http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/new...24,00.html

Apparently, Live is being subscribed to at a very high rate. My one theoretical possibility as to why this might not work is that the $50 kit allows a free year of subsription, but that can only be done once, after which that particular Box MUST use the standard subscription. In one year, how many subscriptions will still be active? If in fact people intend to remain subsribed, MS just prooved that gaming online can pay for itself. They also have already prooven just by these subsriptions that having online capabilities indirectly gets them money, since that seems to have pushed sales of the XBox ahead of the Cube. Nintendo REALLY need to focus on a decent online plan, even if it's just Sony's plan, which is at least something at the level of encouragement to other developers to make online games.

Here's one flaw I don't like about Live though. Once someone registers for Live, that account is permanent on that Box. That means that that Box will always use that account. Here's the reason I hate this. If someone wants to get rid of their XBox, like say giving it to a friend, they now have someone else's account on their system, and they can't sign up their own account. The only way around this is to send it in to MS so they can erase the old account data and make new data. Sure, at least there IS a way out, but man that's annoying. Oh well, I can see the security reasons, plus it's only bad in that rare instance.

In any case, my main point is that Nintendo really needs to reconsider their stance on Online Gaming. It's great for the consumers (and if Nintendo wants to keep their whole "we do it for the gamers" vibe, this isn't the way to go about it), and more importantly for them, it makes them money based on cube and game sales due to this feature.

Well, it's been confirmed (though I think we all knew it was coming).

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/new...91,00.html

They haven't revealed a thing about it, but I think we all know it's going to be a port. I think we also all know that unless they are reporting Super Mario Bros 1 (nah, that'll be Super Mario Advance 5 :D), this will be a port of Super Mario Bros 3 plus Mario Bros Classic. Super Mario Bros. 3 has always been my favorite 2D Mario game. Since it's a "favorite", I'm actually interested in the port. I got Yoshi's Island since I didn't already own it on SNES, though I may not have if I did. This however I feel compelled to get. I certainly hope they don't change the gameplay, and it remains just the same as ever before. Changing gameplay at the level that Super Mario Bros 2 was changed is just something I don't enjoy. Having said that, hiding huge secret worlds with all new levels is something I WOULD like to see added. One could choose not to find those secrets and play it normally (when I want full gameplay conversion, I mean I want you to be able to put on a blindfold and press all the buttons the same way on both games and when you take off the blindfold, you are in the EXACT same situation in both games), or find the extras. I suspect a "find the red coins" bonus will be added, since it's added to all games that don't already have it before, but as long as it's an optional quest that doesn't alter gameplay, like in SMB DX, then no prob bob. Since they will most likely reuse the All-Stars graphics and sound (no prob by me, that looked and sounded great, and there's not THAT much they could do to improove it, aside from removing "tiling", which I wouldn't like since the tiles helped me in various areas), I do hope they will add in the removed end game bonus from the NES version (they took it out of all-stars) where you beat it and can restart the game with an item menu filled with P-wings.

From Ign pocket

Quote:January 07, 2003 - Electronic Arts has revealed that it will be bringing its incredibly popular Bond console shooter, NightFire to the Game Boy Advance this spring.
NightFire for the Game Boy Advance is in development at JV Games, the same team responsible for one of the first FPS games on the system: BackTrack. In this console conversion, the team is bringing the storyline to the GBA with nine original levels of action in a first-person perspective. Players will utilize both weaponry and Bond gadgetry to get through the different challenges in the game.

Check out the first screenshots of the game in action. Watch for a release of the game in the coming months.

-- Craig Harris

From Ign Pocket

Quote:January 07, 2003 - Over the holiday break, THQ announced that it will be bringing a compilation of four classic Sega arcade games to the Game Boy Advance. Sega Arcade Gallery features conversions of classics from Sega designer Yu Suzuki: Out Run, Space Harrier, Super Hang On, and Afterburner.
Out Run features a fast-paced race across the country in a Ferarri, with players weaving through busy traffic in order to beat the clock. Super Hang On is a speedier version of the classic motorcycle racing game that appeared in Sega's Shen Mue adventure on the Dreamcast. Space Harrier is one of the first 3D shooters to market, putting players in the role of a hovering action-type dude who blasts through different fantasy areas. And Afterburner is Top Gun-style action where players must blast their way through enemy territory in their F-14, avoiding incoming enemy fire with barrel rolls and maximum throttle.

The game was originally scheduled to ship this spring, but THQ recently pushed the release date way later in the year; this game won't hit the market until at least October 2003. That's a long time to wait for some great arcade action on the Game Boy Advance. While you sit tight, hit the link below to take a look at how great the games look on the GBA hardware.

-- Craig Harris

This is a simple game. I pose two choices. You choose one. Then you make a set of choices for the next person.

Would you rather...

A. Drink raw sewage
B. Be raped by an AIDS patient

From Shenmudojo:

Quote:GMR Yu Suzuki Interview January 6

The premiere issue of GMR (the new game mag co-published by Electronics Boutique and Ziff Davis Media) has done a short interview with Yu Suzuki. This is what was asked about Shenmue:

GMR: With Shenmue II completed, can you tell us about Shenmue III? We know you had to compress multiple chapters into Shenmue II because of cost constraints. Will you have to further condense the series?

Suzuki: The series will continue, but I think we will go with a different approach for Shenmue III. I'd like to make the next chapter into a movie.

GMR: A CG movie, kind of like the one on the free DVD that comes with Shenmue II?

Suzuki: Yes.

GMR: Is it true that Shenmue originally began life as a Virtua Fighter RPG?

Suzuki: That's something of an urban myth. When we were first planning the game, Akira (from Virtua Figher) was scheduled to be the main character, and the working title was Akira's Quest. As development progressed, we felt it would be better to start with a brand-new character.

This interview was sent in by Protomic in which he also scanned the "magazine cover" and "interview". ~HellRaiser~

From PGC!

No details, but we do have screen shots!









Now where the hell is Fire Emblem and Magical Vacation?

http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?a...em&id=3824
And PS2, too.

Booyah


I only just bought my GBA a few weeks ago.

...you would buy something like this:

http://www.mcphee.com/lifestyle/current/10727co.html

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