Messages

251

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Game-Boy "Next"

« on: June 01, 2003, 08:19:16 PM »

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When the PSP comes out, it might interact with the PS3, but I think that it's uncertain at this time whether the PSP will even see the light of day.

Given the fact that Sony's issued a public release for it, i'd say there's a good chance it'll become a physical product. While they could slip it under the rug, the hype has already started, not unlike the hype for PS2. Remember 60-70 million polys per second and Toy Story graphics?

It's quite possible that PSP could connect to the PS2's USB port or the controller port. Does it seem too late in the PS2's life cycle to add PS2-PSP connectivity? Don't forget the PocketStation which was released late in the Playstation's life. Before you comment on it's level of success, remember that it was wisely never released outside of Japan.

[TRANCE VIBRATOR. プルプル。。。]

252

General Chat / RE: You know you have a problem when...

« on: June 01, 2003, 02:38:17 PM »

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Heh. You guys are dirty. It's a massager... not what you are thinking. Or at least that's my story, and I hope it keeps me out of trouble.

TRANCE VIBRATOR. プルプル。。。

It's been a couple years since i've studied Japanese, but i've one note to pass on. When referring to girls who are cute in the attractive sense, use kirei. Kawaii refers to things that are cute in the "cuddly" sense of the word, like puppies or kittens.

Kono shi ga kirei jyoshi juubun motte imasen...

That feels wrong for some reason, but you get the idea.

i've been debating whether or not to get back into Japanese, especially given the fact that i've got the time to do it. i can't afford classes now, not that there's any close by. My main fear is that i'll pick up bad habits in enunciation and in writing, although i was really good at Japanese when i was taking it. i know people who took it for years, but they still lacked finesse in those areas.

One series i'd definitely recommend is Sakura Taisen. The first and second game were on Saturn, and it later received improved Dreamcast versions as well as  two sequels. It's been redone once again on PS2, which is also home to a fifth sequel. There's several spinoff games, like Sakura Taisen Hanagumi Taisen Columns on Saturn and Sakura Taisen Kakyou Show on Dreamcast. It's still wildly popular in Japan.

Sakura Taisen is part strategy RPG and part date sim-style character interaction. You play the role of Iichiroo Oogami, the leader and conveniently the only male member of the Teikoku Kagekidan, a group that performs plays during the day, but is secretly the military force protecting Japan. During the non-battle portions, you'll encounter other characters in the group, and how you speak to them during these portions determines how well they'll fight in the SRPG portion of the game. The best part about the game for Japanese students is that as the characters speak, their lines are displayed on-screen (in kanji of course) as they speak. The character's voices are extremely well-done, especially Orihime Soretta, the Italian girl who first appears in Sakura Taisen 2. Even with a beginner's knowledge of Japanese, it's obvious she's Italian. I love the way she elegantly butchers the word “desu” in nearly every sentence she speaks. Sakura Taisen is one of the most beautiful (not so much graphically, but stylistically) games i've ever played, and also one of the most emotional at times. When i get far enough into Japanese, i'll definitely pick it up again.

i've managed to sell a few items on ebay and help my financial standings a bit. If things get really bad, i've got a digital camera, Minidisc player, and an unopened copy of Steel Battalion to auction off, so i'm not that bad off... yet. Job hunt continues tomorrow. The hunt for demo discs also continues; this small city only has one place that even carries the disc (Kaybee Toys) and they only sell it with the system. あほお！

253

General Gaming / RE: Sony announces... the PSX!?

« on: May 31, 2003, 04:31:41 PM »

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Erm...can't my computer do all the useful things that this little white box can, AND play PC games (which I'd rather play than PS2 games)?
Seriously, the hardcore geeky people who are the target audience of this product already have high-end computers that can do all these things...And they probably have Tivo as well. So what's the point of buying this tin can?

Sure, if you've got a DVD±RW drive and a tv capture card. If PSX can use TiVO-functions while you're playing a game, then you'd also need a high end PC. The hardcore geeky people are content doing everything consoles and devices like TiVOs do on their PCs. So who'll buy this? People who want and all-in-one device. Home electronics enthusiasts. Those who'll pay for style. Heck, i'd consider buying one if i had a desire for a TiVO. We'll get a better idea once we see just how much it'll cost, and how and where Sony wants to sell it.

Again, i think Sony, not Sony Computer Entertainment, is pushing Playstation and Playstation 2 gameplaying capability as a technology. This would be especially true if PS3 (Playstation 3) is backward compatible with it's predecessors. Eventually, people would come to expect DVD players, DVHS players, PVRs, etc. that were Playstation-compatible. It's the same basic idea VM Labs had years ago with their Nuon technology – a technology that could be inserted into DVD players to play games and enhance the features of the DVD player, adding value to it.

The more i look at it, the more the vertical, “mounted” position of the PSX appeals to me. Very simple, clean, and easy to see how the PSX logo will embed itself into your subconcious.

254

General Gaming / RE: Sony announces... the PSX!?

« on: May 29, 2003, 06:30:54 PM »

i was looking at the shot of the front of the unit, and on the bottom right is a list of all the technologies it employs. Interesting that Playstation 2 is considered a technology, much like DVD±RW and DTS.

255

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Hacking in the matrix

« on: May 29, 2003, 06:16:00 PM »

If memory serves me correctly, there's another couple of "levels" in that stage, then a new stage with something like three levels, then the Logos piloting level, and that's it. You're almost done.

256

General Gaming / RE: Sony announces... the PSX!?

« on: May 29, 2003, 12:27:19 AM »

And that bit of hidden info proves what exactly? What i was saying was that the name PSX isn't something the casual gaming audience or print/tv/radio broadcasts generally use. You just proved my point.

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And is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the "Playstation Portable" doesn't seem to be listing the ability to play PSX games as one of it's features, despite being disc-based and "slightly more powerful than a PSX"?

It's not because it doesn't. It plays PSP games.

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Sony's just blatantly milking the name for all it's worth now.

And why not use the Playstation name to promote their line of gaming-related electronics? It's called branding. "Playstation Portable" instantly brings to mind "Playstation". And everyone knows Sony makes the Playstation. Same thing with the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, and Nintendo 64. [Nintendo] Gamecube should technically be on that list, but it's the first system that's not bound to the Nintendo name. "Gamecube" stands on it's own, despite attempts otherwise.  

257

General Chat / RE: You know you have a problem when...

« on: May 28, 2003, 10:16:50 PM »

i'm in a similar situation as Grey Ninja. i've been looking for a job for the past three months. Jobs (even crappy ones) are ridiculously hard to come by in the small city. My part time job's pretty much dried up since i've completed all the work they needed me for. i'm living with my mom, which helps, but she's not working, a bit in debt, and will likely only be able to pay rent for another couple of months. i've been surviving on beans and a thin stew made of vegetables, prawns, coconut milk, and four kinds of rice. Or maybe that was Principal Skinner -- i can't remember now. i'm down to about $200 now; enough to pay this month's bills, and have gas and food for a week. i've been ebaying all the crap i can in hopes of scaring up some cash.

A couple weeks ago i got Enter the Matrix. i'm cool with a couple of the guys at the EB i got it from, so i can return it for a full refund (in store credit) as long as it's in new condition. i usually never return a game i buy, but ETM is bad enough to warrant a return, and the hope that Atari will go the way of 3D0. i'm tempted to get a demo disc, or Iridion II for GBA. Both of which would set me back less than $20, and would be well worth it. At the moment, i'll settle for beating Metal Gear Solid again. Mei Ling's voice and and the much-exploited rumble of the Dual Shock in the game are the only comforts i have this late at night.

The first thing i plan on doing when i get working again is to blow a few hundred on something. i'm leaning towards one of those 13 inch LCD screens from Elite Peripherals. Must... job... get.

258

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Boktai

« on: May 28, 2003, 07:51:35 PM »

If you don't play in the sun, your weapons will be weak, or possibly ineffective.

The light sensor could be a solar cell. Most likely you've seen solar cells in calculators. Basically they work by converting light into an electrical current. Any light source can produce energy for the cells, but even on a cloudy day, the light from the sun is much greater than that of a lightbulb.

It's a really interesting concept, and if the game is good, it could become a sleeper. Will i overcome my hate of the sun to experience this game? Probably.

259

General Gaming / RE: Gran Truismo 4 graphics

« on: May 28, 2003, 07:06:50 PM »

They're completely different types of racers with different goals. Burnout 2 is an arcade racer with a focus on exaggerated crashes. GT4 is a sim racer with a focus on realism. Burnout 2 recreates urban environments (complete with traffic), with particle effects and motion blur. GT4 recreates various race tracks which are a bit more sparse than Burnout 2's areas, which leaves more detail for the cars. i think both games succeed visually, although GT4 wins in my book from what i've seen. It ups the realism a bit from GT3, and adds some utterly spectacular locales, like the Grand Canyon.

260

General Gaming / RE: Sony announces... the PSX!?

« on: May 28, 2003, 04:45:49 PM »

Color me unimpressed. Design is a little too plain for my tastes, although i do like the PSX logo on the top of the unit. i suppose if i was actually interested in PVR it'd be more appealing techwise. New technology's more interesting than current bundled technology.

The PSX name thing is confusing, but only to the more hardcore gamers. The PSX abbreviation is mostly a web thing; in print and other forms of media it's referred to as "Playstation" or "PS".

This is completely different from Sega's hardware. The Saturn and Sega CD were "legitimate" systems. 32x was Sega of America's ill-conceived attempt at regaining marketshare in the face of the upcoming Playstation. Neptune and Jupiter were never released.

PSX is a digital entertainment hub, and as Rick said, it's aimed at a completely different market than the PS2.  

261

Nintendo Gaming / RE: enter the matrix help

« on: May 27, 2003, 06:55:57 PM »

Could you provide a little more detail as to what happens before that? i've played through the game but i can't remember that exact area.

262

Nintendo Gaming / RE: How do I get a demo disk?

« on: May 27, 2003, 01:23:28 PM »

Also try Sam Goody. i've heard from a couple of friends that they have the discs for a penny, when they have them.

263

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Why don't Nintendo fans like Fighting Games?

« on: May 27, 2003, 08:11:53 AM »

264

Nintendo Gaming / RE: GT Cube

« on: May 25, 2003, 07:27:45 PM »

The scan quality isn't the best, but it's still obvious that the game is cel shaded

With the Cube version of Auto Modellista supposedly around the corner, at supposedly $39.99, one has to wonder which game to get. Both games are cel-shaded, but from what i've seen of GTC, Auto Modellista looks much more stylish. From the speed lines (commonlu used in manga/anime) to the "splash" effect when your tires are skidding, watching AM is like reading the manga Initial D.

If MTO (GT Cube devleoper) follows the same model as their GT Advance series on GBA, GTC will be an arcade racer with enough real customization to give it staying power. MTO's also been good about releasing their GTA games in the US not long after their Japanese release.  

265

General Chat / RE: Best blonde joke EVER!

« on: May 24, 2003, 09:36:12 PM »

It gets to http://www.marylandcreepers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3458 and then there's an error. That's roughly 20 pages deep. i'm not sure if this is a different forum than the one Gamefreak found or not.

266

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Denis Dyack Interview

« on: May 24, 2003, 08:40:25 PM »

i'd rather keep the radar and codec on the tv screen. Having the radar on the GBA means taking your eyes away from what's going on, which isn't a good thing to do in the heat of battle. Having the codec on the GBA isn't the worst thing since using the codec pauses gameplay. But why would i want to watch the tiny GBA screen and listen to underpowered speaker when i can watch it on tv and listen to it through my home theater system?

The only good (and logical) use of the GBA would be to have a codec where you can only talk to Mei Ling. If i could download that to my GBA and disconnect it, well...

267

Nintendo Gaming / Playstation Portable vs. GameBoy Advance: The War is On

« on: May 24, 2003, 06:37:11 PM »

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There is already an LCD available for the GC, and the games are perfectly readble, and in fact look better on the LCD than they do on your TV.

Mind specifying which LCD screen you're referring to? The majority of screens made for consoles can't match tvs. i posted my review of the Intec Game Screen (http://www.planetgamecube.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=12&threadid=3803) a few days ago. Despite how much i like the screen, it's not for every game. If you're referring to the LCD screen shown at E3, mind giving us some impressions? i'm very interested in how it stacks up to other screens.

268

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Denis Dyack Interview

« on: May 24, 2003, 08:48:47 AM »

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The codec is the radio communications, not the radar system.

My apologies, it was 5:30a at the time. In any case, i simply don't like having to look at my GBA screen when i'm playing a game on a tv. It just separates me from the game too much.  

269

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Denis Dyack Interview

« on: May 24, 2003, 12:32:18 AM »

Good job on the interview guys. Am i just really tired (it's 5:30a here) or was there an MP3 version of this interview?

i'm not horribly excited about an MGS remake since i have and have beaten MGS, however, i'll buy it upon release.

Why use the GBA as a codec? The codec in MGS worked well enough; having to look away from the screen to check the location of enemies is counterproductive to the codec feature. i am interested in the possibility of using the GBA in a co-op mode like in Zelda, or better yet, the possibility of a Cube link mode, whether it's co-op or not.

i'm rather disappointed to hear that the VR missions disc won't make the cut. Granted, Denis didn't come out and say it, but it's likely they'll be tweaking Twin Snakes up until production, which eliminates any chance of VR Missions. On the other hand, it's not a huge loss; VR Missions can be had for ten bucks or less.

270

General Chat / RE: Your Megaton Game Setup

« on: May 23, 2003, 03:39:59 PM »

Why pay for stuff when you can get it for free? If you see promotional/display items at stores, ask whoever's on duty what they do with their stuff. Outside of a dedicated game retailer, they usually just toss stuff out. Still, game retailers get stuff like this weekly, so a few weeks after a game's release they usually chuck the promos for newer stuff. i've gotten tons of displays and whatnot like this over the years. Too bad i don't have the space to put much of it up; i'd really love to have a spot to hang my Kirby Pillow.

271

Nintendo Gaming / RE: No PSP, please!!

« on: May 23, 2003, 01:07:41 PM »

i was referring to MPEG-2 used in playback on DVD systems. MPEG-4 is a great format for a portable device like the PSP. Also, 1.8GB is plenty of space for a full length movie using any current codec, especially at the PSP's resolution.

Do i think we'll see movies in the proprietary PSP format? Possibly. It won't reach the popularity of DVD, but i wouldn't be surprised to see a Sony Pictures release for PSP (in Japan). Sony's released premastered  Minidiscs over the years; i wouldn't be surprised to see them release a few non-game UMDs over the years.

272

Nintendo Gaming / RE: No PSP, please!!

« on: May 23, 2003, 09:16:56 AM »

Look at it this way - If PSP plays games, music, movies, and costs $300, it's simply not a system you'll buy. If it met my needs, i certainly would, as would others. Sony's not going to shoot themselves in the foot with a cost that high, though.

Also, to add to my "if the technology is in the box" comments, i forgot to mention possible licensing fees involved. i'm not sure how this works for each technology, but adding MPEG support (like MPEG-2 used in DVD playback) in a game system could result in the system manufacturer having to pay additional fees, which often get passed down to the consumer.

273

Nintendo Gaming / RE: No PSP, please!!

« on: May 22, 2003, 07:46:34 PM »

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The Game Gear, Lynx, and Neo Geo Color, along with the WonderSwan, are all long dead. The GameBoy has been the handheld standard pretty much since it's release.

Yes, they're long dead, but the point i was trying to make was that these consoles all competed with the Gameboy. Since the TurboExpress there's always been a competitor with the Gameboy, and there's always been a choice to make. i didn't mention the WonderSwan because it was only released in Japan, and in my opinion, lacked a number of top notch titles.

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And screw having video and music playback, too- I don't want to have to spend $300 on a multimedia machine that can do my taxes when all I want to use it for is play games. Sure, release add-ons that'll toast my breadm but don't force extra features on me I don't want. GAMING is GAMING and nothing else- I don't like it being incorporated into other forms of media.

i won't go into stunted speculatory rant about how the PSP is a portable entertainment device -- i did that on the other two PSP-related threads. i'm personally all for that sort of convergence, given that the device, if it's a primarily a game system, is designed for games (in both terms of ergonomics and internal hardware) and has a library of solid games. Is there really that big a fundamental difference between the GBA and PSP? Both systems have CPUs that are capable of processing data, just as they have displays and a speaker (speakers in the case of PSP) to output video and sound. The data could be in the form of a game, music, video, etc. Granted, PSP seems to be more capable in terms of multimedia, but if Nintendo wanted, they could've touted GBA as a multmedia device.

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GAMING is GAMING and nothing else- I don't like it being incorporated into other forms of media.

And how many CD based systems played music CDs? If the technology supports it, and the feature is relevant enough to a game system, why not put it in?

Like i explained in my example above, game systems are powerful enough to do more than just games, to move into other forms of entertainment and other functions entirely. Just how hard do you think it is for PS2 and Xbox to play DVD movies? Had Nintendo gone with a standard DVD drive in the Gamecube, i would've been sorely disappointed if they didn't allow DVD playback. It's not that i look for those sort of features in a game system, but again, if the technology is in the box, why not?

i think i understand what you're saying about the plethora of console gaming solutions. Gamecube is my only next gen system (unless you count Dreamcast), so my recent gaming purchases are pretty simple. In a few months, i'll have a PS2, and likely an Xbox a few months after that. i don't look forward to having more systems to plop $49.99 on each month, but i do look forward to the new experiences i can get with games on those systems. Similarly, i don't like having to buy another handheld. Honestly, i don't like the familiarity of a Gameboy-only US market being threatened, especially by a company competent in marketing their products (unlike Gameboys other competiors) . i do however, like what Sony could bring to the table. It's late, and my speculation (speculatory?) glands are still sore from a two-hour conversation at EB about this very subject, so i won't bother saying what Sony could bring.  

Interesting times...  

274

Nintendo Gaming / RE: No PSP, please!!

« on: May 22, 2003, 07:33:44 AM »

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The handheld market was at least a bastion of the past in which the GameBoy was the only console you had to own to get the most out of handheld games.

i guess that means you were never a fan of the Game Gear, Lynx, or Neo Geo Pocket. These systems weren't as prolific as any iteration of the Gameboy, but they still had a solid enough library of games to warrant me to purchase one.  

i see it as a good thing for publishers, as profit margins for GBA are supposedly very low due largely to cart costs Nintendo's fees, in addition to development and marketing fees.  

i too, am saddened by what'll likely be yet another nail in 2D gaming's coffin, especially with the growing selection of excellent GBA games. i'm hoping that more powerful hardware will yield even better 2D games, even if the improvement is only graphical.

Frankly, i hope the PSP spanks the GBA. Seriously. i want Nintendo to be forced to release some of their best games in years (although Made in Wario is a great start), and to release a handheld that can one up PSP. i also want to see what type of innovations Sony will bring to the market. i've got a feeling that PSP will go a bit beyond the standard handheld and into a more general entertainment device, with music and video playback. i want the same type of capabilities while playing Nintendo's games.

275

General Chat / RE: MP3 Players

« on: May 21, 2003, 08:41:02 PM »

i'm a Minidisc fan myself, but in terms of MP3 players, i like the iPod for hard drive-based players, and iRiver's iFP-195T for flash-based players. i like the simplicity of the iPod, and the newer models are very slim and easily PC compatible. The headphone amp is also more powerful than the originals. The iRiver is simply one of the best MP3 players i've ever used. It's got 512MB of onboard memory (you can't add anymore), an insanely detailed menu system, voice recording, etc. i didn't use the built-in FM tuner (or FM recording capabilities) much, but it seemed to work pretty well. It's not super cheap at roughly $300, but it's debatably the best flash unit to date.

Battery life seems to be an issue with MP3 players across the board -- one of the reason's i stick with MDs.