I think we are finally back on schedule with my weekly recap. Not much has happened really in the last week but what has happened seems to be quite interesting. I have also been playing TimeSplitters 2 way too much the last week as well. This game is just extremely good. The multiplayer is almost as good as Goldeneye; but hey, we’re not here to discuss my obsession with games. I have on hand for you today that the GameCube Freeloader will finally be shipped, Nintendo breaks anti-trust laws in Europe, Nintendo and Retro Studios have the Metroid Prime commercial finished, THQ is named to the fastest growing small companies by Forbes, Phantasy Star Online causes mayhem at local videogame stores, Zelda gets box art, and StarCraft: Ghost’s first trailer is available for everyone’s viewing pleasure.

Oh My God It Does Exist!

Let me tell you a little story that happened this past summer. Super Mario Sunshine had just came out in Japan and I really needed a game to play. I was informed about this “Freeloader” boot disc and had to get it. The release date was only a week later so I ordered it and order a Japanese copy of Super Mario Sunshine. Then the delays started to happen; a week, a month, two months, and then three months. I mean damn! What the hell is the deal with that? I had to end up trying to mod my GameCube myself and well let’s just say that it didn’t go very well. It went well the second time I tried though, so I did get to play Super Mario Sunshine. So people seem to be looking forward to this new boot disc. Well let me inform you guys a little bit. If you use that boot disc you void the warranty on you GameCube. So if it breaks after you boot up you’re screwed royally; even if the boot disc had nothing to do with the problem. My advice is do not get this thing or any third party hardware. I really would hate for you guys to ruin your GameCubes and not be able to enjoy this huge holiday season.

Naughty Naughty Nintendo

Nintendo's "sin", says the Journal, was obstructing cross-border sales, thus allowing it to keep prices high, and keep a firm grip on its distribution channel. Why is this all the news I am hearing in the last couple of days? They broke a rule so I say fine them and then just move on already! If Sony or Microsoft did something like this then no one would even care. However, since it’s Nintendo which is supposedly a “family” oriented business then the media is up in roar. Hell, I think that this could actually be a good thing for Nintendo. Maybe some “mature” gamers will actually think that Nintendo is a little badass and perhaps be the “hip” way to go. Is it me or can you just feel the sarcasm running wild in here? Another prime example of the media needing to shut the fuck up; which is the main reason why I believe I am done with this topic.

Metroid Prime Commercial Complete

Wonderful! Now when is it that I was suppose to be able to see this on television? Hopefully it’s sometime soon because the commercial is definitely very cool. They did this sort of mix of actual game footage and real life footage. When I watched it the first time I could not even tell the difference, that’s how truly amazing the commercial really is. The Star Fox commercials have JUST started to air and that was released a month ago. Nintendo really needs to step their game up a lot and make sure that the American public gets to see these. As for the game itself, I am getting a lot of mixed messages about it. Almost everyone that played it at E3 this year or at the Cube Clubs has absolutely loved it to death. Recently the demo has been put in the retail stores and almost everyone that has played that demo seems to say they don’t like it one bit. Well I for one, and I advise you do this too, is play the game before you buy it for sure. I have never really enjoyed Metroid game but I hope that Prime changes that all around on November 18th.

THQ On The Rise

Last week our good friends over at THQ were named to the Forbes two hundred fastest growing small businesses. It goes to show that you can make a large amount of money on just making wrestling games. THQ is the lead publisher in Wrestling games; with World Championship Wrestling long gone WWE has no competition in any areas anymore. Which means that THQ really has no competition; Legends of Wrestling doesn’t count folks. However the new Legends of Wrestling game by Acclaim seems to be a step up from the first one, I doubt it will be a big hit. THQ has planned to release another SmackDown! game early next year and from watching some videos of it, it surely looks like it will kick serious butt. Raw 2 for Xbox is also currently being made which leads me to think that maybe just maybe there is a new wrestling game heading to Cube in the next year or two. God, let’s hope it’s a little better than WrestleManiaX8; if you even count that piece of fucking trash. Maybe sometime soon we will be seeing THQ on the “fastest growing large businesses” list, if there even is one; which I highly doubt.

Triple Bonus Time!

Have you guys seen the box art for the new Zelda game? Holy mother of pearl it looks very hot. Granted it is the Japanese box art but if they change that at all for the American version they will have some pissed off fans. We already know they’re going to “Americanize” the Zelda name, they will probably do the same with the box art. Someone needs to inform them that we like their ideas and they should just leave them alone for us. Well thank God I am not buying Phantasy Star Online on the 30th. I wouldn’t be able to get online at all unless I wanted shitty dial-up. I did my homework and not one single broadband adapter is in the entire city of Springfield Massachusetts. Obviously Nintendo did not do their homework. They should have been able to project how many homes have broadband adapters in order to fulfill everyone’s desires. I feel sorry for the people that are going to have PSO and no modem. I will join you guys in PSO sometime after Christmas. Right now it is not really a priority...yes I am a sinner, banish me to the depths of Hell, I like the heat. The first trailer for StarCraft: Ghost has been released by Blizzard and it looks sweet. It does not usually happen with one video but I was convinced this time, I have to buy Ghost when it comes out. If you want to view the trailer you can go here. That’s it this week but join in next week when I rattle off some more Nintendo goodness.