I had been looking forward to Dragon Quest IX for some time on the DS. I thought that the game would be released on time or slightly after it's Japanese counterpart, but for some reason, I have not seen or heard much about a US Release.

It was in my head, and I'm not sure why, that Japanese games were starting to become translated faster and released in North America fairly quick, but with this DQ IX problem, I'm starting to have my doubts.

See, I had been looking forward to this release for some time. Looking at the game on gamespot and other gaming websites really had me going about how awesome this game was going to be. Then I see it gets released in Japan, sells 3 million copies. It's a hit, a great game, people are buying. I want to buy, too. And I'm sure many other people in the US want to buy it as well.

But nothing. I searched the web for possible US Releases, but all I hear is "sometime" and "Maybe 2010". With the sales this game has had, wouldn't they want to get it over here as soon as possible. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but RPG's on the DS usually do pretty well here in the States. So why the wait? Get this game over here, now!

So I guess I will be waiting some time before I see DQ IX on my local Gamespots shelf. Not sure why, but there will be a wait. Till when? I don't know. I'll keep my eyes on the web, looking for any information I can find.

Over the past few weeks I've been mindlessly playing games that I wanted to beat a while ago, but haven't because I've been busy with the semester.  Beating Suikoden 4 was a major relief.  I did not enjoy the game, and the reason I played it was because I beat all the rest of the Suikoden games except 5 and I wanted to move on.  Unfortunately, when I got 5 it wasn't that much fun either.  So I play the game, trying to beat it, slowly.  I'll also play Medieval Total War 2 every once in a while in an attempt to beat that, and I'll also play Metal gear Portable ops also, which is fun.  With more games bound on the way for Christmas, I'm running a bit behind schedule.  So many games to play, but enough time to play them all!

So the other day, while playing Metal Gear Portable Ops, I tried out the "Scan for Recruits" feature, which allows you to pick up an IP Address from a Wireless Internet Connection, and pending on the address, gives you a character.  From my home address, I got a character named Crow, who was very good, and was the first sniper in my ranks.  Figuring I needed more recruits (I just had a bunch of soldiers that were dumb and only knew how to handle an AK-47 and little else) I figured to take a walk around the neighborhood with my dog and my beloved PSP.  Going around the neighborhood, I used the feature to pick up about 8 different connections, tapping the O button repeatedly in hopes of getting a character.  Most of the characters I got were very unique and good.  From that small walk, I got some kick ass recruits, so needless to say, I'll be doing it again in the parts of the neighbordhood I have yet ventured.  It was really fun, it kind of felt like cheating, but it's not, I mean, it's a feature in the game, and it's not like the recruits I got were God awesome, but they were above average.  I love Metal Gear Portable Ops!

This summer season for gaming hasn't been the greatest admittingly.  Most days I either play a bit of Guild Wars Factions or lose myself in Black and White 2.  But lately, I've been doing more reading on what is coming out in this great video game world, and I have many things to look forward to.

Firstly, Medieval Total War 2 will hit the shelves in November.  I definently want it, no big suprise there.  I own and have spent hundreds of hours on all of the games, the original Medieval Total War probably being my favorite.  But Medieval Total War 2 looks great, with the graphics, updated systems, more realism in combat, different looking units within ranks; I have a thousand and one reasons to say why this game is going to be great.

Warhammer 40K:  Dark Crusade also looks great.  I am a Warhammer 40K, and love the Dawn of War Series.  I spent a long time playing Winter Assault since I loved the Imperial Guard so much.  But in this new installment, they are adding two, TWO whole new playable factions, the Tau and the Necrons, and are doing some tweaking to the system.  I have a feeling this Dawn of War game will feel right at home with it's others, and will surpass it's collection and will amaze gamers again.

Final Fantasy 12 is coming out on October 31st, and I really look forward to the game.  To be honest, I don't know too much about the game, and I really didn't like 10 too much, and I hated 11, but I have a good feeling about 12.  I think this one will have a chance to win my good will towards the Final Fantasy series, as if scenes from Final Fantasy 13 didn't do that on it's own...the game looks beautiful.

The PSP, which I do not own, will soon be added to my game collection for three main purposes, firstly, because I've wanted it for so long, and the price dropped, secondly, because Metal Gear Ops (awesome looking game) is coming out for it, and thirdly, and probably my most favorite, soon Playstation One games will be available for download (as I have read on various sites and on Electronic Gamer Magazine) for a price that will download to your Memory Stick.  All I have to say to that is awesome, and I will definently be picking up a copy soon.  First on my download list will be Suikoden One and Two, which I will finally own, YES!  No more having to dish out $200 just to get both games, when I can get a PSP instead and just buy them for download.  Speaking of the Playstation One download center, I can't wait to see how they hash that one out, they probably have a lot of creative ideas brewing.  Supposedly this fall we will see the first of these downloads.

Last on my list, and certainly not least, is Half Life Episode II, which will come out with Portals (which looks good in it's own respect), and Team Fortess II (a game I completely lost myself in my freshman year of high school...good old days, I wouldn't trade them).   Episode II will reveal more story and looks like it has some new enemies that are being brought to Earth to fight, and I can't wait to hop back into action, especially after Episode I, which I felt somewhat deprived, seeing as the game was rather, short, to say the least.  But great nonetheless.  Team Fortress 2, though the new look is heavily critized, looks awesome to me.  I think once people see the graphics in gameplay it will win them over...

...or not.