Lets get ready to RAMBLE!

[Porn & Sauerkraut]

Sean: OK, I'm turning this into a RAMBLE thread, as you will see in a post further down in this thread.

You know the drill, I think. :)

So, I wake up yesterday morning to play my usual daily fix of Final Fantasy VII on my pre-owned guaranteed used PS2. I know it's guaranteed because I paid an extra eleven bucks at EB to prove it. Anyway, I decide to start a new game, so I need to switch discs...the drive is jammed.

Won't open. This is the same thing that happened to me the first time I got a used PS2 from them (Christmas) and I had to wait a month before I could get it replaced. I didn't feel like waiting a month for someone to trade-in a broken PS2. So I just packaged all of the PS2 shit I bought from them up and took it in, hoping to get a cash refund thanks to the additional insurance I purchased from them, since the salesman told Mom (who bought it as a gift for me) we could do so. Stupid EB bastards give me a $150 gift card and that's it. Motherfuckers.

So, while walking around the mall trying to figure out who I should try and sell the gift card to, I get a bright idea. I walk back in. A sign glares at me from the window: "Pre-owned X-Boxes: $99. Valid 3/10/05 to 3/31/05." SCORE! Nope...they're actually $129. Something about the difference between used and pre-owned. So I leave again, swearing I will never walk into an EB again.

Ten minutes later I go in, grab a brand new cobalt blue Game Boy Advance SP. They were out of DS's (suprised?) and PSP's were going for $250. I searched through the used and new games looking for something good. What did I find? Twenty-eight used copies of Megaman Battle Network, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. I grabbed the two latter and maxed the gift card out. (And yes, I bought the additional insurance.)

So, in sum, I've deduced that Sony still can't make a machine that runs more than a year, Nintendo is still #1, and EB is evil. Now all I need to figure out is which cheap used GBA games to score next, like Super Mario World. And if they remake Final Fantasy III or Earthbound for this thing, I'll be in heaven.

[Reech]

I was gonna post and say 'we have a technical questions thread for this kinda stuff', then I re-read your post and you're not making a point about fixing the faulty PS2.

Nor a really valid point for Sony is Bad, Ninty is Great debate (for which we already have threads).

So, I wonder, what WAS the point of this thread dude?

[Hobbit]

Ok, but couldn't you have used the gift card on games instead?

Once again, the PC rules over all.

Edit- oh and Reech and me for mods of this place :yes:

[Porn & Sauerkraut]

I was gonna post and say 'we have a technical questions thread for this kinda stuff', then I re-read your post and you're not making a point about fixing the faulty PS2.

Nor a really valid point for Sony is Bad, Ninty is Great debate (for which we already have threads).

So, I wonder, what WAS the point of this thread dude?


I don't really think there was one, other than being lambasted for trading a PS2 in for a GBA. Or suggestions on what games to pick up next, as I paid no attention to the GBA hype.

And if my CD-ROM drive worked, I'd have just bought The Sims and MTV Music Generator.

[Sean]

Sony can run a machine that works for longer than a year, because my Playstation 1 still works and I've had my playstation 2 for about 5 years (not sure exactly how long)

This doesn't really warrant a thread in my opinion.

A ramble thread might be an idea. :chin:

Meh, I'll give it time to see if any debate kicks off in here.

[Nicky]

Edit- oh and Reech and me for mods of this place :yes:


Hobbit and Reech for mods!

[Sean]

Hobbit and Reech for mods!
What do you know about modding this place? :p

[Nicky]

Everything you know and more :cool:

[Hobbit]

Sean's actually not too shit, better than Vasey. Is Vasey still alive?

[Reech]

I don't really think there was one, other than being lambasted for trading a PS2 in for a GBA. Or suggestions on what games to pick up next, as I paid no attention to the GBA hype.

And if my CD-ROM drive worked, I'd have just bought The Sims and MTV Music Generator.

I enjoy my GBA (when I actually use it).

Get Golden Sun (Very like Final Fantasy) very good game :yes:
Zelda is always good on the GBA too (Minish Cap)

Plus, theres the Advance War esque games:

Advance Wars 1/2
Final Fantasy Tactics
Fire Emblem

etc


There is some gems to be found in the GBA section :yes:



Vasey hasn't posted since something like November.

[Sean]

Right, I'm gonna create a ramble thread.

[Sean]

Quality title, I know. :cool: And yes, I did think of it myself.

Another thread on a trial basis, you know the drill with these threads.

I guess I'll start.

Sony > Nintendo.
Sonic > Mario
GTA > *
Pro Evo > FIFA
FM2005 > LMA Manager

[Reech]

You spent 20 minutes coming up with that, didn't you?

[Sean]

Nah I didn't.

I was just gonna call it the VG Ramble Thread, but then I had this great idea.

I was even considering turning P&S' thread into the Ramble thread, but I wanted the GLORY of starting this one. ;)

Stay on topic! :squint:

[Hobbit]

You should merge P&S's 'thread' into this one, you know, make it look a bit tidier and all.

[Sean]

Why not?

Lets go crazy.

[Hobbit]

:eek:

[Ozanne]

MGS3 = Greatness!

[Sean]

Done and Done.

[Hobbit]

Lovely.

I await RockyAndTrishRule's arguments.

[The Great Dave]

Quality title, I know. :cool: And yes, I did think of it myself.

Another thread on a trial basis, you know the drill with these threads.

I guess I'll start.

Sony > Nintendo.
Sonic > Mario


How can Sony be better than Nintendo? They just make poor hardware. Playstation 2's software may be > than Gamecube's, but as a company Sony aren't greater than anybody.

And I'm not even touching that Sonic comment ;)

Anyways, speaking of Gameboy Advance, I spent a lot of time last night on my SP. After leaving my DS in my car and being too lazy to go and get it, I couldn't get my usual fix of Wario Ware. So instead I spent my time unable to sleep playing Metroid, Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Bubble Bobble and A Link to the Past. And it occured to me; "this may well be the last console with such strong 2D titles". Though the DS seems to be keeping the scene alive with good looking titles like Yoshi's T&G and the new Mario Bros. game, we're getting closer and closer to the day when 2D is just unprofitable. Ever since some company decided to come in and decide that handhold games were going to be exactly the same as home console games, the emphasis on 3D in the handhold area has been sickeningly strong. And it's only going to get worse as GTA5, Ridge Racer 3 and Tekken 8 come out. I remember the days when the idea of a new 2D Zelda game would get people excited. Now, Minish Cap comes out and recieves some critical praise and barely no response from Johnny C. Playstation.

So, at this time, I would like to say a prayer for 2D. Let us rise up and support pixel spirits on our handhold, and hell, even home, consoles.

[Stan Hibbert]

That's why I'm currently fooling myself into thinking that the GBA can last through the PSP era of handhelds.

I used to like Sonic and Mario in equal measures, but Sonic's 3D games are just terrible.

[JIJ]

Sonic > Mario

[JIJ]

Alex Mack > Zelda

[The Great Dave]

I liked Sonic 1 and 2. After that...meh. I don't think you can compare something like Mario to Sonic. Apart from the fact they were the "big games" for Sega and Nintendo, they're not very similar.

[Stan Hibbert]

I had (and loved) Sonic 1 and 2 (Master System), and 1, 2, 3 & Knuckles for the Mega Drive. The rest are shit, although Sonic CD's probably good, but I never had it, and those cunts Sega never included it on the Sonic Mega Collection disk. :(

As for Mario, I've loved pretty-much every platform game he's starred in apart from Sunshine, which was just "good."

[The Great Dave]

To be fair to Sonic, I did own Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 on the Dreamcast, and got a reasonable amount of fun out of the second game. And I play the GBA games. They're just not something I really feel that strongly about. They're "OK".

That said, if they release a 2D Sonic for home consoles, with JUST Sonic in, I'd go apeshit. In a nice way.

Sunshine needed better art design. Seriously. It was a joy to control, but the whole setting of the game was just so bland. Beach after beach after beach.

[Ozanne]

Always preferred Mario to Sonic, never known why...

[darkhorse]

Always preferred Mario to Sonic, never known why...
It was the mushrooms, wasn't it? :p

[Ozanne]

And that damn hunky Mario, I loved his tash

[darkhorse]

Princess Toadstool always got me hard.

[Jimini]

I was a Sega kid and now a Sony guy, so it was always Sonic over Mario.

I'd probably rather go back and play Mario now, rather than Sonic... I never completed any Mario games :( (Except Mario Kart 64)

[Sean]

Princess Toadstool always got me hard.
What the...

[Jennie Bomb]

Sensible Soccer > Pro Evo, because fun and entertainment are more important than realism. Sensible Soccer is that kind of game that's so good, it made me come up with backgrounds for all the Custom teams..

[Sean]

Melv reminded me of a great game:

Ultimate Soccer Manager

*offers bribe to manager*

:cool:

[Melv]

I'm going to play that now, I reckon.

[Sean]

I just played Sonic 2, and within about 30 mins, I had made it to the Metropolis Zone, I died there though. :(

[Melv]

DAMN USM and it's crash to desktop bugs. :(

[Sean]

Get back on MSN! :mad:

[Ozanne]

Unblock me dammit Melv.

After seeing an offer in GAME I found out I can get GT4 for a quid! woooooo

[Reech]

Trade in any 4 games aslong as they aren't Wrestling/Football games?

Man, I quit 3 months ago and I still seem to know their offers off the top of my head :$

[Jimini]

That's the one.
It was on for San Andreas and some guy walked in at the midnight thing and bought four second hand for like a fiver and instantly traded them in for San Andreas :D

[Melv]

Ozanne, You're not blocked :wtf:

[Got Dave?]

I just played Sonic 2, and within about 30 mins, I had made it to the Metropolis Zone, I died there though. :(

That levels a bitch, i used to hate Aquatic Ruins aswell..

I remember the days when i used to complete all the sonics, alex kidd etc in one sitting. Good Days :)

[Reech]

That's the one.
It was on for San Andreas and some guy walked in at the midnight thing and bought four second hand for like a fiver and instantly traded them in for San Andreas :D

Stupid staff members.

Soon as we found out about any 'Trade 4 game' deals we took off anything under £8 off the shelves so we didn't lose that much money.

Although we did keep all the really cheap stuff for ourselves :D

[Sean]

Stupid staff members.

Soon as we found out about any 'Trade 4 game' deals we took off anything under £8 off the shelves so we didn't lose that much money.

Although we did keep all the really cheap stuff for ourselves :D

I noticed that during the GTA: SA promotion.

I took advantage of the promotion, although they nearly didn't sell it to me when I had no proof of age. :happysad:

If I'd been refused then, I'd have killed someone.

[Jenova]

I always have my sister tell me when the deals on games happens since she works for Best Buy. I remember buying Madden 2005 and NFSU 2 for $29.99.

They also had a big goof up during Christmas when they were supposed to price Halo in their system for $19.99 but instead priced Halo 2. A lot of Xbox supports were jamming up the store to get their copy. I feel sorry for the employees when PSP hits the stores.

[MyMortisha]

I feel sorry for anyone who has to go out and get a PSP at stores. I'm sitting here in the comfort of my own home playing my import PSP. I feel so special....

[Jenova]

My sister's store is only getting 30 units. So I reckon there will be a lot of eye gouging, fist fights and such and such just to get one.

I think I heard her say she had to be there at about 4 in the morning because the customers will starting lining up at about 5.

[Mandrag Ganon]

Is it really that clever unleashing the newest handhelds on the market a few months after having more designs for the GBA?

I would've thought that USA wise, the DS wouldn't be seen until the summer of 2005 at the earliest, yet having bought the Zelda edition of the GBA SP with the Minish Cap, I come to the States after the end of the break, and I find out that the DS is ready for sale. That of course, pisses me of a bit, but I had no plans to buy a DS on its first day of release anyway.

Unless something really forces me to buy a DS (anything Zelda, I know), then I think I won't be missing out on too much, I reckon.

[TapOut]

Usually, when a system comes out, I'm not compelled to buy it until a good six months after it's release, at which time there are usual at least two or three must-have games for it.

However, next week, I'm sacrificing my bill money for a PSP: the fact that it can also be used for movies, mp3's, videos, pics, and games all in one is really what I need. After all, it may not be a hard-disc based machine that stores shitloads of media like some 500 dollar machines are, but heck, your getting a media center with built-in wifi and what is basically a portable ps2. Awesome.

[Reech]

I just don't see the point in my trading in my entire 250+ dvd collection into buying the same movies on a format just to watch in a PSP.

I'd never dare watch a movie on the move, too many thieves around to be fair. I'd be robbed before the starting credits have finished loading.

[JIJ]

I was on a train once and this guy was watching Bad Boys II on his laptop in front of me.

[The Great Dave]

Usually, when a system comes out, I'm not compelled to buy it until a good six months after it's release, at which time there are usual at least two or three must-have games for it.

However, next week, I'm sacrificing my bill money for a PSP: the fact that it can also be used for movies, mp3's, videos, pics, and games all in one is really what I need. After all, it may not be a hard-disc based machine that stores shitloads of media like some 500 dollar machines are, but heck, your getting a media center with built-in wifi and what is basically a portable ps2. Awesome.

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=246&products_id=6239&

:dunno: What's the big deal? You can watch movies on a Gameboy Advance. And whenever that thing launches in the US it'll probably be around < $50 or so.

[The_Mike]

I was on a train once and this guy was watching Bad Boys II on his laptop in front of me.

I always watch stuff on my laptop, usually around uni, to kill time between classes. Has been known for me to watch the last Mick Foley DVD on the bus home.

Ah, might as well have a bit of a ramble while I'm here: I HATE GRAPHICS.

Nah, not quite, but what someone was saying back on page 1 about the death of 2D games is something I'd have to agree with. Not just because 2D can be beautiful and imaginative and stylish (while 3D often looks just drab and grey), but because I'm sick of the huge acceleration the games market has been in with terms to expected levels of hardware. Bloody nightmare trying to get a game to work on your 3D card sometimes. With 2D you at least usually know where you stand.

[The Great Dave]

Graphics are over rated. Yoshi's Island still looks better than a shitload of games that come out today. Real life is boring.

[The_Mike]

Quite right, Dave. While something like Half-Life 2 may be cool because you get to throw things (and people) around in a realistic environment, I still find 2D graphics to be much more enchanting and rewarding. 3D isn't bad, at least not all of the time, but the games I remember most fondly could be downloaded in less time than it takes to load them these days. I just hate the bulk and blahness of 3D stuff today, and how sloppy and lazy developers have become because of everyone buying into the "must upgrade, must upgrade!" culture of computing.

[Melv]

I agree with that to an extent, but in all honesty, if a game looks like shit, it's very difficult to play, regardless of the gameplay.

[Stan Hibbert]

Shit graphics are more evident on a 3D console. 2D games with bland graphics can at least look tidy.

[GeezaTap]

2D Games are usually more challenging.

Level 1 of that Stinkoman game was more challenging than most of Super Mario 64.

Throwing in a dodgy camera in places is not a good way to raise difficulty!

Not to throw fuel on your 2D/3D fire or anything.

Graphics are only important in some genres - survival horror needs good graphics. Ever play Clock Tower 1? The tension is non-existant as some wee grey blob is chasing you with a massive pair of novelty shears.

[Melv]

I was never a fan of the 2D games much, especially the side-scroller platformers like Sonic and Mario. It just seemed boring to have your character jump onto things.

[The_Mike]

2D Games are usually more challenging.

Level 1 of that Stinkoman game was more challenging than most of Super Mario 64.

Throwing in a dodgy camera in places is not a good way to raise difficulty!

Not to throw fuel on your 2D/3D fire or anything.

Graphics are only important in some genres - survival horror needs good graphics. Ever play Clock Tower 1? The tension is non-existant as some wee grey blob is chasing you with a massive pair of novelty shears.

All good points. That's another annoying thing about 3D, if the camera moves it can knock off your movement or get stuck behind scenery or something and you get killed. At least in 2D you always get to see it how it was intended.

But, like you say, some genres certainly require at least believable graphics. Survival Horror and anything that's supposed to be scary would need it (though I do find the ghost train in FFVI to be rather freaky), and I'd say sports/racing games usually do better with decent graphics. Sensible Soccer was fun, but there's no depth, literally, compared to something like Pro Evo.

[Melv]

Sensible soccer was great BECAUSE of the simple-ness of it.

[Jimini]

Sensible Soccer is still the greatest football game ever.

[Melv]

ISS '98 just beats it, for me.

[The_Mike]

Did anyone see their guys chest the ball in Sensible Soccer? I read the developers said that they never animated that, and in fact barely animated anything, yet so many people's imaginations made them see so much more.

[GeezaTap]

Sensible Soccer is still the greatest football game ever.

I remember i had a pirate copy of the edition of Sensi where you could be a manager as well as a player, and all you had to do was to press 'm' for another million pounds.

Fun times. :devil:

Sensible Soccer was just a rip/evolution of Kick-Off, if we're going to be really retro and anal about it.

Fantastic game tho.

[Porn & Sauerkraut]

Update to my first post...

I'm at the final castle in Mario & Luigi. GOD DAMN. What a game. The storyline is G-rated and childish, yet has enough plot twists and suprises to keep anyone hooked. And the gameplay is fun as hell. My only real problem with the game is that sometimes the puzzles and the action segments can be so fucking difficult. I've already put two holes in the wall over the game. (Yes, I'm one of those violent gamers.)

As for SMA4...any old NES or SNES freak knows how great SMB3 is, so we don't need to go into that. I just wish I was good enough to get into the fabled White Mushroom houses...or the Coin Ship.

[Sean]

My PS2 is getting Disc Read Error's all the time again.

Gonna give it a disc clean tomorrow I reckon.

Also, I'll probably de-sticky this thread this week unless there's some drastic turnaround as it seems a bit of a flop.

[Chris]

A few random rambles:

There's a sequel to Star Wars Battlefront on the way, supposedly allowing you to be a Jedi in some levels and the gameplay is said to be based more on objectives rather than capturing bases. Sounds good. I just hope they get a proper command system for your team this time. You tell your troops to hold position, and after about 5 seconds, they run around the corner straight into the barrage of enemy fire. Still, I love the game.

Also, my little cousin helped to show me just how fun Timesplitters 2 really is. It had been on my shelf for months, after I was disappointed with the single player mode and got tired of doing deathmatches. But we spent the whole afternoon, on Easter sunday, going through the Arcade League challenges, unlocking new maps and characters. The challenges are really addicitve, even if you keep losing every time.

[The Great Dave]

TOKYO, April 6 (Reuters) - Japanese videogame maker Nintendo Co. Ltd. (7974.OS: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday raised its net profit estimate by 17 percent on foreign exchange gains and said it would nearly double its dividend for the year just ended.

Nintendo, known for game characters such as Mario, Donkey Kong and Pokemon, said it would pay a record 270 yen per share because it now expected to post a net profit of 82 billion yen ($757.4 million) in the year ended in March, compared with its previous forecast of 70 billion yen.

Analysts' on average expect the company to report a net profit of 72.4 billion yen, according to a poll of 16 analysts by Reuters Estimates.

The dividend news, which was first reported by the Nihon Keizai newspaper in the early afternoon, boosted Nintendo's shares, which closed up 3.6 percent at 12,250 yen on the Osaka Stock Exchange. The stock outperformed Japan's Nikkei average , which closed up 0.5 percent.

Nintendo's latest forecast gives it a dividend yield of 2.2 percent, higher than Sony Corp.'s (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) expected 0.6 percent and Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) expected 1.3 percent yield. Sony and Microsoft both make game products that compete with Nintendo's GameCube consoles and DS portable machines.

The game console maker, which held 780 billion yen in cash and deposits as of December, said it generated foreign exchange gains on dollar-denominated assets in the 2004/05 year due to the yen's fall against the dollar.


Yes, I agree with the common consensus. Nintendo NEED to go third party, or they're gonna die :rolleyes:

While I'm here, I just ordered ELECTROPLANKTON (http://electroplankton.com/) for the DS (Importing from Japan, because I'm inpatient/unsure it'll get a western release because it doesn't have Madden in it). From what I can see, "games" like that are the reason Nintendo should be making a shitload of money. The game looks pretty damn unique, and is something I'd much rather carry around in my pocket than...Wipeout, or Tony Hawk's Underground.

[Reech]

I NEARLY bought a DS yesterday, but Game had sold out.

Bought Brothers In Arms, Timesplitters 3, Goldeneye, and DOA: Ultimate instead.

[Stan Hibbert]

Electro Plankton looks more like an add-on toy to mess around with than an actual game. Not really my cup of tea.

[The Great Dave]

Electro Plankton looks more like an add-on toy to mess around with than an actual game. Not really my cup of tea.

That's pretty much why I want it. I didn't buy a DS to play N64 games really. The demonstration att he GDC sold me on it, it just looked like a lot of fun. I like the idea of making music while having no talent whats so ever.

Plus, look at this packaging (http://www.tokyopia.com/deluxe/electro.jpg)

I can't resist the allure of shinyness, and some free headphones :dork: I was pissed off I didn't get those headphones when I ordered Daigasso! Band Brothers, I've pre-ordered Electroplankton just to make sure I get the first shipment.

Oh, and I just read that Capcom have confirmed "Viewtiful Joe VFX Battle" for Gamecube (and PS2, I'd assume) for later this year, and "Viewtiful Joe Scratch!" for the DS. :hyper: You all should love the Joe.

[Stan Hibbert]

If it gets a Euro release at a cut-down price I may buy it. Wouldn't spend 30 notes on something like that though.

I haven't touched my DS (pun?) for weeks. I wish they'd hurry up and confirm some release dates for decent games like Mario Kart and Final Fantasy. At the moment for me it's Yoshi's Touch and Go next month and then just a void.

[The Great Dave]

I'm getting Yoshi's T&G, Touch Kirby, Electroplankton, Meteos and Pac Pix in the next month or so. Plus Wario Ware: Twisted, even if it's a GBA game. I literally have more games to buy than I can afford :dunno:

I think all that will see me through to...just past E3 probably. And at E3, there will probably be more stuff announced. Like an Animal Crossing release date, PLEASE.

That said, I'm importing a lot of stuff. The game library needs to be improved in the US and Europe.

[Stan Hibbert]

Meteos? Is that out in the UK soon then, or are you importing?

I really should be more excited about online Animal Crossing, but what's the game got that really reels you in? As far as I know there's no battling, so is it basically just living in a virtual world doing "everyday" things? :\

I'm hoping Squenix are at E3 ready to reveal online plans for Crystal Chronicles. Or Konami dishing-out an N64-standard ISS game (not the average PS2 and GC-style ones).

[The Great Dave]

April 6, 2005 - According to the latest issue of the popular Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu, Capcom is currently developing a brand new Viewtiful Joe title for the PlayStation 2. Known as Viewtiful Joe: VFX Battle, the mysterious new follow-up isn't a proper sequel to the popular action series, but rather a open-ended fighting game not unlike Super Smash Bros and Digimon Rumble Arena.



Unfortunately no other details about the game are currently known other than the fact that the game will definitely come out in Japan later this year. But in an interesting aside to this story, Famitsu lists VFX Battle as a PS2-exclusive with no indication that Joe would be coming to the system that spawned him, the Nintendo GameCube.

Will Viewtiful Joe: VFX Battle stay a PS2 exclusive, or was the lack of a GameCube mention nothing more than oversight? And furthermore, when can we expect an official announcement from Capcom altogether? Stay tuned to IGN for the answers as they become available.

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: God, that better just be a fuck up. Joe sold shitloads better on the Cube, and I don't wanna have to buy a PS2! I made it 5 fucking years without buying one!!

That said, a beat-em-up? That's disappointing in itself. They must be saving the "last" Joe game (it's a trilogy after all) for next-gen systems.

*cough* Um...Meteos is out in the US soonish, it'll probably be a few months before it's in the UK. I usually import from America too, seeing as there's no difference in language or price (I can buy a DS game from Lik-Sang for £25). And Animal Crossing is just so addictive. I just couldn't stop playing it for weeks, it's the kind of game made for portable, online gaming if you ask me. The idea of being able to go to a friends town online excites and pleases me.

I hope Nintendo show some more about NEW Super Mario Bros. at E3. It's been a long, information-less year.

[Sean]

What are your guys thoughts on this thread?

:yes: or :no:?

I mean, as I said, it seems a bit silly to have Sticky'd if its not really gonna be used, but then again, if its not sticky, people might just make new threads for everything.

[The Great Dave]

Well, the stuff I posted wouldn't have warrented a thread, but I'm enough of a mark to make sure I posted it somewhere ;). So I give it a (Y). End of the day, it doesn't really harm to have it stickied, and the forum isn't exactly busy enough that it causes a problem.

[Porn & Sauerkraut]

Isn't there supposed to be a FFVI remake for the GBA?

[Stan Hibbert]

There's a Final Fantasy III remake being released on the DS. It's highly likely that IV-VI will follow.

[Porn & Sauerkraut]

The DS?

You mean I bought the wrong fucking system!

III = the Japanese VI.

[Stan Hibbert]

The real FFIII is a NES game (athough it'll be updated to SNES-style graphics for the DS version).

[The Great Dave]

It better be updated to > SNES graphics. I'm sick of too many DS games looking like GBA games. I don't care about them being 2D, but at least take advantage of the awesomeness an N64-powered console could do for 2D gaming.

[Stan Hibbert]

Yeah. It should definitely remain 2D, but I think they should add some improved textures, lighting, etc. Sort of like Four Swords on the GC. SNES graphics with fancy animations.

[The Great Dave]

A game like Another Code shows off how 2D could be done on the DS.

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/554/554879/another-20041007025142546.jpg

The pre-rendered style of the bottom screen is cool. You could make a game look like that.

[Mandrag Ganon]

The above screenshots you posted Dave remind me a lot of Zelda's OoT, whenever you're inside a building.

Is this what they're targetting on the DS whenever you have a game that asks you to inside buildings? It's a cool idea if so.

[The Great Dave]

In that game, it's a style used often. Top screen shows specific first-person style angles, and the bottom screen is a top-down view of the room. It's something I think could be done with a lot of games. Something like Final Fantasy could benifit from something as simple as a map and item select option on the bottom screen.

And yeah, that shot reminds me a lot of Link's house in Ocarina of Time as well.

[GeezaTap]

I was about to say the OoT thing as well. :eek:

What's the game in the screenshots all about then?

[The Great Dave]

Basically an adventure game. With puzzles. In terms of gameplay, it's kinda like the old Monkey Island, adventure style games. Only less humour, more of a "a 13 year old girl has lost her dad" plot. Gamespy have info here (http://gba.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/another/601675p1.html)

It's on my wishlist for sure. It's one of those games you can't really import, so I'm hoping it gets a west release.

[The Great Dave]

Whoooo, it turns out the new Viewtiful Joe game isn't even coming out on the PS2 at all. Oddly, it's coming out on Gamecube and PSP. Thank God Capcom haven't decided to totally kill my love for them.

[Stan Hibbert]

Although it'll probably be a mediocre FPS at best, the new GoldenEye: Rogue Agent trailer for the DS is pretty impressive, and the visuals look almost PSP-quality.

Just ordered Max Payne 2 (PS2) from Play for 12 quid. Apparently it's shit compared to the XBox and PC versions, but I'm not really bothered since I don't play games on the PC and don't own an XBox. Plus I read the original was hampered because of a shit port, yet I had a whale of a time with the game. So it's all good.

[Sean]

I really miss Point and Click Adventure games. :mad:

The Monkey Island's, the Broken Sword's, the Discworld's...

:cry:

[Stan Hibbert]

The original Broken Sword is Godly.

Didn't like the second one as much though.

[Sean]

How about the 3rd one?

[Stan Hibbert]

Never played BS3. Didn't like the way they took a Tomb Raider-style approach with it. Didn't they remove the actual "point & click" aspect altogether? :\

Plus I was disappointed with BS2, so I figured the first was probably a one-off for me.

[Sean]

I liked BS3, not as much as the previous ones at all.

I got to a point where you had to complete a MSG style mission, and haven't played it since. :\

Monkey Island went a similar way with the 4th game. Better graphics doesn't = a better game EVERY time. :mad:

[GeezaTap]

I liked BS3, not as much as the previous ones at all.

I got to a point where you had to complete a MSG style mission, and haven't played it since. :\

Monkey Island went a similar way with the 4th game. Better graphics doesn't = a better game EVERY time. :mad:

I didn't mind BS3.

MI4 was a bit shite though.

Could have a lot to do with the fact it wasn't supposed to be made, having different staff do it and the like.

Even MI3 was a bit of a stretch.

The stealth bits on BS3 suited the story - as much as Point'n'Click relies on it, it was nice to use more brainpower than simply how to use an item. :yes:

[Reech]

MI3 was good, I enjoyed that.

MI4 was just a bit 'meh' to play.

[Sean]

Sod it, this thread can stay stickied.

I suppose it'll just take time to get going, perhaps.

Not sure about that Tech Questions thread. I am considering making it into a General Questions thread though.

Thoughts? I'm here to give you what you want....within reason. :squint:

[Jimini]

A general questions thread would be good for finding out release dates etc.
Technical questions could be asked within :yes:

[Badger]

Ignore.

[The_Mike]

Right, I'm bored. And the last installment of the student loan is coming through. Hooray. Of course, being in the middle of the last term I don't exactly need it to buy books and things, so I'm open to suggestions for a game. I really like immersive/career kind of games. Just finished Neverwinter Nights, which was amazing, but I could do with a break before going back for the expansions.

Only consoles I have are a PSOne and PS2 (and a GameGear :p) and my PC's video card is not up to snuff these days, but I am open to suggestions for any games that don't involve buying hardware. I know it's a bit general but fairly random suggestions can't hurt, can they?

[The Great Dave]

Viewtiful Joe 1. It's only £10 at Amazon.co.uk, I'd get it if you don't already have it. Not exactly "immensive" but...you know, pretty awesome if you ask me.

[The_Mike]

Ooh, a superhero, I like the look of that. Seems like a platformer though, not such a big platform fan. One to think about.

[The Great Dave]

There's no real platforming aspects in it, at least not in a Mario sense or anything. You go through levels, and there's lots of little sections within the levels, where you'll have to achieve something. Which can range from "kill all the guys on screen" to "find a way to make the water rise" or "race to a certain point before a big rock crushes you". It's got a lot of puzzle eliments in it you see, which combine with Joe's abilities to slow down time, or speed up time.

It's a pretty hard game though. And it's really rather funny game too. I laugh all the time playing it. You should probably check out some vids to get an idea of what it's like. It got pretty glowing reviews when it was released though.

[Stan Hibbert]

I was going to get VJ when it was released for the PS2. Mainly because it was at a cut-down price and DMC's Dante was an unlockable character. But I grew tired of waiting for it's release and now the thought of it just bores me to tears.

[The Great Dave]

I still play through Viewtiful Joe today.

...well, not quite today, but on a weekly basis. Joe is my favourite new fictional character from a video game.

[JamieB]

Is the Game offer still on? I fancy buying 4 games and then trading them in for mgs or splitters

[Reech]

Nah, ended a few weeks ago now.

[Sean]

Pokemon = RATINGS

:embarassed:

[Reech]

I loved the first game, and Stadium and some of the next sequels.

Kinda died down when I hit 19....

[Melv]

Pokemon is great.

Why did nobody mention it's greatness before?

[Reech]

Because many reputations are at stake.

[Sean]

I remember playing Pokemon Blue for hours.

I just recently had a look through some GameBoy roms and now there are like 20 different Pokemon versions, and its essentially the same as Final Fantasy, just based on a kids TV show, so its not too bad.

Well thats how I justify it. :ashamed:

[Reech]

Just began my Final Fantasy marathon.

All the Final Fantasy's, in order (except for XI)

Of course, I'm gonna hit a problem pretty soon as we Brits didn't get a release of FF3.

[Stan Hibbert]

Pokemon's still good, but Nintendo really do know how to bugger a franchise well past the point of it being funny. All these virtually identical games like Yellow, Crystal and Emerald really aren't necessary.

I spent many an hour in the company of Blue and Gold. :happysad:

[The Great Dave]

Pokemon, as a concept, is still one of the most original and best games ever. There's no doubt in my mind that Pokemon Red and Blue are up there with some of the greatest games of all time. The trading aspects is one of the smartest things Nintendo ever did, in terms of game quality, and business sense.

The series has became a bit same-y (hopefully the upcoming DS and Gamecube versions will do something new) but to be fair, you can say that about a lot of franchises. End of the day There's been 3 major versions of Pokemon since the mid-90s, Red/Blue, Gold/Silver and Saphire/Ruby. There's a lot of games out there, but most of them are just different versions of the same game, so they offically don't count. Yellow isn't a better or worse game than Red, you know?

The next big step for Pokemon will be when it goes online. That's when I think the series can really explode. The trading and battle aspects seem custom made for something like the DS and it's Wi-fi capabilities.

[MyMortisha]

I hope Pokemon dies a slow and terrible death personally......

[The Great Dave]

Any particular reason? What's offensive about the games? I'm not exactly a fan of the cartoons, or any of that shit, but the games? They're some of the best RPGs out there.

[Stan Hibbert]

I've never really seen the actual games series as childish. It's the anime that gave it the kiddy tag. Pokemon R/B and G/S are the best games you can buy for the GameBoy. Probably by a very long way.

[Sean]

What ARE the difference's between the different versions? I assume its different pokemon at the start or something?

[Stan Hibbert]

Both versions have about 10 exclusive Pokemon to capture. It's basically just a way to encourage trading. There's a few more differences between them as well, but they're minor.

The third "colours" like Yellow, Crystal and Emerald are mostly just slightly boosted versions of the previous game(s). Money-makers basically.

[Sean]

One of my pokemon has evolved twice, it was the first pokemon I received when I had the choice of 3 at the beginning.

Do other pokemon evolve? :confused:

[Jimini]

Not that I ever played it, but I think pretty much all pokémon evolve.

[Stan Hibbert]

Yeah there's not many that don't.

[The Great Dave]

April 13, 2005 - Several weeks ago, it seemed as though Nintendo was keeping busy filing patent after patent at the U.S Trademark and Copyright office. And for awhile, gamers everywhere were finding "gold" buried under the mass of technical jargon. Bloggers filled the web with theories, most of which centered on the Nintendo Revolution, the upcoming successor to the GameCube. Then all went quiet. At least for awhile. A quick search on the Copyright office website reveals Nintendo filed a trademarkon April 01, 2005 for Punch-Out!!.



Nintendo fans need no introduction to the Punch-Out!! legacy, but for those who don't know, it's as classic as Mario himself. Even today, Super Punch-Out!! for the SNES holds its own as a fantastic boxing game. So, what does this recent filing mean exactly? Depending on one's imagination, it can mean a little or a lot. A new Punch-Out!! title for the GameCube? Possibly. A Revolution launch title? Maybe. It may even hint at an upcoming Nintendo DS title. The only thing of any real certainty is that no one will know for a very long time. This is Nintendo, after all.

:hyper: :hyper: :hyper: Please, Nintendo, release a new Punch Out!!. PLEASE. And don't go changing the style of anything either. 3D is over rated.

[Porn & Sauerkraut]

Punch-Out DS? After seeing what that fucker can do with 2D earlier in the thread, I think that would be perfect.

[Porn & Sauerkraut]

Speaking of Pokemon, I never liked the actual games but the Pokemon Trading Card Game for the GBC was sweet. That fucker kept me busy for weeks in study hall in my 11th grade year. I just found my old copy, and it looks like it'll be keeping me busy on the bus ride to work every day.

[GeezaTap]

Been playng International Track and Field on the PS1 all week, and whilst nice, it's a bit dated.

What's the best athletics game out there?

I would like something that has SOME events that isn't all mashmashmash, but i don't want something with too many events that becomes a bore before you reach the end.

I wish i could find my Saturn to play Athlete Kings, that was friggin' awesome.

[Beefy]

:tantrum:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

My San Andreas disk has broken. It keeps crashing around the point of the first mission in San Andreas. The PS2 is making loads of noise like its trying to access the part of the disk it needs to read, but its not working.

I don't know what to do. I deleted over my save game files after that point and I can't be without the game. I love it too much.

What should I do?

:cry:

[Melv]

Geeza: Olympic Gold for the Master System.

Beefy: Any scratches on the disk? Try the toothpaste method.

[The Great Dave]

I read today that "XBox 360" is pretty much the set name for the new XBox.

Why?

[Melv]

Maybe it's round?

[turdpower]

:tantrum:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

My San Andreas disk has broken. It keeps crashing around the point of the first mission in San Andreas. The PS2 is making loads of noise like its trying to access the part of the disk it needs to read, but its not working.

I don't know what to do. I deleted over my save game files after that point and I can't be without the game. I love it too much.

What should I do?

:cry:

Buy a new disk.

If its scratches that are affecting it; I hear toothpaste can work really well.

[The Great Dave]

Maybe it's round?

Maybe, but it still sounds like a retarded name to me. "Hey, you got the XBox 360"? isn't really the same as "You got the PS3?".

I guess they're trying to stop "Playstation 3" from sounding superior to "XBox 2". But that's perhaps the dumbest thing ever. XBox Next was better than 360.

[Melv]

I still call my PS2 'Playstation'. None of this numbers shite.

[Stan Hibbert]

Yeah I heard about the new XBox's name. Sounds really, very stupid.

I think an early version of the controller was shown as well. Looked sort-of like a pronged Dreamcast one. Shiny and white, with black analog sticks.

[turdpower]

Maybe, but it still sounds like a retarded name to me. "Hey, you got the XBox 360"? isn't really the same as "You got the PS3?".

I guess they're trying to stop "Playstation 3" from sounding superior to "XBox 2". But that's perhaps the dumbest thing ever. XBox Next was better than 360.

X-360 ?

[GeezaTap]

I still call my PS2 'Playstation'. None of this numbers shite.

Exactly.

I hated how shops/magazines referred to the first Playstation as the PSX for years on end even though that was only a codename for the thing.:grumpy:

[The Great Dave]

I had a nasty tendency to call the N64 the "Ultra 64" for the first few months when I got it, cos I was so used to looking forward to the "Nintendo Ultra 64".

I tend to use acronyms for most consoles. Think I call my NES the Nintendo Entertainment System (while sober)? The exception is Gamecube. That just rolls off the tongue nicely as it is. And "GC" = shit.

[Melv]

N64 is the only one I've used the abbreviation for, I think.

[GeezaTap]

I had a nasty tendency to call the N64 the "Ultra 64" for the first few months when I got it, cos I was so used to looking forward to the "Nintendo Ultra 64".

I tend to use acronyms for most consoles. Think I call my NES the Nintendo Entertainment System (while sober)? The exception is Gamecube. That just rolls off the tongue nicely as it is. And "GC" = shit.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

N64 is the only one I've used the abbreviation for, I think.

My system (You gotta have a system, Mystic Meg, Cadbury's Creme Egg) s as follows:

NES - NES
SNES - SNES
N64 - Nintendo
Gamecube - Cube
Every Game Boy incarnation - Game Boy (hell, i'll call the DS a Game Boy once i get one).

Speaking of, the gaming media must be really jaded, as on mini games alone the DS is one of the most amazing pieces of kit i have ever played games on, and that's without playing something 'proper' like Super Mario 64 DS on it.

(incidentally, that's a horrible name for the game)

[Beefy]

Geeza: Olympic Gold for the Master System.

Beefy: Any scratches on the disk? Try the toothpaste method.

Theres a small scratch on the disk, yeah. Someone talk me through the toothpaste method.

[Melv]

HOW TO FIX YOUR CDS FROM CD ROT

If a disc suffers from CD Rot, your first plan of action should be to demand from the manufacturer a replacement disk. CD Rot is rare on CDs but is present on older a few early discs. It is essentially a flaw in the manufacturing process and as such should be replaced.

You can carry out some repairs at home that may well solve your playback problems. To do this you will need the following:
Soft cloth
# spectacle lens cloth, or if you’ve got nothing else, soft tissue/kitchen paper will do fine. Just make sure whatever you use is clean.

Rough cloth
# The best I’ve had experience with is an old sock. It doesn’t want to be too rough, cotton cloths like T-shirt material is good. Good for working out those deeper scratches.

Toothpaste
# Just ordinary toothpaste. Contains small bits of grit to help work away scratches. It’s not a good idea to use any kind of harsh toothpaste.

Brasso/metal polish
# A bit finer than toothpaste, so you can finish off your CDs with this.

Vaseline
# Petroleum jelly to fill in remaining scratches to reduce diffraction. This really does work.

Find a table or similar flat steady surface. Put a tablecloth over it, or lay some soft tissue down, and make sure the surface is clean. Yes, little bits of dried cornflakes can scratch CDs. Lay the CD silver side up on the soft surface. Make sure the CD surface is clean by using wet tissue paper or baby wipes, wiping in straight lines from the inside of the disc to the outside. (BTW, this cleaning may make your CD work now if it was just dust/dirt causing the problem). I heard somewhere that some solvents can damage the CD, but I never had any problems with metholated spirits. However, wet tissue works well anyway.

1) Find the scratches. If it’s not obvious then follow this step. Hold the CD to the light so you can all those little scratches on the surface clearly. The sort of scratches that you’re looking for are those deep enough to be easily noticeable and often run in the direction with the track on the surface (parallel to outside edge of CD). If the disc has taken on a cloudy appearance cause by many fine scratches follow the next steps using only a smooth cloth (unless the scratches just aren’t shifting) and rubbing across the sections of scratches, working in straight paths from the centre.

Try to estimate through use of the CD where the scratches are likely to be (i.e. If the skipping of an audio CD is in the first couple of tracks, or the game can’t get past the loading stage etc. then look for scratches in the centre of the disc). Now you’ve found what scratches you are going to deal with, move on to the next stage.
2) Get a small amount of toothpaste on the rough cloth (if the crack is not very deep then the smooth cloth might do)

3) Rub the cloth firmly over the scratch. This needs to be firm enough as you feel is appropriate for the severity of the scratch. However, if you rub too hard you thumb will hurt too much to continue long enough to achieve anything, and if you rub too lightly then you’ll be there all day. This may take a few minutes depending on the scratch, just keep topping up with a little toothpaste (not too much or there’ll be no friction). New scratches may appear as you are rubbing, but as long as they’ll only light scratches this won’t matter, and we’ll be smoothing these off later. When the scratch has nearly gone, or doesn’t seem to be getting better, move on to the next step.

4) If you used a rough cloth for the last step, move on to using the smooth cloth. Just do what you did before, until you’re bored or too tired to continue. Clean with water and tissue. Then move on to using the soft cloth with some metal polish like Brasso. This should smooth out some of the extras scratches you made, but may not be noticeable, so just work at that for a few minutes.

5) Next, clean the CD again using water. Then get a small amount of Vaseline on the end of your (clean) finger, and smooth across the scratch, rubbing it in a bit. It may help just going over any other scratched regions you see on the CD like this, as it will improve reading of your CD, especially on a console with a weaker laser like the PlayStation. Using some tissue or soft cloth rub the Vaseline off of the CD (in straight paths from the centre). Do not do this too vigorously or the Vaseline will be rubbed out of the scratches.
Now to test your CD. If it still doesn’t work, try again from step 2).




Never tried this, so you'd be better getting someone to confirm that.

[The Great Dave]

My system (You gotta have a system, Mystic Meg, Cadbury's Creme Egg) s as follows:

NES - NES
SNES - SNES
N64 - Nintendo
Gamecube - Cube
Every Game Boy incarnation - Game Boy (hell, i'll call the DS a Game Boy once i get one).

Speaking of, the gaming media must be really jaded, as on mini games alone the DS is one of the most amazing pieces of kit i have ever played games on, and that's without playing something 'proper' like Super Mario 64 DS on it.

(incidentally, that's a horrible name for the game)

Super Mario 64 DS is a truely horrible name. What's worse is the logo. That DS they've put on the old logo just looks so out of place. It's like Wordart from Microsoft Word or something.

And for me, it's NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Dreamcast, GameGear, Gameboy (any version), DS...that's about it.

Speaking of Nintendo, I just "bought" Metroid Fusion for the GBA off their (European) site, with the stars I've got from registering Nintendo games over the last...say, 4 years. Took awhile, but I finally got something good for my hard earned...stars. Pretty good of Nintendo I'd say. They know I love them.

[GeezaTap]

STAAAAAAAARS! :cool:

Lemme know how Metroid is.




ALL YOU EMULATOR LOVERS - The UK mag Retro Gamer this month has a cover disc containing TONS of emulators for tons of consoles. May come in handy.

[The Great Dave]

Everything has gone on the site now (well, stuff of worth). I wish I'd got there earlier, they were giving away special Mario controllers. I guess a game is technically better than a standard controller with a big "M" on it. But still...:cry:

[GeezaTap]

Everything has gone on the site now (well, stuff of worth). I wish I'd got there earlier, they were giving away special Mario controllers. I guess a game is technically better than a standard controller with a big "M" on it. But still...:cry:

Just get the Mario Dance Mat when it comes out - it even has 'Here We Go!' written on it! :hyper:

[The Great Dave]

Why the heck wasn't I informed of this?

*goes to Google*

*Edit* Ahh, that's really something I can't resist. I was inevitably going to buy Dance Dance Revolution W/Mario, because...you know...I have secret dreams of dancing to the Mario Bros. Overworld theme, but that mat seals it. And seeing as it's only gonna cost £30 to import it from Japan with Lik-Sang, I think I'll be playing that game come July :yes:

[Stan Hibbert]

Speaking of Nintendo, I just "bought" Metroid Fusion for the GBA off their (European) site, with the stars I've got from registering Nintendo games over the last...say, 4 years. Took awhile, but I finally got something good for my hard earned...stars. Pretty good of Nintendo I'd say. They know I love them.

Fucking hell. I used to check the Stars Catalogue daily for anything worth owning and all I could ever find were copies of Rayman and Nintendo screensavers. And you got Fusion off there? :nono:

I haven't used any of mine yet. About 14 games' worth, a Gamecube, GBA SP x 3, Gameboy Player, etc etc. I'll have to keep an eye out from now on.

Speaking of Metroid, I still can't get into Prime 2. I know it's supposed to be one of - if not the - best game on the Gamecube, but I just find it painfully dull. The environment's lifeless, and it seems as though I'm just walking through an endless amount of tunnels fighting boring monsters and not really doing all that much. :\

[The Great Dave]

http://img219.echo.cx/img219/8866/nintendostarsupdate2ha.jpg

That's the stuff they had on yesterday. By the time I got there, all they had left were 50 or so copies of the two Metroid GBA games, and one of the Special Edition Minish Cap paks. Which I would have loved, obviously. 15000 stars is steep though.

I'm really not a huge fan of Metroid Prime 2 myself. For me, Metroid IS 2D. The Gameboy games are miles better than the Gamecube games. I enjoy them, and I think they're a nice change from most FPS, but I wouldn't even think about calling either Prime the "Best game on the Gamecube", personally.

[Stan Hibbert]

Just checked it and they're back to offering bollocks again.

Wouldn't have minded that Mario pad. What was the Minish Cap thing? Just the game + GBA again?

[The Great Dave]

I think it had a t-shirt and a big poster-map, or something.

[Stan Hibbert]

I've just been reading-up on Kirby: Canvas Curse. Finally, a great DS game that'll more than likely be out in the UK by the end of the year. :yes:

[The Great Dave]

Did Mario 64 DS not get released? ;)

[Reech]

Seriously, if I wanted to play Super Mario 64 again, I'd whip out my N64.

Rather than paying 30 pounds to play it on a train.

[The Great Dave]

There's enough new stuff in it to make it worth it, for me at least. Some of the mini-games that come with it are good enough that I'd consider paying money for them alone.

Plus they've put in 30 new stars, improved the graphics (a lot) and added 3 new characters. Compared to what they could have done (just completely ported the game) it's a strong effort.

[Stan Hibbert]

Did Mario 64 DS not get released? ;)

:dead:

Besides the games I already own/plan to get, that is. :shifty:

Not that there aren't any good DS games in development. They just don't have release dates.

[The Great Dave]

Seeing as I import (not a single one of my DS games was bought in the UK) I'm not too unhappy with the line up. You can order American games from Lik-Sang.com for £25, which is cheeper than they cost in the UK half the time. Electroplankton should hopefully be at my house tomorrow, here's hoping it owns my time.

I hear today that Microsoft are releasing an add-on for Halo 2, which is basically 9 maps for $20. People are going to be willing to pay money for a few maps?! I guess we're getting a taste of what Microsoft want to do next gen with their whole "downloadable-enhancements" thing. Basically, we'll all be paying money for a few levels :yes:

[Reech]

Or, you can wait til the end of summer and download em for free.

[The Great Dave]

Really? Then...why would anybody buy them at all?

[Sean]

Extreme Warfare Revenge

:chin:

[Stan Hibbert]

I've just seen that Pac-Pix is released on May 20th.

Jesus, 2 whole DS games worth owning released within 2 weeks of eachother - what a bumper month. :hyper:

+ Kingdom Hearts: CoM = a decent shower of birthday gifts this year. :yes:

[The Great Dave]

Good job I have a May birthday. I still need to get far too many games.

[viva_la_raza]

Does any one hear have the Sims 2 University, as I Have always been a fan of those games and was wondering if this one is any good?

Also, does any one know if/when the expansion pack or next Total War game comes out?

[Stan Hibbert]

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/607/607401p1.html

The confirmed Square-Enix software being shown at E3, in case anyone's interested.

Pretty-much what I expected (FFXII, Dirge of Cerberus, Kingdom Hearts 2 :drool: ), but where the hell are all the DS titles? Final Fantasy III? Crystal Chronicles? Dragon Quest Monsters? Pretty huge disappointment in that respect.

[The Great Dave]

Final Fantasy VII Snowboarding?! Sign me up for that!

As for the DS...who knows? Maybe Square just want to surprise people a bit, or maybe they won't be shown till the TGS or something.

I just read that Famitsu Magazine gave Nintendogs 40/40. Adding it to a list of only 4 games that have got such a score in it's history, Vagrant Story, Soul Calibur, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Awesome.

[Stan Hibbert]

I see Another Code has been given a EU release date. Anyone got any info on it? From what I saw over at IGN it looks almost Broken Sword-like. Seems pretty interesting.

[The Great Dave]

Another Code preview here (http://gba.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/another/601675p1.html). The best one I've seen really, there's not a load of info out about it. Basically, it's a kind of point and click adventure, using the bottom screen as a traditional 2D area, the top screen showing specific pre-rendered images of frames where you solve puzzles.

Interesting news is the game got 38/40 from Famitsu Magazine. Who's opinion matters a hell of a lot more to me than the majority of US game reviewers.

Just seen DS sales info for the last week in Japan. Nintendogs sold over 135,000 copies (across it's three formats) and the DS sold over 96,000 consoles (PSP sold something like 30,000). Nintendogs = the new Pokemon. Can't wait for the game, it's quite possible I'll have to import it. Hopefully the Japanese isn't too intrusive. Also happy to hear they've dropped the HORRIBLE US title of "Puppy Times", and it's just going to be called Nintendogs worldwide. Which is perhaps the single greatest name for a video game in history.

[TapOut]

What the hell is that game usually played on Windows PC's, Chip's Challenge or something? That game is awesome and would be PERFECT on the DS if they made a version especially for it.

[Stan Hibbert]

Cheers Dave. Next to the new Kirby game (just watched a video for it :drool: ) that's now my most anticipated DS release for this year. :yes:

How the fuck long has Bomberman Generation been out in the UK? It's slipped right under my radar and now everywhere's sold out. :no:

[The Great Dave]

I live in hope that New Super Mario Bros. will be released this year. So that's my most wanted DS game. Then Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, Viewtiful Joe, Pac Pix, Kirby and Another Code. I think it's at least a possibility all those games will come out this year. If not in Europe, than in the US at least.

[Stan Hibbert]

Oh yeah. That Mario Brothers game looks fan-fucking-tastic. Is it being shown at E3?

[The Great Dave]

Supposedly, yes. It better be, a year of nothing has made me anxious.

[Easy]

This game sucks just like you.

[The_Mike]

Hang on, Vagrant Story got 40/40? I've heard it's decent and I actually got it in a deal at some game shop, but I barely got into it, found it fairly boring. Atmospheric and cool to look at, but it felt too platformy for me. What's so good about it? Might hunt the loft for it and dust it off.

[TapOut]

Love my PSP. Just bought NBA Street.

I saw some new UMD movies at Best Buy when I went to pick it up. I really want National Treasure and Pirates of the Carribean.....but 29.99 for each? And limited special features? Some had an interview or a short making of clip, but some had NO extra features. SpiderMan 2 didn't even have chapter selection.

I'm not paying that much when I can buy the DVD for half the price. Some movies are only 19.99, but that's still too much. UMD movies should be 10 to 15 dollars, maybe 20 if it's an awesome movie with extra features.

[The_Mike]

That's a pretty ridiculous price hike for a format that's going to have limited space and quality. I guess their excuse would be supply and demand and hardly anyone buys UMDs yet, but really, that's far too much. You can't even play UMDs in anything else anyway, can you?

[TapOut]

That's a pretty ridiculous price hike for a format that's going to have limited space and quality. I guess their excuse would be supply and demand and hardly anyone buys UMDs yet, but really, that's far too much. You can't even play UMDs in anything else anyway, can you?

Exactly. You can't even link the PSP up to a tv at this point. And no extra features. Well, like I said, two or three had an extra feature like a "making of" or some interviews, but it is obvious they weren't full-fledged making-ofs, but rather something crammed on to the UMD to make it look more full.

I was expecting 15 dollars, but was thinking they may be 20. But 24.99 and 29.99? That's outrageous. The only way they would sucker me into that would be to make some WWE ones, and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Oh well. At least NBA Street Showdown is da bomb. NFL Street was great too, but the load times are HORRIFIC. No such problems on NBA Street though. Quality all the way through.

Dave, I played Wario Ware or whatever it's called at Best Buy, and my next stop is DS..... can't wait. You're boasting of the system is directly resonsible for my purchase. And I am DEFINETELY going to buy another GC when Zelda hits. Zelda is my kind of RPG.... all the fun of Final Fantasy without the random battles and leveling up.

[The Great Dave]

Nintendo owe me ;)

Right now, I have my shiney new Electroplankton sitting in my DS next to me, playing in audience mode. Where it basically creates music on the fly. A minute ago it was remixing the Starman theme from Super Mario Bros, and now I'm getting an ambiant piano tune. And at any point I can jump in and create sounds myself. This game manages to be "entertainment" without that meaning "a shit load of unskippable cut scenes". Basically, I'm in lust.

[Stan Hibbert]

Nothing wrong with a shitload of unskipable cut-scenes. :beer:

[The Great Dave]

So long as that's not all the game is, I agree. Just seems to me a lot of developers are trying to make an interative medium like video games emulate non-interative ones like movies. An that seems like a waste to me.

[TapOut]

Xenosaga, anyone?

[Stan Hibbert]

Finally registered my hoardes of Nintendo VIP Stars online. Got 8000 odd points now.

The news that a special Kingdom Hearts GBA SP hit the stores on Friday convinced me to do it, in the hope that one day it might be up for sale on the site. :nono:

[Jimini]

Not strictly rambling... but any word/rumours on a new GTA at all yet?

[Melv]

Maybe you should try asking in the GTA thread.

[Jimini]

The GTA thread is about the current game.

Maybe you should try being less of a cock.

[TapOut]

I can't see any beefy news coming out already. It'll be at least another year and a half until a new GTA makes the shelves.

[Melv]

The GTA thread is about the current game.

Maybe you should try being less of a cock.
I was meaning that the people in that thread are more likely to know about the new GTA than in here.

[Sean]

Worms 3D is great.

[GeezaTap]

Worms 3D is great.

Yeah, but there doesn't seem to be any tactics to it.

Could be me, but he 3d landscape doesn't encourage defensive play in the slightest.

More a case of luck who wins really.

[Jimini]

I can't see any beefy news coming out already. It'll be at least another year and a half until a new GTA makes the shelves.
I don't even want beefy news, just a little conformation that one is in the works would do nicely.

[Jimini]

I was meaning that the people in that thread are more likely to know about the new GTA than in here.
The threads aren't exclusive, but whatever.

[TapOut]

I'm not getting any replies to my X-Box live question, so go to the technical question thread and read my question, dammit!

I mean, Please?!?

[Sean]

I went and read it, however I don't know the answer.

[The_Mike]

GTA IV is definitely in the works, I know that much. But the guy was just trying to help out by pointing you to a thread that would be more likely to yield the answer, no need to jump down his throat.

Ah well, such are the misunderstandings of the message board world.

I want a Final Fantasy style RPG. Now. I've got Tactics but I suck at it, I keep losing the second or third battle (we're on the plains fighting some big cats and chocobos). I miss the old days when I could play IV-X and get lost in yet another quest to save the world. I need a kickass interactive RPG story, consarnit! And XII is at the very best a couple of months away, most likely more.

[Jimini]

GTA IV is definitely in the works, I know that much. But the guy was just trying to help out by pointing you to a thread that would be more likely to yield the answer, no need to jump down his throat.

Ah well, such are the misunderstandings of the message board world
Nah, Melv can't be trusted to not be a cock.
I can't either, but meh.

GTA4... is there anything to confirm that the next game will have nothing to do with the last 3 (i.e. no character cross-over)?

[The_Mike]

I don't think they'll have put much thought into the story or characters as of yet. In fact, the only info I've been able to find is from ages ago, before San Andreas even had a name, talking about how they're working on a follow-up to Vice City and a 'true' sequel to GTAIII.

I assume if it's a sequel in that sense there will be some history from the previous games utlised. Here's the link anyway, but it's very outdated. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/r/?page=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php(que)id=88089

[Dreyski]

So I bought SSX3 today, the only copy I've seen in Kyiv. I was thniking about buying the PS2 as well, but I though I was going out to a gig as well (that fell through). Of course, now themissus realises you can play DVD's on it, she's well into buying the remote control for DVDs as well :yes: Saves me 150 grivnas, although I'll have to shell out 200 for the memory card. :mad:
Anyroad, this time tomorrow I should be a happy youngish person.

[Stan Hibbert]

Anyone in the UK seen the Kingdom Hearts Deep Silver GBA bundle in any shops? It was released on May 6th but none of the 4 GAME shops in my area have even heard it exists. :blah:

[Dreyski]

So I bought SSX3 today, the only copy I've seen in Kyiv. I was thniking about buying the PS2 as well, but I though I was going out to a gig as well (that fell through). Of course, now themissus realises you can play DVD's on it, she's well into buying the remote control for DVDs as well :yes: Saves me 150 grivnas, although I'll have to shell out 200 for the memory card. :mad:
Anyroad, this time tomorrow I should be a happy youngish person.
Blahahaha! :D

[Sean]

Football Manager really gets on my nerves sometimes!

:irked:

:happysad:

:wired:

[TapOut]

I just bought a GC and WWE Day of Reckoning today. I had played the game at a buddies for few minutes and liked it, and saw a lot of postive feedback here. It's a good game, but what the hell is Lance Storm doing on there?

[Stan Hibbert]

The latest Dragon Quest/Warrior game's been confirmed for Europe. A first for the main series of games (DWM was released here and that's about it).

Can't wait for that one.

[Sean]

Tempted to play HCTP. :chin:

[Slash_STO]

So yeah I busted out the Greatest Wrestling game of all time yesterday
WWE NO MERCY for the N64 and i gots to say it still is. All these new games like Smackdown and WWE DofW don't got shit on No Mercy.


STO........ 1......2............3

[Melv]

I never got what made No Mercy any better than the WCW games at the time, particularly Revenge. :heart:ed that game.

[Ozanne]

Anyone know where I can play any good roleplaying games, or adventure ones on the net at all?

Maybe even FF7?

[GeezaTap]

Anyone know where I can play any good roleplaying games, or adventure ones on the net at all?

Maybe even FF7?

Why on the net?

I respect the choice of the emulator, but it's nowhere near the same to me playing an RPG on a PC.

Seek out Grandia - it's nice that you can see the random fight people running around, so you can just run by them if you can't be arsed. That, or run up behind them, leaving you with the first attack.:cool:

As an added bonus, the story isn't the usual 'I am a clone coming to terms with being a clone, before i go off to fight a clone blah blah baws.'

[The Great Dave]

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/623/623524/hot-dses-20050608114232291.jpg

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/623/623524/hot-dses-20050608114233526.jpg

I want them. Both. Now.

I read today that the prices of games on XBox 360 is now looking likely to be $10 more in the US (and, therefore, probably £10 more in the UK. NATURALLY).

This is bullshit. And people are no doubt just going to take it. I'll tell you this much; I'm not going back to paying £50 for a game. (Without "Zelda" on it) Those days are over.

[Ozanne]

Why on the net?

I respect the choice of the emulator, but it's nowhere near the same to me playing an RPG on a PC.

Seek out Grandia - it's nice that you can see the random fight people running around, so you can just run by them if you can't be arsed. That, or run up behind them, leaving you with the first attack.:cool:

As an added bonus, the story isn't the usual 'I am a clone coming to terms with being a clone, before i go off to fight a clone blah blah baws.'

I just really wanted something quick and easy to play on the net really, or the comp without much effort getting it. I'll look into that thanks, where do you reckon?

[Stan Hibbert]

Any Brits picked up Another Code yet? And more importantly: is it any good?

[GeezaTap]

For anyone that enjoys fighting games - is there a cheaper boss character than Jinpachi from Tekken 5?

He is a bastard - he fires 50% damage fireballs all the time and has a bloody ENERGY DRAIN move - that's just wrong.

[SlicedBread#3]

Why on the net?

I respect the choice of the emulator, but it's nowhere near the same to me playing an RPG on a PC.

Seek out Grandia - it's nice that you can see the random fight people running around, so you can just run by them if you can't be arsed. That, or run up behind them, leaving you with the first attack.:cool:

As an added bonus, the story isn't the usual 'I am a clone coming to terms with being a clone, before i go off to fight a clone blah blah baws.'


Yes grandia is DA BOMB, my friends thought i was mad when i preferred it too ff. The main characters are much funnier and the storyline at time was heart rending. Especially when sue left the party.

also the fact u didnt have constant random battles made it much more fun to play

[Deathcow]

Rise of Nations and Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun are the shit.

[Nemesis]

For anyone that enjoys fighting games - is there a cheaper boss character than Jinpachi from Tekken 5?



Omega Rugal from KOF 98 is pretty damn cheap. He'll use his Genocide Cutter ad nauseum, and you'll eat it every time. It overpowers EVERYTHING.

I heard Gill from Street Fighter III is King Bastard of Cheapdom, but I've never put more than a few quarters into that game, so I don't know for sure.




Super Street Fighter II: Turbo pisses me off. The computer is way overpowered (Zangeif grabbing and piledriving you from sweep distance? I thought the point of a hugely damaging move like that is that you had to be really close to pull it off), so you have to rely on cheap tactics to beat each character, and that's if you get lucky. And no dip switch difficulty settings. :mad:

[Stan Hibbert]

Just ordered Shadow Hearts: Covenant from Play for 17 quid. Expecting big things from it after the rave reviews I read.

Plus I need some RPGs to fill the gap between now and FFXII/Zelda/DQVIII/KH2's release. :yes:

[GeezaTap]

Just ordered Shadow Hearts: Covenant from Play for 17 quid. Expecting big things from it after the rave reviews I read.

Plus I need some RPGs to fill the gap between now and FFXII/Zelda/DQVIII/KH2's release. :yes:

The missus had that - looked ok from the parts of it i seen.

If you need some RPG action, i have a copy of Legend Of Dragoon for the PS1.

Yours for a good price.

[Stan Hibbert]

Think I'll pass on that one. I've got a fair few to keep me occupied for a good while now anyway. :yes:

[Deathcow]

Despite being anti-nintendo for the past few years, I sucked it up and bought a Gamecube and Metroid Prime. I'm borrowing a few games from my friend (Resident Evil and Zelda: The Wind Waker).

I'm pretty happy with it so far, mainly because I got it used for $60, so I now have access to an entire library of games for just $10 more than a regular PS2 game. I'm waiting to get Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, because I'm sure they'll blow everything else out of the water.

(I figure The Great Dave and Marc K. will be proud of me too ;))

[Stan Hibbert]

Wow. Shadow Hearts is class. I regret not getting into the series earlier.

I also bought Shen Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call (Nocturne in the US) as well. That's amazing too, and at the bargain price of £25 brand new.

[The Great Dave]

From Rare's "Join us" (http://www.rareware.com/vacancies/software/software_content.html) page.


GAMES PROGRAMMERS (NINTENDO DS)
Must be motivated, enthusiastic and skilled in C/C++ to join our dedicated handheld team, recently nominated for a Develop Industry Excellence Award. 3D skills also an advantage in creating high-profile titles for this unique system.

Yay! Rare finally have a chance to make me love them again. I'm begging them to do something involving a banjo and a kazooie. And not just a remake.

...unless they put the two games on one disk, and get the Stop N Swap shit working. THEN I will accept a remake.


Despite being anti-nintendo for the past few years, I sucked it up and bought a Gamecube and Metroid Prime. I'm borrowing a few games from my friend (Resident Evil and Zelda: The Wind Waker).

I'm pretty happy with it so far, mainly because I got it used for $60, so I now have access to an entire library of games for just $10 more than a regular PS2 game. I'm waiting to get Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, because I'm sure they'll blow everything else out of the water.

(I figure The Great Dave and Marc K. will be proud of me too ;))

I don't understand how anybody can be anti-Nintendo. I can understand people being apathetic towards them, but really, how can they offend anybody? They're still one of (if not) the best game designers in the world, are pushing an interesting product in the DS and the Gamecube has a shitload of good games and costs next to nothing.

But still, make sure you pick up Donkey Konga, an extra pair of bongos and at least one friend.

[Reech]

I think Rare are one of the few established developers that will take a chance on non-experienced programmers ie graduates.

:heart: Rare.

First place I'll probably apply to.

[T.I (uh oh)]

I think Rare are one of the few established developers that will take a chance on non-experienced programmers ie graduates.

:heart: Rare.

First place I'll probably apply to.

Prepare for dissapointment then. Rare require their receptionists to be more talented than a graduate.

[Andy Wild]

I was clearing out my room the other day and found 7 or 8 old Dreamcast games, my Dreamcast is busted but I've seen them in Gamestation for about £20 so I think I shall purchase it.

Whats the point in having Virtua Tennis, Sonic Adventure, Chu Chu Rocket, Resident Evil and Uefa Striker without a console.

[The Great Dave]

Virtua Tennis must be played, it is true.

I've been playing GTA:SA recently on PC. Buggiest. Thing. EVER. The mouse randomly decides to stop working when I enter menus, the sound is fucked as hell and the animation is terrible half the time. There's fun to be had in the game, but just like every other GTA game I pretty much ignore the missions. I usually spend half an hour or so going around running from cops, then stop playing. I don't see how this is the defining game of this generation :dunno:

[Reech]

Prepare for dissapointment then. Rare require their receptionists to be more talented than a graduate.

They have been known to take graduates, even if it is for the intern jobs.

Experience is experience.

[GeezaTap]

Are you experienced?

Or have you ever been experienced?

I - HAVE..................

Virtua Tennis may be the greatest sports game ever made. If you could do a proper best of 5 sets match in it, no-one would need PES.

[Stan Hibbert]

During Wimbledon I wanted to buy a decent tennis game but couldn't decide whether Smash Court 2 was worth it or not.

[Andy Wild]

Virtua Tennis on any platform is great.

[Reech]

Are you experienced?

Or have you ever been experienced?

I - HAVE..................

Virtua Tennis may be the greatest sports game ever made. If you could do a proper best of 5 sets match in it, no-one would need PES.

:squint:

Whatcha talkin' bout Willis?

[Ricky]

Virtua Tennis must be played, it is true.

I've been playing GTA:SA recently on PC. Buggiest. Thing. EVER. The mouse randomly decides to stop working when I enter menus, the sound is fucked as hell and the animation is terrible half the time. There's fun to be had in the game, but just like every other GTA game I pretty much ignore the missions. I usually spend half an hour or so going around running from cops, then stop playing. I don't see how this is the defining game of this generation :dunno:

Play the missions and get to the other cities and then free-roam.

[GeezaTap]

:squint:

Whatcha talkin' bout Willis?


Jimi Hendrix ya big mental.

[The Great Dave]

Play the missions and get to the other cities and then free-roam.

I used a cheat to get a big fucking helicopter thing to appear out of nothing, so I've pretty much been everywhere. Including that big fuck off area in the middle of the map that's basically a wasteland with nothing of note in it.

Technically, GTA is awesome. Huge world, loads to do. I just don't think it does anything especially well, yet is treated like it's the perfect example of video game bliss. And don't get me started on how many times I've had to hear "nigger". Or, to be more specific, "niGGGGGGGGA!".

I miss the 80s.

And the less said about the sex mini games the better.

[Jordo]

Sex mini games?

[Reech]

You not heard?

The PC version, you can get a patch which 'unlocks' explicit sex mini-games.

There's a big issue about whether the code was already in the game, or in the patch. If it was in the game, Rockstar didn't tell the ratings guys and are gonna get it in the shitter.

[Locdog07]

You can see video clips from it at gametrailers.com

Y'know, if you're into that sort of thing. :shifty:

[Reech]

I love you.

[Jordo]

I've gotta ask the question on everyone's mind...how's the gameplay?

[Reech]

Repetitve

[Beefy]

Anyone played/got Star Trek: Starfleet Command III? I know its a couple of years old now, but I'm just downloading it now (well I've been downloading it for the best part of 18 fucking hours for some stupid reason). Looks ok.

[Reech]

I have, good game :yes:

Missions are great fun.

[Beefy]

Thats what I wanted to hear, Reech :yes:

I've seen a couple of add-ons that I can download too? Shall I grab them asap or play through the game as it stands, first?

Also, you realise that you are now my first port of call if when I have problems with this....?

[Reech]

Bugger :p

Play it first, get the add-ons later :yes:

[Andy Wild]

I have decided to hook up my n64 later and play some Goldeneye after chatting to somebody at work about it.

:yes:

[T.I (uh oh)]

does anyone know a site where I can download scans of N64 boxes??

i need decent sized pics too, none of this thumbnail stuff. any help would be appreciated.

[Andy Wild]

To continue with my current n64 splurge, today I bought F1 World Grand Prix and Mischief Makers. Both games hold fond memories.

[Melv]

I loved that F1 game.