* The mini map thing is a funny little quirk I didn’t realize I shared with so many. In my days of Diablo addiction, I had to constantly watch myself from just playing the game through the minimap. It came to a point where I would almost ignore the rest of the game. And yea, I would never go to the next portion of the map without making sure I uncovered every little pixel on the mini map. As you can imagine, unreachable black patches on the mini map — raised terrains, abysses etc — we an absolute nightmare for my neurotic gaming self!

* On the iphone… just the very nature of the device means that even if it sells twice as many as the best selling hand-held, it just won’t be as lucrative a gaming platform. At best, it will work well for the casual gaming market — as everyone already mentioned.

Also, considering its battery replacement system limitations, I can imagine a lot of angry customers in a few years. As gamers use the system more intensely for gaming, the iphone’s battery longevity is bound to suffer. And while users of other phones can easily buy new batteries from local brick and mortar stores, iphone owners have to go through a long and expensive ritual. Again, time will tell how big of a problem this becomes… if at all, but I have a feeling that it will be a big issue.

Personally, I’ve always been suckered into magical multi purpose devices, only to be disappointed in the end. While being able to take pics, play games, and listen to mp3s on single mobile devices is pretty cool, nothing — so far — is a substitute for a cheap digital camera, a cheap mp3 player or a cheap handheld — aside from convenience of course. But other than capturing those random quirky pictures on your cellphone or sending an emergency business related e-mail, I find no other satisfactory uses for the extra features.

And while I don’t use public transportation, I can imagine that if I did, I’d rather be gaming on a proper handheld — even casually — than a device such as the iphone.

* Diablo 3 — lol I was cringing as you read my comment. It sounds a lot worse when you read it out loud. But I love other aspects of Diablo as well, and I love the whole multiplayer experience.

As for my *click click click* comment, I actually didn’t mean I minded the mouse clicking. I meant that I didn’t want the clicking to be monotonous. If you have no variation in the gameplay, then you are left with a whole lot of single purpose clicking — which is what I meant.

* Valve — I know they are developers. I just meant that they take products like Portal and L4D, polish them, and release them under their brand.

OK I didn’t know they put those together from scratch though. Thanks for the info. I actually learned a few things I didn’t know.

I know TF2, Ep2 etc are Valve properties though… of course.

Also, you can’t convince me on the source engine. Sorry.

I actually do think it looks very dated, and to a distracting level. And the sounds etc., are terribly annoying. Some of those sound effects are carrying in from half-life and just need to be redone… it is quite lazy.

But I do love L4D.

*PoP — I played some more of the game and it is still quite good for me, but I am finding it way too easy. I am also turned off by all the “visual aid”. I wish they had at the very least given the option of switching that stuff off.

As for the dialog, it slowly starts to chose its charm. I think the problem is that they were trying to make the prince into this Han Solo style rebellious character etc. The problem is that with not many other characters in the game, his brash attitude becomes more annoying than it should.