What? I am just pointing out that it's not the dismal failure in Japan that some are hoping it is.

Who here said anything about hoping the 360 fails in Japan?  Everyone seems to just be munching popcorn and seeing what's unfolding over there.

Just how large is Japan?  I mean looking at maps it's about the size of one large US state, with a population that's even more packed than US cities.

It's a little bit smaller than California, with a population greater than California, Texas, New York State, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania combined.

If you count the robots.

Just because Texas votes Republican, it doesn't mean they don't have free will like the rest of us.

Just how large is Japan?  I mean looking at maps it's about the size of one large US state, with a population that's even more packed than US cities.

It's a little bit smaller than California, with a population greater than California, Texas, New York State, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania combined.

Btw, how is that game anyway? Looked at the link and it looks pretty impressive. Is it supposed to be a blend of RTS/FPS?

It's a great great game, one of my favorites.  It's a turn based strategy game, with the fight scenes played out in a real time mode.  During the fights, you try to get your mech in its optimum range (long/med/melee) and control your ground support troops who can toss in extra abilities to help you out.  The whole thing has a great gritty old WWII look and feel to it.  Good stuff.

It sold out at that event.  Elsewhere...

"Lukewarm Reaction to New Xbox in Japan"

But despite its early market entry, consumers in Tokyo appeared muted on Saturday in their enthusiasm in contrast to the excitement generated at the console's US debut on November 22.
...
Customer reactions "are a bit subdued", a senior store official said, adding that less than 50 consoles were sold in the first two hours of the launch.

"It's not going to be a big hit in Japan," said Kentaro Okamoto (26), one of the first Xbox 360 buyers. "I buy every new game console ... but normally Japanese customers only buy a machine when it's made by Sony or Nintendo."
...
Another buyer, Mayuko Taniguchi (28), said she knows she is in "a minority" of Japanese consumers who will buy the Microsoft console.

"I think many people would rather wait for PlayStation 3 or Revolution," she said.

Just unravel it and re-knit it with a few extra yards of material attached!

Seriously though, what's the deal over there, are they anti-Microsoft?  Or were there just no appealing games for them on the Xbox?

It's not just Microsoft, pretty much every non-Japanese company is shunned.  Besides McDonalds, KFC, and Coca Cola (although Coke seems to sell way more green tea than soda over there), the only American product I saw over there was the iPod.

I was also disturbed that they allow their child to play a FPS

At Best Buy the other day I saw a father let his toddler be babysat by Call of Duty 2 on a giant 50+ inch TV.

They really need to up the difficulty on the "Be a Parent" application tests.

Does he already have a GBA?  If not, that opens up a lot of options for a 2nd game.

(He means the Monster Arena FAQ here)

pm on the way

I sort of want that game, but $50 shipped for a random-ass import is just way too much.

That ebayer lists it for $33 sometimes, so with the cheapest shipping option it'd come to under $40.  Still a lot for a DS game, I know.  It's really too bad there isn't a cheaper way to import it.  Sure am glad I bit the bullet though!

Me thinks someone forgot to change some things after cut&pasting the legal form.

[..Ou...]

3) quirky / fun game

Ou....
..Ou...
OUENDAN!!!
(reliable ebay auctioner link)

Bottom screen shows your cheer squad and the places to tap & slide your stylus to the catchy music, top screen shows a hilarious scene unfolding in a well drawn manga comic book style.

This is the epitome of fun and quirky, look no further for #3 on your list!

This thread is going to be a good one

+1

Did you just +1 your own post?


I'd normally be 10 kinds of skeptical about the underpowered Revolution relying on its controller gimick.  However, I was probably 20 kinds of skeptical about the Nintendo DS, and I'm amazed at all the great gameplay that's come out for it.  If anyone can pull off that goofy controller, it's Nintendo.

I think the Revolution will do well as a second system for a lot of gamers.  Buy a 360 or a PS3 which will offer similar top end performance, and buy a cheaper (hopefully cheaper?) Revolution to offer games that you won't be able to find on the 360 and PS3.

You can already find the new gold version in Comp USA, not sure where else it's out.

(language and gore warning)

If you want to skip the CPU installation step, just buy one of the CPU/motherboard bundles from mwave, and they'll install and test the CPU for a whopping $9.

Can't wait to see how this turns out, looks like they're doing a lot of things right.

GamingTrend was ConsoleGold?  :wink:

Remember when Console Gold was a subforum of Gone Gold?

Was it?  I remember them being seperate entities, with Mr. Dragon trying to figure out how to advertise CG articles in GG's console forum without people yelling at him.

There's a difference between a game being opened for security reasons, and having employees take that game home and using it.  It's the customer's choice whether or not to buy an opened copy, as long as they're made aware that the game has been opened.

Likewise, it's the customer's choice whether or not to buy an employee-used copy, as long as they're made aware that the game has been taken home by one or more employees.

As long as you're telling the customers the truth, I have no problem with the practice.

Definitely Dawn of War.  Less micromanagement, more newbie friendly, great for single player skirmishes.

Wouldn't hurt to try the skirmish maps in the demo to see if it's your cup of tea, though.

If anyone's interested, someone at Penny Arcade won a contest and has the game early, and has made a little writeup of his character's first few days in the game.

Mustard's ketchingup in the poll!

Ooohhh... that was bad.  Sorry.

Seriously... ketchup?  Yuck?

Mustard must've mustard up some strength to ketchup like that!

I don't think your average customer has any idea that the employees are allowed to play the game before they sell it.  Do you tell your customers how  many times an open box copy has been taken home by an employee?  If not, then it is a practice deliberately hidden from the customer.

Do you see anything wrong with taking all the used games that don't have scratches, shrink wrapping them, and selling them as "new" for full price?  What's the difference?

Whenever you indulge in self-gratification...
A pre-adult member of the feline family reverts to a non-viable state, either via non-optimal karma or by invention by some sort of non-physical entity.

Please, consider the suffering of our feline siblings.

I know a few Nigerian bankers that have large sums of money locked up in accounts, and just need someone to help them recover it...risk free!

Why poop? They will pricematch!

[Spoiler]

Mustard is clearly superior to ketchup, hands down.

The real debate is Dijon/Spicy Mustard vs. Plain Yellow Mustard

Spoiler for Hiden:

(plain yellow French's wins)

Thanks for your e-mail about The Nintenedo Dual Screen in the 2005 Holiday Catalog. The ad is a misprint, as the price in the system should be $129.99. However, Target is honoring the ad price of $99.99 if you are able to bring in a copy of the catalog. If you have any trouble at the store, have them call us at (800) 440-0680 and we will be able to assist you then. Keep in mind the catalog price expires on December 12th, 2005.

Short version: $100 until Dec 12 if you bring in the catalog.

edit: curse you ericb! *shakes fist*

In multiplayer mode, can you have one person set at an easier difficulty than the other?

Doesn't SWAT 4 offer good coop?

I think Serious Sam will do the best at capturing that "good old days" feeling you seem to be searching for.

Are you sure it wasn't a repeat last week?  I don't watch the show, but from poking around I get the feeling the last episode involved coffee machines, and that looks like it was Episode 9.

Any chance you know the task or something else about the content of your missed episode, from the previews perhaps?

I think I will go after them tonight rather than working on getting the ship (the next story quest).  It sounds like fun to find them.

If you are where I think you are, you might have to progress just a wee bit more into the story before you can get to one of the three monsters on the list.

Here's my (dubious) award: Most Annoying Trend in Japanese Games: the ellipsis.  I get so tired of this:

Jim:  What do you think?
Jane: ...
Jim:   ...
Jane: ...

It's all over RPG's and I could almost get used to them there (not really) but lately I've found them in both Trace Memory and Phoenix Wright.

WTF?

That's what's so great about Dragon Quest VIII, you can hear what "..." and even "..................." sound like!

I have a DVD of The Muppet Movie.  Is this a new version?  Digitally remastered?

I was wondering this too, but according to this review, it's got slightly improved audio and picture quality.  He doesn't seem to think it's worth it if you already own the other DVD release.