A pending Happy Thanksgiving to all of Gamebits' American readers; and a belated wish of a similar nature to our Canadian friends.

Release dates updated.

Some thoughts on recent releases: Mario Kart Double Dash!! doesn't seem to have the pizazz of its predecessors. Having two characters per kart doesn't add much other than item capacity, and the co-op racing mode is somewhat boring. Karaoke Revolution is a great party game, and has more life in that venue than as a single experience. Expansion discs, please. EyeToy is more of a novelty than a game. Rebel Strike stinks. Full review shortly.

This has been the five o'clock news.

Everyone who enjoyed the eye candy of DOAXBV, or the graphical realism of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, will appreciate the announcement of the "Miss Digital World" beauty contest. The web page for one incomplete entrant, Kaya, is up; if this is a realism contest, and not a beauty one, then she has a chance. I wonder if any established icons, such as Lara Croft or Virtua Fighter's Sarah, will enter?