If you want people to take your site seriously (as I see you do by your sig), then I suggest you find an editor/proofreader to check articles before you post them.
All the professors I've had in college so far all require soft copies of assignments in Office format. Grades are lowered or not counted for other formats. You're going to tell me to get the Student Edition of Office for $100 but that seems like appeasement rather than a solution to the problem.
That's exactly what I thought too. I knew that games after DK64 used it, like the high-res mode in Turok. But improved draw distance in Mario 64, that would've been news to me.
Also, even for games that didn't require it, it improved the graphics quality. Mario 64, for example, would use the additional video memory (as would most of the 3D games) to extend the range you could see -- push back the "fog of war."
Please cite an article or link please. I sense some words coming out of your posterior.
I'd like to see some linkage to back up your claims that most plans only come with "like 20 minutes per month." Considering Japan has real a real 3G infrastructure and all that. Seems like voice communication would be pretty simple and cheap to do.
I see you post often so I know you're not a troll. I'll quickly skim over the Xbox Live features (voicechat/friends list/no cheating/etc.) and say this:
What would you say if it was Nintendo Live and not owned by Microsoft? Assume that the pricing and features are the same.
My hopes that Unreal Championship 2 will be a good game are now gone. Microsoft was promoting UC2 in all of its press material and it was going to be a major title for Xbox Live. I figure the game isn't good enough for MS so they surrendered their publishing rights. I'm interested to see what the Xbox-exclusive title is, though.
It still boggles me how Midway could fall so far. Anyone have a link to a Midway timeline, possibly detailing bad management decisions?
I'm having a lot of trouble deciding whether patching console games is a good thing. In fact, I'm sure it totally depends on the developer. Case in point:
Ex. 1) Ninja Gaiden Hurricane Pack. This is awesome. New stuff that makes an already great game better. Some armchair critics will say that this stuff (especially the camera) should have been in the game in the first place. The fact is, even if Team Ninja never released this patch then Ninja Gaiden would still be one of the best games on Xbox.
Ex. 2) NFL 2k5. Bugs that interfere with normal usage are unacceptable. I don't want to get home from EB and find out that my new game crashes if I try to enter the second level with a crossbow equipped. This would be a step closer to PC gaming, of which I want no part of. Except for Doom 3.
That only works because of the style of music that they play. Each song can be quite different each time they perform it because they could jam in a plethora of ways. For the most part, any live versions are going to sound quite different than studio versions.
Let's also not forget the heavy drug use that was rampant at Dead shows. I don't think everyone would be groovin' out to a 20-minute song if the crowd was straight-edge.
The Grateful Dead are the exception, not the rule. I don't see many kids following punk bands around.
Each version builds on top of the previous one. I've yet to spend any time with the newest game so I can't say whether it should've been called Tekken 4.5 or not. 6 games in a fighting series (5 Tekkens and Tekken Tag) really isn't that many games, especially since the series started in '95.
I've never paid much attention to it but the Tekken characters have quite a backstory to them, I believe the Tekken anime is fairly popular.
Pretty much any genre of game has sequelitis. People like what they know and don't like what they don't. I think we're hitting "peak Mario" right around now, pretty soon there'll be no more leisure games to put Mario in.
How about giving the client away and only charging for the subscription? I know there are some smaller MMOs that do this. I would've probably tried one of the larger ones by now if I didn't have to give them $50 to start with.
I've found that a lot of the motion sickness on the PC comes from the twitchy input device known as the mouse. Being able to turn 360 degrees in a fraction of a second is kind of disorienting. But then again, that's a primary reason PC gamers love their mouse and pour a big glass of Haterade on console controllers.
Why? Maybe you should read my original post again. I do not have pocket real estate to devote to a dedicated game machine. I do carry my phone with me at all times. If both were combined, I would carry that device with me at all times, being able to take advantage of the games when I can.
Plus, this theoretical device would not be mediocre for both uses. The phone part, maybe. You wouldn't call a normal GBA a mediocre game machine, now would you?
The reason you and others are against convergence devices is because there hasn't been a decent one yet.
I know a lot of people on here probably have stuff clipped to their belt and pockets full of gear. That's cool and all but not practical for everyone.
It seems like both of these systems are too big to carry around in a pocket, especially if you're wearing jeans. Also, I don't ride public transportation on the regular. I just don't see where I'm going to play these things, I don't play GBA very often as it is. My free time is at home, and if I'm at home, then I'll probably want to play something with more capabilities than these portable systems.
Nintendo didn't need to make the DS to compete with PSP, they just need to figure out how to stuff cell phone guts in a GBA SP.
I see no incentive to subscribe to something that's being converted from print to digital media. I'd rather subscribe to a website, like IGN. Say what you will about their reviews, but they always have up-to-date news, plenty of pictures and video of the newest games, and there's some actual original content lurking in their Insider section. Plus, for $5.95 a month, it's exactly the same price as that month's EGM or what have you.
Now on the other hand, print trumps digital in a couple areas. For example, coverage from E3. Sure, all the websites have their coverage up as it's happening, but there's soooo much content! I like to buy the EGM or other mag after E3 and be able to leaf through it. When I find something that looks interesting, I can find further details on the web.
Also, it's frustrating when you find a nice site that has infrequent updates. There is a 'zine called Polygon, and while they may not have the most current reviews and previews, their layout and writing style is 'A' material.
Ziff-Davis has the right idea with their website, 1UP. If you check a review for a game, they'll give you the 1Up review, the EGM Review Crew ratings, and possibly the review from Official PS2 or Xbox magazine.
I like gaming sites but print still has intangibles that cannot be replicated on the computer.
I do agree with you about Myst, but your comments about Prince of Persia are misguided. Yes, the fluid animation was good eye candy when it was first released, but it also broke some new ground in gameplay elements.
All of the platform games I can remember before PoP would let you jump instantly from a ledge as long as a couple pixels of your character's feet were still on the ground. PoP changed this by requiring forethought, you would only make a running jump by pressing jump a tile before you actually were going to jump.
PoP spawned its own type of game, the puzzle platformer. Out Of This World, Flashback, Blackthorne. In fact, considering the planned action and trial-and-error gameplay, I would be so bold as to say that PoP is the spiritual ancestor of the modern "stealth" genre.
Things like this just further my suspicion that more and more major label artists are merely puppets for the label. Heavily produced albums, lyrics oriented towards their target demographic, it's all so fake. Not all bands on major labels are bad, admittedly the corporate machine does make some decent tunes here and there.
Independent music seems to have a certain stigma attached to it still, kinda like the generic brand at the grocery. But check some indie stuff out, it's music by people for people.
I'd like to see something along the lines of a MMO Project Gotham Racing/Need For Speed: Underground. Drive around the city, race other players at stoplights and through traffic. Instead of guilds, you could have racing crews and I suspect there could be some intense rivalries.
Midnight Club 2 online was similar to this, but I'd like a persistent world.
I saw a blurb on IGN (I subscribe, sorry for no link) that had stuff about a rumor that ESPN 2K5 will be released at the low, low price of $19.99!
This might work to get the customers that the ESPN franchise needs (the indifferent customer who buys games at Best Buy on a whim). All informed people already know that ESPN is much better than Madden.;)
This could be the start of a new marketing technique, similar to manufacturer rebates. A game company publishes a new franchise that needs to gain a foothold, they price the first of that series at $19.99. When the inevitable sequel comes out, provided the first game did well, they can price it at $49.99 and sell. Or they can price both at $49.99 and also sell. It doesn't matter!
It's great that someone has finally figured out that bringing quirky and fun Japanese games over here is a wise idea. None of these games are going to sell a million units, hell, they probably won't sell 100,000 units but these games will sell.
I'm hoping that even with the cost of localizing text and other aspects of the game, Mastiff is still turning a profit. I've always been a big fan of importing games and I've been worried that the next generation of consoles will be much harder to hack and get imports up and running.
Rez has already been out in North America on PS2. It came out a little over 2 years ago, 4000 or so units were shipped, the game was discontinued.
I managed to drive around and find a copy at a local Gamestop, but I don't think that's possible anymore. It's fetching above retail on eBay, now that was a good investment.:)
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If you want people to take your site seriously (as I see you do by your sig), then I suggest you find an editor/proofreader to check articles before you post them.
All the professors I've had in college so far all require soft copies of assignments in Office format. Grades are lowered or not counted for other formats. You're going to tell me to get the Student Edition of Office for $100 but that seems like appeasement rather than a solution to the problem.
That's exactly what I thought too. I knew that games after DK64 used it, like the high-res mode in Turok. But improved draw distance in Mario 64, that would've been news to me.
Also, even for games that didn't require it, it improved the graphics quality. Mario 64, for example, would use the additional video memory (as would most of the 3D games) to extend the range you could see -- push back the "fog of war."
Please cite an article or link please. I sense some words coming out of your posterior.
I see you've played mapey-spoony before!
I'd like to see some linkage to back up your claims that most plans only come with "like 20 minutes per month." Considering Japan has real a real 3G infrastructure and all that. Seems like voice communication would be pretty simple and cheap to do.
I see you post often so I know you're not a troll. I'll quickly skim over the Xbox Live features (voicechat/friends list/no cheating/etc.) and say this:
What would you say if it was Nintendo Live and not owned by Microsoft? Assume that the pricing and features are the same.
My hopes that Unreal Championship 2 will be a good game are now gone. Microsoft was promoting UC2 in all of its press material and it was going to be a major title for Xbox Live. I figure the game isn't good enough for MS so they surrendered their publishing rights. I'm interested to see what the Xbox-exclusive title is, though.
It still boggles me how Midway could fall so far. Anyone have a link to a Midway timeline, possibly detailing bad management decisions?
I'm having a lot of trouble deciding whether patching console games is a good thing. In fact, I'm sure it totally depends on the developer. Case in point:
Ex. 1) Ninja Gaiden Hurricane Pack. This is awesome. New stuff that makes an already great game better. Some armchair critics will say that this stuff (especially the camera) should have been in the game in the first place. The fact is, even if Team Ninja never released this patch then Ninja Gaiden would still be one of the best games on Xbox.
Ex. 2) NFL 2k5. Bugs that interfere with normal usage are unacceptable. I don't want to get home from EB and find out that my new game crashes if I try to enter the second level with a crossbow equipped. This would be a step closer to PC gaming, of which I want no part of. Except for Doom 3.
That only works because of the style of music that they play. Each song can be quite different each time they perform it because they could jam in a plethora of ways. For the most part, any live versions are going to sound quite different than studio versions.
Let's also not forget the heavy drug use that was rampant at Dead shows. I don't think everyone would be groovin' out to a 20-minute song if the crowd was straight-edge.
The Grateful Dead are the exception, not the rule. I don't see many kids following punk bands around.
Your remote is fucking shitty then.
Each version builds on top of the previous one. I've yet to spend any time with the newest game so I can't say whether it should've been called Tekken 4.5 or not. 6 games in a fighting series (5 Tekkens and Tekken Tag) really isn't that many games, especially since the series started in '95.
I've never paid much attention to it but the Tekken characters have quite a backstory to them, I believe the Tekken anime is fairly popular.
Pretty much any genre of game has sequelitis. People like what they know and don't like what they don't. I think we're hitting "peak Mario" right around now, pretty soon there'll be no more leisure games to put Mario in.
How about giving the client away and only charging for the subscription? I know there are some smaller MMOs that do this. I would've probably tried one of the larger ones by now if I didn't have to give them $50 to start with.
I've found that a lot of the motion sickness on the PC comes from the twitchy input device known as the mouse. Being able to turn 360 degrees in a fraction of a second is kind of disorienting. But then again, that's a primary reason PC gamers love their mouse and pour a big glass of Haterade on console controllers.
I actually legitimately wanted a link or more information!
What's Garden State? A movie about Jersey? :D
Why? Maybe you should read my original post again. I do not have pocket real estate to devote to a dedicated game machine. I do carry my phone with me at all times. If both were combined, I would carry that device with me at all times, being able to take advantage of the games when I can.
Plus, this theoretical device would not be mediocre for both uses. The phone part, maybe. You wouldn't call a normal GBA a mediocre game machine, now would you?
The reason you and others are against convergence devices is because there hasn't been a decent one yet.
I know a lot of people on here probably have stuff clipped to their belt and pockets full of gear. That's cool and all but not practical for everyone.
It seems like both of these systems are too big to carry around in a pocket, especially if you're wearing jeans. Also, I don't ride public transportation on the regular. I just don't see where I'm going to play these things, I don't play GBA very often as it is. My free time is at home, and if I'm at home, then I'll probably want to play something with more capabilities than these portable systems.
Nintendo didn't need to make the DS to compete with PSP, they just need to figure out how to stuff cell phone guts in a GBA SP.
I see no incentive to subscribe to something that's being converted from print to digital media. I'd rather subscribe to a website, like IGN. Say what you will about their reviews, but they always have up-to-date news, plenty of pictures and video of the newest games, and there's some actual original content lurking in their Insider section. Plus, for $5.95 a month, it's exactly the same price as that month's EGM or what have you.
Now on the other hand, print trumps digital in a couple areas. For example, coverage from E3. Sure, all the websites have their coverage up as it's happening, but there's soooo much content! I like to buy the EGM or other mag after E3 and be able to leaf through it. When I find something that looks interesting, I can find further details on the web.
Also, it's frustrating when you find a nice site that has infrequent updates. There is a 'zine called Polygon, and while they may not have the most current reviews and previews, their layout and writing style is 'A' material.
Ziff-Davis has the right idea with their website, 1UP. If you check a review for a game, they'll give you the 1Up review, the EGM Review Crew ratings, and possibly the review from Official PS2 or Xbox magazine.
I like gaming sites but print still has intangibles that cannot be replicated on the computer.
I do agree with you about Myst, but your comments about Prince of Persia are misguided. Yes, the fluid animation was good eye candy when it was first released, but it also broke some new ground in gameplay elements.
All of the platform games I can remember before PoP would let you jump instantly from a ledge as long as a couple pixels of your character's feet were still on the ground. PoP changed this by requiring forethought, you would only make a running jump by pressing jump a tile before you actually were going to jump.
PoP spawned its own type of game, the puzzle platformer. Out Of This World, Flashback, Blackthorne. In fact, considering the planned action and trial-and-error gameplay, I would be so bold as to say that PoP is the spiritual ancestor of the modern "stealth" genre.
Things like this just further my suspicion that more and more major label artists are merely puppets for the label. Heavily produced albums, lyrics oriented towards their target demographic, it's all so fake. Not all bands on major labels are bad, admittedly the corporate machine does make some decent tunes here and there.
Independent music seems to have a certain stigma attached to it still, kinda like the generic brand at the grocery. But check some indie stuff out, it's music by people for people.
I'd like to see something along the lines of a MMO Project Gotham Racing/Need For Speed: Underground. Drive around the city, race other players at stoplights and through traffic. Instead of guilds, you could have racing crews and I suspect there could be some intense rivalries.
Midnight Club 2 online was similar to this, but I'd like a persistent world.
I saw a blurb on IGN (I subscribe, sorry for no link) that had stuff about a rumor that ESPN 2K5 will be released at the low, low price of $19.99!
;)
This might work to get the customers that the ESPN franchise needs (the indifferent customer who buys games at Best Buy on a whim). All informed people already know that ESPN is much better than Madden.
This could be the start of a new marketing technique, similar to manufacturer rebates. A game company publishes a new franchise that needs to gain a foothold, they price the first of that series at $19.99. When the inevitable sequel comes out, provided the first game did well, they can price it at $49.99 and sell. Or they can price both at $49.99 and also sell. It doesn't matter!
...'Play Jap.'
It's great that someone has finally figured out that bringing quirky and fun Japanese games over here is a wise idea. None of these games are going to sell a million units, hell, they probably won't sell 100,000 units but these games will sell.
I'm hoping that even with the cost of localizing text and other aspects of the game, Mastiff is still turning a profit. I've always been a big fan of importing games and I've been worried that the next generation of consoles will be much harder to hack and get imports up and running.
Rez has already been out in North America on PS2. It came out a little over 2 years ago, 4000 or so units were shipped, the game was discontinued.
:)
I managed to drive around and find a copy at a local Gamestop, but I don't think that's possible anymore. It's fetching above retail on eBay, now that was a good investment.