
In either case, it's the way things were meant to be. I, for one, was fortunate enough to --mere days after the original Xbox Live service was discontinued by Microsoft-- play online with a few then-new buddies against some of the two most aggressive opponents of any multiplayer game or match that I have ever participated in (who so happened to both be full-blooded Japanese) via XLinkKai. The match begun with a brutal thrashing on behalf of the Japs, but this somehow gave strength to our resistance, allowing myself and the others (Golden Gun, Caco, etc.) to initiate the most satisfying comeback with a few kills; just enough to win us the match, at any case. I was rewarded with the honor of "Best Player of the Match" for taking down a higher ranking official; though they were clearly all steal kills after my comrades had weakened them, if it wasn't for my opportunistic nature, the outcome could have very well been much different. I even have the video to prove it on my HDD. No means to transfer it in great quality to the internet, sadly.
So anyone know if they're coming back? A shot in the dark, I know. But at least I would have tried everything.