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And Nintendo, being Nintendo, went on with different projects like the DS, and the Wii. They are now on far opposite sides of the gaming spectrum (Casual vs Hardcore) and I don't see them working together again for a long time.

I know! Heck if they'd have kept up the relationship we might have even gotten Final Fatasy games for the Gamecube or maybe even the Wii!

MAYBE even a few games for the DS. But no, Square had to abandon working with Nintendo ;).

Why stop at Amazon, let's take it to every retailer with a review page:

Best Buy Spore Product Page

EBGames Spore Product Page

Toys R Us Spore Product Page

If you do this to Gamespot, remember to mention how Battletoads is a better game at the end of the review.

Why stop at Amazon, let's take it to every retailer with a review page:

Best Buy Spore Product Page

EBGames Spore Product Page

Toys R Us Spore Product Page

To be perfectly fair, if you were to buy a PS3 you would be buying a media format that you would indeed be using. PS3 games are put on Blu-Ray discs. Plain and simple. Much in the same way as back in cartridge days. You make a choice to buy a system with whatever media storage you want... provided it is available.

So, while your argument most definitely stands about M$ making you buy ludicrously overpriced storage, Sony does not make you buy anything 'unnecessary'. Overpriced? Perhaps... But it certainly is required to have a Blu-Ray drive on a PS3. Saying they 'make' you buy a Blu-Ray player is akin to saying they 'make' you buy the power adapter, or the Cell Processor it contains.

And if you think the HDD on the 360 are bad, check out their memory cards. At that price you'd have to spend $2000 for the same space as the 20GB HDD. Compare that with 8GB SD memory prices. At current flash memory rates you would need only spend about $60 for 20GB. How's that for getting shafted?!

I'll have to agree that the 360 has a lot going for it - especially the online experience. Honestly, the other consoles don't really even come close in this aspect. And yes, I do have a PS3 as well. The 360 gets about 95% of my time, while the PS3 contributes to distributed computing projects. And I'll probably buy a Wii when EBGames stops selling bundles like this: http://www.ebgames.com/search.asp?N=138+83

I don't mean to discount the value that software has added to the console's user experience - after all, my argument is that the *primary* software (games) is one of the most important pieces to be factored in. But the hardware-failure debacle pretty much guarantees its elimination from the all-time best list. All the fantastic games and online services don't matter much when the red ring comes a-knocking (my brother's 360 was the latest casualty among those I know).

And for what it's worth, I think 360 achievements are probably one of the most brilliant features I've seen in a long time. Essentially, achievements / gamerscores are the new videogame high scores. Technically, I'd guess they're probably pretty damn simply to implement, but they're a brilliant hook that tap into the psychology of gamers natural competitive and/or collecting instincts.

1. First you need a sensor bar that is no dependent of your Wii. You can make one or buy one.
2. You need a bluetooth module
3. A driver to handle requests for your Wiimote and translate them into mouse movements, etc. Linux, Mac and Windows drivers
4. (optional) I mapped my buttons to multimedia keys and bound some of them to commands
5. You need some software. In my case I've written my own called faultBox. I'll be releasing the code to the public probably this spring.

While I completely understand the desire to have an open source alternative to anything, as you pointed out, the lack of licensed songs will be a dealbreaker for an open source Guitar Hero clone. As you expressed reservations about having to buy an entire console in addition to the game, allow me to point out that you can purchase just the game alone (well, game and guitar controller) for Windows and Mac (in one package) for a relatively-measly $80.

And to make the deal even sweeter, Frets on Fire allows you to use the guitar controller, too, so you can have the best of both worlds.

You know that EB is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gamestop, right?

Compare: EB Gamestop

I want to get an arcade stick for this game. I have troubles tapping in the right direction for the smash attacks on thumbsticks because of my useless PC gamer thumbs. I see there is one coming out for the Wii this November. A GameCube stick might be better, but they seem hard to find.

Sure can.

Actually, I want to correct you on something. The article is misleading in that respect. When the guy says "memory card ports" he means the Compact Flash and SD card readers that come with the Playstation 3. To use Playstation 1/2 memory cards you have to buy an adaptor. It's really a must-have if you use your PS3 for backwards compatibility as well as playing PS3 games.

Honestly, the game is a riot. I've never had fun with a soccer game before.

We europeans pay around 700-900 USD for the PS3

Dude, check out the power grip if you want more battery life. 5 hours more, plus it makes the PSP much easier to hold when playing games. Not sure if they will release a new one for the slimmer version. My hands/wrist used to hurt sometimes before I got this.

I'll bite:

* Microsoft has no solution to the hardware failures - system bought this month are still failing

Their solution is the warranty program and hardware changes (maybe heatsinks, maybe something else) will undoubtedly show up soon. The financial onus is now squarely on Microsoft to reduce hardware problems.

* Microsoft has no solution to the disc scratching problem - you aren't covered under this billion dollar's worth of repairs for anything other than the specific RRoD problems

But you would be covered under the 1-year console warranty. I've known someone who this specific issue applied to and got it fixed.

* The system is the loudest ever due to the crappy 12x speed DVD drive and fans

No argument there.

* Forced to pay 50 dollars a year for online play that adds 250 dollars to the price of the console over five years

And it adds 500 over ten years and 5000 over one-hundred years. Look, multiplayer isn't free, but you aren't forced to pay for it, and you aren't forced to pay up front. All other online services are free to other players.

* No dedicated servers - laggy games that aren't even hosted by Microsoft

The entire system is managed by Microsoft and has an impressive track record. Games might be peer-to-peer, but I've never seen lag and voice chat works in every 360 game I've played. What kind of connection do you have?

* Low player count games - Gears of War only could handle 8 players, Halo 3 can only handle 16 - that is pathetic in 2007

How is that an indictment of Microsoft or their console? Neither developer has said that Xbox Live was a restriction for multiplayer match size.

* Halfassed backwards compatibility - Microsoft tried to get away with skipping it and they were forced to put in an amateur effort where even the games that 'work' don't really work or have major issues

I found their advertising fairly clear on this. While I wish all games would work, 90% of my old Xbox games work fine. Go read the compatibility list, it isn't small. This becomes less of an issue as the system gets older.

* Absurd peripheral prices

Whose aren't? That hardly sways me from one console to another.

* No ability to upgrade the harddrive - you are forced to only upgrade to one size drive and you have to pay twice as much money as it's worth

That might be the only accurate thing you said, but again, you aren't forced to upgrade. You aren't even forced to use the HDD at all.

* No HD movie playback - Microsoft decided to throw a tantrum over BluRay's Java layer and gamers lost out

The 360 has the best downloadable HD movie option available at the moment. It also has an HD-DVD drive option, which isn't standard, but the 360 costs $200 less than a PS3 anyway. I don't feel limited by the lack of it.

* Pathetic storage medium - the 360 is the first console to ever have LESS storage than a previous generation - 7 gigs for the 360 versus 8 gigs for the Xbox. And open world games have to use only a single layer due to the 100 ms layer switch penalty thus limiting games like GTA to only 3.5 gigs

I've never heard of this. Oblivion seemed pretty expansive to me, I'm so sad for GTA's worries.

* Botched graphics system - can't handle 1080p in real next gen games like Lair on the PS3 due to the retarded 10 megs of EDRAM that were designed for 480p

You are starting to show your true fanboy. The 360 can output in 1080p and was designed for 720p, which it looks great at. Check out the 360 to PS3 graphics compariso

I'm much more interested in the Civ 4 Beyond the Sword expansion pack coming out in July. http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=6470 31

The game is worthy of an AO rating, nobody has any doubt this game deserves an AO rating.

Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the ESRB ratings.

As a simple but applicable analogy, M for Mature is generally analogous to R ratings for movies, and the AO/Adults Only rating is more analogous to X ratings for movies (i.e. generally reserved for porn).

Rockstar knew it would get an AO rating.

No, Rockstar expected it would be rated M for Mature (17+), just like all of their other violent video games.

The game is worthy of an AO rating, nobody has any doubt this game deserves an AO rating.

Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the ESRB ratings.

As a simple but applicable analogy, M for Mature is generally analogous to R ratings for movies, and the AO/Adults Only rating is more analogous to X ratings for movies (i.e. generally reserved for porn).

Rockstar knew it would get an AO rating.

No, Rockstar expected it would be rated M for Mature (17+), just like all of their other violent video games.

The game is worthy of an AO rating, nobody has any doubt this game deserves an AO rating.

Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the ESRB ratings.

As a simple but applicable analogy, M for Mature is generally analogous to R ratings for movies, and the AO/Adults Only rating is more analogous to X ratings for movies (i.e. generally reserved for porn).

Rockstar knew it would get an AO rating.

No, Rockstar expected it would be rated M for Mature (17+), just like all of their other violent video games.

The game is worthy of an AO rating, nobody has any doubt this game deserves an AO rating.

Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the ESRB ratings.

As a simple but applicable analogy, M for Mature is generally analogous to R ratings for movies, and the AO/Adults Only rating is more analogous to X ratings for movies (i.e. generally reserved for porn).

Rockstar knew it would get an AO rating.

No, Rockstar expected it would be rated M for Mature (17+), just like all of their other violent video games.

The game is worthy of an AO rating, nobody has any doubt this game deserves an AO rating.

Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the ESRB ratings.

As a simple but applicable analogy, M for Mature is generally analogous to R ratings for movies, and the AO/Adults Only rating is more analogous to X ratings for movies (i.e. generally reserved for porn).

Rockstar knew it would get an AO rating.

No, Rockstar expected it would be rated M for Mature (17+), just like all of their other violent video games.

The game is worthy of an AO rating, nobody has any doubt this game deserves an AO rating.

Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the ESRB ratings.

As a simple but applicable analogy, M for Mature is generally analogous to R ratings for movies, and the AO/Adults Only rating is more analogous to X ratings for movies (i.e. generally reserved for porn).

Rockstar knew it would get an AO rating.

No, Rockstar expected it would be rated M for Mature (17+), just like all of their other violent video games.

The game is worthy of an AO rating, nobody has any doubt this game deserves an AO rating.

Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the ESRB ratings.

As a simple but applicable analogy, M for Mature is generally analogous to R ratings for movies, and the AO/Adults Only rating is more analogous to X ratings for movies (i.e. generally reserved for porn).

Rockstar knew it would get an AO rating.

No, Rockstar expected it would be rated M for Mature (17+), just like all of their other violent video games.

A nice fix for the battery issue is this Charger Grip. Not only does it give you an extra 5 hours, but it makes the PSP think that it is running on AC power, so you can have it on the brightest setting, which is very nice if you play in bright conditions. It also makes it much easier to hold.

If you are going to pay six hundred dollars for a game console, you are probably willing to buy eighty dollar games. If you want cheap games, why not stick with your PS2 and buy some used games for $15 to $20 each. The Wii is being sold as the cheap alternative, so cheap downloadables make a lot of sense.

I am willing to pay $80 for a game if it's worth paying $80 for. It doesn't matter what platform it's for. Guitar Hero II (with guitar controller) goes for $80 on the PS2 ($90 on the 360), and I don't see anyone complaining about that. Why? Because it's worth the $80.

Off-the-shelf PS3 games are $49-$59, not $79. But $10 more than "last-gen" games isn't a whole lot more (certainly not the $30 you're claiming), especially since there aren't a whole lot of games at the moment, anyway. And before you go "ha ha! not a lot of games!" this applies to every console. At least on the PS3, there's been about a game a month.

The PS3 also has a decent list of cheap, solid downloadables; even some of the demos have a lot to do:

• GT:HD concept (free)
• Motorstorm demo (free)
• Gripshift; 720p, 125 levels, 5 cars, online play: $9.99
• flOw: $7.99
• Tekken 5 DR:HD; $19.99
• Ninja Gaiden demo (free)
• Various minor game incremental content (free to $1.99 for some level packs)

There is also Lemmings ($4.99) and some other things I haven't tried. There are some demos and games that suck (Blast Factor). But the only game on this list I found a bit high was flOw; it's cool, but it's essentially an interactive screen saver. Gripshift was the best $10 I've spent on a game in awhile. Tons of levels with tons of things to do. Tekken is "a lot", at least compared to other things on the list, but come on, $20 for a top arcade fighting game that's $40 in the store? You're complaining? I'm not.

In short, if a game costs a lot, and it's worth it, then no, there's no problem getting it.

(Apparently people don't remember the much less uniform pricing structure of games back in the NES/SMS days. Super Mario Bros 2 went for $120 at Toys'R'Us.)

Well, it's somewhat obvious that the news poster hasn't played GTA3 either, because if he had he'd have known it wasn't based in Liberty City.

Maybe you haven't either? (See http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=9382 42)

There is one game GTA3, it is set in Liberty City. It has two offshoots... GTA:Vice City and GTA:San Andreas, which I have not played, but gather from the titles that they are not set in Liberty City.

I don't now where David's buying his media center remote control but ebgames has the Microsoft Media Center remote control accessory for the XBOX 360 priced at $20. I know Logitech makes a two-way uber MCPC remote for the XBOX 360 that's priced at around $100 but even the Microsoft remote has far more capability than the AppleTV remote.

Obviously, you're not trying very hard.

Merry Christmas:

http://www.ebgames.com/productmerch.asp?groupid=63 5

Both the 60 GB and 20 GB are available, unbundled. Just pay shipping. Alternatively, put your zip code in and see if any local stores have some. According to their site, just about every Gamestop in my area has them.

If you're going to troll, at least pick something that isn't so easily proven untrue. PS3 games are $60 just like 360 games. There isn't a single PS3 game that costs more than $60, and there are some that cost less.

I've read in a ton of different places that the PS3 is making its way to the shelves (some units being returns from unsuccessful eBay sellers).

I wouldn't believe all the internet rumors you hear. I was here in NYC and home in Syracuse over Christmas and most stores said they had no stock of PS3's whatsoever. Not to mention, you don't know exactly what Sony is doing with shipments and such. They said they were going to shoot for 1 million shipments by the end of 2006. This obviously didn't happen, but I think they have another shipment coming very soon, as in this month. I noticed yesterday that EBGames has shipment dates of January 17th on their online orders for the 20GB PS3 and the 60GB PS3. Now, for a company who wasn't taking pre-orders online through Christmas it seems awfully fishy to me that they'd put that date there if they didn't think they could make it. I think another shipment is coming.

I've read in a ton of different places that the PS3 is making its way to the shelves (some units being returns from unsuccessful eBay sellers).

I wouldn't believe all the internet rumors you hear. I was here in NYC and home in Syracuse over Christmas and most stores said they had no stock of PS3's whatsoever. Not to mention, you don't know exactly what Sony is doing with shipments and such. They said they were going to shoot for 1 million shipments by the end of 2006. This obviously didn't happen, but I think they have another shipment coming very soon, as in this month. I noticed yesterday that EBGames has shipment dates of January 17th on their online orders for the 20GB PS3 and the 60GB PS3. Now, for a company who wasn't taking pre-orders online through Christmas it seems awfully fishy to me that they'd put that date there if they didn't think they could make it. I think another shipment is coming.

For those who are interested:

EBGAMES/Gamestop are doing pre-order sales for the Wii to be shipped 1/17/2007. The only hitch is that it is a bundle package only.

Nintendo Wii system (system, remote controller, nunchuck, stand, sensor and Wii Sports)
Wii 1 Gigabyte Memory Card
1 additional Wii Remote Controller
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Red Steel
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
Madden NFL 2007
1 Year Product Replacement Plan

The bundle is ~679.90 USD with 9.99 additional for shipping and handling.

Here's the link: http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=B020 070E

The store, fortunately, will not be offering this bundle as it is on-line only.

Well then you're not using it right. Try PSP Video 9. Rather than buy/rent UMD's (dumb format) you can watch downloaded movies and tv on it. Also check out this cool charger grip. It has a built in battery and tricks the PSP into thinking it's running on AC power so you can run it on the brightest contrast level. While I think the DS is cool, I love my PSP. The graphics are great, there are several "Great" games and quite a few decent games. Just rent, don't buy.

ebgames updated their website sometime in the last few days, saying that they're not even going to be taking online pre-orders till the in store ones are all taken care of. http://www.ebgames.com/gs/ps3/ps3_signup.asp It sounds to me like they might not be getting as many as they expected, or maybe just being careful.

I for one, don't really care too much. I'm not actually getting a ps3 (not till the price drops by half), but as for the wii... I'd rather just be able to get into a line so that when my number comes up they'll send me one. My time is too valuable to wait in line for something I MIGHT get and I really don't mind having to wait a little while to get what I want.

Every time I walk into EB Games or Gamestop I'm assulted by a pimply-faced teenager pushing the damned Zune on me. I've been insluted to my face because I have an iPod.

One of these kids claimed his boss "was just talking to Peter Moore the other day and he said Peter said that they were making the wi-fi work for downloads." After staring at him and realizing he had convinced himself that this was true, I had to laugh in his face. (I did confirm with his boss later that no, he wasn't talking to Peter Moore by a long shot). At a seperate store a girl mentioned that they had been asked to push/hype the product.

Link to the bundle

I'll do a breakdown of costs, from their site as well:
Nintendo Wii Console: $250
Wii SD 1GB Card: $59.99
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:$49.99 (couldn't find it on site, but seems to be the common price)
Trauma Center: Second Opinion: $49.99
Red Steel: $49.99
Marvel Ultimate Alliance: $49.99
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz: $49.99
Madden NFL 2007: $49.99
12 Month Product Replacement Plan: Unknown
Game Informer Gift Subscription: Unknown

All adds up to: 609.93

So, it's $100 for the replacement plan and the stupid magazine? Or am I missing something?

You may want to read that again

http://www.ebgames.com/gs/wii/wiipre_ebgs.asp

"...a reservation deposit does not guarantee receipt of a system available to purchase at launch."

EB Games Canada Scroll down, there's all the info you need.

Checking places like Circuit City, Best Buy, EB Games, GoGamer, Amazon.com, etc... they are all selling the game for ~ $19.99

Songs are 79 points. If you buy 80 points for $1, that's $0.9875. If you buy 1600 points for $20, that's... $0.9875. (OK, sometimes the points cards go on sale.)

"Generally speaking, over the past twelve years or so, there has been a consumer expectation that disc based games are maybe $59 on the high end to $39 on the low end. So, what I can say now is, I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say 'PS3 games now $99.99'."

I admit that I don't closely follow the news for the Wii but looking this morning, www.ebgames.com lists the processing power.

Look here.

I got it as a pack-in with Pac Man World 2 (a poorly done 3D platformer). EBGames has it for $10, which I'd say is well worth it: http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=9163 63

I think I've played Pac Man World 2 maybe once or twice since buying the game, but have played Pac Man Vs tons of times with friends. The way the game works is slightly confusing at first, as you have to trade controllers when a ghost eats pac man, but is TONS of fun.
-Trillian

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

No, they are not.

For folks who [understandably] don't want to click the links, third-party publishers are generally pricing their 360 games at $59.99 while Microsoft is pricing their games at $49.99, and Rockstar just released Table Tennis for the "bargain" price of $39.99. In other words, it isn't Microsoft "ripping us off," but rather the third-party developers who are trying to make some more scratch in this age of ridiculously high development costs...understandably so, IMO.

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

No, they are not.

For folks who [understandably] don't want to click the links, third-party publishers are generally pricing their 360 games at $59.99 while Microsoft is pricing their games at $49.99, and Rockstar just released Table Tennis for the "bargain" price of $39.99. In other words, it isn't Microsoft "ripping us off," but rather the third-party developers who are trying to make some more scratch in this age of ridiculously high development costs...understandably so, IMO.

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

No, they are not.

For folks who [understandably] don't want to click the links, third-party publishers are generally pricing their 360 games at $59.99 while Microsoft is pricing their games at $49.99, and Rockstar just released Table Tennis for the "bargain" price of $39.99. In other words, it isn't Microsoft "ripping us off," but rather the third-party developers who are trying to make some more scratch in this age of ridiculously high development costs...understandably so, IMO.

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

No, they are not.

For folks who [understandably] don't want to click the links, third-party publishers are generally pricing their 360 games at $59.99 while Microsoft is pricing their games at $49.99, and Rockstar just released Table Tennis for the "bargain" price of $39.99. In other words, it isn't Microsoft "ripping us off," but rather the third-party developers who are trying to make some more scratch in this age of ridiculously high development costs...understandably so, IMO.

$60 vs. $50 dollars, DVD is the obvious choice at retail.

What on earth are you talking about?

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

$60 vs. $50 dollars, DVD is the obvious choice at retail.

What on earth are you talking about?

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

$60 vs. $50 dollars, DVD is the obvious choice at retail.

What on earth are you talking about?

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.