Matt’s Somewhat Serious Bit
So Grand Theft Auto IV was delayed this morning. Gamers and Take 2 shareholders wept together, knowing that they will not derive any enjoyment from the release of the game until as late as April 2008. Sucked in, I say. These things happen – many games have been delayed from the holiday period to Q1, and have not suffered. In fact, Q1 is basically like the industry’s second wind, like the northern hemisphere winter is to the movie industry. There are quite a lot of comparisons between the box office and the video game industry, but these comparisons are pretty much a waste of everyone’s time. Do I really care that the local sales of video games overtook the local box office? Both are totally overpriced – and how does a $119.95 game compare to a $14.30 movie ticket anyway? You can’t trade your movie ticket back to the cinema for ¼ of what you paid for it to put towards another movie ticket. There’s no child or concessional price for a video game. I could go on all night.
In Soviet Russia, game delays you.
The delay of what is arguably the console industry’s biggest seller leaves a big gap in the holiday schedule for many games to capitalise on. Ubisoft is probably jumping for joy, as Assassin’s Creed should be able to pull much more attention, despite the fact that it looks like it needs a delay far more than GTA IV. Halo 3 was going to sell to the dribbling Xbox fanatics, but will it now be able to move the numbers of its predecessors? And what of Sony’s lineup – Heavenly Sword, Lair and Unchartered – will they be able to grab a bit of limelight? Personally, I think the big winner will be Nintendo. With the largest draw on the HD consoles gone, and with two big guns of their own, Nintendo should be able to steal some of the core gamer focus, though the biggest question is will they have the stock to accommodate an increase in demand? I only just managed to get myself a Wii this week after many months – imagine what it will be like at Christmas. Tickle Me Elmo all over again.
The new Tickle Me Elmo will swallow your soul
And what of Take 2’s claims that more time is needed on GTA IV? Recent preview sightings had suggested the game has major issues with frame rate and pop-up – sounds familiar, doesn’t it? A delay of 7-8 months certainly provides enough time to iron out issues, but one has to wonder what exactly caused the company to want to push its key product back from the most active period of the year for retail sales. Could it be as bad as Driv3r? Or is Rockstar legitimately trying to make the game as perfect as can be?
I Can't Believe It's A Video Game
Where’s Wally? (or Waldo, depending on your place of origin) was probably part of the childhood of every PALGN reader over the age of 15. In books full of busy pictures, readers must find Wally, who is distinguishable by his white and red striped clothes, beanie and walking cane. The pictures usually had a specific theme, and were filled with lots of funny things. Not really video game material, is it?
Next to the tent, Stevie Wonder
Elder Scrolls developer Bethesda was responsible for the NES version of Where’s Waldo?…and it’s a rather large departure from their usual standards of quality. Simply put, Wally looks like a small glob of red and white stripes, with no face, and is incredibly easy to find. Players do have to find him within a certain time, but the limit provided is more than generous. One could probably complete the game in less than five minutes, if one felt it necessary to waste precious time. Oh how far we’ve come.
From the Bowels of the Internet
I’m probably one of about five people in the world that think Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker was a hilarious and rather enjoyable game, likely due to my earlier allegiance to Sega…and the fact that the game was designed by Michael frickin’ Jackson himself, who turned into a giant robot and a car in parts of the game. Famed Flash movie maker RSF put together this amusing little tribute video which has Michael stomping some Nintendo ass into the ground…before things get a little out of hand.
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Why I oughta...nah, it's cool. 
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