Got mine yesterday and played a bit last night.  The graphics can be a mixed bag, but overall I am impressed with them.  The suprising thing about them is that I get pop-in with rocks, which I didn't expect.  The LoD out in the distance I can understand, but the pop-in of rocks and even structures kind of threw me for a loop since I expected better.  That may sound like I am harping ont he graphics, but I am really not.  Overall, I love them and the world looks beautiful to me.  Can't wait to explore more.

I made a Ranger-type character and went with Agility and Willpower as my major attributes.  I then picked Marksman, Restoration, Athletics, Blade, Alchemy, Stealth, and Light Armor.

When I left the sewers I kinf of headed past the Imperial city right to the delivery of the item I was given in the sewers.  I did kind of play aroud a bit outside.  Found a shrine which summoned daedric bracers and dagger.  Also found another shrine which told me I needed more fame or something to be considered worthy.  Went through a tiny townand got a quest to get 12 scales from slaughter fish (is this WoW? ), but I think I will wait on that one to get some kind of underwater breating help.

Oh, I picked Kajiit which rules because I get a 0-mana spell to see int he dark.  So, I don't need torches.  I was surprised how dark the game can get.  I bumped up the brightness two nothces, which still makes me fairly blind in caves and such without the night eye or torch, but helped a little bit indoors and at sun down.

I found a cave with some bandits and explored that.  OOne cool thing in there is there was a pit with boards going over it.  I crossed the boards a couple of times and on my third trip over them, they snapped and I fell in.  I didn't expect that, so it was cool.

I travelled further and found some abandoned fort, which was apparently a dungeon of sorts, but I wanted to get to the town for my delivery, so I went back out.  I found a highwayman who demanded gold form me to pass, but I arrowed him good.

That reminds me, I sure can run fast backwards.  Maybe that is because of picking Athletics as a major skill, but I was able to keep meleers out of range.

I finally made it to my destination and talked a bit with the guy there.  He has a bunch of books on a shelf, so I quit there so that I can do some reading tonight.

I did make one mistake in not going to the Imperial city in that I am at full encumbrance and really need to sell some stuff I have.

With Morrowind, I played a thief character and pretty much stole everything.  In this game, I will not steal anything, since my character is on the up and up.  Will be a totallydifferent way to play and I like that.  It is nice that the game lets you know if you wouldbe stealing something or not by having the icons be red when you hover over things.

Anyone get their call from Gamestop yet?  I'm hoping to pick this up today.

I got mine last night.  Then, later, I got my call for Oblivion.  Today is going to be a great day.

With all the love I have been giving my PSP lately, I am sorely reminded of the low battery life of the device.  Did Sony release a newer battery that you could buy with longer battery life?  If so, can you provide a link to it so I know I get the right one?

I guess "Midwest" doesn't include MN.  I didn't get any calls from Aris yesterday, so I guess Tuesday is when I will get mine.

Oblivion, Metroid, and Tetris, definitely.  I still can't tell if Metal Gear Acid 2 is coming out this week or next.  I have my eye on Katamari and Splinter Cell as well.  March has been insane for game releases (I think it was worse than Christmas).  Luckily April cools down some so maybe I will pick up a couple of the releases in the next couple of weeks that I might skip at that time.

add me add me!

You are added.

My town is open for a majority of the day today.  So, stop on by.

No, I don't know.  But since Devil has the PSP version, I bet he could tell you if he wanders back in this thread.

Well, I could just test it myself, I suppose.  I was at work when I asked and was just wondering if you knew off-hand.

[more]

If you are playing on veteran level, there are not 9 zones of batting.  It is simplified to 4 zones.  Up - Down - Right - Left.

I know this will sound confusing, but:
It can get kind of tricky if a ball is thrown high and right and you guess high, whether or not the computer will "give" you the location.  If it is more High than it is Right, you will most likely get the crosshairs, if it is more Right than High, you may not get it.  
The unconfusing way to say it is, if you guess high, and the computer throws high, you will get the crosshairs.  If it is high but super right, the right outweighs the high, and you won't get the crosshairs.

It's not a perfect system, but that is because it is taking the 9 zones and making them into 4.  Still, I find it works just fine.

Thanks.  This answers my question just fine.  This explains why it gives me the lock on some things when I thought it didn't quite match what I picked.  Do you know if you can use the D-Pad for this since it would be better to be precise for just 4 zones?

(Oh, and a fifteen year old puzzle game is a big release?)

It is when it has 10 player multi player and online multiplayer, not to mention many new game modes.  I loved the original Tetris and this seems to improve on it greatly.

I got pretty bored.  I could see how things would get challenging with the jelly fish added and such, but playing through the demo really did nothing to make me want the game.  I am passing on it.

I didn't know it came with a Rumble Pack!
Although... that's not really neccesary.

I don't think it comes with it...it just uses it.  Metroid Prime Pinball was the one that came with it and you can now by the rumble pack alone for $10.

I played the game a bit last night and I really like it.  Game looks great graphically and the two sites I have gone to were very nicely done.  I played around with the vehicle/bug spray level, but was very tired and so didn't complete it and time.  I also have Syphon Filter, but didn't play it yet.  I also need to go get Mega Man Powered Up.

No.  It is hard to explain, I think.  I will play with it some more and try to figure it out.  I think on the higher difficulty levels is when they start using 9 actual zones.

Thanks for the reply.  One more thing.  Does Veteran level use all 9 zones?  It seems like it might use less, but I can never get any consistency going when I choose to figure it out.  For instance, I picked SW with my stick and it lit up the target on the W portion of the box.  Well, I didn't pick W, so I am guessing there are less zones?  Maybe 4?

Also, you know how when you pitch, if you go to the extreme with the analog stick, you will pitch well outside the strike zone?  Does this apply with predicting pitches?  You can't see the cursor when pitch guessing, so I am hoping not.

...and the pitfalls everywhere  :wink:

Guilt as charged.  My Lost and Found had 10 of them, so I grabbed a bunch on the way out of town and decided ot plague you with them.  Which townie did you get?

Poomba, not sure if you noticed, but I visited your town yesterday.  You should have a couple of mails, a post on your board, and a new outfit in your tailor shop.

I simmed a season last night and got accurate stats, for the most part.

DJ - To guess location you just need to hold the right shoulder and move the stick to a zone. You have a one in nine chance of being right. I never guess pitch type. Location, location, location!

Right, but then the manual seems to say you can use the analog stick while the pitch is in the air to swing you bat in a certain direction.  Also, I still want to know how the triangle+direction thing works for trying to hit in a certain direction.

I played a demo of it and really enjoyed it.  They have a lock on featre with the targetting so it does't suffer too much from nothaving two analog sticks.  I pre-ordered it, so I will be getting it this week along with Daxter and Mega Man Powered Up.  Three good games in one week.

Recently, I've picked up Mega Man Maverick Hunter, Exit, and DJ Portable Max (import).  Oh, and MLB 06 The Show.  That will be 7 games for the PSP I have bought recently after not touching the thing for months and months.

Played a few more games last night.  My record in Spring Training is now 2-2.  I got hammered by the Yankees in my last game.  SOme other cool things I have seen in games:

1) Passed third strike thatallowed me to get on base.

2) Dropped fly ball by the opposing center fielder.

3) My runner picked off first trying to lead.

I still suck at batting, though I have managed to get some runs and win a couple games.  I keep trying totoy around with the guess a pitch thing and am rarely right.  I also am not sure if pointing the analog stick in a direction when I hit does anything or not.  The manual is pretty crappy and doesn't explain hitting as well as I would like.  Also, there seem to be contradictions in controls in the manual.  For instance, the manual says to hit triangle and up to hit a ball in the air but they say to press it while hitting.  Then the controls seem to hint that you need to do it before the pticher throws the pitch.

I'd already heard all the main songs, so none were a surprise or anything.  However, playing some of them in guitar hero has given me a new appreciation for the giutar work in them.  For instance, The Queens of the Stone Age song, doesn't sound very elaborate because the accents in the song make it just sound very simple.  However, when I played it in GH, I got to realize there is a lot going on between those downbeats at times int eh song.

I guess I can kiss my hopes of National Console Support being able to get me a blue DS Lite any time soon.  

Big suppliers (like NCSX and Liksang) tend to be pretty good about getting goodies from Japan. I'd just give it a week or so, and odds are they'll have one.

I hope you've preordered though. They're really popular right now.

Yeah, I did preorder, but I have heard nothing in regards to them since I placed that order.  The good news is that they haven't charged my card, but that is also bad news in that they aren't going to ship me anything.  I wrote them this morning asking for status but haven't heard anything yet.

I guess I can kiss my hopes of National Console Support being able to get me a blue DS Lite any time soon.  

I picked this one up today from Best Buy since I had a coupon for it and actually lucked out due to an error of mine which resulted in me getting an extra $5 off of it, so I got it for $30.  Anyway, I jut played my first spring training game with the Twins and all I can say is "wow."  The game was very good, though I lost mostly due to me trying to get the controls down.  It has been a while since I have played a baseball game, so I need some time to get used to hitting timing and also reacting in the field.  I lost 2-0 to the Devil Rays due to me goofing up on the controls and giving up an inside the park homerun and then I just gave up a plain old home run.  I had plenty of chances to score, but blew it with my base running.  This will all improve in time.

The most important part, though, is that the game plays a nice game of baseball.  I managed to get 9 KOs with Santana, which is nice to see that you can do in a video game baseball game (in other words, all my outs weren't out in the field).

The game allows you to not only guess location of the pitch, but guess the pitch type itself and I guess you get power bonuses if you guess correctly.  I didn't mess with this aspect too much since I was just trying to concentrate on making contact.  The opposing pitcher actually hit me with a pitch and I had a ball pass which allowed a runner to advance a base.  I also saw an error in the field by the opposing team, so it looks like there is a nice variety of real life things which happen in the game.

The game controls really well (most of my mistakes were due to me just forgetting which button does what).  The graphics are nice and the play by play is really done well.  The loading screen for a game is a little lengthy, but once you lod into a game, that is the end of loading until you finish the game.

With the online mode, you can connect and they promise roster updates weekly.  Also, you can download news about whatever teams you care about and view the news offline as well as get today's scores.  I didn't play an online game yet, so I can't comment on that.

Overall, I am very impressed with this game.  It played a very nice game of baseball and the fact that it was on a handheld just amazes me.  I will of course have to play more games to truly judge, but I am very positive about what I saw so far.  I even saw the AI do some pinch hitting and pull the starting pitcher (although the pitcher had me in a shutout, so I am not sure I would have pulled him until he got into trouble, which he had done plenty earlier in the game, though I was not able to make him pay).

If you like baseball and want it in a handheld, I think this is probably the nicest handheld sports game I have ever played.

Oh,one negative to mention is using the nub for pitch placement.  I know I have only played one full game, but I found sometimes that getting my pitch location where I wanted it using the nub was kind of a pain in the ass.

I played quite a few games last night without getting booted.  ANd then I got kicked well into a coop mission for no reason.  I really don't think it has anything to do with routers or anything like that.

Alas my girlfriend does not have the internet so I have to leave my 360 at home.  But the sex makes up for it.

Nah, she's not that good even though she does things for me she says she won't for you.

Who's still actively playing this? I just picked up a DS and will be grabbing AC:WW tonight and would like to get in on some of the online action...We're wireless at work, so on Monday I am going to try and get connected during the workday, 9-5 EST and would leave my gates open during those hours.

So can I get some replies from people still actively playing and then I can add you to my friends list? Additionally, I'll be sure to post my information once I get the game.

I play every day, but I stopped trying to connect with people online because nobody ever has their town open.  I will look in the Friend Code thread and add you.

Another official review is in, and LE is not going to be happy....

The Sweedish gaming magazine Game Reactor reviewed it in their new issue. It's a two page review and here is their conclusion:

"Incredibly big and incredibly good, the best Rpg ever"..

10/10

This is going to be a rough month for LE, I think. Keep him in your thoughts.

In his mind, anyone giving the game a good score is an Elder Scrolls fanboy, so with this kind of justification, his ego won't be hurt at all.

Tried to play again tonight with people on my Friends List and got dropped.  I never have any problems playing online with others in other games and it seems to be just this one.  Pisses me off because I have been really looking forward to this game for the multi.

Bah, we had quite a few people playing last night who had literally just opened the game and put it in the system when we Ninja invited them.

This man speaks the truth.  I had just inserted the game for the first time and was about to go to single player when he sniped me with an invite I could not refuse.  Of course, I started getting booted, so I ended up making it to single player for a bit before giving the multiplayer another shot after a later invite.  Was able to stay connected that time.

I couldnt get my hands on a copy yesterday... I was told everywhere I had to pre-order...

Thugs, I am tired of pre-ordering EVERYTHING..

How long before I preorder UNDERWEAR.....

BAD, BAD, TREND

While this sucks for you, most places only require $5 down.  I usually pre-order a week ahead of time and I always get a copy of the game.  If you  know you are going to get the game, just plop your $5 down and you don't have to worry about driving all around town trying to find a copy.  Seems worth it to cut down on the hassle.

So are there "bots" of some sorts in the MP? Anyone know?

Yeah I read that there were.

I could have sworn that I read that there are no online multiplayer bots.  Like you have them for local multiplayer, but not for online multi.

Is anyone finding the load times when trying to replay a level gruelling?  I don't remember the Xbox version taking that long to reload.

SOmeone mentioned in a review I read that the load times are indeed longer than on the XBox version.

I'm in.

The Singing Maggots

has anyone heard that it's going to be glitchy?

It's a Bethesda Elder Scrolls game...of course it will be glitchy.  Won't stop me from playing and loving it, though.

lol
Has that been photoshoped or can you actually do stuff like that?  Seems a little openended.

You can definnitely do it.  He just drew up the schwastikas and dropped them in his house.  I have seen the wallpaper he uses and that piece of furniture as well.  I also own the little Hitler moustache he is using, so I know it is in there.

I knew many girls in my life named Shawn.  Knew many boys named Sean.  Don't think this is a gay marriage....not that there's anything wrong with that.

It's all good, Devil.  I have actually been playing my PSP again after months of doing nothing on it.  I now have Mega Man Maverick Hunters, Exit, and DJ Portable Max (import) and I also got a 2G memory stick and so I watch movies while I work out at the gym.  So now I can say I almost love the DS and PSP equally.

I'd love to have one of these over the current one!!

Takes up less space.

Sign me up, Shifty!
 

Now, wait!  Don't you hate the DS games?  I could have sworn I'd read that you just don't like any DS you ever play.  Why would a sleeker system change that?  You silly Devil!