Once again the time has come for the voice of gamers to be heard. MG readers have responded and the gaming industry is about to get… "a piece of their mind". In a year which saw the completion of the next-gen roster, the fate of gaming will be decided on two fronts; the all out technological brute force of the X360 and PS3 and the gameplay focused approach of the Wii.
This year, the Top 10 MegaGames of 2006 reflect the struggle faced by gamers as they settle-in to the new Status-Quo. Many Top 3 options mailed-in, were made up of one game from each console platform. The good news is that gamers are now being offered a wide selection of titles and new technological innovations are making the distribution of innovative content accessible to a wider audience in a cost-efficient way. What this really means is that we are now spoilt for choice; big budget blockbusters are now available, side-by-side, with games from independent developers while new innovations, especially regarding gamer input, are set to revolutionize the way we enjoy games.
2006 then claims the dubious honor of being the first official year of gamer confusion. The Wii innovation and the next-gen implementation of new technologies have sent most of us counting the pennies before deciding which Leap of Faith to take. The 2006 Top MegaGames offer the first opportunity for the industry has to reflect on how its audience has reacted to the New Gaming Order introduced.
This Top 10 has something for everyone and is likely to include quite a few surprises for most gamers. Stay with MG as we begin to reveal the games that you have selected as the Top MegaGames of 2006. We will begin tomorrow with games ranked 10, 9 and 8 while the Top MegaGame of 2006 will be revealed on Friday March 30th.
The third annual Top MegaGames competition is officially underway, asking YOU, the fodder to the cannon that is the gaming industry, to make yourselves heard. Voters will also have the opportunity to win a wealth of prizes including a few of the DX10 persuasion.
2006 was a big gaming year as two new consoles joined Xbox 360, completing the next-generation of systems. The PS3 and Wii each introduced their own range of titles and we are certain that some titles such as Wii Sports, Legend of Zelda and Resistance: Fall of Man will already have a fan base.
Meanwhile, Xbox 360's library of titles grew and by the end of the year the first big blockbuster title, the second being Halo 3, Gears of War, was unveiled to great excitement. The past generation of consoles however, still accounts for the biggest share of the market and an unassuming little game took the world by storm; Guitar Heroasked gamers to become Rock Gawds while it also asked western players to adopt a more… eastern gaming ethic.
Whether you enjoy PC or console gaming, Oblivion was available to you and offered a first example of what a next-generation title may be able to offer. Then there was the experience that is Lego Star Wars 2, a surreal blend of building bricks and Jedi powers that mesmerized gamers everywhere.
Finally another new gaming market flourished in 2006; Nintendo's handheld supremacy was confirmed as DS owners became familiar with its design and dove into its title library. New ideas were also implemented with Prof. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain? Finally PSP brought the GTA franchise to the handheld market and Liberty City Stories became a great success in 2005 but 2006 saw the release of the PS2 version which sold very well.
So whatever your platform of choice make sure you offer your Top 3 Games of 2006 so that you can take a part in deciding which game deserves the coveted title of Top MegaGame of 2006. With predecessors such as Half-Life 2 and F.E.A.R., current holder of the Top MegaGame title, it is certain that this year's winner will not be as easy to predict.
To vote all you have to do is send your top 3 favorite games of 2006, as well as your reasons for voting for each game, to top10@megagames.com.
Stay with this story as we will gradually reveal further details of the prizes available for voters.
This contest is void where prohibited. Winners will be selected randomly a day after the contest ends. Entering your email address is optional; it will only be used for contacting you if you win a prize and will be deleted after the winners have been selected. It will NOT be sold or distributed. Your entry is recorded by IP and other means, therefore multiple entries will be disqualified.
