there's a doctor we've found who can cure the boy

I own FFVII on the PC but I haven't played it in over a year - the problem, you see, is that to play it in the lovely 3D hardware rendered mode it was intended would require me to downgrade my PC, the game is not compatible with many 3D cards made since 1998 and due to an unfortunate software fault it crashes before the game actually starts. Eidos are aware of this problem but stopped supporting the game almost immedietely after release.

I can only assume it is the ceasing of a contract with Square that prevents them re-releasing the game as a budget title, possibly brought on by the fact that it is soon to be resurrected with enchanced visually and whatnot for the PS2. Despite selling insanely for the Playstation, it still managed to shift equally large ammounts for the PC and i'm sure it would do again at the low, low price of £9.99. I haven't seen FFVIII as a budget title either so this is probably the case.

I fear it might be because of the hardware compatibility problem, that I have personally, also and since the game was not a very sophisticated port - it practically emulates the original Playstation code with improved graphics a la Bleemcast style, I think the problem isn't a financially viable one to fix. Shame really.

Hubba Bubba

Well, if we're on the subject of top games, take a peak:
- Jet Set Radio
- Thief
- NiGHTS
- International Superstar Soccer Deluxe
- Kid Chameleon
- Chrono Trigger
- Toe Jam & Earl
- Half-Life
- Soul Calibur
- The Lost Vikings (?)

Well, that's probably a lie, because my favourite games always change. That's why Kid Chameleon is there. And The Lost Vikings. I'd like to take this moment to say 'Eidos, you deserve to be failing' because they could just re-release FFVII on the PC as nowhere actually stocks it. Certainly ill behaviour.

Now faster than rocks and marmalade

Id have to agree with you there Solid.
The gameplay is pretty good though but it doesnt last long enough.
Final Fantasy 7 is definetly a top 5 game of all time , game.
Goldeneye is another good example. My little sister doesnt like multiplayer (cos Im too good :P ) so I mostly play SP , but the point is , I stll play it every now and then.

Too many games these days are over before youve had a bathroom break :)
And originality is another thing that is sorley missing from most of todays games.

I blame Sony. Sony are responsible for the "casual gamer" whos list of things a game needs goes as follows

1. Good graphics
2. big name sponser or something
3. sound
4. wheter my mates think its cool.
140. gameplay


One lesson everyone needs to learn "Grapics maketh not a game"

"Similarly, I've spent most of the past few years trying to explain how MGS is not 'the best game ever' or even worthy of being in the top 10 of any 'best games ever' style list other than someone's personal one."
Hmmm....good I haven't invited Shadowolfe to my blog....
...yet....

Although I agree with you that not any game can be in the top 10 games of all time. Personally, many factors have to come into play. To be in the top ten....the game had to have immense impact on gamers and the gaming industry. A lot of classics would be on that list....not too many "new" ones.....originality is the big key you see. Games (as a whole) are becoming less and less original and creative. That's why SEGA stands out from the rest generally speaking. At least they try to put an effort out to be original.
On another note....what's your take on GTA3 Solid?

beans means heinz

In my opinion, truely classic games, and we're talking the top 10 of hundreds of thousands here, should be judged primarily on gameplay. Amazing gameplay can only be attributable to games with long lasting almost-eternal appeal, such as Super Mario Kart and Goldeneye, or offering an extensive and immersive player experience, Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII, etc.

MGS is great while it lasts and you'd be hard pressed to find a more movie-like game, but I honestly don't believe it is good enough to be ranked one of the top 10 games ever made. This is not to say that MGS cannot be in the top 20, I just don't believe it is deserving of getting in the top 3 as it so often does in reader surveys and so-called expert charts.

MGS2 not the best thing ever ???

Solid would you mind explaining how MGS doesnt deserve to be in a top 10 games list ?
I can only see two faults with it , one its a bit short and two the stealh sections dissapear towards the end.

What happened to Weird Al Yankovitch?

No, MGS2 is barely the best thing ever. It isn't diverse enough. Or just read the information on the link solid_ichelma produced below. Yes, the graphics are nice, but so are Shenmue's. Although that's good. Anyway, it just doesn't offer enough. Like BishI Bashi Special. Or Jet Set Radio. Yes, down with the casual gamer and the die-hard. Just gamers who buy games because...er...some magazine got paid to say some game is good (South Park, Official Nintendo Mag)? Or a game that half the magazines hated and half of them loved (Shadowman)? Heavens, just pick the game you want with a stick. Or make your own.

seaquest dsv

Not to my 'claimed' vast infinite knowledge...

Nice to see UK:Resistance fighting the good fight again and generally talking semi-sense about MGS2. Far too many magazines and every single 'fan' gaming site (all 2.5 million of them) have waxed endlessly for the past 2 years about how absolutely bloody fantastic the game is, based only on the demo and before this just movie footage, screenshots, and in the 'fan' sites case, what they read in the magazines. Hype is the death of many a game, and it could be said MGS2 has been the focus of all PS2 hype since the machine was revealed...sadly, if you believe uk:r and a few people who have actually played the final version it isn't the answer to life, the universe and everything that some would have you so easily believe.

Similarly, I've spent most of the past few years trying to explain how MGS is not 'the best game ever' or even worthy of being in the top 10 of any 'best games ever' style list other than someone's personal one. Don't get me wrong, I like the game. Heck, I got the damn thing on import and completed it months before most of my friends even knew what the game was, but it is not the Holy Grail of gaming that far too many people make it out to be.

No worries though. MGS2, as I've said before, will sell insanely well just because of the reputation and hype. I bet at least 75% of those who buy it don't even like that style of game, or will like MGS2, but forcefully believe it's great because everyone else thinks so. This, of course, will be while they're completing the game via the complete walkthrough they bought 2 minutes after the game.

Down with the casual gamer. Down with the die-hard. Live only the gamer.

That's Justin Credible!

Just to recap, has an Æon Flux game actually been made? It would be the best thing ever, because there is no single plot ever followed for more than one episode and the heroine is very creepy, but has sexual appeal for 'the gormless'. I'm thinking of some sort of Tomb Raider affair but 1000% better. A fine idea some fine company could take on, like Sega.

ripppppppplllleeeeeeeeeeeey

Is it just me or is that American woman, of Bits and Thumb Bandits fame, the most annoying woman on Earth?

Strange how the BBC canned their show 'Bleeding Thumbs' and C4 suddenly appear with a show using a similar format.

2nd Person

Well, it looks like Thumb Bandits has been moved in the time schedule. Oh well. It was never gonna stay in the same place.

We get mostly American channels on our cable...and we watch EP on an American channel. I didn't realise it was Canadian made show.

Don't you find that the reviewers on these shows are rather biased? For example, I think it's EP where the one guy only likes ultra violent games and judges the game to be good solely on violence level. Whereas the other guy (bigger one) is more balanced. I think they are also influenced by which party is giving the most funds to the show.

1ST -3RD person ???

How awsome is Duke Nukem 3d ? Despite being about 5 years old and using sprites , it was superb. Then Acclaim (I think) went and turned it into a 3rd person "action" game and now it officaly sucks.


I hope PDZ stays in 1st person becuase very few people can succsefully turn a 1st person game into a 3rd person one.

I cant even think of any good examples.

joanna to out-snake snake?

Several 'so-called' gaming news sites have been spreading 'exclusive' rumours that the upcoming Gamecube title 'Perfect Dark Zero' will adopt a third-person perspective rather than the first-person of the original that everyone was expecting. I think we can conclude that Rare are indeed on a mission to create a Metal Gear Solid beater if they are really following the 3rd person path and considering their track record I wouldn't be surprised if they manage to pull it off in gameplay terms. Sadly, due to the insane popularity of MGS I don't think PDZ would be able to match it in terms of sales, or come close, even if it is a better game.

If it is true, it's quite an interesting change considering the new Metroid game, under the advice of Nintendo, was decided to move from 3rd to 1st perspective, the complete opposite...

Home! Home home home home

MGS2 is quite remarkable fun. But I can't help feel how much it doesn't improve on MGS. Yes, it has the most amazing graphics (on the PS2 for now) and what can be done is far more in-depth than the last games, but I can't help feel some same-y type feelings. Attention to detail indeed, but quite unoriginal in spite of old Metal Gear games. I'll stick with Pro Evolution Soccer, thank you Konami. I should get a PS2 first...

Yep...my brother and I watch "Electric Playground" but it is not on the Discovery channel up here. There's another show my brother watches...but I just can't remember what it is called. I'll ask him and tell you. I'm sure this other is also American.

I've been trying to get my brother onto the forum...but he keeps forgetting to do it. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a computer with internet...so he has to set himself up at school.

Jason should be coming over with his PS2 and GTA 3 on Dec. 29. He was asking me what other games should we get for that day? Since I'm not much of a PS2 player (yet), did anyone have any suggestions. Keep in mind, that it should be a game that is multiplayer or doesn't take too long to play a round (i.e. Crazy Taxi), something upbeat and not too serioud but fun.

Certain
Yes, welcome Rob

I saw that 'Thumb Bandits'. Well, if it's not another occurence of 'Bits' I'll be stoned - unsuitable language, unsuitable time and features some annoying trendy. The best/only/worst Video games show on Terrestrial TV. Bring back Gamesmaster! I will fondly remember the 'Parappa the Rappa' challenge done with a huge joypad. Funnee.

Hey Rob

The name makes more sense now becuase we arent really talking about the Ultimate Game anymore.


GTA3 looks excellent. I was a bit worried that GTA wouldnt work in 3D but theyve done a great job.
Which reminds me , Channel 4 (UK peeps) have got a new gaming show on called Thumb Bandits presented by Aleks (who was on Bits) and Ian something or other who was on the 11 O'clock show.

Friday nights around 11.30pm

The only other gaming show I know of is Game-Pad on Bravo. Various times during the week.

Anyone think they should bring Gamesmaster back ? :P

Name change I see...welcome Rob, hope you have fun here

I have a friend , Jason, who just can't get enough of GTA 3! He's planning to come over with it, so that my brother and I can try it out. But until then...I can't say anything about it. It does look good though.

Now....everybody let's give our newest team member, Rob, a warm welcome!

[Group hug]

I give thanks for the invite, Angel. Now, onto games.

Isn't GTA3 great? So much activity, so much to do, so much going on. It would be an even better game if it were combined with Shenmue (somehow)! That would really reek of goodness. Or even another London version of it; this time parodising such hits as 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', or other recent films set in London. Excluding 'Honest', which featured 'All Saints' (crappy pop group - shudder).

You may refer to me as monkey1st / Head Thirst / Adam / Adam-O / Massive_Man / whatever you want to call me. Lacking sarcasm, naturally.

Welcome Adam....er....monkey...er....you know! I was meaning to invite you ages ago, but I got too busy in August and Sept. But finally you are invited! If you have any fresh, new ideas feel free to post them here. Again, welcome! Group hug everybody?

Starwing/fox was scary

As a brand new member (replacing LM, mind), I'd like to say [putting on an Irish accent] "Hello Everybody!" and continue to think of games of oddities related to the SWW forum idea. Ciao for now.

Of course...some realism and consistency wouldn't hurt. I personally don't like it when the plots and action are too cheap and/or corny. That's why James Bond movies don't work with me at all. I guess it depends whether the director was aiming for a comedy or whether crap is spewed out just for comic relief or light-heartedness.

If a game is meant to be funny or silly all the way through...that kind of cheap plot stuff is alright because it suits the circumstances of the story. But if the story and its plot is suppose to be serious...a game developer really should consider the consistency and reasonableness of the plot and the action that moves it. That doesn't mean I think comic relief is bad for a game's story...but if the story is mature, any comic relief should be of good taste and of the highest quality...not silly crap that makes no sense.

Congrats! Dark and PopDog that was a good topic to bring up.

Did you forget to pack them?

I think all Dreamcast games have stuff like that.
Except maybe sports games which dont have much of a plot :)


If all enemies were good shots then films would probably be a lot shorter becuase the "hero" got his head blown off by the first badguy :P

Its more fun that way plus it makes you seem even more cool.

Like Max Payne , if that was realistic then there wouldnt be any cool slow motion diving and it would become pretty dull.

...and we had three lives and none of this continue rubbish
Hmmm I was wondering about movies and their plots then games and their plots then coffee then back to games.
Anyway if you look back to the last game/movie you played/saw. Now ask yourself; did the plot make sence? Most Hollywood blockbusters are full of the same inconsistancies. Why are all the baddies such bad shots? How can the hero fall through the glass without hurting himself?

Goldeneye the film and the game are hilarious when you consider the plot my favourite is in the train where Bond and Natalya are held captive and Janus says "Good luck with the floor James" what would have happend if James didn't actually knopw what to do? And Janus has just given away the exit.

The same works with most Dreamcast games too, Resident Evil, Sonic, Jet Set Radio, Shenmue, Confidentail Mission, SOA and Grandia 2 just to name a few. But arn't they more fun this way?

These two little scenes are scripted just for Solid, it's from Lylat Wars on the N64

Scene 1

Fox: "Okay, Slippy, listen. You're a bit over-confident at the best of times, and..."

Slippy: Look, a planet-sized robot! I'm going in! Arrgghh! Iv'e been punched by the robots giant hands! My ships broken! I'm going to crash! Heeeeeelp!

Fox: Shall we rescue Slippy, Falco?

Falco: Slippy? Who's Slippy?

Fox: Good lad. Let's go home.

The crack team Starfox has simpering Slippy who seems to mess up the missions at every turn. What possssed Fox to let the clumsy toad join?

Scene 2

Five giant missiles head towards the Great Fox (mothership/HQ)

Fox: Raise the shields, ROB!

ROB the robot: Fox, the great fox hasn't got any shields.

Fox: Right. Fire anti-missile flares!

ROB the robot: I really wish I could, Fox, but we dont have any.

Fox: Well then, engage lasers and shoot those missiles!

ROB the robot: Lasers? I'm looking...I'm looking...I can't see any lasers. Dis you forget to pack them?

A huge galactic spaceship and it doesn't have 1 defensive weapon. BTW the next level (Area 6) ROB actually uses the lasers to help Fox

As I posted many times at SWW...the best controller for me is the Original DC controller. I've tried two other DC controllers, as well as N64, PSX, PS2, Saturn, Super Nintendo. And the DC original controller still comes out on top for me. But then I have petite hands. My brother's favourite controller is the Mad Catz for DC.

Stab them with the corners !!

Lol

NES pads are v, dangerous.

I like the PSX pad , although the dual thing is a bit wierd , too many wiggle sticks :)

The Nights pad is massive but it works pretty well

N64 pad is okay. Your comment about 3rd party pads is soo true , some of them looked more like shovels than joypads

My only gripe with the DC pad is the triggers and the little bits , damn , you know the grooves around the edge ? they fill up with dirt

PS2 , GC , XBOX dont know
Mind you though PS2 is same as Dual PSX isnt it ?