Firstly, sorry about the Motorstorm review.  Everytime I've got on this past week I've intended to put it up, but I get absorbed in the forums.  My bad.  I'll get that up over Spring Break...

I'm posting this right now as my folks and I are zooming down I-15 towards Las Vegas; pops just got himself a flashy new Cingular broadband card (business expense - he's way too cheap to pay for it himself [I'm saying this outloud as I type so he hears me ]) and he wanted me to give it a test run in his *shock* new laptop.  So, instead of having a dry spell on my blog, I'll be able to keep in touch over the Spring Break weekend.  But, don't expect a whole lot of me around unless I'm crashing for a day or two.  C'mon, it's Spring Break!  Regardless, looks like this card works pretty darn well, IMO...

Now, no blog is complete without an opinion about something, so concerning the 360 Elite and GTAIV:

Microsoft's recent move leaves me puzzled as to really what MS's intentions are.  The 360 was supposed to be about interconnectivity, giving the gamer the complete videogame experience with multitasking features and a well-integrated system, which is what MS did.  However, MS made a mistake, which can only be placed on their lack of foresight.  MS sat on the fence about fully commiting to HD and absorbing all the initial cost of supporting; it was more or less a substantial risk to a division of MS that was already faltering.  Games division has yet to establish any form of profit from the X360 or from any of MS's media (Zune included) and it's obvious to see that's the reason why they probably held back a little bit.  Remember, MS is a software company, not a media content company.  Sony, on the other hand, went all out for the HD era, which may have been premature, but it doesn't seem to be that way any longer.  Why would MS ever introduce a third SKU that only has three changes to the current Premium package: 1) An HDMI port, 2) Black color, and 3) 120GB hard drive.  One of those issues is entirely left to the buyer to have an opinion on (I prefer the white 360), one can be bought separately, and the last is the only thing that can't be altered on the current X360 premium model.  And what's with a $480 price point?  I guess it makes the buyer feel better that he's $20 under the dreaded $500 mark.  I understand what MS is trying to do, since they understand the market the PS3 is shooting for and they don't want that market left in the control of Sony.  But that's where the dilemma, for me, comes in.  MS seems absolutely intent on slaughtering Sony, even if their own philosophy is put on the sacrificial table.  That's what's troubling: MS is the more powerful company, but they seem to lack vision.  Game companies copy each other constantly, always manuevering around one another to try and create the most desired product possible.  But where does the gaming road lead for MS?  Is it just a "wet" market that they can impose themselves upon and suck up every last fund?  What is MS, ultimately, wanting to contribute to the medium and experience that has become videogames?  Xbox Live, I will admit, is the single greatest thing MS has done for videogames, but I don't believe that will carry them on in this industry.  As for the 360 Elite itself, I think the product is great - I really do.  But as an early adopter who would have vastly benefited from MS initially backing the HD Elite package, I feel betrayed, as I will probably feel when Sony puts out its rumble controller for the PS3.  But what concerns me more is the direction MS wants the industry to head towards, which, at least to me, is quite vague in their description of what games should be.

Now that that is out of the way, GTA IV.  Anybody else, regardless of how much you like the franchise, feel that we're all a bit too concerned over a mere trailer?  There were guys in the forums eagerly anticipating the trailer and making statements like, "I won't be satisfied unless the trailer is five minutes long and has a complete run-down about the online experience."  Give me a break.  The trailer was a good one, leaving just enough to pique the audience's interest and not divulging enough to make us feel like we've already played the game.  I think NYC is a great setting for the GTA franchise, but the role of the main character (which I think is brilliant) shows that GTA is moving towards a much different approach to the world of crime.  First, it was the mafia in Liberty City, then Drug Lords in Vice City, and finally Gang Leaders in San Andreas.  Now, it looks like we're going underground into the Arms Dealer trade from a foreign immigrant.  The guy reminds me a bit of Nicolas Cage's character in Lord of War, so I'm interested to see where it goes.  Graphically, the trailer looks close enough to what I thought it would end up being, but far short of what R* was hoping it to look like (Table Tennis engine?  Mmmhmmm...).

Well, that's it for now.  Mind the excessive use of bandwidth, I need it sometimes.  Should probably use a bit more brevity, but I don't got much else to do sitting here in the car.  Ugh, get me out of here.  Bb out.