The Gamer's Quarter

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane

I didn't get a chance to play one game (except for a text based MGS game based on the comic sold in the USA. YOu basically just read the story from the first game while the comic books pages pass by in the background).

I saw a lot of stuff, took lots of pictures (and video of a few things), and to tell the truth I don't know where to start. So if you guys could help me out and tell me about what you're interested in hearing about, I'll do my best to fill you in, show you pictures, and maybe even send materials to one of the editors to scan and use in a future issue (if you want to do that). Anyways, As I load up pictures and movies from my camera, I'll link you guys to them.

helicopterp · . Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: Philadelphia

I have heard interesting things about a game called Trusty Bell for 360. Frederic Chopin is having visions of an alternate world on his death bed or something. It's going to be called Eternal Sonata in the states. So, yeah, if you get a chance to check it out, let us know?
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SuperWes · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:01 am Post subject:

I'm interested in Devil May Cry 4, but apparently the lines to play it at TGS are really long. I'd also like to know your general impressions of the Playstation 3 stuff that's there and whether or not there's much of a crowd at the Xbox 360 booth. Basically, I'm wondering which system comes off as more impressive.

-Wes
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Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:37 am Post subject:

First off, I felt sorta rushed at the game show and play absolutely NO GAMES. The lines were either too long, and the closest I got to playing was at the SEGA booth for the new Sonic game . .. but as soon as I put my hands on the controller they said they were shutting down for the day. Soooo sad.

Well, as you know the Wii had absolutely no impact at TGS . . . there were a few consoles around the convention to showcase games over at the SEGA booth, but they had girls playing it to show it's quality and all that, and nobody there could actually get their hands on it.

I was really impressed with Sony, both with the PS3 and the PSP. The new Metal Gear game for the the PSP especially looked good. It was online and they had a tournament at the Konami booth for it (I took some pictures and a small movie). It was like a mini MGS3 Substance (was that the name of the online version?). I think the PSP is starting to really set itself apart from the DS Lite. The DS Lite was absolutely everywhere. Everybody and their mom was making games for it. They were also setting up the release of a pink PSP. I checked out BombermanOnline at the Hudsonsoft booth, and that's really all they have going for them these days. I took of a movie of that too . . .

I really liked the Namco/Bandai booth. They are coming out with what seems to be the DEFINITIVE Dragonball game, featuring every character from every series and movie and also each move that ever appeared in the TV shows. Graphically it wasn't any better than the previous cell shaded versions, but that's not what people play it for anyways. I still don't know what to think of that split screen approach. They also had quite a few Gundam games there. One based on S.E.E.D. Destiny and the other was an online battle royale game.

I think Xbox will gain some ground this holiday season due to Akira Toriyama producing the RPG "Blue Dragon", or at least doing the artwork and story I mean. They must have paid him a buttload to do it . . . I actually didn't see much of the Xbox 360 area because of the lines and other areas such as Sony's booth and Square-Enix's booth. However, the Online Gundam game looked pretty cool for the 360.

PS3 had the shittiest pavillion, plainest girls, and poorest presentation, but their games were by far the best. I only glanced at DMC4 because it didn't seem to be as groundbreaking this time around. THe graphics and gameplay seemed sorta the same to me. I was more interested in this quirky underwater game called flOw. I think you play some sorta sea worm or something, swimming around in an ocean and collecting food to grow bigger and running into big Jelly-fish like enemies. I'll post pictures from the magazines I collected once I have time to organize all my pictures. Also seeing the 20 minute long trailer for MGS4 really pulled me towards wanting a PS3. The graphics, characters, gameplay . . . just wow. Ughh, sorry I need to collect my thoughts and get some other things done, and once I post the pics up I will be able to expound on all the games I saw there some more.

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:59 am Post subject:

This is a test to see if I can link the videos I upload from my MySpace account.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1041431663

Please tell me if you can view that video or not.

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:06 am Post subject:

Cryoburner · . Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 27

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:45 am Post subject:

I tried taking pictures of the new DOA Volleyball 2 game and they stopped me ... the jiggliness has been taken up a notch for the 360 version, and the games like tug of war with two big breasted girls looked fun . . . I think most people were enjoying the Online Gundam game the most. Damn I feel like such a loser. I was so rushed I really didn't take any pictures of anything worthwhile, and didn't really have that good of a camera for taking things inside either. I'm going to get pics and videos from my friends to share with you guys, so stay put.

EDIT:

Metal Gear Solid 4 clip (if you already haven't seen this at E3)

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1215013883

Lackey · . Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 1107 Location: Canada

When does this come out? It looks awesome.
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Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:30 am Post subject:

calintz · . Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Nagoya

SuperWes · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

calintz · . Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Nagoya

What you say is true, though with the XBox case, its more of a case of a little too late.

Microsoft releases a new IP, which happens alot in the world of JRPGs, all Sony and Nintendo have to do is counter with some FF, DQ or Tales games, or Zelda or Pokemon.
A new JRPG IP is tricky, regardless of the talent behind it.

I don't know. There is alot of hype surrounding Blue Dragon here, which may sell a couple of hundred thousands, but Lost Odyssey is kinda low key at the moment.
Its a start...
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SuperWes · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:53 am Post subject:

calintz · . Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Nagoya

Yeah, I was refering to the Xbox 360. It is little too late to make it into a success.
True, they have a killer game in their hands. Unlike the west though, the Japanese are a little slow to pick up new IP, given their run on turning everything into a series.

Too late? Well, by the time Blue Dragon is released, the PS3 and the Wii would have come out to play, and the extra 100,000 sales of Blue Dragon (has XBox 360 even have that many console out there?) won't affect the sales of the new consoles. The little ground the XBox 360 will gain won't mean much.

Hopefully what I say is false, considering that the XBox 360 has a lot of potential games being released on it.

On your note: counter Halo? This is Japan. When was the last new JRPG IP come out that took on the already established mega series? It won't happen, and it won't happen on a disregarded console. Sad

Also: a Japanese everyday man won't shell out for a new XBox 360 for one game. They already have a PS3 (by that time), so why can't they just buy the new *insert famous JRPG*?
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SuperWes · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:41 pm Post subject:

calintz · . Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Nagoya

I see your point.

I am just a little sketchy as to one game raising a console to "success" status. It just seems that no one is interested in the XBox 360 here. Well, that's my observation.

And when you say the average person doesn't look beyond the price tag, thats a very American way of looking at things. The Japanese are very brand orientated and seem to be comfortable in a brand that offers them all they need.

bah >.<

i'm way over my head here - your knowledge seems better than mine Razz

but yeah...we'll see how Microsoft handles this...
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player 2 · . Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 585 Location: Madison, WI USA

I really don't think there have ever been system sellers in Japan. I think that it's always been a gradual thing. It's not like here where Halo gets you to buy an XBox. There people buy Nintendo or Sony because they just like the brand. Sure, the money comes in as a factor, but not so much. Look at their cell phones compared to ours. It's very different there.
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Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

And I have heard that whatever system a Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest is on, will sell madly no matter what else (if nothing) is on the system.

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:12 am Post subject:

Anybody know what the release titles on the PS3 are going to be yet? I heard that the new Zelda game will be a release title on the Wii . .. and I think that alone will sell TONS of systems. That game simply looks amazing.

I don't think it's going to be possible for Microsoft to catch Nintendo or Sony in the least by the end of the year. It will make up ground, and Sony will lose some market share . . . but Nintendo is going to be the big winner with this generation of games. It was almost stupid that at Tokyo Game Show, 50% of the games being featured there were DS games it seemed.

SuperWes · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:33 am Post subject:

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Before I comment, you're referring to in the US that there were stacks of Zelda games sitting about, right?

The following is just unfounded nonsense:
Assuming that to be true (and if you meant Japan, then this is just unfounded nonesense) I think some of that had to do with the sheer amount of negative hype the game had "I don't want to play no kiddy celda" over it's graphical style from HARDKORE kids badmouthing the game without ever having played it. I'm partially biased since Wind Waker is probably my favorite Zelda game and I found great joy in playing it, despite it's flaws. I've been meaning to write something on my website about how hype has affected my gameplay habits just like this.

dhex · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

i never bought wind waker, but that's cause people told me it was boring.

real life is not conducive to certain kinds of games. strategy games, i would imagine, fall into this category, as does mmorpgs and the like.
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SuperWes · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:28 pm Post subject:

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I agree, that doesn't seem to make sense at all.

calintz · . Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Nagoya

It is just the "cell"da thing?
the new Zelda seems to be a big hype over here. In magazines, polls usually show it up there with the FF games...

hmm...
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SuperWes · Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:31 am Post subject:

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Now see, that does make sense.