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HL2 was the only game in the category, if I recall correctly, which is just stupid 
It doesn't really qualify for much of a technological leap.
But for the love of whatever deity (or lack thereof) you hold dear, lay off the console hate machine. Halo 2 sold 5 million copies in like a week. I don't know how many GTA has sold thus far, but it's a few million as well. The PS2 has an installed base of something like 25 million, I think. Xbox, somewhere in the 15 million range. PC games hitting even 500,000 copies is a rarity. PC Gaming is not the extent of the gaming world; it's only a very small part of it. More people know what Halo is than know what Half-Life is.
The only thing I take issue with is the whole idea of this hip-hop game community bulls**t that everyone seems to embrace (like the graffiti-ized VGA web site). Games have quickly become one of the most binding forces of commonality in society. What else but an online game can bring together people of all races, religions, genders, creeds, and lifestyles into a single environment? Some marketing department needs to pick up on this.
Consoles are just as viable a form of entertainment as a computer, and far more common. Deal with it.
It doesn't really qualify for much of a technological leap.But for the love of whatever deity (or lack thereof) you hold dear, lay off the console hate machine. Halo 2 sold 5 million copies in like a week. I don't know how many GTA has sold thus far, but it's a few million as well. The PS2 has an installed base of something like 25 million, I think. Xbox, somewhere in the 15 million range. PC games hitting even 500,000 copies is a rarity. PC Gaming is not the extent of the gaming world; it's only a very small part of it. More people know what Halo is than know what Half-Life is.
The only thing I take issue with is the whole idea of this hip-hop game community bulls**t that everyone seems to embrace (like the graffiti-ized VGA web site). Games have quickly become one of the most binding forces of commonality in society. What else but an online game can bring together people of all races, religions, genders, creeds, and lifestyles into a single environment? Some marketing department needs to pick up on this.
Consoles are just as viable a form of entertainment as a computer, and far more common. Deal with it.
Naaah, I Agree with everything you say in essence, but the majority of those sales will be to 16-24 year old males who are up, and cool with the market - PS2 - 2 pads, xbox 4 pads etc etc - they'll play it as a casual indulgence with friends and beer, especially when their PS2/Xbox will play crappy movie x afterward (eg Dodgeball). Gaming isnt a big thing, the marketing of consoles to the new affluent markets have turned it into a casual social accessory, nothing more.
Consumers avdily buy goods, especially when the peer mentality (ie men) has set in, thats what people are like. The amount of hardcore "gamers" you get off those massive sales figures will be minimal at best, video games and the latest consoles are merely a passing interest for affluent beer/socially aware young men.
The game industry is big, but it's not committed.
[addsig]
