where the action is

So you've heard the news. This PC gamer has succumbed to his better judgement and purchased a console. This time, it's serious - we're not talking a pocket-sized gamestation. However having the most excellent F-Zero GX and Metroid Prime at my disposal hasn't stopped me from playing the hell out of Call of Duty, which I completed in a mere three days after picking up my pre-ordered copy on Friday. Keep your eyes peeled for a full review in the next day or so.

In some offhand console developments, IBM recently won the contract to create processors for the next XBox which can go alongside the ATI-powered graphics processor. With this news it seems strange that the Gamecube - a console that already possesses a similar system architecture - has done so poorly. The price drop has helped at least, but I think the biggest hurdle is mindshare. Even though the PS2 is sporting inferior technology you can't beat its catalogue of games. In yet another marketing gimmick to sell 'cubes, Nintendo announced the Zelda bonus disc bundle. It includes the full versions of the original Legend of Zelda I & II, both N64 Zeldas, and a playable demo of The Windwaker.

Some concept photos and specs for the Playstation Portable also made the rounds today (you can check out a larger version here). It looks a little too shiny and smooth, and uncannily like a phone (N-Gage, anyone?). And what's with the D-pad and buttons being flush with the surface? It doesn't look entirely usable. This also goes against Sony's original promise of an analog stick for the controller. But hey, it's just a concept model. Nobody would be stupid enough to mass produce a poorly designed prototype, right Nokia?

we're not going to make it; he explained how the end would come.