Hello again folks. Apologies for the slight delay in this week's edition of the digest- something came up last night and I wasn't able to write it. But without further ado, let me present to you- this week's digest!

Ah, F-Zero GX. What a game. Images of craft travelling at 1,500 kilometres per hour have been burned onto my retinas- I see them when I close my eyes. Yeah, that's how good a game it is. I know for a fact that there are many of you practically sick at the fact that their own copy of GX is currently stuck in the post- many of our English readers are only too aware of the postal strike (which ended today incidentally). So, hang tight, my friends- It'll get there in the end. Really. Just throwing out the idea- how would you like it if we ran an F-Zero competition based on your lap times? If the response is good it's something we're willing to consider.

Big in the news this week is that the special edition Zelda bonus disk will be arriving a little sooner than previously expected- with just a few provisos. Annoyingly, the disk will initially only be available by purchasing a special GameCube + Mario Kart bundle. Still, knowing Nintendo, they're bound to come up with alternative ways of distributing the disk. The package will be priced at E149 or �99 depending on where you live. Good deal? Oh yes, but we want a stand-alone bonus disk, Nintendo! On the off chance you're not completely clued into all this bonus disk craziness, here's what the newest has to offer. The original Legend of Zelda (from the NES), it's side-scrolling sequel, the Adventure of Link. Then we fast forward to the N64 era, with another Ocarina of Time port. Then comes it's time-travelling sequel, Majora's Mask. A one-level demo of Link's newest outing, the Wind Waker, rounds off an impressive package. Personally, I'm most looking forward to the port of Majora's Mask. It's hard to believe its only three years old! For those of you unfamiliar with it, it ranks up there- and I mean right up there- with any of the all-time classics you could care to mention. And- whisper it- its easily as good as Ocarina of Time, with a much more emotive plot and soundtrack. The real-time clock system, which gives you 72 'game hours' in which to complete the game doesn't limit the experience like it did perhaps in Pikmin, but in fact gives it a whole new dimension. Put simply, Majora's Mask really gives the Zelda series a fresh twist- and is a true marvel.

A few delays to tell you about- Kemco's promising Rogue Ops: Phoenix Unleashed has been delayed in Europe- apparently they're busy translating the game into several European languages- and this is the cause for the delay. We're looking at February before we see its Euro launch. It should be out now in the United States though. Even more annoyingly, Conflict Desert Storm II for the Cube has been delayed until next year. SCi, publishers of the Iraq 'em up, today announced it is releasing its war-sim slightly later than planned. January 2004 to be exact. The game has already been finished but would be overwhelmed by the other quality titles released this year. Sigh. The publishers of Freedom Fighters are reputed to be 'delighted' with the turn of events. I lie. May I draw your attention to an interview with Nintendo of America's head honcho George Harrison. It's one of the frankest, most honest interviews from someone at Nintendo for an awful long time. I must say I like George's style. He pulls no punches, and doesn't beat about the bush. It's a long interview, but well worth the read. Click here to check it out.

Vivendi Universal Games let slip this week that the next instalment in the best-selling Leisure Suit Larry� franchise, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude is scheduled for release on next-generation consoles and the PC in late 2004. You know something? I'm going to withhold judgement on this one�Here's a quick snippet of the game's typically off the wall storyline: "In Magna Cum Laude, Lovage starts as a pathetic loser enrolled at Community College who spends most of his time in his dorm room, or on campus striking out with women. After hearing about a reality TV dating show visiting his college campus, he resolves to revitalize his life and win. Over the course of the game, Larry sets out on an epic search for love (or its equivalent) and finds that things don't always go as planned�"

Another quick cancellation for you, next: GameCube owners will have to suffer as they will no longer get Midway's horror title, The Suffering. Midway's reason for the cancellation is that they "want to concentrate on the leading platforms in the marketplace when it comes to launching original product." Ooh, fighting talk there- they've certainly decided where their loyalties lie, eh? The company did say it is still planning in publishing titles like Blitz and Hitz for the Gamecube. So, more inane sports titles then. Carry on, Midway. Schpickles is back this week with a fascinating look at video gaming piracy- well worth a look, I think. Click here to read it.

Now that we're two years into the GameCube's Western life, Conor is back this week with a look back at the GC's games library. In this first edition, he examines the Cube's portfolio of fighting games. Here's the link. This week Cube-Europe sent an intrepid reporter down to the Hague to meet with the lovely Virginia McArthur, the producer/designer of EA's upcoming The Sims: Bustin' Out. The full interview can be viewed here We'll finish up here- that's my thousand words for the week done. Feel free to drop me a line any time at [email protected] if you've anything at all to say about.. well, anything at all. See you all again next week.

Sl�n,
Mark Cullinane