More then likely alot of people got an Ipod this past Christmas as gift from someone who really loved you or you got it for yourself because you just could not wait to be part of this growing legal music trend. I got one for Christmas and have been looking for any and everything that could help improve my Ipod and make it cooler then it already is. Well I think I might have found that in the form of Podcasts. It's a revolution in internet radio. Instead of having to stream a radio broadcast onto your Ipod and be confined to a predetermined time and place (i.e. 7 PST on a certain website on Thursdays) you instead download the stream to your Itunes (or whatever music software you happen to be using), then download it to your mp3 player and play the broadcast at a later date. Now I've been thinking about how Gamespot could possibly use this technology to improve their 'coolness' factors with their loyal customers or just be on the leading edge of videogame websites and I have an idea. Would it not be great to have an audio version of all the Gamespot Shows (i.e. ButtonMashing, Let's Gamespot!, On the Spot!) available for download as a podcast soon after the shows are done. Or better yet, make an exclusive podcast at the beginning or end of the week that is just like a videogame radio show with guests, contests and news - the things that already make Gamespot so unique on the net. Podcastting would enable users to take their news on the road to play while walking to class or driving somewhere. While it might not be the most up to the minute news broadcast, I think the addition of that type of service (to everyone, not just GS Complete members) would not only show how trully ahead of the curve Gamespot is in comparison to others gaming websites but by adding their unique flair of news, reviews and commentaries to a mobile device would trully be a step in the right direction.

I was also thinking, how about doing a Podcast version of Gamespotting - we have the normal Gamespotting, then Gamespotting Live! how about just adding Gamespotting Pod to the repertoire of ways the GS crew communicates with their audience. And it would probably be easier then the other two methods simply because it only involves talking into a mic and converting it into an mp3 file. Think of the possibilities! Gamespotting Pod on the Loose! Gamespotting Pod Live on the floor of CES interviewing people! Gamepsotting Pod with live interviews of people waiting in line at some huge game release - things that might not be funny or useful in video format, but can conveniently be done in audio format. Someone should definately give this a try!

Well I have only played GTA: San Andreas for only a couple of hours - but a few things do stand out to me as vast improvements over the previous two GTA's. First off, the dialogue is top notch - by far the best of the last three GTA games. I'm really amazed at how this game is able to capture the true feel of the 90s in the hood. Its funny, a few years ago before GTA: Vice City came out I always wondered what would come after it - would they take on the 90s? Would it be to early to do that - would it be to familiar and not be quite as funny or engaging as Vice City. Well all my fears were put to rest when I popped this game in and it felt 'right'. You know that feeling - when a game that tries to do so much just doesn't feel right - that is not this game.

The whole stats thing adds a very interesting component to the game, you actually WANT to get CJ in shape because it allows you to make your character very unique in a game that is highly scripted but doesn't feel like it. The replacing of the secret package missions with the tag missions is a VERY welcome change - oh my goodness, I can't tell you how annoying those things were. But now, its all a matter of looking at walls and figuring out how to get to it - no more little white packages that pop up only when you're 5 feet away from them.

Anyways, if you have any doubts about getting GTA: San Andreas - you really should, but don't expect the soundtrack to be quite as memorable as the previous GTA soundtracks - something's just off in that regards. It might be because I haven't spent enough time playing yet or the music is just to 'known' to me - I don't know. But other then that this game is another homerun by the fine folks at Rockstar North!