I put a deposit down on mine today, EB and GameStop minimum deposit is $25.

Ah, yeah almost forgot to pre-order my copy....

Because it confirms that many gamers are desperate losers who gawk longingly at women who will never have anything to do with them.

That's stupid, my girlfriend looks just as hot in some of the skimpy outfits she wears (sans the DD implants a few of those girls have) and we BOTH gawk at the E3 booth babes! We NEED booth babes at E3!

I've read reviews that said the game was supposed to be pretty good, particularly to fans of the series. Besides what the general opinion of the game is, the contest itself is easy enough so why complain about a free game?

I completely agree with the reasoning for the score. It seems like with a lot of Japanese games (not all of them, but many) they concentrate too much on style and flash over substance; Lots of long drawn out cutscenes, epic musical scores, lots of "ooh aah" scripted moments, but the gameplay is dull.

Currently I'm an assistant manager at a high volume GameStop store, its one of the best performing stores in the company. Today I was promoted to store manager and next week I'll be taking over my own store, which is actually going to be an Electronics Boutique (GS and EB have merged). Its the normal sized store in a mall, and its very low volume. It's a fairly new store so its nice and clean, but it really doesn't get all that many customers and its one of the worst performing stores in the district. The district manager has a lot of faith in me because I'm one of the top performers in my store, I also learned everything very quickly operations-wise, so they fully expect me to turn things around at the store and bring it up within the district.

Now, this is where you guys and gals come in with tips/advice/ideas, etc. I tend to be an ambitous person, and my goal is to make my store the #1 performing store in the district, not in volume because that would be impossibly but in performance and percentage, i.e percentage of reservations per transaction, items per transaction, etc.

Besides pleasing the corporate suits at the top with good numbers though, I really want to create an environment that gamers would love to shop in. I want people to enjoy their visit at my store and want to do all their future shopping there. I've had a few ideas of my own that go beyond the average GameStop/EB experience, which include bringing a laptop and my LCD screen in to display DVD's that I put together displaying game trailers and such. When FF Advent Children comes out I'd love to have that playing. I also thought of having mini competitions of games like Super Smash Bros. melee where the winner wins a free game of their choice (its probably gonna come out of my pocket but I don't mind), and so on.

I was looking for more suggestions though, staying along realistic lines. Remember, I just work for the company, I don't own it, so I can't turn the store into my own playpen. I want to know though, what usually keeps you shopping at a particular game store? What would you like in a store that you don't see enough of (customer service? cleanliness?). I'm all ears people, help me make this the store gamers love to go to =)

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey 2 for me.

Then I am a numbskull too cuz I see zero enjoyment in going through again. To each...

Then the question at hand is: Are you even enjoying the game your first time through? It doesn't sound like it to me so you don't apply to my comment =) I think anyone who is liking the game will like to go through a second time with the new outfits and to try and beat their time records. Tomb Raider seems like one of those short but sweet games, and I always play through those ones multiple times.

Don't give up on the entire game because of two short portions, its not like they are hard to get through...

Wow... I have to say that this game is simply amazing. I'm roughly half way through and so far I keep expecting the game to turn bad because so far its too good to be true. I love everything about the game so far, its a perfect blend of action, puzzles, and platforming. Controlling Lara is so much fun, I love her array of moves and the fluidity of her animations make her a marvel to watch. And can I just say that this game has a cool-factor through the roof? Seriously, the level in Japan screamed attention to aesthetic design.

Even the motorcycle portion that some of you were complaining about, I loved it. I thought it was fun and the perfect length. If the rest of the game can keep this pace then I'll definately be playing through it again, I've already unlocked some new outfits. Whichever reviewer said TR isn't worth a second play through is a numbskull.

Thanks for the warning, I'll be sure to have that portion of the strategy guide bookmarked for when I reach it

I just started playing  Zelda: The Wind Waker on GameCube. So far I like the game but good god, either I'm numb in the head or I can't navigate through the game for shit. I just reached the Forsaken Fortress and the place feels like a maze to me, the map doesn't help very much. I've killed all the dudes controlling the lights but now I have no idea where to go. Everything looks the same in this place to me.

Now, I do have the strategy guide for it so I can always consult that, but I was hoping for some general advice when playing this game if anyone has any. Did you guys like the game?

Why such a big difference from the Xbox versions?

-360 version-

I've only had a chance to play through the first level so far but so far my impressions are very positive.

First of all, the graphics are beautiful. Lara Croft is smoking hot and her character model looks really nice and curvy and the animation is fluid. I'm not sure how the game looks on the PS2 and Xbox, but the textures in the 360 version are crisp and shiny, just how I like 'em. So far I like the feel of the environments as well, good use of the color pallette (for example, the first jaguar you see in the ruins, it's gold color really shines). I've read that the frame rate is troublesome in the console versions but so far I've been in gunfights, ran across a bridge being destroyed by a helicoptor, and it a few big open rooms, no frame rate issues yet.

Lara controls well enough but there have been a few instances where the camera found itself a crummy angle causing me to miss my aim, but otherwise the controls are tight and responsive.

As far as how the game plays, the first thing I thought within the first 10 minutes of playing is Lara has an amazing array of attacks, movements, and maneuvers at her disposal. Its almost like Crystal Dynamics took some of the best elements of Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, and Devil May Cry and melded them into a wonderfully intuitive and fun control scheme for Tomb Raider. So far I'm loving it!

As far as the puzzles go, I never played the previous Tomb Raider games so I can't compare, but I will say the first main puzzle room had me stuck for almost 20 minutes, infact I became almost frustrated. Perhaps I haven't been playing many games with puzzles in them lately, but I simply couldn't figure it out right away. I think it has more to do with me expecting something more complex than what they actually have to offer, but still I felt quite satisfied when I figured it out and would hope it didn't get too much more complicated than that.

All in all I'm loving Tomb Raider: Legend so far. I can see this being a really great action/puzzle game as long as the frustration factor doesn't get too high. The game, while it does the action genre gameplay right from what I can tell so far, also has some of its low points like some screwy camera angles and frustrating gameplay moments due to, you guessed it, the camera. As far as the puzzles go, we'll see if they prove to be logical or irrational.

I'm about to head on over and pick my copy up now, I should have a good 3-4 hours of impressions this evening!

One persons 10 is anothers 7, so why even use numbers?

Exactly, and that's the point we're all debating about right now. Putting numerical values on an entertainment product is inefficient and inaccurate, but it has to be done because that's what people and publishers alike want. Most people don't sit down and read entire reviews, hell I'm not innocent here I do the same thing, if I see a game scored above an 8 I trust the publication to know what they are talking about and I'll seriously consider buying the game. That's where reader loyalty comes in though, I have a trust in certain review sites because in the past they haven't steered me wrong.

Using a rating system is fine for games, just don't expect an a scientific explanation of why the game was given that rating. Take the rating and expect to possibly add a point or subtract a point based on your own personal preferences.

All of this just comes to show that the best review is a review that does not give a score. Knightshade, the fact that you give games scores and then bash another publication for giving a score that you disagree with is contradictory. If you want to take a stand, remove the numerical scoring system GT uses and hope other publications begin to follow suit. I used to feel the same way about many publications giving games perfect scores when the game was far from perfect, but then I came to the realization that the numerical score is really only the most basic generalization of what to expect from the game. So while some of the technical aspects may be marred in the game as you've pointed out, the game itself may really be the perfect boxing game (in comparison to the others that are available).

When you think about it, there's no such thing as 100% perfect, there's always a tiny, insignificant flaw somewhere in the game, so if you can't ever rate a game perfectly how do you judge how far it is from perfect? The point being: Ignore the score and read the review for the real lowdown, then you be the judge.

I just got mine today. I ordered form www.gamechoiceclub.com Got the DS Lite in 4 days. Not bad from Hong Kong to Canada.

Hmm, not that I don't trust you but I'm still skeptical of the site. Besides the grammar errors and poor description of the product, it says "Note that If dead pixels found, there is NO replacement and no refund, the sale is final.". So basically there is no warranty.

Well, that's what you get for the poor story title, I didn't even notice it. Edited the original post.

Publishers should threaten Wal-Mart by refusing to release future titles at their stores of they reject a single title of theirs. Imagine how many people would stop buying their games at Wal-Mart if you couldn't pick up anything from Konami, Capcom, or even Microsoft?

That's so strange that you would make this thread today because I was considering the exact same thing. I'm dying for a DS, yesterday at work in one of our shipments we recieved Metroid Prime Hunters, Animal Crossing, Worms, and Age of Empires for DS and I was basically asking myself what the hell I was doing without a DS. I almost bought one that day but, like you, it seemed foolish after holding off this long on not getting a DS, to get one right before the new model was about to release. The only thing that keeps me from buying one right now is my current backlog of 360 and GC games!

From the front page:
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Curious how that little game from Bethesda is selling? Does it seem like everyone on Xbox Live is playing it? You know the one I'm talking about - Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion! Well, according to this release Oblivion has sold over 1.7 million copies already! Check it out:

In North America, Oblivion has become the fastest selling game released on the Xbox 360. The NPD Group Inc reports Oblivion PC as the best selling PC game, while the Oblivion Collectors Edition is ranked number 2. NPD reports that Oblivion represented approximately 13% of all PC game sales in the first week of its release, more than four times the sales volume of the next best selling title. (The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind®, the highly-regarded predecessor to Oblivion, remains one of the top 25 best selling PC games nearly four years after its release, according to NPD). European results have been similarly strong with Oblivion quickly becoming ranked the number one selling title in the UK, Germany and France.
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I love hearing this kind of news, its beneficial for both the PC and the 360 to have this game turn out so well, and in turn sell so well. Congrats, Bethesda! But more imortantly, congrats to us gamers who got an excellent game!

Is it so hard to put some thought into the title of the thread?  :shock:

I liked the article because it completely trashes "fanboyism" and basically shows you how moronic and idiotic it is, seriously who really gives a fuck about which console maker "wins" the "war"? I admit, back when the Dreamcast was released I spent a lot of time in message boards representing the DC in the DC Vs. PS2 "war" that was going on. But then again, at that time I was 15-16, and I was in the library cutting class to hit the forums. Its definately an adolescent teen thing.

I also like many of the 'fixes' I can get now on the PC. Like adjustments for how fast my armor gets banged up, more wildlife, better looking water, blood that stays around longer, etc.

While that may be true, in reality the two games we are comparing are the two games you get out of the box. I think its safe to say a majority of those who buy Oblivion aren't playing it with the intention of playing it for more than a few months. let alone with the intention of tweaking the game. I personally won't play the game any longer once I beat the main quest and perhaps a few of the faction line quests. If I bought games with the intention of playing it for months or years because of new content, I'd probably just stick to MMO's.

Tomb Raider 360 here.

Sad but true, but I must admit that I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel of this addiction. Overall interest in all things gaming is quickly waning. I think the old mid-life crisis is on its way or something.

Wouldn't that mean you would want to splurge and become "that cool older guy" that owns the hard to afford, hard to find PS3?

I disagree with IGN's closing comment. I own both versions and I stick to the 360 one. Why? I have a well-equipped PC and the performance is horrible, the game plays like shit in any other instance besides indoor areas with minimal lighting, and I have to turn most of the effects low or off. So really, IGN's point about the PC version having the graphical advantage is a bad one I would say. Think about it: 100% of 360 owners can play the game with excellent performance and all effects on (and the loading times are BARELY longer than the PC version, I hardly notice a difference), and much less than 100% of PC version owners can play the game with excellent performance and all effects turned on. So who really wins the graphical battle here?

Also I think the 360 controls better than the PC version and the first thing I realized when switching from PC to 360 was that the game was tailored for the 360 controller (especially navigating the menus!). The only area in which the mouse/keyboard combo is better than the 360 controller is a few instances when your trying to aim spells, other than that its the 360 controller by quite a bit.

I just feel like the IGN guy blew things out of proportion without listing any of the downfalls of the PC version. Both have their strengths, but I personally found the 360 version to be the better one.

I don't subscribe so I just wanted to ask anyone who does: Which version won? Would you mind posting the closing comment?  

The sad part about this is the system is still going to sell out completely, it doesn't matter what price they release the console the first year, Sony will sell every single unit in record time, I can say this in confidence because I probably get about 5-10 questions per 8 hour shift at GameStop asking if we are taking pre-orders on the PS3.

The 360 is gonna face stiff competition against the PS3 the first year (although software sales on the 360 will probably be higher) but I think after that its going to level out a bit and be a close battle for the first-place position this generation.

I thought Dirge was going to be more real-time action oriented in terms of gameplay rather than FPS?

Almost every game Square has released outside of the RPG genre has been mediocre, so I'm not excited at this point.

The thing is the Revo will be totally reliant on those things to draw people to it. Those things you mentioned are gimmicks for the PS2.

This is the point I agree with. For most games where you have to use any peripheral besides the standard control pad, its just a gimmick and the majority of your gaming time isn't spent on that particular peripheral. If Nintendo is expecting us to spend most of our time using their new controller, they are taking a risky bet. If they are expecting 3rd party developers to embrace the idea and create games around this unique control model, they are downright stupid (in a business sense, I would like to clarify). Besides Nintendo's games, I can't see any software utilizing the controller, especially in this day and age where the smarter move is to release a game multi-platform rather than exclusively, because most surely any game made to utilize the Rev controller will have to be exclusive.

And yes, the personal attacks on people's physical fitness because they don't want to swing that controller on end is quite inane...

I remember seeing ads in the paper for people selling Nintendo 64's for $800 when there was a shortage, at least rip-off prices haven't gone up

From IGN:

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The word is out. Yesterday, Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe George Fornay let the PS3's European price slip. According to Fornay, the PS3 will cost between 499 and 599 euros. That translates to between $613 and $736 for us in the States.

Sony has been saying that the PS3 will be expensive for months now, and Fornay followed up his blunder by insisting that these price points are a quality deal for a Blu-ray player. Nevertheless, all previous attempts at selling videogame consoles at this price point have been rather dramatic failures, even when the systems incorporated 'new' multimedia features.

There may be some hope for lower price points in America. The European market generally gets screwed in consumer electronics, like the $299 iPod selling in Europe for 299…euros. That's a huge difference. Will we see the PS3 launch in the States at $499? Let's hope so, or else we'll be looking at the 360 to carry the industry for the next 5 years.

Sony has recently stated that Fornay was making completely personal statements and speculation, and that the announcement is in no way official. On the other hand, they said the very same thing after Sir Howard Stringer, President of Sony, let slip to Variety, of all places, that the PS3 would be delayed until this fall. It would seem that Sony executives need a refresher course in minding their tongues when speaking to the press.
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$500 would be pushing it BIG-TIME for me, seriously who the hell wants to pay half a grand for a console? There's no way I'd pay any more than that. Luckily for us in the States that its true electronics are overpriced in Europe, so hopefully the North American price point will be much lower. Still, things are looking pretty grim for those not hoping to have to pay more than they did for the 360. If Sony doesn't pull off a phenomenal list of games the first year I'll be waiting for the price drop before I buy the system (ah, who am I kidding I'll still buy one on launch day because I work at a game store and I won't be able to help myself  :cry: ).

This is my theory: Sony will release the PS3 at $499, of course we know they are only shipping 1 million units world-wide so the first shipment will sell out immediately (because we are, in fact, a nation that spends more than it earns!) and shortages will plague retailers for the following 4-6 months. The huge demand for the system will motivate those who normally wouldn't put down $500 for any video game console to buy the system so it will continue to sell out and the shortage will carry on until close to if not right into the next holiday season at which point Sony will announce a price reduction of $50 or perhaps release a stripped down system at $400.

That's just my theory  :roll:

It's on the main page, but I thought I'd go ahead and create a thread for us to speculate in. My question at this point is: What did Microsoft really buy? Lionhead has so far only put games out on the PC and Xbox, right? So was their motivation to keep Lionhead's games exclusive to their platforms even though traditionally they already have been? Fable 2 on 360 would be hot, I have to admit.

I just picked up Baten Kaitos for the GameCube because I had heard a lot of positive things about it, but I wanted to hear from some of you guys on how it is compared to other RPG's on the PS2 and such?

I'll probably just purchase it myself as long as its a good experience while it lasts, not to mention there should be some nice new costumes to download for Lara down the line  :wink: She looks sexy as hell in the screenshots.

[8.5 Presentation]

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Closing comment:

Though it's still tough to believe, Eidos' changing of the guard was the right one to make. Over the years Tomb Raider had become an regular indusry joke, and TR: Angel of Darkness was the epitome of Core's unfortunate demise. Tomb Raider: Legend, on the other hand, is an example of focused design, priorities, and good mechanics winning out over fancy cutscenes (Though Legend has its share of those too).

If you've been pining for a good adventure, Tomb Raider: Legend is waiting for you. The cliffhanger story is well put together. The action is simple and effective. The controls not only work, they're fun. And Crystal D has developed a bunch of great new locales filled with imaginative monsters, beasts, and bad guys to slaughter. Best of all, the sense of discovery and adventure is captured with a fresh sensibility.

8.5 Presentation
Slick James Bond-style iconography, clean interfaces and quick menus. Overall, an impressive presentation.

8.0 Graphics
Highly improved, sleek, and more believable character model; several beautiful levels, competent special effects, and great cutscenes.

8.0 Sound
The dynamic music is good. Not top 10 FM radio, but workable. The smartly edited and well-written dialog is skillfully delivered.

8.0 Gameplay
A well-rounded adventure game replete with working controls, smooth animations, competent combat, and great balance.

8.0 Lasting Appeal
A nine- to 12-hour single-player offline game, but you can replay any level as a time trial, and a bucketload of collectibles (gold, silver, bronze) will keep completists happy for several hours more.

8.2 Overall
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Sounds good to me!

I attempted to download the demo too but had no luck, all that was available were a few trailers. When's this supposed to be available?

Ooh sweet! Let the demo impressions roll in!

figured there would be things like this since when you go to the PC download site there is a link for putting in promo codes etc... curious to know if things like this will be done for the 360 version.

If they don't happen to have any I'd be willing to hook you up with my promo code, I don't play my PC version. Anyone else who is interested send me a PM as well and I'll grab a few more codes for tomorrow. I know for a fact the packet of coupons will never be fully distributed in the store.