Um, I think it took me about 24-25 hours to get to disc 3 maybe? I'll have to see if I have a save back further for a better number.

I'm a fair way into the 3rd disc now and still enjoying it. Not quite sure what I'm supposed to do right now except that there are a bunch of new places to go and things to fight so I'll just work on them I guess. Now it is open-ended and traveling is trivial across the larger map, though the on-location minimap is still poor. I think I may be underpowered, but it hasn't been a problem except one random boss that came up recently (and that I can ignore for the time being). My guys are upper 30s right now I think.

Eternal Sonata and maybe Halo 3. Probably grab Stranglehold someday, but maybe after a price drop.

Hmm, I have a bad feeling I'm going to play all the way through and end up with maybe 200 achievement points if that... Apparently I'm not doing that great on the secret achievements right now either after skimming it. Still having fun, but that annoys me :-p.

I remember playing this many a time on a friend's genesis. I will definitely pick it up one of these days.

I'm just into the start of the second disc and I'm definitely enjoying it. Glad it has picked up a bit in terms of plot and I like having more characters in my party. I agree it is still too easy, but then again I can get annoyed if non-boss battles are killing me in other games too. Script isn't amazing, but still fun enough to keep me going.

Although they did think the singler-player was fun enough to play multiple times.

I'm enjoying it so far (only about 1 1/2 hours in).  Fairly standard JRPG fare, but decent cutscenes and I like the style. Agree on it being easy so far though.

Wow, I might do it... even though I don't need the player. The player and hd-dvds are selling for a lot on ebay, so you can probably do this, keep 4 movies, and get your money back with the rest.

Best Buy and Circuit city both say it will be in tomorrow, so I'll hopefully grab it then.

Anyone know if there are any special sales this week for it?

These deals online only or in store too?

Yeah, it has a couple usb slots on the back, so you can plug in the adapter, GH cords, etc into it.

~ Tim

Nothing. Like Lockdown I'll probably try to pick up Bioshock used down the road.

RTS games would be my #1. I played so much Dune II, Warcraft, Warcraft 2, Starcraft, C&C Red Alert, AoE, etc back in the day... but I haven't really gotten into one in a long time. Enjoyed Dawn of War and Company of Heroes for a while but they didn't last for me. I think I just burned out, but Starcraft 2 will be the real test .

FPS - For some reason I don't have the patience and stamina for these much anymore. Story is always too little and it requires me to be too focused all the time, especially with console controls.  I still like some multiplayer action, but single player rarely holds me for long in the genre.

Yeah, I'm on the review fence.  We'll see. Definitely not ruling it out though.

Hmm, I'm currently re-watching at my friend's house already... but so cheap... and he'd be so jealous compared to what he paid... must resist

Hey, I'm in if you can send me an invite. Haven't beta'd a game for a while... I miss it.

Azhag2 at yahoo.com

If I buy it it'll definitely be hd-dvd. The video commentary where they show how they shot scenes would be awesome.

Once you play a bit more you'll find it easier to handle.  For one you'll know what you're doing and what you want to collect/grow, secondly you'll probably start limiting your pinatas to some degree.  By controlling the kinds you can get rid of fights and things that add to the distraction. Same with totems that stop the bad red creatures from coming.

If you haven't heard, the price is being dropped by $20 and it will come with 5 free movies (from a list of 15).

Movies are listed here:
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/data/pdf/Toshiba_Online_Rebate_R08.pdf

If anyone has been on the fence, this is a great deal. $180 or whatever for the player + 5 hd-dvd movies.

~ Tim

I was also a litle dissapointed in the demo, but I'm still planning to buy it. I think it is hard to get into an RPG demo in random dungeons when you don't know about or care about the storyline...

Hey guys, while the video they have on Fox's site isn't a great performance, my brother's Band (Juniper Lane) is in the running to get an audition in front of the American Idol producers for their new show "Great American Band".  They need to win this poll on Fox45 in Baltimore's site though.  (one entry per IP address) to get the guaranteed audition.
 
http://www.foxbaltimore.com/players/features/bands/video.shtml
 
Also, for those in the DC area... they're having their newCD release party at the 9:30 club on Saturday August 18th.

http://www.myspace.com/juniperlaneband
http://www.juniperlane.com

~ Tim

Hell yes.

Man, I was just playing Bubble Bobble on gametap yesterday...

Gamertag: Azhag2

Yeah, I doubt it's true... but if it is I might be out to grab one for my smaller hdtv...

I think he meant $399 for the elite...

Thankfully I still haven't had any issues (1 1/2 years and counting), but this past week it has started making a weird clicking noise occasionally while the drive is working hard which has me worried...

No, but I thought it was part of the deal from publishers that retailers weren't allowed to sell over MSRP.

As tempting as that is.... no. 

bump, added games I want to trade for.

bump due to update

Well, I've probably played worms more than any other game on my xbox sadly enough.  So I'll go with multiplayer worms. And FYI, I could do multiplayer Catan sometime (gamertag Azhag2). Most of my other XBLA games have been so-so.  I need to stop buying the really old retro games though...

Questions... 1) does anyone have particularly good router suggestiosn for making sure it reaches down two levels in the house. 2) What would I have to do to make a new router plug into and work with my verizon setup?

Also, mod, want to move this to hardware hell?

Well, also pedigree of Final Fantasy creator and Dragonball Z creator.

Ok, so last week my wireless network started having issues.  I'm running my network through the Westell 327W that came with my Verizon DSL and am using WEP.  Up until now when there was an issue, turning the Westell off and on again fixed the issue.

What my 360 says... it is saying there is no network bridge (the second option in the test).  It appears to be properly set up with the right SSID and settings still.  For my network it shows a green light for "link" and a flashing yellow light for "act on".  What does this mean exactly?

My wife's computer also is now having issues (starting at the same time I believe).  It is in the basement, further away, and is having marginal/low connections, but it has never had a real strong connection from down there.  It also appears to still sort of work (it will start to download a website and gets a bit before seeming to stop).

Does anyone have ideas on what to do?  What do the light colors mean in the xbox 360 diagnostics? Should I try changing my channel or try removing WEP or something?  Do you think my Westell gear is hosed? I'd really like to get xbox live working again...

So, earlier in the year I was excited about the big RPGs being spread out in Microsoft's schedule... Now I'm looking at amazon and Blue Dragon, Mass Effect, and Eternal Sonata are all coming out within three weeks of one another? And then we'll have a 6 months drought of good rpgs probably. ARG!

[Xbox 360:]

Ok, doing some spring cleaning... these are for sale or trade. Prices all include shipping, and I'm willing to deal a little (especially if you want multiple items). Everything is used to some degree, but all should be in perfect working order. I can take payment via paypal, cash, money order, or check if really necessary. I've added a bunch more PC games as well as games I'm interested in trading for.

*************** Looking For These on 360 *******************
Dead or Alive 4 (just sold this, but now I have seller's regret...)
Overlord
Crackdown
Bullet Witch
Dead or Alive xtreme 2

*************** Looking for These on PC *******************
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos
Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Indigo Prophecy

*************** Selling ***********************

Xbox 360:
NBA 2K6 - $12
Madden 06 - $12
College Hoops 2K7 $22

Xbox
WWE Raw 2 - $8
Fable - $8
007 Everything or Nothing - $7

PC
Warcraft III - $15
Beyond Good and Evil - $12
Europa Universalis: Crown of the North - $8
Star Wars: Jedi Knight Academy - $10
Mafia - $8
Magic the Gathering: battlegrounds - $7
Stronghold - $7
Homeworld 2 - $8
Lord of the Rings: The War of the Ring - $8
May Payne - $7
Rise of Nations - $10
Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness - $8
Tom Clancy Rainbiw Six 3 - $8
Runaway - $8
X-Men Legends II - $8
Dawn of War - $10(no box/case/manual)
Railroad Tycoon 3 - $12 (no box/case/manual)
Morrowind - $10 (no box/case/manual)
Freedom Force vs 3rd Reich - $8 (no box/case/manual)
Evil genius - $8 (no box/case/manual)
Freelancer - $8 (no box/case/manual)
Master of Orion 2 - $8 (no box/case/manual)

DVD (none have original packaging)
The Matrix -  $7
Matrix Revolutions - $7

Arg, thanks a lot... I'd already wasted too much money this month!

Picking up:
Complete Matrix Trilogy (HD-DVD)
Jack of all Trades
Sliders: Seasons 1 and 2
a workout video for my wife

All for $95, not too shabby. (and even with the discount most of that is the matrix, hehe).  Don't think I would have bought that without the deal.