So after years of being jealous of all you press peeps who get tons of free games, I got my first free game as a result of being "press": Penny Arcade Adventures. Someone at Hothead was kind enough to send me an unlock code. I tried it out last night and I was surprised to find it was actually very good. It plays a lot like Mario & Luigi and has a really clean, crisp look with some nice color tones thus far. (n/t) (Jeurja) (16:46:12 07/23/08 EST)
Brandon could you please tell Backbone they are awful. This new 1942 game suuuuuuuuuucks. (n/t) (substance J) (12:18:16 07/23/08 EST)
Shit just got real:
(n/t) (Zero) (01:42:37 07/23/08 EST)
comic con hullabaloo (twelvestep) (16:23:26 07/22/08 EST)
so I just saw Batman and I must say I was rather underwhelmed by Heath Ledger's perf0rmance. I guess I really expected him to push the creepy angle but he seemed restrained, especially in his mannerisms. he only just touched upon the jerky, mumbling, tounge-lashing character that the awesome make-up alludes to. some crazy prancing would have been nice, too. (n/t) (a-star) (04:23:38 07/22/08 EST)
I tried to read some other forums today and man, I can't deal with the morons. Like I don't agree with SoZ ever really, but at least he's not retarded. I wish that this forum had more people posting. So if you are lurking, feel free to post. I promise we won't kill you. At first. (n/t) (Apples) (21:18:18 07/21/08 EST)
PS to everyone who didn't like Dead Rising, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop on the Wii looks like a better all around game, with no timer, and a better saving system apparently. So ya, I'll be getting it. Wii! (n/t) (Apples) (21:20:21 07/21/08 EST)
yeah, even the worst threads here look like gold after a quick browse around gamefaqs, 4chan, or anywhere else. i have a one forum limit though (i consider all of the related sngp boards as one) so i'm okay unless this place goes down. (n/t) (twelvestep) (21:52:17 07/21/08 EST)
Basically I've found that some other forums are OK as long as they are really hard core oriented. I'm at PCEnginefx.com a lot, I mostly lurk in the mecha molding section of hobbyfanatics.com and more recently the suspension subforum at Miata.net. Anything less nerdy than that is going to get ugly and probably be filled to the brim with all the idiotic shit I come to the internet to avoid in the first place.
I can't explain NeoGeo.com though... (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (22:56:57 07/21/08 EST)
I really hate all other forums. The f0rmatting, the registering, bleh. I admit that I have visited the TFW2005.com forums often and posted there a bit, but the stupid arguments and fucking "collectors" there make me want to kick someone in the nuts. "Ooh, I found Wave 3 of Transf0rmers Animated with Soundwave and Snarl. Theyer so hard to find, man! I scoured all of seattle. I mean, don't you hate having to look all over?! Well, I bought all of them in the entire region and will horde them and thanksfully I have them in hand to sell MISB for $15 + $17 shipping. Aren't you glad I found these first instead of some random little snot-nosed kidd who wouldn't appreciate it?!?!?!"
Fuck you, toy collector assholes! Makes you appreciate games where the dollar value depreciates most of the time.
Um, yeah, and I occasionally visit NeoGAF.com, but half the time I'm directed there via a news site or blog. I don't actively troll much - there's too much elitism and douchebaggery. And goddamned whining.
As for GameFAQs, I go there for specific game boards. There are often idiots, but games with real dedicated players (like Dragon Quest Monsters Joker - ever heard of it?) have good info and lots of anecdotal responses. Still hard to sort through at times, and damn, I wish they'd update saving threads or just finding your way to a specific thread in general. Fuck, it has barely changed since the early 2000's. I suppose the simplicity of the boards works for it, so eh.
So that leaves here. Yay! I think. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (23:37:19 07/21/08 EST)
I love all of you guys. We're like a family. (n/t) (Jeurja) (16:42:42 07/23/08 EST)
Heh. Konami. (substance J) (17:25:22 07/21/08 EST)
So embarrassing. I was so glad I wasn't in the room. anyway. MAN DATE/DUDE'S DELIGHT/FEllOW'S FANCY/BRODEO question - what games are you chaps playing currently and at what time roughly? I'm pretty free in my late evenings this week and thought I might give it a shot and turn up (especially considering I'll be away from my Xbox for a month as of this sunday, anyway.) Let me know if you're arranging a particular time/game and I'll try and join the party this time. (n/t) (aerisdead) (17:41:37 07/21/08 EST)
yeah...I heard about that. embarrassmentttttttttt (n/t) (exodus) (19:02:08 07/21/08 EST)
Oh Konami. (n/t) (Jeurja) (19:06:50 07/21/08 EST)
Wow. considering the Ramones are about my all time favorite band, that was like listening to somebody get raped. :/ (n/t) (Maniac) (19:27:22 07/21/08 EST)
Check out our upcoming BLUE DRAGON card game! (n/t) (Konami PR) (21:13:19 07/21/08 EST)
I started to watch this, but when she couldn't even take her guitar off, I was like there is no way I am going to watch this. And I didn't! Konami! (n/t) (Apples) (21:21:49 07/21/08 EST)
And the real irony of it all? She's part of a band that plays nothing but Ramones covers. How badly do you think this might have hurt the games rep? (n/t) (Darius) (22:37:09 07/21/08 EST)
Konami (should I blame Konami Japan?) are late to the fucking party. They had this "band" idea for years with the PS2 Bemani games. I have to say that what Harmonix and Activision and RedOctane have done was infuse the genre with a really cool rock band vibe overall, and music which generally fits that overall aesthetic (I'm not into metal metal, so that kind of Lamb of God stuff just becomes stuff I skip or forget - that's just me, though).
Anyway, that game looked bad. Well, not bad, just sad. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (23:43:41 07/21/08 EST)
Woah, two imports and a WiiWare game in today's Wii update. First, Super Fantasy Zone (Genesis/MD). Cool! Gley Lancer (Genesis/MD - wasn't it supposed to be Grey Lancer? Oh well.). Cool! SomePirateWiiWareGame. Uh... It looks a lot like Shipwrecked! on the PS. Yawn. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (14:54:07 07/21/08 EST)
billface - I hope you are going to attend the comic con panel entitled "Gamers in the Library?" Why aren't you on that panel!? (n/t) (exodus) (14:17:10 07/21/08 EST)
So, StreetFighter IV. It basically plays and feels like SF3 with SF2 characters, but in 3D. There was this guy at the arcade I played who was killing people on auto pilot with Rufus, the new fat guy. It really sucks there are only 4 new characters (not counting the lame boss, who fights like Dhalsim, Guile and Urien rolled into one), makes the game feel old even though it isn't. Oh well, it's fun to play at least and kinda pretty. (n/t) (Rockman Pocket) (22:00:57 07/20/08 EST)
Welcome to the fantasy zone (Atarianallstar) (18:00:41 07/20/08 EST)
This is a pretty good political campaign (Comic-Kaze) (02:59:49 07/20/08 EST)
On the ftp now: Supreme Lyricism (a Gift of Gab mix tape). There is a hidden bonus track at the end called "NYC Freestyle Live @ B.B. King's" that is pretty good. I uploaded it as one big file. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (01:10:23 07/20/08 EST)
Easier than pecking out a reply on my razr: that's cool, tomorrow was looking kind of busy anyway. if you do decide to go, just call me. Thread preview: later in the evening I'll reply to this thread with a comic con meetup topic! (n/t) (substance J) (22:13:43 07/19/08 EST)
oh yeah... we kinda need one of those! (n/t) (twelvestep) (23:02:08 07/19/08 EST)
I decided to go! I finished writing shit on the plane and the train. I'll call you tomorrow when I leave. (n/t) (exodus) (02:23:24 07/20/08 EST)
SAN DIEGO COMIC CON 2008 (substance J) (01:07:43 07/21/08 EST)
Oh yeah. I'm not sure about destinations or transportation, depending on what happens. I've been thinking of heading to ocean beach after I get in on Wednesday to basically loiter for a while and have a burger at Hodads or some cream cheese filled wontons. Twelvest will be working in OB til 8, Brandon is in the gaslamp cause he's all fancy and stuff, and then Jeurja and Akemi are in El Cajon. Might be kind of hard since only one of those factions has a car, but it'd be kinda cool to meet up for dinner or something if that floated anyone's boat. Just an idea. (n/t) (substance J) (01:15:56 07/21/08 EST)
I have no plans yet for thursday, but will try to interview Ono. Thank goodness I actually played it. I'm guessing the easiest place to meet is at the show itself, so how about at 1:00 thursday somewhere? I find that once you meet someone one time at these things, you run into them more often thereafter, and it becomes easier to hook up again later. (n/t) (exodus) (02:59:37 07/21/08 EST)
Our Comic Con plans are inside. Joel, you're welcome to stay with us whenever you'd like. Just let us know in advance since we're nerds and like to plan ahead. Also, I'm pretty sure we're going to bring Kazuo with us each day we go, SO BRANDON GET READY FOR TODDLER TIME. (Jeurja) (15:37:33 07/21/08 EST)
so drunk haoo yt bitrhdaty!!!!! (n/t) (a-star) (05:33:22 07/19/08 EST)
watchmen trailer = super dope! (a-star) (20:29:06 07/18/08 EST)
Given that I hated V for Vendetta, I think I'm more cautious than most. Still, it will at least be visually interesting. (n/t) (PopaSmear) (21:38:42 07/18/08 EST)
why was that good? you probably have to have read it to be interested I guess...looks like any other costume movie to me so far. I guess I haven't read the most celebrated graphic novel of all time! (n/t) (exodus) (21:46:47 07/18/08 EST)
I haven't been excited about a super hero movie since Batman 1989, but I have to say this looks promising. The most interesting aspect is that the people in the film look almost exactly like the comic. Sadly this is a big deal. I knew who everyone was right away as opposed to XMen where I wasn't sure who Cyclops was until half way though the movie since he just looked like a biker with expensive shades. Nobody felt the need to redesign the heroes in Watchmen. Also, this was a pretty good book. Probably second only to The Dark Knight Returns. I'm assuming it will be more violent than I'd like and much more "raw" than the book, which was considered super raw in its time. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (00:32:13 07/19/08 EST)
thanks for explaining it, because the trailer itself, if you don't know anything about Watchmen, doesn't tell me anything at all. And in fact it just looks like your average explosions movie. but I can see that if the characters are accurate it could be encouraging if you know them. (n/t) (exodus) (02:59:50 07/19/08 EST)
Why do so many people act like they only published good comics from 86 to 88? TDKR and Watchmen are both excellent, but neither is the best comic ever, or even the best examples of the themes withing. Moore's work on Miracle Man, though more rough than Watchmen, was more passionate and inventive, and I'd say more satisfying. Plus, he hands off the series to Neil Gaimen, who did a hell of a job before the thing sank due to an inept publisher. Or Bendis' run on Daredevil. It had a lot of the same themes as TDKR, but from a different angle, in continuity, and without the misogyny Frank Miller likes to slip in. Or Busiek's Astro City, a brilliant look at life in a world of super heroes. Or The Filth by Morrison, which is just mind blowingly brilliant. Or Box Office Poison. Or Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow or Promethia or Supreme (all Moore). Or all 18 of the Brubaker/Fraction run on Iron Fist (just ended). Or Morrison's New X-Men. Or Summer Blond by Tomine. Or Ghost World by Clowes. Millar's Red Son. Gaimen's Sandman, a work that makes the writer in me shudder in terror. Kochalka's American Elf. Sentences by M.F. Grimm. WILL FUCKING EISNER. Kirby's 4th World Saga. Fables by Willingham. Y the Last Man by Vaughn. Preacher by Ennis. Geoff Johns' Sinestro Corps War. The Books of Magic mini by Gaimen. Motherfucking ALIAS by Bendis. Batman Year One by Miller.
It feels like if after Ulysses came out everyone refused to talk about other novels because, HEY, Ulysses was The Good One. (n/t) (PopaSmear) (03:52:29 07/19/08 EST)
I saw Batman at the IMAX tonight, and Watchmen was the trailer. I saw it online already, but to see it in IMAX. Wowowowowow. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (00:08:13 07/19/08 EST)
By this time in comics I had moved on to Madman and Scud so I really don't even have a clue who the watchmen are except I think Sandman was involved. (n/t) (substance J) (00:18:45 07/19/08 EST)
Yeah, I saw this before Dark Knight. It looks interesting but can't possibly do the source material justice. Not that it will be horrible but there was too much in the original story to translate into a movie. (n/t) (Darius) (02:52:26 07/19/08 EST)
Batman: The Dark Knight was incredible. And despite the trailers, snippets, and spoiler pictures littering the web all these past months, I was completely caught off guard by the movie. I mean that in the best sense, too. For as dark as the movie gets, it never let up being refreshing and a complete thrill for me. I'm honestly not into really dark things, but this movie was impossible for me to not enjoy - it's just a really well done movie. I won't say much more than that about the movie other than to highly recommend watching it. I had a great time.
Regarding Watchmen, well, I couldn't be more pleased about the trailer, at least when showing off the characters. Having just re-read the graphic novel a couple of months ago, I was breathtaken at how cool the characters looked, and how they really nailed the cool, radioactive vibe of Dr. Manhattan. I don't know how they'll get the graphic novel down to 2 or 2-1/2 hours, so we'll see how that goes when it's released. I think they're still doing post-production work on it, and as mthe months go by we'll see more and more distinct trailers with dialog, etc.
Watchmen was a singularly amazing piece of work that deconstructed superheroes, and redefined our perception of them. Read in today's context, some of the themes and I'll say "conspiracies" within the work may seem passe, but don't forget that this was arguably the progenitor of such modern works. For a work that came out in the mid-80's, it really was ahead of its time. Grab it off of Amazon or at a book store - it's easily $15-20 of great reading. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (03:35:35 07/19/08 EST)
OK boys, I'm back from vacation and the official US distribut-Ian is up and running. Order your copy of Little Titans today at TRUE TRUE TRUE! (n/t) (Orange) (15:04:49 07/18/08 EST)
Oh so Brandon Sheffield is on the new 1up.com Retronauts podcast I see. I shall have a listen on my way to work this morning. (n/t) (Apples) (11:04:11 07/18/08 EST)
Ah, cool. I'll listen too. Hopefully his meek persona won't be drowned out by the other guys all talking at the same time. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (11:20:42 07/18/08 EST)
it's not my greatest moment...he told me we wouldn't be talking about games on the show floor cause I hadn't played any of them yet, and then basically the whole show was about retro games on the show floor. argh!! I did manage to play some of the games after though. Basically he figured I would've played the original versions of lots of the ports already, which I hadn't. FF IV, Chrono Trigger, Kirby, Dragon Quest whichever...yeah. It's a bit boring too, cause the others didn't talk much. (n/t) (exodus) (12:22:42 07/18/08 EST)
So how much longer until the NGP gets featured as Retro? (n/t) (yoodaa) (14:32:46 07/18/08 EST)
Also if you want to see me looking really gay and wearing an inappropriate shirt on gametrailers, you can do that. (exodus) (16:19:23 07/18/08 EST)
Awesome, you totally bored the bimbo girl. (n/t) (substance J) (16:38:29 07/18/08 EST)
Oh yeah what time is California Xtreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeme happening? I will make sure to roll out of bed then. (n/t) (substance J) (16:52:41 07/18/08 EST)
Someone should tell Brandon about the sun. (n/t) (PopaSmear) (18:02:16 07/18/08 EST)
I think there's a movement going on with games journalism in general where it's cool to act like everything sucks. I'm not saying game journalists and reporters should be excited fanboys, but damn it, why the hell does everyone have to act like they HATE what they're doing? "Oh, E3 is such a waste of time. It sucks I have to go." Shut the fuck up, everybody. I only got to go to one E3 and it was crowded as hell, but I had a blast. I would've loved to go this year, despite the fact that there really wasn't too much shown that people haven't known about. Seriously, these fucking journalists that act like reporting on this shit is beneath them should just send a pass to me and stay home masturbating. (n/t) (Jeurja) (02:56:16 07/19/08 EST)
it's because it's such a frustrating environment for them to try to get any work done. they're expected to do previews of games, while other people are breathing down their necks, or have to interview people they don't know or haven't heard of, which is fine with me, but not fine for many others. Also there's the fact that so many of these companies had press junkets a month ago, meaning a lot of this stuff has already been seen, and they have to find new ways to cover the same material. Lastly I think there's greater awareness now that game criticism is bullshit, but most of these folks don't work within a structure that supports making it better, so that can be frustrating too when you're on deadline. These are just my assumptions. E3 was ok for me and all. This is my 9th one I think. (n/t) (exodus) (03:02:34 07/19/08 EST)
It's not just E3 I'm referring to, though. It's like it's gotten to the point that many people who write about games feel they're too good to do so, or every game sucks, or both. There's no passion. I'm not expecting every article, preview, or review to sound like it's written by Richard Simmons on amphetamines, and I fully understand that most (if not all) writers often have to write about games they don't care about and under the stress of absurd deadlines, but I've read too much by writers who just sound like they're superior to writing about videogames. I'm probably not explaining my feelings very well, but hopefully I'm getting the point across. Maybe? Also, I wasn't talking about you in particular, I hope you know (in fact, I think we share many sentiments about traditional games journalism)... it's just the E3 coverage in general got me thinking about it. Maybe things are too saturated--so many publishers, so many game releases, so many players, and so many journalists/writers. I don't know. I'm babbling. (n/t) (Jeurja) (03:26:28 07/19/08 EST)
If you think this is something new, then either you haven't been paying attention for the last 10 years or else it's gotten way, way worse in the last 10 years since I stopped paying attention. (n/t) (Sweater Fish Deluxe) (14:25:35 07/19/08 EST)
I listened to it today during my (Saturday!) work commute. Quite an odd assortment. I'm glad Kevin from GoNintendo was in the mix! In a lot of ways, Retronauts is so much better without Sharkey and Kohler, mainly because nobody's talking over one another. Also, you bring out a lot of humor in Jeremy, which is good! You really lighten the atmosphere. Good job! 5/5 (n/t) (Jeurja) (21:27:54 07/19/08 EST)
Zack & Wiki is now only $9.99 new at Toys R Us (online and in-store). Get it! (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (12:46:10 07/17/08 EST)
Oh shit guys. Portable Dreamcast with touchscreen. (Zero) (00:59:17 07/17/08 EST)
I still wish Sega had released Super Monkey Ball on the Dreamcast, as it had originally planned. Did anyone ever make a homebrewed version for the DC? (n/t) (Mike Chicago) (03:40:50 07/17/08 EST)
Fuck the haters, iSFMB is amazing. (n/t) (Perdew) (12:28:27 07/17/08 EST)
Yeah, and they make a Pandora Radio app too. I'm totally getting an iPod Touch now. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (23:50:46 07/17/08 EST)
I'm not going to lie about not loving Apple products (software wise) and try to be objective or anything, but WOW iPhone 2.0 is absolutely amazing. Aurora Feint is a nice free game, too. 802.1x functionality also means I don't need Edge or 3G (on Campus or at home at least). Exchange support is also ace. (n/t) (Perdew) (10:35:47 07/18/08 EST)
Yeah, the cost of mobile data still suuuuucks though, so I'll just get a Touch since it can do most of the stuff an iPhone can do. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (11:21:47 07/18/08 EST)
I had a touch for awhile and it left me feeling empty. My bill right now comes to $82.24 a month after tax, and I might drop the extra SMS now that AIM is out and working well, bringing it down $10. The actual functionality just works really well as a phone; scrolling through contacts, visual voicemail, 'favorites' list being a nice way for quick contacts, the camera and scrolling through pictures, the occasional use of Edge particularly for maps, and the SMS was really nice, though like I said I may not need it much with AIM now. Plus, carrying around 1 device instead of my phone, iPod, and DS is very nice. Plus my iTouch was stolen when my car was broken into months back. (n/t) (Perdew) (11:30:49 07/18/08 EST)
And WOW Pandora Radio is amazing! (n/t) (Perdew) (11:39:40 07/18/08 EST)
I wonder if you can play LAST BLADE 2 on it. (n/t) (Jeurja) (16:53:12 07/17/08 EST)
Should I get the 360 version of Battle Fantasia during the play asia sale? It looks a little more Fist of the North Star than Guilty Gear in terms of like being able to tell what's going on. (n/t) (substance J) (17:04:23 07/16/08 EST)
So...yeah. What's the consensus on all of this RockBand 2 mumbo-jumbo? I like the 20-free-songs drop at launch. Kind of a nice incentive. 104 songs in September's sounding mighty tempting... (n/t) (c bub) (12:33:10 07/16/08 EST)
ok, here is an essay by my friend with aspergers. (a-star) (09:41:09 07/16/08 EST)
(FAP FAP FAP) (11:10:02 07/23/08 EST)
) (05:19:02 07/21/08 EST)
(n/t) (substance J) (16:13:55 07/19/08 EST)
(n/t) (exodus) (16:48:27 07/19/08 EST)
(n/t) (NeoGutsman) (22:39:36 07/16/08 EST)