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July 27, 2005
The drought of summer games
During this annual “dry season” where video game makers hold back their big guns for the fall, I’ve been buying cheap PS2 games that I was sorry to let go: Hot Shots Golf 3, FreekStyle, SSX Tricky, and Downhill Domination. I got them all for $10 or less. I think my favorite of all of these is Downhill Domination. There’s something about the idea of falling, falling, falling that makes Downhill and SSX so damn appealing. The SSX Tricky game has a level designed like a pinball game that I missed. Crazy, I know, but I'm thinking of keeping the PS2 and XBox when the new consoles come out, and I'll have my own little game museum.
I read a news item over on IGN that Best Buy has free demo discs of the upcoming Burnout Revenge. I took a quick trip over and I was lucky to find a few of these discs left; most of the PS2 copies had disappeared. It has one track but it’s really cool, with ramps and the ability to smash into normal cars going in the same direction. I think it’s a must have game for racing fanatics.
Madden NFL 2006 is coming out on August 9th, and I’ve actually pre-ordered a copy. This is something I’m doing in a mad hazy spin over the drought, because I don’t even like football all that much, but it has so much content for a cheap price: $37.00 with shipping, no tax. Where did I get this fabulous deal? Over on EBay, where a seller called UtahAuctions often sells new games and consoles at discounted prices. I don’t get any kickbacks from this guy, either. He sold me a Sony PSP at well below the listed price.
Another game I am picking up on EBay is Midnight Club 3. It got dinged on the reviews because of the load times, but I got this at less than $50, so I can’t wait to try it.
Over on Yahoo Games, they have a new video show called Reset, and the first Episode features a sneak peek at NBA Live 2006, SSX: On Tour (another must have, it looks great), and NFL Madden 2006. This is a great overview of all three games with impressions from various game magazine editors, and it’s hosted by Kat Hunter. Nuff said.
