Deeper in Debt...

Well I finally broke down and traded in my 2002 Eclipse GS for a new 2008 model. I figured now was as good a time as any to dig myself even further into the pool of debt. I know it's not video game related, but I couldn't resist. And no need to tell me, I know it's a "chic" car. But in 60 easy monthly payments, it will be MY chic car.

The Need for Feed

For those who realized that the RSS feed was still attached to www.super-nes.com, congrats. I goofed! I've fixed the RSS address in the "Links" section and you can also click on this RSS logo to the left to subscribe to the RSS feed for this new address. Sorry again for the inconvenience. If anyone is still having problems with the feed, please leave me a comment or shoot me an email. Thanks.

Drop Off Released on the Virtual Console!

Hudson has released the breakout wannabe "Drop Off" on to the Wii Virtual Console. The game is basically a mediocre attempt at a breakout clone, and despite the addition of boss fights to the mix, the game just never really takes off. There's really not enough variety in the game to keep players coming back and most will likely tire of the repetitive game play in a very short amount of time. If you want to check out the review on Virtual-Turbo, click on the box art. But for those who want the bottom line, here it is. If you're smart, you'll pass on this one and save those Wii Points for something else. (Rating: 4.5/10)

Corbie's Game Blog - New Home!

Due to the fact that I had the blog on my SUPER-NES web server, I was quickly running out of room since it's a very small amount of space. Since the blog will likely get fairly large over the years, I've decided to go ahead and move it now rather than later when I fill up the storage space. I've also updated the RSS feed so you might have to click on the URL in the "Links" section to update your feed, if that's the one you're using. I have tons of space on this new server, so there won't be a need to move the blog again. It's one of those "better safe than sorry" routines. I'm going to be making some slight cosmetic changes over the next few weeks, but that shouldn't interfere with anything going on with the blog and I will be updating the blog almost every day. I hope everyone continues to enjoy the blog and I hope this hasn't been too big of an inconvenience. As usual, if anyone has anything specific they'd like to see on the blog, feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email. I'm always open to new ideas. : )

Love/Hate - Playstation 3

Well I've given the Playstation 3 eight months and now it's time to do the "Love/Hate" feature on the good old PS3. For those new to this feature, I take three things I love and three things I hate about something and talk a little bit about them. Get it? Love. Hate. Okay so I was trying to be funny. Sue me. Without further ado, let's' get to it.

Love #1 - The first thing I love about the Playstation 3 would have to be its sheer horsepower under the hood. That Cell Broadband Engine is a beauty and capable of things no other console, not even the Xbox 360, can produce. I think we've only seen the tip of the iceberg, and I can't wait to see what the second and third-generation titles are going to look like once the developers have had some time to become familiar with the ins and outs of the Playstation 3 architecture. Reminds me of the quote from Back to the Future - "When this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit!" And the Playstation 3 is fast approaching that eighty-eight miles per hour. So get ready.

Love #2 - My second love of the Playstation 3 system would have to be the built-in Blu Ray drive. You have to admit, when you think about that one feature, the steap price tag does seem more like a bargain since most stand-alone Blu Ray players are in the $700-$900 range at the moment. At least the good ones. It's nice to be able to just pop in a Blu Ray movie when you're not playing any of your Playstation 3 or classic PS1 and PS2 games. Another bonus is that the large capacity of the Blu Ray discs will allow developers to go crazy with their Playstation 3 games as there's space to burn on the 50GB Blu Ray discs. I think it's safe to say that we're not likely to see a multi-disc release for the Playstation 3 anytime soon.

Love #3 - My third love of the Playstation 3 is its full backward compatibility. At least for the time being since word has it that Sony is removing the Emotion Engine from the new 80GB Playstation 3 systems, opting to go with software emulation as the means for playing the classic Playstation and Playstation 2 games. How this is going to work is still very much up in the air, but luckily I have the 60GB model that still does include the Emotion Engine. I know Sony is looking to cut costs, but the backward compatability is bound to take a hit once Sony begins using an emulator to run the classic titles. I do have to give Sony props for introducing the "smoothing" feature for PS1 and PS2 games. It really makes the classic titles look extremely sharp on an HDTV. My Playstation and Playstation 2 games have never looked so good. Let's just hope Sony knows what they're doing in removing the Emotion Engine. If not, PS3 owners better hold onto those 20GB and 60GB models. I know I will.

Hate #1 - This first one is pretty much a no-brainer. The high price tag of the Playstation 3 system is easily its biggest knock. While consumers are getting a slight break with the $100 price drop on the discontinued 60GB models, it won't be long and these systems will all be gone and only the 80GB model priced at $599.99 will be available at retailers. As I mentioned above, you are getting a lot for your money, but that's not going to make it any easier for consumer who march into their local store and see the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii systems sitting next to it on store shelves for a lot less money. I still haven't gotten the dent out of my wallet purchasing the Playstation 3 left in it.

Hate #2 - I guess I should just come right out and say it, I hate the software support the Playstation 3 has seen so far. Sony needs to get on the stick and get more top shelf games flowing out for the Playstation 3 system. So far, it's been mediocre for the most part. At least we have a few titles to look forward to between now and the New Year, but if Sony's going to begin catching up to the other consoles, they're going to have to sell it with high-quality games, and so far that's just not happening very much.

Hate #3 - Let's face it, Microsoft has set the bar pretty high with their Xbox 360 user interface. The blade system is very well organized and appealing to the eyes as well. Sony's PSP-style menu system works well enough on the PSP system, but it's looking a little dated and far too basic for a console as sleek and sexy as the Playstation 3. Their Playstation Store is also not very well laid out and runs sluggishly most of the time. Sony needs to get their developers on the stick and get a new menu system that fits in with the beautiful hardware design of the Playstation 3. There's just no excuse for the pitiful menu system they're using right now.

Well there you have it. I got to rant a rave a bit and I feel better for it. In truth, the Playstation 3 is a great system and one that has a lot of potential that will hopefully be reached over the course of the next year. Until the games really start rolling out, I'll be using mine mainly for Playstation 2 games and the occasional Blu Ray movie. I do have the import of Hot Shots Golf 5 coming next week so that will give me something to do.

Forgotten Favorites - Tales of the Abyss

I've been a fan of the "Tales" games since I first played Tales of Phantasia back on the Super Famicom system. I've always loved the unique battle system, but the biggest selling point of the Tales games for me personally has always been the storyline. Playing a Tales game is like reading a novel. They always have subplots taking place throughout the entire game that really keep you coming back for more. Tale of the Abyss has to be my favorite of the series and one of the best RPGs money can buy for the Playstation 2 system. You can still find the game in new condition so maybe now would be a good time for anyone that hasn't tried this wonderful RPG to give it a go. It looks especially sharp with the "smoothing" feature on the Playstation 3 system.

This is where it all began...

My mother was really big into garage sales back during my childhood, and it's safe to say that I was dragged to many a danky garage from birth to about age 12. But one day back in 1977, I got a bit lucky at one particular garage sale. Actually, it was a patio sale that a friend of my mother's was having across town. My mother always found some way to bribe my sister and I into behaving while we were at these things, and this time she had promised to buy us something from the patio sale. Yippee! I was rumaging through the items in this box of toys they had for sale when I came across this Odyssey 400 Pong game system. At the time, I didn't know much about it, but I had seen Pong being played at the local Pizza Hut a few times, although I had never had the guts to go over and give it a go myself. They wanted $60 for it, but she let my mother have it for $25. I hooked that thing up to the family TV and I was hooked. My sister and I would sit there and play that thing for hours upon hours. I was going through my game stuff in storage and came across the original Odyssey 400 Pong system that I got at that patio sale this morning so I snapped a pic of it. It's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since I started playing video games. It's been a damn fun ride though, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Here's to another 30.

Decisions, Decisions....

I get tons of email each and every day asking the same old question - "Which console(s) should I buy?" While there's certainly no easy answer to that nagging question, there is an easy system you can use to help make that fateful decision. The first thing you need to look at is the pros and cons of each console. See how they stack up against each other and see which features appeal to you the most. Then it's time to look at the exclusive games that you just can't play anywhere else. Finally, take a look at the price tag and see which console offers more bang for the buck and which one fits into your gaming budget. Take a look below to see a breakdown of each console.

Sony Playstation 3 - There's no arguing that the Playstation 3 console has the most horsepower under the hood. It's capable of visuals that no other console can equal. That being said, we're now finding out that the Xbox 360 is not too far behind it. The Playstation 3 also has another ace-on-the-hole with it's built-in Blu-Ray drive. With the Playstation 3 you can play high-definition Blu-Ray movies right out of the box, unlike the Xbox 360 that requires you to purchase an external $200 HD-DVD drive. The main drawback of the Playstation 3 system at the moment is its astronomical $600 price tag. If you can grab a system right now, you can take advantage of the $500 60GB model that's just been discontinued, but they won't last long and once they're gone it's back up to $599.99 for the new 80GB model. Another negative with the Playstation 3 is its software library. There just aren't a lot of great games available for the system at the moment, and not an overly large amount coming anytime soon. Sure there are a handful of solid titles that will see the light of day during the holiday shopping season, but not nearly enough to justify the high cost of the console. If you're a diehard Playstation fan you likely already have the console so my best advice for those who don't yet own one is to wait awhile and see what Sony does between now and early next year. Who knows, Sony may drop the price of the 80GB model before too long. Grade: 6/10

Nintendo Wii - The Wii has already proven to be a huge hit for Nintendo. Retailers just can't keep this system in stock. The number one reason for that is what the Wii brings to the table. Using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk attachment, gamers are able to play games in a way not possible on any other console. The motion-sensing technology also allows developers to create unique games that appeal not only to seasoned gamers, but also to those who've never played video games before. It also doesn't hurt that the Wii has three of its marquee titles coming to the system over the next 5 months either. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Mario Galaxy will all see release sometime before the end of 2007 and this has to have the Nintendo faithful excited. As if things weren't golden enough, Nintendo Wii also has a very attractive $249.99 price tag to further add to its mass appeal. Now it's time for the downside. The Wii certainly can't compete with the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 consoles when it comes to visuals, as it's just not capable of pumping out the high-definition eye candy found on the competing systems. The Wii also can't play either of the new high-defintion media formats either, not even with an attachment. That being said, it's still hard not to love the little Wii, and sales of the system show that many others feel the same way. Grade: 8/10

Microsoft Xbox 360 - Last, but certainly not least, is the Xbox 360. There are those that will tell you that the Xbox 360's showing at E3 was lackluster at best. But one game is set to send the popularity of the Xbox 360 through the stratosphere and that game is Halo 3. This game alone will sell a ton of systems for Microsoft and they know it. There's also a couple of terrific RPGs coming for the system over the next 3 months in Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata. Couple that with the hugely popular online Xbox Live service and what you have is easily the most well rounded console of the three and also the safest choice as well. The Xbox 360 already has a solid library of games to choose from, and with an ever-increasing number of Xbox Live Arcade games flowing forth, there's sure to be something for everyone. It's also nice to have a choice of two system packages with either the $299.99 model with no hard drive or the $399.99 model with a hard drive and wireless controller. About the only drawbacks of the Xbox 360 is the fact that you have to shell out another $200 to play HD-DVD movies and also the fact that the system has had such a high failure rate. Luckily Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and extended the warranty of the Xbox 360 system to 3 years. Other than these two slight annoyances, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better overall system on the market right now. Grade: 9/10

No matter which system you choose, just be sure you get the console that you'll enjoy the most. It's easy to pick these three systems apart, but at the end of the day, it's still about personal taste and that's what you need to use to base your decision on. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses, so do some research before you buy and that will ensure that you come home with the console that best suits your gaming needs.

Don't Forget to Preorder Eternal Sonata!

If you preorder Eternal Sonata at EB Games or Gamestop, you'll get yourself a brand new limited edition Xbox 360 faceplate to go along with it. There are five different faceplates, each one with a different backdrop and character art. The faceplates will be randomly given out, but I have a little pull with the manager at my local Gamestop so I've already picked out which faceplate I want and assured me that she'd hold the one I want for me. See, kissing butt does have its rewards. Of course I've had a lot of practice over the years as well. If you want to preorder the game at EB Games online store, click on the graphic to surf on over there. Judging from the picture of the faceplates, these are looking to be some of the best faceplates we've seen yet for the Xbox 360. I'll be sure and post pics on here of my plate when the game is released.

Bidding Farewell to Xbox 360 #3

There she goes. Back to McAllen, TX where it will (hopefully) be fixed. This is my third Xbox 360 that's kicked the bucket so obviously the third time is not the charm. Maybe the fourth will be. Here's hoping. At least I have a firm grasp of the packing ritual. I could do it in my sleep at this point. I didn't even forget to write the confirmation number on the return label like I did last time. I'm telling you, I was in the zone. I have noticed that my Xbox 360 always craps out when I've just gotten ahold of something good for the system. First it was Project Gotham Racing 3, then Gears of War, and now the Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata demos. And let's not forget Bomberman Live. I'm beginning to think that if I just buy terrible games and never bother to get anything good for the system it will last forever. Well I guess it's Wii time now for a few weeks. I've been meaning to play Sonic & the Secret Rings now for awhile. I guess now is as good a time as any.

Eternal Sonata (Demo) - Xbox 360

I finally got around to picking up this month's Official Xbox Magazine, and loe and behold, inside was a disc that included a fully playable demo of the upcoming Xbox 360 RPG "Eternal Sonata." Let me just first say that the visuals in this game are absolutely incredible, even by current Xbox 360 standards. The attention to detail as well as some of the most realistic and dynamic lighting effects really bring this game to life. If ever there were a reason to go out and pick up an HDTV, this game is it. The few musical tracks I've listened to so far have also been very good, but it's the voice acting that's impressed me the most about the game. The combat system is a bit unique in the way the game uses an action-style system that puts each character on a set time limit. You can freely roam around and carry out attacks as long until your time bar runs out. Then it's the next character or enemy's turn to attack. The presence of Light and Dark also play a key role as your attacks change depending on whether or not you're currently standing in the light or the darkness. This also holds true for the many enemies and their attacks. Some enemies are stronger in light and some are stronger in the darkness so this becomes yet another strategic element during battles. If you want to use items, such as healing elixirs, you have to set them up in the menu before the battle begins. It may seem a little complicated, but the entire combat system is very intuitive and a lot of fun to use. Easily one of the best battle systems I've used in a long time and really adds a lot of strategy and fun to the combat in the game. The demo is a short romp, but there's plenty to do and enough to give you a good idea as to whether or not this is a game you'll want to pick up in September. Blue Dragon has been at the top of my Xbox 360 wish list for about a year now, but it's now moved down to number two after playing this demo. So far this is the best RPG I've played for the system and this could turn out to be a huge hit for Namco/Bandai during the holidays. My demo rating on this one would be a 9.1/10. This is one to keep an eye on.

Bomberman Live Released on Xbox Live Arcade!

Being a big Bomberman fan, I made the wait until 4am central time to grab the game as it was put up on Xbox Live Arcade. I've played about an hour and a half of the game and so far I am extremely impressed with it. There's a lot of variety in the different areas and the visuals are the best I've ever seen in a Bomberman game to date. Musically the game is also pretty solid as well, as the background music does a good job of carrying the action taking place without overpowering it. The girl that takes care of the announcing duties in each level is also pretty easy on the ears. The game also allows you to unlock customizing items for your Bomberman character. You can choose different hats, faces, and even outifts to make your Bomberman stand out from the crowd. This might seem like a small touch, but it's a nice one nonetheless.The single-player game is a lot of fun, but to fully enjoy a Bomberman game you've got to get into the multi-player part of the action to get the full Bomberman experience and the Xbox Live version of the game doesn't dissapoint. You can play with 2-4 players locally as well as up to 8 players across the Xbox Live service. I got in a few games on Live and the game plays like a dream. Bomberman Live doesn't stray very far from the tried-and-true formula that's driven these games for two-decades and in truth, that's actually a good thing. If your a Bomberman fan, you need to grab this game and if you're not, this game will likely make a fan out of you. Overall I'd give it about an 8.5/10. A great addition to the already rock-solid Xbox Live Arcade.

My 5 Most Wanted Games of 2007

Of all the questions I've been getting around the net lately, it's the question of what games I'm most looking forward to between now and the end of the year that keeps coming up the most often. Although there aren't quite as many titles as would have been listed this time last year, there are still a good number of games I'm anxiously awaiting between now and the holidays so I thought it would be a good time to talk a little bit about them. I thought I would have more trouble than I did narrowing it down, but when it all came down to it, these five game easily stuck out when I sat down and made a little list. So without further ado, here we go.

1. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - This was really a no-brainer for me personally. I've been itching to play this one since I first saw video of it back during last year's E3 show. I'm a sucker for a Mario game and after being slightly dissapointed with Super Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube, I'm hoping that this one will live up to the Mario name. We got a heftier dose of screenshots and video at the recent E3 show, and now we know that this game will hit US retailers on November 12th. Needless to say, I might be skipping Thanksgiving so I can get in some extra playing time on this one.

2. Blue Dragon (Xbox 360) - This is the reason I bought an Xbox 360 to begin with. I've always been a huge fan of Japanese RPGs and since certain members of the Chrono Trigger team developed this one, there's no way I'd miss it. I've recently played the demo on Xbox Live Marketplace and it's as good as I had hoped it would be. Gorgeous visuals and a really catchy soundtrack highlight this upcoming RPG that I'm going to be all over once I get the full version in hand.

3. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) - I've long been a huge fan of the Ratchet & Clank series of games and this one has hit written all over it. After peeking at some screenshots and video of the game in action, it's obvious that the power of the Playstation 3 console is really being taken advantage of with this title. I just hope the developers can add some new twists to the game play itself as these titles are quickly becoming a little too similar in design and execution. Be nice to see the game get a fresh start on the Playstation 3 system. Either way, I'll be picking it up on day one.

4. Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles (PSP) - I've been enjoying the Japanese PC Engine import of Dracula X: Rondo of Blood for many years so I was especially excited to hear that not only was Konami finally bringing this classic stateside, but also giving the game an audio/visual makeover to go along with it. To further add to the fun, Konami is also including the original version of the game as well as the Playstation classic rendition of Symphony of the Night. My PSP has been needing some action lately, and this game is likely to give it just that come October when it hits store shelves.

5. Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass (DS) - Now this is a game that we've all been waiting on for a very long time. There have been times when I wondered if this game would ever see the light of day, but US gamers will finally get their hands on this game in November and it couldn't come at a better time with the holiday shopping season in full swing. I'll admit that I'm still a bit concerned about the style of game play this one will employ in using only the touchscreen for control, but so far early impressions of the import version make it seem like Nintendo really knew what they were doing and have turned out one of the best Zelda titles to day. Makes me excited just thinking about it.

Well there you have it. My five most wanted games for the remainder of 2007. I'd love to hear what all of you out there are looking forward to as well so if you leave a comment, be sure and list your five most wanted games for the rest of the year. And feel free to mock my list as well. I know it's coming. : )

Hot Shots Golf 5 - Playstation 3 (Import)

Well the day is almost at hand. After putting in over 800 hours of play on the PSP Hot Shots Golf game, I'm finally about to be rewarded with a brand new Hot Shots Golf game, this time for the Playstation 3 console. The Japanese version of the game is set for release on July 26, and I've already got mine preordered at Play-Asia. After watching videos of the game in action on the official Japanese web site, I haven't been able to contain my excitement since. I'm even taking a weeks vacation from work to celebrate the Hot Shots marathon I'm about to undertake. The game is set to hit the US in mid-October, so if you can't wait, go ahead and import the game like I am. The Minna no Golf games are normally fairly easy to navigate, even with little to no knowledge of the Japanese language. I'll have screenshots and impressions the day I get it so keep an eye open for them if this is a game you're looking forward to. I might even shoot some video of the game in action and post it on YouTube if I can squeeze it in. If this game is half as good as Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee on the PSP then fans of this series have a lot to look forward to.

Official Member of the "Red Ring of Death" Club!

Does this look familiar. Well my third Xbox 360 console has been rabidly infected with the "Red Ring of Death" disease. I was in the middle of playing a quick game of Marble Blast Ultra when the damn red lights started blinking. After spewing forth a plethora of profanity, I got treated to an hour and a half of my life on hold listening to some of the most ear-splitting percussion music I've ever heard. Of course I was then rewarded for this long wait with a guy telling me to perform all of the worthless tasks I had already tried on my Xbox 360 system before I called. After 20 more minutes on the telephone I was told that they would be sending me yet another coffin to put my console in and given the usual spill about only including the console in the box with no cables, hard drive, or controller. Oh and then the old trusty confirmation number I got to write down for future reference. Can't live without that baby, now can we? So now, I'm going to have to wait another two or three weeks until I can get my system back, hopefully in time for the release of Blue Dragon. I love the Xbox 360 console, but I'll admit that Microsoft should have their asses kicked for ever letting this piece of hardware see the light of day with this level of widespread faulty rate. Did I mention that the customer service rep even tried to talk me into getting one of the new Xbox 360 Elite systems because they were "much more reliable than the regular Xbox 360 systems." I'm about to send them my third crapped out Xbox 360 system and he's trying to get me to buy another one. I think they should just GIVE me an Elite for my trouble. Yeah right, and maybe Santa will bring me that Ferarri I've been wanting my entire life too. Well I've whined enough for one day. Now I'm going to go NOT play my Xbox 360 again. I guess I can always go play with my confirmation number.

Silent Debuggers Hits the Wii Virtual Console!

The classic TurboGrafx-16 first-person shooter "Silent Debuggers" makes it way to the Wii Virtual Console today. If you want to check out the review on Virtual-Turbo, you can click on the box art to the left. If not let me break it down for you. The game is an overly simplistic first-person shooter that just feels like it's missing something. You don't have near the level of play control that you have in more modern FPS games. For the most part you feel like you're just wandering around the many corridors and occasionally the game throws you a bone and lets you actually shoot a monster. Of course by then, you've got monsters crawling up every orifice of your body and your battery is quickly drained. Then it's back to the computer room with a five-minute penalty and out you go again. The soundtrack is nonexistent for the most part other than a short tune you'll get in the computer room and the sound effects are...interesting to say the least. Visually the game is fairly standard early 16-bit material, and certainly nothing to write home about. Although there are some color variations between the different areas in the game, there's really not a lot of variety in the surroundings which further adds to the repetitive nature of the game. Unless you were just a big fan of this game back in the day, I'd say pass on this one and save your points for next week when the amazing pinball simulation "Devil's Crush" comes out. this one's just not aged very well. (4.5/10)

What We've All Learned at the 2007 E3 Show!

Now that E3 is all said and done, we can take a moment to reflect back to what exactly we learned at this year's E3 extravaganza. Here we go. At the 2007 Electronics Entertainment Expo, we learned that...

1. Nintendo thinks all gamers are chubby fat-asses with the news of their Wii Board attachment. Obviously Nintendo sees the need to get gamers off their butts and exercising. First they basically call us a bunch of morons with the release of the "Brain Games" and now they're trying to get us to get up and take part in the Wii Fitness regime. What's next, Wii Cholesterol monitor. Will we have to connect electrodes to our body before we can even play a Wii game. Maybe out heart rate needs to be monitored or our reading habits? How about a background check before we can even purchase a Wii system?

2. Sony thinks we're a bunch of poor weaklings with the news of their 33% lighter PSP and $100 cheaper Playstation 3 system. Yep, we can't hold that heavy PSP up anymore. WE JUST CAN'T DO IT SONY! So now Sony has made the new PSP thinner and a full 33.356% lighter. Thank God because I just couldn't take it anymore personally. Hmm, maybe the Wii Fitness isn't such a bad idea after all. And what can we spend that extra $100 on. That's of course if we can get to a retailer in time to grab one of the remaining 60GB Playsatation 3 models before they're extinct. They just somehow forgot to mention that little detail with the announcement of the price drop. I guess we can take a brisk jog down to the retailers and that might at least get Nintendo off our backs a little bit regarding our lack of fitness level. Kill two birds with one stone so-to-speak.

3. Reggie Fils-Aime is...................happy. And thank God, we can all get some sleep now knowing that. Of course he's happy. His company's Wii and DS systems are still flying off of store shelves and Sony's pulled another, um Sony, with their "temporary" price cut, not to mention the fact that Microsoft isn't about to drop the price of their system anytime soon. What's not to be happy about. Maybe the guy can actually crack a smile for once. I guess now all he needs is Matt Cassamassina to stop groping all over Perrin long enough for him to have some fun. Yeah, that'll happen.

4. E3 just isn't as much fun without the general public. Even many of the big wigs admit that the show just didn't have the same excitement without all of the half-naked girls and nacho-eating gamers pushing and shoving at every outlet inside the show. Sure the guys with credentials got their egos stoked a bit, and got to feel a little important for a while, but at what cost. E3 without the general public is like the Department of Motor Vehicles without the long lines. It's just not right. Maybe with some of the vocal comments made by some of the high-up execs, E3 might make it back to the way it was before. But for now, it's Tokyo Game Show or bust for many gamers looking for some trade show goodness.

5. The year following all of the console launches is always a bit of a letdown. I mean there were some really great games shown off at the show, and gamers have a lot to be thankful for with the upcoming release list for all of the current game systems, but it's nothing like the excitement we saw last year at this time before the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii systems launched. I think there should be a law implemented where only one console can launch per year. Then they can have something like a lottery drawing to see which company gets to launch a console during that calendar year. That way we'd at least have this excitement every year or so instead of the standard 4 or 5 year window. Okay I've griped and whined enough. Now it's time to turn the attention towards the holiday shopping season that's rapidly approaching, not to mention the solid list of game releases between now and then. Stay tuned on the blog as I'll try to cover as many of them as I can. At least once my E3 pity party is over and done with.

Sony Execs...Confused, Drunk, or High?

After this week's Sony Playstation 3 price drop fiasco, it begs the question - Is Sony really that incompetent, or do the execs need to put down the crack pipe long enough to make some decent decisions? For those who missed it, here's a quick rundown of the events.

1. Rumor of $100 Playstation 3 price drop is leaked out by a retail manager.
2. Sony flatly denies any price change on the Playstation 3 console.
3. Sony announces a $100 price drop on the 60GB Playstation 3 model at E3 press conference.
4. Sony of Europe exec states that the 60GB Playstation 3 model has been discontinued.
5. Internet buzzes with rumors about the discontinued 60GB Playstation 3 system.
6. Message boards fill up with people calling the Sony of Europe exec an idiot and demand he be hanged for his crime.
7. Gamers wake up to find that Kaz Hirai, president of SCEA, has indeed confirmed that the 60GB model has been canned.
8. Kaz says that once all stock of the 60GB PS3 systems are gone, consumers will be left with only the $600 80GB model.
9. Mass chaos ensues and many gamers are seriously ticked off about this news.
10. Sony fanboys still insist that this is good news because "Sony rules!"
11. Wii and Xbox 360 fanboys rush the PS3 board to mock and ridicule the Sony crowd as if all of this is their fault.
12. Reggie once again states that he's..........happy!
13. Every idiot and their dog runs out and quickly buys a 60GB Playsation 3 system just like Sony hoped they would.
14. Sony laugh about all the chaos they've created and realize their evil plan has worked like a charm.
15. Sony announce a 500GB PS3 model for $2499.99 and include 5 copies of the Motorstorm game and 15 controllers.

Okay so 13-15 were me being pithy, but in reality, that's probably what happened and we all know it. For anyone that's ever seen the Will Smith movie "Enemy of the State" you'll likely remember the comment that Gene Hackman made regarding Will Smith's plan near the end. He said, "You're either incredibly smart or incredibly stupid." The same thing can be said about Sony and their tactics towards the Playstation 3 console. Most gamers in the know, even those who are huge fans of Sony and the Playstation system, will tell you that Sony is making one huge mistake after another. And the bad part is that there seems to be no end in sight. Just when you think you've seen it all, they hit you with another blunder. It's almost as if Microsoft or Nintendo has bought out Sony and is purposely trying to run the company into the ground.

Those of us who own a Playstation 3 just grin and bare it and try to hold on to the hope that Sony is going to pull it all together and once again regain the lead in the console race. After all, the Playstation 3 is still the most powerful game console on the planet and there are several great title coming out between now and Christmas. The potential is there, but can Sony stop kicking themselves in the groin long enough to take advatange of it? Stay tuned as we still have the Tokyo Game Show later this year to see what other great announcements Sony makes and then takes back and then clarifies. Should be fun. : )

Blue Dragon - Xbox 360 Demo Impressions

For those who don't already know it, Microsoft has added a demo of the upcoming RPG "Blue Dragon" to the Xbox Live Marketplace. It's worth noting that the demo is fairly large at 1.13GB, and downloads have been a little slow since so many users have flooded the service to grab the demo. Don't be overly alarmed if the download takes some time. The demo allows you to play two areas of the game and you're given a 60 minute time limit on each area. First I'll break down the two different areas and then I'll give some impressions on the game overall. Let's get to it.

The first area you can choose from is "Nene's Fortress." In this outing you are stuck with the task of somehow finding a way to get the explosive collar that's around Kluke's neck off. This is going to require you to scale all three floors of the fortress defeating enemies along the way. You can also pick up some great items in treasure boxes strung throughout each level. This is where you'll also get to face off with some of the bosses found in the game. This was easily the better of the two areas in my opinion, just based on variety alone. The second area you can choose to visit is the "Forest of the Ancient Ruins." Once again you get only 60 minutes to tear through this area. This is a good chance to practice the Field Skills that allow you to quickly dispatch of frequently-encountered enemies. If you want to get your feet wet in using the game's combat system, the forest is a great place to start.

Visually Blue Dragon is very impressive. It's smooth and crisp visuals really lend itself to the game's "next-gen" look and feel. Hopefully this is only a sign of things to come with the upcoming crop of rpgs on the Xbox 360. Each character has their own distinct look and style that really makes them stand out from the group. The music in these two areas is fantastic to say the least. I think I was most impressed with the music, and the voice work isn't too bad either. Combat is standard turn-based affair, but there are enough interesting twists to give the game a hint of freshness. Instead of your character taking part in battle, each character uses something called a "shadow" that mimics a certain type of powerful animal. The main character Shu has a Blue Dragon Shadow and each of the other characters has a similar type of animal at their disposal. These shadows can attack and even cast special spells, some of which are absolutely devastating. A good example of these special attacks is the "Corporeal" attack that can be used once your character's Tension Gauge fills up during battle. You can then unleash a very Aeon-like attack in which your shadow becomes real for a brief moment, long enough to unleash one of the most devestating attacks they're capable of and one that will unravel hit points off of your enemies at a rapid pace. For RPG fans looking for something innovative or different, this might not be the game for you as this game does stick to many of the RPG game play stylings that have become a staple of the genre over the past few years. What makes the game stand out so well is the personality of the many characters you'll encounter in the game and the storyline, not to mention the fact that this game is top-shelf quality from top to bottom. RPG fans should try out the demo and I think now I can safely say that I can't wait until August 28th when I can finally sit down with the entire game. Just from what I've played I'd give the game a 8.7/10 overall. This could end up being a huge seller for Microsoft and their Xbox 360 console. And just in time for the holiday shopping season. How convenient. : )

Da Blog is Back!

I want to first say that the blog is back. I tried another service and then the macintosh service and I wasn't as happy with them as I had expected. I've made some adjustments with the settings on this blog and hopefully that will help with reliability.

I also want to say a very big thanks to everyone who emailed about bringing the blog back. It was overwhelming and I honestly had no idea that there were so many regular viewers. It's all very much appreciated! I'm getting a post ready that will cover my impressions on the Blue Dragon demo that went up on Xbox Live the other day. Should be up in an hour or so. Enjoy and again....THANKS! : )