I saw this list on another site and I couldn't understand why the rest of March was excluded and why Godfather Black Hand wasn't on the list. Godfather is supposed to release in summer and by not including March Medal of Honor Vanguard, which is looking like one of the better titles, is excluded from the list.
In other words, this list doesn't look very complete.

No mention of MP3 makes me nervous. I just don't have a good feeling about this, it's either going to be a surprise release on schedule or it's been pushed back well into the future.

I just love this comment by him:

"It's not clear to me that Nintendo gives a shit about games as an art form,"

If he would have considered the age old adages of 'you lead by example' and 'you've got to walk the talk', he would realize that  Nintendo doesn't have to make references to games as art on their web site.

The fact is they've  been pushing -especially Miyamoto- the 'games as an art form' envelope for a very long time. Case in point; The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker. Nintendo got raked over the coals by their fans for wanting to take the game in a new animated art direction, they persevered and the results were brilliant.

I mean WTF does he think, the average gamer considers complex AI algorithms as art?? Plzzz, give me a freaking break!

Anyways... as others have said, it was just a rant session and we'd best just take it with a pound grain of salt.

WOW! I mean WTF ?!?! 

I need to reinstall NWN2.  Thanks for reminding me

Well I'm glad to have reminded you ROTC. 
BTW it now runs fine with the XFire client.

The question is what will happen to X-fire, Teamspeak, etc. once Live starts to become more and more ubiquitous? What sticky legal ground, if any, is MS entering by intergrating and exclusive system like this in Windows?

Whether it's sticky legal ground or not it's been in Microsofts' plans for Windows for a very long time. What you describe is what Bill Gate's and crew have been saying in one form or another since the mid 90's.
As many have said before, it's all about controlling the media that gets delivered in your livingroom. If Live! for Windows is a way for better achieving that, legal or not, Microsoft is going to find a way to do it and ensure that Sony and others don't. And they won't be to concerned about any casualties along the way.

BTW Excellent reply Jancelot

I logged into Bioware.com today only to discover that my NWN guild -CanWest- has either gone the way of the dodo or thrown me out due to my lack of enthusiasm / participation; I haven't posted for 6 months so I can't really blame them.

I've just got NWN2 and would like to get in some online play.
This got me wondering if there's any GT members here that are also members of NWN or NWN2 guilds?
Or does anyone here know of any good NWN2 guilds? Particlarily ones with a RP bent.

In regards to those screen shots; WOW now that's real DS eye candy!
I remember someone posting previews on some other game site forum a few months ago and the general buzz was good.

Since the DS gets far too little 3rd party love, I'm awaiting the reviews for this one.

But really, when/if I buy a copy, I'm going to go for the "system builder" version.  It's essentially what used to be called the OEM version, and only gives you the media and product key (no box or manuals).  From what I've seen, this version costs either the same or less than the retail upgrade... so the benefit is it's the full install version.

Isn't this version only available when a new system is sold?

I agree this version would be the best deal, but I doubt it will fly for me. I upgraded my PC less than a year ago and I don't want to upgrade or buy a new system just for Vista. Of course this might all just be wishful thinking. 

I'm trying to find someone at Microsoft to schmooze for a free copy...  I plan on buying one, but if I can get a free one, I can upgrade my media center!

I hear you, I'm in the same boat. Unfortunately all my past Microsoft contacts are now Microsoft refugees. Of course I could always dip into the MSDN or MCSP subscription kits at work, but I'm 99.9% sure that such an installation wouldn't allow the use of Live! for Vista.

If I upgrade to Vista Home Premier do I need to have the Media Center version of XP Home?

[No way do they shaft Xbox 1 owners]

No way do they shaft Xbox 1 owners. I bet you go through the same account upgrade process that 360 users do.

Well...it is MicroSoft after all.
If it's true this will give me a reason to upgrade to Vista sooner than I had planned.

If you haven't tried the multiplay racing yet...you're missing out. My son and I put in a lot of time this weekend racing 1 -on -1 and I've got to say the snowball throwing is a riot! The racing takes on a whole new dimension when you've got to worry about dodging snowballs from behind. Of course it can be damn frustrating too when you get nailed a few feet from the finish line. 

I thought that game was already included for free wih LOZ:TP   

[Just like with the Xbox 360 there will be a free Silver package as well as a Gold package which retails for $49.99 for a year subscription, $7.99 for one month, and $19.99 for three months]

Official Pricing and Details:

http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/00401D0E-110B-4260-B579-46A1C89295FE.htm

While Microsoft was quite quiet about Live for Windows Vista, today during a press event prior to the Game Developers Conference the company revealed to Game Informer Online the exact pricing structure for the service. Live for Windows Vista will actually be the same exact price for Vista as it is for the Xbox 360. Just like with the Xbox 360 there will be a free Silver package as well as a Gold package which retails for $49.99 for a year subscription, $7.99 for one month, and $19.99 for three months

Good news for gamers who already have an Xbox Live Gold Membership – you’ve already subscribed. Your Live membership works on the Xbox, Xbox 360, and Live for Windows. Your gamer tag and achievements will be used across both Xbox and Vista PCs. Upcoming Vista games like Halo 2 and some exclusive Vista casual games will include achievements and will be able to add to your gamer score.

We'll have more on this as it becomes available.

Well, the good news is, they are not going to rape you twice. 

Yeah cool...but I only own an original XBox for which there isn't the Silver and Gold level memberships. So will this let me use my XBox Live! account -which I pay 49.99 per year- to access Vista Live! too?
The GameInformer article sort of hints at this, but it isn't a 100% clear.

I didn't even know it had been released in the US.  I remember the announcement of the name change (from Broken Sword : The Angel of Death), but I don't remember seeing a shipping announcement.  I'll have to pick it up once I finish Sleeping Dragon.

Now I know how it slipped under my radar! I remember seeing the preview at Just Adventure for Angel of Death, so that's the title I was looking out for.  I'll be picking this up sooner than later.

Nevermind about Onimusha 3; already gone. 

For any fellow canucks that frequent these forums,  the following are available at Futureshop.

Genma Onimusha 3 Demon siege (PS2) 9.95
Full Spectrum Warrior (PC) 9.95
The Godfather: The Game (PC) 9.95
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PC) 9.99
Rise of Nations (PC) 9.95

Adding this after the initial post: Supreme Commander (PC) 39.99
(Introductory promo is now over, new price is 49.99)

Just in case anyone is wondering, $9.95 CDN = $8.50 US.

I may have noticed a preview or 2 for this last year -Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game- but it defintely released under my radar. From what I've read it sounds like yet another fine adventure in the Broken Sword series. So far it's been getting some decent reviews; 7.7 at GameSpot.

Has anyone played this game yet?

Bah, Halo 2 is one of the best looking games on Xbox IMO and Halo was pretty much top of the heap when it was released. 

Indeed, they were gorgeous high quality productions.  SO much so, top of the order list for the kids Xbox360 was the Halo-Triple-Pack before it gets impossible to find.  Halo, Halo2, Halo2-Map Pack are infinitely playable - even today!

Good choice, both are excellent games; you can't go wrong with either. I thought the gameplay was better paced in the 1st and the graphics were slightly better in the 2nd. Either way, they were definitely 2 of the best looking games on the XBox.

Anyways... once noctum wars came out AO took a big nosedive as far as I can tell...

The classic is free... nothing else right?

I haven't played for a while, but I know that free play for the classic client was extended. I seemed to recall receiving an email some time back stating that Notum Wars was now also included in the free play client. I just grabbed this quote on the free play info page:

*You can play free of charge until January 15th 2008. Should Funcom deem that server load or other unforeseen events will lessen the experience for paying subscribers the offer will be terminated at our discretion. The free version does not include access to any of the three expansion packs. Should you wish to upgrade to any of the expansion packs monthly subscription and client fees will be added

Interesting as there's now 4 expansion packs which might confirm my recollection that Notum Wars is now part of the classic client. I'd agree that Notum Wars wasn't much of an expansion, although I did like the custom voice macroing feature; too bad more people didn't use it. BTW I never got booted due to high server load when I played the free client. 

Anyways IMHO until you've played the Shadowlands expansion you really haven't experienced all that AO has to offer; it's that good. It also makes it easier to level up your toon since it gives you access to perks.

I haven't even completed the original game yet; just too much to play.   The online multiplay additions sound very promising, so I'll no doubt eventually buy it.

Sent you PM

I'm looking for a Star Wars miniatures Clone Strike starter set. Will pay cash or trade HeroClix min's / Mechwarrior min's. Also interested in trading XBox, GameCube, DS or GBA games for it.

  Well I guess this answers my questions as to whether Live! for the original XBox would be made free anytime soon. 
Thanks for finding this and posting it Hetz.

Super G&G is supposedly Super Tough, too.

That's putting it nicely from what I know.

Thanks for letting me know, you've both saved me the pain of discovering this for myself. 

Since I still haven't downloaded Super Mario World, Gunstar Heroes or R-type III, I don't see myself purchasing any of these titles.
I'm curious about Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts, but since it's only single player that more or less rules it out.

And that's why Crazy Ken is out. I think the guys in place now will be able to fix Ken's stupidity, but it hurt them this year.

But he's not out, just look at this line from the article:

Mr. Stringer says he persuaded Mr. Kutaragi to give up day-to-day control of the division in December; he remains chairman and chief executive, focused on next-generation games.

He's still lurking around in the shadows ready to spring forth at a moments notice with more amazing, nonsensical, confounding kraziness!

Come on Mr. Stringer; KRAZY KEN MUST REALLY GO!   

Absolutely amazing they don't have JKII on the list; just started it and I'm finding it to be 1 of the best FPS's I've ever played. Well at least they got Dark Forces II on there and they remembered SHOGO! 
I agree that a top 20 FPS list without Quake, isn't a top 20 list.

[but if you read the reviews I'd imagine you can see why one was rated higher]

Since the source is EGM I wouldn't give an ounce of credibility to any one of those reviews.
Their 3 independent review system is absolutely useless IMHO. I mean how useful is it to the reader to be presented with 3 different rankings with as much as 45% spread between them!?

Cases in point:

Shining Force Exa: 6, 7, 4

One reviewer thinks it's a good game while another thinks it's regurgitated dog food!

After Burner: Black Falcon: 6.5, 2, 5.5

One reviewer things this game is of fair quality while another thinks it's a steaming pile of crap!

The numbers themselves mean nothing, but if you read the reviews I'd imagine you can see why one was rated higher than the other.  Three opinions are better than one, given they are well reasoned.

*note that I have no idea if they are well reasoned or not, I've not read EGM in 5 years or so.

gellar

The text reviews are the problem though. I admittedly also haven't picked up a copy of EGM for some time; too poor a publication for the effort IMHO. From what I reacall only 1 of the reviewers are given any amount of printed space. The other 2 reviewers only give very brief paragraphs that aren't really informative. They certainly don't say enough to explain a very low score, that's for sure.

And EGM is well known to be extremely bias. I've seen messages in forums for years on many sites with people stating this. I also seem to recall a minor conflict of interest scandal involving EGM and it's onwers from a few years back, but I'm sure I'd never be able to find the link.

I have no hope for most sci-fi games....

simply put, they are all done poorly and they just hope since the genre has never been done well they  might get the fanboty base to check the game out...   

it's not hard to do a bad mmorpg, it's quite hard to do a good one...  maybe they will steal the WoW blueprint for ease of use and simplicity while having a semi-decent top end and we'll get lucky, but my guess is, they worry more about keeping people for a month or two then keeping them for years.

Well I beg to differ with you on this; Anarchy Online is a very good sci-fi MMORPG. It may not be as easy as WoW -which is too easy IMHO- and it may error on the side of difficulty, but it's still a good RPG. It's Definitely the deepest MMORGP currently out there; sci-fi or fantasy theme based. And it's free to play!

Anyhow...back on topic. It's great to see another Warhammer MMORPG coming online. I'm actually more interested the game Mythic's working on as I'm familiar with their approach having played DAoC for some time. The more Warhammer the merrier, so this is good news.

I think Dark Age of Camelot may have done something like that.  I believe Age of Conan is supposed to have something like that too.

DAoC does that as well. Forgot about that (and didn't spend too much time with it).

DAoC does castle sieges better than any other MMORPG. The castle sieges in the mid game (lvl 20 - 24) and the end game (lvl 50+) are just amazing. I've done all night sieges on occassions and they've definitely been some of the best gaming exepriences I've ever had.

I still have an active account on the Tintagel (RP) server cluster so if anyone here is planning on giving it a try let me know.

I have a BOATLOAD of DC Heroclix from all DC sets (and even many Marvel Clix from the first two sets) that I'd be happy to trade/sell to someone who will use them. I really, really enjoyed my time with Heroclix but I do not have time for more than one tabletop Minis game and D&D Miniatures is it.

Hey Fyedaddy I might be interested in some of your DC or Marvel sets. My only stipulation for trading and buying is that the base stat wheels can be easily turned. My son and I have bought just a few too many figures where that wasn't the case.

I'd suggest you post some brief descriptions of what you have in the Trading forum, as there might be other GT members that are also interested.

I was going to build this record yesterday but I've not been able to confirm that it'll hit here in the states.  I'll do some more research and see what happens.

Damn, I sure hope this makes it here! I can't think of any other game where I could somersault into a head stand onto a sentry bot and be disintegrated to the charming sound of a mosquito zapper.   

Just pure gaming goodness; 1 of the best games on the C64.

Since the source is EGM I wouldn't give an ounce of credibility to any one of those reviews.
Their 3 independent review system is absolutely useless IMHO. I mean how useful is it to the reader to be presented with 3 different rankings with as much as 45% spread between them!?

Cases in point:

Shining Force Exa: 6, 7, 4

One reviewer thinks it's a good game while another thinks it's regurgitated dog food!

After Burner: Black Falcon: 6.5, 2, 5.5

One reviewer things this game is of fair quality while another thinks it's a steaming pile of crap!

Damn, those PSP numbers are impressive!
And as per usual, the DS juggernaut rolls on.
Based on these Wii numbers and number I saw from previous weeks, it looks like the Wii is doing about 300K/month in Japan, despite supply constraints.

After 2 weeks of playing back -to- back sessions of PEWE 2007 (PS2) and FIFA 07 (XBox) I finally made my choice...neither.
I decided instead to buy a preowned copy of WE 9 (XBox) which as it turns out is a very rare find in my city; no doubt a positive indicator. If team rosters are out of date it isn't much of an issue for me, since as I stated before I'm only a casual football fan.

When pitting PEWE 2007 against FIFA 07, I was more impressed with the gameplay in PEWE, but preferred the presentation in FIFA 07. But not by as much of a margin as I would have thought as I felt some of the graphics in PEWE were actually better. One thing I need to state right away; there's absolutely no way FIFA 07 is playable in 720p!
I can't see why this was included as the increased resolution makes the game perform far too sluggishly. FIFA 07 does however still look great in 480p widescreen. When considering all graphical aspects and overall presentation for all 3 games, I actually preferred WE 9 in the end.

I definitely prefer the dual-shock shoulder buttons in PEWE PS2 for special controls to the black and white buttons in WE 9. Since I'm already using these buttons in other XBox sports games, I felt I could overcome the increase in awkwardness. I preferred the gameplay and controls in both WE's over FIFA 07 and felt the training modules in both WE's were superior; important for a casual fan and player.

Of course my decision was made all that much easier by the $18 price tag for WE 9. 

The kids will be taking over the consoles this weekend and it's going to be all SSX Blur. My daughter can't wait to race all the cool ladies and my son can't wait to pawn me at uber tricks. Oh to have young and nimble reflexes again. 
If I'm lucky I might be able to convince them to play a few games in Winning Eleven or NHL 2K7. 

At first I thought the snowball throwing was goofy but last night I was racing to the finish line trying to catch up with the leader right in front of me. One snowball to his back slowed him down just enough for me to overtake him and win. 

Yup, the snowball throwing is proving to be a real blast. So much so that I'd be surprised if it's not included in new SSX games on other consoles.

My experience with tilting the nunchuk for carving has been pathetic; haven't been able to nail more than 5 of the 6 arrows in the tutorial.   
I disabled tilt control for now by placing the carve slider all the way to the right and was able to ace the tutorial on my 1st try. I'll give nunchcuk tilting a try again once I get a better handle on the other controls.

For the past 3 years, I’ve purchased at least 1-2 games a month from them.  However, over the past year since their manager left, they have gone steadily downhill.  They’ve become rude, dismissive, overly pushy with pre-orders, and I basically just don’t like going there anymore.

We don't have GameStop here in Canada, but what you state above more or less describes recent experiences I've had at a number of EB outlets in my city.

Recently I tried to cash in on a preorder of LOZ:TP. I unfortunately had misplaced my receipt and my preorder was missing from their computer; big surprise as I swear it was 2 years ago that I placed it. When the sales agent talked with the Manager the response was, I couldn't possibly have preordered since they didn't start taking them until 2006. 

Well...guess that manager was to ignorant to know of the many, many, many  delays with LOZ:TP. To make matters worse one of his own agents started arguing that they'd been taking preorders since 2005. No go, my preorder didn't exist as far as he was concerned.

Eventually I found my receipt dated sometime in 2005 and took it to the manager. He then arrogantly and rudely stated that it wouldn't have mattered because it was for the GC version and I wanted the Wii version. I know for a fact that when I preordered the Wii version hadn't even been announced!   

This got me thinking. Now that GameStop owns EB maybe there's a conspiracy to secretly implement their 'treat the customer as crap' policy on a global basis. 

Gamespy has now posted a review and awarded it 3.5 / 5

LINK http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/ssx-wii/769330p1.html

Pros:
Crisp visuals; good controls when mastered; excellent soundtrack; should appeal to fans of the series.

Cons:
Tough initial learning curve; ubers are unreliable; multiplayer is an afterthought; limited tricks.

Can't say I want to buy anything at the moment, as I already have too much of a backlog of PC games.
Just good to see there's a fellow Larry Niven fan here at GT.