The Gamer's Quarter

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject:

i've never played excitebike 64, but i'm kind of curious just on the basis of loving the original a bunch!

f-zero gx is vapid. it has nothing on x.
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player 2 · . Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 585 Location: Madison, WI USA

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

Even if you don't like the main game (which I doubt would be the case, but I know you're picky) there is no way you won't fall in love with the dirtbike soccer game you can unlock and play four-player. Or the uphill challenge. But yeah the actual racing is a lot of fun, too.

Hey, if you ever do play it, make sure to play through the tutorial for twenty minutes first. It's actually very helpful (if bludgeoningly repetetive).
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Like you thought you'd seen copter perverts before. They were nothing compared to this one.

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

It's true that my house got bored of GX pretty quickly, but I just put that down to frustration with the shitty presentation. I couldn't really judge the game objectively because I've never played it with all the things that bug me about it removed.

It is 4 am. I have no idea how I'm going to get two pirates pencilled in before I go to bed. This has nothing to do with F-Zero and everything to do with me drinking lots and lots of coffee within the next ten minutes.

So you guys get the Wii on Sunday, huh.

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:10 pm Post subject:

four-player dirtbike soccer sounds pretty hot.

sega does style really well but i didn't think they did f-zero gameplay very well. it feels less substantial than x despite being more stylish.
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dessgeega · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:14 pm Post subject:

will excitebike 64 run in an emulator, actually? how dependent on the terrible n64 controller is it? i actually have an n64-to-usb hookup around here somewhere, but fuck if i'm going out of my way to try and play a game with that controller.

this line of discussion puts me in the mind of my brilliant and definitive wii controller essay in issue 4.
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player 2 · . Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 585 Location: Madison, WI USA

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

Surprisingly, I think it's probably fairly controller-specific. It has something to do with the use of the R and Z buttons, which make you turn tighter (or in mid-air) and work turbo, respectively. They just each feel like that's what they should be doing given their placement. I can imagine being dissatisfied with a different scheme, but it's worth a shot trying something else just to get away from the painful N64 analog stick. But you will absolutely need an analog stick of some kind.

Oh, and hey the original Excitebike is also unlockable in the game.
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Like you thought you'd seen copter perverts before. They were nothing compared to this one.

JasonMoses · . Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 407

What was wrong with the music in F-Zero GX again? It seemed like pretty standard fast racing game fare. Oh, and one of the character's had a C64 chiptune for a theme song. What's not to like?

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:13 pm Post subject:

forever he will be my heeero~

actually i like octoman's theme a lot.
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Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

The theme songs were kind of neat but weren't incorporated in the main game so don't count.

Mr Mustache · . Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 167 Location: Queens

I thought that in comparison to X, GX didn't have nearly enough "ass-rock guitar soloing". But it's ok. I think both are incredible games, just different.
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Straight up

friedchicken · . Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 496 Location: Port Land, OR

Man, this thread has really gotten off topic!

So a non TGQ friend sent me this, which allegedly shows Wii inventories:

http://www.ps3seeker.com/wii

At the very least, it has helped me to plan out my strategy for Sunday, even if the actual numbers are bullshit. Unfortunately it only shows big retailers, but here in Portland I haven't really found any small Ma and Pa shops, so my plans are pretty much for the big guys. If anybody around here (SE Portland) plans on trying to get a Wii on launch day, PM me if you want, maybe we'll cross paths or something. Oh, and avoid the red pointers on the map, they're auction listings.

So yeah, I'm getting really excited. Wes, I'm right there with you about getting any sleep this weekend!

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject:

wii means you and me.

jonathan mann of the super mario opera is writing and recording forty folk songs about the wii. there are eleven up now.

they're rather lovely.
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SuperWes · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:44 pm Post subject:

I played it last night! Wii Sports Tennis and Bowling to be exact, but they also had Excitetruck, Zelda, Wii Boxing, and maybe some other games too. There was a big kiosk set up in the Mall I went to to plan my PS3 attack. What's great about it is that my fiance actually played the games with me and did really well! I won Tennis (which I really sucked at at E3, but was much better now) and she won Bowling (because I kept lobbing the ball and always had a left lean).

I'm really impressed with the system from what I saw. What surprised me the most was the use of rumble. When you're in the system menus and you scroll your cursor over a button the controller rumbles slightly, making it feel like you're actually touching something. It makes the almost oversensitivity of the controller a lot more manageable.

Oh, I also picked up my pre-ordered copies of Trauma Center and Monkey Ball last night. Not much longer now! Pumpedupness increased by 20!

-Wes
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GSL · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:58 pm Post subject:

Wow, that inventory list thing is going to be VERY helpful if it's accurate. All the Wal-Marts in my area look to have over 50 units, which is very reassuring as that was my first (and closest) plan of attack, and the local Toys 'R Us has a whopping 80! The numbers for the local EB/Gamestop look a little screwy, though: it listed about 33 for the two stores, and I'm pretty sure the Gamestop alone had ~30 open preorder slots. The EB just a few shops down in the same mall had 14.

When I was in said EB yesterday for my copy of Final Fantasy IIIDS, the clerks mentioned that they had more units than preorders and were considering a midnight launch; I'm trying to decide if that would be worth my while or if I should just try to Wal-Mart one early Sunday morning.

Also: OH NO I DIDN'T!

friedchicken · . Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 496 Location: Port Land, OR

ApM · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:26 pm Post subject:

Shit, the Toys R' Us that's 6 blocks from my apartment that I was hoping no one would notice is one of the 18 Toys R' Us' in the country (and the only one in all of Washington state) doing a midnight opening.

It's going to get swarmed! Fuck.

GSL · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject:

But hey, at least knowing it's getting a midnight opening gives you a chance to formulate a game plan--like, do you go and wait in line for the midnight opening, or scout around for somewhere else? I mean, it would probably be pretty disappointing to show up early Sunday morning to find that they were all sold out from the midnight opening that you didn't know about, right?

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject:

do you wait in line for the midnight opening, or do you drink tea, smooch your partner, spend time with your family, play in the leaves and enjoy living?

choose your answer carefully.
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ApM · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:50 pm Post subject:

Well, I'm trying to get Squidlarkin and xvs07 to join my wife and I at the zoo on Saturday, so that could be something to do afterwards.

But yeah, there's a play structure in the park outside my apartment which is pretty awesome too. I don't see why adults stop using play structures. You are designed to climb on things.

Redeye · . Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Posts: 986 Location: filth

xvs07 · . Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 160

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

Here's my gameplan:

1) get the phone number to the Nintendo World Store.
2) After I get off work on Sunday, call and confirm that yes, they're totally out of stock.
3) Wait a few weeks, probably till after Christmas, until I can walk into any old place and buy one off the shelf. It'd be nice if they showed up by the time Pangya comes out though, cause I'd really like to play that.

SuperWes · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:23 am Post subject:

The PS3 plan fell through thanks to your good friends deception and lies. Guess I'm waiting until whenever I happen upon one (probably after Christmas). Oh well! Guess I'll have to blow all that money on Wii games and accessories!

-Wes
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friedchicken · . Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 496 Location: Port Land, OR

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Apparently there's been a Wii Playtest in Scotland.

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

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:

ApM · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:54 am Post subject:

Yeah, the local news was live at Best Buy this morning, interviewing guys who'd just bought PS3s. One had already sold his in the parking lot for $900 profit (he'd had a buyer lined up who met him there), and the other one, when asked how it felt to be one of the lucky few who got one, responded, "Feels like this baby's going up on eBay!" The reporter closed by saying, "Have fun not playing your PS3s, guys."

friedchicken · . Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 496 Location: Port Land, OR

I was just saying to Kate that I wonder how long it's taking for the PS3s to actually get into the hands of people who will play them-- I have a mental image of the guy buying the PS3 in the parking lot turning around and selling it on eBay for $2000+. Ugh, I'm all for commerce, but this is especially slimy.

antitype · . Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 292

What the hell, I actually dreamt about the Wii last night.

I'm still waiting 'til mid-December to buy one! And then I will buy a second Wiimote so I can play Wii sports with my brother. Man, I think I look forward to that even more than playing the new Zelda (about which I don't even know how to feel, at this point).

This PS3 stuff is ridiculous. I do sort of wish I'd had the money/motivation to buy and sell one for such a massive profit, though. Maybe even two, with one kept for myself.
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antitype.livejournal.com | last.fm

GSL · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:52 pm Post subject:

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject:

i always dream about people suddenly disappearing.

i fear abandonment by the people that i love.

there usually aren't wiis involved, though.
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Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

I dream of mutilation at the hands of those I trust, or commiting mutilations on those I trust.

The stuff games are made of!
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"This is the most fun I've ever had without being drenched in the blood of my enemies!"

SuperWes · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject:

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Here's American Pie at the celeb-packed Wii launch Party.

You would think he'd have got a new gimmick by now.

They're about to review the Wii on the BBC's Newsnight Review! Within 10 minutes we will know what Elvis-quiffed gobshite Mark Kermode thought of Wii Sports! The excitement in this room is palpable!

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Persona-sama · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject:

So I'll be lining up for this tomorrow with my friend. I'm thinking of doing a comic review of standing in line for a Wii!

Or maybe I'll just cry myself to sleep.
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Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Do a comic of you crying yourself to sleep!

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject:

SuperWes · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:20 pm Post subject:

I'm having new system impulse buy urges. Someone talk me out of/in to Rayman, Metal Slug, and/or Rampage.

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

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Out of those, Rampage is the only one that I'd say you should avoid, but only because it doesn't have such a great pedigree. I can imagine it being great, if done right!

The other two look good but I'm not pooing my pants about them. Metal Slug is great but you probably already have it. As for Rayman... well, Ubisoft's games are always well-meaning but ultimately erring on the side of crappy. But you never know with the Wii. It's your money, I guess!

Hey you know some stores are breaking the street date. You lot could go out and get a Wii right now, if you know where to look. Apparently Sears is a good bet.

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

wait, rampage?

is this related to the game where giant monsters stomp the shit out of u.s. cities? because that is something i can get behind.
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Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Yeah. But the more recent installments have been kind of shitty.

Lestrade · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject:

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091