It's Christmas Day so that means I get to make all the rules -- at least that's what I keep telling myself. Now since I make all the rules today that means I'm changing how Fact or Fiction will be played. Today I get to be the king and my boss/Editor-in-Chief Chris Sanner has to play peon. In other words, I'm the executioner and he just needs to deal with it. Sure he'll probably punish me tomorrow by forcing me to write a strategy guide for Elf Bowling, but that's tomorrow and this is today.

Christmas is the best holiday.

FICTION: It depends on a lot of factors, but in all reality I'm not the biggest fan of the commercialism and the stress related with buying gifts. As a Christian you would expect me to say this as fact but in reality I'm more partial to Easter. On a more personal note I enjoy the first day of March much more than any other holiday because winter is awful.

The answer is in fact FICTION, but I can’t give you full credit because you didn’t name the right holiday. You started out on the right path though with the whole commercialism spiel but then didn’t continue into a Festivus rant. The correct response would have been to discuss how you rained blows upon someone while reaching for an item and then realized there had to be another way. Then you would have followed that up by saying, "But out of that a new holiday was born; a Festivus for the rest of us!"

 
The college basketball videogames (College Hoops 2K and March Madness) need to be rebooted.

FACT: I haven't been excited about a college basketball videogame in years. I truthfully think the games need to just be completely redone to give them what they need. College Hoops' Legacy mode is still solid but you don't get the full-on feeling of the game of college basketball. The atmosphere in these games needs to be redone completely and the gameplay could use a ton of work. There's just a ton of stuff that needs to be done to fix the games and it's going to take more than a year’s worth of work to get them to greatness status. Don't get me wrong, the games aren't bad and haven't been bad for awhile, but that's also the problem; we haven't had a great college basketball game in a loooong time and I don't think the current formula is working.

FACT is the correct response. I do think the developers of each game understand that atmosphere is a huge part of the game, but it’s still hard to show quality atmosphere in a game. What the developers need to realize is the college game appeals to so many people not because of the skillfulness of the players, but instead due to the things that surround the game itself. People like to watch college basketball on television because they want to see the crazed fans and mascots; the excitement on a player’s face during a big possession; and the next big-time upset in March. Translating that into a game while separating the gameplay from the NBA counterparts is a tricky proposition; especially since the sales of the college basketball games aren’t that strong, thus developers must be somewhat handcuffed creatively and monetarily.

 
NHL 08 is the best sports videogame of the year.

FACT: It is the best sports videogame I played extensively this year. But let me preface what I am about to say with this: NBA 2K8 and MLB 07: The Show are can't miss hits as well, and I would not argue if you put any of the three as your favorite sports game this year. However, I personally put in an insane amount of time playing NHL 08 and enjoyed it immensely. Not only that, but the game actually helped me learn about the game of hockey and I actually feel like I can watch NHL games without being clueless as to what is going on. The game is far from perfect though...in fact there are several gameplay oddities that pop up with just enough regularity to make EA’s NHL series far from perfect in the long run.

I’m sorry but the correct answer is FICTION. NHL 08 is a highly competent and enjoyable simulation but it’s just not that fun to play against the computer -- especially for people who want to try and play longer periods. Now you did put the "extensively played" clause in your response but nonetheless Skate, NBA 2K8, MLB 07: The Show, and even FIFA 08 I would put ahead of NHL 08, and since I’m the law in these parts  that makes my power rankings infallible.

 
A Boston Red Sox player will be on the cover of MLB 08: The Show.

FICTION: As a Yankees fan I pray to all that is good and holy this is false. I'm going to go with a personal pick of A-Rod as I believe he is very marketable. Other possibilities outside of the Red Sox camp could be C.C. Sabathia or Matt Holliday. I'd love to see an Oklahoman make the cover as well so put my vote down for A-Rod or Holliday. Either way, I am for sure getting a PS3 just so I can have a chance to play this game at length this year...and MGS4 later on.

FACT is the correct answer, but even if the right answer was FICTION you’d be disqualified for being a Yankee fan living in Oklahoma. Perhaps you weren’t aware of this but you’re breaking a law by being a 20-something who cheers for the Yankees presumably because as a kid you liked that they were good. I’m offended. Anyway, it could be Matt Holliday but based on the initial pictures being released it seems likely a Red Sox player will be on the cover of this year’s version of MLB 08: The Show.

 
Improved graphics in MLB 08: The Show make it a shoe-in to become the best baseball simulation this year.

FACT: It wasn't before this year? As far as the consoles and traditional gameplay go MLB: The Show is unmatched and probably will remain so for at least two more seasons. Out of the Park Baseball is the best baseball simulation without a doubt, but MLB: The Show is so much better than 2K's offering that it's pretty laughable. If 2K can pull out a miracle I might eat my words on this but I just don't see The Show losing its crown for at least a couple more seasons. 2K could pull out a good title this year to make the baseball folks suffering on the 360 a bit more comfortable with where they stand though.

FACT is the right response, well played. I do think 2K is on the right path but it’s still rough around the edges when it comes to everything but graphics.

 
The What'd Ya Get thread is the best Soap Box thread of all time.

FICTION: The Aerobed thread (which is what the What’d Ya Get thread should basically be called) stands as one of the most memorable threads in the post-crash era of the Soap Box. However, everyone has his or her own favorite and I wouldn't want to say it's the best ever completely. If nothing else give it top 5 with other deserving threads.

FICTION would have been acceptable if you would have just capitalized the “c” in post-crash to play-up the pun of Mr. Aerobed himself, forum member Crash. But you didn’t so I can’t accept your answer. The correct answer is FACT either way because that thread is tradition in the Soap Box.

 
Electronic Arts will buy Take-Two in the next six months.

FICTION: I don't believe the market or EA is ready for this type of move. There are just so many complicating factors that I don't see this working in the near future. Give it a bit more than a year and you could have something brewing but I just don't believe that EA can make the move yet. If they made the move quickly it would be to get Grand Theft Auto underneath the EA umbrella. That being said I think EA will wait past the GTA IV release and we will have at least one more full year of sports gaming competition to enjoy.

Yes, FICTION is the correct response. Conversely, I do think the market is ready for this type of move considering the recent Vivendi/Blizzard-Activision merger and the EA-BioWare/Pandemic merger but I think Take-Two holds out through at least GTA IV to see if that leads the company substantially into the black. Also Take-Two has published some top selling games in the last year or so, such as BioShock, Carnival Games, and Oblivion -- also don't forget sometime in 2008 Fallout 3 will release. But ugh, I hate playing analyst so let’s end this Christmas edition of Fact or Fiction so I can wash my hands of this analyst filth.  Until next time, this has been another edition of Fact or Fiction.