I-n-j-i-n

I'm generally turned off whenever some people make snide comments based on their prejudice of an entire genre. I'm not really into rap, R&B and electronica, but one has to have a sense of acceptance about them before getting into the boring old tirades against them. I don't even need to get into the details concerning Country music either.

Frankly, in my experience of using Gamespy, it frankly was below expectations. I tried it for the Dreamcast, Xbox and etc and it's simply too clunky to use efficiently. Maybe the channel option could make things easier, but Gamespy is still a middleman to muddle through. As for Sony's plans, it is still a bit clunky, but I don't see it as any better or worse than going the Gamespy route. I wish both companies take 360's cues and go for the totally embedded online gaming functionality instead.

Yes it does matter since the likelihood of the merger succeeding, no less anytime soon is slim. Even if they do go for a full merger, it'll take years to implement. XM for Opie and Anthony. yey

Slightly off topic, but that battle could be covered in a more serious, historical manner some other time. This version is certainly the romanticized version, God of War style. I think they can squeeze a good semi-historical epic out of it.

I'm going to watch it in Imax theaters for the hell of it. The only very well received movie right now is The Host. 95% and they say it's a campy horror movie. Sounds about right.

The episode actually brings up a great point in that the way deferred versions of the actual word can become the new slur. Like saying "N-word" instead of the actual word all the time, hence the "N-word" actually becomes the new curse instead. Touché, Trey and Matt.

^ Aside from lost revenue even, it's not like Sony or Microsoft to push pack-ins just for the sake of doing so. Nintendo also has become somewhat lax in that regard except for the way they completely ported over Twilight Princess with the controls. Stars have to align so that great games can be made just in time for the system launch too. I just don't think most game companies would risk putting out a game that won't be as easily received as it could have in the past. Also, games nowadays with the newer consoles can never really tap into the full power of the system at launch. Games in the 8 bit and 16 bit era were more easier to develop and utilize the systems' potential. It's much harder to untap the potential of the graphics and all the perks of a system right at launch. Also note that this is why people pay more attention to launch titles now more than ever. I don't think the very term "launch title" was even used in the Playstation era. And the game companies themselves seems to perpetrate the line of 'launch titles' so that they don't have to worry about pack-ins and other heavy endorsement of a game

I agree that the overall concept of at least portraying more value to the package is one of the reasons why pack-ins worked before. Then again, look at the consoles themselves nowadays and PS3 can play Bluray (which is a substantial factor considering that just about all major movie releases nowadays have Bluray versions), the Wii has a bevy of channel options, Mii aspect and others beyond the pack-in of Wii Sports, and 360 has the whole customizable soundtracks and entertainment center value even without factoring in the Xbox Live service.

If it's a preorder bonus, then it isn't much of a pack-in at all. Though I think the preorders are a great idea in the way the Japanese has done that even with their music CDs such as limited edition or limited print casing and small trite goodies that would be further the incentive to get it early while supplies last (as they don't last long. Music CD, DVD and Game editions sell out within days even if they're not that good). And by the mentioning of the press in the way pack ins used to be received, I was talking more about the buzz factor back in the old days. But ultimately, I don't think that game companies really are up to pandering to their audience like they used to. Because in the early days of gaming, people needed to have a stronger case to jump in and try out new systems. Because console gaming was new to most people, they needed to have a game in there or else it wouldn't create a good first impression. Nowadays, I just do not think there has to be that 'break in' game or an avatar of the system such as Mario or Sonic or Crash Bandicoot to put in as a service for the newcomers. Also, with most of the best games nowadays coming from the 3rd party, I don't think it makes sense for game console companies to offer excessive favoritism as they're always up to courting the 3rd parties. I think pack ins could be a good service too, but I just don't think it's really worth much in terms of public image as a gaming company. Like with Wii Sports or Uno or some other well made but tech-demo-esque games, I think that'll further be the norm the more lucrative game business gets. Since the demand and the core knowledge of the games is so huge that they don't need to push that extra in there to 'service' the gaming customers. The only service the companies need to get is the sales. I just don't see what's in it for the game companies to go through with that.

That is the precise reason why pack-ins shouldn't become mandatory like they tends to be. Also, a lot of 'pack-ins' nowadays can be relegated to online downloads of old or virtual games. Xbox 360 has a bit of that and they give you Uno and some market points for just subscribing to Xbox Live. The Wii could definitely pack in maybe 2000 VC points just for starters. And considering how expensive these consoles are already, I think the days of Sega/Nintendo style pack ins are a thing of the past. Again, game consoles literally sell themselves. All three systems have enough great games to not have a single mascot stand over all of it like in the old days. Times simply have changed. And people are buying more and more game consoles even when they're priced at $600, $400 to the Wiimote/Chucks costing $60 to some games costing $60. And yet we're still seeing record game sales. That kind of reasoning is a bit faulty as I would assume that Nintendo or any other company would rather flaunt the individual game sales and the individual marketing of the games rather than push them together with the console. People simply aren't dumb enough nowadays to rely on pack-ins as the only way we're going to be introduced to great games. We're not kids anymore. Also, back in the days of NES and Master System, we didn't have a very good gaming press, almost no TV coverage of games at all, and no internet to speak of. The entire dynamics of game sales do not hinge with pack-ins at all. It's a nostalgic idea that used to work. Though I agree with your idea in that maybe one or two VC or other virtual downloadable games would be a great idea not only for the Wii, but for the 360 and now PS3 having their online marketplace now. I don't think that's entirely true. Sony has garnered a monstrous number of PS1 and PS2 libraries and if they can sell them all like they plan to, then that could help with their sales too. Sony has a history now and some people don't seem to realize it. And Sony needs to drive in home the idea that they have a Bluray packed in since that is a major reason to get one for high end buyers or anyone with HDTVs really.

The reason why Smooth Moves is not "killer ap" is because the critical opinion and general attitude towards it is a bit ho hum and mixed in how the majority of gamers look at such a game. I mean, for a Warioware fan such as me, it's great. I think a lot of gamers could get taken in by the way it uses the Wiimote too. But it's definitely not for everyone and it just doesn't have the huge appeal that RPGs, Action, or Shooter games tends to have. Hell, minigame collections just in general don't have the visibility of even platformers or racers it seems. Um, didn't they totally figure out how to homebrew it illegally a few months ago? Also, from the speculation alone, it sounds to me like legal homebrew options for the 360 is more open than the PS3's as well. It'd be perfectly even in terms of features if Microsoft decides to put in a browser in there.

Yeah, to be fair, the Wii doesn't exactly have their own killer ap just yet. They have a lot of decent/good short experiences and only Warioware comes close to that bill, but I mean it's Warioware. Something I breezed through in a day. And DS had the same problem for one whole year when they had the most token, boring GBA sequel ideas with touchscreen features tacked on. It took them a while to get the truly unique and worthy games on it. I don't think PS3's problem is getting the hardcore gamers. Why else then is it still selling so well even when it's so pricey and has such negative hype surrounding it? Look at the 360's launch and the buzz back then was how plain and not outstanding the console's features were. But that system was redeemed by the constant stream of games with occasionally great games in there with the Xbox Live aspect. The PS3 still has the inbuilt Bluray to bank on which would be a huge incentive to those who own HDTVs and see those new movies coming out in Bluray/HDDVD form.

Today is a literal explosion of gaming news especially for the 360. The Game Developers Conference may as well be the new E3 at this point: http://xbox360.ign.com/ OMGWTF Sakaguchi MMO: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/770/770945p1.html

I think pack-ins are an antique idea though. Just because it used to work in the past doesn't mean it'll work now. That used to work because game systems typically had an iconic mascot. Even the Playstation adopted Lara Croft and Crash Bandicoot but then they realized that systems basically sell themselves nowadays.

I think you have to factor in how the big named titles for the 360 hasn't even come out and it's comparable to how it's going for the PS3 now when they at least have at least one AAA title in Resistance Fall of Man. Project Gotham and DOA4 were there, but you can only get so many people with a racing and fighting games nowadays. And I believe the optional add-ons for the 360 is a pretty good deal. Considering the amount of content Xbox Live has, it balanced it out with PS3's thin online support right now. I don't think they'll ever catch up unless they make it a pay service or decide to put a lot more effort (and money) into their online plan. There is no doubt that both systems are pretty expensive, and naysayers aside, both are selling freakishly well for such expensive consoles. Hell, I think my baby cousin will get his PS3 anyday now if the system is available on the shelves. I have no idea how people get their money or is willing to spoil their kids. I suppose it's somewhat natural as these consoles are flying off the shelves. The last time I checked, ALL THREE CONSOLES were sold out in the game store I frequent.

Yeah, Toriyama's artstyle is pretty consistent and it's not really like any other anime style out there. People only equate it with Dragonball and its fanatical fanbase, but Toriyama has done great things before. My personal favorite being the Dragon Quest anime. And the voice acting? I think it's done very well. I don't understand that criticism people have of the game. And I hear the final version may have switchable Japanese/English dubbing. Then there is the corresponding anime version of Blue Dragon coming out soon: http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/first-blue-dragon-anime-image-239541.php I think it's a pretty exciting news since all we've seen for about a decade were Toriyama artwork in Dragon Quest stuff and not the actual anime genre.

8$ or so really is pretty high considering that Nintendo or any other company reselling the games do not work for the game development. The BIG reason why games even cost money is not just their intellectual property, but development of them itself. I think it's fair to say that something like $4 or $5 per old game is reasonable. I think it'd be ridiculous if the games cost like a few cents since they may as well be free at that point. But also, that 8$ price-tag came from the way Xbox Live Arcade has been selling their games, though they used to sell some games around at $15. Now they gravitated down to the economically sound level according to their experience. It's how the virtually distributed game sales have anchored down due to the way both Microsoft and Nintendo has come to grips with the pricing. But standalone, if there's absolutely no development costs to cover for it, $10 or so for a game doesn't make sense as far as the reasoning for why it's priced that way. Other than the market influence on it coming to that point. I expect Sony's PS3 online market place to base their prices on the way their competitors do it now that they're the latest arrival to the virtual console scene.

So pushing for a possible good feature is "pushing around"? How about how Nintendo is pushing developers DOWN when it comes down to online gameplay these days? Also, DOA4 and other fighting games has worked with Xbox Live before. So there is precedence.

Good to be proven wrong on that one. Just in time I could actually afford a 360 then. It's like an increment. First the Wii, then 360, then PS3, then a brand new PC in that order of attainability.

Now that reminds me how many hours I pump into Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution lately. And I don't even LIKE fighting games. I really hope the "VF5 for 360" rumors are true. Because it'll likely be at least a few years until I have enough change to get a PS3.

I'm befuddled at why people even bother getting a PS3 and play it on standard definition. That's taking away the whole reason for getting such a system to begin with. I'd imagine that true 1080p games would be eyepopping. I mean, a shitty 12-inch HDTV on display playing 360 games look flatout gorgeous.

On rails Sonic game is on rails. Decent rental. I'd shoot myself if I bought it at full price.

Maybe because the market isn't big enough or noticeable enough? Also, don't musicians do covers for free at times?

I wonder though. If you're looking for a Bluray player (estimated $1000, $900 at the cheapest), a PSX emulator, PS2 emulator, a multimedia center AND PS3 games, it's a pretty decent deal. I might think about trading in the old PS2 for a PS3 eventually. Still futilely hoping for a price drop after only one year.

I'm surprised to see Crackdown get a lot of rave reviews. It really did seem to me like it'd be the leadup to Halo 3 like everyone predicted.