I have to say my Dark Brotherhood horse looked dorky until I bought the horse armor.  Now he scares me.

Not worth the $$, though, that's true.

The orrery looks cool but is completely useless.  I like the $2K I get weekly from the Dunbar Pirates, though (and I love that one of them is named Yinz'r - some designer is from Pittsburgh, for sure).  I've heard Wizard's Tower is a good one, but I don't have the patience for the other one they put out (sounds like its too long).  Basically, I'm slogging through the Main story quests as part of the last gaming I'm going to do for Oblivion.  I may come back to these downloadables, but who knows.



Edit: Removed a "for sure," for sure.

I'm actually suprised that people are so defiantly supporting Chromehounds, given the bad reviews.  Not saying don't buy it (I'm waiting for stateside reviews and impressions), but I'd expect more of a wait-and-see approach.

Prey for me, though the demo multi wasn't as great as previews led me to believe.  I'm more of a single player guy anyway (which may explain my reluctance on Chromehounds, anyway).

Actually, the reviews have all been pretty good for it (haven't played it myself, though).  Gamerankings has an average score of 76%.  IGN, 1UP and Gamespot all liked it.

Again from Japan. Again. not great.

I should point out that I was confusing the Gamebrink review of OverG Fighters with another Chromehounds review.  Although their take on OGF makes me trust them a little more on Chromehounds.

http://www.gamebrink.com/xbox-360/1568-Chrome_Hounds-reviews-3.html

Again from Japan.  Again. not great.

Yeah, MP wasn't great for me, either.  Although the kids I was playing really seemed to enjoy the fact that I'd picked "the old dude."

Naw, the locked saves are a function of the Xbox, not the AR (it basically does the same thing as the mega x-key).  

Of the games listed Spyro and Crash Nitro Kart can be moved for sure.  I haven't tried Forza yet, and Halo 2 I actually played through again, which was very suprising for me.  I didn't realize Spongebob was on the list, or I would have tried that.

I was able to move a bunch of games, but there are some key games I really want to move (Jade Empire, Lego Star Wars, Ninja Gaiden Black, suprisingly Grabbed by the Ghoulies, et al).

Thanks, shaggydoug, but I'm actually not talking about moving the 360 stuff.  The Action Replay I have is for the original xbox, and it's there that some saves will not give you the "copy" option.  The XSATA is the device I used to get the saves on the 360, and aside from the PIA of having to lug the 360 to my PC, it worked very well.  I was able to copy a bunch of saves over and have been having a great time continuing some of the old games on the new machine.  However, some of the ones I really want to keep playing can't (at this time) be moved over from the original xbox (due to being "locked" or not copyable).  This is my problem.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a way to copy "locked" saves to my PC?

The problem is that most PS1 games actually look like ass these days.

Yeah, but they look much better on the small screen.

There's a new map pack available for Call of Duty 2.  800 points (which translates to $10).  5 new maps.  

Has anyone tried it yet?  Is it worth $10?  How much was that last one?  $2/map seems steep to me.

Still, it's better than $20, but that had new game modes and such.

Chromehounds is on Marketplace in the US! but it's only themes and gamerpictures.  Lame.

They may be using old arcade compilation games to inflate the numbers, but that still seems way too high.

The switches can be in later levels.

Which, frankly, is one of the most annoying things about this otherwise great game.  I spent hours on one level, probably the one you're on, going back again and again, knowing I must have missed something.  Screaming in frustration, then screaming louder when I found out I couldn't unlock it in that level.  The whole thing just pissed...

Don't get too upset about it.

Oh.  Never mind.

Thanks, Kathode (he said cross-postingly).

I guess the annoying pushy sales guy at Gamestop that told me all the reviews his "friend" had seen were really positive didn't know what he was talking about. Huh.*

Good thing I got it at Best Buy, and it's still unopened. Still going to wait for a legit review, then back it goes.

*For the record, I informed him that there was only one review out there, from Japan, and it wasn't very positive. He said, "Japan? Figures."

Anyone play this yet?  It was released today.  I have an unopened copy on my shelf, but finances won't let me be the ginea pig on this one, sorry, gang.

I'm hearing very mixed things on the GameFAQs board.

It's a function of the save.  I assume the publisher of the game decides if the save is locked or not.  My AR is full-functioning.

Sorry.  I didn't use the XSATA for that, just a simple Action Replay set up.

So I got the XSATA from Datel and I was able to move a bunch of my Xbox saves over to the 360 relatively painlessly.  It's amazing, because my 360 library just tripled, essentially.

However, there are some game saves that are "locked."  I expected that with a game like KOTOR, with the files being so large (that's why I'm glad I finished it), but Lego Star Wars?  Come on!

I know that a modded Xbox gives access to the hard drive, but I don't want to add a chip, and even the softmodding I've read about seems more than I need (adding all kinds of cheats and things and changing the dashboard).  I don't want to do all of that.  All I want to do is move my locked saves to the PC and then to the 360.  Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm confused about something here.  Are there single player levels included?  I was under the impression that it's just multi and that some of that is co-op.

I have one.  Two, actually, as the first one broke at the end.  Apparently, it was a problem with the batch they put together, and they sent me a replacement without my even having to ask.  Their customer service is amazing.

The stylus itself is great, but I find I rarely use it.  I'm too lazy to actually pull it out and twist it around my finger when there's a stylus right there in the DS Lite (the lite is also lighter, making the regular stylus less of a hassle).

IGN had a review: http://gear.ign.com/articles/701/701023p1.html.  They liked it quite a bit.  9.0.  Here's the end:

Conclusion
So, as a final wrap-up to this somewhat bizarre review, can we really recommend a hunk of wire and rubber to gamers everywhere? You bet we can. The stylus is relatively cheap at $5.99, with shipping around a buck. The control is well worth the change, and though there isn't really anywhere good to stick the thing while not in use it's still worth the hassle of carrying around a single stylus in your DS pouch or pocket. I personally would love to have the option of a premium product, offering thicker wire and metal endings with the standard stylus tip for a $9.99 price, but as it stands the Comfort Stylus is still leagues above any alternative. Don't get suckered in by random 3rd party stylus packs. If you're truly serious about your game, the Comfort Stylus is the only option.

Wasn't Tales of Symphonia on the Gamecube part of this series, too?

Pokemon Trozei was definitely fun, if you're a fan of puzzle games.  I got bored with it pretty quickly (I also wasn't very good, and the "collecting" aspect that would most interest me was borderline impossible), but there's a little more meat to it than with most puzzle games.

I like that alpine blue, or whatever it's called.  But I got me the white.

They don't owe us a THING. BC was never touted as their big selling feature; it was a bonus to existing xbox customers.

Well, that is just not true.  It is true that they never promised 100% BC, but they said it was their goal which made it an implied promise.  BC was announced as a feature at E3 '05 and received a big response.   It wasn't just a bonus for xbox owners.  It was a feature of the console.  For owners and people who wanted to instantly build up the games they could play on the system if they never owned an xbox previously.

This thread is on page 2 already.  I've seen numerous BC threads spread to multiple pages.  Yet there are still people out there who claim it's not a big deal because it's not a big deal to them.  Learn to accept that other people may have a strong, valid opinion that is not yours.

I'm level 42..

...because there's something about you, baby, so right.

Oops.  Here's a cut 'n paste hack job:

I originally posted this in that other thread, but it was buried, so I figured I'd make a new topic out of it, because I rock so much.

Let me preface this by saying that Tim Schafer rules and you should read his blog because it's hilarious. Also, you should play Grim Fandango and Psychonauts because they are some of the most wildly creative, funny, and generally awesome games I have ever played. And I will fight you to the ends of the earth if you disagree with me.

That's just how I roll.

The e-mail I sent to Microsoft:

Subject: PSYCHONAUTS!!!! (Not the same as the other e-mails with the same title!)

Forward: I bet you automatically filter e-mails with the word Psychonauts in the subject line. But I digress.

Hello, employee who will probably send me an automated response to the effect of, "We are working feverishly toward updating the backward-compatibility as best we can and will put you on a mailing list that you will send to your spam box because none of those e-mails will be relevant."

I'm sorry, we got off on the wrong foot.

My name is Kaleb and I love Microsoft and Windows and Bill Gates and the Xbox 360 and love you even more for reading my e-mail.

Psychonauts is the best game of all time. Xbox 360 is great. Wouldn't it be super-great if Psychonauts was compatible with the Xbox 360? I'd tell all my friends about it and start a viral marketing campaign if you made it happen. Also, I would be your best friend.

Do you want me to be your best friend?

If so, person who has nothing to do with the backwards-compatibility development team, please make Psychonauts backwards-compatible.


Thank you,
-Kaleb.
Their response, which is kickass:

We are working feverishly toward updating the backward-compatibility as best we can and will put you on a mailing list that you will send to your spam box because none of those e-mails will be relevant.

Just kidding, of course. I do want you to be my best friend. I misplaced my last best friend. Well, more accurately, my best friend left me at a bus stop. But I digress.

I actually, really, truly am one of the developers on the backwards compatibility team. No foolin'.

Rest assured, we are working on Psychonauts.

Sincerely,

Alan Stuart
Emulation Ninja
Xbox 360 Team

Why in the world did you do that!?

Because the Orc had a number of other benefits (Berserk is especially useful, especially early on, if only to give you a mega-boost to your endurance when cleaning out dungeons), but blunt was the way to go with an orc.  Believe me, I fought long and hard with myself over this.  I general like playing a human knight-type (or Paladin, if available) with a great sword.  Major change for me, but the orc really seemed to fit my play style.  And I've grown to like him.

Agreed.  I plowed through the SP campaign, and while there were shining moments, the taste I was left with at the end was disappointment.

This was posted on IGN:

http://boards.ign.com/xbox_360_general_board/b8266/119787122/p1/?75

Very encouraging!  Not to mention amusing.

Is this quest going to be of any use to me if my proficiency is in Blunt Weapons?

I'm actually really excited about Dreamfall:The Longest Journey.  I'm probably alone there, but I am.  And I'll probably go pick up FlatOUT now that  it's cheap and BC

I didn' see any discussion on this

Yet, there was.
http://www.gamingtrend.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13200

Cleverly disguised, however.

Two words for this game:  Pee and Yoo.

Reviews seemed to be right on this one, with the exception of claims that the graphics look amazing.  Honestly, they didn't impress me.  The ladies looked okay and all, but nothing earth shattering (or porntastic, for that matter).

You have to say "yes" to installing the update and that's it.  Unless there are problems...

It's up, baby!

[Spoiler]

Spoiler for Hiden:

I'm a pretty skilled marksman.  The quest has updated to the point of saying I should take a few practice shots before firing the a of e.  Have I somehow not actually hit it, despite the sound and all?  Should I be getting a quest message saying, "Now try the arrow of extrication" or something?  I spent way too long on this last night.

Spoiler for Hiden:

Well, I had tried moving off the platform and coming back, but apparently I hadn't gone far enough away (or given it time to reset, maybe).  Either way, the problem has been taken care of.  Thanks, gang!

[Spoiler]

I am attempting the rather annoying Ultimate Heist quest of the thieves guild (annoying in the sense that I have had to exit with too much loot a half dozen times, and it is a pain to go all the way back through the maze of tunnels and sewers every time.

I am having a big problem with a particular spot and could really use help:

Spoiler for Hiden:

In the area where you have to shoot the arrow of extrication at the tiny keyhole on the other side of the room, I can hit it and get the chunk sound, but the inventory will not allow me to equip the arrow of e.  Is this a bug of some sort?  Am I just missing something?  Has anyone else faced this problem?

If your willing to just give your DS away your obviously not the type of person who would be excited for the DS Lite.

...you're...your...you're...

Grammar zing!

Biggest showing for me seems to be the DS this week.  I may be getting 3 of the 4, depending on reviews/impressions of Scurge:Hive.  I may do Race Driver and I'm less sure about Gradius, because those compilations always seem to be suckers' bets for me.