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PuttCrusher04 on the Short Game

There are two places | like to blow off steam. One is the wrestling ring, where | see how high | can throw other wrestlers. Theother is the putting green. A good putt depends

ona proper grip. | grip the putter firmly, but just loose enough so | don't shatter it with my bare hands.

When it comes to putting, mental preparation is key. For me, bench-pressing a golf cart and acouple hundred push-ups usually do the trick.

While standing with your feet neck-width apart, bend over until you can see the ball past your pectorals.

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= The cast of FINA crazier. Thé golf physics are sweeter. And the chance to out-birdie other players online is finally here. Play real-time tourneys online with up to 30 players, or go head-to-head, chatting it up during each round. Hot Shots Golf” FORE! Golf for the People.

Visit www.esrb.org

for updated rating

ы ۶ www.us.playstation.com information. ә $ Р

Сао i ar ee. online play requires Interet connection, Network Adaptor (lor PlayStation 2) and Memory Card (8MB) (for PlayStation 2) (each sold separately). Hot Shots Golf за registered trademark of Sony ВЕДАВВАНО GNU Your World. Play In Ours” isa trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Online icon is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

пкегВгеакег007 on Getting Out of the Sand

le always ask how I learned to conquer these mighty sand traps. | don't know. ’s like asking how gale-force winds learn to blow just as а dude's ready to tee - Off. All| do know is that ever since | was a kid, | liked surfing near sand, sitting оп

sand, even eating sand. But that was on a dare.

Before attempting to get that ball out, thoroughly wax your wedge. Better too much than not enough.

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- Swing undertheball and lift itout of the sand. Then do a thorough toe check for anysignsofsandjam. _

Computer Entertainment America Inc. ©2004 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “PlayStation” and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Live In Liv Е |! ДҮ 5 UR LD.

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Get your start racing open-wheel Modifieds. These short track screamers are а great introduction to driving sideways and upside down.

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BIG Wins ATTRACT FANS AND SPONSORS, j à Step up to the SIVE AUTOGRAPH “= Craftsman Truck Series. SESSIONS. | AE Tough it out in rugged, tail-happy 55Ohp rigs : қ built for hauling something MOVE AHEAD 2 SPACES. И => «. š other than cargo.

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MORE ELITE THAN EVER - FIGHT ENHANCED THE BEST XBOX LIVE™ GAME OF ALL TIME GETS DOUBLE THE ACTION - TEAM UP WITH A FRIEND AI TERRORISTS IN 10 NEW AND STUNNING | EVEN BETTER WITH NEW OBJECTIVE-BASED AND TAKE DOWN TERRORISTS IN HIGH-PRESSURE, SINGLE-PLAYER MISSIONS. | MULTIPLAYER AND XBOX LIVE 3.0 ONLINE FEATURES. TWO-PLAYER SPLIT-SCREEN MISSIONS!

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STORMS BACK INTO ACTION AVAILABLE NOW

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MIDNIGHT CLUB 3: DUB EDITION

This game is so blingin' that Rockstar originally considered calling it Midnight Club 3: Lord Blingingworth's Bling-a-thon. Okay, not really, but this is still one tuned-up ride. We headed down to Miami 10 get the latest on this street racer, and while we were down there, checked out some pimpin' rides at a car show and even got to chat with the folks at DUB Magazine. Roll on over to page 42, won't you?

ELECTRONIC ARTS LA We took a tour at of one of the industry's biggest and busiest studios: Electronic Arts' LA facility. What horrible, substandard working conditions did we find? None! Get a glimpse inside the world of a top-tier developer here, and find out what games it is toiling on at the moment.

departments

STAFF Read the team's latest favorites

GI SPY Silly pictures of our life and times

DEAR GI Your chance to fire back at us!

CONNECT Where news, talk, and technology collide

INTERVIEW Ubisoft's vice president of mar- keting Tony Kee talks about Tom Clancy, Kid Rock, and how market- ing and games are permanently linked

8 GAME INFORMER

LONE WOLF The first MechAssault game is still the number one Xbox Live title of all time, and Developer Day 1 Studios has a few tricks to ensure that the franchise stays on top. Want to hop online and conquer an entire galaxy with your friends? Now you can, thanks to the new online mode that will make sure you never truly get away from the game.

GEAR Geeky gadget stuff for the masses - from robots to TVs

REVIEWS Game of the Month: ESPN NFL 2K5

OPINION Capcom's Robert Johnson tells us why, in the world of game devel- opment, you can't always get what you want

CHARTS Retail Sales Data and the GI editors' Top 10 Games

SECRET ACCESS Codes, strategies, and passwords CALENDAR

Get hip to this month's happenings CLASSIC 61

Reliving gaming's greatest PREVIEWS moments Can you say sequels? Info on

the Halo, Metal Gear Solid, and Xenosaga franchises awaits you here. Plus, fashion guru Marc Ecko

enters the gaming realm!

GAME OVER The end...or is it?

GAME

Amazing Island

Armored Core: Nexus

Asterix & Obelix XXL . .

Astro Boy .....

Aura: Fate of the Ages

Burnout 3: Takedown . .

Catwoman (Multi)

Catwoman (GBA)

ChoroQ

Dog's Life БЕГЛ, 1 Dragon Ball 2: Supersonic Wess Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires

ESPN NFL 2K5 ....

ESPN NHL 2K5

Ghosthunter

Gran Turismo 4.

Grand Theft Auto: Sn Ie

Guilty Gear X2 #Reload . . .

Gungrave: Overdose . .

Halo 2 SSH

Hot Shots Golf d

Kameo: Elements of Power . .

Katamari Damacy ...

King Arthur š

Kohan ll: Kings of War . .

Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude Madden NFL 2005 (Multi)

Madden NFL 2005 (GBA)

Mario Tennis š А 8 Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure Men of Valor ...........

Metal Gear Solid 5: Snake Eater

Mighty Beanz Pocket Puzzles ........ Missing: Since January ...................... NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup

Need for Speed Underground 2 NHU2005- ЕРИ не

Oddworld: Stranger

Outlaw Golf 2 . .

Phantom Brave . . .

Pro Fishing Challenge

Rainbow Six 3 .... у

Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow .

Robotech Invasion

Samurai Warriors

Second Sight

Silent Hill 4: The Room

Sly 2: Band of Thieves

Spider-Man 2 . У: nens Star Wars Tilogy. Apprentice of the e Street Fighter Anniversary Collection ...... Sudeki

Tiger Woods PGA Tour X 2

Ultimate Card Сатев............. Uru: The Path of the Shell ...... Viewtiful Jo ККДК. Ке alee аа Xenosaga || eits von Gut und Böse X-Men Legends .....

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PEOPLE AND | PLACES

] ANDY McNAMARA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As a long time gamer, much of my youth was spent not only playing games, but thinking about how cool it would be to actually be a part of the industry. Of course, | now һауе my dream job. But one of the things that | always thought was missing from the world of video games was a look at the people and places that produce them. Working in the industry, | have had opportunities to not only meet my heroes, but to see the hallowed halls where the games themselves are made.

Game Informer is certainly all about the games, but over the last year we have introduced a number of departments that give you, the reader, a chance to meet the people that make this industry tick with our Interview and Opinion sections. Last month, with the debut of Connect's newest feature, Places, we were also able to show them to you. This month we take it a step further with a huge blowout on one of the newest video game studios, EALA.

While we don't plan on doing Places or features such as this each and every month, we are going to do them on a regular basis, as | think it gives you an opportunity to see how the video game industry works and plays. | know every time | walk into a stu- dio І instantly feel a tinge of satisfaction from seeing the behind-the-scenes workings of the sources of my favorite games. EALA may be new, but it is also the home of many of the talented designers who created some of gaming's finest titles, including the Command & Conquer and Medal of Honor series.

Let me know what you think of this unique look at the world of video games by dropping me an email or hitting our forums at Game Informer Online.

As you would expect, the rest of the issue is jam- packed with all the latest info from the cutting edge of gaming, including an exclusive look at Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, Microsoft's MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf, and Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure from Atari. Alas, we were unable to review Doom 3 this month. However, you can expect a full review from us next month when Activision finally lets us get our hands on it (and yes, we are going to be buying at the store just like you – blame id Software's overprotective tendencies when it comes to its games).

Speaking of the next issue, Game Informer will once again have a world premiere for you to drool over and a ton of previews as we get closer to the busy holiday season. Enjoy the issue, and we'll see you again next month.

Cheers,

Andy >> andy@gameinformercom

Handle: The Game Hombre Expertise: RPGs, Action/Platform, Driving, First-Person Shooters Interests: Zebulon Pike, Watching Lance Armstrong Kick The French's Butt In Their Own Tour, The Mars Volta, Vectrex Dislikes: That | Don't Already Have A PSP (I Need It Now), Not Getting To Review Doom 3 This Month, Going Linkdead Current Favorite Games: City Of Heroes, Dead Or Alive: Ultimate, Mega Man Anniversary Collection, Ultimate Card Games

10 САМЕ INFORMER

Reiner >> reiner@gameinformercom

Handle: The Raging Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Fighting, Action/Platform, Strategy, Sports Interests: The Concept Of Lowering A Game's Price To Combat A Smash Hit, Air Hogs (Cheap Remote Control Airplanes That Kick A Lot Of Ass), wwwvikingssuck.com, Billy D. Williams (We Still Love Ya, Buddy!) Dislikes: Fearing That Only 10 To 15 Games Will Sell This Holiday Season, The Sun (Stupid Ball Of Fire!), Gary Bettman Current Favorite Games: Hot Shots Golf Ғоге!, ESPN NFL 2K5, NHL 2005, Final Fantasy Xl: Chains Of Promathia, Halo 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Doom 5

Matt >> matt&gameinformer.com

Handle: The Original Gamer Expertise: First-Person Shooters, Action/Platform, Action/ Adventure, Action/Sports Interests: The Insanity Of Miami, Laying Sod (No, That's

Not Some Dirty Metaphor), The Bourne Supremacy, House Hunting Dislikes: Miami Heat (The Weather Condition And The Team), Spider-Man 2 Haters, Playing Shows After Having Not Practiced For Two Weeks ("We're Not Some Mainstream ‘Professional Band,’ Man - Now Рау 051”) Current Favorite Games: Astro Boy: Omega Factor, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, Devil May Cry, Hot Shots Golf Fore!

Kato >> каоддатетотегсот

Handle: The Game Katana Expertise: Sports, Racing, Action/Adventure, Action/Platform Interests: Bilar, Five Days Of Caviar, B-Sides, Sons Of Mississippi By Paul Hendrickson, Netflix Dislikes: Ranked Lists, The Low Threshold For Bestowing Celebrity Status, Having Useless Psychic Powers, Editors Who Break Ethical Shotgun Contracts For Car Rides Current Favorite Games: ESPN NFL 2K5, NHL 2005, NASCAR 2005: Chase For The Cup, Hot Shots Golf Fore!

Lisa >> iisa&gameintormer.com

| Handle: La Game Nikita Expertise: Survival Horror, Adventure, RPGs, Action/ Platform, Racing Interests: The Welcome Fracturing Of The Survival Horror Genre, New Feline Members Of The Household, The Time Traveler's Wife By Audrey Niffenegger, Awesome Action Figures Dislikes: Busted Couches (Some Say It Has Character. . They're Being Kind), Weirdly Muddy Computer Monitors, Sub-Par Action Figures Current Favorite Games: Silent Hill 4: The Room, Final Fantasy XI: Chains Of 8 Promathia, Hot Shots Golf Forel, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude

Jeremy >> jeremy@gameinformer.com

Handle: Gamezilla Expertise: First-Person Shooters, Survival Horror, Action/Platform, Fighting, Strategy/RPGs Interests: Northeast Minneapolis, Da Ali G Show, Russel Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam, No-Budget Filmmaking, The Holiday Game Onslaught Dislikes: People, Waffles (They'll Never Be Pancakes!), Entourage, Losing Hubcaps, Billys Unfortunate Brain Problem Current Favorite Games: MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf, Burnout 3: Takedown, Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum laude

Adam >> adam@gameinformercom

Handle: The Alpha Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Strategy, First-Person Shooters, Fighting Interests: Minnesota Public Radio, Johan Santana (Cy Young Baby!), Transmetropolitan (AKA Best Comic Evar), Armor Forged From The Scales Of Elder Dragons Dislikes: People Crying Nerf, Kyle Lohse's 2004 Performance, Ticketmaster, CDs Getting Eaten By My Car Deck (I Thought This Was Over After Cassettes) Current Favorite Games: Baldur's Gate Il: Shadows Of Amn, Phantom Brave, Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising

Joe >> joe@gameinformer.com

Handle: The Real American Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Adventure, Strategy, Platform, Puzzle Interests: Gluttony, Spider Jerusalem, Lullaby By Chuck Palahniuk, Handwiches, Sealab 2021, 73 Percent Of TMBG's The Spine, Doc Manhattan Dislikes: Temperance, 27 Percent Of TMBG's The Spine, Doc Hollywood (Stupid Non-Atomic Michael J. Fox) Current Favorite Games: Second Sight, Viewtiful Joe, Final Fantasy XI, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, ICO, Quest For Glory IV, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude

Miller >> mitter@gameintormer.com

Handle: The Once And Future Gamer Expertise: RPGs, Action/Adventure, Fighting, Platform, First-Person Shooters Interests: Shephard's Pie, The Way Jeremy Will Eat Whatever You Dare Him To, Vaughan Williams, The Inevitable СІ RC Plane Dogfight, So Many Games This Holiday Season Dislikes: Commercials Where The Husband Is Always Stupid, Summer Heat, Cars With Giant Spoilers, Bad Writers On Comics | Like Current Favorite Games: Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow, City Of Heroes, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, Super Mario Bros. 3, Halo 2, Matrix Online

UNLIMITED ENABLED

GAME INFORMER UNLIMITED

When you see this logo on a game preview, review, or feature, you can learn more about it by heading to www.gameinformer.com and clicking on the Unlimited logo

There are tons of other bonuses there (including movies, interviews, and screenshots) exclusively for Game Informer subscribers, so even if a game you like doesn't have the logo in the magazine, there is a good chance you can still learn more online.

GAMEINFORMER

SEPTEMBER 2004 Volume XIV • Number 9 • Issue 137

PUBLISHER. Cathy Preston

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrew McNamara

EDITORS

Executive Editor Andrew Reiner. Senior Associate Editor Matt Helgeson Associate Editors Matthew Kato • Lisa Mason • Jeremy Zoss Adam Biessener • Joe Juba • Matt Miller Intern/Contributing Writer Bryan Vore Mascot Arthur

PRODUCTION Art Director Thomas Blustin Production Director Curtis Fung Production Assistant Rachel Nimerfroh

CONTRIBUTORS Photography Jeff Novick • Peter Sutherland • Ed Carreón (pg 31) (pg 4249) (pg 52:59)

GAME INFORMER ONLINE

Managing Online Editor Billy Berghammer Associate Online Editor Chris Cook

ADVERTISING SALES MINNEAPOLIS Rob Borm Director of Marketing and Midwest/East Coast Sales Manager (612) 486-6155

Fax: (612) 4866101

rob@gameinformer.com

Amy Amold Advertising Coordinator (612) 486-6154 Fax: (612) 486-6101 amy@gameinformer.com

SAN FRANCISCO Doug Faust Vice President Advertising Sales (650) 728.5647 Fax: (650) 728.5648 doug@gameinformer.com

LOS ANGELES Marc Minasian ‘Southwest Regional Sales Manager (818) 991.9923 Fax: (818) 991.9923 maro@gameinformer.com

CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT

For change of address ог subscription inquiry ONLY: Toll Free: 1 (866) 844-GAME (4263)

Fax: (612) 486-6101. Email: customerservice@gameinformer.com Or send correspondence to: 724 North First St., 4th Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401 • Attn: CIS Dept

Circulation Manager. Paul Anderson • (612) 4866104 paul&gameinformer.com

Information Systems Manager Paul Hedgpeth paulhedgneth@gameinformer.com

Manufactured and printed in the United States of America. The Editor welcomes company product information for all video games. Such materials should be addressed to: Editor, Game Informer Magazine, 724 North First St, 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be retumed or acknowledged. Entire contents copyright 2004, Game Informer® Magazine. All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer is a trademark ‘of GameStop, Inc. Products named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of their respective Companies. PUBLISHER LIABILITY РОВ ERROR The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or

pographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher's liability for other errors ог omissions in connection with an advertisement is limited to republication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. INDEMNIFICATION The advertiser and/or Advertising Agency agrees to defend and indemnity the publisher against any and ай liability, loss, or expense arising from claims of libel, unfair competition, unfair trade practices, infringement о! trademarks, copyrights, trade names, patents, or proprietary rights or violation of rights of privacy, resulting from the publication of the Advertiser's statement.

4

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations

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7% 19 missions in the single player Command an elite squad of Special Utilize any means necessary to gain Xbox version supports B players campaign - 17 of the best from the PL Forces troops Гог maximum control of key enemy territory online in 9 multiplayer levels! version and 2 new missions exclusive tactical strategy gather intelligence, call in air strikes Download new maps and missions!

for the console!

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Visit www.esrb.org for updated rating information.

S PY Candid Photos From The Seedy Underbelly Of The Video Game Industry

1 Activision's Ryh-Ming Poon, Aaron Grant, and Stacey Drellishak pose with the СІ massive! ‘Nuff respect! 2 What happened to that boy? He's grindin’ with Star Trak recording artist The Clipse in sunny Florida 3 Lisa and Billy hang with the Myst crew: creator Rand Miller, Ubisoft producer Geneviève Lord, and composer Jack Wall 4 Andy gets in front of the camera for the filming of IGP and Digital Filmtime's upcoming documenta- ry on the controversy surrounding video game violence, Moral Combat 5 Reiner and ESPN's Ben Bishop enjoy a game

of ESPN NHL 2005. Hey, enjoy this pic- ture — it might be the closest thing you'll get to a hockey season this year! 6 EA's Tammy Schachter and Brooke Cahalane having happy times in LA 7 Matt hangs with former СІ editor Jay Fitzloff (now of Rockstar/Take 2 fame) at the DUB Super Series car show in Miami. Jay is show- ing off his new tattoo, a depiction of the dreaded Yuan-Ti from the D&D Monster Manual. Now that's gangsta! 8 The Juba reveals his new alter-ego: Joey Knuckles

12 GAME INFORMER

IN STORES SEPTEMBER

. (e) ot DTT Ј 1 Ж. EN =) mcs ce) al . 4 че CARS ARE UGLY. THE RACES ARE UGLY. N D Pen Tum i XE =] "y 1 1 AND IF THERE WAS A GIRL ri fal ED QU! JJ “ k et ot 28:10) 2H Жа»

Тһе only beauty you'll find in the new Test Drive series is іп the crashes. Huge, gorgeous, stunning crashes. The kind you only dream about. Choose from 33 different vehicles, including a school bus and a

hearse and 25 different disaster-inviting courses. Reckless driving. Tons of crashes. It's a beautiful thing.

DRIVE IRRESPONSIBLY AT WWW.ATARI.COM/TESTDRIVE

Mild Lyrics

Mild Viol А т Simulated Gambling ЕЗ PlayStation.2 ESRB »

© 2004 Atari Interactive, Inc. All Ri C

MONSTER

ights Reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Manufactured and marketed by Atari, Inc., New York, NY. Developed by Monster Games, Inc. “PlayStation’and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony 'omputer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.

The Readers Strike Back

DREAMY

Girls that read Game Informer are prime girlfriend materio it. To remedy this, | think l/or the

but (sadly) not a lot of girls ree that you should include more perfume tear latest Hollywood rumors and pictures of th hottest young s | think we can sacrifice se Bloom's face to get more hot girls picking up С

CM

Via juno.com

we dc маше of СИНУ B. and the

Thanks for show love for the FanGIRLS (yes,

by putting that nice full-page

accompanying article in your July |9115) issue. The extra eye

Candy was very much appreciated

Carin Miley Via hotmail.com

flawed. All we need to do to get more girls reading GI

is put in pictures of dreamy developer types - like Cliffy B. Yeah, that Cliffy sure is keen. We especially love the way that his hair shines in the light of a monitor and the moonlight reflects in his eyes, making that really fetching color... Swoon! Sometimes, we like to think that, when he's writin; us and smiles to himself. That wonderful, whimsical, captivating smile of his...

SUPERSIZE

| read your Metroid Prime 2: Echoes coverage and it rocked more than the entire rest of the magazine! Keep up the great work! (And | mean great; it's not just for show).

Andrew Pignolet Via aol.com

Thanks for absolutely blowing the f&%#ing lid off of Metroid Prime 2. I'm thrilled that Nintendo allowed a gam- ing publication some serious access for once. Here's hop- ing the Big N will allow more of this with you in the future. Mike Lovejoy Milwaukee, WI

After reading your preview of Metroid Prime 2, there's only one way to describe it: off the hook! І guess the saying rings true, everything is bigger in Texas...even the games. I'm especially interested in the dual aspect of the light world and the dark world. But there's one thing I'm confused about: Is Prime not even going to appear in this game?

Andrew Putnam

Via yahoo.com

| was just reading your July issue [#135] with Metroid Prime, and it made me go back to your May issue [#133] with Halo 2. І looked at the cover and thought that Samus and the Master Chief would make a great couple. It would be the most publicized wedding ever — and the two of them in a video game would not be so bad, either. While on the subject, how about Sam Fisher proposing to Jade from Beyond Good and Evil?

Alex Coleman

Via email

After the begging, pleading, groveling, personal sacrifice, and crawling across burning coals on our hands and knees ended; Nintendo finally threw open the doors for one of our ideal cover stories. In case you were wondering, we're all physically

* Mr. Ruiz, your logic is sound, but the method is perhaps

You were regaining my respect with your amazing ЕЗ coverage along with the exquisite article on Metroid. Then | learned something: The first Dead or Alive was never released in the States. | guess | must destroy my copy (which was released on the PlayStation). Truth be told, will not be renewing my subscription with you. In fact if you want to keep the respect of any real gamers, you will drag all that were responsible into the street and end their pathetic existence.

ОН, LEONARDO, YOURE $000 DREAMY!

al

Ruiz Lucas Stroud Via yahoo.com

Harsh words from two people who are...wrong! There are two games called Dead or Alive - the Japanese release (available on Sega Saturn in 1996) and the PSone version released after the game hit in American arcades. The U.S. version includes updated graphics, a stabilized framerate, and never-before- seen characters, costumes, and gameplay modes. As we said in our preview, the Japanese Sega Saturn release has never been available in the U.S. – until Dead or Alive Ultimate comes out, that is.

THE REAL WORLD?

| just got done playing Singles: Flirt up Your Life — and that game is sexually offensive. Who do the creators think they are by creating a dating and relationship simulator for adults? This game really goes too far because of its graphic depiction of sex. They show the couples actually doing it in real-time. What the hell? Is this Eidos's way of spicing up people's lives? It's a poor plan. Those parents deciding to let their teens (God forbid, little kids) play this AO-rated game should sit down and explain to them how life and romance really is, instead of letting some low-class, slutty PC game do the talking.

recovering, and most of us will regain the use of our legs - so that's good news. The fact that you readers dug it is also nice to hear.

DOA ONLINE STUFF

According to your preview of Dead or Alive Ultimate in the July 2004 issue [#135], the first Dead or Alive was never released in America. Well, then, how in the hell did | get a hold of an American copy for the PSone?

Jason Carver Via email

Rob D'Amico Via hotmail.com

Well, um... see, the game is rated Adults Only, so it's just supposed to be for adults. We're betting that

COPYRIGHT, SCHMOPYRIGHT

| just received the newest issue of Gl and was paging through it. 1 always have а look at the envelope art that you guys print, Well, | noticed that the July [issue #135 winner's entry is а complete copy of an image I've seen before. No, not just an artist inspired by something, it is up reproduction of another image àn artist, it sickens me that someone (Mr. Chad schatz) would have the guts to not only rip off someone else's work and be rewarded for it, but to be so bold as to do so in something that is published and widely distributed. tt is a slap in the face to every artist who actually puts creativity and effort into their work i felt you should be notified of this in the hopes that he has not been sent any reward for his art thievery 1 hope | caught this in time to put a halt on any more

F'%4@ER! ENVELOPE ART COPYRIGHT

praise for him Fred Rodriguez It Via hotmail.com

! We don't want people to plagiarize others in the а Gi = UR name of a free t-shirt — that's just dumb. How to verify the originality of a piece is a system that we haven't entirely gotten down pat just yet, but we do make an effort to only include original work in the Envelope Art section. So, to future submitters: Make your own picture, we like them more. Also,

it doesn't actually have to be on an envelope, and we don't run things that look photocopied - get- ting charcoal, oil pastels, and crayon goop on our hands is much more satisfying than that weird toner smell.

Send your comments to Game Informer. Snail Mail: Game Informer Magazine e Attn: Dear GI е 724 North First St., 4th Floor e Minneapolis, MN 55401 Email: deargi@gameinformer.com

14 GAME INFORMER

www:koei.com

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The will of the samurai is yo емін) 0 nd a new Active Mission system and multiple endings

now you have ће pëywer to change the fate оба nhtion!

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Suggestive Themes Violence

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most parents who realize that the game is rated AO

are, thankfully, probably already paying attention to what their kids are playing. Those that aren't need to be aware that the rating system is there for a reason. And, although we thought that the game's jollies are Short-lived, it's certainly possible that others really enjoy watching fabricated, polygonal people do the horizontal mamba. Also, we have to wonder why, if Jason thought that the game was so perverse, why did he keep playing it it? Hmmmm...

FAUX PAS, SEE ALSO: BLUNDER

Dudes, love the mag, but you fell prey to an old trick — plasma TVs do not need recharging. Honestly, | swear. Joe McTheatre Via email, phone, snail mail, and random encounter

' Wowza, did we proliferate a hoax? Indeed we did. Contrary to what our HDTV primer course in the June 2004 [#134] explained, plasma screen televisions do not need to be recharged. The source of this fallacy, which eluded all of our reasonable and responsible fact-checking skills, isn't really known. What we do know is that if you're willing to drop 60 large on a TV, ask lots of questions and do a lot of research. High-end TVs each have their advantages and down- falls - the challenge isn't getting something that's really cool, it's getting something that fits your needs. And while we're second-guessing all of our decision making skills, we wanted to make sure that those guys from Uganda who want to funnel money through our checking accounts are on the up-and- up. They are, right?

ЕЗ COVERAGE

1 just got my July 2004 issue, and | was very much looking forward to your E3 coverage. However, when | turned to it, | realized that it was different than last year's. Your cover- age of E3 2003 was phenomenal! It felt like | was actually there.

This year, it was toned down quite a bit and just ended up being "good" "Good" isn't bad..but it's definitely not "phenomenal"

David Thurman Via email

| think your July issue [#135] is probably the best you've ever done. Why? Thanks for asking...

1. Lack of crowd following. While covering E3, you didn't fall prey to mandatory slobbering over presentations/games. As you know, just because it's presented doesn't mean it's good.

2. Balance. Your writers and reviewers consistently man- age to balance personal views and opinions with technical merit of a game on the whole. Quite frankly, | value the reviews in Gl far, far more than any other magazine.

3. Industry perspective. СІ presents something that | find unique in game magazines: a pragmatic view of the industry. This feel comes into being by the GI Spy section, the Connect section, and the numerous interviews you all get with people who are very important to the games we love. Oh, and the new Opinion column, with industry folks getting on the о! soapbox? Brilliant. Nobody else is covering the industry trends as a whole like СІ does.

Game on! Wizworm Via email

E3 this year was just plain different than last year’s show - a difference great enough to justify a change in coverage. Who knows? We might be crazy enough to keep switching up the style each year, just to keep you all on yer toes.

16 САМЕ INFORMER

КЕМТ DOWNS

After E3, the adult Link art is rolling in!

Enter the Game Informer Envelope Art Contest. All you PATRICK GOFF need to do is draw, paint, scratch, spit, or carve the best Sora's got some junk dam envelope art you can think of and send it to us. ТАИ

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Please include your name, phone number, and return address on the back of the envelope. If you're the monthly winner, we'll feature your work in GI and you'll receive a video game ргіге from the Game Informer vault.

Send to:

Game Informer Envelope Art Contest 724 Ist St. М, 4th Floor Mpls, MN 55401

MISAEL MONTANEZ Looks like Samus had a little "accident" in the corner

GEORGE YANG When he's not at Game Informer, Miller is the drag queen Millerina

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CONNECT

Breaking News, Views, And Technology From The Cutting Edge Of Gaming

FUTURE ОР CONSOLES REVEALED

t the PlayStation Meeting 2004 conference in A Tokyo, PlayStation creator and Sony bigwig Ken

Kutaragi warmed the hearts of gamers the world over with a few choice details regarding what everyone's been talking about since ЕЗ — PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable. Kutaragi confirmed that the PS3 would be playable at next May's E3 convention in 2005. “There has been some talk that development is not going well, but we expect to have a playable version at E3. We are pushing ahead with that schedule in mind,” he said.

This development puts the console square on a collision course with both Nintendo's Revolution and Microsoft's Xbox Next, both of which are expected to also appear at the industry gathering in Los Angeles. In addition, the announcment seems to assure that the PS3 will hit the market in 2006, despite a few rumors pointing to 2007. At a separate event, Kutaragi also talked about the system's XDR DRAM and how it would start manufactur- ing in the middle of next year, with a goal of production by the end of 2005. This latter develop- ment also seems to confirm the sys- tem for a 2006 release.

Although the relief felt at the conference that the PlayStation 3 was on schedule dominated, Kutaragi wasn't done. Coming out of ЕЗ, the gaming public was grateful to not only find out more about the PSP, but to finally get their hands on it (albeit in a non-playable form). Regardless, the unit still holds more questions. Kutaragi and Sony went a step towards sating curiosity by talking more about the handheld's wireless features and some new first-party software.

The PSP has the ability for up to 16 players to simulta- neously play without any wires. This multiplayer function would be possible without requiring any of the PSP units to have hub hardware. The unit's support of the 802.11b Wi-Fi makes for other possibilities such as internet brows- ing and online gaming when near a wireless hotspot, but Sony has yet to talk about these features.