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One of the hardest parts of dealing with a new generation of consoles is that it’s hard to tell what’s CG and what’s in-game engine. No one knows how powerful a system is or what’s even possible, so when you’re first introduced to a new franchise, there’s that feeling out period as your eyes immolate themselves from the collective fireworks on the screen.

Is this actual in-game footage? Wait, it looks too good. Then again, this generation is supposed to be powerful. Oh crud, this might be it. That’s what was going through my mind when I saw The Crew for the first time at E3 2013. It was an impressive display of eye candy but the footage was CGI. When I saw actual game footage, I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

And I’m sure other players couldn’t get a handle on what The Crew exactly is. It was hard to put a finger on what made this game different from other next-gen racers, but then, in San Francisco, I had some hands-on time with the game recently in advance event for Gamescom and everything became clear.

The newest member of the “American Idol” judges panel describes herself as a “straight shooter” who calls ’em like she sees ’em and can adapt when she sees fit.

“I’m someone who is real honest,” says Kara DioGuardi. “If I feel I need to be hard, I will be. Or if I need to be softer and more nurtring, I will be. It depends on the situation.”

In landing one of television’s plum gigs, DioGuardi, a Grammy-nominated songwriter who has worked with numerous “Idol” contestants, joins Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson on the Fox ratings juggernaut. Her first duty comes tomorrow morning when she’ll serve as a judge at the New York City round of “Idol” auditions.

“You have to see if there are fireworks tomorrow,” she told reporters on a conference call. “… Tomorrow’s like the first day at pre-school for me.”

DioGuardi’s surprise appointment comes on the heels of a seventh season in which ratings dipped for “Idol” and even some longtime devotees grew apathetic. In the time since, Fox has promised some changes and a few weeks ago executive producer Nigel Lythgoe departed the show.

Whether DioGuardi’s presence constitutes a needed change (What about those awful theme weeks?) is open to debate. But it is sure to stir conversation when the show returns in January. And it is also sure to ignite speculation that “Idol” producers see her as a possible replacement for the often ditzy and clueless Abdul.

On Monday Abdul said on Phoenix’s KISS-FM that she’s excited about DioGuardi coming aboard, according to UsMagazine.com, but added: “I am concerned about the audience and acceptance. Time will tell. We’ll see.”

DioGuardi, who co-wrote a song with Abduul early in her career, forsees no jealousy issues arising.

“I’ve always had a great relationship with Paula,” she said. “I can’t imagine her not being happy with (the hiring).”

Judging from her replies on the conference call, DioGuardi is certainly more articulate and coherent than Abdul, though that’s not saying much. And she has very clear ideas on what makes a great “Idol” singer.

“For me, what makes an artist is someone who when their song comes on radio I know exactly who it is,” she said. “… It’s not about vocal acrobatics. It’s about being unique and doing things that ere indentifiable to you.”