Wow, Penny Arcade is completely off

My feelings about video games, ephemeral as they may be, have once again taken a shift, however fleeting it may be. I am once again firmly on the PS3 bandwagon after perusing some more in-depth info on FFXIII which really didn't tell me anything other than some details on the combat system, which, from what I have read, could be really cool and a nice marriage of all of the different combat dynamics Square has used throughout the years. I guess I like the gambit system, but there is the annoyingly persistant feeling that you're not quite in control of things. In fact, you're in even less control than you think, but still... Anyway, my point here is that I'm excited about both PS3 Final Fantasy games, and they really are selling points for me far more than any other game for any of the platforms...until we get word on where Kingdom Hearts is going. I could maybe handle it on the Wii, and I guess that would be enough to push me to get a 360 (esp. if the much muttered about HD version ever appears, though it never should unless MS wants to take over Sony's position as most hated company in the gaming world). Right, so I think I might have lost my thesis (speaking of theses, I still need to find on for Joe Andrews...ugh) somewhere, but my point is that, despite whatever Penny Arcade and others may caution about buying a particular platform for one or two games, at this point that's the only way you can make that decision. When you have major games like Unreal Tournament, Darkness, etc. going to PS3 and 360 (and how can they not, if you really want to make some money on them? [not that Epic needs more money, but...]). There aren't going to be naerly as many platform exclusive games like there were last time around because there doesn't look like there's going to be a run=away winner like there was last time. I'm not buying into the analysts' idea that the PS3 will somehow end up winning, as much as I would like to. It's certainly the best platform from a hardware standpoint, if you're willing to swallow the pricetag. Xbox live is nice...but that basically counteracts the PS3's higher price. So, really, all things are more or less equal except for a few exclusives. Bioshock (which I have no opinion on as of yet) and Halo 3 (which, *gasp*, I don't care about) are the sellers for 360 (and Gears, of course), and then you have 2 Final Fantasy games that I do care about, and Metal Gear, which I might care about, for the PS3. Again, if KH were to pop up on the 360...well I'd have to do some parental arm twisting. But really, everything is so much more equal, and there are so many good multi-platform games that you need to find the ones that you really care about and buy based on that.

Oh, and I'm having a lot of fun with Trauma Center, though I'm not sure that I would really enjoy playing the same thing on the Wii. Speaking of the Wii...I'm not entirely certain that I would be surprised if the Wii ended up crapping out. Sure, you've got Zelda, and Metroid, but that's really it unless someone steps in and does them some real favors. Well, I should rephrase that...I think the Wii will do fine, but it's going to do so because, as Nintendo plans, it'll be selling consoles to, you know, old people, stuff like that, and they'll be playing...I don't know, pool, or something. And, frankly, I'm not gonna waste my cash on that. Super Smash Bros could be fun, and if there's a major price drop I might grab one, but there just isn't anything on it that I want to play, and I think that that reflects the feelings of a large part of the US gaming community. So, Nintendo will be forcing off into their own territory, boldly bringing weird video "games" to new people and stuff. But as far as I'm concerned they're really not a combatant in this console war, that's for Sony and MS. They're welcome to shred themselves as far as I'm concerned. In fact, if I had more expendable cash I wouldn't even be concerend because I'd just buy both consoles. Which brings up the point that there really should be a universal format for gaming consoles, but with Nintendo doing its own thing with control design and what not, I can see how that would get really troublesome

Meanwhile, I'm praying that Square doesnt pull a bunch of asshole shit and keep the Kingdom Hearts Final Mix in Japan this time around. I might even be persuaded to play Chain of Memories if it were on the PS 2. I guess we'll see. I suppose I could at least get the first one cause it's in English w/ Jap. subtitles, I believe.

Well, I should go read, and my brothers watching some...interesting anime. how do you do a show about tennis? well, maybe some monsters will pop out or something. Omygah! the old lady has a beard! I must watch this. And please, God, let the Gophers win. I know I already got my wish with Duke, but come on, just one game!