Dang that was hard to find info on.

Department of Transportation info

It looks like you need to fill out this form signed by a physician.

I can't remember if there are seperate attributes for Leadership and Charisma, but I think there may be.  Do you (or anyone) know what a high charisma will help you with?  I am assuming it is pricing of items, but could it/does it also affect relations with other races and things like that?

Leadership lets you have more wingmen.  Charisma boosts the $$ you get from missions, as well as aiding relations with the factions.  The Trade stat will give you more money for selling equipment.

One last question... will I get "points" or something as the game goes on to put into attributes/skills?  Or are these earned automatically by what you do and how you do it?

You gain experience in the game, and if you look at your pilot stats it will show you how much XP is needed to boost each stat up one level.  Each higher level for a stat takes more XP than the last.

What's so special about Opera? Never heard of it.

Before Firefox came out, it was the best browser.  Tabbed browsing and all that jazz.  Some people prefer it to Firefox, but the current Opera interface isn't my favorite cup of tea.

Disgaea, La Pucelle, Phantom Brave, Makai Kingdom.

Stella Deus

Which of these are better?  I know a bit about Disgaea, but not the others.  Do they all look and play fairly similar?

I'd recommend Disgaea, simply because I greatly prefer a standard grid system.  Makai Kingdom is more refined I guess, but man, I just want to have a grid again.

So you're saying in order to combat opened games being sold as new, we should buy more used games?

I haven't been keeping up with dates, what's the current estimate for the PC release date?

I think my main problem is trying to keep straight which units are best against which,

Huh, I always liked how Advance Wars was pretty straightforward (IMO) with its unit types.  Tanks beat up non tanks, bigger tanks beat both of those up, ranged units work well at range but not up close, counter air units with anti-air weapons.  And with the DS, you don't even have to go to an info screen to see what a unit is good at attacking, its up on the top screen.

and trying to figure out exactly how the developers 'want' you to beat a mission.

I don't think the game is as puzzle like as you're interpreting it as.  In just about every mission you have a lot of flexibility on how to proceed.  You only really need to do it a "right way" if you care about your score, or maybe on some of the pre-deployed maps.

Teenybop characters also bug the everliving shit out of me.  When my CO says things like, 'Word.  You got served!', that's a pretty good indication that this game just isn't for me.  :(

Yeah, Jake's pretty annoying.  Luckily, all the other characters are great.  You can just avoid picking Jake for all your missions, and you'll only occasionally hear him squawk.

Black holes are also completely optional, in case he's scared you. :)

What about the power adapter?  Do you know if I can safely ignore the difference between 120V and 100V? Or will I always need to use an adapter when I get back to the States?

There's this official forum.

As far as classes, you choose from fighter/privateer/merchant/corsair/pirate at the beginning, but this just affects your starting ship, equipment, and racial relations.  Once you get playing, your actions will determine your title, like Ranger-Brigand, Hero, etc.

Awesome.  Graphite black, here I come!

So Advance Wars DS has finally broken my will and I've decided to buy a DS.  The thing is, in about a month I'm going to be visiting Japan for the first time and I was thinking about picking up one of the colors that isn't sold in America.

Is it true that Nintendo DSs are all region free, so I could play US titles on a Japanese DS without any problem?
Does "region free" include GBA titles? Would I be able to play my USA-purchased GBA (not DS) games on a Japanese DS?

I really want to like Advance Wars.  I've bought and tried both GBA games.  And I just can't get into RTS type of games at all.  Which is sad.

But I will most likely buy Dual Strike anyways.  Looks good!

If you didn't like the other Advance Wars, why do you think you'll like Dual Strike?  They're all pretty much the same exact game, just with small additions.

You don't have my option - wait for a year and see if they drop the price to compete with the PS3.

Same here, put another check in the "waiting for price drop" column.

a couple new units/powers,

What're the new units?

I think this is finally going to be the game that breaks my willpower to resist buying the DS.

Why are you buying an XBox 360, a game console designed around Hi Def, Online gaming and wireless technology, if you intend to use 10% of the functionality?  Why not just keep your XBox, or better yet a PS1?

You're kidding me, you think all the 360 games are going to offer no entertainment, and nothing you haven't seen on an Xbox or PS1 unless you have a HD television and play the games wirelessly online?  Do you hear what you're saying?

You people are fools for considering the $400 version, or even the $300 version.  What a waste of money.  Me?  I'm getting the $200 Ultra-Core version that lacks the detachable DVD drive.

[*]Xbox 360 console: non-DVD drive edition. Sexy styling that packs a punch — three powerful core processors are poised to pump out 720p/1080i output, 16×9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound
[*]Xbox 360 Controller. This wired controller features an extended nine-foot cable and a comfortable, enhanced ergonomic design.
[*]Xbox 360 Faceplate. Like no other console before, the Xbox 360 console allows customization and a removable Faceplate that comes in stylish “chill” (white), which can be swapped out with other custom Faceplates to reflect gamers’ personalities or decor.
[*]Xbox 360 RF Cable. This connects gamers to the world of Xbox 360, delivering great next-generation graphics and games using the same advanced connection that made the original NES such a success.
[*]Xbox Live Bronze membership. With this, gamers can be chatted to from friends online, receive voice and text messages.[/list]
The $200 pricepoint is very appealing to me as a consumer, and I figure if I ever decide I want to upgrade to the DVD drive, it's only $350 sold seperately.  Being able to own that sexy ergonomic controller and watch my friends talk to me online is a great experience for the money.  Besides, it's not like you get a better faceplate with the $400 Xbox 360.

I'm not trying to be harsh in any of my posts.  I just think that it sounds like, "I like liver better than broccoli, even though I have never had liver and don't know what it tastes like."

Except that we know liver is going to perform more or less in the same class as broccoli, and we know liver's history of Japanese developer support, and unique games like Ico and Katamari you wouldn't expect to see on broccoli.  The liver price point, as well as many other things, is still up in the air, so putting all your eggs in the liver basket may be a bit hasty.  But I think we know enough to at least lean towards one or the other.

After digesting this a bit, I think the whole thing isn't as shocking as it first seemed.  The biggest issue is that developers won't take full advantage of the HDD, since not all players will have one.  But since all the developers knew this up front, its not like its changing anything.  Oblivion and friends aren't going to be any different after this press release.

So we've got the 360 priced at $400, which isn't all that shocking a price point.  They're gouging us on peripherals, but really, that's not a shock either.

Then we've got the 'Core' system for $340. (Until cheaper 3rd party memory cards come out.)  This system is for suckers, basically.  Maybe there'll be some casual gamers who can save a little cash with this option, but mostly this system is for suckers who'll end up being gouged for the HDD in the future.

For non-casual gamers, the real news is that the 360 is $400 and that the HDD was never intended to be an indispensable tool for 360 games. The HDD is for speeding up load times, downloadable content, custom soundtracks, etc.

MS VP Peter Moore says they "absolutely project that the Xbox 360 will outsell the Core System in the early going.  He goes on to say that "we really think the consumer will recognize the value [of the $400 version] and step up."

Recognize the value and step up you fools.  Either that or wait and see how the PS3 and Revolution get priced.

Everyone's homework this weekend is to go to your local game store (one where they won't recognize you) and pose as a gaming illiterate consumer who's interested in buying "that new Xbox" for Timmy this Christmas.  I'm really curious which way the stores are going to steer people.

Does anyone know, if component cables are included in either package?

It comes with the $400 version, not the $300.  Supposedly the MS brand component cables will sell for $40 seperately.

[At Christmass,]

Parents don't understand gaming.  At Christmass, with a ton of other expensive stuff to buy, food to buy, etc. they will pick the cheapest way.

So you're saying that Microsoft is responsible for putting the "ass" into Christmass this year?  You speak the truth.

The $299 unit is essentially $340 since you'll have to buy the $40 memory card.  Ridiculous.

Am I crazy for thinking an optional hard drive is the stupidest thing ever?  I read this as "Most games won't take full advantage of the hard drive, since most owners won't have one."

$300 with a HDD on every system would've been a day 1 purchase for me.  Now I think I'll take more of a wait and see approach.  Guess I'm getting the PC version of Oblivion.

On a more serious note though - there are very few games actually worth putting time to on the PSP. I should know - I got mine near the US launch, and all I own is Wipeout and Lumines. That's it.

Everything else...just isn't that good.

If you told me several months ago that by August I'd be thinking of selling my PSP and buying a DS, I'd have called you loony, but that's just what I'm thinking.

I'd like to take this opportunity to announce my Atari Rebirth project.  You haven't played Dead or Alive until you've played it with a really hard to move joystick with one button.  Sixteen on-screen colors brought to you in crystal sharp 192p high def.  Just wait till you see just how much 1.19 MHz of pure power can bring to the table.

Yeah, kind of confusing.  Gogamer's Space Rangers is Space Rangers 2, which includes 1.

Those city scenes of Zelda are pretty amazing, the delay announcement is that much more painful. :(

Zelda development team has requested extra time to add new levels, more depth...

More content = good...but dang, that's a long wait.  

What else is there coming out for the Cube this year to get excited about?  Battalion Wars, Fire Emblem?  Anything else?

Which button moves the thread away from disturbing, and back towards hot girls and funny?

Wish they made it as complex as the first, but still very fun. :)

Ninja Garden: Black is supposed to ease up on the difficulty for us pansies, right?



I think that's a tomato plant in the bottom right corner?

I've never heard of a nav system with a monthly fee.  You usually have to pay to update your maps if you want to down the line, but no hidden fees other than that.  Mi military positioning satellites es su military positioning satellites.

Thank goodness this is for GBA instead of DS, I'm trying to hold out for a price drop on the DS but between Meteos, Advance Wars DS, and that weird surgery game, my willpower to hold out on the DS is fading fast.

How did you get someone to accumulate the necessary mana without levelling up too fast?

My copy just arrived, so this isn't first hand, but I remember hearing someone recommend hitting one of your characters with a hammer to lower their level while keeping their mana.  Something like that?

The reviews say "its great! Its more of the same!" and then give the game a bad score. Its kind of crazy.

Add one more to the list.  Gamespy says:

Yes, Makai Kingdom is an engaging, deep game. It's also the most thematically appealing and robust game to come from the developer since Disgaea (contending with Phantom Brave and La Pucelle Tactics.) The off-the-wall humor is wickedly pointed and the characters are simply hilarious; the gameplay is deep and engrossing but clunky and far too close to what the developer's been doing for the past several years, just more so.  If you've an inexhaustible appetite for their recipe, this game will give you hours upon hours of glee; but don't look for innovation or passion here -- it's another exercise along the usual line, highly analytical and aimed at the thoroughly anal retentive.

Every player review I've seen says this is the best Nippon Ichi yet.  The professional reviewers have lost their minds, I can't wait for my Makai to arrive.

My question though is why? The upgrade does work, and it works great. It's both in Japanese and English, so that's not the issue. What changes could Sony have planned for the English version of 2.00?

I'm going to throw out a guess that they want more anti-emulator stuff in the English version.

All I know is this - will I pay more than $299 for a gaming console at launch?

Hell no. Not anymore.

Same here.  More than $300 and I'm happy to wait for a pricedrop.  I think it would take a Zelda magnitude launch title for me to stretch to $350.