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More Fun Than You Can Shake A Stick At

BrokenPipe writes "When I was in Japan last summer I bought a PlayStation 2 in anticipation of a game that was just released a couple of weeks ago. It is only available in Japan and it will probably never be released in the US. It is called "Taiko no Tatsujin". The game has been in the arcades in Tokyo for a while but it has just been released for the PlayStation 2. Apparently it is the number 3 game in Japan right now and many places are sold out. Luckily, mine arrived this past Monday. So what is the hype all about? Well, the game is based on Japanese traditional drums which are called 'taiko' drums. Basically, you need to drum along with a song, hitting the drum at just the right moment. Most of the songs are either Japanese pop songs (J-Pop) or more traditional Japanese songs. It is a great game for all ages. The official website is here." For more information, here are several more sites to puzzle over: one, two, three, four, five.

61 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. I've seen this... by GoofyBoy · · Score: 3, Interesting


    Its like DDR for you finger tips.

    --
    The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
    1. Re:I've seen this... by Mark+Garrett · · Score: 2, Funny
      Its like DDR for you finger tips.

      Thanks for the info, but my fingers have all the RAM they need.

    2. Re:I've seen this... by wantedman · · Score: 3, Informative

      http://shop2.outpost.com/{Pc3axKE23F17vjkzJn1zWbux q3YZYsqSPQU4am1zuBzjTu6LR6Xe|-8600010891477737814/ 168694306/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1|6127421640 616020492/168694307/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1| 1036901060642}/product/3182950/

      heh, nope, THIS is like Dance Dance Revolution for your fingers :-D

    3. Re:I've seen this... by G-funk · · Score: 5, Funny

      What, typing in that url?

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    4. Re:I've seen this... by istartedi · · Score: 2

      I first saw it at the arcade near the big food court at Springfield Mall (Virginia). It was "Americanized" with rap, rock, etc... actually, I think you could choose genres. I didn't play it; there was this teenage dude playing it, and I thought to myself at the time "wow! not only is it a non-violent video game, it could be a great way to learn music".

      --
      For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  2. A very simliar game by Monkelectric · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Came out in the US a year or so ago called Frequency.

    --

    Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  3. I feel better by CatWrangler · · Score: 5, Funny

    Somebody has less of a life than me.

    --

    ---
    When you come to a fork in the road, take it! --Yogi Berra--

  4. Sounds like another game by StevenMaurer · · Score: 2, Informative

    This isn't the first game of this type by far.

    It looks like a knock off of Samba de Amigo for the Dreamcast. In that game you have to buy maracas and shake them to the music.

  5. you never know by mad_cow · · Score: 5, Informative
    Innovative and interesting games not making it out of Japan for one reason or another has plagued the console market for a long time. Often, it does boil down to interested consumers having to order in the import to play on their foreign or modded (the best legitimate use of mod chips) machines, but Fresh Games (heavy flash site) hopes to change things. An excerpt from their site:

    The Fresh Games label was created because there is a wealth of incredible games that come out in Japan and, for whatever reason, are not sold in the US and Europe. A lot of people are importing these games, but we wanted hardcore gamers everywhere to be able to buy these games at their local store without having to deal with mod-chips and exorbitant costs. On the surface these games are very "Quirky" or "Odd" but when you get beneath the surface, you realize that the game-play is outstanding, the depth these games have to offer is incredible, and the polish and attention to detail that is put in to them is obvious.


    Video Games are an art form in Japan and we wanted that represented here in it's purest form. Not another character based sequel, not another movie license, not another "extreme sports" game. That's what we call the corporate formula. We wanted to break some rules, and break some of the barriers that exist in this industry in regards to "What type of games do people really want to play?". Many of the major magazines wrote that games like Mad Maestro and Mister Mosquito were brilliant games, and it was a shame that these games would never see the light of the day outside of Japan, where they are both top 10 selling titles. We agreed that they are brilliant and decided to take a chance by releasing them here.


    Not that this means that we'll see Taiko no Tatsujin brought over, but you never know.
    1. Re:you never know by jafuser · · Score: 3, Interesting
      There's a game out right now for the GameCube called called "Animal Crossing", which I assume must be a market-test for it's kind in America.

      It's a very odd sort of game, which claims to be a "communication oriented" game. It's not really comparable to anything else I've seen before. It's sort of an RPG/Sim hybrid, with emphasis on making friends, and staying in touch such as chatting with your neighbors, writing to electronic friends, trading virtual items with your RL friends, etc...

      It's definitely a concept that would probably never have seen the light of day if it weren't for the novel Japanese way of thinking. I hope the test market succeeds. It's quite addictive, and I hope to see it catch on, and perhaps see more games like it =)

      --
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  6. I liked it better... by Hirofyre · · Score: 5, Funny

    I liked it better the first time I played it, when it was called "Simon".

  7. i think i get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    so i beat the drums lull the enemy to sleep then eliminate them with the rocket launcher?

  8. Re:VARY interesting by jonr · · Score: 2

    I do recall that pads for this game where available here for the PS2. I do think it sold out. It's the only game that burned some calories, AFAIK.
    J.

  9. Re:VARY interesting by The+Original+Yama · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is a great way for geeks that are too fat for Dance Dance Revolution to get some exercise. All without having to get off the couch, too.

  10. This Is News? by MBCook · · Score: 5, Troll
    OK, I've never said something like this about slashdot before, and I realize it's a slow newsday, but what's THIS doing here? If this game was unique, new, origional, etc. I could understand. But from the description, it sounds far from it. Let's review some possibly similar games:
    • DDR 1/2/3/Disney/Whatever
    • Frequency
    • PaRappa The Rappa (1 and 2)
    • UmJamma Lammy
    • Am I leaving some out? Almost certainly
    This game isn't origional. This isn't a review of the game (that I could understand). This isn't much more than an ad, IMHO. Keep paying attention tomarrow for new headlines including:
    • I Gave My Dog A Bath
    • New "Army Men" Game Released (this will now appear once a week, to coincide with releases)
    • TV Networks: We're On TV
    • New Study: Studies Study Stuff Studiously
    --MBCook (going anon because I'm a karma whore today)
    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    1. Re:This Is News? by Mandi+Walls · · Score: 2
      yeah. don't forget those long-lost flashy-lights-and-sounds you-do-this-now games.

      like simon.

      of course, the Japanese have an attention span of about 9 months for technology, so simon is like ancient history.

      but yeah, the weird "i just peed myself over this game that i've been waiting months and months and months for" post is odd, even for a saturday night.

      I'm going back to my install. nothing to see here.

      --mandi

    2. Re:This Is News? by Cryptnotic · · Score: 2

      Beat Mania (and its 20 sequels)
      Samba de Amigo (one of my favorites).

      --
      My other first post is car post.
  11. thats cool by paradesign · · Score: 2
    but not nearly as cool as the REZ trance vibrator or the Yanya Caballista skateboard for the ps

    i also like samba de amigo and the nes keyboard.

    of couse then theres the snes bike and the...

    --
    I want 2D games back.
    1. Re:thats cool by Skidge · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was just reading about the Rez Trance Vibrator. Chicks dig it.

  12. Rez... by BitwizeGHC · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you haven't played it yet, you must go out ands get your hands on a copy of Rez... easily the most innovative, mind-blowing game to come along in at least a decade. It was released in the United States, to a small, select but appreciative audience. Larger electronics stores (e.g., Best Buy, Fry's) will likely carry it.

    It is a shooting game where your actions add to the beat of the techno music that's playing and to the surreal on-screen display. Learn to play in harmony with the game, and you will be rewarded with amazing sights and sounds.

    I bought the game a couple of months ago, and it still continues to blow my mind.

    --
    N4st0r, trixx0r h0bb1tz0rz! Th3y st0l3 0ur pr3c10uzz!
  13. Oh come on.... by sydneyfong · · Score: 2

    There are dozens of similar games out there... Maybe not in the U.S. but at least here in Hong Kong, I've seen at least a dozen of these variants. I guess there must be more of these in Japan.

    This kind of game is actually not new. About 1-2 years ago I played a game which you have a "carpet" to sence your feet and dance to the music on the beat. It's quite fun, and some people have even used it to attempt to lose weight ;-)

    --
    Don't quote me on this.
  14. Re:USA Crossover Hit?? by paradesign · · Score: 2
    and i quote from gamefaqs

    Parappa the Rappa's success was overwhelming in Japan. In fact, Parappa the Rappa has sold over 800,000 copies in Japan. It's a big phenomenon. Now, the question is whether to release Parappa the Rappa in US? Sony did hesitate about bringing Parappa the Rappa over as they feared that US audiences might not like it as it did in Japan. Luckily, Parappa the Rappa managed to be released in the United States and had an impressive sales.

    funny isnt it.

    --
    I want 2D games back.
  15. Don't forget about by Flamesplash · · Score: 2

    Bust a Groove. I believe it was one of the first games of this sort, a direct lead in to DDR. I agree though, I don't see why this is on the front page...

    --
    "Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." - Emily Dickinson
  16. these games are a stoner's paradise by PissedOffGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    has anybody else noticed that the people who LOVE rez/frequency etc. are all potheads? and everybody else just sits and wonders "what the hell do they see in that game"?

  17. I've Played It... by spoonboy42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When I was in Kyoto recently, I had a chance to try the arcade version of this game out. It was certainly entertaining and, as other posters pointed out, follows the DDR formula of hitting the right pads in time with the music. While this may seem a bit formulaic, it actually is rather fun once you get into it.

    It should be noted that Japanese arcades are currently graced with several other games in this same vein, including Guitar Freaks (which is nothing like playing actual guitar, as it is button and switch based), another drum game featuring a western-style drumset, and my personal favorite, a game which uses several keypads and a mock-up vinyl to "simulate" DJing. Once again, this has little to do with actual DJing (just as guitar freaks has nothing to do with playing the guitar, and DDR doesn't very much resemble dancing). Just the same, one can't help but love simple music-based games. They're a refreshing alternative to the standard arcade fare, and the highly social aspects of competition have the potential to bring in crowds of players and spectators, the likes of which the United States hasn't seen since the height of the Pacman era.

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    1. Re:I've Played It... by MuteflY · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'll agree that not all DDR players look like they're dancing (me for instance) but have a look at some of the videos here and you'll see that any decent freestyler looks very much like they're dancing, mainly because they are.

  18. DrumMania by IanA · · Score: 2

    isn't this just like DrumMania, which has been out for years?

    DrumMania info

    oh, btw, there is a console version.

  19. now I get it ... by SuperDuG · · Score: 2

    Duke Nuke Um Forever was only released in Japan ... it's all a conspiracy.

    --
    Ignore the "p2p is theft" trolls, they're just uninformed
  20. I've seen this by ctar · · Score: 2

    here in Japan, and I can't imagine how well it would translate on a console. The whole point is the interface in the arcades is a huge taiko drum that you bang on with drum sticks!

    There are lots of games like this in Japan. A similar game has you pushing back and forth on oars in a river rafting game. Also, there's a fire-fighting game where you (IIRC) pump the water for the fire fighters...Another is a truck driving game with this HUGE almost horizontal steering wheel that you use to drive the big rigs.

  21. Re:USA Crossover Hit?? by paradesign · · Score: 2

    at least until you find new sources. i didnt mean to shoot you down THAT hard though.

    --
    I want 2D games back.
  22. Next Year's Most Popular Game by DasBub · · Score: 4, Funny

    Following in the grand tradition of "Taiko no Tatsujin" Japanese game developers are ready to flood the market with serious tests of hardware capability and user ingenuity.

    The predicted hit of the gaming year is "Peanut Butter Toast". Gamers must attempt to evenly apply a series of different peanut butters onto a diverse selection of bread products. The genius of the game is apparently in the way that peanut butter boundaries are compared with the virtual toast layout. Gamers will lose points for having large wells of peanutty goodness as well as only slightly-browned toast edges.

    Developers are hard at work on a sequel said to involve drinking a glass of juice. Early reports state that a GeForce 5 will be the minimum required video adapter.

  23. Sounds like by sielwolf · · Score: 2

    Parrapa the Rappa or, for those of us born pre-'90, Simon. Same thing, different package.

    It seems that there have been and will be only four types of games... ever. And I think one of them is drinking.

    --
    What is music when you despise all sound?
  24. Slashdot Alerts needed! by spazoid12 · · Score: 2, Funny

    We need a new Slashdot feature. MT SMS messages alerting us all whenever BrokenPipe buys another game for his wonderful Playstation2 setup. The crap that is posted boggles the mind.

  25. Re:VARY interesting by zapfie · · Score: 2

    I guess that explains why when I go to play DDR on weekends (and I'm on the east coast even), that the machine is swamped and there is often at least a 20 minute wait to get a game? Just in case you are thinking where I am is the exception and not the rule, you may be interested to see that there are over 1325 DDR machines in the US alone. Three out of the four places I usually play at have had to buy a second machine to accomodate the demand. So I guess if that's your definition of 'never really happened'... :)

    --
    slashdot!=valid HTML
  26. Clicky clicky... by ahaning · · Score: 3, Informative

    Making links is not hard.

    <href="http://url.goes.here/">This will become a link.</a>

    --
    Withdrawal before climax is very ineffective and those who try this are usually called "parents."
  27. I'm being sucked back into console gaming too. by RyanFenton · · Score: 3, Informative


    First, Suikoden III - a console-style CRPG featuring over 108 characters who can join your team... but each of them adds in ways you don't expect. It's not some Pokemon-flavored RPG series though - each one centers on how war destroys the lives of those involved, turns honest people into monsters, and brother against brother. The 108 characters in each game (mostly different who they are each game) are based on an old chinese story of 108 stars of destiny - so much of the lore and characters have a bit of a less arbitrary feel about them than most console RPG's. A great game to come back to over weeks, accomplishing little things at a time.

    Then, in a little over a week, there will be Metroid Prime. The hype has been so negative for so long... and now all the positive hype - should be interesting. Perhaps I'll throw the old NES emulation disk into the dreamcast and have a go at the first game some night next week

    No - it's not an insightful thing to say - I'll forget the +1 bonus on this one - but if the editors can proclaim their favorite recent games that drew them to console gaming recently, I figure I can at least let a few other people know what I've really enjoyed recently. :^)

    Ryan Fenton

  28. Not just Japan... by silvaran · · Score: 2

    I found this at a Dave and Buster's (I think that's the name) in Toronto. So yes, it is available outside Japan, and yes, it is VERY cool. It even had popular songs like Born to be Wild. If you spot it, try it, you won't be sorry (unless you really, really suck like I did).

  29. Shit by TheOnlyCoolTim · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought when I turned off ANIME I wouldn't have to see any stories about stupid Japanese pop culture. Fuck me.

    Tim

    --
    Omnia vestra castrorum habetur nobis.
  30. Now here's an *interesting* japanese game by RichardX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Check this out.. it's called Boong-ga Boong-ga, and it must be the first game to come with a finger-and-arse controller. When's the home version coming out?

    Here's some shots and info... ... a wired article.. and a Register article

    --
    Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
  31. Yup - by definition its news by Skuld-Chan · · Score: 2

    From Dictionary.com,

    "news Pronunciation Key (nz, nyz)
    pl.n. (used with a sing. verb)

    Information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by newspapers, periodicals, radio, or television.
    A presentation of such information, as in a newspaper or on a newscast.
    New information of any kind: The requirement was news to him.
    Newsworthy material: "a public figure on a scale unimaginable in America; whatever he did was news" (James Atlas)."

    The event was - someone bought a neat game that only runs on Japanese consoles. This is news on several levels.

    A) He bought a game and a console - thats known as a event.
    B) Because of strict content control systems on game consoles even though this is a neat game we'll probably never see it in the states - thats newsworthy information.

  32. Re:Improves Real Instrument Skills? by AsnFkr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    im a drummer (as well as a guitarist and bassist) and ive played one of those drumming games that is set up as a "real kit" - and no...it does not help you at all. If you play technically correct along with the game, you loose. Its just like DDR, you hit each pad as the arrow lights up, and for the most part it doesn't correspond to the actual note being played at all. In my opinion it would prbably confuse a persons ability to play an instument more than anything.

  33. Overcoming political and lingual barriers? by jcsehak · · Score: 2

    Will this work on a US playstation 2? I'm guessing no, not without a mod chip. Is there a certain mod chip that's the best? Can a US resident even get one these days?

    Also, does anyone know of a place on the web that helps you teach yourself Japanese, or at least will translate? I just tried babelfish.altavista.com, and the japanese bit doesn't work. It'd be nice to be able to read the messages in the game if I do wind up getting it.

    --

    c-hack.com |
  34. Bet you aren't enjoying Rez as much as this chick by bogie · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://www.gamegirladvance.com/archives/2002/10/26 /sex_in_games_rezvibrator.html

    --
    If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
  35. Yet Another Rhythm Game? by Rayonic · · Score: 3, Interesting

    And it's not like drums haven't been done before, even.

    Don't get me wrong, I like rhythm games (along with every other genre of video game), but this is not groundbreaking in any sense of the word.

  36. This has been out in the US for two years by Ryosen · · Score: 2, Informative
    --

    Ryosen
    One man's "Troll, +1" is another man's "Insightful, +1".
    1. Re:This has been out in the US for two years by Saige · · Score: 2

      Sadly, this US piece of crap (also known as MTV Drumscape) should never have been put together.

      Why?

      It's not a game. At all. You insert money, pick a song from either the 70's, 80's, or 90's, and bang on the electrionic drum set as you wish for the length of the song. No score. No indication what you're supposed to do. It's just a "toy", and a bad one at that.

      I've watched people walk away from it shortly after they start "playing", realizing it has no point to it.

      Konami's DrumMania, part of their Bemani series, on the other hand, does it right, and is tons of fun (though DDR is still better). Because it has an actual game, with an actual challenge.

      --
      "You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do."
  37. Re:Improves Real Instrument Skills? by bribecka · · Score: 2

    My question is, does playing any of these games actually make you better at the real thing?

    Of course it does! Just like playing counterstrike has allowed me to become a top-notch rifle shot! Also, I played about 500 hours of Madden 2003 and look at me now!
    Love,
    Kurt Warner

    --

    Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

  38. Guess I was ahead of my time... by RobertB-DC · · Score: 2, Funny

    The predicted hit of the gaming year is "Peanut Butter Toast". Gamers must attempt to evenly apply a series of different peanut butters onto a diverse selection of bread products.

    Back in high school in the '80s (crap, that sounds like a long time ago now), I had a nowhere job bussing tables. Since there was little mental effort required to place the big plates in the tub just so, and the bowls like this, and the cups here, etc... I was bored outta my skull.

    So I spent the time thinking how I might write a "Busboy!" video game. Your goal would be to pack as many tables' dishes into your bus tub as possible without them falling out. The beginner level would be "Breakfast", which is mostly small plates and oatmeal bowls. But watch out for "Wednesday Night" -- those oblong Steak Platters will bite you in the butt every time!

    True story: I got p1ssed off one night and quit. Walking out the door, I ran into the prettiest girl in the Junior class. I told her how I'd Stood Up To The Man, and she said that was cool. Wow. Too bad I was now completely freakin' broke. When are they going to make *that* into a video game?

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  39. actually by squarefish · · Score: 2

    the correct way would be

    <a href="http://url.goes.here/">This will become a link.</a>

    --
    Creationists are a lot like zombies. Slow, but powerful and numerous. And they all want to eat our brains.
  40. Re:VARY interesting by m3000 · · Score: 2

    As other people have pointed out, DDR is actually really quite big in the US. Of course it's only a recent development as when I first heard of DDR 3 years ago it was pretty much only in few select (ie maybe 20) arcades in California. It took me a year to find an arcade that had it (1 out of a whopping 2 in Florida), and it's taken another 2 years for it to spread to most every decent arcade that you stop by now days. (Now about 70 in Florida alone)

    Now it's one of the biggest money makers arcades have. For example at that arcade in our (University of Florida) student union, the DDR machine at one point made $700 a week. The next closest game, MvC2, made $180 a week. So yeah, arcades aren't stupid and they see how much money DDR can bring, hence why it's spread all over the country now.

  41. Popular on Japanese variety television as well. by djshiawase · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This game *has* been in the arcades for quite a while now. And to tell the truth, it's one of the more, shall I say, 'normal' games.

    One of the best that I played when I was there was a boxing game, there were six pads around a screen, you grabbed a 'boxing glove'/padded paddle and smacked away at them. It was based on 'the Fist of the North Star' so you could blow up people's heads and stuff. Pretty groovy.

    Still, this taiko game has actually been pretty popular on variety television (which is approx. 40% of commercial prime-time over there) with a lot of celebrities duking it out, smashing these massive drums relatively close when they're told to on the screen. Air hockey's still the old favourite tho.

    One of the less common - but popular - games basically involves a big suited butt in front of the screen. It's supposed to represent the boss - how the game works is that the game insults you, and you get your retribution by delivering one up the arse. You should see some of the Japanese guys get into it. And girls too.

    I reckon Japanese society's going to explode someday, and all the office workers'll walk the streets with bits of wood & bricks, smashing up windows and cars, when the tolerance threshhold of society in general is breached. There's just so much shit human beings can take, and office workers in Japan take a lot.

    --
    they made me do it
  42. Very Hypocritical by Isldeur · · Score: 2


    Do you know what I find a little hypocritical or funny depending on the way you look at it?

    Didn't everyone get mad at Microsoft when they had their "grassroots" movement and planted ads? Or how about that woman in some marketing department who "switched"?

    These "not-ads" are just as phoney. If you're going to put up an advertisement, just come out and say it. We can all see it anyhow.

  43. Karma be damned; this must be said. by Tofuhead · · Score: 2

    Because Americans, by and large, are morons. Low-MTBF Mexican-manufactured "Sony" TV, anyone?

    < tofuhead >

    --
    It is still the dark of night.
  44. A photo of some people playing the game... by angkor · · Score: 2

    This game was going strong back in mid-2001. I took a photo of some people playing the game. It's in the second row of photos here: http://japanomatic.com

  45. What about Quest for Fame? by Poro · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Back in the dark ages when PC games were mostly DOS-games, IBM released a quite unique game called Quest for Fame. It included a thingy called VPick, a virtual pick connected to the parallel port which you used to strum against any surface following the rhythm of the song. The game was some sort of adventure. You started in a garage band and the ultimate objective was to get on stage on a stadium gig with Aerosmith.

    Many things could go wrong on your quest for fame. I still have nightmares about that one gig when I was still in that garage band. Some motorbike guys come the club where we are playing and demanded us to play Steppenwolf. Well, of course we hadn't practiced any Steppenwolf songs... :-)

    Great game. The system requirements at the back of the box say "Windows 3.1 or higher". I wonder if it would work under WINE. :)

    There is not very much infor about this game in the web. The best I could find was this. It seems that this was also released for Playstation. I think there was supposed to be more PC-games based on the VPick, but I've never heard about any.

  46. And what game isn't? by wirefarm · · Score: 2

    Show me a game that isn't basically about tapping buttons in some sequence...

    In the arcades of Tokyo, This is the game that they stick out front, the one to draw people in. Whenever someone is half-decent at it, a crowd gathers around to admire their skill.
    (Taiko is actually a big deal over here - most of the summer festivals prominently feature a taiko player or two, playing along to the {often pre-recorded} music while people dance.)
    Inside the arcades, they have the games with the impressive 3D graphics and surround sound, yet this dumb taiko game is the one that gets people to come through the door...

    But then again, playing Tetris is just like being a bricklayer, isn't it...

    --
    -- My Weblog.
  47. Re:VARY interesting by FyRE666 · · Score: 2

    Oh man, I got totally hooked on SC5 on my Dreamcast - it's kind of disturbing just how addictive it is! The strange thing is, I'd never even consider playing a "dancing" game, being more of a mindless-violence genre fan, but the gameplay is just unreal (and often surreal ;-)

    If anyone has a DC, and hasn't played Space Channel 5, they're really missing out! Just don't tell your friends; they'll think you're different and strange...

  48. Re:Can we talk about something important ? by Erik+Hollensbe · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well, while I agree with you the importance of those matters, you should probably think about this:

    - In your preferences page, you can turn the preference to see 'games' articles off. That's why articles have different categories... For instance, I don't see articles written by Jon Katz. :)

    - Those items are important, but slashdot is much more than just a techie's political activist haven. In fact, since chips and bits existed, it's been all about what CmdrTaco thinks is 'cool'. The concept of user-submitted articles makes it so that we DON'T get 100% anime and games and palm pilot crap.

    - I'm going to assume that you don't give microsoft any money because you don't find their products useful or interesting. Why, exactly, does slashdot have to come under some double-standard when it comes to voting with your dollar? Remember guys, slashdot makes money off of ad impressions and views. If you don't like the site enough to take the time to write a 30 line diatribe about how you think the site should be run differently, well, get your own site and publish your own stuff, or alternately, don't visit the site. It's your choice.

    (This is coming from a person who's written CmdrTaco email asking him to limit the selection of stuff several times - I just gave up and realized it's not my place to say)

  49. Americans know a number of interesting things. by CrystalFalcon · · Score: 2

    Because Americans, by and large, are morons.

    Not so. This video clip (by Australians) show that the average American know a number of interesting things;

    - Hiroshima and Nagasaki are famous for judo wrestling
    - the major religion in Israel is islam
    - the "Axis of Evil" countries are Mississippi, Florida, and Jerusalem
    - Tony Blair is an actor and a skater
    - the West Bank is located in New York
    - Star Wars is based on a true story

    We'd never know this if it weren't for Americans.

    Link to the clip (RealMedia)

  50. Re:Improves Real Instrument Skills? by zerocool^ · · Score: 2

    you fuck will dunn goats.

    --
    sig?
  51. also "More Fun Than You Can Shake A Stick At" by babbage · · Score: 2