Video Games: April 2005 Archives

Do you know how you can tell when a video game is going to be a winner before it's released? You can gauge this by how much attention the various game sites devote to it. IGN has some great side-by-side videos comparing GT4 vs Forza. You can really tell how jaggy GT4's graphics are compared to Forza. I think Forza is gonna rule--not only on the graphics but on the XBox Live integration with the car clubs and car trading. Check out the pimpage, my droogies:

IGN Forza Masterbit theater, New York City is at the end
IGN Forza vs GT4 Nurburgring
IGN Forza vs GT4 at Laguna Seca
IGN Forza XBox Live Developer Interview
Team XBox Forza Friday 2, look Mitsubishi video
Forza Get Started Guide at webquad.com
Listing of Forza cars by Region

I don't own Gran Turismo. I played it once, it was too damn hard to even get a Class C license. I love racing games and I thought I could whip it, but it whipped me. I swore that I would never buy Forza Motorsport because of the same issues--it's too realistic. But now I read Che Chou's preview article on 1up and I also read another article on total video games by Jon Wilcox. Damn it, both of them make me want to buy this game! My XBox Live account is hungry for more Live-aware games, feed me, feed me!

Over at Gamespot, they have this neat preview of From Russia With Love. This is even more retro cool that I first thought. I love all the Connery movies and it's quite a coup that they snagged him to do the voice work--but I bet it cost EA a pretty penny. The graphics look great, I have to wonder if this XBox or XBox 360. What if this is one of the better movie adaptions and it is done 40 years after the fact?

Rumors are swirling around the next version of XBox, commonly referred to as "XBox 360". There are currently 2 different models of the next gaming platform, to be revealed in May on MTV and then at the E3 gaming convention. The latest rumor says the higher priced model will include a hard drive and Microsoft's WebTV software, for surfing the Internet while scaring Fritos on your barcalounger. Read the details here at GameIndustry.biz.

Computers and Video Games web site from the UK reports that EA Games will be airing a special commercial this weekend during the NFL Draft on ESPN. It will be on Saturday 12Noon ET (9am PT) on ESPN cable network. It is a one minute commercial, probably only featuring Madden 2006, but you will be able to see next-gen graphics for the first time. Click here to go to EA's website for a press release.