Malik
(10/9/06)
It was an interesting
weekend for football...especially considering that the Seahawks were
not playing, and thus I normally don't give a shit. However,
watching the Bears dominate against the Bills at least gave me a
slightly better feeling about the slightly less painful ass-kicking
they gave Seattle a week ago. I mean, if the Bears want to be this
unstoppable force, I'm fine with it...as long as Seattle is not the
final game on their win streak.
When you also throw in
how Green Bay threw away the their game with one hell of a poorly
timed fumble...wow. That game...just watching it, I could imagine
how painful it must have felt to be a GB fan and to watch a loss
appear from such a poor move. Hell, a field goal was entirely
possible (and probable) and would've forced over time. Wow. I didn't
pay attention for most of the game, but that final Green Bay
possession was a true heart breaker.
I think, on other geek
matters, that I'm about done with Lego Star Wars 2. I have enjoyed
the game, and I feel ready to review the thing. However, I think I'm
just getting to that point that I've over played that game a few
dozen times. It's fun...but I've also spent a good thirty or so
hours on it in a single week.
While I've been nothing
but happy with the game, I think a sneak preview of my review would
reveal a somewhat low score for such an addictive game. LSW2 falls
into that rare occurrence of a fun and addictive game that has to be
dealt a little harshness in it's review. If it wasn't for how buggy
the damned thing is, I could easily smile more favorably on it.
However, constant freezing issues don't help it all that much. Also,
when you throw in that the 360 version (the one I'll review)
requires money to unlock characters that are on the game disk, and
that you have no way to fully enjoy the customized characters (you
can't make a force lightning user, nor can you use prequel parts,
besides Maul's head) it just becomes hard to be anything but brutal
in a review.
On a different note, I
am really getting tired of having the chance to order a pre-order
possibility for pre-ordering the Wii. So many places (EB/Gamestop,
Yesasia.com, and so on...) are having special deals of one way or
another to get a pre-order chance for the Wii. With some places, you
just have to sign up to be on an email list and then they will email
you when you can pre-order. Some of these, like Yesasia, will give
incentives, like $20 coupons for the Wii. Other will simply offer
stupid deals, like if you pre-order a Wii game you'll be notified
and then expected to show up immediately to fill out the actual
paperwork and put some money down.
While I'm all for
eliminating the stupidity of the 360 launch/pre-order situation,
sometimes a line must be drawn. For one thing, the number of Wii
consoles expected by the end of December are so large that
unfulfilled pre-orders will only have to go at the most a month
before it's all taken care of. Also, this is dragging out an
experience that is just not needed. I would be more than happy to
put some money down and then either get a system launch day, or to
find one elsewhere and collect my deposit back.
On that note, it's only
about 6 weeks until the Wii launches, and it's now or never for
pre-orders. Any longer of a wait on this thing and it just won't
make sense to offer pre-orders. Plus, I just want to place some
money down and know this damned thing is as good as mine. Is that
too much to ask?
At least I do have a
pre-order of Tales of the Abyss...so my mind can be at ease on
getting one damned good game this Fall. A damned good game that
comes out tomorrow/Wednesday (depending on how quickly it's
shipped). I think this game should easily get me through until the
Wii or FF3 (DS), depending on if I can find a chance to get in some
vacation anytime this month.
Ok. Not much else to say
today. So, on that note...I'm out.
Malik |
Malik
(10/10/06)
As many fools as
possible and their money have probably all finished doing their
little dance by the time this is posted. Yes. EB/Gamestop is doing
their pre-order deal for the PS3 starting in a few hours (well, it's
the future as opposed to when I typed this, not when I posted it).
For $100 you can reserve a system that will probably have nothing
going for it, besides the ability to brag that you can play movies
that you need to buy all over again.
Do I sound less
than enthusiastic about the PS3? Good. Since I still don't
understand the appeal of this system, now that exclusive titles are
becoming a thing of the past and since all of the quality exclusives
will not come out for at least a year. Anyway, if you have $600
(+tax, money for a game, money for accessories, and whatever other
moneys are needed)...I'd like to say that you may be happy with your
decisions. Then again, I'd be more likely to say that it's money
wasted and that I am envious of those who can even afford this
beast.
Either way, the
PS3 pre-order will definitely not be something I want to witness. I
can already imagine that the lines outside my nearest EBs are
probably rather silly and gut wrenching. Considering how Gamestop's
email about these pre-orders mentioned that they expect to sell out
of pre-orders in a matter of minutes, it's probably rather silly
looking outside of my local EB about now.
Personally, I'm
more excited about possibly, depending on shipping date versus
actual receiving date, getting Tales of the Abyss today. I will be
more than happy to enjoy my "antiquated" PS2 over the prospect of a
large deposit on a $600 console. Although I expect that TotA will
probably not hit the stores until tomorrow, since it's an RPG that's
not from Square Enix, and thus it's not considered a potential
blockbuster. It's been done with most RPGs, and I wouldn't expect
anything different from this one.
However, I am left
with a deeper question; when will the Wii pre-orders begin.
Considering that the Wii launches only a couple of days after the
PS3, it would be most logical for the Wii pre-orders to begin in a
couple of days. However, it would also make sense for Gamestop to
already start the pre-orders since it would ensure more people would
pre-order Wii games right now. I know the only reason I have thought
about pre-ordering Zelda is because of the fact that I know I may
get stuck with a bundle that includes Zelda, if I don't score a
pre-order. In that case, I'd probably end up with Zelda in the
bundle, since it will probably be the most popular bundled game.
Anyway, I wouldn't
be surprised to see Wii pre-orders happening between now and next
Tuesday. Since the release is so close to the PS3, it makes sense
for them to open soon. Also, with how Tuesday is the day that seems
to be the most hectic and frustrating day of the week for game store
employees, it would only make sense for Gamestop to make it worse,
like they are doing with the PS3 pre-orders.
Well, I have
little else to say today. I think it mainly comes down to me feeling
like crap. I love this time of year...the start of cold and flu
season. It's a perfect time for you and your co-workers, neighbors,
and complete strangers on the bus to all share a nice little gift
that just keeps on giving.
However, before I
call it quits for today;
a little humor. Just check out on eBay (that link) how
many people are selling PS3 email addresses. When they say PS3
email addy's, they mean one's that are as retarded as something like
(I am making this up and I apologize for singling you out if you're
f#@%-tarded enough to have bought or made this)
"i.sell.ps3s.on.ebay.for.cheap@gmail.com". If you are dumb
enough to pay $50 for something like that, then I simply wonder how
you manage to avoid killing yourself each and every day...maybe
Darwin was wrong? By the way, if you're internet illiterate
enough to think this is an auction for a real PS3, then you should
see that last comment.
Malik |
Malik
(10/11/06)
Lumines Live will not be free. That's what a misprint is saying,
at least. In reality, I don't see this happening. For one thing, the
game cost full price on the PSP and sold quite well when it was
released at the PSP launch. So, for Lumines Live to be free seems
about as logical as giving away Project Gotham Racing 4 when it
eventually and inevitably is released in the future.
Plus, when you
consider that
Dig Dug will cost about $5 in Marketplace Points, when it comes
along today, it doesn't make sense for a current game, that actually
requires far more coding than to simply port it, to cost anything as
cheap as free.
On that note, it's
about time that something changes with the Live Arcade. Is it just
me, or is there no reason why we should only be seeing releases of
gimmick games (ones that require the Live Vision camera) or very old
arcade games? I think, with how the Arcade was so much fun when the
360 was still in it's infancy with games like Marble Blast Ultra and
Wik: Fable of Souls, that it's about time we see some new games. At
the very least, some somewhat new games (like Castlevania: SotN)
would be very much appreciated. I have not even downloaded as much
as a demo for the Arcade and enjoyed it since I downloaded Zuma a
few months back.
The Arcade is a
wonderful idea and a great way to bring casual gamers into the 360
audience. However, if the games are not going to show any signs of
innovations, at least those that are gimmick free, then maybe
something was just not thought out. Especially when these Arcade
games are often times ones you can play for free at a local nickel
arcade. Dig Dug? Scramble? Time Pilot? How about something that was
not featured on Starcade? It's good to have some old games, but
let's keep things fresh with a mix of old and trusted games along
with new and interesting games that are simply too small to account
for a full boxed release but too much fun to see them go completely
without a release. The same also applies to games you can play for
free off of internet gaming sites...they are fun, but they should
not be all there is to the Arcade.
Since Tales of the
Abyss didn't show yesterday, I played some more Lego Star Wars 2.
What can I say...the game is freakin' addictive. However, the bugs
in this game are literally killing my patience. For example, I
played the second chapter of Episode VI last night (the pit of
Carcoon...or however it's spelled). I was having a blast and managed
to find every minikit, along with the power block. I was having a
blast. However, my blast soon ruined the experience.
My custom
character, Dark Jedi Boba, managed to throw a thermal detonator,
when I meant to perform a force choke on a Gamorrean. Well, next
thing I know, the turret at the end of the stage (which you need to
finish the stage) was in rubble. However, unlike other turrets, this
one did not either respawn or sit in pieces to be reassembled.
Instead, it was gone. Completely and irreversibly. I had to abandon
the stage, along with all that I had collected, just to play through
again. At least, after deciding my special Fett should stay at home,
I got through. However, this type of bug really should have been
more completely tackled in the testing phase of this game...along
with any of the other bugs which can pop up so frequently in the
game.
Seriously, if LSW2
was not so addictive, I'd be very pissed off. At least the game is
fun enough to justify me being passive and not aggressive in my
tolerance of this type of bullshit.
Tonight, I should
be starting my joyous romp through TotA. Considering how well
received the game was in Japan, and considering it's a new Tales
game, I think it's safe to say that LSW2 will not be seeing much of
my love for awhile.
Malik |
Malik
(10/12/06)
A lot of people wonder
why some non-official game sites (like this one you are currently on
that I hold so near and dear to my heart) like to keep giving
"publicity" to Jack Thompson. Well, I really don't see it that way.
No matter how much we'd like to see that either Jack gets destroyed
in the press or that he just gets ignored and goes away, it just
won't happen. While he does make his own news, he is still in the
news. When it is simply Jack (I refuse to use his proper name if he
is not going to act proper and respectful to others) making news
about nothing, I could easily ignore him. However, it's when he
makes news that is actually more than his own witch hunt, then I
feel obligated to discuss what he's doing.
For example, when
he got a Miami area judge to force Rockstar/Take Two to
give the court an early release of Bully, then the US government
is involved, and thus it is no longer Jack throwing his own pity
party. In this case, the judge will watch someone play the game, to
completion, behind closed doors, with Jack present (of course) to
see if...to show that...wait...why the f#@$ is this happening?
Probably it's
happening to show that Bully does or doesn't deserve a T rating when
the game is played to completion. Personally, I'd love to be witness
to this little exercise in stupidity. It would be funny to watch a
judge, who probably has limited gaming knowledge, watch a game being
played for 20+ hours with Jack constantly yelling in his ears about
how evil the whole experience is. It would also be funny to see the
judge ultimately telling Jack to shut up and also commenting that
the game has earned a fair rating.
Say what you will
about the ESRB, but they do a good job. They could do a better job,
but then again they have only thousands of often times very long
games to get through each year, in a manner that's timely enough for
a game's release to not be delayed. While many people say they could
do a better job...I'd doubt it. It's not easy to wade through all of
the games, and to review them in an unbiased position, despite how
bad they may be. Yes, they don't usually play the games and instead
sort through material submitted by the publishers, but they still do
have a lot of crap to get through in a fair and proper fashion.
Anyway, I'm
serious when I say that I would love to be a fly on that wall. It
would probably rank up there in unintentional comedy like few other
instances in life that don't involve Mike Tyson giving a sound bite.
Also, while I
don't like Jack's approach to being so much holier-than-thou, I do
think there is a little good that comes from it. In particular,
since it's sometimes best to be optimistic, we can easily say that
no other force has so united us all as gamers. We have console wars,
flame wars, genre battles, tirades over franchises and the like.
However, we can almost all agree on how Jack has done wrong in his
approach of forcing his own ideals on a nation. He is one man, and
he is usually in as much trouble as he is in the spotlight trying to
earn respect of a blind populace that will believe him. However, we
are almost all united and happy to join hands in a force that is
amazing. There is no group or individual out there who can get Star
Wars fanboys and Trekies to put down the pitchforks...but Star Wars
video game fans and Trekie gamers can join hands...now that's saying
something.
Anyway, I got
Tales of the Abyss last night. It's hard to form a complete opinion
after three hours, but here's some thoughts...
The load times are
horrible. Between each combat there is a long and exaggerated load
time that can go from 5-10 seconds, despite a battle usually ending
in just 5 seconds. There's something wrong with that picture.
The visuals are
rather bland. They don't destroy the game or anything...but they are
not as nice on the old eyes as ToS and it's cell shaded style. In
fact, I can't help but think that TotA looks like either a very old
PS2 game, or a very high quality PSX game. However, the fact that
the visuals are not FFXII quality does nothing to ruin the fun or to
do my most hated of gaming events...make you think of reality.
The camera
controls suck. I wish I could be nicer, but it takes about 15
seconds to rotate, when in the field, the camera an entire 360
degrees. It's sometimes more fun to just not know what's barely off
the screen than to rotate the damned camera and wait.
The game is also a
lot more serious in tone than ToS. While this isn't bad...well, I
really enjoy a less serious and dramatic RPG. I have enough drama
and serious content in my daily life to not need more during my
virtual life. Also, your main character is an idiot. I mean he
didn't understand you pay for stuff before you take it. I don't mean
he's dense...he's just a f$#%-tard.
However, despite
these flaws, the game is still damned fun. I can easily see this
game taking 50+ hours, and me not caring one bit. For the price of
admission ($40), this game more than meets the requirements to be
called a must buy for RPG fans. Hell, if the game was $60, I
wouldn't complain one bit...ok...that's more than other PS2 games,
so I would...but you get my meaning. In fact, I think this will keep
me nicely occupied until Zelda comes along...too bad I may have to
ignore FF3 (DS) just to give TotA the full level of attention is is
earning.
Also, if it's any
surprise, EB/Gamestop will be taking Wii reservations tomorrow
morning at opening. I think this is not really news to anyone since
the rumors of tomorrow being the Wii pre-order days has been widely
accepted as fact by the geek community since the PS3 pre-order
announcement was sent out on Monday.
Malik |
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