Apologies for no Roundtable last week, but to make up for it we've got two this week! One dealing with the issue of realism in games in response to Conors GameOff column, and another on what our staff are loking forward to in the exciting year ahead of us.

Is realism boring? Or does it enhance the gaming experience?

Freddy: Realism in games = boring. You want to be able to do things that can't be done in real life, things that are out of the ordinary. They're the exciting things. I don't think doing things in a computer game that you can go and do for real five minutes later is very interesting, if you asked me.

Ash: It can be and it can't be. Realistic graphics and effects can be amazing and can truely engross you into the game. But if it becomes too realistic (such as dying after one bullet in FPS) it can become tedious and annoying. So it depends how its done, but I don't mind a bit of surrealism.

While some people say they play games to get away from life I love games that make it seem like real life, if they are done well. One classic example is Shenmue. The only unrealistic things are you never eat, and you never go to the bathroom, but that wouldn't be a pretty site anyway.

Blackbird: Realism can be fun, but only when it's implemented right. Example, Medal of Honor: One shot, you're dead. Quite realistic imo. On the other side, non-realistic games can be fun to (ever seen a plumber jump over a skycraper?).

I think these are the two main genres in which you can divide games (and art). The two aren't complements, but sublements.

Tim: Sometimes the ultimate gaming experienceis to blast everything you see and have it as unrealistic as possible. Other times you will feel like playing simulating something you really like and have the game be as realistic as possible. There is of course also a middle road. I myself prefer this cross between a realism and unrealism. I want the game to be realistic to a level it sucks you into the game and have it be a thrill ride. I dont want the realism to become an annoying factor.

Matthew: I play games to get away from Real-life situations - to get away from the bad things and the sorrow that we often see on TV. Why would I spend �40 on a game just so I can see something that I could just as easily watch (but with less interaction) on a news channel?

I want games that are unreal - games that are nothing like the world we live in, meaning we have to adapt to their lifestyle. I want games that are fun, and that usually means that they are unreal. Link: I guess it depends what you mean about realism and then it also depends on what types of games; it really depends what the devlopers want to tell the viewers. For example Metroid Prime is a serious game with a very detailed story so it needs graphics to show the seriousness and gravity of the situation. In this case realistic graphics work extremely well. That doesn't mean that a serious game needs realistic graphics, though. Killer 7 has cel-shaded graphics, but what I have seen from the pics it portrays a dark story which is created well by using the dark pallette and the cel-shaded graphics. The atmosphere is really well down. Now we come to Zelda. I think that the graphics will complement the gameplay and story of this game.

There are some cartoony physics involved that go well with the cartoony graphics, but we/I have see many environments and enemies that show that cel-shading can have a very serious side. I think Zelda will showcase how well cel-sahding can evoke many emotions in the player. So I guess there isn't any real conclusion to whether one graphical style is better than another; it all comes down to what the developers want the players to feel while playing their game(s).

What are you looking forward to in 2003?

Franklin: The year 2003? What am I looking forward too? Well 2003 should be a great year for Nintendo with so many quality (and potentaily classic) games being released. There's so many it's hard to find just one to stand out. There's Metriod Prime, Resident Evil Zero and of course Zelda: The Wind Waker. Add to that the Capcom titles of PN 03 and Veiwtiful Joe to name but a few i seriously can't contain my excitment. Add to that GBA games such as the remake of Zelda: A Link to the Past and the new Pokemon games and the GBA game i most looking forward to Golden Sun 2. 2003 is gonna be one hell of a year for great quailty exclusive GameCube titles and I can't wait. Bring it on

Game On

Duncan: 2003 is going to be a most productive year, several key titles will be debuting on European shores, most noteably the outstanding Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. One can't help but quiver in anticipation of this title, hailed by many critics to surpass the quality of its predecessors. I personally see this year belonging primarily to Nintendo, but not far behind them will be Capcom, who have blessed us with a collection of unique and exciting looking games to make owners of the other consoles green with envy. For those who are growing bored of the current range, things are looking most definitely in an upwards direction for 2003. I for one cannot wait.

Freddy: The potential for Nintendo in 2003 is huge. Zelda, Metroid, F-Zero, the Capcom 5, Pokemon and Phantasy Star Online are just some of the highlights that should be hitting these shores in the coming year. I predict that Nintendo's sales will continue to be mediocre though, staying, as ever, behind the Playstation 2. Sales will no doubt peak with the release of Zelda and Metroid though, and it will be clear that Nintendo really is the king of home entertainment in the form of videogames. Why won't people just wake up to that fact?

Link: The year 2003 is sure to be Nintendo's best year yet. The first thing that comes to mind is definitely Zelda. This game shows so much promise (even with some insecurity about the cel-shaded style) that it is sure to be a hit. Another big title is Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles which marks the return of the Final Fantasy series to a Nintendo console. Capcom is also going to deliver some great, if not intriguing, titles. RE will go into the realm of true 3-D with aesthetics that look just as, if not more, impressive as its pre-rendered counterpart.

Capcom is also releasing Viewtiful Joe, Killer 7, and Project Number 03. And there are more game that I'm probably forgetting. Beyond actual game releases we have the announcements that are sure to spark anticipation. I expect announcements on Animal Crossing 2 (Online), Mario Kart, Pokemon, and my most anticipated game, Too Human. To sum what I foresee in 2003 for Nintendo can be summed up in one word for Nintendo fans: exciting!

Tim: I am looking forward for the events next year. Of course I am also anticipating the release of games like Metroid, Zelda and Final Fantasy. But what is going to happen and be shown at next year's E3, ECTS and events like that intrigue me even more. I expect many new games to be announced for the GameCube from Nintendo and also the 2nd and 3rd party developers. I am so excited, already!

Javid: After playing Zelda and Metroid myself merely a month ago i've been dying to get my hands on the real deal, 2003 couldn't have come soon enough, and still we are left awaiting these titles. Still, it gives us something to look forward to i guess. And boy does it deserve it, I feel once Cube owners have Zelda it will feel like old times, ah the days when playing Zelda OOT for hours on end barely getting anywhere but still having a blast, get ready to lose alot of your free time!

In other news, 2003 also should bring Animal Crossing and Phantasy Star Online, what more do we want? Final Fantasy? Ok you can have that too, should silence some PS2 critics even though I don't personally like the game. And who knows what else Nintendo will throw at us, the GBA Player, 1080 Avalanche maybe, more news on Mario Kart...will Mario Tennis and Golf have made any advancements in development, with any luck will we see them in 2003? So many questions, only time will tell, going to be an exciting year. On a side note, I'm 18 this year.. woohooo!!

Blackbird: Pikmin 2, Zelda, perhaps a Golden Sun or pokemon for the Cube. Pokemon, Zelda and Golden Sun 2 for the GBA. Not to imagine all the goodies kept secret in Japan...

Ash: Nintendo-wise it should be a good year, we finally see Metroid, Zelda, Monkey Ball 2, PSO, Pokémon and all the other great games inbetween. Also this is the year of the GBA Player to be launched so it will be intresting to see how people react to that. Personally, I should get a job this year so I'm looking forward to turning 16 and being able to buy more games (to add to my rather lacking collection). There are a lot of games that were released last year that I want but can't afford, plus many exciting games to come out this year.

So what do you tink about realism in gaming? And what delights does the next year hold for you? Use our News Comment to give your views on these topics!