Xbox Live Arcade: The Ratings

I want to encourage everyone to download "Texas Hold'em" on Xbox Live Arcade ASAP. You can get it for free through Thursday. Save yourself 800 Microsoft Points ($10), its a good game.

I love Xbox Live Marketplace. I said it when the 360 came out and I'll say it again - pure genius. There are downloads for just about everything but the best part of Marketplace is Xbox Live Arcade. For an old school gamer like me, getting a chance to play some of my favorite arcade games on my new system is like stepping back in time. Its great!

There are currently 27 games available on Arcade with new games coming out every Wednesday. While that's quite a few, lets be honest, there are a lot of duds. While waiting for my beloved Cyberball and Paperboy (add the Konami classic Sunset Riders to my Wish List as well) to come out, I decided to try on a few Arcade games on for size. With some I just played the demo, others I bought outright. And just so you know, I have a built-in bias towards some of these games. There are a few titles on Arcade that turn me back into that kid I was in the early 80's. You know - feathered hair, Def Lepard shirt, Members Only jacket. As I always warn people: I'm a child of the 80's and I make no excuses for it. If you're not sure about a game, play the trial version. Its always free.

Texas Hold'em - Obviously this game wasn't around when I was a kid but I could care less because its so much fun. The single-player is fine and a nice way to kill some time but the multi-player is where it really shines. Chatting with people online as cards are dealt almost makes you feel like you're really in a casino. I kept looking around for a waitress to bring me a drink. Then my wife told me to get off my butt and get one myself.
Grade: A-

Galaga - I love this game if only for sentimental reasons. This was one of the first arcade games I ever played (it came out in 1981 so I'm dating myself just a little). A bunch of my friends would play this after school for bragging rights. Its a very simple, straightforward game which is why its so much fun.
Grade: A

Frogger - When this game came out, I remember being incredibly disappointed that the box art looked so much better than the game itself. I'm still disappointed. The game was overrated when it came out and souped up graphics don't make it any better. After crossing the street a few times and getting splattered by a truck or drowning (which never made sense to me, I'm playing as a frog) the game gets old fast. Unless you're a diehard Frogger nut (and if you are, please tell me why) stay away from this game.
Grade: D

Cloning Clyde - This game is just flat out kooky and if you've read some of my reviews lately, you know I like kooky. Its like controlling a 3-D comic book character. Unlike most of these other Arcade games there is lots of character variety. The mult-player is pretty good as well.
Grade: B

Hexic HD - This game came free on my 360 and I'm glad it did. Its fun and really gives gamers an idea of what Arcade could offer when the console came out. Hexic is a lot like Tetris (which is no surprise as it was made by Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov) and can be just as fun and challenging.
Grade: A (because its fun and free)

Street Fighter II - Very enjoyable game. I really like the Quarter Match feature that lets you continue if you get beat, just like in the arcade. I had a lot of fun kicking my son's butt in this game (I played as Chun Li and he had no chance). Single-player mode is fairly tough and multi-player is just brutal. Those guys know what their doing. If you're interesting in getting SF: Anthology, save $10 and get this instead.
Grade: B+

Joust - I just never got into this game. A flying ostrich with a knight holding a lance riding on him? I'll pass.
Grade: D

Gauntlet - Oooh yeah! No we're talking! Suddenly I'm back in my Dungeons and Dragons loving elementary school days. Hanging out with my buds and arguing over who has to be Valkyrie (the girl). The memorable announcer ("I've not seen such bravery" and "Wizard needs food badly") is back. Great game to play with a group of friends.
Grade: A

Geometry Wars - Whenever I play this game I feel like a little kid staring at a Fourth of July celebration - Oooh! Pretty colors! Fun game play, great graphics and sound but a little repetitive.
Grade: B+

Pac-Man - Is there a more well known arcade game than this one? I doubt it. The Xbox Live Arcade version looks pretty good and plays fine but the controls are a little stiff. Back in the day gamers would play with a stick that was much looser and Pac was a little more nimble. The newer version feels like the old fella has gained a few pounds. Which he probably has since Pac-Man was in every Pizza Hut I ever went into during the 1980's. Still, he is the king of arcade games and is worth $5.
Grade: B


Mailbag - Just a quick reminder that I'm accepting Mailbag entries (don't worry Reader John, you're safe so far) until this Friday at 6pm.

Quick Hits

A gamers dream (or nightmare) - I know what you really want, I have my finger on the pulse of local gamers'...necks. What you don't want is superior graphics, reasonably priced games or a next-gen console that will leave you bankrupt. No, what you want is to somehow, someway combine the world of reality TV with video games. The perfect marriage of mediums. Well now's your chance.

Activision has teamed up with Spike TV and Best Buy to give us the "Call of Duty 3 Challenge" (Ha! I said duty again!). The boot camp-style competition of survival and gaming will be telecast on Spike TV's Game Head (a pretty good gaming show by the way) on November 10th to coincide with the release of the COD3 video game.

Activision is hosting an online casting call at http://www.gamespot.com/contests/spiketvcod3/. They are looking for 16...uh,em recruits...with, and I quote, "personality (borderline crazy), perserverance (obsessive compulsive disorder) and gaming skills (way too much free time)" to compete for a prize package consisting of: VIP access to the Video Game Awards, a home entertainment system from Best Buy and a trip for 2 to Normandy, France (feel free to storm the beaches if you so choose, its alot safer now).

Finalists will be flown to an unknown location to be immortalized for eternity on film September 20-22. So if you're free those days, sign up. If any local guy makes it, please let me know so I can interview you.

And finally - The Mailbag is going great...for reader John. That's right, as of right now, reader John is our only Mailbag participant. What's going on? I thought gamers were competitive? Are you going to let John just walk away with a $20 gift card? Isn't there anyone out there worthy enough to challenge him? According to Site Meter there are 130-150 people a week who visit this blog, surely somebody can take John down! (Sorry John, I have to try and give you some competition.) If you have the stones, send your gaming/non-gaming comments or questions to terry.terrones@gazette.com. At least make the man work for it.

The Mole: A quick out of town update

Greetings from Chicago! I'm in the Windy City for a family event and finally found some free time to cruise the web when I realized I hadn't updated the blog since Wednesday...oops. The last few days have been filled with Cubs games, relatives and watching my beloved Red Sox get pounded by the Yankees so its been a mix of fun and lots of yelling at any TV I can find. Enough about me, here's the skinny on a few upcoming games.

Still anxiously awaiting Cyberball - Microsoft has announced its upcoming Xbox Live Arcade titles for the next few weeks with no robots playing football game in sight. Texas Hold'em comes out this Wednesday but is free for the first 48 hours of its release, then it sells for a whopping 800 points ($10). Personally, I feel all arcade games should be capped out at 400 points, no more. One of the nice things about Texas Hold ’em however is it offers multiplayer support for up to eight gamers, three modes of gameplay (Standard Games, Scenarios and Tournaments), Achievements, extensive online leaderboards and statistics. So it might be worth it.

Time Pilot (August 30), a Konami fighter pilot game and Scramble (September 6), a side-scrolling shooter also from Konami will cost 400 points.

Something for free? - Sierra announced late last week that FEAR Combat, the multiplayer component of the PC game FEAR is available for free. If you're interested, go to http://www.joinfear.com/ for a free download. Included are 10 multiplayer game modes, 22 maps and 12 different weapons.

FIFA Soundtrack full of bands I've never heard of - I would prefer my video games to have music I actually like instead of using me as a guinea pig for a bunch of no name bands with music I could care less about. Unfortunately most gaming publishers (except Rockstar) don't feel that way. I think they see it as trying to be forward thinking and bringing hip new music to the masses. Well prepare yourself with more of this stuff as EA has given an international feel to its new FIFA game. Here's a song list for FIFA 07, I've never heard of any of them but I guess that doesn't really mean anything because my favorite band is still the Beatles and their last album is over 30 years old.

Angélique Kidjo - Wele Wele - Benin Belasco - Chloroform - UK Bersuit Vergarabat - O Vas a Misa… - Argentina Bitman & Roban - Get On The Floor - Chile Blasted Mechanism - Blasted Empire - Portugal Boy Kill Boy - Civil Sin - UK caBas - La Cadena de Oro - Colombia Carlos Jean - Get Down - Spain d.o.c.h.! - Was in der Zertung Steht - Germany Elefant - Uh-oh Hello - USA Epik High - Fly - Korea Fertig, los! - Sie ist in mich verliebt - Germany Infadels - Can’t Get Enough (Mekon Remix) - UK Keane - Nothing In My Way - UK Malibu Stacy - Los Angeles - Belgium Mellowdrone - Oh My - USA Mobile - New York Minute - Canada Morning Runner - Gone Up In Flames - UK Muse - Supermassive Black Hole - UK Nightmare Of You - Dear Scene, I Wish I Were Deaf - USA Outlandish - Kom Igen - Denmark Paul Oakenfold - Beatiful Goal - UK Persephone's Bees - Muzika Dlya Fil'ma - USA/Russia Plastilina Mosh - Peligroso Pop - Mexico Polysics - Tei! Tei! Tei! - Japan The Prototypes - Kaleidoscope - UK Ralph Myerz and The Jack Herren Band - Deepest Red - Norway Seu Jorge - Tive Razão - Brazil Shiny Toy Guns - You Are The One - USA Stijn - Gasoline & Matches - Belgium Suferosa - Royal Uniform - Norway Tahiti 80 - Big Day - France The Feeling - Sewn - UK The Pinker Tones - TMCr Grand Finale - Spain The Sheer - Understand - Holland The Young Punx - You've Got To… - UK Tigarah - Girl Fight - Japan Trash Inc. - Punk Rock Chick - Lebanon Us3 - Kick This - UK Young Love - Discotech - USA

Madden Update - My review of Madden 07 comes out this Friday (the game comes out Tuesday) and I wanted to make one thing very clear before anyone goes out and buys it - the PS2 and Xbox versions are better than the 360 version. Because of limited space, I don't really get to get across all of the points I'd like to in a review, if I did they'd be 3 times as long. Because I wanted to focus on the features and not the differences in the console versions, I don't really get a chance to tell you why the PS2/Xbox versions are better but here are 3 reasons why - the create a player mode, the Hall of Fame mode and the audible system are not the same on the 360 as they are on the PS2 and Xbox.

In the PS2/Xbox version you can make a created player with skills as high as you want. In the 360 version, you have to do these mini-games (which are pretty tough) to earn skill points for your player. I ended up with a guy with a 30-something overall rating. Not good. In the 360 version of Hall of Fame mode, you only play as your player, you don't play defense or control anyone else. You also have to throw the ball (if you're created player is a QB) from almost field level, making seeing recievers very hard. In the PS2/Xbox version you play just like its a real game. In my review I rave about the audible system, which I think is fantastic. Unfortunately, the audible/hot route system in the 360 is essentially the same as last year.

Now some gamers may like these differences but I didn't. I was very disappointed to see the cool new audible system not in the 360 version. I was surprised by the difference in the Hall of Fame scheme but the jury is still out on whether its a good or bad thing. I need to play with it a little more. But where I'm most disappointed is in the create-a-player mode. It brought back memories of Madden 96 when you had to do the same thing. I get the gimmick of doing mini-games to rate your player but they should be optional. If I spend money to buy the game, I should be able to rate myself however the heck I want. I worked to buy the game, I shouldn't have to work to rate myself.

Don't get me wrong, both versions of this game are really good. I enjoy them both. But the PS2 version was my favorite.

Sneek Peek: Madden '07

The King of Video Games is back! Thank goodness. After the disappointment that was NCAA 07, I'm glad the rotund Hall of Famer is around to feed my football jones.

I received the final PS2 version last week and the Xbox 360 version late this afternoon but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet (and won't for a few days) so this is all based on the Sony version. As with Test Drive Unlimited, I just can't give too much of the game away. Especially because I'll probably finish the review in time for it to be in next Friday's paper. To make it easy (for me, not you) here are the high and low points:

High Points - the new blocking feature (surprisingly cool), slightly better graphics, audible menu has been revamped, new kicking mechanic

Low Points - the in-game music still sucks (Can't they afford to get some big names? Would kill them to put some AC/DC or Outkast or something that gets you pumped up for games), the same lame lines from Madden( someone at EA needs to give the dude a new script), mini-games are few and dull

So is the game worth buying? What do you think? Its Madden for crying out loud, its a requirement, you don't really have an option. There is no better football game available for gamers. This version is pretty good and I was truly surprised by how much fun the new blocking feature is. I'm not quite sure where I'll grade it but it'll probably be pretty high. After all, its Madden and its pro football. What's not to like?

Sneak Peek: Test Driver Unlimited

What kind of gaming guy would I be if I had some inside info and didn't share it? Since I recently received a couple of games before their release date, I had some time to try them out and see if they'll be worth buying.

Today I'll cover a Beta test Atari's "Test Drive Unlimited". On Wednesday I'll discuss a final PS2 version "Madden '07".

Test Drive Unlimited - I received the Beta from Atari almost 2 weeks ago but haven't had time to play it because my son was hogging my PS2 with "Guitar Hero". But once I finally got to it, I was totally impressed.

I don't usually get into racing games, I get tired of driving the same courses over and over. The great thing about "TDU" is that its much more open ended than a regular racer. You can just drive around (the game is set on the Hawaiian island of Oahu) and challenge drivers whenever you want. There are check points you have to reach but how you get there is totally up to you. When you reach a certain level in the game, you can even create your own challenges.

Without giving too much away (I will have to review this game eventually after all) the game looks good and the controls feel pretty smooth. The cars handle more arcadey than sim. "TDU" is more "Need for Speed" than "Gran Turismo", which is a good thing for a non-gearhead like myself.

The auto selection is pretty deep with at least 125 licensed vehicles to choose from (Mercedes, Shelby, Aston Martin, Saleen and Jaguar are just a few) and there are motorcycles as well. The huge island (more than 1,000 miles to drive) will keep you from seeing the same sites too frequently.

While its hard to make a recommendation from just a Beta test, I'd have to say the game looks pretty good so far. If the ambitious online mode truly comes through, this game will have a lot to offer even the most casual racing fan.

The Mole: Cheat codes? I don't have no stinkin' cheat codes.

Have I mentioned how its sucks that its almost impossible to get cheat codes for games anymore? In lieu of codes, here's are the Xbox 360 Achievement Points for Dead Rising and Madden '07. Yeah, I know its not the same but it'll have to do.

Dead Rising - All worth 20pts
1. Zombie Hunter - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 1,000 zombies.
2. Zombie Killer - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 10,000 zombies.
3. Zombie Genocider - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 53,594 zombies.
4. Self Defense - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 1 psychopath.
5. Peace Keeper - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 5 psychopaths.
6. Punisher - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 10 psychopaths.
7. Legendary Soldier - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Kill 15 Zombies.
8. Hella Copter - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: ????
9. Tour Guide - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Escort 8 survivors at once.
10. Frank the Pimp - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Simultaneously escort 8 female survivors.
11. Full Set - TYPE: Total REQ: Collect all portraits in the NOTEBOOK.
12. Humanist - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get at least 10 survivors out of the mall.
13. Life Saver - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get at least 20 survivors out of the mall...
14. Saint - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get at least 50 survivors out of the mall.
15. Strike! - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Send at least 10 zombies flying with bowling balls.
16. Costume Party - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Place novelty masks on at least 10 zombies.
17. Raining Zombies - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Knock at least 30 zombies aside with a parasol.
18. Gourmet - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Eat all types of food available in the mall.
19. Item Smasher - TYPE: Total REQ: Break at least 100 items.
20. Bullet Point - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Fire at least 1,000 bullets.
21. Perfect Gunner - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Don't miss with a machine gun.
22. Photojournalist - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Score at least 1,500 PP from a single photo.
23. The Artiste - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Score at least 3,000 PP from a single photo.
24. Group Photo - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get 50 Target Markers with the camera.
25. Portraiture - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 10 survivors.
26. Census Taker - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 50 survivors.
27. Psycho Photo - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 4 psychopaths.
28. Psycho Collector - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph at least 10 psychopaths.
29. PP Collector - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Photograph all PP Stickers.
30. Snuff Shot B - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: ????
31. Snuff Shot J - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: ????
32. Transmissionary - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Answer all calls from Otis.
33. Indoorsman - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Spend at least 24 hours indoors.
34. Outdoorsman - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Spend at least 24 hours outdoors.
35. Freefall - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Drop from a height of at least 16 feet (5 meters).
36. Marathon Runner - TYPE: Total REQ: Cover a distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km).
37. Carjacker - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Steal the convicts' vehicle.
38. Stunt Driver - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Jump a car at least 33 feet (10 meters).
39. Stunt Rider - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Jump a motorcycle at least 33 feet (10 meters).
40. Zombie Road - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Walk over 33 feet (10 meters) on the backs of zombies using the Zombie Ride.
41. Karate Champ - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Defeat at least 1,000 zombies barehanded.
42. Sharp Dresser - TYPE: Total REQ: Change into at least 20 different costumes.
43. Clothes Horse - TYPE: Total REQ: Change into all costumes available in the mall.
44. Level Max - TYPE: Total REQ: Reach Lv. 50.
45. Unbreakable - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get the ture ending without being knocked out.
46. Overtime Mode - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Unveil all CASES and be at the heliport at noon.
47. ∞ Mode - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Get the true ending.
48. 3 Day Survivor - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Survive for at least 72 hours.
49. 5 Day Survivor - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Survive for at least 5 days.
50. 7 Day Survivor - TYPE: 1 Play REQ: Survive for at least 7 days.

Madden '07

1. Madden Gamer Level 2 - Successfully reach a Madden Gamer Level of 2. (10pts)
2. Madden Gamer Level 10 - Successfully reach a Madden Gamer Level of 10. (20pts)
3. Madden Gamer Level 20 - Successfully reach a Madden Gamer Level of 20. (40pts)
4. Madden Gamer Level 30 - Successfully reach a Madden Gamer Level of 30. (70pts)
5. Madden Gamer Level 40 - Successfully reach a Madden Gamer Level of 40. (85pts)
6. Madden Gamer Level 50 - Successfully reach a Madden Gamer Level of 50. (100pts)
7. Season Record - Receive TD - Set the season record for Receiving Touchdowns. (20pts)
8. Season Record - Receiving Yards - Set the season record for Receiving Yards. (20pts)
9. Season Record - Receptions - Set the season record for Receptions. (20pts)
10. Season Record - Rush Touchdowns - Set the season record for Rushing Touchdowns. (20pts)
11. Season Record - Rush Yards - Set the season record for Rushing Yards. (20pts)
12. Season Record - Pass Yards - Season record for Pass Yards. (20pts)
13. Season Record - Pass TD - Set the season record for Passing Touchdowns. (20pts)
14. Season Record - Sacks - Set the season record for Sacks. (20pts)
15. Season Record - INT's - Set the season record for Interceptions. (20pts)
16. Game Record - Interceptions - Set the single game record for Interceptions. (10pts)
17. Game Record - Sacks - Set the single game record for Sacks. (10pts)
18. Game Record - Pass Yards - Set the single game record for Passing Yards. (10pts)
19. Game Record - Pass Touchdowns - Set the single game record for Pass Touchdowns. (10pts)
20. Game Record - Rushing Yards - Set the single game record for Rushing Yards. (10pts)
21. Game Record - Rush TD's - Set the single game record for Rushing Touchdowns. (10pts)
22. Game Record - Receptions - Set the single game record for Receptions. (10pts)
23. Game Record - Receiving Yards - Set the single game record for Receiving Yards. (10pts)
24. Game Record - Receiving TD's - Set the single game record for Receiving Touchdowns. (10pts)
25. All-Madden Shut Out - Pitch a shut out on All-Madden difficulty. (10pts)
26. 30 Years of Franchise - Complete 30 years of Franchise mode. (100pts)
27. Perfect Season - Successfully complete a Perfect Season. (30pts)
28. Super Bowl Win - Win the Super Bowl. (30pts)
29. Import Draft Class - Successfully import a Draft Class. (10pts)
30. Mini-Games - Enter the Mini-Games mode. (5pts)
31. Create-A-Player - Succcessfully create a player. (5pts)
32. Live Opponent - Play a Live Opponent game. (5pts)
33. SS Season - 30 Pass TDs - SS Season - 30 Pass TDs. (10pts)
34. SS Season - 10 Receiving TDs - SS Season - 10 Receiving TDs. (10pts)
35. SS Season - 1400 Rush Yards - SS Season - 1400 Rush Yards. (10pts)
36. SS Season - 140 Tackles - SS Season - 140 Tackles. (10pts)
37. SS Season - 16 Sacks - SS Season - 16 Sacks. (10pts)
38. SS Season - 7 Force Fumb - SS Season - 7 Force Fumb. (10pts)
39. SS Season - 7 INTs - SS Season - 7 INTs. (10pts)
40. SS Career - 200 Pass TD's - SS Career - 200 Pass TD's. (20pts)
41. SS Career - 60 Receiving TDs - SS Career - 60 Receiving TDs. (20pts)
42. SS Career - 10000 Rush Yards - SS Career - 10000 Rush Yards. (20pts)
43. SS Career - 500 Tackles - SS Career - 500 Tackles. (20pts)
44. SS Career - 100 Sacks - SS Career - 100 Sacks. (20pts)
45. SS Career - 20 Forced Fumbles - SS Career - 20 Forced Fumbles. (20pts)
46. SS Career - 25 Interceptions - SS Career - 25 Interceptions. (20pts)

EA not pleased with Sony - EA Executive VP David Gardner is not happy with how Sony is handling the PSP. In an interview with UK Trade Magazine MCV, Gardner said Sony needs to be more aggressive with pricing and performance in order to compete with the DS.

“There’s no doubt that EA has historically bet more on PSP. I think we were excited by the technology, but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun. We must never forget that what we need to focus on is fun and so EA is putting more effort behind DS games – and creative ones that really take advantage of the hardware.”

It looks like gaming giant EA is putting the screws to Sony. This should benefit gamers in the long run.

Say what? - 2K Sports announced late last week that hip hop act A Tribe Called Quest will headline the first leg of its Second Annual 2K Sports Tour, which takes place in 15 cities. If Tribe is the headliner, who's the opening act? Arrested Development? What is this 1991? Don't get me wrong, I love 2k. Great company. I also appreciate the fact that a gaming company is doing something that puts gaming in the mainstream by doing this kind of tour but for crying out loud, couldn't they have gotten somebody just a little more current? I'd even take an MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vinilli tour over this. In fact, seeing those 3 on the same stage would be an improvment over most concerts offered nowadays. You could call it Onehitwonderpalooza or I love the 90's! Check http://2ksports.com/go/bounce/ if you have way to much time on your hands.

Mailbag - Still accepting mailbag entries until August 25th. Send in your questions/comments on gaming (or anything else for that matter) to terry.terrones@gazette.com for your chance to earn a $20 gift card.

Top 5 Gaming Studios

We all have our favorite games and therefore our favorite gaming studios. Why? If a great game comes out, we believe the company might just be on to something. Trust me, if Rockstar comes out with a new game, I want to know all about it because I know their history for outrageous games. I'm sure everyone's favorite gaming studios list is as varied as everyone's favorite games list. For the sake of a lively debate, here are mine.

Terry's Top 5 Favorite Gaming Studios

1. Electronic Arts - Yeah, yeah I know. Liking EA is like rooting for the house in poker. I don't care. They produce a number of really good games for a wide variety of genres. Because they are such a big name, nobody has a bigger target on their back and they still produce. Another one of the reasons that I like them so much is how they go out of their way to provide columnists games. As a huge company, they could easily ignore a guy like me who writes for a paper with a circulation of only 100,000 but instead they make sure I have whatever I need. That's a first class operation, at least from my perspective.

Worst Game: The Sims series

Best Game: The Madden series

2. Bungie (owned by Microsoft) - A studio famous for only 2 games making a Top 5 Gaming Studios list? When those games are as important to a console as the Halo series is to the Xbox, you better believe it. I don't know one gamer with an Xbox or a 360 who doesn't own a Halo game. Its almost a requirement. Not only have the first two Halo games been huge for Microsoft but Halo 3 could have major consequences for the PS3 as well. Now that's a company with some clout.

Worst Game: Pimps at Sea :)

Best Game: Mmm..let me think...Halo 2?

3. Rockstar - This studio is a favorite among gamers because its one of the rare developers that can cover controversial topics in a fun and humorous way. Nobody handles controversy better and no company gets more publicity from it. Sure those State of Emergency games suck but you can always count on Grand Theft Auto for a great time.

Worst Game: State of Emergency

Best Game: GTA: Vice City

4. 2K Games - With MLB 2K6, Prey and especially Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (the game of the year so far in my opinion), 2K has had a monster year. A company known for being consistently good, this year 2K has been so hot that if it were a dude, Lindsay Lohan would be all over him like a wet t-shirt. The big question is: Can they keep it up?

Worst Game: Torino 2006

Best Game: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

5. Konami - Who tells better stories in video games than Hideosan? Nobody. Which is why the Metal Gear series is the feather in this studio's cap. Aside from Metal Gear, Konami (which means small waves in Japanese) also created the Contra and Silent Hill series. Not too shabby.

Worst Game: The Goonies

Best Game: Metal Gear Solid

Honorable Mention: Activision, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Blizzard

The Mole: I left my heart (and wallet) in San Francisco

What is up?!? I just returned today from a mini-vacation in San Francisco. No, I wasn't visiting EA Tiburon or bagging on the doors of all the gaming mags based in the area looking for a job. I was just in town to see the Golden Gate Bridge (that's a picture from my cell phone on the right), tour wine country (always bring a designated driver) and visit some friends (a buddy of mine works for Yahoo! and he told me some great stories about when Lilliputian Tom Cruise visited). But enough about me. The poor blog has been ignored for 4 long days. Here's a little inside info until I get my land legs.

Take that bureaucrats with too much time on your hands! - Remember that dumb law in Minnesota that would have fined kids $25 if they were caught buying an M rated game? Well forget about it. U.S. District Court Judge James M. Rosenbaum shot it down, believing the law violated the first amendment and said that the state failed to prove that video games caused harm to children.

"There is a paucity of evidence linking the availability of video games with any harm to Minnesota's children at all," Rosenbaum wrote.

I have no clue what paucity means but this decision proves he's smarter than me and the lawmakers who first thought up this idea.

Say It Isn't So! - Normally a giant party to celebrate gaming, E3 is getting a major make-over next year and casual gaming fans aren't invited. Worried that developers will pull out of E3 because of its ever increasing size and lack of focus on the actual games (I don't think booth babes are distracting do you?), ESA President Doug Lowenstein decided the trade show needed a major change. Here's some quotes from his interview with Game Informer:

"The deal is, is that the event in terms of it being defined as an event with a big trade show floor is not going to be what we’re doing any longer. We’re evolving the event into something that’s more narrowly focused on ensuring quality interactions with top tier media and other audiences. The companies want to ensure they get quality time with during an event like this.
E3 has just become a little too much background noise during the event and increasingly difficult to conduct business there."

With fans essentially being shut out of next years shindig (moved to July instead of May) gamers can expect a tamer and therefor lamer event and game coverage.

Etc., etc. - To no one's surprise, Microsoft announed the release date for "Gears of War" on the Xbox 360 will be Nov. 12, right before the PS3 launch. It'll sell for $59.99 or $69.99 for a limited collectors edition...Ubisoft announced 7 titles for the upcoming Wii launch: Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, Far Cry, GT Pro Series, Open Season, Monster 4X4 World Circuit, Rayman Raving Rabbids and Red Steel...Good news for soccer fans. EA announced FIFA 07 will be coming out October 3 and will include the world's top leagues including MLS and Mexican 1st Division...the Mailbag is looking bleak, with a total of 0 (zero) entries so far. This of course means that now is the best time to drop in your entry because there is absolutely no competition for the $20 gift card. Send your questions/comments to terry.terrones@gazette.com. I'd hate to have to give myself a gift card.

Random Thoughts on a Thursday

Hit me with your best cheat - Remember the good old days when cheat codes were available for just about every game? Remember back in the day when if you wanted to see Lara Croft's lego shaped breasts all you had to do was enter a code? Not anymore. Games cheats and codes are few and far between nowadays and even the ones available are pretty lame - which is a shame. After the GTA: San Andreas Hot Coffee fiasco, I guess gamers shouldn't be too surprised. Here are a few for NCAA 07 Football.

PS2 and Xbox - All-Time and Mascot Team Passwords. At the Pennant Collection screen, press Back (or select on the PS2), then enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function:

Hunker Down - Georgia All-time team, Uprising - Florida State All-time team, Roll Tide -Alabama All-time team, Bear Down - Arizona mascot team, Woopigsooie - Arkansas All-time team, War Eagle - Auburn All-time team, U Rah Rah - Badgers All-time team, Death Valley - Clemson All-time team, Glory - Colorado All-time team, Great To Be - Florida All-time team, Ramblinwreck - Georgia Tech mascot team, On Iowa - Iowa All-time team, Red and Gold - Iowa State mascot team, Rock Chalk - Kansas mascot team, Victory - Kansas State All-time team, On On UK - Kentucky mascot team, Geaux Tigers - LSU All-time team, Raising Cane- Miami All-time team, Go Blue - Michigan All-time team, Go Green - Michigan State mascot team, Rah Rah Rah - Minnesota mascot team, Fight On - USC All-time team, Wahoos - Virginia All-time team, Tech Triumph - Virginia Tech All-time team, Go Deacs Go - Wake Forest mascot team, Bow Down - Washington All-time team, All Hail - Washington Sate mascot team, Hail WV - West Virginia mascot team, Hail State - Mississippi State All-time team, Mizzou Rah - Mizzouri All-time team, Go Big Red - Nebraska All-time team, Rah Rah - North Carolina All-time team, Go Pack - North Carolina State mascot team, Golden Domer - Notre Dame All-time team, Go Cats - NU mascot team, Killer Nuts - Ohio State All-time team, Boomer - Oklahoma All-time team, Go Pokes - Oklahoma State All-time team, Hotty Totty - Ole Miss Mascot team, Quack Attack - Oregon All-time team, We Are - Penn State All-time team, Lets Go Pitt - Pittsburgh All-time team, Boiler Up - Purdue All-time team, Go Carolina - South Carolina mascot team, Orange Crush - Syracuse All-time team, Big Orange - Tennessee All-time team, Gig Em - Texas A&M All-time team, Hook Em - Texas Longhorns All-time team, Mighty - UCLA All-time team, Fumble - 2004 All-Americans #273, EA Sports - Cuffed #206, Heisman - Jumbalaya #211, NCAA - Stiffed #222, Fight - Texas Tech #160, Football - Take Your Time #224

Fantasy Foosball - It should come as no surprise but EA Sports is involved in the very lucrative world of fantasy football. Even more surprising is that they've been doing it for 3 years now and I've never heard of it (or maybe I did but chose to ignore it). As a devout fantasy football team owner and commish for 6 years, I'm always looking for a deal. Here is what EA is offerering, straight from the horse's mouth.

EA SPORTS Edge: Decide which player to start with EA SPORTS Edge – a sliding analyzer tool to optimize a team’s lineup.

Madden NFL 07: Check fantasy scores, get trade notifications and earn
trophies in Madden NFL 07 – the only video game to offer fantasy capabilities.

The WarmUp: Discover the lighter side of fantasy football with The WarmUp – a fun take on your favorite NFL players and community happenings for football fanatics.

Prizes:
EA SPORTS™ MADDEN NFL™ FOOTBALL Standard Cabinet: The top overall scoring team owner will have to make room for this huge prize, all the action and excitement of the #1 selling sports videogame on a 29” hi-res monitor inside a 79.5” tall cabinet.

EA Video Games: Each league winner (all team owners eligible) will receive an EA game for the Xbox– the official video game platform for EA SPORTS Fantasy Football.

Autographed Footballs: Your favorite professional players signed footballs.

Mini-games:
Weekly Pick ‘Em Game*: Players have an additional shot at fantasy glory each week with exclusive prizes in a simple game of picking weekly winners.

Weekly Scramble: Compete in the Weekly Scramble for the ultimate bragging rights by answering questions about top performers in this football trivia game.

I have to admit I'm intrigued. I do like the features. The price, $49.99 for the commish and $9.99 per team owner, is comparable to cbssportsline which I used the previous 5 years but its still a little high in my opinion. If you're interested in checking it out, go to www.easports.com/fantasy.

Mailbag - August 25th is the Mailbag deadline so get your questions/humorous comments in soon. A $20 gift card awaits the best entry.

Top 5 Most Memorable Video Game Music

Video games and music go together like peanut butter and jelly. You can't have one without the other. Well I guess you could but why would you want to? Some of the best video games have music that sticks in your head for years and years. It's also a great memory trigger.

So is the music memorable because it sounds so good or because you remember it from a game? I don't think you can seperate the two. Imagine Sonic with no sound. Not quite the same is it?

But how do you measure something that means different things to different people? What exactly is good video game music? That's simple, the music has to come from a great game and the music has to be something that gamers identify specifically with that game. If you hear the music to a game, you should be able to identify it. If I ever get on Jeopardy (something I've wanted to do for 20 years) and I pick the category Video Game Music for $200 and hear the Crash Bandicoot theme - I'd recognize it immediately. Of course the only way I'd probably win at Jeopardy is if all the categories were video game themed and I played against 2 contestants with arthritis.

Just to clarify, I didn't limit this category to just theme songs. If we're talking theme songs, that's a whole other story. I'm talking about music in the game, which is why the title of this post is so weak. I couldn't think of a better way to word it.

Top 5 Most Memorable Video Game Music (in reverse order)

5. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Rockstar, 2002)- Music has played a big part of this series since GTA III but Vice City took music in a video game to a whole new level with the addition of tons of licensed songs from the 80's. While licensed songs were not new to video games at the time VC came out, the way Rockstar used them in the game were unique and the sheer number of tunes was unprecedented.

4. Halo (Bungie, 2001) - Not only is the Gregorian Chant-type music perfect for the setting of Halo but the sound effects are perfect. Throw in the drum banging music that comes in during dramatic sequences and you have a game whose music stays in your head long after you've played it.

3. Spy Hunter (Bally Midway, 1983) - This arcade classic had one of the coolest songs ever, lifted straight from the late 50's TV show Peter Gunn. It was written by Henry Mancini when he had future Star Wars composer John Williams in his orchestra.

2. Metal Gear Solid (Konami, 1998) - There isn't another game I can think of that does a better job of setting a tense mood with its music. The music, all done by in-house muscians and composers, helps give the game the cinematic feel its so well known for.

1. Super Mario Bros (Nintendo, 1985) - Did you really think I could pick something else? Even people who have never played this game before recognize the catchy music from this game. The music at the start, the Bowser levels, the swimming levels are all distinct and are so addictive that I can still pull them from my memory banks 21 years later. Don't believe me? Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9prN69j8vk&search=theme+songs+played and watch this dude play the Mario theme song blind folded and see if you can get it out of your head. It just won't happen. The music from Mario has made it one of the greatest video game franchises of all time and is still popular with kids and adults today, as its sales numbers of New Super Mario Bros. on the DS demonstrate.

The Mole: New GTA for PSP, Movie Contest

Dig out your Hawaiian shirt - Rockstar announced some details concerning the soon to be released Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The game will come out on October 17 for the PSP for a wallet burning $49.99.

Just like GTA: Liberty City Stories, gamers should probably expect a PSP to PS2 port (and hopefully for a lot cheaper) but not anytime soon. The LCS version was on the PSP about 8 months before its PS2 debut. Hopefully Vice City Stories will have better voice work, improved graphics and some classic 80's tunes.

Senor Spielbergo - Late last week Xfire and Blizzard announced a movie contest for World of Warcraft. The "Blizzard Xfire World of Warcraft Summer Movie Contest" invites players from the United States, Canada, and Europe to create movies using World of Warcraft and submit them in one of four categories: Short Film, Comedy, Music Video/Dance, and Drama/Action. A total of $23,000 in prizes will be awarded. Visit the contest's official site at: http://www.xfire.com/cms/xf_wow_contest_summer.

Banished! - Blizzard is going all Jet-Li against user agreement violators who gold farm in World of Warcraft by banning tens of thousands of accounts and eliminating millions in gold from the economy, according to an official Blizzard forum post.

"As part of our efforts to eliminate cheating from World of Warcraft, we recently banned approximately 59,000 World of Warcraft accounts in the month of June, and with that removed well over 22 million gold from the total economy across all realms," read the statement. " While we regret having to take such extreme action, these accounts were participating in activities that directly violated World of Warcraft's Terms of Use, including the use of third-party programs to farm gold and items."

The announcement went on to thank users who tipped off suspicious accounts, and encouraged more players to do the same when they encounter gold farming tactics. In other words, feel free to rat out these cheaters.

Bada Bing! - THQ announced late last week that the Xbox 360 version of The Sopranos game has been whacked. The company claimed that the next-gen version didn't look all that much better than the PlayStation 2 version, so they want to focus both teams on the PS2 project. The game is still scheduled to release in 2006, but it still hasn't been shown in playable form. If the game is anything like the show, this means gamers probably won't see it until sometime in 2007.

What's behind door #3? - Last Wednesday Atari began the "Test Drive Unlimited - Lifestyle Without Limits Sweepstakes" for gamers who pre-order Test Drive Unlimited. By pre-ordering Test Drive Unlimited at retailer stores, gamers will automatically receive an exclusive in-game Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe download and will be entered into the "Lifestyle Without Limits Sweepstakes." The Sweepstakes Prize list is as follows:

Grand Prize: 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo two door Coupe
First Prize: First Class, round-trip airfare for two to Hawaii
Second Prize: $5,000 Ben Sherman shopping spree
Third Prize: Wireless headphones with Dolby Headphone Technology
Fourth Prize: ATI Memory Card

The sweepstakes ends on September 4, 2006. Winners will be announced December 31, 2006. For full details and official rules visit http://www.testdriveunlimited.com/. The game is set for release 9/5 for the Xbox 360, 10/24 for the PC and PS2 and 11/14 for the PSP. It will sell for $39.95 on all systems (even the 360).

P.S. Oops, I almost forgot. Last Thursday I received a Beta version of Test Drive Unlimited. When I get a chance to play it (probably not until next week) I'll post a mini-review of the game on the blog.

Monkey Update

This is a picture of Mikey, the poker playing chimp, sent to me by his PR rep. I've been going back and forth with my contact from the company that represents him and I'm trying hard to set up an interview with him and his trainer but haven't had much luck.

From what I've been told, he is already in Las Vegas so a hand of poker with him is out of the question. I'll keep you posted if any of this actually goes anywhere but right now it doesn't look good. Yeah, I know this doesn't really have anything to do with gaming but would you be able to let go of the chance to play poker with a monkey? I didn't think so. So forgive me if I go off on a tangent for a couple of posts.

Random Thoughts: Monkeys Playing Poker

All in! - As a video game columnist I get bombarded with requests to take a look at a wide variety of things from companies looking for some free publicity. Some of them are what you'd expect - pay to play video game websites, trivia websites, companies that specialize in gaming accessories, retro gaming systems - pretty standard stuff.

But every now and then I'll get something in my in-box that's really odd. Usually I delete stuff like this but because this one involves a monkey (and anything involving monkeys is funny) I thought I'd share it with you. Here's a portion of an email I received today:

"Hi Terry,

I think you and your Gazette audience will go bananas for this one: Mikey the chimp has been training to play in the 2006 World Series of Poker and left from New York last Saturday to begin his media tour from New York to Las Vegas. At the moment, Mikey and his trainers are in New Mexico and will continue their journey, stopping for interviews along the way to his WSOP debut. Check out www.MonkeyShare.net and you'll go ape over this chimp playing to win money for his retirement - a real issue his trainers are willing to comment on. If you can fit him into your schedule, he is available today or tomorrow for an in-studio or phone interview with his trainers to talk about his $10,000 seat into the World Series of Poker and why he wants to win. I have included a release below and can also provide you with b-roll as well as fantastic jpegs for your website. Is today or tomorrow better for you?"

I think it goes without saying that I will be interviewing this monkey. How? I have no idea. Heck, I don't even know how a monkey can play cards. What's next? Monkey bus drivers? Although a monkey butler would be cool. What I really want to know is, how did these people get my contact information and how many of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon do you need to connect a monkey playing poker to video games? I say 3.

Milli Vanilli is underrated - So I'm finishing up my review of "Prey" today (it won't be in the paper until sometime in August, sorry but I'm a little backed up). The last thing I do when writing a review is the Top 5 list. Since the game is set in space, I figured I'd do a "Top 5 Songs to Listen to While Blasting Aliens" list. I finished my list and I'm checking out videos for all of the songs on youtube.com. (Its a great site, full of absolutely useless stuff. I love it!) Suddenly I come across "Girl You Know Its True" by Milli Vanilli. The video is a 12 out of 10 on the Unintentional Comedy Scale. The dance moves, the voice over at the intro and the bad lip syncing are tremendous. I highly recommend it. The song is actually pretty good. Its got a beat and you can dance to it. Check it out.

Mailbag - Don't forget to join the Mailbag for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate at terry.terrones@gazette.com.

The Mole: Madden Sticks It To Gamers, Another Video Game Movie

Dig Deep - If giving gamers the option of dropping an extra $10 for a "Hall of Fame" edition whose main feature is a man who hasn't coached in nearly 30 years waxing poetic about his glory days wasn't enough of a sign that Madden will try anything to get every penny you got (exhale), maybe Madden on pay-per-view is.

No, the former Raiders coach won't be battling Hulk Hogan in a steel caged match. Instead, starting August 4th (and for only $19.95), what you get is an inside look at the new game and this years innovations from EA designers and some of the "best" Madden gamers.

As Samuel L. Jackson once said: Allow me to retort! I know how big Madden is, not just among gamers but with most pro athletes as well. Its a huge seller and after 17 years has reached legendary status among video games. All that being said, I really think EA is getting a little carried away with their own impression of how big Madden culture really is. I'm paying $20 to learn something about a game that comes out 3 weeks later?!? I'm paying $20 to listen to some dude who's greatest accomplishment in life is that he rode around a bus on a reality TV show playing video game football?!? I'm paying $20 to hear pro athletes complain about their rankings in the game?!? This is nuts!

The sad thing is, I'm actually interested. I always look forward to Madden and every gamer I know usually picks it up every year. But because EA wants to charge $20, it just makes them look greedy. Granted, I don't have to buy it (although I probably will using The Gazette's money so I can write a scathing running diary of it for the blog) but just the thought that someone believed this was a good idea is evidence of an ego way out of whack.

This should be free, plain and simple. Make it something gamers can access on the EA site, put it on Xbox Live as a free download. Just make it free. Gamers put $30-$60 into a game, a heck of a lot more than the cost of a CD (does anyone even buy these anymore?) or a ticket to a movie but movie and music fans are treated better by their respective artists. I'm getting tired of being gouged (see PS3 and now Madden) for being a gamer. Shouldn't a company, no matter what it makes, earn our money and not just expect us to hand it over because of their reputation? I think so.

Big Screen Tom Nook? - Oh yes, its time for another video game to movie port. What is it this time? Animal Crossing. No, you're eyes aren't playing tricks on you. ANIMAL CROSSING. The movie will be released in Japan this December, no word yet on if or when it will ever come to the States. If Animal Crossing is put on film, can a new Cyberball flick be too far behind?

Etc, Etc - The chinese paper Commercial Times reported that Asustek, the company running PS3 production will have the first run of consoles (about 200K) done by the end of July...Call of Duty 3 videos and screen shots are available at gameinformer.com...On Friday Microsoft announced that as of their fiscal 4th quarter they have sold 5 millon Xbox 360's and it has 3 million Xbox Live users. It looks like Bill Gates' bold forecast of 10 million Xbox 360's sold before the PS3 comes out might come true.

And last but not least - Don't forget to jump into the Mailbag for a chance to win a $20 gift card. Since I'm a nice guy (and because I was asked politely) the gift card is available for any gaming store of your choosing - Best Buy, GameCrazy, GameStop...whatever. The email address is terry.terrones@gazette.com.

Top 5 Games Coming Out Before November

Can Saints Row possibly dethrone the Grand Theft Auto franchise?

Yeah, I know. The title of this post is a little obtuse (look it up) but I started wondering about the quiet time between now and when the Wii and PS3 consoles are released in November. Will any great games be coming? As we get closer to November, we'll all be bombarded with more hype than another Angelina Jolie pregnancy, shouldn't we have some great games to play in the meantime?

Fear not! The gaming world has not forgotten about you! On the contrary, there are plenty of great titles (or at least potentially great titles) coming out in the next few months. Here are the Top 5 to keep an eye on.

1. Saints Row, August, Xbox 360 - Imagine Grand Theft Auto but with online play. Sweet! I have been waiting for this game for months (it was originally scheduled to come out in the Spring) and judging from all of the screen shots I've seen (see above) its worth the wait.

2. Scarface: The World is Yours, September, Xbox/PC/PS2 (Late 2006 for Xbox 360) - Don't tell me you don't want to shout out "Say hello to my little friend!!!" while blasting henchmen. Too bad Al Pacino isn't providing the voice for the video game version of Tony Montana.

3. Splinter Cell: Double Agent, September/October, PC/PS2/GC/360 - The Splinter Cell series is always solid and now gamers will get to use some of the co-op moves in the single-player mode.

4. Justice League Heroes, October, PSP/Xbox/DS/PS2 - An RPG where I can play as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern and others? Hand me my cape!

5. Reservoir Dogs, October, PC/PS2/Xbox - Normally video games based on movies are about as pleasant as a visit to the dentist but for this game, I'm willing to make an exception.

6. Cyberball, Tomorrow, Xbox Live Arcade - No, this arcade great isn't coming out on Xbox Live Arcade tomorrow. But it should be!

Honorable Mention: Dead Rising, August, Xbox 360 - looks promising but can a twist on the surival horror genre work; Star Trek Legacy, Sometime in late 2006, PC/Xbox 360 - Would easily make the top 5 if I knew it was going to be released in the next few months. A game that spans all of the Star Trek shows is this Trekkie's dream. And yes I have nerdy dreams.

Mailbag...and some other stuff

Its in the bag - In an effort to be more like my favorite writer Bill Simmons, I'm going to steal (or as I like to call it "permanently borrow") his idea of a mailbag.

I'll collect questions emailed every month to my Gazette email address at terry.terrones@gazette.com. The best questions will be put on the blog. The person with the best question will win a $20 gift certificate to GameCrazy.

Ask any question you want, preferrably about gaming but if you feel like asking something else (or even a comment about something else) have at it. Funny, of course, is always good. In fact a funny question or statement about a non-gaming topic will score higher than a serious question or statement about a gaming topic. Email as many comments or questions as you like, multiple entries are encouraged. Keep in mind, however, my method for determining the questions for the blog and top question of the month are completely unscientific - so don't get bent out of shape if you don't win or get on the site.

Since we're nearing the end of July, I'll accept emails now through August 25th for the August mailbag. I'll put up the Mailbag questions/comments and answers/responses sometime during the last week of August. Lather, rinse and repeat for every month thereafter. Of course, if this flops, this might be the only month the Mailbag is up. Hopefully, the response will be strong and this can be a cool new feature that allows for more interaction with gamers. So tell all your gaming buddies and friends about it, even if they live out of state. Let's have some fun with this.

Etc. - I'm trying to figure out a way to best get connected to local gamers. I've added a bunch of readers to my friends list but just haven't had an opportunity to play with too many people. I was thinking of putting together a Halo clan, which I think would be pretty cool, but I know some gamers are pretty attached to their clan so I'm not sure that'll work. I also thought about having a set time twice a month to host a game. If you have any ideas, let me know...In order to leave comments on the blog, you now have to go through a couple of extra steps. Its a pain but I was getting way too much spam...I'm also tinkering with the idea of a Random Thoughts feature for the blog. It's something I used to do with my old newsletter/website Colorado Joe (hence my gamertag). I just discussed completely random things, some had to do with gaming but most really didn't. Usually it was about movies, current events and pop culture, etc. This being a gaming blog, I'll have to run this by my editor.

The Rant: How Achievement Points should be awarded

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love earning Achievement Points! It makes doing well in a game feel worthwhile again. Just like having the highest score in an arcade game back in the day earned a player bragging rights, Achievement Points show the world (or at least your friends) that you are a great gamer (at least by yourself).

I have no clue why these stupid points mean so much to me because I'll never be atop any leaderboard (the top gamers are in the 40K's). I play too many games and don't have the time to get all the points in all of them. I guess I'm motivated by 2 things - having more points than my brother and reaching certain point total goals.

Here's the problem, games currently have screwy ways of dishing out points. Since all games are different, there can be no standard format for giving them out. Developers are able to give out points at their own disgression, as long as 1000 points are available. Some games have points that are gimme's (like King Kong) others are bang-your-head-against-the-wall hard (like MotoGP) or are just plain time consuming (like Oblivion).

And things are getting worse. Developers are now wising up and instead of giving out large chunks of points at a time, are spreading them out. 10 points here, 5 points there - just plain nickel and diming a gamer to death. I know what you're thinking "Shouldn't that be how it is? Shouldn't a gamer have to earn points and not just have them given to them?" The answer is no and yes.

I don't want all 1000 points for simply completing the game. That's too easy. But on the other hand, most 360 game are $60. That's a good chunk of change. If I pay that much money, I should have a few hundred points practically handed to me. I don't expect to hear that little ping sound and the "Achievement Unlocked" sign to pop up when I load the disc (actually, that would be great) but I want some points - fast.

So what's the solution? Simple! Give out points in a staggered format so that casual, average and die-hard gamers earn the points they deserve. Here's a breakdown that can be used by every game developer. Keep in mind that I'm taking into consideration that online achievement points are given out respectively in each point level as well.

0 - 400 Points - Points the casual or rental gamer can earn by playing the game to its end. Gamers can earn these points by completing tasks in the game necessary to get to the games natural conclusion on a normal game setting. Distributed in increments from 50-200 points.

400 - 700 Points - Points for the average to above average gamer. Will require a second or third playing of a game to reach specific milestones or goals. A gamer will have to stretch themselves to get these points, likely having to make 2-3 attempts. Distributed in increments of 25-50 points.

700 - 1000 Points - These are for die-hard gamers only. Just the description of how to get these point will make the casual or average gamer shake their head and mutter to themselves, "Its time to trade this game in." These points require a ridiculous amount of time to complete or beating the game on a setting so hard and frustrating, it'd make most gamers want to throw their controllers on the ground and stomp it into dust. Distributed in increments of 10-25 points.

There you have it. While this may raise overall achievement scores a bit, gamers who earn 1000 points in a game will show themselves to be true masters of a game. It also helps show what kind of gamer someone is with a particular game. If you're comparing yourself to someone else in MLB 2K Baseball and notice you have 650 points while your friend has only 200 points, you know you're probably a little better at that game than he is. Conversely if you have a friend who wants to play you in online Madden and you notice he has 950 points while you only have 150, you might to try and get him to play as a weaker team.

Its not a perfect system, but its better than how points are given out now.

The Mole: Weekend Edition

Now you can headbutt people in the chest too! - You know how you're coach used to say "Be the ball"? Well now you can "Be the head". Who's head? French soccer star and head-butter supreme Zinedine Zidane of course. At www.addictinggames.com you can play a game where you act as Zidane and hit opponent after opponent in the chest with your melon. It's high comedy.

Aside from the Zidane game, the site has a number of other fun games and other things to play with. My personal favorites are the Ultimate Peter Griffin Soundboard and Family Guy vs. American Dad Kung Fu.

Can't get enough Madden - Madden NFL 07, coming out August 22, will have a special Hall of Fame edition available for the PS2 and the Xbox 360. Just in case the game isn't enough, here's what you can pay an extra $10 for.

PS2
PlayStation 3 Unveiled—G4TV provides a sneak peek at the making of Madden NFL 07 for PlayStation 3 with exclusive gameplay footage, content previews, and more.

Hall of Famer: John Madden—A career retrospective highlighting Coach Madden’s days as Oakland Raiders head coach and award-winning calls from the broadcast booth.

Inside Madden Studios—ESPN’s Trey Wingo delivers game production insights and exclusive interviews with the team behind the game.

Exclusive Music Interviews—The hottest acts featured in Madden NFL 07 reveal the inspiration behind their music.

Xbox 360
Everything above, except "PS3 Unveiled" is replaced with this: Madden Nation, Season One—Heroes are born and dreams are shattered in the eight-part mini-series. Revisit the complete first season of the original ESPN program.

Is this worth an extra $10? Maybe, it just depends on how big of a Madden fan you are.

Addicted to Achievements - The game might not be out for a couple of days but the Achievement Points for EA's NCAA Football 07, my soon to be new favorite game until Madden 07 comes out, are already available. Study them now so you can figure out the quickest way to earn all 1000 points.

1. Throw 4 TD Passes in a Game - Throw 4 touchdown passes in a single game. (15pts)
2. 350 Total Passing Yards - Pass for 350 or more total yards in a game. (15pts)
3. 200 Total Rushing Yards - Rush for 200 or more total yards in a game.(15pts)
4. No Fumbles in a Game - Do not fumble the ball in a game. (15pts)
5. No Interceptions in a Game - Do not throw an interception in a game.(15pts)
6. Win by 21 - Win a game by 21 points or more.(10pts)
7. Pass to 5 Different Receivers - Complete a pass to 5 or more receivers in a game.(10pts)
8. 100 Yard Receiver - Gain 100 or more receiving yards with a single player.(10pts)
9. 100 Yard Rusher - Rush for 100 or more yards with a single player.(10pts)
10. Complete a 30 Yard Pass - Complete a pass for 30 or more yards.(10pts)
11. Complete a 60 Yard Pass - Complete a pass for 60 or more yards. (20pts)
12. Break a 30 Yard Run - Break a run for 30 or more yards.(10pts)
13. Break a 60 Yard Run - Break a run for 60 or more yards.(20pts)
14. Allow No Sacks - Do not give up any sacks in a game.(15pts)
15. Intercept 2 Passes - Intercept 2 passes in a game on defense.(15pts)
16. Recover 2 Fumbles - Recover 2 fumbles on defense in a game.(15pts)
17. Return Interception for a TD - Return an interception for a touchdown.(20pts)
18. Return Fumble for TD - Score a touchdown after recovering a fumble on defense.(20pts)
19. Make 4 Sacks - Sack the opposing quarterback 4 or more times in a game.(20pts)
20. Held Under 200 Yards - Hold the opposition to under 200 total yards.(10pts)
21. Held Under 100 Yards - Hold the opposition to under 100 total yards.(25pts)
22. 2 Sack Player - Make 2 sacks in a game with the same player.(10pts)
23. Score a Safety - Score a safety on defense.(30pts)
24. Shutout - Prevent your opponent from scoring any points in a game.(30pts)
25. Punt Return for TD - Return a punt for a touchdown.(15pts)
26. Kickoff Return for TD - Return a kickoff for a touchdown.(20pts)
27. 50 Yard Field Goal - Kick a 50 or more yard field goal.(25pts)
28. 50 Yard Punt - Punt the ball 50 or more net yards.(15pts)
29. Block a Punt - Block a punt.(25pts)
30. Block a Field Goal - Block a field goal.(25pts)
31. Score 35 Points - Score 35 points or more in a game.(15pts)
32. 500 Total Yards - Gain 500 total yards or more in a game.(25pts)
33. #1 Offense - Have the #1 ranked offense in a dynasty season.(25pts)
34. #1 Defense - Have the #1 ranked defense in a dynasty season.(25pts)
35. Undefeated - Go undefeated during a season in dynasty mode.(10pts)
36. Conference Champs! - Win a conference championship game.(10pts)
37. Heisman Memorial Trophy - Win the Heisman Memorial Trophy with a player on your dynasty team.(25pts)
38. 5 Star Recruiting - Sign 8 or more 5 star prospects in your recruit class.(25pts)
39. Bowl Win - Win a bowl game in dynasty mode.(10pts)
40. National Champions! - Lead your team to a BCS championship in dynasty mode.(25pts)
41. Dynasty Trifecta! - Win the National Championship in three back-to-back seasons in dynasty mode.(50pts)
42. Mr. February - Have the #1 ranked recruiting class in a dynasty season.(25pts)
43. 60 Year Dynasty (Ouch!) - Complete 60 years of Dynasty.(100pts)
44. Perfect Game - Bowl a 300 Game.(40pts)
45. High Score - Option Dash - Score 15,000 or more points in Option Dash.(40pts)
46. Win Tug-of-War - Win the Tug-of-War mini-game.(40pts)
47. Junior Varsity Level - 250 gamerscore in NCAA Football 07. (0pts)
48. Varsity Level - 500 gamerscore in NCAA Football 07. (0 pts)
49. Secret Achievement
50. Secret Achievement

The Mole: Xbox Live Arcade new releases, EA commits to the Wii

Xbox Live Arcade Games - Well its about time. After being teased like a kid with no money in a candy store, Microsoft will finally release some new classic arcade titles for Xbox Live Arcade. It started yesterday with Frogger (which I tried last night and it brought back some fond memories) and continues every Wednesday until August 9 with a new title being made available every week. Each game has a free demo and the complete version can be purchased for about $5. Here are the games and their release dates.

July 12 - Frogger
July 19 - Cloning Clyde
July 26 - Galaga
August 2 - Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting
August 9 - Pac Man

A pretty good list to be sure but this of course brings up the question - WHERE THE HECK IS CYBERBALL?!? The greatest robots-playing-football arcade game of the 1980's needs to come out soon. Xbox Live Arcade is incomplete without it.

EA Announces 6 Custom Designed Wii Games - Earlier today Electronic Arts revealed six new games that are in development for the Nintendo Wii. Madden, Need for Speed, Harry Potter, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, SSX and The Godfather will be designed specifically to use the Wii's innovative controller.

How will it work? I have no clue but I certainly am curious. EA will be announcing additional titles for the Wii in the coming months.

The Top 5 Games on the PS2 and DS

A few days ago I listed the games that I thought were the best games you could get right now, today, on the PC and Xbox 360.

Here are my picks (with a little help) for the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation 2.

PS2

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence - I've always been a huge fan of the Metal Gear series and with this updated special edition that came out in March, I appreciate the series even more. A new camera angle and online mode make this a super game.

2. MLB '06: The Show - After the MVP series from EA went the way of the dodo, baseball needed someone to step up - which is exactly what this game did. The best baseball game on any console. Of course it doesn't hurt that my boy David Ortiz is on the cover.

3. Fight Night Round 3 - While not nearly as pretty as its Xbox 360 cousin, the game play on the PS2 version is just as good.

4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - Yeah, I know. I've complained about this game in a blog before. The graphics aren't pretty and the soundtrack sucks. Still, its a GTA game and I'm addicted to the world of GTA.

5. The Godfather - Any time a game can put me in a movie as great as The Godfather, I'm in. This game has great game play, exciting missions and nice graphics.

Honorable Mention: Kingdom Hearts 2, Winning Soccer Eleven 9
Total Garbage: Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure

I play my share of DS games but I thought I should defer to an expert. In order to get a more accurate view on the Nintendo DS scene I had my 12-year old son Connor ( a devout DS gamer) share his views on the best games out right now for the DS. My comments are in italics.

DS

1. Super Mario 64 DS - Its just like the original N64 version but with way improved graphics, new areas, 30 more stars, 3 new playable players and a fun multi-player mode with up to four people at a time. (Great game but the star collecting can be very time consuming.)

2. New Super Mario Bros - Wow! What a fun game! If you've played Super Mario World on the SNES, you'll notice a similarity. The worlds are now 8-12 levels long instead of 4. Though there are still 8 worlds. Like Super Mario World, the secret finding can be very frustrating. Other than that, it has great graphics and fun gameplay. (Personally, I would have put this game as #1 but I'm old school.)

3. Metroid Prime Hunters - This is another chapter of the seemingly endless series. I've only played the demo (I'm a cheap Dad, what can I say) but it looked fantastic. The demo I played was great fun but the controls were frustrating. Get ready to curse at your double-screened gameboy until you figure out the controls. Not that I would curse. (At least not in front of me.)

4. WarioWare: Touched! - It may be a weird, cooky game but really who can resist moving a baby with a stick so he can whiz on a fire to put it out. Or even popping balloons! So it is weird and a little cheesy but its still a really fun game. (Once again, proof that parents need to be aware of what games their kids are playing.)

5. Tetris DS - Everyone knows the catchy theme song to the original Tetris. This game offers other themes, like Mario, as well. You can still play the same Tetris game everyone loves but you can also get a new challenging mode called mission mode. Here you are commanded to clear 3 rows in a row or clear 2 rows with the green piece. Or if you're really bored, do puzzle mode and solve totally impossible Tetris puzzles. So all in all, a good game. (I really like this game as well but would've ranked it much higher. My wife and son have competitions with this game. You know its pretty good when you can get your wife to play a game.)

Looking forward to: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

The Top 5 Games on the Xbox 360 and PC

What is up?!? I hope everyone had a great 4th. I took a little time off and I'm now ready to get back to it.

There are some great games coming out within the next few months but before we get bombarded with tons of new console hype, I thought I'd take a little time to discuss the best games you can play right now, this very minute. There are plenty of solid titles out there and if you're looking to get an Xbox 360 or if you're not quite ready for a console upgrade yet, this is information you can use to feel good about extending the life of your system.

Over the next two posts I'll cover the Xbox 360, PC, PS2 and the Nintendo DS. Why these consoles? They're the most popular and have the best games. I left the Xbox off since it has many of the same games as the 360 and if its not on the 360 they are often backwards compatible. I also took the liberty of not including any game older than 1 year (sorry GTA, Halo and Metal Gear franchises). Lets get started.

Xbox 360

1. Elder Scolls IV: Oblivion - This game is just mind blowing. The graphics are top-notch, the options are endless and the game play is so deep, you could take a month off work to play this game and still not do everything available inside.

2. Call of Duty 2 - Do you know when you have a great game? When you keep telling yourself that you need to spend more time with it, like a family pet or something. That's how I feel about this game, like I neglect it. Yes, I need psychiatric help.

3. 2006 FIFA World Cup - I'm sure this game is higher on my list than it is for most people but I don't care. This game is a lot more fun than the last Madden on the 360 was and right now I'm still caught up in World Cup fever.

4. Project Gotham Racing 3 - I'm not really into racers but this game has changed my mind. Beautiful autos, some sweet garages to put them in and challenging but still fun game play make this game a blast.

5. Fight Night Round 3 - This game makes my top 5 because its the most fun game to play with your brother after a night on the town. Or so I read somewhere.

Honorable Mention - Table Tennis, NBA 2K6, Top Spin 2, MLB 2K6
Looks promising but haven't spent enough time with - MotoGP, Hitman: Blood Money
Overrated now that I've had time to think about it - Perfect Dark Zero

PC

1. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Is this a coincidence? No way! One of the reasons why the 360 version is number one is because it plays almost exactly like its PC cousin. Great game no matter what system its on.

2. Civilization IV - A brilliant strategy game with a beautiful presentation and best of all, narration provided by Mr. Spock himself.

3. Half Life 2: Episode One - Incredible game play with great voice acting and dialogue. Too bad its so short.

4. Call of Duty 2 - What's the deal with PC games and numbers? Can no one figure out a creative way to name a game anymore? I guess it doesn't matter as once again a game on both the PC and 360 makes the top 5 list.

5. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 - Once again, a game on my list that might not be on most others. For some reason I really prefer to play this game on the PC.

Honorable Mention - Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II, Age of Empires III
Looks promising but haven't spent enough time with it - Condemned: Criminal Origins
Completely overrated - Anything with the words "The Sims" in it.

Now its your turn. Did I miss one of your favorites? Let me know.

The Rant: Get that vacuum cleaner out of my pocket Mr. Kutaragi

"Its probably too cheap." President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment on the $600 pricepoint for the PlayStation 3.

"The first 5 million consumers are going to buy the PS3 even if it didn't have games." Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO David Reeves.

Arrogance. That's the first word that popped into my head when I read those comments. I don't know what bothers me more, the fact that Sony thinks their product is a bargain at $600 (lets face it, no one is going to buy the low-grade $500 version) or that SCEA Europe CEO David Reeves is probably right. Yes, Sony has brand loyalty on its side. But is brand loyalty a good thing. As a former PlayStation fanboy who was loyal to a fault my answer is no. Am I saying the PS3 won't be an awesome machine? Am I telling you it won't be worth the money? Am I saying I won't buy one anyway? No. What I'm saying is that gamers need to be smart consumers and not buy something just because of your history with a device or because you feel loyalty to a gaming company. Do you honestly think your loyalty is going to be rewarded? Hell no! Nobody from Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft is going to be sending you a Christmas card thanking you for buying their system. You won't be getting any discounts and reduced prices on games because you've owned a PS1 and a PS2 and are now buying a PS3 and Bill Gates won't be stopping by to play games with you if bought an Xbox and now own a 360.

Gaming manufacturers aren't loyal to you, so you should feel no remorse about switching platforms if you so choose. We all have our personal preferences but when deciding on a next-gen console, here are a few things to consider.

Blu-Ray vs. HD - The biggest reason why Sony is so much more than the Wii and the Xbox 360 is because it can play Blu-Ray DVD's. These players will normally retail for around $1000 so if you're buying a gaming console/Blu-Ray player for $600, its quite a bargain.

The big question: Are DVD's going away anytime soon? If you think DVD's are going the way of VHS tapes within the next year or two, having a Blu-Ray player might be important. But as of right now, there doesn't seem to be a big push in Hollywood for the formats to change. In addition to that, no one in the entertainment industry can seem to make up there minds on whether the new format will be HD or Blu-Ray.

The answer: Right now having a Blu-Ray player just doesn't seem that important when shopping for a gaming console.

Which system is truly next gen? - I'll be honest, I think I initially underestimated the Nintendo Wii. I think its low price point and high curiosity factor will make it a system most gamers will own along with either an Xbox 360 or PS3. Its also, at least visually, not on the next level with Microsoft's or Sony's offerings either. This leaves you, if you're looking for the best gaming console, to choose between the PS3 or 360.

The big question: Which system, if any, is better than the other? I'm leaving the Wii out of this argument because the two heavy hitters are the Xbox 360 and the PS3 pure and simple. But which one is better? I guess that depends on your definition of "better". To me, better means superior graphics, top notch online offerings and a better game library. Since the PS3 isn't out yet this is almost impossible to answer...but lets try. Judging from E3, the graphics on both systems seem almost identical, so that's a push. Sony hasn't given any real details about its online presence, other than to say it will most likely be free. I'm sure they'll take some heavy cues from Microsoft in this department, which would be a very good idea. That leaves us with a better gaming library. Sony has the Gran Turismo and Metal Gear franchises. Microsoft has Halo and it appears Gear of War will be huge. Everything else will be the same. Although the announcement of GTA 4 coming out on both consoles at the same time was huge for Microsoft.

The answer: As of right now these systems don't seem to have any major differences that would make you pick one over the other...except the $200 price difference.

How much do you want to spend? - This is the second most important question you need to ask yourself when choosing a console (I'll get to the most important in a minute). If you spend an extra $200 bucks on the PS3, you're counting on the development of Blu-ray discs and that as time goes on that the more powerful PS3 will eventually make games that are visually superior to the Xbox 360. If you buy an Xbox 360, you believe that the next video disc format is probably another console generation away, like dealing with an online service you know is outstanding and believe that visually both consoles will be more or less equal.

The big question: Which system is a better value?

The answer: That depends on what you want. If you just want to play fun games, its the Wii. If I want something that plays next-gen games and DVD's, I go with the 360. If I believe I'm making an investment in Blu-ray and I have the money, I grab a PS3.

Okay, enough screwing around. How do I choose? - That's easy. The most important factor when buying a gaming console is the games themselves. And this is a question only you can answer. Are you a diehard Metal Gear fanboy and can't live without it? Than the PS3 is for you. Do you like fun, innovative games and love Mario so much you dressed as him for Halloween? You need a Wii. Are you anxiously awaiting Halo 3 more than your wedding day? Grab an Xbox 360.

The big question: Alright Mr. Know-It-All, what do you own?

The answer: I currently own a PS2 and an Xbox 360. My son's getting a Wii for Christmas so this leaves me with the question of the PS3. I'm going to get one for reviews. No, The Gazette doesn't buy consoles for me. I have to buy them on my own. But would I buy one if I didn't have to? Yes, but only after the price drop. Right now there is nothing out there to make me believe that the PS3 is going to be superior to the Xbox 360. The Blu-ray factor just doesn't sway me into spending an extra $200. If they were the same price, that would be a different story. Of course my opinion could change in the coming months and could drastically change after I actually own a PS3. Should any of this matter to you? No. My gaming situation (didn't want to wait for the PS3, had problems with the PS1 and PS2) is probably different than yours. I'm certain that no matter what console you choose will be thouroughly enjoyed. Just don't let brand loyalty sway you. I'd drop my 360 like a bad date if it started to give me problems. I spend too much money on gaming to put up with inferior games or products. I hope you feel the same way.

The Mole: Xbox Live Unplugged

In case you were wondering, I have no idea why the last post is on the blog twice. It's some weird glitch and I can't get rid of it. Here's the latest news.

Arcade Me - One of the coolest features of the Xbox 360 is the Xbox Live Arcade, a bunch of fun games that can be downloaded online for a small fee. Those games have now been put together as its own seperate game called "Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged" that will sell for a tentative price of $39.99. The release date is set for September 2. The list of games hasn't been confirmed but judging from the box art for the game on the right, it includes: Geometry Wars, Wik: Fable of Souls, Bejeweled, Hardwood Backgammon, and Texas Hold'Em Poker. What I want to know is - where the hell is Cyberball!

Oh great, just what I always wanted - Nintendo has announced that the DS Lite will be available in "Noble Pink" in Japan starting July 20. There was no announcement on when/if everyones favorite color will be available in the U.S.

This game just keeps getting better - Showing how to keep a great game fresh and relevant, Activision recently released five new multi-player maps for the Xbox 360 version of "Call of Duty 2". The pack is currently available for 800 Microsoft Points (about $10) on Xbox Live Arcade and includes the following locales: Antonville, France (Crossroads), St. Louet, France (Newvillers), Amaye sur Seulles, France (Normandy), Alam Halfa, Egypt (Decoytown) and Rostov, Russia (Harbor).

Since "Duty" (tee hee, I just wrote duty) came out Activision has released 9 multi-player maps. Sheer brilliance! Here is a game that came out in November of last year and through its excellent game play, superior graphics and frequent updates remains one of the best games on the 360. This is the way gaming companies show that they still care about a game, and gamers, after its been launched. I know for a fact I'll be snapping up "Call of Duty 3" when it comes out this fall, if only because I know Activision will keep adding content to an already great game. This is how Xbox Live Marketplace should be used. Now EA should follow this lead by offering updated rosters and player rankings on its sports games.

The Grading Scale

Project Gotham 3 Racing and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - The only two games to ever earn an A+.





Over the last couple of weeks I've been getting some emails asking me about how I grade games. Nothing angry or belligerent, just people who are curious as to what makes a game an "A" game or what makes a game a "D" game. So in order to clarify things and because I don't want anyone confused, here is my grading scale.

A+ This is white whale of video game review games, the perfect score. I've only given out two of these bad boys and both games deserved it. Essentially, if you see this score, it means you should leave work immediately (with no explanation is best) and drive to the store and pick it up. You're life is incomplete without it. In fact, take a few days off to spend with your new best friend.
Life Expectancy: You'll own this game until your system is obsolete (or longer).

A Unlike the A+, this means you can live without this game but probably shouldn't. You need to pick this game up quickly but you can wait until your lunch break. This game will cause you to ignore your wife/girlfriend/significant other for the next few weeks, so make sure to start a fight with that person when you get home so you have an excuse for sleeping on the couch.
Life Expectancy: 1 year

A- Another must have game. With a grade like this you might want to call your favorite gaming store and make sure they have a copy so you can pick it up after work. This will be a game you play a few times through and truly get your money's worth.
Life Expectancy: 6 months

B+ Now things are getting tricky. The B's run the gamut from need-to-buy-game to really good rental. A B+ means that even if you aren't a fan of the genre (ie Sims) you might want to pick it up because its a surprisingly fun game. For diehard fans of a genre that gets this grade, you really should pick it up.
Life Expectancy: 3-12 months

B This grade goes to games that are fun but are missing one or two key elements that prevent it from being a really good game. Its still a solid grade but there is a little something incomplete about it. Fans of this genre (ie Madden) will simply overlook its deficiencies and buy it anyway. Others will be slightly disappointed.
Life Expectancy: 3-10 months

B- This grade is for borderline rental fodder. There are 3-5 key elements that this game lacks and because of this only diehard fans will actually drop some coin on it.
Life Expectancy: 1-3 months

C+ The C's are rental games, pure and simple. The symbol after the C just tells you the games level of suckitude. A C+ game is like meeting a girl in South Padre Island during Spring Break. Fun to hang out with, share a few laughs, but you both know you're time is short and thats fine with both of you.
Life Expectancy: 1 week

C I call these "Eh" games. As in "Are you going to rent The DaVinci Code?" "Eh, maybe. If I find a few bucks in my couch."
Life Expectancy: 3-5 days

C- This is a "I can't believe I rented this crap I took it back to the video store one hour after I rented it" game.
Life Expectancy: 30-60 minutes

D Lets not mince words here, this game sucks. This game is an abomination and an insult to the greatness of gaming. There are no pluses or minuses here because there is no need. This game is flat out garbage, avoid it like Michelle Rodriguez in a nightclub. You don't want your name attached to it in any way shape or form because you will be teased mercilessly by your friends and probably even your wife/girlfriend will make fun of you. The only reason it isn't an F is because I hate to totally demoralize the work that people put into making a game. Just like every person in the world, no matter how evil, has to have one redeeming quality - every game has to have at least one somewhat redeeming element.
Life Expectancy: Zero, don't even look at the box, it may ruin your eyesight.

F I have never actually given an F so I'm not exactly sure what the criteria would be. But if you ever do see a grade with this, run. Chances are its one of the signs of the Apocalypse.

Lost Treasures

There is just not enough time in the day for all the great games out there. With new consoles coming out every few years and new games coming out every week, its sometimes easy to forget about some of the best games ever made and the fact that we should never, ever forget about them. Why should we never forget? Because they were so damn fun and mark important times in our lives.

I bring this up because my son reminded me of something the other day. He was out with his grandma doing some yard sale shopping. This was odd because usually he manages to avoid this kind of activity. Being dragged all over town, looking at some lady in rollers and slippers who wants $10 for a scratched Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass album with your Grandma is not a great way for a 12-year old to spend his time. But on this day my son got lucky. At one particular sale he found an old PS1 in good shape and the Yardy (My term for those people who have yard sales every single weekend) was selling it with a bundle of games, one of them was Metal Gear Solid.

My son was telling about this over the phone (I was out of town at the time) and he kept telling me about the game and how much fun it was. Throughout the weekend he'd call me and ask for some tips on how to beat a certain level. I couldn't tell what surprised me more - the fact that my 12-year old son was impressed by a game made in 1998, or the fact that I remembered all the levels and how to beat the game.

When Metal Gear first came out, I was completely and totally hooked on it within the first 10 minutes. The storyline was complelling, the voice acting was perfect and the game play was like crack. I hadn't been this addicted to a game since Super Mario Bros. I still remember where I bought it, what my old house looked like, how little my son was and that I was about 10 pounds lighter. My son bringing up Metal Gear was like opening a time capsule, it brought back a flood of great memories. Of course this doesn't happen with every game, there are just a few games -Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt, GTA III, Madden '94, Spider-Man on the Atari 2600, Britney's Dance Beat - that will always hold a special place for me. Its like hearing a song from a great summer long ago and having sweet flashbacks.

So what are your lost treasures? What games do you fondly remember? They don't have to be classic games to have had a strong effect. Even if you just became a gamer and you bought a 360 and Call of Duty 2 blew your doors off, it doesn't matter. Tell about a game that moved you.