They are all really good games. The only one that deviated from their 3D CG format was CSI NY which was more comic like and a straight HOP game – still okay but not very popular for die-hard CSI fans. CSI Miami is good, and the last 3 of the series are excellent. The story is always integral to the game, drives the game, and you are relatively free to investigate, though you do need tooccasionally complete some sites before you can move on. Can't wait to hear what you think of them. 😀

I've actually been meaning to try the CSI games at some point; their developer, Telltale, is now among one of the most respected "story games" developers in the world, so I'm interested to take a look at their earlier work. That sounds like fun!

You're probably right. I was trying to be positive. 🙂 But yeah, it's a moot point; there's not enough to make me want to splash the cash on a 'bone just yet. And there's certainly precedent for MS to pull F2P bullshit in titles like Phantom Dust — though surely, surely they must have paid attention to the negativity surrounding it in Forza. (Perhaps not, though, because F2P in mobile is widely criticised, yet it still continues unchecked.)

Case 2: FIRST PERSON SHOOTER

The victim, with bullet wounds to the chest and head, and dressed in combat gear with a modified M4 Assault Rifle in his hand, is laid out on the floor of a booth, in the showroom at the Computer Game Trade Show. On the wall behind him in the same pose is the action figure for Gut Wrench III War Game. Surrounded by flashing screens depicting the game, and with an open weapons display case on a side wall, he doesn't seem to have stood a chance. But is he a victim?!

Phantom Dust is another interesting venture for MS, but I'm very skeptical that the game will actually be any good on the XBone. I'm a big fan of the original. It's unique in all the right ways; however, the very structure of the original would open itself wide for abusive F2P practices in today's marketplace. I don't know how familiar you are with the original game, but it's essentially a collectible card game. You collect varying attacks that drop randomly like cards, equip them as you would build a deck, then you take that "deck" in to 3rd person versus battles. It's awesome – but I can scarcely imagine a structure for a game that more loudly begs to be exploited with microtransactions in today's climate. Microsoft has proven that they have absolutely no qualms about ruining full priced games on their new console by jamming them full of F2P structures (Crimson Dragon is simply depressing) – so I'm quite convinced that this new Phantom Dust will be F2P in retail's clothing. Of course, time will tell, but I'm not optimistic.