I’ve never understood the fascination with celebrating New Year’s Eve. It’s always seemed like a big excuse to go get drunk. I mean, are we really only celebrating the beginning of a new year? Who cares? However, I am all for getting paid days off! That said, what of the poor employees of the retail and food industries who have to work the next day? Shouldn’t they relish some sort of relief as well? If some people have the day off, then everybody should have the day off. Seems fair to me, although, it could just be that I worked EVERY single New Year’s Day in my time working for the Man. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that I don’t drink or stay up late for the big party. Maybe I’m just better than every one, or maybe I have a greater sense of commitment to my job, or maybe I’m just a stick in the mud. I’ll let me peers decide that for me.

I learned some very important lessons this week when dealing with our artist. First, you should never assume that he can see you standing right next to him for well over a minute as he draws. Second, you should never shout compliments when he doesn’t realize you are standing there. Third, you should always wear earplugs when he screams like a little girl in fright from the sudden interruption. Finally, when you give a script over to him, you should probably double-check grammar or you might just end up having one of your characters holding a "bear" in his hand instead of a "beer." Sigh. So it was written, so it shall be. By the way, this goes out to Billie: Rawr.

Anyone else having a horrific time getting Call of Duty 4 on the 360 to run smoothly this week? I play a few games and then get booted to the lobby telling me I need "a network connection in order to play online games." Yeah, no shit. I figured that out when I was playing a few minutes ago. Is it possible to ask for a refund or get a week of extra credit added to my account? Hey, a man can dream, can’t he?

I am looking forward to the new year and the exciting times that the MNC will hopefully encounter. PAX is now only eight and a half months away! I’m also loving the opportunity to bring the entire MNC to PAX for a weekend of gaming, gaming, and more gaming. If I’m lucky, I may be able to rustle up the fellas for a Photoshop Heroes reunion. You never know, it could happen. Although, I might ask to do the microphone part this time because the drums are kicking by butt. Stupid kick pedal.

See you next year!

- Dover

Every outlet, whether it be television, radio, internet and even office parties use this time of the year to reflect on the past 365 days. Were they fruitful? Are we better now than we started? Inevitably, somebody stops gabbing long enough to whip out a Powerpoint presentation or sappy video montage of old events to be cherished (or not). A year of memories begins spooling back into my brain, and I start to wonder why I’m watching it. This is all a (very poor) introduction to what I plan on discussing: videogames that you may have missed.

I’ve decided to just do a feature on this, but I’ll start a little preview here. Just so you know me better, I love obscurity. Rare items, unique trinkets, missed treasures and the like, I elevate relatively unknown experiences to lofty heights. I hope that you will permit my indulgence in this matter, because I will intently carry on regarding all manner of games you never played. For this post, a game that I’ve mentioned before: MLB Power Pros.

The sport of baseball thrills me for many of the reasons that others detest it. The patience, delivery and minutes of relative inactivity broken by frantic moments of pressurized panic all work in tandem to create a major sport unlike any other. If I described it, I would say that it has the feel of team golf with its balance between skill and athleticism. However, baseball is something that has slid down the gaming ladder in fun. Modern baseball games are laborious practices in button memorization torture. Invisible gears govern the logic of the various aspects of the digitized national pasttime, each one spinning however it wants. When I play most baseball games, they feel like an amalgamation of three or four complex minigames that cycle over and over until the spirit is broken. MLB Power Pros bucks those trends by boiling the game down to its most essential tools, and relying on the player to employ the toolset.

At its core, it is a souped up R.B.I. Baseball. I’m saying that the basic package is fun. Hell, I have more fun in the optional Training mode than with most full-blown games. Atop this solid foundation, Konami (the original developer) and 2K Games (the localizer for the U.S.) have layered a full Season mode with trading, minor leaguers, player training, salaries, and even an achievement system. The "achievements" reward good play with points, spendable at the in-game store for cards and additional player customization options. That said, the real gem of the package is Success mode. Deep but very accessible, Success mode puts you into the role of a college player trying to make the baseball team while juggling personal issues, school and a job. It is easily the most fun I have ever had in a sports game Dynasty-like mode.

In short, MLB Power Pros is exactly how a videogame sports game should play, sort of an Anti-Madden. The game is as deep as you want it to be. The dialogue is clever and the personalities refreshing. I can level only minor complaints about the repetative commentary and the lack of a widescreen mode. No con is game-breaking. It’s good, it’s overlooked, it sold for crud. I have the Wii version, but it is also available on the PS2. Highly recommended.

On a different note, please e-mail any suggestions for the new and improved site to me. If you want anything in particular or have an idea that you want executed by the MNC on the website, then click on my name adjacent to my owl picture and let me know.

- Irving