DAILY MANIFESTO

GR Mailbag: Often Belated, Never Duplicated

Posted on Tuesday, November 19 @ 12:13:14 Eastern by Duke_Ferris

Okay, Fine, An Update On The Stupid War

From: S Towler
Subject: Consoles

Hello Game-Revolution people.

I have been going to your site for quite a while now and I personally think it is great. I can find all the information I am looking for in your site. Plus, the reviews are always good to read, and sometimes humurous. (Especially the PC Survivor one) The mailbag is also quite funny too. Anyway, (as you may have imagined) I have a question for you. Now that the three major consoles are out, and have been out for quite some time, I haven't really heard much about the console wars anymore. Before they were launched, there was a lot of controversy between which one would be the greatest, and now that they are out, you don't hear anything anymore. So, in your personal opinion, which one do you think won the console wars? I myself, own a Gamecube and a PS2. I am not an Xbox hater, but it just seems like there are a lot of sports games for Xbox, Halo, and a Time-sweeping cat.

Let me know what you think

Hi S. Towler,

We randomly picked your letter out of the 7 billion we get each week asking about our thoughts on the console wars. Congratulations on being random.

You're right - the console war concept has died down for a while, but it's slowly coming back as the holidays draw ever-nearer. So who's the winner? Well, that depends what your criteria for 'winning' is.

In terms of sales, no one is even remotely close to the Playstation 2, which has dramatically outsold both the GC and Xbox at about a 4 to 1 ratio. But to be fair, the system has been out for a solid year longer than the Xbox and GC, so it's a little skewed.

And sales figures do not a system make. The true barometer for the success of a system is the quality of its games, at least in terms of how much enjoyment you get from it, which, after all, is what these things are all about.

There are terrific games for each system, and it still boils down to what kinds of games interest you. Zelda, Mario and Resident Evil can only be found on the Gamecube. You want Grand Theft Auto, you'll need a PS2. Halo 2, Splinter Cell or Project Ego? Hello, Xbox.

Will the Gamecube or Xbox fold in a few months? Probably not, as neither Microsoft nor Nintendo is really losing money. It looks like we'll have all three for at least another 6 months... which is how long we're going to wait before answering another console war question.

-GR

It's A Travesty Of Geek Justice!

From: *********@aol.com
Subject: Halo isn't on Xbox Live?

Just recently, after talking to a tech, on xbox.com I learned that the original Halo will not be compatible with Xbox Live! A lot of the old PS@ games you can pay $5 and get an online version of the game, Microsoft isn't doing this with Halo. WTF is Microsoft thinking, why isn't one of the best FPS's of all time (and a GR grade A) not on Xbox Live? It even says on the label that you can play Halo on the Internet. Even on the multiplayer screen it says that you can play Halo online. Has Microsoft ever heard of false advertising. I wonder if I could successfully sue Microsoft for false advertising?

SilentKillerPA

Dear Unfortunate AOL Subscriber,

Sure! Go ahead and sue Microsoft! Then, go ahead and sue Heinz for turning ketchup green. And while you're at it, sue Entenmann's... their chocolate chip cookies are criminally delicious.

After you're done suing everyone and you're out on the streets thanks to massive legal costs, feel free to swing by the GR office for some Halo 2, which will most certainly be Xbox Live! compatible.

Besides, you actually can play Halo online, it's just kind of tricky.

We're not that mad at Microsoft about Halo not running through Xbox Live! because, after all, the game came out a year before the system went online. They gave you one of the best console games you've ever played. The least you could do is give them (and us) a break.

- GR

'S' Stands For Smooth

From: "Joey Joe Joe Shabadoo Jr."
Subject: xbox controllers

Which is the best third-party xbox controller and is it worth buying or are you better off to just pay the extra cash to get Type S controller?

Dear Joey Joe Joe Shabadoo Jr.,

Unless you have hands bigger than your head, we recommend the S controller wholeheartedly.

And give our best to Barney Gumble.

-GR

Hey Internet! Leave Our Words Alone!

From: Keith Scott
Subject: Those Ba#$%rds

Dear Gr,

"Part of what makes Suikoden III so unique is how the storyline is addressed. Told from multiple points of view, the progression of the plot is pretty revolutionary." -ign

Can you believe it?! I know a certain internet gaming network that has been bought by Belgium.-

Keith
President, USCBA
(United States Committee on Belgian Atroscities)

Dear Keith,

Dammit! That's TWICE IN A ROW! First we find out that another site named a forum "Misc" and now we have proof that the thieves over at IGN are STEALING OUR WORDS. What's next? We hope they stay away from classic GR words like "control" and "graphics," not to mention more complex words like "frisky" and "aforementioned."

Belgium and IGN...how did we not see that coming? Especially after that time in Vegas when we saw the IGN editors eating BELGIAN WAFFLES at the buffet line...

-GR

Your Vomit Does Not Scare Us

From: "Serge Ostrovski"

Subject: Expect it within 2-3 weeks.

If you geeky outcasts of society post another self-elevating, monotonic, blunt sarcasm riddled reply I will throw up. I will then seal this symbol of loath in an air tight package, and mail it to you.

In fact, I think I'll go and get myself ready. Do you fellers like sausage? ... Sausage it is!

Expect your first installment in 2-3 weeks.

Dear Serge,

We prefer chicken.

-GR

Tags: gr mailbag