like taking candy from a baby

So... isn't the world of gaming pretty fucked up?

Firstly, any old dumbass can start a blog spouting crap and so-called 'legitimate' gaming websites fall over themselves to cover it. I'm looking at you MaxConsole.

What's more, within the space of hours gaming forums are only too willing to perpetuate substance-less rubbish. Even the oh-so-precious NeoGaf with it's "I'm more hardcore than you" snobbery. 280 replies and 26,000 page views... Gee, thanks guys.

Seriously, I often wonder if 90% of the people on that site even know what 'preeminent' means? Especially when, of late, a quick run through the first page of Gaf is actually the same mix of bitching and N4G reposts you get on any other gaming forums.

Standards have fallen.

See ya.

I wonder...

...how Metal Gear Touch would work with no touch screen?

Insomniac Games will surprise everyone at E3 - probably even Sony. who's new PSN service is set to add yet another disjointed menu to the XMB (along with a web app section on the PS Store). If you thought the XMB was starting to look like a gallery for free glossy web 2.0 icons, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Slim 360 to be unveiled at e3... 360 rebrand inbound

MS will reveal a slim 360 natal bundle at one of their two (yes, two) press conferences at this year's e3.

What's more the 360 will be getting a subtle rebrand, with a new logo and black as the new primary colour of the console. They feel that the new system needs to be black because a white Natal wouldn't sit well next to the typical gloss black tv.

The new system design is pretty neat.

And Natal? Let's just say you'll probably be both very surprised and very pleased by one of the games revealed... what is it?

Might Get Shot if I were to tell.

You'll see.

Insomniac feeling the heat

Frankly, I'd be worried too.

Insomniac is being put under increasing pressure by Sony to get more representative final-build quality assets of Resistance 2 out of the door.

Given the comparatively dull live demo of R2 at E3, hot on the heels of the ill-conceived GTTV gameplay reveal, who can blame them.?

Things are getting increasingly fraught for Insomniac who have twice now shown incomplete areas to the public right after Gears 2 has shown more polished builds. What's more, the studio is increasingly worried that it's multiplayer mode - which focuses on large scale battles over graphical might - isn't going to win over gamers when placed side by side with it's peers.

Insomniac can deliver - but Sony desperately needs this game to be a hit this winter when into launches right into the same time and space as Gears.

What's the big announcement on the 3rd of August?

Precisely what the Sony reps I've spoken to want to know. Either this is a big global secret that even Sony's own PR staff don't about, or you shouldn't hold your breath.

You decide.

Miss Independant

The recent fiasco surrounding Bungie's 'Superindendent' reveal has left a very bitter taste in the mouth of the studio.

The very core of their reason for extracating themselves from the motherbrain (yes, singular, we're talking about the people who run Microsoft's gaming bits and pieces, after all) was to have more autonomy. It seems Microsoft's last minute decision and the subsequent oh-so-smooth PR job by Mattrick have really left the company feeling completely deflated.

The current status quo cannot and, if Bungie has anything to do with it, will not last. Do you think they keep calling Microsoft out for the fun of it? If you do, you're wrong. Bungie is looking to get away from it's beastly master and may yet succeed.

Where to? Well I suppose Everyone and Anyone could be in the frame.

Let's get this show on the road

So, it's time to get things rolling again - after the shocking state of this year's E3, I decided it's time to be putting rumours straight each and every week.

We're back in business people - 100% less boring politics, 300% more of what you really want to see.