Just about a month from now on May 16th, the ridiculously-awaited Halo 3 public beta (yes, it’s just a freakin’ beta test) becomes reality. Those of us who own Crackdown have got our ticket in, and even though I’m far from the biggest fan of the franchise, it will be interesting to check out what all the hullabaloo is about.

As it is, I refuse to play any online games with people I don’t know, and it won’t change for a moment with this game. Hell, Halo 2 is the reason I stopped playing Xbox Live in the first place. The user community in the game was - and continues to be - simply appalling. So I’ll frag with the fellas on my rather small Friends list, which I keep that way for a reason. I don’t like most people.

I completely blow at the game anyway, so after a few nights of getting slaughtered by my buddies I’ll probably retreat back to the friendly confines of MLB 2K7, NHL 2K7, and Crackdown (since I’ve barely scratched the surface with that one). Just like Gears of War, I can’t really get into the whole uber-serious world of Xbox Live shooters…it’s all too much.

Microsoft today announced that the Spring 2007 Xbox Live update will include the launch of the new Windows Live Messenger service. Starting May 7, you’ll now be able to be constantly interrupted by just about everyone you know at any moment in time.

Trying to beat that last boss in Gears? Now your real boss can ask you where those TPS Reports are. 5 minutes away from winning the Stanley Cup? Too bad your girlfriend will then demand you talk to her that moment about that weird rash her ferret’s having.

Sure, there may be times when this service is convenient, but is this really the direction that gamers want to go? Next up we’ll be hearing that Microsoft will be releasing a motion-sensing controller, rendering people like me who don’t always want to be gyrating wildly when playing a game obsolete. Oh, the humanity…

What’s better yet is the new-fangled controller that will be coming this summer, complete with a text-messenger-style keyboard attached at the bottom. It looks like the 360 controller ate, but couldn’t finish, a Treo. Yikes.

Convergence may be the word that the industry keeps repeating to itself these days, but sometimes I think people just want to play some games to get the hell away from the demands that the world places on them. Seems to me that all we’re doing now is making it even tougher to get a little play time.

Anyway, the full and official news is here. Enjoy.

On the cusp of the ridiculously-awaited first trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV, Wired Magazine has published a tremendously focused and in-depth examination of the history of Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive.

For those of you who don’t know, Take-Two is in the throes of corporate agony that will ultimately result in something bad for any fans of its games - the breakup and sale of some of its studios to some other publisher (Ubisoft? Electronic Arts?), bankruptcy, and/or the removal of the last few company officers who have been behind its best games.

What does all of this mean? A few things, really.

For fanboys of the GTA series like myself, it could mean that the newest installment may never see the light of day (unlikely but possible) or at least not have the same level of dedication and perfection that made Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas the masterpieces that they are. No matter what, most of the people responsible for those titles are long gone.

For sports fanatics (also like myself), it could mean that the only other player not named Electronic Arts in the sports game biz could cease to exist. Considering that the past year’s NBA 2K7, NHL 2K7, and MLB 2K7 were all simply fantastic, this would be an unmitigated disaster.

No matter what, the article should be required reading for anyone interested in the business side of gaming. It’s brilliant, so check it out.

I don’t know anymore how I feel about Hotel Dusk, other than the fact that I will finish the game soon, dammit. I am in Chapter ten now, which I have to imagine is just about near the end.

I’ve reached the point where I simply have to finish, of course, because I’ve gotten too far along to give up now. I have to admit that I am completely torn by it; on one hand, the nifty art style and point-to-move-your-guy-around mechanic has proven interesting enough. On the other hand, the whole concept of using the word “game” is a bit dubious. To be frank, it’s a story that incorporates a slight amount of puzzle solving as opposed to a traditional game.

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In between 55-hour work weeks, doctor appointments for an expecting wife, playing review games, and Super Bowls, I’ve had the good fortune to be able to spend time with two games - one I had planned on for months, the other I hadn’t even heard of until a few weeks ago.

First off is Battlestations: Midway for the 360, a surprisingly enjoyable and expansive strategy-shooter-history lesson that I rented last week. It’s not a graphical powerhouse, but the combination of commanding ships, planes, and submarines from a general’s map or the cockpit is a unique experience that I am really enjoying on those odd occasions when I get to play it.

Secondly is the title that made me rediscover my Nintendo DS (and put the superb Vice City Stories on the commuter shelf for a few weeks); Hotel Dusk: Room 215. I still don’t quite know if I love it or hate it, but dammit if I’m not hooked deep into the so-far convoluted yet immersive story line. I’m into the third chapter…while the animation is borderline brillant and the dialogue is pretty good, damn it all if some of these puzzles aren’t just about the most annoying thing ever. I spent one full day’s commute - to the office and all the way home - wandering around the hotel aimlessly not knowing what to do next. I had to break down and head to GameFAQs for a hint, which, when I found it, was far from obvious (so I didn’t feel like such an idiot).

I am loath to ever use walkthroughs or - God forbid - cheats to get through a game, but I didn’t want to spend the better part of a week with a rental knocking on doors that won’t open or getting told to get the heck out of the restaurant’s kitchen. That’s the only help I’ve needed - so far - and I have since gotten a few more puzzles solved sans info.

Richy out.