Best of 2011: Developers' Pick
Game creators tell us what they can't wait to play.
Looking forwards is a big part of being a gamer. What delights await in 2011? Which developers will rock our virtual socks off? What are the big blockbusters, cult classics and surprise hits we'll be playing over the next 12 months?
Game creators have opinions on such matters too, of course. We've already heard from industry luminaries about their highlights of 2010. Here we ask another all-important question: what is your most anticipated game of 2011?
Randy Pitchford is co-founder, CEO and president of Gearbox Software, creator of Brothers in Arms, Borderlands and currently hard at work on Duke Nukem Forever and Aliens: Colonial Marines.
"For 2011 I am very much looking forward to the range of big titles while hoping for some new surprises. I look forward to getting a Nintendo 3DS and hope there's some great content for the platform that uses the new technology well."
David Braben is founder of Frontier Developments, the studio behind Kinect launch title Kinectimals, having previously worked on seminal space sim Elite.
"For next year, I'm not sure. There are a lot of games in the pipeline - as a games designer I think I am looking forward most to the first 'core gamer' Kinect and Move titles."
Dave Cox is head of product planning at Konami and producer of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.
"As for next year, I am really looking forward to Batman: Arkham City from RockSteady. I loved the first game very much and can't wait to see what's in store in the follow up. RockSteady has managed to capture what's cool about the Batman and stayed true to the character. As a comic book fan, it's really exciting to see where they take it next."
David Perry is CEO of Gaikai.com and in a previous life co-founded MDK developer Shiny Entertainment.
"For 2011 the title I'm most excited to experience is Star Wars: The Old Republic. Why? Because Electronic Arts is absolutely swinging for the fences on one of the biggest brands in entertainment history. Then you sprinkle BioWare magic on the equation and hear rumours of 20GB downloads and you start to think, 'I gotta play this one!' So it's probably the one that I will be waiting opening night for.
"Honourable mentions would be Max Payne 3, as I'm a fan of bullet time and can never get enough. Bulletstorm, can't wait. Also I think Battlefield (play4free) could be a really important milestone in the Western acceptance of free to play, so you can keep an eye out for me there."
Nick Burton is Kinect development director at Rare one of the chief architects of Kinect launch title Kinect Sports.
"I can't wait for Gears of War 3 next year! I loved Gears 1 and 2, they were such visceral experiences and I think it's long past time for Marcus and Dom to return and dust off their Lancers again."
Edward 'BongoBoy' Stern is the senior game designer of upcoming first-person shooter Brink at UK developer Splash Damage.
"Such much great stuff impending! Portal 2 needs no further up-biggening from the likes of me: everyone knows it's going to be brilliant. Deus Ex 3, Rage, Elder Scrolls V, LittleBigPlanet 2, Dead Space 2, Dragon Age 2, Killzone 3, Crysis 2... But id Software's speaks-for-itself-splendiferous Rage aside, they're all sequels to proven, brilliant games.
"In the spirit of applauding Incredibly Strange 2/3D Innovation, let me then plump for the intriguing Rock Of Ages by Chilean studio Ace Team (who did the brilliantly original first-person Dali/Breughel-brawler Zeno Clash). I dare anyone to watch the Rock Of Ages trailer and not fall head over heels in love with it. The smug look on the face on the rock! Art History epoch level-ups! What's not to love? Absolutely nothing, that's what not."