My son can't read properly yet but loves his Super Mario Galaxy. I on the other hand am starting to hate it! Is there any volume to the instructions so that he can hear them or do I have to constantly come into the lounge room to read it for him?
Great point, and even though I declared I hated JRPGs a mere month or so ago, I really enjoyed MALBIS and I think it did solve a ton of issues I have with the genre in general.
The next Fire Emblem is going to be a follow-up to the DS game, Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon. As Shadow Dragon was a remake, its DS followup will be a remake of Marth's second adventure for the SNES. I think this was announced earlier this week and there are teasers floating around on youtube.
And Dragon Quest X was ceremoniously announced for Wii a year and a half ago and then forgotten, appropriate since Dragon Quest IX wouldn't even be released in Japan for another six months (and we're still waiting for it here). I think it'll show up at E3 since DQ9 is just about to arrive here and they'll want to get people hyped for it AND create interest in the sequel with a trailer at E3.
Also, Squeenix's list of games for this year's E3 is conspicuously missing Final Fantasy Versus XIII....so my guess is it'll either show up at Microsoft's keynote like Final Fantasy XIII did a few years ago, or it will once again be shown behind closed doors and I will lose the very last bit of interest I had with the game.
"Marching straight ahead into the enemies feet! Didn't you all learn that in Goomba boot camp?"
I enjoyed the game a lot, primarily thanks to the engaging and streamlined battle system. It's funny going back and playing Super Mario RPG, already a very lite role-playing game, and seeing just how much more complicated it is than Mario & Luigi. A player basically wins or loses in Bowser's Inside Story by how quickly they can adjust to enemy attacks. You can upgrade Gear and farm experience if you really need to, but it's all so peripheral to timing and conditioning in the battles themselves. I love it and I think it perfectly addresses the pacing problem that so many RPGs can't figure out.
No, but my dream wish was close lol. It'll be interesting to see exactly how many games they bring over, what they'll do to them, and how much they'll be.
Great predictions, everyone! Did anyone guess that SEGA Dreamcast games would be coming to Xbox 360/PS3 with updated graphics and Achievement/Trophy support? Cause that's so happening, which is awesome because that's a system I missed out on, but heard had a great library nonetheless.
After reading all the predictions in the emails, I was thinking that putting together a post with a solid flow would be nearly impossible. Well, you've proven me wrong. Very nice writeup. I'm now even more excited for E3! Well done. And LOTS of great stuff guys!
I think that a lot of games spend the first hour or so getting started and that if they are really good games at that point than they must be pretty good. That only hold true though if it has a good story.
I meant to ask, whats your fave YA series? I'm looking for some light reading in that vein (to take a break from the G.R.R. Martin I've been reading) and would love a recommendation. Don't worry, whatever you mention, I'll make sure to avoid any movie adaptations. :)
I agree that books more easily transcend demographics, at least as far as age goes. Growing up I barely knew the difference between Young Adult and "Adult" books; I read them and enjoyed them interchangeably.
I mean, aren't the demographics of those series 12 year olds, or thereabouts? Not that older readers can't enjoy them, I personally have enjoyed such works (I'm struggling to remember the serious, bat its a rich irish boy who secretly chases/captures fairies). But do you think it's possible that the movies were enjoyable for the target demo? I don't know, I've not brought a 12 year to see Inkheart, but it seems like some of these movies really are made for kids while the books have a slightly broader appeal. I've been to movies with younger viewers who loved a movie I thought was terrible.
I think in general, it's much easier for a book to transcend demographics (as in the case of lots of YA series) than it is for a movie, or for a video game. Discuss.
They have nearly destroyed every YA book series I love with a single horrible movie. Inkheart, Percy Jackson, Series of Unfortunate Events...just atrocious. I know that they aren't videogame movies, but really, there's not many great ones to name of those either. I just don't have a lot of faith in the 'wood.
I figured out the badge. You need to move the ACE, up, down, right, up, left, down, down, right, up, and left as quickly as you can. Do not let go of the ACE. Popped right up for me.
Are people THAT down on Hollywood? Are there no movies out in the last 5-10 years that you've been impressed with such that you have at least a little faith that something good is at least possible?
I'll have to look for that movie. I'm a total nerd for "post apocalyptic/last humans on earth" movies. No matter how bad they are, I can find something to like about them.
I've seen it, Omega Man was somehow even worse than the new film. There's an even older film that I haven't seen though, Last Man on Earth I think it's called.
No Mass Effect movie. Just no. If we wanted that, we'd just get someone to cut and edit all the dialogue scenes together for a movie. That would work way better than anything Hollywood could come up with.
When I say, "Edward Norton", I'm talking about American History X Edward Norton, the badass pumped up version of him with a goatee.
Ok, and I suppose I was a little harsh on I am Legend, but man that ending surprised me and I was totally wishing for an actual resolution. Also, how many pages can one read about a lonely pathetic loser sloshing whiskey around in a glass and having a nervous breakdown. I think they made decisions on the movie that had to be made. But yeah it was a disappointment too (but I still thought it had the right idea).
Lastly, for fun, go out and rent Omega Man. Its a movie from the 70s that was based on the I am legend novel and it's HILARIOUS.
If you loved the book, you owe it to yourself to witness this fantastic 70s adaptation. And when i say "fantastic", well, you'll have to see it to understand. Its available Netflix instant stream if you have that.
I would be okay with Christian Bale now that you mention him. Heh.
And yes, I loved I am Legend, I guess I can understand why you didn't like it though as it's not a typical novella. I also don't read that many video game novelizations, lol.
About I am Legend being one of the best books you've ever read? I think you're reading too many video game novelizations because that thing was a turd. It's one of the worst short stories I've ever read. When I bought the book, I didn't realize it contained more than one short story/novella. It looked like your standard, 6 inch soft cover with 250 or so pages. I was reading I am Legend and about halfway through the book, (140 pages or so) it just ended. Abrupt. Nothing. Horrible. I literally through it across the room I was so pissed. yeah, yeah, i got the legend part, but c',mon, really? Thats the ending?
Ok, with regard to the Mass Effect movie, you make some good points. Although, I think Shepherd IS a man. I think they made the game as open as possible to give people options, but I think it's clear he was designed as a man. Also, I think most people probably played with the stock Shepherd so if they made a movie and have seen innumerable screen shots of his face, they could just get a guy who looked like that and most people would be ok with it. That being said, you're absolutely right, I don't think they can include in a movie all the things that made ME great.
HOWEVER! I really like the universe and I think somebody should make a movie that takes place in it. Yes, I think Hollywood needs to make more good movies, and more good movies based on original material, but think about it, someone, or more likely a group of someones, created this amazing vision, this amazing thing that is the ME universe. Why not use it to make a movie? At least try. Who cares if it sucks, if theres even a small chance it's great. I mean, look at Pirates of the Caribbean. That movie (the first one) was fantastic and it was based on an AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE! Surely, with the content in Mass Effect, it has the potential to be good. And, EVENTUALLY, somebody WILL make a good video game movie, maybe ME would be that movie.
Plus, the casting is pretty much already done. They should use Seth Green and David Keith and Sarah from Chuck and all the rest of them. The only real issue would be Shepherd and for him, I would say maybe Christian Bale or Edward Norton.
There's unfortunately no voice acting in this game at all except for Mario's "yahoos."
My son can't read properly yet but loves his Super Mario Galaxy. I on the other hand am starting to hate it! Is there any volume to the instructions so that he can hear them or do I have to constantly come into the lounge room to read it for him?
That was quick, Natal has already been named Kinect and E3 hasn't even started!
Great point, and even though I declared I hated JRPGs a mere month or so ago, I really enjoyed MALBIS and I think it did solve a ton of issues I have with the genre in general.
The next Fire Emblem is going to be a follow-up to the DS game, Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon. As Shadow Dragon was a remake, its DS followup will be a remake of Marth's second adventure for the SNES. I think this was announced earlier this week and there are teasers floating around on youtube.
And Dragon Quest X was ceremoniously announced for Wii a year and a half ago and then forgotten, appropriate since Dragon Quest IX wouldn't even be released in Japan for another six months (and we're still waiting for it here). I think it'll show up at E3 since DQ9 is just about to arrive here and they'll want to get people hyped for it AND create interest in the sequel with a trailer at E3.
Also, Squeenix's list of games for this year's E3 is conspicuously missing Final Fantasy Versus XIII....so my guess is it'll either show up at Microsoft's keynote like Final Fantasy XIII did a few years ago, or it will once again be shown behind closed doors and I will lose the very last bit of interest I had with the game.
"Marching straight ahead into the enemies feet! Didn't you all learn that in Goomba boot camp?"
I enjoyed the game a lot, primarily thanks to the engaging and streamlined battle system. It's funny going back and playing Super Mario RPG, already a very lite role-playing game, and seeing just how much more complicated it is than Mario & Luigi. A player basically wins or loses in Bowser's Inside Story by how quickly they can adjust to enemy attacks. You can upgrade Gear and farm experience if you really need to, but it's all so peripheral to timing and conditioning in the battles themselves. I love it and I think it perfectly addresses the pacing problem that so many RPGs can't figure out.
No, but my dream wish was close lol. It'll be interesting to see exactly how many games they bring over, what they'll do to them, and how much they'll be.
Ah yes, I also wanted to mention Marvel 3 but it was already announced for E3 by the time I got to it so it felt like cheating then :P
It was a challenge, and probably took me over 2 hours to compile it all together, and then another 30 minutes finding a good Last Guardian pic, haha.
Great predictions, everyone! Did anyone guess that SEGA Dreamcast games would be coming to Xbox 360/PS3 with updated graphics and Achievement/Trophy support? Cause that's so happening, which is awesome because that's a system I missed out on, but heard had a great library nonetheless.
After reading all the predictions in the emails, I was thinking that putting together a post with a solid flow would be nearly impossible. Well, you've proven me wrong. Very nice writeup. I'm now even more excited for E3! Well done. And LOTS of great stuff guys!
I think that a lot of games spend the first hour or so getting started and that if they are really good games at that point than they must be pretty good. That only hold true though if it has a good story.
I meant to ask, whats your fave YA series? I'm looking for some light reading in that vein (to take a break from the G.R.R. Martin I've been reading) and would love a recommendation. Don't worry, whatever you mention, I'll make sure to avoid any movie adaptations. :)
I agree that books more easily transcend demographics, at least as far as age goes. Growing up I barely knew the difference between Young Adult and "Adult" books; I read them and enjoyed them interchangeably.
I mean, aren't the demographics of those series 12 year olds, or thereabouts? Not that older readers can't enjoy them, I personally have enjoyed such works (I'm struggling to remember the serious, bat its a rich irish boy who secretly chases/captures fairies). But do you think it's possible that the movies were enjoyable for the target demo? I don't know, I've not brought a 12 year to see Inkheart, but it seems like some of these movies really are made for kids while the books have a slightly broader appeal. I've been to movies with younger viewers who loved a movie I thought was terrible.
I think in general, it's much easier for a book to transcend demographics (as in the case of lots of YA series) than it is for a movie, or for a video game. Discuss.
They have nearly destroyed every YA book series I love with a single horrible movie. Inkheart, Percy Jackson, Series of Unfortunate Events...just atrocious. I know that they aren't videogame movies, but really, there's not many great ones to name of those either. I just don't have a lot of faith in the 'wood.
I figured out the badge. You need to move the ACE, up, down, right, up, left, down, down, right, up, and left as quickly as you can. Do not let go of the ACE. Popped right up for me.
Are people THAT down on Hollywood? Are there no movies out in the last 5-10 years that you've been impressed with such that you have at least a little faith that something good is at least possible?
I'll have to look for that movie. I'm a total nerd for "post apocalyptic/last humans on earth" movies. No matter how bad they are, I can find something to like about them.
I've seen it, Omega Man was somehow even worse than the new film. There's an even older film that I haven't seen though, Last Man on Earth I think it's called.
Sounds like the Shenmue movie!
No Mass Effect movie. Just no. If we wanted that, we'd just get someone to cut and edit all the dialogue scenes together for a movie. That would work way better than anything Hollywood could come up with.
When I say, "Edward Norton", I'm talking about American History X Edward Norton, the badass pumped up version of him with a goatee.
Ok, and I suppose I was a little harsh on I am Legend, but man that ending surprised me and I was totally wishing for an actual resolution. Also, how many pages can one read about a lonely pathetic loser sloshing whiskey around in a glass and having a nervous breakdown. I think they made decisions on the movie that had to be made. But yeah it was a disappointment too (but I still thought it had the right idea).
Lastly, for fun, go out and rent Omega Man. Its a movie from the 70s that was based on the I am legend novel and it's HILARIOUS.
If you loved the book, you owe it to yourself to witness this fantastic 70s adaptation. And when i say "fantastic", well, you'll have to see it to understand. Its available Netflix instant stream if you have that.
I would be okay with Christian Bale now that you mention him. Heh.
And yes, I loved I am Legend, I guess I can understand why you didn't like it though as it's not a typical novella. I also don't read that many video game novelizations, lol.
About I am Legend being one of the best books you've ever read? I think you're reading too many video game novelizations because that thing was a turd. It's one of the worst short stories I've ever read. When I bought the book, I didn't realize it contained more than one short story/novella. It looked like your standard, 6 inch soft cover with 250 or so pages. I was reading I am Legend and about halfway through the book, (140 pages or so) it just ended. Abrupt. Nothing. Horrible. I literally through it across the room I was so pissed. yeah, yeah, i got the legend part, but c',mon, really? Thats the ending?
Ok, with regard to the Mass Effect movie, you make some good points. Although, I think Shepherd IS a man. I think they made the game as open as possible to give people options, but I think it's clear he was designed as a man. Also, I think most people probably played with the stock Shepherd so if they made a movie and have seen innumerable screen shots of his face, they could just get a guy who looked like that and most people would be ok with it. That being said, you're absolutely right, I don't think they can include in a movie all the things that made ME great.
HOWEVER! I really like the universe and I think somebody should make a movie that takes place in it. Yes, I think Hollywood needs to make more good movies, and more good movies based on original material, but think about it, someone, or more likely a group of someones, created this amazing vision, this amazing thing that is the ME universe. Why not use it to make a movie? At least try. Who cares if it sucks, if theres even a small chance it's great. I mean, look at Pirates of the Caribbean. That movie (the first one) was fantastic and it was based on an AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE! Surely, with the content in Mass Effect, it has the potential to be good. And, EVENTUALLY, somebody WILL make a good video game movie, maybe ME would be that movie.
Plus, the casting is pretty much already done. They should use Seth Green and David Keith and Sarah from Chuck and all the rest of them. The only real issue would be Shepherd and for him, I would say maybe Christian Bale or Edward Norton.