Welcome to another edition of GameSpotting, where, if you like what you see, we invite you to upgrade to the full version for a mere $15. In a serendipitous turn of events, two of this week's columns just so happen to focus on shareware and demo versions of games--but can you guess which ones? If guerilla-level marketing doesn't spark your interest, we also touch on ridiculously overpriced games, the thankless job of FAQ writing, and more. If one of these columns gets your synapses all up in a flurry, don't just let that mental energy go to waste. Instead, head on over to our forums to discuss the topics with like-minded folk, or, if you prefer longer-form prose, feel free to try your hand at your very own GuestSpotting column.

Let Them Have It: The Best Way to Get People to Play Your Game
Greg Kasavin/Executive Editor
"There is no better way in the world to effectively market a good game than to release a free, playable demo for it."

Power to the People (Who Write About Games)
Curt Feldman/Senior Editor, News
"Overall, game criticism has a lot of ground to make up, especially when compared to what's being written about movies--or hamburgers smothered in grilled onions and mushrooms for that matter."

My New Shareware Addiction
Jeff Gerstmann/Senior Editor
"Get Soldat. Play Soldat. Love Soldat. And if you want to support this sort of development, buy Soldat."

A Salute to FAQ and Guide Authors
Bob Colayco/Associate Editor
"If you're doing crazy stuff like performing integrations to find out the number of hit points per second a hydralisk is capable of draining, you've gone off the deep end."

Price-Gouging Zombies
Bethany Massimilla/Community Manager
"The fact that these games are all unimproved rereleases of titles that are years old and are still currently listing for about $40 is outrageous."

Deported From the Rhythm Nation
Alex Navarro/Assistant Editor
"I have no business even having a regular heartbeat, let alone playing anything with any manner of rhythm to it, so I should just go lie down and die somewhere."

32X: Short Name, Short Life, Big Fun
George Horvath/GuestSpotter
"Was the 32X necessary? No. Should it have been given more praise than it got? That's up to you."

Gaming Is My Life!
John Q. Gamer/GuestSpotter
For many of us, video games are more than just a hobby. They're a fundamental part of our lifestyles. If you've got something to say about games, gamers, or anything related to electronic entertainment, read our GuestSpotting FAQ, and submit your own column.