Last month saw the announcement that Killzone 3 would be joining the slowly growing ranks of 3D capable games on the market. Sony has also stated that they are adding 3d capability to many of the PS3's titles. The latest return to 50's film gimmicks made it's way to console games (appropriately) when Avatar: The Video Game was released in 2009. Now more and more titles are announcing 3D capability in time with the hungry consumer hoof-beats.

We got a look at the Avatar game in 3d at last year's PAX. What we saw was not the breathtaking experience described by so many who saw the film in 3D. The use of 3D in game felt lackluster, more distracting than immersive. Above all else it gave me a headache the size of Pandora. Similar reports have come in from Kotaku regarding Killzone 3's 3d effects.

Is there really a need for 3d capable games out there? Surely there are those with the money and the home theater setup to handle such a task but 3d TV's aren't exactly in every home (certainly not mine).

The draw of 3d games is understandable. People who want the latest and greatest from their tech or those who really feel it enhances the experience are bound to get a great deal of fun out of it. We simply feel that there hasn't been any real significant use of it in any games we've seen so far, and until it can show us that it really can change the way we play the game, we're calling it a gimmick.

We would prefer that developers spend more time working on story details, voice acting (please, for the love of god), immersive new mechanics, or getting the most out of motion controls (for once) before we spend another minute on 3d.

Video games suffer from an overabundance of new technology. The medium doesn't have time to adapt to any one new technology before it's replaced or one-upped by the next big thing. Developers end up victims of "jack of all trades, master of none." The only companies that seem able to really focus on and perfect these things are indie developers, and that's often because they can operate with much less scrutiny- the only perk of anonymity- than the larger industry.

We can't speak for everyone, but we want better games, not prettier games. Talk to your developers, they aren't unreachable. Go to their contact pages, write e-mails, call them or even just post in their forums. Let them know that it's about depth of content, not depth perception.

Yes the pun is awful. A fall press conference was ground zero for Nintendo's big announcements this last week. The promise of a slew of new games, new peripherals and a new DS has swayed quite a few people, but I for one am not so impressed.

First off, let's look at the DSi. What's really new about it? It has a camera and an SD memory card slot. Great on the surface but it's also lost the GBA card slot. The reasoning is that it allows the system a more aesthetic look and more space for other things. That's fine. They tout that you'll be able to download various applications priced from 2 to 10 dollars. I imagine some older GBA games will be made available through the service as well.

Trouble is, I have trouble really caring about it. I've never looked at my DS and thought, gee, I'd sure like to have a camera here. The removal of the GBA slot aggravates me a touch. The backwards compatibility was a big selling point for me. Frankly, it seems they've opted to pack on the features rather than fix the systems existing problems. I've yet to here anything about a streamlined interface.

This seems to be Nintendo's answer to everything these days. They make enough money off of their product that they've decided to ignore many long time supporters. Instead of giving the Wii a Hard drive, they give it more peripherals. It will soon have voice chat, but you'd better hope you can hear your friends over the game you're both playing since you won't have a headset.

Wait, you may be saying, they are giving us Punch-out Wii, isn't that something? Well, no it isn't. Punch-out was a great game back in the day, but ask yourself; After all the outcry, all the bad press, all your begging, this is all you get? A revamped version of an original Nintendo Console game? Don't even try to tell me they won't find a way to work the balance board into it. Their core gamers got them to this point, and now that they have all the money they'll ever need, they throw you scraps every once in a while. Punch-out is too little too late.

As for the remakes, I don't think anyone is fooled by that move. Again, with record profits and growing sway over the casual market, the best they can come up with are a bunch of wiimote enabled Gamecube titles. I'm not buying it.

Nintendo is in a unique position. Their console has gotten a lot of people into games that wouldn't have played them before. The console has a great deal of potential to widen the scope of gaming on a global scale. They have the revenue to put serious work behind their projects, make amazing games and show the world what games can do and mean for people. Instead they've taken the businessman's route and abandoned substance for profit. And here I thought we all wanted the same thing.

Guybrush Threepwood. What does that name conjure up in your mind? If you're reading this then you're probably thinking about insult sword fighting, the Ghost pirate LeChuck and a little skull named Murray. If none of that made sense, follow this link and don't come back until you've caught up to the rest of us.

Anyone who's played a SCUMM game knows about Monkey Island, or at least ought to. The classic adventure series has been sorely missed by all of us here at SG and we'd like nothing more than to tell you there's a new Monkey Island game in the works, but we can't.

The truth is we really don't know. At E3 2006 Lucasarts said they might return to the classic franchises in 2015, but who knows how solid a date that is. Honestly it seems strange that any company would plan that far ahead. Lord knows we pester every Lucasarts employee we see about an new Monkey Island game whenever we get the chance so I can imagine a few people throwing out a bullshit answer to get us off his/her back.

At PAX this year Hiro and I abused our semi-press positions to ask another poor soul about future Monkey Island projects. His answer "I can't comment on that." It's not a yes, so don't read too much into it. It isn't a no either and it was enough to keep Hiro and I talking. Could there be a secret Monkey Island team hard at work in the bowls of Lucasarts? Will we actually ever learn the real secret of Monkey Island?

The more important thing to discuss here is why not make another Monkey Island game? The recent success of games like Professor Layton (not a true SCUMM game but similar in some aspects) should show that the market still exists for adventure games. The PC crowd are still the biggest home for such games, but I believe the handheld market is perfect for a Monkey Island game. The game doesn't need any great graphical glory, it's easy to pick up and play and doesn't require intense concentration to beat.

A DS Monkey Island game would certainly get me blood pumping. It wouldn't even have to be a new game, hell, release the originals for the DS and PSP and I'll be a happy camper. The timing is right, with the release of Mega Man 9 showing that gamers are more than willing to spend money on a nostalgic experience. It sound like easy money to me, but I don't make decisions for Lucasarts. If I did, the Full Throttle and Sam and Max sequels would never have been cancelled.

If the portable market doesn't fit quite right, why not go the route of episodic content. One old Lucasarts property has already been repurposed into such a series and has been met with great success. It's a growing market, one that most developers are still a little shy about, but the potential has already shown in Sam & Max and Penny Arcade Adventures.

In the end, Lucasarts, if you're going to do something with the property, great, do it. If you aren't, sell it to someone that will use it. You did it with Sam & Max, you can do it with Monkey Island. There is no reason to keep it on a shelf for some illusory future release. The fans have been faithful and patient. Star Wars is fun and all, but we remember you for so much more. It's time for you to expand your horizons. Please, bring back Threepwood.

Uwe Boll, pictured above doing what he does best, isn't satisfied just making horrible movies, he's decided to make a horrible game. Debuting today on Gametrailers, 1968 Tunnel Rats puts players in the roll of a Vietnam era soldier apparently with rheumatoid arthritis as he walks, yes walks, through tunnels after Vietcong soldiers (read: oblivious looking guys in t-shirts) and hopping gaily over logs in the dangerous jungles of southeast Asia.

The trailer shows a game with an abysmal frame rate and uninspired graphics. The writing shows that typical Boll flair. Pausing the trailer revealed lyrical gems like,"The Hueys are here Man! I knew this wasn't for long! I knew it couldn't be real!" Of course, the text in the trailer blackouts takes the cake.

If you can stand it, check out the trailer. It's bound to hurt a bit, so brace yourself. If I know Uwe Boll though, there's bound to be a commentary track in the game. Listening to Uwe drone on about how wonderful and ingenious he is is the only thing that makes his films bearable. In fact, they're hilarious. If you have nothing else to do, rent a couple of his movies and listen to the commentary tracks. Pure gold.

This post originally from Somnambulant Gamer