Today's spotlight of top community stories made me remember the terrible time I had using the Final Fantasy 9 strategy guide. That thing was the absolute worst.

History's Garbage Pail: Final Fantasy 9 and PlayOnline
By Robert M.F. Stoneback
PlayOnline might be the worst idea Square Enix has ever had. You pay $20 for the strategy guide of your pricy RPG, only to discover that you have to log onto a special website to get actually helpful information. PlayOnline still exists, only now it's all about Final Fantasy 11.

Console Wars and the Big Picture
By Kenny Yeager
Console wars are silly, but nothing new. Kenny takes a look back at the battles of yesteryear to show how Sony and Microsoft didn't invent the mad dash for bigger, better hardware -- Nintendo and Sega did.

Distinguishing Between New and Used Games
By A.J. Minotti
Buying a used game isn't piracy, but it is different than buying most used products, as A.J. explains. While I still don't care that publishers are tying their multiplayer to single-use registration codes, asking gamers to fork over an extra $10 for a game is just a tad too much for my tastes.

The Nintendo 3DS and the Evolution of Portable Gaming
By Gil Lawrence de Leon
The 3DS will change the portable gaming scene. Gil touches on Nintendo's eerie ability predict and start trends in the gaming market, much like Apple does with its revolutionary portable toys.

Increase In Spring Game Releases Signals a New Trend
By Austin Schiffman
This year proved that spreading releases beyond the last four months of the year isn't some kind of game-industry heresy. Think back to all the amazing stuff that hit from January to April. Hopefully publishers now realize that you don't have to delay your game until Christmas if you want someone to buy it.