I just thought you were being funny in general, not at your own expense. But, this is exactly why I dislike PC gaming. Despite baba's attempt to say how it's alway 100% easy to install and play games, there is always something that goes wrong. With consoles it's just "wham, bam, thank you Xbox... I love you too!".

With PCs it's "check specs, they seem to fit, install game for 10 minutes, can't get it to work, research all the internets, download patches, still can't get it to work, try to return game but it's open so you can't, curse at employees and throw tantrum, get kicked out of store... return to store and buy a console".

Yeah, it's made me really want a 360 now. Cause my computer wont be able to play any of the new games.

A couple Demos, Skate and Tony Hawk's Proving Ground.

I have decided that I am in the mood for a skating game. It's been a real long time since I've played one. They're always fun. Not sure which one I'll be getting. Skate is getting good reviews, but I always like the slightly more ridiculous feel of the Tony Hawk games. I guess it depends if my brother gets either, maybe.

Both demos were good. Skate was a bit more realistic (ie: annoying) but it was still a solid game, may be fun. Tony Hawk is Tony Hawk. Ridiculous fun.

I'll download the demo for Jericho sometime soon, see if it is any good.

I can never get into a Skate game, but I always forget that and try them. I just bought TH: Project 8 as it was $20 new, as I forgot I don't like skate games. So, I played it for 5 minutes, got bored and haven't touched it again. I'm sure in a few months I'll buy Skate thinking I like skate games again. Old age sucks.

I havent played one in a good 4 years, since the first Underground, which was good. They've been on a slide recently, but with Skate getting good reviews that seems like a safe pick up. I kind of feel like picking it up right now, actually.

I like this free demo downloading thing. It's really cool. Something that I would definitely miss if it were taken from me.

Clive Barker's Jericho

Actually seems like it could be a really good game from the short 10 minute demo.

You control a squad of like 6 people, and can control each person whenever. They each have their own powers to fight demons with. The three I played with, they each had guns for one thing, one was a sniper (love sniping) who has telekenesis powers and can control her bullets if you so wish (which means possible multiple headshots with one bullet). The other was this huge guy with a gatlin gun who can also throw fire at peoplem and then there's some chick with a katana sword who uses her own blood to heal herself and do... something that immobilizes enemies.

Very dark and bloody game. I'll get it if the rest of the game lives up to the demo.

Only potential problem I see with the game is that you probably won't be picking up any new weapons. Each character only has a 3 weapons really. So basically switching characters is how you will use new weapons. This could prove annoying.

My achievement whoring has reached an all time new high! I passed up playing Halo 3 for about 5 hours while I knocked off Cars for an easy 1000 points. The whole time wishing I was playing Halo 3, but I kept my eyes on the 1000 point prize.

It sucked, but those points will keep me warm at night. Now, I'm back to Halo 3's points, which are a little harder to come by, but much more fun...

Oh, and Cars gets a D+/C-... tedius, repetitive, and all around just a typical movie game.

This is the last straw. You officially make me sick.

Sick with jealousy? I see you eyeing my 40,000+ points...

Tony's not as big of a Halo fan as he makes us think. On the SECOND DAY of Halo's release, I saw him playing NBA 2K8.

I don't have 2K8... you saw me playing NBA Homecourt for about 1 hour, which I started before Halo 3, and was just getting my final 250 points.

I think you underestimate my love for achievement points, not my love for Halo. Plus you underestimate my ADD. I can never and have never been able to stay at one game too long. I don't know what it is, but whenever I play a more serious game... like a Halo or Bioshock, I have to take breaks by playing mindless racing/sports games every so often.

But 2 years from now, I guarantee I'll still be playing Halo 3 here and there. Heck, I was playing Halo 1 and 2 just a couple months ago!

I'm getting crazy for achievements now, too. I used to play very relaxed, but now, I kinda have to get those achievements. I rented Stranglehold again today just because of what happened with the achievements not showing up.

CSI: Hard Evidence B

Don't laugh. It was actually a decent game. I wasn't bored at all when I was playing it. It plays like those old point and click adventure games. You have a cursor that moves the camera around fixed positions and then changes when you can interact with something. I recommend this to Tony as it only takes 7 hours to get a full 1000.

My wife loves, loves, and loves point and click adventure games. I'm going to have to set her up with this one so she can earn me 1000 points when I'm not around. The only danger there is if she likes it, we may have to fight over the 360, and I usually lose that fight.

I agree, I'm about where you are, or a tiny bit ahead and I was kind of skeptical when it came to the controls, but find that they work very nicely and I have zero problem with them. Makes me more hopeful for Ninja Gaiden in November which I believe will employ the same style of controls.

I've never been a huge fan of Zelda, but I think this one has some staying power with me.

The blowing out of the candles was neat. It took me a second to get, I think I tried to swing my sword in a circle to get the wind to blow it out.

The music with Linebeck may be the only distinctive thing about him, he's kind of a generic do nothing sidekick....right now.

Orange Box

Five games in one that includes Half Life 2, Half Life 2:Ep 1, Half Life 2:Ep2, Portal and Team Fortress 2. Im not really that big of a fan of Half Life so I only played it for a few minutres before dropping the controller. I do however LOVE Team Fortress 2 which I recommend everyone in KJ to get. There are 9 different classes you can choose from plus I absolutely love the gameplay and the Pixar Incredible like graphics. Something like that should be set up for KJ for multi-team play

I picked up Flatout: Ultimate Carnage, NBA 2K8, and CSI yesterday. The CSI game is for Mrs. Montana, so here are some early thoughts on my games:

Flatout: UC (Xbox 360) - Looks like a cross between Burnout and Full Auto. Entertaining so far... more so that I thought it would be. It's not perfect - rubber band AI, and winning/losing feels at random, instead of skill. Haven't done too many of the stunts yet (where you propel the driver through the windshield into things like a baksetball net and a tall fence), but that looks like the crash mode in Burnout... which means it will be a ton of fun.

NBA 2K8 (Xbox 360) - Only played one game, but was not at all happy with it. It took a step backwards graphically (player models look weird), there are a ton of missed layups (even with the sliders at 100), dunks are hard, and the gameplay is kind of twitchy - I didn't feel like I had total control of my character all the time. Also, yhe half time show pales in comparison to 2K7. To be fair, sometimes I need to settle into a sports game, so ask me again in a week and I may love it. However, initial thought is that it sucks and 2K7 is a far, far, far better game.

Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (demo)

Lots of fun, of course. It was pretty cool running around a city that was under attack. Would be grinding on the grind rails with an entire building toppling down right next to you.

Can't wait to play the game after Christmas.