Three trailers for Xbox One indie titles that caught my attention earlier today

I know Nintendo has gotten a lot of play on this blog over the last few weeks and months--mostly due to my obsession with the company's first handheld, the GameBoy--but I'm no Nintendo fanboy.

Or, at least I'm not such a Nintendo fanboy that I can't find games made and released for the systems of other companies (like Microsoft and Sony) appealing, too.

Cases in point: the following trio of Xbox One indie titles that were showcased during Microsoft's E3 2014 press conference earlier today.



This first one (above) is for Cuphead, a uniquely styled platformer that's being crafted by Studio MDHR, a game developer I'd never heard of before this morning.

Anyway, the main point of interest for me when it comes to this title--which isn't expected to see the light of day until sometime next year--is its Steamboat Willie-esque art style.



Android Base's neon-tinged Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, above, is quite a looker, too, if you ask me.

Like Cuphead, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime also will be released for PC (and Mac, via Steam), although when those releases will occur is still up in the air.



Last, but not least, there's Ori and the Blind Forest, by Moon Studios. Actually, I'm a bit less enamored with this one than I am with the others, but that's not saying much as I'm still pretty keen on it.

Were any of you similarly blown away by any of these digital Xbox One titles? If so, which ones--and why?

I think I'm going to pass on the PS4, the Xbox One and even the Wii U for the time being

With "the time being" potentially extending through the end of next year (2014). Oh, and it's extremely possible I'll also pass on the Vita during the same period.

The funny thing is, I actually want two of those systems--the Wii U and the Vita--quite a bit at the moment. What I don't want so much is to support them with games in the coming 12 or so months.

There are a number of reasons for that, of course. One of them: I'm just not interested in shelling out $60 per game when it comes to the Wii U or $40 per game for the Vita.

I know that's not always the case and that some of the games released for these systems carry more agreeable price tags, but in general those are the prices I'm going to be forced to pay if I want to own and play the marquee titles that come out for them.

Another reason I'm not so interested in picking up a Wii U or Vita or any other system anytime soon is that my gaming backlog is pretty insane right now. Not only do I have 3DS games that have yet to be played (or that have been played just a smidge), but the same is true when it comes to my DS, PSP and Wii, too.

Via sparklyvodka.com

And then there are all of the retro systems--the PC Engine, Famicom, GameBoy, Game Gear, and WonderSwan, especially--I own and continue to support.

Actually, I'm as likely to want to buy a game for one of the above-mentioned consoles and handhelds as I am for my 3DS, DS or PSP these days, which only adds weight to this most "first world" of problems.

So, there you have it: I think I've come to the conclusion that unless something monumental happens within the next 12 months (such as the Wii U version of Dragon Quest X earning a North American release or Mario Kart 8 blowing me away to an enormous degree), I'm likely going to forgo the Wii U and Vita next year and focus my attention--and spending cash--on the DS, 3DS, PSP and retro systems I already own instead.

Are any of you considering doing the same--sticking with consoles and handhelds you own rather than buying a "next-gen" one--in 2014?

A few thoughts on the rest of E3 2013

Just in case any of you care what I think about what's been announced and shown (so far) for Sony's and Microsoft's systems at E3 2013, here's another stream-of-consiousness post.

Xbox One price--$499. Yikes. It's going to be very interesting to see how the masses react to this price after the holidays, especially with the PS4 being available for $100 less.

PS4 price--$399. Pretty surprising, actually. Maybe even stellar. Of course, it seems online multiplayer's no longer free. And the Kinect-like camera won't be included with the system. (It'll be sold separately for $59.99.) Still, that price should do a lot to sell the system in North America.

"PS4 Supports Used Games"--Speaks for itself, really.



PS4 system design--Yuck. But does it look better or worse than the Xbox One (above)? I'm not sure. Strangely, I'm leaning toward the Xbox One having the more appealing design at the moment--although that isn't saying much, if you ask me. (The PS4 can be seen below, by the way--just in case some of you haven't seen it yet.)

Puppeteer--This may only be a PS3 game, but I'm completely gaga over it. Of course, it reminds me of Treasure's Dynamite Headdy, so I guess I shouldn't find that too surprising.

Beyond: Two Souls--Can you say "uncanny valley"? I mean, I appreciate what developer Quantic Dream is going for with this PS3 title, but I can't say it appeals to me. Oh, well, hopefully it'll appeal to plenty of others.



Gran Turismo 6--Looks very good. Of course, haven't all the Gran Turismo games looked good? Regardless, it's not my cup of tea. (Seriously, F-Zero and Mario Kart are the only "racers" I play.)

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn--I'm far more interested in this Final Fantasy release than I am in Final Fantasy XV (aka the re-branded Final Fantasy Versus XIII). As such, I'll be paying close attention to both the PS3 and PS4 iterations of this MMORPG--especially if the North American versions retain the beautiful cover art of their Japanese counterparts.



Kingdom Hearts III--Although I'm happy fans of this series finally have a mainline sequel to look forward to after years and years of portable spin-offs, I can't say it interests me at all.

The Order: 1886--Love the setting. I'd like to have seen some actual gameplay, though. So many of these previews look the same--or at least leave viewers like me asking the same kinds of questions--when all that's shown are some cinemas.

The Dark Sorcerer--See above.



Don't Starve--See below. (Also see Ray's the Dead, another indie release being prepped for PS4.)

Transistor--No joke, this is more "my thing," in terms of both graphics and gameplay, than any of the other in-the-works games that have been shown for PS4 so far.

Where art thou, Vita?--Seriously, Sony knows it still has a portable to sell, right? Where are the games (other than Tearaway, I mean)? Where's the price drop? I guess they're wherever the brass at Sony packed away their interest in this system.

So, that's what I think of what Sony and Microsoft and associated third-parties have announced and shown at E3 2013 thus far. What do all of you think?

Maybe I won't sell my Xbox 360 after all

As I mentioned during the most recent episode of The Nichiest Podcast Ever, I've been giving serious consideration to selling my good ol' Xbox 360 as of late.

The fact is, I don't play it that often. Also, I haven't bought many games for it since I acquired it a year and a half ago. (True story: I've picked up just one retail release so far, that being Deadly Premonition.)

So, with the 3DS quickly gaining a foothold in my brain, the PS3 still occupying my dreams and the soon-to-be-released Wii U doing its best to nudge its way into my life too, I've been wondering for a while now why I don't sell my Xbox 360 to someone who would give it the attention it deserves.

The problem is, of course, that selling it likely wouldn't provide me with much of a windfall. Also, all of the money I spent on XBLA and XBLIG games basically would flow down the drain, as I wouldn't be able to include those titles in the sale of my system.

As such, I'm back to thinking I'll hold on to it. And it's not like doing so would be the end of the world. I've got a ton of great digital games that I'd hardly say have been overplayed thus far, after all. (I'm looking at you, Castle Crashers. And you, too, Epic Dungeon.)

Also, there are a number of both digital and retail games that I'd still like to pick up--games such as Bayonetta, Blue Dragon, Catherine, Otomedius Excellent (maaaayyybe), Space Channel 5: Part 2 HD and Terraria.

What do all of you think? Do you think I'm making the right decision or am I making a horrible mistake?

Dustin' off my Xbox 360 due to Fez, Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World and Spelunky

You know how people used to love to say (usually on nerdy Internet forums), "Guess it's time I dusted off my Wii!" every time an interesting game was announced or released for Nintendo's latest console?

Well, I say the same thing every time an interesting game hits Microsoft's XBLA or XBLIG services.

The fact is, I don't turn on my Xbox 360 all that often. In part that's because the system is in our basement (lame reason, I know, but it's cold and dark down there!), and in part it's because I just don't have much interest in it or its games these days.



My Xbox 360 won't be dusty for much longer, though, thanks to the digital trifecta that is Fez, Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World and Spelunky.

Oddly, I've only bought (and barely played--surprise, surprise!) the most recent of these releases--that being Spelunky--thus far. Mark my words, though: Both Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World and Fez will follow suit later this week.

Have any of you played one or more of the above-mentioned titles? If so, what did you think of them?

My one-word review of E3 2012 (thus far): Meh

After spending (some would say wasting) a good chuck of yesterday watching Nintendo's, Microsoft's and Sony's E3 2012 press conferences (I wasn't able to watch Sony's or Microsoft's live on Monday), all I can say is: Woof. As in, "woof, all three of them sucked, didn't they?"

OK, so saying they sucked may be a bit harsh. Saying they were awfully underwhelming, though, is as close to the honest-to-goodness truth you're going to get, in my opinion.

Why? Read the following blurbs to find out. I combined my thoughts on Sony's and Microsoft's pressers, by the way, because I only had a few things to say about the latter conference and I felt bad about leaving it out in the cold, so to speak.

Sony and Microsoft:

* Beyond: Two Souls looks nice, but that's all I can say about it--I have to give it to the crew at Quantic Dreams for coming up with graphics that nearly, but not completely, put to rest the notion that game consoles are unable to produce human characters that aren't at least a bit creepy. Unfortunately, that's about all I was able to glean from the trailer shown for this upcoming PS3 title, which features Academy Award-nominated actress Ellen Page, as it showed no actual gameplay footage. I'm guessing it'll follow in the footsteps of the developer's previous product, Heavy Rain, but it would be nice to know that (or not) for sure.



* The Last of Us was the most intriguing game of Sony's presser, and maybe the most intriguing game of the whole event so far--PS3 and Xbox 360 games look so good these days that it's hard to impress me anymore. That said, The Last of Us (above) impressed me. It looks amazing, the banter between the main characters was about as natural as you could hope for in a video game and the gameplay seems diverse. Can someone remind me why I don't yet own a PS3? Oh, yeah, it's because I can't afford one right now. I may have to buy a copy of this game, though, as soon as that situation changes.

* PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale: Most boring name of the event?--I sure think so. Granted, I've yet to come up with a better name for this Super Smash Bros. clone, but I can't help but think anything would be better than the current one. Thankfully, few gamers are going to care about its name. Will they care enough about its gameplay to add it to their collections? I'm guessing so, although I can't say it appeals to me all that much. (Full disclosure: I find Super Smash Bros. and its sequels similarly unappealing.)

* South Park: The Stick of Truth was the only Xbox 360 game that impressed me during Microsoft's press conference--Which is kind of sad, as this Obsidian Entertainment-developed RPG isn't even an Xbox 360 exclusive. OK, so I also kind of liked what I saw of Fable: The Journey and Resident Evil 6, but the former requires Kinect (which means it gets a big "hell no" from me) and the latter is a game I'd much rather watch someone else play than play myself. Oh, well.



* Vita? What's a Vita?--You know a system is having problems when the company producing and selling it barely mentions it during one of the biggest events of the year. Honestly, I think some people may have blinked and missed the Vita segment of Sony's conference altogether. That's how short and underwhelming it was. A few games were announced for it (including the above-mentioned PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale), as was PSone Classics support, but that's about it. Sigh.

Nintendo:

* Does anyone else think the Wii U may support a few too many controllers?--As of now, players can use Wii U GamePads, Wii Remotes (and Wii Remote Pluses, along with Wii Nunchucks), Wii U Pro Controllers, Wii Classic Controllers and Wii Balance Boards while playing games on their Wii Us. Although I'm glad all of the peripherals I bought for my Wii won't just sit around and gather dust after I pick up a Wii U, I can't help but wonder if all of the control options will overwhelm some consumers and even developers.

* I'm not so sure NintendoLand is the killer app Nintendo thinks it is--That said, the Animal Crossing- and Luigi's Mansion-inspired portions of this mini-game collection (Animal Crossing: Sweet Day and Luigi's Ghost Mansion) look like a lot of fun. Personally, I think Nintendo should include a copy of NintendoLand with every Wii U console, but I'm not at all confident it will do so. If not, here's hoping it's no more than $19.99. Otherwise, I have a feeling a lot of gamers--myself included--may give it the cold shoulder upon release.



* New Super Mario Bros. U is more of the same, but I'm (kind of) OK with that--Although I'm not the biggest fan of the art style used in the New Super Mario Bros. series (I find it a bit generic), I am a fan of the tried-and-true gameplay that takes center stages in these titles. New Super Mario Bros. U looks to be the best yet thanks to the inclusion of the new flying squirrel suit (I'll die if the chicken suit is in here, too) and some adorable baby Yoshis. Oh, and some impressively detailed backdrops.

* Pikmin 3 looks and sounds wonderful, as expected--Not only that, but Nintendo wisely decided to allow gamers to use their Wii Remote Pluses and Wii Nunchucks (or their new Wii U GamePads, of course) while playing this, the latest entry in the vaunted Pikmin series. Combine that with the news that Pikmin 3 will include new captains and, well, you've got yourself a game that will be picked up by yours truly the day it's released (or the day I purchase a Wii U, whichever comes first).

* Uh, where's the rest of your games, Nintendo?--Nintendo only showed off a handful of first-party games during its presser: New Super Mario Bros. U, NintendoLand, Pikmin 3 (below) and Wii Fit U. (I'm not counting LEGO City: Undercover or SiNG.) That's pretty paltry, especially when you consider two of those titles were shown and one was announced at last year's E3. Hopefully a few more will be revealed by the end of this year's event (or in the coming weeks, at the very least).



* Wii Fit U will be bought for one reason, and for one reason only--With that reason being that it can be used while watching TV. Honestly, one of the only reasons I haven't used Wii Fit Plus in a few months (I used to use it two or three times every week) is that I prefer watching TV while I work out at home.

Overall:

* I'm completely sick of the "let's have four guys (OK, maybe one girl) stand on the stage and seemingly play the game we're currently talking about" strategy employed by each of these companies--I understand what they're trying to do (make us believe that what we're seeing on screen is actual footage of the game they're promoting), but it's always seemed rather lame to me.

* Next year, let's hear from some new "suits"--I'm sure Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime, Microsoft's Don Mattrick and Sony's Jack Tretton are great at whatever they do when they're not on stage at E3, but when they are on stage at E3 they are about as awkward and unappealing as can be. No personal offense meant to any of these men, of course; I just wish their employers would ask someone else--someone with a bit more personality and presence--to front these particular press conferences.

* What's up with the 10-minute-long gameplay videos?--Both Microsoft's and Sony's conferences could have been a good half-hour shorter, if not more, had they limited gameplay videos to about three minutes. Instead, they went with gameplay videos that seemed to last an eternity. A good portion of the live crowd seemed to enjoy them, but I found them to be snoozefests.

So, those are my rather long-winded thoughts on E3 2012 so far. If you've been paying attention to this event, what do you think of what's transpired?

My entirely reasonable wish list for E3 2012

E3 2012 starts tomorrow. Here are a few of the things I hope to see--or at least hear about--between then and the end of the event on Thursday.

* Acknowledgement that Fire Emblem: Awakening is coming to North America--And soon. Granted, I'll buy this 3DS game whether it hits store shelves next month or next year. Next month would be preferable, though.

* A final name and release date for the North American version of Animal Crossing 3DS--Oh, and a few details that make me a bit more excited about this particular entry. A much-improved online aspect would fit the bill, I think.

* A number of completely new and unexpected 3DS game announcements--From both Nintendo and third parties, if possible.

* Glimpses (in-game ones, especially) of a few first-party Wii U games--I don't care which ones. I'll take anything at this point. Well, anything other than Metroid x Star Fox. Also, as much as I'd love to see a new 3D Mario title, I'd prefer to be shown something new and unique. That said, footage of a near-final Pikmin 3 surely would make me swoon. (For a bit of pre-E3 news about the Wii U, check out the "Nintendo Direct" video that was posted on Nintendo's website yesterday evening.)

* Signs that Sony and third parties aren't completely giving up on the Vita--A nice price drop would be welcomed with open arms, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

* Teases (or, hell, even whispers from anonymous sources) related to Microsoft's and Sony's next consoles--Surely they aren't going to let Nintendo have the E3 spotlight all to itself? Even if they do combat the Kyoto-based Mario maker, though, I don't expect them to talk about anything concrete.

Anyway, that's my fairly reasonable wish list for this event. What are some of the things (games, systems, whatever) all of you are hoping to see or hear about during this year's E3?

So far, so meh: The latest Panzer Dragoon game will be a Kinect-only XBLA release

I seem to be the only person on the Internet who is disappointed by the fact that, according to a number of sources, Project Draco, the spiritual successor to Team Andromeda's Panzer Dragoon titles, will be a Kinect-only XBLA release.

Sure, it's great to hear that Yukio Futatsugi and Manabu Kusunoki, the two men chiefly responsible for the series' first three installments, are working on this Microsoft-backed iteration, too, but I highly doubt even that info will be enough to get me to invest in a Kinect between now and whenever Project Draco hits the XBLA service early next year.



Should its developers be so kind as to throw in an option that allows folks to play the game with a good, old-fashioned controller, though, I'll of course pick it up without a second thought.

Anyway, for more information on Project Draco, including a fairly in-depth description of how it's played, check out this NeoGAF post.

Yeesh

I just finished watching Microsoft's E3 2011 press conference. I wasn't impressed.

How unimpressed was I? Well, during the first third of the conference--which focused on creatively-barren sequels like Forza Motorsport 4, Gears of War 3, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, a Halo: Combat Evolved remake and Modern Warfare 3--my face looked like this:

Don't get me wrong, none of the above-mentioned games looked bad. In fact, all of them looked quite good graphically. That said, their gameplay didn't appeal to me in any way. Of course, I've never been an FPS fan or a fan of racing games that aren't called F-Zero or Mario Kart, so I guess that shouldn't be considered a surprise.

The first third of Microsoft's conference wasn't a complete wash, though; Mass Effect 3 looked nice enough (although the voice controls via Kinect seemed a bit pointless), as did the next entry in the Tomb Raider series.

What did I think of the last two-thirds of the conference--which, aside from the oh-so-shocking (or not) last-second reveal of Halo 4, focused on Kinect titles? This photo does a pretty good job of summing up my thoughts:

Admittedly, Dance Central 2 looked cool. Also, the Wii Sports rip-off Kinect Sports: Season Two looked acceptable. (Laggy, but acceptable.) Other than those two titles, though, the Kinect portion of the conference was filled with yeesh-inducing announcements--like Lionhead's carriage-driving simulator, Fable: The Journey, and the laggy (there's that word again), on-rails Kinect Star Wars.

Will Sony's presser, which takes place later today at 5 pm Pacific, or Nintendo's, which starts tomorrow at 9 am Pacific, be less yeesh-worthy? I sure hope so.

My hopes and fears for the 'big three' at E3

E3 2011 is upon us. Well, as of Monday. Anyway, I'm excited. I'm also a bit wary, as I've been through the ups and downs associated with such events many times over the years.

So, what am I excited about and what is making me a bit wary--or, rather, what are my hopes and fears for the "big three" at this most awesome of gaming events? Well, here are my hopes:

Microsoft--Honestly, I'm not expecting much from Microsoft. You know they're going to show a bunch of "hardcore" games and a bunch of Kinect titles. I have little interest in either. I'll be perfectly happy, though, if they announce even a few wow-worthy XBLA titles.



Nintendo--As of now, this event is all about Nintendo for me, as I'm curious to see what they have planned for the 3DS and the Wii successor, currently known as Project Café. Regarding the latter, I'm looking for the company's latest console as well as its launch software to wow me like the Wii and Wii Sports did at E3 in 2006. Also, I hope Nintendo announces a few more Wii releases. I'd love to see the new Kirby, The Last Story, Rhythm Heaven/ Tengoku Wii and Xenoblade all brought to North America, but I'll be happy if even one or two of them come our way.

Sony--Will we finally get a release date and release price for Sony's next portable, which seemingly is going to be called PS Vita? I hope so. I also hope we get a peek at some of the stellar first- and third-party games that surely are being planned for the system.

As for my fears for the "big three" at this E3, here they are:

Microsoft--I fear they're going to expend most of their energy on so-called hardcore and Kinect games and ignore XBLA.

Nintendo--I fear they're going to completely drop the ball on the DS and Wii. I know the 3DS is now the company's focus in the portable space, but there are plenty of DS and DSi owners out there who aren't going to upgrade anytime soon and who would still like to play some new games--games like the Lemmings-esque Kirby title that's going to be released in Japan this August or the fourth entry in the Professor Layton series. As for the Wii, well, Project Café, or whatever the console ends up being called, isn't going to hit store shelves until next summer, if not later. Why not localize a few--or, even better, all--of the as-of-now-Japan-only games mentioned above in the meantime?



Sony--I fear that Sony is going to wait too long to release the PS Vita in the US--it has to hit store shelves before Christmas, in my opinion--and slap a price tag on the system that's far too high given current economic conditions. The system is likely to find success in Japan regardless of price thanks to its rabid fan base and games like Monster Hunter, but its future is much less certain in the States. If it's not priced competitively with the 3DS, it's going to have a hard time faring any better than its poorly received predecessor.

We'll find out in any of my hopes or fears will become reality on Monday and Tuesday of next week, by the way. Microsoft's press conference will begin at 9 am Pacific on Monday, with Sony's occurring later the same day, at 5 pm Pacific. Nintendo's press conference, on the other hand, will start at 9 am Pacific on Tuesday.

All of the above-mentioned conferences will be streamed live on GameTrailers.com, by the way. I'll certainly be watching them. Will you?

Say hello to my spiffy new Xbox Live Arcade (and Indie Games) player

Last week, Amazon.com offered shoppers a pretty sweet deal on four-gig Xbox 360 systems: Buy one and they'd give you a $50 promotional credit that could be used toward future purchases.

I've been waiting for such an opportunity for quite some time, so I jumped on it. The system arrived on Friday afternoon and shortly after I ordered a 4,000 Xbox Live Points Card with my $50 credit (which arrived on Saturday, surprisingly enough).

So far, I've used that points card to pick up a number of Xbox Live Arcade and Indie Games releases, including Arkedo Series--03 PIXEL!, Kaiten Patissier, Miner Dig Deep, Pac-Man Championship Edition, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX and Protect Me Knight.

I have my eye on a few others--like Braid, Castle Crashers, Costume Quest, Limbo, Might & Magic Clash of Heroes, Nin-2 Jump and Trouble Witches Neo--but I'm going to spend some quality time with the titles above before buying any of them.

Anyway, of the games I currently own my favorite, by far, is Pac-Man Championship Edition. I'm not very good at it, but I don't care--it's so addictive and so fun that I can't stop playing it.

Why I hate Kinect

OK, so "hate" probably is too strong of a word to use in this situation. I can say without hesitation, though, that I'm not a fan of the soon-to-be-released Xbox 360 peripheral.

Why? Honestly, it has nothing to do with me being anti-Microsoft or anti-Xbox 360. (Hell, I plan on buying an Xbox 360 before this generation is over--assuming the system drops below $149 at some point.)

I know I've made fun of Microsoft's "me too" (or maybe I should say "Wii too") Kinect ads and games (Kinect Sports, anyone?), but that's also not what has kept me from getting behind the company's controller-free product.



No, my problems with Kinect are: 1) the peripheral seems to be a buggy work in progress, and 2) the games--with the possible exception of Dance Central--seem boring and uninspired.

Granted, I've yet to go "hands on" with Kinect, so it's possible that both of the above-mentioned "problems" (especially the first one) will be proven to be anything but after it launches on Nov. 4.

See also: 'It's déjà vu all over again' and 'Let's try this again ...'

As the baddies in River City Ransom say: BARF!

What's worse than the crew at the Home Shopping Network trying to hock the Kinect? Nothing, if the following video is any indication.



Of course, I'm sure their attempts to sell the Wii and the PlayStation Move (man, I really wish Sony had called it 'Gem' instead) were similarly horrible.

See also: 'Oprah pushes Kinect, audience explodes'

Let's try this again ...

Remember how, about a month ago, I posted a pair of Kinect ads--which were promptly pulled from YouTube by the brass at Microsoft?

Well, new-and-supposedly-improved versions of those much-maligned ads have found their way back onto the Interwebs--and to my eyes they're just as uninspired as the previous batch.



Here, for instance, is the "new" Kinect Adventures! ad. And here's the "new" Kinect Sports (where's the exclamation point, Microsoft?) ad.

A third ad, which shows off the pricey peripheral's Minority Report-esque, gesture-and-voice controlled "dashboard," is more impressive, although I'm not sure that's saying much. (Watch it here.)

See also: 'It's déjà vu all over again' and 'No Kinect for you!' and 'This *almost* makes me want a Kinect'

Oprah pushes Kinect, audience explodes

Unfortunately, they didn't literally explode.



Will this tactic prompt soccer moms across the country to run out and pick up a Kinect (and, presumably, an Xbox 360) when the peripheral hits store shelves on Nov. 4? I highly doubt it, but you never know--the Power of OprahTM has helped sell stinkier turds in the past.

(By the way, a better version of the video above can be viewed here.)

Pre-order: Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures!

This *almost* makes me want a Kinect

Mark my words: Of all the games that will be released for and take advantage of Microsoft's Kinect peripheral later this year, Dance Central will create the most buzz--especially if videos like the one below are watched by enough potential customers.



Of course, whether or not the Harmonix-developed title will create enough buzz to prompt consumers to plop down $200 ($150 for Kinect and $50 for Dance Central) or even $400 (if they don't already own an Xbox 360) is another question entirely.

Pre-order: Kinect (with Kinect Adventures!) and Dance Central

No Kinect for you!

Well, the powers that be at Microsoft have pulled from YouTube the Kinect ads that were discussed in my last post. (Don't despair if you missed them; just imagine the following photo "enhanced" by lots of jittery, seizure-inducing effects.)



I'm not sure if they did it because they're hoping to surprise the masses with their amazing ads or because they decided the ads stunk. I'm guessing it's the former.

Oh, Microsoft ...

Earlier this year, Microsoft updated its Xbox Live code of conduct policy to allow gamers to use sexual orientation identifiers like lesbian, gay, bi and transgender in their Gamertags and profiles--an about-face that prompted many LGBT gamers to conclude that the days of being banned for calling themselves "THCxGaymer" (or something similar) were behind them.

Unfortunately, those days are still ahead for LGBT gamers--if recent reports that 26-year-old Josh Moore was booted from the service for mentioning in his profile that he lives in Fort Gay, W.V., are any indication.

The strangest part of this peculiar story: According to the Associated Press, when Fort Gay's mayor, David Thompson, got involved he was told by someone at Microsoft that "the veracity of the city's name didn't matter, and that the word 'gay' was inappropriate regardless."

Although Stephen Toulouse, program manager for policy and enforcement on Xbox Live, acknowledges that the suspension was a mistake, he has yet to say how his team at the Redmond, Wash.-based company will avoid such mistakes in the future.

See also: 'Microsoft still hemming and hawing over gay gamertags on Xbox Live' and 'The Advocate: Microsoft Tries to Mend Rift With Gaymers'

I'm guessing Microsoft is going to call it "Gulp!" or "Yikes!"

"It" being the company's hands-free add-on for the Xbox 360, heretofore code-named "Natal."

Why do I think its official name will be "Gulp!" or "Yikes!"? Well, the word on the street is that the peripheral is going to cost a whopping $149 when it's released later this year (supposedly on October 26).

The same source suggests Microsoft will offer up a bundle that contains the motion-sensing camera and an Xbox 360 Arcade console for $299.

Both price tags seem a bit steep to me, but who knows--if the peripheral is sold with a killer app (i.e. not Ricochet), it could catch on no matter how much it costs.

(Via edge-online.com)

If I owned an Xbox 360, my Gamertag would be 'gay4play'

Or, maybe it would be "evengayerthanilook." That's kind of a mouthful, though, isn't it?

Anyway, you're probably thinking, "What planet are you on? On this planet, Microsoft doesn't allow Gamertags like that." Au contraire, mes amis!

Earlier today, the folks at Microsoft announced an update to the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct that allows users to "more freely express their race, nationality, religion and sexual orientation in Gamertags and profiles."

Previously, some of those expressions of self-identification were not allowed in Gamertags or profiles "to prevent the use of these terms as insults or slurs," Microsoft's Marc Whitten said in a press release that announced the update. "However, we have since heard feedback from our customers that while the spirit of this approach was genuine, it inadvertently excluded a part of our Xbox LIVE community."

Of course, Whitten added, "this update also comes hand-in-hand with increased stringency and enforcement to prevent the misuse of these terms."

It'll be interesting to see what happens moving forward. I think it's a foregone conclusion that some (OK, a lot of) gamers will abuse the system, but what isn't a foregone conclusion is how the folks at Microsoft will respond to that abuse. Hopefully it won't prompt them to pull the plug on the update and go back to banning people with Gamertags like "thegayestgamer."

See also: 'Microsoft still hemming and hawing over gay gamertags on Xbox Live' and 'The Advocate: Microsoft Tries to Mend Rift With Gaymers'