Freedom is a lot more addicting than I thought.

You have to understand that it isn't my fault that I have largely shunned "open" games. I was after all raised on console and arcade games that made me this way. They gave me each piece in the puzzle and even the directions to assemble it. I didn't need to worry about the fact that what the game was asking me to do was a blatant waste of time. Talk to the town baker, who will give you the golden pancake batter that you will then grill up to a nice golden brown to appease the ogre that is blocking the entrance to the cave that holds some pointless object that you need to impress the king so he will give you a key that you can then use to gain entrance to the vaults where an all powerful sword resides that you can use to free the princess from the clutches of evil. Nevermind the fact that the king is the one who wants you to free his daughter. He still makes you do all that crap. And we did it. And I've doing it ever since, for more than 20 years. And I probably will do it until the day I die. Because for some sick reason, I keep coming back.

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Hit the ground running. Criterion's making Paradise cooler. 

Things have been so crazy lately that I've been slipping with my usual current events reporting. I just stumbled upon this news about Burnout Paradise receiving an upcoming patch for the PS3 and 360 versions, conversely delivering some much-needed tweaks to satiate diehard players. Funny thing is, among the 30 different areas being refined, I've probably only found one or two of them to be glaringly obvious. Perhaps I just wasn't paying enough attention eh? Reportedly this patch will address everything from audio peformance to some in-game gaming logistics.

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The best baseball man in the biz takes a giant risk in 2008.

I loved MLB 2K7, from its gorgeous visuals to the near-simulation-perfect gameplay (after a couple of slider adjustments) and solid pitching controls. Naturally, I expected a few tweaks here and there to 2K's followup this spring…perhaps a modified (and easier) hitting mechanic, some more nuance in the franchise mode, and even more online options.

Boy, were my expectations way off.

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We ALL saw this coming. (Yes, we did).

Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD reminds me of all the major corporate battles that go on with Pepsi vs. Coke; Apple vs. PC. Nike vs.,… well you get the point. There's lots of competition out there but in the end, there can only be one company who stands on top. Whomever came out with the HD-DVD standard must have took this into account when they decided to introduce this alternative video format which we now know is basically on its way out. Forever. Ok, eventually it will be considered obscure or something.

At the risk of sounding apathetic, Microsoft's unceremonious dismissal of the HD-DVD format in the 360 doesn't faze me one bit. Ever since the whole high definition video saga began, I was extremely indifferent to Blu-Ray AND HD-DVD. Why? Well, because I was too comfy enjoying the very format that's still cheaper and visually appealing: DVDs. Yeah, you remember those right? I've had the opportunity to experience both of the new next-gen video standards (if you want to call it that) and to the naked eye of most consumers… they look the same. 

In any case, here's an official statement released over the weekend confirming Microsoft's plans which were disclosed to the public earlier last week:

As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD.  Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market.  As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace.  HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own.

So now this makes how many Xbox 360 SKUs on the market? I believe we're up to three if you count the core, standard and the recent HDMI unit… and yes, you KNOW they're going to end up releasing another unit which I am sure will have the HDMI WITH Blu-Ray to combat the PS3. It's such an easy conclusion based on all that's going on. Watch, you'll see. :p

This blog article should be recognized as the sole opinion of the editor and does not necessarily reflect GotNext's official position on the subject.

What's it all mean? 

Man, it's been a while since I've slapped up some commentary here on GotSpace. A while back I had vowed that my feisty post was supposed to be indicative of a return of my old column, the B-Side, but work and school obligations have kept me… Busy. That isn't to say that I haven't had plenty of free time. I've just chosen to spend it playing a lot of games; probably more than I had been playing in years. I'm not sure what triggered this sort of renewed vigor — maybe it was the slew of fall releases — but the new year ushered a new beginning for my unhealthy love affair (or obsession…) with "chasing the critters on the digital wonder-box." At least that's what my father would call it.

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