Messages

14551

Nintendo Gaming / Does the rest of your family play the cube?

« on: March 04, 2003, 10:06:56 AM »

There is generally only two serious game players in my house: myself and my 16 year old brother.  I'm the one who keeps up with videogame news and checks out reviews and stuff but he (having more free time) definitely plays more.  His favourite game series is easily Pokemon as he has spend countless hours in his room alone playing and has nearly caught them all (he's waiting for me to trade some with him but I don't play Pokemon enough to be a good trading partner).  He generally likes the same games I do except he hates first person shooters (which I don't love but enjoy playing multiplayer).

My other brother is 18 and used to be a pretty big game fan during the SNES days but lost interest once 3D became the standard.  He still occasionally plays some of his favourites like Contra 3 from time to time.  He pretty much exclusively plays multiplayer games with the exception of Yoshi's Island and he hates games that require thinking and puzzle solving.  It has to be all action, all the time for him.  The only 3D game he ever really plays in Conker's Bad Fur Day multiplayer.  He LOVES that and plays it with my other brother all the time.

My parents are geezers and therefore don't play games.  My dad's the type of guy who will walk in front of the screen on purpose to be a jerk and say "This is so stupid.  Why does my honours student son waste his time with this crap?" (he does the same thing with wrestling).  My mom generally hates videogames but she has sort of a "fun is evil" complex so it's pretty understandable.  My parents have yet to grasp the concept that some games have saves, some games don't, and some only let you save at certain times.  And the dishes don't have to be washed when I'm in the middle of a boss battle.  Five f*cking minutes doesn't make a difference.

Of course my parents have yet to grasp the concept that TV shows are shown in half hour intervals and therefore getting upset when a TV show isn't over at 7:43 is pretty stupid.  They're kind of a lost cause when it comes to anything they're not interested in.

14552

Nintendo Gaming / OLED Displays finally a reality

« on: March 04, 2003, 09:19:46 AM »

I like the fact that you can view it from any angle.  No more turning the Gameboy every which way just to see what the hell's going on.  Plus because the Gameboy currently doesn't really have to compete with any other portables Nintendo doesn't have to get one ready in five years so they can give it some time to see how well this technology is being adapted before making a new GBA that uses it.

There are of course two issues.  How would this screen affect the Gameboy price and how would it affect battery consumption?  Those are usually the two biggest issues with portables.

14553

Nintendo Gaming / Ye olde cel-shaded debate, again.

« on: March 04, 2003, 06:20:33 AM »

"If i wanna see somehting real, i will go look outside. I play game to see something imaginative. "

I've never bought this arguement for a second.  In real life I don't have access to swords or fairies or Moblins, etc.  Therefore seeing Zelda in a realistic style still provides an escape from the real world.  Lord of the Rings looks like real life but sure as hell isn't comparible to reality.  It's the same thing with Zelda.  With Ocarina of Time I sure as hell never felt that it wasn't truly imaginative.

Personally I don't really have a problem with the new cel-shaded design.  I just don't want the game to maintain that style forever just as I wouldn't want any particular Zelda style to remain forever.  Some variety is always preferred.  I also wouldn't want any sort of "cel-shaded for kid Link, realistic for adult Link" convention.  Any sort of unnecessary "rule" for Zelda design is going to limit creativity.

14554

NWR Feedback / Advertisements (A reccomendation for the site)

« on: March 04, 2003, 06:07:44 AM »

Personally I can't stand anything but banner ads but the "in between" ads aren't as bad as pop-ups or those ultra annoying flash ads that get in the way of the content you're reading.  Once every 24 hours for an "in between" ad is okay.  I can't stand the IGN way though where it does that almost everytime I go to another page.  You don't get a commercial break every minute with TV so you shouldn't get a full screen ad every time you go to a different page.

Anyway I've noticed two bugs with the in-between ads.  First of all it says "the Planet Gamecube" instead of "the Planet Gamecube forums".  I assume that's a typo.  Second whenever I get a full screen ad when I get to the forum every reply is marked as already read no matter what.  It's as if I loaded up the forum and then hit the refresh button.

14555

Nintendo Gaming / ps3/xbox to get crush by GC2?

« on: March 03, 2003, 01:28:17 PM »

Some of you guys mentioned that the PS3/Xbox2 might have a DVD burner.  Are you guys nuts?  What sort of company would include a means to pirate games with their console?  If the PS3 came with a DVD burner it would probably take to a simple mod to make the machine not only play pirated games but actually make them as well!

I've mentioned it many times: the only way Sony will lose their number one spot is if they commit a massive f*ck up on N64 cartridge like proportions that forces third parties to leave.  A DVD burner sure as hell would do that but I really doubt they would include such a feature.  I agree with the logic that Sony and Microsoft's obsessions with making set-top boxes will eventually bite them in the ass but I don't think it will be so soon.  Microsoft isn't even in a position to pull any sh!t yet anyway.  They're still in a distant second and are going to remain gamer and developer friendly for a while.

Odds are that if Sony f*cks up Xbox and Gamecube will be more like equals anyway with Nintendo being stronger in Japan and MS stronger in North America.  It certainly wouldn't be instant "the king is back" or anything.  Probably would be very Genesis/SNES like.

14556

Nintendo Gaming / Is this a glimpse of the future? Blu-Ray Disc ...

« on: March 03, 2003, 11:08:10 AM »

"Toshiba and NEC are developing their own blue laser format, but it will be backwards compatiable with red laser discs."

This brings up another issue.  If these new formats are used in the next generation of consoles how will this relate to backwards compatibility?  That's kind of an expected feature now.

14557

Nintendo Gaming / Disturbing comments-again

« on: March 03, 2003, 10:49:13 AM »

I think you guys are taking this out of context.  Ken Embery isn't bashing the Cube or anything.  He's merely saying that with the direction they're taking The Hobbit it would sell best on Gamecube.  That is true.  Any game that targetted more for a younger audience is obviously going to sell better on Gamecube then on the other consoles.  That doesn't mean that Gamecube is for kids.  It means that kids are more likely to own a Gamecube.  Gamecube is bought by people of all ages.  Kids are likely going to own a Gamecube over the other consoles.  That's what Embery was saying.

You guys all say that Gamecube is for all ages yet when someone develops a kid's game for it you guys freak out.  A system for everyone means that there are games for EVERYONE including games for kids.   You can complain when a developer won't release a game on the Gamecube because of demographics but you can't when someone does release a game on Gamecube.

14558

TalkBack / Welcome to the Month of the Nintendo Fan!

« on: March 03, 2003, 10:07:48 AM »

"But what can this 'mystery prize' be...you're not gonna take people to e3, that's too obvious"

That would be cool but I wonder if it's even feasible.  E3 isn't just an "invite your friends" kind of thing.  Wouldn't PGC have to hire you as an E3 reporter or something in order to make you qualified to go to E3?  Plus you have to be 18 which would kind of limit the contest.

Speaking of the killer contests will you guys make it open to people from outside the US?  I can't stand it when I can't enter any of Nintendo's contests on a technicality.

14559

General Chat / Miyamoto secretly a cult leader?!

« on: March 03, 2003, 09:59:57 AM »

I thought it was funny.  You guys have to not be so uptight.  If someone said "Miyamoto is as evil as Hitler" then I can see it being offensive.  But he's just making an observation that in that picture Miyamoto looks like he's doing the Nazi salute.

There's a big difference between comparing someone to Hitler and remarking that in a picture someone kind of looks like Hitler.

14560

Nintendo Gaming / Is this a glimpse of the future? Blu-Ray Disc ...

« on: March 03, 2003, 09:51:43 AM »

"What could you possibly do with a 23 GB game?"

Have lots and lots of FMV of course!

Nobody has to use all 23GB but developers would at least now have the freedom to put whatever they want in a game without worrying about disc size.  No more mulitple disc games and no more compressed video.

Personally I don't really care about how much space game discs have in the next generation as long as it's not smaller than today's games and all three consoles have the same amount of storage space so that developers can't use the "Gamecube has a smaller disc" excuse.

It says in the article Rick linked to that blank discs are £20 each.  Ouch.  Those have to come down in price before they get used in videogame consoles.  I sure as hell wouldn't want to pay higher prices for games where developers don't even use all of the space paid for.

14561

Nintendo Gaming / Ye olde cel-shaded debate, again.

« on: March 03, 2003, 08:36:49 AM »

Here's an interesting story about the graphics.  A few days ago I was at Wal-Mart and they had the Zelda demo.  Having never played it yet I decided to give it a go (it wasn't that fun though because someone had left it paused and I couldn't tell what to do).  A kid (around ten years old) noticed I was playing and we started talking about the game.  We both agreed that the game was an absolute must have and we were both anticipating it's release.  Then he mentioned that the graphics sucked and unfortunately weren't as good as Ocarina of Time.  He wasn't trying to bash the game or anything.  He was just making an observation.  I asked if he wanted to play and his face lit up like I had just handed him a big bag of candy so I handed him the controller.

Anyway here was a ten year old child, Nintendo's target market, who was really interested in a new Zelda game but thought the graphics looked like crap.  He didn't say they were kiddy, he said they didn't look as good as the N64 games.  So that brings up an interesting point.  Until now the main complaint over the graphics was that they were kiddy.  But there is also the problem of people seeing a game where everything is in solid colours and the graphics aren't as detailed and therefore regarding the graphics as poor because they assumed that with Zelda everything should be more detailed.  Afterall Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask both had an incredible attention to detail for the time period.

I personally like the cel-shading but I don't prefer it to a more realistic approach.  Realistically I don't think Nintendo can give us these incredibly complex and detailed N64 Zelda game and then expect us to just accept a Zelda with the detail toned way down without any sort of backlash (which they've experienced).  The cel-shaded look probably should have been used with a brand new franchise where it likely would have been instantly accepted.

14562

General Chat / Buying a new TV

« on: March 03, 2003, 06:34:49 AM »

Okay I got the TV on the weekend.  I went with the Toshiba that Mike suggested.  My friend has a 24" Toshiba flat screen and he loves it and Consumer Report had the 27AF42 ranked at the top of their conventional TV list.  It also was the cheapest 27" at the store (aside from some Sorny and Panaphonics no-name brand stuff) oddly enough.

So far I'm very impressed with both the picture quality and sound.  I've got both my DVD player and Cube hooked up with S-Video and they just look amazing (I'll be ordering the GC component cable soon).  My only complaint is that with some games the graphics actually look worse because the detail is greater making the flaws look more noticable.

One problem though is that the TV (and the stand I bought with it) take up too much space in my room and now I have no place for my games and DVDs so I'm going to have to do some massive reorganizing.  I'd post pics but I don't have a digital camera or a scanner.

The best thing is it came in a really big box which I plan on turning into a transmorgamifier.

14563

TalkBack / Miyamoto D.I.C.E. Roundtable Highlights

« on: February 28, 2003, 12:26:27 PM »

"When asked about online plans for this year, Miyamoto responded in a way that made it seem like it wasn't to be this year."

I don't like the way that sounds.  Online plans should have been in place last year.  A year from now is way too late.  Network games are cool and all but are a really lame replacement for online.  BOTH types of games should be available.

"Kirby's Air Ride is being developed by HAL, which is no big surprise. The game is a fast-paced racing game in the same vein as Mario Kart, with power-ups, booster arrows, shortcuts."

If it's like Mario Kart it seems like kind of a useless title to make, particularly when the "real" Mario Kart isn't even out yet.  Maybe they're greatly changing the Mario Kart design and Kirby is designed to be the more traditional title.

14564

General Chat / Penny Arcade

« on: February 28, 2003, 12:07:02 PM »

I don't see any problems with today's comic.  PA makes comics about current gaming news events.  This analysis is news so they're going to make a comic on it.  I think that fact that Tycho is bugging Gabe about it (in the comic) shows that they're not bought out by MS or whatever.  If they were being paid off then they probably wouldn't have one of the characters trying to defend the Cube.  And besides they were making Gamecube jokes back when they were always slagging the Xbox.  It's not a new scenario or anything.

"First they said the Xbox was failing, now it's Nintendo, after that it will be the Xbox again, and then after that maybe more Nintendo." - Tycho's commentary for the comic.

Anyone bought out by Microsoft certainly wouldn't say that the Xbox would be failing again (or would even mention any previous failing).

If Microsoft really was paying them off do you think they would even cover the other systems anymore?  Or mention Zelda and Metroid in the context of being great games?

14565

General Chat / Buying a new TV

« on: February 28, 2003, 09:38:39 AM »

I've been thinking about buying a new TV.  My current TV is a few years old and only has one A/V input which is a big pain in the ass as I have to constantly swap the cables for my videogame consoles and my DVD player.  I've been doing some research and have some idea about stuff like S-Video and Component Video and whatnot but most sources of information are pretty techinical and don't tell me really simple stuff like what types of video hookup there are and which ones are better than others.  There seems to be a reasonable amount of tech nuts on this forum so I figure I might as well ask for any personal experiences with certain brands, models, etc and what features are worth looking out for.

Anyway my price range is around $750 Canadian which is probably around $500 in American funds (though I can go a few hundred higher).  My absolute requirements are that's it's flat screen, around 27", and can support at least S-Video.  The only stuff of consequence that I'm hooking up to it right now is my Gamecube and DVD player (which is a Toshiba and is Progressive Scan capable).  I can't afford anything really fancy like HDTV or anything.  I also don't have any sort of fancy audio setup so for the immediate future the TV's speakers have to suffice.  I'm not restricted by any dimension requirements for an entertainment centre or anything.  If the TV doesn't fit on the stand I'm currently using I'll buy a new stand.

I also am not too familiar with what sort of cables are needed for what particularly with the Gamecube.  I'd rather not have to order cables from Nintendo's website so if anybody has any third party cables to recommend that would be appreciated.

Thanks.

14566

TalkBack / Metal Gear Solid on GameCube - CONFIRMED

« on: February 28, 2003, 06:25:26 AM »

Is this exclusive?  Gaming-Age reported yesterday that MGS was being remade for all three consoles.

Either way I'm happy that Konami is at least giving the Cube some attention.  You can talk about the lower userbase all you want but Konami basically wrote the Cube off before it was released yet supported the Xbox.  Now they have an excuse to not support the Cube but they didn't really initially.

Anyway this is obviously Konami's way of testing the Gamecube market.  A remake is less of a risk to make then a brand new game so it's probably the most likely scenario.  This game HAS to sell well if we want any decent Konami support.  I'm not saying buy the game if you don't like it (I sure wouldn't) but don't sit on the fence either.  If you're interested in MGS buy it the day it comes out.

Hopefully it's not a port of MGS2.  That game's gotten such a bad rap lately a Gamecube version would be doomed to fail.

14567

TalkBack / AIAS Winners from D.I.C.E.!

« on: February 28, 2003, 06:12:34 AM »

"I'm quite confused how Splinter Cell would win Console Game of the Year but yet not get nominated for Overall Game of the Year."

Same here.  Any sort of logic would dictate any console game that was nominated for overall game of the year is "better" than any console game that wasn't.  I guess Splinter Cell should have been nominated for overall game.  Personally I'm just happy that Vice City didn't win.  It still seems pretty odd for a game to be nominated for ten awards and only win one.  Of course ever since SSX won game of the year I've questioned the merit of the awards anyway.

Interesting coincedence: two years in a row the widely considered game of the year lost out to a hyped up Xbox title.  If Zelda loses to Halo 2 conspiracy theories are going to start coming up.

14568

Nintendo Gaming / EGM rate Zelda!!!

« on: February 27, 2003, 09:58:11 AM »

No game is every going to be "perfect".  No matter what SOMEONE will not like it.  Therefore a 10 score shouldn't be seen as a perfect score but rather just the highest score a game can achieve.  A 10 doesn't mean a perfect game; it means a really really good game that's one of the best ever made.

Notice this "highest score means it's perfect" thing only comes up with videogames?  If a critic gives a movie five stars no one says the movie is perfect.  It's just a really great movie worthy of the highest praise.  Book reviews and music reviews are the same thing.  You never read a review in a newspaper where a movie critic gives a movie ****3/4 and say they would have given it ***** but "no film is perfect".

Wind Waker isn't a perfect game but it's probably still worthy of a perfect score.  Vice City and Halo aren't perfect games either but their perfect score doesn't mean that.  If EGM gives a game all tens it means that they are giving it the highest recommendation they can give.  That's it.

I do think Vice City is a little overrated though.  If Nintendo released a sequel that cookie cutter without fixing some of the major flaws (like aiming) they would have been murdered by critics.  Not fairly (why does Nintendo have to always be original but EA can release the same sports game every year?) but they still would have.

14569

Nintendo Gaming / Pokemon Advance - Older Pokemon unlockable via the E-Reader??!?

« on: February 27, 2003, 06:25:40 AM »

Damn Nintendo bastards always after my money.    Now I have to buy an e-Reader.  IGN Pocket mentionned that the game comes with a coupon for $10 off the e-Reader's price.  I'm buying both games (one for my brother) and I only need one e-Reader so I'm wondering if I can use both coupons and get $20 off.  I PAID for two games so it's not very fair if the coupon is "one per purchase".

Unlocking Pokemon seems like a sure thing except for one issue.  Is the e-Reader available in Japan?  Animal Forest+ didn't have it and Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire has been out in Japan for months and I've never heard of any e-Reader support until now.  If the e-Reader is an American only thing it seems unlikely that it would be required to unlock certain Pokemon  because the Japanese market can't use it.  More likely the e-Reader is only for bonuses like extra items or battles.

I figure the Gamecube Pokemon game is more likely the key to all the "missing" Pokemon.  Afterall it pushes the GC/GBA connectivity which Nintendo hypes up as their big edge over the competition.

14570

Nintendo Gaming / Question about Gameboy Player...

« on: February 26, 2003, 01:37:37 PM »

"You should just need the cable, and simply plug the player into the gamecube through the controller ports. So you can do everything you can with a GBA -- they're the same. Except you need a controller and the ability to plug it into the wall, and a telly."

And after you do this how the hell do you turn on your Gamecube and GB Player at the same time?  The console is only going to work as one or the other.

14571

Nintendo Gaming / New Zelda for GBA Announced

« on: February 26, 2003, 01:34:18 PM »

"You mean a re-release right? Who is risck? That would be cool if that's true because the GBA was my first Game Boy so I never got a chance to play Link's Awakening. At least not on a handheld anyway."

What do you mean you never got a chance?  The GBA is backwards compatible.  Link's Awakening DX can still be found new in most stores.

If Nintendo re-releases this title they are officially the laziest bastards in the world.  Link's Awakening is a f*cking Gameboy game and was later ported to the GBC.  Everybody who owns a GBA can already play it.  What's next?  Ports of the Oracle games and Pokemon Red/Blue?

14572

Nintendo Gaming / GBA vs GBA SP

« on: February 26, 2003, 01:02:24 PM »

I would get an SP.  The GBA screen is just ridiculously hard to see.  Even with a light source you have to angle the system just right to see everything clearly.  If you don't care about specific graphic details and just want to see enough to play it's alright but I tend to get frustrated when I can't see everything clearly.  What good are the graphics if I can't see them in any sort of detail?

The only reason I don't have an SP is because I already have a GBA and I don't feel like plopping down a hundred bucks for new hardware so soon after the GBA's release especially to fix a problem that Nintendo was well aware of ahead of time and could have "fixed" the first time around.  If I didn't have a GBA (and the GB Player wasn't coming out) I would have bought an SP for sure.

The extra money is well worth it.  If you buy a regular GBA you'll be cursing its sh!tty screen within the first ten minutes of playing it.

14573

Nintendo Gaming / new gamcube controller.

« on: February 26, 2003, 12:42:52 PM »

Personally I love the Gamecube controller.  The only games it isn't that good for are PS2 ports but I hate the PS2 controller so I'm glad that Nintendo didn't just copy them (which would be kind of ironic considering the original PSX controller was a rip off of the SNES controller in the first place).  For games designed for the Gamecube it works perfectly.  With any game with crappy controls I blame the developer because it's their responsibility to design the controls around the controller instead of the other way around.  The D-pad is kind of crappy but developers shouldn't be making 3D games with d-pad controls anymore.  It's their own fault for not keeping with the times.

Anyway the FPS friendly controller you're suggesting is such a minor change that it doesn't seem worth it.  Odds are most people don't have any problems with the C-stick.  The most common complaints have to do with the small D-pad or PS2 owners who can't cope with a (*gasp*) ergonomic controller.

14574

Nintendo Gaming / Offical 2002 Game Of The Year Nominees

« on: February 26, 2003, 10:04:25 AM »

"If that happens Nintendo should start another Metroid marketing blitz and double Metroid sales. Who wouldnt want to buy the 10awards GOTY!!!!"

I completely agree.  I seriously think that Halo and GTA3 would not have been nearly as big if it weren't for post-awards advertisments with "Game of the Year" plastered all over.  Both games are still selling.  A new Metroid Prime commercial with "Game of the Year" written all over it (and a good amount of game footage to show off the graphics) could greatly boost sales.  Plus it's now available for FREE with a Gamecube puchase.  The Xbox Sega bundle certainly sold Xboxes.  Think how well a "Game of the Year" Gamecube bundle will sell.

Of course knowing Nintendo they'll probably just put a "Game of the Year" logo on the box and do nothing else.

14575

Nintendo Gaming / Modern GameCube games Need Difficulty Settings

« on: February 26, 2003, 06:43:51 AM »

"With Zelda I'd change the number of initial hearts (as I said in the first post)... depending upon if you are a Zelda God (1 heart) or a Child (10 hearts)"

Ten hearts?  In most Zelda games I beat the game with like 15 hearts tops.  Ten hearts would make it WAY too easy.  I much prefer the idea of having two quests (like Ocarina/Master Quest) with rearranged dungeons.  The difficulty is still greater and the player doesn't have to play through the exact same game.