It seems like a lot of the "crazy game ideas" (like, oh... dating sims) are largely staying in Japan these days, and the few that come over here (like Ka [aka Mister Mosquito], Gitaroo Man, the Jet Set Radio series, etc.) linger in obscurity. I wonder how Wario Ware is doing in US sales...?
Of course, there are a few publishers in the US willing to do offbeat games, but for some reason, Japan seems to have more of them. Games are too expensive to make these days, so not too many publishers will take risks.
First off, the XHifi speakers look as boss in real life as they do in the picture:D
This was my first Macworld (and probably not my last), and I had fun, as did the Linux-geek-who-loves-OSX that I went with. I was kind of disappointed that Adobe didn't have a booth of their own (nor a beta of After Effects 6.0), but it was cool enough just to mess around with huge Photoshop files on a G5... my God those things are fast (and they're also really quiet!). Also, to see Expose in action was really something... it makes all those screenshots I've seen previously all that more believable.
Oh, and the presentation by Fischerspooner was fun... I think they may have a new fan here ^_^
One of the Democrats running for President in 2004 is Bob Graham, a lifelong politician who's never lost an election-- and this is in a predominantely Republican state! Seeing as how Florida is a swing state, and that Graham is in the race, the GOP's going to take as much control as they can...
That's a good point. I got my first big break (in broadcast animation, not games... though I would like to work in the latter someday) due to a film I made, not because of some presentation package. I didn't even have to submit a demo reel or portfolio.
That's a good point. I got my first big break (in broadcast animation, not games... though I would like to work in the latter someday) due to a film I made, not because of some presentation package. I didn't even have to submit a demo reel or portfolio.
FF6 was the first RPG I played where I kept the default names (probably because of the sheer number of characters...) but the all-caps defaults got on my nerves.
I've seen this topic on Final Fantasy messageboards constantly, and it's always interesting to see what people name their characters. Many of the guys name the hero after themselves, and the heroine after their girlfriend or a girl they like. FF7 is a peculiar case in that there are two heroines, thus the classic Aeris or Tifa favoritism comes into play... many players choose one of the other to attach a real girl's name to, while the other gets the name of a hated younger sister, annoying girl, or just the typical offensive word like "Bitch" or "Boobs" (I gave Rinoa in FF8 such a name-- "Skinny". I really can't stand that skank). Thus when *spoiler*
...
...
Aeris dies, it's truly a sad event, as the player (if they've chosen Aeris as their fave) has become attached to the character, and they're stuck with Tifa "Boobs" Lockheart.
As for what I name my own characters, for the heroes, I usually give them some sort of amusing name based on the first impression they created on me (Cloud=Cool Guy, Squall=Scar, Zidane=Monkey, Tidus=Riptide, etc.). The others usually don't fare much better.
The article does touch on a point which concerns me to some degree-- the trend of some recent RPGs (like FFX and Xenosaga) to restrict or flat-out not allow character renaming. I kind of dislike this, as it tends to distance the player from the character that much more (not that this hurts Xenosaga-- the cutscenes alone do enough damage on the games interactivity). I suppose with voiceovers, there's really no way to get around it (though FFX did a nice bit of trickery with avoiding Tidus' name in the dialogue)... but still, I miss that personal touch.
I second that! Gaffer's tape kicks duct tape's ass, but not too many people outside of showbiz know about it (I got my first exposure to the stuff in film class).
Um, I'm one of those "lamer" animators who happens to use 2D tools. Obviously you didn't read the article carefully enough:
Many of the characters in Sinbad were first drawn by hand and then integrated into the 3-D computer-created background scenes.
The fact is that most animated TV shows (and a good amount of animated feature films) are still hand drawn. Additionally, many computer generated TV shows use 2D tools like (and recycle elements created in) Photoshop, Painter, Flash, and After Effects. 3D is another tool, sure, but it hasn't completely replaced 2D animation. The death of 2D is greatly exaggerated.
Another great store in NYC for manga is Asashiya-- they're on Vanderbilt Ave. directly across from Grand Central Station. It doesn't cater to otaku as thoroughly as Kinokuniya does, but their selection of manga is vast and reasonably priced.
Also, I wouldn't say that Book-Off is "right around the corner" from Kinokuniya... more like six blocks from them ^_^ Book-Off's on 41st Street, across from the New York Public Library; Kinokuniya's near Rockefeller Center.
I've bought two MS Intellimice (one for the Mac at work, and the other for the Mac at home) and they both work great (I've had the work mouse for about a year now). The current line of Logitech optical mice are too expensive-- you get the same functionality out of them as you do with a less-expensive Microsoft optical mouse.
Good point. Dell's service and support is unbeatable-- and I hear Apple's is just as good. That's part of what you pay for when you buy either a Dell or a Mac.
Actually, Adobe releases new versions of all their graphics software (Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, etc.) for the Mac and PC simultaneously. Imagine the uproar it would cause in the graphics and animation communities if they had to wait an extra six months for the Mac version of an Adobe product:P
How does this affect Mac OS' actual market share... numbers-wise, not ranking-wise? Will this cut into their 5% (or whatever), or will it cut into Windows'? If it's the latter, I don't think Apple has much to worry about...
more Flash pages viewed (yes, Flash 6 is supported on Linux!)
I think the parent post was referring to the program Flash, not the Flash Player.
Incidentally, most of the software I use is graphics and animation apps like Flash, Photoshop, After Effects, etc.-- which is why I stick to Mac OS and Windows. Sure, these apps can be run in Linux via emulation programs, but why would the average desktop user want to go through all that trouble?
I liked ICO as well (and boy was it frustrating at times!). The only thing it really had going against it was that it was too short; otherwise, it was great.
I would love to see a sequel, but I can't really see it happening.
The Final Fantasy VII remake/sequel rumors have been circulating on the 'net for years. They've become so ingrained into Final Fantasy fandom that recently, the webmaster of the FF7 Citadel placed a whole "sequels" page in the site's rumor section (which otherwise covers rumors on hidden items and such in the game itself).
Yoshinori Kitase is right: it would be a big gamble for Square if they attempted a sequel to FF7, as the numerous fans of the game would be extra critical of such a game. I, for one, wouldn't want to see a sequel... there's no real need for one.
The Japanese aren't having all the fun;) The NYC Pokemon Center store (somewhere between the Jewelry District and Rockefeller Center) sells their own limited-edition GBA which is Pikachu and Pichu themed.
Jim Mahfood'sGrrl Scouts might make a helluva good action game, and Jeff Smith's Bone would be a good RPG... I'd also love to see a game based on one of Paul Pope's comics...
A couple other posters mentioned Johnny the Homocidal Maniac and Flaming Carrot... I second 'em both ^_^
Microserfs by Douglas Coupland is a good summer book, and quite geeky; it follows the adventures of a bunch of Microsoft employees, circa 1992, as they leave the company to form a small startup. It's funny, heartwarming, and chock-full of pop culture references:)
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami; some of his other books have been reviewed on Slashdot before. Not quite geeky, not quite sci-fi (technically, it's magical realism), but still pretty mind-bending stuff. It's about a guy who loses his cat, then his wife, and all the people and events that happen to him inbetween.
If graphic novels are kosher, then how about High Society by Dave Sim? This is the second Cerebus graphic novel, and arguably one of the best; it centers on Cerebus' run for Prime Minister. In a similar vein, I'd recommend the Bone series by Jeff Smith.
Slashdot Mirror
Of course, there are a few publishers in the US willing to do offbeat games, but for some reason, Japan seems to have more of them. Games are too expensive to make these days, so not too many publishers will take risks.
This was my first Macworld (and probably not my last), and I had fun, as did the Linux-geek-who-loves-OSX that I went with. I was kind of disappointed that Adobe didn't have a booth of their own (nor a beta of After Effects 6.0), but it was cool enough just to mess around with huge Photoshop files on a G5... my God those things are fast (and they're also really quiet!). Also, to see Expose in action was really something... it makes all those screenshots I've seen previously all that more believable.
Oh, and the presentation by Fischerspooner was fun... I think they may have a new fan here ^_^
One of the Democrats running for President in 2004 is Bob Graham, a lifelong politician who's never lost an election-- and this is in a predominantely Republican state! Seeing as how Florida is a swing state, and that Graham is in the race, the GOP's going to take as much control as they can...
(shakes fist at Mozilla tabs)
That's a good point. I got my first big break (in broadcast animation, not games... though I would like to work in the latter someday) due to a film I made, not because of some presentation package. I didn't even have to submit a demo reel or portfolio.
That's a good point. I got my first big break (in broadcast animation, not games... though I would like to work in the latter someday) due to a film I made, not because of some presentation package. I didn't even have to submit a demo reel or portfolio.
FF6 was the first RPG I played where I kept the default names (probably because of the sheer number of characters...) but the all-caps defaults got on my nerves.
...
...
Aeris dies, it's truly a sad event, as the player (if they've chosen Aeris as their fave) has become attached to the character, and they're stuck with Tifa "Boobs" Lockheart.
As for what I name my own characters, for the heroes, I usually give them some sort of amusing name based on the first impression they created on me (Cloud=Cool Guy, Squall=Scar, Zidane=Monkey, Tidus=Riptide, etc.). The others usually don't fare much better.
The article does touch on a point which concerns me to some degree-- the trend of some recent RPGs (like FFX and Xenosaga) to restrict or flat-out not allow character renaming. I kind of dislike this, as it tends to distance the player from the character that much more (not that this hurts Xenosaga-- the cutscenes alone do enough damage on the games interactivity). I suppose with voiceovers, there's really no way to get around it (though FFX did a nice bit of trickery with avoiding Tidus' name in the dialogue)... but still, I miss that personal touch.
I'm one, but I'm taken ;)
I second that! Gaffer's tape kicks duct tape's ass, but not too many people outside of showbiz know about it (I got my first exposure to the stuff in film class).
Many of the characters in Sinbad were first drawn by hand and then integrated into the 3-D computer-created background scenes.
The fact is that most animated TV shows (and a good amount of animated feature films) are still hand drawn. Additionally, many computer generated TV shows use 2D tools like (and recycle elements created in) Photoshop, Painter, Flash, and After Effects. 3D is another tool, sure, but it hasn't completely replaced 2D animation. The death of 2D is greatly exaggerated.
Also, I wouldn't say that Book-Off is "right around the corner" from Kinokuniya... more like six blocks from them ^_^ Book-Off's on 41st Street, across from the New York Public Library; Kinokuniya's near Rockefeller Center.
Lots of Mac users are artists! There's your loopiness factor right there ;)
I've bought two MS Intellimice (one for the Mac at work, and the other for the Mac at home) and they both work great (I've had the work mouse for about a year now). The current line of Logitech optical mice are too expensive-- you get the same functionality out of them as you do with a less-expensive Microsoft optical mouse.
Good point. Dell's service and support is unbeatable-- and I hear Apple's is just as good. That's part of what you pay for when you buy either a Dell or a Mac.
Actually, Adobe releases new versions of all their graphics software (Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, etc.) for the Mac and PC simultaneously. Imagine the uproar it would cause in the graphics and animation communities if they had to wait an extra six months for the Mac version of an Adobe product :P
How does this affect Mac OS' actual market share... numbers-wise, not ranking-wise? Will this cut into their 5% (or whatever), or will it cut into Windows'? If it's the latter, I don't think Apple has much to worry about...
I think the parent post was referring to the program Flash, not the Flash Player.
Incidentally, most of the software I use is graphics and animation apps like Flash, Photoshop, After Effects, etc.-- which is why I stick to Mac OS and Windows. Sure, these apps can be run in Linux via emulation programs, but why would the average desktop user want to go through all that trouble?
I would love to see a sequel, but I can't really see it happening.
Yoshinori Kitase is right: it would be a big gamble for Square if they attempted a sequel to FF7, as the numerous fans of the game would be extra critical of such a game. I, for one, wouldn't want to see a sequel... there's no real need for one.
The Japanese aren't having all the fun ;) The NYC Pokemon Center store (somewhere between the Jewelry District and Rockefeller Center) sells their own limited-edition GBA which is Pikachu and Pichu themed.
A couple other posters mentioned Johnny the Homocidal Maniac and Flaming Carrot... I second 'em both ^_^
Guess it does :)
Well, uhh... that's why there's MTV2... MTV like it used to be!
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami; some of his other books have been reviewed on Slashdot before. Not quite geeky, not quite sci-fi (technically, it's magical realism), but still pretty mind-bending stuff. It's about a guy who loses his cat, then his wife, and all the people and events that happen to him inbetween.
If graphic novels are kosher, then how about High Society by Dave Sim? This is the second Cerebus graphic novel, and arguably one of the best; it centers on Cerebus' run for Prime Minister. In a similar vein, I'd recommend the Bone series by Jeff Smith.