Oihan

Wow! It's like Another World (aka Out of this World) meets Ico/Shadow of the Colossus. Journey looks incredible! The music, the visual style, the world...I'm in! Thanks so much for posting this Oihan. I've been lost in the impending release of Fez (I'll post a topic) and had no idea about this Journey game until you brought it up.

It's my pleasure! I'm glad I posted. =) I'll be sure to check that thread.

I have to say, I'm a huge fan of the new breed of experimental gaming typified by games like Journey. Video gaming has become so big and is coming to dominate modern entertainment that it has turned into what big box office film is: a lot of money poured into lowest common denominator products. It's so good to see that just like independent film, the experimental game design culture of the 1970s and 1980s is still alive and thriving via the smaller, lower budget gaming industry. It's what makes games like this possible.

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. Call of Duty comes to mind. I remember playing Modern Warfare and not really caring for the story much, but getting some enjoyment from those "set pieces" in the game with the frantic action - all flash and no substance. Journey is definitely a nice change of pace!

Btw, if you like Journey, I highly recommend checking out Limbo. It's only a $10 and like Journey, some complain it's too short for the price. But Limbo also presents a unique gaming experience not found anywhere else and an absorbing soundtrack. Highly recommended.

I'll be sure to give Limbo a try; thanks for the recommendation!

Cool... another member of the white robe crowd. Do you find that brown robes often defer to you or wait for you to take the lead? It's weird... I really feel a drive to help them find all the glyphs and symbols they can. I always get a kick out of some people's reaction when I lead them to the desert flower. You can sorta tell the people who've played Flower.

Haha, I actually have found myself leading on several occasions. I too have that same drive to help people find all of those things. It kind of pains me sometimes when I see someone complete the bridge when I know I can help them over it. I'll desperately try to get their attention...only to no avail.

I love Flower. It's the only game where everyone from my friend's 5 year old son to my mother have all loved it. A very different experience from Journey, but also designed around delivering an emotional arc rather than a competitive game experience. It's single player, and its goal is a relaxing experience. For me, it delivers in spades (except for one chapter... bit of a shock there). First time through it felt like I was floating through a Miyazaki watercolour. I absolutely recommend it to any sentient being. I think it's only $10 too.

As for flOw, I didn't find that one engaging. 'Nuff said.

Lead developer Jenova Chen's graduate project, Cloud, is worth checking out. It's available online as a free download, along with Vincent Diamante's soundtrack for same.

Interesting! I very much love Miyazaki's works - especially Spirited Away. I'll definitely have to give Flower a try now! I'm sure I'll end up giving flOw a try as well.

I haven't gone that far, but I have sent messages to thank people who really added to the experience. Never done that before, but it just seemed appropriate for the game.

It was actually one of those white robe fellas, that helped me find a lot of those things, that I ended up befriending. The person "showed me the ropes," if you will, and some cool tricks to stay in the air for much longer periods of time - I'm not talking about red carpet creatures either. It wasn't until after I thanked the person and we started talking that I added him to my friends list. I find it amazing the kind of connections one can make with a complete anonymous stranger like that.

For those that might have missed out elsewhere and or are looking for other options, pre-orders for the LE are now up on Play-Asia.

I generally go through Play-Asia and had planned on going through them at first, but since they took forever to start their pre-ordering I went through CD Japan instead. I didn't want to risk missing out on this!

Journey is simply amazing. Both it and thatgamecompany's Flower easily make my top 5 games of all time. I have a hard time thinking of either of them as a "game" per se. They are experiences. They are art. Journey joins Flower and Studio Ghibli films on my list of things that only the utterly soulless can't relate to (or what's left of your soul is tiny, shrivelled, and dying).

I couldn't agree more! I am glad to know I'm not the only one on this board who has played this game! I was starting to wonder.

I'm with you that the $15 investment is easily worth the experience... especially considering how many times I've shelled out $60 for something that I barely played. Journey and Flower are the only games I've ever bothered to or cared about getting all the trophies for (helps that they only have 14 of them each, of course).

Journey was the first PS title where I've obtained every single trophy. I haven't played Flower yet...nor have I played FlOw. I've been strongly considering getting one or the other, if not both, after my experience with Journey. It never really occurred to me until you said something, but I have been getting more enjoyment and play time in with Journey than I have with some of the other $60 titles I have bought over the years. Looking at you, Borderlands. I have way too many video games as it is too.

The multiplayer experience is one of the most engaging things about the game. Connecting to one anonymous person at a time makes it a truly unique experience. And the score... fantastic. I think Vincent Diamante's work for Flower speaks to me a bit more, but in no way does that diminsh Austin Wintory's superb effort.

Interesting thing...I normally don't add people to my friends list that I don't know. Yet on my second play through I managed to stick with one person throughout the game and I ended up adding that person to my friends list.

Didn't know there was the PS3 game, but I'm disappointed they didn't get Journey to do the soundtrack. After all, you can't have a Journey game without Journey, right?

I have a friend of mine who would strongly disagree with you. Although Journey doesn't do the soundtrack for the game, Austin Wintory does a great job. If you or anyone else is curious about the music, "Road of Trials" is a great track as is "Apotheosis." Several other tracks can be heard here. Just an FYI, the tracks on that site aren't the "final cut".

Edit: The troll is strong in you.

For a minute, I thought you were talking about this Journey:

Hahaha...no...not at all. I had no idea such a game like that existed. ANYWAY, I don't suppose you've played the one I'm talking about on the PS3?

I am surprised that this game has not been mentioned on this message board yet. In my humble opinion, Journey is an absolutely phenomenal game! The musical score is absolutely top-notch as well! Some of the pieces by Austin Wintory, along with the scenery in the game, invoke some emotions that I have very rarely felt in any other game. The game easily makes its way into my top-ten-favorite-games-of-all-time list, if not my top-five-favorite-games-of-all-time list.

From thatgamecompany:

Enter the world of Journey, the third game from acclaimed indie developers thatgamecompany and presented by SCEA Santa Monica Studio.

Journey is an interactive parable, an anonymous online adventure to experience a person’s life passage and their intersections with other’s.

You wake alone and surrounded by miles of burning, sprawling desert, and soon discover the looming mountaintop which is your goal.

Faced with rolling sand dunes, age-old ruins, caves and howling winds, your passage will not be an easy one. The goal is to get to the mountaintop, but the experience is discovering who you are, what this place is, and what is your purpose.

Travel and explore this ancient, mysterious world alone, or with a stranger you meet along the way. Soar above ruins and glide across sands as you discover the secrets of a forgotten civilization.

Featuring stunning visuals, haunting music, and unique online gameplay, Journey delivers an experience like no other.

I have read some complaints that the game is too short and that it isn't worth the $15 price tag. I have a couple friends who feel the same way about the game, but love the score. I, however, honestly believe the experience alone is worth the price. On Metacritic, Journey has a metascore of 92 (out of 100), based on 71 critic reviews. The game is said to be the "the fastest-selling game ever released in the SCEA region on the PlayStation Network."

Furthermore, for those interested who do not already know, the official soundtrack has been released on the PSN and on iTunes.

Has anyone else played this game? Any thoughts, opinions?

For those who preorder the SDF TV BD box set, did you guys ordered from cdjapan or amazon.jp? I am thinking amazon.jp since it is cheaper. Do you guys have any experience with them? Are there any import tax I should be aware about if it is ship to the US? Thanks!

I've bought from Amazon.co.jp before. On one order I had spent about $255 on Macross Frontier Blu-rays and paid about $35 for S&H to the States, using the "International Express" shipping method. I hope that gives you some kind of idea of what to expect.

I've pre-ordered the LE with Amazon.co.jp. I'm starting to wonder if I should still go through with the purchase or not. I already have two AnimEigo DVD boxsets of the series...as well as the whole series on my computer in two different video formats.

Any idea why Play-Asia hasn't started pre-orders for the LE?

Hello MW. I have a first world problem and was hoping to get some opinions. I have extra cash lying around and I am looking to upgrade my graphics card (and maybe the RAM) in my computer. Although I know it would be wise to save it and or invest it...what's the fun in that? My problem is that I am not sure how to go about the upgrade. I’m not sure if I should just buy a new PSU and GPU, along with more RAM, or build a whole new rig all together. I am concerned with bottlenecks in my current rig. It has been my understanding that it’s best to upgrade the GPU first, followed by the RAM and then the CPU when faced with bottlenecks and the likes. I first built my current system about 5 years ago. This is what I currently have (I’ll only list what’s relevant):

• Windows 7 Ultimate x64
  
• MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
  
  • 2 PCI-E x16 slots
    

  [*]Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Conroe 2.13GHz 65W (OC @2.8GHz)

  • LGA 775 (obviously)
    
  • Mobo supports Core 2 Quad/Extreme/Duo
    

  [*]4 GB of DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) RAM

  • Mobo supports up to 8GB
    

  [*]ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB GPU

  • I originally had an NVIDIA 8600GTS and was planning on doing SLI with it or some other NVIDIA card in the future...in case someone was wondering why I have an NVIDIA mobo with an ATI GPU.
    

  [*]500W ATX12V PSU

I have my 32” Full HDTV connected to my PC, so I don’t plan to game at resolutions higher than 1920 x 1080. My wish is to play such games as Battlefield 3, Cyris, Crysis 2, and Skyrim at a 1920 x 1080 resolution with at least 50 FPS (60 FPS preferred) with all of the eye candy. I know I won’t be able to play with AA maxed out with the frame rates I’m looking for using a single GPU and that’s okay.

I’ve been looking at replacing my HD 4870 with a HD 6970, HD 7950, or HD 7970. I’m going to have to replace my current PSU as it only has two 6-pin connectors and these cards need an 8-pin and a 6-pin. I’ve talked to a couple of my friends and they suggest I go the HD 6970 route and save myself a couple hundred dollars. However, from the reviews I’ve read, I’m not so sure the HD 6970 is the right card. I’m leaning more towards the HD 7970.

Should I wait for the HD 78XX series and see what they have to offer, and or wait on NVIDIA’s Kepler cards to come out and wait for price drops? Or am I just being silly in that a HD 6970 would be just fine at the resolution I want to play at? Moreover, I’m wondering if it would be worth it to upgrade to 8GB of DDR2 RAM or if I should just build a whole new rig all together with a Core i7 and DDR3 RAM. Also, I don’t plan on going the Crossfire/SLI route. I would like to not spend too much....

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I’m sorry it’s such a long read. Thanks for any input.

I've always wanted a remake because of the substandard animation. Either Macross The First Animated or just reanimate the original ready for 4k resolution (so they can save on remastering later) with the same audio tracks.

Ditto on both accounts...more so the latter.

Edit: I just wanted to add (echo what Tochiro was saying) that if works for Neon Genesis Evangelion and Yamato, why not Macross?

Even though the end was so so, there were lots to like about this series. Black Star was kinda of obsessed with trying to excel beyond god. Death the Kid was too obsessed with symmetry to the point of OCD. Love the Thompson sister for their silliness. Patty's retarded laugh was priceless. Blair doing something inappropriate in front of the group. Then later on in the show....this character shows up.....yeah that one.....totally annoying.....totally awesome at the same time.....Excalibur. "FOOLS!"

I love episode 14. I thought it was pure comedy gold watching them all take the exam. I couldn't stop laughing at Kid's attempt to get his own name on the paper before time runs out...just so much awesome there. There are some definitely good episodes in the series.

I still haven't made up my mind on whether or not to continue on with the anime or read up on the manga....

I just recently watched Redline, Sword of the Stranger, and the first 36 episodes of Soul Eater. I've really enjoyed all three immensely. I’m now debating if I should finish up Soul Eater or just continue on with the manga. I also watched the four episodes of Trava. I love the character designs…but the story wasn’t my cup of tea.

Are there any other anime out there like Redline as far as characters and setting goes? I really dig the weird alien looking characters with the futuristic sci-fi (war) setting.

Thanks

1000th post! (Not including the old message board post count of course. :/ )

It was a good series, but I have to agree with wolfx. The ending was not done very well.

What is it with anime series? It's like the Japanese have no idea how to create great endings to their shows. Only rarely do they succeed in doing so.

I just finished episode 36. From what I've read that's the last episode that follows the manga...with the rest deviating. I've enjoyed the anime thus far, but based on what you all have been saying...I'm now debating on whether or not to continue watching or just stop right there.

As for your comment/question, I think for some it's a lack of vision and or not being able to wait for a manga series to finish...so an ending is rushed. I think Casshern Sins is a great example of an anime that held a lot of promise and then seemed to have lost its vision/focus. Now if we're talking open endings...correct me if I'm wrong, but it's been my understanding that Japanese (or was it Europeans?) are more okay with a story with no real definitive ending with loose ends...where as Americans seem to want that ending with everything tied up.

Edit: On a side note, I really enjoy some of the music that's played in the show. "Blitz" (such an amazing track, I recommend you all hear it at least once if you haven't already), "Salve Maria - Peace Be With You" (eerie yet beautiful), and "Camellia" to name a few. I really wish they'd release that one track I asked about above.

wanna say

or a remix of it.

I learned that two OSTs were made. M.Albarn is a nice piece, but it simply isn't the same as you've pointed out. Thank you all the same!

From what I've found, this piece isn't on either of the two OSTs. I've heard this piece in a couple more episodes now (13 and 21) and I've absolutely fallen in love with it - I can't stop playing certain scenes. I've even gone as far as capturing the audio and making a .wav file. >_< I sincerely hope they make a third OST. This wouldn't be the first time I've heard a beautiful piece that never got released on an OST. T_T

It had promise....but failed to deliver in the end. Middle was kinda a mess too. Pity.

I'm at episode 21. There's been a couple misses for me, but I haven't been disappointed thus far except for a couple episodes/scenes. I thought episode 14 was absolutely hilarious. I loved how Kid was still writing his name down and Patty is such a ditz...with Soul trying to cheat. I've read that the anime deviates from the manga late in the series. I was hoping the deviation would be worth the watch...but now I'm wondering if I should stop right where it deviates....

I just finished episode 8 and the show has been pretty interesting thus far. The premise of the show is quite interesting to say the least. I'm still not entirely sure what to make of the show. The concept of some of the characters is quite interesting. I find Death the Kid's OCD a bit annoying, but humorous at times. Black Star's inability to shut up about himself is also a bit annoying - I feel bad for Tsubaki. Maka and Soul are just fun to watch and I like Soul's character thus far. I don't quite get why they need to absorb the souls of 99 evil humans first and one witch in that order...and if they screw up the order they have to start over.

Would anyone know the name of the background instrumental played during episode 8, around 16:54 - 19:24? It’s where Tsubaki ovehears what happened to Soul…and then we see Maka crouched on the floor waiting to hear any news on Soul. I cannot get over just how amazing this piece is and I've been trying to find it - google isn't helping much. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWnW_7HnkWw&t=17m07s

Thinking about it, I'd pay good money to see an Alien/Star Wars crossover. Has that ever been done before as a comic? Han and Chewie against Aliens, now that would rock!

Graham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NISUgFIcsRE&feature=related

Would anyone happen to know what anime (if any) this .gif comes from? Sorry for the size.

Edit: Where are my manners?

Thanks!

We're all gonna die!

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YQIMGV5vtd4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Very cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ntDYjS0Y3w

I'm seriously debating the cost of this BD set and buying it. I'd love to have this in Blu-ray. I might as well pre-order in the meantime.

Actually, the box calls them "full screen version" and "theatrical widescreen version"

Odds that the theatrical presentation was actually 16:9 are low, but... it was probably A widescreen format.

I think the confusion is because .... while Transformers was SHOWN in widescreen, it was PRODUCED in 4:3, then matted to the widescreen aspect. The 4:3 version is a full-frame transfer, and actually shows MORE than you would have seen in theaters.

This is not an uncommon practice, actually. MOST movies are shot using 4:3 film frames.

An open-matte release may not be technically feasable on many films, due to "garbage" in the matte area or special effects that were never rendered into the matte area. Or, of course, anamorphic lenses being used, therefore making a widescreen image the one originally comitted to the 4:3 film frame.

Given the nature of the franchise, I imagine Transformers: The Movie was explicitly intended to be viable for TV broadcast and home video sales, thus the full frame had to be up to release quality regardless of theatrical presentation.

So there's no sense in spending so much effort in finding a widescreen version of this movie then.... If only I can find a copy of the movie remastered on DVD or bluray.

Btw, here's a review of the bluray I stumbled upon while googling the movie.

http://forum.blu-ray...ray-review.html

I hate how it shortens it.... Just in case...

forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-movies-north-america/21416-tf-movie-1986-blu-ray-review.html

Would anyone here know anything about the Bluray version of The Transformers: The Movie? How about the "20th Anniversary Special Edition" of The Transformers: The Movie that came out on DVD in 2007? I ask because I just recently discovered these versions (just now actually) and learned that SE has been remastered. I can't seem to find too much information on either Bluray or DVD. I can't even seem to find a place to buy either for that matter (without paying out the arse to some unknown sellers on Amazon). Thanks!

Edit: After watching the game trailer a few dozen or so times I've had this sudden urge to watch the movie, which brought all of this up.... I've always wanted to play a video game that played out the events (or similar events) in the movie....

http://www.tomsguide...news-13512.html

Transforming MorpHex Robot Invades Your Nightmares

We're huge fans of robots here at Tom's Guide, but there's just something about little robotic crawlers likee the MorpHex that creeps us out. Created by KÃ¥re ("Zenta") Halvorsen, the MorpHex Robot is a creepy crawling hexapod robot that can transform and disguise itself as a ball. It's a lot like one of the miniature Decepticons from Michael Bay's Transformers movies, minus all of the deadly anti-human weapons. Luckily for us, the MorpHex Robot is completely harmless, in fact it will even dance for you and interact with its environment. Unfortunately, one thing it isn't capable of doing, is rolling around in its ball form, though Halvorsen says that function is coming in the future. Powered by 25 servo motors, the MorpHex is quite an advanced robot, despite its creepy skittering nature.

T08A2 Heavy Assault Tank anyone? I'm reminded of the following GitS movie scene with the way it moves.

(3mins 33 seconds)

Epic!

Y'all are wrong. THIS is the true end of ROTJ dialog.

Rofl! Thank you so much for sharing that! I'd be first in line to buy that. That's just awesome...pure win there.