Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of the participants and the moderator, and do not neccessarily reflect those of the GIA. There is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. I think in keys like Z. Don't say we didn't warn you.

I think the first thing I want to do is compliment Erin on a great first week as DA. Anyone who does it for a while can attest to what a brutal, thankless job it can be, and she's handled it with style, and, of course, bitter sarcasm. What more could you possibly ask for?

So there, despite my ceaseless negativity, let it never be said that I don't give props where they are do. Except to Eugene Jarvis; I don't care if he is the father of Defender, I'm never going to let that time he pushed me out in front of a car go.

With that out of the way, let's get this show on the road.

Ah yes, MGS2. The buzz that has managed a stranglehold on the gaming industry is certainly understandable. After all, this is the title touted as the first real demonstration of next generation power that scored two Game of Show awards in as many years at E3. So it's really know wonder that people can't stop talking about it except to eat and take breaths, if they even bother to do that. Which, I might note, several GIA staffers have not. Nich claims the ending is way better when your brain is beleaguered by oxygen starvation, anyhow.

However, yes, as a poor college student who probably won't get around to playing the title until winter break, having it rubbed in my face is starting to suck. So, gaming sites, for the sake of Ian and myself, please stop attracting tons of visitors with media of the most anticipated title of the year. We're not asking too much here.

...and then we have the dissidents. While the GBA is certainly a nifty little machine, I'm not sure I'd place it at a higher priority of ownership than the PS2. Then again, I am just a graphics whore, I've been told, so what would I know? Many polygonal building blocks structured into 3-dimensional objects and environments are all I care about.

Okay, well, I figured we may as well both just be facetious.

While there's certainly a part of me that balks at the notion of paying 300 bucks for a lousy videogame box, I suppose you are getting a DVD player for free. You can't beat that. Especially when you didn't even have a VCR before.

As for the add-ons, I would highly recommend saving your cash for now. Make sure games come out that both use these devices, and use them creatively, before spending tons of dough on the next 64DDs, I say.

I'll admit that it's a catch-22, however; if people don't buy the add-ons, developers won't support them, and if developers don't support them, people won't buy them. Personally, I'm content to let the burden of making add-ons worth owning rest on the shoulders of the publishers. You know, the ones with several million more dollars in the bank than I can even dream of hiding under a mattress in my cardboard box, to be found by a bunch of bag ladies after I'm found dead in a gutter clutching a bottle of scotch.

I have to wonder if this sentiment actually will end up generating tons of revenue for Nintendo this Holiday season. Especially when you consider that Nintendo's crammed most of its point-of-presence power into more standard retail outlets like Toys R Us and Walmart. At least the lingering notion that game boxes are kids' toys is helping somebody out.

Wow, this is the most elitist argument I've seen in a while: that the price barrier keeps out the people who don't really care about the industry, and would prefer to mire it down by purchasing the latest WWF title, quality be damned. I'd like to say that I'm above that sort of argument, but it still amazes me when I run into people who make their console-purchasing decisions based on which system has the most wrestling games they like.

Now, you could certainly argue that when crap games get all of the cash, it forces the genuinely good stuff out of the market, and we get set on a course for another wonderful crash like that of the early '80s. On the other hand, more revenue poured into publishing companies means they can afford to make risky endeavors, hedging their bets with another sure-fire hit. To paraphrase Jeremy Parish, the Tekkens pay for the Klonoas. Of course, fighting fans would probably argue that Tekken is a great series, but you get the idea. (Well, except for T4. That's not getting much love, from what I've seen and read.)

As it stands, I think the gaming industry has a good balance going. More people buying games that may stink means more revenue for the industry. More revenue means more great games. Considering how well MGS2 is doing, I think the industry is doing peachy-keen right now. As long as that balance can be maintained, we'll be fine.

Irony certainly stings with the needles of an angry hornet that got a bunch of lemonade on its stinger so it hurts even more when it stings you. Then again, the people you cite tend to run out and buy every console as soon as it hits the streets, so I guess it's not much of a loss to them.

Closing comments:

I wanted to have a MGS2 topic for tomorrow, but two things stopped me from doing so. One, I haven't played the game yet, and I don't want it spoiled for me. My needs eclipse those of your own. Second, even most of the people who slept under cars the night before the release to ensure they got a copy haven't even beaten it. So maybe next weekend. Unless, of course, Erin beats me to it, but such are the woes of being weekend DA.

So, instead, here's your substantially less interesting topic: are you anxious enough to follow the story of Raziel that you'll pick up the latest Soul Reaver title, despite its flaws? Why or why not? And what could have been changed to make you think differently? Just let me know, because it's always fun when I get some mail actually addressed to me personally, rather than me and my closest 2 million strangers I've never met.

-Drew Cosner, SPAM black hole