IGN apparently granted the PS3 the noble title of Best Console of the Year.

The reason?

IGN feels that - of the two major consoles released in 2006 - the PS3 is the most advanced in terms of hardware, and will therefore have the most potential for improvement. IGN believes that - on account of most consoles starting off slow - the PS3 is merely experiencing their post-launch lag of good titles before things really pick up. Comparisons are often made to the XBox 360.

You would be willing to swallow this tripe. If you were mentally retarded.

The PS3 bears no similarity to the XBox 360. While the systems are both power houses, the XBox 360 is actually operating off of a logical marketing plan. Microsoft knew that their system was more pricey than the competition was likely to be. They also knew that it was worth it. And so - when it came time to throw down money for a system - people poured into stores nation-wide to reserve or buy an XBox 360.

And what they received was worth the coin they handed over. The XBox Live Service exists as the ivory model of what an online gaming service should - nay, must - be in order to succeed. The console opened up with several successful titles, including the next-gen versions of games that received less than savory releases on the Playstation 2.

And frankly, the XBox 360 was sold out in stores during the holiday season. Whereas the PS3 was - and still is - available in most retail outlets, while the Wii (and occasionally the 360) are scarce. People are not fond of the price of the PS3, and the lack of any truly defining features for the system are causing people to look elsewhere.

Why would you not? The Wii offers an innovative gaming experience that is engaging, and extremely enjoyable in groups. Their online offerings - in the way of the Virtual Console - are extremely appetizing, as it gives dedicated gamers the opportunity to delve into the archives of Nintendo to find the hidden treasures within. Soon, I’ll be able to play Kid Icarus for the first time. And I’ll be able to play it properly. Gamers can revisit the gems of the golden years through the Virtual Console.

On the XBox 360, you are met with more mature games, and a lot of the high-end titles like Oblivion, Grand Theft Auto IV, Guitar Hero II, and Metal Gear Solid 4. Titles that were originally found on Sony systems are migrating - or, at the very least - spawning children on the neighbouring XBox 360. From a simple economic perspective, why spend 700 bucks to play Grand Theft Auto IV when you can pay 400? Will the graphics really look that much better on the average person’s modest 27” CRT television set? Because, not all of us have 108” Sharp LCDs.

The most offensive thing about the PS3 is the arrogance with which Sony has flaunted it in our faces. Here, they hold a glossy obsidian block of pure graphical processing power. Of course, it is literally worth its weight (and girth) in gold. This is so, because that is what the MSRP has been set at. Believe it. In some factory somewhere, they have small, gold-grubbing executives sitting before a giant scale, piling gold nuggets in a hanging basket until the PS3 on the opposite side has been balanced.

Kutaragi’s statements about how the PS3 should cost more than it currently does is even more offensive. It is as if Sony is intentionally marketing the system to no one. Or, perhaps they have an ingenious strategy that involves obese hedonists living on their own private islands along the Pacific Rim who have the money to purchase a PS3 and develop their own games.

Because God knows it is now too expensive to develop for the PS3 without padding your pockets with a little dough from a simultaneous XBox 360 release.

However, when you get right down to it, the reason that the PS3 should not have one exists in the simplest stated criteria. The PS3 won because - as a machine - it has the most potential. Well, then let it be the best console of 2007.

As far as I am concerned, 2006 belongs to the Wii. And if we go to gaming platforms in general, it definitely belongs to the DS. Nintendo executives are rolling in giant pools of money with diamond encrusted buoy lines thanks to that strange little system.

Many of you said I couldn’t do it.

You scoffed at the idea of completing so many games in such a short time. You scoffed until your throat was dry, and swollen from scoffing so.

But it is I who has the last laugh. And mine is a truly sinister cackle that will corrupt the minds and hearts of all who hear it. For you see, while the rest of you doubted, I stood against the odds. You said I couldn’t do it and…

I didn’t.

Truth be told, it is now January 17th and I have yet to finished Castlevania (both), Meteos, Metroid Prime Hunters, Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island, Tales of Phantasia, and Guitar Hero II. While these 8 may appear to represent a failure, you would be sorely mistaken. While the percentage of completion on this task was less than 50%, there has been an unexpected loophole in the Wii Challenge.

My father was unable to find a Wii, and therefore, the Wii Challenge presses onward until he does.

So, on the eve of my birthday, I went to EB Games and purchased Guitar Hero II. Immediately, my fingers were broken. The game is intense. Easy mode is pathetically simple. I get five stars every time. However, the jump to medium presents an unprecedented increase in difficulty. The transition to hard is even more impossible. I’ve beaten medium, but have yet to gain perfection on it. Free Bird has effectively destroyed my wrist with the 8 back-to-back “solo” sections (aka, the Fast Part).

As for the other games, my status is as follows.

• Level 6 in World 4/6 in Yoshi’s Island.
• Bonus Levels in Super Mario World (the ones above the Star area…all special “super-difficult” levels).
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin has me pitted against Dracula long before I am prepared in the Richter mode. Playing as the LeCarde sisters - with their horrid play mechanics - has me much further back. And I have yet to unlock the Old Axe Armor as a playable character.
• Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow has Julius, Yoko and Alucard all insufficiently leveled to defeat Death.
• In Meteos, I am missing a few planets, and most of the weapons, song sets, etc.
• In Metroid Prime Hunters, I have 66% completion. I don’t know how that is possible. I figure I’m missing a few energy tanks, but I cannot find a guide to help me persevere. I’m starting to dislike Metroid Prime Hunters, because the game isn’t about exploration - which is what has made the Metroid series so enjoyable. The upgrades help you explore different areas, each more challenging than the last. Metroid Prime Hunters - instead - offers tiny worlds that only vary because of the other Hunters who attack you.
• In Tales of Phantasia, I have restarted the game. But I haven’t even gone back in time yet…so…yeah. Not that far. I think I will leave it until last.

Nevertheless, the Wii Challenge presses on.

I’d like to just say that yesterday was my birthday.

I was born January 16th, 1987. And now, I am a depressing 20 years old. Given the average life expectancy of a Canadian male, I figure I’ve lived approximately 25% of my life. And the fact that I have not even found a meaningful vocation is even more depressing.

But, I guess this is a sorrow we have to live with in this modern world. The first quarter of our lives is spent studying for a career, the middle 50% is spent loathing said career, and the last 25% is spent in retirement (moreso if you are a teacher who just does not care).

Anyway, all this depression aside, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank those who greeted me with birthday wishes.

Thank you to Jenn, Katey, Shaughnessy, Erin, Adriana, Jeremy and Catherine for wishing me a happy birthday on Facebook.

Thank you to my dad (who couldn’t find a Wii, as I predicted), my mom, my sisters (especially Sam, who bought me a new PC), and Jake.

Thank you to Rachel for sending me the Hallmark e-card. The cheerleaders’ display of birthday-related tomfoolery was heart-warming.

Thank you to Andrew for the birthday telephone call and general well-wishing.

Thank you to Sam B. and her boss Florine (sp?) for the delicious Roasted Garlic soup, the mouth-watering Fatayers, and the special - just for me - birthday Vegan brownie with sliced pears and chocolate sauce. Yum. The orange and cranberry muffin was also delicious. (P.S. Veg Out has the best muffins in the world without exception).

Thanks again to all those who made my birthday an enjoyable one.

I just finished watching the first two episodes of Season Six. And I must say, I am heartily impressed. Whoever they have contracted to write this season seems to be doing things right - so far - but I must say that there are still some aspects that disappoint me.

I wont list any spoilers, since I know that Andrew will likely read this before he sees the episode. But one thing that I dislike - and always have - is the administrative policy of unprecedented forgiveness. No matter how stupid a mistake an employee at CTU makes, they always get to keep their job. Sometimes, they even get promoted. And frankly, I’d prefer to see more accountability for people’s actions.

The characters need to face the consequences of their actions.

A great thing that has finally happened is an interesting character development with Jack…but I’ll let you see that one for yourself.

And hurray, no Kim! So far…

I’ve been thinking about what Virtual Console games I’d like to get for the Wii when I get it in 2 days. As a result of this, I’ve been formulating a new list of games that will take place after my Wii Training is finished.

Virtual Console Retro List

NES Kid Icarus Kirby’s Adventure SNES Super Castlevania IV Super Metroid

N64 Star Fox 64 PS1 Retro List

Final Fantasy V Final Fantasy VI Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 3 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

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If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to provide them. I wasn’t planning on starting on this list until most of the VC titles were available (I think Super Metroid and Kid Icarus hit in March) so there is time to squeeze in more titles. And - as you can see - I’ve moved Final Fantasy V and VI to this list since I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish them by the end of the Wii Challenge.

Just finished off New Super Mario Bros.

Frankly, I cannot understand why IGN didn’t give this game the “Game of the Year” for the DS category. It is such a fantastic game, and so full of nostalgia. There was one level in world seven, that was a series of pipes, and it reminded me of a similar level in World 7 from Super Mario Bros. 3.

Ah…

There is nothing more satisfying than a good run through the Mushroom Kingdom.