00/12/31 


Last night, I stayed up until 4 for no very good reason.

...I'll bet there's like 1 canteen in each mission from now on. ^_^; It's a pretty fun game and has nice atmosphere. Hopefully it'll get a bit harder but not crazy hard...

...There's like 7 modes to play through and lots more playable characters than in my previous edition, BAM2 (SS). I can't tell if the chain combos are cheap or very useful.... 
Three annoyances: no analogue stick support (darn WinCE port!), the loading screen shows up anytime the game loads (even if it's only for a second!), and the Auto-Save option is actually an 'Auto-Save-Query' option. Yep, that means every time it wants to save, it'll ask you if you want to over-write your old file, with the default set to No.... The game saves every time the Options or High Score Table changes.... It's a lot of animation, true but the DC can CERTAINLY handle it. 
I still haven't figured out how you unlock characters...fight them multiple times? Through play time?

...Perhaps if I hadn't waited until yesterday to go look for them! I was surprised that lots of recent (within the last 6 months) PSX games are already VERY VERY cheap in the Used Games section.

...Electronic Boutique was also stuffed with PS2 BOXES and giant PS2 game 'to be released' boxes.... Whose idea was it to blow away the useful shelves of cheaper releases for lame PS2 'to-be-released' boxes? As if having a giant box is informative...What happened to the regular-sized 'to-be-released' boxes?... (It's also sad that all retailers are moving it towards the back. :\ ) 
The PS2 kiosk was demonstrating its power by playing some oddly animated DVD movie.... Whenever I see one panning during an animated show, it's jerky. PS2, standalone boxes, and computers all.... The management actually had to put a piece of paper reading 'Do Not Touch' over the kiosk's reset button because people thought the movie was a game and were mashing the controller, then pressing reset. O_O 
And Good God, are people really buying the vertical or horizontal stands for the PS2? Those little bits of useless plastic cost $15-$20 a piece!!!

Today, I also found some nice sites for The Sims. I didn't have a chance do anything but Bookmark them, so I'll list them when I have time to look at them.

...Let's see how long it is before I screw up when writing the year...

...But it's ridiculous how all the game magazines have devoted fans...NextGen downplays everyone else (perhaps EGM in particular) as being childish but they're so snooty! It's like every issue, you have to read the spiel about how 'Grown Up and Smart' NextGen is.... They always write the positive previews of everything as if each game will be pure gold.... EGM is at least moderately amusing to read (even if some of the humour is kind of...um...low?) NextGen is suits and talking heads to EGM's conversational style. Admittedly, no magazine is "as good as it used to be" but then gaming has become mainstreamed. 

I suppose everyone's out celebrating or preparing to. I've been cooking on and off to-day, with mixed results. Last night, I stayed up until 4 for no very good reason. Perhaps practising for tonight? Zzzzz. 
 
Isn't this method of writing entry dates much clearer? :} 
 
Lately, I've been playing Medal of Honor (PSX), which is scaring me. The first mission is littered with health items. I'll bet there's like 1 canteen in each mission from now on. ^_^; It's a pretty fun game and has nice atmosphere. Hopefully it'll get a bit harder but not crazy hard... 
 
I've also been playing Bust-a-Move 4 (DC). Hey, for $20 (new), it's a great game. There's like 7 modes to play through and lots more playable characters than in my previous edition, BAM2 (SS). I can't tell if the chain combos are cheap or very useful. Hmm. 
Three annoyances: no analogue stick support (darn WinCE port!), the loading screen shows up anytime the game loads (even if it's only for a second!), and the Auto-Save option is actually an 'Auto-Save-Query' option. Yep, that means every time it wants to save, it'll ask you if you want to over-write your old file, with the default set to No. Ack! That's not useful! The game saves every time the Options or High Score Table changes. 
I also blame the slowdown on WinCE. It's a lot of animation, true but the DC can CERTAINLY handle it. 
I still haven't figured out how you unlock characters...fight them multiple times? Through play time? Huh? I've got 'em all except for 2. 
 
Skies of Arcadia, Grandia II, Metropolis Street Racer. Those are three games I cannot find in stores. Perhaps if I hadn't waited until yesterday to go look for them! I was surprised that lots of recent (within the last 6 months) PSX games are already VERY VERY cheap in the Used Games section. Must...Fight...Urge! 
 
Electronic Boutique was also stuffed with PS2 BOXES and giant PS2 game 'to be released' boxes. What is going on? Whose idea was it to blow away the useful shelves of cheaper releases for lame PS2 'to-be-released' boxes? As if having a giant box is informative...What happened to the regular-sized 'to-be-released' boxes? Ugh. Tired of PS2 media/retailer blitz... 
The DC kiosk was off. Why? (It's also sad that all retailers are moving it towards the back. :\ ) 
The PS2 kiosk was demonstrating its power by playing some oddly animated DVD movie. Tell me. Can DVD players play smoothly-scrolling images? Whenever I see one panning during an animated show, it's jerky. PS2, standalone boxes, and computers all. 
Apparently, people are stupider than I thought. The management actually had to put a piece of paper reading 'Do Not Touch' over the kiosk's reset button because people thought the movie was a game and were mashing the controller, then pressing reset. O_O 
And Good God, are people really buying the vertical or horizontal stands for the PS2? Those little bits of useless plastic cost $15-$20 a piece!!! 
 
Today, I also found some nice sites for The Sims. I didn't have a chance do anything but Bookmark them, so I'll list them when I have time to look at them. 
 
2001? Let's see how long it is before I screw up when writing the year... 
 
Ah, yes..."NextGen" magazine...I'm beginning to get fed up with them. Perhaps I should stop reading them. But it's ridiculous how all the game magazines have devoted fans...NextGen downplays everyone else (perhaps EGM in particular) as being childish but they're so snooty! It's like every issue, you have to read the spiel about how 'Grown Up and Smart' NextGen is. They really are stuck on themselves. They always write the positive previews of everything as if each game will be pure gold. If it doesn't live up to expectations, no comment. If it is, they brag about how they could predict...Argh. EGM is at least moderately amusing to read (even if some of the humour is kind of...um...low?) NextGen is suits and talking heads to EGM's conversational style. Admittedly, no magazine is "as good as it used to be" but then gaming has become mainstreamed. Is this really a good thing?? 
 
Um...that ends today's somewhat complaining entry.  

Posted: 日 - 12月 31, 2000 at 09:33 午後          


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