There's certainly no doubt that video games offer a completely unique outlet for media. Game designers work tirelessly trying to craft the next big hit, but just as often churn out forgettable titles like "Star Fox: Assault" and "Shrek: Superslam." Both titles should forever be forgotten, simply because they are painful if anyone should attempt to play them. Then there are always games that defy description, showing the true genius that is at work in the gaming industry ("Katamari Damacy," "Shadow of the Colossus").

Ask any gamer if they have an idea for a video game and odds are they'll begin to ramble incoherently about some lame RPG that nobody would ever play. Honestly, try it. But as your resident gaming gurus (had to get that in there), it's clear that we know better than you what would make a good game — at least we certainly play enough of them. So with that in mind, we've come up with four "dream games" that we'd love to see published. Game on.

Ryan:

"NFL: Hardcore"

It's no secret that I love playing a good football game. While this year I've been forced to swallow Electronic Arts titles non-stop, that's not to say that "Madden" isn't still one of my favorite choices for killing some time. My roomies and I have somehow managed to play through somewhere in the area of eight seasons (with three different franchises) — roughly 384 hours of playtime. I feel like we deserve some sort of medal or something.

But lately, I've been feeling like something is lacking in my football experience. Why don't my players get in trouble for beating their significant others? Where's the rampant drug use? And why, of all things, can't I intentionally stomp on someone's leg in the middle of a game? "NFL: Hardcore" would deliver all of these amazing activities and so much more.

I know what you're thinking: "But Ryan, 'Blitz: The League' had all of that stuff. Isn't this just a recycled idea?" The answer is no. And I'd thank you never to question my judgment again, as a side note. "Hardcore" would be somewhere along the lines of "Blitz," but would have something it was clearly missing — decent game play.

Let's be honest, without the NFL license, nobody is going to play a football game. It's just the way things work. Rather than going with their "NFL: Head Coach" idea they are currently working on (which sounds HORRIBLE, by the way), EA Sports should just take "Madden," toss in a few illegal items and sell it like hotcakes. You can't tell me it wouldn't be fun to pay off some seedy fan to go after Reggie Bush in the parking lot after practice some night so he misses the rest of the season. EA already has the "Superstar" mode — just let me do a few illegal things and I'll be happy.

Sundeep:

"DDR Fighting"

So, as you all diligently read from last week's column, neither I (nor Ryan) like "Dance Dance Revolution" very much. It's a bit corny, a bit awkward and bit of a let down if you're not very good at it. But imagine a world where your actions actually result in something relatively humorous.

Enter the land of "DDR Fighting". It's kind of like break-dance fighting, but you move in those ridiculous four directional patterns. However, rather than playing on separate pads, both players play on one. That's right, it's like Twister meets Silly Dancing Game.

Now, I know what you're thinking: how does that make the game any easier?! Well, it probably doesn't, but that's not the point. The point is you get to actually fight your opponent which takes away from the awkwardness of dancing on pads and let's you do things most rational people probably wouldn't do in real life, thus fulfilling the role every video game aspire to beat.

Just imagine, you and your roommate get in a meaningless squabble about something or another and all you have to do is say, "Hey, this is stupid, let's just go play some 'DDR Fighting.'" One "DDR" round later, you've learned that it's pretty awesome to get points for well-timed jab or kick, and your previously mentioned squabble has been put aside. Mind you, your roommate or yourself might have to go to the hospital. But at least you had fun, right?

Ryan:

"Walker, Texas Ranger: The Game"

Let me just preface this by saying that I enjoyed the beauty of Chuck Norris long before he reached such incredible heights of popularity. I've managed to trace the boom in popularity back to a combination of "Walker, Texas Ranger" airing on the Hallmark channel twice every night of the week and the bearded one appearing in "Dodgeball." Those two pieces of the puzzle combined to cause Norris to suddenly become everyone's hero — and rightfully so.

That aside, a game I've long wanted to see would finally bring Ranger Cordell Walker to my PS2 in all of his pixilated glory. "Walker: The Game" would likely be mission-based, something along the lines of "True Crime: New York City," but with a little more structure. Sure, there could be some free-roam sections where players can cruise around Texas in Walker's truck, but the bulk of the game would revolve around completing various missions to ensure that no wrongdoings go on in Texas. Missions could include, but aren't limited to: making fun of CB, rescuing women from gang violence, thwarting plans for the assembly of nuclear weaponry and teaching schoolchildren the art of kung-fu.

The real highlight of "Walker" would come in the control department. One button would be mapped to punching, one to jumping, one to beard stroking, etc. But the genius the title would employ would be using the right analog stick for spin-kicking. In a move similar to the punching system seen in EA's "Fight Night: Round 2," players would have to swivel the stick clockwise or counterclockwise to execute a brutal spin-kick in the selected direction. It would be known as the "Precision Spin-Kicking System" and would likely change the way people look at combat in video games.

Of course, if I can't have my "Walker" game I'd be more than happy with an "A-Team" game or something — provided it has a mini-game where players have to drug BA in order to get him on a plane. Now THAT would be sweet.

Sundeep:

"Virtual Reality World of Warcraft"

OK. I admit it. I'm a huge nerd. HUGE.

Chances are you know someone who is ridiculously addicted to playing "World of Warcraft." I'm not saying I'm one of them. I mean, I might be close, but in my defense I don't let it completely ruin my life. So far though, I've heard of people losing their jobs, failing out of school and being really bad at sex because of how much they play "World of Warcraft." That's not a good thing.

So what do we do to take on this looming behemoth of a problem, one that could horribly alter our social order? We make everyone play. W-what?! "No one wants to play a stupid fantasy game," is what you'll say. Understandable. I've got an answer for that too, that being the creation of a "Virtual Reality World of Warcraft". Players can live their normal lives within the land of Azeroth, fight dragons, and fight each other — all while stopping to have lunch … for real. Somehow (I really haven't figure out all the logistics yet, but it'll work. I promise.), players will be able to go to work or school and maybe on the way pick off a few wayward monsters or maybe even other people.

In all seriousness, who really wants to live in this world anyway? By comparison, it's relatively boring. I would definitely enjoy vacuuming my living room, while squaring off against scary things hidden in my couches that might eat me.

And let's not forget, people will stop losing their jobs, failing out of school and continue being good at sex. And that's what's important — good sex.

Ryan ([email protected]) and Sundeep ([email protected]) are hopelessly addicted to video games. Sundeep is currently not playing. But he is. Ryan beat "Mega Man X2" and "X3" this weekend and was thoroughly pleased with the classic gaming goodness.