mikeszekely

I'd expect porn on UMD to start showing up REAL soon. Wouldn't that be a little complicated in practice though? Logitech and a few other companies are making little stands with speakers to set the PSP in, so you can watch movies... uh... hands free... I had to stop by the grocery store today. There's a Target right next to it, so I stopped to see if they were breaking the street date... no such luck...

From what I read, EA deliberately made the multiplayer in NFSU Rivals a little half-assed, because they expressed the opinion that it would be difficult to find more than one person with a PSP to play Rivals with. Anyway, you read correctly that you can play Rivals with just one copy of the game... but when you do, you can only play with one PSP. For wireless linked play, everyone needs a copy of the game. Reading a little more carefully, the PSP supports sharing games ala the Nintendo DS for wireless play, but so far none of the games support it.

Yeah, the announcement of the square button fix came after Kutaragi's infamous speech comparing the PSP to the work of a brilliant architect. Sony is now repairing PSPs in Japan with square button issues, and the US release is supposed to be free of said square button issue. As for the the UMDs popping out, yeah, that's still a problem... if you like strangling your handhelds as you play them. From what I read, it's not like a bomb ready to go off if you touch it the wrong way, you really have to twist something that you really shouldn't have been twisting in the first place.

I didn't pay too much attention to that section of the manual... I'll look at it more in detail tomorrow. So far, I picked up NFSU Rivals and Dynasty Warriors. I hope to *insert prefered deity here* that Wipeout arrives before the PSP does. Even if the rest of the games are late...

I'd expect porn on UMD to start showing up REAL soon. As for getting your own porn, it depends on the format. It IS possible to rip a DVD and convert it to mp4, but it'll be easier if you have already have the porn as avi on your PC.

Nothing's been announced for sure, but Atlus and Square have both announced PSP support. I'm hoing for a MegaTen game, myself.

Except UMD movies aren't DVDs. The DVD consortium is irrelevant. It'd be nice if they WERE relevant, as it would mean the PSP would play your existing movies instead of what Sony sells as PSP movies. ... On the other hand, the PSP would be utterly massive for a game system... but there'd be room for the controls(the "square" button on the PSP is mushy and un-sensitive because it overlaps the screen and the reviews I've seen say the controls are too close to the edges of the system to make for comfortable gameplay). I thought that the mushy button problem was fixed for the US release? that's what the people at my local gamestop told me when I placed my pre-order... hmmmm... well, I can still hardly wait for this thing. woohoo! almost here! Yes, the PSP's square button issue has been fixed for the US release. And yes, JB0, from what I read, improbable as it sounds, it IS in fact the DVD Consortium that put pressure on Sony and other companies to use region coding on UMD movies.

Have you tried Logitech's wireless PS2 controller? For me, it's not that I'm leary of wireless as much as I am of third party controllers. But the Logitech controller for PS2 is actually really good... better than a regular Dual Shock 2. Better, even, than Nintendo's vaunted Wavebird. I've had zero lag and zero missed button presses with it, plus it just feels natural in your hand.

Part of it was the tie-in sales rate, but the contest changed, simply because other stores are selling their stuff. Personally, I picked up Need for Speed Underground Rivals already. That said, because the company didn't expect people to want to buy stuff for a system they don't own, they didn't priority ship any of the PSP stuff, so even though other stores have a lot of different stuff, we just have some Pelican accessories and NFSU Rivals, so far. We'll be getting shipments everyday though... I hope all the games will be in by Thursday. If not all of them, then at least Wipeout. dejr8bud, how big is your Best Buy? Most metro-area stores, especially bigger stores like Best Buy, are a lot bigger than the Gamestop where I work. And like I said, my store's getting 70. If the store is big enough and in a big enough area, 300 isn't impossible. I'm not too concerned with Dynasty Warriors' reviews. The reviews might not look good when compared with other PSP titles, but compared to the other Dynasty Warriors games, the scores are par for the course. Scores from Gamespot: Dynasty Warriors (PSP) - 6.9 Dynasty Warriors 4 (PS2) - 7.1 Dynasty Warriors 3 (PS2) - 7.1 Dynasty Warriors 4 XL (PS2) - 7.4 Dynasty Warriors 3 XL (PS2) - 7.1. Dynasty Warriors 5 will probably score lower than a 7.0, because (even fans of the series have to admit), Dynasty Warriors is just getting old. I loved 3, and I enjoyed 4, but (especially after playing Samurai Legends), even I'm beat. I don't plan to get DW5. The only reason why I'm getting the PSP version is because it might be more fun to play in bite-sized chunks on the crapper.

Does your PC fail to recognize the DVD-ROM drive, or is it just the software? If it's your software, try different software to play back the DVD. Personally, I like Cyber Link PowerDVD.

I doubt it. It certainly looks interesting, but it's an illustration by Oliver something or other. PSM is a good magazine, but they're ALWAYS running drawings of what different people think every bit of Sony hardware will look like.

IGN got their American unit early. They've tested American games on the Japanese unit, and Japanese games on the American unit, and they're glad to report that games are NOT region coded. Movies, however, are. That's less Sony's fault and more due to pressure from the DVD Consortium, as I understand. Oh, one thing about importing, though... while not regionally coded, localization does apparently make for more changes than langauge. While it doesn't matter if you're using a Japanese unit or an American unit, Japanese software can't link with American software for mulitplayer. Also, Japanese game saves aren't compatible with their American counterparts.

in away they already did. they delayed europe release so US markets can have more. Yeah, my store alone is set to get 70 units (compare that to the six or so DS's we got for its launch). As for Wipeout, Pure looks better than Fusion on the PS2 did. Personally, I'm amped for that game, but if that style or that genre isn't you're cup of tea, I wouldn't expect Pure to change anyone's minds.

Yeah. Except the thing is, Halo 2, I could wait for. The PSP... I'm tempted to just bludgeon the manager on duty, then walk out with a case of them.

How do you think I feel? I saw them. I held one in my hands. But even for me, it is forbidden until Thursday. That said, I'm buying mine five minutes before we actually open. Charge it while I'm at work, then when I'm ready to go, it'll be ready to go! BTW, I really like Tiger Woods Golf on the consoles (I'm picking it up for the PSP), and ESPN NFL 2K5 was fun (and I don't even like football). It's a shame EA got the exclusive rights to the NFL... and ESPN...

Reviews are starting to come in for PSP games... according to IGN, Wipeout Pure is the best PSP game so far. According to Gamespot, Wipeout is a close second, after Lumines. Unsuprisingly, the 989 Sports titles are getting the worst reviews.

I actually think that VF-X2 is better than the Macross game for PS2. The PS2 game (although tweaks are definately still necessary for any future Macross games from Sega AM2) had a pretty good engine that allowed for pretty good control in all three modes, but half the levels could be played buy accellerating far ahead, switching modes and turning around, then shooting missiles until you pass all the enemies again. Also, while I like the VF-1, I don't want to see Macross games fall into the same hole as Gundam games. It seems like 95% of the Gundam games out there are set during the One Year War (until recently, as most of the newer games are SEED). I don't want to endlessly replay Space War One. What's more, new paints and moving from A to J to S isn't variety... I don't want the VF-1 to be the only choice. Not to mention that the PS2 game was short. VF-X2 had an awkward engine for the flight stages that took some getting used to, but at least it had a good number of VF's, mission variety, and an original story worthy of being an OVA, and it was longer with two branching paths. I wouldn't mind if Sega AM2 makes another Macross game with the engine they used for the current Macross game, if they can make a few fixes. But I practically insist they set it around 2050 and stuff as many playable VFs as possible. Maybe use all the VFs from VF-X, VF-X2, and M3 (minus the ridiculous Variable Glaug), and then get Kawamori to fill in a few more gaps (like the VF-16 for the VF-11MAXL). Then, include the two SW-XA series, the SV-51, and the VF-0 as unlockable bonuses.

You mean you didn't notice that when I posted a pic of the truck? That picture's so blurry, it'd be hard to notice much of anything... Yeah, I just thought it was one freakish looking cab. I mean, the cab of any good crime-fighting truck that isn't Optimus would have to be freakishly modified.

Loaded with weapons or not, a big rig just seems too big, too slow to accelerate, to difficult to brake, to likely to jackknife and tip when turning at high speeds, and too unable to get under certain overpasses to be an effective crime fighter. Unless it's Optimus. Well... yeah. But the helicopter merged with the truck.... that has to count for something... Well, not really. I grew up in the good ol' days of the 70's when big rigs were used for far more practical purposes, such as racing beer from Texas to Atlanta with help from the mighty Burt Reynolds. Or it was just a pleasant way to spend time with your monkey, like BJ and the Bear. Whoa, hold the phone here... the helicopter merges with the truck? Egads! The mind boggles at the possibilities!

Try to be fair to your GS employees, though. The situation, on our end of the counter, is this. About two years ago, there were MAJOR changes in the upper levels of the company. The current people are now idiots who lack business sense and care nothing for the company, as long as they can make their fortune before they drive it under, and the yes-men who'll do anything they say. They're the kind of people who honestly think that the way to make more money is to raise prices. The only instance where they're on the right track is that they know that repeat business is important. Unfortunately, they've no concept of customer service and what that can do for a business. Instead, they seem to think that reserves and subs are more important, because they think those will force people to come back. The sub doesn't... I've seen people come in two years later and ask what that discount card is for. Reserves don't either... I can't tell you how many people bought GT4 at Wal-Mart, then came in and cancelled their reserve at Gamestop. So anyway, you have a company that's obsessed with reserves and subs... now add to that a District Manager who knows little about business, nothing about videogames, has never actually worked in a store, but who's year-end bonus is tied to the percentage per transaction of reserves and subs the stores in his district get. What you end up with is a store full of employees who, technically, are supposed to ask every customer ALL of the following: 1.) If they want to reserve any games. 2.) If they are interested in the Game Informer subscription deal. 3.) If they have any games they'd like to trade in. If the DM observes an employee who fails to ask all three of seriously every single person who walks in the door, they can be written up. Reguardless if they do or not, some DM's (like mine) have started to create required percentages. Failure to do so will result in associates being terminated. And the original percentage (17%) was ridiculous... no one in my store has ever made a combined percentage of 17. (He later lowered it to 13%, which is still tough, but at least possible. Percentages in general are dumb... if one guy gets one reserve, and that's his only transaction for the week, he's at 100%. If another guy gets 5 reserves, but does 100 transactions, he's only got 5%, and can be fired.) So next time you're at Gamestop, remember, they're not getting any commissions or bonuses for getting you to reserve stuff or selling you that sub... they're just trying to keep their jobs. And if you're cool with some of those guys, do them the favor... if you know you're going to end up buying a game there anyway, just reserve it first.

Loaded with weapons or not, a big rig just seems too big, too slow to accelerate, to difficult to brake, to likely to jackknife and tip when turning at high speeds, and too unable to get under certain overpasses to be an effective crime fighter. Unless it's Optimus.

Learning to throw cards as weapons is something I'd imagine would be cool to do. But, checking out the excerpts from the book, it looks drier than that one macroeconomics class I took... As for X3, I'm taking a wait and see approach. Singer did an excellent job with the first two, but I'm not going to say that he's the only one that can direct and X-Men movie until others try their hands and fail. Also, Cyclops being a minor character doesn't mean that he can't be in a big scene with Jean (he was a minor character in X2, and still had a nice scene with Jean at the end). And just because the movie will take elemenst from the Phoenix/Dark Phoenix sagas, I don't expect them to be spot-on. The fact that Beast and Angel (although I liked him better as Archangel) are going to be major characters is good to hear. Hopefully, this will mean the movie will be more "X-Men" and less "Wolverine and Some X-Men."

To save trouble, we're getting a box, and as my PSP stuff comes in, it's all going in the box. God of War is one of those games that I'd probably hate if there was someone bugging me to reserve it the whole time I was playing the demo, too. In truth, though, I enjoy a solid action/platformer every so often (actually, I enjoy the best of almost every genre, but when I dislike a game, I'll tear it to pieces). And once you really start to settle into it, GoW is good just because it does everything right. You can button mash and still feel like you're doing the most awesome moves, or you can learn combos that let you do the really awesome stuff. The platforming is just right and not out of place like it is in some games. There's some sequences that involve timed button presses that really make you feel bad-ass. And most of all, you get a certain sense of morbid satisfaction when you finally get to the perch where that archer has been pegging you from, and you literally pick him up and rip him in half for it. It might not be your thing, but it's the only game that I can think of that's coming out for awhile that's good enough that I'll still be playing with my PS2 even after I have my PSP. Speaking of action platformers, to kill time until Thursday, I've "rented" Devil May Cry 3, and I've decided to go to see the Ring Two on Wednesday before work.

Walmart and Target have been undercutting their prices for quite some time now, especially during the holiday shopping season. It's not just their toys. They'll do it with a lot of stuff, figuring they might take a loss on something, but you'll probably buy more stuff while you're there. That's why used stuff is such a big part of Gamestop and EB... if they only sold new, they couldn't compete, especially with Target's habit of releasing new games for $37.77. If we (Gamestop) price match, we take a loss, and if we don't, we lose a sale.

Ah, to me, Children's Palace was where the real memories were, and Toys R' Us as always been the upstart newcomer. In any case, I didn't shop there often. They did have a nice selection, but I'm really not that into toys (I prefer Best Buy for my toys), and they really weren't priced all that competetively (aside from when they dropped the prices on GBA games... I got Sword of Mana for $10.98, and Aria of Sorrow for $14.98, brand new!). That said, though, I never buy toys at Wal-Mart. Their selection is, and always has been crap at best. Who cares if it's cheap, it's still crap. I guess I'll buy most of my toys at Target now. They at least have fair prices and a decent selection.