To touch upon a topic from a few nights ago, the DRIV3R review score conspiracy has prompted a reaction from a few members of the gaming press and I thought I'd link you to one. It's written by Chris Johnston, an ex-editor of EGM, and he reveals the process members of the press go through when reviewing incomplete code. Informative stuff and it had me thinking twice about the "exclusive first review" I was reading of Madden NFL 2005 in this month's OPM.

	EA Picks Up A Stranger Electronic Arts announced today they have decided to publish Oddworld Stranger under their EA GAMES brand. If you recall, Microsoft Games Studios initially decided to drop the title which was then picked up by Atari, who also ditched it. It was then rumored to be picked up by EA, which today they officially revealed. The game, obviously, was originally an Xbox exclusive but it will land on both the Xbox and PS2 sometime in the spring of 2005.
	ESPN NFL 2K5 in July? It was EBgames who broke the $20 story and now they have a new surprise; gamers will be getting their twenty-buck football sim on July 20th, a full three weeks before Madden. GameSpot tried to get official confirmation through both Visual Concepts and Take-Two, but they both said to wait till tomorrow for an announcement. This whole date game has been pretty funny; first 2K5 was a week after Madden, then a week before, then they both bumped it up another week, now this. True competitors.
	E-Reader Killed for Europe Nintendo Europe revealed today that despite reports to the contrary, they have abandoned plans to release the E-Reader peripheral for the European market. Shelly Pearce, head of public relations, commented, "We won't launch E-Reader in Europe. We don't think the market potential is great enough to launch the product in Europe - however we will make the downloadable elements that cards provided available via different routes."
	More Phantasy Star Online for the US? Online rumor mill Game Gossip revealed today they have come across an image of box art for a U.S. version of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Plus. Recently released in Japan, the PSO Plus added new features such as extra missions and GBA downloadable content. Nothing else was unearthed; the box art could be from a cancelled product, but seeing as the game was only recently released, a US launch could be possible.
	Misc. Q&As/Interviews TeamXbox speaks with the doctors of BioWare, Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk about Jade Empire. IGN speaks with WWE's Kendall Boyd about WWE: Day of Reckoning.
	Misc. Media/Previews
	IGN goes total exclusive with screens, movies, and impressions of Ghosthunter. They also have a tiny video of Gungrave OD. Game Informer does the hands-on dealie with Astro Boy (movies included). GameSpot has their own look at Phantom Brave this evening as well as shots of Silent Hill 4: The Room.
	GameSpot shows off the new premium content of Project Gotham Racing 2 with these images.
	GamerFeed thumps their collective chests to this preview of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. GF also takes a look at SEGA's Amazing Island. GameSpy knocks back a few images of Killer 7. (Can you believe it? No media for Tales of Symphonia tonight!)
	IGN cues up this footage of Hardcore Pool. Game Informer clues us in on Astro Boy: Omega Factor in this hands-on impression packed with footage.
	GameSpot goes hands-on with The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee (PS2, Xbox). They also go Madden-crazy with these movies of Madden NFL 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GCN). TeamXbox contributes with a look at the civil and family-orientated Outlaw Golf 2 (PS2, Xbox). GameSpy has the latest dev diaries of Mercenaries (PS2, Xbox) and Darkwatch (PS2, Xbox). CVG swings us footage of Rocky Legends (PS2, Xbox). IGN has images of people bleeding in Mortal Kombat: Deception (PS2, Xbox). They also preview Street Racing Syndicate (PS2, Xbox, GCN) with included media.