AndrewTS

There's rumors Assassin's Creed may not make 2008. Haze is supposed to be a timed exclusive for 2007, and considering that was just confirmed at Ubidays I'd say it should stick. Granted, you can't really blame Sony if 3rd party stuff doesn't make a target release period. Maybe they knew, maybe they were BSing. It's more likely they just gave you the info they were told. It's not as if they told you a 1st party release was going to make it for a certain period and then pushed it back.....then pushed it back again... You know, like some companies. I don't think PS3 owners totally need exclusives. At this point surely they just want great games, and when those other games come it will be just gravy. How many people actually own a 360 *and* a PS3? They're pretty redundant consoles, and even Japan thinks so.

Splinter Cell: Conviction Gameplay: http://www.jeuxfrance.org/Xbox_360/Tom_Cla...onviction_2.wmv

Play Tekken 5 DR.

IGN is reporting that Final Fantasy XIII (the real one) isn't going to make this fiscal year, i.e. it's hitting April 2008 or later. Chances of KH2 Final Mix hitting NA just rose in my estimation. OTOH, Metal Gear Solid 4 is expected to make it--so, it could come out anytime before end of March, an official delay notwithstanding.

I got the game, no thanks to EB's typical never-gets-stuff-in-on-ship-date tendencies. 4 copies recieved at that the store, 2 were preorders. I'm planning to turn in early tonight so I haven't played it yet, but will have impressions up when I do.

Danke.

1up's Jeremy Parish got this, apparently official Nintendo swag: http://www.gamespite.net/verbalspew/archiv...ry_323.php#comm Doesn't seem they thought that out terribly well...

It's PS2 only for now, but I wouldn't rule out a 360 variation--it sold very well. Not unless you count the ones you can download for 360 GH2.

It's being developed by Ubi Montreal as well, so I doubt that. Obviously the unknown factors are how big the studio is and how much they'll be occupied on Splinter Cell/Assassin's Creed, the quality of the staff being used on it, etc. However, the game was announced a long time ago, and isn't a quick cash-in like the weaksauce TMNT console game (their worst game in ages). My only concern is how well the fight engine will work. Historically, that's been the biggest problem with Ubi Montreal's games--poor combat. Negligible in Splinter Cell, problematic in PoP (but forgivable with the high-quality platforming), and shallow and repetitive in TMNT. However, maybe that will turn around for them as well (sees Splinter Cell vid). Plus, the combat doesn't appear to be restricted by the sandbox environments, as they seem to have their own seperate screens and engine. The biggest surprise for me is Splinter Cell. I haven't been a fan of the series ever, as I've only really enjoyed stealth in MGS. However, considering the switch in focus I'll have to look into this one for sure.

Removing the DLC didn't completely revert it to the original version. The installation of the original DLC did materially change my Crackdown main data. Hell, when I re-downloaded it my impounded cars were still there.

Nintendo said today all 3 are 2007 titles. And Mario Galaxy is Decemberish, as mentioned a while back. So I'd say Smash Bros is October.

Yeah, these are just games the composers have worked on. Curiously left out of Yuzo Koshiro's credits are the Sonic games. Gee, now which of this guy's credits seem most likely to be relevant to SSBB? SSBB is a 2007 title. Incidentally, my Wal-Mart has overhauled and expanded its Wii section. The section for Wii accessories is now huge. The games area is pretty darn big now (granted, the actual content is a bit lacking, but that's Wii right now...), while the PS2 stuff has been shoved into a section that's as tiny as possible. The big bargain bin that previously was filled with PS2 games (and a few GC/XBox games) appears to be gone, at least for now. The 360 section isn't so bad either, although there's lots of Xbox1 stuff there. PSP selection is modest. PS3 has a dinky endcap that is partially used for overflow of PSP stuff.

Fire Emblem Reject aka Rush doesn't look like a great design to me either. However, at least he looks like a character that could actually have depth. CRAZY OLD BLOODY GUY is the character we're supposed to like because we're Americans, and Americans love their red meat and ultraviolence, you know. I'd like to note also that COBG's red coat makes for a great way for an archer to keep a bead on him if he was trying to skewer him with an arrow. That's the kind of stuff that kills me--when a design for a character seems to fly in the face of what they're supposed to be good at. I'm not saying every hero should be decked out in camo of some sort, but *something that isn't completely idiotic* would be nice.

I'm not saying Marcus isn't a bad character design. He's a chunk-headed, rock-faced Liefeldian nightmare to be sure. Plus those glowing things on his armor seem to be of no practical use, and in fact could probably be used to gauge a headshot from a baddie. However, he *doesn't look like Master Chief*, which seemed to be your big complaint. However, when playing the game I didn't care. He seemed to fit well in the context of his world. It is acceptable and works when you find out what happened to him, what happened to his world, see the ruined/burned propaganda lying about, etc. Don't take it completely at face value. Crackdown doesn't have a single design for the agent. He's a genetically-enhanced super-soldier, and can switch to any number of pre-made skins. He has no voice, he has no choice. He doesn't need to be distinctive or dynamic in his design. However, it was a waste to do a cel-shading-sque art design for the world and characters and make the main character look the way he does, IMO. I'm not saying he should have been in spandex, but his "bio armor" design is very generic. Horrid design. Also, I can't understand why Final Fantasy XII prominently features characters who think they have to armor their legs up to ridiculous degrees and yet they have little or no covering on their torso. It's like their vital organs are in their legs. Horrid design. It's already happene There are far better reasons not to play DKC3. This comes from somebody who really likes DKC and *loves* DKC2. If you base your game playing/buying decisions just on the character designs, you're undoubtedly missing out on a lot of good games.

According to wiki, Venom is the only "officially stated" homosexual character, which surprises me. I was pretty sure ASW was pretty open about the whole thing. However, there's points in the huge, convoluted story where its heavily implied some character have a thing/had a thing for other characters. Sol is named after Freddy Mercury and his moves named for Queen songs FFS. Bridget is one of the straightest dudes, incidentally. I don't think it's ever been hinted or implied he likes guys.

You kind of have to appreciate it for its honestly. Most game universes designed and bred in Japan just appear as if a bunch of male characters are gay for each other or dress like women. Of course, 2D fighters are nichey already so I guess it's not that surprising. Take a look at how Melty Blood appeared. Alex probably is a tad pissed he's gay for Bridget.

It seems like it was intentionally put together to tease fanboys and make their heads asplode. AXEL IN SMASH BROS BRAWL!!!

It looks like after Heroes of Mana is released Square Enix will call it quits on Mana. Sonic may as well be dead, but it has an utterly insane userbase that buys the games no matter what. I hope you're not trying to be ironic there... Except they look nothing alike. Gears isn't anything like Halo either, really. Different game perspective, vastly different gameplay and play tactics, different settings, vastly different characters, a distinctly different online community. Gears isn't the Halo stand-in. It's its own animal. Hell, the Crackdown Agent resembles Marcus far more than Marcus resembles a Halo character: http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/1324/1159296481.jpg The biggest similarities are that a) you shoot stuff, b) the recharging shield is in. Hell considering that, and that you can *jump at will* on Crackdown, Crackdown is about as close to Halo as Gears is.

Dawn of Mana comes out this week, and it sucks. So, it's par for the course the way the series had been going. It's dead, dead, dead.

I'd attempted to undo any possible damage the Crackdown DLC could do by deleting it from my hard drive. However, Resurrect Gangs is still my only option other than playing in a clean city (no random crime), and my agent still has the dive smash. So I have no idea whether or now it would actually do any good. I'm d/ling it again. Bah.

I won't be bickering. I'll just be calmly replying. "Are you still assuming that my comment about SSB was about the Wii? Or what's the story? Drunk? PMS? Angry that someone dare insult the majestic Wii software library?" Ah, resorting to insults already. I'd muse about that a little, but in respect to Smues and keeping it on-topic, I won't. You miss the point. The point isn't that I think there's something wrong with you that you don't like the Wii library. The point is that it doesn't appear that anything in the Wii library--past, present, or future--seems to be anything you care about. So you're complaining. I'm wondering if it's buyer's remorse or not. Anya's PS3 is pretty much all she plays now--and that's because of Tekken 5 DR and MK2. Two download titles. She's not exactly complaining about the library she has available, although she talks about some future games she wants. "Clearly, buying the system near launch for the same price as I would pay a year later, was a mistake." Which Wii titles due out by the end of this year, incidentally, justify the cost of the system in your eyes? Clearly Smash Bros. isn't one of them. You could have just played GC titles on the GC you already owned. In fact, I might re-buy a Gamecube because of the Gameboy Player. It would make it my 3rd Gamecube (5th since Wii is 2 GCs duct-taped together, lol), because--while I passed on the GC at launch, I ended up playing (and being massively disappointed with) Sunshine and Wind Waker, although Metroid Prime was terrific. I got another one when it became dirt cheap and I could see little reason not to grab one. Oh, and I bought a 32X, at launch, at full price. That's one of the reasons I have a *lot* to bitch about Sega for. Blazing Lazers (TG16) should be one of them. I'm pretty sure it's 100% confirmed. F-Zero X hits Japan VC this month sometime. That doesn't mean we're getting it anytime soon, but...F-Zero X is ****ing awesome. Zelda 2 has been ESRBed and been available on Japan VC for quite a while.

Dude he was going to spend $600 for the slight chance of making $25! That's so totally worth the risk! Dude, forget the profit. His *revenue* was going to be $625!!! Overall revenue is what's important!

Wait, what the hell are you playing on it then? And how about admitting that you made a mistake purchasing it? If you bought a Wii knowing you didn't really care for the games, you seem to not care about the big name 1st party games coming out, it seems like you made the mistake and are trying to justify your purchase while still securing your right to bitch. I won't laugh. It's not like it's as funny as Mole plotting to make MAD CASH on his PSTriple ("...um...yeah, I'll keep it at a Blu-Ray player! THAT WAS MY BACK UP PLAN ALL ALONG! REALLY!") and getting stuck with it.

I'm sure you can't wait for that f'n ace 4-Play VF on PSTriple. That's going to be off the hook, yo.

You should sell your Wii to somebody who wants it. Seriously.