But fairly slow week. Myst DS might be interesting, although I could never get anywhere in the original.

One genre I can never manage and tend to get frustrated at is the RTS e.g. Age of Empires (although I still do enjoy that game, but I have avoided many others since). I don't know why I can't get into them, but after spending an hour doing something and it going totally awry, I tend to give up.

Often point 'n clicks can be too hard for me too. The Longest Journey is an example - some of the puzzles in that demanded some insane logic to get past, which usually compels me to a) gamefaqs or b) quit, despite the superb story (played it after Dreamfall, and its a huge difficulty jump). I really like that genre when I get into it (Zack and Wiki) but a really hard RTS truly turns me off.

It has the possibility of a new standard in adaptation excellence, but will wait and see. As long as the narrative is adapted effectively to take advantage of the new medium (the game relied a lot on atmosphere and a sense of general lonliness - this will be hard to get down. And the story played a lot on the fact that it was a videogame and the protagonist's lack of control, which will definitely have to be rejigged) it looks promising. But won't be getting to excited yet.

Although it is no Brain Challenge (a further clone of Brain Training I would imagine? So bizarre that that game has spawned such a sub-genre!)

And all these Lego Island references are bringing back memories. Remember my brother playing that, in between batches of me playing Virtual Springfield, for hours when we were youngsters.

Cel-shaded art style is fantastic when done right (Zelda or Okami being the most impressive, although No More Heroes struggled with the hardware I thought - great game, but not great technically) so could add a bit of graphical flair to proceedings.

Looking foward to it - but I don't think it is fair to judge one one fairly unassuming screen shot. But stuff like Open World and 1v1 battles sound promising.

Still liking the straightfoward review style.

But will be taking part in this, if only because I am in the latter stages of CoD addiction.

Think the old games have shown that it is quite possible to make a cool Spiderman game. It is a shame that Activision are just shovelling them out now though - makes the odds of a decent version slimmer.

Like just yesterday, for example, I was thoroughly dissapointed after firing a few rounds into a random barrell and it didn't explode.

But the RB controversy is based on the fact that no matter how much we pay for games normally, we are never charged over 100% more. HMV in Dublin is currently selling GH3 with wireless guitar for 45 euro (although the 360, PS3 and Wii editions are approximately double that). That suggests that bulky packaging can be sold somewhat reasonably.

They keep on using the VAT and shipping arguements, which just reeks of saying something just because they have to. But for those of us living in Europe know that VAT and shipping have never brought any other gaming product up such a shocking percentage. It is easy for the Harmonix guys in Boston to try and justify it. But for those of us sitting at our computer screens in Europe, and are aware of the everyday reality and workings of the continent, little justification can be found.

Of course, what I've written has been argued again and again. But until we at least get some sort of valid reason for the price hyke (such as figures that prove it has to be sold at this point, which tbh I don't think it does - 180 euro I would find more believable) the same arguements are going to be made over and over. The price isn't going to magically change, but nor are we just going to magically decide it is a reasonable price after all and go out and buy the game. Judging by reaction so far, Rock Band isn't going to be anywhere near as successful in Europe as it was in the States - the gaming community here is thankfully too outraged to accept it. We may miss out on a great game, but if it sends a message across so be it.

I love gaming, and want to be part of the community so I can chat and discuss my hobby. But when you see intelligent discussion drowned out by ill-judged 'debate' or over-use of once funny but now tired memes it can be a little down-heartening.

Kotaku is one of the places (along with the likes of Edge) I feel I can actually come and read intelligent, witty and passionate commentary about all things gaming. In a world where gaming outlets often lack credible independence, or forums where one line posts constitute intelligent debate, it is nice to see a place that feels like it is actually challenging the norm and not just attracting those who feel the anonymity of the internet simply provides an excuse to mouth off. It is a shame to see some posts on Kotaku descend into such anarchy.

I think the chosen comment this weeks highlights why many highlight Kotaku as the premier gaming blog, but also how difficult it will be to keep it like that. The gaming community is still young, trying to find its feet.

Yesterday I filed my first complaint about a despicable racist player on Xbox Live. I've come across them before, but never took the time to report them. Hopefully little things like this can improve - however minor that change is - the way the community works. Posts like this also try and address the issues plaguing gaming these days, and hopefully people will continue to examine the way the community works and strive to improve it.

Things aren't perfect the way it stands. KeroseneClimax sums this up better than I ever could. But things change, and hopefully with enough effort gamers will be able to discuss their hobby with reason, respect and insight. It might be a while, but many of the comments here suggest it can happen.

But nice to see our capital city on Kotaku. Unfortunately our game culture isn't particularly noticable yet, but we're getting there.

But there's a lot of his films out there, and I often get a bit disorientated trying to choose which one to watch next! Yojimbo, Hidden Fortress etc.. are all meant to be great... might pick them up on Criterion when I'm in the States during the summer.

Oh. But still: good try sale-630957096. Better luck next time.

Can't wait for the GotY edition.

Haven't seen this Ripper film alas. But the start of Prey is just a really decent use of music in a video game, which is a rarity. Of course, there is the whole issue of how it wasn't on the jukebox before the whole invasion thing, but thats nitpicking...

And best use of Don't Fear the Reaper, ever.

Will give the interview a read, always nice to see some kind of original aesthetic and artstyle at work.

Well, it would be either post-modern, or a really extreme case of franchising gone to the lowest reaches of hell. Which I suppose this is. Lego are bound to run out of original film stuff to put out there eventually, and I for one don't think a "Obscure, unnamed spacecraft glanced in a single frame of Attack of the Clones, although it may be lens flair" playset would be all that fun.

I found the Day Note and his constant references to Sonic when it was Mario on the screen the funniest, but the bizarre montage of imagery during his crazy rant in the middle was disturbing and almost Lynchian in its brilliant madness.

Can't really think of any side-scroller that takes advantage of current technology. What I've played on XBLA clearly is only making minimal use of the hardware. But if Treasure, Sega or someone else someday produced a full-fledged next-gen two dimensional adventures, the possibilities would be amazing, and not just in graphic terms. Its a shame that retro re-releases seem to be some of the only 2D games around these days, barring the very odd exception on the DS or PSP (or Odin Sphere).

Oh, and they need to kill off the other Sonic characters that came into existence post Mega Drive. I think Sega can sleep soundly in the knowledge that no child will lose sleep following the untimely demise of those particular animals.

Imagine Bioshock 2: actually having to play for plasmids and upgrades when you reach a vending machine. Tbh, wouldn't be half surprised if some game actually tries that.

Next EA 'microtransaction': buy the gameworld on a disc, but pay us for an avatar to navigate it with!

Good to see the more cooler, more offbeat titles on Originals though: give the people some Stranger's Wrath and Panzer Dragoon and the other gems of Xbox Mach 1 are nearly fully represented (along with Psychonauts, of course).