The plight of the modern gamer.

Killer Apps.

Everybody is looking for one, everybody wants them for their system. And sometimes they come along.

After I got my Playstation, I swore to my wife that I would never buy another console, and I've been pretty good about keeping that promise (as long as the GBA:SP doesn't count). However...

You know, I remember why I got the Playstation in the first place - Chrono Cross. The sequel to what I believe is one of the greatest games of all time - Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross was another awesome game.

Every now and then, I sit back and think about what I'd like to be playing - making a "must play" list. Not everything on that list gets played (I still haven't had a chance to play BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic), but with E3 come and gone, there are a couple of things I'd like to add to that list.

Now, realize that some of these games are going to require a new computer for me to play - my old Duron 700 with the GeForce 2 MX just isn't going to cut it. And one of these games will require me to break that promise I made to my wife (which I've admittedly been trying to weasel my way out of for a little while now).

Half-Life 2. The first game was incredible. I still remember the first time I played the demo, and wound up chasing a headcrab with my crowbar, when I realized something. The headcrab was running away from me. I'd never seen behavior like that from an in-game enemy before. In Quake 1 and 2, as soon as something detects you, it runs toward you in a suicidial rush - making it easy to dispatch. Then I took a look around and saw that I was about to enter a hallway with low counters to either side. And I realized something else. The little bastard was leading me into an ambush! I took that next step, and sure enough, headcrabs leaped out from the sides of the hallway at me. It was an incredible feeling. And if Valve can deliver that same feeling, the interactive storytelling, the realistic behavior of enemies, etc., then this should be a great game to play. Coming (hopefully) later this year for the PC.

Advent Rising. I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before, but a quick review of what I've said is : Gorgeous sci-fi action game (I'm a sucker for them) - with Orson Scott Card writing. Coming later this year for the PC and Xbox.

And... sigh... I've fought this one as long as I think I can. I've got to get a Gamecube. Zelda: WindWaker, Metroid Prime, Pokemon Colosseum, and now A New Zelda.

To mis-quote Futurama, "Oh what will I tell my [wonderful]wife?"