As for the meat of my column, I would like to talk about some games that will cause some serious drops in marks. The first I would like to talk about is Half-Life 2. Yes, I know, I've been caught in the hype, but I won't show it here...I hope. Half-Life changed FPS's by keeping you, the player, in the First-Person perspective throughout the entire game. It also changed the stereotype of run and gun and added a third element: run, gun, and think. Half-Life 2 looks to once again change the First-Person Shooter genre, and for the better. This time, instead of the gameplay elements, it will change the mechanics. Yes I'm talking about some of the most awesome physics this side of the Milky Way. Unlike the Havok engine, things in the Half-Life 2 engine, dubbed Source, follow the laws of gravity and buoyancy. In addition to the intense science-fiction story of Half-Life 1 (taken to the next level, read in review) and the interesting characters Half-Life 2 could very well change the way we play games again.

The next game I would like to mention is Rome: Total War. When I first started this issue (about 2 months ago) I was highly anticipating this game. And the anticipation had reason, as this AAA title was worth every penny. It doesn't really change Strategy Gaming (that was done with its predecessor, Shogun: Total War) but it kicks it up a notch by adding intense, massive scaled battles in the Roman Era. As the name suggests, this game is about Rome, and you play a family vying for power of the empire. You start out as a small settlement, micro-managing your few cities (this includes income, debt, troop building, etc.) in turn-based mode. When you encounter enemy forces, you can use your legions (which consist of thousands of soldiers - cavalry, infantry, siege weaponry, etc.) in tactical maneuvres to destroy your enemy (in real time). Whether they be attacking your castles, fighting on the battlefields, or defending themselves. The fact that this game combines both turn-based, real-time strategy, and doesn't use small-squads makes it one game that'll be in my collection forever.

Well, next issue is one you'll be itching to see as I apply a new format to the Virtual World. As usual there will be the introductory paragraph, but the following paragraph will include my rambles about a featured game. The next paragraph will include some of my thoughts about upcoming technologies and the final will be devoted to another random tech-related subject. So, until then!