The HotSpot 5/02/06 - Features at GameSpot

Nintendo's never been afraid to cause a stir, and the almost universal derision over the name change from Revolution to Wii is probably not going to faze them, either.

But seriously... Why? >>

Madden for Wii

Credit EA for taking full advantage of the unique features of the controller. But how well will it play a game of football, asking you to flick and swing that controller around to do basic tasks like pass and kick?

Wii'll all have to wait and see... >>

EA settles 2nd labor dispute

Following on the heels of last year's class action lawsuit, EA has settled another labor lawsuit to the tune of nearly $15 million. The whistle-blowing spouse was also recently identified in an interview with the San Jose Mercury News.

What will be the industrywide impact? >>

Carmack goes mobile

The id software game-engine guru surprises many with the announcement of a new fantasy RPG for mobile phones. Since when does a cutting-edge PC developer constrain himself to mobile phones?

If it's as good as Doom RPG, it'll be worth playing... >>

Valve on X360

The celebrated developer of Half-Life announced it will be developing for the Xbox 360. No details have yet been announced on what games would be in the mix.

Would a port of Half-Life 2 be a safe bet? >>

Free week of XBL

Along with offering demos, movies, and other E3-related content next week, all 360 owners will get to enjoy a free week of Xbox Live service, including inside looks at E3 and Marketplace points giveaways.

Can we get some free horse armor, too? >>

Texas game tax

It's not a 100% tax like the one proposed by a gubernatorial candidate, but a current Texas lawmaker is proposing a 5% surtax on all video games that would be used to fund improvements in state schools.

Time to order online? >>

GameCube price drop?

New promotional materials sent to EB Games outlets suggest that a price drop is on the way for the already-inexpensive console. Does anyone care, though?

How much would you pay? $90? $80? $75? >>