Point: Video games are no longer just a "kid's toy". More adults play games than ever before, and many of them have since they were kids, including myself. And ironically enough video games are just about the only electronical device sold today, that if it does not have the advertised features, the companies are not held accountable for fixing them or offering a refund of any sort.

Now, in the days where information is exchanged at incredible rates, game companies have chosen to not reveal certain details about games. Which, in some cases is understandable. A game I am currently waiting for happens to be Mortal Kombat: Deception. Key points of the story as well as special moves have for the most part been kept secret, which is a good thing. But what they have done is released enough information and videos for anybody to make a intelligent choice on whether or not the game will be good, or ultimately fun. So, if someone see's a feature they do not like, and they still willingly purchase the game, it is on them and not Midway.

Another game which I recently purchased, Showdown: Legends of Wrestling, did the exact opposite. Acclaim indicated that the engine would be totally new and revamped, it was not. It was merely a combination of the first two games. THey also showed plan, out and out, false advertisment. They also released video's of the game in action. I was always wondering why none of the video's really showed a whole lot of the game play at one time. I quickly found out as soon as I purchased the game.

The game was litteraly filled with glitches from head to toe. Things like teleporting acorss the ring to the outside, when I was just laying on my back from a move. Or how about going for a move and the two characters push apart as if they were wearing opposing magnets. Your opponent falls to the floor while you still stand there, going through the animation for the move.

What about the revamped Create a Wrestler that was promised? This CAW was not even on par with Playstation 1 games. You could not even change the color of individual peices of clothing.

So, things were promised and not delivered. I try to take the game back and I am only allowed to exchange it for another copy of that particular game. Is this right? Am I, as a consumer, supposed to just swallow my $53 loss?

If this was a Sony TV, and picture in picture was promised on a particular model, but not delivered, could I get my money back? You bet I could. If nothing else I would be able to exchange for another TV of equal value. And yes, I am aware that a TV costs a lot more than a video game. So let us try this. What about a Discman with promised features? Or a DVD for that matter?

Most things that are defective, or have "glitches" would be recalled by a company and consumers would be refunded the purchase price. Was this game, that had so many glitches that it was almost unvearable to play? No, I am expected as a paying costumer to swallow my loss.


Now to my next point. There is almost no game store out there, be it online or at the local mall, that does not do pre-ordering. This is another problem. With game companies keeping certain things "secret", such as key factors to game play, suppose you pre-order a game, only to find out when it ships that some features were not included? The problem is, once you open a game, you cannot return it for another. But, without opening the game you pre-ordered and playing it for yourself how would you know if that feature you were looking for was not included? Game magazibes are a viable option, but let us be honest, reviews and previews can be bought. And even if they are not, game magazines can't always cover every aspect of every game. So once again, who is to take the blame for this? Nobody, it is on you, the consumer.

Another game I am currently waiting for is X-Men: Legends. Certain things about the game are being kept secret as well. But the things being kept secret are key game play factors. While looking for information about the game I read an interview where one of the memberos on the team in response to a question said, "I can't comment on that right now, perhaps when it's closer to the release date". This was in response to a question that was asking how characters stats would be affected by leveling up. This is pretty important information. I, for one, would like to know just how customizable the characters can be. So what happens if come release day nothing new is said about it? And I purchase my game expecting something and get something totally different? Should game companies not be held responsible for this?

This does not just apply to video games themselves, but also video game accessories. Take for instance the new HDD for Playstation 2. Possibilities were limitless as to what could be done with this thing. And without word, Sony dropped many features that were planned for it. Great, so now I am sitting here with a $100 peice of equipment that is only good for memory card storage. Did Sony even consider the fact that not everybody likes Final Fantasy? Or would not want to pay a monthly fee to play it? So what else is the HDD good for? The only game on the horizon that I have seen that is even considering using it is the next Gran Turismo. Were these features for this particular thing promised? No, the most we got was "These things are planned.". But that was all you heard about it. I never saw technical specs of any sort regarding the HDD, it's purpose, or features it had. And now I know why, because as of right now, it is a $100 memory card. Is this right? Should I not have been told that if by chance I did not want to play FFXI, I should not buy it? No. Instead I went on believing these "planned" features were going to be a part of it.

As I understand, the PSX is having much of the same trouble. The PSX evidently shipped in Japan with many features not present. Sales were not great because of this and hence, Sony is now not sure whether it will be comming to America or not. Well, that will happen when you promise things but don't deliver.

So I ask you, the consumers, the developers, the game magazines, and console companies, are these things justified? Is it RIGHT, that a game company can show only the things a consumer wants to see, but keep the rest hidden? Is it right that when a "glitchy" game is released that we are left to suck it up and kiss our $50+ goodbye? Is it right, that game companies take no responsability for releasing a game that is, in a word, "crap"? Should it be considered false advertisement for a company like Acclaim, to show videos of a game that do not accurately account for how the game plays out?