Valkyrie23

I just picked up a Nintendo DS tonight -- saw a stack at Walmart and I couldn't resist. Anyways, some initial thoughts.

I didn't pick up a game ($150 is a lot for one night of frivilous spending to me) so the Metroid demo is all I got. I've been playing a lot of HL 2 for the PC so this use of the stylus felt really good to me. And the graphics are pretty good to boot. So far, the stylus seems really responsive, I like it. I'll test out other games over the weekend and let you guys know what I think.

I know its all fun and quirky. Its also pretty much a test bed of technologies for the next true gameboy. So even if the DS may not survive, what I do like very much is the GBA compatibility.

The GBA compatibility of the DS is awesome. First, you can choose which screen you'll use to play the GBA games. Some games I was actually playing better on the bottom screen (the original GBA setup) and some were better on the top screen (SP setup). The stereo sound is blaringly great to boot. The real kicker is that the GBA games look great on the DS screens. The overall image is smaller than an normal GBA SP screen, but due to the higher resolution, its a lot sharper; graphics don't look as pixelated. What makes the biggest difference is the lighting. The GPA SP screen is front lit and generally good. But, the DS screens have true backlighting and the overall quality is similar to the old NEC Turbo Express. Graphics look bright and sharp. I've been playing GBA games on the DS for a couple of hours and when I go back to the SP, man is it an eyesore to me now. Another plus is are the controls. The portrait layout of the buttons makes the LR buttons easier to deal with and the digital pad is much larger than the GBA SP and is more responsive. I'm able to pull out Street Fighter moves and Gradius maneuvers easier than before.

So it may sound silly, but I might be keeping the DS and actually getting rid of my SP. The DS isn't as portable, but it makes playing GBA games great for me and I love my GBA games =)

Count Me in!

Thanks Kevin!

Super Mario Bros. - NES

Super Mario 3 - NES

Contra - NES

Gradius - NES

Zelda: A Link to the Past - SNES

Street Fighter Series - Various

Gunstar Heroes - Genesis (Treasure)

Guardian Heroes - Saturn (Treasure)

Ridge Racer Revolution - PS1

Counter Strike - PC (the new CS Source is awesome)

Donkey Kong Junior - Old Game & Watch (also on Gameboy)

Gradius V - PS2 (Treasure)

Those are the games I fire up via emulators/systems etc all the time. Treasure games are real favs of mine; Well, they did make most of those classic NES Konami games =) Anyone else who digs Treasure should really check out Astro Boy on the GBA. Its a really really good 2D action game by Treasure...really surprised me.

Wow, that video actually catches my interest more than anything about the DS i've seen to date. The gameplay possibilities seem pretty creative (conducting surgery??) - - Pretty neat stuff. Its like PDA gaming taken to the next level. Of course Nintendo are gameplay masters, so they'd at least make this interesting.

Now I'm in intrigued; I'll still probably wait to see what people think of quality issues like the screen (does it scratch easily like a pda, etc)

obviously a member of Oprah's bookclub as well.

Man you really are a hater-ist gene

btw, go see the movie, haha

Garden State was great but he was kinda rehashing his character from Scrubs. Great movie nonetheless...

I know why you watch Vegas, cuz it's full of hotties...

Thats very true. But it works for me since I really like his character on Scrubs =) Maybe people who catch onto Garden State would start watching Scrubs ...

Oh, about Las Vegas, um, yeah I guess that is why I watch that show, lol.

Yes.  I'm a Giants fan.  And you'd better not be a Dodgers fan! 

Giants had best set their eyes on the Cubs and get that Wild Card spot.  Listening to the Cubs blow their save in the top of the 9th as I write this! 

H

P.S.  Saw Garden State.  Loved it.  Yes, Zach Braff is a genious.  Don't listen to those who find Donald Trump watchable. 

I'm watching the gamecast, too! And yes, I am a G-Man

Although, I've got a Cincinatti cap on right now, haha.

Finally - - out of all my friends and co workers I told to go see Garden State, only 2 have seen it. Hopefully more people give it a chance, Braff deserves some credit for making that film in 6 weeks.

Edit in: Cincinatti won! woohoo! If only the Gmen can pull one out,too

Not a new show, but an old one I suddenly became a huge fan of for some reason, Scrubs! Not just because Heather Graham is now part of the show and the lesbian connotations between her and Sarah Chalk is certainly intruiging, but for some other reasons that I just can't think of right now... because Heather Graham is now part of the show and the lesbian connotations between her and Sarah Chalk is certainly intruiging.

Scrubs!!!

My fav show next to 24. Scrubs is hilarious; it just fits my humor so well, I can relate to J.D. at times. Speacking of Zach Braff; he is awesome. You guys have got to check out his film Garden State (co starring with Natalie Portman). Awesome movie...the man is a genious

Another show I watch is Las Vegas; I don't know why but I just find it enjoyable.

Best drama though is sports; so right now I've got my hand full with Baseball (NL West penant race) and Football (fantasy!)

And again, go see Garden State

Just to let you all know that there was a special bundle announced with a LE special controller:

Link to Gamespot.com

Namco, Hori announce limited-edition offer that includes controller, jacket patch, and game; EB and GameStop sole retailers.

Namco Hometek announced today that it has partnered with high-end gaming peripheral manufacturer Hori to offer a limited-edition bundle for its upcoming title, Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.

Retailing for $129.99, the set will include the game, a limited edition Ace Combat-branded Flightstick 2 controller designed by Hori, and a jacket patch emblazoned with the logo of the game's Wardog Squadron. The bundle will release along with the game on October 25.

The original Flightstick controller was designed specifically for 2001's Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies, but was only released in Japan. This is the first time that Namco and Hori will partner for a stateside release. Only 20,000 limited edition sets will be produced; the bundle will be sold exclusively at Electronics Boutique and GameStop locations. Customers who preorder either the bundle or the standalone game will also receive a special "making of" DVD video and a separate set of jacket patches. The game alone will retail for $49.99.

Congratulations! Its a Meltran!

I saw that thread, I think you're referring to master replicas

If you are, check out their web site. Get yours now, its almost 2005 =)

Master Replicas Website

The ones posted in the for sale forum awhile back were the Force FX ones that had lighted up blades, sounds, etc.

If you're still using windows and IE, here's a good guide all about spyware, malware, trojans, etc.

Forum discussion w/ links to guides

or direct link to guides:

spyware guides (prevention and removal)

I use most of the steps in this guide, I rarely, if ever, get anything anymore

I'll take 2 if possible Rohby! If not, then 1 will be fine for me

Oh, and if you have any, 1 set of tv hands, too =)

I just got my copy of Doom3 today - - actually my gf got it for me; it was a surprise

Anyways, the good thing is that it runs great on my slower machine:

P4 2.0A (400FSB)

512MB DDR

GF3 TI500 64MB

It always stays smooth enough to play. I'll install it on my faster comp tomorrow. The game makes me jump, its dark, its scary. But, it could get repetetive soon b/c I'm not really into the whole corridor game thing. So far its pretty exciting. I'm going to try out the MP and see how that goes.

Anyone else get their copy yet?

Cool! Its a stopover at Fry's after work for me!

I always preferred this series over Madden, thanks for the notice!

Edit: Wait a minute, is it out today (21st) or tomorrow (22nd)?

My condolensces

Same Specs as me! Well hopefully the ATI cards can handle Doom3 - - since its optimized by ID for NVIDIA cards...

HL2, on the other hand, is optimized for ATI cards    That new/old counterstrike game looks awesome (except for the elimination of boosting).

Actually, it's optimized for OpenGL, not Nvidia cards. If anything, Carmack has complained about Nvidia cards--certainly Valve has made a stink about the shoddy performance of Nvidia cards versus the Radeon series in Half-life 2, as shown here. UT2K4 is likely optimized for Nvidia, as it even contains an endorsement in the opening sequence; of course, I run UT2K4 at 1280x1024x32, with everything on high, and don't get so much as a stutter.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that OpenGL difference. Supposedly NVIDIA runs OpenGL faster and ATI handles DirectX 9.x better. But, I'm guessing the differences are neglible (i.e. mostly different in benchmarks, not real world apps) and its good to hear everyone with ATI cards running the alpha levels of Doom 3 pretty good. That means my ATI 9800 Pro should run things pretty good

I'm on a P4 2.8Ghz with a Radeon 9800 Pro and 1 GB of RAM.

Bring it on, id!

Same Specs as me! Well hopefully the ATI cards can handle Doom3 - - since its optimized by ID for NVIDIA cards...

HL2, on the other hand, is optimized for ATI cards That new/old counterstrike game looks awesome (except for the elimination of boosting).

I'll be willing to wait for a VF1S head (any) if one pops up. PM me if any are available...

thanks

OMFG .... <walking away from this thread>

Awesome work as usual Kurt!

Alright, before this thread gets completely racial,

that was a neat encounter; wish I was apart of it. Everyone should

have joined in and sang, too. Kind of like a musical...

I'd like to add Dat Pinche Haro! to the SSL.

We had a super smooth transaction over a Perfect Rei figure. Great Price, Good packaging and fast shipping (almost a MW norm)!

Thanks !

I honestly thought Chase was going to bite it when he told Jack that he wanted

out of this line of work. Well, if you're gonna go, go out in style (skywalker style, haha).

As for Jack's final scene, that was one of the most touching moments. He has a soul afterall (especially after the chappelle incident). Seeing his pain, man... if you all don't feel his pain - - I don't know what to say =P lol

This finale left everything in limbo - - who knows, maybe next season Tony will be the consultant from jail. Maybe jail will toughen him up and he could finally stand up to Jack.