AndrewTS

Gee, that's a shock. Microsoft, where quality is none of our business.

A 4th film in the series, and the "star" will only be appearing in stock footage? Well...at least Arnold isn't dead... I call this one a bust unless we end up with a terrific director and screenwriter on the project.

Agreed, but just being helpful.

Mark your calendars--I agree with WWM.

GIYF: http://iadt.elecplay.com/rotr/

Which is why I said "by and large." With optical disc games that have no DLC/expansions, the most that can go wrong is a game breaking glitch that might make you have to restart your game or get a new disc. i.e. the Zelda example I cited earlier, or PoP: Warrior Within's problem with warps. However, when the cure is worse than the disease (the Guitar Hero whammy bar patch), it causes you to lose faith in the system and the publisher. It doesn't matter if it's "rare" or "it affected a small number of users." What if you should happen the win the "Your 360 is ****ed" Lottery? Oh well, sucks for you. I can backup and restore my computer OS myself. With my install discs. I *can't* with my 360. However, what if something like that would happen if I were out of warranty? MS warrants the hardware, not the software, so they should provide a method of recovery to avoid this crap. They don't. I'd really like to know just how the hell it actually works, though. I assume since the Core has no HDD that the OS is built into a separate area of the memory, as naturally the firmware would be. Maybe, as it stands, such a disc isn't possible. So find a way, MS. "Shit breaks" isn't a justification. It's a lame excuse. Unless the hardware itself breaks, there's no reason I shouldn't be able to restore a 360 to working condition if it's just borked SW. I'd have to back up my saves on my own--that's my responsibility. But in a worst case scenario, I should be able to A) wipe my 360 clean, then clean-install the software and update it. B) use purchased XBLA / DLC that's linked to my gamertag/MSN passport, if by some chance my HDD became corrupted. C) Restore my saves to my console D) Have it in 100% working condition again. That's not the way it works, now. I don't care why, just fix it, MS. If I can do it with my computer, I should be able to do it with a 360. Software updates are being put out that, should they screw your system up, the problems cannot by remedied by a user-accessible restore method. That's retarded. Hi, Mr. Moore!

I was having dashboard issues too, WWM. I had to keep re-pairing my wireless pad to the system as well. **** a Halo 3 Beta.

"Hey, don't piss on that old console! Trade it in and SAVE money off on a new system! Your wallet and your wiener will thank you."

EDIT: NM

Ok, must have been somebody else then. Anya's first one just crapped out--no updates done. Her replacement 360 was DOA. "Ok, that's one person for Crackdown and from Guitar Hero I remember it being very few (in the grand scheme of things). I never debated that the title updates can brick a system, however the most likely causes are usually system related updates. The patch for the HD DVD drive probably gave someone out there a 3R too. .... I think you are losing the point of my assertion that while the software updates have caused issues, they have been few and usually aren't widespread like say a WOW patch borking people that you are forced to download and causes problems for various people everytime. It may not bring the computer to it's knees since you can still do other things but until an updated patch comes out, those people are unable to run the game. Unfortunately we are arguing something we have no real knowledge of because like you said, MS doesn't say what exactly causing the 3Rs but from what I generally see, the title/system updates cause very few in relation to the install base and generally enhance the gamers experience. Would you deny that?" I'm a console gamer that has gotten used to the fact that, by and large, console games will *work right every time*, so I'm a bit grumpy about the way things are being done this gen. I don't have concrete numbers, naturally. That doesn't mean there's no problems. It's not even how many people for a particular update have a problem (and for the Crackdown save erasing--it was a *lot*, but that doesn't affect the system's functionality). It's just that these "software updates", "title updates," "downloadable content" etc. *themselves* are very, very frequently produced and released. And nearly every single one of them has the potential to cause problems (and tends to do just that). However, MS doesn't seem to actually care. They don't seem to be investigating why. They don't provide steps/tips for preventing the problems. They don't specify what an update does or what it can affect. It seems like every time an exciting new update! comes out for the 360 / a game, you're risking your game data and/or your system to get it. And that sucks.

"I also personally know people who have had to get 3 coffins from MS to send back various 360s, but unfortunately we don't know if it's a software related or hardware related issue since they get refurbs back." Currently MS has stated that, if at all possible, they'll try to send you your original 360 back. Lots of Red Ringers have reported they have and they were. That points to lots of SW issues to me. Or more accurately, firmware. "The only software updates that will have the most potential to screw up your system is going to be something like the Spring Update but I have not heard of any 3Rs relating to that." The Guitar Hero patch has bricked systems. Somebody on the Crackdown official forums has reported that the DLC RedRinged his system, not just erased his save. "How many people here have had to get a coffin from MS? I haven't heard of any." Anya's on her 3rd 360. Matt Young I think has had to send his in. I'm fairly sure there were others. I'd like to note that there is a known bug in the Wii Zelda: TP that will prevent you from leaving the cannon room if you save there. Nintendo took care of it by sending out new discs to the folks who reported it. A backasswards, stone-age way of handling it? Maybe. However, I guarantee you that they not only had their issue resolved 100%, but that the new discs didn't **** their Wiis up.

True, but on the Mac, when an OS X update screws things up, it's Archive and Install, DiskWarrior, or Erase and Install (and hopefully you backed up anything important). On a 360, yeah you might lose those saves (although you can buy a memory card to back *just* the saves up), but you also might get Red Ringed, and have to *mail in your 360 to Microsoft*. There's no re-install/restore disc for it. Although, it seems you're saying pretty much "Stuff breaks. Get used to it." I think that something, somewhere is fundamentally flawed in MS' system that allows this to happen. Something like a power outage or hard-booting a computer off while an OS update is in progress? Or never ever using the Disk Utility? Well, no duh. However, MS refuses to publish any preventative measures to perhaps help people avoid this. They also never tell you what the title updates are for. You can either accept it or refuse it, that's it.

So it comes full circle! Body Harvest was made by a lot of the GTA3 staff. Who of course went on to make the other 3D GTAs. Then one of the main guys behind those left, and, fed up with all of the excesses of the GTAs, made Crackdown. I'm pretty much sold on Crackdown 2 no matter what weird stuff they add, as long as the juicy core goodness remains. Just include all the cool bonus modes in the DLC, but on the disc and bugtest everything a little better. Bah, it's really annoying. Especially considering the game is "Point A ---- Point B ---- Cutscene ---- Point C ---- Cutscene" so far.

A minor inconvenience I'd like to see MS correct in a future dashboard update: you can only eject the tray with the controller if it is empty, otherwise you have to manually press the button the system. No, the issue will come though with authentication such as with XBOX Live Arcade titles. If you buy one, and say your XBOX needs to be repaired and you send it in, you can download the game with no charge but you are unable to play it offline. You have to be connected to Live. Supposedly MS is exploring a fix for this. I meant more because of firmwares, jury-rigged console OSes, expansion downloads and glitchy installers. But that was at the back of my mind, too. DRM--the gigantic cockblock of the digital age. I never played Vice City on PS2, so I dunno. I know PS2 GTA3 and San Andreas didn't look like that, though. Are you saying it was a R* design decision to make the game look like you were playing it through a thick cloud of pot smoke?

Does anyone else have serious, serious doubts that digital distribution is teh furture for major releases?

Invictus: I see you have EDF2017. I've been meaning to play it, but the price is steep for a "budget" release. However, the concept and stuff intrigues me. Plus this quote has piqued my interest:

Plus Jimmy apparently started doing lots of steroids and gained a huge fascination for guns. What? That other guy you can control? That's, er, Bimmy. Yeah. If they did a live version of the Japanese Wii safety manual, it could have been fantastic.

How's the 360's compatibility with GTA San Andreas? I've seen Vice City on it, and it sucks; washed out colors, framerate issues, and a ridiculous overall blurriness that makes playing it quite unpleasant. I'd imagine San Andreas would be a lot worse, but can anyone vouch for it?

I think that could be one of the reasons they went with the Unreal Engine 3. It looks great in real-time cutscenes. Even it if is often really effin' brown/grey. Que?

I just PMed you about it, and it appears the patch was just made available...but may not be entirely trouble-free. However, it may not be anything to do with the co-op problem, and could be just for the Halo 3 beta. So maybe try the demo thing afterall...

Holy crap, we're up to 12 discs now?! But meh, prerendered HD video is the massive space gobbler. Without it there'd be big space issues. With hi-def video kept to a minimum, and prerendered cutscenes being used, space shouldn't be a concern. I virtually guarantee Last Remnant will use real-time cutscenes extensively (to streamline the multi-console process and to keep from having too many discs). Or maybe companies can use *gasp* lower def prerendered video. That being said, I'm sure Tetsuya Takahashi got some bad blue balls when Nintendo bought out Monolith Soft. All that Blu-Ray space he can't use...

I think it will depend on the RPG and the company developing. For instance, Blue Dragon is 4 discs, mainly because of all of the HD cinemas in it. So I wouldn't count them having the space to spare all the original voices. Lost Odyssey likely will be the same. On PS3 it might be different. With Blu-Ray and no region lockout, most companies will probably say "what the hell, why not?" As I mentioned, it doesn't appear this game is really stretching the tech and cut scenes may be mainly real-time, so it could happen.

BTW, edited the original post concerning the controls. The D-pad, it does nothing! So maybe it can be used for a targeting function of some sort later. I guess a "nevermind" on EA voice acting, as I've checked out the original. (For others' reference: Japanese Makoto: http://gaygamer.net/2007/01/enchanted_arms...akoto_in_j.html Dubbed Makoto: http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2655 then select Makoto Gameplay vid) Aside from the mannerisms, Makoto could be mistaken any random Final Fantasy/RPG lead; at least when I don't know what the hell he's saying.

The Japanese release is June 14th. NA release is November. Like I mentioned, I accessed the JPN marketplace, but the demo is region-coded it appears. Still, that's plenty of time for us. So if it is like this in Japan, they can fix it up for us and release it in Japan as International Edition, or something. I haven't found anything about targeting, but I've confirmed you will be able to mix and match the special/magic attacks, selecting whatever combo of light/dark skills you want. Also, there's multiplayer! You can link up extra controllers, and other players can take control of different party members during combat. It's still turn-based, not a free-for-all (as you might expect), and works much like the multiplayer in FFVI. It's kind of pointless really, but hey, it's there. You get the typical grunts, groans, and shouts during combat, but I didn't find any real convos. The demo seems really threadbare on anything but showing you the combat. No back story setup or anything. Oh, and a quick Googling shows that there is voice acting in the full game. http://kotaku.com/gaming/you-can-ring-my-b...bell-255775.php I'm a diehard dubbie as long as the dubbing isn't excessively bad. Is it just that EA has such good original VAing/solid subtitles? Or is it all because of the English acting for Makoto?

I think an easy fix could be done for the target--holding down the item or spell button, and while you have the button held you can select a target. Kingdom Hearts lets you select a target, after all, why not a next-gen RPG? Now, there could be something I'm not doing that lets me select it. I kind of skipped the tutorial area. I'll check it again later. Even though the demo was d/led from the Jpn marketplace (and we currently can't get it), the demo was all in English, and when the demo ended, I was shown a picture of a final-ish looking Eternal Sonata box and the November release date. No mention of "Trusty Bell" or anything concerning the Japanese release. So it seems there's one demo that may vary depending on the 360's region-coding. It doesn't seem MS even cares if you get the demo (they shouldn't), as I was able to see, access, and play the demo from my own account once I d/led it (where it was called, yes, Eternal Sonata). I knew they were cracking down on the tv show/movie content, but I guess the demos and even DLC are fair game. Oh, and if you're interested at what MS is plugging in the ads on JPN marketplace (besides Trusty Bell)--it's effin' Idolmaster. Oh, and Test Drive Unlimited.