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As many of you already know, I dislike eBay, in fact one might say I hate it with a passion. In fact, I refuse to buy any type of gaming device from the site. So, I was extremely pleased when in January of 2008 I read a post on the Digital Press forums from Dragon Warrior Jasen, that he was fed up with eBay and toying with the idea of making his own auction site dedicated to video games with minimal fees. When he came up with a name and made the site public a couple months later, I made sure I was one of the first to join GameGavel.com. I listed numerous auctions but had very little success, but I believed in the theory behind the site of no fees whatsoever and stuck with it. Later on in 2008 I came across another site, ChaseTheChuckwagon.com, with a similar philosophy of only charging a modest final selling fee. I quickly joined that site and have been listing auctions on there since.
[img align=right]http://www.chasingthechuckwagon.com/chuckwagon150.jpg[/img]
However, a couple days ago, I got the email that every other GameGavel member got from Jasen, stating that the site will be closing. Jasen blamed the closure on himself, but I do not believe that it was any one person's fault. I think the failure was the combined result of people not believing that a free auction site could work and sellers were charging the average eBay price instead of taking into account the fact that they're not paying 8%+ fees on their sale as they would with eBay.
[img align=left width=200 height=57]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/repository/07822GG LOGO.jpg[/img]Anyway, yesterday I got an email from GameGavel's Jasen Hicks and one from ChaseTheChuckwagon's Mike Kennedy, about half an hour apart stating that CTCW will be purchasing GameGavel's domain name and will be taking over operations.
Mike's plan is to co-brand both names, keeping the ChaseTheChuckwagon.comn name that some 2,000+ member knows and love and combining it with the more universal name of GameGavel.
So what this means for us, the gamers and collectors of the world, is a bigger and better site than has very modest final selling fees, that was built by gamers/collectors for gamers/collectors.
With the recent announcement that Patapon 2 for PSP will be available only via download (Ars Technica), I began wondering how that will affect my future in gaming. At first glance, it seems like this is the new trend. I have seen speculation that disc-based games appear to be on their way out with the popularity of Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace, Nintendo's WiiShop and new DSi App Store, and Sony's PlayStation Store.
I am just a little skeptical though. As games continue to grow in size, acquiring a game via download will become a chore for those of us living in the US. The majority of us that do have access to broadband cannot get much higher than 6-8Mbps connections unless we pay a large premium for it. Couple that with Time Warner's announcement of a wide-spread deployment of "bandwidth tiers" and we are quickly going to be paying for more than just the game. At 5.5GB for an HD movie, you are already over the lowest tier, not even taking into account your normal Internet usage. Plus, even with a speed of 8Mbps (1MBps) maxed out the entire time, you are looking at 94 minutes to download. As you all know, that perfect scenario never plays out, so you are probably looking at 2.5-3 hours minimum to watch a 90-minute movie in HD with 2.1(!) audio. Imagine downloading a game that is 10, 20, 30+GB, then waiting for the install, then the patch, etc.
I do think that handhelds are in line for it. Due to their portable nature and the cost of an SD card, you can easily hold a bunch of small games/apps so you don't have to swap. But I have to believe that, for now, the disc is going to be the preferred method of console distribution.
Rules, I will list out some things that gamers do/have done, for ones which are correct for you add a point to your score. Be honest with this:
1. You play video games
2. daily
3. You have a game console in your house
4. You have one in your bedroom
5. You have more than one in your house
6. you have more than five
7. more than ten
8. You have a handheld gaming system
9. You have 5+ games for the system
10. 20+ for the system
11. (if you apply with 5) 5+ games for each system
12. (if you apply with 5) 20+ games for each system
13. Youve been to a shop or store that sells video games
14. and bought a game
15. and bought a console
16. Youve owned a game for more than a year (including in the past)
17. more than 5 years
18. more than 10 years
19. more than 20 years
20. Youve bought a game that is more than 5 years old
21. more than 10 years
22. more than 20 years
23. You have a video game poster
24. You have more than one video game poster
25. Youve paid money for a video game poster
26. Youve paid more than 10 (, $, or whatever currency) for a poster
27. You draw video game fan art20
28. which may be adult (be honest if you have!)
29. Youve drawn a video game comic
30. which you do regularly
31. which hasnt ended yet
32. Youve done a video game parody movie (or parody trailer)
33. that you and other humans have acted in
34. You have written video game fan fiction
35. You made your own video game review show
36. and earn money doing it
37. Youve been to a video gaming convention/show/event/expo
38. and go regularly (youve been to one at least once for each year, even if its two years)
39. youve been to more than one unique
40. you had to go by car to one
41. you had to go by train to one
42. you had to go by plane to one
43. Youve hosted one
44. Youve cos-played as a video game character
45. more than once
46. and not just at a convention (e.g at your school, in the streets ect)
47. Youve entered a video gaming tournament (extra point for more than once)
48. and came runner-up (losing the qualifying round doesnt count, sorry)
49. and came first place
50. and won a prize in it (runner-up prizes included)
51. Youve bidded in a video game auction
52. that wasnt online
53. You buy games at a market/thrift store/charity shop/junk shop ect
54. and go regularly
55. and you sell games there
56. also regularly
57. Youve met someone in the industry (game designer, game developer, sound designer/game composer ect)
58. and got his/her autograph
59. more than once
60. You listen to video gaming music
61. Youve bought a video game soundtrack
62. more than one
63. Youve remixed/remade a track
64. Youve performed a video game related music piece on stage
65. Youve made your own custom soundtrack
66. You talk about video games with other friends
67. daily
68. You have video game debate sessions
69. You have made your own game
70. that has been distributed (e.g online as homebrew)
71. that has been in retail
72. You are/were officially paid to play video games
73. You are/were officially paid to make video games (most likely true if you apply to 64 and 66)
74. You collect games as a hobby40
75. including prototype games
76. including sealed games
77. including other game related items
78. which are other items game related and unopened and more than 5 years older
79. and you catalogue all your games (online or on paper)
80. Youve imported a game from another country
81. more than once
82. that was from another continent
83. Youve paid more than 40/$60 for a video game (not a console)
84. more than 70/$100
85. more than 200/$300
86. almost a thousand (no matter the currency)
87. over a thousand
88. You know every character without looking in a video game
89. thats a Platformer/Shooter/Action game/fighting game
90. thats an RPG/MMORPG/RTS
91. You know video game quotes (without looking at anything)
92. complete quote (so not sections)
93. you can name the very game it is from
94. who said it
95. where in the game it is said (e.g. after you kill such a boss someone says )
96. You have modded your system
97. on your own
98. internally (e.g. installed a mod-chip)
99. externally (e.g. case-mod)
100. You are registered to a video game website
101. more than one
102. and you know the site people (not other members) name on at least one of the sites.
Scores:
0 Not a gamer
1-10 Casual gamer
11-50 Hardcore gamer
51-80 Pro or serious gamer
81-90 Major gamer
91-102 Gaming God!
Anyone who takes part in this test is cool the way they are, they dont have to confess anything and can just show there score. I do not tolerate any bullying or cruelty on someone because of their gaming interest.
If you know me, then you'll be surprised that honestly I got 51 points.
Well, this week I didn't go out at all, there were a total of 3 garage sales listed for the entire area, and they all looked crappy from their descriptions or were perpetual sales that I've been to already. But, luckily, I've got treasure from last week I didn't have a chance to post, so that's what I'll show you now.
Continue reading Treasure Hunt Chronicles '09 - #3
 "Shut up you guys!!!" Jimmie barked at John and I as we were jabbering about his latest Hot Wheel addition. Our self-nominated Quarterback was definitely taking his newly acquired role a bit too far in my humble opinion. John acknowledged this as well with a quick glance towards me. Now Jimmie was the classic over-competitive, under-achiever type - like some of those bad acts in American Idol auditions. That being said, we half-heartedly complied to simply appease him and avoid 'the need to focus' speech. It was after all 4th down and we had to get to the Jones' mailbox for a 1st down, lest we forget.
"We're going for it!" Jimmie exclaimed in a confident voice to our foes (who were actually 8 year old kids - just like us). "OK... Now John, you go out to that first tree just past the Davis' driveway and cut in." Jimmie whispered to us as though he was sharing military secrets. "Terry, get to that mailbox, and turn around, fake and then go deep." Jimmie made it sound like a plan - the only drawback was that he threw like a girl and the electrical wire 'vines' that crisscrossed through our street almost negated the long game (not that we truly had that option with him anyway). "Hutt-hutt-Hutt" ... the next thing I knew I was on defense after our 'gunslinger' successfully completed his pass, off the wires, to my defender. Now if I were QB....
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The game of football is a North American trademark of sorts. Rich in tradition, this sport has almost surpassed (if it hasn't already) the 'official' past time of the USA, baseball. I first had the pleasure of experiencing this great game as an adolescent during the 1970s. During that time, we had to rely upon gathering the required parental permissions and assembling our group of four to wage battle on the paved streets of our suburban neighborhood. Everyone, regardless of age, has experienced the raw emotions that are triggered by the simple event depicted above. Though we did not have the benefit of today's smorgasbord of electronic and digital entertainment, the evolution in the electronics field was just around the corner and would provide more options to fulfill our gaming needs.
The following takes a look at the evolution of the football 'gaming' experience during my time in the 1970s. On to the games...
| | Paper Football
(System : Kitchen Table) |  | Who doesn't love this school cafeteria classic!! This game was a blast, right up there with plastering a gooey spitball smack in the middle of the some unsuspecting victim's glasses. Making a solid paper football was an art form in its own right. Too big and touchdowns were a breeze but field goal attempts would flutter too much. Craft one too small and games went on forever. Regardless, Scotch tape was always a necessity. The ultimate high, and honest goal, of any serious paper footballer - "doinking" your bud plumb square in the forehead and seeing the thin reddened crease develop there as a result of your efforts. This was an ego booster - 5th grade style. |
 | Best Memory: Being envious (honestly, more nervous) of my paper football as it sailed over my buddy's shoulder and down the front of Kelly K's shirt (our school's hottie). | | | Tutor Electric Football
(System : Electronic Board Game) | 
| Believe it or not, this game debuted way back in 1947. I never really could understand the fascination with it - set up a bunch of might-mite plastic dudes on a puke-green metallic gridiron and watch them shake and shiver like a drug addict at a detox clinic. There were a great many variations of this game (Talking Football anyone?), but all of them relied basically on one thing - you had to have an vivid imagination to enjoy the gaming experience. That being said, I doubt even Stephen King could last for more than 10 minutes with this "gem". |  | Best Memory: Watching my buddy's cat creep closer and closer to the 'electric gridiron' and watching it jump 5' in the air when we flicked on the power. | | | Mattel Electronics Football
(System : Dedicated Handheld) | 
| This was one of the first truly electronic football experiences. Mattel Electronics came out with their line of dedicated handheld sports games in 1977. Football was arguably their best release in this first batch of games and quickly became a favorite of all of us teenage hooligans. Your warrior, who was basically a bright-red 'minus' sign, could only run and kick. This game rocked - as long as your 9 Volt battery did not give out. When the juice started to run low, the game became dimmer by the minute until your player would take three seconds to move just one space on the virtual playing field (grid). This game could also double as a night light to check out comics after the lights were turned off for the night. |  | Best Memory: Using tape to mask the built-in speaker to try and mute the 'bleeps' while playing this game way after my dictated bed time. It didn't work - I got busted every time. | | | Atari VCS Football
(System : Atari 2600 Video Game Console) | 
| This was Atari's first football venture in console gaming. Released in 1978, Football consisted of three-on-three play with basic pass and run functionality. Remember Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots? Well, put those guys into a trash compactor and you'll end up with a reasonable facsimile of your virtual player, less the flicker. Some might find this aspect of the game nostalgic - I just find it purely annoying and gives me a headache to this day. I do have to admit that the sound effects were kind of cool as well as the '1st down' line. Other than that, this game didn't really have that much more to offer. One thing to note about this title - be prepared for your controller to take a beating. I remember really cranking on the joystick left, right, up, down and being severely disappointed by the lack of response. The game is just slow, but it took me a while to figure this out. It also cost me two controllers that now reside at the bottom of some waste facility back in my home town. The box was pretty 'fly' though. |  
| Best Memory: None to be honest - this game kind of sucked. | | | Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Football
(System : Personal / Home Computer) |
 | Texas Instruments released this game in 1979 for their TI-99/4A personal home computer. Now this is as basic as you can get in a football game - a choice of 4 plays on offense and 4 for the defenders. Once your ‘rock-paper-scissors’ selection is made, you are basically at the mercy of the CPU. This game was flicker-free thank goodness - I was not in danger of having any type of seizure during game play. While this was a plus, once play was initiated, action would unfold at such a tortuously slow pace that I could actually feel myself aging during each play. I guess I am lucky that quarters were limited to only 5 minutes (smiling). |  | Best Memory: Getting a little buzzed with my buddy while we experimented with chewing tobacco (Kodiak) and laughing as he uttered 'Da Bomb' while I was in a goal line defense. | | | Atari Football
(System : Arcade) | 
| Atari Football was released for the arcades in 1979. If there was ever a video game that truly made you pay for play, this was it. Not only did it hoard up all of your hard earned paper delivery tips, it was physically abusive - literally. The innovative b>Atari 'Trakball' controller was very responsive, but the price was high to take advantage of this benefit - a pound of flesh from the actual skin of your palms. Game play was frantic and invigorating. Gamers wailed away on those trackballs and that sound alone raised the entire energy level of the arcade. This game was definitely a test of endurance as much as it was a test of skill. Bring your garden gloves with you before engaging this beast. Note - Playing this game before a palm reading is definitely not recommended. |  | Best Memory: Returning pop bottles and raking leaves to earn more quarters to feed into this beast at the arcade (as well as to pay for all of the bandages for my chewed up hands) | | |
The 1970s brought about the advent of video gaming for the great sport of football. Take a trip down memory lane and share your thoughts on these classics and others from this influential time period!
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So, finally, we have an official pairing bracket for the Best of the Best contest. But! Those who are good with math may notice something: we have an EXTRA pair! So, it is up to YOU (again...) to decide which pair is automatically eliminated! So, without further ado, the pairings....
Continue reading Best of the Best: The Pairing, and an EPIC QUESTION!!!
Hello, and thanks for all the comments on Part 1. I don't have as many detail pics on these b/c there are more games in this lot and I didn't want it to be too long.
Anyway, I contacted the guy I bought the first lot from, about a week later, and asked him if he had any left b/c I had more money. He told me the second person only bought 25 games and that he would sell me what ever I wanted for only 4.00 a piece.
So I went back to his house and this is what I picked up in my second lot.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES024.jpg[/img]
8 Eyes, After Burner, Air Fortress, Air Wolf, Baseball, The Black Bass, Dr. Chaos, Gauntlet 1 & 2, Ghostbuster, Ikari Warriors, The Immortal, Indiana Jones, Legacy of the Wizard, Pictionary, Pinball, Pinball Quest, Super Sprint, Tiger Heli, Total Recall
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES025.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES026.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES027.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES029.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES030.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES033.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES034.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES035.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES036.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES039.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES040.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES041.jpg[/img]
So that was my second score, 20 games and 31 total from this guy on Craigslist. Stay tuned as I have 32 more games to show.
 Oh, hello OH NOOOO! Otter. I've missed you so much. Has your need gone away, or have I been lazy? You decide. I'll report.
You know, GTA is a series that tends to be heavy on the mature themes, and in addition to cold blooded murder and sex, there's also the drugs. Generally, all those things exist in the virtual world only, and you get your virtual kicks. But, wouldn't it be interesting if Rockstar gave you a trinket for buying the game? Nah, it wouldn't be good, sex, murder, and drugs are bad, and best should be virtual. Here's for keeping those things virtual.
Well, turns out that when you buy used copies of GTA you increase your chances of having GTA become slightly more real for you. See, if you live in Britain, you have a chance apparently of buying a used pair of GTA games with Ecstasy tables stuffed in one of the game's manual. I bet that could be lucrative on the market, but, drugs are bad, and you should definitely turn them into the authorities.
So, the better question is will some evil British Politician use this story to tie games and drugs? Do playing games like GTA make you do drugs? Well, if you find the right politician, I bet you'll find out adept enough to contort the facts to reflect that. Will it happen with this case? Who knows, but we'll keep tracking this story for developments, because, you never know if games might make you do drugs. Just remember, drugs are bad, even if you do find Ecstasy in your case.
Report: Dad Finds Ecstasy Tablets in Used Copy of Grand Theft Auto [Game Politics]
*NOTE: Drugs really are bad. Don't do them.
You know what? We have a chat. It's absurd, and it's fun. Want to see a sample of our absurdity? Sure you do:
[23:32] *** TraderFake is now known as Alfaxxor. [23:33] Alfabor: doesn't rhyme. [23:33] Alfacor: ONLY ONE LETTER CHANGE [23:33] Alfabor: nice try. [23:33] Alfaxxor: I DO NOT CARE [23:33] Alfabor: better luck next time. [23:33] Alfaxxor:  [23:33] Alfacor: You don`t add more, you`re messing it up! [23:33] Alfacor: Now he`s not gonna give you +o [23:33] Alfaxxor: YES! [23:33] Alfacor: YOU`RE MISSING OUT [23:33] *** Alfaxxor has been kicked from #rfgeneration by Alfabor: you damn well better make your name right [23:33] Alfabor: oops. [23:33] Alfabor: he doesn't know how we roll, does he. [23:34] Alfacor: Nope. [23:34] Alfabor: whoops. [23:34] Alfabor: oh well. [23:34] Alfabor: well, he was a nice guy. [23:34] Alfabor: way to lose that member. [23:34] Alfabor: he apparently does not have autorejoin [23:34] Alfacor: Yep, he`s gotta do it right. [23:34] Alfabor: so... will he ever come back.
And that is the $64,000 question. Did Lios come back? The only way you will know is if you join #rfgeneration. So yeah, won't you join us? JOIN US, WON'T YOU?
Click Here for our Chat Page
This list is only going to be top 5 for two reasons
1) There are barely over 10 options to choose from
2) Im feeling lazy today
So on with the list!!!!
5) Mega Man 5 - Super Arrow
From Mega Man 5 the Super Arrow is almost useless.... but at least they tried something kinda different. It is a lot fun to play around with and use to climb walls however.
4)Mega Man 3 - Rush Coil
The original Rush Coil, much like the original Rush Jet rocks all other versions. Its pretty simple. Jump on your dog and a big spring bounces you way higher than you can jump on your own. Some of the other versions get annoying when the dog bounces with you and stuff. I like it simple.
3) Mega Man 2 - Item 2
This little gem lets you shoot out a long beam that sticks around for a few seconds. This is to help Mega Man by letting him run across a long pit, avoid enemies that have limited range or climb to higher areas by using several small ones. While its not necessary to use this item to complete the game it damn well makes it alot more bearable.
2) Mega Man 3 - Rush Jet
You get to fully control the Jet unlike some of the later versions of the Rush Jet that propel you forward without choice. Not only is it incredibly handy for passing over challenging areas, but useful for fighting certain bosses, because it gives you the ability to hover in one spot temporarily and just unload your arm cannon into them.
1) Mega Man 6 - Rush Jet
This personally is the highlight of the whole game for me. Rush transforms into a huge backpack that attaches to Mega Man and give him is own Jet boosting abilities. Plus he looks so badass.
Sorry for the long delay if anyone was actually waiting for these. I went on vacation for one week and then we had the server change last week. This one kinda felt uninspired so I'll try to make it better next week.
Good news everyone! The weather has broken (for a while at least) and it was reasonably comfortable shopping around the flea market for the first time this year. The place was far from packed, but if its any indication of what is to come, this will be another spectacular year. The flea market has been consistently good so far this year, but garage sales are still very slow. Hopefully, April will bring more stuff (actually since this is so late, I KNOW April will be good  )
And I apologize with the tardiness of this post, it should have been up earlier, but with the server move and a really hectic schedule, I didn't have a chance to get it up until now.
And to try and maintain consistency, I'll be posting these on Mondays from now on.
Continue reading Treasure Hunt Chronicles '09 - March
I hope you've heard of Mega64. If not, they're a comedy group that does live action re-enactments of games in public. Go look them up on YouTube.
So, their new skit is Metal Gear Solid 4, and they manage to squeeze in a few fantastic special guests. I won't ruin who it is, so hit the jump if you want to find out who. This video really needs no more introduction, so here you are:
Continue reading RFG Aside: Mega64 Tops Themselves...YET AGAIN
The World Ends With You (TWEWY) was released in Japan on the Nintendo DS in July of 2007 under the name of It's A Wonderful World. The game quickly became a huge sensation due to it's unique gameplay which utilized all of the DS' features as well as being an RPG which takes place in modern day Shibuya, Japan. After roughly a year of waiting the game finally made it's way across seas.
For those who don't know, TWEWY is an RPG released by Square-Enix for the Nintendo DS. It diverges from the traditional RPG formula due to it's present day setting in a familar location, it's hugely unique battle system which takes place simultaneously on two screens with drastically different gameplay on each screen, it's unique use of trends to alter the gameplay, and it's pin system. Furthermore, the gameplay diverges drastically from the typical RPG formula in the sense that the game takes place in a series of days in which players must complete a task to move on to the next day.
Upon booting up the game players are thrust into the shoes of Neku Sakuraba, a 15 year old who despises other people and only cares for himself. Neku finds himself in the center of Shibuya with no clue as to how he got there. Shortly thereafter he finds out that he is in a Reaper's game where he must survive for 7 days or face erasure. Along his quest for survival he is forced to team up with individuals to survive which leads to some awesomely hilarious dialouge and fantastic character development.
The story may seem cliche, and there's no doubt that amnesia is a silly old idea which has been used more than once, but the way in which the story progresses fully realizes the potential of such an uninteresting paradigm. Neku isn't the only one who is clueless as to the circumstances of the Reapers game and what exactly it is. The other characters in the game are left in the dark as well. Essentially, no one fully understands what is occurring. Keeping players in the dark enables the story to unfold in such a fashion that around every corner is a new and exciting piece of information or twist. The reapers' game is cryptic, and the way in which the story unfolds capitalizes on the chaos and disorder which Neku and the others find themselves facing.
Players have 7 days to survive the reapers' game or else they face erasure. Each day requires the player to perform a specific task in order to make it to the next day. Essentially, Neku and his partner wake up somewhere, receive a message containing the day's mission, are given a time limit, and must then carry out the mission. Luckily, the time limit which Neku and his partner face does not actually occur during real time- i.e. videogame players such as yourself will not have to complie with the time limit (essentially you can take your time and the time limit only exists in the story sense).
Each mission is unique. One may require you to reach a certain destination and another may be a cryptic riddle. While completing the missions players are given the oppurtunity to 'scan' the environment. Scanning the environment will enable Neku to read the thoughts of the Shibuya residents and partake in battles. Players are also able to run around Shibuya and go shopping, run errands, whatever; however, depending on the day's mission certain areas are blocked off by reapers. Reapers will issue objectives for players to complete in order to proceed to a specific area of Shibuya. These objectives range from defeating a certain number of enemies (known in the game as Noise) to making a certain brand popular (more on brands and trends later). More often than not the reapers block the paths which Neku must take in order to complete the day's mission.
The battle system in TWEWY is known as the Stide Cross Battle System and is more likely than not the most unique battle system in any RPG to date. The battles take place in real time on two different screens-- the top screen and the bottom screen. Players control two characters, one for both screens. On the bottom screen Neku is controlled via the stylus and on the top screen his partner is controlled by means of the D-pad. Needless to say, the actually combat mechanics on the top screen and the bottom screen are drastically different.
On the bottom screen Neku is controlled using the stylus. Dragging across Neku then across Neku enables him to run. From there, the other actions depend on the pins you have equipped. Pins are the games version of weapons and items which can be used in combat. Some pins may enable Neku to slash his opponents, others may enable him to fire bullets at enemies, and some may even replenish his health. The pins require specific stylus maneuvers such as touching an obstacle then tapping an enemy to throw the obstacle, slashing an enemy to have Neku run in and melee combat, drawing a line of fire, etc. There are a plethora of unique ways in which to activate a pin, and each one of these activations represents a specific action which correlates to how the stylus (or mic) was used. With over 250 pins it's needless to say that action on the bottom screen can be play out however you want it to.
The top screen is fought utilizing the d-pad (or if you are left handed the a, b, x, y buttons). Essentially players will tap left or right in the direction of an enemy. This will bring up a grid of arrows and three finishing points. Following the arrows with the d-pad enables the top user to attack-- one attack for each movement of the arrows. The ending sequence of the arrows contains a card so to speak. The cards are utilized to create a fusion attack between Neku and his partner. For example, Shiki has three different cards she can choose from as finishers. Choosing the cards in the correct order gives her stars. When the amount of stars reaches 4 a fusion attack is enabled which deals massive damage to all enemies. The card system is different for each partner Neku has and varies up the gameplay on the top screen considerably. Furthermore, partners on the top screen can jump with the up button, guard by pressing down, dodge, etc. Also, it should be noted that each partner on the top screen can perform certain actions better than others. For example, jumping and setting off a combo attack with Shiki deals more damage than Shiki standing still will attacking.
With two screens of different combat mechanics the game can seem overwhelming. Luckily, TWEWY does a fantastic job of slowly weening you into the battle system. For example, on the top screen players are slowly given more and more advanced maneuvers until finally all the features of the top screen are able to be utilized. By that point players will more than likely have gotten the hang of which screen to focus on during certain parts of battle or how to quickly scan both screens at once. A great thing to note is that by deleveling you obtain more pins and items from battles. Also, changing the difficulty changes the items the enemies drops. So... if you are going for 100% you will end up playing on every difficulty-- and luckily you can change the difficulty on the fly.
Utilizing both screens at once provides many benefits in battle. The enemies on the top screen are the same as the enemies on the bottom screen; in other words they share HP. So dealing massive amounts of damage on both screens needless to say makes battles much easier. Also, Neku and his partner share the same HP bar. Furthermore there is what the game calls a light puck which will float back and forth between Neku and his partner. Once Neku or his partner receives the light puck they want to pass it off as quickly as possible to their partner. This requires the character who has the light puck to quickly perform a combo attack to pass it. Passing the light puck back and forth creates a damage multiplier which increases with each successive passing. Coorporation between the two screens will greatly enhance Neku's chance of survival.
A great feature of TWEWY is the inclusion of various options which can make combat significantly easiers or significantly more difficult. For example, players can have the top screen controlled automatically by a computer if they feel overburdened by attempting to control two screens at once. Likewise, there are multiple difficulty options you can change at any time. Furthermore, for those who want to make the game harder they have the option to delevel, or decrease the level of their characters. Players can customize how they want the game to play out-- essentially anyone should be able to find what works for them.
A unique feature found in TWEWY is it's trend system. Shibuya is divided into multiple districts, and each district has certain trends. The trends refer to the brand names which are popular in the area. The clothes which the characters wear and the pins which Neku equips are branded. So if the brands Neku is wearing are the number one trend in the area Neku receives a bonus in battle (such as 2x more damage dealt). If the brand Neku is wearing sucks, Neku is is penalized in battle (such as 2x less damage). Also, whatever brand Neku is winning will become popular as Neku wins battles. So... it is possible to turn the worst brand in the area into the best brand in the area.
Another unique feature found in the world ends with you is the Pin system. As stated earlier pins are used in battle and they are branded. Furthering on those ideas pins are also able to be evolved into stronger pins (think Pokemon). Pins gain pin points which are essentially experience points that contribute to the evolution of a pin. Pin points can be obtained in three ways-- battle PP, shut down PP, and mingle PP. Battle PP are obtained by winning battles. Shut down PP are obtained by turning off the game; the longer the game is turned off the more PP you get. Mingle PP are obtained by interacting with other people who have TWEWY, or for those who can't do that interacting with AI in the mingle option. The type of PP which are obtained reflect what the pin may evolve into. Sometimes battle PP being dominant may be required to evolve a pin or other times shut down PP may be required. This is somewhat of a hassel but it creates variety in a standard formula.
Yet another cool feature found in TWEWY is the ability to eat foods, take vitamins, etc. Doing so will raise your characters' stats or increase their sync rate (how much they like one another). Each food has an allotted byte point value which indicates how many battles must be won before the food is digested and the stats are given to your character. Furthermore, characters can only eat 24 bytes a day. Foods such as attack plus pills which increase your attack by a lot will be much more bytes than say a soda which increases your sync rate. Choosing which foods you wish to consume each day adds much needed strategy as to how you want to build up your characters.
TWEWY contains a fairly complex game which the residents of Shibuya play known as Tin Pin. Tin Pin is a lot like battle tops-- you use the stylus to ram your pin into your opponents' pins and try to knock them off the map. There are also four different specials which stun other pins or save your pin from falling off the map. The pins which are used are the pins Neku currently has equipped. In other words, Neku can use any of the 250+ pins in the game. Also... each pin has it's own unique Tin Pin stats such as speed, weight, number of specials, and so on. For a minigame within a game Tin Pin is well fleshed out and extremely fun. It's surprising that something like Tin Pin hasn't already been released on the DS as a stand alone shovelware piece of crap game.
The game's length really depends on how much the player wants to put into the game. It took me 28 hours to beat the main quest. For those who want to do the minimal amount of battles for whatever reason they can expect the game to last about 20 hours. So... a good average is somewhere around 25 hours to complete the game. Upon completing the game a plethora of new options and events are unlocked which greatly extend the length of the game considerably (not including obtaining all the pins and leveling up your characters, pins, collecting items etc).
TWEWY is an extremely fun game with one of the best stories around. It may seem overwhelming at first but if you are willing to tough it out for a bit you will find one of the most enjoyable and unique gaming experiences around. It has so much to do that anyone should be able to find something they like; but be warned if you don't enjoy the battle system chances are you will not enjoy the game nearly as much as those who do considering you obtain money and whatnot from battles. I for one fell in love with the game and am surprised/happy to say that after 10 or so years Super Metroid is no longer my favorite game.
What is this week's Mega CD auction pick?
[img width=500 height=274]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3415302831_f787f1722a.jpg?v=0[/img]
This is a real collectable that I was unable to bid on sadly. A Mega CD test disc, for 23 USD (around 15 GBP). The guy couldn't get it to work on his Sega CD or read it on his computer, I'm not sure if he tried a Datel Pro CDX or a Japanese Mega CD as it could most likely be Japanese.
Still though, the item itself was worth the pick.
(Runner ups include: Shining Force with a CD Backup cart at 67 USD, Snatcherat 122 GBP and Sensible Soccer with NHL Hockey Disk at 7.33 GBP)
This has been a long time coming, but here we go. This will be Part 1 of my blogs on this find. I didn't want to make really long so I am breaking it up into smaller parts.
Sorry for how long it is.
Sometime in Feb. I answered an add on Craigslist for Nintendo games. He had I think like 88 CIB Nintendo games. I was really strapped for cash but I had to go look at them and see. So I answered his ad. And he told me I could come and look them over first since I was the first to Email him. I couldn't believe my eyes when I showed up at his house and I was staring at 88 CIB Mostly Minty Fresh Nintendo games.
He wanted $5.00 a game. I only had $50.00 on me so I could only buy 10 games. Although he told me if I bought 10 games he would through one in for free.
So here is what I picked out. Final Fantasy, Ultima: Exodus, Ultima: Avatar, Popeye, Shinobi, Shortorder:Eggsplode, Three Stooges, Adventure Island II, Dungeon Magic, and Gremlins 2. And he gave me Willow.
Here are a few pictures of the first set of games I got. I took some different angles so that you could see the condition of the games.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES001.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES003.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES002.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES004.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES006.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES020.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES012.jpg[/img]
The maps for the Final Fantasy and others I couldn't even get them to lay flat b/c they were so crisp.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES009.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES008.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES011.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES007.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES010.jpg[/img]
This 84 page manual had been used. I guess this is one game he played a few times.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES016.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES014.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES013.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES015.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES017.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES018.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES019.jpg[/img]
Stay tuned b/c that was only 11 of the 63 games that I bought from this guy. I got 52 more to show you as I went back 3 more times.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/railroad1/tn_CIBNESGAMES061.jpg[/img]
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