Journal jchenx's Journal: Holiday '07 Gaming Overload 17
So we're finally in the middle of this amazing holiday season, where there's simply too many games and too little time. I've got a huge backlog of 360, PC, and DS games that I want to get to. (If I ever get a Wii, I'd also love to check out Super Mario Galaxy)
A few games that I'm currently playing through:
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - While I am enjoying this game, I also can't help but think that this is essentially the same game of 10 years ago. Yes, the new stylus controls are great, and adds a lot of innovation, but you're still solving the same type of puzzles with the same weapons (boomerang, bombs, arrows, etc.). Maybe I've just gotten too old for Nintendo platformers now (which makes me worried that I won't enjoy Galaxy after all). Still, it's a pleasant game that I pull out when I'm travelling (which seems to be a lot these days).
Mass Effect - Bloody hell, this is an awesome game. I haven't had this much fun playing an RPG since probably Dragon Quest VIII. (Blue Dragon was meh and I didn't like FFXII all that much) I love the dialog system, and as usual, the writing for this BioWare game is top-notch. Space operas, FTW!
Rock Band - Simply Awesome. I've been playing this a bunch with friends. It's amazing that it has appealed to many people that normally aren't into music games. By the end of the night, everyone wants to take turns on guitar, drums, and even singing! It's an amazing party game. I also think it's possibly the "Wii" of this year. By that I mean, the thing that people can't stop talking about once they experience it. I'm not trying to diss on the Wii at all either, that thing is still selling like crazy, but Rock Band is the new hotness.
Anyway, that's it for me. There are a bunch of other games I want to get to (Crysis especially), but they'll probably have to wait till next year. Oh and one last thing, if you haven't played Portal yet
Mostly 360 games (Score:2)
You need the contrast of light and dark, with light fluffy areas to bring out the true darkness
However, I guess I should buy Super Mario Galaxy for my Wii, even tho I'm not really that into platform games.
Too bad all the great 360 and PS3 titles are Japan-only
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I'm not sure what you mean by "dark SciFi" feel. Have you even played the game? It's got a good mix of light and dark elements. It's certainly not as dark as, say, Battlestar Galactica. If anything, it has a bit of a Star Trek: Next Generation feel to it.
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So, if that's the feel, I'm not sure it's going to be the kind of RPG I'd want to play.
As to the 360 and PS3 titles, I see G4TV Nocturnal Emissions gameplay for the Japan-only versions quite a lot, and most of those games are not available in the US market. Maybe the ones that you've heard of over here are, but not the ones I'm thinking of.
Which is a crying shame
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Wow, you're insane. Granted, I liked DS9 better myself, but there are plenty of people that hated Voyager and Enterprise. Sure, if STNG isn't your cup of tea, I can understand, but saying that it's "normally rated lowest" is blapsphemy and incredulous. After all, it's what brought Star Trek back from the dead! (Without TNG, there wouldn't be anything else)
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G4TV is online at and most of their episodes are viewable there. [g4tv.com]
Including Nocturnal Emissions.
Not everything is as simple as it once was. Back when I was a SMOF and a SMOG, things were much more interesting, but simpler.
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Times have changed a lot. In the past, yes most games debuted in Japan first, and were only ported to the US months/years afterwards. Th
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And that tells me, even in a city where Japanese manga and anime sell like hotcakes, that they're not porting Japan-only RPGs over to the US market.
I read about all these games and hear references to them, but they're never ported.
JRPGs and more (Score:2)
I'm very knowledgeable about this stuff, so let me clear up some of your misconceptions!
JRPGs for all the "next-gen" systems (360, PS3, and even the Wii) have not come out in bulk yet. It's because they tend to
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As to the PS2 - that's the platform that sells games, not the PS3. I just bought a game for it last month.
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Which platform? The current gen platforms don't have hundreds of JRPGs yet, as I've already said. But it'll get there.
And FF and DQ are not multiplatform. The only multiplatform FF is FFXI, which is the MMO. Every other game has been exclusive to their respective console/portable.
On that note, I'm hoping that FFXIII does go multiplatform. Right now, it's a PS3 exclusiv
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In 2009, when we all go digital, I'll be buying a 40" HDTV 1080p set with a DVR box.
At that time, I will see what consoles are there and what games exist for them.
If by that point the 360 has sufficient JPRGs at the local stores in Seattle, it will be considered.
But it's just as likely the successor to the Wii will have a high-res version by that point with more games.
I will consider all the eligible platforms.
But, note, I don't care about how the splatter of rain looks from a rendering engine if the gam
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You also seem to think that the 360 and PS3 only bring good/HD graphics to the party. That's where you're wrong. There have been some great gameplay improvements in many titles. Heck, as I said in my original post, Mass Effect is amazing and not because it looks great.
On the flip-side, a lot of your typical Wii ga
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Right now, they aren't.
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Right, kids at high schools and universities.
Don't try to teach someone with a degree in Business (Marketing and Sales) about markets
I said, in 2009 I will look at what consoles there are, as that is the first time I will have a TV set that there is any noticeable (based upon extensive consumer feedback) difference between consoles.
If, at that time, the xBox360 has enough decent games and there is no better competition, I will consider buying one. They'll probably
Gamer demographics (Score:2)
And this is why you are out of the loop! :)
Sorry dude, the market has changed. The demographic used to be only kids in high schools and universities, but it's gotten a lot broader. Geez, even you should realize this, as a Wii fanboy.
As us gamers have gotten older, so has the demographic. There are plenty of adults playing games. The Wii has also been appealing to much older gamers as well, since it's so much more accessible.
I
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If I meant cas gamers, I would have said so.