Man, this has been one busy, and weird, day in the world of video games.
- First off, in addition to GMR being put to rest, the same has happened to Xbox Nation, a.k.a. XBN, another super high quality game publication, and regarded by many as perhaps one of the finest single platform specific magazines ever. Damn. Even though my exposure to it was minimal at best (since I don’t have an Xbox, I only picked it up every once in a while) I can still attest to the fine writing and great features (they were the only folks who had decent coverage of the Japanese scene, what little there was) it had.
And all this right before Christmas. 
Back to GMR, it’s been revealed that the last issue will feature an exclusive review of Resident Evil 4 (it scored a 10 out of 10 for those who are curious). At least it’s going out with a bang. Though the mystery behind who the Game Geezer exactly is still remains a mystery, and perhaps will remain as such (hell, they won’t even tell me… though it is know that there was two, like there was two Sushi-X’s).
Meanwhile, on the Game Informer side of the pond (They’re generally regarded as GMR’s main rival since you get a subscription to them if you join Gamestop’s sales club. You might recall them from this fiasco in which they didn’t want to give Paper Mario a high score in fears of looking uncool.), next month will feature an exclusive look at a new game starring Snoop Dogg called “Fear and Respect” I think. Apparently John Singleton is also behind the project (Wow, I sorta remember when I actually had respect for the guy. Boyz n the Hood is still good I guess).
Needless to say, this game will be total shit, but since it’s tapping into the whole gangsta vibe, which means it’ll have a lot of cursing, gang-banging, pimping hoes, rap music, drive-bys, and will probably be a worthless piece of shit that will go on to make a fucking fortune. Why? Cuz this is the kind of stuff that people want in their games these days. Period.
But basically, GMR dies just as it was giving an exclusive review for RE4 and the G.I. lives on to give an exclusive look at a new Snoop Dog game.
There is no God.
- Next is EA, which can’t seem to stop making news. First off, relating to the big news from just a few weeks past, was the company wide internal memo that was leaked to the public, which was the result of the responses given in that company wide survey that was mentioned here, and how they are finally going to pay certain folks overtime. But their excuse for not doing so thus far is simply mind-boggling; it’s because, and quote “… because we believe that the wage and hour laws have not kept pace with the kind of work done at technology companies.”
So they basically said that since labor laws didn’t compensate overtime appropriately, until it did, they did everyone a big favor and didn’t pay period since that would be an insult. Gotcha.
Plus, there’s the CafePress store in which has stuff that’s literally tailor made clothing for frustrated EA employees.
Anyway, today came word that they have inked a deal with NFL football to become the exclusive provider of NFL football games for the next five years. This basically locks both Sega and Microsoft out completely of America’s most lucrative markets in one massive swoop. And the biggest name in video games has becoming even a bigger name in all of entertainment in just one day.
Personally, I would think this is bad news (well most people on the net certainly feels that way) but I honestly am not that big into the sport, so therefore, I could give a rat’s ass about the video games. But out of curiosity, I asked three friends who are big football fans, and therefore play football video games a lot, what they thought, and they all basically said the same thing: “Good. Madden was the only football game worth playing.” In fact, when I asked if this lessening of options was bad, Jason responded with “If anything, I was annoyed by all those horrible games tarnishing the NFL’s name.”
Though I still say less options is never good. And I as annoyed I am with Sega these days, I do have to feel bad for them. One simply has to admire the guts it took to go toe to toe with EA last year, but they lost big time, and the crazy awesome price point made the defeat all the more embarrassing. I still don’t know why the fuck football fans couldn’t live with having two football games at once, especially when both are really good. Hey I like fighting games, and I have more than just one.
One has to wonder if the NBA and the MLB is next. Is there any doubt?
My coworker Steve predicts that EA will eventually start producing editions of Madden that’s specific to markets, like a Jets and Giants edition for the New York area. Each would have extras in the game, as well as special online functionality. I totally believe this will happen as well.
- Still on the topic of EA, it’s just been revealed, and I almost don’t believe it myself, but Nintendo characters are going to be appearing in NBA Street Volume 3. As one GAFer put it best (aside from the multitude of “you’ve got to be shitting me” comments), ” MARIO IS PLAYING BASKETBALL FO SHIZZLE”.
I wonder if they’ll make Kirby the ball?
BTW, I’ll play the aforementioned Mario Baseball game, even though I hate baseball. I used to be a big basketball fan, but I’m staying clear the fuck away from this thin.
- So earlier today, also on the GAF, there was word of some mod that doubled the wifi wavelength of the DS, plus allowed it to play original Game Boy/ Game Boy Color games. Now, anyone who knows a bit about the machine’s architecture is well aware that the last part is technically impossible, so the mod was deemed bullshit almost right off the back, but it would seem that it’s not that impossible after all…
… Of course, this could be fake as well. There’s still a debate wagging right now regarding it’s validity.
- And finally, tomorrow night is the Spike TV 2004 Video Game Awards. They were showing some highlights from last year’s atrocity and the migraines from before came back. Hopefully I’ll get to talk about what I’ve wanted to since Sunday (cable access shows and holiday specials) before having to rant and rave about Jenna Jameson making out with Crash Bandicoot onstage. It could happen.
