Well, I'd be lying if I said I hate the game, cause I do not. My earlier post was a realistic view of how I was seeing it, and I still stand by it, but I am glad to say that I have at least been, slowly but surely, coming to appreciate some of it's more subtle qualities.

I'm still not wowed, but I'm at least feeling like it wasn't a complete waste of time or money.

I'm currently somewhere in South America, and have a feeling I'll be finishing up Act II pretty soon. I expect to have the game completed within the weekend. I may end up giving it another play through before I write my review. Sometimes, when I feel my overall opinion about a really hyped and major title is much lower than expected, I like to give it another run in the hope that I find more positive qualities in it to give it a better overview. I guess, only time will tell if that happens.

It's a pretty good game, but if it's the savior for the PS3 everyone has been talking about, then I don't see the PS3 as having that bright of a future if this is as far as the potential can go.

Then again, everyone has their own opinion. This is mine, and I respect those who think differently. I only wish people would put a little more thought and objectivity into reviewing. Not everything is a 1 or a 10.

I don't think I could possibly be more disappointed with MGS4. What really blows my mind is how so many people are carelessly throwing around these 10s, without having much to back it up with. I currently own a combined total of around 100 different games on the 360, PS3 and Wii, and I just can't see what is so special about MGS4. I am left to wonder if all these scores are merely given by fanboys, or by people who's exposure to a wide range of games is grossly limited in scope.

Without a doubt, I'd have to say that this is probably the most unjustifyably hyped games of the year. There isn't a single aspect of it that I would say is exceptionally well done - it's mediocrity on every level.

I notice how quickly the fan boys jump ahead with leaving the solid 10 reviews, but as the time the game has been out increases, the contradictory reviews seem to trickle in. All along, Gamespot cowardly waits to see what everyone else (and every other mainstream press critic) thinks before they give their verdict.

Had this game been released under any other name, it would have been shredded to pieces. But once again, the users have proved how easy it is for the hype machine to process a title into a sugar-coated fabrication.

I'm glad to see there are others out there who have enough courage to accurately and more realistically judge the game, in light of the mass number of people who seem to only see games as 10s and 1s.

Please hold your stones until you have read the whole thing.

I know it's long (like most of my other reviews), but I try to cover nearly everything that I thought about when playing it.

http://www.levlive.com/item.php?id=308

Did I mention that reviews are one's personal opinion?

*runs for cover*

PS: reading my reviews on my personal site (as linked above) is always recommended, because Gamespot is a huge fan of censorship. A couple words had to be changed in my review when posting it here, so if you want to read the uncensored version of my reviews always check my home page.

PPS: Damn I'm glad I canceled my total access subscription here just days ago. I am really beginning to hate how little freedom you have on this site.

I got "Perfect Moves" today, during my "Wii Fit workout". That is, on the dancing game (the harder of the two), I got perfect for every single move and earned a perfect score!

It only took my 17 days (LOL)...

Here's a photograph I took if you don't believe me!

http://www.levlive.com/item.php?id=264

You know things are getting worse when companies devise clever schemes to reap the benefits of tax-free marketing campaigns. The recently founded "non-profit" organization, PC Gaming Alliance, is a perfect example of just this. While on the outside it's purpose may come off as a welcome idea to the average, good-hearted gamer, the underlying truth of the matter may be far different than that.

First of all, what does it mean to be a non-profit organization. In technical terms it is when an organization does not seek to reap profits, and it's income is lesser than, or equal to, it's necessary finances needed in order to sustain itself. Obviously, there is a lot more to it than just that, and there are also numerous factors which serve as major beneficial incentives. For example, non-profit organizations have the opportunity to attain tax-exempt status. Another major advantage is that donations given to such an organization are often tax-refundable, and can be written off as charitable expenses.

So now, keeping this all in mind, what is the PC Gaming Alliance all about then? According to the organization's web site, the "PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to drive worldwide growth of PC gaming". In other words, it's a "non-profit" organization who's purpose is to revitalize a sluggish market, thereby increasing growth in the PC hardware and software markets. Naive gamers might be conned into believing the organization is there to benefit them, yet how exactly this would be achieved remains unclear. Sociologically speaking, the organization has no direct benefit to society, and in no way constitutes an organization who's purpose is the people. On the other hand, there are a considerable number of groups who stand to directly benefit from such an structure, and those would just so happen to include share holders in corporations that produce software and hardware that PC gamers use. Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Dell, and Nvdia are several companies which would, no doubt, greatly benefit from resurrected PC gaming "growth".

Then, who exactly is behind the PC Gaming Alliance? You probably already are aware of this, but sure enough it's the same companies; Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Dell, and Nvidia. That's not just a coincidence that the companies who have the most to gain from such a campaign are also the same companies behind the so-called non-profit organization.

So it seems companies are not only getting more and more clever, but that they are constantly using the systems in place to their advantage. Sure, you could easily argue that the PCGA is truly a non-profit organization since it won't actually profit itself. However, you'd have to be completely blind to ignore the fact that those who will benefit the most from the organization are also those who founded the organization itself.

Is this the beginning of the end, or is this possibly the "same old" to a greater degree? In any event, it seems as though if you play your cards right you can get away with free advertisement to boost your revenue. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that what's good for the PCGA is good for the companies behind it. Because donors to non-profit organizations can write off their contributions, in a sense it would mean that these same corporations can get away with free marketing by using a puppet organization to do their bidding. Because of the nature of how non-profit organizations are treated through the legal system, it could, and may, mean that other companies can easily jump on the bandwagon. Heck, if your business's sales are slumping, slap together a dummy organization that's purpose is to promote your industry, and voila: free marketing.

Excuse this jaded and skeptical gamer if my take on the whole situation doesn't sit too well with you, but the very idea of what appears to be going on doesn't sit very well with me. I love games, and I love the people who make them and make them possible. But that doesn't mean that I will treat those who's business's revolve around them with any sort of immunity. The PCGA appears to be nothing more than a highly decorated scam. By sugar-coating a concept gamers can eagerly eat up and embrace, most of us ignore the possibility that it isn't even setup for us. While it may be true that the PCGA will operate as a non-profit organization, all of the companies behind it will clearly profit directly as a result. I don't know about you, but that sounds to me to be a lot more like a well-planned charade than anything else. If it's only a matter of time before the PCGA's unquestionable, incentive for the gamers of the world becomes apparent, then maybe my doubts can be assuaged. Until then, I think it's best if we remain skeptical by calling their bluff.