I agree. I am playing Star Ocean 4 over right now, and I have to admit, at first glance that was an awful game. That being said, in my replay, over a year later, my biggest complaint (the pitiful voice acting of Serah and Lymle) isn't as much of a factor as it was during my first playthrough. Most people refer to the game as shoddy, for no other reason than poor voice work (and really only bad voice work on perhaps 3 characters) and a lackluster story. Honestly, SO4 puts me in mind of this article in a number of ways, the least of which being the game's spectacular visuals and more than perfect gameplay.

Offically off from work and intalling the game data as we type. So hyped, and listening to the main theme on Youtube. Think I'm going to roll a Dark Elf Battlemage the first time, and maybe a Redgaurd dual axe wielder next. And a Paladin build as well.

I would say Andriod and Tablet gaming is a niche market. After all, it's releitively unrealistic to think of something along the lines of Mass Effect or Final Fantasy launching a seriously devoted canonical entry on a tablet. Likely, sales for more simplistic styles of games, like Angry Birds will be very lucrative for tablets, which aren't really designed for games anyway. I could certainly see less gameplay oriented items like RPGs popping up on tablet and IOS, games like Disgaea and some of the earlier Final Fantasies, largely because the tech to run them would be far simpiler to code than it would be to run say, Final Fantasy 15. Tablet is a niche, perfectly suited to run more docile game franchises, but I highly doubt you'll see a serious attempt at Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty on an IOS brand.

Perhaps the real reason that games are able to use religion so effectively, is because they allow for suspension of belief. A poignant example is the "Final Fantasy" series and it's massive use of religious deities, namely for its summoned creatures. I was sitting in a religion class several years ago and during the section on Hiduism, a student exclaimed: Isn't Shiva a female? Of course, I believe myself and only a handful of others understood where he was coming from. Video games are inexplicably linked to religion of all kinds, and they are able to pick and choose what they want. The idea that religious debates can be played out in an art form is something that goes back to the founding of all religions. Religious texts and other artworks are nothing but a form of literature. The concept of humans trying to understand gods, god, or any sort of deity is merely a form of artistic expression. I find it highly interesting that the article focuses so much on Christianity, rather than other religions. I suppose the idea is that America is largely a "Christian" nation, but I digress. If we want our games to be considered art, we need to stop worrying what the common populace thinks or feels about them. Likewise, religious insensitivity is not a bad thing, rather, it’s a positive thing when considering art.

If NASCAR is a sport, then I don't see why MLG can't be. Honestly, I've seen Directv sponser it before, and even games I don't normally play, like Halo, are really interesting. There are a ton of fighting game that can be used, SSB for one, Tekken, Soul Calibur.

Unfortunatly, I am not rich. I cannot afford to shell out 60 bucks for a console game and 30 bucks for a handheld game everytime a new release comes out. I have two games on Pre-order right now, LoZ: SS and TESV. That is $120 bucks... which is alot of money to a college student who earns min wage. That being said, since this year I have prob bought about $100 bucks in used games, simply because I didn't have the revenue or the time to play evey single release as I came out. So, should I just not experiance the game because I didn't have the opprotunity to play it new? Game companies need to realize, that games are expensive to purchase, and buying used appeals to many people who do not have great reserves of cash on hand. Used games are a viable outlet, and once someone buys your product, its their business what they do with it. If they want to trade it in so they can enjoy new games, its their business. You don't hear Chrysler or BMW complaining because people buy used cars.

The real issue here is that all of the online retailers are potentially at risk, along with all of their customers. Sony is by no means a small company, they have a large reserve of currency and are considered one of the most high profile electronics manufactuers in the world. That being said, no company is safe from the attacks brought on by hackers. This should be a wakeup call to every website and retailer who deals in online merchandise or otherwise, that they are at as much risk as Sony. Unfortunatly, Sony is seen as the perpetrator in this claim, and while they could've been doing more, the gaming media is using them as a scapegoat. Stop saying how evil and corrupted Sony is, and focus on the real issue. That this is only a precursor to what will happen, if indeed no company heeds this warning.

Looking forward to: Zelda Wii, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep, (A supposed confirmation by G4 that the new KH title will also be revealed at E3), Castlevania: Lord of Shadows, Final Fantasy Agito XIII, Golden Sun DS. Not looking forward to: Anything that has to do with horrid motion control, and or 3D specs.

For most people I can understand why they enjoy "social gaming". When the Atari 2600 and NES were new we all thought they were great and the most awesomest thing to ever happen to us. That's what the casual gamer finds in these web based games. This is their first time playing a video game and they enjoy it. As for the impact on "hardcore" gamers, its already happening. Many games are being oversimplified as a way to attract the casual gamer to most hardcore franchises. That is good news for the casual gamer but bad new for the hardcore gamers; as we have to sit through the muck and grin and bear it. I say, if the casualies (as I have coined them) want to get into hardcore gaming, let them learn the same way we did; trial and error.