So, The Rumors Were True After All; Bungie Leave Microsoft

Bungie is indeed leaving the Microsoft umbrella. Microsoft will retain the Halo IP (Intellectual Property), and a stake in the company, but other than that they're free to do whatever they want. I'm sure Sony is knocking (beating?)on their door this very moment asking them to try something different, something they've never done before, something so innovative and unique that gamers just have to jump all over it...a shooter on the PlayStation 3. I'm calling for an announcement in the next three months if not sooner. Start the countdown clock now. Of course the game won't come out until 2009, but the hype will begin once that announcement is made.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

E For All Badge Received

I got my E For All badge in the mail. I'm still not 100% sure if I'll be able to make it, but I'd like to go to check it out at least for one day. I want to compare it to the old E3. The only thing that's really holding me back at this point is that it's a public event. Not that I can't stand being in the public, but it's kind of hard to get any sort of "real journalism" done when there's a bunch of non-media members around. No offense to any of my readers, as if there were any, but at E3 it was easy, check that, easier to get around and get information. Especially at this past E3 when it was much more intimate. The problem comes from battling 30,000 other people for a spot in line when in theory I should have much more privileges than them because I've got media credentials. The other problem is that I haven't gotten one company saying they'd like to meet with me or visit their booth (actually I've gotten several companies, but nothing good...no offense 5 hour Energy, it's just that, I don't see what your product has to do with gaming) which isn't exactly a good thing with a little less than three weeks to spare. Maybe that means they're not really taking meetings? Maybe it means that I've got to set these things up on my own? Maybe it means no one is showing anything new? Maybe it means nothing at all? I'm not sure, but if they want to make this into a big media spectacle they've got to clean up their act. Hot on the heels of a substandard E3, the media would be more than willing to jump on something that provides all the games and spectacle that they've come to know and love over the past decade or so. Hell, a bunch of them were even willing to go to PAX, which didn't break much news either. I can't believe this will be much bigger/better. I could be wrong, I might even like to be wrong, but only if I end up going. If I do be sure to stick around and check out all my pics. -Red

New PS3 40GB Model Coming and the State of the PS3

Engadget.com
File this under rumor and under *sigh* because if Sony introduces yet another PS3 model I think they'll officially have pissed off just about every PS3 owner they've managed scrape up until now. Imagine the frustration of all those people who just paid $500 (60 GB) or even $600 on the 80GB model. I really think Sony is in a whole hell of a lot of trouble. Don't believe me? Look at the state of the PS3 in Japan: Yahoo! Games

Get Your Wii Remote Jacket Free Courtesy Nintendo

Apparently Nintendo wants you to not break your TV set and then sue them for making faulty equipment, despite the fact that it's mostly your fault that you couldn't use their remotes properly. I mean, you can't really sue Ford because you don't know how to drive and you wrecked can you? Anyway, if you've bought a Wii already Nintendo is providing you with free remote jackets. If you're interested check out: http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/jacket/jacketrequest.jsp

You can request up to 4, and Lord knows how many people only have one remote, but will request four anyway. You'll need your serial number, so make sure to have that handy.