Electronic Gaming Monthly articles from March 2003

Electronic Gaming Monthly archives from March 2003

Phantasy Star Online Episode I&II (Xbox).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Microsoft acents March 2003 acents Also On: GC PSO's Xbox debut promises to offer the ultimate Phantasy Star Online experience, rendering all previous editions obsolete. Like its GameCube cousin, this version offers one- to four-player...

Nintendo Puzzle Collection.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Import Pick of the Month: Puzzle fever, baby! Nintendo's puttin' three of their classic brain-bending puzzlers--Dr. Mario, Yoshi's Cookie, and Panel de Pon (aka Tetris Attack, or more recently, Pokemon Puzzle League)--on one disc and giving...

Coming Soon.
March 1, 2003... February Batman: Dark Tomorrow (Action) PS2, GC, Xbox BattleBots (Action) PS2, GC Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter (RPG) PS2 Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO (Fighting) Xbox Colin McRae Rally 3 (Racing) PS2, Xbox Conflict:...

Galerians: Ash (PS2).(Audiovisual Review)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: Sammy Studios Developer: Polygon Magic Players: 1 Also On: None Sequel To: Galerians (PS1) Best Feature: Interesting combat system Worst Feature: Overly confusing Website: www.sammy-studios.com ...

Disaster Report (PS2).(Audiovisual Review)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: Agetec Developer: Irem Players: 1 Also On: None Featured In: EGM #160 Best Feature: Wardrobe customization Worst Feature: Pervasive slowdown Website: www.agetec.com ESRB: T On Keith's first...

Everblue 2 (PS2).(Audiovisual Review)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: Capcom Developer: Arika Players: 1 Also On: None Could Use: A Leviathan spell Website: www.capcom.com Best Feature: Friendly gameplay Worst Feature: Can get boring ESRB: E I'm certain I can...

Game of the Month: Dark Cloud 2.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Arguably the prettiest and most inventive game reviewed this month, Dark Cloud 2 is the only epic RPG you're likely to find where your breaks are built right into the game. Take it easy, do some fishing, invent a better mousetrap. Then, calm...

Say What?(glossary of English words used in a video game)(Brief Article)(Glossary)
March 1, 2003... They say the United States and England are two countries separated by a common language. True dat. Since the game's set in London, here's a glossary of some words you'll hear over and over in The Getaway, translated by Official PlayStation...

Main Men.(video game tips)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Mark Hammond In the first half of The Getaway, you play as Mark Hammond as he runs errands for mob boss Charlie Jolson in order to retrieve his kidnapped son. Frank Carter In the second half, you take the roll of renegade cop...

Lean on Me.(video game tips)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Since there's no such thing as a health pick-up in The Getaway (for realism's sake, you understand), the only way to heal Mark or Frank when they get shot up is to find a nice quiet place and lean against the wall for a few minutes. It's an...

The Getaway Vs. Vice City.(comparison of two video games)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Here's a quick comparison of these two trailblazing gangster games. Category The Getaway GTA: Vice City Missions 24 100+ Licensed cars Yep--56 Nope Helicopters Nope Yep Motorbikes Nope Yep Boats Nope Yep Strip...

Guilty Gear X2 (PS2).(Audiovisual Review)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: Sammy Studios Developer: ARC System Works Players: 1-2 Also On: None Craziest Move: False Roman Cancel Best Feature: Insanely smooth graphics Worst Feature: Steep learning curve Website:...

Pride FC (PS2).(Audiovisual Review)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: THQ Developer: Anchor Players: 1-2 Also On: None Featured In: EGM #153 Best Feature: Two-player matchups Worst Feature: Dull one-player modes Website: www.thq.com ESRB: M Lest you think...

Cubix Robots For Everyone: Showdown (GC).(Audiovisual Review)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: 3D0 Developer: Blitz Games Players: 1-4 Also On: None Best for: Young tykes Website: www.3do.com Best Feature: Sassy robots aplenty Worst Feature: Uninspired combat The egalitarian sentiments...

My Street (PS2).(virtual reality video game)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Sony CEA acents March 2003 acents Also On: None In this modern age, kids can't be bothered to actually go outside and play. Meet at the playground? Totally passe! Instead, hop online with Sony's My Street and chill with your homies in a...

Don't Believe the Hype.(video game trends)
March 1, 2003... Crispin: Back in Press Start, we looked at cool 2K3 titles that weren't getting the attention they deserve (see Under the Radar, page 44). Now, let's focus on the flip side: splashy games that don't live up to their smothering hype. Like,...

Big Screen to Small Screen.(video game based on the motion picture 'The Fast and the Furious' )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Midnight Club II features more than a few similarities to The Fast and The Furious. 1) Midnight Club II 2) The Fast and the Furious MAIN CHARACTER You: A young racer who strives to rise in the ranks of street racing and gain the...

Real Physics, Fake Cars.(legal aspects of video game design)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Driver 3's vehicles aren't the shiny, licensed real McCoys seen in The Getaway or Gran Turismo. "Manufacturers are not willing to put up with the amount of damage and destruction we do to their cars," says Reflections' Martin Edmonson, "and...

Lost Kingdoms II (GC).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Activision acents Spring 2003 acents Also On: None Two hundred years after the events of the original Lost Kingdoms, a mysterious force threatens to destroy the kingdom of Argwyll. The heroine Tara, who was abandoned in infancy to be...

Vexx (GC).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Acclaim acents February 2003 acents Also On: PS2, Xbox When the sorcerer Dark Yabu enslaves Vexx's people and murders his grandfather, our hero is understandably miffed and sets off on a rescue mission. Not the most ingenious story for an...

Tricks in Partnership with Prima Games.(Tricks, tips, strategies, and loony code-based frivolity from Zelda: A Link to the Past, Yu-Gi-Oh! Eternal Duelist Soul, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Unreal Championship, Crash N-Tranced, and Rygar are taken from their respective guides, on sale now! )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Tricks, tips, strategies, and loony code-based frivolity from Zelda: A Link to the Past, Yu-Gi-Oh! Eternal Duelist Soul, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Unreal Championship, Crash N-Tranced, and Rygar are taken from their respective guides, on sale...

Top 5 Tricks of the Trade.
March 1, 2003... We're ramping up the Tricks section and going off the rails this month. Is that just awful punning to introduce all the stunt jumps in Vice City and extras in Simpsons Skateboarding and Tony Hawk 4? Yes. Yes, it is. Sorry. 1) Simpsons...

GTA: Advice City.
March 1, 2003... PS2 Cruising around Vice City and flipping through the radio stations is what this game is all about. And shooting people. And stunt jumps: they're worth big money (a satanic $66,600) if you find and leap all 36. Use the PCJ 600 for best...

All-Points Mullet-In: Ocean Beach.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... 14. Once you finish jump No. 13, aim your bike onto the second of two ramps on the roof and fly off of it. Land where you can! 15. South of where you met the colonel, go down the pier, turn left, and leap from the wooden ramp. 16. As you...

From the Vault: The Evil Has Landed.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... GC Don't know who Brad "Zombie" Vickers is? Craving hot tofu action? Finish one of the second scenarios with an A rating: This unlocks The 4th Survivor (1), a rooftop dash starring the embarrassingly named Umbrella special-forces grunt....

From the Vault: Zelda: Missing Links.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... GBA Where's that blasted Master Sword, anyway? Find it in the Lost Woods (1) after you collect three Pendants from the East Palace, the Desert Palace, and the Mountain Tower. With the Master Sword (or the more powerful Tempered and...

GTA: Advice City (cont.).
March 1, 2003... Finished in Ocean Beach? Head to the southwest part of the map and tag the airport for eight jumps, then go to Little Haiti for another four. Take a trip to Starfish Island for a single loony leap, then go downtown for another quartet of...

All-Points Mullet-In: Going Downtown.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... 32. These five jumps are available during the G-Spotlight mission (and afterward). This one is from the hospital roof. 33. This one can be done anytime. It's a block east of the hospital. Head north from the police station. 34. This...

Yu-Gi-Oh!(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Fusion Cards are the product of combining two or more Monster Cards and one Polymerization Magic Card. Remember, the Monster Cards must be on the field or in your hand. The Magic Card must be played in the Magic and Trap zone. The resulting...

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Receives Tactical Takedown Advice!(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Xbox Engaging the enemy (whether online or off) by simply wandering into battle doesn't pay dividends. Instead, try hugging the borders of the maps to avoid foes. Go prone (hit the dirt) the moment your threat indicator turns red (1)....

Codex: Minority Report.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Xbox, PS2, GC You feel angry. You paid money for this game. You seek revenge. Dish it out with a collection of codes to make this turkey less stale. Input all codes at the Cheat screen: All Weapons: STRAPPED All Combos: NINJA...

Rygar: Cheats & Tips.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... No hidden costumes. Instead, bizarre foodstuffs are applied to your weaponry. Tecmo has officially gone crazy. PS2 Let's start with the regular noninsane stuff. Beat the game to access Easy and Hard modes. Hard mode has more enemies,...

ATV Offroad Fury 2.(video game tips)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... PS2 Are the mud and vicious CPU foes making you cry? Then stifle those sniffles, and head to the Profile Editor. Click on Unlock Items, go to the cheats area, and enter the following codes: For the whole shebang, try IGIVEUP. All...

Break a Leg.(video game tips)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... There's more strategy to Tao Feng than you might think. Sure, you could fight your opponents the conventional way, but that won't work to your advantage. Instead, concentrate on a specific limb. You'll see it start to bruise and eventually...

Reinventing the Raider: Your Guide to What's New in Lara Land.(video game enhancements)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... BUILD A BETTER LARA You'll find power-ups that boost Lara's lower- and upper-body brawn, letting her leap farther and clutch ledges longer to reach alternate routes and loot. "The upper-body power-up," Core's Adrian Smith says, "will let...

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (PS2).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Ubi Soft acents March 2003 acents Also On: GC, Xbox We really can't blame Microsoft for letting Ubi Soft's stealth-action hit Splinter Cell slip away from Xbox exclusivity to appear on every other console this spring. After all, Sam...

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PS2).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Konami acents March 2003 acents Also On: Xbox Late last year, Xbox owners got a real treat when Konami released MGS2: Substance on their system. The game included the full version of Sons of Liberty (released on PS2 in 2001) as well as...

System Forecast 2k3.(video game systems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The great fall of '02--pronounced "aught-two" for maximum old-timer effect-may go down in some strange history book as a golden age for gamers. Think about all the killer titles that have come out recently--Vice City? Splinter Cell? A new...

Old School Vs. New School.(changes in the graphics of Final Fantasy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... BLACK MAGE FFI's black mage character class provided obvious inspiration for FFIX's lovable-yet-whiny star, Vivi. AIRSHIP The first six FF games featured fairly traditional airships, but check out the wild one in the upcoming...

Ancient Innovations.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Both of the original Final Fantasy games featured some inventive gameplay concepts that, while seemingly cool at the time, were ditched in future installments. Here's a look at some creative role-playing ideas that ultimately didn't stand the...

The Name Game.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... OK, so Final Fantasy II already came out in the United States...kinda. The FFII you remember on Super Nintendo was actually the English version of Japan's Final Fantasy IV. See, the names got all screwy over here because not all the Final...

History Lesson.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Doom may be the game that put first-person shooting on the map, but Wolfenstein is the grandpappy of them all. It might surprise you to know that the games didn't start out in 3D, though. Let's take a quick look back at the history of this...

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelists of the Roses (PS2).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Konami acents March 2003 acents Also On: None Pokemon was big, but Yu-Gi-Oh!--the latest card game/animated series/videogame phenomenon--has taken over as the thing every kid watches, collects, talks about, and wants. And now, it's...

Aural Pleasure.(Song list.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... To enhance your DOAX experience, we suggest you forget about the game's included tunes. Instead, rip these tracks to your Xbox and select them at the in-game radio station. You can thank us later. "The Thong Song" -- SisqA[superscript...

Georama-Rama.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Dark Cloud 2 features terraforming puzzles that provide an enjoyable, relaxing diversion from murdering monsters. Controlling a construction contraption called Carpenterion, Max can place trees, houses, rivers, and dozens of other features...

Orbital Frames and the Runners Who Love Them.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ARDJET/KEN MARINARIS dinacentsgo: a wild dog of Australia. eacentsgret: a heron that bears long plumes during breeding season. JEHUTY/DINGO EGRET At first, Ken's got a big chip on her shoulder, but we bet she becomes Dingo's...

Leo, Meet Vic.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Several years have passed since the original Zone of the Enders. Still fighting for the Martian rebels, Leo now pilots the Vic Viper (the ship from Konami's venerable Gradius series), which is one kick-ass transformer.

Why Paris?(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... When you're thinking about major cities you'd love to see in a racing game, Paris probably doesn't immediately come to mind. (Doesn't Microsoft heart New York City? No love for L.A.?) But it's one of the areas included in Midtown Madness 3....

The Backyard Wrestlers.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Like the soundtrack, the full lineup of wrestlers in Backyard Wrestling is yet to be determined, though Josh Prohibition, M-Dogg 20, the Masked Horndog, and El Drunko are set to appear. "We're not necessarily limiting ourselves to people...

Backyard Bosses.(Interview)
March 1, 2003... EGM spoke with the two men responsible for creating Backyard Wrestling in the first place: Backyard Wrestling Inc. President, Rick Mahr, and CEO, Houston Curtis. EGM: How did Backyard Wrestling get started? Houston Curtis: We were...

Thrill Kill Rip.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Paradox Development is almost as well known for a game that didn't come out as any that did. Back in '98, they created a PS1 fighting title for Virgin Interactive called Thrill Kill, which was hailed as the most violent game ever created. It...

No Stamina Bar.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Just as Paradox's unreleased Thrill Kill ignored the traditional fighting-game health-bar system, Backyard Wrestling won't have the worn-out wrestling-game stamina bar or any sort of adrenaline meter that you need to build up for your special...

He's Got the Look.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... EGM: Agent 47 is very distinctive-looking. What influenced that? Are all you guys bald? TF: 47's appearance actually changed quite a bit during development of the first game. He started out looking much more like a sleazy private...

Favorite Hitmen.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... We wondered which movie (or real-life) hitmen were designer Thor Frolich's favorites, since movies seem to have influenced the feel of the Hitman series. "My personal favorite is Ghost Dog (at left, from the movie Ghost Dog)," he tells us....

Secret Fashions.(If you finish the game with a sufficiently high Devil Rank ... you'll unlock fetching Diesel Jeans outfits for Dante and Lucia. )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Devils in Diesel If you finish the game with a sufficiently high Devil Rank (computed by averaging things like how quickly you finish levels, how many Red Orbs you pick up, and how stylishly you dispatch baddies), you'll unlock fetching...

Amulexicon.(Your Devil form does more than just unleash its demonic wrath willy-nilly. By equipping your amulet with different gemstones, you can customize your demonic abilities....)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Devil May Accessorize Your Devil form does more than just unleash its demonic wrath willy-nilly. By equipping your amulet with different gemstones, you can customize your demonic abilities. Some of the options include flight, super-fast...

Survival Boredom.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Bloody Mansion You unlock this survival minigame by finishing the Normal game with both characters. It's a harrowing tower packed with hundreds upon hundreds of floors teeming with foes from the game. What kind of reward awaits the...

U.S. Gets Zelda Preorder Special.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Last month we told you about Nintendo's Japanese campaign for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker that gave anyone who preordered the game a free GC disc with two N64 games: Zelda: Ocarina of Time and a remixed version of Ocarina called...

Retro Remakes.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... We love going to our local game store and freaking people out by asking them random questions about gaming. With the recent releases of Shinobi, Rygar, and Mortal Kombat, we wondered what other old-school franchises people wanted to see...

Get a Keyboard.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... EverQuest's control scheme has been completely customized for PS2. Technically, you need only your Dual Shock controller. In practice, however, you'll find that you absolutely need a USB keyboard. Communication with other players is vital in...

Run, Don't Walk.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Transportation from zone to zone in Tunaria is among the biggest hurdles players will face at the beginning of EQOA. There is an in-game transport system, with coachmen who will get you around fast. Problem is you have to register first in...

A Little Help From Your Friends.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... If you're looking for a solo gaming experience, EverQuest Online Adventures, quite honestly, is not for you. Without a group of courteous co-conspirators at your level, on your server, interested in doing the same things you are, and agreeing...

O.G.(It costs around $300 to be officially old school. You don't have to buy a plaque or anything, but you will need a jersey by Mitchell & Ness. Their old-school jerseys are featured in Street 2, and they'll run you three bills if you're hungry enough. )
March 1, 2003... It costs around $300 to be officially old school. You don't have to buy a plaque or anything, but you will need a jersey by Mitchell & Ness. Their old-school jerseys are featured in Street 2, and they'll run you three bills if you're hungry...

Virtual Hef.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Do you think all it took for Hugh Hefner to build the Playboy empire was to put a few pics of naked women in a magazine? Well smarty-pants, now you can try your hand at it in a game coming to PS2, Xbox, and PC in 2004. This...

Busta Rhymes Got Game.(Interview)
March 1, 2003... Celebrities are people, too--just incredibly rich ones. You like games; they like games. Each issue, we talk to a different celebrity who plays games, is involved in their creation, or is lucky enough to be in one. Rapper, actor, and...

Overheard.(Quotations from video gamers.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... "You'll be surprised, but this is not really a sex game. The girls are beautiful, but I think of them as my daughters. They're my babies!" --Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki talking about Xtreme Beach Volleyball in an interview...

The Rest of the Crap.(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... Judging by the magazine you're reading, you're probably pretty educated about videogames. While in the store, you can flip a game over and quickly discern what its genre is from the screenshots. As an example, with BMX XXX you might say, "Oh,...

The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure (PSOne).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: TDK Mediactive Developer: CE Digital Illusions ESRB: E This game's box is so considerate and thoughtful. It cautions future players to "Get ready for exuberant running, jumping, log-riding, and mud-sliding fun with...

My Disney Kitchen (PSOne).(video game)(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: Bam Developer: Disney Interactive ESRB: E Tons of games let you be Mickey Mouse. But a game where you get to pretend not to be Mickey but live near him, and then pretend to make pancakes, has always been an...

Sneakers (Xbox).(video game)(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Mediavision ESRB: E Sneakers is available only at Toys "R" Us, where kids are surrounded by thousands of things that they'd prefer to have. If it really wanted to sell this game, Microsoft would...

Darkened Skye (GC).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Publisher: Simon & Schuster Interactive Developer: Boston Animation ESRB: T I think you can be fully immersed in the dark and forbidding world of Darkened Skye simply by reading this short passage from its instructional manual:...

MiniGames.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A few of the bite-sized games our bite-sized hero will encounter throughout his travels: BATTLESHIP Well, not exactly, but this game does play a lot like the old Milton Bradley board game: You get 24 guesses to find three...

The Eyes Have It.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... OK, so the new graphical style gives Zelda its distinct look and smooth animation. But why the gigantic, dilated, deer-in-the-headlights eyeballs? "We wanted to show Link's expressions," says Director Eiji Aonuma, "and so the eyes became very...

Get by With a Little Help From...(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Tingle isn't the only help you'll find in the new Zelda. At certain points, Link can switch control over to another character. This idol follows you around like a puppy; possess it with a spell to have Link and his friend activate...

Act Now and Get Three Games for the Price of One!(Special offer from Nintendo.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Getting impatient for The Wind Waker's March 24 release? Nintendo feels your pain. In order to make the wait just a bit more bearable, Nintendo will be offering a special gift to anyone who preorders the new GameCube Zelda at participating...

Adventure on the High Seas.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Because all of The Wind Waker takes place on a series of small islands, you spend a lot of time sailing the open ocean between locations. What's there to do out on the big blue, you ask? Here are a few examples: TREASURE HUNT Use...

Top 5 Preview Picks.(Electronic games, )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... 1. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker GC, March 24, 2003 2. Final Fantasy Origins PS1, March 2003 3. Phantasy Star Online Ep. I&II Xbox, March 2003 4. Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner PS2, March 2003 5. NBA Street Volume 2...

This Month in Previews.(GameCube)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... If you own only one system, and it happens to be a GameCube, life's gotta be kind of weird right now. On the one hand, you're likely just coming off finishing the superb Metroid Prime or getting that last Shine in Mario Sunshine. And then of...

Michigan Readies Game Bill.(on youth buying adults-only-rated video games)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Gamers in Michigan under the age of 17 might find it more difficult to buy mature- or adults-only-rated games soon. A bill penalizing retailers ($1,000 fine and/or a 90-day prison sentence) for selling titles with an M or AO rating to minors...

Bits of Q.(video games pix)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... *New installments in Nintendo's Kirby franchise and its popular Japanese Fire Emblem RPG series are in development for GBA and GC. Expect Kirby to be a definite U.S. release, whereas Emblem (remember cameos from FE's Roy and Marth in 2001's...

Mmmm...Boobies*...(wondering out loud on video games)(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... I'm sick of discussing videogame violence. Breasts--let's talk about them apples instead. To join along in this conversation, first go out and play some Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball on Xbox. Get an eyeful? Good. Now, lemme ask: How...

Contributors.(Electronic Gaming Monthly)
March 1, 2003... Scott Steinberg Celebrity stalking ain't easy. Fortunately, we got Scotty boy here to buy a map to the stars' homes and dig through their trash. This month's victim: Busta Rhymes. John Brandon John has written about so many...

Playstation 2.(video game equipment and pix)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Current Conditions What, you've completed every goal in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 already? Found all the packages in Vice City? How about you turn your attention to Devil May Cry 2 or The Sims? A few key PS2 games that didn't make the...

Xbox.(video games by Microsoft Corp.)(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2003... Current Conditions Despite Microsoft shunning the legions of dial-up customers out there, the broadband-only Xbox Live service has been the most successful online console-gaming venture so far. "In the first week alone, there were more...