http://curmudgeongamer.com/article.php?s...2194601504

Interesting... you should all read this. Stats on review scores at several major sites...

From IGN:

Quote:November 04, 2003 - In its annual Sony Corporate Strategy Meeting held in New York today, Sony Computer Inc. revealed the first official concept model image of the PSP, its upcoming powerhouse handheld.

As part of its presentation displaying how the IBM/Toshiba and Sony backed Cell chip will connect all future Sony Products -- from the PSP to TVs, computer, video cameras and PlayStation game consoles -- the first official shot appeared for all to see.

Due in the fall 2004, the PSP features an impressive set of specs including wide screen support (480x272; 16:9 ratio) that's will be backlit, the full PlayStation control set, embedded codecs and NURB technology for rendering full 3D polygons.

To get a better look what's under the hood, check these specs.

* UMD or Universal Media Device. This storage media is 60mm, about half the size of the traditional CD and has a capacity of 1.8GB. That's right GB. Expect massively complex, detailed gaming (for your handheld anyway). 2.4 inches.
* ATRAC encoding support (Sony's proprietary sound format used in their minidiscs). This could mean it will be a multi-media device.
* Graphics specs are also impressive: NURB technology for rendering with full 3D polygons.
* The unit's widescreen LCD screen (480x272, that's the coveted 16:9 ratio we all love) will be backlit.
* The unit's sound processing will feature full 3D sound, PCM, and will be "fully reconfigurable."
* MIPS 32-bit processor.
* Also, a secure ROM cartridge for anti-piracy efforts.
* Super-one-chip solution for graphics, sound, etc.
* Memory stick will be used for game saves. Also, for GPS functionality.
* Rechargeable battery.
* CPU: 90 nanometers with a clock speed TBD.
* USB 2.0 connection for talking to your PC, cellphone, even your PS2.
* Embedded RAM.
* Supports additional video codecs (other than MPEG 4.)

If this image represents the final model, then our suspicions about the flip top have been confirmed. We still have questions about the final format of the analog stick and other buttons as well. Will they stand upright, above the surface of the handheld, or not? We'll have more soon. For all things PSP in the future, make sure to check out our handheld site Pocket.ign.com
-- Douglass C. Perry

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves
http://www.disciples2.com

Cool! I love Disciples... and this is the first race added to the game since they made Disciples I. And as usual, the artwork is simply amazing... I want this game! Guardians of the Light and Servants of the Dark were dissapointing since all they did were add two 3-mission campaigns each (and include the original D2's campaigns for that side) and some single maps, and no new units or anything...

This seems to still include the original D2 campaigns (so its stand-alone), but its got a new 8-mission Elves campaign... and its a whole new race! Awesome... :) I'll be getting this, I love Disciples. IMO its the best current TBS series.

Also, a new stand-alone add-on for Jagged Alliance 2.

http://www.strategyfirst.com/games/GameI...n=Overview

http://news.com.com/2100-1043_3-5101146....g=nefd_top

Very interesting, and surprising... seems that Wintel is gone for good. IBM, the dominant game console chip maker? That would be amazing... but they're going after all three companies quite strongly. It'll be interesting to see how many of those three deals go through...

http://www.gamespydaily.com/news/fullstory.asp?id=5457

Microprose is dead. Yeah, yeah, since they were bought by Infogrames ("Atari") a few years back they really haven't existed... well actually I'd say that their death was made certain years back when Sid Meier left... but still. Microprose is one of the great old companies in the PC industry and seeing them die, even at this point when they barely still existed... barely is better than none. :(

Who's next, Interplay? They are in some ways in a similar position... like Microprose they're a company with a great back-catalog of PC games, but who are owned by a French multinational and have had their founders and top talent leave... I really, really hope they make it. Especially since so many of the older companies are gone... Looking Glass, Microprose, 3D0 (er, New World Computing, anyway...)... and looking at the current state of Interplay and Sierra... its depressing. All the companies I used to love seem to be gone... or changed so much that they aren't recognizable (see ID and Epic...).

R.I.P. Microprose, one of the great strategy/simulation game developers. May Firaxis and PopTop (Railroad Tycoon...) continue your legacy well.

Alright, so, let's all list all the cartoon shows that have spoofed Willy Wonka!

Let's see, Futurama, Family Guy, Jonny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory... Anyone think of any others?

http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?a...em&id=4814

Very good news! :) Great to see the sales jump that came from the $99 price stayed up...

<i>Edit: Wrong article, stooge.</i>

Quote:Nintendo fans who already own a Gamecube but still want the Zelda bonus disc, never fear. There will be two alternatives to purchasing a new system. First, you can register your Gamecube with two of the following purchases: Mario Kart®: Double Dash!!™, Mario Party® 5, Mario & Luigi™: Superstar Saga and 1080°®: Avalanche at http://www.nintendo.com/zeldaclassic. The other alternative is to subscribe or renew your subscription to Nintendo Power by taking advantage of the special offer here. In either situation, you'll need a My Nintendo account (they're free) before proceeding.

In case you have been living in a cave, the Zelda bonus disc shipping on November 17th will include The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, a playable demo of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, gameplay footage from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and a short retrospective history of The Legend of Zelda series!

About the reasons for their anti-online, pro-connectivity stances. These few paragraphs in particular were very good and made a lot of sense to myself and ABF:

Quote:For the longest time, I could not understand it. It just did not make sense to me why Nintendo would want to ignore a market that everyone else has already deemed to be the future of video gaming, and then go off and try to create a market that revolved around the concept of connectivity. Then it hit me like that proverbial bolt of lightning; this was Nintendo we were dealing with. The whole connectivity concept in itself is unique, is intriguing, but in the end is useless. The functions and the features you receive with these features are more of a hindrance than help. Instead of being able to complete a game by just buying it, you now need to have the Game Boy Advance and a hook up device in order to collect all the items, or see all the rooms, or to enjoy all the features of a game. In essence, you are no longer able to get 100% of everything in a game (items, rooms cleared, rooms visited, items collected and used) unless you have the Game Boy Advance. Purchasing a game is no longer enough in order for you to finish it. You need to purchase another console, a hook up, and another game in order to get everything out of a game for which you have already paid out hard currency. There are very few real functions you can receive out of having a Game Boy Advance as a controller (The second screen is the only plus I can think of) rather than that of a regular GameCube controller.

For Nintendo though, this plays out perfectly. People must now buy several products in order to play a normal game. People who own a GameCube must buy a Game Boy Advance in order to finish their games. People who own a Game Boy Advance will now be intrigued into buying a GameCube. Everyone who owns one Nintendo product will most likely own several in the future. And how do they do this? By taking the product we have forever taken for granted, and slicing it up into two different parts. The 90% of the game that you will receive by just purchasing it, and the other 10% will only come if you have hook ups and a Game Boy Advance. In the end, the whole thing boils down to a money grab. For the money they are asking from us, we the gamers are receiving very little in return. In essence, we are receiving what we should be getting anyways.

This however, does not answer why Nintendo has ignored the online aspects of their console almost completely. That is when the second bolt of that proverbial lightning thundered down on my skull. The capability of adding an online feature into a game only lengthens its life span. While the single player game may hold you for a couple weeks, and the multiplayer maybe another month, the online aspect (with the communities, world wide rankings, favorite servers, clans, etc) adds another six months to a year to a games life span. Not only that, but as has been shown by the X-Box, games that have already been released get updates to their single player games as well. Adding more levels, enemies, items, moves, and what have you, you can extend the single player experience another two or three weeks as well. Now a game that has been released six months before, is still getting some playtime, and in essence, you have 110% of the game you paid for.

That is exactly why Nintendo would never want to touch the online aspect of gaming. Online abilities give the player more, while Nintendo is only interested in giving the player less. Nintendo wants you to go out and buy three different products, just so that you can fully complete a game. The competition however, wants to give the gamer more for his gaming dollar. The competition seems only too happy to add stuff to a game through its online services, a full six months after a game has been pushed out the door. Even though the competition does charge for its online abilities, those online abilities outweigh the abilities of the whole “connectivity” concept by about 1000 to 1. Whereas I will be able to open an extra room or see an extra picture if I buy a Game Boy Advance, a hook up, and the Game Boy Advance version of the game, I will be able to receive whole extra levels, a whole arena of people from across the world to play with, stats, clans, you name it with my online capabilities.

Either way you look at online gaming, you will have to admit that it will be a very prominent part of the video gaming market in the future. While Nintendo sits back and tinkers with its connectivity capabilities, completely ignoring the true future of the video gaming market, you will be glad to know that without the help or hindrance of online gaming, Nintendo will be posting its very first net-loss this quarter.

In an earlier review of mine, I said there was no such thing as a perfect fighting game. I now stand corrected. Soul Calibur II comes as close to a perfect fighter as you can get, as close as you'll see for quite I while, I believe.

Soul Calibur II actually has a story behind it to explain why all these people are wailing on each other. An evil sword known as Soul Edge, which can devour mens souls, threatens to enshroud the world in darkness. All of the fighters either want this unimaginable power for themselves, or want to destroy the evil sword for good.

Featuring a roster of 23 characters, there is something for everyone. Whether you prefer the lightning-quick Raphael, the powerful Astaroth, the freaky Voldo, or the bizarre Yoshimitsu, with enough practice, you'll become a feared fighter. If you're smart enough to own the GameCube version, you'll be able to kick ass with Link from the Legend of Zelda. But if you prefer less cool characters (:D), you can get Tekkens Heihachi on the PS2 version, and comic book character Spawn on the X-Box.

Soul Calibur II is all about control. At all times you can run in any direction you choose, be it away, towards, or around your opponent. While running around, you have a big selection of moves which can all be fairly easily accessed to unleash upon your opponent. Beware, because if you think simply pummelling your opponents with button mashing attacks will get you to Soul Calibur zen, you are sorely mistaken.

While your opponent is trying to attack you, they can do any number of things to throw your strategy into disarray. Guard impacts cause characters to stumble over their weapons, attempting to get them back to fighting position, during which time, they can easily get in a hard hit. If you're blocking, every characters has Guard Breaks and Unblockables. Guard breaks will, obviously, break your guard and leave you reeling and unable to defend or attack for a second. Unblockables are just as they sound. Unleash one, and blocking won't save your enemies.

Every fighting game requires practice to become formidible, and SCII is no exception. While some moves can be executed by simple button presses and combonations, the big attacks and unblockables usually take a little more practice to master. The shining attribute of this game is that no matter what attack is used, the other fighter has a perfectly accessible way to escape or counter it. Press a button just after you're grabbed, and you'll break free. If vertical attacks are keeping you at bay, step around them. super-fast attacks whittling you down? Block them, or guard impact them and smash them right back. Not only must you choose your attacks wisely, so as not to expose yourself to Guard Impacts, but you must also watch what your opponent is doing. Strategy is almost more important to this game than the fighting itself.

So you've mastered your moves and become skilled with a certain character. Now it's time to show your stuff. You can go through Arcade, where you fight through 6 battles, a destined battle, then a battle with Inferno, the keeper of Soul Edge. Survival, Time Attack, and Team Battle pretty much speak for themselves. Weapon Master is the real meat of the Single Player game, though. Pick a character, and lead them through a quest across a continent to destroy Soul Edge. Not only that, but each character has 9 weapons that can be bought from stores and won, each with their own attributes. You'll soon have favorite weapons you'll never want to go into battle without. Also you can unlock cinemas, weapon demonstrations, characters, arenas, art galleries and much more cool stuff just waiting to be discovered.

It's a fighting game, so fighting against a friend is great. However, if you're fighting a game against a person whos lower than you in skill, they will not have fun, and vice-versa. It's best if you both start and learn it at the same time. If you have an opponent who can fight as well as you, you'll spend HOURS fighting the night away.

I love this game, and if there was one thing I would have changed about it would have been adding a VS Mode like Melee. Pick your character, pick an opponent, and fight. All things considered though, this game is an incredible accomplishment, and no gamer should be without it. Go buy it. Now.