With a new year right around the corner, there are a few upcoming PC games that have really got my attention.  So much so that I dread everyday I have to live without these games in my possession.  Not really, but I know some of you out there know what I'm talking about.  Let's take a look and see what I want need next year for gaming:

1. Crysis

Yes, this is my #1 game I'm looking forward to at the moment.  Even more so that Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (GASP!).  Crysis is a first person shooter (fps) and looks absolutely incredible!  Back in the day before Doom 3 or Half-Life 2 came out, the developer of Crysis (Crytek), shocked the gaming community with a little game called FarCry.  FarCry beat both Doom 3 and Half-Life 2 to retail and in turn was the first to show the world the next generation in graphics.

Well Crysis looks to do the same thing.  Crysis is the first game to actually look life-like.  Look at that screenshot above.  That's an actual in-game screen.  Not pre-rendered and not a photograph.  I know this may sound shallow of me, but the main reason I want Crysis is for the graphics.  I'm a graphics whore.

But let's not also forget the moddable suit and guns you get.  That's right.  You can adjust your suit and weapons to your liking.  I'm not talking aesthetics.  But actual purposeful modifications that can let you run faster, hit harder, etc.

Of course such a pretty game is going to require a pretty fat gaming rig.  Crysis I believe will be the first game to fully support DirectX 10.  Which means if I want full graphics glory, I need to get Windows Vista (which comes with DX10), and Nvidia's GeForce 8800 series graphics card which also supports DX10.  Both of those upgrades will put a nice dent in my wallet, but it's worth the upgrade.

Crysis should be released sometime in the first or second quarter of 2007.  For lots more info on Crysis, including movies, screens, and news, check out my favorite Crysis site >> http://www.crysis-online.com.  Can't wait!

2. Half-Life: Episode Two

Ok, so anyone who knows me knows my favorite game series ever is Half-Life.  I don't care what anyone says.  The Half-Life series is in my opinion the best gaming series ever.  The genius developers behind Half-Life (Valve) have created the best game play and storyline that I've ever played.  And Episode Two looks to continue these.

Half-Life 2: Episode Two is the second in a three part series that is rumored to end the Half-Life story and games.  While Episode One was good, it didn't really answer any of those dying questions that we all want to know.  Who is the G-man?  Why Gordon Freeman?  Why the Vortigaunts?  What's happening to Alyx?  What is happening to Earth?  Episode Two claims to answer some of these questions.  I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

Aside from the story, Episode Two looks to be the first Half-Life game to take place in a more open and outdoor-sy area.  Check out some trailers online.  The game looks hard as hell.  With combine soldiers, Striders, Antlions, and Gunships everywhere, staying alive might prove a daunting task.  But it still looks like great fun!

Slated for release sometime in the first or second quarter of 2007, Episode Two may actually be in a tie for first when it comes to games I want the most.  Please Valve, no more delays!  I must know what happens next!  I must climb back into my HEV suit!

3. Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress Classic (TFC) will always hold a special place in my heart.  I spent an ungodly amount of hours playing that game.  Originally a mod for Half-Life, TFC used to be one of the most popular multiplayer games around.  That is until CounterStrike came in and ruined everything.  Heh.  Ah those were the good 'ol days.  Back with my dial up connection and 14 baud modem.  I was one of the most fierce snipers around.  And TFC is where I originally got my online handle, 'chapstick'.

Well, it's nice to finally see Team Fortress 2 back in action.  Originally TF2 was supposed to be released several years ago.  And it looked nothing like it does today.  The original TF2 concept kind of looked like any other war-like multiplayer game today (Battlefield xx).  But like always, Valve worked their magic and made an incredibly unique looking game.

Team Fortress 2 is supposed to be released when Half-Life 2: Episode Two gets released, but we all know Valve likes delays.  So let's keep our fingers crossed.

4. Spore

The creator of The Sims brings you another completely unique game called Spore.  I talked about this game a few months ago when it was first announced and even showed a nice little video about it.  Spore is definitely a first and one of a kind game.  In a world of nothing but first person shooters, Spore will be one of the few that sits on my hard drive that is not an fps.

The game concept is just amazing.  You take a little spore and evolution-ize it any way you see fit.  Eventually your little spore will grow up and build packs, then civilizations, then (the best part of all), discover space travel.  You can then travel to other galaxies and view other worlds created by other, real life, Spore players.  You can then interact with those worlds and do what you want.

There just seems to be so much you can do in this game that playing it straight for several months wouldn't be enough time.  There would still be things undiscovered and things that you wouldn't have experienced in this game yet.  I will be buying Spore the second it comes out sometime next year.

2007 is going to be a great year for PC gaming.  With the unveiling of the above games as well as many others, plus the launch of Windows Vista, DirectX 10, and DX10 compliant video cards, 2007 will indeed be an awesome year.