This is one of the hardest achievements available. Some would argue it's the hardest period. Today, I earned this achievement. Without a doubt it will stand as my most proud achievement I will ever have earned. I've played this game for around 200 hours and beaten it about 15 times, but this is the culmination of all my efforts.

I encourage all who love Ninja Gaiden 2 to strive for this goal. The journey is very challenging, but the reward is worth the effort.

And particularly you Major Nelson. You say you are finally going to make good on banning gamertags who have modded consoles for the purpose of playing pirated games. I hope so. I'll be watching to see you make good on it...

I posted a blog a few weeks ago about XBL users having modded consoles that play pirated games and how, even when reported directly to an XBL Moderator, nothing is done about it. I submitted it for an editorial here on GS. Funny thing is while that blog did not make the Soapbox, a blog where a user took pictures of a mock funeral for his RROD 360 and another blog where someone takes a retrospective look at launch title scores for the 360 makes the soapbox.

DOES ANYONE HERE AT GAMESPOT CARE ABOUT PIRACY??????????

First off, I truly hope this blog is noticed by a moderator here at Gamespot and they put it on the front page. Maybe then a moderator from Microsoft will notice it and take action. If not one of them, hopefully someone from a developr (EA, Epic, Sega, Capcom, etc.) will take note.

Like most users to this site who have an Xbox 360, my console has not been modded. I buy games off the shelf at local retailers at full price new, reduced price used. When a game is first released, I pick it up at the retailer just like most of us.

At this point, you might be wondering, "How does Microsoft encourage piracy?" Given their extensive experience in software and hardware, you would think they would be at the frontlines on the battle against software piracy. I believe it's reasonable to expect that everyone who has Xbox Live, myself included, understands that if a Microsoft moderator checks your account and finds...questionable material your account can be suspended or banned, and even your console can be banned from Xbox Live. A short time ago they made a seemingly definitive statement by banning gamercards who have used illegitimate means to gain gamerscore (StripclubDJ is the most famous ban). It would seem that since then Microsoft as stopped checking.

Case in point. I know three users who have modded consoles and use pirated games (gamertags shall remain anonymous). Two of them do not play games on Live before they are available at retail. The other basically is flipping the bird to Xbox moderators while they turn and walk away. This user began playing Gears of War 2 three weeks before release (at this time the game hasn't been released). Within one week this person beat the game up to Hardcore difficulty. I filed approximately 15-20 complaints on this individual for system tampering. I later reported this directly to the figurehead of Xbox Live, Major Nelson. In my message I identified the gamertag and identified the violations of a modded console and pirated software (specifically Gears 2). In the week that has passed since I reported the gamertag, this person is still playing on Live everyday.

Let me ask, what is the point of being anti-piracy, having a code of conduct, moderators, and a complaint system if there are people like this on Xbox Live everyday? Isn't Microsoft supporting piracy by being inactive toward pirates? Does this make the code of conduct and complaint system a joke? Microsoft, you clearly wanted your Xbox Live userbase to take you seriously with regard to conduct. This shows how little mind you pay to piracy. Step it up.

Although 2008 is fast drawing to a close, there are some games I cannot wait to get my hands on. Even though the announcements for big titles for 2009 have barely started, it also already holds promise. Let's take a look at my future addictions...

2008-

What more needs to be said about this one? Killer graphics, an improved cover system, new weapons and executions... This is a must-play for me.

After the f-bomb that was Sonic the Hedgehog for the 360, I'm a bit reserved about this one. It does look to be an improvement, minus the whole werehog beat-em-up aspect. It looks like a Sonic should look, bright, colorful, and fast. Now if the controls can keep up with the speed we might have the best 3D Sonic game since Sonic Adventure for the Dreamcast back in 1999.

2009-

I've been playing Resident Evil since the original came out on the Saturn. I lost a bit of faith in the series with the release of titles like Code Veronica (no decapitation in a RE?!?!?!) and Survivor (read: AWFUL!), but then titles like Resident Evil GCN and Resident Evil 4 reminded us fans of what made this franchise so great in the first place- atmosphere and enemies. Resident Evil 5 looks to improve on what made RE4 so great- improved controls, gritty graphics, better story, large environments, more weapons... This looks to be one of those rare sequals that improves on the sequal before it...which should equal AWESOME!!!

Let's be honest here, there are other games that I have interest in. The games listed here are the games I intend to have the first day they're available. The list of games I have interest in and might pick up at a later date include-

Fable II

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

Guitar Hero: World Tour

And lastly, two other games I hope to see come out in 2009-

Doom 4

Wolfenstein