A million dollars? Two games at the same time

(tags game, Xbox 360, Dual Screen, Soul Calibur, Rhythm Tengoku)

I finally have the desire to buy new games. Is this progress or a setback? :-]

Today I'm going to pickup Rhythm Tengoku Gold for the DS and Soul Calibur 4 for the Xbox 360. Actually I'm still waffling over SC4, since over the last couple of days I have newly played Beautiful Katamari and Geometry Wars 1 and 2 (demos only). There goes my nights and the weekend.

Beautiful Katamari and considering DLC

(tags game, Xbox 360, Katamari)

I never did finish the Katamari second outing on the PS2, but here I am playing Beautiful Katamari for Xbox 360 because the game was cheep used. Um, I only played it for about 4 hours and I've completed the story mode once. Now I have to go back and mine the same levels for more fun and Achievement Points.

First off, though this is the JP version of the game, every single piece of overlay text is in English because of my locale setting. Of course the textures on the objects in the games are all in Japanese. Also the songs are Japanese, and they are the whimsical J-pop and anime genre I like so its not so bad. Graphically, I like it, though it feels only a marginal step up from the PS2 version. I like the art because its nice and vibrant, but have this feeling that the designers are conveying a totally new art design that I still can't get used to.

And now I'm considering getting the DLC for it. Obviously as a Achievement Point dilettante, I have to get the new levels. That's 250 AP there. I also want to get the gamer icons, but there doesn't seem to be an icon for the katamari itself. The accessories are waste of time and the Themes are still in that art design that I don't understand. In total, 5210 XBLP (JPY 7413), and considering the above, 4160 XBLP (JPY 5919). Namco Bandai, you are the master of overpriced DLC, but you support Xbox 360 nicely.

In the mood for Geometry Wars

(tags game, Xbox Live, shmup, arena, Geometry Wars)

I was going to buy Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 1 for the Xbox 360 Live Arcade last night, but since the sequel, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, will be coming out soon, I held off. I was wondering if GW1 will discounted after GW2 is released. Then again, its only 400 XBLP (500 yen). I've spent more (much more) on Idolm@ster virtual clothing.

No cable, Bluetooth life

(tags hardware, ipod)

I've been recently in a Bluetooth mood (because of my new computer, but that's for another post). I bought a Bluetooth keyboard, a Filco mechanical touch keyboard (which again I should talk about in another post). Before that, I already had a Bluetooth-capable mouse, the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000. I bought another USB-to-Bluetooth transceiver just for my desktop machine by "PCI". And now, I've really caught Bluetooth fever because I bought a headphone receiver and a iPod-to-Bluetooth transceiver.

First off, my "home" Bluetooth network looks like this:

headphones <-> Sony receiver <-> Bluetooth transceiver <-> Project Sugar PC running iTunes

First off, the Sony receiver is the Sony DRC-BT15 (white) "for music". Basically its a Bluetooth audio sink supporting A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) and AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile) with some cell phone integration capabilities such HFP (Hands-free profile) and HSP (Headset Profile). There was another series with the model number DRC-BT15P (P?!?) which is aimed at only cell phones but I couldn't tell the difference between the plain and the P version. In any case, I had to charge it up (1 hour), then connected it to my stereo buds. I tried it out with my Project Sugar desktop PC with no problems. Just remember to press the power button 7 seconds from cold start to start the pairing process. It comes with this white-violet LED that looks really cool. Anyway, Bluetooth is mainly line of sight, so I had to move the PC based USB-to-Bluetooth transceiver "nub" to a fairly central position. It's great, I can move to my kitchen or even the bathroom without any interruption. If there is interruption, the music just cuts off digitally, not like the only weak analog signal of old. Other than that, I really like the relative lightness of this headphone set.

My iPod Bluetooth network looks like this:

headphones <-> Sony receiver <-> Sanwa transceiver <-> iPod 5G (with video)

Second, I tried out the Sanwa Supply ipod-to-Bluetooth receiver (MM-BTAD10, white). Stupid Sofmap store only had black, so I had to run to Yodobashi Camera to get the white version. Pairing consists of connecting it to the iPod and pressing play. Pretty straightforward. Aah, my iPod is now wireless. It feels like a remote control now. Unfortuately I had to cut my iPod skin in order to snugly fit the tranceiver to the body. I worry that this will break off the dock connector.

So I have these wireless audio headphone set. I binded the headphone wires with that reusable hollow electric cable wrap (only 4.1mm in diameter) so my neck doesn't look too wired, and I clip the Sony reciever to it. It's not too heavy but it looks like crap. Oh, did I mention that I only use 2000 yen in-ear buds, with the wire wrapped up and over my ear cartilige so that it hangs over the top of the ear? Totally sweet. Only that the receiver has a battery life of 6 hours. Damn Sony.

Three finger sparkle

(tags game, Soul Calibur)

I am playing Soul Calibur still. I get my kicks (or get kicked) with Ultra Hard Difficulty, Level 4. The CPU blocks and attacks pretty much at the most inconvenient times.

What I really want to know is what happens when I press A B and K at the same time. I sparkle. Do I also do more damage?

Just get another console: Xbox 360 hard drive game install

(tags game, Xbox 360)

One feature that piqued my interest for the coming Xbox 360 firmware update was the hard drive game install. This should make playing Idolm@ster faster.

However, I don't have any free space on my HDD to install even one game. Let's see, "20 GB HDD", comes with 13 GB free, but most of it is taken up by Idolm@ster purchased stuff (oh come on, just 1.5 GB, right?), demo movies I like, like that Halo 3 and Ace Combat 6 "Even after the darkest nights, morning always comes.", and sizable demo downloads. I am down to 3.7 GB.

That 120 GB HDD upgrade is still 2_0000 yen. Perhaps it would be better to get a new Xbox 360 console with 120 GB installed, in order stave off (or hopefully avoid) the inevitable RROD.

Fanboy Square-Enix, Hate

(tags game, Final Fantasy, failure, Xbox 360, Japan)

The big gaming news this week for me was Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII coming to the Xbox 360. What a coup! As a gamer who doesn't have a PlayStation 3 yet, I feel pretty happy about spending tens of hours leveling up on my Xbox (with Achievements mmmh).

Unfortunately, the current word is that only North America and Europe will be getting it. WTF. For Japan, FF XIII will be PS3 only. WTF WTF. If there's an Asian version (usually Chinese market), I'm going to buy it with the quickness. But probably this one game will be region locked hard. A friend of mine speculated it will be brought over as an "International Version". Sounds likely, but aren't those versions released 1 year later after the original installment?

This is why I hate... who to hate? Square Enix, who's hands are probably tied behind their back because of a Sony contract?? Well I want to hate on Sony, but SE is the one that has to deal with Sony, so its their fault as well. Who cares, the Xbox 360 version has probably just started development. I bet you it will be released late 2009.

As an aside, I have no idea how the game is supposed to play, but if there's no Gambit "programming" system, I'm not going to jump on it on opening day.

Let cruft go: XBLA cleaning start

(tags game, Xbox 360)

No I'm not talking about Microsoft's proposal to de-list Xbox 360 games. I'm talking about actually trying out the demos and delisting the ones I won't ever play again because they're not fun to me. So far, out of the 51 XBLA trials (some have been purchased/gifted... 5?), I got rid of 5. Not so efficient. Well I don't have a time limit.

I threw away Schizoid, though. Sure it's pretty. It does remind me of Ikaruga, just like that madman controlling two ships at one time ("doubleplay"), but there's no shooting or polarity changes. It's kinda like chipping away at a chalkboard with two erasers. Sure Schizoid is novel in its own way with its own game mechanic.

I was hoping to delist the trial games that are mistakenly listed in my Achievement list. It's annoying.

But the soul still burns: Soul Calibur 1 XBLA

(tags game, Xbox 360, fighting, Soul Calibur)

Okay, I succumbed. I purchased Soul Calibur 1 for the Xbox 360 Live Arcade for 800 cred. I just wanna post this picture:

It just too much fun to play this game. 60 FPS, sparkly crisp graphics and movement, and now no loading times. Aya Hisakawa voice for "Xianghua" is still the greatest. 「正義は勝つ！なっんちゃって」 "Justice will prevail! Just kidding!" Perhaps the state of the art has improved but this still looks and feels good to me. Still there's that uncanny green glow to the polygons.

I checked my past blog posts on the Soul Calibur series. Oh my. "Jigoku e iku no wa, omae ga saki da!!" (2003-03-30) 5 years ago (!) I was play SC2 with a joystick on the GameCube. I don't even remember when I played SC1, though. I know I have a guide book on SC1 for the Dreamcast somewhere around here, where is it.

I've only seriously played with Xianghua on this port. I surprised myself by getting 37 wins in Survival mode, not that that's all great but still that gets me ranked on the global leaderboard (which is Xianghua only Survival which no one will look at). And I got 50 Break for doing Guard Repel/Parry practice (when you only need 15 for an Achievement), but I only only lucked out because Sophitia is totally predictable.

I guess I'm going to spend some time on this one because some of the Achievements are doable.

This makes me seriously consider Soul Calibur IV coming out this month. Moves that knock off clothes?!? Yeehaw! But seriously, the demo movies show the in-game play at what feels like 30 fps. Ugh?! I'm going wait for an interactive demo.

Update: (09:32AM) I played until 3 in the morning. Xiangha vs Sophitia, Practice mode with Freestyle "Vs CPU @ Medium stage 6 difficulty". Tricky but fun.

Colony Drop

(tags blog, anime)

Colony Drop. This is a Gundam-ism where the ultimate warfare technique in collateral damage is de-orbiting (inhabited?!?) space colonies onto (inhabited?!?) planet-bound cities. Well actually I don't really know but Gundam is about war with mecha, and I see a picture of a space colony crashing onto urban skyline with explosive results. It sounds epic.

Colony Drop. This is an epic blog title. Okay I understand the blog aims to be "hard anime blogging dropped onto your cranium with a fiery explosion". But when the blog's "enemies" include "moé", and yet one of the writers is "burning fever #1 Haruhi otaku", I feel like I'm only going to be reading this blog when I'm in a mecha funk. I still impassively skip over the Gundam merchandise spreads in Akiba Blog, though.

Still, a review of a Gundam (Shot) Bar in Akihabara. Epic.

Xbox freebies keep me happy

(tags game, Xbox 360)

I just found out that the Top Spin 3 demo was available so I tried it out. Totally hard to get into, but it seems pretty meaty. I can't even pass the advanced training session. I really like the exhibition gallery where they show you the moves in detail. I can't wait to get this game, well actually I can. The Asia region comes out 2008-07-11, but I'll probably pick this up in 6 months.

And I was perusing the Dashboard for stuff to try out. Free (or has it always been?) DLC for Bullet Witch. Ace Combat 6's movie always gets me right there (I saw that Naussica version via Kotaku recently, I think). Call of Duty 4 video looks pretty killer. I finally watched one of the finished Devil May Cry 4 video. It makes me want to play it, ha.

I also looked at the recent JPRG demo videos from Namco and Square. They sure do make good videos. Also Dragonball Z: Burst Limit and Mobile Suits Gundam demo was out. I tried the latter but its a online only affair so I quit it.

Then I tried out Soul Calibur XBLA version. OMG, all that fighting goodness! I wanna buy it now! Mitsurugi FTW. My fingers just know what to press. I feel so guilty because I got other fighting games I need to finish, though. I'll have to let this one go for now.

Just a reminder to blog about gaming: Space Invaders Extreme, etc

(tags failure, game, Xbox 360, Dual Screen, Wii)

Just a reminder to myself:

Write about finding a pink paddle controller for playing Space Invaders Extreme, and explain how SIE rocks as soon as I get used to the paddle.

Write about Happy Dance Collection for the Wii and how I finally have a reason to buy it. Oh wait, I collected my third Wii game, Elebits, for el cheapo yesterday.

Write about my giving up on Monster Hunter 2nd when I couldn't complete a training mission.

Write about my Shin Sangoku Musou level up-ing with just the female character and giving that up when it doesn't unlock the other hidden female characters.

Yellow fading Rubik's Cube

(tags Rubik's Cube, failure)
(Originally written 2008-06-24 23:40)

Speaking of my (main) Rubik's Cube, the yellow stickers are finally losing their color and are turning white. This is after 10 months of use. Well all of the stickers look grimy and ugly. However, the critical yellow-blue facelet though looks like white-blue, which is impossible. Still it annoys me how dependant I am on looking at the colors of the cube when moving pieces.

So I tore off the yellow sticker. 8 yellow fading stickers remain, and a disconcerting black spot. This is annoying as well.

So why don't I just replace those stickers? Um... yeah. I'm just lazy. I can't get the sticker grime off satisfactorily.

I am annoyed. I'm annoyed with the fade, now I'm annoyed with the black, I'm annoyed with my lack of volition, lack of skills, I'm annoyed enough to write a post. What will it take to resticker my cube?!?! ;-o

I can always start using my second cube. But I have to lube it first. I am annoyed. Huh.

Update to the present: I broke down and restickered my cube. Well only three faces because it takes so long. (WTF only 10 minutes per face) And the stickers don't line up so good. I am annoyed. Yet, the stickers feel pretty good and clean. I would snap a picture but ...

Put two and two together: Chrono Cross

(tags game, PlayStation 1, RPG)

I realized something recently.

I have Chrono Cross for the PlayStation 1, U.S. region. I think I bought it 5 or 6 years ago from a Toys 'R Us.

I also have a PlayStation 2 Slim US region I bought last year around this time.

I could play Chrono Cross on this U.S. region while waiting for Chrono Trigger DS.

Stupid me. :-/

All about control: Princess Maker 4 DS

(tags game, Princess Maker, Naoto Tenhiro, Dual Screen)

Princess Maker 4 is being ported to the Nintendo DS after two years of inactivity. The original game was on the PS2 in 2005. I only went through it one time. Then it came out for the PSP and the Windows PC in 2006, and of course I picked up those as well. The DS version will be in my hot little hands 2008-09-11, at which time I will promptly shelve it, because the main reason is to collect the omake telephone cards, ha ha.

According to the official web site, some more content will be added. However, voices for the characters other than the "daughter" will be left out. Nana Mizuki, the main voice actress, was interviewed for this port. She supplied more dialogue for the DS's new feature, which is touch screen "Touch Communication". You can touch your daughter's body (cheeks or shoulders, please) or something and get some dialogue. Hm, what game mechanic is this? However, Mizuki pleads, "please don't touch strange places". LOL. I suspect it won't have the "physics engine" of the Doki Doki Majo Shinpan series.

BTW, Princess Maker 5 was released last year for the PC and later for the PS2. I saw that the main series character designer, Takami Akai, returned. He's had a hand throughout the whole series (which starts from 1991!?). Unfortunately his character design just doesn't do it for me. Illustrator Naoto Tenhiro FTW.

Thanks to Famitsu (I almost didn't see little 1/4 page article), DS Fanboy, and Game Watch Impress.

Beyond excited: Chrono Trigger DS

(tags game, Dual Screen, RPG)

Chrono Trigger. I would probably claim that this was the best (J)RPG for me up until Final Fantasy XII. I, along with many people, have been waiting for a remake on a recent console. Now its coming to the Nintendo DS. Yes! YES! (thanks DS Fanboy, DS Fanboy)

Um, I could have always played the PlayStation version, which seems to reward you for replaying the game.

Waiting for my wheel to come... around... again

(tags game, Dual Screen, music)

I just wanna say that I bought Space Invaders Extreme for the DS last week, but I won't open it until I find the paddle controller. Of course, both were available before, and I let them slip out of my grasp then.

Nurburgring drive

(tags game, driving, Burnout, Xbox 360)
(originally written 2008-06-24 23:42)

Burnout Paradise was pretty fantastic with all the car action. Then again, I played most of the game with the camera on the bumper so I didn't care about how the car looked. So I started looking at racing games again. One integral part of my revival is that Nurburgring track, the 20 km course. I mentioned to a friend that the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue game has a video of the producer Kazunori Yamauchi riding a Nissan GT-R on the track competently. Nice.

I spotted the Viva Pinata and Forza Motorsport 2 combo pack for 1680 yen used, so I nabbed it after a night's sleep. Wow. Stats galore. Paint your car ala PhotoShop layers. The visible racing line. No music during racing. Crispy crispy graphics. I spent about an hour on career mode. I got the perfect racing Achievements on my first try, har har. I hate playing this with an analog pad. I wonder if I could reuse my GT Force. I doubt it.

I then backed out into Arcade mode because I wanted to try out Nurburgring. In my initial crappy car, an asia "soap-shaped" one. Of course I turned down the realism and turned on the visible racing line. I would turn on the training wheels if they had it. So I didn't crash but I clocked about 11 minutes. Is that slow or fast or what? Obviously its slow, because I don't really know the track. I totally forgot my record on the GT4 on PS2, I should fire that up.
I also tried out the online racing spectator mode. It's pretty interesting with all the cars. I would like to loop this mode and just watch it.

So I was in Nipponbashi recently looking for figure stand parts when I spotted Joshin's front display for Toy Land. They were advertising a Nissan GT-R model kit. The 40 inch widescreen TV showed someone driving the Nurburgring in the Nissan GT-R, with the stopwatch clock in big numbers and various stats in the lower right hand Picture-in-Picture. I stood in front of the store blocking foot traffic watching this video. So it took the car about 7 minutes (close to 8?) to complete a circuit. Is that slow or fast or what? Obviously its fast. 150+ kmh average.
I also picked up some other racing games while in the area, Moto GP '06, Project Gotham Racing 3, Fatal Inertia. Again the price point was 1200 yen or less. I don't when I'll start these, yeah.

Stick worth as much as a console: Otomedius

(tags game, Xbox 360, Otomedius, shmup)

Okay, I still haven't played this Otomedius shmup game, but did find it at the dingy arcade that had the Time Crisis 3 I used to play. And now it will get a proper port to the Xbox 360 with touch pad-enabled joystick. But the Hori-made joystick will cost 27000 yen! I think I should try it in the arcade first before I even consider getting another joystick. (Thanks Game Life).