As of an update to the Xbox 360 operating system users can now give games a rating of 1 to 5 stars, which are then averaged across all users. At present too many games are rated way too high, mostly because everyone is inconsistent as to what any of the 5 star ratings mean. I decided to define how I would use this rating system, using 3 to 5 stars to indicate how good a game is. This way, rather than just one "this game is awesome" rating, you can compare one good game against another (at least in my ratings). Here are my definitions:

5 Stars - Outstanding: This game is among the best of the best.
4 Stars - Very Good: This game is better than most, but a notch below Outstanding.
3 Stars - Pretty Good: This game is good, but has a few issues.
2 Stars - Mediocre: This game is ok (perhaps only for fans of this game-type).
1 Stars - Bad: This game isn't worth my/your time or money.

I hope never to have any 1-star games in my library, and it is rare that I will play any 2-star games. Levels of goodness make sense. Levels of badness don't. That is why 3 is not an average for me - it is the beginning of goodness. Therefore, most "good" games will get a rating of 3 or 4 stars, and only a small select few will obtain a 5-star rating - as it should be.

PS. The easiest way to rate a number of games is through browsing the Game Marketplace. This way you don't have to have the game loaded in the X360 tray.

I thought I would post some of the most useful websites I frequent:

www.xbox.com: The official Microsoft website for all things Xbox, including games, hardware, Xbox Live, support, your profile, forums, and more.

www.gamespot.com/xbox360: This website. Very comprehensive. But reviewers are stingy with their game scores and they over-value innovation, often overlooking how much fun a game may be. Read for the details and judge for yourself. Also, game reviews used to be posted very close to a game release. Now they tend to take an exorbitantly long time.

xbox360.ign.com: Another good game-centric website, but the reviewers here tend to be more forgiving. Still read for the details, but they are more likely to give out an Editor's choice more often, and tend to be quicker on the draw with their reviews.

www.gamerankings.com/xbox360: I believe this is where GameSpot collects it's Critic scores from. Useful to see what industry averages are for any game.

www.teamxbox.com: Another source, but I don't visit here often. Can provide a balanced perspective with the other sites.

www.gametrailers.com: Good place to view game trailers, if you don't find them on the other sites.

www.gamefaqs.com: A great place to find game guides and walk-throughs, should you run into a tough spot.

www.xbox360achievements.org: The BEST place for lists of achievements and explanations on how to get them.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_games_compatible_with_Xbox_360: Wikipedia list of all the Xbox original games that will run on the Xbox 360.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_360_System_Link_games: Wikipedia list of all the Xbox 360 games that support System Link game-play.

But please don't use cheat codes. That's just... ah... cheating. Play the game to unlock things. Get help if you need it, but don't take the cheesy way out. Besides, you don't get achievements if you use cheat codes. Just say no.

I thought I would summarize how I use the different game lists that exist here in my GameSpot profile, some in ways that may be different from what many others do.

Tracked Games: These are Xbox 360 and PC games of interest that I am following up to their release. Some I'm just curious about and want to see how well they're reviewed (before I decide to buy), while others I am tracking very closely.

Collection: This is pretty much a comprehensive list of all the games I own. I generally only give the Xbox 360 games a User Rating (My Score). Sudeki for the XBOX was an exception. And the User Rating for LAN party PC games has a completely different purpose altogether (see Now Playing just below).

Wish List: The Xbox 360 games are those I wouldn't mind adding to my collection - some a lot more than others. The PC games are potential contenders worth consideration for adding to our LAN party game-play list.

Now Playing: Rather than personal game-play, this list is focused on the games we play at LAN parties - some more so than others. The game score under My Score is an indication of how high in the gameplay list the game is (not necessarily an opinion of game quality) - the higher the score, the more focus or likelihood of playing the game. Click on My Score, once or twice, to sort the games accordingly. We will add to and modify this list from time to time.

Remember to be familiar with and agree to the LAN Party Rules listed below in a previous blog entry. Click on My Blog (on the left) or See Previous Blog Posts if you don't see them at the bottom of this page.

STONEHAWK is a warrior of uncompromising loyalty in service to the Light and Truth. While mysterious by nature and not as accomplished in certain skills as others may be, he fights with heart, soul and passion. He is well known for his honour and integrity. He protects the innocent, the defenseless, the outcast, the poor, and the orphan. Although an asset to any team, StoneHawk particularly excels in working cooperatively in small groups of 2 to 4 against a common enemy. And when facing any enemy of the darkness, he can be a ruthless and unrelenting opponent... for the Light must push back, must cast out the Darkness that has risen to press in on all sides. You will find StoneHawk on many fields of battle, working with teammates or solo to uphold the noble cause of standing against and winning once-and-for-all over Death, Darkness, Destruction and a vile Dominion that is evil to the core. In doing so StoneHawk will become the Hero of myth and legend as prophesized. His name and his heroic deeds done in service to the Light will be remembered by all people throughout all ages to come. His legacy will live forever.

Or something like that...

RIPROCK is a nickname I gained many years ago, and has been my PC gamer name for years, long before playing PC games over a LAN with friends or online occasionally. The full name is Dash Riprock, which I recently read comes from a character in a 1965 episode of the Beverly Hillbillies. Unfortunately someone snatched the name of RIPPOCK as their Xbox Gamer Tag before I had a chance. As a result I had to work hard to find a new one. Therefore, if you are looking for me on Xbox Live, look for StoneHawk (my new Gamer Tag for all things Xbox & X360). BTW, I have no hard feelings (re: Riprock). StoneHawk is a good, proud and noble name.

Click on the Game Lists link in the sidebar to the left, and then on I'm Playing for a complete list of LAN party games. Please note that SWAT 4 and Battlefield 2 require at least 128 MB of video memory. Demos of most of the games in the list are available on this website. Other good game demos include Act of War and Company of Heroes, which also require at least 128 MB of video memory.

Check back occasionally, as this game-play list for LAN parties (under I'm Playing) will be updated from time to time.

Welcome. Feel free to look through my lists, and in particular, see what games are currently on the I'm Playing list for LAN parties these days.

RULES FOR LAN PARTIES & GAMEFESTS:
1. BE READY: For PC gamers, come with games in-hand, installed and ready to play. Include any necessary power bars and your own network cable (25' or more). For X360 console owners, ensure both your console and the games we'll play are recently updated (via Xbox Live).
2. BE LEGAL: Do not be a slouch and come expecting to "obtain" free copies of any games. This is considered poor gaming etiquette at best, and is actually illegal practice. Just buy the games - if you play them, you can afford them. This is primarily for PC games, but we don't want anything to do with pirated X360 games either
3. BE VIRUS FREE: For PC gamers, ensure your computer is in working order and has no viruses... otherwise you may have a severe penance to pay. For X360 gamers, just wash your hands.
4. BE CLEAN: Be prepared for good clean fun. No swearing, alcohol, various banned substances, or rude/crude behaviour.
5. BE CONSIDERATE: Treat everyone with respect. Clean up after yourself. Leave no trace behind. You no wanna mess with the Monkey!

'Cause you know, it's good to play together!