Hate mail for Ian Bonds!

[TomHarrington]

Dearest Ian,

You rotten bastard, you. This is in regards to the non-review of Madden 2004 in your column, by the way. Don't want any confusion. I wouldn't want you to think that I was just arbitrarily hating you. And let me be clear, this hatred is to be experienced solely in the context of your "review" of the new Madden release.

And I didn't mean to call you a rotten bastard. Well, I did, obviously. I mean it wasn't a typo, but now I feel bad for saying it. I'm really not even upset about the review. It's just that you seemed to be anticipating hate mail. You even set some time aside to go through it all. I figured I'd give you something to read. That's what you do. I wanted it to be instant karma. This isn't turning out to be very good hate mail, though. I'd better get back into character. Ahem...

What the hell, man?! Am I suffering from the release of residual LSD in my fatty tissue or did you once take the time to review a game about driving an eighteen-wheeler across the country? But you couldn't be bothered to do a review of Madden because you're not a football fan? Big trucking enthusiast are you, Ian? What you got to say now, mother trucker?!

That's it. I hope you enjoyed it. Not very hateful though, is it? Good hate mail is never apologetic. Plus, this is a post on a message board. So why this stupid post instead of authentic, expletive-filled hate mail? Well, honestly…I…I don’t like hate mail much. Sorry.

[Omaru]

I could give you a mini review having never played the game.

"this game has nicer graphics than previous ones, the stats and teams have been updated but it plays much like every previous incarnation"

That review I can apply to just about every major sporting game that gets released annually. Now I'll shut up and wish I had done so before I started writing this.

[TomHarrington]

Normally I would agree with you, because most of the time that is the case. But this release actually has new, significant features. I was really keen to learn more about them, particularly the new owner mode. It's not really a big tragedy, as I can get the information elsewhere, but I thought a little friendly ribbing was in order. I was a little disappointed, but not to the point where I would get upset about. My intention was for Ian to read this and laugh, or at least grin.

[Omaru]

well I disagree with myself also, they tend to be putting some thought into these games now. Smackdown 4 was a huge improvement over the terrible 3rd game, going backto the roots of smackdown 2, and tony hawks also improved with each sequal bringing something new with it. But not everyone has picked up yet and just contiinue to milk a franchise..

[GameOnIan]

Wow, thanks a lot for the "hate" mail there Tom. Actually, i have recieved ONE peice of hate mail already, and they brought up some good points, which I might address in he next column. Regardless tho, yours was the first, and pretty much how i expected every subsequent letter. Thanks man. It's nice to know people reads the column enough to know that when i mention hate mail, i'd better darn get it!

Heh.

Ian