” Final Fantasy or Fable? GranTurismo or Mario Kart? Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell? As you can see, picking a presidential candidate won’t be your only tough choice in 2008. So to help you with the decision process, we profile more than 60 games from three major parties ( Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 ) and those running as independants ( multiplatform ). Learn what they’re preaching while on the campaign trail—and maybe more importantly, what they’re trying to hide. ” — Electronic Gaming Monthly

Candidate #1 — VOTE Nintendo Wii

Nintendo’s waggle-friendly system ran away with the popular vote last year. And thanks to this fresh crop of games, the Wii aims for a repeat performance in 2008.

• Wii Fit ( spring 2008 )
• Destroy all Humans! ( THQ; spring 2008 )
• Big Willy Unleashed ( THQ; spring 2008 )
• Samba De Amgio ( Sega; Spring 2008 )
• Mario Kart Wii ( Nintendo; Spring 2008 )
• No More Heroes ( Ubisoft; spring 2008 )
• Wonderworld Amusement Park ( Majesco; Summer 2008 )
• Okami ( Capcom, Summer 2008 )
• Harvest Moon Wii ( Natsume; Spring 2008 )
• House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return ( Sega; Spring 2008 )
• de Blob ( THQ; spring 2008 )

>DEBATE ‘08

Is the Wii’s momentum going to last?

” Yes, and it’s possible that the Wii will be one of the hottest holidau girts of 2008 as as 2007, which is a fairly unique situation historically and partly the result of the current supply/demand imbalance. By then, there will be a pleathora of new games peripherals such as Wii Fit. It’s also possible that there wll be a pricing adjustment by then and new hardware SKU’s. ” — Entertainment Fund Management President Ted Pollak

” I think the Wii’s momentum lasts until the PlayStation 2 is under $300, os another year. ” — Wedbush Morgan Secruities Financial Analyst Michael Pachter

” Yes, I still think the Wii offers the most appealing console to the widest audience in terms of price, innovation, and accessibility. With more third-party software becoming available, increased production, and ( the release of ) Mario Kart. ( it ) should mean the momentum will last throughout 2008. ” — KBC Financial Analyst Hiroshi Kamide

Candidate #2 — VOTE PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3 finished in third place during the 2007 race. But the console looks primed to back your support with this years exclusive line-up.

• Gran Turismo 5: Prologue ( SCEA; spring 2008 )
• Final Fantasy XIII ( Square Enix; fall 2008 )
• LittleBigPlanet ( SCEA; summer 2008 )
• The Agency ( Sony Online; fall 2008 )
• Socom: Confrontation ( SCEA; fall 2008 )
• Infamous ( SCEA; fall 2008 )
• Afrika ( SCEA; fall 2008 )
• Killzone 2 ( SCEA; fall 2008 )
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots ( Konami; spring 2008 )
• Hot Shofts Golf 5 ( SCEA; March 2008 )
• Yakuza Kenzan ( Sega; fall 2008 )
• White Knight Chronicles ( SCEA; fall 2008 )
• Valkyrie of the Battlefield: Gallian Chronicles ( Sega; fall 2008 )
• Wipeout HD ( SCEA; spring 2008 )
• Tekken 6 ( Namco Bandai; spring 2008 )
• SingStar ( SCEA; spring 2008 )

>DEBATE ‘08

With a lineup that includes the likes of Killzone 2, Final Fantasy XIII, and Metal Gear Solid 4, will 2008 finally be Sony’s Year?

” I think Sony will make great strides in 2008, Killzone 2, Metal gear Solid 4, LittleBigPlanet, Final Fantasy XIII, and a number of other titles will help stimulate sales. Additionally, a number of peripherals such as the PlayStation Eye and it’s associated titles will give the console a boost. I am also running into people who have purchased the PS3 for it’s Blu-ray player—with gaming as a secondary motivation—and that’s another element to consider. ” — Ted Pollak

” 2008 is definitely Sony’s year. And I’d throw Grand Theft Auto IV into the mix, given that it’s considered a PS2 owner’s ( franchise ). Also, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue should sell some consoles… ” — Michael Pacther

” No—Sony will do better in 2008, but with exclusive software becoming more of an exception than the rule, things will remain difficult. I thin, however, that the industry will begin to see the ‘ potential ‘ of the system after the release of MGS4. But it’ll remain a distant third in the current cycle. ” — Hiroshi Kamide

Candidate #3 — VOTE Xbox 360

Can any of these games fill the massive shoes of Master Chief and lead Microsoft’s console into this years race?

• Fable 2 ( Microsoft Game Studios; fall 2008 )
• Lost Odyssey ( Microsoft Game Studios; february 2008 )
• Ninja Gaiden II ( Microsoft Game Studios; spring 2008 )
• Too Human ( Microsoft Game Studios; spring 2008 )
• Alan Wake ( Microsoft Game Studios; fall 2008 )
• Splinter Cell: Conviction ( Ubisoft; spring 2008 )
• Infinite Undiscovery ( Square Enix; fall 2008 )
• Universe at War: Earth Assault ( Sega; spring 2008 )
• Command & Conqueor: Kane’s Wrath ( EA Games; march 2008 )
• Halo Wars ( Microsoft Game Studios; fall 2008 )

>DEBATE ‘08

Does the departure of developer Bungie and EA buying BioWare ( which primarily made Xbox and 360 titles ) mean that Microsoft’s first-party business is collasping?

” I wouldn’t say it’s collapsing. I think with Bungie’s departure, Microsoft is now free to spend money on new intellectual properties with riskier projects, which is both challenging and potentially rewarding from a profit-margin standpoint. This is also good for gamers, because we like fresh experiences. ” — Ted Pollak

” I think Microsoft’s first-party lineup is weakning, but I think that exclusives like Splinter Cell: Conviction will keep them going for another year. They also have the resources to sign third-party exclusives. ” — Michael Pacther

” This is a setback, but Microsoft has enough resources and an attractive business to entice other studios to come onboard. ” — Hiroshi Kamide

Candidate #4 —Go MULTIPLATFORM!

• Tomb Raider: Underworld ( PS3/XBOX360; Eidos; fall 2008 )
• Fallout 3 ( PS3/Xbox360; Bethesda; summer 2008 )
• Grand Theft Auto IV ( PS3/XBOX360; Rockstar; spring 2008 )
• Borderlands ( PS3/XBOX360; 2K Games; fall 2008 )
• Alone in the Dark ( Wii/PS3/XBOX360; Atari; summer 2008 )
• Turok ( PS3/XBOX 36; Touchstone; february 2008 )
• Left 4 Dead ( PS3/XBOX360; EA Games/Valve; summer 2008 )
• Silent Hill V ( PS3/XBOX360; Konami; summer 2008 )
• Dead Space ( PS3/XBOX360; EA Games; fall 2008 )
• Dark Sector ( PS3/XBOX360; D3Publisher; spring 2008 )
• Saboteur ( PS3/XBOX360; EA Games; fall 2008 )
• Golden Axe: Beast Rider ( PS3/XBOX360; Sega; fall 2008 )
• Army of Two ( PS3/XBOX360; EA Games; spring 2008 )
• Sega Superstars Tennis ( Wii/PS3/XBOX360; Sega; march 2008 )
• Wheelman ( PS3/XBOX360; Midway; fall 2008 )
• Mercenaries 2: World in Flames ( PS3/XBOX360; EA Games; spring 2008 )
• Tom Clancy’s EndWar ( PS3/XBOX360; Ubisoft; fall 2008 )
• NBA Ballers: Chosen One ( PS3/XBOX360; Midway; march 2008 )
• Ghostbusters ( Wii/PS3/XBOX360; Sierra; fall 2008 )
• Midnight Club: Los Angeles ( PS3/XBOX360; Rockstar; spring 2008 )
• Prototype ( PS3/XBOX360; Sierra; fall 2008 )
• Soul Calibur IV ( PS3/XBOX360; Namco Bandai; fall 2008 )
• Mirror’s Edge ( PS3; XBOX360; EA Games; fall 2008 )

>DEBATE ‘08

Will the PS3-exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 end up going multiplatform?

” I would be suprised to see Konami after a prearranged agreement, it’s possible that they will be able to negotiate a sweeter margin on other PS3 games due to the fact that they have essentially invested one of their star franchises in a platform that dos no gavce nearly the numbers of pervious generations. ” — Ted Pollak

” This ga,e should go multiplatform after the exclusive term ( with Sony ) end. My guess is that’s for all of 2008. ” — Michael Pacther

” No, because Konami is an old-fashioned Japanese company where historic ties remains very important. But the Metal Gear franchise is likely to start making appearences on other non-Sony Platforms in the future. ” — Hiroshi Kamide