The big problem with the DS

[The big problem with the DS]

I find the DS a little uncomfortable to hold too long - especially with games like Metroid Prime Hunters that use primarily the touch screen. I should get a Lite, but can't really justify it at the moment. I, too, have about a dozen DS games on my "want" list.

[Madden 07 XBox 360 Freezes]

I have al lthe 2K sports titles for the fall reserved. I know I won't lose money on this because last year the 2K sports games for the 360 were exactly the same game. I bought the basketball game and it was EXACTLY the same as the XBOX version in depth and game options. Even the menu screens looked the same. The difference was that the graphics were improved, but not to the point where it caused the game to skip frames and glitch out.

And therein lies the problem. Had they just taken the xbox version and upped the graphics, everyone would be bitching that it's the same game as current-gen with slightly better graphics. Not that there's an excuse for the game locking up (among other bugs), but at least they're "trying" to make a next-gen game. I guess time will tell which course was best.

 

FWIW, I picked up Madden for the Xbox and it's pretty tight. I barely played it at all last year, and I think my enjoyment goes up dramatically taking a year off.

[Metroid Prime vs Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]

I never bought Echoes. I even preordered it, got the t-shirt, and scheduled some time off from work. But by the time it came out, I had read so many reviews about how much more difficult Echoes was than Prime 1, that I figured it just wouldn't be any fun. Some aspects of Prime 1 are just so fantastic, it's one of the best and most memorable games of all times. The luscious environments. The interesting, unique puzzles. The feeling of accomplishment you get from beating a boss.

 

But then I thought about fighting Ridley 20+ times. Then I thought about resorting to gamefaq'ing my way through a good third of the game. I thought about my index finger practically falling off due to holding down the trigger the whole time. Finally, I think about how much sheer "work" Prime was to finish, and the slap in the face that was the short, unsatisfying, crappy ending (despite my efforts, I only scanned 71%). I wanted Echoes to be Prime, but more polished and playable, but from the reviews it just sounded like it would just be frustrating.

 

Sorry for the rant, my love-hate relationship with Prime 1 always gets me in trouble... My uneducated vote goes to Prime 1, since my biggest beef was Prime's difficulty, and Echoes is apparently worse.

[So which new system will you be getting this holiday season?]

I'm getting a Wii on launch day. Probably grab a 360 at the 1st price drop, or when there is a game out there that I just "have to play"

Same here. Oblivion almost sold me a 360, but I was so swamped with backlogged current-gen games I managed to hold off.

[Deep Labyrinth DS]

So, back to the game... I've read a couple reviews that say it actually gets pretty fun later on, but starts really slow. I love dungeon hacks, and this looks cool. After some more play time, thumbs up?

[Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins]

I'm *almost* starting to get interested in a PSP, especially with this game and some of the other retro-style stuff. Still, I'd rather drop my money on home consoles than another portable this year, so it's going to have to wait. Here's hoping for a ps2 port.

[System 3 anounced remakes of Epyx games and other games for Wii, ds and psp]

Yeah, I heard Last Ninja was coming, too, though I don't remember where I read that. I think California Games would be pretty fun with the Wimote - I always liked the frisbee and hackey sack games. Not sure how hackey sack is going to work with Wiimote, though...

[The Gospel of Nintendo DS (According to Gamestop)]

The only thing that'll make me do a pre-order is if I get some cool bonus item for it. Like the Ocarina/Majora disc for Windwaker pre-orders. In fact, I seem to recall that the deposit was $5, so I could have just gotten Ocarina/Majora for $5, never showed to claim my pre-order, and still felt good about it.

Ditto. I preorder a game I want if I get a t-shirt, bonus disc or something else. What the heck, I'd buy the game anyways.

 

My local Gamestop has pretty good people working there. I don't really chat with them, but they've never pressure me for preordering and I haven't heard them spew any "system X sucks" crap.

[Next Gen Glut]

I think FPS games are easier in some ways to design than other games. You don't have to worry about the camera. There are established control systems. You can work within a well-fleshed-out framework and focus on shiny graphics, good AI and cool features to make your game stand out. I think that's probably why you see so many racing games, too. They're not as big a risk to design, although the market is awfully crowded.

 

I'd like to see more Lovecraftian-themed horror games. An RPG would be cool.

[What controller do you play Colecovision with?]

I sold my CV a few months ago, but I hate the standard controllers, so I used the official Coleco joystick (Super Action Controller or whatever). That worked really well, I loved it.

[Now the ban's on the other foot!]

He seems to spend more time bashing other Democrats than looking for boobies in Galaxian. Actually he does have a lot of support from the party higher-ups, but some consituents are upset with his stands on social security, the confirmation of judge Alito, and the war in Iraq among others. That's why there's a primary system, I guess, it'll be an interesting race. Right or wrong, I highly doubt his gaming "crusades" would even make the top ten list of issues voters are concerned about.

[Original Spy Hunter inside GBA Spy Hunter?]

I programmed GBA Spy Hunter (edit: not me alone, there were three programmers total). The original Spy Hunter is not included, but there is an arcade mode that uses the same engine as the main game, randomly throws tracks and enemies at you, and slowly ramps up difficulty as you play. You can unlock this by entering "EDACRA". I don't recall how it got unlocked through normal play, probably just completing the major objectives in each level.

 

It's not the best game in the world, but it has its good points. Graphically the sprites are pretty chunky looking, but we did hills, which was unique at the time. I'm glad we didn't force you to get every objective every run through each level in order for them to be 'counted'. Some of the objectives are pretty tough, but the game isn't very long overall. I also liked the simplified control compared to the PS2 version, and the unlockable alternate vehicles.

[best nes two player games]

Nintendo's Ice Hockey is awesome, and although I haven't played them in a long time, Konami's Blades of Steel and Double Dribble were fun 2p back in the day.

[Favorite game from Publisher or devolper day 3: BullFrog Productions(link to game they did inside)]

Gotta go with Populous. So unique and revolutionary at the time.

[Atari 7800 Hardware Survey]

Just a plain old 7800 for me. I'm interested in some of this hardware, I just don't have any of it yet.

[Favorite Game by game Publisher or Developer: Day one-Parker Bros.]

I'm going with Tutankham, my favorite 2600 Parker Bros game. I always wanted Montezuma's Revenge, but never picked it up.

[New Acquisition: Colecovision]

The official CV sports controller (the joystick) is awesome. They're not too expensive and make the CV 100x more playable, imho.

 

[Edit] maybe it's called the Super Action controller - I can never remember the official name of the CV joystick. Whatever it is, it's cool.

[The best game you don't own. . . .]

sms-Zillion

7800-ninja Golf

Those two are definitley on my list, also. I've never played or owned Mario RPG. I also never had Panzer Dragoon Zwei.

[Anybody REMEMBER the video game crash as it happened?]

I remember getting cheapo 2600 and Inty games at Kay Bee, although I'm not sure I quite understood the "crash" as I do know. I was spending a lot of time with the c64 at the time, I guess. That and enjoying being able to afford games! My only regret is not buying more. I think spacecadet hit the nail on the head regarding the shift in focus to computers. Atari seemed strong to me in 84 and 85, only for their computers instead of their consoles. I even had an Aquarius (Kay Bee was clearing them out cheap, too!).

[The New Sonic Game for the Wii]

This thread was talking about HD as in High Definition, not HD as in Hard Drive, which the Nintendo rep/EGM was referencing.

[The New Sonic Game for the Wii]

Sonic Wild Fire has gotten really great feedback from hands-on E3 previews, but I haven't been a big fan of any previous 3d Sonic, so I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Edit] I've seen the e3 video of Sonic Wild Fire on several different sites, and it really, really looked to be exacly the same game (in particular, one of the screens shows Sonic sidling around a ledge, which is also shown in the video). HOWEVER, I don't find any sites other than IGN that have screens. In fact, Game Daily laments the lack of any official screens in their hands-on preview. So perhaps my memory of the video isn't so good, or it's just flat-out not the right video.

[Food Fight = wow]

I also love Food Fight on the 7800. Definitely one of my go-to games on any system that I pop in when I can't decide what I want to play (like last night, for example).

 

I just don't like Xevious on the 7800. Maybe I missed something - I'll give it another shot - but it always felt slow, ugly, hard, and just... not fun. On the other hand, I prefer 7800 Galaga to the coin-op because there's a nice ramp up of easy levels to start off with.

 

[Edit] I gave 7800 Xevious another shot last night, and I did enjoy it more than I remembered. Not one of my favorites, but perhaps not as bad as I previously thought. Funny how that happens some times. I hadn't played it in a long time, sometimes you remember games being better than they actually are and apparently, sometimes worse.

[Best third party game company?!? (Atari)]

1. Activision

2. Imagic

 

I actually like a lot of Imagic games better, but Activision just has so many great games, it's hard to argue with their portfolio.

[Jon Stewart vs Video Game Legislation]

yep. But we all know it was mariyln manson's falt thought

Wait, didn't the Columbine kids "train" using Doom? Yeah, that's the ticket...

 

well yes, cuase after playing manson's music you go in a trance in which all kids that used to pick on you look like deformed monsters, making the kids easier on your concious to shoot them in the head. Thus, with the combination of video games and rock n roll, a teenager can become the next terminator... so scary.. so scary.

lol

[Jon Stewart vs Video Game Legislation]

yep. But we all know it was mariyln manson's falt thought

Wait, didn't the Columbine kids "train" using Doom? Yeah, that's the ticket...