When I picked up KOTOR II yesterday, the guy in front of me purchased both the game and the strategy guide. While I was completing my purchase, the clerk mentions, "I'd ask if you'd want the strategy guide, but that last guy just bought the last one." I replied that I'm not the kind of guy who uses strategy guides but it got me wondering... how many people do use strategy guides? The game had only been on sale for a couple hours and they were sold out of strategy guides? Are they something people only use for RPGs or is it much more widespread? In my entire life, I have only purchased one strategy guide; it was for Final Fantasy XI months after I owned it as an attempt to keep me interested in the game so I wouldn't feel like I wasted my money. But to buy one before I even played the game? I don't think I could ever do that. So I ask the question, how often do you buy a strategy guide and what's the motivation behind it?

	Xbox 2: What the PS2 Was Supposed to Be Chief Xbox Officer Robbie Bach recently talked with Business Week and made a few choice comments about what is being explored for the Xbox 2. There was a definite theme going on, as if Microsoft is looking to turn the Xbox 2 into something akin to a Media Center Edition PC. He discusses the possibility of sharing "digital memories" and broadcasting video. Communications may be a crucial focal point, such as "chat, messaging, blogging, telephony." Bach concludes, "All those things are important scenarios, and there will be things that Microsoft will be doing to deliver those. All of these scenarios I've just talked about require some hardware and some very cool software to enable them."
	DS Doing Well in US, Japan The Nintendo DS is off to a very hot start with most of its inventory selling out in both the United States and Japan. The DS has sold over 500,000 copies in the United States and 460,000 in Japan, with 50,000 more on hold for people who pre-ordered it. That said, Nintendo has basically sold a million units of the Nintendo DS and demand is still high in the United States as many stores are sold out and won't expect a restock until sometime next year.
	Mercenaries Dated The third-person shooter coming from LucasArts, Mercenaries, now has an official release date: January 11, 2005. The game is being developed by Pandemic Studios, the same studio behind Full Spectrum Warrior, and will release on the PS2 and Xbox. The official website for the game has been launched and can be found here.
	Xbox Modders Arrested Two people were arrested in Washington, D.C. for selling modded Xbox systems. Federal officials stormed three Pandora's Cube locations and the two were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and conspiracy to traffic in a device that circumvents technological protection measures. The stores sold what were called "Super Xboxes" which had larger hard drives, game copying software, and around fifteen games pre-loaded on the HD.
	Game Dev School Round-up A couple things to mention; first, the joint-venture academy between the University of Central Florida and Electronic Arts will officially be named the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy. A week or so ago, it was announced it'd be called the Keva Advanced Academy for Interactive Entertainment at the University of Central Florida, but that seemed to confuse people already used to calling it by the former name. At the same time, the Art Institute of California - San Francisco will allow Chinese students from the Xi'an International University to transfer their credits to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Arts & Animation and Game Art & Design.
	Misc. Q&As/Features GamerFeed has a discussion with the director of Tekken 5, Katsuhiro Harada.
	Misc. Media/Previews
	59 shots of Devil May Cry 3 are at GameSpot. GameSpy sticks up some screenshots of Kessen III.
	GameSpot has an update on Oddworld Stranger's Wrath. IGN sticks up four streaking videos of Forza Motorsport.
	More Resident Evil 4 goodness with this look at one of the bosses (IGN) and this hands-on (Game Informer).
	A good look at one of the potentially "must-haves," Band Brothers (NDS), is at IGN along with video goodness of Yoshi Universal Gravitation (GBA).
	1up takes a long look at Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (PS2, Xbox). GameSpy has a few new bits of media for Far Cry Instincts (PS2, Xbox, GCN). IGN infiltrates Area 51 (PS2, Xbox) in this preview.