that 'Christmas Eve feeling'...

[Dirty Sanchez]

As the PS2 was my first console I'd have to say GT3, I was gagging for that game. As I'd never played GT at all (yes, really) it was huge step up from previous games I'd played, truely arcade in the home stuff.

Next up was MGS 2. Stunning.

Next big thing was the 360 but I suppose Forza 2, Halo 3 and COD4 were the ones that I was in and out of the local indie to pay to dollar for before launch day.

I've purposely kept an arms length from up coming releases as I was getting to wrapped up in what might be coming, effectively spoiling the surprise element that the Xmas Eve feeling is unique for.

COD MW2: I'll be all over that come Nov but I've watched 2 clips and read none of the features.

Still waiting for PSP:GT, the game I imported a launch PSP for.

[Brad]

Metal Gear Solid 4 (wasn't disappointed), before that Twilight Princess(again, not disappointed) and before that GTA4 (I WAS disappointed).

[MrMarbles]

Thinking about it a little more, the biggest killer of excitement for me is undoubtedly caused by the internet.

I remember the days of eagerly rushing home from HMV with a new game, legging it up to my room before tearing off the cellophane with clumsy fingers. I remember the anticipation of turning on the console and seeing the developer logo, the desperate urge to see the game in motion for the first time because, up until that point, all I'd seen were still images in Mean Machines. The turning of my stomach when the "Press Start" message appears, knowing that I was about to play it for the first time!!!

Nowadays, games get announced months in advance, game trailers and footage are found in abundance on every gaming site, you get public betas and demos for everything... by the time you play the full game for the first time, you know exactly what it's going to look like, how it's going to control - there's simply no magic any more.

[Atticus]

I don't think any particular franchaise gives me that Christmas feeling any more ... the release of Ocarina of Time was the last title to do that, having me counting the days and feeling uncontrollably excited ... now only a new major hardware release gives me the same feeling.

[Nighteyes]

Nowadays, games get announced months in advance, game trailers and footage are found in abundance on every gaming site, you get public betas and demos for everything... by the time you play the full game for the first time, you know exactly what it's going to look like, how it's going to control - there's simply no magic any more.

So true!!

[dvdx2]

[QUOTE=MrMarbles;1595373]
I remember the days of eagerly rushing home from HMV with a new game, legging it up to my room before tearing off the cellophane with clumsy fingers. I remember the anticipation of turning on the console and seeing the developer logo, the desperate urge to see the game in motion for the first time because, up until that point, all I'd seen were still images in Mean Machines. The turning of my stomach when the "Press Start" message appears, knowing that I was about to play it for the first time!!!



Then i realised, why o why did i buy Rise of the Robots? lol

You gotta admit, there was a fair bit of cack back then....

[Extra Terrestrial]

Nowadays, games get announced months in advance, game trailers and footage are found in abundance on every gaming site, you get public betas and demos for everything... by the time you play the full game for the first time, you know exactly what it's going to look like, how it's going to control - there's simply no magic any more.

You are absolutely right.

The last game that made me have that - as Adam calls it - 'Christmas Eve feeling' is when I got a PSone and Final Fantasy VII for Christmas.

Since then, apart from Shadow of the Colossus and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (which turned out to be a slight disappointment after the majestic original), I have unfortunately not had that feeling.

I actually get more excited about holidays I have booked in advance than anything else nowadays.

I guess I just prefer laying on a beach under the sun!

[paul]

With me, I'll happily wait for most new games to come down in price before even considering their purchase. I'm not one to be fooled anymore by the latest releases discounted within a matter of months of release.

However there are certain games for which I simply cannot wait, and as you point out it is like the night before Christmas. Although magic of that day was lost years ago as my birthday is on Christmas day!

Zelda is definitely one, and the Shenmue was the other.
I don't get to the point where I'm thinking about it constantly, but there's a certain anticipation with those games which simply have never been replicated by anything else on the market. Of actually I'll make an exception for Knights of the Old Replublic as well.

[Junko]

Christmas eve feelings .... not had any for a while ...

Seeing Virtua Fighter for the first time
N64 and DC hardware releases

Cant think of anything else tbh

[ezee ryder]

Metal Gear Solid on the original PlayStation. I didn't really know alot about the game, all I knew was that it was gonna be awesome. I was so excited about it I would go down to the local game shop and ask about the release date every week. This was about a month or two before it actually came out too! When I finally got it I don't think anyone saw me for a good couple of days.

Had similar excitement about Metal Gear Solid 2 aswell. I remember I missed my morning Physics lesson to run to the shop and pick up my copy in the morning. I then ran back to shool and "sneaked" into the classroom, Solid Snake style!