Today in Insanity: Jack Thompson Blames Bill Gates for VT Shooting

Not content in just blaming video games and video game creators, Jack Thompson's now blaming Bill Gates for what happened at Virginia Tech. An exerpt:

As you know, I similalry [sic] went on NBC's Today Show with the DC Beltway Sniper still unidentified and at-large a few years ago and told Matt Lauer and the nation that the triggerman would most likely be a teen video gamer trained on a sniper video game. The tarot card was a clue, but there were other clues. I was right, as Malvo trained on your Microsoft game, Halo. NBC reported that three months later, and it was part of the criminal trial of Malvo.

Mr. Gates, your company is potentially legally liable the harm done at Virginia Tech. Your game, a killing simulator, according to the news that used to be in the Post, trained him to enjoy killing and how to kill. You knew five years ago that your on-line game, Counterstrike, so clearly figured in the massacre by a student in Erfurt that the event and the game impacted the race for Chancellor in Germany at the time!

Xbox Backwards Compatibility updated!

Microsoft just put online a new version of the Xbox emulator for our 360s, and this time there are lots of good games to play! Breakdown, Full Spectrum Warrior, Guilty Gear Isuka, JSRF: Jet Set Radio Future (not for Europe, not the Pack Version) MechAssault® 2: Lone Wolf, Mercenaries, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, Panzer Dragoon ORTA (Woohoo), Phantom Dust, Return To Castle Wolfenstein, Soul Calibur 2 (finally in Europe), Street Fighter® Anniversary Collection et Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict. And since I've lost my PDO, here are some 720p captures of Phantom Dust!

Forza 2 images

Forza Motorsport 2 will soon be gold, and the media we get now are what we will play in a few weeks. And when they look like these 5 new images, it makes this wait seem much longer than it is... Great screenshots!"

LT Ignored Madden Cover Due to $$$, Not Curse?

According to a story by Darren Rovell of CNBC, maybe Vince Young wasn't Electronic Arts' first choice to be the cover boy of Madden NFL 08. "Multiple industry sources" have apparently stated EA presented 2006 League MVP LaDainian Tomlinson with an offer, but the Charger's superstar turned it down. However, it wasn't because he was worried about the "Madden Curse," but because EA wouldn't channel Tom Cruise and show him the money. Rovell states the cover athlete usually earns between $100,000 to $200,000, which is "less than market value" because EA views the cover as a Wheaties-like box endorsement -- the honor accompanying the cover is worth more than the money. That apparently wasn't the case for LT, but, who knows, if the curse continues, Chargers fans will be able to say LT's savvy saved their playoff aspirations. Plus, you're now safe to draft him in your fantasy leagues. Stay away from Vince Young for now, though.

Xbox 360 Final Fantasy news article XXVII

As Microsoft's Boris Schneider-Johne put it, "one down, two to go". Microsoft is probably very happy to get its grubby mitts on the likes of Devil May Cry 4, but two of Sony's major exclusives -- Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid 4 -- remain unclaimed. Of course, both games have had their share of rumors stating otherwise. Enter a recent issue of the Australian Playstation Magazine, which contained an interview with Square Enix director, Motomu Toriyama. In particular, one quote has made it around the internet in record time: "... in terms of formats we're reaching ... it's not simply exclusive to the PS3 and mobile phones." It's easy to read this quote and assume Toriyama is referring to the imminent arrival of Final Fantasy XIII on the Xbox 360, but that's making quite a leap. Final Fantasy games have all enjoyed success on multiple platforms, ranging from the DS to upcoming PSP ports to even the Gamecube. It's just as likely that Toriyama is referring to the DS, Wii, PSP, or even another movie. Furthermore, he could easily be talking about spin-off titles and not Final Fantasy XIII itself. Hell, Final Fantasy XIII is already set to have three titles (Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Final Fantasy Agito XIII).

In other words, don't expect Final Fantasy XIII to jump ship anytime soon. It's still possible of course, but Toriyama's comments are not confirmation of a 360 version.

New DiRT Screenshots

DiRT is set to be the most diverse and exhilarating off-road racing experience ever with sensational gravel, mud and dirt events the world over. Events will include the series’ intense point-to-point races and then take players further off-road than ever before.

With more than 40 officially licensed vehicles covering 12 car class categories, fans of the McRae series will get their fix of throwing official 2WD, 4WD, Classic and RWD cars, including Colin McRae’s prototype R4 and Travis Pastrana’s X Games-winning Subaru Impreza, around the most challenging and treacherous rally stages around the world.Already set to deliver an exhilarating thrill ride through a massive variety of off-road racing experiences, DIRT’s new C.O.R.R. events see up to 10 drivers going head-to-head in fierce off-road circuit races.

We bring you ten new screenshots of DiRT: