Another run-through and “illusion” becomes more prominent. That is, even if they’re not really telling a new story, games can at least fool people into thinking they are. There are very few games nowadays that provide even the illusion of free choice - but then, what’s the point? Fallout 3, Mass Effect and the Elder Scroll series present players with the tools through which they can shape their existence within the game. However, as the story for a movie can be hindered by lack of imagination on a writer’s part, the story of a game can be hindered by a lack of imagination from the gamer. We look at our experiences in life, consciously or unconsciously, and shape our play experience keeping those in mind. Out of lack of investment or because the tools aren’t unique enough (which the above games’ are), we end up staying too close to home for comfort. There are plenty of gamers who look at the smorgasbord of options available to them and rejoice, as there those who shrink and those who are indifferent. It varies greatly. It goes from “I’ve seen this before” to “I’m more familiar with this”. And it matters for everyone because it creates less demand from the gaming community as a whole to partake in fresh, new stories.

There was a time when games simply couldn’t be compared to movies. You’d hit an emotional high as things winded down. Suddenly, you realized Ganondorf had tricked you, imprisoned you in the Temple of Time and laid waste to the world as you remained asleep for years. Kill Raddick in Killzone 2. Kick Jack-Knife off the chopper in Mirror’s Edge. Shoot Zakhaev in Call of Duty 4. Alma rapes you in F.E.A.R. 2. “Wait, that’s it?” Yes, it is. “Well, it was still a good ride.” Was it?

Maybe I’m just growing old and still seeking the kind of emotional validation that paid in spades with a game’s story. Maybe I just need to stop whining and replay Grim Fandango. Or maybe I should just wait for Bioshock 2. Either way, Schrader had a point, whether he was giving gaming too much credit or not.

However, Baker also stated that,

“PC upgrades on Vista machines bought between now and the end of October would be free from Microsoft, with any cost (normally S&H) being charged by the PC OEM. This is within expectations and is the good for both the consumers and the OEMs. We should see a very minimal stall from the transition as these very low cost upgrades are offered to consumers.”

And that, “The intention of a limited availability sale on Windows 7 (at $49 per copy) fulfilled only through the channel is a boon to the channel and the industry. It certainly addresses at least some of our pricing concerns and adds a few benefits to the marketplace.” The issue of MS delivering the perfect OS is still far off, but at least Windows 7 doesn’t seem to be spiraling into chaos like Vista.

Teaser sites. Countdown sites. It’s bad enough I’m waiting for games still months from release, crossing the days off on my calendar, plucking the pages off my calendar and counting the hairs of assorted cats (okay, so I have issues) in anticipation. With the newfound teaser sites, I’m waiting for the game’s revealing so I can begin the waiting for it’s release. Dante Alighieri’s Inferno has nothing on the gaming industry.

But every once in a while I come across something…intriguing with these countdowns. Maybe it’s the hints they give, but all it took for Square-Enix’s New Game countdown (to finish on July 6th) was the prodiguous number 4 to get me itching. There are several possibilities for what SE are planning, but this seems like the most likely one: A trademark issued one month ago. Titled Hikari no Yon Senshi or Four Warriors of Light, it was the one hidden title that escaped mention at E3 2009. Some people may point out that this is likely the Final Fantasy I PSN release Square-Enix announced before the countdown began - since the protagonists of FFI were referred to as the Four Warriors of Light. It sounds plausible - which is why we’ll leave it out there for people to decide.

Another possibility is that of Romancing SaGa 4. Some will debate that Square wouldn’t go to all this trouble to create publicity for a sequel to didn’t score well either critically or commercially. However, that same lack of common sense has resulted in many more SaGa titles, so I wouldn’t put it above SE to do so. One of the original supporting cast from Romancing SaGa 3 was a dragon named Gwayne (though, dragons in a fantasy title is nothing new). Something else struck me, however: Square considers Romancing SaGa to be the fourth edition in the SaGa franchise. The 4 could be a reference to Romancing SaGa specifically, rather than to a four-quel for any game (it could be a Romancing SaGa X, for all we know) As of now, a new Romancing SaGa is tied with Four Warriors of Light as being the SE’s new game.

And now we veer off to pure wishing. It’s stupid and yes, wishful thinking but…How about Grandia 4, Square-Enix? They published the third one, developed by GameArts. However, I fear that Lunar: Dragon Song for the Nintendo DS broke the spirit of many a fan and dev alike. It may be just plain wishing. But Grandia is one franchise that deserves to be introduced to a new generation of gamers and would simultaneously reel in the hardcore. Only time can draw us closer to what this new game will be but until then, the above three our are top contenders.

We’re marking this years Independence Day by releasing a Sacktue of Liberty costume, available once more for free! Featuring the iconic crown and robe from the Statue of Liberty, the costume also includes the famous torch of enlightenment, complete with glowing flames of fabric.

The Sacktue of Liberty costume will be available from July 2nd on the Playstation Network for a limited time only. If you’re looking for a gamer’s touch on your Fourth of July, then this is it. Just don’t create a riot when they eventually sell out (which the Druid costume seems to be heading for).

As she recounts on her FD blog:

“When I found out about the Frag Dolls I knew I had to apply and see what would happen. To make sure I was ready for whenever they announced a Casting Call, I made a point of proving that girls can play at the top by earning #1 in the world in Free for All on Call of Duty World at War. While playing Call of Duty through the wee hours of the night, I formed a team called Team V Gaming which had about 120 players at our peak. Together we ran through the leader boards, taking out one big name after another. Managing Team V Gaming gave me the experience to better understand gaming communities and the competitive edge gained through team work.”

You can head to her official blog to read more about her (as well as to the origins of her new handle). Or just admire her admittedly pretty pics. Decisions, decisions.

An interesting rumour increasingly agitates into a conspiracy. If you checked out the news on Microsoft’s X-Engine, then you’ve doubtless heard about Project Phoenix as well. We’re told (all on good faith, of course) that the X-Engine is a powerful new set of dev tools designed to specifically work for the upcoming Xbox 720 or Project Phoenix. Then, of course, we have Project Natal, Microsoft’s motion controller technology that’s come under a severe beating since it’s E3 showing when hawk-eyed journalists picked out the “smoke and mirrors” of Lionhead Studios’ Milo. Time and again, I’ve come across these stories. Whether it be the Xbox 720 as a brand new platform or Project Natal combined with the 360 to make…a brand new platform. Now, I’m not going to offer counter-theories and what not, or even refute the rumours that have spread willy-nilly. Rather, I’d just like to poise the following questions. No biggies or mind-benders so relax.

Assuming we’re going by the principle of a new console every five years - are the returns (keeping in mind the balance between production cost and revenue) on either the Xbox 360 or even the Playstation 3 as great as, say, the Playstation 2 to justify a brand new console in 2010?

The Playstation 3 introduced it’s own brand of motion controller (the Playstation Wand) to be used in conjunction witht the Playstation Eye. Why is this not considered the Playstation 4? For that matter, if Natal is little-more than a “rip-off” of the Playstation Eye, why was the PS3 equipped with the Eye never called the PS4? Is it because it’s still a PS3 on the inside? The architecture of the Nintendo Wii and Gamecube are virtually the same. So why is the Wii considered a new console but the PS3 with motion controls is not?

Speaking in Sony terms: Why is the PSP Go considered a new handheld (the PSP2, as many were so nice to call it) with a few new features but the PS3 with a feature announced on centre-stage at E3 2009 is still called a PS3?

We talk about the development of next generation titles. For instance, The Sixth Axis reported how, “10 percent of Ubisoft’s workforce is working on developing games for the next generation of game systems that will eventually replace [the] Wii, [the] Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3.” Now, any one would look at this, and say, “Well Ravi, there’s your proof right there. The next-gen consoles are coming”. To which I put forth the following questions: Why only 10%? Leave aside the fact that almost every major technology company, gaming and non-gaming, has a Research and Development (R&D) department that specializes in future computing. If the gaming consoles of tomorrow are literally hitting us then, shouldn’t their development be given equal, if not greater, precendence than the current generation? Okay, if not that much, then at least more than 10%?

Investigations behind Natal have been revealing, but no one will deny it was buggy and incomplete. Calling it “smoke and mirrors” or an “elaborate fraud” doesn’t change the fact that it still exists. So how long would it take to perfect this kind of technology? And how long after could you then make games for it?

Companies are merging (Mythic and BioWare). Buy-outs are the big thing (id Software bought by ZeniMax). Lay-offs still haven’t cooled down. The economy is still extremely fragile and will adversely affect the launch of a new console (remember when the Gamecube launched shortly after 9/11?). It’s understandable that companies have plans for the future. But plans are adjustable, in the long-term. Pushing forward a new console’s release by five years, for example. This may seem like forever to us gamers, but for a Microsoft or Sony it’s business as usual. How sane is it to launch a new console so soon, especially when you thump your chest on a daily basis as to how “future-proof” your console is? And then to tell your customers they’ll need to shell out cash for it? And then to tell your developers to put everything else aside and commence developent, stat?

Finally, the Nintendo Wii - the progenitor of consoles with motion controls - made the Wiimote an integral part of the console. You had to have it to play games. Project Natal and the PS Wand are add-ons, meaning there are games that don’t require having them to have fun. They are alternatives to an established console’s method of play. I’m sure there’ll be titles that support motion controls, but as long as a less complicated, less expensive and yet still extremely satisfactory alternative exists, will the titles that offer support exceed those that don’t?