I do not know, still have to dload a 80 MB direct x installer from Microsoft and then it's dload grinding time to pull in 8 GB

Depending on their server and your net connection, that would be about 1-2 days of straight downloading...

// please delete

I think the ultimate revitalization of the video game industry would be a scenario in which EA was suddenly declared bankrupt, and was forced to shut down completely. It would create such a vacuum in the industry, that any game might have a chance. This, I think, would lead to an explosion of creativity. Incidentally, it might also mean that all the old IPs that EA has buried in their vaults, might actually live again, both with re-releases of the original games, and new continuations of old series, now free from EA's play-it-safe policy.
And if Walmart went down at the same time, there would be no limit to the creativity we might see!

don't forget acti-blizz.

Add Bethesda to the going-down list. I would like to see them go out or have a massive reorganization. They need WRITERS!!!!

YOUR A DIRTY ROTTEN HERETIC!!!
Yea, they could use better writers, but its not like anyone else is making first person single player RPGs these days.

Well, that just means that they make poor games. In the wake of the "creativity wave", many large studios who stuck to their old tried-so-it-must-be-true formulas (lowest common denominator) would go under when their games suddenly didn't sell anymore, because there was something better on the market.
But the only keystone is EA. If they went, everything else would follow automatically.

Yep, I'm a bastard. I used to love Bethesda after Daggerfall and during Morrowind, but after I broke the Radiant A.I. further in Oblivion and the insipid writing that I had to endure throughout that process, they just didn't do it for me. It wasn't them, it was me and I changed somehow while they remained the same .....I think.

Not true... they changed time and time again, for example Arena to Daggerfall increased choice, depth, plot, graphics, sound, interface usability etc.. Daggerfall to Morrowind was based on a sacrifice of choice and depth for better graphics and a more coherent and linear experience. Morrowind to Oblivion traded coherent plot, lengthy dialogues and restricted game world for pseudo-sandbox, better graphics, voice acting and the lie that was Radient AI.
The only decision is whether you agree with those changes, or disagree. I happen to think a blend of daggerfall and morrowind would be the best, but thats only my opinion. They certainly made a sackful of cash with the changes they made.

Morrowind combined with Daggerfall? Yes that would be nice but it won't happen...because Bethesda is surely planning on making more and more bland games rather than anything that takes a risk or two...

Of course MMOs are dying. There's so many of them that it's impossible to build up and retain a large group of subscribers!
I really feel for EA. For the first time in years, they're trying to innovate like crazy. And because of this hole lending has put us in, companies like Activision who pump out generic title after generic title are getting all the money, while EA's brilliant innovative titles aren't selling! I wish everyone would buy Mirror's Edge, Dead Space, Skate 2 and Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 so EA can continue redefining games. Alas, it doesn't look like that will happen, and they'll have to go back to making generic, unoriginal content. Hope Madden 10 pulls them through...
EDIT: Oh my God. I can't believe I called Madden 10 original. Getting dizzy...

...Have you been smoking something you shouldn't?

They're willing to take single risks, such as buying the Fallout license, which would be unheard of to many of those who bought morrowind and/or oblivion. They didn't risk anything else on that though as far as I've seen, slapping tons of fallout references everywhere to convince us all that its authentic. May as well have put signs up saying "This is Fallout, we promise!" or "Did you see <insert appropriate FO1/2 reference here> yet?".
I always thought that the expansion of gaming into the mainstream would mean more availability of "niche" gaming types, such as the stat-heavy RPG, dialogue heavy games, the point-and-click (some success here!), and the turn-based strategy etc.. Seems I wasn't entirely correct.
Edit:
CnC isn't generic or unoriginal? how many sequels does that require? EA has been the death of many popular games developers!

I hate Activision so much that I'll go any lengths to support anyone. Besides, I love all the recent games EA has put out. Red Alert 3, Mirror's Edge, Dead Space, and Skate 2 were all very awesome. Activision killed Zork, they made Guitar Hero suck, and they almost killed Ghostbusters. Oh, yes, shit's goin' down.
EDIT: Not to mention that they continue to milk every franchise that they touch. No more Treyarch games, Activision; I won't have them tarnishing the CoD name any more.