Bigwigs make predictions for 2009

By Ellie Gibson Published 5 January, 2009

Molyneux reckons it looks "a bit dry".

Some top industry executives have been talking to the BBC about what gamers can look forward to this year.

Not a lot, according to Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux. "It's all looking a bit dry," he said. "All the triple-A titles came out this Christmas and while there is stuff in 2010 we can look forward to, off the top of my head I cannot think of anything next year that really excites me."

Molyneux also questioned whether games offer good value for money, stating, "I'm not so sure. I think we're going to see a lot of price pressure put on games."

Meanwhile, Tabula Rasa creator Richard Garriott praised Blizzard for expanding the MMO market with World of Warcraft. "They have shown all of us what good game development is all about," he said.

So much for rival NCsoft, then, who Garriott worked for up until last year. He made no mention of them, but did say he's ready to get back into game development. His new game is likely to have a "medieval fantasy" theme and will probably be online; "There's something very powerful about getting people together," according to Garriott.

Sims and Spore creator Will Wright reckons we'll see "more connected games" this year, with "more social networking rather than just multiplayer". He also said they'll be "more fractal in nature" - so where you play will affect how you interact with the game as much as what you're playing it on, or something.

Eurogamer predicts 2009 is likely to see more games where you shoot things, plus some games with cars in. What are your predictions, readers?

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (67) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Penguinzoot #1 3 years ago

    Article is a bit borked, EG! ;)

  • Retroid #2 3 years ago

    Ooooh, broken! \o/

  • Eraysor #3 3 years ago

    Tomorrow's headline: All new Zelda for November 09!

  • the_dudefather #4 3 years ago

    news article is a bit dry too :p

  • The-Bodybuilder #5 3 years ago

    Broken.

  • Burkey123 #6 3 years ago

    Broken!

  • ManicDrunkMonk #7 3 years ago

    Broken?

  • jonthepymm #8 3 years ago

    Glad it's not just me who can't see the article!

  • DFawkes #9 3 years ago

    It may be broken, but from the sub-heading we can also assume the bigwigs ppredictions are also broken.

  • Segnit #10 3 years ago

    Borked

  • ManicDrunkMonk #11 3 years ago

    Is a bigwig the same as a fat-cat?

  • jonthepymm #12 3 years ago

    Strange that this broken article is getting more comments then any other on Eurogamer today! Yes I know I'm partly to blame...

  • ExplodingClown #13 3 years ago

    Broken, but still about as informative as 90% of Peter 'one man bullshit factory' Molyneux's recent declarations. Only fond memories of Bullfrog keep anyone listening to him anymore....

  • ManicDrunkMonk #14 3 years ago

    It's more fun pointing out other people's failings than concentrating on my own. Yay!

  • roz123 #15 3 years ago

    for those that cant see it molyneux feels that the game industry is "dryer then a nuns gash"

  • DFawkes #16 3 years ago

    Maybe he should've released Fable 2 later then. His fault.

  • Eraysor #17 3 years ago

    Perhaps EG think Molyneux's opinion is so pointless that "a bit dry" is enough attention.

  • mazzl #18 3 years ago

    so no empty words in 2009? newyears resolution...

    hooray! !

    now just stop drinking coffee, F5 you're own ... site, and notice that this page is broken
    fixed :)

    i'm hoping for ABP, cracdown 2 and dead rising 2

    Edited by 1 at 05/01/09 @ 10:52

  • ChrisS #19 3 years ago

    Gibbo's a card, isn't she? I think this is her most subversive piece to date.

  • systems #20 3 years ago

    I hope this means the Fable 2 DLC isn't going to be a bit dry as well.

  • HiddenAway #21 3 years ago

    A particular favourite from the Playstation website:

    "I am ever hopeful that Final Fantasy XIII will be released in 2009. Hopefully it can match the incredible quality of FFVII on PlayStation 2."

    Small chuckle at the blip there :p

  • Wendelius #22 3 years ago

    Maybe it's because I haven't been keeping up enough with later releases, but it does feel like most of the games I wanted to see came out at the end of 2008. I can't think of many 2009 game I really want. I must delve into the release date lists and see what I might have missed.

    Wendelius

  • nbnz #23 3 years ago

    Why because Molyneux's new game isn't until 2010? That guy is such an ass.
    There is plenty for me to be excited about in 2009.

  • ChrisS #24 3 years ago

    I predict Nintendo's going to come out with an absolute stone-cold classic at some point this year. And it's not even been announced yet.

    MS will have the best overall line-up, and Sony will produce some really innovative stuff, mainly PSN content, but at least one major release will be a real eye-opener.

    Team ICO's won't arrive until at least 2010, I fear.

  • The-Bodybuilder #25 3 years ago

    >"His new game is likely to have a "medieval fantasy" theme and will probably be online;"

    SNORE.

  • menage #26 3 years ago

    Fable 2 is awesome

  • angerisagift #27 3 years ago

    My prediction?

    PAIN....

  • LazyDan #28 3 years ago

    I predict this year we see announcements of new consoles - possibly a new generation of handhelds first.

  • carrotcake #29 3 years ago

    I don't think bayonetta is first quarter.
    That is later on, as is some other good uns like uncharted 2 and tekken 6.

  • MaliceMajorE15 #30 3 years ago

    im glad someone said it. it doesnt look dry at all. sure 2008 was a big year for games i might even go as far to say an exceptional year for games particulaly since the release of gta4 in april. i dont think we are going to see so many AAA titles released in one year for a long time. it has spoiled us. now we have to much expectation.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/09 @ 11:08

  • rhubarbandcustard #31 3 years ago

    Having listened to various videogame Podcast predictions for 2009, I am fairly confident that 2009 will be another golden year for gaming.

    And if I'm wrong there are still about 50 great games released over the last two years which I have still to play.

    Gamers have never had it better.

  • kinky_mong #32 3 years ago

    I would just like to add that Molyneux talks absolute balls.

    I think "a bit dry" translates as "I will be sulky that my overhyped, buggy mess of a game isn't getting the attention I think it deserves".

  • muscleblade #33 3 years ago

    I predict a fantastic year with games like: RE5,SFIV, Prototype, Modern warfare 2, Halo ODST, Bayonetta + many more.
    edit: Forgot BIOSHOCK 2

    Games are very good value for money imo. Games should be more expensive imho.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/09 @ 11:13

  • optimusprym8 #34 3 years ago

    well my free copy of Fable II was certainly good value for money. 6 hours of gaming and £25 part exchange for something else

  • The-Bodybuilder #35 3 years ago

    >"I think "a bit dry" translates as "I will be sulky that my overhyped, buggy mess of a game isn't getting the attention I think it deserves".

    Attention as in over 2 million units sold along with being in the top 5 of the top games journo's list of best 2008 games?

  • The-Bodybuilder #36 3 years ago

    Alan Wake.

  • dominalien #37 3 years ago

    Thank God there's not much coming this year! Apart for RE5, obviously. Maybe I'll manage to catch up on stuff.

  • muscleblade #38 3 years ago

    @The Bodybuilder

    I predict Alan Wake not coming out before 2010 and it will be the Too Human of that year. Im just guessing obviously. But i have a feeling this might happen.

  • Thunderbolt #39 3 years ago

    Due to overwhelming fan feedback from this site I decided to get Dead Space over the weekend and have been enjoying it immensely. So RE5 can fuck off with its antiquated gameplay IMO.

    Why has no-one mentioned the GTA 4 DLC yet, isnt it due in quarter 1?

  • roz123 #40 3 years ago

    You are enjoying Dead Space but want res5 to fuck off? That makes no sense to me

  • Moxyz1 #41 3 years ago

    Eagerly await Operation Flashpoint 2 & Arma2 on console the most this year (FINGERS N TOES CROSSED HOPING )

  • Tyronne #42 3 years ago

    more mmo`s as publishers try to get even more money out of people who have ever decreasing amounts of cash at hand.
    more complaints about 2nd hand software.
    no sign of duke nukem forever.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/09 @ 12:03

  • DugBriderider #43 3 years ago

    "It's all looking a bit dry" says peter cos he's got nothing big himself (or been gagged again).
    "I'm ready to do some Medieval Fantasy" says Richard Garriott, author of a dozen Medieval Fantasy Games. (are you not bored of them Rich?)
    "More connected, social networking games" Says Will "Sims-Spore" Wright (so not games at all then)

    Makes you glad these three won't be effecting 2009's output.

    I recon 09 will be the year of the DLC. GTAIV, Fable2, Mirrors Edge & Valve have promised a load for TF2 & LFD + HL2 Ep3
    Not forgetting all the little PSN/XBLA/WiiWare Gems.

    I'm looking forward to Bust-a-move so my wife will stop harping on about it.

  • Ceatlan #44 3 years ago

    I must say that a couple of my mates, my brother and myself were sitting in a pub on Saturday night having the exact same conversation. None of us could come up with anything gaming related to get us excited about the coming year (with perhaps the exception of Diablo 3). This felt strange because we normally all have something on our looking forward to lists, but this year nothing.

    Having said all that, most of the things I was looking forward to this time last year turned out really dissappointing when they were released, or never even materialised. So having a lot of big hyped titles is not necessarily a prediction of a good year, and I'm sure not having much I'm really excited about will not stop there being some games that come out that I really end up enjoying.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/09 @ 12:11

  • Rash' #45 3 years ago

    PM would say that if he's only looking at the 360 line up. all i know is i have 4 games to look forward to in the first half of the year and they're all in Feb.

  • riz23 #46 3 years ago

    I'm hoping it will be "a bit dry" so I can play all the games I bought in 2008 and haven't got around to even opening yet.

  • SpeedyThing #47 3 years ago

    Good to see Lord British pushing his limits. I wouldn't want him to get stuck in a rut...
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/09 @ 12:43

  • Matt_82 #48 3 years ago

    Well I`m looking forward to plenty of games.

    Killzone2, InFamous, Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2, God of War III, Prototype, Ghostbusters, Arkam Asylum, CoD6, Operation Flashpoint 2 and Resident Evil 5 are all on my radar.

    Maybe not all AAA, but they are big games none the less and that`s not even including the 360 exclusives. 2009 will be another good year for gamers.

  • justMe #49 3 years ago

    Wii Sports Resort + Wii motion plus

    Best year ever.

  • jonthepymm #50 3 years ago

    Formula 1. Now Codemasters have the license, we may finally get a good one!

  • bonker #51 3 years ago

    On the assumption that Bethesda aren't releasing anything this year, then yeah, it's looking empty apart from the usual average-fest ...

  • JYM60 #52 3 years ago

    In otherwords, Molyneux doesn't have anything to overhype and talk crap about?

  • makeamazing #53 3 years ago

    So

    Res5
    Empire total War
    OFP2
    KZ2
    Uncharted 2
    Ghostbusters

    And thats just for starters, PM obviously doesnt have a clue about exciting games!

  • Doctor_What #54 3 years ago

    My prediction for 2009? Space marines games getting far more attention than they would get in any other genre of entertainment. Then again, with James Cameron priming himself to relaunch us back into space marine frenzy I guess this prediction probably stands for the next five years at least!

  • Bitkari #55 3 years ago

    MORE FRACTAL IN NATURE!

  • roz123 #56 3 years ago

    I am mostly looking forward to the wii motion plus. If its as good as it looks it should "moisten" things up a little for nintendo.

  • rob76 #57 3 years ago

    I want Battlestations Pacific...NOW!!

  • bad09 #58 3 years ago

    "You are enjoying Dead Space but want res5 to fuck off? That makes no sense to me "

    Having played the demo of RE5 it makes perfect sense to me.....

  • oxymoron #59 3 years ago

    I would like to see a game that could mend my arse as my old one HAS A FUCKING GREAT CRACK IN IT!

    :)

  • Burkey123 #60 3 years ago

    I hope nintendo make good use of wii motionplus. Hopefully a zelda for christmas 2009.

  • Feanor #61 3 years ago

    2009 will be just as good as 2008 if not better. A year ago some people were thinking nothing would top Portal, Bioshock, etc.

    Even Europeans stuck with only a PS2 have Persona 4 to look forward to.

  • spudsbuckley #62 3 years ago

    Wait a minute, who really gives a shit what these gimps think?

    This isn't news.

  • roz123 #63 3 years ago

    Having played the demo of RE5 it makes perfect sense to me.....

    Fair enough just Dead space probably wouldn't exist if it wasnt for resident evil. so telling them to fuck off makes you look like a knob.

  • WillyWanka #64 3 years ago

    Whilst I'm inclined to agree with Molyneux, I remember feeling the same way this time last year, especially after the success of '07. However, 2008 (arguably) ended up even better than the year before, so I'm still optimistic that 2009 will deliver after all.

  • bonker #65 3 years ago

    The biggest argument against this I suppose is that the games that come out this year will, pretty much, have had devs working at near full pace on them throughout their dev lifetime now that the learning curves are over which should see better quality games due to quicker dev times and more time for polishing ...

  • cheekyjay #66 3 years ago

    Well, I don't know what's dry until I play it but (assuming they're delivered on time) the following don't look dry to me:
    Alpha Protocol, Heavy Rain, Alan Wake, Dragon Age, Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2, Halo 3 OSDT, Uncharted 2, Wii Sports Resort, Resident Evil 5, the two Alien games planned, Ghostbusters, StrongBad season 2, Guitar Hero Beatles (or was it Rock Band - can't remember), a proper Infinity Ward Call of Duty 5, GTA Chinatown Wars, Final Fantasy 13, I am Alive, Assassins' Creed 2, Professor Layton 2, MadWorld, Brutal Legend, Broken Sword Wii, This is Vegas, inFamous, Prototype, Little Big Planet PSP, LocoRoco PS3, Mafia 2, Rage, a new Doom, the first batch of truly excellent iPhone games, Godfather 2, Punch Out, God of War 3, Chronicles of Riddick, Splinter Cell Conviction (maybe), inevitable Nintendo surprise (Icarus, F Zero, Pilotwings, Star Fox?), Bayonetta, Beyond Good and Evil 2, Red Steel 2 (if it uses Wii Motion Plus), Mario and Luigi 3, Rhythm Heaven, Killzone 2, Streetfighter IV, Bionic Commando... and that's just what ones I can remember off the top of my head. Sure, inevitably many will disappoint, as they always do, but many already look like potential future classics. Let's not forget that the year is less than one week old - many of the biggest and best surprises are still very much under wraps. I for one am not worried about any games 'drought' in 2009.
    Edited by 1 at 06/01/09 @ 02:17

  • Grayvern #67 3 years ago

    Yes but who knows what really excites Peter, im betting we don't really want to know.

    Also its not wrong to like innovative or odd games as well as games with space marines and get excited about either.
    Edited by 1 at 10/01/09 @ 23:04