Come on Sony!

Why can't you have a console that just breaks entirely rather then certain parts just giving out, haven't you learnt anything fron Microsoft?

First my SixAxis launch controller finds itself being unable to hold a charge, no biggie I use a USB cable and it works fine

Then the media center at the front stops reading memory sticks, its all good I can just transfer to an USB key and upload

Wireless (which I HATE using) starts working when it pleases, no problem. I hardwired it.

Now the Blu-Ray player doesn't play Blu-Ray movies, it plays games, I even tried it with a DVD and it works but no blu-rays.

No problem, I bought a stand alone Samsung Blu-Ray player that looks wonderful on top of my Toshiba AD3 HD-DVD player.

But now, its unregistering Bluetooth devices upon shutdown.

At least my 360 had the decency to just RROD and be fixed!

I am going to just grab whatever PS3 model is cheap at Best Buy, and toss in my HD from my existing unit and be done with it.

Thanks Sony.

Please don't take the title of my blog to be a slight against Nintendo.

The reality is last generation Gamecube produced some of the best and most memorable games I can recall playing. It was a good system, with a good library, the problem was that the wait between titles was a killer. As such I couldn't understand gamers who relied solely on the Gamecube for their gaming needs. It was a must have on the console bench, but I found that Xbox and PS2 were more consistant in giving me titles that were console exclusive which is why Gamecube to me became the ultimate secondary console.

If you had either and Xbox or a PS2 AND a Gamecube you were in good shape.

This generation, it seems to be the same sort of thing.

PS3 has come on strong over the last 18 months and firmed up their gaming library, whereas 360 has had a rough-ish year but still has a reasonable library.

As I looked forward to the new Super Mario, I realized that Punch Out Wii was still in my console which would have marked the last time I played my Wii console, which would have been during June whereas I was working through Punch Out and The Conduit.

This generation Nintendo seems to have taken the same approach, but this time they have a gimmick and a means to sell hardware and software regardless of quality.

Good on them for being able to do so, but its still a letdown that Nintendo is not keeping pace in the quality wars.

Many folks have argued that the sole reason for me purchasing a PS3 was that I could sit back and lay into it as a "disgruntled" console owner. For the years I have owned it has easily been ranked three of three in terms if the current generation consoles.

Its not that I have any issue with the Playstation brand, however I take issue with the fact that Sony opted to release a console and over the course of almost the first two years do next to nothing to support it in terms of games while its exclusives melted away and found their way onto 360.

However, the last year has certainly been one where I do have to give credit to the folks at Sony for at least making an attempt to aim the ship in the right direction.

Metal Gear Solid 4, Disgaea 3, Little Big Planet, Valkyria Chronicles, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, and Infamous have certainly made the last year a lot more interesting then I could have expected.

It seems that the folks in Japan are starting to realize that folks are not buying the console just for the sake of brand loyalty anymore and are actually trying to lure gamers back to the brand with a fairly respectable library.

While I still don't feel that the PS3 has anywhere near the Library diversity that the Xbox 360 does, the gap is certainly not as wide as it was a year ago.

I have to wonder what Microsoft has in store? Or have this now simply fallen into the same trap that Sony did?

Wow, I am not sure if I can better summarize my reaction to Square announcing yesterday that Final Fantasy XIII would be released on PS3 as well as 360 sometime next year.

For those who know me, they know that I am a Manticore to the bone. I hate not having access to great titles because I lack a console and as such I normally grab every and anything that plays games that will attach to my TV every gaming generation.

I like many bought a PS3 not under the promise of "what was" but rather "what was coming". While games like Resistance were certainly interesting they were not my motivation for the purchase. PS2 last generation was my RPG console.

To this day I still have half a dozen wonderful RPG's sitting unplayed in my wait pile for the PS2. Say what you will about Sony but last generation's RPG library may go down as among the best since SNES.

Although this generation, I am confused.

· Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

· Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

· Grand Theft Auto III

· Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

· Gran Turismo 4

· Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

· Final Fantasy X

· Final Fantasy XII

· Kingdom Hearts

· Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Above is a list in order of the PS2's best selling games, and the one thing you will notice about every game on that list is that it falls into at least one the following category:

1) It was exclusive to the PS2

2) It was released first on the PS2

3) It sold the most copies on PS2

While number 1, 2 and 4 were released on Xbox and PC, PS2 got at least a six month head start on the GTA's and in the case of 1 and 3 over a year.

Now we find the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto not just being released for the 360 on the same day that the PS3 gets its version, but we see the 360 version selling more copies then the PS3 version.

Now Sony has found itself losing the franchise that secure spot 7 & 8 on its best selling software list last generation, as well as pretty well losing a fairly exclusive console relationship with the publisher that provided them game 9 & 10 on that same list.

Which pretty well leaves:

Metal Gear Solid

Gran Turismo

As the last two franchises on the list in the top ten, and needless to say they are both pretty heavy hitters.

The problem is, Metal Gear Solid 4 is out. It was wonderful, it was magical, it made some of us learn to love again. But it's over.

Which leaves GT5 as the last real heavy hitter from last generation left to make an impact this time around.

Now I know what you are thinking, "Sony can create another franchise that will replace what was lost that will reside exclusively on the PS3"

Have a look at that list,

A good hard look.

Notice the one thing nine of the ten games have in common?

Aside from Kingdom Hearts, not one of those games is the first game, or a "Part One". They are all follow ups that have been built on a strong foundation of loyal gamers who came aboard early and followed the series.

It's hard to make the first of any exclusive series a mega hit, (Unless you are Microsoft)

Yesterday was the biggest blow I have seen to a console since Final Fantasy VII was naked exclusive to PSone.

Let's hope Sony has something big coming.

I was worried that when I read "build from the ground up for consoles" I was going to get a dumbed down combat heavy terrible turn based stategy title that was designed to win over the droves of 14 year old FPS players.

Eight hours and two single player victories later all I can think about is getting home to enjoy my third victory.

Thank you Sid!

You did great!

Kudo's to Sony!

Its about damn time!

Although of we look at the bigger picture:

AA's and AAA's I can play on 360 that I cannot play currently on PS3:

Gears of War, Halo 3, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Forza Motorsport 2, Perfect Dark Zero, BioShock, Guitar Hero II, Call of Duty 2, Kameo: Elements of Power, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, Mass Effect, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, PGR 4, Eternal Sonata, Rockstar Games Presents: Table Tennis, Dead Rising, Saints Row, Viva Pinata, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, MotoGP 06, Ninja Gaiden II

Total: 21

AA's and AAAA's that I can play on PS3 that I cannot currently play on 360:

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Resistance: Fall of Man, Warhawk, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Heavenly Sword

Total: 5

But even the longest journey starts with a single step....

I will admit my guilty little pleasure is watching the hordes of tweenagers in System Wars battle it out over who's appliance is better. The best part has to be when I interject with the simplest questions which seems to damn one console or another and I get flamed by one side and praised by the other.

Every generation regardless of quality or price I buy every gaming console that is available. The cost of the unit even at launch when factored in over the length of time the system will be active works out to pennies a day, and a hit of a few grand every few years is just not that big of a deal.

When the PS3 launched getting my hands on one proved to be tricky, but I was able to secure a 60GB unit.

The Blu-Ray feature was nice, but till recently (December 07) I did not have a TV that had the means to output in 1080p so I hardly noticed a difference between the Blu-Ray and the HD-DVD's I had been enjoying since I was able to get a A2 player in the middle of last year.

I have been a good little consumer; I have bought every PS3 game that was hyped. Yes, even Lair.

For those who know me I buy games like many people buy lunch, almost daily. I am a junky for anything new but as a result of this gaming gluttony I expect the games to be good and I don't need to give them 10 hours of my life to win me over, they get two.

I have tried with PS3, I truly have.

But aside from the 40+ hours I have sunk into Warhawk, I have realized that I really could have lived without a PS3 thus far this generation.

Last generation I was disappointed with god of war, because it was an amazing game that ended for me just shy of the 12 hour mark.

This generation, it seems Sony has decided that sub-10 hours and no multiplayer is not only acceptable, but it's the norm.

Heavenly Sword, Ratchet And Clank:TOD, and Uncharted laid end to end gave me 22 hours of gameplay.

There were the heavy hitters of 2007 for PS3 and they took me less time together then beating Mass Effect the first time playing the Paragon route.

$209.97 before tax for 22 hours of gameplay.

Goodness knows its not the cost that matters, I am notorious for buying games on day one and getting less then two hours of play from them before they hit the gaming wall and are reduced not nothing more then wall art in my games room.

But that was the best of the best, and it was 22 hours.

Many PS3 loyalists have asked me what about COD4? What about Rockband? How about Assassins Creed?

My simple answer is that I will not force myself to buy PS3 games just to justify its existence.

Regardless of what the loyalists may tell you, the graphic difference between PS3 and 360 on multiplats are so minor they hardly factor in when I am buying a game,

My rational for picking which console is simple:

A) If is the latest installment in a series? If so which console (controller) did I use to play the last one?

B) Is there an advantage/disadvantage to buying it on one console over another (IE Downloadable content, large install file, better controls etc)

C) Cost. If they are generally the same but one is 59.99 and the other is 69.99 its pretty simple.

D) If all else fails, what console am I currently playing most. Console hopping is annoying especially with the wide spectrum of differences in the controllers, so if I have played Console X 90% of the time for the last month and none of the above criteria fits then that will be the final factor.

I have had Guitar Hero II for 360 since April 2007, so Rockband was a no brainer for 360. I have a working guitar I can use as a bass so why not get it on the 360.

COD4, what can I say? I like Live better then PSN. I like the cross game invites I like being able to chat with a friend while I play COD4 and he is playing Enchanted Arms, and I like that I can send him a game invite while he is playing Enchanted Arms to come and play COD4.

What the really killer was recently was DMC4, I had pre-ordered it for PS3. I played the other three on a PS controller and figured I may as well get it for PS3. Then comes along the five gig install file.

Maybe other games enjoy playing one game straight through without another game touching the inside of their consoles, me on the other hand I have eight to twenty games going at once over five consoles at any given time.

Hot Shots Golf and DMC4 eating up nearly 20% of my Hard Drive is annoying, and to be told that I should:

A) Uninstall the file, and sit through the 20 minute install anytime I want to play or;

B) Buy a bigger Hard Drive

Pisses me off to no end, I had 106 Xbox games last gen and still have 50,000+ blocks free. I have 111 retail and 31 XBL games all with save files on my 360 Pro and I still have 11.6 GB of space free.

And I should buy a new hard drive because one game PS3 requires an install file that is larger then all my saved game and data files of all 106 Original Xbox games?

Perhaps Sony should have had the foresight when they built the console?

I don't download movies, I don't fill my hard drive with music, I don't fill it with media that is not game related.

Why is it Microsoft built a console that doesn't require me to buy a new hard drive, yet having 10% the size of my 360 Library in PS3 games requires more data space on my HD then my entire 360 save, data and Arcade game downloads?

This is next gen?

I understand the need for PS3 loyalist to mock the 360, but lets face it.

While using the PC is an effective way to slam the 360 for not having as many exclusives as it would have, my question is; Can I play Gears on my PS3? Bioshock? Halo?

Realistically speaking 360 second tier titles, like Dead Rising, Saints Row, Kameo, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, PGR 3 & 4 and on and on still seem to offer me a better exclusive gaming line-up then I currently have on the PS3. Taking out all the games that score 9.0 or higher from the 360 and I still have a broader library.

Why?

Why do I have a pile of games for the PS2 on my coffee table that I will never get through from last gen, yet the PS3 has been out for more then a year and a half and their best offering is still Resistance Fall of Man?

That would be like Microsoft not releasing any sort of exclusive till April 2007 that was better then Kameo, or Nintendo waiting till April 2008 before anything better then Zelda:TP was released.

What is most tragic is that Sony won't get that game this month, perhaps not even next month.

I watch all the Sony loyalists huddle around the faint glimmer of light that is MGS4 as though that will be the game that save the console from the taunts and the mocking, but perhaps I should be the first to ask,

Then what?

I am stoked for MGS4, but what about a month later when I have beat it eight ways from Sunday? What's next?

I made this comment in October 2007, and its even more true today.

PS3 is this generations Gamecube from a gaming stance. Great games worth playing that come few and far in between, that you should own but will never be consistent.

Gamecube has EIGHT games that were exclusive that score 9.0 or higher, basically two a year.

Is it unrealistic to hold the PS3 to even that standard? It's been more then 18 months and we have zero that fit that criteria.

MGS3 and Maybe Final Fantasy? Perhaps Killzone 2? White Knight?

Is this "Year of the PS3" going to only net 2 AAAe's?

It is truly terrible how low the bar has been set with this Console,

Perhaps now that Sony has won the format war they can focus on games.

Sorry for the delay in updating,

Work has been, well work for the last few days so I wanted to give the update.

Keeping in mind my 360 RROD-ed on Sunday March 16th, I had a pre-paid shipping box Tuesday March 18th, it even came with a strip of tape to seal the box, everything I needed to ship it back was included.

Since I was not expecting a 48 hour turn around my 360 was not at work, so it was shipped the morning of Wednesday March 19th and recieved at the Microsoft repair facility Thursday March 20th (Keep in mind that March 21st is the Good Friday Holiday)

Today is Monday March 24th, and much to my surprise a package was left on my chair which was signed for this morning at 10:14AM EST.

A Five Business Day Turn Around...Box, Return to Microsoft, Return to me.

Had I shipped it the Tuesday, chances are I would have had it back the Thursday of last week.

While I am annoyed it happend, the fact that I got a working unit back within five business days is truly stunning,

It also makes me realize how full of it those claiming "Ten Weeks" on system wars are.

I have always been leary of people on online forums going on about their "10th RROD" and the terrible service they received from Microsoft, I could never really comment since I myself had never had the RROD on either my 360 Pro or my 360 Elite,

With that said, this morning as I walked over to my living room to play Lost Odyssey I turned the console on to eject of all things The Simpsons game and there they were, three blinking red lights that I had seen so many times in fourms and youtube videos on my two and a half year old launch 360 Pro console.

Interestingly enough the first thing that sprang to mind was how embarassing it was that the last thing on my gamer card was The Simpsons game of all things...Matt Groening killed my 360!

But considering my gaming shelf has over 110 retail 360 games, and I have 31 Arcade games that have been output my this console I can't say I am all that surprised.

For blogging sake I figured I would keep a timeline (as I am still on the phone with MS as I blog)

8:45AM EST: RROD's start flashing away on my console

8:50AM EST: I go online to look for quick fixes and try what they suggest and it does not work

9:11AM EST: I call the 1-800 number that is provided on the service area of the Xbox website

9:14AM EST: I am talking with Sarah, a person! After dealing with Max the auto attendant to direct my call. I was fairly impressed that I was not wasting away on hold much longer. She starts to go through the entire process with my of confirming my address and my serial number. We had to make some changes as my address in the system is my home address and I want the box sent to my office which takes a few moments

9:25AM EST: I get my 360 repair reference number, and am told I will have a pre-paid box sent to my office in 3-5 days and will have a working 360 back in my hands within 2-3 weeks worst case. Of course with the horror stories I hear online about people sending Pro's or Elites and getting back core consoles I ask if I send in a Pro will I get one back. She comments to say that whatever you send it that is what you always get back.

Interesting Note: I bought my 360 Pro on Launch (November 2005) which would have meant with the three year warranty it would have lapsed in November 2008, they extended my warranty free of charge till March 2009 which I thought was a nice perk.

9:30AM EST: I ask to me transfered to the Xbox Live department to inquire about what happens to my lost three weeks of Xbox Live that I have already paid for.

9:35AM EST: I am talking to Nick an Xbox Live Rep. When they send back my 360 is three weeks it comes with a one month pre-paid live card in the box (a net gain of seven days of live)

9:41AM EST: I hang up the phone.

Thus far I have to say I am pretty impressed. During my adult life I have only had to call tech support for a console once and that was Sony for a DRE on the original PS2. There response to me was generally to go fly a kite because it was out of warranty but I could pay the repair and shipping cost to a Sony facility if I wanted (about a year or so after the PS2 came out in North America) that call after holding and credit card confirmations was well over an hour and a half and cost me roughly a 150 bucks, give or take.

I kept hearing horror stories about being on hold for hours, and the service rep walking you through plug and unplug drills to try and fix your 360 before they let you send it in which could take upwards of 30 minutes,

Had we not had to update my address I think I would have had a reference number in my hands inside of five minutes.

While the RROD is clearly a pain in the behind, I have to say I am very impressed at the way Microsoft is taking ownership of this problem.

Although my current 360 has not yet left for repair, so we will see if it truly does take 2-3 weeks.

To be Continued...

Goodness knows I am a tech junkie,

And that being said I was aboard both the HD-DVD & Blu-Ray Trains since pretty well the start, When Toshiba took its ball and went home and interesting thing had happened.

Retailers panicked!

I bought an HDTV for my bedroom a few months ago as I quickly realized that when you are watching HD in your living room for a good portion of the evening walking into your bedroom and settling for Regular looking TV becomes hard.

Once I made that switch over I have been casually thinking about getting my hands on an Up-Converting DVD player for the bedroom, while I could land a Philips of a LG for 79.99 I would have rather gone with something like Sony or Panasonic, but on a trip through a local electronics store, I found a Toshiba HD-A3 for 89.99?

300 and Borne Identity in the box, and a mail away for five more free HD DVD's by mail.

Needless to say I jumped all over it, with the format dead I am still getting an up converting player with a bunch of free movies.

Then last night it was like the HD-DVD floodgates had opened.

Blade Runner: Five Disc Special Edition 19.97

Shrek the Third: 9.97

Oceans 11, 12 and 13 for 19.97

While my Blu-Ray collection looked like it was on the cusp of passing HD-DVD, it looks like the next few weeks and months may be very interesting as retailers scramble to unload their inventory.

Thanks Toshiba!

I almost feel like I need to apologize when I make the following statement,

PS3's 2007 was perhaps the most disappointing year for a console I have experienced since 1995's Panasonic 3do letdown.

I cannot imagine a launch PS3 owner not feeling the least bit burned. Ever gaming generation I get my hands on every console because I don't want to be limited by what I can play because of the logo in the games upper corner. I am a gamer, I don't care what consoles it's on as long as I get to play it.

Also it should be noted that when it comes to multiplatform games there is a method to the madness as to which console I buy it one:

A) The version released first (If all versions are released at the same time or a day or so apart)

B) The version that functions better IE Controls, Graphics etc

C) If all things are equal the version that costs less (IE the one in a bundle see COD4 AC bundle for 360)

With that said the big PS3 titles for me in 2007 were:

Lair, Heavenly Sword Warhawk, Uncharted, and Unreal Tournament.

While not bad, not nearly anywhere near the expectations that I had hoped they would bring, and where are all the RPG's that made me love my PS2 so?

With that said, as I look forward I see hope

1) Haze (January 15th)

Was really looking forward to this last year, but with COD4 and Halo 3 I am not surprised that it was pushed back. I can only hope that this game has a solid of a storyline as I hope it does

2) LittleBigPlanet (Q1 2008 )

Innovative? I hope so!

3) SingStar (May 18th 2008 )

One of the few games that my girlfriend will actually play on the PS3. The concept to be able to download songs to your HD through the network seems interesting.

4) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Q2 2008 )

NEVER, has a game in my life time had so much pressure to be amazing. This game has the means to change PS3's rather dry fortunes in a single day. With rumors of Konami requiring a million units sold on the first day in order to maintain PS3 exclusivity the pressure is on. Make no mistake this is the flagship PS3 game for 2008 I fully expect for it to be stellar.

5) White Knight Story (PS3) (TBA 2008 )

RPG's are why I loved my PS2, and this stands to be the first in a potentially long line of great titles to come

6) Killzone 2 (PS3) (TBA 2008 )

I will not hype this game, but I am looking forward into the year wondering if it will finally deliver gameplay to match its very ambitious storyline

7) Final Fantasy? (TBA)

It's looking like an early 2009 title, that would be a darn shame.

8 ) Gran Turismo 5 (PS3)

When?? I am not big on racing but Forza really opened to door for me a little and Forza 2 threw open that door, GT is the granddaddy of them all so lets see what the final product will look like.

As I sat back the other day trying to gauge if 2007 met all the hype that was cast upon it and quickly realized that I never bothered with my annual hype list for 2007 so I wanted to get an early start and go console by console with the games that I have high expectations for that are either slated or rumored for 2008

Wii:

1) Endless Ocean (Slated January 21st)

It's a really interest concept, and on a console that is rather unique in the gaming sphere a game like this could go very well or go very wrong. Perhaps the term game isn't even fair for a title such as this. I have heard about it for more then six months and it will be interesting to see what it looks like when its out.

2) Super Smash Bros. Brawl (February 10th)

One of the greatest disappointments of 2007 was that I was not able to enjoy Smash online, but with Nintendo generally releasing a Mario, a Zelda and a Metroid within its first year or so I can see why they wanted to push this back.

3) Obscure: The Aftermath (Q1 2008 )

Yeah I know its also on PS2 which means it will be graphically meh at best but with that said its been far to long since a true survival horror in the mold of Silent Hill or Clock Tower has come along on a console and this may just be the cure to that problem.

4) Mario Kart Wii (Q1 2008 )

While I may have been one of the few people who owned a GC broadband adapter and two copies of Mario Kart for Gamecube in the end it was well worth being able to play Kart in massive multiplayer glory, I don't care if Kart Wii scores a 1.0 I will be there day one to get my hands on it

5) Samba de Amigo (Q2 2008 )

Loved the original on Dreamcast, am sure I will love the second one on Wii.

6) Okami (Q3 2008 )

One of the last great surprises of the PS2 will find its way over to the Wii in 2008.

7) Wii Fit (WII) (TBA)

All signs are pointing to a 2008 release the question is of course if and when? While much like endless ocean this is not really a "game" but something that may be entertaining and actually good for you, also the Wii Board could have endless uses moving forward.

Zelda TP scored sub 9.0 for the Wii,

Outrage from the unwashed masses in System Wars filled up nearly every forum posting and most blogs for the next two weeks, now here we are nearly a year later and I was asked if I thought that Gamespot was too harsh on Zelda looking back, and the simple answer is no.

I was there on Wii launch day just like many others and ran home with my copy of Zelda and Red Steel and dug right into the game and made my way into the depths of Hyrule.

It was set aside within a few weeks in favor of countless Wii-Sports battles and then I simply bought the Gamecube version and cut through it within a week.

Metroid Prime 3 scored a shocking 8.5 for the Wii,

And again the outrage filled the forums, in hindsight what do I think?

Metroid Prime 3 was one of the few games that actually got me to sit there and go through the "motions" of the Wii-Mote to actually play the game till the credits rolled, as I have said in the past the Wii-Mote is a cool concept but one that I simply have little interest in when I just want to crash on the sofa on a boring Saturday with a bag of Cheetoos and play for a few hours. Metroid Prime was the notable exception.

Was the 8.5 overly harsh? Well lets put this into perspective. Bioshock released a week earlier is a similar Genre scored a 9.0.

Was Metroid Prime on the same level as Bioshock, In my opinion it was not. It was a great game but Bioshock was exceptional so given the new scoring system was Metroid Prime "screwed" out of a 9.0? No it was simply release two weeks too late.

The reality is that what Nintendo is offering me is not different, its simply a new spin on the same.

While Metroid looked "next gen" that was really it, it looked next gen and had a different control interface but did not even really offer me a cool new aspect to the general gaming set-up of the series. At least in Metroid Prime 2 I got the whole light world/dark world aspect, with Metroid Prime I basically got the same game that blew my mind around this time five years ago but simply graphically improved and with a new control set-up.

Now we are faced with the Super Mario Galaxy situation, There is a lot of fear that GS will "Super Mario Sunshine" the game by scoring it with a 8.0 or an 8.5. Although I think people are failing to see the issue with Mario Sunshine. For starters what did Sunshine offer you in terms of "something different" from Mario 64? (The last console Mario prior to Sunshine)

In my opinion, not a heck of a lot except for the actions that Mario was enjoying (Cleaning Crap Up Vs. Flying Around Doing Mario Stuff) and it enjoyed a next gen graphic facelift which is expected when going from one generation to another.

From what I am seeing of Galaxy in terms of previews, reviews and trailers is that it seems to offer the same sort of upgrade that Mario 64 offered over Super Mario World.

If that is the case I don't think it has much to worry about in terms of being "flopped" but the issue with Previews and Reviews is that you never really know what the person writting said tidbit is looking for in terms of the game.

If Galaxy ends up being nothing more then Mario Sunshine with a next gen facelift and an interesting control set-up then by all means 8.0 it, but if Nintendo has opted to make this title innovative and different then by all means let the 9.5's pour.

A Game should never be judged on the "front end" because more often then not we are overwealmed by the glitz and the glam that we tend to ignore its staying power.

The bottomline is there is a reason why Mario 64 still sells for more then Mario Sunshine on eBay and abroad, and why many of us still play the Mario's of generations past while Sunshine sits on the gaming wall.

Maybe I should ask what's wrong with gamers today. I can fully understand brand loyalty, I recall in the third grade there was the debate at recess about what was better, the Sega Master System or the NES?

Although today it's almost to a level of religion. While the outrage of the R&C review within the system wars forum prompted me to ask the question it hardly was what inspired it.

As I thumb through reviews on various websites and within magazines there is one thing I am seeing more and more of and that is phrases like revolutionary graphics and tight controls and I am hearing less and less of It's to short, It's to easy The story hinders the game

Perhaps it's just me, but I consider a review a tool to aid a consumer who is looking to purchase the game, not written to aid someone who is looking to rent the game.

Why should a game where the end consumer who buys the title for 59.99 get the same value out of a game as someone who rents it for a weekend for 5.99?

And if that is the case, should their not be someone who makes this point very clear? I would imagine that will make a difference for the average consumer?

While I will be the first to admit that I have a gaming addiction and will buy games regardless, I would imagine there are many folks who sparsely buy games and if they are buying games rarely where should they go to determine what game is a good value for the money?

When I first played Bioshock I was in a near state of shock that Gamespot had the audacity to give this game ONLY a 9.0, it was revolutionary and stunning yet after 20 hours it was over, there was little more for me to do and little more for me to get out of it, while the other guys were scoring this game in the high 9's. Was Bioshock worthy of a 9.5 or higher? In hindsight no, it simply does not have the staying power. It was perhaps the most stunning game I have seen visually so far this generation with a great storyline but for a consumer who does not buy games almost every second day would I consider this title to be something I would keep coming back to and enjoying for months? No.

Heavenly Sword was another example of responsible reviewing, another game that raised the bar in terms of visuals for that genre of game that was less then ten hours long.

Why is Gamespot one of the few places speaking to that fact?

The problem with gaming now is that developers are getting away with games that are all sizzle and no steak. We keep seeing more and more games that look awesome and play great but have no soul.

To Short, To Easy, No Story, when did these things stop being factors in reviews? When did these things stop mattering?

While right now Sony's PS3 is the villain in this situation because they are the ones who are most guilty recently, the reality is this is a trend that is growing on all consoles and being enabled by nearly all review sites and magazines.

How does a game like Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction score in the mid to high 9's elsewhere when it is: A single player game, that is easy (this comes from many reviews one went as far as to say that his nine year old son picked up the game with ease) that can be completed in a few hours?

What the heck happened to standards? The game looks great, super. The game plays great, stellar. Does no one care that you have a game that is being marketed to teens and an older audience is simple enough for some folks below ten in play with ease?

There needs to be some responsibility to the consumer, and the reality is that it seems Gamespot is one of the few that are actually still writing for the intended audience, rather then solely to attract console loyalists with scores that hardly factor in the whole story.

So I caved. Over the weekend even though I have been so tired of FPS after FPS I opted to get my hands on Resistance as I was finally worn down by PS3 user after PS3 user telling me how amazing it is, and how it is a tragedy if someone owns a PS3 and does not own this game.

I have to admit that the story and concept behind the game are interesting and it does offer more story then your standard FPS but at the risk of sounding sour, it's not revolutionary, nor is it really raising the bar on the genre.

It came off as Saints Row. Perhaps that is an odd comparison but I have played the GTA games for years and when Saints Row came out I really enjoyed it but aside from a face lift what did it truly offer the GTA fan that GTA did not? It was simply a new take on a proven and established formula.

This is what I thought of Resistance, a new take on a proven and established formula.

It's normally after comments such as this where I would be called a fanboy but I think as we near the one year mark of the PS3 it's a fair time to start asking questions of Sony.

While I understand that this generation is young and there are not many gamers that are yet Manticores, Even if I include Oblivion and Ninja Gaiden Sigma as games that I myself played months or years earlier on 360 or Xbox the PS3 Library is hardly enough to sustain a gamer for the year its been on the market.

I keep being told that it's coming and when it gets here it hardly ends up living up to the expectation that was vaulted upon it. Then I am told to wait again for the next big title which is months away.

I keep thinking back to last generation and the Nintendo Gamecube. Months on end I would curse the console for having a small library and keeping me waiting, I would then move onto an Xbox or PS2 title while the Gamecube gathered dust but then out of nowhere a stellar title would come out of the woodwork and making having a Gamecube worth it, till that game was completed and the dust gathered till the next game.

Gamecube was not a bad system, it was simply an inconsistent system. It became the perfect supplement to any gamer, a console that sat beside another console and allowed for the owner to have the Gamecube when it was needed but not rely on it as the primary means of entertainment.

Is PS3 becoming this generation's supplemental console?

Its too early to tell, but if we are having a similar conversation this time next year, will the comparison be fair then?

It seems there is a lot of static between the Xbox and Nintendo loyalists about Halo 3's score when compared to that of Metroid and Zelda.

I have to admit, I feel for the Wii Loyalists as Metroid and Zelda were both excellent.

However I think the Wii in general should expect to suffer from this sort of reviewers curse for the rest of the generation, now its nothing against those who review games in general but a simple fact that the Wii in terms of its core hardware is nowhere near the level of its two rivals.

If a game like Bioshock which had my jaw around the floor because of the simply breathtaking visiuals is able to only score a "9" in terms of Graphics so to speak, how in the world is Metroid or Zelda suppose to compare to that?

The issue is that this generation there is no scale, all games are held to the same standard and that will always hurt Wii.

While Nintendo even admited if you want "horsepower" this is not the system for you, it leads to a much more interesting situation. Wii may revolutionize the "control" and "gameplay" aspects of the gaming, they will not have the means to revolutionize Graphics this generation, and I suspect that is why a game like Metroid which was very well done can score so much lower then a game such as Halo 3.

As much as I enjoyed Metroid, and it was perhaps the most "beautiful" Wii game I have played. When compared to the graphics games like Bioshock or Gears of War even Eternal Sonata its simply not on par and at the end of the day this is where I think going with the weakest graphic engine harmed Nintendo.

While I play for the whole game, there are many that do not.

The summer generally speaking is often a dead zone for gaming. Sales are normally slower and most publishers don't want to release games they know will not sell. Usually I would find myself going back a ways and breaking into games on older consoles that I never had the opportunity to play or enjoying the "B" titles for the current consoles.

Last summer something odd happened, Games I actually wanted to play found their way onto store shelves in Summer. Saints Row and Dead Rising are the two that spring to mind and this summer The Darkness and Overlord come to mind.

Now of course the onslaught of stellar games comes forward and what really bothers me is yet again I find my PS3 with dust on it.

I was told at launch that Resistance would be the be all and end all of gaming, then it scored lower the Gears of War, then I was told to wait for the "better" version of Oblivion which was marginally better then the game I had played a year earlier and then of course Lair and Warhawk were the titles that would make owning a PS3 worth while, and here I am reading the first reviews that have both games in the high 5's to mid 6's.

While Bioshock which really is just an appetizer to me as I wait for Mass Effect and Halo 3 ends up scoring in the high 9's on IGN and a 9.0 on Gamespot.

What is Sony doing? Have they taken their user base for granted because it certainly feels that way.

Now I am being told that Killzone 2 will be the be all and end all of gaming, except I have already walked down this road with Sony and was disappointed.

There is little denying at this point that Wii is clearly the console of "The People" while Microsoft is quietly building a Library and becoming the console of "The Gamer"

Who would have thought?

My Love affair with the Wii has come to a close.

The difference between the end of my relationship with Nintendo this gen when compared to other gens is that my girlfriend still LOVES the Wii. A year ago someone made the comment on System Wars that Wii was going to become "A console that you leave in the closet and take out at parties just like a Karekoke machine or board game"

How true that statment is. At launch I picked up Zelda and Red Steel, both games combine have been played roughly 1/4 of the time that Wii Sports has been played on my Wii. The simple fact is that Zelda and games like it are just more annoying played with the Wii-mote, to such a point where I bought Zelda TP on Gamecube just so I could play for a few hours straight without having to swing the controller around to move my sword.

I am not saying Wii is a bad console, but its amazing how quickly I turned on it. It was almost overnight that I went right back to my 360 and it welcomed me with Crackdown and Lost Planet as a welcome home gift. 

Wii has really changed the way I play games, and I look at games. Games like Smooth Moves which if it was released in some variation for a regular console I never would have considered makes it to the top of my shopping list, games liek Tiger Woods golf which I never buy is also right up there for Wii, yet games that I love like Metroid are no where to be found because at the end of the day, I am just to set in my ways to swing the damn Wii-Mote around like a mace in midevil times just to get Link, Samus or whoever to do something that the "B" button used to do for me.  

The Wii really is not in my opinion part of this generation of video games, but rather the first generation in a new wave of games where functionality and interaction reign supreme over gameplay and graphics.