Gaming in 2009: 21 Things We Missed!

If our list of 50 of the hottest releases, events, unveilings and announcements scheduled in 2009 wasn't enough, thank the internet's gaming forums, friendly publisher PRs and our own grey matter for an additional helping of 21...

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Nintendo DSi
Spring 2009

We'd previously skipped this new hardware iteration from the 2009 list because we just didn't see it as that big of a deal. But on closer inspection - and prodded by forumites - that could be a disservice to the upgrade. Already available in Japan and set to hit America and PAL territories around spring this year, the DSi is 12% thinner, has internal and external VGA digital cameras, as well as slightly larger screens. It also boats a couple of other subtle changes and refiniements, and offers a free web browser app. On the one hand, we'd prefer to see some more premium, expensive tech from Nintendo (in terms of both console and handheld) that really shows off its franchises in the way we think fans would love to see. But on the other, the company's hardware strategies have been paying off big time, and have enabled the production of some seriously innovative titles - and that's the important thing that should, in theory, be taken a step further with this third iteration of the phenomenally popular device. Might as well buy one of these in time for Chinatown Wars. Not that we're saying Chinatown Wars has any DSi-exclusive features, or anything. -AD

The Agency
TBC 2009? (PS3, PC)

Worshippers of the sacred polygon count have poured scorn on The Agency's low-fi, family-friendly visuals, with chunky crates and pipes very much in evidence; less technically-minded (and let's face it, probably more hygienic) commentators have expressed concerns that Sony Online Entertainment's marriage of first/third-person shooting, RPG character development and a persistent world will fall flat on its arse in genre No-Man's Land. APB appears to be trying a similar trick, of course, but APB is at least provisionally a PC game, while The Agency has one foot in console waters from the outset - waters in which the MMO is a rare quantity indeed. Those risks speak volumes, however, for the sheer ambition at work here. With two factions, six spy classes, oodles of weapons, skills and gadgets, minigames, clan support and mission slots for up to 32 players, the title certainly has the bulk to sustain hundreds of hours of play. Given a robust indirect revenue model and satisfying action mechanics, The Agency could open a new frontier for massively multiplayer gaming. -EET

Assassin's Creed 2
TBC 2009?

The last couple of entries are not exactly a dead cert for 2009, but they're definitely both in development so we expect announcements or unveilings in 2009 at the very least (and as we originally stated, our list is supposed to be about events, announcements and unveilings of interest - not just actual retail releases). It's been obvious that Assassin's Creed was to become a multi-title franchise from the beginning. The first title fell marginally short of some players' expectations, with a little bit too much hand holding involved for a start, but we know the follow-up's on its way thanks to Prince of Persia animation director David Wilkinson, who in an interview with AusGamers, mentioned that Assassin's Creed animation chap Alex Drouin is "busy making Altair even more beautiful... last thing I saw him do was getting Altair to swim." And who doens't like a nice swim? - AD

Team Ico's next game
TBC 2009? (PS3)

It's unlikely we'll be getting our wallets out for Fumito Ueda's third game this year, which is why 100% unfounded rumours like this one are so absolutely necessary - let's force Sony's hand, damn it. Very little is known about the project: it isn't a direct sequel to either of his first two masterpieces, but Ueda has revealed that physical contact is once again an important emotive and gameplay device. Such titbits aside, all we have to go on is the above, evocative image. Despite this paucity of info, we're pretty confident that developers will spend the five years following the game's arrival learning from its triumphs, much as Ico's "design by subtraction" and the ponderous, melancholy grandeur of Shadow of the Colossus continue to inspire. Very comfortably one of our most anticipated things ever. We were fortunate enough to sit down with Team Ico for two rare interviews a few years ago, check them out here and here. -EET

Right, if we keep adding any more, it'll be time to start working on 2010's list. Enjoy the year!

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