I think Shigeru Miyamoto is a genius.

Nintendo lost a lot of money on the N64 after their deal with Sony fell through. A lot of people lost faith in Nintendo, and as a result, third-party developers gave Nintendo the ax. Hence, the Gamecube didn't do nearly as well as it should have due to lack of third-party support. This enraged Nintendo. Not just losing so much money on the GC, but on principle. The video game industry is huge today, and many leading game developers got started back in the day making games for the NES. But they were afraid and unwilling to make good games for the GameCube because of the N64's shortcomings.

So Nintendo began plotting their triumphant comeback..

Miyamoto had some great ideas for the future of video games, but like all new ideas, it's pass or fail. The idea will be accepted or it will fall by the wayside. So the idea must be polished and perfected. Hence the Wii. With this pint-size console, Miyamoto accomplished several goals:

He used the Wii to test the functionality and public acceptance of motion-controlled gaming.

He introduced affordable and fun video games to people of all ages, bringing casual gaming into the mainstream. (and making up for the profits Nintendo should have made from the Gamecube.)

He got even with Sony for robbing his thrown by killing Sony's reign this console generation with the unexpected successes of the Wii and the DS.

Furthermore, if the Wii and the DS caused unexpected upsets this console generation, then Sony and Microsoft are really in for a surprise in 2010. Nintendo has often publicly stated they are not concerned with graphics, or a hard drive for that matter, just making fun games. A clever ruse, perhaps? Okay, Nintendo doesn't care about graphics anymore, so Sony and Microsoft aren't concerned with topping them in that department. So, (after Nintendo has tested motion-controls and casual gaming through trial-and-error) how hard of a kick in the head will it be when the next Nintendo console offers improved motion-controls, a hard drive and next-gen graphics?

Nintendo is leading the current console generation and, if the above is true, they will dominate the next one.

I am limiting my activities on the forums. Why? My mother taught me, "Don't continue a fight you know you can't win". So be it. I am sick of some of the immature, unintelligent and pretentious losers on these forums. Those in question know who they are..

Not to toot my own horn, but I know how intelligent and how talented I am. I don't use this site to raise my level and earn popularity points. I'm here because the site was well-built and there are some cool people here. They usually know who they are..

I know the definition of a true hardcore gamer, I happen to be one, and I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. I know how smart I am, and I always use my intellect whenever I post to the boards. I never post to a serious thread without providing facts and details to explain/support my argument. There are a few certain members here who IMO are scumbags. They flame and troll and argue their POV without factually supporting it and they repeat the same tired arguments while flagrantly ignoring posts that debunk their arguments. And when they fail to beat me or outlast me in an intellectual debate, they find some stupid excuse to report me to the Mods. Or, when their arguments fail, they resort to cowardly tactics, deliberately saying things to get a rise out of me, to make me angry enough to say something I can get modded for.

Well, I'm not playing your game anymore. Those individuals in question are cocky and immature pieces of crap with no lives. They are not worth my time. Some day, when they think they are intelligent enough to have a serious debate with me, they can send me an invite to the thread in question. In the meantime, I will reserve my most thought-provoking threads for the HGU forums. That's the H@rdcore G@mers Union, in case you didn't know. You might want to check it out. There are some very intelligent and open-minded people there.

To all my friends as well as other intelligent, mature and open-minded people, I wish you well and look forward to many interesting debates in the future. To the rest, go somewhere and die for all I care..

I'm getting sick to my stomach with shameless "clone" arguments, most of which IMO are started by fanboys of particular games. There is a fine line between ripping off another game and being inspired to make a new installment in a genre that is growing in popularity.

"Parasite Eve is a RE clone". It's a survival-horror series that has a unique and intriguing storyline with a couple features that are unique to the genre.

"Saints Row is a GTA clone". SR and SR2 brought a lot of innovation, originality and variety to the sandbox genre.

Was Halo a clone of Perfect Dark, regarding the immersive multiplayer campaign, customizable avatars and duel weapon functions? I don't think so. Take a fun and innovative concept and expand upon that concept, adding some originality. That's how you expand a game genre. If you are a big fan of a certain game or series, that's cool. But don't get defensive and start throwing out the clone argument when a successful rival enters the scene, or else you make yourself out to be a fanboy.

As much I hate politics, I often find myself sucked in. I actually care about the world around me and it sickens me how badly this country is sliding downhill.

Take the economy, for example. We are on the verge of a recession, global warming is a big issue and gas prices are going through the roof. The irony is that many of our country's biggest problems could have been solved at least 50 years ago, but at the expense of a few billionaires.

Everyone is talking about using corn ethanol to replace petroleum fuel. It's cheaper and burns cleaner. But the heightened production of corn means less available land for other crops, causing the price of rice to soar in southeast asia. Is there a better alternative?

Did you know that up until the 1890's, hemp was the number one cash crop in America? Look it up in an unbiased history book. Some states even required farmers to grow hemp if they owned at least a certain amount of land. Hemp can be used to make hundreds of consumer products, most of which are better than what's currently being used, as long as the hemp is refined properly. Hemp paper is stronger than paper from wood pulp and saves trees. Hemp fiber, using the better parts of the plant, is stronger than cotton. Hempseed oil can be used to make plastic and rubber products that are stronger and biodegradable. It can also be used to make cooking oil that contains low fat and no cholesterol, as well as biofuel that burns completely clean, giving off zero hydrocarbons.

So why isn't it being used today, as it is in Europe? The answer is money. In the 1930's, Henry Ford, a hemp farmer, built a prototype car that ran on biofuel and had a chassis made of hemp fiber, which is lightweight like fiberglass but is ten times stronger than steel. At the time, the petroleum oil industry was starting to boom. Hemp gasoline would have put Big Oil out of business. But conveniently around the same time, lawmakers were on a rampage against the "evils of marijuana", which led to the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act, which made it illegal to grow or possess Marijuana in the US. That also meant a definitive end to the hemp industry in North America.

Today, European scientists are developing better ways of processing hemp for a variety of consumer products. If hemp were mass-produced in the US, we would see the following benefits within the next 20 years:

Hemp paper would save millions of acres of forests as well as various species of animals.

Hempseed cooking oil would drastically reduce the occurrence of heart disease and obesity.

Hemp plastics and rubber would reduce the volume of waste permanently stored in landfills.

Hemp gas would be cheaper and clean, significantly reducing global warming, if not eliminating it.

We need marijuana to be decriminalized nationally, so farmers can restart mass-producing hemp. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Nintendo is winning big right now, appealing to millions of casual gamers. This means plenty of fun and addictive titles for scores of people who never considered themselves gamers until now. But why do most of the hardcore gamers who have supported Nintendo over the years feel like we're being left out in the cold? I've been a die-hard Nintendo fan since I was ten, and while I plan to get a Wii as soon as I can finally get my hands on one, I still feel shunned and abandoned. Sure, Nintendo is still wowing us with their first-party titles and the motion games are a lot of fun, despite the lackluster graphics.

But that's the whole problem. Graphics. Most "hardcore" gamers aren't satisfied with a game, no matter how great it is, if it doesn't have stunning graphics. So many of us are obsessed with graphics. So no matter how much fun the motion-controlled games are, Nintendo continues to get flamed for the quality of its graphics. And you know what? I blame the game developers.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to just sound like a Nintendo fanboy, and I acknowledge that Nintendo has made mistakes in the past. But if it weren't for the cowardice, greed and laziness of third-party developers, Nintendo would have dominated this and the previous console generation.

Once upon a time, Nintendo and Sony partnered up to make a game console. It didn't work out because Nintendo insisted on doing everything their way, including sticking to cartridges. So Sony went off and made their own console, which went on to crush the N64. In the next console generation, Nintendo wised up and made an exceptional game system. It used cute little disks, was portable and offered significantly better graphics than the PS2. But third-party developers sabotaged the Gamecube's life. They remembered how "awful" the N64 was, and couldn't muster up enough guts to develop quality games for the Gamecube until it was too late. It also didn't help that top developers like Square and Rockstar signed exclusivity contracts with Sony.

Which brings us to the present. Nintendo has focused on motion-controls and shunned high-end specs in favor of a lower retail price to appeal to millions of casual gamers. A brilliant marketing strategy, if you ask me. Most of Nintendo's new fans will probably buy their next console, especially if it delivers next-gen graphics. In the meantime, gamers across the globe are complaining that there aren't nearly enough "hardcore" games for the Wii. I blame the third-party developers. They're cranking out motion games as cheaply as possible and making their best stuff for the 360 and PS3. As if they are incapable of making a decent-looking game for the Wii. Is that the case? Are developers incompetent in making a high-quality motion-controlled game? Regardless of the Wii's specs, Nintendo has made games for the Wii that look great. Just check out Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3 or SSBB. While you're at it, take a peek at the upcoming Fatal Frame 4.

Once again, third-party developers are either too scared or too lazy to "take a risk" and take the time to make a quality game for Nintendo's console. Maybe they're still embarrassed about how much revenue they missed out on by not developing for the Gamecube.

The Wii's graphics aren't great, but certainly not poor. If Nintendo can make a decent-looking Mario or Metroid game, then Rockstar, Square, Konami and Capcom can make decent-looking games. So get on the ball already!

What will the videogame industry be like in four years?

According to a recent report in Game Informer magazine, the next generation of gaming consoles are already being developed, with Microsoft's and Nintendo's next consoles due out in 2010 and Sony's next console due out in 2012. But what kinds of games will we be playing?

While Sony and Microsoft have consoles dedicated to graphics and online play, Nintendo's console sacrifices graphics for innovation. But is it just a marketing strategy? The N64 tanked and Gamecube never got a fair shake, so Nintendo needed a cash cow to avoid going the way of the Sega. Their solution? Cater to millions of casual gamers with innovative motion-controlled games and leave the hardcore gamers to Sony and Microsoft. A risky move, but one that paid off with the Wii outselling the 360 and PS3 combined. To stay competitive with Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are now exploring motion-controls for the current consoles. So how will this shape the industry in the next four years?

Nintendo has learned from their mistakes and have a solid marketing strategy. Already, they have more than recovered their losses from the N64 and Gamecube with their current Wii and DS sales. They now have a huge fanbase who will most likely buy Nintendo's next console. But what will that console be like? The smart money is on one with an HDD, improved motion-controls and next-gen graphics. They already have the casual gamers, and the HDD and next-gen graphics will help them win back the hardcore gamers. Then Nintendo will officially be back on top for the long haul.

But what about Sony and Microsoft? If they continue to deliver stunning graphics and massive online support, will that be enough to keep them floating? Motion-controlled gaming has really caught on and some are asking, "Is it just a fad or a gimmick?" Do you remember when people said the same thing about online gaming? Sony has the six-axis and is now designing a new motion-controller to compete with the Wii-remote/Nunchuck combo, and Microsoft has been hinting at a motion-controller for the 360.

I predict that while graphics will always be a deciding factor for a lot of gamers, motion-controls will earn a permanent place in the videogame industry alongside online gaming. That means the next generation of consoles will need to incorporate motion-controls as well as an HDD and adequate online functionality in order to succeed. Only time will tell.

And what about the next DS? Imagine a Nintendo handheld with a larger and sharper top screen, a larger touch screen, axis motion-controls, improved graphics and improved functionality.. Will any other handheld be able to compete?

The future of videogames seems cloudy, but very exciting...

I've played well over a thousand games on over a dozen consoles, and along the way, I've played few games that didn't leave me asking, "What could have been done better?" or "What's missing?". It's made me question why I started playing video games in the first place.

Video games take us to another reality and let us do things we can't do in real life. We can live out our dreams and fantasies through video games. So doesn't it make sense to play the games our own way? The lack of emphasis on customization in video games is disturbing, particularly in open-ended games. Doesn't it just make sense? By definition, an open-ended game is non-linear. You don't have to follow a specific path toward the end goal. You choose how to play the game, most commonly in RPG's and sandbox games. There are few exceptions like Perfect Dark, in which you could customize your multiplayer character and level that character up, or Halo 3,where you can customize the look of your spartan. But such innovations are few and far between, and in most cases, that innovation isn't explored far enough.

After all these years, there is finally a game of exceptional quality that's right up my alley. Decent graphics and an interesting story meet massive customization options. I'm talking, of course, about Saints Row 2. Volition has improved the graphics, controls and physics over the first SR. The online play has been significantly expanded. The multiplayer death matches have been improved and now you can play the full story online with a friend. But the crowning achievement is the ability to fully customize your character. This time around, you completely build your male or female character's appearance, then choose your voice, gestures and fighting technique In addition, you can fully customize your vehicles and cribs. SR2 allows you to step into a game and be whoever you wanna be.

Now enter my argument about fanboyism. I've played every GTA game. I enjoyed them. But I love what Volition has done to expand the sandbox genre. Someone finally understands what it is to immerse yourself in a truly open-world environment. Yet die-hard GTA fans continue to troll message boards flaming away at SR2 and blatantly ignoring all of its accomplishments and potential. As if, God forbid, SR2 might outsell GTAIV. They call it a "GTA clone" even though the original GTA3 was simply a well-polished clone of Driver 2. They cite certain bugs in SR which were present in GTA3, and occasionally in GTAIV. They fault SR for not containing bikes, even though GTAIV has no bikes or monster trucks. One game offers slightly better graphics, the other offers full customization.

Where do you draw the line between loyal fanship and fanboyism?

If you love a game because it is enjoyable to play and offers plenty of side-content, you're a fan. But if you praise a game and flame its rival, a rival that is just as enjoyable to play and offers a much more open-ended experience, then you're a fanboy.

I've been playing video games since I was five. I've played a ton of games on over a dozen systems. I have favorite titles and genres. But in general, I seek out truly high-quality games. I try not to waste time on mediocre ones. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's when a decent game gets passed over in favor of an inferior rival with its loyal base of fanatic fanboys.

for example: Saints Row 2 vs. Grand Theft Auto 4

Attempting to cast aside personal bias, I used to love GTA. I've nearly beaten them all, but it got old. GTA3, Vice City, San Andreas, it's all the same. Nice graphics, play through some missions, do some side stuff, kill people, blow stuff up, repeat. Innovation across the series has been minimal. I enjoyed True Crime for awhile. That was cool, a sandbox whose features included learning various martial arts moves that incorporated intense fighting into gunplay, but it lacked any real open-ended gameplay to distract you from the story missions. Then along came Saints Row. Plenty of side-activities, each with unique rewards for completion, and plenty of customization. It was also the first sandbox to offer truly competitive online play.

But sadly, its praise fell short after being cheaply dubbed a GTA clone. Mindless fanboys dismissed it without objectively playing through it to give it a chance. And now it's happening again. Everywhere I look, GTA4 is amassing gigantic and unfounded praise, while a truly superior rival, which hasn't even been released yet, is being overshadowed. Gamespot even gave it a ten, even though the released game has graphical glitches and bugs. Meanwhile, Saints Row 2 has brought a wave of innovation to the genre. The direct sequel to SR offers improved graphics, innovative new weapons, more customizable vehicles, even greater character customization, better AI and vehicle physics over its predecessor, more unique activities than GTA4 and expanded online play.

I'll use GTA4 as a coaster for my beer while I rock out to SR2.

On a related subject, how about Halo vs. Perfect Dark? When it comes to FPS's, many will say the Halo series rules supreme. I myself have a different opinion. Don't get me wrong, I love Halo 2. It was very innovative, had an interesting storyline with beautiful graphics for its time and its online play was deeply addictive. At least until all the host-bridgers and spawn-rapists killed any enjoyment I got out of playing it online. I don't believe Halo 3 even lived up to its hype.

But let me take you back to the glory days, when FPSs were a dime a dozen, Goldeneye not withstanding. Perfect Dark is one of the greatest games I've ever played, I lament the fact that it doesn't still get the recognition and tribute it deserves. It has a cool story, impressive graphics for its time, and awesome gameplay. But what really kills me is the fact that PD brought the promise of revolutionizing its genre, and everyone missed the point. This was the first FPS in which you could actually level up your multiplayer character. Game after game, if you got the most kills and the fewest deaths, your auto-aim, speed and health would improve. Even your weapon reload time would improve. This premise alone should have taken the FPS genre to brave new heights. Imagine what Halo 2 would be like if you could level up your Spartan. I was so dumbfounded, after eagerly waiting months for its release, to learn that Perfect Dark Zero would not offer leveling up. I swear the people at Rare lost their minds.

Here's a suggestion: Show me a FPS with the graphics, features and online experience of Halo 3 with the ability to level up your character like in PD, and I'll show you why it will reign supreme for all time as the undisputed king of first-person shooters.

In summation, all you fanboys open your eyes and broaden your horizons. You might be surprised by what you're missing..

I wonder where it's headed..In the current console war, Sony focused on graphics and features like what else you can use your system for, while Nintendo focused on the innovation of motion controls and simple games to appeal to the casual gamer.

Maybe it's just me, but I think that while Nintendo's people were developing the Wii, they mislead themselves about the potential the system would yield, as well as it's marketability. The president of the company once said they were focusing on innovation, not graphics. Gimme a break! They made a great system, it's sleek design and motion controls are really cool. But there's no good reason why they couldn't have put a more powerful processor chip in the Wii so that it could handle better graphics.

Time and time again over the last 25 years, Nintendo has shown why they are the best at making videogames. Unfortunately, once again, their focus on innovation and integrity has given them tunnel vision. So they made the Wii, with it's great motion control features and mediocre graphics. As soon as the other consoles start implementing motion controls, the Wii is history. As I said, there's no good reason why they couldn't have given the Wii better graphics without compromising their focus on innovation. As a life-long, die-hard Nintendo fan, I deeply hope their next console offers improved motion control features, an expansive online library of games and downloadable features and superior graphics.