Halo 4 Has a Descent Shot At Outselling Black Ops II

It's that time of year again. A time where gamers speculate whether Game X can overthrow the latest Call of Duty. Last year, CoD was up against Battlefield 3, and the year before that, was matched against Medal of Honor and Halo: Reach. But it seems that no matter what it's paired up against, Call of Duty continues to smash sales records and shatter the expectations of gamers everywhere. However, I'm convinced that's going to change in 2012. Well, at least for the Xbox 360.

Prediction Roundup: Volume I

Prediction Roundup attempts to rationalize and provide insight to some of the gaming industry's most pressing questions by using deductive reasoning and supporting facts. Following each prediction is a handy "confidence meter" displaying how Game Nook views the prediction's probability.

Prediction: The Future of the FPS

In an earlier article, Game Nook discussed where the FPS genre stood today, however its future has yet to be given the same attention. Call of Duty 4 is arguably the most influential FPS of this generation because of its integration of RPG elements and fast, accessible gameplay. Countless studios have incorporated infinity ward's formula to the point where it has become standard across the genre. However, very little innovation has occurred since Modern Warfare launched in 2007, until only recently. Perhaps in response to a stagnating market, some developers are iterating and morphing CoD's formula, into -what I think- is the next big revolution in the genre.

Is the Popularity of First Person Shooters a Phase?

Currently, First Person Shooters like Call of Duty, Homefront, Battlefield, and Medal of Honour dominate the sales charts and gamer's free time. Many gamers however (myself included) are frustrated with this genre's current trajectory, criticizing its lack of innovation, uninspired settings, and predictable, rushed experiences. There's no doubt FPSs are one of the most (if not the most) popular and profitable genres in all of gaming, but will this trend eventually fizzle and give way to the next best thing? Is the current popularity of First Person Shooters just a phase? I heed warning before venturing further; the answer may be a little discouraging. Allow me to elaborate...