You would think Microsoft learned from releasing too many separate consoles the first round of this generation but they haven't. The Kinect is going to flop bad and here is why: #1. Microsoft is introducing too many extra models of it's already convoluted console barrage. Any casual gamer will be confused as hell about buying the console, let alone the Kinect. #2 Most casual gamers already have a Wii and any who don't will wonder why they shouldn't just by a Wii, instead of an add on for a system they may not own. #3 Add ons never work. It never has and it won't start with the Kinect. It's too expensive and too confusing for the targeted audience. Sega Saturn anyone? #4 The Kinect will have no hardcore fan base at all. It was clear at E-3 that the Kinect is for 40-something moms who want to entertain their kids and kids. No hardcore support means no worthy hype, good reviews, or good games. #5 Its a gimmick. People say 3-D is a gimmick but no. The Kinect is a gimmick. The tech is cool to some degree but it doesn't translate to more fun. I don't to steer a car without a wheel and that is the coolest thing that the Kinect does. You want to play any action game or shooter and it has to be on rails! On rails! On rails? What is this the 90s. It wasn't even cool then.

The Kinect is only going to breed contempt and cynicism in the crowd that has kept Microsoft afloat all these years. That is the hardcore. The same people that purchased multiple consoles, after the last one had died, just so they could enjoy Halo 3 online. At least the Move has been shown to improve one hardcore area of gaming. And say what you will about Sony but they have not forsaken the hardcore PS3 crowd. The Move did not come at the expense of the hardcore the same way the Kinect did. The lack of anything fresh at E-3 for Microsoft said it all. Instead of developing fresh hardcore IPs along with the Kinect, Microsoft has put all it's eggs into the poorly woven basket. What a shame.

I was inspired to write this after reading about Sony's push to get 3D gaming on the PS3. All I can say is,"About damn time!." Seriously, it is high time a console maker took the risk and decided to do something innovative. Well...okay, so 3D is as old as most peoples grandpa now days but what has been regarded as a gimmick for most of its life, is now turning into the next big thing in at home entertainment. Its a fact, that you can buy a stereoscopic television right now. You can even upgrade your PCs video card to run 3D games and that list is surprisingly strong. The only problem is, no consoles have really pushed for this yet. No offense PC gamers but I would prefer to have this on my console so I don't have to shop based on specs. Regardless, the 3D industry is really starting to take off. With 3D becoming a standard for Pixar and Disney it isn't hard to see why the interest is growing so rapidly. I'm sure many people wonder what took so long but the fact is, the technology was not ready until now. There have been some great 3D gimmicks over the past 50 years but no one set out to make it practical. The reason we can do it now, is because after the HD revolution it is the next step in the evolution of entertainment. In 5-7 years max 3D TVs will be as common as HD is now. 10 years down the line we may have affordable 3D entertainment without the need for glasses. Look it up. The technology is already hear. The issue right now is getting it ready for consumers. Now as a gamer this is very exciting for me. I ignored 3D until I went and saw Beowulf back in 2007. The side effects: I ran around screaming "I am Beowulf" for a week and I was about to blow a load over how great it looked in 3D. So I am really excited about the growing anticipation over this soon to be standard form of eye candy.

I was watching Parks and Recreation the other day and (some spoilers if you really care) it was an episode about the parks department from Venezuela being honored in Pawnee. During the breadth of the episode there is a hilarious aside about all the things you can go to jail for in Venezula. This list goes from protesting to overcooking fish. "If you are late for a doctors appointment, jail! Straight to jail." I was browsing through News 4 Gamers today or N4G and ran across a story about Hugo Chavez banning the sale of violent video games and toys in Venezuela.That eliminates the sale of almost any good games or toys in Venezuela. Apparently Chavez has been pissy every since Pandemic released Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. You know, that game where you go to Venezuela to overthrow an evil dictator. Well, apparently he played that game and did not like it. The reason this struck a cord with me is because I remember all the outcry about Left 4 Dead being censored in Australia and how up-in-arms people got about that whole issue, and rightfully so. But wheres the love for Venezuela?

It seems that when you expect this type of behavior out of a country or its leader it is not as much of an issue. I understand that Hugo Chavez has instituted an all out war on his peoples rights through communism but just because this is true does not mean the people deserve it. It is amazing how easily gaming has challenged so many of the large issues in the world today. Don't act surprised though. This is the case with most of the arts throughout history. Be proud to love and respect something we consider a freedom of expression but there are those without that right and while I understood the issue with Valve and the Aussies, I feel we should be more angry about the rights of people still being stamped out this day and age. I guess gaming isn't really the issue but a catalyst for the real issue, which is human rights and freedom. We should all appreciate our respective countries and show respect towards those who cannot. Either way, Hugo Chavez is a doucher!

I know I'm fresh on Gamespot and I should probably take it easy my fist few days but to hell with that. I have some things on my mind and IGN doesn't have an awesome blog. Anyway, I read a lot of video game news and opinion. I spend quit a bit of time on blogs and forums as well. I have noticed that the gaming community has this extreme indignation towards video game piracy. Now don't get me wrong, I fully understand why piracy should be frowned upon but seriously people! Give me a break! Of all the groups out their that truly should be indignant about piracy the least effected industry is the one the most incensed. I know that piracy is bad and it carves out a decent chuck of cash in the video game industry but lets take a step back and look at the music industry first. The music industry is tucked in its death bed. I happened to be a musician my self. I wanted to be a rapper/singer at first but I did my homework and realized that the only way to the top was to take it up the bottom. Why is it like this now? Well, every physical format that you put music on can be easily copied by a computer and even third world countries have a ton of those. The evolution of the CD burner early this century ensured the coup d'grace of the music industry. Now fast forward to today. You love music. You have a computer. It is socially acceptable to download music thanks to Kazza, Sharbear, Morpheus, and Limewire. If you have, even one, illegally downloaded song on your computer you are personally responsible for sinking the music industry. Sounds crazy but its true. This brings me to my real point. I won't hold it against you that, you and people like you, have dashed my hopes of becoming a multi-platinum millionaire. Hell, I probably would download my own CD if fate was so cruel, as to leave me penniless. If you have a single illegally downloaded bit of media on your computer you are a Pirate! That's right. Peg legs and parrots aside, you are no better than a person who downloads the entire EA library in one fell swoop (OK, so maybe slightly better). So please gamers, stop acting so arrogant about the fact that you buy all of your games. I know we all love this industry and would hate to see it go the way of the music industry but trust me piracy cannot kill the video game industry friends. This brings me to my last point. You read this correct. Piracy cannot kill the video game industry. That seems crazy right? Its not and this is why. The video game industry has one leg up on all other forms of media and entertainment for one reason. You need something physical to interact with games. And despite Project Natal, the controller is going to be around for a long time. But that hand held, cheap piece of plastic is the saving grace of the industry. Why? Because unlike the CD in the music industry, publishers can actually control the sell of games through its peripherals. The future of gaming can be seen in Xbox live marketplace or in revolutionary ideas like Onlive. It is painfully obvious that downloadable and streaming media is the way of the future. And while I believe that all media will end up being subscription based in some form or another video games are the only one that can become pirate proof. You can play a movie of almost any format with an average video player and the right codecs but if Onlive is any indication games will become a bundle of sexy streaming data that is hosted on the publishers server and wont be for download. I know people get nervous about not having physical copies of their games but if you could play the entire EA catalogue, anytime you wanted, for a flat, cheap, monthly fee, you would do it. Regardless , this is baseless conjecture but we all know Im right. I know this post was long winded but this issue has been nagging me for a few weeks. Please gamers, cut your piracy arrogance already. We are all pirates setting sail in the streams of online anarchy (a joke). I believe this industry has proved everyone wrong in the past 30 years and will have longevity that will start to beat out the movie industry in the next 10 years. Do not let video game pirates make you nervous because the future of gaming is very bright and there is no shortage of wind in its sails.