The games rush has officially started now. In the last two days I have received review copies of Gun, Star Wars Battlefront, LA Rush, Without Warning, Top Spin (PS2), X Factor Karaoke and, most intriguingly, Psychonauts. The latter is the critically acclaimed platform/adventure title from the creator of Grim Fandango and Full Throttle, which sold about 7 copies in the US. An initial play promises great things - more on this next week. Obviously it is great to get these games to look at, but the question remains - why release so many titles in the latter part of the year?
Games like Psychonauts and the majority of original or lower profile titles will get ignored as Christmas shoppers pick up their Kong's and Need for Speed. Around February and March, when the release list is relatively deserted would surely be the better time to launch and promote the more leftfield games.
You only have to look back to the likes of Beyond Good & Evil, which was a pre-Christmas release, to see how great games can get ignored in the melee. It's so obvious you have to wonder why the publishers haven't twigged. In the meantime, do yourself a favour and look beyond the blockbusters this Christmas. You'll find some rubbish - Without Warning - but gems, such as Psychonauts, are waiting to be found.
