>Just once I'd like to see a racing game where I >start in the middle of the pack. Cars all >around me.

Gran Turismo 3 - compete in the qualifying session and you'll be promoted in the pack. But then again, who wastes time on qualifying when the could be burning up the track?

> 2. Character profiles.

What gets me is their ages. Jin Kazama - 19 yrs old. Great. I'm three years his senior and he can make lightning crackle round his fists. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR! Why wasn't I taught that stuff when I was growing up?


> 3. Unlocking things.

This gets me, too, especially when playing SSX, which is THE DULLEST game unless you have access to the really funky "difficult" tracks.

Also it gets silly in the bigger games like GT3 where you have to do the endurance races (one track, a million laps - no chance of doing this before "Neighbours" comes on) in order to get another car.

And also when they don't tell you what you get for finishing a race, and then when you finish it after a hundred goes, you get a car that you've already bought.

But what *really* gets me annoyed is the people who sell (and those who buy, but less so) computer games bundled with a cheat disk, or the complete guide. "Remove ALL of the challenge from *your* gaming experience for only 9.95 extra". I mena, if you're really stuck, or if you've finished it and want to hunt out all the extras, then by all means go ahead and use the guide/cheats, but otherwise where's the game? You might as well watch a movie.

> 4. Engrish.

I think games sound better in Japanese with English subtitles. Maybe its just that the words "Shoryuken" and "Hadoken" have been burned into my mind forever, but I'm convinced that Snake sounds better in Japanese.

But as for translations, I'm there with you on that one. Unless its a really silly game like Bishi Bashi, or Parappa the Rapper (the God King of Party Games - Just add Bacardi).

> 5. Gamespot going to a pay service.

All the VG sites have been doing this - It started with Computerandvideogames.com in September last year, I think.

>
> 6. The time limit on Crazy Taxi
>
> I want to keep playing forever, and would it have killed them to put more than two songs in the game?

Solution to both problems - Grand Theft Auto 3.

Quite simply one of the finest games available.

7. Linear games that pretend to be non-linear.

FF7, MGS2 - where you can run round and round and round all you want, but you have to talk to this person or hit that lever to actually advance in the game to any degree.


Bourne