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4701

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive #8 Poll - SNES Edition

« on: August 04, 2009, 01:10:56 PM »

It will be interesting to see what happens in this poll...  Sounds like a my favorite quirky game isn't going to get enough love, but the Goemon series must be used to that by now.

I agree with others who say that there is no real losing pick this time around.  Super Mario World is probably the game I'm least interested in... but that's just because it's been played through so many times before.
 

4702

TalkBack / Re: The Conduit Vulnerable to Online Hacking

« on: July 29, 2009, 10:56:35 AM »

So many apologists for High Voltage... there's no excuse for broken code or vulnerabilities. Standard practice is to test these things and find the problems before consumers do.  ...

You are halfway right - there is no excuse for broken code and bugs in the online play, especially for a game that is being touted as Wii's best online FPS!  HVS really should have found a way to improve that situation before release, even if it meant delaying The Conduit.  But I don't think it is reasonable to blame HVS for hackers that are modifying source code. 

Wii is supposed to be a closed system.  Nintendo's security problems that allowed hackers to open up the system for homebrew (and other more nefarious goals) aren't the fault or responsibility of HVS, as long as their game isn't the one that "opens the door" for hacking.

If you want to upset about hacking, then be upset with the griefing ass-pirates who actively look for ways to cheat the system so that they can ruin fun for others.

4703

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive #8 Poll - SNES Edition

« on: July 24, 2009, 03:12:14 PM »

All the games look good this time around, so it's really tough to vote.

I really am interested to play Orge Battle, but don't know if I have enough time for another SRPG title (still working through Fire Emblem on the GBA).

Super Mario RPG would be full of win because I never finished that game back in the day, but I'm also trying to get through an old GameCube RPG right now and don't have time for both.

In the end I voted for Mystical Ninja because it's fast and silly, and has decent two-player options.  Not the best game on the list, but I think there could be some decent discussion around it.

Regardless of what game gets picked, I think I'll try to actually play along and discuss this time.



Oh, and for the record I voted Bonk last time.  Probably the most underrated system mascot ever!  Ninja Spirit didn't appeal to me at all... 

4704

TalkBack / Re: Scribblenauts Heading to DS This September

« on: July 24, 2009, 02:57:41 PM »

I've never preordered a game before Scribblenauts, but this was a perfect storm of reasons...

1) The game looks awesome. Sure, it might not have the tightest gameplay or best graphics - but the concept is incredible and (as far as I know) completely new.  Just messing around on the sandbox title screen looks priceless.

2) I'm never in on the "hot new thing" for gaming, but this time all the hype got me really excited.  DS games aren't that expensive, and it's coming out right by my birthday.  So why not be part of the fun from day one?

3) My wife might actually play this game.  She usually prefers animal crossing or farming simulations... but this could easily catch her imagination.

4) I moved recently and really like the EB Games staff nearby.  (A couple of really helpful, friendly, cute chinese girls?  What's not to like?)  The preorder looks good for them, and ensures I'll actually have a copy in stock.


So who else is planning on getting the game when it comes out?

4705

TalkBack / Re: U.S. Sales of The Conduit Near 72k in June

« on: July 21, 2009, 06:11:03 PM »

But we have lots of numbers to compare it against!  You could use the sales from RE5... or maybe Halo 3...  obviously The Conduit is a failure when you see that it hasn't already reached a million copies sold!
 

All the online number crunching and analysis done by fanboys ends up being pretty meaningless.  Of course, that won't stop me from giving my 2 cents.

I think that initial sales are decent - maybe better than expected - when compared to most other new IPs that come from small studios and recieve reviews filled with harsh criticsm and low scores.

So far, the reported sales numbers for The Conduit look similar to CoD:World at War... and that Wii title went on to sell well over a million copies. The Conduit might not reach those numbers over the long run, but (to be considered a "success") it might not need to.

In another comparison that might be interesting -- if not entirely useful or relevant -- The Conduit sold better than the original Killzone when that title was released on the uber-popular PS2.  Maybe it's fair to say that new IPs with some rough edges won't always top the charts?

4706

Podcast Discussion / Re: RFN RetroActive Game Nominations

« on: July 20, 2009, 04:33:39 PM »

There are some good suggestions, but I'll throw a few different options down as well for the upcoming SNES retroactive:

Metal Marines - Interesting strategy game where you build base defenses, and then command airstrikes against an opponent on a nearby island. Not a true classic but maybe an interesting game to discuss. General strategies, what you do/don't like, what impact it has had on other games or genres that we still play (the popular tower defense genre comes to mind)...  Nice that it's password based, so people can skip around levels if they need to.

Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen - In honor of Ogre Battle 64 getting mentioned as a "top 3" game in the podcast, why not explore this deep strategy game to see how it holds up today?

Super Mario RPG - A popular and well-received game... so how come Nintendo's flagship RPG switched to Paper Mario and never went back?  What characters did you like/despise?

DoReMi Fantasy - Milon reappears, but the gameplay is (thankfully) much better than in Secret Castle in this old-school platformer. What better way to give newer gamers that "import" feeling, especially during cut scenes?

Legend of the Mystical Ninja - Goemon to the rescue!  An oddball adventure that includes solid (if silly) multiplayer and unusual minigames to break up the action.  A cult favorite that more people should try playing, this game always reminded me of the much lauded River City Ransom somehow.

4707

Podcast Discussion / Re: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 149

« on: June 14, 2009, 09:44:58 PM »

Yay!  My suggestion got picked this week, along with a whole bunch of other cool picks!
 

Great show guys.  I always enjoy hearing the old-school tunes, especially when I recognize them, and listening to you chat about games in between songs is a blast.

I agree with TYP about this being the best version ever, although the answer to the question was probably the worst ever... lol.  Good timing for the episode though, since the game recently had a front-page article on CNN celebrating it's anniversary.

4708

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive Poll #5 - Remix Edition!!!

« on: April 13, 2009, 01:57:23 PM »

I don't see anyone on the boards talking about Drill Dozer, but it's the title I would most like to see.

Drill Dozer would be the perfect choice because it is:
-- unique and interesting
-- still available cheaply
-- portable, making it easy to play while on the move (or on the toilet)
-- one of the GBAs "hidden gems" that never got the attention it probably deserved
-- better to play GBA titles now while we still can, since the system is no longer supported with the DSi

C'mon portable fans!  Let's give this title a shot!