Forza 2
Hi, I just have one question about Forza 2 and if it is worth the $59.99 price tag. I have been an arcade racing fan for a long time and am wondering if Forza 2 is a good game to jump into for me. I know that the learning curve in some driving simulation games are steep so I was just wondering if Forza 2 was different. Thanks for your time and I hope that you read this letter. Good luck to you all!

Forza 2 is indeed a driving sim, but in my experience it feels fairly accessible to those new to the genre. In addition to the standard difficultly levels, Forza 2 also allows you to turn on or off a number of driving assists such as arrows indicating where you should accelerate, ABS brakes, and turning assists. It still feels like a simulation, but it isn't so unforgiving with all of the help turned on. The game also has great explanations for each of the upgradeable car parts and tuning options to help you find your way.

As an introduction to serious car racing, Forza 2 works quite well. Just be prepared to invest a little time in learning.

-- Erik

Dark Sector
I was wondering if the "glave" idea for Dark Sector was influenced any by the movie Krull?

Everything is influenced by the movie Krull. Everything.

-- Erik

BioShock in August
August is shaping up to be a big month for 360 games, with Blue Dragon, Virtua Fighter, Stranglehold, Bioshock, and possibly Mass Effect all shipping within the month. But based off all the info we've been getting about Bioshock, is the game really still 2 months off from release? Everyone involved with the game talks about it like it's already done.

All signs point to yes. The PC guys played BioShock recently on both PC and Xbox 360 and tell me that it looks pretty polished and close to being done. The 360 version is a little farther ahead, but only because it has to be submitted to Microsoft for approval.

-- Erik

Adults Only
Now keep in mind I write this while taking a break from playing the new Scarface: The World is yours...I am not some disconnected parent who doesn't "get" video games.

But seriously, those of you reading this who are over about the age of about 21...those of you who consider yourself 'adults', think about this.

Some issues, like this one, are not as simple as we'd like. No one knows HOW MUCH violent and sexually explicit games affect young developing minds...but we know they do. No one knows exactly WHERE the line is about what's too far...but we know there's a line. So it becomes one of those complicated issues where you have to...in a sense err on one side or the other. It is the job of ALL adults to make small sacrifices for the general well-being of children at large.

I want to buy this game don't get me wrong. But what's so bad about having to go some place other than Wal-Mart to get it? What's so bad about me being required (by law) to show my ID to buy it? What's SO BAD about me even having to order it online from a special dealer? I don't care. If that's what it takes to keep great games like Manhunt 2 coming while actually keeping them away from kids...why wouldn't every "adult" gamer be for that?

Joshua

The Manhunt 2 controversy has spilled over into the Xbox 360 mail. And with good reason. If topics like this aren't discussed and paid attention to, we may well find ourselves on a slippery slope of censorship. Microsfot, Sony, and Nintendo feel they are fit to act as morality police and, as such, all have policies that say we'll never see any AO games on consoles or on Games for Windows branded PC games.

You're spot on with the notion that AO games should be kept out of the hands of minors and that we don't know exactly how much playing such games would effect developing minds in the long run. It's equally important that we don't censor such games completely out of existence, which is what is happening right now.

-- Erik

IPTV
I'm looking into getting the 120 gig hard drive and HDMI cable for my premium 360. I can't find anywhere that will tell me if I can use my 360 as a DVR and record sports, movies or tv shows off my digital cable. Can I record football games etc. of my digital cable tv service on to my 360? I'd appreciate it if you could help me out. Thanks and have a good day.

P.S. When are you guys going to post the following on your website: video of Arkansas' wildcat package for NCAA 08? Also the roster, team and player rankings for NCAA 08. Look forward to hearing from you, thanks.

Right now, you can't use your Xbox 360 as a DVR. IPTV, an internet television service, is looking to change that. Microsoft had a demo of an IPTV enabled Xbox 360 at GDC this year where the Xbox 360 performed a similar function to a DVR enabled cable box, but such a service has not made it to the public just yet.

More on NCAA 08 is on the way shortly. Stories are in the works. Jeff Haynes over on the PlayStation team is on it.


-- Erik