Ok, so have you heard the latest conspiracy theories? Forget the Da Vinci Code. The Assassini? Pff..lightweights..I'm talking about the GameSpot conspiracy. As soon as anyone tries to get together a group of intelligent individuals, the system comes crashing down around their ears.

1. The Union invites didn't go out to all the people on the initial list.
2. Of the people listed on the "invitation pending" page, only one (1!!) has received his PM.

So people, it looks like I won't be forming this union this month. If this doesn't happen, then it WILL, come hell or high water, be formed in late January. In fact, that would probably be better. A shiny new union for a shiny new year.

I just hope the Bible Code conspiracy doesn't come true and 2007 turns out to be the end of the world...

Oh yeah, something which for some reason didn't occur to me last night, I should say that this union was not entirely my idea. The whole thing came from this thread here. If you are like-minded, come join us when we are up and running.

The Creation of the GSMU as foretold by the prophet Isaiah:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who walked in the land of the shadow of n00b, upon them hath the light shined...For the yoke of his ignorance, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Microsoft.

Well, Ok, it's not quite worthy of a place in the Old Testament, but it is quite important to me and a few of my GS friends, and after all it is Christmas time...

What am I rambling on about? Oh yes, I am very excited, for today my friends we shall cast off the works of ignorance and put upon us the armour of wisdom...Sorry I've gone all Biblical again. the point is this. I have formed a new union, the GameSpot Mature Union. No, it has nothing to do with 18+ hot xxx content, but more to do with trying to inject some sanity into the n00bishness all around.

GSMU is all about a sensible, adult place, where we can converse and debate the merits of various games without reverting to the old favourite:

"GTA IS T3H SUxx0R!!111!!ONE! BEC4USESES IT IS!! Ha, I owNs J00, N00bs, I haff BettR Fissikz!"*

Or alternatively:

"Dude, you just played two games for twenty minutes each and come here thinking you *BLEEP* know it all? WHat the *BLEEP* do you think this is? A *BLEEP* Double Negative???//slash?"*

If you too are sick of this type of reply to a perfectly sound logical argument about the way the Animal Crossing series could develop its interactivity, or how the PS3s price-tag may be prohibitive to prospective buyers, then join me and my other members (well, so far, just...one...member...*cough*) in the GSMU. The GameSpot Mature Union. Links will be posted once this battlestation is fully operational. I mean...when the Union is up and running 8)

Peace.

*Based heavily on actual forum posts...seriously...:roll:

Well, my mum has recently been trying in vain to find a Wii for Christmas, but unfortunately their stocking issues in the UK mean that most of the major retailers won't have any in until the New Year, and the minor retailers don't have any. One of my friends at Curry's who ran out of stock within hours of release and had to face angry customers all day has yesterday received some more stock. Unfortunately, Nintendo could only spare five (5) units... Yesterday morning, however, my mum got a letter from PC World, which she carelessly lay lying on the kitchen table for all and sundry (me) to read, rather spoiling the surprise that she had ordered one for the New Year. My Wii is on its way...:)

[video=IXYxl2Gq5bgLsjLW]

As a 30% Hermit, I have been following the Halo series with great interest. From the very start, I bought Halo one and immediately knew that this was something special (the fact that I couldn't play for a year because my graphics card at the time sucked is another matter). Along with many, many, many other Bungie fans, I have been a little disappointed at the lack of speed in getting H2 and 3 out on PC. I do, however, have faith. True Bungie fans understand that these things take time and, at the end of the day, we Hermits are going to get a superior product to what the Lemmings received 2 years ago. This video gives just a snapshot of what H3 is going to be like. Although, as we hang our heads and sigh, we expect to wait at least three years for a PC port, we know that it is coming, and that it will absolutely Pwn t3h n00bz0r!!. Or, as we say in English, rock the Kasbah.

In other news, the "This-Gen Wars" (as I like to call them) are well and truly over in this authour's humble opinion. The current situation of Microsoft edging towards the 10,000,000 unit sales mark and Nintendo much closer behind than Sony, is likely to continue even with the PS3 release in Europe. It is even possible that the latest Sony console may discourage them from making any more. At least then they could go back to what, even I concede, they are good at: non-interactive entertainment systems, such as music and DVDs.

Unfortunately for this dude, it is unlikely that I will be getting my Wii before the price drops even lower than the more-than-reasonable £179.99 (I'm a major cheapskate). At least, if I have faith, I can look forward to games like FarCry Vengeance, which look like they will truly revolutionise the gaming industry. Here's one bod who believes that the Revolution is here and is not destined to be another (*shudder*) Dreamcast.

Viva la Revolucion!!

OSCURO

Well, here I am, -HAC- Oscuro, the (relatively) new kid on the block for gaming.  I have been gaming for the past six years, give or take, and I like to think I come from a colourful background. I enjoy various different types of gaming for different reasons. PCs, for example, offer flexibility and variety. Nintendo offers innovation and fun. These two are my favourite types of game system. I do tolerate the XBox 360, but I have no time for the PS3 or SONY fanboys. This is because I believe in "quality gameplay and innovative systems first", to quote my "About Me" below. To be honest, I have little more to say right now, but my thoughts on the directions that gaming is headed will be here for anyone who cares to wantonly abuse them.

Laters,

OSCURO.