I just realised why I stopped playing Rallisport Challenge in the first place. It's one of the most frustrating, unforgiving, just plain aggravating racers out there. It looks beautiful, no question, but looks alone are not enough. This game is the equivalent of a supermodel with an attitude problem. Nice to look out, but you wouldn't want to date her. (Not that you would ever date a game...unless you were really, truly desperate. And to be honest, given the chance, most people - most men-people - would date a supermodel even if she did have an attitude problem, because, hey!, free supermodel.)

So now I have an even better excuse to buy Colin McRae 04, because I don't have a single rally game worth playing, and I absolutely, positively do need one.

And speaking of The Longest Journey (nice segue, huh?): Today I got to see April in our spanking, sparkling, totally amazing new three-dee engine (which will premiere with TLJS), and, oh boy, the woman looked simply amazing. You just won't believe it. From the pores in her skin to the wrinkles on her lips, there's such an amazing leap in quality and level of detail from the first game, it's like comparing Pac-Man to...well, a really, really high-resolution, super-detailed Pac-Man. From the future. With a bow tie and a jetpack.

Yes. It's that good.

All kidding aside, this is easily Half-Life 2 and Doom 3 quality visuals - and we're just getting started. I'm absolutely convinced that, when we're finally done, when we finally unleash our next-next-next-generation adventure upon the world, you'll have the opportunity to step into a world that's totally unlike anything you've ever seen before; stunningly beautiful, populated with expressive, emotive characters, projecting a reality that is totally and completely real. And no, I'm not just spouting marketing mumbo-jumbo here, because I'm totally sold myself, and I simply cannot wait to play this baby.

I have the best job in the world. Honestly.

Don't worry about the graphics overshadowing the gameplay, however. Even though we're constantly stunned by what the artists are coming up with, the designers are focusing on the puzzles and the story, and I can say even now that it's going to be tons better than the first game. Tons. For starters, I'm not doing most of the work, which is a Good Thing. Secondly, we're spending lots and lots of time making sure that every gameplay element is as tight, as original, as polished and fun as possible. Nothing is left to chance, and we're not stopping until everyone's convinced that this is as good as it'll ever get. Combined with what's developing into a fantastic new GUI and interface - for both the consoles and the PC - it looks like TLJS is heading in the right direction...

...so let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best, shall we? Yes.  ¶ 23:34