Hey, did you hear there’s a new “Halo” game coming out? Me neither.
Yeah, right! We’ve been inundated with so many plugs for Microsoft’s “Halo 3” that we’re starting to wonder if there’s anyone left in the free world who hasn’t heard about it.
All this hoopla got us thinking about other games that got a lot of hype – deserving or otherwise.
These are our Top 5 over-hyped games. Check it out then tell us what games make your list.
Tell us: What titles make your list of the Top 5 over-hyped games?
-- Ken Smith";
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games_top5_070924[i-1].body = "
'Halo 3'
The funny part about all the “Halo 3” hype is that it’s one of the few games that simply doesn’t need it. The first two games in the series have sold nearly 15 million units, and “3” has already pre-sold over a million copies, meaning that this game probably would have gone gold even without a single cent spent on advertising. But spend they did!
All this propaganda does have us quite excited for the game’s release because maybe, just maybe, Mountain Dew will finally stop running those annoying “Game Fuel” commercials. ";
games_top5_070924[i++] = new Array("","'Madden'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070923/070923_madden07-1_hmed_9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Electronic Arts", "239", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_top5_070924[i-1].body = "
'Madden'
If you want to play a football game with the current NFL lineups, you have no choice but to pick up the latest “Madden” title, thanks to the exclusive deal Electronic Arts made with the league and its players. So why, with this kind of lock on the market, do we hear so much about the new version when it comes out every year?
Then there’s the extra level of hype that “Madden” gets from its “curse.” Since the players who grace its cover have a nasty habit of either having a horrible season or getting hurt, the public gets flooded with “will the curse strike?” articles - which are generally followed by “the Madden curse strikes again!” articles.
Other games can only dream about publicity like this.";
games_top5_070924[i++] = new Array("","'Daikatana'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070923/070923_daikatana1_hmed_9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Eidos", "273", "324", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_top5_070924[i-1].body = "
'Daikatana'
When it was announced in the late 90s, Eidos’ “Daikatana” had some high expectations pinned on it. The game was lead-developed by none other than John Romero, the guy behind “Wolfenstein 3D,” “Quake” and “Doom.” With a resume like that “Daikatana” wouldn’t need to be over-glorified, would it?
Well, “Daikatana’s” PR people thought it did. They shifted the hype-machine into overdrive with ads in gamer magazines that simply stated “John Romero’s about to make you his bitch.”
That bravado quickly turned into embarrassment when the game was released to mediocre (at best) reviews.";
games_top5_070924[i++] = new Array("","'Enter the Matrix'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070923/070923_matrix3_hmed_9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Atari/ Warner Bros. Interactive", "273", "381", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_top5_070924[i-1].body = "
'Enter the Matrix'
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when “The Matrix” was everywhere. The movie was a blockbuster, so it was no surprise to see the propaganda surrounding the simultaneous release of both its sequel, “The Matrix Reloaded,” and the companion video game, “Enter the Matrix.”
A lot of the game’s hype revolved around its storyline, which intertwined with the film and had characters walking out the movie and into the game - and vice versa. Furthermore, gamers could “hack” the system and get deeper into the “Matrix” than ever before.
Sadly, entering the Matrix wasn’t very exciting, and all the hype around the game fizzled.";
games_top5_070924[i++] = new Array(""," 'Pac-Man'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070923/070923_pacman5_hmed_9a.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Namco", "273", "256", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
games_top5_070924[i-1].body = "
'Pac-Man'
There’s hype, there’s over-hype, and then there’s “Pac-Man.” Namco’s classic arcade game is on a level all its own.
Perhaps you remember the annoyingly catchy hit song, “Pac-Man Fever,” by Buckner & Garcia? That wasn’t the only reference to the game in pop culture. Back in 1982, you couldn’t walk five steps without seeing some sort of reference to “Pac-man,” from toys to t-shirts - and even a breakfast cereal. That pie-shaped dot-eater was all over the place!
Even for many people today, the name “Pac-Man” is synonymous with video games.
Tell us: What makes your list of the Top 5 over-hyped games?
";
// END editorial data