Game Informer Uncoyers The Man Who Has Dedicated His Life To The

ê Undying,

ens & Details on "Square' s : ) Raider &

Fantasy: T he Spirits Within

U.S. $4.99 Canada $6.99 01

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EVERYONE AR ERS:

UNIVERSAL EUROCOhV VUE CNTERTANMENT SOFTWARE. UNIVERSAL

INTERACTIVE STUDIOS.

Crash Bash” & ©2000 Universal Interactive Studios, I "rash Bandicoot and related characters’ & ©2000 Universal Interactive Studios, Inc. All rights reserved. Developed by Eurocom Developments Ltd. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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CRAS H iS R EADY FO R BATTLE. ARE YO U = It's time to separate the men

rash and his friends are back in a knock-down-drag-out arena-style rumble. Blow stuff up in a tank, toss TNT and engage

from the scared little boys.

in some good old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat, Brawl on a floating iceberg and duke it out in a jungle. Just watch out for the falling anvils. Fight solo

or plug in a Multitap and embarrass your friends. Wimps need not apply: Sure, this isn't conventional warfare but, then again, Crash isn't a conventional bandicoot-

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE.

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- EVERYONE

Can you take the heat? It’s barbecue time. Bentley, the yeti with a mean left hook. Spyro gets totally vert.

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Station and the PlaySt reserved, Developed by Insomniac Games, Inc. All

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a ма Danger on the high seas.

Things are heating up. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with Spyro as he joins forces with four new playable critters. Blaze through bigger worlds. Drive tanks, subs, speedboats, even launch rockets. Duke it out in the boxing ring or pull off sick tricks on your skateboard. Keep cool. It doesn't get any hotter than this.

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FEATURE 36 SULTAN OF THE SILVER BALL

Pinball, in many ways the direct ancestor of video games, was robbing America of its quarters for decades before Pong hit the arcades. This month, Game Informer profiles Tim Arnold, a former arcade operator who has built the largest collection of classic pinball machines in the world.

FEATURE 44 FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN

Following up his success with Final Fantasy IX, Hironobu Sakaguchi is readying his next master- piece. This time, however, it is not a game, but an epic computer-animated motion picture. Read on for exclusive new screenshots from the movie, and an in-depth look at the production process behind the film.

Following the frosty reception received by Twisted Metal 3 and 4, Sony is looking to resuscitate its ailing blue-chipper with a promising PS2 overhaul. To this end, they have recruited Incognito, a new development firm started by several original members of Singletrac's Twisted Metal team, to handle the creation of TM:B. Check out this article for exclusive new screens and insights from the game’s creators.

FEATURE 50 THE GAMES OF 2000

There were a lot of games released in the year 2000. Most of them were utter crap. Luckily, a few were absolutely brilliant, and these are the games we honor in our 9th Annual Game Informer Awards. Which game was rated the best of the best? You'll have to read to find out.

“...the best superhero

game ever..."

OPM Sbr August 2000 —-

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www.activision.com

ACTIVISION.

GAME BOY COLOR

Ч. Published and distributed by Acti ademarks of

Screen shots taken from PlayStation® game console gameplay. MARVEL and SPIDER-MAN: TM and © 2000 Marvel Ch; Activi D ntertainmei rica for use with the PlayStation во

ision, Inc. Licensed by Sony Computer Entertainment Americ х y Color are trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc. © 1989, 1998 Nintendo of America Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark

ny Compute iation. All rights reserved. All о

EDITORS' FORUM Review This! The lost art of video game ratings.

GI SPY The Game Informer paparazzi stalk the video game industry, bringing you candid photos of all the action.

DEAR GI What do missing computers, grilled ferrets, and Jesus have in common? They're all in this month’s Dear GI. Come on home to the place where there is a stupid answer for every stupid question.

NEWS All the video game news that's fit to print, and some that's not. Get the scoop on Dragonball Z's return to the world of games and Resident Evil Code: Veronica for PS2. Also, hot gossip in Loose Talk and Phish (?!) in R&D.

PREVIEWS In the ever-changing world of video games, sometimes it's hard to keep up. Luckily, we have new previews of Clive Barker's: Undying, Phantasy Star Online, new shots of MGS 2 and Capcom's newest PS2 block- buster, Devil May Cry, to keep you on the cutting edge.

8 GAME INFORMER

2

REVIEWS You don't tu£ on Superman's cape. You don't spit into the wind. You don't pull the mask off the Lone Ranger, and you most definitely don't buy a £ame before you see it reviewed in Gl. This month we rate Skies of Arcadia, Driver 2, and NBA 2K1.

CHARTS What's hot? What's not? What's up? What's down? It's not NASDAQ, it's the Retail Sales Data and the Gl editors’ Top 10 Games.

PLAY TO PERFECTION Saving the world in three days is no easy feat. To help you out, Game Informer serves up what will soon be known as THE definitive strategy guide to The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

SECRET ACCCESS GI's legendary code breakers unleash a fierce torrent of codes and tips. This month

124 features our first sighting of PS2 codes, including SSX and X-Squad. Also, we have a

Medal of Honor: Underground code that's a Game Informer exclusive!

CLASSIC GI

The First Quarter: A 25-Year History of Video Games, Steve Kent's recently published book, provides readers with the definitive story of the industry. GI sits down with the author for an interview discussing video games new and old. Also,

check out our Dragon

Warrior strategy guide,

and retro reviews of

Vanguard and Ladybug.

ETC All you need to know about etc is that it has Scott Bakula (a.k.a. The Greatest American Actor Of His Generation). If that's not enough to get your salivary glands working overtime, wait until you try some chocolate gumballs.

GAME INDEX

007 Racing Alienfront Online. .

Call to Power II Capcom Vs, SNK Championsip Surfer . Chicken Run (DC) Chicken Run (GBC) . Chicken Run (PS-X) Clive Barker's: Undying Colin McRae Rally 2.0 Devil May Cry . Diablo II Dino Crisis 2 Donald Duck Goin' Quackers (GBC) Donald Duck Goin' Quackers (PS-X) Donkey Kong Country VONA EE Escape From Monkey Island . ESPN X-Games Snowboarding . EverQuest; The Scars of Velious Fallout Tactics ..... Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix . Floigan Brothers . Freelancer . . ... Freestyle Motocros:

McGrath Vs. Pastrana . Grandia ll... Half-Life: Counter-Strike Headhunter . . . Hey You! Pikachu Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine Inspector Gadget ............ Jarret & Labonte Stock Car Racing Jungle Hunt .......... Knockout Kings 2001 (PS2)

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 .

` Looney Tunes Space Race

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue

K 2: Armageddon MechWarrrior 4 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty . Mickey's Speedway USA Moto Racer World Tour . Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness NARC NBA 2K1 prar Final Four 2001 .

2

Peter Jacobsen's Golden Tee Golf Phantasy Star Online Pod: Speed Zone Portal Runner. . Power Spike Pro Beach Volleyball (GBC) Power Spike Pro Beach Volleyball (PS-X) Q-Ball: Billiards Master . Quake Ill Arena .... Razor Freestyle Scooter RC de Go .... Ready 2 Rumble: Round 2 Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil Ring of Red . Sacrifice . Silent Scope Skies of Arcadia . Sonic Shuffle . . Speed Devils Online . Spider-Man ... Squad Commander Star Wars Demolition (PS-X) . Star Wars Demolition (DC) . Star Wars: Episode | Battle For Naboo Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles Starship Troopers ... Super Runabout: San Francisco Edition Surfing H3O .. Test Drive Le Mans Test Drive Off-Road: Wide Open . Test Drive V-Rally Theme Park Roller Coaster Tomb Raider Chronicles Tomb Raider: Next Generation Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (DC). . Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (GBO) . Twisted Metal: Black . . . Ultima Online: Third Dawn . Ultimate Fighting Championship . Vanguard .... Winback: Covert Ops Woody Woodpecker Racing . Xtreme Sports... You Don't Know Jack: 5th Dementia Zeus: Master of Olympus ...

Nemesis

A DARK FUTURE... AN UNCERTAIN PAST...

no ОПЕ LEFT TO TRUST.

AN INTENSE ACTION THRILLER COMES TO LIFE WITH EXCITING ANIME STYLE CHARACTERS AND STORYLINE.

REVOLUTIONARY GAMEPLAY BLEND OF HAND TO HAND AND WEAPONS COMBAT.

EASY TO LEARN FIGHTING SYSTEM WITH COOL, LIFELIKE AND REALISTIC MOVES.

THE ARSENAL OF WEAPONS INCLUDES PISTOLS, ROCKET LAUNCHERS, ENERGY AND PROJECTILE WEAPONS.

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RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 2001 WWW.ROCKSTARGAMES.com/oni

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cominc soon: THE ONI COMIC BOOK FROM DARK HORSE comics

PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer

Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. Dark Horse Comics® and the Dark Horse logo are trademarks of Dark Horse Comics, Inc., registered in various categories and countries. All rights reserved. Gathering of Developers and the godgames logo are trademarks of Gathering of Developers Inc. , Rockstar Games and the Rockstar Games logo are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Animated Violence Software, Inc. © 2000 All rights reserved,

— Yo!Geta = EINFORM

> subscription to Game · س‎ Informer Magazine TODAY Volume XI • Number 1. • Issue 93 and save up to $94.78 off —

Cathy Preston

the newsstand price. —

2 Years (24 Issues) for $24.98. Andrew McNamara . A savings of $94.78! Enough to buy EDITORS

Senior Associate Editors Paul Anderson • Andrew Reiner

two games! (or a tattoo) a Associate Editors Jay Fitzloff • Erik Reppen • Matt Helgeson Kristian Brogger

- — - f " Copy Editors Gabrielle Dane • Sarah Anderson • Jon Storm See иргелип ES formore-detalls: m Web Editors Justin Leeper « Matthew Kato

Mascot Arthur

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

ADVERTISING Vice President Advertising Richard A. Cihak * (952) 946-7256 National Advertising Sales Director Kimberley Thompson-Benike • (952) 946-8159 • Fax (952) 946-8155 10120 W. 76th Street • Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3728

CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Vicky Valley • (952) 946-7274

Customer Service Department For change of address or subscription inquiry only: (952) 946-7266 Fax (952) 946-8155 or send correspondance to: 10120 W. 76th Street * Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3728 « Attn: CIS Dept

SUNRISE PUBLICATIONS, INC President John Woodson

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, 10120 W. 76th Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned or acknowledged. Entire contents copyright 2001. Game Informer? Magazine. All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Game Informer is a trademark of FUNCO, Inc. Products named in these pages are trade names, or trademarks, of their respective companies. PUBLISHER LIABILITY FOR ERROR The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher's

liability for other errors or 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 indemnify the publisher against any and all liability, loss, or expense arising from claims of libel, unfair competition, unfair trade practices, infringement of 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

"INSTANTLY INTELLIGIBLE, MIND-BOGGLINGLY VAST, AND A TOTAL GAS TO PLAY....MAKES FOR ONE HELLUVA VIDEOGAME" - GAMER'S REPUBLIC, SEPT 2000

"MUST BUY PLAYSTATION 2 LAUNCH GAMES LIST" - Nov 2000 EGM

"DRIVING THROUGH THE SPECTACULAR TERRAIN IS A BLAST" - EGM OCTOBER 2000

"А - ...THE BEST DISPLAY AND TRUEST TESTAMENT TO THE PROCESSING POWER OF THE PS2 TO DATE."

- GAMERS REPUBLIC OCTOBER 2000

98% PLATINUM - "THE BEST OFF-ROAD EXPERIENCE

YOU'VE EVER HAD"... "ONE OF THE MUST - BUY LAUNCH GAMES" - PSE2 NOVEMBER 2000

SMUGGLERS RUN

DELIVER AT ALL COSTS

Levels are over 5 square miles, each with a "drive anywhere" environment filled with other smugglers and law enforcement officials.

Choose from 35 different vehicles, each with unique modifications and strengths.

Compete head-to-head or run "pick up and deliver" missions against Al opponents or in full multiplayer mode.

Maneuver your way through arid desert, icy tundra, or rocky mountain forest.

Real Time Damage Models allow you to watch the parts fly as you pay the price for punishing collisions!

SOUNDTRACK АМАША!

WWW.ROCKSTARGAMES.COM/SMUGGLERSRUN

TAR 575BWY 1 ILJROCKSTAR 575BWY LIL] JROCKSTAR 575BWY [| jROCKSTAR 575BWY JC LJLIROCKST

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"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer

Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software жагыш Association. Angel Studios and the Angel Studios logo are trademarks of Angel Studios. 3 2 L Guidance Recordings and the Guidance Recordings logo are trademarks of Guidance Animated Violence А | Recordings Inc. Rockstar Games and the Rockstar Games logo are trademarks of =

recordings

— Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. © 2000 All rights reserved. e РА

gar i ii '

REVIEW THIS!

| love magazines. There is just something about them. They're real. They're tangible. You can hold them. You can take them with you in the car, on a plane, or my personal favorite, to the toilet. There are many wonderful things about this paper medium we call a magazine.

For all | love about the magazine biz, it also has its drawbacks. For one, there is a lot of production that goes into making one of these suckers, and that translates into time. As you can probably guess, the thing that takes us the most time each month is our reviews. We take a lot of pride in these babies. Unfortunately, since magazines have deadlines and we need to get them out to you, we only have about a month to play and review quite a number of games.

| will certainly admit that there are times when we look back and ponder how we could have

NEW YEAR'S DAY

4 NS

A X a

b > | ) | d |

possibly scored such and such game so low or so high (as I’m sure you, the readers, ponder as well). At times we blame a tight deadline, other times we blame sleep depravation, but | can tell you that with each and every issue we strive to give you the best reviews possible to make your gaming experience as great as it can be.

So before you send in another email about how we should have given this game or that game a ten, remember that we only have about a month to play through a number of games, which isn’t easy. (Yeah, it's a lot of fun, but roll with me — actually believe for a moment that we have some work to do here) You may not agree with what we have to Say all the time, but 1 can assure you the review is coming from someone who has played more games then you have — or would want to.

Now stop reading on the toilet and go play some games.

Andy McNamara Editor andy@gameinformer.com

Andy's New Year's party - the morning after: 1 Rachel 2 Kim 2a Arthur 3 Tom 4 Cathy 5 Reiner 5a & b Reiner's monkeys, Binky and Bunky 6 Kristian

7 Erik 8 Curtis 9 Jay 10 Matt 11 Andy 12 Paul 13 Justin 14 Vicky 15 Kato

12 GAMEINFORMER

PAUL, THE GAME PROFESSOR paul@gameinformer.com

"Another year of gaming is virtually behind us and it is time to make some predictions for 2001. Sega will surprise the gaming world by releasing a Dreamcast add-on dubbed the 128X. On the other hand, Sony will recall every single PS2 sold because of potential electrocution risks. Nintendo will delay all Gamecube related material until 2002. Likewise, every Rare game announced at E3 will not make its original street date. The Game Informer staff will move to deluxe accommodations located in Nimrod, MN. Lastly, the Vikings will win the Super Bowl."

REINER, THE RAGING GAMER reineregameinformer.com

"I'm currently putting the finishing touches on my first movie script, Star War. The cost for this fulHength motion picture is still up in the air, but with Matt's gracious contribution of $5.65, the special effects budget has been doubled. | have already contracted some amazing artists and modelers who have transformed ordinary Styrofoam cups into galactic space cruisers that look too good to be true. Andy will play the role of Yoja, and Kristian, while she doesn't know it, will be Princess Ordana. І, of course, will be the hero who kills everyone – even the camera crew."

MATT, THE ORIGINAL GAMER matt@gameinformer.com

“Pikachu is my master. | shall not want. The yellow god speaks to me. | obey his commands. | babysit Caterpie for my lord. The yellow god was pleased. | make cabbage stew for my master. The yellow god smiled on me. Now the yellow god has decreed that the infidels at Game Informer must die. They have angered the yellow god. Especially the one who calls himself ‘The Game Hombre.’ He is insolent and his haircut is displeasing to the yellow god. For this he will pay. | take the Holy Pool Cue to smite him. | walk іп Pika.”

ERIK, THE PC JEDI

erik@gameinformer.com

"One picture of me sleeping on the couch after a grueling five days in the office working on that FFVIII guide, and now it's a running joke. How am | supposed to get fan mail from inmates and freaked out Eminem fans when all they ever show me doing is sleeping all the...Okay, | guess it's not so bad. I'll have you all know, however, that when I've bathed, cut my hair, trimmed my nose hairs, shaved, stayed sober for 24 hours, slept, and put on clothes that don't have suspicious stains, I'm a damn fine looking man."

JAY, THE GONZO GAMER jay@gameinformer.com

"By the time you're reading this, something I've been dreaming of for over ten years will have been released (or perhaps more accurately, escaped) – Dungeons & Dragons: The Movie. Maybe it's wrong to be prejudgemental, but it seems to me that when you combine half a lifetime's worth of expectations with a no-name director, a low budget, and a Wayans brother, a recipe for emotional disaster is being cooked up. If everything turns out as | expect, shed a tear for my favorite hobby being panned by movie critics nationwide."

KRISTIAN, THE GAME DAWG kristian@gameinformer.com

"The number one super ability to have if you absolutely HAD to pick one would definitely be time stoppage. Think about the possibilities. for cripes sake! You'd never be late for anything. Daylight savings wouldn't be nearly as big a deal, and you could pull some spectacular practical jokes on people. Like, say you're getting yelled at by your boss. | bet he wouldn't be so tough if his pants were suddenly dangling around his ankles! Take that, boss-man! That power would be all about de-pantsing people."

PlayStation.

Master the techniques used by the pros!

The most beautiful pool halls in the world!

йа =

9 modes of play, plus 3 hidden pool games!

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon is Р EVERYONE a trademark of the Interactive Digital Software Association. ©2000 Take 2 Interactive. All rights reserved. Take 2 |

Interactive Software and the Take 2 logo are trademarks of Take 2 interactive Software. © 2000 ASK / Shogakukan / SHO-PRO | All other trademarks and logos are properties of their respective owners. CA | ask онміттн

on the next edition ...

AA ipsines.con

1 thirty-minute vision series

about the hottest video games, the coolest game hardware, and the latest peripheral device | enhancements anywhere.

www.gravis.com

www.olympicvideogames.com

РЕТ

CANDID PHOTOS FROM THE SEAMY UNDERBELLY OF THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY

(1) Heather Kozar, girlfriend of Chicago Bears bench- warmer Cade McNown, displays the...umm...talents that won her the title of 1999 Playboy Playmate of the year. The intelligent young lass is dressed as Vicki Grimm, the heroine of 3DO's upcoming PS2 title Portal Runner (2) This is NOT a remote-controlled car cov- ered with thousands of firecrackers. It’s definitely NOT in the Game Informer offices, and Jay Fitzloff did NOT spend dozens of hours working on this explosive mas- terpiece. Also, NO ONE is planning to blow up this car in the Funcoland parking lot. Okay? (3) There can be only one! At the recent Las Vegas premiere of EverQuest: The Scars of Velious, these assorted geeks waged war to see who would win the title of “Biggest Nerd of All Time.” Here, the posse is posing with Fironia Vie (fourth from right), the real-life model for EverQuest artist Keith Parkinson {4} Matt poses with fellow members of the hot new boy band made up entirely of video game journalists, Syx Geex. Look for their new video, "Jiggle My Joystick” on MTV (5) At Square's Final Fantasy IX launch event in San Francisco, fallen star Vivi (who has apparently been axed by Square brass for problems surrounding a reported cough syrup addiction), was reduced to work- ` ing as a lowly parking valet (6) Web Editor Justin Leeper models his blood-stained tank top after a Gwar . concert. What's that injury on his nose? Don't ask...you don't want to know! (7) R&B diva Shanice Wilson performs “Love is the Gift” (from The Bouncer) at a recent Square press conference. After performing that sure-to-be smash hit, Shanice brought down the house with a rendition of funk/rock pioneer Jimmy Castor's classic “Bertha Butt Boogie" (8) At Sega’s recent Games Summit in San Francisco, Game Informer's resident female, Kristian, spent some quality time with her new homie, Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki

Holy moly, I’m addicted. | wasn’t even sure | wanted to buy EverCrack, err...EverQuest, but | was getting bored with all the nonlinear games out for the consoles, so | fig- ured | might as well. | have since saved at least 300 bucks from not buying ANY other games. My life is gone, | spend all my time playing EverQuest, and my friends either make fun of me for it or have bought the game them- selves. | even dream about it, how sad is that? Anyway, do any of you guys play, and if so what characters do you have? | have a level 20 dwarven paladin on Morell-Thule (I've played almost every class up to around 10 and decid- ed to play a paladin). It'd be real cool if you'd answer this.

Brigon Anganar, EQ addict of the 20th level (Hey, | play EQ more than | don't, so why shouldn't | sign it with the name of my paladin?)

Dearest, Brigon. You are not the only one who has lost a life playing EverQuest. Game Informer's big cheese, Andy McNamara, is a bigger addict than you. He has sev- eral characters maxed out, and get this, he plays two £ames of EQ at once. Along with his home PC, Andy pur- chased a powerbook PC for work, then confiscated it for his home use. The powerbook hasn't been in the office for seven months, and many editors actually need to use it. We've tried to get it from him, but he refuses, or acci- dentally forgets to bring it. A note to Cathy, our publish- er: Please tell Andy to bring the computer back to work so that we can create a better magazine for you, Barnes & Noble, and our loyal readers. Thank you.

Hello degenerate losers,

l've been subscribing to your awesome mag for two years and | have a few questions for you.

1. Is Singletrac (the creators of Twisted Metal 2 – for all you morons who don't know who they are) still in business? If so, why have they not made a Rogue Trip 2 or a Critical Depth 2? The originals rocked.

2. Any new info on a new Resident Evil for PlayStation 2?

3. What is Reiner's original hair color?

Jason "The Hickmaster" Hickey Webville, COM

1. Singletrac's numbers dwindled, and then the plug was finally pulled. R.I.P. Before you break down and cry, many of the Singletrac guys jumped ship and formed Incognito, a company working closely with Sony to re- ignite the vehicular combat flame with the upcoming PS2

16 GAME INFORMER

title, Twisted Metal: Black.

2. On a daily basis, we confront Capcom with this exact question, yet instead of filling our ears with horrific goodness, our contact bites his tongue and says, “No comment.” It's definitely on the way, but whether we'll see it this year or not is uncertain. Hopefully, Capcom takes its time to create a sequel that breaks new ground in the sur- vival horror genre.

3. His original hair color is blue. Someone call the X-Men, we found Beast!

Dear Gl, | was reading your magazine, and | have a few ques- tions. | realize that you have no girls on your team, what gives? And, really, | am a true hardcore girl gamer and any game that has the word “Barbie” on it sickens me. Personally, my favorite games are Resident Evil and Zelda. Also, what is your opinion of Pokémon? Is it highly overrat- ed, really cool, or just plain idiotic? Another thing, is the only way to get a letter in the magazine to bribe you with the chocolate eggs? Janie Jones Webville, COM P.S. ANDROID 18 RULES!

Scrumptious chocolate eggs make the tummy feel fine! Tee he! As for your inquiry, we have a female design- er in our art department, and Krissy (Kristian) is the closest thing we have in the editorial department. He may not look like a girl, but you should hear him laugh. Oh boy! As for Pokémon, if you don't get caught up in the craze and focus solely on the gameplay, it's actually a wonderful game with amazing depth.

Hey Gl, what's up? I just have a couple of questions regarding the Internet capabilities of the next-generation consoles. What I really want to know is how exactly does it work? | mean, is it similar to WebTV? | have WebTV and it's not that bad. Will other consoles, including Dreamcast, be better than that? | hope you guys understand what I'm trying to ask. Keep up the good work.

Rob Arlington, Texas

Right now, the Dreamcast online property is very reminiscent to WebTV. In the future, broadband connections, which will more than likely be used by Sony and Microsoft, will be much faster, rival- ing the PC. If you were smart, you'd cancel your WebTV account and use a Dreamcast to fulfill your internet interests. With it you can also play games, several of which have online compatibility.

Spending hours of your time play- ing video games must make you hun- gry. What does your average diet compose of?

Luke Yohe Wilmington, Delaware

Ferret burgers! Heh heh heh...

1. Just how far apart are your offices (or cubicles) in the uh... office? That's just been buggin’ me since | first got your mag.

2. Which one of you guys answer the Dear GI thing? Do you each choose a letter or what?

3. Where do you guys get the games from? Do you have to buy them yourselves, or does Reiner just pull ‘em out of his pants and says it’s magic?

4. This is gonna get a “freak” comment, but here goes. Andy, you're the coolest! My favorite part of the magazine is your Letter From the Editor. My goal is to grow up just like you!

Matthew Feiler

Reading, PA

1. The staff is spaced within punching distance of each other.

2. It's a mystery. Muhahahaha!!!!

3. Reiner is always pulling stuff out of his pants. Not games, we might add. All of the games come from the companies that develop them, free of charge!

4. Wow...You're Andy's first fan! Sound the alarm! Wake the dead! It's finally happened! After ten years, someone finally enjoys Andy's work! Guess we won't have to fire him after all. You just saved his job. Congrats, Matthew. Damn! We were so close!!!

As any truly loyal reader knows, you guys love num- bered questions. So here I go:

1. Do you guys really like Sir Mix-A-Lot, or are you just being sarcastic? You mention him all the time and | would like some clarification.

2. | am really trying to decide if | should buy a PS2 now, wait until the price goes down, or hold out until Xbox or Gamecube comes out. What do you think? Keep in mind that | do not get the big money like you guys must, so buying them all is not an option.

3. Do you guys miss the good ol’ days where you only had to come out with a mag every other month? | still have the first GI that | ever got.

4. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE FERRETS?!

Blake Michener Golden Valley, MN

1. Sir Mix-A-Lot stops by the office from time to time...delivering pizzas to the staff. He won't be doing this for long, as he just

formed a new band with the Presidents of the United States of America called Subset. Go to www.musicblitz.com to hear a track from the album.

2. Ah yes...The dreaded question. We recommend getting them all, and yes, we know your funds are minis- cule, but you have to make every effort to play every- thing. All three systems are going to be great. Sell your soul to the devil! Start pimpin’! Do whatever you can (within the legal or afterlife boundary) to get the goods. The devil’s actually a sweetie! Don’t be afraid of the darkside.

3. Do we ever! The new magazine requires even more work than the previous piece of dung we tried to pass off as an interesting read.

4. In hindsight, we never should have contracted those furry little bastards! They were constantly taking smoke breaks, complaining about their contracts, and wasting valuable time snuggling up to groupies. Next time, we’re going with aardvarks. They work for ants, and their long noses will create several interesting plot points. Just wait...

In your November issue (the one with the PS2 on the front), | read a few paragraphs about a game called the “New Testament,” and | am somewhat confused. Is it going to be a game, or is it just a suggestion?

Andrea Wilmington, DE

While not completely clear, the R & D department is actually a section where the Game Informer staff pro- poses a game idea. These games will not be made, unless of course our idea piques the interest of a devel- opment house. Continuing with the invasion into Reiner’s personal life, pappy Reiner is actually a pastor. Who would have thought, Reiner was a PK! After the new issue hit retail shelves, Mr. Reiner called the staff and voiced his disapproval with the inaccuracies in the New Testament article. We knew of the discrepancies, and like many Hollywood filmmakers, we would need to rewrite The Bible to fit into the video game realm. The latest script features an alien invasion with Jesus float- ing in space shooting lasers out of his eyes.

Send your comments to Game Informer.

Snail Mail: Email: Game Informer Magazine deargi@gameinformer.com Attn: Dear GI

www www.gameinformer.com

10120 W. 76th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55344

ENVELOPE АКТ

DECEMBER WINNER!

Enter the Game Informer Envelope Art Contest. All you need to do is draw, paint, scratch, spit, or carve the best darn envelope art you can think of and send it to us. 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 prize

from the Game Informer vault.

Regina Yazdi

Miss Yazdi promised that if she won she would give a big “BOOYA” to her stupid brother. Of course, we expect visual proof of the laying down of the “BOOYA”.

Jason Rodriguez А

Stone Cold is crazy! Just look at those eyes. If that don't tell you he's crazy, then, well...you crazy!

Andres Mascorro H A

Game Informer's street cred is never in question, but like Rocket Fuel malt liquor we always need to makes sure we be getting the word out on the streets. Damn!

Game Informer Mastaing Attn: Envelope Art 10120 W. т, Street аерам 5534

ABilly Fifer

Careful, this Transformer is roaming the streets of your town whacking people with the ugly stick. They already got your sister, so watch out.

4 Вгапоп Coleman

Regina puts an elbow їо Dylan’s face repeating those famous lyrics from 2gether, “Say it, don’t spray it. | want the news not the weather."

GAMEINFORMER 17

SPECIAL DREAMCAST PACK INCLUDES 16-ВІТ CLASSICS

Sega will release a new Dreamcast hardware bundle in January that includes clas- Sic 16-bit games, such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Vectorman. Dubbed the Smash Pack Bundle, the new DC package will also include a couple other surprises.

The Smash Pack will include ten games that first appeared on the Sega Genesis system, along with a new, Dreamcast rendition of the light gun shooter, Virtua Cop 2. It doesn't stop here, as Sega will also throw the DC puzzle game, Sega Swirl, into