You know their games all come out as evolutions of one another. Each “new” engine first gets a Doom game, then an overhaul, then a Quake game. Then, after a break, they do some more revamping, and toss a bone to the old Wolfenstein fans. So think Quake 4 on 360, and you’ll know about what to expect, with some likely updates to things like AI, facial and limb animations, and new innovations in level designs (Wolfenstein, after all, was known for the hidden rooms and such!).

Unfortunately, Wolfenstein has gone from WW2 to Sci-Fi. Really detracts from what was supposed to be a great franchise.

If they want to call this one “Wolfenstein” – why didn’t they just call Doom 3 “Doom.” It wasn’t a sequel, it was a re-telling of the original. I’ll still consider this Wolfenstein 4. (“Wolfenstein 3D” (original), “Spear of Destiny” (Wolf 2), Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Wolf 3), and now “Wolfenstein” – which I will be calling Wolfenstein 4).

My prediction is that the Doom 4 engine will probably make its first “sneak peak” at GDC next year, with no game due out until fall 2010. Then the cycle will start over with Doom 4, Quake 5, and Wolfenstein 5.