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Messages - RickPowers

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1126
TalkBack / 2003 Interactive Achievement Awards Finalists
« on: February 04, 2003, 10:55:00 AM »
Really?  You think so?

Quote
Finalists for 2003’s Console Game of the Year include: • Splinter Cell for the Xbox, published by UbiSoft, developed by UbiSoft Montreal


Game of the Year is Game of the Year, regardless of whether it's console-only or overall.

I am somewhat disappointed by the fact that the very excellent Sly Cooper for PS2 wasn't nominated in the Console category.  I personally think it was better than Ratchet and Clank, so seeing it ignored is disheartening.

1127
NWR Feedback / List of Suggestions
« on: February 04, 2003, 10:10:22 AM »
It's very easy to do, but it's already over 300 users, and isn't going to get any smaller.  Sorry, but the draw on the database would be much too large.

1128
Nintendo Gaming / Rumor: Just Sniffing Around
« on: February 04, 2003, 10:08:48 AM »
That's a VERY important point.  Nintendo has released the hardware for online, but they are making it PAINFULLY difficult for developers to incorporate any online features in their games.  Why on earth should games like Tony Hawk 4 and Ghost Recon need to be without any online component?  Nintendo doesn't NEED to be involved when the game would offer simple peer-to-peer play, there would only need to be a matchmaking server.  This is completely unacceptable.  Third-parties willing to take the plunge to offer online play to their consumers shouldn't have to omit the feature because Nintendo won't release the tools.  I'm sure Nintendo wants to be "first to the party", but that's just silly.  Nintendo drags it's feet, and the format suffers as a result.

My only hope, and it's admittedly a vain one, is that Nintendo does have some sort of all-encompassing online plan in the works, and that's why we haven't seen anything outside of PSO.  Nintendo just wants to make sure everyone is on-board first, and that they have the technology ready.  But I think if Nintendo is going to announce some sort of online strategy, E3 is pretty much the deadline.  After that, anyone that cares will be online with another platform.  What does it tell you that several of a Nintendo website's staff are playing online with Xbox Live JUST to get their online gaming fix?  Nintendo is quickly letting this boat pass them by.

1129
NWR Feedback / List of Suggestions
« on: February 04, 2003, 09:59:56 AM »
We could, but the effort involved would be significant, and I'm not entirely sure that it would be all that beneficial in the long run.  I'll look into it, but I'm not making any promises.

1130
Announcements / New Forum FAQ online!
« on: February 04, 2003, 09:41:30 AM »
In an effort to educate our users, we've posted a Planet GameCubeForums FAQ on the website.  It's always available by the new "faq" link on the Menu Bar.

You "old timers" might remember this as the Forums Etiquette post from the ezBoard Forums.  Regardless, while not following these "rules" probably won't get you banned intially, if you start annoying other users because you can't conform, you'll likely be banned as a result.

Play nice.  

1131
TalkBack / Smartmedia-based video/music player for GBA
« on: February 04, 2003, 08:52:39 AM »
The wacky GBA hardware add-ons continue to roll on out ...

A company called am3, funded by Toshiba, Imagica, and Bandai, are set to start test marketing in May a device for the Game Boy Advance (and Game Boy Advance SP) that will allow you to replay video and music files stores on SmartMedia memory cards.  Thay plan on a full-scale release in the Fall.


If the information we have is correct, it seems that AM3 plans on selling both recordable SmartMedia (which you can put anything on), and SmartMedia which will have pre-recorded (and presumably, protected) content.  It looks like protection will be in place to ensure that even content recorded by users (through the use of a special adapter) will not be able to be shared with other users.  They also plan to offer pre-recorded SmartMedia card through kiosks in convenience stores.


The compression/decompression algorithms are stores on the media, not in the adapter, and will take up some of the space on the cards.  The codec is written specifically for the ARM7 CPU in the GBA, but no specifics on the technology are available.  A 32MB SmartMedia card can hold up to 24 minutes of video, and 5 hours of audio.


Eventually, the company hopes that this technology can be used for study aids, advertisements, museum guides, digital comic books, and the company does indeed plan on expanding the device into the United States in the second half of 2003 and Europe in 2004.  They will officially announce the device for the North American market at E3 in May.


Pricing appears to be a bit vauge, but they appear to be offering the device and one SmartMedia card for about $40.  Blank 32MB SmartMedia cards will be around $28, with a  CD-ROM packed with content available for about $60.


1132
NWR Feedback / List of Suggestions
« on: February 04, 2003, 08:51:25 AM »
That would actually require quite a bit more work than changing a simple default setting.  Perhaps in the future, but not at this time.

1133
NWR Feedback / List of Suggestions
« on: February 04, 2003, 08:03:28 AM »
Never let it be said that I don't try to listen to our users.  I've set the Who's On screen to default to listing ALL users Online.  However, we reserve the right to turn this feature OFF when/if it becomes to much of a database draw.

But until then ... enjoy!  

1134
Nintendo Gaming / GBA SP
« on: February 04, 2003, 07:47:10 AM »
Quote
"And the GBA SP has no more RAM. None!"

No RAM?! Then how does it play games?


No MORE RAM, Ian.  As in, no ADDITIONAL RAM.  Reading Comprehension, people ...

1135
TalkBack / Game Boy Player available ONLY in Black
« on: February 04, 2003, 07:32:59 AM »
If you've got an Indigo or the new Platinum Cube, prepare for disappointment ...

In what has got to be one of the most baffling decisions we've seen, Nintendo has chosen to release the Game Boy Player add-on for the GameCube in Jet Black ONLY.  Both EB Games and GameStop are both listing only the Black model available for pre-ordering.  There may be additional colors after the initial launch, but if you have to have one on the first day, Black is all you can get.


In Japan, Nintendo is releasing the Player in all of the colors available, including Spice Orange.  Importers will need a modded unit in order to use the Player, because while the hardware will work on a GameCube from any region, the included Boot Disc is expected to be region-locked like like all other GameCube software.


Of course, if you want to import, our partners at Video Game Depot will be happy to hook you up.


1136
TalkBack / Metroid Prime 2, official!
« on: February 04, 2003, 07:14:01 AM »
It's now offical, Metroid Prime 2 is in development.  But will Samus be playing Volleyball?

It's been fairly widely known that Retro Studios went right back to work after their Louie Award Winning Metroid Prime was released, and we were told that it was to be a sequel to Metroid Prime.  Now Nintendo has made it official, as the game is now listed on thier website.


No details are known at this time, and we don't know if Prime 2 will pick up after the first Prime game, or if it will continue the story line started in Metroid Fusion for the Game Boy Advance.  All that is certain is that you won't be seeing Samus spiking a volleyball any time soon.


So what does this mean for Retro's other projects that were shelved in order to emphasize on Prime?  It's hard to say at this point, as apparently the entire company is again focused on the sequel.


We'll have more details for you as soon as we can dig them up.


1137
TalkBack / PGC is Hiring!
« on: February 04, 2003, 06:10:00 AM »
I concede ... I was indeed mistaken on that fact.  Our German friends are free to apply, as long as they meet the other criteria!  

1138
TalkBack / PGC is Hiring!
« on: February 03, 2003, 06:40:30 PM »
"You don’t have to live exactly in this place, but you need to be close enough to travel there for press events on fairly short notice."

Unless you can get to mainland Australia on a regular basis for events and whatnot, and on short notice, I would have to say ... No.

1139
TalkBack / PGC is Hiring!
« on: February 03, 2003, 06:21:23 PM »
Germany isn't one of the areas we're looking to hire someone in, sorry.

1140
General Gaming / Xbox loses $380 million for Microsoft
« on: February 03, 2003, 06:18:56 PM »
That's spurious math, Ming.

Actually, while Microsoft is losing money on the Xbox, that's not where all of this loss is coming from.  It's Microsoft's Home Entertainment group that is losing the money, which includes things like the former Ultimate TV group.  There's also the persistent rumor that Microsoft's Home Entertainment group budget is being used to subsidize a major Japanese development house, and keep them afloat.  Don't know who it might be (though the rumor is Sega), but that would explain why the loss keeps getting bigger when the Xbox must be getting cheaper to manufacture.

(The rumor of Microsoft giving money to Sega would certainly explain two of Sega's titles being packed in ...)

1141
TalkBack / BREAKING: Space Shuttle Columbia Destroyed
« on: February 03, 2003, 06:13:56 PM »
Point taken.  It must have been my US-centric attitude creeping in there a bit.  But Canadians not caring much about space probably explains much of Mojo's apathy.

As for what the space program has done for teh human race right now, not a whole heck of a lot.  But saying that's a reason not to explore is folly.  We are DESTROYING this planet, and if the human race is going to survive, we're likely going to have to leave it at some point.  Every mission to space any country takes gets us one small step closer.  I can understand the young not being able to see the larger picture, but that certainly doesn't excuse it.  While it may never affect you in your lifetime, it will likely impact your ancestors in some fashion.

1142
General Gaming / Pro Logic II on Gamecube FAQ
« on: February 03, 2003, 05:44:02 PM »
A couple of salient points for you ...

First, if you don't have a PL2 receiver (or can't afford one), but have a receiver that does Pro Logic (and nearly all of them do), you will still get surround sound from your PL2 games.  It won't be as clear or well defined as PL2 (the rear channels are mono, not discrete), but it's better than stereo.

PL2 doesn't natively support subwoofers, so a sub isn't a necessity.  However, many games have hacked in a subwoofer channel, and many receivers have an option to take the bass coming from all of the other speakers and redirect it to the sub.  (Yes, this is a loss in sound quality for the speakers, but since bass is non-directional anyway, with good subwoofer placement you will likely not notice the difference.)

1143
NWR Feedback / List of Suggestions
« on: February 03, 2003, 05:16:48 PM »
Quote
Well, can you make it so the default list we see is "all" instead of "a"? Because I am thinking that is unecissary to go through an alphabet first.


Same reason.  While it might be handy NOW, when the forum starts getting really busy, it's going to create a huge database draw.  I mean, we're already getting between 10-20 people online at once, and that's in only four days of being in BETA.  When we shut down the other forums and kick this into high gear, it's going to be a LOT worse.

Trust me, if we're not giving you a very logical and helpful feature, it's probably in the interest of keeping the Forums moving at a decent pace.

1144
TalkBack / PGC is Hiring!
« on: February 03, 2003, 04:47:45 PM »
You don't understand it because you're clearly not paying attention.  We don't NEED any more "good writers".  We need people who are VERSATILE.  We need people who can attend these events, we need people who can write, and we need people who get get photos and video.  We don't need some keyboard jockey who doesn't want to leave his house.  We need people who can act like professional journalists, not just pretend to be one on the Internet.

Writing is a very SMALL part of it.

1145
NWR Feedback / List of Suggestions
« on: February 03, 2003, 04:07:29 PM »
That's probably not going to happen, unless I can find a way to manage the sheer size the list would become if someone left for a month or so then came back.  It would be a fairly major database draw, unfortunately.  It would work fine in a small forum, but if this gets anywhere near as large as the last one, it would get very unweildy, VERY fast.  Sorry.

1146
TalkBack / PGC is Hiring!
« on: February 03, 2003, 03:08:04 PM »
Sky,

If you re-read the posting, many of your questions are already answered.

"You don’t have to live exactly in this place, but you need to be close enough to travel there for press events on fairly short notice. "

"Applicants must have some writing experience, preferably with published work either online or offline."

1147
Nintendo Gaming / Rumor: Just Sniffing Around
« on: February 03, 2003, 02:53:47 PM »
I have to say that the Voice Communicator you get with Xbox Live is definitely a killer app for online.  While some people can get annoying (judicious use of an ignore list helps), there's nothing like hearing the cheers of your teammates getting a righteous kill, or the rantings of your enemies as you pummel them.

A keyboard is better than nothing, but voice communication is THE Holy Grail of interacting online as far as I'm concerned.  I was really worried that it would be more annoying than anything at first, but I'm completely sold.

Now, if only it were wireless ...

1148
Announcements / Subscription Links fixed
« on: February 03, 2003, 02:50:50 PM »
If you've had any problem with subscription links being incorrect, the problem has now been resolved.  Thanks for bringing it to my attention, WindyMan.  

Subscriptions sent by both e-mail and Private Message should work properly now.  I highly recommend that if you want to subscribe to a thread, that you use the Forums Private Messaging, rather than e-mail, since you can generate a fair amount of e-mail traffic in highly-trafficked threads.  

1149
TalkBack / PGC is Hiring!
« on: February 03, 2003, 02:09:14 PM »
It isn't PREJUDICE.  Get a dictionary.  There is no law or rule that says a business has to hire anyone from any specific location.  Next thing you're going to tell us that we're prejudiced against people who are illiterate.

But no, we already have Canadians on our staff, so that region is covered.  The regions/states we're hiring for are places where press events are frequently held and we need staff to attend.

1150
Announcements / Forum Rules Clarified/Updated
« on: February 03, 2003, 02:04:16 PM »
Just a heads up for all of you ...

The Forum rules have been updated and clarified, mostly to remove some of the redundancies and clarify a few salient points.  It would be wise for you all to check them out again, as your continued use of the Forums implies your agreement to abide by said rules.  

One point with which you need to be aware is that you are not to link to any graphic or media file that is not contained on your own personal webspace.  To do so is bandwidth theft, and PGC will not be responsible for stealing the bandwidth of other websites.  This is not a new rule, but again, a clarification of existing rules.  Just because you CAN link to an image doesn't make it OK.  Also, many sites will replace the graphic you are "leeching" with a different graphic, and these images can often be pornographic or objectionable in nature.  Of course, if this happens, it is YOUR fault, and you will be banned.  

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