Now, this may just be a coincidence, but I'm starting to believe all these Wii rumors going around as we get more of them. This newest rumor comes in the form of a picture that I saw over at Nintendo's Wii site. After navigating through the Wii site to see if anything would relate to an October 2nd (10/2/06) release date, I stumbled upon this picture that is shown to the left. Now, some of you have probably already noticed it when reading the article title and looking straight at the picture.

However, for those who need some explaining - The woman pictured in the middle of the group is wearing a shirt that displays - US 101. Now, we are unsure if the entire shirt just says this or if the jacket is covering up something else. This US 101 translates into US October 1st (10 1). Now, after seeing this picture (under WarioWare of Wii Software), I just couldn't forget about the October 2nd release date rumor that was supported by a decrypted version of Nintendo's Press Release and a Wii game's release date from Walmart.

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[Update]

Well, I have all over the Wii news again, saying to myself that there must be more to it, there must be more information out there! So, I returned and went through all of our Wii articles, and then it hit me! I wasn't a fan of the way we originally portrayed the "decryption" of the Nintendo Press Release, so I went back and reviewed it myself.

After looking over it several times, I found that Final Fantasy V was oddly capitalized (all letters in it), so I knew that had to be part of the hint. So, I went over it again, looking at the press release and other GBA titles mentioned. I found nothing. So, I just started to work with the name (Final Fantasy V) and Wii. Then, it hit me - a W is made by forming two "U"s or two "V"s. So, I formed Wii using two "V"s and came with this - V V ii. Then, I realized the original reasoning and how it turned out to be 10/2 (October 2nd). In roman numerals, a V represents 5 and an I represents 1. So - V + V = 10, and i + i = 2 (result = 10/2)!. Now, this is very, very creepy. Take this as you will, but I was very proud of myself for finding this!

Yeah, so I have a big problem with RPG's, I want to love them, I really, really do, but I think they kind of suck. Now cool down a bit and hear me out first, I know that's a sweeping generalisation so let me state that not all of them suck, but even the ones that don't are guilty of a crime in my court. What's this crime that so many RPG's have committed then? It's the fact that they're the only genre where the core experience and gameplay mechanics can be replicated exactly on another medium... pen and paper. Why not just pick up a literary copy of Dungeons and Dragons and play that instead? The only thing missing is the graphical presentation, and while that enhances the experience does it really truly enrich the gameplay?  Think about it for a moment, the first person shooter experience can't be replicated by any other entertainment medium, neither can the platformer, or the action adventure, sports and simulations are just what they claim to be... simulations.

So what needs to happen then, how can the RPG become a true videogame genre and not merely an almost direct adaptation of an already existing medium? Simple, they need to better take advantage of the interactive nature of videogames. The basic formula of stat tracking, random battles, turn based combat and level grind is archaic and truly belongs in the pen and paper realm. These systems were developed with the limitations of pen and paper games in mind, and they continue to hold back the RPG. The shortcomings of the videogame RPG become all the more apparent when you consider just how non-interactive they are. Most of the game unfolds through a series of long FMV's or dialogue, and is strung together by often random battles with combat systems that nine times out of ten require the player to click the same button over and over in order to unleash a sequence of attacks. Don't get me wrong, some RPG's have made significant headway in this area, games like Parasite Eve, Vagrant Story and the upcoming Final Fantasy XII spring to mind.

If you disagree with my viewpoint that's perfectly fine, I expect a lot of people will, but ask yourself why we are still tied to all the limitations inherent in the pen and paper RPG's, is there anything other than the visuals that the videogame counterpart provides us, anything at all that can be done in a videogame RPG and not on the pen and paper? If your answer is no, then yeah, there is a problem with RPG's, unless you don't mind getting essentially the same experience across multiple media, and really where's the fun in that? If you do think videogame RPG's provide something that their pen and paper counterparts can't or don't, please let me know in the comments section, I'd love to debate it!

Remember when Rambo and Commando were big event movies? Hot damn, it used to be so easy to impress people! Stick a muscular guy in a Cambodian village and give him a big black gun and you've got top class entertainment for the whole family. But as with everything else these days the stakes have gotten higher, much higher. The big event games are coming, the epics of our time, games that will leave you breathless, eyes wide in wonder and mouths agape. What's your fancy?

       

Venture on dear reader, and find out what tasty morsels lie in store after the jump!

In an interview with Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, Capcom producer Hiroshi Kobayashi hinted at the possibility of Devil May Cry heading to Wii and Xbox 360 as well, instead of just the PS3 for it's next iteration. This would be another big loss for Sony after Microsoft announced the next Grand Theft Auto for the Xbox 360.

Kobayashi said he still isn't sure about the real power of Sony's new console, but expects the visuals of a new DMC title to look like the trailer shown at the E3 last year. He didn't reveal anything gameplay-wise except for a definitive change in the fighting system. In order to appeal to more gamers, it's difficulty will be lowered and controls will be made easier to master.

The Devil May Cry series was has been one of the biggest selling franchises for the Playstation 2, especially in Japan. And while Sony still holds key brands like Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid, that may not be enough to convince most gamers to shell out over $500 for the PS3, when they'll be able to play most of the next-gen titles on consoles half as expensive.