So I've had a game idea for awhile that I know will never, ever come to fruition and just figured I'd throw it out there. It's so far fetched, I might as well just give it away for free. So here ya go Internets, the first CGC edition of "Game Concepts That'll Never Cut It."


"Hand of God"

You play as Moses, and just kick the shit out of the Egyptians in an action/adventure style game. You'd get to to do all the cool stuff from the Ten Commandments, including parting the red seas and brining down plagues. Your staff is your only weapon, but it's upgradeable by the "Hand of God" and the plagues are your magic abilities. Each ability is given to you as you progress through the game at the right points in the story.

I've thought about this one for years, but it just seems too edgy for anyone to ever consider it. Any game dealing with religion in any aspect would immediately get laughed at by a publisher let alone carried in actual stores. Do you remember Kokuto Kojin on Xbox? We have enough problems with violent games being carried at Target as is. To even think a game based on the Old Testament would have a chance is laughable.

Well, I can always dream. Or should I pray?

Gaming peripherals are nothing new, as anyone old enough to remember R.O.B., the U-Force or the Sega Activator will point out. However, compared to these archaic gimmicks, the gaming peripherals of today are more than just one-trick ponies designed to line the pockets of creative publishers. Right?

With the gaming industry booming, everyone seeks to develop the next hot title, grab a piece of the spotlight and ride this multi-billion dollar tidal wave to an early retirement. Surprisingly enough, quite a few peripherals are enjoying significant time in the spotlight. Harmonix is certainly cashing in on their admittedly original Guitar Hero series. Now, hot on the heels of its success, comes the next evolution in peripheral gaming: Rockband. What a novel idea, get together a few of your friends, duke it out over who gets to play the drums and, that argument settled, sit down to experience gaming ecstasy.

However, I can’t help but wonder, are these games pushing the industry forward, or forcing it to take a step backward? Arguably, next generation gaming took a chance by pushing the average price point for games beyond the $50 comfort zone. However, the transition has gone relatively smooth, as consumers seem to buy (no pun intended) the argument that you get more for your money in the form of high-definition graphics and deeper gameplay experiences. Still, peripheral-based games push the envelope even further, with games like Rockband setting you back $169.99 (almost console-level pricing) and that isn’t even the most expensive example. Steel Battalion premiered with its incredibly complex controller and an astonishing price tag of $199.99. Further compounding the problem, as we’ve seen with the Guitar Hero series, each new iteration generally heralds a new and improved peripheral controller to enhance your experience. Why rock out on yesterday’s corded guitar when you could be jamming away on that snazzy new wireless one?

Gaming peripherals have such a muddy history because designers fail to realize that a peripheral should enhance gameplay—which (admittedly) the instrument controllers for games like Guitar Hero and Rockband do. Remove the controllers, however, and what are you left with?

A mediocre rhythm game and a lower price tag.

Just like that, the hype is gone and your highly anticipated new release is a bargain-bin joke at Wal-Mart. Games like Guitar Hero and Rockband, while relatively original and creative, rely on hype for good sales numbers. That hype relies not on buzz about the actual gameplay, but on excitement over the controller you use to play the game. Once the hype fizzles, so do sales. Want to impress me with a peripheral? Show me a game that shines on its own—sans peripheral—and then bundle it with something that takes an already good game and transforms it into a must-have classic. Peripherals may line your wallet, but good gameplay trumps all.

Call me a purist, but I’ll take Pac-Man or Centipede over games like Rockband any day. Not getting my point? Chew on this:

Take away the flashy graphics, nifty controllers, licensed music and what are you left with? A revolutionary game where you press colored buttons in sequence with a given pattern. Thank you very much, but I grew bored of Simon in the '80's.

I know I've been in conversations that have attempted to do exactly what this guy has done since 2004. If you haven't seen it already, I strongly recommend taking a look at:

Sock Master's cleverly derived controller tree

For those that have jumped off of the Nintendo bandwagon and have refused to get back on since the Nintendo 64's love it/hate it input device, I beg you take a quick look. There's a pretty clear theme here you can't deny...

If you haven't already picked up on it, I'll just spell it out. The central column of the tree, or the roots as we'll call it, is entirely derived from Nintendo controllers starting with 1985. And, this isn't done by fanboyism or accident. Every so often, Nintendo decides to revolutionize the gaming input device they bring to market. And, when they do, it creates a disruption that is SO massive that other companies are forced to follow suit.

Case In Point:
-NES controller defines paddle shape and d-pad as the standard
-SNES controller defines shoulder buttons and diamond face button layout
-N64 controller defines analog stick as the primary 3D input mechanism
-Gamecube controller defines one primary face button to simplify learning curve

I realize the Gamecube controller is a stretch, and Sony and Microsoft have stuck to their last generation versions and just improved the overall designs. But, Nintendo does seem to believe in the singular primary "A" face button. The Wii is proof of that. So, I must ask...

Will the Wii design become a future standard?

With GameStop reporting record profits this week, I couldn't help but again think the writing is on the wall. Just this week alone, Microsoft has announced original Xbox titles for download, Sony has opened the PSP store will full titles like Wipeout Pure for download and Nintendo's Wii Ware is just over the horizon.

Mission Statement

Our intention is to socialize and expand the visibility of games in the Chicago metropolitan area. We are firm believers that many gamers are social, but often can't find other gamers with similar interests due to work and family commitments. Online forums (like NeoGAF) and game stores have become the next best alternative. We're aiming to fill this social gap by creating an active, networked community of working professionals that love video games and actually meet in person.

Popular mass media, from local news broadcasts to entertainment sections of newspapers, continue to ignore gaming as a relative and viable entertainment option. By getting a large group of people together in an organized fashion, we hope to become so big we can't be ignored – further legitimizing the hobby to the masses.

We are the first active gaming club that does not focus on just LAN parties. As of today, we have an incredibly fast growing member base and have just completed our first official meeting on December 1. We're currently planning genre/console focused live discussion forums, tournaments and a host of other gaming related activities for 2008. All gamers are welcome and no system, genre or individual is discriminated against. Our slogan is "Allegiance to Good Games."

You have a VOICE and it should be heard. Are you sick of arguing over message boards about review scores because you know that they're wrong? CGC review scores are the AVERAGE of all voting CGC members.

We have a lot more great ideas, but need your help! By attending meetings, you'll be on the ground floor of a group that hopes to bring back the socialization and real community that you once enjoyed as a kid and has been lost with the anonymity of the Internet and Xbox Live. Remember when you used to argue that Super Mario Brothers 3 was better than Super Mario World on the playground with your best friend in 1992? Well, you were right and you can still argue...

...while you have a beer in your hand and meet some great people.

The bottom line? The CGC is about YOU.

CGC FAQ

Why was the Chicago Gamers created?
The CGC is a group created to facilitate the socialization and networking of like-minded responsible and professional working adults.

I've never of something like this. Is this concept new?
There are Chicago Social Clubs for sports, drinking, cigars and a whole host of other topics. So, why not video games?

How do I know what other kinds of people are in the club?
The CGC does not discriminate against any types of gamers. Come to a meeting and find out!

Are there tangible benefits to being an active member?
A unique trading system for members allows equal and fair exchange (temporary or permanent) of titles to keep your gaming costs LOW while your unplayed backlog HUGE. We also host tournaments sponsored by local businesses with prizes. Club members vote to decide the game to be played in the next tournament!

Is this just a bunch of nerds getting together? I'm not a dork...but do love video games.
The CGC is not a nerd club. Rather, it is a group of working professionals that have video games as their #1 hobby.

I've met some cool guys at GameStop before. What's the difference here?
Video game stores are not social places to meet other people. The clerk behind the counter (and your wife, your coworkers and your boss) doesn't care about your Guitar Hero obsession. The CGC does and wants to hear about it.

Can anyone join?
You must be at least 21 to be a member. Your membership is official once you've attended one meeting, and sent in your profile and picture to chicagogamersclub@gmail.com.

Who started this?
Adam Greenblatt and Anthony Westenkirchner started the CGC after a long night of drinking in the summer of '07. It become apparent that not only were we close friends that loved video games, but we were also not total dorks. It has become our mission to find other people that feel outcasted by the social "norm" and to help reshape the perception of gamers across the globe.

Can I help write?
We'd invite you to send over a writing sample with the following information attached. A resume is also acceptable as long as the following information is included. Our Editor-in-Chief will review your application and contact you. Send applications to chicagogamersclub@gmail.com.

Full Name:
Address:
Education history:
Current employment:
Previous writing experience (if any):
Top 3 Favorite Games:
Top 3 Favorite Consoles:
How would your best friend describe your personality?
Are You Willing to Start a local Global Gamers Club (GGC) Chapter and act as founder?
How familiar are you with web site/blog site design?
Do you currently have a website/blog? (include address)
Do you have any special talents?
What's your first gaming memory?

I can promise you guys, a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the creation of this forum. Ok, well maybe there weren't any tears. Or blood. But I'm pretty sure I did sweat a lot. Anyways, this forum is going to act as the heart of the CGC. If you haven't already joined, we'd love to have you. Everyone is invited -- whether you're in Chicago or not. We can't stress that enough. Oh, and did I mention we're giving away prizes for just using the forum?

YES, PRIZES. So keep reading OR click here to access the forum now.


We've set up the forums so they're totally open with almost no restrictions. Unlike the vast majority of boards out there (*cough* NeoGAF *cough*) that like to put a lot of restrictions on members, the CGC forum is wide open. We're still banning the obvious stuff so we can keep the site safe for work, but are aiming to keep this a user generated meeting place. So, please keep your porn collection on that good old hard drive.

We've designed a rank system that should be extremely familiar to veteran Halo players since we're going with the military rank format. For every 200 posts you make, you'll jump up in rank. And, your rank jump will be joined by a new classic mini gif that appears above your avatar. Recruits will automatically receive their Mario gif when they sign up on the board.

FREE GAMER TOOLBAR

We've even designed a gamer centric toolbar that will let you stay connected with the group at all times. It has a full google search and is embeded with stories from Digg, Kotaku, CGC and Destructoid that automatically update for you. Click here to get it now for FREE. Cool eh?

PRIZES!

All active Chicago Gamers Club members (only those that attend meetings) will immediately qualify for prizes just by using the forum. Are we nuts? Yes. My wife is definitely going to think so. But, regardless, these prizes are designed to help grow our base. And, we're all about finding new gamers in Chicago. So, without further ado...

Official CGC Forum Participation Prizes

First Member to Apprentice Level (200 posts, Dig Dug)
-dinner at the next meeting FREE

First Member to Private Level (400 posts, Goomba)
-dinner and drinks at the next meeting FREE

First Member to Corporal Level (600 posts, Shell)
-Nintendo DS game or PSP game of your choice choice

First Member to Sergeant Level (800 posts, Mushroom)
-Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3 game of your choice FREE

More prizes will be announced as forum participation expands. This is unquestionably very easy to achieve for those that want to become active in the group. However, I'll put a BIG disclaimer on this:

**If I think you're just posting to up your post cost with little/no substance, you'll be immediately disqualified. Your participation in this contest is entirely up to the subjection of the entire CGC. In other words, if people believe you're cheating we'll know. It's going to be obvious and you won't get jack squat.**

With that said, start posting and let's get this group booming!

As many of you already know, the Chicago Gamers Club Inaugural Meeting date has been set! We've been working hard on getting the page up to speed, and have posted all the critical details for meeting #1 on the front page.

We are hoping for a solid turnout for our first event ever, and ask everyone viewing this to forward it to a few of their favorite Chicago Gaming buddies, females included :-). Many people aren't going to understand what the point of a "video game club" is -- so we're created some simple bullet points that highlight the benefits of being a CGC Member.

The bottom line? The CGC is about YOU. So why should you join?

* The CGC is a group created to facilitate the socialization and networking of like-minded responsible and professional working adults.
* There are Chicago Social Clubs for sports, drinking, cigars and a whole host of other topics. So, why not video games? Is gaming your #1 hobby? Welcome home.
* Trading system for members that allows equal and fair exchange (temporary or permanent) of titles to keep your gaming costs LOW while your unplayed backlog HUGE.
* Tournaments sponsored by local businesses with prizes. Club members vote to decide the game to be played in the next tournament!
* The CGC is not a nerd club.
* Video game stores are not social places to meet other people. The clerk behind the counter (and your wife, your coworkers and your boss) doesn't care about your Guitar Hero obsession. The CGC does and wants to hear about it.
* You have a VOICE and it should be heard. Are you sick of arguing over message boards about review scores because you know that they're wrong? CGC review scores are the AVERAGE of all voting CGC members.
* Are you confused by the amount of games out there and don't know what's good or what you might like to try? Put down that copy of Barbie Horse Adventures, get off the message boards and get your ass over to a CGC meeting.
* You must be at least 21 to be a member.

We have a lot more great ideas, but need your help! By attending the first meeting, you'll be on the ground floor of a group that hopes to bring back the socialization and real community that you once enjoyed as a kid and has been lost with the anonymity of the Internet and Xbox Live. Remember when you used to argue that Super Mario Brothers 3 was better than Super Mario World on the playground with your best friend in 1992? Well, you were right and you can still argue...

...while you have a beer in your hand and meet some great people.

I'll see you guys there!
--
Adam Greenblatt
Founder / President
Chicago Gamers Club

Wow, I think we've only been talking about this for months. Enough talk, time to finally act. The Chicago Gamers Club (hence forth known as the CGC) is the official club of hardcore Chicago gamers that are looking to make actual connections outside of World of Warcraft or Xbox Live.



Uh oh, you might say. Does that mean you have to be actually social? Yes it does my fellow gamer. The CGC aims to connect adults that are out of college with like minded other adults. Many of us are married, and some of us are even going to have kids soon. Unfortunately, many of our workplaces still can't seem to accept the notion that video games aren't just for kids anymore. Well, consider the CGC your oasis. And, for those like me and my CGC founding partner, video games are our #1 pastime.

Just because your wife doesn't care you finished a speed run of 4:30 on Super Metroid and your boss doesn't know the difference between Pac Man and Ms Pac Man doesn't mean you need to give up hope. In the coming months, we're going to be founding our first CGC board that will coordinate events and write up a newsletter. We're going to do a little bit of everything.

And, for those already wondering...
-Yes, we are going to drink. Probably a lot.
-No, this is not a nerd club. We're all working professionals.
-Yes, you must be 21 to be a member.
-No, you don't have to be super hardcore to attend.
-Yes, you'll feel awkward if you're not slightly super hardcore if you attend.
-No, no founding members are psychopaths.
-Yes, you must send an email to ChicagoGamersClub@gmail.com

Mark Your Calendars. Saturday afternoon, evening -- December 1 @ Celtic Crown on Western.

Some properties that are brought back to life after being dormant for years just never feel right in reboot form, even from the get-go. Nostalgia is great, but if it throws away the heart of the franchise, who the fuck cares? Do you remember these grade-A cash-in classics?

-Blues Brothers 2000 (I'd even have taken Jim Belushi here)
-Home Alone 3 (You had a nice run John Hughes. I still respect you - sorta)
-The Dukes of Hazzard Movie (I'll take classic Daisy over Jessica Simpson)

In short, it didn't take videogame executives long to get on the "Holy Shit Transformers Made a Crapload of Money Bandwagon."


And the nerd gods smiled upon thee, and Ghostbusters 3 was formed with the entire original cast actually agreeing to participate. In videogame form. Thanks for the exclusive to Penguin from NeoGAF and GameInformer and the new game's site.

Ecto 1 is back, it looks like the one from GB2, with the yellow/black warning stripes, but with less crap on top and it's using the original logo, not the GB2 logo.

- Release is for October 2008.
- You play as the 5th member of the team
- It takes place in 1991 and the city has agreed to fund you but they hire Peck to watch over you to make sure you're not just pulling their strings.
- After you are hired, a new evil hits New York and ghosts start appearing everywhere
- The first mission is to hunt down Slimer in the hotel from the 1st movie, it trains you how to use the proton pack and trap.
- While you play, you hear chatter from the other 4 members over your radio or in person when they're around you.
- The environments are destructible, but don't worry about bill as now that you're funded by the city, they cover the damage.
- You press the d-pad to deploy the trap
- There are different proton beams you can use and some of them act like a fishing mechanic, a pull and tug lasso effect.
- Terminal Reality has developed their own engine to handle the physics, they showed off a demo where they dropped hundreds of ragdoll bodies, boxes, and cars and they all reacted perfectly with no framerate hits.
- They will be able to simulate up to 1,000 objects at once with no framerate hit.
- The entire demo was done on the PS3 to show that they're not having trouble developing for it.
- There is a Slime Gun that shoots out a trail of green slime and you can anchor things to each end of the strand, you can tether ghosts to walls using this for easier trapping.
- One of the levels takes you back to the library from GB1 to re-visit that librarian ghost, or as Ray refers to it as, "the one that got away".
- The Elmer Bernstein score is in tact and while no other songs were confirmed, they have to imagine Ray Parker Jr's song will be included.
- Your AI teammates will perform all sorts of actions without you having to tell them and they can save you by shooting ghosts and deploying traps.
- They said they wanted to keep you as a 5th member of the team so you can hear all the interaction between the other 4 guys with the dialog that Akyroyd and Ramis are writing.
- They want the game to be, "fun, funny, or scary" at all times. In an average hallway, for example, ghosts could smash through a window, pop out from behind a vending machine, or come down from the ceiling.
- Your main hub is of course the Firehouse and you're free to walk around and talk to Janine, play with Egon's new gadgets, perform scientific experiments, etc. And YES you can slide down the firepole!!!!
- The Stay Puft battle is actually EARLY in the game as there's a big reveal bigger evil at play.

First and foremost, what follows is a completely spoiler-free preview of Super Mario Galaxy. I've now had the game for three days, giving adequate time for over-hyped expectations and initial excitement (which generally cloud first impressions) to solidify into semi-objective opinions. Having now completed the first two domes (essentially worlds) and collected 20 power stars (assuming the standard 120 stars), I'm basing my opinions on the first 16 percent of the game.

Mario has skyrocketed (no pun intended) into the role of video game icon simply because Mario games are fun. But what makes them fun? Good, old fashioned, platforming action. Mario games are, at their core, a competition between the player and an obstacle course—a brilliant concept, which has been executed (arguably) to varying degrees of success throughout this venerable series. Let's take a brief retrospective of Mario games in the 3D era to give this preview context.

Super Mario 64 successfully ushered the series into the burgeoning 3D era. Super Mario Sunshine, while not a bad game in its own right, strayed slightly from the Mario formula, adding the FLUDD into the mix. While it was an interesting concept, the game's focus was divided between the 3D platforming style of Super Mario 64 and the new FLUDD mechanics, leaving many players with the feeling that Super Mario Sunshine was (rather than being the next great iteration of Super Mario Bros.) simply Super Mario 64 with a water pistol. Fun for sure—but not revolutionary. Now Super Mario Galaxy throws its hat into the ring riding the same tidal wave of hype that preceded Super Mario Sunshine and the question is: does it meet the ridiculously high expectations of Mario fans? In a word, abso-freaking-lutely.

I'm about to make a very bold statement, which I hope remains true to the end of the game. Super Mario Galaxy is to Super Mario 64 what Super Mario Bros. 3 was to Super Mario Bros. Everything is bigger, better and prettier than before. Platformers live and die by their jump mechanics, so it's a good sign that, in a game where jump mechanics are king, gravity takes center stage. Thus far, Super Mario Galaxy takes platforming concepts that are established crowd pleasers, i.e., disappearing pathways, leaps of faith and rampant switch triggering, and takes them to ridiculous levels – which is why it succeeds.

Super Mario 64 tested the 3D waters. Super Mario Sunshine operated within the established boundaries, but was far too cautious. Super Mario Galaxy knows the canon law of video game platforming inside and out and, as a result, it knows when to obey rules and when to shatter them. Super Mario Galaxy, as the name implies, is all about spectacle. It keeps coming at you relentlessly. As soon as you're comfortable, the game throws you a curve ball to mix things up and yet (against all odds) still manages to maintain a coherent sense of itself. Super Mario Galaxy is a game that makes its own rules and then breaks them in the most delightful and creative ways. If Super Mario Galaxy can hold this pace through the rest of the game, gamers hold in their hands one of the first true classics of this generation. I for one am holding my breath with cautious optimism.

Keep an eye out for the in-depth (spoiler-filled) review once I complete the game.

Alright guys, I just picked it up. And, since I know all of the guys at my local EB, I had a chance to play the game for over 45 minutes before I decided to buy it. Keep in mind that the following impressions are only based off of the initial time I spent with the game. This is 100% spoiler free.

As the loading screen comes up, you're hit immediately with a mini tutorial. The game's visuals are sharp, using motion blur and bloom lighting and really make it clear that this is a next-gen title graphically. After 2-3 minutes of being given free reign over Altair's controls, you're thrown into 10+ minutes of cinemas. These are all in game, but do go heavily into spoiler territory. I'll leave those out, as the story appears to be a love it/hate it thing for a lot of the reviewers. In my opinion, it's a fairly unique angle to take on an otherwise "you get what you expect" setting. Personally, it only engages me further to see what the story actually will offer.

Gameplay wise, I can't stress enough how much it is obvious that this game is from the Prince of Persia team. Altair animates beautifully, and does vaguely remind me of the Prince. Once you're past the intro, and the world beings to open up, you gain total control after another 5+ minute full tutorial. The absolute joy in building hoping and scaling walls can't be understated. If you enjoyed any of the Prince of Persia platforming, or the platforming in the Uncharted demo, you'll really feel at home here.

The unique control scheme (holding R trigger turns on your "aggresive" moves) does get some getting used to, but it not what I'd call steep. Anyone that claims the game has control or graphics issues seriously needs to get their head examined. Stealth kills are easy (hold down X) and the variety of platforming will obviously allow for lots of killing variations.

My friend and I at EB agreed that Assasin's is likely to become like Metal Gear in some regard. It's got a totally unique story (that like MGS appears to be convoluted), a totally unique control system and is huge in "scope." It seems like a fair comparison at first -- and might be a better analogy to MGS2 as compared to MGS1. So, what's my recommendation?

Pick it up if you expected it to be good before these scores hit. If you enjoy platforming, a unique story and great visuals you likely won't be disappointed. I can't make any promises, but I expect the GAF community to "turn the corner" on this one as time goes forth and expect Assasin's Creed to likely garner a dedicated fanbase -- just like MGS.

It just needs some time in the hands of actual gamers...not gamers paid to give games numerical values.

The Chicago Gamers Club will have more impressions as we progress through the game.

One of these things is NOT the same. You have to finish a game before you review it. Right?

I really thought that was the general consensus from the video game reviewing community. After all, it makes sense. The only way to truly judge a product is to see it in its entirety -- from beginning to end. If you skip the end, you might miss the best or worst part of the product. Don't believe me?

Go play Zelda Twilight Princess on Wii and tell me you weren't bored to tears by the middle of the game. However, stay until the bitter end, and you'll feel differently. This is fairly typical of lots of games.

However, Gamespot and IGN's reviews today of Assassin's Creed have a clear and undeniable case of "someone is full of shit." No, I'm not here to harp on review scores. You've probably already read a lot of those on Assassin's. What I'm talking about is this:


IGN

These big open worlds, which are fully interactive, do come at a severe cost on PS3. There is considerable texture pop-in and noticeable framerate issues. Playing back-to-back with the 360 version, it's obvious that Ubisoft did not devote enough resources to the PS3 edition. The framerate is considerably worse, so much so that it begins to affect gameplay in the later levels.

Gamespot:

There are few differences between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. PS3 owners are blessed with a slightly more solid frame rate, although the 360 version features a little more contrast in the lighting, so it's pretty much a wash. But regardless of which platform you go with, you'll have an amazing and unforgettable game.

Someone here is clearly full of shit. To surmise, I'll just quote Amirox from NeoGAF:

Conclusion: The framerate is actually slightly better on PS3 in the first level, but Gamespot never played past the first level on the PS3 version so they didn't realize how awful it is later on

Exactly my friend. I can't wait to find out who it is.

For those of you in Chicago that are eagerly awaiting Nintendo's release of Super Mario Galaxy, I've got a simple recommendation. Don't Believe the Hype. No, I'm not talking about the actual game. It's clearly a game of the year contender already and has garnered a 97 from IGN and a 95 from Gamespot.

Rumors have spiraled around the net since yesterday that Best Buys around the country had knowingly broken street date on the most anticipated Wii game of the year. So, being the obsessive must have it on the first day humanly possible type of person that I am, I started to dig around and make some phone calls.

Nothing in the suburbs. Nothing in the city. Period. For those of you that are considering looking tonight, or even this weekend, don't bother. If you don't believe me, do a quick Ebay search for Mario Galaxy. Without a doubt, if some people had picked it up they would have put it up for auction. No one within 1000 miles claims to "have it in hand now." I'm sure some slipped out somewhere, but it looks like nowhere near Chicago.

I spoke to a young kid at the Best Buy in Glenview (on Willow) who was definitely excited for the game too and was surprisingly honest with me. Not only was his manager aware of the street date, but he explained they hadn't even gotten their copies in yet. It was pretty clear he was hoping to get one early as well -- and had no reason to bullshit me.

So, I suppose I'm just going to try to finish Metroid Prime 3 this weekend. I've actually now completed Zelda Twilight Princess, and feel the need to finish one Big N AAA title before I move onto the next.