So we arrive at number one. The top story of the year. The story that, when I look back, will make
me think "Yeah, 2004…"
I'd bet a dollar you can't get what it is… (And the picture is no help, so don't try and cheat…)
So here we are, number 1!
So, what, in my humble opinion, is the story of the year? Simple really. LEAKS. And lots of them.
This year there were two very big leaks. Halo 2, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Games that both found themselves
on the net prior to their release date.
You won?t see me going on about how awful or terrible this is. There are plenty of other people out there willing to
do that. No, my take is the hype surrounding this. Both the games, AND the leaks. Both games were relentlessly hyped.
Now while they were in the wrong, is it really a surprise that some eager beaver got their hands on the titles and,
more critically, decided to share them? Very few games get leaked in this fashion. It?s interesting to note that two of
the biggest titles of the year were the ones that got leaked.
Victims of their own hype? Maybe. But the old saying ?there?s no such thing as bad publicity? certainly comes into
play here. The leaks got both titles coverage in news media that ordinarily won?t touch video games. Free advertising.
The games were so hyped and people were so eager that I doubt many sales were lost by people copying rather than paying
for it. And who knows how much interest was generated by the coverage outside the usual media, due to the leak.
Regardless, that?s the story I?ll probably remember most from 2004. The leaks.
There were some HUGE game releases this year, from Doom 3, to Half-Life 2, to Halo 2, to GTA: San Andreas. It was a
good year to be a gamer. Here?s hoping 2005 will be as good, if not better.
Happy New Year!
