While you’d expect this stuff on a hacked/modded PC game, I never thought I’d see it on the console port.

Special thanks to Jadira who was quick with her camera, recording my airborne fight with a flying fire Tank. Simply epic.

I like Left 4 Dead a lot. Like, a lot a lot. The whole franchise has become a strange obsession of mine, giving me yet another reason to visit the homes of my Xbox boasting buddies (aside from the typical food piracy). Few things beat mowing down hordes of flesh-eating zombies with an assault rifle after a long day of… wait, what do I do again?*

But nevermind that. We’ve only got about five more months before Valve announces Left 4 Dead 3 (and only about ten before they release it).** While Left 4 Dead 2 is wonderful in a million and one ways that more than tickle my fancy, I still have some suggestions that could essentially make for that hallowed “perfect game” all the kids are begging for.

Perfect game maker machine GOOOOOOO!!!

While the Left 4 Dead franchise always made plenty good with mass amounts of zombies, I want more. How cool would it be to play a stage where you fight through a literal sea of the infected (*coughboatstagecough*)? Or how about a New Year’s-themed stage in Time’s Square where zombies, confetti, and pointy hats run rampant as you bound from scaffold to scaffold to avoid drowning in an ocean of biting and ew.

I’m just sayin’, give me just one stage that’s brimming with the bastards. I’m sure Valve could think of something.

That thing’s just stupid. It grunts and groans as it head-humps you into a festering cluster of zombie bullshit. Plus it looks like a chihuahua.

Not only is it ridiculously annoying, but playing as one in multiplayer is damn near insulting. Replace it with something cool, and we’re in business. Something with a gun, perhaps? Hmmm…

Bring in all the peeps from old games and make them playable online. I know it’s a ridiculous notion, but it would add a lot of back-story and plot development to a game very lacking in that department (sort of like that L4D2 DLC I’m eagerly anticipating). Hell, you could even introduce characters related to other characters from past games. One might argue the ambiguous nature of Left 4 Dead is part of what makes it so great—and to that I agree. Still, my curiosity is killing me.

On a completely unrelated note: where the fuck did the Witch come from, and why is she so damn powerful? Agh! So mysterious.

Another idea is to offer a main campaign that introduces us to the new zombie hunters and lets us play as the classic L4D Survivors in modes like “Survival” and “Scavenge”.

Actually, I have an even better idea than that: custom characters. Who wouldn’t want to see a poorly-imagined rendition of yours truly fight the horde.*** It would make the game more intimate.

It’s a real bitch playing L4D single player. Yes, I know it’s designed for multiplayer, and there’s no denying that the game’s far more enjoyable with a pal. But some of us lack that luxury, and when you’re surrounded by claws and ultraviolence, it’s nice knowing you can fall back on your NPC friends.

I’ve already watched one NPC watch another NPC DIE right in front of me (I didn’t help just to see if it would—it didn’t). I once saw another hold a health pack in its defense, unable to switch to its weapon, until the horde ripped it to shreds. An option to command other NPCs is something the franchise desperately needs. Make use of that Xbox headset I stole from my neighbor’s kid and let me shout for help when I need it—this way I actually get it.

Want to increase the replay value of L4D3 exponentially?

Introducing the Zombiometer(TM)—a counter that keeps track of a player’s “zombie miles”. Each zombie you kill adds to your score, this way you can see how many you’ve killed total, how many special infected you’ve slain, or even how many of the beasts you’ve gunned down in your last campaign.

User profiles keeping track of this information is essential. Think of it like Halo or Call of Duty where the game assigns you a player profile and a rank representing your performance. This brings me to my next point:

Let me level up. So very many games include this most basic RPG element, and it’s a wonder why it’s yet to be exercised in Left 4 Dead. As I play, I should be rewarded—and thus—inspired to kill as many zombies as possible. While run-of-the-mill survival is fun and all, I need more incentive. As gamers grow, the games they play need to grow with them. This is just the next logical step for the franchise.

Ideally, this could work to match the player’s style of gameplay. Use a lot of melee weapons? You’ll notice you hit faster and harder as you grow. Find yourself taking lots of hits? Benefit from the damage by getting a higher defense stat or more health. Like using the sniper rifle? Increase your aim at the next level. The possibilities never end.

Of course, if I don’t get to level up, at least give me some perks to playing as any given character. It’s already damn near impossible to complete a stage if one or more of your characters drops, so adding special abilities just makes sense. One character could have extra melee strength and the ability to unblock blocked passageways using brute force. Another could be super fast and hold a lockpick. One could serve as a medic, healing others faster and replenishing more health when using health packs.

Using this system would make the gameplay infinitely more interesting than it already is, opening the door to alternate paths and deepening the need to work together in order to survive.

If I fall off a ledge during a zombie apocalypse (or any apocalypse for that matter), I’m sure as hell not waiting for some asshole to pull me up. No way.

If you have the strength to kill a group of five or six rabid men with a cricket bat in a single swing, you have the strength to pull your own body weight up from the side of a handrail.

That’s something I’ve never understood about the franchise. Yeah, I get that you’re supporting the notion of team dependency, but that’s taking it a bit too far. I’m a big boy; I can climb my own ledges, thank you.

*Okay, so the zombies technically never “eat flesh” in Left 4 Dead, per se. But who cares, ya bastard?
**Not a rumor, but a joke.
***Not in any part due to the developers, but my own limitations when it comes to making things look like me.

Not perfect enough for ya? Tell us how you’d make Left 4 Dead 3 in the comments section below.

Instead, I was one of the many who caught wind of Left 4 Dead 2 and boldly cried out “TOO SOON!”

And, at the time, that really seemed to be the case. The first Left 4 Dead came out just seven months earlier, leaving devout fans of the series (including myself) wondering why Valve would promote such a rash and seemingly foolish gesture.

Soon enough, questions began to flare:

• Why the hell isn’t this DLC?
• What about that game I bought last November? You’re dropping support for it already?
• What’s going on with zany Zoey, buckeye Bill, funky Francis, and lucky Louis? You just gonna ditch those guys too?
• How you expect me to buy a new Left 4 Dead game every year? I’ve still gotta get Madden, Guitar Hero, and the next Call of Duty. I don’t have money for this shit!

So when the game finally came out, I was admittedly quick to judge. After playing just a single campaign, I boldly stated I didn’t see any reason for Left 4 Dead 2 to exist as a stand-alone game.

But boy, was I wrong. Not only did a second go at Left 4 Dead 2 leave my face with an expression much like this one—it totally rocked my socks (and how!).

I won’t waste your time talking about what’s unchanged from the first game; for the most part, it’s essentially the same. You’re a group of four nobodies, immune to zombie-itis (tee hee—kinda looks like it says “zombie tits”), fighting your way to freedom using whatever guns and makeshift explosives you find along the way. Along with regular infected, several breeds of “super infected” are out to make your trek from point A to point B a real bitch. If you know anything about the original, then you pretty much know what you’re getting into here.

So instead, I’m focusing on the differences and what’s new, because if you’re interested in this L4D2, you need to the play the original Left 4 Dead first. If you haven’t, you’re missing out.

First of all, I’d must clarify one thing: there definitely enough new content available to warrant a purchase, that’s for sure. While on the outside the game seems to be nothing more than a glorified map pack, looks are damn deceiving. And for that, I have this to say:

Sowwy for talking bad about your game, Valve. *sad face*

With that out of the way, let’s carry on:

The level design is bloody magnificent. While not the prettiest game on the market, each stage is completely unique, offering its own set of twists and turns. My personal favorite was the Hard Rain campaign where the sky opens up every few seconds sending a torrential downpour your way, making it nearly impossible to see your friends—and more importantly—your enemies.

Missions also play a part in Left 4 Dead 2, but not in the traditional sense (a la Goldeneye). What was once “Hit that switch there and hold onto your hats” is now “Hit that switch there and 1) fill this car with gas so we can peace the fuck out, 2) cross that massive bridge before we gets eated, or 3) get guy some soda so he lets us live.” Each stage has its own twist, adding depth that the first game unfortunately lacked wouldn’t have fit in a downloadable patch.

L4D2 also adds three new special infected to the roster: the Spitter, the Charger, and the Jockey. All in all, the new special infected (with the exception of the Jockey) are freakin’ stupendous. The Charger is much like a mini-Tank, blitzing through the horde so he can slam you against a wall, grab you by your waist, and pound you to the ground repeatedly. The Spitter does just what its name implies—spits at you. The game refers to it as “goo”, but the sizzling sounds and fumes that eminiate from it imply acid, at best.

Oh, and then there’s the Jockey, a completely annoying and frustrating enemy that makes goofy-ass sounds as it humps and pulls you away from your allies. Stupid Jockey.

Melee weapons are undoubtedly the best thing Valve could have done for the franchise. Most of them are obvious homages to other popular zombie and video game franchises, bringing a warming touch of nostalgia to your regular zombie bashings. Crowbars, cricket bats, katanas, machetes, and even frying pans are at your disposal. Truly, melee weapons are a thing of glory.

All of the game modes from the original L4D are back (including my beloved Survival mode—mmm…) along with a few extras. Scavenge mode has you completing missions while other players control the special infected to prevent you from clearing the stage. There’s also a Realism mode where items and allies aren’t highlighted, making the game a slightly more challenging.

Unfortunately, the dystopian world of Left 4 Dead 2 is far from perfect. The hit detection is horrible, and as wonderful as the melee weapons are, I can’t fathom the idea of swinging a katana in a sea of zombies and not hitting a single one. I’ve even fired sniper rifles at point-blank range only to miss completely. While not common enough to piss on your parade, it’s the video game equivalent of putting a dime into a vending machine and having it drop down into the coin-return slot. Not a day-wrecker, but still annoying.

The AI dun’ gone got stupid since the last game. While the original Left 4 Dead’s AI wasn’t without its faults, it was more endearing than it was infuriating. In Left 4 Dead 2, your computer propelled buddies dumb as a sack of socks. While they’re capable of basic functions (erratic movement, taking the weapon you wanted, etc.), getting one to back you during battle is like asking a stroke victim to perform brain surgery. I once watched a computer-controlled Rochelle get choked to death by a smoker while a computer-controlled Coach watched in awe from thirty feet away. *facepalms*

On top of it all, I’ve noticed the game to occasionally award special infected kills inappropriately. I’ve killed many a Smoker only to see the credit go to some other NPC. I know it really doesn’t matter, and I’m probably just nit-picking, but in my line of work credit is everything. I want the tally for killing super zombies, damn it! At least give me that much.

Sadly, the new characters in Left 4 Dead 2 aren’t as memorable as Zoey, Bill, Francis, and Louis from the first game. While they each have their merits, you just don’t feel the same connection as you had with the original cast. Maybe it was that magnificent introduction in the first game that really linked us to the fearsome foursome, but either way, Nick, Rochelle, Ellis, and Coach are at least tolerable (though Rochelle seems like she was thrown in there just to add a female character, completely lacking of any distinguishing characteristics).

Oh, and Coach easily has the most badass set of mitts I’ve ever seen in a video game. I know, I know; it doesn’t make sense, but play as him and you’ll understand.

Changing the difficulty doesn’t affect the Director as it did in the first Left 4 Dead. Maybe it’s just me, but in the original game, upping the difficulty sent more infected your way and spawned a lot more special infected. In Left 4 Dead 2, it seems the only difference is how quickly you take damage. What a shame.

One more thing if you’re considering Left 4Dead 2: make sure you have a handful of friends to play with—or at least a neighbor or sibling who will play split-screen with you. While you can play by yourself, L4D2 is a lot like sex: the more, the merrier. A Gold account and a solid Internet connection is your ticket to zombie heaven, just as it was in the first game.

The Final Verdict

So if Valve graces us with another title in the Left 4 Dead franchise this November, will I complain? Maybe. But Left 4 Dead 2 certainly keeps my hopes alive if Valve intends on making this an annual event.

While I certainly have my share of complaints, and while the original does still shine brightly (in some ways, brighter than the sequel), the second title in the franchise is a must if you were ever even remotely obsessed with the first L4D. Left 4 Dead 2 is fun and entertaining, offering countless hours of—er—fun and entertainment. You’re definitely getting your money’s worth, even if it seems like you’re just paying for a second-helping of the first game.

Images by Richard Schupp

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The new chick ’round here

NEWS:

-Apple Announces iPad, Also Known as “iPod Big”.

-Nintendo Operating Profit Drops 23%…

-…bet Nintendo Regrets Passing on Project Natal (Allegedly)

-Canceled Fallout Extreme Details Show Why Fallout Extreme Was Canceled

-Grand Theft Auto Suspect Busted Playing… Wait For It… Grand Theft Auto

-Boy Stabs Father in Throat Over FIFA 10

-Child Commits Suicide. Naturally, Video Games Are to Blame

-Classic Xbox LIVE Arcade Games Won’t Work in Game Room… Unless you Rebuy Them

-2K Sports Offering One MILLION DOLLARS for First MLB2K10 Perfect Game

-Electronic Arts Paying Out The Ass For Dante’s Inferno Super Bowl Ad

-Zipper Says They’d “Love to See Someone Try” to Put MAG on Xbox 360

-Gamers to Valve: Counter-Strike 2 Plz?

-God of War III Comes March 16th, Includes Peter Weller

-Activision Co-Founder gets award.

-Watch Moral Kombat for Free… ’til the end of February.

-CliffyB tweets! FACE MELTING!

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Who is going to be up for a Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 midnight launch !?

NEWS

-No Doubt Sues Activision Over Band Hero Likenesses, Activision Threatens Counter-Suit

-Video Games Banned in Venezuela. All of Them.

-Game Boy Inducted into National Toy Hall of Fame

-Borderlands Dev Randy Pitchford: Valve are Selfish Fanboys

Bargain Gaming Presents… Killer Holiday Deals

-Wal-Mart Offering Xbox 360 Arcade and $100 Wal-Mart Gift Card for $200

-Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle $99 Through Year’s End

-Spend $20 at Old Navy, Get LEGO Rock Band Free

-170 DSi bundle with 5 games

Back to News…

-Nintendo Can Suck It For Badmouthing the Nintendo 64

-Modern Warfare 2 is Kind of Popular – Pre-order bonus, please go away!

-It’s a Slow News Week, so Hideo Kojima is Judging a Twilight Fan Art Contest

-Epic games released Unreal Engine

-Super Street Fighter brings back beating up cars

-Microsoft Employee Poopoos Idea of Facebook on Game Systems… wait, what?

-IGN-owned Direct2Drive calls Steam a “trojan horse”, Won’t sell MW2

-More Modern Warfare 2 PC hatorade

-Age Of Conan Devs Creating Snowboarding MMO

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Binge Gamer will be up at GameX !

Keep up with James Walker vs. Madden the Video Game!

RIP GamePro sites, Binge Gamer wishes you well

NEWS:

-Nintendo, 50+ Publishers Suing R4

-Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott Ends, Organizers Claim False Victory

-In Our Weekly Activision Hit Piece, They’re Now Taking Kurt Cobain YouTube Videos Down

-God is Dead, Rumble Massage “developer” makes $60,000 Off Xbox LIVE Indie Game

-Fifteen Year-Old Set on Fire Over $40 Gaming Debt

-Man Steals Xbox, Drives Into Lake During Getaway, Returns Xbox and Apologizes

-StarCraft Player Loses Internet Connection, Zerg-Rushes 15-year-old Girl

-No Shit, Sherlock: Bayonetta Developer Isn’t Gay

-The Elder Scrolls Gets a Novel in November; JW Weeps in Joy

-Failed Game Designer Says DLC is Akin to “Raping the Customer”

-Mill o’ Rumour: Forza 3 Leaked?!

-Get a USB SEGA Saturn Controller For $15 (Comes with PlaySEGA Service)

-Magna Carta 2 DLC Includes Cutscenes. Fucking CUTSCENES!

-Sony Announces 250GB PS3 Slim for $350

-GameInformer FAILS! Compares Call of Duty: Reflex to Call of Duty 4

-Xbox LIVE Twitter, Facebook Preview Sign-Ups Underway

-R.I.P. Captain Lou Albano

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We have been gaming on: Stretch Panic (PS2), We Love Katamari (PS2), The Conduit (Wii), Kinetica (PS2), Kagero: Deception II (PS1), Jet Grind Radio (Dreamcast), Marvel vs Capcom 2 (XBLA), Duke Nukem 3D (XBLA), Obvlivion (Xbox 360)

TMNT: Turtles in Time XBLA gets price drop!

James makes it in the Xbox Live preview

Happy Birthday, ESRB

NEWS:

Valve Responds to Racist Accusations in L4D2

Call of Duty fans squat on ModernWarfare4.com, Demand Copies of CoDMW4 (yes, 4) for their community

Deus Ex Creator Working on ‘Epic Mickey’ Steampunk Disney game (Click here for some more pictures)

iPhone More Powerful Than the Wii?

QUICKIES

SEGA sez… In Time, Sonic Won’t Suck Anymore

Microsoft Feels the Power of Attorney… again

The Matrix Online Goes Offline, People Shocked that The Matrix Online Was Still Up

Uncharted 2 Needs NO Install

Bethesda & Bungie? Probably Not, But Damn

Dead Space Becoming a Movie

…so is inFAMOUS

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We have been gaming on: Plants vs Zombies (PC), Pac Man CE (XBLA), Orgeon Trail (PC), Jet Grind Radio (Dreamcast), Crazy Taxi (Dreamcast), Battlefield 1943 (XBLA), The Club (Xbox 360)

Comic Con: Resident Evil 6, Halo Anime, Iron Man 2 by Sega, DC Universe Online, Sam Raimi to Direct World of Warcraft movie

NEWS

Be EA Vip for $5. Black College Football – Not a racist game.. but a racist title?. Also, EA Sports sued by former players.

Get your music in Rock Band and get paid!

Top Selling Games of 2009 (so far) Hold No Surprises

Double Fine Sues Activision

Valve sez… Let Players Fund Game Development

G-Phoria Voting Started Monday

QUICKIES

Ken Levine’s Next Project is ‘Very Ambitious’, says Ken Levine

Bayonetta Delayed Until 2010

Sony Considered Two Nubs for PSP Go

Metalocalypse Game Promises to be Most Metal Game Ever

A Modern Warfare 2 Controller?! Nothing is Safe From Activision

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Walking simulator announced

Getting a new console, the “debate”

NEWS:

LucasArts releases nearly everything to Steam

Rumor Has It That PSP2 is in Development, As Powerful As Xbox

Johnny Chung Lee says that Project Natal Could Inspire New Genres of Games

Confirmed Guitar Hero 5 tracks coming…and some rumored tracks coming to Guitar Hero 5

Harmonix claiming music games do not need a console to be played

Game Over for GamePro employee (Re:ATTN Internet: The Definition of Copy/Paste)

QUICKIES:

Modern Warfare 2 back to being a Call of Duty game

Valve Admits PS3 Version of Orange Box is Inferior… at last…

Miyamoto finds out people want Kid Icarus on the Wii !

New MechWarrior Game is New, Series Reboot

Zenimax Was Given $105M for id Acquisition

Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Xbox LIVE. Luly 29th.

Epic Games not too keen on motion controls

Third MK Movie in Development?

View-Master to become a movie. Yes, the View-Master

Elder Scrolls II is free! Click here to learn how to install it

Thai Government May Close Game Parlors Over Swine Flu Fears

This video does more than simply tell it like it is. No, this is a lesson about sloth and how I should’ve gotten off my ass and written my Open Letter before somebody else beat me to the punch. But, C’est la vie. Let’s just sit back and enjoy Sessler ripping into some poor little fanboys who can’t get over their delusional sense of self-entitlement, shall we?

When you’re right, you’re right. Valve doesn’t owe you people a damn thing and, in fact, I’d go so far as to say that they’re doing their fans a service with Left 4 Dead 2. It’s a larger game that is trying to do things that, for whatever reason, Valve couldn’t do in the original L4D. But there is one thing I want to address myself: This whole idea that Valve won’t be able to continue support for the original L4D is a laughable assumption at best. Valve, especially with EA behind them, are more than capable of supporting two games — especially when they’re both running on the same core engine.

Besides, most of you petitioners are going to buy the damn game anyways, so just shut the hell up.

…I can’t believe you bastards are making me defend Valve…

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Show Notes / Related Links:

We are gaming on: Crush the Castle (PC/Flash), Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360), Peggle (PC), The Orange Box (PC), Mario Kart (Wii), The Last Guy (PSN), Burn Zombie Burn (PSN), Elite Force II (PC), Resident Evil 5 (PS3), Sonic: Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3), Jackie Chan’s Action Kung Fu (NES/TG16), Symphony of the Night (PSN), Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core (PSP), Red Faction Guerrilla Demo (PS3)

Reality TV show “WCG Ultimate Gamer” finale lacked suck

NEWS:

Activision and Valve fight!

Game Addiction Researcher admits flaws, Continues to Defend Flawed Study

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is officially official – Now let us all whine about the demo

Mr. T and SimCity Creator Will Wright join forces to battle Nazis

PSP Go! to lose UMD? Damn, that’s stupid

Bioware likes gay people (at least now they do)

Video Game Hall of Fame? Okay.

Steve Wiebe is new Donkey Kong, Jr. Champion

Xbox 360 owners really, really want Halo 3: ODST

Moar Perfect Dark XBLA proof (also Forza 3 confirmed)

Max Payne, Max Payne 2 now Xbox Originals

See the above image? The image that doubles as the feature image on the homepage? Yeah, that’s the first official image from a little independent movie called “Iron Man 2″. Loose talk is that the first movie was a pretty decent critical success. Let’s hope the second one gets the widespread recognition it deserves.*

I like seeing the suits in the background. It’s a nice touch — although I’m still not sure how Stark got his hands on the Mark I suit, which was obliterated in the first movie.

Green for Microsoft
Blue for Nintendo
Red for Sony

• Square Enix officially owns Eidos, but it’ll remain independent – Joystiq
• Valve sues Activision, Activision vows vengeance – GamePolitics
• Koei, Playlogic, Crave join ESA – GamePolitics
• Six Days in Fallujah cancelation caught Atomic Games by surprise – Destructoid
• Steve Wiebe is your NEW Donkey Kong, Jr. champion – Twin Galaxies
• Former Take-Two Vet now Realtime Worlds CEO – Gamasutra
• David Reeves reportedly surprised by report of him leaving SCEE – Develop
• Microsoft layeth the banhammer on Gears of War 2 cheaters – Major Nelson
• PS3 Sales Surge 274% in Japan – MCV UK
• Square Enix: …yeah, we may buy another company – Gamasutra
• Game Addiction Researcher admits he was wrong – SPOnG
• Square Enix also realizes that they work entirely too damn slow – Joystiq
• Behold the awesomeness of Marvel vs. Capcom 2’s many graphics options – Capcom-Unity
• Dead Rising 2 has multiplayer. Sweet. – Eurogamer
• Xbox 360 owners really, really want Halo 3: ODST – Gamasutra
• SCEE’s Reeves: PS3 will rule all! …in about five years – GamesIndustry
• Hideo Kojima wants to make games until he dies – Andria Sang
• New Call of Duty 4 patch set to lay the smack down on cheaters – Xbox.Joystiq
• Ever wonder why WET was called WET? Well, wonder no more! – Destructoid
• Video Game Hall of Fame? …it could work – GoNintendo
• Even though it’s flawed, people are still defending the Gaming Addiction study – GamePolitics
• Even the guy who apologized for it being flawed – GamePolitics
• Microsoft says the games industry should demand more respect – MCV UK
• Behold! The cliffnote version of why Midway sank like a lead turd – Gamasutra
• Former Splatterhouse devs working on… Splatterhouse – Destructoid
• The Sims 3 could sell upwards of four million units in 2009, says Analyst – Gamasutra
• Raven Software wants to make a Deadpool game – Joystiq
• Michael Pachter forgets “last console generation” comments, says to expect new consoles around 2013 – The Feed

• Max Payne, Max Payne 2 now Xbox Originals – Stick Skills
• Bethesda confirms that it is, indeed, publishing WET – Joystiq
• Lime Green Nintendo DSi for Mother’s Day to be released May 3rd – Shacknews
• Mr. T. and SimCity Creator Will Wright Fight Nazis. That is all. – Joystiq
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is officially official… like we didn’t already know – Destructoid
• Capcom reveals new Spyborgs art style – Destructoid
• It’s official: Resident Evil 5 is headed to PC – Shacknews
• Mass Effect: Jacob’s Story coming to iPhone – Joystiq
• nVidia announces that you get PhysX! And you get a PhysX and YOU get a PhysX! – GameDaily
• Texas Cheat ‘em is Texas Hold ‘em… for scumbags – Shacknews
• Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond trademarked by D3 Publisher – Destructoid
• Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth announced for Nintendo DS – Shacknews
• Ignition and Tecmo announce Nostalgia for Nintendo DS – Destructoid
• The Witcher Console Port “Suspended” – Shacknews
• zomg Forza 3 confirmed!!11!1!! – Destructoid
• Ubisoft announces Ghost Recon 4 – Joystiq
• Red Steel 2. It’s official – Destructoid
• Namco bringing Magna Carta 2 to US Xbox 360 owners – IGN
• Guitar Hero: Smash Hits‘ GH3 tracks lack “Cliffs of Dover”… JW disapproves – Destructoid
• Ultima Online gets an expansion… I know, I’m surprised it’s still here, too – Joystiq
• Turtles in Time is getting remade for XBLA – Gamerbytes

• GamesIndustry talks to just about everyone under the sun – GamesIndustry
• ‘God of War meets Mr. T sounds like the most awesome thing ever – Destructoid
• American Classic Arcade Museum co-founder Gary Vincent – Joystiq
• Space Invaders Extreme’s lead artist – Destructoid
• Valve’s Robin Walker on all things Team Fortress 2 – Shacknews

• BioShock movie on hold due to budget constraints? – Gamasutra
• Warner Bros. may buy Midway – GameDaily
• Sony to unveil new motion controller at E3? – Destructoid
• Please just announce Perfect Dark already – Joystiq
• 1UP says PSP Go! Will lose UMD, Require you to Download Games You Already Own – 1UP

• Activision needs to just announce the damn Van Halen game already – Destructoid
• More Fallout 3 DLC? Sure looks like it – Shacknews

• Need for Speed: Shift is mighty pretty – The Feed
• WET looks to be… I don’t really know, but it’ll surely be awesome – Destructoid
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2 plays like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 should – The Feed
• Dante’s Inferno is hot… really hot… – Destructoid
• Give ZEN Pinball some love, people. Pinball rules – PlayStation.Joystiq
• M.A.G. certainly lives up to it’s name, if nothing else – The Feed
• PixelJunk 1-4 is absolute junk… of the pixelated kind – Joystiq
• Dead to Rights Retribution… yeah, I didn’t know about it, either – Destructoid
• Katamari Forever is just so… damn… weird… – Joystiq

• Fight Night Round 4 is ready to fly like a butterfly… – Shacknews
• Let’s all point and laugh at these Fat Princess screens together – PlayStation.Joystiq
• Need for Speed: SHIFT looks pretty spectacular – Destructoid
• SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 looks like a PSP game – Joystiq
• These Brutal Legend screens are the most brutal thing ever – Destructoid
• Borderlands is pretty, totally not cel-shaded – Joystiq

• Dead Rising 2 trailer has well quaffed hair – Destructoid
• Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles looks pretty – GoNintendo
• Overlord II. Enjoy – Joystiq
• Uncharted 2 looks disgustingly pretty – PlayStation.Blog
• Holmes. Ripper. FIGHT! – Shacknews
• Behold! The Conduit has an actual story – Destructoid
• More Batman: Arkham Asylum awesomeness – The Feed
• Army of Two: The 40th Day trailer takes itself seriously – Joystiq

Finally, Batman: Arkham Asylum has officially been delayed until “Summer 2009″… even though it was set for release in “Summer 2009″… it’s all confusing. But the game will not be making it’s original release date, and the delay has been described to me as allowing the team working on the game to give it some extra polish and to make sure it all runs extra awesome. K? K.

Okay, people. Next Monday begins our official tribute to all things Trek. All of our GGYNP segments, a new Brief History piece and whatever else we come up with — will have some kind of Trek awesomeness. Also, next week’s episode of The Bender may be delayed as we all go to watch the movie.

We hope you will, too.

*I am so full of shit.

Well, people. It’s been fun, but after doing this segment every day for six months… it’s time to call it quits. Best of the Rest is no more.

…but Best of the Week premieres next Friday.

• Noby Noby Boy is coming to iPhone – VideoGamer
• Mega Man 2 is coming to iPhone – Shacknews
• Wii MotionPlus could still see a spring release – MTV Multiplayer
• Left 4 Dead: 2.5 million strong and growing – Joystiq
• GameTap’s big relaunch has been delayed – Big Download
• Everybody is on board with Square Enix’s takeover of Eidos – GamesIndustry
• Hideo Kojima will NEVER Retire, bitches! – EDGE
• Mass Effect 2 is a “Shooter RPG”, Still No PS3 Announcement – IGN
• Is The Last Remnant Coming to PS3? Nobody’s saying – Gamasutra
• Behold! The one guy who created the PS3/PSP XMB – PlayStation.Joystiq
• Sony intends to go all Microsoft on bringing exclusives to PS3 – GossipGamers
• World of Warcraft has seen eight BILLION quests completed – Shacknews
• The Sims 3 will have no invasive DRM – GameDaily
• Rumor Has It that Blizzard is working on another super-secret project – IncGamers
• Fat Princess. Summer. BUY IT! – Joystiq
• Bethesda working on lots of Fallout 3 DLC – Shacknews
• Blizzard to Industry: Stop writing books in our games! – GameDaily
• Behold! We could have been calling Rock Band “Metal Lords” – Destructoid
• CD Projekt Red (The Witcher) has licensed Havok tech – Gamasutra
• More trophies coming to Resident Evil 5 – PlayStation.Joystiq
• Braid for PC has been delayed for just a bit – BigDownload
• Publishers on how much of a bitch localization really is – RPGamer
• Todd Greenwald is Better than Michael Pachter, Says $60 Pricetag is Safe… for now – GamesIndustry
• You cheat in Killzone 2? You could soon face the BANHAMMER! – Destructoid
• Capcom wants 6,000 zombies on screen in Dead Rising 2 – MTV Multiplayer
• Bungie backpedals on continued post-ODST Halo 3 support – Joystiq

GDC is also done for one more year. How ever will we survive the two entire months until gaming’s next big event? … meth Call of Duty.

GDC continues, so does Best of the Rest. Until Friday. Then it becomes a weekly round-up affair that will hopefully also include a daily email newsletter-type contraption. I haven’t decided yet. Anyways, here be the news.

• Wolfenstein 3D is coming to iPhones – VE3D
• Havok announces new AI SDK – Joystiq
• Games for Windows LIVE is taking piracy head-on – VideoGamer
• Games for Windows LIVE is also getting tons of new stuff – The Feed
• Wallace & Gromit releases on PC – Shacknews
• Capcom on more Zak & Wiki: Never discount the possibility – NintendoEverything
• Somehow the Nintendo DSi has already sold two million units in Japan – videogaming247
• Details on new Resistance 2 patch, DLC – Just Video Games
• Team Ninja teases new IP – Gamasutra
• Ubisoft announces R.U.S.E. – Joystiq
• Resident Evil 6 could take eight years… what?! – D+Pad
• The Agency, DC Universe Online to hit in 2010 – Shacknews
• ATTN 2K Marin: Make up your damn mind about Sea of Dreams – Joystiq
• Star Trek D.A.C. details emerge – GameDaily
• As industry feels sting of recession, online gaming still grows – BBC
• Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete finally getting a US release? Rumor has it… – Blu-Ray

Finally, PixelJunk Eden is a great game. This is fact. So you shouldn’t be too surprised to hear that the game made a profit after one day on the market. As well it should have — it’s a great game.