Initial buzz about the Saint's Row demo has been quite possible, including Toys R Us selling out of them when they accidentally labeled the demo as a $10 game.  As any reader of this blog knows, I am a crazy-huge Grand Theft Auto fan. 

Unfortunately, there's no major GTA game being released in 2006, just as there was none for 2005.  That leaves a pretty big opportunity for someone else to come in and be a very major player in that space.  Will Volition step up and fill those (very big) shoes?  Unclear, but they seem to have the best shot at it that I've seen.

It amazes me how few games seem to be able to really compete head to head with the industry giants.  Where are the Sims clones?  Where are the GTA clones?  All attempts seem to be not even coming close to matching their primary competition on production quality OR features.  Maybe developer ego is inhibiting the best players from trying to compete 1:1?