Loved my DC. The salt in the wound was a terrible Shenmue port to the xbox and no Shenmue3........*sobs

I don't know much about how far there is to go before we can download a game fast and efficiently but when that day comes I'll have mixed feelings. On the one hand there's the infuriating concept of the game store itself, whereby it is usually bereft of any intelligent life forms and has that tacky, kiddy design to it, that makes you almost embarrassed to enter. However, I do like the community spirit of a midnight opening; something that you don't really get with any other medium, you don't see people queuing for a DVD release or a Music release because people have usually heard/seen/downloaded enough of it to quell their excitement by the time it is on sale. Of course, we have game demos but most people approach these with the notion that it may not reflect the finished article and so steal themselves until they can have the proper experience.
For the time they have left, game stores need to provide a better service than they currently do. They need to move with the times and get rid of the primary colours or in some instances, the dark and dingy mise-en-scene that perpetuates in these institutions like some sort homage to the 80's. Gaming has got serious, and 'why so serious?' Mr Joker, because its bloody expensive thats why.

I'm pretty excited about the new interface, it shows at the very least Microsoft's good intentions and future commitment to the image of the xbox360; this perhaps just as people may be starting to peep over the parapet at what Sony are up to. A new dashboard is a decent enough idea to reinvigorate a console thats had a tough few quarters with triple A titles thin on the ground. I feel this is coming at a good time, with Fable and Gears for company I'm feeling positive about Christmas. I Just hope they can cope with the demand on Live this time round. Christmas with the family? No thanks.