I haven't been specifically ignoring my blog as much as I've been deeply rooted in the constant flow of games to review. It's been a busy month, but I am grateful that a dry spell has evolved into something more stimulating. It goes in spurts, doesn't it? A bunch of middling games fill out the calendar, and suddenly something good or even special comes along.

Activision didn't send review copies of Wolfenstein for the PC or the PS3, so we should be getting those at retail and getting reviews up by the end of the week. Additionally, a Dissidia review will be up by the end of the week as well; we filmed the video review today. In the meanwhile, if you're anxiously awaiting the review, satiate yourselves with some video:

I've also put up a ton of screens. Here are a few:

I hope you enjoy the media. I will also be working on my Spore adventure that I promised a few blogs ago. I plan on tearing myself away more often to keep you all updated on what's going on in my small but decidedly crowded corner of the universe.

In the words of American Dad's Roger: "Haha! I'm away!"

Goodness I have been busy, so I apologize that this follow-up is a long time coming! In my last blog, I asked you to create an idea for a Spore adventure that I could create. I would choose the entry that was the best, and was the most viable to create, and create it using Spore: Galactic Adventures. The individual that suggested it then gets a copy of Spore and its expansion!

Well congratulations to @Emperor_Jimmu: I will be creating an adventure based on your suggestion, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight! Not only is it a good story, but it is doable within the context of a 10-minute adventure. Send me an email to kevinv--at--gamespot--dot--com with your name and address (and Steam account name, if applicable), and I will either send physical copies of the games to you, or I can gift them to your Steam account.

In the meanwhile, I will get to work on the adventure. When it is done, I will record a playthrough of it and post it here! My thanks to everyone that posted a suggestion.

As you probably know, I really like the Spore expansion pack, Galactic Adventures. I am pleased with the adventures I created (check out Perseus' Quest, which I think turned out well; too bad the Sporepedia hasn't updated yet with the correct number of plays and so on). I am now in the process of another one based on Korean legend, and can't wait to finish it this week.

But this is where you come in. Once I am done with the current project, I need a good idea for the next one--and I want you to be my muse. So come up with a little story idea. I'll choose the one I like most and seems most feasible to create, craft the adventure, and capture a playthrough so you can see how it turned out. Even better, I will send you a copy of Spore and its expansion, either a physical copy, or via Steam. (If you already own both or either, we can work out a different PC game). Here's the nitty gritty:

1. Give me a loose idea of a small game story that can be played through in around 10-12 minutes. It can be an original idea, a favorite legend or myth, a parody, or something else entirely! Feel free to be creative.

2. Just don't get too carried away. The Spore adventure creator has limitations, so I can't explore the seven levels of hell or anything. But it can have up to eight acts, and include combat, dialogue, fetch quests, and so on. But be as nonspecific as possible (rough outline), because the more specific you get, the less able I will be to create an adventure that intricate.

3. Reply here with your idea. I'll choose the one I like most based on a combination of how good it is, and how feasible it will be to create. Reply by July 1 at 12 PM (noon) Pacific Time, and you'll be eligible.

4. I will announce the winner in my blog. If I choose your entry, I will create it, and when done, I will record a playthrough and post it on the site. I will also credit you on the published adventure. And finally, I will send you a copy of Spore and Spore Galactic Adventures, either via Steam, or via snail mail. This will entail giving me either your Steam username, or your name and address. These would be emailed to me and kept private.

5. I like waffles. Mmm.

So that's about it. I look forward to hearing your ideas and bringing it to life. In the meanwhile, I keep my Twitter updated with all sorts of weird exploits, including Spore ones. And who knows, maybe I will like more than one adventure. If I do, I can't give the game to more than one person (how much money do you think i make!?), but I would certainly create your work of art!

Hi there! In my last blog post, I promised the first five users to post links to their photo that I would create a Sim for them in The Sims 3. Only three people decided to link their photos, but it was enough to have a bit of fun. Now, game limitations keep me from getting it spot on, but hopefully I got close!

First up, @MaddenBowler10:

On to @drumbreak1. You were tough because the photo was black and white, and there is no re-creating your awesome hair. But here you go!

And lastly, @nickscho! Hope you enjoy your likeness.

Now, back to E3 preparations. Enjoy the show this year; I know I will!

E3 is practically here--and oddly, a few important, highly anticipated games are coming out around this time, a move that intrigues me, and one that makes it easy to make pre-release conjectures (some of which, interestingly, aren't really legitimate worries, and some that are, judging from what I have seen and played). One of the biggest, The Sims 3, comes out next week. It's an interesting release date, because coverage on major sites may get buried alongside E3 news. Luckily, I spent dozens and dozens of hours with it, and you will see the review up on Monday morning when the review embargo lifts. Sadly, most of our video equipment was all packed up, but we did manage to cobble together a video review, though it won't feature our snazzy greenscreen set. We went old-fashioned!

EA likely doesn't care about coverage getting buried--The Sims 3 is bound to sell like hotcakes. After all, it is the second sequel to the best-selling PC game of all time. A few other games are also on their way next week, like Fuel and Red Faction: Guerilla. I have played through Fuel's single-player component, but because we were given code that plays only on a debug unit, and there weren't pre-release online sessions, I haven't been able to play an important aspect of any modern racing game--multiplayer. Additionally, we were given PS3 code, but not Xbox 360 code. That means you won't see a review for Fuel until after E3. You will probably see Red Faction this week, though. The query that's easy to make, though, is the one you ask when a film isn't screened for critics: is the game released during that week because the publisher is worried about negative buzz? I certainly wondered it, but honestly, a few observations have led me to believe that we shouldn't rush to such dismissals.

So even though the review is done and written, I am still messing around with The Sims 3, so I have a proposal for you. Respond to this blog with a link to a photo of yourself; if you are one of the first five people to do so, I will try my best to recreate your likeness in sim form and post a shot of the resulting Sim here. I have had some success with likenesses; my virtual Chris Watters and Shaun McInnis are spot on, though to be fair, Chris and Shaun themselves created them. So let's have some pre-E3 fun to keep ourselves occupied!

I also have a few thoughts on the first half of 2009.

Winners:

Strategy games. Dawn of War II is one of my favorite games so far this year. The single-player is unusual but fun, yet it's the online component that is fast and furious enough to keep you enamored. RTS? Fast and furious? Oh yes indeed. Not so fast and furious, but no less wonderful: Empire: Total War. A bit buggy at release and somewhat different from its predecessors in some ways for sure, yet still supremely addictive and worth playing.Also worth playing: The RTS/action hybrid Battlestations: Pacific, Men of War, and the underappreciated (and now free) BattleForge. Last year's strategy pickings were slimmer than they should have been; this year has offered several good several strategy titles already!

Tower Defense. Who could have imagined that Plants vs. Zombies would have become so beloved so quickly? And how about the amazing Comet Crash on PSN, a potential game of the year candidate? The recent Swords and Soldiers on WiiWare also has tower defense elements and is quite wonderful. Just when you think a genre really has nowhere to go, game designers prove that creative minds can always find a way to breathe new life into old concepts.

Dumb Fun. Ninja Blade is one of my personal favorites yet this yea, and its mixed critical reaction really surprises me. It isn't deep, it isn't serious, and it isn't trying to be like Ninja Gaiden, so stop comparing them! It is, however, a trip. It's been a hit in the office, though it's hardly perfect--yet I just get a rush when I play it. And here I thought I could never like quick-time events again. And how about The Dishwasher? There's a game that is just pure fun (and quite difficult), and shamefully underselling. Excitebots? Hell yeah. Just all fun. What's wrong with just--being fun? Nothing, I tell you, Nothing!

Hidden Gems. Here's where those games come that some folks can't quite wrap their heads around. They often come from lesser-known devs and explore concepts and mechanics that make your head spin. They might have some technical issues, and won't be everyone's cup of tea, but they deserve credit for being exactly what they are. Cryostasis is this year's best example. It's slow to unfold, but it draws you in. It's for the thoughtful gamer that doesn't need every moment to be filled with bullets and blood, the gamer that likes a sense of place and time, the gamer that likes mystery and doesn't need a quick payoff. So far, it's my favorite story this year. Necrovision, Zeno Clash, Deadly Creatures,Trash Panic, Zubo--don't overlook them because they sound weird or have little buzz. They may not be for you, but they deserve consideration.

Killzone 2 and inFamous. I made up a category just for them. It's the category of AWESOMENESS.

Losers:

Strategy Games. For every up, there's been a down. Let's start with Stalin vs. Martians, the worst game so far this year. Please stop giving this game a reader review score of 10 because you think it's funny. It's not funny when you do that. It just isn't. Or Stormrise, possibly the second-worse game so far this year, and a shocking misstep from a developer known for great strategy games. Demigod is fun, but it's not a complete product. Nor is it perfectly functional, even now. I got some flack from certain quarters over that review; people wanted us to go easy on it, as it came from a publisher known for its commitment to customer service. But as always, we don't review a product based on what it could be in the future--I have to tell it like it is. And it was broken. And it's still not fixed. Connection issues are still a major issue, the pantheon stats are still not fully functional, and there are other scattered problems. In other words, it is the perfect example of why no developer or publisher gets the benefit of the doubt--and why you should never, ever, ever trust that a game will be fixed in the future, or blindly trust the proposed timeline for those fixes. Stardock recommends using a third-party program called GameRanger to help with the connection issues. And you know what? That's unacceptable. Anyway, we also got disappointing expansions for Company of Heroes, Red Alert 3, and World in Conflict--shocking developments for three games that set high standards for the genre. Which brings me to:

Expansion Packs. Those two games I just mentioned belong here, along with Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate. I realize not every expansion can be as awesome as The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, but even the most forgiving fans should still expect more than a quick grab for their buck.

Sequels. There are some wonderful exceptions, some of which I noted above (oh, and Street Fighter IV of course), but there are also some real drags in this regard. The Godfather 2 isn't good. I know there are folks out there that stand by that game vehemently (just as some stood by last year's appalling Mercenaries 2), but it's so flawed, so broken, so devoid of personality, and so contrary to what the license stands for. Puzzle Quest Galactrix is another one that dropped the ball. Neither F.E.A.R. 2 nor Riddick: Dark Athena are bad games; actually, both products are good. Yet when compared to the originals, they suffer somewhat. Moody, sure, but they aren't special in the way their predecessors were. And Bionic Commando is less a sequel than it is a reimagining, nor is it bad, but it doesn't live up to series' standards of quality and fun.

Humor. Night at the Museum is a great way to earn 1000 achievement points in 2 hours, but as hard as it tries, it isn't good for a laugh. Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust's humor is awful. I like dirty jokes as much as anyone else, but you can't leave out the joke part; being dirty isn't funny on its own! And of course, Stalin vs. Martians belongs here too. It thinks it's so clever, but how wrong it is. Of course, there was some truly funny games this year, like Prinny: Can I Really be the Hero; Eat Lead; and Wallace & Gromit. But clever humor seems to be a lost art in games. Giants: Citizen Kabuto, LucasArts adventure games like Grim Fandango, Armed & Dangerous--we need more of these nowadays. Games that tickle us.

What are your winners and losers so far this year? And don't forget to show me your photo, so I can create you in The Sims 3! Also, check our E3 page, and follow me on Twitter. I will be getting possible questions to ask developers and publishers on my E3 appointments in real-time on my Twitter through the week, so keep an eye out!

Remember how my wife Ursula was throwing up? She was indeed with child. I helped her out as best I could. I even read that damn pregnancy book like she asked after she was done with it. And when time came, I drove her to the hospital, where she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Arabelle. Arabelle is a wad of energy; she likes waking us up through the night, which makes Ursula quite cranky, since she possesses the "neurotic" trait. I find that keeping her busy checking the sinks and the stove is the best way to let her sublimate her obssessive-compulsive behavior. She also does a lot of gardening, which leaves Sim Kevin taking after Arabelle more than she does. Blast! This is what I get for being a penniless band manager, while she helps her boss out with important "research" and stocks the fridge with tomatoes, grapes, and lettuce. What goes on in that lab, anyway?

This is my little bundle of joy. One of my favorite parts was when I didn't have a crib, so my Sims just keps putting her on the floor. If I am not careful, they'll do it in public too. On my visit to a local barbecue, I put her down in the grass, and another Sim went haywire when she started to cry, so I sent my wife to tell him a thing or two. He had a tantrum but didn't cause more trouble.

Here's the barbecue in question. Sim Kevin is eating hot dogs, while Ursula waits for her turn at the grill. This must be when Arabelle was laying in the grass, since neither of them are holding her!

Sometimes you have to get away from the wife, you know? This should have been a pleasant after-work dinner party. Instead, I met this dude named Cycl0n3 Sw0rd. I knew of him already, because Ursula delivers vegetables to him for profit. Well anyway, I thought his name was dumb. I mean, who uses a moniker like that in real life? His whole rich lifestyle with him and his bimbos in their huge loft offends me. So I told him what I thought.

He didn't take too kindly to my continued offenses however, but I didn't let up. First I told him his mother was a llama. Then I slapped him. Finally, I showed the scrawny ass that there was only room for one geek in town, and it's the one with the normal name and the beautiful wife. Well, I tried to show him. I lost the fight, but not before I declared Cycl0n3 Sw0rd my nemesis. I will not rest until I take him down.

Luckily, Ursula is less inclined to get herself into trouble. Here you can see her chatting it up with Sim Justin Calvert at the library, who managed to talk about computers--while in his workout clothing. Poor Justin. I should have put more thought into giving him a better exercise outfit.

It's hard work having a baby, an issue I have extended by cranking up my Sim lifespans to the longest possible. Luckily, because my Sims have opposite work shifts, I don't have to spring often for a babysitter, though Sim Kevin's barely had time to practice the guitar he's so busy with late night feedings and diaper changes. I'll keep you posted with more developments in the life of Sim Kevin and his wacky friends as the week progresses.

We received review code for The Sims 3 on Friday, so I have spent the last few days messing around with it. The review embargo is still more than a week away, but while you patiently wait for our final word, I thought I would share with you a few screens from the last few days. All these shots are from the city that ships with the game and includes no downloaded content. It's worth noting, however, that when you register the game you get an entire town to download for free; I will show off some screens from that city when the review goes up.

On Tuesday, I'll post a whole bunch of video as well, and try to sate any hunger you have for all things Sims 3. In the meanwhile, some updates on my Sims:

While I put him through a few changes afterwards, this was my Sim in progress. Handsome fellow. Oddly enough, I named him Kevin. He's a big guy, but a but more in shape than me. An interesting addition to the Sim creator allows you to create your own clothing designs. As you can tell, this black t-shirt didn't get much attention!

This is the Sim version of GameSpot's own Lark Anderson. The game allows you to give each Sim up to five behavioral characteristics. Upon Lark's request, I made his Sim insane and evil. For good measure, he's also a kleptomaniac, inappropriate, and neurotic. Oh--and I made his wife Britney Spears. Together, they have a child. Called Trollbo.

Conversations with Lark and Britney are a little bizarre. Lark makes all sorts of moody noises, and got pissed off when I straightened up that pink flamingo that had fallen over. I apologized and he seemed fine, but I decided to be rude to Britney in retribution. I then took my leave. Can't wait to see what kind of brat Trollbo ends up being!

I also made Sim versions of Justin Calvert and Sophia "Freaking" Tong. In my alternate universe, they are married. They're both quite chatty, though Sophia rudely took a cell call while I was hanging out. Justin's more friendly, but all he wanted to talk about was working out.

My wife's name is Ursula. And she's quite the hottie, I may add. Here you see us just prior to a romantic interlude. Oddly enough, Ursula's been feeling sick the last few days for "unknown" reasons. My guess is she's got morning sickness. Is there a little baby Kevin on the way? God help us.

I'm a musician; Ursula's a scientist. The upside is that we work opposite shifts, so it keeps the gameplay moving. The downside is that I forgot to pay a bill. So here's the repo man, sucking up my only living room chair (fortunately, he left my love seat alone). I eased my pain by heading to the park and playing guitar for the folks there.

More often, however, I practice in the bathroom. I don't know why Sim Kevin prefers to play guitar next to the commode. Acoustics?

I am also doing frequent mini-updates on my Twitter. If you like, follow me there (http://twitter.com/fiddlecub) for uncensored thoughts as they emerge.

I will have more to share later this week, but in the meanwhile, check out some footage from this week's GameSpot Community Game Night. Chris Watters and I took aim at the GameSpot community, chilling out with them while simultaneously shooting them in the faces. If there was any doubt why Killzone 2 is so extraordinary, feast your eyes on the following video.

As promised, I have eaten a hat.

If you aren't aware of the backstory for this one, I declared on our podcast The Hotspot that Tecmo's recent announcement at the Sony store in San Francisco would be for Ninja Gaiden 3. I was so convinced that I offered to eat my hat if I was wrong.

And I was wrong, of course! But I kept my promise, and I have eaten a cap. In this case, a hat I made out of rice paper, water, and food coloring. If you are wondering: it was not in any way tasty. Perhaps a polyester blend would have been better, in retrospect!

I am preparing a hat for consumption.

If you don't know what I am talking about, check out the HotSpot episodes from March 17 and April 7. When discussing Tecmo's then-pending announcement of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, I was so convinced that it would be Ninja Gaiden 3, I declared I would eat my hat if it wasn't. So of course, NGS2 was announced instead, so as a man of my word, I will be eating a hat.

User HouEvil, in his infinite wisdom, likes this idea so much, he decided to draw a representation of this activity. This is amazing, dude:

And yes, I will be eating a hat and videotaping the results for you to enjoy. Stay tuned!

I am a big fan of Red Alert 3, and the PlayStation 3's Ultimate Edition is a bit superior to the Xbox 360 version. However, as I noted in the review, Electronic Arts fudged their bullet points a little. Every supposedly "new and exclusive" skirmish map is actually a map that appeared already, a fact that really grinds my gears, in the words of Peter Griffin. It's still a great value, and it features several maps that didn't appear on the Xbox 360, but to take pre-existing maps from the PC version and PC premier edition and call them new and exclusive is--well--underhanded.

It's a small point but it's an important one, because preview coverage generally gives publishers and developers the benefit of the doubt. You may already have decided to purchase a product based on a feature, reviews be damned--and even reviewers might take claims like this at face value, particularly if the site or magazine separates its teams by platform. As it is, maps like Repair Bay and Turtle Village aren't actually exclusive at all, and their presence in this version somewhat mocks the PC gamers that purchased the premier edition, as they were also getting these maps "exclusively." EA's claim implies (actually, downright states) maps newly created for the PS3 version--but no such maps actually exist.

Coincidentally, I logged into Steam today and saw that the abominable Stormrise was being sold there, so I took a peek at the listing. There, I saw this claim: "Advanced Multiplayer Features - Multiplayer modes feature 'join anytime' functionality, previously only seen on First Person Shooters." The same blurb accompanies the game's listing almost everywhere.

This blatantly false claim is even more irritating than EA's, because this claim cannot be spun to sound "truthy." There are many, many non-FPS games that feature drop-in, drop-out multiplayer. Fable 2, Saints Row 2, Mercenaries 2, Diablo 2, Neverwinter Nights, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, Sacred 2--goodness, the list just goes on. After all, any game where you can join a match in progress features "drop-in" play, and this realm is hardly an FPS-exclusive concept. Let's assume for a moment that they mean it's the first RTS to feature drop-in competitive multiplayer. Well, wrong again: World in Conflict and Ground Control 2 both feature drop-in battles--and of course, both games are worth playing, while Stormrise is not.

I wish I could say these were April Fools pranks on the part of some PR folks, but they are in fact actual claims. I know it is easy to get hyped up based on what you're being promised, but remember that even the game's box may not be giving it to you straight.

What are some other examples of press releases or game packaging that you have seen that were--um--lies?

I frequently get emails and private messages from students working on papers or essays to get my take on various issues within gaming. I can't always respond, but I do try when I can. One of the most common questions is my take on the "games as art" issue. A kind fellow named Jason recently sent me a message on Facebook asking for my thoughts on the subject, and I decided to post them here.

__________

By nature, games are collections of images, sounds and narrative. They purposefully elicit emotional or aesthetic reactions in those that experience them, and/or have emotional or aesthetic value to one or more persons. They are art by definition.

I have heard plenty of counterarguments. One such argument is that games are interactive and cannot then be classified as art. Yet plenty of modern art is created to be interactive; I have viewed and participated in multiple interactive works at the SF Museum of Modern Art, for example. The performing arts require the interaction of musicians, and as such, each performance of a piece of music is unique, meaning that the creation is affected by participants. In other words, art can be interactive, and often is. The player's ability to affect the sounds, sights, and narrative in a game has no bearing on the definition of a game as art.

Okami is an oft-cited example of an artistic game. Indeed, it's a collection of images, sounds, and narrative that elicits an emotional response. It's art, all right.

Another argument: games are created by large groups of people, not by a single artist. The falsehood of this statement aside (there are, of course, many games created by a single individual), this argument is pure vapor; symphonies are performed by large groups of musicians, film scores are often the result of collaborations, and films themselves are created by thousands of individuals. Yet few would argue that the medium of film cannot have artistic value.

Actually, almost every argument that games should not be considered art is arbitrary, created to be contrary and uninformed by the existing definition of art. These are the people that approach art as value judgment: they do not see the sensory or emotional value of games, and are therefore unwilling to admit to their artistic value. We hear similar arguments in music quite often; for example, some will tell you that rap is not music because it has no aesthetic value to them. However, one of the first things I learned in music theory class during my conservatory years was that music may consist of any sequence of sounds, regardless of their pitch and rhythm. Of course rap is music, by very nature. It may not hold aesthetic value to an individual listener, but that listener cannot affect the definition of rap as music simply by willing it not to be so. I could declare a blue jay to not be a bird, but no matter how steadfastly I may argue, the blue jay will still be a bird.

Then again, few would use 50 Cent's game to argue the point. Yet it's a collection of images, sounds, and narrative events as well. Should your own perception of this game's aesthetic value affect linguistic definition?

This is true across all the arts. The negative value judgment of an individual does not affect the definition. I reject the notion that the definition of art is subjective. A single work's lack of value to an individual is irrelevant to its status as a work of art. Games are art.

To quote Family Guy, I haven't done a journal entry in ever, folks, in ever. Honestly, it's because I've been a bit busy, but every so often, I like to tell everyone what I've been up to. What am I up to, anyway?

Well let's see. First off, games for work! Right now, Empire: Total War is the big game on my plate. I admit, the review may not be ready for the game's release, simply because we got the code the middle of last week, and it's--um--a huge game. Currently, I am playing the Ottoman Empire campaign; I admit after playing as the Ottomans in Europa Universalis III, I have a bit of a soft spot for them. Between now and then, I will try to update this blog and the reviews blog with updates, screens, and videos. So here: have a few screenshots on the house!

Spreading the Empire, one minor nation at a time.

What the Ottomans lack in technology, they make up in pure numbers.

I am also working on Blue Dragon Plus and an RPG for the PC called Drakensang: The Dark Eye. I had hoped to have the Blue Dragon review up for release, but Dawn of War 2 and Killzone 2 took up some time. With luck, both Total War and BD Plus will be up this week.

Believe it or not, I do play games for fun sometimes too. This year, I got very lucky: my go-to online RTS and my go-to online shooter were both released this month. I adore Killzone 2 and I adore Dawn of War II, and they will likely be the games I stick to for the rest of the year when it comes to online competition. If you play Killzone 2, add me to your PSN list, username: fiddlecub. If you play DoWII, add me to your Windows Live or Steam friends list, username: fiddlecub. Or drop me a private message and we'll find time to play!

So I got an interesting message a few days ago about the music in Afro Samurai for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. I was careful to point it out in our review that the music was "inspired by" rapper RZA, because as it happens, he didn't actually compose it (though he did rap in two of the tracks). Sadly, not every outlet has picked up on the distinction, crediting The RZA for the soundtrack, when in fact it was written by composer Howard Drossin. I can't say I blame my peers, though; the manual and in-game credits do a fine job of blurring these distinctions, I imagine for apparent promotional reasons.

The flipside, of course, is that the author of the tracks doesn't necessarily get the credit he deserves, and honestly, I love the Afro Samurai soundtrack, as the review makes evident. But if you haven't heard it because you didn't pick up a copy, head to Howard's website and have a listen. It's worth hearing, and Howard deserves credit for his excellent work.

Because of publisher-requested embargo, we won't be posting any new screens or video of F.E.A.R. 2's full single player campaign until Tuesday, along with the review. However, we are able to give you a taste of multiplayer, and I wanted to give you a few screens and video of that experience.The screens are of the PC version, while the video is of the Xbox 360 version.

Boom, and lots of blood. The modes are familiar--deathmatch, a capture the flag variant called blitz, variants on conquest/territories, and a few others. Sadly, there are no slo-motion variants as there were in the original F.E.A.R.

One of those conquest variants is Armored Front, in which each team gains access to a huge mech. I am not piloting it here, but you can surely see it in action!

I like the shotgun. It makes nice splatters of gooey entrails.

Additionally, I am hoping to show off some screens and video of Killzone 2 on Monday, and show off some of my favorite weapons in that game. In the meanwhile, I offer a few videos of this beautiful title in action!

I am a big fan of mech sequences, on-rails bits, and turret sections that break up the gameplay. Here is one such portion.

Multiplayer action. W00t!

One of many nail-biting sequences in the single-player campaign.

As promised, we are putting together more Killzone 2 stuff than you can shake a stick at. However, we won't have a review until close to the release date. Rather than ramble on about why that is here, head over to Under Review, our reviews blog, to check out the reasons.

In the meanwhile, I sat down with Chris Watters and Andre Segers to discuss our initial thoughts on this intriguing game. Andre, serving as yin to my yang, provides a more earthly approach, while Chris and I are obviously more enamored with the experience. Expect a crapload of gameplay video between now and then as well, along with screens and ongoing blog posts about the Killzone 2 experience.

But perhaps like me, you would rather stay on the page to see the good stuff. If so, check out our first impressions feature:

And here are some screens to make your eyes happy!

As should probably be obvious by now, Jerrell_rast is the winner of my blog image contest. Good choice of images, and even better, the transparency in the lower half is just awesome. Major honorable mention to Elk, though: that Metal Gear Solid 4 theme was absolutely spot on, and I actually felt bad having to choose one over the other. So much so that I'd still like to send you some stuff for the effort. Both Elk and Jerrell_rast: email me at kevinv@gamespot.com with your full names and addresses, and I will send the stuff out. Elk, I've got some things hanging around the office that will hopefully ease the considerable pain of not winning.

And apparently I love .png transparency, since the winner of the signature portion of the contest is SuperMooseman. You should also email me your name and address so I can send out the promised prizing. Great job to everyone!

As for the Killzone 2 info hinted at in the title of this blog, it is a bit of a teaser, but I wanted to let everyone know to keep an eye out for some big Killzone 2 stuff next Monday: gameplay videos, lots of screens, and a nice feature you're sure to enjoy, amongst other goodies. February and March bring some highly anticipated games along with them, so keep your eyes peeled. I mean, not literally, because that would hurt. You know, peeling your eyes. Ouch.

I will use my next blog to talk about the contest winners, but just a short rant today as I play my current game for review:

It is never, ever, ever acceptable to force a player to use an inverted camera view. If you feel the need to include inverted options in your game (which you should, for the players that prefer it), you should also include an option to use the camera using the standard already set by the majority of 3D action games. I want to play your game without having to constantly think about the camera view--especially if that same in-game camera is prone to problems outside of that issue. Come ON!

/end rant

I've held several contests in my blog before, and over break I decided it was time for a new and different profile and blog headers. So I do declare, contest time!

As before, I am looking for a themed profile/blog header combo, similar to my current No More Heroes-themed images. I am also looking for a signature image, so really, you should consider this two different contests, though you should feel free to submit images for both. You might even win both!

Up for Grabs, Blog and Profile Banners: Star Wars: Empire at War, Gothic 3, and Supreme Commander, all for the PC.

Up for Grabs, Signature Image: Dreamfall: The Longest Journey and City Life, all for the PC.

I make no promises that these games will run on your own personal PC. If your PC doesn't support any or all of these titles, I can't be held responsible!

For the Blog and Profile banners:

1. They should be themed with one of the following three games: Metal Gear Solid 4, Valkyria Chronicles, or the upcoming Muramasa: The Demon Blade.

2. The images should show on the page as if they are a single image separated into two frames, in the style of my current profile images. Otherwise, you have artistic license to add text as you wish or add other touches you may think are appropriate.

3. Check your profile to see what dimensions these images need to have. From there, create your images and upload them to your profile images (or personal webspace) and post a link right here as a reply in this blog.

4. By creating and linking me to your image, you are giving me permission to use it in my profile on GameSpot. If I choose you as a winner (a choice that is completely subjective based on my appreciation for your images), you will need to provide me your name and address so I can mail the prize.

5. If I use your images, I will host them myself.

6. Submit your entry by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 21.

7. During the contest time, I may use some of the submitted images to show them off in my blog. This should not be construed as a choice for winner, only as a chance to show off various designs as they are submitted. I will announce the winner on Thursday, January 22.

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For the Signature:

1. It should be themed with one of the following three games: ICO, Okami, or the latest Prince of Persia.

2. You have artistic license to add text as you wish or add other touches you may think are appropriate.

3. Check your profile to see what dimensions the image should have. From there, create your image and upload it to your profile images (or personal webspace) and post a link right here as a reply in this blog.

4. By creating and linking me to your image, you are giving me permission to use it as my forums signature on GameSpot. If I choose you as a winner (a choice that is completely subjective based on my appreciation for your images), you will need to provide me your name and address so I can mail the prize.

5. If I use your image, I will host it myself.

6. Submit your entry by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 21.

7. During the contest time, I may use some of the submitted images to show them off in my signature. This should not be construed as a choice for winner, only as a chance to show off various designs as they are submitted. I will announce the winner on Thursday, January 22.

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If you have any questions, let me know. Otherwise, get cracking! I can't wait to see what fabulous creations you devise. The images users have created for me in the past have been absolutely incredible.