade Empire PC turned out so well, as well.

This is what scares me w/ Bioshock, since it is being co-developed for both the PC and X360 at the same time.

[Quemaqua]

Gotta' disagree with you, idol.  I thought it was cool that every area of Cyrodiil had its own little ecological subsystem with different trees and plantlife.  I've always found the UL stuff to be really over the top.  I don't *want* every ten steps to give me some unique monumental structure that gets in my way.  It's cool to look at for a minute, but most of them are just too much and really just serve to get in the way.  I thought I'd like them given that immersion is good, but I've discovered that I like really simple things that fit into the background, not stuff that gets in my face.  Like the Weye mod.  It'll kill your computer, but it was cool to run around in.  But it just felt in the way to me after a few minutes of play.

That said, there are a billion and two good mods out there.  I should update that other thread that was floating around.

Anyway, here's what probably wasn't in the last thread:

Book Jackets Oblivion - there's also one for Morrowind... it can actually be a little hard to find, but do try.  Gives unique hi-res book covers (and good ones) to every book in the game.

Actors in Charge - giant mod that lets your character basically do all the poses and stuff in the game that NPCs get to do.  Completely useless in every regard but really amusing and cool for screenshots.  Lets you choose the animations from a menu and stuff using an item.  There's also a spell so you can make other NPCs do stuff.  Give it a shot.

Alive Waters - adds seaweed and bunches of fish to the water.  It's a little weird in that in some shallow areas you'll see a little bit of the seaweed sticking out the top, but it isn't too distracting and makes the water feel much more enjoyable when swimming.  The fish are really well done, too, I was surprised.  There's a koi addon.  I think it's also got fishing in it, but I never tried it.

Castle Highrock - best house mod ever.  I edited it to suit my tastes (changed the name, some of the NPCs, etc.), but it's a cool little mountain village with a giant castle you can buy for 100 grand.  Nice for the endgame, and really well developed.  Lots of places to store things, cool little village with people who use the radiant AI stuff pretty damned well, very, very big and pretty.

Crowded Cities / Crowded Roads - nice for immersion.  Just adds a bunch of randomized people to different places.  Nothing too special, but I think it's nice.

Elven Cartographers map - I know you pointed this out to me before, but there's a new, even better version that I highly, highly recommend getting.  New icons and stuff for the map that look much better (very colorful).  I can't wait for the guy to do one for Shivering Isles.  The colors seem to fit.

Illuminated Within Revived Optimised - pretty sure you've tried this one too, but I mention it just in case you didn't know there was an "optimised" addon for it.  I dig it.

There's also an Imperial Aqueduct thing in the works, which seems like it could be cool, and there are several other Imperial City mods that add/change stuff in or around the city.  Check out the official forums and see what mods are still WIP.  There's some cool stuff people are working on.

Oh, and which body mod are you using?  I still haven't found one I like or that works properly.

[scottws]

Well, I think it seems sparse because there aren't any hugely anticipated titles.  In the past we were always looking forward to DOOM III/HL2/Blizzard's next game.  Now those games are all out with nothing of their stature on the horizon.  But there are a lot of new kids on the block or new franchises coming out, so while the names aren't as big, that doesn't mean the games won't be good.

I mean F.E.A.R. and FarCry are perfect examples in the past.  Sure, Monolith has been around and made some hits, but who could have projected how truly awesome F.E.A.R. would have been.  Same thing with FarCry except in that case, Crytek was kind of an unknown.

So names like S.T.A.K.E.R., Bioshock, Alan Wake, etc may not really instill the excitement in your heart like HL2 and DOOM III did, but that doesn't mean they won't be completely awesome games.

In conclusion, I wouldn't call this a glut at all.

[MysterD]

Well, I think it seems sparse because there aren't any hugely anticipated titles.  In the past we were always looking forward to DOOM III/HL2/Blizzard's next game.  Now those games are all out with nothing of their stature on the horizon.  But there are a lot of new kids on the block or new franchises coming out, so while the names aren't as big, that doesn't mean the games won't be good.

A lot of great titles are right around the corner; I agree.

Though, most of them aren't franchise names. There's no blockbuster Diablo 3 or StarCraft 2 listed coming from Blizzard yet. The sure bets for franchises on the PC, are way down the line now -- all your sure bets came out last year, such as Elder Scrolls IV and NWN 2. Even Battlefield can be listed as a sure bet for last year, too -- for all you MP shooter lovers. Unfortunately, who knows when the hell Half-Life 3 is coming, with the rate Valve's going at w/ The HL2 Episodes....

Though, the Oblivion expansion is one sure franchise bet, this year for 2007.

I mean F.E.A.R. and FarCry are perfect examples in the past.  Sure, Monolith has been around and made some hits, but who could have projected how truly awesome F.E.A.R. would have been.

Very true. I knew it looked good, but goddamn -- that game turned out awesome.

Same thing with FarCry except in that case, Crytek was kind of an unknown.

Many expected Far Cry to be great, though, regardless.
I was one of those.

So names like S.T.A.K.E.R., Bioshock, Alan Wake, etc may not really instill the excitement in your heart like HL2 and DOOM III did, but that doesn't mean they won't be completely awesome games.

Also, we don't know what to expect from Id, either. They're working on a new IP entirely for a new game. That'll also be exciting to see, from Id -- some sort of new breed from them, whatever that might be...

In conclusion, I wouldn't call this a glut at all.

I dunno', but these new upcoming franchises/titles -- S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Bioshock, and Crysis all sound great to me for 2007. These look exciting to me. So does Hellgate: London, too. This looks to be an exciting year, from all the new breeds of PC gaming.

I'd put Alan Wake on that list, but it's a Vista exclusive -- and not due until at least 2008.

Oh -- when is Quake Wars due? That's a sure bet franchise.
And isn't UT 3 coming soon this year, too? Another sure bet franchise.

It definitely doesn't help for some gamers that Microsoft's sure bet franchise, Halo, is going to be Vista Only for its PC incarnation of Halo 2, either.

[idolminds]

Thanks Que. I played a bit today and...I've decided to wait on my Oblivion replay till I can get some better performance out of it. Not so bad in caves, but I was replaying because I was feeling the need to explore.

Unfortunately I didnt save the link to the bodies mod I was downloading..and I canceled the download (not need for a 60MB file if I'm not playing till later).

[idolminds]

Gotta' disagree with you, idol.  I thought it was cool that every area of Cyrodiil had its own little ecological subsystem with different trees and plantlife.  I've always found the UL stuff to be really over the top.  I don't *want* every ten steps to give me some unique monumental structure that gets in my way.  It's cool to look at for a minute, but most of them are just too much and really just serve to get in the way.  I thought I'd like them given that immersion is good, but I've discovered that I like really simple things that fit into the background, not stuff that gets in my face.  Like the Weye mod.  It'll kill your computer, but it was cool to run around in.  But it just felt in the way to me after a few minutes of play.

You know, I did notice this about the UL stuff. Not that I downloaded them, but I saw the map they had planned out, with each area sectioned off. Way too small of plots to have such wildly unique areas. Plus sectioning them off and having different people work on them means blending between each isn't as nice as it should be. Like the redwood forest area I imagine is fairly small and just stops..and those trees show up nowhere else.

Still, I'd like a little more variety in the landscapes. Guess thats what they are doing with Shivering Isles, making some unique areas to visit.

[MysterD]

I saw a commercial on TV today for X360 version of GRAW 2. Looks good.

Let's not hope they botch the PC version, due out in a few weeks, for GRAW 2 like they did w/ the original GRAW PC. Though, I am betting we might see a repeat w/ GRAW 2 PC.

[iPPi]

I'm tempted to get GRAW2 for 360, but I hear the campaign is really really short, which is a shame.