'Smugglers Run' makes crime pay

"Smugglers Run: Warzones" makes crime pay.

That's why it's a videogame, not the primer for career planning.

As with previous titles, you're the driver of a selection of cross-country vehicles, hired to deliver -- or pick up, or steal -- contraband and get it to its destination safely. It's basically all you have to do -- drive. Sounds easy. Everybody drives.

Don't be deceived.

This GameCube epic from Angel Studios and Rockstar isn't a Sunday cruise in the country. For one thing, you have to evade or run over the cops, who will be coming at you from every direction. For another, there are often rival gangs vying for the same prize. If they get the goods first, smashing into them will transfer the items to your car, although they can pull the same stunt on you.

The game takes you across rugged terrain, with boulders, trees, buildings and even speeding trains getting in your way. There's a nifty new region of ice and snow to deal with, a new Hovercraft type vehicle and a number of wild multiplayer games, including one-on-one, three-and-four-player melees and team play.

You'll be amused by the tough-talking macho thugs you have to deal with in the grainy cut scenes, and the chatter, as you bound through the countryside, will keep you chuckling.

Graphics get a B. The game is nicely drawn and plenty colorful.

Sound gets another B. The sound effects are excellent and the often hysterical comments are highly entertaining.

Control gets an A. It won't take more than 10 minutes or so to catch on to the intuitive controls and have your vehicle blasting through the wilds. Steering, gas and brakes make it easy to keep one step ahead of the law.

"Smuggler's Run: Warzones" gets a solid B for its raucous, nonstop action. It's one wild ride.

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A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune to try Nintendo's Wave Bird, the company-built wireless controller for GameCube.

Since then, I've been playing with an aftermarket wireless unit for the PlayStation 2, and it works just as well -- or better -- for Sony fans.

Since previous outside efforts have had mixed results, the fact that the Lynx wireless from Mad Catz offers such seamless operation on two AA batteries is a revelation.

It's a 900-MHz unit, operating on radio waves rather than the older infrared technology, so you don't have to point the controller directly at the console-mounted receiver to make it work. I even went into the next room, and it worked without problems.

In fact, it has a range of about 40 feet, and if your dog decides to sit down in front of the console, as Chuck, my obedience-challenged Westie, often does, it makes no difference. The controller works without a hitch, blocked or not.

Mad Catz also tops Nintendo in one area; it includes the vibration feature Nintendo dropped for GameCube.

Mad Catz says it will have one by October for the Xbox.

More good news.