I mentioned well-done advertising in Alan Wake before, but it just annoyed the hell out of me. I was in the clinic, and switched on the TV. A Verizon Wireless ad started playing. Having a Verizon phone in-game is one thing, but putting ads for the phone is quite another. I don't want to watch a TV commercial in a $60 game!

Can't you switch off the tv or move away?

I suppose you're right about that, but they also give you an achievement for turning it on to watch the commercial, so that's pretty greedy.

You can switch it on and then walk away.

I'm really regretting not getting the Collector's Edition now. The soundtrack in this game is amazing!

*cough* http://rapidshare.com/files/392615746/Alan_Wake.rar *cough*
Uploaded by yours truly.

The Microsoft PC releases might be due to them finally making enough money out of the 360. They perhaps no longer feel the need to throttle out every last sale.
But that said, I'm not going to put too much stock in Metacritic.

One question folks: Is there an auto-aim option in game's settings? I still can't hit anything with that damn analog stick.

Is that the soundtrack? Holy shit! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
I beat the game, and while it kind of dragged on near the end, the game's ending was spectacular. Please, Remedy, make a sequel! I don't know what it is about Alan and his friends, but the characters have this indescribable humanity that really endears you towards them.

Yeah. The game has no annoying characters (at least, in my opinion). The closest thing to an annoying character is Barry, but even he was awesome.

There is some auto-aiming in the game, and it's always active. You just have to point in the general direction of the enemies :)
I take it you don't have much experience with game pads, hence the problems with analogue sticks. Fear not, you will get used to it very quickly.

I did get the Collectors edition, believe it or not, at one time Game UK was selling the collectors from their website for the same price as the standard retail.

Other than sometimes-delayed game releases, sounds like you guys get great deals across the pond!

This doesn't always happen. The GTAIV collectors edition was pretty overpriced, as was the console MW2 with the Night Vision Goggles. It sometimes pays to shop around though, especially as practically all the online stores have free shipping. It used to be that any savings you made, you were reamed with the shipping costs. Try to imagine what standard shipping rates for the Collectors Edition of Alan Wake would be, its pretty heavy.