[PoV]

Assessing a game concept is much the same idea. If it can be described in few words, and those few words are enough for someone to say "cool", the it has a good chance of spreading far with word of mouth.
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Mike Kasprzak
Sykhronics Entertainment | Smiles (iPhone, Palm Pre, PC/Netbook, Nokia N900, Bada, WM), Smiles HD (iPad), ??? (2012) | Blog

[Dennis]

You simply don't explain games to others, just as you don't explain jokes. It's pointless. Play and enjoy.
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"Well well says Treebeard, things will go as they will and there is no need to hurry to meet them." (from LOTR)
my software | my pixel art

[BadMrBox]

Two things.
First; Read Dead Redemption is helluva entertaining.
Second; Am I the only one that is worried about Metroid other M? http://www.gametrailers.com/video/sdcc-10-metroid-other/702036#comments_top
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"The devil wore a blue catsuit"
Ragnarok Games >>Updated!<< スター型駆逐艦

[sonrisu]

A few things:

I would always take a pure 2D Metroid game over anything else -- but that's wishful thinking. I'll save how I feel about the game until I've actually played it. I can't glean enough from just a few short videos (also: I refuse to watch as many videos as possible so I don't spoil the experience. What is it with video games journalism? Is nothing sacred? I feel like I've played half the games I own before I even put the disc into my console [Yeah, I'm looking at you--coverage for Mass Effect 2!]).

A lot of people complain that certain games aren't "real" metroid. What the hell does that even mean? I think what they mean to say is: "This isn't Super Metroid". If you want to play Super Metroid again, then go and play Super Metroid again. The franchise hasn't been "real" Metroid since any game after Super, anyway. Fusion had a lot of dialog and pseudo cut-scenes. Zero Mission had prodding the way of telling you where to go. Prime series was radically different. Hunters was just Prime tried to fit into a DS. I think people just miss the sense of isolation, exploration, and immersion. That is, it's not "real" Metroid unless it has all those things. Eh it's a tough call. On the one hand you want Nintendo to keep making more Super Metroids. On the other hand, you don't want it to get stale, so you start introducing new concepts. It's not a bad thing. At least it's something new. I don't think I could take another pure FPS (although I would buy it and play the shit out of it, regardless).

I'm just glad they are keeping the series alive. I hope it doesn't get far enough that they need to do a "reboot". I would much rather prefer they start some new Sci-Fi IP that isn't Metroid, instead. Actually, everyone in general should just make either more fantasy based or sci-fi based non FPS games in general. What the hell?

Some other stuff about nostalgia that I don't feel like writing about goes here.

Sentence about how Nintendo sucks at promoting the Metroid series.

:]
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loomsoft | Zep's Dreamland | http://www.gdrpodcast.com
Listen to the GDR Podcast | Snowless winter is amazing

[mikedoty]

Wow you really wimped out on your rant there at the end!
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www.PsyguyGames.com (Try Errro =) )

Adam_C_Clifton: I bought a mac mini! It runs windows well.

[sonrisu]

I think everyone here is pretty in-tune with how I feel about Metroid. :]
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loomsoft | Zep's Dreamland | http://www.gdrpodcast.com
Listen to the GDR Podcast | Snowless winter is amazing

[PoV]

"sonrisu" backwards is "metroid"... ok, not really. ;)
_________________
Mike Kasprzak
Sykhronics Entertainment | Smiles (iPhone, Palm Pre, PC/Netbook, Nokia N900, Bada, WM), Smiles HD (iPad), ??? (2012) | Blog

[sonrisu]

It's not, but I always thought Usirnos would be a neat character name. Maybe in my next game. Or maybe in Nevervall. Robot doesn't have a name. ;]

Interestingly enough, though, now that I'm thinking about it. It's pretty obvious I'm a Metroid nut around here. I know mikedoty is in love with Petey the Piranha and plays SuperMarioGalaxy like a fiend. Bean likes to kill people online in fighters. But...

I feel like not enough people here are really in-tune with some game and/or some game series. What gives? Are you all just waiting to come out of your favorite game closet?
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loomsoft | Zep's Dreamland | http://www.gdrpodcast.com
Listen to the GDR Podcast | Snowless winter is amazing

[PoV]

Tony Hawk betrayed me after the 7th sequel.

I think I know too much about the games industry to have any fanboy left in me, but I am required to play/own any game by the Disgaea team at Nippon Ichi (ZOMG Disgaea 4 was announced!), every Castlevania in the style of SOTN, every Dragon Quest, and it would be safe to say I have $70 set aside for Diablo 3. Mmm...

Actually going back, Megaman (X) used to be my game... but you all know how many of those cookie cutter sequels we got. I still make an effort to play the 2D Metroidvania ones. Metroid at least, they didn't dilute the franchise until they went 3D.

I think for me though, I don't look up to these games anymore. Instead, as a game developer I want to beat them. That's what's changed.

Also: Commodore 64.
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Mike Kasprzak
Sykhronics Entertainment | Smiles (iPhone, Palm Pre, PC/Netbook, Nokia N900, Bada, WM), Smiles HD (iPad), ??? (2012) | Blog

[sonrisu]

Get Megaman Zero series. So good. It will bring back Megaman X nostalgia. :]
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loomsoft | Zep's Dreamland | http://www.gdrpodcast.com
Listen to the GDR Podcast | Snowless winter is amazing

[PoV]

Yes, the Zero series is good. Though I'm playing Dragon Quest 9 right now, and am reminded how much my (giant) hands don't like the DS. I need to go check retail and see if the DSi LL is any better for me. I toyed with one briefly at GDC, but it had been a while since I seriously played a DS game.
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Mike Kasprzak
Sykhronics Entertainment | Smiles (iPhone, Palm Pre, PC/Netbook, Nokia N900, Bada, WM), Smiles HD (iPad), ??? (2012) | Blog

[Sirocco]

[Dennis]

Vacation. Yes!
(not going to write any code I presume but I've already drawn more than usual and looking forward to two three-day heavy metal festivals, one per each of the following two weeks)

Heh, pointless off-topic post I guess, just to express my happiness (yay, I'm happy right now).
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"Well well says Treebeard, things will go as they will and there is no need to hurry to meet them." (from LOTR)
my software | my pixel art

[mikedoty]

[Dennis]

Yes, camping! Leaving for the first one in an hour or two.
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"Well well says Treebeard, things will go as they will and there is no need to hurry to meet them." (from LOTR)
my software | my pixel art

[DarkDread]

Man, I wish they had metal festivals where I live. You Europeans get all the good stuff.
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We're all angels, tearing our wings apart.

[Gil]

I live in Belgium, which is like the world center for music festivals. We have Rock Werchter (which was voted best festival by artists a few times), Pukkelpop (Daft Punk Alive in 2007 for example), Dour (Mike Patton is almost a resident there), Lokerse Feesten (programs old stuff that is still touring, like Sex Pistols and new stuff you don't want to hear, like Snoop Dogg). Then there's like a metric fucktonne of small ones for everything from 3 days of nothing but metal to reggae all day.

Favorite game series for me might be Heroes of Might and Magic. That series really did well at staying fresh and still providing exactly the same experience throughout.
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Ninkazu: I wanna shoot up a bunch of cultists in a brilliant cathedral.

[DBAce9Aura]

Anyone recognize this fine fellow?:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/1887-Video-Games-Bad-Writing

[Sirocco]

[PoV]

I started Persona 3 (FES) last night. I will be returning to it again tonight.
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Mike Kasprzak
Sykhronics Entertainment | Smiles (iPhone, Palm Pre, PC/Netbook, Nokia N900, Bada, WM), Smiles HD (iPad), ??? (2012) | Blog

[AdmiralTofu]

Bought Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits (PS2) used on Amazon today. Should here within two weeks. I've never played it before, but it seemed fairly interesting watching my (now) ex-girlfriend play it way back when it was first released.

My games queue is getting longer and longer. Just in the last month, I've acquired FFX, FFX-2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, A Boy and His Blob, Bushido Blade, and now Arc.

...gonna be busy.
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Adventure in Rulon development blog - http://rulongame.blogspot.com/

[PoV]

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Mike Kasprzak
Sykhronics Entertainment | Smiles (iPhone, Palm Pre, PC/Netbook, Nokia N900, Bada, WM), Smiles HD (iPad), ??? (2012) | Blog

[AdmiralTofu]

Sitting down to play a little Final Fantasy X, I remembered this MP3 file I've had sitting on my computer for darn near a decade. If my old-man memory isn't faulty, I downloaded it from a gaming article I was reading back when FFX was still in development; it said it was the battle theme. Obviously it isn't. I haven't heard it in-game, in any other game, or seen any mention of it anywhere. But it definitely sounds like a Final Fantasy tune...

http://www.tofusplace.net/junk/ffxbattle.mp3

Anybody know where this is from? Unused track from an early beta or something?
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Adventure in Rulon development blog - http://rulongame.blogspot.com/

[PoV]

Admittedly I've not paid attention to Final Fantasy music in years, but it sounds like a "MIDI Era" (PS1?) battle theme for lack of a better name. I was pretty sure with FFX+ they started using modern virtual instruments. Here's one of the older libraries that continues to be bundled and repackaged. I'm pretty sure parts of that one are well over 10 years old, though still sound pretty good. The main set is 12 GB, but that specific bundle includes 35 GB of 24bit recorded strings with multiple mics to keep things modern. You can compare that to the 5+ year old king of orchestra, that sits in at 138 GB (including multiple mic positions, suitable for surround sound mixing). Or the recently released "just the strings" 310 GB monster. If you can't hear a difference, you need better speakers. ;)

Yeah these days, real orchestras in game and movie soundtracks are rare.
_________________
Mike Kasprzak
Sykhronics Entertainment | Smiles (iPhone, Palm Pre, PC/Netbook, Nokia N900, Bada, WM), Smiles HD (iPad), ??? (2012) | Blog

[Sirocco]

Like PoV said, I was thinking of either something PS1-era, or a remix. I've played 1-9, and 12, and haven't heard anything quite like that. Considering that 10 would have likely been started during the end of the PS1-era, they likely had a build going with older music to test things out.

Also, eeeh.