Semjaza

If anyone wants to claim something right out one way or another, they're going to have to post a news story stating such. I've never heard of Camelot saying they weren't going to continue the series at all. Not saying they haven't, but I'd some sort of proof. I have heard the GC rumor, however. I'm not sure where it started, but it is quite old. Camelot had plans for some sort of RPG for the GameCube. They right out said that (you can read it here: [url]http://cube.ign.com/articles/089/089795p1.html[/url]) I think, for the most part, it was just [b]assumed[/b] to be Golden Sun and never actually confirmed or stated. Even the article I link to attempts to make the connection despite ANY evidence. Nothing has come of it as of right now and it's been over three years since that interview. However, IGNCube still has "TBA 2005 Camelot RPG Nintendo RPG" on their release list. What furthered the rumor was awhile back when the Iclandic Nintendo site put it on their release list. Nintendo fans somehow manage to find out about anything on any random site about Nintendo-related games, so people caught wind of it. It was taken down and I really see little reason to put any stock in it. [quote name='Lrb][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOliveGreen]To tell you the truth, I think the idea of Golden Sun for Gamecube is stupid. That would be so hard to play, think of Golden Sun 1/2 and try to make that into a Gamecube game. I couldn't do it. Would it be first-person? Third-person? I guess it could work but I dunno, I can't see it happening.[/COLOR'][/SIZE][/quote] I don't see how in the world this is confusing. Take the game, replace the 2D crap with polygons and you're done. A third person, 3D RPG: just like almost every other RPG in existance... lol

The PS2 accepts Playstation controllers and memory cards. However, there are limitations. With the controllers, many PS2 games require analog buttons. Playstation controllers just do not have these and thus will not work. Many games will work fine, however. With the memory cards, you can only save Playstation games to Playstation cards. You can't save your old games to PS2 cards at all. You should keep one around if you want to play your older titles. The PS Gameshark depends on what model you have. If you have the larger model that hooks on to the back of the Playstation, there's just nowhere to put it on the PS2. If you have the memory card version, it should work just fine as far as I can remember. Perhaps someone has experience with that and can say for sure... I don't use Gamesharks.

I don't know what there is to be skeptical about when Camelot has shown interest in continuing the series. The GCN thing was beyond simply a rumor. As it is, there was never even a Golden Sun 2. Lost Age doesn't have 2 in it for a reason. Both of those games were originally one title and Camelot had to break them up because it was getting far too large.

My brother got this last night for his birthday. The PS2 version. I saw them playing this today and my first reaction was that in appearance, it's quite similiar to Clone Wars... a decent, but just plain average title. I watched them play a bit more of it, however, and it's obvious just from that that this is on another level in many ways. The presentation is far more interesting and the game itself looked very cool. It kind of reminded me of an action-based real time strategy game in some ways, which is kind of neat. I'm most impressed by how damn nice it looks on PS2. I don't recall any other PS2 games offhand that have grass effects like this.

You know guys, time is just becoming too tight for me to completely commit to this. I have two options at this point. 1.) Disband it and forget it altogether or 2.) Have someone take this over for me. Someone who will actually get it going as soon as possible. If any of you are interested, just post in here. Otherwise, I'm just going to have to drop this. I thought it'd be really interesting and a lot of fun... but I don't think I managed to foresee how time consuming it would be, especially in light of recent developments in my own daily life.

Okay, here's the deal. I'm working on a web site involving a video game series called Shin Megami Tensei. The mascot, more or less, is a character named Jack Frost. He's this little snowman looking guy in a blue outfit. There's also similiar characters, like a Jack o' Latern guy and so forth. Basically, I want him to sit at the top and change when the mouse goes over different links when someone is browsing the site. The links are news, info, games, articles, encyclopedia, demonary, files, links, forums. Demonary is basically just a complete monster list, the rest should be self explanatory. I'm looking for a basic character composition involving each of these. Like for the games page, maybe the character can be shown playing PS2 or files can be him carrying a box of stuff... whatever works and is interesting. I attached some images of the character in question. I need these to be colored, but perhaps it is in the artist's best interest to post the line art first and ask if it's satisfactory before he/she takes the time to color it all in. I don't want to inconvenience anyone. I'm wanting this to be a fairly professional looking site, one that will hopefully become the biggest fansite involving this series. As such, I am hoping that someone can provide art that is as close to the quality of these as possible. This is not a difficult character to draw, compared to many that could have been used. I do request that the art itself be rather large, however. That doesn't mean massive or even as big as what I included, just large enough that I have some leeway in its use. So if anyone could help me with that, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm willing to compensate work that I will use for the site, if wanted. I'm also interested in similiar poses from the pumpkin character... but that takes a back seat to Jack Frost. There's a tiny version of him in the one included picture. I'll try and find a better one. Thanks.

The only reason I play games is for fun. There's no other reason to. I have no interest in formal competitions. Random online games and multiplayer with friends is all I do. I enjoy trying to beat high scores and such, but it's not become a "sport" for lack of a better world. In that vein, I find that what actually interests me is getting few and far between. I used to be in a situation where I was buying a new game every week or two. Now I buy maybe one every couple of months. I don't think this is due to lack of interest, because there are still some games I'm incredibly excited about coming up. I think I've just become too jaded and as I get older, I'm just not as easily amused by the same old same old anymore. I'd rather drop $20 on random, interesting titles like Gradius V or Katamari Damacy than the same price for yet another run of the mill, violent action game. I think certain genres have just become way too saturated.

[quote name='ScirosDarkblade']Well, Nintendo's release date is a bit too soon for me. With Halo 2 around(not to mention a few other games with November release dates), I'm more likely to strike oil than buy the DS any time soon. I suppose November release dates are good for the Christmas shopping season and all, but still it's a bit much.[/quote] I won't be buying Halo 2, but obviously there's just a metric ton of good games for all systems that month. I guess it is in Nintendo's best interest to get this thing out there before the day after Thanksgiving shopping rush. I'll be broke sadly lol. I'll get it eventually. I'm sure it won't disappear heh.

Nintendo had a press confernce today. Will be $150, available in the US November 21st. The DS will have Pictochat included as well as Metroid Prime: First Hunt. This is a smaller, four player wireless enabled version (more or less a demo) of Metroid Prime: Hunters. From IGN, for those that don't know about Pictochat: [quote]PictoChat, the software program that enables DS owners to sent text and pictures wirelessly to nearby DS systems, will be embedded in the system hardware. The DS system will spring to life out of "sleep mode" if it senses any other systems in the area, giving gamers the opportunity to chat spontaneously with each other.[/quote] Nintendo has also talked about possible additions to the Pictochat software. Has some nice possiblities: * Wireless Voice Mail Services * Wireless Electronic Transmission of Voice Signals * Online Videogame News and Hints * Data Transfer * Demo Downloads * Message Boards Full official specs from IGN: [quote]Launch Date and MSRP: Nov. 21, 2004, in North America ($149.99), Dec. 2, 2004, in Japan (¥15,000). Q1 2005 in Europe and Australia Size (when closed): 148.7 millimeters (5.85 inches) wide, 84.7 millimeters (3.33 inches) long, 28.9 millimeters (1.13 inches) tall Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, semitransparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors Touch Screen: Same specs as top screen, but with a transparent analog touch screen Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS Game Card Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS Game Cards and Game Boy Advance Game Paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone Other features: Embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm; touch-screen calibration CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7 Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering six to 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian Color: Silver and black [/quote] Not a bad price. About what I was expecting... twice the SP price now. Makes sense. Latest news is putting the PSP price at an amount of yen equal to $300 US. The current packaging: [url]http://media.nintendo.com/mediaFiles/6ec84695-254b-4fdf-9781-f40683ab5915.jpg[/url]

[quote]# TOKYO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today its plans for the global release of a new, redesigned PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system (SCPH-70000 CB) in time for the year-end peak-selling season. The new model will be in stores on November 3 in Japan, and by November 1 in Europe and North America.(Photo: [url]http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040921/SFTU069-a[/url] [url]http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040921/SFTU069-b[/url] [url]http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO[/url] ) While inheriting the basic functions and design philosophy of the current PlayStation 2 (SCPH-50000), the internal design architecture of the new model has been completely overhauled, resulting in a slimmer and more lightweight form. Internal volume has been reduced by 75 percent, overall weight has been halved, and thickness trimmed down to 2.8 cm (thickness of current model is 7.8 cm). Its size is almost as small as a hardcover book, making it easier to carry around and enjoy games and DVD videos anytime, anywhere. Equipped with an integrated Ethernet port for network gaming, the new PlayStation 2 sets new standards in the fusion of design and functionality and will enable the company to maintain market momentum as it expands its online console gaming community, the largest in North America with more than 1.4 million users. Approximately 40 percent (*1) of North American PlayStation 2 online gamers use dial-up connections and to satisfy this base, the North American model is equipped with both Ethernet and modem ports. During the year-end peak-selling season about 80 online game titles are expected to be available in Japan, with 120 titles and 65 titles respectively in North America and Europe. With the launch of the new network-ready(*2) PlayStation 2, the company expects to continually expand the world of online gaming in this generation. "The introduction of the new PlayStation 2 is part of our long-term vision for the platform," said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We are pleased to bring the sleek, redesigned product to market in time for the holiday season, and expect consumer enthusiasm for the new model to translate into robust sales. As the market leader, with an existing installed base of more than 27 million PlayStation 2 units in North America alone, we will continue to provide solutions that expand our consumer base and grow the category as a whole." Gaining an overwhelming support from a wide range of users from all over the world, more than 72 million units of PlayStation 2 have been shipped as of today. Strongly supported by software developers and publishers, PlayStation 2 is indisputably the most popular computer entertainment system in the world and the new design will position it for even greater success over the next half of its life. * (*1) According to SCEI's DNAS (Dynamic Network Authentication System) data. * (*2) Internet Service Provider and appropriate Internet access (e.g. ADSL, cable, fiber, etc.) required. For further details regarding network connection, on-line games and peripherals supported with the new model (SCPH-70000 CB), please visit our customer support website [url]http://www.us.playstation.com[/url] . Product Outline (for Japan Model) Product Name PlayStation(R)2 Color Charcoal Black Product Code SCPH-70000 CB Release Date November 3rd, 2004 (Wednesday) Recommended Retail Price Open Price Dimensions 230 mm (W) x28 mm (H) x152 mm (D) *internal volume about 23% of the current model Weight Approximately 900g *weight about 45% of the current model Power requirements DC 8.5V Electrical current consumption (power consumption) Approximately 5.3A(approximately 45W) Product Outline (for Japan Model) (continued) Compatible format PlayStation format CD-ROM PlayStation 2 format CD-ROM PlayStation 2 format DVD-ROM Audio CD DVD-Video* DVD-RW (VR mode) *the term "DVD-Video" is used to refer to DVD-R, DVD-RW (Video mode), DVD+R and DVD+RW discs. Interfaces Controller Port x 2 MEMORY CARD slot x 2 USB connector x 2 NETWORK connector x 1 100BASE-TX/10BASE-T DC IN 8.5V connector x 1 AV MULTI OUT connector x 1 DIGITAL OUT OPTICAL connector x 1 Included PlayStation 2 console x 1 Analog Controller DUALSHOCK(R)2 x 1 AV Cable (integrated audio/video) x 1 AC Adaptor (AC power cord included) x 1 Separately Sold Accessories (for Japan Model) Product Name Vertical Stand (for PlayStation(R)2) Product Code SCPH-70110 CB Color Charcoal Black Release Date November 3rd, 2004 (Wednesday) Recommended Retail Price 1,500 yen (1,575 yen tax inclusive) # The Vertical Stand for the current model cannot be used with the new model PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70000 CB), due to difference in design. Product Name Multitap (for PlayStation(R)2) Product Code SCPH-70120 Release Date November 3rd, 2004 (Wednesday) Recommended Retail Price 3,600 yen (3,780 yen tax inclusive) # The Multitap for the current model cannot be used with the new model PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70000 CB), due to difference in design. The new Multitap offers the same function as the current Multitap. Product Outline (for North America/United States Models) Product Name PlayStation(R)2 Color Charcoal Black Product Code SCPH-70011 CB (for North America) SCPH-70012 CB (for United States) Release Date November 1st, 2004 (Monday) Suggested Retail Price $149.99 Dimensions Approximately 230 mm (W) x28 mm (H) x152 mm (D) *internal volume about 23% of the current model Weight Approximately 900g *weight about 45% of the current model Power requirements DC 8.5V Electrical current consumption (power consumption) Approximately 5.3A (approximately 45W) Compatible format PlayStation format CD-ROM PlayStation 2 format CD-ROM PlayStation 2 format DVD-ROM Audio CD DVD-Video* DVD-RW (VR mode) * The term "DVD-Video" is used to refer to DVD- R, DVD-RW (Video mode), DVD+R and DVD+RW discs. Interfaces Controller Port x 2 MEMORY CARD slot x 2 USB connector x 2 NETWORK connector x 1 100BASE-TX/10BASE-T LINE connector x 1 modem : RJ-11C DC IN 8.5V connector x 1 AV MULTI OUT connector x 1 DIGITAL OUT OPTICAL connector x 1 Included PlayStation(R)2 console x 1 Analog Controller DUALSHOCK(R)2 x 1 AV Cable (integrated audio/video) x 1 AC Adaptor (AC power cord included) x 1 # North America and United States models (SCPH-70011/SCPH-70012) come with built-in modem port in addition to Ethernet port. Separately Sold Accessories (for North America/United States Models) Product Name Vertical Stand (for PlayStation(R)2) Color Charcoal Black Product Code SCPH-70110 UCB Color Charcoal Black Release Date November 1st, 2004 (Monday) # The Vertical Stand for the current model cannot be used with the new model PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70011 CB, 70012 CB), due to difference in design. Product Name Multitap (for PlayStation(R)2) Product Code SCPH-70120 U Release Date November 1st, 2004 (Monday) # The Multitap for the current model cannot be used with the new model PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70011 CB, 70012 CB), due to difference in design. The new Multitap offers the same function as the current Multitap. Product Outline (for Oceania, UK and Europe Models) Product Name PlayStation(R)2 Color Charcoal Black Product Code SCPH-70002 CB (for Oceania) SCPH-70003 CB (for UK) SCPH-70004 CB (for Europe) Release Date November 1st, 2004 (Monday) Recommended Retail Price 149 Euros Dimensions Approximately 230 mm (W) x28 mm (H) x152 mm (D) *internal volume about 23% of the current model Weight Approximately 900g *weight about 45% of the current model Power requirements DC 8.5V Electrical current consumption (power consumption) Approximately 5.3A (approximately 45W) Compatible format PlayStation format CD-ROM PlayStation 2 format CD-ROM PlayStation 2 format DVD-ROM Audio CD DVD-Video* DVD-RW (VR mode) * The term "DVD-Video" is used to refer to DVD-R, DVD-RW (Video mode), DVD+R and DVD+RW discs. Product Outline (for Oceania, UK and Europe Models) (continued) Interfaces Controller Port x 2 MEMORY CARD slot x 2 USB connector x 2 NETWORK connector x 1 100BASE-TX/10BASE-T DC IN 8.5V connector x 1 AV MULTI OUT connector x 1 DIGITAL OUT OPTICAL connector x 1 Included PlayStation 2 console x 1 Analog Controller DUALSHOCK(R)2 x 1 AV Cable (integrated audio/video) x 1 AC Adaptor (AC power cord included) x 1 Euro-AV Connector Plug x 1 *SCPH-70003 CB, 70004 CB only Separately Sold Accessories (for Oceania, UK and Europe Models) Product Name Vertical Stand (for PlayStation(R)2) Color Charcoal Black Product Code SCPH-70110 ECB Release Date November 1st, 2004 (Monday) # The Vertical Stand for the current model cannot be used with the new model PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70002 CB, 700003 CB, 70004 CB), due to difference in design. Product Name Multitap (for PlayStation(R)2) Product Code SCPH-70120 E Release Date November 1st, 2004 (Monday) # The Multitap for the current model cannot be used with the new model PlayStation 2 (SCPH-70002 CB, 700003 CB, 70004 CB), due to difference in design. The new Multitap offers the same function as the current Multitap[/quote] Coming out far sooner than I expected. No HD support is a bit weird... but Japan has an external USB hard drive option, might work for this.

To me a timeless game is not just a game I greatly enjoyed, but one that fits in the definiton of timeless... that is, a game that stands the test of time in its original form. Many games I really enjoyed in the past have definitely not aged well. While I like many of the games mentioned thus far, I do not think they've stood up very well. I feel like people thus far are just treating this as a standard favorites thread in many ways. 1. Super Mario Bros. 3 The NES version of this game is still an absolute joy to play and a lot of fun. The ideas presented in it have been echoed upon for years and it still has an influence on platformers today in a round-about way. Sure, you have the SNES version of the game with updated graphics, which is all well and good. However, the game never needed this upgrade. It still looks and sounds decent for an 8-bit game and plays flawlessly. 2. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island In my opinion, this game is still absolutely gorgeous compared to the general 2D standard on consoles nowadays. Add to this a great, fitting soundtrack and excellent gameplay with lots to accomplish and you have what is really just a perfect game. 3. Earthbound For some people, this style of RPG isn't what they're into. That's fine. However, I absolutely love the game, particularly because it's just so charming and quirky. The graphics were relatively simple even when the game was new, so they manage to stand up. The art style just keeps it working. What really makes it work, however, is the absolutely phenominal localization job by Dan Owsen. If someone played it now, I don't know if they'd realize the full importance of how well it was translated. At the time, the other RPGs on the market were fairly rigid in translation, such as FFIV and FFVI. This game completely turned that upside down and I honestly don't think it's level of localization perfection was even matched until halfway through the Playstation/Saturn/N64 years. 4. Pac-man I play this game to death even now. I never think "wow, this game is ugly". It's charming in an antiquated sort of way and the bizarre beeping music is just plain fun. 5. Tetris There's a reason people go back to the original Tetris and eventually ignore the newfangled, altered versions like Tetris Plus, Bombtris, Tetris 2 and Tetris Worlds. This game was already all it was supposed to be when it first came out. I'd rather pop in the old NES or GameBoy versions than play any of the modern ones. 6. Samba de Amigo This is just one of those games that is so trippy and fun to play (with maracas anyway), that I can't see it ever not being fun or interesting. I'm likely to play this until I can no longer move my arms anymore. I love music games (other than DDR, which I think stinks). 7. Maniac Mansion A good point and click adventure game stands up for a very long time. Maniac Mansion is no exception. I know exactly how to complete the game, yet I still find myself playing through it just because it's that enjoyable. The humor still stands up too. There's more, but I am done for now lol.

I don't like the game at all. I think the story is incredibly dull, the characters lifeless, the translation sleep inducing, the battle system flawed... The game is pretty and sounds great, but that's all I can say I like about it. My main problem is probably the battle system. There's just nothing to it. You can blast through nearly every confrontation with the Djinn, making anything else basically useless. Any restrictions placed on Djinn usage are far too lax, making them too easy to use often. Plus, the original was the first RPG I've played in probably a decade that has you attacking monsters that already died. I thought this died out in the early years of the NES. It's return was a major turn-off for me. The only interesting things for me were the powers you could use in towns and on the world map. Unfortunately, these powers are never utilized as much as they could have been and are often made tedious. I just don't like the game, personally. I don't like FF:CC either heh.

[quote name='Wingnut Ninja']You're right about the pushing power, but Tennis requires moving around and flexibility at the same time as inputing commands, as opposed to the limits of Mario Golf in those terms. I dunno, though, I'll have to wait and see, as always.[/quote] Unless an engine is so poor that its output affects framerate and creates timing issues, this will have absolutely zero bearing on the game. Controls themselves are not based on graphics engines at all. Even comparing layouts between courts and courses, there is an obvious size difference. This is not something I can see even being an issue. It's a game that can practically be played with just the A button and a joystick. Camelot is more than competant enough and I can't see Nintendo publishing a game that is that fundamentally flawed.

I don't know why it'd scare anyone. This is Camelot, they're not going to use the engine that EAD's SMS did. If anything, it's likely based upon the Mario Golf engine, which would be fine by me because all that matters in terms of that is its graphics pushing capabilities. The game looks great graphically and what I've seen in motion is very fluid. I'd not worry about it in those aspects. As for the crowd, in larger stadiums it looks like they're 2D. However, it's not quite as bad since they seem to be high resolution and animated... my main problem with 2D crowds is that they usually look like a pile of vomit. That's not the case here. Smaller stadiums seem to feature fully 3D characters. [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_015119_24_big.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='Wingnut Ninja']I'm going off on a wild guess here, but the word "yet" in that sentence leads me to believe that he's probably not far enough in the game as it stands...[/quote] Well that's what I figured, which is why I was wondering what had to be done to get that enabled heh.

My little brother picked up Fire Red and seems to be enjoying it far more than Sapphire. I'm not sure why exactly. I did have a couple of questions from him though... I know you can trade between Ruby/Sapphire and Fire/Leaf. However, at the point he's at it says "We can't accept trades from far away regions yet, sorry." What do you have to do to enable these trades?

In general, "mature" is a very poorly used word in the gaming world. I don't know if it can be blamed on the industry, media, game journalists or just the end-users themselves. In most cases, "mature" is just correlated with visceral experiences and not mental ones. While you sometimes see games rated M just for "suggestive themes" (generally that seems to involve religious ideas), it's mostly just due to sex and gore. While these may be enough to earn a M rating, and thus be referred to as Mature Rated games, that doesn't really make them "mature" in terms of how I personally feel the word should be used. Games full of gore just for the sake of having it are not something I refer to as mature because the whole concept is created based soley on immaturity in the first place. The same with games like BMX XXX, which has no reason for existance, let alone the gratuitous nudity involved. As a bonus, Acclaim is filing bankruptcy at least. The problem is that people are using this word for different reasons, but it's all muddled together as one. Some people refer to as a game being mature simply because young people are not supposed to play it. Some people refer to these games as mature because the M rating is directly comparable to the R rating in theaters. We can't say a game is rated R, we have to say it's rated M... since that letter stands for "mature" as it is, I feel it leads to a lot of confusion and misconceptions. Personally, I have no interest in games that feature gore or sexual situations for no good reason other than the shock value or "bragging" rights (if you can even call them that, but I'm sure people have noticed the furor over games involving nudity in the US). Violence and sexual situations are fine, if they're treated the way they should be treated. As it is, most of these types of games are absolutely insulting to the intelligence of the average gamer. Slowly it seems people are waking up to this. I think a good example of well used "mature" concepts is the upcoming Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. Yes, I talk about this game in every way I can, I'm just that much of a nerd. Anyway, the game features VERY suggestive themes involving good and evil and religion (hell, in the last game the official ending was that you fight and kill god himself). The Judeo-Christian God is portrayed as a sadistic character while Lucifer is portrayed as a sort of freedom fighter. Obviously it's a spin on what most people think of these beings, but it's treated with intelligence and heavily researched (I think SMT:N's creation had a bibliography of somewhere around 420 books on the subject). The game also features intense violence, and while someone can argue any violence of that level is not needed, it's not portrayed in a way that isn't treated properly. It's not flaunted. Just as the sexual elements in the game are treated as they should be. There are various nude demons because that's how they appear in their sources, but this nudity is not shaken around in your face. It doesn't take the fore front. To me, this is how a mature game should be treated. Maturity doesn't mean blood, sex and violence to me. It means proper use of the subject matter and restrictions that keep things within the realm of good taste without killing off creative freedom. This could be SMT:N or a Silent Hill/Resident Evil title or even something rated E like Pikmin 2. I basically just don't think we should be pandered to.

Looks like this game is finally set for November. I guess it has taken so long because the first rendition of it was completely scrapped for the current version. Good enough for me. Here's some new screens: [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_015621_19_big.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_015616_1_big.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_015118_20_big.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_015619_12_big.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_014017_28_big.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_014015_24_big.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.jeux-france.com/Webmasters/Images/858320040918_014008_8_big.jpg[/IMG]

Personally I think GTA is overrated to a large amount. That's not to say it's a bad game by any means, but people treat it as if it's the best thing since god. That said, I don't feel like getting into it because I don't enjoy the practice of others quoting my post and attacking every other line I write lol. :D

I finally took the time out today and finished the game. I hadn't touched it in weeks due to new games... had I known I was only like two hours from the end, I would have just kept going. [spoiler]It's far shorter than I expected. Including a good deal of the initially available sidequests, it only took me 31 hours to complete. My highest character was level 63. The final area was also kind of disappointing for me, mostly because you've seen a good portion of it before. The last boss fight was not bad, although disturbingly easy. I'm still surprised by the easy level of difficulty this game had. My ending scenes involved Sheena, by the way. Yay! She's my favorite.[/spoiler]

See, the thing is, I don't think anyone was directly comparing the character design of Vincent to that of Dante. Dante and Vincent really look very little alike in general. I don't recall anyone giving the impression that Vincent was somehow a ripoff in terms of character design. What is being compared is the overall look of the game, and in the first few shots given, I think a DMC comparison was rather apt. And even in terms of the new character design, there's an obvious difference compared to the old one. Vincent wasn't quite this edgy and his cloak never had that sort of appearance. It definitely seems to be going in a different direction than the original, which makes comparisions of the original designs somewhat useless. The V-Jump scans don't really give that same impression because they seem to be the only ones with any actual gameplay shots. The game really looks like it uses the Kingdom Hearts graphics engine to me. It just has that same feel. Seems most obvious in that screen with the big guy in blue.

More scans. This time from V-Jump. Thanks to Neo at GAF. Genre says "undecided", whatever the hell that means. What I see leads me to believe it's some sort of stealth/action game though. Who knows.

[quote name='digitalshadow']Actually, I'm torn whether to buy this or not, considering I already have the PS1 version, which I haven't beaten yet. I've heard there's a secret dungeon in this game which isn't in the PS1 one and that's what's making the chance of me getting it higher as well as the other changes. Considering that its release date is near Christmas, I might add it to my list.[/quote] The second dungeon is talked about earlier in the thread. I remember mentioning it. Plus no load times. Woo! I think I'll be getting it.

ICO was a good game. I don't love it as much as some seem to, but it was very atmospheric and quite unique in many ways. I still love running around with the girl, especially because they seem so real. When he pulls Yorda (I think that's it) around, you actually get the sense that he's really tugging on her arm. It doesn't seem like game physics, it seems real to me. Anyway, this game seems interesting. I'm mostly posting because I have some scans from Famitsu showing new stuff. Game is pretty gorgeous.

I'm personally selling this short based on Square's history. What do I need to know? That they've made a total of two decent action games in their history? All that come to mind are Einhander and Tobal (Tobal being made by some other studio). Obviously there's little information to say how this will turn out for sure, but I really can't remain optimistic over it for no reason other than "I don't know a lot about it". There's really no reason to, in my opinion, and I don't have much faith in Square's ability to create this style of game. The last real time game they designed was Kingdom Hearts and that was a mess... but it's better than their other forays into straight-out action games. I suppose there are some people who might be down on this game simply because it's not the FFVII RPG sequel they somehow think Square has the extra resources to devote itself to... but I'm definitely not in that group. If it turns out, then cool. I just don't expect it to be much more than average personally. [quote name='Sage']I'm actually glad that the FF-mark is spreading outside the RPG genre, so perhaps I'll get that FF fighting game I've dreamed of. (he he, Tifa beating Cloud's arse... It's funny how a pasifistic person such as moi can enjoy games like Tekken so much.).[/quote] You can already do that in Ergheiz, which was awful in and of itself (and Square even had Namco's help there). Edit - That was said already, oh well lol.